BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) function is currently being evaluated solely according to the properties of RV myocardium. We have tested a concept that in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), RV assessment should integrate the information about both RV function as well as size. METHODS: A total of 836 stable patients with HFrEF (LVEF 23.6 ± 5.8%, 82.8% males, 68% NYHA III/IV) underwent echocardiographic evaluation and were prospectively followed for a median of 3.07 (IQRs 1.11; 4.89) years for the occurrence of death, urgent heart transplantation or implantation of mechanical circulatory support. RESULTS: RV size (measured as RV-basal diameter, RVD1) was significantly associated with an adverse outcome independent of RV dysfunction grade (p = 0.0002). The prognostic power of RVD1 was further improved by indexing to body surface area (RVD1i, p < 0.05 compared to non-indexed value). A novel parameter named RV global dysfunction score (RVGDs) was calculated as a product of RVD1i and the degree of RV dysfunction (1-4 for preserved RV function, mild, moderate and severe dysfunction, respectively). RVGDs showed a superior prognostic role compared to RV dysfunction grade alone (ΔAUC >0.03, p < 0.0001). In every subgroup of RVGDs (<20, 20-40, 40-60, >60), patients with milder degree of RV dysfunction but more dilated RV had similar outcome as those with more severe degree of RV dysfunction but smaller RV size (all p > 0.50), independent of tricuspid regurgitation severity and degree of pulmonary hypertension. CONCLUSION: RV dilatation is a manifestation of RV dysfunction. The evaluation of RV performance should integrate the information about both RV size and function.

• Keywords
• heart failure, outcome, right ventricular dysfunction, right ventricular function assessment, right ventricular size,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

AIMS: Diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease are prevalent in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We have analysed the impact of co-morbidities on quality of life (QoL) and outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 397 patients (58.8 ± 11.0 years, 73.6% with New York Heart Association functional class ≥3) with stable advanced HFrEF were followed for a median of 1106 (inter-quartile range 379-2606) days, and 68% of patients (270 patients) experienced an adverse outcome (death, urgent heart transplantation, and implantation of mechanical circulatory support). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was present in 16.4%, diabetes mellitus in 44.3%, and chronic kidney disease in 34.5% of patients; 33.5% of patients had none, 40.0% had one, 21.9% had two, and 3.8% of patient had three co-morbidities. Patients with more co-morbidities reported similar QoL (assessed by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, 45.46 ± 22.21/49.07 ± 21.69/47.52 ± 23.54/46.77 ± 23.60 in patients with zero to three co-morbidities, P for trend = 0.51). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that furosemide daily dose, systolic blood pressure, New York Heart Association functional class, and body mass index, but not the number of co-morbidities, were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with QoL. Increasing co-morbidity burden was associated with worse survival (P < 0.0001), lower degree of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker treatment (P = 0.001), and increasing levels of BNP (mean of 685, 912, 1053, and 985 ng/L for patients with zero to three co-morbidities, P for trend = 0.008) and cardiac troponin (sm-cTnI, P for trend = 0.0496), which remained significant (P < 0.05) after the adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, right ventricular dysfunction grade, body mass index, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: In stable advanced HFrEF patients, co-morbidities are not associated with impaired QoL, but negatively affect the prognosis both directly and indirectly through lower level of HF pharmacotherapy and increased myocardial stress and injury.

