RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with a second-generation macrolide, are being widely used for treatment of COVID-19, despite no conclusive evidence of their benefit. Although generally safe when used for approved indications such as autoimmune disease or malaria, the safety and benefit of these treatment regimens are poorly evaluated in COVID-19.

Methods: We did a multinational registry analysis of the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19.

Contemporary Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes of Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus and HFrEF: The CHAMP-HF Registry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical profile, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes of patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in a contemporary, real-world U.S. outpatient registry in the context of evolving treatment strategies.

Cardiovascular Disease, Drug Therapy, and Mortality in Covid-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may disproportionately affect people with cardiovascular disease. Concern has been aroused regarding a potential harmful effect of angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) in this clinical context.

Methods: Using an observational database from 169 hospitals in Asia, Europe, and North America, we evaluated the relationship of cardiovascular disease and drug therapy with in-hospital death among hospitalized patients with Covid-19 who were admitted between December 20, 2019, and March 15, 2020, and were recorded in the Surgical Outcomes Collaborative registry as having either died in the hospital or survived to discharge as of March 28, 2020.

Trends in prevalence of comorbidities in heart failure clinical trials.

Aims: The primary objective of this systematic review was to estimate the prevalence and temporal changes in chronic comorbid conditions reported in heart failure (HF) clinical trials.

Methods And Results: We searched MEDLINE for HF trials enrolling more than 400 patients published between 2001 and 2016.Trials were divided into HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), or trials enrolling regardless of ejection fraction.

Impact of left ventricular assist device implantation on mitral regurgitation: An analysis from the MOMENTUM 3 trial.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) determines pathophysiology and outcome in advanced heart failure. The impact of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement on clinically significant MR and its contribution to long-term outcomes has been sparsely evaluated.

Methods: We evaluated the effect of clinically significant MR on patients implanted in the MOMENTUM 3 trial with either the HeartMate II (HMII) or the HeartMate 3 (HM3) at 2 years.

Bariatric Surgery Improves HDL Function Examined by ApoA1 Exchange Rate and Cholesterol Efflux Capacity in Patients with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Bariatric surgery improves glycemic control better than medical therapy; however, the effect of bariatric surgery on HDL function is not well characterized. Serum samples were available at baseline, 1-, and 5-years post procedures, for 90 patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes who were randomized to intensive medical therapy ( = 20), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, = 37), or sleeve gastrectomy (SG, = 33) as part of the STAMPEDE clinical trial. We examined serum HDL function by two independent assays, apolipoprotein A-1 exchange rate (AER) and cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC).

Effect of Lesion Complexity and Clinical Risk Factors on the Efficacy and Safety of Dabigatran Dual Therapy Versus Warfarin Triple Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Subgroup Analysis From the REDUAL PCI Trial.

Background: The REDUAL PCI trial (Evaluation of Dual Therapy With Dabigatran vs Triple Therapy With Warfarin in Patients With AF That Undergo a PCI With Stenting) demonstrated that, in patients with atrial fibrillation following percutaneous coronary intervention, bleeding risk was lower with dabigatran plus clopidogrel or ticagrelor (dual therapy) than warfarin plus clopidogrel or ticagrelor and aspirin (triple therapy). Dual therapy was noninferior for risk of thromboembolic events. Whether these results apply equally to patients at higher risk of ischemic events due to lesion complexity or clinical risk factors is unclear.

Thrombolytic therapy in older acute ischemic stroke patients with gastrointestinal malignancy or recent bleeding.

Background: There are limited data on the safety of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) for treating acute ischemic stroke in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy or recent gastrointestinal bleeding within 21 days of their index stroke.

Aims: To evaluate clinical outcomes in patients treated with rtPA for acute ischemic stroke who had gastrointestinal malignancy or recent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods: We identified patients who were treated with rtPA for acute ischemic stroke between 2/2009 and 12/2015 from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke linked to Medicare claims data.

Association between depression and readmission of heart failure: A national representative database study.

Introduction: Depression is a recognized predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor quality of life, functional limitation, increased morbidity and mortality, decreased adherence to treatment, and increased rehospitalization. To understand the impact of depression on HF readmission, we conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) 2010-2014.

Methods: We identified all patients with the primary discharge diagnosis of HF by ICD-9-CM codes.

Role of Combination Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy in Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease: Insights From the COMPASS Trial.

Background: Patients with established coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease often have diabetes mellitus. These patients are at high risk of future vascular events.

Methods: In a prespecified analysis of the COMPASS trial (Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies), we compared the effects of rivaroxaban (2.

Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for prevention and management of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV)-mediated by a heterogeneous myriad of immune and non-immune factors, which contribute to the progressive and diffuse thickening of the arterial allograft's tunica intima in one distinct form of CAV, and the build-up of plaque in another-is a major limiting factor of long-term survival post heart transplantation. Information on the optimal pharmacotherapeutic approaches for the prevention and management of CAV is conflicting, scattered, and inconsistent, with numerous recent studies adding to the literature. In this paper, we present a go-to clinical resource with the most updated and comprehensive information on the topic.

