Layer-specific global longitudinal strain obtained by speckle tracking echocardiography for predicting heart failure and cardiovascular death following STEMI treated with primary PCI

The aim of this study was to evaluate layer-specific global longitudinal strain (GLS), obtained by speckle tracking, in predicting outcomes following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Echocardiography, including layer-specific GLS, was performed at median two days after the STEMI in a prospective study of STEMI patients treated with pPCI between September 2006 and December 2008. The outcome was the composite of heart failure hospitalization and/or cardiovascular death (HF/CVD). A total of 349 patients were included. Mean age was 62.2 ± 11.5 years, 76% were male, and mean ejection fraction (LVEF) was 46 ± 9. Seventy-seven (22%) patients developed HF/CVD during median follow-up 5.4 years. Patients with HF/CVD had lower absolute values for all GLS-layers: endocardial (GLS Endo ) 11.4%vs 14.5% (p