Outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair as compared to a general and heart failure population.

Background: Information on the use of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in severe mitral regurgitation in national settings is still scarce.

Aims: To compare patient characteristics and one-year rate of all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization in a nationwide cohort of patients undergoing TEER for mitral regurgitation with controls from the background population and patients with HF.

Methods: Using Danish nationwide registries, all patients with first-time TEER (2011-2020) were identified and matched to the background population and a population with first-time admissions with HF on sex, age, and calendar year on a 1:4 ratio.

Impact of statin treatment on postoperative atrial fibrillation in surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery, associated with significant risk of long-term complications. The aim is to investigate the impact of statin treatment on the risk of POAF, and the association of POAF with mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: This population-based observational study was conducted from January 2016 to April 2022, with follow-up data until April 2024.

Changes in afterload and contractility in patients with severe aortic stenosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Aims: In aortic stenosis (AS), estimation of left ventricular (LV) contractility is difficult as most markers of systolic LV function are load-dependent. The ratio of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) to end-systolic wall stress (ESWS), has been widely accepted as a marker of contractility. However, no studies have evaluated if this ratio is affected by loading conditions.

SAPIEN 3 versus Myval transcatheter heart valves for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (COMPARE-TAVI 1): a multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority trial.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a guideline-directed treatment for severe aortic stenosis and degenerated aortic bioprostheses. When new transcatheter heart valve (THV) platforms for TAVI are launched, they should be compared with best-in-practice contemporary THVs for their short-term and long-term performance. The COMPARE-TAVI 1 trial was designed to provide a head-to-head comparison of the SAPIEN 3 or SAPIEN 3 Ultra THVs and the Myval or Myval Octacor THVs.

Aortic Root Replacement Procedures: A Validation Study of the Western Denmark Heart Registry from 1999 to 2022.

: We reviewed data from the Western Danish Heart Registry (WDHR), which collects mandatory information on heart surgeries in Western Denmark, to validate cases with aortic root replacement (ARR) and assess the validity of registered data for all recorded cases. : Patients registered in the WDHR with Danish Health Care Classification System (SKS) codes KFC and KFM from January 1999 to April 2022 were reviewed using electronic medical records. All patients who underwent ARR were included, and clinical data from the WDHR were adjudicated against electronic medical records.

Impact of valvulo-vascular haemodynamics on left ventricular remodelling and the prevalence of discordant moderate aortic stenosis.

Aims: This study aims to describe the prevalence of discordant mild/moderate aortic stenosis (AS) in a population-based study and to identify the mechanisms that lead to reduced stroke volume (SV) and discordant moderate AS.

Methods And Results: Discordant high-gradient (HG)-mild AS, defined as AVA > 1.5 cm2 and mean pressure gradient (MG) of 20-40 mmHg, and discordant low-gradient (LG) moderate AS, defined as AVA 1.

Impact of Mandatory Preoperative Dental Screening on Infective Endocarditis in Patients Undergoing Surgical Valve Replacement.

Background: Guidelines recommend preoperative dental screening (PDS) prior to surgical valve replacement (SVR) to reduce risk of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (IE). Nonetheless, limited data support these recommendations.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of mandatory preoperative dental screening (MPDS) on risk of IE in patients undergoing SVR.

Antithrombotic therapy following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a Danish nationwide study.

Background: Antithrombotic therapy post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been widely debated in the past two decades. Data describing practice patterns of antithrombotic therapy are warranted. This study examined the trends in use of antithrombotic therapy post-TAVI in Denmark.

The role of multi-modality imaging in multiple valvular heart diseases: a clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the European Society of Cardiology.

With this document, the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging provides an Expert Consensus on the role of multi-modality imaging (MMI) in the management of patients with multiple valvular heart disease (MVD). Emphasis is given to the use of MMI to unravel the diagnostic challenges that characterize these patients and to improve risk stratification. Complementing the last European Society of Cardiology and European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery guidelines on valvular heart disease, this Expert Consensus document also outlines how MMI assessment should form an integral part of the multi-disciplinary heart team discussion for patients with MVD to help with complex decision-making regarding the choice and timing of treatment.

