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European Heart Journal Open Mar 2023People living with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are likely to have worse clinical outcomes and greater impairment on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than other... (Review)
Review
People living with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are likely to have worse clinical outcomes and greater impairment on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than other sarcoidosis manifestations. CS can result in a constellation of intrusive symptoms (such as palpitations, dizziness, syncope/pre-syncope, chest pain, dyspnoea, orthopnoea, or peripheral oedema) and/or life-threatening episodes, requiring consideration of invasive cardiac procedures for diagnosis and for the management of acute events. Additionally, the presence of multisystemic involvement and persistent non-specific sarcoidosis symptoms negatively affect HRQoL. A systematic review was undertaken to explore the impact of CS on HRQoL in adults with CS. Multiple bibliographic databases were searched for studies with HRQoL as primary or secondary outcomes in CS (PROSPERO registration: CRD42019119752). Data extraction and quality assessments were undertaken independently by two authors. From the initial 1609 identified records, only 11 studies included CS patients but none specifically reported HRQoL scores for CS patients. The average representation of CS patients was 14.5% within these cohorts (range 2-22%). The majority (73%) was conducted in single-centre tertiary care settings, and only one study (9%) included longitudinal HRQoL data. CS patients were among those sarcoidosis patients with impaired HRQoL and worse outcomes, requiring higher doses of sarcoidosis-specific therapy which contribute to further deterioration of HRQoL. Sarcoidosis studies do not incorporate stratified HRQoL scores for CS patients. While there is a need for longitudinal and multicentre studies assessing HRQoL outcomes in CS cohorts, the development of CS-specific tools is also needed.
PubMed: 36974155
DOI: 10.1093/ehjopen/oead009 -
Brain and Behavior Apr 2023Corpus callosotomy (CC) is appropriate for patients with seizures of a bilateral or diffuse origin, or those with seizures of a unilateral origin with rapid spread to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Corpus callosotomy (CC) is appropriate for patients with seizures of a bilateral or diffuse origin, or those with seizures of a unilateral origin with rapid spread to the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. The efficiency of CC in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy is a long-term concern because most articles reporting the surgical results of CC arise from small case series, and the durations of follow-up vary.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched to identify papers published before November 8, 2021. The systematic review was completed following PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes were analyzed by meta-analysis of the proportions.
RESULTS
A total of 1644 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (49 retrospective or prospective case series studies) underwent CC, and the follow-up time of all patients was at least 1 year. The rate of complete seizure freedom (SF) was 12.38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.17%-17.21%). Meanwhile, the rate of complete SF from drop attacks was 61.86% (95% CI, 51.87%-71.41%). The rates of complete SF after total corpus callosotomy (TCC) and anterior corpus callosotomy (ACC) were 11.41% (95% CI, 5.33%-18.91%) and 6.75% (95% CI, 2.76%-11.85%), respectively. Additionally, the rate of complete SF from drop attacks after TCC was significantly higher than that after ACC (71.52%, 95% CI, 54.22%-86.35% vs. 57.11%, 95% CI, 42.17%-71.49%). The quality of evidence for the three outcomes by GRADE assessment was low to moderate.
CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference in the rate of complete SF between TCC and ACC. TCC had a significantly higher rate of complete SF from drop attacks than did ACC. Furthermore, CC for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy remains an important problem for further investigation because there are no universally accepted standardized guidelines for the extent of CC and its benefit to patients. In future research, we will focus on this issue.
Topics: Humans; Follow-Up Studies; Treatment Outcome; Retrospective Studies; Corpus Callosum; Seizures; Drug Resistant Epilepsy; Syncope
PubMed: 36929636
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2964 -
Current Problems in Cardiology Jun 2023The pathophysiology of Bradycardia-Renal Failure-Atrioventricular Nodal Blockade-Shock-Hyperkalemia (BRASH) syndrome involves acute renal injury leading to ineffective... (Review)
Review
The pathophysiology of Bradycardia-Renal Failure-Atrioventricular Nodal Blockade-Shock-Hyperkalemia (BRASH) syndrome involves acute renal injury leading to ineffective clearance of AV nodal agents and potassium. Theoretically, the synergy between AV nodal blockade and hyperkalemic cardiac dysconduction results in circulatory collapse at less-than-expected doses of both. Our study aims to characterize the presentation of BRASH and provide clinical evidence of its risk factors. This systematic review comprises all reported cases of BRASH until February 2022. The average age and Charleston Comorbidity Index at presentation was 69 years and 3.8 respectively - hypertension (71%) was most prevalent followed by diabetes mellitus (48%) and chronic kidney disease (44%). The most frequent presenting complaint was fatigue or syncope (49%). More than half of all patients presented with nonsevere hyperkalemia (less than 6.5 mmol/L) and the mean serum creatinine was 3.6 mg/dL. Beta-blockers (75%) were the most commonly implicated nodal agents. Presenting mean arterial pressure was 62 mm Hg and heart rate averaged 36 bpm; junctional escape rhythm (50%), sinus bradycardia (17.1%), and complete heart block (12.9%) were generally observed on EKG. While most patients responded to medical management, 20% of patients required renal replacement therapy and 33% required transvenous or transcutaneous pacing. No patients underwent permanent pacemaker placement and the in-hospital mortality of BRASH was 5.7%. The diagnosis of BRASH requires a high index of suspicion; its synergistic pathology results in a dramatic clinical presentation that can be easily overlooked. As hypothesized, the degree of renal failure and hyperkalemia are not congruent with the presenting circulatory shock. The significant mortality of this syndrome presents an opportunity for intervention with timely recognition.
Topics: Humans; Hyperkalemia; Bradycardia; Shock; Atrioventricular Block; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Renal Insufficiency
PubMed: 36842470
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101663 -
Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology... May 2023To summarize published case reports of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Brugada pattern electrocardiogram (ECG). (Review)
Review
AIMS
To summarize published case reports of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Brugada pattern electrocardiogram (ECG).
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist were followed. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus up until September 2021. The incidence, clinical characteristics, and management outcomes of COVID-19 patients with a Brugada pattern ECG were identified.
RESULTS
A total of 18 cases were collected. The mean age was 47.1 years and 11.1% were women. No patients had prior confirmed diagnosis of Brugada syndrome. The most common presenting clinical symptoms were fever (83.3%), chest pain (38.8%), shortness of breath (38.8%), and syncope (16.6%). All 18 patients presented with type 1 Brugada pattern ECG. Four patients (22.2%) underwent left heart catheterization, and none demonstrated the presence of obstructive coronary disease. The most common reported therapies included antipyretics (55.5%), hydroxychloroquine (27.7%), and antibiotics (16.6%). One patient (5.5%) died during hospitalization. Three patients (16.6%) who presented with syncope received either an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or wearable cardioverter defibrillator at discharge. At follow-up, 13 patients (72.2%) had resolution of type 1 Brugada pattern ECG.
CONCLUSION
COVID-19-associated Brugada pattern ECG seems relatively rare. Most patients had resolution of the ECG pattern once their symptoms have improved. Increased awareness and timely use of antipyretics is warranted in this population.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Male; Antipyretics; Electrocardiography; COVID-19; Brugada Syndrome; Defibrillators, Implantable; Syncope
PubMed: 36811259
DOI: 10.1111/anec.13051 -
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.... Feb 2023Orthostatic intolerance (OI)-type events following hip and knee arthroplasty increase the risk of falls, hospital length of stay, and health-care costs. There is a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Orthostatic intolerance (OI)-type events following hip and knee arthroplasty increase the risk of falls, hospital length of stay, and health-care costs. There is a limited understanding of the incidence of and risk factors for OI-type events in patients during the acute hospital stay. Our aim was to systematically review the incidence of and risk factors for OI-type events during the acute hospital stay following hip and knee arthroplasty.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that investigated the incidence of and risk factors for OI-type events was undertaken. A comprehensive search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL from their inception to October 2021. The methodological quality of identified studies was assessed using the modified version of the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies (14,055 patients) were included. The incidence was 2% to 52% for an OI event, 1% to 46% for orthostatic hypotension, and 0% to 18% for syncope/vasovagal events. Two studies reported female sex, high peak pain levels (>5 out of 10) during mobilization, postoperative use of gabapentin, and the absence of postoperative intravenous dexamethasone as risk factors. There was no consensus on the definition and assessment of an OI-type event.
