A COVID-19 specific multiparametric and ECG-based score for the prediction of in-hospital mortality: ELCOVID score.

We aimed to develop and validate a COVID-19 specific scoring system, also including some ECG features, to predict all-cause in-hospital mortality at admission. Patients were retrieved from the ELCOVID study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04367129), a prospective, multicenter Italian study enrolling COVID-19 patients between May to September 2020. For the model validation, we randomly selected two-thirds of participants to create a derivation dataset and we used the remaining one-third of participants as the validation set. Over the study period, 1014 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (mean age 74 years, 61% males) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. During a median follow-up of 12 (IQR 7-22) days, 359 (35%) patients died. Age (HR 2.25 [95%CI 1.72-2.94], p < 0.001), delirium (HR 2.03 [2.14-3.61], p = 0.012), platelets (HR 0.91 [0.83-0.98], p = 0.018), D-dimer level (HR 1.18 [1.01-1.31], p = 0.002), signs of right ventricular strain (RVS) (HR 1.47 [1.02-2.13], p = 0.039) and ECG signs of previous myocardial necrosis (HR 2.28 [1.23-4.21], p = 0.009) were independently associated to in-hospital all-cause mortality. The derived risk-scoring system, namely EL COVID score, showed a moderate discriminatory capacity and good calibration. A cut-off score of ≥ 4 had a sensitivity of 78.4% and 65.2% specificity in predicting all-cause in-hospital mortality. ELCOVID score represents a valid, reliable, sensitive, and inexpensive scoring system that can be used for the prognostication of COVID-19 patients at admission and may allow the earlier identification of patients having a higher mortality risk who may be benefit from more aggressive treatments and closer monitoring.

Electrocardiographic features of 431 consecutive, critically ill COVID-19 patients: an insight into the mechanisms of cardiac involvement.

AIMS: Our aim was to describe the electrocardiographic features of critical COVID-19 patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We carried out a multicentric, cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of 431 consecutive COVID-19 patients hospitalized between 10 March and 14 April 2020 who died or were treated with invasive mechanical ventilation. This project is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04367129). Standard ECG was recorded at hospital admission. ECG was abnormal in 93% of the patients. Atrial fibrillation/flutter was detected in 22% of the patients. ECG signs suggesting acute right ventricular pressure overload (RVPO) were detected in 30% of the patients. In particular, 43 (10%) patients had the S1Q3T3 pattern, 38 (9%) had incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB), and 49 (11%) had complete RBBB. ECG signs of acute RVPO were not statistically different between patients with (n = 104) or without (n=327) invasive mechanical ventilation during ECG recording (36% vs. 28%, P = 0.10). Non-specific repolarization abnormalities and low QRS voltage in peripheral leads were present in 176 (41%) and 23 (5%), respectively. In four patients showing ST-segment elevation, acute myocardial infarction was confirmed with coronary angiography. No ST-T abnormalities suggestive of acute myocarditis were detected. In the subgroup of 110 patients where high-sensitivity troponin I was available, ECG features were not statistically different when stratified for above or below the 5 times upper reference limit value. CONCLUSIONS: The ECG is abnormal in almost all critically ill COVID-19 patients and shows a large spectrum of abnormalities, with signs of acute RVPO in 30% of the patients. Rapid and simple identification of these cases with ECG at hospital admission can facilitate classification of the patients and provide pathophysiological insights.

Electrocardiographic Eligibility for Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: Evaluation during Bicycle Exercise.

BACKGROUND: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is used in patients at risk of sudden death. Our aim was to assess clinical predictors of electrocardiographic ineligibility for S-ICD, and the impact of exercise on S-ICD eligibility in an unselected series of patients requiring ICD therapy. METHODS: 102 patients at risk of sudden death were evaluated at rest and during exercise. Electrocardiograph screening using limb lead electrodes (to simulate the S-ICD sensing vectors) was performed at rest and during bicycle ergometer exercise. RESULTS: R wave amplitude in lead D3 during exercise >16mV, baseline QTc and the sum of amplitudes of the R waves at supine >30mV were predictors of ineligibility for S-ICD. Eligibility increased from 90% to 100% of patients when evaluated with an "any of the three leads" criterion compared to current recommendations. A more restrictive criterion based on two of three ECG leads caused an eligibility drop at 66%, that further decreased to 56% during exercise; these figures improved to 79% and 81%, respectively, when an "any 2 of 3 leads" criterion was used. CONCLUSIONS: Huge ECG amplitude and QTc duration are associated with ineligibility in the current S-ICD release. By performing exercise testing, lead suitability changes in one patient out of 14 (7% of tested patients) and eligibility is decreased by use of a more stringent criterion for eligibility (ECG criteria satisfied in two of three leads). A dynamic selection of sensing vectors aiming at situation-specific suitability (any of three leads) would increase S-ICD eligibility to 100% of patients.

Clinical management of electromagnetic interferences in patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: review of the literature and focus on magnetic resonance conditional devices.

The number of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has greatly increased in the last 10 years. Many electronic devices used in daily activities generate electromagnetic interferences (EMIs) that can interact with CIEDs. In clinical practice, it is very important to know the potential sources of EMIs and their effect on CIEDs in order to understand how to manage or mitigate them. A very important source of EMI is magnetic resonance (MR), which is considered nowadays the diagnostic gold standard for different anatomical districts. In this review, we focused on the effects of EMI on CIEDs and on the clinical management. Moreover, we made a clarification about MR and CIEDs.In patients with CIEDs, EMIs may cause potentially serious and even life-threatening complications (inappropriate shocks, device malfunctions, inhibition of pacing in pacemaker-dependent patients) and may rarely dictate device replacement. The association of inappropriate shocks with increased mortality highlights the importance of minimizing the occurrence of EMI. Adequate advice and recommendations about the correct management of EMIs in patients with CIEDs are required to avoid all complications during hospitalization and in daily life. Furthermore, the article focused on actual management about MR and CIEDs.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy and cardiac sympathetic function.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established therapy for advanced congestive heart failure, improving both survival and hospitalization. The mechanism beneath these improvements still needs to be defined as about one-third of the patients do not benefit from resynchronization. Restoration of sympatho-vagal function can play a significant role in the process, but available data are limited. In this scenario, positron emission tomography scans with (11) C-hydroxyephedrine, a noradrenaline analogous, has the potential to characterize the modifications of the sympathetic nervous system induced by CRT in decompensated patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients (six males, age 68 ± 10 years) with primary dilated cardiomyopathy were studied before and after resynchronization (acutely and after 3 months), from a clinical and echocardiographic point of view. Their cardiac sympathetic nerve activity was evaluated by (11) C-hydroxyephedrine positron emission tomography before resynchronization, at short and medium term after resynchronization. RESULTS: Responders to CRT (patients showing ≥ 15% decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume) showed a higher level of left ventricular radiotracer uptake both at baseline and after resynchronization with respect to nonresponders. This was coupled with a progressive improvement in homogeneity in left ventricular tracer uptake mainly in responders. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in responders since its activation, while nonresponders do not show any significant change at any time of evaluation. CRT seems to be more effective in those patients with a still structurally preserved, yet functionally impaired, neuroautonomic system.

Holter ECG for pacemaker/defibrillator carriers: what is its role in the era of remote monitoring?

Nowadays several diagnostic tools are available to investigate cardiovascular symptoms like palpitations, dizziness and syncope: ECG Holter (or ambulatory ECG, AECG), external and implantable event/loop recorders. Despite this technological burden, many diagnoses are still missed. In the meantime, we are facing an increasing use of implantable devices for cardiac pacing/defibrillation (CIED), which have rapidly evolved from simple pacing/shock boxes to devices including several diagnostic features. However, these functions are not adequately exploited in current clinical practice and several redundant diagnostic tests, like AECG, are still prescribed to CIED carriers, leading to an increase of costs and a delay in final diagnosis. This review is aimed at identifying the current role of AECG in CIED carriers in view of this technological improvement. First, we will briefly present the indications for AECG according to current guidelines. We will then provide a direct comparison of the different diagnostic features provided by AECG (and event/loop recorders) versus automatic diagnostic CIED to highlight the respective pros and cons. This will serve to carefully discuss these indications in view of the results of recent studies on CIED carriers, highlighting the need for proper implantation and follow-up. Eventually, we will provide useful hints to properly analyse AECG in CIED carriers, considering the different behaviours according to the implemented algorithms. We will conclude by suggesting updated indications for AECG.

Inappropriate shock for myopotential over-sensing in a patient with subcutaneous ICD.

