Controversies and Conundrums in Cardiac Cachexia: Key Questions About Wasting in Patients With HFrEF.

Cardiac cachexia is characterized by unintentional catabolic weight loss, decreased appetite, and inflammation and is common in patients with stage D (advanced) heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Cardiac cachexia and related muscle-wasting syndromes are markers of, and a consequence of, the heart failure (HF) syndrome. Although many potential modalities for identifying cardiac cachexia exist, the optimal definition, diagnostic tools, and treatment options for cardiac cachexia remain unclear. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether attempts to reverse muscle wasting prior to advanced HF surgeries, such as left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation, can improve outcomes. It is important that HF clinicians and dietitians are aware of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of muscle-wasting syndromes in patients with HF, to aid in the recognition and risk stratification of advanced HFrEF. Although the opportunities and rationale for attempting to address cardiac cachexia prior to advanced HF surgeries are uncertain, recent publications suggest that control of the neurohumoral syndrome of advanced HF may be important to permit the recovery of skeletal muscle mass.

Differences in Donor Heart Acceptance by Race and Gender of Patients on the Transplant Waiting List.

Importance: Barriers to heart transplant must be overcome prior to listing. It is unclear why Black men and women remain less likely to receive a heart transplant after listing than White men and women. Objective: To evaluate whether race or gender of a heart transplant candidate (ie, patient on the transplant waiting list) is associated with the probability of a donor heart being accepted by the transplant center team with each offer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used the United Network for Organ Sharing datasets to identify organ acceptance with each offer for US non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) and non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) adults listed for heart transplant from October 18, 2018, through March 31, 2023. Exposures: Black or White race and gender (men, women) of a heart transplant candidate. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was heart offer acceptance by the transplant center team. The number of offers to acceptance was assessed using discrete time-to-event analyses, nonparametrically (stratified by race and gender) and parametrically. The hazard probability of offer acceptance for each offer was modeled using generalized linear mixed models adjusted for candidate-, donor-, and offer-level variables. Results: Among 159 177 heart offers with 13 760 donors, there were 14 890 candidates listed for heart transplant; 30.9% were Black, 69.1% were White, 73.6% were men, and 26.4% were women. The cumulative incidence of offer acceptance was highest for White women followed by Black women, White men, and Black men (P < .001). Odds of acceptance were less for Black candidates than for White candidates for the first offer (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.84) through the 16th offer. Odds of acceptance were higher for women than for men for the first offer (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39-1.68) through the sixth offer and were lower for the 10th through 31st offers. Conclusions and Relevance: The cumulative incidence of heart offer acceptance by a transplant center team was consistently lower for Black candidates than for White candidates of the same gender and higher for women than for men. These disparities persisted after adjusting for candidate-, donor-, and offer-level variables, possibly suggesting racial and gender bias in the decision-making process. Further investigation of site-level decision-making may reveal strategies for equitable donor heart acceptance.

Emergency department management of patients with right heart failure.

Right heart failure (RHF) can result from many cardiac, pulmonary, and systemic pathologies. Common causes of RHF include pulmonary embolism, left heart failure, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, acute myocardial infarction, infiltrative disease, infectious disease, and valvular abnormalities. Acute and chronic RHF confer a high risk for morbidity and mortality in the acute care setting, and interventions commonly used in emergency care can prompt acute decompensation if the RHF is not recognized. The severity of presentation may range from compensated clinically silent cardiovascular dysfunction to venous congestion, multiorgan failure, and circulatory collapse. This review describes the pathophysiology of right heart failure and offers an evidence-based approach to the diagnosis, management, and disposition of both acute and chronic RHF.

Top five considerations for improving outcomes in black patients with heart failure: A guide for primary care clinicians.

Black patients develop heart failure at younger ages and have worse outcomes such as higher mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Despite significant recent improvements in heart failure medical therapy, these worse outcomes have persisted. Multiple reasons have been provided to explain the situation, including but not limited to higher baseline cluster of cardiovascular risk factors amongst Black patients, inadequate use of heart failure guideline directed medical therapy and delayed referral for advanced heart failure therapies and interventions. Strategic interventions considering social and structural determinants of health, addressing structural inequalities/ bias, implementation of quality improvement programs, early diagnosis and prevention are critically needed to bridge the racial/ ethnic disparities gap and improve longevity of Black patients with heart failure. In this review, we propose evidence-based solutions that provide a framework for the primary care physician addressing these challenges to engender equity in treatment allocation and improve outcomes for all patients with heart failure.

Cardiovascular complications of sickle cell disease: A primer for the general clinician.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hereditary hemoglobinopathy and mainly affects individuals of African ancestry. As survival has improved especially in high-income countries, increased rates of cardiopulmonary complications such as pulmonary hypertension, heart failure with diastolic dysfunction, and sudden death are encountered in clinical practice. These complications are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality as these individuals survive into adulthood. Understanding the need for, early identification, timely intervention, and implementation of preventive strategies are critical in reversing this trend and improving quality of life and survival rates. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive review of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications associated with sickle cell disease and equip the clinician with tools to facilitate the early diagnosis and management of patients with SCD as increasing numbers survive into adulthood.

No Evidence for Oversizing Hearts and Donor Size Impact on 1-Year Survival in Heart Failure Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Device.

The predicted heart mass (PHM) ratio has recently emerged as a better metric for donor-to-recipient size-matching than weight ratios. It is unknown whether this applies to transplant candidates on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. Our study examines if PHM ratio is optimal for size-matching specifically in the LVAD patient population. Patients with LVAD who received a heart transplant from January 1997 to December 2020 in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database were studied. We compared 5 size-matching metrics, including donor-recipient ratios of weight, height, body mass index, body surface area, and PHM. Single and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models for 1-year mortality were calculated. Our sample consisted of 11,891 patients. In our multivariate analysis, we found that patients in the undersized group with PHM ratios <0.83 had a hazard ratio for 1-year mortality of 1.34 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.65, p = 0.007) suggestive of increased mortality with the use of undersized donors. There was no statistical difference in mortality between the matched (PHM ratio 0.83 to 1.2) and oversized group (PHM ratio ≥1.2). In heart transplant recipients on LVAD support, the PHM ratio provides better risk stratification than other metrics. Use of undersized donor hearts with PHM ratio <0.83 confers higher 1-year mortality. Using oversized donor hearts for transplantation in recipients on LVAD support has no benefit.

Improving cardiovascular outcomes for patients with heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa: conference proceedings of the 2022 Nigerian Cardiovascular Symposium.

The Nigerian Cardiovascular Symposium is an annual conference held in partnership with cardiologists in Nigeria and the diaspora to provide updates in cardiovascular medicine and cardiothoracic surgery with the aim of optimising cardiovascular care for the Nigerian population. This virtual conference (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) has created an opportunity for effective capacity building of the Nigerian cardiology workforce. The objective of the conference was for experts to provide updates on current trends, clinical trials and innovations in heart failure, selected cardiomyopathies such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cardiac amyloidosis, pulmonary hypertension, cardiogenic shock, left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation. Furthermore, the conference aimed to equip the Nigerian cardiovascular workforce with skills and knowledge to optimise the delivery of effective cardiovascular care, with the hope of curbing 'medical tourism' and the current 'brain drain' in Nigeria. Challenges to optimal cardiovascular care in Nigeria include workforce shortage, limited capacity of intensive care units, and availability of medications. This partnership represents a key first step in addressing these challenges. Future action items include enhanced collaboration between cardiologists in Nigeria and the diaspora, advancing participation and enrollment of African patients in global heart failure clinical trials, and the urgent need to develop heart failure clinical practice guidelines for Nigerian patients.

