Effects of guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with left bundle branch block-induced cardiomyopathy.

Introduction And Objectives: Left bundle branch block (LBBB)-induced cardiomyopathy occurs in patients with long-standing LBBB. These patients characteristically exhibit hyperresponsiveness to cardiac resynchronization therapies (CRT). However, there is scarce information on their response to medical treatment.

Does infection predispose to thrombosis during long-term ventricular assist device support?

Background: Infections and thrombotic events remain life-threatening complications in patients with ventricular assist devices (VAD).

Methods: We describe the relationship between both events in our cohort of patients (n = 220) supported with the HeartWare VAD (HVAD). This is a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing HVAD implantation between July 2009 and March 2019 at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Early angiography in elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: The cardio CHUS-HUSJ registry.

Background: In elderly patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS), while routine invasive management is established in high-risk NSTEACS patients, there is still uncertainty regarding the optimal timing of the procedure.

Methods: This study analyzes the association of early coronary angiography with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients older than 75 years old with NSTEACS. This retrospective observational study included 7811 consecutive NSTEACS patients who were examined between the years 2003 and 2017 at two Spanish university hospitals.

Markers of Right Ventricular Dysfunction Predict Maximal Exercise Capacity After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Although left ventricular assist device (LVAD) improves functional capacity, on average LVAD patients are unable to achieve the aerobic capacity of normal healthy subjects or mild heart failure patients. The aim of this study was to examine if markers of right ventricular (RV) function influence maximal exercise capacity. This was a single-center prospective study that enrolled 20 consecutive HeartWare ventricular assist device patients who were admitted at the Freeman Hospital (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom) for a heart transplant assessment from August 2017 to October 2018.

Using existing technology better: Improving outcomes with the HeartWare left ventricular assist device.

Background: The HeartWare left ventricular assist device has been in use for over 12 years. We sought to determine how outcomes at our centre have improved over time.

Methods: Review of electronic hospital records at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Validity of Hemodynamic Monitoring Using Inert Gas Rebreathing Method in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Those Implanted With a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Objective: The present study assessed agreement between resting cardiac output estimated by inert gas rebreathing (IGR) and thermodilution methods in patients with heart failure and those implanted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Methods And Results: Hemodynamic measurements were obtained in 42 patients, 22 with chronic heart failure and 20 with implanted continuous flow LVAD (34 males, aged 50 ± 11 years). Measurements were performed at rest using thermodilution and IGR methods.

Impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on COVID-19 in a western population. CARDIOVID registry.

Introduction And Objectives: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been designated a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. It is unclear whether previous treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) affects the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical implications of previous treatment with ACEI/ARB on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 infection.

Sex-related differences in long-term mortality and heart failure in a contemporary cohort of patients with NSTEACS. The cardiochus-HSUJ registry.

Introduction And Objectives: There is insufficient data regarding sex-related prognostic differences in patients with a non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). We performed a sex-specific analysis of cardiovascular outcomes after NSTEACS using a large contemporary cohort of patients from two tertiary hospitals.

Methods: This work is a retrospective analysis from a prospective registry, that included 5,686 consecutive NSTEACS patients from two Spanish University hospitals between the years 2005 and 2017.

Initial conservative management strategy of HeartWare left ventricular assist device thrombosis with intravenous heparin or bivalirudin.

Introduction And Objectives: Pump thrombosis is a serious left ventricular assist device complication, though there are no guidelines regarding its treatment. The main aim of this study was to describe a strategy of intravenous anticoagulation as the initial treatment in these patients and then to compare intravenous heparin with bivalirudin.

Methods: All consecutive patients who received a HeartWare left ventricular assist device from July 2009 to March 2019 were retrospectively analysed.

Effect of Preoperative Tricuspid and/or Mitral Regurgitation on Development of Late Right-Sided Heart Failure After Insertion of the HeartWare Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Right-sided heart failure (RHF) after left ventricular assist device implantation is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Although multiple predictors of early RHF have been described, information on late RHF is scarce. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of late RHF in left ventricular assist device patients.

Left Ventricular Filling Pressures Contribute to Exercise Limitation in Patients with Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

We sought to determine hemodynamic mechanisms of exercise intolerance in a group of patients with the HeartWare ventricular assist device (VAD) compared to a group of heart failure patients. Twenty VAD and 22 heart failure patients underwent symptom-limited active straight leg raising exercise during right heart catheterization with thermodilution (TD), and upright cycling cardiopulmonary stress testing with cardiac output measurement by inert gas rebreathing (IGR) method. The TD and IGR exercise cardiac indexes were higher in VAD compared with heart failure group (both P < 0.

The Risk of Cardiovascular Events After an Acute Coronary Event Remains High, Especially During the First Year, Despite Revascularization.

Introduction And Objectives: There is little information on the incidence and predictors of infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death after acute coronary syndrome. We investigated these aspects and developed tools for predicting these events according to the time of their occurrence.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 4858 patients who survived an acute coronary event.

Impact of Acute Coronary Syndrome Complicated by Ventricular Fibrillation on Long-term Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Death.

Introduction And Objectives: There is little information on the effect of acute coronary syndrome complicated by ventricular fibrillation on the long-term incidence of sudden cardiac death. We analyzed this effect in a contemporary cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: We studied 5302 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome between December 2003 and December 2012.

Risk stratification for the development of heart failure after acute coronary syndrome at the time of hospital discharge: Predictive ability of GRACE risk score.

Background: Despite encouraging declines in the incidence of heart failure (HF) complicating acute coronary syndrome (ACS), it remains a common problem with high mortality. Being able to identify patients at high risk of HF after ACS would have great clinical and economic impact. With this study, we assessed the usefulness of the GRACE score to predict HF after an ACS.

Is 6-month GRACE risk score a useful tool to predict stroke after an acute coronary syndrome?

Objectives: The risk of stroke after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has increased. The aim of this study was to do a comparative validation of the 6-month GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk score and CH2DS2VASc risk score to predict the risk of post-ACS ischaemic stroke.

Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in a single centre with 4229 patients with ACS discharged between 2004 and 2010 (66.

Prognostic Benefit of Beta-blockers After Acute Coronary Syndrome With Preserved Systolic Function. Still Relevant Today?

Introduction And Objectives: The scientific evidence for using beta-blockers after acute coronary syndrome stems from studies conducted in the days before coronary revascularization and in patients with ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to analyze the current long-term prognostic benefit of beta-blockers in patients with acute coronary syndrome and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 3236 patients with acute coronary syndrome and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50%.

Relative performance of three formulas to assess renal function at predicting in-hospital hemorrhagic complications in an acute coronary syndrome population. What does the new CKD-EPI formula provide?

Aims: Assessment of renal function is important for bleeding risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). There are three formulas routinely used to assess renal function: the Cockroft-Gault (C-G) formula, the MDRD-4 formula and the new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Our aim was to compare the ability of these formulas to predict the risk of in-hospital bleeding in patients with ACS.

Usefulness of the QRS-T angle to improve long-term risk stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction.

In light of the low cost, the widespread availability of the electrocardiogram, and the increasing economic burden of the health-related problems, we aimed to analyze the prognostic value of automatic frontal QRS-T angle to predict mortality in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). About 467 consecutive patients discharged with diagnosis of AMI and with LV ejection fraction ≤40% were followed during 3.9 years (2.