Increased left ventricular mass and decreased left ventricular systolic function have independent pathways to
Kyndaron Reinier1, Celia Dervan, Tejwant Singh
1Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles California, USA.
Insights
Sudden cardiac death risk increases with both reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVSD) and increased left ventricular mass (LVH). These factors have independent and additive effects on risk, suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sudden Cardiac Death Research
- Cardiovascular Disease
Background:
- Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and increased left ventricular (LV) mass vary significantly post-myocardial infarction.
- Both LVSD and LV mass impact sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk, yet only LV ejection fraction is currently used for risk prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the independent and additive contributions of increased LV mass and decreased LV ejection fraction to SCD risk in the general population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (2002-2008), including 191 SCD cases and 203 controls.
- Compared echocardiographic LV mass obtained prior to SCD and employed logistic regression to analyze relationships between SCD, LVSD, LV mass, and clinical variables.
Main Results:
- Severe LVSD and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were independently associated with increased SCD risk (OR 1.9 and 1.8, respectively).
- Coexisting severe LVSD and LVH showed an additive effect on SCD risk (OR 3.5).
- Increased age, atrial fibrillation/flutter, elevated creatinine, and diabetes also increased risk, while angiotensin receptor blockers attenuated risk.
Conclusions:
- Reduced LV ejection fraction and increased LV mass independently and additively increase the risk of sudden death.
- Findings suggest distinct mechanistic pathways for ventricular arrhythmias in LVSD and LVH, despite their overlap.
Background:
Following myocardial infarction, individual patients can have wide variations in the extent of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and increased left ventricular (LV) mass. Both affect the risk for sudden cardiac death, but only LV ejection fraction is used for risk prediction.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the independent as well as the additive contributions of increased LV mass and decreased LV ejection fraction to sudden cardiac death in the general population.
Methods:
In the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study, we studied consecutive SCD cases (n = 191) and coronary artery disease controls (n = 203) from the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area (population approximately 1,000,000; 2002-2008). Comparisons of echocardiographic LV mass obtained prior and unrelated to sudden cardiac death (SCD) were conducted, and a logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between SCD, severe LVSD, LV mass, and other relevant clinical variables.
Results:
In a multivariate model, both severe LVSD and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were associated with increased SCD risk (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.2 for severe LVSD; OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9 for LVH). In patients with coexisting severe LVSD and LVH, risk of SCD was additive (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.7-7.2). In the same model, increased age, atrial fibrillation/flutter, elevated creatinine, and diabetes independently increased risk, and use of angiotensin receptor blockers attenuated risk.
Conclusion:
Reduced LV ejection fraction and increased LV mass had independent and additive effects on risk of sudden death. Despite the significant overlap between the two conditions, these findings point toward the existence of independent mechanistic pathways for ventricular arrhythmias that occur due to LVSD and LVH.
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