Persistent right ventricular dysfunction, functional capacity limitation, exercise intolerance, and quality of life impairment following pulmonary embolism: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Long-term right ventricular (RV) function, functional capacity, exercise capacity, and quality of life following pulmonary embolism (PE), and the impact of thrombolysis, are unclear. A systematic review of studies that evaluated these outcomes with ⩾ 3-month mean follow-up after PE diagnosis was performed. For each outcome, random effects meta-analyses were performed. Twenty-six studies (3671 patients) with 18-month median follow-up were included. The pooled prevalence of RV dysfunction was 18.1%. Patients treated with thrombolysis had a lower, but not statistically significant, risk of RV dysfunction versus those treated with anticoagulation (odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.24 to 1.13, p=0.10). Pooled prevalence of at least mild functional impairment (NYHA II-IV) was 33.2%, and at least moderate functional impairment (NYHA III-IV) was 11.3%. Patients treated with thrombolysis had a lower, but not statistically significant, risk of at least moderate functional impairment versus those treated with anticoagulation (odds ratio: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.49, p=0.20). Pooled 6-minute walk distance was 415 m (95% CI: 372 to 458 m), SF-36 Physical Component Score was 44.8 (95% CI: 43 to 46), and Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life (QoL) Questionnaire total score was 9.1. Main limitations included heterogeneity among studies for many outcomes, variation in the completeness of data reported, and inclusion of data from non-randomized, non-controlled, and retrospective studies. Persistent RV dysfunction, impaired functional status, diminished exercise capacity, and reduced QoL are common in PE survivors. The effect of thrombolysis on RV function and functional status remains unclear.

Myocardial performance index correlates with the BODE index and affects quality of life in COPD patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: COPD, a systemic illness associated with the impairment of different organs, affects patient prognosis and quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between right ventricle (RV) function, the BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity) index (a multifunctional scale for the assessment of mortality risk), and quality of life in patients with COPD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 107 outpatients presenting with stable COPD who underwent clinical assessment, spirometry, arterial blood gas analyses, a 6-minute walk test, electrocardiography, and echocardiogram and who responded to the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: Among the study subjects, 53% (57/107) were males, and the mean age was 65.26±8.81 years. A positive correlation was observed between RV dysfunction measured by the myocardial performance index using tissue Doppler (MPIt) and the BODE index, even after adjustment for age and partial pressure of oxygen (r2=0.47; P<0.01). Patients with alterations in the MPIt had worse quality of life, and a statistically significant difference was found for different domains of the SGRQ. Patients with a normal MPIt had a mean total score of 46.2±18.6, whereas for those with MPIt alterations, the mean total score was 61.6±14.2 (P=0.005). These patients had a 1.49-fold increased risk of exhibiting SGRQ total score above the upper limit of the 95% CI (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that RV dysfunction as measured by the MPIt was associated with impairment in quality of life and a worse BODE index in COPD patients, irrespective of age and hypoxemia status.

Quality of Life and Influential Factors in Patients Implanted With a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

BACKGROUND: Improving quality of life (QOL) has become an important goal in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. We aimed (1) to assess the effect of an implantable LVAD on patients' QOL, (2) to compare LVAD patients' QOL to that of patients in different stages of heart failure (HF), and (3) to identify factors associated with patients' QOL. METHODS AND RESULTS: The QOL of 33 Japanese implantable LVAD patients was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and Short-form 8 (SF-8), before and at 3 and 6 months afterwards. After LVAD implantation, QOL significantly improved [MLHFQ, SF-8 physical component score (PCS), SF-8 mental component score (MCS), all P<0.05]. Implanted LVAD patients had a better QOL than extracorporeal LVAD patients (n=33, 32.1±21.9 vs. n=17, 47.6±18.2), and Stage D HF patients (n=32, 51.1±17.3), but the score was comparable to that of patients who had undergone a heart transplant (n=13). In multiple regression analyses, postoperative lower albumin concentration and right ventricular failure were independently associated with poorer PCS. Female sex and postoperative anxiety were 2 of the independent factors for poorer MCS (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Having an implantable LVAD improves patients' QOL, which is better than that of patients with an extracorporeal LVAD. Both clinical and psychological factors are influence QOL after LVAD implantation.

Relation of right ventricular dilation, age of repair, and restrictive right ventricular physiology with patient-reported quality of life in adolescents and adults with repaired tetralogy of fallot.

The present study aimed to determine the predictors of patient-reported quality of life and restrictive right ventricular (RV) physiology in adolescents and adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. A total of 62 patients (median age 28.5 years, range 14 to 69) undergoing cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging completed the Short Form 36-item questionnaire, version 2, a validated quality of life assessment. RV inflow curves were generated from the sum of tricuspid inflow and pulmonary insufficiency. The patient-reported quality of life was comparable to population norms. Patients repaired after 1 year of age showed a strong trend toward a greater likelihood of physical component summary age-adjusted z-score ≤-1 (odds ratio 7.50, 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 62.3, p = 0.06). Patients with a RV ejection fraction of <45% reported decreased physical component summary (p = 0.02) and physical functioning (p = 0.02) scores. The RV end-diastolic volume, pulmonary regurgitation, and diastolic indexes did not predict the quality of life. The indexed RV end-diastolic volume was related to diastolic abnormalities, correlating with a greater peak early filling rate (r = 0.71, p <0.0001), ratio of peak early to atrial filling rates (r = 0.45, p = 0.006), and showing a strong trend with the end-diastolic forward flow in the pulmonary trunk (odds ratio 2.67 for moderate dilation and 3.50 for severe dilation, p = 0.06). Patients who underwent repair before 1 year old were more likely to have end-diastolic forward flow (15 of 17 vs 25 of 42, p = 0.03). In conclusion, the RV ejection fraction and age of repair were the best predictors of quality of life in this population, in whom end-diastolic forward flow and associated diastolic parameters appeared to reflect an overdistended ventricle, which might suggest a role for early pulmonary valve replacement.