Heart and Vessels

Coronary computed tomography angiography as a tool for long-term cardiovascular risk stratification in diabetic patients Abstract Objectives of the study were to examine the long-term prognostic power of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to predict death or myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The prognostic value of CCTA in diabetic patients has been confirmed for short- and intermediate follow-up durations. The slowly progressing nature of coronary artery disease (CAD), however, underlines the necessity to validate CCTA for longer observation periods in this high-risk population. A total of 132 patients with DM and 1781 without DM were examined by CCTA and followed for a median duration of 9.7 (IQR 6.9, 11.2) and 9.9 (IQR 6.9, 11.1) years, respectively. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used for the composite endpoint of death and myocardial infarction. Warranty period was defined as the number of years that an individual stays in a low-risk group with a cumulative probability for the endpoint below 1% and calculated for patients with/without DM and rising degrees of CAD. The study endpoint was reached in 12 (9.1%) patients with and 87 (4.9%) patients without DM (p = 0.024). Quantification of coronary stenosis by CADRADS or CAD severity (normal/non-obstructive/obstructive) was incremental for endpoint prediction with a multivariate (+Morise) χ2 of 3.90 and 3.85, respectively. The lowest annual event rate of 0.19% was noted in non-diabetic patients with no CAD, translating to a warranty period of 5.26 years. The highest annual event rate of 1.73% was found in diabetic patients with obstructive CAD, corresponding to a warranty period of 0.58 years. Compared to patients with no DM and no CAD, the risk of death or myocardial infarction in diabetic patients increased with rising levels of coronary obstruction at multivariate hazard ratios (HR) of 3.28 [95% CI 2.32, 4.64 (p < 0.001)], 3.02 [95% CI 2.19, 4.17 (p < 0.001)] and 9.40 [95% CI 4.90, 18.03 (p < 0.001)] for normal coronary arteries, non-obstructive CAD and obstructive CAD. This study validates the long-term prognostic utility of CCTA-assessed CAD for predicting death or myocardial infarction in a population of patients with DM. The rates of death or myocardial infarction rise with CAD severity in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, identifying the highest risk group of patients with DM and obstructive CAD.

Plaque modification and stabilization after paclitaxel-coated balloon treatment for de novo coronary lesions Abstract This study aimed to assess the healing response, as evidenced through temporal morphological and functional changes, following paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) treatment of de novo coronary lesions. This retrospective, observational study, included patients with significant de novo coronary lesions who were treated with PCB and had serial angiographic, intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH), fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) performed before balloon angioplasty (BA), after BA, and at 9-month follow-up. A total of 20 patients (21 lesions) were included in this study. After PCB treatment, IVUS showed significant increases in the mean vessel area (12.0 ± 2.2 mm2 to 13.8 ± 2.5 mm2, p = 0.023), and mean lumen area (5.6 ± 1.2 mm2 to 7.0 ± 1.5 mm2, p = 0.003). Coronary flow was restored after BA with an FFR value of 0.87 ± 0.04 which was sustained at 9-month follow-up with no significant decrease (0.83 ± 0.08, p = 0.329). Serial OCT analysis showed that at 9-month follow-up dissections after BA sealed in 14 lesions (67%), whilst the macrophages decreased from 10 (50%) to 7 (35%) lesions, and the cap thickness of plaque increased from 0.12 ± 0.06 mm to 0.17 ± 0.09 mm (p = 0.007). PCB treatment for de novo coronary lesions showed persistent anatomical and functional patency at mid-term follow-up. Plaque modification, vascular remodeling, and plaque stabilization were also observed during follow-up.

U-shaped association of central pulse pressure with long-term prognosis after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction Abstract The relationship between central pulse pressure (CPP) measured at the time of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and long-term prognosis after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been investigated. CPP measurements were performed in 1348 patients with STEMI (327 women; mean age 62.5 ± 12.1 years) undergoing PPCI. Aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured before intervention. The primary outcome was 8-year all-cause mortality. The median [25–75th percentile] CPP value was 55.0 [43.0–70.0] mmHg. CPP correlated negatively with heart rate (P < 0.001), body mass index (P = 0.007), Killip class (P < 0.001) and initial area at risk (P < 0.001) and positively with age (P < 0.001), female sex (P < 0.001), diabetes (P = 0.012), arterial hypertension (P < 0.001) and glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.004). There were 181 deaths over the follow-up. In patients with CPP within the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tertiles, the Kaplan–Meier estimates of mortality were 17.3%, 10.8% and 24.2%, respectively; univariable hazard ratio [HR] =1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99 to 2.32; P = 0.055 for tertile 1 vs. tertile 2 and HR =2.09 [1.36–3.21]; P < 0.001 for tertile 3 vs. tertile 2. For CPP values lower than 35 mmHg and higher than 71 mmHg, the association between CPP and all-cause mortality was significant (HR =1.276 [1.004–1.621] for the 35 mmHg value and HR =1.289 [1.003–1.657] for the 71 mmHg value) compared with the CPP reference value (54 mmHg). After adjustment, the association between CPP and all-cause mortality was attenuated (P = 0.304). In patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI there is a U-shaped association between CPP and mortality up to 8 years after PPCI.

