Abstract
Background
Recently, new therapeutic approaches have revolutionized the management of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and valvular heart disease (VHD), which are a growing public health problem. In parallel, there are no available epidemiological data about LVD and VHD in developing countries, especially in the Mediterranean area. This retrospective study was conducted at a single center and aimed to evaluate the associations between mitral and aortic valvular disease and left ventricle systolic and diastolic dysfunction in the Lebanese population.
Material/Methods
A retrospective study was conducted of 4520 consecutive patients aged >18 years who were referred to the Cardiovascular Department of Notre Dame de Secours-University Hospital in Jbeil-Lebanon for transthoracic echocardiography between December 2016 and December 2019. The study population was divided into different groups based on types of LVD and VHD. Left ventricle systolic dysfunction was defined as a left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) ≤40%. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software version 20.
Results
VHD and systolic dysfunction were more common in men, whereas diastolic dysfunction was more common in women. Being older than age 65 years and smoking were significantly associated with heart failure with preserved EF, whereas female sex was a significant preventive factor against heart failure with reduced EF. Systemic hypertension was correlated with mitral stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation, whereas diabetes mellitus was associated with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Smoking and older age also appeared to be associated with aortic stenosis.
Conclusions
Mitral valve disease (regurgitation and stenosis) was significantly correlated with systolic dysfunction, whereas aortic and mitral regurgitation were associated with diastolic dysfunction. Better monitoring of cardiovascular disease risk factors may lead to a reduced burden of LVD and VHD.
Keywords: Heart Failure; Heart Valve Diseases; Risk Factors; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
Background
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality. The global increase in life expectancy has resulted in a rising incidence of valvular heart disease (VHD) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) among populations, and their impacts on health systems constitute a growing public health problem [1].
VHD is damage to any cardiac valve that alters its capacity to fully open or close. LVD is mainly divided into 2 groups: systolic LVD, characterized by a depressed ejection fraction (EF), and diastolic LVD (LVDD), characterized by stiff heart muscles that cause inadequate relaxation. Statistics from published epidemiological data have shown an increasing prevalence of VHD and heart failure in European and American populations, and the trend is expected to continue [2,3]. Moreover, the widespread use of echocardiography – a simple, noninvasive diagnostic tool – has led to discovery of silent cases of VHD and LVD, which suggests that these 2 independent clinical entities progress slowly over time, from an asymptomatic stage to physical disability or sudden death [4–6].
Transthoracic echocardiography is the diagnostic tool recommended for first-line assessment of left ventricle function, valvular stenosis, and regurgitation [7,8]. Quantitative evaluation of left ventricle EF is usually calculated by dividing the stroke volume by the end-diastolic volume. A value ≤40% is defined as left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) [8,9]. Transesophageal echocardiography is usually performed to grade the severity of valvular stenosis or regurgitation, particularly in patients with heart failure who have regurgitation [7].
Different imaging modalities are integrated into the management of VHD. For example, exercise testing unmasks symptoms, particularly in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), and exercise echocardiography identifies the cardiac origin of dyspnea in addition to assessing the prognosis for mitral regurgitation (MR) and AS [8]. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is useful in patients with when echocardiogram quality is poor or results are conflicting, and it is the criterion standard imaging modality for evaluating right ventricle function, which is important in cases of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) [8].
In parallel, novel medical and interventional therapeutic approaches recently have revolutionized the management of VHD and LVD, improving the quality of life and survival of patients. However, critically ill patients are not candidates for surgery or standard treatments and they may be unable to afford the new transcatheter therapies [10].
Historically, VHD has been a main cause of and poor prognostic predictor for LVD and it is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality [11,12]. Given the paucity of epidemiological data in the Mediterranean area and the absence of surveys in Lebanon, cardiology data for that population have been extrapolated from experience in the United States or Europe. Therefore, the aim of the present study, which was retrospective and single-center, was to evaluate associations between mitral valve disease (MVD) and aortic valve disease (AVD) and LVSD and LVDD in the Lebanese population.
