Objectives: Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) has significantly contributed to the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. This study aimed to construct and validate a QCA-based prediction model, represented as a nomogram, for predicting ischemic lesions defined by invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) ≤ 0.80.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Acad Med Singap
April 2025
Introduction: Outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in patients with heart failure (HF) and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) remain poorly defined.
Method: In a highly vaccinated cohort of adult Singapore citizens and permanent residents, we used Cox proportional hazards models (adjusted for sociodemographic variables and comorbidities) to compare the risks of Omicron infection, COVID-19- related hospitalisation, and severe COVID-19 between indivi-duals with HF or IHD and matched controls without these conditions.
Results: From national databases, we identified 15,426 HF patients matched 1:∼3 to 41,221 controls, and 110,442 IHD patients matched 1:∼2 to 223,843 controls.
Background: Large language model (LLM) offer promise in addressing layperson queries related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. However, the accuracy and consistency of information provided by current general LLMs remain unclear.
Methods: We evaluated capabilities of BARD (Google's bidirectional language model for semantic understanding), ChatGPT-3.
Importance: Asia faces a rapidly rising burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Preventive cardiology efforts may help address the CVD epidemic.
Observations: Solutions to address the CVD burden include a cardiovascular risk assessment framework, improving health screening efforts, better cardiovascular risk factor management, novel innovation strategies encompassing targeted lifestyle measures, and strengthening governmental efforts.
Importance: Asia is home to 60% of the world's population, including the world's 2 most populous countries, India (1.1B) and China (1.2B).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs), such as beta-blockers, antiplatelet drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, and renin-angiotensin system agents, have been associated with reduced risk of mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, this survival benefit conferred by GDMTs in nonagenarians and centenarians (≥ 90 years old) is not well-defined.
Methods: We investigated restricted mean survival times of patients ≥ 90 years of age with first-onset AMI treated with GDMTs from 2007 to 2020 in the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry.
Aim: Physician visual assessment (PVA) in invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is clinically used to determine stenosis severity and guide coronary intervention. However, PVA provides limited information regarding the haemodynamic significance of stenosis. This prospective study aimed to develop a model combining visual diameter stenosis (DS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA)-derived parameters to diagnose ischaemic lesions using invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) with pharmacologically induced maximal hyperaemia as the gold standard.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The integration of cardiovascular genetic (CVG) testing into clinical practice is gaining recognition, but its implementation in the Asian setting has not been widely reported. We present our experience developing a clinical CVG service and analyze its impact on patient care at our center.
Methods: In 2020, the National Heart Centre Singapore collaborated with SingHealth Duke-NUS Genomic Medicine Centre, to establish a comprehensive clinical CVG service.
Objectives: To examine awareness of disease incurability among patients with heart failure over 24 mo and its associations with patient characteristics and patient-reported outcomes (distress, emotional, and spiritual well-being).
Methods: This study analyzed 24-mo data from a prospective cohort study of 251 patients with heart failure (New York Heart Association class III/IV) recruited from inpatient wards in Singapore General Hospital and National Heart Centre Singapore. Patients were asked to report if their doctor told them they were receiving treatment to cure their condition.
Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)-based clot waveform analysis (CWA) is a plasma-based global haemostatic assay. Elevated CWA parameters have been associated with hypercoagulability in venous thromboembolism, but its role in arterial thrombotic disease is uncertain. This study aims to explore the relationship between aPTT-based CWA and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFValue Health Reg Issues
January 2025
Lancet Reg Health West Pac
August 2024
Background: Door-to-balloon time (DTBT) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a performance metric by which primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) services are assessed.
Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with STEMI undergoing PPCI between January 2007 to December 2019 from the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry were included. Patients were stratified based on DTBT (≤60 min, 61-90 min, 91-180 min) and Killip status (I-III vs.
Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging
November 2024
Introduction: In 2022, the Minister for Health of Singapore launched Healthier SG, a national strategy in championing the shift towards a population health approach.
Method: The Singapore Heart Foundation conducted a series of roundtable discussions, also attended by representatives of the Singapore Cardiac Society and the Chapter of Cardiologists of the Academy of Medicine Singapore. During the meetings, the authors formulated interventions supportive of Healthier SG that specifically aimed to uplift the state of cardiovascular (CV) preventive care in Singapore.
Introduction: Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Direct LDL-C measurement is not widely performed. LDL-C is routinely calculated using the Friedewald equation (FLDL), which is inaccurate at high triglyceride (TG) or low LDL-C levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNatural-language artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising technological advancement poised to revolutionise the delivery of healthcare. We aim to explore the quality of ChatGPT in providing medical information regarding a common cardiology procedure-the coronary angiogram-and evaluating the potential opportunities and challenges of patient education through this natural-language AI model in the broader context. In a conversational manner, we asked ChatGPT common questions about undergoing a coronary angiogram according to the areas of: description of procedure, indications, contraindications, complications, alternatives, and follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Cardiovasc Ther
June 2024
Introduction: Anticoagulants play a vital role as part of the antithrombotic therapy of myocardial infarction and are complementary to antiplatelet therapies. In the acute setting, the rationale for their use is to antagonize the ongoing clotting cascade including during percutaneous coronary intervention. Anticoagulation may be an important part of the longer-term antithrombotic strategy especially in patients who have other existing indications (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRare genetic diseases affect 5-8% of the population but are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Electronic health records (EHR) contain large amounts of data, which provide opportunities for analysing and mining. Data mining, in the form of cluster analysis and visualisation, was performed on a database containing deidentified health records of 1.
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