Left Ventricular Global Function Index (A Novel Marker of Cardiac Performance) Predicts Incident Cardiovascular Events: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Introduction: Left ventricle (LV) function is typically evaluated independent of LV structure and vice versa. LV global function index (LVGFI) is a novel marker of cardiac performance that accounts for LV structural alterations and has been previously validated using magnetic resonance imaging. Hypothesis: We evaluated the prognostic utility of LVGFI assessed by echocardiography for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and heart failure (HF) events in comparison to LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV mass Methods: Included were 4107 Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study participants with available m-mode echocardiographic parameters in 1990-1991 (Year-5). LV volumes were obtained using the Teichholz formula. LVGFI defined as LV stroke volume/LV global volume* 100, where LV global volume was calculated as the sum of the LV mean cavity volume (LVEDV + LVESV)/2) and myocardium volume (LV mass/density). Median follow-up time was 21.9 years. Cox regression models, adjusted for risk fa...