Impact of myocardial deformation on risk prediction in patients following acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Strain analyses derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) provide incremental prognostic benefit in patients sufferring from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aims to evaluate and revalidate previously reported prognostic implications of comprehensive strain analyses in a large independent cohort of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Overall, 566 STEMI patients enrolled in the CONDITIONING-LIPSIA trial including pre- and/or postconditioning treatment in addition to conventional percutaneous coronary intervention underwent CMR imaging in median 3 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. CMR-based left atrial (LA) reservoir (Es), conduit (Ee), and boosterpump (Ea) strain analyses, as well as left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), circumferential strain (GCS), and radial strain (GRS) analyses were carried out. Previously identified cutoff values were revalidated for risk stratification. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) comprising death, reinfarction, and new congestive heart failure were assessed within 12 months after the occurrence of the index event.

Results: Both atrial and ventricular strain values were significantly reduced in patients with MACE ( < 0.01 for all). Predetermined LA and LV strain cutoffs enabled accurate risk assessment. All LA and LV strain values were associated with MACE on univariable regression modeling ( < 0.001 for all), with LA Es emerging as an independent predictor of MACE on multivariable regression modeling (HR 0.92,  = 0.033). Furthermore, LA Es provided an incremental prognostic value above LVEF (a c-index increase from 0.7 to 0.74,  = 0.03).

Conclusion: External validation of CMR-FT-derived LA and LV strain evaluations confirmed the prognostic value of cardiac deformation assessment in STEMI patients. In the present study, LA strain parameters especially enabled further risk stratification and prognostic assessment over and above clinically established risk parameters.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02158468.