Innovative Screening Tool Enhances Early Detection of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Researchers at Temple University's Lewis Katz School of Medicine have developed a groundbreaking screening technology aimed at improving the early diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe and often overlooked type of heart failure caused by high blood pressure in the lung arteries. The novel approach leverages an integrated electronic medical record (EMR)-based virtual echocardiography screening tool (VEST) that accurately assesses PAH risk without the need for manual calculations. Published online on April 5 in the American Heart Journal, this new method has demonstrated remarkable precision in identifying patients at high risk for PAH, which is crucial for initiating timely treatment and potentially saving lives.

The VEST system utilizes data from routine echocardiograms, offering estimates of pulmonary artery pressure and detecting early heart changes suggestive of PAH. By embedding this tool into standard hospital workflows, physicians can identify at-risk individuals much earlier than traditional methods allow. In a recent study involving nearly 5,000 patients, the automated VEST scores correlated strongly with manual calculations. Significantly, high-risk patients identified by VEST often had not been previously referred to specialized pulmonary hypertension (PH) centers, despite displaying severe disease indicators upon further testing.

"Our EMR-based VEST tool proved highly accurate in identifying individuals likely to have PAH," said Dr. Anjali Vaidya, co-director of the Advanced Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Temple. She emphasized that this technology enables earlier detection, thereby increasing the chances for successful intervention. Past studies showed that many patients with positive VEST scores were flagged over 200 days before being referred for confirmatory testing, highlighting the tool's potential to revolutionize pulmonary vascular care.

With the adoption of VEST at Temple University and ongoing collaborations with other medical centers nationally and internationally, the goal is widespread implementation. This could lead to earlier diagnoses for more patients, improve survival rates, and enhance quality of life. By facilitating prompt referrals and reducing delays in diagnosis, this innovative screening method marks a significant advancement in managing heart failure related to pulmonary vascular disease.

Other key contributors to the research included Suneesh Anand, Gabriela Narowska, Chethan Gangireddy, and colleagues from the division of cardiology and pulmonary hypertension program, reflecting a collaborative effort to translate this technology into routine clinical practice. Overall, the EMR-based VEST algorithm stands out as a promising tool for early, accurate, and accessible PAH screening.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-screening-technology-faster-earlier-diagnosis.html