Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: New York Heart Association/World Health Organization functional class (FC) is associated with outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We assessed whether patients with PAH who improve from FC III to FC I/II have improved survival versus patients who remain at FC III or worsen to FC IV. METHODS: Patients aged =19 years with FC III PAH from the REVEAL Registry (N=982) were categorized as improved, unchanged, or worsened according to their change in FC from enrollment to first follow-up assessment within 1 year of enrollment. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 3-year survival from first follow-up and changes in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) from enrollment to first follow-up were determined. Subgroup analyses were conducted by etiology (ie, idiopathic/familial, connective tissue disease [CTD], congenital heart disease) and time of diagnosis (ie, newly and previously diagnosed [diagnostic right heart catheterization within or =3 months of enrollment, respectively]). RESULTS: Overall, 27% of patients improved FC. Survival was better in patients whose FC improved (84%±2%; n=263) versus those who remained unchanged (66%±2%; n=645) or worsened (29%±6%; n=74) (all P<.001). Survival was also better in patient subgroups whose FC improved versus those who remained unchanged (idiopathic/familial [P<.001], CTD-associated PAH [P=.009], whether newly [P=.004] or previously diagnosed [P<.001]. 6MWD improvements were greater in patients whose FC improved versus those who remained unchanged in the overall (P<.001) and CTD (P=.028) cohorts. CONCLUSION: Patients with PAH who improve from FC III to I/II, whether newly or previously diagnosed and regardless of PAH etiology, have better survival versus patients who remain FC III.ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT00370214.

View details for DOI 10.1378/chest.12-2417

View details for PubMedID 23429998