Recommendations for chamber quantification: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography's Guidelines and Standards Committee and the Chamber Quantification Writing Group, developed in conjunction with the European Association of Echocardiography, a branch of the European Society of Cardiology

Changes in the cardiovascular risk profile in children approaching kidney replacement therapy

Background

Despite significant cardiovascular (CV) morbidity in children on dialysis and after kidney transplantation, data on the evolution of CV damage in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) approaching kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is unknown.

Methods

The burden, progression, and predictors of CV damage before KRT onset were explored in two prospective multicenter cohorts from Europe and Canada: Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Children with CKD (4C) and Haemodiafiltration, Heart and Height (3H) studies, conducted from 2009-19 and 2013-16, respectively. CV damage and risk factors were evaluated (i) cross sectionally at KRT-start (n = 248), and (ii) longitudinally over the 2-years preceding KRT start (n = 157; 331 patient-visits). Longitudinal analyses with mixed-effects models estimated associations of modifiable CV risk factors with change in carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) standard deviation score (SDS), pulse wave velocity (PWV-SDS), left ventricular (LV) mass and systolic dysfunction.

Findings

248 patients, age 14.3 (12.2, 16.2) years were evaluated at median 35 (28-114) days before KRT start. Elevated cIMT-SDS and PWV-SDS were present in 43% and 25%, and LV hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction in 49% and 33%. Aortic stiffness and LV hypertrophy significantly increased, especially in the year before KRT start (adjusted odds ratio, OR 0.33, P = 0.002 and OR 0.54, P = 0.01, respectively). 79% of children had >3 modifiable CV risk factors at KRT onset. Diastolic BP and BMI were strongly associated with a linear increase in all CV measures. After controlling for CV risk factors, the time to KRT onset no longer predicted the burden of CV damage.

Interpretation

This comprehensive CV evaluation shows the progressive accrual of modifiable risk factors and a high burden of CV damage in the years preceding KRT onset. CV damage in the pre-KRT period is preventable.

Funding

Supported by EU4Health Programme (101085068) and Kidney Research UK (RP39/2013).

Low Natriuretic Peptide Levels and Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Although some patients with heart failure (HF) with mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction have low natriuretic peptide levels, there are no large-scale systematic studies of how common these individuals are or what happens to them.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine the proportion of patients in the I-PRESERVE (Irbesartan in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial with an N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level <125 pg/mL, their clinical characteristics, and outcomes.

METHODS

I- PRESERVE enrolled patients with symptomatic HF and a LVEF ≥45% but who did not have NT-proBNP or body mass index inclusion/exclusion criteria. Baseline NT-proBNP was measured after enrollment but not reported to investigators. The primary outcome in this analysis was the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization.

RESULTS

Overall, 808 of 3,480 patients (23.2%) had NT-proBNP <125 pg/mL. Patients with a low NT-proBNP were younger (68.6 years vs 72.6 years; P < 0.001), were less often men (36.1% vs 40.9%; P = 0.015), and had a higher body mass index (48.4% vs 38.7% obese; P < 0.001) than those with a higher NT-proBNP level. Patients with a low NT-proBNP had less atrial fibrillation (8.5% vs 35.1%; P < 0.001), myocardial infarction, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and anemia but better kidney function. Patients with a lower NT-proBNP level had less marked echocardiographic abnormalities and were less likely to experience cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization; adjusted HR: 0.35 (95% CI: 0.27-0.46; P < 0.001). However, health status was similarly impaired in patients with lower and higher NT-proBNP levels (median Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire 43 vs 43; P = 0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Almost one-quarter of patients with HF with mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction had a low NT-proBNP level. Although these patients have a favorable prognosis, compared to those with a high NT-proBNP level, they have similarly impaired health status which should be a target for treatment. (Irbesartan in Heart Failure With Preserved Systolic Function [I- PRESERVE]; NCT00095238).

Left atrial function index and left atrial electromechanical functions in anxiety disorders

BACKGROUND

There is a close linkage between anxiety disorders (ADs), and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate left atrial function index (LAFI) and its components, LA mechanical functions and atrial conduction times in AD patients and age- and gender-matched control group patients for the first time in the literature.

METHODS

A total of 48 AD patients and 33 healthy subjects were enrolled to the study prospectively. Echocardiographic parameters including two-dimensional conventional echocardiography, diastolic functions, LA mechanical functions, LAFI, atrial conduction times and atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) were calculated.

RESULTS

The velocity-time integral of the LV outflow tract (LVOT-VTI), LAFI and LA conduit volume were significantly lower in AD patients. Atrial electromechanical coupling as established from lateral mitral annulus (PA lateral) was significantly higher in AD group than control group. Inter-AEMD and left intra-AEMD were also higher in AD group compared to control group. Age, gender, body surface area (BSA), conduit volume, LVOT-VTI and LAFI were significant factors associated with AD in univariate analysis. However, only BSA and LVOT-VTI (Odds ratio [OR]: 0.79, 95 CI%: 0.66-0.95, p = 0.013) were independently associated with AD in multivariate analysis. Age, gender, conduit volume and LAFI (OR: 0.25, 95 CI%: 0.03-2.12, p = 0.204) were not found to be independent associates of AD.

CONCLUSION

LAFI is impaired in patients suffering from AD compared to their age- and gender-matched counterparts but this impairment originates from lower levels of LVOT-VTI calculations in AD patients. Thus, LVOT-VTI, but not LAFI, is independently associated with AD.

Cardiac dysfunction in sucrose-fed rats is associated with alterations of phospholamban phosphorylation and TNF-α levels

INTRODUCTION

High sucrose intake is linked to cardiovascular disease, a major global cause of mortality worldwide. Calcium mishandling and inflammation play crucial roles in cardiac disease pathophysiology.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate if sucrose-induced obesity is related to deterioration of myocardial function due to alterations in the calcium-handling proteins in association with proinflammatory cytokines.

METHODS

Wistar rats were divided into control and sucrose groups. Over eight weeks, Sucrose group received 30% sucrose water. Cardiac function was determined in vivo using echocardiography and in vitro using papillary muscle assay. Western blotting was used to detect calcium handling protein; ELISA assay was used to assess TNF-α and IL-6 levels.

RESULTS

Sucrose led to cardiac dysfunction. RYR2, SERCA2, NCX, pPBL Ser16 and L-type calcium channels were unchanged. However, pPBL-Thr17, and TNF-α levels were elevated in the S group.

CONCLUSION

Sucrose induced cardiac dysfunction and decreased myocardial contractility in association with altered pPBL-Thr17 and elevated cardiac pro-inflammatory TNF-α.

Reliability of heart rate in reflecting cardiac sympathetic overdrive in type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

Clinical trials have shown that in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) resting office heart rate (HR) values > 70 beats/minute are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, a worse prognosis and an unfavorable outcome. The present study was aimed at investigating whether the above mentioned treshold HR values reflect a sympathetic overdrive of marked degree.

METHODS

In 58 T2D patients (age range: 39-57 years) without signs of autonomic neuropathy and in 52 age-matched healthy controls, we assessed muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, microneurography) and venous plasma norepinephrine (NE, HPLC), subdividing the study population in different subgroups according to their clinic and 24-h HR values.

RESULTS

In T2D progressively greater clinic and 24-h HR values were accompanied by progressive increases in MSNA and NE. HR cutoff values indicated by clinical trials as associated with an increased cardiovascular risk (> 70 beats/minute) were accompanied by MSNA values significantly higher than those detected in patients with lower HR, this being the case also for NE. In T2D both MSNA and NE were significantly related to clinic (r = 0.93, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.87, P < 0.0001, respectively) and 24-h (r = 0.92, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.84, P < 0.0001, respectively) HR. The MSNA and NE behaviour observed in T2D was not detected in healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

In T2D clinic HR values allow to detect patients with a greater sympathetic overactivity. Considering the adverse clinical impact of the sympathetic overdrive on prognosis, our data emphasize the need of future studies investigating the potential usefulness of lifestyle and pharmacological interventions exerting sympathomodulatory effects.

Correlation between hyperuricemia and thickened left ventricular wall in hypertensive young adults

BACKGROUND

In this study, we examine the association between the hyperuricemia(HU) and hypertension(HTN) in Chinese young adults. Besides, the correlation between the occurrence of thickened left ventricular wall and HU was identified in patients with HTN.

METHODS

In all, 360 patients with HTN and 1991 young adults with normal blood pressure(NBP) were enrolled in the study. Participant characteristics were collected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression tests were utilized to identify the correlation between the presence of HU and HTN, and the correlation between the occurrence of thickened ventricular septum and HU in patients with HTN.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HU in Chinese young adults with HTN was significantly higher than young adults with NBP(36.39% vs. 16.93%). Univariable analyses revealed that 8 factors were related with the presence of HTN with p value < 0.001, including HU, male, body mass index(BMI) ≥ 24 kg/m2, total cholesterol(TC) > 5.17mmol/L, triglyceride(TG) > 1.70mmol/L, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) < 1.0mmol/L, fasting blood glucose(FBG) > 6.10mmol/L and fatty liver. After adjusting these covariates, multivariable analysis revealed that HU[odds ratio(OR):1.47, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.10-1.95, p = 0.008] remained independent association with HTN in young adults. Additionally, univariable and multivariable logistic analyses revealed that HU kept the independent effect on the presence of thickened interventricular septum(adjusted OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.05-3.11, P = 0.03) and thickened left ventricular posterior wall(adjusted OR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.28-4.08, P = 0.005) in young adults with HTN.

