Burden of bradycardia and barriers to accessing bradycardia therapy in underserved countries.

Bradycardia, a condition characterized by an abnormally slow heart rate, poses significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. While it is a concern world-wide, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face substantial barriers in accessing appropriate bradycardia therapy. This article aims to explore the global aetiology and incidence of bradycardia, compare the prevalence and management of the condition in high-income countries versus LMICs, identify the key reasons behind the disparities in access to bradycardia therapy in LMICs, and emphasize the urgent need to address these disparities to ensure equitable healthcare on a global scale.

Epidemiological characterization of ischemic heart disease at different altitudes: A nationwide population-based analysis from 2011 to 2021 in Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, are the leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide. While traditional risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes have been thoroughly investigated, non-traditional risk factors like high-altitude exposure remain underexplored. This study aims to examine the incidence and mortality rates of ischemic heart disease over the past decade in Ecuador, a country with a diverse altitude profile spanning from 0 to 4,300 meters. METHODS: We conducted a geographic distribution analysis of ischemic heart disease in Ecuador, utilizing hospital discharge and mortality data from the National Institute of Census and Statistics for the years 2011-2021. Altitude exposure was categorized according to two distinct classifications: the traditional division into low (< 2,500 m) and high (> 2,500 m) altitudes, as well as the classification proposed by the International Society of Mountain Medicine, which delineates low (< 1,500 m), moderate (1,500-2,500 m), high (2,500-3,500 m), and very high (3,500-5,800 m) altitudes. FINDINGS: From 2011-2021, we analyzed 49,765 IHD-related hospital admissions and 62,620 deaths. Men had an age-adjusted incidence rate of 55.08/100,000 and a mortality rate of 47.2/100,000, compared to 20.77/100,000 and 34.8/100,000 in women. Incidence and mortality surged in 2020 by 83% in men and 75% in women. Altitudinal stratification revealed higher IHD rates at lower altitudes (<2500 m), averaging 61.65 and 121.8 per 100,000 for incidence and mortality, which declined to 25.9 and 38.5 at elevations >2500 m. Men had more pronounced rates across altitudes, exhibiting 138.7% and 150.0% higher incidence at low and high altitudes respectively, and mortality rates increased by 48.3% at low altitudes and 23.2% at high altitudes relative to women. CONCLUSION: Ecuador bears a significant burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD), with men being more affected than women in terms of incidence. However, women have a higher percentage of mortality post-hospital admission. Regarding elevation, our analysis, using two different altitude cutoff points, reveals higher mortality rates in low-altitude regions compared to high-altitude areas, suggesting a potential protective effect of high elevation on IHD risk. Nevertheless, a definitive dose-response relationship between high altitude and reduced IHD risk could not be conclusively established.

SARS-CoV-2 detection and sequencing in heart tissue associated with myocarditis and persistent arrhythmia: A case report.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 uses the human cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2). ACE2 is widely present in the cardiovascular system including the myocardium and the conduction system. COVID-19 patients that present severe symptoms have been reported to have complications involving myocardial injuries caused by the virus. Here we report the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by whole genome sequencing in the endocardium of a patient with severe bradycardia. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 34-year-old male patient with COVID-19 tested by PCR, he started with gastrointestinal symptoms, however, he quickly deteriorated his hemodynamic state by means of myocarditis and bradycardia. After performing an endocardium biopsy, it was possible to identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the heart tissue and to sequence its whole genome using the ARTIC-Network protocol and a modified tissue RNA extraction method. The patient's outcome was improved after a permanent pacemaker was implanted. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to identify a SARS-CoV-2 clade 20A in the endocardium of the reported patient.

Eficacia de la estrategia de control del ritmo en pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica y fibrilación o flutter auricular, sometidos a cardioversión eléctrica / Efficacy of rhythm control strategy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation or flutter, undergoing electrical cardioversion

Contexto: la fibrilación y el flutter auricular son arritmias frecuentes en pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica e incrementan su morbilidad. La cardioversión de la arritmia mejora la calidad de vida del paciente, sin embargo, no existe información sobre la eficacia o predictores de esta terapia en la literatura. Objetivo: identificar en pacientes que presentan miocardiopatía hipertrófica asociada a fibrilación o flutter auricular que fueron sometidos a cardioversión eléctrica, las variables relacionadas con la evolución de la arritmia después de esta terapia. Métodos: se analizaron los datos de 37 pacientes con diagnóstico de miocardiopatía hipertrófica asociada a fibrilación auricular (n=21) y flutter auricular (n=16), sometidos a cardioversión eléctrica, en lo relativo a éxito inmediato (reversión después del choque), recurrencia (reaparición del problema después de la cardioversión eléctrica) y éxito tardío (ritmo sinusal observado en la última consulta registrada). Resultados: el éxito inmediato se produjo en el 96% de procedimientos de cardioversión eléctrica en pacientes con fibrilación auricular y en el 100% de pacientes con flutter auricular. La recurrencia se produjo en el 76,9% de los pacientes con fibrilación auricular sometidos a cardioversión eléctrica después de un tiempo medio de 630 días y en el 57,1% de los pacientes con flutter auricular luego de un seguimiento de 1.138 días. Conclusión: se evaluó la eficacia de la cardioversión eléctrica mediante los resultados clínicos observados en pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica asociada a fibrilación o flutter auricular; además se identificaron las variables relacionadas con la recurrencia y el éxito tardío después de la cardioversión eléctrica. (AU)

Background: fibrillation and atrial flutter are frequent arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and increase their morbidity. Cardioversion of arrhythmia improves the quality of life of the patient; however, there is no information on the efficacy or predictors of this therapy in the literature. Aim: to identify the variables related to the evolution of the arrhythmia after therapy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with atrial fibrillation or flutter were underwent electrical cardioversion. Methods: data from 37 patients with atrophic cardiomyopathy associated with atrial fibrillation (n = 21) and atrial flutter (n = 16), submitted to electrical cardioversion, were analyzed for immediate success (reversion after shock), Recurrence (recurrence of the problem after electrical cardioversion) and late success (sinus rhythm observed at the last recorded visit). Results: immediate success occurred in 96% of electrical cardioversion procedures in patients with atrial fibrillation and in 100% of patients with atrial flutter. Recurrence occurred in 76.9% of patients with atrial

Novas perspectivas no diagnóstico e tratamento das complicações mecânicas do infarto agudo do miocárdio / New perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction

As complicações mecânicas do infarto agudo do miocárdio são um desfecho catastrófico que alteram o prognóstico do paciente, com elevadas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade. Todas as complicações são secundárias ao evento isquêmico agudo, com necrose de uma área gerando disfunção mecânica cardíaca, que, geralmente, culmina em choque cardiogênico. A ruptura da parede livre do ventrículo esquerdo, a ruptura do septo interventricular, a regurgitação mitral isquêmica e o pseudoaneurisma do ventrículo esquerdo são as complicações mais comuns. São muito pouco diagnosticadas, devendo ser cuidadosamente investigadas na presença de choque cardiogênico e súbita ou progressiva deterioração hemodinâmica. O diagnóstico e a intervenção precisam ser prococes a fim de alterar a evolução desfavorável do paciente e aumentar sua chance de sobrevivência...