Left Ventricular Mass and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Population‐Based Study

Abstract

BackgroundLeft ventricular (LV) mass ascertained using echocardiography may enhance risk stratification for sudden cardiac death. The objective of this study was to assess the association between left ventricular mass and the risk of sudden cardiac death in a population‐based cohort and determine its incremental value beyond conventional risk predictors.Methods and ResultsAssessment of LV mass was based on echocardiography in a sample of 905 middle‐aged men representative of the general population (aged 42 to 61 years). During the follow‐up period of 20 years, there were a total of 63 sudden cardiac deaths. In a comparison of the top versus the bottom quartile of LV mass adjusted by body surface area (>120 versus <89 g/m2), the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio was 2.57 (95% CI 1.24 to 5.31, P=0.010). Further adjustment for LV function only modestly attenuated the risk of sudden cardiac death among men with LV mass of >120 g/m2 (hazard ratio 2.29, 95% CI 1.10 to 4.74, P=0.026). Addition of LV mass adjusted by body surface area to a conventional risk factor model for sudden cardiac death improved the integrated discrimination index by 0.033 (95% CI 0.009 to 0.057, P=0.007) and the category‐free net reclassification index by 0.501 (95% CI 0.092 to 0.911, P=0.016).ConclusionsIndexed LV mass by body surface area is an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death and may help improve the risk prediction of sudden cardiac death beyond conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

HIV-1–Related Cardiovascular Disease Is Associated With Chronic Inflammation, Frequent Pericardial Effusions, and Probable Myocardial Edema

“…Increases in LV mass and LV hypertrophy are independent prognostic factors in the general population. 27 We show reduced LVEF and elevated mass in subjects with HIV, which may be related to the increased cardiac morbidity and mortality in the population with HIV infection. The changes in LV mass were independent of hypertension and body mass index.…”

Deaths in triathletes: immersion pulmonary oedema as a possible cause

“…34 In well-trained triathletes, LV dimensions are usually within the normal range for the general population 1935 36 In a group of 235 triathletes (168 men, 67 women) participating in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon from 1985 to 1995, the overall prevalence of LVH by echocardiography was 24% (LV mass >294 g in men, >198 g in women) 19.…”

Cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise-induced ST segment depression in assessing the risk of sudden cardiac death in men

“…This information was collected from the coronary intervention registry. Echocardiographic studies were performed with the Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc (ATL) Ultramark IV device for 905 randomly selected men 14 15. Left ventricular function was assessed with fractional shortening for 897 men.…”