CONCLUSION

HU was independently associated with HTN in young adults. HU was independently correlated with thickened left ventricular wall, including interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall, in young adults with HTN.

Effect of body mass index on mortality for diabetic patients with aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND

Several studies suggest an "obesity paradox," associating obesity with better cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) or aortic stenosis (AS) compared to normal or underweight individuals. This study explores the impact of body mass index (BMI) on diabetic patients with AS.

METHODS

Between 2014 and 2019, patients with DM who underwent echocardiography were analyzed. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular death. Patients were categorized as underweight, normal weight, or obese based on BMI (<18.5, 18.5 to 27, and >27 kg/m2, respectively).

RESULTS

Among 74,835 DM patients, 734 had AS. Normal weight comprised 65.5% (n=481), underweight 4.1% (N=30), and 30.4% were obese. Over a 6-year follow-up, underweight patients had significantly higher all-cause mortality (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.22 - 3.14, p = 0.005), while obese patients had significantly lower mortality (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68 - 0.91, p=0.001) compared to the normal group. Regarding etiologies, underweight patients had a higher risk of non-cardiovascular death (HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.44-4.25, p = 0.001), while obese patients had a lower risk of cardiovascular death (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.86, p=0.003). Subgroup analysis showed a consistent trend without significant interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI significantly impacts mortality in DM patients with AS. Being underweight is associated with worse non-cardiovascular death, while obesity is linked to improved cardiovascular death outcomes.

Evaluation and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in Children and Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

With continued medical and surgical advancements, most children and adolescents with congenital heart disease are expected to survive to adulthood. Chronic heart failure is increasingly being recognized as a major contributor to ongoing morbidity and mortality in this population as it ages, and treatment strategies to prevent and treat heart failure in the pediatric population are needed. In addition to primary myocardial dysfunction, anatomical and pathophysiological abnormalities specific to various congenital heart disease lesions contribute to the development of heart failure and affect potential strategies commonly used to treat adult patients with heart failure. This scientific statement highlights the significant knowledge gaps in understanding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, staging, and outcomes of chronic heart failure in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease not amenable to catheter-based or surgical interventions. Efforts to harmonize the definitions, staging, follow-up, and approach to heart failure in children with congenital heart disease are critical to enable the conduct of rigorous scientific studies to advance our understanding of the actual burden of heart failure in this population and to allow the development of evidence-based heart failure therapies that can improve outcomes for this high-risk cohort.

Gender and Sex Differences in the Management, Intervention, and Outcomes of Patients With Severe Primary Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Gender- and sex-based disparities in mitral valve disease exist; however the factors associated with these differences are unknown. Identifying these differences is essential in devising mitigating strategies. We evaluated gender and sex differences among patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR) across treatment phases.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with new diagnoses of severe primary MR between 2016 and 2020. We compared multidisciplinary evaluation incidence and 2-year survival between men and women. We analyzed a subgroup meeting class 1 indications for intervention, which includes severe symptomatic MR or severe asymptomatic MR with ejection fraction <60% or left ventricular end-systolic diameter >40 mm. Logistic regression models identified predictors associated with the likelihood of multidisciplinary evaluation. Among 330 patients meeting class 1 indications, women were older (79 versus 76 years, P=0.01) and had higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores for mitral valve repair than men (2.5% versus 1.4%, P=0.003). Women were less likely to undergo multidisciplinary evaluation (57% versus 84%, P<0.001) and intervention (47% versus 69%, P<0.001) than men. Median days to intervention for women and men were 77 and 43, respectively. Women had a higher 2-year mortality rate than men (31% versus 21%, P=0.035). On a multivariable model, female sex and older age were associated with lower odds of undergoing multidisciplinary evaluation (odds ratio, 0.26; P<0.001; odds ratio, 0.95; P<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with severe primary MR with class 1 indication for intervention were less likely to undergo multidisciplinary evaluation and intervention and had a longer interval to intervention than men. Survival was comparable after accounting for age and comorbidity differences.

Exercise-induced cardiac mitochondrial reorganization and enhancement in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The myocardium is a highly oxidative tissue in which mitochondria are essential to supply the energy required to maintain pump function. When pathological hypertrophy develops, energy consumption augments and jeopardizes mitochondrial capacity. We explored the cardiac consequences of chronic swimming training, focusing on the mitochondrial network, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male adult SHR were randomized to sedentary or trained (T: 8-week swimming protocol). Blood pressure and echocardiograms were recorded, and hearts were removed at the end of the training period to perform molecular, imaging, or isolated mitochondria studies. Swimming improved cardiac midventricular shortening and decreased the pathological hypertrophic marker atrial natriuretic peptide. Oxidative stress was reduced, and even more interesting, mitochondrial spatial distribution, dynamics, function, and ATP were significantly improved in the myocardium of T rats. In the signaling pathway triggered by training, we detected an increase in the phosphorylation level of both AKT and glycogen synthase kinase-3 β, key downstream targets of insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling that are crucially involved in mitochondria biogenesis and integrity. Aerobic exercise training emerges as an effective approach to improve pathological cardiac hypertrophy and bioenergetics in hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Prognostic Value of Follow-up Measures of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

INTRODUCTION

After ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), follow-up imaging is currently recommended only in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) was shown to improve risk stratification over LVEF in these patients but has not been thoroughly studied during follow-up. The aim of this study was to explore the changes in LVGLS after STEMI and their potential prognostic value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were analyzed from an ongoing STEMI registry. Echocardiography was performed during the index hospitalization and 1 year after STEMI; LVGLS was expressed as an absolute value and the relative LVGLS change (ΔGLS) was calculated. The study end point was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 1,409 STEMI patients (age 60 ± 11 years; 75% men) who survived at least 1 year after STEMI and underwent echocardiography at follow-up were included. At 1-year follow-up, LVEF improved from 50% ± 8% to 53% ± 8% (P < .001) and LVGLS from 14% ± 4% to 16% ± 3% (P < .001). Median ΔGLS was 14% (interquartile range, 0.5%-32%) relative improvement. Starting 1 year after STEMI, a total of 87 patients died after a median follow-up of 69 (interquartile range, 38-103) months. The optimal ΔGLS threshold associated with the end point (derived by spline curve analysis) was a relative decrease >7%. Cumulative 10-year survival was 91% in patients with ΔGLS improvement or a nonsignificant decrease, versus 85% in patients with ΔGLS decrease of >7% (P = .001). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, ΔGLS decrease >7% remained independently associated with the end point (hazard ratio, 2.5 [95% CI, 1.5-4.1]; P < .001) after adjustment for clinical and echocardiographic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant decrease in LVGLS 1 year after STEMI was independently associated with long-term all-cause mortality and might help further risk stratification and management of these patients during follow-up.

Prevalence and clinical significance of late gadolinium enhancement in children and adolescents with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among the paediatric population. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of late gadolinium enhancement, as assessed by cardiac MRI, in paediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Ovid SP to identify relevant studies. Pooled estimates with a 95% confidence interval were calculated using the random-effects generic inverse variance model. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager v5.4 and R programming.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included in this meta-analysis, encompassing a total of 778 patients. Late gadolinium enhancement was highly prevalent in paediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with a pooled prevalence of 51% (95% confidence interval, 40-62%). The estimated extent of focal fibrosis expressed as a percentage of left ventricular mass was 4.70% (95% confidence interval, 2.11-7.30%). The presence of late gadolinium enhancement was associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events (pooled odds ratio 3.49, 95% confidence interval 1.10-11.09). The left ventricular mass index of late gadolinium enhancement-positive group was higher than the negative group, with a standardised mean difference of 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-1.41).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrates that prevalence of late gadolinium enhancement in paediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is similar to that in the adult population. The presence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement are independent predictors of adverse cardiac events, underscoring their prognostic significance among the paediatric population.

Left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial diameter are associated with mortality risk in haemodialysis patients: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular death is the main cause of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left atrial diameter (LAD) enlargement are frequent cardiac alterations in patients with ESKD and are major risk factors for cardiovascular events. However, it remains unclear whether there is an association between combined LAD or LVH and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality in this population.

METHODS

A single-centre, retrospective cohort study including 576 haemodialysis (HD) patients was conducted. Patients were evaluated by cardiac ultrasound, and the study cohort was divided into four groups according to LAD and LVH status: low LAD and non-LVH; low LAD and LVH; high LAD and non-LVH; and high LAD and LVH. We used Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression to analyse all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after multivariate adjustment.

