A Territory-Wide Study of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Patients from Hong Kong.

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a hereditary disease characterized by fibrofatty infiltration of the right ventricular myocardium that predisposes affected patients to malignant ventricular arrhythmias, dual-chamber cardiac failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The present study aims to investigate the risk of detrimental cardiovascular events in an Asian population of ARVC/D patients, including the incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias, new-onset heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), as well as long-term mortality.

Methods And Results: This was a territory-wide retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with ARVC/D between 1997 and 2019 in Hong Kong.

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) for predicting disease severity or mortality outcomes in cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and -analysis.

Objectives: Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family. It is raised in various cardiovascular diseases, but its value in predicting disease severity or mortality outcomes has been controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and -analysis to determine whether sST2 levels differed between survivors and non-survivors of patients with cardiovascular diseases, and whether elevated sST2 levels correlated with adverse outcomes.

Arrhythmogenic Mechanisms in Hypokalaemia: Insights From Pre-clinical Models.

Potassium is the predominant intracellular cation, with its extracellular concentrations maintained between 3. 5 and 5 mM. Among the different potassium disorders, hypokalaemia is a common clinical condition that increases the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Territory-wide cohort study of Brugada syndrome in Hong Kong: predictors of long-term outcomes using random survival forests and non-negative matrix factorisation.

Objectives: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an ion channelopathy that predisposes affected patients to spontaneous ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study is to examine the predictive factors of spontaneous VT/VF.

Methods: This was a territory-wide retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with BrS between 1997 and 2019.

Multi-modality machine learning approach for risk stratification in heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) involves complex remodelling leading to electrical and mechanical dysfunction. We hypothesized that machine learning approaches incorporating data obtained from different investigative modalities including atrial and ventricular measurements from electrocardiography and echocardiography, blood inflammatory marker [neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)], and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) will improve risk stratification for adverse outcomes in HF compared to logistic regression.

Methods And Results: Consecutive Chinese patients referred to our centre for transthoracic echocardiography and subsequently diagnosed with HF, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016, were included in this study.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with low ventricular ejection fraction and apical ballooning predicts mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by temporary wall motion abnormality of the left ventricle. There is much debate upon the prognostic parameters. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether LVEF and the presence of apical ballooning predict long-term mortality in TCM.

Multi-parametric system for risk stratification in mitral regurgitation: A multi-task Gaussian prediction approach.

Background: We hypothesized that a multi-parametric approach incorporating medical comorbidity information, electrocardiographic P-wave indices, echocardiographic assessment, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) calculated from laboratory data can improve risk stratification in mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with mitral regurgitation between 1 March 2005 and 30 October 2018 from a single centre were retrospectively analysed. Outcomes analysed were incident atrial fibrillation (AF), transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke and mortality.

-Wave Area Predicts New Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Mitral Stenosis: A Machine Learning Approach.

Mitral stenosis is associated with an atrial cardiomyopathic process, leading to abnormal atrial electrophysiology, manifesting as prolonged -wave duration (PWD), larger -wave area, increased -wave dispersion (PWD-PWD), and/or higher -wave terminal force on lead V1 (PTFV1) on the electrocardiogram. This was a single-center retrospective study of Chinese patients, diagnosed with mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm at baseline, between November 2009 and October 2016. Automated ECG measurements from raw data were determined.

Outcomes in Brugada Syndrome Patients With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators: Insights From the SGLT2 Registry.

Background And Objectives: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a cardiac ion channelopathy with characteristic electrocardiographic patterns, predisposing affected individuals to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is used for primary or secondary prevention in BrS, but its use remains controversial amongst low-risk asymptomatic patients. The present study aims to examine indicators for ICD implantation amongst BrS patients with different disease manifestations.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum C-reactive protein in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Heart failure (HF) is a major epidemic with rising morbidity and mortality rates that encumber global healthcare systems. While some studies have demonstrated the value of CRP in predicting (i) the development of HFpEF and (ii) long-term clinical outcomes in HFpEF patients, others have shown no such correlation. As a result, we conducted the following systematic review and meta-analysis to assess both the diagnostic and prognostic role of CRP in HFpEF.

Brugada syndrome: A comprehensive review of pathophysiological mechanisms and risk stratification strategies.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited ion channel channelopathy predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Originally believed to be predominantly associated with mutations in SCN5A encoding for the cardiac sodium channel, mutations of 18 genes other than SCN5A have been implicated in the pathogenesis of BrS to date. Diagnosis is based on the presence of a spontaneous or drug-induced coved-type ST segment elevation.

Correction to: Restitution metrics in Brugada syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The original version of this article unfortunately has a typo error. The name of the author "Kamalan Jeeveratnam" should be presented as "Kamalan Jeevaratnam" as shown above.

Comparative cardiovascular risk in users versus non-users of xanthine oxidase inhibitors and febuxostat versus allopurinol users.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality comparing between xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) and non-XOI users, and between allopurinol and febuxostat.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of gout patients prescribed anti-hyperuricemic medications between 2013 and 2017 using a territory-wide administrative database. XOI users were matched 1:1 to XOI non-users using propensity scores.

Restitution metrics in Brugada syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an ion channelopathy that predisposes affected subjects to ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) and sudden cardiac death. Restitution analysis has been examined in BrS patients but not all studies have reported significant differences between BrS patients and controls. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the different restitution indices used in BrS.

Anaesthesia use in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objectives: This meta-analysis and systematic review seeks to compare both characteristic parameters and procedural outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation in patients under general anaesthesia (GA)/deep sedation and mild/moderate sedation.

Background: Catheter ablation has become a widely applied intervention for treating symptomatic AF and arrhythmias that are refractory to medical therapy. It can be conducted through from mild sedation to GA.

Electrographic indices in migraine patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Migraine patients can exhibit autonomic dysregulation, in turn leading to cardiac conduction and repolarization abnormalities. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the electrocardiographic changes in migraineurs.

Method: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for human studies using the search terms 'migraine' and 'electrocardiogram' until 15th December 2018, identifying 108 and 131 studies.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Medical Therapy for Chronic Total Occlusion of Coronary Arteries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose Of Review: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the coronary arteries is a significant clinical problem and has traditionally been treated by medical therapy or coronary artery bypass grafting. Recent studies have examined percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as an alternative option.

Recent Findings: This systematic review and meta-analysis compared medical therapy to PCI for treating CTOs.

Electrocardiographic evidence of abnormal atrial phenotype in Brugada syndrome.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited ion channelopathy that may predispose affected individuals to atrial cardiomyopathy. We tested the hypothesis that BrS patients have higher degrees of atrial electrophysiological abnormalities compared to controls, and these can be reflected by changes in P-wave parameters determined on the electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study comparing BrS patients to age- and gender-matched control subjects.

The Current State of Mobile Phone Apps for Monitoring Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, and Atrial Fibrillation: Narrative Review.

Background: Mobile phone apps capable of monitoring arrhythmias and heart rate (HR) are increasingly used for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of HR and rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation (AF). These apps involve either the use of (1) photoplethysmographic recording or (2) a handheld external electrocardiographic recording device attached to the mobile phone or wristband.

Objective: This review seeks to explore the current state of mobile phone apps in cardiac rhythmology while highlighting shortcomings for further research.

Quantification of Beat-To-Beat Variability of Action Potential Durations in Langendorff-Perfused Mouse Hearts.

Beat-to-beat variability in action potential duration (APD) is an intrinsic property of cardiac tissue and is altered in pro-arrhythmic states. However, it has never been examined in mice. Left atrial or ventricular monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded from Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts during regular 8 Hz pacing.