Cardiology journal最新文献

Background: Patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy exhibit a range of myocardial fibrosis (MF) patterns on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Data suggests that ring-like MF is associated with worse prognosis. In the present study it was sought to analyze the prevalence of parametric mapping abnormalities in ring-like MF and their prognostic value for arrhythmic events.

Methods: Patients undergoing clinical CMR at 1.5T/3T were evaluated for ring-like MF defined as midwall/subepicardial fibrosis involving ≥ 3 contiguous left ventricular segments. CMR protocol included cine imaging, T1 and T2 mapping, and LGE. Mean native T1, ECV, and T2 values and a number of mid short axis segments with elevated values were calculated. LGE extent was assessed segmentally. Arrhythmic outcomes were defined as appropriate device shock, premature ventricular contractions ≥ 10%, non-sustained/sustained ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation.

Results: In total 49 patients (53 ± 17 years, 26.5% female) were analyzed. Many patients had elevated global/segmental mapping values: 45%/76% in native T1, 57%/57% in T2, and 57%/78% in ECV. During median follow-up of 12 months, arrhythmic events occurred in 65% of patients. There was no association between native T1/T2 elevation or number of LGE segments and arrhythmic outcomes. There was a significant association between ECV and arrhythmic outcomes, both septal ECV (p = 0.036) and any segmental ECV elevation (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: T1 and T2 myocardial tissue abnormalities are common in patients with ring-like MF. ECV elevation was associated with arrhythmic events in this cohort. Further studies are needed to establish the diagnostic and prognostic value of parametric mapping in patients with ring-like MF.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of pre-existing comorbidities and in-hospital complications on COVID-19 mortality rates.

Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted using electronic health records from 640 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at the University Clinical Centre in Gdansk, Poland, between November 2020 and May 2021. Patients were categorized based on disease severity into stable or ICU wards based on the disease severity. Data on demographics, comorbidities, complications, and treatments were collected and verified. Statistical analyses, including odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs), assessed mortality risk factors supported by python-based processing.

Results: The mean patient age was 67 years (SD ± 15.89), comprising 39% females (n = 250) and 60.94% males (n = 390). Mortality risk was highest in patients aged 65 years and older (OR 3.00; 95% CI, 1.97-4.60). Among the pre-existing comorbidities, chronic kidney disease (OR 3.28; 95% CI, 2.12-5.09), atrial fibrillation (OR 2.43; CI 95%, 1.63-3.61), and heart failure (OR 2.89; 95% CI, 1.91-4.37) were significant predictors of mortality. In hospital complications, such as severe respiratory failure requiring ICU ventilation (OR 23.59; 95% CI, 2.81-197.87), myocardial infarction (OR 25.43; 95% CI, 3.16-204.97), acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (OR 19.15; 95% CI, 6.49-56.51), sepsis (OR 7.22, 95% CI, 3.77-13.84), stroke, further increased mortality risk.

Conclusions: COVID-19 patients with pre-existing renal and cardiovascular conditions face a higher risk of fatal outcomes. Early diagnosis and intervention targeting these complications are vital to in reducing mortality. Further research is needed to reconcile disparities with existing literature.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical significance of depression in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (CRT-D). The study was also to evaluate the impact of shock therapy on depression development and long-term prognosis.

Methods: The prospective study encompassed 396 consecutive heart failure (HF) patients implanted with CRT-D. All patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and underwent a psychiatric examination at baseline. 221 patients free of depressive symptoms at baseline were included into the final analysis. The assessment of psychiatric status was routinely repeated every 6 months as well as after the shock delivery. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of death or hospitalization for HF.

Results: During long-term observation (median 37.1 months) 52 (23.5%) patients suffered from an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock, whereas 48 (21.8%) subjects developed depression. The incidence of new-onset depression was significantly higher in patients after shock delivery (Shock Group), CRT non-responders and subjects with atrial fibrillation. The risk for a composite endpoint was higher in the Shock Group than subjects without an ICD intervention: 57.7% vs. 25.4% and in patients with new-onset depression compared to the population free of this disorder: 62.5% vs. 24.9% (all p < 0.001). New-onset depression (HR 1.7) and an ICD shock (HR 2.1) were strong independent predictors of poor prognosis.

Conclusions: Depression is a common mental disorder in CRT-D recipients, that adversely affects long-term prognosis. Subjects suffering from ICD shocks and those with HF progression are at higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms.

Background: Cumulative data has highlighted the efficacy of intra-vascular lithotripsy (IVL) in patients with stent failure (SF). However, it remains unclear whether the effectiveness of IVL, and subsequent clinical outcomes, are influenced by the timing of SF. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with SF undergoing IVL according to the age of index stent implantation.

Methods: This is a pre-specified subgroup analysis of the COIL registry (coronary intravascular lithotripsy in patients with stent failure), which included patients who underwent IVL treatment for SF, divided according to the timing of SF, i.e., early (≤12 months), mid-term (12-36 months), and late SF (>36 months). Procedural and clinical outcomes up to 12 months following IVL treatment were recorded. The primary endpoint was defined as the composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization (TVR).

Results: There were 88 patients included in this sub-study, of whom 40 (45%), 17 (19%), and 31 (35%) had early, mid-term, and late SF, respectively. Final procedural results were better in those with early compared to mid-term or late SF. At one-year follow-up, the incidence of the primary endpoint was associated with the timing of SF (8% vs. 12% vs. 29%, p = 0.042). The difference among the subgroups was driven by TVR (3% vs. 12% vs. 29%, p = 0.005).

Conclusions: Procedural and clinical outcomes following IVL treatment for patients with SF were influenced by the timing of index stent implantation. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms behind recurrent SF.

The 2023 ESC guidelines changed previously recommended a strategy of early treatment in patients with STEMI. Pre-treatment with a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor may be considered in patients undergoing a primary PCI strategy (Class IIb, Level of evidence B). However, the available scientific evidence justifies a personalized approach differentiating the indications for pre-treatment with oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitors depending on the concomitant administration of opioids. In our opinion, in patients undergoing primary PCI not treated with opioids, pre-treatment with an oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitor should be applied, while in patients undergoing primary PCI treated with opioids, pre-treatment with an oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitor should be considered.

Background: Infections related to cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Antibiotic-eluting envelopes have been introduced as a technology to prevent CIED infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the antibacterial envelope in the real-world population of a tertiary center.

Methods: This cohort study includes consecutively enrolled patients undergoing a device procedure from 01/2014 to 12/2020 at the University Hospital in Zurich. During period A (01/2014-12/2019) antibacterial envelopes were not used, whereas during period B (01/2020-12/2020) antibacterial envelopes were used in all device interventions. Follow-up was conducted by assessing all available patient records from patient visits and hospitalization.

Results: 1757 patients (male 70.5%, mean age 67.1 ± 16 years), were analyzed during a follow-up of 24 months. In 302 patients (17.2%) an antibacterial envelope was used. The overall occurrence of a device infection was low (n = 15, 0.85%). Factors that were associated with the incidence of an infection were not undergoing a primary implantation procedure (p = 0.024) and a CRT-P/D intervention (p = 0.022). There was no difference in the rate of infection between patients in whom a bacterial envelope was implanted vs. those in whom it was not used (0.6 vs. 0.9%, p = 0.693).

Conclusion: In a contemporary cohort of consecutive, unselected patients undergoing a device intervention at a large tertiary care center, the rate of device infection was low and not significantly different with vs. without the use of an antibacterial envelope. The data have important practical as well as economic implications for physicians performing such procedures.