AUTHOR=Baratto Claudia , Caravita Sergio , Corbetta Giorgia , Soranna Davide , Zambon Antonella , Dewachter Céline , Gavazzoni Mara , Heilbron Francesca , Tomaselli Michele , Radu Noela , Perelli Francesco Paolo , Perego Giovanni Battista , Vachiéry Jean-Luc , Parati Gianfranco , Badano Luigi P. , Muraru Denisa TITLE=Impact of severe secondary tricuspid regurgitation on rest and exercise hemodynamics of patients with heart failure and a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1061118 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2023.1061118 ISSN=2297-055X ABSTRACT=Background

Both secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are relevant public health problems in the elderly population, presenting with potential overlaps and sharing similar risk factors. However, the impact of severe STR on hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory adaptation to exercise in HFpEF remains to be clarified.

Aim

To explore the impact of STR on exercise hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory adaptation in HFpEF.

Methods

We analyzed invasive hemodynamics and gas-exchange data obtained at rest and during exercise from HFpEF patients with severe STR (HFpEF-STR), compared with 1:1 age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)- matched HFpEF patients with mild or no STR (HFpEF-controls).

Results

Twelve HFpEF with atrial-STR (mean age 72 years, 92% females, BMI 28 Kg/m2) and 12 HFpEF-controls patients were analyzed. HFpEF-STR had higher (p < 0.01) right atrial pressure than HFpEF-controls both at rest (10 ± 1 vs. 5 ± 1 mmHg) and during exercise (23 ± 2 vs. 14 ± 2 mmHg). Despite higher pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) at rest in HFpEF-STR than in HFpEF-controls (17 ± 2 vs. 11 ± 2, p = 0.04), PAWP at peak exercise was no more different (28 ± 2 vs. 29 ± 2). Left ventricular transmural pressure and cardiac output (CO) increased less in HFpEF-STR than in HFpEF-controls (interaction p-value < 0.05). This latter was due to lower stroke volume (SV) values both at rest (48 ± 9 vs. 77 ± 9 mL, p < 0.05) and at peak exercise (54 ± 10 vs. 93 ± 10 mL, p < 0.05). Despite these differences, the two groups of patients laid on the same oxygen consumption isophlets because of the increased peripheral oxygen extraction in HFpEF-STR (p < 0.01). We found an inverse relationship between pulmonary vascular resistance and SV, both at rest and at peak exercise (R2 = 0.12 and 0.19, respectively).

Conclusions

Severe STR complicating HFpEF impairs SV and CO reserve, leading to pulmonary vascular de-recruitment and relative left heart underfilling, undermining the typical HFpEF pathophysiology.