RESULTS

LAD was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 2.371, 1.602-3.509; p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between LVH and the risk of all-cause mortality. Patients with high LAD and LVH had significantly greater all-cause and cardiovascular mortality than did those with low LAD and non-LVH after adjustments for numerous potential confounders (HR 3.080, 1.608-5.899; p = 0.001) (HR 4.059, 1.753-9.397; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Among maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients, LAD was more strongly associated with mortality than was LVH. A high LAD and LVH are associated with a greater risk of mortality. Our results emphasize that the occurrence of LAD and LVH in combination provides information that may be helpful in stratifying the risk of MHD patients.

Respiratory comorbidities and treatments in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: impact on life expectancy and causes of death

BACKGROUND

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder with progressive decline of pulmonary function increasing the risk of early mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the respiratory-related comorbidities, and the effect of these comorbidities and treatments on life expectancy and causes of death.

METHODS

All male patients living in Sweden with DMD, born and deceased 1970-2019, were included. Data regarding causes of death were collected from the Cause of Death Registry and cross-checked with the medical records along with diagnostics and relevant clinical features.

RESULTS

Hundred and twenty nine patients were included with a median lifespan of 24.3 years. Acute respiratory failure accounted for 63.3% of respiratory-related causes of death. 70.1% suffered at least one pneumonia, with first episode at a median age of 17.8 years. Hypoventilation was found in 73.0% with onset at 18.1 years. 60.5% had their first pneumonia before established hypoventilation. Age at onset of hypoventilation showed a strong correlation with age at first pneumonia. First pneumonia and scoliosis non-treated with scoliosis surgery increased the risk of dying of respiratory-related causes. In 10% of the patients, first pneumonia resulted in acute tracheostomy or early death. Patients treated with assisted ventilation had higher life expectancy compared to untreated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the importance of identifying subclinical hypoventilation in a timely manner and the importance of an active treatment regime upon clinical signs of pneumonia.

Use of the CHA2DS2-VASc score to predict subsequent myocardial infarction in atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

The risk of subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) varies widely in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). No convenient scoring system currently exists to identify MI in AF. While each element of the CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure; hypertension; age ≥75 years [doubled]; type 2 diabetes; previous stroke or thromboembolism [doubled]; vascular disease; age 65-75 years; and sex category) score can increase the likelihood of MI, this retrospective longitudinal study aimed to determine the accuracy of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting subsequent MI risk in AF.

METHODS

A total of 29,341 patients with AF were enrolled and followed up from January 2010 until the first occurrence of MI or until December 2020. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of subsequent MI.

RESULTS

The average age of the study population was 71 years, and 43.2% were male. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was found to be higher in patients with AF who had experienced an MI than in those who had not (3.56 ± 1.92 vs. 3.32 ± 1.81, p < 0.001). During the long-term follow-up, the risk of subsequent MI increased by 22% with every one-point increase in the CHA2DS2-VASc score (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.25; p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that high CHA2DS2-VASc scores were more likely to experience an MI than those with low CHA2DS2-VASc scores (log-rank p < 0.001). Furthermore, the CHA2DS2-VASc score was a significant predictor of MI in multivariate regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a valuable predictor of subsequent MI risk in patients with AF.

Target organ damage in untreated hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism

An increased risk of target organ damage (TOD) has been reported in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). However, there is relatively little related research on the correlation between the degree of TOD and those with and without PA in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to assess the association between PA and TOD among patients with newly diagnosed hypertension. Newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were consecutively recruited from January 2015 to June 2020 at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. Patients were stratified into those with and without PA. Data for left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque, and microalbuminuria were systematically collected. A total of 1044 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension were recruited, 57 (5.5%) of whom were diagnosed with PA. Patients with PA had lower blood pressure, serum lipids, body mass index, and plasma renin activity and a higher incidence of hypokalemia than those without PA. In contrast, the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, increased CIMT, and microalbuminuria was higher in patients with PA than in those without PA. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that PA was independently associated with increased LVMI, CIMT and microalbuminuria. Among patients with newly diagnosed hypertension, those with PA had more severe TOD, including a higher LVMI, CIMT and microalbuminuria, than those without PA. These findings emphasize the need for screening TOD in newly diagnosed hypertension due to underlying PA.

Changes in left ventricular-aortic angulation are associated with the development of obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

To characterize changes in ventricular morphology in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who develop left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction.

METHODS

We reviewed patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with LV outflow tract obstruction who underwent septal myectomy from May 2012 to June 2023. Among 68 patients initially without obstruction documented up to 7.6 years (interquartile range, 6.3-9.4 years) before the operation, a comparison was made with 78 patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy over a similar period. Patients who did not develop obstruction were matched with those who did on sex, age, and maximum septal wall thickness during the initial echocardiography, identifying 41 matched pairs. Echocardiographic data, including 5 measures of angulation, were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The median interval between echocardiographic assessments was 7.5 years (interquartile range, 6.3-8.1 years) among patients with obstruction versus 7.3 years (interquartile range, 6.2-9.0 years) in patients without nonobstruction. Patients with obstruction were more likely to have hypertension at both times. The maximum septal wall thickness increased within both groups (both P values < .001), but the magnitude of increase was not different between groups (P = .130). Patients with obstruction exhibited a greater increase in LV mass (P < .001) compared with patients without obstruction (P = .004). Aortic angulation significantly increased in 4 of the 5 measurements (all P values < .001) in patients with obstruction, whereas patients with no obstruction showed no change. Anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflet lengths and coaptation lengths remained similar in both groups over time.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of LV outflow tract obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was associated with progressive LV outflow tract angulation and increased LV hypertrophy, as reflected by LV mass. Progression to obstruction was not related to changes in the mitral valve leaflet morphology.

The extent of postpartum cardiac reverse remodeling is reflected in urine proteome

The association of postpartum cardiac reverse remodeling (RR) with urinary proteome, particularly in pregnant women with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors who show long-term increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality is unknown. We aim to profile the urinary proteome in pregnant women with/without CV risk factors to identify proteins associated with postpartum RR. Our study included a prospective cohort of 32 healthy and 27 obese and/or hypertensive and/or diabetic pregnant women who underwent transthoracic echocardiography, pulse-wave-velocity, and urine collection at the 3rd trimester and 6 months postpartum. Shotgun HPLC-MS/MS profiled proteins. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to identify associations between urinary proteins and left ventricle mass (LVM), a surrogate of RR. An increase in arterial stiffness was documented from 3rd trimester to 6 months after delivery, being significantly elevated in women with CV risk factors. In addition, the presence of at least one CV risk factor was associated with worse LVM RR. We identified 6 and 11 proteins associated with high and low LVM regression, respectively. These proteins were functionally linked with insulin-like growth factor (IGF) transport and uptake regulation by IGF binding-proteins, platelet activation, signaling and aggregation and the immune system's activity. The concentration of IGF-1 in urine samples was associated with low LVM regression after delivery. Urinary proteome showed a predicting potential for identifying pregnant women with incomplete postpartum RR.

The Association between Echocardiographic Parameters of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Fluid Status Biomarkers in Hemodialysis Patients

Overhydration and cardiac function abnormalities are common in hemodialysis patients. The association of N-terminal prohormone for brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and other fluid status biomarkers with echocardiographic parameters of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is scarcely investigated in this population. A total of 100 separate measurements performed in 50 dialysis patients (29 male, aged 60 ± 17 years) in NYHA class II/II and preserved left ventricle ejection fraction were analyzed. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP, mid-regional prohormone for atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and copeptin (CPP) were measured. The E/e' ratio as an index of HFpEF and other echocardiographic parameters were calculated. An E/e' ratio >9 was associated with higher median right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and LVMI values. Left atrium volume index (LAVI) as well as NT-proBNP and MR-proANP, but not CPP levels were significantly higher in this group. In a stepwise multivariate analysis, only CPP and IL-6 levels were found to be independently associated with the E/e' ratio in the study group, whereas NT-proBNP and MR-proANP were associated only with left heart structure parameters and LVEF. Of the analyzed biomarkers, only the CPP level was found to be independently associated with the E/e' ratio in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

The Inflammation-Fibrosis Combined Index: A Novel Marker for Predicting Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling and Prognosis in Patients with HFrEF

Background

Inflammation and cardiac fibrosis are important pathogenic drivers of heart failure. The fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) is associated with a higher degree of fibrosis. The systemic immune inflammation index (SII) is associated with a higher degree of systemic inflammation status. Previous studies have shown that they are associated with a poor prognosis for cardiovascular disease. We sought to investigate the value of FIB-4 combined with the SII as a novel inflammation-fibrosis combined index (IFCI) in predicting left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) and prognosis among reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF) patients.

Methods

A total of 895 patients with HFrEF were continuously recruited. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to assess the abilities of inflammation-fibrosis indicators to predict LVRR. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to examine independent predictors of composite cardiac events and all-cause death.

Results

After six months of follow-up, 344 (38.4%) patients experienced LVRR. The IFCI had the largest area under the curve (0.835, P < 0.001). In multivariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses, FIB-4, SII, and IFCI were predictive of LVRR (P value < 0.05). The IFCI was associated with a 3.686-fold higher risk of non-LVRR (odds ratio [OR] = 3.686, P < 0.001). Moreover, an increased IFCI predicted a poor prognosis in HFrEF patients. The highest risk of composite cardiac events (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.716, P < 0.001) was observed in the top IFCI-tertile group, and similar results were found regarding independent risk indicators of all-cause death.

Conclusion

In summary, this study indicated that increased IFCI at admission offers good predictability regarding non-LVRR and predicts the risk of all-cause mortality or composite cardiovascular events due to HFrEF patients and could be used as a novel marker.

Assessment of the Ischaemic Effects of Myocardial Bridge by Echocardiographic Exercise Stress Test

Background

Detection of myocardial bridge (MB) at angiography suggests it has a role in ischaemic-related symptoms in patients with angina without obstructive coronary artery disease. However, evidence that MB may cause myocardial ischaemia is limited.

Methods

We studied 41 patients with MB of the left anterior descending coronary artery and otherwise normal coronary arteries. Fourteen patients with normal coronary arteries and without MB served as controls. All subjects underwent a maximal treadmill exercise stress test (EST) under ECG monitoring. Standard and speckle-tracking echocardiography were performed at baseline and immediately after peak EST.

Results

EST duration and peak heart rate and systolic pressure were similar in the two groups. A positive EST (ST-segment depression .1 mm) was found in 18 patients in the MB group (43.9%) and none in the control group (p=0.001). No abnormalities in both left ventricle systolic and diastolic function were found between the two groups in the standard echocardiographic evaluation. Global and segmental (anterior, inferior) longitudinal strain (LS) did not differ at baseline between the groups. There was a small increase in global LS during EST in MB patients but not in the control group (p=0.01). Similar trends were found for regional LSs, with differences being significant for the medium (p=0.028) and apical (p=0.032) anterior segments. No differences in echocardiographic parameters and both global and segmental LSs were observed between MB patients with ischaemic ECG changes during EST versus those without.

Conclusion

Our findings do not support the notion that MB results in significant degrees of myocardial ischaemia during maximal myocardial work.

A Multi-Omics Approach to Defining Target Organ Injury in Youth with Primary Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Primary hypertension in childhood tracks into adulthood and may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Studies conducted in children and adolescents provide an opportunity to explore the early cardiovascular target organ injury (CV-TOI) in a population free from many of the comorbid cardiovascular disease risk factors that confound studies in adults.

METHODS

Youths (n=132, mean age 15.8 years) were stratified by blood pressure (BP) as low, elevated, and high-BP and by left ventricular mass index (LVMI) as low- and high-LVMI. Systemic circulating RNA, miRNA, and methylation profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and deep proteome profiles in serum were determined using high-throughput sequencing techniques.

RESULTS

VASH1 gene expression was elevated in youths with high-BP with and without high-LVMI. VASH1 expression levels positively correlated with systolic BP (r=0.3143, p=0.0034). The expression of hsa-miR-335-5p, one of the VASH1-predicted miRNAs, was downregulated in high-BP with high-LVMI youths and was inversely correlated with systolic BP (r=-0.1891, p=0.0489). GSE1 hypermethylation, circulating PROZ upregulation (log2FC=0.61, p=0.0049 and log2FC=0.62, p=0.0064), and SOD3 downregulation (log2FC=-0.70, p=0.0042 and log2FC=-0.64, p=0.010) were observed in youths with elevated BP and high-BP with high-LVMI. Comparing the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles revealed elevated HYAL1 levels in youths displaying high-BP and high-LVMI.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings are compatible with a novel blood pressure-associated mechanism that may occur through impaired angiogenesis and extracellular matrix degradation through dysregulation of Vasohibin-1 and Hyaluronidase1 was identified as a possible mediator of CV-TOI in youth with high-BP and suggests strategies for ameliorating TOI in adult-onset primary hypertension.

Impact of oxidative stress on myocardial performance in patients with diabetes: a focus on subclinical left ventricular dysfunction

INTRODUCTION

Oxidative stress is known to affect left ventricular functions negatively. There is a strong bidirectional connection between diabetes mellitus (DM) and oxidative stress. In parallel, left ventricular dysfunction is observed more frequently, even in patients with DM without other risk factors. In this context, the objective of this study is to comparatively investigate the potential relationship between oxidative stress and subclinical left ventricular dysfunction (SCLVD) assessed by Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) in patients with and without DM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample of this observational cross-sectional single-center study consisted of 151 patients who were evaluated for oxidative stress and SCLVD by tissue Doppler echocardiography. Patients' total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) values were calculated. The effects of oxidative stress and DM on MPI were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 81 patients with DM (mean age: 46.17±10.33 years) and 70 healthy individuals (mean age: 45.72±9.04 years). Mean TOS and OSI values of the DM group were higher than healthy individuals (5.72±0.55 vs 5.31±0.50, p = <0.001; and 4.92±1.93 vs 1.79±0.39, p = <0.001; respectively). The mean TAS value of the DM group was significantly lower than the healthy group (1.21±0.40 vs 3.23±0.51, p = <0.001). There was a significant correlation between OSI and MPI mitral in the DM group (R 0.554, p = <0.001) but not in the healthy group (R -0.069, p=0.249).

CONCLUSIONS

Both oxidative stress and myocardial dysfunction were found to be more common in patients with DM. The study's findings indicated the negative effect of oxidative stress on myocardial functions. Accordingly, increased oxidative stress caused more significant deterioration in MPI in patients with DM compared with healthy individuals.

Clinical and cardiac MRI characteristics: prognosis in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy

AIMS

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is recognized as a type of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). To date, the clinical prognosis of ACM remains a topic of debate in previous studies and there are limited studies on its cardiac MRI characteristics. The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical and MRI features of ACM patients and to identify the predictors of adverse prognosis based on clinical characteristics and MRI imaging findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult patients who were clinically diagnosed with ACM and underwent enhanced CMR between September 2015 and August 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiac-related death, heart transplantation, hospitalization for heart failure and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or ICD shock). The risk factors associated with these primary end points were identified using multivariable Cox analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 62 ACM patients (50 ± 9 years, 62 men) were included. The majority of patients presented with symptoms of heart failure. Over a median follow-up period of 30.3 months (IQR 12.2-57.7 months), 24 patients reached the primary endpoints. For clinical variables, multivariable analysis showed that drinking duration (HR=1.05; 95%CI:1.01, 1.11; p=0.03) and persistent drinking (HR=3.71; 95%CI:1.46, 9.44; p=0.01) were associated with MACE. For CMR variables, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) percent (HR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.14; p<0.001) stood out as an independent predictor for MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

In ACM patients, persistent drinking and cardiac MRI-defined myocardial scar were associated with adverse outcomes such as cardiac death, heart transplantation, hospitalization for heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Beyond prevalence: significance and differential impact of echocardiographic abnormalities in dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Echocardiography is commonly used to assess hydratation status and cardiac function in kidney failure patients, but the impact of structural or functional abnormalities on the prognosis of kidney failure patients was yet to be investigated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of echocardiographic abnormalities in kidney failure patients.

METHODS

This study included 857 kidney failure patients who underwent echocardiography at dialysis initiation. Patients were followed up for a median of 4.2 years for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 857 patients studied, 77% exhibited at least one echocardiographic abnormality. The most common abnormalities were left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial enlargement, but they were not significantly correlated with poor outcomes. Instead, the primary predictors of both major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in kidney failure patients were left ventricular systolic function, right ventricular systolic function, left ventricular volume index, and valvular abnormalities. Although diastolic dysfunction was linked to major adverse cardiovascular events, it was not associated with mortality. Furthermore, the study revealed that increased left ventricular volume index and left ventricular systolic dysfunction had a more significant impact on peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients than on hemodialysis (HD) patients.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into the echocardiographic abnormalities and their association with adverse outcomes in kidney failure patients, which can help clinicians optimize the management of patients and closely monitor possible high-risk populations.

Association of cardiovascular risk factors and myocardial hypertrophy in women with preeclampsia history

AIMS

A historic of preeclampsia (PE) has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. There are substantial evidences that cardiovascular changes resulting from PE can persist even after pregnancy end. Therefore, the aims was to evaluate the prevalence of myocardial hypertrophy in young women 12 months after PE event as well as try to identify risk factors for these changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Single-center observational prospective cross-sectional study that included 118 consecutive patients after 12 months of PE. Clinical and laboratory evaluations, echocardiogram were performed. Myocardial hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as an index myocardial mass ≥ 45 g/m2.7, for women. Classical risk factors for CVD were considered. Analysis included linear or logistic regression and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Significance level of 5 %.

