Sex Differences in Left Ventricular Cavity Dilation and Outcomes in Acute Heart Failure Patients With Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

Abstract

Background: In this study we evaluated the influence of sex on the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (HF) with a reduced ejection fraction (EF).

Methods: Among the 4842 patients enrolled in the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Syndromes (ATTEND) registry, 2367 patients (1607 men and 760 women) discharged alive after hospitalization for acute decompensated HF with a reduced EF (defined as a left ventricular EF < 50%) were investigated to assess the association of sex and LVEDD with the primary end point (all-cause death and readmission for HF after discharge). Men and women were separately divided into LVEDD quartiles at discharge (men: LVEDD ≤ 54, 55-60, 61-65, and ≥ 66 mm; women: LVEDD ≤ 48, 49-54, 55-60, and ≥ 61 mm). The median follow-up period after discharge was 524 (range, 385-785) days.

Results: Occurrence of the primary end point did not differ between men and women (37.0% vs 37.2%; P = 0.921). After adjustment for multiple comorbidities including left ventricular EF, men with an LVEDD of 61-65 and ≥ 66 mm had a significantly higher risk of the primary end point than men with an LVEDD ≤ 54 mm, indicating a positive association between a larger LVEDD and adverse outcomes. In contrast, in women, the adjusted risk of the primary end point was comparable among the LVEDD quartiles.

Conclusions: Men and women with acute decompensated HF and a reduced EF might show important differences in relation to the association between left ventricular cavity dilation and outcomes.