The influence of sex on right ventricular dysfunction in patients with severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of sex on right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.


RESULTS
We studied 385 consecutive patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <0.35. All patients underwent invasive measurement of right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures and evaluation of RVD by standard transthoracic echocardiography. Female patients (n=84, 21.8%) were significantly older than male patients (62.0+/-11.4 vs. 58.2+/-10.7 years), p=0.005. The prevalence of RVD was lower in women (26.5%) than in men (38.9%), p=0.03; both in patients with and without coronary artery disease (19.4% vs. 34.5% and 31.9% vs. 44.4%, respectively). Haemodynamic parameters and LVEF were similar in men and women. Low LVEF, pulmonary systolic pressure, degree of mitral regurgitation, male sex, and absence of significant coronary artery disease were independently correlated with RVD.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction have less RVD than men, despite similar haemodynamic parameters and LVEF.
Martínez-Sellés
Manuel
M
Cardiology Department. Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46. 28007 Madrid, Spain. mmselles@secardiologia.es
Muñoa
Marta Domínguez
MD
Martínez
Esther
E
Fernández
Miguel Angel García
MA
García
Eulogio
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000503:physiopathology*