Emerging Role of Low-dose Loop Diuretics in the Management of Heart Failure Patients to Maintain Euvolemia.

The current scenario of employing loop diuretics in combination with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) demonstrates a comprehensive approach to improving clinical outcomes in individuals with heart failure (HF). GDMT uses four types of drugs: angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), beta-blockers (BBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Torsemide, furosemide, and bumetanide are common loop diuretics used to control fluid overload in HF and provide symptomatic relief. Furthermore, loop diuretics are frequently used in advanced and decompensated HF. The combination of GDMT and loop diuretics is designed to improve quality of life, reduce hospitalization rates, and increase survival. Guidelines suggest the use of low-dose loop diuretics in patients with HF who have a previous history of congestion to maintain euvolemia. According to recent studies and guidelines, individualized regimens for the use of GDMT and loop diuretics are required to optimize therapeutic efficacy in terms of clinical status, fluid retention, electrolyte balance, and renal function.

Clinical Decision Pathway for the Use of Fondaparinux in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in Hospitals with and Without Catheter Laboratories: An Expert Opinion from India.

The current recommendations by Indian experts who are focused on the challenges in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in rural areas, due to limited catheterization (CATH) lab facilities and interventional cardiologist coverage across the country, are described. 120 cardiologist experts drafted recommendations during ten advisory board meetings conducted from April to May 2022. Experts framed statements based on experience, collective clinical judgment from practical experience, and available scientific evidence regarding ACS. The consensus positioned fondaparinux as highly useful in non-CATH-lab-based hospitals for patients diagnosed with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS) patients who cannot be shifted to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable centres, or for patients who are thrombolysed at peripheral centres.

Multidisciplinary Consensus Document on the Management of Uncontrolled Hypertension in India.

Cardiovascular disease is predicted to be the largest cause of death and disability in India by 2020. Hypertension (HT), one of the main contributing factors, presents a significant public health burden. Inability to achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) control results in uncontrolled hypertension (UHT). The prevalence of UHT is high in India, with only about 9-20% of patients achieving target BP goals. Presently, there are no guidelines specific to UHT, which if left uncontrolled can lead to resistant HT, chronic kidney disease and other complications of HT. A multidisciplinary panel, comprising of specialists in cardiology, nephrology and internal medicine, was convened to address the diagnosis and management of UHT in the Indian population. The panel identified key points concerning UHT and discussed management recommendations in the Indian clinical setting.

Time to shift from contemporary to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin in diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes.

Early rule-in and rule-out of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a challenge. In patients with inconclusive findings on ECG, cardiac biomarkers play a crucial role in the diagnosis. The introduction of the new high-sensitive cardiac troponin test (hs-TnI assay) has changed the landscape of NSTEMI diagnosis. The new hs-TnI assay can detect troponin values at a lower level compared with a contemporary cardiac troponin (cTn) assay. The hs-cTnI assay has a coefficient of variation of ≤10%, well below the 99th percentile value. It reduces the time to diagnose acute myocardial infarction from 6h to 3h. A recent study has demonstrated that hs-cTnI can further reduce the time to 1h in 70% of all patients with chest pain. The European Society of Cardiology 2015 guidelines recommend including a second sample of hs-cTnI within 3h of presentation This increases the sensitivity of the hs-TnI assay from 82.3% (at admission) to 98.2% and negative predictive value from 94.7% (at admission) to 99.4%. Combining the 99th percentile at admission with serial changes in troponin increases the positive predictive value to rule in acute coronary syndrome from 75.1% at admission to 95.8% after 3h. The 2015 ESC Guidelines recommend the use of a rapid rule out protocol (0h and 1h) when hs-cTnI with a validated 0 to1h algorithm is available. Training and displaying the clinical algorithm depicting the role of hs-TnI assay in acute cardiac care units and in EDs are an efficient way to deliver the new standard of care to patients. Compared with contemporary troponin assays, the hs-cTn assay accelerates the diagnostic pathway to 0-1h, thus reducing the time for diagnosis of NSTEMI and hence, its management.