title: Heart failure after myocardial infarction: the importance of diastolic dysfunction. A prospective clinical and echocardiographic study.
abstract: Clinical signs of heart failure based on predefined criteria were analysed in 217 survivors (< 75 years of age) of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A Doppler investigation and M-mode echocardiography were performed 3-5 days after the index infarction. All patients were stratified according to left ventricular end-diastolic diameter </> or = 28 mm.m-2 body surface area. Fractional shortening, E-point septal separation, Keren's echo-index based on left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, fractional shortening and E-point septal separation were used as indices of systolic function, and the E/A ratio and isovolumic relaxation time as indices of diastolic function. Fifty-one per cent of the patients (n = 111) had heart failure. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was < 28 mm.m-2 body surface area in 32 (29%) of the heart failure patients and in 44 (45%) of those without heart failure. An abnormal Keren's echo-index was found in 58 (52%) of the heart failure patients compared with 17 (18%) without heart failure. The E/A ratio was lower (0.65 vs 0.77, P = 0.01) in heart failure patients with a normal left ventricular end-diastolic diameter compared with patients without heart failure and a normal left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. Infarct size, E-point septal separation, heart rate and age were determinants of heart failure in multivariate analyses with all patients included. Infarct size and the E/A ratio were determinants of heart failure in patients with a normal left ventricular end-diastolic diameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Linder-Klingsell
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erhardt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*