Program Directors Survey on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiology Fellowship Training.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed unprecedented changes to medical education, including CV fellowship programs. CV fellowship PDs offer a unique perspective regarding the impact of the pandemic on CV medical education. Objectives: The 4th annual Cardiovascular Diseases (CV) Fellowship Program Directors (PDs) Survey sought to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV fellows and fellowship programs. Methods: The survey contained 31 items examining the clinical, educational, and academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV fellowship programs. Results: Survey response rate was 54%. Most respondents (58%) represented university-based programs. Most PDs felt that changes to clinical practice during the COVID-19 negatively impacted fellow education in cardiac catheterization (66%), outpatient cardiology (52%), nuclear imaging (51%), and echocardiography (50%). Despite improving attendance, 75% of PDs felt that virtual educational conferences adversely impacted interaction between participants. Only 22% felt they improved fellow education. Most PDs (85%) reported a negative impact of the pandemic on fellow well-being and burnout, and 57% reported a decrease in research productivity among fellows. Even though virtual recruitment allowed programs to interview more competitive candidates, most PDs felt that virtual interviews adversely impacted interactions between their fellows and candidates (71%) and their ability to convey the culture of their program (60%). Conclusions: Most CV fellowship PDs felt the COVID-19 pandemic brought changes that negatively impacted the clinical training, didactic learning, academic productivity, and well-being among cardiology fellows. The implications of these changes on the competency of cardiologists that trained during the COVID-19 pandemic deserve future study.

The Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program: A Review of Recommendations for Testing in Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Congress established the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program to reduce unnecessary advanced imaging studies. Organizations that wish to develop AUC can apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to qualify as provider-led entities (PLEs) under this program. Variable methods, content, and formatting of PLE-generated AUC could lead to clinician uncertainty about whether an advanced imaging test is appropriate or not. PURPOSE: To review AUC published by CMS-qualified PLEs focused on advanced imaging tests for coronary artery disease (CAD), a "priority clinical area" identified by CMS. DATA SOURCES: Publicly available data from the worldwide web searched on 29 August 2022. STUDY SELECTION: Approved AUC with recommendations related to testing for CAD. DATA EXTRACTION: Manual review of published AUC by all authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Among the 17 CMS-qualified PLEs, only 7 had published AUC related to CAD. Substantial variation in the methods and formatting of these AUCs was observed. The number of clinical scenarios covered ranged from 6 to 210, and the number of advanced imaging methods covered ranged from 1 to 25. When specifically applied to clinical scenarios, many AUC offered no guidance on appropriateness; those that did conflicted with respect to appropriateness. LIMITATION: Other CMS-identified priority clinical areas were not evaluated. CONCLUSION: CMS-qualified AUC for imaging of CAD are heterogeneous and sometimes discrepant, creating substantial potential for uncertainty among clinicians seeking to provide their patients with appropriate imaging tests. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: No funding was received for this study.

Observer studies of image quality of denoising reduced-count cardiac single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging by three-dimensional Gaussian post-reconstruction filtering and deep learning.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was to asses perfusion-defect detection-accuracy by human observers as a function of reduced-counts for 3D Gaussian post-reconstruction filtering vs deep learning (DL) denoising to determine if there was improved performance with DL. METHODS: SPECT projection data of 156 normally interpreted patients were used for these studies. Half were altered to include hybrid perfusion defects with defect presence and location known. Ordered-subset expectation-maximization (OSEM) reconstruction was employed with the optional correction of attenuation (AC) and scatter (SC) in addition to distance-dependent resolution (RC). Count levels varied from full-counts (100%) to 6.25% of full-counts. The denoising strategies were previously optimized for defect detection using total perfusion deficit (TPD). Four medical physicist (PhD) and six physician (MD) observers rated the slices using a graphical user interface. Observer ratings were analyzed using the LABMRMC multi-reader, multi-case receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) software to calculate and compare statistically the area-under-the-ROC-curves (AUCs). RESULTS: For the same count-level no statistically significant increase in AUCs for DL over Gaussian denoising was determined when counts were reduced to either the 25% or 12.5% of full-counts. The average AUC for full-count OSEM with solely RC and Gaussian filtering was lower than for the strategies with AC and SC, except for a reduction to 6.25% of full-counts, thus verifying the utility of employing AC and SC with RC. CONCLUSION: We did not find any indication that at the dose levels investigated and with the DL network employed, that DL denoising was superior in AUC to optimized 3D post-reconstruction Gaussian filtering.

Burnout and Well-Being Among Cardiology Fellowship Program Directors.

OBJECTIVES: The third annual Cardiovascular Diseases (CV) Fellowship Program Directors (PDs) Survey sought to understand burnout and well-being among CV fellowship PDs. BACKGROUND: Physician burnout is a common phenomenon. Data on burnout among cardiologists, specifically CV PDs, remain limited. METHODS: The survey contained 8 questions examining satisfaction, stress, and burnout among CV fellowship PDs. Burnout was defined based on the self-reported presence of ≥1 symptom of burnout, constant feelings of burnout, or complete burnout. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 57%. Most respondents were men (78%) and 54% represented university-based programs. Eighty percent reported satisfaction with their current job as PD, and 96% identified interactions with fellows as a driver of their satisfaction. Forty-five percent reported feeling a great deal of stress from their job. Stress was higher among women PDs, early-career PDs, and PDs of larger and university-based programs. Twenty-one percent reported some symptoms of burnout, and only 36% reported enjoyment without stress or burnout. Rates of enjoyment without stress or burnout were higher among men and late-career PDs, PDs of smaller programs, and PDs of community-based programs. Seventeen percent of PDs reported a high likelihood of resigning in the next year, of which the most common reason was the tasks of PDs were becoming overwhelming. CONCLUSIONS: Most CV fellowship PDs are satisfied with their position, but stress and burnout remain common. Women PDs, early-career PDs, and PDs of larger, university-based programs demonstrate more adverse markers of well-being. Opportunities exist to support CV fellowship PDs in their critical role.

Program Directors Survey on Diversity in Cardiovascular Training Programs.

BACKGROUND: Women and minorities are under-represented in cardiovascular disease (CVD) specialties. It remains unknown how characteristics of the CVD learning environment affect diversity and how program directors (PDs) approach these critical issues. OBJECTIVES: The second annual Cardiovascular PD Survey aimed to investigate characteristics of the CVD learning environment that may affect diversity and strategies PDs use to approach these issues. METHODS: The survey contained 20 questions examining U.S.-based CVD PD perceptions of diversity in CVD and related characteristics of the CVD fellowship learning environment. RESULTS: In total, 58% of PDs completed the survey. Responding programs demonstrated geographic diversity. The majority were university-based or -affiliated. A total of 86% of PDs felt diversity in CVD as a field needs to increase, and 70% agreed that training programs could play a significant role in this. In total, 89% of PDs have attempted to increase diversity in fellowship recruitment. The specific strategies used were associated with PD sex and the presence of under-represented minority trainees in the program. PDs identified lack of qualified candidates and overall culture of cardiology as the 2 most significant barriers to augmenting diversity. A majority of programs have support systems in place for minority fellows or specific gender groups, including procedures to report issues of harassment or an unsafe learning environment. PDs identified shared best practices for recruitment and implicit bias training, among others, as important resources in their efforts to support diversity in CVD training. CONCLUSIONS: Diversity is important to CVD PDs. They are striving to increase it in their programs through recruitment and strategies directed toward the fellowship learning environment. The CVD community has opportunities to standardize strategies and provide national resources to support PDs in these critical efforts.

