New severity criteria for tricuspid regurgitation in a broad population of "real life" patients: Prevalence and prognostic impact.

Introduction Our objective was to determine, in "real life" patients, the prevalence of massive and torrential regurgitation among patients diagnosed with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), as well as its impact on long-term prognosis. Methods In a single-center retrospective study, all patients with an echocardiographic diagnosis of severe TR attended at a tertiary care hospital of an European country from January 2008 to December 2017 were recruited. Images were analysed off-line to measure the maximum vena contracta (VC) and TR was classified into three groups: severe (VC ≥ 7 mm), massive (VC 14-20 mm), and torrential (VC ≥ 21 mm). The impact of this classification on the combined event of heart failure (HF) admission and all-cause death in follow-up was investigated. Results A total of 614 patients (70 ± 13 years, 72 % women) were included. 81.4 % had severe TR, 15.8 % massive TR, and 2.8 % torrential TR. The 5-year HF-free survival  was 42 %, 43 %, and 12 % (p = 0.001), for the different subgroups of severe TR, respectively. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, TR severity was an independent predictor of survival free of the combined end-point: HR 0.91 [95 % CI 0.70-1.18] p = 0.46, for massive TR; and HR 2.5 [95 % CI 1.49-4.21] p = 0.001, for torrential TR considering severe TR as reference. Conclusions The prevalence of massive and torrential TR is not negligible among patients with severe TR in real life. The prognosis is significantly worse for patients with torrential TR measured by the maximum VC.

Risk scores for predicting incident heart failure admission in patients with chronic coronary syndromes: Validation in a prospective, monocentric, long-term, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) admission in chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients has a prognostic impact. Stratification schemes have been described for predicting this endpoint, but none of them has been externally validated. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to develop point scores for predicting incident HF admission with data from previous studies, to perform an external validation in an independent prospective cohort and to compare their discriminative ability for this event. METHODS: Independent predictive variables of HF admission in CCS patients without baseline HF were selected from four previous prospective studies (CARE, PEACE, CORONOR and CLARIFY), generating scores based on the relative magnitude of the coefficients of Cox of each variable. Finally, the scores were validated and compared in a monocentric prospective cohort. RESULTS: The validation cohort included 1212 patients followed for up to 17 years, with 171 patients suffering at least one HF admission in the follow-up. Discriminative ability for predicting HF admission was statistically significant for all, and paired comparisons among them were all nonsignificant except for CORONOR score was superior to CLARIFY score (C-statistic 0.73, 95%CI 0.69-0.76 vs. 0.69, 95% CI 0.65-0.73; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: All tested scores showed significant discriminative ability for predicting incident HF admission in this independent validation study. Their discriminative ability was similar, with significant differences only between the two scores with higher and lower performance.

Long-Term Prognostic Impact of Sex in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A 17-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Women and men with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) have different clinical features and management, and studies on mid-term prognosis have reported conflicting results. Our objective was to investigate the impact of the female sex in the prognosis of the disease in the very long term. Methods and Results: We investigated differential features and very long-term prognosis in 1268 consecutive outpatients with CCS (337 [27%] women and 931 [73%] men). Women were older than men, more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, angina, and atrial fibrillation, and less likely to be exsmoker/active smoker and to have been treated with coronary revascularization (p < 0.05 for all). The prescription of statins, antiplatelets, and betablockers was similar in both groups. After up to 17 years of follow-up (median = 11 years, interquartile range = 4-15 years), cumulative incidences of acute myocardial infarction (10.2% vs. 11.8%) or stroke (11% vs. 10%) at median follow-up were similar, but the risks of major cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death, 41.2% vs. 33.6%), hospital admission for heart failure (20.9% vs. 11.9%), or cardiovascular death (32.3% vs. 22.1%) were significantly higher for women (p < 0.0005), with a nonsignificant trend to higher overall mortality (45.2% vs. 39.1%, p = 0.07). However, after multivariate adjustment, all these differences disappeared. Conclusion: Although women and men with CCS presented a different clinical profile, and crude rates of major cardiovascular events, heart failure and cardiovascular death were higher in women, female sex was not an independent prognostic factor in this study with up to 17 years of follow-up.

Electrocardiographic features and need for pacemaker in cardiac amyloidosis: Analysis of 58 cases. / Alteraciones electrocardiográficas y necesidad de marcapasos en amiloidosis cardiaca: análisis de 58 casos.

AIM: Amyloidosis is a disease in which amyloid fibrils can be deposited in different cardiac structures, and several electrocardiographic abnormalities can be produced by this phenomenon. The objective of this study was to describe the most common basal electrocardiographic alterations in patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and to determine if these abnormalities have an impact on the need of pacemaker. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who had an established diagnosis of CA [light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (LA-CA) or transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR-CA)] between January 2013 and March 2021. The baseline heart rate, the percentage of patients with a pseudo-infarct pattern, low-voltage pattern or cardiac conductions disturbances, and the impact of these factors on the need of pacemaker were analysed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients with CA (20 with LA-CA and 38 with TTR-CA) were included, and the majority were male (69.0%). Twenty-one patients had atrial fibrillation (AF) at diagnosis. Thirty-five patients had a pseudo-infarct pattern, 35% had a low-voltage pattern, and 22% had criteria for ventricular hypertrophy. Two hirds had a conduction disorder: 18 patients with first degree atrioventricular block, 12 right bundle branch block, 3 left bundle branch block and 25 with a branch hemiblock. There were no differences between LA-CA and TTR-CA. Patients with TTR-CA had a greater need for pacemakers in the folow-up (39±40 meses). Bundle branch block was a predictor of the need for a permanent pacemaker (HR: 23.43; CI 95%: 4.09.134.09; P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients diagnosed wich CA are heterogeneus. Most frecuent is the presence of conduction disorders, the pseudoinfarction pattern, followed by the low voltage pattern. Patients with any bundle branch block at the baseline electrocardiogram need more frecuent to require a pacemaker during follow-up, especially in TTR-CA.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a virtual community of practice to improve the empowerment of patients with ischaemic heart disease: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP) or knowledge-sharing virtual communities offer ubiquitous access to information and exchange possibilities for people in similar situations, which might be especially valuable for the self-management of patients with chronic diseases. In view of the scarce evidence on the clinical and economic impact of these interventions on chronic conditions, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a VCoP in the improvement of the activation and other patient empowerment measures in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial will be performed in Catalonia, Madrid and Canary Islands, Spain. Two hundred and fifty patients with a recent diagnosis of IHD attending the participating centres will be selected and randomised to the intervention or control group. The intervention group will be offered participation for 12 months in a VCoP based on a gamified web 2.0 platform where there is interaction with other patients and a multidisciplinary professional team. Intervention and control groups will receive usual care. The primary outcome will be measured with the Patient Activation Measure questionnaire at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Secondary outcomes will include: clinical variables; knowledge (Questionnaire of Cardiovascular Risk Factors), attitudes (Self-efficacy Managing Chronic Disease Scale), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Questionnaire), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety Scale-A), medication adherence (Adherence to Refill Medication Scale), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) and health resources use. Data will be collected from self-reported questionnaires and electronic medical records. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid, Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and IDIAP Jordi Gol in Barcelona. The results will be disseminated through workshops, policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications, local/international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03959631). Pre-results.

Admission inferior vena cava measurements are associated with mortality after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Prognostication of patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is important to patients, providers, and healthcare systems. Few bedside tools exist to prognosticate patients hospitalized with ADHF. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and postdischarge mortality in patients hospitalized with ADHF. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: A 247-bed urban teaching hospital in Spain PATIENTS: Ninety-seven patients hospitalized with ADHF. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS: The IVC diameter and collapsibility were measured by a hospitalist at the time of admission and discharge. Primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were readmission rates at 90 and 180 days, and 180-day all-cause mortality. Patients were followed for 180 days. RESULTS: Data from 80 patients were analyzed. From admission to discharge, a significant improvement in IVC maximum (IVCmax ) diameter (2.12 vs 1.87 cm; P < 0.001) and IVC collapsibility (25.7% vs 33.1%; P < 0.001) was seen in the total study cohort. During the 90-day follow-up period, 11 patients (13.7%) died. An admission IVCmax diameter ≥1.9 cm was associated with a higher mortality rate at 90 days (25.4% vs 3.4%; P = 0.009) and 180 days (29.3% vs 3.4%; P = .003). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, admission IVCmax diameter was an independent predictor of 90-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-28.10; P = 0.025) and 90-day readmission (HR: 3.20; 95% CI: 1.24-8.21; P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: In patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure, a dilated IVC by bedside ultrasound at the time of admission is associated with a higher 90-day mortality after hospitalization. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:778-784. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Respuesta: Abordaje quirúrgico en el fracaso de la terapia de resincronización cardiaca por vía intravascular / Reply: Surgical approach to endovascular cardiac resynchronisation after failure

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Caracterización del paciente hiperrespondedor a la terapia de resincronización cardiaca / Characterization of hyper-responder patients to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Fundamento y objetivo: Comparar las características clínicas y ecocardiográficas de los hiperrespondedores a la terapia de resincronización cardiaca (TRC) frente al resto. Pacientes y método: Incluimos a 80 pacientes consecutivos tratados con TRC y un seguimiento de 19±14 meses. Definimos hiperrrespondedores a los que al final del seguimiento presentaban una fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo (FEVI) ≥ 50%. Resultados: Doce (15%) fueron hiperrespondedores. Sus características clínicas basales eran similares a las del resto, excepto en que había menos varones hiperrespondedores. En estos pacientes, el diámetro diastólico basal del ventrículo izquierdo fue de 64 (7) mm y el sistólico de 55 (6) mm frente a 75 (8) mm y 66 (9) mm respectivamente, p<0,05. El área de regurgitación mitral basal en los hiperrespondedores fue de 3,1 (1,8) cm2 frente a 6,4 (5,5) cm2, p<0,05.Conclusiones: Los hiperrespondedores suelen ser mujeres que presentan basalmente un ventrículo izquierdo menos dilatado y una menor insuficiencia mitral valorada por ecocardiografía (AU)

Background and objective: To compare clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of the hyper-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with the rest of patients. Patients and method: We included 80 consecutive patients treated with CRT. The follow up was 19 (14) months. Patients were considered hyper-responder if they had an ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF) ≥ 50% after follow up.Results: Twelve (15%) patients were considered hyper-responders. Their baseline clinical characteristics were similar to the rest except that there were fewer males in the group of hyper-responders. In these patients, basal left ventricle diastolic diameter was 64 (7) mm and the systolic was 55 (6) mm versus 75 (8) mm and 66 (9) mm respectively, p<0.05. The basal area of mitral regurgitation in the hyper-responders was 3.1 (1.8) cm2 versus 6.4 (5.5) cm2, p<0.05.Conclusions: Hyper-responder patients are often women with less dilated left ventricle and reduced severity of mitral regurgitation assessed by echocardiography (AU)

[Characterization of hyper-responder patients to cardiac resynchronization therapy]. / Caracterización del paciente hiperrespondedor a la terapia de resincronización cardiaca.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of the hyper-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with the rest of patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We included 80 consecutive patients treated with CRT. The follow up was 19 (14) months. Patients were considered hyper-responder if they had an ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF) ≥ 50% after follow up. RESULTS: Twelve (15%) patients were considered hyper-responders. Their baseline clinical characteristics were similar to the rest except that there were fewer males in the group of hyper-responders. In these patients, basal left ventricle diastolic diameter was 64 (7) mm and the systolic was 55 (6) mm versus 75 (8) mm and 66 (9) mm respectively, p < 0.05. The basal area of mitral regurgitation in the hyper-responders was 3.1 (1.8) cm(2) versus 6.4 (5.5) cm(2), p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Hyper-responder patients are often women with less dilated left ventricle and reduced severity of mitral regurgitation assessed by echocardiography.

[Utility of transesophageal echocardiography in young patients with cryptogenic stroke and low cardiovascular risk]. / Utilidad del ecocardiograma transesofágico en pacientes jóvenes con ictus de origen desconocido y bajo riesgo cardiovascular.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a high morbimortality disease. In young patients, as many as 40% of acute strokes have no clearly identifiable cause (cryptogenic stroke) and this group of patients had until now limited therapeutic possibilities. However, transesophagical echocardiography (TEE) is changing patient management. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied 100 consecutive patients aged 55 years old or less with cryptogenic stroke. TEE was performed in all of them. RESULTS: TEE was normal in 49 patients while in 51 patients it showed any abnormality: patent foramen ovale (PFO) was found in 29 patients, isolated atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) in 1 patient, PFO and ASA in 12 patients, 5 patients had a cardiac mass and in 4 patients we found severe aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, TEE showed a cardiac source of stroke in 51% of patients. We changed patient management in 46 patients (90.2% of patients with abnormal TEE), indicating percutaneous treatment in 38 patients, surgery in 3 patients and anticoagulant therapy in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: TEE found a cardiac cause of stroke in 51% of young patients with cryptogenic stroke. These findings led to change the therapeutic management in 47% of patients. TEE seems to be a useful technique in young patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Utilidad del ecocardiograma transesofágico en pacientes jóvenes con ictus de origen desconocido y bajo riesgo cardiovascular / Utility of transesophageal echocardiography in young patients with cryptogenic stroke and low cardiovascular risk

Fundamento y objetivo: El ictus es una enfermedad de gran morbimortalidad. Hasta en un 40% de pacientes jóvenes no se llegaba a conocer la causa (ictus criptogénico) y las posibilidades terapéuticas eran escasas. Sin embargo, la ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE) y el descubrimiento de nuevas causas de ictus están cambiando la actitud en estos pacientes. Pacientes y método: Se incluyó a 100 pacientes consecutivos de 55 años o menos ingresados en el Servicio de Neurología por ictus criptogénico a los que se les realizó ecocardiografía transtorácica y ETE. Resultados: La edad media (desviación estándar) fue 45,5 (9,7) años. La ETE fue normal en 49 pacientes y patológica en 51: foramen oval permeable (FOP) en 29 pacientes, aneurisma del septo interauricular (ASA) aislado en 1 paciente, FOP asociado a ASA en 12 pacientes, algún tipo de tumoración en 5 pacientes y ateromatosis aórtica de grado avanzado en 4 pacientes. Así, se encontró una causa de ictus en el 51% de los pacientes. Los hallazgos cambiaron la actitud clínica en 46 pacientes (90,2% de las ETE patológicas), por lo que se indicó tratamiento percutáneo en 38 pacientes, cirugía en 3 pacientes y la administración de anticoagulantes orales en 5 pacientes. Conclusiones: La ETE encontró al menos una anomalía que justificara el ictus en el 51% de los pacientes con ictus criptogénico y bajo riesgo cardiovascular. Este hallazgo produjo un cambio en la actitud clínica y terapéutica en el 90% de los pacientes con alguna alteración detectada por ETE. Esta técnica parece de utilidad para el diagnóstico y para la toma de decisiones terapéuticas en estos pacientes

Background and objective: Stroke is a high morbimortality disease. In young patients, as many as 40% of acute strokes have no clearly identifiable cause (cryptogenic stroke) and this group of patients had until now limited therapeutic possibilities. However, transesophagical echocardiography (TEE) is changing patient management. Patients and method: We studied 100 consecutive patients aged 55 years old or less with cryptogenic stroke. TEE was performed in all of them. Results: TEE was normal in 49 patients while in 51 patients it showed any abnormality: patent foramen ovale (PFO) was found in 29 patients, isolated atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) in 1 patient, PFO and ASA in 12 patients, 5 patients had a cardiac mass and in 4 patients we found severe aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, TEE showed a cardiac source of stroke in 51% of patients. We changed patient management in 46 patients (90.2% of patients with abnormal TEE), indicating percutaneous treatment in 38 patients, surgery in 3 patients and anticoagulant therapy in 5 patients. Conclusions: TEE found a cardiac cause of stroke in 51% of young patients with cryptogenic stroke. These findings led to change the therapeutic management in 47% of patients. TEE seems to be a useful technique in young patients with cryptogenic stroke

Seudoaneurismas en el autoinjerto pulmonar tras la cirugía de Ross / Pseudoaneurysm of the pulmonary autograft following the Ross procedure

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