Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs
12:03

Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs

Published on: April 25, 2014

Different prognostic impact of systolic function in patients with heart failure and/or acute myocardial infarction

Jens Jakob Thune1, Christian Carlsen, Pernille Buch

  • 1Department of Cardiology, B2141, The Heart Centre, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark. jjt@heart.dk

European Journal of Heart Failure
|June 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular systolic function, assessed by wall motion index (WMI), is crucial for predicting mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF). However, prior heart failure presence diminishes WMI

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Prognostic Biomarkers

Background:

  • Left ventricular systolic function is a key determinant of outcomes in cardiovascular diseases.
  • Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF) are major causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • Assessing left ventricular systolic function aids in risk stratification and management of these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prognostic significance of left ventricular systolic function, measured by wall motion index (WMI), in patients with AMI and/or HF.
  • To evaluate how prior heart failure and ischemic heart disease history influence the prognostic value of WMI.
  • To stratify mortality risk in distinct patient cohorts undergoing cardiac assessment.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 13,084 patients with AMI or HF underwent medical history review and echocardiographic assessment of WMI.
  • Patients were categorized into four groups based on AMI/HF diagnosis and history of heart failure or ischemic heart disease.
  • All-cause mortality was tracked over a nine-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

  • Wall motion index (WMI) effectively stratified all-cause mortality risk across all four patient groups (p<0.0001).
  • A decrease in WMI by 0.3 corresponded to increased mortality risk, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.23 to 1.61 depending on patient subgroup.
  • The prognostic impact of WMI was reduced in patients with a history of heart failure.

Conclusions:

  • Wall motion index (WMI) is a valuable tool for stratifying patients with ischemic heart disease and/or heart failure based on their risk of all-cause death.
  • The presence of pre-existing heart failure attenuates the predictive power of WMI for mortality.
  • Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular systolic function remains essential for risk assessment in cardiac patients.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Primary Outcome Assessment in a Pig Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction14:19

Primary Outcome Assessment in a Pig Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Published on: October 14, 2016

Post-Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure in Closed-chest Coronary Occlusion/Reperfusion Model in G&#246;ttingen Minipigs and Landrace Pigs14:35

Post-Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure in Closed-chest Coronary Occlusion/Reperfusion Model in Göttingen Minipigs and Landrace Pigs

Published on: April 17, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction01:20

Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction

Mitral regurgitation is characterized by the backward circulation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole, a phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. This abnormal flow occurs primarily due to the dysfunction of the mitral valve or its supporting structures, which include the mitral leaflets, chordae tendineae, annulus, and papillary muscles.Etiology and Mechanisms:Primary Mitral Regurgitation: This type arises from...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation01:30

Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation

Heart failure can be classified in various ways, with the most common classifications based on physical activity limitations, disease progression, severity, and treatment strategies.The Functional Classification of Heart Failure divides patients into four categories based on physical activity limitation due to symptom burden.Class I: Patients in this class have cardiac disease but no physical activity limitations. Ordinary activities like walking, climbing stairs, or routine tasks do not cause...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...