Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormonal Therapy on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Transgender Health: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is common among transgender individuals, but its impact on lipid profile and cardiovascular health is not well studied. Objectives: The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature to assess the impact of GAHT on lipid profiles and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in transgender individuals. Methods: Online databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central registry were searched to find studies on lipid profile changes in women who are transgender, also referred to as transfeminine (TF), and men who are transgender, also referred to as transmasculine (TM) before and after GAHT. Baseline comorbidities were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and R-statistical software was used to analyze the mean difference in lipid profile change between the two cohorts (pre- and post-GAHT therapy) including transgender patients. Results: Overall, 1,241 TM and 992 TF patients were included from 12 observational studies and 12 randomized controlled trials. The mean age among TM and TF was 28 years and 30 years, respectively. The mean follow-up duration (including pre- and post-GAHT therapy) was 28 months in TM patients and 39 months in TF patients. When compared to baseline measures, TM patients had a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride levels, and total cholesterol while high-density lipoprotein levels decreased. In TF patients, there was a significant increase in triglyceride levels. Conclusions: GAHT affects lipid profiles in transgender patients; however, additional studies are needed to determine how these changes impact clinical outcomes.

Trends in mortality among the geriatric population undergoing Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and potential racial disparities: a 20-year perspective via the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample.

Background: Racial disparities in cardiovascular conditions are well documented. Whether similar race-based discrepancies in health outcomes also exist among elderly patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for aortic stenosis remains understudied. Methods: We abstracted data from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample over a 20-year period from 2001 to 2020 using specific ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. We included patients aged ≥ 60 and ≤ 80 years with races recorded as White, African American, or Hispanic at the time of their hospitalization for surgery. We analyzed and reported the baseline characteristics, risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality, and complications stratified by race. Results: Of 420,181 patients studied, 90.0% identified as White, 4.0% as African American and 6.0% as Hispanic. Despite a decrease in overall in-hospital mortality rates from 3.8% between 2001-2005 to 1.8% between 2016-2020, African Americans had higher odds of all-cause in-hospital deaths compared to Whites (aOR = 1.390, P < 0.001). Additionally, they were more likely to experience cardiogenic shock (aOR = 1.241, P < 0.001) and acute kidney injury (aOR = 1.314, P < 0.001) as well as more likely to require organ support such as IABP use (aOR = 1.336, P < 0.001) or invasive mechanical ventilation (aOR = 1.342, P < 0.001). Interestingly, African Americans were less likely to report events of acute ischemic stroke compared to Whites (aOR = 0.852, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite a reassuring reduction in overall in-hospital mortality rates of geriatric patients undergoing SAVR for aortic stenosis, racial disparities in health outcomes remain pervasive with minorities more likely to report higher in-hospital morbidity and mortality.

Unmasking the cannabis paradox: in-hospital outcomes of cannabis users admitted with acute myocardial infarction over a 20-year period in the United States.

Introduction: Cannabis is increasingly becoming a socially acceptable substance, with multiple countries having legalised its consumption. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between cannabis use and an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease. However, there is a lack of studies about the influence of cannabis consumption on the outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed hospitalised patients with a primary diagnosis of AMI from the 2001 to 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Pearson's χ2 tests were applied to categorical variables, and t-tests for continuous variables. We conducted a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). Multivariate regression models were deployed on the PSM sample to estimate the differences in several events and all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 9,930,007 AMI patients were studied, of whom 117,641 (1.2%) reported cannabis use. Cannabis users had lower odds of atrial fibrillation (aOR = 0.902, p < 0.01), ventricular fibrillation (aOR = 0.919, p < 0.01), cardiogenic shock (aOR = 0.730, p < 0.01), acute ischaemic stroke (aOR = 0.825, p < 0.01), cardiac arrest (aOR = 0.936, p = 0.010), undergoing PCI (aOR = 0.826, p < 0.01), using IABP (aOR = 0.835, p < 0.01), and all-cause mortality (aOR = 0.640, p < 0.01), but with higher odds of supraventricular tachycardia (aOR = 1.104, p < 0.01), ventricular tachycardia (aOR = 1.054, p < 0.01), CABG use (aOR = 1.040, p = 0.010), and acute kidney injury (aOR = 1.103, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Among patients aged 18-80 years admitted to hospital with AMI between 2001 and 2020 in the United States, cannabis use was associated with lower risks of cardiogenic shock, acute ischaemic stroke, cardiac arrest, PCI use, and in-hospital mortality.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Drug-Coated Balloon Versus Plain Old Balloon Angioplasty for In-Stent Restenosis of Coronary Arteries.

Despite the advent of newer stents, in-stent restenosis has been a persistent and formidable challenge. Trials have demonstrated the superiority of drug-coated balloons over plain old balloon angioplasty. A recent AGENT IDE PRESTO (Prevention of REStenosis with Tranilast and its Outcomes) trial highlighted the need for a more comprehensive understanding; therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to elucidate their respective clinical outcomes. A literature search was conducted by 2 investigators (SS and MH) using MEDLINE (EMBASE and PubMed) using a systematic search strategy by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) until November 1, 2023. CRAN-R software was used for statistical analysis. The quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (Supplementary Table 5). We included 6 studies with a total of 1,171 patients. Our analysis showed decreased odds of multiple outcomes with statistically significant results, including target vessel revascularization (odds ratio [OR] 0.33, confidence interval [CI] 0.19 to 0.57), target vessel failure (OR 0.30, CI 0.09 to 0.99), target lesion revascularization (OR 0.22, CI 0.10 to 0.46), restenosis (OR 0.1343, CI 0.06 to 0.27), and major adverse cardiac events (OR 0.2 CI 0.12 to 0.37). Although myocardial infraction and all-cause mortality showed decreased odds with all-cause mortality at 0.8 (95% CI 0.363 to 2.09), and myocardial infarction at 0.6 (95% CI 0.0349 to 1.07), the reductions did not reach statistical significance. Our analysis by scrutinizing 6 randomized controlled trials favored drug-coated balloons over plain old balloon angioplasty. However, extensive research for deeper understanding cannot be overemphasized.

Risk Factors of Acute Ischemic Stroke and Mortality Among Adults With Endocardial Fibroelastosis.

OBJECTIVES: Endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) is a rare form of restrictive cardiomyopathy associated with high morbidity and mortality. The literature is sparse on information pertaining to risk stratification. Thus, we sought to highlight the risk factors of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and mortality in adults with EFE. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried from 2001 to 2020 using the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision (ICD-9) and 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes for adult patients with EFE. Factors associated with AIS and mortality were identified. RESULTS: In all, 18495 cases of EFE fit the inclusion criteria, of which 2370 (12.82%) had AIS. The mean ages for patients with and without AIS were 62.37 and 54.24, respectively. Multivariate regression suggested greater odds of AIS in patients with hypertension (aOR 2.329, P<0.01), dyslipidemia (aOR: 1.566, P<0.01), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (aOR: 1.736, P<0.01), alcohol abuse (aOR: 1.817, P<0.01), age >60 y (aOR: 1.646, P<0.01), females (vs. males, aOR: 1.238, P<0.01), and smokers (aOR: 1.697, P<0.01). Patients with cirrhosis (aOR: 0.174, P<0.01), CKD (aOR: 0.369, P<0.01), COPD (aOR: 0.402, P<0.01), atrial fibrillation (aOR: 0.542, P<0.01) had lower odds of AIS. 3.1% of EFE patients with AIS died. Diabetes (aOR: 11.665, P<0.01) and COPD (aOR: 3.201, P=0.017) were associated with the greatest odds of all-cause mortality. Dyslipidemia (aOR: 0.387, P=0.010) and females (vs. males, aOR: 0.432, P=0.012) had reduced odds of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Several risk factors are associated with AIS in EFE, while diabetes, COPD, and being male are associated with mortality in EFE.

An epidemiological study of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and young adults among COVID-19-positive patients - data from National Inpatient Sample database.

During the pandemic of COVID-19, a novel atypical set of clinical findings was seen among several children with recent or current exposure to the virus. It was termed the "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children" (MIS-C). Our study used the 2021 National Inpatient Sample to study the associations of sex, race, and age with the incidence of MIS-C among COVID-19-positive children. Out of 69,440 COVID-19-positive children, 2,790 (4.0%) reported MIS-C. The incidence of MIS-C was highest among those aged 8 years old (17,130 MIS-C cases per 100,000 COVID-19 patients), Asian or Pacific Islanders (API) (5,346 MIS-C per 100,000 COVID-19 cases), and males (4,734 cases per 100,000 COVID-19 cases). Furthermore, 7.9% of MIS-C cases met the classification of Kawasaki disease.

Comparison of Drug-Coated Balloons With Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients With In-Stent Restenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is the gradual narrowing of the stented coronary segment, presenting as angina or leading to an acute myocardial infarction. Although its incidence has decreased with the use of newer drug-eluting stents (DES), it still carries significant mortality and morbidity risks. We compared the 2 most common interventions for managing DES-related ISR: drug-coated balloons (DCBs) and DES. Electronic databases were searched to identify all randomized controlled trials comparing DCB with DES in patients with DES-ISR. The Mantel-Haenszel method with a random-effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratios. Five trials comprising 1,100 patients (577 in DCB and 523 in DES group) were included in the final study. The mean follow-up was 42 months. DCB was found to have a higher risk for target lesion revascularization (risk ratio 1.41, p = 0.02) compared with DES. No difference was observed in all-cause mortality, target vessel revascularization, myocardial infarction, or stroke between the 2 intervention arms. In conclusion, management of DES-ISR with DCB has a higher risk of target lesion revascularization compared with re-stenting with DES. The 2 therapeutic interventions are comparable in terms of efficacy and safety profile.

Trends in admissions for COVID-19 in the United States between April 2020 and December 2021 and cardiovascular events.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to cardiovascular complications. We aimed to understand the trends in admission for COVID-19 and the incidence of various cardiovascular events. Material and methods: The 2020 and 2021 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was studied for cases of COVID-19 between April 2020 and December 2021 in the United States. Linear-by-linear association helped us understand the trends of various events. Results: The number of cases of COVID-19 was highest in January 2021 (261,469 patients). The incidence of acute pulmonary embolism rose from 2.08% in April 2020 to 4.82% in November 2021, while deep vein thrombosis cases rose from 1.74% in April 2020 to 2.63% in December 2021. The incidence of cardiac arrest varied, with a maximum of 3.00% in August 2021. Similarly, acute ischemic stroke cases experienced their highest incidence in January 2021 (0.91%). The incidence of myocarditis was highest in April and May 2020 (0.42% each). Peak takotsubo cases were seen between October and December 2021. The highest overall all-cause mortality among COVID-19 cases was seen in April 2020 (16.74%). Conclusions: Throughout the 21 months of our analysis, various trends in COVID-19 cases and incidence of cardiac events were noticed. This could relate to the different variants of COVID-19, their direct and indirect impact on coagulation pathways and the myocardial tissues, and the protective roles of the vaccines.

Drug-eluting stent vs. Balloon angioplasty in patients with in-stent restenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: In-stent restenosis (ISR) is seen in up to 20% of cases and is the primary cause of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) failure. With the use of re-stenting with a drug-eluting stent (DES), plain old balloon angioplasty (BA) use is decreasing. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety profile of DES over BA in the management of ISR. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DES to BA for coronary ISR. The mantel-Haenszel method with a random effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratios (RR). RESULTS: Four trials comprising 912 patients (543 in DES and 369 in the BA group) were included in the final study. The mean follow-up was 45 months. DES was found to be superior with a lower requirement of target vessel revascularization (TVR) (RR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.31-0.64, p-value <0.0001), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) (RR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.44-0.78, p-value 0.0002) compared to BA. However, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion thrombosis were not different between the two intervention arms. CONCLUSION: DES was found to be superior to BA for the management of coronary ISR with a reduction in the risk of TLR and TVR. No difference in mortality, risk of MI, or target lesion thrombosis was observed between the two interventions.

Renal Infarction as the First Manifestation of Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation With Coexisting Left Atrial Thrombus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Acute renal infarction, presenting with nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and hematuria, can lead to delayed diagnosis due to similarities with other medical conditions. Computed tomography with IV contrast is used to diagnose renal parenchymal infarction, treated through surgical, percutaneous interventions, and anticoagulation therapy. Investigation for the infarction source is crucial, particularly in the absence of prior cardiac issues, necessitating heart rhythm monitoring and an echocardiogram to evaluate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and intracardiac thrombus, respectively. Renal infarction may elevate blood pressure due to renin release, recommending medications like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers. We present a case of renal infarction due to PAF with a concomitant intracardiac thrombus.

Public Knowledge About COVID-19 Booster Vaccines in Pakistan: A Study Conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deteriorated the healthcare system and economy worldwide. Globally, by making the primary vaccination against the coronavirus necessary, the surge in cases waned, but as the effects of this vaccination decreased after some time, to prevent another pandemic, vaccination was still necessary. As a result, receiving a COVID-19 booster shot can boost immunity against the coronavirus. This study aimed to assess knowledge of COVID-19 booster vaccines in Pakistan among the general public and understand the factors affecting the vaccination process in the state. In this cross-sectional study, non-probability convenience sampling was done. Its physical data collection was conducted in September 2022 in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Data were collected from 384 individuals who visited the hospital with consent before filling out the questionnaire. The mean age of respondents was 35.81 (standard deviation (SD) = ±13.006), and 98.7% of individuals were primarily vaccinated for COVID-19, but out of these, only 60.1% received the booster jab. The most commonly reported side effects of primary doses of COVID-19 and its booster were pain at the injection site, fatigue, and fever, but these effects did not appear to have as much of an impact on the vaccination process as education did. The results are evident that out of primarily vaccinated individuals against COVID-19, 40.16% are reluctant to receive its booster. Therefore, it is essential to create awareness among the masses about vaccination and its importance.

Clinical Outcomes of Polymer-Free Versus Polymer-Coated Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Drug-eluting stents have transformed the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), and there are two types: polymer-free and polymer-coated stents. Polymer-free stents have a coating that is quickly absorbed by the body, whereas polymer-coated stents have a coating that remains on the stent surface. This meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of these two stent types in patients with coronary artery disease. The literature and abstracts from significant databases were reviewed to compare polymer-free drug-eluting stents (PF-DES) and polymer-coated drug-eluting stents (PC-DES) for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). The primary efficacy endpoints of the study were all-cause mortality and deaths from cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes. Among the secondary outcomes were incidences of myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), stent thrombosis, stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). In terms of the primary outcomes, the combined analysis revealed a marginally lower risk of all-cause mortality (relative risk, RR (95% CI) = 0.92 (0.85, 1.00), p = 0.05, I2 = 0%) with the use of PF-DES versus PC-DES. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference in cardiovascular mortality (RR (95% CI) = 0.97 (0.87, 1.08)) or non-cardiovascular mortality (RR (95% CI) = 0.87 (0.69, 1.10), p = 0.25, I2 = 9%) between the groups. Furthermore, univariate meta-regression revealed that male gender and prior myocardial infarction were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease. According to the current meta-analysis, no statistically significant differences existed in PF-DES and PC-DES outcomes. More extensive research is needed to investigate these findings further and establish their validity.

Does thiamine supplementation affect heart failure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a pathophysiological condition where decreased cardiac output is observed subsequent to any structural deformity or cessation of normal function. Thiamine deficiency is one of the risk factors responsible for causing HF; other risk factors include hypertension, smoking, and obesity. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to scrutinize whether the heart failure patients would benefit from thiamine supplementation or not when compared to placebo. METHODS: We selected only those double-arm randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which included participants presenting with symptomatic heart failure. We excluded all the articles published in languages other than English Language. Furthermore, all the studies other than RCTs were also omitted. Articles yielded from the electronic search were exported to EndNote Reference Library software to remove any duplicates. Analyses were done using the Review manager 5.4 tool. Mean values and standard deviations were retrieved for the continuous outcomes given as raw data. RESULTS: The 6 RCTs selected for the statistical analysis consisted of 298 participants (158 in the intervention group, 140 in the placebo group). The outcomes resulted to be non-significant with LVEF p-value= 0.08, NT-pro BNP p-value= 0.94, LVEDV p-value= 0.53, 6MWT p-value=0.59, mortality p-value= 0.61, hospitalization p-value= 0.53 and dyspnea p-value= 0.77. Heart rate is the only significant outcome with a p-value=0.04. CONCLUSION: To conclude, except for heart rate, thiamine supplementation had no effect on the outcomes of heart failure patients.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Among Cannabis Users in the United States and Possible Risk Factors for Mortality.

BACKGROUND: With changes in state laws, cannabis is now more accessible in many parts of the United States. The drug has previously been associated with a higher incidence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Our study analyzed the effect of cannabis use on AIS outcomes. METHODS: The 2019 National Inpatient Sample from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was used to evaluate the AIS patients ages 25 and more. Cannabis users were compared with nonusers. Their mortality risks were also assessed. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-nine thousand eight hundred eighty patients with AIS were in our study and 8850 used cannabis. Among the cannabis users with AIS, 69.8% were males, 50.6% were white, 61.8% were aged 46 to 65, 32.1% used Medicaid, 86.1% were nonobese, 72.0% were nondiabetics, 81.7% had hypertension, 80.7% did not have a history of alcohol abuse, and 77.5% were smokers (nicotine). Only 12.8% of cannabis users reported any cardiac dysrhythmia, whereas 5.4% required mechanical thrombectomy, and 8.0% received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).After adjusting the variables, cannabis users covered by Medicare, with diabetes, a history of alcohol abuse, cardiac dysrhythmias, and who underwent mechanical thrombectomy had a higher risk of dying. The overall adjusted odds ratio of dying among cannabis users with AIS was 0.603 (95% CI, 0.504-0.722, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall mortality risk seems to be lower among cannabis users, those with certain risk factors still present higher mortality risks. Patients with cannabis use should therefore be monitored closely for possible complications and mortality after AIS.

Cardiac arrhythmias and mortality risk among patients with obstructive sleep apnea following admission for acute myocardial infarction or acute ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause several cardiovascular changes that increase the risk of various complications such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Material and methods: We used the 2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and their many collaborators to study the differences in characteristics and outcomes of OSA patients following AMI or AIS and the presence of several cardiac arrhythmias and their associated mortality risks. Results: A lower mortality rate was seen among OSA patients with AIS (2.5% compared to 3.8% in non-OSA), and AMI (2.8% compared to 4.7% in non-OSA). OSA patients with AIS had a higher risk of dying if they were aged 66 or over, of Hispanic origin, or if they reported ventricular tachycardia, or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. For those with OSA and admitted for AMI, they were more at risk of dying if they were aged 66 or over, not classified as "White, Black, or Hispanic", with a history of diabetes, reported ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation. Lower adjusted odds ratios were noted among OSA patients with hypertension in both AMI and AIS cases. Conclusions: Further studies comparing these characteristics based on the severity of OSA are therefore encouraged.