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PubMed1994

Clinical validation of a radionuclide detector to measure ejection fraction in critically ill patients.

The use of a new non-imaging nuclear probe (Cardioscint) capable of continuous online monitoring of left ventricular function is described in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Ejection fraction, measured by the Cardioscint, was compared with that measured by echocardiography. The mean difference was -1.1% (95% confidence interval -2.9 to +0.6%). Mean difference +/- 2 SD was +10.6 to -12.8% (95% confidence intervals +7.5 to 13.6% and -15.8 to -9.0%, respectively). Examples of fluid loading and inotropic support showed comparable changes in stroke counts measured by the Cardioscint and stroke index measured by thermodilution. The Cardioscint is a practical bedside method for continuous or repeated measurement of ejection fraction and for assessing the response to therapeutic interventions in critically ill patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Noninvasive assessment of myocardial contractility in asymptomatic patients with sever aortic regurgitation and normal left ventricular ejection fraction at rest.

In 14 asymptomatic patients with isolated aortic insufficiency the slope k of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation was determined noninvasively with equilibrium radionuclide angiography. The results were compared with changes in left ventricular ejection fraction during maximal physical stress. Nine normal volunteers served as a control group. Patients with aortic insufficiency did not differ significantly from the control group with respect to left ventricular ejection fraction at rest (aortic insufficiency 62 + 8 percent, control 65 +/- 6; probability [p] = not significant [NS]), physical work capacity (aortic insufficiency 113 +/- 32 watts, control 117 +/- 25; p = NS) or age (aortic insufficiency 40 +/- 10 years, control 47 +/- 7; p = NS). The slope (k) of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation was found to be significantly lower in the group with aortic insufficiency (3.1 +/- 1.1) than in the control group (4.1 +/- 0.5; p less than 0.05). Patients with aortic insufficiency could be classified into two subgroups with respect to the slope k. In subgroup A (n = 7) the slope fell within the normal range (4.0 +/- 0.6) as defined by the control group, and the left ventricular exercise reserve was normal (6 percent +/- 1). In subgroup B (n = 7) the slope was significantly lower (2.2 +/- 0.6, p less than 0.01), indicating depressed myocardial contractility, and all patients experienced left ventricular dysfunction during exercise (left ventricular exercise reserve -5 +/- 5 percent). Thus, noninvasive determination of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation identified two subsets of asymptomatic patients with aortic insufficiency, one with impaired myocardial contractility and normal left ventricular exercise reserve and a second group with depressed myocardial contractility and left ventricular dysfunction during exercise. Therefore, an abnormal baseline contractile state in asymptomatic patients with aortic insufficiency may be uncovered by noninvasive determination of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation or by assessing the left ventricular exercise reserve. Serial studies in a larger group of patients undergoing surgical correction of the valve lesion are indicated to determine whether this information will be helpful in evaluating when to operate on asymptomatic patients with aortic insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The agreement between ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by transesophageal echocardiography or a combined radionuclear and thermodilution technique in patients after coronary artery surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To study the reproducibility of and agreement between perioperative transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) and radionuclide (RN) assessment of ventricular volumes and ejection fraction (EF). DESIGN: A prospective, blinded comparison of two methods of measurement. SETTING: A surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients after coronary artery bypass surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were simultaneously measured by radionuclide ventriculography and transesophageal echocardiography. Two sets of measurements were made in rapid succession with a third set after an interval. RESULTS: Reproducibilities of EF and ventricular volumes by TEE and RN were similar. At each set of measurements, the bias for radionuclide EF and TEE Simpson's rule EF, 0.03 +/- 0.05, 0 +/- 0.06, -0.01 +/- 0.07, respectively, for radionuclide EF and TEE area length EF 0.01 +/- 0.05, -0.01 +/- 0.05, -0.03 +/- 0.08, respectively, were significantly less than for radionuclide EF and TEE FAC 0.07 +/- 0.05, 0.05 +/- 0.05, 0.03 +/- 0.09. Poor agreement was observed between RNTD-EDV, and both of the TEE EDV measurements. CONCLUSION: EF measured by TEE area length and Simpson's rule method are as reproducible as TEE FAC and are more accurate estimates of RN EF. Poor agreement between methods of measuring end-diastolic volume was observed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of right ventricular ejection fraction with krypton-81m in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Thirty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 15 healthy volunteers have been studied to assess the value of measuring right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) at rest with a perfusion of krypton-81m (81mKr). With this perfusion, equilibrium RVEF can be measured in a 30 degrees right anterior oblique projection, avoiding a superimposition of cardiac cavities. The average RVEF of the patients with COPD was significantly lower than that of the normal patients (36.3 +/- 9.3% vs 52.6 +/- 3.9%; p less than 0.001). An inverse linear relation was found between mean pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) and RVEF (r = -0.543; p less than 0.01). The RVEF in a group of 15 patients with COPD and pulmonary hypertension (Ppa greater than 20 mmHg), averaged 30.4 +/- 7.26%, which was significantly lower than that of the other 15 COPD patients with normal Ppa, whose RVEF averaged 42.3 +/- 7.1% (p less than 0.01). Taking a RVEF value less than or equal to 35% as an indicator of pulmonary hypertension, the sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 75%, the predictive value for a positive test was 75%, and for a negative test was 80%. A positive but weak correlation was found between RVEF and PaO2 (r = 0.52; p less than 0.01), SaO2 (r = 0.41; p less than 0.05) and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (r = 0.40; p less than 0.05). No correlation was found between RVEF and prior history of right cardiac insufficiency, PaCO2, pH, the ratio FEV1/vital capacity, ECG signs of cor pulmonale and left ventricular ejection fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Anthracycline cardiotoxicity: clinical and pathologic outcomes assessed by radionuclide ejection fraction.

