Cardiac Reasons Research Articles

Sex and Cardiac Operations: Are We Being Fair to Our Female Patients?

Research suggests that although men have a higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) rate, women with CVD are more likely to experience a poorer prognosis, possibly owing to incorrect diagnosis and poorer treatment. A question not yet addressed is whether some of this inequality could be due to sex bias when selecting patients for operation. The participants were from the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort who had been admitted to hospital with a cardiovascular diagnosis over the study period. Participants were recruited between 1984 and 1995 and followed up until 2017. Using propensity score nearest neighbour matching, women were matched 1:1 with men on year of birth, year and reason of admission, smoking status, previous cardiovascular disease (CVD), and family history of CVD. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. After matching, 19,960 admissions (50% women) to hospital for cardiac reasons were available for analysis. Women were less likely to have a cardiac intervention, that is (endovascular or surgical revascularisation), after admission for any cardiovascular reason (6.83% of men, 2.84% of women; odds ratio [OR] 0.56; 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 0.42-0.75), or admission for cardiac ischaemia only (11.07% of men; 6.09% of women; OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.37-0.74). The sex difference was more pronounced in the early part of the study but persisted in the latter phase. In this matched study of cardiovascular admissions to Scottish hospitals, women were less likely to be recommended for a surgical procedure, even when matched with men for common CVD risk factors.

Exploring Clinical Profiles, Patterns, and Outcomes of Heart Failure Patients in Selected Hospitals of Chennai: A Descriptive Study

Background: Cardiovascular disease is still the most common cause of death and disability in industrialized nations, and its prevalence is rising rapidly. Heart failure is associated with shorter life expectancy, increased frequency of hospitalization and poor quality of life (QoL) Methods: This study was conducted in selected hospitals, Chennai, India among 200 patients, who were selected by consecutive sampling technique. Ethical approval was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee. The data was collected using Patients demographic variables proforma, Clinical variables proforma and selected patient outcomes proforma. Follow-up data for patient outcome included re-hospitalizations and mortality status of the patient. Results: Majority of the patients were aged ≥60 years (73.5%), males (67.5%), married (96%), and residing in urban areas (66.5%), non-vegetarians (70%). Regarding other variables, 41.5% of patients were overweight, and 37.5% had been unwell for more than 24 months. With regard to risk factors, in 84.5% of instances, cardiac reasons were the main precipitant with 70% having coronary artery disease and 77% having hypertension as a comorbid illness. The mortality rates at one month and two months were 3% and 9 % respectively. The readmission rate was the, 8.5% and 15.5 % in 1 month and 2 months. Conclusion: Heart failure is becoming more prevalent, especially in adults over 60, and is often linked to comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. Nurses play a vital role in managing heart failure by providing education, monitoring symptoms, coordinating care, and promoting lifestyle changes. Comprehensive nursing care improves quality of life, reduces hospitalizations, and enhances survival outcomes.

Osteopathische Behandlung radikulärer Schmerzen

An 82-year-old patient visited the consultation hour with therapy-resistant radicular pain in the right leg due to an L5 spondyloslisthesis with consecutive spinal canal stenosis. Surgical decompression was contraindicated for cardiac reasons. With five osteopathic holistic treatments, the pain was well reduced and the quality of life was restored.

The pregnant patient with pulmonary arterial hypertensionand her offspring in the current era. Time to take into account the vasoreactive profile

Abstract Background and aims Pregnancy impose physiological changes that may be difficult to accomplish for women with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study evaluates the impact that pregnancy carries in a PAH population managed in a timely manner and whether patients responders to calcium channel blockers (CCB) deserve specific recommendations because of a different prognosis. Methods A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. All PAH pregnant patients managed at our institution between February 2010 and December 2023 were included. Clinical characteristics at baseline were recorded. Mortality, major complications (maternal death and cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support -MCS- or inotropes) and minor complications (hospital admissions for cardiac reason, PAH therapy uptitration and oxygen prescription) were evaluated over the pregnancy course. Long-term follow-up was also assessed. Gestational age, neonatal weight and complications in the new-born (invasive and non-invasive ventilation, inotropic support and neonatal death) were studied. Data were compared between vasoreactive and non-vasoreactive patients. Results 29 patients were studied (median age 31.5, 27-32.7). 8 underwent early termination of pregnancy and 21 decided to proceed. From the latter group, 7 were responders to CCB and none presented complications over the pregnancy course. From the remaining 14 non-respo nders who completed their pregnancy, 13 (92.9%) presented minor complications: 11 (79%) were started on the prostacyclin pathway, 5 (35.7%) required inotropic support, 5 (35.7%) oxygen prescription; and 5 (35.7%) experienced major complications: 2 (14.3%) required MCS, 5 (35.7%) inotropic support, and one patient died (7%). Over a median follow-up period of 5 years (1.2-8.5), 2 patients died from the non-responder cohort (1.4%); while no patient responder to CCB experienced complications; moreover, none lost her vasoreactive response. All the new-borns from non-vasoreactive patients were delivered prematurely; while those from vasoreactive patients reached week 37 in the 85,7% of the cases. One of the new-borns from the non-vasoreactive cohort died, and there was a non-significant trend towards a fewer rate of complications in the vasoreactive offspring (42.9 Vs. 84.6, p = 0.054). Conclusions In spite of the continuous advances in PAH management, pregnancy still associates high maternal and neonatal morbidity. Nevertheless, vasoreactive PAH patients presented a completely different maternal and neonatal prognosis which may prompt specific recommendations for this particular subgroupOutcomes by vasoreactivity profilePregnancy course for the 21 PAH patients

Clinical Impact of Digitalis Therapy in a Large Multicenter Cohort of CRT-Recipients.

(1) Introduction: Digitalis use in patients with severe heart failure is controversial. We assessed the effects of digitalis therapy on mortality in a large, observational study in recipients of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). (2) Methods: Consecutive patients receiving a CRT-defibrillator in three European tertiary referral centers were enrolled and followed-up for a mean 37 months ± 28 months. Digitalis use was assessed at the time of CRT implantation. A multivariate Cox-regression model and propensity score matching were used to determine all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint. CRT-response (defined as improvement of ≥1 NYHA class), echocardiographic improvement (defined as improvement of LVEF of ≥ 5%) and incidence of ICD shocks and rehospitalization were assessed as secondary endpoints in a subgroup of patients. (3) Results: The study comprised 552 CRT-recipients with standard indications, including 219 patients (40%) treated with digitalis. Compared to patients without digitalis, they had more often atrial fibrillation, poorer LVEF and a higher NYHA class (all p ≤ 0.002). Crude analysis of all-cause mortality demonstrated a similar relative risk of death for patients with and without digitalis (HR = 1.14; 95% CI 0.88-1.5; p = 0.40). After adjustment for independent predictors of mortality, digitalis therapy did not alter the risk for death (adjusted HR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.75-1.45; p = 0.82). Furthermore, in comparison to 286 propensity-score-matched patients, mortality was not affected by digitalis intake (propensity-adjusted HR = 1.11; 95% CI 0.72-1.70; p = 0.64). A CRT-response was predominant in digitalis non-users, concerning both improvement of HF symptoms and LVEF (NYHA p < 0.01; LVEF p < 0.01), while patients on digitalis had more often ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring ICD shock (p = 0.01); although, rehospitalization for cardiac reasons was significantly lower among digitalis users compared to digitalis non-users (HR = 0.58; 95% C. I. 0.40-0.85; p = 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Digitalis therapy had no effect on mortality, but was associated with a reduced response to CRT and increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias requiring ICD shock treatment. Although, digitalis administration positively altered the likelihood for cardiac rehospitalization during follow-up.

Secundum atrial septal defect closure in adults in the UK.

To examine determinants of access to treatment, outcomes and hospital utilization in patients undergoing secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in adulthood in England and Wales. Large retrospective cohort study of all adult patients undergoing secundum ASD closures in England and Wales between 2000/01 and 2016/17. Data were from population-based official data sets covering congenital heart disease procedures, hospital episodes and death registries.Out of 6541 index closures, 79.4% were transcatheter (median age 47 years, IQR 34-61) and 20.6% were surgical (40 years, 28-52). The study cohort was predominantly female (66%), with socio-ethnic profile similar to the general population.Mortality in hospital was 0.2% and at one year 1.0% (95%CI 0.8%-1.2%). Risk of death was lower for transcatheter repairs, adjusting for age, sex, year of procedure, comorbidities and cardiac risk factors (in-hospital adjusted-OR 0.09, 95%CI 0.02-0.46, one-year adjusted-HR 0.5, 0.3-0.9). There was excess mortality one year after ASD closure compared to matched population data.Median (IQR) peri-procedural length of stay was 1.8 (1.4-2.5) and 7.3 (6.2-9.2) days for transcatheter and surgical closures, respectively. Hospital resource use for cardiac reasons started the year before repair (median 2 inpatient and 2 outpatient-only days) and decreased post-repair (zero inpatient and one outpatient days during the first two years). This national study confirms that ASD closure in adults, by surgical or transcatheter methods, is provided independently of ethnic or socioeconomic differences, it is low (but not no) risk and appears to reduce future cardiac hospitalisation even in older ages.

A Retrospective Cohort Evaluation of Left Ventricular Remodeling, Perioperative Complications and Outcome in Medium and Large Size Dogs with Patent Ductus Arteriosus after Percutaneous Closure.

This retrospective cohort study included one hundred fifty-seven medium and large-size dogs with the aim of evaluating the effect of signalment and echocardiographic features on complications, outcomes and left ventricular modifications before and after patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. The patients were divided in two groups based on the heart remodeling after closure: Group A included dogs that had a reduction in the end-systolic volume index (ESVI) after closure compared to the ESVI measured before; Group B included dogs without a reduction in ESVI after closure. Body weight, minimal ductal diameter (MDD) of PDA, end-diastolic volume index and presence of arrhythmias at presentation were significantly higher in Group B compared to Group A. The shortening fraction and ejection fraction after closure were reduced in both groups, but in Group B there was a major reduction, and the mean values indicated a possible systolic dysfunction. Complications during the procedure and death due to cardiac reasons were greater in Group B compared to Group A. In conclusion, a higher body weight, a larger MDD, a more severe heart enlargement or arrhythmias at presentation increased the risk of developing a worsening structural and functional condition after ductal closure, and this can be associated with perioperative complications and cardiac death.

Redox state of human serum albumin predicts 1-year prognosis in patients with heart failure: a single center prospective cohort study

Abstract Background As chronic inflammation would be a fundamental underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis in patients with heart failure (HF), oxidative stress has a possibility to closely associate with the prognosis. However, little is known about the association of oxidative stress with the prognosis in HF patients. Purpose In this study, we assessed the association of the fraction of human mercapto-albumin [f(HMA)], an index of the redox state of human serum albumin, with prognosis in patients hospitalized for HF with the aim to find the possible biomarker available on the prediction for adverse events in HF patients. Methods A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted. In the cohort, 290 ambulate patients admitted for acute HF or exacerbation of chronic HF were registered. Of these, 182 who were successfully followed-up patients were analyzed (median age: 79 years, men: 68.3%. median follow-up: 365 days). The primary outcome was a composite of HF rehospitalization and all-cause mortality. The high-performance liquid chromatography postcolumn bromocresol green method was used to part human serum albumin into human nonmercaptalbumin (oxidized form) and human mercaptalbumin (HMA, reduced form). We divided patients into two groups by median f(HMA) level. Kaplan-Meier Curve and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the significance of f(HMA) as a prognostic indicator of HF patients, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results Median level of f(HMA) was 57.2%. During 50,965 person-days of follow-up, 52 patients (28.6%) were re-hospitalized due to HF exacerbation, and 25 patients (13.7%) died due to cardiac or noncardiac reasons. Log-rank analysis showed that a high f(HMA) group reduced adverse events (Fig. 1). In the Cox proportional hazards model, a high level of f(HMA) was associated with a reduced risk of composite outcomes (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-1.07). In the subgroup analysis, high f(HMA) showed an event-reducing effect in HF rehospitalizations (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.30-0.94), but not in all-cause mortality (HR 0.61; 95%CI 0.27-1.38). Conclusion The findings of this study support that f(HMA) could be a novel prognostic biomarker for HF patients.Fig. 1

Outcomes of 10 years of cardiac screening of elite New Zealand athletes

Abstract Background/Introduction Cardiac screening of competitive athletes for conditions associated with sudden cardiac death is recommended by bodies including the European Society of Cardiology. High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) commenced cardiac screening of elite Olympic sport athletes in 2012. Purpose To report the 10 year outcomes and findings of the HPSNZ cardiac screening program, including comparisons of electrocardiogram (ECG) features between sexes, sports and ethnicities. Methods Athletes were screened by HPSNZ from February 2012-June 2022 in accordance with HPSNZ protocols and as required by their International Federations. Screening included a personal/family history, physical examination and resting 12-lead ECG (interpreted by a cardiologist experienced in athlete ECGs), and athletes were followed for up to 11 years. Clinical findings and ECGs were managed contemporaneously as required. In July 2022 all screening records, including demographic data, ECGs, follow-up testing and diagnoses were reviewed. Although ECG guidelines changed during the period, any abnormal/equivocal ECGs were re-reviewed using the International Criteria. Comparisons between groups were performed using Fisher’s exact test (2-sided, p&amp;lt;0.05 considered significant). Results 2075 ECGs from 1189 athletes (53% female, mean age 21 years; 83% European, 14% Māori and Pacific Islander, 3% other ethnicities) were included. Major diagnoses included Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (0.7%) and cardiomyopathies (0.3%). Overall, 3.5% of ECGs were abnormal (International Criteria). ECGs of female athletes were more frequently abnormal (4.4% vs 2.5%, p=0.02) and had more abnormal T-wave inversion (TWI) (3.1% vs 0.9%, p=0.0005) compared to males. 47% of the abnormal TWI in females was limited to V1-V3 with no other ECG abnormalities. There were no differences in the proportion of abnormal ECGs between the highest intensity/endurance sports and other sports, nor between Māori and Pacific Island athlete ECGs compared with European (Table 1). No athletes retired for cardiac reasons, there were no cardiac deaths nor major cardiac incidents during the period (mean follow up from first screening: 73 months). There was a significant reduction in follow-up tests recommended after the introduction of the International Criteria. Conclusions WPW was the most frequent diagnosis, with very little cardiomyopathy found in this cohort. The proportion of abnormal ECGs was low overall, and lowest after the introduction of the most recent athlete ECG guidelines, likely reflecting enhanced specificity. ECGs of female athletes were more frequently abnormal, predominantly because of anterior TWI V1-V3, which potentially could be considered a normal finding in elite female athletes. We report for the first time a comparison between Māori/Pacific Island athletes and European athletes, showing no difference in the proportion of abnormal ECGs, although further data are needed.

Machine learning using cardiovascular magnetic resonance to predict cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocarditis

Abstract Background In patients with acute myocarditis (AM), current prognostic risk assessment is based on a limited selection of clinical, biological, and imaging findings using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). While the potential value of a stratification risk score in these patients is not well established, machine learning (ML) methods could provide accurate score for prediction. Purpose To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of ML to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with AM, and compare its performance with traditional statistical methods. Methods Between 2008-2017, all consecutive patients with diagnosis of AM based on CMR and without hemodynamic compromise were recruited in two centres (Hospital 1, N=203 and Hospital 2, N=185) to constitute the derivation cohort. The external validation cohort of the ML score was performed in another centre (N=218, Hospital 3, APHP). The primary composite outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined by: cardiac death, cardiac transplantation, ventricular arrythmia, hospitalization for heart failure, recurrence of AM, and unplanned hospitalization for cardiac reason. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select variables and prevent model overfitting. Several ML models (Elastic Net, Random Forest, Multi-Layer Perceptron [MLP], Support Vector Machine [SVM], and XGBoost) were then trained on 70% of patients and evaluated on the other 30% as internal validation. Their performance was compared against standard logistic regression model, using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and precision-recall (PR) curves and area-under-the curves (AUC). Results Of the 388 AM patients (mean age 39 years, 77% male) included in the derivation cohort, 71 experienced a MACE (18%) after a median follow-up of 7.5 [IQR 6.6–8.9] years. Among those, 30 patients (7.7%) had a recurrence of AM. CMR was performed 4 ± 2 days after index presentation. Out of 56 clinical, biological, and CMR variables, 7 variables were selected as being the most important in predicting MACE: age, initial presentation with syncope, LV ejection fraction, myocardial extent of LGE, mid-wall pattern of LGE, septal location of LGE, and number of segments with T2-hypersignal (T2-STIR). The Random Forest model showed the best performance compared with the other ML models (AUROC=0.74, PR-AUC=0.33). This ML model exhibited a higher AUC compared with a traditional model using logistic regression analysis (AUROC 0.74 vs 0.70; p&amp;lt;0.001). The ML score also exhibited a good performance for predicting MACE in the external validation cohort (AUROC 0.73). Conclusions A machine learning score using Random Forest including clinical and CMR data exhibited a better performance than traditional statistical methods to predict MACE in patients with acute myocarditis.Performance of Machine Learning models

Syncopes in adolescents in sport

The study analyzes current data on syncope in children and adolescents. The study presents the classification of syncope and briefly describes the clinical manifestations of neurally mediated syncope and the main methods of its diagnosis and treatment. Syncopes associated with organic cardiac pathologies and primary cardiac arrhythmias are caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery anomalies, primary long QT syndrome, WolffParkinsonWhite syndrome, and bradyarrhythmias. The diagnostic features of syncope in children and young athletes and modern approaches to treatment and prevention are discussed.&#x0D; Although most syncopes in athletes are not associated with physical activity and have a neurotransmitter genesis, a thorough medical examination is needed. Factors that induce the development of syncopes in athletes must be identified. A prerequisite for admission to sports is the exclusion of the cardiac and arrhythmogenic reasons of syncopes. The decision to expand the sports regime should be made only after a thorough collection of medical history, including family history, and a comprehensive examination. In addition, the degree of risk in view of injuries, provocation, or fatal events following the loss of consciousness during sports must be estimated. This is extremely relevant for sports such as swimming, complex coordination sports (gymnastics and acrobatics), auto and motor sports, and alpine skiing.&#x0D; Although syncopes are common problems in pediatric practice, with only a few cases with cardiac causes based on structural or primary electrical myocardial diseases, they pose the greatest danger in sports medicine. Thus, such conditions must be excluded in young athletes because sports load can aggravate cardiac pathologies, which cause syncopes, due to untimely diagnosis before the start of a sports career.

Endovascular revascularization of challenging anatomical lesions: Revascularization in TASC-II C and D classes: A single-centre retrospective report

Aim: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts quality of life and that can lead to limb amputation and thromboembolic events. Treatment options for PAD include endovascular and open surgical interventions, with the choice depending on the Trans-Atlantic inter-society consensus II (TASC II) classification. Recent evidence suggests that endovascular therapy may be feasible for complex PAD lesions, but further research is needed. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 50 patients with TASC II class C and D lesions. The procedures were conducted using a state-of-the-art angiography system, and patients received appropriate antiplatelet therapy and heparin during the intervention. Data collection was performed following ethical considerations and standardization protocols. Results: This study involved 50 patients with peripheral arterial disease, characterized by an average age of 65.0 years and a prevalence of comorbidities such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and tobacco use. The majority of patients presented with claudication and had lesions primarily in the femoropopliteal region. The procedures performed, primarily using drug-coated balloons, resulted in high technical success rates and favorable outcomes at 30 days, with a slight decline in primary patency rates at 6 months. Some patients required readmission due to cardiac reasons, and a small portion necessitated open surgical revascularization. Conclusion: Our findings support the use of endovascular revascularization as a safe and effective option for patients with complex lesions. Further research is needed to address challenges related to dissection and optimize outcomes in this patient population. This study contributes to the growing understanding of treatment approaches for peripheral artery disease and highlights the potential benefits of endovascular therapy.

Clinical outcomes of 10 years of cardiac screening in elite New Zealand athletes

ObjectivesTo report findings from the High Performance Sport New Zealand cardiac screening programme, including comparisons between sexes and ethnicities. DesignRetrospective cohort study. MethodsElite Olympic-sport athletes were screened (2012–2022) with personal/family history, physical examination, resting 12-lead ECG and followed from the date of first screening until July 2022. An audit reviewed screening records, including demographic data, ECGs, follow-up and diagnoses. Flagged/equivocal ECGs were re-reviewed (International Criteria). Results2075 ECGs from 1189 athletes (53 % female, mean age 21 years; 83 % European, 9 % Māori, 5 % Pacific Islander, 3 % other) were included. No athletes retired for cardiac reasons; there were no cardiac deaths or major cardiac incidents (mean follow-up from first screening: 6.1 years (range: 0.6–10.9 years)). Diagnoses included Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (0.7 %) and cardiomyopathies (0.3 %). Overall, 3.5 % of ECGs were abnormal, with ECGs of females more commonly abnormal (4.4 % vs 2.5 %, p = 0.02) and with a higher proportion of ECGs with abnormal T-wave inversion (TWI) (3.1 % vs 0.9 %, p < 0.001) compared to males. Of the abnormal TWI in females (all aged ≥16 years), 47 % was limited to V1–V3 with no other abnormalities. Abnormality rates were similar between Māori, Pacific Islander and European athlete ECGs. ConclusionsWPW was the most frequent diagnosis, with very little cardiomyopathy found. The proportion of abnormal ECGs was low overall, but higher in females. This was driven by anterior TWI in V1–V3 which was not associated with diagnoses of conditions associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). There was no difference in the proportion of abnormal ECGs of Māori or Pacific Island athletes compared to European athletes.

What Are the Causes of Death among Patients Admitted to a Contemporary Tertiary-Level Cardiology Department? An Analysis of 10 Years of Morbidity and Mortality Meetings.

Despite the efforts to deliver the best evidence-based care, in-hospital death is an inevitable event among some patients hospitalized in cardiology departments. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of mortality events from inpatient admissions to the cardiology department between 2010 and 2019. Data were collected from morbidity and mortality meeting presentations that evaluated comorbidities, medical history, treatments, and causes of death for the overall cohort and according to age group and sex. There were 1182 registered deaths. The most common causes of death among patients were acute myocardial infarction (AMI, 53.0%), heart failure (HF, 11.7%), cardiac arrest (CA, 6.6%), HF with complication/defined cardiomyopathy (6.3%), and sepsis (4.4%). We observed a decline in deaths from AMI from 61.9% in 2010 to 46.7% in 2019, while there was a clear increase in deaths from HF (11.1% in 2010 to 25.9% in 2019). Compared to patients ≥65 years, younger patients were more likely to have died from CA (15.7% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.001) and other cardiac reasons (3.0% vs. 0.4%, p < 0.001). The majority of deaths were due to AMI, HF, and CA. We observed a significant declining trend in the proportion of deaths due to AMI in recent years, with an increase in deaths due to HF.

Stroke-Related Visceral Alterations: A Voxel-Based Neuroanatomic Localization Study.

Functional and morphologic changes in extracranial organs can occur after acute brain injury. The neuroanatomic correlates of such changes are not fully known. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that brain infarcts are associated with cardiac and systemic abnormalities (CSAs) in a regionally specific manner. We generated voxelwise p value maps of brain infarcts for poststroke plasma cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevation, QTc prolongation, in-hospital infection, and acute stress hyperglycemia (ASH) in 1,208 acute ischemic stroke patients prospectively recruited into the Heart-Brain Interactions Study. We examined the relationship between infarct location and CSAs using a permutation-based approach and identified clusters of contiguous voxels associated with p < 0.05. cTnT elevation not attributable to a known cardiac reason was detected in 5.5%, QTc prolongation in the absence of a known provoker in 21.2%, ASH in 33.9%, and poststroke infection in 13.6%. We identified significant, spatially segregated voxel clusters for each CSA. The clusters for troponin elevation and QTc prolongation mapped to the right hemisphere. There were 3 clusters for ASH, the largest of which was in the left hemisphere. We found 2 clusters for poststroke infection, one associated with pneumonia in the left and one with urinary tract infection in the right hemisphere. The relationship between infarct location and CSAs persisted after adjusting for infarct volume. Our results show that there are discrete regions of brain infarcts associated with CSAs. This information could be used to bootstrap toward new markers for better differentiation between neurogenic and non-neurogenic mechanisms of poststroke CSAs. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:1155-1163.

Situational analysis of medical care for heart failure patients in a regional hospital in central Taiwan

Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its symptoms are the ultimate severe results of all heart diseases. Objectives: To assess the situation of medical care for patients with HF in a regional hospital in central Taiwan. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from June 1, 2019, to September 30, 2021, collecting basic information of patients, hospitalization and medication after discharge, emergency room visit, readmission, and mortality. Results: This study included 101 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, of which 71.3% were males. Their mean age was 64.9 ± 15.4 years, and the mean body mass index was 26.4 ± 5.6 kg/m2. Moreover, 89.1% of them had chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease; the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 27.4% ± 7.7%. During hospitalization and at 1, 6, and 12 months after discharge, the administration rates were 61.4%, 39.6%, 26.7%, and 22.8% for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker/angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor; 64.4%, 41.6%, 27.7%, and 35.6% for beta-blocker; 47.5%, 26.7%, 14.9%, and 17.8% for mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist; and 4.9%, 2.0%, 1.0%, and 3.0% for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, respectively. The rates of emergency room visit, readmission, and mortality due to cardiac reasons within 12 months after discharge were 18.8%, 20.8%, and 8.9%, respectively. Conclusion: Given that HF is a complex disease, the underlying causes must be treated, and the guideline-directed medical therapy must be applied to prevent the recurrence of an acute attack. Given the complexity of this high-functioning disease, it is essential to have a dedicated case manager who can ensure comprehensive integration of care.

Impact of Educational Interventions to Foster Health in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of death worldwide, and education interventions are an effective measure to control modifiable risk factors in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation; therefore, studying this phenomenon allows expanding the tools to face this situation. Objective: To determine the impact of educational interventions to foster health in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Materials and methods: A scientific literature review was conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, EBSCO, MEDES, CUIDEN, Dialnet, ScienceDirect and CUIDATGE databases, based on the PRISMA statement proposal for systematic reviews, registered in the Prospero database (CRD42023398444). The Jadad scale was used for the methodological assessment, according to the peer approach. Results: The initial search yielded 14,849 publications, with 10 of them meeting the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the sample population was 63 years old, male gender. Telemedicine and education software design were resources to implement the interventions, finding a reduction in hospitalizations for cardiac reasons. Regarding mental health, long-term reductions in anxiety and depression were found. Conclusions: The time until the first cardiovascular hospitalization was 502 (469-535) days in the Intervention Group, against 445 (400-491) days in the Control Group. When evaluating medication adherence, it was evidenced that 94 % of the participants had improvements. Regarding cardiovascular risk stratification, both the intervention (26 %) and the control (6 %) groups shifted to the lower-risk class.

Association between Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use and Major Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Arabian Gulf.

Objectives: Studies on the association between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the Arabian Gulf are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between NSAIDs use and MACE in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in the Arabian Gulf region. Methods: Data were analyzed from 3007 consecutive patients diagnosed with ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in four Arabian Gulf countries from January 2012 to January 2013, as well as being on prior NSAIDs use during the index admission. The MACE included stroke/transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality and readmissions for cardiac reasons. Results: The overall mean age of the cohort was 62 ± 12 years, and 9.6% (n = 290) of the patients were on prior NSAID use during the index admission. At 12-months follow-up, after adjusting for confounding factors, patients on NSAIDs were significantly more likely to have had MACE (adjusted OR (aOR), 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-2.48; p < 0.001). Specifically, the higher event rates observed were stroke/TIA (aOR, 2.50; 95% CI: 1.51-4.14; p < 0.001) and readmissions for cardiac reasons (aOR, 2.09; 95% CI: 1.59-2.74; p < 0.001), but not MI (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI: 0.80-1.99; p = 0.320) and all-cause mortality (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.46-1.34; p = 0.383). Conclusions: NSAIDs use was associated with significant stroke/TIA events as well as readmissions for cardiac reasons. However, NSAIDs were not associated with increased MIs or all-cause mortality rates in patients with ACS in the Arabian Gulf.

Exploring the Heart-Mind Connection: Unraveling the Shared Pathways between Depression and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Civilization diseases are defined as non-communicable diseases that affect a large part of the population. Examples of such diseases are depression and cardiovascular disease. Importantly, the World Health Organization warns against an increase in both of these. This narrative review aims to summarize the available information on measurable risk factors for CVD and depression based on the existing literature. The paper reviews the epidemiology and main risk factors for the coexistence of depression and cardiovascular disease. The authors emphasize that there is evidence of a link between depression and cardiovascular disease. Here, we highlight common risk factors for depression and cardiovascular disease, including obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity, as well as the importance of the prevention and treatment of CVD in preventing depression and other mental disorders. Conversely, effective treatment of CVD can also help prevent depression and improve mental health outcomes. It seems advisable to introduce screening tests for depression in patients treated for cardiac reasons. Importantly, in patients treated for mood disorders, it is worth controlling CVD risk factors, for example, by checking blood pressure and pulse during routine visits. It is also worth paying attention to the mental condition of patients with CVD. This study underlines the importance of interdisciplinary co-operation.

Spectrum and outcome of the use of noninvasive ventilation in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit: A single-center experience.

The pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) frequently uses noninvasive ventilation (NIV). There are several reasons for its use, including prophylactic use right after the patient has been extubated. It is also used when patients are experiencing acute respiratory failure due to either cardiac or noncardiac reasons but are still able to maintain their airways. The objective of this study was to understand the spectrum of use of NIV following congenital cardiac surgery and analyze the outcome. A retrospective observational study was conducted in a 14-bed PCICU, reviewing data from August 2019 to August 2022. Among 1750 congenital cardiac surgeries, 523 patients (29.9%) received NIV. The median age of the population was 2.5 months. Factors such as higher Risk-Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 category, longer intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross-clamp time were associated with increased NIV use. Preoperative ventilator needs, infections, genetic syndromes, diaphragmatic paralysis, high vasoactive inotrope score (VIS) in the first 24 h, neonatal age, and weight <5 kg were independently associated with increased NIV need. The NIV group had a longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay compared to non-NIV patients. The success rate of NIV was 84%, with 440 successful cases and 83 failures. The mortality rate in the success and failure groups was not significantly different (5.27% vs. 6.0%). NIV is widely used in PCICU, but it is associated with longer ICU stays. It proves beneficial after congenital cardiac surgery, especially for patients with specific risk factors. However, NIV may not directly impact mortality rates, suggesting that other factors contribute to patient survival.