Prakriti Gaba, MD, Cardiology Fellow at Harvard Medical School. In this video, she speaks about the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality With Icosapent Ethyl in Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction.
Outline
Origins:
REDUCE-IT was a double-blind experiment in which 8,179 statin-treated individuals with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and moderately increased triglycerides were randomly assigned to icosapent ethyl (IPE) or placebo. The primary objective, including death from cardiovascular (CV) causes, was significantly reduced. It was uncertain what effect IPE has on people who had previously had a myocardial infarction (MI).
Goals:
In REDUCE-IT, we wanted to look at the effect of IPE on ischemic events in patients who had previously had a MI.
Methodology:
We conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who had previously experienced MI. CV mortality, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina were the primary endpoints. The most important secondary outcome was CV death, MI, or stroke.
Outcomes:
A total of 3,693 patients had a previous MI. With IPE vs placebo, the primary endpoint was lowered from 26.1 percent to 20.2 percent; HR: 0.74 (95 percent CI: 0.65-0.85; P = 0.00001). The main secondary endpoint was lowered from 18.0% to 13.3%; HR: 0.71 (95 percent CI: 0.61-0.84; P = 0.00006). There was also a substantial 35% relative risk reduction in total ischemia events (P = 0.0000001), 34% reduction in MI (P = 0.00009), 30% reduction in CV death (P = 0.01), and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality (P = 0.054), despite a modest rise in atrial fibrillation. Sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrest were also drastically reduced by 40% and 56%, respectively.
Inferences:
Patients in REDUCE-IT with a history of recent MI who were treated with IPE had large and significant relative and absolute risk reductions in ischemic events, including CV mortality. (AMR101 Study to Assess Its Ability to Reduce Cardiovascular Events in High-Risk Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Statin Use. The primary goal is to assess the effect of 4 g/day AMR101 on the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event. NCT01492361; [REDUCE-IT])
Ibrahim Sultan, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Director, Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease, Surgical Director, Center for Heart Valve Disease, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC. In this video, he speaks about Transfusion of non–red blood cell blood products does not reduce survival following cardiac surgery.
Outline
Goals:
The evidence suggests that patients undergoing cardiac surgery who receive perioperative packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions have an increased risk of death. The current investigation is to determine whether there is a link between non–pRBC blood product transfusions and higher mortality.
Methodology:
Patients who underwent heart surgery between 2010 and 2018 were included in data from our center's Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Patients requiring pRBC infusions or experiencing circulatory arrest were excluded. Propensity matching (1:1; caliper = 0.2 times the standard deviation of logit of propensity score) was used. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier estimates were utilized. This study excluded individuals with cardiac transplants, ventricular assist devices, transcatheter aortic valves, and circulatory arrest.
Outcomes:
A total of 8042 patients met the analytic requirements. 395 patients requiring perioperative non–pRBC blood products (platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) were matched with 395 nontransfusion patients using propensity matching (1:1), resulting in equitable patient cohorts. The median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (3.0-6.4) years. Platelets (327 [82.8 percent]), fresh-frozen plasma (141 [35.7 percent]), and cryoprecipitate were given to patients (60 [15.2 percent ]). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative mortality (6 [1.5%] vs 4 [1.0%]; P =.52). The transfusion group had higher rates of reoperation (20 [5.0 percent] vs 8 [2.0 percent]; P.02) and prolonged ventilation (36 [9.1 percent] vs 19 [4.8 percent]; P.02). Blood product use was strongly linked with emergent surgery (odds ratio [OR] 2.86 [1.72-4.78]; P.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (OR 3.24 [1.64-6.39]; P.001), and multivalve surgery (OR 4.34 [2.83-6.67]; P.001). Blood product transfusion (hazard ratio: 1.15 [0.89-1.48]; P =.3) was not related with an increased risk of death. There was no significant difference in long-term survival between groups.
Findings:
Those undergoing cardiac surgery who require blood products alone, without pRBC transfusion, have comparable postoperative and long-term survival to patients who do not require blood products. These findings are based on a small number of patients, and further research will help to improve the generalizability of these findings.
Jean Marie Ruddy, MD, Vascular surgeon with clinical interests in lower extremity venous insufficiency and atherosclerotic disease of the abdominal aorta, carotid artery, and extremity vessels at Medical University of South Carolina. Anne Kroman DO, PhD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist at Medical University of South Carolina. Ryan Tedford, MD, Dr. Peter C. Gazes Endowed Chair in Heart Failure; Professor of Medicine at Medical University of South Carolina; Chief, Heart Failure; Medical Director, Cardiac Transplantation; Director, AHFTX Fellowship Program. In this video, she and her colleagues speak about the article MUSC doctors first at academic medical center to perform ‘game-changing’ new heart failure device procedure.
Two MUSC Health doctors are the first at an academic medical center and just the second in the world to employ a new, minimally invasive procedure to implant a heart failure therapy device – and, in an unusual turn of events, they're both women in traditionally male-dominated specialties.
Jean Marie Ruddy, M.D., a vascular surgeon, is the lead investigator at the MUSC site for the testing of this innovative implantation procedure for Barostim. Anne Kroman, D.O., Ph.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist, is the site co-principal investigator for the BATwire percutaneous implant research employing the Barostim Neo System.
Following successful trials headed by MUSC Health cardiologist Michael Zile, M.D., Barostim received breakthrough device approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019. The device stimulates the nerve that regulates blood pressure with electrical impulses, causing the blood arteries to relax.
Although the gadget cannot cure heart failure, it can significantly enhance patients' quality of life. According to cardiologist Ryan Tedford, M.D., section chief of heart failure, medical director of cardiac transplantation, and professor in the College of Medicine, it's intended for patients who aren't getting enough benefit from medication but aren't sick enough for a heart pump or heart transplant.
On Thursday, his patient became the first at MUSC Health to undergo the innovative type of implantation.
To insert the electrode, the first method of implantation required a vascular surgeon to create an incision in the patient's neck. However, in a "engineering achievement," the new approach being investigated would allow the device to be implanted through a wire, according to Ruddy. Kroman explained that it is comparable to how pacemaker wires are now implanted.
Instead, the surgeons used ultrasound to locate the region of the blood vessel where the proper nerve is located, then advanced a needle into place to guide the wire through. The whole thing took around an hour and a half. Although it is believed that this will become an outpatient treatment, participants must be hospitalized overnight for the duration of the experiment.
Patients who have already had the device implanted have reported an improvement in their quality of life, according to Ruddy and Kroman. Patients are typically short of breath before the treatment, even while walking about, and may have given up cherished activities – Ruddy noted one patient who was eager to return to fishing.
According to Tedford, there are a substantial number of people who could benefit from this type of treatment, either because they aren't sick enough for more serious procedures or because they don't match the criteria for those surgeries.
Anuradha Lala, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, Associate Professor, Population Health Science and Policy at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Robert John Mentz, MD, Associate Professor of MedicineAssociate Professor in Population Health Sciences, Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute at Duke University. In this video, she speaks about the article #WordsMatter Continued: Moving from “Candidacy” To “Benefit Derived”.
As professionals who care for patients suffering from heart failure, we are all too familiar with such phrases.
Consider yourself a patient who has been told that you are not a "candidate" for a particular therapy. Is this language likely to make you feel marginalized? Ill-fated? Denied? Such difficulties have recently come to light in relation to the need for COVID-19 vaccination prior to being listed for heart transplantation.
The definition of the candidate, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, covers the following:
a:
one who wants to, is nominated for, or qualifies for a position, membership, or honor
b:
one who is likely to go through or be chosen for something specific
Complex integrated decision-making, as is prevalent in clinical practice, contributes to our patients' "fate." However, this is another important proof of how much our #wordsmatter. Our goal is not to determine fate. It is not to favor one patient over another or to refuse anyone life-saving treatment. Rather, our aim and role are to serve as resource stewards while also assisting in determining the amount to which a patient will benefit from a certain therapy (based on aggregated experience and data).
So we've been debating... Why not phrase it that way if that is the intention?
Consider the following phrase in place of the preceding:
"Mr. X is unlikely to benefit from heart transplantation at this time due to active colon cancer (which would grow due to post-transplant immunosuppression)."
Or
"Ms. Y is unlikely to benefit appreciably from sustained LVAD installation at this time due to past stroke, severe peripheral vascular disease, and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, all of which put her at high risk of post-surgical complications and mortality."
These rephrasing issues also apply to medical therapies:
"The patient is unlikely to benefit from sacubitril/valsartan at this time due to significant symptomatic hypotension - which may worsen after medication administration."
Articulating why an individual may or may not benefit from therapy at a certain time allows us to communicate more effectively - not only with patients and their loved ones but also among physicians. Furthermore, rather than conveying judgmental feelings, this approach emphasizes nonmaleficence, in which decisions are balanced against all benefits, risks, and consequences. Circumstances change, and assessments based on the current level of expected benefit from a therapy might be evaluated at individualized intervals.
Heart failure is a disease with unacceptably high morbidity and fatality rates. Let us focus on how we relay and convey information as we attempt to enhance therapeutic outcomes. At JCF, we know that our #wordsmatter — to patients, their families, each other, and the communities we serve – whether it's changing "failure" to "function", replacing "non-compliance" with "barriers to adherence", or shifting from "candidacy" to "extent of benefit obtained."
Jonathan P. Piccini, MD, Associate Professor at Duke University. In this video, he speaks about the Safety of the oral factor XIa inhibitor asundexian compared with apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation (PACIFIC-AF): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, dose-finding phase 2 study.
Summarization:
Backstory -
The use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation is restricted due to bleeding concerns. Asundexian, a new oral small molecule activated coagulation factor XIa (FXIa) inhibitor, has the potential to minimize thrombosis while having no effect on haemostasis. In individuals with atrial fibrillation, we wanted to find the best dose of asundexian and compare the risk of bleeding to that of apixaban.
Techniques -
We compared asundexian 20 mg or 50 mg once daily with apixaban 5 mg twice daily in patients 45 years or older with atrial fibrillation, a CHA2DS2-VASc score of at least 2 if male or at least 3 if female, and an increased bleeding risk in this randomised, double-blind, phase 2 dose-finding study. The research was carried out at 93 sites across 14 nations, including 12 in Europe, Canada, and Japan. Using an interactive web response system, participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to a treatment group, with randomization stratified by whether patients were using a direct-acting oral anticoagulant prior to the study's start. A double-dummy design was used to achieve masking, with participants receiving both the assigned treatment and a placebo that mimicked the non-assigned therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding based on International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria, which was examined in all patients who received at least one dose of study medication. This study is listed on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04218266 and EudraCT as 2019-002365-35.
Results -
862 patients were registered between January 30, 2020, and June 21, 2021. 755 individuals were randomized to treatment at random. Because two participants (assigned to asundexian 20 mg) did not take any trial medicine, 753 patients were included in the analysis (249 received asundexian 20 mg, 254 received asundexian 50 g, and 250 received apixaban). The participants' mean age was 737 years (SD 83), 309 (41%) were women, 216 (29%) had chronic renal disease, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 39 (13%). Asundexian 20 mg inhibited FXIa activity by 81 percent at trough concentrations and 90 percent at peak concentrations; asundexian 50 mg inhibited FXIa activity by 92 percent at trough concentrations and 94 percent at peak concentrations. The incidence proportions for the primary endpoint were 050 (90 percent confidence interval 014–168) for asundexian 20 mg (three events), 016 (001–099) for asundexian 50 mg (one event), and 033 (009–097) for pooled asundexian (four occurrences) against apixaban (six events). Any adverse event occurred at the same rate in all three treatment groups: 118 (47%) with asundexian 20 mg, 120 (47%) with asundexian 50 mg, and 122 (49%) with apixaban.
Explanation -
In patients with atrial fibrillation, the FXIa inhibitor asundexian at dosages of 20 mg and 50 mg once daily led in decreased rates of bleeding compared to normal apixaban treatment, with near-complete in vivo FXIa suppression.
Andrea Natale M.D., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S., F.E.S.C., Executive Medical Director, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center at Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia. In this video, he speaks about Endocardial Scar-Homogenization With vs Without Epicardial Ablation in VT Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
\n\n
Observation -
\n\n
Goals:
\n\n
The authors of this study compared the success of scar homogeneity with a mixed (epicarddial + endocardial) vs endocardial-only technique for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) at 5 years of follow-up.
\n\n
Origins:
\n\n
The best ablation strategy for achieving long-term success in VT patients with ICM is unknown.
\n\n
Methodology:
\n\n
Patients with ICM who underwent VT ablation at our center were divided into two groups: endocardial + epicardial scar homogenization and endocardial scar homogenization. Patients who had already undergone open heart surgery were not eligible. Despite the fact that all group 1 patients were noninducible following endocardial ablation, epicardial ablation was done. All patients received bipolar substrate mapping with conventional scar settings of >1.5 mV for normal tissue and 0.5 mV for severe scar. The procedure\'s endpoint in both groups was noninducibility of monomorphic VT. Implantable device interrogations were performed on patients every 4 months for 5 years.
\n\n
Outcomes:
\n\n
The study included 361 participants (n = 70 in group 1 and n = 291 in group 2). At 5 years, 81.4 percent (n = 57/70) of group 1 patients and 66.3 percent (n = 193/291) of group 2 patients were arrhythmia-free (P = 0.01). Anti-arrhythmic medications (AAD) were used by 26 of 57 (45.6 percent) and 172 of 193 (89.1 percent) of the patients in groups 1 and 2 (log-rank P 0.001). Endo-epicarddial scar homogeneity was linked with a substantial reduction in arrhythmia recurrence after controlling for age, gender, and obstructive sleep apnea (HR: 0.48; 95 percent CI: 0.27-0.86; P = 0.02).
\n\n
Observations:
\n\n
Despite being noninducible following endocardial ablation, epicardial substrate was found in all group 1 patients in this series of patients with ICM and VT. Furthermore, when compared to endocardial ablation alone, combined endo-epicarddial scar homogeneity was linked with a much higher success rate at 5 years of follow-up and a significantly lower demand for antiarrhythmic medicines after the treatment.
