Non-invasive myocardial work as an independent predictor of postprocedural NT-proBNP in elderly patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Aortic stenosis has become the most prevalent valvular disease with increasing life expectancy and the ageing of the population, representing a significant clinical burden for health care providers. Its treatment has been revolutionized by transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as a safe and minimally invasive option for elderly patients. Left ventricular (LV) functional measurement is of particular importance before TAVR, however, increased afterload significantly influences the conventional echocardiographic parameters. Non-invasive myocardial work examines myocardial deformation in the context of instantaneous LV pressure, thus, it might be a more reliable measure of LV function. Accordingly, we aimed to study non-invasive myocardial work and its relationship with functional outcome following TAVR.We enrolled 90 TAVR candidates (80 [75-84] years; 44% female). Using echocardiography, we quantified ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), global myocardial work index (GWI) and global constructive work (GCW) before and 12 months after the procedure. Serum NT-proBNP levels were also measured. EF did not change (52.6 ± 13.1 vs. 54.2 ± 10.5%; p = 0.199), while GLS increased (-13.5 ± 4.6 vs. -15.2 ± 3.8%; p < 0.001). GWI decreased (1913 ± 799 vs. 1654 ± 613 mmHg%; p < 0.001) and so did GCW (2365 ± 851 vs. 2177 ± 652 mmHg%; p = 0.018). History of atrial fibrillation (AF) (ß = 0.349) and preprocedural GCW (ß = -0.238) were independent predictors of postprocedural NT-proBNP (p < 0.001).GLS, GWI and GCW changed after TAVR while there was no alteration in EF. The preprocedural GCW and history of AF were independent predictors of postprocedural NT-proBNP. Accordingly, myocardial work indices may help patient selection and the prediction of the functional outcome in this population.

Obesity paradox in patients with reduced ejection fraction eligible for device implantation - an observational study.

AIMS: Patients with obesity have an overall higher cardiovascular risk, at the same time obesity could be associated with a better outcome in a certain subgroup of patients, a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. Data are scarce in candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in patients eligible for CRT. METHODS: Altogether 1,585 patients underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy between 2000-2020 and were categorized based on their BMI, 459 (29%) patients with normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2), 641 (40%) patients with overweight (BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2) and 485 (31%) with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, heart transplantation, and left ventricular assist device implantation. We assessed periprocedural complications and 6-month echocardiographic response. RESULTS: Normal-weight patients were older compared to patients with overweight or obesity (70 years vs. 69 years vs. 68 years; P 2 26% vs. BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2 37% vs. BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 48%; P 2 71% vs. BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2 74% vs. BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 82%; P 2 group, 61% in the BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2 group and 58% in the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 group (log-rank P2 25% vs. BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2 28% vs. BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 26%; P = 0.48). Left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly in all patient groups (BMI < 25 kg/m2 median ∆ $$ \Delta $$ -LVEF 7% vs. BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2 median ∆ $$ \Delta $$ -LVEF 7.5% vs. BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 median ∆ $$ \Delta $$ -LVEF 6%; P < 0.0001) with a similar proportion of developing reverse remodeling (BMI < 25 kg/m2 58% vs. BMI 25- < 30 kg/m2 61% vs. BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 57%; P = 0.48); P = 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: The obesity paradox was present in our HF cohort at long-term, patients underwent CRT implantation with obesity and free of comorbidities showed mortality benefit compared to normal weight patients. Patients with obesity showed similar echocardiographic response and safety outcomes compared to normal weight patients.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global TAVR Activity: The COVID-TAVI Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected health care systems. Patients in need of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are especially susceptible to treatment delays. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global TAVR activity. METHODS: This international registry reported monthly TAVR case volume in participating institutions prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2018 to December 2021). Hospital-level information on public vs private, urban vs rural, and TAVR volume was collected, as was country-level information on socioeconomic status, COVID-19 incidence, and governmental public health responses. RESULTS: We included 130 centers from 61 countries, including 65,980 TAVR procedures. The first and second pandemic waves were associated with a significant reduction of 15% (P < 0.001) and 7% (P < 0.001) in monthly TAVR case volume, respectively, compared with the prepandemic period. The third pandemic wave was not associated with reduced TAVR activity. A greater reduction in TAVR activity was observed in Africa (-52%; P = 0.001), Central-South America (-33%; P < 0.001), and Asia (-29%; P < 0.001). Private hospitals (P = 0.005), urban areas (P = 0.011), low-volume centers (P = 0.002), countries with lower development (P < 0.001) and economic status (P < 0.001), higher COVID-19 incidence (P < 0.001), and more stringent public health restrictions (P < 0.001) experienced a greater reduction in TAVR activity. CONCLUSIONS: TAVR procedural volume declined substantially during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Africa, Central-South America, and Asia. National socioeconomic status, COVID-19 incidence, and public health responses were associated with treatment delays. This information should inform public health policy in case of future global health crises.

The prevalence of frailty and its effect on the outcome in cardiac resynchronization therapy patients.

Frailty is a complex clinical syndrome associated with aging and comorbidities, which correlates with unfavorable outcomes. However, in heart failure patients, frailty is very common, data is scarce about those, who are eligible for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) implantation. We investigated the incidence of frailty and the association of Frailty Index (FI) with the outcome. Thirty baseline clinical parameters were used by the Rockwood cumulative deficit method to determine patients' FI in our single-center cohort. Based on previous studies, patients with FI ≤ 0.210 were considered as non-frail, those with FI 0.10-0.210 were classified in Frail-1, with FI > 0.10 in Frail-2 groups, respectively. Echocardiographic response after 12 months and all-cause mortality were investigated by frailty groups. Among 1004 included patients, 75 (7%) were considered Non-frail, 271 (27%) grouped in Frail-1, and 658 (66%) in Frail-2 with a median FI of 0.36 (0.28-0.43). Patients in Frail-2 group were older, with more comorbidities compared with non-frail patients or those in Group Frail-1. During the median follow-up time of 4.8 years, 29 (39%) patients died in the Non-frail, 140 (52%) in Frail-1, and 471 (72%) in the Frail-2 groups (log-rank p < 0.001). Group Frail-2 showed an unfavorable outcome compared to the non-frail (HR 2.49, 95%CI 1.92-3.22; p < 0.001) and the Frail-1 group (1.83, 95%CI 1.55-2.16; p < 0.001). In our HFrEF patients eligible for CRT implantation, patients were exceedingly vulnerable with a high prevalence of frailty. The calculated frailty index was associated with outcome and proved to be prevalent in individual risk stratification.

Skin microcirculatory changes reflect early the circulatory deterioration in a fulminant sepsis model in the pig

PURPOSE: In the pathophysiology of sepsis tissue perfusion dysfunction is a crucial driving force. Thus the early recognition is highly important. Concerning the early hours of bacteremia, and the systemic inflammatory response reaction leading to sepsis we aimed to investigate the micro- and macrocirculatory changes. METHODS: In 20 juvenile Hungahib pigs were anesthetized and the femoral artery and external jugular vein were prepared unilaterally and cannulated. For assisted ventilation tracheostomy was performed. In Sepsis group (n=11) live E. coli was intravenously administered (increasing concentration, 9.5x10∧6 in 3h). In Control group (n=9) bacteria-free saline was administered at the same volume. Modified shock index (MSI), core and skin temperature, and skin microcirculation (laser Doppler) were measured before inducing bacteremia then hourly for 4h. RESULTS: In Control group parameters were stable, while six animals in the Sepsis group died before the 4th hour. Core and skin temperature did not show significant alterations. In Sepsis group microcirculation showed a large impairment already by the 1st hour, while in MSI only by the 3rd hour. CONCLUSION: During bacteremia and the early phase of sepsis microcirculatory impairment can be detected soon, even hours before the deterioration in hemodynamic parameters in this porcine model. .