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Composite outcomes are commonly used in critical care trials to estimate the treatment effect of an intervention. A significant limitation of classical analytic approaches is that they assign equal statistical importance to each component in a composite, even if these do not have the same clinical importance (i.e., in a composite of death and organ failure, death is clearly more important). The win ratio (WR) method has been proposed as an alternative for trial outcomes evaluation, as it effectively assesses events based on their clinical relevance (i.e., hierarchical order) by comparing each patient in the intervention group with their counterparts in the control group. This statistical approach is increasingly used in cardiovascular outcome trials. However, WR may be useful to unveil treatment effects also in the critical care setting, because these trials are typically moderately sized, thus limiting the statistical power to detect small differences between groups, and often rely on composite outcomes that include several components of different clinical importance. Notably, the advantages of this approach may be offset by several drawbacks (such as ignoring ties and difficulties in selecting and ranking endpoints) and challenges in appropriate clinical interpretation (i.e., establishing clinical meaningfulness of the observed effect size). In this perspective article, we present some key elements to implementing WR statistics in critical care trials, providing an overview of strengths, drawbacks, and potential applications of this method. To illustrate, we conduct a reevaluation of the HYPO-ECMO (Hypothermia during Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) trial using the WR framework as a case example.
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Cuidados Críticos , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and sinus rhythm have a heightened risk of stroke. Whether anticoagulation benefits these patients is uncertain. In this post hoc analysis of the A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Reducing the Risk of Death, Myocardial Infarction, or Stroke in Participants with Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Following an Episode of Decompensated Heart Failure (COMMANDER-HF) trial we evaluated how a previously validated risk model consisting of 3 variables (history of prior stroke, insulin-treated diabetes, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level) would perform, compared with plasma d-dimer, for stroke prediction and estimation of the benefit of low-dose rivaroxaban. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stroke risk and treatment effect were computed across risk score and plasma d-dimer tertiles. Risk score was available in 58% of the COMMANDER-HF population (nâ¯=â¯2928). Over a median follow-up of 512 days (range 342-747 days), 60 patients experienced a stroke (14.6 per 1000 patient-years). The risk model did not identify patients at higher risk of stroke and showed a low overall prognostic performance (C-indexâ¯=â¯0.53). The effect of rivaroxaban on stroke was homogeneous across risk score tertiles (P-interactionâ¯=â¯.67). Among patients in whom the risk score was estimated, d-dimer was available in 2343 (80%). d-dimer had an acceptable discrimination performance for stroke prediction (C-indexâ¯=â¯0.66) and higher plasma d-dimer concentrations were associated with higher rates of stroke (ie, tertile 3 vs tertile 1, hazard ratio 3.65, 95% confidence interval 1.59-8.39, Pâ¯=â¯.002). Treatment with low-dose rivaroxaban reduced the incidence of stroke in patients at highest risk by d-dimer levels (ie, >515 ng/mL, hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.95, P-interactionâ¯=â¯.074), without any safety concerns. CONCLUSIONS: In our analysis, plasma d-dimer concentrations performed better than a previously described 3-variable risk score for stroke prediction in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, a recent clinical worsening and sinus rhythm as enrolled in the COMMANDER-HF trial. In these patients, a raised plasma d-dimer concentration identified patients who might benefit most from rivaroxaban.
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Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Insuficiencia Cardíaca Sistólica , Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Accidente Cerebrovascular , Humanos , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/complicaciones , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/tratamiento farmacológico , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/epidemiología , Insuficiencia Cardíaca Sistólica/tratamiento farmacológico , Factores de Riesgo , Rivaroxabán/efectos adversos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/tratamiento farmacológico , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/prevención & control , Volumen SistólicoRESUMEN
AIMS: Left ventricular scar is an arrhythmic substrate that may be missed by echocardiography and diagnosed only by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), which is a time-consuming and expensive imaging modality. Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) with a right-bundle-branch-block (RBBB) pattern are independent predictors of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) but their positive predictive value is low. We studied which electrocardiographic features of PVCs with an RBBB pattern are associated with a higher probability of the absence of an underlying LGE. METHODS: The study included 121 athletes (36 ± 16 years; 48.8% men) with monomorphic PVCs with an RBBB configuration and normal standard clinical investigations who underwent CMR. LGE was identified in 35 patients (29%), predominantly in those with PVCs with a superior/intermediate axis (SA-IntA) compared to inferior axis (IA) (38% vs. 10%, P = 0.002). Among patients with SA-IntA morphology, the contemporary presence of qR pattern in lead aVR and V1 was exclusively found in patients without LGE at CMR (51.0% vs. 0%, P < 0.0001). Among patients with IA, the absence of LGE correlated to a narrow ectopic QRS (145 ± 16 vs. 184 ± 27â msec, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among athletes with apparently idiopathic PVCs with a RBBB configuration, the presence of a concealed LGE at CMR was documented in 29% of cases, mostly in those with a SA-IntA. In our experience, the contemporary presence of qR pattern in lead aVR and V1 in PVCs with RBBB/SA-IntA morphology or, on the other hand, a relatively narrow QRS in PVCs with an IA, predicted absence of LGE.
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Cicatriz , Complejos Prematuros Ventriculares , Masculino , Humanos , Femenino , Medios de Contraste , Gadolinio , Ventrículos Cardíacos/diagnóstico por imagen , Electrocardiografía/métodos , Bloqueo de Rama , AtletasRESUMEN
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex syndrome and a relevant problem of public health due to its large incidence and prevalence and to the high costs for its management. The hallmark of CKD, the progressive reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), is strongly associated with an increase in cardiovascular events, such as fatal and non-fatal heart attack, stroke and heart failure, and mortality. Therefore, clinicians should pay any effort for preventing or slowing down the decline of renal function in order to reduce not only the occurrence of critical renal events (the need for dialysis or renal transplantation, among the most dreadful) but also the incidence of cardiovascular events. Accordingly, an early diagnosis and a targeted treatment in patients with kidney disease are crucial to reduce the evolution towards more advanced stages of the disease and the occurrence of complications. For a long time, the therapeutic approach to the majority of CKD patients was based on the strict control of risk factors, such as the diabetic disease and hypertension, together with the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, particularly in the presence of albuminuria. Over time, this strategy proved to be only partially effective, since most CKD patients showed a progressive worsening of renal function. Gliflozins and incretins are novel anti-diabetic drugs that have been demonstrated to slow down the slope of eGFR reduction in patients with CKD, irrespective of diabetic status. Concurrently, these drugs showed to significantly impact cardiovascular prognosis reducing the incidence of clinical events. For their ability to act on a wide spectrum of disease, gliflozins and incretins are also called 'cardio-nephro-metabolic' drugs.
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There is still the need to lower LDL-c, although the use of statins, ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9. Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or familial hypercholesterolaemia are treated with statins at maximum tolerated dose, with or without further lipid-lowering drugs, but very often, we can't reach the goal, so bempedoic acid treatment lead to a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, in different groups of patients, with a favourable safety profile.
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Implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) have found increasing use in clinical practice over the years, proving, when used in high-risk populations, to facilitate the diagnosis of bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias requiring treatment. Experience with heart failure patients undergoing pacemaker (PMK) or implantable defibrillator (ICD) implantation, which allow for continuous electrocardiographic monitoring and transthoracic impedance assessment, has made it possible to identify predictors of heart failure flare-ups. In this context, the use of telemonitoring has been shown to ensure better management of patients with heart failure. These benefits cannot be assessed to date in patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 35% who have no indication for PMK or ICD implantation. This population has been shown to have a significant incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias. In addition, a significant number of cerebrovascular events are observed in this population, largely attributable to the high incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). In this population, the occurrence of AF has also been shown to have a negative impact on patients' prognosis; at the same time, a rhythm control strategy has been shown to be more beneficial in this area than a rate control strategy. Studies also suggest arrhythmias have a negative impact on the cognitive status and quality of life of heart failure patients. These reasons could justify the implantation of ICMs equipped with telemonitoring systems in heart failure patients. The information provided by the monitoring system, if properly managed, could bring benefits in terms of prognosis and quality of life along with a reduction in economic costs. We will try here, by answering a few questions, to assess whether there is an indication for ICM in heart failure, which patients should be candidates and how these patients should be managed.
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The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been shown to reduce risks of clinical events in patients with heart failure (HF), with early and sustained benefits regardless of ejection fraction, diabetic status, and care setting. As part and parcel of the modern foundational HF therapy, clinicians should be familiar with these drugs, in order to implement their use and limit the potential adverse effects. We present an up-to-date review of current evidence and a practical guide for the prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with HF, highlighting important elements for patient selection, treatment initiation, dosing, and problem solving.
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Patients with clinically established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are at a very high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. An adequate management of risk factors and the implementation of healthy behaviours significantly decrease the risk of unfavourable clinical outcomes and future cardiovascular events, including death. Patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome should be managed according to their individual risk level in order to ensure the appropriate treatment. Nevertheless, care pathways should also take into consideration the available resources and the logistical/structural aspects. In this setting, cardiac rehabilitation is prosed as a multidisciplinary approach to improving daily function and reducing cardiovascular risk factors. The organization of a network with the involvement of different medical and non-medical figures is essential to ensure successful outcomes and expected cost-effectiveness.
