Prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a 5 year prospective population-based study.

AIMS: This study was designed to identify the characteristics and long-term prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) in patients hospitalized for a first episode of HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients (n = 799) hospitalized for a first episode of HF during 2000 in the Somme department (France) were recruited. EF was available in 662 (83%) patients, representing the study population. Patients with HFPEF (55.6% of cases) were significantly older, with a high proportion of women. During the 5 year follow-up, 370 patients (56%) died. Patients with HFPEF had a significantly lower 5 year survival than the age- and sex-matched general population (43 vs. 72%). Five year survival rates were not significantly different in patients with preserved and reduced EF (43 vs. 46%; P = 0.95). Both groups had similar relative 5 year survival rates compared with the general population. Multivariable analysis identified age, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, diabetes, low glomerular filtration rate, and hyponatraemia as independent predictors of 5 year mortality in patients with HFPEF. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction has a poor prognosis, comparable with that of HF with reduced EF, with a 5 year survival rate after a first episode of 43% and a high excess mortality compared with the general population.     

Estratificação da Insuficiência Cardíaca Clínica através do Mapa T1 Nativo: Experiência de um Serviço de Referência

Background:Diffuse cardiac fibrosis is an important factor in the prognostic assessment of patients with ventricular dysfunction. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) native T1 mapping is highly sensitive and considered an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) development in patients with cardiomyopathy.Objectives:To evaluate the feasibility of native T1 mapping assessment in patients with HF in a cardiology referral hospital and its association with structural parameters and functional profile.Methods:Cross-sectional study with adult patients with HF NYHA functional classes I and II, ischemic and non-ischemic, followed in a referral hospital, who underwent CMR. Native T1 values were analyzed for structural parameters, comorbidities, etiology, and categorization of HF by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Analyses were performed with a significance level of 5%.Results:Enrollment of 134 patients. Elevated native T1 values were found in patients with greater dilation (1004.9 vs 1042.7ms, p = 0.001), ventricular volumes (1021.3 vs 1050.3ms, p <0.01) and ventricular dysfunction (1010.1 vs 1053.4ms, p <0.001), also present when the non-ischemic group was analyzed separately. Patients classified as HF with reduced ejection fraction had higher T1 values than those with HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) (992.7 vs 1054.1ms, p <0.001). Of those with HFPEF, 55.2% had higher T1.Conclusions:CMR T1 mapping is feasible for clinical HF evaluation. There was a direct association between higher native T1 values and lower ejection fraction, and with larger LV diameters and volumes, regardless of the etiology of HF.     

Short-term outcomes in heart failure patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the community

AIM:To establish the short term outcomes of heart failure(HF)patients in the community who have concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).METHODS:We evaluated 783 patients(27.2%)with left ventricular systolic dysfunction under the care of a regional nurse-led community HF team between June 2007 and June 2010 through a database analysis.RESULTS:One hundred and one patients(12.9%)also had a diagnosis of COPD;94% of patients were treated with loop diuretics,83% with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors,74% with β-blockers;10.6% with bronchodilators;and 42% with aldosterone an-tagonists.The mean age of the patients was 77.9 ± 5.7 years;43% were female and mean New York Heart Association class was 2.3 ± 0.6.The mean follow-up was 28.2 ± 2.9 mo.β-blocker utilization was markedly lower in patients receiving bronchodilators compared with those not taking bronchodilators(overall 21.7% vs 81%,P < 0.001).The 24-mo survival was 93% in patients with HF alone and 89% in those with both comorbidities(P = not significant).The presence of COPD was associated with increased risk of HF hospitalization [hazard ratio(HR):1.56;95% CI:1.4-2.1;P < 0.001] and major adverse cardiovascular events(HR:1.23;95% CI:1.03-1.75;P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:COPD is a common comorbidity in ambulatory HF patients in the community and is a powerful predictor of worsening HF.It does not however appear to affect short-term mortality in ambulatory HF patients.     

