Impact of diabetes on cardiopulmonary function: the added value of a combined cardiopulmonary and echocardiography stress test.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major health issue worldwide, as patients with T2DM show an excess risk of death for cardiovascular causes, twice as high as the general population. Among the many complications of T2DM, heart failure (HF) deserves special consideration as one of the leading causes of morbidity and reduced life expectancy. T2DM has been associated with different phenotypes of HF, including HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can evaluate the metabolic and ventilatory alterations related to myocardial dysfunction and/or peripheral impairment, representing a unique tool for the clinician to study the whole HF spectrum. While CPET allows for a thorough evaluation of functional capacity, it cannot directly differentiate central and peripheral determinants of effort intolerance. Combining CPET with imaging techniques could provide even higher accuracy and further insights into the progression of the disease since signs of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction can be detected during exercise, even in asymptomatic diabetic individuals. This review aims to dissect the alterations in cardiopulmonary function characterising patients with T2DM and HF to improve patient risk stratification.

Right heart failure in left heart disease: imaging, functional, and biochemical aspects of right ventricular dysfunction.

For decades, cardiologists have largely underestimated the role of the right heart in heart failure due to left heart disease. Nowadays, the importance of evaluating right ventricular (RV) structure and function in left heart failure is well documented and this concept has been emphasized in the most recent heart failure guidelines. However, several relevant questions remain unanswered such as the following: (a) which imaging technique (standard or 3D echocardiography or strain imaging or cardiac magnetic resonance) and, more, which parameters should be used to grade the severity of RV dysfunction? (b) do less widespread and less applied diagnostic tools such as cardiopulmonary stress testing and bioelectrical impedance analysis play a role in this field? (c) are there specific biochemical aspects of RV failure? (d) why notion of pathophysiology of heart and lung interaction are so well appreciated at an academic level but are not applied in the clinical setting? The present review has been prepared by the Heart Failure (HF) working group of the Italian Society of Cardiology and its main objective is to improve our understanding on RV dysfunction in heart failure.

Estimation of increased pulmonary wedge pressure by an algorithm based on noninvasively measured pulmonary diastolic pressure in cardiac patients independent of left ventricular ejection fraction.

AIM: Pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) correlates closely with pulmonary wedge pressure (PAWP); therefore, we sought to evaluate whether an algorithm based on PADP assessment by the Doppler pulmonary regurgitation (PR) end-diastolic gradient (PRG) may aid in estimating increased PAWP in cardiac patients with reduced or preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Right heart catheterization, with estimation of PAWP, right atrial pressure (RAP), PADP, and Doppler echocardiography, was carried out in 183 patients with coronary artery disease (n = 63), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 52), or aortic stenosis (n = 68). One-hundred and seventeen patients had LV EF <50%. We measured the pressure gradients across the tricuspid and pulmonary valves from tricuspid regurgitation (TRV) and PR velocities. Doppler-estimated PADP (e-PADP) was obtained by adding the estimated RAP to PRG. An algorithm based on e-PADP to predict PAWP, that included TRV, left atrial volume index, and mitral E/A, was developed and validated in derivation (n = 90) and validation (n = 93) subgroups. Both invasive PADP (r = .92, P < .001) and e-PADP (r = .72, P < .001) correlated closely with PAWP, and e-PADP predicted PAWP (AUC: 0.85, CI: 0.79-0.91) with a 94% positive predictive value (PPV) and a 55% negative predictive value (NPV), after exclusion of five patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension. The e-PADP-based algorithm predicted PAWP with higher accuracy (PPV = 94%; NPV = 67%; accuracy = 85%; kappa: 0.65, P < .001) than the ASE-EACVI 2016 recommendations (PPV = 97%; NPV = 47%; accuracy = 68% undetermined = 18.9%; kappa: 0.15, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: An algorithm based on noninvasively e-PADP can accurately predict increased PAWP in patients with cardiac disease and reduced or preserved LV EF.

Echocardiography of right ventricular-arterial coupling predicts survival of elderly patients with heart failure and reduced to mid-range ejection fraction.

