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Prognosis investigation in patients with chronic heart failure and pericardial effusion

Sheng-bo Yu1, Qing-yan Zhao, He Huang

  • 1Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China. ysbmaster1981@163.com

Chinese Medical Journal
|April 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pericardial effusion (PE) is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, often small to moderate. This study found PE is not linked to CHF mortality, despite associations with higher blood pressure and lower ejection fraction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Heart Failure Research

Background:

  • Consensus is lacking on the incidence, characteristics, and prognostic value of pericardial effusion (PE) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
  • This study aimed to clarify these aspects of PE in CHF patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and characteristics of pericardial effusion (PE) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
  • To determine the prognostic value of PE in patients with CHF.

Main Methods:

  • 1189 patients diagnosed with CHF were enrolled across three centers.
  • M-mode echocardiography was used to detect and semi-quantify PE.
  • Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on 118 patients with PE and 472 without PE, with follow-up data.

Main Results:

  • The incidence of PE was 9.92%, with most cases being small to moderate.
  • Independent predictors of PE included higher systolic blood pressure, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and larger main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD).
  • Predictors of CHF prognosis included higher glomerular filtration rate (GFR), systolic blood pressure, LVEF, and diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions:

  • Pericardial effusion is not uncommon in CHF patients and is typically small to moderate in size.
  • PE is not associated with the etiology of CHF but is linked to higher systolic blood pressure, low LVEF, and large MPAD.
  • Pericardial effusion does not appear to increase the risk of death in patients with CHF.
Abstract

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