International journal of cardiology
-
Systemic right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of long-term outcome in patients with palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Abnormal elastic properties of the reconstructed aorta may negatively impact on ventricular function. We therefore aimed to assess arterial elastance and its relationship to systemic RV function in these patients. ⋯ Arterial elastance is abnormally high in palliated HLHS patients and negatively impacts on ejection fraction but not on intrinsic systolic RV function early after completion of the Fontan circulation. Increased arterial elastance, however, is associated with increased RV diastolic stiffness with potential adverse effects on long-term outcome. Furthermore, arterial elastance and diastolic stiffness are particularly high in patients who needed treatment for aortic arch obstruction.
-
Prior studies on the depression-heart disease association have not usually used diagnostic measures of depression, or taken other mental disorders into consideration. As a result, it is not clear whether the association between depression and heart disease onset reflects a specific association, or the comorbidity between depression and other mental disorders. Additionally, the relative magnitude of associations of a range of mental disorders with heart disease onset is unknown. ⋯ Depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorders were significantly associated with heart disease onset; depression was the weakest predictor. If confirmed in future prospective studies, the breadth of psychopathology's links with heart disease onset has substantial clinical and public health implications.
-
Observational Study
Left circumflex artery-related myocardial infarction: does ST elevation matter? Results from the Euro Heart Survey PCI registry.
Little is known about angiographic and clinical differences in patients presenting with left circumflex artery (LCX)-related ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We sought to determine the clinical significance of ST elevations in patients with LCX-related myocardial infarction. ⋯ Over 50% of the patients with LCX-related myocardial infarction treated with PCI had ST elevations in the initial electrocardiogram. STEMIs were more often associated with total vessel occlusions or haemodynamic instability. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with LCX-related STEMI.
-
ESC guidelines recommend a shorter (90 min) delay for the use of primary percutaneous intervention (pPCI) in patients presenting within the first 2h of pain onset. Using registry data on STEMI patients in the Greater Paris Area, we assessed changes between 2003 and 2008 in the rates of pPCI, pre-hospital fibrinolytic therapy (PHF) and time delays in patients presenting within 2h of STEMI pain onset. ⋯ In areas with a low density of pPCI centers, efforts should be made to improve the timeliness of pPCI. Otherwise, PHF followed by an immediate transfer to a pPCI capable hospital may be considered.
-
Renal dysfunction has been proposed for the risk factor for stroke and bleeding in atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of changes in renal dysfunction over time and the relationship to stroke and bleeding risk in these patients remain unknown. We investigated sequential change in renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) and the risk for clinical events (ischaemic stroke, death and major bleeding) over time in a cohort of 617 AF patients followed up for 2 years. ⋯ In patients with AF, an absolute decrease in eGFR ≥15 ml/min/1.73 m(2) on Cockcroft-Gault and CKD-EPI, and ≥25 ml/min/1.73 m(2) on MDRD, or a relative reduction (≥25%) in eGFR, independently predicted the risk for the endpoints 'stroke or death', 'death' or (at 6 months) ischaemic stroke. Deteriorating renal function increases the risk of death in AF patients.