An evidence review and gap analysis for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) have a substantial humanistic, clinical, and economic burden due to the array of symptoms and complications associated with the disease. The objective of this review was to identify key evidence gaps related to oHCM, specifically in Europe, North America, and Japan. METHODS: A targeted literature review was conducted using PubMed to identify English-language studies published between 2012 and 2022 assessing patients with HCM/oHCM in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), Canada, and Japan. Outcomes of interest were epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiology, management, and clinical, economic, and humanistic burden. Identified studies were assessed qualitatively to characterize evidence gaps. RESULTS: Among 2,262 abstracts and 531 full-text articles screened, 178 articles were included from PubMed searches. An additional 16 unique studies were identified via a supplemental Google Scholar search initially conducted in January 2023 and updated in July 2024. Disease natural history, pathophysiology, and management were well documented globally. Significant evidence gaps were noted for the epidemiology, treatment, and burden of oHCM. Although multiple US studies were identified on the clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of oHCM, and one clinical burden study was found for Japan, there was a lack of evidence for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Canada. CONCLUSIONS: Major evidentiary gaps exist for the epidemiology, treatment, and burden of oHCM. Future research should address these gaps, with a specific focus on generating real-world evidence for Canada and European countries that will support the evaluation of emerging therapies in these regions.

[Bibliometrics Analysis of Studies on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy From 2018 to 2022].

Objective To analyze the research progress and hot topics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from 2018 to 2022.Methods The publications in the field of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from January 1,2018 to December 31,2022 were retrieved from Web of Science core collection database and included for a bibliometric analysis.Results A total of 6355 publications were included,with an average citation frequency of 7 times.The year 2021 witnessed the most publications (1406).The analysis with VOSviewer showed that the research on sudden death related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,especially the predictive value of late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac MRI in sudden death,was a hot topic.In addition,gene detection and the new drug mavacamten became hot research topics.The United States was the country with the largest number of publications and the highest citation frequency in this field.Chinese scholars produced the second largest number of publications,which,however,included few high-quality research results.Conclusions Risk stratification and prevention of sudden death is still an important and hot research content in the field of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Chinese scholars should carry out multi-center cooperation in the future to improve the research results.

Risk Factors of Cardiac Complications in Pregnant Women with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited genetic cardiac disease during pregnancy. Studies of risk factors are of great significance for maternal and fetal outcomes. AIM: The aim of the study was to identify predictive risk factors for cardiac complications in pregnant women with HCM. METHODS: One hundred patients with HCM who delivered at the Shanghai obstetrical cardiology intensive care center between January 2000 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for cardiac complications. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were obstructive HCM (21%), 16 with cardiac function grade I and 5 with grade II; 79 cases were non-obstructive HCM (79%), 67 with cardiac function grade I, 11 with grade II, and 1 with grade III. Ninety-one cases had abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) (91%), mainly with ST-T changes (77%). The average interventricular septum was 19.39 ± 6.13 mm by echocardiography (21.75 ± 5.86 mm for obstructive HCM and 18.73 ± 6.08 mm for non-obstructive HCM). The main cardiac complications were maternal death (n = 2, 2%), heart failure (n = 7, 7%), and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (n = 1, 1%). Cardiac complications occur commonly during the third trimester and postpartum period. Three independent risk factors to predict cardiac complications in pregnant women with HCM were obstructive HCM (P = 0.036), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≥II (P = 0.022), and previous history of syncope (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: HCM increases the risk of maternal death, heart failure, and malignant arrhythmia. More attention should be given to risk assessment and pregnancy management. Early detection of risk factors can reduce the incidence of maternal mortality and cardiac complications.

Understanding the incidence of atrial fibrillation and stroke in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients: insights from Danish nationwide registries.

AIMS: The treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be challenging since AF aggravates symptoms and increases the risk of stroke. Which factors contribute to the development of AF and stroke in HCM remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of AF and stroke in HCM patients and identify the risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Danish national registries, all HCM patients from 2005 to 2018 were included. The association between HCM, incident AF, and stroke was investigated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. Cumulative incidences were calculated using the Aalen-Johansen estimator. Among the 3367 patients without prevalent AF, 24% reached the endpoint of incident AF with death as a competing risk. Median follow-up time was 4 years. Atrial fibrillation incidence was equal between sexes and increased for patients with ischaemic heart disease [IHD; hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.63], hypertension (HT) (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.14-1.67), and obstructive HCM (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.52). Seven per cent developed stroke, with no difference detected stratifying for the presence of AF. Sub-analysis revealed that when AF was treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs), stroke was less likely (HR 0.4, 95% CI 0.18-0.86, P = 0.02). However, 34% of patients were not receiving adequate anticoagulation following AF diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Obstructive HCM, HT, and IHD were associated with increased risk of AF. Prevalent AF alone was not predictive of stroke; however, AF patients treated with OAC were significantly less likely to develop stroke, suggesting that this development is driven by the protective effect of OAC. Despite this, 34% of patients did not receive OAC.

Pregnancy related complications in women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) on cardiovascular and obstetrical outcomes in pregnant women remains unclear, particularly in Asian populations. This study aimed to evaluate the maternal cardiovascular and obstetrical outcomes in Korean women with HCM. METHODS: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified women who gave birth via cesarean section or vaginal delivery after being diagnosed with HCM between 2006 and 2019. Maternal cardiovascular and obstetrical outcomes were assessed based on the trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: This study included 122 women and 158 pregnancies. No maternal deaths were noted; however, 21 cardiovascular events, such as hospital admission for cardiac problems, including heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AF), new-onset AF or ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred in 14 pregnancies (8.8%). Cardiac events occurred throughout pregnancy with a higher occurrence in the third trimester. Cesarean sections were performed in 49.3% of the cases, and all cardiovascular outcomes occurring after delivery were observed in patients who had undergone cesarean sections. Seven cases involved preterm delivery, and two of these cases were accompanied by cardiac events, specifically AF. Pre-existing arrhythmia (AF: odds ratio (OR): 7.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.61-21.21, P < 0.001; VT: OR: 31.61, 95% CI: 5.85-172.77, P < 0.001) was identified as a predictor for composite outcomes of cardiovascular events or preterm delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnant women with HCM were well-tolerated. However, cardiovascular complications could occur in some patients. Therefore, planned delivery may be necessary for selected patients, especially the women with pre-existing arrhythmias.

[Sudden death in adults : Data from 305 consecutive autopsy cases in Algeria]. / Mort subite de l'adulte : données de 305 cas d'autopsies consécutives en Algérie.

BACKGROUND-AIMS: Sudden death in a young adult who showed no prodrome or complaint during his lifetime is a tragedy. The death often remains unexplained by doctors and is often the subject of a judicial investigation following which an autopsy is ordered. Our study joins several studies around the world, where the results have linked sudden death in adults to a cardiac origin. METHODS: Through a series of 305 autopsies carried out in the forensic medicine department of the Frantz Fanon hospital in the city of Bejaia in Algeria over a period of two years, 57 cases corresponded to unexplained sudden deaths, i.e. an incidence of 3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year. RESULTS: Sudden death was of cardiac origin in 50.8% of cases (N=28). Two epidemiologic profiles emerge in our study: the first is that of a man aged between 50 and 60 years of age, with several deleterious lifestyle habits (in particular smoking) with a cardiovascular history, previously followed by a cardiologist, who died suddenly out-of-hospital, from ischemic heart disease. The second is that of a young adult under 40 years of age, of average build, with no particular medical history, having not previously consulted a cardiologist, who died suddenly of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSIONS: In many instances, we observed major anatomical lesion, which had not motivated any prior medical consultation either with a general practitioner or with a cardiologist.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in pregnancy: Nationwide analysis of patients characteristics and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) poses unique challenges in the management of pregnant patients due to the complex interplay of physiological changes of pregnancy. Despite its relatively low prevalence among pregnant women, HCM can significantly impact maternal and fetal outcomes. This study aims to enhance understanding of pregnant patients with HCM and the associated outcomes through a nationwide analysis of patient characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data obtained from the Agency for Healthcare Research in Quality (AHRQ) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from January 2016 to December 2020. 3,599,855 pregnant patients without HCM and 187 pregnant patients with HCM were identified using International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes, and baseline characteristics, medical comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics, including age distribution, racial composition, and prevalence of systemic organ disease, between pregnant women with and without HCM. Women with HCM had higher odds of experiencing maternal complications, such as acute heart failure and peripartum cardiomyopathy, as well as higher rates of fetal distress and obstetric interventions, including preterm delivery and caesarean section. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive cardiovascular assessment and risk stratification are essential in pregnant women with HCM to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes. Moreover, disparities in baseline characteristics and outcomes among black pregnant women with HCM highlight the need for a multifactorial approach to addressing pregnancy-related complications.

Temporal trends, prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of heart failure in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the United States: Insights from the national inpatient sample.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to delineate the temporal trends, prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of HF among HCM patients using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, with a focus on optimizing therapeutic strategies and healthcare resources. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of anonymized data from the NIS spanning 2016 to 2019. The study population consisted of adults diagnosed with HCM based on specific ICD-10 diagnostic codes. Logistic regression was utilized to explore the association between HF and in-hospital mortality, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Our analysis included 215,505 individuals, with 97,875 (45.4 %) experiencing HF. Patients with HF exhibited a higher burden of comorbidities such as diabetes and renal failure, and had increased odds of mortality (OR 1.41). The study also highlighted significant demographic disparities, with marked differences in outcomes based on race and gender. The economic analysis revealed higher healthcare costs and longer hospital stays associated with HF. CONCLUSION: HF significantly impacts mortality, healthcare costs, and hospitalization length in HCM patients, with substantial demographic and clinical disparities. This study underscores the importance of tailored management strategies and the need for continuous surveillance and research to address the challenges posed by HF in HCM.

Effect of type 2 diabetes on cardiac arrhythmias in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a prevalent cardiovascular disease, is linked with cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmia. This study evaluated T2D's impact on these arrhythmias in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 75 patients with OHCM and T2D from two medical centers in China from 2011 to 2020. A propensity score-matched cohort of 150 patients without T2D was also analyzed. RESULTS: Altogether, 225 patients were included. The prevalence of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), AF, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) was higher in patients with HCM and T2D than in those without T2D. Multivariate logistic regression showed T2D as an independent risk factor for SVT (odds ratio [OR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-3.58, P = 0.04), AF (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.27-5.67, P = 0.01), and NSVT (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.04-4.57, P = 0.04). Further analysis identified fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels as independent risk factors for AF and NSVT in patients with T2D. CONCLUSIONS: T2D independently increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias (SVT, AF, NSVT) in OHCM patients. Furthermore, fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels independently heighten AF and NSVT risk in OHCM patients with T2D.

Prevalence and Predictors of Readmissions in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter.

Atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) is the most common dysrhythmia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction are integral components of HCM pathology which can cause increased left atrial pressure and atrial myopathy contributing to the substrate for AF. We aimed to determine the impact of AF on hospital readmissions in patients with HCM. We conducted a retrospective analysis using the 2015 to 2019 Nationwide Readmission Database to analyze the effect of AF on 30-day readmission and causes of 30-day readmission in patients with HCM. We also determined the hospital, patient, and procedure-specific independent predictors of readmission in patients with HCM and AF. Of 191,235 index HCM hospitalizations, 81,390 (42.6%) had a secondary diagnosis of AF. A total of 16.9% of patients with HCM and AF were readmitted within 30 days as compared with 14% of HCM patients without AF. The presence of AF was independently associated with a higher risk of all-cause 30-day readmission (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 to 1.25, p <0.001). The foremost etiology of 30-day readmission in HCM patients with AF was hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease with heart failure, whereas the foremost etiology of 30-day readmission in HCM patients without AF was sepsis. Interventions aimed toward AF management (electrical cardioversion: adjusted HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.01. p = 0.074, AF ablation: HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.13, p = 0.409, Watchman procedure: HR 1.50, 95% CI 0.16 to 14.6, p = 0.725) during index admission did not significantly impact the 30-day readmission in HCM patients with AF. Myectomy during index hospitalization (adjusted HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.86, p = 0.010) was most strongly associated with a lower risk of 30-day readmission in HCM patients with AF. In conclusion, in patients hospitalized for HCM, presence of AF was associated with excess risk of 30-day all-cause readmission. Interventions aimed toward HCM management, that is, myectomy rather than interventions aimed toward AF management predicted lower readmission rate in this patient population.

Management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an important cause of heart failure and arrhythmias, including sudden death, with a major impact on the healthcare system. Genetic causes and different phenotypes are now increasingly being identified for this condition. In addition, specific medications, such as myosin inhibitors, have been recently shown as potentially able to modify its symptoms, hemodynamic abnormalities and clinical course. Our article aims to provide a comprehensive outline of the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the current era.

Re-evaluating the Incidence and Prevalence of Clinical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: An Epidemiological Study of Olmsted County, Minnesota.

OBJECTIVE: To contemporaneously reappraise the incidence-rate, prevalence, and natural history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1984 to 2015. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A validated medical-record linkage system collecting information for residents of Olmsted County was used to identify all cases of HCM between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 2015. After adjudication of records from Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center, data relating to diagnoses and outcomes were abstracted. The calculated incidence rate and prevalence were standardized to the US 1980 White population (age- and sex-adjusted) and compared with a prior study examining the years 1975-1984. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy subjects with HCM were identified. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate was 6.6 per 100,000 person-years, and the point prevalence of HCM on January 1, 2016, was 89 per 100,000 population. The incidence rate and point prevalence of HCM on January 1, 2016, standardized to the US 1980 White population (age- and sex-adjusted), were 6.7 (95% CI, 7.1 to 8.8) per 100,000 person-years and 81.5 per 100,000 population, respectively. The incidence rate of HCM increased each decade since the index study. Individuals with HCM had a higher overall standardized mortality rate than the general population with an observed to expected HR of 1.44 (95% CI, 1.21 to 1.71; P<.001) which improved by each decade. CONCLUSION: The incidence and prevalence of HCM are higher than rates reported from a prior study in the same community examining the years 1975-1984, but lower than other study cohorts. The risk of mortality in HCM remains higher than expected, albeit with improvement in rates of mortality observed each decade during the study period.

The Majority of Participants With Suspected Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Documented During Screening Echocardiography Have a Normal Electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) usually have abnormal electrocardiograms consistent with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal ECG findings (LVH, T wave inversion, left bundle branch block, and left atrial enlargement) in participants with suspected HCM detected during screening echocardiography. METHOD: The Anthony Bates Foundation has been performing screening echocardiography across the United States for the prevention of sudden death since 2001. A total of 682 subjects between the ages of 8 and 71 underwent echocardiographic screening together with ECG documentation. We evaluated the prevalence of abnormal ECG in participants with suspected HCM defined as any left ventricular wall thickness ≥15 mm. RESULTS: The prevalence of LVH and T wave inversion were higher in HCM subjects as expected [HCM occurred in 23.5% (4/17) vs. 5.6% (37/665), P = 0.002, T wave inversion occurred in 17.6% (3/17) vs. 4.1% (27/664), P = 0.007]. However, despite adding these 2 common ECG abnormalities in this population, the presence of detected abnormal ECG remained less than 25% (23.5% of HCM subjects had LVH or T wave inversion on ECG vs. 8.7% of control, P = 0.036). Left bundle branch block or abnormal left atrium on ECG were not found in any participants with suspected HCM. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of abnormal ECG in the participants with suspected HCM detected during screening echocardiography is less than 25%. This suggests that ECG alone is not a sensitive marker for the detection of HCM.

Clinical to Population Prevalence of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Phenotype: Insights From the National Echo Database Australia.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data describing the underlying prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a primary genetic disorder characterised by progressive left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and sudden death, from both a clinical and a population perspective. METHODS: We screened the echocardiographic reports of 155,668 men and 147,880 women within the multicentre National Echo Database Australia (NEDA) (2001-2019). End-diastolic wall thickness ≥15 mm anywhere in the left ventricle was identified as a characteristic of an HCM phenotype according to current guideline recommendations. Applying a septal-to-posterior wall thickness ratio >1.3 and LV outflow tract obstruction ≥30 mmHg (when documented), we further identified asymmetric septal hypertrophy and obstructive HCM (oHCM), respectively. The observed pattern of phenotypical HCM within the overall NEDA cohort (>650,000 cases) was then extrapolated to the ∼539,000 (5.7% of adult population) and ∼474,000 (4.8%) Australian men and women, respectively, who were investigated with echocardiography in 2021 on an age-specific basis. RESULTS: Overall, 15,380 cases (mean age 71.1±14.6 years, 10,138 men [65.9%]) with the characteristic HCM phenotype within the NEDA cohort were identified. Of these 15,380 cases, 5,552 (36.1%) had asymmetric septal hypertrophy, and 2,276 of the 10,290 cases with LV outflow tract obstruction profiling data (22.1%) had obstructive HCM. A further 3,389 of 13,715 cases (24.7%) had evidence of LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction <55%). Within the entire NEDA cohort (including those without LV profiling), HCM was found in 10,138 of 342,161 men (2.96%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.91%-3.02%) and 5,242 of 308,539 women (1.70%; 95% CI 1.65%-1.75%). When extrapolated to the Australian population, we estimate that a minimum of 15,971 men and 8,057 women presented with echocardiographic features of phenotypical HCM in 2021. This translates into a minimum caseload/prevalence of ∼17 adult men (∼2.5 in those aged ≤50 years) and eight adult women (∼1 in those aged ≤50 years) per 10,000 population meeting phenotypical HCM criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Using contemporary Australian echocardiographic and population data, we estimate that a minimum of 15,971 (17.5 cases/10,000) men and 8,057 women (8.2 cases/10,000) had echocardiographic evidence of phenotypical HCM in 2021. These disease burden data are particularly relevant as new treatment options are emerging.

The China Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Project (CHCMP): The Rationale and Design of a Multicenter, Prospective, Registry Cohort Study.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with adverse outcomes, such as heart failure, arrhythmia, and mortality. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a common cause of death in HCM patients, and identification of patients at a high risk of SCD is crucial in clinical practice. The China Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Project is a hospital-based, multicenter, prospective, registry cohort study of HCM patients, covering a total of 3000 participants and with a 5-year follow-up plan. A large number of demographic characteristics and clinical data will be fully collected to identify prognostic factors in Chinese HCM patients. Furthermore, the main purpose of this study is to integrate demographic and clinical characteristics to establish new 5-year SCD risk predictive equations for Chinese HCM patients by the use of machine learning technologies. The project has crucial clinical significance for risk stratification and determination of HCM patients with high risk of adverse outcomes. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2300070909.

Meta-Analysis of Penetrance and Systematic Review on Transition to Disease in Genetic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy and is classically caused by pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (P/LP) in genes encoding sarcomere proteins. Not all subclinical variant carriers will manifest clinically overt disease because penetrance (proportion of sarcomere or sarcomere-related P/LP variant carriers who develop disease) is variable, age dependent, and not reliably predicted. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was performed. We used random-effects generalized linear mixed model meta-analyses to contrast the cross-sectional prevalence and penetrance of sarcomere or sarcomere-related genes in 2 different contexts: clinically-based studies on patients and families with HCM versus population or community-based studies. Longitudinal family/clinical studies were additionally analyzed to investigate the rate of phenotypic conversion from subclinical to overt HCM during follow-up. RESULTS: In total, 455 full-text manuscripts and articles were assessed. In family/clinical studies, the prevalence of sarcomere variants in patients diagnosed with HCM was 34%. The penetrance across all genes in nonproband relatives carrying P/LP variants identified during cascade screening was 57% (95% CI, 52%-63%), and the mean age at HCM diagnosis was 38 years (95% CI, 36%-40%). Penetrance varied from ≈32% for MYL3 (myosin light chain 3) to ≈55% for MYBPC3 (myosin-binding protein C3), ≈60% for TNNT2 (troponin T2) and TNNI3 (troponin I3), and ≈65% for MYH7 (myosin heavy chain 7). Population-based genetic studies demonstrate that P/LP sarcomere variants are present in the background population but at a low prevalence of <1%. The penetrance of HCM in incidentally identified P/LP variant carriers was also substantially lower at ≈11%, ranging from 0% in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities to 18% in UK Biobank. In longitudinal family studies, the pooled phenotypic conversion across all genes was 15% over an average of ≈8 years of follow-up, starting from a mean of ≈16 years of age. However, short-term gene-specific phenotypic conversion varied between ≈12% for MYBPC3 and ≈23% for MYH7. CONCLUSIONS: The penetrance of P/LP variants is highly variable and influenced by currently undefined and context-dependent genetic and environmental factors. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to improve our understanding of true lifetime penetrance in families and in the community and to identify drivers of the transition from subclinical to overt HCM.

Age-dependent association of metabolic dyslipidemia with clinical expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that the clinical expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be determined by obesity and metabolic syndrome. The present study aimed to investigate the association between triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) level, the two dyslipidemia-related components of metabolic syndrome, and the incidence of HCM. We also explored an age-dependent association between them. METHODS: Individuals without previous HCM diagnosis who underwent a designated national health examination in 2009 were recruited. Individuals who used lipid-lowering medications within 1-year of the baseline were excluded. The outcome of interest was a newly diagnosed HCM. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 8,652,709 individuals (mean 46 years, 55.6% men). During the median 9.3 years of follow-up, 5932 (0.07%) individuals were newly diagnosed with HCM. There was a gradual increase in the incidence of HCM towards higher triglyceride and lower HDL-C levels (log-rank p < 0.001). When stratified by age, the incidence of HCM was highest in individuals aged ≥65 years, followed by those aged 40-64 and 20-39 years (0.22% vs. 0.07% vs. 0.03%, log-rank p < 0.001). In individuals aged 20-39 years, a higher triglyceride level was associated with a higher incidence of HCM (i.e., ≥200 vs. <100 mg/dL: adjusted hazard ratio 2.28, 95% confidence interval 1.89-2.75), whereas there was no significant association in older groups (p-for-interaction<0.001). Similarly, a lower HDL-C level was associated with a higher incidence of HCM, particularly in individuals aged 20-39 years (p-for-interaction = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High triglyceride and low HDL-C levels are associated with a higher incidence of HCM, particularly in young individuals.

Impact of pregnancy on the natural history of women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: Whether pregnancy is a modifier of the long-term course and outcome of women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unknown. We assessed the association of pregnancy with long-term outcomes in HCM women. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective evaluation of women with HCM from 1970 to 2021. Only women with pregnancy-related information (pregnancy present or absent) and a follow-up period lasting ≥1 year were included. The peri-partum period was defined as -1 to 6 months after delivery. The primary endpoint was a composite for major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE: cardiovascular death, sudden cardiac death, appropriate defibrillator shock and heart failure (HF) progression]. Overall, 379 (58%) women were included. There were 432 pregnancies in 242 (63%) patients. In 29 (7.6%) cases, pregnancies (n = 39) occurred after HCM diagnosis. Among these, three carrying likely pathogenic sarcomeric variants suffered MACEs in the peri-partum period. At 10 ± 9 years of follow-up, age at diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR) 1.034, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.018-1.050, P < 0.001] and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (II vs. I: HR 1.944, 95% CI 0.896-4.218; III vs. I: HR 5.291, 95% CI 2.392-11.705, P < 0.001) were associated with MACE. Conversely, pregnancy was associated with reduced risk (HR 0.605; 95% CI 0.380-0.963, P = 0.034). Among women with pregnancy, multiple occurrences did not modify risk. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is not a modifier of long-term outcome in women with HCM and mostly occurs before a cardiac diagnosis. Most patients tolerate pregnancy well and do not show a survival disadvantage compared to women without. Pregnancy should not be discouraged, except in the presence of severe HF symptoms or high-risk features.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic disorder of the myocardium and is characterized by important gender-related differences: women are typically 5 years older than men at diagnosis, over half are diagnosed >50 years of age and consistently show greater propensity than men for heart failure (HF)-related complications and adverse outcome. Whether pregnancy is a modifier of the long-term course and outcome of women with HCM is unknown. In this study, pregnancy was not a modifier of long-term outcome in women with HCM. In particular: At 10 ± 7 years, most patients tolerated pregnancy well and did not show a survival disadvantage compared to women without pregnancies. Only baseline heart failure symptoms and age were associated with adverse outcome.Pregnancy should not be discouraged, except in the presence of severe HF symptoms or high-risk features. Nevertheless, cardio-obstetric counselling and close supervision are key in all instances, particularly in the peri-partum period.

Isolated discrete upper septal thickening in a non-referral cat population of senior and young cats.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Discrete upper septal thickening (DUST) is a phenotype of elderly people. The cardiac phenotype in senior cats has been incompletely described. We aimed to characterize the echocardiographic phenotype of senior cats, specifically to determine prevalence of DUST and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). ANIMALS: One hundred and forty-nine healthy, normotensive cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study. Senior (≥9 years) and young (<6 years) cats were recruited from non-referral population. We defined DUST as an isolated basilar septal bulge, and HCM as left ventricular wall thickness ≥6 mm. An interventricular septum ratio (basal-to-mid septal thickness ratio) was calculated. We assessed for associations between clinical and echocardiographic variables and DUST. Data are presented as mean (±SD), median (range), or frequency (percentage). RESULTS: One-hundred and two senior and 47 young cats were enrolled. Aortoseptal angle (AoSA) was steeper in senior cats (137° (±14.5) vs. 145° (±12.3) in young cats, P=0.002). Eighteen cats had DUST (18/149, 12%), fourteen senior, and four young cats (P=0.4). Cats with DUST had steeper AoSA (125° (±8.3) vs. 142° (±13.7), P<0.0001) and higher interventricular septum ratio (1.4 (1.2-2.0) vs. 1.0 (0.7-1.8)). Univariable analysis showed decreased odds of DUST with greater AoSA (OR 0.9, P<0.0001), age was not associated with DUST. Twenty-nine senior cats had HCM (28.4%). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of DUST was 12%. There was no association between age and DUST. Smaller/steeper AoSA was the main factor associated with DUST. There was a high prevalence of HCM in this senior population.