Global longitudinal strain by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging predicts exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure

Background Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) predicts mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, a weak correlation was found between LVEF and peak oxygen uptake ( ) in CHF patients. Global longitudinal strain measured by two-dimensional (2D) strain is regarded as a more useful predictor of cardiac events than LVEF. We investigated whether 2D strain obtained at rest could predict peak in patients with CHF. Methods Fifty-one patients (mean age of 54.0 ± 12.0 years, 14 females, LVEF 46.0 ± 15.0%) with stable CHF underwent resting echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Leg muscle strength was measured for the evaluation of peripheral factors. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the apical 4-, 3-, and 2-chamber views and global circumferential strain (GCS) in the parasternal mid short-axis view were measured. Results In all patients, peak correlated with leg muscle strength ( r = 0.55, p