Clinical Significance of Mean and Pulse Pressure in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

It remains debated whether pulse pressure is associated with left ventricular traits and adverse outcomes over and beyond mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction. We investigated these associations in 3428 patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (51.5% women; mean age, 68.6 years) enrolled in the TOPCAT trial (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist). We computed association sizes and hazards ratios with 1-SD increase in MAP and pulse pressure. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, association sizes (P <= 0.039) for MAP were 0.016 cm and 0.014 cm for septal and posterior wall thickness, -0.15 for E/A ratio, -0.66 for E/e ', and -0.64% for ejection fraction, independent of pulse pressure. With adjustment additionally applied for MAP, E/A ratio and longitudinal strain increased with higher pulse pressure with association sizes amounting to 0.067 (P=0.026) and 0.40% (P=0.023). In multivariable-adjusted analyses of both placebo and spironolactone groups, lower MAP and higher pulse pressure predicted the primary composite end point (P <= 0.028) and hospitalized HF (P <= 0.002), whereas MAP was also significantly associated with total mortality (P <= 0.007). Sensitivity analyses stratified by sex, median age, and region generated confirmatory results with exception for the association of adverse outcomes with pulse pressure in patients with age >= 69 years. In conclusion, the clinical application of MAP and pulse pressure may refine risk estimates in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. This finding may help further investigation for the development of HF with preserved ejection fraction preventive strategies targeting pulsatility and blood pressure control.

Automated summary

The association between pulse pressure and left ventricular traits and adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction remains a topic of debate. This study found that pulse pressure was independently associated with left ventricular traits and adverse outcomes, beyond the effect of mean arterial pressure. The findings suggest that incorporating pulse pressure into risk estimation may improve clinical management and inform preventive strategies for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.