Myocardial performance index, a Doppler-derived index of global left ventricular function, predicts congestive heart failure in elderly men

Aims There is limited data on echocardiographic and Doppler indices of cardiac function as predictors for congestive heart failure (CHF) in the general population. Myocardial performance index (MPI, also denoted TEI-Doppler index) reflects both left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. Methods and results We compared eight different echocardiographic and Doppler indices of cardiac function as predictors of CHF using a population-based cohort of 552 seventy-year-old men without CHIF and significant valve disease at baseline (median follow-up time 8.2 years). In a stepwise multivariable Cox proportional-hazard analysis including the different indices of cardiac function, high MPI (above the 90th percentile of MPI [greater than or equal to0.91]), abnormal LV wall motion score index and a pseudo-normalized/restrictive E/A-ratio pattern independently predicted future CHIF morbidity. After adding traditional CHIF risk factors (age, previous myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, LV hypertrophy and body mass index) to the above model, only a high MPI remained a significant predictor (hazard ratio 4.72, 95% Cl 1.75-12.76, p = 0.002). Conclusion MPI provides important prognostic information for the risk of future CHF, beyond other measurements of cardiac function and traditional heart failure risk factors in elderly men. MPI seems to be a clinically relevant indicator of cardiac function and may prove to be a valuable tool. in assessing the risk of future CHF. (C) 2004 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.