Inappropriate ICD shocks are common adverse events; they are mainly due to supraventricular arrhythmias and secondly are related to noise, undersensing, oversensing, device malfunctions. We present a case of inappropriate device therapy due to myopotential oversensing in a patient with a subcutaneous ICD (s-ICD). A 58 years old male with an s-ICD during the device interrogation showed a previous episode of suspected sustained ventricular tachycardia at 210 bpm, which was effectively treated with ICD shock. The patient experienced the electrical shock while holding a big gas-cylinder in his arms. The EGM analysis revealed many irregular ventricular signals of low amplitude lasting for 24 s and interrupted by the shock. The device showed no malfunctions. This is the first case report of inappropriate S-ICD shock related to myopotential over-sensing. By recording intracardiac EGM, we demonstrated that the noise was created by the activity of the pectorals muscles.

Recent temporal trends for first-time hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction. Treatment patterns and clinical outcome in a large cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to report recent trends in the incidence, adoption of evidence-based treatment, and clinical outcomes for first-time hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: This is a large retrospective population-based cohort study using medical administrative data (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes) performed in the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy (approximately 4.5 million inhabitants). We identified 60,673 patients with a first hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction from 2002 through 2009. RESULTS: The standardized incidence rate per 100,000 person-years of acute myocardial infarction increased from 173 cases in 2002 to a peak of 197 cases in 2004 and then decreased each year thereafter to 167 cases in 2009. The proportion of patients who underwent coronary angiography and angioplasty in the acute phase increased over time, respectively, from 45.4% and 27.1% to 72.3% and 57.2% (P < .001). Medication use within 12 months of discharge increased for aspirin, ß-blockers, and statins. A reduction in crude and adjusted in-hospital all-cause (16.1% in 2002 vs 12.8% in 2009, P < .001) and cardiovascular mortality (13.6% in 2002 vs 9.5% in 2009, P < .001) was observed over time. At 1 year after hospital discharge, no significant variations occurred in adjusted risk for all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality. Notably, crude and adjusted risk for in-hospital and postdischarge bleeding showed a significant increment. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of evidence-based treatments in patients with myocardial infarction increased between 2002 and 2009. These changes in practice over time favored a reduction in early case fatality at the cost of a significant increase in bleeding.

Rasmussen's aneurysm in childhood: a case report.

In medical literature, few cases of Rasmussen's aneurysm have been reported until now, and to the best of our knowledge, there has been no description of a case of Rasmussen's aneurysm in childhood. The child described in the case report had a restrictive cardiomyopathy, complicated by pulmonary hypertension, in association with miliary tuberculosis.

[Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty in congenital aortic valve stenosis performed in patients older than one month: a good alternative to surgery]. / Valvuloplastica percutanea della stenosi aortica congenita oltre il primo mese di vita: una valida alternativa alla chirurgia.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty is an effective means of treatment for congenital aortic valve stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate results of valvuloplasty, to analyze the medium to long-term outcome and to assess its efficacy in preventing or postponing a new percutaneous valvuloplasty or aortic valve surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the reports of 37 patients aged > 1 month (mean age 6.3 years) who underwent aortic valvuloplasty for severe aortic stenosis. Associated congenital cardiac defects were present in 16% of the patients. The average time of follow-up was 5.07 years. Particular attention was focused on occurrence and progression of aortic regurgitation. RESULTS: Hemodynamic gradient after aortic valvuloplasty decreased from 58.5 to 22.5 mmHg, with an average decrease of 61.5%. On echography, the maximum gradient decreased from 93.0 to 40.5 mmHg, with an average decrease of 56.5%; mean gradient decreased from 52.0 to 20.5 mmHg with an average decrease of 60.6%. At last follow-up the average maximum and mean gradient on echo were 50.0 and 27.0 mmHg. A reintervention was needed in 21.6% of cases: a second valvuloplasty in 8.1% and aortic surgery in 13.5%. The mortality rate was 2.7%. Survival after 14 years was 97.2%; freedom from aortic valve surgery was 85.5%, from a second valvuloplasty was 89.5%, and from any type of procedure was 76.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty is a safe and effective treatment for congenital aortic stenosis in patients aged > 1 month. Aortic regurgitation is the main concern in the follow-up. Nonetheless, 14 years after valvuloplasty, over 75% of patients are free from any type of aortic valve reintervention.