IMPAHCT marks its eighth edition, strengthening a comprehensive approach to rare lung diseases
The eighth edition of the International Meeting on Pulmonary Hypertension Clinical Treatment (IMPAHCT), promoted by the pharmaceutical company Ferrer, brought together nearly 200 international specialists in Barcelona to advance the holistic management of rare, complex and progressive lung diseases.
Over the years, IMPAHCT has established itself as a leading international event in the fields of pulmonary hypertension (PH), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). This year, the meeting continued to evolve towards a broader, more integrated perspective, explicitly addressing other rare lung conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The scientific programme reflected the shared challenges across these diseases, including early diagnosis, disease progression and therapeutic strategies. New evidence in IPF was also presented, highlighting the importance of ongoing research and knowledge exchange to improve the clinical management of conditions that are both highly complex and of low prevalence.
Across all sessions, the meeting focused on diagnostic delays caused by symptom overlap with more common conditions, the need for early referral to specialist centres, barriers to accessing diagnostic and screening tools, and the impact that long and complex care pathways have on patients’ experience and wellbeing. The importance of progressing towards more equitable, coordinated and inclusive care models, which also incorporate psychosocial support, was likewise emphasised.
In this context, David Ferrando, Ferrer’s Chief Marketing & Market Access Officer, commented: “At Ferrer, we understand health as a fundamental right. This reality becomes particularly apparent in rare diseases, where diagnostic delays and inequalities in access continue to be major barriers. IMPAHCT was created with the aim of fostering knowledge generation and collaboration, helping to move towards fairer and more equitable care.”
Jorge Cuneo, Chief Medical Officer at Ferrer, highlighted the forum’s role as a space for scientific and clinical collaboration, noting that “addressing rare lung diseases requires the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices among professionals, with the common goal of improving clinical practice and making a meaningful difference to patients’ lives.”
The eighth edition of IMPAHCT therefore reaffirms its role as an international platform for knowledge exchange and collective reflection on the clinical and care-related challenges posed by rare lung diseases. Through initiatives such as this meeting, Ferrer reiterates its commitment to innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the development of a fairer, more people-centred healthcare ecosystem.
The information contained in this article is corporate and informational in nature and does not constitute the promotion of medicinal products.
About Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition caused by a range of underlying diseases and characterised by molecular and anatomical changes in the pulmonary circulation, leading to an abnormal increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (>20 mmHg)¹. It affects approximately 1% of the global population (a figure that may rise to as high as 10% among people over the age of 65) and around 80% of individuals living with PH reside in low- and middle-income countries².
Conditions associated with PH are primarily characterised by breathlessness, fatigue and exercise intolerance, which often progress to respiratory failure and, ultimately, death. Although some forms of PH remain incurable, significant advances have been made in terms of understanding the disease, clinical management and prognosis, transforming perspectives on PH and improving patients’ quality of life¹.
About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a condition that causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the lungs, resulting in increased pressure within the pulmonary arteries. This places an abnormal workload on the right side of the heart as it pumps blood through the lungs and, over time, may lead to right ventricular failure and premature death. In Europe, PAH is estimated to affect between 15 and 50 people per million, with a higher prevalence among women than men¹.
While the cause of PAH is unknown in most cases, it may be genetic or associated with other conditions. The most common symptoms are those typically seen in pulmonary hypertension, including breathlessness, fatigue, reduced exercise capacity, chest pain, dizziness and fainting. PAH has a profound impact on patients’ quality of life and on the social and emotional wellbeing of both patients and their carers.
About pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a group of lung conditions characterised by significant scarring or fibrosis of the bronchioles and alveolar sacs within the lungs, impairing effective oxygen exchange³⁻⁴. Pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) develops in patients with ILD when damage to lung connective tissue leads to narrowing or injury of the pulmonary blood vessels.
This condition may present with a broad range of symptoms, including those typical of ILD, such as breathlessness, fatigue and a dry cough, compounded by the presence of pulmonary hypertension. PH-ILD complicates disease progression and is associated with reduced quality of life, increased risk of hospitalisation and higher mortality³⁻⁵.
About idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease in which the lung tissue becomes damaged and progressively replaced by scar tissue. It is characterised by a gradual loss of the lungs’ ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream and is the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. IPF rarely occurs before the age of 40 and is estimated to affect between 3.3 and 45.1 people per 100,000 worldwide⁶.
Although its underlying cause remains unknown, IPF may be associated with smoking, certain genetic predispositions and risk factors such as gastro-oesophageal reflux, specific viral infections, environmental pollution and occupational exposures. Symptoms vary but typically include breathlessness, a persistent dry cough and fatigue, eventually leading to respiratory failure and death. IPF is a serious disease with a significant impact on patients’ quality of life, placing a substantial burden in terms of medical costs, care dependency and limited survival following diagnosis (2 to 5 years if untreated⁷).
References
1- Humbert M, Kovacs G, Hoeper MM, et al. 2022 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension [published correction appears in Eur Heart J. 2023 Apr 17;44(15):1312]. Eur Heart J. 2022;43(38):3618-3731
2 - Hoeper MM, Humbert M, Souza R, Idrees M, Kawut SM, Sliwa-Hahnle K, et al. A global view of pulmonary hypertension. Lancet Respir Med. 2016 Apr;4(4):306-22.
3 - Shlobin OA, Adir Y, Barbera JA, Cottin V, Harari S, Jutant EM, et al. Pulmonary hypertension associated with lung diseases. Eur Respir J. 2024 Oct 31;64(4):2401200.
4 - Piccari L, Allwood B, Antoniou K, Chung JH, Hassoun PM, Nikkho SM, et al. Pathogenesis, clinical features, and phenotypes of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease: A consensus statement from the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute's Innovative Drug Development Initiative - Group 3 Pulmonary Hypertension. Pulm Circ. 2023 Apr 1;13(2):e12213.
5 - Nikkho SM, Richter MJ, Shen E, Abman SH, Antoniou K, Chung J, et al. Clinical significance of pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease: A consensus statement from the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute's innovative drug development initiative-Group 3 pulmonary hypertension. Pulm Circ. 2022 Jul 1;12(3): e12127.
6 - Maher TM, Bendstrup E, Dron L, Langley J, Smith G, Khalid JM, et al. Global incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respir Res. 2021 Jul 7;22(1):197.
7 - Molina-Molina M, Aburto M, Acosta O, Ancochea J, Rodríguez-Portal JA, Sauleda J, et al. Importance of early diagnosis and treatment in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2018 Jul;12(7):537-539.