Left atrial enlargement and NT-proBNP as predictors of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure

The role of uromodulin in cardiovascular disease: a review

Uromodulin, also referred to as Tamm Horsfall protein (THP), is a renal protein exclusively synthesized by the kidneys and represents the predominant urinary protein under normal physiological conditions. It assumes a pivotal role within the renal system, contributing not only to ion transport and immune modulation but also serving as a critical factor in the prevention of urinary tract infections and kidney stone formation. Emerging evidence indicates that uromodulin may serve as a potential biomarker extending beyond renal function. Recent clinical investigations and Mendelian randomization studies have unveiled a discernible association between urinary regulatory protein levels and cardiovascular events and mortality. This review primarily delineates the intricate relationship between uromodulin and cardiovascular disease, elucidates its predictive utility as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular events, and delves into its involvement in various physiological and pathophysiological facets of the cardiovascular system, incorporating recent advancements in corresponding genetics.

Impact of dapagliflozin on cardiac remodelling in patients with chronic heart failure: The DAPA-MODA study

AIMS

Dapagliflozin improves the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF), regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, its effect on cardiac remodelling parameters, specifically left atrial (LA) remodelling, is not well established.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The DAPA-MODA trial (NCT04707352) is a multicentre, single-arm, open-label, prospective and interventional study that aimed to evaluate the effect of dapagliflozin on cardiac remodelling parameters over 6 months. Patients with stable chronic HF receiving optimized guideline-directed therapy, except for any sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, were included. Echocardiography was performed at baseline, 30 and 180 days, and analysed by a central core-lab in a blinded manner to both patient and time. The primary endpoint was the change in maximal LA volume index (LAVI). A total of 162 patients (64.2% men, 70.5 ± 10.6 years, 52% LVEF >40%) were included in the study. At baseline, LA dilatation was observed (LAVI 48.1 ± 22.6 ml/m2 ) and LA parameters were similar between LVEF-based phenotypes (≤40% vs. >40%). LAVI showed a significant reduction at 180 days (-6.6% [95% confidence interval -11.1, -1.8], p = 0.008), primarily due to a decrease in reservoir volume (-13.8% [95% confidence interval -22.5, -4], p = 0.007). Left ventricular geometry improved with significant reductions in left ventricular mass index (-13.9% [95% confidence interval -18.7, -8.7], p < 0.001), end-diastolic volume (-8.0% [95% confidence interval -11.6, -4.2], p < 0.001) and end-systolic volume (-11.9% [95% confidence interval -16.7, -6.8], p < 0.001) at 180 days. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) showed a significant reduction at 180 days (-18.2% [95% confidence interval -27.1, -8.2], p < 0.001), without changes in filling Doppler measures.

CONCLUSION

Dapagliflozin administration in stable out-setting patients with chronic HF and optimized therapy results in global reverse remodelling of cardiac structure, including reductions in LA volumes and improvement in left ventricular geometry and NT-proBNP concentrations.

Automatic prediction of left cardiac chamber enlargement from chest radiographs using convolutional neural network

OBJECTIVE

To develop deep learning-based cardiac chamber enlargement-detection algorithms for left atrial (DLCE-LAE) and ventricular enlargement (DLCE-LVE), on chest radiographs METHODS: For training and internal validation of DLCE-LAE and -LVE, 5,045 chest radiographs (CRs; 2,463 normal and 2,393 LAE) and 1,012 CRs (456 normal and 456 LVE) matched with the same-day echocardiography were collected, respectively. External validation was performed using 107 temporally independent CRs. Reader performance test was conducted using the external validation dataset by five cardiothoracic radiologists without and with the results of DLCE. Classification performance of DLCE was evaluated and compared with those of the readers and conventional radiographic features, including cardiothoracic ratio, carinal angle, and double contour. In addition, DLCE-LAE was tested on 5,277 CRs from a healthcare screening program cohort.

RESULTS

DLCE-LAE showed areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROCs) of 0.858 on external validation. On reader performance test, DLCE-LAE showed better results than pooled radiologists (AUROC 0.858 vs. 0.651; p < .001) and significantly increased their performance when used as a second reader (AUROC 0.651 vs. 0.722; p < .001). DLCE-LAE also showed a significantly higher AUROC than conventional radiographic findings (AUROC 0.858 vs. 0.535-0.706; all ps < .01). In the healthcare screening cohort, DLCE-LAE successfully detected 71.0% (142/200) CRs with moderate-to-severe LAE (93.5% [29/31] of severe cases), while yielding 11.8% (492/4,184) false-positive rate. DLCE-LVE showed AUROCs of 0.966 and 0.594 on internal and external validation, respectively.

CONCLUSION

DLCE-LAE outperformed and improved cardiothoracic radiologists' performance in detecting LAE and showed promise in screening individuals with moderate-to-severe LAE in a healthcare screening cohort.

KEY POINTS

• Our deep learning algorithm outperformed cardiothoracic radiologists in detecting left atrial enlargement on chest radiographs. • Cardiothoracic radiologists improved their performance in detecting left atrial enlargement when aided by the algorithm. • On a healthcare-screening cohort, our algorithm detected 71.0% (142/200) radiographs with moderate-to-severe left atrial enlargement while yielding 11.8% (492/4,184) false-positive rate.

Baseline and Dynamic Risk Predictors of Appropriate Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy

Background Current approaches fail to separate patients at high versus low risk for ventricular arrhythmias owing to overreliance on a snapshot left ventricular ejection fraction measure. We used statistical machine learning to identify important cardiac imaging and time-varying risk predictors. Methods and Results Three hundred eighty-two cardiomyopathy patients (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance before primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator insertion. The primary end point was appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge or sudden death. Patient characteristics; serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohormonal status, and injury; and cardiac magnetic resonance-measured left ventricle and left atrial indices and myocardial scar burden were assessed at baseline. Time-varying covariates comprised interval heart failure hospitalizations and left ventricular ejection fractions. A random forest statistical method for survival, longitudinal, and multivariable outcomes incorporating baseline and time-varying variables was compared with (1) Seattle Heart Failure model scores and (2) random forest survival and Cox regression models incorporating baseline characteristics with and without imaging variables. Age averaged 57±13 years with 28% women, 66% white, 51% ischemic, and follow-up time of 5.9±2.3 years. The primary end point (n=75) occurred at 3.3±2.4 years. Random forest statistical method for survival, longitudinal, and multivariable outcomes with baseline and time-varying predictors had the highest area under the receiver operating curve, median 0.88 (95% CI, 0.75-0.96). Top predictors comprised heart failure hospitalization, left ventricle scar, left ventricle and left atrial volumes, left atrial function, and interleukin-6 level; heart failure accounted for 67% of the variation explained by the prediction, imaging 27%, and interleukin-6 2%. Serial left ventricular ejection fraction was not a significant predictor. Conclusions Hospitalization for heart failure and baseline cardiac metrics substantially improve ventricular arrhythmic risk prediction.

Classic and Novel Biomarkers as Potential Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD), most often induced by ventricular arrhythmias, is one of the main reasons for cardiovascular-related mortality. While coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of SCD, other pathologies like cardiomyopathies and, especially in the younger population, genetic disorders, are linked to arrhythmia-related mortality. Despite many efforts to enhance the efficiency of risk-stratification strategies, effective tools for risk assessment are still missing. Biomarkers have a major impact on clinical practice in various cardiac pathologies. While classic biomarkers like brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponins are integrated into daily clinical practice, inflammatory biomarkers may also be helpful for risk assessment. Indeed, several trials investigated their application for the prediction of arrhythmic events indicating promising results. Furthermore, in recent years, active research efforts have brought forward an increasingly large number of “novel and alternative” candidate markers of various pathophysiological origins. Investigations of these promising biological compounds have revealed encouraging results when evaluating the prediction of arrhythmic events. To elucidate this issue, we review current literature dealing with this topic. We highlight the potential of “classic” but also “novel” biomarkers as promising tools for arrhythmia prediction, which in the future might be integrated into clinical practice.

Diabetes mellitus and the risk of sudden cardiac death: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

BACKGROUND

Although diabetes mellitus is an established risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke, data on the association with sudden cardiac death are less extensive and the findings have not been entirely consistent. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies on diabetes mellitus and risk of sudden cardiac death.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to July 18th 2017. Prospective studies that reported adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between a diabetes diagnosis or pre-diabetes and risk of sudden cardiac death were included. Summary RRs were estimated by use of a random effects model. Nineteen population-based prospective studies (11 publications) (3610 cases, 249,225 participants) and 10 patient-based prospective studies (2713 cases, 55,098 participants) were included. The summary RR for diabetes patients vs. persons without diabetes was 2.02 (95% CI: 1.81-2.25, I² = 0%, p_{heterogeneity} = 0.91) in the population-based studies. The summary RR was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.05-1.44, I² = 6%, p_{heterogeneity} = 0.34) for the association between pre-diabetes and sudden cardiac death (n = 3 studies, 1000 sudden cardiac deaths, 18,360 participants). In the patient-based studies, the summary RR of sudden cardiac death for diabetes patients vs. patients without diabetes was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.51-2.03, I² = 39%, p_{heterogeneity} = 0.10) for all patients combined, 1.63 (95% CI: 1.36-1.97, I² = 39%, n = 5) for coronary heart disease patients, and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.48-2.33, I² = 0%, n = 3) for heart failure patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that diabetes patients are at an increased risk of sudden cardiac death both in the general population and among different patient groups.

Saturated high-fat diet-induced obesity increases adenylate cyclase of myocardial β-adrenergic system and does not compromise cardiac function

Obesity is a worldwide pandemic associated with high incidence of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms by which the obesity leads cardiac dysfunction are not fully elucidated and few studies have evaluated the relationship between obesity and proteins involved in myocardial β‐adrenergic (βA) system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiac function and βA pathway components in myocardium of obese rats. Male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: control (n = 17; standard diet) and obese (n = 17; saturated high‐fat diet) fed for 33 weeks. Nutritional profile and comorbidities were assessed. Cardiac structure and function was evaluated by macroscopic postmortem, echocardiographic and isolated papillary muscle analyzes. Myocardial protein expression of β₁‐ and β₂‐adrenergic receptors, Gαs protein, adenylate cyclase (AC) and protein kinase A (PKA) was performed by Western blot. Cardiac cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and PKA activity were assessed by ELISA. Obese rats showed increased adiposity index (P < 0.001) and several comorbidities as hypertension, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia compared with control rats. Echocardiographic assessment revealed increased left atrium diameter (C: 4.98 ± 0.38 vs. Ob: 5.47 ± 0.53, P = 0.024) and posterior wall shortening velocity (C: 37.1 ± 3.6 vs. Ob: 41.8 ± 3.8, P = 0.007) in obese group. Papillary muscle evaluation indicated that baseline data and myocardial responsiveness to isoproterenol stimulation were similar between the groups. Protein expression of myocardial AC was higher in obese group than in the control (C: 1.00 ± 0.21 vs. Ob: 1.25 ± 0.10, P = 0.025), whereas the other components were unchanged. These results suggest that saturated high‐fat diet‐induced obesity was not effective in triggering cardiac dysfunction and impair the beta‐adrenergic signaling.

Cardiomyopathy With Restrictive Physiology in Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to identify a unifying cardiac pathophysiology that explains the cardiac pathological features in sickle cell disease (SCD).

BACKGROUND

Cardiopulmonary complications, the leading cause of adult death in SCD, are associated with heart chamber dilation, diastolic dysfunction, elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV), and pulmonary hypertension. However, no unifying cardiac pathophysiology has been identified to explain these findings.

METHODS

In a 2-part study, we first examined patients with SCD who underwent screening echocardiography during steady state at our institution. We then conducted a meta-analysis of cardiac studies in SCD.

RESULTS

In the 134 patients with SCD studied (median age 11 years), significant enlargement of the left atrial volume was present (z-score 3.1, p = 0.002), shortening fraction was normal (37.6 ± 4.7%), and lateral and septal ratios of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e') were severely abnormal in 8% and 14% of patients, respectively, indicating impaired diastolic function. Both TRV and lateral E/e' correlated with enlarged left atrial volume in SCD (p = 0.003 and p = 0.006, respectively). Meta-analysis of 68 studies confirmed significant left atrial diameter enlargement in patients with SCD compared with controls, evidence of diastolic dysfunction and enlarged left ventricular end-diastolic dimension with normal shortening fraction. The majority of patients with catheter-confirmed pulmonary hypertension had mild pulmonary venous hypertension consistent with restrictive cardiac physiology.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with SCD have a unique form of cardiomyopathy with restrictive physiology that is superimposed on hyperdynamic physiology and is characterized by diastolic dysfunction, left atrial dilation, and normal systolic function. This combination results in mild, secondary, pulmonary venous hypertension and elevated TRV. Sudden death is common in other forms of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Our finding of this unique restrictive cardiomyopathy may explain the increased mortality rates and sudden death seen in patients with SCD with mildly elevated TRV.

Is heart rate a risk marker in patients with chronic heart failure and concomitant atrial fibrillation? Results from the MAGGIC meta-analysis

AIM

To investigate the relationship between heart rate and survival in patients with heart failure (HF) and coexisting atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with AF included in the Meta-analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) meta-analysis were the main focus of this analysis (3259 patients from 17 studies). The outcome was all-cause mortality at 3 years. Heart rate was analysed as a categorical (tertiles; T1 ≤77 b.p.m., T2 78-98 b.p.m., T3 ≥98 b.p.m.) and continuous variable. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risk of all-cause death between tertiles of baseline heart rate. Patients in the highest tertile were more often female, less likely to have an ischaemic aetiology or diabetes, had a lower ejection fraction but higher blood pressure and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Higher heart rate was associated with higher mortality in patients with sinus rhythm (SR) but not in those in AF. In patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) and AF, death rates per 100 patient years were lowest in the highest heart rate tertile (T1 18.9 vs. T3 15.9) but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.10). In patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF), death rates per 100 patient years were highest in the highest heart rate tertile (T1 14.6 vs. T3 16.0, P = 0.014). However, after adjustment for other important prognostic variables, higher heart rate was no longer associated with higher mortality in HF-PEF (or HF-REF).

CONCLUSIONS

In this meta-analysis of patients with HF, heart rate does not have the same prognostic significance in patients in AF as it does in those in SR, irrespective of ejection fraction or treatment with beta-blocker.

Predictors and prognostic value of left atrial remodelling after acute myocardial infarction

PURPOSE

Left atrial (LA) volume is a strong prognostic predictor in patients following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the change in LA volume over time (LA remodelling) following STEMI has been scarcely studied. We sought to identify predictors for LA remodelling and to evaluate the prognostic importance of LA remodelling.

METHODS

This is a subgroup analysis from a randomised clinical trial that evaluated the cardioprotective effect of exenatide treatment. A total of 160 patients with STEMI underwent a cardiovascular MR (CMR) 2 days after primary angioplasty and a second scan 3 months later. LA remodelling was defined as changes in LA volume or function from baseline to 3 months follow-up. Major adverse cardiac events were registered after a median of 5.2 years.

RESULTS

Adverse LA minimum volume (LAmin) remodelling was correlated to the presence of hypertension, larger infarct size by CMR, higher peak troponin T, larger area at risk and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling. LA maximum volume (LAmax) remodelling was correlated to larger infarct size by CMR, higher peak troponin T, larger area at risk, larger LV mass, impaired LV function and adverse LV remodelling. Kaplan-Meier and Log Rank analyses showed that patients in the highest tertiles of LAmin or LAmax remodelling are at higher risk (0.030 and p=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

After a myocardial infarction, LA remodelling reflects a parallel ventricular-atrial remodelling. Infarct size is a major determinant of LA remodelling following STEMI and adverse LA remodelling is associated with an unfavourable prognosis.

BNP and NT-proBNP as prognostic markers in persons with chronic stable heart failure

Prognosis permits clinicians to separate persons with heart failure (HF) into subgroups based on likely health outcomes. Treatment is partly guided by these likely outcomes. This systematic review explores whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) are independent predictors of prognosis in persons with chronic stable HF. We electronically searched Medline, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL for English-language articles published between 1989 and mid-2012. We utilized trained reviewers and standardized forms to screen articles for inclusion and extracted data from included articles. All included studies were summarized in narrative and tabular form. We used the Hayden criteria to assess the risk of bias. Sixteen BNP publications and 88 NT-proBNP publications were included in the systematic review. BNP was positively associated with all-cause and HF mortality. NT-proBNP was positively associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. BNP and NT-proBNP levels are useful for estimating prognosis in persons with chronic stable HF. Further research is required to establish optimal cutpoints and to assess whether prognostic effects differ by age, sex, or time period.

QT variability improves risk stratification in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Recently it could be demonstrated that systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability (BPV) as well as segmented Poincare plot analysis (SPPA) contribute to risk stratification in patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of this study was to improve the risk stratification applying a multivariate technique including QT variability (QTV). We enrolled and significantly separated 56 low risk and 13 high risk DCM patients by nearly all applied BPV and QTV methods, but not with traditional heart rate variability analysis. The optimum set of two indices calculating the multivariate discriminate analysis (DA) included one BPV index calculated by symbolic dynamics method (DBP(Shannon)) and one index calculated from QTV (QTV(log)) achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 92%, sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 89.3%. Performing only electrocardiogram analysis, the optimum multivariate approach including indices from segmented Poincaré plot analysis and QTV still achieved a remarkable AUC of 88.3%. Increasing the number of indices for multivariate DA up to three, we achieved an AUC of 95.7%, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.7% including one clinical, one BPV and one QTV index. Summarizing, we identified DCM patients with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death applying QTV analysis in a multivariate approach.

Multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis: association between left atrial function using tissue tracking from cine MR imaging and myocardial fibrosis

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between left atrial ( LA left atrium ) function and left ventricular myocardial fibrosis using cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in a multi-ethnic population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this HIPAA-compliant study, the institutional review board at each participating center approved the study protocol, and all participants provided informed consent. Of 2839 participants who had undergone cardiac MR in 2010-2012, 143 participants with myocardial scar determined with late gadolinium enhancement and 286 age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched control participants were identified. LA left atrium volume, strain, and strain rate were analyzed by using multimodality tissue tracking from cine MR imaging. T1 mapping was applied to assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis. The association between LA left atrium parameters and myocardial fibrosis was evaluated with the Student t test and multivariable regression analysis.

RESULTS

The scar group had significantly higher minimum LA left atrium volume than the control group (mean, 22.0 ± 10.5 [standard deviation] vs 19.0 ± 7.8, P = .002) and lower LA left atrium ejection fraction (45.9 ± 10.7 vs 51.3 ± 8.7, P < .001), maximal LA left atrium strain ( Smax maximum LA strain ) (25.4 ± 10.7 vs 30.6 ± 10.6, P < .001) and maximum LA left atrium strain rate ( SRmax maximum LA strain rate ) (1.08 ± 0.45 vs 1.29 ± 0.51, P < .001), and lower absolute LA left atrium strain rate at early diastolic peak ( SRE LA strain rate at early diastolic peak ) (-0.77 ± 0.42 vs -1.01 ± 0.48, P < .001) and LA left atrium strain rate at atrial contraction peak ( SRA LA strain rate at atrial contraction peak ) (-1.50 ± 0.62 vs -1.78 ± 0.69, P < .001) than the control group. T1 time 12 minutes after contrast material injection was significantly associated with Smax maximum LA strain (β coefficient = 0.043, P = .013), SRmax maximum LA strain rate (β coefficient = 0.0025, P = .001), SRE LA strain rate at early diastolic peak (β coefficient = -0.0016, P = .027), and SRA LA strain rate at atrial contraction peak LA strain rate at atrial contraction peak (β coefficient -0.0028, P = .01) in the regression model. T1 time 25 minutes after contrast material injection was significantly associated with SRmax maximum LA strain rate (β coefficient = 0.0019, P = .016) and SRA LA strain rate at atrial contraction peak (β coefficient = -0.0022, P = .034).

CONCLUSION

Reduced LA left atrium regional and global function are related to both replacement and diffuse myocardial fibrosis processes. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00005487

Short-term vs. long-term heart rate variability in ischemic cardiomyopathy risk stratification

In industrialized countries with aging populations, heart failure affects 0.3–2% of the general population. The investigation of 24 h-ECG recordings revealed the potential of nonlinear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) for enhanced risk stratification in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF). However, long-term analyses are time-consuming, expensive, and delay the initial diagnosis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether 30 min short-term HRV analysis is sufficient for comparable risk stratification in IHF in comparison to 24 h-HRV analysis. From 256 IHF patients [221 at low risk (IHF_LR) and 35 at high risk (IHF_HR)] (a) 24 h beat-to-beat time series (b) the first 30 min segment (c) the 30 min most stationary day segment and (d) the 30 min most stationary night segment were investigated. We calculated linear (time and frequency domain) and nonlinear HRV analysis indices. Optimal parameter sets for risk stratification in IHF were determined for 24 h and for each 30 min segment by applying discriminant analysis on significant clinical and non-clinical indices. Long- and short-term HRV indices from frequency domain and particularly from nonlinear dynamics revealed high univariate significances (p < 0.01) discriminating between IHF_LR and IHF_HR. For multivariate risk stratification, optimal mixed parameter sets consisting of 5 indices (clinical and nonlinear) achieved 80.4% AUC (area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics) from 24 h HRV analysis, 84.3% AUC from first 30 min, 82.2 % AUC from daytime 30 min and 81.7% AUC from nighttime 30 min. The optimal parameter set obtained from the first 30 min showed nearly the same classification power when compared to the optimal 24 h-parameter set. As results from stationary daytime and nighttime, 30 min segments indicate that short-term analyses of 30 min may provide at least a comparable risk stratification power in IHF in comparison to a 24 h analysis period.

IVC diameter in patients with chronic heart failure: relationships and prognostic significance

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, clinical variables, and outcome in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).

BACKGROUND

The IVC distends as right atrial pressure rises. Therefore it might represent an index of HF severity independent of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The relation between IVC diameter and other clinical variables and its prognostic significance in patients with HF has not been explored.

METHODS

Outpatients attending a community HF service between 2008 and 2010 were enrolled. Heart failure was defined as the presence of relevant symptoms and signs and objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction: either LVEF <45% or the combination of both left atrial dilation (≥4 cm) and raised amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) ≥400 pg/ml. Patients were followed for a median of 567 (interquartile range: 413 to 736) days. The primary composite endpoint was cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization.

RESULTS

Among the 693 patients enrolled, median age was 73 years, 33% were women, and 568 had HF. Patients with HF in the highest tertile of IVC diameter were older; had lower body mass index; were more likely to have atrial fibrillation and to be treated with diuretics; and had larger left atrial volumes, higher pulmonary pressures, and less negative values for global longitudinal strain. The LVEF and systolic blood pressure were similar across tertiles of IVC diameter. The IVC diameter and log [NT-proBNP] were correlated (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). During follow-up, 158 patients reached a primary endpoint. In a multivariable Cox regression model, including NT-proBNP, only increasing IVC diameter, urea, and the trans-tricuspid systolic gradient independently predicted a poor outcome. Neither global longitudinal strain nor LVEF were adverse predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic HF with or without a reduced LVEF, increasing IVC diameter identifies patients with an adverse outcome.

Changes in BNP and QTc for prediction of sudden death in heart failure

Evaluation of: Vrtovec B, Knezevic I, Poglajen G, Sebesjen M, Okrajsek R, Haddad F. Relation of B-type natriuretic peptide level in heart failure to sudden cardiac death in patients with and without QT interval prolongation. Am. J. Cardiol. 111(6), 886–890 (2013). Guidelines recommend an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35%, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II/III, despite optimal medical treatment. However, by this mode of patient selection, many patients receive an ICD but never use it. Therefore, additional clinical and laboratory parameters, including estimated glomerular filtration rate and B-type natriuretic petide (BNP), and ECG parameters such as the corrected QT-interval (QTc), have been suggested for a more refined assessment of the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, changes in these parameters over time may be even more informative for SCD prediction than single measures, but this had not been investigated so far. In the present paper, the authors assessed the association between changes in BNP and QTc during a 3-month period in 398 patients with advanced chronic HF (NYHA III/IV) and LVEF <40%. After a follow-up of 1 year, 20 patients had suffered SCD. Patients with a significant (≥10%) increase in BNP were more likely to have a significant (≥10%) increase in QTc and had a longer QTc at 3 months than those without. The risk of SCD did not differ between patients with and without a significant increase in BNP, but was higher in patients with a significant increase in QTc compared with those without. Among patients with an increase in BNP of ≥10%, those with an increase in QTc of ≥10% were several-fold more likely to experience SCD compared with those without, whereas there was no such association between the change in QTc and SCD among patients without an increase in BNP of ≥10%. Thus, this study showed that changes in QTc better predicted SCD than changes in BNP, and that a strategy using both a marker of heart failure severity and a marker of the propensity of the left ventricle for arrhythmia better predicted SCD than a single-marker strategy. Further studies are required to evaluate whether novel markers besides LVEF and NYHA class alone (e.g., biomarkers and cardiac MRI) will allow a more accurate selection of patients with chronic HF who need an ICD.

Ischemic risk stratification by means of multivariate analysis of the heart rate variability

In this work, a univariate and multivariate statistical analysis of indexes derived from heart rate variability (HRV) was conducted to stratify patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) in cardiac risk groups. Indexes conditional entropy, refined multiscale entropy (RMSE), detrended fluctuation analysis, time and frequency analysis, were applied to the RR interval series (beat-to-beat series), for single and multiscale complexity analysis of the HRV in IDC patients. Also, clinical parameters were considered. Two different end-points after a follow-up of three years were considered: (i) analysis A, with 151 survivor patients as a low risk group and 13 patients that suffered sudden cardiac death as a high risk group; (ii) analysis B, with 192 survivor patients as a low risk group and 30 patients that suffered cardiac mortality as a high risk group. A univariate and multivariate linear discriminant analysis was used as a statistical technique for classifying patients in risk groups. Sensitivity (Sen) and specificity (Spe) were calculated as diagnostic criteria in order to evaluate the performance of the indexes and their linear combinations. Sen and Spe values of 80.0% and 72.9%, respectively, were obtained during daytime by combining one clinical parameter and one index from RMSE, and during nighttime Sen = 80% and Spe = 73.4% were attained by combining one clinical factor and two indexes from RMSE. In particular, relatively long time scales were more relevant for classifying patients into risk groups during nighttime, while during daytime shorter scales performed better. The results suggest that the left atrial size, indexed to body surface and RMSE indexes are those that allow enhanced classification of ischemic patients in their respective risk groups, confirming that a single measurement is not enough to fully characterize ischemic risk patients and the clinical relevance of HRV complexity measures.

Left atrial volume index and aortic stiffness index in adult hemodialysed patients--link between compliance and pressure mediated by endothelium dysfunction; a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between elastic properties of aorta and left atrium volume index (LAVI) in hemodialyzed (HD) patients.

METHODS

Study group was consisted of 73 patients (age 51,6 ± 7,6 years) treated by hemodialysis. In all patients standard echocardiography was performed. Aortic stiffness index (ASI) was calculated using formula: ASI = log (SBP/DBP)/[(Aomax-Aomin)/Aomin]. LAVI was calculated according to the formula: LAVI = [π/6 x (LAmax x LAshort x LAlong)]/m(2). Additionally several indices were calculated: left ventricle mass (LVM), left ventricle mass index (LVMI), midwall fractional shortening (mFS), endsystolic stress (ESS), mFS/ESS. Additionally the laboratory parameters including lipidogram, troponin T (cTnT), NT-proBNP and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured.

RESULTS

The ASI was strong and significantly correlated with left atrium volume (LAV) and LAVI (respectively: 0,601; p < 0,001 and 0,598; p < 0,001). The ASI was independently and markedly associated with ADMA, cTnT, CRP, T-chol, and LDL-chol. The LAVI was independently and significantly correlated with NT-proBNP and cTnT.

CONCLUSIONS

There is correlation between ASI and ADMA, marker of endothelium dysfunction. There is also association between LAVI and NT-proBNP, signs of elevated left atrium pressure. The strong correlation between ASI and LAVI, improved by associations of specific biochemical markers with these echocardiographic indices, suggests there is the link between elastic properties of aorta and left atrium pressure in hemodialysed patients mediated by endothelial dysfunction.

Left atrial dimension and risk of stroke in women without atrial fibrillation: the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort study

BACKGROUND

Evidence on the relationship between left atrial dimension and cardiovascular events is inconclusive. We explored the association between left atrial dimension and stroke and all-cause death in an ethnic Chinese population.

METHODS

We recruited 1,937 subjects undertaking echocardiographic examination without prior atrial fibrillation/stroke in the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort study. Left atrial dimension indexed by body mass index was used as left atrial dimension index (LADI) for analysis. The end points were stroke and all-cause death. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the relative risks between participants stratified by tertile of LADI within each gender.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 11.9 years, 21,733 person-years were accrued and 114 subjects with stroke and 364 all-cause deaths were identified. The adjusted relative risk of stroke was 2.44 (95% CI, 1.11 to 5.36, P for trend = 0.029) among women in the upper tertile of LADI compared with women in the lower tertile of LADI. Further adjusting for left ventricular mass index attenuated the relationship of LADI to stroke (adjusted relative risk 2.11, 95% CI, 0.88 to 5.02, P for trend = 0.09). In men, tertile of LADI was not associated with stroke. LADI was not associated with risk of all-cause death in both genders.

CONCLUSIONS

We found an association between increased LADI and incident stroke in women but not in men in this ethnic Chinese population. LADI was not associated with all-cause death in both genders.

Utility of B-type natriuretic Peptide for predicting perioperative cardiovascular events in patients without history of cardiovascular disease undergoing major non-cardiac surgery

Background and Objectives

Patients without previous history of cardiac disease can be regarded as low-risk when undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to examine whether preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level predicted postoperative cardiac events in these patients.

Subjects and Methods

Preoperative BNP level was measured in 163 patients whose risk was considered low according to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index. Postoperative cardiac events, including death during hospitalization, myocardial injury, arrhythmia, cerebrovascular accidents and congestive heart failure were assessed.

Results

Postoperative cardiac events occurred in 8 patients (4.9%). Preoperative BNP levels were significantly higher among patients who experienced postoperative cardiac events, compared to those who did not (130.6±148.8 vs. 57.9±70.8 pg/mL, p=0.009).

Conclusion

Preoperative BNP level may provide prognostic information in low-risk patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery.

Complexity of the short-term heart-rate variability

This work has proposed a methodology based on the concept of entropy rates to study the complexity of the short-term heart-rate variability (HRV) for improving risk stratification to predict sudden cardiac death (SCD) of patients with established ischemic-dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). The short-term HRV was analyzed during daytime and nighttime by means of RR series. An entropy rate was calculated on the RR series, previously transformed to symbol sequences by means of an alphabet. A statistical analysis permitted to stratify high- and low-risk patients of suffering SCD, with a specificity (SP) of 95% and sensitivity (SE) of 83.3%.

Clinical course and risk profile in adolescents with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

We sought to analyze the prevalence, clinical course, and risk profile of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in adolescents with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients with clinical onset at <13 years (n = 18) or >19 years (n = 14) of age and/or patients followed up for <12 months were excluded. Clinical and biochemical markers were evaluated during 4 +/- 3 years of follow-up to determinate predictors of adverse outcome. A composite end point (hospitalization for worsening heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and death) was investigated. The final cohort consisted of 48 patients (median age 17 years) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. During follow-up, 11 patients required hospitalization for heart failure (21%) and 6 patients entered the transplantation list (4 underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation, 8%). A Cox multivariate model evidenced N-terminus pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP; odds ratio 1, confidence interval 1 to 1.1, p = 0.001), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes III to IV (odds ratio 2.5, confidence interval 1 to 5.9, p = 0.04), and electrocardiographic atrial enlargement (odd ratios 6.7, confidence interval 1.8 to 25, p = 0.005) as predictors of adverse events (composite end point) at 60 months. The association of NYHA classes III to IV, electrocardiographic atrial enlargement, and NT-pro-BNP value > or =250 pg/ml (are under the curve 0.88) showed 100% sensitivity, 77% specificity, 62% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. In conclusion, compared to other clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical parameters, the combination of advanced NYHA class, electrocardiographic atrial enlargement, and NT-pro-BNP > or =250 pg/ml seem to better predict the risk of adverse events in adolescent with long-term systolic dysfunction.

Soluble ST2 for predicting sudden cardiac death in patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction

OBJECTIVES

We studied whether the measurement of the soluble form of ST2 (sST2), an interleukin-1 receptor family member, could identify heart failure (HF) patients at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

BACKGROUND

The prediction of SCD remains an important challenge in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic HF. Concentrations of sST2 have been found increased and related to worse long-term outcomes in patients with acute HF. Whether sST2 has a prognostic role in SCD is unknown.

METHODS

A nested case-control study was performed on 36 cases of SCD and 63 control patients (matched for age, sex, and left ventricular ejection fraction) obtained from the MUSIC (MUerte Súbita en Insuficiencia Cardíaca) registry, a 3-year multicenter registry of ambulatory HF patients (New York Heart Association functional class II to III, left ventricular ejection fraction < or =45%). Demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, electrical, and biochemical data were collected at enrollment.

RESULTS

Concentrations of sST2 were greater among decedents (0.23 ng/ml [interquartile range 0.16 to 0.43 ng/ml] vs. 0.12 ng/ml [interquartile range 0.06 to 0.23 ng/ml], p = 0.001) and were predictive of experiencing SCD (+0.1 ng/ml, odds ratio: 1.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.09 to 1.78, p = 0.006). On the basis of a combined biomarker status, only 4% of patients experienced SCD for neither sST2 nor N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) above receiver-operator characteristic-derived cut-off points (0.15 ng/ml and 2,000 ng/l, respectively), 34% for either biomarker above, and 71% for both biomarkers above (p < 0.001 for trend). This combined variable added incremental prognostic value to the multivariable regression model (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated sST2 concentrations are predictive of SCD in patients with chronic HF and provide complementary information to NT-proBNP levels. A combined biomarker approach may have an impact on clinical decision-making.

Relationship between adiponectin and left atrium size in uncomplicated obese patients: adiponectin, a link between fat and heart

BACKGROUND

It is well known that obesity is a risk factor for severe cardiovascular complications, such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, venous thromboembolic disease, and atrial fibrillation. Left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) enlargement is a characteristic feature of these patients with the consequent cardiovascular risk. Factors other than hemodynamic may influence LA remodeling. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between adiponectin and LA size in uncomplicated obese patients.

METHODS

Seventy-four asymptomatic obese patients and an age- and sex-matched control group (N = 70) were recruited. A detailed clinical, echocardiographic, and analytical study was performed. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) method. Insulin sensitivity was assessed measuring serum total adiponectin concentrations.

RESULTS

Adiponectin levels were lower in the obese group (P < 0.001) and particularly so in those obese participants with enlarged LA (32%; P < 0.0005). LA sizes were higher in the obese group (P < 0.0005). Adiponectin displayed significant correlations with body mass index, glucose, insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations as well as HOMA-IR (P < 0.001 for all). Adiponectin displayed significant correlations with LV mass and LA size, diastolic and systolic cardiac volumes and diameters, and cardiac output (P < 0.001 for all). Adiponectin correlations with LA size (r = -0.429; P < 0.001) persisted after adjustment for HOMA-IR, age, sex, and LV mass.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel inverse relationship between adiponectin and LA size independent of age, sex, insulin resistance, and LV mass appears in our series. Adiponectin could be a link between adipose tissue and the heart, having an influence on cardiac remodeling.

Assessment of left atrial volume and mechanical function in ischemic heart disease: a multi slice computed tomography study

Left atrial (LA) maximal volume contains prognostic information in patients with heart failure and acute myocardial infarction. However, only few studies have investigated the detailed mechanical function of the LA in these patients. We assessed the feasibility of evaluating LA volume and mechanical function with Multi Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) in patients with ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, the LA and left ventricular (LV) function was evaluated in relation to signs of clinical heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

MSCT was performed in 40 patients with sinus rhythm and ischemic heart disease. We enrolled 20 patients with reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF≤45%) and 20 with preserved LVEF (>45%). LA volumes, reservoir, channel and pump function were measured. Interobserver variation for LA volume measures was 1.5% (SD: 6.6%). In patients with reduced LVEF, LA volumes were larger throughout the cardiac cycle (LA-max 66.8 ml/m(2) vs 57.4 ml/m(2) and LA-min: 45.8 ml/m(2) vs 31.6 ml/m(2), p<0.05) and LA reservoir and pump function were all significantly impaired (Fractional change: 43% vs 31%, LAEF 31% vs 19%, p<0.05). Patients with clinical signs of heart failure during hospitalisation had significantly lower LAEF than patients without (16(9)% vs. 30(17)% p<0.05). In a multivariate linear regression analyses the presence of clinical signs of heart failure and reduced LVEF were independent determinants of impaired LA reservoir and pump function (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Reproducible assessment of LA size and mechanical function throughout the cardiac cycle using MSCT is feasible and potentially useful clinically.

The MUSIC Risk score: a simple method for predicting mortality in ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure

AIMS

The prognosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) is extremely variable, although generally poor. The purpose of this study was to develop prognostic models for CHF patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cohort of 992 consecutive ambulatory CHF patients was prospectively followed for a median of 44 months. Multivariable Cox models were developed to predict all-cause mortality (n = 267), cardiac mortality (primary end-point, n = 213), pump-failure death (n = 123), and sudden death (n = 90). The four final models included several combinations of the same 10 independent predictors: prior atherosclerotic vascular event, left atrial size >26 mm/m(2), ejection fraction < or =35%, atrial fibrillation, left bundle-branch block or intraventricular conduction delay, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and frequent ventricular premature beats, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), hyponatremia < or =138 mEq/L, NT-proBNP >1.000 ng/L, and troponin-positive. On the basis of Cox models, the MUSIC Risk scores were calculated. A cardiac mortality score >20 points identified a high-risk subgroup with a four-fold cardiac mortality risk.

CONCLUSION

A simple score with a limited number of non-invasive variables successfully predicted cardiac mortality in a real-life cohort of CHF patients. The use of this model in clinical practice identifies a subgroup of high-risk patients that should be closely managed.