A Study of Pulmonary Hypertension as Measured by Transthoracic Echocardiography in a Cohort of Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Background: This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in individuals diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Materials and Methods: This is an observational monocentric prospective study conducted in Apollo Hospital, Greams Road, Chennai, between May 2022 and April 2024. After excluding patients with other diseases causing PH, 60 patients with ILD were included in this study. Data such as demographics, smoking status, clinical presentation, comorbidities, radiological features, pulmonary function tests, and ECHO findings were obtained. Results: Of the 60 participants, 23.3% exhibited PH (mild [13.3%], moderate [5%], and severe [5%]). ILD was characterized by usual interstitial pneumonia in 71.7% of patients and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in 28.3%. The study’s clinical parameters revealed significant differences in DLCO, suggesting that antifibrotic use may affect gas exchange efficiency, while nonsignificant differences were observed in other parameters. Conclusion: This study investigated the complex interplay between ILD and PH in South India. Notably, 23.3% of ILD patients exhibited PH, highlighting its prevalence. Interestingly, PH occurred even in nonsmokers, challenging traditional risk factors. In addition, antifibrotic use showed promise in reducing PH prevalence and clubbing emerged as a potential diagnostic marker.