The Distribution of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Characteristics, and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure in Taiwan.

Background: Data regarding the distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction among patients with newly diagnosed heart failure (HF) and the outcomes of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in Taiwan are limited.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed HF were identified from a multi-institutional database between 2016 and 2020. Outcomes were compared between patients with HFpEF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after propensity score matching (PSM).

Clinical outcomes of generic versus brand-name clopidogrel for secondary prevention in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A nationwide cohort study.

Skepticism exists among healthcare workers and patients regarding the efficacy and safety of generic medication, despite its potential to lower healthcare costs. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of a generic clopidogrel and its brand-name counterpart for secondary prevention in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 49,325 patients who were hospitalized for AMI between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013 and prescribed either generic or brand-name clopidogrel.

Case report: Sudden cardiorespiratory collapse in a healthy male after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination at a vaccination center.

Since 2020, new vaccines were developed to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccination is important in preventing mortality and achieving herd immunity. However, due to vast vaccination, fatal adverse events could be seen.

Levosimendan use in patients with acute heart failure and reduced ejection fraction with or without severe renal dysfunction in critical cardiac care units: a multi-institution database study.

Background: Acute heart failure is a life-threatening clinical condition. Levosimendan is an effective inotropic agent used to maintain cardiac output, but its usage is limited by the lack of evidence in patients with severely abnormal renal function. Therefore, we analyzed data of patients with acute heart failure with and without abnormal renal function to examine the effects of levosimendan.

The risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) reduces the risk of hard cardiovascular endpoints in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with/without established cardiovascular diseases. Whether SGLT2i is associated with a lower risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in T2DM patients is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the risk of new-onset AF associated with the use of SGLT2i compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) among a longitudinal cohort of diabetic patients.

Glycemic status and risks of thromboembolism and major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Studies specifically examining the association between glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism (IS/SE) risk in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are limited. Here, we investigated the association between HbA1c levels and the risk of IS/SE, as well as major bleeding, among AF patients with or without oral anticoagulants (OACs). We also compared the effectiveness and safety of warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in different HbA1c categories.