The value of serial echocardiography in risk assessment of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Progression from paroxysmal to persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We examined the association of left atrial (LA) remodeling by serial echocardiography, and AF progression over an extended follow-up period. Two-hundred ninety patients (mean age 61  ±  11 years, 73% male) who underwent transthoracic echocardiography performed at first presentation for non-valvular paroxysmal AF (PAF) and repeat echocardiogram 1-year later, were followed for progression to persistent AF. LA and left ventricular (LV) dimensions, volumes, LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump strains, LV global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) assessed by 2D speckle tracking, and PA-TDI (time delay between electrical and mechanical LA activation- reflecting the extent of LA fibrosis) were compared on serial echocardiography. Sixty-nine (24%) patients developed persistent AF over a mean follow-up period of 6.3 years. At baseline, patients with subsequent persistent AF had larger LA dimensions (46 mm vs. 42 mm, p < 0.001), indexed LA volumes (41 ml/m2 vs. 34 ml/m2, p < 0.001), lower LA reservoir and conduit strain (17.6% vs. 27.6%, p < 0.001; 10.5% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001; respectively) and longer PA-TDI (155 ms vs. 132 ms, p < 0.001) compared to the PAF group. Patients with subsequent persistent AF showed over time significant enlargement in LA volumes (from 37.7 ml/m2 to 42.4 ml/m2, p < 0.001), lengthening of PA-TDI (from 142.2 ms to 162.2 ms, p = 0.002), and decline in LA reservoir function (from 21.9% to 18.1%, p = 0.024) after adjusting for age, gender, diabetes and LV GLS. There were no changes in LA diameter, LA conduit or booster pump function. Conversely, the PAF group showed no decline in LA function. Patients who developed persistent AF had larger LA size and impaired LA function and atrial conduction times at baseline, compared to patients who remained PAF. Over the 1-year time course of serial echocardiographic evaluation, there was progression of LA remodeling in patients who subsequently developed persistent AF, but not in patients who remained in PAF.

Early Effects of Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel on Peripheral Endothelial Function After Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome and Assessment of Its Relationship With Coronary Microvascular Function.

Peripheral endothelial dysfunction is an independent predictor of adverse long-term prognosis after acute coronary syndrome. Data are lacking on the effects of oral P2Y12-inhibitors on peripheral endothelial function in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Furthermore, the relation between peripheral endothelial function and invasive indexes of coronary microvascular function in NSTEACS is unclear. Between March 2018 and July 2020, hospitalized patients with NSTEACS were randomized (1:1) to ticagrelor or clopidogrel. Peripheral endothelial function was assessed with brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Invasive indexes of coronary microvascular function were obtained using an intracoronary pressure-temperature sensor-tipped wire. In 70 patients included, mean age was 58.6 years, 78.6% (n = 55) were male and 20% (n = 14) had diabetes mellitus. Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor significantly improved FMD (14.2 ± 5.4% vs 8.9 ± 5.3%, p <0.001) after a median treatment time of 41.2 hours. The FMD was significantly correlated with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) measured in the infarct-related artery (r = -0.38, p = 0.001), with a stronger correlation found in those who did not have percutaneous coronary intervention (r = -0.52, p = 0.03). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an FMD of 8.2% identified an IMR of >34 as the threshold, with 77.6% sensitivity and 52.4% specificity. In patients who did not have a percutaneous coronary intervention, an FMD of 11.49% identified an IMR of >34 with 84.6% sensitivity and 80% specificity. In conclusion, ticagrelor significantly improved peripheral endothelial function compared with clopidogrel in patients with NSTEACS. There was a significant correlation between brachial artery FMD and IMR of the infarct-related artery.

Late Outcomes of Patients With Prehospital ST-Segment Elevation and Appropriate Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nonactivation.

Background Patients with suspected ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiac catheterization laboratory nonactivation (CCL-NA) or cancellation have reportedly similar crude and higher adjusted risks of death compared with those with CCL activation, though reasons for these poor outcomes are not clear. We determined late clinical outcomes among patients with prehospital ECG STEMI criteria who had CCL-NA compared with those who had CCL activation. Methods and Results We identified consecutive prehospital ECG transmissions between June 2, 2010 to October 6, 2016. Diagnoses according to the Fourth Universal Definition of myocardial infarction (MI), particularly rates of myocardial injury, were adjudicated. The primary outcome was all-cause death. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular death/MI/stroke and noncardiovascular death. To explore competing risks, cause-specific hazard ratios (HRs) were obtained. Among 1033 included ECG transmissions, there were 569 (55%) CCL activations and 464 (45%) CCL-NAs (1.8% were inappropriate CCL-NAs). In the CCL activation group, adjudicated index diagnoses included MI (n=534, 94%, of which 99.6% were STEMI and 0.4% non-STEMI), acute myocardial injury (n=15, 2.6%), and chronic myocardial injury (n=6, 1.1%). In the CCL-NA group, diagnoses included MI (n=173, 37%, of which 61% were non-STEMI and 39% STEMI), chronic myocardial injury (n=107, 23%), and acute myocardial injury (n=47, 10%). At 2 years, the risk of all-cause death was higher in patients who had CCL-NA compared with CCL activation (23% versus 7.9%, adjusted risk ratio, 1.58, 95% CI, 1.24-2.00), primarily because of an excess in noncardiovascular deaths (adjusted HR, 3.56, 95% CI, 2.07-6.13). There was no significant difference in the adjusted risk for cardiovascular death/MI/stroke between the 2 groups (HR, 1.23, 95% CI, 0.87-1.73). Conclusions CCL-NA was not primarily attributable to missed STEMI, but attributable to "masquerading" with high rates of non-STEMI and myocardial injury. These patients had worse late outcomes than patients who had CCL activation, mainly because of higher rates of noncardiovascular deaths.

Utility of prehospital electrocardiogram interpretation in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction utilizing computer interpretation and transmission for interventional cardiologist consultation.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the appropriateness of prehospital cardiac catheter laboratory activation (CCL-A) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) utilizing the University of Glasgow algorithm (UGA) and remote interventional cardiologist consultation. BACKGROUND: The incremental benefit of prehospital electrocardiogram (PH-ECG) transmission on the diagnostic accuracy and appropriateness of CCL-A has been examined in a small number of studies with conflicting results. METHODS: We identified consecutive PH-ECG transmissions between June 2, 2010 and October 6, 2016. Blinded adjudication of ECGs, appropriateness of CCL-A, and index diagnoses were performed using the fourth universal definition of MI. The primary outcome was the appropriate CCL-A rate. Secondary outcomes included rates of false-positive CCL-A, inappropriate CCL-A, and inappropriate CCL nonactivation. RESULTS: Among 1088 PH-ECG transmissions, there were 565 (52%) CCL-As and 523 (48%) CCL nonactivations. The appropriate CCL-A rate was 97% (550 of 565 CCL-As), of which 4.9% (n = 27) were false-positive. The inappropriate CCL-A rate was 2.7% (15 of 565 CCL-As) and the inappropriate CCL nonactivation rate was 3.6% (19 of 523 CCL nonactivations). Reasons for appropriate CCL nonactivation (n = 504) included nondiagnostic ST-segment elevation (n = 128, 25%), bundle branch block (n = 132, 26%), repolarization abnormality (n = 61, 12%), artefact (n = 72, 14%), no ischemic symptoms (n = 32, 6.3%), severe comorbidities (n = 26, 5.2%), transient ST-segment elevation (n = 20, 4.0%), and others. CONCLUSIONS: PH-ECG interpretation utilizing UGA with interventional cardiologist consultation accurately identified STEMI with low rates of inappropriate and false-positive CCL-As, whereas using UGA alone would have almost doubled CCL-As. The benefits of cardiologist consultation were identifying "masquerading" STEMI and avoiding unnecessary CCL-As.

Impact of Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel on Coronary Microvascular Function After Non-ST-Segment-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular dysfunction after acute coronary syndrome is an important predictor of long-term prognosis. Data is lacking on the effects of oral P2Y12-inhibitors on coronary microvascular function in non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel pretreatment on coronary microvascular function in non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients. METHODS: Hospitalized non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients were randomized (1:1) to ticagrelor or clopidogrel. The index of microcirculatory resistance, coronary flow reserve, and resistive reserve ratio were obtained using an intracoronary pressure-temperature sensor-tipped wire. RESULTS: In total, 128 patients were randomized between March 2018 and July 2020. Mean age 59.2±11.8 years, 84% were male, mean Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score was 93.7±24.5. Intracoronary physiological measurements were obtained in 118 patients (60 ticagrelor, 58 clopidogrel). In the infarct-related artery, the ticagrelor group had lower baseline index of microcirculatory resistance (22.0 [13.0-34.9] versus 27.7 [19.3-29.8]; P=0.02) and higher baseline resistive reserve ratio (3.0 [2.3-4.4] versus 2.4 [1.7-3.4]; P=0.01) compared with the clopidogrel group. A total of 88 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; 45 ticagrelor, 43 clopidogrel). The ticagrelor group had lower post-PCI index of microcirculatory resistance (22.0 [15.0-29.0] versus 27.0 [18.5-47.5]; P=0.02) and higher post-PCI resistive reserve ratio (3.0 [1.8-3.8] versus 1.8 [1.5-3.4]; P=0.006) compared with the clopidogrel group. The coronary flow reserve was not significantly different between the 2 groups at baseline or post-PCI. No between-group differences were seen in any of the indices in the non-infarct-related artery. CONCLUSIONS: In non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients, ticagrelor significantly improved coronary microvascular function before and after PCI compared with clopidogrel. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au; Unique identifier: ACTRN12618001610224.

An Unexpected Cause of Heart Failure in a Young Woman With Treated Lymphoma.

Arteriovenous fistula is a rare complication of lumbar surgery that may cause high-output cardiac failure. We describe the case of a patient with treated lymphoma and recent spinal surgery who presented with heart failure. Logical deduction from clinical and imaging findings helped us arrive at this unusual diagnosis. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Impact of Targeted Therapies for Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction as Assessed by the Index of Microcirculatory Resistance.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has emerged as an important therapeutic target in the contemporary management of ischemic heart disease. However, due to a lack of a reliable traditional "gold standard" test for CMD, optimal treatment remains undefined. The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) is an intra-coronary wire-based technique that provides a more reliable and quantitative assessment of CMD and has been increasingly used as a preferred endpoint for evaluating CMD treatment strategies in recent studies. IMR can help diagnose CMD in angina patients with non-obstructive epicardial coronary disease, predict peri-procedural myocardial infarction in stable patients undergoing coronary stenting, and predict long-term prognosis after acute myocardial infarction. Studies of IMR in the setting of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes are still lacking. This review critically appraises the current published literature evaluating targeted therapies for CMD using IMR as the assessment tool and provides insights into evidence gaps in this important field. The index of microcirculatory resistance has rapidly evolved from a research tool to being the new "gold standard" test for evaluating coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Supporting anticoagulant treatment decision making to optimise stroke prevention in complex patients with atrial fibrillation: a cluster randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation for preventing stroke in atrial fibrillation is under-utilised despite evidence supporting its use, resulting in avoidable death and disability. We aimed to evaluate an intervention to improve the uptake of anticoagulation. METHODS: We carried out a national, cluster randomised controlled trial in the Australian primary health care setting. General practitioners received an educational session, delivered via telephone by a medical peer and provided information about their patients selected either because they were not receiving anticoagulation or for whom anticoagulation was considered challenging. General practitioners were randomised to receive feedback from a medical specialist about the cases (expert decisional support) either before or after completing a post-test audit. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients reported as receiving oral anticoagulation. A secondary outcome assessed antithrombotic treatment as appropriate against guideline recommendations. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine general practitioners participated in the trial, contributing information about 590 cases. At post-test, 152 general practitioners (84.9%) completed data collection on 497 cases (84.2%). A 4.6% (Adjusted Relative Risk = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.86-1.43) difference in the post-test utilization of anticoagulation between groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.42). Sixty-one percent of patients in both groups received appropriate antithrombotic management according to evidence-based guidelines at post-test (Adjusted Relative Risk = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.85 to 1.19) (p = 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Specialist feed-back in addition to an educational session did not increase the uptake of anticoagulation in patients with AF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTRN12611000076976 Retrospectively registered.

Assessing Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Ischaemic Heart Disease: Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.

The role of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in the pathogenesis of ischaemic heart disease and in determining long-term prognosis is increasingly recognised. In selected patients, a comprehensive coronary assessment including an assessment of microvascular function may help refine risk stratification and improve patient outcomes. Various non-invasive and invasive techniques have been developed to assess the coronary microcirculation. Many of these tests utilise the indicator-dilution principle to determine coronary or myocardial blood flow. However, these techniques are often limited by their variability and lack of specificity for the coronary microvasculature. Consequently, there is still paucity of data on targeted therapies for CMD and their implications on long-term clinical outcomes, particularly in the setting of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. Recent technical advancements, such as the index of microcirculatory resistance, have largely overcome these limitations and are able to provide novel insights into the assessment and treatment of CMD. This review summarises the currently available techniques for the assessment of CMD and provides an overview of its clinical implications.

Non-inferiority trials in cardiology: what clinicians need to know.

Clinical trials traditionally aim to show a new treatment is superior to placebo or standard treatment, that is, superiority trials. There is an increasing number of trials demonstrating a new treatment is non-inferior to standard treatment. The hypotheses, design and interpretation of non-inferiority trials are different to superiority trials. Non-inferiority trials are designed with the notion that the new treatment offers advantages over standard treatment in certain important aspects. The non-inferior margin is a predetermined margin of difference between the new and standard treatment that is considered acceptable or tolerable for the new treatment to be considered 'similar' or 'not worse'. Both relative difference and absolute difference methods can be used to define the non-inferior margin. Sequential testing for non-inferiority and superiority is often performed. Non-inferiority trials may be necessary in situations where it is no longer ethical to test any new treatment against placebo. There are inherent assumptions in non-inferiority trials which may not be correct and which are not being tested. Successive non-inferiority trials may introduce less and less effective treatments even though these treatments may have been shown to be non-inferior. Furthermore, poor quality trials favour non-inferior results. Intention-to-treat analysis, the preferred way to analyse randomised trials, may favour non-inferiority. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses should be recommended in non-inferiority trials. Clinicians should be aware of the pitfalls of non-inferiority trials and not accept non-inferiority on face value. The focus should not be on the p values but on the effect size and confidence limits.

Defining Subclinical Myocardial Dysfunction and Implications for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) can detect subclinical myocardial systolic dysfunction in individuals with diabetes. The present study investigates the clinical usefulness and incremental net benefit of identifying subclinical myocardial systolic dysfunction in individuals with diabetes. A cohort of 397 type 2 diabetic individuals was followed up for the occurrence of all-cause mortality. Clinical and echocardiographic data of diabetic patients were assessed retrospectively. LV GLS was evaluated on transthoracic echocardiography using speckle tracking imaging. Subclinical LV systolic dysfunction was defined as LV GLS > -17.0% from 104 healthy volunteers recruited from the community. A total of 178 (44.8%) diabetic individuals had evidence of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction and 46 (11.6%) died during follow-up. The presence of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction was independently associated with all-cause mortality on follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] 2.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40 to 5.71, p = 0.004). Diabetic individuals without subclinical LV systolic dysfunction had similar survival as the general population (standardized mortality ratio 0.94, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.58). Decision curve analysis showed identification of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction and quantification of LV GLS provided an incremental net clinical benefit at risk stratifying patients for risk of death at 5 years. In conclusion, subclinical LV systolic dysfunction is independently associated with all-cause mortality in diabetic patients. Decision curve analyses suggest use of LV GLS and identification of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction is clinically useful, and provided incremental net clinical benefit for diabetic individuals.

3D Echo in Routine Clinical Practice - State of the Art in 2019.

Three-dimensional (3D) echo has been around for almost five decades. Recent advances in ultrasound, electronic and computing technologies have moved 3D echo from the research environment to everyday clinical practice. Real time 3D echo and full volume acquisition are now possible with transthoracic as well as transoesophageal probes. The main advantages of 3D echo are the infinite cut planes possible, allowing direct, en face, and anatomical views of cardiac structures, avoiding foreshortening and circumventing the geometric assumptions of the cardiac chambers inherent in any 2D echo techniques. Three-dimensional echo is still dependent on image quality, subjected to ultrasound artifacts and faces the compromise between spatial and temporal resolution. In routine clinical practice in 2019, we recommend a focussed 3D examination after a full 2D echo study. The area where 3D echo has been consistently shown to have superior accuracy and reproducibility over 2D echo is in the assessment of left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction. We recommend obtaining a full volume 3D echo data set from the apical window, from which LV volumes and LV global longitudinal strain can be measured. Further 3D examination can be performed depending on the pathologies identified on 2D examination. Three-dimensional echo is superior to 2D echo in the assessment of mitral valve pathologies and atrial septal defects. Furthermore, real time 3D transoesophageal echo is a very useful technique in guiding structural cardiac intervention, both before, during and after the procedure. While 3D echo is not the holy grail of echocardiography, it does represent a useful technique in selected areas of cardiac imaging.

Alterations in Layer-Specific Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal and Circumferential Strain in Patients With Aortic Stenosis: A Comparison of Aortic Valve Replacement versus Conservative Management Over a 12-Month Period.

BACKGROUND: Impairment in left ventricular (LV) systolic strain in aortic stenosis (AS) is well documented. However, alterations in layer-specific LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) and their recovery following surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) have not been established. The aim of this study was to examine layer-specific changes in GLS and GCS in patients with AS undergoing AVR and compare these patients with those managed conservatively over 12 months. METHODS: Eighty-six patients (mean age, 68.8 ± 12 years; 60 men) with AS (19 mild, 15 moderate, and 52 severe) were prospectively recruited. Patients with coronary disease or other significant valvular disease were excluded. Forty patients (46.5%) with severe AS underwent AVR. All patients underwent baseline echocardiography. Patients managed conservatively underwent follow-up echocardiography at 12 months. Patients undergoing AVR underwent follow-up echocardiography at 1 week and 3, 6, and 12 months after AVR. RESULTS: There was worsening in subendocardial but not subepicardial or transmural GLS even in mild AS (-20.9 ± 1.0% vs -20.6 ± 0.8%, P = .012). In moderate AS, worsening in subendocardial (-19.6 ± 0.9% vs -18.2 ± 1.5%, P = .003), subepicardial (-14.9 ± 1.0% vs -13.8 ± 1.2%, P = .004), and transmural (-17.1 ± 0.9% vs -15.8 ± 1.3%, P = .03) GLS and a trend toward significant worsening in subendocardial GCS (-29.8 ± 5.16% vs -27.5 ± 5%, P = .054) were seen. Conservatively managed patients with severe AS had significant worsening in subendocardial (-16.1 ± 1.6% vs -13.9 ± 2.6%, P = .021), subepicardial (-11.6 ± 1.1% vs -10.1 ± 2.1%, P = .027), and transmural (-13.6 ± 1.3% vs -11.8 ± 2.3%, P = .02) GLS and subendocardial (-24.9 ± 3.6% vs -20.8 ± 4.5%, P = .002) and transmural (-16.9 ± 1.7% vs -14.3 ± 3.5%, P = .04) GCS on follow-up. Patients after AVR demonstrated significant improvement in GLS (from 3 months) and GCS (from 6 months) in both myocardial layers. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AS managed conservatively had worsening of GLS over 12 months despite preserved LV ejection fraction, detected earliest in the subendocardial layer. GCS became progressively impaired in moderate and severe AS. Improvement in LV strain after AVR was seen earlier with GLS (from 3 months) than with GCS (from 6 months) in both myocardial layers.

Relation of Echocardiographic Markers of Left Atrial Fibrosis to Atrial Fibrillation Burden.

In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), left atrial (LA) fibrosis is a major determinant of the progression to, and burden of AF. LA reservoir strain and total atrial conduction time (PA-TDI) reflect LA fibrotic content. We aimed to investigate the relation between LA reservoir strain and PA-TDI in AF patients and control subjects. Six-hundred two patients (mean age 56 years, 53% men) with first episode of AF and 342 controls (mean age 64 years, 71% men) without structural heart disease underwent echocardiography. LA volumes, PA-TDI, LA reservoir strain, and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) were compared. Compared with controls, patients with paroxysmal AF and patients with persistent AF had longer PA-TDI (128 ± 25 millisecond, 140 ± 31 millisecond, and 154 ± 33 millisecond, respectively; p <0.001) and a progressive decline in LA reservoir strain (36.9 ± 11.6%, 29.8 ± 13.4%, 24.2 ± 12.3%, respectively; p <0.001). LA reservoir strain was negatively correlated with PA-TDI (r = -0.43, p <0.001). On multivariate analyses, LA reservoir strain, diabetes mellitus, and burden of AF were independent correlates of PA-TDI (R2 = 0.23, p <0.001); whereas only PA-TDI was an independent correlate of LA reservoir strain (R2 = 0.43, p <0.001); controlling for age, hypertension, coronary artery disease, body mass index, severity of mitral regurgitation, left ventricular global longitudinal strain, and LA volume. In conclusion, PA-TDI and LA reservoir strain are negatively correlated in all subjects, irrespective of the presence or burden of AF. Patients with persistent AF have longer PA-TDI and impaired LA reservoir strain compared with paroxysmal AF and controls, suggesting increasing burden of fibrosis and LA structural remodeling in the progression of AF.

Left atrial function: Correlation with left ventricular function and contractile reserve in patients with hypertension.

AIMS: Alterations in left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) function have been documented in hypertensive patients. However, the correlation of LA with LV functional changes has not been established. Using normotensive controls, we examined LA functional changes in hypertensive patients by strain deformation analysis, and their relationship to LV functional changes including contractile reserve (CR). METHODS: One hundred and sixteen patients (61 men, aged 57.6 ± 9.1 years, 67 with hypertension) underwent dobutamine echocardiography. Patients with significant coronary or valvular disease, previous myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization, and diabetes were excluded. LA reservoir (Ɛs), conduit (Ɛe), and atrial contractile (Ɛa) strain were measured at rest. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured at rest and at low-dose dobutamine. LV CR was calculated as the difference in GLS and LVEF between the low dose and their corresponding resting values. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients, compared with controls, had significantly impaired LA Ɛs (30.7 ± 3.9% vs 42.4 ± 4.9%), Ɛe (16.2 ± 4.1% vs 22.5 ± 5.5%), and Ɛa (14.5 ± 4.1% vs 19.9 ± 5.0%, all P < .001) strain. All LA phasic strain correlated with LV GLS at rest, at low-dose dobutamine, and LV CR. There was no correlation between LA strain and LVEF or LV CR assessed by LVEF. LV GLS and LAVImax were the strongest independent determinants for LA Ɛs/Ɛe and LA Ɛa, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared to controls, hypertensive patients had impaired LA strain, which correlated with LV GLS and CR. LV GLS and LAVImax were the strongest independent determinants for LA Ɛs/Ɛe and LA Ɛa, respectively, independent of BP and LVMi.

Impact of Diabetes and Increasing Body Mass Index Category on Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and obesity are both worldwide growing epidemics, and both are independently associated with increased risk for heart failure and death. The aim of this study was to examine the additive detrimental effect of both diabetes and increasing body mass index (BMI) category on left ventricular (LV) myocardial systolic and diastolic function. METHODS: The present retrospective multicenter study included 653 patients (337 with type 2 diabetes and 316 without diabetes) of increasing BMI category. All patients had normal LV ejection fractions. LV myocardial systolic (peak systolic global longitudinal strain and peak systolic global longitudinal strain rate) and diastolic (average mitral annular e' velocity and early diastolic global longitudinal strain rate) function was quantified using echocardiography. RESULTS: Increasing BMI category was associated with progressively more impaired LV myocardial function in patients with diabetes (P < .001). Patients with diabetes had significantly more impaired LV myocardial function for all BMI categories compared with those without diabetes (P < .001). On multivariate analysis, both diabetes and obesity were independently associated with an additive detrimental effect on LV myocardial systolic and diastolic function. However, obesity was associated with greater LV myocardial dysfunction than diabetes. CONCLUSION: Both diabetes and increasing BMI category had an additive detrimental effect on LV myocardial systolic and diastolic function. Furthermore, increasing BMI category was associated with greater LV myocardial dysfunction than diabetes. As they frequently coexist together, future studies on patients with diabetes should also focus on obesity.

The Impact of Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Subtype on Mortality.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the prognostic implications of the clinical subtype of atrial fibrillation (AF): paroxysmal or persistent. BACKGROUND: Underlying structural abnormalities of the left atrium may be responsible for the initial clinical presentation of AF in either paroxysmal or persistent form, yet the prognostic implications of the clinical subtype on presentation are unknown. METHODS: Over a median of 7 years, 1,773 patients (age 64 ± 12 years, 74% males) with nonvalvular AF with index presentations for paroxysmal or persistent AF were followed for the occurrence of all-cause mortality. Clinical information including cardiovascular risk factors, comorbid diseases associated with AF, and CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 [double weight], diabetes, stroke [double weight], vascular disease, age 65-74, and sex category [female]) score was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, 1,005 patients (57%) had persistent AF. Eighty patients (10%) with paroxysmal AF and 174 patients (17%) with persistent AF died during the follow-up period. Persistent AF compared with paroxysmal AF upon initial AF diagnosis was independently associated with worse survival independent of the CHA2DS2-VASc score and other high-risk cardiovascular risk factors (hazard ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.11 to 1.38). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with nonvalvular AF, persistent AF compared with paroxysmal AF upon first diagnosis is independently associated with increased mortality.

Left ventricular function and contractile reserve in patients with hypertension.

Aims: An impaired contractile reserve (CR) may be an early manifestation of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients. Using normotensive patients as controls, we examined LV CR and its correlates in hypertensive patients. Methods and results: One hundred and twenty-nine (68 men, aged 58.6 ± 9.5 years, 73 had hypertension) patients underwent dobutamine echocardiography. Patients with significant coronary or valvular disease, previous myocardial infarction or revascularization, and diabetes were excluded. LV ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), circumferential, and radial strain were measured at rest and at low-dose dobutamine. Absolute CR was calculated as the difference in LVEF and multi-directional strain between low-dose dobutamine and their corresponding resting values. Relative CR is the ratio of absolute CR to their corresponding resting values. Hypertensive patients, compared with controls, have significantly impaired GLS at rest (-16.8 ± 2.2% vs. -19.6 ± 1.5%, P < 0.0001) and at low-dose dobutamine (-17.9 ± 2.7% vs. -22.8 ± 2.6%, P < 0.0001). Absolute and relative GLS CR were significantly lower in hypertensive patients (-1.1 ± 2.1% vs. -3.2 ± 2.2% and 7.4 ± 13.9% vs. 16.4 ± 11.7%, respectively, both P < 0.001). Circumferential strain was preserved at rest but impaired at low-dose dobutamine in hypertensive patients (-23.0 ± 4.1% vs. -25.2 ± 3.4%, P = 0.002). There were no differences in LVEF or radial strain between the groups. LV wall thickness and systolic blood pressure correlated significantly with GLS at rest and at low-dose dobutamine. LV wall thickness is the only independent correlates of absolute CR. Conclusion: Compared with controls, hypertensive patients have impaired LV GLS at rest and impaired CR despite normal LVEF. Impaired CR correlated with LV wall thickness but independent of prevailing blood pressure.

Left atrial function to identify patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk of stroke: new insights from a large registry.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent risk factor for ischaemic stroke. The CHA2DS2-VASc is the most widely used risk stratification model; however, echocardiographic refinement may be useful, particularly in low risk AF patients. The present study examined the association between advanced echocardiographic parameters and ischaemic stroke, independent of CHA2DS2-VASc score. Methods and results: One thousand, three hundred and sixty-one patients (mean age 65±12 years, 74% males) with first diagnosis of AF and baseline transthoracic echocardiogram were followed by chart review for the occurrence of stroke over a mean of 7.9 years. Left atrial (LA) volumes, LA reservoir strain, P-wave to A' duration on tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI, reflecting total atrial conduction time), and left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) were evaluated in patients with and without stroke. The independent association of these echocardiographic parameters with the occurrence of ischaemic stroke was evaluated with Cox proportional hazard models. One-hundred patients (7%) developed an ischaemic stroke, representing an annualized stroke rate of 0.9%. The incident stroke rate in the year following the first diagnosis of AF was 2.6% in the entire population and higher than the remainder of the follow-up period. Left atrial reservoir (14.5% vs. 18.9%, P = 0.005) and conduit strains were reduced (10.5% vs. 13.5%, P = 0.013), and PA-TDI lengthened (166 ms vs. 141 ms, P < 0.001) in the stroke compared with non-stroke group, despite similar LV dimensions, LV ejection fraction, GLS, and LA volumes. Left atrial reservoir strain and PA-TDI were independently associated with risk of stroke in a model including CHA2DS2-VASc score, age, and anticoagulant use. Conclusion: The assessment of LA reservoir strain and PA-TDI on echocardiography after initial CHA2DS2-VASc scoring provides additional risk stratification for stroke and may be useful to guide decisions regarding anticoagulation for patients upon first diagnosis of AF.