Combined use of right ventricular coupling and pulmonary arterial elastance as a comprehensive stratification approach for right ventricular function

Abstract Right ventricular (RV)‐pulmonary arterial uncoupling is the consequence of increased afterload and/or decreased RV contractility. However, the combination of arterial elastance (Ea) and end‐systolic elastance (Ees)/Ea ratio to assess RV function is unclear. We hypothesized that the combination of both could comprehensively assess RV function and refine risk stratification. The median Ees/Ea ratio (0.80) and Ea (0.59 mmHg/mL) were used to classify 124 patients with advanced heart failure into four groups. RV systolic pressure differential was defined as end‐systolic pressure (ESP) minus beginning‐systolic pressure (BSP). Patients among different subsets showed dissimilar New York Heart Association functional class (V = 0.303, p = 0.010), distinct tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/ pulmonary artery systolic pressure (mm/mmHg; 0.65 vs. 0.44 vs. 0.32 vs. 0.26, p