Impact of anemia on outcomes and resource utilization in patients with myocardial infarction: A national database analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although anemia is common in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), management remains controversial. We quantified the association of anemia with in-hospital outcomes and resource utilization in patients admitted with MI using a large national database. METHODS: All hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis code for acute MI in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2014 and 2018 were identified. Among these hospitalizations, patients with anemia were identified using a secondary diagnosis code. Data on demographic and clinical variables were collected. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital adverse events, length of stay (LOS), and total cost. Multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear models were used to evaluate the relationship between anemia and outcomes. RESULTS: Among 1,113,181 MI hospitalizations, 254,816 (22.8%) included concomitant anemia. Anemic patients were older and more likely to be women. After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, anemia was associated with higher mortality (7.1 vs. 4.3%; odds ratio 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.12, p < 0.001). Anemia was also associated with a mean of 2.71 days longer LOS (average marginal effects [AME] 2.71; 95% CI 2.68-2.73, p < 0.05), and $ 9703 mean higher total costs (AME $9703, 95% CI $9577-$9829, p < 0.05). Anemic patients who received blood transfusions had higher mortality as compared with those who did not (8.2% vs. 7.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In MI patients, anemia was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, adverse events, total cost, and length of stay. Transfusion was associated with increased mortality, and its role in MI requires further research.

A case report of vaping-associated sudden cardiac arrest in a young healthy patient.

Introduction and importance: While vaping has increased significantly among young individuals, the effects of vape aerosol constituents on cardiac electrophysiological dynamics remain unknown. Case presentation: A 22-year-old female with a history of energy vaping presented with cardiac arrest. Found to have no pulse, CPR was started and an initial rhythm of ventricular tachycardia was obtained. Shock was administered with a follow-up rhythm of ventricular fibrillation. She was emergently defibrillated and entered atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Toxicology and troponins were all negative. Left heart catheterization and cardiac MRI were unremarkable. She was discharged with an external defibrillation vest and a tentative plan for outpatient electrophysiology study in the setting of negative work-up for cardiopulmonary arrest. Clinical discussion: Vaping-induced sudden cardiac arrest may be attributed to a reduction in cardiac repolarization reserve. Exposure to vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, substances present in nearly all vape products, have been found to incite arrhythmias and disrupt cardiac conduction in animals. Acrolein, an aldehyde byproduct of glycerin, has also been found to induce arrhythmias due to autonomic dysfunction. Increased intracellular calcium concentration and free radical damage, which occur as a result of inhaling particulate matter generated from e-cigarettes, further propagates the risk of arrhythmia. Conclusion: The effects of inhaling vape aerosols remain not fully understood. While there is a perceived notion that nicotine-free aerosols may be harmless, that remains unclear. Further studies are needed to evaluate proarrhythmogenic effects and autonomic dysfunction from the various chemical substances present in vape aerosols.

A case report of postcardioversion device-related thrombus in a patient with left atrial appendage occlusion device on apixaban.

Background: Current guidelines recommend proceeding with cardioversion, without the explicit need for preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), in patients compliant with oral anticoagulation for at least 3 weeks. The relevance of these guidelines remains unclear in those undergoing repeat cardioversion. Case summary: A 66-year-old male with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) and a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) device, compliant with apixaban, presented with dyspnea and lightheadedness. He was cardioverted into sinus rhythm, 10 days before symptom onset, with TEE unremarkable at the time. An ECG revealed that the patient converted back into AF and a repeat cardioversion was scheduled. At the patient's request, a TEE was obtained, revealing a new 2 cm×1 cm thrombus in the left atrium above the WATCHMAN device. Cardioversion was canceled and the patient was hospitalized for AF management. Discussion: Cardioverted patients are at risk for thrombus formation due to atrial stunning, a transitory dysfunction of the atrial appendage and atrium, which occurs immediately after cardioversion and can persist for several weeks. The likelihood of a thrombus is further propagated by individual risk factors for stroke. Conclusion: Anticoagulation does not eliminate the risk of thrombus formation in those with increased risk factors for stroke. Further studies are warranted to assess the need for routine TEE, after cardioversion, in those with stroke risk factors on anticoagulation or who have LAAO.

In-hospital safety outcomes of left atrial appendage occlusion in octogenarians and nonagenarians.

AIMS: Data on safety outcomes of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in elderly patients are limited. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of LAAO between octogenarians (age 80-89) and nonagenarians (age ≥90) vs. younger patients (age ≤79). METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample database to identify patients hospitalized for LAAO from 2016 to 2020 and to compare in-hospital safety outcomes in octogenarians and nonagenarians vs. younger patients. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital all-cause mortality or stroke. Secondary outcomes included procedural complications, length of stay (LOS), and total costs. Outcomes were determined using logistic regression models. Among 84 140 patients hospitalized for LAAO, 32.9% were octogenarians, 2.8% were nonagenarians, and 64.3% were ≤79 years of age. Over the study period, the volume of LAAO increased in all age groups (all Ptrend < 0.01). After adjustment for clinical and demographic factors, octogenarians and nonagenarians had similar odds of in-hospital all-cause mortality or stroke [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-2.13 for octogenarians; aOR 1.69, 95% CI 0.67-3.92 for nonagenarians], cardiac tamponade, acute kidney injury, major bleeding, and blood transfusion, in addition to similar LOS and total costs compared with younger patients (all P > 0.05). However, octogenarians and nonagenarians had higher odds of vascular complications compared with younger patients (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-1.99 for octogenarians; aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.18-2.97 for nonagenarians). CONCLUSION: Octogenarians and nonagenarians undergoing LAAO have a similar safety profile compared with clinically similar younger patients except for higher odds of vascular complications.

Safety and Efficacy of Combining Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion With Another Cardiac Procedure.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) combined with other cardiac procedures have not been previously examined. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining LAAO with other cardiac procedures vs isolated LAAO. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2016 to 2020 National Inpatient Sample database to compare patients undergoing LAAO combined with another cardiac procedure vs isolated LAAO. Outcomes included risk-adjusted major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), in-hospital mortality, major complications, length of stay (LOS), and total costs. RESULTS: The total cohort included 88,910 weighted encounters, of which 1,225 (1.4%) involved concomitant cardiac procedures. After risk adjustment, patients in the concomitant procedure group had similar odds of MACEs (adjusted OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 0.94-2.74); in-hospital mortality; and complications including stroke, acute kidney injury, major bleeding, blood transfusion, and vascular injury. They also had similar LOS (1 day vs 1 day; P = 0.32) and higher costs ($44,723 vs $32,364; P < 0.01) compared with isolated LAAO but shorter LOS (1 day vs 2 days; P < 0.01) and lower costs ($51,552 vs $63,170; P = 0.04) compared with LAAO with sequential procedures. In subgroup analyses, concomitant atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter ablation had higher adjusted odds of heart block (P < 0.01), and concomitant transcatheter aortic valve replacement had higher adjusted odds of stroke (P = 0.02) and vascular injury (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective observational study, combining LAAO with another cardiac intervention appeared to be associated with similar MACEs and LOS. However, certain complications appeared to be more frequent, and the cost was higher with combined procedures.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis versus thrombectomy for submassive and massive pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Controversy surrounds the optimal therapy for submassive and massive pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) versus surgical and catheter-based thrombectomy in patients with submassive and massive PE. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Google Scholar for studies comparing outcomes of CDT versus thrombectomy in submassive and massive PE. Studies were identified and data were extracted by two independent reviewers. A random effects model was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, procedural complications, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmissions, and right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) ratio improvement. RESULTS: Eight observational studies with 1403 patients were included, of whom 50.0 % received CDT. Compared to thrombectomy, CDT was associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality (RR 0.62; 95 % CI 0.43-0.89; p = 0.01) and similar rates of major bleeding (p = 0.61), blood transfusion (p = 0.41), stroke (p = 0.41), and atrial fibrillation (p = 0.71). The hospital and ICU LOS, 30-day readmissions, and degree of RV/LV ratio improvement were similar between the two strategies (all p > 0.1). In subgroup analyses, in-hospital mortality was similar between CDT and catheter-based thrombectomy (p = 0.48) but lower with CDT compared with surgical thrombectomy (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with submassive and massive PE, CDT was associated with similar in-hospital mortality compared to catheter-based thrombectomy, but lower in-hospital mortality compared to surgical thrombectomy. Procedural complications, LOS, 30-day readmissions, and RV/LV ratio improvement were similar between CDT and any thrombectomy. Randomized controlled trials are indicated to confirm our findings.

Evaluation of stable angina by coronary computed tomographic angiography versus standard of care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited data comparing Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) versus the usual Standard of care (SOC) in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare CCTA versus SOC in patients with stable CAD. METHODS: We searched multiple databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CCTA with SOC, which included various functional testing approaches for evaluating stable CAD. We used a random-effects model to calculate risk ratios (RRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Outcomes included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), hospitalization for unstable angina (UA), invasive angiography, revascularization, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). RESULTS: We identified 6 RCTs with 19,881 patients with stable CAD, of which 9995 underwent CCTA, and 9886 underwent SOC. There were no significant differences between CCTA and SOC in terms of all-cause mortality (RR: 0.91; 95 % CI: 0.70-1.19; p = 0.50), MI (RR: 0.78; 95 % CI: 0.58-1.05; p = 0.11), hospitalizations for UA (RR: 1.20; 95 % CI: 0.95-1.51;p = 0.12), invasive angiography (RR: 0.71; 95 % CI: 0.32-1.61; p = 0.42), revascularization (RR:1.25; 95 % CI: 0.83-1.89; p = 0.29), PCI (RR: 1.20; 95 % CI: 0.78-1.85; p = 0.40), and CABG rates (RR: 0.89; 95 % CI: 0.530-1.49; p = 0.65). CONCLUSION: In patients with stable CAD, CCTA is associated with similar outcomes compared to the usual Standard of care. Given its potential to quickly rule out severe obstructive disease, its ability to provide non-invasive physiology and identify non-obstructive CAD with plaque information makes it an attractive addition to the available armamentarium to evaluate chest pain.

Outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with and without amyloidosis: A nationwide analysis from the United States.

BACKGROUND: Amyloidosis is a common comorbidity in elderly patients with aortic stenosis (AS) referred for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aims to assess the impact of amyloidosis on the clinical outcomes of TAVR. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of the National Inpatient Sample database that identified adult patients (≥18 years) with AS hospitalized for TAVR from 2016 through 2020 to compare outcomes in those with versus without amyloidosis. Our primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included procedural complications, hospital length of stay (LOS), and total costs. TAVR trends in both cohorts were also evaluated. RESULTS: The total cohort included 304,710 patients with AS undergoing TAVR, of whom 410 had amyloidosis. Over the study period, TAVR trends increased significantly in patients with and without amyloidosis (both ptrend < 0.01). Patients with amyloidosis were more likely to be older males with atrial fibrillation/flutter, congestive heart failure, renal disease, and dementia compared to non-amyloidosis patients. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, patients with amyloidosis had similar odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.66, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.34-3.63), heart block (aOR 1.33, 95 % CI 0.84-2.10), permanent pacemaker insertion (aOR 0.67, 95 % CI 0.27-1.66), stroke (aOR 0.90, 95 % CI 0.32-3.13), acute kidney injury, major bleeding, blood transfusion, vascular complications, in addition to similar LOS (p = 0.21) and total costs (p = 0.18) compared to patients without amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: In patients with AS undergoing TAVR, comorbid amyloidosis is associated with similar in-hospital mortality and procedural complications compared to patients without amyloidosis.

Outcomes of Percutaneous Atrial Septal Defect Closure With Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair and Transseptal Mitral Valve Replacement (2015 to 2020).

