Left Bundle Branch Block as a Risk Factor for Heart Failure

Is left bundle branch block in asymptomatic individuals with structurally normal hearts associated with an increased risk of heart failure, decline in left ventricular function, or death?In this cohort study of 4541 individuals from 4 US sites, those with baseline left bundle branch block had a 5-fold increased risk of incident heart failure and 4-fold greater odds of left ventricular decline after 5 years.These findings suggest that left bundle branch block might play a causative role in the progression to heart failure and may serve as an important marker for surveillance protocols and early preventive interventions.

Corresponding Author: Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, M1180B, San Francisco, CA 9414 (greg.marcus@ucsf.edu).

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