Publications by authors named "Elbaz-Greener G"
Aims: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease, including acute heart failure (AHF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), remains debated. This study investigates the association between BMI and clinical outcomes within the PARADISE-MI cohort, while also evaluating the impact of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) versus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) treatment on this relationship.
Methods And Results: The analysis included 5589 patients from the PARADISE-MI study with available baseline BMI data.
Article Synopsis
- Percutaneous treatment for structural heart disease is advancing quickly, with the EAPCI's Core Curriculum defining crucial competencies for new interventional cardiologists specializing in this area.
- These specialists, trained in interventional cardiology, manage adult patients and perform various procedures, requiring skills in advanced imaging and planning software, with a focus on the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves.
- Comprehensive training in all three areas typically takes at least 18 months, supporting consistent education across Europe, which will eventually influence certifications and patient safety measures.
Article Synopsis
- The percutaneous treatment of structural heart disease (SHD) is advancing quickly, with the EAPCI's Core Curriculum (CC) defining the necessary competencies for newly trained interventional cardiologists (IC).
- SHD interventional cardiologists manage adult patients throughout the entire treatment process, requiring skills in advanced imaging and planning software, as well as proficiency in procedures related to the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid heart valves.
- Completing specialized SHD training typically takes at least 18 months, though it can be shortened to 1 year for focused training on specific areas, with the goal of promoting standardized, high-quality training across Europe for better patient care and future certifications.
Article Synopsis
- *A study analyzing hospital data from 2016 to 2020 revealed that while the rate of AF/AFL hospitalizations was stable prior to 2020, it dropped sharply in 2020 alongside an increase in severe outcomes like mortality and stroke.
- *Key factors associated with worse outcomes included older age, ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and COVID-19 infection itself.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the dimensionless index (DI) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), highlighting its ease of measurement and reduced susceptibility to error compared to traditional methods.
- Analyzing data from 9,393 patients, the study finds that a low DI correlates with factors such as older age, heart failure, and worse overall heart function.
- Results indicate that lower DI is linked to significantly higher mortality rates and poor event-free survival, suggesting DI should be routinely included in assessing patients with aortic valve disease.
Background: The ACURATE neo2 transcatheter aortic valve was developed to improve paravalvular leak (PVL) rates while maintaining low rates of conduction disturbances and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) seen with its predecessor. We aimed to compare conduction disturbances rates of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using ACURATE Neo2 with other commonly used valves.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Israeli TAVR registry between the years 2014-2023 was performed to compare conduction disturbances and PVL rates, and procedural outcomes, among patients treated with ACURATE neo2, Edwards Sapien 3 (S3), and Evolut PRO valves.
Article Synopsis
- A 31-year-old pregnant woman with end-stage kidney disease and a heart condition (bicuspid aortic valve) was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis during her second trimester.
- Despite being advised against it due to health risks, she decided to continue with the pregnancy.
- After consulting a multidisciplinary team, she received an urgent procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement to address her heart condition.
Article Synopsis
- About 50% of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are females, but outcomes, including mortality, differ between sexes despite advancements in procedures.
- Analysis of 392,087 hospitalizations from the National Inpatient Sample (2011-2017) showed a significant decrease in SAVR utilization for both males and females, with males having higher rates of certain health conditions.
- Women experienced higher in-hospital mortality rates (3.7%) compared to men (2.5%) and had more vascular complications, highlighting a concerning trend in SAVR outcomes between genders.
The QRS frontal plane axis changes during left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the impact of left bundle branch block (LBBB) on the QRS frontal plane axis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with normal baseline QRS duration.
- Out of 720 patients, 141 developed new LBBB post-TAVR, with most experiencing a significant leftward shift in their QRS axis.
- Patients showing a rightward or no axis shift had a higher likelihood of developing high degree atrioventricular block (AVB) compared to those with a leftward shift, indicating a potential risk factor in LBBB post-TAVR.
Background: Among the most frequent complications following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is hemostasis imbalance that presents either as thromboembolic or bleeding. Deviations in platelet count (PC) and mean platelet volume (MPV) are markers of hemostasis imbalance.
Objectives: To determine the predictive value of pre- and post-procedural PC and MPV fL 1-year all-cause mortality in patients who underwent TAVR.
Background Routine addition of an atrial lead during an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death, in patients without pacing indications, was not shown beneficial in contemporary studies. We aimed to investigate the use and safety of single- versus dual-chamber ICD implantations in these patients. Methods and Results Using the National Inpatient Sample database, we identified patients with no pacing indications who underwent primary-prevention ICD implantation in the United States between 2015 and 2019.
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- A study analyzed the use of heart failure (HF) therapies in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after acute coronary syndromes (ACS), using data from the 2021 ACS Israeli Survey (ACSIS).
- The majority of patients received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and beta-blockers, but there was low utilization of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI).
- Patients with reduced LVEF showed a trend towards worse short-term outcomes compared to those with mildly-reduced LVEF, but no significant correlation was found between the number of
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effectiveness and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for treating intermediate- or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) compared to other therapies like systemic thrombolysis and anticoagulation.
- Analysis of data from 44 studies involving over 20,000 patients showed that CDT significantly reduced the risk of death and major bleeding compared to systemic thrombolysis, while maintaining similar risks for minor bleeding.
- The findings suggest that CDT may offer a safer option with lower mortality rates than systemic thrombolysis, and possibly fewer deaths than anticoagulation, though the results are primarily based on observational data rather than randomized controlled trials.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and outcomes in patients with bacteremic sepsis using data from 2015-2016.
- It found that underweight and very high BMI patients experienced higher mortality and longer hospital stays compared to those in the middle BMI ranges.
- The research supports an "obesity paradox," where higher BMI may offer some protective benefits in sepsis, but this effect decreases at extremely high BMI levels.
Article Synopsis
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major global health issue, and this study investigates the role of microRNA-483-5p in distinguishing between chronic CAD and acute myocardial infarction (MI) in male patients.
- Significant changes in miR-483-5p levels were observed, with higher concentrations in coronary arteries of acute MI patients compared to those with chronic CAD, while lower levels were found in the peripheral blood of both diseased groups compared to controls.
- The findings suggest that miR-483-5p could be a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target for understanding and treating cardiovascular diseases, due to its involvement in crucial processes like inflammation and tissue repair.
Background: Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) repair is a minimally invasive procedure used for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Cardioversion is indicated for haemodynamically unstable patients with narrow complex tachycardia and is generally considered safe post-mitral clip. We present a patient who underwent cardioversion post-TEER with a single leaflet detachment (SLD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common finding which appears to be associated with a worse prognosis. There are conflicting data regarding the prognostic impact of mild TR. We examined the clinical characteristics and echocardiographic properties of subjects with TR and its impact on clinical outcome with particular emphasis on subjects with mild TR.
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- Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a serious and often fatal complication arising from acute coronary syndrome (ACS), contributing to high mortality rates despite advancements in medical management and treatment options.
- This observational study utilized the ACSIS database from 2000-2013 to analyze the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of ACS patients who experienced CS, finding that 4.2% of patients admitted had this complication.
- Results indicated that patients who developed CS during their hospital stay had significantly higher rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and mortality than those who arrived with CS, highlighting the need for more research on these high-risk individuals.
Article Synopsis
- Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes conditions like unstable angina and myocardial infarctions, with the GRACE risk score currently being the most effective for predicting mortality, but it has limitations across different ethnic groups and does not predict other clinical outcomes.
- This study aimed to evaluate the role of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and lab biomarkers in forecasting major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in NSTEMI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
- The research involved 223 NSTEMI patients, identifying that LogₑBNP, prior myocardial infarction, and hemoglobin levels are significant predictors of MACCE, with LogₑBNP being the strongest independent predictor, suggesting it should be routinely assessed
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates whether the baseline R-wave amplitude in the V1 ECG lead can predict the risk of high-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with normal QRS duration.
- Out of 720 patients who underwent TAVR, 141 developed left bundle branch block (LBBB), with 14 of those experiencing high-degree AVB requiring pacemaker implantation.
- The findings indicate that a smaller R-wave amplitude in the V1 lead is associated with a higher risk of developing high-degree AVB, suggesting it could be a useful predictor for clinicians.
Article Synopsis
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is widely used to treat severe aortic stenosis, but access to this treatment shows socioeconomic disparities that could affect patient outcomes.
- A study of over 4,100 patients in Ontario found that higher levels of residential instability were linked to an increased risk of death and hospital readmission one year after the procedure, highlighting a significant health risk associated with this social factor.
- The research indicates that while residential instability impacts TAVR outcomes, factors like material deprivation and racial or ethnic concentration didn’t show a significant relationship, suggesting a need for targeted interventions to support disadvantaged patients.
Article Synopsis
- Disopyramide, a class Ia antiarrhythmic drug, is evaluated for its effects on patients with symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.
- The study showed that after taking disopyramide, there was a significant decrease in global strain and specific segments of the left ventricle, indicating its acute negative inotropic effect.
- The findings suggest that analyzing strain could be a valuable method to measure the impact of cardiovascular medications like disopyramide on heart function in HOCM patients.
Article Synopsis
- - Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a serious medical emergency where the heart's ability to pump blood is severely diminished.
- - It leads to inadequate blood flow (hypoperfusion) and insufficient oxygen in the body's tissues (hypoxia).
- - This condition is primarily caused by low cardiac output, which often results from various heart-related issues.
Article Synopsis
- Approximately 50% of TAVR procedures are performed on female patients, but studies indicate that women experience higher in-hospital mortality rates compared to men despite advancements in the procedure.
- An analysis of the National Inpatient Sample database from 2011-2017 revealed that TAVR procedures increased for both sexes; however, men underwent more procedures overall.
- Although complication rates for TAVR have decreased over time, the disparity in mortality rates between female and male patients persists, with women having a higher likelihood of in-hospital death after the procedure.