Functional Class Improvement and 3-Year Survival Outcomes in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the REVEAL Registry

Objective: New York Heart Association/World Health Organization functional class (FC) is associated with outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We assessed whether patients with PAH who improve from FC III to FC I/III have improved survival vs patients who remain at FC HI or worsen to FC IV. Methods: Patients aged >= 19 years with FC III PAH from the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry) (N = 982) were categorized as improved, unchanged, or worsened according to their change in FC from enrollment to first follow-up assessment within 1 year of enrollment. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 3-year survival from first follow-up and changes in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) from enrollment to first follow-up were determined. Subgroup analyses were conducted by cause (ie, idiopathic/familial, connective tissue disease [CTD], congenital heart disease) and time of diagnosis (ie, newly or previously diagnosed [diagnostic right-sided heart catheterization within or >= 3 months of enrollment, respectively]). Results: Overall, 27% of patients improved FC. Survival was better in patients whose FC improved (84% 2%, n = 263) vs those who remained unchanged (66% +/- 2%, n = 645) or worsened (29% +/- 6%, n = 74) (all P < .001). Survival was also better in patient subgroups whose FC improved vs those who remained unchanged (idiopathic/familial [P < .001], CTD-associated PAH [P = .009], whether newly [P = .004] or previously diagnosed [P < .0011). 6MWD improvements were greater in patients whose FC improved vs those who remained unchanged in the overall (P < .001) and CTD (P = .028) cohorts. Conclusion: Patients with PAH who improve from FC III to I/III, whether newly or previously diagnosed and regardless of PAH cause, have better survival vs patients who remain FC III. Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00370214; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov