Right ventricular (RV) systolic function has an important role in the prediction of adverse outcomes, including mortality, in a wide range of cardiovascular (CV) conditions. Because of complex RV geometry and load dependency of the RV functional parameters, conventional echocardiographic parameters such as RV fractional area change (FAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), have limited prognostic power in a large number of patients. RV longitudinal strain overcame the majority of these limitations, as it is angle-independent, less load-dependent, highly reproducible, and measure regional myocardial deformation. It has a high predictive value in patients with pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, congenital heart disease, ischemic heart disease, pulmonary embolism, cardiomyopathies, and valvular disease. It enables detection of subclinical RV damage even when conventional parameters of RV systolic function are in the normal range. Even though cardiac magnetic resonance-derived RV longitudinal strain showed excellent predictive value, echocardiography-derived RV strain remains the method of choice for evaluation of RV mechanics primarily due to high availability. Despite a constantly growing body of evidence that support RV longitudinal strain evaluation in the majority of CV patients, its assessment has not become the part of the routine echocardiographic examination in the majority of echocardiographic laboratories. The aim of this clinical review was to summarize the current data about the predictive value of RV longitudinal strain in patients with pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and valvular heart diseases.

(1) Background: Long COVID syndrome refers to long-term sequelae of the novel viral disease, which occur even in patients with initially mild disease courses. However, there is still little evidence of the actual organic consequences and their frequency, and there is no standardized workup to diagnose long COVID syndrome yet. In this study, we aim to determine the efficiency of a stepwise diagnostic approach for reconvalescent COVID-19 patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms. (2) Methods: The diagnostic workup for long COVID syndrome included three steps. In the first step, the focus was on broad applicability (e.g., blood tests and body plethysmography). In the second step, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and cardiac MRI (CMR) were used. The third step was tailored to the individual needs of each patient. The observation period lasted from 22 February to 14 May 2021. (3) Results: We examined 231 patients in our long COVID unit (mean [SD] age, 47.8 [14.9], 132 [57.1%] women). Acute illness occurred a mean (SD) of 121 (77) days previously. Suspicious findings in the first visit were seen in 80 (34.6%) patients, prompting further diagnostics. Thirty-six patients were further examined with CPET and CMR. Of those, 16 (44.4%) had pathological findings. The rest had functional complaints without organ damage (“functional long COVID”). Cardiopulmonary sequelae were found in asymptomatic as well as severe courses of the initial COVID-19 disease. (4) Conclusions: A structured diagnostic pathway for the diagnosis of long COVID syndrome is practicable and rational in terms of resource allocation. With this approach, manifest organ damage can be accurately and comprehensively diagnosed and distinguished from functional complaints.

Right ventricular (RV) systolic function represents an important independent predictor of adverse outcomes in many cardiovascular (CV) diseases. However, conventional parameters of RV systolic function (tricuspid annular plane excursion (TAPSE), RV myocardial performance index (MPI), and fractional area change (FAC)) are not always able to detect subtle changes in RV function. New evidence indicates a significantly higher predictive value of RV longitudinal strain (LS) over conventional parameters. RVLS showed higher sensitivity and specificity in the detection of RV dysfunction in the absence of RV dilatation, apparent wall motion abnormalities, and reduced global RV systolic function. Additionally, RVLS represents a significant and independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), hypertrophic CMP, arrhythmogenic RV CMP, and amyloidosis, but also in patients with connective tissue diseases and patients with coronary artery disease. Due to its availability, echocardiography remains the main imaging tool for RVLS assessment, but cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) also represents an important additional imaging tool in RVLG assessment. The findings from the large studies support the routine evaluation of RVLS in the majority of CV patients, but this has still not been adopted in daily clinical practice. This clinical review aims to summarize the significance and predictive value of RVLS in patients with different types of cardiomyopathies, tissue connective diseases, and coronary artery disease.

Objectives To investigate the predictors and clinical impact of left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) after MitraClip (MC) therapy for degenerative (DMR) and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Background MC therapy induces LVRR in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) at high‐risk for surgery. However, specific data on predictors of LVRR therapy are limited. Methods This study included 164 patients treated by MC implantation with complete clinical and echocardiographic evaluation at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. LVRR was defined as a decrease of ≥10% of the left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter after 12 months and was found in 49% of the patients. Results LVRR was associated with significantly reduced event rate 2 years after MC procedure. In the total cohort, multivariate regression analysis determined severe recurrent/residual MR after 12 months (p = .010, odds ratio [OR] = 0.26), male gender (p = .050, OR = 0.49) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <20% (p = .046, OR = 0.24) as predictors of absence of LVRR. In the subgroup analysis according to etiology of MR, multivariate regression analysis revealed severe recurrent/residual MR after 12 months (p = .04, OR = 0.184) to inversely predict LVRR only in the DMR subgroup. In FMR, residual severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) inversely predicts LVRR (p = .032, OR = 0.361). Conclusions LVRR occurs in half of the patients after MC and is associated with reduced MACCE rates at follow‐up. Combined information on residual/recurrent MR, baseline LVEF and gender predict LVRR after MC procedure. While residual/recurrent MR is the independent predictor for the absence of LVRR in DMR, in FMR only severe residual TR independently predict LVRR.

ObjectivesTo investigate prevalence of iatrogenic atrial septal defects (iASDs) after mitral valve (MV) transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with the MitraClip in the long-term follow-up.BackgroundMV TEER requires transseptal puncture using a large 22 F sheath. Prevalence, impact and haemodynamic effects of these iASDs remain unknown in the long-term follow-up.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled patients who had undergone first-time TEER at our university hospital between January 2017 and June 2018 for a clinical long-term follow-up study. Prevalence of iASD was investigated 12 months post-TEER using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Study protocol further consisted of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and exercise testing. Incidence of all-cause death was compared 12 months post-TEE follow-up. This study was approved by local ethics committee.Results48 patients participated in clinical follow-up examinations. Median time between TEER and clinical follow-up examination (TEE, TTE, exercise testing) was 19.5 (IQR: 7.0) months after TEER. Persistent iASD was found in 41.7% of patients. TEER was found to be equally effective in reducing MR and clinical symptoms in both groups at baseline as well as follow-up. Procedural fluoroscopy and device times were significantly longer in the iASD group. MR reduction and functional status (New York Heart Association Class, 6 Minute Walking Test distance) were similar in both groups. Nevertheless, a significant decrease in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and significantly smaller atrial diameters were observed in patients with iASD at follow-up.ConclusionPrevalence of iASDs after TEER in long-term follow-up was about 41%. Although a significant reduction of sPAP and better left atrial reverse remodelling were accomplished in patients with iASD, clinical impact appears low. Manipulation at the atrial septum might play a key role in creating persisting iASD.