Wall motion score index and ejection fraction for risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction

Jacob E Møller1, Graham S Hillis, Jae K Oh

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

American Heart Journal
|January 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Wall motion score index (WMSI) better predicts mortality and heart failure hospitalizations after myocardial infarction than left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). WMSI offers greater prognostic insight in large patient populations.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Myocardial Infarction

Background:

  • Prognostic value of regional systolic function (WMSI) vs. global function (LVEF) post-myocardial infarction (MI) is understudied in large cohorts.
  • Assessing cardiac function post-MI is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prognostic importance of WMSI versus LVEF in predicting mortality and heart failure hospitalization after acute MI.
  • To determine which measure of cardiac function provides superior prognostic information.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiograms assessing WMSI and LVEF were performed in 767 acute MI patients.
  • Patients were followed for a median of 19 months for mortality and heart failure hospitalization.
  • Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze prognostic predictors.

Main Results:

  • Both WMSI and LVEF predicted all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization in univariate analysis.
  • WMSI independently predicted death (HR 1.15 per 0.2-unit increase) and heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.21 per 0.2-unit increase).
  • LVEF did not provide additional prognostic information when WMSI was included in the model.

Conclusions:

  • WMSI is a more powerful independent predictor of adverse outcomes post-MI than LVEF.
  • Regional systolic function assessment via WMSI offers greater prognostic value than global function (LVEF).
Abstract