A clinical syndrome of severe cardiomyopathy often accompanies administration of high doses of anthracycline agents. We studied 36 patients serially with radionuclide angiography. At three weeks following drug administration, 8 of 36 patients showed depression of ejection fraction (EF). All had received at least 280 mg/m2 of the drug and 7 had received more than 380 mg/M2. Definite clinical syndromes of congestive cardiomyopathy developed only in patients showing EF depression and in some patients, EF depression developed without signs of congestive heart failure. Ejection fraction studies at 5 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, and one week following drug administration showed no changes when compared to immediate preg-drug EF. Seven patients who died during the study underwent histologic examination. Only the single patient with a depressed EF showed histologic evidence of athracycline cardiotoxicity, although all but 1 of these patients had received at least 400 mg/M2. We conclude that serial radionuclide EF just prior to anthracycline administration is a potentially useful predictor of cardiac toxicity, and that EF depression and/or preservation of a normal EF should be weighed in the decision for administering a drug of this type at high dosage levels.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2006

Reduced systolic performance by tissue Doppler in patients with preserved and abnormal ejection fraction: new insights in chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is useful in the evaluation of systolic and diastolic function. It allows assessment of ventricular dynamics in its longitudinal axis. We sought to investigate the difference in systolic and diastolic longitudinal function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with normal and reduced ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred ten outpatients with CHF and 68 controls were included. Ejection fraction (EF) was obtained and longitudinal systolic (S) and diastolic (E' and A') wall velocities were recorded from basal septum. Group A (controls) were normal and CHF patients were classified by EF in Group B1: > 45% and B2: < or = 45%. In A, B1 and B2 the mean S peak was 7.74; 5.45 and 4.89 cm/s (p<0.001); the mean E' peak was 8.56; 5.72 and 6.1 cm/s (p<0.001); and the mean A' peak was 10.2; 7.3 and 5.3 cm/s (p<0.001). Also, isovolumic contraction and relaxation time were different among control and CHF groups, (both p<0.001). The most useful parameters for identifying diastolic CHF were IVRT and S peak, with area under ROC curves of 0.93 and 0.89. The cut-off of 115 ms for IVRT and 5.8 cm/s for S peak showed a sensitivity of 94 and 97%, with a specificity of 82 and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that impairment of left ventricular systolic function is present even in those with diastolic heart failure, and that abnormalities may have an important role to identifying the condition.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

[First-tracer passage with a single-crystal gamma camera: completed assessment of left-ventricular function by determining enddiastolic volume, regional ejection fraction and %-akinetic segment (author's transl)].

