Relationship between donor ejection fraction, left ventricular wall thickness and mortality in heart transplants recipients.

This study explored the impact of donor left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) on mortality among heart transplant (HTx) recipients. Utilizing data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry, adult HTx recipients between 2006-2022 were analyzed. Patients were categorized into four groups based on donor EF(>50 % or ≤50 %) and LVWT(<1.4 cm or ≥1.4 cm). 21,012 patients were included. There were significant differences in baseline characteristics among the groups. Unadjusted mortality was 6.3 %, 6.0 %, 6.0 %, and 2.4 %(p=0.86) at 30-days; 16.2 %, 13.5 %, 16.8 %, and 7.3 %(p=0.08) at 1-year; and 32.2 %, 29.2 %, 35.4 %, and 29.0 %(p=0.18) at 5-years, respectively. In addition, adjusted mortality did not differ across the groups. There were no significant differences in recipient mortality in groups based on donor EF and LVWT. Expanding the donor selection criteria would allow for increase in the donor pool and assist in decreasing the mortality, while on the waitlist for HTx.

Heart Failure at Admission Complicating ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in a Middle-Income Country. Experience of the ARGEN-IAM-ST Registry.

Despite advances in the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), when associated with heart failure (HF) its prognosis remains ominous. This study assessed the differences in admission and mortality of HF complicating STEMI at admission (HFad) in a middle-income country. Data from the National Registry of STEMI of Argentina (ARGEN-IAM-ST) from January 1, 2016, to September 30, 2020, were analyzed. HFad was defined by the identification of Killip/Kimball ≥2 at admission. About 3174 patients were analyzed (22.3% had HFad). Patients with HFad were older, more often women, hypertensive, and diabetic. Received less reperfusion (87.6% vs 92.6%, P < 0.001) and had increased in-hospital mortality (28.4% vs 3.0%, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis HFad was an independent predictor of death (OR: 4.88 [95%CI: 3.33-7.18], P < 0.001) and reperfusion adjusted to HFad was associated with lower mortality (OR: 0.57 [95%CI: 0.34-0.95], P = 0.03). HFad in STEMI is associated with a worse clinical profile, receives fewer reperfusion strategies, and carries a higher risk of in-hospital mortality while reperfusion reduces mortality.

American Registry of Ambulatory or acutely decompensated heart failure (AMERICCAASS Registry): First 1000 patients.

BACKGROUND: About 80% of cardiovascular diseases (including heart failure [HF]) occur in low-income and developing countries. However, most clinical trials are conducted in developed countries. HYPOTHESIS: The American Registry of Ambulatory or Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure (AMERICCAASS) aims to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of HF, comorbidities, clinical presentation, and pharmacological management of patients with ambulatory or acutely decompensated HF in America. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive, observational, prospective, and multicenter registry, which includes patients >18 years with HF in an outpatient or hospital setting. Collected information is stored in the REDCap electronic platform. Quantitative variables are defined according to the normality of the variable using the Shapiro-Wilk test. RESULTS: This analysis includes data from the first 1000 patients recruited. 63.5% were men, the median age of 66 years (interquartile range 56.7-75.4), and 77.6% of the patients were older than 55 years old. The percentage of use of the four pharmacological pillars at the time of recruitment was 70.7% for beta-blockers (BB), 77.4% for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB II)/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), 56.8% for mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), and 30.7% for sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). The main cause of decompensation in hospitalized patients was HF progression (64.4%), and the predominant hemodynamic profile was wet-warm (68.3%). CONCLUSIONS: AMERICCAASS is the first continental registry to include hospitalized or outpatient patients with HF. Regarding optimal medical therapy, approximately a quarter of the patients still need to receive BB and ACEI/ARB/ARNI, less than half do not receive MRA, and more than two-thirds do not receive SGLT2i.

Risk stratification, prognosis, and survival in a pulmonary arterial hypertension cohort in Latin America. A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) guidelines suggest that achieving a low-risk profile should be the treatment goal. Our aim was to assess a risk assessment strategy based on three non-invasive variables from the ESC/ERS 2015 guidelines in a Latin American cohort. METHODS: 92 incident patients (mean [SD] age 47, 77% female, 53% idiopathic PAH) were included in this retrospective, multicenter study. Patients were stratified at baseline and at early follow-up, within the first year, using three non-invasive variables (WHO functional class, 6-minute walking distance, BNP/NT-proBNP) from the ESC/ERS 2015 risk assessment instrument. Median (IQR) follow-up was 3.11 years (3.01 years). RESULTS: At baseline assessment, 25% of patients were at low risk, 61.9% at intermediate-risk, and 13% at high-risk. At early follow-up (median 9.5 months), 56.5% of patients were at low-risk, 40.2% at intermediate-risk, and 3.2% at high-risk (p<0.001 vs. baseline). According to risk stratification at early follow-up, one, three and five-year overall survival was 100% in the low-risk group (no deaths at five-year follow-up), and 100%, 84% (95% CI: 72-98%), and 66% (95% CI: 48-90%) respectively in the intermediate-risk group, p = 0.0003. Mortality in the high-risk patients at early follow-up was 1/3 (33.3%). One, three, and five-year event-free survival (death or transplant or first hospitalization due to worsening PAH) based on early follow-up risk assessment was higher in the low-risk group, p = 0.0003. CONCLUSION: Our study validates a risk assessment strategy based on three non-invasive variables and confirms that early achievement of a low-risk profile should be the treatment goal.

Minor myocardial damage is a prevalent condition in patients with acute heart failure syndromes and preserved systolic function with long-term prognostic implications: a report from the CIAST-HF (Collaborative Italo-Argentinean Study on cardiac Troponin T in Heart Failure) study.

BACKGROUND: Half of patients with acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) have preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (PLVEF). In this setting, the role of minor myocardial damage (MMD), as identified by cardiac troponin T (cTnT), remains to be established. AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and long-term prognostic significance of cTnT elevations in patients with AHFS and PLVEF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, collaborative study included 500 patients hospitalized for AHFS with PLVEF (ejection fraction ≥40%) between October 2000 and December 2006. Blood samples were collected within 12 hours after admission and were assayed for cTnT. MMD was defined as a cTnT value of ≥0.020 ng/mL. RESULTS: Mean age was 73 ± 12 years, 47% were female, 38% had an ischemic etiology, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was 2.2 ± 0.7. Mean cTnT value was 0.149 ± 0.484 ng/mL, and cTnT was directly correlated with serum creatinine (Spearman's Rho = 0.35, P < .001) and NYHA class (0.25, P < .001). MMD was diagnosed in 220 patients (44%). Patients with MMD showed lower left ventricular ejection fraction (P < .05), higher serum creatinine (P < .001), higher prevalence of ischemic etiology and diabetes mellitus, a worse NYHA class (P < .001), and higher natriuretic peptide levels (P < .001) as compared with patients without MMD. At 6-month follow-up, overall event-free survival was 55% and 75% in patients with and without MMD (P < .001), respectively. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, only NYHA class (HR = 1.50; P = .002) and MMD (HR = 1.81; P = .001) were identified as predictors of events. CONCLUSIONS: Increased cTnT levels were detected in approximately 50% of patients with AHFS with preserved systolic function, and were found to correlate with clinical measures of disease severity. The presence of MMD was associated with a worse long-term outcome, lending support to cTnT-based risk stratification in the setting of AHFS.

[Prognostic value of the shock index in myocardial infarction. Data from Argentine Registry of ST-segment elevation infarct (ARGEN IAM-ST)]. / Valor pronóstico del índice de shock en el infarto de miocardio. Datos del Registro Argentino de infarto con elevación del segmento ST (ARGEN IAM-ST).

The shock index (IS) is the quotient between the heart rate (HR) and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) (IS: HR / SBT), and the age-adjusted shock index (ISA) multiplying the IS by age. We evaluated its predictive value for the combined in-hospital event (EC), death and / or cardiogenic shock (CS) and for individual events in the patients included in the Argentine registry of ST-segment elevation infarction (ARGEN-ST-AMI); 248 with CS on admission were excluded. ROC curves were made for both indices using the best cut-off point to dichotomize the population. The analysis included 2928 subjects. Age (median) 60 years (IQR 25-75% 53-68), men 80%, EC: 6.4%; 30.5% had IS = 0.67, and they had a higher incidence of EC: 11% vs. 4% (p < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (8% vs. 2.6%, p <0.0001) and death (7.3% vs. 3%), p <0.0001) than patients with IS < 0.67. A 28% had ISA = 41.5. These presented plus EC: 14% vs. 3%, p < 0.001, SC: 10% vs. 2%, (p < 0.001) and death: 9.5% vs. 2.3%, (p < 0.001) compared with patients with values < 41.5. The area under the ROC curve of the ISA for EC was significantly better than that of the IS (0.72 vs. 0.62, p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis models performed, the IS had an OR: 2.56 (95% CI 1.56-4.02; p < 0.001) and the ISA: 3.43 (95% CI 2.08-5.65; p < 0.001) for EC. The IS and ISA predict death and / or the development of in-hospital cardiogenic shock in an unselected population of ST elevation infarcts.

El índice de shock (IS) se obtiene mediante un cálculo simple del cociente entre la frecuencia cardíaca (FC) y la tensión arterial sistólica (PAS) (IS: FC/TAS) y el índice de shock ajustado por edad (ISA) multiplicando el IS x edad. Evaluamos su valor predictivo para el evento combinado intrahospitalario (EC) muerte y/o shock cardiogénico (SC) y de los eventos individuales en los pacientes incluidos en el registro argentino de infarto con elevación del segmento ST (ARGEN-IAM-ST). Se excluyeron 248 con SC de ingreso. Se realizaron curvas ROC para ambos índices utilizando el mejor punto de corte para dicotomizar la población. Se incluyeron 2928 pacientes. Edad (mediana) 60 años (RIC 25-75% 53-68), varones 80%, EC: 6.4%. Un 30.5% tuvo IS = 0.67 y éstos presentaron mayor incidencia de EC: 11% vs. 4% (p < 0.001), shock cardiogénico (8% vs. 2.6%, p <0.0001) y muerte (7.3% vs. 3%, p < 0.0001) que los pacientes con IS < 0.67. Un 28% tuvo ISA = 41.5. Estos presentaron más EC: 14% vs. 3%, p < 0.001, SC: 10% vs. 2%, (p < 0.001) y muerte: 9.5% vs. 2.3%, (p < 0.001) comparados con los pacientes con valores ISA < 41.5. El área bajo la curva ROC del ISA para EC fue significativamente mejor que la del IS (0.72 vs. 0.62, p < 0.001).En los modelos de análisis multivariados realizados, el IS tuvo un OR de 2.56 (IC95% 1.56-4.02; p < 0.001) y el ISA de 3.43 (IC95% 2.08-5.65; p <0.001) para EC. El IS y el ISA predicen muerte y/o el desarrollo de shock cardiogénico intrahospitalario en una población no seleccionada de infartos con elevación del ST.

