Outcomes of patients with acute decompensated heart failure managed by cardiologists versus noncardiologists.

Physician practice patterns in the management of hospitalized acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients may vary by specialty; comparative practice patterns in ADHF management and clinical outcomes as a function of provider type have not been well reported. We studied a total of 496 patients discharged with the principal diagnosis of ADHF to analyze practice patterns among 3 provider types (cardiologists, hospitalists, and nonhospitalists). We examined outcomes of death and rehospitalization for HF and adherence to the Joint Commission HF performance core measures.

Left main coronary artery stenosis: a meta-analysis of drug-eluting stents versus coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to provide a systematic review comparing the long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) for unprotected left main coronary artery (UPLM) stenosis.

Background: One-year outcomes from randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and pooled analyses have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of PCI of the UPLM when compared with CABG. However, there remain concerns over the sustainability of PCI with DES at longer follow-up.

Late stroke: comparison of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with multivessel disease and unprotected left main disease: a meta-analysis and review of literature.

Background And Purpose: Studies have suggested that the early excess risk of stroke in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may be compensated for by a slow but progressive catch-up phenomenon in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We therefore undertook this analysis to compare the temporal stroke risk between PCI and CABG in patients with unprotected left main stenosis and multivessel coronary artery disease.

Methods: Studies of PCI versus CABG for unprotected left main stenosis and multivessel disease published between January 1994 (stent era) and July 2013 were identified using an electronic search and reviewed using meta-analytic techniques.

Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: meta-analysis and systematic review of literature.

Objectives: This study was designed to establish the incidence, impact, and predictors of post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) aortic regurgitation (AR).

Background: AR is an important limitation of TAVR with ill-defined predictors and unclear long-term impact on outcomes.

Methods: Studies published between 2002 and 2012 with regard to TAVR were identified using an electronic search and reviewed using the random-effects model of DerSimonian and Laird.

Augmentation index and aortic stiffness in bicuspid aortic valve patients with non-dilated proximal aortas.

Background: We compared aortic stiffness, aortic impedance and pressure from wave reflections in the setting of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) to the tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) in the absence of proximal aortic dilation. We hypothesized BAV is associated with abnormal arterial stiffness.

Methods: Ten BAV subjects (47 ± 4 years, 6 male) and 13 TAV subjects (46 ± 4 years, 10 male) without significant aortic valve disease were prospectively recruited.

Peripheral augmentation index as a biomarker of vascular aging: an invasive hemodynamics approach.

We compared two measures of vascular function obtained from digital volume waveforms with measures of target organ damage and novel invasive measures of vascular function as they relate to vascular aging. Aortic pulse pressure amplification, pulsatility, form factor and extent of coronary atherosclerosis (modified Gensini score) were obtained invasively in 59 patients undergoing left heart catheterization. Digital volume waveforms were captured via peripheral arterial tone (PAT) and used to derive augmentation index (AIx) and the pulse wave amplitude-reactive hyperemia index (PWA-RHI).

Peripheral Augmentation Index is Associated With the Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index in Patients With Hypertension.

Background: Vascular dysfunction is highly prevalent if not ubiquitous in patients with hypertension. We compared two different measures of vascular function obtained from digital volume waveforms with measures of ventricular-vascular load derived from 24-hour blood pressure (BP) recordings in patients with hypertension.

Methods: Digital pulsatile volume waveforms were captured via plethysmography (peripheral arterial tone, PAT) and used to derive augmentation index (a measure of ventricular-vascular coupling) and the pulse wave amplitude-reactive hyperemia index (a measure of microvascular reactivity).

Assessor-blinded study of the metabolic syndrome and surrogate markers of increased cardiovascular risk in children with moderate-to-severe psoriasis compared with age-matched population of children with warts.

Adult patients with psoriasis have an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors due to elevations of Tumor Necrosis Factor and other inflammatory cytokines.1,2 Recently, higher rates of hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were seen in patients with juvenile psoriasis.3 Here, we report the interim results of an ongoing study of MetS and CVD risk factors in pediatric psoriasis patients.

Augmentation index derived from peripheral arterial tonometry correlates with cardiovascular risk factors.

Background. Augmentation index (AIx) is traditionally obtained from pressure waveforms via arterial applanation tonometry. We sought to evaluate the association between AIx obtained from peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) with cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Effect of atenolol vs metoprolol succinate on vascular function in patients with hypertension.

Background: We evaluated the effect of atenolol vs metoprolol succinate on vascular function in patients with essential hypertension.

Hypothesis: Given intrinsic differences between these agents, we hypothesized that atenolol and metoprolol succinate would have disparate effects on vascular function.

Methods: This study included 24 patients with hypertension (age 56 ± 2 years, 8 female, body mass index 28 ± 1) and featured a randomized, double-blind, crossover design.

Utility of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in predicting long-term outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, its role for risk stratification in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has not been well described. In this study, 1,212 consecutive patients admitted with ADHF who had total white blood cell and differential counts measured at admission were analyzed.

Relation of pulse pressure to blood pressure response to exercise in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Almost one third of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) will have an abnormal blood pressure response (ABPR) to exercise, and this has been associated with a greater risk of sudden cardiac death. In the present study, we examined the association between the steady (mean arterial pressure) and pulsatile (pulse pressure) blood pressure components as they relate to ABPR in patients with HC (n = 70). All patients completed a standard Bruce protocol during symptom-limited stress testing with concurrent hemodynamic measurements.

Serum albumin and mortality in acutely decompensated heart failure.

Background: Although hypoalbuminemia has been associated with decreased survival in chronic systolic heart failure (HF), its role for prognosticating outcomes in those with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has not been established.

Methods And Results: 438 consecutive patients with ADHF (mean age 75±13 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 41%±20%) admitted to a large community hospital were studied. The mean serum albumin level for the group was 3.

Elevated augmentation index derived from peripheral arterial tonometry is associated with abnormal ventricular-vascular coupling.

Background: Although typically derived from the contour of arterial pressure waveform, augmentation index (AIx) may also be derived from the digital pulse volume waveform using finger plethysmography (peripheral arterial tonometry, PAT). Little is known regarding the physiologic correlates of AIx derived from PAT. In this study, we investigated the relation of PAT-AIx with measures of ventricular-vascular coupling.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is associated with exercise capacity in smokers and non-smokers.

Smoking is an established cardiovascular risk factor that impairs endothelial function and reduces exercise capacity. Peripheral vascular endothelial function correlates with exercise capacity, but whether this association prevails in smokers is unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between endothelial function and exercise capacity in chronic smokers and non-smoking controls.

Peripheral arterial tonometry for risk stratification in men with coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk is not fully revealed by traditional risk factors. Identification of a simple, noninvasive tool that allows for detection of high-risk CAD patients and can be applied in large populations and clinical settings would prove valuable.

Hypothesis: We sought to test the hypothesis that peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) would be associated with residual risk in men with CAD.

Peripheral vascular endothelial function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) have coronary microvascular dysfunction, which is an independent predictor of adverse left ventricular remodeling, systolic dysfunction, and mortality in these patients. Whether these defects in vasomotor function are localized to the coronary arteries or whether systemic vasomotor dysfunction is present in patients with HC has not yet been adequately examined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with HC have altered peripheral vascular endothelial function.

L-arginine as a nutritional prophylaxis against vascular endothelial dysfunction with aging.

With advancing age, peripheral conduit and resistance arteries lose the ability to effectively dilate owing to endothelial dysfunction. This vascular senescence contributes to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with aging. L-arginine plays a role in numerous physiological processes including nitrogen detoxification, immunocompetence, growth hormone (GH) secretion, and insulin secretion.

Assessment of vascular endothelial function with peripheral arterial tonometry: information at your fingertips?

Endothelial dysfunction is an important component in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The ability to assess the endothelium in a meaningful manner has been the subject of intense investigation over decades. Since the function of endothelial cells is a gauge of vascular health, assessment of vascular function is emerging as a useful tool for predicting cardiovascular risk and as a surrogate outcome measure for cardiovascular reduction intervention studies.