Reliability and Time Course of Postexercise Hypotension during Exercise Training among Adults with Hypertension.

Postexercise hypotension (PEH), or the immediate decrease in blood pressure (BP) lasting for 24 h following an exercise bout, is well-established; however, the influence of exercise training on PEH dynamics is unknown. This study investigated the reliability and time course of change of PEH during exercise training among adults with hypertension. PEH responders (n = 10) underwent 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training, 40 min/session at moderate-to-vigorous intensity for 3 d/weeks. Self-measured BP was used to calculate PEH before and for 10 min after each session. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) determined PEH reliability and goodness-of-fit for each week, respectively. Participants were obese (30.6 ± 4.3 kg∙m-2), middle-aged (57.2 ± 10.5 years), and mostly men (60%) with stage I hypertension (136.5 ± 12.1/83.4 ± 6.7 mmHg). Exercise training adherence was 90.6 ± 11.8% with 32.6 ± 4.2 sessions completed. PEH occurred in 89.7 ± 8.3% of these sessions with BP reductions of 9.3 ± 13.1/3.2 ± 6.8 mmHg. PEH reliability was moderate (ICC ~0.6). AIC analysis revealed a stabilization of maximal systolic and diastolic BP reductions at 3 weeks and 10 weeks, respectively. PEH persisted throughout exercise training at clinically meaningful levels, suggesting that the antihypertensive effects of exercise training may be largely due to PEH. Further studies in larger samples and under ambulatory conditions are needed to confirm these novel findings.

Prevalence of lipoprotein(a) measurement in patients with or at risk of cardiovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and calcific aortic valve disease. Despite recommendations from professional societies in the cardiovascular field, the awareness of elevated Lp(a) as a risk factor and screening for Lp(a) are suspected to be low. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational case control study of patient charts from January 1, 2017 to June 19, 2022. The primary aims were 1) to describe the proportion of patients at the healthcare network's primary care and cardiology clinics that met Lp(a) screening criteria and were tested; and 2) to describe the proportion of patients throughout the entire healthcare network that had Lp(a) measured. RESULTS: Of the 2,412,020 patient charts in the health network, only 5,942 (0.25 %) had Lp(a) measured. Of the 84,581 patients in primary care or cardiology clinics who met screening criteria, only 1,311 (1.55 %) had Lp(a) measured. Patients with Lp(a) measured were more likely to be younger, non-Hispanic/Latinx, had a lipid panel measured, a cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging study, and higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Patients with ASCVD, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, aortic stenosis, peripheral vascular disease, or a stroke did not feature highly among patients who received Lp(a) testing. Having an abnormal or risk-enhancing Lp(a) level was associated with being female and/or being Black/African American. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increased awareness of Lp(a) and its contribution to cardiovascular disease there exists a paucity of testing. Increased Lp(a) testing can identify patients who have an increased cardiovascular risk underestimated by other metrics.

Impact of Sex on Cardiovascular Adaptations to Exercise: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Routine exercise leads to cardiovascular adaptations that differ based on sex. Use of cardiac testing to screen athletes has driven research to define how these sex-based adaptations manifest on the electrocardiogram and cardiac imaging. Importantly, sex-based differences in cardiovascular structure and outcomes in athletes often parallel findings in the general population, underscoring the importance of understanding their mechanisms. Substantial gaps exist in the understanding of why cardiovascular adaptations and outcomes related to exercise differ by sex because of underrepresentation of female participants in research. As female sports participation rates have increased dramatically over several decades, it also remains unknown if differences observed in older athletes reflect biological mechanisms vs less lifetime access to sports in females. In this review, we will assess the effect of sex on cardiovascular adaptations and outcomes related to exercise, identify the impact of sex hormones on exercise performance, and highlight key areas for future research.

The Relationship between Postexercise Hypotension and Heart Rate Variability before and after Exercise Training.

Because data are scarce, we examined the relationship between postexercise hypotension (PEH) and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after aerobic exercise training among adults with hypertension. Participants completed a 12 w aerobic training program. Before and after training, they performed a peak graded exercise stress test (GEST) and nonexercise control (CONTROL) and were left attached to an ambulatory BP monitor. Prior to CONTROL, HRV was measured supine for 5 min using a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). The participants (n = 18) were middle-aged (52.1 ± 11.7 y) and 50% men with hypertension (131.7 ± 9.8/85.9 ± 8.5 mmHg) and obesity (30.0 ± 3.7 kg·m-2). Before training, ambulatory systolic BP (ASBP) and diastolic ABP (ADBP) decreased by 3.2 ± 2.1 mmHg and 2.5 ± 1.5 mmHg, respectively, from baseline after the GEST versus CONTROL (p < 0.05). After training, ASBP tended to decrease by 3.5 ± 2.2 mmHg (p = 0.055) and ADBP decreased by 1.7 ± 2.5 mmHg (p = 0.001) from baseline after the GEST versus CONTROL. Before training, HRV high frequency (HFms2) (ß = -0.441), age (ß = 0.568), and resting SBP (ß = 0.504) accounted for 66.8% of the ASBP response (p = 0.001), whereas the low frequency (LF)/HF ratio (ß = 0.516) and resting DBP (ß = 0.277) accounted for 35.7% of the ADBP response (p = 0.037). After training, the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) (ß = -0.556), age (ß = 0.506), and resting SBP (ß = 0.259) accounted for 60.7% of the ASBP response (p = 0.004), whereas SDNN (ß = -0.236) and resting DBP (ß = 0.785) accounted for 58.5% of the ADBP response (p = 0.001). Our preliminary findings show that adults with hypertension and parasympathetic suppression (i.e., lower SDNN and HFms2 and higher LF/HF) may elicit PEH to the greatest degree independent of training status versus adults with parasympathetic predominance, suggesting that resting HRV may be an important determinant of PEH.

The effects of an acute weight stigma exposure on cardiovascular reactivity among women with obesity and hypertension: A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Weight stigma induces cardiovascular health consequences for people with obesity. How stigma affects cardiovascular reactivity in individuals with both obesity and hypertension is not known. METHODS: In a randomized experiment, we assessed the influence of two video exposures, depicting either weight stigmatizing (STIGMA) or non-stigmatizing (NEUTRAL) scenes, on cardiovascular reactivity [resting blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), ambulatory BP (ABP), and ambulatory HR (AHR)], among women with obesity and high BP (HBP; n=24) or normal BP (NBP; n=25). Systolic ABP reactivity was the primary outcome. Laboratory BP and HR were measured before/during/following the videos, and ABP and AHR were measured over 19 hours (10 awake hours, 9 sleep hours) upon leaving the laboratory. A repeated measures ANCOVA tested differences in BP and HR changes from baseline in the laboratory and over ambulatory conditions between the two groups after each video, controlling for body mass index, baseline BP and HR. RESULTS: Laboratory SBP/DBP increased 5.5+7.3/2.4+8.8mmHg more in women with HBP than NBP following the STIGMA versus NEUTRAL video (Ps<0.05). For the primary outcome, ABP increased more in HBP than NBP over sleep (SBP/DBP=4.2+20.6/4.7+14.2mmHg; Ps<0.05) following the STIGMA versus NEUTRAL video, as did HR during sleep (7.5+15.7bpm more in HBP than NBP; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Weight stigma increases cardiovascular reactivity among women with obesity and HBP in the laboratory and under ambulatory conditions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04161638).

A Cooling Conundrum: Is Therapeutic Hypothermia Safe in the Immunosuppressed?

Targeted temperature management (TTM) may increase the risk of infection, and immunosuppression is considered a relative contraindication despite the lack of robust evidence for this risk. We present a case of a 44-year-old immunosuppressed woman who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, underwent TTM, and recovered neurological function without serious complications. The aim of this case is to navigate the challenging decision-making process regarding postcardiac arrest care in a patient on immunosuppressants.

Cardiometabolic Biomarkers and Habitual Caffeine Consumption Associate with the Adverse Ambulatory Blood Pressure Response to Strenuous Physical Exertion among Firefighters.

