Imaging patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)
Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) defines a heterogeneous group of atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic conditions, causing myocardial injury in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Unveiling the mechanisms subtended to the acute event is often challenging; a multimodality imaging approach is helpful to aid the diagnosis. Invasive coronary imaging with intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography should be used, when available, during index angiography to detect plaque disruption or spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance ha...
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Leo, I., Bisaccia, G., Miaris, N., Procopio, M. C., Licordari, R., Bucciarelli-Ducci, C. Tags: Education in Heart Source Type: research
Renin-angiotensin system inhibition after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that medical therapy with an RAS inhibitor after SAVR is associated with a 13% lower risk of MACE and a 21% lower risk of all-cause death. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Martinsson, A., Törngren, C., Nielsen, S. J., Pan, E., Hansson, E. C., Taha, A., Jeppsson, A. Tags: Valvular heart disease, Open access Source Type: research
Growth differentiation factor-15 in patients with or at risk of heart failure but before first hospitalisation
Conclusion
In patients at risk of HF, or with HF but before first hospitalisation, GDF-15 provides unique information and is highly predictive of hospitalisation for HF or all-cause mortality, leading to more accurate risk stratification that can improve clinical decision making.
Trial registration number
NCT02326324. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bradley, J., Schelbert, E. B., Bonnett, L. J., Lewis, G. A., Lagan, J., Orsborne, C., Brown, P. F., Black, N., Naish, J. H., Williams, S. G., McDonagh, T., Schmitt, M., Miller, C. A. Tags: Open access Heart failure and cardiomyopathies Source Type: research
Ventricular hypertrophy in a young weightlifter
An adult patient presented with palpitations, chest pain and reduced exertional capacity for 3 years. Previously, the patient was an amateur weightlifter who used anabolic steroids but had ceased supplements 3 years before admission. There was no family history of cardiovascular disease or sudden cardiac death. Blood pressure was elevated. The 12-lead ECG showed left ventricular hypertrophy and T wave inversion in the lateral and precordial leads. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), normal high-sensitivity troponin T and severe hypertriglyceridaemia. Transthoracic ech...
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dadarlat-Pop, A., Tomoaia, R., Serban, A. M. Tags: Image challenges Source Type: research
Automated external defibrillator location and socioeconomic deprivation in Great Britain
Conclusion
In England and Scotland, there are differences in distances to the nearest 24/7 accessible AED between the most and least deprived communities. Equitable access to ‘out-of-hours’ accessible AEDs may improve outcomes for people with OHCA. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Burgoine, T., Austin, D., Wu, J., Quinn, T., Shurmer, P., Gale, C. P., Wilkinson, C. Tags: Open access, Editor's choice Healthcare delivery, economics and global health Source Type: research
QRS complex and T wave planarity for the efficacy prediction of automatic implantable defibrillators
Conclusions
The analysed data suggest that QRS and T wave non-planarity might offer distinction between patients who are at greater risk of death despite ICD protection and those who are likely to use the defibrillator protection. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Hnatkova, K., Andrsova, I., Novotny, T., Vanderberk, B., Sprenkeler, D., Junttila, J., Reichlin, T., Schlögl, S., Vos, M. A., Friede, T., Bauer, A., Huikuri, H. V., Willems, R., Schmidt, G., Sticherling, C., Zabel, M., Malik, M. Tags: Open access Cardiac risk factors and prevention Source Type: research
Lifetime cumulative effect of reproductive factors on ischaemic heart disease in a prospective cohort
Conclusions
Longer RLS, TEE and EEE were associated with lower risks of IHD among Chinese postmenopausal females. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Hou, L., Liu, W., Sun, W., Cao, J., Shan, S., Feng, Y., Zhou, Y., Yuan, C., Li, X., Song, P. Tags: Open access Cardiac risk factors and prevention Source Type: research
Association between catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and mortality or stroke
Conclusions
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation was associated with a reduction in the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality or stroke. This result was driven by a marked reduction in all-cause mortality. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Akerström, F., Hutter, J., Charitakis, E., Tabrizi, F., Asaad, F., Bastani, H., Bourke, T., Braunschweig, F., Drca, N., Englund, A., Friberg, L., Insulander, P., Jönsson, A. H., Kennebäck, G., Paul-Nordin, A., Sadigh, B., Saluveer, Tags: Open access Arrhythmias and sudden death Source Type: research
Management of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease characterised by fibrofatty replacement of the ventricular myocardium due to specific mutations, leading to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Treating this condition can be challenging due to progressive fibrosis, phenotypic variations and small patient cohorts limiting the feasibility of conducting meaningful clinical trials. Although widely used, the evidence base for anti-arrhythmic drugs is limited. Beta-blockers are theoretically sound, yet their efficacy in reducing arrhythmic risk is not robust. Additionally, the impact of sotalol an...
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Al-Aidarous, S., Protonotarios, A., Elliott, P. M., Lambiase, P. D. Tags: Review articles Reviews Source Type: research
Inequities in access and use of automated external defibrillators
Sudden cardiac death is one of the main causes of mortality in patients with known or occult cardiac disease and is potentially preventable by early resuscitation. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have evolved as ‘game changers’ in the treatment of haemodynamically unstable ventricular arrhythmias as they can be used by virtually untrained members of the public. The usage of AEDs, however, can be improved as they are only employed in <20% of resuscitations.1 Underuse of AEDs is a multifaceted problem with the number of available devices in a given distance to a person with out-of-hospital cardiac arr...
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Maass, A. H. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research
Determining risk of sudden death: is it all in the T wave?
The prediction of sudden cardiac death remains the ‘holy grail’ of cardiology to enable optimal targeting of preventative therapies in at-risk groups. This challenge is made greater by the fact that the numerical majority of patients at risk of sudden death due to ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) have ejection fractions greater than the 35% cut-off employed in guidelines for internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) despite this being the crudest but most effective differentiator as highlighted by Myerberg and Junttila.1 Although ICDs have proven to be highly efficacious, less than 1 in 10 of the impla...
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Lambiase, P. D. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research
Refining the role of reproductive factors on heart health
Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide in both women and men. Yet, the first manifestation of IHD is typically 5 to 10 years later in women than in men.1 The reasons for these sex differences in the age at onset of IHD are not fully understood. Female sex hormones, especially oestrogen, however, are often thought to explain the lower age-standardised incidence of IHD in women. In experimental studies, oestrogen has shown to have multiple cardioprotective properties, including reduced fibrosis and oxidative stress, stimulation of angiogenesis and vasodilation, and improved mitochondrial functi...
Source: Heart - January 10, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Peters, S. A. E. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research
Impact of leaflet thrombosis on valve haemodynamic status after transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Conclusions
In patients who had undergone successful TAVR, aortic valve haemodynamic status was not influenced by the presence of HALT. Although HALT was not a predictor of haemodynamic SVD at 6 months, it warrants further longer-term follow-up to evaluate the effect on long-term valve durability.
Trial registration number
NCT03284827 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov). (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - December 20, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Jang, M. H., Ahn, J.-M., Kang, D.-Y., Kim, K. W., Koo, H. J., Yang, D. H., Jung, S. C., Kim, B., Wong, Y. T. A., Lam, C. C. S., Yin, W.-H., Wei, J., Lee, Y.-T., Kao, H.-L., Lin, M.-S., Ko, T.-Y., Kim, W.-J., Kang, S. H., Ko, E., Lee, S.-A., Kim, D.-H., Ki Tags: Valvular heart disease Source Type: research
Management and outcomes of carcinoid heart disease with liver metastases of midgut neuroendocrine tumours
Conclusions
We observed a high postoperative mortality rate and baseline right-sided heart failure was associated with worse outcome. In surviving patients, a positive right ventricular remodelling was observed. Prospective, multicentre studies are warranted to better define the management strategy and to identify biomarkers associated with outcome in CHD. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - December 20, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Suc, G., Cachier, A., Hentic, O., Bazire, B., Sannier, A., Delhomme, C., Nataf, P., Laschet, J., Deschamps, L., Garbarz, E., Ou, P., Caligiuri, G., Iung, B., Ruszniewski, P., de Mestier, L., Arangalage, D. Tags: Valvular heart disease Source Type: research
Socioeconomic disparities in the management and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction
Conclusion
Patients with a higher deprivation score were more often from an ethnic-minority background, more likely to suffer in-hospital mortality or MACE when compared with the most affluent quintile, and this relationship was stronger in ethnic minorities compared with White patients. (Source: Heart)
Source: Heart - December 20, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Weight, N., Moledina, S., Volgman, A. S., Bagur, R., Wijeysundera, H. C., Sun, L. Y., Chadi Alraies, M., Rashid, M., Kontopantelis, E., Mamas, M. A. Tags: Coronary artery disease Source Type: research
