title: Predictors of pulmonary hypertension after intermediate-to-high risk pulmonary embolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cardiovascular emergency that, when combined with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH), is associated with high mortality and morbidity. We aimed to determine the incidence of and predisposing factors for the development of PH after a PE episode.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted in 213 patients admitted to an intensive care unit with intermediate-to-high risk PE between 2000 and 2010. Clinical data at admission were collected and the incidence of PH as assessed by echocardiography (estimated pulmonary systolic artery pressure over 40 mmHg) was determined. Multivariate analysis was used to determine predictors of development of PH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PH was detected in 12.4% of patients after a mean follow-up of three years. Only age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.20 per year; p=0.012) and body mass index (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.36) per kg/m2, p=0.013) emerged as independent predictors of the development of this complication during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PH after PE was a relatively common complication in our series. We identified advanced age and increased body mass index as predisposing factors.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Universitária de Cardiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: Antony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Graça
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Luís Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Providência
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Age; Body mass index; Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; Fatores de risco; Hipertensão pulmonar tromboembólica crónica; Idade; Obesidade; Obesity; Pulmonary embolism; Risk factors; Tromboembolia-pulmonar; Índice de massa corporal