Right Ventricular Free wall Longitudinal Strain in Heart Failure with Mid-range and Preserved Ejection Fraction. Application and Prognostic Implications.

Abstract Purpose: Right ventricle plays an important role in heart failure with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction. Right ventricular dysfunction is common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality in this population. Quantification of right ventricular functional parameters by echocardiography is challenging. Right ventricular strain represents a tool that can provide useful information in the assessment of RV function, offering information with potential prognostic implications.Methods: In a cohort of 71 prospectively included patients admitted for an episode of heart failure with mid-range and preserved ejection fraction (LVEF >40%) right ventricular function was evaluated through right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain was also calculated. Relationship with variables such as hospital readmission and cardiovascular mortality was studied. Results: Worse right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain was associated to higher probability of cardiovascular mortality at six months. In a multivariate analysis RV free wall strain remained a predictor of cardiovascular mortality at 6 months. Significant linear correlation (p <0.01) was observed between longitudinal deformation indices of both ventricles. Conclusion In patients with heart failure with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction, impairment of right ventricular free wall strain is common and is related to worse clinical outcome (increased cardiovascular mortality at six months) regardless of other right ventricular functional parameters and left ventricular ejection fraction. Therefore, representing a sensitive non-invasive prognostic indicator in these patients, and could be useful in stratifying the risk of adverse events. RV and LV strain are correlated indicating biventricular involvement of deformation parameters with prognostic significance.