Procedural success and outcomes after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in rheumatic mitral stenosis with moderate mitral regurgitation: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) is contraindicated in mitral stenosis (MS) with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) according to the European guidelines. However, small-sized studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of PBMV in these patients. We aimed to study the procedural success and mid-term outcomes of PBMV in MS patients with moderate MR. Methods: The present study was a retrospective cohort study in consecutive patients with severe rheumatic MS who underwent PBMV with the Inoue technique in Songklanagarind hospital. The severity of mitral regurgitation was assessed with qualitative Doppler. The patients were grouped according to their MR severity before PBMV into moderate MR or less-than-moderate MR. Procedural success and a composite of all-cause death, mitral valve surgery or re-PBMV were compared between the two groups. Results: Of 618 patients with rheumatic MS who underwent PBMV in Songklanagarind hospital between January 2003 and October 2020, 598 patients (96.8%) had complete information of pre-PBMV MR severity and procedural success. Forty-nine patients (8.2%) had moderate MR before PBMV. Moderate MR before PBMV was not associated with a lower chance of PBMV success (moderate MR vs. less-than-moderate MR before PBMV; adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.32-1.29, P=0.22). Survival probability of all-cause death, MV surgery or re-PBMV in the group with moderate MR before PBMV was not different from the group with less-than-moderate MR (adjusted HR 1.30, 95% CI: 0.98-1.62, P=0.10). Conclusions: PBMV is an effective and safe treatment in rheumatic MS with moderate MR.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in acute decompensated heart failure (Thai ADHERE).

BACKGROUND: Heart failure had emerged as a major public health problem and became the leading cause of hospitalization. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) of US patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of acute decompensated heart Failure (ADHF) had been reported worldwide for the risk stratification and predicting In-hospital mortality. OBJECTIVE: Identify clinical risk factors or treatment procedures that could predict In-hospital mortality in Thai patients with ADHF. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thai ADHERE is a multicenter, observational, prospective study. The data were collected via web-based electronic data capture and analyzed. Two thousand forty one hospitalization episodes involving 1,671 patients in the 18 participating hospitals between March 2006 and September 2007 were analyzed. All clinical factors associated with In-hospital mortality identified by univariated analysis were further analyzed by Logistic regression model. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen patients died during the hospitalization period with overall mortality rate of 5.5%. Systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL, history of stroke/TIA, and NYHA class IV were independent risk factors for In-hospital mortality with adjusted OR (95% CI) = 3.45 (1.77-6.79), 1.99 (1.30-3.05), 1.85 (1.11-3.08) and 1.69 (1.08-2.64) respectively. Hypertensive cause of CHF, prior use of lipid lowering drug, and hemoglobin level were associated with lower risk, adjusted OR (95% CI) = 0.35 (0.15-0.81), 0.51 (0.34-0.78) and 0.90 (0.82-0.98) respectively. CONCLUSION: The clinical predictors for In-hospital mortality of Thai ADHERE that associated with worse outcome were systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL, history of stroke/TIA, and NYHA class IV. Hypertensive cause of CHF, prior use of lipid lowering drug, and hemoglobin were associated favorable outcome.

Consequence and factors related to not offering reperfusion therapy in STEMI.

INTRODUCTION: Varied reasons existed for not offering reperfusion therapy in ST elevation myocardial infarction and results in poor outcomes, and if related factors could be delineated, corrective measures can be attempted. METHOD: We compared variables between participants not receiving reperfusion therapy and those receiving single reperfusion therapy. Multivariate analysis examined the contribution of non-reperfusion therapy to death and factors related to it. RESULTS: Non-reperfusion therapy was older and had a lower frequency of typical chest pain, but more dyspnea, and post cardiac resuscitation. They had more heart failure and death. Non-reperfusion therapy was an independent factor related to cardiac death, and factors related to non-reperfusion therapy were age, type of hospital, presenting features on admission (dyspnea and post cardiac resuscitation), lack of typical chest pain, and not being referred to. CONCLUSION: Non-reperfusion therapy had 2 to 3 times higher in-hospital mortality. Factors related to not offering reperfusion therapy, aside from age, appeared to be amendable to better management.

An equation to explain variations in blood NT-proBNP in ambulatory cardiac subjects.

BACKGROUND: NT-proBNP is being used as a biomarker for prognosticating and delineating cardiac dysfunction. The cut-off value for deciding normal versus abnormal levels has always been a point of contention since it depends on the degree of dysfunction as well as other associated conditions often termed non-cardiac factors and parameters. Such association had not been formally presented. OBJECTIVE: To determine the direction and magnitude of effect of cardiac and non-cardiac parameters on NT-proBNP variability. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study included 78 cardiac ambulatory patients with a history of heart failure and/or low left ventricular ejection fraction. Their cardiac and non-cardiac parameters were recorded at the time of blood sampling for NT-proBNP. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to correlate cardiac and non-cardiac parameters with NT-proBNP level and, from this, a predictive equation was derived. RESULTS: Log [NT-proBNP (pmol/l)] was 1.424 + 0.348 (for EF of 18-27) + 0.636 (for EF < 18) + 0.021 CTR - 0.002 SMW- 0.326 for female + 0.430 Cr - 0.010 BW [EF = LV ejectionfraction in %; CTR = cardio-thoracic ratio in %; SMW = 6-minute walking distance in meters; Cr = serum creatinine in mg/dl; BW = body weight in kg]. The adjusted R-square for this regression was 0.659. Omitting the non-cardiac variables (sex, Cr, BW) would decrease the adjusted R-square to 0.493. CONCLUSION: Cut-off value for NT-proBNP concentration in subjects without severe systolic heart failure has to account for these non-cardiac factors.

Costs of payment in Thai acute coronary syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major health care syndrome that can financially burden patients throughout the world, including Thailand. Few studies purposed estimating the costs of treatment. The data from the ACS registry database represented the costs of hospital charges paid by ACS patients. Although these were not the actual treatment costs, the authors can approximately estimate the total expenditure for the first admission. OBJECTIVES: First, calculate the cost of ACS to the patients, including diagnostic, demographic data, treatment modalities, type of payers, hospital profile, and outcomes. Second, find the appropriate model to identify the independent factors for predicting the treatment costs. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study collected data from the second and third phase of a national multicenter prospective registry of ACS in Thailand, Thai ACS registry (TACSR). 3,552 patients with new onset of ACS were analyzed. RESULTS: Median age was 67 years (range 26.5-105.5) with predominately male and median length of stay (LOS) was 7 days (range, 1-184). 42% referred from other hospitals. The median cost of the total population was 47,908 baht (range, 633-1,279,679). When classified into those of STEMI, NSTEMI, and UA, the costs were 82,848.5, 40,531 and 26,116 baht respectively, p < 0.0001. Patients in the government hospital had to pay the total cost with PCI and CABG, 152,081-161,374 baht and 203,139-223,747 baht respectively, while the private hospital charged almost twice as much. For the types of payers, private insurance including private employee security fund paid significantly more than others. Costs in patients paid by "30 baht na tional health scheme and social security fund" were significantly less than those of others. For modality of treatment in STEMI, primary PCI was significantly more costly than thrombolytics and no reperfusion therapy, 161,096.5 vs. 60,043.0 and 33,335.0 baht respectively p < 0.0001. Early invasive groups in NSTEMI/UA had much higher median costs 145,794.0 baht when compared to those of the conservative group, 47,908 baht, p < 0.0001. Two multiple linear regression models according to the diagnostic group identified the independent factors for predicting cost. PCI, LOS, CABG, admission in a private hospital, Death, GPIIb/IlIa inhibitors use, major bleeding, coronary angiogram, thrombolytics use, age and diabetes were independent predictors for the cost in STEMI patients, R2 = 0.58. For those of NSTEMI/UA, the independent predictors for the cost were PCI, LOS, CABG, admission in a private hospital, death, GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors use, major bleeding, coronary angiogram, age, ventricular arrhythmia, CHF and referred patients, R2 =0.62. CONCLUSION: Costs in ACS patients were markedly different among diagnostic groups. The clinical risk factors were hospital type, type of payers, referred system, treatment procedures, drugs used and complications including outcome. Some of these factors could independently predict the costs.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a rural area in Southern Thailand: potential ethnic differences.

In Thepa district, Songkhla province, Southern Thailand, parents of children being followed long term from conception for their development (N 1325), as well as health workers of the same district (N 150) were surveyed with regards to anthropometry, occupation, family size, food and leisure habits, and blood levels of lipids, sugar, creatinine and hematocrit. Differences among those of Thai or Chinese extracts (Thai-Buddhists) and those of Malay extracts (Thai-Muslims) were separately evaluated for males and females. The mean age for the group (N 1475, including 636 couples) was 31.5 +/- 7.3 (SD) and ranged from 15-66 years. There were 794 females (485 Muslims) ages 29.6 +/- 6.6 (SD). The Muslim families were larger in size averaging 2.8 +/- 1.6 children while the Buddhist's averaged 1.9 +/- 0.9. Fifty four percent of the group were engaged in rubber tapping and this often included both members of the family. Sixty eight percent of the males currently smoked Differences in measured variables between Muslims and Buddhists were minimal. The most striking however was the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among the males where the age-adjusted average was 51.3 +/- 0.72 (SE) among the Buddhists and 42.2 +/- 0.59 (SE) in the Muslims. This difference was significant even when adjusted for other related variables. Differences in the ethnic groups were also examined in terms of prevalence of risks (hypertension, BMI > or = 25%, waist-hip-ratio, fasting plasma glucose > or = 110 mg%, total cholesterol > or = 200 mg%, triglyceride > or = 150 mg% and low HDL-C). For hypertension (systolic > or = 140 or diastolic > or = 90 mmHg), female Muslims showed higher prevalence (4.5% vs 1.6%; OR 2.82 CI 1.04-7.64). For low HDL-C, male Muslim showed higher prevalence 23.6 vs 8.8%, OR 2.31 CI 1.27-4.22). Other risks showed no differences among the ethnic groups. The differences in parameters or in prevalence of risk between these two ethnic groups (minimal intermarriage) are distinct from differences among Malays and Chinese in Singapore where such differences were subsequently reflected in the differences in incidence and out-come of ischemic heart diseases.

Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Reconstruction of the Left Ventricle by a Transesophageal Tomographic Technique: In Vitro and In Vivo Validation of its Volume Measurement.

Accurate determination of left ventricular (LV) volume has important therapeutic and prognostic implications in patients with cardiac disease. Volume estimations by two-dimensional techniques are not very accurate due to geometric assumptions. OBJECTIVES: To validate LV volume determinations by a new transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiographic technique. We performed three-dimensional reconstruction of the LV using an echo-computed tomographic (CT) technique based on serial pullback parallel slice imaging technique in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Fourteen latex balloons with various sizes (30-235 mL) and shapes (conical, pear shaped, round, elliptical, and aneurysms in various locations) filled with known volumes of water were imaged in a water bath. From the static three-dimensional image, the LV long axis was defined and the LV was sectioned perpendicular to this axis into 2-mm slices. The volume of each slice was calculated with the observer blinded to the actual volume as the product of the slice thickness and the manually traced perimeter of the slice and the LV volume as the sum of the volumes of the slices (Simpson's method). The calculated LV volume closely correlated with the actual volume (r = 0.99, P < 0.0001, calculated volume = 1.06x - 11.3, Deltavolume = -5.7 +/- 10.0 cc). Using the same system, transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) images of the LV were obtained in 15 patients gated to respiration and ECG. Satisfactory dynamic three-dimensional reconstruction of the LV was possible in ten patients. The three-dimensional LV volumes (systolic and diastolic) using Simpson's method correlated well with those obtained from biplane or multiplane TEE images using the area length method (r = 0.89, p < 0.0001, y = 12.7 + 0.84x, Deltavolume = 1.3 +/- 18.1 cc). The LV major-axis diameters by the two methods showed very close correlations as well (r = 0.86, P < 0.0001, y = 19 + 0.74x, Deltadiameter = 1.0 +/- 7.2 mm). We conclude that three-dimensional LV volume calculation by the echo-CT technique is intrinsically sound, is independent of LV geometry, and with some limitations, is applicable in vivo. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, November 1996)