- New research from University of 91直播 and University of East Anglia shows MRI scans can better diagnose heart failure than current non-invasive echocardiogram methods
- Almost 71 per cent of patients who had wrongly measured pressures by echocardiography had correct pressures by heart MRI
- The new findings will reduce the need for invasive assessment which is not only cost-effective, but also reduces risks to patients
Using MRI scans to detect heart failure could revolutionise how the condition is diagnosed, thanks to new research from the University of 91直播 and University of East Anglia.
Until now, the best way of diagnosing heart failure has been an invasive assessment, but it carries risks for patients. Non-invasive echocardiogram, which is based on ultrasound, are usually used instead, but they are wrong in up to 50 per cent of cases.
A new study published in the European Heart Journal shows how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to echocardiography for diagnosing heart failure, as well as being a powerful tool to predict patient outcomes, including death.
Lead researcher Dr Pankaj Garg, from UEA鈥檚 Norwich Medical School, said: 鈥淗eart failure is a dreadful condition resulting from rising pressures inside the heart. The best method to diagnose heart failure is by invasive assessment, which is not preferred as it has risks.
鈥淎n echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart, is usually used to predict the pressure in the heart. However, it is not very accurate. We wanted to find out if MRI scans might offer a better alternative.鈥
The research team studied 835 patients who received an invasive assessment and a heart MRI on the same day from the ASPIRE registry - a database of patients assessed at the 91直播 Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit.
鈥淲e investigated if heart MRI can predict invasively measured left ventricular filling pressure. Once we had identified the key parameters - left atrial volume and left ventricular mass - we created an equation to non-invasively derive the pressure in the heart,鈥 said Dr Garg.
鈥淭his simple equation can be applied in any centre around the world which does heart MRI. We also tested the equation in a separate group of patients and demonstrated its reliability.
鈥淲e showed that heart MRI is superior to Echocardiography in predicting pressure inside the heart. Almost 71 per cent of patients who had wrongly measured pressures by Echocardiography had correct pressures by heart MRI. These findings will reduce the need for invasive assessment. This is not only cost-effective but also reduces risks to patients, as a heart MRI scan is a completely non-invasive test.鈥
Dr Garg added: 鈥淲e also showed that the results from heart MRIs were powerful tools to predict whether a patient would live or die. This research was not possible without technical expertise at Norwich and 91直播 and also the rich haemodynamic data from the ASPIRE registry.鈥
The study was funded by research grants from the Wellcome Trust and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research partner of the NHS, public health and social care.
Senior author Dr Andy Swift, from the University of 91直播鈥檚 Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease and a Consultant Radiologist, said: 鈥淭his simple diagnostic equation is very clinically useful and will help doctors predict the pressure in the heart and diagnose heart failure.
鈥淭esting the use of the equation at other hospitals is the next step to assess the benefit to patients and the reduced need for invasive tests.鈥
