title: Does right ventricular function predict survival in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease?
abstract: Non-invasive measurements of the right ventricular ejection fraction by radionuclide ventriculography were made in 115 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Survival was assessed over a mean period of 918 days. The right ventricular ejection fraction was reasonably normal in most patients (mean 0.42, range 0.10-0.66) but was lower in those with peripheral oedema, indicating cor pulmonale (mean 0.31 (SD 0.07); p less than 0.0001). Right ventricular ejection fraction was related to survival, but the relationship was weak (p = 0.03) by comparison with the association between the arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions and survival (both p less than 0.0001). It is concluded that, although right ventricular function is predictive of survival in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, it is probably a reflection of severity of disease and does not directly affect the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Rayne Laboratory, City Hospital, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Biernacki
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: MacNee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013318:Stroke Volume