A Global Perspective on Socioeconomic Determinants of Cardiovascular Health.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the world. From 2005 to 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) planned an initiative to reduce the mortality rate of CVD by 2030 by addressing health, finance, transport, education, and agriculture in these communities. Plans were underway by many countries to meet the goals of the WHO initiative.

Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease may carry a higher risk for mortality from COVID-19. This study examined the association between individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular disease admitted for COVID-19 and their clinical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients admitted with COVID-19 to Rush University System for Health (RUSH) to identify cardiovascular risk factors associated with increased mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; a composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, myocardial injury, and heart failure exacerbation).

A simple validated clinical tool to predict the absence of coronary artery disease in patients with systolic heart failure of unclear etiology.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of systolic heart failure (HF). Identifying CAD as a cause of systolic HF has prognostic and treatment implications. Whether all patients with systolic HF of unclear etiology should undergo coronary angiography has been controversial.

Brugada ECG pattern precipitated by acute pneumonia: a case report.

Brugada type 1 ECG pattern is the hallmark for the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome which is a cause of sudden death due to ventricular arrhythmias. We present a case of a previously healthy young man who was admitted with productive cough with greenish phlegm and right-sided chest pain which was subsequently diagnosed as acute pneumonia. A routine ECG was done as part of his evaluation and showed Brugada ECG type 1 pattern.

Baseline left bundle branch block with right bundle branch escape complexes in a patient with coronary artery disease, presents like an alternating bundle branch block: a case report.

Alternating bundle branch block (ABBB) is a less commonly encountered phenomenon with the advent of re-perfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction. ECGs simulating the appearance of an ABBB need to be carefully analysed. We present an ECG showing a baseline Left Bundle Branch Block(LBBB) progressing to a high grade AV block with escape complexes having a Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) morphology.

Bacillus Cereus Endocarditis in a permanent pacemaker: a case report.

Introduction: Bacillus Cereus endocarditis is a rare condition which has been implicated in intravenous drug users, and in patients with prosthetic heart valves. We report a rare case of Bacillus Cereus infecting a permanent pacing wire.

Case Presentation: A 69 year old female with a permanent pacemaker presented with rigors, sweats and weight loss.

Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim induced liver failure: a case report.

Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) is a commonly used antibiotic, its' known adverse reaction of hepatotoxicity leading to acute liver failure is considered rare. We present a case of a 22 year old female who developed jaundice and acute liver failure one week after taking SMX/TMP for a UTI. After an extensive work up, a clinical diagnosis of SMX/TMP induced liver failure was reached.