Current Problems in Cardiology最新文献

{"title":"Mitochondrial calcium homeostasis and atrial fibrillation: Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies review","authors":"Yixuan Chang ,&nbsp;Qi Zou","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102988","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102988","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is tightly linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium (Ca²⁺) imbalance, and oxidative stress. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ is essential for regulating metabolic enzymes, maintaining the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, supporting the electron transport chain (ETC), and producing ATP. Additionally, Ca²⁺ modulates oxidative balance by regulating antioxidant enzymes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance. However, Ca²⁺ homeostasis disruptions, particularly overload, result in excessive ROS production, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, and oxidative stress-induced damage. These changes lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, Ca²⁺ leakage, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, driving AF progression and atrial remodeling. Therapeutically, targeting mitochondrial Ca²⁺ homeostasis shows promise in mitigating AF. Moderate Ca²⁺ regulation enhances energy metabolism, stabilizes mitochondrial membrane potential, and bolsters antioxidant defenses by upregulating enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. This reduces ROS generation and facilitates clearance. Proper Ca²⁺ levels also prevent electron leakage and promote mitophagy, aiding in damaged mitochondria removal and reducing ROS accumulation. Future strategies include modulating Ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), and sodium-calcium exchanger (NCLX) to control Ca²⁺ overload and oxidative damage. Addressing mitochondrial Ca²⁺ dynamics offers a compelling approach to breaking the cycle of Ca²⁺ overload, oxidative stress, and AF progression. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ regulation and its role in AF pathogenesis. This knowledge will guide the development of innovative treatments to improve outcomes and quality of life for AF patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102988"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143015827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rural-urban disparity in survival and use of PCI in patients who develop STEMI while hospitalized for a non-cardiac condition","authors":"Ryan Searcy MD ,&nbsp;Rajiv Patel MD MPH ,&nbsp;Peter Drossopoulos BS,&nbsp;Sameer Arora MD MPH,&nbsp;George A. Stouffer MD","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102979","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102979","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The development of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients hospitalized for non-cardiac indications carries a high mortality rate.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Determine the impact of rural vs. urban hospital location and hospital percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) volumes on clinical outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was queried for STEMI claims from 2011 to 2018. The 2010 Rural-Urban Commuting Area classification scheme was used to stratify hospitals as urban or rural.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>64960 STEMI patients were identified from 231 hospitals with 2880 (4.4%) being classified as inpatient STEMI (IPS). IPS patients were older (73.5 ± 13.3 years vs 64.6 ± 14.2 years; p &lt; .0001) and more frequently female (49.3% vs 33.1%; p &lt; .0001), had more comorbidities, were less likely to receive PCI (13.1% vs 69.4%; p &lt; .0001), and had higher 1-year mortality (59.6% vs 16.4%; p &lt; .0001) than outpatient STEMI (OPS). IPS that occurred in rural hospitals were less often treated with PCI (3.8% vs 13.8%; p &lt; 0.01) and had higher one-year mortality (68.6% vs 58.9%; p &lt; 0.01) than those occurring in urban hospitals. Similar results were observed when hospitals were divided into rural vs suburban vs urban based on the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties. Patients with IPS admitted to low-volume PCI centers were significantly less likely to receive PCI and had higher one-year mortality, after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, compared to those admitted to high-volume PCI centers.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>IPS treated at rural hospitals and/or low-volume PCI centers were less likely to be treated with PCI and had higher one-year mortality rates.</div></div><div><h3>Unstructured Abstract</h3><div>The development of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in patients hospitalized for non-cardiac indications carries a high mortality rate. Using a large retrospective cohort study, we investigated the impact of hospital location and PCI volume on outcomes in inpatient STEMI (IPS). Patients with IPS were generally older, more frequently female, and had more comorbidities than those with outpatient STEMI. After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, those with IPS admitted to rural and/or low-volume PCI centers were less likely to receive PCI and experienced higher one-year mortality rates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102979"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142973114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in functional capacity of heart failure patients following a cardiac rehabilitation program","authors":"Carolina Castro Gómez ,&nbsp;Angelica Cardona Hernández ,&nbsp;Helen Johana Ortiz Rojas ,&nbsp;Andrea Valencia Orozco ,&nbsp;Angela María Murillo Anzola","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102978","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102978","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To evaluate the effectiveness of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on functional capacity in patients with heart failure at a high-complexity hospital in the city of Cali during the period from 2017 to 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective descriptive study that included 127 patients over 18 years of age diagnosed with heart failure, who completed 36 rehabilitation sessions with complete records of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), anthropometric and physiological measurements at the beginning and end of the program. Categorical variables were summarized as absolute frequencies and percentages. For dependent variables, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples was applied. Statistical significance was set at 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The median age was 65 years. Overall, a significant improvement was observed in the distance covered during the walk test and oxygen consumption with the CR program. In patients under 60 years of age, the distance increased from 479.0 to 598.5 meters, while in the group over 60 years, the distance improved from 419.0 to 523.0 meters.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The CR program proved to be effective in improving functional capacity and quality of life in patients. These findings highlight the importance of implementing structured rehabilitation programs for patients with cardiovascular diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102978"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142967273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bibliometric analysis: A few suggestions (Part Two)","authors":"Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab ,&nbsp;Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha ,&nbsp;Abdullah Farasani ,&nbsp;Saleh M Abdullah ,&nbsp;Jobran M Moshi ,&nbsp;Abrar Fahad Alshahrani ,&nbsp;Nizar A. Khamjan ,&nbsp;Zenat A. Khired ,&nbsp;Ahmad Assiri ,&nbsp;Ali Mohammed Alqassmi ,&nbsp;Amal Mayudh Alhusayni ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Abdel Aziz Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Saeed Alshahrani ,&nbsp;Waseem Hassan","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102982","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102982","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This manuscript serves as a follow-up to our previous work, \"bibliometric analysis: a few suggestions,\" where we highlighted key aspects of bibliometric research and offered recommendations for improving its rigor. In this draft, we expand on those ideas and provide additional suggestions aimed at enhancing the depth and scope of bibliometric analysis. By analyzing a few randomly selected bibliometric studies, we identified common practices and gaps in the field, which informed the inclusion of new recommendations not covered in our earlier paper. These suggestions include refining search string definitions, strategies for search field selection, performance indicators for authors, methods for studying thematic evolution, and a few techniques like bibliographic coupling, co-citation analysis, and three-way plots. This manuscript aims to improve the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of bibliometric research practices and contribute to the development of more robust methodologies in this field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102982"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142958268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of MicroRNAs in regulating sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium handling and their implications for cardiomyocyte function and heart disease","authors":"Benjamin Alexander Carter,&nbsp;Victoria Elizabeth Parker","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102980","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102980","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The regulation of calcium signaling within cardiomyocytes is pivotal for maintaining cardiac function, with disruptions in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium handling linked to various heart diseases. This review explores the emerging role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in modulating SR calcium dynamics, highlighting their influence on cardiomyocyte maturation, function, and disease progression. We present a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms by which specific miRNAs, such as miR-1, miR-24, and miR-22, regulate key components of calcium handling, including ryanodine receptors, SERCA, and NCX. Notably, we identify critical research gaps, particularly the inconsistent findings regarding miRNA expression in heart disease and the need for standardized experimental conditions. Furthermore, we emphasize the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets, given their ability to influence calcium handling pathways and cardiac remodeling. The review also discusses the challenges in translating miRNA research into clinical applications, including the need for safe and effective delivery methods. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying areas for future investigation, this review aims to provide insights into the therapeutic potential of miRNAs in diagnosing and treating heart diseases, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102980"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142958375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations between central and brachial blood pressure in patients with hypertension and aortovascular disease: Implications for clinical practice: An analysis and review","authors":"Liwei Wang MD ,&nbsp;Gang Zhao MBBS ,&nbsp;Bhushan Sandeep PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102981","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2025.102981","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The importance of central hemodynamic metrics such as Central blood pressure (CBP), which directly measure the pressure exerted by the cardiac muscle on the major arteries, offering a more direct assessment of cardiovascular workload compared to brachial blood pressure (bBP), which measures pressure against the walls of peripheral arteries. This review consolidates findings that evaluate the correlation between CBP and key markers of aortovascular disease. The growth of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a significant component of aortovascular assessment. CBP correlates more precisely with arterial stiffness (AS), TAA growth, and cardiovascular diseases, providing a more reliable forecast of aortovascular diseases, adverse cardiovascular events (CVE), and organ damage than bBP. Integrating CBP into routine clinical practice could enhance aortovascular assessments and therapeutic strategies compared to bBP, especially by gaining a deeper understanding of aortic wave dynamics, which could fundamentally change aortovascular diagnostics and treatment. It is recommended to incorporate CBP into aortovascular and cardiovascular risk management. Further research is needed to confirm these aspects and to explore the practical implications of CBP in clinical settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102981"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142958067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prognostic significance of diastolic wall strain as a predictor of remodeling and poor outcomes in heart failure and pulmonary embolism: A systematic review","authors":"Yarub Alalousi MD ,&nbsp;Chiranjeevee R Saravanan MBBS ,&nbsp;Pugazhendi Inban MD ,&nbsp;Shakir Muthana Shakir Al-Ezzi MD ,&nbsp;Yogesh Tekuru MBBS","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102970","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102970","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diastolic wall strain (DWS), also referred to as right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, is a significant predictor of pulmonary embolism (PE) and heart failure (HF). Rooted in linear elastic theory, DWS reflects decreased wall thinning during diastole, indicating reduced left ventricular (LV) compliance and increased diastolic stiffness. Elevated diastolic stiffness is associated with worse outcomes, particularly in PE and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study systematically reviews the prognostic significance of DWS and its impact on PE and HF.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic search of scientific literature published between 2014 and 2024 was conducted using PubMed and Cochrane Reviews. Keywords such as “diastolic wall strain,” “right ventricular dysfunction,” and “pulmonary embolism” were employed to identify relevant studies. Seven articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and analyzed to synthesize insights into DWS and its role in risk stratification and prognosis for PE and HF patients.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings suggest that elevated DWS values are correlated with increased short- and long-term mortality in PE patients and a higher likelihood of early complications in both PE and HF. In cases where HF is present alongside elevated DWS, the risk of significant bleeding is heightened. DWS emerged as a reliable tool for PE risk stratification and predicting adverse outcomes in HF patients.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>DWS is an essential prognostic marker for PE and HF, independently predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Its straightforward assessment can improve risk stratification and guide clinical management in individuals at risk for cardiac failure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102970"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends in heart failure-related mortality among middle-aged adults in the United States from 1999-2022","authors":"Ali Bin Abdul Jabbar MD,&nbsp;Mark T May,&nbsp;McKayla Deisz,&nbsp;Abubakar Tauseef MD","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Heart failure (HF) represents a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Heart failure mortality trends among the middle aged have not been fully characterized into the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to analyze the trends in mortality related to heart failure across various demographic and geographic categories—including gender, race, and census region—spanning from 1999 to 2022, with particular attention paid to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on HF mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Heart failure-related mortality data were extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database and stratified into different demographic and geographic groups. Statistically significant trends in mortality over time were identified using Joinpoint regression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Heart failure mortality decreased among most studied demographic groups from 1999 to 2011-2013, then increased through 2022, often with a marked increase in mortality in the pandemic years of 2020-2022. Males, Black or African Americans, and the South generally had higher mortality rates than their demographic or geographic counterparts. Existing disparities between high-risk groups and others generally worsened during the pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a decade of heart failure mortality increases, and in some categories worsened existing disparities. This is likely due to reduced access to healthcare during the pandemic, along with a direct increase in mortality from heart failure caused by COVID-19.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102973"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural heart disease in the tropics: A comprehensive review","authors":"Elisa Elisa MD ,&nbsp;Bramantono Bramantono MD ,&nbsp;Muhammad Vitanata Arfijanto MD, PhD ,&nbsp;Musofa Rusli MD, PhD ,&nbsp;Debi Yulia Sandra MD ,&nbsp;Henry Sutanto MD, MSc, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102975","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102975","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Structural heart disease (SHD) remains a significant global health challenge, disproportionately impacting populations in tropical regions where the burden of infectious diseases, limited healthcare infrastructure, and socio-economic disparities exacerbate the issue. The tropics are uniquely affected by conditions such as rheumatic heart disease (RHD), endomyocardial fibrosis, tropical cardiomyopathies, and pericardial diseases, often resulting from or complicated by endemic infections like malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, and parasitic diseases. Moreover, Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Cardiac Disease (HIVAC) represents an emerging concern in regions with high HIV prevalence, adding complexity to the interplay between infectious and structural cardiac conditions. Despite the significant morbidity and mortality associated with SHD in these areas, research and clinical focus have often been inadequate, underscoring the need for a comprehensive synthesis of available evidence to guide future efforts. This review aims to provide a detailed examination of SHD in the tropics, with a focus on valvular, myocardial, and pericardial diseases linked to tropical infections and conditions. It highlights the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of key diseases, including RHD, endocarditis, Chagas disease, and HIVAC, as well as other less commonly recognized tropical cardiomyopathies and pericardial disorders. The review also explores diagnostic challenges, advances in imaging and molecular tools, and the role of public health interventions and policy in addressing these conditions. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying gaps, this review aims to inform research priorities, improve clinical care, and support the development of tailored prevention and management strategies for SHD in resource-constrained tropical settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102975"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Normal echocardiographic findings in healthy pregnant women: A narrative review of the literature","authors":"Oswaldo Aguilar Molina ,&nbsp;Stephany Barbosa Balaguera ,&nbsp;Natalia Campo-Rivera ,&nbsp;Sebastián Ayala Zapata ,&nbsp;Martín Arrieta Mendoza ,&nbsp;Miguel Bernardo Giraldo ,&nbsp;Alvaro Herrera Escandón ,&nbsp;Edison Muñoz Ortiz","doi":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102969","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102969","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During pregnancy, significant physiological changes occur that result in cardiac remodeling and altered functional performance, though these are generally reversible postpartum. Pregnancy increases the cardiovascular system's demand, requiring substantial adaptations such as elevated cardiac output (CO), plasma volume, stroke volume (SV), and heart rate (HR), alongside a reduction in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and mean arterial pressure. These adaptations, essential to meet the hemodynamic needs of both the mother and fetus, often differ from standard echocardiographic measurements used to evaluate cardiac function, making interpretation challenging.</div><div>Accurate identification of normal echocardiographic parameters during pregnancy is crucial to establishing a baseline for detecting pathological changes. Deviations from these baselines, when recognized early, can assist in risk stratification and inform clinical management of conditions such as heart failure, arrhythmias, or valvular disease. However, many existing studies rely on cross-sectional designs, limiting their ability to provide comprehensive longitudinal insights.</div><div>For pregnant women, the lack of standardized echocardiographic reference values represents a critical gap. The physiological changes unique to this population, including increased CO and ventricular dimensions, complicate the interpretation of echocardiographic studies using non-pregnant norms. This shortfall can hinder the identification of subclinical cardiovascular alterations, delaying timely intervention. The development of pregnancy-specific echocardiographic reference values is essential for advancing preventive and personalized care. Such tailored references would improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitating early detection and management of pregnancy-related cardiac changes and their potential pathological implications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51006,"journal":{"name":"Current Problems in Cardiology","volume":"50 3","pages":"Article 102969"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}