Prognostic importance of secondary pulmonary hypertension after acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

We studied 536 patients with acute myocardial infarction and echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and measurement of right ventricular systolic pressure. On multivariable analysis, the grade of diastolic function, mitral regurgitation severity, age, and wall motion score index were independent predictors of right ventricular systolic pressure, and an increase in right ventricular systolic pressure was independently predictive of mortality (hazard ratio 1.22 per 10 mm Hg, p <0.0001), after adjustment for conventional risk factors and left ventricular function.