[Correlation between mitral regurgitation grading and left ventricular ejection fraction in elderly patients: a follow-up study].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the correlation between mitral regurgitation grading and left ventricular ejection fraction in elderly patients (>60 years of age) in a 2-year follow-up.


METHODS
A total of 455 patients with the diagnosis of at least mild mitral regurgitation by echocardiography were divided into ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) group and non-ischemic regurgitation (NIMR) group. The patients were followed up with echocardiography every 6 months and the data were analyzed at the end of 24 months.


RESULTS
Mitral regurgitation grade was inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients with moderate and severe IMR had a lower LVEF than those with NIMR (P<0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy, the mean LVEF at 2 years was lowered by 2.7% (1.4%-4.1%), 2.7% (1.3%-4.0%), and 5.2% (3.5%-6.9%) in mild, moderate and severe IMR patients, respectively (P<0.04), and by 3.2% (1.6%-4.8%), and 3.0% (1.4%-4.5%), and 1.7%(-0.5%-3.9%) in mild, moderate and severe NIMR patients (P=0.30).


CONCLUSIONS
The mean LVEF in IMR patients is significantly lowered compared to that in NIMR patients. The grade of mitral regurgitation is inversely correlated with the regurgitation area in IMR patients. Stratified management might help improve LVEF in severe IMR patients.
Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Medical Science Academy, Guangzhou, China. zengping_77@yahoo.com.cn
Ping
P
Zeng
Meijing
M
Long
Yingling
Y
Zhou
Yongchi
Y
Chen
Lu
L
Zhang
Shengqing
S
Zhuo
Xiangting
X
Tian
Jianhui
J
Yang
Huan
H
Lian
Linlin
L
Jing
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*