Complex Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult.

Congenital heart disease (CHD), a heterogeneous group of structural abnormalities of the cardiovascular system, is the most frequent cause of severe birth defects. Related to improved pediatric outcomes, there are now more adults living with CHD, including complex lesions, than children. Adults with CHD are at high risk for complications related to their underlying anatomy and past surgical palliative interventions. Adults with CHD require close monitoring and proactive management strategies to improve outcomes.

Sonographic Evaluation of the Placenta in Fontan Patients: A Case Series.

Due to the advancements in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery and medical management, more individuals with congenital heart disease are reaching reproductive age. It is well established that individuals with Fontan circulation are at an increased risk for maternal and fetal adverse outcomes including maternal cardiovascular complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. Early onset of poor placental health likely related to chronically elevated central venous pressure/low cardiac output inherited to Fontan circulation may play a role in the development of these outcomes. In this case series, we present second-trimester placental imaging findings and pregnancy outcomes of three individuals with Fontan circulation who delivered at a tertiary center in the Southeastern United States.

Prospective Observational Study of N-terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Obese and Nonobese Women during Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a marker of ventricular dysfunction, varies by body mass index (BMI) outside of pregnancy. This study aimed to determine whether obesity affects NT-proBNP levels in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective observational study of healthy pregnant people in the third trimester (3TM) and postpartum (PP). Patients were excluded if they had significant medical comorbidities or if their fetuses had anomalies, growth restriction or aneuploidy. NT-proBNP was measured at 28 weeks (3TM), predelivery (PD), 1 to 2 days PP (immediate postpartum [IPP]), and 4 to 6 weeks PP (delayed postpartum [DPP]). LogNT-proBNP levels were analyzed using linear mixed effects models, including BMI < or ≥30, time, and time-by-BMI interactions. RESULTS: Fifty-five people (28 [51%] with BMI ≥ 30 and 27 [49%] with BMI < 30) were enrolled. A greater proportion of obese than nonobese subjects developed hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (50 vs. 15%, p = 0.010) and obese patients had higher systolic blood pressures at all time points (p < 0.05). NT-proBNP levels (median [interquartile range] in pg/mL) were 18 (6-28) versus 26 (17-48) at 3TM, 16 (3-38) versus 43 (21-60) at PD, 58 (20-102) versus 63 (38-155) at IPP, and 33 (27-56) versus 23 (8-42) at DPP for obese compared with nonobese patients. In linear mixed effects models, logNT-proBNP was lower in obese patients at 3TM (ß = -0.89 [95% confidence interval, CI: -1.51, -0.26]) and PD (ß = -1.05 [95% CI: -1.72, -0.38]). The logNT-proBNP trends over time differed by BMI category, with higher values in obese patients at both PP time points compared with the 3TM (IPP ß = 1.24 [95% CI: 0.75, 1.73]; DPP ß = 1.08 [95% CI: 0.52, 1.63]), but only IPP for nonobese patients (ß = 0.87 [95% CI: 0.36, 1.38]). CONCLUSION: Obese patients had lower NT-proBNP levels than nonobese patients during pregnancy but not PP. The prolonged PP elevation in NT-proBNP in obese patients suggests that their PP cardiac recovery may be more prolonged. KEY POINTS: · NT-proBNP levels are lower in obese than nonobese patients during pregnancy.. · Levels remain elevated in obese, but not nonobese, patients up to 4 to 6 weeks' postpartum.. · A lower threshold for concern regarding NT-proBNP levels may be needed in obese pregnant people..

Comparison of severe maternal morbidity in pregnancy by modified World Health Organization Classification of maternal cardiovascular risk.

BACKGROUND: To compare rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) for pregnant patients with a cardiac diagnosis classified by the modified World Health Organization (mWHO) classification to those without a cardiac diagnosis. METHODS: This retrospective study using the 2015-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database identified hospitalizations, comorbidities, and outcomes using diagnosis and procedure codes. The primary exposure was cardiac diagnosis, classified into low-risk (mWHO class I and II) and moderate-to-high-risk (mWHO class II/III, III, or IV). The primary outcome was SMM or death during the delivery hospitalization; secondary outcomes included cardiac-specific SMM during delivery hospitalizations and readmissions after the delivery hospitalization. RESULTS: A weighted national estimate of 14,995,122 delivery admissions was identified, including 46,541 (0.31%) with mWHO I-II diagnoses and 37,330 (0.25%) with mWHO II/III-IV diagnoses. Patients with mWHO II/III-IV diagnoses experienced SMM at the highest rates (22.8% vs 1.6% for no diagnosis; with adjusted relative risk (aRR) of 5.67 [95% CI: 5.36-6.00]). The risk of death was also highest for patients with mWHO II/III-IV diagnoses (0.3% vs <0.1% for no diagnosis; aRR 18.07 [95% CI: 12.25-26.66]). Elevated risk of SMM and death persisted to 11 months postpartum for those patients with mWHO II/III-IV diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide database, SMM is highest among individuals with moderate-to-severe cardiac disease based on mWHO classification. This risk persists in the year postpartum. These results can be used to enhance pregnancy counseling.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Heart Failure Risk.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the data on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and heart failure (HF) risk. RECENT FINDINGS: Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical condition affecting women during pregnancy and are associated with future HF risk, including peripartum cardiomyopathy, pregnancy-associated HF with preserved ejection fraction, and new-onset HF later in life. HF related to HDP can occur during pregnancy and persist long term, as can be the case with peri-partum cardiomyopathy, or can develop years after delivery through mechanisms that have yet to be clearly defined. Unfortunately, the optimal ways to prevent HDP and its associated HF risks are unclear. Guidelines outlining appropriate risk stratification, coordination of postpartum medical care, and prevention of future cardiovascular disease among with HDP are urgently needed in order to decrease the risk of HF.

Future research prioritization in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

BACKGROUND: Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective for some patients with heart failure and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), evidence gaps remain for key clinical and policy areas. The objective of the study was to review the data on the effects of CRT for patients with HFrEF receiving pharmacological therapy alone or pharmacological therapy and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and then, informed by a diverse group of stakeholders, to identify evidence gaps, prioritize them, and develop a research plan. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified using PubMed and EMBASE and ongoing trials using clinicaltrials.gov. Forced-ranking prioritization method was applied by stakeholders to reach a consensus on the most important questions. Twenty-six stakeholders contributed to the expanded list of evidence gaps, including key investigators from existing randomized controlled trials and others representing different perspectives, including patients, the public, device manufacturers, and policymakers. RESULTS: Of the 18 top-tier evidence gaps, 8 were related to specific populations or subgroups of interest. Seven were related to the comparative effectiveness and safety of CRT interventions or comparators, and 3 were related to the association of CRT treatment with specific outcomes. The association of comorbidities with CRT effectiveness ranked highest, followed by questions about the effectiveness of CRT among patients with atrial fibrillation and the relationship between gender, QRS morphology and duration, and outcomes for patients either with CRT plus ICD or with ICD. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence gaps presented in this article highlight numerous, important clinical and policy questions for which there is inconclusive evidence on the role of CRT and provide a framework for future collaborative research.

Evaluation of strategies for the assembly of diverse bacterial genomes using MinION long-read sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Short-read sequencing technologies have made microbial genome sequencing cheap and accessible. However, closing genomes is often costly and assembling short reads from genomes that are repetitive and/or have extreme %GC content remains challenging. Long-read, single-molecule sequencing technologies such as the Oxford Nanopore MinION have the potential to overcome these difficulties, although the best approach for harnessing their potential remains poorly evaluated. RESULTS: We sequenced nine bacterial genomes spanning a wide range of GC contents using Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing technologies to determine the advantages of each approach, both individually and combined. Assemblies using only MiSeq reads were highly accurate but lacked contiguity, a deficiency that was partially overcome by adding MinION reads to these assemblies. Even more contiguous genome assemblies were generated by using MinION reads for initial assembly, but these assemblies were more error-prone and required further polishing. This was especially pronounced when Illumina libraries were biased, as was the case for our strains with both high and low GC content. Increased genome contiguity dramatically improved the annotation of insertion sequences and secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, likely because long-reads can disambiguate these highly repetitive but biologically important genomic regions. CONCLUSIONS: Genome assembly using short-reads is challenged by repetitive sequences and extreme GC contents. Our results indicate that these difficulties can be largely overcome by using single-molecule, long-read sequencing technologies such as the Oxford Nanopore MinION. Using MinION reads for assembly followed by polishing with Illumina reads generated the most contiguous genomes with sufficient accuracy to enable the accurate annotation of important but difficult to sequence genomic features such as insertion sequences and secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. The combination of Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing can therefore cost-effectively advance studies of microbial evolution and genome-driven drug discovery.