Determination of left ventricular (LV) enddiastolic volume (EDV) was achieved by calibration of the system (single-crystal gamma camera, equipped with a converging collimator) to a volume phantom (egg). A good correlation (r = 0.92) was found with EDV values, obtained from cineventriculography. Images, derived from enddiastole (ED) and endsystole (ES) were corrected for background by "parabolic background subtraction", which is a realistic form of background correction in view of the LV-shape. Regional ejection fraction (REF) was calculated by an electronical operation using the ejection fraction formula and these ED and ES images. REF values reflect regional or segmental LV pump function and are superior to one- or two-dimensional parameters (e.g. visual assessment of asynergy, hemiaxis shortening) since REF values include the third dimension by referring to regional volumes. In addition, per cent-akinetic segment may be replaced by REF. Results from the literature show that first-tracer passage with a single crystal gamma camera at rest (n = 534) yield equivalent results in comparison with cineventriculography. Therefore, this nuclear procedure may be routinely used. REF values complete the diagnostic parameter as yet available.

Cineradiography↗
PubMed1989

The prognostic significance of quantitative signal-averaged variables relative to clinical variables, site of myocardial infarction, ejection fraction and ventricular premature beats: a prospective study.

A prospective study was undertaken of the prognostic significance of quantitative signal-averaged electrocardiographic (ECG) variables relative to clinical variables, site of myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction and characteristics of ventricular premature beats in 115 patients (mean age 62 +/- 12 years) studied 10 +/- 6 days after myocardial infarction. Signal-averaged variables included the root mean square voltage of the terminal 40 ms, the duration of the filtered signal-averaged QRS complex and low amplitude signals less than 40 microV determined at 25 and 40 Hz high pass filtering in all patients. Of the 115 patients, 51 (44%) had an abnormal signal-averaged ECG (one or more abnormal signal-averaged variables), 51 (44%) at 25 Hz and 48 (42%) at 40 Hz high pass filtering. A higher proportion of patients with an inferior wall infarction had an abnormal signal-averaged ECG as compared with patients with anterior wall infarction (58% versus 31%). Over a 14 +/- 8 month follow-up period 16 patients (14%) had an arrhythmic event. An abnormal signal-averaged ECG at 40 Hz high pass filtering had a higher sensitivity (81% versus 75%) and specificity (65% versus 61%) than at 25 Hz high pass filtering. The predictive value of the signal-averaged ECG was superior to that of the ejection fraction (40% versus 20%) in anterior wall myocardial infarction, whereas in patients with inferior wall infarction, the predictive values of the two tests were equivalent. The prognostic power of 27 clinical and noninvasive variables was determined with the Cox proportional hazards regression model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary bypass grafting for patients with low left ventricular ejection fractions, unstable angina pectoris, and risk factors for adverse outcomes with bypass (the AWESOME Randomized Trial and Registry).

