Pulmonary artery size as a predictor of pulmonary hypertension and outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The PA:A ratio is associated with underlying pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD and is an independent predictor of mortality. This readily available measurement may be a valuable non-invasive screening tool for underlying pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients and appears to impart important independent prognostic information.