Patient comfort with sexual orientation and gender identity questions in adult congenital cardiology clinics.

BACKGROUND: Lack of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data creates barriers for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people in health care. Barriers to SOGI data collection include physician misperception that patients do not want to answer these questions and discomfort asking SOGI questions. This study aimed to assess patient comfort towards SOGI questions across five quaternary care adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) centres. METHODS: A survey administered to ACHD patients (≥18 years) asked (1) two-step gender identity and birth sex, (2) acceptance of SOGI data, and (3) the importance for ACHD physicians to know SOGI data. Chi-square tests were used to analyse differences among demographic groups and logistic regression modelled agreement with statement of patient disclosure of SOGI improving patient-physician communication. RESULTS: Among 322 ACHD patients, 82% identified as heterosexual and 16% identified as LGBTQ+, across the age ranges 18-29 years (39.4%), 30-49 years (47.8%), 50-64 years (8.7%), and > 65 years (4.0%). Respondents (90.4%) felt comfortable answering SOGI questions. Respondents with bachelor's/higher education were more likely to "agree" that disclosure of SOGI improves patient-physician communication compared to those with less than bachelor's education (OR = 2.45; 95% CI 1.41, 4.25; p = .0015). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that in this largely heterosexual population, SOGI data collection is unlikely to cause patient discomfort. Respondents with higher education were twice as likely to agree that SOGI disclosure improves patient-physician communication. The inclusion of SOGI data in future studies will provide larger samples of underrepresented minorities (e.g. LGBTQ+ population), thereby reducing healthcare disparities within the field of cardiovascular research.

A case of double-chambered left ventricle presenting with heart failure symptoms.

Double-chambered left ventricle is a rare CHD that is usually asymptomatic and managed conservatively but can present with ventricular arrhythmias or heart failure. It is important to differentiate from acquired diseases such as post-infarct pseudoaneurysm that need surgical treatment, and cardiac MRI offers an excellent diagnostic tool.

Mechanisms for heart failure in systemic right ventricle.

There are two predominant scenarios where the right ventricle acts as the systemic ventricle, namely congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CC-TGA) and patients with D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) who have undergone an atrial switch operation. There is evidence that having a right ventricle in the systemic position predisposes to the development of heart failure. In this review, we aim to explore the proposed mechanisms and pathophysiology for heart failure in patients with a systemic right ventricle in these two subsets of patients.

Assessment and management of heart failure in the systemic right ventricle.

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a common congenital cardiac malformation, in which many patients survive into adulthood. From the 1960s through much of the 1980s, the majority of those with D-TGA were repaired with an atrial switch procedure, in which the right ventricle (RV) remains the systemic ventricle. Congenitally corrected TGA patients often remain with a systemic RV. In these patients, heart failure risks result from residual sequelae of childhood repair, which often include tricuspid regurgitation, RV failure, and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Imaging techniques, including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, multi-detector computed tomography, and radionuclide ventriculography focus on evaluation of anatomy and function as both diagnostic and prognostic tools. Biomarkers are used for risk stratification. Structural and surgical interventions are targeted for palliation and prevention of further decompensation in conjunction with pharmacologic, ablative, and device-based therapies for acute and chronic management of heart failure.

Impact of Pregnancy on Ventricular Strain in Women with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Increasing numbers of women with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) are reaching reproductive age and seek counseling regarding their cardiovascular risks related to pregnancy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize changes in left ventricular (LV) strain in women with rTOF during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Seventeen pregnancies in women with rTOF were included (mean age at repair = 3.2 years ± 5.5 years; mean age at delivery = 32.7 ± 4 years). Echocardiograms from three time periods were analyzed; baseline (prior to conception or in the first trimester), third trimester, and 4-6 weeks postpartum. Sixty-five percent of the patients had at least mild pulmonary regurgitation. Eight patients (47%) had undergone at least one pulmonary valve replacement. There were no changes in LV ejection fraction (EF) or circumferential strain across the three time periods. Significant differences were present in longitudinal strain within the three time points (p = 0.01). Postpartum strain decreased in magnitude compared to the third trimester value (- 17.7 ± 4.1 vs. - 21 ± 5, p-value = 0.003) but was not different when compared to baseline strain (- 17.7 ± 4.1 vs. - 19.4 ± 3.4; p-value = 0.15). In conclusion, in women with rTOF, changes in longitudinal strain were observed during pregnancy with a return to baseline after delivery; EF did not change. These findings provide evidence that pregnancy does not adversely impact LV mechanics in the short term in this potentially vulnerable patient population.

Creatinine versus cystatin C to estimate glomerular filtration rate in adults with congenital heart disease: Results of the Boston Adult Congenital Heart Disease Biobank.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular filtration rate is a key physiologic variable with a central role in clinical decision making and a strong association with prognosis in diverse populations. Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is common among adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of outpatient ACHD ≥18 years old seen in 2012-2017. Creatinine and cystatin C were measured; eGFR was calculated using either the creatinine or cystatin C Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD-EPICr and CKD-EPICysC, respectively). Survival analysis was performed to define the relationship between eGFR and both all-cause mortality and a composite outcome of death or nonelective cardiovascular hospitalization. RESULTS: Our cohort included 911 ACHD (39 ±â€¯14 years old, 49% female). Mean CKD-EPICr and CKD-EPICysC were similar (101 ±â€¯20 vs 100 ±â€¯23 mL/min/1.73 m2), but CKD-EPICr estimates were higher for patients with a Fontan circulation (n = 131, +10 ±â€¯19 mL/min/1.73 m2). After mean follow-up of 659 days, 128 patients (14.1%) experienced the composite outcome and 31 (3.4%) died. CKD-EPICysC more strongly predicted all-cause mortality (eGFR <60 vs >90 mL/min/1.73 m2: CKD-EPICysC unadjusted HR = 20.2 [95% CI 7.6-53.1], C-statistic = 0.797; CKD-EPICr unadjusted HR = 4.6 [1.7-12.7], C-statistic = 0.620). CKD-EPICysC independently predicted the composite outcome, whereas CKD-EPICr did not (CKD-EPICysC adjusted HR = 3.0 [1.7-5.3]; CKD-EPICr adjusted HR = 1.5 [0.8-3.1]). Patients reclassified to a lower eGFR category by CKD-EPICysC, compared with CKD-EPICr, were at increased risk for the composite outcome (HR = 2.9 [2.0-4.3], P < .0001); those reclassified to a higher eGFR class were at lower risk (HR = 0.5 [0.3-0.9], P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin C-based eGFR more strongly predicts clinical events than creatinine-based eGFR in ACHD. Creatinine-based methods appear particularly questionable in the Fontan circulation.

Medical Therapy for Heart Failure in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients.

There is an increasing recognition of heart failure among adults with congenital heart disease as a result of the advancements in medical, interventional, and surgical care. The long-term consequences of palliative therapy in infancy, childhood, and adulthood are incompletely understood. Medical therapy, including pharmacologic and device therapies, have been used for the treatment of heart failure. This review summarizes care strategies that have been applied within the spectrum of adults with congenital heart disease, including failing systemic ventricles, single ventricles, and Eisenmenger physiology.

Clinical Outcomes of Adult Fontan-Associated Liver Disease and Combined Heart-Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The impact of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) on post-transplant mortality and indications for combined heart-liver transplant (CHLT) in adult Fontan patients remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of FALD on post-transplant outcomes and compare HT vs CHLT in adult Fontan patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective-cohort study of adult Fontan patients who underwent HT or CHLT across 15 centers. Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) Fontan; 2) HT/CHLT referral; and 3) age ≥16 years at referral. Pretransplant FALD score was calculated using the following: 1) cirrhosis; 2) varices; 3) splenomegaly; or 4) ≥2 paracenteses. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients (91 HT and 40 CHLT) were included. CHLT recipients were more likely to be older (P = 0.016), have a lower hemoglobin (P = 0.025), require ≥2 diuretic agents pretransplant (P = 0.051), or be transplanted in more recent decades (P = 0.001). Postmatching, CHLT demonstrated a trend toward improved survival at 1 year (93% vs 74%; P = 0.097) and improved survival at 5 years (86% vs 52%; P = 0.041) compared with HT alone. In patients with a FALD score ≥2, CHLT was associated with improved survival (1 year: 85% vs 62%; P = 0.044; 5 years: 77% vs 42%; P = 0.019). In a model with transplant decade and FALD score, CHLT was associated with improved survival (HR: 0.33; P = 0.044) and increasing FALD score was associated with worse survival (FALD score: 2 [HR: 14.6; P = 0.015], 3 [HR: 22.2; P = 0.007], and 4 [HR: 27.8; P = 0.011]). CONCLUSIONS: Higher FALD scores were associated with post-transplant mortality. Although prospective confirmation of our findings is necessary, compared with HT alone, CHLT recipients were older with higher FALD scores, but had similar survival overall and superior survival in patients with a FALD score ≥2.

Morbidity and Mortality in Adult Fontan Patients After Heart or Combined Heart-Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of adult Fontan patients require heart transplantation (HT) or combined heart-liver transplant (CHLT); however, data regarding outcomes and optimal referral time remain limited. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to define survivorship post-HT/CHLT and predictors of post-transplant mortality, including timing of referral, in the adult Fontan population. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of adult Fontan patients who underwent HT or CHLT across 15 centers in the United States and Canada was performed. Inclusion criteria included the following: 1) Fontan; 2) HT/CHLT referral; and 3) age ≥16 years at the time of referral. Date of "failing" Fontan was defined as the earliest of the following: worsening fluid retention, new ascites, refractory arrhythmia, "failing Fontan" diagnosis by treating cardiologist, or admission for heart failure. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients underwent transplant, including 40 CHLT, from 1995 to 2021 with a median post-transplant follow-up time of 1.6 years (Q1 0.35 years, Q3 4.3 years). Survival was 79% at 1 year and 66% at 5 years. Survival differed by decade of transplantation and was 87% at 1 year and 76% at 5 years after 2010. Time from Fontan failure to evaluation (HR/year: 1.23 [95% CI: 1.11-1.36]; P < 0.001) and markers of failure, including NYHA functional class IV (HR: 2.29 [95% CI: 1.10-5.28]; P = 0.050), lower extremity varicosities (HR: 3.92 [95% CI: 1.68-9.14]; P = 0.002), and venovenous collaterals (HR: 2.70 [95% CI: 1.17-6.20]; P = 0.019), were associated with decreased post-transplant survival at 1 year in a bivariate model that included transplant decade. CONCLUSIONS: In our multicenter cohort, post-transplant survival improved over time. Late referral after Fontan failure and markers of failing Fontan physiology, including worse functional status, lower extremity varicosities, and venovenous collaterals, were associated with post-transplant mortality.

COVID-19-Related Thrombotic and Bleeding Events in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Altered coagulation is a striking feature of COVID-19. Adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are prone to thromboembolic (TE) and bleeding complications. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for COVID-19 TE/bleeding complications in ACHD patients. Methods: COVID-19-positive ACHD patients were included between May 2020 and November 2021. TE events included ischemic cerebrovascular accident, systemic and pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and intracardiac thrombosis. Major bleeding included cases with hemoglobin drop >2 g/dl, involvement of critical sites, or fatal bleeding. Severe infection was defined as need for intensive care unit, endotracheal intubation, renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or death. Patients with TE/bleeding were compared to those without events. Factors associated with TE/bleeding were determined using logistic regression. Results: Of 1,988 patients (age 32 [IQR: 25-42] years, 47% male, 59 ACHD centers), 30 (1.5%) had significant TE/bleeding: 12 TE events, 12 major bleeds, and 6 with both TE and bleeding. Patients with TE/bleeding had higher in-hospital mortality compared to the remainder cohort (33% vs 1.7%; P < 0.0001) and were in more advanced physiological stage (P = 0.032) and NYHA functional class (P = 0.01), had lower baseline oxygen saturation (P = 0.0001), and more frequently had a history of atrial arrhythmia (P < 0.0001), previous hospitalization for heart failure (P < 0.0007), and were more likely hospitalized for COVID-19 (P < 0.0001). By multivariable logistic regression, prior anticoagulation (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 2-11.76; P = 0.0003), cardiac injury (OR: 5.34; 95% CI: 1.98-14.76; P = 0.0009), and severe COVID-19 (OR: 17.39; 95% CI: 6.67-45.32; P < 0.0001) were independently associated with increased risk of TE/bleeding complications. Conclusions: ACHD patients with TE/bleeding during COVID-19 infection have a higher in-hospital mortality from the illness. Risk of coagulation disorders is related to severe COVID-19, cardiac injury during infection, and use of anticoagulants.

COVID-19 in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) have been considered potentially high risk for novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) mortality or other complications. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to define the impact of COVID-19 in adults with CHD and to identify risk factors associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS: Adults (age 18 years or older) with CHD and with confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19 were included from CHD centers worldwide. Data collection included anatomic diagnosis and subsequent interventions, comorbidities, medications, echocardiographic findings, presenting symptoms, course of illness, and outcomes. Predictors of death or severe infection were determined. RESULTS: From 58 adult CHD centers, the study included 1,044 infected patients (age: 35.1 ± 13.0 years; range 18 to 86 years; 51% women), 87% of whom had laboratory-confirmed coronavirus infection. The cohort included 118 (11%) patients with single ventricle and/or Fontan physiology, 87 (8%) patients with cyanosis, and 73 (7%) patients with pulmonary hypertension. There were 24 COVID-related deaths (case/fatality: 2.3%; 95% confidence interval: 1.4% to 3.2%). Factors associated with death included male sex, diabetes, cyanosis, pulmonary hypertension, renal insufficiency, and previous hospital admission for heart failure. Worse physiological stage was associated with mortality (p = 0.001), whereas anatomic complexity or defect group were not. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 mortality in adults with CHD is commensurate with the general population. The most vulnerable patients are those with worse physiological stage, such as cyanosis and pulmonary hypertension, whereas anatomic complexity does not appear to predict infection severity.

Prevalence and Prognostic Association of a Clinical Diagnosis of Depression in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: Results of the Boston Adult Congenital Heart Disease Biobank.

Background In adults with acquired heart disease, depression is common and associated with adverse outcomes. Depression may also be important in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods and Results We conducted a cohort study of outpatients with CHD, aged ≥18 years, enrolled in a prospective biobank between 2012 and 2017. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Survival analysis assessed the relationship between depression, defined by a history of clinical diagnosis of major depression, with all-cause mortality and a composite outcome of death or nonelective cardiovascular hospitalization. A total of 1146 patients were enrolled (age, 38.5±13.8 years; 49.6% women). Depression had been diagnosed in 219 (prevalence=19.1%), and these patients were more likely to have severely complex CHD (41.3% versus 33.7%; P=0.028), cyanosis (12.1% versus 5.7%; P=0.003), and worse functional class (≥II; 33.3% versus 20.4%; P<0.0001), and to be taking antidepressant medication at time of enrollment (68.5% versus 5.7%; P<0.0001). Depression was associated with biomarkers indicative of inflammation (hsCRP [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein], 1.71 [25th-75th percentile, 0.82-4.47] versus 1.10 [0.45-2.40]; P<0.0001) and heart failure (NT-proBNP [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide], 190 [92-501] versus 111 [45-264]; P<0.0001). During follow-up of 605±547 days, 137 participants (12.0%) experienced the composite outcome, including 33 deaths (2.9%). Depression was associated with increased risk for both all-cause mortality (multivariable hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.4; P=0.005) and the composite outcome (multivariable hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5; P=0.025), adjusting for age, sex, history of atrial arrhythmia, systolic ventricular function, CHD complexity, and corrected QT interval. Conclusions In adults with CHD, major depression is associated with impaired functional status, heart failure, systemic inflammation, and increased risk for adverse outcomes.

Single-Barrel, Double-Barrel, and Fenestrated Endografts to Facilitate Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Large RVOT.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that narrowing the landing zone using commercially available endografts would enable transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) using commercially available transcatheter heart valves. BACKGROUND: TPVR is challenging in an outsized native or patch-repaired right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Downsizing the RVOT for TPVR is currently possible only using investigational devices. In patients ineligible because of excessive RVOT size, TPVR landing zones were created using commercially available endografts. METHODS: Consecutive patients with native or patch-repaired RVOTs and high or prohibitive surgical risk were reviewed, and this report describes the authors' experience with endograft-facilitated TPVR (EF-TPVR) offered to patients ineligible for investigational or commercial devices. All EF-TPVR patients were surgery ineligible, with symptomatic, severe pulmonary insufficiency, enlarged RVOTs, and severe right ventricular (RV) enlargement (>150 ml/m2). TPVR and surgical pulmonary valve replacement (SPVR) were compared in patients with less severe RV enlargement. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had large RVOTs unsuitable for conventional TPVR; 6 patients (1 surgery ineligible) received investigational devices, and 8 otherwise ineligible patients underwent compassionate EF-TPVR (n = 5 with tetralogy of Fallot). Three strategies were applied on the basis of progressively larger RVOT size: single-barrel, in situ fenestrated, and double-barrel endografts as required to anchor 1 (single-barrel and fenestrated) or 2 (double-barrel) transcatheter heart valves. All were technically successful, without procedure-related, 30-day, or in-hospital deaths. Two late complications (stent obstruction and embolization) were treated percutaneously. One patient died of ventricular tachycardia 36 days after EF-TPVR. Compared with 48 SPVRs, RV enlargement was greater, but 30-day and 1-year mortality and readmission were no different. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient was lower after EF-TPVR (3.8 ± 0.8 mm Hg vs. 10.7 ± 4.1 mm Hg; p < 0.001; 30 days). More than mild pulmonary insufficiency was equivalent in both (EF-TPVR 0.0% [n = 0 of 8] vs. SPVR 4.3% [n = 1 of 43]; p = 1.00; 30 days). CONCLUSIONS: EF-TPVR may be an alternative for patients with pulmonic insufficiency and enlarged RVOTs ineligible for other therapies.

Prognostic Utility of the Braden Scale and the Morse Fall Scale in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure.

Geriatric syndromes are common in hospitalized elders with heart failure (HF), but association with clinical outcomes is not well characterized. The purpose of this study ( N = 289) was to assess presence of geriatric syndromes using Joint Commission-mandated measures, the Braden Scale (BS) and Morse Fall Scale (MFS), and to explore prognostic utility in hospitalized HF patients. Data extracted from the electronic medical record included sociodemographics, medications, clinical data, comorbid conditions, and the BS and MFS. The primary outcome of mortality was assessed using Social Security Death Master File. Statistical analysis included Cox proportional hazards models to assess association between BS and MFS scores and all-cause mortality with adjustment for known clinical prognostic factors. Higher risk BS and MFS scores were common in hospitalized HF patients, but were not independent predictors of survival. Further study of the clinical utility of these scores and other measures of geriatric syndromes in HF is warranted.

Role of Antiplatelet Therapy and Anticoagulation in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the United States. The pathophysiology of heart failure involves the activation of complex neurohormonal pathways, many of which mediate not only hypertrophy and fibrosis within ventricular myocardium and interstitium, but also activation of platelets and alteration of vascular endothelium. Platelet activation and vascular endothelial dysfunction may contribute to the observed increased risk of thromboembolic events in patients with chronic heart failure. However, current data from clinical trials do not support the routine use of chronic antiplatelet or oral anticoagulation therapy for ambulatory heart failure patients without other indications (atrial fibrillation and/or coronary artery disease) as the risk of bleeding seems to outweigh the potential benefit related to reduction in thromboembolic events. In this review, we consider the potential clinical utility of targeting specific pathophysiological mechanisms of platelet and vascular endothelial activation to guide clinical decision making in heart failure patients.