Trends in Enrollment, Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcomes According to Age in Non-ST-Segment-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Representation by age ensures appropriate translation of clinical trial results to practice, but, historically, older patients have been underrepresented in clinical trial populations. As the general population has aged, it is unknown whether clinical trial enrollment has changed in parallel. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied time trends in enrollment, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes by age among 76 141 patients with non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome enrolled in 11 phase III clinical trials over 17 years (1994-2010). Overall, 19.7% of patients were ≥75 years; this proportion increased from 16% during 1994 to 1997 to 21% during 1998 to 2001 and 23.2% during 2002 to 2005, but declined to 20.2% in 2006 to 2010. The number of comorbidities increased with successive time periods irrespective of age. There were substantial increases in the use of evidence-based medication in-hospital and at discharge regardless of age. Although predicted 6-month mortality increased slightly over time, observed 6-month mortality declined significantly in all age strata (1994-1997 versus 2006-2010: <65 years: 3.0% versus 1.9%; 65-74 years: 7.5% versus 3.4%; 75-79 years: 13.0% versus 6.5%; 80-84 years: 17.6% versus 8.2%; and ≥85 years: 24.8% versus 12.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of enrollment by age in phase III non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome trials was unchanged over time. Irrespective of age, post-myocardial infarction mortality decreased significantly over time, concurrent with increased evidence-based care and despite increasing comorbidities. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00089895.

Congenital and Acquired Valvular Heart Disease in Pregnancy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The number of pregnancies complicated by valvular heart disease is increasing. This review describes the hemodynamic effects of clinically important valvular abnormalities during pregnancy and reviews current guideline-driven management strategies. RECENT FINDINGS: Valvular heart disease in women of childbearing age is most commonly caused by congenital abnormalities and rheumatic heart disease. Regurgitant lesions are well tolerated, while stenotic lesions are associated with a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications. Management of symptomatic disease during pregnancy is primarily medical, with percutaneous interventions considered for refractory symptoms. Most guidelines addressing the management of valvular heart disease during pregnancy are based on case reports and observational studies. Additional investigation is required to further advance the care of this growing patient population.

Does This Patient With Chest Pain Have Acute Coronary Syndrome?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review.

IMPORTANCE: About 10% of patients with acute chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Early, accurate estimation of the probability of ACS in these patients using the clinical examination could prevent many hospital admissions among low-risk patients and ensure that high-risk patients are promptly treated. OBJECTIVE: To review systematically the accuracy of the initial history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and risk scores incorporating these elements with the first cardiac-specific troponin. STUDY SELECTION: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched (January 1, 1995-July 31, 2015), along with reference lists from retrieved articles, to identify prospective studies of diagnostic test accuracy among patients admitted to the emergency department with symptoms suggesting ACS. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: We identified 2992 unique articles; 58 met inclusion criteria. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio (LR) of findings for the diagnosis of ACS. The reference standard for ACS was either a final hospital diagnosis of ACS or occurrence of a cardiovascular event within 6 weeks. RESULTS: The clinical findings and risk factors most suggestive of ACS were prior abnormal stress test (specificity, 96%; LR, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.0-4.7]), peripheral arterial disease (specificity, 97%; LR, 2.7 [95% CI, 1.5-4.8]), and pain radiation to both arms (specificity, 96%; LR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.8-3.7]). The most useful electrocardiogram findings were ST-segment depression (specificity, 95%; LR, 5.3 [95% CI, 2.1-8.6]) and any evidence of ischemia (specificity, 91%; LR, 3.6 [95% CI,1.6-5.7]). Both the History, Electrocardiogram, Age, Risk Factors, Troponin (HEART) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk scores performed well in diagnosing ACS: LR, 13 (95% CI, 7.0-24) for the high-risk range of the HEART score (7-10) and LR, 6.8 (95% CI, 5.2-8.9) for the high-risk range of the TIMI score (5-7). The most useful for identifying patients less likely to have ACS were the low-risk range HEART score (0-3) (LR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.13-0.30]), low-risk range TIMI score (0-1) (LR, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.23-0.43]), or low to intermediate risk designation by the Heart Foundation of Australia and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand risk algorithm (LR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.19-0.31]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients with suspected ACS presenting to emergency departments, the initial history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram alone did not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of ACS. Instead, the HEART or TIMI risk scores, which incorporate the first cardiac troponin, provided more diagnostic information.

Maternal chronic hypertension in women veterans.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of maternal chronic hypertension (MCH), assess how frequently blood pressure is controlled before pregnancy among those with MCH, and explore management practices for antihypertensive medications (AHM) during the pre-pregnancy and pregnancy periods. DATA SOURCES, STUDY SETTING, AND STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a descriptive observational study using data abstracted from the Veterans Health Administration (VA) inclusive of approximately 11 million Veterans utilizing the VA in fiscal years 2010-2019. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Veterans aged 18-50 were included if they had a diagnosis of chronic hypertension before a documented pregnancy in the VA EMR. We identified chronic hypertension and pregnancy with diagnosis codes and defined uncontrolled blood pressure as ≥140/90 mm Hg on at least one measurement in the year before pregnancy. Sensitivity models were conducted for individuals with at least two blood pressure measurements in the year prior to pregnancy. Multivariable logistic regression explored the association of covariates with recommended and non-recommended AHMs received 0-6 months before pregnancy and during pregnancy. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In total, 8% (3767/46,178) of Veterans with a documented pregnancy in VA data had MCH. Among 2750 with MCH meeting inclusion criteria, 60% (n = 1626) had uncontrolled blood pressure on at least one BP reading and 31% (n = 846) had uncontrolled blood pressure on at least two BP readings in the year before pregnancy. For medications, 16% (n = 437) received a non-recommended AHM during pregnancy. Chronic kidney disease (OR = 3.2; 1.6-6.4) and diabetes (OR = 2.3; 1.7-3.0) were most strongly associated with use of a non-recommended AHM during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of MCH, improve preconception blood pressure control, and ensure optimal pharmacologic antihypertensive management among Veterans of childbearing potential.

Antihypertensives in Pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) can result in significant maternal morbidity and even mortality. Available data suggest that many antihypertensives can be safely used in pregnant patients, albeit with close supervision of parameters like fetal growth and amniotic fluid volume. This article summarizes current guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in pregnancy and provides an in-depth guide to the available safety and efficacy data for antihypertensives during pregnancy and postpartum.

Utilization and Outcomes of Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background There is uncertainty about the appropriate use of primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) among older patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who received a primary prevention ICD between 2010 and 2016 were identified using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD Registry. Trends in ICD utilization and patient characteristics were assessed over time. Using linked Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service claims data, Cox proportional hazard models assessed factors associated with mortality and postdischarge hospitalization for cardiac arrest/ventricular arrhythmia. Of 5571 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 1511 (27.1%) were ≥65 years old. ICD utilization increased over time in all age groups. There were no changes in the prevalence of risk factors for sudden cardiac death over time. The variables most strongly associated with postdischarge mortality were older age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.80 [95% CI, 1.47-2.21]), New York Heart Association class (III/IV versus I/II aHR 2.17 [95% CI, 1.57-2.98]), and left ventricular ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% versus >50% aHR 2.34 [95% CI, 1.58-3.48]; left ventricular ejection fraction 36%-50% versus >50% aHR 2.98 [95% CI, 2.02-4.40]), while history of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (aHR 2.38 [95% CI, 1.62-3.51]) and New York Heart Association class (III/IV versus I/II aHR 1.84 [95% CI, 1.22-2.78]) were strongly associated with hospitalization for ventricular arrhythmia/cardiac arrest. Conclusions Primary prevention ICD utilization in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy increased over time, including among those ≥65 years old. Among older patients, the strongest risk factors for hospitalization for ventricular arrhythmia/cardiac arrest following ICD implantation were history of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and New York Heart Association class.

Shedding light on participant selection bias in Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) studies: Findings from an internet panel study.

Although the potential for participant selection bias is readily acknowledged in the momentary data collection literature, very little is known about uptake rates in these studies or about differences in the people that participate versus those who do not. This study analyzed data from an existing Internet panel of older people (age 50 and greater) who were offered participation into a momentary study (n = 3,169), which made it possible to compute uptake and to compare many characteristics of participation status. Momentary studies present participants with brief surveys multiple times a day over several days; these surveys ask about immediate or recent experiences. A 29.1% uptake rate was observed when all respondents were considered, whereas a 39.2% uptake rate was found when individuals who did not have eligible smartphones (necessary for ambulatory data collection) were eliminated from the analyses. Taking into account the participation rate for being in this Internet panel, we estimate uptake rates for the general population to be about 5%. A consistent pattern of differences emerged between those who accepted the invitation to participate versus those who did not (in univariate analyses): participants were more likely to be female, younger, have higher income, have higher levels of education, rate their health as better, be employed, not be retired, not be disabled, have better self-rated computer skills, and to have participated in more prior Internet surveys (all p < .0026). Many variables were not associated with uptake including race, big five personality scores, and subjective well-being. For several of the predictors, the magnitude of the effects on uptake was substantial. These results indicate the possibility that, depending upon the associations being investigated, person selection bias could be present in momentary data collection studies.

Maternal and Pregnancy Outcomes Following Heart Transplantation in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Improved survival following heart transplantation (HT) has led to more recipients contemplating pregnancy, but data on outcomes are limited. OBJECTIVES: The authors used a national data set to investigate and describe outcomes of pregnancies and deliveries in the United States in HT recipients. METHODS: Diagnosis and procedure codes from the 2010-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database identified delivery hospitalizations, history of HT, comorbid conditions, and outcomes. The authors compared rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), nontransfusion SMM, cardiovascular SMM (cSMM), and preterm birth from delivery hospitalization between HT recipients and no-HT recipients. The authors evaluated readmission to 330 days postpartum. Logistic and proportional hazard regressions were performed, adjusting for age, socioeconomic and facility characteristics, and clinical comorbidities. RESULTS: Among 19,399,521 deliveries, 105 were HT recipients. Compared with no-HT, HT recipients were at higher risk for all SMM (24.8% vs 1.7%), nontransfusion SMM (20.8% vs 0.7%), cSMM (7.3% vs 0.12%), and preterm birth (43.3% vs 8.2%), all P < 0.001. In adjusted analyses, HT recipients had 16-fold greater odds of SMM, 28-fold greater odds of nontransfusion SMM, 38-fold greater odds of cSMM, and 7-fold greater odds of preterm birth. HT recipients had higher morbidity rates during delivery hospitalization and higher readmission rates within 1 year following delivery (26.9% vs 3.8%; adjusted HR: 6.03 [95% CI: 3.73-9.75]). CONCLUSIONS: Delivery with history of HT is associated with significantly increased rates of SMM, preterm birth, and hospital readmission. These results provide data regarding pregnancy outcomes for use when counseling patients with HT history who are considering pregnancy or who are pregnant.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) affects 5% to 10% of adults with CHD and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. PAH-CHD develops as a consequence of intracardiac or extracardiac systemic-to-pulmonary shunts that lead to pulmonary vascular remodeling through a pathologic process that is similar to other causes of PAH. Eisenmenger syndrome is the most severe phenotype of PAH-CHD and is characterized by severe elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance, with shunt reversal causing hypoxemia and central cyanosis. The primary management strategy for most patients with PAH-CHD is medical therapy, although defect closure is considered in select cases.

Impact of Pre-Existing Ischemic Heart Disease on Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality During Delivery Hospitalizations.

BACKGROUND: The impact of pre-existing ischemic heart disease (IHD) on pregnancy is incompletely described. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes between those with IHD and those with a cardiac diagnosis categorized by the modified World Health Organization classification and those without a cardiac diagnosis. METHODS: This retrospective study used the 2015 to 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Delivery hospitalizations, comorbidities, and outcomes were identified using diagnosis and procedure codes. The exposure was isolated IHD. The primary outcome was severe maternal morbidity (SMM) or death during the delivery hospitalization, analyzed using adjusted relative risk (aRR) regression and weighted to account for the Nationwide Readmissions Database's complex survey methods. RESULTS: Of 11,556,136 delivery hospitalizations, 65,331 had another cardiac diagnosis, and 3,009 had IHD alone. Patients with IHD were older and had higher rates of diabetes and hypertension. In unadjusted analyses, adverse outcomes were more common among patients with IHD alone than among patients with no cardiac disease and modified World Health Organization class I-II disease. After adjustment, patients with IHD alone were associated with a higher risk of SMM or death (aRR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.19-1.92) than those without a cardiac disease. In comparison, the aRR was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.76-2.06) for WHO class I-II diseases and 5.87 (95% CI: 5.49-6.27) for WHO II/III-IV diseases. Nontransfusion SMM or death (aRR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.11-2.30) and cardiac SMM or death (aRR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.75-5.08) were also higher for those with IHD. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated IHD in pregnancy is associated with worse outcomes than no cardiac disease during delivery hospitalization and approximates the risk associated with WHO I-II diagnoses.

Evaluating Health Care Provider Perspectives on the Use of Mobile Apps to Support Patients With Heart Failure Management: Qualitative Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to diet and medical therapies in heart failure (HF) contributes to poor HF outcomes. Mobile apps may be a promising way to improve adherence because they increase knowledge and behavior change via education and monitoring. Well-designed apps with input from health care providers (HCPs) can lead to successful adoption of such apps in practice. However, little is known about HCPs' perspectives on the use of mobile apps to support HF management. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine HCPs' perspectives (needs, motivations, and challenges) on the use of mobile apps to support patients with HF management. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study using one-on-one semistructured interviews, informed by the diffusion of innovation theory, was conducted among HF HCPs, including cardiologists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Transcripts were independently coded by 2 researchers and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The 21 HCPs (cardiologists: n=8, 38%; nurses: n=6, 29%; and nurse practitioners: n=7, 33%) identified challenges and opportunities for app adoption across 5 themes: participant-perceived factors that affect app adoption-these include patient age, technology savviness, technology access, and ease of use; improved delivery of care-apps can support remote care; collect, share, and assess health information; identify adverse events; prevent hospitalizations; and limit clinic visits; facilitating patient engagement in care-apps can provide feedback and reinforcement, facilitate connection and communication between patients and their HCPs, support monitoring, and track self-care; providing patient support through education-apps can provide HF-related information (ie, diet and medications); and participant views on app features for their patients-HCPs felt that useful apps would have reminders and alarms and participative elements (gamification, food scanner, and quizzes). CONCLUSIONS: HCPs had positive views on the use of mobile apps to support patients with HF management. These findings can inform effective development and implementation strategies of HF management apps in clinical practice.

Instituting a Curriculum for Cardio-Obstetrics Subspecialty Fellowship Training.

Maternal mortality is rising in the United States, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause. Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes heighten the risk of cardiovascular complications during pregnancy and the peripartum period and are associated with long-term cardiovascular risks. The field of cardio-obstetrics is a subspecialty within adult cardiology that focuses on the management of women with or at high risk for heart disease who are considering pregnancy or have become pregnant. There is growing recognition of the need for more specialists with dedicated expertise in cardio-obstetrics to improve the cardiovascular care of this high-risk patient population. Current recommendations for cardiovascular fellowship training programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education involve establishing core competency in the knowledge of managing heart disease in pregnancy. However, little granular detail is available of what such training should entail, which can lead to knowledge gaps. Additionally, dedicated advanced subspecialty training in this area is not commonly offered. Multidisciplinary collaborative teams have been shown to improve outcomes in cardiac patients during pregnancy, and cardiovascular fellows-in-training interested in cardio-obstetrics should have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to a pregnancy heart team. In this document, we describe a proposed specialized cardio-obstetrics training pathway that could serve to adequately prepare trainees to competently and comprehensively care for women with cardiovascular disease before, during, and after pregnancy.