BACKGROUND: Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who are undergoing catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are at risk of rapidly progressive heart failure (HF). Endocardial voltages decrease with loss of viable myocardium. Global left ventricular (LV) voltage as a surrogate for the amount of remaining viable myocardium may predict prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether the newly proposed parameter volume-weighted (vw) unipolar voltage (UV) can predict HF-related adverse outcomes (HFOs), including death, heart transplantation, or ventricular assist device implantation, in DCM.

METHODS: In consecutive patients with DCM referred for VA ablation, vwUV was calculated by mathematically integrating UV over the left ventricle, divided by the endocardial LV surface area and wall thickness. Patients were followed for HFOs.

RESULTS: A total of 103 patients (57 ± 14 years of age; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], 39% ± 13%) were included. Median vwUV was 9.75 (IQR: 7.27-12.29). During a median follow-up of 24 months (IQR: 8-47 months), 25 patients (24%) died, and 16 had HFOs 7 months (IQR: 1-18 months) after ablation. Patients with HFOs had significantly lower LVEF (29% ± 10% vs 41% ± 12%), vw bipolar voltage (BV) (3.00 [IQR: 2.47-3.53] vs 5.00 [IQR: 4.12-5.73]), and vwUV (5.94 [IQR: 5.28-6.55] vs 10.37 [IQR: 8.82-12.81]; all P < 0.001), than patients without HFOs. In Cox regression analysis and goodness-of-fit tests, vwUV was the strongest and independent predictor for HFOs (HR: 3.68; CI: 2.09-6.45; likelihood ratio chi-square, 33.05; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The novel parameter vwUV, as a surrogate for the amount of viable myocardium, identifies patients with DCM with VA who are at high risk for HF progression and mortality.