Left Ventricular global longitudinal strain predicts heart failure readmission in acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: The goal of this study was to determine if left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) predicts heart failure (HF) readmission in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Methods And Results: Two hundred ninety one patients were enrolled at the time of admission for acute decompensated heart failure between January 2011 and September 2013. Left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) by velocity vector imaging averaged from 2, 3 and 4-chamber views could be assessed in 204 out of 291 (70%) patients.

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain predicts mortality and heart failure admissions in African American patients.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the importance of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) as a reliable prognostic indicator in patients with heart failure (HF). These studies have included few African American (AA) patients, despite the growing prevalence and severity of HF in this patient population.

Hypothesis: LV GLS predicts long-term HF admission and all-cause mortality in AA patients with chronic HF on optimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).

Circulating Procollagen Type III N-Terminal Peptide and Mortality Risk in African Americans With Heart Failure.

Background: Procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) is a biomarker of cardiac fibrosis that is associated with heart failure prognosis in whites. Its prognostic significance in African Americans is unknown. We sought to determine whether PIIINP is associated with outcomes in African Americans with heart failure.

Comparison of the updated 2011 appropriate use criteria for echocardiography to the original criteria for transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress echocardiography.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare appropriateness designations as determined by the updated 2011 appropriate use criteria (AUC) for echocardiography with prior versions of the AUC for transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) imaging, transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) imaging, and stress echocardiographic (SE) imaging. An additional goal was to define relationships between appropriateness determinations and echocardiographic findings for each modality.

Methods: Previously published data sets of TTE, TEE, and SE studies were reclassified according to the 2011 AUC, and indication representation, appropriateness designations, and echocardiographic findings were compared with prior classifications according to the 2007 AUC for TTE and TEE imaging and the 2008 AUC for SE imaging.

Use of a web-based application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Echocardiography Appropriateness Use Criteria for Transthoracic Echocardiography: a pilot study.

Background: Clinical application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) represents a potentially feasible alternative to third-party pre-certification for imaging procedures and will soon be required as part of the accreditation process for imaging laboratories. Electronic tools that rapidly apply the AUC are needed in clinical practice. We developed and tested a web-based application of the AUC to track appropriateness of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Evaluation of the clinical application of the ACCF/ASE appropriateness criteria for stress echocardiography.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation and American Society of Echocardiography appropriateness criteria for stress echocardiography (SE) in a single-center university hospital.

Methods: Indications were determined for consecutive studies by two reviewers and categorized as appropriate, uncertain, or inappropriate.

Results: Of 477 studies for which primary indications could be determined, 188 specifically related to university transplantation programs were excluded.

Carbohydrate antigen 125 predicts long-term mortality in African American patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the relation between serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and prognosis in African American (AA) patients with heart failure (HF). Little is known about the usefulness of CA125 in the AA population, which has different pathophysiology and higher prevalence of HF. The authors enrolled 172 consecutive AA patients (mean age, 55.

Comparison of the clinical application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Echocardiography Appropriateness Criteria for outpatient transthoracic echocardiography in academic and community practice settings.

Background: We sought to compare the clinical application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Echocardiography Appropriateness Criteria (AC) for outpatient transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in academic and community practice settings.

Methods: Indications for TTE ordered in both academic and community practice settings were determined by 2 reviewers and categorized according to the AC for TTE as Appropriate, Inappropriate, or Not Addressed. Patient characteristics, ordering physician specialty, and TTE findings were also recorded.

Prospective evaluation of the clinical application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Echocardiography Appropriateness Criteria for transthoracic echocardiography.

We sought to prospectively evaluate the clinical application of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Echocardiography Appropriateness Criteria (AC) for transthoracic echocardiography in a single-center university hospital. Indications for transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) were prospectively determined for consecutive studies by 2 reviewers and categorized, according to the AC for TTE, as appropriate (A) or inappropriate (I). The overall level of agreement in characterizing appropriateness between reviewers was high (kappa = 0.

Evaluation of the application of the ACCF/ASE appropriateness criteria for transesophageal echocardiography in an academic medical center.

Background: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical application of the recently published American College of Cardiology Foundation and American Society of Echocardiography appropriateness criteria (AC) for transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) imaging at a single-center university hospital.

Methods: As outlined in the AC, TEE studies were divided into those performed subsequent to transthoracic echocardiographic imaging (adjunctive TEE studies) and those that were the initial echocardiographic studies for the indications being evaluated (initial TEE studies). Each study was categorized as appropriate, uncertain, or inappropriate, according to the relevant section of the AC, and the study's impact on patient management was determined.

Six minute walk test predicts long-term all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalization in African-American patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: The prognostic value of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) has been described in patients with heart failure (HF); however, limited data are available in an African-American (AA) population. We prospectively evaluated the usefulness of the 6MWT in predicting mortality and HF rehospitalization in AA patients with acute decompensated HF.

Methods And Results: Two hundred AA patients (63.