Left ventricular trabeculation and major adverse cardiovascular events: the Copenhagen General Population Study

Abstract Aims Prominent left ventricular trabeculations is a phenotypic trait observed in cardiovascular diseases. In the general population, the extent of left ventricular trabeculations is highly variable, yet it is unknown whether increased trabeculation is associated with adverse outcome. Methods and results Left ventricular trabeculated mass (g/m2) was measured with contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography in 10 097 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study. The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events and defined as death, heart failure, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The secondary endpoints were the individual components of the primary endpoint. Cox regression models were adjusted for clinical parameters, medical history, electrocardiographic parameters, and cardiac chamber sizes. The mean trabeculated mass was 19.1 g/m2 (standard deviation 4.9 g/m2). During a median follow-up of 4.0 years (interquartile range 1.5–6.7), 710 major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 619 individuals. Individuals with a left ventricular trabeculated mass in the highest quartile had a hazard ratio for major adverse cardiovascular events of 1.64 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–2.08; P < 0.001] compared to those in the lowest quartile. Corresponding hazard ratios were 2.08 (95% CI 1.38–3.14; P < 0.001) for death, 2.63 (95% CI 1.61–4.31; P < 0.001) for heart failure, 1.08 (95% CI 0.56–2.08; P = 0.82) for myocardial infarction, and 1.07 (95% CI 0.72–1.57; P = 0.74) for stroke. Conclusion Increased left ventricular trabeculation is independently associated with an increased rate of major adverse cardiovascular events in the general population.