Reassessing heart failure therapy in Thailand: Patient insights and treatment outcomes from the Thai heart failure registry.

BACKGROUND: This research analyzed the demographics, management, and outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) in Thailand. METHODS: The Thai Heart Failure Registry prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with HF from 36 hospitals in Thailand. Follow-up data were recorded at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. This study primarily focused on two outcomes: mortality and HF-related hospitalizations. RESULTS: The study included 2639 patients aged at least 18. Their mean age was 59.2 ± 14.5 years, and most were male (68.4%). Patients were classified as having HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, 80.7%), HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, 9.0%), or HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF, 10.3%). Guideline-directed medical therapy utilization varied. Beta-blockers had the highest usage (93.2%), followed by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (65.7%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (39.3%), angiotensin receptor blockers (28.2%), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (16.1%), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (8.0%). The study monitored a composite of mortality and HF incidents, revealing incidence rates of 11.74, 12.50, and 8.93 per 100 person-years for the overall, HFrEF, and HFmrEF/HFpEF populations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high guideline-directed medical therapy adherence, the Thai Heart Failure Registry data revealed high mortality and recurrent HF rates. These findings underscore limitations in current HF treatment efficacy. The results indicate the need for further investigation and improvements of HF management to enhance patient outcomes.

Chronic statin administration may attenuate early anthracycline-associated declines in left ventricular ejection function.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown an association between statin therapy and a reduced risk of heart failure among breast cancer survivors. Our goal was to evaluate whether statin therapy for prevention of cardiovascular (CV) disease would ameliorate declines in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) that is often observed during anthracycline-based chemotherapy (Anth-bC). METHODS: There were 51 participants (33 women and 18 men, aged 48 ± 2 years). We obtained cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) measurements of LVEF before and 6 months after initiation of Anth-bC for patients with breast cancer, leukemia, or lymphoma. Fourteen individuals received statin therapy, and 37 patients received no statins. MR image analysts were blinded to participant identifiers. RESULTS: Individuals receiving statins were older and often had diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and hyperlipidemia (HLD). For those receiving statins, LVEF was 56.6% ± 1.4% at baseline and 54.1% ± 1.3% 6 months after initiating anthracycline treatment (P = 0.15). For those not receiving statins, LVEF was 57.5% ± 1.4% at baseline and decreased to 52.4% ± 1.2% over a similar 6-month interval (P = 0.0003). In a multivariable model accounting for age, sex, DM, HTN, HLD, and cumulative amount of anthracycline received, LVEF remained unchanged in participants receiving a statin (+1.1% ± 2.6%) vs a -6.5% ± 1.5% decline among those not receiving a statin (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the finding that individuals receiving statin therapy for prevention of cardiovascular disease may experience less deterioration in LVEF with early receipt of Anth-bC than individuals not receiving statins. Further studies with large numbers of participants are warranted to determine if statins protect against LVEF decline in patients receiving Anth-bC.

Pharmacological stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Over the past decade, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has evolved into a cardiac stress testing modality that can be used to diagnose myocardial ischemia using intravenous dobutamine or vasodilator perfusion agents such as adenosine or dipyridamole. Because CMR produces high-resolution tomographic images of the human heart in multiple imaging planes, it has become a highly attractive noninvasive testing modality for those suspected of having myocardial ischemia. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical, diagnostic, and prognostic utility of stress CMR testing for patients with (or suspected of having) coronary artery disease.

Identification of left ventricular myocardial ischemia and cardiac prognosis with cardiovascular magnetic resonance: updates from 2008 to 2010.

Noninvasive imaging modalities are often used to manage patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasingly used for diagnosing and evaluating myocardial ischemia and viability; moreover, stress CMR study results can be used to determine cardiac prognosis. In this article, we review recently published material regarding the performance of stress testing with CMR including a brief update regarding techniques, stress agents, diagnostic accuracy, prognosis, economic implications, and ongoing trials and future developments.

Systemic antivenom and skin necrosis after green pit viper bites.

INTRODUCTION: As systemic effects of viper venoms can be neutralized by antivenom, local tissue damage, particularly necrosis of the skin, has become a more significant problem. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of antivenom in preventing dermatonecrosis in envenomated patients with severe coagulopathy. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of patients who were envenomated by green pit vipers (Trimeresurus albolabris or T. macrops) following bites on fingers or toes and who came to Chulalongkorn hospital from 1996 to 2006. RESULTS: 1,886 records of suspected green pit viper bite patients were reviewed: 243 cases fit the inclusion criteria; 1,643 cases were excluded: uncertain diagnosis (931), bites at other sites (508), inadequate follow-up (196), and necrosis on presentation (8 patients). One-third of the 243 study cases (80 patients) received green pit viper F (ab')(2) antivenom an average of 21 hours after envenomation for the treatment of severe coagulopathy. The other 163 study patients were treated symptomatically. After a 3-day follow-up, the percentage of patients who developed gangrene among those who received antivenom (7 of 80 patients) was 8.8% and the percentage of patients who developed gangrene among those who did not receive antivenom (12 of 163 patients) was 7.4 % (p = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Dermatonecrosis occurs after the systemic administration of antivenom. Earlier administration of antivenom and other treatment modalities should be explored in a prospective study.