Why the study?
Stage B heart failure has been largely defined by structural changes, but the roles of sensitive indicators of nonischemic LV dysfunction, such as LV strain, remain undefined.
Cross-Sectional (n=510)
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“Notably, about one-half (n = 120) of those classified with SBHF did not have significant LVH. Exercise capacity, assessed by peak oxygen consumption (VO2) and peak metabolic equivalents achieved, decreased progressively as the number of abnormal components increased in individual patients.”
“The researchers concluded that novel echocardiography-based LV functional measures improved the recognition of SBHF beyond what LVH identifies alone.”
May warrant exercise assessment in asymptomatic LV impairment; leaves open whether interventions improve outcomes in RCTs.
BACKGROUND: Stage B heart failure (SBHF) describes asymptomatic ventricular disease that may presage the development of heart failure (HF) symptoms. This entity has been largely defined by structural changes; the roles of sensitive indicators of nonischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, such as LV strain, are undefined. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to define the association of exercise capacity with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and systolic/diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with HF risk factors. METHODS: We used echocardiography to study 510 asymptomatic patients (age 58 ± 12 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or obesity. The results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with structural evidence of SBHF were compared with those in patients with subclinical dysfunction, defined by reduced LV strain (>-18%) or increased LV filling pressure (E/e' >13). RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, groups with LV abnormalities differed in terms of oxygen uptake (peak VO2): 25.5 ± 8.2 versus 21.0 ± 8.2 for strain >-18% (p < 0.001); 26.4 ± 8.0 versus 19.0 ± 7.2 for E/e' >13 (p < 0.0001); and 26.0 ± 7.7 versus 15.9 ± 6.9 ml/kg/min for LVH (p < 0.0001). SBHF, defined as ≥1 imaging variable present, was associated with lower peak VO2 (beta = -0.20; p < 0.0001) and metabolic equivalents (beta = -0.21; p < 0.0001), independent of higher body mass index and insulin resistance, older age, male sex, and treatment with beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS: LVH, elevated LV filling pressure, and abnormal myocardial deformation were independently associated with impaired exercise capacity. Including functional markers may improve identification of SBHF in nonischemic heart disease.
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Kosmala et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Asymptomatic patients with heart failure risk factors (Stage B heart failure) (n=510). Stage B heart failure (LV hypertrophy, reduced LV strain, or increased LV filling pressure) vs. Healthy subjects / absence of LV abnormalities was evaluated on Oxygen uptake (peak VO2) (beta = -0.20, p=<0.0001).
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