Material and Methods
Study Design and Population
A retrospective, observational, single-center study was conducted of patients referred for transthoracic echocardiography to the Cardiovascular Department of Notre Dame de Secours-University Hospital (NDS-UH), Jbeil-Lebanon between December 2016 and December 2019. All patients aged >18 years who were not known to have or not being followed for LVD and VHD and who underwent echocardiography during the study period were consecutively enrolled. Patients previously diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease, LVD, and/or VHD were excluded. Patients with physiological or insignificant valvular regurgitation and LVSD with mid-range EF (40% to <50%) were excluded so that LVSD and LVDD could be compared. The study population was divided into groups, based on the different types of VHD: 1) AVD (AS or aortic regurgitation [AR]); 2) Mitral valve disease [MVD] (mitral stenosis [MS] or MR); 3) Combined aorto-mitral valve disease and TR; and LVD (LVSD or LVDD).
Data Collection and Endpoints
Echocardiographic studies were performed by the same reference physicians using a General Electric machine. Standard gray-scale and color Doppler images were acquired at a depth of 16 cm in the parasternal (standard long and short axis) and apical views (2- and 4-chamber and apical long axis). The semi-quantitative and quantitative methods recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography were used to assess VHD (regurgitation or stenosis). LVSD was defined as an EF ≤40% and diastolic LVD as an early mitral inflow velocity (E)-to-tissue Doppler mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E’) ratio (E/E’) <8 and EF ≥50%. EF was calculated in the apical view by using Simpson’s biplane method [13]. In the present study, significant VHD was defined as MS or AS of any severity and mild, moderate, or severe MR, AR, or TR. The primary aim was to evaluate the associations between LVD and VHD in a Lebanese population based on echocardiographic criteria. Our study was approved by the Ethics Committees at NDS-UH and written consent for data collection was obtained from the hospital.
Statistical Analysis
Quantitative data were summarized with means and standard deviations, whereas qualitative data were summarized with counts and percentages. A chi-square test was used during the first step in statistical analysis to assess the differences between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate the association between each type of VHD and LVD as a dependent variable. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Incidence of LVD was calculated by dividing the number of new cases during the specified time interval by the total person-years of observation.
Results
Baseline characteristics of the 4520 patients included in the study are shown in Table 1. Of the patients, 2575 (57%) were men with a mean age of 65.70±38.60 and 1945 (43%) were women with a mean age of 64.87±40.61, 1355 (30%) had arterial hypertension, 1040 (23%) had diabetes mellitus (DM), 1045 (23.1%) had dyslipidemia, and 1900 (42%) were smokers. Nearly half of the studied population (49.2%; 2225/4520) were age >65 years and 50.8% (2295/4520) were age <65 years, with an overall mean age of 63.7 years. Regarding the different types of VHD, AVD was present in 1440 patients (31.9%), of whom 1040 (23%) had AR and 400 (8.9%) had AS. MVD was present in 2110 (46.7%), of whom 2100 (46.5%) had MR and 50 (1.1%) had MS. Aorto-MVD was present in 970 (21.5%) and 1870 (41.4%) had TR. Of the patients, 2705 (59.8%) were diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction and 810 (17.9%) with systolic dysfunction (Table 1). The incidences of LVSD and LVDD in the Lebanese population we studied were 11.9 per 100 person per year and 39 per 100 person per year, respectively.
Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the studied population.
| Variable | N (%) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 4520 | |
| ≥65 years | 2225 (49) | |
| <65 years | 2295 (51) | |
| Sex | 4520 | |
| Male | 2575 (57) | |
| Female | 1945 (43) | |
| Smoking | 1900 (42) | 1900 |
| Arterial hypertension | 1355 (30) | 1355 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1040 (23) | 1040 |
| Dyslipidemia | 1045 (23.1) | 1040 |
| Aortic valve disease | 1440 | |
| Aortic regurgitation | 1040 (23) | |
| Aortic stenosis | 400 (8.9) | |
| Mitral valve disease | 2150 | |
| Mitral regurgitation | 2100 (46.5) | |
| Mitral stenosis | 50 (1.1) | |
| Aorto-mitral valve disease | 970 (21.5) | 970 |
| Tricuspid regurgitation | 1870 (41.4) | 1870 |
| Diastolic dysfunction | 2705 (59.8) | 2120 |
| Systolic dysfunction | 810 (17.92) | 810 |
Considering sex, MR was the most common type of VHD and was equally distributed among men (46.4%) and women (46.5%). However, diastolic dysfunction was more common in women (62% vs 58%) while systolic dysfunction was more common in men (22% vs 12%). No statistically significant association was found between sex and VHD, but being female was positively correlated with diastolic dysfunction (odds ratio [OR]=1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.33) and negatively correlated with systolic dysfunction (OR=0.48; CI 0.41–0.57]). The incidence of systolic dysfunction was 8% in women and 14.9% and for diastolic dysfunction, it was 41.4% in women and 38.7% in men.
Regarding age, VHD (52.6% vs 47.4%), diastolic (65% vs 55%), and systolic dysfunction (20% vs 16%) were significantly more common in patients age >65 years compared with those age ≤65 years. MR was the most common VHD in both age groups. Age >65 years was positively correlated with incidence of AS (OR=2.65; CI 2.09–3.37), TR (OR=1.1; 95% CI 1.05–1.3), MS (OR=3.83; 95% CI 1.9–7.7), MR (OR=1.16; 95% CI 1.03–1.3), systolic dysfunction (OR=1.3; 95% CI 1.1–1.5), and diastolic dysfunction (OR=1.4; 95% CI 1.2–1.6). The incidence of systolic dysfunction was 13.5% in patients age >65 years and 10.4% in those ≤65 years, whereas the incidence of diastolic dysfunction was 43% in those age >65 years and 37% in those age ≤65 years.
LVD and VHD were more likely in patients with multiple risk factors. Indeed, multivariate logistic regression showed a positive correlation between smoking and all types of VHD and between systemic arterial hypertension and MS (OR=10.8; 95% CI 3.9 to 29.3) and TR (OR=1.5; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.8). It also showed a negative association between DM and TR (OR=0.55; 95% CI 0.4 to 0.7). Moreover, smoking and arterial hypertension were the 2 CVD risk factors studied that were positively correlated with diastolic dysfunction (OR=1.4; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.7; P<0.001), while no correlation was found between CVD risk factors and systolic dysfunction (Tables 2, 3). Both diastolic and systolic dysfunction were more common in patients with VHD, particularly in those with MVD (Table 4). Multivariate logistic regression showed an association between diastolic and systolic LVD and several types of VHD and AR (OR=0.44; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) and MVD (OR=0.24; 95% CI 0.09–0.65) and a positive correlation with MR (OR=6.7; 95% CI 2.5–18.2) and MS (OR=4.7; 95% CI 1.45–15.4). Systolic dysfunction was positively correlated with MVD (OR=7.2; 95% CI 4.4–11.8) and TR (OR=1.2; 95% CI 1.05–1.44) (Table 5).
Table 2.
Prevalence of valvular heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction according to several cardiovascular risk factors.
