Mildly Reduced Renal Function Is Associated With Increased Heart Failure Admissions in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The association between renal dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes has yet to be determined in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aimed to investigate whether mildly reduced renal function is associated with the prognosis in patients with HCM. METHODS: Patients with HCM were enrolled at two tertiary HCM centers. Patients who were on dialysis, or had a previous history of heart failure (HF) or stroke were excluded. Patients were categorized into 3 groups by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): stage I (eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 538), stage II (eGFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 953), and stage III-V (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 265). Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, hospitalization for HF (HHF), or stroke during median 4.0-year follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression model was used to adjust for covariates. RESULTS: Among 1,756 HCM patients (mean 61.0 ± 13.4 years; 68.1% men), patients with stage III-V renal function had a significantly higher risk of MACEs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-5.27; P = 0.003), which was largely driven by increased incidence of cardiovascular death and HHF compared to those with stage I renal function. Even in patients with stage II renal function, the risk of MACE (vs. stage I: aHR, 2.21' 95% CI, 1.23-3.96; P = 0.008) and HHF (vs. stage I: aHR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.23-5.58; P = 0.012) was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: This real-world observation showed that even mildly reduced renal function (i.e., eGFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m²) in patients with HCM was associated with an increased risk of MACEs, especially for HHF.

H2FPEF Score Reflects the Left Atrial Strain and Predicts Prognosis in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: The H2FPEF score is a validated algorithm for the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We investigated the associations of the H2FPEF score with echocardiographic parameters and prognosis in patients with HFpEF admitted for acute heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 4312 patients at 3 tertiary centers were identified. Among 1335 patients with HFpEF, the H2FPEF score was available in 1105 patients (39% male) with a median age of 77 years (interquartile range 69-82). The median H2FPEF score was 4 (interquartile range 3-6). Patients with higher H2FPEF scores had worse left atrial (LA) size, peak atrial longitudinal strain of the left atrium, mitral E/e' ratio, and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity. Peak atrial longitudinal strain of the left atrium demonstrated a significant association with the H2FPEF score, in patients without atrial fibrillation and those without atrial fibrillation. After adjustment for clinical factors and echocardiographic parameters, patients with higher H2FPEF scores had a higher risk of mortality and hospitalization for heart failure, regardless of the presence of atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: The H2FPEF score reflects left atrial function in patients with HFpEF admitted for acute heart failure. This association supports the clinical usefulness of the H2FPEF score as an indicator of diastolic dysfunction, a diagnostic algorithm for HFpEF, and a prognostic factor in patients with HFpEF.

Association between 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Vascular Endothelial Function in Patients with Vasospastic Angina.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and plays an important role in vasospastic angina (VA). OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is also a good marker of 10-year ASCVD risk (10Y-ASCVDR) in patients with VA. METHODS: Based on their clinical history and coronary artery diameter stenosis (DS), patients were retrospectively enrolled into VA (DS <50% and positive ergonovine provocation), minor coronary artery disease (mCAD, DS <30%), and significant coronary artery disease (sCAD, DS ≥50%) groups. Endothelial function was evaluated by FMD. RESULTS: Each group contained 50 patients. The 10Y-ASCVDR was significantly higher in the sCAD group than in the VA and mCAD groups (10.86 ± 7.30, 4.71 ± 4.04, and 4.77 ± 4.30, respectively, p < 0.001). The FMD was significantly higher in the mCAD group than in the VA and sCAD groups (6.37 ± 4.25, 3.10 ± 2.23, and 3.07 ± 1.89, respectively, p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the FMD and 10Y-ASCVD in the mCAD group (r = -0.622, p < 0.001) and the sCAD group (r = -0.557, p < 0.001) but not in the VA group (r = -0.193, p = 0.179). After adjusting for potential confounders such as BMI, C-reactive protein, maximal coronary stenosis, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, multivariate analysis showed that FMD was independently associated with 10Y-ASCVDR in all patients. However, when looking only at the VA group, FMD did not correlate independently with 10Y-ASCVDR. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike mCAD and sCAD, we found no correlation between 10Y-ASCVDR and endothelial function in VA. Thus, our results support that FMD is not a good marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in VA.

