SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists: impact on mortality in diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), yet remain underutilized in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate real-world treatment patterns and associated mortality outcomes among patients with T2D and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods: The CARdiovascular and DIABetes (CARDIAB) cohort included 138,397 patients with T2D and ASCVD.

Temporal trends in the treatment with beta-blocker and the effect on outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Early beta-blocker treatment has long been recommended for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), particularly when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is reduced; however, whether beta-blocker therapy improves outcomes in patients with AMI receiving contemporary treatment remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate temporal trends in the effect of beta-blocker therapy on outcomes of patients with AMI in a large, nationwide cohort.

Methods: Patients with AMI enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndromes Israeli Survey from 2000 to 2021 were included.

Eyeball Test for the Assessment of Frailty in Elderly Patients in Electrophysiology Department: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: Frailty is a syndrome characterized by increased vulnerability to stressful events due to diminished metabolic, neuromuscular, and functional reserves. It has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. This study compares the eyeball test and the Fried test (considered the "gold standard") for frailty assessment in elderly patients in an electrophysiology clinic.

A TAVI Programme Without an On-Site Cardiac Surgery Department: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease, associated with poor outcomes if left untreated. Current guidelines recommend that transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures be performed in hospitals with an on-site cardiac surgery unit due to potential complications requiring surgical intervention. : Based on our experience, we evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of implementing a TAVI program in a cardiology department without an on-site cardiac surgery unit, in collaboration with a remote hospital for surgical backup.

The effect of national stress events on the incidence of Takotsubo syndrome.

We aimed to analyze whether national level stressful events were associated with an increase the incidence of Takotsubo syndrome. Takotsubo syndrome is an acute reversible heart failure, characterized by transient regional wall abnormality in the absence of a culprit coronary disease, usually caused by acute stressful etiologies. The terror attack of October 7th 2023 and the subsequent war had an enormous impact on the society in Israel.

Assessment of depression in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome: a double-blind study.

Depression commonly accompanies acute coronary syndrome (ACS), impacting up to 30% of patients and correlating with adverse outcomes. Our study aimed to assess the accuracy of clinical impression compared to the PHQ9 questionnaire for evaluating depression in ACS patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit. Screening for depression was conducted at least 48 hours from hospital admission and 24 hours following coronary angiography and PCI.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery mimicking antero-lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case report.

Background: Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery (PA) (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital abnormality. We present a case of an ALCAPA in a 25-year-old man.

Case Summary: A 25-year-old male with no past medical history was admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit after sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and suspected acute coronary syndrome.

Temporal trends in the treatment and outcome of nonagenarians with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Nonagenarians are a fast-growing age group among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. While new therapeutic options have improved outcomes of ACS patients, data regarding very elderly ACS patients are limited. We aimed to evaluate temporal trends in the treatment and outcomes of nonagenarian ACS patients.

P2Y12 adenosine receptor inhibitors preloading among patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes; insights from a nationwide multicenter registry.

Background: The safety and efficacy of treatment with P2Y12 adenosine-diphosphate receptor inhibitors (P2Y12-RI) before coronary angiography among patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) are questionable.

Aims: To assess the pretreatment rate with P2Y12-RI and its association with ischemic and bleeding risks among patients with NSTEACS.

Methods: The study comprised patients with NSTEACS referred for coronary angiography and included in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys between 2013 and 2021.

A missing coronary guidewire mimicking aortic dissection-a case report.

Background: A retained coronary guidewire following coronary angiography is an extremely rare complication. We present a case of a retained coronary guidewire from a percutaneous coronary intervention done 2 years ago.

Case Summary: An 80-year-old asymptomatic man with a history of ischemic heart disease and moderate aortic stenosis presented to the echocardiography lab for routine follow-up.

Anti PCSK9 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment in Elderly Patients: A Real-world Clinical Experience.

Background: The use of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9 mAbs) is emerging for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, real-world data is lacking for their use among elderly patients.

Objectives: To define the characteristics of elderly patients treated with PCSK9 mAbs and to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability compared with younger patients.

Ischemic Postconditioning Confers No Benefit to Left Ventricular Systolic Function: A Meta-Analysis of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Results.

Ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) is a technique suggested to reduce reperfusion injury in patients suffering acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), although its use is highly controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of IPoC with percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute STEMI, as measured by follow-up left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The investigators searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for all randomized controlled trials published during the last 2 decades.

The Impact of Sex on Cardiogenic Shock Outcomes Following ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains the leading cause of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-related mortality. Contemporary studies have shown no sex-related differences in mortality.

Methods: STEMI-CS patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were included based on a dedicated prospective STEMI database.

Effectiveness and Safety of Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation for Patients After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Cardiac rehabilitation improves cardiovascular outcomes in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recently there has been a growing interest in remote cardiac rehabilitation (RCR) programs. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of RCR compared with center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR).

Eyeball Test for the Assessment of Frailty in Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Study.

Frailty has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to assess the accuracy of the Eyeball test for frailty assessment in elderly patients with CVD. This is a prospective study including stable patients ≥75 years old who were followed-up in a cardiology clinic.

Percutaneous coronary intervention with ridaforolimus-eluting stents in long lesions: the BIONICS 38 mm prospective trial.

Background: The ridaforolimus-eluting stent (RES) system is a novel cobalt alloy-based coronary stent with a durable elastomeric polymer eluting ridaforolimus. The aim of this trial was to assess the performance of a 38 mm RES in long coronary lesions.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label clinical trial.

Cardiac Tamponade in Patients Treated with Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the treatment of choice for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation; however, bleeding risk remains significant. We reported a single-center experience with 11 patients who presented with hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade while treated with DOACs.

Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients under DOACs with cardiac tamponade.

Transcatheter Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A Multi-Center Real Life Experience.

(1) Background: left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is considered an effective and relatively safe treatment for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and a contra-indication for anticoagulation. We present a large multicenter real-world experience of transcatheter LAAO implementation in patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot be treated with chronic anti-coagulation; (2) Methods: included were atrial fibrillation patients who underwent transcatheter LAAO between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2021. The study was conducted using the electronic health record database of Clalit Health Services (CHS).

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac rehabilitation of patients following acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation improves prognosis and symptoms in cardiac patients. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac rehabilitation services were temporarily suspended between April and August. We aimed to investigate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic on patients' exercise capacity and metabolic parameters.

Procedural and long-term outcome among patients undergoing expedited trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

Objective: Patients with rapidly deteriorating clinical status due to severe aortic stenosis are often referred for expedited transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Data regarding the outcome of such interventions is limited. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing expedited TAVR.

CHADS-VASc Score, Mortality and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased cardiovascular risk. The CHADS-VASc score (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, previous stroke, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, female gender) has been used to predict thromboembolic risk in patients with nonvalvular AF. We aimed to evaluate the association between the CHADS-VASc score and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and all-cause mortality in patients with AF treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).