Influence of chronic kidney disease on coronary plaque components in coronary artery disease patients with both diabetes mellitus and hypertension Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well known to be associated with an increased incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN), both of which are traditional risk factors for CAD, are the two most common causes of CKD. However, the influence of CKD on coronary atherosclerosis in CAD patients who have both DM and HTN remains uncertain. In these patients, we examined the relationship between CKD and coronary plaque using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB IVUS). Two hundred two CAD patients with both DM and HTN who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using IB IVUS were included. The patients were divided into two groups: CKD group (n = 106) and non-CKD group (n = 96). Gray-scale and IB IVUS examinations were conducted for the non-culprit segment of a coronary artery. As a result, although there was no significant difference in the percentage of plaque volume, the percentage of lipid volume was significantly higher in the CKD group than in the non-CKD group [median (IQR): 56.7% (45.4–67.0%) vs. 52.0% (38.3–60.2%), p = 0.03]. In all of the patients, estimated glomerular filtration rate levels were negatively correlated with the percentage of lipid volume (r = − 0.15, p = 0.03) and positively correlated with the percentage of fibrosis volume (r = 0.15, p = 0.04). A multivariate regression analysis showed that CKD was an independent predictor associated with the increased lipid volume (β = 0.15, p = 0.047) and decreased fibrosis volume (β = − 0.16, p = 0.03) in coronary plaques. In conclusion, among CAD patients who had both DM and HTN, CKD was associated with lipid-rich coronary plaques. CKD may contribute to the vulnerability of coronary plaque in these very high-risk patients.

Effective blood hemoglobin level to predict prognosis in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: results of the Japanese heart failure syndrome with preserved ejection fraction registry Abstract High prevalence of anemia in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been reported. However, little is known about the association of anemia and gender with prognosis in HFpEF patients. In addition, effective blood hemoglobin (Hb) level for prognosis in HFpEF patients remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the association between anemia, gender, and prognosis in 535 HFpEF patients enrolled in Japanese heart failure syndrome with preserved ejection fraction registry. Furthermore, we assessed effective blood Hb level to predict prognosis in HFpEF patients. According to the World Health Organization criteria, the prevalence rate of anemia on admission was about 70% in both male and female HFpEF patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis for all-cause mortality demonstrated that anemic patients had poor prognosis compared with non-anemic patients in both male and female HFpEF patients. Interestingly, multivariate analysis revealed that blood Hb level at discharge was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in both male and female HFpEF patients. According to survival classification and regression tree analysis, blood Hb level at discharge of 9.4 g/dL for male and 12.3 g/dL for female was more accurate cutoff value to predict all-cause mortality in HFpEF patients. Anemia was implicated in poor prognosis in both male and female HFpEF patients. In particular, blood Hb level at discharge was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in both male and female HFpEF patients. Effective cutoff value of blood Hb level at discharge to predict all-cause mortality was lower in male than in female HFpEF patients.

Relationship between electrical conduction and phasic left atrial function: P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiography and time-left atrial volume curve assessments using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography Abstract P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiography (P-SAECG) can detect imperceptible conduction abnormalities, and volume analysis using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2-DSTE) allows us to easily measure the phasic function of the left atrium (LA). Both conduction abnormalities and functional deformation of the LA may be linked to the clinical outcome; however, the exact relationship is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the phasic function of the LA and electrical conduction using P-SAECG and 2-DSTE. The subjects were 112 male volunteers (age 46.9 ± 13.2 years) with normal cardiac function who underwent P-SAECG and 2-DSTE. The filtered p-wave duration (FPD) and the root-mean-square voltage for the last 20 ms (RMS20) on P-SAECG wave were measured in ms and μV, respectively. Total emptying function (EF) (reservoir function), passive EF (conduit function), and active EF (booster pump function) of the LA were calculated as percentages to evaluate phasic LA function using 2DSTE. The mean FPD was 134.3 ± 11.7 ms and the mean RMS20 was 4.59 ± 2.39 μV. The mean total EF was 60.5 ± 13.1%, mean passive EF was 39.4 ± 13.9%, and mean active EF was 35.1 ± 13.9%. FPD had a negative correlation with passive EF (r = − 0.20, p = 0.039). FPD showed no significant relationship with total EF (r = − 0.03, p = 0.78) or active EF (r = 0.13, p = 0.18). There was a significant association between RMS20 and passive EF (r = 0.19, p = 0.048); however, no there was no correlation between RMS20 and total EF (r = 0.12, p = 0.23), or between RMS20 and passive EF (r = − 0.02, p = 0.86). In multivariate regression analysis, passive EF was an independent factor that influenced FPD duration. This study indicated that FPD was associated with conduit function, which includes phasic LA function. Therefore, electrical conduction of the LA and left ventricular diastolic function are closely related. In the clinical setting, when conduction abnormalities are detected, lifestyle measures or interventions can be applied to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Can we rely on Danish? Real-world data on patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy from the German Device Registry Abstract According to current guidelines prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is recommended in patients with significantly impaired left ventricular systolic function. However, the recently published DANISH trial did not find a significantly lower long-term rate of death from any cause compared with usual clinical care in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. We investigated whether registry data from a multi-center 'real-life' registry on patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy are similar to this trial. The German Device Registry (DEVICE) is a nationwide, prospective registry with one-year follow-up investigating 5451 patients receiving device implantations in 50 German centers. The present analysis of DEVICE focused on patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who received a prophylactic ICD. Out of 779 patients with symptomatic heart failure and nonischemic cardiomyopathy, 33.1% received a single chamber ICD (VVI), while 11.0% were implanted with a dual-chamber ICD (DDD), and 55.8% received a defibrillator system for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Median follow-up was 16.1 months. 90.7% were alive at follow-up, 9.3% had died during this period. Overall mortality after one year was 5.4%. Overall mortality one year after implantation was significantly increased in patients 68 years and older(7.9%) as compared to younger patients (59–68 years: 2.5%; < 59 years: 3.8%; p < 0.015). Data from the present registry support the recently published results of the DANISH trial. In particular the influence of an increased age as proven in the DANISH trial might also play a role in the present collective. This limits the potential beneficial effect of ICD therapy in particular in the elderly population.

Validation of wearable textile electrodes for ECG monitoring Abstract A highly conductive textile was woven from nano-fibers coated with the PEDOT-PSS polymer. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of textile electrodes for ECG recording as a smart garment. Electrode textile pads and lead wires were sewn to the lining of sportswear and their tolerability to repeated washings were tested up to 150 times. The electrical conductivity of the textile electrode remained functional for up to 50 machine washes. To assess the level of motion artifacts or noise during the daily monitoring of ECG, a single lead ECG with conventional or textile electrodes was recorded during supine rest, seated rest, upright trunk rotation (i.e., twisting), and stepping movement in 66 healthy adults. A Holter system was used for data storage and analysis. ECG patterns of P, QRS, and T waves were comparable between the conventional and textile electrodes. However, the signal-to-artifact-and/or-noise ratio (SAR) during twisting was larger in the textile electrodes than in the conventional electrodes. No skin irritation was seen in the textile electrodes. The single lead textile electrodes embedded in an inner garment were usable for continuous and/or repeated ECG monitoring in daily life except during vigorous trunk movement.

Prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters for right ventricular function in patients with acute non-massive pulmonary embolism Abstract A prognostic value of right ventricular (RV) systolic function assessed by echocardiography in patients with acute non-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) remains controversial. The hypothesis was RV free wall strain measured using speckle-tracking echocardiography might be a powerful prognostic factor in those patients. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of echocardiographic measurements of RV systolic function for clinical outcomes and to assess the correlation between the echocardiographic RV function parameters in patients with acute non-massive PE. Between November 2013 and September 2016, 144 consecutive patients diagnosed as acute non-massive pulmonary embolism were prospectively enrolled and echocardiographic evaluations were performed within 1 week of diagnosis to measure various parameters of RV systolic function. The primary endpoint was in-hospital events, the composite of in-hospital PE-related death, need of additive treatments such as thrombolysis or pulmonary artery thromboembolectomy, and need of inotropics due to unstable vital sign. Among patients (mean age 60.3 ± 14.7 years, 50% female) with acute non-massive PE, the in-hospital event rate was 11.1% (16 of 144 patients). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment of confounding factors such as age, gender, and diabetes mellitus, RV free wall strain [odd ratio (OR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.21, p = 0.002] and RV global wall strain (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.07–1.35, p = 0.002) were independent predictors for in-hospital events. The event rates were significantly different between groups classified based on RV free wall strain with cut-off value of − 15.85% (p < 0.001). RV strain assessed with speckle-tracking echocardiography is an independent prognostic marker for in-hospital events in patients with acute non-massive PE. Our results may help identify high–intermediate risk patients who need a closer monitoring.

Direct comparison of prognostic ability of cardiac biomarkers for cardiogenic stroke and clinical outcome in patients with stroke Abstract Despite many recent advances in medicine, cardiogenic stroke is still a health problem with a high mortality rate. Cardiac biomarkers have been reported to be useful indicators for cardiogenic stroke and subsequent cerebrovascular events. However, there are no data directly comparing the cardiac biomarkers in stroke patients. We measured atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) levels and performed transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in 282 stroke patients. There were 108 cases of cardiogenic stroke and 47 cases of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) during the follow-up period. Association with left atrial function and left atrial appendage function appeared somewhat stronger for BNP and NT-proBNP than ANP and hsTnT. Multivariate logistic analysis demonstrated that cardiac biomarkers excluding ANP were significantly associated with cardiogenic stroke in stroke patients, multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that all biomarkers were significantly associated with MACCE after adjustment for confounding risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the C indices of BNP and NT-proBNP for cardiogenic stroke and MACCE were almost equal, but significantly greater than those of ANP and hsTnT. Both BNP and NT-proBNP levels are useful predictors of cardiogenic stroke and subsequent MACCE superior to ANP and hsTnT in stroke patients.

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com