Analyses for Prevalence and Outcome of Tricuspid Regurgitation in China: An Echocardiography Study of 134,874 Patients

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and outcome of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the Chinese population. Methods: The echocardiography database, including 134,874 patients at our heart center from 2010 to 2012, was retrospectively analyzed. Results: The rates of mild, moderate, and severe TR were 2.96, 2.22, and 1.39%, respectively. Of these patients, 4.86% had primary TR, 91.41% had functional TR, and 3.73% had unexplained TR. The rate of TR was increased in elders (odds ratio: 1.038 for 1 year’s increment; 95% confidence interval: 1.037–1.040; p < 0.001) and females (odds ratio: 1.386; 95% confidence interval: 1.327–1.448, p < 0.001). The major etiologies of TR were left-sided valve heart disease (VHD) and dilated cardiomyopathy. The survival rate of severe TR patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) was lower than in those without PAH (p < 0.0001). There was a positive association between the prevalence of TR and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction. Compared to the non-left-sided VHD group, the left-sided VHD group had a better prognosis among severe TR patients. The 5-year survival rates were 79.69, 71.12, and 77.01% in the groups of left-sided VHD, non-left-sided VHD, and all patients. Conclusions: Patients with severe TR have a bad prognosis, especially those with non-left-sided VHD and those with PAH.