Sex-related differences concerning the profile and evolution of cardiovascular complications in patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic sex-related differences concerning the spectrum of cardiovascular complications have been observed in the acute infection, and during recovery. This study aims to emphasize sex-related disparities regarding left ventricular systolic function (LVSF), right ventricular function (RVF), diastolic dysfunction (DD), and pericardial pathologies during the post-COVID-19 syndrome. METHODS: 274 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, 127 men and 147 women, aged under 55, were evaluated within 90 days after the acute illness and followed at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Based on detailed transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), we identified significantly more frequently (p˂0.001) altered LVSF in men, while in women impaired RVF, and DD were significantly more common (p˂0.001). Pericardial impairment did not seem to be influenced by gender. The TTE parameters characterizing these patterns were correlated with the severity of the initial infection and the time elapsed since and alleviated in time. The multivariate regression analysis confirmed these sex-related associations and their impact on patients' functional status. CONCLUSIONS: Male patients had a higher tendency to develop altered LVSF, while female subjects had more frequently impaired RVF and DD. These abnormalities alleviated in time and exerted a significant influence on patients' functional status.

Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in NBCe1-B/C-Knockout Mice.

Congenital proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA) is a rare systemic disease caused by mutations in the SLC4A4 gene that encodes the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, NBCe1. The major NBCe1 protein variants are designated NBCe1-A, NBCe1-B, and NBCe1-C. NBCe1-A expression is kidney-specific, NBCe1-B is broadly expressed and is the only NBCe1 variant expressed in the heart, and NBCe1-C is a splice variant of NBCe1-B that is expressed in the brain. No cardiac manifestations have been reported from patients with pRTA, but studies in adult rats with virally induced reduction in cardiac NBCe1-B expression indicate that NBCe1-B loss leads to cardiac hypertrophy and prolonged QT intervals in rodents. NBCe1-null mice die shortly after weaning, so the consequence of congenital, global NBCe1 loss on the heart is unknown. To circumvent this issue, we characterized the cardiac function of NBCe1-B/C-null (KOb/c) mice that survive up to 2 months of age and which, due to the uninterrupted expression of NBCe1-A, do not exhibit the confounding acidemia of the globally null mice. In contrast to the viral knockdown model, cardiac hypertrophy was not present in KOb/c mice as assessed by heart-weight-to-body-weight ratios and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area. However, echocardiographic analysis revealed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and intraventricular pressure-volume measurements demonstrated reduced load-independent contractility. We also observed increased QT length variation in KOb/c mice. Finally, using the calcium indicator Fura-2 AM, we observed a significant reduction in the amplitude of Ca2+ transients in paced KOb/c cardiomyocytes. These data indicate that congenital, global absence of NBCe1-B/C leads to impaired cardiac contractility and increased QT length variation in juvenile mice. It remains to be determined whether the cardiac phenotype in KOb/c mice is influenced by the absence of NBCe1-B/C from neuronal and endocrine tissues.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between ticagrelor and clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome and left ventricle dysfunction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: An observational study.

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) need adequate antithrombotic protection. We aim to compare the clinical outcomes between ticagrelor and clopidogrel in these patients. In total, 336 patients with ACS and LV dysfunction who undergoing PCI were included in this retrospective observational study. Of these, 137 received clopidogrel and 199 received ticagrelor. There was a 6-month follow-up period during which clinical outcomes were monitored. The incidence of the composite endpoint (23.1% vs 13.9%, P = .041) and bleeding events (6.5% vs 1.5%, P = .027) in the ticagrelor group were significantly higher compared to the clopidogrel group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (P = .006), hypertension (P = .007), liver insufficiency (P = .022), previous MI (P = .014) and ticagrelor (P = .044) were independent risk factors that affect the efficacy outcome. Age (P = .027) and ticagrelor (P = .016) were the independent risk factors for the safety outcome. Furthermore, in Cox survival regression analysis model, the survival rate of the efficacy endpoint in the clopidogrel group was seemingly higher than in the ticagrelor group (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 0.97-2.90, P = .065). The survival rate of the bleeding endpoint in the clopidogrel group was higher than in the ticagrelor group (HR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17-3.40, P = .011). Compared to clopidogrel, ticagrelor showed increased risk of efficacy outcome and major bleeding events during 6-month follow-up in patients with ACS and LV dysfunction undergoing PCI.

The Structure of Left Ventricular Relaxation in Case of Ventriculography.

AIM: To study the relaxation structure of the left ventricle (LV) in patients who underwent ventriculography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: LV ventriculography was performed in 37 patients. Before catheterization, echocardiography was performed in each patient. In 6 patients, the LV ejection fraction (EF) was below 40%; these patients with systolic dysfunction were not included in the study. In 31 patients, the LV EF was higher than 50%. In this group, 13 patients had NYHA functional class (FC) 2-3 chronic heart failure (CHF); the rest of the patients had FC 1 CHF. Eighteen of 31 patients had stable ischemic heart disease; 50% of these patients had a history of myocardial infarction; the rest of the patients had hypertension and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. The dynamics of the LV pressure decrease was analyzed from the moment of the maximum rate of pressure drop, which usually coincides with the closure of the aortic valves. The pressure drop curve was logarithmized with natural logarithms and divided into 4-5 sections with different degrees of curve slope. The relaxation time constant was calculated for each section. Its inverse value characterizes the relaxation time constant (tau). RESULTS: In 31 patients with LV EF 52-60%, three types of the dynamics of the relaxation rate constant were identified during the pressure decrease in the isovolumic phase: in 9 patients, the isovolumic relaxation constant (IRC) steadily increased as the pressure decreased; in 13 patients, it continuously decreased; and in 9 patients, the dynamics of IRC change was intermediate, with an initial increase followed by a decrease. CONCLUSION: In diastolic dysfunction, one group of patients had an adaptation type associated with an increase in the LV wall elasticity, while the other group had a different type of adaptation associated with its decrease. Each type has advantages and disadvantages. This is probably due to changes in the structure of the sarcomeric protein connectin (titin).

Is cardiac function associated with the clinical course of disease in patients with gout? A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the function of the left heart in patients with different courses of gout, the independent influencing factors for left heart functional changes, and interactions between left atrial and left ventricular functions. METHODS: Patients with gout (n = 171) were selected; 87 patients with a disease course <10 years were included in Group I, and 84 patients with a disease course ≥10 years were included in Group II. Ninety-four healthy volunteers comprised the control group. RESULTS: The intergroup differences in cardiac strain parameters were statistically significant (p < .05). Moreover, the differences gradually declined with disease progression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that uric acid was an independent predictor of decreased left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS). Moreover, LVGLS had a positive effect on the left atrial systolic rate (LASr) and the left atrial systolic contraction time (LASct) but no interaction with the left atrial systolic contraction duration (LAScd). CONCLUSION: The course of the disease significantly affected the function of the left heart in gout patients, and uric acid was observed to be an independent predictor of decreased LVGLS in gout patients.

Increased preload and echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function.

AIMS: Echocardiographic diastolic parameters are used to diagnose and monitor increased left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) and we hypothesized that increased loading conditions cause increased E/e'. Our aim was to assess the effect of preload augmentation on diastolic parameters among both healthy subjects and subjects with known cardiac disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 129 subjects merged from two cohorts; one dialysis cohort (n = 47) and one infusion cohort (n = 82). Echocardiography was performed immediately before and after hemodialysis (HD) or saline infusion, under low and high loading conditions. Elevated LVFP was defined as septal E/e' ≥ 15 and/or lateral E/e' ≥ 13 at high-loading conditions. The population was divided according to elevated LVFP (n = 31) and normal LVFP (n = 98). The load difference for the population was 972 ± 460 mL, with no differences in load difference between elevated and normal LVFP (p NS). The subjects with elevated LVFP were older (63 ± 11 vs. 46 ± 16 years, p < .001), and had lower LV ejection fraction (50 ± 14 vs. 59 ± 8.1%, p < .01). After augmented preload, EDV increased in the normal LVFP group (p < .01) but remained unchanged in the elevated LVFP group (p NS). Both E and e' increased among the subjects with normal LVFP, whereas E/e' remained unchanged (∆E/e' +.1 [-.5-1.2]), p NS). Among the subjects with elevated, LVFP we observed increased E but not e', resulting in significantly increased E/e' (∆ average E/e' +2.4 [0-4.0], p < .01). CONCLUSION: Augmented preload does not seem to affect E/e' among subjects with normal LVFP, whereas E/e' seems to increase significantly among subjects with elevated LVFP.

