Symptomatic bradycardia and conduction block are common problems detected in elderly people. The standard treatment for symptomatic bradycardia is permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM) [1] [2]. Chronic right ventricular (RV) pacing has been associated with a deterioration in left ventricular (LV) systolic function [3]. Right ventricular pacing may produce mechanical and electrical ventricular dyssynchrony by activating the right ventricle to contract before the left ventricle (interventricular dyssynchrony) or the septum to contract before the lateral cardiac walls (intraventricular dyssynchrony). Asynchronous electrical activation of the ventricle causes left bundle branch block in traditional electrocardiography [4]. Septal and lateral wall out-phase contractions reduce stroke work and cause energy transfer from the contracting wall to the opposite relaxed wall. A deterioration in left ventricular function after chronic right ventricular pacing is known as pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM). PICM has been recognized as a cause of heart failure in a patient with atrioventricular (AV) block [5]. A high rate of left ventricular pacing had been associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, frequently reported as PICM [6] [7]. Nonetheless, chronic RV pacing with preserved LV function may also be observed [8] [9].

Biventricular pacing or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is the coordination of right and left ventricular contractions. CRT is a proven treatment that improves congestive symptoms, quality of life and reduces mortality in patients with severe chronic heart failure with poor left ventricular systolic function [10]. Effective treatment for PICM is resynchronization of the right and left ventricle. A retrospective observational study of patients with PICM showed the reversal of cardiomyopathy with CRT [11].

Electrical ventricular dyssynchrony is indicated by a wide QRS complex duration, while mechanical ventricular dyssynchrony, lack of synchronization of both ventricles, can be detected by echocardiography. The prevalence of ventricular dyssynchrony in normal left ventricular systolic function and clinical correlation in the short-term is not well established. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure following permanent pacemaker implantation are controversial, especially in patient with good left ventricular systolic function. The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the prevalence of mechanical and electrical dyssynchrony using simple echocardiography and electrocardiogram and to identify the short-term clinical effects following permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function.

Forty-four patients were enrolled in this study, and five were lost to follow-up. Thirty-nine patients were admitted for permanent pacemaker implantation. The three patients were excluded due to an incomplete 3-month follow-up. Total patients with completed the follow-up were 36 patients (81.1%). The baseline characteristics of patients were listed in Table 1. More than half of the 36 participants included in the analysis were male (51.2%) and mean age 69.89 ± 15.72 years. A total of 33.3% of patients had diabetes mellitus, 72.2% with hypertension, 69.4% with dyslipidemia, 44.4% with atrial arrhythmia, 27.8% with ischemic heart disease, and 30.6% with chronic kidney disease. Eighteen patients (43.9%) were found to have sinus node dysfunction and 16 patients (39%) with AV nodal disease.

The prevalence of mechanical dyssynchrony estimated by IVMD, LV pre-ejection period (LVPEP), and SPWMD was at 22.2%, 41.7%, and 11.1%, respectively. Electrical dyssynchrony estimated by a QRS complex duration of more than 130 msec occurred in 86.1% of patients.

Six patients (16.7%) developed PICM. Patients with PICM had a significant reduction in LVEF compared with non-PICM group (16.4% ± 5.8% vs. 0.5% ± 0.9%, respectively; p = 0.001; Table 2). LVEF before implantation was not significantly different between patients in the PICM and non-PICM groups (66.1% ± 9.7% vs. 66.2% ± 13.4%; p = 0.993). The PICM group had a higher percentage for RV pacing (98.5%, IQR = 89.0% - 100.0% vs. 11.3%, IQR = 1.6% - 97.0%; p = 0.022). High-burden RV pacing (>20%) was found to be significantly correlated with PICM. LVEF in patients in the PICM group significantly changed at 1 month (p = 0.024) and 3 months (p = 0.049) after implantation. However, the indications for permanent pacemaker implantation were not associated with PICM (sinus node dysfunction, p = 0.67; AV nodal dysfunction, p = 0.18). The

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median (IQR) and n (%). The p-value corresponds to the independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test.

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median (IQR) and n (%). The p-value corresponds to the independent t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test.

pacemaker mode was not associated with PICM (Table 1).

All ventricular dyssynchrony parameters from echocardiography and electrocardiography were not found to be associated with PICM (Table 2). The electrical dyssynchrony, specifically wide QRS complex duration of more than 130 msec was 83.3% in the PICM group and 86.7% in the non-PICM group. The electrical dyssynchrony rate tended to be higher in PICM but there was no statistical significance associated with PICM (p = 0.829). In approximately one-third of patients with PICM showed interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) more than 40 msec (PICM group, 33.3% vs. non-PICM group, 20.7%; p = 0.516). While a Left Ventricular Pre-Ejection Period (LVPEP) more than 140 msec was almost twice as common in patient with PICM than non-PICM (PICM group, 66.7% vs. non-PICM group, 37.9%; p = 0.207). Similarly, septal posterior wall dyssynchrony (SPWMD) >130 msec was four times more common in PICM group than in the non-PICM group. (PICM group, 33.3% vs. non-PICM group, 7.1%; p = 0.071).

During RV pacing, ventricular dyssynchrony was observed. Electrical dyssynchrony was significantly changed after RV pacing (intrinsic QRS duration = 102.0 msec, IQR = 91.0 - 124.0 msec vs. paced QRS duration = 157.5 msec, IQR = 140.5 - 171.5 msec; p < 0.001). Interventricular conduction delay changed significantly after RV pacing (mean pre-pacing IVMD, 8.0 ± 23.6 vs. mean post-pacing IVMD, 23.7 ± 26.1; p < 0.01). LVPEP and SPWMD were not significantly different after RV pacing. The QRS complex during RV pacing correlated with IVMD and LVPEP (r = 0.361, p = 0.024 and r = 0.315, p = 0.028; Figure 1).

A Kaplan-Meier survival curve of cumulative heart failure demonstrated a clinically association between heart failure and a high-burden of right ventricular pacing more than 20% within 3 months (log-rank, p = 0.086; Figure 2). Mechanical dyssynchrony was estimated using IVMD, LVPEP, and SPWMD and was not significantly associated with heart failure (log-rank, p = 0.610 for IVMD; p = 0.112 for LVPEP; p = 0.398 for SPWMD). Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy was associated with clinical heart failure but was not significantly different between patients in the PICM and non-PICM groups (23.3% vs. 50%; p = 0.317).

Ventricular dyssynchrony was common in the RV pacing and may contribute to the worsening of LV systolic function. Because of the small number of study participants and the short follow-up period, mechanical and electrical dyssynchrony parameters could not predict short-term heart failure, cardiomyopathy and the correlation between ventricular dyssynchrony and ventricular systolic dysfunction.

From our study, the patients with a LVEF of more than 35% and high-burden RV pacing demonstrated new-onset cardiomyopathy and heart failure within a 3-month follow-up after permanent pacemaker implantation. Patients with a LVEF of 35% or lower were excluded due to strong recommendation for biventricular pacing. While LVEF is between 35% to 50%, right ventricular pacing or

biventricular pacing were therapeutic options. This data reveals the prevalence and time course of PICM and heart failure in the presence of high-burden RV pacing, suggesting that the adverse clinical effects of PICM and heart failure may occur quickly.

