Stress Echo Reveals Hidden Risks in Asymptomatic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

As more adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are diagnosed earlier and appear clinically well, new evidence suggests that many asymptomatic individuals may have hidden physiologic limitations that raise long-term risks. A large observational study spanning nearly 13 years found that treadmill stress echocardiography (TSE) provided meaningful diagnostic and prognostic information in adults with asymptomatic HCM, helping identify patients with worse survival and clarifying which individuals may benefit from earlier septal reduction.1

Researchers analyzed 1126 adults deemed New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I from a tertiary referral center between 2002 and 2018. All underwent resting and symptom-limited TSE with assessments of metabolic equivalents (METs), percentage of age- and gender-predicted METs (%AGP-METs), and peak left ventricular outflow tract gradients. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, appropriate internal cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock, or cardiac transplantation. Findings were presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2025 Scientific Sessions and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.2

Many Asymptomatic Patients Show Reduced Exercise Capacity

Despite thorough clinical evaluation confirming NYHA class I status, 37% of adults did not reach 85% of their age- and gender-predicted METs, indicating lower-than-expected functional capacity. Obstructive HCM (oHCM)—defined by a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient ≥ 30 mm Hg—was present in 656 patients, many of whom demonstrated more severe underlying disease at baseline, including greater left ventricular wall thickness and more mitral regurgitation. These individuals achieved fewer METs and lower %AGP-METs compared with patients with nonobstructive HCM (nHCM).

TSE provided meaningful diagnostic and prognostic information in adults with asymptomatic HCM. | Image credit: .shock – stock.adobe.com

Over a mean follow-up of 12.9 years, there were 200 composite events (18%), including 173 deaths, 23 ICD discharges, and 7 transplants. After a mean of 988 days, 190 patients eventually underwent myectomy. Reduced exercise performance emerged as a meaningful risk marker. Patients who reached at least 85% of AGP-METs had significantly better survival than those who did not, with event rates of 16% vs 20% (P = .004).1

Phenotype also played a critical role. Patients with nHCM or oHCM who underwent myectomy had significantly better long-term freedom from composite events, occurring in 14% of each group, compared with patients with oHCM who did not undergo myectomy (23%; P = .004).

“In conclusion, asymptomatic HCM patients require careful evaluation to identify obstructive physiology and ascertain true asymptomatic status,” researchers concluded. “This may potentially help optimize the timing of therapeutic interventions, whether preemptively or at the onset of early symptoms. However, the present observational data are only hypothesis generating and need prospective validation.”

Stress Echocardiography Helps Confirm Asymptomatic Status

The findings underscore that physiologic assessment may uncover hidden limitations, helping clinicians determine whether patients are genuinely asymptomatic or if their functional impairment is being overlooked. According to the authors, this study builds on earlier work showing that persistent LVOT obstruction and progressive cardiomyopathy can remain clinically silent for years but still confer elevated risks. In this analysis, TSE played a central role in clarifying the severity of obstruction, identifying dynamic physiologic changes, and informing clinical decisions.

“TSE provides incremental diagnostic and prognostic value by delineating obstructive HCM physiology and ascertaining true asymptomatic status while aiding optimal timing of therapeutic interventions,” the authors wrote.1

The study’s generalizability is limited by its retrospective design with a single high-volume center, but the large cohort and long-term follow-up strengthen the evidence that exercise capacity and obstructive physiology meaningfully influence outcomes, even in patients who appear well.2

References

1. Sultana S, Jadam S, Abusafia M, et al. Characteristics and long-term outcomes of asymptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing treadmill stress echocardiography. Presented at: AHA 2025 Scientific Sessions; November 7, 2025; New Orleans, LA. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.152.suppl_3.4359092
2. Jadam S, Abusafia M, Sultana S, et al. Characteristics and long-term outcomes of asymptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published online August 27, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.08.013