Autonomic reactivity to mental stress is associated with cardiovascular mortality.

Aims: The mechanisms linking acute psychological stress to cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality are incompletely understood. We studied the relationship of electrocardiographic measures of autonomic dysfunction during acute mental stress provocation and CVD death.

Methods And Results: In a pooled cohort of 765 participants with stable CVD from two related studies, we collected Holter data during standardized laboratory-based mental stress testing with a speech task and followed them for events.

Integrating genome-wide information and wearable device data to explore the link of anxiety and antidepressants with pulse rate variability.

This study explores the genetic and epidemiologic correlates of long-term photoplethysmography-derived pulse rate variability (PRV) measurements with anxiety disorders. Individuals with whole-genome sequencing, Fitbit, and electronic health record data (N = 920; 61,333 data points) were selected from the All of Us Research Program. Anxiety polygenic risk scores (PRS) were derived with PRS-CS after meta-analyzing anxiety genome-wide association studies from three major cohorts- UK Biobank, FinnGen, and the Million Veterans Program (N =364,550).

Impact of atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation therapies on sports performance in athletes.

Background: It has been hypothesized that both atrial fibrillation (AF) and medications for AF are poorly tolerated in athletes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of AF and AF treatments on sports performance.

Methods: An Internet-based survey, initiated via StopAfib.

The Clinical Trajectory of NYHA Functional Class I Patients With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: An improved understanding of the natural history in NYHA functional class I patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) is needed.

Objectives: Using a multicenter registry (SHaRe [Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry]), this study described the natural history in patients with oHCM who were classified as NYHA functional class I at the initial visit compared with patients classified as NYHA functional class II and reported baseline characteristics associated with incident clinical events.

Methods: Incident events assessed included a composite of NYHA functional class III to IV symptoms, left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, atrial fibrillation, stroke, ventricular arrhythmias, septal reduction therapy, ventricular assist device or transplantation, or death.

State of the art of mobile health technologies use in clinical arrhythmia care.

The rapid growth in consumer-facing mobile and sensor technologies has created tremendous opportunities for patient-driven personalized health management. The diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias are particularly well suited to benefit from these easily accessible consumer health technologies. In particular, smartphone-based and wrist-worn wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) technology can facilitate relatively inexpensive, long-term rhythm monitoring.

Factors Associated with the Development of Depression and the Influence of Obesity on Depressive Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Depression affects several aspects of life, including socioeconomic status, relationships, behavior, emotions, and overall health. The etiology of depression is complex and influenced by various factors, with obesity emerging as a significant contributor. This narrative review aims to investigate the factors associated with the development of depression, with a particular focus on the role of obesity.

Vigorous Exercise in Patients With Congenital Long QT Syndrome: Results of the Prospective, Observational, Multinational LIVE-LQTS Study.

Background: Whether vigorous exercise increases risk of ventricular arrhythmias for individuals diagnosed and treated for congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) remains unknown.

Methods: The National Institutes of Health-funded LIVE-LQTS study (Lifestyle and Exercise in the Long QT Syndrome) prospectively enrolled individuals 8 to 60 years of age with phenotypic and/or genotypic LQTS from 37 sites in 5 countries from May 2015 to February 2019. Participants (or parents) answered physical activity and clinical events surveys every 6 months for 3 years with follow-up completed in February 2022.

Wearable Devices, Health Care Use, and Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Wearables are increasingly used by patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for symptom monitoring and health management, but their impact on patient health care use and psychological well-being is not well understood.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective, propensity-matched study of patients with AF, survey and electronic health record data were merged to compare AF-specific health care use (outpatient/inpatient visits, rhythm-related testing, and procedures) and informal health care use (telephone calls and patient portal messages) over a 9-month period between wearable users and nonusers. We also examined the effects of wearable cardiac monitoring features (eg, heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notification, and ECG) on patient behavior and well-being.

Safety of Sports for Patients with Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (SPORT S-ICD): study rationale and protocol.

Background: Recent studies suggest that participation in recreational and even competitive sports is generally safe for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). However, these studies included only patients with implanted transvenous ICD (TV-ICD). Nowadays, subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) is a safe and effective alternative and is increasingly implanted in younger ICD candidates.

Household food insecurity is associated with greater autonomic dysfunction testing score in Latinos with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: We examined household food insecurity (HFI) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in a subset of low-income Latinos with type 2 diabetes with data from a stress management trial.

Methods: InclusionLatino or Hispanic, Spanish speaking, age less than 18 years, ambulatory status, type 2 diabetes more than 6 months, A1c less than 7.0%.

Devices and Athletics: Decision-Making Around Return to Play.

Until recently, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) were considered a contraindication to competitive athletics. Recent prospective observational registry data in athletes with ICDs who participated in sports against the societal recommendations at the time have demonstrated the safety of sports participation. While athletes did receive both appropriate and inappropriate shocks, these were not more frequent during sports participation than other activity, and there were no sports-related deaths or need for external resuscitation in the 440 athlete cohort (median followup 44 months).

Effects of Two Different Low-Volume Resistance Training Programs Applied During the Off-Season Period on the Speed-Power Performance of Elite Youth Soccer Players.

Loturco, I, Nunes, RFH, Lampert, RR, Silva, RLP, Hespanhol, JE, Novack, LF, Conde, JHS, Pereira, LA, and McGuigan, MR. Effects of two different low-volume resistance training programs applied during the off-season period on the speed-power performance of elite youth soccer players. .

Lay health worker research personnel for home-based data collection in clinical and translational research: Qualitative and quantitative findings from two trials in hard-to-reach populations.

Aims: The role of lay health workers in data collection for clinical and translational research studies is not well described. We explored lay health workers as data collectors in clinical and translational research studies. We also present several methods for examining their work, i.

A Patient-Centered Intervention Reduces Disparities in Remote Monitoring in Patients With Implanted Cardiac Devices.

Background: Remote monitoring (RM) is recommended for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, yet many individuals, especially those living in underserved communities, fail to receive this guideline-directed care. Multilevel interventions that target patient and clinic-level barriers to RM care may be beneficial.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate a remotely delivered, patient-centered intervention to improve RM activation and adherence and reduce disparities in RM care.

Electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve potentiates analgesia induced by physical exercise in mice with peripheral inflammation.

Objective: This study evaluated the antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of percutaneous vagus nerve electrical stimulation (pVNS) associated with physical exercise, i.e., swimming, in mice with peripheral inflammation.