The recently concluded Angina With Extremely Serious Operative Mortality Evaluation (AWESOME) was a randomized clinical trial of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary bypass graft surgery among patients with medically refractory ischemia who were at high risk for coronary bypass graft surgery because of > or =1 risk factors that included severely reduced left ventricular (LV) function, defined as LV ejection fraction <35%. This study reports the outcome of patients with LV ejection fraction <35% in the randomized clinical trial and the physician-directed and patient choice registries of the AWESOME study.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Comparison between radionuclide ejection fraction and fractional area changes derived from transesophageal echocardiography using automated border detection.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular fractional area changes (FAC) can be derived from transesophageal echocardiography using an automated border detection system. However, FAC has not yet been compared to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) evaluated by a reference technique. The aim of this study was to correlate transesophageal echocardiography automated FAC to EF derived from radionuclide angiography to obtain a quantifying method of global left ventricular systolic function at the bedside. METHODS: Ten critically ill patients, whose lungs were mechanically ventilated, were included in this prospective study. Patients were scheduled for radionuclide EF evaluation when at least 75% of the endocardium was clearly visualized on transesophageal echocardiography. Patients with esophageal pathology or cardiac dysrhythmia were excluded. Ejection fraction derived from radionuclide angiography was measured using technetium 99m. Echocardiographic data were obtained using an ultrasound system with automated border capabilities. Simultaneous measurements of left ventricular EF and FAC were obtained for each patient, both before and after starting a dobutamine intravenous infusion to modify left ventricular contractility. RESULTS: Mean values for radionuclide EF and transesophageal echocardiography FAC were, respectively: 55% +/- 19% (range 19-89%) and 46% +/- 18% (range 17-80%). Left ventricular EF and FAC were significantly correlated (r = 0.85, SEE = 9.6%). Variations of EF and FAC, induced by dobutamine, were also correlated (r = 0.70, SEE = 4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Fractional area changes determined by transesophageal echocardiography using automated border detection correlate well with radionuclide EF and may be used at the bedside to quantify left ventricular function in selected intensive care unit patients.

Echocardiography, Transesophageal↗
PubMed2001

The changes of cardiac ejection fraction up to 72 h after transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia.

The objective was to assess the serial change of the cardiac function after blood transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia. According to a previous study, transfusion would adjust the ejection fraction to the advantage of cardiac function in chronic anaemia patients, and thus the serial change of the cardiac function in a certain period should be evaluated after transfusion in patients with chronic anaemia. In a prospective study, ejection fraction (EF) was determined before and < or = 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after transfusion in 32 patients with chronic anaemia, and the results were compared and analysed. In the left ventricle (LV), the four EFs noted before and < or = 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after transfusion did not significantly differ between one another. In the right ventricle (RV), the EF 72 h after transfusion significantly increased in comparison with the pretransfusion value (P = 0.043). Transfusion of small amounts of RBC did not significantly change the LVEF up to 72 h in patients with transfusion-dependent chronic anaemia; whether it might change the RVEF 72 h after transfusion deserves further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Left ventricular ejection fraction may not be useful as an end point of thrombolytic therapy comparative trials.

In the era of comparative and adjunctive trials in reperfusion therapy, the need to develop alternative end points for mortality reduction is clear. Left ventricular ejection fraction, which has been commonly used as a surrogate, is problematic due to missing values, technically inadequate studies, and lack of correlation with mortality results in controlled reperfusion trials performed to date. In this paper, we present a composite clinical end point that includes, in order, severity of adverse outcome death, hemorrhagic stroke, nonhemorrhagic stroke, poor ejection fraction (less than 30%), reinfarction, heart failure, and pulmonary edema. Such a composite index may be useful to detect true therapeutic benefit in reperfusion trials without necessitating greater than 20-30,000 patient enrollment.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗
PubMed2006

Warfarin versus aspirin in patients with reduced cardiac ejection fraction (WARCEF): rationale, objectives, and design.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin is widely prescribed for patients with heart failure without level 1 evidence, and an adequately powered randomized study is needed. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Warfarin versus Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction study is a National Institutes of Health-funded, randomized, double-blind clinical trial with a target enrollment of 2860 patients. It is designed to test with 90% power the 2-sided primary null hypothesis of no difference between warfarin (International Normalized Ratio 2.5-3) and aspirin (325 mg) in 3- to 5-year event-free survival for the composite endpoint of death, or stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) among patients with cardiac ejection fraction < or =35% who do not have atrial fibrillation or mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Secondary analyses will compare warfarin and aspirin for reduction of all-cause mortality, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI), balanced against the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, among women and African Americans; and compare warfarin and aspirin for prevention of stroke alone. Randomization is stratified by site, New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart class (I vs II-IV), and stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 1 year before randomization versus no stroke or TIA in that period. NYHA class I patients will not exceed 20%, and the study has a target of 20% (or more) patients with stroke or TIA within 12 months. Randomized patients receive active warfarin plus placebo or active aspirin plus placebo, double-blind. CONCLUSION: The results should help guide the selection of optimum antithrombotic therapy for patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2026

