Prognostic value of stress echocardiography assessed by the ABCDE protocol.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of ABCDE-SE in a prospective, large scale, multicentre, international, effectiveness study. Stress echocardiography (SE) was recently upgraded to the ABCDE protocol: step A, regional wall motion abnormalities; step B, B lines; step C, left ventricular contractile reserve; step D, Doppler-based coronary flow velocity reserve in left anterior descending coronary artery; and step E, electrocardiogram-based heart rate reserve. METHODS AND RESULTS: From July 2016 to November 2020, we enrolled 3574 all-comers (age 65 ± 11 years, 2070 males, 58%; ejection fraction 60 ± 10%) with known or suspected chronic coronary syndromes referred from 13 certified laboratories. All patients underwent clinically indicated ABCDE-SE. The employed stress modality was exercise (n = 952, with semi-supine bike, n = 887, or treadmill, n = 65 with adenosine for step D) or pharmacological stress (n = 2622, with vasodilator, n = 2151; or dobutamine, n = 471). SE response ranged from score 0 (all steps normal) to score 5 (all steps abnormal). All-cause death was the only endpoint. Rate of abnormal results was 16% for A, 30% for B, 36% for C, 28% for D, and 37% for E steps. During a median follow-up of 21 months (interquartile range: 13-36), 73 deaths occurred. Global X2 was 49.5 considering clinical variables, 50.7 after step A only (P = NS (not significant)) and 80.6 after B-E steps (P < 0.001 vs. step A). Annual mortality rate ranged from 0.4% person-year for score 0 up to 2.7% person-year for score 5. CONCLUSION: ABCDE-SE allows an effective prediction of survival in patients with chronic coronary syndromes.

Quality control of B-lines analysis in stress Echo 2020.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness trial "Stress echo (SE) 2020" evaluates novel applications of SE in and beyond coronary artery disease. The core protocol also includes 4-site simplified scan of B-lines by lung ultrasound, useful to assess pulmonary congestion. PURPOSE: To provide web-based upstream quality control and harmonization of B-lines reading criteria. METHODS: 60 readers (all previously accredited for regional wall motion, 53 B-lines naive) from 52 centers of 16 countries of SE 2020 network read a set of 20 lung ultrasound video-clips selected by the Pisa lab serving as reference standard, after taking an obligatory web-based learning 2-h module ( http://se2020.altervista.org ). Each test clip was scored for B-lines from 0 (black lung, A-lines, no B-lines) to 10 (white lung, coalescing B-lines). The diagnostic gold standard was the concordant assessment of two experienced readers of the Pisa lab. The answer of the reader was considered correct if concordant with reference standard reading ±1 (for instance, reference standard reading of 5 B-lines; correct answer 4, 5, or 6). The a priori determined pass threshold was 18/20 (≥ 90%) with R value (intra-class correlation coefficient) between reference standard and recruiting center) > 0.90. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient statistics. RESULTS: All 60 readers were successfully accredited: 26 (43%) on first, 24 (40%) on second, and 10 (17%) on third attempt. The average diagnostic accuracy of the 60 accredited readers was 95%, with R value of 0.95 compared to reference standard reading. The 53 B-lines naive scored similarly to the 7 B-lines expert on first attempt (90 versus 95%, p = NS). Compared to the step-1 of quality control for regional wall motion abnormalities, the mean reading time per attempt was shorter (17 ± 3 vs 29 ± 12 min, p < .01), the first attempt success rate was higher (43 vs 28%, p < 0.01), and the drop-out of readers smaller (0 vs 28%, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Web-based learning is highly effective for teaching and harmonizing B-lines reading. Echocardiographers without previous experience with B-lines learn quickly.

Comparison between Regional and Local Pulse-Wave Velocity Data.

BACKGROUND: Gold standard for pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurement is determination of the carotid-femoral cfPWV, reflecting regional aortic PWV. Nevertheless, in several echocardiographic laboratories, PWV is measured locally, most commonly at the common carotid artery (CCA). The aim of this study was to compare regional and local PWV values in healthy volunteers. METHODS: The study population consisted of 22 prospectively enrolled healthy subjects, mean age 38.7 ± 11.1 years, 50% male. For regional PWV measurement, we evaluated cfPWV with a standard echo scanner. Regional PWV was measured at the CCA, with semiautomated dedicated software (MyLab, EsaOte, Italy). RESULTS: cfPWV and local PWV values correlated significantly with high Pearson correlation coefficient (0.62, P = 0.002). Mean regional cfPWV (9.29 ± 3.73 m/s), however, was significantly higher than mean local PWV value (5.96 ± 1.08 m/s) (P < 0.001). The difference persisted in the subgroup analysis using different cfPWV cutoff values (10, 9, 8, and 7 m/s), except for subjects with cfPWV ≤7 m/s, where regional and local PWV values were similar. CONCLUSION: In a group of healthy volunteers, regional and local PWV values showed a good correlation. However, regional PWV was significantly higher than local PWV. These findings should be carefully taken into account when using this technique in the clinical setting.

