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Kerkhof PLM, Handly N. Statistics at high-altitudes: Relevance for the interpretation of metrics that reveal cardiac morphology and performance. Echocardiography 2024; 41:e15797. [PMID: 38549393 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Survey of four ratio-based metrics, commonly used to evaluate left ventricular performance. The numerator of each ratio is plotted against the corresponding denominator, implying that the slope of the colored line reflects the value of the ratio.9,11 Similar graphs can be constructed for the other cardiac compartments. Data sets obtained at various altitudes and defined with reference to sea level, based on Rao et al.6 Acronyms: E/A unitless ratio of the early (E) and late (A) diastolic wave peak velocities (cm/s); EDD, end-diastolic diameter (mm); EDV, end-diastolic volume (mL); EF, ejection fraction (%); ESD, end-systolic diameter (mm); ESV, end-systolic volume (mL); FS, fractional shortening (%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VUmc location, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Neal Handly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Giovanelli L, Biganzoli G, Spataro A, Malacarne M, Bernardelli G, Spada R, Pagani M, Biganzoli E, Lucini D. Body composition assessment in a large cohort of Olympic athletes with different training loads: possible reference values for fat mass and fat-free mass domains. Acta Diabetol 2024; 61:361-372. [PMID: 37945991 PMCID: PMC10948543 DOI: 10.1007/s00592-023-02203-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To assess body composition by means of BOD POD in the large cohort of Italian Olympic athletes of many sport disciplines (studied at the same time), and to provide possible reference values for body composition in elite athletes. METHODS 1556 elite athletes, who took part in the selection procedure for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games for the National Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), were retrospectively studied. Body composition was determined using air plethysmography-based BOD POD. RESULTS We observed that Fat Mass (FM) and Fat-free Mass (FFM) should be considered as two mutually independent domains in elite athletes. By performing Principal Component Analysis, we defined two independent main domains (respectively, representing FM and FFM), which presented different trends according to gender and static or dynamic exercise load. Lastly, we reported possible reference values for FM index and FFM index, respectively, representing the largest contributors to FM domain and FFM domain, and calculated as FM or FFM (kg)/height (m2). CONCLUSIONS Our findings might provide a basis to optimize the practical approach to body composition in athletes, highlighting the importance of considering indicators of fat mass and lean mass "simultaneously" and not specularly, according to different sport disciplines as well. Moreover, these data might contribute to standardize reference values for body composition in elite athletes, with a view to potentially helping to monitor and guide training regimens, prevent related detrimental practices and plan cardiometabolic prevention and rehabilitation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giacomo Biganzoli
- Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, "Luigi Sacco" University Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppina Bernardelli
- DISCCO Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Pagani
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Elia Biganzoli
- Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, "Luigi Sacco" University Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Lucini
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
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Kerkhof PLM, Handly N. Which metrics are preferred to evaluate left ventricular function during successive stages of COPD? JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2023; 51:1449-1452. [PMID: 37891708 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neal Handly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Solaro N, Pagani M, Spataro A, Lucini D. Assessing the cardiac autonomic response to bicycle exercise in Olympic athletes with different loads of endurance training: new insights from statistical indicators based on multilevel exploratory factor analysis. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1245310. [PMID: 37916219 PMCID: PMC10616979 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1245310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: The mechanisms governing the organism's response to exercise are complex and difficult to study. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) could represent a convenient methodology for studying humans' autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, difficulties in interpreting the multitude of correlated HRV-derived indices, mainly when computed over different time segments, may represent a barrier to its usage. This preliminary investigation addressed to elite athletes proposes a novel method describing the cardiac autonomic response to exercise based on multilevel exploratory factor analysis (MEFA), which reduces the multitude of HRV-derived indices to fewer uncorrelated ANS indicators capable of accounting for their interrelationships and overcoming the above difficulties. Methods: The study involved 30 Italian Olympic athletes, divided into 15 cyclists (prevalent high-intensity endurance training) and 15 shooters (prevalent technical training with low-intensity endurance component). All athletes underwent a complete test of a dynamic protocol, constituted by a rest-stand test followed by a stepwise bicycle stress test subdivided into a single bout of progressive endurance (from aerobic to anaerobic) exercise and recovery. Then, by spectral analysis, values of 12 ANS proxies were computed at each time segment (9 epochs in all) of the complete test. Results: We obtained two global ANS indicators (amplitude and frequency), expressing the athletes' overall autonomic response to the complete test, and three dynamic ANS indicators (amplitude, signal self-similarity, and oscillatory), describing the principal dynamics over time of the variability of RR interval (RRV). Globally, cyclists have significantly higher amplitude levels (median ± MAD: cyclists 69.9 ± 20.5; shooters 37.2 ± 19.4) and lower frequency levels (median ± MAD: cyclists 37.4 ± 14.8; shooters 78.2 ± 10.2) than shooters, i.e., a parasympathetic predominance compared to shooters. Regarding the RRV dynamics, the signal self-similarity and oscillatory indicators have the strongest sensitivity in detecting the rest-stand change; the amplitude indicator is highly effective in detecting the athletes' autonomic changes in the exercise fraction; the amplitude and oscillatory indicators present significant differences between cyclists and shooters in specific test epochs. Conclusion: This MEFA application permits a more straightforward representation of the complexity characterizing ANS modulation during exercise, simplifying the interpretation of the HRV-derived indices and facilitating the possible real-life use of this non-invasive methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Solaro
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Pagani
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Lucini
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Kerkhof PLM, Handly N. Are left atrial strain metrics and a biochemical marker superior to traditional left atrial size measures when identifying occult atrial fibrillation? JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2023; 51:1308-1311. [PMID: 37695200 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neal Handly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Kerkhof PLM, Wuhl E, Diaz-Navarro RA, Handly N, Li JKJ. Pulse Pressure is Sex-Specifically Associated with the Ratio of Diastolic and Systolic Arterial Pressure in Healthy Children, and Differently During Night Versus Daytime Recordings. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023; 2023:1-4. [PMID: 38083068 DOI: 10.1109/embc40787.2023.10340234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Noninvasive blood pressure recordings typically focus on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic pressure (DBP). Derived metrics are often analyzed, e.g. pulse pressure (PP), defined as SBP minus DBP. As the metric PP is not unique, we introduced the PP companion (PPC), calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. PPC is associated with mean arterial pressure (MAP). Another mathematical construct frequently used in hemodynamic studies refers to the ratio of DBP and SBP, denoted as Prat. PP and Prat share the same companion (C). The association between PratC and MAP, as well as the connection between PP and Prat has not been studied in healthy children. We analyzed a large set of daytime (DT) and nighttime (NT) data (N=949, age 5 to 16 years, including 485 girls), published in the literature. Average PP increases with age (in 0.5 year increments), while Prat decreases. Prat vs PP yields R2>0.985 for both DT and NT data, when stratified for boys and girls. PPC is significantly lower (P<0.0001) during the night for both sexes. We conclude that Prat carries no substantial incremental value beyond PP, in contrast to PPC which points to DT/NT, age-dependent and sex-specific differences in these children.Clinical Relevance- Various derived metrics based on blood pressure have been introduced in hemodynamic studies, but not all of them are fully independent. The diastolic to systolic pressure ratio in healthy children is inversely associated with pulse pressure, showing partial sex-specific overlap, but substantial daytime versus night differences.
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Kerkhof PLM, Handly N. Early echocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics of subclinical hyperthyroidism. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2023; 51:949-951. [PMID: 37079711 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Neal Handly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Civieri G, Montisci R, Kerkhof PLM, Iliceto S, Tona F. Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve by Echocardiography: Beyond Atherosclerotic Disease. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13020193. [PMID: 36673004 PMCID: PMC9858233 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13020193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) is defined as the ratio between coronary flow velocity during maximal hyperemia and coronary flow at rest. Gold-standard techniques to measure CFVR are either invasive or require radiation and are therefore inappropriate for large-scale adoption. More than 30 years ago, echocardiography was demonstrated to be a reliable tool to assess CFVR, and its field of application rapidly expanded. Although initially validated to assess the hemodynamic relevance of a coronary stenosis, CFVR by echocardiography was later used to investigate coronary microcirculation. Microvascular dysfunction was detected in many different conditions, ranging from organ transplantation to inflammatory disorders and from metabolic diseases to cardiomyopathies. Moreover, it has been proven that CFVR by echocardiography not only detects coronary microvascular involvement but is also an effective prognostic factor that allows a precise risk stratification of the patients. In this review, we will summarize the many applications of CFVR by echocardiography, focusing on the coronary involvement of systemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Civieri
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Roberta Montisci
- Clinical Cardiology, AOU Cagliari, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Peter L. M. Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Tona
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8211844
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Pagani E, Gavazzoni N, Bernardelli G, Malacarne M, Solaro N, Giusti E, Castelnuovo G, Volpi P, Carimati G, Lucini D. Psychological Intervention Based on Mental Relaxation to Manage Stress in Female Junior Elite Soccer Team: Improvement in Cardiac Autonomic Control, Perception of Stress and Overall Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:942. [PMID: 36673698 PMCID: PMC9859004 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20020942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress may represent one of the most important factors that negatively affects the health and performance of athletes. Finding a way to introduce psychological strategies to manage stress in everyday training routines is challenging, particularly in junior teams. We also must consider that a stress management intervention should be regarded as "efficacious" only if its application results in improvement of the complex underlying pathogenetic substratum, which considers mechanistically interrelated factors, such as immunological, endocrine and autonomic controls further to psychological functioning and behavior. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of implementing, in a standard training routine of the junior team of the Italian major soccer league, a stress management program based on mental relaxation training (MRT). We evaluated its effects on stress perception and cardiac autonomic regulation as assessed by means of ANSI, a single composite percentile-ranked proxy of autonomic balance, which is free of gender and age bias, economical, and simple to apply in a clinical setting. We observed that the simple employed MRT intervention was feasible in a female junior soccer team and was associated with a reduced perception of stress, an improved perception of overall health, and a betterment of cardiac autonomic control. This data may corroborate the scientific literature that indicates psychological intervention based on MRT as an efficacious strategy to improve performance, managing negative stress effects on cardiac autonomic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Pagani
- Department of General Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Bernardelli
- DISCCO Department, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Malacarne
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Nadia Solaro
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Giusti
- Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Castelnuovo
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
- Clinical Psychology Research laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 28824 Verbania, Italy
| | - Piero Volpi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Lucini
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
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Kerkhof PLM, Handly N. In search for the optimal ventricular systolic dysfunction metric that associates with reduced exercise capacity. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2023; 51:16-19. [PMID: 36468342 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neal Handly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Guaraldi P, Malacarne M, Barletta G, Scisciolo GD, Pagani M, Cortelli P, Lucini D. Effects of Spinal Cord Injury Site on Cardiac Autonomic Regulation: Insight from Analysis of Cardiovascular Beat by Beat Variability during Sleep and Orthostatic Challenge. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2022; 7:jfmk7040112. [PMID: 36547658 PMCID: PMC9787160 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk7040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study on Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients with cervical or thoracic lesion was to assess whether disturbances of ANS control, according to location, might differently affect vagal and sympatho-vagal markers during sleep and orthostatic challenge. We analyzed with linear and nonlinear techniques beat-by-beat RR and arterial pressure (and respiration) variability signals, extracted from a polysomnographic study and a rest-tilt test. We considered spontaneous or induced sympathetic excitation, as obtained shifting from non-REM to REM sleep or from rest to passive tilt. We obtained evidence of ANS cardiac (dys)regulation, of greater importance for gradually proximal location (i.e., cervical) SCI, compatible with a progressive loss of modulatory role of sympathetic afferents to the spinal cord. Furthermore, in accordance with the dual, vagal and sympathetic bidirectional innervation, the results suggest that vagally mediated negative feedback baroreflexes were substantially maintained in all cases. Conversely, the LF and HF balance (expressed specifically by normalized units) appeared to be negatively affected by SCI, particularly in the case of cervical lesion (group p = 0.006, interaction p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis of cardiovascular variability may be a convenient technique to assess autonomic responsiveness and alteration of functionality in patients with SCI addressing selectively vagal or sympathetic alterations and injury location. This contention requires confirmatory studies with a larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Guaraldi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
| | - Mara Malacarne
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Barletta
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Scisciolo
- Neurofisiopatologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Massimo Pagani
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Cortelli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Lucini
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02619112808
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Relationship between Body Composition and Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in a Large Population of Italian Olympic Athletes. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12091508. [PMID: 36143294 PMCID: PMC9505674 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12091508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Athletic performance is determined by many factors, such as cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and psychological features, which all interact simultaneously. The large Italian National Olympic Committee database of Olympic athletes offers a unique healthy population to verify the strength of the interplay among a number of major elements of training, including autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation, biochemical indicators and body composition, in a system medicine approach. This observational, retrospective study involved 583 individuals. As part of the yearly precompetitive examination, cardiac autonomic (heart rate variability), psychological, physical (cycloergometer stress test), biochemical and body composition (BOD POD) evaluations were performed. In subsequent analysis, we first considered the relationship between body composition and single individual variables in a simple correlation matrix, including a multitude of variables; then, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) restricted the information to six latent domains, each combining congruent information in relation to body composition. Finally, we employed a multiple quantile regression model to evaluate possible relationships between ANSIs (index capable of synthetizing ANS regulation) and the latent domains indicated by EFA reflecting body composition. We observed a clear relationship between ANS and body mass composition parameters, as indicated by both bivariate correlations and the quantile regression result of ANSIs versus the latent domain aggregating mainly body composition data expressed in % (p = 0.002). In conclusion, these results suggest that specific training may elicit parallel adaptation of ANS control and body composition. The analysis of Olympic athletes’ data allowed us to obtain a better understanding of the complex, multidimensional factors involved in determining sport performance. The latter appears to be determined by the simultaneous interaction not only of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and psychological features, but also of ANS cardiovascular modulation and body composition.
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Kerkhof PLM, Fu Q. Editorial: Fundamental enrichment of ratio-based metrics in cardiology. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1013194. [PMID: 36119750 PMCID: PMC9471984 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1013194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L. M. Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Peter L. M. Kerkhof
| | - Qi Fu
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Internal Medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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Kerkhof PLM, Diaz-Navarro RA, Heyndrickx GR, Konradi AO, Shlyakhto EV, Handly N, Li JKJ. The Ratio of Diastolic and Systolic Arterial Pressure is Associated with Pulse Pressure. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:1-4. [PMID: 36086169 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pulse pressure (PP) is defined as the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The metric PP is not unique, as numerous combinations of SBP and DBP yield the same value for PP. Therefore, we introduced the PP companion (PPC) which is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. Only the combination of PP and PPC offers unique characterization. Interestingly, PPCwas found to be associated with mean arterial pressure (MAP). Another mathematical construct frequently used in hemodynamic studies refers to the ratio of DBP and SBP, or DBP/SBP, denoted as Prat. As Prat and PP share the same companion (C), we investigated the association between PratC and MAP, as well as the connection between PP and Prat. Various patient cohorts were included: A) 52 heart failure patients (16 women), B) 88 patients (11 women) with acute cardiac syndromes, C) 257 patients (68 men) diagnosed with atherosclerosis or any of various types of autoimmune disease, and D) 106 hypertensives (51 men). Linear regression analysis resulted in the following correlations: A: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.94, R (PP, Prat) = -0.91 B: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.98, R (PP, Prat) = -0.85 C: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.97, R (PP, Prat) = -0.86 D: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.92, R (PP, Prat) = -0.82 We conclude that Prat carries no substantial incremental value beyond PP, while both Prat and PP are incomplete metrics, requiring simultaneous consideration of MAP. Clinical Relevance- Various ratio-based metrics have been introduced in hemodynamic studies without paying attention to missing components or even redundant candidates. Here we present a uniform method to provide comprehensive insight.
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Kerkhof PLM, Heyndrickx GR, Diaz-Navarro RA, Antohi EL, Mihaileanu S, Handly N. Ventricular and Atrial Ejection Fractions are Associated with Mean Compartmental Cavity Volume in Cardiac Disease. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:1384-1387. [PMID: 36085650 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ejection fraction (EF) is considered to provide clinically useful information. Despite its enormous popularity, with more than 75,000 citations in PubMed, only few studies have traced the origin(s) of its foundation. This fact is surprising, as there are perhaps more papers published that criticize EF, than the number of publications that actually provide a solid (mathematical) basis for its alleged applicability. EF depends on two volume determinations, namely end-systolic volume (ESV) and end-diastolic volume (EDV). EF is defined as 1-ESV/EDV, yielding a metric without physical units. Previously we formulated a robust analytical expression for the nonlinear connection between EF and ESV. Here we extend that approach by providing a formula to illustrate that EF is strongly associated with half the sum (HS) of ESV and EDV. HS is not new, but forms a major component in the recently introduced Global Function Index. For 420 heart failure (HF) patients we found for left ventricular angio data: R(ESV, eDv) = 0.92, R(EF, ESV) = -0.90, and R(EF, HS) = -0.65. For echo (33 HF patients stages A, B, C and D): R(EF, HS) = -0.82. For the right atrium (CMRI in 21 acute myocardial infarction patients): R(EF, HS)=-0.65. For the left atrium (N=86) R (EF, hS)=-0.46. ESV indicates the level to which the ventricle is able to squeeze blood out of the cavity via pressure build-up. In contrast, EF refers to relative volume changes, not to the mechanism of pumping action. We conclude that for each cardiac compartment EF borrows its acclaimed attractiveness from the fact that for a wide patient spectrum the ESVand EDV correlate in a fairly linear manner. Attractiveness of EF features a straightforward mathematical derivation, rather than reflecting underlying physiology. Clinical Relevance - Ejection fraction (EF) is found to reflect (mean) ventricular / atrial size, and is primarily associated with end-systolic volume, which variable in turn highly correlates with diastolic volume. As a mathematical construct, EF has little affinity with "function", which is a central concept in physiology.
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Cecere A, Kerkhof PLM, Civieri G, Angelini A, Gambino A, Fraiese A, Bottio T, Osto E, Famoso G, Fedrigo M, Giacomin E, Toscano G, Montisci R, Iliceto S, Gerosa G, Tona F. Coronary Flow Evaluation in Heart Transplant Patients Compared to Healthy Controls Documents the Superiority of Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve Companion as Diagnostic and Prognostic Tool. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:887370. [PMID: 35811712 PMCID: PMC9263115 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.887370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundDistinct contributions by functional or structural alterations of coronary microcirculation in heart transplantation (HT) and their prognostic role have not been fully elucidated. We aimed to identify the mechanisms of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in HT and their prognostic implications.Methods134 patients, surviving at least 5 years after HT, without evidence of angiographic vasculopathy or symptoms/signs of rejection were included. 50 healthy volunteers served as controls. All underwent the assessment of rest and hyperemic coronary diastolic peak flow velocity (DPVr and DPVh) and coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) and its inherent companion that is based on the adjusted quadratic mean: CCFVR = √{(DPVr)2 + (DPVh)2}. Additionally, basal and hyperemic coronary microvascular resistance (BMR and HMR) were estimated.ResultsBased on CFVR and DPVh, HT patients can be assigned to four endotypes: endotype 1, discordant with preserved CFVR (3.1 ± 0.4); endotype 2, concordant with preserved CFVR (3.4 ± 0.5); endotype 3, concordant with impaired CFVR (1.8 ± 0.3) and endotype 4, discordant with impaired CFVR (2.0 ± 0.2). Intriguingly, endotype 1 showed lower DPVr (p < 0.0001) and lower DPVh (p < 0.0001) than controls with lower CFVR (p < 0.0001) and lower CCFVR (p < 0.0001) than controls. Moreover, both BMR and HMR were higher in endotype 1 than in controls (p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), suggesting structural microvascular remodeling. Conversely, endotype 2 was comparable to controls. A 13/32 (41%) patients in endotype 1 died in a follow up of 28 years and mortality rate was comparable to endotype 3 (14/31, 45%). However, CCFVR was < 80 cm/s in all 13 deaths of endotype 1 (characterized by preserved CFVR). At multivariable analysis, CMD, DPVh < 75 cm/s and CCFVR < 80 cm/s were independent predictors of mortality. The inclusion of CCFVR < 80 cm/s to models with clinical indicators of mortality better predicted survival, compared to only adding CMD or DPVh < 75 cm/s (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.03, respectively).ConclusionA normal CFVR could hide detection of microvasculopathy with high flow resistance and low flow velocities at rest. This microvasculopathy seems to be secondary to factors unrelated to HT (less rejections and more often diabetes). The combined use of CFVR and CCFVR provides more complete clinical and prognostic information on coronary microvasculopathy in HT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annagrazia Cecere
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Peter L. M. Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Civieri
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Annalisa Angelini
- Cardiovascular Pathology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonio Gambino
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Angela Fraiese
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Tomaso Bottio
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Osto
- Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University of Zurich, University Hospital of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Famoso
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marny Fedrigo
- Cardiovascular Pathology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico Giacomin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Montisci
- Clinical Cardiology, AOU Cagliari, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gino Gerosa
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesco Tona,
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17
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Tona F, Osto E, Kerkhof PLM, Montisci R, Famoso G, Lorenzoni G, De Michieli L, Cecere A, Zanetti I, Civieri G, Iliceto S, Piaserico S. Multiparametric analysis of coronary flow in psoriasis using a coronary flow reserve companion. Eur J Clin Invest 2022; 52:e13711. [PMID: 34780064 PMCID: PMC9286413 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is usually evaluated measuring coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR). A more comprehensive analysis of CFVR including additional consideration of the associated logical companion-CFVR, where hyperemic diastolic coronary flow velocity may act as surrogate, was applied in this study to elucidate the mechanism of CMD in psoriasis. METHODS AND RESULTS Coronary flow velocity reserve was analysed using transthoracic echocardiographs of 127 psoriasis patients (age 36 ± 8 years; 104 males) and of 52 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. CFVR determination was repeated in the patient subgroup (n = 78) receiving anti-inflammatory therapy. Baseline and hyperemic microvascular resistance (MR) were calculated. CMD was defined as CFVR ≤ 2.5. Four endotypes of CMD were identified referring to concordant or discordant impairments of hyperemic flow or CFVR. We evaluated the companion-CFVR, as derived from the quadratic mean of hyperemic and diastolic flow velocity at rest. Coronary flow parameters, including CFVR (p = 0.01), were different among the two endotypes having CFVR > 2.5. Specifically, all 11 (14%) patients with CFVR deterioration despite therapy, belonged to endotype 1, and had higher baseline and hyperemic MR (p < 0.0001, both). Interestingly, while CFVR was comparable in patients with worsened versus those with improved CFVR, the companion-CFVR could discriminate by being lower in patients with worsened CFVR (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The reduced CFVR in psoriasis is driven by decreased companion-CFVR, combined with increased hyperemic MR. Adoption of the mandatory companion-CFVR enables a personalized characterization superior to that achieved by exclusive consideration of CFVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Osto
- University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter L M Kerkhof
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VUmc, Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roberta Montisci
- Clinical Cardiology, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giulia Famoso
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Lorenzoni
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura De Michieli
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Annagrazia Cecere
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Irene Zanetti
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Civieri
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Piaserico
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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18
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Mantha Y, Futami S, Moriyama S, Hieda M. Valvulo-Arterial Impedance and Dimensionless Index for Risk Stratifying Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:742297. [PMID: 34926605 PMCID: PMC8674501 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.742297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The hemodynamic effects of aortic stenosis (AS) consist of increased left ventricular (LV) afterload, reduced myocardial compliance, and increased myocardial workload. The LV in AS patients faces a double load: valvular and arterial loads. As such, the presence of symptoms and occurrence of adverse events in AS should better correlate with calculating the global burden faced by the LV in addition to the transvalvular gradient and aortic valve area (AVA). The valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva) is a useful parameter providing an estimate of the global LV hemodynamic load that results from the summation of the valvular and vascular loads. In addition to calculating the global LV afterload, it is paramount to estimate the stenosis severity accurately. In clinical practice, the management of low-flow low-gradient (LF-LG) severe AS with preserved LV ejection fraction requires careful confirmation of stenosis severity. In addition to the Zva, the dimensionless index (DI) is a very useful parameter to express the size of the effective valvular area as a proportion of the cross-section area of the left ventricular outlet tract velocity-time integral (LVOT-VTI) to that of the aortic valve jet (dimensionless velocity ratio). The DI is calculated by a ratio of the sub-valvular velocity obtained by pulsed-wave Doppler (LVOT-VTI) divided by the maximum velocity obtained by continuous-wave Doppler across the aortic valve (AV-VTI). In contrast to AVA measurement, the DI does not require the calculation of LVOT cross-sectional area, a major cause of erroneous assessment and underestimation of AVA. Hence, among patients with LG severe AS and preserved LV ejection fraction, calculation of DI in routine echocardiographic practice may be useful to identify a subgroup of patients at higher risk of mortality who may derive benefit from aortic valve replacement. This article aims to elucidate the Zva and DI in different clinical situations, correlate with the standard indexes of AS severity, LV geometry, and function, and thus prove to improve risk stratification and clinical decision making in patients with severe AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogamaya Mantha
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Shutaro Futami
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Hematology, Oncology and Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shohei Moriyama
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Hematology, Oncology and Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Michinari Hieda
- Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Hematology, Oncology and Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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19
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Fukuie M, Yamabe T, Hoshi D, Hashitomi T, Nomura Y, Sugawara J. Effect of Aquatic Exercise Training on Aortic Hemodynamics in Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:770519. [PMID: 34796221 PMCID: PMC8592941 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.770519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquatic exercise is an attractive form of exercise that utilizes the various properties of water to improve physical health, including arterial stiffness. However, it is unclear whether regular head-out aquatic exercise affects aortic hemodynamics, the emerging risk factors for future cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether head-out aquatic exercise training improves aortic hemodynamics in middle-aged and elderly people. In addition, to shed light on the underlying mechanisms, we determined the contribution of change in arterial stiffness to the hypothesized changes in aortic hemodynamics. Twenty-three middle-aged and elderly subjects (62 ± 9 years) underwent a weekly aquatic exercise course for 15 weeks. Aortic hemodynamics were evaluated by pulse wave analysis via the general transfer function method. Using a polar coordinate description, companion metrics of aortic pulse pressure (PPC = √{(systolic blood pressure)2 + (diastolic blood pressure)2}) and augmentation index (AIxC = √{(augmentation pressure)2 + (pulse pressure)2}) were calculated as measures of arterial load. Brachial-ankle (baPWV, reflecting stiffness of the abdominal aorta and leg artery) and heart-ankle (haPWV, reflecting stiffness of the whole aortic and leg artery) pulse wave velocities were also measured. The rate of participation in the aquatic training program was 83.5 ± 13.0%. Aortic systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, PPC, AIxC, baPWV, and haPWV decreased after the training (P < 0.05 for all), whereas augmentation index remained unchanged. Changes in aortic SBP were correlated with changes in haPWV (r = 0.613, P = 0.002) but not baPWV (r = 0.296, P = 0.170). These findings suggest that head-out aquatic exercise training may improve aortic hemodynamics in middle-aged and elderly people, with the particular benefits for reducing aortic SBP which is associated with proximal aortic stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Fukuie
- Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takayuki Yamabe
- Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hoshi
- Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Hashitomi
- Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | | | - Jun Sugawara
- Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan.,Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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20
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Kerkhof PLM, Diaz-Navarro RA, Handly N. What reveals the right ventricle about prognosis in heart failure, and why appear metrics to be sex-specific? JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2021; 49:914-917. [PMID: 34536022 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rienzi A Diaz-Navarro
- Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Neal Handly
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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21
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Diaz-Navarro RA, Kerkhof PLM. Left Ventricular Global Function Index and the Impact of its Companion Metric. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:695883. [PMID: 34527709 PMCID: PMC8435684 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.695883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Left ventricular (LV) global function index (LVGFI) has been introduced as a volume-based composite metric for evaluation of ventricular function. The definition formula combines stroke volume (SV), end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and LV mass/density. Being a dimensionless ratio, this new metric has serious limitations which require evaluation at a mathematical and clinical level. Using CMRI in 96 patients we studied LV volumes, various derived metrics and global longitudinal strain (GLS) in order to further characterize LVGFI in three diagnostic groups: acute myocarditis, takotsubo cardiomyopathy and acute myocardial infarction. We also considered the LVGFI companion (C), derived from the quadratic mean. Additional metrics such as ejection fraction (EF), myocardial contraction fraction (MCF) and ventriculo-arterial coupling (VAC), along with their companions (MCFC and VACC) were calculated. All companion metrics (EFC, LVGFIC, MCFC, and VACC) showed sex-specific differences, not clearly reflected by the corresponding ratio-based metrics. LVGFI is mathematically coupled to both EF (with R = 0.86) and VAC (R = 0.87), which observation clarifies why these metrics not only share similar prognostic values but also identical shortcomings. We found that the newly introduced LVGFIC has incremental value compared to the single use of LVGFI, EF, or GLS, when characterizing the three patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rienzi A. Diaz-Navarro
- Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Peter L. M. Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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22
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Interaction between Autonomic Regulation, Adiposity Indexes and Metabolic Profile in Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8080686. [PMID: 34438577 PMCID: PMC8394084 DOI: 10.3390/children8080686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Early obesity predicts initial modifications in cardiac and vascular autonomic regulation. The aim of this study was to assess the possible interaction between non-invasive measures of autonomic cardiovascular control and peripheral endothelium regulation in children with overweight and obesity. We involved 114 young subjects (77M/37F, 12.7 ± 2.2 years) with normal weight (NW, n = 46) to overweight or obesity (OB, n = 68). Multivariate statistical techniques utilizing a collection of modern indices of autonomic regulation, adiposity indexes and metabolic profile were employed. Resting values show substantial equivalence of data. Conversely, blood pressure variance is greater in NW/OB groups. The correlation matrix between major autonomic and metabolic/hemodynamic variables shows a clustered significant correlation between homogeneous indices. A significant correlation between metabolic indices and endothelial and autonomic control, mostly in its vascular end, was recorded. Particularly, the alpha index is significantly correlated with triglycerides (r = −0.261) and endothelial indices (RHI, r = 0.276). Children with obesity show a link between indices of autonomic and endothelial function, fat distribution and metabolic profile. The optimization of autonomic control, for instance by exercise/nutrition interventions, could potentially prevent/delay the occurrence of structural vascular damage leading to reduced cardiovascular health.
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23
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Kerkhof PLM, Handly N. Insights from physiology applied to interpretation of supranormal ejection fraction in women. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2021; 21:375-377. [PMID: 32068778 PMCID: PMC7082723 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VUmc, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neal Handly
- Department Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 W Queen Ln, Philadelphia, PA 19119, USA
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24
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Kerkhof PLM, Heyndrickx GR. Case report on the importance of longitudinal analysis of left ventricular end-systolic volume, rather than ejection fraction, in a heart transplant patient. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CASE REPORTS 2021; 5:ytab146. [PMID: 34084997 PMCID: PMC8164152 DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytab146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Sequential determinations of left ventricular (LV) volume constitute a cornerstone in the mechanical performance evaluation of any heart transplant (HTX) patient. A comprehensive analysis of volumetric data offers unique insight into adaptation and pathophysiology. Case summary With a focus on eight sequential biplane angiocardiographic LV end-systolic volume (ESV) determinations, we evaluate the clinical course of a male patient following HTX (female donor) at the age of 61 years. This former smoker had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia refractory to treatment, and presented with multivessel coronary artery disease. The later course was complicated by pulmonary hypertension, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and secondary chronic kidney disease. After an additional episode of pulmonary embolism, the patient died at the age of 79. At one point, the ESV was > 700% higher than the starting value, and actually by far exceeded the relative change of any other volume-based metric evaluated, including ejection fraction (EF). Discussion The longitudinal study of LV volumetric data in HTX patients offers a unique window to the pathophysiology of remodelling and sex-specific adaptation processes. The present case documents that proper analysis of serial findings form a rich source of clinically relevant information regarding disease progression. End-systolic volume is the primary indicator, in contrast to the popular metric EF. This finding is supported by population-based studies reported in the literature. We conclude that comprehensive analysis of volumetric data, particularly ESV, contributes to personalized medicine and enhances insight into LV (reverse) remodelling, while also informing about prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Guy R Heyndrickx
- Department of Cardiology, OLV Ziekenhuis, Moorselbaan 164, 9300 Aalst, Belgium
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25
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Solaro N, Pagani M, Lucini D. Altered Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in Overweight and Obese Subjects: The Role of Age-and-Gender-Adjusted Statistical Indicators of Heart Rate Variability and Cardiac Baroreflex. Front Physiol 2021; 11:567312. [PMID: 33584323 PMCID: PMC7876296 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.567312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of functional determinants of cardiovascular risk, a simple excess in body weight, as indexed by a rise in body mass index (BMI), plays a significant, well-recognized causal role. Conversely, BMI reductions toward normal result in an improvement of risk. Obesity is associated with impaired cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR), through either vagal or sympathetic mechanisms, which could favor the tendency to foster hypertension. Here we study the changing properties of the relationship between increasing grades of BMI and CAR in a population of 756 healthy subjects (age 35.9 ± 12.41 years, 37.4% males, 21.6% overweight, and 16% obese). Evaluation of CAR is based on autoregressive spectral analysis of short-term RR interval and systolic arterial pressure variability, from which a multitude of indices, treated overall as autonomic nervous system (ANS) proxies, is derived. Inspection of the study hypothesis that elevated BMI conditions associate significantly with alterations of CAR, independently of age and gender, is carried out using a mix of statistical transformations, exploratory factor analysis, non-parametric testing procedures, and graphical tools particularly well suited to address alterations of CAR as a disturbed process. In particular, to remove the effects of the inter-individual variability, deriving from components like age, gender or ethnicity, and to reduce the number of ANS proxies, we set up six age-and-gender-adjusted CAR indicators, corresponding to four ANS latent domains (oscillatory, amplitude, pressure, and pulse), cardiac baroreflex regulation, and autonomic nervous system index (ANSI). An impairment of the CAR indicators is overall evident in the overweight group and more marked in the obesity group. Empirical evidence is strong (9/9 concordant non-parametric test results) for pressure domain, almost strong (8/9) for ANSI, medium-strong for baroreflex (6/9) and pulse (7/9), weak for oscillatory (2/9) and amplitude (1/9) domains. In addition, the distribution of the CAR indicators corresponding to pressure, pulse, baroreflex, and ANSI is skewed toward the unfavorable abscissa extremity, particularly in the obese group. The significant association of increased BMI with progressive impairments of CAR regarding specifically the pressure domain and the overall ANS performance might underscore the strong hypertensive tendency observed in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Solaro
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Pagani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Lucini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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26
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Mihaileanu S, Antohi E. Revisiting the relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction and ventricular-arterial coupling. ESC Heart Fail 2020; 7:2214-2222. [PMID: 32686316 PMCID: PMC7524249 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.12880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this article was to analyse in‐depth the relationship between left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) (LVEF) and the most commonly used formulas for the calculation of LV elastance (Ees), volume intercept at 0 mmHg pressure (V0), effective arterial elastance (Ea), and ventricular–arterial coupling (VAC) as are validated today. We analyse the mathematical resulting consequences, raising the question on the physiological validity. To our knowledge, some of the following mathematical consequences have never been published. On the basis of studies demonstrating that normal LV dimensions and LVEF have a Gaussian unimodal distribution, we considered that the normal modal LVEF is 62% or very close to it. Expressed as a fraction, it is 0.62, that is, the reciprocal of the Phi number (namely, 1/Φ ~ 0.618). Applying Euclid's mathematical law on the extreme and mean ratio (the golden ratio), we studied the LVEF–VAC relationship in normal hearts. The simplification of the VAC formula (with V0 = 0) leads to false physiological results; V0 extraction from single‐beat Chen's formula leads to high negative results in normal subjects; based on the Euclid law, LVEF and Ea/Ees will be equal for a ratio value of 0.618 (62%) where V0 cannot be different from 0 mL; LVEF and VAC inverse relationship formula (Ea/Ees = 1/LVEF − 1) is reducible to a fundamental property of Phi: 1/Φ = (Φ − 1), being valid only if LVEF = VAC at a 0.618 value; according to this restriction, Vo can only be 0 mL, thus describing a very limited range. The Ea/Ees ratio, owing to its mathematical more dynamic behaviour, can be more sensitive than LVEF, being a valuable clinical tool in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced EF, acute unstable haemodynamic situations, where Ees and Ea variations are disproportionate. However, the application is doubtful in HF with preserved EF where Ees and Ea may have same‐direction augmentation. The modified VAC formula suffers from oversimplification, reducing it to a dimensionless ratio, which is supposed to approximate non‐linear time‐varying functions. Thus, we advocate for caution and in‐depth understanding when using simplified formulas in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena‐Laura Antohi
- Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases ‘C.C. Iliescu’BucharestRomania
- University for Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Carol Davila’BucharestRomania
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27
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Kerkhof PLM, Osto E, Tona F, Heyndrickx GR, Handly N. Sex-Specific Interpretation of Coronary Flow Reserve and Fractional Flow Reserve Metrics, Including Their Companions. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:7006-7009. [PMID: 31947451 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairment of coronary flow is usually evaluated by considering the ratio of two measurements. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) estimates impact on an epicardial artery by taking mean post-stenotic pressure divided by mean aortic pressure, both obtained during adenosine induced hyperemia. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) compares hyperemic flow or velocity with the baseline situation, also as a ratio. As severity of underlying pathology may differ for men and women, we investigate the impact of these differences on relevant metrics. METHODS As sex associated differences may cancel out in a ratio, this weakness of a ratio can be compensated by analyzing the intrinsic companion (C) and consider polar coordinates. Thus, besides the familiar ratio based metrics, we also analyze FFRC and CFRC. Outcomes of in silico studies are employed to extrapolate actual patient data and predict consequences. For FFR 129 patients (38 women) were invasively studied using pressure wires. CFR was measured noninvasively for the left anterior descending coronary artery by recording ultrasound based Doppler velocity in 114 individuals (28 women). RESULTS The FFR can be identified as an indicator of the pressure gradient over the stenosis (R=-0.90), while FFRC differs for men compared to women (P=0.04) and correlates (R=0.93) with post-stenotic driving pressure. CFR shows a difference for men versus women (P=0.04) and is best associated with hyperemic flow (R=0.64), whereas CFRC relates to hyperemia recruited velocity (R=0.97). Simulation studies show that FFR may differ for both sexes when considering elderly. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of ratios require inclusion of the companion, and sex-specific differences deserve attention.
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Kerkhof PLM, Konradi AO, Shlyakhto EV, Handly N, Li JKJ. Polar Coordinate Description of Blood Pressure Measurements and Implications for Sex-Specific and Personalized Analysis. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:502-505. [PMID: 31945947 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Vascular properties and their associated impact on cardiovascular risk factors are often evaluated by metrics such as pulse pressure (PP) and the augmentation index (AIx). All derived metrics are essentially based on the combination of blood pressure recordings. These clinically used metrics typically concern a difference (as in PP) or a ratio (as in AIx). A polar coordinate description reveals the companion (C) of the traditional metric. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of PPC and AIxC by analyzing both patient data and a detailed data set on healthy children derived from the literature.Companions are calculated using the Pythagorean theorem, and show that PPC is related to mean arterial pressure, thus complementing the biomarker PP. Also, inflection pressure is tied to systolic pressure, implying a possible simplification of obtaining the numerical value of AIx. Outcomes for adults and children are comparable. We conclude that derived metrics such as PP and AIx are incomplete. The associated companion metrics PPC and AIxC can easily be calculated. They add clinically relevant information without the need to perform additional measurements. Combination of traditional and the newly described companion metrics permits more precise characterization of individual patients.
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Faes TJC, Meer R, Heyndrickx GR, Kerkhof PLM. Fractional Flow Reserve Evaluated as Metric of Coronary Stenosis - A Mathematical Model Study. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 6:189. [PMID: 31993441 PMCID: PMC6970943 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Coronary arterial stenosis may impair myocardial perfusion with myocardial ischemia and associated morbidity and mortality as result. The myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) is clinically used as a stenosis-specific index. Aim: This study aims to identify the relation between the FFR and the degree of coronary arterial stenosis using a simple mathematical model of the coronary circulation. Methods: A mathematical model of the coronary circulation, including an arterial stenosis of variable degree, was developed. The relation between the FFR and the degree of stenosis (defined as the fractional cross sectional area narrowing) was investigated, including the influence of the aortic and venous pressures and the capillary resistance. An additional study concerning 22 patients with coronary artery disease permits comparison of clinical data and in silico findings. Results: The FFR shows an S-shaped relationship with the stenosis index. We found a marked influence of venous and aortic pressure and capillary resistance. The FFR is accompanied by a clinically relevant co-metric (FFR C ), defined by the Pythagorean sum of the two pressures in the definition formula for FFR. In the patient group the FFR C is strongly related to the post-stenotic pressure (R = 0.91). The FFR C requires establishment of a validated cut-off point using future trials. Conclusion: The S-shaped dependence of FFR on the severity of the stenosis makes the FFR a measure of the ordinal scale. The marked influences of the aortic and venous pressures and the capillary resistance on the FFR will be interpreted as significant variations in intra- and inter-individual clinical findings. These fluctuations are partly connected to the neglect of considering the FFR C . At otherwise identical conditions the FFR as measured at baseline differs from the value obtained during hyperemic conditions. This expected observation requires further investigation, as the current hyperemia based evaluation fails to take advantage of available baseline data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo J. C. Faes
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Romain Meer
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Peter L. M. Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Kerkhof PLM, Heyndrickx GR, Handly N. Heart Failure Phenotypes Require Sex-Specific Criteria Which Are Based on Ventricular Dimensions. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019; 2019:4909-4912. [PMID: 31946961 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ejection fraction (EF) is often used as a criterion to establish diagnostic phenotypes of heart failure (HF). Because EF is a derived metric based on end-systolic volume (ESV) and end-diastolic volume (EDV), it is more logical to consider ESV or EDV as cut-off marker. We concentrate on the impact of ESV, which has the advantage of being linearly related to EDV and nonlinearly with EF, both with highly significant correlations. In particular we also analyze if HF classification should distinguish between females and males.ESV and EDV were determined by biplane angiography in 197 HF patients (67 women). As body surface indexed (i) ESVi values for adult healthy females are smaller than for males, we employ classes of ESVi (bins of 10 mL/m2) to group preserved and reduced EF's (cut-off at 50%) for HF. Reference values regarding mean and standard deviation for ESVi are based on a control group (N=155, 65 women) without HF. For interpretation of the findings we use the documented universal relationship connecting EF to ESV: EF = 1 + c1 {ESV / (c2 - ESV)}, where c1 and c2 are population-based sex-independent constants. In the reference group ESVi (mL/m2) in women (27.4 ± 27.6) is smaller (P=0.0026) than in their male counterparts (43.6 ± 37.5). Similarly, for HF the ESVi in women (45.7 ± 41.4) is smaller (P=0.0033) than in men (64.2 ± 41.4). This signifies (see formula above) that women have higher values for EF, primarily resulting from smaller ventricular size related to their sex, and not exclusively reflecting disease state. Current phenotype classification based on pooled data for males and females may be inappropriate for either sex.The significantly smaller ESVi observed in women has direct consequences for the traditional classification based on EF cutoff values for HF. Sex-specific criteria (regarding ESVi or EF) for HF phenotypes are warranted, and expectedly have substantial consequences for identification, classification, and management of HF patients.
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Sieck GC. Physiology in Perspective: The Dilemma of Muscle Weakness. Physiology (Bethesda) 2019; 34:230-231. [PMID: 31165686 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00019.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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