Patients who underwent transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) or transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) have a transeptal access created by an iatrogenic atrial septal defect (ASD) which leads to significant complications requiring closure. Given limited data, we used the National Inpatient Sample between 2015 and 2020 to evaluate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous closure of ASD (PC-ASD) in TEER/TMVR hospitalizations. A total of 44,065 eligible weighted hospitalizations with either TEER (n = 39,625, 89.9%) or TMVR (n = 4,440, 10.1%) with a higher rate of PC-ASD in the TMVR group (10.7% vs 2.0%, p <0.01). The TEER with PC-ASD group were more likely to experience acute heart failure and right ventricular failure and had longer hospital stays but there was no difference in in-hospital mortality compared with the no PC-ASD group. In the TMVR group, there was no difference in the odds of acute heart failure, right ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock, or acute hypoxic respiratory failure, but the odds of mechanical circulatory support, in-hospital mortality, and length of stay were significantly higher in patients with PC-ASD in the TMVR group. In conclusion, rates of percutaneous closure of ASD after TEER were lower than after TMVR and associated with worse in-hospital mortality in TMVR but not in TEER. Further prospective clinical trials are needed to identify patients who would benefit from the closure of iatrogenic ASD.

Outcomes of viral myocarditis in patients with and without COVID-19: a nationwide analysis from the United States.

Cardiovascular complications contribute to 40% of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related deaths. The viral myocarditis associated with COVID-19 accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. How COVID-19 myocarditis compares to other viral myocardites is unknown. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample database to identify adult patients hospitalized for viral myocarditis in 2020 and to compare outcomes between those with and without COVID-19. The primary study outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital complications, length of stay, and total costs. Results: The study population included 15 390 patients with viral myocarditis, of whom 5540 (36%) had COVID-19. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, patients with COVID-19 had higher odds of in-hospital mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.46, 95% CI 2.57-4.67], cardiovascular complications (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.14-1.87) including cardiac arrest (aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.36-3.14), myocardial infarction (aOR 2.97, 95% CI 2.10-4.20), venous thromboembolism (aOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.25-3.22), neurologic complications (aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.10-2.84), renal complications (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.38-2.13), and hematologic complications (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.74), but lower odds of acute heart failure (aOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44-0.80). The odds of pericarditis, pericardial effusion/tamponade, cardiogenic shock, and the need for vasopressors or mechanical circulatory support were similar. Patients with COVID-19 had longer length of stay (7 days vs. 4 days, P<0.01) and higher total costs ($21,308 vs. $14,089, P<0.01). Conclusions: Among patients with viral myocarditis, COVID-19 is associated with higher in-hospital mortality and cardiovascular, neurologic, renal, and hematologic complications compared to non-COVID-19 viruses.

Intracoronary Imaging Versus Coronary Angiography Guidance for Implantation of Second and Third Generation Drug Eluting Stents in a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Intracoronary imaging (ICI) facilitates stent implant by characterizing the lesion calcification, providing accurate vessel dimensions, and optimizing the stent results. We sought to investigate the outcomes of routine ICI versus coronary angiography (CA) to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with second- and third-generation drug-eluting stents. A systematic search of PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane databases was conducted from their inception to July 16, 2022 for randomized controlled trials comparing routine ICI with CA. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events. The secondary outcomes of interest were target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and cardiac and all-cause mortality. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled incidence and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 9 randomized controlled trials with 5,879 patients (2,870 ICI-guided and 3,009 CA-guided PCI) met the inclusion criteria. The ICI and CA groups were similar in demographic characteristics and co-morbidity profiles. Compared with CA, patients in the routine ICI-guided PCI group had lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.78, p <0.0001), target lesion revascularization (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.83, p = 0.002), target vessel revascularization (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.00, p = 0.05), and myocardial infarction (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.95, p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in stent thrombosis or cardiac/all-cause mortality between the 2 strategies. In conclusion, routine ICI-guided PCI strategy, compared with CA guidance alone, is associated with improved clinical outcomes, largely driven by lower repeat revascularization.

Pulmonary Artery Catheter Use and Outcomes in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock Treated With Impella (a Nationwide Analysis from the United States).

