Citations

Background: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors for treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) among kidney transplant patients. Methods: We conducted electronic searches in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception through April 2020 to identify studies that investigated the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors in kidney transplant patients with DM. Study results were pooled and analyzed utilizing random-effects model. Results: Eight studies with 132 patients (baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 64.5 ± 19.9 mL/min/1.73 m2) treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors were included in our meta-analysis. SGLT-2 inhibitors demonstrated significantly lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (WMD = −0.56% [95%CI: −0.97, −0.16]; p = 0.007) and body weight (WMD = −2.16 kg [95%CI: −3.08, −1.24]; p < 0.001) at end of study compared to baseline level. There were no significant changes in eGFR, serum creatinine, urine protein creatinine ratio, and blood pressure. By subgroup analysis, empagliflozin demonstrated a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) and body weight. Canagliflozin revealed a significant decrease in HbA1C and systolic blood pressure. In terms of safety profiles, fourteen patients had urinary tract infection. Only one had genital mycosis, one had acute kidney injury, and one had cellulitis. There were no reported cases of euglycemic ketoacidosis or acute rejection during the treatment. Conclusion: Among kidney transplant patients with excellent kidney function, SGLT-2 inhibitors for treatment of DM are effective in lowering HbA1C, reducing body weight, and preserving kidney function without reporting of serious adverse events, including euglycemic ketoacidosis and acute rejection.

Introduction: The incidence of acute myocardial injury (AMI) among Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19)-infected patients remain unclear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to further explore the incidence AMI in these patients. Methods: We comprehensively searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases from their inception to August 2020. The included studies were prospective or retrospective cohort studies that reported the event rate of AMI in COVID-19 patients. Data from each study were combined using random-effects to calculate the pooled incidence with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We identified twenty-seven studies consisting of 8971 hospitalized COVID-19-infected patients. The study demonstrated that 20.0% (95% CI 16.1–23.8% with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 94.9%)) of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had AMI. In addition, our meta-regression suggested that older age, male and comorbidities were associated with a higher risk of AMI. Conclusion: The incidence of COVID-19-related myocardial injury ranges from 16.1–23.8%. Further larger studies are anticipated, as the pandemic is still ongoing.

AbstractIntroductionBrugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with ventricular arrhythmia leading to sudden cardiac death. Risk stratification is challenging, as major arrhythmic events (MAEs) are rare. We assessed the utility of drug challenge testing in BrS by a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Methods and ResultsWe comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to May 2019. Included studies compared the incidence of MAE between spontaneous and drug challenge–induced Type 1. Mixed‐effects Poisson regression was used to calculate the incidence rate ratio (IRR). Eighteen studies from 2006 to 2018 were included (4099 patients, mean follow‐up: 4.5 years). Pooled annual incidences of MAE in spontaneous, drug challenge induced (regardless of symptoms), asymptomatic drug challenge induced, and symptomatic drug challenge–induced Type 1 were 23.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.8–27.8), 6.5 (95% CI: 3.9–9.1), 2.1 (95% CI: −0.3 to 4.4), and 19.6 (95% CI: 9.9–29.3) per 1000 person‐years, respectively. The incidence of MAE between symptomatic drug challenge induced and asymptomatic spontaneous Type 1 was not statistically different (IRR = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6–1.7).ConclusionsThe incidence of MAE in drug challenge–induced Type 1 in asymptomatic patients is low. The incidence of MAE between symptomatic drug challenge induced and asymptomatic spontaneous Type 1 was similar.

Background: This study aimed to assess the risk factors and the association of circulatory failure with treatments, complications, outcomes, and resource utilization in hospitalized patients for heatstroke in the United States. Methods: Hospitalized patients with a principal diagnosis of heatstroke were identified in the National Inpatient Sample dataset from the years 2003 to 2014. Circulatory failure, defined as any type of shock or hypotension, was identified using hospital diagnosis codes. Clinical characteristics, in-hospital treatment, complications, outcomes, and resource utilization between patients with and without circulatory failure were compared. Results: A total of 3372 hospital admissions primarily for heatstroke were included in the study. Of these, circulatory failure occurred in 393 (12%) admissions. Circulatory failure was more commonly found in obese patients, but less common in older patients aged ≥60 years. The need for mechanical ventilation, blood transfusion, and renal replacement therapy were higher in patients with circulatory failure. Hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, sepsis, ventricular arrhythmia or cardiac arrest, renal failure, respiratory failure, liver failure, neurological failure, and hematologic failure were associated with circulatory failure. The in-hospital mortality was 7.1-times higher in patients with circulatory failure. The length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs were higher when circulatory failure occurred while in the hospital. Conclusions: Approximately one out of nine heatstroke patients developed circulatory failure during hospitalization. Circulatory failure was associated with various complications, higher mortality, and increased resource utilizations.