Exerkine dysregulation links visceral adiposity to skeletal muscle impairment in end-stage heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: proteomic evidence for a cardio-adipose-muscle axis.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with profound alterations in body composition, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and impaired exercise capacity. Exerkines representing exercise-responsive signaling molecules released by skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and other organs may mediate systemic metabolic communication between tissues. However, their role in advanced HFrEF and their relationship with adiposity and skeletal muscle characteristics remain poorly understood. METHODS: We studied 73 patients with end-stage HFrEF and 16 healthy controls. Body composition was assessed using computed tomography, including visceral (VAT), subcutaneous (SAT), and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), as well as skeletal muscle quantity (psoas muscle index, PMI) and quality (psoas muscle density, PMD). Functional performance was evaluated using handgrip strength (HGT) and the 6-min walk test (6MWT). Circulating exerkines were quantified using the Olink technology. Associations between proteins and clinical variables were assessed using age- and creatinine-adjusted linear models with false discovery rate correction. RESULTS: Among patients with HFrEF, 36% were obese and 38% exhibited central obesity independent of BMI. Muscle strength and muscle quality were strongly associated with functional capacity. VAT correlated with muscle mass but not with muscle quality or performance. Compared with controls, HFrEF patients demonstrated elevated inflammatory and metabolic stress-related exerkines including CXCL8, CCL2, IL-6, TNF, IL-15, GDF15, FGF21, ANGPTL4, CTSB, DCN, and resistin. In contrast, proteins associated with muscle integrity and regenerative signaling (myostatin, BDNF, IL-7, SPARC) were significantly reduced. In HFrEF patients leptin strongly correlated with adiposity measures. Metabolic stress mediators (GDF15, IL-15, FGF21, CTSB) were inversely associated with muscle quality and functional performance, whereas myostatin positively correlated with muscle quality, strength, and exercise capacity. BDNF was inversely associated with frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced HFrEF is characterized by a dysregulated exerkine network linking adiposity, skeletal muscle quality, and functional performance. Four biologically coherent axes were identified: a leptin-driven adiposity axis, a metabolic stress-muscle quality axis, a myostatin-related muscle function axis, and a neurotrophic frailty axis. These findings support the presence of a systemic cardio-adipose-muscle signaling network in end-stage HFrEF and identify candidate molecular mediators of sarcopenia and functional decline.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Reperfusion with streptokinase of an occluded right coronary artery: effects on early and late right and left ventricular ejection fraction.

The effect of coronary artery recanalization on early and late right and left ventricular function was studied in patients with an acute inferior wall myocardial infarction caused by an occlusion of the right coronary artery. Fifty-four out of 138 patients, with chest pain lasting less than 4 hours, with ST elevations diagnostic for acute myocardial infarction not responding to medical treatment, and without contraindication for thrombolytic therapy, had an occluded right coronary artery. In 26 of these 54 patients, the occlusion was located proximal to the first right ventricular branch. Fourteen of them were treated conventionally (group A) and 12 with intracoronary streptokinase (group B). In 28 patients, the occlusion was distal to the first right ventricular branch. Fifteen were treated conventionally (group C) and 13 with intracoronary streptokinase (group D). In all patients, coronary angiograms were made 2 to 3 weeks after acute myocardial infarction. A nuclear angiogram was made the second day after admission and 3 months later to determine right and left ventricular ejection fraction. Values of radionuclide left and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) between acute study (less than 48 hours after acute myocardial infarction [AMI]) and late study (3 months after AMI) showed no significant improvement in the four groups of patients studied. Group A patients (patients with total occlusion of the right coronary artery treated conventionally) had a significantly lower RVEF acutely and at late study as compared to the other three groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Normal left ventricular ejection fraction in systemic arteriovenous fistula. Implications for the use of noninvasive methods in differential diagnosis of heart failure.

