The effects of spondylodiscitis on the inflammation burden in infective endocarditis.

Background: This study investigates the effects of spondylodiscitis on the inflammation burden in infective endocarditis patients.

Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted between September 2018 and October 2022 in a non-surgical teaching hospital. Patients with a definite or possible and treated as infective endocarditis were recruited from the Alkmaar Endocarditis Team meetings.

Identifying plasma proteomic signatures from health to heart failure, across the ejection fraction spectrum.

Circulating proteins may provide insights into the varying biological mechanisms involved in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We aimed to identify specific proteomic patterns for HF, by comparing proteomic profiles across the ejection fraction spectrum. We investigated 4210 circulating proteins in 739 patients with normal (Stage A/Healthy) or elevated (Stage B) filling pressures, HFpEF, or ischemic HFrEF (iHFrEF).

Building a patient-centred nationwide integrated cardiac care registry: intermediate results from the Netherlands.

This paper presents an overview of the development of an integrated patient-centred cardiac care registry spanning the initial 5 years (September 2017 to December 2022). The Netherlands Heart Registration facilitates registration committees in which mandated cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons structurally evaluate quality of care using real-world data. With consistent attendance rates exceeding 60%, a valuable network is supported.

Temporal evolution of liver function parameters predicts clinical outcome in chronic heart failure patients (Bio-SHiFT study).

Background: Liver dysfunction contributes to worse clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. However, studies exploring temporal evolutions of liver function parameters in chronic HF (CHF) pa- tients, and their associations with clinical outcome, are scarce. Detailed temporal patterns of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), total bilirubin (TBIL) and albumin (ALB) were investigated, and their relation with clinical outcome, in patients with stable CHF with reduced ejection fraction.

Acute Coronary Syndrome Subphenotypes Based on Repeated Biomarker Measurements in Relation to Long-Term Mortality Risk.

Background: We aimed to identify patients with subphenotypes of postacute coronary syndrome (ACS) using repeated measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and growth differentiation factor 15 in the year after the index admission, and to investigate their association with long-term mortality risk.

Methods And Results: BIOMArCS (BIOMarker Study to Identify the Acute Risk of a Coronary Syndrome) was an observational study of patients with ACS, who underwent high-frequency blood sampling for 1 year. Biomarkers were measured in a median of 16 repeated samples per individual.

Machine learning-based biomarker profile derived from 4210 serially measured proteins predicts clinical outcome of patients with heart failure.

Aims: Risk assessment tools are needed for timely identification of patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who are at high risk of adverse events. In this study, we aim to derive a small set out of 4210 repeatedly measured proteins, which, along with clinical characteristics and established biomarkers, carry optimal prognostic capacity for adverse events, in patients with HFrEF.

Methods And Results: In 382 patients, we performed repeated blood sampling (median follow-up: 2.

Sex-specific cardiovascular protein levels and their link with clinical outcome in heart failure.

Aims: This study aims to provide insight into sex-specific cardiovascular protein profiles and their associations with adverse outcomes, which may contribute to a better understanding of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology and the optimal use of circulating proteins for prognostication in women and men.

Methods And Results: In 250 stable patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), we performed trimonthly blood sampling (median follow-up: 26 [17-30] months). We selected all baseline samples and two samples closest to the primary endpoint (PEP; composite of cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device implantation, and HF hospitalization) or one sample closest to censoring and applied the Olink Cardiovascular III panel.

Myocardial infarction care in low and high socioeconomic environments: claims data analysis.

Background: To date, claims data have not been used to study outcome differences between low and high socioeconomic status (SES) patients surviving ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in the Netherlands.

Aim: To evaluate STEMI and NSTEMI care among patients with low and high SES in the referral area of three Dutch percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres, using claims data as a source.

Methods: STEMI and NSTEMI patients treated in 2015-2017 were included.

[Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy for infective endocarditis].

Bacterial endocarditis is associated with high morbidity and mortality and requires a long hospitalization due to long-term intravenous antimicrobial therapy. It is possible to partially treat selected and stable patients at home. We present 3 patients partially treated at home with intravenous antibiotics for proven complicated endocarditis.

Sex-based differences in cardiovascular proteomic profiles and their associations with adverse outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Studies focusing on sex differences in circulating proteins in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are scarce. Insight into sex-specific cardiovascular protein profiles and their associations with the risk of adverse outcomes may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved in HFrEF. Moreover, it could provide a basis for the use of circulating protein measurements for prognostication in women and men, wherein the most relevant protein measurements are applied in each of the sexes.

