Risk of incident genitourinary cancer following hematuria in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulants.

Background: Hematuria is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on oral anticoagulants (OACs). However, risks of incident genitourinary (GU) malignancy and detailed etiologies of hematuria have not been well studied.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the risk of hematuria and underlying GU malignancy in patients with AF receiving OACs.

Key needs, quality performance indicators and outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation and multimorbidity: The AFFIRMO study.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often have concomitant long-term conditions that negatively impact their quality of life and the clinical management they receive. The AFFIRMO study aimed to identify the needs, quality performance indicators (QPIs), and outcomes relevant to patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to improve the care of patients with AF.

Methods: An on-line survey to collect the key needs, QPIs, and outcomes relevant to patients with AF, their caregivers and HCPs, was distributed between May 2022 and January 2023 in five countries (UK, Italy, Denmark, Romania and Spain).

Cardiovascular Disease After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adults: State-of-the-Art Review.

The use of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has expanded in the last 4 decades to include an older and more comorbid population. These patients face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease after HCT. The risk varies depending on several factors, including the type of transplant (autologous or allogeneic).

"Close your eyes and relax": the role of hypnosis in reducing anxiety, and its implications for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Anxiety is the most common form of mental health disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Psychosocial interventions such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been suggested as an effective treatment in the management of general anxiety and anxiety disorders, with emerging evidence also suggesting the effectiveness of hypnosis. Moreover, anxiety has shown to be linked to the onset and development of several cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the leading cause of global death.

Exergames in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with heart failure: a systematic review.

Aim: The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature on the use of exergames as an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention for patients with heart failure.

Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS and CINAHL Plus databases were searched from January 2007 to August 2023. Studies considered eligible for inclusion had to report one or more of the following outcomes: functional capacity (e.

Regular use of fish oil supplements and course of cardiovascular diseases: prospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine the effects of fish oil supplements on the clinical course of cardiovascular disease, from a healthy state to atrial fibrillation, major adverse cardiovascular events, and subsequently death.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: UK Biobank study, 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010, with follow-up to 31 March 2021 (median follow-up 11.

Dynamic assessment of CHADS-VASc and HAS-BLED scores for predicting ischemic stroke and major bleeding in atrial fibrillation patients.

Introduction And Objectives: Stroke and bleeding risks in atrial fibrillation (AF) are often assessed at baseline to predict outcomes years later. We investigated whether dynamic changes in CHADS-VASc and HAS-BLED scores over time modify risk prediction.

Methods: We included patients with AF who were stable while taking vitamin K antagonists.

Computed Tomography Scanning for Sternal Wound Infections: A Systematic Review.

Background: Sternal wound infection (SWI) has always been a significant risk in patients who undergo sternotomies as part of their cardiac surgical procedures. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is often used to diagnose and assess sternal wound infections. Its purpose includes identifying and locating infection and any sternal dehiscence.

Local versus General Anaesthesia for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI): A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomised and Propensity-Score Matched Studies.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a common practice for severe aortic stenosis, but the choice between general (GA) and local anesthesia (LA) remains uncertain. We conducted a comprehensive literature review until April 2023, comparing the safety and efficacy of LA versus GA in TAVI procedures. Our findings indicate significant advantages of LA, including lower 30-day mortality rates (RR: 0.

A Systematic Review on Retinal Biomarkers to Diagnose Dementia from OCT/OCTA Images.

Background: Traditional methods for diagnosing dementia are costly, time-consuming, and somewhat invasive. Since the retina shares significant anatomical similarities with the brain, retinal abnormalities detected via optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) have been studied as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative disorders; however, the most effective retinal changes remain a mystery to be unraveled in this review.

Objective: This study aims to explore the relationship between retinal abnormalities in OCT/OCTA images and cognitive decline as well as evaluating biomarkers' effectiveness in detecting neurodegenerative diseases.

Statin Therapy Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Heart Failure in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Whether statin use can reduce the risk of heart failure (HF) remains controversial. The present study evaluates the association between statin use and HF in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods And Results: Patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation from 2010 to 2018 were included.

Aortic Valve Replacement and Repair With or Without Concomitant Ascending Aorta Replacement: Impact on Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Aortic valve surgery is a common procedure used to treat significant aortic valve stenosis or insufficiency. Some of these patients have coexisting pathology affecting the ascending aorta requiring ascending aorta replacement (AAR). Although the outcomes of these procedures are independently positive, it is proposed that concomitant AAR improves outcomes and minimizes the chances of future ascending aorta replacement.

Psychological interventions for depression in adolescent and adult congenital heart disease.

Background: Despite improvements in medical care, the quality of life of adults and adolescents with congenital heart disease remains strongly affected by their condition, often leading to depression. Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and other talking therapies may be effective in treating depression in both adults and young adults with congenital heart disease. The aim of this review was to assess the effects of treatments, such as psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapies, and talking therapies for treating depression in this population.

Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation among hospitalized patients: clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes in Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation.

Aims: The clinical correlates and outcomes of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) in hospitalized patients are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes of asymptomatic AF in hospitalized Chinese patients.

Methods And Results: We conducted a cross-sectional registry study of inpatients with AF enrolled in the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation Project between February 2015 and December 2019.

Utility of left ventricular ejection fraction in atrial fibrillation patients without pre-existing heart failure.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of heart failure (HF); however, little focus has been placed on the prevention of HF in patients with AF. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is an established echocardiographic parameter in HF patients. We sought to investigate the association of LVEF with HF events in AF patients without pre-existing HF.

Frailty Predicts Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Women but Not in Men: The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

Introduction: Frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common aging problems and increasing globally. The association(s) between frailty and AF has been inconclusive. The purpose of this prospective population-based cohort was to investigate the associations between frailty and incident AF in older men and women.

The 2022 European Society of Cardiology Cardio-oncology Guidelines in Focus.

The expansion of the therapeutic armamentarium available to oncologists and haematologists has led to a significant improvement in cancer survival; however, many of the available treatments carry a risk of toxicity to the heart. Cardio-oncology has emerged as a rapidly developing subspeciality dedicated to improving the cardiovascular care of patients before, during and after cancer treatment. The 2022 European Society of Cardiology guidelines on cardio-oncology provide a comprehensive overview of best-practice recommendations for cardiovascular care aimed at healthcare professionals treating cancer patients.

Long Saphenous Vein Harvesting: Reviewing Various Techniques.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western world. Thus, coronary artery bypass graft is the most common cardiac procedure performed as it remains the gold standard for multiple vessel disease and left main disease. Long saphenous vein is the conduit of choice for coronary artery bypass graft as it is accessible and easy to harvest.

Meta-analysis Comparing Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention versus no Intervention in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion.

Unlabelled: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has substantially improved due to increasing operator experience and advancements in equipment, techniques, and management algorithms. However, the overall benefit of CTO PCI remains controversial, particularly since only a few randomized trials have been reported to date.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of CTO PCI.

Systematic Review on S-ICD Lead Extraction.

Background And Purpose: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) have emerged in recent years as a valid alternative to traditional transvenous ICDs (TV-ICDs). Therefore, the number of S-ICD implantations is rising, leading to a consequent increase in S-ICD-related complications sometimes requiring complete device removal. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to gather all the available literature on S-ICD lead extraction (SLE), with particular reference to the type of indication, techniques, complications and success rate.

Deep Learning Using Preoperative AS-OCT Predicts Graft Detachment in DMEK.

Purpose: To evaluate a novel deep learning algorithm to distinguish between eyes that may or may not have a graft detachment based on pre-Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study. A multiple-instance learning artificial intelligence (MIL-AI) model using a ResNet-101 backbone was designed.

Frailty alone and interactively with obesity predicts heart failure: Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

Aims: We aim to evaluate the association of frailty and high body mass index with risk of incident heart failure.

Methods And Results: From the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, 408 women and 369 men, aged 61-74 years were included in this study. Frailty was ascertained with the presence of 3-5 and prefrailty 1-2 of the following criteria: weight loss (highest 20% over 7 years), self-reported tiredness, weakness (measured by handgrip strength), slow walking speed (walking pace), and low physical activity (lowest 20%).