Several studies have reported that RV pacing is significantly related to PICM and heart failure. For example, the Pacing to Avoid Cardiac Enlargement trial randomized 86 patients to an RV pacing group. In this group, mean LVEF decreased from 61.5% to 54.8% (p < 0.01) at 12 months. In contrast, in the biventricular pacing group, LVEF and ventricular volumes remained stable when compared with baseline [16]. Acute deterioration of LV systolic function was detected in the other study. Twelve participants with a dual chamber pacemaker implantation, normal LV function and physiological AV nodal conduction were examined using the serial gait blood pool technique. LVEF decreased from 66.5% ± 4.5% to 52.9% ± 8.3%; (p < 0.0001) after 1 week of RV pacing. After cessation of pacing at 32 hours, LVEF increased to 62.9% ± 7.6% (p = 0.11) compared with baseline [17]. These findings were similar to our results showing the occurrence of PICM within a short follow-up period. The threshold of RV pacing also observed in our study, in an analysis of patients receiving a permanent pacemaker from 2000 to 2014 for complete heart block with a LVEF of >50%, 823 patients (12.3%) developed PICM over a mean follow-up period of 4.3 ± 3.9 years. The PICM group was significantly associated with the RV pacing of more than 20% [18]. From Merchant Faisal M and et al., acute heart failure after RV pacing was reported in the group with complete AV block within 6 months (HR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.48 - 1.79; p < 0.001) [19]. Accordingly, these studies supported our results. RV pacing might be contributing to acute adverse hemodynamic events, which in turn result in PICM and acute heart failure. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated reverse remodeling after resynchronized right and left ventricular stimulation. CRT showed improved morbidity, congestive heart failure, and mortality [20]. Thus, physiologic pacing, such as His-bundle pacing or biventricular pacing, has been recommended for high-burden RV pacing to avoid PICM and heart failure [2].

RV pacing did not affect some patients in this study. On the other hand, a previous cohort study reported infrequent development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in pacemaker recipients with predominantly normal LVEF [21]. Many factors cause PICM and heart failure, one of which is high-burden RV pacing. After multivariable data analysis, we did not detect a significant correlation between cardiomyopathy and other factors. Considering that the sample size was small and follow-up duration short, the multivariate analysis was limited. In this study, the PICM group had a higher rate of ischemic heart disease compared with the non-PICM group (50% vs. 23.3%) but not statistically significant. Ischemic heart disease accelerates or precipitates LV systolic dysfunction and heart failure. Atrial fibrillation, age, gender, and pre-existing valvular dysfunction were not associated with early onset heart failure and PICM in our study, although the real impact of RV pacing is difficult to detect due to many confounding factors. Additional studies are needed to identify individuals most susceptible to the adverse effects of RV pacing and to determine who might benefit from biventricular pacing.

Our study has several important limitations that should be noted. This study had a small sample size that could limit the power of multivariate analysis. Due to the short follow-up duration, the low rates of adverse events, such as left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure, made it impossible to differentiate ventricular dyssynchrony. We suggested further study should be longer follow up. Due to small sample size and short duration follow-up time, the heart failure patients in this study were defined with first onset heart failure. The quality of life such as functional class, six-minute walk test, and pulmonary hypertension parameters should be collected as evidence of heart failure. Our study did not record other echocardiographic information about left ventricular remodeling, such as diastolic and systolic left ventricular internal diameter or global longitudinal strain pattern, which could represent the severity of cardiac remodeling. Echocardiographic strain patterns were not included in our study due to facility limitations, which might have been helpful in detecting LV dyssynchrony early and with good specificity.

Ventricular dyssynchrony is common after permanent pacemaker implantation. Early ventricular systolic dysfunction can occur in a short duration. If a patient is clinically suspected of having LV systolic dysfunction, such as dyspnea or clinical heart failure, LV systolic function assessment should be carried out. In high-risk groups, an evaluation of LV systolic function may be beneficial for PICM. Upgrading to CRT can reverse ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Mechanical and electrical dyssynchrony is a common finding after RV pacing. New-onset cardiomyopathy is significantly associated with high-burden RV pacing (>20%) within 3 months after implantation. High-burden RV pacing is also found to be contributing to heart failure. Future studies should look into identifying individuals most susceptible to the adverse effects of RV pacing, a way to determine which patients might benefit from biventricular pacing or his bundle pacing.

This study was funded by Navamindradhiraj University Research Fund.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Aritajati, T., Tipcome, K., Chitsomkasem, A., Tokavanich, N., Ananwattanasuk, T. and Teerawongsakul, P., (2021) The Prevalence and Short- Term Outcomes of Ventricular Dyssynchrony after Right Ventricular Pacing. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12, 459-470. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijcm.2021.1211042