The Prognostic Implication of Left Atrial Strain Parameters with Conventional Left Atrial Parameters for the Prediction of Adverse Outcomes in Asian Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-An Echocardiographic Study.

Background/objectives: Left atrial function can be a tool for risk stratification for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Over the past decade, there has been growing interest in the application of strain analysis for earlier and more accurate prediction of cardiovascular disease prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the performance of left atrial strain analysis compared to conventional left atrial measures in predicting clinical outcomes in Asian patients with HCM.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Obstructive and Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac condition, but the risk factors and outcomes of patients with obstructive (HOCM) and non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NOCM) remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the risk ratio (RR), incidence, and risk factors of all-cause and HCM-specific mortality.

Methods: This PRISMA-adherent systematic review involved a systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase for studies published from 1 January 2001 to 31 August 2023 that reported outcomes of patients with HOCM and NOCM.

Longitudinal Outcomes of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction in Aortic Stenosis Versus Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Aortic stenosis (AS) and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) are two disease entities that result in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. We sought to evaluate the longitudinal outcomes of fixed obstruction in severe valvular AS versus dynamic flow obstruction in HOCM. : Consecutive data with index echocardiographic diagnoses of severe AS and HOCM were collected in a tertiary academic centre between 2010 and 2017.

Global prevalence of myocardial fibrosis among individuals with cardiometabolic conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Cardiometabolic conditions including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and obesity are significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a complication and final common pathway of these conditions, potentially leading to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death. Existing reviews explored pathophysiological changes and treatment of MF, but the global prevalence of MF among individuals with cardiometabolic conditions remains limited.

Incidental finding of MELAS in a young woman with decompensated heart failure and end stage kidney disease: a case report.

Background: Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a rare and progressive mitochondrial disorder characterized by multi-systemic involvement. This disease manifests in various clinical manifestations, with heart and kidney disorders being among the most common. Accurate diagnosis of MELAS often necessitates a range of complex investigations.

Describing and Mapping the Research Trend of Scientific Publications on Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Across Four Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Objectives: To perform a bibliometric analysis of publications of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) from 1981 to 2023 to summarize the current publications and explore frontiers on this topic.

Methods: We integrated the scientific publications on ARVC in the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection database from January 1981 to September 2023, using the retrieval strategy of medical subject headings combined with keywords. We focused on articles and reviews that were published in English.

Prognostic performance of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor for heart failure or mortality in Western and Asian patients with acute breathlessness.

Aims: The performance of circulating soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) for predicting the composite endpoint of subsequent heart failure (HF) hospitalisation and/or death at 1 year was assessed in (i) patients with undifferentiated breathlessness, and generalisability was compared in (ii) disparate Western versus Asian sub-cohorts, and in (iii) the sub-cohort adjudicated with HF.

Methods And Results: Patients with acute breathlessness were recruited from the emergency departments in New Zealand (NZ, n = 612) and Singapore (n = 483). suPAR measured in the presentation samples was higher in patients incurring the endpoint (n = 281) compared with survivors (5.

The Role of Exercise-based Cardiac Rehabilitation in Heart Failure.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) is a treatment modality for patients with heart failure (HF) that has withstood the test of time. It has continued to show benefits even in the current era of pharmacotherapeutics for HF. Participation in a multidisciplinary comprehensive EBCR programme reduces mortality and morbidity, has a multitude of physiological benefits, and improves cardiovascular risk factor control and quality of life.

Cost-Effectiveness of Empagliflozin on Top of Standard of Care for Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction in Singapore.

Objectives: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) and its risk factors are high in Singapore. The EMPEROR-Reduced trial demonstrated that add-on empagliflozin resulted in a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF compared with standard of care (SoC). This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin+SoC versus SoC in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction from a Singaporean healthcare perspective.

Microaxial Left Ventricular Assist Device in Cardiogenic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Microaxial left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly used to support patients with cardiogenic shock; however, outcome results are limited to single-center studies, registry data and select reviews. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching three databases for relevant studies reporting on microaxial LVAD use in adults with cardiogenic shock. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian and Laird) based on short-term mortality (primary outcome), long-term mortality and device complications (secondary outcomes).

Ischaemic events in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with and without atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy predisposes to acute cerebrovascular events including ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack and systemic thromboembolism. Atrial fibrillation confers even higher risk. We aim to report the incidence of these complications and to investigate the impact of atrial fibrillation on the ischaemic risk in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Prevalence and incidence of stroke, white matter hyperintensities, and silent brain infarcts in patients with chronic heart failure: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is associated with ischemic stroke (IS). However, there are limited studies on the prevalence of IS, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and silent brain infarcts (SBIs). Furthermore, interaction with ejection fraction (EF) is unclear.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cardiac Amyloidosis in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Heart failure is also one of the most common presentations of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Contemporary epidemiological data of CA in HF patients is lacking.

Prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment and dementia in heart failure - A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Introduction: The burden of cognitive impairment in heart failure (HF) patients is significant and leads to longer hospital stay, higher readmission rates, and increased mortality. This review seeks to synthesize the available studies to determine the prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment and dementia in HF patients.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, PsychoINFO, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched from their inception through to May 3, 2021.

Clinical recommendations to diagnose and monitor patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in Asia.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a debilitating and life-threatening condition with a heterogeneous clinical presentation. Recent guidelines from the United States and Europe have been published to guide clinical practice and to facilitate management conformity by covering current diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with ATTR-CM. These guidelines highlight the importance of an early diagnosis to optimize therapeutic outcomes, specifying the use of tests and imaging techniques to allow accurate, noninvasive diagnosis of ATTR-CM.

Utility and pitfalls of the electrocardiogram in the evaluation of cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Cardiac amyloidosis is a protein misfolding disorder involving deposition of amyloid fibril proteins in the heart. The associated fibrosis of the conduction tissue results in conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias. "Classical" electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in cardiac amyloidosis include that of low voltage complexes with increased left ventricular wall thickness on echocardiography.

Evaluating the Initiation of Sodium/Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors within 2 Weeks of an Acute Hospital Admission: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nine Clinical Trials.

Objective: Recent studies have increasingly shown the benefits of using sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). However, there are concerns regarding the initiation of SGLT2i during acute hospital admissions due to the potential increased risk of complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i initiation within 2 weeks of an acute hospital admission.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease association with structural heart, systolic and diastolic dysfunction: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Several studies have documented a relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and structural heart disease, particularly diastolic function. This meta-analysis will be the first to examine the echocardiographic-derived cardiac function and structural characteristics in NAFLD patients, and its association with liver disease severity and metabolic profile.

Methods: Medline and Embase were searched and pairwise meta-analysis was conducted in DerSimonian and Laird to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively, to compare the effects of NAFLD on the echocardiography parameters.