Baseline characteristics and 1-year outcome by left ventricular function in the CABG PREFERS

The aim of this study is to describe patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery by left ventricular (LV) function at baseline and 1-year follow-up.

In the single-centre CABG PREFERS cohort prospective study, we classified patients planned for elective CABG by LV function assessed by echocardiography and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) into three phenotype groups: preserved ejection fraction (EF; pEF), reduced EF (rEF), and normal, irrespective of signs or symptoms of heart failure (HF). At baseline and 1-year follow-up, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, laboratory tests, and quality of life were assessed. Sixty-one of a total of 136 patients (45%) had systolic and/or diastolic LV dysfunction (25% pEF, 20% rEF, and the rest 55% none: the normal group). Median EF was 59% (pEF), 40% (rEF), and 59% (normal). Most patients had multivessel coronary artery disease without left main stem stenosis (60%). At 1-year follow-up, some improvements in echo parameters were seen in pEF and rEF. But in the normal group compared to baseline, there were deteriorations in the following: E/é: 7.8-8.9, P < 0.001; NT-proBNP 150-182 ng/L, P = 0.015; and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 82.5-78.9 mL/min/1.73 m², P = 0.003. During a median follow-up time of 2.9 years, eight patients (5.8%) died and eight (5.8%) were hospitalized for HF.

In patients undergoing elective CABG, signs of LV dysfunction were common and found in 45%. Patients with normal LV function showed signs of worsening systolic and diastolic LV function, eGFR, and NT-pro-BNP at 1-year follow-up.

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03671122.