Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder, and it is known that it can be triggered by acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients with ACS-induced PTSD have an increased risk of ...recurrent adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. This is still an insufficiently recognized subgroup of patients among clinicians that could benefit from specific therapeutic and rehabilitation approaches.
In accordance with the guidelines established by prominent European and global cardiology associations, comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) stands as an officially endorsed and highly ...recommended therapeutic approach (class I recommendations; level of evidence A) for a diverse spectrum of cardiac patients. Nevertheless, it is a cause for concern to observe that fewer than 50% of eligible patients are being effectively referred for CR, whether in an outpatient or inpatient setting. Concurrently, studies reveal that a substantial proportion of individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease maintain unhealthy lifestyles and exhibit suboptimal management of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, lipid levels, and diabetes. Beyond the conventional patient profile encompassing those recovering from acute coronary syndrome with or without percutaneous coronary intervention, as well as patients who have undergone coronary or valvular surgery, contemporary CR now emphasizes specialized subgroups of patients. These include frail elderly patients, the female population with its unique considerations, individuals burdened by multiple cardiovascular comorbidities, those who have developed psychological consequences due to a cardiac illness and particularly those grappling with chronic heart failure. This editorial seeks to offer a state-of-the-art assessment of the significance and role of comprehensive CR within modern cardiology.
Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem with a prevalence of 1%-2% in developed countries. The underlying pathophysiology of HF is complex and as a clinical syndrome is characterized by ...various symptoms and signs. HF is classified according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and falls into three groups: LVEF ≥ 50% - HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), LVEF < 40% - HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), LVEF 40%-49% - HF with mid-range ejection fraction. Diagnosing HF is primarily a clinical approach and it is based on anamnesis, physical examination, echocardiogram, radiological findings of the heart and lungs and laboratory tests, including a specific markers of HF - brain natriuretic peptide or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide as well as other diagnostic tests in order to elucidate possible etiologies. Updated diagnostic algorithms for HFpEF have been recommended (H2FPEF, HFA-PEFF). New therapeutic options improve clinical outcomes as well as functional status in patients with HFrEF (
e.g.
, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 - SGLT2 inhibitors) and such progress in treatment of HFrEF patients resulted in new working definition of the term “HF with recovered left ventricular ejection fraction”. In line with rapid development of HF treatment, cardiac rehabilitation becomes an increasingly important part of overall approach to patients with chronic HF for it has been proven that exercise training can relieve symptoms, improve exercise capacity and quality of life as well as reduce disability and hospitalization rates. We gave an overview of latest insights in HF diagnosis and treatment with special emphasize on the important role of cardiac rehabilitation in such patients.
Due to its prevalence of 0.5% to 2% in the general population, with a 75% predominance among men, bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart defect. It is frequently accompanied by ...other cardiac congenital anomalies, and clinical presentation can vary significantly, with stenosis being the most common manifestation, often resulting in mild to moderate concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle. Echocardiography is the primary diagnostic modality utilized for establishing the diagnosis, and it is often the sole diagnostic tool relied upon by clinicians. However, due to the heterogeneous clinical presentation and possible associated anomalies (which are often overlooked in clinical practice), it is necessary to employ various diagnostic methods and persist in finding the accurate diagnosis if multiple inconsistencies exist. By employing this approach, we can effectively manage these patients and provide them with appropriate treatment. Through a clinical case from our practice, we provide an overview of the literature on bicuspid aortic valve with aortophaty and the possible association with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. This review article highlights the critical significance of achieving an accurate diagnosis in patients with bicuspid aortic valve and significant left ventricular hypertrophy. It is crucial to exclude other possible causes of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, such as sub- or supra-aortic obstructions, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Antiplatelet therapy is an integral part of optimal medicamentous therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. The strategy of antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy is adjusted (combination of ...drugs, dosing and duration of therapy) depending on the stage of the disease (acute coronary syndrome with percutaneous coronary intervention, chronic coronary syndrome, or coronary surgical revascularization) and comorbidity of each patient (e.g., atrial fibrillation, left ventricular thrombus, etc.). Guidelines and clinical practice in particular are not uniform and specific regarding dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, especially in the setting of chronic coronary syndrome.
Studies have demonstrated that patients who have experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have an increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experiencing worse survival ...outcomes than those who do not develop PTSD. Nevertheless, the prevalence rates of PTSD following ACS vary widely across studies, and it is noteworthy that in most cases, the diagnosis of PTSD was based on self-report symptom questionnaires, rather than being established by psychiatrists. Additionally, the individual characteristics of patients who develop PTSD after ACS can differ widely, making it difficult to identify any consistent patterns or predictors of the disorder.
To investigate the prevalence of PTSD among a large sample of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after ACS, as well as their characteristics in comparison to a control group.
The participants of this study are patients who have experienced ACS with or without undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and are enrolled in a 3-wk CR program at the largest CR center in Croatia, the Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice. Patient recruitment for the study took place over the course of one year, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, with a total of 504 participants. The expected average follow-up period for patients included in the study is about 18 mo, and currently ongoing. Using self-assessment questionnaire for PTSD criteria and clinical psychiatric interview, a group of patients with a PTSD diagnosis was identified. From the participants who do not have a PTSD diagnosis, patients who would match those with a PTSD diagnosis in terms of relevant clinical and medical stratification variables and during the same rehabilitation period were selected to enable comparability of the two groups.
A total of 507 patients who were enrolled in the CR program were approached to participate in the study. Three patients declined to participate in the study. The screening PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version questionnaire was completed by 504 patients. Out of the total sample of 504 patients, 74.2% were men (
= 374) and 25.8% were women (
= 130). The mean age of all participants was 56.7 years (55.8 for men and 59.1 for women). Among the 504 participants who completed the screening questionnaire, 80 met the cutoff criteria for the PTSD and qualified for further evaluation (15.9%). All 80 patients agreed to a psychiatric interview. Among them, 51 patients (10.1%) were diagnosed with clinical PTSD by a psychiatrist according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. Among the variables analyzed, there was a noticeable difference in the percentage of theoretical maximum achieved on exercise testing between the PTSD and non-PTSD groups. Non-PTSD group achieved a significantly higher percentage of their maximum compared to the PTSD group (
= 0.035).
The preliminary results of the study indicate that a significant proportion of patients with PTSD induced by ACS are not receiving adequate treatment. Furthermore, the data suggest that these patients may exhibit reduced physical activity levels, which could be one of the possible underlying mechanisms in observed poor cardiovascular outcomes in this population. Identifying cardiac biomarkers is crucial for identifying patients at risk of developing PTSD and may derive benefits from personalized interventions based on the principles of precision medicine in multidisciplinary CR programs.
One of the drugs that are widely used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation is amiodarone. Despite considerable prolongation of the corrected QT interval and a substantial degree of bradycardia, ...amiodarone exhibits a remarkably low frequency of pro-arrhythmic events and <1.0% incidence of torsades de pointes, mostly after long-term usage. We present a case of an 80-year-old female with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation accompanied by acute heart failure treated by short-term parenteral amiodarone therapy and development of torsades de pointes.
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