Arrhythmic risk stratification in post-myocardial infarction patients with preserved ejection fraction: long-term outcomes from the PRESERVE EF study - Summary - MDSpire

Arrhythmic risk stratification in post-myocardial infarction patients with preserved ejection fraction: long-term outcomes from the PRESERVE EF study

  • By

  • Ioannis Doundoulakis

  • Dimitris Tsiachris

  • Petros Arsenos

  • Athanasios Kordalis

  • Christos-Konstantinos Antoniou

  • Konstantinos Vlachos

  • Stergios Soulaidopoulos

  • Aggeliki Laina

  • Emmanuel Kanoupakis

  • Polychronis Dilaveris

  • Theofilos M. Kolettis

  • Konstantinos Trachanas

  • Iosif Xenogiannis

  • Panagiotis Korantzopoulos

  • Skevos Sideris

  • Nikolaos Fragakis

  • Vassilios P. Vassilikos

  • Konstantinos Tsioufis

  • Konstantinos A. Gatzoulis

  • July 3, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

Objective:

To assess the performance of a two-step, programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS)-inclusive approach in identifying high-risk post-myocardial infarction patients with preserved or mid-range LVEF ≥40%.

Approach:
  • Study Design: Multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study involving 575 post-MI patients with LVEF ≥40%.
  • Risk Stratification Method: A two-step algorithm was used: first, patients with at least one non-invasive risk factor were referred for EPS; second, ICD was implanted in patients with inducible sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Key Findings:
  • No sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) were observed during the follow-up.
  • 12 ICDs were appropriately activated, with a major arrhythmic event prevalence of 29.3% specifically in patients with ICD implantation.
  • The updated performance metrics of the proposed approach included sensitivity 100%, specificity 94.8%, positive predictive value 29.3%, and negative predictive value 100%.
  • Events occurred only in patients with LVEF 40%-50% and a history of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
Interpretation:

A two-step, non-invasive risk factor-guided approach may identify high-risk post-MI patients with preserved or mid-range LVEF.

Limitations:
  • The study was observational and may have inherent biases.
  • The findings are based on a specific population and may not be generalizable.
Conclusion:

The PRESERVE EF study supports a two-step approach for identifying post-MI patients at high risk for major arrhythmic events.

Sources:

Original Source(s)

Arrhythmic risk stratification in post-myocardial infarction patients with preserved ejection fraction: long-term outcomes from the PRESERVE EF study

  • by Ioannis Doundoulakis, Dimitris Tsiachris, Petros Arsenos, Athanasios Kordalis, Christos-Konstantinos Antoniou, Konstantinos Vlachos, Stergios Soulaidopoulos, Aggeliki Laina, Emmanuel Kanoupakis, Polychronis Dilaveris, Theofilos M. Kolettis, Konstantinos Trachanas, Iosif Xenogiannis, Panagiotis Korantzopoulos, Skevos Sideris, Nikolaos Fragakis, Vassilios P. Vassilikos, Konstantinos Tsioufis, Konstantinos A. Gatzoulis

  • July 3, 2026

Related Content

Inpatient cardiac computed tomography angiography in Germany between 2005 and 2023: a nationwide registry study

Ultrasound-guided femoral vascular access in adult congenital heart disease patients undergoing catheter ablation on uninterrupted oral anticoagulation

Same-same, but different? Postoperative rhythm disturbances and other analysis after rotational Z-flap vs. patch repair of sinus venosus atrial defects