Abstract 15632: Rv Dysfunction and the Risk of Mortality in Cardiomyopathy Patients Who Suffered a Cardiac Arrest

Abstract

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been associated with higher mortality in patients who suffer a cardiac arrest. However, the role of RV dysfunction in patients with known cardiomyopathy (CM) (EF<50%) who suffer cardiac arrest from a shockable rhythm is not well examined. Aim: To assess the relationship between RV dysfunction and mortality in patients with cardiac arrest from a shockable rhythm without an ICD. Methods: We included patients with CM of any etiology who were hospitalized for the first time with cardiac arrest at a tertiary care center between 2011 and 2017. We examined in-hospital as well as long-term mortality. RV dysfunction was defined based on standard echo parameters. Results: A total of 208 patients were admitted to the hospital with cardiac arrest from a shockable rhythm (VT/VfIb) and 139 of those had no ICD at the time of the cardiac arrest. Out of those 139 patients, 48 had RV dysfunction. Patients with RV dysfunction had higher in-hospital mortality (44.7% vs 15.1%, p<.001). Over a mean follow-up of 2.9±3.2 years, patients with RV dysfunction had higher long-term mortality rates (72.9 vs 53.8%, p=.029) as well as shorter mean survival time (33.2, CI [20.6-45.8], vs 66.0 [53-78.9] months, p=0.005, Figure). In a Cox regression model, patients with RV dysfunction had higher long-term mortality rates when adjusting for EF, initiation of new AAD, electrolyte abnormalities and new ischemia (HR 1.68, 95% CI [1.05-2.69], p=.028). During hospitalization, patients with RV dysfunction needed advanced HF treatment options (inotropes, OHT) more frequently compared to patients without RV dysfunction (70.8 vs 46.2%, p=.005). Conclusions: RV dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with cardiac arrest from a shockable rhythm who do not have an ICD. Further studies should investigate whether the presence of RV dysfunction alone should be taken into consideration for decisions on ICD implantation in patients with CM.