Outcomes and prognostic factors of systolic as compared with diastolic heart failure in urban America

We sought to describe a large heart failure (HF) population with respect to systolic and diastolic abnormalities in terms of demographics, echocardiographic parameters, and survival. Using data abstracted from the Resource Utilization Among Congestive Heart Failure (REACH) study, a targeted subpopulation of 3471 patients had electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and clinical data taken from automated sources during the first year of diagnosis. Among the HF population, 1811 (52.2%) had diastolic HF. Prevalence of diastolic HF trended with age, from 46.4% in those less than 45 years to 58.7% in those 85 years or older (p=0.001 for trend). Patients with diastolic HF had a higher mean ejection fraction (55.7% vs. 28.0%), lower left ventricular end-systolic diameter (3.11 vs. 4.74 cm), and lower left atrium:aortic outlet ratio (1.28 vs. 1.38) (p=0.001 for each comparison). Annualized age, sex, and race-adjusted mortality were 11.2% and 13.0% for those with diastolic and systolic HF, respectively (p=0.001). In a large, racially mixed, urban HF population, those with diastolic HF predominate and enjoy better-adjusted survival than counterparts with systolic HF.     

Contribution of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction to heart failure regardless of ejection fraction

Heart failure (HF) has been classified as systolic and diastolic based on the left ventricular ejection fraction. We hypothesized that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is an important element of HF regardless of ejection fraction. Two hundred six patients who had clinical HF were compared with 72 age-matched controls. Diastolic dysfunction, as assessed by the mitral filling pattern and tissue Doppler imaging, was present in >90% of patients who had HF regardless of ejection fraction and was more frequent and severe than in age-matched controls (p <0.001). In patients who had HF, B-type natriuretic peptide correlated with diastolic dysfunction (r = 0.62, p <0.001) but not with ejection fraction or end-diastolic volume index (EDVI). The degree of diastolic dysfunction influenced survival rate (risk ratio 1.64, p <0.05), whereas ejection fraction and EDVI did not. Systolic function measured by systolic mitral annular velocity was decreased in patients who had HF and an ejection fraction /=0.50 (6.6 +/- 1.8 cm/s) compared with control subjects (8.0 +/- 2.1 cm/s, p <0.01). Patients who had HF and an ejection fraction >/=0.50 had an increased ratio of ventricular mass to EDVI. Patients who had HF and an ejection fraction /=0.50 is associated with mild systolic dysfunction and an increased ratio of left ventricular mass to EDVI. In HF with an ejection fraction 相似文献   

Comparison of morbidity in women versus men with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) constitute up to 30% to 50% of patients with HF, and HF-PEF affects women more often than men. Not much is known about the role of gender in the clinical presentation, symptoms, or disease severity of HF-PEF or about the contribution of these differences to gender differences in morbidity and mortality in patients with HF-PEF. This study examined gender differences in clinical presentation, hospitalization, and mortality in patients with HF-PEF (ejection fraction > or = 50%) enrolled in the ancillary arm of the Digitalis Investigation Group trial. Time-to-event analysis was performed using Cox proportional-hazards modeling. The study cohort included 719 patients (378 men, 341 women). At baseline, compared with men, women were older and had greater clinical severity of HF, as evidenced by worse New York Heart Association functional class, more frequent symptoms and signs of HF, and more treatment with diuretics. Ischemia was identified as the primary cause of HF in 46% of women and 56% of men (p = 0.01). During a median follow-up of 39 months, crude mortality was similar in women and men (24.6% and 24.3%, p = 0.93), but more women were hospitalized for HF (26.7% vs 15.9%, p <0.001). After adjustment for baseline differences, female gender was an independent predictor of lower mortality (hazard ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.82), but HF hospitalization rates were similar between men and women (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 1.53). In conclusion, although the clinical manifestations of HF appear to be more severe in women with HF-PEF, after adjustment for baseline clinical differences, HF hospitalizations are not increased and survival expectancy is better for women compared with men.     

Digoxin and reduction in mortality and hospitalization in heart failure: a comprehensive post hoc analysis of the DIG trial.

AIMS: To determine the effects of digoxin on all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, regardless of ejection fraction, accounting for serum digoxin concentration (SDC). METHODS AND RESULTS: This comprehensive post-hoc analysis of the randomized controlled Digitalis Investigation Group trial (n=7788) focuses on 5548 patients: 1687 with SDC, drawn randomly at 1 month, and 3861 placebo patients, alive at 1 month. Overall, 33% died and 31% had HF hospitalizations during a 40-month median follow-up. Compared with placebo, SDC 0.5-0.9 ng/mL was associated with lower mortality [29 vs. 33% placebo; adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67-0.89], all-cause hospitalizations (64 vs. 67% placebo; AHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.92) and HF hospitalizations (23 vs. 33% placebo; AHR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.54-0.72). SDC> or =1.0 ng/mL was associated with lower HF hospitalizations (29 vs. 33% placebo; AHR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.59-0.79), without any effect on mortality. SDC 0.5-0.9 reduced mortality in a wide spectrum of HF patients and had no interaction with ejection fraction >45% (P=0.834) or sex (P=0.917). CONCLUSIONS: Digoxin at SDC 0.5-0.9 ng/mL reduces mortality and hospitalizations in all HF patients, including those with preserved systolic function. At higher SDC, digoxin reduces HF hospitalization but has no effect on mortality or all-cause hospitalizations.     

Influence of diabetes on the survival of patients hospitalized with heart failure: a 12-year study

AIM: To investigate the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the prognosis of heart failure (HF) patients, focussing specifically on aetiology and patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function (LVSF), which to date has not been fully investigated. METHOD AND RESULTS: 1659 Patients hospitalized for HF between 1991 and 2002 in the Cardiology Department of a tertiary hospital, aged 69+/-12 years, 60% male were studied prospectively. Arterial hypertension was present in 54% of patients, DM in 26% and ischaemic cardiomyopathy in 51%. A survival analysis performed in April 2003 showed that DM worsens the prognosis of the whole group (median survival (MS): 3.6 vs. 5.4 years; p<0.001), of ischaemic and non-ischaemic patients (MS: 3.8 vs. 4.9 years; p=0.13 and 3.6 vs. 6.0 years; p<0.001, respectively). A similar effect of DM was shown in patients with preserved LVSF (MS: 3.8 vs. 5.8 years; p=0.03) and in patients with impaired LVSF (3.6 vs. 6.3 years; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: DM increases mortality among HF patients with preserved and impaired LVSF and those without ischaemic cardiomyopathy.     

Sex differences in long-term outcomes following acute heart failure hospitalization: Findings from the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure registry

Aims

Sex differences in long-term outcomes following hospitalization for heart failure (HF) across ejection fraction (EF) subtypes are not well described. In this study, we evaluated the risk of mortality and rehospitalization among males and females across the spectrum of EF over 5 years of follow-up following an index HF hospitalization event.

Methods and results

Patients hospitalized with HF between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2014 from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure registry with available 5-year follow-up using Medicare Part A claims data were included. The association between sex and risk of mortality and readmission over a 5-year follow-up period for each HF subtype (HF with reduced EF [HFrEF, EF ≤40%], HF with mildly reduced EF [HFmrEF, EF 41–49%], and HF with preserved EF [HFpEF, EF >50%]) was assessed using adjusted Cox models. The effect modification by the HF subtype for the association between sex and outcomes was assessed by including multiplicative interaction terms in the models. A total of 155 670 patients (median age: 81 years, 53.4% female) were included. Over 5-year follow-up, males and females had comparably poor survival post-discharge; however, females (vs. males) had greater years of survival lost to HF compared with the median age- and sex-matched US population (HFpEF: 17.0 vs. 14.6 years; HFrEF: 17.3 vs. 15.1 years; HFmrEF: 17.7 vs. 14.6 years for age group 65-69 years). In adjusted analysis, females (vs. males) had a lower risk of 5-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–0.90, p < 0.0001), and the risk difference was most pronounced among patients with HFrEF (aHR 0.87, 95% CI 0.85–0.89; p_interaction[sex*HF subtype] = 0.04). Females (vs. males) had a higher adjusted risk of HF readmission over 5-year follow-up (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.08, p < 0.0001), with the risk difference most pronounced among patients with HFpEF (aHR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.14; p_interaction[sex*HF subtype] = 0.001).