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Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is an endocrine and paracrine organ constituted by a layer of adipose tissue directly located between the myocardium and visceral pericardium. Under physiological conditions, EAT exerts protective effects of brown-like fat characteristics, metabolizing excess fatty acids, and secreting anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic cytokines. In certain pathological conditions, EAT acquires a proatherogenic transcriptional profile resulting in increased synthesis of biologically active adipocytokines with proinflammatory properties, promoting oxidative stress, and finally causing endothelial damage. The role of EAT in heart failure (HF) has been mainly limited to HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and related to the HFpEF obese phenotype. In HFpEF, EAT seems to acquire a proinflammatory profile and higher EAT values have been related to worse outcomes. Less data are available about the role of EAT in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Conversely, in HFrEF, EAT seems to play a nutritive role and lower values may correspond to the expression of a catabolic, adverse phenotype. As of now, there is evidence that the beneficial systemic cardiovascular effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 receptors-inhibitors (SGLT2-i) might be partially mediated by inducing favorable modifications on EAT. As such, EAT may represent a promising target organ for the development of new drugs to improve cardiovascular prognosis. Thus, an approach based on detailed phenotyping of cardiac structural alterations and distinctive biomolecular pathways may change the current scenario, leading towards a precision medicine model with specific therapeutic targets considering different individual profiles. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about the biomolecular pathway of EAT in HF across the whole spectrum of ejection fraction, and to describe the potential of EAT as a therapeutic target in HF.
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Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Humanos , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/metabolismo , Volumen Sistólico/fisiología , Tejido Adiposo/metabolismo , Pericardio/metabolismo , FenotipoRESUMEN
The 2021 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology on the diagnosis and therapy of heart failure (HF) introduced relevant changes in the pharmacological treatment of chronic HF. Among these, certainly the most significant was the introduction in the therapeutic flow-chart (with the highest recommendation level) of the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. In fact, SGLT2 inhibitors are responsible for major paradigm shifts in the care of patients with or at high risk for HF, progression of chronic kidney disease, or both. SGLT2 inhibition demonstrated to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF over a wide range of ejection fractions, regardless of diabetic status, and have a strong nephroprotective effect. There are several important interactions between heart disease and kidneys disease. Indeed, acute or chronic dysfunction of the heart or kidneys can induce acute or chronic dysfunction in the other organ. The term 'cardiorenal syndrome' has been applied to these interactions. Since kidneys dysfunction in the setting of HF has a strong prognostic relevance, drugs that can slow down the decline of renal function are of utmost importance. Here, we discuss about the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the kidneys function in patients with HF and how these effects can improve both renal and cardiovascular outcomes.
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BACKGROUND: Phosphodiesterase-5A inhibitors (PDE5i) are sometimes used in patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction before heart transplant or left ventricular assist device implantation to decrease right ventricular (RV) afterload and mitigate the risk of right heart failure. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the impact of these drugs on RV contractility. The aim of this study was to explore the acute effects of PDE5i on ventricular-vascular coupling and load-independent RV contractility. METHODS: Twenty-two patients underwent right heart catheterization and gated equilibrium blood pool single photon emission computed tomography, before and after 20 mg intravenous sildenafil. Single photon emission computed tomography and right heart catheterization-derived data were used to calculate RV loading and contractility. RESULTS: PDE5i induced a decrease in the right atrial pressure (-43%), pulmonary artery (PA) mean pressure (-26%), and PA wedge pressure (PAWP; -23%), with favorable reductions in pulmonary vascular resistance (-41%) and PA elastance (-40%), and increased cardiac output (+13%) (all P < 0.01). The RV ejection fraction increased with sildenafil (+20%), with no change of RV contractility (Pâ¯=â¯0.74), indicating that the improvement in the RV ejection fraction was related to enhanced RV-PA coupling (râ¯=â¯0.59, Pâ¯=â¯0.004) by a decrease in the ventricular load. RV diastolic compliance increased with sildenafil. The decrease in the PAWP correlated with RV end-diastolic volume decrease; no relationship was observed with the change in LV transmural pressure, suggesting decreased pericardial constraint. CONCLUSIONS: Acute PDE5i administration has profound RV afterload-reducing effects, improves the RVEF, decreases RV volumes, and decreases the PAWP, predominantly through relief of pericardial constraint, without effects on RV chamber contractility. These findings support further study of PDE5i in protection of RV function in advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who are at risk of RV failure.
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Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Disfunción Ventricular Derecha , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Arteria Pulmonar , Citrato de Sildenafil , Disfunción Ventricular Derecha/diagnóstico por imagen , Disfunción Ventricular Derecha/tratamiento farmacológico , Función Ventricular DerechaRESUMEN
AIMS: To assess the clinical relevance of a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 696 consecutive patients (mean age 67.4 ± 13.2 years, 69.7% males) admitted for COVID-19 in 13 Italian cardiology centres between 1 March and 9 April 2020. One hundred and six patients (15%) had a history of AF and the median hospitalization length was 14 days (interquartile range 9-24). Patients with a history of AF were older and with a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors. Compared to patients without AF, they showed a higher rate of in-hospital death (38.7% vs. 20.8%; P < 0.001). History of AF was associated with an increased risk of death after adjustment for clinical confounders related to COVID-19 severity and cardiovascular comorbidities, including history of heart failure (HF) and increased plasma troponin [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.84; P = 0.029]. Patients with a history of AF also had more in-hospital clinical events including new-onset AF (36.8% vs. 7.9%; P < 0.001), acute HF (25.3% vs. 6.3%; P < 0.001), and multiorgan failure (13.9% vs. 5.8%; P = 0.010). The association between AF and worse outcome was not modified by previous or concomitant use of anticoagulants or steroid therapy (P for interaction >0.05 for both) and was not related to stroke or bleeding events. CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, a history of AF contributes to worse clinical course with a higher mortality and in-hospital events including new-onset AF, acute HF, and multiorgan failure. The mortality risk remains significant after adjustment for variables associated with COVID-19 severity and comorbidities.
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Fibrilación Atrial , COVID-19 , Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Fibrilación Atrial/diagnóstico , Fibrilación Atrial/epidemiología , Femenino , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/epidemiología , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Humanos , Italia/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is a rare congenital abnormality and is characterized by the subdivision of the left ventricle into two separate chambers by an abnormal septum or muscle band. This rare congenital entity is usually diagnosed in the neonatal or pediatric age. Nevertheless, it can be asymptomatic and incidentally found in the adulthood. A comprehensive multimodality imaging approach is crucial for the correct final diagnosis.
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High blood pressure (BP) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and at the same time represents its most frequent complication. High BP is an independent risk factor for advanced CKD; on the other hand, at least 40% of patients with normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and virtually all patients with GFR <30 mL/min are hypertensive. CKD and microalbuminuria are powerful risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Consequently, in uraemic hypertension, it is of utmost importance to carefully manage both high BP and microalbuminuria, in order to slow down the progression of kidney damage and to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events. The first purpose of the medical treatment in hypertensive patients is to normalize BP, regardless of the drug used. Nevertheless, some drugs have an 'additional' nephroprotective effect at the same BP target achieved. In this regard, first-line drugs are definitely renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors, mainly for their proved efficacy in reducing hypertension-related kidney damage and proteinuria. Anyway, a combined approach (two or more drugs) is usually needed to achieve the optimal BP target and reduce the worsening of CKD.
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Compuestos de Bencidrilo , Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Humanos , Compuestos de Bencidrilo/farmacología , Compuestos de Bencidrilo/uso terapéutico , Glucósidos/uso terapéutico , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/tratamiento farmacológico , Volumen Sistólico , Función Ventricular IzquierdaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Some patients with heart failure (HF) are more prone to systemic congestion than others. The goal of this study was to identify clinical and humoral factors linked to congestion and its prognostic impact in HF patients. METHODS: A total of 371 advanced HF patients underwent physical examination, echocardiography, right heart catheterization, blood samplings, and Minnesota Living with HF Questionnaire. Subjects were followed-up for adverse events (death, urgent transplantation, or assist device implantation without heart transplantation). RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of patients were classified as prone to congestion. During a median follow-up of 1,093 days, 159 (43%) patients had an adverse event. In the Cox analysis, the congestion-prone (CP) status was associated with a 43% higher event risk. The CP status was strongly (p Ë 0.001) associated with body weight loss, right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), dilated inferior vena cava (IVC), diuretics, and beta-blockers prescription and the majority of tested hormones in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, the only independent variables associated with the CP status were adiponectin, albumin, IVC diameter, and RVD. Adiponectin by itself was predictive of adverse events. In a multivariate model, CP status was no longer predictive of adverse events, in contrast to adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: CP patients experienced more severe symptoms and had shorter survival. Potential role of adiponectin, a new independent predictor of CP status, should be further examined.