KEY FINDINGS

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) was identified in 52 patients (44 %), overweight/obesity (OOB) in 82 (69 %), dyslipidemia in 68 (57 %) and metabolic syndrome in 47 patients (40 %). LVH was present in 35 cases (29 %) and associated with OOB (OR = 4.51; CI95%:1.18-17.17, p < 0.001), in a model corrected for age and SAH diagnosis. When only the metabolic syndrome components were analyzed, in the multiple logistic regression model, the abdominal circumference was the only clinical variable associated with LVH (OR = 17.65; CI95%:3.70-84.17; p < 0.001).

SIGNIFICANCE

It was observed a high prevalence of ventricular hypertrophy in young women with a history of pre-eclampsia. This condition was associated with the presence of obesity.

Association of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with inflammatory activity, renal dysfunction, and liver-related mortality in patients with cirrhosis and ascites

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is the predominant cardiac abnormality in cirrhosis. We investigated the association of LVDD with systemic inflammation and its impact on renal function, occurrence of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and survival in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. We prospectively enrolled 215 patients with cirrhosis and ascites. We evaluated the diagnosis and grading of LVDD by Doppler echocardiography, inflammatory markers, systemic hemodynamics, vasoactive factors, radioisotope-assessed renal function and blood flow, HRS development and liver-related mortality. LVDD was diagnosed in 142 (66%) patients [grade 2/3: n  = 61 (43%)]. Serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), plasma renin activity (PRA) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were independently associated with the presence of grade 2/3 LVDD and the severity of diastolic dysfunction. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α, cardiac output and plasma noradrenaline were also independently associated with the presence of grade 2/3 LVDD. The diastolic function marker E / e ' was strongly correlated with serum LBP ( r  = 0.731; P  < 0.001), PRA ( r  = 0.714; P  < 0.001) and GFR ( r  = -0.609; P  < 0.001) among patients with LVDD. The 5-year risk of HRS development and death was significantly higher in patients with grade 2/3 LVDD compared to those with grade 1 (35.5 vs. 14.4%; P  = 0.01 and 53.3 vs. 28.2%; P  = 0.03, respectively). The occurrence and severity of LVDD in patients with cirrhosis and ascites is closely related to inflammatory activity. Advanced LVDD is associated with baseline circulatory and renal dysfunction, favoring HRS development, and increased mortality.

Altered left atrial metrics in patients with cryptogenic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is no defined cause for cryptogenic stroke/embolic stroke of undetermined source (CS-ESUS). As atrial fibrillation (AF) develops in a significant proportion of these patients, it has been suggested that left atrial (LA) myopathy may predispose to CS-ESUS. We investigated alterations in echocardiographic measures of LA size and function in patients with CS-ESUS.

METHODS

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and SCOPUS were searched for articles published between 1 January 1990 and 10 February 2023. All observational studies of adult CS-ESUS patients with LA volume or function measurements performed by transthoracic echocardiogram were included. Individual random effects meta-analyses were performed on LA measurements in the CS-ESUS patients using subgroup analysis of comparator groups.

RESULTS

We included 29 articles with 3927 CS-ESUS patients. Analysis of weighted mean differences showed CS-ESUS patients had altered LA structure and function parameters, with a larger maximum indexed LA volume, reduced LA emptying fraction and/or LA reservoir strain, compared to healthy controls and noncardioembolic stroke patients. Conversely, CS-ESUS patients had a smaller left atrium with better function, compared to cardioembolic stroke patients and CS-ESUS patients who subsequently developed atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONS

LA volume and function are altered in CS-ESUS patients compared to healthy controls and other stroke aetiologies. An underlying atrial myopathy in a subset of CS-ESUS patients may be involved in both thrombogenesis and dysrhythmia (specifically AF). While LA functional assessment is not currently recommended following stroke, it may offer an opportunity for recurrent stroke risk stratification.

Deep neural networks detect regional wall motion abnormalities and preclinical cardiovascular disease from 12-lead ECGs

Background

Identifying regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs) is critical for diagnosing and risk stratifying patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly ischemic heart disease. We hypothesized that a deep neural network could accurately identify patients with regional wall motion abnormalities from a readily available standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods

This observational, retrospective study included patients who were treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and had an ECG and echocardiogram performed within 14 days of each other between 2008 and 2019. We trained a convolutional neural network to detect the presence of RWMAs, qualitative global right ventricular (RV) hypokinesis, and varying degrees of left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤50%, LVEF ≤40%, and LVEF ≤35%) identified by echocardiography, using ECG data alone. Patients were randomly split into development (80%) and test sets (20%). Model performance was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age and sex were performed to estimate the risk of future acute coronary events.

Results

The development set consisted of 19,837 patients (mean age 66.7±16.4; 46.7% female) and the test set comprised of 4,953 patients (mean age 67.5±15.8 years; 46.5% female). On the test dataset, the model accurately identified the presence of RWMA, RV hypokinesis, LVEF ≤50%, LVEF ≤40%, and LVEF ≤35% with AUCs of 0.87 (95% CI 0.858-0.882), 0.888 (95% CI 0.878-0.899), 0.923 (95% CI 0.914-0.933), 0.93 (95% CI 0.921-0.939), and 0.876 (95% CI 0.858-0.896), respectively. Among patients with normal biventricular function at the time of the index ECG, those classified as having RMWA by the model were 3 times the risk (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.8; 95% CI 1.9-3.9) for future acute coronary events compared to those classified as negative.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that a deep neural network can help identify regional wall motion abnormalities and reduced LV function from a 12-lead ECG and could potentially be used as a screening tool for triaging patients who need either initial or repeat echocardiographic imaging.

Pulsatile Femoral Vein Doppler Pattern is a Parameter of Venous Congestion in ICU Patients

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the presence of a pulsatile femoral vein pattern is an indicator of venous congestion in the intensive care unit (ICU).

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Three medico-surgical university-affiliated ICUs.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients who had an ultrasound evaluation at several time points during their ICU stay: at baseline (within 24 hours of admission to ICU), daily during their ICU stay, and within 24 hours before ICU discharge.

INTERVENTIONS

At each time point, the hemodynamic, respiratory, and cardiac ultrasound parameters were recorded. The common femoral vein was studied with pulsed-wave Doppler at the level of the femoral trigonum, with high frequency (5-13 MHz) linear array vascular probe and venous vascular mode, in supine patients.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One hundred eight patients who underwent 400 ultrasound evaluations (3.7 ± 1 ultrasound evaluations per patient) during their ICU stay were included. Seventy-nine of 108 patients (73%) had a pulsatile femoral vein pattern at least at 1 time point. The multivariable mixed effects logistic regression model demonstrated an association among pulsatile femoral vein pattern, body mass index (OR: 0.91[95% CI 0.85-0.96], p = 0.002), inferior vena cava mean diameter (OR: 2.35 [95% CI 1.18-4.66], p = 0.014), portal vein pulsatility (OR: 2.3 [95% CI 1.2-4.4], p = 0.012), and congestive renal vein flow pattern (OR: 4.02 [95% CI 2.01-8.03], p < 0.001). The results were confirmed by principal component analysis.

CONCLUSION

In the ICU, a pulsatile femoral vein pattern is associated with parameters of venous congestion, independently of the patient's volume status, and ventilatory treatment. These results suggest the femoral vein Doppler pulsatility as a parameter of congestion in ICU patients.

Energy Loss Index and Dimensionless Index Outperform Direct Valve Planimetry in Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis

Background/Objectives: Among patients with suspected severe aortic stenosis (AS), discordance between effective orifice area (EOA) and transvalvular gradients is frequent and requires a multiparametric workup including flow assessment and calcium-scoring to confirm true severe AS. The aim of this study was to assess direct planimetry, energy loss index (Eli) and dimensionless index (DI) as stand-alone parameters to identify non-severe AS in discordant cases. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we included consecutive AS patients > 70 years with EOA < 1.0 cm2 referred for valve replacement between 2014 and 2017. AS severity was retrospectively reassessed using the multiparametric work-up recommended in the 2021 ESC/EACTS guidelines. DI and ELi were calculated, and valve area was measured by direct planimetry on transesophageal echocardiography. Results: A total of 101 patients (mean age 82 y; 57% male) were included. Discordance between EOA and gradients was observed in 46% and non-severe AS found in 24% despite an EOA < 1 cm2. Valve planimetry performed poorly, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.64. At a cut-off value of >0.82 cm2, sensitivity and specificity to identify non-severe AS were 67 and 66%, respectively. DI and ELi showed a higher diagnostic accuracy, with an AUC of 0.77 and 0.76, respectively. Cut-off values of >0.24 and >0.6 cm2/m2 identified non-severe AS, with a high specificity of 79% and 91%, respectively. Conclusions: Almost one in four patients with EOA < 1 cm2 had non-severe AS according to guideline-recommended multiparametric assessment. Direct valve planimetry revealed poor diagnostic accuracy and should be interpreted with caution. Usual prognostic cut-off values for DI > 0.24 and ELI > 0.6 cm2/m2 identified non-severe AS with high specificity and should therefore be included in the assessment of low-gradient AS.

Imaging associations enhance the understanding of ECG abnormalities in male Brazilian football players: findings from the B-Pro Foot ECG study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence of abnormal ECG findings and their association with imaging results in male Brazilian football players.

