ScientiaCME: Keeping the pressure down: optimizing our approaches to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

Details

In this online, self-learning activity:

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) comprises five etiologic groups; Group I, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a precapillary entity defined hemodynamically by right‑heart catheterization: mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mm Hg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure ≤15 mm Hg, and pulmonary vascular resistance ≥3 Wood units. PAH is uncommon but consequential; estimates place U.S. prevalence near 10.6 per million, with contemporary data showing rarity yet meaningful population burden. Sex differences are notable—women predominate, while men may experience more severe trajectories—underscoring the need for sex‑aware assessment. Multinational reviews suggest incidence and prevalence remain non‑trivial, with enduring morbidity and mortality despite therapeutic gains.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session the participant will be able to:

• Recall contemporary hemodynamic definition and PH classification.
• Describe appropriate first-line testing and structured risk tools for PAH.
• Choose evidence-based, risk-aligned therapy to treat PAH.
• Explain how vascular and right ventricular remodeling pathways drive disease progression and inform the rationale for multi-pathway and emerging therapies in PAH.
• Discuss challenges to the optimal management of PAH and the value of risk reassessment, early referral to PH centers, and multidisciplinary coordination.

Target Audience

HCPs including but not limited to: pulmonology, cardiology, and primary care; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in the aforementioned areas of specialty; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with PH.

Additional credit info

ScientiaCME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation: ScientiaCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM MOC Recognition Statement: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

ABIM MOC Credit Type: Medical Knowledge

Physicians: For maintenance of certification (MOC) points, you must enter your board certification ID # and birth date correctly.  It is the learner’s responsibility to provide this information completely and accurately at the completion of the activity. Without providing it, the learner will NOT receive MOC points for this activity. By providing this data, you acknowledge that it will be shared with ACCME and the applicable certifying board. Please note: Not all activities on this site provide MOC points. If this activity does not specify that it provides MOC points in this section, then it does NOT provide MOC points. This activity provides MOC points only for ABIM.

Pharmacists

ScientiaCME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hours  of continuing pharmacy education credit. Proof of participation will be posted to your NABP CPE profile within 4 to 6 weeks to participants who have successfully completed the post-test. Participants must participate in the entire presentation and complete the course evaluation to receive continuing pharmacy education credit. ACPE #0574-0000-26-011-H01-P. This is an Application (A)-type activity. 

Pharmacists: You must enter your NABP # and birth date correctly so that proof of participation can be posted to your NABP CPE profile. It is the learner’s responsibility to provide this information completely and accurately at the completion of the activity. Without providing it, the learner will NOT receive CPE credit for this activity.

Nurses: This activity is designated for up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ to meet the continuing education renewal requirements of nursing re-certification for APRNs and RN specialty. Some state nursing boards accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ for re-licensure requirements, some do not. Check your state board of nursing’s CE requirements before applying credit from this course to your re-licensure.

Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ assigned by organizations accredited by the ACCME as satisfying Category 1 CME for National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) national certification maintenance. This activity is designated for up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) states that continuing education providers accredited by the ACCME may provide acceptable, accredited Advanced Practice Provider content. This activity is designated for up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.