Utility of RAND/UCLA appropriateness method in validating multiple-choice questions on ECG.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the utility of the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method (RAM) in validating expert consensus-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on electrocardiogram (ECG). METHODS: According to the RAM user's manual, nine panelists comprising various experts who routinely handle ECGs were asked to reach a consensus in three phases: a preparatory phase (round 0), an online test phase (round 1), and a face-to-face expert panel meeting (round 2). In round 0, the objectives and future timeline of the study were elucidated to the nine expert panelists with a summary of relevant literature. In round 1, 100 ECG questions prepared by two skilled cardiologists were answered, and the success rate was calculated by dividing the number of correct answers by 9. Furthermore, the questions were stratified into "Appropriate," "Discussion," or "Inappropriate" according to the median score and interquartile range (IQR) of appropriateness rating by nine panelists. In round 2, the validity of the 100 ECG questions was discussed in an expert panel meeting according to the results of round 1 and finally reassessed as "Appropriate," "Candidate," "Revision," and "Defer." RESULTS: In round 1 results, the average success rate of the nine experts was 0.89. Using the median score and IQR, 54 questions were classified as " Discussion." In the expert panel meeting in round 2, 23% of the original 100 questions was ultimately deemed inappropriate, although they had been prepared by two skilled cardiologists. Most of the 46 questions categorized as "Appropriate" using the median score and IQR in round 1 were considered "Appropriate" even after round 2 (44/46, 95.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the median score and IQR allowed for a more objective determination of question validity. The RAM may help select appropriate questions, contributing to the preparation of higher-quality tests.

A prediction model for estimating NT-proBNP in a general Japanese population: the Toon Health Study.

AIMS: As part of the Toon Health Study, which is an ongoing population-based cohort study, we aimed to develop a prediction model for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in a general Japanese population. We sought to explore the influence of various demographic and clinical factors on NT-proBNP levels and assess the model's performance. In addition, our objectives included internal validation and investigation of the diagnostic potential of the observed-to-predicted NT-proBNP ratio (OPR) at baseline for predicting the risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective cohort study, participants were recruited from Toon City, Japan, as part of the larger Toon Health Study, focusing on cardiovascular risk factors. We measured the NT-proBNP levels and used linear regression with penalization (ridge regression) to develop the model. The model incorporated 10 prespecified predictors (age, gender, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, haemoglobin, albumin, total cholesterol, haemoglobin A1c, and estimated glomerular filtration rate) and underwent assessment using R2 and root mean squared error (RMSE). Internal validation was conducted through bootstrapping. In a post hoc analysis, we explored the OPR's diagnostic potential using 5 year follow-up data (n = 636) to predict the elevation of NT-proBNP > 125 pg/mL at the 5 year follow-up as the risk of HFpEF. A total of 2505 participants (age: 60.4 ± 12.9 years, men: 35%) were enrolled in this study. There was a linear relationship between the observed and predicted values of NT-proBNP in which the logarithm of observed NT-proBNP was <6, which corresponds to 403 pg/mL in NT-proBNP. The prediction model demonstrated satisfactory performance (R2: 0.291, RMSE: 0.688), with age identified as a dominant predictor. The stability of the model was underscored by the internal validation. The OPR at baseline predicted NT-proBNP > 125 pg/mL at the 5 year follow-up with an area under the curve of 0.793. CONCLUSIONS: This study introduces the first prediction model for NT-proBNP in a general Japanese population. Although the model has acceptable performance, ongoing refinement is essential. Our transparent approach to model development, alongside a web-based interactive tool, lays the groundwork for further improvements and external validation. The OPR holds potential for predicting the future risk of HFpEF. This research contributes to understanding the nuanced influence of patient backgrounds on levels of NT-proBNP in asymptomatic individuals within the context of a broader population-based cohort study.

Protocol for development of an assessment tool for competency of ECG interpretation: expert consensus by the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method and cross-sectional testing using multidimensional item response theory.

INTRODUCTION: Although the ECG is an important diagnostic tool in medical practice, the competency of ECG interpretation is considered to be poor. Diagnostic inaccuracy involving the misinterpretation of ECG can lead to inappropriate medical judgements and cause negative clinical outcomes, unnecessary medical testing and even fatalities. Despite the importance of assessing ECG interpretation skills, there is currently no established universal, standardised assessment tool for ECG interpretation. The current study seeks to (1) develop a set of items (ECG questions) for estimating competency of ECG interpretation by medical personnel by consensus among expert panels following a process based on the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) and (2) analyse item parameters and multidimensional latent factors of the test set to develop an assessment tool. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will be conducted in two steps: (1) selection of question items for ECG interpretation assessment by expert panels via a consensus process following RAM and (2) cross-sectional, web-based testing using a set of ECG questions. A multidisciplinary panel of experts will evaluate the answers and appropriateness and select 50 questions as the next step. Based on data collected from a predicted sample size of 438 test participants recruited from physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students, and other healthcare professionals, we plan to statistically analyse item parameters and participant performance using multidimensional item response theory. Additionally, we will attempt to detect possible latent factors in the competency of ECG interpretation. A test set of question items for ECG interpretation will be proposed on the basis of the extracted parameters. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol of this study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine (IRB number: 2209008). We will obtain informed consent from all participants. The findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Simple Symptom-Based Prediction of COVID-19: A Single-Center Study of Outpatient Fever Clinic in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms are not fully understood in non-hospitalized individuals in Japan, and COVID-19 differentiation by symptoms alone remained challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to examine COVID-19 prediction from symptoms using real-world data in an outpatient fever clinic. METHODS: We compared the symptoms of COVID-19-positive and negative patients who visited the outpatient fever clinic at Imabari City Medical Association General Hospital and tested for COVID-19 from April 2021 to May 2022. This retrospective single-center study enrolled 2,693 consecutive patients. RESULTS: COVID-19-positive patients had a higher frequency of close contact with COVID-19-infected patients compared with COVID-19-negative patients. Moreover, patients with COVID-19 had high-grade fever at the clinic compared with patients without COVID-19. Additionally, the most common symptom in patients with COVID-19 was sore throat (67.3%), followed by cough (62.0%), which was approximately twice as common in patients without COVID-19. COVID-19 was more frequently identified in patients having a fever (≥37.5℃) with a sore throat, a cough, or both. The positive COVID-19 rate reached approximately half (45%) when three symptoms were present. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that COVID-19 prediction by combinations of simple symptoms and close contact with COVID-19-infected patients might be useful and lead to recommendations for testing of COVID-19 in symptomatic individuals.

Intravascular Imaging-Based Physiologic Assessment.

Intravascular imaging (IVI), including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), is clinically useful for assessing the luminal size, lesion length, and plaque characteristics, as well as for evaluating stent deployment; however, it is not designed to estimate myocardial ischemia accurately. Thus, several types of IVI-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) (IVI-derived FFR) have been developed and reported. In general, the algorithms of virtual FFR are based on basic fluid dynamics equations (mainly Poiseuille and Borda-Carnot equations) and original microvascular models (fixed velocity or calculating coronary flow reserve). Although the models and assumptions used in the past reports were mostly based on the standard population (not independent patient data), the developed software calculated FFR with high accuracy (88% to 94%) with strong correlations between IVI-derived FFR and wire-based FFR (0.69 to 0.89). Given several other less invasive virtual FFR methods currently available for clinical use, IVI-derived FFR would be limited for the sole use of pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) physiological evaluation; however, it may play a unique role at PCI guidance and optimization, potentially allowing comprehensive and time/cost-saving assessment of both anatomical and physiological lesion properties using a single diagnostic device.

Pseudo-hyperacute T Waves in a Giant Hiatal Hernia.

An 89-year-old woman with a giant hiatal hernia complained of persistent chest pain. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed hyperacute T waves, suggesting the early phase of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. After endoscopic drainage for hiatal hernia, the chest pain disappeared, and the ECG abnormalities resolved. The present case illustrates that compression of the heart by a giant hiatal hernia can induce T wave elevation mimicking acute coronary syndrome.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum resulting in acute coronary syndrome.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare hereditary disorder that causes elastic tissue degeneration in the skin, eyes, and cardiovascular system. Gastrointestinal bleeding and fundus hemorrhage are serious complications associated with PXE prognosis as well as cardiovascular involvement. This is a rare case of acute coronary syndrome in a PXE patient with high bleeding risk. Learning objective: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) resulting in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is rare. Given PXE patients are generally at very high bleeding risk, antithrombotic therapy as secondary prevention after ACS onset should be taken into full consideration.

Visualization of pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma by color-coded iodine map using dual-energy computed tomography.

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcomas (PAIS) are often misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolisms (PE) as their clinical findings and imaging findings are similar. However, given the clinical outcome of both diseases is different in its prognosis, accurate and rapid diagnosis is mandatory. This is a case report of a histologically-proven PAIS which was initially treated as a PE. The color-coded iodine map using dual-energy computed tomography (dual-energy CT iodine map) well reflected the distribution of the tumor consistent with 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-uptake region using positron emission tomography/CT. This case demonstrates the potential of using dual-energy CT iodine map to differentiate PAIS from PE. Learning objective: Use of a dual-energy computed tomography iodine map to visualize a pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma may provide useful diagnostic information.

Transvenous pacing approach for atrioventricular block in fontan - Possibility of transvenous approach by electrophysiological assessment.

In extracardiac Fontan, an epicardial pacemaker implantation has many limitations, especially given that it is highly invasive and a high-risk procedure due to repeat thoracotomy. Herein we illustrate a case with the possibility of transvenous pacing in extracardiac Fontan being less invasive and lower risk transvenous dual-chamber pacemaker implantation by electrophysiological assessment. .

A Novel Quantitative Parameter for Static Myocardial Computed Tomography: Myocardial Perfusion Ratio to the Aorta.

We evaluated the feasibility of myocardial perfusion ratio to the aorta (MPR) in static computed tomography perfusion (CTP) for detecting myocardial perfusion abnormalities assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Twenty-five patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent dynamic CTP and SPECT were retrospectively evaluated. CTP images scanned at a sub-optimal phase for detecting myocardial perfusion abnormalities were selected from dynamic CTP images and used as static CTP images in the present study. The diagnostic accuracy of MPR derived from static CTP was compared to those of visual assessment and conventional quantitative parameters such as myocardial CT attenuation (HU) and transmural perfusion ratio (TPR). The area under the curve of MPR (0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76−0.90) was significantly higher than those of myocardial CT attenuation (0.73; 95% CI, 0.65−0.79) and TPR (0.76; 95% CI, 0.67−0.83) (p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity were 67% (95% CI, 54−77%) and 90% (95% CI, 86−92%) for visual assessment, 51% (95% CI, 39−63%) and 86% (95% CI, 82−89%) for myocardial CT attenuation, 63% (95% CI, 51−74%) and 84% (95% CI, 80−88%) for TPR, and 78% (95% CI, 66−86%) and 84% (95% CI, 80−88%) for MPR, respectively. MPR showed higher diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocardial perfusion abnormality compared with myocardial CT attenuation and TPR.

Usefulness of intravascular ultrasound assessment after development of the slow flow phenomenon during percutaneous coronary intervention.

The slow flow phenomenon is a critical complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) that leads to poor outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the slow flow phenomenon using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). We retrospectively analyzed IVUS data from 62 lesions in 58 consecutive patients who experienced the slow flow phenomenon during PCI. IVUS was performed immediately after the development of the slow flow phenomenon to assess its cause. No IVUS-based evidence of mechanical obstruction was categorized as distal embolization. Distal embolization was observed in 46 lesions (74%). The slow flow phenomenon occurred in all these lesions after stent implantation. In addition to distal embolization, three different mechanisms underlying the induction of the slow flow phenomenon due to mechanical obstructions (16 lesions, 26%) were detected on IVUS, namely, medial dissection/hematoma (6 lesions), intimal flap (6 lesions), and thrombus obstruction (4 lesions). Most mechanical obstructions (13 lesions, 81%) could not be identified by angiography alone. In 15/16 lesions (94%) with mechanical obstruction, deteriorated flow improved immediately after balloon dilatation or bail-out stent implantation, although intracoronary vasodilator administration could not reestablish coronary flow. The frequency of mechanical obstruction as the cause of the slow flow phenomenon was relatively high. Given the difficulty in angiographical differentiation, IVUS-guided management of slow flow may be a useful strategy.