Atrial fibrillation status and associations with adverse clinical outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19: a large unselected statewide population-linkage study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in COVID-19 patients. The impact of AF on major-adverse-cardiovascular-events (MACE defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, cardiac failure or coronary revascularisation), recurrent AF admission and venous thromboembolism in hospitalised COVID-19 patients is unclear.

Methods: Patients admitted with COVID-19 (1-January-2020 to 30-September-2021) were identified from the New South Wales Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database, stratified by AF status (no-AF vs prior-AF or new-AF during index COVID-19 admission) and followed-up until 31-Mar-2022.

Changing Epidemiology of Myocarditis in Australia: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

: Myocarditis is a serious disease that has drawn increasing attention due to its association with COVID-19 and vaccination. This study investigates the epidemiology of myocarditis beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, including its incidence and outcomes over time. : We analyzed the population-wide retrospective data from the Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database of patients admitted to hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, with a diagnosis of myocarditis from 2001 to 2022.

Morbidity and mortality outcomes of patients requiring isolated tricuspid valve surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 537 patients in New South Wales between 2002 and 2018.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate mortality and morbidity outcomes following open-heart isolated tricuspid valve surgery (TVSx) with medium to long-term follow-up.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: New South Wales public and private hospital admissions between 1 January 2002 and 30 June 2018.

Mortality outcomes in 35,433 patients admitted for acute haemorrhagic stroke in Australia: A population-linkage study.

Background: Haemorrhagic stroke (HS) is an important cardiovascular cause of mortality worldwide. Trends in admission rates and outcomes, and predictors of outcomes, post-HS in Australia remain unclear.

Methods: All New South Wales residents, Australia, hospitalized with HS from 2002 to 2017 were identified from the Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database.

Healthcare exposures and associated risk of endocarditis after open-heart cardiac valve surgery.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) following cardiac valve surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Data on the impact of iatrogenic healthcare exposures on this risk are sparse. This study aimed to investigate risk factors including healthcare exposures for post open-heart cardiac valve surgery endocarditis (PVE).

Trends in Isolated Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement Surgery in Australia: A Statewide Cohort Linkage Study.

Background: Global trends in mitral valve surgery (MVSx) suggest increasing repair compared with replacement, especially in the United States and European countries. The relative use, and outcomes of, MV repair and replacement in Australia are unknown.

Methods: New South Wales residents who underwent isolated MVSx between 2001 and 2017 were identified from the Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database.

Outcomes Following Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Insertion in Patients 80 Years of Age or Older: A Statewide Population Cohort Study.

Background: Patients ≥ 80 years of age are underrepresented in major implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) trials, and real-world data are lacking. In this study, we sought to assess ICD utilisation, outcomes, and their predictors, in an unselected statewide population including patients ≥ 80 years old.

Methods: We extracted details of ICDs implanted from 2009 to 2018 in New South Wales (NSW), Australia from the Centre for Health Record Linkage administrative data sets.

Outcomes Following Triple Cardiac Valve Surgery Over 17-years: A Multicentre Population-Linkage Study.

Introduction: Studies have reported increasing triple valve surgery (TVS, defined as concomitant aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves surgery) incidence and improved postoperative survival. The epidemiology and outcome of TVS is not known in Australia.

Methods: From the Admission-Patient-Data-Collection registry, all New South Wales residents who underwent cardiac valve surgery between 1 July 2001 and 31 December 2018 were identified, with cause-specific mortality tracked from the death registry.

Impact of body mass index and diabetes on myocardial fat content, interstitial fibrosis and function.

Purpose: We hypothesize that both increased myocardial steatosis and interstitial fibrosis contributes to subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients with increased body mass index and diabetes mellitus.

Background: Increased body weight and diabetes mellitus are both individually associated with a higher incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. However, it is unclear how increased myocardial steatosis and interstitial fibrosis interact to influence myocardial composition and function.

Sex differences in rates of permanent pacemaker implantation and in-hospital complications: A statewide cohort study of over 7 million persons from 2009-2018.

Background: Whether a bias exists in the implantation of permanent pacemakers (PPI) and complications according to sex and age in the Australian population is unclear.

Hypothesis: Population rate of PPI and its complications differed between men and women.

Methods: We examined the prevalence of PPI from January-2009 to December-2018 from datasets held by the New South Wales (NSW) Centre-for-Health-Record-Linkage, including patient's characteristics and in-hospital complications.

Hemoglobin, Frailty, and Long-term Cardiovascular Events in Community-Dwelling Older Men Aged ≥ 70 Years.

Background: Anemia is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in older populations. However, the relationship between hemoglobin and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and whether this is modulated by frailty, is unclear.

