Pulmonary hypertension risk factors
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ralph Matar,
Overview
Pulmonary hypertension can be diagnosed in people of all ages, races, and ethnicity. However some risk factors make some people more likely to get the disease.
Risk Factors
Gender
Females are at least two-and-a-half more likely to have idiopathic and familial pulmonary hypertension than males.
Family History
A positive family history is defined by having two or more family members with a gene mutation causing pulmonary hypertension.
Co-morbidities
Certain diseases or conditions, such as heart and lung diseases, liver disease, HIV infection, connective tissue disorders like scleroderma and lupus are associated with pulmonary hypertension.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea predisposes to pulmonary hypertension by causing a drop in oxygen level when the patient is asleep.
Predisposition to Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism
Drugs and Toxins use
The use of street drugs(such as cocaine) or certain appetite suppressors like methamphetamines and the diet drug “fen phen” predisposes to having pulmonary hypertension.
Chronic Hypoxemia
Living at high altitudes for a long period of time is a risk factor.
Pregnancy
- While pregnancy in itself is not considered a risk factor for pulmonary hypertension, a female who gets pregnant and has pulmonary hypertension carries a higher risk of mortality, for this reason, pregnancy is contraindicated in patients with PAH.
- If needed, birth control pills containing the lowest amount of estrogen are recommended. However, nearly half of the specialists did not advocate using birth control pills for their patients, and some actively discouraged patients from doing so because of concern over the possible role of estrogen in worsening PAH[1]
References
- ↑ Consensus statement issued by the scientific leadership council, birth control and hormonal therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension.