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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Cardiac MRI scans may help identify heart failure patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death. A large multicenter study found that two imaging markers — late gadolinium enhancement and extracellular volume — powerfully predicted sudden cardiac death risk in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). A combined model using both markers achieved strong predictive accuracy, offering a practical tool for better risk stratification in this often-overlooked patient group.
Patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) have long been a diagnostic gray zone — not as well-studied as those with severely reduced function, yet still at significant risk. Now, a large multicenter study suggests that cardiac MRI imaging markers could help clinicians identify which of these patients are most at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Researchers analyzed data from over 1,800 patients across five hospitals in China, tracking outcomes over roughly 3.5 years. They found that two MRI-derived measures — the extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), which reflects scarring, and extracellular volume (ECV), which signals tissue damage — were each independently linked to a significantly elevated SCD risk. Combining both into a single risk model yielded the strongest predictive performance.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: HFmrEF patients are often undertreated because their risk is harder to quantify. These imaging tools could enable more precise, personalized decisions about interventions like defibrillators — potentially improving outcomes in a population that has historically been difficult to risk-stratify.
