Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Heart Failure.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3 PUFAs) have garnered increased attention as a therapeutic option in cardiovascular disease. Most of the research to date has focused on their lipid altering effects and clinical benefits in patients with coronary artery disease, however, there are data supporting their use in the treatment of heart failure. We review the mechanisms through which Ω-3 PUFAs exert their positive effects on the cardiovascular system and highlight the observational and treatment studies that assessed their effects in patients with heart failure.

Pharmacological Therapy Optimization for Heart Failure: A Practical Guide for the Internist.

Heart failure carries significant morbidity and mortality and affects a large population of patients cared for predominantly by primary care physicians. The complexity of managing heart failure patients is increasing as new therapies continue to emerge. This review outlines important clinical pearls and proposes strategies for optimization of medical therapy.

Relationship between arm span to height ratio, aortic root diameter, and systolic blood pressure in collegiate athletes.

Study objective: Sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of non-traumatic death in collegiate athletes. Marfan syndrome poses a risk for sudden cardiac death secondary to aortic root dilation leading to aortic dissection or rupture. Arm span to height ratio (ASHR) > 1.05 has been proposed as a screening tool for Marfan syndrome in pre-participation examinations (PPE) for collegiate athletes but limited data exists on the association between ASHR and aortic root diameter (ARD). This study examines the relationship between ASHR and ARD and assesses for predictors of ARD. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I University. Participants: 793 athletes across thirteen sports between 2012 and 2022 evaluated with PPE and screening echocardiogram. Interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measures: (1) Relationships between ASHR, SBP, BSA, and ARD amongst all athletes as well as stratified by ASHR >1.05 or ≤1.05 using univariate analysis. (2) Predictors of ARD using multivariate analysis using linear regression. Results: 143 athletes (18 %) had ASHRs > 1.05. Athletes with ASHR > 1.05 had higher ARD (2.99 cm) than athletes with ASHR ≤ 1.05 (2.85 cm). Weak correlations were noted between ASHR, ARD, and SBP. Multivariate analysis showed that BSA, male sex, and participation in swimming were predictors of ARD. ASHR was not predictive of ARD in regression analysis. Conclusions: These findings showed a tendency towards higher ARD in athletes with ASHR >1.05 but this observation was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis.

An Innovative Approach to the Diagnosis of Cardiac Angiosarcoma.

We present a case of a 32-year-old female presenting with shortness of breath and increasing oxygen requirements. Further imaging discovered a large mass extending circumferentially into the pericardium, cardiac wall, and chambers, involving the anterior and middle mediastinum. Direct tissue biopsy of the mass for a diagnosis was unsafe. Therefore, advanced flow cytometric analysis for tumor marker expression of the malignant effusion was used to differentiate the mass as a vascular sarcoma, consistent with cardiac angiosarcoma. Additionally, cytometric analysis for programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) was also performed; a study seldom investigated for angiosarcomas but may have advantages over immunohistochemical analysis.

Blood pressure characteristics of collegiate female athletes: A call for more focused attention on young women's health.

Background: There is a paucity of data describing the association between blood pressure (BP) and cardiac remodeling in female collegiate athletes. Methods: This retrospective cohort review describes the BP characteristics and echocardiographic features of female collegiate athletes during preparticipation evaluation. We evaluated data from 329 female athletes at two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities who underwent preparticipation evaluation that included medical history, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiography, and 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. BP values were divided into categories of normal, elevated, stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension based on 2017 ACC/AHA Guidelines. Left ventricular mass index was calculated and indexed to body surface area and further classified into concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy. Results: Normal BP values were noted in 184 (56%) female athletes, 88 (26.7%) had elevated BP and 57 (17.3%) had BP values indicating stage 1 or 2 hypertension. The majority of participants were white (n = 136, 73.9%). There was significantly higher body surface area in female athletes with higher BP values: 1.85 ± 0.18 in the stage 1 and 2 hypertension range, 1.82 ± 0.18 in the elevated BP range versus 1.73 ± 0.16 in the normal BP range (p < 0.001). Conclusions: There was a trend toward higher incidence of concentric and eccentric hypertrophy in athletes with higher than normal BP, however no statistical significance was noted. Elevated BP values were frequent among female collegiate athletes, and there is evidence of cardiac remodeling associated with higher BP values.

Preparticipation Cardiac Evaluation Findings in a Cohort of Collegiate Female Athletes.

Knowledge of cardiovascular adaptations in athletes has predominantly focused on males, with limited data available on females who compromise a substantial percentage of all collegiate athletes. A multicenter retrospective cohort review of preparticipation cardiovascular screening data of 329 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I female athletes was performed. This included physical exams, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms. Female athletes in class IB sports had elevated systolic blood pressure (p = 0.01). For electrocardiograms, 7 (2%) had abnormal findings: 100% were white; 6 of 7 (86%) participated in IIC sports. Black athletes had longer PR intervals (p ≤ 0.001), whereas white athletes had longer QTc and QRS durations (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Athletes in IC and IIC sports had longer QTc intervals (p = 0.01). For echocardiographic parameters, no differences were noted based on race. However, significant differences were noted based on classification of sport: athletes in class IC sports had higher left-atrial volume indexes and E/A ratios. Athletes in class IB and IIC had increased left-ventricular wall thicknesses and aortic root dimensions. In conclusion, among one of the largest cohorts of collegiate female athlete preparticipation cardiac screening data to date, significant differences in various parameters based on classification of sport and race were observed. These categorizations should be considered when interpreting cardiovascular screening in female collegiate athletes to improve screening and guide future research.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Optimization for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients (ROAD-HF): Rationale and Design.

INTRODUCTION: The long-term benefits of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on outcomes in patients with chronic congestive heart failure are well-known, making them one of the most widely prescribed medications. However, the administration of ACEIs/ARBs in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality secondary to worsening renal function (WRF). A decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during the treatment of ADHF has been associated with an increase in mortality proportional to the degree of WRF. AIM: The aim of our study is to determine whether withholding ACEIs/ARBs during the initial 72 h of admission in patients with ADHF will prevent WRF and allow more effective diuresis. METHODS: Four hundred and thirty patients will be randomized to the intervention (withholding ACEIs/ARBs) or control (continue/start ACEIs/ARBs) arms for 72 h. Primary outcomes include rates of acute kidney injury (AKI), patient global assessment, and change in kinetic eGFR over 72 h, while secondary outcomes include change in weight, fluid balance, change in signs and symptoms of congestion, change in renal function, change in urinary biomarkers (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 [TIMP-2] × insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 [IGFBP7]), patients experiencing treatment failure, hospital length of stay (LOS), cost analysis, mortality within 30 days, and hospital readmissions over 30 days and 1 year. CONCLUSION: This prospective clinical trial will prove if withholding ACEIs/ARBs will prevent AKI in ADHF. It will help us understand the complex interactions between the heart and kidney, and delineate the best treatment strategy for ADHF. Holding ACEIs/ARBs might help preserve renal function, and decrease hospital LOS, readmission rates, and cost of care in ADHF. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03695120.