Long-term Prognosis of Mild to Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: There is an incomplete understanding of the natural course of mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to evaluate the natural course of patients with mild to moderate AS and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 787 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate AS using echocardiography between 2004 and 2010. Cardiac death and aortic valve replacement (AVR) for AS were assessed. RESULTS: A median follow-up period was 92 months. Compared to the general population, patients with mild to moderate AS had a higher risk of cardiac death (hazard ratio [HR], 17.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.65-21.59; P < 0.001). Established CAD was detected in 22.4% and associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiac mortality (adjusted HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.04-2.53; P = 0.033). The risk of cardiac death was lower when patients were taking statin (adjusted HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98; P = 0.041), which was clear only after 7 years. Both patients with CAD and on statin tended to undergo more AVR, but the difference was not statistically significant (the presence of established CAD; adjusted HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.51-3.51; P = 0.214 and the use of statin; adjusted HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.76-4.58; P = 0.177). CONCLUSION: Mild to moderate AS does not have a benign course. The presence of CAD and statin use may affect the long-term prognosis of patients with mild to moderate AS.

Stress cardiomyopathy associated with area postrema syndrome as a presentation of neuromyelitis optica: case report.

BACKGROUND: Stress cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) is very rare in the central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disorders. Although this dysfunction of the heart-brain axis has been reported in several case series related to multiple sclerosis (MS), stress cardiomyopathy by neuromyelitis optica (NMO), which is rarer CNS demyelinating disorder than MS, is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of stress cardiomyopathy associated with a medullary lesion as a presentation of NMO. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old woman was treated by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to catastrophic cardiopulmonary dysfunction after prolonged and unexplained nausea, vomiting, and cough. Myoclonus on the limbs developed afterward. Taken with suspicion of area postrema syndrome (APS), the brain MRI showed a demyelinating lesion in the medulla oblongata. APS and severe heart failure by stress cardiomyopathy were completely resolved by ECMO and hydrocortisone therapy. However, the CNS demyelinating lesion recurred after 1 month. The patient was diagnosed with NMO evident by the presence of aquaporin-4 antibody; Steroid therapy improved her symptoms. CONCLUSION: NMO should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in patients with APS preceding severe cardiopulmonary distress.

Healthcare utilization, medical expenditure, and mortality in Korean patients with pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exists regarding healthcare utilization, medical expenses, and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We aimed to investigate mortality risk, healthcare utilization and medical expenditure in patients with PH across the five diagnostic subgroups. METHODS: We identified 2185 patients with PH, defined as peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity > 3.4 m/sec, among the consecutive patients referred for echocardiography between 2009 and 2015. Using diagnostic codes, medical records, and echocardiographic findings, the enrolled patients were classified according to the five subgroups by WHO classification. Healthcare utilization, costs, and all-cause mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Diagnostic subgroups of PH demonstrated significantly different clinical features. During a median of 32.4 months (interquartile range, 16.2-57.8), 749 patients (34.3%) died. Mortality risk was the lowest in group II (left heart disease) and highest in group III (chronic lung disease). The etiologies of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) had significant influence on the mortality risk in group I, showing the worst prognosis in PAH associated with connective tissue disease. Medical expenditure and healthcare utilization were different between the PH subgroups: groups II and V had more hospitalizations and medical expenses than other groups. Regardless of PH subgroups, the severity of PH was associated with higher mortality risk, more healthcare utilization and medical expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in clinical features and prognostic profiles between PH subgroups reflect the differences in pathophysiology and clinical consequences. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive understanding of PH according to the etiology and its severity.

Prediction of infarct size and adverse cardiac outcomes by tissue tracking-cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether quantification of global left ventricular (LV) strain by tissue tracking-CMR (TT-CMR) can estimate the infarct size and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: We retrospectively registered 247 consecutive patients (58 ± 12 years; male, 81%) who underwent 1.5-T CMR within 1 month after ST-segment elevation MI (median, 4 days; interquartile range, 3-6 days), and 20 age- and sex-matched controls (58 ± 11 years; male, 80%). TT-CMR analysis was applied to cine-images to measure global LV radial, circumferential and longitudinal peak strains (GRS, GCS and GLS, respectively). Adverse cardiac events were defined as cardiac death and hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS: During the follow-up (median, 7.8 years), 20 patients (8.1%) experienced adverse events. LV myocardial deformation was significantly decreased in MI patients compared to controls and closely related to the infarct size. The GRS, GCS and GLS were all significant predictors of adverse cardiac events. In particular, a GLS > -14.1% was independently associated with a > 5-fold increased risk for adverse events, even after adjustment for the LV ejection fraction and infarct size. CONCLUSIONS: TT-CMR-derived LV strain is significantly related to the infarct size and adverse events. GLS measurement provides strong prognostic information in MI patients. KEY POINTS: • TT-CMR provides reliable quantification of LV strain in MI patients. • TT-CMR allows prediction of the infarct size and adverse events. • In particular, GLS by TT-CMR had independent prognostic value in MI patients.

Integrative Assessment of Cardiopulmonary Fitness Using Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test With Supine Bicycle Echocardiography in Patients Presenting Dyspnea.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with supine bicycle echocardiography (SBE) enables comprehensive physiologic assessment during exercise. We characterized cardiopulmonary fitness by integrating CPET-SBE parameters and evaluated its prognostic value in patients presenting with dyspnea. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 473 consecutive patients who underwent CPET-SBE for dyspnea evaluation. A dimensionality reduction process was applied, transforming 24 clinical and CPET-SBE parameters into a 2-dimensional feature map, followed by patient clustering based on the data distribution. Clinical and exercise features were compared among the clusters in addition to the 5-year risk of clinical outcome (a composite of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization). Maximum exercise effort (R >1) was achieved in 95% of cases. Through dimensionality reduction, 3 patient clusters were derived: Group 1 (n=157), 2 (n=104), and 3 (n=212). Median age and female proportion increased from Group 1 to 2, and 3, although resting echocardiography parameters showed no significant abnormalities among the groups. There was a worsening trend in the exercise response from Group 1 to 2 and 3, including left ventricular diastolic function, oxygen consumption, and ventilatory efficiency. During follow-up (median 6.0 [1.6-10.4] years), clinical outcome increased from Group 1 to 2 and 3 (5-year rate 3.7% versus 7.0% versus 13.0%, respectively; log-rank P=0.02), with higher risk in Group 2 (hazard ratio, 1.94 [95% CI, 0.52-7.22]) and Group 3 (3.92 [1.34-11.42]) compared with Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive evaluation using CPET-SBE can reveal distinct characteristics of cardiopulmonary fitness in patients presenting with dyspnea, potentially enhancing outcome prediction.

Age-dependent implications of left ventricular hypertrophy regression in patients with hypertension.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with hypertension. However, the effect of age on LVH regression or persistence and its differential prognostic value remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the clinical implications of LVH regression in 1847 patients with hypertension and echocardiography data (at baseline and during antihypertensive treatment at an interval of 6-18 months) according to age. LVH was defined as a left ventricular mass index (LVMI) > 115 g/m2 and >95 g/m2 in men and women, respectively. LVH prevalence at baseline was not different according to age (age < 65 years: 42.6%; age ≥65 years: 45.7%; p = 0.187), but LVH regression was more frequently observed in the younger group (36.4% vs. 27.5%; p = 0.008). Spline curves and multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant relationship between reductions in systolic blood pressure and LVMI in the younger group (ß = 0.425; p < 0.001), but not the elderly group (ß = 0.044; p = 0.308). LVH regression was associated with a lower risk of the study outcome (composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure) regardless of age. In conclusion, the association between the reduction in blood pressure and LVH regression was prominent in patients with age < 65 years, but not in those with age ≥65 years. However, an association between LVH regression and lower risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure was observed regardless of patient age, suggesting the prognostic value of the LVH regression not only in the younger patients but also in elderly patients.

Irreversible myocardial injury attenuates the benefits of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite the established benefits of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) across various etiologies, there are controversies regarding the effects of ARNI in patients with irreversible myocardial injury. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of irreversible myocardial injury on the benefits of ARNI treatment in patients with HFrEF, consisted of both ischemic and non-ischemic etiologies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective single-center study including 409 consecutive patients with HFrEF treated with ARNI between March 2017 and May 2020. Irreversible myocardial injury was defined as nonviable myocardium without contractile reserve, which suggests a limited potential for recovery of left ventricular function and geometry. At baseline, irreversible myocardial injury was observed in 129 (31.5%) patients. Composite outcome was cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure, which occurred in 56 (43.4%) and 61 (21.8%) patients with and without irreversible myocardial injury, respectively. On multivariable analysis, irreversible injury presence, but not ischemic etiology, was an independent predictor of composite outcome (hazard ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval 1.33-3.49). Mediation analysis revealed that the increased risk of the composite outcome due to irreversible myocardial injury was mediated by attenuated LV reverse remodeling (Z value = 2.02, P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of irreversible myocardial injury was significantly associated with the response to ARNI treatment in patients with HFrEF, regardless of etiology.

Prospective validation of a mobile health application for blood pressure management in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) pose significant risks to both maternal and fetal health, contributing to global morbidity and mortality. Management of HDP is complex, particularly because of concerns regarding potential negative effects on utero-placental circulation and limited therapeutic options due to fetal safety. Our study investigates whether blood pressure monitoring through a mobile health (mHealth) application can aid in addressing the challenges of blood pressure management in pregnant individuals with HDP. Additionally, we aim to assess whether this intervention can improve short-term maternal and fetal outcomes and potentially mitigate long-term cardiovascular consequences. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, single-center trial will include 580 pregnant participants who meet the HDP criteria or who have a heightened risk of pregnancy-related hypertension due to factors such as multiple pregnancies, obesity, diabetes, or a history of HDP in prior pregnancies leading to preterm birth. Participants will be randomized to either the mHealth intervention group or the standard care group. The primary endpoint is the difference in systolic blood pressure from enrollment to 1 month after childbirth. The secondary endpoints include various blood pressure parameters, obstetric outcomes, body mass index trajectory, step counts, mood assessment, and drug adherence. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the potential of mHealth interventions, such as the Heart4U application, to improve blood pressure management in pregnant individuals with HDP. By leveraging technology to enhance engagement, communication, and monitoring, this study aims to positively impact maternal, fetal, and postpartum outcomes associated with HDP. This innovative approach demonstrates the potential of personalized technology-driven solutions for managing complex health conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05995106. Registered on 16 August 2023.

Machine Learning-Based Discrimination of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Current risk stratification strategies for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are limited to traditional methodologies. Objectives: The authors aimed to establish machine learning (ML)-based models to discriminate major cardiovascular events in patients with HCM. Methods: We enrolled consecutive HCM patients from 2 tertiary referral centers and used 25 clinical and echocardiographic features to discriminate major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death, admission for heart failure (HF-adm), and stroke. The best model was selected for each outcome using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) with 20-fold cross-validation. After testing in the external validation cohort, the relative importance of features in discriminating each outcome was determined using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method. Results: In total, 2,111 patients with HCM (age 61.4 ± 13.6 years; 67.6% men) were analyzed. During the median 4.0 years of follow-up, MACE occurred in 341 patients (16.2%). Among the 4 ML models, the logistic regression model achieved the best AUROC of 0.800 (95% CI: 0.760-0.841) for MACE, 0.789 (95% CI: 0.736-0.841) for all-cause death, 0.798 (95% CI: 0.736-0.860) for HF-adm, and 0.807 (95% CI: 0.754-0.859) for stroke. The discriminant ability of the logistic regression model remained excellent when applied to the external validation cohort for MACE (AUROC = 0.768), all-cause death (AUROC = 0.750), and HF-adm (AUROC = 0.806). The SHAP analysis identified left atrial diameter and hypertension as important variables for all outcomes of interest. Conclusions: The proposed ML models incorporating various phenotypes from patients with HCM accurately discriminated adverse cardiovascular events and provided variables with high importance for each outcome.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced automation for M-mode echocardiographic analysis: ensuring fully automated, reliable, and reproducible measurements.

To enhance M-mode echocardiography's utility for measuring cardiac structures, we developed and evaluated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated analysis system for M-mode images through the aorta and left atrium [M-mode (Ao-LA)], and through the left ventricle [M-mode (LV)]. Our system, integrating two deep neural networks (DNN) for view classification and image segmentation, alongside an auto-measurement algorithm, was developed using 5,958 M-mode images [3,258 M-mode (LA-Ao), and 2,700 M-mode (LV)] drawn from a nationwide echocardiographic dataset collated from five tertiary hospitals. The performance of view classification and segmentation DNNs were evaluated on 594 M-mode images, while automatic measurement accuracy was tested on separate internal test set with 100 M-mode images as well as external test set with 280 images (140 sinus rhythm and 140 atrial fibrillation). Performance evaluation showed the view classification DNN's overall accuracy of 99.8% and segmentation DNN's Dice similarity coefficient of 94.3%. Within the internal test set, all automated measurements, including LA, Ao, and LV wall and cavity, resonated strongly with expert evaluations, exhibiting Pearson's correlation coefficients (PCCs) of 0.81-0.99. This performance persisted in the external test set for both sinus rhythm (PCC, 0.84-0.98) and atrial fibrillation (PCC, 0.70-0.97). Notably, automatic measurements, consistently offering multi-cardiac cycle readings, showcased a stronger correlation with the averaged multi-cycle manual measurements than with those of a single representative cycle. Our AI-based system for automatic M-mode echocardiographic analysis demonstrated excellent accuracy, reproducibility, and speed. This automated approach has the potential to improve efficiency and reduce variability in clinical practice.

Mitral Annular Tissue Velocity Predicts Survival in Patients With Primary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Early diastolic mitral annular tissue (e') velocity is a commonly used marker of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic implications of e' velocity in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 1,536 consecutive patients aged <65 years with moderate or severe chronic primary MR diagnosed between 2009 and 2018. The primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. According to the current guidelines, the cut-off value of e' velocity was defined as 7 cm/s. RESULTS: A total of 404 individuals were enrolled (median age, 51.0 years; 64.1% male; 47.8% severe MR). During a median 6.0-year follow-up, there were 40 all-cause mortality and 16 cardiovascular deaths. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between e' velocity and all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.770; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.634-0.935; p=0.008) and cardiovascular death (aHR, 0.690; 95% CI, 0.477-0.998; p=0.049). Abnormal e' velocity (≤7 cm/s) independently predicted all-cause death (aHR, 2.467; 95% CI, 1.170-5.200; p=0.018) and cardiovascular death (aHR, 5.021; 95% CI, 1.189-21.211; p=0.028), regardless of symptoms, LV dimension and ejection fraction. Subgroup analysis according to sex, MR severity, mitral valve replacement/repair, and symptoms, showed no significant interactions. Including e' velocity in the 10-year risk score improved reclassification for mortality (net reclassification improvement [NRI], 0.154; 95% CI, 0.308-0.910; p<0.001) and cardiovascular death (NRI, 1.018; 95% CI, 0.680-1.356; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients aged <65 years with primary MR, e' velocity served as an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced automation of left ventricular diastolic assessment: a pilot study for feasibility, diagnostic validation, and outcome prediction.

Background: Evaluating left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) is crucial in echocardiography; however, the complexity and time demands of current guidelines challenge clinical use. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework for automatic LVDF assessment to reduce subjectivity and improve accuracy and outcome prediction. Methods: We developed an AI-based LVDF assessment framework using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset from five tertiary hospitals. This framework automatically identifies views, calculates diastolic parameters, including mitral inflow and annular velocities (E/A ratio, e' velocity, and E/e' ratio), maximal tricuspid regurgitation velocity, left atrial (LA) volume index, and left atrial reservoir strain (LARS). Subsequently, it grades LVDF according to guidelines. The AI-framework was validated on an external dataset composed of randomly screened 173 outpatients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography with suspicion for diastolic dysfunction and 33 individuals from medical check-ups with normal echocardiograms at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, tertiary medical center in Korea, between May 2012 and June 2022. Additionally, we assessed the predictive value of AI-derived diastolic parameters and LVDF grades for a clinical endpoint, defined as a composite of all-cause death and hospitalization for heart failure, using Cox-regression risk modelling. Results: In an evaluation with 200 echocardiographic examinations (167 suspected diastolic dysfunction patients, 33 controls), it achieves an overall accuracy of 99.1% in identifying necessary views. Strong correlations (Pearson coefficient 0.901-0.959) were observed between AI-derived and manually-derived measurements of diastolic parameters, including LARS as well as conventional parameters. When following the guidelines, whether utilizing AI-derived or manually-derived parameters, the evaluation of LVDF consistently showed high concordance rates (94%). However, both methods exhibited lower concordance rates with the clinician's prior assessments (77.5% and 78.5%, respectively). Importantly, both AI-derived and manually-derived LVDF grades independently demonstrated significant prognostic value [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) =3.03; P=0.03 and adjusted HR =2.75; P=0.04, respectively] for predicting clinical outcome. In contrast, the clinician's prior grading lost its significance as a prognostic indicator after adjusting for clinical risk factors (adjusted HR =1.63; P=0.36). AI-derived LARS values significantly decreased with worsening LVDF (P for trend <0.001), and low LARS (<17%) was associated with increased risk for the clinical outcome (Log-rank P=0.04) relative to that for preserved LARS (≥17%). Conclusions: Our AI-based approach for automatic LVDF assessment on echocardiography is feasible, potentially enhancing clinical diagnosis and outcome prediction.

Practical role of preoperative echocardiography in low-risk non-cardiac surgery.

Background: Due to increased needs to reduce non-fatal as well as fatal cardiac events, preoperative echocardiography remains part of routine clinical practice in many hospitals. Data on the role of preoperative echocardiography in low-risk non-cardiac surgery (NCS) other than ambulatory surgeries do not exist. We aimed to investigate the role of preoperative echocardiography in predicting postoperative adverse cardiovascular events (CVEs) in asymptomatic patients undergoing low-risk NCS. Methods: The study population was derived from a retrospective cohort of 1,264 patients who underwent elective low-risk surgery at three tertiary hospitals from June 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021. Breast, distal bone, thyroid, and transurethral surgeries were included. Preoperative examination data including electrocardiography, chest radiography, and echocardiography were collected. The primary outcome was a composite of postoperative adverse CVEs including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events, newly diagnosed or acutely decompensated heart failure (HF), lethal arrhythmia such as sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, and new-onset atrial fibrillation within 30 days after the index surgery. Results: Preoperative echocardiography was performed in 503 patients (39.8%), most frequently in patients with breast surgery (73.5%), followed by transurethral (37.7%), distal bone (21.6%), and thyroid surgeries (11.9%). Abnormal findings were observed in 5.0% of patients with preoperative echocardiography. Postoperative adverse CVEs occurred in 10 (0.79%) patients. Although a history of previous HF was an independent predictor of postoperative CVE occurrence (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 17.98; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.21-266.71, P = 0.036), preoperative echocardiography did not significantly predict CVE in multivariate analysis (P = 0.097). However, in patients who underwent preoperative echocardiography, the presence of abnormal echocardiographic findings was independently associated with development of CVE after NCS (aOR: 23.93; 95% CI: 1.2.28-250.76, P = 0.008). In particular, the presence of wall motion abnormality was a strong predictor of postoperative adverse CVE. Conclusion: In real-world clinical practice, preoperative echocardiography was performed in substantial number of patients with potential cardiac risk even in low-risk NCS, and abnormal findings were independently associated with postoperative CVE. Future studies should identify patients undergoing low-risk NCS for whom preoperative echocardiography would be helpful to predict adverse CVE.

Rate of Change in 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Its Implications for Primary Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary cardiovascular primary prevention is based on the assessment of the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the clinical implications of temporal change in the 10-year ASCVD risk estimate (∆10-year ASCVD risk/year) are unknown. METHODS: A total of 211 077 participants without established ASCVD and with repetitive 10-year ASCVD risk assessment at an interval of 4 to 5 years were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service data. The primary end point was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, and all-cause death. RESULTS: ASCVD event rates were proportional to the ∆10-year ASCVD risk/year regardless of the baseline 10-year ASCVD risk. Adjusted hazard ratio for ASCVD events per 1% increase in ∆10-year ASCVD risk/year was 1.53 (95% CI, 1.44-1.63), 1.24 (95% CI, 1.15-1.32), 1.18 (95% CI, 1.13-1.23), and 1.05 (95% CI, 1.00-1.10) in those with a baseline 10-year ASCVD risk of <5%, 5% to 7.5%, 7.5% to 20%, and ≥20%, respectively. Appropriate control of risk factors, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, exercise habits, and smoking status, was associated with lower ASCVD event rates, whereas failure to control these risk factors resulted in higher ASCVD event rates. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal change in 10-year ASCVD risk over a period of 4 to 5 years reflects success or failure in controlling major cardiovascular risk factors and indicates the risk of future ASCVD events. The ∆10-year ASCVD risk/year can be used as an indicator of primary prevention and guide the application of preventive measures.

The Risk of Heart Failure Progression in Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale: Differential Risk Associated With Device Closure.

BACKGROUND: A patent foramen ovale (PFO) can unload left atrial pressure via an interatrial shunt. We investigated whether device closure of PFO is associated with a subsequent risk of heart failure (HF), particularly in patients with structural heart disease or atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We enrolled 4,804 consecutive patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography at tertiary medical centers in Korea between 2007 and 2019. The primary outcome was the 4-year risk of HF hospitalization. Underlying structural heart disease was determined by echocardiography. RESULTS: A PFO was observed in 981 (20.4%) patients, where 161 underwent device closure. During follow-up (median, 3.5 [1.4-6.4] years), the primary outcome was lower in patients with PFO than in those without (2.6% vs 4.0%; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45-0.94; P = .021). Among the patients with PFO, the primary outcome was higher in the device closure group than in the no-closure group (5.5% vs 1.2%; aHR, 5.59; 95% CI, 4.26-7.34; P < .001). A consistent result was found in patients with structural heart disease or AF (9.6% vs 3.9%; aHR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.95-3.33; P < .001), demonstrating an increased risk of the primary outcome proportionate to the number of combined structural abnormalities. However, no significant association was observed between the primary outcome and PFO closure in those without structural heart disease or AF (1.7% vs 1.5%; aHR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.99-1.50; P = .054). CONCLUSION: Patients with underlying structural heart disease or AF may be predisposed to symptomatic HF progression after PFO closure. Therefore, careful medical surveillance with optimal risk management is needed in these patients.

Endocardial versus whole-myocardial tracking global longitudinal strain analysis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A preliminary comparative study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether the feasibility of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) varies according to the methodology (e.g. endocardial vs. whole myocardial tracking techniques). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 111 consecutive patients with HCM (median age, 58 years; male, 68.5%) who underwent both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (apical 29.7%, septal 33.3%, and diffuse or mixed 37.0%). TTE-whole myocardial and TTE-endocardial GLS were measured and compared in terms of association with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent and discrimination performance for extensive LGE (>15% of the LV myocardium). RESULTS: Although TTE-whole myocardial and TTE-endocardial GLS were significantly correlated, absolute TTE-endocardial GLS values (19.3 [16.2-21.9] %) were higher than TTE-whole myocardial GLS values (13.3[10.9-15.6] %, p<0.001). Both TTE-derived GLS parameters were significantly correlated with the LGE extent and independently associated with extensive LGE (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, p = 0.022; and OR 1.24, p = 0.013, respectively). Discrimination performance for extensive LGE was comparable between TTE-whole myocardial and TTE-endocardial GLS (area under the curve [AUC], 0.747 and 0.754, respectively, pdifference = 0.610). However, among patients with higher LV mass index (>70 g/m2), only TTE-whole myocardial GLS correlated with LGE extent and was independently associated with extensive LGE (OR 1.35, p = 0.042), while TTE-endocardial GLS did not. Additionally, TTE-whole myocardial GLS had better discrimination performance for extensive LGE than TTE-endocardial GLS (AUC, 0.705 and 0.668, respectively, pdifference = 0.006). CONCLUSION: TTE-derived GLS using either the endocardial or whole myocardial tracking technique is feasible in patients with HCM. However, in those with severe hypertrophy, TTE-whole myocardial GLS is better than TTE-endocardial GLS.

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain as a prognosticator in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a low-normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic utility of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50-60%. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included 349 patients with HCM and an LVEF of 50-60%. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, including sudden cardiac death (SCD) and SCD-equivalent events. The secondary outcomes were SCD/SCD-equivalent events, cardiovascular death (including SCD), and all-cause death. The final analysis included 349 patients (mean age 59.2 ± 14.2 years, men 75.6%). During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in 26 (7.4%), while the secondary outcomes of SCD/SCD-equivalent events, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death occurred in 15 (4.2%), 20 (5.7%), and 34 (9.7%), respectively. After adjusting for age, atrial fibrillation, ischaemic stroke, LVEF, and left atrial volume index, absolute LV-GLS (%) was independently associated with the primary outcome [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.788-0.988, P = 0.029]. According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, 10.5% is an optimal cut-off value for absolute LV-GLS in predicting the primary outcome. Patients with an absolute LV-GLS ≤ 10.5% had a higher risk of the primary outcome than those with an absolute LV-GLS > 10.5% (adjusted HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.117-5.787, P = 0.026). Absolute LV-GLS ≤ 10.5% was an independent predictor for each secondary outcome (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LV-GLS was an independent predictor of a composite of cardiovascular death, including SCD/SCD-equivalent events, in patients with HCM and an LVEF of 50-60%. Therefore, LV-GLS can help in risk stratification in these patients.