Association of Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) remains challenging.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on SCD in NICM patients.

Methods: Our study cohort included 173 consecutive patients (age 53 ± 14 years, 73% men) scheduled for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) implantation who underwent preimplant cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Contemporary Administrative Codes to Identify Pulmonary Vein Isolation Procedures for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Use of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to treat atrial fibrillation continues to increase. Despite great interest in leveraging administrative data for real-world analyses, contemporary procedural codes for identifying PVI have not been evaluated.

Methods And Results: In this observational retrospective cohort study, inpatient PVIs were identified among US Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 93656 in Carrier Line Files.

Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Electrocardiography for Prediction of Incident Hypertension.

Importance: Hypertension underpins significant global morbidity and mortality. Early lifestyle intervention and treatment are effective in reducing adverse outcomes. Artificial intelligence-enhanced electrocardiography (AI-ECG) has been shown to identify a broad spectrum of subclinical disease and may be useful for predicting incident hypertension.

Spatial ventricular gradient is associated with pacing-induced cardiomyopathy.

Background: Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) is a frequent complication of right ventricular pacing that often requires reoperation for biventricular or conduction system pacing. Better methods for predicting PICM may inform initial pacing strategy and follow-up monitoring.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the spatial ventricular gradient (SVG), a vectorcardiographic marker of ventricular electrical and mechanical heterogeneity, is associated with the subsequent development of PICM.

Health-Related Values Discussions with Patients Undergoing Allogeneic and Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: Feasibility and Acceptability of an Early Primary Palliative Care Intervention.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) has curative potential but also relatively high morbidity and mortality. Patients have multidimensional palliative care (PC) needs throughout the transplant process. However, PC is not routinely offered to patients with hematologic malignancies.