Systolic aortic regurgitation predicts all-cause mortality and hospitalization in outpatients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Abstract

Cite this article as: Bolat I, Biteker M. Systolic aortic regurgitation predicts all-cause mortality and hospitalization in outpatients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. North Clin Istanb ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Systolic aortic regurgitation (SAR) is considered to be a specific sign of heart failure (HF). However, the prevalence and importance of SAR in patients with HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. Therefore, we sought to examine the prevalence of SAR in HFpEF outpatients, and its association with all-cause mortality and/or cardiovascular hospitalizations during 1-year follow-up. METHODS:We enrolled 301 consecutive outpatients with HFpEF (mean age of 67.3±9.6 years, 53.5% women) and prospectively followed up for 1 year. Demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory data were obtained at study entry. The composite endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality or HF-related hospitalizations at one year. RESULTS: SAR was noted in 30 (9.9%) of the patients, and 38 patients (12.6%) reached the primary endpoint. The primary composite endpoint at 1 year was greater for patients with SAR (26.3%) compared to those without SAR (7.6%, p<0.001). After adjusting for important covariates, SAR remained independently associated with primary outcome (OR 2.315; 95% CI 1.188-5.477; p=0.008). CONCLUSION:This is the first study to demonstrate that the presence of SAR is associated with adverse events in HFpEF patients.