Key result
RVEF/E derived from an ellipsoid model was not inferior to TAPSE and RVFAC in predicting all-cause mortality in acute heart failure (HR 1.48 vs HR 1.48, p≤0.01).
Why the study?
Established echocardiographic parameters for RV function fail to reflect global volumes due to reliance on a single acoustic window, and RV ejection fraction derived from an ellipsoid model (RVEF/E) had not been validated in heart failure patients.
Does right ventricular ejection fraction calculated using an ellipsoid model predict all-cause mortality comparably to established echo parameters in patients with acute heart failure?
Cross-Sectional (n=418)
Does right ventricular ejection fraction calculated using an ellipsoid model predict all-cause mortality comparably to established echo parameters in patients with acute heart failure?
Right ventricular ejection fraction derived from an ellipsoid model is a valid prognostic indicator of medium-term mortality in acute heart failure, performing comparably to established measures like TAPSE and RVFAC while providing the added benefit of RV volume estimation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports ellipsoid RVEF as mortality predictor in acute HF; leaves open incremental prognostic value over TAPSE/RVFAC.
Introduction Echocardiography (TTE) is an essential imaging modality for assessment of RV function in acute heart failure. Established parameters are useful and easy to perform but fail to reflect on global volumes due to reliability on one acoustic window. It is therefore attractive to calculate RV volumes and ejection fraction using an ellipsoid model (RVEF/E) which has been validated against MRI in healthy adults but not in the HF patients. Purpose Predictive value of RVEF/E were compared with two established echo parameters of RV function over two-year follow-up period in patients with acute HF. Primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Methods Prospective cross-sectional study enrolling 418 consecutive patients with symptoms of acute HF according to a predefined study protocol. All patients underwent TTE assessment of RV function using Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and RV fractional area change (RVFAC) and RVEF/E. RV Volumes calculated using formula, RVIT is RV inflow tract diameter, RVLAX is RV length and LVD is LV maximal diameter in 2 chamber view. RVV=(3.14/6) x RVIT x RVLAX x LVD Results ROC analyses established an RVEF/E cut-off of 46.8%, TAPSE of 1.6cm and RVFAC of 38.2%. RVEF/E was able to separate patients with higher BNP level (p≤0.0001) and lower systolic BP (p≤0.002). As expected TAPSE and RVFAC were significantly reduced in patients with impaired RVEF. RVEF/E was found equal to TAPSE & RVFAC in predicting outcome (HR 1.48 vs HR 1.48, p≤0.01 vs p≤0.01) and provided benefit of RV volume estimation. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that RVEF/E derived from ellipsoid model is not inferior to well established measures of RV function as a prognostic indicator of medium-term outcome in the acute HF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Kaplan Meier survival curvesBaseline characteristics
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Ashcroft et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in acute heart failure (n=418). Right ventricular ejection fraction using an ellipsoid model (RVEF/E) vs. TAPSE and RVFAC was evaluated on all-cause mortality (HR 1.48, p=≤0.01). RVEF/E derived from an ellipsoid model was not inferior to TAPSE and RVFAC in predicting all-cause mortality in acute heart failure (HR 1.48 vs HR 1.48, p≤0.01).
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