Tab. 2.
Sensitivity analysis for all echocardiographic measurements with significant statistical heterogeneity (I2 > 50 % or p‑value < 0.10) in specific study subgroups
| No. of studies | HR | 95 % CI | p-value | I2, % | Cochran’s Q (p-value) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presence of pericardial effusion | 16 | 1.70 | 1.44–1.99 | < 0.001 | 42 | 25.7 (0.041) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 8 | 1.56 | 1.31–1.86 | < 0.001 | 23 | 9.0 (0.249) |
| 100 % PAH | 12 | 1.62 | 1.34–1.96 | < 0.001 | 45 | 20.1 (0.045) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 12 | 1.81 | 1.45–2.25 | < 0.001 | 49 | 21.5 (0.028) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 10 | 1.86 | 1.40–2.47 | < 0.001 | 60 | 22.3 (0.008) |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 15 | 1.64 | 1.39–1.94 | < 0.001 | 38 | 22.5 (0.069) |
| Right atrial area, per 5 cm 2 increase | 5 | 1.71 | 1.38–2.13 | < 0.001 | 55 | 8.9 (0.063) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 4 | 1.69 | 1.29–2.21 | < 0.001 | 61 | 7.8 (0.051) |
| 100 % PAH | 4 | 1.56 | 1.33–1.84 | < 0.001 | 17 | 3.6 (0.306) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 4 | 1.69 | 1.29–2.21 | < 0.001 | 61 | 7.8 (0.051) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 3 | 1.77 | 1.17–2.68 | 0.007 | 74 | 7.7 (0.021) |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 5 | 1.71 | 1.38–2.13 | < 0.001 | 55 | 8.9 (0.063) |
| RV pressure, per 10 mmHg increase | 7 | 1.18 | 1.01–1.38 | 0.043 | 76 | 25.1 (< 0.001) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 4 | 1.33 | 1.00–1.77 | NS | 72 | 10.9 (0.012) |
| 100 % PAH | 5 | 1.20 | 0.95–1.52 | NS | 75 | 15.8 (0.003) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 5 | 1.26 | 1.00–1.59 | NS | 81 | 20.6 (< 0.001) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 5 | 1.19 | 1.02–1.38 | 0.024 | 66 | 11.8 (0.019) |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 5 | 1.20 | 0.95–1.52 | NS | 75 | 15.8 (0.003) |
| Right atrial pressure, > 15 mmHg | 6 | 2.45 | 1.56–3.85 | < 0.001 | 76 | 20.7 (< 0.001) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 2 | 1.38 | 0.65–2.92 | NS | 82 | 5.7 (0.017) |
| 100 % PAH | 6 | 2.45 | 1.56–3.85 | < 0.001 | 76 | 20.7 (< 0.001) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 4 | 2.41 | 1.16–4.98 | 0.018 | 82 | 17.0 (< 0.001) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 5 | 2.28 | 1.33–3.92 | 0.003 | 72 | 14.2 (0.007) |
| TAPSE, per 5 mm decrease | 7 | 1.72 | 1.34–2.20 | < 0.001 | 77 | 26.1 (< 0.001) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 3 | 1.63 | 1.01–2.63 | 0.047 | 69 | 6.5 (0.039) |
| 100 % PAH | 4 | 1.67 | 1.15–2.44 | 0.007 | 77 | 12.8 (0.005) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 5 | 1.58 | 1.22–2.06 | < 0.001 | 79 | 18.7 (< 0.001) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 4 | 3.24 | 1.92–5.45 | < 0.001 | 0 | 1.2 (0.756) |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 5 | 1.76 | 1.22–2.52 | 0.002 | 74 | 15.4 (0.004) |
| RV FAC, per 5 % decrease | 5 | 1.23 | 1.04–1.44 | 0.039 | 60 | 10.1 (0.039) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 3 | 1.18 | 0.96–1.44 | NS | 60 | 5.0 (0.080) |
| 100 % PAH | 2 | 1.06 | 1.04–1.09 | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.0 (0.863) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 4 | 1.16 | 1.02–1.32 | 0.026 | 41 | 5.0 (0.168) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 5 | 1.23 | 1.04–1.44 | 0.039 | 60 | 10.1 (0.039) |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 3 | 1.18 | 0.96–1.44 | NS | 60 | 5.0 (0.080) |
| Tei index, per 0.1 unit increase | 7 | 1.23 | 1.09–1.40 | 0.001 | 73 | 22.3 (0.001) |
| > 70 % NYHA class III–IV | 3 | 1.22 | 0.99–1.51 | NS | 76 | 8.3 (0.016) |
| 100 % PAH | 6 | 1.25 | 1.05–1.48 | 0.012 | 58 | 12.0 (0.035) |
| Exclusion of CHD | 5 | 1.46 | 1.24–1.72 | < 0.001 | 0 | 2.3 (0.677) |
| > 50 % on PAH medication/NR | 2 | 1.25 | 1.16–1.35 | < 0.001 | 0 | 0.5 (0.775) |
| Mortality/transplant as outcome | 6 | 1.25 | 1.05–1.48 | 0.012 | 58 | 12.0 (0.035) |
CHD congenital heart disease, CI confidence interval, FAC fractional area change, HR hazard ratio, NR not reported, NS non-significant, NYHA New York Heart Association, PAH pulmonary arterial hypertension, RV right ventricular, TAPSE tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion