Role of comorbidities on the mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an Italian cohort study.

Background: Cardiovascular comorbidities are a common cause of death in COVID-19 and the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of comorbidities on mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study we enrolled 1049 patients hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in a single Italian Center from 21 February to 20 March 2020 Evaluated risk factors (RFs) were: advanced age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, malignancy, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Endpoint of the study was death from any cause.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Association of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors with risk of death in patients with hypertension (HTN) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with HTN and COVID-19 with respect to different chronic antihypertensive drug intake. We performed a retrospective, observational study from a large cohort of patients with HTN and with a laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection admitted to the Emergency Rooms (ER) of the Piacenza Hospital network from February 21, 2020 to March 20, 2020.

[Late occurrence of pulmonary embolsim in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a case series].

Several studies suggested that the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with a hypercoagulable state and increased risk for venous thromboembolism but the incidence of thrombotic complications in the late phase of the disease is currently unknown. The present article describes three cases of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and late occurrence of pulmonary embolism. Case 1: a 57-year-old man diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and type B aortic dissection after 12 days from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 320 deceased patients with COVID-19 in an Italian Province: A retrospective observational study.

Studies have described clinical features of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, limited data concerning the clinical characteristics of the Italian deaths are available. We aim to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 320 deceased from the Italian experience.

[Takotsubo syndrome during SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a possible cardiovascular complication].

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is one of the causes of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries, and is often triggered by physical events (e.g. acute respiratory failure), or emotional events (e.

Exercise oscillatory ventilation and prognosis in heart failure patients with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction.

Aims: Exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is a pivotal cardiopulmonary exercise test parameter for the prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). It has been described in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (<40%, HFrEF) and with HF with preserved ejection fraction (>50%, HFpEF), but no data are available for patients with HF with mid-range ejection fraction (40-49%, HFmrEF). The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic role of EOV in HFmrEF patients.

Regional differences in exercise training implementation in heart failure: findings from the Exercise Training in Heart Failure (ExTraHF) survey.

Background: Exercise training programmes (ETPs) are a crucial component in cardiac rehabilitation in heart failure (HF) patients. The Exercise Training in HF (ExTraHF) survey has reported poor implementation of ETPs in countries affiliated to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The aim of the present sub-analysis was to investigate the regional variations in the implementation of ETPs for HF patients.

Mobile health and implantable cardiac devices: Patients' expectations.

Background: Mobile computing and communication technologies in health services and information (so-called mHealth) have modified the traditional approach in the follow-up of patients with implantable cardiac devices, increased patient engagement and empowerment, reduced healthcare costs and improved patients' outcome. Recent developments in mobile technology, with the introduction of smartphone-compatible devices that can measure various health parameters and transfer automatically generated data, have increased the potential application of remote monitoring and the interest towards mHealth. However, little is known about the patients' interest and expectations of this new technology.

[Heart failure and iron deficiency].

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a clinical reality with an incidence of >10% in the population over 65 years of age, expected to increase in the coming years. Alongside the well-known pharmacological options (e.g.

Global Longitudinal Strain as a Predictor of First and Subsequent Arrhythmic Events in Remotely Monitored ICD Patients With Structural Heart Disease.

Objectives: This study sought to assess speckle-tracking-derived parameters as predictors of first and subsequent ventricular events in patients with structural heart disease and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD).

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the current primary parameter of risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in structural heart diseases is burdened by many limitations.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, all consecutive patients with structural heart disease were admitted for ICD implantation.

Left Atrial Function Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is known to be the most widespread epidemic of cardiovascular disease. Among several factors with prognostic value for the clinical course of HF, left atrial (LA) function has not yet been fully examined. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate LA function for the prediction of major cardiovascular outcomes in stable patients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction.

Development of simulation combining a physical heart model and three-dimensional system for electrophysiology training.

Background: A new three-dimensional heart anatomical simulator (3D HAS) has been created combining a physical heart model with an electroanatomic mapping (EAM) system. The aim of this study is to describe the development and the validation process of this device.

Methods: We developed the 3D HAS combining a physical heart model with an EAM system.

ALLiance for sEcondary PREvention after an acute coronary syndrome. The ALLEPRE trial: A multicenter fully nurse-coordinated intensive intervention program.

The main objective of cardiovascular disease prevention is to reduce morbidity and mortality by promoting a healthy lifestyle, reducing risk factors, and improving adherence to medications. Secondary prevention after an acute coronary syndrome has proved to be effective in reducing new cardiovascular events, but its limited use in everyday clinical practice suggests that there is considerable room for improvement. The short-term results of evidence-based studies of nurse-coordinated secondary prevention programs have been positive, but there is a lack of long-term outcome data.

Physical activity intervention for elderly patients with reduced physical performance after acute coronary syndrome (HULK study): rationale and design of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Reduced physical performance and impaired mobility are common in elderly patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and they represent independent risk factors for disability, morbidity, hospital readmission and mortality. Regular physical exercise represents a means for improving functional capacity. Nevertheless, its clinical benefit has been less investigated in elderly patients in the early phase after ACS.

Pharmacogenomic Approach to Selecting Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes: The PHARMCLO Trial.

Background: Although clopidogrel is still frequently used in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), its efficacy is hampered by interpatient response variability caused by genetic polymorphisms associated with clopidogrel's metabolism.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate whether selecting antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor) on the basis of a patient's genetic and clinical characteristics leads to better clinical outcomes compared with the standard of care, which bases the selection on clinical characteristics alone.

Methods: Patients hospitalized for ACS were randomly assigned to standard of care or the pharmacogenomic arm, which included the genotyping of ABCB1, CYP2C19*2, and CYP2C19*17 using an ST Q3 system that provides data within 70 min at each patient's bedside.

Outcomes after sudden cardiac arrest in sports centres with and without on-site external defibrillators.

Objective: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a rare but tragic event during amateur sports activities. Our aim is to analyse whether availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in amateur sports centres could impact on SCA survival.

Methods: This is an observational study.

Lifestyle modification in secondary prevention.

A healthy lifestyle is the cornerstone of prevention. Its promotion is a major task for all healthcare providers with the collaboration of the family and caregivers. It includes intervention in personal behaviour and risk factors (such as lack of physical activity, use of tobacco, unhealthy food habits and overweight), and all interventions aimed at changing lifestyle should be lifelong.

Community-based automated external defibrillator only resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Background: Speed is the cornerstone of rescue for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. As a consequence, community participation programs have been initiated to decrease response times. Even in the very best of these programs, however, short-term survival rates hover around 10% and long-term survival rates are half that.

Zofenopril or irbesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension untreated or uncontrolled by previous treatment: a double-blind, randomized study.

Objective: To compare zofenopril + hydrochlorothiazide (Z + H) vs. irbesartan + hydrochlorothiazide (I + H) efficacy on daytime SBP in elderly (>65 years) patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), untreated or uncontrolled by a previous monotherapy.

Methods: After a 1-week run-in, 230 ISH patients (office SBP ≥ 140  mmHg and DBP < 90  mmHg + daytime SBP ≥ 135  mmHg and daytime DBP < 85  mmHg) were randomized double-blind to 18-week treatment with Z + H (30 + 12.

Transient QRS amplitude attenuation is associated with clinical recovery in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Background/objectives: Low voltage QRS complexes (LQRSV) and amplitude attenuation of QRS voltage (AAQRS) have been described in takotsubo (TC) patients, and postulated as valuable pre-angiographic markers. The aim of this observational study is to evaluate potential diagnostic and prognostic features of QRS amplitude in TC and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods: Fifty-eight patients with TC were matched with 58 patients with ACS according to age, gender, and presence or absence of ST elevation at hospital admission.

Renal function and peak exercise oxygen consumption in chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is associated with sympathetic activation and muscle abnormalities, which may contribute to decreased exercise capacity. We investigated the correlation of renal function with peak exercise oxygen consumption (V̇O2) in heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 2,938 systolic HF patients who underwent clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.