Phenotype-based screening algorithm for chronic pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary...

Chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among preterm infants. Systematic screening enables earlier diagnosis, improves recognition of disease heterogeneity, and supports development of targeted management strategies. However, existing screening approaches vary and often emphasize treatment considerations without adequately distinguishing underlying hemodynamic phenotypes, including pulmonary vascular remodeling, systemic-to-pulmonary shunting with increased pulmonary blood flow, and left heart disease. This lack of mechanistic differentiation may delay appropriate therapy and expose infants to ineffective or harmful interventions. There is a critical need for standardized screening strategies that integrate physiologic phenotyping to better define disease contributors, severity, and longitudinal risk. The physiology of cPH is dynamic and changes over time. In this perspective, we propose a phenotype-integrated screening algorithm in BPD-associated cPH, focusing on identification of high-risk populations, optimal timing and modality of assessment, phenotype-directed management pathways, longitudinal follow-up, and coordinated multidisciplinary care.