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Clinical impact of long PR-interval and presence of late gadolinium enhancement on hospitalized patients with non-ischemic heart failure

Correspondence Shinya Yamada, MD, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan. Email: smyyamada0124@yahoo.co.jp Abstract Background: The combination of electrical and structural remodeling may have a strong effect on the prognosis of non-ischemic heart failure (HF). We aimed to clarify whether prolonged PR-interval and the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) influence the outcomes of patients with non-ischemic HF. Methods: We studied 262 consecutive hospitalized patients with non-ischemic HF. In a clinically stable condition, a 12-lead electrocardiogram and CMR were performed, and the clinical characteristics and outcomes were investigated. Results: During the follow-up of 967.7 ± 851.8 days, there were 68 (25.9%) cardiac events (HF or sudden death, re-hospitalization due to HF, or ventricular tachyarrhythmias). In a multivariable analysis, a median rate-adjusted PR (PRa)-interval of ≥173.5 ms and the presence of LGE were associated with cardiac events with a hazard ratio of 1.690 and 2.045 (p = .044 and p = .006, respectively). Study subjects were then divided into four groups based on long (≥173.5 ms) or short (<173.5 ms) PRa-interval and LGE status: short PRa/non-LGE (n = 80), long PRa/non-LGE (n = 72), short PRa/LGE (n = 51), and long PRa/LGE (n = 59). Cardiac events were 16.2% in short PRa/non-LGE, 25.0% in long PRa/non-LGE, 27.4% in short PRa/LGE, and 38.9% in long PRa/LGE (p = .026), respectively. The multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that long PRa/LGE was an independent predictor for cardiac events compared to short PRa/non-LGE (hazard ratio, 3.378, p = .001). Conclusions: The combination of a long PRa-interval and the presence of LGE provide a better predictive value of cardiac events in non-ischemic HF.