Aims Left ventricular (LV) mechanical dispersion (MD) may result from heterogeneous electrical conduction and is associated with adverse events. The present study investigated (i) the association... Show moreAims Left ventricular (LV) mechanical dispersion (MD) may result from heterogeneous electrical conduction and is associated with adverse events. The present study investigated (i) the association between LV MD and the extent of LV scar as assessed with contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and (ii) the prognostic implications of LV MD in patients after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.Methods and results LV MD was calculated by echocardiography and myocardial scar was analysed on CMR data retrospectively. Infarct core and border zone were defined as >50% and 35-50% of maximal signal intensity, respectively. Patients were followed for the occurrence of the combined endpoint (all-cause mortality and appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy). In total, 96 patients (87% male, 57 +/- 10 years) were included. Median LV MD was 53.5 ms [interquartile range (IQR) 43.4-62.8]. On CMR, total scar burden was 11.4% (IQR 3.8-17.1%), infarct core tissue 6.2% (IQR 2.0-12.7%), and border zone was 3.5% (IQR 1.5-5.7%). Correlations were observed between LV MD and infarct core (r= 0.517, P < 0.001), total scar burden (r= 0.497, P < 0.001), and border zone (r=0.298, P=0.003). In total, 14 patients (15%) reached the combined endpoint. Patients with LV MD >53.5 ms showed higher event rates as compared to their counterparts. Finally, LV MD showed the highest area under the curve for the prediction of the combined endpoint.Conclusion LV MD is correlated with LV scar burden. In addition, patients with prolonged LV MD showed higher event rates. Finally, LV MD provided the highest predictive value for the combined endpoint when compared with other parameters. Show less
Vollema, E.M.; Amanullah, M.R.; Prihadi, E.A.; Ng, A.C.T.; Bijl, P. van der; Sin, Y.K.; ... ; Bax, J.J. 2020
Aims Cardiac damage in severe aortic stenosis (AS) can be classified according to a recently proposed staging classification. The present study investigated the incremental prognostic value of left... Show moreAims Cardiac damage in severe aortic stenosis (AS) can be classified according to a recently proposed staging classification. The present study investigated the incremental prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) over stages of cardiac damage in patients with severe AS.Method and results From an ongoing registry, a total of 616 severe symptomatic AS patients with available LV GLS by speckle tracking echocardiography were selected and retrospectively analysed. Patients were categorized according to cardiac damage on echocardiography: Stage 0 (no damage), Stage 1 (LV damage), Stage 2 (mitral valve or left atrial damage), Stage 3 (tricuspid valve or pulmonary artery vasculature damage), or Stage 4 (right ventricular damage). LV GLS was divided by quintiles and assigned to the different stages. The endpoint was all-cause mortality. Over a median follow-up of 44 [24-89] months, 234 (38%) patients died. LV GLS was associated with all-cause mortality independent of stage of cardiac damage. After incorporation of LV GLS by quintiles into the staging classification, Stages 2-4 were independently associated with outcome. LV GLS showed incremental prognostic value over clinical characteristics and stages of cardiac damage.Conclusion In this large single-centre cohort of severe AS patients, incorporation of LV GLS by quintiles in a novel proposed staging classification resulted in refinement of risk stratification by identifying patients with more advanced cardiac damage. LV GLS was shown to provide incremental prognostic value over the originally proposed staging classification. Show less
Dietz, M.F.; Prihadi, E.A.; Bijl, P. van der; Marsan, N.A.; Delgado, V.; Bax, J.J. 2020
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of staging right heart failure (RHF) in patients with significant secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR).BACKGROUND Right... Show moreOBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of staging right heart failure (RHF) in patients with significant secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR).BACKGROUND Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), defined as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion <17 mm and clinical signs of RHF, defined as New York Heart Association functional class peripheral edema, or use of diuretics, do not always coincide in patients with significant secondary TR and may have different prognostic implications.METHODS A total of 1,311 patients with significant secondary TR (median age: 71 [interquartile range: 62 to 78] years; 50% mate) were divided into 4 RHF Stages according to the presence or absence of RVD and clinical signs of RHF: Stage 1 was defined as no RVD and no signs of RHF; Stage 2 indicated RVD but no signs of RHF; Stage 3 included RVD and signs of RHF; Stage 4 was defined as RVD and refractory signs of RHF at rest. Five-year mortality rates were compared across the 4 Stages of RHF, and the independent associates of mortality were identified by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.RESULTS A total of 101 patients (8%) were classified as Stage 1, 124 (10%) as Stage 2, 683 (52%) as Stage 3, and 403 (31%) as Stage 4. Patients in higher Stages of RHF had more comorbidities and worse renal and left ventricular systolic function. Cumulative 5-year survival was 54%. RHF Stages 3 and 4 were independently associated with increased mortality compared to Stage 1 (hazard ratio: 2.110 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.163 to 3.828] and 3.318 [95% CI: 1.795 to 6.133], respectively).CONCLUSIONS In patients with significant secondary TR, higher Stages of RHF are independently associated with allcause mortality at long-term follow-up. (C) 2020 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
Fortuni, F.; Dietz, M.F.; Prihadi, E.A.; Bijl, P. van der; Ferrari, G.M. de; Knuuti, J.; ... ; Marsan, N.A. 2020
OBJECTIVES A novel tricuspid regurgitation (TR) grading system, using vena contracta (VC) width and effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), was proposed and validated based on its prognostic... Show moreOBJECTIVES A novel tricuspid regurgitation (TR) grading system, using vena contracta (VC) width and effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), was proposed and validated based on its prognostic usefulness.BACKGROUND The clinical need of a new grading system for TR has recently been emphasized to depict the whole spectrum of TR severity, particularly beyond severe TR (massive or torrential).METHODS TR severity was characterized in 1,129 patients with moderate or severe secondary TR (STR). Recently proposed cutoff values of VC width were more effective in differentiating the prognosis of patients with moderate STR, whereas EROA cutoff values performed better in characterizing the risk of patients with more severe STR. Therefore, these 2 parameters were combined into a novel grading system to define moderate (VC <7 mm), severe (VC >= 7 mm and EROA <80 mm(2)), and torrential (VC >= 7 mm and EROA >= 80 mm(2)) STR.RESULTS A total of 143 patients (13%) showed moderate STR, whereas 536 patients (47%) had severe STR, and 450 (40%) had torrential STR. Patients with torrential STR had larger right ventricular (RV) dimensions, lower RV systolic function, and were more likely to receive diuretics. The cumulative 10-year survival rate was 53% for moderate, 45% for severe, and 35% for torrential STR (p = 0.007). After adjusting for potential confounders, torrential STR retained an association with worse prognosis compared with other STR grades (hazard ratio: 1.245; 95% confidence interval: 1.023 to 1.516; p = 0.029).CONCLUSIONS A novel STR grading system was able to capture the whole range of STR severity and identified patients with torrential STR who were characterized by a worse prognosis. (C) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
Dietz, M.F.; Prihadi, E.A.; Bijl, P. van der; Goedemans, L.; Mertens, B.J.A.; Gursoy, E.; ... ; Bax, J.J. 2019
BACKGROUND In severe aortic stenosis (AS), patients often show extra-aortic valvular injury. Recently, a new staging system for severe AS has been proposed on the basis of the extent of cardiac... Show moreBACKGROUND In severe aortic stenosis (AS), patients often show extra-aortic valvular injury. Recently, a new staging system for severe AS has been proposed on the basis of the extent of cardiac damage.OBJECTIVES The present study evaluated the prevalence and prognostic impact of these different stages of cardiac damage in a large, real-world, multicenter cohort of symptomatic severe AS patients.METHODS From the ongoing registries from 2 academic institutions, a total of 1,189 symptomatic severe AS patients were selected and retrospectively analyzed. According to the extent of cardiac damage on echocardiography, patients were classified as Stage 0 (no cardiac damage), Stage 1 (left ventricular damage), Stage 2 (mitral valve or left atrial damage), Stage 3 (tricuspid valve or pulmonary artery vasculature damage), or Stage 4 (right ventricular damage). Patients were followed for all-cause mortality and combined endpoint (all-cause mortality, stroke, and cardiac-related hospitalization).RESULTS On the basis of the proposed classification, 8% of patients were classified as Stage 0, 24% as Stage 1, 49% as Stage 2, 7% as Stage 3, and 12% as Stage 4. On multivariable analysis, cardiac damage was independently associated with all-cause mortality and combined outcome, although this was mainly determined by Stages 3 and 4.CONCLUSIONS In this large multicenter cohort of symptomatic severe AS patients, stage of cardiac injury as classified by a novel staging system was independently associated with all-cause mortality and combined endpoint, although this seemed to be predominantly driven by tricuspid valve or pulmonary artery vasculature damage (Stage 3) and right ventricular dysfunction (Stage 4). (C) 2019 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
