Renal Biomarkers in Heart Failure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1 are renal biomarkers increasingly appreciated for their role in the risk stratification and prognostication of heart failure (HF) patients. However, very few have been adopted clinically, owing to the lack of consistency.

Objectives: The authors aimed to study the association between cystatin C, NGAL, and KIM-1 and outcomes, mortality, hospitalizations, and worsening renal function (WRF) in patients with acute and chronic HF.

Statement from the Asia Summit: Current state of arrhythmia care in Asia.

On May 27, 2022, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society and the Heart Rhythm Society convened a meeting of leaders from different professional societies of healthcare providers committed to arrhythmia care from the Asia Pacific region. The overriding goals of the meeting were to discuss clinical and health policy issues that face each country for providing care for patients with electrophysiologic issues, share experiences and best practices, and discuss potential future solutions. Participants were asked to address a series of questions in preparation for the meeting.

Arrhythmias in Female Patients: Incidence, Presentation and Management.

There is a growing appreciation for differences in epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of cardiovascular conditions by sex. Historically, cardiovascular clinical trials have under-represented females, but findings have nonetheless been applied to clinical care in a sex-agnostic manner. Thus, much of the collective knowledge about sex-specific cardiovascular outcomes result from post hoc and secondary analyses.

Masson Tumor in the Left Atrial Appendage Presenting as Cardioembolic Cerebral Infarction.

A 70-year-old woman presented with aphasia caused by acute infarction in the left middle cerebral artery. Cardiac investigation revealed progressively increasing mobile mass in the left atrial appendage over 2 months (from 9 to 15 mm). Decision was made to proceed with mass resection, and pathological evaluation confirmed Masson tumor.

Guidance for Rebooting Electrophysiology Through the COVID-19 Pandemic From the Heart Rhythm Society and the American Heart Association Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology: Endorsed by the American College of Cardiology.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented substantial challenges to patient care and impacted health care delivery, including cardiac electrophysiology practice throughout the globe. Based upon the undetermined course and regional variability of the pandemic, there is uncertainty as to how and when to resume and deliver electrophysiology services for arrhythmia patients. This joint document from representatives of the Heart Rhythm Society, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology seeks to provide guidance for clinicians and institutions reestablishing safe electrophysiological care.

Procedural Patterns and Safety of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Findings From Get With The Guidelines-Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation is an increasingly used treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there are limited prospective, nationwide data on patient selection and procedural characteristics. This study describes patient characteristics, techniques, treatment patterns, and safety outcomes of patients undergoing AF ablation.

Guidance for rebooting electrophysiology through the COVID-19 pandemic from the Heart Rhythm Society and the American Heart Association Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology: Endorsed by the American College of Cardiology.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented substantial challenges to patient care and impacted health care delivery, including cardiac electrophysiology practice throughout the globe. Based upon the undetermined course and regional variability of the pandemic, there is uncertainty as to how and when to resume and deliver electrophysiology services for arrhythmia patients. This joint document from representatives of the Heart Rhythm Society, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology seeks to provide guidance for clinicians and institutions reestablishing safe electrophysiological care.

Guidance for Rebooting Electrophysiology Through the COVID-19 Pandemic From the Heart Rhythm Society and the American Heart Association Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented substantial challenges to patient care and impacted healthcare delivery, including cardiac electrophysiology practice throughout the globe. Based upon the undetermined course and regional variability of the pandemic, there is uncertainty as to how and when to resume and deliver electrophysiology services for patients with arrhythmia. This joint document from representatives of the Heart Rhythm Society, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology seeks to provide guidance for clinicians and institutions reestablishing safe electrophysiological care.

Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in a Middle-Aged Woman.

A 53-year-old female patient presented for evaluation of a murmur. The examination revealed a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur in the left upper sternal border. Transthoracic echocardiography with color Doppler showed increased blood flow around the apex of the right ventricle.

Evaluation, Management, and Outcomes of Patients Poorly Responsive to Cardiac Resynchronization Device Therapy.

Background: "Nonresponse" to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is recognized, but definition(s) applied in practice, treatment(s), and their consequences are little known.

Objectives: The authors sought to assess nonresponse in the prospective, international, ADVANCE CRT registry (Advance Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Registry).

Methods: Each subject's response was assessed at 6 months post-implantation using site-specific definitions and compared with the independently derived clinical composite score (CCS).

Adherence to Guideline-Directed Stroke Prevention Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Is Achievable.

Background: Efforts to improve prescription of oral anticoagulation (OAC) drugs in patients with atrial fibrillation have had limited success in improving guideline adherence.

Methods: We evaluated adherence to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association performance measures for OAC in eligible patients with a CHADS-VASc score ≥2 and trends in prescription over time in the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-AFIB (atrial fibrillation) registry. Adjusted associations with in-hospital outcomes were also determined.

Practice variation in the re-initiation of dofetilide: An observational study.

Background: Dofetilide is a class III antiarrhythmic drug that has been reported to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of atrial dysrhythmias with a known initial risk of QT prolongation and torsades de pointes (TdP). As a result, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) mandated in-hospital dofetilide initiation and adherence to a common dosing protocol. However, there is a lack of clarity on how to manage dofetilide re-initiation.

Erratum to '2015 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on optimal implantable cardioverter-defibrillator programming and testing' [Journal of Arrhythmia 32/1 (2016) 1-28].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.joa.