Pulmonary Hypertension in Elderly Patients with Diastolic Dysfunction and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Purpose: Patients with diastolic dysfunction may have a disproportionate degree of elevation in pulmonary hypertension, particularly in the elderly. We aim to identify if pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in elderly patients with diastolic dysfunction is higher than patients with systolic dysfunction independent of filling pressures.;Methods: 389 patients identified retrospectively between 2003--2010; elderly with preserved EF, elderly with depressed EF, and primary arterial hypertension who underwent right-heart catheterization at Rush University.;Results: No significant difference in PVR between systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The mean difference in PVR was not statistically significant at 0.40 mmHg·min/l (95% CI -3.03 to 3.83) with similar left ventricular filling pressures with mean difference of 3.38 mmHg (95% CI, -1.27 to 8.02). When adjusted for filling pressures, there remained no difference in PVR for systolic and diastolic dysfunction.;Conclusion: There was no etiology identified for secondary pulmonary hypertension other than diastolic dysfunction and chronic venous pulmonary hypertension.