Aims The present study aimed at investigating the association between left ventricular (LV) mechanical dispersion measured with speckle tracking echocardiography and severity of aortic stenosis (AS... Show moreAims The present study aimed at investigating the association between left ventricular (LV) mechanical dispersion measured with speckle tracking echocardiography and severity of aortic stenosis (AS) and its impact on prognosis.Methods and results This retrospective study included 630 patients [age 72 (62-78) years, 61.4% men] with various grades of AS (mild AS, 19.8%; moderate AS, 37.0%; severe AS, 43.2%). LV mechanical dispersion (defined as standard deviation of time from Q/R on electrocardiogram to peak longitudinal strain in 17 LV segments) was assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic determinants of increased LV mechanical dispersion were evaluated. During a follow-up of 107 (43-133) months, the independent association between LV mechanical dispersion and all-cause mortality (n = 302, 48%) was evaluated including aortic valve replacement as time-dependent co-variate. LV mechanical dispersion increased significantly with increasing severity of AS (mild AS, 54.5 +/- 17.2 ms; moderate AS, 56.7 +/- 19.3 ms; severe AS, 70.9 +/- 24.3 ms; P < 0.001). Independent determinants of increased mechanical dispersion included older age (beta = 0.28; P = 0.003), lower LV ejection fraction (beta = -0.24; P = 0.020), smaller aortic valve area (beta = -8.55; P = 0.001), larger LV mass index (beta = 0.20; P < 0.001), and longer QRS duration (beta = 1.12 per each 10 ms increase; P = 0.012). LV mechanical dispersion showed incremental prognostic value for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.10 per each 10 ms increase, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.15; P < 0.001).Conclusion LV mechanical dispersion assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography increases significantly with severity of AS and is significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Show less
Prihadi, E.A.; Bijl, P. van der; Dietz, M.; Abou, R.; Vollema, E.M.; Marsan, N.A.; ... ; Bax, J.J. 2019
BACKGROUND: In patients with significant functional tricuspid regurgitation, timely detection of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction with conventional 2-dimensional echocardiography is challenging,... Show moreBACKGROUND: In patients with significant functional tricuspid regurgitation, timely detection of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction with conventional 2-dimensional echocardiography is challenging, whereas speckle-tracking echocardiography RV free wall longitudinal strain has been proposed as better prognosticator. We evaluated the prevalence and prognostic value of impaired RV free wall longitudinal strain in patients with significant functional tricuspid regurgitation, in comparison with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and fractional area change (FAC).METHODS: Eight hundred ninety-six patients (51.3% men, 71 years [62-78 years]) with significant functional tricuspid regurgitation were divided according to the presence of RV dysfunction (defined as TAPSE < 17 mm, FAC <35%, and RV free wall longitudinal strain >-23%) and were followed for the occurrence of all-cause mortality.RESULTS: RV free wall longitudinal strain identified the highest percentage of RV dysfunction (84.9%), in comparison to FAC (48.5%) and TAPSE (71.7%). During a median follow-up of 2.8 years (1.3-5.4 years), 443 (49.4%) patients died. Compared with survivors, nonsurvivors showed worse RV systolic dysfunction (FAC=36.5 +/- 12.7% versus 33.9 +/- 11.8%, P=0.001; TAPSE=15.4 +/- 5.0 versus 14.0 +/- 4.5 mm, P<0.001; RV free wall longitudinal strain=-15.9 +/- 7.5% versus -12.9 +/- 6.8%, P<0.001). Cumulative event-free survival was significantly worse in patients with decreased FAC, decreased TAPSE, and impaired RV free wall longitudinal strain. On multivariate analysis, RV free wall longitudinal strain was independently associated with all-cause mortality and incremental to FAC and TAPSE.CONCLUSIONS: In significant tricuspid regurgitation, impaired RV free wall longitudinal strain identifies higher rates of RV dysfunction and is associated with worse outcome beyond conventional echocardiographic parameters of RV systolic function. Show less
