Gori, Mauro

Abstract Background Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are common complications of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and can cause cardiac arrest and adverse outcomes. However, the prognostic impact of VA according to their timing in relation to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. Purpose To assess the prognostic significance of VA in patients with ACS undergoing PCI according to the timing of occurrence (before, during, or after PCI). Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting all-cause mortality with and without VA (sustained VT/VF) in ACS patients undergoing PCI. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models for short-term (30 days/in-hospital) and long-term (1 year) mortality. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. We conducted subgroup analyses for studies that stratified VA according to timing, defined as VA before PCI (prior to arrival in the catheterization laboratory), VA during PCI (in the catheterization laboratory or immediately after reperfusion), VA after PCI (following completion of PCI). Each timing category was compared to patients who did not develop VA within the same time window (before, during or after PCI). Results Twelve studies comprising 49306 patients were included, of whom 4320 (8.76%) experienced VA. The mean age of the patients ranged from 60 to 70 years, and the follow-up ranged from hospital discharge to 8 years. VA was associated with increased short-term (OR 5.02 [3.91-6.44]) and long-term mortality (OR 3.00 [2.86-3.82]). However, in patients alive at discharge/30 days, subsequent long-term mortality risk did not differ between those with and without VA (OR 1.21 [0.70-2.09]) (Figure 1). The subgroup analyses showed that patients with VA were associated with higher short-term mortality compared to patients without VA within each time window: before (OR 4.32 [3.29-5.66]), during (OR 4.29 [2.08-8.84]), and after PCI (OR 9.29 [3.12-27.63]) (Figure 2). VA after PCI was associated with the highest OR for short-term mortality. Conclusions VA significantly worsens short-term outcomes in ACS patients undergoing PCI. Subgroup analysis shows that VA increases mortality in each timing category, before, during and after PCI, with the poorest prognosis observed for arrhythmias developed after reperfusion, in whom reversible acute ischemia may play a lesser role and underlying arrhythmic substrate may predominate.Figure 1Figure 2

Abstract Aims Left ventricular (LV) ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) refers to the ratio of afterload (effective arterial elastance) to contractility (end-systolic elastance) as an integrated marker of cardiac performance. We sought to determine whether the echocardiographic VAC ratio, defined using the ratio of LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) to stroke volume (SV), predicted mortality in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Methods and results Mayo Clinic CICU patients from 2007 and 2018 were included. Ventricular-arterial coupling ratio was calculated as the Teichholz LVESV divided by the SV calculated from LV outflow tract Doppler. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was all-cause 1-year mortality. A total of 4685 patients were included with a median age of 69 (58, 79) years (37.2% females), with acute coronary syndrome in 54.9% and heart failure in 49.0%. A higher VAC ratio was associated with greater severity of illness, worse echocardiographic findings, and more use of critical care therapies. A total of 329 (7%) patients died during hospitalization. Patients with a higher VAC ratio had higher in-hospital mortality overall and in each admission diagnosis subgroup. After multivariable adjustment, patients with a VAC ratio >2 were at higher risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.17–2.28, P = 0.010). One-year mortality was higher for patients with a higher VAC ratio, especially VAC >2. Conclusion Ventricular-arterial uncoupling was associated with worse outcomes in an unselected CICU cohort. The echocardiographic VAC ratio is a simple non-invasive bedside measure that can be used for risk prediction in the CICU.

Abstract Aims To evaluate clinical outcomes, echocardiographic features, and the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan compared to valsartan across age groups in the PARAGON-HF trial. Methods and results A total of 4796 participants ≥50 years of age with chronic heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥45% were divided into three age groups: <65 years (n = 825), 65–74 years (n = 1772), and ≥75 years (n = 2199). Echocardiograms of 1097 patients were analysed in a standardized fashion at a core imaging laboratory. The primary composite outcome was total HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular (CV) death. Older patients were more likely to experience primary composite outcomes (compared to patients <65 years, adjusted rate ratio [aRR] for ≥75 years: 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–1.61), total HF hospitalization (aRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09–1.49), and CV death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.04, 95% CI 1.44–2.87). Age did not modify the effect of sacubitril/valsartan compared to valsartan on primary composite endpoint (pinteraction = 0.79) in the overall population or in those with LVEF ≤57%. Older adults randomized to sacubitril/valsartan were more likely to develop hypotension compared to those receiving valsartan (pinteraction = 0.026). Older patients had smaller left ventricular chamber sizes, higher LVEF, and were more likely to have abnormal measures of diastolic function. Conclusion Older patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction had higher event rates than younger patients, more adverse events overall, and more hypotension when treated with sacubitril/valsartan; however, the treatment benefits of sacubitril/valsartan were retained in older patients.

Background: Ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) refers to the ratio of afterload (effective arterial elastance) to contractility (left ventricular (LV) end-systolic elastance) as an integrated marker of cardiac performance. Echocardiography might be used to evaluate VAC through a simple time-efficient bedside evaluation. Hypothesis: VAC is useful for mortality risk stratification in an unselected cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) cohort. Aims: We sought to determine whether the VAC ratio, defined using the ratio of LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) to stroke volume (SV), predicted mortality in the CICU. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to the Mayo Clinic CICU between 2007 and 2018 were included. The simplified VAC ratio was calculated as the LVESV calculated from 2D measurements using the Teichholz formula divided by the SV calculated from the LV outflow tract pulsed wave Doppler measurement, with values >1 reflecting ventricular-arterial uncoupling. The main outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Results: We included 4685 patients with a median age of 69 (58-79) years; 37% were females. The median VAC ratio was 1.0 (0.7 to 1.8) and 21% of patients had a VAC ratio >2. Most clinical and echocardiographic variables differed in patients with higher VAC ratio, reflecting greater severity of illness with worse cardiac systolic and diastolic function. A total of 329 (7.0%) patients died during hospitalization. An incremental association was observed between a higher VAC and in-hospital mortality (unadjusted OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.16-1.29, p<0.001). Patients with a VAC ratio >1 (unadjusted OR 2.85, 95% CI 2.22-3.69, p <0.001) and especially those with VAC ratio >2 (unadjusted OR 4.28, 95% CI 3.24-5.69, p<0.001) had higher in-hospital mortality overall and in each admission diagnosis subgroup of interest ( Figure ). After multivariable adjustment, patients with a VAC ratio >2 remained at higher risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.17-2.28, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Ventricular-arterial uncoupling was associated with worse outcomes in an unselected CICU cohort. The echocardiographic VAC ratio is a simple non-invasive bedside measure that can be used for risk prediction in the CICU.

Abstract Background Mild asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ALVSD) may be associated with incident heart failure (HF). However, this gray zone group needs incremental risk refinement. We hypothesized that diastolic dysfunction (DD) may refine HF and death risk prediction in mild ALVSD. Methods and results Among 4047 subjects aged ≥55/≤80 years followed by 10 general practitioners in northern Italy, the DAVID-Berg study prospectively enrolled 623 asymptomatic outpatients at increased risk for HF. Baseline evaluation included clinical visit, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, and echocardiogram. Based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and DD, subjects were classified as: control group (normal LVEF, n = 459, 76%), mild ALVSD (LVEF ≥40%/&lt;53%) without DD (n = 89, 15%) and with DD (n = 54, 9%). Subjects with LVEF &lt;40% or without full echocardiographic data were excluded from the analysis (n = 21). Mean age of the population was 69 ±7 years, 56% were men, mostly hypertensive, mean LVEF was 61%. During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, 88 subjects (15%) experienced HF/death events (59 HF events and 29 deaths). Compared to the control group, mild ALVSD was associated with a higher risk of incident HF/death (hazard ratio 1.80, 95% confidence interval 1.10–2.93, adjusted P = 0.019) according to the Cox proportional hazards model. However, this higher risk was present only in subjects with combined DD (P = 0.005) and not in those without it (P = 0.30). Results were consistent even considering the individual components of the primary outcome. Conclusion In a high-risk population, an echocardiographic exam is normally performed to assess systolic dysfunction. Our data underline the importance of also relying on DD to risk stratify mild ALVSD. Mild ALVSD might be a predictor of adverse events mainly in subjects with combined DD, though further studies are needed to confirm these results.