Effect of variable left ventricular ejection fraction assessed by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography using different software packages on the diagnosis of cardiotoxicity in patients with cancer.

Background: The equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) scan is an established imaging modality for assessing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in oncology patients. This study aimed to explore the interchangeability of two commercially available software packages (MIM and JS) for LVEF measurement for a cancer-therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) diagnosis.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study among 322 patients who underwent ERNA scans.

Impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors on atherosclerosis progression in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Patients with lung cancer face a heightened risk of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular events. Despite the strong scientific rationale, there is currently a lack of clinical evidence examining the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on the advancement of atherosclerosis in patients with lung cancer. The objective of our study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between ICIs and the accelerated progression of atherosclerosis among individuals with lung cancer.

Equity in Cardio-Oncology Care and Research: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Advances in cancer therapeutics have revolutionized survival outcomes in patients with cancer. However, cardiovascular toxicities associated with specific cancer therapeutics adversely affect the outcomes of patients with cancer. Recent studies have uncovered excess risks of these cardiotoxic events, especially in traditionally underrepresented populations.

Inequity in care delivery in cardio-oncology: dissecting disparities in underrepresented populations.

It is well known that patients with cancer have a significantly higher cardiovascular mortality risk than the general population. Cardio-oncology has emerged to focus on these issues including risk reduction, detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular disease or complications in patients with cancer. The rapid advances in early detection and drug development in oncology, along with socioeconomic differences, racial inequities, lack of support, and barriers to accessing quality medical care, have created disparities in various marginalized populations.

Cardiac AL amyloidosis presenting as recurrent dyspnoea in a patient with cancer: an important clinical clue to an early diagnosis.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is challenging to diagnose due to its non-specific clinical manifestations early in the disease process. We report the case of a patient who presented with dyspnoea, abdominal distension and leg swelling. Medical history was notable for hypertension, recurrent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and polysubstance abuse.

Atherosclerosis With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Evidence, Diagnosis, and Management: State-of-the-Art Review.

As the clinical applications of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) expand, our knowledge of the potential adverse effects of these drugs continues to broaden. Emerging evidence supports the association between ICI therapy with accelerated atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) events. We discuss the biological plausibility and the clinical evidence supporting an effect of inhibition of these immune checkpoints on atherosclerotic CV disease.

Cardiac strain is lower among women with HIV in relation to monocyte activation.

Background: Women with HIV (WWH) face heightened risks of heart failure; however, insights on immune/inflammatory pathways potentially contributing to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction among WWH remain limited.

Setting: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Methods: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a sensitive measure of LV systolic function, with lower cardiac strain predicting incident heart failure and adverse heart failure outcomes.

Plasma osteopontin relates to myocardial fibrosis and steatosis and to immune activation among women with HIV.

Objective: Women with HIV (WWH) have heightened heart failure risk. Plasma OPN (osteopontin) is a powerful predictor of heart failure outcomes in the general population. Limited data exist on relationships between plasma OPN and surrogates of HIV-associated heart failure risk.

Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on heart failure and mortality in patients with cancer.

Objectives: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce heart failure (HF) in at-risk patients and may possess antitumour effects. We examined the effect of SGLT2i on HF and mortality among patients with cancer and diabetes.

Methods: This was a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study involving adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosed with cancer between January 2010 and December 2021.

Increasing statin prescription rates to prevent cardiovascular disease among high-risk populations: a quality improvement intervention centred on a novel interactive tool.

Statins are indicated for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Our previous study of 1042 consecutive patient encounters at our large urban academic institution found that one in five patients were not prescribed an appropriate statin therapy. Only one-third of patients had follow-up cholesterol levels ordered to monitor treatment efficacy.

The Prediction of Cardiac Events Using Contemporary Risk Prediction Models after Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE), U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) models in predicting ASCVD events among patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNCA).

Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors and Cardiac Outcomes Among Patients Treated With Anthracyclines.

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve outcomes among patients with established heart failure. Despite supportive basic science studies, there are no data on the value of SGLT2 inhibitors among patients treated with anthracyclines.

Objectives: This study sought to test the cardiac efficacy and overall safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients treated with anthracyclines.

An Analysis of Global Research Trends and Top-Cited Research Articles in Cardio-Oncology.

Background: As novel cancer therapies continue to improve patient outcomes, there is an increased need for prevention and management of the cardiovascular side effects of these therapies. For this reason, the field of cardio-oncology has experienced significant scientific growth, particularly during the last decade. This study aims to assess the global publication trends and highlight the top-cited scientific articles related to cardio-oncology.

Phantom Shocks Associated With a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) are external devices capable of continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring as well as automatic detection and defibrillation of potentially life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). They are an alternative approach for patients when an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is not appropriate. Although treatment with ICD is considered highly effective for the primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in high-risk patients susceptible to VT and VF, patients may still experience psychological difficulties such as fear of shock, avoidance of normal behaviors and reduced quality of life.

Reflux esophagitis is associated with higher risks of acute stroke and transient ischemic attacks in patients hospitalized with atrial fibrillation: A nationwide inpatient sample analysis.

Reflux esophagitis (RE) is a subset of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with endoscopic evidence of esophageal inflammation, which has been linked to an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on the effect of RE on patient outcomes is limited. We sought to examine the potential association of RE with outcomes of patients with AF in a nationwide study.