Conclusions

While females (vs. males) had lower adjusted mortality, females experienced a significantly greater loss in survival time than the median age- and sex-matched US population and had a greater risk of rehospitalization over 5 years following HF hospitalization.     

Relation of loop diuretic dose to mortality in advanced heart failure

Although loop diuretics are widely used in heart failure (HF), their effect on outcomes has not been evaluated in large clinical trials. This study sought to determine the dose-dependent relation between loop diuretic use and HF prognosis. A cohort of 1,354 patients with advanced systolic HF referred to a single center was studied. Patients were divided into quartiles of equivalent total daily loop diuretic dose: 0 to 40, 41 to 80, 81 to 160, and >160 mg. The cohort was 76% male, with a mean age of 53+/-13 years and a mean ejection fraction of 24+/-7%. The mean diuretic dose equivalence was 107+/-87 mg. The diuretic quartile groups were similar in terms of gender, body mass index, ischemic cause of HF, history of hypertension, and spironolactone use, but the highest quartile was associated with a smaller ejection fraction and lower serum sodium and hemoglobin levels but higher serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. There was a decrease in survival with increasing diuretic dose (83%, 81%, 68%, and 53% for quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). Even after extensive co-variate adjustment (age, gender, ischemic cause of HF, the ejection fraction, body mass index, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, peak oxygen consumption, beta-blocker use, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use, digoxin use, statin use, serum sodium, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin, cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and smoking history), diuretic quartile remained an independent predictor of mortality (quartile 4 vs quartile 1 hazard ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 8.4). In conclusion, in this cohort of patients with advanced HF, there was an independent, dose-dependent association between loop diuretic use and impaired survival. Higher loop diuretic dosages identify patients with HF at particularly high risk for mortality.     

Right ventricular dysfunction as an independent predictor of short- and long-term mortality in patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND: The prognostic importance of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in heart failure (HF) has been suggested in patients with severe systolic heart failure. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a simple echocardiographic measure of RV ejection fraction, but may be affected by co-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). AIMS: To examine the prognostic information from TAPSE adjusted for the potential confounding effects of co-existing cardiovascular and COPD in a large series of patients admitted for new onset or worsening HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight hundred and seventeen patients screened for participation in a large clinical trial by trans-thoracic echocardiography, including measurement of TAPSE, were followed for a median of 4.1 years (maximum 5.5 years). Decreased TAPSE as well as presence of COPD were independently associated with adverse short- and long-term survival, hazard ratio was 0.74 (p=0.004) for every doubling of TAPSE; and 2.4 (p<0.0001) for the presence of COPD. CONCLUSION: Decreased RV systolic function as estimated by TAPSE is associated with increased mortality in patients admitted for HF, and is independent of other risk factors in HF including left ventricular function. The co-existence of COPD is also associated with an adverse prognosis independent of the RV systolic function.     

