On 19 and 20 April, the pharmaceutical company Ferrer held a new edition of the International Meeting on Pulmonary Hypertension Clinical Treatment (IMPAHCT) 2024 in Barcelona. On this occasion, it has brought together more than 150 pulmonology and cardiology specialists from more than 30 countries, revalidating the company's commitment to the research, development and management of pulmonary hypertension 1.
IMPAHCT 2024 has focused this year on the unmet needs of people living with pulmonary arterial hypertension (or PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial diseases (or PH-ILD). In this sense, the patient's voice has gained greater prominence compared to previous editions, as reflected during the round table entitled "The patient's perspective in pulmonary hypertension. Opportunities for the future". In this forum, international experts have been able to discuss the needs, beyond the strictly therapeutic, of patients with this disease to achieve an improvement in their quality of life.
Hall Skaara, representative of the European Association of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension (PHA Europe) and participant in the round table, has highlighted that, in addition to pharmacological treatment, people diagnosed with this disorder should also have psychological support. "According to a study on the impact of pulmonary hypertension on the lives of thesepatients2, up to 40% of them also suffer from depression after discovering the pathology," said Skaara. "This is due to the physical and emotional burden of living with a chronic and potentially lethal disease such as this one, so it is necessary to give greater visibility to pulmonary hypertension so that health professionals can offer optimal support to their patients."
On the other hand, IMPAHCT 2024 also featured a presentation by Dr. John Wort, from the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, who presented the results of an epidemiological study designed to find out the prevalence and incidence of PH-ILD in different European countries. In his talk, the expert showed for the first time the conclusions of the research carried out in the United Kingdom on this disease.
After analysing data from the Anglo-Saxon country, Wort and his colleagues have been able to confirm that pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial diseases should be considered a low-prevalence disorder (i.e. it affects less than five inhabitants per ten thousand), so it should receive the same visibility as rare diseases among the medical community. The study, which included Ferrer's participation, is the first on PH-ILD to have used anonymized health data from millions of people and collected between 2015 and 2021 at the national level.
"The robustness of research such as this highlights the urgency of giving greater visibility to pulmonary hypertension, as it is a debilitating pathology that requires a multidisciplinary approach as in the case of any other rare disease," says Jorge Cuneo, Chief Medical Officer at Ferrer. "Therefore, it is necessary to disseminate knowledge about its existence to meet the unmet needs of the people who live with it."
Throughout the second day, the congress also hosted a round table in which experts from three different continents, represented by Taiwan, Colombia, Mexico, Germany and Spain, shared their experiences on the disease to try to draw a global vision on the best forms of treatment for pulmonary hypertension.
"Our commitment to organize the IMPAHCT congress every year reflects Ferrer's desire to accompany health professionals in improving the quality of life of individuals, families and their caregivers living with pulmonary hypertension," says Óscar Pérez, Chief Scientific Officer at Ferrer. "In line with our purpose of using business to fight for social justice, this event represents a demonstration of our support for the scientific community. Through continuing education, research and development, we seek to achieve transformative therapeutic solutions for one of the most serious and debilitating diseases we know today."
About Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (or PH) is a condition caused by different diseases characterized by the development of molecular and anatomical changes in the pulmonary blood circulation, which result in an abnormal increase in pulmonary artery pressure (> 20 mmHg)1. It affects approximately 1% of the world's population (a value that can reach up to 10% in people over 65 years of age) and about 80% of people living with pulmonary hypertension reside in developing countries3. PH is classified into five different groups, among the most frequent causes are left-sided heart and lung diseases1. The development of PH is almost invariably associated with the worsening of symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue and cough, among others, and increased mortality, regardless of the underlying pathology1. Although there are no cures for some types of pulmonary hypertension, important steps have been taken in terms of knowledge, therapy and prognosis that have changed the perspective on the disease, so current treatment can help improve the quality of life of people living with this pathology1.
About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (or PAH) represents one of the more than 7,000 rare and ultra-rare diseases diagnosed to date worldwide4. It is caused by high pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which causes the right side of the heart to strain more than normal and can eventually lead to right ventricular failure and premature death1. It is estimated that in Europe it affects between 15 and 50 people per million inhabitants, of any age, race, condition and sex, and has a higher prevalence in women than in men1.
About pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) brings together a group of pathologies that affect the lungs and are characterized by marked scarring or fibrosis of the bronchioles and alveolar sacs within the lungs5,6. Increased fibrotic tissue impedes oxygenation and free gas exchange between the pulmonary capillaries and alveolar sacs, so involvement can manifest with a wide range of symptoms, including shortness of breath during exercise, shortness of breath, and fatigue5,6. Pulmonary hypertension frequently complicates the course of patients with interstitial lung disease and is associated with poorer performance status as measured by inability to exercise, increased supplemental oxygen requirements, decreased quality of life, and worse outcomes5,6.
References:
- Humbert M, Kovacs G, Hoeper MM, et al. 2022 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension [published correction appears in Eur Heart J. 2023 Apr 17; 44(15):1312]. Eur Heart J. 2022; 43(38):3618-3731
- The impact of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on the lives of patients and carers: results from an international survey: https://www.phaeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/PAH_Survey_FINAL.pdf
- Hoeper MM, Humbert M, Souza R, Idrees M, Kawut SM, Sliwa-Hahnle K, et al. A global view of pulmonary hypertension. Lancet Respir Med. 2016 Apr; 4(4):306-22.
- https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/index.php
- Behr J, Nathan SD. Pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease: screening, diagnosis and treatment. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2021 Sep 1; 27(5):396-404.
- King CS, Shlobin OA. The trouble with group 3 pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease: dilemmas in diagnosis and the conundrum of treatment. Chest. 2020; 158(4):1651-1664.
