The following is the summary of  “Cardiac Structure and Function Phenogroups and Risk of Incident Heart Failure (from the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)” published in the January 2023 issue of Cardiovascular Disease by Hammond, et al.

The risk of incident heart failure (HF) has been linked to indices of cardiac structure and function, such as left ventricular (LV) mass and ejection fraction, but the therapeutic value of data-driven grouping of a complete set of cardiac parameters is uncertain. Therefore, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of right ventricular and LV structure and function at baseline were used in a latent class analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis sample, stratified by gender to define phenol groups. 

Researchers utilized Cox proportional hazard models in gender-stratified analyses to examine the correlation between phenol group membership and the risk of HF subtypes after controlling for possible confounders. The average follow-up time for the 4,204 participants (mean age 6,110 years, 53% women) was 144 years for men and 154 years for women. About 4 phenotypes were found in both sexes: normal cardiac mechanics, increased output and hypertrophied left ventricle; impaired ejection fraction and dilated left ventricle; and increased output and hyperdynamic left ventricle (LV). Fully adjusted models showed that phenol group 4 men had a greater risk of incident HF than phenol group 1 man (hazard ratio [HR] 2.91, 95% CI 1.60 to 5.31, P=0.0005), phenol group 3 men (HR 3.52, 95% CI 1.90 to 6.53, P<0.0001), and phenol group 2 men (HR 3.49, 95% CI 1.94 to 6.28, P<0.0001). 

Phenol Group membership was not significantly associated with the occurrence of HF in women. In conclusion, male membership in a particular phenol group defined by cardiac shape and function was strongly correlated with incident HF. Differential risk for HF in males could be determined by integrating cardiac magnetic resonance imaging factors.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002914922010669