Cardiology journal最新文献

Background: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) often coexists with mitral regurgitation (MR). This study evaluated the significant evolution of MR in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for AS.

Methods: This multi-center China Degenerative Valve Disease II Cohort (China-DVD2) Study enrolled patients undergoing TAVR for AS from January 2020 to October 2023. MR severity was assessed at baseline and 12 months post-TAVR. Composite endpoints included all-cause death, heart failure rehospitalization, myocardial infarction, and angina.

Results: Among 424 enrolled patients, 130 (31%) had significant MR at baseline. At 12 months, MR improved in 56 (70%) of 80 patients with follow-up, and greater improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)was associated with MR improvement [odds ratios (OR): 0.97, 95% 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95-1.00, p = 0.04)]. Patients with MR improvement showed significant New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class improvement at 12-month follow-up. No survival benefit disparity was observed between patients with and without significant baseline MR, but a trend toward lower composite endpoint rate (12.5% vs. 20.8%, log-rank p = 0.49) was observed in patients with MR improvement. Older age [hazard ratios (HR): 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.24, p = 0.04)] and higher systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) (HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00-1.09, p = 0.04) were linked to worse outcomes.

Conclusions: Most patients with significant MR experienced improvement of NYHA class and MR post TAVR. Baseline significant MR was not linked to worse outcomes, but MR improvement showed a trend toward better prognosis. Older age and higher SPAP predicted worse outcomes.

Background: Myocarditis poses a great diagnostic challenge to clinicians, as the most sensitive diagnostic tools are not easily accessible in many hospitals. Clinical suspicion of myocarditis is based on clinical symptoms and additional tests' abnormalities. The diagnosis should be confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) - the gold standard for the diagnosis of myocarditis. The study aimed to assess trends in the use of diagnostic procedures performed in all patients hospitalized with suspected myocarditis in Poland between 2011-2019.

Methods: The nationwide MYO-PL database was derived from the database of the national healthcare insurer and created to identify hospitalization records with a primary diagnosis of myocarditis. We evaluated the use of recommended diagnostic procedures in this group of 19 978 patients within 6 months of the diagnosis of myocarditis.

Results: Echocardiography was the most frequently used imaging technique among patients, and the number of patients who underwent this procedure between 2011-2019 rose every year (71.3-86.1%). Use of nuclear medicine procedures remained < 1% regardless of the year. Biomarkers measurements during primary hospitalization were performed in 13.8% (brain natriuretic peptides) and 41.3% (troponins) of patients. Interestingly, EMB was performed in less than 1% of patients. The most sensitive noninvasive test (cardiac magnetic resonance) was performed in 16.4% of patients (7.2-29.2% within 10 years). Most diagnostic tests were less frequently performed in females.

Conclusions: The results highlight that the management of patients with myocarditis could be significantly improved if state-of-the-art diagnostic methods were followed according to guidelines.

Sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance strategies after electrical or pharmacological cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) may be only temporarily effective, leading to AF recurrence. Identifying predictors of AF recurrence after effective electrical cardioversion (ECV) may help personalize treatment, for instance, by affecting modifiable factors of unsuccessful long-term rhythm control. Disseminating information on this topic may benefit individual patients, lower the risk of subsequent procedures and the associated complications, and decrease health care costs. The purpose of this paper was to present the current state of knowledge on the predictors of failed ECV, with a particular focus on the most recent relevant research.

Background: There has been insufficient research on the assessment of exercise capacity in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who exhibit inspiratory muscle weakness (IMW).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving CHD patients who underwent PCI at Peking University Third Hospital Heart Rehabilitation Center between January 2019 and December 2021 was conducted. Patients who had undergone inspiratory muscle testing and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were included, and their clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 571 post-PCI CHD patients were included in the study. The average age was 60.8 ± 4.3 years, and 479 male patients (83.9%) were included. The average maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) of the enrolled patients was 90.7 ± 26.1 cm H₂O, with 56 patients (9.8%) presenting with IMW. The IMW group had lower peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) (17.4 ± 4.2 vs. 19.3 ± 5.1 ml/min/kg, P < 0.001) and oxygen uptake efficiency slopes (OUES) (1464.7 ± 368.5 vs. 1619.2 ± 400.4, P=0.004). MIP correlated with VO₂peak (r = 0.719, P < 0.001) and OUES (r = 0.622, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that VO₂peak (OR = 0.917, 95% CI = 0.858 ~ 0.980) and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 1.705, 95% CI = 0.934 ~ 3.112) were independent risk factors for IMW.

Conclusions: After PCI, CHD patients exhibiting IMW, especially those with comorbid COPD, demonstrated reduced exercise tolerance and oxygen uptake efficiency.

Background: Intestinal microbial metabolites, such as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and indoxyl sulfate (IS), have been suggested as markers for the progression of aortic stenosis (AS). However, the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on these intestinal bacterial metabolites has not been evaluated in a multicenter clinical study. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of TAVI on plasma levels of intestinal bacterial metabolites and to assess the predictive value of these metabolites for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following TAVI. M: ETHODS: Consecutive patients with AS referred for TAVI were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected one day before TAVI and at hospital discharge. The concentrations of intestinal microbial metabolites were measured using ultra performance liquid chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer.

Results: Plasma levels of TMAO and IS decreased after TAVI, compared to baseline (p ≤ 0.004 for all). Among 128 patients included in the study, 21 patients (16.4%) developed MACE during the median follow-up time of 404 days. Baseline plasma IS level was higher in patients with MACE, compared to those without MACE (p = 0.001). Increased baseline IS level predicted MACE with 75.0% sensitivity and 74.3% specificity independent of other clinical variables (OR 14.264, 95% CI 3.442-59.117, p < 0.001) and decreased the chance of event-free survival (plog rank < 0.001).

Conclusions: Plasma concentrations of TMAO and IS decreased after TAVI, compared to baseline. Elevated plasma IS levels were associated with a 14-fold increase in the odds of post-TAVI MACE during a median follow-up period of 404 days.

Background: Silent cerebral ischemic lesions (SCILs) detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can precede symptomatic stroke, the risk of which is increased five-fold in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the initial incidence of SCILs in the population of patients referred for ablation due to symptomatic AF and to identify possible risk factors.

Methods: A total of 110 patients, with a mean age (SD) of 59.9 (9.4) years, referred for ablation, were included in the study. In all patients, MRI was performed before the procedure to evaluate the incidence of SCILs in the ablation-naïve patients.

Results: MRI revealed preexisting SCIL in 81/110 patients (73.6%). Notably, SCILs were found in all patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥ 4. In univariable analysis, age (p < 0.001), CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (p = 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.01), and anticoagulation duration (p = 0.023) were identified as significant risk factors for SCILs, while the presence of anatomical variants of left-sided common pulmonary veins trunk (LCPV) had negative prognostic value (p = 0.026). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age (p < 0.001) as the risk factor of preexisting SCILs, whereas the presence of LCPV trunk was associated with significantly lower (p = 0.005) SCILs incidence.

Conclusions: Silent cerebral ischemic lesions detected in MRI are frequent in the population of patients with non-valvular AF. The incidence of SCILs is higher in patients with long history of arrhythmia and higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc score. The relationship between the anatomy of pulmonary veins and the incidence of SCILs needs further investigation.

Background: The role of Cystatin C (CysC) in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease, particularly acute coronary syndrome (ACS), is increasingly significant. The goal of this meta-analysis was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of CysC in patients with ACS, as well as its association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke.

Methods: The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase, a literature review of cohort and case control studies reporting MACE and using the terms ACS and Cystatin C was conducted, excluding studies published after August 1, 2024. the meta-analysis using a random effects model.

Results: CysC concentrations were significantly higher in patients with ACS compared to controls [mean difference (MD) = 0.36, p < 0.001], and in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) vs. unstable angina (MD = 0.18, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Patients with MACE had higher CysC levels than those without (MD = 0.25, p < 0.001). Hospital survivors had lower CysC levels compared to those who died (MD = -0.25, p < 0.001). Higher CysC concentrations were associated with increased risks of MACE, cardiac death, overall mortality, myocardial reinfarction, and stroke, both during hospitalization and beyond.

Conclusions: CysC is a promising biomarker for both diagnosis and prognosis in patients with ACS, especially in the context of predicting MACE, mortality and heart failure risk. The use of CysC may improve risk stratification and support therapeutic decision-making in clinical practice.

Background: Klotho is a transmembrane and secretory protein and acts as a co-receptor for fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). This study aimed to analyse the concentration of Klotho and FGF23 proteins in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The study group comprised 129 patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who were referred for further invasive diagnostics (MI group). Blood samples were collected at 4 time points: at admission, and 6h, 24h, and between 24-48h post-admission. The criteria for the control subjects (n = 30) were no declaration of MI and ACS (non-MI group). Klotho and FGF23 concentrations in plasma were tested by ELISA at each time point.

Results: The concentration of soluble Klotho in the MI group was increased at admission, 6h and 24 h post-admission, and then normalized at 24-48h. Klotho concentration was also significantly increased in patients with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) only at admission, in comparison to non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI). The concentration of FGF23 in the MI group was higher at admission, 6h and 24h post-admission, and continued to increase after 24-48 h. There was an increase in FGF23 concentration in the STEMI group at 24-48h post-admission, in comparison to NSTEMI.

Conclusions: The concentrations of Klotho and FGF23 in plasma were higher in patients with MI and changed over time. Thus, Klotho and FGF23 may be recognized as new factors in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of ACS, as well as novel therapeutic targets.

Background: The association between coronary microcirculatory function and long-term outcomes in late-presenting patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear.

Methods: A total of 340 STEMI patients with late presentation (> 12 hours from the onset of symptoms) who underwent delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were consecutively recruited from 2016 to 2021. The coronary microvasculature was assessed by angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (caIMR) using commercial software. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as a composite of all-cause death and myocardial infarction.

Results: The median symptom-to-angiography time was 149 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 101-192). The culprit vessels were completely occluded in 120 (35.3%) patients. During the follow-up with a median period of 51 months, MACE occurred in 27 patients (7.9%). After adjusting for risk factors, caIMR > 25 U after PCI was independently associated with an increased incidence of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.92-9.67; p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for caIMR in predicting MACE was 0.675 (p = 0.020).

Conclusions: Our study indicated that caIMR was an important prognostic predictor in late-presenting STEMI patients who underwent delayed PCI. Preservation of coronary microcirculatory function during PCI could provide long-term prognostic benefits.