Scott Wright, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chair of the IRB at the Mayo Clinic. In this video, he speaks about the Phase III ORION-9,10, and 11 Studies.
In summary:
This is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized Phase III research in patients with ASCVD with increased LDL-C despite the maximum tolerated dose of LDL-C lowering treatments to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) inclisiran injection (s). The study will be conducted in multiple locations across the United States.
Michelle M. Kittleson, MD, PhD, Director, Heart Failure Research, Director, Post Graduate Medical Education in Heart Failure and Transplantation, Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. In this video, she speaks about A Clinician's Guide to the 2022 ACC/AHA/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure.
The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of America (ACC/AHA/HFSA) 2022 Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure provides clinicians with patient-centered recommendations for preventing, diagnosing, and managing heart failure patients (HF). 1 The document, the result of nearly two years of work by the writing committee's 26 members, includes 159 pages of text (including 40 pages of references), 14 sections, 33 tables, 15 figures, and 192 recommendations—a daunting task for any clinician interested in optimizing the care of patients with HF. What is the best strategy to approach a new policy?
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Scott Wright, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chair of the IRB at the Mayo Clinic. In this video, he speaks about the Phase III ORION-9,10, and 11 Studies.
In summary:
This is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized Phase III research in patients with ASCVD with increased LDL-C despite the maximum tolerated dose of LDL-C lowering treatments to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) inclisiran injection (s). The study will be conducted in multiple locations across the United States.
Ibrahim Sultan, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Director, Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease, Surgical Director, Center for Heart Valve Disease, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC. In this video, he speaks about Transfusion of non–red blood cell blood products does not reduce survival following cardiac surgery.
Outline
Goals:
The evidence suggests that patients undergoing cardiac surgery who receive perioperative packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions have an increased risk of death. The current investigation is to determine whether there is a link between non–pRBC blood product transfusions and higher mortality.
Methodology:
Patients who underwent heart surgery between 2010 and 2018 were included in data from our center's Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Patients requiring pRBC infusions or experiencing circulatory arrest were excluded. Propensity matching (1:1; caliper = 0.2 times the standard deviation of logit of propensity score) was used. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier estimates were utilized. This study excluded individuals with cardiac transplants, ventricular assist devices, transcatheter aortic valves, and circulatory arrest.
Outcomes:
A total of 8042 patients met the analytic requirements. 395 patients requiring perioperative non–pRBC blood products (platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) were matched with 395 nontransfusion patients using propensity matching (1:1), resulting in equitable patient cohorts. The median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (3.0-6.4) years. Platelets (327 [82.8 percent]), fresh-frozen plasma (141 [35.7 percent]), and cryoprecipitate were given to patients (60 [15.2 percent ]). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative mortality (6 [1.5%] vs 4 [1.0%]; P =.52). The transfusion group had higher rates of reoperation (20 [5.0 percent] vs 8 [2.0 percent]; P.02) and prolonged ventilation (36 [9.1 percent] vs 19 [4.8 percent]; P.02). Blood product use was strongly linked with emergent surgery (odds ratio [OR] 2.86 [1.72-4.78]; P.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (OR 3.24 [1.64-6.39]; P.001), and multivalve surgery (OR 4.34 [2.83-6.67]; P.001). Blood product transfusion (hazard ratio: 1.15 [0.89-1.48]; P =.3) was not related with an increased risk of death. There was no significant difference in long-term survival between groups.
Findings:
Those undergoing cardiac surgery who require blood products alone, without pRBC transfusion, have comparable postoperative and long-term survival to patients who do not require blood products. These findings are based on a small number of patients, and further research will help to improve the generalizability of these findings.
Prakriti Gaba, MD, Cardiology Fellow at Harvard Medical School. In this video, she speaks about the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality With Icosapent Ethyl in Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction.
Outline
Origins:
REDUCE-IT was a double-blind experiment in which 8,179 statin-treated individuals with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and moderately increased triglycerides were randomly assigned to icosapent ethyl (IPE) or placebo. The primary objective, including death from cardiovascular (CV) causes, was significantly reduced. It was uncertain what effect IPE has on people who had previously had a myocardial infarction (MI).
Goals:
In REDUCE-IT, we wanted to look at the effect of IPE on ischemic events in patients who had previously had a MI.
Methodology:
We conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who had previously experienced MI. CV mortality, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina were the primary endpoints. The most important secondary outcome was CV death, MI, or stroke.
Outcomes:
A total of 3,693 patients had a previous MI. With IPE vs placebo, the primary endpoint was lowered from 26.1 percent to 20.2 percent; HR: 0.74 (95 percent CI: 0.65-0.85; P = 0.00001). The main secondary endpoint was lowered from 18.0% to 13.3%; HR: 0.71 (95 percent CI: 0.61-0.84; P = 0.00006). There was also a substantial 35% relative risk reduction in total ischemia events (P = 0.0000001), 34% reduction in MI (P = 0.00009), 30% reduction in CV death (P = 0.01), and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality (P = 0.054), despite a modest rise in atrial fibrillation. Sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrest were also drastically reduced by 40% and 56%, respectively.
Inferences:
Patients in REDUCE-IT with a history of recent MI who were treated with IPE had large and significant relative and absolute risk reductions in ischemic events, including CV mortality. (AMR101 Study to Assess Its Ability to Reduce Cardiovascular Events in High-Risk Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Statin Use. The primary goal is to assess the effect of 4 g/day AMR101 on the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event. NCT01492361; [REDUCE-IT])
Andrea Natale M.D., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S., F.E.S.C., Executive Medical Director, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center at Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia. In this video, he speaks about Endocardial Scar-Homogenization With vs Without Epicardial Ablation in VT Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
\n\n
Observation -
\n\n
Goals:
\n\n
The authors of this study compared the success of scar homogeneity with a mixed (epicarddial + endocardial) vs endocardial-only technique for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) at 5 years of follow-up.
\n\n
Origins:
\n\n
The best ablation strategy for achieving long-term success in VT patients with ICM is unknown.
\n\n
Methodology:
\n\n
Patients with ICM who underwent VT ablation at our center were divided into two groups: endocardial + epicardial scar homogenization and endocardial scar homogenization. Patients who had already undergone open heart surgery were not eligible. Despite the fact that all group 1 patients were noninducible following endocardial ablation, epicardial ablation was done. All patients received bipolar substrate mapping with conventional scar settings of >1.5 mV for normal tissue and 0.5 mV for severe scar. The procedure\'s endpoint in both groups was noninducibility of monomorphic VT. Implantable device interrogations were performed on patients every 4 months for 5 years.
\n\n
Outcomes:
\n\n
The study included 361 participants (n = 70 in group 1 and n = 291 in group 2). At 5 years, 81.4 percent (n = 57/70) of group 1 patients and 66.3 percent (n = 193/291) of group 2 patients were arrhythmia-free (P = 0.01). Anti-arrhythmic medications (AAD) were used by 26 of 57 (45.6 percent) and 172 of 193 (89.1 percent) of the patients in groups 1 and 2 (log-rank P 0.001). Endo-epicarddial scar homogeneity was linked with a substantial reduction in arrhythmia recurrence after controlling for age, gender, and obstructive sleep apnea (HR: 0.48; 95 percent CI: 0.27-0.86; P = 0.02).
