ABSTRACT
It has been well documented that even small amounts of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) are harmful in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Several studies demonstrate that FMR is not just a sign of advanced CHF, but an independent determinant of CHF death. The severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) impacts quality of life, as well as survival. Furthermore, there is a strong association between the presence of ischemic FMR severity and heart failure hospitalizations. However, while the presence of FMR predicts a poor prognosis in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and heart failure, “proof” that correction of FMR improves prognosis unfortunately remains elusive.