Methods: CHAMP (Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project) is a prospective study of community-dwelling men aged ≥ 70 years.

A real-world comparison of outcomes between fractional flow reserve-guided versus angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to be superior to angiography-guided PCI in randomized controlled studies. However, real-world data on the use and outcomes of FFR-guided PCI remain limited. Thus, we investigated the outcomes of patients undergoing FFR-guided PCI compared to angiography-guided PCI in a large, state-wide unselected cohort.

Electrocardiographic QRS duration is influenced by body mass index and sex.

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) measured QRS duration has been shown to influence cardiovascular outcomes. However, there is paucity of data on whether ECG QRS duration is influenced by obesity and sex in large populations.

Methods: All ECGs performed by a pathology provider over a 2-year period were included.

Incidentally identified coronary artery calcium on non-contrast CT scan of the chest predicts major adverse cardiac events among hospital inpatients.

Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) identified on non-gated CT scan of the chest is predictive of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in multiple studies with guidelines therefore recommending the routine reporting of incidental CAC. These studies have been limited however to the outpatient setting. We aimed to determine the prognostic utility of incidentally identified CAC on CT scan of the chest among hospital inpatients.

Right ventricle assessment in patients with pulmonary embolism at low risk for death based on clinical models: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Aims: Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) at low risk for short-term death are candidates for home treatment or short-hospital stay. We aimed at determining whether the assessment of right ventricle dysfunction (RVD) or elevated troponin improves identification of low-risk patients over clinical models alone.

Methods And Results: Individual patient data meta-analysis of studies assessing the relationship between RVD or elevated troponin and short-term mortality in patients with acute PE at low risk for death based on clinical models (Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index, simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index or Hestia).

Long-Term Outcomes Following Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic Assessment: First Australian Data.

Australian guidelines recommend prompt evaluation of patients presenting to emergency departments with chest pain, found to be low risk for acute coronary syndromes, and cardiologist-led Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPC) have been proposed as a model to provide such care. Initial Australian experience of RACPCs suggests excellent short-term outcomes, and that they are cost-beneficial, though little data exists examining longer-term outcomes. The present study therefore examines such longer-term outcomes to beyond 5 years following presentation to an RACPC in an Australian tertiary metropolitan centre.

Trends in Acute Pulmonary Embolism Admission Rates and Mortality Outcomes in Australia, 2002-2003 to 2017-2018: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background:  Contemporary Australian epidemiological data on acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are lacking.

Objectives:  To determine the admission rates of acute PE in Australia, and to assess the temporal trends in short- and medium-term mortality following acute PE.

Methods:  Retrospective population-linkage study of all New South Wales residents admitted with a primary diagnosis of PE between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2018 using data from the Centre for Health Record Linkage databases.

Outcomes of 16,436 patients requiring isolated aortic valve surgery: A statewide cohort study.

Background: Aortic valve surgery (AVS) is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic aortic valve (AV) disease patients. We report the temporal trends in the incidence of patients requiring isolated AVS in an unselected statewide population and their mortality outcomes over 17-years.

Methods: Patients were identified from the New South Wales, Australia, Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection registry between 1-July-2001 and 31-December-2018.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Mortality and Heart Failure Hospitalisation in Patients With Intracardiac Device-Related Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Introduction: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a known complication of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). A better understanding of the patient population affected by this complication and their outcomes is needed. The aims of our study were to: 1) describe the incidence of CIED-related tricuspid regurgitation; 2) identify patient characteristics conferring risk; 3) assess the long-term risk of hospitalisation for heart failure and mortality in patients with this complication.

Final year dental students' career plans, work patterns, work-life balance and domestic life in New Zealand and Australia.

Introduction: Having insight into final year dental students' career planning is vital in maintaining and enhancing the quality of dental education. The aim of this study was to investigate final year dental students' career plans, work patterns, work-life balance and domestic life, in New Zealand and Australia.

Methods: The design of the study was a two-centred cross-sectional study.

Right ventricular speckle tracking strain echocardiography in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) parameters assessed by traditional echocardiography lack sensitivity to identify pulmonary embolism (PE). We sought to determine if alterations in RV free wall longitudinal strain (FWS) would be present in PE patients and improve evaluation. This retrospective study comprised of 84 consecutive PE patients from 2 centres, with adequate transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) images for RV FWS analysis.

Low total cholesterol is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events in men aged ≥70 years not taking statins.

Objective: Low levels of total cholesterol (TC) are associated with adverse outcomes in older populations. Whether this phenomenon is independent of statin use is unknown. We investigated the association between low TC levels and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in a prospective study of men aged ≥70 years without ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and whether this was influenced by statin use.