Chronotropic Assessment in Patients with Constrictive Pericarditis

Teruhiko Imamura1, Nikhil Narang2, Stephanie Besser3

  • 1The Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toyama.

Insights

Optimizing heart rate (HR) in constrictive pericarditis patients may reduce heart failure readmissions. Non-optimized HR, particularly higher rates, is linked to increased risk, suggesting a need for HR control strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Constrictive pericarditis management is challenging.
  • Heart rate (HR) modulation is beneficial in systolic heart failure but unstudied in constrictive pericarditis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of HR control on heart failure readmission rates in constrictive pericarditis patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 15 constrictive pericarditis patients.
  • Echocardiography at discharge.
  • Assessed HR difference from ideal HR (calculated via deceleration time) and heart failure readmission rates.

Main Results:

  • Non-optimized HR was associated with higher heart failure readmission rates.
  • Higher HR difference (>10 bpm) showed a 9.22 times increased risk of readmission.
  • Optimal HR (within ±10 bpm) had the lowest readmission rate (0.067 events/year).

Conclusions:

  • Non-optimized heart rate increases the risk of heart failure recurrence in constrictive pericarditis.
  • Deceleration time-guided HR optimization warrants prospective investigation.

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