Aortic Arch Plaques and the Long-Term Risk of Stroke and Cardiovascular Events in the Statin Era.

BACKGROUND: Aortic arch plaques are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke or prior embolic events. However, this relationship is unclear in the community. We investigated (1) the long-term risk of stroke and cardiovascular events associated with arch plaques and (2) whether statin therapy prescribed for any indication modified the association. METHODS: A total of 934 stroke-free participants (72±9 years; 37% men) from the CABL study (Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesion) were evaluated. Arch plaques were assessed by suprasternal transthoracic echocardiography; plaques ≥4 mm in thickness were classified as large plaques. The primary outcome was ischemic stroke; the secondary outcome was combined cardiovascular events (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death). The plaque-related risk of outcomes was also analyzed according to the presence of statin treatment. No plaque was used as a reference. RESULTS: Aortic arch plaques were present in 645 participants (69.1%), with large plaques in 114 (12.2%). During a mean follow-up of 11.3±3.6 years, 236 (25.3%) cardiovascular events occurred (76 ischemic strokes, 27 myocardial infarctions, and 133 cardiovascular deaths). Large arch plaques were independently associated with combined events (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.40-3.43]) but not stroke alone (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.50-2.38]). The association between large plaques and cardiovascular events was significant in participants receiving statins (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.57 [95% CI, 1.52-4.37]) but not in others; however, participants on statin treatment also had a worse risk profile (higher body mass index, greater frequencies of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic arch plaques may be a marker of cardiovascular risk rather than a direct embolic stroke source in older adults without prior stroke. The efficacy of broader cardiovascular risk factors control, beyond cholesterol levels alone, for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in individuals with aortic arch plaques may require further investigation.

Fixed-Bearing Lateral Unicompartment Knee Arthroplasty in Degenerative ACL-Deficient and ACL-Intact Knees: A Matched Pair Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees are no longer considered a contra-indication for unicompartment knee arthroplasty (UKA). The purpose of this study was to determine if patients who had an ACL-deficient knee who underwent lateral UKAs had similar mean 10-year outcomes compared to ACL-intact lateral UKA knees. METHODS: Patients who underwent a lateral UKA with ACL deficiency by a single surgeon between 2004 and 2016, were identified. Preoperative magnetic resonance images (MRI) were utilized to identify a torn or absent ACL in all knees. The absence of an ACL was confirmed during arthroscopy prior to UKA. Patients were matched 1:2 based on age and sex with patients who underwent lateral UKA where the ACL was intact. The primary patient-reported outcome variable was survival without conversion to total knee arthroplasty. Secondary outcomes included Veterans Rand (VR)-12, the Lysholm score, the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Activities of Daily Living subscale, and Sport subscale. A power analysis showed that 14 patients were needed to identify differences of 10 points on the KOOS score with a power of 80%(p=0.05). RESULTS: The cohort of ACL-deficient lateral UKA patients included 4 men and 12 women (43 to 82 years of age). The matched control group included 32 patients. The mean age of both groups was 67 years (range, 43 to 85). There were two patients in the ACL-deficient group who failed. At 10 years, survivorship in the ACL-deficient group was 85%, while survival in the ACL-intact group was 100% (P = 0.035). At an average follow-up of 11 years (range, 4 to 19.6), there was no difference in outcome scores between ACL-deficient and ACL-intact patients. CONCLUSION: Fixed-bearing lateral UKA in the ACL-deficient knee resulted in lower survival compared to patients who had an intact ACL. Patient-reported outcomes were similar in both groups. The ACL-deficient patient who wishes to undergo lateral UKA should be counseled on the lower survival.

Severe Lateral Facet Patella Osteoarthritis Is Not Associated with Increased Failure at Mean 10-Years After Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if severe lateral patella facet osteoarthritis (LPFOA) was related to lower survivorship and poor patient-reported outcomes following fixed-bearing lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). METHODS: There were 61 patients who underwent a fixed-bearing, non-robotically assisted, lateral UKA between May 7, 2003 and December 18, 2019 and met the inclusion criteria. The patello-femoral joint was examined intraoperatively for chondral damage prior to UKA implantation. Severe LPFOA was defined as Outerbridge grade 3 or 4 changes on the lateral facet. All patients completed subjective functional outcomes questionnaires and a clinical exam at a minimum of 4 years following UKA. RESULTS: Severe LFPFOA was identified in 28 (46%) patients. At a mean follow-up of 10.9 years, there were no significant differences in any Knee Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS ) subscale or Kujala scores between patients who had and did not have severe LFPOA. There was no significant difference in the percentage of patients who achieved Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) for the KOOS subscales between groups. Mean survival in patients who did not have severe LFPFOA was 16.6 years [95% CI (confidence interval), 15.4 to 17.7] compared to 18.9 years [95% CI, 17.6 to 20.2] in patients who had severe LFPFOA (P = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Severe LFPFOA did not result in lower survival or inferior functional outcomes compared to patients who did not have severe OA at average 10-year follow-up after fixed-bearing lateral UKA.

The effects of estradiol levels on crossmodal perception: a study on the sound induced flash illusion in healthy and menstrually related migraine individuals.

OBJECTIVE: The sound-induced flash illusion (SIFI) is a valid paradigm to study multisensorial perception. In the "fission" SIFI, multiple flashes are perceived when observing a single flash paired with two or more beeps. SIFI is largely dependent on visual and acoustic cortex excitability; in migraine, dysfunctional cortical excitability affects SIFI perception. Since estrogen peak occurring during ovulation can increase neuronal excitability, the present study aims to verify whether cortical excitability shifts linked to the menstrual cycle could influence SIFI. METHODS: In a comparative prospective study, we tested the effect of estrogens on crossmodal perception using the SIFI. We recruited 27 females in reproductive age, including 16 healthy and 11 menstrually related migraine females, testing their proneness to SIFI on day 14 (high estradiol) and day 27 (low estradiol) of menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Women on day 14 reported less flashes than on day 27 (p = 0.02) in the fission illusion, suggesting a pro-excitatory effect of estradiol on visual cortex excitability during ovulation. Moreover, we confirmed that migraine women perceived less flashes (p = 0.001) than controls, independently from cycle phase. Non-migraineurs women significantly reported more flashes on day 27 than on day 14 (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that estradiol may influence the multisensory perception due to changes of visual cortex excitability, with high estradiol peak leading to increased visual cortical sensitivity during ovulation in non-migraineurs. Visual cortex hyperresponsiveness, here reflected by reduced SIFI, is not influenced by estradiol fluctuations in migraine women, as shown by reduced fission effects on day 14 and 27.

GLP-1 receptor agonists and reduction of cardiometabolic risk: Potential underlying mechanisms.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic condition with an elevated impact on cardiovascular (CV) risk. The innovative therapeutic approaches for T2DM - incretin-based therapies (IBTs), including glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, have become popular and more widely used in recent years. The available scientific data from clinical studies and clinical practice highlights their beyond glucose-lowering effects, which is achieved without any increase in hypoglycaemia. The former effects include reduction in body weight, lipids, blood pressure, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and subclinical atherosclerosis, thus reducing and potentially preventing CV events. In fact, the introduction of IBTs is one of the key moments in the history of diabetes research and treatment. Such therapeutic strategies allow customization of antidiabetic treatment to each patient's need and therefore obtain better metabolic control with reduced CV risk. The aim of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of GLP-1RA on various cardiometabolic markers and overall CV risk, with particular attention on recent CV outcome studies and potential mechanisms. In particular, the effects of liraglutide on formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque and mechanisms explaining its cardioprotective effects are highlighted.

Management of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome After Cardiovascular Interventions. Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Implications.

A substantial number of patients may experience systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and related adverse events after transcatheter aortic valve implantation and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Although a clear etiology has not been established, endothelial disruption and tissue-ischemic response secondary to the foreign material may represent the trigger events. A latency period (0 to 48 hours) may occur between the initial injury and onset of symptoms mirroring an initial local response followed by a systemic response. Clinical presentation can be mild or severe depending on external triggers and characteristics of the patient. Diagnosis is challenging because it simulates an infection, but lack of response to antibiotics, negative cultures are supportive of SIRS. Increased in-hospital stay, readmissions, major cardiovascular events, and reduced durability of the device used are the main complications. Treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. In conclusion, further studies are warranted to fully explore pathophysiologic mechanisms underpinning SIRS and the possibility of enhancing device material immune compatibility to reduce the inflammatory reaction of the host tissue.

Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with Low Flow Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Low-flow (LF) aortic stenosis (AS) is common among older adults and associated with worse outcomes than AS with normal stroke volume. It is unknown whether left ventricular (LV) remodeling identifies patients with LF AS at higher risk of complications. LV remodeling was evaluated in 463 patients with severe LF AS referred for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and classified as adaptive (normal geometry and concentric remodeling) or maladaptive (concentric and eccentric hypertrophy) using the American Society of Echocardiography gender-specific criteria. Of these, the 390 patients who underwent TAVR were followed for the end points of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and all-cause mortality. The mean patient age was 79 (74.5 to 84) years. LV remodeling was adaptive in 57.4% (62 normal geometry, 162 concentric remodeling) and maladaptive in 42.6% (127 concentric hypertrophy, 39 eccentric hypertrophy). During a median follow-up of 3 years, 45 patients (11.5%) were hospitalized for HF and 73 (18.7%) died. After adjustment for widely used echocardiographic parameters, maladaptive remodeling was independently associated with HF hospitalization and death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.75, confidence interval 1.03 to 3.00). There was no significant difference between men and women in the association of maladaptive LV remodeling with the composite outcome (p = 0.40 for men and p = 0.06 for women). In conclusion, in patients with LF AS, maladaptive LV remodeling before TAVR is independently associated with higher incidences of postprocedural HF rehospitalization and death in both men and women. Assessment of LV remodeling has prognostic value over and above LV ejection fraction and may improve risk stratification for patients with LF AS.

A three-dimensional left atrial motion estimation from retrospective gated computed tomography: application in heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: A reduced left atrial (LA) strain correlates with the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Conventional atrial strain analysis uses two-dimensional (2D) imaging, which is, however, limited by atrial foreshortening and an underestimation of through-plane motion. Retrospective gated computed tomography (RGCT) produces high-fidelity three-dimensional (3D) images of the cardiac anatomy throughout the cardiac cycle that can be used for estimating 3D mechanics. Its feasibility for LA strain measurement, however, is understudied. Aim: The aim of this study is to develop and apply a novel workflow to estimate 3D LA motion and calculate the strain from RGCT imaging. The utility of global and regional strains to separate heart failure in patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with and without AF is investigated. Methods: A cohort of 30 HFrEF patients with (n = 9) and without (n = 21) AF underwent RGCT prior to cardiac resynchronisation therapy. The temporal sparse free form deformation image registration method was optimised for LA feature tracking in RGCT images and used to estimate 3D LA endocardial motion. The area and fibre reservoir strains were calculated over the LA body. Universal atrial coordinates and a human atrial fibre atlas enabled the regional strain calculation and the fibre strain calculation along the local myofibre orientation, respectively. Results: It was found that global reservoir strains were significantly reduced in the HFrEF + AF group patients compared with the HFrEF-only group patients (area strain: 11.2 ± 4.8% vs. 25.3 ± 12.6%, P = 0.001; fibre strain: 4.5 ± 2.0% vs. 15.2 ± 8.8%, P = 0.001), with HFrEF + AF patients having a greater regional reservoir strain dyssynchrony. All regional reservoir strains were reduced in the HFrEF + AF patient group, in whom the inferior wall strains exhibited the most significant differences. The global reservoir fibre strain and LA volume + posterior wall reservoir fibre strain exceeded LA volume alone and 2D global longitudinal strain (GLS) for AF classification (area-under-the-curve: global reservoir fibre strain: 0.94 ± 0.02, LA volume + posterior wall reservoir fibre strain: 0.95 ± 0.02, LA volume: 0.89 ± 0.03, 2D GLS: 0.90 ± 0.03). Conclusion: RGCT enables 3D LA motion estimation and strain calculation that outperforms 2D strain metrics and LA enlargement for AF classification. Differences in regional LA strain could reflect regional myocardial properties such as atrial fibrosis burden.

Massive Right Ventricle Enlargement in Unrepaired Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect: Repair or Not?

Sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return is a rare congenital heart defect that may present in adulthood when right heart enlargement has already occurred. We describe a case of unrepaired sinus venosus atrial septal defect and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return with massive right heart enlargement and recurrent atrial arrhythmias.

Left Atrial Strain and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequent in older adults and associated with left atrial (LA) dysfunction. LA strain (LAε) and LA strain rate (LASR) may detect subclinical LA disease. We investigated whether reduced LAε and LASR predict new-onset AF in older adults without history of AF or stroke. LAε and LASR were assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography in 824 participants from the community-based Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions study. Positive longitudinal LAε and LASR during ventricular systole, LASR during early ventricular diastole, and LASR during LA contraction were measured. Cause-specific hazards regression model evaluated the association of LAε and LASR with incident AF, adjusting for pertinent covariates. The mean age was 71.1 ± 9.2 years (313 men, 511 women). During a mean follow-up of 10.9 years, new-onset AF occurred in 105 participants (12.7%). Lower LAε and LASR at baseline were observed in patients with new-onset AF (all p <0.01). In multivariable analysis, positive longitudinal LAε (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] per SD decrease 2.05, confidence interval [CI] 1.24 to 3.36) and LASR during LA contraction (HR per SD increase 2.24, CI 1.37 to 3.65) remained associated with new-onset AF, independently of LA volumes and left ventricular function. Along with positive longitudinal LAε, reduced LASR during ventricular systole predicted AF in participants with LA volume below the median value (HR 2.54, CI 1.10 to 6.09), whereas reduced LASR during LA contraction predicted AF in participants with larger LA (HR 2.35, CI 1.31 to 4.23). In conclusion, reduced positive longitudinal LAε and LASR predict new-onset AF in older adults regardless of LA size and may improve AF risk stratification.

Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Older Adults With Normal Ejection Fraction.

Background Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) are known to be associated with reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and adverse outcomes in patients with structural heart disease. The relationship between subclinical LV dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias in the general population is not established. Methods and Results Participants in the SAFARIS (Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke) study with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (n=503; mean age 77 years, 63% women) underwent 14-day electrocardiographic monitoring and 2-dimensional echocardiography. Frequent PVCs were defined as PVCs >500 per 24 hours and NSVT as ≥4 consecutive ventricular ectopic beats. Reduced LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was used as an indicator of subclinical LV dysfunction. Seventy-six participants (15.1%) had PVCs >500/d, 117 (23.3%) had NSVT episodes. LV GLS was significantly reduced in both frequent PVCs and NSVT groups (P<0.01). In multivariable analyses, lower LV GLS was associated with frequent PVCs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.19 [95% CI, 1.09-1.30 per unit reduction]; P<0.001) and NSVT (aOR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.01-1.17]; P=0.036) independently of established risk factors and other echocardiographic parameters. Abnormal LV GLS (>-15.8%) carried a 2-fold increase in risk of ventricular arrhythmias (aOR, 2.18, P=0.029 for PVCs; aOR, 2.09, P=0.026 for NSVT). Conclusions PVCs and NSVT episodes were frequent in this community-based elderly cohort with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and were independently associated with lower LV GLS. The association between LV dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias is present at an early, subclinical stage, an observation that carries possible preventative implications.

Long term aortic arch plaque progression in older adults.

Background and aims: The presence of aortic arch plaques (AAP) is significantly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Few studies have examined the incidence of AAP progression and factors which may contribute to it using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The objective of this study was to utilize sequential imaging of the aortic arch using TTE to examine the rate of AAP progression and its risk factors in a cohort of older adults. Methods: Participants enrolled in both the Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesion study (years 2005-2010) and the Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke study (2014-2019) who underwent TTE with assessment of aortic arch plaques at both time points represent the study cohort. Results: 300 participants were included in the study. Mean age was 67.8 ± 7.5 years at baseline, and 76.7 ± 6.8 years at follow-up; 197 (65.7%) were women. At baseline, 87 (29%) had no significant AAP, 182 (60.7%) had evidence of small AAP (2.0-3.9 mm) and 31 (10.3%) had evidence of large (≥4 mm) AAP. At the time of follow-up assessment, 157 (52.3%) of participants exhibited progression of AAP with 70 (23.3%) having mild progression and 87 (29%) having severe progression. There were no significant demographic or clinical predictors of AAP progression except baseline plaque thickness itself which was significantly lower in the group with AAP progression. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of AAP on TTE exam in a population-based cohort of older adults with a high incidence of AAP progression. TTE is a useful test for baseline and follow up imaging of AAP, even in subjects with no or little AAP at baseline.

Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction and incident stroke in the elderly: long-term findings from Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions.

AIMS: Heart disease is associated with an increased risk for ischaemic stroke. However, the predictive value of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for stroke is controversial and only observed in patients with severe reduction. LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) can detect subclinical LV systolic impairment when LVEF is normal. We investigated the prognostic role of LV GLS for incident stroke in a predominantly elderly cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two-dimensional echocardiography with speckle tracking was performed in the Cardiac Abnormalities and Brain Lesions (CABL) study. Among 708 stroke-free participants (mean age 71.4 ± 9.4 years, 60.9% women), abnormal LV GLS (>-14.7%: 95% percentile of the subgroup without risk factors) was detected in 133 (18.8%). During a mean follow-up of 10.8 ± 3.9 years, 47 participants (6.6%) experienced an ischaemic stroke (26 cardioembolic or cryptogenic, 21 other subtypes). The cumulative incidence of ischaemic stroke was significantly higher in participants with abnormal LV GLS than with normal LV GLS (P < 0.001). In multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, abnormal LV GLS was associated with ischaemic stroke independently of cardiovascular risk factors including LVEF, LV mass, left atrial volume, subclinical cerebrovascular disease at baseline, and incident atrial fibrillation [hazard ratio (HR): 2.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47-4.92; P = 0.001]. Abnormal LV GLS independently predicted cardioembolic or cryptogenic stroke (adjusted HR: 3.57, 95% CI: 1.51-8.43; P = 0.004) but not other subtypes. CONCLUSION: LV GLS was a strong independent predictor of ischaemic stroke in a predominantly elderly stroke-free cohort. Our findings provide insights into the brain-heart interaction and may help improve stroke primary prevention strategies.

Association of Left Atrial Strain With Ischemic Stroke Risk in Older Adults.

Importance: The risk of ischemic stroke is higher among patients with left atrial (LA) enlargement. Left atrial strain (LAε) and LA strain rate (LASR) may indicate LA dysfunction when LA volumes are still normal. The association of LAε with incident ischemic stroke in the general population is not well established. Objective: To investigate whether LAε and LASR are associated with new-onset ischemic stroke among older adults. Design: The Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions study was conducted from September 29, 2005, to July 6, 2010, to investigate cardiovascular factors associated with subclinical cerebrovascular disease. A total of 806 participants in the Northern Manhattan Study who were aged 55 years or older without history of prior stroke or atrial fibrillation (AF) were included, and annual follow-up telephone interviews were completed May 22, 2022. Statistical analysis was performed from June through November 2022. Exposures: Left atrial strain and LASR were assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography. Global peak positive longitudinal LAε and positive longitudinal LASR during ventricular systole, global peak negative longitudinal LASR during early ventricular diastole, and global peak negative longitudinal LASR during LA contraction were measured. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was used to detect silent brain infarcts and white matter hyperintensities at baseline. Main Outcomes and Measures: Risk analysis with cause-specific Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was used to assess the association of positive longitudinal LAε and positive longitudinal LASR with incident ischemic stroke, adjusting for other stroke risk factors, including incident AF. Results: The study included 806 participants (501 women [62.2%]) with a mean (SD) age of 71.0 (9.2) years; 119 participants (14.8%) were Black, 567 (70.3%) were Hispanic, and 105 (13.0%) were White. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 10.9 (3.7) years, new-onset ischemic stroke occurred in 53 participants (6.6%); incident AF was observed in 103 participants (12.8%). Compared with individuals who did not develop ischemic stroke, participants with ischemic stroke had lower positive longitudinal LAε and negative longitudinal LASR at baseline. In multivariable analysis, the lowest (ie, closest to zero) vs all other quintiles of positive longitudinal LAε (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.12; 95% CI, 1.56-6.24) and negative longitudinal LASR during LA contraction (HR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.44-5.80) were associated with incident ischemic stroke, independent of left ventricular global longitudinal strain and incident AF. Among participants with a normal LA size, the lowest vs all other quintiles of positive longitudinal LAε (HR, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.55-13.89) and negative longitudinal LASR during LA contraction (HR, 11.02; 95% CI 3.51-34.62) remained independently associated with incident ischemic stroke. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study suggests that reduced positive longitudinal LAε and negative longitudinal LASR are independently associated with ischemic stroke in older adults. Assessment of LAε and LASR by speckle-tracking echocardiography may improve stroke risk stratification in elderly individuals.

Factors associated with the progression of aortic valve calcification in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is a common valvular abnormality that predisposes to stenosis; AVC progression and factors associated with it remain unclear. We investigated the association of clinical factors and serum biomarkers with AVC progression in a population-based cohort of older adults. METHODS: Participants enrolled in both the Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesion study (CABL; years 2005-2010) and the Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation And Risk of Ischemic Stroke study (SAFARIS;2014-2019) represent the study cohort. AVC was defined as bright dense echoes >1 mm in size on ≥1 cusps; each cusp was graded on a scale of 0 (normal) to 3 (severe calcification) at baseline and follow up. Serum biomarkers were measured at the time of follow-up assessment. RESULTS: 373 participants (mean 68.1 ± 7.6 years of age, 146 M/ 227F) were included. 139 (37%) had AVC progression;93 (25%) had mild progression (1 grade), and 46 (12%) had moderate-severe progression (≥2 grades). The only significant clinical predictor of any progression was the use of anti-hypertensive medication which was associated with older age, higher BMI and more frequent hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. In multivariable analysis including biomarkers, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) was significantly associated with both all and moderate-severe AVC progression. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of elderly subjects with AVC show progression of their valve disease; individual vascular risk factors are not associated with AVC progression, although a combined effect may exist. Higher levels of TGF-ß1 are observed in individuals with AVC progression.

Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in older adults: Findings from the Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (SAFARIS) study.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged monitoring of cardiac rhythm has been used to screen for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF); little is known about other arrhythmias in the general population, especially in the elderly, who are at higher risk of arrhythmias. METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of arrhythmias in the tri-ethnic (white, Black, Hispanic), community-based Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (SAFARIS) study using a patch-based recorder for up to 14 days in 527 participants free of AF, congestive heart failure (CHF) or history of stroke. Differences according to gender, age, ethnicity and presence of hypertension, diabetes and pertinent ECG and echocardiographic variables were examined. RESULTS: Mean age was 77.2 ± 6.8 years (37.2% men, 62.8% women). AF was present in 10 participants (1.9%), only 2 of them symptomatic. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) episodes were observed in 84.4% and 25.0% but only 13.5% and 10.6% of participants reported symptoms, respectively. Severe bradycardia (<40 bpm) was present in 12.5%. Sinus pauses and high-degree atrioventricular blocks were infrequent (2.1% and 1.5%, respectively). Most arrhythmias were more frequent in participants > 75 years; ventricular arrhythmias and severe bradycardia were more common in men. Whites had significantly more episodes of AF than Hispanics, SVT than Blacks and VT ≥ 10 beats than Hispanics and Blacks. Hypertensives had more episodes of severe bradycardia. LV hypertrophy or LVEF <55% were associated with more frequent ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged cardiac rhythm monitoring revealed moderate frequency of AF, but higher than expected frequencies of AF-predisposing arrhythmias. Ventricular arrhythmias were relatively frequent, whereas severe bradyarrhythmias were infrequent.

Office, Central, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure for Predicting First Stroke in Older Adults: A Community-Based Cohort Study.

[Figure: see text].

Office, central and ambulatory blood pressure for predicting incident atrial fibrillation in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, more sophisticated blood pressure (BP) measurements, such as central and ambulatory BP (ABP), have proven to be stronger predictors of future cardiovascular disease than conventional office BP. Their predictive value for atrial fibrillation development is not established. We investigated the prognostic impact for incident atrial fibrillation of office, central and ambulatory BP measurements in a predominantly older population-based cohort. METHODS: Of 1004 participants in the Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions (CABL) study, 769 in sinus rhythm with no history of atrial fibrillation or stroke (mean age 70.5 years) underwent ABP and arterial wave reflection analysis for central BP determination. Fine and Gray's proportional subdistribution hazards models were used to assess the association of BP parameters with incident atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: During 9.5 years, atrial fibrillation occurred in 83 participants. No office BP variable showed a significant association with incident atrial fibrillation. Central SBP and central pulse pressure were marginally associated with incident atrial fibrillation in multivariate analysis. Among ABP variables, 24-h SBP [adjusted hazard ratio per 10 mmHg, 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07--1.44; P = 0.004], daytime SBP (adjusted hazard ratio per 10 mmHg, 1.21; 95% CI 1.04--1.40; P = 0.011) and night-time SBP (adjusted hazard ratio per 10 mmHg, 1.22; 95% CI 1.07--1.39; P = 0.002) were significantly associated with incident atrial fibillation. CONCLUSION: In a predominantly older, stroke-free community-based cohort, ABP was a better independent predictor of incident atrial fibrillation than central BP, whereas office BP was inadequate for this purpose.

Association Between Central Blood Pressure and Subclinical Cerebrovascular Disease in Older Adults.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) level is one of the most consistently identified risk factors for silent brain disease. BP values obtained at the proximal segment of the aorta (central BP) are more directly involved than brachial BP in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, the association between central BP and silent cerebrovascular disease has not been clearly established. Participants in the CABL (Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions) study (n=993; mean age, 71.7±9.3 years; 37.9% men) underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography, arterial wave reflection analysis for determination of central BPs, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Central BPs were calculated from the radial pulse waveform. Subclinical silent cerebrovascular disease was defined as silent brain infarction and white matter hyperintensity volume. Both brachial (P=0.014) and central pulse pressure (P=0.026) were independently associated with silent brain infarctions after adjustment for clinical variables, but not adjusting for each other. None of the brachial BP values was associated with upper quartile of white matter hyperintensity volume in multivariable analysis. Both central systolic BP (P<0.001) and central pulse pressure (P<0.001) were significantly associated with upper quartile of white matter hyperintensity volume in multivariable analysis, even after adjustment for brachial BP. In a predominantly older population-based cohort, both brachial and central pulse pressure were independently associated with silent brain infarction. However, higher central systolic BP and central pulse pressure, but not brachial BP, were significantly associated with white matter hyperintensity volume.