Background:

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is common in heart failure, and moderate/severe (M/S) FMR is associated with worse prognosis.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of FMR and the mechanisms involved in its reduction in responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) at 6 months compared with 12 and 24 months.

Methods:

Between 2009 and 2018, 338 patients received CRT. Patients showing NYHA functional class (FC) reduction ≥1 or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) absolute increase ≥5% were considered responders. Functional mitral regurgitation was graded using a 4-point scale into none-, mild-, M- and S-FMR, and was related to echocardiographic measurements. Baseline patient characteristics were: age 64±10 years, men 71%, NYHA FC II-III 92%, left bundle branch block (LBBB) 67%, QRS ≥150 ms 75%, LV diastolic diameter (LVDD) 68±9 mm, LV systolic diameter (LVSD) 52±12 mm, and LVEF 24±7%.

Results:

The prevalence of FMR was 92.6%. At 6 months, 86% were responders, 23% improved from M/S-FMR to mild/none-FMR and there was strong reverse remodeling: LVDD 68±10 vs. 63±11 mm, (p=0.0001), LVSD 55±12 vs. 50±13 mm, (p=0.0006) and LVEF 25±11 vs. 33±10%, (p=0.00001). Comparing 6 with 12 months, 89.4% were responders and 8% improved M/S-FMR to mild/none-FMR. Comparing 6 with 24 months, 88% were responders and 14.6% improved M/S-FMR to mild/none-FMR. Between 6 and 12 and 6 and 24 months, there was no significant reverse remodeling.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of FMR was high. The highest reverse remodeling and FMR reduction was observed at 6 months, the former being the main mechanism of FMR reduction. This improvement persisted at 12 and 24 months.