Current Treatment Strategies for Tricuspid Regurgitation

The 5 Phenotypes of Tricuspid Regurgitation: Insight From Cluster Analysis of Clinical and Echocardiographic Variables

BACKGROUND

The recent morphologic classification of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (ie, atrial functional, ventricular functional, lead related, and primary) does not capture underlying comorbidities and clinical characteristics.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the different phenotypes of TR using unsupervised cluster analysis and to determine whether differences in clinical outcomes were associated with these phenotypes.

METHODS

We included 13,611 patients with ≥moderate TR from January 2004 to April 2019 in the final analyses. Baseline demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were obtained from electronic medical records and echocardiography reports. Ward's minimum variance method was used to cluster patients based on 38 variables. The analysis of all-cause mortality was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and groups were compared using log-rank test.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 72 ± 13 years, and 56% were women. Cluster analysis identified 5 distinct phenotypes: cluster 1 represented "low-risk TR" with less severe TR, a lower prevalence of right ventricular enlargement, atrial fibrillation, and comorbidities; cluster 2 represented "high-risk TR"; and clusters 3, 4, and 5 represented TR associated with lung disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic kidney disease, respectively. Cluster 1 had the lowest mortality followed by clusters 2 (HR: 2.22 [95% CI: 2.1-2.35]; P < 0.0001) and 4 (HR: 2.19 [95% CI: 2.04-2.35]; P < 0.0001); cluster 3 (HR: 2.45 [95% CI: 2.27-2.65]; P < 0.0001); and, lastly, cluster 5 (HR: 3.48 [95% CI: 3.07-3.95]; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cluster analysis identified 5 distinct novel subgroups of TR with differences in all-cause mortality. This phenotype-based classification improves our understanding of the interaction of comorbidities with this complex valve lesion and can inform clinical decision making.

The Prevalence and Independent Risk Factors of Significant Tricuspid Regurgitation Jets in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients With ESRD

Background and Aim

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a frequent complication in various cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have reported the prevalence of TR especially the moderate to severe or significant TR (ms-TR) maintenance dialysis patients. Thus, we aimed to identify the prevalence of ms-TR and its associated factors.

Methods

A total of 491 maintenance dialysis patients underwent echocardiographic examinations, while a subgroup (n = 283) also received routine blood tests, renal function examinations, and electrolyte analysis. We first compared the differences in abovementioned parameters among groups with various TR areas (TRAs). Finally, univariate and adjusted regression were also used to identify factors that were independently associated with ms-TR.

Results

The incidence of TR jets was 62.6%, which included a mildly increased TRA (47.8%), moderately increased TRA (10.4%), and severely increased TRA (3.5%). Most of the cardiac structures and functional parameters, such as the end-diastolic internal diameters of the left atrium (LA), left ventricle (LVDD), right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and fractional shortening (FS), were significantly associated with ms-TR. Among serum ions, only total CO₂ (TCO₂; r = −0.141, p = 0.047) was negatively correlated with TRA. After adjusted, only Na⁺ [odds ratio (OR): 0.871 0.888, p = 0.048], RA (OR: 1.370, p < 0.001), and FS (OR: 0.887, p < 0.001) were independently associated with ms-TR.

Conclusion

Tricuspid regurgitation occurs in maintenance hemodialysis patients with ESRD. Na⁺ FS and RA were independently associated with ms-TR, and these parameters may be potential risk factors/predictors for ms-TR.

Analyses for Prevalence and Outcome of Tricuspid Regurgitation in China: An Echocardiography Study of 134,874 Patients

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and outcome of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the Chinese population. Methods: The echocardiography database, including 134,874 patients at our heart center from 2010 to 2012, was retrospectively analyzed. Results: The rates of mild, moderate, and severe TR were 2.96, 2.22, and 1.39%, respectively. Of these patients, 4.86% had primary TR, 91.41% had functional TR, and 3.73% had unexplained TR. The rate of TR was increased in elders (odds ratio: 1.038 for 1 year’s increment; 95% confidence interval: 1.037–1.040; p < 0.001) and females (odds ratio: 1.386; 95% confidence interval: 1.327–1.448, p < 0.001). The major etiologies of TR were left-sided valve heart disease (VHD) and dilated cardiomyopathy. The survival rate of severe TR patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) was lower than in those without PAH (p < 0.0001). There was a positive association between the prevalence of TR and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction. Compared to the non-left-sided VHD group, the left-sided VHD group had a better prognosis among severe TR patients. The 5-year survival rates were 79.69, 71.12, and 77.01% in the groups of left-sided VHD, non-left-sided VHD, and all patients. Conclusions: Patients with severe TR have a bad prognosis, especially those with non-left-sided VHD and those with PAH.