Cardiovascular Risk Profiling Using the Globorisk Calculator among Noncommunicable Disease Patients Attending Primary Health Centers of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for over three-quarters of all deaths taking place in developing nations. Objective: The present study aims to stratify noncommunicable disease (NCD) patients using the Globorisk chart for predicting their 10-year risk of a major (fatal or nonfatal) CVD event and to estimate the level of agreement between this country-specific chart and the existing World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Hypertension (ISH) risk strata. Methods: A record-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 2018 among adults attending the NCD clinic of one rural and one urban primary health center in Puducherry. Laboratory and office risk calculators of the Globorisk chart were used to calculate the risk. Results: The median age (interquartile range (IQR)) of the 760 study participants was 58 (50-65) years. When calculated using the Globorisk prediction chart, 22.1% (n = 168) of the participants had a <10% risk for any CVD event in the next 10 years, whereas the same risk was found in 71.1% (n = 540) by using the WHO/ISH risk chart. There was no agreement found between the two risk charts (k = 0.0174; P-value = 0.26). Conclusion: The Globorisk chart was found to identify more patients as belonging to the higher risk category as compared to WHO/ISH charts.

Effects of conscious sedation on tachycardia inducibility and patient comfort during ablation of supraventricular tachycardia: a double blind randomized controlled study.

AIMS: Sedation is not consistently used during electrophysiology procedures because of concerns regarding effects on tachycardia inducibility. We designed this study to assess the effect of conscious sedation on tachycardia inducibility and patient comfort during supraventricular tachycardia ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with narrow QRS tachycardia and no pre-excitation undergoing an electrophysiology study were randomly assigned to sedation or placebo group. Patients in the sedation group received intermittent doses of midazolam and fentanyl, while those in the placebo group received normal saline as placebo. The physician and the patient were blinded to the allocation. Information was collected on tachycardia inducibility, patient discomfort, and complications. A total of 103 patients were included in the study. Proportion of patients with difficult tachycardia induction (27.4% vs. 32.7%) or with non-inducibility (5.8% vs. 3.8%) were not different between the sedation and placebo groups. Patient discomfort as measured by the Wong-Baker scale was significantly less in the sedation group (1.45 ± 1.08 vs. 2.24 ± 1.2, P < 0.0007) compared to the placebo group. There was no difference in incidence of hypotension or hypoxia between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Conscious sedation with intermittent midazolam- and fentanyl-reduced patient discomfort during electrophysiology study and ablation of supraventricular tachycardia without affecting tachycardia inducibility. Sedation administered in the absence of an anaesthetist was safe.

Contribution of insulin resistance to decreased baroreceptor sensitivity & cardiometabolic risks in pre-obesity & obesity.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Although insulin resistance (IR) is a known complication in obesity, the physiological mechanisms linking IR with cardiometabolic risks in obesity have not been well studied. This study was conducted to assess the difference in cardiovascular (CV) risk profile in IR and non-IR (NIR) conditions, and contribution of IR to cardiometabolic risks in pre-obese and obese individuals. METHODS: Basal CV, blood pressure variability, autonomic function test and cardiometabolic parameters were recorded in pre-obese (n=86) and obese (n=77) individuals during 2012 and 2015. The association of altered cardiometabolic parameters with homeostatic model for IR (HOMA-IR) in pre-obese and obese groups and with baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) in IR and NIR groups was calculated by appropriate statistical analysis. RESULTS: Decreased BRS, a known CV risk and cardiometabolic parameters were significant in IR (pre-obese and obese) group compared to the NIR group. Sympathovagal imbalance in the form of increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic activities was observed in individuals with IR. There was no significant difference in the level of independent contribution of HOMA-IR to cardiometabolic parameters in pre-obese and obese groups. Adiponectin and inflammatory markers had an independent contribution to BRS in IR group. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the present study demonstrated that the intensity of cardiometabolic derangements and CV risk were comparable between IR, pre-obese and obese individuals. Pro-inflammatory state, dyslipidaemia and hypoadiponectinaemia might contribute to CV risk in these individuals with IR. IR could possibly be the link between altered metabolic profile and increased CV risks in these individuals independent of the adiposity status.

