Early repolarization is independently associated with African-American race, younger age, higher BMI and lower heart rate.

Early repolarization (ER) is commonly seen in young adults. The goal of this study was to evaluate predictors of ER. The authors used ECGs, available from 636 subjects, performed on healthy students for screening purposes.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is independently associated with all-cause mortality.

Background: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with adverse outcomes. The goal of this study was to evaluate any association between LVH and all-cause mortality using a large echocardiographic database.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 2,352 echocardiograms between the ages 16-99 years that were performed from 1983 to 1998 for clinical reasons in Southern California.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Comprehensive Review and Present Status.

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease in the developed world. About 7% of the population over age 65 years suffers from degenerative aortic stenosis. The prognosis of patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis is dismal without valve replacement.

Mitral annulus calcification is independently associated with all-cause mortality.

Background: Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is an important echocardiographic finding that is significantly associated with valvular abnormalities. However, the effect of documented MAC on all-cause mortality is not known. Using a large database, associations between MAC and long-term all-cause mortality were evaluated.

Clinical and angiographic outcomes with everolimus eluting stents for the treatment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine clinical efficacy, safety, and intermediate clinical outcomes with everolimus-eluting stents (EESs) in patients with transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD).

Background: TCAD is a major cause of mortality in patients following orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Systemic everolimus in OHT patients has been shown to reduce TCAD.

Declining in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery in the United States irrespective of presence of type 2 diabetes or congestive heart failure.

Background: Significant advances in surgical techniques and postsurgical care have been made in the last 10 years. The goal of this study was to evaluate any decline in the age-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a national database from 1989 to 2004 in the United States.

Hypothesis: Reduction in CABG related mortality in recent years.

Novel antiplatelet agent ticagrelor in the management of acute coronary syndrome.

Current clinical guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet agents namely aspirin and clopidogrel for the treatment of patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS). But the efficacy of clopidogrel is variable as it is a pro-drug, which has to be metabolized to become an active drug thus exhibiting variable platelet inhibition, increases risk of bleeding, stent thrombosis, and ischemia. To overcome this limitation, prasugrel was developed with increased antiplatelet activity thereby reducing the risk of myocardial ischemia and stent thrombosis.

Reverse or inverted takotsubo cardiomyopathy (reverse left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome) presents at a younger age compared with the mid or apical variant and is always associated with triggering stress.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is usually caused by triggering stress. It has 4 different subtypes. There has been no consensus to differentiate various types with regard to characteristics of the patient population.

Nationwide trends in the age adjusted prevalence of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) across various races and gender in the USA.

Background: Advances in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis have been dramatic. The goal of this study was to evaluate any decline in the age adjusted incidence of acute non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) using a large database.

Method: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate the age-adjusted rate for NSTEMI from 1988 to 2004 retrospectively.

Decreasing in-hospital mortality of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with persistent higher mortality rates in women and minorities in the United States.

Background: Advances in interventional techniques have been dramatic in the last 10 years. The goal of this study was to evaluate the age-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a large database.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate the age-adjusted mortality rate for PCI from 1988 to 2004 in patients over the age of 40 retrospectively.

Sex- and ethnic group-specific nationwide trends in the use of coronary artery bypass grafting in the United States.

Objective: This study examined nationwide trends in use of coronary artery bypass grafting between 1988 and 2004.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to calculate age-adjusted rate of coronary artery bypass grafting from 1988 to 2004. Specific International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for coronary artery bypass grafting were used to compile data.

Nationwide trends in the utilisation of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the United States of America based on gender and ethnicities.

Aims: With advancement in technology, the number of percutaneous coronary interventions performed are rising. The goal of this study was to evaluate nationwide trend over a long period of time in the utilisation of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a large database.

Methods And Results: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilised to calculate the age-adjusted rate for PCI from 1988 to 2004.

Decline in the nationwide trends in in-hospital mortality of patients undergoing multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Advances in the safety of percutaneous coronary interventions have been significant in recent years. The goal of this study was to evaluate any decline in the age-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate in patients undergoing multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MVPCI) using a very large database from 1988 to 2004 in the United States.

Method: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate the age-adjusted mortality rate for MVPCI from 1988 to 2004 in patients over the age of 40 years retrospectively.

Rate of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the United States from 1988 to 2004 (from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample).

Advances in the management of atherosclerosis risk factors have been dramatic in the previous 10 years. The goal of this study was to evaluate any decrease in age-adjusted incidence of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a very large database of inpatient admissions from 1988 to 2004. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to calculate the age-adjusted rate for STEMI from 1988 to 2004 retrospectively.

Levels of troponin release can aid in the early exclusion of stress-induced (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy.

Background: Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is usually associated with an increased level of cardiac enzymes, leading to difficulties in differentiating this condition from acute coronary syndrome. The final diagnosis is usually made based on angiographic findings revealing normal coronary arteries. It was hypothesized that maximal cardiac enzyme elevation in these patients should have an upper limit.

Nationwide trends in the utilization of multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MVPCI) in the United States across different gender and ethnicities.

Background: To evaluate nationwide trends in the utilization of Multivessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (MVPCI) in the past compared to recent years using a large database from 1988 to 2004.

Method: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate the age-adjusted rate for multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MVPCI) from 1988 to 2004. Specific ICD-9-CM codes for MVPCI were used to compile the data.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a life-threatening condition of unknown cause that occurs in previously healthy women during the peripartum period. It is characterized by left ventricular dysfunction and symptoms of heart failure that can arise in the last trimester of pregnancy or up to 5 months after delivery. We review its possible causes and how to recognize and manage it.