Hemoglobin is an independent predictor of improvement exercise tolerance in male patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Exercise intolerance is a symptom of chronic heart failure (CHF). The magnitude of exercise tolerance, as measured by peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), is strongly associated with prognosis in patients with CHF. We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with improved exercise tolerance in patients with HF. In this prospective study, we recruited patients who were diagnosed with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy between September 2017 and September 2021. All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing at discharge and 6 months after enrollment. The patients were stratified according to whether peak VO2 was increased or not at 6 months. One hundred patients with a reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 50%) were enrolled. Improvement of peak VO2 was observed in 74 patients. In male patients, hemoglobin level was higher in the increased peak VO2 group than in the non-increased group (15.0 ± 1.9 g/dL vs. 13.1 ± 2.1 g/dL; p < 0.01). Baseline hemoglobin level was positively correlated with the percentage change in peak VO2 (Spearman's r = 0.248, p = 0.040). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that adverse cardiac events were significantly less frequent in the increased peak VO2 group than in the non-increased group (log-rank test, p = 0.032). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified hemoglobin level as an independent predictor of improved peak VO2 [odds ratio (OR) 1.60; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-2.44; p = 0.027]. Baseline hemoglobin level is an independent predictor of improved peak VO2 in male patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Elevation of end-tidal CO2 during exercise is attenuated in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

Reduced exercise tolerance is one of the hallmarks of patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA), but detailed biological responses during exercise were not investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) parameters between CA patients and propensity-matched heart failure patients. This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study of patients diagnosed with CA. The control group was extracted by propensity score matching from patients who underwent CPX for chronic heart failure during the same period. Clinical data including assessment of biological responses during CPX were compared between the patients with CA (CA group, n = 16) and the control group (non-CA group, n = 16). Echocardiography suggested more impaired diastolic function in the CA group than in the non-CA group. There was no significant difference between groups in the fraction of end-tidal carbon dioxide (FETCO2) at rest. However, the difference between the FETCO2 at rest and the FETCO2 at the respiratory compensation point (ΔFETCO2) was significantly smaller in the CA group than in the non-CA group (0.40% ± 0.37% vs. 0.82% ± 0.33%; p = 0.002). Only in the CA group, there was a significant negative correlation between the ΔFETCO2 and the E/e' ratio on echocardiography (r = - 0.521; p = 0.039) and the serum high-sensitivity troponin T concentration (r = - 0.501; p = 0.048). In conclusion, patients with CA may find it difficult to increase cardiac output during exercise due to severe diastolic dysfunction.

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor represents exercise tolerance and predicts adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure.

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a membrane-binding protein that is released into the blood stream by immune activation. Recent reports suggest that circulating suPAR levels are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Exercise tolerance is an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF); however, the relationship between serum suPAR level and exercise tolerance is unclear. We prospectively enrolled 94 patients who were hospitalized for worsening of HF. All patients underwent a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test to evaluate exercise tolerance. The median value of serum suPAR was 4848 pg/ml. During follow up, 44 patients (47%) were admitted for all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization for HF. Median serum suPAR was significantly higher in the patients with cardiac events than in the patients with non-event group. Patients were divided into two groups according to circulating suPAR levels. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that adverse cardiac events were significantly higher in the high suPAR group (log-rank p = 0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed that suPAR was independently correlated with the parameters of exercise tolerance such as anaerobic threshold (p = 0.007) and peak oxygen uptake (p = 0.005). suPAR levels predicted adverse cardiac events and independently correlated with the parameters of exercise tolerance. suPAR could be a useful surrogate biomarker of exercise tolerance in patients with HF.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and exercise tolerance complement each other in predicting the prognosis of patients with heart failure.

Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) is a myokine that plays a key role in regulating survival, growth, and maintenance of neurons. We investigated whether the serum BDNF level at discharge could predict the prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Furthermore, we aimed to examine the relationship between this myokine and exercise tolerance. We prospectively enrolled 94 patients who were hospitalized for worsening HF and had cardiac rehabilitation. At discharge, the serum BDNF level of all patients was measured using a commercial ELISA kit and they underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test to measure peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2). Correlation was not observed between BDNF and peak VO2. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that cardiac death or rehospitalization owing to worsening HF was significantly higher in the low BDNF group (p = 0.023). The combination of peak VO2 and BDNF levels led to the identification of subgroups with significantly different probabilities of events (p = 0.005). In particular, in the low BDNF and low peak VO2 group, the frequency of rehospitalization within half a year after discharge was much higher than that in other groups. Multivariate analysis found BDNF as an independent factor of adverse events (hazard ratio 0.956; 95% confidence interval 0.911-0.999; p = 0.046). The serum BDNF level at discharge may be a useful biomarker of the prognosis in patients with HF. Furthermore, combining BDNF and peak VO2 may be useful for predicting early cardiac events.

Clinical significance of discrepant mid-wall late gadolinium enhancement in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

A drawback of visual assessment for late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the subjectivity and reproducibility of the results. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling in response to optimal pharmacotherapies and the definite or discrepant mid-wall LGE with visual assessment in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A total of 65 patients who had been hospitalized with newly diagnosed DCM and had undergone CMR, were enrolled. When the visual assessment of the presence or absence of mid-wall LGE was confirmed by the two observers, patients were classified into either the positive- (n = 20) or negative-LGE (n = 29) groups. If there was discordance between the diagnoses of the two observers, patients were classified into the discrepant-LGE (n = 16) group. LV reverse remodeling was defined as an increase in LV ejection fraction by at least 10% concomitant with a decrease in the LV end-diastolic dimension by at least 10%. Among the three groups, the frequency of early LV reverse remodeling within a 1-year follow-up was significantly different (p = 0.0068). The frequency of LV reverse remodeling within a 1-year follow-up was 59, 31, and 15%, and over 2 years was 83, 62, and 40%, in patients with negative-, discrepant-LGE, and positive-LGE, respectively. The survival rate for composite end-points of cardiovascular mortality, sustained ventricular tachycardia, appropriate cardioverter-defibrillator discharge, or rehospitalization for decompensated heart failure was lower in positive-LGEs than in negative-LGEs (p =0.0011), whereas, there were no significant differences between both negative- and discrepant-LGEs, and discrepant- and positive-LGEs. This study showed that the discordance for LGE visual assessment occupied an intermediate position between positive and negative for LGE in LV reverse remodeling in patients with DCM.

Effects of Night Shift Work on Nighttime Blood Pressure among Healthy Young Female Medical Workers.

Background Although night shift is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the underlying mechanisms have not been understood. Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and increased BP variability are associated with CVD. However, little is known regarding the impact of night shift on nocturnal BP variables. Methods The study population consisted of 30 healthy female medical shift workers (mean age, 28±6 years) with flexible blood vessels (mean cardio-ankle vascular index, 5.8±0.9). Nocturnal BP variables were measured after day and night shifts using a home BP monitoring device. Similarly, sleep status (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and snoring) were measured using a noncontact radiofrequency sensor. Results Nocturnal diastolic BP variability (7.0±5.3 mm Hg vs 4.7±2.7 mm Hg; p<0.01) was significantly higher after night shift than after day shift, whereas no significant differences in systolic BP variables, mean diastolic BP, and sleep status were observed. Conclusions Among young healthy women with flexible blood vessels, night shift increased nighttime diastolic BP variability, rather than systolic BP variables independent of sleep disorder. These findings imply that increased nighttime diastolic BP variability derived from night shift might stimulate an early- stage atherosclerotic process that predisposes patients to future CVD.

Severe Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis and Aortic Regurgitation in a Patient Presenting with Takayasu Arteritis.

We herein report the case of a 46-year-old woman with Takayasu arteritis (TA), severe stenosis in the left main coronary artery (LMCA), and severe aortic regurgitation. Prednisolone and tacrolimus were initiated as TA treatments. Two months after initiating medical therapy, the aortic regurgitation severity improved to a moderate grade, although there was no obvious improvement in LMCA stenosis. Thus, after confirming the resolution of inflammation, we performed coronary artery bypass grafting alone without any aortic valve intervention. In TA patients with severe LMCA stenosis, surgical management of the coronary artery should therefore be considered only after successfully administering anti-inflammatory therapy.

Role of plaque imaging for identification of vulnerable patients beyond the stage of myocardial ischemia.

Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is a progressive disease, which often first manifests as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Imaging modalities are clinically useful in making decisions about the management of patients with CCS. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that myocardial ischemia is a surrogate marker for CCS management; however, its ability to predict cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction is limited. Herein, we present a review that highlights the latest knowledge available on coronary syndromes and discuss the role and limitations of imaging modalities in the diagnosis and management of patients with coronary artery disease. This review covers the essential aspects of the role of imaging in assessing myocardial ischemia and coronary plaque burden and composition. Furthermore, recent clinical trials on lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory therapies have been discussed. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive overview of intracoronary and noninvasive cardiovascular imaging modalities and an understanding of ACS and CCS, with a focus on histopathology and pathophysiology.

Diagnostic significance of paradoxical left ventricular hypertrophy in detecting cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) progresses rapidly with a poor prognosis. Therefore, methods for early diagnosis that are easily accessible in any hospital, are required. We hypothesized that based on the pathology of CA, morphological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) without electrical augmentation, namely paradoxical LVH, could be used to diagnose CA. This study aimed to investigate whether paradoxical LVH has diagnostic significance in identifying CA in patients with LVH. Methods: Patients who presented with left ventricular (LV) wall thickness ≥ 12 mm on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were enrolled from a multicentre CMR registry. Paradoxical LVH was defined as a LV wall thickness ≥ 12 mm on CMR, SV1 + RV5 < 3.5 mV, and a lack of secondary ST-T abnormalities. The diagnostic significance of paradoxical LVH in identifying CA was assessed. Results: Of the 110 patients enrolled, 30 (27 %) were diagnosed with CA and 80 (73 %) with a non-CA aetiology. The CA group demonstrated paradoxical LVH more frequently than the non-CA group (80 % vs. 16 %, P < 0.001). It was an independent predictor for detecting CA in patients with LVH (odds ratio: 33.44, 95 % confidence interval: 8.325-134.3, P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value, negative predict value and accuracy of paradoxical LVH for CA detection were 80 %, 84 %, 65 %, 92 % and 83 %, respectively. Conclusions: Paradoxical LVH can be used for identifying CA in patients with LVH. Our findings could contribute to the early diagnosis of CA, even in non-specialized hospitals.

A case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with right ventricular outflow tract and left midventricular obstruction.

We describe a case of a 59-year-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who remained with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction after the pressure gradient in the left midventricle was resolved by a drug with a negative inotropic effect. The patient was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 30 years previously and was only on low-dose beta-blocker therapy. She presented at our hospital with suspected exacerbation of heart failure because of the development and exacerbation of dyspnea and chest tightness. Transthoracic echocardiography showed an accelerated blood flow of 3 m/s in the middle of the left ventricle; thus, she was started on cibenzoline, a drug with a negative inotropic effect. After admission, intracardiac pressure measurement showed no pressure gradient in the left chamber. However, there was a pressure gradient of 18 mmHg between the apex of the right ventricle and the right ventricular outflow tract, and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction was confirmed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We decided to reinforce the negative inotropic effect by adding bisoprolol, and the subjective symptoms and auscultatory systolic murmur were eliminated 2 months later. Learning objective: Hypertrophy of the right ventricular myocardium can occur in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction remains a rare finding in patients with HCM, despite the presence of morphological abnormalities such as right ventricular hypertrophy. In patients with HCM, obstruction of the right ventricle should be considered if the symptoms and auscultatory findings do not match the left ventricular imaging findings.

Thigh Intramuscular Fat on Prognosis of Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is an independent prognostic predictor for patients with chronic heart failure, and the concept of sarcopenia is drawing attention. Furthermore, the importance of not only muscle mass but also ectopic fat has been pointed out. However, there is a lack of consensus on the implications of ectopic fat for the prognosis in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We investigated whether ectopic fat in the thigh affects the prognosis of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. This prospective study recruited 145 patients diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy between September 2017 and January 2020. Finally, 93 patients with a reduced ejection fraction were enrolled. The clinical end points were cardiovascular death or unexpected rehospitalization because of a cardiac event. Using computed tomography, the percentage of intramuscular fat (%IMF) in the thigh was measured in all patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the median %IMF. The results of Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis revealed a correlation among %IMF and peak oxygen uptake (Spearman r = -0.221, p = 0.036). Kaplan-Meier analysis results showed significantly higher risk of adverse events in the high %IMF group (log-rank p = 0.013). Multivariate Cox regression analysis results revealed the %IMF as an independent factor for adverse events (hazard ratio 1.361; 95% confidence interval 1.043 to 1.745; p = 0.018). In conclusion, %IMF may have adverse consequences such as increased cardiac events in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy with a reduced ejection fraction.

Computed tomography to identify risk factors for left circumflex artery injury during mitral surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Cases in which the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) runs close to the mitral annulus are considered high risk for LCX injury during mitral surgery. We investigated the anatomical relationship between the LCX and the mitral annulus using 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT). METHODS: We constructed 3D-CT images of the LCX and the mitral annulus before surgery in 122 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). We classified coronary dominance by 3D-CT and MR aetiologies (degenerative, atrial functional MR, ventricular functional MR and Barlow's disease) using echocardiography. We detected the point on the mitral annulus closest to the LCX (X point) and measured the minimum distance from the LCX to the mitral annulus (mCAD). We judged whether atrioventricular disjunction existed using CT. We also investigated the factors affecting mCAD and examined how coronary dominance and MR aetiologies relate to the location of the X point. RESULTS: The median mCAD was 4.2 mm (range 0.9-11.4 mm). Considering coronary dominance and MR aetiologies, mCAD was shorter in patients with left coronary dominance and Barlow's disease. The X point mostly existed on the lateral side of the posterior annulus, but it sometimes existed on the medial side. Multiple regression revealed left dominance and mitral annular disjunction as significant factors affecting mCAD (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical relationship between the LCX and the mitral annulus can be recognized using superimposed 3D-CT images. This approach is useful to avoid LCX injury in mitral valve surgery since the X point varies between patients.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume is an independent predictor of left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: In some patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular (LV) contraction is improved by optimal medical therapy, leading to LV reverse remodeling (RR). Patients with heart failure with improved ejection fraction and LVRR have a good prognosis, but the factors that predict RR are not fully understood. The relationship between body composition and cardiovascular disease has been reported. The present study aimed to assess the clinical predictors of LVRR in association with body composition. METHODS: We recruited patients who were diagnosed with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy between September 2017 and January 2020. Finally, 89 patients with a reduced LV ejection fraction were enrolled in this prospective study. Body composition, including ectopic fat, was measured in all patients using computed tomography. Echocardiography was performed 6 months after enrollment to evaluate LVRR. RESULTS: LVRR was observed in 39 patients (43.8%) after 6 months. In terms of the demographic findings, epicardial adipose tissue volume was greater in the LVRR group than in the non-LVRR group (135.2 cm3 [SD 128.4 cm3] vs. 88.9 cm3 [SD 54.6 cm3]; p = 0.040). The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that adverse cardiac events were significantly less frequent in the LVRR group than in the non-LVRR group (log-rank test, p = 0.013). The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified epicardial adipose tissue volume as an independent predictor of LVRR (odds ratio [OR]: 1.010, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001-1.01; p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: Epicardial adipose tissue volume is an independent predictor of LVRR in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Increased oxidative stress during exercise predicts poor prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

AIMS: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development and progression of heart failure (HF). Although exercise and oxidative stress are closely related, the effect of acute exercise on reactive oxygen species production and the fluctuation on prognosis are unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 94 patients who were hospitalized for worsening HF (mean age 68.0 ± 14.5 years old, 63.8% male). The changes in diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) values, a marker of oxidative stress, before and after a cardiopulmonary exercise test were considered as Δd-ROM. The mean follow-up period was 24 ± 13 months, during which 15 patients had all-cause death or left ventricular assist system implantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that all-cause death or left ventricular assist system implantation was significantly higher in the Δd-ROM-positive group than in the Δd-ROM-negative group (log-rank P = 0.047). Elevated Δd-ROM levels were associated with increased mortality risk. Multivariate analysis adjusted for body mass index and peak oxygen uptake revealed that Δd-ROM was an independent prognostic factor of adverse events (Tertile 3 vs. 1; hazard ratio: 4.57; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-29.77; P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HF who underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test and had an increased oxidative stress marker level had a poor prognosis. The appropriate exercise intensity could be determined by evaluating the changes in oxidative stress status in response to acute exercise in patients with HF.

Organizing Pneumonia as the First Presentation in a Patient with Takayasu Arteritis: A Report of Rare Complication.

A 48-year-old woman without any medical history visited an outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of cough persisting for more than 1 year and was diagnosed with organizing pneumonia. Computed tomography showed wall thickening with luminal stenosis of the main branch vessels of the aorta, and a detailed examination including fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography revealed Takayasu arteritis. There have been some reports of combined organizing pneumonia in similar vasculitis cases, but Takayasu arteritis and organizing pneumonia have not been reported to be associated. This case can be referred to when considering the association of lung lesions with Takayasu arteritis.

Right ventricular enlargement predicts responsiveness to tolvaptan in congestive heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Tolvaptan is a vasopressin type 2 receptor antagonist used in heart failure (HF) with refractory diuretic resistance. However, since tolvaptan is also ineffective in some HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the identification of responders is important. METHODS: The study population consisted of 51 HFrEF patients who were administered tolvaptan (EF, 28 ±â€¯7%). We defined responders as patients with a ≥50% increase in urine volume during the 24-hours after administration of tolvaptan. All patients underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography before administration of tolvaptan. Patients were followed for 120 days to ascertain secondary events (cardiac death and rehospitalization for HF). RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis indicated that right ventricular (RV) enlargement (defined as basal RV diameter > 41 mm and midlevel RV diameter > 35 mm, according to guidelines) remained a predictor of response after adjustment for age, sex, starting dosage of tolvaptan, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (odds ratio, 4.88; 95%-confidence interval, 1.26-18.9; P < 0.05), whereas left ventricular parameters and RV dysfunction were not. Kaplan-Meier curves indicated responsiveness to tolvaptan was associated with better prognosis among the overall population (P < 0.05); similar trends were observed among patients with RV dilatation (P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that RV enlargement, which represents right-sided volume overload, elevated filling pressure, and diastolic dysfunction similar to that seen in constrictive pericarditis, predicts responsiveness to tolvaptan in patients with HFrEF. Moreover, administration of tolvaptan may have the potential to improve the reportedly poor prognosis for HFrEF patients with RV dilatation.

The Use of Electronic Medical Record Data to Analyze the Association Between Atrial Fibrillation and Birth Month.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease is a condition of enormous public health concern. Recently, a population study newly revealed associations between cardiovascular diseases and birth month. Here, we investigated the association between atrial fibrillation in cardiovascular disease and birth month. METHODS: We retrospectively extracted birth date data from 6,016 patients with atrial fibrillation (3,876 males; 2,140 females) from our electronic medical records. The number of live births in Japan fluctuates seasonally. Therefore, we corrected the number of patients for each birth month based on a Japanese population survey report. Then, a test of the significance of the association between atrial fibrillation and birth month was performed using a chi-square test. In addition, we compared the results of an analysis of patient data with that of simulated data that showed no association with birth month. RESULTS: The deviations of birth month were not significant (overall: p = 0.631, males: p = 0.842, females: p = 0.333). The number of female patients born in the first quarter of the year was slightly higher than those born in the other quarters of the year (p = 0.030). However, by comparing the magnitudes of dispersion in the simulated data, it seems that this finding was mere coincidence. CONCLUSION: An association between atrial fibrillation and birth month could not be confirmed in our Japanese study. However, this might be due to differences in ethnicity. Further epidemiologic studies on this topic may result in reduction of disease risk in the general population and contribute to public health.

Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction in an adult patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is rare but causes myocardial ischemia and sudden death. A few patients with this anomaly can survive to adulthood without sufficient collateral coronary flow or surgical intervention. We present here a case of acute inferior myocardial infarction, which may occur due to thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery, in a 63-year-old woman with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, providing specific coronary angiographic findings. .

Diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a pocket-sized transthoracic echocardiographic imaging device.

BACKGROUND: The recently introduced pocket-sized portable transthoracic echocardiography (pTTE) is accurate for measurement of cardiac chamber size and function as well as for assessment of valvular regurgitation. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the pocket-sized pTTE with the standard TTE (sTTE) and assess its cost-effectiveness. HYPOTHESIS: The use of pocket-sized pTTE, as an initial screening tool, may be feasible, accurate and cost-effective in the diagnostic strategy of cardiac abnormalities. METHODS: The study subjects were 200 patients scheduled for sTTE and an electrocardiogram (ECG). Each patient underwent pTTE examination with the Vscan (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) immediately after sTTE. The findings of pTTE and the ECG were compared with the results of sTTE. Cost-effectiveness was calculated. RESULTS: There was a strong agreement in the detection of abnormal findings between pTTE and sTTE (agreement = 90%), whereas the agreement between the ECG and sTTE was 65%. When pTTE or the ECG was used as an initial screening tool prior to sTTE, similar cost reduction was obtained (approximately 30%) by reducing the number of referrals for sTTE. However, the negative predictive value of a diagnostic strategy with pTTE (92%) was superior to that with an ECG (67%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the pocket-sized pTTE provides accurate detection of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities beyond the ECG. In addition, the use of pTTE as an initial screening tool prior to sTTE is cost-effective, suggesting that the pocket-sized pTTE is poised to alter the current diagnostic strategy in clinical practice.