30 January, 2025
Undertaken on behalf of the PEX-NET (Pulmonary Haemodynamics during Exercise Network) European Respiratory Society (ERS) Clinical Research Collaboration, a new study has confirmed the additional prognostic value of pulmonary hemodynamics during exercise in addition to resting hemodynamics based on a large multicentre database.
The study – Prognostic relevance of exercise pulmonary hypertension: results of the multicentre PEX-NET Clinical Research Collaboration – has been published in the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ).
Here are four key takeaways from the study:
- The database of the ERS PEX-NET Clinical Research Collaboration represents the largest currently existing multicentre dataset on pulmonary haemodynamics during exercise, containing both retrospectively and prospectively collected clinical data from more than 20 centres and more than 2000 patients.
- Based on the PEX-NET database, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure/cardiac output slope appears as a robust and independent predictor of prognosis beyond resting haemodynamics in patients with normal or mildly elevated pulmonary arterial pressure.
- The results of the study suggest that a mean pulmonary arterial pressure/cardiac output slope >3 mmHg·min·L−1 may serve as a simple but sensitive prognosticator in agreement with the current definition of exercise PH.
- Currently, several clinically relevant questions, especially on the early forms of pulmonary vascular and left heart disease, are being investigated in the PEX-NET database.
Speaking about the study and its findings, Gabor Kovacs (Deputy Head of the Division of Pulmonology and Leader of the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Unit at the Medical University of Graz) said:
“These findings open the door for further research towards the early recognition of pulmonary vascular and left heart disease. Currently, hemodynamic and clinical data are collected in a prospective manner. In addition, several analyses on subgroups of the database (e.g. on patients with certain diseases) are being performed. We are thankful to the ERS for its financial and logistical support.”
The ERS Clinical Research Collaborations (CRC) programme provides support to projects in different areas of respiratory medicine, to build and maintain European multi-centre networks of researchers, from both within and outside of the Society. Calls for the programme will re-open on 15 July, 2025. Further information about the PEX-NET – Pulmonary hemodynamics during exercise – research network is also available on our website.