Predictors of late response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: When
should we judge a non-responder after implantation?
Abstract
Background: Left ventricular reverse remodeling by cardiac
resynchronization therapy (CRT) can significantly improve the prognosis
for heart failure (HF) patients. The time course of CRT response remains
poorly characterized. Method and Results: This retrospective study
included 99 HF patients who received a CRT device at a single center
from 2006 to 2017. CRT response was defined as ≥10% improvement in left
ventricular ejection fraction on follow-up. They were divided into three
groups: early responders (ERs): 49 patients with CRT response by the
six-month follow-up; late responders (LRs): 17 patients with CRT
response between six-month and three-years; and non-responders (NRs): 33
patients with no CRT response. The ERs and LRs had significantly lower
rates of HF hospitalization and all-cause deaths than the NRs.
Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that narrower QRS
duration before implantation (p = 0.046) and the presence of moderate to
severe mitral regurgitation (MR) at the six-month follow-up (p = 0.035)
as independent predictors of NRs. Conclusions: Regardless of the timing,
HF patients who have CRT response have a better long-term prognosis than
NRs. The Severity of MR can predict whether a patient with no response
at the six-month follow-up will be NRs.