Background: This study aimed to assess the risk factors and impact of acute myocardial infarction on in-hospital treatments, complications, outcomes, and resource utilization in hospitalized patients for heat stroke in the United States. Methods: Hospitalized patients with a principal diagnosis of heat stroke were identified in the National Inpatient Sample dataset from the years 2003 to 2014. Acute myocardial infarction was identified using the hospital International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), diagnosis of 410.xx. Clinical characteristics, in-hospital treatment, complications, outcomes, and resource utilization between patients with and without acute myocardial infarction were compared. Results: A total of 3372 heat stroke patients were included in the analysis. Of these, acute myocardial infarction occurred in 225 (7%) admissions. Acute myocardial infarction occurred more commonly in obese female patients with a history of chronic kidney disease, but less often in male patients aged <20 years with a history of hypothyroidism. The need for mechanical ventilation, blood transfusion, and renal replacement therapy were higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Acute myocardial infarction was associated with rhabdomyolysis, metabolic acidosis, sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding, ventricular arrhythmia or cardiac arrest, renal failure, respiratory failure, circulatory failure, liver failure, neurological failure, and hematologic failure. Patients with acute myocardial infarction had 5.2-times greater odds of in-hospital mortality than those without myocardial infarction. The length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost were also higher when an acute myocardial infarction occurred while hospitalized. Conclusion: Acute myocardial infarction was associated with worse outcomes and higher economic burden among patients hospitalized for heat stroke. Obesity and chronic kidney disease were associated with increased risk of acute myocardial infarction, while young male patients and hypothyroidism were associated with decreased risk.

AbstractBackgroundBrugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmic disease associated with an increased risk of major arrhythmic events (MAE). Previous studies reported that a wide QRS complex may be useful as a predictor of MAE in BrS patients. We aimed to assess the correlation of wide QRS complex with MAE by a systematic review and meta‐analysis.MethodsWe comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to June 2019. Included studies were cohort and case control studies that reported QRS duration and the relationship between wide QRS complex (>120 milliseconds) and MAE (sudden cardiac death, sudden cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation, sustained ventricular tachycardia, or appropriate shock). Data from each study were combined using the random‐effects model.ResultsTwenty‐two studies from 2007 to 2018 were included in this meta‐analysis involving 4,814 BrS patients. The mean age was 46.1 ± 12.8 years. The patients were predominately men (77.6%). Wide QRS duration was an independent predictor of MAE (pooled risk ratio 1.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.04‐2.30, P = .30, I2 = 38.4%). QRS duration was wider in BrS who had history of MAE (weight mean difference = 8.12 milliseconds, 95% confidence interval: 5.75‐10.51 milliseconds).ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that QRS duration is wider in BrS who had history of MAE, and a wide QRS complex is associated with 1.55 times higher risk of MAE in BrS populations. Wide QRS complex can be considered for risk stratification in prediction of MAE in patients with BrS, especially when considering implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator placement in asymptomatic patients.

Abstract Background There are controversial data regarding the relationship between hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and arrhythmias. This meta‐analysis was performed to evaluate the incidence of arrhythmias in patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods A literature search was conducted utilizing MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases from inception through April 2019. Pooled incidence with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random‐effects meta‐analysis. The protocol for this meta‐analysis is registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; no. CRD42019131833). Results Thirteen studies consisting of 10,587 patients undergoing HSCT were enrolled in this systematic review. Overall, the pooled estimated incidence of all types of arrhythmias following HSCT was 7.2% (95% CI: 4.9%‐10.5%). With respect to the most common type of arrhythmia, the pooled estimated incidence of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL) within 30 days following HSCT was 4.2% (95% CI: 1.7%‐9.6%). Egger's regression test demonstrated no significant publication bias in this meta‐analysis of post‐HSCT arrhythmia incidence. Conclusion The overall estimated incidence of arrhythmias following HSCT was 7.2%. Future large scale studies are needed to further elucidate the significance and clinical impact of arrhythmias in post‐HSCT patients.

Introduction Significant tricuspid regurgitation is a well recognized indicator of right ventricular dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that significant tricuspid regurgitation is potentially associated with increased mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, data remained sparse and inconclusive. Thus, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to assess the association between significant tricuspid regurgitation and mortality in post TAVR patients. Hypothesis Significant tricuspid regurgitation is predictive for higher mortality in patients undergoing TAVR. Methods We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to October 2018. Included studies were published observational studies that reported multivariate analysis of the effects of significant tricuspid regurgitation on all-cause mortality among patients undergoing TAVR. Data from each study were combined utilizing the random-effects, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Nine cohort studies from August 2011 to May 2018 consisting of 27 614 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR (6255 with and 21 359 without significant tricuspid regurgitation) were included in this meta-analysis. The presence of significant tricuspid regurgitation was associated with higher all-cause mortality (pooled OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.45–3.52, P < 0.001). We found that all-cause mortality remained statistically substantial in all subgroups (30-day all-cause mortality: OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.20–3.49, P = 0.009; midterm all-cause mortality: OR = 9.67, 95% CI: 2.44–38.31, P = 0.001; and long-term all-cause mortality: OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.19–1.85, P < 0.001). Funnel plots and Egger's regression asymmetry test were performed and showed no publication bias. Conclusion Significant tricuspid regurgitation increased risk of mortality by up to two-fold among patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. Our study suggests that significant tricuspid regurgitation should be considered a component of risk stratification tools.