Pol-CDRIE registry - 1-year observational data on patients hospitalized due to cardiac device-related infective endocarditis in Polish referential cardiology centres.

BACKGROUND: The rate of cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE) is increasing worldwide, but no detailed data are available for Poland. AIMS: We aimed to evaluate clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic data of patients hospitalized due to CDRIE in 22 Polish referential cardiology centers from May 1, 2016 to May 1, 2017. METHODS: Participating cardiology departments were asked to fill in a questionnaire that included data on the number of hospitalized patients, number and types of implanted cardiac electrotherapy devices, and number of infective endocarditis cases. We also collected clinical data and data regarding the management of patients with CDRIE. RESULTS: Overall, 99 621 hospitalizations were reported. Infective endocarditis unrelated to cardiac device was the cause of 596 admissions (0.6%), and CDRIE, of 195 (0.2%). Pacemaker was implanted in 91 patients with CDRIE (47%); cardioverter­defibrillator, in 51 (26%); cardiac resynchronization therapy­defibrillator, in 48 (25%); and cardiac resynchronization therapy­pacemaker, in 5 (2.5%). The most common symptoms were malaise (62%), fever/chills (61%), cough (21%), chest pain (19.5%), and inflammation of the device pocket (5.6%). Cultures were positive in 77.5% of patients. The cardiac device was removed in 91% of patients. The percutaneous approach was most common for cardiac device removal. All patients received antibiotic therapy, and 3 patients underwent a heart valve procedure. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 80% of patients. The most common complication was heart failure (25% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical profile, pathogen types, and management strategies in Polish patients with CDRIE are consistent with similar data from other European countries. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed less frequently than recommended. The removal rate in the Polish population is consistent with the general rates observed for interventional treatment in patients with CDRIE.

The Role of Parathyroid Hormone and Vitamin D Serum Concentrations in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases.

25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) plays a crucial role in human homeostasis. Its deficiency (vitamin D deficiency-VDD), being common in European population, combined with elevated concentration of parathyroid hormone (PTH), represents a vicious cycle of mechanisms leading to heart failure (HF). Despite several papers published in that field, the effect of VDD and PTH concentration on cardiovascular system remains unequivocal; thus, the aim of the study was to compare these data among HF and non-HF patients being prospectively enrolled into the study during hospital stay in the cardiology ward. Patients with HF had higher PTH concentration (85.0 ± 52.6 versus 64.5 ± 31.7, p ≤ 0.02) compared to non-HF patients. Mean PTH values were associated with the clinical status expressed by the New York Heart Association class (NYHA class) ("0"-66.04, "I"-56.57, "II"-72.30, "III"-85.59, and "IV"-144.37 pg/ml, p ≤ 0.00004). Interestingly, neither 25(OH)D (31.5 versus 29.7 ng/ml, p ≤ ns) nor phosphorus (P) (1.23 versus 1.18 mmol/l, p ≤ ns) nor total calcium (Ca2+) concentration (2.33 versus 2.37 mmol/l, p ≤ ns) differed among the groups. Reassuming PTH serum concentration in contrary to 25(OH)D, P and Ca2+ are significantly raised among the patients with HF and shows significant relationship with the clinical status expressed by the NYHA class.

Prognostic Factors in Patients with an Implanted Pacemaker after 80 Years of Age in a 4-Year Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: The controversy over electrotherapy for patients aged >80 years occurs already at the stage of qualification for this treatment type and concerns optimal device selection, the implantation strategy, and the overall benefit from pacemaker therapy. The group also has a considerable number of cardiovascular risk factors, and the data from the literature on the impact of the pacing mode on the remote prognosis of this group are ambiguous. OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the risk factors for death among patients with implanted pacemakers >80 years of age in a 4-year follow-up. METHODS: The study group consisted of 140 consecutive patients (79 women) aged 84.48 ± 3.65 years with single- or dual-chamber pacemakers implanted >80 years of age because of symptomatic bradycardia. In univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, demographic, echocardiographic, and laboratory parameters, pharmacotherapy, and factors related to the implanted device - i.e., indications, pacemaker type, and the implantation position of the tip of the right ventricular lead - were included. The endpoint was death for any reason in a 4-year follow-up. RESULTS: During follow-up, 68 patients (48.6%) died. Although atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response constituted 20% of the indications for implantation, 60.8% of the patients received a single-chamber system (VVI/VVIR). In the whole group, the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed both a favourable prognostic significance of DDD pacing system implantation (HR = 0.507; 95% CI: 0.294-0.876) and coexisting hypertension (HR = 0.520; 95% CI: 0.299-0.902). The risk factors were fasting glycaemia (HR = 1.180; 95% CI: 1.038-1.342) and, potentially, female sex (HR = 1.672; 95% CI: 0.988-2.830; p = 0.056). In the female subgroup a more favourable prognosis was related to the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (HR = 0.435; 95% CI: 0.202-0.933) and DDD pacemaker implantation (HR = 0.381; 95% CI: 0.180-0.806). In the male subgroup a more favourable prognosis was related to concerned patients with coexisting hypertension (HR = 0.349; 95% CI: 0.079-0.689). CONCLUSIONS: DDD mode pacing seems to serve as a factor which decreases mortality among patients aged >80 years in long-term follow-up. The potentially poorer prognosis for the female patients in this group may result from a combination of the dominant VVI pacing mode, potential propagation of atrial fibrillation, a low proportion of antithrombotic therapy, and sex-related predispositions to thromboembolic complications.