Association Between Psychosocial Risk Factors and Readmissions After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Role of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Psychosocial risk factors (PSRFs) are known to be associated with worse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. However, there are limited data on the impact of PSRFs on readmissions after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before and during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to examine this association and whether the effects of PSRFs were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association of Psychosocial Risk Factors and Outcomes in Heart Failure: Does COVID-19 Affect Outcomes?

Psychosocial risk factors (PSRFs) have emerged as crucial nontraditional risk factors affecting outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). There is a paucity of data studying these risk factors in HF nationally. Additionally, whether the COVID-19 pandemic impacted outcomes remains unexplored, given the increased psychosocial risk during these times.

Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm: A Successful Diagnosis.

Coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) are rare, with giant CAAs being even rarer. The precise pathophysiology of this phenomenon is still unknown. CAAs are seldom reported life-threatening abnormalities of the cardiovascular system.

Isolated Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis involving the right side of the heart is typically associated with IV drug abuse and chronic indwelling catheters which commonly involve the tricuspid valve. Isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare clinical entity. We report a rare case of a young woman with a history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis through tunneled catheter presenting with persistent coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) epidermidis bacteremia despite being on appropriate treatment with IV vancomycin for two weeks.

Cardiogenic Shock Secondary to Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with Preexisting Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

• Echocardiography is used to diagnose hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). • Hypotension in a patient with TCM should be evaluated for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). • Management of TCM is challenging in patients with HOCM with severe LVOTO.

Utilization of the Impella for hemodynamic support during percutaneous intervention and cardiogenic shock: an insight.

Impella is a catheter-based micro-axial flow pump placed across the aortic valve, and it is currently the only percutaneous left ventricular assist device approved for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention and cardiogenic shock. Areas Covered: Even though several studies have repeatedly demonstrated the excellent hemodynamic profile of Impella in high-risk settings, it remains underutilized. Here we aim to provide an up-to-date summary of the available literature on Impellas use in High risk settings as well as the practical aspects of its usage.

Anti-arrhythmic medications increase non-cardiac mortality - A meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Introduction: Anti-arrhythmic medications (AAMs) are known to increase cardiac mortality significantly due to their pro-arrhythmic effects. However, the effect of AAMs on non-cardiac mortality has not been evaluated.

Methods: Trials published in English language journals from 1990 to 2015 were thoroughly retrieved by searching websites such as PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar.