Haji K

Wong CX

Chandra N

Truong, Helen

Corkill, Wendy

Kaethner, Alexander

Naing P

Abeyaratne, Asanga

Brady, Stephen

Kangaharan, Nadarajah

2019-04-01

The burden of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in Central Australia has not been previously studied. Our aim is to characterise the prevalence, clinical classification, and long-term survival of individuals with PHT in Central Australia. A community-based cohort study of all individuals diagnosed with PHT in Central Australia between 2005 and 2016 was undertaken. We estimated PHT prevalence using population data, describe clinical PHT classification, and characterised long-term survival using Kaplan-Meier approaches. A total of 183 patients were identified (mean age 52±16years, 63% female). Of these individuals, 149 (81.4%) were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) descent. The prevalence per 100,000 of any PHT was significantly higher In ATSI (723 [95% CI 608-839] compared to non-ATSI individuals (126 [95% CI 84-168], p<0.001). Furthermore, ATSI individuals were diagnosed at younger ages compared to non-ATSI individuals (49±15 vs 64±16years, p<0.001). Median estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ePASP) was higher in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) compared to other causes (62 [IQR 54-69] vs 50 [IQR 44-58] mmHg, p<0.01). The median survival rate from diagnosis was 9 years (IQR 7.2-13.2). Age and ePASP were significant predictors of mortality (HR 1.05 [95% CI 1.02-1.07] and HR 1.56 [95% 1.00-2.42] respectively). In this community based study, we found a high burden of PHT in Central Australia. The prevalence of PHT is greater in ATSI individuals and is diagnosed at younger ages compared to non-ATSI individuals. Together with other cardiovascular diseases, PHT may be in-part contributing to the gap in life expectancy between ATSI and non-ATSI individuals.

Western Centre for Health Research Education, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Western Health, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia. Electronic address: kawa.haji@wh.org.au..

Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia..

Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia..

Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia..

Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia..

Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia..

Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia..

Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia..

Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia..

Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, NT, Australia; Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia; Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT, Australia..

Heart Lung Circ . 2019 Apr;28(4):598-604. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2018.02.020. Epub 2018 Mar 6.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29599030/?otool=iaurydwlib

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5125

Echocardiography

Indigenous Health

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary Hypertension in Central Australia: A Community-Based Cohort Study.

Journal Article

Publication