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International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023Despite recent advances in heart failure (HF) therapy, the risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality, morbidity, and HF hospitalization (HFH) are major challenges in HF... (Review)
Review
Despite recent advances in heart failure (HF) therapy, the risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality, morbidity, and HF hospitalization (HFH) are major challenges in HF treatment. We aimed to review the potential of vericiguat as a treatment option for HF. A systematic literature review was performed using the PubMed database and ClinicalTrials.gov. Four randomized controlled trials were identified, which study the safety and efficacy of vericiguat in HF patients. Vericiguat activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) by binding to the beta-subunit, bypassing the requirement for NO-induced activation. The nitric oxide (NO)-sGC-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays an essential role in cardiovascular (CV) regulation and the protection of healthy cardiac function but is impaired in HF. Vericiguat reduced the risk of CV death and HFH in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but showed no therapeutic effect on HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The trials demonstrated a favorable safety profile with most common adverse events such as hypotension, syncope, and anemia. Therefore, vericiguat is recommended for patients with HFrEF and a minimum systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg. Treatment with vericiguat is considered when the individual patient experiences decompensation despite being on guideline-recommended medication, e.g., angiotensin-converting inhibitor/AT1 receptor antagonist, beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, spironolactone, and sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors. Furthermore, larger studies are required to investigate any potential effect of vericiguat in HFpEF patients. Despite the limitations, vericiguat can be recommended for patients with HFrEF, where standard-of-care is insufficient, and the disease worsens.
Topics: Humans; Heart Failure; Treatment Outcome; Stroke Volume; Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase; Cardiotonic Agents; Diuretics
PubMed: 37511587
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411826 -
Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Jul 2023Traditionally, mechanical thrombectomy performed for pulmonary embolism (PE) necessitates the utilization of iodinated contrast. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, mechanical thrombectomy performed for pulmonary embolism (PE) necessitates the utilization of iodinated contrast. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been used as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality in the management of acute high and intermediate-risk PE. Recently, with the shortage of contrast supplies and the considerable incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), other safer and more feasible IVUS methods have become desirable. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the importance of IVUS in patients with PE undergoing thrombectomy.
METHODS
Medline/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for review studies, case reports, and case series. Clinical characteristics, outcomes and the usage of IVUS-guided mechanical thrombectomy during the treatment of acute high and intermediate-risk PE were examined in a descriptive analysis.
RESULTS
In this systematic review, we included one prospective study, two case series, and two case reports from July 2019 to May 2023. A total of 39 patients were evaluated; most were female (53.8%). The main presenting symptoms were dyspnea and chest pain (79.5%); three patients (7.9%) presented with syncope, one with shock and one with cardiac arrest. Biomarkers (troponin and BNP) were elevated in 94.6% of patients. Most patients (87.2%) had intermediate-risk PE, and 12.8% had high-risk PE. All patients presented with right-heart strain (RV/LV ratio ≥ 0.9, = 39). Most patients (56.4%) had bilateral PE. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed using IVUS without contrast utilization in 39.4% of the patients. After the initial learning curve, contrast usage decreased gradually over time. There was a significant decrease in the composite mean arterial pressure immediately following IVUS-guided thrombectomy from 35.1 ± 7.2 to 25.2 ± 8.3 mmHg ( < 0.001). Post-procedure, there was no reported (0%) CI-AKI, no all-cause mortality, no major bleeding, or other adverse events. There was a significant improvement in symptoms and RV function at the mean follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
New evidence suggests that IVUS-guided mechanical thrombectomy is safe, with visualization of the thrombus for optimal intervention, and reduces contrast exposure.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Thrombolytic Therapy; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Pulmonary Embolism; Thrombectomy; Ultrasonography, Interventional
PubMed: 37489479
DOI: 10.3390/tomography9040111 -
Acta Cardiologica Nov 2023Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is associated with aggravated risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). There is a...
BACKGROUND
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is associated with aggravated risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). There is a lack of specific guideline recommendation regarding risk stratification and management, despite multiple proposed high-risk phenotypes. We performed systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate high-risk phenotypes for malignant arrhythmias in patients with MVP.
METHODS
We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and EMBASE from inception to April 2023. Included studies were cohort and case-control comparing between MVP patients with and without VT, VF, cardiac arrest, ICD placement, or SCD. Data from each study were combined using the random-effects. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.
RESULTS
Nine studies from 1985 to 2023 were included involving 2,279 patients with MVP. We found that T-wave inversion (OR 2.52; 95% CI: 1.90-3.33; < 0.001), bileaflet involvement (OR 2.28; 95% CI: 1.69-3.09; < 0.001), late gadolinium enhancement (OR 17.05; 95% CI: 3.41-85.22; < 0.001), mitral annular disjunction (OR 3.71; 95% CI: 1.63-8.41; < 0.002), and history of syncope (OR 6.96; 95% CI: 1.05-46.01; = 0.044), but not female (OR 0.96; 95% CI: 0.46-2.01; = 0.911), redundant leaflets (OR 4.30; 95% CI: 0.81-22.84; = 0.087), or moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (OR 1.24; 95% CI: 0.65-2.37; = 0.505), were associated with those events.
CONCLUSION
Bileaflet prolapse, T-wave inversion, mitral annular disjunction, late gadolinium enhancement, and history of syncope are high-risk phenotypes among population with MVP. Further research is needed to validate the risk stratification model and justify the role of primary prophylaxis against malignant arrhythmias.
PubMed: 37358248
DOI: 10.1080/00015385.2023.2227487 -
Clinical Cardiology Jul 2023Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most prevalent type of syncope and its management includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Recently, studies have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most prevalent type of syncope and its management includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Recently, studies have investigated vitamin D levels in VVS patients. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to review these studies to find possible associations between vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D levels with VVS. International databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase were searched with keywords related to "vasovagal syncope" and "vitamin D." Studies were screened and the data were extracted from them. Random-effect meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for vitamin D levels in comparison to VVS patients and controls. Also, VVS occurrence was measured and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were calculated for comparison of vitamin D deficient cases and nondeficient individuals. Six studies were included with 954 cases investigated. Meta-analysis showed that patients with VVS had significantly lower vitamin D serum levels in comparison to non-VVS cases (SMD -1.05, 95% CI -1.54 to -0.57, p-value < .01). Moreover, VVS occurrence was higher in vitamin D-deficient individuals (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.40 to 12.27, p-value < .01). Our findings which show lower vitamin D levels in VVS patients can have clinical implications in order for clinicians to pay attention to this when approaching VVS. Further randomized controlled trials are certainly warranted to assess the role of vitamin D supplementation in individuals with VVS.
Topics: Humans; Tilt-Table Test; Syncope, Vasovagal; Syncope; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamin D
PubMed: 37226313
DOI: 10.1002/clc.24035 -
Journal of Clinical Nursing Sep 2023Older adults frequently suffer from postprandial hypotension, associated with an increased risk of falls, syncope, acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Older adults frequently suffer from postprandial hypotension, associated with an increased risk of falls, syncope, acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and even death. Researchers use non-pharmacological interventions, but related literature is dispersed and lacks a latest summary.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to map and examine non-pharmacological interventions currently employed to assist older adults with postprandial hypotension and lay a solid foundation for future studies.
METHODS
This study adhered to the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Chinese Biomedical Journal, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP and WAN FANG Data were retrieved from their inception to 1 August 2022.
RESULTS
Two randomized controlled trials and seven quasi-experimental studies were included. Small meals, exercise interventions, fibre with meals, green tea and water therapy have been reported to prevent postprandial hypotension effectively; however, position changes have been reported to have no impact on postprandial blood pressure decrease. Additionally, the blood pressure determination methods and test meals may affect observed trial effects.
CONCLUSION
Large samples and long-term follow-up studies are needed to prove the efficacy and safety of existing non-pharmacological interventions. Future studies should develop a BP determination method based on the postprandial BP decline trajectory induced by a given test meal to improve the reliability of study results.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
This review broadly summarizes existing studies on developing and validating non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with postprandial hypotension. It also analyses special factors that may influence the trial effects. This may provide a useful reference for future research.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Reproducibility of Results; Hypotension; Blood Pressure; Postprandial Period; Meals
PubMed: 37219354
DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16719 -
Cardiovascular Pathology : the Official... 2023While primary cardiac tumors are rare, it has been increasingly recognized due to improvement in screening measures. However, the hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
While primary cardiac tumors are rare, it has been increasingly recognized due to improvement in screening measures. However, the hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes has been underrecognized compared to other cardiac tumors, such as cardiac myxomas and papillary fibroelastomas, and is still potentially associated with critical consequences such as sudden death. This systematic review aims to summarize the evidence regarding the hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes and characterize the presentations and symptoms for clinicians.
