Publications by authors named "Louis Teo"
Article Synopsis
- Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), a key marker for diabetes, was investigated in older adults without cardiovascular disease to see its role in predicting myocardial ageing.
- A study with 247 participants showed significant correlations between HbA1c levels and various left atrial strain measures, indicating changes in heart function.
- The findings suggest that HbA1c could be a useful biomarker for assessing heart health risks related to ageing, regardless of whether an individual has diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- The study addresses the rising need for echocardiograms (echo) in aging populations affected by heart failure (HF) while highlighting the shortage of trained sonographers and long waiting times.
- Researchers tested an AI-enhanced point-of-care echo conducted by novices after a short training period to see how accurately it could detect reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients suspected of having HF.
- The results showed that the AI novice method was quite effective, with a high accuracy and shorter testing time compared to standard echo, suggesting it could help improve HF diagnosis and expand access beyond specialized centers.
Background: We previously reported changes in the serum metabolome associated with impaired myocardial relaxation in an asymptomatic older community cohort. In this prospective parallel-group randomized control pilot trial, we subjected community adults without cardiovascular disease to exercise intervention and evaluated the effects on serum metabolomics.
Methods: Between February 2019 to November 2019, thirty (83% females) middle-aged adults (53 ± 4 years) were randomized with sex stratification to either twelve weeks of moderate-intensity exercise training (Intervention) (n = 15) or Control (n = 15).
Aims: Aging-related cardiovascular disease and frailty burdens are anticipated to rise with global aging. In response to directions from major cardiovascular societies, we investigated frailty knowledge, awareness, and practices among cardiologists as key stakeholders in this emerging paradigm a year after the European Frailty in Cardiology consensus document was published.
Methods And Results: We launched a prospective multinational web-based survey via social networks to broad cardiology communities representing multiple World Health Organization regions, including Western Pacific and Southeast Asia regions.
Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are believed to improve cardiac outcomes due to their osmotic diuretic potential.
Objectives: The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that vasopressin-driven urine concentration overrides the osmotic diuretic effect of glucosuria induced by dapagliflozin treatment.
Methods: DAPA-Shuttle1 (Hepato-renal Regulation of Water Conservation in Heart Failure Patients With SGLT-2 Inhibitor Treatment) was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, in which patients with chronic heart failure NYHA functional classes I/II and reduced ejection fraction were randomly assigned to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo (1:1) for 4 weeks.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates early diastolic dysfunction in older adults as a potential predictor of cardiovascular disease and death, finding that many individuals show signs of myocardial aging before clinical signs of heart issues.* -
- Among 956 participants, those with a peak early-to-late diastolic filling velocity (E/A) ratio of less than 0.8 had a significantly higher risk of non-fatal cardiovascular outcomes, with notable differences between sexes in outcomes and event rates.* -
- The findings suggest that impaired myocardial relaxation is common, particularly impacting women more severely than men, highlighting the importance of considering sex differences in aging-related cardiovascular health.*
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how aging affects cardiovascular health in men and women, focusing on differences in various biological markers called metabolites.* -
- It analyzed data from 567 adults in Singapore, revealing that women generally had better cardiovascular indicators, such as lower blood pressure and higher diastolic function scores than men.* -
- The findings suggest that specific metabolites are linked to cardiac function in women, indicating that understanding these relationships could help explain the impacts of aging on women's cardiovascular health.*
Background: Implementation of physical activity strategies in older populations may be influenced by underlying psychosocial and gender-based factors to physical activity. We explored associations between these factors and physical activity behaviors and technology among older men and women.
Methods: Community older adults underwent echocardiography and interviewer administered questionnaires that collected physical activity habits, self-motivation, self-empowerment and smartphone usage patterns associated with physical activity.
Article Synopsis
- BMI is commonly used to assess obesity but doesn't effectively indicate cardiovascular risks, while waist circumference (WC) presents a better measure, especially in older adults.
- An observational study of 970 older adults revealed that more people were classified as obese using WC (35.7%) compared to BMI (12.8%), with a notable agreement in classifications.
- Higher WC was linked to worse heart function metrics, even among those with low BMI, suggesting that WC is a more reliable indicator of cardiovascular health in this population.
Introduction: Reports of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine-related myocarditis, particularly after mRNA vaccines, have raised concerns amongst the general public. This review examined the literature regarding myocarditis post COVID-19 vaccination, drawing from vaccine safety surveillance databases and case reports.
Methods: Combinations of search terms were used in PubMed and COVID-19-specific repositories - LitCovid and the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register - between 1 October 2020 and 31 October 2021.
Objective: To demonstrate differences in cardiovascular structure and function between diabetic and non-diabetic older adults. To investigate associations between acyl-carnitines and cardiovascular function as indexed by imaging measurements.
Methods: A community-based cohort of older adults without cardiovascular disease underwent current cardiovascular imaging and metabolomics acyl-carnitines profiling based on current and archived sera obtained fifteen years prior to examination.
Background: Ageing and insulin resistant states such as diabetes mellitus frequently coexist and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease development among older adults. Here we investigate metabolic differences in amino acid profiles between ageing and diabetes mellitus, and their associations with cardiovascular function.
Methods: In a group of community older adults we performed echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging as well as cross sectional and longitudinal metabolomics profiling based on current and archived sera obtained fifteen years prior to examination.
Numerous reports of vascular events after an initial recovery from COVID-19 form our impetus to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on vascular health of recovered patients. We found elevated levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs), a biomarker of vascular injury, in COVID-19 convalescents compared to healthy controls. In particular, those with pre-existing conditions (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeft ventricular assist device (LVAD)-related infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with fungal infections being particularly difficult to manage. We report a case of an immunocompetent 39-year-old male with an LVAD and an implantable cardiac device (ICD) who developed fatal fungaemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of LVAD-related fungaemia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAbnormal retinal microvascular geometry has been associated with cardiac remodeling and heart failure. However, its relation to cardiac function, prior to clinical disease has not been explored. In this cross-sectional study, 50 participants (mean age 62.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Retinal arteriolar narrowing and venular widening has been widely suggested to be associated with subclinical changes in cardiac structure. The novel retinal vascular geometric indices might reflect more comprehensive information on microvasculature other than vascular caliber alone. However, the association between suboptimal retinal vascular geometry and cardiac structural alteration has not been studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The link between skeletal muscle and heart disease remains intriguing. It is unknown how skeletal muscle may be associated with aspects of myocardial structure and function, particularly in the presence of aging-related sarcopenia. We hypothesize that among aging adults with sarcopenia, alterations in myocardial structure and/or function may exist, resulting in a syndrome of "cardio-sarcopenia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure and is also influenced by ageing. This study aims to determine the extent to which Gal-3 levels estimate odds of myocardial dysfunction in ageing cohorts, 'upstream' prior to clinical disease.
Methods And Results: Four hundred seventy-five asymptomatic subjects underwent simultaneous assessments of cardiovascular structure and function, with measurements of circulating Gal-3.
Introduction: Numerous heart failure risk scores have been developed but there is none for Asians. We aimed to develop a risk calculator, the Singapore Heart Failure Risk Score, to predict 1- and 2-year survival in Southeast Asian patients hospitalised for heart failure.
Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients admitted for heart failure were identified from the Singapore Cardiac Databank Heart Failure registry.
Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) associated infections (LVADIs) have substantial morbidity and mortality. We aim to describe the incidence and epidemiology of LVADIs in an Asian cohort. This is currently not well studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Risk scores predicting in-patient mortality in heart failure patients have not been designed specifically for Asian patients. We aimed to validate and recalibrate the OPTIMIZE-HF risk model for in-hospital mortality in a multiethnic Asian population hospitalized for heart failure.
Methods And Results: Data from the Singapore Cardiac Databank Heart Failure on patients admitted for heart failure from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2013, were included.
Ageing-related alterations in cardiovascular structure and function are commonly associated with chronic inflammation. A potential blood-based biomarker indicative of a chronic inflammatory state is N-Terminal Pro C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NTproCNP). We aim to investigate associations between NTproCNP and ageing-related impairments in cardiovascular function.
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