Pulmonary hypertension: an emerging problem in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis

To find out the frequency of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and its association with various contributing factors in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD) due to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Nephrology Department, Lahore General Hospital, Pakistan, from July to December 2016. Methodology: Fifty patients with end-stage renal disease. Various parameters, including the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), were recorded. Pulmonary arterial pressure greater than 25 mmHg at rest was defined as pulmonary hypertension. It was further divided into three sub categories as mild (25-40 mmHg), moderate (40-55 mmHg), and severe (greater than 55 mmHg). Data were correlated with age, gender, body mass index, systemic hypertension, diabetes, duration of dialysis, and Hb (hemoglobin) concentration. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The median (IQR) duration of dialysis was 12 (11.25) months. Eighteen (36%) patients were found to have PH. It is greater in patients who had been on dialysis for more than 5 months. A positive association was seen between the duration of dialysis and the prevalence of PH (p=0.024). Conclusion: A considerable number of patients on hemodialysis have pulmonary hypertension which is associated with the longer duration of maintenance hemodialysis. (author)