Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With COPD

Pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD (PH-COPD) is common, with prevalence rates that range from 30% to 70%. Although the severity of PH in COPD is less than in patients with idiopathic or other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the number of patients with COPD with severe PH is not insignificant, especially in those with advanced disease. In one study of 215 patients with COPD who were referred for lung transplantation evaluation, mean pulmonary artery pressure was ≥35 mm Hg in 10% and ≥45 mm Hg in just under 4%.