Transmitral Flow Patterns and the Presence of Chronic Kidney Disease Provide Independent and Incremental Prognostic Information in Patients with Heart Failure and Systolic Dysfunction

Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Utilization and Heart Transplant Waitlist Outcomes in Patients With Restrictive and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) generally are considered poor candidates for mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) and often not able to be bridged mechanically to heart transplantation. This study characterized MCSD utilization and transplant waitlist outcomes in patients with RCM/HCM under the current allocation system and discusses changes in the era of the new donor allocation system.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients waitlisted from 2006 to 2016 in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry were stratified by RCM/HCM versus other diagnoses. MCSD utilization and waitlist duration were analyzed by propensity score models. Waitlist outcomes were assessed by cumulative incidence functions with competing events. Predictors of waitlist mortality or delisting for worsening status in patients with RCM/HCM were identified by proportional hazards model. Of 30 608 patients on the waitlist, 5.1% had RCM/HCM. Patients with RCM/HCM had 31 fewer waitlist days (P<0.01) and were ≈26% less likely to receive MCSD (P<0.01). Cumulative incidence of waitlist mortality was similar between cohorts; however, patients with RCM/HCM had higher incidence of heart transplantation. Predictors of waitlist mortality or delisting for worsening status in patients with RCM/HCM without MCSD support included estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m², pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >20 mm Hg, inotrope use, and subjective frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with RCM/HCM are less likely to receive MCSD but have similar waitlist mortality and slightly higher incidence of transplantation compared with other patients. The United Network for Organ Sharing RCM/HCM risk model can help identify patients who are at high risk for clinical deterioration and in need of expedited heart transplantation.

Renal dysfunction, restrictive left ventricular filling pattern and mortality risk in patients admitted with heart failure: a 7-year follow-up study

Background

Renal dysfunction is associated with a variety of cardiac alterations including left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, LV dilation, and reduction in systolic and diastolic function. It is common and associated with an increased mortality risk in heart failure (HF) patients. This study was designed to evaluate whether severe diastolic dysfunction contribute to the increased mortality risk observed in HF patients with renal dysfunction.

Methods

Using Cox Proportional Hazard Models on data (N = 669) from the EchoCardiography and Heart Outcome Study (ECHOS) study we evaluated whether estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was associated with mortality risk before and after adjustment for severe diastolic dysfunction. Severe diastolic dysfunction was defined by a restrictive left ventricular filling pattern (RF) (=deceleration time < 140 ms) by Doppler echocardiography.

Results

Median eGFR was 58 ml/min/1.73 m², left ventricular ejection fraction was 33% and RF was observed in 48%. During the 7 year follow up period 432 patients died. Multivariable adjusted eGFR was associated with similar mortality risk before (Hazard Ratio(HR)_{eGFR 10 ml increase}: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89-0.99, P = 0.024) and after (HR_{eGFR 10 ml increase}: 0.93 (0.89-0.99), P = 0.012) adjustment for RF (HR: 1.57 (1.28-1.93), P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In patients admitted with HF RF does not contribute to the increased mortality risk observed in patients with a decreased eGFR. Factors other than severe diastolic dysfunction may explain the association between renal function and mortality risk in HF patients.