CONCLUSIONS
OI-type events are common during the acute hospital stay following hip and knee arthroplasty, and 4 risk factors have been reported for OI-type events. High-quality prospective cohort studies are required to systematically and reliably determine the incidence of and risk factors for OI-type events.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Topics: Humans; Female; Orthostatic Intolerance; Prospective Studies; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Prognosis
PubMed: 36723468
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.22.00600 -
Cureus Dec 2022Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a transient, sudden loss of consciousness followed by complete resolution, usually due to a paradoxical autonomic reaction that results in... (Review)
Review
Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a transient, sudden loss of consciousness followed by complete resolution, usually due to a paradoxical autonomic reaction that results in hypotension and/or bradycardia. In this study, we assessed the correlation between VVS and a patient's psychiatric status, as well as if this association could be a target in the treatment of those patients. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched the available literature using the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, with last access on July 21, 2022. The search resulted in 1691 articles, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to nine remaining articles, all of which were accepted after using the quality assessment tools, four observational and four randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Four of the included studies assessed the correlation among vasovagal syncope, psychosocial impairment, and quality of life. We found a consistent correlation among VVS, psychosocial impairment, and quality of life (QoL), meaning that VVS patients usually have some degree of psychosocial impairment, especially in the form of anxiety and depression, and a poorer QoL in comparison to their healthy counterparts. The use of psychotherapy and antidepressants was proven to be effective in VVS in RCTs, but further evidence is needed.
PubMed: 36694488
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32793 -
European Journal of Neurology May 2023Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction may reportedly occur after a coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection, but the available evidence is scattered. Here we sought... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction may reportedly occur after a coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection, but the available evidence is scattered. Here we sought to understand the acute and mid-term effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on cardiovascular autonomic function.
METHODS
We performed a systematic PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, medRxiv, and bioRxiv search for cases of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction during an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or post-COVID-19 condition. The clinical-demographic characteristics of individuals in the acute versus post-COVID-19 phase were compared.
RESULTS
We screened 6470 titles and abstracts. Fifty-four full-length articles were included in the data synthesis. One-hundred and thirty-four cases were identified: 81 during the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (24 thereof diagnosed by history) and 53 in the post-COVID-19 phase. Post-COVID-19 cases were younger than those with cardiovascular autonomic disturbances in the acute SARS-CoV-2 phase (42 vs. 51 years old, p = 0.002) and were more frequently women (68% vs. 49%, p = 0.034). Reflex syncope was the most common cardiovascular autonomic disorder in the acute phase (p = 0.008) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) the most frequent diagnosis in individuals with post-COVID-19 orthostatic complaints (p < 0.001). Full recovery was more frequent in individuals with acute versus post-COVID-19 onset of cardiovascular autonomic disturbances (43% vs. 15%, p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence from the scientific literature about different types of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction developing during and after COVID-19. More data about the prevalence of autonomic disorders associated with a SARS-CoV-2 infection are needed to quantify its impact on human health.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Autonomic Nervous System
PubMed: 36694382
DOI: 10.1111/ene.15714 -
The Journal of the Royal College of... Mar 2023We present a case of syncopal episode in emergency department (ED) and subsequent admission to the geriatric assessment unit. The patient presented with self-limiting...
