Abstract

Background: Right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction has been considered an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with left heart failure. The aim of the study was to investigate RV systolic function indices and their correlations with short-term prognostic value through RV strain indices in patients with heart failure-related cardiogenic shock.

Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted on 52 patients with acute heart failure (AHF) with cardiogenic shock. All patients underwent bedside echocardiography and RV strain indices was assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Mortality and short-term readmission were monitored.

Results: RV strain indices as RV-FWLS, RV-GLS and routine RV echocardiography indices TAPSE, RV FAC, RV S' (TDI) were all reduced in the AHF with cardiogenic shock  patient group. There was a statistically significant correlation between RVFWLS, RVGLS, with LV-GLS, RV-FAC, TAPSE (p < 0.05) for the group with events occurring after 30 days. Biventricular strain indices related to increasing the risk of mortality and readmission with ORs of 1.21; 1.26; and 1.19, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusion: RV strain indices were reduced in patients with AHF with cardiogenic shock and were associated with events during short-term follow-up.