Clinical and prognostic implications of left ventricular dilatation in heart failure.

AIMS: To assess the agreement between left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index (LVEDDi) and volume index (LVEDVi) to define LV dilatation and to investigate the respective prognostic implications in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with HF symptoms and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were evaluated retrospectively. LV dilatation was defined as LVEDDi or LVEDVi above the upper normal limit according to published reference values. Patients were followed-up for the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization during 5 years. A total of 564 patients (median age 64 years; 79% men) were included. LVEDDi had a modest correlation with LVEDVi (r = 0.682, p < 0.001). LV dilatation was noted in 84% of patients using LVEDVi-based definition and in 73% using LVEDDi-based definition, whereas 20% of patients displayed discordant definitions of LV dilatation. During a median follow-up of 2.8 years, patients with both dilated LVEDDi and LVEDVi had the highest cumulative event rate (HR 3.00, 95% CI 1.15-7.81, p = 0.024). Both LVEDDi and LVEDVi were independently associated with the primary outcome (hazard ratio 3.29, 95%, p < 0.001 and 2.8, p = 0.009; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with HF and LVEF < 50% present both increased LVEDDi and LVEDVi whereas 20% show discordant linear and volumetric definitions of LV dilatation. Patients with increased LVEDDi and LVEDVi have the worst clinical outcomes suggesting that the assessment of these two metrics is needed for better risk stratification.

Clinical profile and outcome of recurrent infective endocarditis.

AIMS: Purpose of this study is to compare the clinical course and outcome of patients with recurrent versus first-episode infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: Patients with recurrent and first-episode IE enrolled in the EUROpean ENDOcarditis (EURO-ENDO) registry including 156 centres were identified and compared using propensity score matching. Recurrent IE was classified as relapse when IE occurred ≤6 months after a previous episode or reinfection when IE occurred >6 months after the prior episode. RESULTS: 3106 patients were enrolled: 2839 (91.4%) patients with first-episode IE (mean age 59.4 (±18.1); 68.3% male) and 267 (8.6%) patients with recurrent IE (mean age 58.1 (±17.7); 74.9% male). Among patients with recurrent IE, 13.2% were intravenous drug users (IVDUs), 66.4% had a repaired or replaced valve with the tricuspid valve being more frequently involved compared with patients with first-episode IE (20.3% vs 14.1%; p=0.012). In patients with a first episode of IE, the aortic valve was more frequently involved (45.6% vs 39.5%; p=0.061). Recurrent relapse and reinfection were 20.6% and 79.4%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the microorganism most frequently observed in both groups (p=0.207). There were no differences in in-hospital and post-hospitalisation mortality between recurrent and first-episode IE. In patients with recurrent IE, in-hospital mortality was higher in IVDU patients. Independent predictors of poorer in-hospital and 1-year outcome, including the occurrence of cardiogenic and septic shock, valvular disease severity and failure to undertake surgery when indicated, were similar for recurrent and first-episode IE. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital and 1-year mortality was similar in patients with recurrent and first-episode IE who shared similar predictors of poor outcome.

Long-term antibiotic therapy in patients with surgery-indicated not undergoing surgery infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is little information regarding management of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) that did not undergo an indicated surgery. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate prognosis of these patients treated with a long-term antibiotic treatment strategy, including oral long term suppressive antibiotic treatment in five referral centres with a multidisciplinary endocarditis team. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter study retrieved individual patient-level data from five referral centres in Spain. Among a total of 1797, 32 consecutive patients with IE were examined (median age 72 years; 78% males) who had not undergone an indicated surgery, but received long-term antibiotic treatment (LTAT) and were followed by a multidisciplinary endocarditis team, between 2011 and 2019. Primary outcomes were infection relapse and mortality during follow-up. RESULTS: Among 32 patients, 21 had IE associated with prostheses. Of the latter, 8 had an ascending aorta prosthetic graft. In 24 patients, a switch to long-term oral suppressive antibiotic treatment (LOSAT) was considered. The median duration of LOSAT was 277 days. Four patients experienced a relapse during follow-up. One patient died within 60 days, and 12 patients died between 60 days and 3 years. However, only 4 deaths were related to IE. CONCLUSIONS: The present study results suggest that a LTAT strategy, including LOSAT, might be considered for patients with IE that cannot undergo an indicated surgery. After hospitalization, they should be followed by a multidisciplinary endocarditis team.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a virtual community of practice to improve the empowerment of patients with ischaemic heart disease: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP) or knowledge-sharing virtual communities offer ubiquitous access to information and exchange possibilities for people in similar situations, which might be especially valuable for the self-management of patients with chronic diseases. In view of the scarce evidence on the clinical and economic impact of these interventions on chronic conditions, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a VCoP in the improvement of the activation and other patient empowerment measures in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial will be performed in Catalonia, Madrid and Canary Islands, Spain. Two hundred and fifty patients with a recent diagnosis of IHD attending the participating centres will be selected and randomised to the intervention or control group. The intervention group will be offered participation for 12 months in a VCoP based on a gamified web 2.0 platform where there is interaction with other patients and a multidisciplinary professional team. Intervention and control groups will receive usual care. The primary outcome will be measured with the Patient Activation Measure questionnaire at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Secondary outcomes will include: clinical variables; knowledge (Questionnaire of Cardiovascular Risk Factors), attitudes (Self-efficacy Managing Chronic Disease Scale), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Questionnaire), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety Scale-A), medication adherence (Adherence to Refill Medication Scale), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) and health resources use. Data will be collected from self-reported questionnaires and electronic medical records. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid, Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and IDIAP Jordi Gol in Barcelona. The results will be disseminated through workshops, policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications, local/international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03959631). Pre-results.

Mortalidad a corto y largo plazo de pacientes con indicación quirúrgica no intervenidos en el curso de la endocarditis infecciosa izquierda / Short- and long-term mortality in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis not undergoing surgery despite indication

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: En endocarditis infecciosa (EI), la decisión quirúrgica es difícil. Un alto porcentaje de pacientes con indicación quirúrgica no son intervenidos. El objetivo fue evaluar el pronóstico a corto y largo plazo de los pacientes con indicación quirúrgica, comparando los que se sometieron a cirugía con los que no lo hicieron. MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 271 pacientes con EI izquierda e indicación quirúrgica tratados en el centro desde 2003 a 2018. Ochenta y tres pacientes (31%) no fueron finalmente operados. El objetivo primario fue la mortalidad a 60 días y el secundario desde el día 61 a los 3 años de seguimiento. Se realizó regresión de Cox multivariable y emparejamiento por puntuación de propensión. RESULTADOS: A los 60 días, 40 (21,3%) pacientes operados y 53 (63,9%) pacientes no intervenidos fallecieron (p <0,001). El riesgo de mortalidad a 60 días fue superior en los pacientes no intervenidos (HR = 3,59; IC95%, 2,16-5,96; p <0,001). La ausencia de diagnóstico microbiológico, la insuficiencia cardiaca, el shock y el bloqueo auriculoventricular fueron otros predictores independientes del objetivo primario. Del día 61 a los 3 años del seguimiento no hubo diferencias significativas del riesgo de muerte entre el grupo operado y los no intervenidos (HR = 1,89; IC95%, 0,68-5,19; p = 0,220). Las variables independientes asociadas con el objetivo secundario fueron los antecedentes de EI, diabetes mellitus y el índice de Charlson. Los resultados fueron consistentes tras el emparejamiento por puntuación de propensión. CONCLUSIONES: Dos tercios de los pacientes con indicación quirúrgica no intervenidos fallecieron antes de 60 días. Entre los supervivientes, la mortalidad a largo plazo depende más de factores relacionados con comorbilidad previa que del tratamiento recibido durante el ingreso

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In infective endocarditis (IE), decisions on surgical interventions are challenging and a high percentage of patients with surgical indication do not undergo these procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term prognosis of patients with surgical indication, comparing those who underwent surgery with those who did not. METHODS: We included 271 patients with left-sided IE treated at our institution from 2003 to 2018 and with an indication for surgery. There were 83 (31%) surgery-indicated not undergoing surgery patients with left-sided infective endocarditis (SINUS-LSIE). The primary outcome was all-cause death by day 60 and the secondary outcome was all-cause death from day 61 to 3 years of follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression and propensity score matching were used for the analysis. RESULTS: At the 60-day follow-up, 40 (21.3%) surgically-treated patients and 53 (63.9%) SINUS-LSIE patients died (P <.001). Risk of 60-day mortality was higher in SINUS-LSIE patients (HR, 3.59; 95%CI, 2.16-5.96; P <.001). Other independent predictors of the primary endpoint were unknown etiology, heart failure, atrioventricular block, and shock. From day 61 to the 3-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in the risk of death between surgically-treated and SINUS-LSIE patients (HR, 1.89; 95%CI, 0.68-5.19; P=.220). Results were consistent after propensity score matching. Independent variables associated with the secondary endpoint were previous IE, diabetes mellitus, and Charlson index. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of SINUS-LSIE patients died within 60 days. Among survivors, the long-term mortality depends more on host conditions than on the treatment received during admission

Short- and long-term mortality in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis not undergoing surgery despite indication.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In infective endocarditis (IE), decisions on surgical interventions are challenging and a high percentage of patients with surgical indication do not undergo these procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term prognosis of patients with surgical indication, comparing those who underwent surgery with those who did not. METHODS: We included 271 patients with left-sided IE treated at our institution from 2003 to 2018 and with an indication for surgery. There were 83 (31%) surgery-indicated not undergoing surgery patients with left-sided infective endocarditis (SINUS-LSIE). The primary outcome was all-cause death by day 60 and the secondary outcome was all-cause death from day 61 to 3 years of follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression and propensity score matching were used for the analysis. RESULTS: At the 60-day follow-up, 40 (21.3%) surgically-treated patients and 53 (63.9%) SINUS-LSIE patients died (P <.001). Risk of 60-day mortality was higher in SINUS-LSIE patients (HR, 3.59; 95%CI, 2.16-5.96; P <.001). Other independent predictors of the primary endpoint were unknown etiology, heart failure, atrioventricular block, and shock. From day 61 to the 3-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in the risk of death between surgically-treated and SINUS-LSIE patients (HR, 1.89; 95%CI, 0.68-5.19; P=.220). Results were consistent after propensity score matching. Independent variables associated with the secondary endpoint were previous IE, diabetes mellitus, and Charlson index. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of SINUS-LSIE patients died within 60 days. Among survivors, the long-term mortality depends more on host conditions than on the treatment received during admission.

Síndrome de Austrian complicado con absceso perianular mitral / Austrian syndrome complicated with a periannular mitral abscess

No disponible

Factores asociados y análisis descriptivo de la endocarditis infecciosa adquiridaen el entorno hospitalario de un centro terciario de referencia / Associated factors and descriptive analysis of healthcare-related infective endocarditis in a tertiary reference hospital

Introducción y objetivos: Nuestro objetivo primario es evaluar los factores asociados, las manifestaciones clínicas y el pronóstico de la endocarditis infecciosa adquirida en el entorno hospitalario comparándola con la adquirida en la comunidad y en usuarios de drogas por vía parenteral. Como objetivo secundario se analizan cambios ocurridos en el tiempo en la distribución de la endocarditis infecciosa adquirida en el entorno hospitalario. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo observacional y comparativo que incluyó los casos de endocarditis desde enero de 2003 a junio de 2010 y se clasiflcaron en 2 grupos; grupo 1: comunidad y usuarios de drogas por vía parenteral, y grupo 2: adquirida en el entorno hospitalario (nosocomial y nosohusial).Los episodios fueron clasiflcados en 2 periodos (periodo I: enero de 2003-junio de 2006, y periodo II: juliode 2006-junio de 2010). Se efectuó un análisis univariado y multivariado. Resultados: Se incluyeron 212 episodios (grupo 1: 138; grupo 2: 74). La edad (OR, 1,026; IC del 95%,1,003-1,049), el índice de Charlson (OR, 1,242; IC del 95%, 1,067-1,445) y la cirugía cardiaca previa (OR,2,522; IC del 95%, 1,353-4,701) fueron variables asociadas a la endocarditis infecciosa adquirida en el entorno hospitalario en el estudio multivariado. Se observó un incremento no signiflcativo de casos de endocarditis infecciosa adquirida en el entorno hospitalario en el periodo II (40/104; 38,4% vs. 34/108;31,4%).Conclusiones: El incremento reciente de la endocarditis infecciosa adquirida en el entorno hospitalario se asocia sin duda al intervencionismo sobre pacientes mayores, portadores de prótesis valvular cardíaca y que además tienen un mayor número de enfermedades de base, entre las que destaca la insuflciencia renal crónica en hemodiálisis (AU)

Introduction and objectives: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate associated factors, clinical features and prognosis of healthcare-related infective endocarditis cases compared with community acquired and intravenous drug user-related episodes. Changes in the distribution of healthcare-related infective endocarditis were also analysed over time in our setting. Methods: A prospective, observational, comparative study was performed. We included all the cases of infective endocarditis from January 2003 to June 2010, which were then classifled into 2 groups: group 1:community-acquired and intravenous drug user origin, and group 2: nosocomial and non-nosocomial healthcare-related cases. The episodes were classifled into 2 periods: period I: January/2003-June/2006and period II: July/2006-June 2010. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: A total of 212 cases were included (group 1: 138, group 2: 74). The variables of age (risk ratio1.026; 95% CI, 1.003 to 1.049), Charlson index (risk radio 1.242; 95% CI, 1.067 to 1.445), and previous heartsurgery (risk ratio 2.522; 95% CI, 1.353 to 4.701) were independently associated with healthcare-related infective endocarditis on multivariate analysis. A non-signiflcant increase was observed in health carerelated cases of infective endocarditis in period II (40/104; 38.4% vs. 34/108; 31.4%).Conclusions: The recent increase in healthcare-related infective endocarditis seems to be associated with the use of invasive procedures in elderly patients with prosthetic cardiac valve, and those with a greater number of underlying diseases, especially patients with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis (AU)

[Associated factors and descriptive analysis of healthcare-related infective endocarditis in a tertiary reference hospital]. / Factores asociados y análisis descriptivo de la endocarditis infecciosa adquirida en el entorno hospitalario de un centro terciario de referencia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate associated factors, clinical features and prognosis of healthcare-related infective endocarditis cases compared with community-acquired and intravenous drug user-related episodes. Changes in the distribution of healthcare-related infective endocarditis were also analysed over time in our setting. METHODS: A prospective, observational, comparative study was performed. We included all the cases of infective endocarditis from January 2003 to June 2010, which were then classified into 2 groups: group 1: community-acquired and intravenous drug user origin, and group 2: nosocomial and non-nosocomial healthcare-related cases. The episodes were classified into 2 periods: period I: January/2003-June/2006 and period II: July/2006-June 2010. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 212 cases were included (group 1: 138, group 2: 74). The variables of age (risk ratio 1.026; 95%CI, 1.003 to 1.049), Charlson index (risk radio 1.242; 95%CI, 1.067 to 1.445), and previous heart surgery (risk ratio 2.522; 95%CI, 1.353 to 4.701) were independently associated with healthcare-related infective endocarditis on multivariate analysis. A non-significant increase was observed in healthcare-related cases of infective endocarditis in period II (40/104; 38.4% vs. 34/108; 31.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The recent increase in healthcare-related infective endocarditis seems to be associated with the use of invasive procedures in elderly patients with prosthetic cardiac valve, and those with a greater number of underlying diseases, especially patients with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis.

[Ventricular tachycardia and long QT associated with clarithromycin administration in a patient with HIV infection]. / Taquicardia ventricular y QT largo asociados a la administración de claritromicina en un paciente afectado de infección por el VIH.

Prolongation of the QT interval is associated with a high risk of serious ventricular tachyarrhythmias, usually torsade de pointes (TdP) polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, although monomorphic ventricular tachycardia may also develop. Both congenital and acquired forms have been reported, acquired forms being much more prevalent. An association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and a higher rate of dilated cardiomyopathy has also been recognized. The severity of immunodeficiency seems to influence both the incidence and severity of cardiomyopathy. A higher prevalence of QT prolongation has been reported among hospitalized HIV-positive patients with HIV infection, possibly related to drugs prescribed for such patients or to an acquired form of long QT syndrome arising from HIV infection. We report a case of QT prolongation and development of ventricular arrhythmia in one HIV patient that started with intravenous clarithromycin and cotrimoxazole therapy.

Taquicardia ventricular y QT largo asociados a la administración de claritromicina en un paciente afectado de infección por el VIH / Ventricular tachycardia and long QTassociated with clarithromycin administration in a patient with HIV infection

Se conoce que la prolongación del intervalo QT está asociada con un alto riesgo a desarrollar arritmias ventriculares, frecuentemente taquicardias ventriculares polimórficas tipo torsade de pointes (TdP), aunque también de tipo monomórfico. Se han descrito formas primarias y secundarias, siendo éstas las más frecuentes. Por otra parte, existe relación entre la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y una mayor incidencia de miocardiopatía dilatada. El grado de inmunodeficiencia parece influir tanto sobre la incidencia como sobre la gravedad de la cardiopatía. Se ha descrito una mayor prevalencia de QT largo entre pacientes hospitalizados positivos para el VIH, lo que podría estar en relación con diferentes tratamientos administrados, o asociado a una forma adquirida propia de este grupo de pacientes.Describimos un caso de prolongación del intervalo QT con inducción de arritmia ventricular en un paciente VIH positivo tras iniciar tratamiento con claritromicina y cotrimoxazol por vía intravenosa (AU)