The Additive Effect of Left Ventricular Filling Pressure and Renal Function on Long-Term Prognosis of High-Risk Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography

INTRODUCTION: Impaired relaxation is the earliest manifestation of ischemic cascade. Risk factors and renal function abnormalities are associated with coronary disease and diastolic dysfunction as well. We aimed to study the association of noninvasive assessment of left ventricular filling pressures and renal function with mortality in high-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational prospective study of 564 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography was conducted. The median follow-up was 2,293 days. Patients were categorized into 2 groups according to presence of significant diastolic dysfunction: group 1, 382 patients, with normal and group 2, 182 patients, with elevated filling pressure. Renal insufficiency was determined as calculated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min. Patients demographic, clinical, echocardiography, laboratory, and angiographic data were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Fifty-three percent of patients underwent angiography due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 85.5% had coronary artery disease, 53.4% had reduced (<50%) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and 47.4% had abnormal renal function. The mortality during the follow-up period was 30.0%. Patients with elevated filling pressure had significantly higher mortality (50.5% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.0001). Impaired renal failure as well, was associated with higher mortality (48% vs. 15%, p < 0.001). The association remained significant in subgroups of patients with and without ACS and reduced and preserved LVEF. In Cox regression model which combined elevated filling pressure, renal insufficiency, age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, presence of atrial fibrillation, LVEF, and anemia, elevated filling pressure and renal function impairment were independently associated with higher mortality (HR: 3.717, CI: 1.623–8.475, p < 0.0001 and HR: 0.972, CI: 0.958–0.985, p = 0.0001, respectively). There was an incremental prognostic value of elevated filling pressures and renal function impairment on mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced diastolic dysfunction and impaired renal function are signals toward worse outcomes and are associated with mortality in high-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography.