Related Experiment Videos
Left ventricular mass in patients with heart failure
Marcello Ricardo Paulista Markus1, Humberto Felício Gonçalves de Freitas, Paulo Roberto Chizzola
1Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. marcellomarkus@incor.usp.br
Arquivos Brasileiros De Cardiologia
|September 18, 2004
Summary
Left ventricular mass index in heart failure patients increases with age and is higher in males. Elevated left ventricular mass is linked to reduced ejection fraction and increased risk of death.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Heart Failure Research
Background:
- Left ventricular mass is a key indicator of cardiac health.
- Understanding its variations in heart failure is crucial for prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate left ventricular mass in heart failure patients.
- To identify correlations with clinical factors and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- M-mode echocardiography used to estimate left ventricular mass.
- Mass indexed by height in 587 heart failure patients (13.8–68.9 years).
Main Results:
- Left ventricular mass index increased with age and was higher in males.
- Higher mass noted in hypertensive and dilated cardiomyopathies.
- Increased mass correlated negatively with ejection fraction and positively with death risk (RR 1.22 per 50 g/m²).
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular mass estimation aids in prognostic assessment for heart failure.
- This metric offers valuable insights into patient outcomes.