Qual o Papel dos Bloqueadores-Beta numa Coorte de Tratamento Contemporânea de Doentes com Síndrome Coronária Aguda? Análise de Emparelhamento de Score de Propensão

INTRODUCTION: The evidence for beta-blocker use in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly in those with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, dates from the late 1990s. We aimed to assess the role of beta-blockers in a contemporary population of patients with ACS. METHODS: Propensity-score matching (1:2) was performed for the use of beta-blockers in a population of consecutive patients admitted to our department with ACS. After matching, 1520 patients were analyzed. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the impact of beta-blocker use on the primary outcome (one-year all-cause mortality). RESULTS: Patients who did not receive beta-blockers were less aggressively treated with other pharmacological and invasive interventions and had higher one-year mortality (20.3% vs. 7.5%). Beta-blocker use was an independent predictor of mortality, with a significant relative risk reduction of 56%. The other independent predictors were age, diabetes, LV dysfunction, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and creatinine on admission. The impact of beta-blockers was significant for all classes of LV function, including patients with normal or mildly reduced ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary ACS population, we confirmed the benefits of beta-blocker use after ACS, including in patients with normal or mildly to moderately impaired LV function.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O Paradoxo dos Fumadores nas Síndromes Coronárias Agudas: Será Real?

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is associated with atherosclerotic disease, but there is controversy about its protective nature after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of smoking on the presentation, treatment and outcome of ACS. METHODS: We analyzed all consecutive patients with ACS in a single center between 2005 and 2014. Current smokers and never-smokers were compared. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and of a composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for cardiovascular causes, angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2727 patients were included, 41.7% current smokers and 58.3% never-smokers. Current smokers were younger, more often male, had fewer comorbidities, a typical clinical presentation, lower heart rate, systolic blood pressure, Killip class, BNP/NT-pro-BNP and creatinine, better left ventricular systolic function and less severe coronary anatomy. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was more common in current smokers. Current smokers received more evidence-based treatments and had less in-hospital complications, in-hospital mortality and adverse outcomes at one year. More frequent percutaneous coronary intervention at one year was noted in current smokers. Smoking was not an independent predictor of outcome when the multivariate model was fully adjusted for baseline characteristics. CONCLUSION: The smoker's paradox was not observed in this population, since all differences in outcome were explained by smokers' more benign baseline characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Resting Heart Rate, Functional Capacity and Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients: Atrial Fibrillation Versus Sinus Rhythm

Background: Higher resting heart rate (HR) is associated with lower exercise capacity and worse prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). However, recent studies question this relationship in HF patients in atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to examine and compare the relationships between resting HR, exercise capacity and outcomes in HF patients in AF and sinus rhythm (SR). Methods: 282 ambulatory patients with symptomatic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction≤40% were divided according to rhythm status into SR and AF group. All patients were followed for 60 months and the combined endpoint was defined as cardiac death, urgent heart transplantation or need for mechanical circulatory support. Results: In the patients enrolled (mean LVEF 27±7%), 19.1% had AF. The composite endpoint occurred in 24.4% during follow-up. There were no differences regarding maximal effort, but AF group had lower exercise capacity. In the SR group, there was an inverse relationship between resting HR and exercise capacity (r-0.189, p 0.004). In the AF group, this relationship was reversed as higher resting HR was associated with better exercise tolerance (r 0.314, p 0.021). Regarding outcomes, patients in SR with a resting HR higher than 72 bpm had higher risk of composite outcome than those with lower resting HR (p 0.033), but this was not evident in AF patients. Conclusion: The impact of resting HR on exercise capacity and prognosis differed entirely between AF and SR, suggesting that HR control may need to be managed differently for AF and SR in HF patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dapagliflozin Impact on the Exercise Capacity of Non-Diabetic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients

Background: Dapagliflozin has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF), but its impact on exercise capacity of non-diabetic HF outpatients is unknown. Methods: Adult non-diabetic HF patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% were randomized 1:1 to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg or to continue with HF medication. Patients underwent an initial evaluation which was repeated after 6 months. The variation of several clinical parameters was compared, with the primary endpoint being the 6 month peak oxygen uptake (pVO2) variation. Results: A total of 40 patients were included (mean age 61 ± 13 years, 82.5% male, mean LVEF 34 ± 5%), half being randomized to dapagliflozin, with no significant baseline differences between groups. The reported drug compliance was 100%, with no major safety events. No statistically significant difference in HF events was found (p = 0.609). There was a 24% reduction in the number of patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III in the treatment group as opposed to a 15.8% increase in the control group (p = 0.004). Patients under dapagliflozin had a greater improvement in pVO2 (3.1 vs. 0.1 mL/kg/min, p = 0.030) and a greater reduction in NT-proBNP levels (-217.6 vs. 650.3 pg/mL, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Dapagliflozin was associated with a significant improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness at 6 months follow-up in non-diabetic HFrEF patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prognostic Prediction of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters in Heart Failure Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Objective: To evaluate whether the risk of AF patients can be precisely stratified by relation with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) cut-offs for heart transplantation (HT) selection. Methods: Prospective evaluation of 274 consecutive HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death or urgent HT in 1-year follow-up. The primary endpoint was analysed by several CPET parameters for the highest area under the curve and for positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) in AF and sinus rhythm (SR) patients to detect if the current cut-offs for HT selection can precisely stratify the AF group. Statistical differences with a p-value <0.05 were considered significant. Results: There were 51 patients in the AF group and 223 in the SR group. The primary outcome was higher in the AF group (17.6% vs 8.1%, p = 0.038). The cut-off value of pVO2 for HT selection showed a PPV of 100% and an NPV of 95.5% for the primary outcome in the AF group, with a PPV of 38.5% and an NPV of 94.3% in the SR group. The cut-off value of VE/VCO2 slope showed lower values of PPV (33.3%) and similar NPV (92.3%) to pVO2 results in the AF group. Conclusion: Despite the fact that AF carries a worse prognosis for HF patients, the current cut-off of pVO2 for HT selection can precisely stratify this high-risk group.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antiarrhythmic Effect of Sacubitril-Valsartan: Cause or Consequence of Clinical Improvement?

Sacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) reduced sudden cardiac death in the PARADIGM-HF trial. However, the mechanism by which LCZ696 reduces ventricular arrhythmias remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and mechanical dispersion index, assessed by left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), before and after LCZ696 therapy. We prospectively evaluated chronic Heart Failure (HF) patients with LV ejection fraction ≤40%, despite optimal medical and device therapy, in which LCZ696 therapy was started, while no additional HF treatment was expected to change. ECG and transthoracic echocardiographic data were gathered in the week before starting LCZ696 and at six months of therapy. A semiautomated analysis of LV GLS was performed and mechanical dispersion index was defined as the standard deviation from 16 time intervals corresponding to each LV segment. Of the 42 patients, 35 completed the six month follow-up, since two patients died and five discontinued treatment for adverse events. QTc interval (451.9 vs. 426.0 ms, p < 0.001), QRS duration (125.1 vs. 120.8 ms, p = 0.033) and mechanical dispersion index (88.4 vs. 78.1 ms, p = 0.036) were significantly reduced at six months. LCZ696 therapy is associated with a reduction in QTc interval, QRS duration and mechanical dispersion index as assessed by LV GLS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heart Failure Units: State of the Art in Disease Management

The prevalence of heart failure has increased over the past decades and is a major social and economic burden on healthcare services. Patient quality of life is severely impaired and heart failure is one of the main causes of death in Portugal. The functional organization of multidisciplinary teams engaged in the treatment of these patients is essential to improve health care provision and outcomes, specifically reducing mortality, hospital admissions, and improving quality of life. We describe current approaches to heart failure management and discuss the organization of heart failure units and cooperation among these units and also with other healthcare professionals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography for the Global and Regional Assessments of Left Ventricle Myocardial Deformation in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Anthracyclines

Background: Assessment of 2D/3D left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 2D global longitudinal strain (GLS) is the gold standard for diagnosing cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Although 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has several advantages, it is not used in this setting. Methods: 105 breast cancer patients who underwent serial echocardiographic assessment during anthracycline therapy were included. STE was used to estimate 2D GLS, 3D GLS, 3D global circumferential strain (GCS), 3D global radial strain (GRS), and 3D global area strain (GAS). CTRCD was defined as an absolute decrease in 2D/3D LVEF > 10% to a value 15%. Results: 24 patients developed CTRCD. There was a significant worsening of all 3D strain parameters during chemotherapy. 3D strain regional analysis showed impaired contractility in the anterior, inferior, and septal walls. Variations of 3D GRS and 3D GCS were associated with a higher incidence of CTRCD and the variation of 3D GRS was an independent predictor of CTRCD. Variations of 3D GCS and 3D GRS had a good discrimination for predicting CTRCD, with optimal cutoff values of - 34.2% for 3D GCS and - 34.4% for 3D GRS. These variations were observed 45 and 23 days before the diagnosis of CTRCD, respectively. Conclusion: Variations of 3D strain parameters were predictive of and preceded CTRCD, and thus have added value over currently recommended 2D/3D LVEF and 2D GLS. Routine application of this technique should be considered to offer targeted monitoring and timely initiation of cardioprotective treatment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prognostic Power of Anaerobic Threshold Parameters in Patients with Transposition of the Great Arteries and Systemic Right Ventricle

INTRODUCTION: Both transposition of the great arteries (TGA) previously submitted to a Senning/Mustard procedure and congenitally corrected TGA (cc-TGA) have the systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle, thereby rendering these patients to heart failure events risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters for stratifying the risk of heart failure events in TGA patients. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of adult TGA patients with systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle submitted to cardiopulmonary exercise test in a tertiary centre. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year for the primary endpoint of cardiac death or heart failure hospitalisation. Several cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters were analysed as potential predictors of the combined endpoint and their predictive power were compared (area under the curve). RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed in 44 TGA patients (8 cc-TGA), with a mean age of 35.1 ± 8.4 years. The primary endpoint was reached by 10 (22.7%) patients, with a mean follow-up of 36.7 ± 26.8 months. Heart rate at anaerobic threshold had the highest area under the curve value (0.864), followed by peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) (0.838). Heart rate at anaerobic threshold ≤95 bpm and pVO2 ≤20 ml/kg/min had a sensitivity of 87.5 and 80.0% and a specificity of 82.4 and 76.5%, respectively, for the primary outcome. CONCLUSION: Heart rate at anaerobic threshold ≤95 bpm had the highest predictive power of all cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters analysed for heart failure events in TGA patients with systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Response and Outcomes of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients with Renal Dysfunction

PURPOSE: Renal dysfunction is often associated with chronic heart failure, leading to increased morbi-mortality. However, data regarding these patients after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is sparse. We sought to evaluate response and long-term mortality in patients with heart failure and renal dysfunction and assess renal improvement after CRT. METHODS: We analyzed 178 consecutive patients who underwent successful CRT device implantation (age 64 ± 11 years; 69% male; 92% in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class ≥ III; 34% with ischemic cardiomyopathy). Echocardiographic response was defined as ≥ 15% reduction in left ventricular end-systolic diameter and clinical response as a sustained improvement of at least one NYHA functional class. Renal dysfunction was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: Renal dysfunction was present in 34.7%. Renal dysfunction was not an independent predictor of echocardiographic response (OR 1.109, 95% CI 0.713-1.725, p 0.646) nor clinical response (OR 1.003; 95% CI 0.997-1.010; p 0.324). During follow-up (mean 55.2 ± 32 months), patients with eGFR < 60mL/min/1.73 m2 had higher overall mortality (HR 4.902, 95% CI 1.118-21.482, p 0.035). However, clinical response in patients with renal dysfunction was independently associated with better long-term survival (HR 0.236, 95% CI 0.073-0.767, p 0.016). Renal function was significantly improved in patients who respond to CRT (ΔeGFR + 5.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline vs. follow-up, p 0.049), while this was not evident in nonresponders. Improvements in eGFR of at least 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 were associated with improved survival in renal dysfunction patients (log-rank p 0.036). CONCLUSION: Renal dysfunction was associated with higher long-term mortality in CRT patients, though, it did not influence echocardiographic nor functional response. Despite worse overall prognosis, renal dysfunction patients who are responders showed long-term survival benefit and improvement in renal function following CRT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio