Higher Incidence Of Heart Failure Research Articles

Shedding of membrane complement inhibitors CD59 and CD46 into the circulation is associated with poor prognosis in acute coronary syndrome patients: a cohort study

IntroductionThe role of the complement inhibitory proteins CD46 and CD59 in the immune response to an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unknown. We investigated the relationships between the shedding of CD46 and CD59 into the circulation, reflected by plasma levels of soluble CD46 and CD59, and the risk for post-ACS complications.MethodsWe measured plasma sCD46 and sCD59 in a cohort of 546 ACS patients within 24 h after hospital admission, and after 6-weeks in a subgroup of 114 patients. Study outcomes were incident heart failure (HF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality during a median follow-up period of up to 3.3 years. Echocardiography at 1-year was performed in the follow-up subgroup.ResultsElevated sCD46 and sCD59 were correlated with increased levels of inflammatory mediators and metalloproteinases in plasma, and were associated with increased risk for MACE in Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and revascularization [HR 95% CI 1.24 (1.02–1.52), p = 0.034 for sCD46 and 1.18 (1.00–1.38), p = 0.049 for sCD59]. Elevated sCD59 was also associated with higher incidence of HF [HR 95% CI 1.41 (1.15–1.74), p = 0.001], and with lower left ventricular ejection fraction at 1-year post-ACS (Spearman r = − 0.234, p = 0.020). We found no associations between plasma levels of the proteins at 6 weeks and outcomes.ConclusionsShedding of the complement regulators CD46 and CD59 in plasma in the acute phase of ACS is associated with a negative prognosis. Plasma sCD46 and sCD59 could reflect the degree of local immune activation and serve as prognostic biomarkers in ACS patients.

Morbidity Burden in Patients With Ebstein Anomaly: The Natural History.

The lifetime morbidity burden of patients with Ebstein anomaly (EA) has not been well described. Through an extensive 2-country register-based collaboration, patients diagnosed with EA who were born between 1930 and 2017 were identified in Danish and Swedish nationwide medical registries. Each patient was matched by age and sex with 10 control subjects from the general population. Cox proportional-hazards regression, Fine-Gray competing risk regression, and Kaplan-Meier failure function were used to estimate the morbidity burden. The study included 794 patients diagnosed with EA and 7940 controls, with a median follow-up period of 33 years. Among patients with EA, approximately half (n=442) had isolated EA, and 28% (n=218) had concomitant atrial septal defect. Patients with complex anatomy demonstrated the highest cardiovascular morbidity burden, followed by those with concomitant atrial septal defect and isolated EA. The lifetime cumulative incidence of supraventricular arrhythmia and ventricular preexcitation in patients with EA, with or without atrial septal defect, was approximately 70% and 19%, respectively. Supraventricular arrhythmia substantially increased the risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR] 22.6 [95% CI, 11.1-45.9]). Presence of atrial septal defect significantly affected arrhythmia and heart failure burden compared with isolated EA. In the total cohort of patients with EA, supraventricular arrhythmia onset led to an immediate high incidence of heart failure, with a 10-year cumulative incidence of 18%. The natural history of EA, whether isolated or not, involves a substantial burden of cardiovascular morbidity and thus a highly vulnerable long-term prognosis.

Sex differences in diastolic function following myocardial infarction on doppler echocardiography

Abstract Background Whilst females have relatively greater preservation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) following myocardial infarction (MI), they have higher rates of heart failure, presumably due to diastolic dysfunction (DD). Objectives This study sought to assess sex differences in LV diastolic function on Doppler echocardiography following MI. Methods Data on 2505 consecutive patients with a first-ever MI were included. Echocardiography was performed within 24 hours of admission. Significant DD was defined as grade 2+3 DD according to current ASE/EACVI guidelines. Diastolic function score (DFS) was calculated by summing the number of abnormal parameters out of the 4 key diastolic parameters (e’ velocity, E/e’ ratio, left atrial volume index [LAVI], tricuspid regurgitation velocity [TRV]). Results Compared to males, females were older, had greater co-morbidity, less 3-vessel disease, and a higher LVEF (55.0+9.8% versus 52.7±9.8%, p<0.001). LAVI, e’ velocity, E/e’ ratio, significant DD and DFS were significantly associated with female sex on univariate group comparisons. In multivariable models incorporating clinical, angiographic and echocardiographic data to determine independent predictors of diastolic parameters, female sex was independently associated with abnormal LAVI (OR 1.42, p=0.013), E/e’ ratio (OR 2.86, p<0.001), TRV (OR 1.83, p=0.005), significant DD (OR 2.12, p<0.001) and DFS (OR 2.60, p<0.001). Conclusions Female sex is a strong independent correlate of diastolic dysfunction on Doppler echocardiography in patients with a first-ever MI. This may explain the higher incidence of heart failure despite relatively preserved LVEF in females following MI.

Clinical Outcomes of Sickle Cell Disease Patients With Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Nationwide Analysis.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients are predisposed to various cardiovascular complications due to the nature and progression of the disease; the clinical outcomes of SCD patients experiencing myocardial infarction (MI) and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well known. This study aims to explore a comprehensive nationwide analysis of the clinical outcomes in SCD patients who have suffered an MI and subsequently undergone PCI. Italso identifies potential complications and compares their outcomes with non-SCD counterparts with the same interventions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of SCD patients who have suffered an MI and subsequently undergone PCI using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020. The primary outcome was mortality, while the secondary outcomes were the average length of stay, comorbid conditions, and cardiovascular outcomes. Logistic, linear, and Poisson regression model analysis applied for outcomes and adjusting co-founders. P-value <0.05 was considered significant. A total of 775 patients were analyzed for MI who had PCI with SCD, with a mean age of 58±1.06years. SCD patients exhibited higher rates of comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (45.81% vs. 37.84%), obesity (23.87% vs. 20.85%), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (29.03% vs. 17.36%). Heart failure was more common among SCD patients with 34.19% vs. 26.02% in non-SCD patients(OR 1.5, CI 1.1-2.1, p-value=0.02). Other cardiovascular complications such as stroke, ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and mortality did not significantly differ betweenSCD and non-SCD(P-values >0.05). The study observed that SCD patients experienced a significantly higher incidence of heart failure than non-SCD patients. This implies that SCD patients undergoing PCI for MIexhibit distinct clinical outcomes compared to their non-SCD counterparts.

Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Related Gut Microbe-Derived Metabolites and Incident Heart Failure Development in Community-Based Populations.

Growing evidence indicates that trimethylamine N-oxide, a gut microbial metabolite of dietary choline and carnitine, promotes both cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease risk. It remains unclear how circulating concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide and its related dietary and gut microbe-derived metabolites (choline, betaine, carnitine, γ-butyrobetaine, and crotonobetaine) affect incident heart failure (HF). We evaluated 11 768 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with serial measures of metabolites. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations between metabolites and incident HF, adjusted for cardiovascular disease risk factors. In all, 2102 cases of HF occurred over a median follow-up of 15.9 years. After adjusting for traditional risk factors, higher concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09-1.20]; P<0.001), choline (hazard ratio, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.26-1.64]; P<0.001), and crotonobetaine (hazard ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.16-1.32]; P<0.001) were associated with increased risk for incident HF. After further adjustment for renal function (potential confounder or mediator), these associations did not reach Bonferroni-corrected statistical significance (P=0.01, 0.049, and 0.006, respectively). Betaine and carnitine were nominally associated with a higher incidence of HF (P<0.05). In exploratory analyses, results were similar for subtypes of HF based on left ventricular ejection fraction, and associations appeared generally stronger among Black and Hispanic/Latino versus White adults, although there were no interactions for any metabolites with race. In this pooled analysis of 2 well-phenotyped, diverse, community-based cohorts, circulating concentrations of gut microbe-derived metabolites such as trimethylamine N-oxide, choline, and crotonobetaine were independently associated with a higher risk of developing HF. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/; Unique identifiers: NCT00005133 and NCT00005487.

Characteristics of Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Intensive Care at Ibnu Sina YW-Umi Makassar Hospital in 2023

Heart failure is a non-communicable disease which is the number one cause of death every year. Heart failure is caused by several avoidable and unavoidable factors. The prevalence of heart failure patients fluctuates from year to year. Considering the high incidence of heart failure, this research was conducted to identify the characteristics of heart failure patients at Ibnu Sina Hospital Makassar in 2023. The type of research is descriptive observational. Data were analyzed via Microsoft EXCEL and presented in table form. The research results showed that the majority of heart failure patients were aged 46 – 65 years in the adult category and were male. Heart failure patients have no history of smoking, no history of diabetes mellitus, and no hypertension. The majority of patients have a history of the cause category Coronary Artery Desease (CAD). Description of the death rate in heart failure patients as many as 9 people. The conclusion is that heart failure occurs at the age of 46 – 65 years and the majority are male with factors causing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Further studies need to be carried out in order to obtain fairly representative data.

Disruption of the Uty epigenetic regulator locus in hematopoietic cells phenocopies the profibrotic attributes of Y chromosome loss in heart failure.

Heart failure affects millions of people worldwide, with men exhibiting a higher incidence than women. Our previous work has shown that mosaic loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) in leukocytes is causally associated with an increased risk for heart failure. Here, we show that LOY macrophages from the failing hearts of humans with dilated cardiomyopathy exhibit widespread changes in gene expression that correlate with cardiac fibroblast activation. Moreover, we identify the ubiquitously transcribed t et ratricopeptide Y-linked (Uty) gene in leukocytes as a causal locus for an accelerated progression of heart failure in male mice with LOY. We demonstrate that Uty disruption leads to epigenetic alterations in both monocytes and macrophages, increasing the propensity of differentiation into profibrotic macrophages. Treatment with a transforming growth factor-β-neutralizing antibody prevented the cardiac pathology associated with Uty deficiency in leukocytes. These findings shed light on the mechanisms that contribute to the higher incidence of heart failure in men.

Rare case of super-response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Macedonian patient with Dilated Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy

Background: Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is rare cardiomyopathy with increased and prominent endomyocardial trabeculations also known as spongy myocardium. It is often found in association with a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and has high incidence of Heart failure (HF). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is currently recommended by the available guidelines for selected patients with Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Aim: Our case report aims to highlight the therapeutic benefits and superresponse to CRT in a patient with Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy and HFrEF. Case report: 55-year-old Macedonian male patient with HFrEF, Left bundle branch block (LBBB) remained symptomatic (NYHA III) despite optimal medical treatment (OMT). Echocardiography and CMR findings were in addition to dilated and left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy. Cardiac resynchronization therapy was indicated and 18 months after implantation of CRT-P device we have achieved complete and utter reversibility of systolic myocardial function (EF from 23% to 53%), left ventricular internal diameter was reduced from 90mm to 64mm, left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) was reduced from 319ml to 98ml and patient quality of life significantly improved. Conclusion: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a safe and valuable method of treatment for patients with HFrEF due to dilated left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac and Renal Fibrosis, the Silent Killer in the Cardiovascular Continuum: An Up-to-Date.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist and have a major impact on patient prognosis. Organ fibrosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardio-renal syndrome (CRS), explaining the high incidence of heart failure and sudden cardiac death in these patients. Various mediators and mechanisms have been proposed as contributors to the alteration of fibroblasts and collagen turnover, varying from hemodynamic changes to the activation of the renin-angiotensin system, involvement of FGF 23, and Klotho protein or collagen deposition. A better understanding of all the mechanisms involved has prompted the search for alternative therapeutic targets, such as novel inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), serelaxin, and neutralizing interleukin-11 (IL-11) antibodies. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cardiac and renal fibrosis in the CKD and heart failure (HF) population and highlights the therapeutic alternatives designed to target the responsible pathways.

Epidemiological investigation of lower respiratory tract infections during influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus pandemic based on targeted next-generation sequencing.

Co-infection has been a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in previous influenza pandemics. However, the current influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus pandemic, as the first major outbreak following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, may differ epidemiologically. Further investigation is necessary to understand the specific features and impact of this influenza A pandemic. Study design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a Chinese hospital between January and April 2023, focusing on patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Pathogen detection employed targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or sputum samples. This study enrolled 167 patients with lower respiratory tract infections, and the overall positivity rate detected through tNGS was around 80%. Among them, 40 patients had influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus infection, peaking in March. In these patients, 27.5% had sole infections, and 72.5% had co-infections, commonly with bacteria. The frequently detected pathogens were Aspergillus fumigatus, SARS-CoV-2, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. For non-influenza A virus-infected patients, the co-infection rate was 36.1%, with 42.3% having SARS-CoV-2. Patients with influenza A virus infection were younger, had more females and diabetes cases. Among them, those with sole infections were older, with less fever and asthma but more smoking history. Regarding prognosis, compared to sole influenza A virus infection, co-infected patients demonstrated higher 21-day recovery rates and a higher incidence of heart failure. However, they exhibited lower proportions of respiratory failure, acute kidney failure, septic shock, and hospital stays lasting more than 10 days. Interestingly, patients with non-influenza A virus infection had a significantly lower 21-day recovery rate. Correlation analysis indicated that the 21-day recovery rate was only associated with influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus. During the current pandemic, the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus may have been influenced by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and did not exhibit a strong pathogenicity. In fact, patients infected with influenza A virus showed better prognoses compared to those infected with other pathogens. Additionally, tNGS demonstrated excellent detection performance in this study and showed great potential, prompting clinical physicians to consider its use as an auxiliary diagnostic tool.

Focus on Paediatric Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: Frequently Asked Questions.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is characterized by restrictive ventricular pathophysiology determined by increased myocardial stiffness. While suspicion of RCM is initially raised by clinical evaluation and supported by electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, invasive hemodynamic evaluation is often required for diagnosis and management of patients during follow-up. RCM is commonly associated with a poor prognosis and a high incidence of heart failure, and PH is reported in paediatric patients with RCM. Currently, only a few therapies are available for specific RCM aetiologies. Early referral to centres for advanced heart failure treatment is often necessary. The aim of this review is to address questions frequently asked when facing paediatric patients with RCM, including issues related to aetiologies, clinical presentation, diagnostic process and prognosis.

Effect of Mavacamten in Women Compared With Men With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Insights From EXPLORER-HCM.

Compared with men, women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have a higher incidence of heart failure and worse outcomes. We investigated baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics and response to mavacamten among women compared with men in the EXPLORER-HCM study (Clinical Study to Evaluate Mavacamten [MYK-461] in Adults With Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy). A prespecified post hoc analysis of sex from the blinded, randomized EXPLORER-HCM trial of mavacamten versus placebo in symptomatic patients with obstructive HCM was performed. Baseline characteristics were compared with t tests for continuous variables (expressed as mean values) and χ2 tests for categorical variables. Prespecified primary, secondary, and exploratory end points and echocardiographic measurements from baseline to end of treatment (week 30) were analyzed with ANCOVA for continuous end points and a generalized linear model with binomial distribution for binary end points, with adjustment for each outcome's baseline value, New York Heart Association class, β-blocker use, and ergometer type. At baseline, women (n=102) were older (62 years versus 56 years; P<0.0001), had lower peak oxygen consumption (16.7 mL·kg-1·min-1 versus 21.3 mL·kg-1·min-1; P<0.0001), were more likely to be assigned New York Heart Association class III (42% versus 17%; P<0.0001), had worse health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Clinical Summary Score 64 versus 75; P<0.0001), and had higher baseline plasma NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels (1704 ng/L versus 990 ng/L; P=0.004) than men (n=149). After 30 weeks of mavacamten treatment, similar improvements were observed in women and men in the primary composite end point (percentage difference on mavacamten versus placebo, 22% versus 19%, respectively; P=0.759) and in the secondary end points of change in postexercise left ventricular outflow tract gradient (-42.4 mm Hg versus -33.6 mm Hg; P=0.348), change in peak oxygen consumption (1.2 mL·kg-1·min-1 versus 1.6 mL·kg-1·min-1; P=0.633), and percentage achieving ≥1 New York Heart Association class improvement (41% versus 28%; P=0.254). However, women had greater improvement in health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Clinical Summary Score 14.8 versus 6.1; P=0.026) and in the exploratory end point of NT-proBNP levels (-1322 ng/L versus -649 ng/L; P=0.0008). Although at baseline women with symptomatic obstructive HCM enrolled in EXPLORER-HCM were older and had worse heart failure and health status than men, treatment with mavacamten resulted in similar improvements in the primary and most secondary EXPLORER-HCM end points and greater improvements in health status and NT-proBNP. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03470545.

Abstract 15660: Mitral Regurgitation in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is more common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to the general population, However, longitudinal associations of MR and adverse outcomes in CKD, such as mortality and heart failure (HF), have not been well studied yet. Hypothesis/Aim: We aim to investigate the prevalence of MR and its association with mortality, incidence of HF, and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with CKD. Methods: We studied patients with CKD who had an echocardiography exam (2008-2013) in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study. Independent t-tests and Chi-square tests were used to compare clinical and echocardiographic characteristics in patients with vs. without MR. The degree of MR was quantified using effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) from apical-four chamber view and further categorized as trace, mild and moderate/severe. Kaplan-Meier (KM) Curves and Cox hazard models were used to estimate the association of MR degree and EROA with mortality, incidence of HF and AF. Results: Among a total of 2951 patients with CKD, 2167 (73.4%) patients had MR (EROA, 0.14±0.19 cm 2 ) with degrees of trace, mild, and moderate /severe MR comprising 54.3%, 12.5%, and 6.6%, respectively. Patients with MR were more likely to be female (47.39 vs. 42.73%), non-White race (51.8 vs. 46.8%), and have worse B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NTproBNP; 524.86 vs. 271.66 pg/ml) and left ventricular ejection fraction (53.7 vs. 55.8%) compared to those without MR. When stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 60-45, 45-30, &lt;30 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ), the group in the lowest eGFR category (n=703) had the highest prevalence of moderate/severe MR (9.2%, p &lt;0.05). KM Curves showed patients with CKD and moderate/sever MR had higher incidence of HF and AF than those with CKD and absent, trace, or mild MR ( p &lt;0.01). EROA was associated with the incidence of AF (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08, p &lt;0.01) and HF (HR=1.06, p &lt;0.01), independent of age, sex, race, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, eGFR and NTproBNP, but not mortality. Conclusion: In patients with CKD, MR is independently associated with HF and AF, highlighting the importance of MR-specific interventions to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

Abstract 17973: Higher N-Terminal Pro-b-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Heart Failure With Rheumatoid Arthritis is Associated With Worse Short-Term Outcomes

Background: The chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to cause a higher incidence of heart failure (HF); however, studies on the outcomes of patients with RA and HF are limited. Research Questions: We compared outcomes between matched patients with HF with versus without RA with a specific look at NT-proBNP as a prognostic marker. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients with HF with RA (n=186) one-to-two propensity score matched to patients with HF without RA (n=135,233) from our tertiary care center from January 2001 to December 2022. RA and HF were defined by International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes; HF was limited to ICD codes reported within the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute. Patients were matched using demographics (age, sex, and race) and comorbidities (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, CAD, atrial fibrillation, CKD, COPD, cirrhosis, and cancer). Results: A total of 558 patients with HF were included, 186 with RA and 372 without RA. The sample’s mean age at HF diagnosis was 69±13 years, 69.2% were female, and 62.9% had HFpEF. Patients in the two groups did not differ by NT-proBNP or LVEF. During a maximum 1-year follow-up after HF diagnosis, the two groups did not differ in combined 1-year mortality/hospitalization. When each group was split by median NT-proBNP, patients in the higher NT-proBNP groups had less HFpEF and worse combined 1-year mortality/hospitalization (Figure 1; HR 2.44, 95%CI 1.39-4.27, p=0.002 in those with RA and HR 1.50, 95%CI 1.06-2.13, p=0.023 in those without RA). The outcomes did not differ when comparing patients with versus without RA with high NT-proBNP. Conclusions: Short-term outcomes did not differ amongst patients with HF with versus without RA once matched for demographics and comorbidities. Furthermore, NT-proBNP was a prognostic marker for worse short-term outcomes in patients with RA and HF.

Relationship between stress hyperglycemia and worsening heart failure in patients with significant secondary mitral regurgitation

Background and aimsSecondary mitral regurgitation (sMR), a major valvular disease, is prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and is associated with higher incidence of heart failure (HF) and mortality when present in combination with abnormal glucose metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and worsening HF in CAD patients with significant (grade ≥2) sMR. MethodsWe performed a multi-center observational study of 874 participants with significant sMR following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the Cardiorenal Improvement-II (CIN-II) cohort. Patients with glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) data at admission were included in the analysis, and categorized according to the SHR, the ratio of mmol/L blood glucose to % HbA1c, as quartiles: Q1: <0.74; Q2: 0.74–0.91; Q3: 0.91–1.14; and Q4: ≥1.14. The primary clinical endpoint was worsening HF and the secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). ResultsOf the 874 participants (64.1 ± 10.8 years, 80% male), 174 showed worsening HF and 226 developed MACE during a median follow-up of 3.7 years (interquartile range: 1.8–6.2 years). Compared to participants in the lowest quartile (Q1) of SHR, the highest quartile group (Q4) was at significantly higher risks of worsening HF (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–3.94; p< 0.001), while this was not associated with increased risk of MACE (p>0.05) after adjustment for potential covariates. For worsening HF, the results obtained for the normal glucose regulation subgroup may be more meaningful than those for the diabetes mellitus (DM) and pre-DM groups (p-interaction<0.001). For MACE, the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (Q4 vs. Q1; HR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.26–1.59) and non-AMI (Q4 vs. Q1; HR: 2.20, 95%CI: 1.36–3.54) subgroups differed significantly on MACE (p-interaction = 0.006). ConclusionsIncreasing SHR is associated with a higher risk of worsening of HF in patients with significant sMR, especially in those with normoglycemia.

Triglyceride-glucose index and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is a major metabolic disorder observed in heart failure (HF) and is tightly associated with patients’ poor prognosis. The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) has been proposed as a surrogate marker of IR in HF. Yet, whether TyG is a reliable clinical marker is still under debate. Hence, we aimed to respond to this relevant question via a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science to find studies investigating the TyG index in patients with HF or its association with the incidence of HF. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled through random-effect meta-analysis. HRs were calculated using TyG as a continuous variable (1 unit increase) and by comparing the group with the highest TyG to the lowest TyG group.ResultsThirty studies, involving 772,809 participants, were included in this systematic review. Meta-analysis of seven studies comparing the highest-TyG to the lowest-TyG group showed a significantly increased risk of HF in the former group (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.29, P < 0.01). The same result was found when pooling the HRs for a one-unit increase in the TyG index (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.26). Similarly, a more elevated TyG index was associated with a higher incidence of HF in patients with type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease. Additionally, the incidence of adverse events (readmission and mortality) in patients with HF was associated with TyG.ConclusionOur findings support the TyG index as a valuable marker to assess the risk of HF incidence in different populations and as a prognostic marker in patients with HF. Further studies should be conducted to confirm these associations and investigate the clinical utility of the TyG index.

Acute hyperglycemia, a rabble-rouser or innocent bystander? A prospective analysis of clinical implications of acute hyperglycemia in STE-ACS patients

BackgroundAcute hyperglycemia is considered an independent prognosticator of both in-hospital and long-term outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed To analyze the incidence of acute hyperglycemia and its impact on the adverse in-hospital outcome in patients with STE-ACS undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsIn this study, we enrolled patients presenting with STE-ACS and undergoing primary PCI at a tertiary care cardiac center. Acute hyperglycemia was defined as random plasma glucose (RBS) > 200 mg/dl at the time of presentation to the emergency room.ResultsOf the 4470 patients, 78.8% were males, and the mean age was 55.52 ± 11 years. In total, 39.4% (1759) were found to have acute hyperglycemia, and of these, 59% (1037) were already diagnosed with diabetes. Patients with acute hyperglycemia were observed to have a higher incidence of heart failure (8.2% vs. 5.5%; p < 0.001), contrast-induced nephropathy (10.9% vs. 7.4%; p < 0.001), and in-hospital mortality (5.7% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, acute hyperglycemia was found to be an independent predictor of mortality with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.81 [1.28–2.55]. Multi-vessel disease (1.73 [1.17–2.56]), pre-procedure left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (1.02 [1.0-1.03]), and Killip class III/IV (4.55 [3.09–6.71]) were found to be the additional independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.ConclusionsAcute hyperglycemia, regardless of diabetic status, is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality among patients with STE-ACS undergoing primary PCI. Acute hyperglycemia, along with other significant predictors such as multi-vessel involvement, LVEDP, and Killip class III/IV, can be considered for the risk stratification of these patients.

Higher incidence of heart failure and atrial fibrillation in valvular heart disease post-COVID-19

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Patients with cardiovascular diseases are at higher risk of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications. The data if post-COVID-19 patients are more susceptible to postoperative cardiac surgery complications are scarce. There are limited pieces of information on the possible consequences for patients with severe valvular disease undergoing valvular cardiac surgery. The study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on patients with severe valvular disease and its postoperative course and outcomes. Methods We retrospectively identified 34 severe valvular disease patients indicated for surgery that underwent cardiac valvular surgery post-COVID-19. Adverse cardiovascular events in post-COVID-19 (heart failure (HF) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) were recorded. All patients underwent control echocardiography preoperatively to assess changes in ejection fraction (EF), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), and diastolic filling (E/e’). The patients were also followed for the postoperative course and hospital outcomes. All these data were compared to a historical cohort of 94 non-COVID-19 patients. Results There were no differences in mean age in post-COVID 65.2±11.6 vs. non-COVID-19 group 63.9±11.7, p = 0.57 or sex 74.6% vs. 70.7% of males, p = 0.38 or BMI 28.9± 4.5 vs. 28.2 ± 3.9, p = 0.42, with borderline significance in Euroscore 3 ± 4 vs. 1.6 ± 1.8, p = 0.05. retrospectively. Post-COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher prevalence of symptomatic HF 43.3% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.03, and AF 37.1% vs. 17%, p = 0.02 on admission. There were no significant differences between post-COVID-19 and COVID-19 in EF 56.9 ± 10.2 vs. 53.5 ± 12.6, p = 0.2, RVSP 38.1 ± 13.1 vs. 44.9 ± 12.8, p = 0.1 or E/e’ 13.8 ± 4.4 vs. 56.9 ± 10.2, p = 0.9. There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes when post-COVID-19 group was compared to the non-COVID-19 group, the incidence of pneumonia was 8.6 vs. 6.9, p = 0.7, sepsis 2.9 vs. 4.3, p = 0.58, stroke 0% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.14, acute kidney failure 2.9 vs. 1.1, p = 0.47, postoperative acute MI 2.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.1, and mortality 0% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.5, retrospectively. There was a significantly higher incidence of transfusion in the post-COVID-19 group 77.1% vs. 41.5%, p &amp;lt; 0.01. Hospital stay for post-COVID-19 patients was 8.8 ± 4.4, vs. 8.7 ± 4 days, p = 0.94, total hospital stay 13 ± 7.4, vs. 11.4 ± 4.5, p = 0.2 and ICU stay 31.4 ± 37.8, vs. 44.4 ± 32.4 hours, p = 0.13. Conclusions Patients with severe valvular heart disease after COVID-19 are prone to develop heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The post-COVID-19 period following cardiac surgery is not associated with increased postoperative complications.

A single-center retrospective study of Vitamin D status and acute left ventricular heart failure from a super specialty tertiary care hospital in Northeast India

ABSTRACT Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a progressive clinical condition and is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Various studies have shown the association of Vitamin D deficiency with HF. The present study aimed to investigate the Vitamin D status among acute left ventricular failure (LVF) patients admitted to our hospital. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 55 acute LVF patients were retrospectively assessed. Patients were categorized according to their Vitamin D status. Demographics, risk factors, clinical presentations, and biochemical data of the patients were analyzed and documented. Results: Patients were grouped based on their Vitamin D status as deficient (40%; n = 22), insufficient (32.7%; n = 18), optimal (23.6%; n = 13), and toxic (3.6%; n = 2). The overall cohort included 67.3% (n = 37) of males with a male/female ratio of 2.1:1. Ages ranged from 22 to 86 years with a mean age of 64.8 years ± 2.3. Rural/Urban was 1:0.9. Hypertension (63.6%; n = 35) was the predominant risk factor across all groups. Mortality was the highest in the Vitamin D deficient group (36.4%; n = 8). The most common symptom observed was dyspnea (76.4%; n = 42). A high incidence of HF with reduced ejection fraction (58.1%; n = 32) was seen in the entire cohort with the highest prevalence in the Vitamin D-deficient group (27.3%; n = 15). Conclusions: Our study revealed a high occurrence of Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among HF patients. Routine screening of Vitamin D levels should be done in patients with unexplained cardiac problems. Serious adverse events, including HF, can be prevented and/or reduced on early diagnosis and treatment of Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency.

Smoking Cessation and Benefits to Cardiovascular Health: A Review of Literature.

Tobacco smoking is a chief cause of preventable deaths worldwide, accounting for various cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Tobacco smoking accounts for more than seven million deaths every year. Worldwide statistics show that about 1.1 billion active smokers exist; 80% live in low- and middle-income countries. Nicotine is the addictive ingredient with the least harm compared to other active ingredients in tobacco, albeit not completely benign. Nicotine acts on the nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) and produces the release of neurotransmitters. The mechanism by which it affects the cardiovascular system involves endothelial dysfunction by reducing nitrogen monoxide production, pro-thrombotic conditions, and activating inflammatory routes. These factors, along with the increased amounts of coronary atherosclerosis, have addictive adverse effects. Smoking has been shown to cause increased amounts of coronary atherosclerosis which may be responsible for the increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation, potentially contributing to the association of current smokers with a higher incidence of heart failure. This has led to worsened burdens and outcomes of cardiovascular disease among smokers. Smoking cessation has been associated with a reduction in cardiovascular mortality. This ranges from the reduction in the incidence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure. As regards behavioral and mental health, smoking cessation reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in people experiencing mental illness. The prevalence of smoking continues to trend downward over the past couple of decades. Despite this downtrend, cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately half a million deaths per year in the United States and billions of dollars spent in healthcare. This buttresses the need to explore the various effects of smoking cessation on cardiovascular health and suggest ways to curb the disease burden.