| Sex | Age | Smoker | AH | DLP | DM | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||
| Male | Female | [18–65] | >65 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| AVD | No | 1740 | 1340 | 1660 | 1420 | 2300 | 780 | 2515 | 565 | 2510 | 570 | 2520 | 560 |
| 68% | 69% | 72% | 64% | 88% | 41% | 80% | 42% | 72% | 55% | 72% | 54% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 835 | 605 | 635 | 805 | 320 | 1120 | 650 | 790 | 965 | 475 | 960 | 480 | |
| 32% | 31% | 28% | 36% | 12% | 59% | 21% | 58% | 28% | 46% | 28% | 46% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.36 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| AR | No | 1970 | 1510 | 1765 | 1715 | 2340 | 1140 | 2640 | 840 | 2745 | 735 | 2760 | 720 |
| 77% | 78% | 77% | 77% | 89% | 60% | 83% | 62% | 79% | 70% | 79% | 69% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 605 | 435 | 530 | 510 | 280 | 760 | 525 | 515 | 730 | 310 | 720 | 320 | |
| 23% | 22% | 23% | 23% | 11% | 40% | 17% | 38% | 21% | 30% | 21% | 31% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.39 | 0.96 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| AS | No | 2365 | 1755 | 2180 | 1940 | 2595 | 1525 | 3050 | 1070 | 3250 | 870 | 3245 | 875 |
| 92% | 90% | 95% | 87% | 99% | 80% | 96% | 79% | 94% | 83% | 93% | 84% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 210 | 190 | 115 | 285 | 25 | 375 | 115 | 285 | 225 | 175 | 235 | 165 | |
| 8% | 10% | 5% | 13% | 1% | 20% | 4% | 21% | 7% | 17% | 7% | 16% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.06 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| MVD | No | 1345 | 1025 | 1260 | 1110 | 1550 | 820 | 1810 | 560 | 1890 | 480 | 1920 | 450 |
| 52% | 53% | 55% | 50% | 59% | 43% | 57% | 41% | 55% | 46% | 55% | 43% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 1230 | 920 | 1035 | 1115 | 1070 | 1080 | 1355 | 795 | 1585 | 565 | 1560 | 590 | |
| 48% | 47% | 45% | 50% | 41% | 57% | 43% | 59% | 46% | 54% | 45% | 57% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.76 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| MR | No | 1380 | 1040 | 1280 | 1140 | 1575 | 845 | 1830 | 590 | 1935 | 485 | 1965 | 455 |
| 53.6% | 53.5% | 56% | 52% | 60% | 45% | 58% | 44% | 56% | 46% | 57% | 44% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 1195 | 905 | 1015 | 1085 | 1045 | 1055 | 1335 | 765 | 1540 | 560 | 1515 | 585 | |
| 46.4% | 46.5% | 44% | 49% | 40% | 56% | 42% | 57% | 44% | 54% | 44% | 56% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.91 | 0.002 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| MS | No | 2550 | 1920 | 2285 | 2185 | 2605 | 1865 | 3150 | 1320 | 3435 | 1035 | 3440 | 1030 |
| 99% | 99% | 99% | 98% | 99% | 98% | 99% | 97% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 25 | 25 | 10 | 40 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 35 | 40 | 10 | 40 | 10 | |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.32 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.6 | 0.61 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| AMVD | No | 2020 | 1530 | 1860 | 1690 | 2385 | 1165 | 2720 | 830 | 2815 | 735 | 2820 | 730 |
| 78% | 79% | 81% | 76% | 91% | 61% | 86% | 61% | 81% | 70% | 81% | 70% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 555 | 415 | 435 | 535 | 235 | 735 | 445 | 525 | 660 | 310 | 660 | 310 | |
| 22% | 21% | 19% | 24% | 9% | 39% | 14% | 39% | 19% | 30% | 19% | 30% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.86 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| TR | No | 1520 | 1130 | 1400 | 1250 | 1640 | 1010 | 1950 | 700 | 2045 | 605 | 2035 | 615 |
| 59% | 58% | 61% | 56% | 63% | 53% | 62% | 52% | 59% | 58% | 59% | 59% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 1055 | 815 | 895 | 975 | 980 | 890 | 1215 | 655 | 1430 | 440 | 1445 | 425 | |
