Increased Fracture Risk with Furosemide Use in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

The association between heart failure and risk of fractures: Pool analysis comprising 260,410 participants

Background

HF and osteoporosis shared many common etiological risk factors. However, studies exploring whether patients with HF were associated with a higher risk of osteoporotic fracture resulted in inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the association between HF and the risk of incident fracture.

Methods

Following the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology group recommendations, we searched multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Cochran Library, and EMBASE) for related studies from inception to April 30, 2021. Studies evaluating the risk of incident fracture in patients with HF compared with those without HF were included for analysis. The random-effects models were used to combine the estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of incident fracture associated with HF.

Results

We included 8 observational studies for meta-analysis. The sample size ranged from 5,613 to 87,748 participants, with a total of 260,410 participants included. The median follow-up duration was 5.0 years. Random-effects model analyses showed that compared with control groups, patients with HF were associated with a higher risk of all incident fractures (HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.30–2.16, P < 0.001) and hip fracture (HR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.28–3.77, P < 0.001). The risk of all incident fractures was increased in all subgroup analyses according to age, sample size, sex, and follow-up duration.

Conclusions

Patients with HF were associated with a higher risk of incident fracture, as well as hip fracture.

Current evidence for pharmacologic therapy following stage 1 palliation for single ventricle congenital heart disease

INTRODUCTION

Infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease are vulnerable to complications between stage 1 and stage 2 of palliation. Pharmaceutical treatment during this period is varied and often dependent on institutional practices as there is little evidence supporting a particular treatment path.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on medical management of patients following stage I palliation. We performed a scoping review of the current literature regarding angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and digoxin treatment in the interstage period. In addition, we discuss other medication classes frequently used in these patients.

EXPERT OPINION

Due to significant heterogeneity of anatomy, rarity of disease, and other confounding factors, there is limited evidence to support most commonly used medications within the interstage period. Digoxin is associated with improved mortality within the interstage period and should be considered; however, no large randomized controlled trial exists supporting its use. Prevention of thrombotic complication with aspirin is also associated with improved outcomes and should be considered unless a contraindication exists. The addition of other prescriptions in this patient population should be considered only after an evaluation of the risks and benefits of each medication, recognizing the burden and risk of polypharmacy in this fragile patient population.

Congenital Heart Disease: The State-of-the-Art on Its Pharmacological Therapeutics

Congenital heart disease is one of the most common causes of death derived from malformations. Historically, its treatment has depended on timely diagnosis and early pharmacological and surgical interventions. Survival rates for patients with this disease have increased, primarily due to advancements in therapeutic choices, but mortality remains high. Since this disease is a time-sensitive pathology, pharmacological interventions are needed to improve clinical outcomes. Therefore, we analyzed the applications, dosage, and side effects of drugs currently used for treating congenital heart disease. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and potassium-sparing diuretics have shown a mortality benefit in most patients. Other therapies, such as endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, prostaglandins, and soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulators, have benefited patients with pulmonary artery hypertension. Likewise, the adjunctive symptomatic treatment of these patients has further improved the outcomes, since antiarrhythmics, digoxin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have shown their benefits in these cases. Conclusively, these drugs also carry the risk of troublesome adverse effects, such as electrolyte imbalances and hemodynamic compromise. However, their benefits for survival, symptom improvement, and stabilization outweigh the possible complications from their use. Thus, cases must be assessed individually to accurately identify interventions that would be most beneficial for patients.

