Publications by authors named "Natasha K Wolfe"

Article Synopsis
  • Patients with congenital heart disease, particularly those who have undergone the Fontan procedure for single ventricle issues, face a high risk of sudden cardiac events (SCE) and early mortality, highlighting the importance of identifying risk factors.
  • In a study involving 3,132 Fontan patients, 3.5% experienced SCE over an average follow-up of 4 years, with 36% of those cases resulting in death.
  • Key risk factors for SCE included higher NYHA functional class, history of protein-losing enteropathy or plastic bronchitis, large end-diastolic volume index, and reduced ejection fraction, all of which can help in predicting and preventing such events.
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Maternal morbidity and mortality continue to rise in the United States, with cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of maternal deaths. Congenital heart disease is now the most common cardiovascular condition encountered during pregnancy, and its prevalence will continue to grow. In tandem with these trends, maternal cardiovascular health is becoming increasingly complex.

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The Fontan operation was first performed in 1968 and is a palliative procedure for children born with single ventricle forms of congenital heart disease. Today, 70,000 patients worldwide have Fontan circulation today, half of them women, and with an expected 30-year survival of >80%, this population is expected to double in the next 20 years. The Fontan operation surgically redirects systemic venous blood return directly to the pulmonary circulation, bypassing the single ventricle.

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Aims: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is underutilized in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there are no studies evaluating the impact of GDMT adherence on mortality among patients with CAD and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We sought to investigate the association of GDMT adherence with long-term mortality in patients with CAD and HFrEF.

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Adults age 65 and over are the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States and around the world. As the size of this population expands, the number of older adults referred for surgical procedures will continue to increase. Due to the physiologic changes of aging and the increased frequency of comorbidities, older adults are at increased risk for adverse outcomes, and perioperative care is inherently more complex than in younger individuals.

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