METHODS
Following the PRISMA statement, we searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for all peer-reviewed articles using keywords including "hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes" from their inception to January 2, 2023.
RESULTS
We included 25 articles, including 34 cases, in this systematic review. Patients with hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes commonly presented with nonspecific symptoms such as dyspnea (35.3%), although a few presented with sudden death and syncope. The left ventricle was the common site of origin (41.2%), followed by the right atrium and ventricle. Surgery was commonly pursued for diagnosis and treatment, while a few required cardiac transplants (8.8%), and 29.4% were diagnosed with autopsy or expired.
CONCLUSION
Hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes is a potentially underrecognized primary cardiac tumor associated with treatable yet potentially critical consequences. Given the challenges of differentiating it from malignancy such as angiosarcoma, multimodal imaging needs to be utilized to pursue a diagnosis. Future studies are warranted to develop a noninvasive diagnosis mode for cardiac tumor.
Topics: Humans; Myocytes, Cardiac; Heart Neoplasms; Heart Ventricles; Hamartoma; Death, Sudden
PubMed: 37031829
DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2023.107538 -
Journal of Arrhythmia Apr 2023Brugada syndrome is an inherited arrhythmic disease associated with major arrhythmic events (MAE). The importance of primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in...
INTRODUCTION
Brugada syndrome is an inherited arrhythmic disease associated with major arrhythmic events (MAE). The importance of primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Brugada syndrome is well recognized; however, ventricular arrhythmia risk stratification remains challenging and controversial. We aimed to assess the association of type of syncope with MAE via systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to December 2021. Included studies were cohort (prospective or retrospective) studies that reported the types of syncope (cardiac, unexplained, vasovagal, and undifferentiated) and MAE. Data from each study were combined using the random-effects, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Seventeen studies from 2005 to 2019 were included in this meta-analysis involving 4355 Brugada syndrome patients. Overall, syncope was significantly associated with an increased risk of MAE in Brugada syndrome (OR = 3.90, 95% CI: 2.22-6.85, < .001, = 76.0%). By syncope type, cardiac (OR = 4.48, 95% CI: 2.87-7.01, < .001, = 0.0%) and unexplained (OR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.34-16.57, = .016, = 37.3%) syncope was significantly associated with increased risk of MAE in Brugada syndrome. Vasovagal (OR = 2.90, 95% CI: 0.09-98.45, = .554, = 70.9%) and undifferentiated syncope (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.00-4.03, = .050, = 64.6%, respectively) were not.
CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrated that cardiac and unexplained syncope was associated with MAE risk in Brugada syndrome populations but not in vasovagal syncope and undifferentiated syncope. Unexplained syncope is associated with a similar increased risk of MAE compared to cardiac syncope.
PubMed: 37021016
DOI: 10.1002/joa3.12822 -
Age and Ageing Apr 2023Management of antihypertensive therapy is challenging in patients with symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, a population often excluded from randomised controlled trials... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Management of antihypertensive therapy is challenging in patients with symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, a population often excluded from randomised controlled trials of antihypertensive therapy. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to determine whether the association of antihypertensive therapy and adverse events (e.g. falls, syncope), differed among trials that included or excluded patients with orthostatic hypotension.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing blood pressure lowering medications to placebo, or different blood pressure targets on falls or syncope outcomes and cardiovascular events. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate a pooled treatment-effect overall in subgroups of trials that excluded patients with orthostatic hypotension and trials that did not exclude patients with orthostatic hypotension, and tested P for interaction. The primary outcome was fall events.
RESULTS
46 trials were included, of which 18 trials excluded orthostatic hypotension and 28 trials did not. The incidence of hypotension was significantly lower in trials that excluded participants with orthostatic hypotension (1.3% versus 6.2%, P < 0.001) but not incidences of falls (4.8% versus 8.8%; P = 0.40) or syncope (1.5% versus 1.8%; P = 0.67). Antihypertensive therapy was not associated with an increased risk of falls in trials that excluded (OR 1.00, 95% CI; 0.89-1.13) or included (OR 1.02, 95% CI; 0.88-1.18) participants with orthostatic hypotension (P for interaction = 0.90).
CONCLUSIONS
The exclusion of patients with orthostatic hypotension does not appear to affect the relative risk estimates for falls and syncope in antihypertensive trials.
Topics: Humans; Antihypertensive Agents; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Hypotension; Blood Pressure; Syncope; Hypertension; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37014001
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad044 -
Cureus Feb 2023There is a rising incidence of coronary artery diseases and myocardial infarction (MI). Mortality associated with acute MI (AMI) is directly linked to the time to... (Review)
Review
There is a rising incidence of coronary artery diseases and myocardial infarction (MI). Mortality associated with acute MI (AMI) is directly linked to the time to receive treatment and missed diagnoses. Although health professionals are aware of typical AMI presentation, atypical MI is difficult to diagnose, which on the other hand, is likely to have an impact on morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is prudent to know such atypical presentations, especially for emergency and primary care physicians. We aimed to systematically evaluate the clinical presentations of atypical MI and analyze them to characterize the common clinical presentations of atypical MI. We researched the PubMed database, did citation tracking, and performed Google Scholar advanced search to find the cases reported on the atypical presentation of MI published from January 2000 to September 2022. Articles of all languages were included; Google Translate was used to translate articles published in languages other than English. A total of 496 (56 PubMed articles, 340 citations from included PubMed articles, and 100 articles from Google Scholar advanced search) were screened; 52 case reports were evaluated, and their data were analyzed. Atypical presentations of myocardial infarction are vast; patients may have chest pain without typical characteristics of angina pain or may not have chest pain. No typical characterization could be done. Most patients were in their fifth decade or above of their life and commonly presented with pain and discomfort in the abdomen, head, and neck regions. Prodromal symptoms were consistent findings, and many patients had two to three comorbidities out of four common comorbidities, i.e., diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and substance abuse. A patient who is 50 years old or more, having comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, history of tobacco or marijuana usage, presenting with prodromal symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, syncope, gastrointestinal discomfort or head/neck pain should be suspected for atypical MI.
PubMed: 36999116
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35492 -
Current Problems in Cardiology Aug 2023Numerous studies have demonstrated that a type I Brugada electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern, history of syncope, prior sudden cardiac arrest, and previously documented... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Numerous studies have demonstrated that a type I Brugada electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern, history of syncope, prior sudden cardiac arrest, and previously documented ventricular tachyarrhythmias are still insufficient to stratify the risk of sudden cardiac death in Brugada syndrome (BrS). Several auxiliary risk stratification parameters are pursued to yield a better prognostic model. Our aim was to assess the association between several ECG markers (wide QRS, fragmented QRS, S-wave in lead I, aVR sign, early repolarization pattern in inferolateral leads, and repolarization dispersion pattern) with the risk of developing poor outcomes in BrS. A systematic literature search from several databases was conducted from database inception until August 17th, 2022. Studies were eligible if it investigated the relationship between the ECG markers with the likelihood of acquiring major arrhythmic events (MAE). This meta-analysis comprised 27 studies with a total of 6552 participants. Our study revealed that wide QRS, fragmented QRS, S-wave in lead I, aVR sign, early repolarization pattern in inferolateral leads, and repolarization dispersion ECG pattern were associated with the incremental risk of syncope, ventricular tachyarrhythmias, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock, and sudden cardiac death in the future, with the risk ratios ranging from 1.41 to 2.00. Moreover, diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis indicated that the repolarization dispersion ECG pattern had the highest overall area under curve (AUC) value amid other ECG markers regarding our outcomes of interest. A multivariable risk assessment approach based on the prior mentioned ECG markers potentially improves the current risk stratification models in BrS patients.
Topics: Humans; Brugada Syndrome; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Risk Assessment; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Electrocardiography; Syncope
PubMed: 36997139
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101727