Comparison of cardiovascular magnetic resonance characteristics and clinical prognosis in left ventricular noncompaction patients with and without arrhythmia.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare type of cardiomyopathy, and one of its clinical manifestations is arrhythmia. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is valuable for the diagnosis and prognosis of LVNC. However, studies are lacking on the use of CMR for LVNC patients with arrhythmia. This study aimed to characterize and compare CMR features and prognosis in LVNC patients with and without arrhythmia. METHODS: Eighty-four LVNC patients diagnosed by CMR were enrolled retrospectively in this study. Clinical data, arrhythmia characteristics, and CMR parameters were collected. Patients were divided into different groups according to the arrhythmia characteristics and CMR manifestations for statistical analysis and comparison. Ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (Vf), ventricular flutter (VFL), III° atrioventricular block (III° AVB), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) and ventricular escape (VE) were defined as malignant arrhythmias and benign arrhythmias included premature ventricular contraction, atrial premature beats, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, supraventricular premature beat, bundle branch block, atrial flutter and sinus tachycardia. The outcome events were defined as a composition event of cardiac death, rehospitalization for heart failure, heart transplantation, and implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). RESULTS: Sixty-seven LVNC patients (79.76%) mainly presented with arrhythmia, including premature ventricular beat (33 patients [27.73%]), bundle branch block (14 patients [11.77%]), electrocardiogram waveform changes (18 patients [15.13%]), and ventricular tachycardia (11 patients [9.24%]). The cardiac function and structure parameters had no significant difference among the nonarrhythmia group, benign arrhythmia group, and malignant arrhythmia group. However, the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was higher in the malignant arrhythmia group than in the other two groups (p = 0.023). At a mean follow-up of 46 months, cardiac events occurred in twenty-three patients (46.94%). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in prognosis among the nonarrhythmia, benign, and malignant arrhythmia groups, but the patients with arrhythmia and association with LGE + or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 30% had a higher risk than patients with LGE- or LVEF > 30% (LGE +, HR = 4.035, 95% CI 1.475-11.035; LVEF < 30%, HR = 8.131, 95% CI 1.805-36.636; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In LVNC patients, the types of arrhythmias are numerous and unrepresentative, and arrhythmia is not the prognostic factor. Arrhythmia combined with presence of LGE or LVEF < 30% is associated with poor prognosis in LVNC patients.

Spatial inequality, characteristics of internal migration, and pulmonary tuberculosis in China, 2011-2017: a spatial analysis.

BACKGROUND: Human migration facilitate the spread of tuberculosis (TB). Migrants face an increased risk of TB infection. In this study, we aim to explore the spatial inequity of sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB (SS + PTB) in China; and the spatial heterogeneity between SS + PTB and internal migration. METHODS: Notified SS + PTB cases in 31 provinces in mainland China were obtained from the national web-based PTB surveillance system database. Internal migrant data were extracted from the report on China's migrant population development. Spatial autocorrelations were explored using the global Moran's statistic and local indicators of spatial association. The spatial variation in temporal trends was performed using Kulldorff's scan statistic. Fixed effect and spatial autoregressive models were used to explore the spatial inequity between SS + PTB and internal migration. RESULTS: A total of 2 380 233 SS + PTB cases were reported in China between 2011 and 2017, of which, 1 716 382 (72.11%) were male and 663 851 (27.89%) were female. Over 70% of internal migrants were from rural households and had lower income and less education. The spatial variation in temporal trend results showed that there was an 9.9% average annual decrease in the notification rate of SS + PTB from 2011 to 2017; and spatial clustering of SS + PTB cases was mainly located in western and southern China. The spatial autocorrelation results revealed spatial clustering of internal migration each year (2011-2017), and the clusters were stable within most provinces. Internal emigration, urban-to-rural migration and GDP per capita were significantly associated with SS + PTB, further, internal emigration could explain more variation in SS + PTB in the eastern region in mainland. However, internal immigration and rural-to-urban migration were not significantly associated with SS + PTB across China. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found the spatial inequity between SS + PTB and internal migration. Internal emigration, urban-to-rural migration and GDP per capita were statistically associated with SS + PTB; the negative association was identified between internal emigration, urban-to-rural migration and SS + PTB. Further, we found those migrants with lower income and less education, and most of them were from rural households. These findings can help stakeholders to implement effective PTB control strategies for areas at high risk of PTB and those with high rates of internal migration.