Objective: To explore the relationship between reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and characteristics of coronary artery disease (CAD) and investigate the association between reduced LVEF and cardiovascular prognosis.
Methods: A total of 677 hospitalized patients with angiographic CAD were enrolled. All patients' clinical data were recorded. LVEF were measured, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), white blood cell (WBC) and classic cardiovascular risk factors were recorded after admission. All patients were followed up from admission. The primary end point was combination occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE), including death, targeted vascular revascularization, non-fatal myocardial infarction and rehospitalization due to unstable angina or heart failure, transient ischemic attack or stroke.
Results: All patients were tracked for (15±12) months, and patients were divided into normal LVEF group (LVEF≥0.50, n=585) and reduced LVEF group (LVEF<0.50, n=92) according to LVEF level. Compared with normal LVEF group, reduced LVEF group had more severe coronary stenosis (Gensini score: 62.85±41.45 vs. 47.68±33.26, P<0.05), a higher level of WBC and hs-CRP (WBC: 7.60±2.71 ×10(9)/L vs. 7.09±2.13 ×10(9)/L, hs-CRP: 5.68±3.97 mg/L vs. 3.97±3.75 mg/L, both P<0.05). A total of 146 MACCE occurred during follow-up periods. Compared with no-MACCE group, LVEF levels were significantly lower in MACCE group (0.576±0.113 vs. 0.603±0.101) and there were a higher level of hs-CRP and Gensini score in MACCE group (hs-CRP: 5.26±3.99 mg/L vs. 3.91±3.72 mg/L, Gensini score: 53.72±35.50 vs. 48.63±34.59, all P<0.05). Moreover, both of univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated LVEF be an independent predictor of MACCE in patients with CAD [univariate: relative risk (RR)=0.974, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.960 to 0.988, P=0.000; multivariate: RR=0.979, 95%CI 0.961 to 0.998, P=0.033]. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that patients with reduced LVEF had an increased MACCE occurrence (χ(2)=14.56, P<0.05).
Conclusion: LVEF level may be associated with coronary artery severity, and could be independently predict the prognosis of CAD.