DOI: 10.1161/circ.148.suppl_1.16269 ISSN: 0009-7322

Abstract 16269: Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Sudden Cardiac Death in the General Population

Kevin J Cyr, Kyndaron Reinier, Audrey Uy-Evanado, Jonathan Jui, Sumeet S Chugh
  • Physiology (medical)
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Published data indicate that 50% of individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) suffer sudden cardiac death (SCD), however the burden of SCD in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains inconclusive.

Aim: Determine the prevalence of HFpEF in a community-based cohort of SCD.

Methods: We prospectively identified cases with out-of-hospital SCD in a large metro area of the US Northwest (Pop. 1 million, 2002-2017) and determined HF status prior to SCD based on review of clinical records. Heart failure was subdivided into HFpEF (EF≥50%), HFmrEF (EF 40%-50%), and HFrEF (EF≤40%). In addition, since HFpEF is often underdiagnosed, we evaluated a modified H2FPEF algorithm for the identification of HFpEF among our SCD cohort with unknown HF subtypes. The score was comprised of clinical variables including age, BMI, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and myocardial infarction. Score accuracy was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis comparing known HFpEF from clinical records and echocardiography versus non-HF subjects. Next, the score was used to identify missing HFpEF cases within the HF and SCD population.

Results: Among 4,683 total SCD cases, 1,013 (22%) had a clinical history of HF. Prevalence of HF sub-types was 42% for HFpEF, 19% for HFmEF and 39% for HFrEF cases. An algorithm score of 5 or greater differentiated HFpEF subjects from non-HF subjects with an AUC of 0.68 (p < 0.01). The algorithm was then deployed on cases with an unknown heart failure subtype and an additional 117 HFpEF subjects were identified. The adjusted total prevalence of HFpEF was 542 subjects (53%) in the SCD the cohort with HF.

Conclusion: At least 40% of the SCD cases with HF carry a diagnosis of HFpEF, and our estimates suggest the prevalence may be as high as 53%. Ultimately, these findings highlight the need to develop effective options for primary prevention of SCD in HFpEF patients.

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