Age-Related Changes in the Clinical Picture of Long COVID.

Background: This study evaluated the impact of aging on the frequency and prevalent symptoms of Long COVID, also termed post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, using a previously developed Long COVID research index (LCRI) of 41 self-reported symptoms in which those with 12 or more points were classified as likely to have Long COVID.

Methods: We analyzed community-dwelling participants ≥ 60 years old (2662 with prior infection, 461 controls) compared to participants 18-59 years (7549 infected, 728 controls) in the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery adult (RECOVER-Adult) cohort ≥ 135 days post-onset.

Results: Compared to the Age 18-39 group, the adjusted odds of LCRI ≥ 12 were higher for the Age 40-49 group (odds ratio [OR] = 1.

Clinical Outcomes for Closure of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defects Following Transseptal SAPIEN Mitral Valve-in-Valve Procedures.

Background: Iatrogenic atrial septal defects (iASD) are created during transseptal (TS) mitral valve-in-valve (MViV) implantation to facilitate access. Although most iASD remain untreated, the outcomes of closing iASD during TS MViV are unclear. This study evaluates outcomes of concomitant iASD closure during TS MViV.

Passive immunotherapy for adults hospitalized with COVID-19: An individual participant data meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials.

Background: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reduce the risk of hospitalization in outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. However, the efficacy of treatment with mAbs and other passive immunotherapies in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 is not clear. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical effect of passive immunotherapy and its heterogeneity according to baseline endogenous neutralizing antibody status and SARS-CoV-2 antigen level, in adults hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19.

1-Year Results From a Multicenter Trial of a Polymer Surgical Mitral Valve: Insights Into New Technology.

Background: Polymer leaflet material may extend the durability of surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) to provide stable long-term hemodynamics. The India Mitral Surgical Trial sought to evaluate the safety and performance of a novel polymer leaflet material as part of a surgical mitral valve (MV) prosthesis.

Objectives: In this study, the authors sought to report 1-year outcomes in patients undergoing SMVR for MV disease using the Tria Mitral Valve (Foldax).

Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Risks in Testicular Cancer Survivors: An Exploratory Case-Crossover Study.

Testicular cancer survivors can experience cardiovascular and respiratory complications due to cancer treatment. We assessed associations between nitrogen dioxide (NO) and ozone (O) air pollution and health care encounters among survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) testicular cancer. A total of 385 AYA testicular cancer survivors, diagnosed 2000-2016, with cardiovascular and/or respiratory health care encounters (emergency department/urgent care [ED/UC], inpatient) were identified using a statewide Utah-based resource.

Physical Function Differences by COVID-19 Status: A Cross-sectional Analysis From the RECOVER Adult Cohort.

Importance: Many adults with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection have persistent limitations, but few studies have examined objective physical function impairment that persist longer than 3 months after infection.

Objective: The objective was to characterize physical function impairment among adults with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Design: This study was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis.

Sex-related differences in survival and safety outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data.

Aims: The impact of sex-related differences on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains inconclusive. This study investigates sex-related differences in survival and safety outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR.

Methods And Results: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until November 2024.

Comparing efficacy and safety between pulsed field ablation, cryoballoon ablation and high-power short duration radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) and high-power short-duration radiofrequency ablation (HPSD) are emerging techniques for treating atrial fibrillation (AF), offering promising results compared to cryoballoon ablation (CBA). This network meta-analysis aims to evaluates the efficacy and safety of PFA, HPSD, and CBA.

Method: PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched for relevant studies until October 2024.

Missense variants in FRS3 affect body mass index in populations of diverse ancestries.

Obesity is associated with adverse effects on health and quality of life. Improved understanding of its underlying pathophysiology is essential for developing counteractive measures. To search for sequence variants with large effects on BMI, we perform a multi-ancestry meta-analysis of 13 genome-wide association studies on BMI, including data derived from 1,534,555 individuals of European ancestry, 339,657 of Asian ancestry, and 130,968 of African ancestry.

Sequencing in over 50,000 cases identifies coding and structural variation underlying atrial fibrillation risk.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent and morbid abnormality of the heart rhythm with a strong genetic component. Here, we meta-analyzed genome and exome sequencing data from 36 studies that included 52,416 AF cases and 277,762 controls. In burden tests of rare coding variation, we identified novel associations between AF and the genes MYBPC3, LMNA, PKP2, FAM189A2 and KDM5B.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide associations and polygenic risk prediction for atrial fibrillation in more than 180,000 cases.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm abnormality and is a leading cause of heart failure and stroke. This large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies increased the power to detect single-nucleotide variant associations and found more than 350 AF-associated genetic loci. We identified candidate genes related to muscle contractility, cardiac muscle development and cell-cell communication at 139 loci.