Timing of invasive strategy in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation are a heterogeneous group with respect to the risk of having a major adverse cardiac event (MACE). A history of diabetes mellitus (DM) is no doubt one of the factors that define a patient as being at a higher risk of having the syndrome. AIM: To compare early invasive strategy with selective invasive strategy indicated for patients with and without DM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 178 patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI), and of these 52 (29.2%) had DM. Patients were randomly assigned to an early invasive strategy (these were scheduled to undergo coronary arteriography and percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 hours after admission) or to a selective invasive strategy (at first these were medically stabilized, with coronary arteriography required only in case of angina recurrence and/or evidence of inducible myocardial ischemia). The patients were followed up for a mean period of 22.8 +/- 14 months. RESULTS: In the follow up the diabetics allocated to an early invasive strategy were found to have a significantly lower angina recurrence incidence (p = 0.005), rehospitalization rate (p = 0.001), fewer arteriographies (p = 0.001) and coronary interventions (p = 0.001) and low cumulative incidence of MACE (p = 0.008) in comparison with the diabetics assigned to selective invasive strategy. We also found, using the Kaplan-Meier curves survival analysis, that the time to MACE in patients assigned to an early invasive strategy was significantly longer than that in the group of selective invasive strategy. In the follow-up of non-diabetics we found no significant difference in MACE rate between the patients allocated to early invasive strategy and those assigned to selective invasive strategy. In the selective invasive strategy group, however, the cardiovascular adverse events tended to occur earlier than in the early invasive strategy group. CONCLUSIONS: Early invasive strategy in diabetic patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome is associated with a reduced MACE rate compared with the selective invasive strategy used in these patients. Early invasive strategy applied in diabetic patients is also associated with a significantly longer time to MACE. In non-diabetics the advantages of early over selective invasive strategy are not so clearly differentiated.

Modifications in Electrocardiographic and Vectordardiographic Morphological Parameters in Elderly Males as Result of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus.

PURPOSE: Morphological electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic features have been used in the detection of cardiovascular diseases and prediction of the risk of cardiac death for a long time. The objective of the current study was to investigate the morphological electrocardiographic modifications in the presence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus in an elderly male population, most of them with multiple comorbidities. METHODS: A database of ECG recordings from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA-CNR), created to evaluate physiological and pathological modifications related to aging, was considered. The study examined a group of 1109 males with full clinical documentation aged 65-84 years. A healthy control group (219 individuals) was compared to the groups of diabetes mellitus (130), angina pectoris (99), hypertension (607), myocardial infarction (160), arrhythmia (386), congestive heart failure (73), and peripheral artery disease (95). Twenty-one electrocardiographic features were explored, and the effects of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes on these parameters were analyzed. The three-years mortality index was derived and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial infarction and arrhythmia were the diagnostic groups that showed a significant deviation of 11 electrocardiographic parameters compared to the healthy group, followed by hypertension and congestive heart failure (10), angina pectoris (9), and diabetes mellitus and peripheral artery disease (8). In particular, a set of three parameters (QRS and T roundness and principal component analysis of T wave) increased significantly, whereas four parameters (T amplitude, T maximal vector, T vector ratio, and T wave area dispersion) decreased significantly in all cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus with respect to healthy group. The QRS parameters show a more specific discrimination with a single disease or a group of diseases, whereas the T-wave features seems to be influenced by all the pathological conditions. The present investigation of disease-related electrocardiographic parameters changes can be used in assessing the risk analysis of cardiac death, and gender medicine.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) Treatment for Hospitalized Patients with COVID- 19.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) exerts antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. However, trials regarding its effects on patients are very controversial. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of (HCQ) in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 260 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Heart and Brain Center of Excellence- Pleven, Bulgaria, for the period from November 6 to December 28, 2020. This study is not randomized, which we compensated for with Propensity Score Matching. Patients in the HCQ group were given HCQ 200 mg 3 times a day (600mg daily) for the duration of their hospitalization plus conventional treatment, while those in the control group were given conventional treatment only. The primary endpoints were transferred to the intensive care unit, needed for mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death. RESULTS: Of the 260 COVID-19 patients, 178 (68.5%) were male and the mean age was of 63.78 ± 12.45 years, with the most prevalent comorbidity hypertension (68.5%). We had two subgroups: treated with HCQ and conventional treatment (128 patients) and treated with conventional treatment only (132 patients). In the primary analysis, patients in the HCQ group presented with fewer comorbidities and were younger than the group without HCQ. Patients treated with HCQ demonstrated a significant benefit in the primary endpoints compared to those without HCQ, namely, transferred to ICU - 20 (20,8%) vs. 41 (36.9%), p=0.011, need for mechanical ventilation 13 (13.4%) vs. 33 (28.2%), p=0.009 and in-hospital death 14 (10.9%) vs. 35 (26.5%), p=0,001, respectively. We repeated this analysis with PSM, where 70 matched pairs were identified. Regarding the primary endpoints, we found again a statistically significant difference between the groups. Comparing transferring to ICU, better outcomes were presented in the HCQ group: 8 (17.4%) vs. 27 (44.3%), with p= 0.003. Besides, a smaller proportion of the patients needed mechanical ventilation: 6 (12.8%), compared to the control group, 23 (35.4%), p= 0.007. Notably, patients from the HCQ group died during hospitalization: 8 (11.4%) in comparison with 19 (27.1%) from the control group, p= 0.018. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with HCQ demonstrated a significant benefit in the primary endpoints in our study, namely, transfer to the intensive care unit, need for mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death. HCQ improves prognosis in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

ESC Working Group on e-Cardiology Position Paper: accuracy and reliability of electrocardiogram monitoring in the detection of atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke patients : In collaboration with the Council on Stroke, the European Heart Rhythm Association, and the Digital Health Committee.

The role of subclinical atrial fibrillation as a cause of cryptogenic stroke is unambiguously established. Long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring remains the sole method for determining its presence following a negative initial workup. This position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on e-Cardiology first presents the definition, epidemiology, and clinical impact of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke, as well as its aetiopathogenic association with occult atrial fibrillation. Then, classification methods for ischaemic stroke will be discussed, along with their value in providing meaningful guidance for further diagnostic efforts, given disappointing findings of studies based on the embolic stroke of unknown significance construct. Patient selection criteria for long-term ECG monitoring, crucial for determining pre-test probability of subclinical atrial fibrillation, will also be discussed. Subsequently, the two major classes of long-term ECG monitoring tools (non-invasive and invasive) will be presented, with a discussion of each method's pitfalls and related algorithms to improve diagnostic yield and accuracy. Although novel mobile health (mHealth) devices, including smartphones and smartwatches, have dramatically increased atrial fibrillation detection post ischaemic stroke, the latest evidence appears to favour implantable cardiac monitors as the modality of choice; however, the answer to whether they should constitute the initial diagnostic choice for all cryptogenic stroke patients remains elusive. Finally, institutional and organizational issues, such as reimbursement, responsibility for patient management, data ownership, and handling will be briefly touched upon, despite the fact that guidance remains scarce and widespread clinical application and experience are the most likely sources for definite answers.

Left atrial volume changes during exercise stress echocardiography in heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess feasibility and functional correlates of left atrial volume index (LAVI) changes during exercise stress echocardiography (ESE). METHODS: ESE on a bike or treadmill was performed in 363 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, n = 173), reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, n = 59), or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 131). The LAVI stress-rest increase ≥6.8 ml/m2 was defined as dilation. RESULTS: LAVI measurements were feasible in 100%. LAVI did not change in HFrEF being at rest 32 (25-45) vs at stress 36 (24-54) ml/m2, P = NS and in HCM at rest 35 (26-48) vs at stress 38 (28-48) ml/m2, P = NS, whereas it decreased in HFpEF from 30 (24-40) to 29 (21-37) ml/m2 at stress, P = 0.007. LA dilation occurred in 107 (30%) patients (27% with treadmill vs 33% with bike ESE, P = NS): 26 with HFpEF (15%), 26 with HFrEF (44%), and 55 with HCM (42%) with P < 0.001 for HFrEF and HCM vs HFpEF. A multivariate analysis revealed as the predictors for LAVI dilation E/e' > 14 at rest with odds ratio (OR) 4.4, LVEF <50% with OR 2.9, and LAVI at rest <35 ml/m2 with OR 2.7. CONCLUSION: The LAVI assessment during ESE was highly feasible and dilation equally frequent with a treadmill or bike. LA dilation was three-fold more frequent in HCM and HFrEF and could be predicted by increased resting E/e' and impaired EF as well as smaller baseline LAVI.

