Safety and efficacy of early beta-blocker initiation in acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The beta-blocker (BB) initiation in acute heart failure (AHF) patients is still controversial. Some show the benefit of BB employment in decreasing the mortality outcome. This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of in-hospital and long-term outcomes of BB initiation in AHF hospitalized patients. We searched multiple databases examining the outcome of AHF patients who had administered BB as the therapy initiation. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, composite endpoint after BB initiation when hospitalized, and post-discharge all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were adverse events after in-hospital BB initiation, including hypotension and symptomatic bradycardia after BB initiation when hospitalization and rehospitalization. RESULTS: Eight cohort studies with 16,639 patients suffering from AHF and cardiogenic shock, with 9923 participants allocated to the early BB group and 6,713 patients in the control group. The follow-up durations ranged from 2 to 24 months. Early BB administration significantly reduced in-hospital composite endpoints (RR: 0.42; 95% CI (0.30-0.58); p < 0.001), in-hospital all-cause mortality (RR: 0.43; 95% CI (0.31-0.61); p < 0.001), discharge mortality (RR: 0.51; 95% CI (0.41-0.63); p < 0.001), and rehospitalization (RR: 0.57; 95% CI (0.44-0.74); p < 0.001). There were no discernible differences in in-hospital BB-related adverse events between the two groups (p = 0.13). Subgroup analyses conducted on AHF patients presenting with cardiogenic shock revealed no significant differences in in-hospital composite endpoint and in-hospital mortality, and similar results were shown in the naive BB population. CONCLUSIONS: The BB initiation in AHF patients shows advantages in efficacy and safety outcome.

Prognostic values of right ventricular echocardiography functional parameters for mortality prediction in precapillary pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic prognostic indicators of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) mortality has been inconclusive. This study aims to examine the prognostic values of right ventricular echocardiographic functional parameters in predicting precapillary PH mortality. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted in the ScienceDirect, Medline, and Cochrane databases for longitudinal studies. Assessments included means and hazard ratios (HRs) for Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE), Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure (RVSP), Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain (RVLS), Right Ventricular Fractional Area Change (RVFAC), Right Ventricular Ejection Fraction (RVEF), and Right Ventricular Index of Myocardial Performance (RIMP). RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 24 cohort studies comprising 2171 participants. Mean values were as follows: TAPSE 17.62 mm, RVSP 77.50 mmHg, RVLS - 16.78%, RVFAC 29.81%, RVEF 37.56%, and RIMP 0.52. TAPSE (HR: 1.28; 95% CI 1.17-1.40; p < 0.001), RVLS (HR: 1.74; 95% CI 1.34-2.26; p < 0.001), RVFAC (HR: 1.40; 95% CI 1.13-1.75; p < 0.001), RVEF (HR: 1.08; 95% CI 1.02-1.15; p = 0.01), and RIMP (HR: 1.51; 95% CI 1.23-1.86; p < 0.001) emerged as significant prognosticators of precapillary PH mortality, with the exception of RVSP (HR: 1.04; 95% CI 0.99-1.09; p = 0.14). TAPSE summary receiver operating characteristics (sROC) analysis yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 [95% CI 0.81-0.88] with a sensitivity of 0.81 [95% CI 0.63-0.91] and a specificity of 0.74 [95% CI 0.54-0.87]. RVLS sROC resulted in an AUC of 0.74 [95% CI 0.70-0.78] with a sensitivity of 0.74 [95% CI 0.57-0.86] and a specificity of 0.69 [95% CI 0.64-0.75]. CONCLUSIONS: TAPSE, RVLS, RVFAC, RVEF, and RIMP demonstrated promise as valuable prognostic indicators for precapillary PH mortality.

Efficacy of single high-dose statin prior to percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The impacts of single high-dose statin preloading in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have not been fully examined. This study aims to evaluate post-procedure impacts of single high-dose statin pretreatment with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The meta-analysis reviewed Cochrane, PubMed, and Medline databases for studies comparing single high-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin to placebo in ACS patients undergoing PCI. The primary endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, and target vessel revascularization (TVR) at three months. Secondary endpoints examined were the TIMI flow grade 3 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RESULTS: Comprehensive analysis was conducted on fifteen RCTs, encompassing a total of 6,207 patients (3090 vs 3117 patients). The pooled results demonstrated that a single high-dose of statin administered prior to PCI led to a significant decrease in the incidence of MACE at three months post-PCI compared to the control group (OR 0.50, 95%CI 0.35-0.71, p = 0.0001). The occurrence of MI (OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.42-0.77, p = 0.0002), all-cause mortality (OR 0.56, 95%CI 0.39-0.81, p = 0.0002), and TVR (OR 0.56, 95%CI 0.35-0.92, p = 0.02) was significantly lower in the statin single high-dose group compared to the control group. No significant effects on TIMI flow grade 3 (OR 1.20, 95%CI 0.94-1.53, p = 0.14) or left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 2.19, 95%CI - 0.97 to 5.34, p = 0.17) were observed. Subgroup analysis demonstrated reduced incidence of MACE with a single dose of 80 mg atorvastatin (OR 0.66, 95%CI 0.54-0.81, p < 0.0001) and 40 mg rosuvastatin (OR 0.19, 95%CI 0.07-0.54, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Single high-dose statin before PCI in patients with ACS significantly reduces MACE, MI, all-cause mortality, and TVR three months post-PCI.

Complications and Efficacies of Surgical Versus Transcatheter Closure for Pediatric Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: A Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal approach for pediatric ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure remains uncertain. This study aims to assess complications and efficacies of surgical and transcatheter closures. METHODS: Systematic search in Medline, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases identified cohort studies until July 2023. Complications, length of hospital stay, and efficacy outcomes were evaluated. Subgroup analyses considered ethnicity, ASD size, age, and rim deficiency involvement. RESULTS: Fourteen cohort studies involving 9695 patients were comprehensively analyzed. Regarding complications, the pediatric patients in the surgery group exhibited higher occurrences of cardiac arrhythmia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.87, p=0.004), pericardial effusion (OR: 14.80, 95% CI: 6.97-31.43, p<0.00001), and pulmonary complications (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.73-3.85, p<0.00001) compared with those in the transcatheter group. However, no significant difference in fever incidence was observed (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 0.90-7.34, p=0.08). Furthermore, length of hospital stay was notably shorter in the pediatric transcatheter group (mean difference [MD]: 4.00, 95% CI: 1.71-6.29, p=0.0006). Regarding efficacies, both groups demonstrated similar rates of successful closure (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 0.56-6.92, p=0.29) and residual shunting (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.17-1.77, p=0.31) in the pediatric cohort. Subgroup analyses revealed that surgical residual shunting was notably lower in the European pediatric population (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07-0.45, p=0.0002), in cases with ASD size exceeding 15 mm (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.08-0.49, p=0.0006), and in pediatric patients younger than 8 years (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.92, p=0.03). Interestingly, residual shunting involving complex ASD with rim deficiency was more pronounced in the surgery group (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.33-5.32, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Both surgical and transcatheter closures are equally effective, with transcatheter closure showing significantly fewer complications. CLINICAL IMPACT: This meta-analysis offers pivotal insights for clinicians grappling with the optimal approach to pediatric ostium secundum ASD closure. The observed higher incidence of cardiac arrhythmias, pericardial effusions, and pulmonary complications in surgical closures underscores the challenges associated with this modality. In contrast, transcatheter closure, with its comparable efficacy and shorter hospital stays, emerges as an appealing and less invasive alternative. These findings equip clinicians with evidence to make informed decisions, optimizing patient outcomes. Subgroup analyses further refine recommendations, emphasizing tailored considerations for European pediatric patients, larger ASDs, and those under 8 years old, ultimately fostering personalized and improved care strategies.

P-wave peak time and P-wave dispersion in surface electrocardiography as initial predictors of new-onset atrial fibrillation in early-onset hypertension.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in hypertension, and electrophysiological remodelling may contribute to the early stage of the disease. This study aimed to develop electrocardiography (ECG) prediction models on new-onset AF (NAF) in early-onset hypertension (e-HTN). This matched case-control study included primary hypertension patients with onset <5 years defined as e-HTN and without documented AF. Developed NAF was the risk group and non-developed NAF was control group with 1:2 ratio. Group was matched according to age, gender, follow-up time, and duration of hypertension. Parameters of ECG and echocardiography between the groups at the baseline and end of follow-up will be compared. A total of 348 e-HTN with 116 developed NAF during follow-up (60.2 ± 14.5 months) were included. At baseline ECG, duration of QRS (100.84 ms ± 15.69 ms vs 94.80 ms ± 15.68 ms), Pmax (106.75 ms ± 7.93 ms vs 101.77 ms ± 6.78 ms), Pmin (70.24 ms ± 5.59 ms vs 68.17 ms ± 5.61 ms), P-wave dispersion (PD) (36.50 ms ± 5.25 ms vs 33.60 ms ± 5.46 ms), P-wave Peak Time (PWPT) II (62.01 ms ± 3.92 ms vs 54.29 ms ± 6.73 ms), and PWPT V1 (55.31 ms ± 2.89 ms vs 51.24 ms ± 4.05 ms) were significantly higher in developed NAF (all P-value < 0.05). LVMI was also significantly higher in bivariate analysis, but only Pmax, Pmin, PD, PWPT, non-RAAS inhibitor, and uncontrolled hypertension were independently associated with developed NAF. Baseline PWPT II with cut-off ≥57.9 ms and PD ≥ 35.5 ms has high sensitivity and specificity on NAF prediction. In conclusion, baseline PWPT and PD are potential electrophysiological parameters for predicting NAF in e-HTN.

Therapeutic target and clinical impact of day-to-day blood pressure variability in hypertensive patients with covid-19.

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is essential in hypertensive patients and is frequently associated with organ damage. As of today, hypertension is still the most common comorbidity in COVID-19, but the impact of BPV and the therapeutic target of BPV on outcomes in COVID-19 patients with hypertension remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between BPV and severity of COVID-19, in-hospital mortality, hypertensive status, and efficacy of antihypertensives in suppressing hypertensive covid-19 patient BPV. This cohort retrospective study enrolled 351 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Subjects were classified according to the severity of COVID-19, the presence of hypertension, and their BPV status. During hospitalization, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and BPV was calculated as the coefficient of variation of MAP (MAPCV). MAPCV values above the median were defined as high BPV. In addition, we compared the hypertensive status, COVID-19 severity, in-hospital mortality, and antihypertensive agents between the BPV groups. The mean age was 53.85 ± 18.84 years old. Hypertension was significantly associated with high BPV with prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.38 (95% CI = 1.13-1.70; p = 0.003) or severe COVID-19 (PR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.09-1.76; p = 0.005). In laboratory findings, high BPV group had lower Albumin, higher WBC, serum Cr, CRP, and creatinine to albumin ratio. High BPV status also significantly increased risk of mortality (HR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.73-3.86; p < 0.001). Patients with a combination of severe COVID-19 status, hypertension, and high BPV status had the highest risk of in-hospital mortality (HR = 3.51; 95% CI = 2.32-4.97; p < 0.001) compared to other combination status groups. In COVID-19 patients with hypertension, combination therapy with calcium channel blockers (CCB) as well as CCB monotherapy significantly develop low BPV (PR = 2.002; 95 CI% = 1.33-3.07; p = 0.004) and low mortality (HR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.05-0.56; p = 0.004). Hypertensive status and severe COVID-19 were significantly associated with high BPV, and these factors increased in-hospital mortality. CCBs might be antihypertensive agents that potentially effectively suppressing BPV and mortality in COVID-19 patients.