The prognostic significance of lung function in stable heart failure outpatients

Background This study investigated the impact on all-cause mortality of airflow limitation indicative of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or restrictive spirometry pattern (RSP) in a stable systolic heart failure population. Hypothesis Decreased lung function indicates poor survival in heart failure. Methods Inclusion criteria: NYHA class II-IV and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 0.7 and FVC LLN and FVC airflow limitation increased mortality using both criteria (HRGOLD 2.07 [95% CI 1.45–2.95] p<0.01 and HRLLN 2.00 [1.40–2.84] p<0.01) and was an independent marker when using LLN criteria (HR 1.74 [1.17-2.59] p=0.006). RSP was independently associated with mortality when defined as FVC < LLN (HR 1.54 [1.01–2.35] p=0.04) but not as FVC < 80%. Multivariate hazard ratios for a 10% decrease in predicted value of FEV1 or FVC were 1.42 (p<0.001) and 1.33 (p<0.001) in patients exhibiting airflow obstruction, and 1.36 (p=0.031) and 1.38 (p=0.041) in RSP. Conclusions Presence of obstructive airflow limitation indicative of COPD or RSP were associated with increased all-cause mortality, however only independently when using the LLN definition.