Predictors and Prognostic Significance of Right Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Decreased right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (RVEF) portends poor prognosis in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, and previous studies have suggested an association between mitral regurgitation (MR) and RVEF. We sought to evaluate this association and whether mitral valve repair or replacement affects the relationship between RV function and mortality.

METHODS: We included 588 patients (mean age, 63±11 years; 75% male) with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging between 2002 and 2008. Baseline characteristics, left ventricular ejection fraction, MR severity, treatment modality, scar burden, and RVEF were assessed. Multivariable linear regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between MR and RVEF and between RVEF and mortality, respectively.

RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, right bundle-branch block, and RV scar, MR severity was found to be associated independently with RVEF. There were a total of 240 deaths during a median follow-up time of 5.7 years. After multivariable adjustment, every 10% decrease in RVEF was associated with a 17% increased risk of death (P=0.008). Although decreasing RVEF was associated with a poor prognosis in the nonrepair group (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.47; P<0.001), it was not associated with death in the mitral valve repair or replacement group (P for interaction=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS: MR severity was found to be an independent predictor of RVEF, as were right bundle-branch block, left ventricular ejection fraction, and the presence of RV scar. Decreasing RVEF is associated with increased mortality in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy; however, this association may be mitigated in patients who undergo mitral valve repair or replacement.