Clinic features and prognosis of patients with left ventricular noncompaction

Objective: To define the clinical features and prognosis of the patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) in China. Methods: We screened and identified 36 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for LVNC between Match 2002 and May 2011. Their clinical manifestation, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram data were analyzed. The mean follow-up time was 30±10 months. Multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the prognostic risk for death. Results: A total of 36 patients fullfilled the diagnostic criteria for LVNC. It was the third most common cause for cardiomyopathy diagnozed in this period following dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The mean age at diagnosis was (47±22) years old. Apex and mid-ventricular segments of the lateral and inferior wall were involved in more than 80% of patients. Eight patients died and one patient underwent heart transplantation during the follow-up period. Other major adverse events included heart failure (25 cases, 69.4%), ventricular tachycardia (8 cases, 22.2%), and thromboembolic events (2 cases, 5.6%). The independent predictors for death and heart transplantation were cardiac function of NYHA class III/IV (RR=6.139, 95%CI: 1.072-35.157, P=0.042), and ventricular tachycardia (RR=1.676, 95%CI: 1.250-22.846, P=0.024). Conclusion: LVNC is not as rare as previously considered. The prognosis of LVNC appears unfavorable. Cardiac function of NYHA Class III/IV and ventricular tachycardia are associated with death.