Abstract
To evaluate the relation of aortic regurgitation (AR) pressure half-time (PHT) on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and all-cause mortality, we screened 118,647 baseline TTE reports from 2000 to 2017, to identify patients with any AR and PHT data. Patients with infective endocarditis or previous aortic valve replacement were excluded. The relation of baseline PHT on time to all-cause mortality was evaluated using Cox regression. A total of 2,653 patients were included (73.1 ± 14.3 years; 53.8% female; PHT, 530 ± 162 ms). Patients with shorter PHTs more frequently had 3-4+ AR (PHT ≤ 200 ms vs > 500 ms, 17.9% vs 0.6%, p < 0.0001). Diastolic parameters (E/e', E/A ratio, mitral valve deceleration time, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure) all significantly correlated with PHT (all p < 0.05). Over a median (IQR) follow-up of 8 (4 to 11 years), there were 799 (30.1%) deaths at a median (IQR) of 1.9 (0.4 to 4.3) years. On a univariate basis, a PHT ≤ 320 ms or > 750 ms was significantly related to increased mortality, even amongst those with nonsevere AR. After multivariable adjustment (in particular for E/e'), PHT was no longer significantly related to death. In conclusion, in this large, single center, retrospective study, AR PHT was not independently related to mortality. While a PHT ≤ 320 ms was associated with increased mortality in patients without severe AR, this relation was no longer significant after adjusting for diastolic functional variables. Thus, a PHT ≤ 320 ms in patients without significant AR may indicate prognostically-relevant diastolic dysfunction.