The association between peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity and 1-year heart failure readmission in hospitalised patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) and 1-year heart failure (HF) readmission in hospitalised patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) because the impact of peak TRV on the short-term prognosis of these patients has been unclear.

Methods: From January 2020 to December 2021, 513 hospitalised HFpEF patients age ≥ 60 years with 1-year follow-up were included in this study. Peak TRV was classified as normal (≤ 2.8 m/s) and high (> 2.8 m/s) value according to pulmonary hypertension probability.

Results: Approximately 68.23% of HFpEF patients had a high peak TRV value. In the final adjusted Cox regression model, peak TRV was still independently associated with HF readmission (HR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.19-2.55, p = 0.004). Furthermore, patients with high peak TRV were also associated with an increased risk of HF readmission (HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.31-4.04, p = 0.004), compared to those with normal peak TRV. After inverse probability of weighting, the risk of HF readmission in patients with high peak TRV was 2.53 (95% CI: 1.35-4.75, p = 0.004) compared to those with normal peak TRV. Additionally, Subgroup analysis revealed very elderly patients, male, and patients with hypertension had a significantly worse prognosis.

Conclusion: Peak TRV is independently associated with HF readmission in hospitalised HFpEF patients. High peak TRV has a higher risk of HF readmission in patients age ≥ 80 years, male and patients with hypertension, indicating that special attention should be paid to these patients.