Correlation between right ventricular–pulmonary artery coupling and the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the efficiency coefficient of right ventricular–pulmonary artery coupling (η(vv)) and the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A total of 64 patients who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) were enrolled and divided into PAH and control groups depending on the RHC results. Pressure and volumetric methods were adopted to analyze the results of RHC and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging examination. The η(vv) of patients in 2 groups were calculated, and the relationship between η(vv) calculated by the 2 methods and the 2-year prognosis of patients with PAH was evaluated. The hemodynamic index and right ventricular–pulmonary artery coupling parameter of patients with PAH were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .05). The right ventricular volume parameter in the PAH group was significantly different from that in the control group (P < .05). For patients with PAH, the end-systolic elastance/effective arterial elastance (Ees/Ea) calculated by the volumetric method was significantly related to the prognosis of patients (odds ratio = 0.192, 95% confidence interval: 0.042–0.868, P = .032). When Ees/Ea <0.67 was calculated by the volumetric method, the adverse prognosis of patients with PAH increased significantly (P < .05). The Ees/Ea calculated by the volumetric method may be better an independent factor for the prognosis of patients with PAH.