Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”

Background Contradictory evidence exists regarding the correlation between supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and adverse outcomes. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of supranormal LVEF. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients referred for cardia...

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Main Authors: Rungroj Krittayaphong, Thammarak Songsangjinda, Kanchalaporn Jirataiporn, Ahthit Yindeengam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
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Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039889
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author Rungroj Krittayaphong
Thammarak Songsangjinda
Kanchalaporn Jirataiporn
Ahthit Yindeengam
author_facet Rungroj Krittayaphong
Thammarak Songsangjinda
Kanchalaporn Jirataiporn
Ahthit Yindeengam
author_sort Rungroj Krittayaphong
collection DOAJ
description Background Contradictory evidence exists regarding the correlation between supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and adverse outcomes. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of supranormal LVEF. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess myocardial ischemia or viability. Subjects were stratified into eig8ht LVEF groups: <20%, 20% to 30%, 30% to 40%, 40% to 50%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 80%, and ≥80%. Primary outcomes included cardiovascular death, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The extracellular volume fraction was measured. Results The study cohort comprised 3279 patients (mean age 68.0±12.7 years; 64.0% female). The group with 60% to 70% LVEF had the lowest risk and was used as the reference group. The median follow‐up was 41.4 months (interquartile range, 33.9–49.7 months). The group with LVEF <20% exhibited the highest composite outcome risk (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 6.77 [95% CI, 3.81–12.03]; P<0.001; adjusted HR, 2.68 [95% CI, 1.28–5.62]; P<0.001). The groups with LVEF 70% to 80% and ≥80% showed increased risk (adjusted HR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.23–3.08]; P=0.004; 2.16 [95% CI, 1.33–3.52]; P=0.002, respectively). A greater extracellular volume fraction was associated with an LVEF of 70% to 80% and ≥80% (adjusted odds ratios, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.03–1.74]; P=0.027; and 1.74 [95% CI, 1.30–2.34]; P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions LVEF >70% demonstrated increased event rates compared with an LVEF of 60% to 70%. The supranormal LVEF warrants further investigation into its pathogenesis and management.
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spelling doaj-art-1b2144e4be604228a8857d2dde2be4862025-08-20T02:33:19ZengWileyJournal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease2047-99802025-04-0114810.1161/JAHA.124.039889Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”Rungroj Krittayaphong0Thammarak Songsangjinda1Kanchalaporn Jirataiporn2Ahthit Yindeengam3Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University Bangkok ThailandCardiology Unit, Division of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Prince of Songkla University Songkhla ThailandHer Majesty’s Cardiac Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University Bangkok ThailandHer Majesty’s Cardiac Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University Bangkok ThailandBackground Contradictory evidence exists regarding the correlation between supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and adverse outcomes. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of supranormal LVEF. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess myocardial ischemia or viability. Subjects were stratified into eig8ht LVEF groups: <20%, 20% to 30%, 30% to 40%, 40% to 50%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 80%, and ≥80%. Primary outcomes included cardiovascular death, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The extracellular volume fraction was measured. Results The study cohort comprised 3279 patients (mean age 68.0±12.7 years; 64.0% female). The group with 60% to 70% LVEF had the lowest risk and was used as the reference group. The median follow‐up was 41.4 months (interquartile range, 33.9–49.7 months). The group with LVEF <20% exhibited the highest composite outcome risk (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 6.77 [95% CI, 3.81–12.03]; P<0.001; adjusted HR, 2.68 [95% CI, 1.28–5.62]; P<0.001). The groups with LVEF 70% to 80% and ≥80% showed increased risk (adjusted HR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.23–3.08]; P=0.004; 2.16 [95% CI, 1.33–3.52]; P=0.002, respectively). A greater extracellular volume fraction was associated with an LVEF of 70% to 80% and ≥80% (adjusted odds ratios, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.03–1.74]; P=0.027; and 1.74 [95% CI, 1.30–2.34]; P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions LVEF >70% demonstrated increased event rates compared with an LVEF of 60% to 70%. The supranormal LVEF warrants further investigation into its pathogenesis and management.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039889extracellular volume fractionleft ventricular ejection fractionsupranormal
spellingShingle Rungroj Krittayaphong
Thammarak Songsangjinda
Kanchalaporn Jirataiporn
Ahthit Yindeengam
Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”
Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
extracellular volume fraction
left ventricular ejection fraction
supranormal
title Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”
title_full Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”
title_fullStr Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”
title_full_unstemmed Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”
title_short Outcomes and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Challenging the “Higher Is Better”
title_sort outcomes and left ventricular ejection fraction in cardiac magnetic resonance challenging the higher is better
topic extracellular volume fraction
left ventricular ejection fraction
supranormal
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039889
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AT kanchalapornjirataiporn outcomesandleftventricularejectionfractionincardiacmagneticresonancechallengingthehigherisbetter
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