Incremental prognostic value of positron emission tomography derived left ventricular mass

Background Left ventricular hypertrophy has been shown to be an independent predictor of outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to determine the incremental prognostic value of positron emission tomography (PET) derived left ventricular mass (LVM) to clinical variables and myocardial flow reserve (MFR). Methods We included consecutive patients who had clinically indicated PET myocardial perfusion imaging for suspected or established CAD. Patients were followed from the date of PET imaging for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, inclusive of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and percutaneous coronary intervention/coronary artery bypass grafting 90 days after imaging). Results A total of 2357 patients underwent PET MPI during the study period (47% female, mean age 66 +/- 12 years, 87% hypertensive, 47% diabetic, 79% dyslipidemia). After a mean follow-up of 11.6 +/- 6.6 months, 141 patients (6.0%, 5.1 per 1000 person-year) experienced MACE (86 D/24 MI/39 PCI/9 CABG). In nested multivariable Cox models, LVM was not independently associated with outcomes (HR 1.00, P = .157) and had no incremental prognostic value (C index: 0.75, P = .571) over MFR and clinical variables. Conclusion Our analysis shows that LVM provides no independent and incremental prognostic value over MFR and clinical variables.