TY - JOUR T1 - Socioeconomic status and survival in patients with pulmonary hypertension JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00638-2020 VL - 6 IS - 4 SP - 00638-2020 AU - Mei-Sing Ong Y1 - 2020/10/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/6/4/00638-2020.abstract N2 - Socioeconomic status is one of the most crucial determinants of health status in virtually every society. Even in high-income countries, disparities in health across socioeconomic backgrounds are pronounced. A study conducted by the World Health Organization reported an association of low socioeconomic status with a life expectancy reduction of >2 years, greater than that for high alcohol intake, obesity and hypertension [1]. Recent studies have also highlighted socioeconomic status as a significant predictor of survival in patients with pulmonary hypertension [2–4]. Given the considerable financial burden associated with the treatment of pulmonary hypertension [5, 6], these findings are hardly surprising.In a publicly funded healthcare system, no evidence of survival disparities across socioeconomic classes among patients with pulmonary hypertension was observed, underscoring the importance of eliminating financial barriers to medical care and treatment https://bit.ly/2Eb1ju2 ER -