Prognostic Role of RVGLS/PASP Ratio, a New Echocardiographic Parameter of the Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Artery Coupling, in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Background And Objectives: Few studies have addressed the predictive implications of right ventricular (RV) and pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling as assessed by echocardiography in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). This study aimed to ascertain the prognostic importance of RV-PA coupling in AHF cases and discern any divergence in its prognostic efficacy based on different heart failure (HF) phenotypes.

Methods: We evaluated RV-PA coupling by measuring the ratio of right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) to pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), termed the RVGLS/PASP ratio, and assessed its prognostic role using the STrain for Risk Assessment and Therapeutic Strategies in Patients with Acute Heart Failure registry.

AI derived ECG global longitudinal strain compared to echocardiographic measurements.

Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) is versatile; however, it is difficult to obtain. We evaluated the potential of an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated electrocardiography score for LVGLS estimation (ECG-GLS score) to diagnose LV systolic dysfunction and predict prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). A convolutional neural network-based deep-learning algorithm was trained to estimate the echocardiography-derived GLS (LVGLS).

Effect of ertugliflozin on left ventricular function in type 2 diabetes and pre-heart failure: the Ertu-GLS randomized clinical trial.

Background: The therapeutic effects of ertugliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, on cardiovascular outcome are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin on cardiac function in people with type 2 diabetes and pre-heart failure.

Methods: We conducted a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving individuals with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with antidiabetic medications.

An Artificial Intelligence-Based Automated Echocardiographic Analysis: Enhancing Efficiency and Prognostic Evaluation in Patients With Revascularized STEMI.

Background And Objectives: Although various cardiac parameters on echocardiography have clinical importance, their measurement by conventional manual methods is time-consuming and subject to variability. We evaluated the feasibility, accuracy, and predictive value of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated system for echocardiographic analysis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: The AI-based system was developed using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset from five tertiary hospitals, and automatically identified views, then segmented and tracked the left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) to produce volume and strain values.

Impact of changes in left heart geometry on predicting new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension.

Background: Hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) increases end-diastolic LV pressure and contributes to left atrial enlargement (LAE), which are associated with development of atrial fibrillation. However, the impact of LVH and LAE and their regression following antihypertensive therapy on atrial fibrillation incidence remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included consecutive patients with sinus rhythm who underwent echocardiography at hypertension diagnosis and after 6-18 months between 2006 and 2021 at tertiary care centres in Korea.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced automation of left ventricular diastolic assessment: a pilot study for feasibility, diagnostic validation, and outcome prediction.

Background: Evaluating left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) is crucial in echocardiography; however, the complexity and time demands of current guidelines challenge clinical use. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework for automatic LVDF assessment to reduce subjectivity and improve accuracy and outcome prediction.

Methods: We developed an AI-based LVDF assessment framework using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset from five tertiary hospitals.

Integrative Assessment of Cardiopulmonary Fitness Using Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test With Supine Bicycle Echocardiography in Patients Presenting Dyspnea.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with supine bicycle echocardiography (SBE) enables comprehensive physiologic assessment during exercise. We characterized cardiopulmonary fitness by integrating CPET-SBE parameters and evaluated its prognostic value in patients presenting with dyspnea.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively reviewed 473 consecutive patients who underwent CPET-SBE for dyspnea evaluation.

Mildly Reduced Renal Function Is Associated With Increased Heart Failure Admissions in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The association between renal dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes has yet to be determined in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aimed to investigate whether mildly reduced renal function is associated with the prognosis in patients with HCM.

Methods: Patients with HCM were enrolled at two tertiary HCM centers.

Age-dependent implications of left ventricular hypertrophy regression in patients with hypertension.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with hypertension. However, the effect of age on LVH regression or persistence and its differential prognostic value remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the clinical implications of LVH regression in 1847 patients with hypertension and echocardiography data (at baseline and during antihypertensive treatment at an interval of 6-18 months) according to age.

Irreversible myocardial injury attenuates the benefits of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure patients.

Background: Despite the established benefits of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) across various etiologies, there are controversies regarding the effects of ARNI in patients with irreversible myocardial injury. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of irreversible myocardial injury on the benefits of ARNI treatment in patients with HFrEF, consisted of both ischemic and non-ischemic etiologies.

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective single-center study including 409 consecutive patients with HFrEF treated with ARNI between March 2017 and May 2020.

Increased Blood Pressure Variability Over a 16-Year Period Is Associated With Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in a Population-Based Cohort.

Background: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is often associated with elevated blood pressure (BP). It is prevalent among hypertensive patients. Additionally, increased BP variability has been linked to LVDD.

Prognostic and Safety Implications of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Real-World Observation Over 2,000 Patients.

Background And Objectives: The prognostic or safety implication of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RASi) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are not well established, mainly due to concerns regarding left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction aggravation. We investigated the implications of RASi in a sizable number of HCM patients.

Methods: We enrolled 2,104 consecutive patients diagnosed with HCM in 2 tertiary university hospitals and followed up for five years.

Rate of Change in 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Its Implications for Primary Prevention.

Background: Contemporary cardiovascular primary prevention is based on the assessment of the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the clinical implications of temporal change in the 10-year ASCVD risk estimate (∆10-year ASCVD risk/year) are unknown.

Methods: A total of 211 077 participants without established ASCVD and with repetitive 10-year ASCVD risk assessment at an interval of 4 to 5 years were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service data.

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain as a prognosticator in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a low-normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic utility of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50-60%.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study included 349 patients with HCM and an LVEF of 50-60%. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, including sudden cardiac death (SCD) and SCD-equivalent events.

Endocardial versus whole-myocardial tracking global longitudinal strain analysis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A preliminary comparative study.

Background And Objectives: We investigated whether the feasibility of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) varies according to the methodology (e.g. endocardial vs.

Impact of glycemic control on the progression of aortic stenosis: a single-center cohort study using a common data model.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-established risk factor for the progression of degenerative aortic stenosis (AS). However, no study has investigated the impact of glycemic control on the rate of AS progression. We aimed to assess the association between the degree of glycemic control and the AS progression, using an electronic health record-based common data model (CDM).

Data-driven mortality risk prediction of severe degenerative mitral regurgitation patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Aims: The outcomes of mitral valve replacement/repair (MVR) in severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) patients depend on various risk factors. We aimed to develop a risk prediction model for post-MVR mortality in severe degenerative MR patients using machine learning.

Methods And Results: Consecutive severe degenerative MR patients undergoing MVR were analysed (n = 1521; 70% training/30% test sets).

Comparison of efficacy and safety between third-dose triple and third-dose dual antihypertensive combination therapies in patients with hypertension.

We compared the efficacy and safety of third-standard-dose triple and third-standard-dose dual antihypertensive combination therapies in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. This was a phase II multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial. After a 4-week placebo run-in period, 245 participants were randomized to the third-dose triple combination (ALC group; amlodipine 1.