No abstract

There were no differences in plasma concentrations of BNP or proBNP (t = 1.09, p = 0.28; t = 1.34, p = 0.19) in those with impaired systolic function with and without DS. During the follow-up period of almost 6 years, 52 patients suffered a cardiovascular mortality and 73 an-all-cause mortality. In the group with impaired systolic function and DS, 69% (n = 9) and 77% (n = 10) suffered cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, respectively, during the follow-up period. This was significantly higher than among patients with impaired systolic function and who were not suffering from DS, in which only 24% (n = 10) and 34% (n = 14) of the patients had died from a cardiovascular or an all-cause mortality (χ 2 = 8.7, p = 0.003 and χ 2 = 7.3, p = 0.007). The group with impaired systolic function and DS had hazard ratios (HR) of 5.7 (CI 95% 2.2-14.1, p = 0.001) and 4.5 (CI 95% 1.8-11.0, p = 0.001) for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality compared with the group with impaired systolic function but without DS. When the group with impaired systolic function and DS was compared with non-DS patients with normal cardiac function, the HR for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were 14.0 (CI 95% 6.0-32.8) and 10.0 (CI 95% 4.8-21.0), respectively.Conclusion: DS in elderly patients with an impaired systolic function is independently associated with mortality. Screening for DS is recommended as part of the clinical routine in managing patients with HF.