Prognostication in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

Despite the advances in diagnostic and treatment strategies, and contemporary survival estimates suggesting improved outcomes, the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains poor. To date, there is no consensus on which prognostic variables or risk prediction strategies best predict survival, at baseline and at different time points in the disease course. Even less clear is whether current prognostic variables accurately reflect disease severity and can sufficiently guide therapeutic decisions. This article reviews the most common factors used for prognostication in PAH, emphasizing that proper strategies for identifying patients at greatest risk are paramount.