Comparison of cardiac allograft vasculopathy incidence between simultaneous multiorgan and isolated heart transplant recipients in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have shown reduced development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in multiorgan transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of CAV between isolated heart transplants and simultaneous multiorgan heart transplants in the contemporary era. METHODS: We utilized the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to perform a retrospective analysis of first-time adult heart transplant recipients between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019 in the United States. The primary end-point was the development of angiographic CAV within 5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Among 20,591 patients included in the analysis, 1,279 (6%) underwent multiorgan heart transplantation (70% heart-kidney, 16% heart-liver, 13% heart-lung, and 1% triple-organ), and 19,312 (94%) were isolated heart transplant recipients. The average age was 53 years, and 74% were male. There were no significant between-group differences in cold ischemic time. The incidence of acute rejection during the first year after transplant was significantly lower in the multiorgan group (18% vs 33%, p < 0.01). The 5-year incidence of CAV was 33% in the isolated heart group and 27% in the multiorgan group (p < 0.0001); differences in CAV incidence were seen as early as 1 year after transplant and persisted over time. In multivariable analysis, multiorgan heart transplant recipients had a significantly lower likelihood of CAV at 5 years (hazard ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.66-0.88, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous multiorgan heart transplantation is associated with a significantly lower long-term risk of angiographic CAV compared with isolated heart transplantation in the contemporary era.

Impact of Age and Variant Time Period on Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of age and COVID-19 variant time period on morbidity and mortality among those hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients and Methods: Patients from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines COVID-19 cardiovascular disease registry (January 20, 2020-February 14, 2022) were divided into groups based on whether they presented during periods of wild type/alpha, delta, or omicron predominance. They were further subdivided by age (young: 18-40 years; older: more than 40 years), and characteristics and outcomes were compared. Results: The cohort consisted of 45,421 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (wild type/alpha period: 41,426, delta period: 3349, and omicron period: 646). Among young patients (18-40 years), presentation during delta was associated with increased odds of severe COVID-19 (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-2.1), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5), and in-hospital mortality (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.3) when compared with presentation during wild type/alpha. Among older patients (more than 40 years), presentation during delta was associated with increased odds of severe COVID-19 (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3), MACE (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.4-1.7), and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.6) when compared with wild type/alpha. Among older patients (more than 40 years), presentation during omicron associated with decreased odds of severe COVID-19 (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9) and in-hospital mortality (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9) when compared with wild type/alpha. Conclusion: Among hospitalized adults with COVID-19, presentation during a time of delta predominance was associated with increased odds of severe COVID-19, MACE, and in-hospital mortality compared with presentation during wild type/alpha. Among older patients (aged more than 40 years), presentation during omicron was associated with decreased odds of severe COVID-19 and in-hospital mortality compared with wild type/alpha.

Is Coronary Physiology Assessment Valid in Special Circumstances?: Aortic Stenosis, Atrial Fibrillation, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and Other.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and nonhyperemic pressure ratios (NHPRs) provide an important clinical tool to evaluate the hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions. However, these indices have major limitations. As these indices are meant to be surrogates of coronary flow, clinical scenarios such as aortic stenosis (with increased end-systolic and end-diastolic pressures) or atrial fibrillation (with significant beat-to-beat cardiac output variability) can have significant effect on the accuracy and reliability of these hemodynamic indices. Here, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the pitfalls, limitations, and strengths of FFR and NHPRs in common clinical scenarios paired with coronary artery disease.

Management of Coronary Complications.

Coronary complications are increasingly rare but remain fatal if not managed promptly and effectively. We review the incidence, management, and prevention of the most serious coronary complications including acute vessel closure from dissection, no-reflow, thrombosis, and air embolism as well as mechanical complications including perforation, stent dislodgment, and atherectomy burr entrapment.

Early trends in cardiac allograft vasculopathy after implementation of the 2018 donor heart allocation policy in the United States.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the new donor heart allocation system implemented in the United States in October 2018 on development of early cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Adult (≥ 18 years) heart transplant recipients registered in the United Network for Organ Sharing database between October 18, 2015 and October 17, 2018 (old system) and October 18, 2018 and May 31, 2020 (new system). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of angiographic CAV at 1 year (accelerated CAV) in the overall transplant population and among the highest acuity subgroup-Status 1A (old) and Status 1 or 2 (new). We included recipient and donor demographic, cardiovascular, and transplant factors in multivariable logistic regression models to identify predictors of accelerated CAV. RESULTS: Of 10,375 transplant recipients, 6,660 (64%) and 3,715 (36%) were listed in the old and new allocation cohorts, respectively. The incidence of accelerated CAV was 521 (8%) in the old period compared with 272 (7%) in the new period (P = .36). Similar incidence rates were observed in the highest acuity subgroup-363 (8%) compared with 143 (7%), respectively (P = .13). In adjusted analyses of the high-acuity cohort, the new allocation system was not associated with a higher likelihood of accelerated CAV (odds ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.70-1.08, P = .20). CONCLUSIONS: The new donor heart allocation system is not associated with development of accelerated angiographic CAV at 1 year, including among recipients requiring the most urgent transplants.

Radial Hemostasis Is Facilitated With a Potassium Ferrate Hemostatic Patch: The STAT2 Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this trial was to test whether the potassium ferrate hemostatic patch (PFHP) as an adjunct to the TR Band (TRB) facilitated an early deflation protocol. BACKGROUND: Shorter TRB compression times may reduce the rate of radial artery occlusion (RAO) and reduce observation time after transradial access. METHODS: A total of 443 patients were randomized to the TRB or PFHP + TRB, with complete TRB deflation attempted 60 minutes postprocedure. The primary outcome was the time to successful full deflation of the TRB without bleeding, with secondary outcomes of time to discharge and complications including hematoma, RAO, or bleeding requiring intervention beyond TRB reinflation. RESULTS: Time to complete TRB deflation was 66 ± 14 minutes with the PFHP vs 113 ± 56 minutes for the TRB alone (P < 0.001). Minor rebleeding requiring TRB reinflation was much more frequent without the PFHP (0% vs 67.7%; P < 0.001) with 2.3 ± 1.3 additional reinflation and deflation attempts needed for hemostasis. Hematomas developed in 4.0% of the PFHP group and 6.8% of the TRB group (P = 0.20). RAO was rare (<1%), although 41% of patients received <5,000 U heparin. Among percutaneous coronary intervention patients, time to TRB deflation (68 ± 15 minutes vs 138 ± 62 minutes; P < 0.001) and composite complications (10.0% vs 24.2%; P = 0.04) were reduced with the PFHP. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the TRB alone, the PFHP facilitated early 60-minute TRB deflation following transradial catheterization, with a numeric reduction in vascular complications. RAO occurs rarely with early deflation regardless of heparin dose. (Comparing TR Band to StatSeal in Conjunction With TR Band II [StatSeal II]; NCT04046952).

Echocardiographic Predictors of Suboptimal Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair in Patients With Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: Residual mitral regurgitation (MR) following mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is associated with worse outcomes. This study sought to identify echocardiographic predictors of suboptimal residual MR after TEER in patients with secondary MR. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we identified all patients with secondary MR who underwent TEER between 2016 and 2021. Pre- and intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiographic images were reviewed. The primary outcome was suboptimal residual MR, defined as ≥2+ residual MR on postprocedural transesophageal echocardiography. The association of preprocedural echocardiographic parameters with the primary outcome was tested via logistic regression. Results: Sixty-five patients (69 ± 15 years; 49% women) with secondary MR underwent TEER with MitraClip. All patients had moderate-severe or severe (3-4+) MR preoperatively, with an average left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% and New York Heart Association class III symptoms. Procedural success, defined as ≤2+ MR post-TEER, was achieved in 94%. A suboptimal residual MR was observed in 38%. Independent predictors of suboptimal residual MR included bicommissural MR (odds ratio [OR], 7.95; 95% CI, 1.50-42.3; P = .02), 2-dimensional anteroposterior diameter (OR, 6.46; 95% CI, 1.85-22.51 per cm; P < .01), and mitral valve area to left ventricular end-diastolic volume ratio (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.93 per mm2/mL; P = .02). Conclusions: Certain echocardiographic features, including bicommissural MR, a larger annular diameter, and a smaller ratio of mitral valve area to left ventricular end-diastolic volume, are associated with suboptimal residual MR following TEER. These preprocedural measurements may optimize patient selection in those with secondary MR being considered for TEER.

Change in Invasively Measured Mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Is Associated With Heart Failure Readmission.

BACKGROUND: Pre-existing pulmonary hypertension is associated with poor outcomes after transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) for mitral regurgitation (MR). However, the impact of an immediate change in mean pulmonary artery pressure (ΔmPAP) following TMVr on outcomes is unknown. METHODS: Patients who underwent TMVr from December 2015 to February 18, 2020 at our institution for symptomatic 3-4+ MR and who had invasive hemodynamics measured immediately pre- and post-TMVR were included. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to examine the association of ΔmPAP (post-TMVr - pre-TMVr mPAP) with the primary endpoint of heart failure (HF) readmission at 1 year. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint of HF readmission or all-cause mortality at 1 year. RESULTS: Among 55 patients, 55% were men, mean age was 72 ± 14.2 years, and mean ΔmPAP was -1.4 ± 8.2 mm Hg. Overall, HF readmission occurred in 14 (25%), death in 10 (18%), and the composite endpoint in 20 (36%) patients. In multivariable analyses, higher ΔmPAP was significantly associated with HF readmission (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00 - 1.21; P = 0.04). ΔmPAP was not associated with death (HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.96 - 1.14; P = 0.33), though there was a numerical but statistically non-significant trend towards the composite endpoint (HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.13; P = 0.06) driven by HF readmission. CONCLUSION: Higher ΔmPAP immediately following TMVr was associated with increased HF readmission at 1 year. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these data and further explore the utility of ΔmPAP as a novel hemodynamic parameter to predict post-TMVR outcomes.

Impact of cancer and cardiovascular disease on in-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 patients: results from the american heart association COVID-19 cardiovascular disease registry.

BACKGROUND: While pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) appears to be associated with poor outcomes in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), data on patients with CVD and concomitant cancer is limited. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of underlying CVD and CVD risk factors with cancer history on in-hospital mortality in those with COVID-19. METHODS: Data from symptomatic adults hospitalized with COVID-19 at 86 hospitals in the US enrolled in the American Heart Association's COVID-19 CVD Registry was analyzed. The primary exposure was cancer history. The primary outcome was in-hospital death. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for demographics, CVD risk factors, and CVD. Interaction between history of cancer with concomitant CVD and CVD risk factors were tested. RESULTS: Among 8222 patients, 892 (10.8%) had a history of cancer and 1501 (18.3%) died. Cancer history had significant interaction with CVD risk factors of age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking history, but not underlying CVD itself. History of cancer was significantly associated with increased in-hospital death (among average age and BMI patients, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.07-6.24; p < 0.0001 in those with a smoking history and aOR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.01-1.76; p = 0.04 in non-smokers). Among the cancer subgroup, prior use of chemotherapy within 2 weeks of admission was associated with in-hospital death (aOR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.05-2.80; p = 0.03). Underlying CVD demonstrated a numerical but statistically nonsignificant trend toward increased mortality (aOR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.99-1.41; p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, cancer history was a predictor of in-hospital mortality. Notably, among cancer patients, recent use of chemotherapy, but not underlying CVD itself, was associated with worse survival. These findings have important implications in cancer therapy considerations and vaccine distribution in cancer patients with and without underlying CVD and CVD risk factors.