Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and impedance cardiography in the assessment of exercise capacity of patients with coronary artery disease early after myocardial revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are characterized by different levels of physical capacity, which depends not only on the anatomical advancement of atherosclerosis, but also on the individual cardiovascular hemodynamic response to exercise. The aim of this study was evaluating the relationship between parameters of exercise capacity assessed via cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and impedance cardiography (ICG) hemodynamics in patients with CAD. METHODS: Exercise capacity was assessed in 54 patients with CAD (41 men, aged 59.5 ± 8.6 years) within 6 weeks after revascularization by means of oxygen uptake (VO2), assessed via CPET, and hemodynamic parameters [heart rate (HR), stroke volume, cardiac output (CO), left cardiac work index (LCWi)], measured by ICG. Correlations between these parameters at anaerobic threshold (AT) and at the peak of exercise as well as their changes (Δpeak-rest, Δpeak-AT) were evaluated. RESULTS: A large proportion of patients exhibited reduced exercise capacity, with 63% not reaching 80% of predicted peak VO2. Clinically relevant correlations were noted between the absolute peak values of VO2 versus HR, VO2 versus CO, and VO2 versus LCWi (R = 0.45, p = 0.0005; R = 0.33, p = 0.015; and R = 0.40, p = 0.003, respectively). There was no correlation between AT VO2 and hemodynamic parameters at the AT time point. Furthermore ΔVO2 (peak-AT) correlated with ΔHR (peak-AT), ΔCO (peak-AT) and ΔLCWi (peak-AT) (R = 0.52, p < 0.0001, R = 0.49, p = 0.0001; and R = 0.49, p = 0.0001, respectively). ΔVO2 (peak-rest) correlated with ΔHR (peak-rest), ΔCO (peak-rest), and ΔLCWi (peak-rest) (R = 0.47, p < 0.0001; R = 0.41, p = 0.002; and R = 0.43, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: ICG is a reliable method of assessing the cardiovascular response to exercise in patients with CAD. Some ICG parameters show definite correlations with parameters of cardiovascular capacity of proven clinical utility, such as peak VO2.

Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function after mild coronavirus disease 2019: A preliminary report.

PURPOSE: While most coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases are mild, the risk of heart dysfunction remains unknown. The objective of this observational study was to assess the impact of mild COVID-19 on heart function in a short-term follow-up using advanced echocardiography. METHODS: Our study cohort comprised patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who did not require hospitalization. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was used to assess heart chambers function in the 31 recovered COVID-19 patients, and the results were compared with those of the control group (28 healthy participants). RESULTS: Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) systolic function was assessed using standard and STE methods and was found to be normal and comparable in both groups (LV ejection fraction [p = 0.075], LV global longitudinal strain [p = 0.123], LV global radial strain [p = 0.630], LV global circumferential strain [p = 0.069], tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [p = 0.417], tricuspid S' peak systolic velocity [p = 0.622], and RV free wall longitudinal strain [p = 0.749]). Similarly, atrial function was not impacted when assessed using advanced STE. CONCLUSIONS: The heart function of patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms, assessed using standard and advanced echocardiographic methods, was observed to be normal after a short-term follow-up.

Cushing's Disease: Assessment of Early Cardiovascular Hemodynamic Dysfunction With Impedance Cardiography.

Background: Cushing's disease is a rare condition associated with a high cardiovascular risk and hypercortisolemia-related hemodynamic dysfunction, the extent of which can be assessed with a noninvasive method, called impedance cardiography. The standard methods for hemodynamic assessment, such as echocardiography or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring may be insufficient to fully evaluate patients with Cushing's disease; therefore, impedance cardiography is being currently considered a new modality for assessing early hemodynamic dysfunction in this patient population. The use of impedance cardiography for diagnosis and treatment of Cushing's disease may serve as personalized noninvasive hemodynamic status assessment and provide a better insight into the pathophysiology of Cushing's disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the hemodynamic profile of Cushing's disease patients and compare it with that in the control group. Material and Methods: This observational prospective clinical study aimed to compare 54 patients with Cushing's disease (mean age 41 years; with 64.8% of this population affected with arterial hypertension) and a matched 54-person control group (mean age 45 years; with 74.1% of this population affected with arterial hypertension). The hemodynamic parameters assessed with impedance cardiography included the stroke index (SI), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), velocity index (VI), (ACI), Heather index (HI), and thoracic fluid content (TFC). Results: The Cushing's disease group was characterized by a higher diastolic blood pressure and a younger age than the control group (82.9 vs. 79.1 mmHg, p=0.045; and 41.1 vs. 44.9 years, p=0.035, respectively). Impedance cardiography parameters in the Cushing's disease group showed: lower values of SI (42.1 vs. 52.8 ml/m2; p ≤ 0.0001), CI (2.99 vs. 3.64 l/min/m2; p ≤ 0,0001), VI (42.9 vs. 52.1 1/1000/s; p=0.001), ACI (68.7 vs. 80.5 1/100/s2; p=0,037), HI (13.1 vs. 15.2 Ohm/s2; p=0.033), and TFC (25.5 vs. 27.7 1/kOhm; p=0.006) and a higher SVRI (2,515 vs. 1,893 dyn*s*cm-5*m2; p ≤ 0.0001) than those in the control group. Conclusions: Cushing's disease is associated with significantly greater vasoconstriction and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. An individual assessment with impedance cardiography may be useful in Cushing's disease patients in order to identify subclinical cardiovascular complications of chronic hypercortisolemia as potential therapeutic targets.

Nurse-led ambulatory care supported by non-invasive haemodynamic assessment after acute heart failure decompensation.

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by frequent decompensation and an unpredictable trajectory. To prevent early hospital readmission, coordinated discharge planning and individual therapeutic approach are recommended. AIMS: We aimed to assess the effect of 1 month of ambulatory care, led by nurses and supported by non-invasive haemodynamic assessment, on the functional status, well-being, and haemodynamic status of patients post-acute HF decompensation. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study had a multicentre, prospective, and observational design and included patients with at least one hospitalization due to acute HF decompensation within 6 months prior to enrolment. The 1 month ambulatory care included three visits led by a nurse when the haemodynamic state of each patient was assessed non-invasively by impedance cardiography, including thoracic fluid content assessment. The pharmacotherapy was modified basing on haemodynamic assessment. Sixty eight of 73 recruited patients (median age = 67 years; median left ventricular ejection fraction = 30%) finished 1 month follow-up. A significant improvement was observed in both the patients' functional status as defined by New York Heart Association class (P = 0.013) and sense of well-being as evaluated by a visual analogue score (P = 0.002). The detailed patients' assessment on subsequent visits resulted in changes of pharmacotherapy in a significant percentage of patients (Visit 2 = 39% and Visit 3 = 44%). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model of nurse-led ambulatory care for patients after acute HF decompensation, with consequent assessment of the haemodynamic profile, resulted in: (i) improvement in the functional status, (ii) improvement in the well-being, and (iii) high rate of pharmacotherapy modifications.

Multi-Method Complex Approach for Hydration Assessment Does Not Detect a Hydration Difference in Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis Patient.

Assessment of hydration status is essential in monitoring the effectiveness of renal replacement therapy and is usually based on physical examination. However, comparisons of hydration status achieved with different dialysis methods are not conclusive. We compared the hydration status of patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD, n = 60) and peritoneal dialysis (PD, n = 20) in a comprehensive assessment including physical examination and additional methods. The mean age of the 80 chronically dialyzed patients (53 males, 27 females) was 58.1 ± 13.9 years. The clinical evaluation took into account the presence of peripheral edema, dyspnea, and crackling over the lung fields. Additional tests included lung ultrasound, electrical bioimpedance (performed in 79 patients), impedance cardiography, ultrasound assessment of large abdominal vessels (performed in 79 patients), select echocardiographic parameters (obtained in 78 patients), and serum NT-proBNP concentration. Residual diuresis volume was significantly higher in the PD group. We found no significant differences between the two groups in any other baseline characteristics or in the results of the clinical examination or additional tests. The use of different methods for assessing hydration does not allow differentiation of patients treated with dialysis in terms of the dialysis technique used. Therefore, it seems reasonable to use common algorithms to objectify the hydration status of these patients.

Multiparameter assessment of exercise capacity in patients with arterial hypertension.

Introduction: Arterial hypertension (AH) can lead to the development of heart failure. Aim: Evaluating the relationship between parameters of exercise capacity assessed via a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), with a hemodynamic assessment via impedance cardiography (ICG), in patients with AH. Methods: Exercise capacity was assessed in 98 hypertensive patients (54.5 ± 8.2 years) by means of oxygen uptake (VO2) get from CPET, 6MWT distance (6MWTd) and hemodynamic parameters measured by ICG: heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO). Correlations between these parameters at rest, at anaerobic threshold (AT) and at peak of exercise as well as their changes (Δpeak-rest, Δpeak-AT, ΔAT-rest) were evaulated. Results: A large proportion of patients exhibited reduced exercise capacity, with 45.9% not reaching 80% of predicted peak VO2 and 43.9% not reaching predicted 6MWTd. Clinically relevant correlations were noted between the absolute peak values and AT values of VO2 vs HR and VO2 vs CO. Furthermore ΔVO2(peak-AT) correlated with ΔHR(peak-AT), ΔCO(peak-AT) and ΔSV(peak-AT); ΔVO2(peak-rest) with ΔHR(peak-rest) and ΔCO(peak-rest); ΔVO2(AT-rest) with ΔHR(AT-rest) and ΔCO(AT-rest). Stronger correlations between changes in the evaluated parameters were demonstrated in the subgroup of subjects with peak VO2 < 80% of the predicted value; particularly ΔVO2(peak-AT) correlated with ΔSV(peak-AT) and ΔCO(peak-AT). Conclusions: The hemodynamic parameters show significant correlations with more measures of cardiovascular capacity of proven clinical utility. Impedance cardiography is a reliable method for assessing the cardiovascular response to exercise.

Complex assessment of patients with decompensated heart failure: The clinical value of impedance cardiography and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a serious clinical problem and a condition requiring immediate diagnostics, supporting the therapeutic decision adequate to the specific ADHF mechanism. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is an established biochemical marker of heart failure, strongly related to hemodynamic status. Impedance cardiography (ICG) provides non-invasive hemodynamic assessment that can be performed immediately at the bedside and revealed to be useful diagnostic tool in some clinical settings in cardiology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ICG in the admission diagnostics and monitoring the effects of treatment in patients hospitalized due to ADHF, with special emphasis on its relation to NT-proBNP. METHODS: This study enrolled 102 patients, aged over 18 years, hospitalized due to ADHF. The subjects underwent detailed clinical assessment, including ICG and NT-proBNP at admission and at discharge day. RESULTS: Among all analyzed ICG parameters thoracic fluid content (TFC), a marker of chest overload, was the most significantly correlated with NT-proBNP level (R = 0.46; p = 0.000001). In comparison with patients with low thoracic fluid content (TFC ≤ 35/kΩ), those with higher TFC values (>35/kΩ) exhibited a greater severity of symptoms (NYHA functional class); higher NT-proBNP levels; lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke index (SI), and cardiac index (CI); as well as significantly higher systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI). These TFC-based subgroups showed no significant differences in terms of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), or diastolic blood pressure (DBP). CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of hemodynamic parameters, especially TFC, seems to be a worthwhile addition to standard diagnostics, both at the stage of hospital admission and while monitoring the effects of treatment. Impedance cardiography is a useful method in evaluating individual hemodynamic profiles in patients with ADHF.

Echocardiographic assessment and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in hypertensives with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release is associated with left ventricular expansion and pressure overload. Elevation of serum levels of natriuretic peptides is observed in patients with impaired as well as preserved left ventricular systolic function. High NT-proBNP has been shown to be related not only to preload but also to increased afterload, especially blood pressure and arterial stiffness. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters in hypertensives with metabolic syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 133 patients (99 men; mean age 45.9 ± 9.4 years) with at least a 3-month history of arterial hypertension (stages 1 and 2) and fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. Following initial clinical assessment, which included NT-proBNP levels, they underwent two-dimensional echocardiography. RESULTS: Echocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 60 subjects (45.1%), including left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDdf) in 41 (30.8%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 35 (26.3%). Higher NT-proBNP concentrations were observed in patients with LVH, especially in the presence of LVDdf. Further analysis demonstrated that NT-proBNP correlated negatively with septal E' (r = -0.38; p = 0.015) and heart rate (r = -0.42; p = 0.006) in patients with LVDdf, and positively with left ventricular end diastolic diameter (r = 0.46; p = 0.006) and left ventricular mass index (r = 0.49; p = 0.005) in subjects with LVH. However, the analysis of ROC curves revealed no NT-proBNP level of good sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing LVDdf/LVH (maximal area under the curve 0.571). CONCLUSIONS: Even a relatively low NT-proBNP concentration can be a useful marker of left ventricular hypertrophy and end-diastolic wall stretch. However, in the present study there was no NT-proBNP level of satisfactory predictive value to diagnose LV abnormalities.

What does impedance cardiography add more to the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in essential hypertension?

UNLABELLED: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDdf) and arterial stiffness are associated with increased mortality in patients with arterial hypertension. THE AIM: of the study was to evaluate the relation between left ventricular diastolic function and hemodynamic profile assessed by impedance cardiography (ICG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 209 hypertensives clinical evaluation, echocardiography and ICG were performed to evaluate i.e. septal annulus early diastolic velocity (e'), mitral flow ratio (E/A), stroke index (SI), acceleration index (ACI), velocity index (VI), Heather index (HI), total arterial compliance. RESULTS: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was associated with lower SI (p=0.049), VI (p=0.002), ACI (p=0.014), HI (p=0.002) and higher SVRI (p=0.004). There were no significant differences in age, blood pressure, BMI, sex distribution. Males with LVDdf characterized with lower SI (p=0.011), VI (p<0.00001), ACI (p=0.0005), HI (p=0.00005) and higher SVRI (p=0.008). No such relevant differences were observed in women. In the analysis of the relations between clinical/hemodynamic features and echocardiographic indices of left ventricular diastolic function the significant correlations were observed in males, the most relevant for: age vs E/A (-0.45; p<0.001), VI vs e' (0.30; p<0.001), VI vs E/A (0.30; p<0.001), and SVRI vs e' (-0.28; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Impedance cardiography revealed to be useful in the evaluation of impaired left ventricular performance and increased arterial stiffness related to LVDdf in young and middle-aged hypertensives. Sex may influence cardiovascular hemodynamics resulting in slightly different ventricular-vascular interactions that should be considered in therapeutic strategies.

Extracorporeal versus peritoneal ultrafiltration in diuretic-resistant congestive heart failure--a review.

Diuretic-resistant congestive heart failure in the form of type 2 cardiorenal syndrome is a problem of growing significance in everyday clinical practice because of high morbidity and mortality. There has been scant progress in the treatment of overhydration, the main cause of symptoms in this group of patients. The aim of our review is to present recent advances in the ultrafiltration therapy of congestive heart failure, with special attention to the new dedicated device for extracorporeal isolated ultrafiltration, as well as modifications of peritoneal dialysis in the form of peritoneal ultrafiltration with icodextrin solution and incremental peritoneal dialysis. Technical and clinical features, costs and potential risks of available devices for isolated ultrafiltration are presented. This method should be reserved for patients with true diuretic resistance as part of a more complex strategy aiming at the adequate control of fluid retention. Peritoneal ultrafiltration is presented as a viable alternative to extracorporeal ultrafiltration because of medical and psychosocial benefits of home-based therapy, lower costs and more effective daily ultrafiltration. In conclusion, large, properly randomized and controlled clinical trials with long-term follow-up will be essential in assessing the logistics and cost-effectiveness of both methods. Most importantly, however, they should be able to evaluate the impact of both methods on preservation of renal function and delaying the progression of heart failure by interrupting the vicious circle of cardiorenal syndrome. Our review is supplemented with the case report of the use of peritoneal ultrafiltration with a single 12-hour nighttime icodextrin exchange as a life-saving procedure in a patient with congestive heart failure resistant to pharmacological treatment.

Two-dimensional longitudinal strain for the assessment of the left ventricular systolic function as compared with conventional echocardiographic methods in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the left ventricular (LV) function is one of the most important elements of diagnosis in patients with cardiovascular (CV) diseases. A low LV ejection fraction (LVEF) is a strong and independent predictor of CV events. Traditionally, echocardiography characterises the LV systolic function by the estimation of LVEF with use of the Simpson method, supported by the wall motion score index (WMSI). Speckle tracking imaging is a new method of LV function imaging based on the estimation of longitudinal peak systolic strain (LPSS), by tracing of the automatically detected myocardial speckles. AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS) and regional longitudinal peak systolic strain (r-LPSS) in LV systolic function assessment and to compare LPSS with conventional parameters such as LVEF, WMSI and regional wall motion score index (r-WMSI). METHODS: The study was performed in a group of 44 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (mean age 63.6 ± 12.2 years). The LVEF, WMSI, r-WMSI were estimated by echocardiography (VIVID 7 Dimension, GE Healthcare, USA). Moreover, LPSS (GLPSS and r-LPSS) with use of automated function imaging (AFI) were also estimated. RESULTS: In the study group mean LVEF was 43.1 ± 12.7%, mean WMSI: 1.68 ± 0.52, and GLPSS: -13.8 ± 5.6%. A very strong linear correlation between the conventional and new parameters was observed - for GLPSS and LVEF: r = -0.86 (p < 0.00001), for GLPSS and WMSI: r = 0.88 (p < 0.00001). The results of the regional myocardial contractility assessment (r-LPSS and r-WMSI) were also in agreement, especially for LV anterior wall (r = 0.87, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a considerable usefulness of LPSS - a new method of echocardiographical imaging - in the estimation of global and regional LV function in patients with acute coronary syndrome and its agreement with conventional parameters such as LVEF and WMSI.