Correlates and Prognostic Values of Appearance of L Wave in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved vs. Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Mid-diastolic mitral forward flow (L wave) is occasionally detected in heart failure (HF), but its correlates and prognostic value are still unknown, particularly in light of the type of HF, that is, HF with preserved or with reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF, HFrEF). Methods and Results: Of 151 patients with HF, L wave was observed in 23 of 82 HFrEF patients and in 25 of 69 HFpEF patients. Mitral early diastolic velocity (E), the ratio of E to mitral annulus velocity, and left atrial volume index were greater in the patients with L wave than in those without L wave in both subsets. Left ventricular (LV) mass index and relative wall thickness were greater in the patients with L wave than in those without L wave in the HFpEF group, but there was no difference in either parameter in the HFrEF group. Prognosis was poorer in those with L wave than in those without L wave both in the HFrEF and HFpEF groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Appearance of L wave is associated with the degree of LV diastolic dysfunction, but there was a difference in LV geometrical correlates of the appearance of L wave between the HFpEF and HFrEF groups. Detection of L wave is suggestive of poor prognosis independent of LVEF in HF.