Correction to: The role of editors (Dec, 10.1007/S12350021-02862-W, 2021)

Cardiolog

The role of editors

Cardiolog

Myocardial perfusion imaging: Lessons learned and work to be done-update

Cardiolog

SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging for the assessment of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony

Phase analysis of gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an evolving technique for measuring LV mechanical dyssynchrony. Since its inception in 2005, it has undergone considerable technical development and clinical evaluation. This article reviews the background, the technical and clinical characteristics, and evolving clinical applications of phase analysis of gated SPECT MPI in patients requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy or implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy and in assessing LV diastolic dyssynchrony

Hypoalbuminaemia and incident heart failure in older adults

Aims: To test the hypothesis that baseline hypoalbuminaemia is associated with incident heart failure (HF) in community-dwelling older adults. Methods and resultsOf the 5795 community-dwelling adults aged <65 years in the Cardiovascular Health Study, 5450 were free of centrally adjudicated prevalent HF at baseline, and also had data on baseline serum albumin. Of these, 599 (11) had hypoalbuminaemia, defined as baseline serum albumin levels ≤3.5 mg/dL. Propensity scores for hypoalbuminaemia were calculated for each patient and used to assemble a matched cohort of 582 pairs of participants with and without hypoalbuminaemia, who were well balanced on 58 baseline characteristics. Using Cox regression models, we estimated the association of hypoalbuminaemia with centrally adjudicated incident HF during 9.6 years of median follow-up. Matched participants had a mean (±SD) age of 74 (±6) years, 62 were women, and 16 were African Americans. Incident HF occurred in 25 and 20 of matched participants with and without hypoalbuminaemia, respectively [hazard ratio when hypoalbuminaemia was compared with normoalbuminaemia, 1.40; 95 confidence interval, 1.05-1.85; P = 0.020]. Pre-match unadjusted, multivariable-adjusted, and propensity-adjusted hazard ratios (95 confidence intervals) for incident HF associated with hypoalbuminaemia were 1.33 (1.12-1.58; P = 0.001), 1.33 (1.11- 1.60; P = 0.002), and 1.25 (1.04-1.50; P = 0.016), respectively. The combined endpoint of incident HF or all-cause mortality occurred in 59 and 50 of matched participants with and without hypoalbuminaemia, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95 confidence interval, 1.11-1.61; P = 0.002). ConclusionsAmong community-dwelling older adults without HF, baseline hypoalbuminaemia was associated with increased risk of incident HF during 10 years of follow-up. © The Author 2011

Effects of right ventricular ejection fraction on outcomes in chronic systolic heart failure

Background: Studies of the effect of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) on outcomes in heart failure (HF) are limited by small sample size and short follow-up. Methods and Results: We examined the effect of baseline RVEF on outcomes in 2008 Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST) participants with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% during 24 months of mean follow-up. RVEF, estimated by gated-equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography, was used to categorize patients into 4 RVEF groups: ≥40% (n=733), 30% to 39% (n=531), 20% to 29% (n=473), and <20% (n=271). Unadjusted rates for all-cause mortality in patients with RVEF ≥40%, 30% to 39%, 20% to 29%, and <20% were 27%, 32%, 35%, and 47%, respectively. When compared with patients with RVEF ≥40%, unadjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all-cause mortality for those with RVEF 30% to 39%, 20% to 29%, and <20% were 1.19 (0.97 to 1.46; P=0.087), 1.45 (1.17 to 1.78; P=0.001), and 1.98 (1.59 to 2.47; P<0.0001), respectively. Respective multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality associated with RVEF 30% to 39%, 20% to 29%, and <20% were 1.07 (0.87 to 1.32; P=0.518), 1.12 (0.89 to 1.40; P=0.328), and 1.32 (1.02 to 1.71; P=0.034), respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for other outcomes associated with RVEF <20% (compared with ≥40%) were as follows: cardiovascular mortality, 1.33 (1.01 to 1.76; P=0.041); HF mortality, 1.61 (1.03 to 2.52; P=0.037); sudden cardiac death, 1.29 (0.87 to 1.91; P=0.212); all-cause hospitalization, 1.21 (1.00 to 1.47; P=0.056); and HF hospitalization, 1.39 (1.10 to 1.77; P=0.007). Conclusions: Baseline RVEF <20% is a significant independent predictor of mortality and HF hospitalization in systolic HF. © 2010 American Heart Association. All rights reserved