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The prognostic value of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure
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Abstract
Background: Increased arterial stiffness is an indicator of mortality. This study consists of an 18-month follow-up of the mortality in advanced heart failure patients with increased arterial stiffness.
Methods: The study followed up 98 patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in NYHA class III and IV (76 males, 22 females and mean age of 60 ± 12 years) with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% as determined by the Simpson method. Augmentation index (Aix) and pulse wave propagation velocity (PWV) parameters were used as indicators of arterial stiffness. Aix and PWV values were measured by arteriography.
Results: 36 patients died. Both Aix and PWV were powerful determinants of mortality, independent of other prognostic variables (p = 0.013, OR: 0.805; p = 0.025, OR: 0.853). A cutoff value for Aix of –14.33 gave 91.2%, 80.3% sensitivity and specificity. A cutoff value for PWVof 11.06 gave 82.4%, 65.4% sensitivity and specificity mortality was predicted. Left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.008, OR: 0.859) and B-type natriuretic peptide (p = 0.01, OR: 0.833) was the other independent determinant of mortality. A significant difference was found inboth Aix and PWV between the compensated measurements and decompensated heart failure measurements made in 70 patients (p = 0.035, p = 0.048).
Conclusions: Measurement of arterial stiffness is a convenient, inexpensive and reliable method for predicting mortality in patients with advanced heart failure.
Abstract
Background: Increased arterial stiffness is an indicator of mortality. This study consists of an 18-month follow-up of the mortality in advanced heart failure patients with increased arterial stiffness.
Methods: The study followed up 98 patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in NYHA class III and IV (76 males, 22 females and mean age of 60 ± 12 years) with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% as determined by the Simpson method. Augmentation index (Aix) and pulse wave propagation velocity (PWV) parameters were used as indicators of arterial stiffness. Aix and PWV values were measured by arteriography.
Results: 36 patients died. Both Aix and PWV were powerful determinants of mortality, independent of other prognostic variables (p = 0.013, OR: 0.805; p = 0.025, OR: 0.853). A cutoff value for Aix of –14.33 gave 91.2%, 80.3% sensitivity and specificity. A cutoff value for PWVof 11.06 gave 82.4%, 65.4% sensitivity and specificity mortality was predicted. Left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.008, OR: 0.859) and B-type natriuretic peptide (p = 0.01, OR: 0.833) was the other independent determinant of mortality. A significant difference was found inboth Aix and PWV between the compensated measurements and decompensated heart failure measurements made in 70 patients (p = 0.035, p = 0.048).
Conclusions: Measurement of arterial stiffness is a convenient, inexpensive and reliable method for predicting mortality in patients with advanced heart failure.
Keywords
heart failure, arterial stiffness, mortality, prognosis


Title
The prognostic value of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure
Journal
Issue
Pages
665-671
Published online
2013-12-11
Page views
2330
Article views/downloads
2870
DOI
10.5603/CJ.2013.0168
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2013;20(6):665-671.
Keywords
heart failure
arterial stiffness
mortality
prognosis
Authors
Şerafettin Demir
Onur Akpınar
Oguz Akkus
Kamil Nas
Ilker Unal
Frenc Molnar
Ahmet Demir
Miklós Illyés
Esmeray Acartürk