Prognostic influence of prior chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients admitted for their first episode of acute heart failure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent comorbidity in heart failure (HF) patients. Whether a prior COPD diagnosis influences patients’ prognosis in early stages of HF is unknown. We reviewed patients?>?50 years old admitted because of a first episode of acute HF. We divided the sample into two groups according to the existence of a prior diagnosis of COPD. We used regression analysis to identify the baseline patients’ characteristics associated with the presence of COPD, and Cox mortality analysis to identify baseline and discharge data related to higher risk of a combined outcome of 1-year all-cause readmission or mortality. Finally, 985 patients were included in the analysis; 212 (21.5%) with a prior diagnosis of COPD. Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups except for a much higher prevalence of male gender, higher number of chronic therapies, and lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation among COPD patients. The combined primary outcome is significantly more prevalent in COPD patients (68.4 vs. 59.8%, p?=?0.022). Cox analysis identified this prior diagnosis of COPD (HR 1.282, 95% CI 1.063–1.547; p?=?0.001) as an independent risk factor for 1-year readmission and mortality, together with older age, higher admission creatinine and potassium values, and a higher number of chronic therapies. Our study confirms that in a “real-life” cohort of elderly patients experiencing a first episode of acute HF, the presence of a prior diagnosis of COPD is common, and confers a higher risk of adverse outcomes (death or readmission) during the year following discharge.     

Prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in Latin American, Middle Eastern, and North African Regions in the I PREFER study (Identification of Patients With Heart Failure and PREserved Systolic Function: an epidemiological regional study)

The aims of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) in patients with HF and to compare their clinical characteristics with those with reduced ejection fraction in non-Western countries. The left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 45% if measured < 1 year before the visit was used to qualify the patients as having HF-PEF. Of the 2,536 consecutive outpatients with HF, 1990 (79%) had the EF values recorded. Of these patients, 1291 had HF-PEF, leading to an overall prevalence of 65% (95% confidence interval 63% to 67%). Compared to the patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction, those with HF-PEF were more likely to be older (65 vs 62 years, p < 0.001), female (50% vs 28%, p < 0.001), and obese (39% vs 27%, p < 0.001). They more frequently had a history of hypertension (78% vs 53%, p < 0.001) and atrial fibrillation (29% vs 24%, p = 0.03) and less frequently had a history of myocardial infarction (21% vs 44%, p < 0.001). Only 29% of patients with HF-PEF and hypertension had optimal blood pressure control. Left ventricular hypertrophy was less frequent in those with HF-PEF (58% vs 69%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of HF-PEF was lower in the Middle East (41%), where coronary artery disease was more often found than in Latin America (69%) and North Africa (75%), where the rate of hypertension was greater. In conclusion, in the present diverse non-Western study, HF-PEF represented almost 2/3 of all HF cases in outpatients. HF-PEF mostly affects older patients, women, and the obese. Hypertension was the most frequently associated risk factor, highlighting the need for optimal blood pressure control.     

Outcomes in World Health Organization Group II Pulmonary Hypertension: Mortality and Readmission Trends With Systolic and Preserved Ejection Fraction–Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

BackgroundHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been increasingly recognized as a leading cause of pulmonary hypertension (HFpEF-PH). It remains unknown how HFpEF-PH fares in relation to systolic HF (reduced ejection fraction)–induced PH (HFrEF-PH). Therefore, we sought to determine the long-term morbidity and mortality of HFpEF-PH and HFrEF-PH.Methods and ResultsWe studied all patients over a 6-year period with symptomatic HF and severe PH (PASP ≥65 mm Hg) in The Bronx, New York. We classified patients as having either preserved (≥50%) or reduced (≤35%) left ventricular ejection fraction. Trends in mortality and HF readmission rates were defined in 650 patients (HFrEF-PH: n = 277; HFpEF-PH: n = 373). HFpEF-PH patients were older and more often female and white. HFrEF-PH patients were more often black, had ischemic cardiomyopathy, and were on typical HF drug regimens. Patients with HFpEF-PH had a significantly increased all-cause 5-year mortality (52% vs 42%; P = .024). HFpEF-PH was a significant predictor of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.70; P = .012). Patients with HFrEF-PH had more HF readmissions (≥1) than patients with HFpEF-PH (28.6% vs 15%; P = .003), especially within the 1st year (9.1% vs 1.7%; P = .005).ConclusionsPatients with HFrEF-PH and HFpEF-PH have a significantly elevated long-term mortality, with HFpEF-PH having a higher 5-year mortality rate. These findings testify to the overall poor prognosis of World Health Organization Group II PH, especially HFpEF-PH.     

