Relationship Between Aortic Valve and Mitral Annular Calcification With Coronary Artery Calcification in Asymptomatic Individuals: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses.

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC), mitral annular calcification (MAC), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) all share common atherosclerotic origins. However, the relationship between these entities is not fully understood.

Methods: A total of 722 asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening with serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively selected for analysis.

Impact of the New Definition on the Prognosis of Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Compared to the Classic Definition.

Background And Objectives: The 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines updated the definition of pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study aimed to evaluate implications of the new PH definition.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a single-center right heart catheterization registry (April 2016-July 2023) was conducted.

Exercise Hemodynamics and Sex-Specific Data in Asymptomatic Adults: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

: Understanding normal exercise hemodynamics is essential for assessing individuals with exertional dyspnea. This study utilized exercise echocardiography to gain insights into exercise hemodynamics in asymptomatic middle-aged to older adults without overt cardiovascular disease. : We prospectively enrolled 30 individuals aged 45-75 years without dyspnea, excluding those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% or significant heart/lung diseases.

Differences in risk factors associated with the initiation and progression of mitral annular calcification in asymptomatic individuals.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is hypothesized to be a representation of atherosclerosis and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, the pathophysiology and risk factors associated with MAC development are not fully understood. Using the KOrea Initiatives on Coronary Artery (KOICA) registry, 738 asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening with echocardiography and serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) were included for analysis.

Adherence to Antidiabetic Medication and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background/objectives: Cancer survivors increasingly face cardiovascular disease (CVD), with diabetes as a major risk factor. This study investigates the relationship between adherence to antidiabetic medications and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in cancer patients.

Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, we assessed the clinical outcomes of adult cancer patients prescribed antidiabetic medications.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and clinical outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and diabetes: a population-based cohort study.

Aims: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with a significant risk of arrhythmia and heart failure (HF), yet treatment options for patients with HCM have remained limited. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use and clinical outcomes among patients with concurrent HCM and diabetes in real-world settings.

Methods And Results: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HCM and prescriptions for antidiabetic drugs from 2018 to 2022.

Efficacy of Olmesartan/Amlodipine Single-Pill Combination on 24-h Mean Systolic Blood Pressure Measured by Ambulatory Monitoring in Non-Responders to Valsartan or Candesartan Monotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of olmesartan/amlodipine (OLM/AML) single-pill combination (SPC) therapy using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in non-responders to valsartan or candesartan monotherapy. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is the most prevalent form of hypertension in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Patients aged over 55 years who did not achieve the target systolic blood pressure (SBP < 140 mmHg) with valsartan 80 mg or candesartan 8 mg for at least 4 weeks were included.

Higher serum phosphate within the normal range is associated with the development of calcified aortic valve disease.

Background: Despite the essential role of ectopic osteogenic calcium-phosphate metabolism in the development of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), the implications of high serum phosphate levels in CAVD development are not fully understood.

Methods: Asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening using serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography were selected from a multicenter registry. CAVD was identified and quantified on CT images using the aortic valve calcification (AVC) score.

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction and the role of cardiovascular imaging: systemic review and opinion paper from the Working Group on Cardio-Oncology of the Korean Society of Cardiology.

Cardio-oncology is a critical field due to the escalating significance of cardiovascular toxicity as a side effect of anticancer treatments. Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a prevalent condition associated with cardiovascular toxicity, necessitating effective strategies for prediction, monitoring, management, and tracking. This comprehensive review examines the definition and risk stratification of CTRCD, explores monitoring approaches during anticancer therapy, and highlights specific cardiovascular toxicities linked to various cancer treatments.

Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expandable Valve in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Nation-Wide Study.

A few studies have reported comparative analysis of clinical outcomes between balloon-expandable valve (BEV) and self-expandable valve (SEV) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis using newer-generation devices. However, those reports were mostly limited to short-term outcomes and Western populations. In the present study, data of patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR between March 2016 and December 2018 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service in Korea.

