Prognostic importance of a short deceleration time in symptomatic congestive heart failure

Dilek Akkan, Jesper Kjaergaard, Jacob Eifer Møller, Christian Hassager, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Lars Køber, EchoCardiography and Heart Outcome Study (ECHOS) investigators

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

AIMS: A restrictive transmitral filling (RF) pattern predicts increased mortality in heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic function. We performed a combined evaluation of LV function and RF for prognosis in patients with HF with and without systolic dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Doppler echocardiography was performed in 972 patients with symptomatic HF. RF was considered present when deceleration time (DT) was 140 ms. A DT >240 ms was defined as delayed relaxation. During a median of 51 months the unadjusted all-cause mortality rates were significantly increased among patients with RF vs. the non-RF group (1- and 4-year mortality was 25% and 54% vs. 17% and 43%). In a multivariable model, RF was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR)=2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.5-2.6) whereas delayed relaxation was without prognostic importance (HR=0.9, CI:0.5-1.6). Repeating the multivariable model in subgroups of wall motion index (WMI) showed that RF was a strong predictor of mortality independent of WMI. For patients with LVEF of at least 50%, HR for RF was 2.0 (CI:1.1-3.4; p=0.02) and interaction between LVEF and RF was not significant. CONCLUSION: In a heterogeneous population hospitalised for symptomatic HF a restrictive transmitral filling pattern, defined as shortened deceleration time, during hospitalisation is an ominous prognostic sign independent of LV systolic function.
Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure
Volume10
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)689-95
Number of pages6
ISSN1388-9842
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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