Lack of progress in valvular heart disease in the pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement era: increasing deaths and minimal change in mortality rate over the past three decades

An Artificial Intelligence Algorithm for Detection of Severe Aortic Stenosis: A Clinical Cohort Study

Background

Identifying individuals with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at high risk of mortality remains challenging using current clinical imaging methods.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an artificial intelligence decision support algorithm (AI-DSA) to augment the detection of severe AS within a well-resourced health care setting.

Methods

Agnostic to clinical information, an AI-DSA trained to identify echocardiographic phenotype associated with an aortic valve area (AVA)<1 cm2 using minimal input data (excluding left ventricular outflow tract measures) was applied to routine transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) reports from 31,141 U.S. Medicare beneficiaries at an academic medical center (2003-2017).

Results

Performance of AI-DSA to detect the phenotype associated with an AVA<1 cm2 was excellent (sensitivity 82.2%, specificity 98.1%, negative predictive value 9.2%, c-statistic = 0.986). In addition to identifying clinical severe AS cases, AI-DSA identified an additional 1,034 (3.3%) individuals with guideline-defined moderate AS but with a similar clinical and TTE phenotype to those with severe AS with low rates of aortic valve replacement (6.6%). Five-year mortality was 75.9% in those with known severe AS, 73.5% in those with a similar phenotype to severe AS, and 44.6% in those without severe AS. The AI-DSA continued to perform well to identify severe AS among those with a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction. Overall rates of aortic valve replacement remained low, even in those with an AVA<1 cm2 (21.9%).

Conclusions

Without relying on left ventricular outflow tract measurements, an AI-DSA used echocardiographic reports to reliably identify the phenotype of severe AS. These results suggest possible utility for this AI-DSA to enhance detection of severe AS individuals at risk for adverse outcomes.

Closing the care gap: combining enhanced recovery with minimally invasive valve surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Patients with advanced age and frailty require interventions for structural heart disease at an increasing rate. These patients typically experience higher rates of postoperative morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospital length of stay, loss of independence as well as associated increased costs to the healthcare system. Therefore, it is becoming critically important to raise awareness and develop strategies to improve clinical outcomes in the contemporary, high-risk patient population undergoing cardiacprocedures.

RECENT FINDINGS

Percutaneous options for structural heart disease have dramatically improved the therapeutic options for some older, frail, high-risk patients; however, others may still require cardiac surgery. Minimally invasive techniques can reduce some of the physiologic burden experienced by patients undergoing surgery and improve recovery. Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERAS Cardiac) is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, evidence-based approach to perioperative care. It has been shown to improve recovery and patient satisfaction while reducing complications and length of stay.

SUMMARY

Combining minimally invasive cardiac surgery with enhanced recovery protocols may result in improved patient outcomes for a patient population at high risk of morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery.

Directed Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Heart Valve Cells

BACKGROUND

A main obstacle in current valvular heart disease research is the lack of high-quality homogeneous functional heart valve cells. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived heart valve cells may help with this dilemma. However, there are no well-established protocols to induce hiPSCs to differentiate into functional heart valve cells, and the networks that mediate the differentiation have not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

To generate heart valve cells from hiPSCs, we sequentially activated the Wnt, BMP4, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and NFATc1 signaling pathways using CHIR-99021, BMP4, VEGF-165, and forskolin, respectively. The transcriptional and functional similarity of hiPSC-derived heart valve cells compared with primary heart valve cells were characterized. Longitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing was used to uncover the trajectory, switch genes, pathways, and transcription factors of the differentiation.

RESULTS

An efficient protocol was developed to induce hiPSCs to differentiate into functional hiPSC-derived valve endothelial-like cells and hiPSC-derived valve interstitial-like cells. After 6-day differentiation and CD144 magnetic bead sorting, ≈70% CD144+ cells and 30% CD144- cells were obtained. On the basis of single-cell RNA sequencing data, the CD144+ cells and CD144- cells were found to be highly similar to primary heart valve endothelial cells and primary heart valve interstitial cells in gene expression profile. Furthermore, CD144+ cells had the typical function of primary heart valve endothelial cells, including tube formation, uptake of low-density lipoprotein, generation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and response to shear stress. Meanwhile, CD144- cells could secret collagen and matrix metalloproteinases, and differentiate into osteogenic or adipogenic lineages like primary heart valve interstitial cells. Therefore, we identified CD144+ cells and CD144- cells as hiPSC-derived valve endothelial-like cells and hiPSC-derived valve interstitial-like cells, respectively. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we demonstrated that the trajectory of heart valve cell differentiation was consistent with embryonic valve development. We identified the main switch genes (NOTCH1, HEY1, and MEF2C), signaling pathways (TGF-β, Wnt, and NOTCH), and transcription factors (MSX1, SP5, and MECOM) that mediated the differentiation. Finally, we found that hiPSC-derived valve interstitial-like cells might derive from hiPSC-derived valve endothelial-like cells undergoing endocardial-mesenchymal transition.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this is the first study to report an efficient strategy to generate functional hiPSC-derived valve endothelial-like cells and hiPSC-derived valve interstitial-like cells from hiPSCs, as well as to elucidate the differentiation trajectory and transcriptional dynamics of hiPSCs differentiated into heart valve cells.

Aortic Valve Embryology, Mechanobiology, and Second Messenger Pathways: Implications for Clinical Practice

During the Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci was the first person to successfully detail the anatomy of the aortic root and its adjacent structures. Ever since, novel insights into morphology, function, and their interplay have accumulated, resulting in advanced knowledge on the complex functional characteristics of the aortic valve (AV) and root. This has shifted our vision from the AV as being a static structure towards that of a dynamic interconnected apparatus within the aortic root as a functional unit, exhibiting a complex interplay with adjacent structures via both humoral and mechanical stimuli. This paradigm shift has stimulated surgical treatment strategies of valvular disease that seek to recapitulate healthy AV function, whereby AV disease can no longer be seen as an isolated morphological pathology which needs to be replaced. As prostheses still cannot reproduce the complexity of human nature, treatment of diseased AVs, whether stenotic or insufficient, has tremendously evolved, with a similar shift towards treatments options that are more hemodynamically centered, such as the Ross procedure and valve-conserving surgery. Native AV and root components allow for an efficient Venturi effect over the valve to allow for optimal opening during the cardiac cycle, while also alleviating the left ventricle. Next to that, several receptors are present on native AV leaflets, enabling messenger pathways based on their interaction with blood and other shear-stress-related stimuli. Many of these physiological and hemodynamical processes are under-acknowledged but may hold important clues for innovative treatment strategies, or as potential novel targets for therapeutic agents that halt or reverse the process of valve degeneration. A structured overview of these pathways and their implications for cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists is lacking. As such, we provide an overview on embryology, hemodynamics, and messenger pathways of the healthy and diseased AV and its implications for clinical practice, by relating this knowledge to current treatment alternatives and clinical decision making.

Algorithm for predicting valvular heart disease from heart sounds in an unselected cohort

Objective

This study aims to assess the ability of state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to detect valvular heart disease (VHD) from digital heart sound recordings in a general population that includes asymptomatic cases and intermediate stages of disease progression.

Methods

We trained a recurrent neural network to predict murmurs from heart sound audio using annotated recordings collected with digital stethoscopes from four auscultation positions in 2,124 participants from the Tromsø7 study. The predicted murmurs were used to predict VHD as determined by echocardiography.

Results

The presence of aortic stenosis (AS) was detected with a sensitivity of 90.9%, a specificity of 94.5%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.979 (CI: 0.963-0.995). At least moderate AS was detected with an AUC of 0.993 (CI: 0.989-0.997). Moderate or greater aortic and mitral regurgitation (AR and MR) were predicted with AUC values of 0.634 (CI: 0.565-703) and 0.549 (CI: 0.506-0.593), respectively, which increased to 0.766 and 0.677 when clinical variables were added as predictors. The AUC for predicting symptomatic cases was higher for AR and MR, 0.756 and 0.711, respectively. Screening jointly for symptomatic regurgitation or presence of stenosis resulted in an AUC of 0.86, with 97.7% of AS cases (n = 44) and all 12 MS cases detected.

Conclusions

The algorithm demonstrated excellent performance in detecting AS in a general cohort, surpassing observations from similar studies on selected cohorts. The detection of AR and MR based on HS audio was poor, but accuracy was considerably higher for symptomatic cases, and the inclusion of clinical variables improved the performance of the model significantly.

Long-Term Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes Following the Ross Procedure: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The Ross procedure as treatment for adults with aortic valve disease (AVD) has been the subject of renewed interest.

Objective

To evaluate the long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes following the Ross procedure for the treatment of adults with AVD.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial included adult patients (age <69 years) who underwent a Ross procedure for the treatment of AVD, including those with active endocarditis, rheumatic AVD, decreased ejection fraction, and previous cardiac surgery. The trial, conducted from September 1, 1994, to May 31, 2001, compared homograft root replacement with the Ross procedure at a single center. Data after 2010 were collected retrospectively in November and December 2022.

Exposure

Ross procedure.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was long-term survival among patients who underwent the Ross procedure compared with that in the age-, country of origin- and sex-matched general population. Secondary end points were freedom from any reintervention, autograft reintervention, or homograft reintervention and time-related valve function, autograft diameter, and functional status.

Results

This study included 108 adults (92 [85%] male) with a median age of 38 years (range, 19-66 years). Median duration of clinical follow-up was 24.1 years (IQR, 22.6-26.1 years; 2488 patient-years), with 98% follow-up completeness. Of these patients, 9 (8%) had active endocarditis and 45 (42%) underwent reoperations. The main hemodynamic lesion was stenosis in 30 (28%) and regurgitation in 49 (45%). There was 1 perioperative death (0.9%). Twenty-five year survival was 83.0% (95% CI, 75.5%-91.2%), representing a relative survival of 99.1% (95% CI, 91.8%-100%) compared with the general population (83.7%). At 25 years, freedom from any reintervention was 71.1% (95% CI, 61.6%-82.0%); from autograft reintervention, 80.3% (95% CI, 71.9%-89.6%); and from homograft reintervention, 86.3% (95% CI, 79.0%-94.3%). Thirty-day mortality after the first Ross-related reintervention was 0% and after all Ross-related reinterventions was 3.8% (n = 1); 10-year survival after reoperation was 96.2% (95% CI, 89.0%-100%).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that the Ross procedure provided excellent survival into the third decade postoperatively that was comparable to that in the general population. Long-term freedom from reintervention demonstrated that the Ross procedure may be a durable substitute into late adulthood, showing a delayed but progressive functional decline.

Trial Registration

isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN03530985.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Detection, Severity and Mechanism of Significant Valvular Heart Disease and Clinical Management

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis of significant valvular heart disease (VHD) enables appropriate implementation of the best therapeutic strategy and follow-up. Cardiac auscultation remains suboptimal in early detection of VHD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for early detection of VHD and its severity.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with VHD who did not have a standard echocardiogram prior to first outpatient cardiology consultation underwent history and physical examination followed by POCUS study by an experienced physician in a general cardiology clinic from June 2017 to August 2022 at our institution. Subsequent standard transthoracic echocardiography (sTTE) was performed as the gold standard. Comparison was performed between POCUS and sTTE for the presence and severity of VHD. sTTE was performed by registered cardiac sonographers and interpreted by another cardiologist blinded to the POCUS results.

RESULTS

A total of 77 patients were studied (ge 72 ± 11 years, 58.4% males). A total of 89 significant valvular abnormalities were diagnosed. There were 39 (43.8%) cases of regurgitant VHD, 16 (18.0%) of stenotic VHD and 34 (38.2%) had evaluation for prosthetic valve function. The sensitivity (90.9%; 82.4%; 83.3%; 100%) and specificity (100%; 96.7%; 100%; 100%) were high for detecting ≥ moderate aortic regurgitation (AR), mitral regurgitation (MR), aortic stenosis (AS) and prosthetic valvular abnormality, respectively. The weighted κ coefficient between POCUS and sTTE for the assessment of ≥ moderate MR, AR and AS was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.65-0.97), 0.94 (95% CI, 0.84-1.00) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.76-1.0), respectively, indicating excellent agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

POCUS can identify patients with significant VHD and may serve as a powerful screening tool for early detection of significant VHD in the outpatient clinical practice with downstream impact on clinical management of significant VHD.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Characterizing the Accuracy of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision Administrative Claims for Aortic Valve Disease

BACKGROUND

Administrative claims for aortic stenosis (AS) regurgitation may be useful, but their accuracy and ability to identify individuals at risk for valve-related outcomes have not been well characterized.

METHODS

Using echocardiographic (transthoracic echocardiogram [TTE]) reports linked to US Medicare claims, 2017 to 2018, the performance of candidate International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision claims to ascertain AS/aortic regurgitation was evaluated. The optimal performing algorithm was tested against outcomes at 1-year after TTE in a separate 100% sample of US Medicare claims, 2017 to 2019.

RESULTS

Of those included in the derivation (N=5497, mean age 74.4±11.0 years, 49.7% female), any AS or aortic regurgitation was present in 24% and 38.8%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code I35.0 for identification of any AS was 53.1% and 94.8%, respectively. Among those with an I35.0 code, 40.3% had severe AS. Claims were unable to distinguish disease severity (ie, severe versus nonsevere) or subtype (eg, bicuspid or rheumatic AS), and were insensitive and nonspecific for aortic regurgitation of any severity. Among all beneficiaries who received a TTE (N=4 033 844), adjusting for age, sex, and 27 comorbidities, those with an I35.0 code had a higher adjusted risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.31-1.34]), heart failure hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.34-1.41]), and aortic valve replacement (adjusted hazard ratio, 34.96 [95% CI, 33.74-36.22]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among US Medicare beneficiaries receiving a TTE, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision claims, though identifying a population at significant greater risk of valve-related outcomes, failed to identify nearly half of individuals with AS and were unable to distinguish disease severity or subtype. These results argue against the widespread use of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision claims to screen for patients with AS and suggests the need for improved coding algorithms and alternative systems to extract TTE data for quality improvement and hospital benchmarking.

Global Sensitivity Analysis of Four Chamber Heart Hemodynamics Using Surrogate Models

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to assist in designing artificial valves and planning procedures, focusing on local flow features. However, assessing the impact on overall cardiovascular function or predicting longer-term outcomes may requires more comprehensive whole heart CFD models. Fitting such models to patient data requires numerous computationally expensive simulations, and depends on specific clinical measurements to constrain model parameters, hampering clinical adoption. Surrogate models can help to accelerate the fitting process while accounting for the added uncertainty. We create a validated patient-specific four-chamber heart CFD model based on the Navier-Stokes-Brinkman (NSB) equations and test Gaussian Process Emulators (GPEs) as a surrogate model for performing a variance-based global sensitivity analysis (GSA). GSA identified preload as the dominant driver of flow in both the right and left side of the heart, respectively. Left-right differences were seen in terms of vascular outflow resistances, with pulmonary artery resistance having a much larger impact on flow than aortic resistance. Our results suggest that GPEs can be used to identify parameters in personalized whole heart CFD models, and highlight the importance of accurate preload measurements.

Valvular disease burden in the modern era of percutaneous and surgical interventions: the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

The burden of valvular heart disease (VHD) has increased significantly among ageing populations, yet remains poorly understood in the present-day context of percutaneous and surgical interventions.

OBJECTIVE

To define the incidence, clinical correlates and associated mortality of VHD in the UK Biobank cohort.

METHODS

We interrogated data collected in the UK Biobank between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2020. VHD incidence was determined using International Classification of Disease-10 codes for aortic stenosis (AS), aortic regurgitation (AR), mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation (MR) and mitral valve prolapse. We calculated HRs for incident VHD and all-cause mortality. Clinical correlates of VHD included demographics, coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Surgical and percutaneous interventions for mitral and aortic VHD were considered time-dependent variables.

RESULTS

Among 486 187 participants, the incidence of any VHD was 16 per 10 000 person-years, with highest rates for MR (8.2), AS (7.2) and AR (5.0). Age, heart failure, coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation were significantly associated with all types of VHD. In our adjusted model, aortic and mitral VHD had an increased risk of all-cause death compared with no VHD (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.82, p<0.001 and HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.44, p=0.002 for aortic and mitral VHD, respectively).

CONCLUSION

VHD continues to constitute a significant public health burden, with MR and AS being the most common. Age and cardiac comorbidities remain strong risk factors for VHD. In the modern era of percutaneous and surgical interventions, mortality associated with VHD remains high.

Epidemiology of Valvular Heart Disease

Acquired diseases of the aortic and mitral valves are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among Valvular heart diseases. Aortic stenosis (AS) is increasing in incidence in the United States (4,43 US), driven largely by an aging demographic. Aortic valve replacement is the only effective treatment of AS and has a dramatic mortality benefit. Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is the most common form of valvular heart disease (VHD) in the US, whereby MR is most often the result of mitral valve prolapse; rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a more common etiology of MR in underdeveloped countries. interventions for MR in the US are increasing.

The need for increased pragmatism in cardiovascular clinical trials

The majority of cardiovascular randomized controlled trials (RCTs) test interventions in selected patient populations under explicitly protocol-defined settings. Although these ‘explanatory’ trial designs optimize conditions to test the efficacy and safety of an intervention, they limit the generalizability of trial findings in broader clinical settings. The concept of ‘pragmatism’ in RCTs addresses this concern by providing counterbalance to the more idealized situation underpinning explanatory RCTs and optimizing effectiveness over efficacy. The central tenets of pragmatism in RCTs are to test interventions in routine clinical settings, with patients who are representative of broad clinical practice, and to reduce the burden on investigators and participants by minimizing the number of trial visits and the intensity of trial-based testing. Pragmatic evaluation of interventions is particularly important in cardiovascular diseases, where the risk of death among patients has remained fairly stable over the past few decades despite the development of new therapeutic interventions. Pragmatic RCTs can help to reveal the ‘real-world’ effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and elucidate barriers to their implementation. In this Review, we discuss the attributes of pragmatism in RCT design, conduct and interpretation as well as the general need for increased pragmatism in cardiovascular RCTs. We also summarize current challenges and potential solutions to the implementation of pragmatism in RCTs and highlight selected ongoing and completed cardiovascular RCTs with pragmatic trial designs.

In this Review, Khan and colleagues discuss the benefits and challenges of including pragmatism in the design, conduct and interpretation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for cardiovascular disease and highlight selected ongoing and completed cardiovascular RCTs that incorporate a pragmatic design.

Most cardiovascular randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted to date have been ‘explanatory’, that is, designed to study the intervention in optimized conditions with selected patient populations and frequent protocolized assessments.

Although explanatory RCT designs increase validity, they limit the generalizability of trial findings, whereas a ‘pragmatic’ approach to RCTs yields findings more relevant to real-world practice.

In pragmatic RCTs, interventions are tested in patients who are broadly representative of the condition being studied, and the study is aligned with routine clinical care to reduce costs and organizational burden.

Although pragmatic RCTs tend to attenuate estimates of treatment effects, they do provide a more realistic understanding of population-level effectiveness and costs than explanatory trials.

Pragmatic trials can highlight barriers to the implementation of therapies and are better suited than explanatory RCTs to assessing the effects of implementation strategies and health-care policies at the population level.

Widespread implementation of pragmatic trials would require the development of technological infrastructure to collect and share data as well as regulatory guidelines amenable to findings derived from routinely collected data.

Management of asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The management of severe aortic stenosis mandates consideration of aortic valve intervention for symptomatic patients. However, for asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis, recent randomised trials supported earlier intervention. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate all the available data comparing the two management strategies.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception until 10 January 2022. The search key terms were 'asymptomatic', 'severe aortic stenosis' and 'intervention'.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis of two published randomised trials, AVATAR and RECOVERY, included 302 patients and showed that early intervention resulted in 55% reduction in all-cause mortality (HR=0.45, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.86; I2 0%) and 79% reduction in risk of hospitalisation for heart failure (HR=0.21, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.96; I2 15%). There was no difference in risk of cardiovascular death between the two groups (HR=0.36, 95% CI 0.03 to 3.78; I2 78%). Additionally, meta-analysis of eight observational studies showed improved mortality in patients treated with early intervention (HR=0.38, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.56; I2 77%).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis provides evidence that, in patients with severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis, early intervention reduces all-cause mortality and improves outcomes compared with conservative management. While this is very encouraging, further randomised controlled studies are needed to draw firm conclusions and identify the optimal timing of intervention.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022301037.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2022 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population and an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, and the global burden of cardiovascular disease and healthy life expectancy.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Cardiac Cachexia Associated With Valvular Heart Failure

Cardiac cachexia (CC) represents a serious complication of heart failure (HF). This condition could be directly related to mortality. The weight or muscle mass loss has to be monitored in our patients with HF to avoid potential complications.

We report a case of an elderly patient with a history of aortic stenosis (AS) who presented with progressive shortness of breath limiting his daily activities associated with weight loss. Signs of heart failure were evident on physical examination, and valvulopathy was also evident. His echocardiogram showed reduced ejection fraction (EF) with structural changes and severe aortic stenosis. He was not a candidate for cardiothoracic surgery, and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was performed. After the procedure, his symptoms improved, and during the outpatient follow-up, his cardiac function and dry weight improved.

Cardiac cachexia could be caused by reversible cardiomyopathy. Early assessment and approach are critical for the outcome of our patients, impacting their quality of life and outcome in terms of morbidity and mortality consequences.

Screening of Native Valvular Heart Disease Using a Pocket-Sized Transthoracic Echocardiographic Device

BACKGROUND

The authors assessed the performance of pocket-sized transthoracic echocardiography (pTTE) compared with standard transthoracic echocardiography (sTTE) and auscultation for early screening of valvular heart disease (VHD). Early diagnosis of significant VHD is a challenge, but it enables appropriate follow-up and implementation of the best therapeutic strategy.

METHODS

sTTE, pTTE, and auscultation were performed by three different experienced physicians on 284 unselected patients. All cases of VHD detected by each of these three techniques were noted. sTTE was the gold standard. Each physician performed one examination and was blinded to the results of other examinations.

RESULTS

We diagnosed a total of 301 cases of VHD, with a large predominance of regurgitant lesions: 269 cases (89.3%) of regurgitant VHD and 32 (10.7%) of stenotic VHD. pTTE was highly sensitive (85.7%) and specific (97.9%) for screening for VHD, while auscultation detected only 54.1%. All significant cases of VHD (at least mild severity) were detected on pTTE. The weighted κ coefficient between pTTE and sTTE for the assessment of mitral regurgitation was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.70-0.72), indicating good agreement. The weighted κ coefficients between pTTE and sTTE for the assessment of aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96-0.98) and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99), respectively, indicating excellent agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

pTTE performed by physicians with level III competency in echocardiography is reliable for identifying significant VHD and should be proposed as a new screening tool.

Comparison of Serotonin-Regulated Calcific Processes in Aortic and Mitral Valvular Interstitial Cells

Calcification is an important pathological process and a common complication of degenerative valvular heart diseases, with higher incidence in aortic versus mitral valves. Two phenotypes of valvular interstitial cells (VICs), activated VICs and osteoblastic VICs (obVICs), synergistically orchestrate this pathology. It has been demonstrated that serotonin is involved in early stages of myxomatous mitral degeneration, whereas the role of serotonin in calcific aortic valve disease is still unknown. To uncover the link between serotonin and osteogenesis in heart valves, osteogenesis of aortic and mitral VICs was induced in vitro. Actin polymerization and serotonin signaling were inhibited using cytochalasin D and serotonin inhibitors, respectively, to investigate the role of cell activation and serotonin signals in valvular cell osteogenesis. To evaluate calcification progress, calcium and collagen deposits along with the expression of protein markers, including the rate-limiting enzyme of serotonin synthesis [tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1)], were assessed. When exposed to osteogenic culture conditions and grown on soft surfaces, passage zero aortic VICs increased extracellular collagen deposits and obVIC phenotype markers. A more intense osteogenic process was observed in aortic VICs of higher passages, where cells were activated prior to osteogenic induction. For both, TPH1 expression was upregulated as osteogenesis advanced. However, these osteogenic changes were reversed upon serotonin inhibition. This discovery provides a better understanding of signaling pathways regulating VIC phenotype transformation and explains different manifestations of degenerative pathologies. In addition, the discovery of serotonin-based inhibition of valvular calcification will contribute to the development of potential novel therapies for calcific valvular diseases.

Infective Endocarditis: A Focus on Oral Microbiota

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an inflammatory disease usually caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and settling in the heart lining valves or blood vessels. Despite modern antimicrobial and surgical treatments, IE continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Thus, primary prevention and enhanced diagnosis remain the most important strategies to fight this disease. In this regard, it is worth noting that for over 50 years, oral microbiota has been considered one of the significant risk factors for IE. Indeed, among the disparate recommendations from the American heart association and the European Society of Cardiology, there are good oral hygiene and prophylaxis for high-risk patients undergoing dental procedures. Thus, significant interest has grown in the role of oral microbiota and it continues to be a subject of research interest, especially if we consider that antimicrobial treatments can generate drug-resistant mutant bacteria, becoming a severe social problem. This review will describe the current knowledge about the relationship between oral microbiota, dental procedures, and IE. Further, it will discuss current methods used to prevent IE cases that originate from oral pathogens and how these should be focused on improving oral hygiene, which remains the significant persuasible way to prevent bacteremia and systemic disorders.

Deep Learning Algorithm for Automated Cardiac Murmur Detection via a Digital Stethoscope Platform

Background Clinicians vary markedly in their ability to detect murmurs during cardiac auscultation and identify the underlying pathological features. Deep learning approaches have shown promise in medicine by transforming collected data into clinically significant information. The objective of this research is to assess the performance of a deep learning algorithm to detect murmurs and clinically significant valvular heart disease using recordings from a commercial digital stethoscope platform. Methods and Results Using >34 hours of previously acquired and annotated heart sound recordings, we trained a deep neural network to detect murmurs. To test the algorithm, we enrolled 962 patients in a clinical study and collected recordings at the 4 primary auscultation locations. Ground truth was established using patient echocardiograms and annotations by 3 expert cardiologists. Algorithm performance for detecting murmurs has sensitivity and specificity of 76.3% and 91.4%, respectively. By omitting softer murmurs, those with grade 1 intensity, sensitivity increased to 90.0%. Application of the algorithm at the appropriate anatomic auscultation location detected moderate-to-severe or greater aortic stenosis, with sensitivity of 93.2% and specificity of 86.0%, and moderate-to-severe or greater mitral regurgitation, with sensitivity of 66.2% and specificity of 94.6%. Conclusions The deep learning algorithm's ability to detect murmurs and clinically significant aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation is comparable to expert cardiologists based on the annotated subset of our database. The findings suggest that such algorithms would have utility as front-line clinical support tools to aid clinicians in screening for cardiac murmurs caused by valvular heart disease. Registration URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT03458806.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2021 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors related to cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Each of the 27 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Infective endocarditis in elderly and very elderly patients

AIMS

To compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and the evolution of infective endocarditis in adults aged under 65 years, 65-79 years, and 80 years or older.

METHODS

An observational retrospective cohort study in patients with infective endocarditis was performed in a public hospital in Spain from January 2013 to December 2017.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients were treated: 26 (36.1%) were under 65 years old, 28 (38.9%) were 65-79 years old, and 18 (25%) were aged 80 or older. Prosthetic valve endocarditis was less common in patients aged 65-79 years (3.6%) than in younger (23.1%; p = 0.047) or older (38.9%; p = 0.004) patients. In contrast, degenerative heart disease was more prevalent in the 65-79 year age group [64.3% compared to 15.4% (p < 0.001) in the youngest group, and 33.3% (p = 0.04) in the oldest]. Surgical interventions were similar in patients aged 65-79 (50%) and under 65 years (42.3%), but less common in people over 80 years (16.7%; p = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of infective endocarditis are different in patients aged 65-79 years and in those over 80 years.

Coagulation: At the heart of infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening and enigmatic disease with a mortality of 30% and a pathophysiology that is poorly understood. However, at its core, an endocarditis lesion is mainly a fibrin and platelet blood clot infested with bacteria, clinging at the cardiac valves. Infective endocarditis therefore serves as a paradigm of immunothrombosis gone wrong. Immunothrombosis refers to the entanglement of the coagulation system with innate immunity and the role of coagulation in the isolation and clearance of invading pathogens. However, in the case of infective endocarditis, instead of containing the infection, immunothrombosis inadvertently creates the optimal shelter from the immune system and allows some bacteria to grow almost unimpeded. In every step of the disease, the coagulation system is heavily involved. It mediates the initial adhesion of bacteria to the leaflets, fuels the growth and maturation of a vegetation, and facilitates complications such as embolization and valve destruction. In addition, the number one cause of infective endocarditis, Staphylococcus aureus, has proven to be a true manipulator of immunothrombosis and thrives in the fibrin rich environment of an endocarditis vegetation. Considering its central role in infective endocarditis, the coagulation system is an attractive therapeutic target for this deadly disease. There is, however, a very delicate balance at play and the use of antithrombotic drugs in patients with endocarditis is often accompanied with a high bleeding risk.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2020 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports on the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2020 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, metrics to assess and monitor healthy diets, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, a focus on the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors, implementation strategies, and implications of the American Heart Association's 2020 Impact Goals.

RESULTS

Each of the 26 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, healthcare administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Heart valve operations associated with reduced risk of death from mitral valve disease but other operations associated with increased risk of death: a national population-based case-control study

Background

Mitral valve disease is the most common heart valve disease worldwide. Heart valve operation is the predominant treatment strategy for heart valve disease. This study analyzed the death risk from heart valve disease with respect to the frequency of heart valve operation and other operations in patients with mitral valve disease.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective nationwide population-based case–control study using a claims dataset from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. The case and control groups enrolled mitral valve disease patients from 2002 to 2013 who had either underwent an heart valve operation procedure or not, respectively. Conditional logistic regression was estimated the odds ratios (ORs) associated with various risk factors for heart valve operation-related death, including other operations and comorbidities.

Results

A total of 25,964 patients with mitral valve disease were recruited for the study and divided into heart valve operation (600 patients) and non-heart valve operation (25,364 patients) groups. After matching, a total of 1800 non-heart valve operation patients were selected for final analysis. Heart valve operation was associated with decreased risk of death (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.439), but operations related to other cardiovascular disease (CVD, aOR 3.691), respiratory conditions (aOR 3.210), and the urinary system (aOR 1.925) were associated with increased risk of death for patients with mitral valve disease. Patients with mitral valve disease and diabetes (aOR 1.505), chronic kidney disease (CKD, aOR 3.760), or emphysema (aOR 2.623) also had a higher risk of death. Patients who underwent more heart valve operations had a lower risk of death from mitral valve disease, but patients who underwent more other operations had a higher risk of death from mitral valve disease.

Conclusions

The death risk for patients with mitral valve disease patients could be lowered by more frequently performing heart valve operations. However, the risk of death is increased for patients with mitral valve disease who more frequently undergo other operations, chiefly those for other CVD system, respiratory conditions, and urinary system, or have comorbidities such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and emphysema.

Echocardiographic prediction of surgical reparability in degenerative mitral regurgitation due to leaflet prolapse: a review

Introduction: Despite current guidelines provide recommendations for the optimal management of degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), this condition remains often undertreated with delay in surgical referral and dismal effect on outcomes. Areas covered: This review focuses on the role of echocardiography in guiding mitral valve (MV) surgical repair in degenerative MR due to leaflet prolapse. Expert opinion: A stepwise protocol-driven echocardiography shared by referring physician and surgeon may help to guide referral to surgical repair in degenerative MR. This protocol particularly is useful to identify the ideal patho-anatomy for a successful and durable repair especially when early surgery is proposed and to refer the patient to centers of excellence in case of complex anatomy. Nearly 100% repair rate can be achieved when the surgical technique is adapted to the lesions seen in each valve. Three-dimensional echocardiography predicts repair complexity may be useful and should therefore be implemented. However, the current literature is far from comprehensive deriving from small, single-center studies. Therefore, reproducibility and external validation, especially with newly developed quantitative automated software, are still needed.

Can Elderly Patients with Severe Mitral Regurgitation Benefit from Trans-catheter Mitral Valve Repair?

Background and Objectives

Age is a traditional risk factor for open-heart surgery. The efficacy and safety of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair, using MitraClip (Abbott Vascular), has been demonstrated in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Since octogenarians or older patients are usually deferred to receive open-heart surgery, the main interest of this study is to elucidate the procedural safety and long-term clinical impact of MitraClip in elderly patients.

Methods

Patients with symptomatic severe MR were evaluated by the heart team. For those with high or prohibitive surgical risks, transcatheter mitral valve repair was performed in hybrid operation room. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), blood tests, and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed before, 1-month, 6-months, and 1 year after index procedure.

Results

A total of 46 consecutive patients receiving MitraClip procedure were enrolled. Nineteen patients (84.2±4.0 years) were over 80-year-old and 27 (73.4±11.1 years) were younger than 80. Compare to baseline, the significant reduction in MR severity was achieved after the procedure and sustained. All the patients benefited from significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional class. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) increased from 259±114 to 319±92 meters (p=0.03) at 1 year. The overall 1-year survival rate was 80% in the elderly and 88% in those <80 years, p=0.590. Baseline 6MWT was a predictor for all-cause mortality (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.982–0.999; p=0.026) after the MitraClip procedure.

Conclusions

Trans-catheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repairs are safe and have positive clinical impact in subjects with severe MR, even in advanced age.

Cognitive Outcomes After Heart Valve Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To summarize evidence on cognitive outcomes after heart valve surgery; secondary aim, to examine whether aortic and mitral valve surgery are associated with different cognitive outcomes.

DESIGN

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING

Cardiac surgery.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals undergoing heart valve surgery.

MEASUREMENTS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed reports of individuals undergoing heart valve surgery who underwent pre- and postoperative cognitive assessment. Our initial search returned 1,475 articles, of which 12 were included. Postoperative cognitive results were divided into those from 1 week to 1 month (early outcomes, n_pooled  = 450) and from 2 to 6 months (intermediate outcomes; n_pooled  = 722). No studies with longer-term outcomes were identified.

RESULTS

Subjects had moderate early cognitive decline from baseline (Becker mean gain effect size (ES)=-0.39 ± 0.27) that improved slightly by 2 to 6 months (ES=-0.25 ± 0.38). Individuals undergoing aortic valve surgery-who were older on average than those undergoing mitral valve surgery (68 vs 57)-had greater early cognitive decline than those undergoing mitral valve surgery (ES=-0.68 vs -0.12), but both cohorts had similar decline 2 to 6 months postoperatively (ES=-0.27 vs -0.20).

CONCLUSIONS

Heart valve surgery is associated with cognitive decline over the 6 months after surgery, but outcomes beyond 6 months are unclear. These findings highlight the cognitive vulnerability of this population, especially older adults with aortic stenosis. © 2018 American Geriatrics Society and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2327-2334, 2018.

Use of sucrose to diminish pore formation in freeze-dried heart valves

Freeze-dried storage of decellularized heart valves provides easy storage and transport for clinical use. Freeze-drying without protectants, however, results in a disrupted histoarchitecture after rehydration. In this study, heart valves were incubated in solutions of various sucrose concentrations and subsequently freeze-dried. Porosity of rehydrated valves was determined from histological images. In the absence of sucrose, freeze-dried valves were shown to have pores after rehydration in the cusp, artery and muscle sections. Use of sucrose reduced pore formation in a dose-dependent manner, and pretreatment of the valves in a 40% (w/v) sucrose solution prior to freeze-drying was found to be sufficient to completely diminish pore formation. The presence of pores in freeze-dried valves was found to coincide with altered biomechanical characteristics, whereas biomechanical parameters of valves freeze-dried with enough sucrose were not significantly different from those of valves not exposed to freeze-drying. Multiphoton imaging, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed that matrix proteins (i.e. collagen and elastin) were not affected by freeze-drying.

Integrative Medicine and Cardiovascular Disorders

Integrative medicine (IM) has developed an increasingly significant role in health care worldwide, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This review describes the commonly used IM in CVD, with particular attention placed with dietary supplements and mind-body therapies. More rigorous research continues to be needed to determine the mechanisms and efficacy of IM cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Health care providers will need to develop skills in open communication and nonjudgmental dialogue around IM use in discussing treatment plans with their patients.

Preoperative Invasive Hemodynamic Determinants of Survival Among Patients Undergoing Aortic or Mitral Valve Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association of preoperative invasive hemodynamic parameters with mortality in valvular heart surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single tertiary academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 382 patients who underwent preoperative right and/or left heart catheterization before open aortic valve replacement (AVR), open mitral valve repair/replacement (MVR), or combined AVR and MVR, from July 2009 to December 2014.

INTERVENTIONS

Retrospective chart review.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Common hemodynamic indices derived from direct catheterization measurements were assessed, including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), pulmonary artery pulse pressure (PPP), mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mPCWP), pulmonary artery pulsatility index, diastolic pressure gradient, left ventricular work index, and right ventricular work index. Bivariable and multivariable associations of these measures with survival were determined using Cox proportional hazards regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated using the log-rank test. The median age of the cohort was 69 years (interquartile range 60-79 years), and 162 (42.4%) of the patients were female. Elevated PASP (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32 per 10 mmHg, p < 0.0001), elevated PPP (HR 1.48 per 10 mmHg, p < 0.0001), and elevated mPCWP (HR 1.95 per 10 mmHg, p < 0.0001) were all associated with decreased survival, as was decreased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.005). The combination of elevated PPP and decreased DBP was associated with the worst outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

PASP, PPP, mPCWP, and DBP were significantly associated with mortality in valvular heart surgery patients. These hemodynamic parameters may be useful in risk stratification of this population subset.

Clinical information has low sensitivity for postmortem diagnosis of heart valve disease

BACKGROUND

Accuracy of routinely collected information concerning cause of death is essential for public health and health systems planning. Since clinical examination has relatively low sensitivity for detection of valvular heart disease (VHD), mortality data based on clinical information alone might routinely underestimate the number of deaths due to VHD.

METHODS

We compared autopsy findings against premortem clinical information for 8198 consecutive adult postmortems (mean age 69.1 years, 61.3% men), performed in a single UK tertiary referral centre with on-site cardiac surgical facilities over a 10-year period (2004-2013) during which 21% of the adult population underwent postmortem examination.

RESULTS

Following postmortem, VHD was the principal cause of death in 165 individuals (2.0%), a principal or contributory cause ('any cause') of death in 326 (4.0%) and an incidental (ie, non-causal) finding in a further 346 (4.2%). Clinical documentation of VHD before death was highly specific but relatively insensitive for postmortem identification of VHD as the principal (specificity 96.8%; 95% CI 96.4% to 97.2%; sensitivity 69.7%, 95% CI 62.1% to 76.6%) or any (specificity 98.1%; 95% CI 97.8% to 98.4%; sensitivity 68.4%, 95% CI 63.1% to 73.4%) cause of death. VHD (principally aortic stenosis, endocarditis and rheumatic heart disease) was newly noted at postmortem and listed as a cause of death in 142 individuals (1.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical information recorded premortem is highly specific but relatively insensitive for the cause of death established at autopsy. Population-based mortality statistics that depend on premortem clinical information are likely to routinely underestimate the mortality burden of VHD.

Prognostic factors in infective endocarditis in general hospitals in the Netherlands

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in treatment, infective endocarditis (IE) still ranks amongst the most lethal infectious diseases. We sought to determine prognostic factors in general hospitals in the Netherlands as research in this setting is scarce.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2011, we identified 216 cases of IE, 30.1 % of which were prosthetic valve IE. This leads to an annual incidence of IE of 5.7 new cases per 100,000 persons per year. Women were less likely to undergo surgical intervention (OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.06-3.61, p = 0.031). Also, ageing was an independent prognostic factor for not receiving surgery in a multivariate analysis (annual OR = 1.04, 95 % CI 1.02-1.06, p < 0.001). Female sex was a prognostic factor for mortality (OR = 2.35, 95 % CI 1.29-4.28, p = 0.005). Age was also an independent prognostic factor for mortality (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.08, p < 0.001). Conservative treatment was a prognostic factor for mortality (OR = 3.39, 95 % CI 1.80-6.38, p < 0.001) whereas surgical intervention was an independent prognostic factor for adverse events (OR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.64-5.55, p < 0.001). Staphylococcus aureus was an independent prognostic factor for adverse events (OR = 2.05, 95 % CI 1.10-3.84, p = 0.024) but not for mortality.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that endocarditis in general hospitals has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Even when treated, it ranks as one of the most lethal infectious diseases in the Netherlands, especially in women and the elderly.

Integrated microRNA and messenger RNA analysis in aortic stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with no effective medical therapies. Investigation into the underlying biology of AS in humans is limited by difficulties in obtaining healthy valvular tissue for use as a control group. However, micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are stable in post-mortem tissue. We compared valve specimens from patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for AS to non-diseased cadaveric valves. We found 106 differentially expressed miRNAs (p < 0.05, adjusted for multiple comparisons) on microarray analysis, with highly correlated expression among up- and down-regulated miRNAs. Integrated miRNA/gene expression analysis validated the microarray results as a whole, while quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed downregulation of miR-122-5p, miR-625-5p, miR-30e-5p and upregulation of miR-21-5p and miR-221-3p. Pathway analysis of the integrated miRNA/mRNA network identified pathways predominantly involved in extracellular matrix function. A number of currently available therapies target products of upregulated genes in the integrated miRNA/mRNA network, with these genes being predominantly more peripheral members of the network. The identification of a group of tissue miRNA associated with AS may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to AS. This study highlights the importance of systems biology-based approaches to complex diseases.

Adiponectin enhances bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell resistance to flow shear stress through AMP-activated protein kinase signaling

Adiponectin has been demonstrated to protect the cardiovascular system and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, it is unclear whether adiponectin can protect BMSCs against flow shear stress (FSS). In this study, our aim was to explore the effects of adiponectin on BMSCs and to explore the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling in this process. Shear stress significantly inhibits the survival and increases the apoptosis of BMSCs in an intensity-dependent manner. The expression levels of TGF-β, bFGF, VEGF, PDGF, and Bcl2 are simultaneously reduced, and the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC, as well as the expression level of Bax, are increased. Supplementation with adiponectin promotes the survival of BMSCs; reverses the changes in the expression levels of TGF-β, bFGF, VEGF, PDGF, Bcl2, and Bax; and further amplifies the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC. Furthermore, the protective effects of adiponectin can be partially neutralized by AMPK siRNA. In summary, we have demonstrated for the first time that adiponectin can effectively protect BMSCs from FSS and that this effect depends, at least in part, on the activation of AMPK signaling.

Melatonin reverses flow shear stress-induced injury in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase signaling

Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs) are a promising treatment for valvular heart disease, although their application is limited by high flow shear stress (FSS). Melatonin has a wide range of physiological functions and is currently under clinical investigation for expanded applications; moreover, extensive protective effects on the cardiovascular system have been reported. In this study, we investigated the protection conferred by melatonin supplementation against FSS-induced injury in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and elucidated the potential mechanism in this process. Melatonin markedly reduced BMSC apoptotic death in a concentration-dependent manner while increasing the levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and decreasing those of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), and caspase 3. Notably, melatonin exerted its protective effects by upregulating the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which promotes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation. Further molecular experiments revealed that luzindole, a nonselective antagonist of melatonin receptors, blocked the anti-FSS injury (anti-FSSI) effects of melatonin. Inhibition of AMPK by Compound C also counteracted the protective effects of melatonin, suggesting that melatonin reverses FSSI in BMSCs through the AMPK-dependent pathway. Overall, our findings indicate that melatonin contributes to the amelioration of FSS-induced BMSC injury by activating melatonin receptors and AMPK/ACC signaling. Our findings may provide a basis for the design of more effective strategies that promote the use of TEHCs in patients.

Circulating microRNA Profiling Needs Further Refinement Before Clinical Use in Patients With Aortic Stenosis

BACKGROUND

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a progressive condition leading to heart failure and death without treatment. No medical therapy currently exists for AS, and a major management challenge is deciding on the correct timing of aortic valve replacement. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that are stable in the circulation. We wished to use miRNAs as biomarkers of disease in AS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed microarray-based whole miRNome profiling of 24 participants with AS and 27 control participants. After adjustment for age and multiple testing, we identified 4 miRNAs significantly different between groups. These findings were then examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in a larger validation cohort of 101 controls and 94 participants with AS, stratified in a prespecified analysis by presence of coexisting coronary artery disease (CAD). We obtained mixed results for miR-22-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-382-5p, and miR-451a in the validation cohort, with differing associations according to CAD status. miR-21-5p was increased in AS patients without CAD, but there was no difference between groups with CAD.

CONCLUSION

Despite holding great promise, circulating miRNA profiling requires further refinement before translation into clinical use as a biomarker in aortic stenosis.

Right-sided valve disease

In this review, we discuss right-sided heart valve disease, namely tricuspid regurgitation (TR), tricuspid stenosis, pulmonary regurgitation, pulmonary stenosis and right-sided endocarditis. These are frequently seen in conjunction with other diseases, making assessment of their significance more difficult, but it has become increasingly clear that moderate or severe right-sided heart valve disease, in particular TR, is associated with worse prognosis. There remain large gaps in our knowledge of medical and interventional treatment, but in this article we outline what is known about the causes, presentation and management of these commonly seen conditions.