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Figure 4 Independent Associations Between Therapeutic Strategy and Outcome in 102 Asymptomatic Patients With LVEF 60%

Time-dependent analysis in asymptomatic patients with normal ventricular function (n = 102) (after adjusting for age) shows favorable associations between prompt surgery (vs. no or delayed surgery) and HF and the combined end point HF/CVD (only CVD failed to reach statistical significance). Mitral valve repair in asymptomatic patients with normal ventricular function seems to prevent cardiac morbidity. Prompt surgery was defined as an operation performed <12 months after echocardiography (delayed surgery as 12 months). Point estimates of HRs are graphically depicted as circles, with their 95% CI (lines). Abbreviations as in Figures 1 and 2.