Prognostic significance of polyvascular disease in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

The prognostic significance of systemic atherothrombosis in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relation between the presence of polyvascular disease (PVD) and cardiovascular outcomes in HFpEF patients. A total of 510 consecutive HFpEF patients were prospectively observed for up to 1500 days or until occurrence of cardiovascular events. PVD was defined as ≥2 coexistence of coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Overall, 124 cardiovascular events were observed during follow-up (median: 1430 days). Kaplan–Meier curve showed HFpEF with PVD (n = 84) experienced more cardiovascular events than did those without PVD patients (44.0% vs 20.4%, log-rank: P < .001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis with significant factors from univariate analysis showed the presence of PVD (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.875, 95% [CI]: 1.894–4.365, P < .001), previous HF hospitalization (HR: 1.578, 95% CI: 1.031–2.414, P = .036), hemoglobin (HR: 0.889, 95% CI: 0.805–0.983, P = .021), serum sodium (HR: 0.946, 95% CI 0.896–1.000, P = .048), ln-BNP (per 1.0, HR: 1.255, 95% CI: 1.055–1.494, P = .010), and E/e’ (HR: 1.047, 95% CI: 1.020–1.075, P < .001) significantly predicted future cardiovascular events. Multivariable Cox hazard analysis with 4 established factors (age, BNP, diabetes mellitus, and previous HF hospitalization) from the I-PRESERVE (Irbesartan in HFpEF) study showed PVD was independently associated with cardiovascular events in HFpEF patients (HR: 2.562, 95% CI: 1.715–3.827, P < .001). The presence of PVD is significantly associated with cardiovascular events in HFpEF, suggesting the importance of screening PVD in HFpEF.