European heart journal open最新文献

Aims: More than 220 Mio people live at altitudes above 2000 m, many of whom have pre-existing chronic diseases, including pulmonary vascular diseases (PVDs) such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We investigated the acute effects of high-dose supplemental oxygen on pulmonary haemodynamics assessed by echocardiography in patients with PVD permanently living at 2850 m.

Methods and results: In a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, patients with PVD diagnosed with PAH or CTEPH were allocated to receive 10 L/min supplemental oxygen (FiO₂ ≈ 95%) and placebo air administered via a facial mask with reservoir near their living altitude in Quito at 2850 m (FiO₂0.21, PiO₂ ≈ 60% of sea level) in random order with a washout period of >2 h. After >15 min of breathing the respective FiO₂, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), cardiac output (CO), and other parameters were assessed by echocardiography. Furthermore, radial arterial blood gases were analysed. Twenty-eight patients with PVD (24 females, 26 PAH, age 45 ± 12 years) treated with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (n = 28) and endothelin receptor antagonists (n = 9) were included. With oxygen vs. placebo air, sPAP was 57 ± 23 vs. 68 ± 24 mmHg, mean difference -11 mmHg (-15 to -6 mmHg, P < 0.001), CO was 3.2 ± 0.9 vs. 3.9 ± 1.1 L/min; -0.7 L/min (-0.9 to -0.4 L/min, P < 0.001), while sPAP/CO was unchanged, and the right ventriculo-arterial coupling was increased. PaO₂ was 22.5 ± 9.7 vs. 7.6 ± 1.5 kPa; 14.9 kPa (11.4-18.4 kPa, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: High-dose oxygen therapy in prevalent patients with PVD living near 2850 m significantly lowered sPAP but also CO by a reduced heart rate, resulting in an unchanged pulmonary resistance. Whether longer-term oxygen therapy would improve pulmonary vascular resistance requires further investigation.

Registration: NCT06084559 URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06084559.

Aims: The aim of this study was determine the incidence of major adverse cardiac events within 30 and 365-days among patients discharged from emergency departments (EDs), following a single high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I test result below or close to the limits of detection (LoD).

Methods and results: Patients ≥20 years old who presented to four EDs from mid-2014 to end-2015, underwent a single high-sensitivity troponin test and were discharged were included. Data from ED presentations, hospital admissions, mortality records, and pathology laboratories were linked and harmonized. High-sensitivity troponin levels were categorized as below (<2 ng/L) or close to (<5 ng/L) the LoD. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction (MI), identified using ICD-10-AM codes. In a cohort of 6633 patients, 49% had high-sensitivity troponin levels below the LoD (<2 ng/L), and 79% had levels <5 ng/L. There were no primary outcome events at 30-day follow-up among patients with high-sensitivity troponin results below 2 or 5 ng/L. At 365-days, there were 5 (0.15%) and 11 (0.21%) primary outcome events for patients with high-sensitivity troponin results below 2 and 5 ng/L, indicating negative predictive values of 99.85% and 99.79%.

Conclusion: These findings confirm that patients with a single very low level of high-sensitivity troponin on presentation to EDs are at low risk of MI and cardiovascular death at 30 and 365 days, supporting the safety of a triage strategy incorporating a single high-sensitivity troponin result below the LoD to identify patients at low-risk, who may be suitable for expedited discharge.

Aims: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with aortic valve stenosis. The choice between TAVI, surgery, or a conservative approach should be based upon multiple factors including clinical considerations, technical feasibility, and informed patient preference. In this context, engaging patients in a shared decision-making (SDM) process becomes essential, but this practice is generally underused.

Methods and results: To comply with the European and UK national guidelines, in January 2023 we established a structured SDM pathway in which patients are offered virtual/physical decision aids and after 1 week are invited to a meeting to reach a shared decision. From December 2022 to June 2023, a custom-developed questionnaire was prospectively administered to 23 patients prior to, and 38 patients after, the implementation of the SDM pathway. The answers to 12 core questions were recorded on a Likert scale (1-5). Global satisfaction, as measured by mean Likert score, was significantly higher for the post-SDM group than for the pre-SDM group (4.46 ± 0.14 vs. 3.78 ± 0.30, P < 0.001). The percentage of positive (Likert 4-5) responses was significantly higher in the post-SDM group (289/312, 92.6% vs. 155/234, 66.2%, P < 0.001). The percentage of negative (Likert 1-2) responses was significantly lower in the post-SDM group (5/312, 1.6% vs. 53/234, 22.6%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The SDM pathway proved effective in delivering SDM in compliance with national and international guidance. A similar approach leveraging digital technology to minimize cost and enhance patient convenience could be implemented for other treatments and across other institutions.

Aims: The Standard care vs. Celecoxib Outcome Trial (SCOT) found similar risk of cardiovascular events with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the cyclooxygenase-2-selective drug celecoxib. While pre-clinical work has suggested roles for vascular and renal dysfunction in NSAID cardiovascular toxicity, our understanding of these mechanisms remains incomplete. A post hoc analysis of the SCOT cohort was performed to identify clinical risk factors and circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular events in NSAID users.

Methods and results: Within SCOT (7295 NSAID users with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis), clinical risk factors associated with cardiovascular events were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. A nested case-control study of serum biomarkers including targeted proteomics was performed in individuals who experienced a cardiovascular event within 1 year (n = 49), matched 2:1 with controls who did not (n = 97). Risk factors significantly associated with cardiovascular events included increasing age, male sex, smoking, total cholesterol:HDL ratio ≥5, and aspirin use. Statin use was cardioprotective [odds ratio (OR) 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.98]. There was significantly higher immunoglobulin (Ig)G anti-malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and lower arginine/ADMA. Targeted proteomic analysis identified serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) as a candidate biomarker [area under the curve of 0.715 (95% CI 0.63-0.81)].

Conclusion: Growth differentiation factor 15 has been identified as a candidate biomarker and should be explored for its mechanistic contribution to NSAID cardiovascular toxicity, particularly given the remarkable providence that GDF-15 was originally described as NSAID-activated gene-1.

Aims: Women and older patients are underrepresented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating treatment strategies following acute coronary syndrome. This study aims to evaluate the benefit of invasive vs. conservative strategy of older women with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS).

Methods and results: This analysis from an individual patient data meta-analysis included six RCTs comparing an invasive management with a conservative management in older NSTEACS patients. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction (MI). Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, MI, urgent revascularization, and stroke. Follow-up time was censored at 1 year. In total, 717 women [median age 84.0 (interquartile range 81.0-87.0) years] were included. The primary endpoint occurred in 21.0% in the invasive strategy vs. 27.8% in the conservative strategy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52-1.13, P = 0.160 using random effect] at 1-year follow-up. The invasive management was associated with reduced risk of MI (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.32-0.73, P < 0.001) and urgent revascularization (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20-0.98, P = 0.045). No significant differences were identified in the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and stroke. Among males, there was no significant association between the treatment strategy and primary or secondary endpoints.

Conclusion: An invasive strategy compared with a conservative strategy did not reduce the composite outcome of all-cause mortality or MI in older NSTEACS women at 1-year follow-up. An invasive strategy reduced the individual risk of MI and urgent revascularization. Our results support the beneficial role of the invasive strategy in older NSTEACS women.

Registration: This meta-analysis is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023379819).

Aims: Our study aimed to explore the temporal trajectory of eight circulating biomarkers, measured serially over 12 months, in a prospective observational cohort of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to investigate the association between these biomarkers and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during follow-up assessments.

Methods and results: We enrolled 155 patients admitted for a first AMI requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Baseline characteristics, laboratory test results, and cardiac ultrasound examinations were collected at pre-PCI (H0), immediately post-PCI (H24), at discharge (D3), and at 6 months (M6) and 12 months (M12) post-PCI. Blood samples were analysed for established and emerging biomarkers described in left ventricular dysfunction: soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), osteopontin, angiopoietin-2, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), hepcidin, and galectin-3. Values at H24, D3, M6, and M12 were compared with value at H0. Three kinetic profiles were identified, with six biomarkers peaking during the acute MI phase. Crude relationships between clinical variables and the peak values (highest observed between H0 and D3) of each biomarker were studied. Peak levels of sST2, IL-6, osteopontin, and angiopoietin-2 demonstrated significant correlations with both baseline and follow-up LVEF values.

Conclusion: The assessment of the temporal trajectories of these biomarkers and their associations with LVEF suggests that sST2, IL-6, osteopontin, and angiopoietin-2 hold significant promise as companion biomarkers. These biomarkers may improve the identification of patients at risk for developing impaired LVEF following AMI, thereby enabling more targeted and effective management strategies.

Aims: Subclinical thrombosis may represent an early stage of prosthesis structural disease. Most of the available evidence on the incidence, location, predictors, and consequences of thrombosis comes from studies that have employed balloon-expandable valves. We aimed to describe the different localisations of valvular and perivalvular thrombosis and analyse prosthesis-host multi-detector computed tomography predictors in the context of self-expandable prosthesis. Additionally, we aimed to assess the impact of valvular and perivalvular thrombosis on prosthesis performance and subsequent clinical outcomes.

Methods and results: This analysis includes 100 consecutive patients with normal renal function who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement using Evolut R and received multi-detector computed tomography and transthoracic bi-dimensional echocardiography at the 6 month follow-up. Leaflet thrombosis was detected in 18 (18%) patients; 6 (6%) had at least one leaflet with severe thrombosis. Thrombosis of the anatomic sinus was detected in 24 patients (24%) and was more prevalent in the non-coronary sinus. Subvalvular thrombosis with partial or complete circumferential involvement of the prosthesis inner skirt was diagnosed in 23 patients (23%). Bicuspid valve was the predictor with highest association with hypoattenuated lesions [least absolute shrinkage and selection operator coefficient 0.35, 95%, confidence interval (CI) 0.21-0.68]. There was no difference in terms of haemodynamic structural valve dysfunction, neurological events, and re-hospitalisation between the groups with and without thrombosis (hazard ratio: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.24-3.06, P = 0.82).

Conclusion: This study showed that in a relatively low-risk population, valvular and perivalvular thrombosis were not rare phenomena following transcatheter aortic valve replacement at early follow-up. Bicuspid valve showed the strongest association with post-implant thrombosis.