Subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients is linked to autonomic dysfunction:findings from the CARDIOBESE study

AIMS: Obesity doubles the lifetime risk of developing heart failure. Current knowledge on the role of obesity in causing cardiac dysfunction is insufficient for optimal risk stratification. The aim of this study was first to estimate the prevalence of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients and second to investigate the underlying pathophysiology. METHODS AND RESULTS: The CARDIOBESE study is a cross-sectional multicentre study of 100 obesity patients [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2 ] without known cardiovascular disease and 50 age-matched and gender-matched non-obese controls (BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2 ). Echocardiography was performed, blood samples were collected, and a Holter monitor was affixed. Fifty-nine obesity patients [48 (42-50) years, 70% female] showed subclinical cardiac dysfunction: 57 patients had decreased global longitudinal strain (GLS), and two patients with normal GLS had either diastolic dysfunction or increased brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Only one non-obese control had diastolic dysfunction, and none had another sign of cardiac dysfunction. Multivariable logistic analysis identified male gender and standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) index, which is a measure of autonomic dysfunction, as independent significant risk factors for subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence (61%) of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients without known cardiovascular disease, which appeared to be best identified by GLS. Subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity was linked to autonomic dysfunction and male gender, and not to the presence of traditional cardiac risk factors, increased C-reactive protein, increased BNP, increased high-sensitivity troponin I, or increased left ventricular mass

Subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients is linked to autonomic dysfunction: findings from the CARDIOBESE study

Aims: Obesity doubles the lifetime risk of developing heart failure. Current knowledge on the role of obesity in causing cardiac dysfunction is insufficient for optimal risk stratification. The aim of this study was first to estimate the prevalence of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients and second to investigate the underlying pathophysiology. Methods and results: The CARDIOBESE study is a cross-sectional multicentre study of 100 obesity patients [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2] without known cardiovascular disease and 50 age-matched and gender-matched non-obese controls (BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2). Echocardiography was performed, blood samples were collected, and a Holter monitor was affixed. Fifty-nine obesity patients [48 (42–50) years, 70% female] showed subclinical cardiac dysfunction: 57 patients had decreased global longitudinal strain (GLS), and two patients with normal GLS had either diastolic dysfunction or increased brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Only one non-obese control had diastolic dysfunction, and none had another sign of cardiac dysfunction. Multivariable logistic analysis identified male gender and standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) index, which is a measure of autonomic dysfunction, as independent significant risk factors for subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence (61%) of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity patients without known cardiovascular disease, which appeared to be best identified by GLS. Subclinical cardiac dysfunction in obesity was linked to autonomic dysfunction and male gender, and not to the presence of traditional cardiac risk factors, increased C-reactive protein, increased BNP, increased high-sensitivity troponin I, or increased left ventricular mass

Cross-sectional and prospective follow-up study to detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction in obesity: Protocol of the CARDIOBESE study

Introduction In view of the increasing occurrence of both obesity and heart failure, a growing overlap of these two clinical entities in the near future is expected. Significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiological consequences of obesity for the cardiovascular system have been made over the past two decades. However, to optimise management and treatment of obesity patients, further research is required to improve early identification of cardiac dysfunction in obesity and to gain insight in the underlying pathophysiology. The CARdiac Dysfunction In OBesity - Early Signs Evaluation (CARDIOBESE) study has been designed to address these issues. Methods and analysis CARDIOBESE is a cross-sectional multicentre study of 100 obesity patients scheduled for bariatric surgery (body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m 2) without known cardiovascular disease, and 50 age-matched and gender-matched non-obese controls (BMI <30 kg/m 2). Echocardiography, blood and urine biomarkers and Holter monitoring will be used to identify parameters that are able to show cardiac dysfunction at a very early stage in obesity patients (primary objective). Furthermore, a prospective follow-up study of obesity patients before and 1 year after bariatric surgery will be done to gain insight in the pathophysiology of obesity causing cardiac dysfunction (secondary objective). Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee Toetsingscommissie Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Rotterdam e.o. (TWOR). Inclusion of patients and controls is almost complete. Analyses of the investigations are currently being performed, and dissemination through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations is expected from the first quarter of 2019. By identifying early markers of cardiac dysfunction in obesity, and by understanding the underlying pathophysiology of the abnormalities of these markers, the CARDIOBESE study may provide guidance for risk stratification, monitoring and treatment strategies for obesity patients

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response dynamics and heterogeneous diagnostic performance of four serological tests and a neutralization test in symptomatic healthcare workers with non-severe COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Most COVID-19 patients experience non-severe illness. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies suggest possible protection against re-infections in prior SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this prospective observational study were to longitudinally assess the antibody response during the first 4-6 months after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to study the diagnostic performance of four different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) in symptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) with non-severe COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: HCWs in a teaching hospital were included between March 8 and June 15, 2020, when they had a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the past 3 months. The performances of four ELISAs (Wantai, Bio-Rad Platelia, BioTrading Immy clarus, and Euroimmun) were evaluated in serum samples obtained at the moment of study inclusion and subsequently at 1, 2 and 3 months thereafter. Furthermore, in the last available serum sample sVNT by GenScript was performed. RESULTS: 309 samples from 80 positive HCWs were included of whom 70 (88%) were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. The detection rates of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by the different ELISAs were heterogenous ranging from 64% for the Euroimmun ELISA to 88% for the Wantai ELISA. The Wantai ELISA had the highest and almost perfect agreement with sVNT (96%, Cohen's kappa 0.83). CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 (neutralizing) antibodies were detectable in most symptomatic individuals with non-severe COVID-19. The presence of antibodies remained stable up to six months after initial infection. There is large variability in diagnostic test performance between ELISA tests

Psychological distress and health-related quality of life in patients after hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Illnesses requiring hospitalization are known to negatively impact psychological well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after discharge. The impact of hospitalization during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on psychological well-being and health-related quality of life is expected to be higher due to the exceptional circumstances within and outside the hospital during the pandemic surge. The objective of this study was to quantify psychological distress up to three months after discharge in patients hospitalized during the first coronavirus diseas

Psychological distress and health-related quality of life in patients after hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Illnesses requiring hospitalization are known to negatively impact psychological well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after discharge. The impact of hospitalization during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on psychological well-being and health-related quality of life is expected to be higher due to the exceptional circumstances within and outside the hospital during the pandemic surge. The objective of this study was to quantify psychological distress up to three months after discharge in patients hospitalized during the first coronavirus diseas

Correlation and Relative Prognostic Value of Fractional Flow Reserve and Pd/Pa of Nonculprit Lesions in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: The applicability of resting indices to guide noninfarct-related artery revascularization in ST-elevation myocardial infarction is unknown. METHODS: We analyzed the correlation and prognostic value of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and resting distal coronary to aortic pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) in all patients of the Compare-Acute trial in whom, after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention, the noninfarct-related artery was interrogated by both and treated medically. The treating cardiologist was blinded to these values. The primary end point was the composite of target vessel (interrogated noninfarct-related artery) related nonfatal target vessel myocardial infarction and target vessel repeat revascularization at 36 months. RESULTS: Five hundred seventeen patients (665 vessels) were included. On receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the optimal Pd/Pa cut off for FFR≤0.80 was 0.905 (C statistic: 0.894). The diagnostic accuracy of Pd/Pa was 80.15% (95% CI, 76.91%-83.12%) with respect to FFR. During the 36-month follow-up, 130 target vessel revascularization and 14 target vessel myocardial infarction occurred. FFR and Pd/Pa had a diagnostic accuracy to predict these events of 62.86% (95% CI, 59.06%-66.54%) and 56.84% (95% CI, 52.98%-60.64%), respectively (P=0.20). When they were discrepant, FFR was significantly better than Pd/Pa in identifying which vessels could be safely deferred (P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Immediately after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention, resting Pd/Pa has a diagnostic accuracy of 80% with respect to FFR measured in the noninfarct-related artery. FFR is not significantly superior in predicting target vessel myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization during 36 months of follow-up but, in case FFR and Pd/Pa are discrepant, FFR is superior in identifying which nonculprit vessels can be safely deferred. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01399736