DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common and serious cardiovascular complication among patients undergoing hemodialysis. It contributes significantly to increased morbidity and mortality in this population, often remaining underdiagnosed due to a nonspecific clinical presentation. Objective: To determine the frequency of pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Nephrology Department, Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan. Duration of Study: 17-September-2024 to 17-March-2025. Methods: A total of 148 hemodialysis patients aged between 18 and 70 years were enrolled. Pulmonary hypertension was diagnosed using Doppler echocardiography, defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >25 mmHg at rest. Clinical evaluation included assessment of angina (Visual Analogue Scale score >3) and shortness of breath. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and results were expressed as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Results: The mean age of the study population was 47.55 ± 16.11 years. Of the 148 patients, 85 (57.4%) were male and 63 (42.6%) were female. Pulmonary hypertension was detected in 76 (51.4%) patients, indicating a high prevalence of cardiovascular complications among individuals on long-term hemodialysis. Conclusion: The study found a high frequency (51.4%) of pulmonary hypertension among hemodialysis patients, emphasizing the need for routine cardiovascular monitoring in this high-risk group to improve clinical outcomes and reduce long-term complications.