AimsResidual pulmonary congestion at discharge is associated with poor prognosis in heart failure (HF), but its quantification through physical examination is challenging. Ultrasound imaging of lung comets (B-lines) could improve congestion evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term prognostic value of B-lines after discharge from HF hospitalisation compared with other indices of haemodynamic congestion (BNP, E/e', and inferior vena cava diameter) or clinical status (NYHA class Methods and resultsSixty consecutive HF inpatients underwent clinical examination, echocardiography, and lung ultrasound at discharge, independently of, and in addition to routine management by the attending physicians. The median B-line count was 8.5 (5-34). Three-month event-free survival for the primary endpoint (all-cause death or HF hospitalisation) was 27 ± 10% in patients with ≥30 B-lines and 88 ± 5% in those with <30 B-lines (P < 0.0001). In a multivariable model, ≥30 B-lines significantly predicted the combined endpoint (hazard ratio 5.66, 95% confidence interval 1.74-18.39, P = 0.04), along with NYHA ≥III and inferior vena cava diameter, while other indirect measures of congestion (BNP and E/e' ≥15) were not retained in the model; furthermore ≥30 B-lines independently also predicted the secondary outcomes (HF hospitalisation and death). Importantly, B-line addition to NYHA class and BNP was associated with improved risk classification (integrated discrimination improvement 15%, P = 0.02; continuous net reclassification improvement 65%, P = 0.03).

Abstract-Incidence, determinants, and outcome of atrial fibrillation in hypertensive subjects are incompletely known. We followed for up to 16 years 2482 initially untreated subjects with essential hypertension. At entry, all subjects were in sinus rhythm. Subjects with valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, preexcitation syndrome, thyroid disorders, or lung disease were excluded. During follow-up, a first episode of atrial fibrillation occurred in 61 subjects at a rate of 0. (both PϽ0.001) were the sole independent predictors of atrial fibrillation. For every 1 standard deviation increase in left ventricular mass, the risk of atrial fibrillation was increased 1.20 times (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.34). Atrial fibrillation became chronic in 33% of subjects. Age, left ventricular mass, and left atrial diameter (all PϽ0.01) were independent predictors of chronic atrial fibrillation. Ischemic stroke occurred at a rate of 2.7% and 4.6% per year, respectively, among subjects with paroxysmal and chronic atrial fibrillation. These data indicate that in hypertensive subjects with sinus rhythm and no other major predisposing conditions, risk of atrial fibrillation increases with age and left ventricular mass. Increased left atrial size predisposes to chronicization of atrial fibrillation. Key Words: fibrillation Ⅲ hypertension, essential Ⅲ stroke Ⅲ hypertrophy Ⅲ echocardiography Ⅲ aging T he most important risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) are age, male gender, hypertension, thyrotoxicosis, smoking, diabetes, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, valvular and coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke. [1][2][3][4][5] In the Framingham Heart Study, hypertension and diabetes were the sole cardiovascular risk factors to be predictive of AF after controlling for age and other predisposing conditions. 5 The role of hypertension as risk factor for AF is established but still incompletely known. In the Manitoba Follow-up study, prevalence of hypertension was 53%, and the risk of AF was 1.42 times higher in hypertensive subjects as compared with normotensive subjects. 2 Because of its high prevalence in the population, hypertension independently accounts for more AF cases than any other risk factor. 5 However, despite its leading importance as a highly prevalent and modifiable risk factor, only a few data are available regarding predictors and outcome of AF in large populations of subjects with essential hypertension free of coexisting valvular or coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, hyperthyroidism, or other predisposing conditions. In particular, the clinical value of LV mass as a potential independent predictor of AF in the specific setting of essential hypertension has never been examined in a large cohort of subjects. MethodsThe Progetto Ipertensione Umbria Monitoraggio Ambulatoriale (PIUMA) study started in 1986 as an observational registry of morbidity and mortality in initially untreated subjects with essential hypertension. Details on protocol have been pu...

The correlates of RV dysfunction differ in HFrEF compared with HFpEF and HFmrEF patients. Regardless of the extent of LV dysfunction, the TAPSE/PASP ratio is a powerful independent predictor of prognosis in all heart failure patients.

Background Left atrial (LA) volume is a marker of cardiac remodeling and prognosis in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF), but LA function is rarely measured or characterized. We investigated determinants and prognostic impact of LA reservoir function in patients with HF with reduced EF. Methods and Results In 405 patients with stable HF with reduced EF (EF, ≤40%) in sinus rhythm, we assessed LA reservoir function by both LA total EF (by phasic volume changes) and peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS; by speckle tracking echocardiography); LA functional index was also calculated. During follow-up (median, 30 months; Q1–Q3, 13–52), 139 patients (34%) reached the composite end point (all-cause death/HF hospitalization). Median PALS was 15.5% (interquartile range, 11.2–20.6). By univariable analysis, all LA function parameters significantly predicted outcome ( P <0.01 for all), with PALS showing the highest predictive accuracy (area under the curve, 0.75; sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 70%). Impaired PALS was associated with greater left ventricular and LA volumes, worse left ventricular EF, left ventricular global longitudinal strain, right ventricular systolic function, and more severe diastolic dysfunction. After multivariable adjustment (including LA volume and left ventricular global longitudinal strain), PALS, but not LA total EF or LA functional index, remained significantly associated with outcome (hazard ratio per 1-SD decrease, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.05–1.84; P =0.030). Adding PALS to a base model, including age, sex, LA volume, EF, E/E′ ratio, and global longitudinal strain, provided incremental predictive value (continuous net reclassification improvement, 0.449; P =0.0009). Conclusions In HF with reduced EF, assessment of LA reservoir function by PALS allows powerful prognostication, independently of LA volume and left ventricular longitudinal contraction.

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The analysis of left ventricular long-axis function on exercise by interpretable ML may improve the diagnosis and understanding of HFpEF.

Hibernating myocardium is associated with major alterations in LV volumes and shape, which significantly revert after revascularization. Thus, chronic dyssynergy per se is sufficient to induce ischemic LV remodeling in patients.

Pulmonary congestion assessed at discharge by lung ultrasonography predicts poor prognosis in heart failure (HF) patients. We investigated the association of B-lines with indices of hemodynamic congestion [BNP, E/e’, pulmonary systolic arterial pressure (PAPs)] in HF patients, and their prognostic value overall and according to concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF), reduced (≤40%) ejection fraction (EF), and timing of quantification during hospitalisation for heart failure (HHF). In 110 HHF patients, B-lines were highly discriminative of BNP >400 pg/ml (AUC ≥ 0.80 for all), and moderately discriminative of PAPs >50 mmHg (AUC = 0.68, 0.56 to 0.80); conversely, B-lines poorly discriminated average E/e’ ≥ 15, except at discharge. B-line count significantly predicted mid-term recurrent HHF or death (overall and in subgroups), regardless of AF status, EF, and timing of quantification during HHF (all p for interaction >0.10). regardless, B-lines ≥30 at discharge were most predictive of outcome (HR = 7.11, 2.06–24.48; p = 0.002) while B-lines ≥45 early during HHF were most predictive of outcome (HR = 9.20, 1.82–46.61; p = 0.007). Lung ultrasound was able to identify patients with high BNP levels, but not with increased E/e’, also showing a prognostic role regardless of AF status, EF or timing of quantification; best B-line cut-off appears to vary according to the timing of quantification during hospitalization.