The Novelty of Icosapent Ethyl in the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia and Alleviating Cardiovascular Risk.

Hypertriglyceridemia is believed to be independently associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Lifestyle changes and dietary modifications are recommended for individuals with high serum triglyceride (TG) levels (150-499 mg/dl), and pharmacological therapy in addition to lifestyle modification is recommended when serum TG levels ≥ 500 mg/dl. A residual cardiovascular risk remains even in statin appropriate treated patients with CVD risk factors, and in this patient population, hypertriglyceridemia poses an independent and increased risk of ischemic events. In December 2019, the US FDA approved icosapent ethyl (IPE) as an adjunct to a maximally tolerated statin to reduce the risk of CVD events in adults with serum triglycerides > 150 mg/dl and have either established cardiovascular disease or diabetes and two or more additional CVD risk factors. Since IPE significantly decreases total ischemic events in the aforementioned patient population, it would be intriguing to know whether IPE alone added an advantage to lifestyle modification in the low-risk population, who has serum triglyceride between 150 mg/dl and 499 mg/dl.

Device Therapies Among Patients Receiving Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in the Cardiovascular Research Network.

BACKGROUND: Primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reduce mortality in selected patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction by delivering therapies (antitachycardia pacing or shocks) to terminate potentially lethal arrhythmias; inappropriate therapies also occur. We assessed device therapies among adults receiving primary prevention ICDs in 7 healthcare systems. METHODS AND RESULTS: We linked medical record data, adjudicated device therapies, and the National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD Registry. Survival analysis evaluated therapy probability and predictors after ICD implant from 2006 to 2009, with attention to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Coverage With Evidence Development subgroups: left ventricular ejection fraction, 31% to 35%; nonischemic cardiomyopathy <9 months' duration; and New York Heart Association class IV heart failure with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator. Among 2540 patients, 35% were <65 years old, 26% were women, and 59% were white. During 27 (median) months, 738 (29%) received ≥1 therapy. Three-year therapy risk was 36% (appropriate, 24%; inappropriate, 12%). Appropriate therapy was more common in men (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-2.35). Inappropriate therapy was more common in patients with atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.68-2.87), but less common among patients ≥65 years old versus younger (adjusted HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.95) and in recent implants (eg, in 2009 versus 2006; adjusted HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.95). In Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Coverage With Evidence Development analysis, inappropriate therapy was less common with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator versus single chamber (adjusted HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36-0.84); therapy risk did not otherwise differ for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Coverage With Evidence Development subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In this community cohort of primary prevention patients receiving ICD, therapy delivery varied across demographic and clinical characteristics, but did not differ meaningfully for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Coverage With Evidence Development subgroups.

Longitudinal study of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: methods and clinical characteristics of patients receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for primary prevention in contemporary practice.

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly used for primary prevention after randomized, controlled trials demonstrating that they reduce the risk of death in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The extent to which the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of unselected, community-based patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction undergoing primary prevention ICD implantation in a real-world setting compare with those enrolled in the randomized, controlled trials is not well characterized. This study is being conducted to address these questions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study cohort includes consecutive patients undergoing primary prevention ICD placement between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009 in 7 health plans. Baseline clinical characteristics were acquired from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD Registry. Longitudinal data collection is underway, and will include hospitalization, mortality, and resource use from standardized health plan data archives. Data regarding ICD therapies will be obtained through chart abstraction and adjudicated by a panel of experts in device therapy. Compared with the populations of primary prevention ICD therapy randomized, controlled trials, the cohort (n=2621) is on average significantly older (by 2.5-6.5 years), more often female, more often from racial and ethnic minority groups, and has a higher burden of coexisting conditions. The cohort is similar, however, to a national population undergoing primary prevention ICD placement. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing primary prevention ICD implantation in this study differ from those enrolled in the randomized, controlled trials that established the efficacy of ICDs. Understanding a broad range of health outcomes, including ICD therapies, will provide patients, clinicians, and policy makers with contemporary data to inform decision-making.

Atrial flutter versus atrial fibrillation in a general population: differences in comorbidities associated with their respective onset.

OBJECTIVE: Determine and compare the prevalence of known risk factors for cardiovascular disease among unselected individuals presenting with their first ever episode of atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We evaluated 11 pre-selected clinical variables including age, sex, smoking history and other potential cardiac risk factors. Using the resources of the Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area, a population-based database, all newly diagnosed cases of either AFL or AF in the region during a 4-year period were identified. RESULTS: Among the 472 incident cases, 76 (16.1%) had AFL and 396 (83.9%) had AF. Compared to those with AF, subjects with AFL were more likely to have had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (25% vs. 12%, P = 0.006), heart failure (28% vs. 17%, P = 0.05), and smoking (49% vs. 37%, P = 0.06). Hypertension, on the other hand, was more common among individuals with AF (63% vs. 47%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study represents the first report to evaluate potential differences in the conditions associated with the development of AFL versus AF. Research into the mechanisms of atrial arrhythmogenesis may lead to improved preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Implantable cardiac defibrillator placement in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava and Brugada syndrome.

A 45-year-old man was diagnosed with new-onset atrial fibrillation. Control of ventricular rate led to spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm. Subsequent electrocardiograms revealed ST segment changes characteristic of Brugada syndrome. Electrophysiology study demonstrated inducible ventricular fibrillation. During the placement of an implantable cardiac defibrillator the patient was found to have a persistent left superior vena cava. Persistent left superior vena cava is present in 0.3% of cases in autopsy series. To date, persistent left superior vena cava has not been reported in association with Brugada syndrome. We report such a case.

Abnormal conduction increases risk of adverse outcomes from right ventricular pacing.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether QRS duration or morphology increased the risk of adverse outcome in the DAVID (Dual Chamber and VVI Implantable Defibrillator) trial. BACKGROUND: The DAVID trial found an increased risk of the combined end point of death and new or worsening congestive heart failure (CHF) in defibrillator recipients who were paced DDDR-70 versus VVI-40. METHODS: We analyzed the combined end point in patients with abnormal QRS duration (AbQRS) (> or =110 ms) compared with those with normal QRS duration (NQRS) (<110 ms). RESULTS: The QRS data were available for 496 of the 506 patients enrolled in the trial, including 223 patients with NQRS (45%) and 273 patients with AbQRS (55%). In patients in whom defibrillators were programmed to pace infrequently (VVI-40), having an NQRS or AbQRS was not an indicator of increased risk of adverse outcome. However, among patients in whom defibrillators were programmed in a manner that promoted more frequent ventricular pacing (DDDR-70), there was a significant adverse interaction with AbQRS; this combination was independently associated with a higher risk for developing CHF or death (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with AbQRS tended to have other risk factors associated with poor outcome, the interaction of QRS duration with ventricular pacing (DDDR-70) independently contributed to a worse outcome and therefore, was a marker of patients in whom such treatment may be harmful. This should not imply that right ventricular pacing in NQRS patients is safe but rather that pacing in the context of an AbQRS is probably best avoided.

Familial atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia.

Dual atrioventricular nodal pathways, the substrate responsible for atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), are thought to be randomly occurring congenital anomalies. This article describes 14 patients in six families, each with two or three first-degree relatives with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Electrophysiological evidence of dual atrioventricular nodal pathways was established in all 13 patients studied, AVNRT was induced in 12 (92%), and radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway was curative in all cases. The data suggest a hereditary contribution to the development of atrioventricular nodal pathways and AVNRT. The pattern of inheritance appears to be autosomal dominant.

The role of industry in the implantation and follow-up of devices: a practitioner's perspective.

Implantable cardiac rhythm management devices continue to get more technologically complex at a pace that is difficult for most clinicians to keep up with. We have come to rely heavily on industry representatives to provide technical expertise during device implantation and follow-up. Concern has been raised about the involvement of medical device industry representatives in the clinical environment. Guidelines have been published that acknowledge the importance of device industry representatives in providing technical expertise and assistance, while also clarifying the role these representatives should play in patient care. The main principles from published policy statements are summarized, emphasizing that the physician remains responsible for the patient's overall care as well as device function and programming.

Eptifibatide-induced acute profound thrombocytopenia presenting as refractory hypotension.

A 61-year-old woman presented with acute coronary syndrome and was given heparin and eptifibatide in conjunction with coronary angioplasty. Shortly thereafter she became profoundly thrombocytopenic (platelets 2.0 x 10(9)/L) and developed severe refractory hypotension. Heparin-induced antibodies were not detected, but the patient developed strong eptifibatide-dependent antibodies specific for platelets that appear to explain both the thrombocytopenia and the hypotensive episode.