METHODS

The 'B-Pro Foot ECG' is a multicentre observational study conducted in 82 Brazilian professional clubs. It analysed 6125 players aged 15-35 years (2496 white, 2004 mixed-race and 1625 black individuals) who underwent cardiovascular screening from 2002 to 2023. All ECGs were reviewed by two experienced cardiologists in the athlete's care. Those with abnormal findings underwent further investigations, including a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was subsequently performed based on TTE findings or clinical suspicion.

RESULTS

In total, 180 (3%) players had abnormal ECGs and 176 (98%) showed normal TTE results. Athletes aged 26-35 years had a higher prevalence of abnormal ECGs than younger athletes (15-25 years). Black players had a higher prevalence of T-wave inversion (TWI) in the inferior leads than white players (2.6% vs 1.4%; p=0.005), as well as in V5 (2.9%) and V6 (2.1%) compared with white (1.2% and 1.0%; p<0.001) and mixed-race (1.5% and 1.2%; p<0.05) players, respectively. TTE parameters were similar across ethnicities. However, four out of 75 players with inferolateral TWI showed abnormal TTEs and CMR findings consistent with cardiomyopathies. CMR also showed cardiomyopathies or myocarditis in four players with inferolateral TWI and normal TTEs. In total, nine (0.1%) athletes were diagnosed with cardiac diseases and were followed for 40±30 months, with no cardiac events documented.

CONCLUSION

This study found a 3% prevalence of abnormal ECGs in male Brazilian football players. Inferolateral TWI was associated with cardiac pathologies confirmed by CMR, even in athletes with a normal TTE.

Evaluation of mitral chordae tendineae length using four-dimensional computed tomography

BACKGROUND

Mitral valvuloplasty using artificial chordae tendineae represents an effective surgical approach for treating mitral regurgitation. Achieving precise measurements of artificial chordae tendineae length (CL) is an important factor in the procedure; however, no objective index currently exists to facilitate this measurement. Therefore, preoperative assessment of CL is critical for surgical planning and support. Four-dimensional x-ray micro-computed tomography (4D-CT) may be useful for accurate CL measurement considering that it allows for dynamic three-dimensional (3D) evaluation compared to that with transthoracic echocardiography, a conventional inspection method.

AIM

To investigate the behavior and length of mitral chordae tendineae during systole using 4D-CT.

METHODS

Eleven adults aged > 70 years without mitral valve disease were evaluated. A 64-slice CT scanner was used to capture 20 phases in the cardiac cycle in electrocardiographic synchronization. The length of the primary chordae tendineae was measured from early systole to early diastole using the 3D image. The primary chordae tendineae originating from the anterior papillary muscle and attached to the A1-2 region and those from the posterior papillary muscle and attached to the A2-3 region were designated as cA and cP, respectively. The behavior and maximum lengths [cA (ma), cP (max)] were compared, and the correlation with body surface area (BSA) was evaluated.

RESULTS

In all cases, the mitral anterior leaflet chordae tendineae could be measured. In most cases, the cA and cP chordae tendineae could be measured visually. The mean cA (max) and cP (max) were 20.2 mm ± 1.95 mm and 23.5 mm ± 4.06 mm, respectively. cP (max) was significantly longer. The correlation coefficients (r) with BSA were 0.60 and 0.78 for cA (max) and cP (max), respectively. Both cA and cP exhibited constant variation in CL during systole, with a maximum 1.16-fold increase in cA and a 1.23-fold increase in cP from early to mid-systole. For cP, CL reached a plateau at 15% and remained elongated until end-systole, whereas for cA, after peaking at 15%, CL shortened slightly and then moved toward its peak again as end-systole approached.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that 4D-CT is a valuable tool for accurate measurement of both the length and behavior of chordae tendineae within the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve.

Determinants of echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue in a general middle-aged population - The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the cardiac visceral fat depot proposed to play a role in the etiology of various cardiovascular disease outcomes. Little is known about EAT determinants in a general population. We examined cardiometabolic, dietary, lifestyle and socioeconomic determinants of echocardiograpghically measured EAT in early adulthood. Data on cardiometabolic, dietary, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors were collected from participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS; N = 1667; age 34-49 years). EAT thickness was measured from parasternal long axis echocardiograms. Multivariable regression analysis was used to study potential EAT determinants. Possible effect modification of sex was addressed. Mean EAT thickness was 4.07 mm (95% CI 4.00-4.17). Multivariable analysis [β indicating percentage of change in EAT(mm) per one unit increase in determinant variable] indicated female sex (β = 11.0, P < 0.0001), type 2 diabetes (β = 14.0, P = 0.02), waist circumference (cm) (β = 0.38, P < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (β = 0.18, P = 0.02) and red meat intake (g/day) (β = 0.02, P = 0.05) as EAT determinants. Sex-specific analysis revealed age (year) (β = 0.59, P = 0.01), alcohol intake (drinks/day) (β = 4.69, P = 0.006), heavy drinking (yes/no) (β = 30.4, P < 0.0001) as EAT determinants in women and fruit intake (g/day) (β = -1.0, P = 0.04) in men. In the YFS cohort, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and red meat intake were directly associated with EAT among all participants. In women, age, alcohol intake, heavy drinking and type 2 diabetes associated directly with EAT, while an inverse association was observed between fruit intake and EAT in men.

Effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on surgical outcome of ventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension patients

BACKGROUND

Children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and large systemic-to-pulmonary shunts eventually develop pulmonary hypertension (PH). The perioperative management of patients with VSD and PH is quite troublesome and still debatable, especially in developing countries where the different management options and standardization of treatment is not available. Oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are good treatment options being widely available, cheap, easy administration and do not require extensive monitoring. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of the PDE-5 inhibitors when given orally, early preoperative and continued for 3 months postoperative on controlling postoperative PH with its effect on right ventricle (RV) functions. Fifty-one patients were randomly assigned to either sildenafil or tadalafil, 1 week before and continued for 3 months after corrective surgery. The control group received a placebo.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the improvement in the right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP) between both groups, early in the postoperative period (P = 0.255) and in follow-up (P = 0.259). There was also no significant difference in the changes in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), postoperatively and on follow-up (P = 0.788 and 0.059, respectively). There was a drop in RV functions in both groups postoperatively which improved on follow-up; however, it was not significant between both groups. The length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was similar between both groups (P = 0.143).

CONCLUSION

Perioperative administration of PDE-5 inhibitors does not have an impact on the clinical course as regards improvement in pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, ventricular functions and ICU stay.

Atrial remodelling associated with sporting discipline, sex and duration in elite sports: a cross-sectional echocardiographic study among Danish elite athletes

Background

Elite endurance training is characterised by a high-volume load of the heart and has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) in middle-aged men. We compared left atrial (LA) remodelling among elite athletes engaged in sports, categorised as having low, intermediate, and high cardiac demands.

Methods

This cross-sectional echocardiographic study of healthy elite athletes evaluated LA size and function measured as LA maximum volume (maxLAVi) and contraction strain. Athletes were grouped according to the cardiac demands of their sport (low, intermediate, high). Morphological measures were indexed to body surface area and reported as least square means; differences between groups were reported with 95% CIs.

Results

We included 482 elite athletes (age 21±5 years (mean±SD), 39% women). MaxLAVi was larger in the high group (28.4 mL/m2) compared with the low group (20.2 mL/m2; difference: 8.2, CI 5.3 to 11.1 mL/m2; p<0.001), where measurements in men exceed those in women (26.4 mL/m2 vs 24.7 mL/m2; difference 1.6 mL/m2; CI 0.3 to 2.9 mL/m2; p=0.0175). In the high group, LA contraction strain was lower compared with the low group (-10.1% vs -12.9%; difference: 2.8%; CI 1.3 to 4.3%; p<0.001), and men had less LA contraction strain compared with women (-10.3% vs -11.0%; difference 0.7%; CI 0.0 to 1.4%; p=0.049). Years in training did not affect maxLAVi or LA contraction strain.

Conclusion

MaxLAVi was higher while LA contraction strain was lower with increased cardiac demands. MaxLAVi was larger, and LA contraction was lower in men compared with women. Whether these sex-based differences in LA remodelling are a precursor to pathological remodelling in male athletes is unknown.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of an ejection fraction adjusted for myocardial remodeling

Introduction

Ejection fraction (EF) is widely used to evaluate heart function during heart failure (HF) due to its simplicity compared but it may misrepresent cardiac function during ventricular hypertrophy, especially in heart failure with preserved EF (HFpEF). To resolve this shortcoming, we evaluate a correction factor to EF, which is equivalent to computing EF at the mid-wall layer (without the need for mid-layer identification) rather than at the endocardial surface, and thus better complements other complex metrics.

Method

The retrospective cohort data was studied, consisting of 2,752 individuals (56.5% male, age 69.3 ± 16.4 years) admitted with a request of a troponin test and undergoing echocardiography as part of their clinical assessment across three centres. Cox-proportional regression models were constructed to compare the adjusted EF (EFa) to EF in evaluating risk of heart failure admissions.

