[4-year mortality of heart failure with intact systolic function: a retrospective studies].

Heart failure with normal systolic function has been recognised in 30-40% of patients investigated for congestive heart failure. The authors undertook a retrospective study of global and cardiovascular mortality at 4 years in two groups of patients with a history of congestive heart failure documented by equilibrium angioscintigraphy: group I (n = 109) with poor left ventricular systolic function (EF = 26 +/- 9%) and group II (n = 40) with normal systolic function (EF = 58 +/- 8%). The 4 year cardiovascular mortality was less in group II (21.6% vs 49%; p < 0.004) whereas the global mortality was comparable in the two groups. The only discriminating parameters for cardiovascular mortality between the two groups were age of more than 60 years and values of diastolic blood pressure exceeding 90 mmHg which were associated with a higher mortality in the group with normal systolic function. These results indicate a better prognosis in terms of cardiovascular mortality from congestive heart failure in patients with normal systolic function compared with those with poor systolic function.