Echocardiography of right ventricular (RV)-arterial coupling obtained by the estimation of the ratio of the longitudinal annular systolic excursion of the tricuspid annular plane and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) has been found to be a remarkable prognostic indicator in patients with HF. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of TAPSE, PASP and their ratio in the prognostic stratification of outpatients with HF aged ≥70 years and reduced to mid-range ejection fraction (EF). A complete echocardiographic examination was performed in 400 outpatients with chronic HF and left ventricular (LV) EF ≤50% who averaged 77 years in age. During a median follow-up period of 25 months (interquartile range: 8-46), there were 135 cardiovascular deaths. Two different Cox regression models were evaluated, one including TAPSE and PASP, separately, and the other with TAPSE/PASP. In the first model, LV end-systolic volume index, age, no angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use, TAPSE, PASP and gender were found to be independently associated with the outcome after adjustment for demographics, clinical, biochemical, echocardiographic data. In the second model, TAPSE/PASP resulted the most important independent predictor of outcome (hazard ratio [HR]:0.07, p<0.0001) followed by LV end-systolic volume index, no ACE inhibitor use, age and gender. The use of the variable TASPE/PASP improved the predictive value of the new multivariable model (area under the curve [AUC] of 0.74 vs AUC of 0.71; p<0.05). TASPE/PASP improved the net reclassification (NRI = 14.7%; p<0.01) and the integrated discrimination (IDI = 0.04; p<0.01). In conclusion, the study findings showed that assessment of RV-arterial coupling by TAPSE/PASP was of major importance to assess the prognosis of patients with chronic HF and LV EF ≤50% aged ≥70 years.

Bedside wireless lung ultrasound for the evaluation of COVID-19 lung injury in senior nursing home residents.

Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is regarded to be potentially useful to diagnose lung injury in older adults living in nursing homes with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia. We aimed at evaluating presence lung injury among senior nursing home residents by LUS performed with portable wireless scanner echography. The study population consisted of 150 residents with a mean age of 88 years (85% female) residing in 12 nursing homes in Northern Italy. Subjects had to have a history of recent onset of symptoms compatible with COVID-19 pneumonia or have been exposed to the contagion of patients carrying the disease. COVID-19 testing was performed with SARS-CoV-2 nasal-pharyngeal (NP) swabs. Positive subjects to LUS scanning were considered those with non-coascelent B-lines in >3 zones, coalescent B-lines in >3 zones and with iperdensed patchy non-consolidated lungs. Sixty-three percent had positive NP testing and 65% had LUS signs of pulmonary injury. LUS had a sensitivity of 79% in predicting positive NP testing. Sixteen percent of residents tested negative for SARSCoV-2 carried the signs of COVID-19 lung injury at LUS. There were 92 patients (61%) with current or recent symptoms.Positivity to LUS scanning was reported in 73% of residents with symptoms, while it was 53% in those without (P=0.016). A positive NP testing was observed in 66% of residents with symptoms and in 57% of those without (P=0.27). We conclude that assessment of LUS by portable wireless scanner echography can be profitability utilized to diagnose lung injury among senior nursing home residents with or without symptoms compatible with COVID-19 pneumonia.

The assessment of pressure-volume relationship during exercise stress echocardiography predicts left ventricular remodeling and eccentric hypertrophy in patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The contractile response of patients with heart failure (HF) may be assessed by exercise stress echocardiography (ESE)-derived indexes. We sought to test whether ESE parameters are useful to identify the risk of adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with chronic HF and reduced or mildly reduced LV ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: We enrolled 155 stabilized patients (age: 62 ± 11 years, 17% female, coronary artery disease 47%) with chronic HF, LV EF ≤50% and LV end-diastolic volume index > 75 ml/m2. All patients underwent a symptom-limited graded bicycle semi-supine ESE, with evaluation of peak stress LV EF, end-systolic pressure-volume relation (ESPVR, i.e. LV elastance) and cardiac power output to LV mass (CPOM). A complete echocardiographic study was performed at baseline and after 6 ± 3 months. Adverse LV remodeling was defined as the association of eccentric LV hypertrophy (LV mass: ≥115 g/m2 for male and ≥ 95 g/m2 for women, and relative wall thickness < 0.32) with an increase in LV end-systolic volume index ≥10% at six months. RESULTS: Adverse LV remodeling was detected in 34 (22%) patients. After adjustment for clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic data, peak ESPVR resulted in the most powerful independent predictor of adverse LV remodeling (OR: 12.5 [95% CI 4.5-33]; p < 0.0001) followed by ischemic aetiology (OR: 2.64 [95% 1.04-6.73]; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In patients with HF and reduced or mildly reduced EF, a compromised ESE-derived peak ESPVR, that reflects impaired LV contractility, resulted to be the most powerful predictor of adverse LV remodeling.