Caffeine has beneficial effects on firefighter job performance reducing fatigue and improving psychomotor vigilance. However, excessive caffeine intake may raise blood pressure (BP) following a bout of acute exercise among adults with elevated BP. The influence of caffeine intake on the ambulatory BP (ABP) response to vigorous physical exertion among firefighters has not been studied. In this sub-study we conducted secondary statistical analyses from a larger clinical trial (NCT04514354) that included examining the influence of habitual caffeine intake, and cardiometabolic biomarkers shown to influence BP, on the ABP response following a bout of sudden vigorous exertion over 19 h among firefighters. Previously, we found high amounts of calcium and sodium intake raised BP following a bout of acute exercise among adults with elevated BP. Thus, other secondary aims were to examine the influence of habitual calcium and sodium intake, and cardiometabolic biomarkers have shown to influence BP, on the ABP response following sudden vigorous exertion over 19 h among firefighters. Firefighters (n = 15) completed a Food-Frequency Questionnaire assessing habitual dietary intake over the past year. They randomly completed a maximal graded exercise stress test (GEST) and non-exercise CONTROL on separate non-workdays leaving the laboratory wearing an ABP monitor for 19 h. Prior to and immediately after the GEST, fasting venous blood was collected to measure lipid-lipoproteins, c-reactive protein, and blood glucose. Height and weight were taken to calculate body mass index. Repeated measures ANCOVA tested if the ABP response differed after GEST vs. CONTROL. Linear mixed models examined the relationships among caffeine, calcium, sodium, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and the ABP response following GEST vs. CONTROL. Firefighters were middle-aged (40.2 ± 9.5 year), overweight (29.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2) men with elevated BP (124.1 ± 10.3/79.6 ± 11.5 mmHg) who consumed 542.0 ± 348.9 mg of caffeine/day, about ~50% more than the dietary reference intake. Unexpectedly, systolic ABP was higher by 18.0 ± 6.7 mmHg and diastolic ABP by 9.1 ± 5.4 mmHg (ps < 0.01) over 19 h following GEST vs. CONTROL. We found 24% of the variance in the adverse ABP response to maximal physical exertion was explained by caffeine intake, and when combined with c-reactive protein, non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, body mass index, blood glucose, and resting heart rate, up to 74% of the variability in the ABP response was explained. Additionally, we found calcium (ps < 0.001) and sodium (p < 0.0001) intake each explained up to 24% of the ABP response. Further investigation is needed in a larger, more diverse sample of firefighters to better establish how caffeine contributes to the adverse BP response to strenuous physical exertion.

The Association of Serum Magnesium Levels and QT Interval with Neurological Outcomes After Targeted Temperature Management.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is associated with corrected QT (QTc) prolongation and decrease in serum magnesium (Mg) levels that may lead to recurrent ventricular arrhythmia and poor neurological outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between QTc interval and Mg levels during TTM with neurological outcomes. We reviewed the electrocardiograms of 366 patients who underwent TTM during the induction, maintenance, and rewarming phase after cardiac arrest. We reviewed the association of change in QTc interval, and Mg levels with neurological outcomes. In total, 71.3% of the patients had a significant increase in QTc interval defined as >60 ms or any QTc >500 ms during TTM. Poor neurological outcome was associated with persistent prolongation of QTc after rewarming (507 vs. 483 ms, p = 0.046) and higher Mg levels at presentation (2.08 ± 0.41 mg/dL, p = 0.014). Supplemental Mg did not have any significant change in their QTc. Patients with prolonged QTc during TTM should be promptly evaluated for QTc-prolonging factors given its association with worse neurological outcomes. The inverse correlation between Mg levels and poor neurological outcomes deserves further investigation.

Prevention and Management of Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

Severe gestational hypertriglyceridemia can lead to acute pancreatitis, with maternal mortality rate of approximately 20%. The recent National Lipid Association part 2 expert panel recommendations provide guidance on monitoring pregnant women at high risk for hyperlipidemia. We suggest that high-risk women have triglyceride levels checked once every trimester. Fasting triglycerides >250 mg/dL should prompt monthly triglyceride levels, screening for gestational diabetes, and implementing a strict low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, exercise. Fasting triglycerides >500 mg/dL, despite a strict dietary and lifestyle modifications, should prompt treatment with omega-3-fatty acids and continue a fat-restricted diet (<20 g total fat/d or <15% total calories) under the guidance of a registered dietician. The use of fibrates should be considered as a second-line therapy due to their unclear risk versus benefit and potential teratogenic effects. Plasmapheresis should be considered early in asymptomatic pregnant women with fasting triglyceride levels >1000 mg/dL or in pregnant women with clinical signs and symptoms of pancreatitis and triglyceride levels >500 mg/dL despite maximal lifestyle changes and pharmacologic therapy.

Exercise-Induced Cardiovascular Adaptations and Approach to Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

The role of the sports cardiologist has evolved into an essential component of the medical care of athletes. In addition to the improvement in health outcomes caused by reductions in cardiovascular risk, exercise results in adaptations in cardiovascular structure and function, termed exercise-induced cardiac remodeling. As diagnostic modalities have evolved over the last century, we have learned much about the healthy athletic adaptation that occurs with exercise. Sports cardiologists care for those with known or previously unknown cardiovascular conditions, distinguish findings on testing as physiological adaptation or pathological changes, and provide evidence-based and "best judgment" assessment of the risks of sports participation. We review the effects of exercise on the heart, the approach to common clinical scenarios in sports cardiology, and the importance of a patient/athlete-centered, shared decision-making approach in the care provided to athletes.

Elevated risk of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

INTRODUCTION: Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) reduces mortality and improves neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is considered a pro-thrombotic state. Endovascular cooling catheters may increase the risk of thrombosis. Targeted Temperature Management, however, increases fibrinolysis. The net outcome of these opposing effects remains largely unexplored. Moreover, the exact rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is uncertain in these patients. We sought to determine the incidence and potential predictors of VTE in patients undergoing TTM. METHODS: Single center retrospective analysis. Participants were age ≥18 years old, admitted with out-of-hospital or in-hospital cardiac arrest, underwent TTM between January 1, 2007 and April 30, 2019 with endovascular cooling catheter. A total of 562 patients who underwent TTM (Study group) were compared to 562 patients treated for ARDS (control group). This control group was based on presumed similarities in factors affecting VTE: intensive care setting, immobility, length of stay and likely presence of central venous catheters. RESULTS: Patients who underwent TTM had a significantly higher rate of VTE (6.6% vs 2.3%, p = 0.006) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (4.6% vs 1.3%, p = 0.011) when compared to control group. In multivariate analysis age, gender, race and hospital length of stay were not associated with development of VTE in the study group. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing TTM after cardiac arrest have statistically higher incidence of VTE and DVT compared to patients with ARDS. This risk is independent of age, gender, race or length of stay.

Exercise Participation for Patients with Valvular Heart Disease: a Review of the Current Guidelines.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Valvular heart disease affects many individuals who aspire to partake in competitive or recreational sports. This manuscript reviews the most recent European and American guidelines related to exercise and sport participation in individuals with valvular heart disease (VHD) and identifies areas not addressed by these guidelines. RECENT FINDINGS: Exercise recommendations for individuals with VHD have been presented since at least 1984. There is limited data on the impact of intensive physical activity on the progression and outcomes of VHD. Therefore, current recommendations are based on consensus opinion. Most recent consensus guidelines address exercise participation in young and active older individuals. Exercise guidelines for patients with VHD have become progressively less restrictive to allow exercise participation for many VHD patients. These more progressive recommendations should be included in clinical decision-making when evaluating physical activity levels for athletes and active adults with VHD.

Heart Rate and Neurological Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Targeted Temperature Management.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data evaluating the impact of heart rate (HR) during Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) and neurologic outcomes. Current resuscitation guidelines do not specify a HR goal during TTM. We sought to determine the relationship between HR and neurologic outcomes in a single-center registry dataset. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 432 consecutive patients who completed TTM (33°C) after cardiac arrest from 2008 to 2017. We evaluated the relationship between neurologic outcomes and HR during TTM. Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) at discharge were used to determine neurological recovery. Statistical analysis included chi square, Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U. A logistic regression model was created to evaluate the strength of contribution of selected variables on the outcome of interest. RESULTS: Approximately 94,000 HR data points from 432 patients were retrospectively analyzed; the mean HR was 82.17 bpm over the duration of TTM. Favorable neurological outcomes were seen in 160 (37%) patients. The mean HR in the patients with a favorable outcome was lower than the mean HR of those with an unfavorable outcome (79.98 bpm vs 85.67 bpm p < 0.001). Patients with an average HR of 60-91 bpm were 2.4 times more likely to have a favorable neurological outcome compared to than HR's < 60 or > 91 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61-3.46, p < 0.001). Specifically, mean HR's in the 73-82 bpm range had the greatest rate of favorable outcomes (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.95-6.50), p < 0.001. Administration of epinephrine, a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension all were associated with worse neurological outcomes independent of HR. CONCLUSION: During TTM, mean HRs between 60-91 showed a positive association with favorable outcomes. It is unclear whether a specific HR should be targeted during TTM or if heart rates between 60-91 bpm might be a sign of less neurological damage.

Aortic Aneurysm: DIAGNOSIS, MANAGEMENT, EXERCISE TESTING, AND TRAINING.

BACKGROUND: Some patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation have aortic abnormalities, including abdominal and thoracic aneurysm (AAA and TAA, respectively). There is scant guidance on implementing exercise training in these individuals. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnostic process, medical issues, and the available exercise training literature, and provides recommendations for performing regular exercise. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Patients with aortic abnormalities are at risk for enlargement, aneurysm development, dissection, and rupture. During exercise, individuals with large aneurysms may be at greater risk of an adverse event. The available literature suggests little increased risk of complications when training at low and moderate intensities in those with an AAA, and exercise may be protective for aneurysm expansion. There is little exercise data for TAA, but the available literature suggests training at lower intensities and avoidance of excessive increases of blood pressure. EXERCISE TESTING AND TRAINING: When exercise testing and training are performed, the intensity should be controlled to avoid complications. It is prudent to keep systolic blood pressure <180 mm Hg in most patients and <160 mm Hg in those at greater risk of dissection or rupture (eg, women and larger sized aneurysm) during aerobic training. During resistance training, patients should avoid sudden excessive blood pressure increases (ie, avoid the Valsalva maneuver), and keep intensity below 40-50% of the 1-repetition maximum. Existing data suggest these patients may improve functional capacity and reduce the rate of aneurysm expansion. SUMMARY: Most patients with AAA can safely perform exercise training when conservative guidelines are followed. Additional research is needed to fully determine whether exercise is protective against aneurysm expansion, and the effects of exercise in those who have had surgical repair. More research is necessary to provide specific recommendations for those with a TAA.

Coronary Atherosclerosis in Masters Athletes: Mechanisms and Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This manuscript reviews the data on the mechanisms and significance of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in masters athletes. It describes recent advances in understanding the biological pathway for the development and progression of ASCVD in athletes. It also reviews salient clinical trials, guidelines on managing ASCVD in masters athletes, and future research directions. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent data have produced controversy as to whether high levels of physical activity and endurance training can promote ASCVD. Longstanding, vigorous endurance exercise may increase the development of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques. There are no clinical trials to inform clinicians on how to manage masters athletes with occult ASCVD. We provide a review of the data on ASCVD in older athletes, the risks and benefits of exercise in active individuals with ASCVD, and our approach to evaluating and managing these patients. Vigorous physical exertion transiently increases the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden cardiac death in patients with ASCVD. New research has demonstrated increases in both calcified and non-calcified plaque in athletes, although the dominant plaque type is usually calcific. The mechanisms mediating this possible increase in atherosclerosis in active individuals is uncertain, as is the prognostic implications of the increased atherosclerosis. The predominance of calcified plaque may indicate that coronary plaques in athletes are less prone to rupture and to produce acute coronary events. Some guidelines offer recommendations on the management of non-athletic patients with elevated CAC but data on athletes is scarce. Until additional studies are available, we suggest that athletes with CAC values > 100 Agatston units be managed as if they have preclinical ASCVD. They should be informed of the symptoms of angina and ACS and the importance of prompt medical attention should such symptoms occur. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormones levels should be measured to exclude hyperparathyroidism. Patients should undergo symptom-limited maximal exercise stress testing and aggressive lipid treatment to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values < 70 mg/dl.

Using the immediate blood pressure benefits of exercise to improve exercise adherence among adults with hypertension: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: A single exercise session evokes immediate blood pressure (BP) reductions that persist for at least 24 h, termed postexercise hypotension (PEH). Self-monitoring of PEH may foster positive outcome expectations of exercise, and thus, enhance exercise adherence among adults with hypertension. PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of self-monitoring of exercise (EXERCISE) versus exercise and PEH (EXERCISE + PEH) to improve exercise adherence and BP control among adults with hypertension. METHODS: Adults with high BP were randomized to EXERCISE (n = 12) or EXERCISE + PEH (n = 12). Participants underwent supervised, moderate intensity aerobic exercise training for 40-50 min/session, 3 days/week for 12 weeks and encouraged to exercise unsupervised at home at least 30 min/day, 1-2 days/week. EXERCISE + PEH also self-monitored BP before and after exercise. Adherence was calculated as [(no. of exercise sessions performed/no. of possible exercise sessions) × 100%]. BP was measured pre and posttraining. RESULTS: Healthy, middle-aged (52.3 ±â€Š10.8 years) men (n = 11) and women (n = 13) with hypertension (136.2 ±â€Š10.7/85.2 ±â€Š8.9 mmHg) completed exercise training with 87.9 ±â€Š12.1% adherence. EXERCISE + PEH demonstrated greater adherence to supervised training (94.3 ±â€Š6.6%) than EXERCISE (81.6 ±â€Š13.2%; P = 0.007). EXERCISE + PEH performed 32.6 ±â€Š22.5 min/week more unsupervised home exercise than EXERCISE (P = 0.004), resulting in greater exercise adherence (107.3 ±â€Š18.7%) than EXERCISE (82.7 ±â€Š12.2%; P = 0.002). Post versus pretraining BP was reduced -7.4 ±â€Š11.3/-4.9 ±â€Š9.9 mmHg (P < 0.025) with no statistical difference between EXERCISE (-5.2 ±â€Š13.3/-3.6 ±â€Š6.1 mmHg) and EXERCISE + PEH (-9.9 ±â€Š11.3/-6.1 ±â€Š6.9 mmHg; P > 0.344). CONCLUSION: The current study is the first to demonstrate that PEH self-monitoring is an efficacious tool to improve exercise adherence among a small sample of adults with hypertension. Future research among a larger, more diverse sample is needed to confirm these novel findings and determine whether EXERCISE + PEH translates to better BP control relative to EXERCISE self-monitoring alone.

Age-related macular degeneration and progression of coronary artery calcium: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) shares many similarities with cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathophysiology. We sought to determine the relationship of AMD to the progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). METHODS: Our cohort consisted of 5803 adults aged 45 to 84 years free of known cardiovascular disease (CVD). Retinal photographs were taken during visit 2 (Aug 2002-Jan 2004). CAC was measured with computed tomography at visit 1 (July 2000-Aug 2002) and visit 5 (April 2010-Dec 2011) and changes between visits were determined. RESULTS: Participants were categorized as with (n = 244) and without AMD (n = 5559) at visit 2. At visit 5, 92 participants with and 2684 without AMD had CAC scores. Among those with detectable CAC at baseline (>0 at visit 1), CAC progression was greater in persons with compared to those without AMD after multivariable adjustment (530 ± 537 vs. 339 ± 426 Agatston units, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of AMD in a diverse population without known clinical CVD independently predicted higher 10-year CAC progression in participants with baseline CAC >0. The retinal exam might be a useful tool for pre-clinical assessment and prevention of CVD events.

Intravascular Cooling Catheter-Related Venous Thromboembolism After Hypothermia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Fifty-four year-old man with recent history of myocardial infarction and a percutaneous coronary intervention who suffered a ventricular fibrillation arrest at home. He was resuscitated in the field. His heart rhythm was in atrial fibrillation. The cardiac catheterization showed a patent stent from his previous myocardial infarction and no new occlusions. He subsequently underwent hypothermia protocol using the Alsius CoolGard 3000 Temperature Control System and Icy Catheter. Heparin drip was started for atrial fibrillation 36 hours after catheter insertion and became therapeutic 2 hours before the end of cooling maintenance phase. Heparin drip was stopped 4 hours into the rewarming phase because of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm. Subcutaneous heparin was resumed for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis. He was extubated to room air after hypothermia protocol. The cooling catheter was removed 88 hours after insertion. Within 1 minute of catheter removal, his oxygen saturation dropped to 80%. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a mobile thrombus in the right atrium prolapsing into the right ventricle. Computer tomography angiography of the chest confirmed a large saddle embolus. Ninety minutes later, patient went into cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity while he was being considered for surgical embolectomy, but he could not be resuscitated. The temporal relationship of the catheter removal and his acute clinical decompensation led to believe that this was an intravascular cooling catheter (ICC)-related event. Providers should be cognizant of the complications of central venous catheters such as thrombosis formation, as it could lead to fatal pulmonary embolism. Physicians should promote frequent assessment of the access site(s) during routine physical examinations and potentially use point of care vascular ultrasound in high-risk cases to rule out a catheter-associated thrombus before catheter removal.