Statin therapy impact on Long-Term outcomes in acute heart Failure: Retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients.

Background: Statin therapy is well-established for treating hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease (IHD), but its role in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) remains less clear. Despite varying clinical guidelines, the actual utilization and impact of statin therapy initiation in patients with ADHF with an independent indication for statin therapy have not been thoroughly explored. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study on 5978 patients admitted with ADHF between January 1st, 2007, and December 31st, 2017. Patients were grouped based on their statin therapy status at admission and discharge. We performed multivariable analyses to identify independent predictors of short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term mortality. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted on patients with an independent indication for statin therapy but who were not on statins at admission. Results: Of the total patient cohort, 73.9% had an indication for statin therapy. However, only 38.2% were treated with statins at admission, and 56.1% were discharged with a statin prescription. Patients discharged with statins were younger, predominantly male, and had a higher prevalence of IHD and other comorbidities. Statin therapy at discharge was an independent negative predictor of 5-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.76-0.85). The sensitivity analysis confirmed these findings, demonstrating higher mortality rates in patients not initiated on statins during admission. Conclusions: The study highlights significant underutilization of statin therapy among patients admitted with ADHF, even when there's an independent indication for such treatment. Importantly, initiation of statin therapy during hospital admission was independently associated with improved long-term survival.

Medical calculators derived synthetic cohorts: a novel method for generating synthetic patient data.

This study shows that we can use synthetic cohorts created from medical risk calculators to gain insights into how risk estimations, clinical reasoning, data-driven subgrouping, and the confidence in risk calculator scores are connected. When prediction variables aren't evenly distributed in these synthetic cohorts, they can be used to group similar cases together, revealing new insights about how cohorts behave. We also found that the confidence in predictions made by these calculators can vary depending on patient characteristics. This suggests that it might be beneficial to include a "normalized confidence" score in future versions of these calculators for healthcare professionals. We plan to explore this idea further in our upcoming research.

Does the "Obesity Paradox" Have an Expiration Date? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: The "obesity paradox" refers to a protective effect of higher body mass index (BMI) on mortality in acute infectious disease patients. However, the long-term impact of this paradox remains uncertain. (2) Methods: A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with community-acquired acute infectious diseases at Shamir Medical Center, Israel (2010-2020) was conducted. Patients were grouped by BMI: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity classes I-III. Short- and long-term mortality rates were compared across these groups. (3) Results: Of the 25,226 patients, diverse demographics and comorbidities were observed across BMI categories. Short-term (90-day) and long-term (one-year) mortality rates were notably higher in underweight and normal-weight groups compared to others. Specifically, 90-day mortality was 22% and 13.2% for underweight and normal weight respectively, versus 7-9% for others (p < 0.001). Multivariate time series analysis revealed underweight individuals had a significantly higher 5-year mortality risk (HR 1.41 (95% CI 1.27-1.58, p < 0.001)), while overweight and obese categories had a reduced risk (overweight-HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.72-0.80, p < 0.001), obesity class I-HR 0.71 (95% CI 0.66-0.76, p < 0.001), obesity class II-HR 0.77 (95% CI 0.70-0.85, p < 0.001), and obesity class III-HR 0.79 (95% CI 0.67-0.92, p = 0.003)). (4) Conclusions: In this comprehensive study, obesity was independently associated with decreased short- and long-term mortality. These unexpected results prompt further exploration of this counterintuitive phenomenon.

Partial Hepatectomy of a VA-ECMO Patient After Mechanical CPR by LUCAS Device Due to a Catastrophic Liver Laceration: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Many patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) present in cardiac arrest. Mechanical chest compressions are a common tool in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and have their benefits as well as disadvantages and reported complications. In recent years, veno-arterial extracorporeal oxygenation membrane (VA-ECMO) has proven to be a promising tool in these circumstances and is now considered part of the treatment algorithm in emergent and refractory cases. The combination of mechanical compressions and the ECMO lead to "new" complicated situations in the patients. We discuss such a patient, who required emergent surgery due to complications from his resuscitation, while under ECMO. CASE REPORT A 56-year-old man, with medical history of cardiovascular risk factors, presented to our facility due to ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. During his catheterization, he went into cardiac arrest and needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using a LUCAS3™ device. Because no rhythm was restored, he was promptly placed on VA-ECMO support with immediate, albeit transient, stabilization. After transportation to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU), he quickly deteriorated again hemodynamically and after imaging workup it was discovered he had a major laceration to his liver and was rushed emergently to the operating room where he underwent partial hepatectomy, while on full anticoagulation due to the ECMO support. CONCLUSIONS Complications from mechanical CPR are common, including liver laceration. Patients who are placed on ECMO following such measures should be carefully evaluated for such complications as they might affect the treatment and prognosis.

Marital status impact on the outcomes of patients admitted for acute decompensation of heart failure: A retrospective, single-center, analysis.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting evidence exists regarding the association between marital status and outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Further, it is not clear whether type of unmarried status (never married, divorced, or widowed) disparities exist in this context. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that marital status will be associated with better outcomes in patients with HF. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study utilized a cohort of 7457 patients admitted with acute decompensated HF (ADHF) between 2007 and 2017. We compared baseline characteristics, clinical indices, and outcomes of these patients grouped by their marital status. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the independency of the association between marital status and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Married patients accounted for 52% of the population while 37%, 9%, and 2% were widowed, divorced, and never married, respectively. Unmarried patients were older (79.8 ± 11.5 vs. 74.8 ± 11.1 years; p < 0.001), more frequently women (71.4% vs. 33.2%; p < 0.001), and less likely to have traditional cardiovascular comorbidities. Compared with married patients, all-cause mortality incidence was higher in unmarried patients at 30 days (14.7% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.001), 1 year, and 5 years (72.9% vs. 68.4%, p < 0.001). Nonadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates for 5-year all-cause mortality by sex, demonstrated the best prognosis for married women, and by marital status in unmarried patients, the best prognosis was demonstrated in divorced patients while the worst was recorded in widowed patients. After adjustment for covariates, marital status was not found to be independently associated with ADHF outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Marital status is not independently associated with outcomes of patients admitted for ADHF. Efforts for outcomes improvement should focus on other, more traditional risk factors.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac rehabilitation of patients following acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation improves prognosis and symptoms in cardiac patients. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac rehabilitation services were temporarily suspended between April and August. We aimed to investigate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic on patients' exercise capacity and metabolic parameters. METHODS: Included were patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation following hospital admission for ACS. Exercise capacity, weight and body fat percentage were compared between baseline, pre- and post-lockdown visits. RESULTS: A total of 281 patients participated in the cardiac rehabilitation program prior to its suspension. Of them, only 198 (70%) patients returned to the program on its renewal and were included in the analysis. Exercise capacity improved significantly in the pre-lockdown stress test compared to baseline. However, there was a significant decrease in exercise capacity in the post compared to pre-lockdown test (8.1±6.3 and 7.1±2.1 METs in pre- and post-lockdown measurements, respectively, p<0.001). Of the 99 (50%) of patients that demonstrated at least 10% improvement in exercise capacity in the pre-lockdown test, 48(48.5%) patients returned to their baseline values in the post-lockdown test. Post-lockdown assessment demonstrated a significant weight gain (80.3 and 81.1kg, in pre- and post-lockdown measurements, respectively, p<0.001) as well as an increase in visceral fat level and body fat percentage. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation suspension for 4 months during COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in exercise capacity and increased weight and body fat percent. These findings highlight the importance of remote cardiac rehabilitation services that can continue uninterrupted in times of pandemic.

Physicians and Machine-Learning Algorithm Performance in Predicting Left-Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction from a Standard 12-Lead-Electrocardiogram.

