Prognostic benefits of His-Purkinje capture in physiological pacemakers for bradycardia.

Introduction: Clinical outcomes of long-term ventricular septal pacing (VSP) without His-Purkinje capture remain unknown. This study evaluated the differences in clinical outcomes between conduction system pacing (CSP), VSP, and right ventricular pacing (RVP).

Methods: Consecutive patients with bradycardia indicated for pacing from 2016 to 2022 were prospectively followed for the clinical endpoints of heart failure (HF)-hospitalizations and all-cause mortality at 2 years.

Platform for the interdisciplinary study of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurovascular diseases (PICMAN) protocol.

Through extensive multisystem phenotyping, the central aim of Project PICMAN is to correlate metabolic flexibility to measures of cardiometabolic health, including myocardial diastolic dysfunction, coronary and cerebral atherosclerosis, body fat distribution and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This cohort will form the basis of larger interventional trials targeting metabolic inflexibility in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Participants aged 21-72 years with no prior manifest atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are being recruited from a preventive cardiology clinic and an existing cohort of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an academic medical centre.

Comparison of Pacing Performance and Clinical Outcomes Between Left Bundle Branch and His Bundle Pacing.

Background: Left bundle branch (LBBP) and His-bundle pacing (HBP) provide physiological ventricular activation.

Objectives: This study investigated differences in feasibility, device performance, and clinical outcomes between LBBP and HBP.

Methods: Consecutive patients with LBBP and HBP from 2018 to 2021 in 2 centers were prospectively studied.

Clinical Outcomes in Conduction System Pacing Compared to Right Ventricular Pacing in Bradycardia.

Background: Conduction system pacing (CSP) provides more physiological ventricular activation than right ventricular pacing (RVP).

Objectives: This study evaluated the differences in clinical outcomes in patients receiving CSP and RVP.

Methods: Consecutive patients with pacemakers implanted for bradycardia from 2016 to 2021 in 2 centers were prospectively followed for the primary composite outcome of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, upgrade to biventricular pacing, or all-cause mortality, stratified by ventricular pacing burden (Vp) .

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients aged 80 years old and above: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Ischaemic heart disease remains the main cause of death in the world. With increasing age, frailty and comorbidities, senior patients aged 80 years old and above who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at higher risk of mortality and other complications.

Aims: We aimed to examine the overall outcomes for this group of patients.

Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after non-emergency percutaneous coronary intervention: Incidence, risk factors, and association with cardiovascular outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, and association with cardiovascular outcomes of patients who developed symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after non-emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We conducted a single-institution retrospective study of patients who developed symptomatic ICH after non-emergency PCI. To identify associations between clinical variables and outcomes, Cox-proportional hazards regression models were constructed.

Use of extendable helix leads for conduction system pacing: Differences in lead handling and performance lead design impacts conduction system pacing.

Introduction: Pacing leads with extendable-retractable helix (EHL) are alternatives to fixed-helix leads (FHL) for conduction system pacing (CSP), but data on handling characteristics are limited. This study evaluated a dual-center experience of lead handling and performance during CSP.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients with His-bundle pacing (HBP) or left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) were evaluated for the primary outcome of lead failure, defined as structural damage to the lead necessitating lead replacement.

Clinical Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Differing Haemoglobin Levels Undergoing Semi-Urgent and Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in an Asian Population.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the impact of anaemia on long-term clinical outcomes in patients who underwent semi-urgent and elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an Asian population. Although the effects of anaemia on outcomes in Asian patients are well studied for acute coronary syndrome, its impact on Asian patients undergoing semi-urgent and elective PCI is unclear.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent semi-urgent and elective PCI from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015, at a tertiary academic centre.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants with Warfarin in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with a History of Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) require oral anticoagulation to prevent ischemic stroke. However, oral anticoagulation may cause bleeding, and patients with AF and a history of bleeding were excluded from pivotal trials comparing non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin. We therefore aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of NOACs compared with warfarin in patients with AF and a history of bleeding.

Combined balloon guide catheter, aspiration catheter, and stent retriever technique versus balloon guide catheter and stent retriever alone technique: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The use of a combination of balloon guide catheter (BGC), aspiration catheter, and stent retriever in acute ischemic stroke thrombectomy has not been shown to be better than a stent retriever and BGC alone, but this may be due to a lack of power in these studies. We therefore performed a meta-analysis on this subject.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Embase/Ovid, and the Cochrane Library from inception to October 20, 2021.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions of nursing home residents.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted nursing home care and activities in profound ways. We sought to understand whether the COVID-19 pandemic had any impact on hospital admissions of nursing home residents.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of hospital admissions of nursing home residents to a tertiary general hospital in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was conducted and compared to admissions in the preceding year.

Adopting permanent His bundle pacing: learning curves and medium-term outcomes.

Aims: This study aims to determine procedural characteristics, acute success rates, and medium-term outcomes of consecutive patients undergoing His bundle pacing (HBP); and learning curves of experienced electrophysiologists adopting HBP.

Methods And Results: Consecutive HBP patients at three hospitals were recruited. Clinical characteristics, acute procedural details, and medium-term outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records.

Impact of geriatric syndromes on anticoagulation prescription in older adults with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in older adults. CHA2DS2-VASC (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (doubled), vascular disease, age 65-74, female) and HASBLED(Hypertension, Abnormal Renal/Liver Function, Stroke, Bleeding History or Predisposition, Labile INR, Elderly, Drugs/Alcohol Concomitantly) are the most established risk stratification tools in assessing suitability for anticoagulation in AF. However, there are no established screening tools for geriatric syndromes on anticoagulation risks in older adults.

Long-Term Outcomes of Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack after Non-Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objectives: Non-emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has lower risk of stroke than emergency PCI. With increasing elective PCI and increasing risk of stroke after PCI, risk factors for stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in non-emergency PCI and long-term outcomes needs to be better characterised. We aim to identify risk factors for cerebrovascular accidents in patients undergoing non-emergency PCI and long-term outcomes after stroke or TIA.

The impact of chronic kidney disease on long-term outcomes following semi-urgent and elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: The effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on outcomes in patients undergoing semi-urgent and elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are unclear. This study aims to investigate impact of CKD on long-term outcomes of this population.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent semi-urgent and elective PCI from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015 at a tertiary academic center.