PULSE-HF: A Simple Clinical and Geriatric Score to Predict Systolic Dysfunction in the Elderly Without Heart Failure.

To develop a clinical score to determine preclinical predictors of systolic dysfunction in an outpatient elderly population without a diagnosis of heart failure (HF). PULSE-HF is a cross-sectional study in elderly at-risk (coronary artery disease, diabetes or hypertension) outpatients without a diagnosis of heart failure (HF). The objective in this population was to develop a clinical score to determine preclinical predictors of systolic dysfunction. Clinical and geriatric variables were analyzed; independent predictive factors in the logistic regression analysis were included for the score calculation. Of the 722 subjects enrolled, 47 (6.5%) had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%, and 15 (2.1%) a LVEF < 40%. Mean age was 76.5 years (5.18) and 445 (61.6%) were female. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified abnormal Q waves (odds ratio [OR]: 4.36; P = 0.003), cardiomegaly (OR: 3.32; P < 0.001), right bundle branch block (OR: 2.84; P = 0.011), cognitive dysfunction (OR: 2.14; P = 0.027) and NT-proBNP (OR 5.43; P < 0.001) as independent predictors of LVEF < 50%. Two prediction scores were built, without and with NT-proBNP inclusion; the area under ROC curves were 0.70 and 0.76, respectively. As the score increased, the sensitivity decreases but increases specificity, and accuracy (97.17% and 91.64% respectively in ≥6 points). NT-proBNP was associated with an increment in the performance (accuracy of 93.18% for score ≥10). We conclude that a simple score using clinical information might be useful to predicting asymptomatic systolic dysfunction in the elderly.

[Relevance of right ventricle in the clinical management of pulmonary arterial hypertension]. / Manejo clínico de la hipertensión arterial pulmonar. Relevancia del ventrículo derecho.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requires structured processes of diagnosis and risk stratification, being the function of the right ventricle (RV) a hallmark prognosis determinant. The main therapeutic goals in PAH are to improve and try to revert RV dysfunction and maintaining a low risk. Currently, there are multiple treatments with different mechanisms of action, the combination of which in double or triple therapy has shown improved results compared to monotherapy. Recent clinical evidence shows the importance of early incorporation of parenteral prostanoids to the scheme, improving RV function and survival. In this review, we discuss the role of the RV function in the diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up of PAH. We recommend the systematic and standardised evaluation of the RV as well as the early initiation of combined treatment in cases of intermediatehigh risk to try to reach and keep the patient with PAH at a low risk and / or avoid the progression of PAH.

La hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) requiere procesos estructurados de diagnóstico y estratificación de riesgo, siendo la función del ventrículo derecho (VD) un marcador pronóstico central. Los principales objetivos terapéuticos en la HAP son mejorar y/o intentar revertir la disfunción del VD y mantener condición de bajo riesgo. Actualmente existen múltiples fármacos con diferentes mecanismos de acción cuya combinación en doble o triple terapia ha mostrado mejores resultados que la monoterapia. Evidencia actual demuestra la importancia de incorporar tempranamente prostanoides parenterales al esquema, mejorando la funcionalidad del VD y la supervivencia. En esta revisión se refleja el papel de la función del VD en el diagnóstico, pronóstico y seguimiento de la HAP. Se recomienda la evaluación sistemática y estandarizada del VD, así como el inicio temprano de tratamiento combinado en riesgo intermedio-alto para obtener las metas de alcanzar y mantener un riesgo bajo y/o evitar la progresión de la HAP.

Lung ultrasound in acute myocardial infarction. Updating Killip & Kimball.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction marks an ominous prognosis. Killip and Kimball's classification of heart failure remains a useful tool in these patients. Lung ultrasound can detect pulmonary congestion but its usefulness in this scenario is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound to predict heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction and without heart failure were evaluated with a lung ultrasound. The presence of B-lines was recorded and counted. The presence of new heart failure (Killip Class B, C, or D) during hospitalization was evaluated by a cardiologist blinded to the results of lung ultrasound. A ROC curve analysis was done to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of B-lines to predict heart failure. RESULTS: 200 patients were included. Three patients were diagnosed with cardiogenic shock, 5 with acute pulmonary edema, and 17 with mild heart failure. Patients who develop heart failure had a median of 14 B-lines, however, patients who remained in Killip class A had a median of 2 (p = 0,0001). The area under the ROC curve of the sum of B-lines to predict any form of heart failure was 0,91 (CI95% 86-97). The best cut-off value was 5 B-lines, with a sensitivity of 88% (IC95% 68,8-97,5) and specificity of 81% (IC95% 73,9-86,2). CONCLUSION: Lung ultrasound done at admission can help to predict heart failure In patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Latin-American Registry of Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19: Rationale and Design of the CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry.

Background: Infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) exhibits a strong infectivity but less virulence compared to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In terms of cardiovascular morbidity, susceptible population include elderly and patients with certain cardiovascular conditions. This infection has been associated with cardiac injury, cardiovascular complications and higher mortality. Objectives: The main objective of the CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry is to determine the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 infected patients that required in-hospital treatment in different Latin American institutions. Methods: The CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry is an observational, multicenter, ambispective, and hospital-based registry of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection who required in-hospital treatment in Latin America. Enrollment of patients started on May 01, 2020 and was initially planned to last three months; based on the progression of pandemic in Latin America, enrollment was extended until December 2020, and could be extended once again based on the pandemic course in our continent at that moment. Conclusions: The CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry will characterize the in-hospital population diagnosed with COVID-19 in Latin America in order to identify risk factors for worsening of cardiovascular comorbidities or for the appearance of cardiovascular complications during hospitalization and during the 30-day follow up period.

Collaborative registry of pulmonary hypertension in Argentina (RECOPILAR). Final analysis.

The epidemiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), has not been evaluated in our country, therefore there is no reference parameter to establishing the representativeness of this information in the national order. This registry represents the first collaborative effort to provide a knowledge base of this disease, including 5 scientific societies that represent different specialties (pediatrics, rheumatology, pulmonology and cardiology) with data from 23 Argentine provinces. These efforts involved five societies of various adult (cardiology, rheumatology, and pulmonology) and pediatric (cardiology) specialties. Subjects were grouped (1-5) in accord with the 2013 Nice classification. A total of 627 patients (mean age, 50.8 ± 18 years; women, 69.2%) were recruited. Incident cases accounted for 53%. Functional class III-IV accounted for 69% at time of diagnosis and 33.4% at time of inclusion. Distributions in groups 1-5 were 63.6%, 15.9%, 8.3%, 9.7%, and 2.4%, respectively. Treatment consisted of diuretics (51.2%), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (44.7%), digoxin (16.6%), anticoagulants (39.2%), renin-angiotensin antagonists (15.5%), beta blockers (15.6%), and calcium channel blockers (8%). Rates of specific therapies usage in PAH vs. non-PAH group were 80.5% vs. 40.8% (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors: 71% vs. 38.6%; endothelin receptor antagonists: 54.4% vs. 14.5%; prostanoids: 14.3 vs. 3.1%; all p < 0.001). Three-year survival in PAH and non-PAH differed significantly (82.8% vs. 73.3%; p = 0.001). In the Argentine RECOPILAR registry, the clinic-epidemiologic profile was that of advanced-stage disease. Diagnostic workups and therapeutics interventions, including use of specific therapy for PAH, were consistent with current recommendations. Despite delays in diagnosis, survival was aligned with other contemporary registries.

La epidemiología de la hipertensión pulmonar (HP), especialmente la arterial (HAP), no ha sido evaluada en nuestro país, por lo cual no existe un parámetro de referencia para establecer la representatividad de esta información en el orden nacional. El presente registro representa el primer esfuerzo colaborativo para una base de conocimiento de esta enfermedad, incluyendo 5 sociedades científicas que representan a distintas especialidades médicas (pediatría, reumatología, neumonología y cardiología) con datos de 23 provincias argentinas. Los sujetos se agruparon (1-5) de acuerdo con la clasificación de Niza de 2013. El seguimiento se completó en 583 pacientes (93%) un año después del final de la inscripción. Se incluyeron 627 pacientes (edad media, 50.8 ± 18 años; mujeres, 69.2%). Los casos incidentes representaron el 53%. La clase funcional III-IV representaba 69% en el momento del diagnóstico y 33.4% en el momento de la inclusión. Las manifestaciones clínicas fueron disnea (81.8%), fatiga (54.1%), síncope (10.8%), dolor torácico (14.7%), palpitaciones (20.9%) e insuficiencia cardíaca (20.4%). Las tasas de uso de terapias específicas en la hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) frente al grupo sin HAP fueron del 80.5% frente al 40.8%. La supervivencia a tres años en los subconjuntos de HAP y no HAP difirió significativamente (82.8% vs. 73.3%; p = 0.001). En el registro RECOPILAR argentino, que aborda principalmente la HAP, el perfil clínico-epidemiológico fue el d e una enfermedad en estadios avanzados. El diagnóstico y las intervenciones terapéuticas, incluido el uso de terapia específica para la HAP, fueron consistentes con las recomendaciones actuales.

Time to reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction. It is time to reduce it!

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mortality from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction remains high, with most deaths occurring before hospital admission. Despite effective pre- and in-hospital reperfusion strategies becoming standard over the past 2 decades, time-to-admission and time-to-treatment remain prolonged. We reviewed temporal trends in these times in published clinical trials. METHODS: All major randomized clinical trials reporting on reperfusion strategies for acute myocardial infarction published between 1993 and 2003 were evaluated. Strategies included pre- and in-hospital thrombolysis, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) with or without transfer, and "facilitated" PCI. We generated overall estimates of time-to-admission, time-to-treatment, door-to-balloon (DTB), and door-to-needle (DTN) times and evaluated temporal trends in the length of time-to-admission and time-to-treatment. RESULTS: In studies that evaluated only in-hospital thrombolysis, the time-to-admission was 149 +/- 45 minutes; the mean time-to-treatment was 181 +/- 29 minutes. In studies that considered only in-hospital pPCI (without transfer), the mean time-to-admission was 153 +/- 41 minutes; the mean time-to-treatment was 234 +/- 43 minutes. In studies that compared in-hospital pPCI with in-hospital thrombolytic therapy, the mean time-to-admission was 155 +/- 47 and 150 +/- 48 minutes, respectively. The DTN time was 65 +/- 10 minutes, whereas DTB time was 81 +/- 39 minutes. In other trials evaluating in-hospital thrombolysis and pPCI with transfer to a referral center, the time-to-admission in subjects treated with thrombolysis (n = 1345) was 127 +/- 32 minutes vs 131 +/- 36 minutes for pPCI (n = 1528). For in-hospital thrombolysis, time-to-treatment was 151 +/- 23 minutes vs 203 +/- 15 minutes for pPCI patients with transfer. The DTN time in the thrombolysis group was 44 +/- 28 minutes as compared with DTB time of 78 +/- 38 minutes in the pPCI group. Throughout the last decade, time-to-admission decreased significantly (P = .02) but time-to-treatment remained unchanged (P = .38) for patients undergoing thrombolysis. In the pPCI arm, time-to-admission remained unchanged (P = .11) but a insignificant trend toward reduction was demonstrated in time-to-treatment (P = .11). CONCLUSION: Time-to-admission and time-to-treatment for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction are still prolonged. Resources should be directed to early recognition of the acute myocardial infarction, improved utilization of emergency services for transportation, and prehospital diagnosis and triaging. Ambulances equipped with wireless capability to transmit electrocardiograms to the on-call cardiologist seem to be promising tools to achieve earlier diagnosis and triaging with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

Insuficiencia cardíaca crónica en Argentina. OFFICE IC AR, un registro conjunto de la Sociedad Argentina de Cardiología y de la Federación Argentina de Cardiología / Chronic Heart Failure in Argentina. OFFICE IC AR, a joint registry of the Argentine Society of Cardiology and the Argentine Federation of Cardiology

RESUMEN Introducción: Diferentes registros argentinos de insuficiencia cardíaca crónica (ICC) fueron generados en los últimos 25 años, en forma individual por la Sociedad Argentina de Cardiología (SAC) y la Federación Argentina de Cardiología (FAC), con diversa representatividad. Los últimos datos conocidos datan de 2013. El Registro OFFICE IC AR fue encarado en forma conjunta por la SAC y la FAC para conocer la realidad de la ICC en Argentina. Objetivos: Describir en forma amplia y comprensiva las características salientes de la ICC en Argentina, incluyendo las características de los pacientes, el uso de recursos diagnósticos y terapéuticos, la adherencia a las guías de práctica y el pronóstico a mediano y largo plazo. Material y Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de cohorte, de pacientes con ICC de al menos 6 meses de evolución, alejados de una internación por al menos 3 meses. Se recabaron datos clínicos y paraclínicos. Los pacientes fueron categorizados, de acuerdo a la fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda (FEVI), en IC con FE reducida, ICFER (≤40%); IC con FE en el rango medio, ICFErm, ahora denominada IC con FE levemente reducida, ICFElr (41%-49%), e IC con FE preservada, ICFEP (≥50%). En seguimiento de al menos 1 año se registró la incidencia de hospitalización por insuficiencia cardíaca (HIC), muerte cardiovascular (MCV) y muerte de todas las causas (MTC) Resultados: Entre noviembre de 2017 y enero de 2020, 100 cardiólogos de todo el país incluyeron 1004 pacientes con ICC; edad media 65,8 ± 12,4 años, 74,6% hombres, FEVI conocida en el 93,8%. El 68,4% tenía ICFER, el 16% ICFElr y el 15,6% ICFEP. Hubo alta prevalencia de comorbilidades, incluyendo diabetes y anemia en el 30%, e insuficiencia renal crónica en el 22%. Fue elevada la utilización de antagonistas neurohormonales (ANH): 89,5% betabloqueantes; 57,3% inhibidores o antagonistas del sistema renina angiotensina, 28,9% sacubitril valsartán y 78,6% antialdosterónicos. En 69% se utilizó triple terapia. Su empleo fue mayor en la ICFER, pero elevado incluso en la ICFEP. En una mediana de seguimiento de 1,7 años la incidencia anual de MCV/HIC fue 12,8%, la de MCV 6,6% y la de MTC 8,4%, sin diferencia entre las distintas categorías de FEVI. Conclusiones: En el primer registro conjunto de ICC SAC-FAC se verificó elevada prevalencia de ICFER, alta prevalencia de comorbilidades, uso frecuente de ANH y pronóstico acorde a los registros internacionales.

ABSTRACT Background: Several Argentine registries on chronic heart failure (CHF) have been generated over the past 25 years, either individually by the Argentine Society of Cardiology (SAC) or the Argentine Federation of Cardiology (FAC), with different representativeness. The last known data are from 2013. The OFFICE IC AR registry was jointly undertaken by the SAC and FAC to know the reality of CHF in Argentina. Objective: The aim of this registry was to extensively and comprehensively describe the outstanding characteristics of CHF in Argentina, including patient characteristics, use of diagnostic and therapeutic resources, adherence to practice guidelines and mid-and long-term prognosis. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with at least 6-month evolution CHF and not hospitalized for at least the past 3 months. Clinical and paraclinical data were collected. Patients were categorized according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), into HF with reduced EF, HFrEF (≤40 %), HF with midrange EF, now termed HF with mildly reduced EF, HFmrEF (41%-49%), and HF with preserved EF, HFpEF (≥50%). The incidence of hospitalization for HF (HHF), cardiovascular mortality (CVM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) was recorded for at least 1-year follow-up. Results: Between November 2017 and January 2020, 100 cardiologists from all over the country included 1004 patients with CHF. Mean age was 65.8 ± 12.4 years, 74.6% were men, and 93.8% had known LVEF. In 68.4% of cases, patients had HFrEF, 16% HFmrEF and 15.6% HFpEF. A high prevalence of comorbidities was found, including diabetes and anemia in 30% of cases, and chronic renal failure in 22%. There was high use of neurohormonal antagonists (NHA): 89.5% betablockers, 57.3% renin-angiotensin system inhibitors or antagonists, 28.9% sacubitril-valsartan and 78.6% aldosterone antagonists. Triple therapy was used in 69% of patients, with higher prescription in HFrEF, but elevated even on HFpEF. At a median follow-up of 1.7 years, the annual incidence of CVM/HHF was 12.8%, CVM 6.6% and ACM 8.4%, without statistical differences between the different LVEF categories. Conclusions: This first SAC-FAC joint CHF registry verified a high prevalence of HFrEF, a high prevalence of comorbidities, frequent use of NHA and prognosis according to international registries.

Valor pronóstico del índice de shock en el infarto de miocardio. Datos del Registro Argentino de infarto con elevación del segmento ST (ARGEN IAM-ST) / Prognostic value of the shock index in myocardial infarction. Data from Argentine Registry of ST-segment elevation infarct (ARGEN IAM-ST)

Resumen El índice de shock (IS) se obtiene mediante un cálculo simple del cociente entre la frecuencia cardíaca (FC) y la tensión arterial sistólica (PAS) (IS: FC/TAS) y el índice de shock ajustado por edad (ISA) multiplicando el IS x edad. Evaluamos su valor predictivo para el evento combinado intrahospitalario (EC) muerte y/o shock cardiogénico (SC) y de los eventos individuales en los pacientes incluidos en el registro argentino de infarto con elevación del segmento ST (ARGEN-IAM-ST). Se excluyeron 248 con SC de ingreso. Se realizaron curvas ROC para ambos índices utilizando el mejor punto de corte para dicotomizar la población. Se incluyeron 2928 pacientes. Edad (mediana) 60 años (RIC 25-75% 53-68), varones 80%, EC: 6.4%. Un 30.5% tuvo IS ≥ 0.67 y éstos presentaron mayor incidencia de EC: 11% vs. 4% (p < 0.001), shock cardiogénico (8% vs. 2.6%, p <0.0001) y muerte (7.3% vs. 3%, p < 0.0001) que los pacientes con IS < 0.67. Un 28% tuvo ISA ≥ 41.5. Estos presentaron más EC: 14% vs. 3%, p < 0.001, SC: 10% vs. 2%, (p < 0.001) y muerte: 9.5% vs. 2.3%, (p < 0.001) comparados con los pacientes con valores ISA < 41.5. El área bajo la curva ROC del ISA para EC fue significativamente mejor que la del IS (0.72 vs. 0.62, p < 0.001).En los modelos de análisis multivariados reali zados, el IS tuvo un OR de 2.56 (IC95% 1.56-4.02; p < 0.001) y el ISA de 3.43 (IC95% 2.08-5.65; p<0.001) para EC. El IS y el ISA predicen muerte y/o el desarrollo de shock cardiogénico intrahospitalario en una población no seleccionada de infartos con elevación del ST.

Abstract The shock index (IS) is the quotient between the heart rate (HR) and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) (IS: HR / SBT), and the age-adjusted shock index (ISA) multiplying the IS by age. We evaluated its predictive value for the combined in-hospital event (EC), death and / or cardiogenic shock (CS) and for individual events in the patients included in the Argentine registry of ST-segment elevation infarction (ARGEN-ST-AMI); 248 with CS on admission were excluded. ROC curves were made for both indices using the best cut-off point to dichotomize the population. The analysis included 2928 subjects. Age (median) 60 years (IQR 25-75% 53-68), men 80%, EC: 6.4%; 30.5% had IS ≥ 0.67, and they had a higher incidence of EC: 11% vs. 4% (p < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (8% vs. 2.6%, p <0.0001) and death (7.3% vs. 3%), p <0.0001) than patients with IS < 0.67. A 28% had ISA ≥ 41.5. These presented plus EC: 14% vs. 3%, p < 0.001, SC: 10% vs. 2%, (p < 0.001) and death: 9.5% vs. 2.3%, (p < 0.001) compared with patients with values < 41.5. The area under the ROC curve of the ISA for EC was significantly better than that of the IS (0.72 vs. 0.62, p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis models performed, the IS had an OR: 2.56 (95% CI 1.56-4.02; p < 0.001) and the ISA: 3.43 (95% CI 2.08-5.65; p < 0.001) for EC. The IS and ISA predict death and / or the development of in-hospital cardiogenic shock in an unselected population of ST elevation infarcts.

Overview of acute decompensated heart failure in Argentina: lessons learned from 5 registries during the last decade.

BACKGROUND: The acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is not as well characterized as the chronic phase, particularly in Latin American countries. Thus, the aim of this overview was to describe the clinical profile, treatment, and inhospital course of ADHF during the last decade in Argentina. METHODS: Results obtained from 5 Argentinean prospective and multicenter registries, involving 2974 patients admitted for ADHF, were assessed. These registries were performed and published between 1992 and 2004. RESULTS: The mean age was 65 to 70 years, and nearly 40% were female. Coronary artery disease was the main etiology in nearly 30% of the patients. Between 1992 and 2004, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors increased from 29.9% to 53.4% before admission and from 48.5% to 69.3% before discharge; the use of beta-blockers rose from 4.2% to 33.2% at admission and from 2.5% to 42.4% at predischarge (all P < .0001). Inhospital mortality rates in the first to the fifth registries were 12.1%, 4.6%, 10.5%, 8.9%, and 4.7% (P [trend] = .006). However, there were 98 (7.7%) deaths among 1272 patients before 2002, compared with 129 (7.6%) among 1702 since 2002 (P = .9). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical profile of this largest sample of ADHF reported from a Latin American country is different from that observed in clinical trials and comparable to registries worldwide. Although an improvement in the use of recommended drugs was observed in the last decade, the average mortality has not changed. These findings might have implications in the design of multinational clinical trials.

Increased levels of cardiac troponin-T in outpatients with heart failure and preserved systolic function are related to adverse clinical findings and outcome.

BACKGROUND: The implications of increased levels of cardiac troponin T in congestive heart failure with preserved systolic function have been poorly evaluated. We hypothesized that its presence might be related to disease severity and prognosis in this setting. METHODS: Clinical, echocardiographic, 6-min walking test and laboratory data were prospectively obtained in 69 congestive heart failure outpatients with ejection fraction > or = 40%. Serial blood samples were assayed for cardiac troponin T with a third-generation immunoassay and values > or = 0.02 ng/ml were considered abnormal. RESULTS: Abnormal cardiac troponin T levels in at least one sample were found in 27 patients (39%, group 1). These patients were older (71.7 +/- 11 vs. 63 +/- 12.4 years, P = 0.002); more frequently hospitalized during the previous year (63 vs. 26.2%, P = 0.003), had lower systolic blood pressure (129.3 +/- 19.6 vs. 140.4 +/- 23.5 mmHg, P = 0.04), but had similar proportion of ischemic etiology (55.6 vs. 42.9%, P = 0.21) than those with normal cardiac troponin T (group 2). In groups 1 and 2, the functional class was 2.8 +/- 0.8 and 2.1 +/- 0.9 (P = 0.03), and the distance covered in 6 min was 339 +/- 100 and 386 +/- 103 m (P = 0.05), respectively. In groups 1 and 2, the 18-month congestive heart failure hospitalization-free survival was 22 and 87%, respectively (log-rank test P = 0.0003). In a Cox-proportional hazard model, functional class III-IV (hazard ratio = 5.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.43-18.96) and myocardial injury (hazard ratio = 5.51, confidence interval: 1.58-19.24) were independently associated with prognosis. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of cardiac troponin T were detected in one out of three congestive heart failure outpatients with preserved systolic function and correlated with clinical measures of disease severity and poor outcome. These findings suggest a link between ongoing myocardial injury and progressive impairment in congestive heart failure despite preserved systolic function.

Reduced systolic performance by tissue Doppler in patients with preserved and abnormal ejection fraction: new insights in chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is useful in the evaluation of systolic and diastolic function. It allows assessment of ventricular dynamics in its longitudinal axis. We sought to investigate the difference in systolic and diastolic longitudinal function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with normal and reduced ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred ten outpatients with CHF and 68 controls were included. Ejection fraction (EF) was obtained and longitudinal systolic (S) and diastolic (E' and A') wall velocities were recorded from basal septum. Group A (controls) were normal and CHF patients were classified by EF in Group B1: > 45% and B2: < or = 45%. In A, B1 and B2 the mean S peak was 7.74; 5.45 and 4.89 cm/s (p<0.001); the mean E' peak was 8.56; 5.72 and 6.1 cm/s (p<0.001); and the mean A' peak was 10.2; 7.3 and 5.3 cm/s (p<0.001). Also, isovolumic contraction and relaxation time were different among control and CHF groups, (both p<0.001). The most useful parameters for identifying diastolic CHF were IVRT and S peak, with area under ROC curves of 0.93 and 0.89. The cut-off of 115 ms for IVRT and 5.8 cm/s for S peak showed a sensitivity of 94 and 97%, with a specificity of 82 and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that impairment of left ventricular systolic function is present even in those with diastolic heart failure, and that abnormalities may have an important role to identifying the condition.

The predictive value of plasma biomarkers in discharged heart failure patients: role of troponin I/T.

Hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) is a frequent manifestation of chronic heart failure (CHF), and represents the moment of greatest impact on costs and on risk for the patient, in particular after discharge. Contributing factors to this disappointingly high postdischarge event rate include the incomplete relief of fluid overload, insufficient patient education, the lack of implementation of evidence-based therapies, poor follow-up and inadequate risk stratification before leaving hospital. Among available tools, different biomarkers have been tested, including cardiac troponin (cTn). The value of cTn to monitoring and to stratifying risk before discharge has been evaluated by mean of three strategies: a single measurement before discharge, monitoring with serial sampling during hospitalization, and comparing admission and predischarge values to establishing the cTn "delta". Acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) is an active and continuing process, which starts at admission, but its evolution might be unpredictable, and the prevention of ongoing myocardial damage (OMD) might be one of the important targets to improve prognosis. OMD is also a dynamic process and can be detected in CHF and HHF, at different moments and in diverse magnitudes, justifying the cTn monitoring. The favorable effect of drugs on cTn release and its association with better prognosis have increased our expectation for the role of serial determination in HHF patients.

Manejo clínico de la hipertensión arterial pulmonar. Relevancia del ventrículo derecho / Relevance of right ventricle in the clinical management of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Resumen La hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) requiere procesos estructurados de diagnóstico y estratificación de riesgo, siendo la función del ventrículo derecho (VD) un marcador pronóstico central. Los principales objetivos terapéuticos en la HAP son mejorar y/o intentar revertir la disfunción del VD y mantener condición de bajo riesgo. Actualmente existen múltiples fármacos con diferentes mecanismos de acción cuya combinación en doble o triple terapia ha mostrado mejores resultados que la monoterapia. Evidencia actual demuestra la importancia de incorporar tempranamente prostanoides parenterales al esquema, mejorando la funcionalidad del VD y la supervivencia. En esta revisión se refleja el papel de la función del VD en el diagnós tico, pronóstico y seguimiento de la HAP. Se recomienda la evaluación sistemática y estandarizada del VD, así como el inicio temprano de tratamiento combinado en riesgo intermedio-alto para obtener las metas de alcanzar y mantener un riesgo bajo y/o evitar la progresión de la HAP.

Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requires structured processes of diagnosis and risk stratifica tion, being the function of the right ventricle (RV) a hallmark prognosis determinant. The main therapeutic goals in PAH are to improve and try to revert RV dysfunction and maintaining a low risk. Currently, there are multiple treatments with different mechanisms of action, the combination of which in double or triple therapy has shown improved results compared to monotherapy. Recent clinical evidence shows the importance of early incorpora tion of parenteral prostanoids to the scheme, improving RV function and survival. In this review, we discuss the role of the RV function in the diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up of PAH. We recommend the systematic and standardised evaluation of the RV as well as the early initiation of combined treatment in cases of intermediate-high risk to try to reach and keep the patient with PAH at a low risk and / or avoid the progression of PAH.

Collaborative registry of pulmonary hypertension in Argentina (RECOPILAR). Final analysis / Registro colaborativo de hipertensión pulmonar en Argentina (RECOPILAR): análisis final

Abstract The epidemiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), has not been evaluated in our country, therefore there is no reference parameter to establishing the representativeness of this information in the national order. This registry represents the first collaborative effort to provide a knowledge base of this disease, including 5 scientific societies that represent different specialties (pediatrics, rheumatology, pulmonology and cardiology) with data from 23 Argentine provinces. These efforts involved five societies of various adult (cardiology, rheumatology, and pulmonology) and pediatric (cardiology) specialties. Subjects were grouped (1-5) in accord with the 2013 Nice classification. A total of 627 patients (mean age, 50.8±18 years; women, 69.2%) were recruited. Incident cases accounted for 53%. Functional class III-IV accounted for 69% at time of diagnosis and 33.4% at time of inclusion. Distributions in groups 1-5 were 63.6%, 15.9%, 8.3%, 9.7%, and 2.4%, respectively. Treatment consisted of diuretics (51.2%), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (44.7%), digoxin (16.6%), anticoagulants (39.2%), renin-angiotensin antagonists (15.5%), beta blockers (15.6%), and calcium channel blockers (8%). Rates of specific therapies usage in PAH vs. non-PAH group were 80.5% vs. 40.8% (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors: 71% vs. 38.6%; endothelin receptor antagonists: 54.4% vs. 14.5%; prostanoids: 14.3 vs. 3.1%; all p < 0.001). Three-year survival in PAH and non-PAH differed significantly (82.8% vs. 73.3%; p = 0.001). In the Argentine RECOPILAR registry, the clinic-epidemiologic profile was that of advanced-stage disease. Diagnostic workups and therapeutics interventions, including use of specific therapy for PAH, were consistent with current recommendations. Despite delays in diagnosis, survival was aligned with other contemporary registries.

Resumen La epidemiología de la hipertensión pulmonar (HP), especialmente la arterial (HAP), no ha sido evaluada en nuestro país, por lo cual no existe un parámetro de referencia para establecer la representatividad de esta información en el orden nacional. El presente registro representa el primer esfuerzo colaborativo para una base de conocimiento de esta enfermedad, incluyendo 5 sociedades científicas que representan a distintas especiali dades médicas (pediatría, reumatología, neumonología y cardiología) con datos de 23 provincias argentinas. Los sujetos se agruparon (1-5) de acuerdo con la clasificación de Niza de 2013. El seguimiento se completó en 583 pacientes (93%) un año después del final de la inscripción. Se incluyeron 627 pacientes (edad media, 50.8 ± 18 años; mujeres, 69.2%). Los casos incidentes representaron el 53%. La clase funcional III-IV representaba 69% en el momento del diagnóstico y 33.4% en el momento de la inclusión. Las manifestaciones clínicas fueron disnea (81.8%), fatiga (54.1%), síncope (10.8%), dolor torácico (14.7%), palpitaciones (20.9%) e insuficiencia cardíaca (20.4%). Las tasas de uso de terapias específicas en la hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) frente al grupo sin HAP fueron del 80.5% frente al 40.8%. La supervivencia a tres años en los subconjuntos de HAP y no HAP difirió significativamente (82.8% vs. 73.3%; p = 0.001). En el registro RECOPILAR argentino, que aborda principalmente la HAP, el perfil clínico-epidemiológico fue el d e una enfermedad en estadios avanzados. El diag nóstico y las intervenciones terapéuticas, incluido el uso de terapia específica para la HAP, fueron consistentes con las recomendaciones actuales.