Dataset Information

Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the Modern Treatment Era: Meta-Analyses of Randomized, Controlled Trials and Observational Registries.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Data on the magnitude of benefit of modern therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated PAH are limited. In this study, we performed meta-analyses of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and registries to quantify the benefit of these modern therapies in patients with CTD-PAH.

Methods

The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for articles reporting data from RCTs or registries published between January 1, 2000 and November 25, 2019. Eligibility criteria included multicenter studies with ≥30 CTD-PAH patients. For an RCT to be included, the trial had to evaluate an approved PAH therapy, and long-term risks of clinical morbidity and mortality or 6-minute walk distance had to be reported. For a registry to be included, survival rates had to be reported. Random-effects models were used to pool the data.

Results

Eleven RCTs (total of 4,329 patients; 1,267 with CTD-PAH) and 19 registries (total of 9,739 patients; 4,008 with CTD-PAH) were included. Investigational therapy resulted in a 36% reduction in the risk of clinical morbidity/mortality events both in the overall PAH population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.54, 0.75; P < 0.001) and in CTD-PAH patients (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.51, 0.81; P < 0.001) as compared to control subjects. The survival rate was lower in CTD-PAH patients compared to all PAH patients (survival rate 62%, 95% CI 57, 67% versus 72%, 95% CI 69, 75% at 3 years). The survival rate in CTD-PAH patients treated primarily after 2010 was higher than that in CTD-PAH patients treated before 2010 (survival rate 73%, 95% CI 62, 81% versus 65%, 95% CI 59, 71% at 3 years).

Conclusion

Modern therapy provides a similar reduction in morbidity/mortality risk in patients with CTD-PAH when compared to the PAH population overall. Risk of death is higher in CTD-PAH patients than in those with PAH overall, but survival has improved in the last 10 years, which may be related to increased screening and/or new treatment approaches. Early detection of PAH in patients with CTD and up-front intensive treatment are warranted.

SUBMITTER: Khanna D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8251834 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Limited data about the long-term prognosis and response to therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with World Health Organization functional class I/II symptoms are available. PubMed and Embase were searched for publications of observational registries and randomized, controlled trials in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients published between January 2001 and January 2018. Eligible registries enrolled pulmonary arterial hypertension patients ≥18 years, N > 30, and reported survival by functional class. Randomized, controlled trial inclusion criteria were pulmonary arterial hypertension patients ≥18 years, ≥6 months of treatment, and morbidity, mortality, or time to worsening as end points reported by functional class. The primary outcomes were survival for registries and clinical event rates for randomized, controlled trials. Separate random effects models were calculated for registries and randomized, controlled trials. Four randomized, controlled trials (n = 2482) and 10 registries (n = 6580) were included. Registries enrolled 9%-47% functional class I/II patients (the vast majority being functional class II) with various pulmonary arterial hypertension etiologies. Survival rates for functional class I/II patients at one, two, and three years were 93% (95% confidence interval (CI): 91%-95%), 86% (95% CI: 82%-89%), and 78% (95% CI: 73%-83%), respectively. The hazard ratio for the treatment effect in randomized, controlled trials overall was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.51-0.74) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.44-0.82) for functional class I/II patients and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.49-0.78) for functional class III/IV. The calculated risk of death of 22% within three years for functional class I/II patients underlines the need for careful assessment and optimal treatment of patients with functional class I/II disease. The randomized, controlled trial analysis demonstrates that current medical therapies have a beneficial treatment effect in this population.

Project description:ObjectivesFew studies have focused on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The optimal treatment for CTD-PAH has yet to be established.DesignMeta-analysis of the data from evaluations of treatment for PAH generally (19 studies) and CTD-PAH specifically (nine studies) to compare the effects of pulmonary vasodilative PAH agents. MEDLINE, EMBASE and BIOSIS were searched. English-language full-text articles published between January 1990 and August 2012 were eligible.SettingInternational.ParticipantsPatients with PAH generally (n=3073) and CTD-PAH specifically (n=678).Primary outcome measureExercise capacity (6 min walk distance, 6 MWD).ResultsPatients with PAH (all forms) had mean age 32-55 years (women, 61-87%); CTD-PAH patients had mean age 45-55 years (women, 74-95%). Overall estimate of mean change in 6 MWD from baseline (95% CI) for the active treatment group versus the control group in all patients with PAH was 34.6 m (27.4-41.9 m). Pooled mean differences from the results for patients receiving placebo by subgroup of patients receiving phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) and prostacyclin (PGI2) analogues were 22.4-45.5, 39.5-44.2 and 12.4-64.9 m, respectively. Overall estimate of mean difference between changes in 6 MWD in patients with CTD-PAH was 34.2 m (23.3-45.0 m). Pooled mean differences by subgroup of patients receiving PDE-5 inhibitors, ERAs and PGI2 analogues in patients with CTD-PAH were 37.0-47.1, 14.1-21.7 and 21.0-108.0 m, respectively. ERAs were less effective in patients with CTD-PAH than all-form patients with PAH: 14.1 m (-4.4-32.6 m) vs 39.5 m (19.5-59.6 m) for bosentan and 21.7 m (2.2-41.3 m) vs 44.2 m (30.2-58.2 m) for ambrisentan.ConclusionsAll three types of PAH agent are effective. However, ERAs may be a less effective choice against CTD-PAH; further studies are needed. Limitations include the limited number of studies for some agents and for patients with CTD-PAH.