Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc 2018; 31(2): 82-89

Association among Dyspnea and the Degrees of Diastolic Dysfunction at Echocardiography

DOI: 10.5935/2318-8219.20180011

Summary

Introduction

The left ventricle diastolic dysfuntion (LVDD) can lead to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Echocardiography, especially the tissue Doppler, is the main exam. The clinic has dyspnea as a typical symptom, which is evaluated by modified Medical Research Council (mMRC). However, there are few studies that investigate what is the association between the symptom and LVDD.

Objective

Evaluate if dyspnea is associated with the advancement of LVDD and if there is a linkage between mMRC and the degrees of LVDD.

Method

Case-control transversal study, with 60 participants, with clinical (mMRC) and echocardiographic (bidimensional parameters, spectral and tissue Doppler) evaluation. Among the participants, 49 constituted the case group (LVDD with dyspnea) and 11 the control group (LVDD without dyspnea). Participants with co-morbidity or other echocardiographic abnormalities related to dyspnea were excluded.

Results

The average age was 61,7 (± 7,9) years and 72% were women. In overwall, 82% of the participants had dyspnea. Among them, 82% had LVDD degree I. All of the study population had preserved ventricular systolic function. The presence of dyspnea was associated with the degree of LVDD (p = 0,04), however, the symptom severity was not (p = 0,72).

Conclusion

Dyspnea was associated with the degree of LVDD, but there was no association between the symptom severity and the evolution of LVDD. The aging, the increase of left atrium and coronary artery disease were associated with the advanced grades of LVDD. (Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc. 2018;31(2):82-89)