title: Prognostic importance of a short deceleration time in symptomatic congestive heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A restrictive transmitral filling (RF) pattern predicts increased mortality in heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic function. We performed a combined evaluation of LV function and RF for prognosis in patients with HF with and without systolic dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Doppler echocardiography was performed in 972 patients with symptomatic HF. RF was considered present when deceleration time (DT) was <or=140 ms and non-RF when >140 ms. A DT >240 ms was defined as delayed relaxation. During a median of 51 months the unadjusted all-cause mortality rates were significantly increased among patients with RF vs. the non-RF group (1- and 4-year mortality was 25% and 54% vs. 17% and 43%). In a multivariable model, RF was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR)=2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.5-2.6) whereas delayed relaxation was without prognostic importance (HR=0.9, CI:0.5-1.6). Repeating the multivariable model in subgroups of wall motion index (WMI) showed that RF was a strong predictor of mortality independent of WMI. For patients with LVEF of at least 50%, HR for RF was 2.0 (CI:1.1-3.4; p=0.02) and interaction between LVEF and RF was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a heterogeneous population hospitalised for symptomatic HF a restrictive transmitral filling pattern, defined as shortened deceleration time, during hospitalisation is an ominous prognostic sign independent of LV systolic function.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akkan
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjaergaard
authors.forename: Jacob Eifer
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassager
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torp-Pedersen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Køber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology; D013599:Systole