Similar predictive value of six-minute walking distance and B-type natriuretic peptide in heart failure with reduced to mid-range ejection fraction.

The prognostic insights of heart failure (HF) with mid-range (40-49%) ejection fraction (HFmrEF) are not fully elucidated. We investigated whether the six-minutes walking test (6MWT) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are predictive of outcome across the spectrum of LV systolic dysfunction and whether the HFmrEF cut-off impacts the risk stratification abilities of these tests. We studied 538 outpatients, aged 70±12 years, 28% females, with stable chronic HF and EF<50%, 349 with HFmrEF and 189 with HFrEF. End-points were all-cause and cardiac death. HFrEF patients were more often male, with ischemic etiology, severe symptoms, higher BNP levels, and cardiac mortality than HFmrEF subjects. During 32 (15-46) months follow-up, 123 (23%) patients died, 95 (18%) for cardiac causes. Cut-offs of 125 pg/ml for BNP and 360 meters for 6MWT distance were associated with lower all-cause (10% vs 38%, p<0.001 and 10% vs 26%, p<0.001, respectively) and cardiac mortality (6% vs 36%, p<0.001 and 8% vs 23%, p<0.001, respectively). BNP (HR 2.144, 95%CI, 1.403-3.276) and 6MWT walked distance (HR 1.923, 95%CI, 1.195-3.096) independently predicted outcome, after adjustment for age, gender, obesity, kidney dysfunction, ischemic etiology, NYHA class, unlike the 40% LVEF threshold. Model discrimination and survival differences were significant across LVEF strata. Higher BNP levels and shorter walked distance combined identified patients (26% overall) at particularly poor prognosis in both phenotype groups. Despite differences between HFmrEF and HFrEF patients in clinical and biomarker profile, BNP levels and 6MWT walked distance retain prognostic value over the entire spectrum of LV systolic dysfunction.

Left Ventricular Mass and Thickness: Why Does It Matter?

Several left ventricular geometric patterns have been described both in healthy and pathologic hearts. Left ventricular mass, wall thickness, and the ratio of wall thickness to radius are important measures to characterize the spectrum of left ventricular geometry. For clinicians, an increase in left ventricular mass is the hallmark of left ventricular hypertrophy. Although pathologic hypertrophy initially can be compensatory, eventually it may become maladaptive and evolve toward progressive left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. In particular, patients who show left ventricular dilation and hypertrophy in association with a low relative wall thickness are likely to carry the highest risk.

Prevalence and determinants of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in obese subjects and the role of left ventricular global longitudinal strain and mass normalized to height.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) is a frequent finding in obesity and may predispose to the development of heart failure (HF). However, no data are available on the prevalence of DD after the introduction of the 2016 Recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: To assess the impact of the new Recommendations on the prevalence of DD and on their clinical and echocardiographic correlates in obesity, a prospective study was performed in 588 subjects with an ejection fraction (EF) ≥50% and no history of HF either obese (n = 402; mean age: 47 ± 12 years; women 71%; body mass index [BMI]: 44 ± 8 kg/m2 ), overweight (n = 86; BMI: 28 ± 1 kg/m2 ), or with a normal weight (n = 100; BMI: 22 ± 2 kg/m2 ). All subjects underwent an echocardiographic and Doppler study, including the assessment of global longitudinal strain (GLS). DD occurred in 19% of obese patients, 12% of overweight subjects, and 2% of normal weight subjects. We used multivariable logistic analysis to assess the risk of DD. In patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 , LV mass normalized to height (2.7) (OR: 1.04, P = .0028), and GLS (OR: 0.85, P = .0032) were associated with an increased risk of DD followed by EF (OR: 0.91, P = .045), diabetes (OR: 1.91, P = .065), and systolic blood pressure (OR: 1.02, P = .076). CONCLUSION: These results show that DD is highly prevalent among obese subjects and impairment of longitudinal systolic mechanics, as reflected by GLS reduction, and LV mass normalized to height are major independent predictors of DD in this patients' population.

Optimizing Management of Heart Failure by Using Echo and Natriuretic Peptides in the Outpatient Unit.

