An echocardiographic evaluation to determine the immediate and short-term changes in biventricular systolic and diastolic functions after PDA device closure-an observational analytical prospective study (echo- PDA study)

Objectives

–This prospective study with a sizable cohort was undertaken to assess changes in left and right ventricle systolic and diastolic functions after percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus device closure with appropriate follow up evaluation.

Methods

– It is an observational analytical prospective study. Ninety-eight patients were recruited out of which sixty-eight patients underwent percutaneous PDA device closure and were taken for final analysis. The primary objective was to study the left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions pre- and post-procedure at 48 h with follow up analysis at six months.

Results

– The mean age of the patients was 7.88 ± 5.05 years with the female to male ratio was 3.85:1. Thirty-three (48.52%) of the patients had immediate post PDA device closure LV systolic dysfunction. It was more common in those having pre-procedure mean low LVEF and those having a significant reduction in mitral A velocity. It became normal at six months follow up. The study reported immediate decrease in mea/n LVEF from 63.55 ± 8.11% to 48.19 ± 7.9%. The changes in LVEDD, LVEF, LVFS and LVEDV were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). In diastolic functions, there were significant reductions in peak early and late diastolic velocities. There was no statistically significant difference in right chamber functional assessment.

Conclusion

Asymptomatic LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in immediate post PDA closure period is a common complication and reported in around 48.5% cases. It was more common in those having pre-procedure mean low LVEF and those having a significant reduction in mitral A velocity.

Primary care heart failure service identifies a missed cohort of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction

AIMS

We explored whether a missed cohort of patients in the community with heart failure (HF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) could be identified and receive treatment optimization through a primary care heart failure (PCHF) service.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PCHF is a partnership between Inspira Health, National Health Service Cardiologists and Medtronic. The PCHF service uses retrospective clinical audit to identify patients requiring a prospective face-to-face consultation with a consultant cardiologist for clinical review of their HF management within primary care. The service is delivered via five phases: (i) system interrogation of general practitioner (GP) systems; (ii) clinical audit of medical records; (iii) patient invitation; (iv) consultant reviews; and (v) follow-up. A total of 78 GP practices (864 194 population) have participated. In total, 19 393 patients' records were audited. HF register was 9668 (prevalence 1.1%) with 6162 patients coded with LVSD (prevalence 0.7%). HF case finder identified 9725 additional patients to be audited of whom 2916 patients required LVSD codes adding to the patient medical record (47% increase in LVSD). Prevalence of HF with LVSD increased from 0.7% to 1.05%. A total of 662 patients were invited for consultant cardiologist review at their local GP practice. The service found that within primary care, 27% of HF patients identified for a cardiologist consultation were eligible for complex device therapy, 45% required medicines optimization, and 47% of patients audited required diagnosis codes adding to their GP record.

CONCLUSION

A PCHF service can identify a missed cohort of patients with HF and LVSD, enabling the optimization of prognostic medication and an increase in device prescription.

Heart failure and atrial flutter: a systematic review of current knowledge and practices

While the interplay between heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been extensively studied, little is known regarding HF and atrial flutter (AFL), which may be managed differently. We reviewed the incidence, prevalence, and predictors of HF in AFL and vice versa, and the outcomes of treatment of AFL in HF. A systematic literature review of PubMed/Medline and EMBASE yielded 65 studies for inclusion and qualitative synthesis. No study described the incidence or prevalence of AFL in unselected patients with HF. Most cohorts enrolled patients with AF/AFL as interchangeable diagnoses, or highly selected patients with tachycardia‐induced cardiomyopathy. The prevalence of HF in AFL ranged from 6% to 56%. However, the phenotype of HF was never defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). No studies reported the predictors, phenotype, and prognostic implications of AFL in HF. There was significant variation in treatments studied, including the proportion that underwent ablation. When systolic dysfunction was tachycardia‐mediated, catheter ablation demonstrated LVEF normalization in up to 88%, as well as reduced cardiovascular mortality. In summary, AFL and HF often coexist but are understudied, with no randomized trial data to inform care. Further research is warranted to define the epidemiology and establish optimal management.

Risk of arrhythmias after myocardial infarction in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction according to mode of revascularization: a Cardiac Arrhythmias and RIsk Stratification after Myocardial infArction (CARISMA) substudy

AIMS

The Cardiac Arrhythmias and RIsk Stratification after Myocardial infArction (CARISMA) study was an observational trial including 312 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%. Primary percutaneous intervention (pPCI) was introduced 2 years after start of the enrolment, dividing the population into two groups: pre- and post-pPCI. This substudy sought to describe the influence of the mode of revascularization on long-term risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), bradyarrhythmia, and ventricular tachycardia and the subsequent risk of relevant major cardiovascular events (MACE).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study included the 268 patients without a history of AF. All patients received an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) and were followed for 2 years. The choice of revascularization was made by the treating team independently of the trial and retrospectively divided into pPCI, subacute PCI, primary thrombolysis, or no revascularization. Endpoints were new-onset arrhythmia and MACE.A total of 77 patients received no revascularization, whereas 49 received thrombolysis only and 142 received any PCI. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for developing any arrhythmia and the subsequently risk of MACE were increased in non-revascularized or thrombolysed patients compared with PCI-patients (any arrhythmia, non-revascularization: HR = 1.7, P = 0.01 and thrombolysis: HR = 1.6, P = 0.05; MACE, non-revascularization: HR = 3.1, P = 0.05 and thrombolysis: HR = 3.1, P = 0.08). All HRs were adjusted for significant baseline and clinically considered covariates and stratified for calendar year.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that the long-term risk of arrhythmia documented by an ICM and the subsequent risk of MACE were increased in non-revascularized or thrombolysed patients compared with PCI-patients in a post-MI population with LVEF <40%.

The effect of cardiac rhythm on artificial intelligence-enabled ECG evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction prediction in cardiac intensive care unit patients

The presence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) alters clinical management and prognosis in most acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions. While transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remains the most common diagnostic tool to screen for LVSD, it is operator-dependent, time-consuming, effort-intensive, and relatively expensive. Recent work has demonstrated the ability of an artificial intelligence-augment ECG (AI-ECG) model to accurately predict LVSD in critical intensive care unit (CICU) patients. We demonstrate that the AI-ECG algorithm can maintain its performance in these patients with and without AF despite their clinical differences. An AI-ECG algorithm can serve as a non-invasive, inexpensive, and rapid screening tool for early detection of LVSD in resource-limited settings, and potentially expedite clinical decision making and guideline-directed therapies in the acute care setting.

Left ventricular function recovery after ST-elevation myocardial infarction: correlates and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Contemporary data on left ventricular function (LVF) recovery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are scarce and to date, no comparison has been made with patients with a baseline normal LVF. This study examined predictors of LVF recovery and its relation to outcomes in STEMI.

METHODS

Patients presenting with STEMI between January 2010 and December 2016 were categorized in three groups after 3 months according to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF): (i) baseline normal LVF (EF ≥ 50% at baseline); (ii) recovered LVF (EF < 50% at baseline and ≥ 50% after 3 months); and (iii) reduced LVF (EF < 50% at baseline and after 3 months). Heart failure hospitalization, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were compared between the three groups.

RESULTS

Of 577 patients, 341 (59%) patients had a baseline normal LVF, 112 (19%) had a recovered LVF and 124 (22%) had a reduced LVF. Independent correlates of LVF recovery were higher baseline EF, lower peak troponin and cardiac arrest. After median 5.8 years, there was no difference in outcomes between patients with LVF recovery and baseline normal LVF. In contrast, even after multivariate adjustment, patients with persistently reduced LVF had a higher risk for heart failure hospitalization (HR 5.00; 95% CI 2.17-11.46) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.87; 95% CI 1.11-3.16).

CONCLUSION

In contemporary treated STEMI patients, prognosis is significantly worse in those with a persistently reduced LVF after 3 months, compared with patients with a baseline normal LVF and those with LVF recovery.

Impact of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Catheter ablation has been shown to improve left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Our aim was to assess the impact of AF ablation on the outcome of patients with HF and LV systolic dysfunction.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of all patients with HF and LVEF <50% and with no apparent cause for systolic dysfunction other than AF who underwent catheter ablation in a tertiary referral center between July 2016 and November 2018. The primary endpoint was a ≥5% improvement in LVEF. Secondary endpoints included improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and reduction in LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left atrial diameter (LAD).

RESULTS

Of 153 patients who underwent AF ablation in this period, 22 (77% male, median age 61 [IQR 54-64] years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 11.1 months (IQR 6.1-19.0). After ablation, median LVEF increased from 40% (IQR 33-41) to 58% (IQR 55-62) (p<0.01), mean NYHA class improved from 2.35±0.49 to 1.3±0.47 (p<0.001), and median LAD and LVEDD decreased from 48.0 (IQR 43.5-51.5) mm to 44 (IQR 40-49) mm (p<0.01) and from 61.0 (IQR 54.0-64.8) mm to 55.0 (52.2-58.0) mm (p<0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In patients with HF and LV systolic dysfunction, AF ablation is associated not only with improved functional status but also with favorable structural remodeling, including improvement in LVEF and decreases in LAD and LVEDD.

Multiple arterial conduits for multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with mild to moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a multicenter retrospective study

Background

Advantages of multiple arterial conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been reported previously. We aimed to evaluate the mid-term outcomes of multiple arterial CABG (MABG) among patients with mild to moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD).

Methods

This multicenter study using propensity score matching took place from January 2013 to June 2019 in Jiangsu Province and Shanghai, China, with a mean and maximum follow-up of 3.3 and 6.8 years, respectively. We included patients with mild to moderate LVSD, undergoing primary, isolated multi-vessel CABG with left internal thoracic artery. The in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of MABG versus conventional left internal thoracic artery supplemented by saphenous vein grafts (single arterial CABG) were compared. The primary end points were death from all causes and death from cardiovascular causes. The secondary end points were stroke, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and a composite of all mentioned outcomes, including death from all causes (major adverse events). Sternal wound infection was included with 6 months of follow-up after surgery.

Results

243 and 676 patients were formed in MABG and single arterial CABG cohorts after matching in a 1:3 ratio. In-hospital death was not significantly different (MABG 1.6% versus single arterial CABG 2.2%, p = 0.78). After a mean (±SD) follow-up time of 3.3 ± 1.8 years, MABG was associated with lower rates of major adverse events (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44–0.94; p = 0.019), myocardial infarction (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16–0.99; p = 0.045) and repeat revascularization (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.18–0.97; p = 0.034). There was no difference in the rates of death, stroke, and sternal wound infection.

Conclusions

MABG was associated with reduced mid-term rates of major adverse events and cardiovascular events and may be the procedure of choice for patients with mild to moderate LVSD requiring CABG.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13019-021-01463-5.

Hemodynamic Management of Patients with Ejection Fraction < 50% Undergoing Pulmonary Vein Ablation

There is no consensus regarding optimal methodology forblood pressure monitoring inpatients with a depressed ejection fraction undergoingcatheter ablationfor atrial fibrillation. Our goalswere to determine ifhemodynamicmanagementdifferences exist during radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with and without an ejection fraction< 50%, and whether management was influenced by the utilization of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring. This single-center trial retrospectively compared blood pressure management during catheterablation of atrial fibrillationin all patients with an ejection fraction< 50% over a 2-year span (n=44), and compared to an age-matched cohort with preserved ejection fraction ablated over the same span in time (n=44). Blood pressure was not significantly managed differently between the groups, and did not appear to be influenced by the use of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring.Hemodynamic management is similar across the spectrum of ejection fraction, regardless of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring, which challenges the need for invasive arterial blood pressure monitoringduringcatheter ablation ofatrial fibrillationin left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Real-world outcomes in cardiac resynchronization therapy patients: design and baseline demographics of the SMART- Registry

Aims

The SMART (Strategic MAnagement to optimize response to cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) Registry was designed to assess real‐world outcomes for patients receiving a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D) and to better understand which programming and optimization techniques are used and how effective they are.

Methods and results

The SMART Registry is a global, multicentre, prospective, observational, post‐market CRT‐D registry with a planned enrolment of 2000 subjects from a maximum of 200 sites in Europe, North America, and Asia‐Pacific region. Each subject will be followed up for a minimum of 12 months. The primary endpoint of CRT response rate at 12 months is defined by a clinical composite score of all‐cause mortality, heart failure events, New York Heart Association Class, and quality of life as assessed by a patient global assessment instrument. A subgroup composed of the first 103 consecutive European subjects implanted with an NG4 device will have left ventricular multisite pacing feature enabled at any time during the initial 12 months of follow‐up. The primary endpoint for this sub‐analysis will be the NG4 PG‐related complication‐free rate at 36 months.

Conclusions

The SMART Registry achieved its recruitment target in August 2019, with 2014 patients enrolled. The baseline demographics demonstrated that patients were generally older, with greater co‐morbidity, and on more contemporary medical therapy than in the key CRT trials. The results of the SMART Registry will determine which programming and optimization techniques are effective in this real‐world population.

External validation of a deep learning electrocardiogram algorithm to detect ventricular dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

To validate a novel artificial-intelligence electrocardiogram algorithm (AI-ECG) to detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in an external population.

BACKGROUND

LVSD, even when asymptomatic, confers increased morbidity and mortality. We recently derived AI-ECG to detect LVSD using ECGs based on a large sample of patients treated at the Mayo Clinic.

METHODS

We performed an external validation study with subjects from the Know Your Heart Study, a cross-sectional study of adults aged 35-69 years residing in two cities in Russia, who had undergone both ECG and transthoracic echocardiography. LVSD was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%. We assessed the performance of the AI-ECG to identify LVSD in this distinct patient population.

RESULTS

Among 4277 subjects in this external population-based validation study, 0.6% had LVSD (compared to 7.8% of the original clinical derivation study). The overall performance of the AI-ECG to detect LVSD was robust with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.82. When using the LVSD probability cut-off of 0.256 from the original derivation study, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in this population were 26.9%, 97.4%, 97.0%, respectively. Other probability cut-offs were analysed for different sensitivity values.

CONCLUSIONS

The AI-ECG detected LVSD with robust test performance in a population that was very different from that used to develop the algorithm. Population-specific cut-offs may be necessary for clinical implementation. Differences in population characteristics, ECG and echocardiographic data quality may affect test performance.

Etiology and prognosis of patients with unexplained syncope and mid-range left ventricular dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Syncope in patients with mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) can be due to potentially serious arrhythmic causes. However, there is no clear consensus on the best way to manage these patients.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to determine the causes of syncope and assess the diagnostic yield and safety of a stepwise workup protocol in this population.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study. A stepwise workup protocol was applied to patients with LVEF 35%-50% and unexplained syncope after the initial assessment (step 1).

RESULTS

One hundred four patients were included {median age 75.6 years; (interquartile range [IQR] 67.6-81.2 years); median LVEF 45% (IQR 40%-48%); median follow-up 2.0 years (IQR 0.7-3.3 years). In 71 patients (68.3%), a diagnosis was reached: 55 (77.5%) in step 2 (hospital admission and electrophysiology study) and 16 (36.5%) in step 3 (implantable cardiac monitor). Arrhythmic causes were the most common etiology (45.2% auriculoventricular block and 9.6% ventricular tachycardia). Sixty patients (57.7%) required the implantation of a cardiac device and 11 had a defibrillation function. Patients diagnosed in step 3 had a higher global risk of recurrence of syncope (hazard ratio 6.5; 95% confidence interval 2.3-18.0). The mortality rate was 8.1 per 100 person-years, and the sudden or unknown death rate was 0.9 per 100 person-years.

CONCLUSION

In patients with mid-range left ventricular dysfunction and syncope of unknown cause, a systematic diagnostic strategy based on electrophysiology study and/or implantable cardiac monitor implantation allows a diagnosis to be reached in a high proportion of cases and guides the treatment. Arrhythmia is the most common cause of syncope in this population, particularly auriculoventricular block.

Mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: early and mid-term outcomes

Background

This study aims to evaluate the early and mid-term outcomes of mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Methods

From January 2005 to December 2016, the profiles of patients with degenerative MR who underwent mitral valve repair at our institution were analyzed. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was defined as an ejection fraction < 60% or left ventricular end-systolic dimension > 40 mm. Finally, 322 patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction were included in this study. The prognosis of left ventricular function during follow-up was evaluated and preoperative factors associated with deteriorated left ventricular systolic function during follow-up were analyzed.

Results

The in-hospital mortality rate was 1.6%. The rate of eight-year overall survival, freedom from reoperation for mitral valve and freedom from recurrent MR were 96.9, 91.2 and 73.4%, respectively. Intraoperative residual mild MR (hazard ratio 4.82) and an isolated anterior leaflet lesion (hazard ratio 2.48) were independent predictive factors for recurrent MR. During follow-up, 212 patients underwent echocardiography examinations at our institution. Among them, 132 patients had improved left ventricular systolic function, and 80 patients had deteriorated left ventricular systolic. Freedom from recurrent MR was found in 75.9% of the improved left ventricular systolic function group and 56.2% of the deteriorated left ventricular systolic function group (P = 0.047). An age > 50 years (odds ratio 2.40), ejection fraction≤52% (odds ratio 2.79) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension≥45 mm (odds ratio 2.31) were independent risk factors for deteriorated left ventricular systolic function during follow-up.

Conclusions

Mitral valve repair could be safely performed for degenerative MR in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Intraoperative residual mild MR and an isolated anterior leaflet lesion were independent predictive factors for recurrent MR. An age > 50 years, ejection fraction≤52% and left ventricular end-systolic dimension≥45 mm were independent risk factors for deteriorated left ventricular systolic function during follow-up.

Left-sided heart disease and risk of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease on haemodialysis. The potential clinical consequence of systematic echocardiographic assessment is however not clear. In an unselected, contemporary population of patients on maintenance haemodialysis we aimed to assess: the prevalence of structural and functional heart disease, the potential therapeutic consequences of echocardiographic screening and whether left-sided heart disease is associated with prognosis.

METHODS

Adult chronic haemodialysis patients in two large dialysis centres had transthoracic echocardiography performed prior to dialysis and were followed prospectively. Significant left-sided heart disease was defined as moderate or severe left-sided valve disease or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%.

RESULTS

Among the 247 included patients (mean 66 years of age [95%CI 64-67], 68% male), 54 (22%) had significant left-sided heart disease. An LVEF ≤40% was observed in 31 patients (13%) and severe or moderate valve disease in 27 (11%) patients. The findings were not previously recognized in more than half of the patients (56%) prior to the study. Diagnosis had a potential impact on management in 31 (13%) patients including for 18 (7%) who would benefit from initiation of evidence-based heart failure therapy. After 2.8 years of follow-up, all-cause mortality among patients with and without left-sided heart disease was 52 and 32% respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95 (95%CI 1.25-3.06). A multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that left-sided heart disease was an independent predictor of mortality with a HR of 1.60 (95%CI 1.01-2.55) along with age (HR per year 1.05 [95%CI 1.03-1.07]).

CONCLUSION

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction and moderate to severe valve disease are common and often unrecognized in patients with end-stage kidney failure on haemodialysis and are associated with a higher risk of death. For more than 10% of the included patients, systematic echocardiographic assessment had a potential clinical consequence.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

PURPOSE

There is a paucity of comparative data examining the optimal revascularization strategy in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVD).

METHODS

We performed an aggregate data meta-analysis of clinical outcomes comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass (CABG) in patients with LVD (left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤ 40%), using the random effects model. Effects size is reported as odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, and a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 30-day, 3-year, and long-term (6.3 ± 0.9 years) follow-ups. Seventeen studies (16 observational, 1 randomized) and 18,599 patients (CABG 9651; PCI 8948) were included.

RESULTS

PCI and CABG had comparable all-cause mortality at 30 days (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.49-1.23) and 3 years (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.91-1.21); however, PCI was associated with increased long-term morality after a mean follow-up of 6.3 ± 0.9 years (31.6% vs. 24.3%, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.21-1.64). A similar mortality trend was observed in the subgroup of patients with EF ≤ 35%. PCI had a higher rate of repeat revascularization at 3-year and long-term follow-ups. The long-term rates of stroke and MI were comparable. PCI, on the other hand, had lower rates of stroke at 30-day and 3-year follow-ups.

CONCLUSION

CABG was associated with lower rates of long-term mortality and revascularization but higher rate of upfront stroke in patients with LVD. However, the data included consisted predominantly of observational studies, highlighting the paucity and need for randomized trials.

Differential clinical impact of chronic total occlusion revascularization based on left ventricular systolic function

Background

The effect of chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization on survival remains controversial. Furthermore, data regarding outcome differences for CTO revascularization based on left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) are limited.

The differential outcomes from CTO revascularization in patients with preserved LVSF (PLVSF) versus reduced LVSF (RLVSF) were assessed.

Methods

A total of 2,173 CTO patients were divided into either a PLVSF (n = 1661, Ejection fraction ≥ 50%) or RLVSF (n = 512, < 50%) group. Clinical outcomes were compared between successful CTO revascularization (SCR) versus optimal medical therapy (OMT) within each group. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death or non-fatal myocardial infarction. Inverse probability of treatment weighting for endpoint analysis and a contrast test for comparison of survival probability differences according to LVSF were used.

Results

Patients with RLVSF had a mean 37% ejection fraction (EF) and 19% had EF < 30%. The median follow-up duration was 1,138 days. Regardless of LVSF, the primary endpoint incidence was significantly lower in patients treated with SCR [RLVSF: 29.7% vs. 49.7%, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36–0.62, p < 0.0001; PLVSF 7.3% vs. 16.9%, HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.54–0.93, p = 0.0019], which was mainly driven by a reduction in cardiac death. The difference in survival probability was greater and became more pronounced over time in patients with RLVSF than with PLVSF (1-year, p = 0.197; 3-years, p = 0.048; 5-years, p = 0.036).

Conclusions

SCR was associated with better survival benefit than OMT regardless of LVSF. The benefit was greater and became more significant over time in patients with RLVSF versus PLVSF.

Graphic abstract

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00392-020-01738-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Independent and cumulative association of clinical and morphological heart failure with long-term outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is a risk factor for adverse post-procedural outcome after revascularization; however, it is unclear how left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and clinical HF symptoms affect percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes. We investigated the characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with clinical HF or LVSD after PCI.

METHODS

This was a Japanese multicenter registry study of adult patients receiving PCI. Among 4689 consecutive patients who underwent PCI at 15 hospitals from January 2009 to December 2012, we analyzed 2634 (56.2%) with documented left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). They were divided into four groups based on clinical HF (symptoms or HF hospitalization) and LVEF [≥35% and <35% (HF due to LVSD)]. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), comprising all-cause death, acute coronary syndrome, HF hospitalization, performance of coronary artery bypass grafting, and stroke within 2 years after the initial PCI.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed 354 patients (13.4%) with HF (clinical HF, n = 173, 48.9%; LVSD, n = 132, 37.3%; both, n = 49; 13.8%). The incidence of MACE was higher in patients with clinical HF or LVSD, and was largely due to higher non-cardiac death and HF hospitalization. After adjustment, clinical HF (hazard ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval; 1.49-3.14) and lower LVEF (per 10%, hazard ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval; 0.81-0.99) were independently associated with higher MACE risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical HF and LVSD were independently associated with adverse long-term clinical outcomes, particularly with non-cardiac death and HF readmission, in patients treated with PCI.

Association between plasma adiponectin levels and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in sepsis patients

PURPOSE

As a well-known cardioprotective factor, the relevance of adiponectin (APN) to heart function following sepsis remains largely unknown. The present study evaluated the effects of plasma APN levels on heart function and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective study that was performed with 98 patients with sepsis and 32 controls. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45% based on echocardiography. The effects of APN on the development of sepsis-related LVSD and prediction of 28-day mortality were evaluated.

RESULTS

Plasma APN levels significantly decreased in sepsis patients compared with controls, with rising severity of illness, and positively correlated with the LVEF and stroke volume index. Sepsis patients with LVSD had lower APN levels than patients without LVSD. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, plasma APN levels had the comparable value in prediction of LVSD incidence than those conditional factors, including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (hsTnT). Twenty-three of the 98 sepsis patients (23.47%) died at 28 days. Adiponectin levels were an independent predictive factor for 28-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Low APN levels were associated with the incidence of LVSD and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients. Adiponectin may be a novel factor that may be useful for the diagnosis of LVSD.

Augmented glycaemic gap is a marker for an increased risk of post-infarct left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Background

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) occurs frequently after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The predisposing factors and underlying mechanism of post-infarct LVSD are not fully understood. The present study mainly investigated the correlation between glycaemic gap, a novel index of stress-induced hyperglycaemia (SIH), and post-infarct LVSD.

Methods

A total of 274 first STEMI patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed within 48 h after admission and at 6 months after discharge to obtain left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The change in LVEF was calculated as LVEF at 6 months after discharge minus baseline LVEF. Additionally, post-infarct LVSD was defined as LVEF ≤ 50%. Most importantly, glycaemic gap was calculated as admission blood glucose (ABG) minus the estimated average glucose over the previous 3 months.

Results

In patients without diabetes mellitus (DM), multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that both glycaemic gap (Beta = − 1.214, 95% CI − 1.886 to − 0.541, p < 0.001) and ABG (Beta = − 1.124, 95% CI − 1.795 to − 0.453, p = 0.001) were associated with change in LVEF. In DM patients, only glycaemic gap was still associated with change in LVEF, although this association was not observed in univariate linear regression analysis. Regarding the association between SIH and post-infarct LVSD, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both glycaemic gap (OR = 1.490, 95% CI 1.043 to 2.129, p = 0.028) and ABG (OR = 1.600, 95% CI 1.148 to 2.229, p = 0.005) were associated with an increased risk of having post-infarct LVSD in non-DM patients. However, after multivariate adjustment in DM patients, only glycaemic gap (OR = 1.399, 95% CI 1.021 to 1.919, p = 0.037) remained associated with an increased risk of having post-infarct LVSD. Furthermore, the predictive value of glycaemic gap for post-infarct LVSD was not inferior to ABG in non-DM patients (p = 0.499), and only glycaemic gap, instead of ABG, could significantly predict post-infarct LVSD in DM patients (AUC = 0.688, 95% CI 0.591 to 0.774, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Glycaemic gap was strongly associated with a change in LVEF and an increased risk of having post-infarct LVSD in patients following STEMI. In STEMI patients with DM, glycaemic gap could provide more valuable information than ABG in identifying patients at high risk of developing post-infarct LVSD.

Predictors of sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients following a myocardial infarction

AIMS

To develop a risk model for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in high-risk acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data from the Effect of Carvedilol on Outcome After Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction trial (CAPRICORN) and the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) were used to create a SCD risk model (with non-SCD as a competing risk) in 13 202 patients. The risk model was validated in the Eplerenone Post-AMI Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study (EPHESUS). The rate of SCD was 3.3 (95% confidence interval 3.0-3.5) per 100 person-years over a median follow-up of 2.0 years. Independent predictors of SCD included age > 70 years; heart rate ≥ 70 bpm; smoking; Killip class III/IV; left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30%; atrial fibrillation; history of prior myocardial infarction, heart failure or diabetes; estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² ; and no coronary reperfusion or revascularisation therapy for index AMI. The model was well calibrated and showed good discrimination (C-statistic = 0.72), including in the early period after AMI. The observed 2-year event rates increased steeply with each quintile of risk score (1.9%, 3.6%, 6.2%, 9.0%, 13.4%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

An easy to use SCD risk score developed from routinely collected clinical variables in patients with heart failure, left ventricular systolic dysfunction or both, early after AMI was superior to left ventricular ejection fraction. This score might be useful in identifying patients for future trials testing treatments to prevent SCD early after AMI.

Diagnosis and Prevention of Hypertensive Heart Failure

Elevated blood pressure (BP) has a strong and continuous association with Stage B and C heart failure (HF) and carries the highest attributable risk for HF. Intensive treatment of hypertension is crucial, as progression from hypertension (Stage A HF) to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or other structural damage (Stage B HF) is common despite therapy. Echo cardiography is the modality of choice to detect Stage B HF. Ideally, Stage B HF should be prevented. However, regression of established LVH and other structural damage is feasible and improves prognosis. Despite differences among antihypertensive agents, control of BP remains the most important goal.

Left ventricular function outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC)- single-center experience

Background

Coronary artery bypass grafting is known to be associated with better outcome in ischemic heart disease patients with low ejection fraction. We aim to demonstrate the effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on left ventricle (LV) systolic function and to identify the predictors that adversely lead to postoperative poor outcome.

Result

This is a cross-sectional prospective study; we included 110 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% who underwent CABG with a mean age of 56.1 ± 12.2 years old. Those patients were classified into two groups: group I, 76 (69%) patients with LVEF > 35%, and group II, 34 (31%) patients with LVEF < 35%. Our results as regards demographic and clinical data revealed that group II patients had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and Euro SCORE II compared to group I patients (p = 0.05 and < 0.001 respectively); otherwise, all other clinical predictors did not differ between the two studied groups. There was a significant improvement in LVEF post-surgery (p = 0.05) in both groups with observed no significant difference recorded for in-hospital mortality rate among patients with different groups. DM, significant diastolic dysfunction, and insertion of IABP are predictors of in-hospital mortality of the patients (p = 0.001, 0.03 and < 0.001, respectively)

Conclusion

We concluded that there is a significant improvement of LV systolic function after CABG and hence better survival rate. DM, significant diastolic dysfunction, and perioperative insertion of IABP are predictors of mortality after cardiac surgery. Special care should be provided to such patients to improve their outcome

Advancements in the diagnostic workup, prognostic evaluation, and treatment of takotsubo syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and mostly reversible cardiomyopathy that mimics an acute coronary syndrome with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction without relevant obstructive coronary artery disease. Its prevalence is probably underestimated and reaches 1.2-2% in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary catheterization. Although supraphysiological epinephrine levels have been associated with TTS, the detailed pathophysiology is incompletely understood. Chest pain is the most common clinical presentation; however, cardiac decompensation, cardiogenic shock, and sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation may also be the first clinical manifestations. Patients are mostly postmenopausal women, in whom the condition is commonly associated with emotional triggers; however, men have a higher prevalence of TTS being associated with physical triggers, which has a worse prognosis compared with TTS associated with emotional triggers. As a diagnosis of exclusion, TTS has no single definitive diagnostic test. According to the distribution of LV wall motion abnormalities, various morphological subtypes have been identified. The final diagnosis depends on cardiac imaging with left ventricular angiography during acute heart catheterization, as well as on echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance. Most patients recover completely, albeit several factors have been associated with worse prognosis. Management is based on observational data, while randomized multicenter studies are still lacking. This review provides a general overview of TTS and focuses on the hypothesized pathophysiology, and especially on current practices in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Accuracy of Cardiac Nurse Acquired and Measured Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: Comparison to Echosonographer

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3D-Echo) performed by novice health care staff to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) could allow cost-effective screening and monitoring for left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) prior to the development of heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine feasibility and accuracy of cardiac nurses (after completing focussed training) independently acquiring 3D-Echo images, and measuring LVEF using semi-automated software when compared to an echosonographer.

METHODS

One echosonographer and three cardiac nurses acquired 3D-Echo images on 73 patients (62 ± 16 years, 62% male) with good image quality, and subsequently measured LVEF using a semi-automated algorithm.

RESULTS

Overall feasibility was 89% with the three nurses successfully acquiring 3D-Echo images suitable for LVEF assessment in 65 of the 73 patients. High accuracy (r = 0.82; p < 0.0001) with minimal bias (+0.1, -10.6 to +10.8 limits of agreement; p = 0.91) was observed comparing the nurses to the echosonographer for measuring LVEF. Individual nurses demonstrated high feasibility (86%-92%), accuracy (r = 0.83-0.87; all p < 0.0001) and intra-observer reproducibility (r = 0.96-0.97; all p < 0.0001), with good inter-observer consistency in accuracy compared to the echosonographer (one-way analysis of variance p = 0.559).

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated that, following a focussed training protocol, it was feasible for cardiac nurses to acquire 3D-Echo images of sufficient image quality to allow measurement of LVEF using a semi-automated algorithm, with comparable accuracy and intra-observer variability to an expert echosonographer. This could potentially allow the broader application of echocardiography to screen for LVSD in high-risk cohorts.