Outcomes of a multidisciplinary coronary heart disease prevention programme in southern India.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause for mortality and morbidity in India but the focus on lifestyle interventions is very low. This study aims to evaluate the role of a multidisciplinary CHD prevention programme in southern India. METHODS: All patients enrolled between May 2014 and March 2016 with CHD (disease group) or with risk factors but no CHD (risk group) were included. Participants attended one-two sessions per week for 6-12 weeks; each session lasted 90-120 min, including exercise and education, and was adapted to the participants' sociocultural requirements. Resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and functional capacity (FC) were documented at start and end of programme. RESULTS: Disease group was older (61±10 vs 51±14  years, p<0.01), had lower BMI and WC (26±4 vs 30±7 kg/m2, p<0.01; 39±4 vs 42±5 inches, p<0.01), attended more sessions (12±7 vs 6±3, p<0.0001) and had higher completion rates (82% vs 53%, p=0.02) than the risk group. Programme-completers (n=45, 67%) showed significant improvement in health-related behaviour, angina threshold (in all 8 subjects with stable angina), BMI (p=0.03), WC (p<0.01) and FC (p<0.01). Follow-up for a period of 16±6 months showed continued adherence to the healthy behaviour (n=44, 1 lost to follow-up) and maintenance of anthropometric and FC parameters. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary approach to preventing CHD is lacking in India. This study shows that a comprehensive lifestyle intervention programme has significant benefits and can be incorporated in the routine management of all patients and at-risk individuals in the region.

Remarkable regression of coronary atherosclerosis: An interplay of pharmacotherapeutic and lifestyle factors.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world today. Regression of coronary atherosclerosis using a combination of drugs and lifestyle interventions has been reported. This letter describes three patients with remarkable reduction in angiographic stenosis of coronary arteries that is generally not considered feasible.

Severe left ventricular dysfunction in left atrial myxoma--report of 2 cases.

We report 2 patients with left atrial (LA) myxoma with associated severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Both presented with progressive effort intolerance without a history suggestive of acute coronary event. LA myxoma was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography, which also detected severe systolic dysfunction and LV dilatation. Regional wall motion abnormality and thinning were absent. Coronary angiograms also showed no occlusive disease, but distal ectasia was seen in 1 patient. Metabolic and endocrine causes of reversible LV dysfunction were excluded. Cardiac function improved following surgery for myxoma in 1 patient. LV dysfunction, thus far, has not been directly attributed to myxoma. Coronary embolization leading to myocardial infarction and coexisting coronary atherosclerosis are the recognized methods by which LV dysfunction manifests in myxoma. Our report suggests the possibility of reversible severe global LV dysfunction due to cardiodepressant effect of myxoma through as yet unclear mechanisms.

Right ventricular myocardial infarction: presentation and acute outcomes.

Acute inferior wall myocardial infarction can be complicated by right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI), and the excess mortality cannot be fully explained by mechanical reasons. The authors try to systematically assess the incidence, clinical presentation and early outcomes of right ventricular infarction in a tertiary-care setup. Their study was a prospective observational series of consecutive patients with RVMI. All patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction (n=135) were enlisted. RVMI was diagnosed by > or = 1 mm ST elevation in lead V(4R) in a right-sided electrocardiogram. Right ventricular (RV) infarction occurred in 37% (n=50) of patients with acute inferior infarctions. Patients with isolated inferior infarction served as controls (n=85). Echocardiography was performed within 24 hours of admission. From both groups, 66% qualified for thrombolysis. The incidence of hypotension-bradycardia and heart blocks requiring pacing support was much higher in right ventricular infarction (n=21) than in inferior infarction (n=13). Clinically manifest RV dysfunction (raised jugular venous pulse [JVP], hypotension, tricuspid regurgitation) and right ventricular dilation detected by echocardiography were seen in only 13 patients. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher (n=8, 16%) in right ventricular infarction group than in inferior infarction group (n=3, 3.5%). Right ventricular infarction was seen in a third of inferior myocardial infarctions (IMIs), but hemodynamically evident right ventricular dysfunction occurred in only a tenth of acute IMIs. Nevertheless, the acute in-hospital mortality rate of patients with right ventricular infarction was much higher than in those with inferior infarction owing to arrhythmic and mechanical complications.

Safety and efficacy of enalapril in multivalvular heart disease with significant mitral stenosis--SCOPE-MS.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) are often used in preventing and treating heart failure due to regurgitant valve disease. The majority of patients with symptomatic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) have significant mitral stenosis (MS) and are denied ACEI therapy, because of the fear of hypotension in the presence of fixed obstruction. The authors assessed the safety and efficacy of ACEI in 109 consecutive patients with RHD and with significant mitral stenosis (mitral valve orifice, MVO < 1.5 cm2)and with NYHA class III or IV heart failure symptoms. Mean age was 33.1+/-12 years, systolic blood pressure (BP) was 111+/-10, and diastolic BP was 73+/-8 mm Hg. MS was significant in 100 patients with mitral regurgitation in 46, aortic regurgitation in 19, and pulmonary hypertension in 60 patients. After initial stabilization, enalapril 2.5 mg bid was started in hospital and titrated up to 10 mg bid over 2 weeks. NYHA status, Borg score, and 6-minute walk test were assessed at baseline, and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Seventy-nine of the 100 patients who completed the study had severe MS (MVO < 1.0 cm2). Enalapril was well tolerated by all study patients without hypotension or worsening of symptoms. NYHA class (3.2+/-0.5 baseline vs 2.3+/-0.5 at 4 weeks, p < 0.01) Borg Dyspnea Index (7.6+/-1.3 vs 5.6+/-1.3, p < 0.01), and 6-minute walk distance (226+/-106 vs 299+/-127 m, p < 0.01) improved significantly with enalapril. Patients with associated regurgitant lesions showed more improvement in exercise capacity (120+/-93 vs 39+/-56 m, p < 0.001). Enalapril was well tolerated in patients with RHD with moderate and severe MS. Irrespective of the valve pathology, enalapril improved functional status and exercise capacity with maximum benefit in patients with concomitant regurgitant valvular heart disease.

Safety and efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in symptomatic severe aortic stenosis: Symptomatic Cardiac Obstruction-Pilot Study of Enalapril in Aortic Stenosis (SCOPE-AS).

BACKGROUND: Animal models have demonstrated a benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) in experimental aortic stenosis (AS), and intravenous nitroprusside has shown hemodynamic improvements in AS with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Although routinely used in most heart failure situations, ACEI are avoided in AS because of the risk of hypotension. We aimed to determine the clinical tolerance and efficacy of the ACEI enalapril in the setting of symptomatic severe AS. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic severe AS were enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial to enalapril or placebo arms after initial stabilization. Standard antifailure medications were continued. Enalapril was started at 2.5 mg bid and increased to 10 mg bid. The primary end points were development of hypotension and improvements in Borg dyspnea index and 6-minute walk distance at 1 month. Secondary end points were minor ACEI intolerance, cough, presyncope, improvement in New York Heart Association class, and echocardiographic parameters. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were enrolled (37 in the enalapril arm and 19 in the placebo arm). Enalapril was tolerated without hypotension or syncope when LV systolic function was preserved. Three of 5 patients with LV dysfunction and congestive heart failure had hypotension and were withdrawn. Patients who tolerated enalapril (n = 34) demonstrated significant improvement in NYHA class, Borg index (5.4 +/- 1.2 vs 5.6 +/- 1.7, P =.03), and 6-minute walk distance (402 +/- 150 vs 376 +/- 174, P =.003) compared with control subjects. Within the enalapril group, patients with associated regurgitant lesions improved the most. CONCLUSIONS: ACEI are well tolerated in symptomatic patients with severe AS. Patients with congestive heart failure with LV dysfunction and low normal blood pressure are prone to have hypotension. Enalapril significantly improves effort tolerance and reduces dyspnea in symptomatic AS.

Rheumatic heart disease occurrence, patterns and clinical correlates in children aged less than five years.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Rheumatic fever (RF) and chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are common in developing countries. Two-thirds of RHD patients are school-children aged between 5 and 15 years. Pre-schoolers aged <5 years are not immune to RF however, and to date RHD patterns in this very young age group have not been studied systematically. METHODS: Records of all RHD patients seen at the authors' institution between January 1999 and December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. A special analysis was conducted among pre-school children aged <5 years. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (6.8%) of the RF/RHD admissions were aged <5 years, and 28 of these patients (20 males, 8 females) presented with acute RF. The mean age of acute RF diagnosis was 4 years. All RF/RHD patients aged <5 years were in normal sinus rhythm. Joint pain and swelling (25 cases; characteristic migratory polyarthritis in six, monoarthritis in five) and fever (24 cases) were the most frequent symptoms. Arthritis, carditis and chorea occurred in 75%, 50% and 4% respectively, with no instances of erythema marginatum or subcutaneous nodules. Effort intolerance, chest discomfort and palpitations were reported by nine, five and three cases, respectively. Mitral regurgitation was the most common valvular lesion in RF. The youngest case of confirmed acute RF was an 18-month-old male. The only patient with mitral stenosis in the present series was a 4-year-old girl. None of the patients required surgical intervention, and there were no deaths. CONCLUSION: RHD is common in very young age groups of <5 years. Pre-schoolers account for a significant proportion of acute RF and chronic RHD admissions among children. Mitral regurgitation is the most common cardiac manifestation, but obstructive valve disease is distinctly rare in this age group. Aortic regurgitation, left ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension may complicate the course of RF in these very young children.

Estimation of subjective stress in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mental stress is considered to be a precipitating factor in acute coronary events. We aimed to assess the association of subjective or 'perceived' mental stress with the occurrence of acute coronary events. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective case-control survey was carried out in a referral teaching hospital. SUBJECTS & METHODS: Consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction and ST elevation on electrocardiogram who were admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of a referral teaching hospital were enrolled in the study as cases. Controls were unmatched and were enrolled from amongst patients with coronary artery disease who did not have recent acute coronary events. Subjective Stress Functional Classification (SS-FC) for the preceding 2-4 weeks was assessed and assigned four grades from I to IV as follows: I - baseline, II - more than usual but not affecting daily routine, III - significantly high stress affecting daily routine and IV - worst stress in life. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Proportions of different characteristics were compared using chi-square test with Yates continuity correction. Student's unpaired t test was applied for mean age. 'p' value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: SS-FC could be reliably (99%) and easily assessed. Eighty (53%) of the total 150 patients with acute MI reported 'high' levels of stress (stress class III and IV). This is in contrast to only 30 (20%) of 150 healthy controls reporting high stress for the same period (p value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with acute myocardial infarction report a higher subjective mental stress during 2 to 4 weeks preceding the acute coronary event.

Clinical spectrum of chronic rheumatic heart disease in India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to determine prevalence and patterns of chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in developing countries, where it remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The incidence of different valvular lesions and complications in chronic RHD were analyzed. METHODS: The study design was a retrospective case series analysis in the setting of a tertiary care institution in southern India. Participants were consecutive patients registered under 'chronic RHD' in the cardiology department of the authors' institution over the past 20 years. Data are presented for 10,000 cases in two age groups: group I, aged < or = 18 years (n = 2,910); and group II, aged > 18 years (n = 7,090). RESULTS: Mitral regurgitation was the single most common lesion (n = 1,007) in group I, while the dominant lesion in group II was mitral stenosis (n = 2,943). Isolated aortic valve disease was seen in 130 (4.5%) and 195 (2.8%) cases in groups I and II, respectively. Tricuspid stenosis was seen in 45 cases, and rheumatic involvement of all four cardiac valves was documented in four cases. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 42.4% and 80.8% in groups I and II, respectively, and functional tricuspid regurgitation in 38.9% and 77.2%, respectively. Overall, 5.9% of patients had atrial fibrillation, 0.9% had left atrial thrombus (seen on transthoracic echocardiography) and 0.4% had embolic cerebrovascular events. Pericardial effusion was present in 0.7% cases, and infective endocarditis was noted at presentation in 0.6%. CONCLUSION: Chronic RHD in developing countries is associated with major complications and high mortality. The critical evaluation of individual lesions must be combined with frequent overall clinical evaluation in order to time appropriate medical and surgical interventions.

Current profile of acute rheumatic fever and valvulitis in southern India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Rheumatic fever (RF) incidence has declined dramatically in the West, but still accounts for a major percentage of cardiac debility in developing countries. The study aim was to analyze the incidence, clinical profile and echocardiography findings in acute RF over the past decade. METHODS: The records of acute RF admissions to a tertiary care medical college hospital in southern India during the past 10 years were analyzed retrospectively. Chronic rheumatic heart disease and recurrence of RF were excluded from the study. Patients with a first episode of acute RF were studied only if the case records were available, and basic laboratory and echocardiography studies were completed. Thus, a total of 163 patients (81 males, 82 females) qualified for the study. RESULTS: There was no significant decline in the annual incidence of the first episode of acute RE The most common presenting symptoms were arthralgiaarthritis (n = 157), fever (n = 137) and breathlessness (n = 81). Carditis (67.5%) and arthritis (44.2%) were the most often-reported Jones criteria. Trivial to mild mitral regurgitation by echocardiography occurred in 81%, followed by significant mitral regurgitation in 5.5% and mild aortic regurgitation in 25%. The 'youngest' and 'oldest' first episodes of RF were recorded at ages of 2 and 29 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of RF in India does not show the declining trends of the Western world. The application of Jones criteria for diagnosis remains relevant, though echocardiography is increasingly called upon to 'confirm' clinical diagnosis and help manage these patients in an appropriate manner.

Pancarditis as initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder with cardiac involvement in about 50% of cases, yet clinically significant lesions are less common. SLE with pancarditis at initial presentation has so far not been reported. We present a rare case of SLE with culture negative endocarditis, reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and mild pericardial effusion. Treatment with steroids showed improvement in cardiac contractile function and mitral valve vegetations disappeared over 3 months. In a case of pancarditis with culture negative endocarditis, SLE as a possibility must be explored. After excluding infective endocarditis, a short trial of high dose corticosteroids effects overall improvement in carditis of SLE.

Intralobar sequestration of the lung presenting as a continuous murmur--a case report.

An eighteen-year-old asymptomatic woman with a continuous murmur, normal two-dimensional echocardiogram, and mild haziness of the left lower segment of the lung on chest x-ray was diagnosed to have sequestration based on the presence of a large anomalous systemic artery arising from the descending thoracic aorta supplying the lower lobe of the left lung. Normal bronchial connections with the rest of the lung on bronchoscopy and delayed dye clearance from the left lower lobe bronchioles on bronchogram indicated its intralobar nature. The cause of the continuous murmur was thought to be the large flow through the anomalous systemic artery.

A case of ST-segment and T-wave alternans.

A 45-year-old man was admitted to the Government General Hospital, Madras, India, for Prinzmetal's angina. His condition was not responding to the combined treatment of isosorbide dinitrate and propranolol hydrochloride he had been taking one week before admission to the hospital. During his stay in the intensive care unit, 23 episodes of ST-segment elevation occurred. Three episodes showed ST-segment and T-wave alternans, a phenomenon, which, to our knowledge, have not been described. The patient was treated with verapamil hydrochloride and phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride, and he responded well. His condition continued to be stable during a two-year follow-up. A review of the literature and a discussion of this ECG phenomenon is presented.