The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Syncope Units Activities in Italy: A Report from the Italian Multidisciplinary Working Group on Syncope (GIMSI).

The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Syncope Units (SUs) Activities in Italy. Methods: Data about types of SU activities and admissions were obtained from 10 SUs throughout Italy, certified by the Italian Multidisciplinary Working Group on Syncope (GIMSI), from 10 March 2020 to 31 December 2020 and compared with the same time frame in 2019. Results: A remarkable reduction in overall non-invasive diagnostic tests (-67%; p < 0.001) and cardiac invasive procedure. Elective cardiac pacing procedures disclosed a significant decrease (-62.7%; p < 0.001); conversely, the decrease of urgent procedures was not significant (-50%; p = 0.08). There was a significantly increased rate of patients who underwent both telemedicine follow-up visits (+225%, p < 0.001) and cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) remote monitoring follow-up visits (+100%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a remarkable decrease in all clinical activities of Syncope Units in Italy, including both non-invasive tests and cardiac invasive procedures; conversely, a significant increase in telehealth activities was shown.

Outcome of patients with elevated cardiac troponin I level after mild trauma.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether increased c-Tnl in patients suffering from mild trauma without cardiac disease may be prognostic for future cardiac events. Consecutive patients suffering from mild trauma were recruited and evaluated for levels of creatinine, creatine-kinase (CK) and c-Tnl. Patients with elevated c-Tnl were selected and followed up for six months for cardiac events (cardiac death, Myocardial Infarction, Acute Coronary Syndromes, cardiac syncope, pacemaker or Intracardiac Device Implantation, Percutaneous Cardiac Intervention, and aortic-coronary bypass). No relationship was found between levels of c-Tnl and CK or creatinine. Patients with elevated c-Tnl suffered significantly more of cardiac events than did patients with normal levels of c-Tnl. Increased of c-Tnl in patients experiencing mild trauma but not cardiac diseases may be a preclinic index of future cardiac disease.

Persistence of baroreceptor control of cerebral blood flow velocity at a simulated altitude of 5000 m.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of acute exposure to simulated high altitude on baroreflex control of mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCFV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared beat-to-beat changes in RR interval, arterial blood pressure, mean MCFV (by transcranial Doppler velocimetry in the middle cerebral artery), end-tidal CO2, oxygen saturation and respiration in 19 healthy subjects at baseline (Albuquerque, 1779 m), after acute exposure to simulated high altitude in a hypobaric chamber (barometric pressure as at 5000 m) and during oxygen administration (to achieve 100% oxygen saturation) at the same barometric pressure (HOX). Baroreflex control on each signal was assessed by univariate and bivariate power spectral analysis performed on time series obtained during controlled (15 breaths/min) breathing, before and during baroreflex modulation induced by 0.1-Hz sinusoidal neck suction. RESULTS: At baseline, neck suction was able to induce a clear increase in low-frequency power in MCFV (P<0.001) as well as in RR and blood pressure. At high altitude, MCFV, as well as RR and blood pressure, was still able to respond to neck suction (all P<0.001), compared to controlled breathing alone, despite marked decreases in end-tidal CO2 and oxygen saturation at high altitude. A similar response was obtained at HOX. Phase delay analysis excluded a passive transmission of low-frequency oscillations from arterial pressure to cerebral circulation. CONCLUSIONS: During acute exposure to high altitude, cerebral blood flow is still modulated by the autonomic nervous system through the baroreflex, whose sensitivity is not affected by changes in CO2 and oxygen saturation levels.

Hypertensive emergencies: a new clinical approach.

The expression 'hypertensive urgencies' includes many diseases. The unifying features of these diseases are a high level of arterial pressure and acute distress of one or more organs. The aim of the review was to define the idea of the 'acute hypertension' as a new concept, different from 'chronic hypertension'. Acute hypertension might be related to 'organ damage' because it is the cause, the consequence or an effect of the acute stress. We compounded a narrative review which has included analyses of 373 articles. The structure of the search strategy included a literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases. We applied the following inclusion criteria: prospective double-blind randomised controlled trials, experimental animal work studies, case-control studies and recruiting patients representative of the general sick population. In this review, the diseases included in the term 'hypertensive emergencies' share 'acute' hypertension. This is a new idea that emphasises the suddenly increased arterial pressure, irrespective of the initial arterial pressure and independent of the goals of hypertension control. The 'hypertensive emergencies' have been grouped together in three subsets: (1) diseases that result from acute hypertension that is caused by faulty regulation of the peripheral circulation (acute primary hypertension), (2) diseases that produce hypertension (acute secondary hypertension) and 3) diseases that have hypertension as an effect of the acute stress caused by the principle disease (acute associated hypertension). This review highlights a novel idea: acute hypertension is a common sign of different diseases characterised by the sudden surge of arterial pressure, so overwhelming the difference between hypertensive emergencies and urgencies. The judgment of acute hypertension is independent of the initial arterial pressure, normotension or hypertension and is linked with the transient failure of the baroreflex. Hypertensive emergencies are grouped together because all of these diseases require prompt therapy to prevent the negative outcomes of acute hypertension.

Recurrent syncope in patients with carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

Syncope recurrence in pacemaker-implanted subjects for the cardio-inhibitory response to sinus carotid massage (SCM) was investigated. The study-hypothesis was that recurrences had significant vasodepressor responses that could justify the loss of consciousness. Forty-six patients were enrolled (16 patients and 30 controls), followed and revaluated after 5-7 years. At the end of follow-up, significant differences were found between patients and controls in mean SCM SAP (87 versus 106 mmHg) and reduction in mean SCM SAP (59 versus 38 mmHg); in the number of symptomatic subjects soon after SCM (5 versus 1); and in the number of subjects suffering from orthostatic hypotension. A subgroup of 13 patients showed significantly different hypotensive responses to SCM compared with the values observed at study recruitment. The data showed that some subjects with a defined hemodynamic pattern in response to SCM may change their characteristics and have spontaneous and/or provocative symptoms. These data explain the syncopal relapses, and suggest the presence of autonomic dysregulation in individuals with carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

What Happens before Syncope? Study of the Time Frame Preceding Vasovagal Syncope.

Objective. The events characterizing the very last part of the vasovagal crisis has not been determined. The aim of the study was to analyze the variations in respiratory pattern preceding the vaso-vagal syncope full-blown and the relationship between cardiovascular functions in order to assess the temporal sequence. Methods. Eleven consecutive patients were studied. Heart rate, arterial pressure, respiratory frequency, tidal volume, carbon dioxide, and oxygen saturation in time domain from supine and standing recordings were analyzed. Results. The respiratory activity is different in the time frame preceding syncope, both in V(T) and breathing rate, and that the increase of the lung ventilation does not influence the baroreflex control during the presyncopal period but may be cause of the baroreflex failure during the full-blown syncope.

Upper Digestive Bleeding in Atrial Fibrillation: Evaluation of Gastroscopy Prior to Oral Anticoagulant Therapy (GOAT), Prospective, Randomized, Double Blind Study on a Community Population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of digestive hemorrhages in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), scheduled for oral anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: We conducted, over 24 months, a prospective, randomized, population-based observational study on consecutive patients with recurrent paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent NVAF, scheduled for oral anticoagulant therapy. The study initially included 268 patients with NVAF (162 males and 106 females) with a mean age of 74 years (range 42-86 years). Patients were split into two groups: those undergoing preventive Esophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (EGD) (Group A) and those who did not (Group B). All patients positive by EGD underwent medical treatment and subsequent 30-day endoscopic controls showed complete healing. The primary outcome of the study was to determine if previous EGD in patients with NVAF resulted in a low risk of bleeding during oral anticoagulant therapy. The two groups were comparable for most variables. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between groups for the incidence of antiarrhythmic drugs and for early hemorrhage (P <0.001). The incidences of early hemorrhages were significantly different between the two groups with 12 in group B (12%) and 2 in group A (1.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Preventive EGD can identify hidden digestive diseases, which may increase the incidence of early hemorrhages.

Compliance with therapy in hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated pharmacological compliance in hypertensive patients recruited during a 24-month period at the Hypertension Clinic of the S. Maria Nuova Hospital. METHODS: The compliance profile scale was developed in order to classify compliance as sufficient, or poor. Compliance was evaluated according to patients' (1) global cardiovascular risk (hypertensive) and (2) complexity of prescribed treatment at enrolment (drug, number of pills). RESULTS: A total of 367 patients were recruited; 82 were excluded owing to changes in therapeutic schedule or medication necessitated by other medical or surgical disease. Compliance was evaluated in 285 patients, 66% were male; the mean age was 72 +/- 12 years. Compliance was evaluated at a series of follow-ups at 3-month intervals and at 36 months of observation. Compliance at 36 months was good or sufficient in 56% of patients, but differed according to hypertensive and drug status. Compliance was better in patients with a higher level vs. lower level of hypertension severity. Specifically, compliance was better in hypertensives with co-morbidity (76%) than in hypertensives without co-morbidity (37%) or hypertensives with risk factors (65%). Moreover, compliance was better in patients with a more complex therapeutic regimen (drug 1 through 3: 47, 59 and 66%). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a relationship between disease severity and compliance, independent of the prescribed therapeutic regimen. This suggests that the most important factor for therapy adherence is disease awareness and severity, and patients with a higher level of disease are more likely to be compliant.

Postural hypotension in hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension (Hypo-Hyper) has been reported in previous studies on selected populations. The present longitudinal study aimed to characterize the haemodynamic patterns, comorbidity, prognostic implications and eventual effect of therapy in patients with the Hypo-Hyper pattern. METHODS: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (AMAP) and clinical evaluation were performed on 615 consecutive patients recruited from the Hypertension Clinics of five Italian Hospitals: 34 patents were identified as Hypo-Hyper, and underwent 10-month follow-up. RESULTS: The incidence of the Hypo-Hyper pattern was 5.5% in the hypertensives studied. Hypo-Hyper was more frequent in the elderly (mean age 58 years), and the affected population exhibited different kinds of underlying pathologies. Multivariate analysis showed no association between antihypertensive treatment and Hypo-Hyper pattern. Patients with AMAP features of higher blood pressure values at night-time than at daytime displayed higher rates of myocardial hypertrophy and pacemaker implantation during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study design did not aim to identify any pathophysiological mechanism for Hypo-Hyper pattern, these first data show that the Hypo-Hyper association is the effect of a particular subtype of hypertension, with significantly different prognostic implications.

Plasma volume and hematocrit changes in recurrent fainters.

The pooling of blood in the limbs is the beginning of a chain of events which brings about the reflex syncope. Observations have confirmed that the reduction of plasma volume is also a factor pathogenetically determinant in the provocation of a faint. During orthostatic stress, plasma volume shifts towards the interstitial spaces of the infra-diaphragmatic vascular network, thus, contributing greatly to the reduction in the circulating volume. The aim of the present study was to calculate whether during orthostasis there was indeed a reduction in plasma volume and to what extent in a population at high risk for fainting. A comparative study of 50 recurrent fainters and 37 controls was performed. Each group was studied both in a supine (before) and orthostatic (after) position. Blood samples were taken to determine the hematocrit and hemoglobin values. The percentage variation of these values was calculated in order to obtain the reduction in plasma volume, i. e., the expression of the amount of plasma accumulated in the interstitial spaces. A significant difference in hematocrit and hemoglobin variation (before vs. after) was found between patients and controls. Plasma volume variation before vs. after (17.1 % in patients vs. 8.6 % in controls) was then calculated using these measurements. The difference in plasma volume variation between patients and controls can be interpreted as a co-factor together with the pooling of plasma in the pathogenesis of reflex fainting. This study illustrates an easy way to evaluate the role of plasma volume reduction in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope.

Impaired sympathetic regulation of cerebral blood flow in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Continuous recording of mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCBFV) by Doppler ultrasound allows detection of low-frequency (LF) oscillations, which reflect sympathetic activity in the cerebral circulation. To establish whether the sympathetic drive to the cerebral circulation is altered in patients with compensated cirrhosis, and, if so, where alterations take place, LF oscillations of MCBFV, heart rate (RR interval) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) were analysed in 10 patients with cirrhosis and 10 control subjects during supine rest and on stimulation of carotid baroreceptors using a neck chamber applying sinusoidal suction. Bivariate analysis was used to study the relationship between pairs of oscillations. In the case of a significant association, the delay in the appearance of the oscillation in MCBFV, SAP and RR was calculated. Baroreceptor stimulation induced significant increases in SAP LF and RR LF power in both groups, while MCBFV LF power increased only in controls. During baroreceptor stimulation, the lag phase between SAP LF and MCBFV LF power was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than in control subjects (0.96 compared with 1.59 rad; P<0.01), indicating altered sympathetic regulation of the cerebral circulation. The baroreflex arc was intact, as indicated by the similar pattern of RR-SAP interval in patients and controls. Plasma noradrenaline levels increased significantly in both groups in response to head-up tilt. These results indicate that patients with cirrhosis have an altered sympathetic regulation of the cerebral circulation that is characterized by an inadequate response of resistance microvessels, despite adequate baroreceptor function.