The Impact of the Withdrawal of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: The clinical impact of the withdrawal of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on all-cause readmission in patients with heart failure remains unknown. Methods: We enrolled a total of 212 consecutive patients who were hospitalized for heart failure and received SGLT2i during their index hospitalization between February 2016 and July 2022. Of these patients, 51 terminated SGLT2i during or after their index hospitalization. We evaluated the prognostic impact of the withdrawal of SGLT2i on the primary outcome, which was defined as the all-cause readmission rate/times. Results: Over a median of 23.2 months, all-cause readmission occurred in 38 out of 51 patients (74.5%) withdrawn from SGLT2i and 93 out of 161 patients (57.8%) with continuation of SGLT2i (p = 0.099). The incidence of all-cause readmissions per year was 0.97 [0-1.50] in patients withdrawn from SGLT2i and 0.50 [0-1.03] in patients with continuation of SGLT2i (p = 0.030). There was no significant difference in total medical costs (62,906 [502-187,246] versus 29,236 [7920-180,305] JPY per month, p = 0.866) between both patient groups. Conclusions: Termination of SGLT2i may be associated with incremental all-cause readmission and no benefit in reducing total medical costs.

Prognostic impact of insomnia in patients receiving trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The presence of insomnia exhibits a profound association with diverse cardiovascular pathologies. However, its prognostic implications in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis remain ambiguous. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent TAVR for severe aortic stenosis at a prominent academic center from 2015 to 2022. The impact of insomnia, operationally defined as the prescription of soporific agents, on the two-year composite primary outcome comprising all-cause mortality and hospital readmissions was scrutinized. RESULTS: A cohort of 345 patients (median age 85 years, 99 males) was encompassed in the analysis. All subjects underwent successful TAVR and subsequent discharge. The presence of insomnia (N = 91) emerged as an independent predictor of the two-year composite endpoint, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.66 (95 % confidence interval 1.08-2.57, p = 0.022), significantly delineating the two-year cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint (40 % versus 30 %, p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Approximately one-fourth of TAVR candidates manifested symptoms of insomnia, a condition autonomously correlated with heightened mortality and morbidity following the TAVR procedure. The optimal strategy for addressing insomnia in TAVR candidates constitutes a paramount consideration for future interventions.

Paradoxical prognostic impact of severe aortic stenosis following trans-catheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve replacement is recommended for patients with "very severe" aortic stenosis (AS), irrespective of symptomatic manifestation. Nonetheless, the prognostic ramifications of "very severe" AS, as opposed to "severe" AS, subsequent to trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remain enigmatic. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients who received TAVI at our institute between May 2015 and April 2021. We scrutinized the impact of baseline "very severe" AS upon 3-year all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization following TAVI, in comparison to "severe" AS. RESULTS: A total of 239 patients (84.8 ±â€¯5.4 years old, 58 men) were included. Baseline "very severe" AS was observed in 65 (27 %) patients, who exhibited more advanced hypertrophy and higher B-type natriuretic peptide levels compared to those with "severe" AS (p < 0.05 for both). Baseline "very severe" AS was paradoxically associated with higher freedom from the primary endpoint following TAVI compared to those with "severe" AS (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of baseline "very severe" AS was paradoxically associated with improved clinical outcomes subsequent to TAVI, in contrast to the cases of "severe" AS.

Predictive Factors of Cardiac Mortality Following TEER in Patients with Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has emerged as a viable approach to addressing substantial secondary mitral regurgitation. In the contemporary landscape where ultimate heart failure-specific therapies, such as cardiac replacement modalities, are available, prognosticating a high-risk cohort susceptible to early cardiac mortality post-TEER is pivotal for formulating an effective therapeutic regimen. Methods: Our study encompassed individuals with secondary mitral regurgitation and chronic heart failure enlisted in the multi-center (Optimized CathEter vAlvular iNtervention (OCEAN)-Mitral registry. We conducted an assessment of baseline variables associated with cardiac death within one year following TEER. Results: Amongst the 1517 patients (median age: 78 years, 899 males), 101 experienced cardiac mortality during the 1-year observation period after undergoing TEER. Notably, a history of heart failure-related admissions within the preceding year, utilization of intravenous inotropes, and elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels emerged as independent prognosticators for the primary outcome (p < 0.05 for all). Subsequently, we devised a novel risk-scoring system encompassing these variables, which significantly stratified the cumulative incidence of the 1-year primary outcome (16%, 8%, and 4%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study culminated in the development of a new risk-scoring system aimed at predicting 1-year cardiac mortality post-TEER.

