Prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction measured by Global longitudinal strain echocardiography in chronic kidney disease patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of LV systolic dysfunction measured using GLS in patients of CKD with normal LVEF and correlation of GLS with the biochemical parameters and to determine the incidence of all-cause mortality and its correlation with GLS.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This study included 100 CKD patients of all stages, enrolled from July 2022 to June 2023. Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) was calculated using speckle tracking echocardiography following relevant investigations. Patients were followed for one year to determine the incidence of all-cause mortality and its correlation with GLS.

RESULTS

Males were the predominant gender (66 %). The mean age of patients was 52yrs (±13.59). Maximum patients (47 %) were in ESRD stage (stage 5 CKD), followed by stage 4 CKD (29 %). Abnormal GLS (>-16 %) was prevalent in 98 % of study population. Mean GLS was -11 % ± 2.74. Patients with LVGLS ≥ -11 % were more likely to have higher prevalence of co-morbidities. Statin use was more prevalent in those patients with LVGLS ≥ -11 % (p = 0.029). In the median follow up of 1-year all-cause mortality was 22 % (n = 21), however there was no significant correlation of mortality with GLS.

CONCLUSION

Patients with abnormal LVGLS (≥-11 %) had more comorbidities. Abnormal global longitudinal strain (GLS > -16 %) was prevalent in 98 % of the study population. The higher prevalence compared to other studies may be related to the lesser use of nephroprotective and cardioprotective drugs (e.g., ACEI/ARB in only 28 %); however, abnormal GLS was not correlated with mortality.