Airway Anomalies Predict Risk of Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Medical Genetics

Background:

• Pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition leading to right heart failure and hypoxia.
• Associations between PH and airway anomalies in children are complex and require further understanding.
• Identifying at-risk pediatric patients for PH screening is essential for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between pediatric pulmonary hypertension and co-occurring cardiopulmonary anomalies.
• To identify specific congenital conditions associated with an increased risk of PH in children.
• To inform the development of screening guidelines for pediatric PH.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study of pediatric patients from January 2021 to January 2023.
• Analysis of inpatient, emergency department, and operating room records.
• Utilized odds ratios and logistic regression to determine associations between PH and other anomalies.

Main Results:

• PH was significantly associated with cardiac and airway anomalies (OR 3.26, p<0.05).
• Key associated conditions include bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and chronic lung disease (CLD).
• Down Syndrome (DS) was also found to be associated with PH.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric PH frequently co-occurs with other cardiopulmonary anomalies, indicating a high risk in patients with multiple comorbidities.
• Multidisciplinary care teams should screen high-risk pediatric patients for PH.
• Further research and quantification at multiple sites can aid in refining PH screening guidelines.