Vulnerable period in heart failure: a window of opportunity for the optimization of treatment - a statement by Mexican experts.

Acute heart failure (HF) is associated with poor prognosis. After the acute event, there is a vulnerable period during which the patient has a marked risk of readmission or death. Therefore, early optimization of treatment is mandatory during the vulnerable period. The objective of this article is to provide recommendations to address the management of patients with HF during the vulnerable period from a practical point of view. A group of Mexican experts met to prepare a consensus document. The vulnerable period, with a duration of up to 6 months after the acute event - either hospitalization, visit to the emergency department or the outpatient clinic/day hospital - represents a real window of opportunity to improve outcomes for these patients. To best individualize the recommendations, the management strategies were divided into three periods (early, intermediate and late vulnerable period), including not only therapeutic options but also evaluation and education. Importantly, the recommendations are addressed to the entire cardiology team, including physicians and nurses, but also other specialists implicated in the management of these patients. In conclusion, this document represents an opportunity to improve the management of this population at high risk, with the aim of reducing the burden of HF.

Diagnóstico y manejo de la congestión en insuficiencia cardíaca aguda / Diagnosis and management of congestion in acute heart failure / Diagnóstico e tratamento da congestão na insuficiência cardíaca aguda

La congestión en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca representa una manifestación de diversos procesos estructurales y funcionales cardiovasculares, asociada a alta morbimortalidad y reducción de calidad de vida, se considera la principal causa de ingreso a hospitalización y reingreso por insuficiencia cardíaca. Durante las últimas décadas, se ha logrado un mejor entendimiento de los diversos eventos fisiopatológicos desencadenantes, lo cual ha mejorado su pronóstico, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Por estos constantes avances, es necesaria su frecuente revisión y análisis. La atención del paciente con insuficiencia cardíaca y episodios de congestión es compleja y crucial. Su abordaje inicia con el reconocimiento temprano de las manifestaciones clínicas, uso de métodos no invasivos diagnósticos, delimitación del perfil de congestión; consecuentemente, es necesario brindar un manejo oportuno, intensivo y eficaz que contemple el empleo temprano de diuréticos intravenosos, la evaluación de metas de descongestión y, en casos específicos, terapia diurética combinada e incluso medicamentos vasoactivos o ultrafiltración continua.

Congestion in patients with heart failure represents a manifestation of various cardiovascular structural and functional processes, associated with high morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life, being considered the main cause of hospitalization and readmission due to heart failure. During the last decades, a better understanding of the various triggering pathophysiological events has been achieved, modifying their prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment. Due to these constant advances, its frequent review and analysis is necessary. The care of patients with heart failure and episodes of congestion is complex and crucial. Its approach begins with early recognition of clinical manifestations, use of non-invasive diagnostic methods, delimitation of the congestion profile; followed by timely, intensive, and effective management that contemplates the early use of intravenous diuretics, evaluation of decongestion goals and, in specific cases, combined diuretic therapy, and even vasoactive medications or continuous ultrafiltration.

A congestão em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca representa manifestação de diversos processos cardiovasculares estruturais e funcionais, associada a elevada morbidade e mortalidade e redução da qualidade de vida, é considerada a principal causa de internação e reinternação por insuficiência cardíaca. Durante as últimas décadas, conseguiu-se uma melhor compreensão dos vários eventos fisiopatológicos desencadeantes, o que melhorou o seu prognóstico, diagnóstico e tratamento. Devido a esses constantes avanços, sua revisão e análise frequente se fazem necessárias. O cuidado de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca e episódios de congestão é complexo e crucial. Sua abordagem inicia-se com reconhecimento precoce das manifestações clínicas, utilização de métodos diagnósticos não invasivos, delimitação do perfil de congestão. Consequentemente, é necessário proporcionar manejo oportuno, intensivo e eficaz que inclua o uso precoce de diuréticos intravenosos, a avaliação das metas de descongestão e, em casos específicos, terapia diurética combinada e até mesmo medicações vasoativas ou ultrafiltração contínua.

Validation of DAPT score for prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces the rate of ischemic events but increases bleeding risk. DAPT score helps identify patients who benefit from prolonged DAPT. Nevertheless, its accuracy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to validate the use of DAPT score to predict ischemic and bleeding events in patients undergoing PCI for AMI and who received prolonged DAPT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included a cohort of patients with AMI who underwent PCI with stent placement and were treated with DAPT for more than 12 months. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty subjects were included in the final analysis (age: 64 ± 12 years, 78% men, median follow-up: 31 months). Ischemic event (reinfarction or revascularization of target vessel or lesion) occurred in 17% and bleeding occurred in 5% of patients. DAPT score demonstrated modest prediction performance for ischemic events (C-statistic: 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.68, p<0.001) and a good prediction performance for bleeding events (C-statistic: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.92, p<0.001). Subjects with a DAPT score ≥2 had a greater risk of ischemic events (hazard risk [HR]: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2-7.8, p = 0.019) and a lower risk of bleeding (HR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.07-0.79, p = 0.019). Kaplan-Meier curves at 4 years showed that patients with a DAPT score ≥2 had lower ischemic-free survival rates (79% ± 4 vs. 90% ± 5, p = 0.0137) and higher bleeding-free survival rates (97% ± 2 vs. 90% ± 4, p = 0.0106). CONCLUSIONS: DAPT score is useful in patients with AMI, and a cut-off value of 2 identifies patients with a higher risk of ischemic events who might benefit from prolonged DAPT.

Right ventricular longitudinal strain predicts acute kidney injury and short-term prognosis in patients with right ventricular myocardial infarction.

Right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction due to acute myocardial infarction is associated with serious complications in the short-term. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and unrecognized complication. This study aimed to assess whether RV longitudinal strain predicts AKI and short-term prognosis in patients with RV infarction. Prospective cohort of patients with RV infarction. RV function was evaluated with global and free wall right ventricular longitudinal strain (GRVLS and FWRVLS), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and tricuspid S' wave. The primary endpoint was AKI defined as an increase ≥ 50% in serum creatinine and/or a decrease ≥ 25% in glomerular filtration rate during follow-up at 7 days. The secondary endpoint was death from any cause at 30 days. We included 101 patients with RV infarction (male 67%, age 66 ± 11 years). During follow-up at 7 days, 40% of patients developed AKI. At 30 days, 8% of patients died. At univariate analysis, FWRVLS was significantly associated with AKI (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.20, p = 0.006). At multivariate analysis, only age, temporary pacemaker implant, and FWRVLS remained as independent predictors of AKI (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08, p = 0.002; HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.11-4.07, p = 0.023; HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19, p = 0.018, respectively). At 30 days, patients with FWRVLS ≥ - 15.5% showed a lower survival rate than those with lower strain (84 ± 6 vs. 97 ± 2%, p = 0.021). In patients with RV infarction, FWRVLS was an independent predictor of AKI and was associated with higher mortality in the short-term.

Predictors of Improvement in Renal Function After Heart Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: Moderate chronic renal insufficiency is often found in patients evaluated for heart transplant. Recovery of cardiac output after heart transplant might lead to improvement of renal function. In this study, our aim was to identify predictors of improvement of renal function after heart transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included a cohort of heart transplant patients treated from 2011 to 2016 whose main outcome was improved renal function, defined as glomerular filtration rate at 6 months after heart transplant of ≥ 10% compared with baseline (before transplant). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors. RESULTS: Our study included 83 patients, with 29% having improvement in renal function. Multivariate analyses identified baseline glomerular filtration rate (odds ratio of 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-0.98; P = .005), absence of hypertension (odds ratio of 4.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-17.8; P = .015), and elective heart transplant (odds ratio of 13.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-141; P = .028) as independent predictors. A scale developed with independent predictors showed good accuracy (area under the curve of 0.76). The probability for improvement in renal function was 7%, 23%, and 58% in patients with low, medium, and high scores, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with heart transplant, baseline glomerular filtration rate, absence of hypertension, and elective heart transplant were independent predictors of improvement in renal function after heart transplant.

Predictors of renal replacement therapy after heart transplantation and its impact on long-term survival.

BACKGROUND: Renal replacement therapy (RRT) after heart transplant (HT) is associated with worse prognosis. We aimed to identify predictors of RRT and the impact of this complication on long-term survival. METHODS: Cohort study of HT patients. Univariate and multivariate competing-risk regression was performed to identify independent predictors of RRT. The cumulative incidence function was plotted for RRT. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare long-term survival. RESULTS: We included 103 patients. At multivariate analysis, only the emergency status of HT (short-term mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplant), chronic kidney disease, and low oxygen delivery were independent predictors of RRT (subhazard ratio [SHR] 4.11, 95% CI 1.84-9.14; SHR 3.17, 95% CI 1.29-7.77; SHR 2.86, 95% CI 1.14-7.19, respectively). Elective HT patients that required RRT showed a significantly reduced survival comparable to patients with emergency HT and RRT (75% ± 13% vs. 67% ± 16%). The absence of RRT implied an excellent survival in patients with an emergency status of HT and elective HT (100% vs. 93% ± 4%). CONCLUSION: The emergency status of HT, chronic kidney disease, and low oxygen delivery were independent predictors of RRT. The occurrence of RRT increases the risk of death in elective HT as much as in patients with an emergency status.

Disminución de la fracción de expulsión del ventrículo izquierdo por estrés con adenosina como predictor de isquemia.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En estudios de medicina nuclear se ha observado que la disminución de la fracción de expulsión del ventrículo izquierdo (FEVI) se asocia con enfermedad coronaria trivascular; en resonancia magnética cardiaca (RMC) no se ha estudiado el papel que desempeña la disminución de la FEVI. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la asociación entre la disminución de la FEVI y la isquemia cardiaca en pacientes con estudios de RMC con adenosina. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal comparativo. Los criterios de inclusión fueron pacientes evaluados con RMC con adenosina entre enero de 2009 y junio de 2015. Se comparó el cambio en la FEVI en pacientes con estudio positivo versus pacientes con estudio negativo para isquemia por este método. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 59 pacientes: 41 del sexo masculino (70 %), edad de 59.7 ± 10.9 años; 38 % de los estudios fueron positivos para isquemia. La delta de la FEVI (FEVI postestrés - FEVI reposo) fue de -0.16 ± 5.9 versus 5.3 ± 4.7 (p<0.001) en pacientes con y sin isquemia, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes con estudios positivos para isquemia tuvieron menor delta FEVI que los que tuvieron estudios negativos para isquemia. BACKGROUND: The decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been observed to be associated with three-vessel coronary disease in nuclear medicine studies; however, the role played by LVEF decrease has not been studied with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between LVEF decrease and cardiac ischemia in patients with CMR studies with adenosine. METHOD: Cross-sectional, comparative study. Inclusion criteria were: patients assessed with CMR with adenosine between January 2009 and June 2015. LVEF change was compared between patients testing positive for ischemia versus those who tested negative. RESULTS: Fifty nine patients were included: 41 were males (70%), mean age was 59.7 ± 10.9 years; 38% of the studies tested positive for ischemia. Delta LVEF (post-stress LVEF ­ resting LVEF) was ­0.16 ± 5.9 versus 5.3 ± 4.7 (p < 0.001) in patients with and without ischemia, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients who tested positive for ischemia had lower delta LVEF than those with negative studies for ischemia.

Coexisting bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves diagnosed by 3D transthoracic echocardiography.

Coexisting bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves is an extremely rare condition, and there have been few published cases. Diagnosis of bicuspid aortic valve is straightforward with 2D echocardiography; however, analysis of the morphology of the pulmonary valve is challenging. In this study, we report on a case of a 32-year-old man with bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves diagnosed by 2D and 3D transthoracic echocardiography. The enlarged pulmonary artery without any obvious etiology led us to suspect a pulmonary valve anomaly; thus, we comprehensively evaluated it with 2D and 3D echocardiography, which confirmed the diagnosis of bicuspid pulmonary valve.