Long-term prognosis of medically treated patients with functional mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction

Aims To assess long-term prognosis in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, receiving current standard pharmacological therapy. Methods and results We prospectively enrolled 404 consecutive patients (mean age 70.2 ± 10 years) with ischaemic (76.5%) and non-ischaemic (23.5%) LV dysfunction (ejection fraction 34.4 ± 10.8%) and at least mild MR. Results are reported at 4 years' follow-up. Survival free of all-cause mortality was 53% and cardiac death was 74%. Survival free of all-cause mortality was 50% (95% CI 35-72) for patients with moderate MR, 49% (95% CI 27-65) for severe MR, and 64% (95% CI 47-78) for mild MR (P = 0.03). Survival free of cardiac death was 57% (95% CI 38-74) for patients with moderate MR, 55% (95% CI 30-77) for severe MR, and 94% (95% CI 59-98) for mild MR (P = 0.003). Moderate-to-severe MR [relative risk (RR) 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.1, P = 0.003] was an independent predictor of cardiac death but not of all-cause mortality. Survival free of heart failure (HF) was 32%. Survival free of HF was 20% (95% CI 17-35) for patients with moderate MR, 18% (95% CI 15-32) for severe MR, and 62% (95% CI 45-72) for mild MR (P = 0.0001). Moderate-to-severe MR (RR 3.2, 95% CI 1.9-5.2, P = 0.0001) was an independent predictor of HF. Conclusion The mortality and morbidity of patients with LV dysfunction and FMR remain high despite current standard pharmacological therapy. Moderate-to-severe MR is an independent predictor of cardiac death and HF.