Plasma soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, placental growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor system gene variants as predictors of survival in heart failure.

AIMS: Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), components of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system, play key roles in angiogenesis. Reports of elevated plasma levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF in coronary heart disease and heart failure (HF) led us to investigate their utility, and VEGF system gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as prognostic biomarkers in HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: ELISA assays for sFlt-1, PlGF and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were performed on baseline plasma samples from the PEOPLE cohort (n = 890), a study of outcomes among patients after an episode of acute decompensated HF. Eight SNPs potentially associated with sFlt-1 or PlGF levels were genotyped. sFlt-1 and PlGF were assayed in 201 subjects from the Canterbury Healthy Volunteers Study (CHVS) matched to PEOPLE participants. All-cause death was the major endpoint for clinical outcome considered. In PEOPLE participants, mean plasma levels for both sFlt-1 (125 ± 2.01 pg/ml) and PlGF (17.5 ± 0.21 pg/ml) were higher (both p < 0.044) than in the CHVS cohort (81.2 ± 1.31 pg/ml and 15.5 ± 0.32 pg/ml, respectively). sFlt-1 was higher in HF with reduced ejection fraction compared to HF with preserved ejection fraction (p = 0.005). The PGF gene SNP rs2268616 was univariately associated with death (p = 0.016), and was also associated with PlGF levels, as was rs2268614 genotype. Cox proportional hazards modelling (n = 695, 246 deaths) showed plasma sFlt-1, but not PlGF, predicted survival (hazard ratio 6.44, 95% confidence interval 2.57-16.1; p < 0.001) in PEOPLE, independent of age, NT-proBNP, ischaemic aetiology, diabetic status and beta-blocker therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma sFlt-1 concentrations have potential as an independent predictor of survival and may be complementary to established prognostic biomarkers in HF.

ANZACS-QI Heart Failure Registry: a new approach using age-stratified sampling of hospital discharges to guide quality improvement (ANZACS-QI 79).

Heart failure is a major healthcare problem in New Zealand. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) Registry was introduced in 2015, and has identified the need for quality improvement strategies to improve care of patients hospitalised with heart failure. In this paper, we describe the implementation of the revised ANZACS-QI Heart Failure Registry, which has a primary aim to support evidence-based management of and quality improvement measures for patients who are hospitalised with heart failure in New Zealand. Taking the learnings from the initial experience with the ADHF Registry, the revised ANZACS-QI Heart Failure Registry i) utilises age-stratified sampling of hospital discharge coding to identify a representative heart failure cohort, ii) utilises existing ANZACS-QI infrastructure for data-linkage to reduce the burden of manual data entry, iii) receives governance from the Heart Failure Working Group, and iv) focusses on established quality improvement indicators for heart failure management.

Evaluation of left ventricular filling pressure by echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography is widely used to evaluate left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patients suspected of heart failure. For patients in sinus rhythm, a combination of several echocardiographic parameters can differentiate between normal and elevated LV filling pressure with good accuracy. However, there is no established echocardiographic approach for the evaluation of LV filling pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation. The objective of the present study was to determine if a combination of several echocardiographic and clinical parameters may be used to evaluate LV filling pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: In a multicentre study of 148 atrial fibrillation patients, several echocardiographic parameters were tested against invasively measured LV filling pressure as the reference method. No single parameter had sufficiently strong association with LV filling pressure to be recommended for clinical use. Based on univariate regression analysis in the present study, and evidence from existing literature, we developed a two-step algorithm for differentiation between normal and elevated LV filling pressure, defining values ≥ 15 mmHg as elevated. The parameters in the first step included the ratio between mitral early flow velocity and septal mitral annular velocity (septal E/e'), mitral E velocity, deceleration time of E, and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity. Patients who could not be classified in the first step were tested in a second step by applying supplementary parameters, which included left atrial reservoir strain, pulmonary venous systolic/diastolic velocity ratio, and body mass index. This two-step algorithm classified patients as having either normal or elevated LV filling pressure with 75% accuracy and with 85% feasibility. Accuracy in EF ≥ 50% and EF < 50% was similar (75% and 76%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with atrial fibrillation, no single echocardiographic parameter was sufficiently reliable to be used clinically to identify elevated LV filling pressure. An algorithm that combined several echocardiographic parameters and body mass index, however, was able to classify patients as having normal or elevated LV filling pressure with moderate accuracy and high feasibility.

Smoking data quality of primary care practices in comparison with smoking data from the New Zealand Maori and Pacific abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Quality smoking data is crucial for assessing smoking-related health risk and eligibility for interventions related to that risk. Smoking information collected in primary care practices (PCPs) is a major data source; however, little is known about the PCP smoking data quality. This project compared PCP smoking data to that collected in the Maori and Pacific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme. METHODS: A two stage review was conducted. In Stage 1, data quality was assessed by comparing the PCP smoking data recorded close to AAA screening episodes with the data collected from participants at the AAA screening session. Inter-rater reliability was analysed using Cohen's kappa scores. In Stage 2, an audit of longitudinal smoking status was conducted, of a subset of participants potentially misclassified in Stage 1. Data were compared in three groups: current smoker (smoke at least monthly), ex-smoker (stopped > 1 month ago) and never smoker (smoked < 100 cigarettes in lifetime). RESULTS: Of the 1841 people who underwent AAA screening, 1716 (93%) had PCP smoking information. Stage 1 PCP smoking data showed 82% concordance with the AAA data (adjusted kappa 0.76). Fewer current or ex-smokers were recorded in PCP data. In the Stage 2 analysis of discordant and missing data (N = 313), 212 were enrolled in the 29 participating PCPs, and of these 13% were deceased and 41% had changed PCP. Of the 93 participants still enrolled in the participating PCPs, smoking status had been updated for 43%. Data on quantity, duration, or quit date of smoking were largely missing in PCP records. The AAA data of ex-smokers who were classified as never smokers in the Stage 2 PCP data (N = 27) showed a median smoking cessation duration of 32 years (range 0-50 years), with 85% (N = 23) having quit more than 15 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: PCP smoking data quality compared with the AAA data is consistent with international findings. PCP data captured fewer current and ex-smokers, suggesting ongoing improvement is important. Intervention programmes based on smoking status should consider complementary mechanisms to ensure eligible individuals are not missed from programme invitation.

Longitudinal NT-proBNP: Associations With Echocardiographic Changes and Outcomes in Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: The relationship of serial NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) measurements with changes in cardiac features and outcomes in heart failure (HF) remains incompletely understood. We determined whether common clinical covariates impact these relationships. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 2 nationwide observational populations with HF, the relationship of serial NT-proBNP measurements with serial echocardiographic parameters and outcomes was analyzed, further stratified by HF with reduced versus preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, inpatient versus outpatient enrollment, age, obesity, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and attainment of ≥50% guideline-recommended doses of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and ß-blockers. Among 1911 patients (mean±SD age, 65.1±13.4 years; 26.6% women; 62% inpatient and 38% outpatient), NT-proBNP declined overall, with more rapid declines among inpatients, those with obesity, those with atrial fibrillation, and those attaining ≥50% guideline-recommended doses. Each doubling of NT-proBNP was associated with increases in left ventricular volume (by 6.1 mL), E/e' (transmitral to mitral annular early diastolic velocity ratio) (by 1.4 points), left atrial volume (by 3.6 mL), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (by -2.1%). The effect sizes of these associations were lower among patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, atrial fibrillation, or advanced age (Pinteraction<0.001). A landmark analysis identified that an SD increase in NT-proBNP over 6 months was associated with a 27% increase in the risk of the composite event of HF hospitalization or all-cause death between 6 months and 2 years (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.15-1.40]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The relationships between NT-proBNP and structural/functional remodeling differed by age, presence of atrial fibrillation, and HF phenotypes. The association of increased NT-proBNP with increased risk of adverse outcomes was consistent in all subgroups.

Urinary Proteomics and Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have addressed plasma proteomics in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, limited data are available on the prognostic value of urinary proteomics. The objective of our study was to identify urinary proteins/peptides associated with death and heart failure admission in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population included participants enrolled in TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial). The relationship between urine protein levels and the risk of death or heart failure admission was assessed using Cox regression, in both nonadjusted analyses and adjusting for urine creatinine levels, and the MAGGIC (Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure) score. A total of 426 (12.4%) TOPCAT participants had urinary protein data and were included. There were 40 urinary proteins/peptides significantly associated with death or heart failure admission in nonadjusted analyses, 21 of which were also significant adjusted analyses. Top proteins in the adjusted analysis included ANGPTL2 (angiopoietin-like protein 2) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.5731 [95% CI, 0.47-0.7]; P=3.13E-05), AMY2A (α amylase 2A) (HR, 0.5496 [95% CI, 0.44-0.69]; P=0.0001), and DNASE1 (deoxyribonuclease-1) (HR, 0.5704 [95% CI, 0.46-0.71]; P=0.0002). Higher urinary levels of proteins involved in fibrosis (collagen VI α-1, collagen XV α-1), metabolism (pancreatic α-amylase 2A/B, mannosidase α class 1A member 1), and inflammation (heat shock protein family D member 1, inducible T cell costimulatory ligand) were associated with a lower risk of death or heart failure admission. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies several novel associations between urinary proteins/peptides and outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Many of these associations are independent of clinical risk scores and may aid in risk stratification in this patient population.

Convalescent Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Long-Term Outcomes after an Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been shown to be associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients after an acute coronary syndrome when measured soon after an event. Although dynamic in the acute phase after myocardial injury, GDF-15 has been shown to remain stable during convalescence. In this study, we aimed to assess the value of GDF-15 as a long-term prognostic marker for clinical outcomes when measured in the convalescent phase following an acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: GDF-15 concentrations were measured in 1945 patients who were recruited between 2002 and 2009 to the Coronary Disease Cohort Study. For this analysis, follow-up was curtailed at 10 years and association of GDF-15 with all-cause death, cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and heart failure hospitalizations were assessed with multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: After 10 years of follow-up, there were 648 deaths (348 from cardiovascular causes), 500 admissions for myocardial infarction, and 436 for heart failure. Four-month convalescent GDF-15 demonstrated a robust independent association with all endpoints, which remained after adjustment for Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score and other convalescent biomarkers. When compared to the lowest quartile of GDF-15 concentrations, those in the highest quartile had a 3-fold increased risk of all-cause death. CONCLUSIONS: Convalescent plasma GDF-15 is a strong and independent predictor of 10-year all-cause death, cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and heart failure admission following an acute coronary syndrome. AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY TRIAL ID: ACTRN12605000431628.

2023 position statement on improving management for patients with heart failure in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Heart failure affects 1-3% of the population and remains a major public health problem, with high rates of hospitalisation and mortality. Health inequities in the incidence of heart failure have widened over the last 13 years in Aotearoa New Zealand. Urgent action is required to address the inequitable burden of heart failure among Maori and Pasifika. Regional and international heart failure guidelines now provide clear and consistent guidance on the contemporary approach to management for patients with heart failure. The purpose of this position statement is to ensure that all people in Aotearoa New Zealand have access to optimal healthcare delivery and pharmacotherapy for contemporary management of heart failure. Three main areas are addressed, including: 1) access to evidence-based pharmacotherapy for patients with heart failure, 2) the importance of early initiation and titration of pharmacotherapy, and 3) the workforce required to ensure timely delivery of heart failure therapies. Implementation of evidence-based healthcare will ensure all patients with heart failure in Aotearoa New Zealand have opportunity for substantial improvement in health.

The Prevalence and Management of Atrial Fibrillation in New Zealand Maori Detected through an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening was incorporated into an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (AAA) program for New Zealand (NZ) Maori. METHODS: AF screening was performed as an adjunct to AAA screening of Maori men aged 60-74 years and women aged 65-74 years registered with primary health care practices in Auckland, NZ. Pre-existing AF was determined through coded diagnoses or medications in the participant's primary care record. Subsequent audit of the record assessed accuracy of pre-screening coding, medication use and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Among 1,933 people successfully screened, the prevalence of AF was 144 (7.4%), of which 46 (2.4% of the cohort) were patients without AF coded in the medical record. More than half of these were revealed to be known AF but that was not coded. Thus, the true prevalence of newly detected AF was 1.1% (n=21). An additional 48 (2.5%) of the cohort had been coded as AF but were not in AF at the time of screening. Among the 19 at-risk screen-detected people with AF, 10 started appropriate anticoagulation therapy within 6 months. Of the nine patients who did not commence anticoagulation therapy, five had a subsequent adverse clinical outcome in the follow-up period, including one with ischaemic stroke; two had contraindications to anticoagulants. Among those with previously diagnosed AF, the proportion receiving anticoagulation therapy rose from 57% pre-screening to 83% at 6 months post-screening (p<0.0001); among newly diagnosed AF the proportion rose from 0% to 53% (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: AF screening is a feasible low-cost adjunct to AAA screening with potential to reduce ethnic inequities in stroke incidence. However, effective measures are needed to ensure that high-risk newly diagnosed AF is managed according to best practice guidelines.

Sex differences in outcomes after acute coronary syndrome vary with age: a New Zealand national study.

AIMS: This study investigated age-specific sex differences in short- and long-term clinical outcomes following hospitalization for a first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in New Zealand (NZ). METHODS AND RESULTS: Using linked national health datasets, people admitted to hospital for a first-time ACS between January 2010 and December 2016 were included. Analyses were stratified by sex and 10-year age groups. Logistic and Cox regression were used to assess in-hospital death and from discharge the primary outcome of time to first cardiovascular (CV) readmission or death and other secondary outcomes at 30 days and 2 years. Among 63 245 people (mean age 69 years, 40% women), women were older than men at the time of the ACS admission (mean age 73 vs. 66 years), with a higher comorbidity burden. Overall compared with men, women experienced higher rates of unadjusted in-hospital death (10% vs. 7%), 30-day (16% vs. 12%) and 2-year (44% vs. 34%) death, or CV readmission (all P < 0.001). Age group-specific analyses showed sex differences in outcomes varied with age, with younger women (<65 years) at higher risk than men and older women (≥85 years) at lower risk than men: unadjusted hazard ratio of 2-year death or CV readmission for women aged 18-44 years = 1.51 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-1.84] and aged ≥85 years = 0.88 (95% CI 0.83-0.93). The increased risk for younger women was no longer significant after multivariable adjustment whereas the increased risk for older men remained. CONCLUSION: Men and women admitted with first-time ACS have differing age and comorbidity profiles, resulting in contrasting age-specific sex differences in the risk of adverse outcomes between the youngest and oldest age groups.

Clinical outcomes of 10 years of cardiac screening in elite New Zealand athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To report findings from the High Performance Sport New Zealand cardiac screening programme, including comparisons between sexes and ethnicities. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Elite Olympic-sport athletes were screened (2012-2022) with personal/family history, physical examination, resting 12-lead ECG and followed from the date of first screening until July 2022. An audit reviewed screening records, including demographic data, ECGs, follow-up and diagnoses. Flagged/equivocal ECGs were re-reviewed (International Criteria). RESULTS: 2075 ECGs from 1189 athletes (53 % female, mean age 21 years; 83 % European, 9 % Maori, 5 % Pacific Islander, 3 % other) were included. No athletes retired for cardiac reasons; there were no cardiac deaths or major cardiac incidents (mean follow-up from first screening: 6.1 years (range: 0.6-10.9 years)). Diagnoses included Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (0.7 %) and cardiomyopathies (0.3 %). Overall, 3.5 % of ECGs were abnormal, with ECGs of females more commonly abnormal (4.4 % vs 2.5 %, p = 0.02) and with a higher proportion of ECGs with abnormal T-wave inversion (TWI) (3.1 % vs 0.9 %, p < 0.001) compared to males. Of the abnormal TWI in females (all aged ≥16 years), 47 % was limited to V1-V3 with no other abnormalities. Abnormality rates were similar between Maori, Pacific Islander and European athlete ECGs. CONCLUSIONS: WPW was the most frequent diagnosis, with very little cardiomyopathy found. The proportion of abnormal ECGs was low overall, but higher in females. This was driven by anterior TWI in V1-V3 which was not associated with diagnoses of conditions associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). There was no difference in the proportion of abnormal ECGs of Maori or Pacific Island athletes compared to European athletes.

Regional Handling and Prognostic Performance of Circulating Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-7 in Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Regional handling and the prognostic performance of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-7, in contrast or in combination with other candidate biomarkers, in chronic heart failure (CHF) remain uncertain. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigated the regional handling of plasma IGFBP-7 and its association with long-term outcomes in CHF in comparison with selected circulating biomarkers. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of IGFBP-7, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity troponin-T, growth differentiation factor-15, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured prospectively in a cohort with CHF (n = 863). The primary outcome was the composite of heart failure (HF) hospitalization or all-cause mortality. In a separate non-HF cohort (n = 66) undergoing cardiac catheterization, transorgan gradients of plasma IGFBP-7 concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 863 patients (age 69 ± 14 years, 30% female, 36% HF with preserved ejection fraction), IGFBP-7 (median: 121 [IQR: 99-156] ng/mL) related inversely to left ventricular volumes but directly to diastolic function. Above the optimal cutoff, IGFBP-7 ≥110 ng/mL was independently associated with 32% increased hazard of the primary outcome: 1.32 (95% CI: 1.06-1.64). Among the 5 markers, IGFBP-7 had the highest hazard for a proportional increment in plasma concentrations independent of HF phenotype in single- and double-biomarker models, and provided incremental prognostic value beyond clinical predictors plus NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity troponin-T, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < 0.05). Assessment of regional concentrations indicated renal secretion of IGFBP-7 in contrast to renal extraction of NT-proBNP, possible cardiac extraction of IGFBP-7 in contrast to secretion of NT-proBNP, and common hepatic extraction of both peptides. CONCLUSIONS: Transorgan regulation of IGFBP-7 is distinct from NT-proBNP. Circulating IGFBP-7 independently predicts adverse outcomes in CHF with a strong prognostic performance when compared with other well-recognized cardiac-specific or noncardiac prognostic markers.

An integrated signature of extracellular matrix proteins and a diastolic function imaging parameter predicts post-MI long-term outcomes.

Background: Patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are at risk of secondary outcomes including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and heart failure (HF). Comprehensive molecular phenotyping and cardiac imaging during the post-discharge time window may provide cues for risk stratification for the outcomes. Materials and methods: In a prospective AMI cohort in New Zealand (N = 464), we measured plasma proteins and lipids 30 days after hospital discharge and inferred a unified partial correlation network with echocardiographic variables and established clinical biomarkers (creatinine, c-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I and natriuretic peptides). Using a network-based data integration approach (iOmicsPASS+), we identified predictive signatures of long-term secondary outcomes based on plasma protein, lipid, imaging markers and clinical biomarkers and assessed the prognostic potential in an independent cohort from Singapore (N = 190). Results: The post-discharge levels of plasma proteins and lipids showed strong correlations within each molecular type, reflecting concerted homeostatic regulation after primary MI events. However, the two molecular types were largely independent with distinct correlation structures with established prognostic imaging parameters and clinical biomarkers. To deal with massively correlated predictive features, we used iOmicsPASS + to identify subnetwork signatures of 211 and 189 data features (nodes) predictive of MACE and HF events, respectively (160 overlapping). The predictive features were primarily imaging parameters, including left ventricular and atrial parameters, tissue Doppler parameters, and proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, cell differentiation, chemotaxis, and inflammation. The network signatures contained plasma protein pairs with area-under-the-curve (AUC) values up to 0.74 for HF prediction in the validation cohort, but the pair of NT-proBNP and fibulin-3 (EFEMP1) was the best predictor (AUC = 0.80). This suggests that there were a handful of plasma proteins with mechanistic and functional roles in predisposing patients to the secondary outcomes, although they may be weaker prognostic markers than natriuretic peptides individually. Among those, the diastolic function parameter (E/e' - an indicator of left ventricular filling pressure) and two ECM proteins, EFEMP1 and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) showed comparable performance to NT-proBNP and outperformed left ventricular measures as benchmark prognostic factors for post-MI HF. Conclusion: Post-discharge levels of E/e', EFEMP1 and FSTL3 are promising complementary markers of secondary adverse outcomes in AMI patients.

Correcting bias in cardiac geometries derived from multimodal images using spatiotemporal mapping.

Cardiovascular imaging studies provide a multitude of structural and functional data to better understand disease mechanisms. While pooling data across studies enables more powerful and broader applications, performing quantitative comparisons across datasets with varying acquisition or analysis methods is problematic due to inherent measurement biases specific to each protocol. We show how dynamic time warping and partial least squares regression can be applied to effectively map between left ventricular geometries derived from different imaging modalities and analysis protocols to account for such differences. To demonstrate this method, paired real-time 3D echocardiography (3DE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sequences from 138 subjects were used to construct a mapping function between the two modalities to correct for biases in left ventricular clinical cardiac indices, as well as regional shape. Leave-one-out cross-validation revealed a significant reduction in mean bias, narrower limits of agreement, and higher intraclass correlation coefficients for all functional indices between CMR and 3DE geometries after spatiotemporal mapping. Meanwhile, average root mean squared errors between surface coordinates of 3DE and CMR geometries across the cardiac cycle decreased from 7 ± 1 to 4 ± 1 mm for the total study population. Our generalised method for mapping between time-varying cardiac geometries obtained using different acquisition and analysis protocols enables the pooling of data between modalities and the potential for smaller studies to leverage large population databases for quantitative comparisons.

High burden of rheumatic heart disease confirmed by echocardiography among Pacific adults living in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous echocardiographic screening studies of children in high incidence acute rheumatic fever (ARF)/rheumatic heart disease (RHD) communities, little is known about the prevalence of RHD in adults in these populations.We sought to determine the prevalence of RHD in an urban area of South Auckland, New Zealand, where previous studies had shown the prevalence of RHD in children to be around 2%. METHODS: A cross-sectional screening study was conducted between 2014 and 2016. Echocardiography clinics were conducted at an urban Pacific-led primary healthcare clinic in New Zealand. Eligible persons aged 16-40 years were recruited according to a stratified randomised approach. Echocardiograms were performed with a standardised image acquisition protocol and reported by cardiologists. RESULTS: There were 465 individuals who underwent echocardiograms. The overall prevalence of RHD (define and borderline) was 56 per 1000 (95% CI 36 to 78 per 1000). Definite RHD was found in 10 individuals (4 of whom were already under cardiology review at a hospital clinic) with a prevalence of 22 per 1000 (95% CI 9 to 36 per 1000). Non-rheumatic cardiac abnormalities were found in 29 individuals. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high burden of both rheumatic and non-rheumatic cardiac abnormalities in this population. Rates described in New Zealand are as high as lower-middle-income countries in Africa. Addressing knowledge gaps regarding the natural history of RHD detected by echocardiography in adults is a priority issue for the international RHD community.

Effectiveness of a Sodium-Reduction Smartphone App and Reduced-Sodium Salt to Lower Sodium Intake in Adults With Hypertension: Findings From the Salt Alternatives Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Even modest reductions in blood pressure (BP) can have an important impact on population-level morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. There are 2 promising approaches: the SaltSwitch smartphone app, which enables users to scan the bar code of a packaged food using their smartphone camera and receive an immediate, interpretive traffic light nutrition label on-screen alongside a list of healthier, lower-salt options in the same food category; and reduced-sodium salts (RSSs), which are an alternative to regular table salt that are lower in sodium and higher in potassium but have a similar mouthfeel, taste, and flavor. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether a 12-week intervention with a sodium-reduction package comprising the SaltSwitch smartphone app and an RSS could reduce urinary sodium excretion in adults with high BP. METHODS: A 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in New Zealand (target n=326). Following a 2-week baseline period, adults who owned a smartphone and had high BP (≥140/85 mm Hg) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention (SaltSwitch smartphone app + RSS) or control (generic heart-healthy eating information from The Heart Foundation of New Zealand). The primary outcome was 24-hour urinary sodium excretion at 12 weeks estimated via spot urine. Secondary outcomes were urinary potassium excretion, BP, sodium content of food purchases, and intervention use and acceptability. Intervention effects were assessed blinded using intention-to-treat analyses with generalized linear regression adjusting for baseline outcome measures, age, and ethnicity. RESULTS: A total of 168 adults were randomized (n=84, 50% per group) between June 2019 and February 2020. Challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and smartphone technology detrimentally affected recruitment. The adjusted mean difference between groups was 547 (95% CI -331 to 1424) mg for estimated 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, 132 (95% CI -1083 to 1347) mg for urinary potassium excretion, -0.66 (95% CI -3.48 to 2.16) mm Hg for systolic BP, and 73 (95% CI -21 to 168) mg per 100 g for the sodium content of food purchases. Most intervention participants reported using the SaltSwitch app (48/64, 75%) and RSS (60/64, 94%). SaltSwitch was used on 6 shopping occasions, and approximately 1/2 tsp per week of RSS was consumed per household during the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized controlled trial of a salt-reduction package, we found no evidence that dietary sodium intake was reduced in adults with high BP. These negative findings may be owing to lower-than-anticipated engagement with the trial intervention package. However, implementation and COVID-19-related challenges meant that the trial was underpowered, and it is possible that a real effect may have been missed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000352101; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377044 and Universal Trial U1111-1225-4471.

Atrial fibrillation incidence and outcomes in two cohorts of octogenarians: LiLACS NZ.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the general population, has significant healthcare burden. Little is known about AF in octogenarians. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and incidence rate of AF in New Zealand (NZ) octogenarians and the risk of stroke and mortality at 5-year follow-up. DESIGN: Longitudinal Cohort Study. SETTING: Bay of Plenty and Lakes health regions of New Zealand. SUBJECTS: Eight-hundred-seventy-seven (379 indigenous Maori, 498 non-Maori) were included in the analysis. METHODS: AF, stroke/TIA events and relevant co-variates were established annually using self-report and hospital records (and ECG for AF). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to determine the time dependent AF risk of stroke/TIA. RESULTS: AF was present in 21% at baseline (Maori 26%, non-Maori 18%), the prevalence doubled over 5-years (Maori 50%, non-Maori 33%). 5-year AF incidence was 82.6 /1000-person years and at all times AF incidence for Maori was twice that of non-Maori. Five-year stroke/TIA prevalence was 23% (22% in Maori and 24% non- Maori), higher in those with AF than without. AF was not independently associated with 5-year new stroke/TIA; baseline systolic blood pressure was. Mortality was higher for Maori, men, those with AF and CHF and statin use was protective. In summary, AF is more prevalent in indigenous octogenarians and should have an increased focus in health care management. Further research could examine treatment in more detail to facilitate ethnic specific impact and risks and benefits of treating AF in octogenarians.

Prognostic modelling of clinical outcomes after first-time acute coronary syndrome in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE: The Multi-Ethnic New Zealand Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes (MENZACS) was established to investigate the drivers of secondary events after first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including addressing inequitable outcomes by ethnicity. Herein, the first clinical outcomes and prognostic modelling approach are reported. METHODS: First, in 28 176 New Zealanders with first-time ACS from a national registry, a clinical summary score for predicting 1-year death/cardiovascular readmission was created using Cox regression of 20 clinical variables. This score was then calculated in the 2015 participant MENZACS study to represent clinical risk. In MENZACS, Cox regression was used to assess N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a prognostic marker for death/cardiovascular readmission in four models, adjusting for (1) age and sex; (2) age, sex, ethnicity; (3) clinical summary score; (4) clinical summary score and ethnicity. RESULTS: Of the 2015 MENZACS participants (mean age 61 years, 79% male, 73% European, 14% Maori, 5% Pacific people), 2003 were alive at discharge. Of the 2003, 416 (20.8%) experienced all-cause death/cardiovascular readmission over a median of 3.5 years. In a simple model, age, male sex, Maori ethnicity and NT-proBNP levels were significant predictors of outcome. After adjustment for the clinical summary score, which includes age and sex, NT-proBNP and ethnicity were no longer statistically significant: log2(NT-proBNP) hazard ratio (HR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.98 to 1.08, p=0.305; Maori ethnicity HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.62, p=0.084. CONCLUSIONS: In 2015 patients with first-time ACS, recurrent events were common (20.8%). Increasing NT-proBNP levels and Maori ethnicity were predictors of death/cardiovascular readmission, but not after adjustment for the 20 clinical risk factors represented by the clinical summary score. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12615000676516.

Sodium Restriction in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Sodium restriction is a nonpharmacologic treatment suggested by practice guidelines for the management of patients with heart failure (HF). In this study, we synthesized the data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of sodium restriction on clinical outcomes in patients with HF. METHODS: In this aggregate data meta-analysis, Cochrane Central, MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Embase Ovid, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Plus databases were searched up to April 2, 2022. RCTs were included if they investigated the effects of sodium/salt restriction as compared to no restriction on clinical outcomes in patients with HF. Outcomes of interest included mortality, hospitalization, change in New York Heart Association functional class, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: Seventeen RCTs were identified (834 and 871 patients in intervention and control groups, respectively). Sodium restriction did not reduce the risk of all-cause death (odds ratio, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.58-1.58]), hospitalization (odds ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.62-1.13]), or the composite of death/hospitalization (odds ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.63-1.23]). The results were similar in different subgroups, except for the numerically lower risk of death with reduced sodium intake reported in RCTs with dietary sodium at the 2000 to 3000 mg/d range as opposed to <2000 mg/d (and in RCTs with versus without fluid restriction as a co-intervention). Among RCTs reporting New York Heart Association change, 2 RCTs (which accounted for two-thirds of the data) showed improvement in New York Heart Association class with sodium restriction. Substantial heterogeneity existed for QoL: 6 RCTs showed improvement of QoL and 4 RCTs showed no improvement of sodium restriction on QoL. CONCLUSIONS: In a meta-analysis of RCTs, sodium restriction was not associated with fewer deaths or hospitalizations in patients with HF. Dietary sodium restriction may be associated with improvements in symptoms and QoL.