Authors:

A Urbinati¹ , P Pellicori² , J Zhang² , A Joseph² , P Costanzo² , E Lukaschuk² , A Capucci¹ , JGF Cleland² , AL Clark² , ¹Marche Polytechnic University of Ancona - Ancona - Italy , ²University of Hull, Department of Academic Cardiology - Hull - United Kingdom ,

Citation:

European Journal of Heart Failure Abstracts Supplement ( 2016 ) 18 ( Supplement 1 ), 241

Background: The main pulmonary artery (PA) distends as a consequence of raised pulmonary artery pressure. Its diameter, and the ratio to the aorta diameter, might provide prognostic information in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: Patients with CHF and control subjects undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) were evaluated. The main PA diameter and the transverse axial ascending aorta (Ao) diameter at the level of bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery were measured. The maximum diameter of both vessels was measured through the cardiac cycle and the PA/Ao ratio was calculated. Results: 384 patients (mean age 69 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 40%, median amino terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) 1010 (IQR: 448-2262) ng/l) and 38 controls were included. Controls and patients with CHF had similar maximum Ao and PA diameters, and PA/Ao ratio. During a median follow up of 1759 days (998-2269), 181 patients with HF were hospitalised for HF or died. Neither PA diameter nor PA/Ao ratio predicted outcome in univariable analysis. In a multivariable model, only age and NT-pro BNP were independent predictors of adverse events. Conclusions: the PA/Ao ratio is not a useful method to stratify prognosis in patients with heart failure.