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Cureus May 2024Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition resulting from the obstruction of pulmonary arteries by blood clots, usually originating from deep veins....
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition resulting from the obstruction of pulmonary arteries by blood clots, usually originating from deep veins. Symptoms of PE might vary from nothing to sudden death. Clinically, individuals may present very differently. When a diagnosis of PE is suspected, any possible life-saving intervention must be implemented because survival from cardiac arrest following PE is often quite low. Although there are not many randomized controlled trials that provide guidelines for treating suspected PE in cardiac arrest victims, the few published case reports and other minor studies suggest that thrombolysis and other therapies are associated with good outcomes. We report a patient with PE who presented in cardiac arrest with its clinical, electrographic, and radiologic findings, along with the appropriate therapy chosen based on hemodynamic stability. It is important to intervene early to prevent severe complications and improve the patient's outcomes.
PubMed: 38939235
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61213 -
Pathogens & Immunity 2024Neuropathic adverse events occur frequently in linezolid-containing regimens, some of which remain irreversible after drug discontinuation.
BACKGROUND
Neuropathic adverse events occur frequently in linezolid-containing regimens, some of which remain irreversible after drug discontinuation.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to identify and validate a host RNA-based biomarker that can predict linezolid-associated neuropathy before multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) treatment initiation and to identify genes and pathways that are associated with linezolid-associated neuropathy.
METHODS
Adult patients initiating MDR/RR-TB treatment including linezolid were prospectively enrolled in 3 independent cohorts in Germany. Clinical data and whole blood RNA for transcriptomic analysis were collected. The primary outcome was linezolid-associated optic and/or peripheral neuropathy. A random forest algorithm was used for biomarker identification. The biomarker was validated in an additional fourth cohort of patients with MDR/RR-TB from Romania.
RESULTS
A total of 52 patients from the 3 identification cohorts received linezolid treatment. Of those, 24 (46.2%) developed peripheral and/or optic neuropathies during linezolid treatment. The majority (59.3%) of the episodes were of moderate (grade 2) severity. In total, the expression of 1,479 genes differed significantly at baseline of treatment. Suprabasin () was identified as a potential biomarker to predict linezolid-associated neuropathy. In the validation cohort, 10 of 42 (23.8%) patients developed grade ≥3 neuropathies. The area under the curve for the biomarker algorithm prediction of grade ≥3 neuropathies was 0.63 (poor; 95% confidence interval: 0.42 - 0.84).
CONCLUSIONS
We identified and preliminarily validated a potential clinical biomarker to predict linezolid-associated neuropathies before the initiation of MDR/RR-TB therapy. Larger studies of the biomarker in more diverse populations are warranted.
PubMed: 38939039
DOI: 10.20411/pai.v9i2.705 -
JACC. Advances Jul 2023
PubMed: 38938991
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100412 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024People with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of coronary plaques; however, the comparison to people without known HIV (PwoH) needs clarification.
BACKGROUND
People with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of coronary plaques; however, the comparison to people without known HIV (PwoH) needs clarification.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to determine coronary plaque burden/phenotype in PWH vs PwoH.
METHODS
Nonstatin using participants from 3 contemporary populations without known coronary plaques with coronary CT were compared: the REPRIEVE (Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV) studying PWH without cardiovascular symptoms at low-to-moderate risk (n = 755); the SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study) of asymptomatic community PwoH at low-to-intermediate cardiovascular risk (n = 23,558); and the PROMISE (Prospective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain) of stable chest pain PwoH (n = 2,291). The coronary plaque prevalence on coronary CT was compared, and comparisons were stratified by 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, age, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) presence.
RESULTS
Compared to SCAPIS and PROMISE PwoH, REPRIEVE PWH were younger (50.8 ± 5.8 vs 57.3 ± 4.3 and 60.0 ± 8.0 years; < 0.001) and had lower ASCVD risk (5.0% ± 3.2% vs 6.0% ± 5.3% and 13.5% ± 11.0%; < 0.001). More PWH had plaque compared to the asymptomatic cohort (48.5% vs 40.3%; < 0.001). When stratified by ASCVD risk, PWH had more plaque compared to SCAPIS and a similar prevalence of plaque compared to PROMISE. CAC = 0 was more prevalent in PWH (REPRIEVE 65.2%; SCAPIS 61.6%; PROMISE 49.6%); among CAC = 0, plaque was more prevalent in PWH compared to the PwoH cohorts (REPRIEVE 20.8%; SCAPIS 5.4%; PROMISE 12.3%, < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic PWH in REPRIEVE had more plaque than asymptomatic PwoH in SCAPIS but had similar prevalence to a higher-risk stable chest pain cohort in PROMISE. In PWH, CAC = 0 does not reliably exclude plaque.
PubMed: 38938873
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100968 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024In 2022, the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score was replaced with the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score as a tool to measure cardiovascular health. The risk prediction values of...
BACKGROUND
In 2022, the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score was replaced with the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score as a tool to measure cardiovascular health. The risk prediction values of LE8 and LS7 scores for mortality have not been compared. Additionally, the risk prediction value of these scores has not been compared with the pooled cohort equations (PCE) in individuals aged 40 to 79 years.
