Heart Rate Variability Applications in Strength and Conditioning: A Narrative Review.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is defined as the fluctuation of time intervals between adjacent heartbeats and is commonly used as a surrogate measure of autonomic function. HRV has become an increasingly measured variable by wearable technology for use in fitness and sport applications. However, with its increased use, a gap has arisen between the research and the application of this technology in strength and conditioning.

The impact of the OPTN policy change on patients with a durable left ventricular assist device and chronic kidney disease: Analysis of the UNOS database.

Background: The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) implemented modifications in 2018 to the adult heart transplant allocation system to better stratify the most medically urgent transplant candidates. We evaluated the impact of these changes on patients supported by a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the OPTN policy change on patients supported by durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Relationship Between Obesity and Youth Athletes' Physical Activity and Exercise-Related Cardiac Symptoms.

While studies have identified the negative cardiovascular effects of obesity, the effects of obesity on youth athletes are less studied. This study investigates the associations between obesity in youth athletes and exercise activity and exertional cardiac symptoms. The HeartBytes National Youth Database produced by Simon's Heart, a nonprofit that organizes adolescents' sports pre-participation examinations (PPEs), was used.

A multicenter evaluation of the HeartMate 3 risk score.

Background: The Heartmate 3 (HM3) risk score (HM3RS) was derived and validated internally from within the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy with HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3) trial population and provides 1- and 2-year mortality risk prediction for patients in those before HM3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We aimed to evaluate the HM3RS in nontrial unselected patients, including those not meeting inclusion criteria for MOMENTUM 3 trial enrollment.

Methods: Patients who underwent HM3 LVAD implant at 1 of 7 US centers between 2017 and 2021, with at least 1-year follow-up, were included in this analysis.

Late Right Heart Failure After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Contemporary Insights and Future Perspectives.

Late right heart failure (RHF) is increasingly recognized in patients with long-term left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and is associated with decreased survival and increased incidence of adverse events such as gastrointestinal bleeding and stroke. Progression of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction to clinical syndrome of late RHF in patients supported with LVAD is dependent on the severity of pre-existing RV dysfunction, persistent or worsening left- or right-sided valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, inadequate or excessive left ventricular unloading, and/or progression of the underlying cardiac disease. RHF likely represents a continuum of risk with early presentation and progression to late RHF.

Adverse outcomes of atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure patients with and without cardiac amyloidosis: a Nationwide Readmissions Database analysis (2015-2019).

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been linked with a worse prognosis. The current study aimed to determine the outcomes of AF catheter ablation in patients with CA.

Methods And Results: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (2015-2019) was used to identify patients with AF and concomitant heart failure.

Trends and Predictors of Poor Outcomes in Patients With Right Heart Failure: Insights From the National Readmission Database.

Right heart failure (RHF) is a complex clinical syndrome that confers high risk of morbidity and mortality. We sought to study RHF using large national database. The study is a retrospective analysis of the National Readmission Database (NRD) of years 2017-2019.

National Trends of Structural Heart Disease Interventions from 2016 to 2020 in the United States and the Associated Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic placed an enormous strain on the healthcare system. Data on the impact of COVID-19 on the utilization and outcomes of structural heart disease interventions in the United States are scarce. The National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2020 was queried to identify adult admissions for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), and transcatheter end-to-end repair (TEER).

Cardiogenic Shock Due to Atrial Arrhythmia as the Initial Presentation of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Atrial arrhythmias are common in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), with a prevalence of ≤80%. They are often not well tolerated. We describe 3 patients with decompensated heart failure and cardiogenic shock precipitated by atrial arrhythmias who ultimately received diagnoses of ATTR-CA.

Temporal Trends and Sex Differences in Patients With Cardiac Amyloidosis and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Retrospective Analysis of 22,015 Admissions From the National Inpatient Sample.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) often goes unrecognized as a cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). There is paucity of contemporary data evaluating the trends of CA diagnosis and associated sex differences. Adult heart failure hospitalizations were identified from the National Inpatient Sample between 2016 and 2019.

Impact of ventricular arrhythmia on LVAD implantation admission outcomes.

Introduction: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are common after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation though data are mixed on whether these events have an impact on mortality.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2002-2019 was queried for LVAD implantation admissions. Secondary ICD codes were analyzed to assess for the occurrence of VAs during this admission.

Risk Factors for Sudden Death in Athletes, Is There a Role for Screening?

Purpose Of Review: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young athlete is an infrequent yet devastating event often associated with substantial media attention. Screening athletes for conditions associated with SCD is a controversial topic with debate surrounding virtually each component including the ideal subject, method, and performer/interpreter of such screens. In fact, major medical societies such as the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology have discrepant recommendations on the matter, and major sporting associations have enacted a wide range of screening policies, highlighting the confusion on this subject.

Catheter-Based Management of Heart Failure: Pathophysiology and Contemporary Data.

Device therapy for severe heart failure (HF) has shown efficacy both in acute and chronic settings. Recent percutaneous device innovations have pioneered a field known as interventional HF, providing clinicians with a variety of options for acute decompensated HF that are centered on nonsurgical mechanical circulatory support. Other structural-based therapies are aimed at the pathophysiology of chronic HF and target the underlying etiologies such as functional mitral regurgitation, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and increased neurohumoral activity.

A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta regression of the sham controlled renal denervation randomized controlled trials.

Renal denervation (RD) has been investigated as a novel blood pressure (BP) lowering treatment for hypertension. The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of RD and factors that may associate with treatment effect heterogeneity. The primary outcomes were raw mean differences (RMD) in 24-hour ambulatory, daytime ambulatory, nighttime, and office systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) between sham control and RD.

Safety and efficacy of ultrafiltration versus diuretics in patients with decompensated heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Ultrafiltration (UF) is used for fluid removal patients with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) refractory to diuretics. However, data on the relative merits of UF and diuretics are limited.

Methods: Online databases were queried to identify clinical trials on the comparison of UF and diuretics.