Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and incident myocardial infarction - A population-based Swedish nested case-control study.

Aims: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) have been associated with myocardial infarction (MI), but existing data are conflicting possibly due to limitations in study designs and lack of data on important confounders. The aim of this study was to determine whether H.

Sympathetic nerve activity and response to physiological stress in Takotsubo syndrome.

Purpose: The prevailing hypothesis posits that Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is caused by massive sympathetic activation, yet supporting evidence remains inconsistent. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether sympathetic activity and reactivity are enhanced in the recovery phase of TTS, and to evaluate the effect of selective β1-receptor blockade on sympathetic reactivity.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study that included 18 female patients with TTS and 13 age- and sex-matched controls.

Familial risk of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive and obstructive coronary arteries -A nation-wide cohort study.

Background And Aims: The familial risk among patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is unknown. Previous studies of family history in myocardial infarction (MI), have not made a distinction between MINOCA and MI due to coronary artery disease (MI-CAD), based on angiographic findings. We therefore sought to investigate familial risk of MI without and with obstructive coronary arteries.

Inflammatory biomarkers and long-term outcome in young patients three months after a first myocardial infarction.

Background: Studies on predictive value of circulating inflammatory biomarkers after myocardial infarction (MI) have often been limited by blood sampling only in an acute setting and short follow-up time. We aimed to compare the long-term predictive value of nine inflammatory biomarkers, known to be involved in atherosclerosis, in young patients investigated three months after a first-time MI.

Methods: Nine biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, serum amyloid A and tumor necrosis factor-alfa) were sampled in 382 young (<60 years) patients and in age and sex-matched controls, three months after a first-time MI between 1996 and 2000.

How to Use Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries.

The working diagnosis Myocardial Infarction with Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) is being increasingly recognized with the common use of high-sensitivity troponins and coronary angiography, accounting for 5% to 10% of all acute myocardial infarction presentations. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is pivotal in patients presenting with suspected MINOCA, mainly to delineate those with a nonischemic cause, for example, myocarditis and Takotsubo syndrome, from those with true ischemic myocardial infarction, that is, MINOCA. The optimal timing for CMR imaging in patients with suspected MINOCA has been uncertain and, until recently, not been examined prospectively.

Iron deficiency in new onset heart failure: association with clinical factors and quality of life.

Aims: The prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) in newly diagnosed heart failure (HF) and the progression of ID in patients after initiation of HF therapy are unknown. We aimed to describe the natural trajectory of ID in patients with new onset HF during the first year after HF diagnosis, assessing associations between ID, clinical factors, and quality of life (QoL).

Methods And Results: A prospective cohort of patients with new onset HF in hospitals or outpatient clinics at five major hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden, during 2015-2018 were analysed with clinical assessment, electrocardiogram, blood samples including iron levels, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ), and echocardiogram at baseline and after 12 months.

Associations between inflammatory and angiogenic proteomic biomarkers, and cardiovascular events and mortality in relation to kidney function.

Background: The links between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the high burden of cardiovascular disease remain unclear. We aimed to explore the association between selected inflammatory and angiogenic biomarkers, kidney function and long-term outcome in patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to test the hypothesis that CKD status modifies this association.

Methods: A total of 1293 ACS patients hospitalized between 2008 and 2015 were followed until 31 December 2017.

Reduced stress perfusion in myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) has several possible underlying causes, including coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Early cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is recommended, however cannot provide a diagnosis in 25% of cases. Quantitative stress CMR perfusion mapping can identify CMD, however it is unknown if CMD is present during long-term follow-up of MINOCA patients.

and Pro-Inflammatory Protein Biomarkers in Myocardial Infarction with and without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Myocardial infarction (MI) with obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD) and MI in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) affect different populations and may have separate pathophysiological mechanisms, with greater inflammatory activity in MINOCA compared to MI-CAD. (Hp) can cause systemic inflammation and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate whether Hp infection is associated with concentrations of protein biomarkers of inflammation and CVD.

Distinct genomic signatures and modifiable risk factors underly the comorbidity between major depressive disorder and cardiovascular disease.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are often comorbid, resulting in excess morbidity and mortality. Using genomic data, this study elucidates biological mechanisms, key risk factors, and causal pathways underlying their comorbidity. We show that CVDs share a large proportion of their genetic risk factors with MDD.

Mortality and ventricular arrhythmias in patients on d,l-sotalol for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Use of d,l-sotalol for rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has raised safety concerns. Previous randomized studies are few and not designed for mortality outcome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidences of mortality and ventricular arrhythmias in AF patients treated with d,l-sotalol for rhythm control vs matched control patients treated with cardioselective beta-blockers.

Association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary atherosclerosis in a general middle-aged population.

Despite abundant knowledge about the relationship between inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis, it is still unknown whether systemic inflammation measured as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in a general population. This study aimed to examine the association between hsCRP and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-detected coronary atherosclerosis in a population-based cohort. Out of 30,154 randomly invited men and women aged 50 to 64 years in the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study (SCAPIS), 25,408 had a technically acceptable CCTA and analysed hsCRP.

Psychiatric disorders and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease: a longitudinal matched cohort study across three countries.

Background: Several psychiatric disorders have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), however, the role of familial factors and the main disease trajectories remain unknown.

Methods: In this longitudinal cohort study, we identified a cohort of 900,240 patients newly diagnosed with psychiatric disorders during January 1, 1987 and December 31, 2016, their 1,002,888 unaffected full siblings, and 1:10 age- and sex-matched reference population from nationwide medical records in Sweden, who had no prior diagnosis of CVD at enrolment. We used flexible parametric models to determine the time-varying association between first-onset psychiatric disorders and incident CVD and CVD death, comparing rates of CVD among patients with psychiatric disorders to the rates of unaffected siblings and matched reference population.

Prevalence of angina pectoris and association with coronary atherosclerosis in a general population.

Objective: To assess the contemporary prevalence of, and factors associated with angina pectoris symptoms, and to examine the relationship to coronary atherosclerosis in a middle-aged, general population.

Methods: Data were based on the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), in which 30 154 individuals were randomly recruited from the general population between 2013 and 2018. Participants that completed the Rose Angina Questionnaire were included and categorised as angina or no angina.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction in Takotsubo syndrome and associations with left ventricular function.

Aims: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has been proposed as an important pathophysiological mechanism in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Our aims were (i) to evaluate and compare levels of CMD in patients with TTS and patients with ischaemia and no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) and (ii) to investigate associations between CMD and clinical parameters, left ventricular function, and coronary atherosclerosis in TTS.

Methods And Results: We conducted a prospective study of 27 female TTS patients and an equally sized, age- and gender-matched, cohort of INOCA patients.

Prognostic importance of biomarkers associated with haemostatic, vascular and endothelial disturbances in acute coronary syndrome patients in relation to kidney function.

Background: Patients with kidney failure have a high risk for cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic importance of selected biomarkers related to haemostasis, endothelial function, and vascular regulation in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to study whether this association differed in patients with renal dysfunction.

Methods: Plasma was collected in 1370 ACS patients included between 2008 and 2015.

Health-related quality-of-life up to one year after myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries.

Aims: Patients with Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) are a heterogenous group and previous studies indicate a decreased Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) compared with patients with myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary artery disease and healthy individuals. However, longitudinal data are scarce. Therefore, the aim was to explore HRQoL among patients with MINOCA during a one-year period after the acute event in comparison with a group of healthy individuals and to describe HRQoL in patients with Takotsubo Syndrome (TTS).

Reducing stress and anxiety in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries or Takotsubo syndrome: A non-randomized feasibility study.

Background And Aim: In the aftermath of a myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) or Takotsubo syndrome (TS), patients commonly express high levels of stress and anxiety. Current treatment alternatives rarely address these issues. The planned (e-SMINC) aims to evaluate the effects of an internet-based intervention, building on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by comparison with treatment as usual using an RCT approach.

The e-mental health treatment in Stockholm myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronaries or Takotsubo syndrome study (E-SMINC): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: In the aftermath of a myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) or Takotsubo syndrome (TS), patients commonly express high levels of stress and anxiety. Current treatment alternatives rarely address these issues.

Methods: The study is a randomised controlled trial, where 90 patients with a discharge diagnosis of MINOCA or TS who also report symptoms of stress or anxiety will be randomised 2-6 weeks after their cardiac event.