The VALID‐CRT risk score reliably predicts response and outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy in a real‐world population

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to confirm the value of the VALID-cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) risk score in predicting outcome and to assess its association with clinical response (CR) in an unselected real-world CRT population. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present analysis comprised all consecutive CRT patients (pts) enrolled in the CRT-MORE registry from 2011 to 2013. Pts were stratified into five groups (quintiles 1-5) according to the VALID-CRT risk predictor index applied to the CRT-MORE population. In the analysis of clinical outcome, adverse events comprised death from any cause and non-fatal heart failure (HF) events requiring hospitalization. CR at 12-month follow-up was also assessed. We enrolled 905 pts. During a median follow-up of 1005 [627-1361] days, 134 patients died, and 79 had at least one HF hospitalization. At 12 months, 69% of pts displayed an improvement in their CR. The mean VALID-CRT risk score derived from the CRT-MOdular Registry (MORE) population was 0.317, ranging from -0.419 in Q1 to 2.59 in Q5. The risk-stratification algorithm was able to predict total mortality after CRT (survival ranging from 93%-Q1 to 77%-Q5; hazards ratio [HR] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-1.61, P < .0001), and HF hospitalization (ranging from 95% to 90%; HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06-1.45, P = .009). CR was significantly lower in pts with a high-to-very high risk profile (Q4-5) than in pts with a low-to-intermediate risk profile (Q1-2-3) (55% vs 79%, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: The VALID-CRT risk-stratification algorithm reliably predicts outcome and CRT response after CRT in an unselected, real-world population.