Potential role of left atrial strain in estimation of left atrial pressure in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: In a large proportion of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients, echocardiographic estimation of left atrial pressure (LAP) is not possible when the ratio of the peak early left ventricular filling velocity over the late filling velocity (E/A ratio) is not available, which may occur due to several potential causes. Left atrial reservoir strain (LASr) is correlated with LV filling pressures and may serve as an alternative parameter in these patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether LASr can be used to estimate LAP in HFrEF patients in whom E/A ratio is not available.

Serially measured high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and growth differentiation factor 15 for risk assessment after acute coronary syndrome: the BIOMArCS cohort.

Aims: Evidence regarding the role of serial measurements of biomarkers for risk assessment in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients is limited. The aim was to explore the prognostic value of four, serially measured biomarkers in a large, real-world cohort of post-ACS patients.

Methods And Results: BIOMArCS is a prospective, multi-centre, observational study in 844 post-ACS patients in whom 12 218 blood samples (median 17 per patient) were obtained during 1-year follow-up.

Distant embolisation in infective endocarditis: characteristics and outcomes.

Background: Infective endocarditis is a severe and potentially lethal cardiac disease. Recognition of the clinical features of endocarditis, such as distant embolisation, and adequate treatment should be initiated promptly given the grim perspective of upcoming virulent pathogens.

Methods: We report on our registry-based experience with outcomes of consecutive patients with infective endocarditis with distant embolisation.

Prognostic value of temporal patterns of global longitudinal strain in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: We investigated whether repeatedly measured global longitudinal strain (GLS) has incremental prognostic value over repeatedly measured left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and a single "baseline" GLS value, in chronic heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, echocardiography was performed in 173 clinically stable chronic HF patients every six months during follow up. During a median follow-up of 2.

Heart failure subphenotypes based on repeated biomarker measurements are associated with clinical characteristics and adverse events (Bio-SHiFT study).

Background: This study aimed to identify heart failure (HF) subphenotypes using 92 repeatedly measured circulating proteins in 250 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and to investigate their clinical characteristics and prognosis.

Methods: Clinical data and blood samples were collected tri-monthly until the primary endpoint (PEP) or censoring occurred, with a maximum of 11 visits. The Olink Cardiovascular III panel was measured in baseline samples and the last two samples before the PEP (in 66 PEP cases), or the last sample before censoring (in 184 PEP-free patients).

Dynamic personalized risk prediction in chronic heart failure patients: a longitudinal, clinical investigation of 92 biomarkers (Bio-SHiFT study).

The aim of our observational study was to derive a small set out of 92 repeatedly measured biomarkers with optimal predictive capacity for adverse clinical events in heart failure, which could be used for dynamic, individual risk assessment in clinical practice. In 250 chronic HFrEF (CHF) patients, we collected trimonthly blood samples during a median of 2.2 years.

Persistently elevated levels of sST2 after acute coronary syndrome are associated with recurrent cardiac events.

Purpose: Higher soluble ST2 (sST2) levels at admission are associated with adverse outcome in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We studied the dynamics of sST2 over time in post-ACS patients prior to a recurrent ACS or cardiac death.

Methods: We used the BIOMArCS case cohort, consisting of 187 patients who underwent serial blood sampling during one-year follow-up post-ACS.

Relation of Iron Status to Prognosis After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Iron deficiency has been extensively researched and is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure. However, to our knowledge, the temporal evolution of iron status has not been previously investigated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, we aimed to explore the temporal pattern of repeatedly measured iron, ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) in relation to prognosis post-ACS.

IGF-1 is not related to long-term outcome in hyperglycemic acute coronary syndrome patients.

Purpose: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been associated with both protective and detrimental effects on the development of ischemic heart disease. The relationship between IGF-1 levels and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between IGF-1 admission levels in hyperglycemic ACS patients and: (1) MACE over a 5 years follow-up, (2) type 2 diabetes at discharge, and (3) post-ACS myocardial infarct size and dysfunction.

Personalized screening intervals for kidney function in patients with chronic heart failure: a modeling study.

Background: High mortality and rehospitalization rates demonstrate that improving risk assessment in heart failure patients remains challenging. Individual temporal evolution of kidney biomarkers is associated with poor clinical outcome in these patients and hence may carry the potential to move towards a personalized screening approach.

Methods: In 263 chronic heart failure patients included in the prospective Bio-SHiFT cohort study, glomerular and tubular biomarker measurements were serially obtained according to a pre-scheduled, fixed trimonthly scheme.