Early detection of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) may prompt early care and improve outcomes for asymptomatic patients. Standard 12-lead ECG may be used to predict LVSD. We aimed to compare the performance of Machine Learning Algorithms (MLA) and physicians in predicting LVSD from a standard 12-lead ECG. By utilizing a dataset of 13,820 pairs of ECGs and echocardiography, a deep residual convolutional neural network was trained for predicting LVSD (ejection fraction (EF) < 50%) from ECG. The ECGs of the test set (n = 850) were assessed for LVSD by the MLA and six physicians. The performance was compared using sensitivity, specificity, and C-statistics. The interobserver agreement between the physicians for the prediction of LVSD was moderate (κ = 0.50), with average sensitivity and specificity of 70%. The C-statistic of the MLA was 0.85. Repeating this analysis with LVSD defined as EF < 35% resulted in an improvement in physicians' average sensitivity to 84% but their specificity decreased to 57%. The MLA C-statistic was 0.88 with this threshold. We conclude that although MLA outperformed physicians in predicting LVSD from standard ECG, prior to robust implementation of MLA in ECG machines, physicians should be encouraged to use this approach as a simple and readily available aid for LVSD screening.

CHA2DS2-VASc Score, Mortality and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased cardiovascular risk. The CHA2DS2-VASc score (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, previous stroke, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, female gender) has been used to predict thromboembolic risk in patients with nonvalvular AF. We aimed to evaluate the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and all-cause mortality in patients with AF treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The study was based on the Clalit Health Services database. Included were 21,129 patients with nonvalvular AF treated with DOACs. Patients were stratified into four groups according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score.1-9 The primary end point was the occurrence of AMI and all-cause mortality. During 21,129 patient-years, there were 1,253 incidents (5.9%) of AMI. A higher CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with a significantly increased risk of AMI (7.8, 14.9, 23.9, and 35.3 cases per 1,000 person-years, for patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6, and 7 to 9, respectively, p <0.001). Each 1-point increase in the CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with a 27% increased risk of AMI. A higher CHA2DS2-VASc score was also associated with a significantly increased ll-cause mortality rate (21.7, 60.2, 103.9, 162.6 cases per 1,000 person-years, for patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6, 7 to 9, respectively, p <0.001). All associations remained statistically significant after a multivariate analysis. In conclusion, among patients with nonvalvular AF treated with DOACs, the CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with increased risk of AMI and all-cause mortality.

Immediate and early percutaneous coronary intervention in very high-risk and high-risk non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients.

BACKGROUND: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation (non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]) has recommended immediate (<2 h) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in very-high risk patients and early (<24 h) PCI in high-risk patients. HYPOTHESIS: To examine the ESC NSTEMI guidelines adherence in a nationwide survey in Israel using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey (ACSIS). We hypothesized that adherence to the guidlines' recommnded PCI timing in NSTEMI pateints will be inadequate, partly due to the inconsistent evidence regarding its effect on clinical outcomes. METHODS: All NSTEMI patients who underwent PCI during the ACSIS surveys in 2016 and 2018 were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Out of 1793 NSTEMI patients, 1643 (92%) patients underwent PCI, and door to balloon time was documented in 1078 of them. One hundred and fifty-six (14.5%) patients and 922 (85.5%) patients were defined as very high-risk and high-risk NSTEMI patients, respectively. Of the very high-risk NSTEMI patients, only 10 (6.4%) underwent immediate coronary angiography, and 50 (32.1%) underwent early coronary angiography. Acute heart failure 139 (89.1%) was the main reason for including NSTEMI patients in the very high-risk category. Of the high-risk patients, early coronary angiography was performed in only 405 (43.9%) patients. Patients in whom coronary angiography was postponed were older and had more comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Despite guidelines recommendations for immediate and early PCI in very high-risk and high-risk NSTEMI patients, respectively, most patients do not undergo immediate or early PCI according to contemporary guidelines. Further studies are needed to better understand the reasons for guidelines' nonadherence in those high-risk patients.

Stent Fractures: New Insights into an Old Issue.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a safe and effective procedure performed worldwide providing both symptom relief and sustained improved outcomes for millions of patients [...].

All-cause Readmission after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in a Community Hospital - Long Term Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Post-procedure readmissions are associated with lower quality of life and increased economic burden. The study aimed to identify predictors for long-term all-cause readmissions in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in a community hospital. METHODS: A Historical cohort study of all adults who underwent TAVR at Cape-Cod hospital between June 2015 and December 2017 was performed and data on readmissions was collected up-to May 2020 (median follow up of 3.3 years). Pre-procedure, procedure and in-hospital post-procedure parameters were collected. Readmission rate was evaluated, and univariate and multivariable analyses were applied to identify predictors for readmission. RESULTS: The study included 262 patients (mean age 83.7±7.9 years, 59.9% males). The median Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) probability of mortality (PROM) score was 4.9 (IQR, 3.1-7.9). Overall, 120 patients were readmitted. Ten percent were readmitted within 1-month, 20.8% within 3-months, 32.0% within 6-months and 44.5% within 1-year. New readmissions after 1-year were rare. STS PROM 5% or above (HR 1.50, p = 0.039), pre-procedure anemia (HR 1.63, p = 0.034), severely decreased pre-procedure renal function (HR 1.93, p = 0.040) and procedural complication (HR 1.65, p = 0.013) were independent predictors for all-cause readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated procedural risk, anemia, renal dysfunction and procedural complication are important predictors for readmission. Pre-procedure and ongoing treatment of the patient's background diseases and completion of treatment for complications prior to discharge may contribute to a reduction in the rate of readmissions.

Shifting from vitamin K antagonists to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: predictors, patterns and temporal trends.

BACKGROUND: Non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) emerged as an alternative with comparable or superior efficacy and safety to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to investigate the patterns, predictors, timelines and temporal trends of shifting from VKAs to NOACs. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, the computerized database of a large healthcare provider in Israel, Maccabi Healthcare Services, was searched to identify patients with AF for whom either a VKA or NOAC was prescribed between 2012 and 2015. Time from diagnosis to therapy initiation and to shifting between therapies was evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 6987 eligible AF incident patients, 2338 (33.4%) initiated treatment with a VKA and 2221 (31.7%) with a NOAC. In addition, 5259 prevalent patients were analyzed. During the study period, NOAC prescriptions proportion among the newly diagnosed cases increased from 32 to 68.4% (p for trend <  0.001). The median time from diagnosis to first dispensing was greater in NOAC than VKA and decreased among patients treated with NOAC during the study period (2012: 1.9 and 0.3 months, 2015: 0.7 and 0.2 months, respectively). During follow-up, 3737 (49%) patients (54.3% and 47.1% of the incident and prevalent cases, respectively), shifted from a VKA to a NOAC, after a median of 22 months and 39 months in the incident and prevalent cases, respectively, decreasing throughout the study period. Female gender, younger age, southern district, higher CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASC score, non-smoking, and treatment with antiplatelets were associated with a greater likelihood for therapy shift. Shifting from a NOAC to a VKA decreased over time from 8 to 4.5% in 2012 to 0.5% and 0.7% in 2015 in the incident and prevalent groups, p <  0.001 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Shifting from VKA to NOAC occurred in 50% of the cases, more frequently among incident cases, and younger patients with greater stroke risk. Shifting from a NOAC to a VKA was much less frequent, yet it occurred more often in incident cases and decreased over time. A socially and economically sensitive program to optimize the initiation of OAC therapy upon diagnosis is warranted.

Association of Polycythemia with Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia has not been extensively studied for its impact on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) outcomes. A previous study reported only 30-day outcomes to be worse in these patients. METHODS: Data from the ACS Israeli survey between 2000 and 2018 were utilized to compare between 3 groups of patients with ACS: anemic group (hemoglobin <12 g/dL for women and <12.5 g/dL for men), normal hemoglobin group, and polycythemic group (>16 g/dL and >16.5 g/dL, respectively). Measured outcomes included 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE comprising all-cause mortality, recurrent ACS, need for urgent revascularization, and stroke) and 1- and 5-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 14,746 ACS patients, 10,752 (72.9%) had normal hemoglobin levels, 3,492 (23.7%) were anemic, and 502 (3.4%) were polycythemic. In comparison with normal and anemic patients, polycythemic patients were younger (55.9 ± 10.5 vs. 61.9 ± 12.4 and 71.1 ± 12.2 for anemic, respectively, p < 0.001 for both), more frequently men (93.8% vs. 81.3% and 63.1%, respectively, p < 0.001), and less likely diabetic or hypertensive. Upon adjustment to baseline characteristics, compared with normal hemoglobin, polycythemia was not independently associated with 30-day MACE or 1-year mortality, but it was independently associated with higher risk for 5-year mortality (HR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.19-2.59, p = 0.005). Similar results were observed after propensity score matching. CONCLUSIONS: Although younger and with fewer comorbidities, polycythemic ACS patients are at increased risk for long-term all-cause mortality. Further study of this association is warranted to understand the causes and possibly to improve the outcomes of these patients.

Renal function and outcome of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Atrial fibrillation and renal dysfunction are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We examined the association between renal function and incident ischaemic stroke or myocardial infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was conducted using a large health record database. Included were 19 713 patients with first time diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation treated with DOACs between 2010 and 2018. Patients were categorized into four groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (<30, 30-59, 60-89, and ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). Ischaemic stroke and acute myocardial infarction rates were compared between the groups. During 55 086 person-years of follow-up, there were 2295 (11.6%) cases of ischaemic stroke and 1158 (5.9%) cases of acute myocardial infarction. There was a significant inverse association between eGFR and the risk of myocardial infarction. A multivariate analysis using the group with eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 as a reference demonstrated an increased risk of myocardial infarction with lower eGFR [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.2 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-1.4, HR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.7, and HR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.4 for patients with eGFR 60-89, 30-59, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively, P < 0.001]. Each 10 mL decrease in eGFR was associated with an 8% increase in the risk of myocardial infarction. There was no association between eGFR and the risk of ischaemic stroke (HR = 0.9 95% CI 0.8-1.1, HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.8-1.1, and HR = 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.4 for patients with eGFR 60-89, 30-59, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively, P = 0.325). CONCLUSIONS: Renal dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction but not of ischaemic stroke among patients with atrial fibrillation treated with DOACs.

Comparison of permanent pacemaker implantation rate after first and second generation of transcatheter aortic valve implantation-A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) rates among patients undergoing Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) with first generation (G1) versus second generation (G2) valves and the impact of PPMI on long-term mortality. BACKGROUND: PPMI is a known adverse event after TAVI. Recently, two novel iterations of valve designs of both the balloon expandable valves (BEV) and self-expanding valves (SEV) were introduced as a second generation valves. METHODS: All patients included in the Israeli multicenter TAVI registry were grouped according to valve type (BEV vs. SEV) and generation (G1 vs. G2). A comparison was made for clinical and outcome indices of patients undergoing TAVI with G1 and G2 in each of the valve systems. RESULTS: A total of 1377 patients were included. The incidence of PPMI did not differ between G1-BEV versus G2-BEV (15.3% vs. 17.4%; p = 0.598) nor between G1-SEV versus G2-SEV (23.4% vs. 20.3%; p = 0.302). Depth of implantation and complete right bundle branch block were independently associated with PPMI post-TAVI in both valve systems. PPMI was not associated with an increased risk for 2-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PPMI remains a relevant adverse event post-TAVI even when the newer generation valves are used. Since the predictors for PPMI are well established, a standardized approach for the management of conduction disorders is much needed.

[HYPERTENSION AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS, NOT NECESSARILY HYPERVOLEMIA].

BACKGROUND: Hypertension in dialysis patients is common. In daily practice, it is not always clear whether adjustment of dry weight or vasodilatory medication should be administered and treatment strategy is often based on clinical impression. We used a whole-body bio-impedance based, non-invasive, hemodynamics monitoring technology to acquire hemodynamic data in order to evaluate the incidence and causes of hypertension in dialysis patients. METHODS: Novel noninvasive impedance based technique was used to collect hemodynamic data from patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in four different dialysis units. Patients were defined as having hypertension if their predialysis systolic or diastolic BP results were >140mmHg or >90 respectively and as hypervolemic if their total body water (TBW) was greater than normal according to the Kushner formula+1SD. Vasoconstriction was defined as total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) greater than 3000 dyn*sec/cm5*m2. RESULTS: Of 144 hemodialysis patients, 81 (56%) were male; mean age was 67.3±12.1 years and 67 (47%) had hypertension. Among the hypertensive patients, only 18(27%) met hypervolemia criteria and thirty (45%) met vasoconstriction criteria (mean TPRI of 4474±1592dyn*sec/cm5*m2). Patients with hypertension due to vasoconstriction had higher vintage (50±45 vs 20±8 months 0=0.018), lower heart rate (71±11 vs 79±11 BPM p=0.002), lower stroke index (28±7 vs 44±8ml/m2 p<0.001) and cardiac index (2.1±0.5 vs 3.5±0.6 p=0<0.001) compared to patients without vasoconstriction. CONCLUSIONS: Vasoconstriction was the main etiology for pre-dialysis hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients. This calls for individualized, hemodynamic-based therapeutic intervention.

Sex-specific contemporary trends in incidence, prevalence and survival of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A long-term real-world data analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major increasing public health problem worldwide, with clinical and epidemiological differences between men and women. However, contemporary population-level data on incidence and survival are scarce. AIM: To evaluate sex-specific contemporary trends in the incidence, prevalence, and long-term survival of non-valvular AF in a real-world setting. METHODS: AF patients diagnosed between 2007-2015, insured by a large, state-mandated health organization in Israel (Maccabi Healthcare Services) were included. AF was diagnosed based on registered diagnoses. Patients with valvular disease, active malignancy, cardiac surgery ≤ 6 months, or recent pregnancy, were excluded. Annual incidence rate, period prevalence, and 5-year survival for each calendar year during the study period, were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 15,409 eligible patients (8,288 males, 7,121 females) were identified. Males were more likely to be younger, have higher rates of underlying diseases (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), but with lower rates of hypertension and chronic kidney diseases as compared to female patients. During the study period, age-adjusted incidence decreased both in men: (-0.020/1,000-person year, p-for trend = 0.033) and, women (-0.025/1,000 person-year p = 0.009). The five-year survival rate was significantly higher among men vs. women (77.1% vs. 71.5%, respectively, p<0.001). Age-adjusted prevalence increased significantly among men (+0.102 per year, p-for trend<0.001) yet decreased among women (-0.082 per year, p-for trend = 0.005). A significant trend toward improved long-term survival was observed in women and not in men. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows significant sex-related disparities in the incidence, prevalence, and survival of AF patients between 2007-2015; while the adjusted incidence of both has decreased over-time, prevalence and mortality decreased significantly only in women.

ECG changes after non-cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study in intermediate-high risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to mitigate the risk for perioperative cardiac events focus on both patient's and operation's risk and often include a preprocedural electrocardiogram (ECG). The merits of postprocedural ECG for detection of occult cardiac events occurring during surgery are unknown. We aim to explore the incidence of pre, and new postprocedural ECG pathologies in an intermediate-high risk population undergoing non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: This single-center, prospective, observational study, included patients older than 18 years with at least two cardiovascular risk factors who were scheduled for non-cardiac surgery. All patients had pre, and postprocedural ECG. The ECG was analyzed and coded according to the Minnesota criteria. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed for indices associated with new postoperative ECG pathologies. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients were enrolled. Preoperative pathologic ECG changes were recorded in 62.2% of the patients. Postoperatively, new ECG pathologies were documented in 49.8% of patients, most commonly T-wave changes (36.4% of changes). Pathologic ECG changes at baseline (OR 3.15, 95% CI [1.61-6.17]; P<0.01), diabetes (OR 1.93, 95% CI [1.02-3.64]; P=0.04), history of ischemic heart disease (OR 2.14, 95% CI [1.03-4.47]; P=0.04), higher volumes of fluid replacement (OR 1.70, 95% CI [1.10-2.61]; P=0.01) and higher levels of preoperative hemoglobin (OR 1.24, 95% CI [1.04-1.47]; P=0.01) were all independently associated with postoperative ECG changes. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-, but most importantly, postoperative ECG changes are common in intermediate-high risk surgical patients. Postoperative ECG may be valuable to disclose silent cardiovascular events that occurred during surgery.

Direct Admission of Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction to the Catheterization Laboratory Shortens Pain-to-Balloon and Door-to-Balloon Time Intervals but Only the Pain-to-Balloon Interval Impacts Short- and Long-Term Mortality.

Background Shortening the pain-to-balloon (P2B) and door-to-balloon (D2B) intervals in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is essential in order to limit myocardial damage. We investigated whether direct admission of PPCI-treated patients with STEMI to the catheterization laboratory, bypassing the emergency department, expedites reperfusion and improves prognosis. Methods and Results Consecutive PPCI-treated patients with STEMI included in the ACSIS (Acute Coronary Syndrome in Israel Survey), a prospective nationwide multicenter registry, were divided into patients admitted directly or via the emergency department. The impact of the P2B and D2B intervals on mortality was compared between groups by logistic regression and propensity score matching. Of the 4839 PPCI-treated patients with STEMI, 1174 were admitted directly and 3665 via the emergency department. Respective median P2B and D2B were shorter among the directly admitted patients with STEMI (160 and 35 minutes) compared with those admitted via the emergency department (210 and 75 minutes, P<0.001). Decreased mortality was observed with direct admission at 1 and 2 years and at the end of follow-up (median 6.4 years, P<0.001). Survival advantage persisted after adjustment by logistic regression and propensity matching. P2B, but not D2B, impacted survival (P<0.001). Conclusions Direct admission of PPCI-treated patients with STEMI decreased mortality by shortening P2B and D2B intervals considerably. However, P2B, but not D2B, impacted mortality. It seems that the D2B interval has reached its limit of effect. Thus, all efforts should be extended to shorten P2B by educating the public to activate early the emergency medical services to bypass the emergency department and allow timely PPCI for the best outcome.

A Noninvasive Stroke Volume Monitoring for Early Detection of Minimal Blood Loss: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Alternation in traditional vital signs can only be observed during advanced stages of hypovolemia and shortly before the hemodynamic collapse. However, even minimal blood loss induces a decrease in the cardiac preload which translates to a decrease in stroke volume, but these indices are not readily monitored. We aimed to determine whether minor hemodynamic alternations induced by controlled and standardized hypovolemia can be detected by a whole-body bio-impedance technology. METHODS: This was a non-randomized controlled trial that enrolled healthy blood donors. Vital signs, as well as shock index and stroke volume (SV), were recorded using noninvasive cardiac system, a noninvasive whole-body impedance-based hemodynamic analysis system, during phlebotomy. RESULTS: Sixty subjects were included in the study group and 20 in the control group. Blood loss of 450 mL resulted in a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (5 mm Hg; 95% CI 3, 6) and SV (5.07 mL; 95% CI 3.21, 6.92), and increase in shock index (0.03 bpm/mm Hg; 95% CI 0.01, 0.05). Clinically detectable changes (≥10%) in blood pressure and shock index were detectable in 15% and 5%, respectively. SV decreased by more than 10% in 40% of blood donors. No significant changes occurred in the control group. CONCLUSION: Continuous noninvasive monitoring of SV may be superior to conventional indices (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, or shock index) for early identification of acute blood loss. As an operator-independent and point-of-care technology, the SV whole body bio-impedance measurement may assist in accurate monitoring of potentially bleeding patients and early identification of hemorrhage.