Exercise-induced pulmonary congestion assessed by lung ultra sound in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction referred for exercise echocardiography to rule out myocardial ischemia

Introduction

Lung ultrasound (LUS) can detect pulmonary congestion assessed by B-lines in heart failure patients undergoing stress test. Exercise B-lines could help diagnose heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at an early stage. This study aimed to assess exercise-induced pulmonary congestion in patients with preserved LVEF referred for exercise echocardiography to rule out myocardial ischemia.

Method

Data of stress echocardiography combined with LUS at rest and immediately after exercise in patients with LVEF ≥ 50% referred for investigation of inducible myocardial ischemia in a tertiary center of cardiology were retrospectively analyzed. B-lines were assessed by scanning 2 chest sites. Exercise-induced pulmonary congestion was defined as an increase of B-lines ≥ 2 between baseline and exercise.

Results

A total of 1114 patients were included. Mean age was 63 years, 54% of patients had hypertension and 27% had diabetes. Exercise-induced pulmonary congestion was identified in 131 (12%) patients. Age, left atrial volume index (LAVi), resting and 20 W septal E/e’ > 15 and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) were associated with increased exercise-induced B-lines. At multivariable analysis, LAVi (OR = 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.06; P = 0.003) and peak TRV (OR = 3.8; 95%CI: 1.4–10.1; P = 0.009) were independent predictors of exercise-induced pulmonary congestion.

Conclusion

Exercise-induced pulmonary congestion could be diagnosed in patients with preserved LVEF referred to rule out inducible myocardial ischemia. Exercise B-lines are linked with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction indices.