Quality improvement collaborative to optimize heart failure care in patients from a network of clinics in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heart failure (HF) is a major clinical and public health problem associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and health-care costs. Despite the existence of evidence-based guidelines for the optimal treatment of HF, the quality of care remains suboptimal. Our aim was to increase the use a care bundle in 50% of enrolled subjects during their hospitalization and discharge and to reduce their readmission for HF causes by 10%.

Care bundle to reduce readmission in patients with heart failure: a modified Delphi consensus panel in Argentina.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop consensus among Argentine cardiologists on a care bundle to reduce readmissions of patients with heart failure (HF).

Setting: Hospitals and cardiology clinics in Argentina that provide in-hospital care for patients with HF.

Participants: Twenty-four cardiology experts participated in the two online rounds and 18 (75%) of them participated in the third-round meeting.

Association between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease at CT and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction at Myocardial Perfusion PET/CT.

Background Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the association of NAFLD with coronary microvascular dysfunction is, to our knowledge, unknown. Purpose To determine whether coronary microvascular dysfunction is more prevalent in patients with NAFLD and to determine whether coronary microvascular dysfunction predicts major adverse cardiac events (MACE) independently of NAFLD.

Assessment of Cardiac Masses by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Histological Correlation and Clinical Outcomes.

Background Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ( CMR ) provides useful information for characterizing cardiac masses, but there are limited data on whether CMR can accurately distinguish benign from malignant lesions. We aimed to describe the distribution and imaging characteristics of cardiac masses identified by CMR and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of CMR for distinguishing benign from malignant tumors. Methods and Results We examined consecutive patients referred for CMR between May 2008 and August 2013 to identify those with a cardiac mass.

Comparing CMR Mapping Methods and Myocardial Patterns Toward Heart Failure Outcomes in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: In patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM), native T1, partition coefficient (λ), and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) mapping may offer prognostic values beyond late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), by scaling the range of myocardial changes.

Background: In patients with NIDCM, LGE is seen in 30% of patients and it indicates adverse prognosis.

Methods: The study mapped 6 anatomical locations using all 4 cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue-characterizing methods and associated with outcome.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk in Obese Patients.

Background: Besides body mass index (BMI), other discriminators of cardiovascular risk are needed in obese patients, who may or may not undergo consideration for bariatric surgery. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), defined as impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) in the absence of flow-limiting coronary artery disease, identifies patients at risk for adverse events independently of traditional risk factors.

Objectives: The study sought to investigate the relationship among obesity, CMD, and adverse outcomes.

Complementary Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Assessment of Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Background: Although cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) detect different pathological attributes of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), the complementary value of these tests has not been evaluated. Our objective was to determine the value of combining CMR and PET in assessing the likelihood of CS and guiding patient management.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective study, we included 107 consecutive patients referred for evaluation of CS by both CMR and PET.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of myocardial blood flow quantification as non-invasive indicator of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Aims: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of death in orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) survivors. Effective non-invasive screening methods are needed. Our aim was to investigate the added diagnostic and prognostic value of myocardial blood flow (MBF) to standard myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with positron emission tomography (PET) for CAV detection.

Integrated Noninvasive Physiological Assessment of Coronary Circulatory Function and Impact on Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: It is suggested that the integration of maximal myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR), termed coronary flow capacity, allows for comprehensive evaluation of patients with known or suspected stable coronary artery disease. Because management decisions are predicated on clinical risk, we sought to determine the independent and integrated value of maximal MBF and CFR for predicting cardiovascular death.

Methods: MBF and CFR were quantified in 4029 consecutive patients (median age 66 years, 50.

Role of Imaging in Evaluating Infiltrative Heart Disease.

Infiltrative heart disease is caused by the deposition of abnormal substances in the heart and can lead to abnormalities in cardiac function and electrical conduction. Advances in non-invasive cardiovascular imaging have allowed for improved diagnosis of infiltrative heart disease, as well as ways to track disease progression or regression, thus enabling a mechanism to follow response to therapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA), as well as outline a proposed algorithm for using non-invasive cardiovascular imaging for evaluating these conditions.

Presence of Late Gadolinium Enhancement by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Among Patients With Suspected Cardiac Sarcoidosis Is Associated With Adverse Cardiovascular Prognosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Individuals with cardiac sarcoidosis have an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and death. Several small cohort studies have evaluated the ability of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict adverse cardiovascular events. However, studies have yielded inconsistent results, and some analyses were underpowered.

Isolated cardiac sarcoidosis: A focused review of an under-recognized entity.

There is accumulating evidence for the existence of a phenotype of isolated cardiac sarcoidosis (ICS), or sarcoidosis that only involves the heart. In the absence of biopsy-confirmed cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), existing diagnostic criteria require the presence of extra-cardiac sarcoidosis as an inclusion criterion for the diagnosis of CS. Consequently, in the absence of a positive endomyocardial biopsy, ICS is not diagnosable by current guidelines.

Feasibility study of electrocardiographic and respiratory gated, gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of pulmonary veins and the impact of heart rate and rhythm on study quality.

Background: We aimed to assess the feasibility of 3 dimensional (3D) respiratory and ECG gated, gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) on a 3 Tesla (3 T) scanner for imaging pulmonary veins (PV) and left atrium (LA). The impact of heart rate (HR) and rhythm irregularity associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) on image and segmentation qualities were also assessed.

Methods: 101 consecutive patients underwent respiratory and ECG gated (ventricular end systolic window) MRA for pre AF ablation imaging.

[Estimation of the "vascular age" based on body mass index in a population in primary prevention. Association with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis].

Background And Objectives: To know the relationship between "vascular age" (VA) and the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis could improve cardiovascular risk stratification.

Objectives: 1) to know the VA in a primary prevention population, and 2) to determine the relationship between VA and the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP).

Patients And Methods: We calculated VA based on body mass index (BMI).