Abstract:

Heart failure (HF) prognosis is an important topic of current studies; many prognostic factors emerged from clinical, and laboratory tests and imaging evaluation, but their clinical utility depends on availability, price and ease of use. Such parameters are left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Our study evaluated 60 HF patients with reduced LVEF (<45%) (30 with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy – DCM and 30 with non-ischemic DCM). The study aimed to identify significant echocardiographic prognostic parameters beyond LVEF. At three years follow-up, 35% of patients died. These patients had more dilated LV, more reduced LVEF, MAPSE, dp/dt, mitral annulus systolic velocity, global longitudinal (GLS) and circumferential strain (GCS), LV torsion and twist. The mortality rate was higher in ischemic vs non-ischemic DCM patients with more reduced GLS and greater LVEF worsening. GLS and GCS emerged as independent mortality predictor factors.

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