Statement on chronotherapy for the treatment of hypertension: consensus document from the Korean society of hypertension.

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) has been shown to have a significant predictive value for cardiovascular disease. In some cases, it has a superior predictive value for future cardiovascular outcomes than daytime BP. As efficacy of BP medications wanes during nighttime and early morning, control of nocturnal hypertension and morning hypertension can be difficult.

Trans-Aortic Flow Turbulence and Aortic Valve Inflammation: A Pilot Study Using Blood Speckle Imaging and F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Patients With Moderate Aortic Stenosis.

Background: F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-NaF PET/CT) has been proven to be useful in identification of microcalcifications, which are stimulated by inflammation. Blood speckle imaging (BSI) is a new imaging technology used for tracking the flow of blood cells using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We evaluated the relationship between turbulent flow identified by BSI and inflammatory activity of the aortic valve (AV) as indicated by the F-NaF uptake index in moderate aortic stenosis (AS) patients.

Antihypertensive Medication Adherence and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Hypertension is an important cause of morbidity, which predisposes patients to major cardiovascular events and mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the association between adherence to antihypertensive medication and clinical outcomes in adult patients with cancer. Methods and Results Using the 2002 to 2013 Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, we extracted adult patients with cancer treated with antihypertensive medications.

Real-World Comparison of Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in the Era of Current-Generation Devices.

Few studies have reported comparisons of out-of-hospital clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) in the era of current-generation valves that reflect the real-world situation. Data on patients with severe AS aged 65 years or older who underwent TAVR or SAVR between 2015 and 2018 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service in Korea and clinical event rate was analyzed. The primary endpoint was all-cause death at 1 year.

Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and mortality and cardiovascular outcomes after acute myocardial infarction.

The relationship between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) and cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. Our study assessed the prognostic implications of visit-to-visit BPV in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study enrolled 7,375 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for AMI and at least five measurements of blood pressure after hospital discharge.

Candesartan and carvedilol for primary prevention of subclinical cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients without a cardiovascular risk treated with doxorubicin.

Background: There is no proven primary preventive strategy for doxorubicin-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity (DISC), especially among patients without a cardiovascular (CV) risk. We investigated the primary preventive effect on DISC of the concomitant use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or beta-blockers (BBs), especially among breast cancer patients without a CV risk.

Methods: A total of 385 patients who were scheduled for doxorubicin chemotherapy were screened.

Change of right ventricular systolic pressure can indicate dasatinib-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Background: We investigated the feasibility of the clinical application of non-invasive transthoracic echocardiography for diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by dasatinib (D-PAH) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Methods: A total of 451 CML patients who were examined by 2D-echocardiography at least once at baseline and/or during dasatinib therapy as frontline (n = 196) and subsequent line (n = 255) therapies were included in this study. D-PAH was defined as right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) >40 mm Hg with relevant symptoms and the absence of other specific etiologies.

Safety and Efficacy of Pitavastatin in Patients With Impaired Fasting Glucose and Hyperlipidemia: A Randomized, Open-labeled, Multicentered, Phase IV Study.

Purpose: Although the role of high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy in cardiovascular protection has broadened, concerns still exist about new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM), especially in vulnerable patients. This study aimed to compare the effect of high-dose (4 mg/d) and usual dose (2 mg/d) pitavastatin on glucose metabolism in patients with hyperlipidemia and impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

Methods: In this 12-month study, glucose tolerance and lipid-lowering efficacy of high-dose pitavastatin (4 mg [study group]) was compared with that of usual dose pitavastatin (2 mg [control group]) in patients with hyperlipidemia and IFG.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Pitavastatin Versus Pitavastatin/Fenofibrate in High-risk Korean Patients with Mixed Dyslipidemia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blinded, Parallel, Therapeutic Confirmatory Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins are known to effectively reduce not only low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level but also death and nonfatal myocardial infarction due to coronary heart disease. The risk for CVD from atherogenic dyslipidemia persists when elevated triglyceride (TG) and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are not controlled with statin therapy.