Association between Impaired Renal Function and Subclinical Myocardial Dysfunction in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Assessment Using Noninvasive Pressure-Strain Loop

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The objective of this study was to evaluate the abnormal myocardial function in HFpEF patients with renal dysfunction (RD) and investigate the relationship between renal function and myocardial mechanical characteristics in patients with HFpEF. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 134 patients with HFpEF and 32 control subjects were enrolled in our study. Clinical and echocardiography data were collected for offline analysis. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global waste work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were measured after noninvasive pressure-strain loop analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the correlation between renal function and myocardial function in patients with HFpEF. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In comparison to control subjects, patients with HFpEF tend to have higher GWW (78 [50–115] vs. 108 [65–160] mm Hg%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and lower GWE (96 [95–97] vs. 95 [92–96] %, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), while left ventricular ejection fraction (65.5 ± 3.3 vs. 64.3 ± 4.6%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) was comparable between them. Besides, increased GWW (86 [58–152] vs. 125 [94–187] mm Hg%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and decreased GWE (96 [93–97] vs. 94 [92–96] %, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) were detected in patients with RD compared to those with normal renal function. An independent correlation was found between estimated glomerular filtration rate and GWW after multivariate analysis. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> More severely impaired myocardial function was detected in HFpEF patients with RD compared to those with normal renal function. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was independently correlated to GWW in patients with HFpEF.