Heart failure is frequently a result of impaired systolic ventricular performance. We describe a patient with heart failure and a systemic arteriovenous fistula who had left ventricular enlargement and a normal left ventricular ejection fraction, demonstrated by gated cardiac blood pool scanning. The heart failure was relieved by surgical repair of the fistula, but the left ventricular ejection fraction did not change. These observations show that volume overload rather than impaired systolic function was the mechanism by which heart failure occurred in this patient with a systemic high output state and illustrate the value of gated cardiac blood scanning in noninvasively elucidating the mechanism of heart failure.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of post-stress ejection fraction and relative left ventricular volumes by automatic analysis of gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography acquired in the supine and prone positions.

BACKGROUND: We have previously described an automatic method for measuring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The repeatability of this method has not been previously described. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study compares LVEF and relative end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes assessed from myocardial perfusion SPECT by our automatic method in 180 consecutive patients undergoing gated myocardial perfusion SPECT with injection of 99mTc-labeled sestamibi in whom the acquisitions were performed sequentially in supine and prone positions. The algorithm operated completely automatically in the prone and supine positions in 178 of the 180 patients. Very high correlations were observed for LVEF (r = 0.93), relative left ventricular end-systolic volume (r = 0.98), and relative left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = 0.97). The mean paired absolute difference between LVEFs in the prone and supine position was 3.8+/-3.2, for left ventricular end-systolic volume was 4.9+/-4.8 ml, and for left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 7.4+/-6.7 ml. When patients were classified by the extent and severity of stress perfusion defect, there was no significant difference in repeatability for the measurements in any category. CONCLUSIONS: Our algorithm for automatic quantification of LVEF and relative end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes from gated 99mTc sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT is repeatable. When performed in the prone position, values of ejection fractions and ventricular volumes are essentially identical to those obtained in the supine position.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hospitalization for heart failure in the presence of a normal left ventricular ejection fraction: results of the New York Heart Failure Registry.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a prospective multicenter registry in a large metropolitan area to define the clinical characteristics, hospital course, treatment, and factors precipitating decompensation in patients hospitalized for heart failure with a normal ejection fraction (HFNEF). BACKGROUND: The clinical profile of patients hospitalized for HFNEF has been characterized by retrospective analyses of hospital records and state data banks, with few prospective single-center studies. METHODS: Patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) at 24 medical centers in the New York metropolitan area and found to have a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of > or 50% within seven days of admission were included in this registry. Patient demographics, signs and symptoms of HF, coexisting and exacerbating cardiovascular and medical conditions, treatment, laboratory tests, procedures, and hospital outcomes data were collected. Analysis by gender and race was prespecified. RESULTS: Of 619 patients, 73% were women, who were on average four years older than men (72.8 +/- 14.1 years vs. 68.6 +/- 13.8 years, p < 0.001). Black non-Hispanic patients comprised 30% of the study population. They were eight years younger than other patients (66.0 +/- 14.2 years vs. 74 +/- 13.5 years p < 0.001). Co-morbid conditions and their prevalence were: hypertension, 78%; increased LV mass, 82%; diabetes, 46%; and obesity, 46%. Before clinical decompensation that precipitated hospitalization, 86% of patients had chronic symptoms compatible with New York Heart Association functional classes II to IV. Factors precipitating clinical decompensation were identified in 53% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 4.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalized for HFNEF are most often chronically incapacitated elderly women with a history of hypertension and increased LV mass. Reasons for clinical decompensation are identified in only one-half of patients.

Adult↗