Effect of 12 Weeks of Yoga Therapy on Quality of Life and Indian Diabetes Risk Score in Normotensive Indian Young Adult Prediabetics and Diabetics: Randomized Control Trial.

INTRODUCTION: India has become the epicentre for diabetes, a stress-related disorder affecting the working skills and day-to-day lifestyle management of younger population. Most of the studies have reported the effect of yoga on improving Quality of Life (QoL) in diabetic patients with other comorbidities. Till date, no randomized control trial reports are available to show the effect of yoga therapy on QoL and Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) in normotensive prediabetic and diabetic young individuals. AIM: To determine the effect of 12 weeks of yoga therapy on QoL and IDRS among normotensive prediabetic and diabetic young Indian adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized control trial was conducted in Endocrinology Outpatient Department (OPD). Normotensive participants (n=310) aged 18-45 years were divided into healthy controls (n=62), prediabetics (n=124) and diabetics (n=124). Study group subjects were randomly assigned to Group II (n=62, prediabetes-standard treatment), Group III (n=62, prediabetes-standard treatment + yoga therapy), Group IV (n=62, diabetes-standard treatment) and Group V (n=62, diabetes-standard treatment + yoga therapy). Flanagan QoL scale, IDRS questionnaire, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and insulin were assessed pre and post 12 weeks of intervention. Statistical analysis was done using Student's paired t-test and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Pre-post intervention analysis showed significant improvement in QoL scale with p<0.01 in Group II and Group IV; p<0.001 in Group III and Group V respectively. There was significant reduction in IDRS in Group II (p<0.05); p<0.001 in Group III, Group IV and Group V respectively. Significant difference (p<0.001) in QoL scale and IDRS were found when study groups with standard treatment along with yoga therapy were compared to standard treatment alone. CONCLUSION: Yoga therapy along with standard treatment for 12 weeks improved QoL and attenuated the diabetes risk among Indian prediabetics and diabetics compared to standard treatment alone.

Reuse of pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation devices.

OBJECTIVE: Access to pacemakers remains poor among many patients in low/middle-income countries. Reuse of explanted pacemakers is a possible solution, but is still not widespread because of concerns regarding outcomes, especially infection. Our objective was to study early outcomes with implants using reused devices and compare them with those with implants using new devices. METHODS: We studied all patients who underwent implantation of a new or reused pacemaker, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) device or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in the last 5 years at a single institution. We analysed outcomes related to infection, device malfunction and device-related death within 6 months after initial implantation. RESULTS: During the study period, 887 patients underwent device implant, including 127 CRT devices or ICDs. Of these, 260 devices (29.3%) were reused and the others were new. At 6 months, there were three device-related infections in implants using a new device. There were no infections among patients receiving a reused device. There were no device malfunctions or device-related deaths in either group. CONCLUSIONS: We found no difference in rate of infection or device malfunction among patients getting a reused device as compared with those with a new device. This study reinforces the safety of reusing devices for implant including CRT and ICDs.

Radiofrequency ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways associated with coronary sinus diverticula.

PURPOSE: Posteroseptal accessory pathways may be associated with a coronary sinus (CS) diverticulum. Our purpose was to describe the clinical characteristics, mapping and ablation of these pathways. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways in a single centre. Patients with a diverticulum of the CS or one of its tributaries were included in group I, while the other patients formed group II. Clinical presentation, ablation procedure and outcome were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were included, 16 in group I and 35 in group II. There were no significant differences in age or sex distribution. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and previous unsuccessful ablation were more common in group I. A negative delta wave in lead II was the ECG finding with best sensitivity and specificity for the presence of a diverticulum. A pathway potential was common at the successful site in group I, and the interval between local ventricular electrogram and delta wave onset was shorter (19.5 ± 8 vs 33.1 ± 7.6 ms, p < 0.001). There was a trend toward lower procedural success rate and higher recurrence rate in group I, although this was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: CS diverticula should be suspected in patients with manifest posteroseptal accessory pathways who have a previous failed ablation, documented AF or typical electrocardiographic signs. A discrete potential is frequently seen at the successful site, but the local ventricular electrogram is not as early as in other accessory pathways.

Attenuated baroreflex sensitivity in normotensive prediabetes and diabetes in Indian adults.

PURPOSE/AIM OF THE STUDY: Though attenuated baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is known to promote cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in diabetics, its status in prediabetes has not been reported. Also, the link of BRS to CVD risk in normotensive diabetics has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the association of BRS to CVD risk in normotensive prediabetics and diabetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants (n = 154) of 18-45 years were divided into normoglycemics (n = 52), prediabetics (n = 64) and diabetics (n = 38) based on American Diabetes Association criteria. Body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, body fat mass index, basal heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, rate pressure product, BRS, heart rate variability (HRV), fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, lipid profile and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were measured. Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were calculated. RESULTS: There was significant increase in all the parameters except BRS, HRV and high-density lipoprotein in prediabetics and diabetics compared to normoglycemics. All these parameters were significantly altered in prediabetics compared to diabetics. Significant negative correlation was found between BRS and other parameters in prediabetics and diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: BRS was attenuated in normotensive prediabetics and diabetics with high IDRS, insulin resistance, AIP, dyslipidemia and reduced HRV that predisposes them to CVD risk. The study demonstrates CVD risk quite early in the prediabetics with reduced HRV, high body fat, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, AIP and rate pressure product.

Pace mapping in the atrium using bipolar electrograms from widely spaced electrodes.

BACKGROUND: Pace mapping is a useful tool but is of limited utility for the atrium because of poor spatial resolution. We investigated the use of bipolar electrograms recorded from widely spaced electrodes in order to improve the resolution of pace mapping. METHODS: This prospective study included patients undergoing a clinical electrophysiology study. Unipolar pacing from either the superior or inferior lateral right atrium was performed to simulate atrial tachycardia. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms were recorded during pacing as a template. In addition, three intracardiac bipolar electrograms from a set of widely spaced electrodes were also recorded. Subsequently, unipolar pacing was performed from electrodes at known distances from the initial pacing site, and the morphology of P waves in the electrocardiogram and bipolar electrograms were compared with that of the template. Morphological comparison was performed by a cardiologist and by automated computerized matching. Spatial resolution was calculated as the minimum distance at which there was no match. RESULTS: Fifteen patients participated in the study. Distance at which differences in morphology were noted was smaller in the bipolar electrograms compared to that indicated by P waves in the electrocardiogram, when matched by the cardiologist (6.1±3.8 mm vs. 9.9±5.2 mm, p=0.012) or by automated analysis (4±0 mm vs. 9.9±4 mm, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of three bipolar electrograms recorded from a set of widely spaced electrodes in the right atrium improves the resolution of pace mapping compared to that using P waves from surface electrocardiograms alone.

Decreased baroreflex sensitivity is linked to sympathovagal imbalance, body fat mass and altered cardiometabolic profile in pre-obesity and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Though decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), the predictor of cardiac morbidities and mortality has been reported in obesity, the mechanisms and metabolic biomarkers influencing BRS have not been studied. We aimed to assess the difference in cardiovascular (CV) risk profile in pre-obesity and obesity, and the contribution of body composition and cardiometabolic factors to CV risks in these two conditions. METHODS: Obesity indices, body composition, blood pressure variability and autonomic function test parameters were recorded in 223 subjects divided into controls (n=72), pre-obese (n=77) and obese (n=74) groups. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), atherogenic index (AI), leptin, adiponectin, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were measured. Association and independent contribution of altered cardiometabolic parameters with BRS were performed by Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis, respectively. RESULTS: BRS was significantly decreased in pre-obese and obese group compared to controls. Sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) in the form of increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic cardiac drives was observed in pre-obesity and obesity. There was significant difference in general markers of obesity (body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio), between pre-obese and obese group, however no such difference was observed in body composition and cardiometabolic parameters between the two groups. AI, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and ratio of basal metabolism to body fat (BM/BF) in pre-obese group, and AI, HOMA-IR, leptin, adiponectin, ratio of basal metabolism to body weight (BM/BW), BM/BF, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in obese group had independent contribution to BRS. Among these metabolic biomarkers, BRS had maximum association with leptin (ß=0.532, p=0.000) in the obese group and hs-CRP (ß=0.445, p=0.022) in the pre-obese group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates decreased BRS, an important marker of increased CV risk in pre-obesity and obesity. The intensity of cardiometabolic derangements and CV risk was comparable between pre-obese and obese subjects. BM/BF ratio appears to be a better marker of metabolic activity in pre-obesity and obesity. SVI and increased basal metabolism appear to be the physiological link between metabolic derangements and CV risks in both pre-obesity and obesity.

An acenocoumarol dosing algorithm exploiting clinical and genetic factors in South Indian (Dravidian) population.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2, and GGCX genetic polymorphisms on mean daily dose of acenocoumarol in South Indian patients and to develop a new pharmacogenetic algorithm based on clinical and genetic factors. METHODS: Patients receiving acenocoumarol maintenance therapy (n = 230) were included in the study. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2, and GGCX were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS: The mean daily acenocoumarol maintenance dose was found to be 3.7 ± 2.3 (SD) mg/day. The CYP2C9 *1*2, CYP2C9 *1*3, and CYP2C9 *2*3 variant genotypes significantly reduced the dose by 56.7 % (2.0 mg), 67.6 % (1.6 mg), and 70.3 % (1.5 mg) than wild-type carriers 4.1 mg, p < 0.0001. The genetic variants of CYP2C9 and GGCX (rs11676382) were found to be associated with lower acenocoumarol dose, whereas CYP4F2 (rs2108622) was associated with higher doses. Age, body mass index (BMI), variation of CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2, and GGCX were the major determinants of acenocoumarol maintenance dose, accounting for 61.8 % of its variability (adjusted r (2) = 0.615, p < 0.0001). Among the VKORC1 variants, rs9923231 alone contributed up to 28.6 % of the acenocoumarol dose variation. CONCLUSION: VKORC1 rs9923231 polymorphism had the highest impact on acenocoumarol daily dose. A new pharmacogenetic algorithm was established to determine the acenocoumarol dose in South Indian population.

Effect of CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2 and GGCX genetic variants on warfarin maintenance dose and explicating a new pharmacogenetic algorithm in South Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of genetic polymorphisms on warfarin maintenance dose and to explicate an algorithm using the pharmacogenetic and clinical factors to determine the maintenance and/or starting dose of warfarin in South Indian patients receiving warfarin therapy. METHODS: Patients receiving stabilized warfarin therapy (n=257) were included in the study. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP2C9 (rs1799853 and rs1057910), VKORC1 (rs9923231, rs7196161, rs2884737, rs9934438, rs8050894, rs2359612 and rs7294), CYP4F2 (rs2108622) and GGCX (rs11676382) were genotyped by the quantitative real time-PCR method. RESULTS: The mean daily maintenance dose of warfarin was found to be 4.7 ± 2.1 mg/day. Patients with the CYP2C9*1/*2, *1/*3 and *2/*3 variant genotypes required a 51.0 (2.8 mg), 60.9 (2.3 mg) and 62.2 % (2.2 mg) lower daily maintenance dose of warfarin, respectively, than those patients with the CYP2C9*1/*1 wild-type genotype (5.2 mg) (p<0.0001). The genetic variants of CYP2C9, VKORC1 and GGCX were associated with decreased warfarin dose, except for rs7196161, rs7294 and rs2108622 which were associated with an increased warfarin dose. Genetic variations of CYP2C9 (*2 and *3), VKORC1 (rs9923231, rs7294, rs9934438 and rs2359612), CYP4F2, GGCX and non-genetic factors such as age, body weight, clinical status (post mechanical valve replacement) could explain up to 62.1 % of the overall variation (adjusted r (2) 60.2 %, p<0.0001) in warfarin maintenance dose. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2 and GGCX are important predictive factors of warfarin maintenance dose, and the developed algorithm will be useful to predict the required maintenance and/or starting warfarin dose in South Indian populations.

Coronary sinus diameter by echocardiography to differentiate atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia from atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Coronary sinus (CS) has been shown to be larger in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). We sought to determine if echocardiographically measured CS diameter can help identify the mechanism of tachycardia in patients with narrow complex tachycardia without preexcitation before the invasive electrophysiology study. METHODS: Forty four patients with documented narrow complex, short RP tachycardia who were scheduled for an electrophysiology study were included. Based on the electrophysiology study, patients were divided into those with AVNRT and those with a concealed accessory pathway and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). Proximal CS diameter (CSp) measured at the ostium and mid CS diameter (CSm) 1 cm distal to the ostium using transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: CSp was significantly larger in patients with AVNRT than AVRT (14.1 ± 5 vs. 9.9 ± 2 mm, p < 0.0001). CSm diameter was not significantly different between the two groups. A cut-off of CSp > 11.2 mm identified AVNRT with a sensitivity of 92.6% and specificity of 76.9%. CSp was a better discriminant (AUC 0.89, 95% CI 0.75-0.97) compared to age (AUC 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.87) or tachycardia rate (AUC 0.60, 95% CI 0.44-0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic measurement of the diameter of CS ostium can help in identifying the mechanism of the tachycardia before the invasive electrophysiology study.

Sequential Anterograde and Retrograde Conduction Block during Radiofrequency Ablation of an Accessory Pathway.

We present an interesting image showing sequential loss of anterograde, and subsequently, retrograde conduction during radiofrequency ablation of an accessory pathway. We discuss the possible mechanisms and prior literature concerning this interesting finding.

Estimation of plasma levels of warfarin and 7-hydroxy warfarin by high performance liquid chromatography in patients receiving warfarin therapy.

Warfarin is one of the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant for prevention of thromboembolic events. The effect of this drug is measured by monitoring prothrombin time expressed as International Normalized Ratio (INR). In some cases, however, the measurement of plasma concentration of warfarin was emphasized. In the present study, reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to estimate the plasma drug levels. A total of 185 patients were enrolled in this study. Five milliliter of venous blood was collected using sodium EDTA tubes for pharmacokinetic analysis. Solid phase extraction was used to recover the warfarin and it's metabolite from plasma using isopropanol and potassium phosphate buffer (40:60) mobile phase. Warfarin, 7-hydroxy warfarin and carbamazepine (internal standard) were separated on a C18 column and had the retention time 3.6 min, 2.9 min and 5.9 min, respectively. The assay was linear in warfarin concentration ranges of 0.1-5 µg/ml. The extraction recovery was found to be ≃85%. The mean plasma concentrations of warfarin and 7-hydroxy warfarin were found to be 3.47 ± 1.87 (SD) µg/ml, 1.25 ± 0.81 (SD) µg/ml, respectively. Through the present study the plasma concentrations of warfarin, 7-hydroxy warfarin and their metabolic ratio was determined. The assay was sensitive to follow warfarin pharmacokinetics in a patient with warfarin therapy for 3 months and above.

Anomalous left anterior descending artery from pulmonary artery: an extremely rare coronary anomaly.

We report a rare coronary artery anomaly-anomalous origin of the left anterior descending artery from the pulmonary artery in a 40-year-old woman. The uniqueness of this case is the absence of any significant morbidity from this condition in adulthood which is in contrast to other reported cases where patients present with myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and sometimes death during the early infantile period.(1).