Assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony can improve the prognostic value of guideline-based patient selection for cardiac resynchronization therapy

To determine if incorporation of assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony could improve the prognostic value of patient selection based on current guidelines.

Echocardiography was performed in 1060 patients before and 12 ± 6 months after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation. Mechanical dyssynchrony, defined as the presence of apical rocking or septal flash was visually assessed at the baseline examination. Response was defined as ≥15% reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume at follow-up. Patients were followed for a median of 59 months (interquartile range 37–86 months) for the occurrence of death of any cause. Applying the latest European guidelines retrospectively, 63.4% of the patients had been implanted with a Class I recommendation, 18.2% with Class IIa, 9.4% with Class IIb, and in 9% no clear therapy recommendation was present. Response rates were 65% in Class I, 50% in IIa, 38% in IIb patients, and 40% in patients without a clear guideline-based recommendation. Assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony improved response rates to 77% in Class I, 75% in IIa, 62% in IIb, and 69% in patients without a guideline-based recommendation. Non-significant difference in survival among guideline recommendation classes was found (Log-rank P = 0.2). Presence of mechanical dyssynchrony predicted long-term outcome better than guideline Classes I, IIa, IIb (Log-rank P < 0.0001, 0.006, 0.004, respectively) and in patients with no guideline recommendation (P = 0.02). Comparable results were observed using the latest American Guidelines.

Our data suggest that current guideline criteria for CRT candidate selection could be improved by incorporating assessment of mechanical asynchrony.