Simple scores to predict 1-year mortality in atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Traditional scores as CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-Vasc are suitable for predicting stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and have shown to be also associated with mortality. Other more complex scores have been recommended for survival prediction. The purpose of our analysis was to test the performance of different clinical scores in predicting 1-year mortality in AF patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-Vasc scores were calculated for AF patients of the BLITZ-AF register and compared to R2-CHADS2, R2-CHA2DS2-Vasc and CHA2DS2VASc-RAF scores in predicting 1-year survival. Scores including renal function were calculated both with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and creatinine clearance. RESULTS: One-year vital status (1960 alive and 199 dead) was available in 2159 patients. Receiver-operating characteristic curves displayed an association of each score to all-cause mortality, with R2(ClCrea)-CHADS2 being the best [area under the curve (AUC) 0.734]. Differences among the AUCs of the eight scores were not so evident, and a significant difference was found only between R2(ClCrea)-CHADS2 and CHADS2, CHA2DS2VASc, (ClCrea)-CHA2DS2-VASC-RAF.All the scores showed a similar performance for cardiovascular (CV) mortality, with CHA2DS2VASc-RAF being the best (AUC 0.757), with a significant difference with respect to CHADS2, CHA2DS2VASc, and (ClCrea)CHA2DS2Vasc-RAF. CONCLUSIONS: More complex scores, even if with better statistical performance, do not show a clinically relevant higher capability to discriminate alive or dead patients at 12 months. The classical and well known CHA2DS2VASc score, which is routinely used all around the world, has a high sensitivity in predicting all-cause mortality (AUC 0.695; Sensit. 80.4%) and CV mortality (AUC 0.691; Sensit. 80.0%). GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/JCM/A632.

Working in interventional cardiology laboratories: The perceived impact of radiation exposure as a health and gender hazard. A NEXT generation ANMCO initiative.

BACKGROUND: Gender-related discrepancies in personal and professional life have been reported among radio-exposed workers. We assessed this topic among cardiac catheterization workers in Italy, with a focus on gender and working position. METHODS: Radio-exposed workers affiliated with the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists were invited to answer an online survey, which included 41 questions formatted as multiple choice. RESULTS: Overall, 237 workers responded. The proportion of males was significantly higher than that of females in the population aged >50 years. A greater portion of females than males perceived female-gender discrimination regarding career advancement (77.2% vs 30.9%, p < 0.001) and work compensation (49.1% vs. 17.1%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in perceived gender- discrimination in terms of career advancement opportunities between physician and non-physicians. A larger portion of females than males experienced workplace discrimination (51.8% of females vs. 8.1% of males, p < 0.0001). Non-physician responders made up 38.8% of all respondents and reported a lower yearly radiation exposure than physicians. Non-physicians were more aware of the laws regulating lab access during pregnancy than physicians (93.5% vs. 48.3%, p < 0.0001). A greater percentage of female nurses than physicians communicate without hesitation the pregnancy status to their employers (45.6% vs 20%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Gender-based career disparities were perceived among physicians and non-physician staff of cardiology interventional laboratories. Strategies should be implemented to ensure gender equality in career opportunities and to increase knowledge of radioprotection and the laws regulating access to laboratories during pregnancy.

[Adherence to pharmacological treatments: searching for new solutions]. / Aderenza ai trattamenti farmacologici: alla ricerca di nuove soluzioni.

Adherence to prescribed treatments is an essential prerequisite for a therapy to be effective. In cardiology, poor therapeutic adherence is a problem that affects 50% of patients in primary prevention and 44% in secondary prevention, with a consequent significant impact on prognosis and global health costs. In this review, we analyze the possible causes of poor adherence and discuss possible interventions to be implemented to address this problem. In detail, we briefly report the evidence supporting deprescribing, the use of the polypill, the innovative treatments with gene silencing, and digital technologies as potential approaches to improve adherence in the cardiovascular field.

[Percutaneous revascularization in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: complete or incomplete?] / Rivascolarizzazione percutanea nelle sindromi coronariche acute senza sopraslivellamento del tratto ST: completa o incompleta?

Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction with multivessel coronary disease is increasing in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and it is associated with a high rate of mortality. Complete revascularization may reduce major adverse cardiac events in patients with ACS. However, the preferred revascularization strategies (complete vs incomplete) of non-culprit lesions in this setting, as well as the correct timing of revascularization are still matters of debate. This is mostly related to the heterogeneity of patients with this clinical presentation, who are often older and affected by multiple comorbidities. The present review aims to evaluate this topic highlighting the pros and cons of complete revascularization according to anatomical or functional and imaging evaluation and based on timing and patient's clinical phenotype.

[Embolic stroke of undetermined source - ESUS: a new challenge for the cardiologist]. / Ictus embolico di origine indeterminata ­ ESUS: una nuova sfida per il cardiologo.

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is a new clinical entity which requires an accurate diagnostic work-up. The involvement of the cardiologist in this challenge is of paramount importance as in many cases an occult cardioembolic source is detectable. In the absence of subclinical atrial fibrillation detectable by prolonged ECG monitoring, potential causes of ESUS include atrial cardiomyopathy, left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure, aortic plaques and patent foramen ovale. The assessment of a causal relationship between these cardiac abnormalities and ESUS is often a difficult challenge and the randomized clinical trials performed so far failed to demonstrate a superiority of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) over aspirin. In selected individual patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm with high CHA2DS2-VASc score, or aortic plaques with thrombotic component, oral anticoagulation with DOAC might be considered even in the absence of evidence from randomized clinical trials.

Is there a reduced confidence towards direct oral anticoagulants compared to vitamin K antagonists in patients scheduled for an elective electrical cardioversion? The results of the BLITZ-AF study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the confidence of cardiologists in performing an electrical cardioversion in patients on oral anticoagulation (OA) with or without transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). METHODS: Data about atrial fibrillation (AF) patients admitted to cardiology wards for elective cardioversion (ECV) were extrapolated from the BLITZ-AF study. Percentage of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) and heparin prescription were analysed in relation to the use of TOE before ECV. RESULTS: Overall rate of TOE was 33.7% (240/713); it was used before ECV in 124/313 (39.6%) of DOACs patients and in 96/372 (25.8%) of the patients on VKAs, showing a significant reduced resort to TOE in VKAs patients (p = 0.0001). Among non-valvular patients TOE was more frequently performed in males, at younger ages and in patients on heparin when compared to patients treated with OA. TOE was also more frequently performed in tertiary hospitals and in hospitals with cardiology wards and electrophysiology labs, when compared to hospital provided only with cardiology wards. At multivariable analysis there was a significant less recourse to TOE in patients on VKAs (OR 0.47; 95% CI: 0.33-0.67) and higher recourse in the heparin group (OR: 3.85; 95% CI:1.59-9.28) with respect to patients on DOACs; a higher recourse to TOE was observed also in tertiary hospitals (OR 4.25; 95% CI 2.69-6.69) and in hospitals with cardiology wards and electrophysiology (EP) labs (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.23-2.82). CONCLUSION: our study shows the reluctance in cardioverting patients on DOACs respect to VKAs without a previous TOE, despite adequate anticoagulant treatment.

ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document: appropriate management of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for 2% of the total presentations to the emergency department (ED) and represents the most frequent arrhythmic cause for hospitalization. It steadily increases the risk of thromboembolic events and is often associated with several comorbidities that negatively affect patient's quality of life and prognosis. AF has a considerable impact on healthcare resources, making the promotion of an adequate and coordinated management of this arrhythmia necessary in order to avoid clinical complications and to implement the adoption of appropriate technological and pharmacological treatment options. AF management varies across regions and hospitals and there is also heterogeneity in the use of anticoagulation and electric cardioversion, with limited use of direct oral anticoagulants. The ED represents the first access point for early management of patients with AF. The appropriate management of this arrhythmia in the acute setting has a great impact on improving patient's quality of life and outcomes as well as on rationalization of the financial resources related to the clinical course of AF. Therefore, physicians should provide a well-structured clinical and diagnostic pathway for patients with AF who are admitted to the ED. This should be based on a tight and propositional collaboration among several specialists, i.e. the ED physician, cardiologist, internal medicine physician, anesthesiologist. The aim of this ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document is to provide shared recommendations for promoting an integrated, accurate, and up-to-date management of patients with AF admitted to the ED or Cardiology Department, in order to make it homogeneous across the national territory.

What is the role of coronary revascularization to recover the contractility of the dysfunctional heart?

Coronary artery disease is the predominant aetiology of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction in industrialized countries. The pathophysiological substrate of hibernating myocardium constitutes the conceptual target of coronary revascularization by coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or coronary angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Studies, mainly observational, conducted in the past have demonstrated a prognostic benefit of CABG on survival. These findings were confirmed by the long-term follow-up of the STICH study in which, however, documentation of inducible ischaemia or myocardial viability was not predictive of a prognostic benefit of CABG. Revascularization via PCI in the recent REVIVED-BCIS2 study did not demonstrate a significant benefit in terms of death or heart failure hospitalization compared with optimal medical therapy. Pending the long-term follow-up of the REVIVED-BCIS2 study, optimized medical therapy, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, where indicated, are the mainstay of treatment in patients with dilated ischaemic cardiomyopathy. The decision for coronary revascularization is made in the individual patient, possibly with a higher bias in patients with angina, three-vessel coronary artery disease, severe left ventricular dysfunction, and cardiac remodelling.

[Uncertainties in cardiovascular risk factors: sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for all diabetic patients with high cardiovascular risk and in all patients with renal insufficiency, regardless of albuminuria? Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as a weapon against obesity?] / Incertezze nei fattori di rischio cardiovascolare: inibitori del cotrasportatore sodio-glucosio di tipo 2 per tutti i pazienti diabetici ad elevato rischio cardiovascolare e per tutti i pazienti con insufficienza renale indipendentemente dall'albuminuria? Agonisti del recettore del glucagon-like peptide-1 come arma contro l'obesità?

The clinical guidelines, while representing an objective reference to perform correct therapeutic choices, contain grey zones, where the recommendations are not supported by solid evidence. In the fifth National Congress Grey Zones held in Bergamo in June 2022, an attempt was made to highlight some of the main grey zones in Cardiology and, through a comparison between experts, to draw shared conclusions that can illuminate our clinical practice. This manuscript contains the statements of the symposium concerning the controversies regarding cardiovascular risk factors. The manuscript represents the organization of the meeting, with an initial revision of the present guidelines on this topic, followed by an expert presentation of pros (White) and cons (Black) related to the identified "gaps of evidence". For every issue is then reported the "response" derived from the votes of the experts and the public, the discussion and, finally, the highlights, which are intended as practical "take home messages" to be used in the everyday clinical practice. The first gap in evidence discussed is the indication for therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for all diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk. The second examines the possibility of using SGLT2 inhibitors in all patients with renal insufficiency, regardless of albuminuria. The last gap in evidence regards the possible use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as a weapon against obesity.

[Degenerative aortic valve stenosis: looking for a pharmacological prevention]. / Stenosi valvolare aortica degenerativa: alla ricerca di una prevenzione farmacologica.

Degenerative calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a chronic disease whose prevalence has increased over the last decade because of the aging of the general population. CAVS pathogenesis is characterized by complex molecular and cellular mechanisms that promote valve fibro-calcific remodeling. During the first phase, referred to as initiation, the valve undergoes collagen deposition and lipid and immune cell infiltration due to mechanical stress. Subsequently, during the progression phase, the aortic valve undergoes chronic remodeling through osteogenic and myofibroblastic differentiation of interstitial cells and matrix calcification. Knowledge of the mechanisms underlying CAVS development supports the resort to potential therapeutic strategies that interfere with fibro-calcific progression. Currently, no medical therapy has demonstrated the ability to significantly prevent CAVS development or slow its progression. The only treatment available in symptomatic severe stenosis is surgical or percutaneous aortic valve replacement. The aim of this review is to highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in CAVS pathogenesis and progression and to discuss potential pharmacological treatments able to inhibit the main pathophysiological mechanisms of CAVS, including lipid-lowering treatment with lipoprotein(a) as emergent therapeutic target.

[Managing patients with left ventricular thrombosis after acute myocardial infarction: current evidence, uncertainties, and future perspectives]. / Il paziente con trombosi ventricolare sinistra dopo infarto miocardico acuto: tra evidenze disponibili, incertezze e prospettive future.

The incidence of left ventricular thrombosis (LVT) after acute myocardial infarction has declined significantly in recent decades, thanks to advances in the field of revascularization and antithrombotic therapy. Despite oral anticoagulation, embolic events are the most feared complication of LVT. From a pathophysiological point of view, the development of LVT depends on Virchow's triad, that is, endothelial damage caused by myocardial infarction, blood stasis due to left ventricular dysfunction, and hyper-coagulability determined by inflammation. The diagnostic modalities of LVT include transthoracic echocardiography preferably implemented by contrast administration, and cardiac magnetic resonance. Most thrombi develop in the first 2 weeks after acute myocardial infarction, so the role of systematic screening with short to medium term repeated imaging appears limited. Vitamin K antagonists remain the cornerstone of therapy, since the effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants remains to be established. Only weak evidence supports the routine use of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy, even in high-risk patients.

[ANMCO-SIMEU Consensus document: Appropriate management of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department]. / Documento di consenso ANMCO-SIMEU: Gestione appropriata della fibrillazione atriale in Pronto Soccorso.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for 2% of the total presentations to the emergency department (ED) and represents the most frequent arrhythmic cause for hospitalization. It steadily increases the risk of thromboembolic events and is often associated with several comorbidities that negatively affect patient's quality of life and prognosis. AF has a considerable on healthcare resources, making the promotion of an adequate and coordinated management of this arrhythmia necessary in order to avoid clinical complications and to implement the adoption of appropriate technological and pharmacological treatment options. AF management varies across regions and hospitals and there is also heterogeneity in the use of anticoagulation and electric cardioversion, with limited use of direct oral anticoagulants. The ED represents the first access point for early management of patients with AF. The appropriate management of this arrhythmia in the acute setting has a great impact on improving patient's quality of life and outcomes as well as on rationalization of the financial resources related to the clinical course of AF. Therefore, physicians should provide a well-structured clinical and diagnostic pathway for patients with AF who are admitted to the ED. This should be based on a tight and propositional collaboration among several specialists, i.e. the ED physician, cardiologist, internal medicine physician, anesthesiologist. The aim of this ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document is to provide shared recommendations for promoting an integrated, accurate, and up-to-date management of patients with AF admitted to the ED or Cardiology Department, so as to make it homogeneous across the national territory.

Type of hospitalisations and in-hospital outcomes in the Italian coronary care unit network at the time of COVID-19 pandemic: the BLITZ-COVID19 Registry.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology and outcome of patients hospitalised during the COVID-19 pandemic in intensive cardiac care units (ICCs). DESIGN: Non-interventional, retrospective and prospective, nationwide study. SETTING: 109 private or public ICCs in Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 6054 consecutive patients admitted to Italian ICCs during COVID-19 pandemic. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: To obtain accurate and up-to-date information on epidemiology and outcome of patients admitted to ICCs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact that the COVID-19 infection may have determined on the organisational pathways and in-hospital management of the various clinical conditions being admitted to ICCs. RESULTS: Acute coronary syndromes were the most frequent ICC discharge diagnoses followed by heart failure and hypokinetic arrhythmias. The prevalence of COVID-19 positivity was approximately 3%. Most patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis at discharge (52%) arrived to ICC from other wards, in particular 22% from non-cardiology ICCs. The overall mortality was 4.2% during ICC and 5.8% during hospital stay. The cause of in-hospital death was cardiac in 74.4% of the cases, non-cardiovascular in 13.5%, vascular in 5.8% and related to COVID-19 in 6.3% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a unique nationwide picture of current ICC care during COVID-19 pandemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04744415.

Ischaemic stroke in the absence of documented atrial fibrillation: is there who could benefit from anticoagulant therapy?

About 25% of ischaemic strokes are of cryptogenic origin and a significant proportion of them has a certain embolic nature, and for these patients the term embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) has been coined. In the absence of subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) identifiable through prolonged electrocardiogram monitoring, atrial cardiomyopathy, demonstrable through non-invasive cardiac imaging, aortic plaques and heart failure with preserved sinus rhythm, have been recognized among the potential causes of ESUS. In patients with ESUS, randomized clinical trials performed so far have failed to demonstrate a benefit of therapy with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). However, it is possible that in patients in whom the presence of atrial cardiomyopathy is ascertained there may be a benefit of anticoagulant therapy in secondary prevention after ESUS. In patients with aortic plaques associated with a thrombotic component and in those with heart failure and preserved sinus rhythm in the absence of AF but with a high congestive heart failure, hypertension age, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease (CHA2DS2-VASc) score, the decision on anticoagulant therapy with DOACs could be made in the individual patient even in the absence of evidence from clinical trials.