OBJECTIVES
This study compared the risk prediction value of the: 1) LE8 and LS7 scores in the overall population; and 2) LE8 score, LS7 score, and PCE in the 40- to 79-year-old age group for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a nationally representative US population.
METHODS
The LS7 and LE8 scores and the PCE were calculated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles 2007 to 2018. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were identified by linking the participants to the National Death Index. The C-statistics of the respective weighted Cox models were used to compare the risk prediction value of the standardized scores.
RESULTS
Among 21,721 individuals included, the C-statistics for all-cause mortality were 0.823 (95% CI: 0.803-0.843) and 0.819 (95% CI: 0.799-0.838) in the LE8 and LS7 score-based models, respectively. The C-statistics for cardiovascular mortality were 0.887 (95% CI: 0.857-0.905) for the LE8 score-based model and 0.883 (95% CI: 0.861-0.905) for the LS7 score-based model. Among 12,943 individuals aged 40 to 79 years, the C-statistics for the outcome of all-cause mortality were 0.756 (95% CI: 0.732-0.779), 0.674 (95% CI: 0.646-0.701), and 0.681 (95% CI: 0.656-0.706) for the PCE, LS7 score, and LE8 score-based models, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The LS7 and LE8 scores had similar risk prediction values for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Among 40- to 79-year-old individuals, the PCE had better risk discrimination in the LE8 and LS7 scores in predicting all-cause mortality.
PubMed: 38938862
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100945 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024Decompensated heart failure (HF) can be categorized as de novo or worsening of chronic HF. In PARAGLIDE-HF (Prospective comparison of ARNI with ARB Given following...
BACKGROUND
Decompensated heart failure (HF) can be categorized as de novo or worsening of chronic HF. In PARAGLIDE-HF (Prospective comparison of ARNI with ARB Given following stabiLization In DEcompensated HFpEF), among patients with an ejection fraction >40% that stabilized after worsening HF, sacubitril/valsartan led to a significantly greater reduction in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and was associated with clinical benefit compared to valsartan.
OBJECTIVES
This prespecified analysis characterized patients with de novo vs worsening chronic HF in PARAGLIDE-HF and assessed the interaction between HF chronicity and the effect of sacubitril/valsartan.
METHODS
Patients were classified as de novo (first diagnosis of HF) or chronic (known HF prior to the index event). Time-averaged proportional change in NT-proBNP from baseline to weeks 4 and 8 was analyzed using an analysis of covariance model. A win ratio consisting of time to cardiovascular death, number and times of HF hospitalizations during follow-up, number and times of urgent HF visits during follow-up, and time-averaged proportional change in NT-proBNP was assessed for each group.
RESULTS
Of the 466 participants, 153 (33%) had de novo HF and 313 (67%) had chronic HF. De novo patients had lower rates of atrial fibrillation/flutter and lower creatinine. There was a nonsignificant reduction in NT-proBNP with sacubitril/valsartan vs valsartan for de novo (0.82; 95% CI: 0.62-1.07) and chronic HF (0.88; 95% CI: 0.73-1.07), interaction = 0.66. The win ratio was nominally in favor of sacubitril/valsartan for both de novo (1.12; 95% CI: 0.70-1.58) and chronic HF (1.24; 95% CI: 0.89-1.71).
CONCLUSIONS
There is no interaction between HF chronicity and the effect of sacubitril-valsartan.
PubMed: 38938861
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100984 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024Cardiogenic shock (CS) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Frailty is a common comorbidity in patients...
BACKGROUND
Cardiogenic shock (CS) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Frailty is a common comorbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease and is also associated with adverse outcomes. The impact of preexisting frailty at the time of CS diagnosis following AMI has not been studied.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of frailty in patients admitted with AMI complicated by CS (AMI-CS) hospitalizations and its associations with in-hospital outcomes.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2020 and identified all hospitalizations for AMI-CS. We classified them into frail and nonfrail groups according to the hospital frailty risk score cut-off of 5 and compared in-hospital outcomes.
RESULTS
A total of 283,700 hospitalizations for AMI-CS were identified. Most (70.8%) occurred in the frail. Those with frailty had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR [aOR]: 2.17, 95% CI: 2.07 to 2.26, < 0.001), do-not-resuscitate status, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility compared with those without frailty. They also had higher odds of in-hospital adverse events, including intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, acute kidney injury, and delirium. Importantly, AMI-CS hospitalizations in the frail had lower odds of coronary revascularization (aOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.53-0.58, < 0.001) or mechanical circulatory support (aOR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.85-0.93, < 0.001). Lastly, hospitalizations for AMI-CS showed an overall increase from 53,210 in 2016 to 57,065 in 2020 ( trend <0.001), with this trend driven by a rise in the frail.
CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of hospitalizations for AMI-CS had concomitant frailty. Hospitalizations with AMI-CS and frailty had higher rates of in-hospital morbidity and mortality compared to those without frailty.
PubMed: 38938859
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100949 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
BACKGROUND
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
OBJECTIVES
The authors assessed differences in Lp(a) testing and levels by disaggregated race, ethnicity, and ASCVD risk.
METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of patients from a large California health care system from 2010 to 2021. Eligible individuals were ≥18 years old, with ≥2 primary care visits, and complete race and ethnicity data who underwent Lp(a) testing. Race and ethnicity were self-reported and categorized as follows: non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH-Black, Hispanic (Mexican, Puerto Rican, other), NH-Asian (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, other). Logistic regression models tested associations between elevated Lp(a) (≥50 mg/dL) and race, ethnicity, and ASCVD risk.
RESULTS
13,689 (0.9%) individuals underwent Lp(a) testing with a mean age of 54.6 ± 13.8 years, 49% female, 28.8% NH Asian. Over one-third of those tested had Lp(a) levels ≥50 mg/dL, ranging from 30.7% of Mexican patients to 62.6% of NH-Black patients. The ASCVD risk of those tested varied by race: 73.6% of Asian Indian individuals had <5% 10-year risk, whereas 27.2% of NH-Black had established ASCVD. Lp(a) prevalence ≥50 mg/dL increased across the ASCVD risk spectrum. After adjustment, Hispanic (OR: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.66-0.88]) and Asian (OR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.81-0.96]) had lower odds of Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL, whereas Black individuals had higher odds (OR: 2.46 [95% CI: 1.97-3.07]).
CONCLUSIONS
Lp(a) testing is performed infrequently. Of those tested, Lp(a) levels were frequently elevated and differed significantly across disaggregated race and ethnicity groups. The prevalence of elevated Lp(a) increased with increasing ASCVD risk, with significant variation by race and ethnicity.
PubMed: 38938854
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100940 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is characterized by ventricular remodeling and impaired myocardial energetics. Left ventricular pressure-volume (PV)...
BACKGROUND
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is characterized by ventricular remodeling and impaired myocardial energetics. Left ventricular pressure-volume (PV) loop analysis can be performed noninvasively using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to assess cardiac thermodynamic efficiency.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to investigate whether noninvasive PV loop parameters, derived from CMR, could predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in HFrEF patients.
METHODS
PV loop parameters (stroke work, ventricular efficiency, external power, contractility, and energy per ejected volume) were computed from CMR cine images and brachial blood pressure. The primary end point was MACE (cardiovascular death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, myocardial infarction, revascularization, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation within 5 years). Associations between PV loop parameters and MACE were evaluated using multivariable Cox regression.
RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four HFrEF patients (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, age 63 [IQR: 55-70] years, 79% male) who underwent clinical CMR examination between 2004 and 2014 were included. Eighty-eight patients (54%) experienced at least one MACE after an average of 2.8 years. Unadjusted models demonstrated a significant association between MACE and all PV loop parameters ( < 0.05 for all), HF etiology ( < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction ( = 0.003), global longitudinal strain ( < 0.001), and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide level ( = 0.001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and HF etiology, ventricular efficiency was associated with MACE (HR: 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01-1.08) per-% decrease, = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Ventricular efficiency, derived from noninvasive PV loop analysis from standard CMR scans, is associated with MACE in patients with HFrEF.
PubMed: 38938852
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100946 -
JACC. Advances Mar 2024Clinical trials suggest that therapeutic-dose heparin may prevent critical illness and vascular complications due to COVID-19, but knowledge gaps exist regarding the...
BACKGROUND
Clinical trials suggest that therapeutic-dose heparin may prevent critical illness and vascular complications due to COVID-19, but knowledge gaps exist regarding the efficacy of therapeutic heparin including its comparative effect relative to intermediate-dose anticoagulation.
OBJECTIVES
The authors performed 2 complementary secondary analyses of a completed randomized clinical trial: 1) a prespecified per-protocol analysis; and 2) an exploratory dose-based analysis to compare the effect of therapeutic-dose heparin with low- and intermediate-dose heparin.
METHODS
Patients who received initial anticoagulation dosed consistently with randomization were included. The primary outcome was organ support-free days (OSFDs), a combination of in-hospital death and days free of organ support through day 21.
RESULTS
Among 2,860 participants, 1,761 (92.8%) noncritically ill and 857 (89.1%) critically ill patients were treated per-protocol. Among noncritically ill per-protocol patients, the posterior probability that therapeutic-dose heparin improved OSFDs as compared with usual care was 99.3% (median adjusted OR: 1.36; 95% credible interval [CrI]: 1.07-1.74). Therapeutic heparin had a high posterior probability of efficacy relative to both low- (94.6%; adjusted OR: 1.26; 95% CrI: 0.95-1.64) and intermediate- (99.8%; adjusted OR: 1.80; 95% CrI: 1.22-2.62) dose thromboprophylaxis. Among critically ill per-protocol patients, the posterior probability that therapeutic heparin improved outcomes was low.
CONCLUSIONS
Among noncritically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who were randomized to and initially received therapeutic-dose anticoagulation, heparin, compared with usual care, was associated with improved OSFDs, a combination of in-hospital death and days free of organ support. Therapeutic heparin appeared superior to both low- and intermediate-dose thromboprophylaxis.
PubMed: 38938844
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100780