Severity of coronary atherosclerosis is an independent predictor of the left ventricular ejection fraction

Abstract

We studied the association between the level of the left ventricular ejection fraction and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The study population consisted of 850 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. Anthropometric measurements including the body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose and leucocyte count were taken. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the Gensini score. When the level of the left ventricular ejection fraction was examined as a categorical variable classified by quartile values, subjects with a high left ventricular ejection fraction level had significantly lower Gensini scores than those with a low left ventricular ejection fraction level (P=0.000). Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly negatively associated with Gensini score (r=-0.213, P=0.000). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the Gensini score was significantly independently associated with the left ventricular ejection fraction level (β=-0.194, P=0.000). Furthermore, multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the Gensini score was the independent risk factor for dysfunction of left ventricular ejection (OR=2.048, 95% CI= 1.517-2.763). The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the Gensini score. This was a strong and statistically highly significant predictor of the left ventricular ejection fraction level and dysfunction of left ventricular ejection independent of other major risk factors including age, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and leucocyte count. © 2011 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.