Prognostic impact of residual pulmonary congestion assessed by remote dielectric sensing system in patients admitted for heart failure.

AIMS: Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) represents a contemporary non-invasive technique reliant on electromagnetic energy to quantify pulmonary congestion. Its prognostic significance within the context of heart failure (HF) patients remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the prognostic implications of residual pulmonary congestion, as gauged by the ReDS system, among patients admitted due to congestive HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled hospitalized HF patients who underwent ReDS assessments upon admission and discharge in a blinded manner, independent of attending physicians. We evaluated the prognostic impact of the ReDS ratio between admission and discharge on the primary outcome, which encompassed all-cause mortality and HF-related re-hospitalizations. A cohort of 133 patients (median age 78 [72, 84] years, 78 male [59%]) was included. Over a median observation period of 363 days post-index discharge, an escalated ReDS group (ReDS ratio > 100%), determined through statistical calculation, emerged as an independent predictor of the primary outcome, exhibiting an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.37 (95% confidence interval 1.13-16.81, P = 0.032). The cumulative incidence of the primary outcome was notably higher in the increased ReDS group compared with the decreased ReDS group (50.1% vs. 8.5%, P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated ReDS ratios detected during the index hospitalization could serve as a promising prognostic indicator in HF patients admitted for treatment. The clinical ramifications of ReDS-guided HF management warrant validation in subsequent studies.

Prognostic impact of elevated erythropoietin levels in patients with severe aortic stenosis receiving trans-catheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Elevated endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) levels are associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). The clinical implication of endogenous EPO levels in patients undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) beyond other conventional risk factors remains unknown. METHODS: Consecutive patients with EPO measurements who underwent TAVI for the treatment of their severe aortic stenosis at our institute between May 2015 and December 2020 were included. The association between the endogenous EPO levels and the primary outcome consisting of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 263 patients (85.1 ±â€¯5.1 years old, 74 men) were included and tertiled according to the baseline EPO levels. The high EPO group had more advanced anemia, renal impairment, and hypoalbuminemia than the other two tertiled groups (p < 0.05 for both). Patients with high EPO had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of the primary outcomes compared to the other two groups (p = 0.002) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 6.0 (95 % confidence interval 1.9-18.1) in its logarithmic value (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated baseline EPO levels were independently associated with mortality and morbidity following TAVI. The clinical implication of aggressive intervention on the elevated EPO levels in this cohort remains the next concern.

Trajectory of pulmonary congestion during TAVR.

Patients with severe aortic stenosis often experience pulmonary congestion due to incremental afterload. The trajectory of pulmonary fluid volume during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains uncertain. Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) is a recently introduced device for non-invasive quantification of lung fluid volume without expert techniques. We evaluated the trajectory of ReDS values during TAVR and its prognostic implications. Patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent ReDS measurements upon admission and at the index discharge after TAVR between 2021 and 2022 were eligible. They were followed up until August 2023. The primary focus was on the trajectory of ReDS values during TAVR, with secondary consideration given to its impact on the composite of death or all-cause readmission after TAVR. A total of 57 patients were included. Median age was 84 years and 24 were male. ReDS value remained unchanged after TAVR, changing from 27% (IQR 24%, 29%) to 26% (IQR 24%, 30%) (p = 0.65). ReDS value did not decrease in 23 (40%) patients. The presence of coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation were associated with no decrease in ReDS value. This lack of decrease in ReDS value was linked to death or all-cause readmission after TAVR, with an age-adjusted hazard ratio of 3.40 (95% confidence interval 1.01-11.4, p = 0.048). The degree of lung fluid amount did not decrease in 40% of TAVR candidates during the procedure. The lack of decrease in lung fluid amount was associated with mortality and morbidity after TAVR. The next concern is to establish therapeutic strategy for patients with residual pulmonary congestion after TAVR.

Cardio-Splenic Relationship in Patients Receiving Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The spleen seems to be a significant buffer of the effective circulating blood volume by changing its size dramatically according to hemodynamics. The cardio-splenic relationship has been recently proposed in the literature regarding heart failure cohorts, and the splenic size has been proposed as a prognostic factor in these cohorts. However, the clinical implication of the splenic size in patients receiving trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unknown. METHODS: Patients who underwent TAVR at our institute between 2015 and 2022 were eligible. Of these, the patients whose abdominal computed tomography imaging was obtained before TAVR were included. The volume of the spleen was measured in all the participants. The prognostic impact of the indexed splenic volume (SVI) on the 2-year cardiac death or heart failure readmissions was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 343 patients (86 years, 98 males) were included. The median value of the peak velocity at the aortic valve was 4.4 (4.0, 4.8) m/s and the median SVI was 65.5 (48.9, 86.9) mL/m2. A lower SVI tended to be associated with a lower cardiac output, whereas a higher SVI was associated with a higher plasma volume. The SVI was independently associated with the 2-year cardiac death or heart failure readmission after TAVR with a hazard ratio of 1.09 (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.18, p = 0.041), adjusted for potential confounders. A calculated cutoff of SVI was 70.2 mL/m2, which significantly stratified the cumulative incidence of the primary outcome (10% versus 4%, p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: A high baseline SVI, which was associated with systemic congestion, was associated with a higher incidence of cardiac death or heart failure readmission after TAVR. Further studies are warranted to clarify the detailed cardio-splenic relationship and implication of measuring the SVI in this cohort.

Prognostic Implication of Intestinal Wall Edema in Patients with Aortic Stenosis Receiving Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: A recently proposed mechanism, the intestinal-cardiovascular relationship, serves as a framework to elucidate the interplay between these two systems. In our investigation, we assessed the prognostic implications of colon wall thickness, a marker correlated with intestinal congestion and dysfunction, in patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR at our institution during the period spanning 2015 to 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. As part of the institutional protocol, patients underwent abdominal computed tomography upon admission, preceding TAVR. Our analysis aimed to assess the influence of colon wall thickness on the occurrence of either all-cause mortality or readmission due to heart failure within a two-year period. RESULTS: A total of 345 patients were included. The median age was 85 (82, 88) years, and 99 patients were male. Baseline colon wall thickness was distributed widely, with a median value of 2.2 (2.0, 2.5) mm. Patients with thicker colon walls tended to have lower pulmonary artery pulsatility index values, indicating more impaired right ventricular function and more advanced malnutrition. A thicker colon wall was independently associated with 2-year death or heart failure readmission with a hazard ratio of 2.02 (95% confidence interval 1.01-14.07), adjusted for hemoglobin, age, and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels (p = 0.049), and significantly stratified the primary endpoint at a cutoff of 2.7 mm (25% versus 10%, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our initial observation revealed that a thicker baseline colon wall correlated with increased rates of mid-term mortality and readmission due to heart failure subsequent to TAVR. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causality necessitates further in-depth investigations through subsequent studies.

Association Between Remote Dielectric Sensing and Body Mass Index.

Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) is a non-invasive, electromagnetic energy-based technology to quantify pulmonary congestion. However, the accuracy of ReDS values in patients with a variety of physiques has not been fully validated.Prospective successive measurements of ReDS values and body mass index (BMI) were performed on admission in consecutive hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases. Patients were stratified into 4 groups according to the WHO classification: underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24.9), pre-obese (25.0 ≤ BMI < 29.9), and obese (30.0 ≤ BMI). The indexed ReDS value was defined as a ReDS value divided by the modified congestion score index (the severity of pulmonary congestion on chest X-ray). The indexed ReDS values were compared among the 4 stratified groups.A total of 436 patients (76 [69, 82] years old and 254 men) were included. The median indexed ReDS values were 21.3 (19.1, 23.8), 25.7 (21.0, 29.5), 25.7 (20.3, 31.0), and 28.0 (21.1, 34.0) in underweight, normal weight, pre-obese, and obese patients, respectively, highlighting the underweight group had the lowest values (P < 0.001).ReDS values may be underestimated and specific caution should be paid in its interpretation in underweight patients.

Mid-Term Feasibility of Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Elderly Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) therapy using the WATCHMAN system has been introduced to prevent thrombosis and minimize the use of anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Given the high risk of bleeding and stroke in elderly patients, these patients would be good candidates for this therapy. However, the efficacy and feasibility of LAAO therapy in elderly patients remains uncertain. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent LAAO therapy using the WATCHMAN system in a large academic center between June 2020 and March 2023 were included. The safety and efficacy of LAAO therapy during the 1-year observation period in patients aged ≥85 years old were compared with those in the younger cohort. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients (78.4 ± 6.9 years old, 133 male patients) were included. 34 patients were ≥85 years old, 96 were between 75 and 84 years old, and 58 were <75 years old. The elderly group had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score and were at greater risk of falling-related bleeding compared with the younger cohort. The device implantations were successful in all patients except for one. During the 1-year observation period, one patient had a peri-device leak >5 mm and there were 6 device-related cases of thrombosis, whose incidence was not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.98). The cumulative incidences of bleeding and thrombotic events in the elderly group were as low as in the younger cohort (p > 0.05 for both). Most anticoagulants were terminated regardless of age. CONCLUSION: The mid-term feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous LAAO therapy using the WATCHMAN system in elderly patients aged ≥85 years were as acceptable as in the younger cohort.

Prognostic Impact of Modified H2FPEF Score in Patients Receiving Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: H2FPEF is a recently introduced score for the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Many patients with severe aortic stenosis have clinical/subclinical HFpEF and have worsening heart failure even after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We investigated the prognostic impact of the H2FPEF score in TAVR candidates. METHODS: Patients undergoing TAVR procedures at a single academic center between 2015 and 2022 were included. The H2FPEF score was calculated using baseline characteristics before TAVR. The prognostic impact of the score on the post-TAVR composite endpoint, consisting of all-cause death and heart failure readmissions during the 2-year observation period, was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients (median age 86 years, 70 males) were included. The median value of H2FPEF score was 3 (2, 4). The score was significantly associated with the primary outcome with a hazard ratio of 1.33 (95% confidence interval 1.02-1.74, p = 0.036). We constructed a modified H2FPEF score by adjusting cutoffs of several items for better prognostic stratification (i.e., age and body mass index). A modified score had a higher area under the curve than the original one (0.65 vs. 0.59, p = 0.028) and was independently associated with the primary outcome with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.22 (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.49, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: A modified H2FPEF score, which was originally developed to diagnose the presence of HFpEF, could be used to risk-stratify elderly patients receiving TAVR. The clinical utility of this score should be validated in future studies.

Prognostic Impact of the Increase in Cardiac Troponin Levels during Tafamidis Therapy in Patients with Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that tafamidis (Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA) reduced all-cause mortality and the number of cardiovascular hospitalizations compared with placebo in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. However, the optimal surrogate markers during tafamidis treatment remain unknown. METHODS: Consecutive patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis who received tafamidis in our institute between May 2019 and December 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. The prognostic impact of an increase in troponin I levels during tafamidis therapy was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients (median age 77 years, 84% male) were included. For 14-month tafamidis therapy on median, cardiac troponin I levels increased in five patients. The cumulative incidence of all-cause hospitalization was significantly higher in the troponin-increased group than in the others (100% versus 33%, p < 0.0001). Troponin increase was independently associated with the cumulative incidence of all-cause hospitalization with an adjusted hazard ratio of 5.14 (95% confidence interval 1.02-25.9, p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in cardiac troponin levels may be a reasonable surrogate marker of response to tafamidis therapy in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

Feasibility and Efficacy of Exercise Training Concomitant with Re-Assessment of Medical Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure Receiving Intravenous Inotropes.

Exercise training in addition to re-assessment of medical treatments is recommended for patients with advanced heart failure. However, the feasibility and efficacy of exercise training in patients with heart failure receiving intravenous inotropes remains uncertain.Clinical data were analyzed from consecutive patients with stabilized hemodynamics receiving intravenous inotropes for more than 1 week and undergoing cardiac rehabilitation at our institute between February 2020 and May 2022. All patients received re-assessment of guideline-directed medical therapy and non-pharmacological treatment, in addition to the exercise therapy. The intensity of exercise training was determined based on the results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing.A total of 10 patients receiving intravenous inotropes (median age 60 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 23%) were included. All patients received low-dose dobutamine and 4 patients received concomitant milrinone. Exercise training was continued for 112 days on median without any critical complications. Intravenous inotropes were continued for 41 days on median and weaned off in all patients. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide decreased slightly from 291 (129, 526) to 177 (54, 278) pg/mL (P = 0.070) and peak oxygen consumption increased from 10.0 (8.3, 15.3) to 15.2 (10.9, 17.2) mL/kg/minute (P = 0.142) during the 6-month observational period following the initiation of exercise intervention.Exercise training might be feasible and effective in patients with advanced heart failure receiving low-dose intravenous inotrope support concomitant with re-assessment of medical treatment.

Prognostic impact of remote dielectric sensing value following TAVR.

Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) system non-invasively quantifies pulmonary congestion. Re-admission following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains an unsolved matter. Residual pulmonary congestion is a strong risk factor of worse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure. ReDS system may have a prognostic impact in patients undergoing TAVR. Patients who received TAVR and ReDS measurements during index hospitalization between 2021 and 2022 were included. The prognostic impact of ReDS value on the composite endpoint of death or re-admission following index discharge was investigated. Totally, 42 patients (median 84 years, 14 men) were included. Median ReDS value at index discharge was 27% (24%, 30%) and 10 patients had ReDS values > 30%. During a median of 316 (282, 354) days following index discharge, a higher ReDS value at baseline was independently associated with the incidence of composite endpoint with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.32 (95% confidence interval between 1.10 and 1.58) with a calculated cutoff of 30%, which significantly stratified the cumulative incidence of the composite endpoint (78% in the high ReDS group [N = 10] and 36% in the normal ReDS group [N = 32], p = 0.002). ReDS technology may be a promising tool to predict future clinical outcomes following TAVR by quantifying residual pulmonary congestion. The clinical implication of ReDS-guided aggressive intervention following TAVR remains the next concern.

Negative Prognostic Impact of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist in Elderly Patients Receiving TAVR.

Background: Morbidity and mortality following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain high. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors improve clinical outcomes in the cohort studied in this work. However, post-TAVR prognostic impact of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), another neuro-hormonal blocker, remains uncertain. Here, we hypothesized that MRA was associated with improved clinical outcomes in elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis receiving TAVR. METHODS: Consecutive patients who received TAVR at our institute between 2015 and 2022 were considered for inclusion. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to match pre-procedural baseline characteristics between those with and without MRA. The prognostic impact of MRA use on the composite primary endpoint consisting of all-cause death and heart failure during the 2-year observational period following index discharge was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 352 patients who received TAVR, 112 patients (median 86 years, 31 men) were included, consisting of baseline-matched 56 patients with MRA and 56 patients without MRA. Following TAVR, patients with MRA had more impaired renal function compared with no MRA group. Following index discharge, serum potassium tended to increase, and renal function tended to decline in patients with MRA. Patients with MRA had a higher cumulative incidence of the primary endpoints during a two-year observational period (30% versus 8%, p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Routine prescription of MRA might not be recommended in elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis receiving TAVR, given its negative prognostic impact. Optimal patient selection for MRA administration in this cohort needs further study.

Prognostic Impact of Psoas Muscle Mass Index following Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Psoas muscle mass is a recently featured index of sarcopenia, which has a negative prognostic impact in patients with a variety of diseases. We investigated the prognostic impact of baseline psoas muscle mass in patients receiving a trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: Patients who received TAVR at our center between 2015 and 2022 were included. Patients received computer tomography imaging upon admission as an institutional protocol, and psoas muscle mass was measured, which was indexed by body surface area. Patients were followed for four years or until January 2023. The prognostic impact of psoas muscle mass index on 4-year mortality following index discharge was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 322 patients (85 years, 95 male) were included. Median psoas muscle mass index at baseline was 10.9 (9.0, 13.5) × 10 cm3/m2. A lower psoas muscle mass index tended to be associated with several index of malnutrition and sarcopenia. A psoas muscle mass index was independently associated with 4-year mortality with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.79-0.99, p = 0.044). Patients with lower psoas muscle mass index (below the statistically calculated cutoff of 10.7 × 10 cm3/m2, N = 152) had significantly higher cumulative 4-year mortality compared with others (32% versus 13%, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: A lower psoas muscle mass index, which is a recently featured objective marker of sarcopenia, was associated with mid-term mortality following TAVR in the elderly cohort with severe aortic stenosis. The measurement of psoas muscle mass index prior to TAVR could have clinical implications for shared decision-making among patients, their relatives, and clinicians.

Combination Treatment of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty and Direct Oral Anticoagulant in a Patient with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Complicated by Protein S Deficiency.

Introduction: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a phenotype of pulmonary hypertension due to chronic and multiple organized thrombus. The therapeutic strategy for patients with CTEPH and comorbid protein S deficiency remains unknown due to its rarity. Case: We encountered a 49-year-old male patient with CTEPH and concomitant mild protein S deficiency (type III). We could successfully perform balloon pulmonary angioplasty without any major complications, including thromboembolism and bleeding, followed by standard-dose oral anticoagulation therapy instead of warfarin. Conclusion: A currently established standard therapeutic strategy for CTEPH, including pulmonary angioplasty, may be safe and effective even in patients with concomitant inherent coagulation abnormalities.

Association of remote dielectric sensing and six-minute walk distance among those with severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) is a novel non-invasive electromagnetic energy-incorporated technology to quantify lung fluid levels. The six-minute walk test is an established method to assess exercise capacity among those with a variety of chronic conditions related to heart and pulmonary diseases. We aimed to understand the association between ReDS value and six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in patients with severe aortic stenosis being evaluated for valve replacement. METHODS: Patients who were hospitalized to receive trans-catheter aortic valve replacement were prospectively included and simultaneous ReDS and 6MWD measurements were performed on admission. We attempted to correlate 6MWD with ReDS value. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients (median 85 years, 11 men) were included. Median 6MWD was 168 (133, 244) meters and median ReDS value was 26 % (23 %, 30 %). 6MWD displayed a moderate inverse correlation with ReDS value (r = -0.516, p = 0.008) and significantly distinguished ReDS value ≥30 %, representing mild or greater pulmonary congestion, at a cut-off of 170 m (sensitivity 0.67 and specificity 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: 6MWD had a moderate inverse correlation with ReDS values among candidates for trans-catheter aortic valve replacement, indicating that patients with shorter 6MWD had increased pulmonary congestion as assessed by ReDS system.

Prognostic Impact of Baseline Six-Minute Walk Distance following Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The six-minute walk test is a practical tool for assessing functional capacity in patients with a variety of etiologies including pulmonary disease and heart failure. Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) is associated with mortality and morbidity in patients with a variety of comorbidities. We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of baseline 6MWD in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: Patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent a six-minute walk test after index admission and underwent TAVR between 2015 and 2022 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were followed up for two years or until November 2022 following TAVR. The impact of baseline 6MWD on the primary composite outcome, defined as all-cause death and all-cause readmission during the 2-year observation period following index discharge, was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 299 patients (median age 86 years old, 85 men) were included. They received a 6-min walk test prior to TAVR, underwent successful TAVR procedures, and were discharged alive. The median baseline 6MWD was 204 (143, 282) meters. Shorter baseline 6MWD was associated with higher cumulative incidence of the primary outcome with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.58-1.01, p = 0.055) with a cutoff 6MWD of 178 m during the 2-year observation period after index discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, functional capacity was impaired in the elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis prior to TAVR. Patients with severe aortic stenosis having shorter baseline 6MWD tended to have higher rates of morbidity and mortality after successful TAVR. The clinical implication of aggressive cardiac rehabilitation to improve patients' functional capacity and 6MWD-guided optimal patient selection remain the future concerns.