In a study of a relatively low-risk population of pulmonary hypertension patients, researchers began to untangle sotatercept's complex effects on exercise. Sotatercept lowered blood volume to normal levels and increased hemoglobin, allowing greater oxygen delivery during exercise. As well, muscles seemed to be able to extract more oxygen. At rest, people's bodies maintained oxygen delivery levels as the blood volume decreased, and the heart seemed to work less hard. Cardiac o

Talking about end-of-life decisions is never easy, but it’s an important conversation many in our community grapple with. A decade ago, Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID). Since then, MAID has transformed end-of-life choice and care for thousands of people across the country. To mark this important milestone, our friends at Dying With Dignity Canada have released a new report examining public attitudes toward MAID. In the spring, PHA Canada invited Dying W

Researchers looked at the medical records of 455 people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to find factors associated with getting worse. Using a machine-learning computer model, they found 11 clinical features linked to a higher chance of a worsening event, but only body mass index and red cell distribution width were statistically significantly associated with clinical worsening. About half of the patients experienced a worsening event during the study, usually with

This study from one clinic examined how well sotatercept worked in real-world patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who also had other heart or lung conditions, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, lung scarring, or COPD. After six months of treatment, patients generally needed less oxygen, walked farther in six-minute walk tests, and showed improvements in their overall risk scores. Most side effects, such as nosebleeds or increased red blood c

June 3 is Clean Air Day in Canada Air quality in Canada is relatively good, but anyone with pulmonary hypertension (PH) will be aware that air quality affects our health. Air pollution from humans burning fossil fuels for transportation, home heating and cooking, and in industry is significant, but due to climate change, air pollution from dust, pollen, and wildfires is also increasing. For people with pulmonary hypertension, air quality is especially important. On World Pulm

In Canada and around the world, June is recognized as Men’s Health Month. Men often delay seeking medical care and discussing symptoms openly, so this month, there is a heavy emphasis on encouraging men to seek support and get checked for any health concerns. The same pattern of delay in seeking medical care is also seen with pulmonary hypertension (PH), which mostly affects women. Despite the increased incidence of pulmonary hypertension in females, studies suggest that men

This study looked at a French support program designed to help people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) start and adjust their dose of selexipag. Nurses called patients three days after patients started treatment or changed doses to monitor side effects and provide guidance. Most patients were able to reach their best individual dose within about 11 weeks, and most side effects were mild or manageable. Both patients and healthcare providers reported very high satisfa

Researchers used AI to indirectly compare data from three randomized controlled trials looking at sotatercept or selexipag in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Their findings suggest that sotatercept may reduce PAH-related events more effectively than selexipag, although the inference is based on reconstructed, indirectly compared data. Read the Cureus article

The Canadian Rare Disease Network (PHA Canada is a member) has launched a national scholarship supporting youth living with rare diseases to pursue post-secondary education in Canada. People between 17 and 29 years old, with any rare disease, are eligible. Scholarships are up to $5,000 for full-time students and up to $2,500 for part-time students. There's an information webinar on May 27—register here—and applications close June 12, 2026, at 5 pm Eastern time. See the CRDN w

This study looked at how to better detect pulmonary hypertension (PH) in people with interstitial lung disease (ILD), since PH often makes breathing problems, quality of life, and survival worse. Researchers found that combining several common tests—such as lung function tests, heart ultrasounds, and CT scans—was more helpful for identifying PH early than relying solely on a doctor’s overall impression. Certain signs, including low oxygen levels, enlarged pulmonary arteries,

I wrote No Cure for Me as a long-time survivor of pulmonary hypertension. Knowing that I may be one of Canada’s longest survivors, it sparked a thought—what if one day I became the world’s longest survivor? I’ve set my sights on living to 103, and along the way, I couldn’t help but imagine how remarkable it would be to earn a place in the Guinness World Records. That idea—part hope, part determination—became the seed for this thriller. Writing it was my way of blending realit

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patient Nicole Dempsey was involved in developing a new online Continuing Medical Education course, PAH in Practice: A Case-based Online Learning Program for Better Patient Care, alongside pulmonary hypertension experts Dr. Steeve Provencher, Dr. Kristina Kemp, and Dr. Rhea Varughese. This type of training is an important step forward in improving awareness and understanding of this rare condition: because PAH symptoms can be nonspecific

This study looked at which proteins and metabolic biomarkers might be associated with the development of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (PH). Looking at data from China, from rat tissues, and from the UK biobank, the researchers identified four proteins and 11 metabolites and built what they describe as a "robust predictive model" to predict and prevent high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. Read the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease article

This week is Heart Failure Awareness Week. As this year's awareness campaign says, it's not normal to be breathless! Heart failure is, unfortunately, one of the consequences of pulmonary hypertension. The right side of the heart can adapt for a while by getting thicker and stronger, but it's hard to tell why it eventually starts to fail, and this happens at different times for different patients. Raising awareness about this serious condition is important: early detection hel

May 4-10 is Mental Health Week in Canada, and the theme is “Come Together, Canada.” PHA Canada Knowledge Philanthropist Lisa Harder talks about the meaning of connection. This year’s theme for Mental Health Week is all about the importance of connectedness in our overall well-being. Both social connections and connection with ourselves helps to foster resilience and to reduce the sense of isolation we may feel (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2026). While we can recogn

Calgary/Edmonton, AB (May 4, 2026) The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada), along with expert physicians, are calling on Alberta to fund sotatercept (Winrevair), a new treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). “Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare, universally fatal disease involving high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs, putting stress on the right side of the heart. This causes heart failure, shortness of breath with min

Researchers looked at whether cigarette smoking affected the diagnosis and disease progression of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). They found that smoking tended to delay the diagnosis of PAH but not CTEPH. They also found that male smokers with PAH fared worse than female smokers. Read the Pulmonology article

Two companies have announced good results from clinical trials in the past few weeks. Merck’s Phase 2 proof-of-concept CADENCE trial of two different doses of sotatercept for some Group 2 pulmonary hypertension patients succeeded. Trial participants had combined post- and precapillary pulmonary hypertension and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (CpcPH-HFpEF). Participants who received sotatercept showed significant improvements in their pulmonary vascular resista

This study tried to identify new environmental triggers or genetic causes in heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension. They found several potential genes for further exploration, but they also found consistent toxin exposure on one of the families they were investigating. They conclude that environmental triggers should also be investigated in heritable PAH. Read the Scientific Reports article

April 7 is National Caregiver Day Many pulmonary hypertension patients have caregivers, whether they’re the partners, parents, or children of patients. Caregivers make a major difference in patients’ lives, helping them manage their pulmonary hypertension and daily routines. Nearly half of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension rely on the help of a caregiver, underscoring just how essential this support truly is. Caregivers often take on a wide range of responsibiliti