Pulmonary hypertension in patients with pneumoconiosis with progressive massive fibrosis

Objectives This study aims to explore the prevalence and clinical features of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) and its correlation with large opacities on CT scans. Methods This retrospective study collected 235 patients with PMF, and 199 were eligible for analysis. The probability of PH development was estimated based on tricuspid regurgitation velocity measured by echocardiogram. The size and the location of large opacities on chest CT were recorded. Potential risk factors for PH secondary to PMF were analysed using regression analysis. Results The prevalence of a high or intermediate probability of PH was 39.7% in patients with PMF. Type C of large opacities (OR 6.99, 95% CI 2.34 to 23.00, p<0.001) and central type of the large opacities (OR 8.12, 95% CI 2.89 to 24.71, p<0.001) were identified as the risk factors for PH secondary to PMF. Over a median follow-up of 32.8 months, the survival rate was 73.3% in the PH group, significantly lower than that in the non-PH group (96.6%, p<0.001). Conclusions Over one-third of patients with PMF developed PH. The increased size and the central distribution of large opacities were identified as the risk factors.