The Relationship Between the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and Electrocardiographic Parameters in
Andrei-Mihnea Rosu1,2, Luminita-Florentina Tomescu3, Theodor-Georgian Badea2,3
1Department of Cardiology, Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu Emergency Hospital, Balotesti, 077015 Ilfov, Romania.
Insights
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves outcomes for heart failure patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). Specific electrocardiographic and clinical parameters correlate with quality-of-life improvements measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ).
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is crucial for heart failure patients with ventricular conduction abnormalities, particularly left bundle branch block (LBBB).
- Low-ejection-fraction (EF) cardiomyopathy with LBBB often shows delayed left ventricular (LV) lateral wall activation.
- CRT improves outcomes and quality of life in heart failure patients with LBBB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify electrocardiographic and clinical parameters that predict CRT response in heart failure patients.
- To analyze the correlation between these parameters and quality-of-life improvements.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study of 69+ patients with heart failure, dilatative cardiomyopathy, low-EF, and LBBB.
- Analysis of demographic, clinical, and electrocardiographic parameters.
- Correlation assessment with patient outcomes using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ).
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between CRT outcomes (KCCQ score) and QRS area.
- Intraprocedural systolic blood pressure, Q-LV interval, and R-wave amplitude in right precordial leads also correlated with CRT outcomes.
- These findings highlight specific predictors of CRT success.
Conclusions:
- Identified parameters correlate with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score, reflecting CRT's impact on patient quality of life.
- These predictors offer insights into symptom burden and functional status improvements post-CRT.
- This study enhances understanding of CRT efficacy in heart failure management.
Background:
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an essential treatment for patients with symptomatic heart failure and ventricular conduction abnormalities. Low-ejection-fraction (EF) cardiomyopathy often involves a wide QRS complex displaying a left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology and markedly delayed activation of the LV lateral wall. Following CRT, patients with heart failure and LBBB have better outcomes and quality-of-life improvements. Various electrocardiographic and clinical parameters are thought to be able to predict this improvement. The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) is a reliable tool for measuring these patients' quality of life.
Methods:
This is an observational prospective study featuring over 69 individuals diagnosed with cardiac failure and dilatative cardiomyopathy with low-EF and major LBBB. This study analyzed the correlations between patient outcomes and demographic, clinical, and electrocardiographic parameters.
Results:
Following the analysis, we observed correlations between the QRS area, intraprocedural systolic blood pressure, Q-LV interval, the R-wave amplitude in the right precordial leads and the CRT outcomes indicated by the KCCQ score.
Conclusions:
The parameters found and their correlation with the KCCQ score show how CRT therapy impacts patients' quality of life, symptom burden, and functional status.
