Aims
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves outcomes in heart failure (HF) but may be underutilized. The reasons are unknown.
Methods and results
We linked the Swedish Heart Failure ...Registry to national registries with ICD‐10 (International Classification of Diseases‐10th Revision) co‐morbidity diagnoses and demographic and socio‐economic data. In patients with EF ≤39% and NYHA II–IV, we assessed prevalence of CRT indication and CRT use. In those with CRT indication, we assessed the association between 37 potential baseline covariates and CRT non‐use using multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Of 12 807 patients (mean age 71 ± 12 years, 28% female), 841 (7%) had CRT, 3094 (24%) had an indication for but non‐use of CRT, and 8872 (69%) had no indication. Important variables independently associated with CRT non‐use were: HF duration <6 months risk ratio (RR) 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–1.24; non‐cardiology planned follow‐up (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.18); age >75 years (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09–1.18); non‐cardiology care at baseline (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.14); small‐town non‐university centre (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05–1.12); female sex (RR 1.07 95% CI 1.03–1.10) (all P < 0.05); as was absence of AF, living alone; psychiatric diagnosis; smoking; and non‐use of HF drugs. Education, income, cancer, or HF characteristics were not independently associated with CRT non‐use.
Conclusion
In this population‐wide HF registry, CRT was underutilized. Non‐use was associated mostly with demographic and organizational, but not clinical or socio‐economic factors. This calls for programmes to raise awareness of CRT indications and improve access and referrals to cardiology specialists.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 triggers an immune response with local inflammation in the lung, ...which may extend to a systemic hyperinflammatory reaction. Excessive inflammation has been reported in severe cases with respiratory failure and cardiovascular complications. In addition to the release of cytokines, referred to as cytokine release syndrome or "cytokine storm," increased pro-inflammatory lipid mediators derived from the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) arachidonic acid may cause an "eicosanoid storm," which contributes to the uncontrolled systemic inflammation. Specialized pro-resolving mediators, which are derived from omega-3 PUFA, limit inflammatory reactions by an active process called resolution of inflammation. Here, the rationale for omega-3 PUFA supplementation in COVID-19 patients is presented along with a brief overview of the study protocol for the trial "Resolving Inflammatory Storm in COVID-19 Patients by Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids - A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled feasibility study" (COVID-Omega-F). EudraCT: 2020-002293-28; clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04647604.
Post-acute COVID-19 (PACS) are associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, especially postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Patients with PACS, both in the absence or presence of POTS, ...exhibit a wide range of persisting symptoms long after the acute infection. Some of these symptoms may stem from alterations in cardiovascular homeostasis, but the exact mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to provide a broad molecular characterization of patients with PACS with (PACS + POTS) and without (PACS-POTS) POTS compared to healthy subjects, including a broad proteomic characterization with a focus on plasma cardiometabolic proteins, quantification of cytokines/chemokines and determination of plasma sphingolipid levels. Twenty-one healthy subjects without a prior COVID-19 infection (mean age 43 years, 95% females), 20 non-hospitalized patients with PACS + POTS (mean age 39 years, 95% females) and 22 non-hospitalized patients with PACS-POTS (mean age 44 years, 100% females) were studied. PACS patients were non-hospitalized and recruited ≈18 months after the acute infection. Cardiometabolic proteomic analyses revealed a dysregulation of ≈200 out of 700 analyzed proteins in both PACS groups vs. healthy subjects with the majority (> 90%) being upregulated. There was a large overlap (> 90%) with no major differences between the PACS groups. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed alterations in hemostasis/coagulation, metabolism, immune responses, and angiogenesis in PACS vs. healthy controls. Furthermore, 11 out of 33 cytokines/chemokines were significantly upregulated both in PACS + POTS and PACS-POTS vs. healthy controls and none of the cytokines were downregulated. There were no differences in between the PACS groups in the cytokine levels. Lastly, 16 and 19 out of 88 sphingolipids were significantly dysregulated in PACS + POTS and PACS-POTS, respectively, compared to controls with no differences between the groups. Collectively, these observations suggest a clear and distinct dysregulation in the proteome, cytokines/chemokines, and sphingolipid levels in PACS patients compared to healthy subjects without any clear signature associated with POTS. This enhances our understanding and might pave the way for future experimental and clinical investigations to elucidate and/or target resolution of inflammation and micro-clots and restore the hemostasis and immunity in PACS.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aims
Age is not a contraindication to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but the prevalence and prognostic impact of QRS prolongation with intraventricular conduction delay (IVCD) and left ...bundle branch block (LBBB), as well as CRT utilization, may differ with age. We tested the hypotheses that in the elderly: (i) IVCD and LBBB are more prevalent, (ii) IVCD and LBBB are more harmful, and (iii) CRT is underutilized.
Methods and results
We studied 14 713 patients with ejection fraction ≤39% in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry and divided into age groups ≤65 years, 66–80 years and >80 years. Among 13 782 patients without CRT, IVCD was present in the three age groups in 11% vs. 15% vs. 19% and LBBB was present in 20% vs. 27% vs. 28%, respectively, (P < 0.001). The multivariable hazard ratio (HR) for all‐cause mortality over a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 29 (12–53) months for IVCD vs. narrow QRS was 1.31 (1.06–1.63, P = 0.013) in the ≤65 year group, 1.32 (1.17–1.47, P < 0.001) in the 66–80 year group, and 1.26 (1.21–1.41, p < 0.001) in the >80 year group. For LBBB vs. narrow QRS it was 1.29 (1.07–1.56, P = 0.009), 1.17 (1.06–1.30, P = 0.002), and 1.10 (0.99–1.22, P = 0.091), respectively. The adjusted P for interaction between age and QRS morphology was 0.664. In the three age groups, CRT was present in 6% vs. 8% vs. 4% and absent but with indication in 23% vs. 32% vs. 37%, respectively (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Both IVCD and LBBB were more common with increasing age and were similarly strong independent predictors of mortality and in all ages. The underutilization of CRT was worse with increasing age.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
5.
Biventricular Stimulation Braunschweig, Frieder, MD, PhD; Linde, Cecilia, MD, PhD
Journal of the American College of Cardiology,
05/2016, Volume:
67, Issue:
18
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global public health, with long-term consequences that are still largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the data regarding acute ...cardiovascular hospital admissions in five European centers before and during the pandemic. A multicenter, multinational observational registry was created, comparing admissions to the emergency departments during a 3-months period in 2020 (during the pandemic) with the corresponding period in 2019 (pre-pandemic). Data on patient demographics, COVID-19 test results, primary diagnosis, comorbidities, heart failure profile, medication use, and laboratory results were collected. A total of 8778 patients were included in the analysis, with 4447 patients in 2019 and 4331 patients in 2020. The results showed significant differences in the distribution of cardiovascular diseases between the two years. The frequency of pulmonary embolism (PE) increased in 2020 compared to 2019, while acute heart failure (AHF) and other cardiovascular diseases decreased. The odds of PE incidence among hospitalized patients in 2020 were 1.316-fold greater than in 2019. The incidence of AHF was 50.83% less likely to be observed in 2020, and the odds for other cardiovascular diseases increased by 17.42% between the 2 years. Regarding acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the distribution of its types differed between 2019 and 2020, with an increase in the odds of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 2020. Stratification based on sex revealed further insights. Among men, the incidence of AHF decreased in 2020, while other cardiovascular diseases increased. In women, only the incidence of STEMI showed a significant increase. When analyzing the influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-positive patients had a higher incidence of PE compared to COVID-negative patients. COVID-positive patients with ACS also exhibited symptoms of heart failure more frequently than COVID-negative patients. These findings provide valuable information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute cardiovascular hospital admissions. The increased incidence of PE and changes in the distribution of other cardiovascular diseases highlight the importance of monitoring and managing cardiovascular health during and post pandemic period. The differences observed between sexes emphasize the need for further research to understand potential sex-specific effects of COVID-19 on cardiovascular outcomes.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is routinely used to restore sinus rhythm in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation. The European guidelines have been updated in recent years. ...Current information on differences in the risk for stroke after acute versus elective ECV is lacking. Methods And Results All patients with a first‐time acute or elective ECV in the Stockholm regional health care data warehouse from 2011 to 2018 were included. Cox regression analyses were performed evaluating ischemic or unspecified stroke within 30 days after ECV with adjustments for the CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score, medical treatment, and year of inclusion. The study included 9139 patients, 3094 after acute and 6045 after elective ECV. The mean age was 65.9±11.3 years, 69.5% were men, and the mean CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score