| 41% | 42% | 39% | 44% | 37% | 47% | 38% | 48% | 41% | 42% | 42% | 41% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.53 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.58 | 0.7 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| DD | No | 1080 | 735 | 1025 | 790 | 1175 | 640 | 1370 | 445 | 1400 | 415 | 1405 | 410 |
| 42% | 38% | 45% | 36% | 45% | 34% | 43% | 33% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 39% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 1495 | 1210 | 1270 | 1435 | 1445 | 1260 | 1795 | 910 | 2075 | 630 | 2075 | 630 | |
| 58% | 62% | 55% | 65% | 55% | 66% | 57% | 67% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 61% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | 0.005 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.74 | 0.58 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||||
| SD | No | 2000 | 1710 | 1935 | 1775 | 2150 | 1560 | 2615 | 1095 | 2875 | 835 | 2865 | 845 |
| 78% | 88% | 84% | 80% | 82% | 82% | 83% | 81% | 83% | 80% | 82% | 81% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| Yes | 575 | 235 | 360 | 450 | 470 | 340 | 550 | 260 | 600 | 210 | 615 | 195 | |
| 22% | 12% | 16% | 20% | 18% | 18% | 17% | 19% | 17% | 20% | 18% | 19% | ||
|
| |||||||||||||
| P | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.97 | 0.14 | 0.03 | 0.42 | |||||||
AH – arterial hypertension; AMVD – aorto-mitral valve disease; AVR – aortic valve regurgitation; AVS – aortic valve stenosis; DD – diastolic dysfunction; DLP – dyslipidemia; DM – diabetes mellitus; MVD – mitral valve disease; MVR – mitral valve regurgitation; MVS – mitral valve stenosis; R – tricuspid regurgitation; SD – systolic dysfunction; TAVD – aortic valve disease.
Table 3.
Multivariate logistic regression for each type of valvular heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction, with cardiovascular risk factors as independent variables.
| Sex | Age | Smoker | AH | DLP | DM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVR | OR | 0.89 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 0.64 | 1.26 | |
| 95% CI | [0.77–1.03] | [4.7–6.9] | [0.89–1.37] | [0.28–1.4] | [0.86–1.85] | ||
| P | 0.137 | <0.001 | 0.33 | 0.29 | 0.21 | ||
| AVS | OR | 2.66 | 18 | 1.7 | 1.95 | 0.49 | |
| 95% CI | [2.01–3.3] | [11.5–28.2] | [1.3–2.3] | [1.2–3.2] | [0.3–0.8] | ||
| P | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.007 | 0.006 | ||
| MVR | OR | 1.16 | 1.7 | 1.07 | 0.58 | 2.1 | |
| 95% CI | [1.03–1.3] | [1.4–1.9] | [0.88–1.3] | [0.42–0.81] | [1.5–2.9] | ||
| P | 0.01 | <0.001 | 0.48 | 0.001 | 0.001 | ||
| MVS | OR | 3.8 | 0.75 | 10.8 | 0.67 | 0.35 | |
| 95% CI | [1.9–7.7] | [0.29–2.02] | [3.9–29.3] | [0.18–2.42] | [0.09–1.27] | ||
| P | 0.001 | 0.59 | <0.001 | 0.54 | 0.11 | ||
| TR | OR | 1.18 | 1.25 | 1.52 | 1.27 | 0.55 | |
| 95% CI | [1.05–1.34] | [1.07–1.47] | [1.25–1.85] | [0.92–1.74] | [0.39–0.76] | ||
| P | 0.005 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.14 | 0.044 | ||
| AMVD | OR | 1.25 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.94 | 0.8 | |
| 95% CI | [107–1.46] | [4.4–6.5] | [1.2–1.8] | [0.65–1.37] | [0.55–1.18] | ||
| P | 0.004 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.76 | 0.26 | ||
| DD | OR | 1.17 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.86 | 0.82 |
| 95% CI | [1.04–1.33] | [1.26–1.6] | [1.2–1.6] | [1.1–1.7] | [0.63–2] | [0.59–1.15] | |
| P | 0.009 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.001 | 0.38 | 0.25 | |
| SD | OR | 0.48 | 1.35 | 0.9 | 1.01 | 1.2 | 0.573 |
| 95% CI | [0.4–0.56] | [1.1–1.5] | [0.5–1.5] | [0.8–1.2] | [0.9–1.5] | [0.2–1.4] | |
| P | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.72 | 0.89 | 0.054 | 0.2 |
AH – arterial hypertension; AMVD – aorto-mitral valve disease; AVR – aortic valve regurgitation; AVS – aortic valve stenosis; CI –confidence interval; DD – diastolic dysfunction; DLP – dyslipidemia; DM – diabetes mellitus; MVR – mitral valve regurgitation; MVS – mitral valve stenosis; OR – odds ratio; SD – systolic dysfunction; TR – tricuspid regurgitation.
