Obesity paradox in pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (PH-HFrEF) is a common heart disease with poor prognosis. In this study, we explored the risk factors for PH-HFrEF and investigated the related factors affecting the prognosis of PH-HFrEF patients.

Methods: The study recruited consecutive patients with PH-HFrEF and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) of more than 40 mm Hg with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 45% on echocardiography. Patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (HFrEF) but without PH (sPAP < 30 mmHg and LVEF < 45%) were chosen as the control group. Patients were followed up for 18 months, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded.

Results: In total, 93 patients with PH-HFrEF formed the study group and 93 LVEF-matched patients with HFrEF were enrolled as controls. Body mass index (BMI) in PH-HFrEF patients was significantly lower compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that low BMI was an independent predictor of the presence of PH in patients with HFrEF (p < 0.05). There were 23 (24.7%) MACE in the PH-HFrEF group and 18 (19.4%) MACE in the control group. Cox regression analysis showed that low BMI was an independent predictor of MACE occurrence in the PH-HFrEF group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Low BMI appear to be significantly associated with PH occurrence in patients with HFrEF, and is an independent predictor of MACE in patients with PH-HFrEF.