Myocardial protection: comparing histological effects of single-dose cardioplegic solutions-study protocol for a secondary analysis of the CARDIOPLEGIA trial.

Background: Myocardial protection is crucial for successful cardiac surgery, as it prevents heart muscle damage that can occur during the procedure. Prolonged hypoxia without proper protection can lead to adenosine triphosphate consumption, microvilli loss, blister formation, and edema. Custodiol, del Nido, and modified del Nido are single-dose cardioplegic solutions with proven safety and significance in modern surgery. While each has been independently assessed for patient outcomes, limited research directly compares them. This study aims to compare their myocardial protection using histological analysis. Methods: In a double-blind clinical trial, at least 90 patients will be randomly assigned to receive one of the three cardioplegic solutions. Myocardial biopsies will be collected before cardiopulmonary bypass and 15 minutes after reperfusion. The surgical, anesthetic and perfusion techniques will be the same for all patients, following the Institution's standard protocols. Discussion: The ideal cardioplegic solution does not exist, and its selection remains challenging for surgeons. In modern surgical practice, understanding the behavior of these solutions and the ischemic tissue damage caused during induced cardiac arrest allows for safer surgical procedures. The results of this clinical trial can help in understanding the behavior of cardioplegic solutions and their tissue effects. Thus, by selecting the best cardioplegic solution, ischemic damage can be minimized, enhancing the effectiveness of this essential technique in cardiac procedures. The study may aid in implementing clinical protocols in several institutions, aiming to choose the solution with a superior myocardial protection profile, increasing safety, and reducing expenses. Trial Registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC, http://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/): RBR-997tqhh. Registered: January 26th, 2022.

Adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital for COVID-19 and risk factors associated with severity: a retrospective cohort study.

COVID-19 is a disease whose knowledge is still under construction, high transmissibility, with no consensual treatment available to everyone. Therefore, the identification of patients at higher risk of evolving to the critical form of the disease is fundamental. The study aimed to determine risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 in adults patients. This is an observational, retrospective study from a cohort of adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to a public hospital from March to August 2020, whose medical records were evaluated. For the association of possible severity predictors, a Poisson regression was used. The primary outcome was the critical form of the disease (need for admission to the Intensive Care Unit and/or invasive mechanical ventilation). We included 565 patients: mostly men; 55.5% of those who progressed to the critical form of the disease were over sixty years old. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity were the most frequent comorbidities. There were 39.8% of patients who progressed to the critical form of the disease. The hospital mortality rate was 22.1%, and that of critical patients was 46.7%. The independent factors associated with the severity of the disease were obesity [RR = 1.33 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.66; p = 0.011)], SpO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 315 [RR = 2.20 (95% CI 1.79 to 2.71; p = 0.000)], C-reactive protein > 100 mg/L [RR = 1.65 (95% CI 1.33 to 2.06; p = 0.000)], and lymphocytes < 1,000/µL [RR = 1.44 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.75; p = 0.000)]. Advanced age and comorbidities were dependent factors strongly associated with the critical form of the disease.

Adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital for COVID-19 and risk factors associated with severity: a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT COVID-19 is a disease whose knowledge is still under construction, high transmissibility, with no consensual treatment available to everyone. Therefore, the identification of patients at higher risk of evolving to the critical form of the disease is fundamental. The study aimed to determine risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 in adults patients. This is an observational, retrospective study from a cohort of adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to a public hospital from March to August 2020, whose medical records were evaluated. For the association of possible severity predictors, a Poisson regression was used. The primary outcome was the critical form of the disease (need for admission to the Intensive Care Unit and/or invasive mechanical ventilation). We included 565 patients: mostly men; 55.5% of those who progressed to the critical form of the disease were over sixty years old. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity were the most frequent comorbidities. There were 39.8% of patients who progressed to the critical form of the disease. The hospital mortality rate was 22.1%, and that of critical patients was 46.7%. The independent factors associated with the severity of the disease were obesity [RR = 1.33 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.66; p = 0.011)], SpO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 315 [RR = 2.20 (95% CI 1.79 to 2.71; p = 0.000)], C-reactive protein > 100 mg/L [RR = 1.65 (95% CI 1.33 to 2.06; p = 0.000)], and lymphocytes < 1,000/µL [RR = 1.44 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.75; p = 0.000)]. Advanced age and comorbidities were dependent factors strongly associated with the critical form of the disease.

Increased ultrasensitive C-reactive protein is not associated with obesity in hospitalized heart failure patients.

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the association between obesity and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with heart failure admitted to a tertiary hospital. METHODS:: Cross-sectional study with a consecutive sampling of hospitalized patients with heart failure. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and the nutritional status was assessed through indicators such as body mass index (in kg/m2), waist circumference (in cm), waist-hip ratio, triceps skinfold (in mm) and subscapularis skinfold (in mm). Neck circumference (in cm) was measured as well as serum levels of hs-CRP, in mg/L. RESULTS:: Among 123 patients, the mean age was 61.9±12.3 years and 60.2% were male. The median of hs-CRP was 8.87mg/L (3.34 to 20.01). A tendency to an inverse correlation between neck circumference and hs-CRP was detected (r=-0.167; p=0.069). In the multiple linear regression analysis, after adjustment for age, disease severity (NYHA classification III and IV, low ejection fraction, left ventricular dysfunction during diastole), and infectious conditions there was an inverse association between hs-CRP and neck circumference (ß=-0.196; p=0.03) and subscapularis skinfold (ß=-0.005; p=0.01) in the total sample, which was not maintained after the stratification by sex. CONCLUSION:: Increased levels of hs-CRP in patients hospitalized for heart failure were not associated with obesity. OBJETIVO:: Avaliar a associação entre obesidade e níveis de proteína c-reativa ultrassensível (PCR-us) em pacientes com insuficiência cardiac admitidos em um hospital terciário. MÉTODOS:: Estudo transversal com amostragem consecutiva de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca hospitalizados. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos, e o estado nutricional foi avaliado por meio de indicadores como índice de massa corporal (em kg/m2), circunferência da cintura (em cm), razão cintura-quadril, dobra cutânea tricipital (em mm) e dobra cutânea subescapular (em mm). Circunferência do pescoço (em cm) foi aferida bem como níveis séricos de PCR-us, em mg/L. RESULTADOS:: Em 123 pacientes, a média da idade foi 61,9±12,3 anos, e 60,2% eram do sexo masculino. A mediana de PCR-us foi de 8,87mg/L (3,34 a 20,01). Detectou-se tendência à correlação inversa entre circunferência do pescoço e PCR-us (r=-0,167; p=0,069). Na análise por regressão linear múltipla, após ajustes para idade, gravidade da doença (classificação NYHA III e IV, fração de ejeção baixa, disfunção ventricular esquerda durante a diástole) e quadros infecciosos, houve associação inversa entre PCR-us e circunferência do pescoço (ß=-0,196; p=0,03) e dobra cutânea subescapular (ß=-0,005; p=0,01) na amostra total, que não se manteve após estratificação para sexo. CONCLUSÃO:: O aumento dos níveis de PCR-us em pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca não se associou à obesidade.

Increased ultrasensitive C-reactive protein is not associated with obesity in hospitalized heart failure patients / Proteína C-reativa ultrassensível não se associa com obesidade em pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association between obesity and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with heart failure admitted to a tertiary hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a consecutive sampling of hospitalized patients with heart failure. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and the nutritional status was assessed through indicators such as body mass index (in kg/m2), waist circumference (in cm), waist-hip ratio, triceps skinfold (in mm) and subscapularis skinfold (in mm). Neck circumference (in cm) was measured as well as serum levels of hs-CRP, in mg/L. Results: Among 123 patients, the mean age was 61.9±12.3 years and 60.2% were male. The median of hs-CRP was 8.87mg/L (3.34 to 20.01). A tendency to an inverse correlation between neck circumference and hs-CRP was detected (r=-0.167; p=0.069). In the multiple linear regression analysis, after adjustment for age, disease severity (NYHA classification III and IV, low ejection fraction, left ventricular dysfunction during diastole), and infectious conditions there was an inverse association between hs-CRP and neck circumference (ß=-0.196; p=0.03) and subscapularis skinfold (ß=-0.005; p=0.01) in the total sample, which was not maintained after the stratification by sex. Conclusion: Increased levels of hs-CRP in patients hospitalized for heart failure were not associated with obesity.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a associação entre obesidade e níveis de proteína c-reativa ultrassensível (PCR-us) em pacientes com insuficiência cardiac admitidos em um hospital terciário. Métodos: Estudo transversal com amostragem consecutiva de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca hospitalizados. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos, e o estado nutricional foi avaliado por meio de indicadores como índice de massa corporal (em kg/m2), circunferência da cintura (em cm), razão cintura-quadril, dobra cutânea tricipital (em mm) e dobra cutânea subescapular (em mm). Circunferência do pescoço (em cm) foi aferida bem como níveis séricos de PCR-us, em mg/L. Resultados: Em 123 pacientes, a média da idade foi 61,9±12,3 anos, e 60,2% eram do sexo masculino. A mediana de PCR-us foi de 8,87mg/L (3,34 a 20,01). Detectou-se tendência à correlação inversa entre circunferência do pescoço e PCR-us (r=-0,167; p=0,069). Na análise por regressão linear múltipla, após ajustes para idade, gravidade da doença (classificação NYHA III e IV, fração de ejeção baixa, disfunção ventricular esquerda durante a diástole) e quadros infecciosos, houve associação inversa entre PCR-us e circunferência do pescoço (ß=-0,196; p=0,03) e dobra cutânea subescapular (ß=-0,005; p=0,01) na amostra total, que não se manteve após estratificação para sexo. Conclusão: O aumento dos níveis de PCR-us em pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca não se associou à obesidade.

Índice tornozelo-braquial para avaliação do risco cardiovascular em hipertensão arterial / Ankle-brachial index for cardiovascular risk assessment in arterial hypertension

As doenças ateroscleróticas constituem a principal causa de mortalidade em todo o mundo. Na prevenção das doenças cardiovasculares, o manejo da hipertensão, diabetes mellitus e dislipidemia é fundamental. A doença arterial periférica é uma importante manifestação de aterosclerose sistêmica e poderosa preditora de futuros eventos cerebrovasculares e cardiovasculares, como infarto do miocárdio e acidente vascular cerebral. Vários estudos sugerem que o índice tornozelo-braquial, uma medida não-invasiva da doença arterial periférica, é altamente preditivo de subseqüente mortalidade e morbidade cardiovasculares em pacientes hipertensos. Um simples marcador de risco cardiovascular pode permitir screening populacional e estratificar pacientes que necessitam de tratamento mais intensivo. O índice tornozelo-braquial é de fácil obtenção, útil para melhorar a estratificação de risco cardiovascular e parece ter um lugar na rotina de avaliação clínica em pacientes hipertensos.