ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS OF ADVERSE CLINICAL EVENTS IN HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION IN COMBINATION WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Highlights

Repeated hospitalizations occupy a special place in adverse clinical events in heart failure, currently representing one of the most powerful predictors of adverse outcomes in this group of patients. Echocardiographic parameters such as longitudinal myocardial deformation, displacement in the annulus of the tricuspid valve, and left atrial volume index can serve as predictors of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract

Aim. To study the prognostic role of individual echocardiographic parameters in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with arterial hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods. The study included 59 men with hypertension and OSA (apnea/hypopnea index >15 per hour). At baseline all patients underwent a sleep study and echocardiography with an additional assessment of the global longitudinal strain (GLS). Upon inclusion in the study and after 12 months of follow-up, a 6-minute walk test was performed. After 12 months, the clinical course of the disease was retrospectively assessed. The criteria for an adverse clinical course were episodes of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases, the development of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or high-grade ventricular arrhythmias (III–V class according to Ryan), worsening of heart failure with a transition to a higher functional class according to NYHA.

Results. Significant differences were found in several echocardiographic parameters between the groups of patients with and without hospitalizations within 12 months of follow-up: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (p = 0.017), GLS (p = 0.005), left atrial volume index (LAVI) (p = 0.032). According to the regression analysis results, TAPSE, GLS and left ventricular ejection fraction make a statistically significant contribution to the probability of hospitalizations among the evaluated echocardiographic predictors.

Conclusion. The results of the study allow us to consider certain echocardiographic parameters, in particular GLS, TAPSE and LAVI, as predictors of hospitalizations in patients with HFpEF and OSA.

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