Surveillance and Management of Troponin Elevation after Vascular Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postopertive troponin elevation may occur without typical or atypical cardiac symptoms and is associated with an increased 30-day morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to implement a quality improvement initiative of postoperative troponin surveillance algorithm aimed at intensifying medical management after vascular surgery. METHODS: We conducted a single-center study of postoperative troponin surveillance after vascular surgery (n = 201) at a tertiary care, academic medical center from January to December 2016. Troponin surveillance was performed on postoperative days 1-3 after carotid endarterectomy, endovascular aortic repair, infrainguinal bypass, open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, peripheral vascular intervention, and suprainguinal bypass, regardless of cardiac symptoms. Patients with troponin I elevation (>0.034 ng/mL) were managed with a treatment algorithm which included single or dual antiplatelet (AP) agent, high-intensity statin therapy, smoking cessation consultation, and outpatient cardiology consultation and stress testing. Patients with troponin elevation ≥1.0 ng/mL received inpatient cardiology consultation. We assessed adherence to the protocol for intensification of best medical therapy defined as high-dose statin therapy, increase in AP therapy, and smoking cessation consultation according to the established algorithm. RESULTS: Troponin elevation was recorded in 17% (34/201) of patients and was associated with cardiac symptoms in 8 patients (24%), while 26 (76%) patients had an asymptomatic abnormal troponin on postoperative surveillance. One patient was excluded due to death immediately after SUPRA, resulting in 200 patients. Troponin elevation ≥1.0 ng/mL occurred in 11 asymptomatic patients (5.5%). Any intensification of medical therapy was instituted in 76% of patients with elevated troponin and included high-intensity statin therapy (58%), increase in AP therapy (18%), and smoking cessation consultation (66%). Once an elevated troponin level was recognized, 52% of our patients received cardiology consultation with an increased likelihood (100%) in patients with troponin ≥1 ng/mL (P < 0.001). Adherence to outpatient stress testing was 66%. Intensification of medical therapy was not significantly different between patients with abnormal troponin values, >0.034-1.0 (n = 23) versus ≥1.0 ng/mL (n = 10); statin therapy (P = 1.0), AP (P = 0.34), and smoking cessation (P = 1.0). One-year mortality was higher in patients with postoperative troponin elevation than those with normal postoperative troponin levels (12% vs. 2.4%; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Routine postoperative troponin surveillance results in intensification of statin therapy in patients with asymptomatic troponin elevation. Further study is needed to determine if this approach reduces long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

How to achieve patient-centered testing: role of the protocol nurse.

INTRODUCTION: Patient-centered cardiac testing is predicated on choosing the right test for the right patient. We studied the effects of changing from script-driven scheduling to nurse-driven protocoling of stress tests. METHODS AND RESULTS: A protocol nurse reviewed records before scheduling and communicated with patients and ordering providers if needed. We found that instituting nurse protocolling of all non-imaging (ETT) and nuclear (MPI) stress tests (N = 3071) resulted in protocol changes in 37% of our patients, and reduced the proportion of tests that could not be performed as scheduled by 56% and cancelations by 71% (P < 0.001 for each). These changes were sustained over two successive 6-month periods following a baseline observation period of 6 months. For MPI, the most frequent nurse interventions were re-protocoling as stress-first MPI (12% of tests), changing test location for clinical reasons (13%), changing stress modality (7%), and care coordination (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Changing from script-driven scheduling to protocol nursing contributed measurably to patient-centered testing.

Procoagulant activity in stored units of red blood cells.

The procoagulant activity (PA) of stored units of red blood cells (RBC) increases over time, which is related to the expression/exposure of tissue factor (TF). However, there is a discrepancy between the TF measured and changes in PA observed, suggesting that other blood components contribute to this activity. Our goal was to evaluate changes in PA of stored RBCs and to determine possible contributors to it. RBC units from 4 healthy donors were prepared and stored at 4 °C. On selected days, RBC aliquots were reconstituted with autologous plasma and tested in the thromboelastography assay. Corresponding supernatants were tested in a clotting assay. For all donors, the clotting time (CT) of reconstituted RBC units decreased from ∼3000-4000s on day 1 to ∼1000-1600s on day 30, with the most dramatic changes occurring between days 1 and 5. Anti-TF antibody slightly prolonged the CT. The concentration of TF did not change significantly over time and was within the range of 0.3-2.3 pM. Bovine lactadherin (LTD) prolonged the CT of the RBC (by 2.4-3.4-fold in days 3-5 and by 1.3-1.8-fold at day 30). Anti-TF antibody together with LTD had a cumulative effect on the CT prolongation. CT of supernatants responded to both anti-TF and anti-FXIa antibodies. Three contributors to the PA of stored RBC were identified, i.e. FXIa in solution and phosphatidylserine and TF exposed on blood cells and microparticles. Failure of LTD and antibodies to completely eliminate PA suggests that other components of blood could contribute to it.

Pharmacodynamic effects during the transition between cangrelor and prasugrel.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of cangrelor and prasugrel on the pharmacodynamic effects of each agent. BACKGROUND: The development of an intravenous P2Y12 antagonist necessitates transition between intravenous and oral therapy. METHODS: Patients (n=15) with stable coronary artery disease who were taking 81 mg aspirin daily were recruited. On study day 1, they received a bolus plus 2-h infusion of cangrelor plus a 60 mg dose of prasugrel at 1 h (n=3), 1.5 h (n=6), 2 h (n=3), or 2.5 h (n=3). Pharmacodynamic effects (light transmission platelet aggregation in response to 20 µmol/l ADP, VerifyNow, and flow cytometry) were assessed during and after the cangrelor infusion. Patients took 10 mg of prasugrel daily for either 5 days (n=6) or 6 days (n=6). On study day 8, pharmacodynamic effects were assessed before and during a bolus plus 2-h infusion of cangrelor. RESULTS: During cangrelor infusion (days 1 and 8), extensive inhibition of platelet function, reflected by limited residual platelet reactivity, was apparent. On day 1, transient (limited to the first hour after cangrelor was stopped) but substantial (>50%) recovery of platelet reactivity was observed. This recovery was attenuated when prasugrel was given at 1.5 h (30 min before cangrelor was stopped). CONCLUSION: Prasugrel did not alter the antiplatelet effects of cangrelor, but transient recovery of platelet reactivity was apparent during the transition from cangrelor to prasugrel. Recovery of platelet reactivity was limited when prasugrel was administered 30 min before the end of the cangrelor infusion.

Pharmacodynamic effects during the transition between cangrelor and ticagrelor.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine pharmacodynamic effects during transition from intravenous cangrelor to oral ticagrelor and from oral ticagrelor to intravenous cangrelor. BACKGROUND: Cangrelor is an intravenous antagonist of P2Y12 and its use will require transition to and from oral agents. METHODS: Patients (n = 12) with stable coronary artery disease who were taking aspirin 81 mg daily were recruited. On study day 1, they received a bolus plus 2-h infusion of cangrelor plus a 180-mg dose of ticagrelor at either 0.5 h (n = 6) or 1.25 h (n = 6). Pharmacodynamic effects (light transmission platelet aggregation in response to 20 and 5 µmol/l adenosine diphosphate, VerifyNow, P2Y12 assay (Accumetrics, San Diego, California), vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein index, and flow cytometry) were assessed during and after the cangrelor infusion. Patients took 90 mg of ticagrelor twice daily for either 6 (n = 6) or 7 (n = 6) doses. On study day 5, pharmacodynamic effects were assessed before and during a bolus plus 2-h infusion of cangrelor. RESULTS: During cangrelor infusion, extensive inhibition of platelet function reflected by limited residual platelet reactivity was apparent. After cangrelor was stopped, the antiplatelet effects of ticagrelor were preserved despite a modest increase in platelet reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor given before or during infusion of cangrelor did not attenuate the pharmacodynamic effects of cangrelor. The pharmacodynamic effects of ticagrelor were preserved when ticagrelor was given during infusion of cangrelor. Consistent with the reversible binding of ticagrelor, this oral P2Y12 antagonist can be administered before, during, or after treatment with cangrelor.

Effect of exercise training and weight loss on platelet reactivity in overweight patients with coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with increased platelet reactivity. Greater platelet reactivity presages adverse events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated whether exercise training and weight loss reduce platelet reactivity in overweight subjects with CAD. METHODS: Study subjects (N = 46) were enrolled in a prospective randomized study of exercise training and behavioral weight loss, which contrasted the amount of exercise performed (750 vs. >3000 kcal/week). Platelet reactivity was assessed with the use of flow cytometry as the percentage of platelets expressing P-selectin or capable of binding fibrinogen in response to 1 µM adenosine diphosphate in blood before and after a 4-month program of exercise and behavioral weight loss. Markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), procoagulant activity (tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1), insulin sensitivity, body composition, physical activity, and fitness were also recorded. RESULTS: Platelet reactivity as assessed by P-selectin expression was decreased after exercise training and weight loss in study participants (from 34 ± 17% to 29 ± 17%; P = .01). The decrease was more pronounced in women (by 13% vs. 2% in men; P < .01). The change in platelet reactivity was not independently associated with measures of body composition or fitness. After controlling for exercise group and gender, the change in platelet reactivity was associated with changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = 0.46) and insulin sensitivity (r = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: In overweight patients with CAD, exercise training and weight loss are associated with a decrease in platelet reactivity that may predict an improved prognosis.

Feasibility of stress only rubidium-82 PET myocardial perfusion imaging.

BACKGROUND: Stress only SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a validated strategy to streamline cardiac diagnostic imaging. The potential use of Rb82 PET stress only MPI has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stress images from 200 Rb82 PET-MPI were reviewed by two blinded readers and categorized as not requiring additional rest images (normal) or requiring additional images (abnormal or equivocal). No additional images were deemed necessary for 95 (48%) and 99 (50%) by the two blinded readers. The stress only interpretation was compared to the previous read of the complete rest-stress study. The rate of detecting a normal result with stress only reading was 76%-79% with a negative predictive value of 94%-95%. Clinical predictors of a normal stress only PET-MPI included lower age, the absence of CAD, and female gender, but not body mass index. Blinded reads of 50 additional consecutive PET-MPI from patients with selected clinical predictors (age <65 years, no known CAD) were then performed. Of these, 40 (80%) were normal by previous rest-stress reading, and 34 (68%) were categorized as not requiring additional images after stress only reading. PET stress only imaging would have resulted in a mean reduction of radiation exposure of 2.4 mSv per study according to a published radiation estimate. CONCLUSION: Stress only Rb82 PET-MPI is a feasible strategy to reduce resource utilization and radiation exposure associated with MPI. This strategy would be most applicable to patients with a lower pretest likelihood.

Reduction in treatment times through formalized data feedback: results from a prospective multicenter study of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effect of systematic data analysis and standardized feedback on treatment times and outcome in a prospective multicenter trial. BACKGROUND: Formalized data feedback may reduce treatment times in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Over a 15-month period, 1,183 patients presenting with STEMI were enrolled. Six primary percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals in Germany and 29 associated nonpercutaneous coronary intervention hospitals participated. Data from patient contact to balloon inflation were collected and analyzed. Pre-defined quality indicators, including the percentage of patients with pre-announced STEMI, direct handoff in the catheterization laboratory, contact-to-balloon time <90 min, door-to-balloon time <60 min, and door-to-balloon time <30 min were discussed with staff on a quarterly basis. RESULTS: Median door-to-balloon time decreased from 71 to 58 min and contact-to-balloon time from 129 to 103 min between the first and the fifth quarter (p < 0.05 for both). Contributing were shorter stays in the emergency department, more direct handoffs from ambulances to the catheterization laboratory (from 22% to 38%, p < 0.05), and a slight increase in the number of patients transported directly to the percutaneous coronary intervention facility (primary transport). One-year mortality was reduced in the total group of patients and in the subgroup of patients with primary transport (p < 0.05). The sharpest fall in mortality was observed in patients with primary transport and TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) risk score ≥ 3 (n = 521) with a decrease in 30-day mortality from 23.1% to 13.3% (p < 0.05) and in 1-year mortality from 25.6% to 16.7% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Formalized data feedback is associated with a reduction in treatment times for STEMI and with an improved prognosis, which is most pronounced in high-risk patients. (Feedback Intervention and Treatment Times in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction [FITT-STEMI]; NCT00794001).