Abstract
BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) diameters and systolic function are strong predictors of outcomes and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study evaluated RV parameters via echocardiography in AMI patients and assessed their changes 1 month after discharge. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted on 133 consecutive patients with their first AMI. RV diameters and systolic function were evaluated with echocardiography within 24 h after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and again 1 month after discharge. MACEs were evaluated during hospitalization and at 1 month post discharge. RESULTS: Men accounted for 69.92% of the participants, with a mean age of 68 years. Reduced right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWSL) and right ventricular four-chamber longitudinal strain (RV4CSL) were observed in 62.4% (mean -18.28±8.77%) and 83.34% (mean -14.78±6.94%) of patients, respectively. Right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVLS) was significantly lower in the ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) group and Killip III-IV patients. RV basal and mid diameters (RVD1, RVD2) were larger in right coronary artery (RCA) and left main artery (LM) lesions than in left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCx) ones (P < 0.05). RVLS correlated significantly with body mass index (BMI), troponin I, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). After 1 month, RVFWSL and RV4CSL improved significantly, especially in patients without MACEs, Killip III-IV, and single-vessel lesions. CONCLUSIONS: RV diameters varied with the culprit lesion and remained stable after 1 month. RVLS was significantly reduced in AMI, especially in STEMI and Killip III-IV, correlating with LVEF. After 1 month, RVLS improved faster, particularly in patients without MACEs, Killip III-IV, or single-vessel lesions.