Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Risk of Stroke and Cardiac Events in Heart Failure: Data From the Warfarin Versus Aspirin in Reduced Ejection Fraction Trial.
Publication/Presentation Date
6-28-2016
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In heart failure (HF), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is inversely associated with mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. Its relationship with stroke is controversial, as is the effect of antithrombotic treatment. We studied the relationship of LVEF with stroke and cardiovascular events in patients with HF and the effect of different antithrombotic treatments.
METHODS: In the Warfarin Versus Aspirin in Reduced Ejection Fraction (WARCEF) trial, 2305 patients with systolic HF (LVEF≤35%) and sinus rhythm were randomized to warfarin or aspirin and followed for 3.5±1.8 years. Although no differences between treatments were observed on primary outcome (death, stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage), warfarin decreased the stroke risk. The present report compares the incidence of stroke and cardiovascular events across different LVEF and treatment subgroups.
RESULTS: Baseline LVEF was inversely and linearly associated with primary outcome, mortality and its components (sudden and cardiovascular death), and HF hospitalization, but not myocardial infarction. A relationship with stroke was only observed for LVEF of
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with systolic HF and sinus rhythm, LVEF is inversely associated with death and its components, whereas an association with stroke exists for very low LVEF values. An interaction with warfarin treatment on stroke risk may exist.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00041938.
Volume
47
Issue
8
First Page
2031
Last Page
2037
ISSN
1524-4628
Published In/Presented At
Di Tullio MR., Qian M., Thompson JL., Labovitz AJ., Mann DL., Sacco RL., Pullicino PM., Freudenberger RS., Teerlink JR., Graham S., Lip GY., Levin B., Mohr JP., Buchsbaum R., Estol CJ., Lok DJ., Ponikowski P., Anker SD., & Homma S. (2016). Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Risk of Stroke and Cardiac Events in Heart Failure: Data From the Warfarin Versus Aspirin in Reduced Ejection Fraction Trial. Stroke; A Journal Of Cerebral Circulation, 47(8):2031-2037
Disciplines
Cardiology | Medical Sciences | Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
27354224
Department(s)
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine Faculty
Document Type
Article