Pulmonary congestion during Exercise stress Echocardiography in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: B-lines detected by lung ultrasound (LUS) during exercise stress echocardiography (ESE), indicating pulmonary congestion, have not been systematically evaluated in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). AIM: To assess the clinical, anatomical and functional correlates of pulmonary congestion elicited by exercise in HCM. METHODS: We enrolled 128 HCM patients (age 52 ± 15 years, 72 males) consecutively referred for ESE (treadmill in 46, bicycle in 82 patients) in 10 quality-controlled centers from 7 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Serbia, Spain). ESE assessment at rest and peak stress included: mitral regurgitation (MR, score from 0 to 3); E/e'; systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) and end-diastolic volume (EDV). Change from rest to stress was calculated for each variable. Reduced preload reserve was defined by a decrease in EDV during exercise. B-lines at rest and at peak exercise were assessed by lung ultrasound with the 4-site simplified scan. B-lines positivity was considered if the sum of detected B-lines was ≥ 2. RESULTS: LUS was feasible in all subjects. B-lines were present in 13 patients at rest and in 38 during stress (10 vs 30%, p < 0.0001). When compared to patients without stress B-lines (n = 90), patients with B-lines (n = 38) had higher resting E/e' (14 ± 6 vs. 11 ± 4, p = 0.016) and SPAP (33 ± 10 vs. 27 ± 7 mm Hg p = 0.002). At peak exercise, patients with B-lines had higher peak E/e' (17 ± 6 vs. 13 ± 5 p = 0.003) and stress SPAP (55 ± 18 vs. 40 ± 12 mm Hg p < 0.0001), reduced preload reserve (68 vs. 30%, p = 0.001) and an increase in MR (42 vs. 17%, p = 0.013) compared to patients without congestion. Among baseline parameters, the number of B-lines and SPAP were the only independent predictors of exercise pulmonary congestion. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of HCM patients who develop pulmonary congestion on exercise had no evidence of B-lines at rest. Diastolic impairment and mitral regurgitation were key determinants of pulmonary congestion during ESE. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating hemodynamic stability by physiological stress in HCM, particularly in the presence of unexplained symptoms and functional limitation.

Pulmonary Congestion During Exercise Stress Echocardiography in Ischemic and Heart Failure Patients.

BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasound detects pulmonary congestion as B-lines at rest, and more frequently, during exercise stress echocardiography (ESE). METHODS: We performed ESE plus lung ultrasound (4-site simplified scan) in 4392 subjects referred for semi-supine bike ESE in 24 certified centers in 9 countries. B-line score ranged from 0 (normal) to 40 (severely abnormal). Five different populations were evaluated: control subjects (n=103); chronic coronary syndromes (n=3701); heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (n=395); heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (n=70); ischemic mitral regurgitation ≥ moderate at rest (n=123). In a subset of 2478 patients, follow-up information was available. RESULTS: During ESE, B-lines increased in all study groups except controls. Age, hypertension, abnormal ejection fraction, peak wall motion score index, and abnormal heart rate reserve were associated with B-lines in multivariable regression analysis. Stress B lines (hazard ratio, 2.179 [95% CI, 1.015-4.680]; P=0.046) and ejection fraction <50% (hazard ratio, 2.942 [95% CI, 1.268-6.822]; P=0.012) were independent predictors of all-cause death (n=29 after a median follow-up of 29 months). CONCLUSIONS: B-lines identify the pulmonary congestion phenotype at rest, and more frequently, during ESE in ischemic and heart failure patients. Stress B-lines may help to refine risk stratification in these patients. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03049995.

Feasibility and value of two-dimensional volumetric stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Stroke volume response during stress is a major determinant of functional status in heart failure and can be measured by two-dimensional (2-D) volumetric stress echocardiography (SE). The present study hypothesis is that SE may identify mechanisms underlying the change in stroke volume by measuring preload reserve through end-diastolic volume (EDV) and left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR) with systolic blood pressure and end-systolic volume (ESV). METHODS: We enrolled 4735 patients (age 63.6±11.3 years, 2800 male) referred to SE for known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or heart failure (HF) in 21 SE laboratories in 8 countries. In addition to regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), force was measured at rest and peak stress as the ratio of systolic blood pressure by cuff sphygmomanometer/ESV by 2D with Simpson's or linear method. Abnormal values of LVCR (peak/rest) based on force were ≤1.10 for dipyridamole (N.=1992 patients) and adenosine (N.=18); ≤2.0 for exercise (N.=2087) or dobutamine (N.=638). RESULTS: Force-based LVCR was obtained in all 4735 patients. Lack of stroke volume increase during stress was due to either abnormal LVCR and/or blunted preload reserve, and 57% of patients with abnormal LVCR nevertheless showed increase in stroke volume. CONCLUSIONS: Volumetric SE is highly feasible with all stresses, and more frequently impaired in presence of ischemic RWMA, absence of viability and reduced coronary flow velocity reserve. It identifies an altered stroke volume response due to reduced preload and/or contractile reserve.

Reproducibility of arterial stiffness indices in different vascular territories and between different observers.

BACKGROUND: Increased arterial stiffness (AS) corresponds to an increase in cardiovascular risk. According to recent guidelines AS parameters can be measured on all superficial arteries. OBJECTIVE: Proceeding from the assumption that viscoelastic properties differ along the arterial tree we set ourselves the task to study the reproducibility of AS indices measured at the common carotid, brachial and femoral arteries. METHODS: The initial study population included 75 patients (40 ± 14.5 years, 45% males) with a variable distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and without clinical evidence of coronary artery disease. AS parameters were measured at the common carotid, brachial and femoral arteries in all patients using echo-tracking (ET) technique. In a subgroup of 36 patients we tested the interobserver variability in the three vascular territories. RESULTS: We found that there was a significant correlation between AS indices measured at the common carotid and femoral artery (with the only exception for augmentation index) and that AS parameters measured at the brachial artery did correlate neither with common carotid nor with femoral artery indices. The interobserver variability of ET derived AS parameters was good when they were measured at the carotid or femoral artery. The values of AS indices at the brachial artery however showed considerably lower interobserver agreement. CONCLUSION: The reproducibility of ET derived AS parameters was good when AS was measured at the common carotid or femoral arteries. On the basis of our results brachial artery is probably not a reliable site for AS measurement.

Potential of Rule-Based Methods and Deep Learning Architectures for ECG Diagnostics.

The main objective of this study is to propose relatively simple techniques for the automatic diagnosis of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals based on a classical rule-based method and a convolutional deep learning architecture. The validation task was performed in the framework of the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge 2020, where seven databases consisting of 66,361 recordings with 12-lead ECGs were considered for training, validation and test sets. A total of 24 different diagnostic classes are considered in the entire training set. The rule-based method uses morphological and time-frequency ECG descriptors that are defined for each diagnostic label. These rules are extracted from the knowledge base of a cardiologist or from a textbook, with no direct learning procedure in the first phase, whereas a refinement was tested in the second phase. The deep learning method considers both raw ECG and median beat signals. These data are processed via continuous wavelet transform analysis, obtaining a time-frequency domain representation, with the generation of specific images (ECG scalograms). These images are then used for the training of a convolutional neural network based on GoogLeNet topology for ECG diagnostic classification. Cross-validation evaluation was performed for testing purposes. A total of 217 teams submitted 1395 algorithms during the Challenge. The diagnostic accuracy of our algorithm produced a challenge validation score of 0.325 (CPU time = 35 min) for the rule-based method, and a 0.426 (CPU time = 1664 min) for the deep learning method, which resulted in our team attaining 12th place in the competition.

ESC working group on e-cardiology position paper: use of commercially available wearable technology for heart rate and activity tracking in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention-in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association, European Association of Preventive Cardiology, Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals, Patient Forum, and the Digital Health Committee.

Commercially available health technologies such as smartphones and smartwatches, activity trackers and eHealth applications, commonly referred to as wearables, are increasingly available and used both in the leisure and healthcare sector for pulse and fitness/activity tracking. The aim of the Position Paper is to identify specific barriers and knowledge gaps for the use of wearables, in particular for heart rate (HR) and activity tracking, in clinical cardiovascular healthcare to support their implementation into clinical care. The widespread use of HR and fitness tracking technologies provides unparalleled opportunities for capturing physiological information from large populations in the community, which has previously only been available in patient populations in the setting of healthcare provision. The availability of low-cost and high-volume physiological data from the community also provides unique challenges. While the number of patients meeting healthcare providers with data from wearables is rapidly growing, there are at present no clinical guidelines on how and when to use data from wearables in primary and secondary prevention. Technical aspects of HR tracking especially during activity need to be further validated. How to analyse, translate, and interpret large datasets of information into clinically applicable recommendations needs further consideration. While the current users of wearable technologies tend to be young, healthy and in the higher sociodemographic strata, wearables could potentially have a greater utility in the elderly and higher-risk population. Wearables may also provide a benefit through increased health awareness, democratization of health data and patient engagement. Use of continuous monitoring may provide opportunities for detection of risk factors and disease development earlier in the causal pathway, which may provide novel applications in both prevention and clinical research. However, wearables may also have potential adverse consequences due to unintended modification of behaviour, uncertain use and interpretation of large physiological data, a possible increase in social inequality due to differential access and technological literacy, challenges with regulatory bodies and privacy issues. In the present position paper, current applications as well as specific barriers and gaps in knowledge are identified and discussed in order to support the implementation of wearable technologies from gadget-ology into clinical cardiology.

Hemodynamic Heterogeneity of Reduced Cardiac Reserve Unmasked by Volumetric Exercise Echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional volumetric exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) provides an integrated view of left ventricular (LV) preload reserve through end-diastolic volume (EDV) and LV contractile reserve (LVCR) through end-systolic volume (ESV) changes. PURPOSE: To assess the dependence of cardiac reserve upon LVCR, EDV, and heart rate (HR) during ESE. METHODS: We prospectively performed semi-supine bicycle or treadmill ESE in 1344 patients (age 59.8 ± 11.4 years; ejection fraction = 63 ± 8%) referred for known or suspected coronary artery disease. All patients had negative ESE by wall motion criteria. EDV and ESV were measured by biplane Simpson rule with 2-dimensional echocardiography. Cardiac index reserve was identified by peak-rest value. LVCR was the stress-rest ratio of force (systolic blood pressure by cuff sphygmomanometer/ESV, abnormal values ≤2.0). Preload reserve was defined by an increase in EDV. Cardiac index was calculated as stroke volume index * HR (by EKG). HR reserve (stress/rest ratio) <1.85 identified chronotropic incompetence. RESULTS: Of the 1344 patients, 448 were in the lowest tertile of cardiac index reserve with stress. Of them, 303 (67.6%) achieved HR reserve <1.85; 252 (56.3%) had an abnormal LVCR and 341 (76.1%) a reduction of preload reserve, with 446 patients (99.6%) showing ≥1 abnormality. At binary logistic regression analysis, reduced preload reserve (odds ratio [OR]: 5.610; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 4.025 to 7.821), chronotropic incompetence (OR: 3.923, 95% CI: 2.915 to 5.279), and abnormal LVCR (OR: 1.579; 95% CI: 1.105 to 2.259) were independently associated with lowest tertile of cardiac index reserve at peak stress. CONCLUSIONS: Heart rate assessment and volumetric echocardiography during ESE identify the heterogeneity of hemodynamic phenotypes of impaired chronotropic, preload or LVCR underlying a reduced cardiac reserve.

Stress Echo 2030: The Novel ABCDE-(FGLPR) Protocol to Define the Future of Imaging.

With stress echo (SE) 2020 study, a new standard of practice in stress imaging was developed and disseminated: the ABCDE protocol for functional testing within and beyond CAD. ABCDE protocol was the fruit of SE 2020, and is the seed of SE 2030, which is articulated in 12 projects: 1-SE in coronary artery disease (SECAD); 2-SE in diastolic heart failure (SEDIA); 3-SE in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (SEHCA); 4-SE post-chest radiotherapy and chemotherapy (SERA); 5-Artificial intelligence SE evaluation (AI-SEE); 6-Environmental stress echocardiography and air pollution (ESTER); 7-SE in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (SETOF); 8-SE in post-COVID-19 (SECOV); 9: Recovery by stress echo of conventionally unfit donor good hearts (RESURGE); 10-SE for mitral ischemic regurgitation (SEMIR); 11-SE in valvular heart disease (SEVA); 12-SE for coronary vasospasm (SESPASM). The study aims to recruit in the next 5 years (2021-2025) ≥10,000 patients followed for ≥5 years (up to 2030) from ≥20 quality-controlled laboratories from ≥10 countries. In this COVID-19 era of sustainable health care delivery, SE2030 will provide the evidence to finally recommend SE as the optimal and versatile imaging modality for functional testing anywhere, any time, and in any patient.

Feasibility and functional correlates of left atrial volume changes during stress echocardiography in chronic coronary syndromes.

An enlarged left atrial volume index (LAVI) at rest mirrors increased LA pressure and/or impairment of LA function. A cardiovascular stress may acutely modify left atrial volume (LAV) within minutes. Aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and functional correlates of LAV-stress echocardiography (SE) Out of 514 subjects referred to 10 quality-controlled labs, LAV-SE was completed in 490 (359 male, age 67 ± 12 years) with suspected or known chronic coronary syndromes (n = 462) or asymptomatic controls (n = 28). The utilized stress was exercise in 177, vasodilator in 167, dobutamine in 146. LAV was measured with the biplane disk summation method. SE was performed with the ABCDE protocol. The intra-observer and inter-observer LAV variability were 5% and 8%, respectively. ∆-LAVI changes (stress-rest) were negatively correlated with resting LAVI (r = - 0.271, p < 0.001) and heart rate reserve (r = -.239, p < 0.001). LAV-dilators were defined as those with stress-rest increase ≥ 6.8 ml/m2, a cutoff derived from a calculated reference change value above the biological, analytical and observer variability of LAVI. LAV dilation occurred in 56 patients (11%), more frequently with exercise (16%) and dipyridamole (13%) compared to dobutamine (4%, p < 0.01). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, B-lines ≥ 2 (OR: 2.586, 95% CI = 1.1293-5.169, p = 0.007) and abnormal contractile reserve (OR: 2.207, 95% CI = 1.111-4.386, p = 0.024) were associated with LAV dilation. In conclusion, LAV-SE is feasible with high success rate and low variability in patients with chronic coronary syndromes. LAV dilation is more likely with reduced left ventricular contractile reserve and pulmonary congestion.

Lung Ultrasound and Pulmonary Congestion During Stress Echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the functional and prognostic correlates of B-lines during stress echocardiography (SE). BACKGROUND: B-profile detected by lung ultrasound (LUS) is a sign of pulmonary congestion during SE. METHODS: The authors prospectively performed transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and LUS in 2,145 patients referred for exercise (n = 1,012), vasodilator (n = 1,054), or dobutamine (n = 79) SE in 11 certified centers. B-lines were evaluated in a 4-site simplified scan (each site scored from 0: A-lines to 10: white lung for coalescing B-lines). During stress the following were also analyzed: stress-induced new regional wall motion abnormalities in 2 contiguous segments; reduced left ventricular contractile reserve (peak/rest based on force, ≤2.0 for exercise and dobutamine, ≤1.1 for vasodilators); and abnormal coronary flow velocity reserve ≤2.0, assessed by pulsed-wave Doppler sampling in left anterior descending coronary artery and abnormal heart rate reserve (peak/rest heart rate) ≤1.80 for exercise and dobutamine (≤1.22 for vasodilators). All patients completed follow-up. RESULTS: According to B-lines at peak stress patients were divided into 4 different groups: group I, absence of stress B-lines (score: 0 to 1; n = 1,389; 64.7%); group II, mild B-lines (score: 2 to 4; n = 428; 20%); group III, moderate B-lines (score: 5 to 9; n = 209; 9.7%) and group IV, severe B-lines (score: ≥10; n = 119; 5.4%). During median follow-up of 15.2 months (interquartile range: 12 to 20 months) there were 38 deaths and 28 nonfatal myocardial infarctions in 64 patients. At multivariable analysis, severe stress B-lines (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.544; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.466 to 8.687; p = 0.006), abnormal heart rate reserve (HR: 2.276; 95% CI: 1.215 to 4.262; p = 0.010), abnormal coronary flow velocity reserve (HR: 2.178; 95% CI: 1.059 to 4.479; p = 0.034), and age (HR: 1.031; 95% CI: 1.002 to 1.062; p = 0.037) were independent predictors of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Severe stress B-lines predict death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. (Stress Echo 2020-The International Stress Echo Study [SE2020]; NCT03049995).