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The following is a summary of “Stress phase bandwidth as a predictor of left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients with new-onset acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction,” published in the February 2025 issue of the BMC Cardiovascular Disorders by Tanaka et al.

Stress phase bandwidth (SPBW), measured using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), has been proposed as a valuable indicator of left ventricular dyssynchrony. However, its potential role in predicting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement in patients with new-onset heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains insufficiently explored. 

This study aims to evaluate whether SPBW in the acute phase can serve as a predictive marker for LVEF recovery in patients with newly diagnosed non-ischemic HFrEF. A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the SAKURA-HF registry, comprising 64 patients (mean age: 56 years, 39 males) who were admitted with new-onset non-ischemic HFrEF between January 2018 and December 2022 and underwent SPECT imaging. The median baseline LVEF was 24.7%. 

The study assessed the relationship between SPBW in the acute phase and subsequent LVEF improvement in the chronic phase. Among the 64 patients, 36 demonstrated significant LVEF recovery, with an increase from a median of 27.1% to 62.8% (p < 0.001). Both groups received comparable guideline-directed medical therapy. SPBW was found to be significantly lower in the group that experienced LVEF improvement (median: 55.5° vs. 79.0°, p = 0.010). Logistic regression analysis identified SPBW as an independent predictor of LVEF recovery. Additionally, an SPBW threshold of 71.0° was suggested as a potential cut-off value for predicting LVEF improvement. These findings highlight the potential clinical utility of SPBW as a non-invasive predictive marker for cardiac function recovery in patients with new-onset non-ischemic HFrEF. 

Incorporating SPBW assessment into routine clinical practice may enhance heart failure management by enabling early risk stratification and individualized therapeutic interventions. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these results and refine SPBW-based prognostic models for HFrEF.

Source: bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12872-025-04548-4