The role of continuous hemodynamic assessment with pulmonary artery (PA) catheter placement in cardiogenic shock (CS) remains debated. We aimed to assess the association between PA catheter placement and clinical outcomes in patients with CS secondary to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with an intravascular microaxial flow pump. We identified patients hospitalized with STEMI complicated by CS on mechanical circulatory support with an intravascular microaxial flow pump (Impella, Abiomed, Danvers, Massachusetts) using the National Inpatient Sample database and compared the outcomes in those treated with and without PA catheters. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included in-hospital complications, hospital length of stay, inpatient costs, and temporal trends. The total cohort included 14,635 hospitalizations for STEMI complicated by CS treated with Impella between 2016 and 2020, of whom 5,505 (37.6%) received PA catheters. Over the study period, the use of PA catheters increased significantly from 25.9% to 41.8% (ptrend <0.01). Similarly, the use of Impella increased from 9.9% to 18.9% (ptrend <0.01). After adjustment for baseline characteristics using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, PA catheter use was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 0.96, p = 0.01) and similar cardiovascular, neurologic, renal, and hematologic complications; length of stay; and inpatient costs compared with no PA catheter use. In conclusion, PA catheter use in patients with STEMI complicated by CS treated with Impella is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality and similar complication rates. Given the mortality benefit, further research is necessary to optimize PA catheter use in patients with STEMI with CS.

Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Nonagenarians and Octogenarians (Analysis from the National Inpatient Sample Database).

Risks among nonagenarian (age ≥90 years) and octogenarian (age 80 to 89 years) patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) compared with clinically similar septuagenarian (age 70 to 79 years) patients remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of TAVI in nonagenarians and octogenarians compared with septuagenarians. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample database to identify patients aged ≥70 years hospitalized for TAVI from 2016 to 2020 and to compare outcomes in nonagenarians and octogenarians versus septuagenarians. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included procedural complications, length of stay (LOS), and total costs. The trends in in-hospital outcomes were evaluated. Results were adjusted for demographic/clinical factors. The total cohort included 263,325 patients hospitalized for TAVI, of whom 11.9% were nonagenarians, 51.1% octogenarians, and 37.0% septuagenarians. After adjustment, nonagenarians and octogenarians had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.80, 95% confidence interval 1.34 to 2.41 for nonagenarians; adjusted odds ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.35 to 2.01 for octogenarians), heart block, permanent pacemaker insertion, stroke, major bleeding, blood transfusion, and palliative care consultation than septuagenarians (all p <0.01). LOS was longer and the total costs were higher for nonagenarians and octogenarians (both p <0.01). Over the study period, in-hospital mortality decreased in nonagenarians (ptrend = 0.04), and major bleeding, permanent pacemaker insertion, LOS, and costs decreased in all patients aged ≥70 years (ptrend <0.01). In conclusion, nonagenarians and octogenarians who underwent TAVI have higher rates of mortality and procedure-related complications than clinically similar septuagenarians. Further research is necessary to optimize outcomes in this frail population.

Acute limb ischemia from embolization of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm thrombus: a rare case report.

Myocardial infarction (MI) can lead to a wide spectrum of mechanical complications. Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVP) is a rare but serious complication of MI. Case presentation: A 69-year-old woman with prior coronary artery bypass grafting and a remote history of inferolateral ST-elevation MI (STEMI) with failure to revascularize the left circumflex artery presented with gangrenous right toes that appeared 2 years after her STEMI. A computed tomography angiogram of the right lower extremity showed arterial occlusion and mild atherosclerotic disease. Echocardiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm with an adherent mural thrombus as the underlying cause of acute limb ischemia. The patient was started on heparin and cardiothoracic surgery was consulted but did not operate as the risk of surgery outweighed the benefit. On hospital day 3, the patient underwent amputation of her gangrenous toes as the tissue was nonviable. The patient remained stable during her hospital stay and was discharged on day 5 on long-term anticoagulation. Clinical discussion: LVPs have a wide spectrum of presentations, from asymptomatic or nonspecific symptoms to thromboembolism with end-organ damage, such as in our case. Therefore, early diagnosis and management are of paramount importance. Our patient's prior coronary artery bypass grafting most likely helped in forming a fibrous pericardium that sealed the pseudoaneurysm and prevented its rupture. Conclusions: STEMI requires close follow-up, especially in cases where revascularization is not achievable, as the risk of mechanical complications and mortality is high. Physicians should have a high suspicion for LVP in patients with prior MI, given its wide spectrum of presentations.

Cardiotoxicities of Novel Therapies in Hematological Malignancies: Monoclonal Antibodies and Enzyme Inhibitors.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAB) selectively target leukemia surface antigens and work by either blocking cell surface receptors or triggering the target cell's destruction. Similarly, enzyme inhibitors bind to complex molecular platforms and induce downstream mechanisms that trigger cell death. These are used in a variety of hematologic malignancies. Yet, they also elicit severe immune-mediated reactions as biological agents that require careful monitoring. Cardiovascular effects include cardiomyopathy, ventricular dysfunction, cardiac arrest, and acute coronary syndrome. While there have been scattered reviews of mAB and enzyme inhibitors, a consolidated resource regarding their cardiovascular risk profile is lacking. We provide general recommendations for initial screening and serial monitoring based on the literature.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Use and Outcomes of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: Analysis From the National Inpatient Sample Database.

Background Racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes exist following many cardiac procedures. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has grown as an alternative to mitral valve surgery for patients at high surgical risk. The outcomes of TMVR by race and ethnicity are unknown. We aimed to evaluate racial and ethnic disparities in the outcomes of TMVR. Methods and Results We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2020 to identify hospitalizations for TMVR. Racial and ethnic disparities in TMVR outcomes were determined using logistic regression models. Between 2016 and 2020, 5005 hospitalizations for TMVR were identified, composed of 3840 (76.7%) White race, 505 (10.1%) Black race, 315 (6.3%) Hispanic ethnicity, and 345 (6.9%) from other races (Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, Other). Compared with other racial and ethnic groups, Black patients were significantly younger and more likely to be women (both P<0.01). There were no significant differences between White, Black, and Hispanic patients in in-hospital mortality (5.2% versus 5.0% versus <3.5%; P=0.89) and procedural complications, including heart block (P=0.91), permanent pacemaker (P=0.49), prosthetic valve dysfunction (P=0.45), stroke (P=0.37), acute kidney injury (P=0.32), major bleeding (P=0.23), and blood transfusion (P=0.92), even after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Adjusted vascular complications were higher in Black compared with White patients (P=0.03). Trend analysis revealed a significant increase in TMVR in all racial and ethnic groups from 2016 to 2020 (Ptrend<0.05). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2020, Black and Hispanic patients undergoing TMVR had similar in-hospital outcomes compared with White patients, except for higher vascular complications in Black patients. Further comparative studies of TMVR in clinically similar White patients and other racial and ethnic groups are warranted to confirm our findings.

Long-term Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pre-existing Coronary Artery Ectasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Coronary artery ectasia is associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction. This meta-analysis evaluates outcomes following acute myocardial infarction in patients with pre-existing coronary artery ectasia. A search strategy was designed to utilize PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Google scholar for studies including the outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery ectasia from inception to February 10, 2022. We reported effect sizes as odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We used I2 statistics to estimate the extent of unexplained statistical heterogeneity. There were 7 studies comprising 13,499 patients in the final analysis. There was no significant difference between patients with coronary ectasia and patients without coronary ectasia in terms of all-cause mortality (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.56; P = 0.79; I2 = 0%), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; OR 4.04; 95% CI 0.34 to 47.57; P = 0.17; I2 = 95%), myocardial re-infarction (OR 2.13; 95% CI 0.83 to 5.47; P = 0.08; I2 = 59%), target vessel revascularization (OR 1.31; 95% CI 0.69 to 2.48; P = 0.21; I2 = 0%), or requiring mechanical supportive devices (OR 1.32; 95% CI 0.22 to 7.83; P = 0.57; I2 = 56%). Acute myocardial infarction in the presence of coronary artery ectasia is not associated with an increased risk of death, MACE, myocardial infarction, or the need for mechanical circulatory support.