was 2.4±1.7. Before the intervention, 49.6% of patients with an acute ECV and 96.4% of those with an elective ECV had claimed an oral anticoagulant prescription. Ischemic or unspecified stroke occurred in 26 (0.28%) patients within 30 days. The unadjusted risk was higher after acute compared with elective ECV (hazard ratio HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.06–4.96), whereas there was no difference after multivariable adjustments (adjusted HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.36–2.72). Both non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants (adjusted HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08–0.98) and warfarin (adjusted HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05–0.53) were associated with a lower risk for stroke compared with no anticoagulation. Conclusions Acute ECV was associated with a higher unadjusted risk for stroke than elective ECV, but the risk was similar after adjustment for anticoagulant treatment. This study indicates the importance of anticoagulation before ECV according to recent European guidelines.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is common and increases the risk of postoperative complications and mortality. There is little information on the association ...between AKI after CABG and long-term risk of incident heart failure (HF).
All patients (n=24 018) undergoing primary, isolated CABG in Sweden between 2000 and 2008 with complete information on pre- and postoperative serum creatinine values, and no prior hospitalization for HF were included. The postoperative increase in serum creatinine was used to define different stages of AKI: stage 1, 0.3 to 0.5 mg/dL; stage 2, 0.5 to 1 mg/dL; stage 3, >1 mg/dL. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for first hospitalization for HF for each stage of AKI using Cox proportional hazards regression. Twelve percent of the study population developed AKI. During a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, there were 1325 cases (5.5%) of incident HF. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence interval for HF in AKI stage 1, 2, and 3 were 1.60 (1.34-1.92), 1.87 (1.54-2.27), and 1.98 (1.53-2.57), respectively, after multivariable adjustment for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, estimated glomerular filtration rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial infarction before surgery or during follow-up.
AKI is associated with increased long-term risk of HF after CABG. Patients with AKI after CABG should be followed closely to detect early changes in cardiac function.
The main objective of this study was to assess if the benefits of biventricular (BiV) pacing observed during the crossover phase were sustained over 12 months.
MUltisite STimulation In ...Cardiomyopathies (MUSTIC) is a randomized controlled study intended to evaluate the effects of BiV pacing in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay.
Of 131 patients included, 42/67 in sinus rhythm (SR) and 33/64 in atrial fibrillation (AF) were followed up longitudinally at 9 and 12 months by 6-min walked distance, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), quality of life by the Minnesota score, NYHA class, echocardiography, and left ventricular ejection fraction by radionuclide technique.
At 12 months, all SR and 88% of AF patients were programmed to BiV pacing. Compared with baseline, the 6-min walked distance increased by 20% (SR) (p = 0.0001) and 17% (AF) (p = 0.004); the peak VO2by 11% (SR) and 9% (AF); quality of life improved by 36% (SR) (p = 0.0001) and 32% (AF) (p = 0.002); NYHA class improved by 25% (SR) (p = 0.0001) and 27% (AF) (p = 0.0001). The ejection fraction improved by 5% (SR) and 4% (AF). Mitral regurgitation decreased by 45% (SR) and 50% (AF).
The clinical benefits of BiV pacing appeared to be significantly maintained over a 12-month follow-up period.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Trials in patients with normal and depressed LV function have delivered compelling evidence for an adverse effect of long-term RV stimulation on the risk of heart failure hospitalization (9,10) which ...was likely linked to the induction of cardiac dyssynchrony. ...it has been shown in human studies and animal models that frequent premature ventricular contractions can induce dyssynchrony-related ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyopathy in otherwise structurally normal hearts (11,12), and that normal cardiac function can be restored after curative ablation of the arrhythmogenic focus. ...the patients described by Vaillant and coworkers received concomitant drug therapy for their heart failure, and the relative contributions of medical therapy and resynchronization respectively remain unknown (13).
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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