Cardiac Index by Transthoracic Echocardiography (CITE) study

Cardiac dysfunction is associated with indices of brain atrophy and cognitive impairment in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Cardiac dysfunction in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) may contribute to brain atrophy and cognitive decline beyond that which is typical of healthy aging. This study tested the hypothesis that HFrEF would be associated with regionally unique brain remodeling and impaired cognitive performance independent of age. Furthermore, that cardiac index and clinical markers of HFrEF severity would predict brain remodeling and cognition with age and HFrEF, respectively. Cardiac function and brain morphology were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging in young healthy adults (24 ± 6 yr), older healthy adults (60 ± 6 yr), and patients living with HFrEF (59 ± 6 yr). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was administered to assess cognition. Gray matter volume (GMV) (young: 492 ± 24, old: 456 ± 24, HFrEF: 433 ± 32 cm3, P ≤ 0.05) and cortical thickness (young: 2.44 ± 0.07, old: 2.33 ± 0.08, HFrEF: 2.22 ± 0.10 mm, P < 0.01) were lower with age and lowered further with HFrEF. Regional analysis revealed a unique pattern of atrophy with HFrEF. Whereas age had little effect on cortical curvature (P = 0.60), it was greater in HFrEF (young: 0.127 ± 0.003, old: 0.128 ± 0.003, HFrEF: 0.136 ± 0.005 mm-1, P < 0.01). Cardiac index was the best correlate of brain atrophy and cognitive performance with age (R = 0.33-0.47; P < 0.05). However, EF and end systolic volume index were better correlates of brain atrophy and cognitive performance in HFrEF (R = -0.50-0.49; P ≤ 0.05). These data indicate that lower GMV and cortical thickness in HFrEF are not merely an acceleration of age-related declines but reflect a unique pattern of brain atrophy and remodeling. In addition, classic markers of HF severity may be better predictors of pathological brain remodeling than reduced cardiac index.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Lower gray matter volume, and cortical thinning in heart failure are regionally dependent, and independent of age. Patients living with heart failure had higher cortical curvature, but older adults did not. Lower gray matter volume, cortical thinning, and cognitive impairment were associated with markers of cardiac dysfunction, with ejection fraction, and end systolic volume index being better predictors among the older and heart failure cohort than cardiac index.

The Clinical Utility of Noninvasive Forrester Classification in Acute Heart Failure from PREDICT Study

The Forrester classification plays a crucial role in comprehending the underlying pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) and is employed to categorize the severity and predict the outcomes of patients with acute HF. Our objective was to assess the predictive value of the Forrester classification, based on noninvasive hemodynamic measurements obtained through Doppler echocardiography at admission, in forecasting the short-term prognosis posthospitalization of patients with acute HF. Patients were recruited for the Prospect trial to elucidate the utility of EchocarDIography-based Cardiac ouTput in acute heart failure (PREDICT) study, a multicenter, prospective study conducted in Japan. Participants were stratified into 4 profiles using cardiac index (CI) and early mitral filling velocity (E)/early-diastolic mitral annular velocity (e') ratio obtained from Doppler echocardiography upon admission (profile I: CI >2.2, E/e' ≤15, profile II: CI >2.2, E/e' >15, profile III: CI ≤2.2, E/e' ≤15, profile IV: CI ≤2.2, E/e' >15). The primary composite outcome of the study was all-cause mortality or worsening HF during the 14 days of hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards model analysis was employed to identify prognostic factors during the observation period. A total of 270 subjects, with a mean age of 74 ± 14 years and a male proportion of 60%, were enrolled in the study. During the 14-day period of hospitalization, 58 participants (22%) had a composite outcome. Patients with low CI (i.e., profiles III and IV) demonstrated an elevated risk of composite outcome after adjusting for confounding variables, as evidenced by the adjusted hazard ratios of 5.85 (95% confidence interval 1.17 to 29.09, p <0.01, vs profile III) and 6.50 (95% confidence interval 1.53 to 27.68, p <0.01, vs profile IV) in comparison with profile I, respectively. In conclusion, the Forrester classification, derived from noninvasive Doppler echocardiography at admission, may predict early deterioration in patients hospitalized with acute HF.

Sickle Cell Disease and the Heart.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3040535/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Purpose The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between cardiac structure, cardiac index (CI), and diastolic function parameters, and laboratory values in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), and to characterize the distinct SCD cardiomyopathy phenotype Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 202 adult patients with SCD (mean age 41.02 ± 13.36) at our hospital who underwent outpatient echocardiographic screening from 2019–2022. Results Our study identified cardiac hypertrophy, chamber dilatation with preserved ejection fraction, elevated TRV, increased cardiac output, and diastolic dysfunction as defining echocardiographic features in SCD. There was a negative correlation between CI and lateral e’ (R = -0.182, P = 0.012), and a positive correlation between CI and E/e’ (R = 0.274, P = 0.0001). Conclusions Our study identified a unique cardiomyopathy in patients with SCD characterized by cardiac hypertrophy with preserved systolic function, abnormal mitral inflow patterns, and elevated cardiac output. These features are indicative of restrictive physiology, as evidenced by left atrial enlargement and diastolic dysfunction, superimposed on hyperdynamic physiology. Further research is needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these observations and determine their prognostic significance in vulnerable populations with an elevated burden of cardiovascular disease, including the risk of sudden cardiac death.

A Hemodynamic Echocardiographic Evaluation Predicts Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in Septic Patients: A Pilot Study

Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is common among critically ill septic patients and leads to serious adverse effects. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an efficient tool for the assessment of septic shock. Our study investigated the relationship between TTE parameters and PMV in mechanically ventilated septic shock patients. TTE was performed in the first 24 h of intensive care unit admission, acquiring data on cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), s' wave (s'), E wave (E), e' wave (e') and E/e' ratio. We compared data on patients who met the criteria for PMV with data on patients who did not. Sixty-four patients were included, 26 of whom met the criteria for PMV. CO, CI and s' were higher in patients who required PMV (5.49 vs. 4.20, p = 0.02; 2.95 vs. 2.34, p = 0.04; and 12.56 vs. 9.81, p = 0.01, respectively). CI correlated with s' (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for CO, CI and s' in assessing the need for PMV were, respectively, 0.7 (fair results), 0.69 and 0.68 (poor results). Despite a lack of a prognostic model, the observed differences suggest that hemodynamic TTE could provide information on the risk of PMV in septic shock.

Hemodynamic Responses to Crystalloid and Colloid Fluid Boluses during Noncardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND

Colloids are thought to sustain blood pressure and cardiac index better than crystalloids. However, the relative effects of intraoperative hydroxyethyl starch and crystalloid administration on the cardiac index and blood pressure remain unclear. This study therefore tested in this subanalysis of a previously published large randomized trial the hypothesis that intraoperative goal-directed colloid administration increases the cardiac index more than goal-directed crystalloid administration. Further, the effects of crystalloid and colloid boluses on blood pressure were evaluated.

METHODS

This planned subanalysis of a previous trial analyzed data from 973 patients, of whom 480 were randomized to colloids and 493 were randomized to crystalloids. Fluid administration was guided by esophageal Doppler. The primary outcome was the time-weighted average cardiac index during surgery between the colloid and crystalloid group. The secondary outcomes were the cardiac index just after bolus administration, time elapsed between boluses, and the average real variability during surgery. The study recorded cardiac index, corrected flow time, and blood pressure at 10-min intervals, as well as before and after each bolus.

RESULTS

Time-weighted average of cardiac index over the duration of anesthesia was only slightly greater in patients given colloid than crystalloid, with the difference being just 0.20 l · min-1 · m-2 (95% CI, 0.11 to 0.29; P < 0.001). However, the hazard for needing additional boluses was lower after colloid administration (hazard ratio [95% CI], 0.60 [0.55 to 0.66]; P < 0.001) in a frailty time-to-event model accounting for within-subject correlation. The median [quartiles] number of boluses per patient was 4 [2, 6] for colloids and 6 [3, 8] for crystalloids, with a median difference (95% CI) of -1.5 (-2 to -1; P < 0.001). The average real mean arterial pressure variability did not differ significantly between the groups (difference in means [95% CI] of -0.03 (-0.07 to 0.02) mmHg, P = 0.229).

CONCLUSIONS

There were not clinically meaningful differences in the cardiac index or mean pressure variability in patients given goal-directed colloid and crystalloids. As might be expected from longer intravascular dwell time, the interval between boluses was longer with colloids. However, on a case basis, the number of boluses differed only slightly. Colloids do not appear to provide substantial hemodynamic benefit.

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