\n\n
Observations:
\n\n
Despite being noninducible following endocardial ablation, epicardial substrate was found in all group 1 patients in this series of patients with ICM and VT. Furthermore, when compared to endocardial ablation alone, combined endo-epicarddial scar homogeneity was linked with a much higher success rate at 5 years of follow-up and a significantly lower demand for antiarrhythmic medicines after the treatment.
Jean Marie Ruddy, MD, Vascular surgeon with clinical interests in lower extremity venous insufficiency and atherosclerotic disease of the abdominal aorta, carotid artery, and extremity vessels at Medical University of South Carolina. Anne Kroman DO, PhD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist at Medical University of South Carolina. Ryan Tedford, MD, Dr. Peter C. Gazes Endowed Chair in Heart Failure; Professor of Medicine at Medical University of South Carolina; Chief, Heart Failure; Medical Director, Cardiac Transplantation; Director, AHFTX Fellowship Program. In this video, she and her colleagues speak about the article MUSC doctors first at academic medical center to perform ‘game-changing’ new heart failure device procedure.
Two MUSC Health doctors are the first at an academic medical center and just the second in the world to employ a new, minimally invasive procedure to implant a heart failure therapy device – and, in an unusual turn of events, they're both women in traditionally male-dominated specialties.
Jean Marie Ruddy, M.D., a vascular surgeon, is the lead investigator at the MUSC site for the testing of this innovative implantation procedure for Barostim. Anne Kroman, D.O., Ph.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist, is the site co-principal investigator for the BATwire percutaneous implant research employing the Barostim Neo System.
Following successful trials headed by MUSC Health cardiologist Michael Zile, M.D., Barostim received breakthrough device approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019. The device stimulates the nerve that regulates blood pressure with electrical impulses, causing the blood arteries to relax.
Although the gadget cannot cure heart failure, it can significantly enhance patients' quality of life. According to cardiologist Ryan Tedford, M.D., section chief of heart failure, medical director of cardiac transplantation, and professor in the College of Medicine, it's intended for patients who aren't getting enough benefit from medication but aren't sick enough for a heart pump or heart transplant.
On Thursday, his patient became the first at MUSC Health to undergo the innovative type of implantation.
To insert the electrode, the first method of implantation required a vascular surgeon to create an incision in the patient's neck. However, in a "engineering achievement," the new approach being investigated would allow the device to be implanted through a wire, according to Ruddy. Kroman explained that it is comparable to how pacemaker wires are now implanted.
Instead, the surgeons used ultrasound to locate the region of the blood vessel where the proper nerve is located, then advanced a needle into place to guide the wire through. The whole thing took around an hour and a half. Although it is believed that this will become an outpatient treatment, participants must be hospitalized overnight for the duration of the experiment.
Patients who have already had the device implanted have reported an improvement in their quality of life, according to Ruddy and Kroman. Patients are typically short of breath before the treatment, even while walking about, and may have given up cherished activities – Ruddy noted one patient who was eager to return to fishing.
According to Tedford, there are a substantial number of people who could benefit from this type of treatment, either because they aren't sick enough for more serious procedures or because they don't match the criteria for those surgeries.
Jonathan P. Piccini, MD, Associate Professor at Duke University. In this video, he speaks about the Safety of the oral factor XIa inhibitor asundexian compared with apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation (PACIFIC-AF): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, dose-finding phase 2 study.
Summarization:
Backstory -
The use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation is restricted due to bleeding concerns. Asundexian, a new oral small molecule activated coagulation factor XIa (FXIa) inhibitor, has the potential to minimize thrombosis while having no effect on haemostasis. In individuals with atrial fibrillation, we wanted to find the best dose of asundexian and compare the risk of bleeding to that of apixaban.
Techniques -
We compared asundexian 20 mg or 50 mg once daily with apixaban 5 mg twice daily in patients 45 years or older with atrial fibrillation, a CHA2DS2-VASc score of at least 2 if male or at least 3 if female, and an increased bleeding risk in this randomised, double-blind, phase 2 dose-finding study. The research was carried out at 93 sites across 14 nations, including 12 in Europe, Canada, and Japan. Using an interactive web response system, participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to a treatment group, with randomization stratified by whether patients were using a direct-acting oral anticoagulant prior to the study's start. A double-dummy design was used to achieve masking, with participants receiving both the assigned treatment and a placebo that mimicked the non-assigned therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding based on International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria, which was examined in all patients who received at least one dose of study medication. This study is listed on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04218266 and EudraCT as 2019-002365-35.
Results -
862 patients were registered between January 30, 2020, and June 21, 2021. 755 individuals were randomized to treatment at random. Because two participants (assigned to asundexian 20 mg) did not take any trial medicine, 753 patients were included in the analysis (249 received asundexian 20 mg, 254 received asundexian 50 g, and 250 received apixaban). The participants' mean age was 737 years (SD 83), 309 (41%) were women, 216 (29%) had chronic renal disease, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 39 (13%). Asundexian 20 mg inhibited FXIa activity by 81 percent at trough concentrations and 90 percent at peak concentrations; asundexian 50 mg inhibited FXIa activity by 92 percent at trough concentrations and 94 percent at peak concentrations. The incidence proportions for the primary endpoint were 050 (90 percent confidence interval 014–168) for asundexian 20 mg (three events), 016 (001–099) for asundexian 50 mg (one event), and 033 (009–097) for pooled asundexian (four occurrences) against apixaban (six events). Any adverse event occurred at the same rate in all three treatment groups: 118 (47%) with asundexian 20 mg, 120 (47%) with asundexian 50 mg, and 122 (49%) with apixaban.
Explanation -
In patients with atrial fibrillation, the FXIa inhibitor asundexian at dosages of 20 mg and 50 mg once daily led in decreased rates of bleeding compared to normal apixaban treatment, with near-complete in vivo FXIa suppression.
Anuradha Lala, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, Associate Professor, Population Health Science and Policy at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Robert John Mentz, MD, Associate Professor of MedicineAssociate Professor in Population Health Sciences, Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute at Duke University. In this video, she speaks about the article #WordsMatter Continued: Moving from “Candidacy” To “Benefit Derived”.
As professionals who care for patients suffering from heart failure, we are all too familiar with such phrases.
Consider yourself a patient who has been told that you are not a "candidate" for a particular therapy. Is this language likely to make you feel marginalized? Ill-fated? Denied? Such difficulties have recently come to light in relation to the need for COVID-19 vaccination prior to being listed for heart transplantation.
The definition of the candidate, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, covers the following:
a:
one who wants to, is nominated for, or qualifies for a position, membership, or honor
b:
one who is likely to go through or be chosen for something specific
Complex integrated decision-making, as is prevalent in clinical practice, contributes to our patients' "fate." However, this is another important proof of how much our #wordsmatter. Our goal is not to determine fate. It is not to favor one patient over another or to refuse anyone life-saving treatment. Rather, our aim and role are to serve as resource stewards while also assisting in determining the amount to which a patient will benefit from a certain therapy (based on aggregated experience and data).