• Keywords
• Co-morbidities, Heart failure, Myocardial injury, Myocardial stress, Outcome, Quality of life,
• MeSH
• Ventricular Function, Left MeSH
• Quality of Life * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Morbidity MeSH
• Follow-Up Studies MeSH
• Heart Failure * epidemiology   MeSH
• Stroke Volume MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Right ventricular (RV) myocardial infarction (MI) is a frequent concomitant of an acute inferior MI. We set out to determine the diagnostic value of speckle tracking echocardiography in comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for RV stunning and scar prediction. 55 patients (66 ± 11 years) with an acute inferior ST elevation MI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of an occlusion in the proximal right coronary artery were prospectively enrolled. An echocardiography was done on the day of presentation and on the 5th day thereafter. A CMR was subsequently performed 1 month after the MI. The CMR was used to differentiate between the group with RV scar (n = 26) and without RV scar (n = 29). RV peak systolic longitudinal strain (RV-LS) at presentation determined RV scar (-21.1 ± 5.1% vs. -9.9 ± 4.6%, p < 0.0001). The RV-LS correlated with the scar extent (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001). RV-LS > -15.8% had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 83% in RV scar prediction (AUC 0.93). RV-LS was superior to TAPSE and TDI in determining the presence of RV scar. According to RV-LS values at presentation and on the 5th day, 3 subgroups were defined: G1-normal deformation (RV-LS <-20%), G2-RV stunning (baseline RV-LS >-20%, 5th day RV-LS <-20%) and G3-persistent RV dysfunction (unchanged RV-LS > -20%). In G1, there was neither RV scar nor clinically relevant hypotension. In G2, 58% of patients developed RV scar and 36% had hypotension. In the G3, 83% developed RV scar and 55% had hypotension. The myocardial deformation analysis could provide an early prediction of RV scar. It allowed the patients to be divided into subgroups with normal RV function, stunning and persistent RV dysfunction.

• MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Echocardiography, Doppler * MeSH
• Ventricular Dysfunction, Right diagnostic imaging   etiology   pathology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Ventricular Function, Right * MeSH
• Hypotension etiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction diagnostic imaging   etiology   pathology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Myocardial Contraction * MeSH
• Coronary Occlusion complications   diagnostic imaging   pathology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
• Myocardium pathology   MeSH
• Recovery of Function MeSH
• Area Under Curve MeSH
• Predictive Value of Tests MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• ROC Curve MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

AIM: Right heart function is not well characterized in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The goal of this study was to examine the haemodynamic, clinical, and prognostic correlates of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in HFpEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Heart failure and preserved ejection fraction patients (n = 96) and controls (n = 46) underwent right heart catheterization, echocardiographic assessment, and follow-up. Right and left heart filling pressures, pulmonary artery (PA) pressures, and right-sided chamber dimensions were higher in HFpEF compared with controls, while left ventricular size and EF were similar. Right ventricular dysfunction (defined by RV fractional area change, FAC <35%) was present in 33% of HFpEF patients and was associated with more severe symptoms and greater comorbidity burden. Right ventricular function was impaired in HFpEF compared with controls using both load-dependent (FAC: 40 ± 10 vs. 53 ± 7%, P < 0.0001) and load-independent indices (FAC adjusted to PA pressure, P = 0.003), with enhanced afterload-sensitivity compared with controls (steeper FAC vs. PA pressure relationship). In addition to haemodynamic load, RVD in HFpEF was associated with male sex, atrial fibrillation, coronary disease, and greater ventricular interdependence. Over a median follow-up of 529 days (IQR: 143-1066), 31% of HFpEF patients died. In Cox analysis, RVD was the strongest predictor of death (HR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.6-2.6; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Right heart dysfunction is common in HFpEF and is caused by both RV contractile impairment and afterload mismatch from pulmonary hypertension. Right ventricular dysfunction in HFpEF develops with increasing PA pressures, atrial fibrillation, male sex, and left ventricular dysfunction, and may represent a novel therapeutic target.

• Keywords
• Atrial fibrillation, Gender, Haemodynamics, Heart failure, Pulmonary hypertension, Ventricular function,
• MeSH
• Ventricular Dysfunction, Right complications   mortality   physiopathology   MeSH
• Atrial Fibrillation complications   mortality   physiopathology   MeSH
• Hemodynamics physiology   MeSH
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Sex Factors MeSH
• Heart Failure complications   mortality   physiopathology   MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Stroke Volume physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH