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Ichikawa K, Wang R, McClelland RL, Manubolu VS, Susarla S, Lee D, Pourafkari L, Fazlalizadeh H, Bitar JA, Robin R, Kinninger A, Roy S, Post WS, Budoff M. Thoracic versus coronary calcification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events prediction. Heart 2024:heartjnl-2023-323838. [PMID: 38627022 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2023-323838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study compared the prognostic value of quantified thoracic artery calcium (TAC) including aortic arch on chest CT and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on ECG-gated cardiac CT. METHODS A total of 2412 participants who underwent both chest CT and ECG-gated cardiac CT at the same period were included in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Exam 5. All participants were monitored for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. TAC is defined as calcification in the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta on chest CT. The quantification of TAC was measured using the Agatston method. Time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the prognostic value of TAC and CAC scores. RESULTS Participants were 69±9 years of age and 47% were male. The Spearman correlation between TAC and CAC scores was 0.46 (p<0.001). During the median follow-up period of 8.8 years, 234 participants (9.7%) experienced ASCVD events. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, TAC score was independently associated with increased risk of ASCVD events (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.58) as well as CAC score (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.17). However, the area under the time-dependent ROC curve for CAC score was greater than that for TAC score in all participants (0.698 and 0.641, p=0.031). This was particularly pronounced in participants with borderline/intermediate and high 10-year ASCVD risk scores. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated a significant association between TAC and CAC scores but a superior prognostic value of CAC score for ASCVD events. These findings suggest TAC on chest CT provides supplementary data to estimate ASCVD risk but does not replace CAC on ECG-gated cardiac CT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robyn L McClelland
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Duo Lee
- The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Rick Robin
- The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, California, USA
| | | | - Sion Roy
- The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Wendy S Post
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Fazlalizadeh H, Khan MS, Fox ER, Douglas PS, Adams D, Blaha MJ, Daubert MA, Dunn G, van den Heuvel E, Kelsey MD, Martin RP, Thomas JD, Thomas Y, Judd SE, Vasan RS, Budoff MJ, Bloomfield GS. Closing the Last Mile Gap in Access to Multimodality Imaging in Rural Settings: Design of the Imaging Core of the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal Study. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2024; 17:e015496. [PMID: 38377236 PMCID: PMC10883604 DOI: 10.1161/circimaging.123.015496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Achieving optimal cardiovascular health in rural populations can be challenging for several reasons including decreased access to care with limited availability of imaging modalities, specialist physicians, and other important health care team members. Therefore, innovative solutions are needed to optimize health care and address cardiovascular health disparities in rural areas. Mobile examination units can bring imaging technology to underserved or remote communities with limited access to health care services. Mobile examination units can be equipped with a wide array of assessment tools and multiple imaging modalities such as computed tomography scanning and echocardiography. The detailed structural assessment of cardiovascular and lung pathology, as well as the detection of extracardiac pathology afforded by computed tomography imaging combined with the functional and hemodynamic assessments acquired by echocardiography, yield deep phenotyping of heart and lung disease for populations historically underrepresented in epidemiological studies. Moreover, by bringing the mobile examination unit to local communities, innovative approaches are now possible including engagement with local professionals to perform these imaging assessments, thereby augmenting local expertise and experience. However, several challenges exist before mobile examination unit-based examinations can be effectively integrated into the rural health care setting including standardizing acquisition protocols, maintaining consistent image quality, and addressing ethical and privacy considerations. Herein, we discuss the potential importance of cardiac multimodality imaging to improve cardiovascular health in rural regions, outline the emerging experience in this field, highlight important current challenges, and offer solutions based on our experience in the RURAL (Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal) cohort study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooman Fazlalizadeh
- Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance (H.F., M.J.B.)
| | - Muhammad Shahzeb Khan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (M.S.K., P.S.D., M.A.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Ervin R Fox
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS (E.R.F.)
| | - Pamela S Douglas
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (M.S.K., P.S.D., M.A.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (P.S.D., M.A.D., G.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - David Adams
- Caption Health, Inc, San Francisco, CA (D.A., R.P.M., Y.T.)
| | - Michael J Blaha
- Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance (H.F., M.J.B.)
| | - Melissa A Daubert
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (M.S.K., P.S.D., M.A.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (P.S.D., M.A.D., G.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Gary Dunn
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (P.S.D., M.A.D., G.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Edwin van den Heuvel
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (E.v.d.H.)
| | - Michelle D Kelsey
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (M.S.K., P.S.D., M.A.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (P.S.D., M.A.D., G.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
| | | | - James D Thomas
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (J.D.T.)
- Center for Artificial Intelligence, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Chicago, IL (J.D.T.)
| | - Yngvil Thomas
- Caption Health, Inc, San Francisco, CA (D.A., R.P.M., Y.T.)
| | - Suzanne E Judd
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham (S.E.J.)
| | - Ramachandran S Vasan
- University of Texas Health Sciences Center, University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio (R.S.V.)
| | - Matthew J Budoff
- Division of Cardiology, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (M.J.B.)
| | - Gerald S Bloomfield
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (M.S.K., P.S.D., M.A.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (P.S.D., M.A.D., G.D., M.D.K., G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
- Duke Global Health Institute (G.S.B.), Duke University, Durham, NC
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3
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Ichikawa K, Hansen S, Manubolu VS, Pourafkari L, Fazlalizadeh H, Aldana-Bitar J, VanWagner LB, Krishnan S, Budoff MJ. Prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score for the prediction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in participants with suspected nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis: Results from the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. Am Heart J 2023; 265:104-113. [PMID: 37517431 PMCID: PMC10592252 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events; thus, a diagnostic approach to help identify NAFLD patients at high risk is needed. In this study, we hypothesized that coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening could help stratify the risk of ASCVD events in participants with suspected nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis. METHODS A total of 713 participants with suspected nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis without previous cardiovascular events from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were followed for the occurrence of incident ASCVD. Nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis was defined using nonenhanced computed tomography and liver/spleen attenuation ratio <1. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR). C-statistics and areas under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves (tAUC) were used to compare incremental contributions of CAC score when added to the clinical risk factors. RESULTS In multivariable analyses, CAC score was found to be independently associated with incident ASCVD (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.22-1.44, P < .001). The addition of CAC score to clinical risk factors increased the C-statistic from 0.677 to 0.739 (P < .001) and tAUC at 10 years from 0.668 to 0.771, respectively. In subgroup analyses, the incremental prognostic value of CAC score was more significant in participants with low/borderline- (<7.5%) and intermediate- (7.5%-20%) 10-year ASCVD risk scores. CONCLUSIONS The inclusion of CAC score in global risk assessment was found to significantly improve the classification of incident ASCVD events in participants with suspected nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis, indicating a potential role for CAC screening in risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keishi Ichikawa
- Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA
| | - Spencer Hansen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | | | | | | | - Lisa B VanWagner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Srikanth Krishnan
- Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood, CA
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4
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Chang JJ, Fazlalizadeh H, Dowlati E, Triano M, Withington C, Felbaum DR, Mai JC, Armonda RA, Kumar P, Kenigsberg B, Medvedofsky D. Cardiac patterns for differentiation of neurogenic stunned myocardium in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage versus acute ischemic stroke. Echocardiography 2023; 40:343-349. [PMID: 36880639 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) has heterogeneous presentations for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We sought to better define NSM and differences between AIS and SAH by evaluating individual left ventricular (LV) functional patterns by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). METHODS We evaluated consecutive patients with SAH and AIS. Via STE, LV longitudinal strain (LS) values of basal, mid, and apical segments were averaged and compared. Different multivariable logistic regression models were created by defining stroke subtype (SAH or AIS) and functional outcome as dependent variables. RESULTS One hundred thirty-four patients with SAH and AIS were identified. Univariable analyses using the chi-squared test and independent samples t-test identified demographic variables and global and regional LS segments with significant differences. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, when comparing AIS to SAH, AIS was associated with older age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13, p = 0.01), poor clinical condition on admission (OR 7.74, 95% CI 2.33-25.71, p < 0.001), decreased likelihood of elevated admission serum troponin (OR .09, 95% CI .02-.35, p < 0.001), and worse LS basal segments (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.37, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION In patients with neurogenic stunned myocardium, significantly impaired LV contraction by LS basal segments was found in patients with AIS but not with SAH. Individual LV segments in our combined SAH and AIS population were also not associated with clinical outcomes. Our findings suggest that strain echocardiography may identify subtle forms of NSM and help differentiate the NSM pathophysiology in SAH and AIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Chang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hooman Fazlalizadeh
- Department of Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ehsan Dowlati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center., Washington, DC, USA
| | - Matthew Triano
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Daniel R Felbaum
- Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center., Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Mai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center., Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rocco A Armonda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center., Washington, DC, USA
| | - Preetham Kumar
- Department of Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Benjamin Kenigsberg
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Diego Medvedofsky
- Department of Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA
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5
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Manubolu VS, Kinninger A, Verghese D, Alalawi L, Aldana-Bitar J, Fazlalizadeh H, Pourafkari L, Havistin R, Roy S, Earls JP, Fialkow JA, Cainzos-Achirica M, Elizondo JV, Cury RC, Nasir K, Budoff MJ. DISTRIBUTION OF CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS BY SEX IN ASYMPTOMATIC U.S POPULATION USING QUANTITATIVE CT PLAQUE ANALYSIS: RESULTS FROM THE MIAMI HEART STUDY. J Am Coll Cardiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(23)01691-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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6
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Manubolu VS, Montano B, Verghese D, Kinninger A, Alalawi L, Aldana-Bitar J, Fazlalizadeh H, Pourafkari L, Ichikawa, Ahmad K, Javier DA, Ghanem AK, Hamal SA, Budoff MJ, Roy S. EPICARDIAL FAT ASSESSMENT FROM NON-CONTRAST CARDIAC CT SCANS AND ITS RELATION TO CORONARY PLAQUE CHARACTERISTICS. J Am Coll Cardiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(23)01864-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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7
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Medranda GA, Case BC, Fazlalizadeh H, Yerasi C, Forrestal BJ, Chezar-Azerrad C, Weintraub WS, Waksman R. The Impact of Ejection Fraction on COVID-19 Patients With Myocardial Injury. Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine 2021. [PMCID: PMC8373517 DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2021.06.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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8
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Medranda GA, Fazlalizadeh H, Case BC, Yerasi C, Zhang C, Rappaport H, Shea C, Weintraub WS, Waksman R. Implications of Left Ventricular Function on Short-Term Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients With Myocardial Injury. Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2021; 29:45-49. [PMID: 34049818 PMCID: PMC8023790 DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2021.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myocardial injury is a complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We describe a large multi-center experience of COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury, examining the prognostic role left ventricular function plays on short-term outcomes. METHODS/MATERIALS We included adult COVID-19 patients admitted to our health system with evidence of myocardial injury and who underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) during index admission. Patients were dichotomized into those with reduced ejection fraction (EF; <50%) and preserved EF (≥50%). RESULTS Across our 11-hospital system, 5032 adult patients were admitted with COVID-19 from March-September 2020. Of these, 235 had evidence of myocardial injury (troponin ≥1 ng/mL). Included were 134 patients who underwent TTE, of whom 43.3% (n = 58) had reduced EF and 56.7% (n = 76) preserved EF. A subset of 6 patients had newly reduced EF, with 5 demonstrating evidence of stress cardiomyopathy and subsequently dying. Overall, mortality was high in those with reduced EF and preserved EF (in-hospital: 34.5% vs. 28.9%; p = 0.494; 6 months: 63.6% vs. 50.0%; p = 0.167; Kaplan-Meier estimates: p = 0.2886). Readmissions were frequent in both groups (30 days: 22.2% vs. 26.0%; p = 0.162; 6 months: 52.0% vs. 54.5%; p = 0.839). CONCLUSIONS Many COVID-19 patients admitted with evidence of myocardial injury did not undergo TTE. For those who did, short-term mortality was high. Patients who survived hospitalization had frequent readmissions. In patients with newly reduced EF, most had evidence of stress cardiomyopathy and expired. Larger studies are needed to fully evaluate the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with evidence of myocardial injury and left ventricular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio A Medranda
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Hooman Fazlalizadeh
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Brian C Case
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Charan Yerasi
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Hank Rappaport
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Corey Shea
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - William S Weintraub
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Ron Waksman
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America.
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9
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Meltzer SN, Phatak PM, Fazlalizadeh H, Chang I, Bering P, Kenigsberg B, Weissman G, Shah MH, Satler LF, Rogers T, Lang RM, Asch FM, Kumar P, Medvedofsky D. Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Left Atrial Appendage Volumetric Analysis. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2021; 34:987-995. [PMID: 33775733 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Left atrial appendage (LAA) echocardiographic assessment is difficult because of the complex shape and relatively small size of the LAA. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic imaging can overcome the limitations of two-dimensional imaging. Pulsed-wave Doppler is the only currently standard LAA functional parameter. The aim of this study was to test a new approach for 3D echocardiographic volumetric analysis to obtain LAA ejection fraction (EF), its size and shape. METHODS Transesophageal two-dimensional and 3D LAA images were prospectively obtained in 159 consecutive patients. LAA volumes were measured from 3D echocardiographic images using available software. Pulsed-wave Doppler was considered the reference value for LAA function and was used for comparison with LAA EF. Comparison with cardiac computed tomography was performed in a subgroup of 32 patients. Comparisons included linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses. Repeated measurements were performed to assess measurement variability. RESULTS Nine patients were excluded because of suboptimal image quality (94% feasibility). Three-dimensional LAA calculated EF was in good agreement with LAA pulsed-wave measurements. Three-dimensional morphologic evaluation showed that 43% of the patients had "chicken wing," 33% "cactus," 19% "windsock," and 5% cauliflower shapes. At the time of data acquisition, patients with atrial fibrillation had nonsignificantly larger LAA end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, leading to lower calculated EFs. Three-dimensional echocardiographic LAA end-systolic volumes were in good agreement with cardiac computed tomography (r = 0.75), with small biases (mean, -2.5 ± 3.9 ml). Reproducibility was better for larger LAA volumes. CONCLUSIONS A novel 3D echocardiographic approach can determine the geometry, size, and function of the LAA. A new parameter, LAA EF, provides functional quantitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth N Meltzer
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Prajakta M Phatak
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Hooman Fazlalizadeh
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Ian Chang
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Patrick Bering
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Benjamin Kenigsberg
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Gaby Weissman
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Manish H Shah
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Lowell F Satler
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Toby Rogers
- Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia; Cardiovascular Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Roberto M Lang
- University of Chicago, Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Federico M Asch
- MedStar Health Research Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Preetham Kumar
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Diego Medvedofsky
- MedStar Health and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
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10
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Shahabi S, Fazlalizadeh H, Stedman J, Chuang L, Shariftabrizi A, Ram R. The impact of international economic sanctions on Iranian cancer healthcare. Health Policy 2015; 119:1309-18. [PMID: 26344426 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2012, Iranian's economy collapsed under strain from sanctions instituted to stop Iran from violating the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Sanctions have indirectly led to serious healthcare concerns, specifically cancer treatment. This is the first report to evaluate Iranian cancer healthcare while under international economic sanctions. METHODS Data and information were identified by searches of MEDLINE, PubMed, and references from relevant articles using the search terms: "Iran", "health policy", "sanctions", "ethics", and "cancer". Articles published in the English language between 1966 and present were included, based on relevance to sanctions or the specific case of sanctions in Iran. RESULTS The Program of Action for Cancer Therapy evaluated Iran's National Cancer Control Program (NCCP), reporting it has substantial deficits, including prevention, diagnosis/treatment, palliative care, monitoring, and technology, with a serious drug shortage for cancer care. Sanctions have exemptions for medicines and food, but lead to disruption of health services through complications in transportation, transferring currencies or lack of money. CONCLUSION There is increasing evidence that sanctions harm vulnerable populations, while blocking globalization and not creating political or social change quickly. Improvement of Iran's NCCP is not feasible, and the health of cancer patients will continue to decline while the sanctions are in effect. The solution is complex, but a modern and innovative approach to diplomacy, which includes human rights, is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh Shahabi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Prentice Women's Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA; Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA.
| | - Hooman Fazlalizadeh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecology Oncology, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, USA
| | - Jennifer Stedman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecology Oncology, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, USA
| | - Linus Chuang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA
| | - Ahmad Shariftabrizi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA
| | - Regina Ram
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, USA
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11
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Stedman JK, Fazlalizadeh H, Ram R, Shariftabrizi A, Shahabi S. The ethical impact of economic sanctions in Iranian cancer health care. J Clin Oncol 2015. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.e17514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Regina Ram
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, NJ
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