The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients hospitalized for worsening heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: an analysis of the EVEREST Trial

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prevalent in heart failure (HF) patients, yet these patients are poorly characterized. We aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with systolic dysfunction and COPD in a contemporary HF randomized trial.Methods and ResultsEVEREST investigated 4,133 patients hospitalized with worsening HF and an ejection fraction (EF) ≤40%. We analyzed the characteristics and outcomes (all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality/HF hospitalization) of patients according to baseline COPD status. COPD was present in 10% (n = 416) of patients. Patients with COPD had a higher prevalence of comorbidities and were less likely to receive a β-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, or aldosterone antagonist. On univariate analysis, COPD was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.18–1.67) and cardiovascular mortality/HF hospitalization (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11–1.49). After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk associated with COPD remained increased, but was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe presence of COPD in HF patients is associated with an increased burden of comorbidities, lower use of HF therapies, and a trend toward worse outcomes. These findings provide a starting point for prospective investigations of the treatment of HF comorbidities to reduce the high postdischarge event rates.     

Contemporary insights into the epidemiology,impact and treatment of secondary tricuspid regurgitation across the heart failure spectrum

Aim

Tricuspid regurgitation secondary to heart failure (HF) is common with considerable impact on survival and hospitalization rates. Currently, insights into epidemiology, impact, and treatment of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (sTR) across the entire HF spectrum are lacking, yet are necessary for healthcare decision-making.

Methods and results

This population-based study included data from 13 469 patients with HF and sTR from the Viennese community over a 10-year period. The primary outcome was long-term mortality. Overall, HF with preserved ejection fraction was the most frequent (57%, n = 7733) HF subtype and the burden of comorbidities was high. Severe sTR was present in 1514 patients (11%), most common among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (20%, n = 496). Mortality of patients with sTR was higher than expected survival of sex- and age-matched community and independent of HF subtype (moderate sTR: hazard ratio [HR] 6.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.88–6.80, p < 0.001; severe sTR: HR 9.04; 95% CI 8.27–9.87, p < 0.001). In comparison to HF and no/mild sTR patients, mortality increased for moderate sTR (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.48–1.69, p < 0.001) and for severe sTR (HR 2.19, 95% CI 2.01–2.38, p < 0.001). This effect prevailed after multivariate adjustment and was similar across all HF subtypes. In subgroup analysis, severe sTR mortality risk was more pronounced in younger patients (<70 years). Moderate and severe sTR were rarely treated (3%, n = 147), despite availability of state-of-the-art facilities and universal health care.

Conclusion

Secondary tricuspid regurgitation is frequent, increasing with age and associated with excess mortality independent of HF subtype. Nevertheless, sTR is rarely treated surgically or percutaneously. With the projected increase in HF prevalence and population ageing, the data suggest a major burden for healthcare systems that needs to be adequately addressed. Low-risk transcatheter treatment options may provide a suitable alternative.     

Three year mortality in heart failure patients with very low left ventricular ejection fractions

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction is a predictor of the outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. Some treatments cause a small increase in ejection fraction and may, thereby, improve prognosis. Method: We studied 99 patients with heart failure and very low left ventricular ejection fractions (all ≤ 20%). Seventy-four patients had ejection fractions of 11–20% and 25 had ≤10%. Patient follow up was censored at three years. Results: Mortality was 74% at three years. Left ventricular ejection fraction was not a predictor of mortality (P = 0.36). In contrast, peak VO₂ at the beginning of the study was a strong predictor of outcome (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Three year survival is low when ejection fraction is very low. However, once the ejection fraction is ≤20% ejection fraction is no longer a predictor of mortality. These results suggest that it is unlikely that small increases in ejection fraction will be associated with a survival benefit in this group, and treatments aimed at increasing peak VO₂ may be more appropriate.