Mild elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance predicts mortality regardless of mean pulmonary artery pressure in mild interstitial lung disease

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) reflects pulmonary vascular abnormalities. The clinical significance of non-severe PH in patients with various interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of MPAP and PVR for mortality in patients with newly diagnosed ILD. Methods We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients with ILD at initial evaluations that included right heart catheterisation from 2007 to 2018. These patients were classified by MPAP and PVR using the 2022 the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/the European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines for PH. The clinical significance of MPAP and PVR for mortality was analysed. Results Among 854 patients, 167 (19.6%) had MPAP>20 mm Hg. The proportion of patients with PVR>2 Wood units (WU) among those with MPAP≤20 mm Hg, 20<MPAP<25 mm Hg, and ≥25 mm Hg were 26.2%, 60.4% and 86.4%, respectively. In Cox proportional hazards analyses with adjustment for ILD–Gender, Age and Physiology Index, PVR but not MPAP was associated with a higher mortality rate (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.52, p<0.0001; HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.01, p=0.1671, respectively). PVR>2 WU was associated with a higher mortality rate (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.02, p<0.0001) even in a group with MPAP≤20 mm Hg. Conclusions Mild elevation of PVR was associated with a higher mortality rate in patients with newly diagnosed ILD, even in those with MPAP≤20 mm Hg.