Dissociation between two-dimensional and three-dimensional
echocardiography - clinical implications
Abstract
Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has
prognostic value and is used to guide medical treatment and device
implantation. The preferred technique is two-dimensional echo (2DE),
although three-dimensional echo (3DE) is more accurate when compared to
cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Our study evaluates the agreement
between 2D and 3D LVEF and the potential clinical impact of
disagreements. Methods: Participants ≥50 years were included
from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Means of difference (MD) between
2D and 3D volumes and LVEF were assessed, Cox regression models were
used to estimate the association between 2D and 3D LVEF <40%
and outcome. 3DE were used as reference. Results: In all 1606
participants were included. Median age was 65.4 (IQR: 57.89‒73.6) and
702 (43.7%) were males. Median follow-up was 5.5 (IQR: 4.72‒6.3) in
which 102 (6.4%) died and 142 (8.8%) experienced a major adverse
cardiovascular event (MACE) and 194 (12.1%) any cardiovascular event.
The MD between 2D and 3D LVEF as the LV deteriorated the LV got (LVEF
<40%, MD: -14.4 (-15.9 ‒ -13.0) vs. LVEF 40-49% -9.2 (-9.8 ‒
-8.7) vs. LVEF >50%, MD: -0.96 (-1.4 ‒ -0.51)). 3D LVEF
<40% was significantly associated with all outcomes (2.85
(95% CI: 1.64‒4.95), (all-cause mortality), 2.71 (95% CI: 1.68‒4.36),
(MACE) and 2.41 (95% CI: 1.68‒4.36) (any cardiovascular event). 2D LVEF
<40% was only associated to MACE 2.69 (95% CI: 1.25‒5.77).
2DE misclassified (defined as ≥10 percentage units of difference between
2D and 3d LVEF) LVEFs in 508 (31.6%) of all exams. Conclusion:
In this population study in low-risk subjects, only 3D LVEF was
associated with excess mortality, whereas 2D LVEF was not.