Risk of Hematologic Malignancies in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cancer are leading causes of death worldwide. However, the relationship between AMI and hematologic malignancies remains unclear.

Objectives: The authors aimed to investigate the association between AMI and the subsequent risk of incident hematologic malignancies.

Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Analysis of Echocardiography-Based Radiomic Features for Myocardial Hypertrophy Detection and Etiology Differentiation.

Background: While echocardiography is pivotal for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), it struggles with etiology differentiation. To enhance LVH assessment, we aimed to develop an artificial intelligence algorithm using echocardiography-based radiomics. This algorithm is designed to detect LVH and differentiate its common etiologies, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), cardiac amyloidosis (CA), and hypertensive heart disease (HHD), based on echocardiographic images.

Evaluation of Burnout and Contributing Factors in Imaging Cardiologists in Korea.

Background: We aimed to examine the prevalence of burnout among imaging cardiologists in Korea and to identify its associated factors.

Methods: An online survey of imaging cardiologists affiliated with university hospitals in Korea was conducted using SurveyMonkey in November 2023. The validated Korean version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey was used to assess burnout across three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment.

Exosomal miRNAs Differentiate Chronic Total Occlusion from Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Although coronary artery occlusion can have a negative effect on the myocardium, chronic total occlusion (CTO) exhibits different clinical features from those of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we identify the differential associations of exosomal miRNAs with CTO and AMI. Exosomes were isolated from the plasma obtained from coronary arteries of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to treat CTO (n = 29) and AMI (n = 24), followed by small RNA sequencing, target gene predictions, and functional enrichment analyses.

Incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with renal infarction: A retrospective cohort analysis of the Korean national health insurance registry.

Background: Regarding the pathophysiology of renal infarction (RI), cardioembolic causes could have large proportion. However, there are notable variations in prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with RI across different studies, ranging from 17 to 65%. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the incidence of AF in patients with RI.

Home Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Management System in Patients With Heart Failure: Rationale and Study Design.

Body fluid monitoring and management are essential to control dyspnea and prevent re-hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). There are several methods to estimate and monitor patient's volume status, such as symptoms, signs, body weight, and implantable devices. However, these methods might be difficult to use for reasons that are slow to reflect body water change, inaccurate in specific patients' condition, or invasive.

Hemo-metabolic impairment in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Data from the INTERSTELLAR registry.

Background: Not only hemo-dynamic (HD) factors but also hemo-metabolic (HM) risk factors reflecting multi-organ injuries are considered as important prognostic factors in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, studies regarding HM risk factors in STEMI patients are currently limited.

Method: Under analysis were 1,524 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the INTERSTELLAR registry.

Accuracy of visual estimation of ejection fraction in patients with heart failure using augmented reality glasses.

Objective: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is measured to assess haemodynamic status and cardiac function. It may be difficult to accurately measure in patients with heart failure (HF) as they are often poorly echogenic. The augmented reality (AR) technology is expected to provide real-time guidance that will enable more accurate measurements.

Clinical efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background/aims: We aimed to analyze the efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) by the disease course of heart failure (HF).

Methods: We evaluated 227 patients with HF in a multi-center retrospective cohort that included those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% undergoing ARNI treatment. The patients were divided into patients with newly diagnosed HF with ARNI treatment initiated within 6 months of diagnosis (de novo HF group) and those who were diagnosed or admitted for HF exacerbation for more than 6 months prior to initiation of ARNI treatment (prior HF group).

Temporal Trend of the Incidence and Characteristics of Renal Infarction: Korean Nationwide Population Study.

Background: Large-scale studies about epidemiologic characteristics of renal infarction (RI) are few. In this study, we aimed to analyze the incidence and prevalence of RI with comorbidities in the South Korean population.

Methods: We investigated the medical history of the entire South Korean adult population between 2013 and 2019 using the National Health Insurance Service database (n = 51,849,591 in 2019).

Prognostic value of preoperative left ventricular global longitudinal strain for predicting postoperative myocardial injury and mortality in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery (SOLOMON study).

Background: The usefulness of preoperative measurement of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) for predicting prognosis in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery has not been evaluated. We analyzed the prognostic value of LVGLS in predicting postoperative 30-day cardiovascular events and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS).

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in two referral hospitals and included 871 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery <1 month after preoperative echocardiography.

Clinical, Mutational, and Transcriptomic Characteristics in Elderly Korean Individuals With Clonal Hematopoiesis Driver Mutations.

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), which is defined as the presence of blood cells originating from somatically mutated hematopoietic stem cells, is common among the elderly and is associated with an increased risk of hematologic malignancies. We investigated the clinical, mutational, and transcriptomic characteristics in elderly Korean individuals with CHIP mutations.

Methods: We investigated CHIP in 90 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years with normal complete blood counts at a tertiary-care hospital in Korea between June 2021 and February 2022.

Prediction of Heart Function and Volume Status in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients through N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide.

: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a biomarker used to predict heart failure and evaluate volume status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, it is difficult to determine the cutoff value for NT-proBNP in HD patients. In this study, we analyzed whether NT-proBNP helps predict heart function and volume status in HD patients.

Effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K direct oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients with bioprosthetic valve.

Background: Non-vitamin K direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) is effective for prevention of embolic events in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. However, the effectiveness and safety of DOAC in AF patients who have bioprosthetic heart valve (BPHV) is largely unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with AF and BPHV, using the diagnostic code and medical device and surgery information from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, between 2013 and 2018.

Fully automated quantification of cardiac chamber and function assessment in 2-D echocardiography: clinical feasibility of deep learning-based algorithms.

We aimed to compare the segmentation performance of the current prominent deep learning (DL) algorithms with ground-truth segmentations and to validate the reproducibility of the manually created 2D echocardiographic four cardiac chamber ground-truth annotation. Recently emerged DL based fully-automated chamber segmentation and function assessment methods have shown great potential for future application in aiding image acquisition, quantification, and suggestion for diagnosis. However, the performance of current DL algorithms have not previously been compared with each other.

Association between inter-leg blood pressure difference and cardiovascular outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Although the inter-arm blood pressure (BP) difference has been advocated to be associated with cardiovascular events, the implication of inter-leg BP difference has not been well established. This study was conducted to investigate whether inter-arm and -leg BP differences have prognostic value in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: In this prospective study, we consecutively enrolled 667 patients who underwent PCI.

Association Between Change in Metabolic Syndrome Status and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Backgroud There is a paucity of information on whether changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) status affect the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to evaluate whether changes in MetS status and components of MetS affect AF risk using data from a nationwide observational cohort. Methods and Results A total of 7 565 531 adults without prevalent AF (mean age, 47±14 years) who underwent 2 serial health examinations by the Korean National Health Insurance Cooperation were identified.

Increased atrial fibrillation risk in Parkinson's disease: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder associated with various morbidities. Although the relationship between cardiovascular disease and PD has been studied, a paucity of information on PD and atrial fibrillation (AF) association exists. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether patients with PD have an increased risk of AF.

Clinical impact of atrial fibrillation in a nationwide cohort of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.

Background: The clinical implications of atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients are incompletely characterized. We investigated the impact of AF on stroke and mortality, assessed the performance of the CHA2DS2-VASc score, and explored the predictors of stroke in HCM patients.

Methods: A nationwide cohort of HCM patients (n=8,349, mean age 60.

Chromosomal abnormalities and atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke incidence: a nationwide population-based study.

There is a paucity of information as to whether chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, and Klinefelter Syndrome, have an association with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke development. Data from 3660 patients with Down Syndrome, 2408 with Turner Syndrome, and 851 with Klinefelter Syndrome without a history of AF and ischemic stroke were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (2007-2014). These patients were followed-up for new-onset AF and ischemic stroke.

Early Surgery versus Watchful Waiting in Patients with Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

Background And Objectives: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is a class I indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR) but this recommendation is not well established in those at the stage of moderate AS. We investigate the clinical impact of AVR among patients with moderate AS and LVSD.

Methods: From 2001 to 2017, we consecutively identified patients with moderate AS and LVSD, defined as aortic valve area 1.

De novo malignancy risk in patients undergoing the first percutaneous coronary intervention: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been the mainstay of revascularization strategy for significant coronary artery disease, future cancer risk after PCI has never been explored. We aimed to investigate the risk of incident cancer in patients undergoing PCI for the first time.

Methods: We studied 125,613 patients who underwent the first PCI between 2010 and 2015 without a prior history of cancer.

Trends of the prevalence and incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Korea: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Temporal trends of the prevalence and incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been well established in Asian populations. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Services database, we identified patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HCM between 2010 and 2016. The annual prevalence and incidence of HCM, and their clinical characteristics were investigated.