Chronic heart failure (HF) is an important public health problem and is associated with high morbidity, high mortality, and considerable healthcare costs. More than 90% of hospitalizations due to worsening HF result from elevations of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures and fluid overload, which are often accompanied by the increased synthesis and secretion of natriuretic peptides (NPs). Furthermore, persistently abnormal LV filling pressures and a rise in NP circulating levels are well known indicators of poor prognosis. Frequent office visits with the resulting evaluation and management are most often needed. The growing pressure from hospital readmissions in HF patients is shifting the focus of interest from traditionally symptom-guided care to a more specific patient-centered follow-up care based on clinical findings, BNP and echo. Recent studies supported the value of serial NP measurements and Doppler echocardiographic biomarkers of elevated LV filling pressures as tools to scrutinize patients with impending clinically overt HF. Therefore, combination of echo and pulsed-wave blood-flow and tissue Doppler with NPs appears valuable in guiding ambulatory HF management, since they are potentially useful to distinguish stable patients from those at high risk of decompensation.

Left atrial strain: a new parameter for assessment of left ventricular filling pressure.

In order to obtain accurate diagnosis, treatment and prognostication in many cardiac conditions, there is a need for assessment of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. While systole depends on ejection function of LV, diastole and its disturbances influence filling function and pressures. The commonest condition that represents the latter is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in which LV ejection is maintained, but diastole is disturbed and hence filling pressures are raised. Significant diastolic dysfunction results in raised LV end-diastolic pressure, mean left atrial (LA) pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, all referred to as LV filling pressures. Left and right heart catheterization has traditionally been used as the gold standard investigation for assessing these pressures. More recently, Doppler echocardiography has taken over such application because of its noninvasive nature and for being patient friendly. A number of indices are used to achieve accurate assessment of filling pressures including: LV pulsed-wave filling velocities (E/A ratio, E wave deceleration time), pulmonary venous flow (S wave and D wave), tissue Doppler imaging (E' wave and E/E' ratio) and LA volume index. LA longitudinal strain derived from speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is also sensitive in estimating intracavitary pressures. It is angle-independent, thus overcomes Doppler limitations and provides highly reproducible measures of LA deformation. This review examines the application of various Doppler echocardiographic techniques in assessing LV filling pressures, in particular the emerging role of STE in assessing LA pressures in various conditions, e.g., HF, arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation.

Association of left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential systolic dysfunction with diastolic function in hypertension: a nonlinear analysis focused on the interplay with left ventricular geometry.

BACKGROUND: The relationships of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal and circumferential systolic dysfunction with diastolic performance in hypertensive patients have never been compared. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 532 asymptomatic hypertensive patients, circumferential function was assessed with the use of midwall fractional shortening (mFS) and stress-corrected mFS (SCmFS), whereas longitudinal function was assessed with the use of left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) and systolic mitral annulus velocity (s'). Early diastolic annular velocity (e') and the E/e' ratio were measured. Global longitudinal and circumferential strain were determined in a subset of 210 patients. e' was linearly related to all systolic indexes (AVPD: R = 0.40; s': R = 0.39; mFS: R = 0.16; SCmFS: R = 0.17; all P < .0001), but the correlations were stronger with longitudinal indexes than with circumferential ones (P < .0001). E/e' was nonlinearly related to AVPD (R = -0.49; P < .0001) and s' (R = -0.34; P < .0001) and showed no relationship with mFS and SCmFS. Longitudinal indexes were superior to circumferential ones in predicting e' <8 cm/s, E/e' <8, and E/e' ≥13. The effect of LV geometry on LV diastolic function was evident among patients with preserved systolic longitudinal function, but was blunted among patients with impaired longitudinal function. In multivariable analyses, only longitudinal indexes remained associated with e' and E/e'. Analyses using strains provided similar results. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic hypertensive subjects, LV diastolic performance is independently associated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction, but not with circumferential systolic dysfunction. Subtle longitudinal systolic impairment plays a role in mediating the effect of LV geometry on diastolic performance. These findings may support the need of critically revising the concept of isolated diastolic dysfunction in these patients.

The potential value of integrated natriuretic peptide and echo-guided heart failure management.

