Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiac Amyloidosis by Screening Biopsy During Trigger Finger Release.

Patients undergoing trigger release surgery are known to be at increased risk of amyloidosis and heart failure, and therefore, amyloidosis screening during trigger release surgery may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis. However, the reported prevalence of amyloid on biopsies taken during trigger release surgery has varied widely, and no biopsy-positive patients in prior studies have been diagnosed with occult cardiac amyloidosis or started on disease-modifying therapy. We review the existing literature on this topic and present a case of a patient with cardiac amyloidosis diagnosed from a biopsy taken during trigger release surgery and subsequently started on disease-modifying therapy.

Associations of Left Atrial Volume Index to Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Ratio with Clinical Outcomes in Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) affects all cardiac chambers to cause left ventricular (LV) deformation as well as left atrial (LA) remodeling and functional impairment. We investigated the associations of the LA volume index (LAVI):LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ratio with the increased risk of death, heart transplant, or LV assist device implantation (LVAD) in patients with ATTR-CM.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 69 heart failure (HF) patients with ATTR-CM at an academic medical center between 1 November 2008 and 31 March 2024.

Infertility treatments and cyanotic congenital heart defects among livebirths in the USA: findings from a contemporary cohort.

Study Question: Is there an elevated risk of cyanotic congenital heart defects (CCHD) among livebirths following infertility treatments?

Summary Answer: In this population-based study of single livebirths, infertility treatment (either ART or non-ART) was associated with a higher prevalence of CCHD among livebirths.

What Is Known Already: The use of infertility treatment has been on the rise over the past few decades. However, there are limited studies assessing the risk of major cardiac defects following infertility treatments.

The Role of Psychosocial Stress on Cardiovascular Disease in Women: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Psychosocial stress can affect cardiovascular health through multiple pathways. Certain stressors, such as socioeconomic disadvantage, childhood adversity, intimate partner violence, and caregiving stress, are especially common among women. The consequences of stress begin at a young age and persist throughout the life course.

Considerations in the Diagnosis and Management of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Left Heart Disease.

Pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) remains the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension globally. Etiologies include heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction and left-sided valvular heart diseases. Despite the increasing prevalence of PH-LHD, there remains a paucity of knowledge about the hemodynamic definition, diagnosis, treatment modalities, and prognosis among clinicians.

Reduced Risk of All-Cause, Cancer-, and Cardiovascular Disease-Related Mortality among Patients with Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors Receiving Chemotherapy in the United States.

Primary malignant cardiac tumors (PMCTs) are rare but lethal neoplasms. There are limited evidence-based treatment guidelines for PMCTs. We evaluated the relation of chemotherapy with mortality outcomes in patients with PMCTs in the United States.

Women's Reproductive Milestones and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Review of Reports and Opportunities From the CARDIA Study.

In 1985 to 1986, the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study enrolled 5115 Black or White participants, including 2788 women, aged 18 to 30 years. Over the following 35 years, the CARDIA study amassed extensive longitudinal data on women's reproductive milestones, spanning menarche to menopause. Although not initially conceived as a study of women's health, >75 CARDIA study publications address relationships between reproductive factors and events with cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease, and social determinants of health.

Special Considerations in the Care of Women With Advanced Heart Failure.

Advanced heart failure (AHF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and greater healthcare utilization. Recognition requires a thorough clinical assessment and appropriate risk stratification. There are persisting inequities in the allocation of AHF therapies.

Relationship Between Age at Menopause, Obesity, and Incident Heart Failure: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background The mechanisms linking menopausal age and heart failure (HF) incidence are controversial. We investigated for heterogeneity by obesity on the relationship between menopausal age and HF incidence. Methods and Results Using postmenopausal women who attended the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Visit 4, we estimated hazard ratios of incident HF associated with menopausal age using Cox proportional hazards models, testing for effect modification by obesity and adjusting for HF risk factors.

The association of age at natural menopause with pre- to postmenopausal changes in left ventricular structure and function: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

Objective: The association between menopause and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is controversial. We evaluated the relationships of estrogen deficiency (ovarian reproductive aging) assessed by age at natural menopause (ANM), chronological aging, and antecedent CVD risk factors (biological aging) with left ventricular (LV) structure and function among women transitioning from pre- to postmenopause.

Methods: We studied 771 premenopausal women (37% Black) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study with echocardiographic data in 1990 to 1991 (mean age: 32 y) who later reached natural menopause by 2015 to 2016 and had repeated echocardiographic measurements.

The Association of Mental Health Disorders with Takotsubo Syndrome (Broken Heart Syndrome) Among Older Women.

The prevalence of mental health disorders (MHD) and takotsubo syndrome (TS), also known as broken heart syndrome, is increasing and more common in older women. Mortality among persons with TS is comparable to that of persons with myocardial infarction. Although TS is poorly understood, it is thought to be precipitated by psychological stress.

NT-pro B-type natriuretic peptide, early menopause, and incident heart failure in postmenopausal women of the ARIC study.

Objective: N-Terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker of heart failure (HF) has been associated with early menopause. We evaluated the modifying role of early menopause on the association of NT-proBNP with incident HF, and separately for HF subtypes, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: We included 4,352 postmenopausal women including 1,174 with early menopause, ages 63.

Trends in Age at Natural Menopause and Reproductive Life Span Among US Women, 1959-2018.

This national survey study uses the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to describe trends in age at natural menopause, age at menarche, and reproductive life span, and variables associated with shorter and longer spans, among US women between 1959-1962 and 2015-2018.

The influence of individual and neighborhood-level characteristics on rural-urban disparities in cardiovascular disease mortality among U.S. women diagnosed with breast and gynecologic cancers.

Objective: Rural-urban disparities exist in cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Investigations of CVD mortality among breast and gynecologic cancer (BGC) survivors from rural/urban communities are limited. We evaluated the influence of individual and neighborhood-level factors on rural-urban disparities in CVD mortality among BGC survivors.

Racial disparities in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes.

Purpose Of Review: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed preexisting racial disparities in the healthcare system. This review discusses racial-ethnic differences in COVID-19 related outcomes with an emphasis on the social determinants of health that are responsible for these disparities.

Recent Findings: Higher hospitalizations and deaths have been reported amongst minority individuals after a COVID-19 infection.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and the risk of heart failure in postmenopausal women of the ARIC Study.

Objective: We investigated isolated and joint effects of early menopause (occurrence before 45 y of age) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T elevation (hs-cTnT ≥ 14 ng/L) on heart failure (HF) incidence in postmenopausal women.

Methods: We included 2,276 postmenopausal women, aged 67-90 years, with hs-cTnT measurements and without prevalent HF from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study Visit 5 (2011-2013). Women were categorized according to early menopause and hs-cTnT group.

Discordance Between Clinical Assessment and Invasive Hemodynamics in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure.

Background: Historically, invasive hemodynamic guidance was not superior compared to clinical assessment in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). This study assessed the accuracy of clinical assessment vs invasive hemodynamics in patients with ADHF.

Methods And Results: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients admitted with ADHF.

Body fat distribution, menopausal hormone therapy and incident type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women of the MESA study.

Objectives: We investigated the association between menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and incident type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women, and explored the potential modifying role of body fat distribution on this association.

Methods: We included 2210 postmenopausal women without prevalent diabetes at recruitment (2000-2002) from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations of MHT and MHT types with incident diabetes, testing for variation according to body fat distribution.