[Epidemiological aspects in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious disease with a very poor prognosis and extremely low survival in untreated patients or in those treated with anticoagulation alone. The true incidence and prevalence of CTEPH is currently unknown and the disease is probably underdiagnosed. Current data indicate that the incidence ranges from 0.1% to 3.8%. The latest research and reported studies reveal the need to determine not only the incidence of CTEPH in symptomatic patients but also in asymptomatic patients who subsequently develop the disease, as well as in the remaining patients with an asymptomatic venous thromboembolic event. Several risk factors are associated with a greater predisposition to CTEPH (advanced age, extensive obstruction, elevated systolic pulmonary pressure, and numerous clinical conditions). Due to advances made in the management of CTEPH in the last few years, the clinical course and prognosis and of this disease may be undergoing a major change and CTEPH may become a chronic, treatable disease.