H2 FPEF score predicts atherosclerosis presence in patients with systemic connective tissue disease

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular diseases are common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD) due to accelerated atherosclerosis which couldn't be explained by traditional risk factors (CVDRF). HYPOTHESISWe hypothesized that recently developed score predicting probability of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (H2 FPEF), as well as a measure of right ventricular-pulmonary vasculature coupling [tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) ratio], are predictive of atherosclerosis in SCTD. METHODS203 patients (178 females) diagnosed with SCTD underwent standard and stress-echocardiography (SE) with TAPSE/PASP and left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling pressure (E/e') measurements, carotid ultrasound and computed tomographic coronary angiography. Patients who were SE positive for ischemia underwent coronary angiography (34/203). The H2 FPEF score was calculated according to age, body mass index, presence of atrial fibrillation, ≥2 antihypertensives, E/e' and PASP. RESULTSMean LV ejection fraction was 66.3 ± 7.1%. Atherosclerosis was present in 150/203 patients according to: 1) intima-media thickness>0.9 mm; and 2) Agatstone score > 300 or Syntax score ≥ 1. On binary logistic regression analysis, including CVDRF prevalence, echocardiographic parameters and H2 FPEF score, only H2 FPEF score remained significant for the prediction of atherosclerosis presence (χ2 = 19.3, HR 2.6, CI 1.5-4.3, p < 0.001), and resting TAPSE/PASP for the prediction of a SE positive for ischemia (χ2 = 10.4, HR 0.01, CI = 0.01-0.22, p = 0.004). On ROC analysis, the optimal threshold value for identifying patients with atherosclerosis was a H2 FPEF score ≥2 (Sn 60.4%, Sp 69.4%, area 0.67, SE = 0.05, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONSH2 FPEF score and resting TAPSE/PASP demonstrated clinical value for an atherosclerosis diagnosis in patients diagnosed with SCTD.