Result

Comparing HFpEF patients to non-HF cases, there was no significant difference in EF (62.3 ± 7.6% vs. 64.2 ± 6.2%, p = 0.79), but there was a significant difference in EFa (56.6 ± 6.4% vs. 61.8 ± 9.9%, p = 0.0007). Both low EF and low EFa were associated with a high HF readmission risk. However, in the cohort with a normal EF (EF ≥ 50%), models using EFa were significantly more associative with HF readmissions within 3 years, where the leave one out cross validation ROC analysis showed a 18.6% reduction in errors, and Net Classification Index (NRI) analysis showed that risk increment classification of events increased by 12.2%, while risk decrement classification of non-events decreased by 16.6%.

Conclusion

EFa is associated with HF readmission in patients with a normal EF.

Beneficial Effects of Oral Carbon Monoxide on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin and other anthracyclines are crucial cancer treatment drugs. However, they are associated with significant cardiotoxicity, severely affecting patient care and limiting dosage and usage. Previous studies have shown that low carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations protect against doxorubicin toxicity. However, traditional methods of CO delivery pose complex challenges for daily administration, such as dosing and toxicity. To address these challenges, we developed a novel oral liquid drug product containing CO (HBI-002) that can be easily self-administered by patients with cancer undergoing doxorubicin treatment, resulting in CO being delivered through the upper gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS AND RESULTS

HBI-002 was tested in a murine model of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in the presence and absence of lung or breast cancer. The mice received HBI-002 twice daily before doxorubicin administration and experienced increased carboxyhemoglobin levels from a baseline of ≈1% to 7%. Heart tissue from mice treated with HBI-002 had a 6.3-fold increase in CO concentrations and higher expression of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 compared with placebo control. In both acute and chronic doxorubicin toxicity scenarios, HBI-002 protected the heart from cardiotoxic effects, including limiting tissue damage and cardiac dysfunction and improving survival. In addition, HBI-002 did not compromise the efficacy of doxorubicin in reducing tumor volume, but rather enhanced the sensitivity of breast 4T1 cancer cells to doxorubicin while simultaneously protecting cardiac function.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings strongly support using HBI-002 as a cardioprotective agent that maintains the therapeutic benefits of doxorubicin cancer treatment while mitigating cardiac damage.

The athlete's heart: allometric considerations on published papers and relation to cardiovascular variables

To evaluate the morphology of the "athlete's heart", left ventricular (LV) wall thickness (WT) and end-diastolic internal diameter (LVIDd) at rest were addressed in publications on skiers, rowers, swimmers, cyclists, runners, weightlifters (n = 927), and untrained controls (n = 173) and related to the acute and maximal cardiovascular response to their respective disciplines. Dimensions of the heart at rest and functional variables established during the various sport disciplines were scaled to body weight for comparison among athletes independent of body mass. The two measures of LV were related (r = 0.8; P = 0.04) across athletic disciplines. With allometric scaling to body weight, LVIDd was similar between weightlifters and controls but 7%-15% larger in the other athletic groups, while WT was 9%-24% enlarged in all athletes. The LVIDd was related to stroke volume, oxygen pulse, maximal oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and blood volume (r =  ~ 0.9, P < 0.05), while there was no relationship between WT and these variables (P > 0.05). In conclusion, while cardiac enlargement is, in part, essential for the generation of the cardiac output and thus stroke volume needed for competitive endurance exercise, an enlarged WT seems important for the development of the wall tension required for establishing normal arterial pressure in the enlarged LVIDd.

Hypertension-specific association of cardio-ankle vascular index with subclinical left ventricular function in a Chinese population: Danyang study

The association of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), with subclinical cardiac dysfunction in hypertensive patients is unclear. We aim to examine their relationship in hypertensive patients compared with that in normotensive subjects. Our study included 1887 subjects enrolled from Danyang between 2018 and 2019. CAVI was measured using VaSera VS-1500A device. We performed conventional echocardiography to measure ejection fraction (EF) and E/A, tissue Doppler to measure mitral annular early diastolic velocities (e'), and speckle-tracking to estimate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS). LV mass index (76.3, 80.0, and 84.0 g/m2), and E/e' (7.6, 8.2, and 8.8) were increased and GLS (21.1, 21.0, and 20.4%), E/A (1.2, 1.0, and 0.8) and e' velocity (11.2, 9.4, and 8.2 cm/s) was decreased from tertiles 1-3 of CAVI on unadjusted analyses (P < .001). After adjustment for covariates, GLS, E/A, and e' were still significantly decreased from tertiles 1-3 of CAVI (P ≤ .04). Further sensitive analyses revealed a similar association pattern for diastolic function but not systolic function. Compared with the lowest tertile, subjects with a top tertile of CAVI were at higher risk of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients (OR = 2.61; P = .005). Increased CAVI is associated with worse subclinical diastolic function. However, this relationship of CAVI to subclinical systolic function was more prominent in hypertensive patients.

Stretch-induced compliance mechanism in pregnancy-induced cardiac hypertrophy and the impact of cardiovascular risk factors

Pressure overload-induced hypertrophy compromises cardiac stretch-induced compliance (SIC) after acute volume overload (AVO). We hypothesized that SIC could be enhanced by physiological hypertrophy induced by pregnancy's chronic volume overload. This study evaluated SIC-cardiac adaptation in pregnant women with or without cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors. Thirty-seven women (1st trimester, 1stT) and a separate group of 31 (3rd trimester, 3rdT) women [healthy or with CVR factors (obesity and/or hypertension and/or with gestational diabetes)] underwent echocardiography determination of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and E/e' before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 15 min after (T2; SIC) AVO induced by passive leg elevation. Blood samples for NT-proBNP quantification were collected before and after the AVO. Acute leg elevation significantly increased inferior vena cava diameter and stroke volume from T0 to T1 in both 1stT and 3rdT, confirming AVO. LVEDV and E/e' also increased immediately after AVO (T1) in both 1stT and 3rdT. SIC adaptation (T2, 15 min after AVO) significantly decreased E/e' in both trimesters, with additional expansion of LVEDV only in the 1stT. NT-pro-BNP increased slightly after AVO but only in the 1stT. CVR factors, but not parity or age, significantly impacted SIC cardiac adaptation. A distinct functional response to SIC was observed between 1stT and 3rdT, which was influenced by CVR factors. The LV of 3rdT pregnant women was hypertrophied, showing a structural limitation to dilate with AVO, whereas the lower LV filling pressure values suggest increased diastolic compliance.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The sudden increase of volume overload triggers an acute myocardial stretch characterized by an immediate rise in contractility by the Frank-Starling mechanism, followed by a progressive increase known as the slow force response. The present study is the first to characterize echocardiographically the stretch-induced compliance (SIC) mechanism in the context of physiological hypertrophy induced by pregnancy. A distinct functional adaptation to SIC was observed between first and third trimesters, which was influenced by cardiovascular risk factors.

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: A 7-year retrospective cohort study of 3,380 adults using serial echocardiography

AIM

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) has been observed in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in cross-sectional studies but the causal relationship is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of NAFLD and the fibrotic progression of the disease on the development of LVDD, assessed by serial echocardiography, in a large population over a 7-year longitudinal setting.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included the data of 3,380 subjects from a medical health check-up program. We defined subjects having NAFLD by abdominal ultrasonography and assessed significant liver fibrosis by the aspartate transaminase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI), the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), and the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index. LVDD was defined using serial echocardiography. A parametric Cox proportional hazards model was used.

RESULTS

During 11,327 person-years of follow-up, there were 560 (16.0 %) incident cases of LVDD. After adjustment for multiple risk factors, subjects with NAFLD showed an increased adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.21 (95 % confidence interval [CI]=1.02-1.43) for incident LVDD compared to those without. The risk of LV diastolic dysfunction increased progressively with increasing degree of hepatic steatosis (P< 0.001). Compared to subjects without NAFLD, the multivariable-aHR (95 % CI) for LVDD in subjects with APRI < 0.5 and APRI ≥ 0.5 were 1.20 (1.01-1.42) and 1.36 (0.90-2.06), respectively (P= 0.036), while other fibrosis prediction models (NFS and FIB-4 index) showed insignificant results.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of LVDD in a large cohort. More severe forms of hepatic steatosis and/or significant liver fibrosis may increase the risk of developing LVDD.

Impact of coronary artery disease in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) often occurs concurrently with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the influence of concomitant CAD has not been fully assessed in patients with HCM.

METHODS

Invasive or computed tomography coronary angiography was performed in 461 patients with HCM at our hospital to determine the presence and severity of CAD from March 2010 to April 2022. The primary end points were all-cause, cardiovascular, and sudden cardiac deaths. The survival of HCM patients with severe CAD was compared with that of HCM patients without severe CAD.

