[Pulmonary arterial hypertension in the elderly subject].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the features of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in elderly patients.


METHODS
A single centre, descriptive study of PAH patients consecutively referred to a regional centre, from September 2002 to February, 1st, 2009. The group of patients aged 65 and above at the time of the diagnosis was compared to the younger patients.


RESULTS
Sixty-six patients suffering from PAH (group 1) have been investigated by means of right heart catheterisation. There were 24 patients aged 65 and above. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was lower in the patients aged over 65. The older patient group had more respiratory and/or cardiac co-morbidities, a lower median distance in the 6minute walk test and a higher median Pro-BNP level. Specific PAH treatments were prescribed in both groups. Fifteen patients aged 65 and above were on long-term oxygen therapy (vs four younger patients, p<0.0001). The elderly patients had a median survival of 32 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of PAH in elderly patients is associated with a poor prognosis. The management of these patients needs further studies.
Equipe d'accueil 3878, Groupe HTAP de Bretagne Occidentale (GETBO), IFR 148, université de Brest, CHRU de Brest, 29609 Brest, France. irene.frachon@chu-brest.fr <irene.frachon@chu-brest.fr>
I
I
Frachon
A
A
Barnier
Y
Y
Jobic
C
C
Gut-Gobert
Y
Y
Etienne
A
A
Crutu
P
P
Mialon
E
E
Pasquier
E
E
Nowak
M
M
Mejri
F
F
Couturaud
C
C
Leroyer
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D055815:Young Adult
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain