An Unusual Case of Lyme Carditis With Persistent Third-Degree Heart Block.

Lyme's carditis and neuroborreliosis are common manifestation of disseminated Lyme disease. However, third-degree atrioventricular blocks with Lyme's carditis requiring permanent pacemaker with neuroborreliosis and Lyme's disease-associated immunodeficiency are uncommon. Here we present a case of 64-year-old female presenting with neurological symptoms and electrocardiogram changes suggestive of complete heart block with no improvement in the degree of heart block with intravenous antibiotics, requiring permanent pacemaker implantation and course complicated by fungemia.

Type I Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) Followed by Type II in a Young Patient With Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Presented With Hypertensive Emergency: A Case Report.

This article presents a case report highlighting the association between fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and acute myocardial infarction in a 25-year-old female patient with multiple cardiovascular comorbidities. Initially presenting with a hypertensive emergency, the patient subsequently developed acute coronary syndrome. MRI revealed irregular narrowing of the bilateral renal arteries, consistent with a diagnosis of FMD. Further evaluation through cardiac catheterization confirmed 95% stenosis of the mid-circumflex artery, necessitating percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Fibromuscular dysplasia has been frequently reported in conjunction with coronary artery dissection leading to acute coronary syndrome, especially in young females. Here, we describe the case of FMD without any coronary artery dissection. The presence of FMD highlights the need for comprehensive evaluation and management in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The recognition of FMD as an underlying pathology in acute myocardial infarction is crucial for appropriate intervention strategies. In this particular case, PCI was successfully performed to address the significant stenosis of the mid-circumflex artery. These findings emphasize the importance of considering FMD as a potential contributing factor in young patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, particularly in the context of renal artery involvement. Increased awareness among healthcare providers regarding the association between FMD and acute myocardial infarction can aid in prompt diagnosis, appropriate management, and improved patient outcomes.

Differences in the Clinical Outcome of Ischemic and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in Heart Failure With Concomitant Opioid Use Disorder.

Heart Failure (HF) and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) independently have significant impact on patients and the United States (US) health system. In the setting of the opioid epidemic, research on the effects of OUD on cardiovascular diseases is rapidly evolving. However, no study exists on differential outcomes of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) in patients with HF with OUD. We performed a retrospective, observational cohort study using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2018-2020 databases. Patients aged 18 years and above with diagnoses of HF with concomitant OUD were included. Patients were further classified into ICM and NICM. Primary outcome of interest was differences in all- cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome was incidence of cardiogenic shock. We identified 99,810 hospitalizations that met inclusion criteria, ICM accounted for 27%. Mean age for ICM was higher compared to NICM (63 years vs 56 years, P < 0.01). Compared to NICM, patients with ICM had higher cardiovascular disease risk factors and comorbidities; type 2 diabetes mellitus (46.3 % vs 30.1%, P < 0.01), atrial fibrillation/flutter (33.5% vs 29.9%, P < 0.01), hyperlipidemia (52.5% vs 28.9%, P < 0.01), and Charlson comorbidity index ≥5 was 46.7% versus 29.7%, P < 0.01. After controlling for covariates and potential confounders, we observed higher odds of all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients with NICM (aOR = 1.36; 95% CI:1.03-1.78, P = 0.02). There was no statistical significant difference in incidence of cardiogenic shock between ICM and NICM (aOR = 0.86;95% CI 0.70-1.07, P = 0.18). In patients with HF with concomitant OUD, we found a 36% increase in odds of all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients with NICM compared to ICM despite being younger in age with less comorbidities. There was no difference in odds of in-hospital cardiogenic shock in this study population. This study contributes to the discussion of OUD and cardiovascular diseases which is rapidly developing and requires further prospective studies.

Trends in incidence and clinical outcome of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in patients with amyloidosis in the United States, 2010-2020.

Study objective: To assess temporal changes in clinical profile and in-hospital outcome of patients with amyloidosis presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, NSTEMI. Design/setting: We conducted a retrospective observational study using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Main outcomes: Primary outcome of interest was trend in adjusted in-hospital mortality in patients with amyloidosis presenting with NSTEMI from 2010 to 2020. Our secondary outcomes were trend in rate of coronary revascularization, and trend in duration of hospitalization. Results: We identified 272,896 hospitalizations for amyloidosis. There was a temporal increase in incidence of NSTEMI among patients aged 18-44 years from 15.5 % to 28.0 %, a reverse trend was observed in 45-64 years: 22.1 % to 17.7 %, p = 0.043. There was no statistically significant difference in rate of coronary revascularization from 2010 to 2020; 16.3 % to 14.2 %, p = 0.86. We observed an increased odds of all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients with NSTEMI compared to those without NSTEMI (aOR = 2.2, 95 % CI: 1.9-2.6, p < 0.001) but there was a decrease trend in mortality from 21.5 % to 11.3 %, p = 0.013 for trend. Hospitalization duration was also observed to decreased from 14.1 days to 10.9 days during the study period (p = 0.055 for trend). Conclusion: In patients with amyloidosis presenting with NSTEMI, there was increased incidence of NSTEMI among young adults, a steady trend in coronary revascularization, and a decreasing trend of adjusted all-cause in-hospital mortality and length of hospitalization from 2010 to 2020 in the United States.

The Effects of Body Mass Index on In-Hospital Mortality and Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure: A Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND: ​​​​​​Heart failure (HF) remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. While many large-scale studies show a positive relationship between cardiovascular mortality and body mass index (BMI), several studies have also observed lower mortality rates among obese HF patients. Therefore, we sought to assess the impact of BMI on in-hospital outcomes in patients admitted with HF. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure (CHF) diagnosis between 2005 and 2014 were identified from the US National Inpatient Sample database using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic and procedural codes. The sample was divided into three groups based on their BMI. In-hospital outcomes were assessed in different groups and sub-groups. RESULTS:  We identified 8,674,190 patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of HF, out of which 1.8% had BMI between 30 and 39.9 kg/m2 and 3.7% had BMI >40 kg/m2. In-hospital mortality was reported in 5.6% of patients with BMI <30 kg/m2, compared to 2.3% in those with BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2 and 3.1% in the group with BMI >40 kg/m2. After adjusting for various confounders, in-hospital mortality was lower in those with BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2 than those with BMI <30 kg/m2 (OR 0.56; CI 0.51-0.62). Similarly, in-hospital mortality was lower in those with BMI >40 kg/m2 than those with BMI <30 (OR 0.87; CI 0.81-0.92). CONCLUSION: Even though this study supports the findings of previous smaller studies illustrating the existence of the "obesity paradox" in HF hospitalizations, the pathogenesis behind this paradoxical effect is still unclear.

Atrial Fibrillation as a Prognostic Indicator in Patients With Orthostatic Hypotension: Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis.

Background: Orthostatic hypotension and atrial fibrillation have common etiology and a bidirectional relationship with several cardiovascular conditions. Despite both conditions being highly prevalent in hospitalized patients, prior research has primarily evaluated adverse outcomes due to orthostatic hypotension and atrial fibrillation independent of each other. In this study, we aim to assess if the presence of atrial fibrillation exacerbates in-hospital outcomes of patients with orthostatic hypotension. Methods: Adult patients hospitalized in 2019 with a primary diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension with or without pre-existing atrial fibrillation were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code. The primary outcome of interest was in-patient mortality and cardiac arrest. Secondary outcomes of interest were the length of stay and total hospital charges. Adjusted and unadjusted analysis was performed on appropriate variables of interest. Results: Among 10,630 hospitalizations with orthostatic hypotension, 2,987 (median (interquartile range (IQR)) age: 78.5 (68.5 - 88.5) years; 1,197 women (40.1%)) comprised the atrial fibrillation cohort. Mean Charlson comorbidity index was noted to be significantly higher in orthostatic hypotension and atrial fibrillation patients (mean (standard deviation (SD)): 3.1 (2.1) vs. 2.5 (2.1), P < 0.001).Compared to orthostatic hypotension patients without atrial fibrillation, the prevalence of congestive heart failure (1,263 (42.3%) vs. 1,367 (17.9%)), coronary artery disease (1,432 (47.9%) vs. 2,481 (32.5%)), history of percutaneous coronary intervention or graft (443 (14.83%) vs. 860 (11.3%)), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (644 (21.6%) vs. 1,131 (14.8%)) , chronic kidney disease (1,182 (39.6%) vs. 2,216 (29.0%)), and hyperlipidemia (1,828 (61.2%) vs. 4,087 (53.5%); all P < 0.05), were significantly higher in orthostatic hypotension patients with atrial fibrillation. Following multivariable analysis of orthostatic hypotension patients, atrial fibrillation was associated with 5.0 times greater odds for cardiac arrest (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.0 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4 - 18.2), P = 0.014), without increased risk of in-hospital mortality (aOR = 2.1 (95% CI: 0.9 - 5.0), P = 0.090). Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation is an independent predictor for cardiac arrest but not in-hospital mortality in patients with orthostatic hypotension. The short- and long-term prognostic value of atrial fibrillation in orthostatic hypotension patients must be confirmed in future prospective trials to improve patient outcomes.

Effects of Substance Use Disorder on In-Hospital Outcomes of Young Patients Presenting With a Cardiovascular Event: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background Substance use is widely prevalent among young adults and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality such as sudden cardiac arrest, acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. However, they are limited studies analyzing the impact of substance use disorder on in-hospital outcomes among young patients with cardiovascular events. Methods All patients aged 18-39 years admitted primarily for major cardiovascular events including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, acute ischemic stroke, and venous thromboembolic events in 2019 were identified in the National Inpatient Sample database. They were then categorized into those with and without concomitant substance use disorder (SUD). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Unadjusted and adjusted analysis was performed on appropriate variables of interest. Results Of 57,985 hospitalizations with cardiac events, 12,115 (20%) of young adults had concomitant SUD. SUD was significantly associated with cardiac arrest (OR 3.3; CI 2.4-4.4), atrial fibrillation (OR 1.5; CI 1.3-1.7), AMI (OR 1.3; CI 1.2-1.6), heart failure (OR 2.6; CI 2.4-3.0) (all p<0.05) despite a lower prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors than non-users. Logistic regression showed acute kidney injury (aOR 1.5; CI 1.3-1.8; p<0.001) and inpatient mortality (aOR 1.6; CI 1.2-2.2; p<0.001) were also significantly higher in young patients presenting with cardiac events and concomitant SUD. There was no difference in the length of stay or incidence of gastrointestinal bleed between the two groups. Conclusion In young patients presenting with a cardiovascular event, concurrent substance use disorder was associated with increased in-hospital mortality despite significantly lower comorbidities.

Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea On In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample.

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is frequently seen with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, including hypertension, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and stroke. However, the impact of OSA on in-hospital outcomes of patients with AF is unclear. Methodology All patients aged ≥18 admitted primarily for AF between January 2016 and December 2017 were identified in the National Inpatient Sample database. They were then categorized into those with OSA and those without OSA. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Unadjusted and adjusted analysis was performed on appropriate variables of interest. Results Of 156,521 primary AF hospitalizations, 15% of the patients had OSA. Baseline characteristics revealed no race disparity between the two groups. However, compared to those without OSA, the OSA group was younger and had a significantly higher proportion of males, obesity, heart failure, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Long-term anticoagulation and inpatient cardioversion were also higher in the OSA group. Following propensity matching, inpatient mortality was similar between the two groups [0.54% in OSA vs. 0.51% in non-OSA; adjusted odds ratio = 1.06 (95% confidence interval = 0.82-1.35)]. Similarly, OSA was not significantly associated with acute kidney injury, cardiac arrest, gastrointestinal bleed, acute stroke, or length of stay. However, the OSA group was less anemic and required fewer in-hospital blood transfusions. Conclusions Although OSA is highly prevalent in AF patients, inpatient mortality and cardiovascular outcomes such as cardiac arrest, stroke, or major bleeding were similar in AF patients with or without concomitant OSA with no significant differences in length of stay.

Multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus faecium bacteraemia in a liver transplant recipient.

INTRODUCTION: Enterococcus faecium is a commensal organism commonly colonizing the human gastrointestinal tract. Although it is generally a non-virulent organism, E. faecium can cause significant morbidity and mortality due to its inherent and acquired resistances to commonly used antimicrobials. Patients who are immunosuppressed are particularly vulnerable. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-75-year-old patient with a history of an orthotopic liver transplant for hepatitis C infection and diabetes was re-admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and fever. The patient had several recent admissions related to the presentation reported here, which included treatment with a prolonged course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The patient was found to have a recurrent liver abscess and blood cultures grew vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, non-susceptible to all tested agents: ampicillin, penicillin, vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid. The patient was started initially on chloramphenicol intravenously while awaiting additional susceptibility testing, which ultimately revealed chloramphenicol non-susceptibility. Tigecycline was started but the patient ultimately decided to pursue hospice care. CONCLUSION: Multi-drug-resistant organisms are increasingly being recognized and are associated with poorer outcomes, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. We describe a particularly resistant organism and discuss potential therapeutic options.