Prognostic validation of partition values for quantitative parameters to grade functional tricuspid regurgitation severity by conventional echocardiography

Aims: Quantitative echocardiography parameters are seldom used to grade tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity due to relative paucity of validation studies and lack of prognostic data. To assess the relationship between TR severity and the composite endpoint of death and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF); and to identify the threshold values of vena contracta width (VCavg), effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), regurgitant volume (RegVol), and regurgitant fraction (RegFr) to define low, intermediate, and high-risk TR based on patients' outcome data.

Methods and results: A cohort of 296 patients with at least mild TR underwent 2D, 3D, and Doppler echocardiography. We built statistical models (adjusted for age, NYHA class, left ventricular ejection fraction, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure) for VCavg, EROA, RegVol, and RegFr to study their relationships with the hazard of outcome. The tertiles of the derived hazard values defined the threshold values of the quantitative parameters for TR severity grading. During 47-month follow-up, 32 deaths and 72 CHF occurred. Event-free rate was 14%, 48%, and 93% in patients with severe, moderate, and mild TR, respectively. Severe TR was graded as VCavg > 6 mm, EROA > 0.30 cm2, RegVol > 30 mL, and RegF > 45%.

Conclusion: This outcome study demonstrates the prognostic value of quantitative parameters of TR severity and provides prognostically meaningful threshold values to grade TR severity in low, intermediate, and high risk.