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Adiponectina/sangre , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/fisiopatología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction, classically in its apical and mid segments, in the absence of coronary lesions, and is often observed after intense stressful events and occasionally associated to an acute medical illness. We describe a case of TCM associated with coronary artery disease and triggered by a percutaneous coronary angioplasty. This case highlights the concept that a medical procedure can lead, in certain conditions, to TCM and provides new interesting insights on the pathophysiology of coronary syndromes.
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Estenosis Coronaria/cirugía , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/diagnóstico , Cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo/diagnóstico , Anciano , Angioplastia , Angiografía Coronaria , Estenosis Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Stents Liberadores de Fármacos , Ecocardiografía , Electrocardiografía , Femenino , Humanos , Recuperación de la FunciónRESUMEN
AIM: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has become a common intervention for patients with cardiogenic shock (CS), often complicated by cardiac arrest (CA). Moderate hypothermia (MH) has shown promise in mitigating ischemia-reperfusion injury following CA. The HYPO-ECMO trial aimed to compare the effect of MH versus normothermia in refractory CS rescued by VA-ECMO. The primary aim of this non-predefined post hoc study was to assess the treatment effect of MH in the subgroup of patients with cardiac arrest (CA) within the HYPO-ECMO trial. Additionally, we will evaluate the prognostic significance of CA in these patients. METHODS: This post hoc analysis utilized data from the randomized HYPO-ECMO trial conducted across 20 French cardiac shock care centers between October 2016 and July 2019. Participants included intubated patients receiving VA-ECMO for CS for less than 6 h, with 334 patients completing the trial. Patients were randomized to early MH (33-34 °C) or normothermia (36-37 °C) for 24 h. RESULTS: Of the 334 patients, 159 (48%) experienced preceding CA. Mortality in the CA group was 50.9% at 30 days and 59.1% at 180 days, compared to 42.3% and 51.4% in the no-CA group, respectively (adjusted risk difference [RD] at 30 days, 8.1% [-0.8 to 17.1%], p = 0.074 and RD at 180 days 7.0% [-3.0 to 16.9%], p = 0.17). MH was associated with a significant reduction in primary (RD -13.3% [-16.3 to -0.3%], p = 0.031) and secondary outcomes in the CA group only (p < 0.025 for all), with a significant interaction between MH and CA status for 180-day mortality [p = 0.03]. CONCLUSIONS: This post hoc analysis suggests that MH shows potential for reducing mortality and composite endpoints in patients with cardiac arrest and refractory CS treated with VA-ECMO without an increased risk of severe bleeding or infection. Further research is needed to validate these findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms.
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Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea , Paro Cardíaco , Hipotermia Inducida , Choque Cardiogénico , Humanos , Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea/métodos , Masculino , Femenino , Hipotermia Inducida/métodos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Paro Cardíaco/terapia , Paro Cardíaco/mortalidad , Paro Cardíaco/complicaciones , Choque Cardiogénico/terapia , Choque Cardiogénico/etiología , Choque Cardiogénico/mortalidad , AncianoRESUMEN
AIMS: The determinants and relevance of right ventricular (RV) mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are poorly understood. We hypothesized that increased afterload may adversely affect the synchrony of RV contraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 148 patients with HFrEF and 36 controls underwent echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and gated single-photon emission computed tomography to measure RV chamber volumes and mechanical dyssynchrony (phase standard deviation of systolic displacement timing). Exams were repeated after preload (N = 135) and afterload (N = 15) modulation. Patients with HFrEF showed higher RV dyssynchrony compared with controls (40.6 ± 17.5° vs. 27.8 ± 9.1°, P < 0.001). The magnitude of RV dyssynchrony in HFrEF correlated with larger RV and left ventricular (LV) volumes, lower RV ejection fraction (RVEF) and LV ejection fraction, reduced intrinsic contractility, increased heart rate, higher pulmonary artery (PA) load, and impaired RV-PA coupling (all P ≤ 0.01). Low RVEF was the strongest predictor of RV dyssynchrony. Left bundle branch block (BBB) was associated with greater RV dyssynchrony than right BBB, regardless of QRS duration. RV afterload reduction by sildenafil improved RV dyssynchrony (P = 0.004), whereas preload change with passive leg raise had modest effect. Patients in the highest tertiles of RV dyssynchrony had an increased risk of adverse clinical events compared with those in the lower tertile [T2/T3 vs. T1: hazard ratio 1.98 (95% confidence interval 1.20-3.24), P = 0.007]. CONCLUSIONS: RV dyssynchrony is associated with RV remodelling, dysfunction, adverse haemodynamics, and greater risk for adverse clinical events. RV dyssynchrony is mitigated by acute RV afterload reduction and could be a potential therapeutic target to improve RV performance in HFrEF.