RESULTS

Of 461 patients with HCM, 235 had concomitant CAD. During the median (interquartile range) follow-up of 49 (31-80) months, 75 patients (16.3%) died. The 5-year survival estimates were 64.3%, 82.5%, and 86.0% for the severe, mild-to-moderate, and no-CAD groups, respectively (log-rank, p = 0.010). Regarding the absence of cardiovascular death, the 5-year survival estimates were 68.5% for patients with severe CAD, 86.4% for patients with mild-to-moderate CAD, and 90.2% for HCM patients with no CAD (log-rank, p = 0.001). In multivariate analyses, severe CAD was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular death after adjusting for age, left ventricular ejection fraction, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a worse prognosis among HCM patients with severe CAD than among HCM patients without severe CAD. Therefore, timely recognition of severe CAD in HCM patients and appropriate treatment are important.

Roxadustat reduces left ventricular mass index compared to rHuEPO in haemodialysis patients in a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is highly prevalent in haemodialysis (HD) patients and is associated with an increased risk of death. Roxadustat and recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO, abbreviated as EPO) are the main treatment strategies for renal anaemia in HD patients, but it has not been clear whether there is a difference in their effect on LVH.

METHODS

In this multi-centre, prospective, randomized trial of 12-month duration, study participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the roxadustat group or the EPO group. The doses of both treatment regimens were adjusted so that the patients had a haemoglobin level of 10.0-12.0 g per dL. The primary study endpoint was the change from baseline to 12 months in the left ventricular mass index (LVMI, g/m2) measured by echocardiography.

RESULTS

In total, 114 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 50 years, and the median dialysis duration was 33 months. Sixty-one patients were men, and 24 were diabetic. LVMI decreased from 116.18 ± 27.84 to 110.70 ± 25.74 g/m2 in the roxadustat group. However, it increased from 109.35 ± 23.41 to 114.99 ± 28.46 g/m2 in the EPO group, with a significant difference in the change in LVMI between the two groups [-5.48 (-11.60 to 0.65) vs. 5.65 (0.74 to 10.55), p < 0.05]. Changes in left ventricular mass, end-diastolic volume and 6-min walk test seemed superior in the roxadustat group. There were no significant differences in other cardiac geometry, biochemical parameters and major adverse cardiovascular events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to EPO, roxadustat is more helpful in the regression of LVH in HD patients.

The Role of the Electrocardiogram in Pregnant Individuals with Chronic Hypertension

OBJECTIVE

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests that an electrocardiogram is an acceptable first-line test. We sought to examine whether an electrocardiogram is a sufficient screening tool to identify echocardiogram-diagnosed left ventricular hypertrophy. We also sought to determine risk factors associated with left ventricular hypertrophy.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant individuals with chronic hypertension who delivered at 20 weeks' gestation or greater at a tertiary care center. Analyses were limited to individuals who had both electrocardiogram and echocardiogram during pregnancy. Left ventricular hypertrophy was diagnosed using the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. Maternal demographics and electrocardiogram results were compared between individuals with left ventricular hypertrophy and those without left ventricular hypertrophy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of the electrocardiogram to identify left ventricular hypertrophy were also calculated. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated, controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

Of 172 individuals, 60 (34.9%) had left ventricular hypertrophy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of the electrocardiogram to identify echocardiogram-diagnosed left ventricular hypertrophy was 18.3% (95% CI: 9.5-30.4), 91.1% (95% CI: 84.2-95.6), 2.05 (95% CI: 0.93-4.56), and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.78-1.02), respectively. Compared with individuals without left ventricular hypertrophy, those with left ventricular hypertrophy were more likely to have hypertension of 4 years' duration or longer (aOR = 4.01; 95% CI: 1.71-9.42), unknown duration of hypertension (aOR = 4.66; 95% CI: 1.28-17.04), and higher body mass index (aOR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.07). After adjusting for covariates, left ventricular hypertrophy by electrocardiogram was not associated with actual left ventricular hypertrophy (aOR = 2.59; 95% CI: 0.94-7.10).

CONCLUSION

Electrocardiogram was not a sufficient test for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy in pregnant individuals with chronic hypertension. We suggest an echocardiogram evaluation for all individuals with chronic hypertension.

KEY POINTS

· The first-line test for cardiac evaluation is an electrocardiogram.. · In our cohort, the rate of left ventricular hypertrophy was 35%.. · The electrocardiogram was not sensitive to detect left ventricular hypertrophy..

Transthoracic echocardiography is a simple tool for size matching in cardiac xenotransplantation

BACKGROUND

Preoperative size matching is essential for both allogeneic and xenogeneic heart transplantation. In preclinical pig-to-baboon xenotransplantation experiments, porcine donor organs are usually matched to recipients by using indirect parameters, such as age and total body weight. For clinical use of xenotransplantation, a more precise method of size measurement would be desirable to guarantee a "perfect match." Here, we investigated the use of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and described a new method to estimate organ size prior to xenotransplantation.

METHODS

Hearts from n = 17 genetically modified piglets were analyzed by TTE and total heart weight (THW) was measured prior to xenotransplantation into baboons between March 2018 and April 2022. Left ventricular (LV) mass was calculated according to the previously published method by Devereux et al. and a newly adapted formula. Hearts from n = 5 sibling piglets served as controls for the determination of relative LV and right ventricular (RV) mass. After explantation, THW and LV and RV mass were measured.

RESULTS

THW correlated significantly with donor age and total body weight. The strongest correlation was found between THW and LV mass calculated by TTE. Compared to necropsy data of the control piglets, the Devereux formula underestimated both absolute and relative LV mass, whereas the adapted formula yielded better results. Combining the adapted formula and the relative LV mass data, THW can be predicted with TTE.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate reliable LV mass estimation by TTE for size matching prior to xenotransplantation. An adapted formula provides more accurate results of LV mass estimation than the generally used Devereux formula in the xenotransplantation setting. TTE measurement of LV mass is superior for the prediction of porcine heart sizes compared to conventional parameters such as age and total body weight.

Comparable Ventilatory Inefficiency at Maximal and Submaximal Performance in COPD vs. CHF subjects: An Innovative Approach

BACKGROUND

Currently, excess ventilation has been grounded under the relationship between minute-ventilation/carbon dioxide output ( V ˙ E - V ˙ CO 2 ). Alternatively, a new approach for ventilatory efficiency ( η E V ˙ ) has been published.

OBJECTIVE

Our main hypothesis is that comparatively low levels of η E V ˙ between chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are attainable for a similar level of maximum and submaximal aerobic performance, conversely to long-established methods ( V ˙ E - V ˙ CO 2 slope and intercept).

METHODS

Both groups performed lung function tests, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The significance level adopted in the statistical analysis was 5%. Thus, nineteen COPD and nineteen CHF-eligible subjects completed the study. With the aim of contrasting full values of V ˙ E - V ˙ CO 2 and η V ˙ E for the exercise period (100%), correlations were made with smaller fractions, such as 90% and 75% of the maximum values.

RESULTS

The two groups attained matched characteristics for age (62±6 vs. 59±9 yrs, p>.05), sex (10/9 vs. 14/5, p>0.05), BMI (26±4 vs. 27±3 Kg m2, p>0.05), and peak V ˙ O 2 (72±19 vs. 74±20 %pred, p>0.05), respectively. The V ˙ E - V ˙ CO 2 slope and intercept were significantly different for COPD and CHF (27.2±1.4 vs. 33.1±5.7 and 5.3±1.9 vs. 1.7±3.6, p<0.05 for both), but η V ˙ E average values were similar between-groups (10.2±3.4 vs. 10.9±2.3%, p=0.462). The correlations between 100% of the exercise period with 90% and 75% of it were stronger for η V ˙ E (r>0.850 for both).

CONCLUSION

The η V ˙ E is a valuable method for comparison between cardiopulmonary diseases, with so far distinct physiopathological mechanisms, including ventilatory constraints in COPD.

Evaluation of cardiac electrophysiological features in patients with premature adrenarche

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyze the cardiac effects of hyperandrogenism in premature adrenarche (PA) and evaluate the risk of arrhythmia development.

METHODS

Fifty patients with PA and 50 healthy children from a pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic were included in the study. The patients underwent echocardiography and electrocardiographic evaluations. Conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler echocardiography, repolarization time, and repolarization dispersion time were evaluated.

RESULTS

The median age in the PA and control groups was 7.91 years (5.83-9.25), 8.08 years (5.75-9.33), respectively. Thirty percent of patients in the PA group were male. While mitral early diastolic velocity deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), and E/e' ratio were significantly higher in the PA group than in the control group, mitral lateral annulus tissue Doppler early diastolic velocity was significantly lower (p=0.0001, 0.0001, 0.003, 0.0001). While P wave dispersion (PWD), Tpe, and QT-dispersion (QT-d) values were significantly higher in the PA group than in the control group, the P minimum value was significantly lower in the PA group (p=0.0001, 0.02, 0.004, and 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Early subclinical diastolic dysfunction was observed in the PA group. There was an increased risk of atrial arrhythmia with PWD and an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia with increased Tpe and QT-d. There was a correlation between testosterone levels and diastolic function parameters. The increased risk of atrial arrhythmia is closely related to diastolic function.