Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy最新文献

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is highly effective at reducing morbidity and mortality. However, CR is underutilized, and adherence remains challenging. In no group is CR attendance more challenging than among patients who smoke. Despite being more likely to be referred to CR, they are less likely to enroll, and much more likely to drop out. CR programs generally do not optimally engage and treat those who smoke, but this population is critical to engage given the high-risk nature of continued smoking in those with cardiovascular disease.

Areas covered: This review covers four areas relating to CR in those who smoke. First, we review the evidence of the association between smoking and lack of participation in CR. Second, we examine how smoking has historically been identified in this population and propose objective screening measures for all patients. Third, we discuss the optimal treatment of smoking within CR. Fourth, we review select populations within those who smoke (those with lower-socioeconomic status, females) that require additional research and attention.

Expert opinion: Smoking poses a challenge on multiple fronts, being a significant predictor of future morbidity and mortality, as well as being strongly associated with not completing the secondary prevention program (CR) that could benefit those who smoke the most.

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common cardiac disorder in pregnancy in the western world (around 80%). Due to improvements in surgical interventions more women with CHD are surviving to adulthood and choosing to become pregnant.

Areas covered: Preconception counseling, antenatal management of CHDs and strategies to prevent maternal and fetal complications.Preconception counseling should start early, before the transition to adult care and be offered to both men and women. It should include the choice of contraception, lifestyle modifications, pre-pregnancy optimization of cardiac state, the chance of the child inheriting a similar cardiac lesion, the risks to the mother, and long-term prognosis. Pregnancy induces marked physiological changes in the cardiovascular system that may precipitate cardiac complications. Risk stratification is based on the underlying cardiac disease and data from studies including CARPREG, ZAHARA, and ROPAC.

Expert opinion: Women with left to right shunts, regurgitant lesions, and most corrected CHDs are at lower risk and can be managed in secondary care. Complex CHD, including systemic right ventricle need expert counseling in a tertiary center. Those with severe stenotic lesions, pulmonary artery hypertension, and Eisenmenger's syndrome should avoid pregnancy, be given effective contraception and managed in a tertiary center if pregnancy does happen.

Introduction: Small aortic annulus (SAA) poses a challenge in the management of patients with severe aortic stenosis requiring aortic valve replacement - both surgical and transcatheter - since it has been associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Areas covered: This review aims to comprehensively summarize the available evidence regarding the management of aortic stenosis in patients with SAA and discuss the current controversies as well as future perspectives in this field.

Expert opinion: It is paramount to agree in a common definition for diagnosing and properly treating SAA patients, and for that purpose, multidetector computer tomography is essential. The results of recent trials led to the expansion of transcatheter aortic valve replacement among patients of all the surgical-risk spectrum, and the choice of treatment (transcatheter, surgical) should be based on patient comorbidities, anatomical characteristics, and patient preferences.

Introduction: The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) is steadily increasing among adults. Atrial arrhythmias are frequent late complications and are associated with substantial morbidity.

Areas covered: We discuss key considerations regarding management strategies for atrial arrhythmias in common forms of CHD and offer future perspectives.

Expert opinion: An appreciation of the types of atrial arrhythmias encountered in patients with diverse forms of CHD, combined with the growing clinical and research experience, appears to be yielding favorable results, whereas little progress has been made on the antiarrhythmic drug front, indications for anticoagulation have considerably evolved. Advances in interventional techniques have propelled catheter ablation to the forefront to treat a variety of atrial arrhythmias in patients with complex CHD. Nevertheless, much work remains to be done to elucidate underlying pathophysiology, triggers, and critical substrates that predispose patients with specific CHD malformations to develop atrial arrhythmias. Future advances could allow for the implementation of individualized, possibly preemptive, approaches to arrhythmia management. With the prevalence of atrial fibrillation on the rise in the aging population with CHD, concerted efforts must be directed toward optimizing patient selection for catheter ablation as well as refining procedural aspects to safely and more effectively improve long-term outcomes.

Introduction: Despite advances in stent technology for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of coronary disease, these procedures can be complicated by stent failure manifested as intracoronary stent restenosis (ISR). Even with advances in stent technology and medical therapy, this complication is reported to affect around 10% of all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. Depending on stent type (drug-eluting versus bare metal), ISR has subtle differences in mechanism and timing and offers different challenges in diagnosing etiology and subsequent treatment options.

Areas covered: This review will be visiting the definition, pathophysiology, and risk factors of ISR.

Expert opinion: The evidence behind management options has been illustrated with the aid of real life clinical cases and summarized in a proposed management algorithm.

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Dyslipidemia, in particular elevation of LDL-cholesterol levels (LDL-C), is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors and is characterized by high prevalence and independent unfavorable impact on cardiovascular prognosis; however, because of its asymptomatic course, it often remains undiagnosed. Strategies aimed at early identification of subjects with elevated LDL-C levels may allow early intervention, preventing ASCVD development.

Areas covered: The purpose of this review is to summarize the recommendations of current guidelines by leading scientific authorities on the pros and cons of lipid profile screening programs.

Expert opinion: Systematic assessment of LDL-C levels as part of global cardiovascular risk assessment in all adults is a cornerstone of ASCVD risk prevention. In young adults, adolescents, and children, selective lipid profile screening may be useful to reduce the impact of high cholesterol levels on ASCVD risk in the presence of specific conditions including either family history of early ASCVD or multiple concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. Cascade screening for family members of individuals diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) may be also of great clinical impact. Further evidence is needed to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of systematic assessment of lipid profile in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Introduction: Currently approved direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) target thrombin or coagulation factor Xa. Administered in fixed doses without routine laboratory monitoring, DOACs have simplified the approach to oral anticoagulation, when previously the choice was limited to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs).

Area covered: We discuss a) unresolved issues related to optimal use of DOACs and b) new developments including the potential for FXIa inhibitors to be effective and safer anticoagulants.

Expert opinion: By simplifying oral anticoagulation, DOACs have facilitated the uptake of anticoagulation. The DOACs are approved for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism, and their indications are expanding to include the prevention of atherothrombosis. DOACs have now replaced vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for most indications, but not all. DOACs are inferior to VKAs for patients with mechanical heart valves, left ventricular assist device, rheumatic atrial fibrillation, and those with antiphospholipid syndrome, and their safety and efficacy are uncertain in some populations (e.g. advanced renal and liver disease). Impediments to use include concerns for bleeding and cost. The newly developed FXIa and FXIIa inhibitors have the potential to be safer than current anticoagulants, but phase 3 trials are needed to confirm their clinical efficacy and safety.

Introduction: Oral anticoagulation (OAC) significantly mitigates thromboembolism risks in atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients yet concern about major bleeding events persist. In fact, clinically relevant hemorrhages can be life-threatening. Bleeding risk is dynamic and influenced by factors such as age, new comorbidities, and drug therapies, and should not be assessed solely based on static baseline factors.

Areas covered: We comprehensively review the bleeding risk associated with OAC therapy. Emphasizing the importance of assessing both thromboembolic and bleeding risks, we present clinical tools for estimating stroke and systemic embolism (SSE) and bleeding risk in AF and VTE patients. We also address overlapping risk factors and the dynamic nature of bleeding risk.

Expert opinion: The OAC management is undergoing constant transformation, motivated by the primary objective of mitigating thromboembolism and bleeding hazards, thereby amplifying patient safety throughout the course of treatment. The future of OAC embraces personalized approaches and innovative therapies, driven by advanced pathophysiological insights and technological progress. This holds promise for improving patient outcomes and revolutionizing anticoagulation practices.