Prognostic value of Doppler transmitral flow patterns in patients with congestive heart failure

Objectives. This study was designed to determine whether Doppler echocardiographic transmitral flow patterns can predict cardiac mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. Background. Previous studies have indicated that Doppler transmitral flow patterns are related to New York Heart Association functional class and exercise capacity in patients with congestive heart failure. However, the prognostic significance of these flow patterns is not known. Methods. We analyzed the relation of transmitral flow patterns and cardiac mortality in 100 consecutive patients (76 men, 24 women; mean [±SD] age 60 ± 11 years) with congestive heart failure symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction 140 ms, and a restrictive group (58 patients) with E/A ≥ 2 or E/A = 1 to 2 and deceleration time