We present a case of syncopal episode in emergency department (ED) and subsequent admission to the geriatric assessment unit. The patient presented with self-limiting central abdominal pain. Given a history of previous aortic aneurysm repair, a contrast CT angiogram was performed. With no evidence of leaking aneurysm, the patient was discharged from the ED. The syncopal episode happened while waiting for a taxi. A review of the earlier CT scan showed the presence of air in the venous circulatory system. In hindsight, it was thought the syncopal episode occurred due to air embolism introduced during or shortly after venous cannulation. We discuss the aetiology of venous air embolism and highlight the lack of evidence regarding tolerable amounts of air in the circulatory system. Physiological changes associated with age may suggest that elderly patients are uniquely maladapted to overcome sudden insults to their cardiovascular status.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Embolism, Air; Emergency Service, Hospital; Syncope; Syncope, Vasovagal; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 36642954
DOI: 10.1177/14782715221147969 -
The Canadian Journal of Cardiology Mar 2023Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks are associated with higher rates of mortality and reduced quality of life. In this study we aimed to investigate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks are associated with higher rates of mortality and reduced quality of life. In this study we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of catheter ablation (CA) of ventricular tachycardia in patients with an ICD.
METHODS
An electronic literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials that compared CA vs control. The primary outcomes were recurrence of ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) and mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves for these outcomes were digitized to obtain individual patient data, which were pooled in a 1-stage meta-analysis to determine hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Secondary outcomes included cardiac hospitalization, electrical storm, syncope, appropriate ICD therapies, appropriate ICD shocks, and inappropriate shocks. For these, study-level HRs or risk ratios were obtained and pooled in random effects meta-analyses. Subgroup analysis was performed for trials that investigated prophylactic CA (before or during ICD implantation).
RESULTS
Data on 9 studies and 1103 patients were retrieved. CA significantly reduced ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation recurrence compared with control (shared frailty HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49-0.81; P < 0.001) but not mortality (shared frailty HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.57-1.23; P = 0.361). CA was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac hospitalization, electrical storm, appropriate ICD therapies and shocks, but not syncope or inappropriate shocks. Subgroup analysis showed similar results for prophylactic CA except that no significant difference was observed for cardiac hospitalizations.
CONCLUSIONS
CA is associated with reduced ventricular arrhythmia recurrence, appropriate ICD therapies/shocks, electrical storm, and cardiac hospitalization, and might be effective in preventing future morbidity. Future trials are needed to support the continued benefit of these promising results, and to investigate the optimal timing of ablation.
Topics: Humans; Defibrillators, Implantable; Ventricular Fibrillation; Frailty; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Catheter Ablation
PubMed: 36521729
DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.12.004 -
Heart Rhythm Mar 2023Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a transient loss of consciousness that currently imposes a high burden on health care systems with limited evidence of the comparative... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a transient loss of consciousness that currently imposes a high burden on health care systems with limited evidence of the comparative efficacy of available pharmacologic interventions. This study aims to compare all pharmacologic therapies suggested in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through systematic review and network meta-analysis. A systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted to identify RCTs evaluating pharmacologic therapies for patients with VVS. The primary outcome was spontaneous VVS recurrence. The secondary outcome was a positive head-up tilt test (HUTT) after receiving intervention, regarded as a lower level of evidence. Pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using random-effect network meta-analysis. Pairwise meta-analysis for comparison with placebo was also performed when applicable. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve analysis was conducted to rank the treatments for each outcome. Twenty-eight studies with 1744 patients allocated to different medications or placebo were included. Network meta-analysis of the reduction in the primary outcome showed efficacy for midodrine (RR 0.55; 95% CI 0.35-0.85) and fluoxetine (especially in patients with concomitant anxiety) (RR 0.36; 95% CI 0.16-0.84). In addition, midodrine and atomoxetine were superior to other treatment options, considering positive HUTT (RR 0.37; 95% CI 0.23-0.59; and RR 0.49; 95% CI 0.28-0.86, respectively). Overall, midodrine was the only agent shown to reduce spontaneous syncopal events. Fluoxetine also seems to be beneficial but should be studied further in RCTs. Our network meta-analysis did not find evidence of the efficacy of any other medication.
Topics: Humans; Fluoxetine; Midodrine; Syncope, Vasovagal; Network Meta-Analysis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 36509319
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2022.12.010