The prognostic value of the visually assessed time difference between mitral valve and tricuspid valve opening score for patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Abstract

The visually assessed time difference between the mitral valve and tricuspid valve opening (VMT) score was correlated with the increase of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP). We suspected that the VMT score might be a valuable prognostic biomarker for heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients. This study was to evaluate the predictive value of VMT score for 1-year all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-cause mortality in HFmrEF patients. This cohort study enrolled 379 patients aged ≥18 years old with HFmrEF. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis was employed to assess the association between VMT score and all-cause or CVD-cause mortality in HFmrEF patients. Hazards ratio (HR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were effect sizes. Kaplan-Meier curves showed the survival probability of patients. The area under the curve (AUC) evaluated the prognostic value of the VMT score. The risk of all-cause mortality was increased in HFmrEF patients in the VMT score of 2 (HR = 2.80, 95%CI: 1.04-7.52) and 3 (HR = 4.29, 95%CI: 1.58-11.66). The VMT score of 3 was associated with an increased risk of 1-year CVD-cause mortality in patients with HFmrEF (HR = 7.63, 95%CI: 1.70-34.33). The AUC of VMT score for predicting 1-year all-cause mortality of HFmrEF patients was 0.724, and for predicting 1-year CVD-cause mortality of HFmrEF patients was 0.748. The survival probability of patients with the VMT score < 2 was higher than those with the VMT score of 2 and 3. The VMT score might be a reliable prognostic index for 1-year all-cause or CVD-cause mortality of HFmrEF patients.