Study findings from Mayo Clinic provide new insights into congestive heart failure
February 9th, 2009
2009 FEB 9 -- "Congestive heart failure complicating aortic regurgitation is poorly described, and predictive roles of quantitative versus traditional (symptoms or low ejection fraction) surgical markers are unclear. We prospectively enrolled 287 patients with aortic regurgitation ( age, 61 +/- 17 years; 68% male) in whom we performed quantitative Doppler echocardiographic analysis and personal physicians conducted management," researchers in the United States report.
"After diagnosis, 40 congestive heart failure episodes occurred under medical management (10- year, 23% +/- 4%) causing high subsequent mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-6.8; P=.02). Patients with traditional surgical markers ( symptoms or ejection fraction <50%) were surprisingly followed 1.4 +/- 3.3 years under medical management with frequent congestive heart failure ( adjusted risk, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.1-11.0; P<.001) and excess postoperative mortality (HR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3-7.1; P=.01). Quantitative American Society of Echocardiography aortic regurgitation grading and left ventricular end-systolic volume index independently predicted congestive heart failure ( quantitative American Society of Echocardiography severe aortic regurgitation: HR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-13.0; P=.015; end-systolic volume index >= 45 mL/m(2): HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.03-4.4; P=.04) or death-congestive heart failure with incremental predictive value (P <.001). Higher congestive heart failure rates occurred with quantitative American Society of Echocardiography severe aortic regurgitation (regurgitant volume of >= 60mL/beat or orifice of >= 30 mm(2)) versus quantitative American Society of Echocardiography mild aortic regurgitation (10-year: 44% +/- 10% vs 15% +/- 7%, P<.001) and end- systolic volume index of 45 mL/m(2) or greater versus less than 45 mL/m(2) (33% +/- 7% vs 9% +/- 2%, P<.001). Traditional markers (symptoms and ejection fraction <50%) had lower sensitivity for congestive heart failure than quantitative echocardiography (all P<.001). Cardiac surgery for aortic regurgitation markedly reduced congestive heart failure in quantitative American Society of Echocardiography severe aortic regurgitation (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08-0.68; P=.008) without excess mortality (P=.10). This prospective study of aortic regurgitation shows frequent congestive heart failure under conservative management. Traditional surgical markers (symptoms and ejection fraction <50%) predict subsequent congestive heart failure but are insensitive, and rescue operations are often delayed and associated with excess mortality. Quantitative echocardiography provides congestive heart failure predictors that are independent, incremental, and more sensitive than traditional markers," wrote D. Detaint and colleagues, Mayo Clinic.
The researchers concluded: "Cardiac surgery for aortic regurgitation markedly reduces congestive heart failure rates in high-risk patients with aortic regurgitation."
Detaint and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Congestive heart failure complicating aortic regurgitation with medical and surgical management: A prospective study of traditional and quantitative echocardiographic markers. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2008;136(6):1549-1557).
For additional information, contact D. Detaint, Mayo Clinic, Division Cardiovascular Diseases & Internal Medical, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery is: Mosby-Elsevier, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.
Keywords: United States, Rochester, Cardiography, Cardiology, Cardiovascular, Congestive Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Echocardiography, Heart Disease, Surgery, Mayo Clinic.
This article was prepared by Cardiovascular Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Cardiovascular Week via NewsRx.com.