The association of heart rate with adverse outcomes and recurrent heart failure hospitalization in peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Understanding predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is essential for risk stratification and prognosis. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between heart rate (HR) at diagnosis and adverse outcomes in PPCM.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center cohort study to identify patients with PPCM (1993-2017) who met the inclusion criteria: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, development of heart failure within the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery, and no other identifiable cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Sex Differences in Long COVID.

Importance: A substantial number of individuals worldwide experience long COVID, or post-COVID condition. Other postviral and autoimmune conditions have a female predominance, but whether the same is true for long COVID, especially within different subgroups, is uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate sex differences in the risk of developing long COVID among adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The impact of common and rare genetic variants on bradyarrhythmia development.

To broaden our understanding of bradyarrhythmias and conduction disease, we performed common variant genome-wide association analyses in up to 1.3 million individuals and rare variant burden testing in 460,000 individuals for sinus node dysfunction (SND), distal conduction disease (DCD) and pacemaker (PM) implantation. We identified 13, 31 and 21 common variant loci for SND, DCD and PM, respectively.

Leadless pacemaker implantation in challenging scenarios: A case report series of patients with mechanical tricuspid valves.

Introduction: The advancement of medical technology has introduced leadless pacemakers (LPMs) as a significant innovation in cardiac pacing, offering potential advantages over traditional ventricular transvenous pacemakers. This report explores the application of LPMs in two patients with complex valvular histories, particularly those with mechanical tricuspid valves.

Case Reports: The first case involves a 60-year-old male with a history of rheumatic heart disease and triple valve replacement who developed a high-grade AV block.

Implementing Cancer Registry Data With the PCORnet Common Data Model: The Greater Plains Collaborative Experience.

Purpose: Electronic health records (EHRs) comprise a rich source of real-world data for cancer studies, but they often lack critical structured data elements such as diagnosis date and disease stage. Fortunately, such concepts are available from hospital cancer registries. We describe experiences from integrating cancer registry data with EHR and billing data in an interoperable data model across a multisite clinical research network.

A genome-wide association meta-analysis links hidradenitis suppurativa to common and rare sequence variants causing disruption of the Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.

Background: The contributions of genetic and environmental risk factors to hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are both poorly understood.

Objective: To identify sequence variants that associate with HS and determine the contribution of environmental risk factors and inflammatory diseases to HS pathogenesis.

Methods: A genome-wide association meta-analysis of 4814 HS cases (Denmark: 1977; Iceland: 1266; Finland: 800; UK: 569; and US: 202) and 1.

Factors impacting time to genetic diagnosis for children with epilepsy.

Molecular diagnosis for pediatric epilepsy patients can impact treatment and health supervision recommendations. However, there is little known about factors affecting the time to receive a diagnosis. Our objective was to characterize factors affecting the time from first seizure to molecular diagnosis in children with epilepsy.

Dementia risk reduction between DOACs and VKAs in AF: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) become the recommended treatment over vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, their effectiveness in reducing cognitive impairment and dementia compared to VKA remains unclear.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database.

Clinicoeconomic burden among heart failure patients with severely reduced ejection fraction after hospital admission: HF-RESTORE.

Background: An estimated two-thirds of heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) hospitalized in the United States have a severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <30%). Few studies have categorized patients according to their severity of left ventricular dysfunction beyond an LVEF of <30%.

Methods And Results: Intermountain Health patients (≥18 years) with a primary HF diagnosis, more than or equal to 1 inpatient hospitalization with a primary discharge diagnosis of HF, a documented LVEF of <30%, and a B-type natriuretic peptide >100 pg/mL within 1 year of hospitalization were studied.

Start codon variant in LAG3 is associated with decreased LAG-3 expression and increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is a common autoimmune disease. In a GWAS meta-analysis of 110,945 cases and 1,084,290 controls, 290 sequence variants at 225 loci are associated with AITD. Of these variants, 115 are previously unreported.

Migraine headache in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection: A report of the iSCAD Registry.

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a nonatherosclerotic cause of myocardial infarction. Migraine headache has been reported to be common among patients with SCAD, but the degree of migraine-related disability has not been quantified.

Methods: Clinical data and headache variables were obtained from the baseline assessment of the prospective, multicenter iSCAD Registry.