There is increasing interest in guiding Heart Failure (HF) therapy with Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) or N-terminal prohormone of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP), with the goal of lowering concentrations of these markers (and maintaining their suppression) as part of the therapeutic approach in HF. However, recent European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines did not recommend biomarker-guided therapy in the management of HF patients. This has likely to do with the conceptual, methodological, and practical limitations of the Natriuretic Peptides (NP)-based approach, including biological variability, slow time-course, poor specificity, cost and venipuncture, as well as to the lack of conclusive scientific evidence after 15 years of intensive scientific work and industry investment in the field. An increase in NP can be associated with accumulation of extra-vascular lung water, which is a sign of impending acute heart failure. If this is the case, an higher dose of loop diuretics will improve symptoms. However, if no lung congestion is present, diuretics will show no benefit and even harm. It is only a combined clinical, bio-humoral (for instance with evaluation of renal function) and echocardiographic assessment which may unmask the pathophysiological (and possibly therapeutic) heterogeneity underlying the same clinical and NP picture. Increase in B-lines will trigger increase of loop diuretics (or dialysis); the marked increase in mitral insufficiency (at baseline or during exercise) will lead to increase in vasodilators and to consider mitral valve repair; the presence of substantial inotropic reserve during stress will give a substantially higher chance of benefit to beta-blocker or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). To each patient its own therapy, not with a "blind date" with symptoms and NP and carpet bombing with drugs, but with an open-eye targeted approach on the mechanism predominant in that individual patient. A monocular, specialistic, unidimensional approach to HF can miss its pathogenetic and clinical complexity, which only can be overcome with an integrated, versatile and tailored approach.

The influence of sex on heart failure mortality.

AIMS: Little research has investigated how sex may affect the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). The present study was aimed at exploring sex-specific differences in prognosis in a cohort of patients with chronic HF, categorized according to severity of left ventricular dysfunction (HFrEF, HFmrEF and HFpEF), right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and ischemic (IHD) or nonischemic (no-IHD) etiology. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 1640 HF patients of whom 24% were females, 759 patients had IHD, 1110 patients had HFrEF, 147 patients had HFmrEF and 383 patients had HFpEF. The median follow-up period was 63 months (25th-75th 27-93). RESULTS: In the no-IHD group, no statistically significant sex differences emerged regarding survival, regardless of age and severity of cardiac dysfunction. In contrast, in the IHD group, females had a significantly lower event rate than males in the age group between 65 and 79 years [hazard ratio (HR) 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-0.18; P  < 0.01]; in addition, a lower event rate was observed in females compared with males among patients with HFrEF (HR 0.47; 95% CI: 0.88-0.25; P  < 0.01), among patients without RV dysfunction (HR 0.58; 95% CI: 1.02-0.33; P  = 0.048) and among patients without diabetes (HR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.84-0.23; P  < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In nonischemic patients there was no difference between males and females in terms of survival whereas in patients with ischemic etiology survival was better in females among elderly patients, in HFrEF patients, in the absence of RV dysfunction and in the absence of diabetes.

A multiparametric clinical and echocardiographic score to risk stratify patients with chronic systolic heart failure: derivation and testing.

Although echo Doppler and biomarkers are the most common examinations performed worldwide in heart failure (HF), they are rarely considered in risk scores. In outpatients with chronic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45%, data on clinical status, echo Doppler variables, aminoterminal pro-type B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and drug therapies were combined to build up a multiparametric score. We randomly selected 250 patients to produce a derivation cohort and 388 patients were used as a testing cohort. Follow-up lasted 29 ± 23 months. The univariable predictors that entered into the multivariable Cox model were as follows: furosemide daily dose >25 mg, inability to tolerate angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, inability to tolerate ß-blockers, age >75 years, New York Heart Association (NYHA) >2, eGFR<60 mL/min, NT-proBNP plasma levels above the median, tricuspid plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) ≤14 mm, LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi) >96 mL/m(2) , moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and LVEF <30%. The scores of prognostic factors were obtained with the respective odds ratio divided by the lower odd ratio: 4 points for furosemide dose, 3 points for age, NT-proBNP, LVEDVi, TAPSE, 2 points for inability to tolerate ß-blockers, inability to tolerate ACE inhibitors, NYHA, eGFR<60 mL/min, moderate-to-severe MR, 1 point for LVEF. The multiparametric score predicted all-cause mortality either in the derivation cohort (68.4% sensitivity, 79.5% specificity, area under the curve [AUC] 78.7%) or in the testing cohort (73.7% sensitivity, 71.3% specificity, AUC 77.2%). All-cause mortality significantly increased with increasing score both in the derivation and in the testing cohort (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this multiparametric score is able to predict mortality in chronic systolic HF.

Advantages of real time three-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of right ventricular volumes and function in patients with pulmonary hypertension compared with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, right ventricular (RV) function has acquired greater relevance as a clinical and prognostic marker in many physiopathological conditions. The study aims to point out the value of real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in the evaluation of patients affected by pulmonary hypertension (PH), compared with conventional two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. METHODS: We enrolled 44 subjects affected by PH who underwent 2D and Doppler echocardiography, RT 3D Echocardiography and TDI evaluation of the RV, and a healthy control group. PH itself can induce severe functional and structural abnormalities of the RV, such as RV hypertrophy, RV dilation, and RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. RESULTS: In this study, RV FAC, and TAPSE showed marked alterations in patients with PH compared to the control group (C): (RVFAC: [PH] 0.29 ± 0.07 vs. [C] 0.49 ± 0.05%, P < 0.0001; TAPSE: [PH] 15.3 ± 3.2 vs. [C] 21.1 ± 2.6 mm, P > 0.0001). The 3D RV end-diastolic volume was significantly higher in PH than in C (PH) (138.7 ± 25.3 vs. [C] 82.8 ± 12.5 mL, P < 0.0001] as well as 3D RV end-systolic volume (PH) (97.6 ± 21.5 vs. [C] 39.3 ± 9.5 mL, P < 0.0001). The 3D RV ejection fraction (EF) was significantly lower in the pulmonary hypertension group than in healthy subjects (31.8 ± 6.8 vs. [C] 52.5 ± 4.7%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PH, evaluation of the RV diastolic and systolic volume and EF by RT3DE has shown a higher discriminating power in comparison, respectively, with 2DRV diastolic area and the relative fractional area changes.

Combining echo-derived haemodynamic phenotypes and myocardial strain for risk stratification of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Echocardiography has shown to categorize heart failure (HF) patients according to haemodynamic profiles. Whether left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) could integrate echo-derived haemodynamic profiles to risk stratify chronic HF patients is still unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chronic HF outpatients with LV ejection fraction (LV-EF) <50% (n = 351) and LV-GLS assessment were evaluated and divided according to four haemodynamic phenotypes based on LV stroke volume index (SVI), LV filling pressure (LVFP), and right ventricular (RV) function: normal output-normal LVFP (NO-NP), normal output-high LVFP (NO-HP), low output-no RV dysfunction (LO-NRVD), and low output-RV dysfunction (LO-RVD). RV function was defined using the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and RV free-wall longitudinal strain. The median follow-up duration was 3.3 years. The combination of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. The prevalence of NO-NP, NO-HP, LO-NRVD, and LO-RVD were 38%, 22%, 30%, and 10%, respectively. The haemodynamic model independently predicted primary and secondary outcomes, with incremental prognostic information over LV-EF (all P-values <0.001 for C-statistics). When univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the prognostic stratification capability of LV-GLS in different haemodynamic subgroups, we observed a reduction in LV-GLS hazard ratios from the NO-NP to the LO-RVD for every endpoint. CONCLUSION: There was a continuum in LV-GLS impairment across the spectrum of haemodynamic phenotypes and its prognostic value resulted variable depending on the types of chronic HF patients. The highest prognostic information added by LV-GLS was in patients with normal SVI.

Acute pericarditis as a major clinical manifestation of long COVID-19 syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The long COVID-19 syndrome has been recently described and some reports have suggested that acute pericarditis represents important manifestation of long COVID-19 syndrome. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with long COVID-19, presenting with acute pericarditis. METHODS: We retrospectively included 180 patients (median age 47 years, 62% female) previously diagnosed with COVID-19, exhibiting persistence or new-onset symptoms ≥12 weeks from a negative naso-pharyngeal SARS CoV2 swamp test. The original diagnosis of COVID-19 infection was determined by a positive swab. All patients had undergone a thorough physical examination. Patients with suspected heart involvement were referred to a complete cardiovascular evaluation. Echocardiography was performed based on clinical need and diagnosis of acute pericarditis was achieved according to current guidelines. RESULTS: Among the study population, shortness of breath/fatigue was reported in 52%, chest pain/discomfort in 34% and heart palpitations/arrhythmias in 37%. Diagnosis of acute pericarditis was made in 39 patients (22%). Mild-to-moderate pericardial effusion was reported in 12, while thickened and bright pericardial layers with small effusions (< 5 mm) with or without comet tails arising from the pericardium (pericardial B-lines) in 27. Heart palpitations/arrhythmias (OR:3.748, p = 0.0030), and autoimmune disease and allergic disorders (OR:4.147, p = 0.0073) were independently related to the diagnosis of acute pericarditis, with a borderline contribution of less likelihood of hospitalization during COVID-19 (OR: 0.100, p = 0.0512). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a high prevalence of acute pericarditis in patients with long COVID-19 syndrome. Autoimmune and allergic disorders, and palpitations/arrhythmias were frequently associated with pericardial disease.

Left Atrial Strain in the Assessment of Diastolic Function in Heart Failure: A Machine Learning Approach.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) assessment in heart failure is still challenging. Peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) is strongly related to end-diastolic pressure and prognosis, but it is still not part of standard DD assessment. We tested the hypothesis that a machine learning approach would be useful to include PALS in DD classification and refine prognostic stratification. METHODS: In a derivation cohort of 864 heart failure patients in sinus rhythm (age, 66.6±12 years; heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, n=541; heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction, n=129; heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, n=194), machine learning techniques were retrospectively applied to PALS and guideline-recommended diastolic variables. Outcome (death/heart failure rehospitalization) of the identified DD-clusters was compared with that by guidelines-based classification. To identify the best combination of variables able to classify patients in one of the identified DD-clusters, classification and regression tree analysis was applied (with DD-clusters as dependent variable and PALS plus guidelines-recommended diastolic variables as explanatory variables). The algorithm was subsequently validated in a prospective cohort of 189 heart failure outpatients (age, 65±13 years). RESULTS: Three distinct echocardiographic DD-clusters were identified (cluster-1, n=212; cluster-2, n=376; cluster-3 DD, n=276), with modest agreement with guidelines-recommended classification (kappa=0.40; P<0.001). DD-clusters were predicted by a simple algorithm including E/A ratio, left atrial volume index, E/e' ratio, and PALS. After 36.5±29.4 months follow-up, 318 events occurred. Compared to guideline-based classification, DD-clusters showed a better association with events in multivariable models (C-index 0.720 versus 0.733, P=0.033; net reclassification improvement 0.166 [95% CI, 0.035-0.276], P=0.013), without interaction with ejection fraction category. In the validation cohort (median follow-up: 18.5 months), cluster-based classification better predicted outcome than guideline-based classification (C-index 0.80 versus 0.78, P=0.093). CONCLUSIONS: Integrating PALS by machine learning algorithm in DD classification improves risk stratification over recommended current criteria, regardless of ejection fraction status. This proof of concept study needs further validation of the proposed algorithm to assess generalizability to other populations.

Deformation Imaging by Strain in Chronic Heart Failure Over Sacubitril-Valsartan: A Multicenter Echocardiographic Registry.

AIMS: Sacubitril/valsartan has changed the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), due to the positive effects on morbidity and mortality, partly mediated by left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling (LVRR). The aim of this multicenter study was to identify echocardiographic predictors of LVRR after sacubitril/valsartan administration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with HFrEF requiring therapy with sacubitril/valsartan from 13 Italian centres were included. Echocardiographic parameters including LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global peak atrial longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography were measured to find the predictors of LVRR [= LV end-systolic volume reduction ≥10% and ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement ≥10% at follow-up] at 6 month follow-up as the primary endpoint. Changes in symptoms [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class] and neurohormonal activations [N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)] were also evaluated as secondary endpoints; 341 patients (excluding patients with poor acoustic windows and missing data) were analysed (mean age: 65 ± 10 years; 18% female, median LVEF 30% [inter-quartile range: 25-34]). At 6 month follow-up, 82 (24%) patients showed early complete response (LVRR and LVEF ≥ 35%), 55 (16%) early incomplete response (LVRR and LVEF < 35%), and 204 (60%) no response (no LVRR and LVEF < 35%). Non-ischaemic aetiology, a lower left atrial volume index, and a higher GLS were all independent predictors of LVRR at multivariable logistic analysis (all P < 0.01). A baseline GLS < -9.3% was significantly associated with early response (area under the curve 0.75, P < 0.0001). Left atrial strain was the best predictor of positive changes in NYHA class and NT-proBNP (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Speckle tracking echocardiography parameters at baseline could be useful to predict LVRR and clinical response to sacubitril-valsartan and could be used as a guide for treatment in patients with HFrEF.