So we've been debating... Why not phrase it that way if that is the intention?
Consider the following phrase in place of the preceding:
"Mr. X is unlikely to benefit from heart transplantation at this time due to active colon cancer (which would grow due to post-transplant immunosuppression)."
Or
"Ms. Y is unlikely to benefit appreciably from sustained LVAD installation at this time due to past stroke, severe peripheral vascular disease, and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, all of which put her at high risk of post-surgical complications and mortality."
These rephrasing issues also apply to medical therapies:
"The patient is unlikely to benefit from sacubitril/valsartan at this time due to significant symptomatic hypotension - which may worsen after medication administration."
Articulating why an individual may or may not benefit from therapy at a certain time allows us to communicate more effectively - not only with patients and their loved ones but also among physicians. Furthermore, rather than conveying judgmental feelings, this approach emphasizes nonmaleficence, in which decisions are balanced against all benefits, risks, and consequences. Circumstances change, and assessments based on the current level of expected benefit from a therapy might be evaluated at individualized intervals.
Heart failure is a disease with unacceptably high morbidity and fatality rates. Let us focus on how we relay and convey information as we attempt to enhance therapeutic outcomes. At JCF, we know that our #wordsmatter — to patients, their families, each other, and the communities we serve – whether it's changing "failure" to "function", replacing "non-compliance" with "barriers to adherence", or shifting from "candidacy" to "extent of benefit obtained."
Michelle M. Kittleson, MD, PhD, Director, Heart Failure Research, Director, Post Graduate Medical Education in Heart Failure and Transplantation, Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. In this video, she speaks about A Clinician's Guide to the 2022 ACC/AHA/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure.
The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of America (ACC/AHA/HFSA) 2022 Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure provides clinicians with patient-centered recommendations for preventing, diagnosing, and managing heart failure patients (HF). 1 The document, the result of nearly two years of work by the writing committee's 26 members, includes 159 pages of text (including 40 pages of references), 14 sections, 33 tables, 15 figures, and 192 recommendations—a daunting task for any clinician interested in optimizing the care of patients with HF. What is the best strategy to approach a new policy?
Trending
Prakriti Gaba, MD, Cardiology Fellow at Harvard Medical School. In this video, she speaks about the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality With Icosapent Ethyl in Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction.
Outline
Origins:
REDUCE-IT was a double-blind experiment in which 8,179 statin-treated individuals with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and moderately increased triglycerides were randomly assigned to icosapent ethyl (IPE) or placebo. The primary objective, including death from cardiovascular (CV) causes, was significantly reduced. It was uncertain what effect IPE has on people who had previously had a myocardial infarction (MI).
Goals:
In REDUCE-IT, we wanted to look at the effect of IPE on ischemic events in patients who had previously had a MI.
Methodology:
We conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who had previously experienced MI. CV mortality, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina were the primary endpoints. The most important secondary outcome was CV death, MI, or stroke.
Outcomes:
A total of 3,693 patients had a previous MI. With IPE vs placebo, the primary endpoint was lowered from 26.1 percent to 20.2 percent; HR: 0.74 (95 percent CI: 0.65-0.85; P = 0.00001). The main secondary endpoint was lowered from 18.0% to 13.3%; HR: 0.71 (95 percent CI: 0.61-0.84; P = 0.00006). There was also a substantial 35% relative risk reduction in total ischemia events (P = 0.0000001), 34% reduction in MI (P = 0.00009), 30% reduction in CV death (P = 0.01), and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality (P = 0.054), despite a modest rise in atrial fibrillation. Sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrest were also drastically reduced by 40% and 56%, respectively.
Inferences:
Patients in REDUCE-IT with a history of recent MI who were treated with IPE had large and significant relative and absolute risk reductions in ischemic events, including CV mortality. (AMR101 Study to Assess Its Ability to Reduce Cardiovascular Events in High-Risk Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Statin Use. The primary goal is to assess the effect of 4 g/day AMR101 on the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event. NCT01492361; [REDUCE-IT])
Steffen Desch, MD from the Heart Center Leipzig at the University of Leipzig speaks about Angiography after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest without ST-Segment Elevation.
Link to Abstract:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2101909?query=cardiology
Abstract:
BEGINNINGS -
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is frequently caused by myocardial infarction. The advantages of Heart Center Leipzig at the University of Leipzig f early coronary angiography and revascularization in resuscitated patients without electrocardiographic evidence of ST-segment elevation, on the other hand, remain unknown.
PRIMARY RESEARCH METHODS -
554 patients with successfully resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of suspected coronary origin were randomly allocated to either immediate coronary angiography (immediate-angiography group) or initial intensive care evaluation with delayed or selective angiography in this multicenter study (delayed-angiography group). On post-resuscitation electrocardiography, none of the patients showed ST-segment elevation. At 30 days, the primary end objective was death from any cause. At 30 days, a composite of death from any cause or significant neurologic impairment was used as a secondary end objective.
OBJECTIVES -
In the primary analysis, 530 out of 554 patients (95.7 percent) were included. At 30 days, 143 of 265 patients in the immediate-angiography group (54.0%) and 122 of 265 patients (46.0%) in the delayed-angiography group (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.63; P=0.06) had died (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.63; P=0.06). The immediate-angiography group had a higher relative risk of mortality or severe neurologic impairment (164 of 255 patients [64.3 percent ]) than the delayed-angiography group (138 of 248 patients [55.6 percent ]), with a relative risk of 1.16. (95 percent CI, 1.00 to 1.34). The two groups had identical values for peak troponin release, as well as the incidence of moderate or severe bleeding, stroke, and renal replacement therapy.
FINAL THOUGHTS -
Immediate angiography had no benefit over a delayed or selective approach in patients with resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without ST-segment elevation in terms of the 30-day risk of mortality from any cause. (ToMAHAWK ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02750462. opens in a new tab; funded by the German Center for Cardiovascular Research.)
Dr. Massar Omar works as a Doctor of Medicine and research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. In this podcast Dr. Omar discusses Hemodynamic Determinants of Activity Measured by Accelerometer in Patients With Stable Heart Failure.
Link to Abstract-
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jchf.2021.05.013
Abstract-
This study examined the link between accelerometer recordings and cardiac pathophysiology measured with right heart cauterization at rest and with exercise in patients with HFrEF.
Background
Patient-worn accelerometers are increasingly being used in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) to assess activity and serve as surrogate endpoints in heart failure trials.
Methods
Physical average daily activity (PADA) and total average daily activity according to accelerometer units were assessed in 63 patients (mean age 58 ± 10 years; mean ejection fraction 26% ± 4%). Patients underwent hemodynamic exercise testing and accelerometry. Patients were divided according to PADA in PADALow and PADAHigh activity level groups based on median counts per minute of physical activity.
Results
Patients in the PADALow group were older and more frequently treated with diuretics. At rest, the PADALow group was characterized by a lower cardiac index (2.2 ± 0.4 L/min/m2 vs 2.4 ± 0.4 L/min/m2; P = 0.01) and stroke volume (70 ± 19 mL vs 81 ± 17 mL; P = 0.02) but not pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (12 ± 5 mm Hg vs 11 ± 5 mm Hg; P = 0.3). The PADALow group reached a lower cardiac index (4.8 ± 1.7 L/min/m2 vs 6.6 ± 1.7 L/min/m2; P < 0.001) but not in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (31 ± 12 mm Hg vs 27 ± 8 mm Hg; P = 0.2) at peak exercise. The attenuated increase was associated with an attenuated increase in stroke volume (94 ± 32 mL vs 121 ± 29 mL; P < 0.001) rather than a reduced increase in heart rate (42 ± 23 beats/min vs 52 ± 21 beats/min; P = 0.07). PADA and total average daily accelerometer units were associated with patient-reported functional impairment according to the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire but not with New York Heart Association functional class.
Conclusions
Among stable ambulatory patients with HFrEF, lower daily activity is associated with poorer cardiac index reserve and reduced cardiac index during exercise. (Empagliflozin in Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction; NCT03198585)
B. Daan Westenbrink, MD, Ph.D., Senior Author and Cardiologist at the University of Groningen, UMCG Cardiology speaks about Ketone Supplementation: A Novel Intervention for CVD?
Link to Article:
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/946647?src=soc_lk_share
According to a recent study, regardless of the procedure used to increase ketone bodies' presence in the heart, they could have therapeutic benefits for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The authors examined the current body of experimental and clinical research on the potential function of ketone bodies in improving CVD and discovered that increasing circulating ketone levels can provide protective benefits in patients with the disease.
A ketogenic diet, which consists of a very low carbohydrate and high-fat intake, is a common way to induce ketosis; however, exogenous ketones could be a viable and superior alternative to the diet for increasing circulating ketone bodies, according to the researchers.
The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on February 23.
This realization prompted Westenbrink and colleagues to conduct a clinical trial to examine the impact of exogenous ketones on exercise efficiency in patients with heart failure.
The aim of this review was to "summarize the existing literature from animal and human studies, in the hopes of facilitating more research into the benefits of ketones as therapeutic agents in CVD."
Beyond Fuel Efficiency
The authors have looked at the processes of ketone metabolism, such as ketogenesis and ketolysis, as well as cardiac metabolism in both healthy and diseased hearts.
The reactions that lead to the formation of the ketone bodies acetoacetate (AcAc), -hydroxybutyrate (OHB), and acetone are known as ketogenesis.
Fasting causes a reduction in the insulin-to-glucagon ratio, which mobilizes fatty acids, which the liver then converts into ketone bodies. They are then moved to peripheral tissues, where they go through a process known as "terminal oxidation."
The heart appears to "reprogram metabolism to increased dependence on ketone bodies as a fuel source" as heart failure progresses, according to the authors, with increased circulating ketone concentrations and cardiac ketone consumption.
Latest Videos
Prakriti Gaba, MD, Cardiology Fellow at Harvard Medical School. In this video, she speaks about the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality With Icosapent Ethyl in Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction.
Outline
Origins:
REDUCE-IT was a double-blind experiment in which 8,179 statin-treated individuals with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and moderately increased triglycerides were randomly assigned to icosapent ethyl (IPE) or placebo. The primary objective, including death from cardiovascular (CV) causes, was significantly reduced. It was uncertain what effect IPE has on people who had previously had a myocardial infarction (MI).
Goals:
In REDUCE-IT, we wanted to look at the effect of IPE on ischemic events in patients who had previously had a MI.
Methodology:
We conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who had previously experienced MI. CV mortality, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina were the primary endpoints. The most important secondary outcome was CV death, MI, or stroke.
Outcomes:
A total of 3,693 patients had a previous MI. With IPE vs placebo, the primary endpoint was lowered from 26.1 percent to 20.2 percent; HR: 0.74 (95 percent CI: 0.65-0.85; P = 0.00001). The main secondary endpoint was lowered from 18.0% to 13.3%; HR: 0.71 (95 percent CI: 0.61-0.84; P = 0.00006). There was also a substantial 35% relative risk reduction in total ischemia events (P = 0.0000001), 34% reduction in MI (P = 0.00009), 30% reduction in CV death (P = 0.01), and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality (P = 0.054), despite a modest rise in atrial fibrillation. Sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrest were also drastically reduced by 40% and 56%, respectively.
Inferences:
Patients in REDUCE-IT with a history of recent MI who were treated with IPE had large and significant relative and absolute risk reductions in ischemic events, including CV mortality. (AMR101 Study to Assess Its Ability to Reduce Cardiovascular Events in High-Risk Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Statin Use. The primary goal is to assess the effect of 4 g/day AMR101 on the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event. NCT01492361; [REDUCE-IT])
Prakriti Gaba, MD, Cardiology Fellow at Harvard Medical School. In this video, she speaks about the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality With Icosapent Ethyl in Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction.
Outline
Origins:
REDUCE-IT was a double-blind experiment in which 8,179 statin-treated individuals with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and moderately increased triglycerides were randomly assigned to icosapent ethyl (IPE) or placebo. The primary objective, including death from cardiovascular (CV) causes, was significantly reduced. It was uncertain what effect IPE has on people who had previously had a myocardial infarction (MI).
Goals:
In REDUCE-IT, we wanted to look at the effect of IPE on ischemic events in patients who had previously had a MI.
Methodology:
We conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who had previously experienced MI. CV mortality, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina were the primary endpoints. The most important secondary outcome was CV death, MI, or stroke.
Outcomes:
A total of 3,693 patients had a previous MI. With IPE vs placebo, the primary endpoint was lowered from 26.1 percent to 20.2 percent; HR: 0.74 (95 percent CI: 0.65-0.85; P = 0.00001). The main secondary endpoint was lowered from 18.0% to 13.3%; HR: 0.71 (95 percent CI: 0.61-0.84; P = 0.00006). There was also a substantial 35% relative risk reduction in total ischemia events (P = 0.0000001), 34% reduction in MI (P = 0.00009), 30% reduction in CV death (P = 0.01), and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality (P = 0.054), despite a modest rise in atrial fibrillation. Sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrest were also drastically reduced by 40% and 56%, respectively.
Inferences:
Patients in REDUCE-IT with a history of recent MI who were treated with IPE had large and significant relative and absolute risk reductions in ischemic events, including CV mortality. (AMR101 Study to Assess Its Ability to Reduce Cardiovascular Events in High-Risk Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Statin Use. The primary goal is to assess the effect of 4 g/day AMR101 on the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event. NCT01492361; [REDUCE-IT])
Ibrahim Sultan, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Director, Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease, Surgical Director, Center for Heart Valve Disease, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC. In this video, he speaks about Transfusion of non–red blood cell blood products does not reduce survival following cardiac surgery.
Outline
Goals:
The evidence suggests that patients undergoing cardiac surgery who receive perioperative packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions have an increased risk of death. The current investigation is to determine whether there is a link between non–pRBC blood product transfusions and higher mortality.
Methodology:
Patients who underwent heart surgery between 2010 and 2018 were included in data from our center's Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Patients requiring pRBC infusions or experiencing circulatory arrest were excluded. Propensity matching (1:1; caliper = 0.2 times the standard deviation of logit of propensity score) was used. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier estimates were utilized. This study excluded individuals with cardiac transplants, ventricular assist devices, transcatheter aortic valves, and circulatory arrest.
Outcomes:
A total of 8042 patients met the analytic requirements. 395 patients requiring perioperative non–pRBC blood products (platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) were matched with 395 nontransfusion patients using propensity matching (1:1), resulting in equitable patient cohorts. The median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (3.0-6.4) years. Platelets (327 [82.8 percent]), fresh-frozen plasma (141 [35.7 percent]), and cryoprecipitate were given to patients (60 [15.2 percent ]). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative mortality (6 [1.5%] vs 4 [1.0%]; P =.52). The transfusion group had higher rates of reoperation (20 [5.0 percent] vs 8 [2.0 percent]; P.02) and prolonged ventilation (36 [9.1 percent] vs 19 [4.8 percent]; P.02). Blood product use was strongly linked with emergent surgery (odds ratio [OR] 2.86 [1.72-4.78]; P.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (OR 3.24 [1.64-6.39]; P.001), and multivalve surgery (OR 4.34 [2.83-6.67]; P.001). Blood product transfusion (hazard ratio: 1.15 [0.89-1.48]; P =.3) was not related with an increased risk of death. There was no significant difference in long-term survival between groups.
Findings:
Those undergoing cardiac surgery who require blood products alone, without pRBC transfusion, have comparable postoperative and long-term survival to patients who do not require blood products. These findings are based on a small number of patients, and further research will help to improve the generalizability of these findings.
Ibrahim Sultan, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Director, Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease, Surgical Director, Center for Heart Valve Disease, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC. In this video, he speaks about Transfusion of non–red blood cell blood products does not reduce survival following cardiac surgery.
Outline
Goals:
The evidence suggests that patients undergoing cardiac surgery who receive perioperative packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions have an increased risk of death. The current investigation is to determine whether there is a link between non–pRBC blood product transfusions and higher mortality.
Methodology:
Patients who underwent heart surgery between 2010 and 2018 were included in data from our center's Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Patients requiring pRBC infusions or experiencing circulatory arrest were excluded. Propensity matching (1:1; caliper = 0.2 times the standard deviation of logit of propensity score) was used. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier estimates were utilized. This study excluded individuals with cardiac transplants, ventricular assist devices, transcatheter aortic valves, and circulatory arrest.
Outcomes:
A total of 8042 patients met the analytic requirements. 395 patients requiring perioperative non–pRBC blood products (platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) were matched with 395 nontransfusion patients using propensity matching (1:1), resulting in equitable patient cohorts. The median duration of follow-up was 4.5 (3.0-6.4) years. Platelets (327 [82.8 percent]), fresh-frozen plasma (141 [35.7 percent]), and cryoprecipitate were given to patients (60 [15.2 percent ]). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative mortality (6 [1.5%] vs 4 [1.0%]; P =.52). The transfusion group had higher rates of reoperation (20 [5.0 percent] vs 8 [2.0 percent]; P.02) and prolonged ventilation (36 [9.1 percent] vs 19 [4.8 percent]; P.02). Blood product use was strongly linked with emergent surgery (odds ratio [OR] 2.86 [1.72-4.78]; P.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (OR 3.24 [1.64-6.39]; P.001), and multivalve surgery (OR 4.34 [2.83-6.67]; P.001). Blood product transfusion (hazard ratio: 1.15 [0.89-1.48]; P =.3) was not related with an increased risk of death. There was no significant difference in long-term survival between groups.
Findings:
Those undergoing cardiac surgery who require blood products alone, without pRBC transfusion, have comparable postoperative and long-term survival to patients who do not require blood products. These findings are based on a small number of patients, and further research will help to improve the generalizability of these findings.
Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Mads D. Lyhne, MD from the Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark speaks about Levosimendan, milrinone, and dobutamine in experimental acute pulmonary embolism.
Link to Abstract:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20458940211022977
Abstract-
Acute pulmonary embolism is a common and possibly deadly disease in emergency care. Right ventricular failure is the cause of mortality, which is caused by an increase in right ventricular afterload caused by both pulmonary vascular obstruction and vasoconstriction. Inodilators are intriguing medicines of choice because they have the potential to enhance right ventricular performance and reduce afterload. In acute pulmonary embolism, we wanted to see how three therapeutically relevant inodilators, levosimendan, milrinone, and dobutamine, affected the cardiovascular system. We used 18 female pigs in randomized, blinded animal research. Animals were given a substantial autologous pulmonary embolism and were randomized to escalating dosages of each inodilator until their baseline mean pulmonary arterial pressure was doubled. Biventricular pressure-volume loop recordings, right heart catheterization, and blood gas analysis were used to assess the effects. Inducing pulmonary embolism resulted in a rise in right ventricular afterload and pulmonary pressure (p 0.05), resulting in right ventricular dysfunction. Levosimendan and milrinone improved right ventricular function and cardiac output (p 0.05) without increasing right ventricular mechanical work and showed beneficial hemodynamic profiles by lowering right ventricular pressures and volume (p 0.001) and improving right ventricular function and cardiac output (p 0.001). Dobutamine improved right ventricular function and pressure (p 0.01), but at the expense of increased mechanical effort at the highest dosages, indicating an unfavorable hemodynamic profile. Levosimendan and milrinone decreased right ventricular afterload and enhanced right ventricular function in a porcine model of acute pulmonary embolism, but dobutamine raised right ventricular afterload and right ventricular mechanical effort at higher dosages. The research aims to evaluate inodilators in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and right ventricular failure in the clinic.
Amyloidosis
Dr. Oscar M. Westin is a PHd student and a medical doctor at the University Hospital of Copenhagen's Heart Center, Rigshospitalet. In this Podcast Dr. Westin speaks on the Two Decades of Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Danish Nationwide Study.
Link to Abstract-
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jaccao.2021.05.004
Abstract-
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is linked to a bad prognosis. According to screening studies, CA is often ignored, especially in the elderly. Recent therapy improvements have drawn attention to the condition, although data on CA epidemiology across time is scarce.
Objectives
The goal of this study was to describe all CA patients in Denmark from 1998 to 2017, as well as to look at changes in patient characteristics over time.
Methods
In Danish nationwide registries, all patients with any kind of amyloidosis diagnosed between 1998 and 2017, as well as their comorbidities and medication, were identified. Any diagnosis code for amyloidosis paired with a diagnosis code for heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or atrial fibrillation, or a procedural code for pacemaker installation, regardless of order, was classified as CA. The index date was established as the date on which those criteria were met. By index date, patients were separated into 5-year segments. We also included control subjects (1:4 ratio) from the general population as a comparison.
Results
619 patients met the CA requirements. The median age at baseline grew from 67.4 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 53.9-75.2 years) in 1998-2002 to 72.3 years in 2013-2017. (IQR: 66.0-79.3 years). Male patients grew from 62.1 percent to 66.2 percent of all patients. In the Danish population aged 65 years, the incidence of CA increased from 0.88 to 3.56 per 100,000 person-years, whereas 2-year mortality reduced from 82.6 percent (IQR: 69.9 percent -90.5 percent) to 50.2 percent (IQR: 43.1 percent -56.9 percent ). CA patients had a considerably greater mortality rate than control participants (log-rank test: P 0.0001).
Conclusions
On a nationwide scale, CA, as defined in this study, was becoming more prevalent. The rising number of male patients and median age indicate that wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis is to blame. The fact that earlier, less advanced illnesses are being recognized more often could explain the lower fatality rate.
Dr. Oscar M. Westin is a PHd student and a medical doctor at the University Hospital of Copenhagen's Heart Center, Rigshospitalet. In this video Dr. Westin speaks on the Two Decades of Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Danish Nationwide Study.
Link to Abstract-
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jaccao.2021.05.004
Abstract-
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is linked to a bad prognosis. According to screening studies, CA is often ignored, especially in the elderly. Recent therapy improvements have drawn attention to the condition, although data on CA epidemiology across time is scarce.
Objectives
The goal of this study was to describe all CA patients in Denmark from 1998 to 2017, as well as to look at changes in patient characteristics over time.
Methods
In Danish nationwide registries, all patients with any kind of amyloidosis diagnosed between 1998 and 2017, as well as their comorbidities and medication, were identified. Any diagnosis code for amyloidosis paired with a diagnosis code for heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or atrial fibrillation, or a procedural code for pacemaker installation, regardless of order, was classified as CA. The index date was established as the date on which those criteria were met. By index date, patients were separated into 5-year segments. We also included control subjects (1:4 ratio) from the general population as a comparison.
Results
619 patients met the CA requirements. The median age at baseline grew from 67.4 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 53.9-75.2 years) in 1998-2002 to 72.3 years in 2013-2017. (IQR: 66.0-79.3 years). Male patients grew from 62.1 percent to 66.2 percent of all patients. In the Danish population aged 65 years, the incidence of CA increased from 0.88 to 3.56 per 100,000 person-years, whereas 2-year mortality reduced from 82.6 percent (IQR: 69.9 percent -90.5 percent) to 50.2 percent (IQR: 43.1 percent -56.9 percent ). CA patients had a considerably greater mortality rate than control participants (log-rank test: P 0.0001).
Conclusions
On a nationwide scale, CA, as defined in this study, was becoming more prevalent. The rising number of male patients and median age indicate that wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis is to blame. The fact that earlier, less advanced illnesses are being recognized more often could explain the lower fatality rate.
Dr. Marianna Fontana works as the Director at the Royal Free Hospital in the UCL CMR unit. She is a Honorary Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Cardiology at the National Amyloidosis Centre at the University College London. In this video Dr. Fontana discusses the Clinical Importance of Left Atrial Infiltration in Cardiac Transthyretin Amyloidosis.
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcmg.2021.06.022
Abstract
The goal of this study was to characterize left atrial (LA) pathology in explanted hearts with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM); LA mechanics using echocardiographic speckle-tracking in a large cohort of ATTR-CM patients; and investigate the relationship between LA pathology and mortality.
Background
The clinical importance of LA involvement in ATTR-CM is a hot topic in medicine.
Methods
In 5 explanted ATTR-CM atria, Congo red staining and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the presence, type, and amount of amyloid and related alterations. In 906 individuals with ATTR-CM (551 wild-type (wt)-ATTR-CM; 93 T60A-ATTR-CM; 241 V122I-ATTR-CM; 21 other), echo speckle tracking was employed to measure LA reservoir, conduit, contractile function, and stiffness.
Results
The 5 atria had a lot of ATTR amyloid infiltration, which caused loss of normal architecture, vascular remodeling, capillary disruption, and subendocardial fibrosis. After controlling for established predictors, echo speckle tracking in 906 patients with ATTR-CM revealed higher atrial stiffness (median [25th-75th quartile] 1.83 [1.15-2.92]), which remained independently linked with prognosis (lnLA stiff: HR: 1.23; 95 percent CI: 1.03-1.49; P = 0.029). The three phasic functional atrial components were severely harmed (reservoir 8.86 percent [5.94 percent -12.97 percent ]; conduit 6.5 percent [4.53 percent -9.28 percent ]; contraction function 4.0 percent [2.29 percent -6.56 percent ]). Atrial contraction was missing in 22.1 percent of patients with sinus rhythm (SR) "atrial electromechanical dissociation" on electrocardiograms (AEMD). Patients with AEMD had a worse outcome than those with SR and efficient mechanical contraction (P = 0.0018). Patients with atrial fibrillation who received AEMD had a similar prognosis.
Conclusions
ATTR-CM has a phenotype that includes considerable atrial infiltration, gradual loss of atrial function, and increasing stiffness, all of which are strong independent predictors of death. AEMD has developed as a distinct trait that can be used to identify patients in SR who have a bad prognosis.
Dr. Marianna Fontana works as the Director at the Royal Free Hospital in the UCL CMR unit. She is a Honorary Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Cardiology at the National Amyloidosis Centre at the University College London. In this video Dr. Fontana discusses
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcmg.2021.06.022
Abstract
The goal of this study was to characterize left atrial (LA) pathology in explanted hearts with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM); LA mechanics using echocardiographic speckle-tracking in a large cohort of ATTR-CM patients; and investigate the relationship between LA pathology and mortality.
Background
The clinical importance of LA involvement in ATTR-CM is a hot topic in medicine.
Methods
In 5 explanted ATTR-CM atria, Congo red staining and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the presence, type, and amount of amyloid and related alterations. In 906 individuals with ATTR-CM (551 wild-type (wt)-ATTR-CM; 93 T60A-ATTR-CM; 241 V122I-ATTR-CM; 21 other), echo speckle tracking was employed to measure LA reservoir, conduit, contractile function, and stiffness.
Results
The 5 atria had a lot of ATTR amyloid infiltration, which caused loss of normal architecture, vascular remodeling, capillary disruption, and subendocardial fibrosis. After controlling for established predictors, echo speckle tracking in 906 patients with ATTR-CM revealed higher atrial stiffness (median [25th-75th quartile] 1.83 [1.15-2.92]), which remained independently linked with prognosis (lnLA stiff: HR: 1.23; 95 percent CI: 1.03-1.49; P = 0.029). The three phasic functional atrial components were severely harmed (reservoir 8.86 percent [5.94 percent -12.97 percent ]; conduit 6.5 percent [4.53 percent -9.28 percent ]; contraction function 4.0 percent [2.29 percent -6.56 percent ]). Atrial contraction was missing in 22.1 percent of patients with sinus rhythm (SR) "atrial electromechanical dissociation" on electrocardiograms (AEMD). Patients with AEMD had a worse outcome than those with SR and efficient mechanical contraction (P = 0.0018). Patients with atrial fibrillation who received AEMD had a similar prognosis.
Conclusions
ATTR-CM has a phenotype that includes considerable atrial infiltration, gradual loss of atrial function, and increasing stiffness, all of which are strong independent predictors of death. AEMD has developed as a distinct trait that can be used to identify patients in SR who have a bad prognosis.