Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Chronic Heart Failure

Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) have been recognized as two important prognostic features in patients with left side heart failure (HF). Nevertheless literature does not distinguish between right heart failure (RHF) and RVD, and the two terms are indifferently employed to describe PH and impaired RV performance. This is a multicenter observational prospective study endorsed by the Italian Society of Cardiology that would analyse the concordance between the signs and symptoms of RHF and echocardiographic features of RVD. Therefore the right ventricle (RV) adaptation across different left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values, is poorly investigated. According to the recent heart failure (HF) guidelines classified patients based on LVEF in HF with preserved ( HFpEF) mild reduced (HFmEF) and reduced LVEF ( HFrEF), the investigators would assess by seral clinical laboratory and detailed echocardiographic study all patients affected by chronic HF regardless LVEF threshold in stable condition and will follow by direct check up visit and/or virtual visits every 6 months for a mean follow-up period of 3 years. All clinical laboratory and echocardiographic data will be recorded in a web platform system accessible for all center included in the study The main aims of the study are; 1- to assess the incidence of RVH and RVD in each HF subtypes. 2- to evaluate prognostic impact ( in terms of cardiovascular mortality and HF hospitalization) of different RVD patterns during a mean followup period of 3 years 3- To investigate the incidence of different RV maladaptation ( isolated RV dilatation, isolated Pulmonary hypertension, combined pattern) in each HF groups and the related outcome. The investigators expect to find different RVD degree and severity according to the type of left HF and its severity. Additionally, by a serial multiparametric analysis of RV, it would be possible to establish the stage and type of RVD and consequent concordance with signs of RHF.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients with a diagnosis of chronic heart failure made according to the recommendations of the ESC guidelines through the simultaneous presence of signs and symptoms of disease associated with BNP and NT proBNP levels > 100 and 300 pg/ml respectively which are associated with a modest increase PAPS > 30 mmHg with or without right ventricular dilatation.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with dyspnea of non-cardiogenic origin, related to systemic respiratory diseases, pulmonary embolism, patients with primary pulmonary hypertension will be excluded.
• Patients with heart failure linked to primary valvular pathologies or infiltrative pathologies, secondary and on a genetic basis, patients diagnosed with acute heart failure in non-optimized therapy for at least 3 months will also be excluded. - Patients with systemic inflammatory neoplastic diseases, advanced liver and kidney diseases awaiting transplantation will be excluded.