Influence of ejection fraction on cardiovascular outcomes in a broad spectrum of heart failure patients.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular function is a principal determinant of cardiovascular risk in patients with heart failure. The growing number of patients with preserved systolic function heart failure underscores the importance of understanding the relationship between ejection fraction and risk.


RESULTS
We studied 7599 patients with a broad spectrum of symptomatic heart failure enrolled in the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) Program. All patients were randomized to candesartan at a target dose of 32 mg once daily or matching placebo and followed up for a median of 38 months. We related left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), measured before randomization at the sites, to cardiovascular outcomes and causes of death. Mean LVEF in patients enrolled in CHARM was 38.8+/-14.9% (median LVEF 36%). Patients with lower LVEF tended to have higher baseline New York Heart Association class. The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality increased by 39% for every 10% reduction in ejection fraction below 45% (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.46), with adjustment for baseline covariates. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and all components of cardiovascular death declined with increasing ejection fraction until an ejection fraction of 45%, after which the risk of these outcomes remained relatively stable with increasing LVEF. The absolute change in rate per 100 patient-years for each 10% reduction in LVEF was greatest for sudden death and heart failure-related death. The effect of candesartan in reducing cardiovascular outcomes was consistent across LVEF categories.


CONCLUSIONS
LVEF is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular outcome in heart failure patients across a broad spectrum of ventricular function. Nevertheless, once elevated to a range above 45%, ejection fraction does not further contribute to assessment of cardiovascular risk in heart failure patients.
Solomon
Scott D
SD
Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02445, USA.
Anavekar
Nagesh
N
Skali
Hicham
H
McMurray
John J V
JJ
Swedberg
Karl
K
Yusuf
Salim
S
Granger
Christopher B
CB
Michelson
Eric L
EL
Wang
Duolao
D
Pocock
Stuart
S
Pfeffer
Marc A
MA
D000368:Aged; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; C081643:candesartan