The American College of Cardiology (ACC) just concluded its 75th annual conference. From March 28 through March 30, the ACC hosted the 75th Annual Scientific Session and Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana. The three-day event was packed with hundreds of educational and insightful sessions on topics related to cardiovascular care, as well as hundreds of abstracts covering sixty topic areas, including pulmonary vascular disease, congenital heart disease, ischemic heart diseases, and more.

Today, we are taking a look at a curated selection of abstracts that focus on or are related to pulmonary vascular disease. Some descriptions and conclusions were edited for clarity and brevity. For a complete look at the abstracts submitted during the 75th Annual ACC Scientific Session and Expo, visit the Journal of the American College of Cardiology website, where the abstract supplement issue is available. 

Pulmonary Vascular Disease Abstracts from ACC 2026 Scientific Session and Expo

Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Electrocardiogram for Predicting Atrial Fibrillation and Mortality in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

  • Description: Artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiodiogram has shown high accuracy for atrial fibrillation prediction in the general population, but its utility in pulmonary atrial hypertension has not been validated.
  • Conclusion: The artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiodiogram effectively predicts new-onset AF and is also associated with higher mortality in patients with PAH. Using artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiodiogram at pulmonary atrial hypertension diagnosis can identify patients at high risk for developing atrial fibrillation who may benefit from closer atrial fibrillation surveillance.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Electronic Alert-Based Computerized Decision Support To Increase Detection of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH-DETECT)

  • Description: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare complication of pulmonary embolism, frequently leads to delayed diagnosis. 
  • Conclusion: The alert-based computerized decision support nearly doubled the frequency of echocardiographic screening and the identification of patients with pulmonary hypertension among patients with prior pulmonary embolism at risk of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Right Heart-Left Heart Interactions: Linking Eccentricity Index with Pulmonary Capillary Wedge and Right Atrial Pressures

  • Description: Eccentricity index is an echocardiographic marker of right ventricular pressure overload and interventricular dependence. While pulmonary hypertension (PH) without left heart disease typically presents with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) <15 mmHg, a subset of non–group 2 pulmonary hypertension patients exhibit elevated PCWP (>15 mmHg). To better understand the relationship between interventricular dependence and PCWP in this population, [the researchers] assessed eccentricity index, PCWP, right atrial pressure (RA), and left ventricular transmural pressure (LVPtm, calculated as PCWP minus RA).
  • Conclusion: In non-group 2 pulmonary hypertension with PCWP >15 mmHg, eccentricity index showed only weak correlations with PCWP and LVPtm. The lack of correlation suggests that elevated PCWP may reflect measurement variability, underrecognized mixed physiology or interventricular dependence not adequately captured by eccentricity index. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these observations and clarify the role of eccentricity index in pulmonary hypertension phenotyping. 

Comparative Effectiveness of Riociguat Versus Sildenafil in Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hypertension: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

  • Description: Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension is recognized for its potential impact on patients by the 2022 European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society Pulmonary Hypertension Guidelines. Given there are no known treatment options, [the researchers aimed] to compare the effectiveness of Riociguat [versus] Sildenafil in these patients.
  • Conclusion: Riociguat improved functional status in exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension compared to Sildenafil. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate efficacy.

Pulmonary Hypertension Following Major Lung Resection: Incidence and Risk Factors

  • Description: Major lung resection may lead to post-operative pulmonary hypertension but the cumulative incidence and pre-operative risk factors remain unknown.
  • Conclusion: The risk of PH following major lung resection is significant and continues to rise over time. Number of lobes resected, pneumonectomy, and history of COPD may predict risk of post-major lung resection pulmonary hypertension.

Tricuspid Regurgitation Velocity and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: A 10-Year Prognostic Study in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

  • Description: Tricuspid regurgitation velocity reflects right ventricular pressure overload in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Its role in long-term arrhythmia and mortality remains uncertain.
  • Conclusion: Elevated tricuspid regurgitation velocity  (≥4.0 m/s) independently predicted atrial fibrillation/flutter  and mortality. [The] simple echocardiographic marker provides prognostic value for arrhythmia risk stratification and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Disparities in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Across U.S. Regions, Sex, and Age: Insights from GBD 2021

  • Description: [The researchers] used Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) to examine U.S. geographic, gender, and age disparities. 
  • Conclusion: Pulmonary arterial hypertension burden shows marked disparities across regions, sexes, and ages. Southern states consistently rank highest, while prevalence and mortality diverge by sex. These patterns emphasize the need for targeted screening, equitable specialist access, gender- and age-sensitive care, and telehealth expansion. Public health planning should integrate pulmonary arterial hypertension into broader cardiopulmonary strategies to reduce inequities and improve outcomes. 

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