Use of artificial intelligence to predict outcomes in mild aortic valve stenosis.

Aims: Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common and progressive disease, which, if left untreated, results in increased morbidity and mortality. Monitoring and follow-up care can be challenging due to significant variability in disease progression. This study aimed to develop machine learning models to predict the risks of disease progression and mortality in patients with mild AS.

Cardiac function and coronary plaque development following masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Myocardial dysfunction and the presence of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques are predictors of cardiovascular disease. Masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy may increase cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for prospective studies to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes during gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate changes in cardiac morphology, systolic and diastolic function, and development of coronary plaques after masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Bacteraemia after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Bacteraemia and infective endocarditis (IE) are rare but severe complications of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Limited data exist on the incidence and microbiological profile of early bacteraemia in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the 6-month incidence of bacteraemia, IE and associated mortality following TAVI.

Lower vs. higher blood pressure targets during intensive care of comatose patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest-a Bayesian analysis of the BOX trial.

Aims: The Blood Pressure and Oxygenation (BOX) targets after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest trial found no statistically significant differences in mortality or neurological outcomes with mean arterial blood pressure targets of 63 vs. 77 mmHg in patients receiving intensive care post-cardiac arrest. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect on 1-year mortality and assess heterogeneity in treatment effects (HTEs) using Bayesian statistics.

[Not Available].

Aortic root aneurysm is a frequent condition, which is associated with increased mortality and morbidity compared to other aortic aneurysms. The treatment relies on surgery, most often with the Bentall procedure or aortic valve-sparing root replacement (AVSRR). AVSRR is a highly specialised treatment associated with increased survival and low incidences of valve-related complications compared to the Bentall procedure.

Grading of Aortic Valve Calcification Severity and Risk Stratification in Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Thresholds of aortic valve calcification (AVC) to define hemodynamically moderate aortic stenosis (AS) from mild are lacking. We aimed to establish a novel grading classification of AVC as quantified by computed tomography and determine its prognostic value.

Methods And Results: This study included 915 patients with at least mild AS (mean age 70±12 years, 30% women) from a multicenter prospective registry.

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis.

Importance: Guidelines recommend the use of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%. However, a paucity of DSE data exists when LVEF >35%.

Objective: To examine the diagnostic accuracy of DSE in patients with low-gradient AS with a wide range of LVEF and to examine the interaction between the diagnostic accuracy of DSE and LVEF.

Effects of Vitamin K2 and D Supplementation on Coronary Artery Disease in Men: A RCT.

Background: Extent and progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) are strong predictors of myocardial infarction and mortality.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate if vitamin K2 and D supplementation can reduce CAC progression.

Methods: A total of 389 participants were randomized to supplementation with vitamin K2 (720 μg/day) and D (25 μg/day) vs placebo in a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Cardiac Damage in Early Aortic Stenosis: Is the Valve to Blame?

Background: Despite the close association between aortic stenosis (AS) and cardiac damage (CD), it is unclear if CD is limited to patients with moderate and severe AS and which factors affect its progression. Although altered valvular hemodynamic status may drive the development of CD in AS, commonly occurring comorbidities may contribute.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with CD in mild AS.

Impact of Blood Pressure Targets in Patients With Heart Failure Undergoing Postresuscitation Care: A Subgroup Analysis From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: To assess the effect of targeting higher or lower blood pressure during postresucitation intensive care among comatose patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with a history of heart failure.

Methods: The BOX trial (Blood Pressure and Oxygenation Targets After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest) was a randomized, controlled, double-blinded, multicenter study comparing titration of vasopressors toward a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 63 versus 77 mm Hg during postresuscitation intensive care. Patients with a history of heart failure were included in this substudy.

Low body mass index and risk of mortality after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair procedure: The "obesity paradox".

Background: Most patients undergoing the mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) technique are elderly comorbid patients. Low body mass index (BMI) < 23 kg/m has been identified in other elderly populations as a risk factor, but has not been studied sufficiently in mitral TEER.

Aims: We aimed to study the impact of low BMI (23 kg/m2) on the outcome after mitral TEER.