Usefulness of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction as a predictor of one-year rehospitalization in survivors of acute myocardial infarction

Scoping review of echocardiographic parameters associated with diagnosis and prognosis after resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest

AIM

Current international guidelines recommend early echocardiography after resuscitated sudden death despite limited data. Our aim was to analyze published data on early post-resuscitation echocardiography to identify cardiac causes of sudden death and prognostic implications.

METHODS

We reviewed MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases to December 2021 for echocardiographic studies of adult patients after resuscitation from non-traumatic sudden death. Studies were included if echocardiography was performed <48 hours after resuscitation and reported (1) diagnostic accuracy to detect cardiac etiologies of sudden death or (2) prognostic outcomes. Diagnostic endpoints were associations of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), ventricular function, and structural abnormalities with cardiac etiologies of arrest. Prognostic endpoints were associations of echocardiographic findings with survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurological outcome.

RESULTS

Of 2877 articles screened, 16 (0.6%) studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 2035 patients. Two of six studies formally reported diagnostic accuracy for echocardiography identifying cardiac etiology of arrest; RWMA (in 5 of 6 studies) were associated with presumed cardiac ischemia in 17-89% of cases. Among 12 prognostic studies, there was no association of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with hospital survival (v10) or favorable neurologic status (n = 5). Echocardiographic high mitral E/e' ratio (n = 1) and right ventricular systolic dysfunction (n = 2) were associated with poor survival.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review highlights the limited data on early echocardiography in providing etiology of arrest and prognostic information after resuscitated sudden death. Further research is needed to refine the clinical application of early echocardiographic findings in post arrest care.

Comprehensive assessment of systemic arteriosclerosis in relation to the ocular resistive index in acute coronary syndrome patients

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ocular vascular resistance parameters, evaluated by laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG), and systemic atherosclerosis, renal parameters and cardiac function in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We evaluated 53 ACS patients between April 2019 and September 2020. LSFG measured the mean blur rate (MBR) and ocular blowout time (BOT) and resistivity index (RI). 110 consequent patients without a history of coronary artery disease who visited ophthalmology as a control group. Significant positive correlations were observed between ocular RI and systemic parameters in ACS patients, including intima-media thickness (r = 0.34, P = 0.015), brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (r = 0.41, P = 0.002), cystatin C (r = 0.32, P = 0.020), and E/e’ (r = 0.34, P = 0.013). Ocular RI was significantly higher in the ACS group than in the control group in male in their 40 s (0.37 ± 0.02 vs. 0.29 ± 0.01, P < 0.001) and 50 s (0.36 ± 0.02 vs. 0.30 ± 0.01, P = 0.01). We found that the ocular RI was associated with systemic atherosclerosis, early renal dysfunction, and diastolic cardiac dysfunction in ACS patients, suggesting that it could be a useful non-invasive comprehensive arteriosclerotic marker.

Clinical impact of pulmonary hypertension on the outcomes of acute myocardial infarction patients with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are leading global causes of morbidity and mortality. In patients with both of these conditions, the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) can further worsen their prognosis. We examined the outcomes of AMI patients with COPD (AMI+COPD) and without COPD (AMI-COPD), depending on the presence or absence of PH.A total of 318 AMI patients with COPD (AMI+COPD cohort) (n = 109) or without COPD (AMI-COPD cohort) (n = 209) were included in this study and were subdivided into 2 groups according to right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) level (PH group [RVSP ≥35 mm Hg] and no PH group [RVSP <35 mm Hg]).We investigated characteristics and clinical outcomes in both the AMI-COPD and AMI+COPD cohorts. When investigating in-hospital clinical outcomes, the PH group had a higher proportion of new-onset heart failure (HF) in both cohorts. In the AMI+COPD cohort, however, the PH group had a higher incidence of cardiogenic shock than the no PH group, which was consistent with the result of the post-inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. When investigating 1-year clinical outcomes, the PH group had higher incidences of a major adverse cardiac event and all-cause mortality in both cohorts. This finding was mainly driven by cardiac death in the AMI-COPD cohort, whereas it was mainly driven by non-cardiac death in the AMI+COPD cohort. After IPTW adjustment, these differences were statistically attenuated such that all variables were similar between both groups.PH may be associated with the development of new-onset HF (in all patients) and cardiogenic shock (in the AMI+COPD cohort). In addition, PH may be also associated with all-cause mortality, although it was statistically attenuated after IPTW adjustment.

Multimorbidity and Readmissions in Older People with Acute Coronary Syndromes

AIMS

This study aimed to examine the multimorbidity as well as the 30-day and 1-year readmission rates in a large, unselected cohort of elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

All patients ≥70 years hospitalized due to ACS during January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2013, and registered in the SWEDEHEART registry were included. In-hospital multimorbidity and disease burden were determined. Outcomes included 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality, any readmission, and readmissions due to ACS, heart failure, ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and bleeding events. Out of 80,176 patients, 25.6% had ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 74.4% non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). The mean age was 79.8 (±6.4 standard deviation) and 43.4% were women. Multimorbidity, or two chronic diseases, was present in 67.7%, thereof in 53.0% of STEMI patients and 72.7% of NSTE-ACS patients. In-hospital mortality was 7.0%. Of the 74,577 patients who survived to discharge, 24.6% were readmitted within 30 days and 59.5% were readmitted during the following year. Multimorbid patients had a higher risk of readmissions than those without multimorbidity. Multimorbid STEMI patients were admitted the following year in 56.2% of cases compared to 44.5% of STEMI patients without multimorbidity, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.35 (95% confidence interval: 1.26-1.45). Multimorbid patients with NSTE-ACS were readmitted in 63.4% of cases the following year compared with 49.1% of those without multimorbidity, adjusted OR 1.42 (1.35-1.50). More than half of the readmissions were due to cardiovascular causes (ACS, stroke, TIA, or heart failure) or bleeding events.

CONCLUSIONS

Older people with ACS have a high multimorbidity burden and a high readmission rate both within 30 days and 1 year. Half of the readmissions were due to a cardiovascular event or a bleeding event. The presence of multimorbidity increases the risk of readmissions for patients with ACS. As hospital admissions are costly for the health care system and can include risks, especially for older patients, there may be opportunities in better risk stratifying this group at discharge for subsequent decrease in readmission rates.

Outcomes after STEMI in old multimorbid patients with complex health needs and the effect of invasive management

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess one-year outcomes of invasive and non-invasive strategies in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) among multimorbid older people with complex health needs.

METHODS

We included patients, registered between 2006 and 2013 in the SWEDEHEART registry, who were 70 years old or older with STEMI, had multimorbidity and complex health needs and were discharged alive. The one-year outcomes of patients who underwent invasive strategy (examined with coronary angiography ≤14 days) were compared to those who did not. The primary event was a composite of all-cause death, admission due to new acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack.

RESULTS

We identified patients, and 1089 were managed invasively and 570 non-invasively. The mean age was 79 years and 83 years in the 2 groups, respectively. After multivariable adjustment for baseline differences between the groups, including propensity scores, the primary event occurred in 31% of patients in the invasive group and 55% in the non-invasive group, adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals): 0.67 (0.54-0.83). One-year mortality was 18% in the invasive group and 45% in the non-invasive group, adjusted hazard ratio 0.51 (0.39-0.65).

CONCLUSIONS

Multimorbid older people with complex health needs and STEMI had high rates of new ischemic events and death. In this cohort of older, high risk STEMI patients, an invasive strategy was associated with lower event rates. Randomized studies are needed to clarify whether these high risk patients who might benefit from invasive care are being managed too conservatively.

Correlation between ST segment shift and cardiac diastolic function in patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Diastolic dysfunction is the early sign of myocardial ischemia that usually occurs earlier than ECG changes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To determine the existence of a correlation between ST segment shift and diastolic dysfunction among patients with AMI.

METHODS

Fourty six patients with significant ST segment elevation or depression and having symptoms of acute myocardial infarction for <12 h were enrolled in this study. Patients were examined for serial ECG, cardiac enzymes, and echocardiography.

RESULTS

There was no significant correlation between ST segment elevation or depression and majority of the diastolic indices. Few diastolic parameters; such as, E/A ratio of the mitral valve and deceleration time of the tricuspid valve showed a direct correlation with the ECG changes. Whereas, the Tei Index of the LV function showed a borderline correlation to the ST segment elevation at discharge.

CONCLUSION

Overall, there was no correlation between either ST segment elevation or depression and the LV or RV diastolic function in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Improvement of the ST segment total score was associated with improvement of the diastolic function grades at discharge. Moreover, this association has shown an evidence of dose response relationship, the more improvement in total score at discharge the more improvement in diastolic function grade level.

Cardiac magnetic resonance assessment of diastolic dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome

Chest pain is an important presenting symptom. However, few cases of chest pain are diagnosed as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the acute setting. This results in frequent inappropriate discharge and major delay in treatment for patients with underlying ACS. The conventional methods of assessing ACS, which include electrocardiography and serological markers of infarct, can take time to manifest. Recent studies have investigated more sensitive and specific imaging modalities that can be used. Diastolic dysfunction occurs early following coronary artery occlusion and its detection is useful in confirming the diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis post-ACS. Cardiac magnetic resonance provides a single imaging modality for comprehensive evaluation of chest pain in the acute setting. In particular, cardiac magnetic resonance has many imaging techniques that assess diastolic dysfunction post-coronary artery occlusion. Techniques such as measurement of left atrial size, mitral inflow, and mitral annular and pulmonary vein flow velocities with phase-contrast imaging enable general assessment of ventricular diastolic function. More novel imaging techniques, such as T2-weighted imaging for oedema, T1 mapping, and myocardial tagging, allow early determination of regional diastolic dysfunction and oedema. These findings may correspond to specific infarcted arteries that may be used to tailor eventual percutaneous coronary artery intervention.

Digital Health Intervention as an Adjunct to Cardiac Rehabilitation Reduces Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Rehospitalizations

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) following myocardial infarction is vastly underused. As such, the aim of this study was to test a digital health intervention (DHI) as an adjunct to CR. Patients undergoing standard Mayo Clinic CR were recruited prior to CR (n = 25) or after 3 months CR (n = 17). Changes in risk factors and rehospitalizations plus emergency department (ED) visits were assessed after 3 months. Patients assigned to DHI during CR had significant reductions in weight (-4.0 ± 5.2 kg, P = .001), blood pressure (-10.8 ± 13.5 mmHg, P = .0009), and the group using DHI after 3 months of CR had significant reductions in weight (-2.5 ± 3.8 kg, P = .04) and systolic BP (-12.6 ± 12.4 mmHg, P = .001) compared to the control groups. Both DHI groups also displayed significant reductions in rehospitalizations/ED visits (-37.9 %, P = 0.01 and -28 %, P = .04, respectively). This study suggests that a guideline-driven DHI CR program can augment secondary prevention strategies during usual CR by improving risk factors for repeat events.

Left ventricular diastolic function and long-term outcomes in patients with normal exercise echocardiographic findings

The objective of the present study was to determine whether diastolic dysfunction (DD) is associated with outcomes in the absence of myocardial ischemia. We studied 2,835 patients undergoing exercise echocardiography from January 2006 through December 2006 who had normal systolic function (ejection fraction ≥50%) and an absence of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities. Diastolic function was graded as normal, mild DD, or moderate to severe DD. Medical records review and patient contact were undertaken to determine mortality, cardiovascular events (i.e., death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), incident heart failure (HF), and hospitalization. The mean ± SD age was 58.9 ± 12.8 years, and 54.0% were women. DD was present in 40.0% of the participants, with mild DD in 28.2% and moderate to severe DD in 11.8%. During a median follow-up of 4.4 years, 81 deaths and 114 cardiovascular events occurred, and DD was associated with greater rates of mortality, cardiovascular events, and HF events or hospitalizations (all p <0.001). On multivariate analysis, mild or moderate to severe DD (referent, normal function) was associated with HF or hospitalization (hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 1.78, p <0.001 for mild DD; hazard ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.37 to 2.24, p <0.001 for moderate to severe DD) but was not independently associated with death or cardiovascular events. The diastolic index of filling pressure (E/e') was independently associated with mortality, cardiovascular events, and HF or hospitalization. In conclusion, among patients without demonstrable myocardial ischemia, left ventricular DD was associated with greater event rates during long-term follow up but did not independently predict hard end points other than HF or hospitalization. E/e' was independently associated with the clinical outcomes and might be an important echocardiographically derived parameter to identify in patients undergoing exercise echocardiography.

Red blood cell distribution width is a predictor of readmission in cardiac patients

BACKGROUND

Three-quarters of rehospitalizations ($44 billion yearly estimated cost) may be avoidable. A screening tool for the detection of potential readmission may facilitate more efficient case management.

HYPOTHESIS

An elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an independent predictor of hospital readmission in patients with unstable angina (UA) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

METHODS

The study is a retrospective observational cohort analysis of adults admitted in 2007 with UA or NSTEMI. Data were gathered by review of inpatient medical records. The rate of 30-day nonelective readmission and time to nonelective readmission were recorded until November 1, 2011, and compared by RDW group using the 95th percentile (16.3%) as a cutoff.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time of the 503 subjects (average age, 65 ± 13 years; 56% male) was 3.8 years (interquartile range: 0.3-4.3 years). Those readmitted within 30 days were older, had more comorbidities and higher RDW and creatinine levels, and were more likely to have had an intervention. At 3.8 years of follow-up, subjects with high RDW (>16.3%) were more likely to be readmitted compared to those with normal RDW (≤16.3%) (72.28% vs 59.95%, P = 0.003). In multivariable analyses, high RDW was a statistically significant predictor of readmission in general (hazard ratio: 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.02-1.79), P = 0.033) but not of 30-day rehospitalization (odds ratio: 1.34 (95% CI: 0.78-2.31), P = 0.292). Its area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.54 (sensitivity 23% and specificity 85%).

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated RDW is an independent predictor of hospital readmission in patients with UA or NSTEMI.

Thyroid hormone and cardiac disease: from basic concepts to clinical application

Nature's models of regeneration provide substantial evidence that a natural healing process may exist in the heart. Analogies existing between the damaged myocardium and the developing heart strongly indicate that regulatory factors which drive embryonic heart development may also control aspects of heart regeneration. In this context, thyroid hormone (TH) which is critical in heart maturation during development appears to have a reparative role in adult life. Thus, changes in TH -thyroid hormone receptor (TR) homeostasis are shown to govern the return of the damaged myocardium to the fetal phenotype. Accordingly, thyroid hormone treatment preferentially rebuilds the injured myocardium by reactivating developmental gene programming. Clinical data provide further support to this experimental evidence and changes in TH levels and in particular a reduction of biologically active triiodothyronine (T3) in plasma after myocardial infarction or during evolution of heart failure, are strongly correlated with patients morbidity and mortality. The potential of TH to regenerate a diseased heart has now been testing in patients with acute myocardial infarction in a phase II, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study (the THiRST study).

Changes in left ventricular function and remodeling after myocardial infarction in hypothyroid rats

It has been shown that hypothyroidism may lead to delayed wound healing after experimental myocardial infarction (MI) in rats and increased infarct size in dogs. However, the long-term effect of hypothyroidism on left ventricular (LV) remodeling after MI has not been determined. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats with and without surgical thyroidectomy (TX) were used in the study. Four weeks after TX, MI or sham MI was performed on TX and non-TX rats. Rats from all groups were examined 4 wk later. Four weeks after TX, hypothyroid-induced LV dysfunction was confirmed by echocardiography. In terminal experiments 4 wk after MI, TX sham-MI rats showed smaller hearts and impaired LV function compared with non-TX sham-MI controls. TX + MI rats showed smaller hearts with bigger infarct areas, higher LV end-diastolic pressures, and greater impairment of relaxation (−dP/d t) compared with non-TX MI rats. Relative changes after MI between TX and non-TX rats for most other hemodynamic and echocardiographic indexes were similar. These results suggest that preexisting hypothyroidism exaggerates post-MI remodeling and worsens LV function, particularly diastolic function.