Rivaroxaban Plus Aspirin Versus Aspirin Alone in Patients With Prior Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (COMPASS-PCI).

Background: The COMPASS trial (Cardiovascular Outcomes for People using Anticoagulation Strategies) demonstrated that dual pathway inhibition (DPI) with rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily versus aspirin 100 mg once daily reduced the primary major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) outcome of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, as well as, mortality, in patients with chronic coronary syndromes or peripheral arterial disease. Whether this remains true in patients with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown.

Gut dysbiosis and heart failure: navigating the universe within.

Alternations in gut microbial composition (i.e. loss of microbial diversity or 'gut dysbiosis') have been associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Comparison of the Effect of Age (< 75 Versus ≥ 75) on the Efficacy and Safety of Dual Therapy (Dabigatran + Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor) Versus Triple Therapy (Warfarin + Aspirin + Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor) in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (from the RE-DUAL PCI Trial).

The RE-DUAL PCI trial reported that dabigatran dual therapy (110/150 mg twice daily, plus clopidogrel or ticagrelor) reduced bleeding events versus warfarin triple therapy (warfarin plus aspirin and clopidogrel or ticagrelor) in patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, with noninferiority in composite thromboembolic events. In this prespecified analysis, risks of first major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding event and composite end point of death, thromboembolic events, or unplanned revascularization were compared between dabigatran dual therapy and warfarin triple therapy in older (≥ 75 years) and younger (< 75 years) patients, using Cox proportional hazard regression. Of 2,725 patients randomized to treatment, 1,026 (37.

Biomarker Profile of Left Atrial Myopathy in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Insights From the RELAX Trial.

Background: Although left atrial (LA) mechanical dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with poor clinical outcomes, the influence of LA myopathy on temporal changes in cardiovascular biomarkers is unclear.

Methods And Results: We evaluated biomarker correlates of LA myopathy, as defined by reduced LA strain, and the associations of LA strain with longitudinal changes in biomarkers among participants in the Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition to Improve Clinical Status and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (RELAX) trial. LA speckle-tracking was performed on baseline echocardiograms of RELAX participants to measure LA reservoir and LA contractile strain.

Switching of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy After PCI in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The RE-DUAL PCI Trial Subanalysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess if prior oral anticoagulant agent (OAC) use modifies the lower bleeding risk observed with dabigatran dual therapy (dabigatran twice daily plus a P2Y inhibitor) versus warfarin triple therapy (warfarin plus a P2Y inhibitor plus aspirin) in patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: In the RE-DUAL PCI (Randomized Evaluation of Dual Antithrombotic Therapy With Dabigatran Versus Triple Therapy With Warfarin in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) trial, the primary outcome of major bleeding or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding was lower with dabigatran dual therapy versus warfarin triple therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent PCI.

Methods: A total of 2,725 patients were randomized to dual therapy with dabigatran (110 or 150 mg twice daily) plus clopidogrel or ticagrelor or triple therapy with warfarin plus aspirin and clopidogrel or ticagrelor.

Representativeness of a Heart Failure Trial by Race and Sex: Results From ASCEND-HF and GWTG-HF.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the degree to which U.S. patients enrolled in a heart failure (HF) trial represent patients in routine U.

Expanding the Scope of Multimodality Imaging in Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support.

An increasing number of patients transition to advanced-stage heart failure refractory to medical therapy. Left ventricular assist systems (LVAS) provide a bridge to candidates awaiting heart transplantation and extended device durability allows permanent implantation referred to as destination therapy. Noninvasive imaging plays a pivotal role in the optimal management of patients implanted with durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices.

Ticagrelor in patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease with a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention (THEMIS-PCI): a phase 3, placebo-controlled, randomised trial.

Background: Patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes with previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), particularly those with previous stenting, are at high risk of ischaemic events. These patients are generally treated with aspirin. In this trial, we aimed to investigate if these patients would benefit from treatment with aspirin plus ticagrelor.

Ticagrelor in Patients with Stable Coronary Disease and Diabetes.

Background: Patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus who have not had a myocardial infarction or stroke are at high risk for cardiovascular events. Whether adding ticagrelor to aspirin improves outcomes in this population is unclear.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind trial, we assigned patients who were 50 years of age or older and who had stable coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus to receive either ticagrelor plus aspirin or placebo plus aspirin.

Recent Myocardial Infarction is Associated With Increased Risk in Older Adults With Acute Ischemic Stroke Receiving Thrombolytic Therapy.

Background Intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) remains the only medical therapy to improve outcomes for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but the safety of rtPA in AIS patients with a history of recent myocardial infarction (MI) remains controversial. Methods and Results We sought to determine whether the presence of recent MI would alter the risk of mortality and rtPA-related complications. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to compare in-hospital outcomes between rtPA-treated AIS patients with recent MI within 3 months and those with no history of MI from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals between February 2009 and December 2015.