Prognostication of post-infarct chronic heart failure: superiority of clinical assessment vs. cardiopulmonary and left ventricular function analysis.

Prognostication of congestive heart failure post-myocardial infarction (MI) is important for decision making. We sought of a head-to-head comparison between the prognostic implication of clinical, cardiopulmonary, and left ventricular (LV) function assessment.Retrospectively, 100 consecutive post-MI patients (MI history 1418+/-1668 days ago) were stratified by NYHA functional classification system, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) [oxygen consumption at maximal exercise (VO(2max)) and at the anaerobic threshold (VO(2AT)) resulting in the Weber classification], and LV function analysis by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography [LV end-diastolic and -systolic diameter index (LVDDI …