Change in minimum indexed left atrial volume predicts incident heart failure: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background and Purpose

Longitudinal change in the left atrium prior to the onset of heart failure has not been as well studied as left atrial (LA) dysfunction in pre-existing heart failure. This study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to investigate the relationship between longitudinal change in LA volume and function and incident heart failure (HF), in a multi-ethnic population free of known cardiovascular disease at baseline.

Methods and Results

In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), 2470 participants (60±9 years, 47% males), free at baseline of clinically recognized cardiovascular disease, had LA volume, emptying fractions and peak longitudinal strain assessed with Multimodality Tissue Tracking (MTT; version 6.0 Toshiba, Japan) on CMR imaging at baseline (2000-02) and at follow-up 9.4±0.6 years later. Seventy three (3%) participants subsequently developed incident HF 7.1±2.1 years after the follow-up CMR exam. In cox regression models, an annualized change in all LA parameters were significantly associated with an increased risk of incident HF. An annual increase of 1ml/m2 in minimum indexed LA volumes (∆LAVimin) was most strongly associated with the risk of incident HF (Hazard Ratio(HR)=1.85, 95% confidence interval(CI) [1.49-2.29], P<0.001) and improved model reclassification and discrimination in predicting incident HF (c-statistic=0.80, 95%CI [0.75-0.86]; NRI=0.13, P=0.04; IDI=0.04, P=0.01; x2=6.52, P=0.69) adjusting for known risk factors (age, gender, systolic blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medication use, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, previous atrial fibrillation) and baseline LA parameters.

Conclusion

In this multi-ethnic population free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline, ∆LAVimin was most strongly associated with, and incrementally predictive of incident HF, after adjusting for known risk factors and baseline LA measures.

Change in left atrial function and volume predicts heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Aims

This study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to investigate the relationship between longitudinal change in left atrial (LA) function and incident heart failure (HF), in a multi-ethnic population free of known cardiovascular disease at baseline.

Methods and results

In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), 2470 participants (60±9 years, 47% males), free at baseline of clinically recognized cardiovascular disease, had LA volume and function assessed with CMR imaging at baseline (2000–02) and 9.4±0.6 years later. Seventy three (3%) participants developed incident HF over 7.1±2.1 years; of these, 39 participants had preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and 34 participants had reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). An annual decrease of 1-SD unit in peak LA strain (ΔLASmax) was most strongly associated with the risk of HFpEF (subdistribution HR=2.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.34–4.90], P=0.004) and improved model reclassification and discrimination in predicting HFpEF (c-statistic=0.84, 95% CI [0.79–0.90]; NRI=0.34, P=0.01; IDI=0.02, P=0.02; x2=4.25, P=0.89) adjusting for event-specific risk factors and baseline LA parameters. An annual decrease of 1ml/m2 of pre-atrial LA volume index (ΔLAVipreA) was most strongly associated with the risk of HFrEF (subdistribution HR=1.88, 95% CI [1.44–2.45], P<0.001) and improved model reclassification and discrimination in predicting HFrEF (c-statistic=0.81, 95% CI (0.72–0.90); NRI=0.31, P=0.03; IDI=0.01, P=0.50; x2=15.4, P=0.08), adjusting for event-specific risk factors and baseline LA measures (Table 1).

Conclusion

In this multi-ethnic population free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline, ΔLASmax and ΔLAVipreA were associated with, and incrementally predictive of HFpEF and HFrEF respectively, after adjusting for event-specific risk factors and baseline LA measures.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Heart, Lung and Blood InstituteNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

Association between immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factor targeted therapy with cardiovascular events

Background

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has been associated with a 3-fold higher risk for cardiovascular events as compared to cancer patients who did not receive ICI. Therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have also been associated with a wide range of cardiovascular events. The combination use of ICIs and VEGF inhibitors is currently approved as a treatment for patients with renal-cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and endometrial cancer. Data are lacking whether the combination of ICIs and VEGF-targeted therapy is associated with an additional increase in cardiovascular events.

Purpose

To evaluate whether the combination use of ICI and VEGF targeted therapies are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events as compared to ICI therapy alone, we performed a retrospective matched case-control study.

Methods

Cases received both ICI and VEGF-targeted therapy (n=157), and control patients (n=157) only received ICI therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, ischemic stroke, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism). Patients were censored at time of first event or at last date of follow up. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to calculate hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), counting only the first cardiovascular event.

Results

Baseline characteristics for the cases and controls are shown in Table 1. Overall cases (combination ICI and VEGF inhibitor) and controls (ICI alone) were not different with respect to age, type of cancer, and a prior history of any cardiovascular event. Cases received more ICI cycles as compared to controls (median of 7 [4–17] cycles vs. 4 [2–10] cycles, P<0.001). Cases also had a longer follow-up time (334 [127–663] days vs. 201 [60–564] days, P=0.008) as compared to the control group. As compared to ICI alone, a similar risk for a composite cardiovascular event was observed in those who received both ICI and VEGF-targeted therapy (HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.39–1.25]; P=0.23, Table 1). In total, 21/157 patients had a composite cardiovascular event among the cases, who received the combination of ICI and VEGF inhibitor (9 DVT, one MI, 9 PE, two ischemic strokes) as compared to 25/157 among the controls, who received ICI alone (14 DVT, 3 MI, 7 PE, one ischemic stroke). The median time to event was not different between the two groups (126 [98–260] days vs. 145 [28–205] days, P=0.47).

Conclusion

We found that among 157 patients who received a combination of ICI and VEGF-targeted therapy and 157 matched control patients who only received ICI therapy, the risk for cardiovascular events was not different between the two groups.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding.

Change in left atrioventricular coupling index to predict incident atrial fibrillation: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

BACKGROUND

Left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) structural and functional parameters have independent prognostic values as predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF).

PURPOSE

To investigate the prognostic value of a left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) and average annualized change in LACI measured by cardiac MRI to predict incident AF in a population-based sample from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

METHODS

In a secondary analysis of the prospective Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study, 1,911 study participants, free of clinically recognized AF and cardiovascular disease at baseline, had LACI assessed with cardiac MRI at baseline (Exam 1, 2000-2002), and ten years later (Exam 5, 2010-2012). LACI was defined as the ratio of LA to LV end-diastolic volumes. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the associations of LACI and average annualized change in LACI (ΔLACI) with incident AF.

RESULTS

Among the 1,911 participants (mean age 59 ± 9 years and 907 men), 87 incident AF events occurred over 3.9 ± 0.9 years following the second imaging (Exam 5). After adjustment for traditional risk factors, greater LACI and ΔLACI were independently associated with AF (HR 1.69, 95% CI[1.46-1.96] and HR 1.71, 95% CI[1.50-1.94], respectively; both p<.001). Adjusted models for LACI and ΔLACI showed improvement in model discrimination compared to currently used AF risk score (CHARGE-AF score) model (AUC: 0.78 vs. 0.74, and AUC: 0.80 vs. 0.74, both p<.001); and to the final model including individual LA or LV parameters for predicting AF incidence (AUC: 0.78 vs. 0.76, and AUC: 0.80 vs. 0.78, both p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Atrioventricular coupling (LACI) and coupling change (ΔLACI) were strong predictors for AF in a multi-ethnic population. Both had incremental prognostic value for predicting AF over traditional risk factors, and superior discrimination compared to the CHARGE-AF score and to individual LA or LV parameters.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00005487 Abstract Figure. Kaplan-Meier curves by change in LACI  Abstract Figure. Kaplan-Meier curves by ΔLACI and LACI

Pericardial disease in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Background

There are limited data on the occurrence, associations and outcomes of pericardial effusions and pericarditis after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Purpose

To evaluate incidence of pericardial disease in patients treated with an ICI.

Methods

This was a retrospective study at a single academic center that compared 2842 consecutive patients who received ICIs with 2699 age- and cancer-type matched patients with metastatic disease who did not receive ICI (design 1). A pericardial event was defined as a composite outcome of pericarditis and new or worsening moderate or large pericardial effusion. The endpoints were obtained through chart review and were blindly adjudicated. To identify risk factors associated with a pericardial event, in a second analysis, we also compared patients who developed an event on an ICI to patients treated with an ICI who did not develop a pericardial event (design 2). Cox proportional hazard model and logistical regression analysis were performed to study the association between ICI use and pericardial disease as well as pericardial disease and mortality. An additional 6-week landmark analysis was performed to account for lead-time bias.

Results

There were 42 pericardial events in the patients treated with ICI (n=2842) over 193 days (interquartile range 64 to 411) with an incidence rate of 1.57 events per 100 person-years. There was a 4-fold increase in the risk for pericarditis or a pericardial effusion among patients on an ICI compared to controls not treated with ICI after adjusting for potential confounders (hazard ratio [HR] 4.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09–9.14, p<0.001). Patients who developed pericardial disease while on an ICI had a trend for increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.53, 95% CI 0.99–2.36, p=0.05) compared to those who did not develop pericardial disease. When comparing those who developed pericardial disease after ICI treatment to those who did not, a higher dose of corticosteroid pre-ICI (>0.7 mg/kg prednisone) was associated with increased risk of pericardial disease (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.00–6.57, p=0.049).

Conclusions

ICI use was associated with an increased risk for development of pericardial disease among cancer patients and a pericardial event on an ICI was associated with a trend towards increased mortality.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; a gift from A. Curt Greer and Pamela Kohlberg

Change in left atrioventricular coupling index to predict incident atrial fibrillation: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

BACKGROUND

Left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) structural and functional parameters have independent prognostic values as predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF).

PURPOSE

Due to the intrinsic physiological relationship between LA and LV, we sought to investigate the prognostic value of a left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) as well as change in LACI to predict incident AF in a multi-ethnic population.

METHODS

In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), 1,911 study participants, free of clinically recognized AF and cardiovascular disease at baseline, had LACI assessed with CMR imaging at baseline (Exam 1, 2000–2002), and ten years later (Exam 5, 2010–2012). LACI was defined as the ratio of LA to LV end-diastolic volumes. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the associations of LACI and average annualized change in LACI (ΔLACI) with incident AF.

RESULTS

Among the 1,911 participants (mean age 59 ± 9 years and 47.5% male participants), 87 incident AF events occurred over 3.9 ±0.9 years following the second imaging (Exam 5). After adjustment for traditional risk factors, greater LACI and ΔLACI were independently associated with AF (HR 1.69, 95% CI [1.46-1.96] and HR 1.71, 95% CI [1.50-1.94], respectively; both p < 0.0001). Adjusted models for LACI and ΔLACI showed significant improvement in model discrimination compared to currently used AF risk score model for predicting AF incidence (C-statistic: 0.78 vs. 0.74, and C-statistic: 0.80 vs. 0.74, respectively). The LACI and ΔLACI also showed superior discrimination performance for AF compared to the multivariable model including CHARGE-AF score, and individual LA or LV parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrioventricular coupling (LACI) and coupling change (ΔLACI) are strong predictors for AF incidence in a multi-ethnic population. Both have incremental prognostic value for predicting AF over traditional risk factors, and superior discrimination power compared to the CHARGE-AF score and to individual LA or LV parameters.