Table 4.
Distribution of valvular heart disease according to types of left ventricular dysfunction.
| Diastolic dysfunction | Systolic dysfunction | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | P value | No | Yes | P value | ||
| AVD | No | 1410, 78% | 1670, 62% | <0.001 | 2580, 70% | 500, 62% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 405, 22% | 1035, 38% | 1130, 30% | 310, 38% | |||
| AVR | No | 1485, 82% | 1995, 74% | <0.001 | 2900, 78% | 580, 72% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 330, 18% | 710, 26% | 810, 22% | 230, 18% | |||
| AVS | No | 1730, 95% | 2390, 88% | <0.001 | 3395, 92% | 725, 90% | 0.69 |
| Yes | 85, 5% | 315, 12% | 315, 8% | 85, 10% | |||
| MVD | No | 1090, 60% | 1280, 47% | <0.001 | 2125, 57% | 245, 30% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 725, 40% | 1425, 53% | 1585, 43% | 565, 70% | |||
| MVR | No | 1115, 61% | 1305, 48% | <0.001 | 2145, 58% | 275, 34% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 700, 39% | 1400, 52% | 1565, 42% | 535, 66% | |||
| MVS | No | 1800, 99% | 2670, 99% | 0.14 | 3685, 99% | 785, 97% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 15, 1% | 35, 1% | 25, 1% | 25, 3% | |||
| AMVD | No | 1540, 85% | 2010, 74% | <0.001 | 2990, 81% | 560, 69% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 275, 15% | 695, 26% | 720, 19% | 250, 31% | |||
| TR | No | 1115, 61% | 1535, 57% | 0.002 | 2255, 61% | 395, 49% | <0.001 |
| Yes | 700, 39% | 1170, 43% | 1455, 39% | 415, 51% | |||
AMVD – aorto-mitral valve disease; AVD – aortic valve disease; AVR – aortic valve regurgitation; AVS – aortic valve stenosis; MVD – mitral valve disease; MVR – mitral valve regurgitation; MVS – mitral valve stenosis; TR – tricuspid regurgitation.
Table 5.
Multivariate logistic regression taking using each type of left ventricular dysfunction as a dependent variable and different kinds of valvular heart disease as independent variables.
| Diastolic dysfunction | Systolic dysfunction | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusted OR | 95% CI | P value | Adjusted OR | 95% CI | P value | |
| AVD | 4.64 | [2.2–9.7] | <0.001 | 1.119 | [0.522–2.397] | 0.772 |
| AVR | 0.44 | [0.2–0.9] | 0.031 | 1.1 | [0.93–1.33] | 0.23 |
| AVS | 0.75 | [0.34–1.7] | 0.48 | |||
| MVD | 0.24 | [0.09–0.65] | 0.006 | 7.2 | [4.4–11.8] | <0.001 |
| MVR | 6.7 | [2.5–18.2] | 0.001 | 0.34 | [0.2–0.5] | 0.001 |
| MVS | 4.73 | [1.4–15.4] | 0.01 | 1.8 | [0.16–22] | 0.6 |
| AMVD | 0.72 | [0.54–0.95] | 0..02 | 0.8 | [0.6–1.05] | 0.11 |
| TR | 1.00 | [0.88–1.14] | 0.98 | 1.23 | [1.04–1.44] | 0.01 |
AMVD – aorto-mitral valve disease; AVD – aortic valve disease; AVR – aortic valve regurgitation; AVS – aortic valve stenosis; CI –confidence interval; MVD – mitral valve disease; MVR – mitral valve regurgitation; MVS – mitral valve stenosis; OR – odds ratio; TR – tricuspid regurgitation.
