Citations

Background Percutaneous heart valve procedures have been increasingly performed over the past decade, yet real‐world mortality data on valvular heart disease (VHD) in the United States remain limited. Methods and Results We queried the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide‐Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database among patients ≥15 years old from 1999 to 2020. VHD and its subtypes were listed as the underlying cause of death. We calculated age‐adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) per 100 000 individuals and determined overall trends by estimating the average annual percent change using the Joinpoint regression program. Subgroup analyses were performed based on demographic and geographic factors. In the 22‐year study, there were 446 096 VHD deaths, accounting for 0.80% of all‐cause mortality (56 014 102 people) and 2.38% of the total cardiovascular mortality (18 759 451 people). Aortic stenosis recorded the highest mortality of VHD‐related death in both male (109 529, 61.74%) and female (166 930, 62.13%) populations. The AAMR of VHD has declined from 8.4 (95% CI, 8.2–8.5) to 6.6 (95% CI, 6.5–6.7) per 100 000 population. Similar decreasing AAMR trends were also seen for the VHD subtypes. Men recorded higher AAMR for aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation, whereas women had higher AAMR for mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation had the highest change in average annual percent change in AAMR. Conclusions The mortality rate of VHD among the US population has declined over the past 2 decades. This highlights the likely efficacy of increasing surveillance and advancement in the management of VHD, resulting in improved outcomes.

ABSTRACT Coronary bifurcation lesions and treatment with two-stent techniques have been developed, including the double kissing (DK) crush technique. The use of this technique in children or noncoronary vessels, including pulmonary arteries, has not been described. We present a 12-year-old girl with Alagille syndrome, a ventricular septal defect (VSD), and complex bilateral pulmonary artery (PA) stenoses who is status post six catheterizations for PA angioplasty and stenting to improve her marked right ventricular hypertension. With collaboration between the congenital and structural teams, she successfully underwent the DK crush technique for a complex lesion in her PA. This improved pulmonary flow and allowed for successful surgical VSD closure.

Background: While spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) patients can present with ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), the in-hospital outcomes among these patients are not well-established. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the in-hospital outcomes of patients with SCAD and concurrent VAs, and to determine the predictors of VAs occurrence in this population. Methods: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, our study included patients aged 18 years or older who had SCAD between 2017 and 2020. We categorized the cohort into two groups depending on the presence of VAs during hospitalization. The in-hospital outcomes were assessed between two groups. Through multivariable analysis, we further analyzed the predictors of VAs occurrence among SCAD patients. Results: Our study included 160 (13.45%) SCAD patients with concurrent VAs and 1,030 (86.55%) SCAD patients without concurrent VAs between 2017 and 2020. SCAD patients with concurrent VA were associated with higher rates of early mortality (11.88% vs. 2.04%, p<0.01), prolonged index hospital stay (≥7 days) (31.25% vs. 12.82%, p<0.01), and non-home discharge (21.88% vs. 6.50%, p<0.01). The length of hospital stay was longer in the SCAD with concurrent VAs group (6.93 days vs. 3.73 days, p<0.01), and the median cumulative cost of hospitalization was also higher in this group ($31,450 vs. $14,664, p<0.01). SCAD with concurrent VAs patients also had poorer in-hospital adverse events. In multivariable analysis, the independent predictors for VAs occurrence among SCAD patients were chronic liver disease (aOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.15- 4.12, p=0.02) and heart failure (aOR: 3.40; 95%CI: 2.30- 5.02, p<0.01). Conclusion: Ventricular arrhythmias among SCAD patients were associated with poorer in-hospital outcomes. Heart failure and chronic liver disease were the predictors of VAs in SCAD patients. This highlights the importance of closely monitor and aggressive VAs management among these high-risk patients.

Background: Despite advancements in the management of cardiac amyloidosis, the contemporary estimates of the cardiovascular deaths (CVDs) in amyloidosis are not well-established. Objective: This study sought to assess the longitudinal trends of CVDs with comorbid amyloidosis and analyze the disparities in mortality in terms of race, gender, and geographical location. Methods: We queried the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database and performed serial cross-sectional analyses of national death certificate data for cardiovascular mortality with comorbid amyloidosis among patients aged 25 and above. Diseases of the circulatory system (ICD-10 I00-I99) were listed as the underlying cause of death, and amyloidosis (ICD-10 E85) as contributing cause of death. We calculated age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,000,000 individuals and determined the trends over time by estimating the annual percent change using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Results: In the 22-year study period, 4,145 CVDs with comorbid amyloidosis in the United States were identified between 1999 and 2020. The AAMRs increased significantly from 0.69 per 1,000,000 individuals in 1999 to 2.13 per 1,000,000 individuals in 2020 (p< 0.05), with an annual percent increase of +3.92. The AAMRs for the span of 22 years were higher in males than females (1.66 vs. 0.75, p<0.05). When stratified by race, African American populations had the highest cumulative AAMR (2.34) compared to other racial groups. In terms of urbanization, the AAMR was significantly higher in the urban regions compared to the rural areas (1.15 vs. 0.91, p<0.05). Conclusion: The AAMRs from CVDs with comorbid amyloidosis have increased significantly over the past two decades, with significant disparities in male and African American individuals. This emphasises the need of further research in the development of effective treatments for amyloid heart disease.

A 41-year-old female with hyperlipidemia presented with typical exertional angina, dyspnea, and pre-syncope of 6 months duration. Physical examination was unremarkable. ECG showed low voltage QRS (Figure A), and Chest CTA was negative for obstructive-CAD, pulmonary emboli, aortic, and lung disease. Cardiac MRI was negative for myocarditis/pericarditis . Resting TTE was unremarkable with normal systolic and diastolic function. NT-Pro BNP, hs-CRP, serum/ urine protein electrophoresis, and free light chains ratio were normal. Regadenoson PET myocardial perfusion test showed a medium-sized area of stress-induced ischemia in mid/apical segments (Figure B) . Resting right heart Cath showed mean RA pressure (9mmHg) and RVEDP (10mmHg), mean PA pressure (19mmHg), and PCWP (15mmHg) with large v-waves, PCWP increased to 28mmHg with limited supine bike exercise, diagnostic of HFpEF (Figure C) . Angiography showed normal coronary arteries while coronary reactivity testing was diagnostic of severe epicardial and microvascular endothelial dysfunction (60% mid/distal LAD constriction and 19% decreased blood flow in response to intracoronary (IC) acetylcholine), and endothelial-independent microvascular dysfunction (coronary flow reserve 2.4 in response to IC adenosine), diagnostic of HFpEF due to coronary endothelial and microvascular disease (Figure D) . The patient’s symptoms improved at 2 weeks follow-up after initiation of furosemide, diltiazem, isosorbide mononitrate, and atorvastatin.

Abstract IntroductionSimulation technology has an established role in teaching technical skills to cardiology fellows, but their impact on teaching trainees to interpret coronary angiographic (CA) images has not been systematically studied. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to test whether structured simulation training in addition to traditional methods would improve CA image interpretation skills in a group of novices to advanced medical trainees.MethodsWe prospectively randomized 105 subjects comprising of medical students (N=20), residents (N=68) and fellows (N=17) from the University of Arizona. Subjects were randomized into a simulation training group which received simulation training in addition to didactic teaching (n=53) and a control training group which received didactic teaching alone (n=52). The change in pre and post-test score (delta score) was analyzed by a two-way ANOVA for education status and training arm.ResultsSubjects improved in their post-test scores with a mean change of 4.6 ± 4.0 points. Subjects in the simulation training arm had a higher delta score compared to control (5.4 ± 4.2 versus 3.8 ± 3.7, p=0.04), with greatest impact for residents (6.6 ± 4.0 versus 3.5 ± 3.4) with a p=0.02 for interaction of training arm and education status.ConclusionsSimulation training complements traditional methods to improve CA interpretation skill, with greatest impact on novice trainees. This highlights the importance of incorporating high-fidelity simulation training early in cardiovascular fellowship curricula.

Background: The benefit of emergency coronary angiography after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is uncertain for patients without ST-segment elevation. The aim of this randomized trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early coronary angiography and to determine the prevalence of acute coronary occlusion in resuscitated patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without ST-segment elevation. Methods: Adult (>18 years) comatose survivors without ST-segment elevation after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were prospectively randomized in a 1:1 fashion under exception to informed consent regulations to early coronary angiography versus no early coronary angiography in this multicenter study. Early angiography was defined as ≤120 minutes from arrival at the percutaneous coronary intervention–capable facility. The primary end point was a composite of efficacy and safety measures, including efficacy measures of survival to discharge, favorable neurologic status at discharge (Cerebral Performance Category score ≤2), echocardiographic measures of left ventricular ejection fraction >50%, and a normal regional wall motion score of 16 within 24 hours of admission. Adverse events included rearrest, pulmonary edema on chest x-ray, acute renal dysfunction, bleeding requiring transfusion or intervention, hypotension (systolic arterial pressure ≤90 mm Hg), and pneumonia. Secondary end points included the incidence of culprit vessels with acute occlusion. Results: The study was terminated prematurely before enrolling the target number of patients. A total of 99 patients were enrolled from 2015 to 2018, including 75 with initially shockable rhythms. Forty-nine patients were randomized to early coronary angiography. The primary end point of efficacy and safety was not different between the 2 groups (55.1% versus 46.0%; P =0.64). Early coronary angiography was not associated with any significant increase in survival (55.1% versus 48.0%; P =0.55) or adverse events (26.5% versus 26.0%; P =1.00). Early coronary angiography revealed a culprit vessel in 47%, with a total of 14% of patients undergoing early coronary angiography having an acutely occluded culprit coronary artery. Conclusions: This underpowered study, when considered together with previous clinical trials, does not support early coronary angiography for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest without ST elevation. Whether early detection of occluded potential culprit arteries leads to interventions that improve outcomes requires additional study. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02387398.

Background Accurate determination of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) is challenging because of the unique geometry of the right ventricle. Tricuspidannular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and fractional area change (FAC) are commonly used echocardiographic quantitative estimates of RV function. Cardiac MRI (CMRI) has emerged as the gold standard for assessment of RVEF. We sought to summarise the available data on correlation of TAPSE and FAC with CMRI-derived RVEF and to compare their accuracy. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Cochrane Library databases for studies that assessed the correlation of TAPSE or FAC with CMRI-derived RVEF. Data from each study selected were pooled and analysed to compare the correlation coefficient of TAPSE and FAC with CMRI-derived RVEF. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with pulmonary hypertension. Results Analysis of data from 17 studies with a total of 1280 patients revealed that FAC had a higher correlation with CMRI-derived RVEF compared with TAPSE (0.56vs0.40, P=0.018). In patients with pulmonary hypertension, there was no statistical difference in the mean correlation coefficient of FAC and TAPSE to CMR (0.57vs0.46, P=0.16). Conclusions FAC provides a more accurate estimate of RV systolic function (RVSF) compared with TAPSE. Adoption of FAC as a routine tool for the assessment of RVSF should be considered, especially since it is also an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. Further studies will be needed to compare other methods of echocardiographic measurement of RV function.