The 'Echo Heart Failure Score': an echocardiographic risk prediction score of mortality in systolic heart failure. (August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carluccio, Erberto; Dini, Frank Lloyd; Biagioli, Paolo; Lauciello, Rosanna; Simioniuc, Anca; Zuchi, Cinzia; Alunni, Gianfranco; Reboldi, Gianpaolo; Marzilli, Mario; Ambrosio, Giuseppe
• Is Part Of: European journal of heart failure. Volume 15:Number 8(2013)
• Page Start: 868
• Page End: 876
• Publication Date: 2013-08
• Subjects: Heart failure -- Periodicals; Heart Failure -- Periodicals; Insuffisance cardiaque -- Périodiques; Heart failure; Periodicals; 616.129005
• DOI: 10.1093/eurjhf/hft038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-9842

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ejhfhft038-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>Although many transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) measurements have been shown to predict outcome in heart failure (HF), whether incremental risk prediction is afforded by their combination is unknown. We developed a simple echocardiographic risk score of mortality in HF patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="ejhfhft038-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods and results</title> <p>We performed TTE in 747 systolic HF patients followed‐up for 34 ± 23 months. The Cox hazard model was used to evaluate the association between 14 TTE parameters and death. The Echo Heart Failure Score (EHFS) was derived by assigning the value of 1 to each independent predictor when present, and 0 when it was absent, and then by summing the number. The 3‐year risk prediction improvement was tested by adding the EHFS to a model containing clinical predictors, and by calculating the C index and net reclassification improvement (NRI). Five baseline TTE variables (end‐systolic volume index, left atrial volume index, mitral E‐wave deceleration time, tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure) remained independent predictors of mortality. The mortality rate (per 100 patients/year) significantly increased with EHFS ranging from 0 to 5 (EHFS = 0, 2.7%; 1, 5.2%; 2, 10.1%; 3, 13.7%, 4, 29.7%; 5, 36.9%; <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). Patients with EHFS ≥3 had a mortality hazard ratio of 3.58 (95% confidence interval 2.74–4.78) compared with EHFS <3. Adding EHFS to the base model improved the C index (from 0.74 to 0.81, <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001), yielding a continuous NRI of 0.63 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001).</p> </sec> <sec id="ejhfhft038-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The EHFS, an easily obtainable echo score, improved risk prediction of death over traditional prognostic factors in systolic HF patients, and it may prove useful for risk stratification.</p> </sec> </abstract>