Incidentally Induced Atrial Fibrillation During Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Depressed Left Ventricular Systolic Function After an Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical implication of incidentally induced atrial fibrillation (AF) during programmed electrical stimulation (PES) in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (≤40%) after an acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: In this study, we included 231 patients from the Cardiac Arrhythmias and RIsk Stratification after Myocardial InfArction (CARISMA) study with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and no prior history of AF. These patients underwent PES 6 weeks post-MI as part of the study protocol. Patients all received an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) 3-21 days post-MI and were continuously monitored for cardiac arrhythmias for 2 years. Induction of AF was unwanted but reported if this incidentally occurred. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (26%) developed AF within 2 years of follow-up, in which n = 10 (29%) had incidental AF during PES at baseline. The overall risk of AF was not significantly increased in patients with incidental AF (n = 34) during PES compared to patients without incidental AF (n = 197) (HR 1.6 [0.9-3.0], p = 0.14). The risk of bradyarrhythmia (HR = 0.2 [0.0-1.2], p = 0.07), ventricular arrhythmias (HR = 0.7 [0.1-5.8], p = 0.77), and major cardiovascular events (MACE) (HR 0.5 [0.2-1.7], p = 0.28) was not significantly different in patients with versus without incidental AF. CONCLUSIONS: Incidentally induced AF during PES in post-MI patients with reduced LVEF was not significantly associated with a higher risk of long-term atrial fibrillation, other cardiac arrhythmias, or major cardiac events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00145119.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume highly correlates with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in endogenous Cushing's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with increased risk for heart failure, which often initially manifests as left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). In this study, we aimed to explore the potential risk factors of LVDD in CS by incorporating body composition parameters. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with endogenous CS no less than 18 years old. The control group consisted of healthy individuals who were matched to CS patients in terms of gender, age, and BMI. LIFEx software (version 7.3) was applied to measure epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) on non-contrast chest CT, as well as abdominal adipose tissue and skeletal muscle mass at the first lumbar vertebral level. Echocardiography was used to evaluate left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. Body compositions and clinical data were examined in relation to early LVDD. RESULTS: A total of 86 CS patients and 86 healthy controls were enrolled. EATV was significantly higher in CS patients compared to control subjects (150.33 cm3 [125.67, 189.41] vs 90.55 cm3 [66.80, 119.84], p < 0.001). CS patients had noticeably increased visceral fat but decreased skeletal muscle in comparison to their healthy counterparts. Higher prevalence of LVDD was found in CS patients based on LV diastolic function evaluated by E/A ratio (p < 0.001). EATV was proved to be an independent risk factor for LVDD in CS patients (OR = 1.015, 95%CI 1.003-1.026, p = 0.011). If the cut-point of EATV was set as 139.252 cm3 in CS patients, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of LVDD were 84.00% and 55.60%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CS was associated with marked accumulation of EAT and visceral fat, reduced skeletal muscle mass, and increased prevalence of LVDD. EATV was an independent risk factor for LVDD, suggesting the potential role of EAT in the development of LVDD in CS.

This study explored the potential risk factors of LVDD in endogenous CS by incorporating body composition parameters. EATV was identified as an independent risk factor for LVDD. Targeted therapeutic interventions to reduce excessive cortisol-induced EAT accumulation may be promising to mitigate the risk of LVDD development in patients with CS.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Studies in a Large Animal Model That Simulates the Cardiac Abnormalities of Human Septic Shock.

BACKGROUND: Septic shock is associated with increases in end-diastolic volume (EDV) and decreases in ejection fraction that reverse within 10 days. Nonsurvivors do not develop EDV increases. The mechanism is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Purpose-bred beagles (n=33) were randomized to receive intrabronchial Staphylococcus aureus or saline. Over 96 hours, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiograms were performed. Tissue was obtained at 66 hours. From 0 to 96 hours after bacterial challenge, septic animals versus controls had significantly increased left ventricular wall edema (6%) and wall thinning with loss of mass (15%). On histology, the major finding was nonocclusive microvascular injury with edema in myocytes, the interstitium, and endothelial cells. Edema was associated with significant worsening of biventricular ejection fractions, ventricular-arterial coupling, and circumferential strain. Early during sepsis, (0-24 hours), the EDV decreased; significantly more in nonsurvivors (ie, greater diastolic dysfunction). From 24 to 48 hours, septic animals' biventricular chamber sizes increased; in survivors significantly greater than baseline and nonsurvivors, whose EDVs were not different from baseline. Preload, afterload, or heart rate differences did not explain these differential changes. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiac dysfunction of sepsis is associated with wall edema. In nonsurvivors, at 0 to 24 hours, sepsis induces a more severe diastolic dysfunction, further decreasing chamber size. The loss of left ventricular mass with wall thinning in septic survivors may, in part, explain the EDV increases from 24 to 48 hours because of a potentially reparative process removing damaged wall tissue. Septic cardiomyopathy is most consistent with a nonocclusive microvascular injury resulting in edema causing reversible systolic and diastolic dysfunction with more severe diastolic dysfunction being associated with a decreased EDV and death.

REVIVED BCIS-2: update and key learnings.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarises the shifting paradigms in the treatment of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, spotlighting the revascularization for ischemic ventricular dysfunction-British cardiovascular intervention society-2 (REVIVED-BCIS2) trial results and its impact on key therapeutic goals: survival, left ventricular function, arrhythmia prevention, quality of life and viability testing. RECENT FINDINGS: The REVIVED-BCIS2 trial, and its subsequent sub studies highlighted that (PCI) does not provide additional benefits to optimal medical therapy in terms of improving survival, left ventricular (LV) function, arrhythmic risk or quality of life. Additionally, viability testing did not differentiate patients who could benefit from PCI, although scar burden was found to be a significant predictor of outcome in these patients. SUMMARY: The outcomes of REVIVED have challenged multiple existing beliefs in the field of ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction management, emphasising the importance of investigating evidence free areas in our practice. Future work, including the STICH3 international consortium of trials, aims to answer some of the remaining unanswered questions.

The impact of diabetes mellitus on cardiac function assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The adverse prognostic impact of diabetes on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is poorly understood. We sought to explore the underlying mechanisms in terms of structural and functional remodelling in HCM patients with coexisting diabetes (HCM-DM). METHODS: A total of 45 HCM-DM patients were retrospectively included. Isolated HCM controls (HCM patients without diabetes) were matched to HCM-DM patients in terms of maximal wall thickness, age, and gender distribution. Left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) performance were evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking strain analyses. The associations between diabetes and LV/LA impairment were investigated by univariable and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Compared with the isolated HCM controls, the HCM-DM patients had smaller end-diastolic volume and stroke volume, lower ejection fraction, larger mass/volume ratio and impaired strains in all three directions (all P < 0.05). In terms of the LA parameters, HCM-DM patients presented impaired LA reservoir and conduit strain/strain rate (all P < 0.05). Among all HCM patients, comorbidity with diabetes was independently associated with a low LV ejection fraction (ß = - 6.05, P < 0.001) and impaired global longitudinal strain (ß = 1.40, P = 0.007). Moreover, compared with the isolated HCM controls, HCM-DM patients presented with more myocardial fibrosis according to late gadolinium enhancement, which was an independent predictor of impaired LV global radial strain (ß = - 45.81, P = 0.008), LV global circumferential strain (ß = 18.25, P = 0.003), LA reservoir strain (ß = - 59.20, P < 0.001) and strain rate (ß = - 2.90, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes has adverse effects on LV and LA function in HCM patients, which may be important contributors to severe manifestations and outcomes in those patients. The present study strengthened the evidence of the prevention and management of diabetes in HCM patients.

Automatic tablet-based monoplane quantification of stroke volume and left ventricular ejection fraction: A comparative assessment against computer-based biplane and monoplane tools.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care cardiovascular left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) quantification is established, but automatic tablet-based stroke volume (SV) quantification with handheld ultrasound (HAND) devices is unexplored. We evaluated a tablet-based monoplane LVEF and LV volume quantification tool (AutoEF) against a computer-based tool (Tomtec) for LVEF and SV quantification. METHODS: Patients underwent HAND scans, and LVEF and SV were quantified using AutoEF and computer-based software that utilized either apical four-chamber views (Auto Strain-monoplane [AS-mono]) or both apical four-chamber and apical two-chamber views (Auto Strain-biplane [AS-bi]). Correlation and Bland-Altman analysis were used to compare AutoEF with AS-mono and AS-bi. RESULTS: Out of 43 participants, eight were excluded. AutoEF showed a correlation of .83 [.69:.91] with AS-mono for LVEF and .68 [.44:.82] for SV. The correlation with AS-bi was .79 [.62:.89] for LVEF and .66 [.42:.81] for SV. The bias between AutoEF and AS-mono was 4.88% [3.15:6.61] for LVEF and 17.46 mL [12.99:21.92] for SV. The limits of agreement (LOA) were [-5.50:15.26]% for LVEF and [-8.02:42.94] mL for SV. The bias between AutoEF and AS-bi was 6.63% [5.31:7.94] for LVEF and 20.62 mL [16.18:25.05] for SV, with LOA of [-1.20:14.47]% for LVEF and [-4.71:45.94] mL for SV. CONCLUSION: LVEF quantification with AutoEF software was accurate and reliable, but SV quantification showed limitations, indicating non-interchangeability with neither AS-mono nor AS-bi. Further refinement of AutoEF is needed for reliable SV quantification at the point of care.

[The relevance of diastolic reserve of the left ventricle in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (literature review).]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-infectious diseases in the world. Among people with type 2 diabetes, patients of the older age group. An in understanding of the early cardiovascular manifestations of diabetes occupies an important place in international research and prevention programs, given that cardiac vascular complications are the cause of death in patients with diabetes. Recent studies evaluating left ventricular diastolic dysfunction as a characteristic predictor of diabetic cardiomyopathy by echocardiography. In accordance with the recommendations for diastolic dysfunction, have shown that the algorithm of the informative algorithm is used to determine left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with prognosis in predicting cardiovascular complications.

Evaluation of left ventricular systolic function in patients with iron deficiency anemia based on non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loops.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to noninvasively and quantitatively evaluate early changes in left ventricular systolic function in patients with IDA using the left ventricular press-strain loop (LV-PSL). METHODS: Sixty-two patients with IDA were selected and divided into two groups based on hemoglobin (Hb) concentration: Group B with Hb > 9 g/dL and group C with 6 g/dL < Hb < 9 g/dL. Thirty-three healthy individuals were used as the control (Group A). The global longitudinal strain (GLS), global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global waste work (GWW), global work efficiency (GWE) were derived using LV-PSL analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for MW parameters to detect abnormal left ventricular systolic function in IDA patients. RESULTS: Compared to group A, GWI and GCW were reduced in group B (both P < 0.01). Compared with groups B and A, GLS, GWI, GCW and GWE, and E/A were all diminished, and GWW, LVEDV, LVESV, and E/mean e' were all increased in group C (all P < 0.01). GLS was positively correlated with GWI, GCW, and GWE (r = 0.679, 0.681, and 0.447, all P < 0.01), and negatively associated with GWW (r = - 0.411, all P < 0.01). For GWI, area under the ROC curve (AUROC) was 0.783. The optimal GWI threshold for detecting abnormal LV systolic function in IDA was1763 mmHg%, with sensitivity of 0.71 and specificity of 0.78. CONCLUSIONS: LV-PSL allows noninvasive quantitative assessment of early impaired LV systolic function in IDA patients with preserved LV ejection fraction, and GWI has high sensitivity and specificity compared with other parameters.

[The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors on left ventricular diastolic function: current status and prospects].

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) or gliflozins, are a new class of cardiovascular drugs with a proven clinical efficacy and a beneficial effect on prognosis in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function (DF) is an important element in the pathogenesis of HFpEF. Experimental studies have found intracellular mechanisms for the so-called diastolic effects in gliflozins. Studies using laboratory models of experimental HFpEF have demonstrated a positive effect of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin on the elastic properties of cardiomyocyte myofilaments, the dynamics of myocardial fibrosis, and intracellular sodium and calcium homeostasis. The significance of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties of gliflozins in improving the cardiomyocyte DF has been experimentally established. The effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on LV DF in patients at high risk for cardiovascular diseases and their complications, that has been demonstrated in relatively small clinical studies, is due to primary cardiac and secondary effects. Results of individual studies confirmed the protective (in relation to myocardial relaxation) properties of gliflozins in the conditions of a diastolic stress test. The regression of LV diastolic dysfunction associated with the SGLT2 inhibitor treatment found in small observational studies is important in the context of the significant beneficial effect of empagliflozin and dapagliflozin on the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases that has been demonstrated in large randomized clinical trials in patients with HFpEF.

Myocardial strain is regulated by cardiac preload in the early stage of sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Owing to a lack of data, this study aimed to explore the effect of cardiac preload on myocardial strain in patients with sepsis. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary teaching hospital in China from January 2018 to July 2019 and underwent transthoracic echocardiography were enrolled. Echocardiographic data were recorded at ICU admission and 24 h later. Patients were assigned to low left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and normal LVEDVI groups. We assessed the impact of preload on myocardial strain between the groups and analyzed the correlation of echocardiographic parameters under different preload conditions. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (53%) had a low LVEDVI and 33 (47%) a normal LVEDVI. Those in the low LVEDVI group had a faster heart rate (121.7 vs. 95.3, p < 0.001) and required a greater degree of fluid infusion (3.67 L vs. 2.62 L, P = 0.019). The left ventricular global strain (LVGLS) (-8.60% vs. -10.80%, p = 0.001), left ventricular global circumferential strain (LVGCS) (-13.83% vs. -18.26%, p = 0.006), and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) (-6.9% vs. -10.60%, p = 0.001) showed significant improvements in the low LVEDVI group after fluid resuscitation. However, fluid resuscitation resulted in a significantly increased cardiac afterload value (1172.00 vs. 1487.00, p = 0.009) only in the normal LVEDVI group. Multivariate backward linear regression showed that LVEDVI changes were independently associated with myocardial strain-related improvements during fluid resuscitation. The baseline LVEDVI was significantly negatively correlated with the LVGLS and RVGLS (r = -0.44 and - 0.39, respectively) but not LVGCS. LVEDVI increases during fluid resuscitation were associated with improvements in the myocardial strain degree. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial strain alterations were significantly influenced by the cardiac preload during fluid resuscitation in sepsis.

Evaluation of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by combining myocardial work and triglyceride-glucose index.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently presents subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The TyG index is a surrogate indicator of insulin resistance and is closely related to heart failure (HF). This study aimed to evaluate subclinical systolic dysfunction in T2DM by combining myocardial work (MW) and the TyG index and to investigate the risk factors for MW. METHODS: This study included 102 diabetic patients and 78 healthy control subjects, and the diabetic group was divided into three subgroups based on the TyG index. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global myocardial work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global myocardial work efficiency (GWE) were measured in all subjects. GLS and MW were compared between the diabetic and control groups and between subgroups. Regression models were applied to analyze the risk factors for MW in diabetic patients. RESULTS: GLS, GWI, GCW, and GWE significantly increased, and GWW significantly decreased in the diabetic group (all p < .01). GWI and GCW were significantly lower in the T3 subgroup than in the T1 and T2 subgroups (all p < .05). The TyG index, sex (female), BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC) were independent risk factors for GWI and GCW, and HbA1c was an independent risk factor for GWI. CONCLUSIONS: MW accurately revealed subtle changes in subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients. An elevated TyG index was strongly associated with decreased GWI and GCW. The TyG index, sex (female), BMI, SBP, and TC were independent risk factors for GWI and GCW, and HbA1c was an independent risk factor for GWI.

Deep Learning-Based Electrocardiogram Analysis Predicts Biventricular Dysfunction and Dilation in Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence-enhanced electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) analysis shows promise to detect biventricular pathophysiology. However, AI-ECG analysis remains underexplored in congenital heart disease (CHD). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop and externally validate an AI-ECG model to predict cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-defined biventricular dysfunction/dilation in patients with CHD. METHODS: We trained (80%) and tested (20%) a convolutional neural network on paired ECG-CMRs (≤30 days apart) from patients with and without CHD to detect left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤40%), RV dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤35%), and LV and RV dilation (end-diastolic volume z-score ≥4). Performance was assessed during internal testing and external validation on an outside health care system using area under receiver-operating curve (AUROC) and area under precision recall curve. RESULTS: The internal and external cohorts comprised 8,584 ECG-CMR pairs (n = 4,941; median CMR age 20.7 years) and 909 ECG-CMR pairs (n = 746; median CMR age 25.4 years), respectively. Model performance was similar for internal testing (AUROC: LV dysfunction 0.87; LV dilation 0.86; RV dysfunction 0.88; RV dilation 0.81) and external validation (AUROC: LV dysfunction 0.89; LV dilation 0.83; RV dysfunction 0.82; RV dilation 0.80). Model performance was lowest in functionally single ventricle patients. Tetralogy of Fallot patients predicted to be at high risk of ventricular dysfunction had lower survival (P < 0.001). Model explainability via saliency mapping revealed that lateral precordial leads influence all outcome predictions, with high-risk features including QRS widening and T-wave inversions for RV dysfunction/dilation. CONCLUSIONS: AI-ECG shows promise to predict biventricular dysfunction/dilation, which may help inform CMR timing in CHD.

Should routine pulmonary function tests be performed in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and/or congestive heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery?

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether pulmonary function testing should be performed routinely in cardiac surgery patients. The aim of our study was to focus on patients who have congestive heart failure, caused by left ventricular dysfunction or left-sided heart valve disease, and study the prognostic value of performing preoperative pulmonary function testing on their postoperative outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective propensity score matched study that included 366 patients with congestive heart failure who underwent cardiac surgery and had preoperative pulmonary function test. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 who had a normal or mild reduction in pulmonary function tests and group 2 who had moderate to severe reduction in pulmonary function tests. The postoperative outcomes, including pulmonary complications, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Pulmonary function tests were normal or mildly reduced in 190 patients (group 1) and moderately to severely reduced in 176 patients (group 2). Propensity matching identified 111 matched pairs in each group with balanced preoperative and operative characteristics. Compared to group 1, Group 2 had longer duration of mechanical ventilation [12 (7.5-16) vs. 9 (6.5-13) hours, p < 0.001], higher postoperative Creatinine [111 (90-142) vs. 105 (81-128) µmol/dl, p = 0.02] and higher hospital mortality (6.31% vs. 0%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Routine Pulmonary Function Testing should be performed in patients with Left ventricular dysfunction and/or congestive heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery since moderate to severe reduction in those patients was associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation and higher hospital mortality.

Alcohol consumption and heart failure: a dose-response meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (prototype). The objectives are as follows: Main objective To assess the effects of alcohol consumption on the progression to symptomatic (stage C) heart failure in people at risk for heart failure (stage A) or in people with pre-heart failure (stage B). Secondary objectives To assess the effects of alcohol consumption on progression of left ventricular dysfunction in people with stage A or stage B heart failure. We will assess the effect of alcohol consumption on the development of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, mildly reduced ejection fraction, and preserved ejection fraction. We also aim to evaluate the effects of alcohol consumption on the development of symptomatic (stage C) heart failure over the short, medium and long term.