Objective: To determine the prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with dual-chamber permanent pacemaker implantation.
Methods: This study included 153 patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation. All eligible candidates had baseline transthoracic echocardiography to rule out preexisting tricuspid regurgitation. Echocardiography across the tricuspid valve was repeated one month after permanent pacemaker implantation, and the frequency of significant tricuspid regurgitation was determined. The associations of potential effect modifiers (age, sex, height, body mass index categories, diabetes, and hypertension) with tricuspid regurgitation were assessed individually using simple and multivariable logistic regression models.
Results: After dual-chamber permanent pacemaker implantation, significant tricuspid regurgitation was present in 22 (15.8%) patients. Tricuspid regurgitation was significantly associated with body mass index >30 kg·m-2 (odds ratio = 32.84, 95% confidence interval: 1.26-853.82, p = 0.04).
Conclusion: Significant tricuspid regurgitation was present in substantial number of patients after dual-chamber pacemaker implantation and was independently associated with body mass index >30 kg·m-2.
Keywords: Body mass index; obesity; pacemaker; tricuspid valve; tricuspid valve insufficiency.