Effect of environment and season on acute decompensated heart failure: Data from low-to middle-income country.

OBJECTIVES: The environmental effect in heart failure (HF) patients is well established. However, the data is limited from low-to middle-income countries like India. This study determined the impact of environment on acute decompensated HF (ADHF) admissions and mortality in India. METHODS: Retrospectively, the data of all HF patients admitted between April 2017 and March 2019 was accessed through electronic hospital records. Simultaneously, the environmental-related data was collected from the central pollution control board. RESULTS: The study included 4561 patients of ADHF. The peak of monthly ADHF events (admission and mortality) was observed during the chilly month (January) while the lowest rates were observed in summer months (May-June). The most significant factor correlating inversely with the monthly ADHF admission (r = -0.78, p = 0.003) and mortality (r = -0.65, p = 0.004) was the maximum air temperature, and it was found to be the independent predictor for both ADHF mortality [t = -2.78, ß = -0.84; 95%CI(-6.0 to -0.6), p = 0.021] and admission [t = -4.83, ß = -0.91; 95%CI(-19.8 to -6.9), p = 0.001]. The above correlation was better seen in the elderly subset and male gender. Humidity and the air pollution attributes did not have a significant correlation with ADHF admission or mortality. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, even in low-to middle-income country like India, a periodic effect of season was demonstrated for ADHF mortality and admission, with a peak in ADHF events noted during winter months especially in the regions having extremes of seasons. Air pollution could not affect the ADHF outcome for which further studies are needed.

A case report: a rare case of severe aortic incompetence.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva (SOV) are thin-walled outpouchings most commonly involving the right or non-coronary sinuses. Because they are asymptomatic, they are rarely discovered before they rupture and form an aorto-cardiac fistula. We present a rare case of unruptured aneurysm of the right coronary SOV burrowing into the interventricular septum with severe aortic incompetence and left ventricular dysfunction. To our knowledge, burrowing of the SOV aneurysm (SVA) into the interventricular septum and its large sac-like appearance has never been described using three dimensional (3D) echocardiography before. CASE SUMMARY: A 37-year-old man presented to the cardiology outpatient department with complaints of dyspnoea and palpitations (New York Heart Association Class II-III) for the last 6 months. He was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography which showed a large mobile sac-like structure with irregular borders bulging and prolapsing into the left ventricular cavity with each cardiac cycle along with severe aortic incompetence. On transoesophageal echocardiogram, the right coronary cusp showed malcoaptation with deformed aortic sinus causing severe aortic incompetence. Cardiac computed tomography showed sparing of right coronary artery at the origin. A diagnosis of SVA was made. The patient underwent aortic valve replacement along with partial resection of the aneurysm. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. Follow-up echocardiography after 4 weeks showed well-seated aortic valve prosthesis with residual SVA. The ejection fraction decreased from 46-48% to 36-38%. DISCUSSION: Comprehensive multimodality imaging can be used for management strategy of SVA.