Large-scale multi-omics identifies drug targets for heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure (HF) has limited therapeutic options. In this study, we differentiated the pathophysiological underpinnings of the HF subtypes-HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)-and uncovered subtype-specific therapeutic strategies. We investigated the causal roles of the human proteome and transcriptome using Mendelian randomization on more than 420,000 participants from the Million Veteran Program (27,799 HFrEF and 27,579 HFpEF cases).

Prognostic impact of albuminuria in early-stage chronic kidney disease on cardiovascular outcomes: a cohort study.

Background: The impact of early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) on cardiovascular outcomes, particularly when albuminuria is present, remains unclear. This study examined the associations between early CKD (stages 1 and 2) with and without albuminuria and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality.

Methods: A cohort of 456 015 participants from the UK Biobank was categorised by CKD stage using serum creatinine to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (≥3 mg/mmol) to define albuminuria.

Relationship between left ventricular shape and cardiovascular risk factors: comparison between the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and UK Biobank.

Background: Statistical shape atlases have been used in large-cohort studies to investigate relationships between heart shape and risk factors. The generalisability of these relationships between cohorts is unknown. The aims of this study were to compare left ventricular (LV) shapes in patients with differing cardiovascular risk factor profiles from two cohorts and to investigate whether LV shape scores generated with respect to a reference cohort can be directly used to study shape differences in another cohort.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy management: a systematic review of the clinical practice guidelines and recommendations.

Aims: In light of recent advances in imaging techniques, molecular understanding and therapeutic options in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), we performed a systematic review of current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of HCM in order to identify consensus and discrepant areas in the clinical practice guidelines.

Methods And Results: We systematically reviewed the English language guidelines and recommendations for the management of HCM in adults. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for guidelines published in the last 10 years.

The association between adverse childhood experiences and adult cardiac function in the UK Biobank.

Aims: The importance of early life factors in determining health in later adulthood is increasingly recognized. This study evaluated the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) phenotypes.

Methods And Results: UK Biobank participants who had completed CMR and the self-reported questionnaire on traumatic childhood experiences were included.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with mitral valve prolapse.

With a prevalence of 2-3% in the general population, mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common valvular heart disease. The clinical course is benign in the majority of patients, although severe mitral regurgitation, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death affect a non-negligible subset of patients. Imaging of MVP was confined to echocardiography until a few years ago when it became apparent that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) could offer comparative advantages for detecting and quantifying mitral valve abnormalities alongside tissue myocardial characterization.

Leucocyte telomere length and conduction system ageing.

Background: Deterioration of the cardiac conduction system is an important manifestation of cardiac ageing. Cellular ageing is accompanied by telomere shortening and telomere length (TL) is often regarded as a marker of biological ageing, potentially adding information regarding conduction disease over and above chronological age. We therefore sought to evaluate the association between leucocyte telomere length (LTL) on two related, but distinct aspects of the cardiac conduction system: ECG measures of conduction (PR interval and QRS duration) and incident pacemaker implantation in a large population-based cohort.

Clinical features, myocardial injury and systolic impairment in acute myocarditis.

Objective: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasingly used in the diagnosis of myocarditis, with myocardial injury and systolic dysfunction playing key roles in the prognosis of this clinical setting. The clinical determinants of myocardial injury and systolic impairment in acute myocarditis are poorly defined. The aim of the current study is to assess the association of laboratory markers, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with acute myocarditis.

Quality control of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging segmentation, feature tracking, aortic flow, and native T1 analysis using automated batch processing in the UK Biobank study.

Aims: Automated algorithms are regularly used to analyse cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images. Validating data output reliability from this method is crucial for enabling widespread adoption. We outline a visual quality control (VQC) process for image analysis using automated batch processing.

Imaging for the diagnosis of acute myocarditis: can artificial intelligence improve diagnostic performance?

Myocarditis is a cardiovascular disease characterised by inflammation of the heart muscle which can lead to heart failure. There is heterogeneity in the mode of presentation, underlying aetiologies, and clinical outcome with impact on a wide range of age groups which lead to diagnostic challenges. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the preferred imaging modality in the diagnostic work-up of those with acute myocarditis.

The Association Between Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease: Insights From Imaging, Observational, and Genetic Data.

Background: Periodontal disease is the sixth most common disease worldwide and may be a contributory risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objectives: This study utilizes noninvasive cardiac imaging and longitudinal and genetic data to characterize the association between periodontal disease and both cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging biomarkers of remodeling and incident coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: From the UK Biobank, 481,915 individuals were included, 91,022 (18.

Management of acute myocarditis: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations.

The management of acute myocarditis (AM) is addressed in multiple clinical guidelines. We systematically reviewed current guidelines developed by national and international medical organizations on the management of AM to aid clinical practice. Publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane were identified between 1 January 2013 and 12 April 2024.

Myocardial Strain Measured by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Predicts Cardiovascular Morbidity and Death.

Background: Myocardial strain using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a sensitive marker for predicting adverse outcomes in many cardiac disease states, but the prognostic value in the general population has not been studied conclusively.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the independent prognostic value of CMR feature tracking (FT)-derived LV global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), and radial strain (GRS) metrics in predicting adverse outcomes (heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death).

Methods: Participants from the UK Biobank population imaging study were included.

Global longitudinal active strain energy density (GLASED): a powerful prognostic marker in a community-based cohort.

Aims: Identifying the imaging method that best predicts all-cause mortality, cardiovascular adverse events, and heart failure risk is crucial for tailoring optimal management. Potential prognostic markers include left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass, ejection fraction, myocardial strain, stroke work, contraction fraction, pressure-strain product, and a new measurement called global longitudinal active strain density (GLASED). This study sought to compare the utility of 23 potential LV prognostic markers of structure and contractile function in a community-based cohort.

Sex-specific cardiac magnetic resonance pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction disproportionately affects women. There are no validated sex-specific tools for HF diagnosis despite widely reported differences in cardiac structure. This study investigates whether sex, as assigned at birth, influences cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessment of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), a hallmark of HF agnostic to ejection fraction.