Door-to-diuretic time and mortality in patients with acute heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Early decongestion therapy with intravenous diuretics may be associated with improved outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF), however data is conflicting. This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the impact of door-to-IV diuretic (D2D) time on mortality in patients with AHF. Pooled estimates from observational studies comprising 28,124 patients, early IV diuresis (reference time 30-105 minutes) was associated with a 23% reduction in 30-day mortality in AHF (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.93), despite no significant in-hospital death reduction (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.57-1.24).

Atherosclerosis on CT coronary angiography and the risk of long-term cardiovascular events after liver transplantation.

Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is increasingly utilized for preoperative risk stratification before liver transplantation (LT). We sought to assess the predictors of advanced atherosclerosis on CTCA using the recently developed Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) score and its impact on the prediction of long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following LT. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent CTCA for LT work-up between 2011 and 2018. Advanced atherosclerosis was defined as coronary artery calcium scores > 400 or CAD-RADS score ≥ 3 (≥50% coronary artery stenosis). MACE was defined as myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or resuscitated cardiac arrest. Overall, 229 patients underwent CTCA (mean age 66 ± 5 y, 82% male). Of these, 157 (68.5%) proceeded with LT. The leading etiology of cirrhosis was hepatitis (47%), and 53% of patients had diabetes before transplant. On adjusted analysis, male sex (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5-13.8, p = 0.006), diabetes (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.2, p = 0.01) and dyslipidemia (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-6.9, p = 0.005) were predictors of advanced atherosclerosis on CTCA. Thirty-two patients (20%) experienced MACE. At a median follow-up of 4 years, CAD-RADS ≥ 3, but not coronary artery calcium scores, was associated with a heightened risk of MACE (HR 5.8, 95% CI 1.6-20.6, p = 0.006). Based on CTCA results, 71 patients (31%) commenced statin therapy which was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.97, p = 0.04). The standardized CAD-RADS classification on CTCA predicted the occurrence of cardiovascular outcomes following LT, with a potential to increase the utilization of preventive cardiovascular therapies.

Ultrasound Guidance for Transradial Access in the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although ultrasound (US) guidance for vascular access has been widely adopted, its use for transradial access (TRA) in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory is rare. There is a perception that US guidance does not offer a clinically relevant benefit over traditional palpation-guided TRA, amplified by inconsistent findings of individual studies. METHOD: A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library identified studies comparing US to palpation-guided TRA for cardiac catheterisation. Studies evaluating radial artery (RA) cannulation for any other reason were excluded. Event rates and risk ratios (RRs) were pooled for meta-analysis. Access failure was the primary outcome. A random-effects model was used for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 977 records screened, four studies with a total of 1,718 patients (861 US-guided and 864 palpation-guided procedures) were included in the meta-analysis. Most procedures were elective. The pooled analysis showed US guidance significantly lowered the risk of access failure (RR 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.97; p=0.04). Heterogeneity was moderate (I2=51.2%; p=0.105). There was a strong trend to improved first-pass success with US (RR 1.29; 95% CI 1.00-1.66; p=0.05; I2=83.8%), although no differences were found in rates of difficult access (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.07-1.18; p=0.09; I2=88.3%). Salvage US guidance was successful in 30/41 (73.2%) patients following failed palpation-guided TRA. No differences were found in already low complication rates including RA spasm (RR 1.18; 95% CI 0.70-1.99; p=0.53; I2=0.0%) and bleeding (RR 1.32; 95% CI 0.46-3.80; p=0.60; I2=0.0%). CONCLUSIONS: US guidance was found to improve TRA success in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether routine, selective, or salvage use of US confers the most RA protection, patient satisfaction, and overall clinical benefit. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022332238).

Atrial Tachyarrhythmias and Stroke: Temporal Relationship and Stroke Subtypes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Research into the temporal relationship between atrial tachyarrhythmias (atrial tachycardia [AT] and atrial fibrillation [AF]) and stroke has produced conflicting findings. Systematic categorization of stroke subtypes may help clarify the discussion. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to examine the presence and timing of AT/AF in relation to ischemic stroke subtypes, categorized as either cardioembolic (CE) or non-CE. METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting to the Austin Hospital with acute stroke from 2012 to 2019 and a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) were identified. Using a case-control design, the temporal proximity of AT/AF episodes in the 90 days prior to stroke was compared in the CE and non-CE stroke groups. RESULTS: 5,591 patients presented to the Austin Hospital with acute stroke from 2012 to 2019, of whom 31 patients with an ischemic stroke and a CIED with ≥90 days of monitoring were identified. Twelve strokes were adjudicated as CE and 19 as non-CE by a stroke neurologist. Six of the 12 CE stroke patients (50%) experienced AT/AF within 30 days preceding their stroke, while none of the 19 non-CE stroke patients recorded any AT/AF in the same period (p = 0.001). Four CE stroke patients (33%) had no AT/AF preceding their strokes at any time. The odds ratio for CE stroke was highest (39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.92-791.5) when AT/AF occurred in the 30 days prior, declining to 20.65 (95% CI: 1.00-427.66) and 6.07 (95% CI: 0.94-39.04) in the subsequent 31-60- and 61-90-day windows, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CE strokes were associated with a significantly higher proportion of preceding AT/AF compared with non-CE strokes. These findings support a potential temporal relationship between AT/AF and CE stroke and demonstrate that stroke subtyping can better characterize the relationship between AF and ischemic stroke. However, this study's findings are limited by its sample size and small number of informative cases.

Sudden cardiac death related to physical exercise in the young: a nationwide cohort study of Australia.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) during physical exercise is devastating. AIMS: To evaluate causes and circumstances of exercise-related SCD in the young in Australia. METHODS: We reviewed the National Coronial Information System database for deaths in Australia relating to cardiovascular disease in cases aged 10-35 years between 2000 and 2016. Cases who had undertaken physical exercise at the time of the event were included. We collected demographics, circumstances of death, type of physical exercise, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use prior to ambulance arrival. RESULTS: Over a 17-year period, 1925 SCD cases were identified, of which 110 (6%) cases (median age 27 years (interquartile range 21-32 years); 92% male) were related to sports/physical exercise. Thirteen (12%) cases occurred in active athletes. Most common causes were coronary artery disease (CAD; 37%) and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS; 20%). Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (n = 10), all deaths were related to CAD. Australian Rules Football (24%), running/jogging (14%) and soccer (14%) were the most frequent physical exercise activities. Prior symptoms were present in 39% (chest pain 37%, pre-syncope/syncope 26%). Most (87%) were witnessed, with bystander CPR in 70%. AED use prior to ambulance arrival was 8%. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the high occurrence of CAD and SADS in SCD in the young related to physical exercise. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were disproportionately affected by CAD. Although events were commonly witnessed, AED was seldom used prior to ambulance arrival and highlights an important opportunity to improve outcomes in the post-arrest chain of survival.

Coronary Angiography Complicated by Acute Ischaemic Stroke and the Use of Thrombolysis: a Cardiology Perspective and Narrative Review of Current Literature.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coronary angiography-associated acute ischaemic stroke (CAAIS) is an uncommon event but is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The incidence of CAAIS has increased with a rise in the volume of coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is utilized in the general management of acute ischaemic stroke; however, it is associated with a higher risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). As CA or PCI is performed more often in an aging population or high-risk patients that also carry an increased risk of ICH, it is vital to minimize additional complications from the treatment of CAAIS. This article aims to review the pathophysiological mechanisms for CAAIS, clarify the current evidence regarding IVT use in this setting, and thus assist cardiologists in the management of CAAIS. RECENT FINDINGS: The pathophysiology for CAAIS may be different from acute ischaemic stroke in the general population. Embolic phenomena from dislodgement of calcium or other debris during manipulation of instrumentation during CA or PCI are likely mechanisms. This may contribute to altered thrombus composition, which affects the efficacy of IVT as suggested in recent studies. Furthermore, IVT in the management of CAAIS has not been evaluated specifically. The utilization of IVT should be carefully considered in CAAIS given a paucity of evidence demonstrating safety and efficacy in this setting. A multidisciplinary pathway that emphasizes the involvement of cardiologists in the treatment decision-making process would aid in thoughtful risk-benefit evaluation for IVT use in CAAIS and reduce adverse patient outcomes. Future studies to assess the impact of this pathway on CAAIS outcomes would be beneficial.

Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Breast Cancer Treated in the Modern Era.

AIMS: With improving cancer survivorship, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a leading cause of death in breast cancer (BC) survivors. At present, there is no prospectively validated, contemporary risk assessment tool specific to this patient cohort. Accordingly, we sought to investigate long-term cardiovascular outcomes in early-stage BC patients utilising a well characterised database at a quaternary referral centre. With the assembly of this cohort, we have derived a BC cardiovascular risk index titled the 'CRIB (Cardiovascular Risk Index in Breast Cancer)' to estimate the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in women undergoing treatment for BC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted examining all female patients aged ≥18 years of age who underwent treatment for early-stage BC at a cancer centre in Melbourne, Australia, between 2009 and 2019. The primary aim of this study was to assess causes and predictors of MACE. RESULTS: A total of 1,173 women with early-stage BC were included. During a median follow-up of 4.4 (1.8-6.7) years, 80 (6.8%) women experienced a MACE. These women were more likely to be older, with a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors and were more likely to have a history of established coronary artery disease (CAD) (p≤0.001 for all). A CRIB ≥3 (2 points: renal impairment, 1 point: age ≥65 years, body mass index [BMI]>27, diabetes, hypertension, history of smoking) demonstrated moderate discrimination (c-statistic 0.75) with appropriate calibration. A CRIB ≥3, which represented 23.9% of our cohort, was associated with a high risk of MACE (odds ratio [OR] 17.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.36-50.05; p<0.001). A total of 138 (11.8%) women died during the study period. Mortality was significantly higher in patients who experienced a MACE (HR 2.72, 95%CI 1.75-4.23; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risk stratification at the time of BC diagnosis using the novel CRIB may help guide surveillance and the use of cardioprotective therapies as well as identify those who require long-term cardiac follow-up.

Late recurrence of atrial fibrillation and flutter in patients referred for elective electrical cardioversion.

Aim    The primary aim was to ascertain long-term rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in this all-comer patient population undergoing elective electrical cardioversion (DCR). Secondary aims included procedural DCR success, clinical predictors of long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) and AF related hospitalizations.Material and Methods    A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Consecutive patients (n=316) undergoing elective DCR were included.Results    Successful immediate reversion to SR was attained in 266 (84 %) of patients. 224 (84 %) patients were followed up for a median period of 3.5 years (IQR 2.7-4.3). Most patients (150 [67 %]) had recurrence of AF / flutter at a median time of 240 days. Clinical predictors of AF recurrence included a history of AF (HR 0.63, p=0.038) and a dilated left atrium (HR 4.13, p=0.048). Maintenance of SR was associated with fewer unplanned hospitalizations for AF (HR 3.25, p<0.01).Conclusion    There was high procedural success post DCR. However, long-term rates of AF recurrence were high, and AF recurrences were associated with increased hospitalizations. These findings underscore the importance of clinical vigilance and multi-modal management as part of a comprehensive and effective rhythm control strategy.

Long-term mortality in asymptomatic patients with stable ischemic heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) may present with a variety of symptoms including typical angina, angina equivalents such as dyspnea or no symptoms. We sought to determine whether symptom status affects periprocedural safety and long-term mortality in patients undergoing PCI. METHODS: Prospectively enrolled consecutive patients undergoing PCI for SIHD at six hospitals in Australia between 2005 to 2018 as part of the Melbourne Interventional Group registry. Symptom status was recorded at the time of PCI and patients undergoing staged PCI were excluded. RESULTS: Overall, 11,730 patients with SIHD were followed up for a median period of 5 years (maximum 14.0 years, interquartile range 2.2-9.0 years) with 1,317 (11.2%) being asymptomatic. Asymptomatic patients were older, and more likely to be male, have triple-vessel disease, with multiple comorbidities including renal failure, diabetes and heart failure (all P < .01). These patients had significantly higher rates of periprocedural complications and major adverse cardiovascular events at 30-days. Long-term mortality was significantly higher in asymptomatic patients (27.2% vs 18.0%, P < .001). On cox regression for long-term mortality, after adjustment for more important clinical variables, asymptomatic status was an independent predictor (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.39 95% CI 1.16-1.66, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world cohort of patients undergoing revascularization for SIHD, absence of symptoms was associated with higher rates of periprocedural complications and, after adjustment for more important clinical variables, was an independent predictor of long-term mortality. As the primary goal of revascularization in SIHD remains angina relief, the appropriateness of PCI in the absence of symptoms warrants justification.

Invasive versus conservative management in patients aged ≥85 years presenting with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend early coronary angiography (CA) in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) irrespective of age. However, elderly patients are less likely to be treated according to these guidelines due to their perceived high risk and medical comorbidities. Whether an invasive strategy is associated with improved survival in patients aged ≥85 years remains uncertain due to their exclusion from randomised trials. AIMS: Patients were stratified based on whether they underwent invasive management with CA with a view to revascularisation versus conservative management. The primary outcome was long-term mortality. METHODS: Consecutive patients aged ≥85 years presenting to a tertiary centre with NSTEMI between 2008 and 2018 were included in this retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: Of 7591 patients with NSTEMI, 1052 patients aged ≥85 years were included. Ninety-nine (9.4%) patients underwent CA. Those undergoing CA were more likely to be younger, male, live independently, without mobility or cognitive issues (all P < 0.01). Overall, 495 (47%) patients died during a mean follow up of 1.3 ± 1 year. On Cox regression, after adjusting for age, pre-morbid functional status, cognition and cardiovascular risk factors, invasive management was the strongest predictor for survival (hazard ratio 0.47; 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.85; P = 0.01). Invasive management was associated with a trend to increased risk of in-hospital bleeding (6.1% vs 2.6%; P = 0.054) with no significant difference in stroke (2.0% vs 3.8%; P = 0.37). CONCLUSION: In patients aged ≥85 years who presented with NSTEMI, invasive management was associated with improved survival without significant differences in bleeding or stroke. A randomised controlled study assessing the efficacy and safety of invasive management in very elderly patients with NSTEMI is warranted.

Factor Xa Inhibition for the Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Associated With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of the Randomised Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Until recently, guidelines recommended the use of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as standard of care for VTE in patients with cancer. Despite the proven efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for treatment of VTE, there is equipoise supporting their use in cancer patients. METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed, Medline and EMBASE identified four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with cancer and VTE comparing a factor Xa inhibitor (FXaI) to LMWH. A meta-analysis was performed with a primary outcome of VTE recurrence and key secondary outcomes of major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. RESULTS: Four RCTs with 2,907 patients were included. 1,451 patients were randomised to FXaI and 1,456 to LMWH. VTE recurrence was lower in the FXaI group (RR 0.62, 95%CI 0.44-0.87; p=0.01; I2=24.90), with an absolute risk difference of -4% equating to a number needed to treat of 25 for prevention of recurrent VTE with FXaI. No significant difference in major bleeding was noted between groups (RR 1.33, 95%CI 0.84-2.11; p=0.23). Rates of GI bleeding (RR 1.87, 95%CI 1.06-3.29; p=0.03) and CRNMB (RR 1.57, 95%CI 1.11-2.23; p=0.01) were greater with FXaIs. CONCLUSION: In patients with cancer and VTE, the rate of VTE recurrence was significantly lower with FXaI than with LMWH without an increased risk of major bleeding. Our data supports the use of FXaIs as the standard of care for the treatment of VTE in this population.

Balancing the Risks of Recurrent Ischaemic and Bleeding Events in a Stable Post ACS Population.

OBJECTIVE: To better guide decisions regarding antithrombotic treatment in individual patients surviving 6 months following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by balancing between subsequent recurrent ischaemic and bleeding risk. METHODS: Patients surviving 6 months following an ACS were followed in an Australian registry. Ischaemic (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke) and bleeding (≥BARC 2) events were collected. A dual binary outcome modelling strategy was used arriving at a common set of variables from which bleeding and ischaemic risk could be independently determined in individual patients. Patients in whom bleeding rates exceeded composite ischaemic event rates during the follow-up period were identified. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 5,905 patients in whom 215 experienced an ischaemic event and 49 a bleeding event. The single set of variables included in both ischaemic and bleeding models (C-statistics 0.71 and 0.72 respectively) included modified TIGRIS1 ischaemic score, mode of revascularisation, history of heart failure, anaemia, multivessel disease, readmission within 6 months of index ACS and age >75. In the majority, ischaemic events were more frequent than bleeding events. In higher risk patients post coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), bleeding events were more frequent than recurrent ischaemic events. CONCLUSION: The risk of recurrent ischaemic events exceeds bleeding in most patients followed 6 to 24 months following an ACS. Post CABG patients with comorbidities have a higher risk of bleeding over this period during which time attention should be directed towards modifiable bleeding risk factors including requirement for dual antiplatelet therapy.

Trends and Real-World Safety of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Symptomatic Stable Ischaemic Heart Disease in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in stable ischaemic heart disease (SIHD) has not been shown to improve prognosis but can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Appropriately selected patients with symptoms refractory to medical therapy therefore stand to benefit, provided safety is proven. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing PCI for SIHD between 2005-2018 in a prospective registry were included. Yearly comparisons evaluated trends, and a sub-analysis was performed comparing proximal left anterior descending artery (prox-LAD) to other-than-proximal LAD (non-pLAD) PCI. Outcomes included peri-procedural characteristics, in-hospital and 30-day event rates including MACE, and 5-year National Death Index (NDI) linked mortality. RESULTS: There were 9,421 procedures included. Over time, patients were increasingly co-morbid and had higher rates of AHA/ACC class B2/C lesions, ostial stenoses, bifurcation lesions, and chronic total occlusions (all p-for-trend ≤0.001). Over 14 years, major bleeding reduced (1.05% in 2005/06 vs 0.29% in 2017/18, p-for-trend <0.001), while other in-hospital and 30-day event rates were stably low. There were only seven (0.07%) in hospital deaths and 5-year mortality was 10.3%. No differences were found in outcomes between patients who underwent prox-LAD compared to non-pLAD PCI. Major independent predictors of NDI linked all-cause mortality included an eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 4.06, 95% CI 3.26-5.06), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.89-2.67) and LVEF <30% (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.57-2.89). CONCLUSIONS: Although patient and procedural complexity increased over time, a high degree of procedural success and safety was maintained, including in those undergoing prox-LAD PCI. These real-world data can enhance shared decision making discussions regarding whether PCI should be pursued in patients with symptomatic SIHD refractory to medical therapy.

Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation and Long-Term Risk of Stroke in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the commonest cardiovascular complication following liver transplantation (LT). This study sought to assess a possible association of POAF with subsequent thromboembolic events in patients undergoing LT. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of consecutive adults undergoing LT between 2010 and 2018 was undertaken. Patients were classified as POAF if atrial fibrillation (AF) was documented within 30 days of LT without a prior history of AF. Cases of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism were adjudicated by a panel of 2 independent physicians. RESULTS: Among the 461 patients included, POAF occurred in 47 (10.2%) a median of 3 days following transplantation. Independent predictors of POAF included advancing age, postoperative sepsis and left atrial enlargement. Over a median follow-up of 4.9 (interquartile range, 2.9-7.2) years, 21 cases of stroke and systemic embolism occurred. Rates of thromboembolic events were significantly higher in patients with POAF (17.0% versus 3.1%; P<0.001). After adjustment, POAF remained a strong independent predictor of thromboembolic events (hazard ratio, 8.36 [95% CI, 2.34-29.79]). Increasing CHA2DS2VASc score was also an independent predictor of thromboembolic events (hazard ratio, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.02-2.46]). A model using POAF and a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2 alone yielded a C statistic of 0.77, with appropriate calibration for the prediction of thromboembolic events. However, POAF was not an independent predictor of long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: POAF following LT is associated with an 8-fold increased risk of thromboembolic events and the use of the CHA2DS2VASc score may facilitate risk stratification of these patients. Prospective studies are warranted to assess whether the use of oral anticoagulants can reduce the risk of thromboembolism following LT.

Relationship between QT interval prolongation and structural abnormalities in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: A change in the current paradigm.

It is postulated that cardiac structural abnormalities observed in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) contribute to the electrophysiologic abnormality of QT interval (QTc) prolongation. We sought to evaluate whether QTc prolongation is associated with intrinsic abnormalities in cardiac structure and function that characterize CCM. Consecutive patients undergoing liver transplant work-up between 2010 and 2018 were included. Measures of cardiac function on stress testing including cardiac reserve and chronotropic incompetence were collected prospectively and a corrected QTc ≥ 440 ms was considered prolonged. Overall, 439 patients were included and 65.1% had a prolonged QTc. There were no differences in markers of left ventricular and atrial remodeling, or resting systolic and diastolic function across QTc groups. The proportion of patients that met the criteria for a low cardiac reserve (39.2 vs 36.6%, p = .66) or chronotropic incompetence (18.1 vs 21.3%, p = .52) was not different in those with a QTc ≥ 440 vs <440 ms. Further, there was no association between QTc prolongation and CCM by either the 2005 World College of Gastroenterology or modified 2020 Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy Consortium criteria. QT interval prolongation was not associated with structural or functional cardiac abnormalities that characterize CCM. These findings suggest that CCM and QT interval prolongation in cirrhosis may be two separate entities with distinct pathophysiological origins.

Effect of QT interval prolongation on cardiac arrest following liver transplantation and derivation of a risk index.

Liver transplantation (LT) has a 4-fold higher risk of periprocedural cardiac arrest and ventricular arrhythmias (CA/VAs) compared with other noncardiac surgeries. Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) is common in patients with liver cirrhosis. Whether it is associated with an increased risk of CA/VAs following LT is unclear. Rates of 30-day CA/VAs post-LT were assessed in consecutive adults undergoing LT between 2010 and 2017. Pretransplant QTc was measured by a cardiologist blinded to clinical outcomes. Among 408 patients included, CA/VAs occurred in 26 patients (6.4%). QTc was significantly longer in CA/VA patients (475 ± 34 vs 450 ± 34 ms, P < .001). Optimal QTc cut-off for prediction of CA/VAs was ≥480 ms. After adjustment, QTc ≥480 ms remained the strongest predictor for the occurrence of CA/VAs (odds ratio [OR] 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-12.6). A point-based cardiac arrest risk index (CARI) was derived with the bootstrap method for yielding optimism-corrected coefficients (2 points: QTc ≥480, 1 point: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] ≥30, 1 point: age ≥65, and 1 point: male). CARI score ≥3 demonstrated moderate discrimination (c-statistic 0.79, optimism-corrected c-statistic 0.77) with appropriate calibration. QTc ≥480 ms was associated with a 5-fold increase in the risk of CA/VAs. The CARI score may identify patients at higher risk of these events. Whether heightened perioperative cardiac surveillance, avoidance of QT prolonging medications, or beta blockers could mitigate the risk of CA/VAs in this population merits further study.

Cardiac Risk Stratification in Liver Transplantation: Results of a Tiered Assessment Protocol Based on Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) confers increased perioperative risk in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). Although routine screening for CAD is recommended, there are limited data on the effectiveness of screening strategies. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a 3-tiered cardiac risk-assessment protocol that stratifies patients based on age and traditional cardiac risk factors. We peformed a single-center, prospective, observational study of consecutive adult patients undergoing LT assessment (2010-2017). Patients were stratified into low-risk (LR), intermediate-risk (IR), or high-risk (HR) cardiac groups and received standardized investigations with selective use of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA), and coronary angiography (CA). Primary outcomes were cardiac events (CEs) and cardiovascular death up to 30 days after LT. Overall, 569 patients were included, with 76 patients identified as LR, 256 as IR, and 237 as HR. Cardiac risk factors included diabetes mellitus (26.0%), smoking history (47.3%), hypertension (17.8%), hypercholesterolemia (7.2%), family (17.0%) or prior history of heart disease (6.0%), and obesity (27.6%). Of the patients, 42.0% had ≥2 risk factors. Overall compliance with the protocol was 90.3%. Abnormal findings on TTE, DSE, and CTCA were documented in 3, 23, and 44 patients, respectively, and 12 patients were not listed for transplantation following cardiac assessment (1 LR, 2 IR, and 9 HR). Moderate or severe CAD was identified in 25.4% of HR patients on CTCA following a normal DSE. CEs were recorded in 7 patients (1.2%), with 2 cardiovascular deaths (0.4%). Cardiac risk stratification based on traditional cardiac risk factors with the selective use of DSE, CTCA, and CA is a safe and feasible approach that results in a low perioperative cardiac event rate.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with a history of cancer: Periprocedural and long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: A history of cancer is incorporated into the surgical risk assessment of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement through the Society for Thoracic Surgeons score. However, the prognostic significance of cancer in patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unclear. As the cancer survivorship population increases, it is imperative to establish the efficacy and safety of TAVR in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) and a history of malignancy. OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study was to assess the periprocedural outcomes and long-term mortality in patients with a history of cancer undergoing TAVR. METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE was conducted to identify studies reporting outcomes in patients with a history of malignancy undergoing TAVR. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model with a primary outcome of all-cause mortality and cardiac mortality at the longest follow-up. On secondary analyses, procedural safety was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 13 observational studies with 10,916 patients were identified in the systematic review. Seven studies including 6,323 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. Short-term mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.61, 95%CI 0.36-1.01; p = .06) and long-term all-cause mortality (RR 1.24, 95%CI 0.95-1.63; p = .11) were not significantly different when comparing patients with and without a history of cancer. No significant difference in the rate of periprocedural complications including stroke, bleeding, acute kidney injury, and pacemaker implantation was noted. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR, a history of cancer was not associated with adverse short or long-term survival. Based on these findings, TAVR should be considered in all patients with severe symptomatic AS, irrespective of their history of malignancy.

Prognostic significance of suboptimal secondary prevention pharmacotherapy after acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Optimal secondary prevention pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management. The prognostic impact of not receiving five guideline-recommended therapies is poorly described. AIM: To ascertain the prognostic significance of suboptimal pharmacotherapy in ACS survivors. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ACS from the Melbourne Interventional Group registry who were alive at 30 days following their index percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Patients were divided into three categories based on the number of secondary prevention medications prescribed. The optimal medical therapy (OMT), near-optimal medical therapy (NMT), suboptimal medical therapy (SMT) groups were prescribed 5, 4 and ≤ 3 medications, respectively. Primary endpoint was long-term mortality. Cox-proportional hazard modelling was undertaken to assess independent predictors of survival. RESULTS: Of the 9375 patients included, 5678 (60.6%) received OMT, 2903 (31.0%) received NMT and 794 (8.5%) received SMT. Patients receiving SMT were older, more likely to be female and had higher burden of comorbidities (renal impairment, congestive heart failure, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease; P < 0.01 for all). SMT was associated with higher long-term mortality at 3.9 ± 2.2 years when compared to NMT and OMT (16.8% vs 10.5% vs 8.2%, P < 0.001). Compared to OMT, SMT was an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, HR 1.62, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.30-2.02, P < 0.01) while NMT was associated with a clinically significant 14% mortality hazard (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.97-1.34, P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: There is a graded long-term hazard associated with not receiving OMT after an ACS. Improvements in secondary prevention pharmacotherapy models of care are warranted to further decrease the long-term mortality.