title: Asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with severe aortic stenosis: characteristics and outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of asymptomatic left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Management of asymptomatic patients with severe AS remains controversial. In these patients, LV systolic dysfunction, defined in the guidelines as ejection fraction <50%, is a Class I(C) indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR), but its prevalence is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of adults ≥40 years of age with severe valvular AS (peak velocity ≥4 m/s, mean gradient >40 mm Hg, aortic valve area [AVA] <1 cm(2), or AVA index <0.6 cm(2)/m(2)) from 1984 to 2010 was undertaken. Patients with prior cardiac surgery, severe coronary artery disease, or greater than moderate aortic regurgitation were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 9,940 patients with severe AS, 43 (0.4%) patients had asymptomatic LV dysfunction. Age was 73 ± 14 years and 70% were male. Hypertension (78%) and LV hypertrophy (LV mass index 143 ± 36 g/m(2)) were characteristic. Fifty-three percent of these patients developed symptoms at 21 ± 19 months after diagnosis. During 7.5 ± 6.7-year follow-up, 5-year mortality was 48%. After multivariable adjustment, there was no survival advantage with AVR in asymptomatic, severe AS with LV dysfunction (p = 0.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In severe AS, the prevalence of asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction is 0.4%. Despite an asymptomatic clinical status, patients with severe AS and LV ejection fraction <50% have a poor prognosis, with or without AVR.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester 55905, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Henkel
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Malouf
authors.forename: Heidi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Hector I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Michelena
authors.forename: Maurice E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sarano
authors.forename: Hartzell V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Schaff
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pellikka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology