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      Home/Our innovation /Focus areas/Pulmonary hypertension/What is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)?
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      What is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)?

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      Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) affects people of all ages, impairing daily life and limiting survival. Our immediate goal is to prolong survival and we also aim to improve the quality of life for those living with this disease.

      PAH can occur at all ages including in children, however most PAH patients are diagnosed between 50 and 65 years of age.1,2 The symptoms of PAH, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain and light-headedness, have a major impact on patients’ functioning and physical, psychological and social wellbeing.3

      On average it takes two years from the onset of symptoms for PAH to be diagnosed,4 and many patients may go unidentified.5 Despite recent advances, PAH is a serious, progressive disease with no cure.6,7

      What is PAH?

      With research and discovery programs shared across our therapeutic areas, we are committing significant discovery resources to uncover the most promising mechanisms that can modify the course of PAH. The goal for us is to reverse the underlying pathologies in PAH and resolve the disease itself.

      To do so, we are tapping into our deep in-vitro and in-vivo expertise, as well as connecting with patient and research communities to fully understand the challenges and risks associated with PAH.

      Other forms of Pulmonary Hypertension

      Research to date has primarily focused on PAH but we have extended our research to include chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and other types of PH.

      1. Galiè N, et al. 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Eur Heart J 2016; 37:67-119.
      2. Hoeper MG and Gibbs SR. The changing landscape of pulmonary arterial hypertension and implications for patient care. Eur Respir Rev 2014; 23:450-7.
      3. Chin KM, et al. Psychometric Validation of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-Symptoms and Impact (PAH-SYMPACT) Questionnaire. Results of the SYMPHONY Trial. Chest 2018: 154(4):848-61.
      4. Prins KW, et al. WHO Group I Pulmonary Hypertension: Epidemiology and Pathophysiology. Cardiol Clin 2016; 34(3):363-74.
      5. Humbert M, et al. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in France. Results from a National Registry. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 173:1023-30.
      6. Vachiéry JL and Gaine S. Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Eur Respir Rev 2012; 21:313-20.
      7. Hoeper MM, et al. Mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension: prediction by the 2015 European pulmonary hypertension guidelines risk stratification model. Eur Respir J 2017; 50:1700740.