Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pulmonary Hypertension Patients: Insights from the BNP-PL National Database

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the clinical course and impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the rate of diagnosis and therapy in the complete Polish population of patients (pts) with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-1134) and CTEPH (570 pts) treated within the National Health Fund program and reported in the national BNP-PL database. Updated records of 1704 BNP-PL pts collected between March and December 2020 were analyzed with regard to incidence, clinical course and mortality associated with COVID-19. Clinical characteristics of the infected pts and COVID-19 decedents were analyzed. The rates of new diagnoses and treatment intensification in this period were studied and collated to the proper intervals of the previous year. The incidence of COVID-19 was 3.8% (n = 65) (PAH, 4.1%; CTEPH, 3.2%). COVID-19-related mortality was 28% (18/65 pts). Those who died were substantially older and had a more advanced functional WHO class and more cardiovascular comorbidities (comorbidity score, 4.0 ± 2.1 vs. 2.7 ± 1.8; p = 0.01). During the pandemic, annualized new diagnoses of PH diminished by 25–30% as compared to 2019. A relevant increase in total mortality was also observed among the PH pts (9.7% vs. 5.9% pre-pandemic, p = 0.006), whereas escalation of specific PAH/CTEPH therapies occurred less frequently (14.7% vs. 21.6% pre-pandemic). The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the diagnosis and treatment of PH by decreasing the number of new diagnoses, escalating therapy and enhancing overall mortality. Pulmonary hypertension is a risk factor for worsened course of COVID-19 and elevated mortality.