Clinical Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Right Heart Catheterizations in Community Hospitals.

Background Recognition of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) has significant implications for patient management. However, the low a priori chance to find this rare condition in community hospitals may create a barrier against performing a right heart catheterization (RHC). This could result in misclassification of PH and delayed diagnosis/treatment of precapillary PH. Therefore, we investigated patient characteristics and echocardiographic parameters associated with the decision whether to perform an RHC in patients with incident PH in 12 Dutch community hospitals. Methods and Results In total, 275 patients were included from the OPTICS (Optimizing PH Diagnostic Network in Community Hospitals) registry, a prospective cohort study with patients with incident PH; 157 patients were diagnosed with RHC (34 chronic thromboembolic PH, 38 pulmonary arterial hypertension, 81 postcapillary PH, 4 miscellaneous PH), while 118 patients were labeled as probable postcapillary PH without hemodynamic confirmation. Multivariable analysis showed that older age (>60 years), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction grade 2-3, left atrial dilatation were independently associated with the decision to not perform an RHC, while presence of prior venous thromboembolic events or pulmonary arterial hypertension-associated conditions, right atrial dilatation, and tricuspid regurgitation velocity ≥3.7 m/s favor an RHC performance. Conclusions Older age and echocardiographic parameters of left heart disease were independently associated with the decision to not perform an RHC, while presence of prior venous thromboembolic events or pulmonary arterial hypertension-associated conditions, right atrial dilation, and severe PH on echocardiography favored an RHC performance. As such, especially elderly patients may be at an increased risk of diagnostic delays and missed diagnoses of treatable precapillary PH, which could lead to a worse prognosis.

Identifying Reasons for Nonattendance and Noncompletion of Cardiac Rehabilitation: INSIGHTS FROM GERMANY AND THE NETHERLANDS.

PURPOSE: Despite strong recommendations and beneficial health effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), participation rates remain low. Little data are available on reasons beyond quantitative factors in the underutilization of CR. The aim of this study was to identify personal reasons for nonattenders and noncompletions of CR among Dutch and German patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) eligible for CR. METHODS: Between December 2017 and January 2019, a total of 4265 questionnaires were distributed among eligible patients for CR in the bordering area of the eastern Netherlands and western Germany. Patients were eligible if they had an indication for CR according to national guidelines. Questionnaires were used to assess reasons of nonattendance and noncompletion of CR, when applicable. RESULTS: A total of 1829 patients with CVD completed the questionnaire. Of these, 1278 indicated that they received referral to CR. Despite referral, 192 patients decided not to participate in CR and 88 patients with CVD withdrew from the CR program. The three most reported reasons for nonattendance were as follows: (1) did not need the supervision (56%, n = 108), (2) did not need the CR trajectory (55%, n = 105), and (3) already exercised regularly (39%, n = 74). The most reported reasons for noncompletion were as follows: (1) could no longer participate because of other physical problems (30%, n = 26), (2) did not need the CR trajectory (26%, n = 23), and (3) the CR program was not personal enough (23%, n = 20). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients had motivational or perceptive reasons for nonattendance or noncompletion to CR. These possible misconceptions as well as perceived shortcomings of traditional CR underline the need for adequate motivation, information, and more personalized solutions (eg, eHealth, home-based CR) to increase the uptake and completion of CR.

Noninvasive Prediction of Elevated Wedge Pressure in Pulmonary Hypertension Patients Without Clear Signs of Left-Sided Heart Disease: External Validation of the OPTICS Risk Score.

Background Although most newly presenting patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure, identification of so-called postcapillary PH can be challenging. A noninvasive tool predicting elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure in patients with incident PH may help avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures. Methods and Results A combination of clinical data, ECG, and echocardiographic parameters was used to refine a previously developed left heart failure risk score in a retrospective cohort of pre- and postcapillary PH patients. This updated score (renamed the OPTICS risk score) was externally validated in a prospective cohort of patients from 12 Dutch nonreferral centers the OPTICS network. Using the updated OPTICS risk score, the presence of postcapillary PH could be predicted on the basis of body mass index ≥30, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, history of valvular surgery, sum of SV1 (deflection in V1 in millimeters) and RV6 (deflection in V6 in millimeters) on ECG, and left atrial dilation. The external validation cohort included 81 postcapillary PH patients and 66 precapillary PH patients. Using a predefined cutoff of >104, the OPTICS score had 100% specificity for postcapillary PH (sensitivity, 22%). In addition, we investigated whether a high probability of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, assessed by the H2FPEF score (obesity, atrial fibrillation, age >60 yrs, ≥2 antihypertensives, E/e' >9, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure by echo >35 mmHg), similarly predicted the presence of elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure. High probability of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (H2FPEF score ≥6) was less specific for postcapillary PH. Conclusions In a community setting, the OPTICS risk score can predict elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure in PH patients without clear signs of left-sided heart disease. The OPTICS risk score may be used to tailor the decision to perform invasive diagnostic testing.