Discussion
Although there are a number of therapies for LVD, epidemiologic data about this clinical entity are lacking [14]. The present study was the first epidemiological survey of LVD in a Mediterranean Lebanese population. It showed a 17.9% prevalence of LVSD and a 59.8% prevalence of LVDD. Our study also revealed a significant association between VHD and LVD, which have several CVD risk factors in common. In parallel, we showed a higher incidence of VHD and LVSD and LVDD in individuals older than age 65 years, whereas male sex was an independent predictor for LVSD. These results are consistent with previous findings in European and American populations [2,15–17]. The international incidence of LVD varies between 1% and 20.5% for LVSD [2,15] and 15.8% and 52.8% for LVDD [18]. The higher incidence of diastolic dysfunction in our study can be explained by the older age of the population studied and their ethnicity. For example, a 25.1% prevalence rate for LVDD has been reported in a study of Europeans with a mean age of 48.5±15.7 [19], while the median prevalences of LVSD and LVDD in the European population are estimated at 36% and 5.5%, respectively [18]. In Asian and African-Caribbean populations, an LVD prevalence higher than 70% has been reported [20].
The present study also showed no significant association between female sex and LVSD. This finding may be related to the fact that in women, LVD tends to be related to hypertension and DM and associated with preserved EF, whereas in men, it is more likely to be provoked by myocardial infarction [21]. Our research also showed that age >65 years is a risk factor for developing AS and diastolic dysfunction. This is due to a degenerative process that leads to active leaflet calcification and subsequent narrowing of the effective valve opening area [22]. Variant modifications in cardiac structure also occur with aging, such as replacement of myocytes by fibroblasts that produce collagen, which increases heart stiffness and affects ventricle compliance, contributing to diastolic dysfunction [23]. As shown by the present study, smoking is significantly correlated with VHD and diastolic dysfunction. Smoking cigarettes accelerates the atherosclerotic process and acutely impairs diastolic function by decreasing E wave and increasing A wave velocity, which results in a reduced E/A ratio that reflects the altered diastolic function [24].
In the present study, arterial hypertension was found to be significantly correlated with MS and TR. A literature review revealed a higher incidence of systemic hypertension in patients with MS [25] but provided no explanation for it; the etiology could be the subject of a future prospective study aimed at investigating a possible causal relationship. Indeed, blood pressure elevation recently has been investigated as a risk factor for development of AS or AR [26]. We also found a significant relationship between TR and DM, which has not been described before. Variant valvular changes caused by DM have been described but without statistical significance [27], except for the documented significant correlation between MR and Type 2 DM [28].
In our study, MVD was significantly correlated with systolic dysfunction. MR enhances modification of left ventricle structure by inducing left ventricle remodeling and altering intrinsic contractility, leading to systolic dysfunction [29,] whereas MS directly decreases left ventricle strain or contractility [30]. Finally, our study found a significant relationship between AR and MR and diastolic dysfunction.
Limitations
The present study has some limitations, in that it was not population-based and it was retrospective, observational, and performed at a single center. Only written medical records and not echocardiograms were reviewed. Data from results of testing for N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, on use of medication, and for scales reflecting clinical manifestations were not collected for 2 reasons: 1) A large proportion of the patients studied were outpatients, so that information was lacking; and 2) No computerized medical files were available.
Conclusions
The incidence and epidemiological characteristics of LVD in a Mediterranean Lebanese population are similar to those found in patients in Europe. Modifiable CVD risk factors play a significant role in development of LVD and VHD. Our results underscore the need for better management of CVD risk factors to reduce the impact of VHD and LVD on the public health system.
Footnotes
Conflicts of Interest
None.
Source of support: Departmental sources
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