Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Versus Uncoated Balloon Angioplasty for Coronary In-Stent Restenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) accounts for 10% of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the United States. Paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) have been evaluated as a therapy for coronary ISR in multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov (from inception to April 1, 2024) for RCTs evaluating PCBs versus uncoated balloon angioplasty (BA) in patients with coronary ISR. The outcomes of interest were target lesion revascularization (TLR), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and stent thrombosis. We pooled the estimates using an inverse variance random-effects model. The effect sizes were reported as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 6 RCTs with 1,343 patients were included. At a follow-up ranging from 6 to 12 months from randomization, the use of PCBs was associated with a statistically significant decrease in TLR (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.68) and MACE (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.64) compared with BA for coronary ISR. However, there was no significant difference in risk between PCBs and BA in terms of all-cause mortality (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.14 to 2.31), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.02 to 16.85), MI (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.31), and stent thrombosis (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.00 to 5.06). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that PCBs compared with uncoated BA for the treatment of coronary ISR at intermediate-term follow-up of 1 year were associated with a significant decrease in TLR and MACE without any difference in mortality, MI, or stent thrombosis.

Outcomes following TAVR in patients with cardiogenic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: While transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has broadened treatment options for critically ill patients, outcomes among those with concomitant cardiogenic shock (CS) are not well-explored. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of major databases for studies comparing outcomes following TAVR in patients with and without CS since inception up to October 31, 2023. Our meta-analysis included five non-randomized observational. Dichotomous outcomes were assessed using the Mantel-Haenszel method (risk ratio, 95 % CI), and continuous outcomes were evaluated using mean difference and 95 % CI with the inverse variance method. Statistical heterogeneity was determined using the inconsistency test (I2). RESULTS: Among 26,283 patients across five studies, 30-day mortality was higher in the CS group (7267 patients; 27.6 %) compared to those without CS (OR 3.41, 95 % CI [2.01, 5.76], p < 0.01), as well as 30-day major vascular complications (OR 1.72, 95 % CI [1.54, 1.92], p < 0.01). At 1-year follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rates between the compared groups (OR 2.68, 95 % CI [0.53, 13.46], p = 0.12). No significant between-group differences were observed in the likelihood of 30-day aortic valve reintervention (OR 3.20, 95 % CI [0.63, 16.22], p = 0.09) or post-TAVR aortic insufficiency (OR 0.91, 95 % CI [0.33, 2.51], p = 0.73). Furthermore, 30-day stroke, pacemaker implantation, and in-hospital major bleeding were comparable between both cohorts. CONCLUSION: Among patients undergoing TAVR, short-term mortality is higher but one-year outcomes are similar when comparing those with, to those without, CS. Future studies should examine whether TAVR outcomes are improved when the procedure is delayed to optimize CS and when delay is not possible, whether particular management strategies lead to more favorable periprocedural outcomes.

Efficacy and safety of TAVR versus SAVR in patients with small aortic annuli: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with a small aortic annulus (SAA) undergoing aortic valve replacement are at increased risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM), which adversely affects outcomes. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has shown promise in mitigating PPM compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines to compare clinical outcomes, mortality, and PPM between SAA patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR. Eligible studies were identified through comprehensive literature searches and assessed for quality and relevance. RESULTS: Nine studies with a total of 2476 patients were included. There was no significant difference in 30-day Mortality between TAVR vs SAVR groups (OR = 0.65, 95% CI [ 0.09-4.61], P = 0.22). There was no difference between both groups regarding myocardial infarction at 30 days (OR = 0.63, 95% CI [0.1-3.89], P = 0.62). TAVR was associated with a significantly lower 30-day major bleeding and 2-year major bleeding, Pooled studies were homogeneous (OR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.31-0.64], P < 0.01, I2 = 0, P = 0.89), (OR = 0.4 ,95% CI [0.21-0.77], P = 0.03, I2 = 0%, P = 0.62) respectively. TAVR was associated with a lower rate of moderate PPM (OR = 0.6, 95% CI [ 0.44-0.84], p value = 0.01, i2 = 0%, p value = 0.44). The overall effect estimate did not favor any of the two groups regarding short-term Mild AR (OR = 5.44, 95% CI [1.02-28.91], P = 0.05) and Moderate/severe AR (OR = 4.08, 95% CI [ 0.79-21.02], P = 0.08, I2 = 0%, P = 0.59). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that both TAVR and SAVR are viable options for treating AS in patients with a small aortic annulus. TAVR offers advantages in reducing PPM and major bleeding, while SAVR performs better in terms of pacemaker implantation. Future studies should focus on comparing newer generation TAVR techniques and devices with SAVR. Consideration of patient characteristics is crucial in selecting the optimal treatment approach for AS.

Outcomes and complications of heart failure with iron deficiency anemia: a nationwide analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure is a pressing public health concern, affecting millions in the United States and projected to rise significantly by 2030. Iron deficiency, prevalent in nearly half of ambulatory heart failure patients, contributes to anemia and diminishes patient outcomes. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of iron deficiency anemia on acute heart failure hospitalizations outcomes. METHODS: Utilizing the 2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, a retrospective observational study assessed 112,864 adult patients hospitalized with heart failure and 7,865 cases also had a concomitant diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). RESULTS: Among 112,864 heart failure hospitalizations in 2019, approximately 7% had concomitant iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Heart failure patients with IDA exhibited distinct demographic characteristics, with females comprising 51.1% (p < 0.01) and higher rates of complicated hypertension (p < 0.01), complicated diabetes (p < 0.01), and peripheral vascular disease (p < 0.01). Adjusted mean LOS for patients with IDA was significantly longer at 1.31 days (95% CI 0.71-1.47; p < 0.01), persisting in both HFpEF and HFrEF subgroups. While total hospital charges were comparable in HFpEF, HFrEF patients with IDA incurred significantly higher charges ($13427.32, 95% CI: 1463.35-$25391.29, p = 0.03) than those without IDA. Complications such as atrial fibrillation and acute kidney injury were notably more prevalent in HFpEF and HFrEF patients with IDA. CONCLUSION: The study highlighted that iron deficiency in heart failure patients leads to extended hospital stays, increased costs, and heightened risks of specific complications, particularly in HFrEF. Our study emphasized the implications of IDA in patients with heart failure ranging from prolonged hospitalizations and increased costs. Addressing iron deficiency is crucial, given its substantial impact on heart failure hospitalizations and outcomes, emphasizing the need for proactive diagnosis and management.

Intravenous iron therapy for patients with iron deficiency and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) presents a significant health challenge, with intravenous (IV) iron therapy considered a potential treatment avenue. Method: We assessed IV iron therapy's efficacy in HF patients with concurrent iron deficiency versus standard of care. Primary outcomes included the composite of HF hospitalizations or cardiovascular-related mortality, HF hospitalizations, and all-cause, HF, and cardiovascular mortality rates. Secondary measures encompassed improvements in New York Heart Association functional classification, quality of life, 6-minute walk test, left ventricular ejection fraction, and adverse events. We used a random-effects model to compute relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Based on an analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials involving 6614 patients, IV iron therapy significantly reduced composite outcome (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.96; P = 0.01) and HF hospitalizations (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.89; P = 0.002) compared to standard of care. Mortality rates showed no significant difference. IV iron therapy improved New York Heart Association functional classification, quality of life, and 6-minute walk test, with no major impact on left ventricular ejection fraction. Adverse events remained stable. Conclusions: IV iron therapy holds promise for diminishing HF hospitalizations and enhancing quality of life and 6-minute walk test in HF patients. Yet, its effect on all-cause or cardiovascular mortalities appears limited.

Balanced crystalloids versus isotonic saline in pediatric sepsis: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to compare the effects of balanced crystalloids (BC) and isotonic saline (IS) in pediatric sepsis. Methods: A systematic search was performed for studies comparing BC and IS in pediatric sepsis. Outcomes included mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), hospital length of stay (LOS), and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) LOS. A random-effect models was used to calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The analysis included six studies with 8753 children. BC demonstrated significant reductions in overall mortality (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.98, P = 0.03, I2 = 0%) and AKI (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.96, P = 0.03, I2 = 37%) compared to IS. RRT need was similar between the BC and IS groups (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.02, P = 0.07, I2 = 0%). Hospital and PICU LOS did not differ significantly. However, subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials revealed significantly shorter hospital LOS in the BC group (mean difference -0.66 days, 95% CI -1.10 to -0.23, P = 0.003, I2 = 0%). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that using BC in pediatric sepsis is associated with reduced mortality, AKI, and hyperchloremia rates compared to IS, while maintaining similar hospital and PICU LOS. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.

Bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Bivalirudin is an alternative accepted therapy to unfractionated heparin for patients with myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed in this meta-analysis to compare bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in patients with MI undergoing PCI. METHODS: We have screened PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov (inception through January 8th, 2023) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in patients with MI undergoing PCI. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used for estimation of tau2 to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Ten RCTs with a total of 40,069 participants were included in our analysis. Bivalirudin as compared with unfractionated heparin was associated with significant decrease in major bleeding (RR 0.64 [0.52 to 0.79]; p < 0.01; I2 = 69 %) and cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.79 [0.67 to 0.92]; p < 0.01; I2 = 0 %). There was no significant difference between bivalirudin and unfractionated heparin groups in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events (RR 1.02 [0.91 to 1.14]; p = 0.73; I2 = 52 %), all-cause mortality (RR 0.89 [0.77 to 1.04]; p = 0.15; I2 = 23 %), MI (RR 1.02 [0.87 to 1.19]; p = 0.80; I2 = 36 %), stent thrombosis (RR 1.12 [0.52 to 2.40]; p = 0.77; I2 = 82 %), or stroke (RR 0.97 [0.73 to 1.29]; p = 0.85; I2 = 0 %). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that bivalirudin compared with unfractionated heparin in patients with MI undergoing PCI was associated with lower rates of major bleeding and cardiovascular mortality without a significant difference in major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, MI, stroke, or stent thrombosis.

Safety and Efficacy of Direct Oral Anticoagulant in Addition to Antiplatelet Therapy After Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis of 53,869 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Significant progress has been made in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during the past few decades. However, the role of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in post-ACS prophylactic therapy remains unknown. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of DOACs plus antiplatelet treatment (APT) after ACS. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify randomized clinical trials comparing DOACs plus APT with APT alone after ACS. The primary efficacy end points were cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality, and stroke and systemic embolization (SSE). The primary safety end point was major bleeding. The random-effects model was used to calculate relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% CIs. RESULTS: Nine trials with a total of 53,869 patients were identified, with 33,011 (61.2%) in the DOACs plus APT group and 20,858 (38.8%) in the APT alone group. The use of DOACs did not decrease the risk of cardiovascular death (RR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.75-1.01; P = 0.08; I2 = 0%) or myocardial infarction (RR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80-1.02; P = 0.10; I2 = 6%). However, the risk of SSE was significantly lower in patients who received DOACs plus APT compared with APT alone (RR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50-0.90; P = 0.008). Moreover, all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the DOACs plus APT group (RR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-98; P = 0.03; I2 = 0%). However, the risk of major bleeding was significantly higher in patients treated with DOACs plus APT compared with APT alone (RR = 2.53; 95% CI, 1.96-3.26; P < 0.01; I2 = 0%), as was the risk of nonmajor bleeding (RR = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.51-3.41; P < 0.01). IMPLICATIONS: DOACs plus APT for the prevention of left ventricular thrombus in patients with ACS were associated with a lower risk of SSE and all-cause mortality but increased the risk of major and nonmajor bleeding. The benefits and risks of this approach should be weighed based on a patient's individual clinical characteristics.

Liberal versus conservative transfusion strategy for patients with acute myocardial infarction and anemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A hemoglobin (Hb) level goal of 7-8 g/dL is a standard care threshold, prompting blood transfusion. The debate over whether acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients benefit from a more liberal transfusion strategy prompted a meta-analysis of relevant trials. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing liberal and restrictive transfusion strategies in anemic MI patients. Primary outcomes were recurrent MI and death/MI, while secondary outcomes included stroke, revascularization, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. Due to the limited trials, we utilized the Paul-Mendele method with Hartung Knapp adjustment. RESULTS: Involving 2155 patients with liberal transfusion and 2170 with conservative transfusion across four RCTs, liberal transfusion did not significantly reduce MI (relative risk [RR] 0.85; 95 % CI 0.72 - 1.02, p = 0.07) or death/MI (RR 0.88; 95 % CI 0.45 - 1.71, p = 0.57). No significant differences were observed in all-cause mortality (RR 0.82; 95 % CI 0.25 - 2.68, p = 0.63), stroke (RR 0.89; 95 % CI 0.48 - 1.64, p = 0.50), revascularization (RR 0.93; 95 % CI 0.48 - 1.80, p = 0.68), or heart failure (RR 1.14; 95 % CI 0.04 - 28.84, p = 0.88). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis supports current medical guidelines, reinforcing the practice of limiting transfusions in acute MI patients to those with an Hb level of 7 or 8 g/dL. Liberal transfusion strategies did not show improved clinical outcomes.

Sex Differences in the Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Takotsubo Stress Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The incidence of takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy (TSCM) in males is low compared with females. Gender-based differences in clinical outcomes of TSCM are not well characterized. The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyze whether gender-based differences are observed in TSCM clinical outcomes. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library database, and Web of Science was performed from inception to June 20, 2022, for studies comparing the clinical outcomes between male and female patients with TSCM. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital all-cause mortality and cardiogenic shock. The secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, receipt of mechanical ventilation, intra-aortic balloon pump, occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia, and left ventricular thrombus. A random-effects model was used to calculate the risk ratios (RR) and confidence intervals (CI). Heterogenicity was assessed using the Higgins I2 index. Twelve observational studies involving 51,213 patients (4,869 males and 46,344 females) were included in the meta-analysis. Male gender was associated with statistically significant higher in-hospital all-cause mortality compared with females in patients with TSCM (RR 2.17, 95% CI 1.77 to 2.67, p <0.001). The rate of cardiogenic shock was significantly higher in males with TSCM compared with females (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.12, p <0.001). Our meta-analysis showed a difference in the clinical outcomes of TSCM between men and women. Male gender was associated with a two-fold greater in-hospital all-cause mortality risk compared with female gender. The higher mortality risk associated with male gender deserves further study, particularly whether it represents later recognition of the condition and disparities in treatments.

Plasma exchange for acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Plasma exchange (PE) is a promising therapeutic option in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the impact of PE on patient survival in these syndromes is unclear. We aimed to systematically investigate the use of PE in patients with ALF and ACLF compared with standard medical therapy (SMT). We searched PubMed/Embase/Cochrane databases to include all studies comparing PE versus SMT for patients ≥ 18 years of age with ALF and ACLF. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated by the Mantel-Haenszel method within a random-effect model. The primary outcome was 30-day survival for ACLF and ALF. Secondary outcomes were overall and 90-day survival for ALF and ACLF, respectively. Five studies, including 343 ALF patients (n = 174 PE vs. n = 169 SMT), and 20 studies, including 5,705 ACLF patients (n = 2,856 PE vs. n = 2,849 SMT), were analyzed. Compared with SMT, PE was significantly associated with higher 30-day (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06-1.87, p = 0.02) and overall (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.12-1.63, p = 0.002) survival in ALF patients. In ACLF, PE was also significantly associated with higher 30-day (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.22-1.52, p < 0.001) and 90-day (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.34, p < 0.001) survival. On subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials, results remained unchanged in ALF, but no differences in survival were found between PE and SMT in ACLF. In conclusion, PE is associated with improved survival in ALF and could improve survival in ACLF. PE may be considered in managing ALF and ACLF patients who are not liver transplant (LT) candidates or as a bridge to LT in otherwise eligible patients. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the survival benefit of PE in ACLF.

Cardiogenic Shock in Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Dynamic Mechanical Circulatory Support and Pathophysiology Illustration.

Nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) is a significant cause of cardiogenic shock (CS). We present a case of a 56-year-old previously healthy man who arrived with vague abdominal symptoms, over 2 weeks. Subsequently, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated over 12 hours, leading to cardiogenic shock categorized as Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) stage D. Echocardiography and right heart catheterization confirmed multiorgan failure secondary to severe cardiac dysfunction. Mechanical circulatory support was initiated using an Impella CP device 20 hours after admission due to ongoing deterioration. Considering refractory cardiogenic shock and within 24 hours, the patient received combined veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and Impella CP support (ECPElla). With gradual improvement in the patient's clinical status and organ function, successful weaning from VA ECMO to Impella 5.5 was achieved. Ultimately, the patient underwent a successful orthotopic heart and kidney transplantation, marking a significant milestone in his recovery. The case underscores the importance of promptly identifying and responding to cardiogenic shock through invasive hemodynamic assessment. Collaborative decision-making involving a multidisciplinary team played a crucial role in the initiation, escalation, and eventual weaning of mechanical circulatory support, culminating in the successful bridging to a dual organ transplantation for this patient with CS secondary to NICM.

Endoscopic Versus Conservative Therapy for Bleeding Peptic Ulcer with Adherent Clot: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Peptic ulcers with adherent clots are associated with a high-risk of rebleeding and mortality. However, the optimal management of bleeding ulcers with adherent clots remains unclear. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare endoscopic therapy and conservative therapy to manage bleeding ulcers with adherent clots. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases through October 2022 to include all studies comparing the endoscopic and conservative therapeutic approaches for bleeding ulcers with adherent clots. Our primary outcome was rebleeding (overall and 30-day). The secondary outcomes were mortality (overall and 30-day), need for surgery, and length of hospital stay (LOS). The random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with the corresponding confidence intervals (CI) for proportional and continuous variables, respectively. RESULTS: Eleven studies (9 RCTs) with 833 patients (431 received endoscopic therapy vs. 402 received conservative therapy) were included. Overall, endoscopic therapy was associated with lower overall rebleeding (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.79, P = 0.007), 30-day rebleeding (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.89, P = 0.002), overall mortality (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95, P = 0.04), 30-day mortality (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.89, P = 0.002), need for surgery (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.95, P = 0.04), and LOS (MD - 3.17 days, 95% CI - 4.14, - 2.19, P < 0.00001). However, subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed no significant difference in overall mortality (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.24-2.52, P = 0.68) between the two strategies, with numerically lower but statistically non-significant rates of overall rebleeding (7.2% vs. 18.5%, respectively; OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.17-1.05, P = 0.06), statistically lower rate of need for surgery (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.08-0.96, P = 0.04) with endoscopic therapy compared to conservative therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that endoscopic therapy was overall associated with lower rates of rebleeding (overall and 30-day), mortality (overall and 30-day), need for surgery, and LOS, compared to conservative therapy for the management of bleeding ulcers with adherent clots. However, subgroup analysis of RCTs showed that endoscopic therapy was associated with numerically lower but statistically non-significant rates of overall rebleeding and a statistically lower rate of need for surgery compared to conservative therapy with similar overall mortality rates. Combined treatment with thermal therapy and injection therapy was the most effective treatment modality in reducing rebleeding risk. Further large-scale RCTs are needed to validate our findings.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Peripheral Vascular Disease Admissions Using a Nationally Representative Sample.

Our study aimed to identify clinical outcomes and resource utilization associated with race and ethnicity in patients admitted with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) across the United States. We queried the National Inpatient Sample database from 2015 to 2019 and identified 622,820 patients admitted with PVD. Patients across 3 major race and ethnic categories were compared in terms of baseline characteristics, inpatient outcomes, and resource utilization. Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to be younger and of the lowest median income but incur higher total hospital costs. Black race predicted higher rates of acute kidney injury, need for blood transfusion, and need for vasopressor but lower rates of circulatory shock, and mortality. Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to undergo limb-salvaging procedures and more likely to undergo amputation than White patients. In conclusion, our findings indicate that Black and Hispanic patients experience health disparities in resource utilization and inpatient outcomes for PVD admissions.

Body Mass Index and Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Retrospective Observational Study.

The influence of body mass index (BMI) on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) outcomes has been the focus of several previous studies. In this study, we examined the relationship between BMI and various clinical outcomes following TAVR procedures. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using a large cohort of patients who underwent TAVR. In this study, we identified patients who underwent Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the year 2020. Procedure Classification System (ICD-10-PCS) codes were used to identify TAVR cases. The weighted final study sample included 77319 TAVR hospitalizations. Patients were categorized into 5 groups based on their Body Mass Index (BMI. Our findings revealed that there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality among different BMI groups when compared to patients with a normal BMI (20 to 24.9). patients with a BMI of 25 or higher demonstrated a statistically significant shorter duration of hospitalization compared to those with a normal BMI. patients with a BMI ranging between 30 and 39.9 exhibited decreased hospitalization costs when compared to patients with a normal BMI. Moreover, our study revealed a decrease in atrial fibrillation, acute heart failure and acute kidney injury complications following TAVR in patients with above-normal BMI. Despite similar in-hospital mortality across BMI groups, having a BMI of 25 or greater is associated with improved immediate outcomes following TAVR. These benefits in overweight and obese patients are consistent with findings described in recent literature. Further studies are warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of these associations, as well as to optimize patient selection and management strategies for TAVR procedures.

Outcomes of Heart Failure Related Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND:  The incidence and prevalence of heart failure (HF) in the United States has steadily increased in the past few decades. Similarly, the United States has experienced an increase in HF-related hospitalizations which has added to the burden of a resource-stretched healthcare system. With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, hospitalizations due to the COVID-19 infection sky-rocketed further exacerbating the burden on both patient health and the healthcare system. The focus of this study is to examine how a secondary COVID-19 diagnosis affects the outcome of HF patients, and how a pre-existing diagnosis of heart failure impacts the outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study of adult patients hospitalized with heart failure and COVID-19 infection in the United States in the years 2019 and 2020. Analysis was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database of the Healthcare Utilization Project (HCUP). The total number of patients included in this study from the NIS database 2020 was 94,745. Of those, 93,798 had heart failure without a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19; 947 had heart failure along with a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19. The primary outcome of our study was in-hospital mortality, length of stay, total hospital charges and time from admission to right heart catheterization, which were compared between the two cohorts.  Results: Our main study findings are that mortality in HF patients with secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 infection was not statistically different compared to those who were without a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19. Our study findings also showed that length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs in HF patients who had a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 were not statistically different compared to those who did not have the secondary diagnosis. Time from admission to right heart catheterization (RHC) in HF patients who had a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 was shorter in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but not in heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared to those without secondary diagnoses of COVID-19. Finally, when evaluating hospital outcomes for patients admitted with COVID-19 infection, we found that inpatient mortality increased significantly when they had a pre-existing diagnosis of heart failure. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted hospitalization outcomes for patients admitted with heart failure. The time from admission to right heart catheterization was significantly shorter in patients admitted with heart failure reduced ejection fraction who also had a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. When evaluating hospital outcomes for patients admitted with COVID-19 infection, we found that inpatient mortality increased significantly when they had a pre-existing diagnosis of heart failure. Length of hospital stay and hospital charges also were higher for patients with COVID-19 infection who had pre-existing heart failure. Further studies should focus not just on how medical comorbidities like COVID-19 infection, affect outcomes of heart failure but also on how overall strains on the healthcare system, such as pandemics, may affect the management of conditions such as heart failure.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism: A Review.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death in the United States. Appropriate risk stratification is an important component of the initial evaluation for acute management of these patients. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in the risk stratification of patients with PE. In this literature review, we describe the current strategies in risk stratification of patients with PE using echocardiography and the role of echocardiography in the diagnosis of PE.