Prevalência de hipertensão pulmonar em idosos em um centro de referência

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a critical alteration of the pulmonary circulation, which impairs quality of life and can be fatal. However, there are few studies in the national literature that assess the prevalence and impact of this pathology in the elderly, the group most affected by cardiopulmonary changes. Objective: To describe the general prevalence and factors associated with pulmonary hypertension in the elderly. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, with an analytical and descriptive approach through retrospective analysis of hospitalization data in the sectors of pneumology and cardiology at Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, in the city of Passo Fundo, northern Rio Grande do Sul. Clinical-epidemiological criteria and their associations with the diagnosis of PH were assessed through echocardiographic examination. Results: 1120 medical records were analyzed, and a prevalence of 334 (29.8%) of PH was obtained. They stand out as statistically significant factors for the evaluated outcome, being female, being over 90 years old, presenting cardiac changes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p <0.001). Conclusions: The analysis presents innovative data on the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in hospitalized elderly. Frequencies related to pulmonary hypertension and its associated factors have been demonstrated in elderly patients who have undergone hospitalization for cardiac and pulmonary causes. Further studies on the subject still need to be established, since it is a progressive pathology, which is related to death and has good prognosis if detected and treated early.