Long-Term Results Following Repair for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation - Analysis of Factors Influencing Durability.

Background: The majority of patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) are amenable to reconstructive procedures. There is debate regarding factors that influence long-term durability with respect to repair technique, valve remodelling and progressive myxomatous change.

Methods: A total of 685 patients with DMR underwent mitral valve repair by a single surgeon between 1991 and 2011 with follow-up completed at 31 December 2016.

Implications of Cardio-Respiratory Fitness on the Performance of Exercise Tests.

In 2016, the American Heart Association (AHA) produced a position paper on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) which defined CRF as the most important cardiac risk factor in the assessment of prognosis in a wide variety of clinical states [1]. The aim of the paper was to improve patient management and to encourage life-style based strategies designed to improve cardiovascular risk. The authors showed that: In this Brief Communication, we expand on how CRF can be assessed and reported in exercise testing.