High Prevalence Of Cardiac Abnormalities Research Articles

Cardiopatia congênita incomum em paciente com síndrome de Down: um relato de caso

Ebsteins anomaly, in addition to being a rare congenital heart disease, is infrequently associated with Down’s syndrome. In this paper, it is described a case report of a newborn with this association, who presented with persistent cyanosis. The echocardiogram showed anomalous insertion of tricuspid valve leaflet with moderate valvar insufficiency, having a good outcome at the end of hospitalization. Ebstein’s anomaly is a cardiac modification related with the position and structure of the tricuspid valve and has high mortality in the neonatal period. The Down syndrome is a chromosomal alteration accompanied by major congenital changes, with a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities. An association of Ebsteins anomaly with other syndromes, such as the one reported, and extracardiacs abnormalities is very uncommon and subject of few case reports. Therefore, giving the predisposition of patients with Down syndrome to develop cardiac problems, it must be emphasized that these patients should be systematically submitted to complete cardiac evaluation, with echocardiographic examination. Knowing their anatomical differences, hemodynamic variables and associated malformations are an imperative for a good management of its bearer, and, therefore, its longevity.

Prevalence and pattern of echocardiographic abnormalities among patients on haemodialysis at an urban hospital in Central Uganda

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and premature mortality in patients on chronic haemodialysis. There are limited data on cardiac abnormalities among these patients in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. We determined the prevalence and patterns of echocardiographic (echo) abnormalities among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on haemodialysis at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Methods: Eighty patients with ESRD on chronic haemodialysis were enrolled in the study over a period of five months from November 2017 to March 2018. We collected data on demographic and baseline clinical characteristics by reviewing charts and conducting patient interviews. Participants had blood pressure measurements performed and blood samples taken for laboratory investigations. We then conducted a cardiac evaluation using standard transthoracic echo protocols. Bivariable and multivariable analysis was performed to study associations with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Results: Fifty-three of the 80 patients (66%) were male, mean age was 49 ± 16 years and the median duration on dialysis was 9.5 months (interquartile range 4–24 months). Twenty-eight (35%) had to travel >50 km to access dialysis. Seventy-four patients (93%) had at least one cardiac echo abnormality and 30% had at least three abnormalities. Left ventricular hypertrophy (68%) and diastolic dysfunction (64%) were the most common abnormalities. There was a high prevalence of factors that have previously been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction including anaemia (79%), poorly controlled hypertension (79%) and dyslipidaemia (56%) but none of these was statistically significantly associated in this study. Conclusions: Our study confirmed a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities among a young population of African patients with ESRD on chronic dialysis. We recommend that echocardiography be part of the routine care to help plan early intervention for those at high risk of cardiovascular events.

Incidence and Progression of Echocardiographic Abnormalities in Older Children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Adolescents Taking Antiretroviral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundA high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities has been reported in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the incidence and progression of cardiac abnormalities among children taking ART in Zimbabwe.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted at a pediatric HIV clinic from 2014 to 2017. Children with HIV aged between 6 and 16 years and taking ART ≥6 months were enrolled. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at baseline and after 18 months.ResultsOf 197 participants recruited at baseline, 175 (89%; 48% female; median age 12 years, interquartile range 10–14 years) were followed up. The incidences of left and right heart abnormalities were 3.52 and 5.64 per 100 person-years, respectively. Stunting was associated with the development of any cardiac abnormality (adjusted odds ratio 2.59, 95% confidence interval 1.03–6.49; P = .043). Right ventricular (RV) dilatation persisted at follow-up in 92% of participants and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in 88%. Cardiac abnormalities present at baseline reverted to normal over the follow-up period in 11 (6%). There was an overall increase in mean z scores for LV, left atrium (LA), RV, interventricular septum, and LV posterior wall diameters at 18 months (P < .001).ConclusionsDespite ART, children with HIV have a high incidence of cardiac abnormalities, with only a minority being transient. Mean z scores for LV, LA, RV, interventricular septum, and LV posterior wall diameters increased over a relatively short follow-up period, suggesting the potential for progression of cardiac abnormalities. Longer follow-up is required to understand the clinical implications of these abnormalities.

Preoperative Exercise Echocardiography and Perioperative Cardiovascular Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery

Limited information is available on the value of exercise echocardiography (EE) for identifying operative risk in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. The authors investigated the outcome in 221 consecutive patients 75 years and older who had EE before intermediate- or high-risk cancer surgery. Baseline clinical data, postoperative adverse cardiovascular events (PACE), and 30-day mortality were collected from the medical records and the Social Security Death Index. The mean age +/- SD of the group was 78.9+/-3.5 years; 57% were men. Significant cardiovascular abnormalities (by echocardiography) were present in 71.5%. Mean metabolic equivalents +/- SD achieved during exercise was 4.9+/-1.9. EE identified 50 (22.6%) patients with ischemia and/or infarction. Perioperative beta-blockers were used in 80% of patients with coronary artery disease vs 48.5% without coronary artery disease (P<.0001). There were 31 PACE in 26 (11.8%) patients. Atrial fibrillation was the most common PACE, seen in 18 (8.1%) patients, followed by congestive heart failure in 8 (3.6%), acute coronary syndrome in 2 (0.9%), and cardiac arrest in 1 (0.5%). Thirty-day mortality was only 0.9%. Hospital lengths of stay for patients with and without PACE were 16.8+/-14.9 and 8.5+/-4.8 days (P< or =.0001), respectively. An abnormal EE predicted PACE (22% vs 8.8%; P< .025). Perioperative beta-blockers reduced the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (4.9% vs 12.2%; P=.052). In conclusion, EE is feasible in very elderly patients. There is a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in the elderly. An abnormal EE predicts PACE, which, in turn, is associated with increased length of stay.

Cardiac abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective M-mode, cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiographic study

A prospective M-mode, cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiographic study was performed on 75 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 60 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Compared with the control group, patients with lupus had an increased prevalence of echocardiographic abnormalities. These included pericardial effusion and/or thickening (37%), left ventricular hypertrophy (12%), global left ventricular hypokinesis (5%), segmental abnormalities of left ventricular wall motion (4%), right ventricular enlargement (4%), focal verrucous valvar thickening (12%), gross valvar thickening and dysfunction (8%), mitral regurgitation (25%) and aortic regurgitation (8%). Two patients with gross mitral valvar thickening and dysfunction subsequently underwent valvar replacement. Correlation between echocardiographic abnormalities and clinical parameters showed that pericardial effusion was significantly associated with pericardial pain ( P < 0.05) and active disease ( P < 0.001), and left ventricular hypertrophy with systemic hypertension ( P < 0.05). Thus, there was a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities, especially pericardial and valvar lesions, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Echocardiography is invaluable in identifying these abnormalities and should be used routinely for cardiac evaluation of these patients.

‘Leopard’ syndrome

'Leopard' syndrome is a rare inherited disorder associated with a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities. General anaesthesia for dental treatment in a patient who had cardiomyopathy and bizarre electrocardiographic abnormalities associated with this syndrome is described. A thorough cardiac assessment is advised in a patient with multiple lentigines, although no clinical symptoms or signs may be found. Even if no cardiac abnormality is found before it is better to re-assess the patient, since abnormalities may develop later. The assessment should be repeated if any abnormality was detected before but without clinical significance, since the disease is progressive and may progress more rapidly in some patients than in others.

Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac anatomy and function in hypertensive subjects.

Cardiovascular complications are a major source of morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. To assess the prevalence of anatomic and functional abnormalities of the heart in such patients, we studied 234 asymptomatic subjects with mild-to-moderate systemic hypertension by echocardiography. After adjusting the echocardiographic values for age and body surface area, we found abnormally increased ventricular septal and/or posterobasal free-wall thickness in 61% of the hypertensive subjects. We found increased left atrial, aortic root, and left ventricular internal dimension (at end-diastole) in 5-7%, and decreased mitral valve closing velocity (E-F slope) and left ventricular ejection fraction were noted in six and 15% of the subjects, respectively. Four percent of the patients had disproportionate septal thickening (i.e., ventricular septal-to-left ventricular free-wall thickness ratio greater than or equal to 1.3). In contrast to the high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities detected by echocardiography, less than 10% of the hypertensive subjects had abnormal 12-lead ECGs or abnormal chest x-rays. These findings demonstrate a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in a population of asymptomatic hypertensive subjects. These abnormalities can be detected by echocardiography before they are otherwise apparent.