Cardiovascular health of nonagenarians in southern Italy: a cross-sectional, home-based pilot study of longevity.

BACKGROUND: The Cilento region of southern Italy has a high prevalence of nonagenarians and centenarians. Few studies of the oldest old have included echocardiographic and/or electrocardiographic data, in a home-based setting. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this pilot study was to delineate the key lifestyle, medical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic features of a sample of nonagenarians and centenarians and their younger cohabitants from Cilento, via a comprehensive, home-based cardiovascular assessment. The ultimate aim is to identify the cardiovascular profile and lifestyle factors associated with longevity. METHODS: Twenty-six nonagenarians and centenarians (mean age 94 ±â€Š3 years) and 48 younger cohabitants aged 50-75 years (mean 62 ±â€Š5) underwent a comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation in their homes. RESULTS: In contrast to their younger cohabitants, nonagenarians and centenarians did not smoke, had lower fasting glucose levels, and lower LDL cholesterol despite being half as likely to be taking statins, and showing similar adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Over half of nonagenarians and centenarians (15/26) remained autonomous with their activities of daily living. Prevalence of self-reported coronary artery disease and stroke among nonagenarians and centenarians was low (11.5%), though a significant number had atrial fibrillation (31%) or congestive heart failure (27%). Although 62% of nonagenarians and centenarians had at least moderate valvular disease on echocardiography, less than 25% of those affected reported dyspnea. CONCLUSION: Nonagenarians and centenarians in the Cilento region had a healthy metabolic profile and a low prevalence of clinical cardiovascular disease. Even among nonagenarians and centenarians with structural heart abnormalities, report of symptoms is low. Larger studies in the Cilento population may help elucidate the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular health in the oldest old.

Bioactive adrenomedullin, proenkephalin A and clinical outcomes in an acute heart failure setting.

Objectives: In an acute heart failure (AHF) setting, proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) has emerged as a promising prognostic marker for predicting worsening renal function (WRF), while bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) has been proposed as a potential marker for congestion. We examined the diagnostic value of bio-ADM in congestion and penKid in WRF and investigated the prognostic value of bio-ADM and penKid regarding mortality, rehospitalisation and length of hospital stay in two separate European AHF cohorts. Methods: Bio-ADM and penKid were measured in 530 subjects hospitalised for AHF in two cohorts: Swedish HeArt and bRain failure inVESTigation trial (HARVEST-Malmö) (n=322, 30.1% female; mean age 75.1+11.1 years; 12 months follow-up) and Italian GREAT Network Rome study (n=208, 54.8% female; mean age 78.5+9.9 years; no follow-up available). Results: PenKid was associated with WRF (area under the curve (AUC) 0.65, p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis of the pooled cohort, penKid showed an independent association with WRF (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.74, p=0.004). Bio-ADM was associated with peripheral oedema (AUC 0.71, p<0.001), which proved to be independent after adjustment (aOR 2.30, p<0.001). PenKid was predictive of in-hospital mortality (OR 2.24, p<0.001). In HARVEST-Malmö, both penKid and bio-ADM were predictive of 1-year mortality (aOR 1.34, p=0.038 and aOR 1.39, p=0.030). Furthermore, bio-ADM was associated with rehospitalisation (aOR 1.25, p=0.007) and length of hospital stay (ß=0.702, p=0.005). Conclusion: In two different European AHF cohorts, bio-ADM and penKid perform as suitable biomarkers for early detection of congestion severity and WRF occurrence, respectively, and are associated with pertinent clinical outcomes.

The use of discharge haemoglobin and NT-proBNP to improve short and long-term outcome prediction in patients with acute heart failure.

AIMS: To examine the prognostic value of admission (A) and discharge (D) haemoglobin (Hb) and its relationship with N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients hospitalised for acute heart failure (AHF). The outcomes of interests were rehospitalisation or death after one, six or twelve months after discharge. METHODS: 317 hospitalised AHF patients (74.7±9.4 years) were enrolled in two academic centres in Belgrade and Rome. Laboratory analyses, including NT-proBNP were assessed at admission, and Hb also at discharge. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of anaemia. Follow-up contact was made by telephone. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 21.0. RESULTS: According to A and DHb levels (<120 g/l for women and <130 g/l for men), anaemia was present in 55% and 62% of patients, respectively ( P=0.497). Lower DHb was associated with the rehospitalisation risk after one (OR=0.96, P=0.004), six (OR=0.97, P<0.001) and 12 months (OR=0.97, P<0.001). For every g/l decrease of DHb, the risk of rehospitalisation after one year was increased by 3.3%. In the first six months, DHb contributed to increased risk of death (OR=0.97, P=0.005), but NT-proBNP showed greater power (OR=2.1, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In AHF patients discharge anaemia is a strong predictor for short and long-term rehospitalisation, while NT-proBNP seems to be a better predictor for mortality. Discharge Hb and NT-proBNP should be assessed together in order to detect the patients with higher risk of future death and rehospitalisation.

Usefulness of combining admission brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) plus hospital discharge bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in predicting 90 days cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Heart failure is a disease characterized by high prevalence and mortality, and frequent rehospitalizations. The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic power of combining brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and congestion status detected by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in acute heart failure patients. This is an observational, prospective, and a multicentre study. BNP assessment was measured upon hospital arrival, while BIVA analysis was obtained at the time of discharge. Cardiovascular deaths were evaluated at 90 days by a follow up phone call. 292 patients were enrolled. Compared to survivors, BNP was higher in the non-survivors group (mean value 838 vs 515 pg/ml, p < 0.001). At discharge, BIVA shows a statistically significant difference in hydration status between survivors and non-survivors [respectively, hydration index (HI) 85 vs 74, p < 0.001; reactance (Xc) 26.7 vs 37, p < 0.001; resistance (R) 445 vs 503, p < 0.01)]. Discharge BIVA shows a prognostic value in predicting cardiovascular death [HI: area under the curve (AUC) 0.715, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.65-0.76; p < 0.004; Xc: AUC 0.712, 95% CI 0.655-0.76, p < 0.007; R: AUC 0.65, 95% CI 0.29-0.706, p < 0.0247]. The combination of BIVA with BNP gives a greater prognostic power for cardiovascular mortality [combined receiving operating characteristic (ROC): AUC 0.74; 95% CI 0.68-0.79; p < 0.001]. In acute heart failure patients, higher BNP levels upon hospital admission, and congestion detected by BIVA at discharge have a significant predictive value for 90 days cardiovascular mortality. The combined use of admission BNP and BIVA discharge seems to be a useful tool for increasing prognostic power in these patients.

Comparing Results of Five Glomerular Filtration Rate-Estimating Equations in the Korean General Population: MDRD Study, Revised Lund-Malmö, and Three CKD-EPI Equations.

BACKGROUND: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a widely used index of kidney function. Recently, new formulas such as the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations or the Lund-Malmö equation were introduced for assessing eGFR. We compared them with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation in the Korean adult population. METHODS: The study population comprised 1,482 individuals (median age 51 [42-59] yr, 48.9% males) who received annual physical check-ups during the year 2014. Serum creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (CysC) were measured. We conducted a retrospective analysis using five GFR estimating equations (MDRD Study, revised Lund-Malmö, and Cr and/or CysC-based CKD-EPI equations). Reduced GFR was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m². RESULTS: For the GFR category distribution, large discrepancies were observed depending on the equation used; category G1 (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m²) ranged from 7.4-81.8%. Compared with the MDRD Study equation, the other four equations overestimated GFR, and CysC-based equations showed a greater difference (-31.3 for CKD-EPI(CysC) and -20.5 for CKD-EPI(Cr-CysC)). CysC-based equations decreased the prevalence of reduced GFR by one third (9.4% in the MDRD Study and 2.4% in CKD-EPI(CysC)). CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that there are remarkable differences in eGFR assessment in the Korean population depending on the equation used, especially in normal or mildly decreased categories. Further prospective studies are necessary in various clinical settings.

Additive diagnostic and prognostic value of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) to brain natriuretic peptide 'grey-zone' in patients with acute heart failure in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on diagnostic and prognostic role of quantitative fluid retention evaluated by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in acute heart failure (AHF) patients at the moment of emergency department presentation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Point vectors and hydration index (HI) by BIVA were obtained in 381 patients referring to an emergency department. For evaluating cardiovascular events, a 30-day follow-up was performed. Patients were divided into AHF (n=270; 70.8%) and no-AHF groups, (n=111; 29.2%). Compared with the no-AHF cohort, the HI value resulted significantly higher in the AHF group (81.2% ± 6.7 vs. 72.9 ± 3.6%, p<0.001). HI showed a significant diagnostic power for AHF (cut-off 73.4%, area under curve (AUC) 0.87, sensitivity 90%, specificity 54%) and also showed a significant prognostic value both by univariate (odds ratio 1.03 (1-1.07), p =0.025) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio 1.96 (1.05-3.66) p= 0.034) for cardiac events at 30 days. Although in the overall population BIVA did not increase diagnostic accuracy provided by brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), for AHF patients in BNP 'grey values' (100-400 pg/ml) HI showed a significant additive improvement for diagnosis (net reclassification improvement (NRI) 77%) and prognosis (NRI 45%). CONCLUSIONS: While in the overall population BIVA did not increase diagnostic accuracy provided by BNP, in AHF patients a quantitative evaluation of fluid congestion obtained by BIVA at the time of emergency department arrival provides significant additive diagnostic and 30-day prognostic value to BNP, particularly in the BNP 'grey-zone'. This could lead to a better management of these patients with possible improvement in reducing subsequent cardiovascular events.

The emerging role of biomarkers and bio-impedance in evaluating hydration status in patients with acute heart failure.

The quantitative and qualitative estimation of total body fluid content has proven to be crucial for both diagnosis and prognosis assessment in patients with heart failure. The aim of this review is to summarize the current techniques for assessing body hydration status as well as the principal biomarkers associated with acute heart failure (AHF). Although clinical history, physical examination and classical imaging techniques(e.g., standard radiography and echocardiography)still represent the cornerstones, novel and promising tools,such as biomarkers and bio-electrical impedance are achieving an emerging role in clinical practice for the assessment of total body fluid content. In the acute setting, the leading advantages of these innovative methods over device are represented by the much lower invasiveness and the reasonable costs, coupled with an easier and faster application. This article is mainly focused on AHF patients, not only because the overall prevalence of this disease is dramatically increasing worldwide, but also because it is well-known that their fluid overload has a remarkable diagnostic and prognostic significance. It is thereby conceivable that the bio-electrical vector analysis (BIVA) coupled with laboratory biomarkers might achieve much success in AHF patient management in the future, especially for assisting diagnosis, risk stratification,and therapeutic decision-making.