Fulminant Myocarditis and Cardiogenic Shock Following COVID-19 Infection Versus COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Myocarditis, diagnosed by symptoms and troponin elevation, has been well-described with COVID-19 infection, as well as shortly after COVID-19 vaccination. The literature has characterized the outcomes of myocarditis following COVID-19 infection and vaccination, but clinicopathologic, hemodynamic, and pathologic features following fulminant myocarditis have not been well-characterized. We aimed to compare clinical and pathological features of fulminant myocarditis requiring hemodynamic support with vasopressors/inotropes and mechanical circulatory support (MCS), in these two conditions. METHODS: We analyzed the literature on fulminant myocarditis and cardiogenic shock associated with COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination and systematically reviewed all cases and case series where individual patient data were presented. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar for "COVID", "COVID-19", and "coronavirus" in combination with "vaccine", "fulminant myocarditis", "acute heart failure", and "cardiogenic shock". The Student's t-test was used for continuous variables and the χ2 statistic was used for categorical variables. For non-normal data distributions, the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: We identified 73 cases and 27 cases of fulminant myocarditis associated with COVID-19 infection (COVID-19 FM) and COVID-19 vaccination (COVID-19 vaccine FM), respectively. Fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain were common presentations, but shortness of breath and pulmonary infiltrates were more often present in COVID-19 FM. Tachycardia, hypotension, leukocytosis, and lactic acidosis were seen in both cohorts, but patients with COVID-19 FM were more tachycardic and hypotensive. Histologically, lymphocytic myocarditis dominated both subsets, with some cases of eosinophilic myocarditis in both cohorts. Cellular necrosis was seen in 44.0% and 47.8% of COVID-19 FM and COVID-19 vaccine FM, respectively. Vasopressors and inotropes were used in 69.9% of COVID-19 FM and in 63.0% of the COVID-19 vaccine FM. Cardiac arrest was observed more in COVID-19 FM (p = 0.008). Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support for cardiogenic shock was also used more commonly in the COVID-19 fulminant myocarditis group (p = 0.0293). Reported mortality was similar (27.7%) and 27.8%, respectively) but was likely worse for COVID-19 FM as the outcome was still unknown in 11% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In the first series to retrospectively assess fulminant myocarditis associated with COVID-19 infection versus COVID-19 vaccination, we found that both conditions had a similarly high mortality rate, while COVID-19 FM had a more malignant course with more symptoms on presentation, more profound hemodynamic decompensation (higher heart rate, lower blood pressure), more cardiac arrests, and higher temporary MCS requirements including VA-ECMO. In terms of pathology, there was no difference in most biopsies/autopsies that demonstrated lymphocytic infiltrates and some eosinophilic or mixed infiltrates. There was no predominance of young males in COVID-19 vaccine FM cases, with male patients representing only 40.9% of the cohort.

Aortic root thrombosis leading to STEMI in a Heartmate 3 patient.

Despite left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy becoming established for end-stage heart failure (HF), complications remain. Thromboembolic complications are rare with the newest iteration of LVADs. We managed a case of a continuous-flow LVAD-related thromboembolic event that presented as an acute myocardial infarction. A 64-year-old male who underwent Heartmate III® LVAD implantation had crushing substernal chest pain and ventricular tachycardia with acute anterolateral myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram on post-operative day 9. Echocardiography showed closed aortic valve and mild aortic regurgitation, but CT angiography showed thrombus within the left coronary cusp despite full anticoagulation. Continuous suction of blood from the left ventricle despite pulsatile flow into the ascending aorta resulted in a minimally opening aortic valve and stagnation of blood leading to thrombosis on the coronary cusp. Apart from post-operative ventricular tachycardia and right ventricular failure, he had adequate body size (body surface area 2.13 m2) and no post-operative or coagulopathy which could predispose him to thrombosis. Coronary angiography revealed stable severe three-vessel disease and thrombus in left main and proximal circumflex artery, and he had aspiration thrombectomy, and international normalized ratio target was increased to 3-3.5 with aspirin 325 mg daily. He survived to discharge but died 60 days after LVAD implant with multiple low flow alarms, and cardiac arrest. We review the literature and propose a management algorithm for patients with impaired AV opening and aortic root thrombosis.

Addressing challenges faced by underrepresented biomedical investigators and efforts to address them: An NHLBI-PRIDE perspective.

Junior investigators from groups underrepresented in the biomedical workforce confront challenges as they navigate the ranks of academic research careers. Biochemical research needs the participation of these researchers to adequately tackle critical research priorities such as cardiovascular health disparities and health inequities. We explore the inadequate representation of underrepresented minority investigators and the historical role of systemic racism in impacting their poor career progression. We highlight challenges these investigators face, and opportunities to address these barriers are identified. Ensuring adequate recruitment and promotion of underrepresented biomedical researchers fosters inclusive excellence and augments efforts to address health inequities. The Programs to Increase Diversity among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE), funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is a pilot program by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that aims to address these challenges yet, only a limited number of URM can be accepted to PRIDE programs. Hence the need for additional funding for more PRIDE or PRIDE-like programs. Here we aim to examine the challenges underrepresented minority biomedical investigators face and describe ongoing initiatives to increase URM in biomedical research using the NHLBI-PRIDE program as a focus point.

Cannabis Use and Heart Transplantation: Disparities and Opportunities to Improve Outcomes.

Heart transplantation (HT) remains the optimal therapy for many patients with advanced heart failure. Use of substances of potential abuse has historically been a contraindication to HT. Decriminalization of cannabis, increasing cannabis use, clinician biases, and lack of consensus for evaluating patients with heart failure who use cannabis all have the potential to exacerbate racial and ethnic and regional disparities in HT listing and organ allocation. Here' we review pertinent pre-HT and post-HT considerations related to cannabis use' and relative attitudes between opiates and cannabis are offered for context. We conclude with identifying unmet research needs pertaining to the use of cannabis in HT that can inform a standardized evaluation process.

Relation of hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia to bipolar and psychotic disorders.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is characterized by hypercalcemia and an elevated level of serum parathyroid hormone. PHPT leads to hypercalcemia and presents with renal, skeletal, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Neuropsychiatric manifestations of PHPT such as psychotic, depressive, and anxiety disorders are rare. Delirium may also be present in patients with PHPT. Parathyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for patients with physically symptomatic PHPT, but it remains unclear if parathyroidectomy is indicated for its psychiatric manifestations. It is unclear if parathyroidectomy should be performed as a treatment for medication-refractory psychiatric symptoms or deferred until psychiatric symptoms have been better controlled. We present two cases of hyperparathyroidism (HPT)-associated hypercalcemia-one with lithium-associated HPT-in which psychiatric manifestations resolved with parathyroidectomy.

Cardiomyopathy and heart failure secondary to anabolic-androgen steroid abuse.

Bodybuilders often use anabolic-androgenic steroids to improve performance. We report a case of a 30-year-old male bodybuilder with anabolic-androgen steroid abuse while getting ready for a bodybuilding contest. He had New York Heart Association class IV heart failure, severe nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, new-onset atrial fibrillation, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. After 6 months of heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy, cessation of anabolic steroids, and maintenance of sinus rhythm, his ejection fraction improved.

Myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents and adults: a cumulative experience of 2021.

Clinical course and outcomes of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination remain variable. We retrospectively collected data on patients > 12 years old from 01/01/2021 to 12/30/2021 who received COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination and were diagnosed with myocarditis within 60 days of vaccination. Myocarditis cases were based on case definitions by authors. We report on 238 patients of whom most were male (n = 208; 87.1%). The mean age was 27.4 ± 16 (range 12-80) years. Females presented at older ages (41.3 ± 21.5 years) than men 25.7 ± 14 years (p = 0.001). In patients > 20 years of age, the mean duration from vaccination to symptoms was 4.8 days ± 5.5 days, but in < 20, it was 3.0 ± 3.3 days (p = 0.04). Myocarditis occurred most commonly after the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (n = 183; 76.45) and after the second dose (n = 182; 80%). Symptoms started 3.95 ± 4.5 days after vaccination. The commonest symptom was chest pain (n = 221; 93%). Patients were treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 105; 58.3%), colchicine (n = 38; 21.1%), or glucocorticoids (n = 23; 12.7%). About 30% of the patients had left ventricular ejection fraction but more than half recovered the on repeat imaging. Abnormal cardiac MRIs were common; 168 patients (96% of 175 patients that had MRI) had late gadolinium enhancement, while 120 patients (68.5%) had myocardial edema. Heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy use was common (n = 27; 15%). Eleven patients had cardiogenic shock; and 4 patients required mechanical circulatory support. Five patients (1.7%) died; of these, 3 patients had endomyocardial biopsy/autopsy-confirmed myocarditis. Most cases of COVID-19 vaccine myocarditis are mild. Females presented at older ages than men and duration from vaccination to symptoms was longer in patients > 20 years. Cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support was seen and mortality was low. Future studies are needed to better evaluate risk factors, and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine myocarditis.