Medical Therapies for Heart Failure in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Significant surgical and medical advances over the past several decades have resulted in a growing number of infants and children surviving with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and other congenital heart defects associated with a single systemic right ventricle (RV). However, cardiac dysfunction and ultimately heart failure (HF) remain the most common cause of death and indication for transplantation in this population. Moreover, while early recognition and treatment of single ventricle-related complications are essential to improving outcomes, there are no proven therapeutic strategies for single systemic RV HF in the pediatric population. Importantly, prototypical adult HF therapies have been relatively ineffective in mitigating the need for cardiac transplantation in HLHS, likely due to several unique attributes of the failing HLHS myocardium. Here, we discuss the most commonly used medical therapies for the treatment of HF symptoms in HLHS and other single systemic RV patients. Additionally, we provide an overview of potential novel therapies for systemic ventricular failure in the HLHS and related populations based on fundamental science, pre-clinical, clinical, and observational studies in the current literature.

Loop Diuretics in Infants with Heart Failure

Tremendous advances have been made in the last 5 decades in the surgical management of congenital heart disease (CHD). Most infants affected by clinically significant CHD are at risk for developing heart failure (HF). Adult HF management is mostly evidence-based and our knowledge in this field has expanded significantly in the past decade. However, data on management approaches for HF in infants are limited. The indications and implications for various medications and interventions in patients with HF secondary to CHD are an upcoming area of interest. It is critical that we expand our ability to prevent, detect, and manage HF in the pediatric population.

Diuretic Effect and Metabolomics Analysis of Crude and Salt-Processed Plantaginis Semen

Plantaginis Semen (PS) is well recognized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and health products. Crude PS (CPS) and salt-processed CPS (SPS) are the two most commonly used decoction pieces of PS, and are included in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Although they all have multiple effects, the mechanisms for treating diseases are different and remain unclear, the processing mechanism of SPS is also indeterminate, which hinders their clinical application to a certain extent. In order to solve these problems and further develop PS in the clinical application. Here, we used saline-loaded model rats for experiments, and utilized an integrated approach consisting of pharmacological methods and metabolomics, which could assess the diuretic impact of CPS and SPS ethanol extracts on saline-loaded rats and elucidate the underlying mechanism. The results showed that CPS and SPS both produced increased urine volume excretion and urine electrolyte excretion, but the levels of aldosterone (ALD) and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) were decreased. And 30 differential metabolites such as linoleic acid, lysoPC(O-18:0), sphingosine-1-phosphate, lysoPC(18:0) were found, mainly involving three metabolic pathways. In conclusion, CPS and SPS both have a diuretic effect, and that of SPS is better. This work investigated the possible diuretic mechanisms of CPS and SPS which may also be the mechanism of PS for anti-hypertension. In addition, a holistic approach provided novel and helpful insights into the underlying processing mechanisms of TCM.

Element profiles in blood and teeth samples of children with congenital heart diseases in comparison with healthy ones

BACKGROUND

Some elements were claimed to play a role in the pathogenesis of congenital heart defects (CHD) and influence the general well-being and health of these children.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the levels of some elements simultaneously in the blood and teeth samples of children with cyanotic and acyanotic CHD compared with healthy children.

METHODS

A total of 39 children with CHD (11 with cyanotic and 28 with acyanotic CHD) and 42 age- and sex-adjusted controls were enrolled. Levels of 13 elements, including magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, strontium, cadmium, lead, mercury, and molybdenum, were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Children with cyanotic and acyanotic CHD had significantly lower teeth calcium and calcium/phosphorus ratio as compared to the controls after adjusting for confounders. The mean blood iron level was found to be significantly higher in the cyanotic CHD group compared to the other groups. In addition, children with acyanotic CHD had significantly higher teeth copper levels, higher blood molybdenum and lower blood magnesium levels compared to the healthy control group. Blood cadmium and mercury levels were found to be significantly elevated in both the cyanotic and acyanotic CHD groups compared to the healthy control group. There were no differences in toxic metal levels of teeth in cases with CHD.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring adequate and balanced gestational micronutrient intake might support not only maternal health but also fetal cardiac development and infant well-being. Supplementation of magnesium should be evaluated in patients having CHD.

Update of Pediatric Heart Failure

Pediatric heart failure (PHF) affects 0.87 to 7.4 per 100,000 children. It has a 5-year mortality or heart transplant rate of 40%. Diagnosis often is delayed because initial symptoms are similar to common pediatric illnesses. Disease progression is tracked by symptoms, echocardiogram, and biomarkers. Treatment is extrapolated from mostly adult heart failure (HF) literature. Recent studies demonstrate differences between pediatric and adult HF pathophysiology. Increased collaboration among PHF programs is advancing the management of PHF. Unfortunately, there are patients who ultimately require heart transplantation, with increasing numbers supported by a ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplantation.

Preterm birth and the future risk of orthopedic fracture

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth occurs during a critical period of bone mineralization. We assessed whether preterm birth increases the risk of childhood fracture.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of 788,903 infants born between 2006 and 2016 in Quebec, Canada. The exposure was preterm birth (<37 weeks). The outcome was any future hospitalization for fracture before 2018. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of prematurity with fractures in adjusted Cox regression models. We determined if the risk of facture varied by the child's age.

RESULTS

The incidence of fracture hospitalizations was higher in preterm children than in term children (17.9 vs. 15.3 per 10,000 person-years). Compared with term, preterm children had 1.27 times the risk of femur fracture hospitalization (95% CI 1.01-1.60) and 2.27 times the risk of assault-related fractures (95% CI 1.37-3.76). Preterm children had 2.20 times the risk of femur fracture between 6 and 17 months of age (95% CI 1.45-3.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for femur fractures and assault-related fractures. Associations are stronger before 18 months of age. Families of preterm children may benefit from counseling and support for fracture prevention during early childhood.

Refill Adherence Measures and Its Association with Economic, Clinical, and Humanistic Outcomes Among Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review

Although refill adherence measures (RAMs) are widely reviewed on their use among adult patients, existing reviews on adherence among children have only focused on self-report measures and electronic monitoring. Hence, this systematic review aims to examine the use of RAMs and their association with economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes (ECHO) among pediatric patients. A literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Studies published in English involving subjects aged ≤18 years were included if RAMs were analyzed with ECHO. Of the 35 included studies, the majority (n = 33) were conducted in high-income countries. Asthma was the most common condition (n = 9) studied. Overall, 60.6% of 33 clinical outcomes reported among 22 studies was positive (improved clinical outcomes with improved adherence), while 21.9% of 32 economic outcomes reported among 16 studies was positive (reduced healthcare utilization or cost outcomes with improved adherence). Only four studies evaluated the relationship of adherence with 11 humanistic outcomes, where the majority (72.7%) were considered unclear. RAMs are associated with ECHO and can be considered for use in the pediatric population. Future studies could explore the use of RAMs in low-income countries, and the association of RAMs with quality of life.

Drugs Causing Bone Loss

Drugs may cause bone loss by lowering sex steroid levels (e.g., aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer, GnRH agonists in prostate cancer, or depot medroxyprogestone acetate - DMPA), interfere with vitamin D levels (liver inducing anti-epileptic drugs), or directly by toxic effects on bone cells (chemotherapy, phenytoin, or thiazolidinedions, which diverts mesenchymal stem cells from forming osteoblasts to forming adipocytes). However, besides effects on the mineralized matrix, interactions with collagen and other parts of the unmineralized matrix may decrease bone biomechanical competence in a manner that may not correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy absorptiometry (DXA).Some drugs and drug classes may decrease BMD like the thiazolidinediones and consequently increase fracture risk. Other drugs such as glucocorticoids may decrease BMD, and thus increase fracture risk. However, glucocorticoids may also interfere with the unmineralized matrix leading to an increase in fracture risk, not mirrored in BMD changes. Some drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), paracetamol, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may not per se be associated with bone loss, but fracture risk may be increased, possibly stemming from an increased risk of falls stemming from effects on postural balance mediated by effects on the central nervous system or cardiovascular system.This paper performs a systematic review of drugs inducing bone loss or associated with fracture risk. The chapter is organized by the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification.