Differentiating Origins of Outflow Tract Ventricular Arrhythmias: The Correction of Transitional Zone Index Is Not Superior to the Original One.

INTRODUCTION: Our team once proposed a correction of transitional zone index (CTZI) based on the transitional zone index (TZI) in view of achieving a more precise prediction of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia (OTVA). The predictive accuracy of these two electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithms has not been validated and compared. The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of TZI and CTZI in a much larger population with idiopathic OTVA. METHODS: The predictive accuracy of TZI and CTZI was compared in 695 individuals with idiopathic premature ventricular complex or ventricular tachycardia which exhibited a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, decision curve analysis, and calibration curve were used to compare the predictive accuracy of TZI and CTZI. RESULTS: TZI and CTZI manifested the similar area under the curve. While a TZI of <0 predicted a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) origin with a high specificity of 88.2% but a low sensitivity of 67.1%, a CTZI of <0 yielded a high sensitivity of 84.3% but a low specificity of 59.5% in the overall analysis. Similar results were yielded in the sub-analysis of participants with a precordial transition occurring at lead V3. In the sub-analysis of participants with a TZI = 0, CTZI demonstrated a bit higher but not satisfactory predictive accuracy than TZI. CONCLUSION: Based on the scientific spirit of self-criticism and seeking truth from facts, our team disproves the correction of TZI proposed previously.

Diastolic, but not systolic, blood pressure at admission is associated with aortic-related adverse events in type B dissection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most important risk factor for aortic dissection. We aimed to assess the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at admission with aortic-related adverse events (ARAE) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: All patients (n = 269) admitted with type B aortic dissection (BAD) for TEVAR were included. ARAE at 3, 24, and 60 months were evaluated as outcomes. Cox proportional regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: No variables were found to be predictors of 3-month ARAE by multiple analysis. Independent predictors of 24-month ARAE were DBP at admission (hazard ratio [HR] per 10 mm Hg decrement, 1.318; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.059-1.641; p = 0.013), cerebrovascular accident (HR 1.965; 95% CI 1.097-3.522; p = 0.023) and obesity (HR 2.922; 95% CI 1.096-7.795; p = 0.032). DBP at admission (HR per 10 mm Hg decrement, 1.276; 95% CI 1.038-1.569; p = 0.021) was also a predictor of 60-month ARAE. In the non-chronic group (n = 223), DBP at admission was evaluated as an independent predictor of 3-month (HR per 10 mm Hg decrement, 1.809; 95% CI 1.084-3.018; p = 0.023), 24-month (HR per 10 mm Hg decrement, 1.344; 95% CI 1.070-1.688; p = 0.011) and 60-month (HR per 10 mm Hg decrement, 1.338; 95% CI 1.065-1.682; p = 0.013) ARAE. In the chronic group (n = 46), no variables were found to be independent predictors of 3-month, 24-month, or 60-month ARAE. CONCLUSIONS: DBP at admission can predict ARAE in patients with BAD after TEVAR, whereas SBP was not associated with ARAE. The relationship between DBP at admission and outcomes appears to be more prominent in non-chronic patients.

Simple Renal Cysts Are Associated With 24-Month Prognosis of Patients With Type B Aortic Dissection and Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The association of simple renal cyst (SRC) with type B aortic dissection (BAD) has recently been established. However, no studies have examined adverse events after BAD hospitalization among patients with SRC. In this study, we assessed the prognostic value of SRC in BAD patients with hypertension after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: We studied all BAD patients with hypertension who were admitted for TEVAR (n = 238; age 56.1 ± 9.8 years, 84.0% male). Aortic-related adverse events (ARAE) were evaluated as outcomes at 3 months and 24 months after TEVAR. RESULTS: Among the total number of patients, 104 (43.7%) had at least 1 SRC. Patients with SRC were significantly older than those without (59.6 ± 8.8 vs 53.3 ± 9.7; P < 0.001). Patients with SRC were also more likely to suffer from peripheral arterial disease (55.8% vs 40.3%; P = 0.018) and cerebrovascular accidents (47.1% vs 29.9%; P = 0.006) than those without. Median follow-up for the 238 patients was 18.5 (range 6.4-24.0) months. Cumulative ARAE-free rates were 94.5 ± 1.5% at the 3-month follow-up and 81.5 ± 2.8% at the 24-month follow-up. Independent predictors of 3-month ARAE were found to be insertion of ≥ 2 stents (hazard ratio [HR] 3.977, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.224-12.920; P = 0.022). For 24-month follow-up, SRC (HR 1.962, 95% CI 1.023-3.764; P = 0.043) was evaluated as the only independent predictive factor. SRC (HR 8.841, 95% CI 1.726-45.294; P = 0.009) was also evaluated as an independent predictive factor for 24-month ARAEs in the chronic group, but not in the acute or the subacute group. CONCLUSIONS: SRC could predict 24-month ARAE in BAD patients with hypertension after TEVAR, especially in the chronic group.

Optimal blood pressure control for patients after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of type B aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend tight systolic blood pressure (SBP) control for favorable outcomes of type B aortic dissection (BAD) but are still limited by the optimal cut-off value of SBP. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimal cut-off value of SBP in BAD patients after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From January 2011 to April 2017, 269 consecutive patients with BAD after TEVAR were included in the study. All patients were followed up according to a strict follow-up protocol. Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association between SBP at discharge and 90-day aortic related adverse events (ARAE). RESULTS: All 269 patients completed 90 days of follow-up, and the unadjusted ARAE-free rates at 90-day was 95.1 ± 1.3%. The cut-off value of SBP at discharge identified by receiver operator curve was 130 mmHg for 90-day ARAE. In multivariable models, binary SBP at discharge was significant associated with 90-day ARAE (HR 3.780; 95% CI 1.236-11.556; p = 0.020). Hybrid operation (OR 2.046; 95%CI 1.015-4.122; p = 0.045) and insertion of ≥2 stents (OR 2.950; 95%CI 1.172-7.426; p = 0.022) were demonstrated to be independently associated with poor SBP control (SBP > 130 mmHg) using Logistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal cut-off value of SBP at discharge was 130 mmHg which can be used to predict short-term ARAE. Blood pressure in patients with hybrid operation and ≥ 2 stents should be given more focus.

An electrocardiographic diagnostic model for differentiating left from right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia origin.

INTRODUCTION: Although several electrocardiographic (ECG) algorithms have been proposed for differentiating the origins of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias, the most optimal one has not been agreed on. The purpose of this study was to establish an ECG diagnostic model based on the previous ECG algorithms. METHODS AND RESULTS: The following ECG diagnostic model, Y=-1.15×( TZ )-0.494×(V2S/V3R), was developed by standard 12-lead ECG algorithms in 488 patients with idiopathic premature ventricular contractions or ventricular tachycardia with a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to establish the ECG diagnostic model. The ECG diagnostic model consisted of two ECG algorithms-the transition zone (TZ) index and V2S/V3R index. The area under the curve by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the ECG diagnostic model was 0.88, with a cut-off value of ≥ -0.76 predicting a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) origin with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 86%, which was higher than other ECG algorithms in this study. The predictive accuracy of the ECG diagnostic model was also the best among all ECG algorithms in patients with a lead V3 precordial transition. This model was tested prospectively in 207 patients with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 87%, and Youden index of 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: A highly accurate ECG diagnostic model for correctly differentiating LVOT origin from right ventricular outflow tract origin was developed.

Double product reflects the association of heart rate with MACEs in acute coronary syndrome patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the prognostic value of double product (DP) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to investigate whether DP reflects the predictive power of heart rate (HR) or systolic blood pressure (SBP) in ACS patients treated with PCI. METHODS: A total of 7590 ACS patients who had undergone PCI, free from cardiac shock, were included. The follow-up duration was two years. The main adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) included all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction and stroke. RESULTS: In the unadjusted model, significantly higher rates of MACEs were recorded in the high DP group (relative risk 1.41, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.83, p = 0.012). However, in the full adjusted models, after including HR and SBP, the predictive value of DP was not significant (relative risk 0.86, 95%CI 0.55 to1.33, p = 0.499). The predictive value of HR for MACEs was statistically significant (relative risk 1.74, 95% CI 1.33-2.28, p < 0.001). It was worth noting that the history of hypertension was strongly associated with MACEs (relative risk 1.53, 95% CI 1.11-2.11, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: High DP is associated with MACEs for ACS patients treated with PCI. However, the predictive value of DP weakened when adjusted for HR. Therefore, we have shown that DP may reflect the predictive power of HR for ACS patients treated with PCI.

Association of Thyroid Function with Early/Mid-term Aorta-Related Adverse Events and Readmissions after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

The prognosis of patients after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is affected by several clinical characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate whether thyroid hormones predicts early (30 days) and mid-term (12 months) aorta-related adverse events (ARAE) and readmissions (ARAR) in patients after TEVAR. A total of 338 continuous patients who underwent TEVAR were included and stratified based on quartile of free thyroxine (FT4) levels examined before surgery. The relationship of FT4 levels with early or mid-term ARAE and ARAR were assessed using univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. The incidence of ARAE and ARAR were 2.7% and 4.1% within 30 days, and 8.9% and 13.5% within 12 months, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the lowest FT4 quartile group were noted to be at significantly greater risk than the highest FT4 quartile group in early (OR 10.105, 95% CI 1.103 to 92.615, P = 0.041) and mid-term (OR 5.687, 95% CI 1.708 to 18.935, P = 0.005) ARAR, but not significantly different in early (OR 2.097, 95% CI 0.228 to 19.307, P = 0.513) and mid-term (OR 0.695, 95% CI 0.207 to 2.332, P = 0.556) ARAE. Thus, patients with low-normal FT4 levels after TEVAR are at greater risk of ARAR, but not ARAE, in both the early and the mid-term follow-up periods.

The relationship between heart rate and mortality of patients with acute coronary syndromes in the coronary intervention era: Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Most of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) were receiving intervention treatment a high overall rate of coronary angiography in the modern medical practice.Consequently, we conduct a review to determine the heart rate (HR) on the prognosis of ACS in the coronary intervention era. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library was systematically searched up to May 2016 using the search terms "heart rate," "acute coronary syndrome," "acute myocardial infarction," "ST elevation myocardial infarction," "non-ST-segment elevation." The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality. All analyses were performed using Review Manager. RESULTS: Database searches retrieved 2324 citations. Eleven studies enrolling 156,374 patients were included. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the elevated HR group compared to the lower HR group (pooled RR 2.04, 95%CI 1.80-2.30, P < 0.0001). Individuals with elevated admission HR had increased risk of long-term mortality (Pooled RR = 1.63, 95%CI 1.27-2.10, P = 0.008) compared to lower admission HR. The pooled results showed elevated discharge and resting HR were related to increased mortality of patients with ACS (pooled RR 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.47, P = 0.04; pooled RR 2.14, 95%CI 1.37-3.33, P < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Elevated HR may increase the mortality of ACS patients in the percutaneous coronary intervention era.