scholarly journals Echocardiography and EuroSCORE II for the stratification of low-gradient severe aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

Author(s):  
Yan Fan ◽  
Hong Shen ◽  
Brandon Stacey ◽  
David Zhao ◽  
Robert J. Applegate ◽  
...  

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the utility of echocardiography and the EuroSCORE II in stratifying patients with low-gradient severe aortic stenosis (LG SAS) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%) with or without aortic valve intervention (AVI). The study included 323 patients with LG SAS (aortic valve area ≤ 1.0 cm2 and mean pressure gradient < 40 mmHg). Patients were divided into two groups: a high-risk group (EuroSCORE II ≥ 4%, n = 115) and a low-risk group (EuroSCORE II < 4%, n = 208). Echocardiographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. All-cause mortality was used as a clinical outcome during mean follow-up of 2 ± 1.3 years. Two-year cumulative survival was significantly lower in the high-risk group than the low-risk patients (62.3% vs. 81.7%, p = 0.001). AVI tended to reduce mortality in the high-risk patients (70% vs. 59%; p = 0.065). It did not significantly reduce mortality in the low-risk patients (82.8% with AVI vs. 81.2%, p = 0.68). Multivariable analysis identified heart failure, renal dysfunction and stroke volume index (SVi) as independent predictors for mortality. The study suggested that individualization of AVI based on risk stratification could be considered in a patient with LG SAS and preserved LVEF.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1764-1764
Author(s):  
Maria Eliana Lai ◽  
Stefania Vacquer ◽  
Alessia Pepe ◽  
Aurelio Maggio ◽  
Maria P. Carta ◽  
...  

Abstract We conducted a 4-yr prospective trial to evaluate the long-term effects of combined deferiprone (DFP)/deferoxamine (DFO) on reversal of cardiac complications in thalassemia major compared to those of DFO alone. Twenty-eight patients (pts) with cardiac disease requiring medication were stratified according to their risk for cardiac death. Fourteen pts were high risk, serum ferritin (SF) > 2500 ug/L on two-thirds of occasions since the onset of cardiac disease. Of those with a SF < 2500 ug/L (low risk), six had progressive decrements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Nine high-risk pts and six low-risk pts were placed on DFP/DFO (DFP, 75 mg/kg/d divided t.i.d.; DFO, 40 – 50 mg/kg over 8 – 12 h at night 5 – 7 d/wk. The others infused DFO alone. If SF fell below 500 ug/L, DFO infusions were reduced to 2 d/wk. Cardiac follow-up (including blood work and ECG) was done at 4-m intervals. M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiograms were done at 4- to 6-m intervals. Cardiac T2* was not available at the beginning of the study. All but eight patients (3 death, 1 refusal, 2 claustrophobic, 2 pacemaker) subsequently had at least one T2* assessment. Routine lab tests were done at 1- to 6-m intervals. Blood counts were done at 7- to 10-d intervals for those taking DFP. Mean follow-up was approximately 40 m. Compliance with DFO was significantly better among low-risk pts in both treatment groups (DFP/DFO, 82% vs 61%; DFO alone, 83% vs 52%) as was that with DFP (94% vs 76%). At baseline, no statistically significant differences were observed between the SF levels, LVEFs or left ventricular shortening fractions (LVSFs) of pts on DFP/DFO or DFO alone in either risk group except for the LVEFs of the low-risk group (DFP/DFO, 56.5% +/− 5.5%; DFO alone, 65.4% +/− 5.0%; p = 0.032). In the high-risk group, four cardiac events (3 deaths, 1 worsening of CHF) occurred in the group getting DFO alone vs none in the DFP/DFO-treated group. The latter pts showed a decrease in SF and an increase in both LVEF and LVSF at the end of study (EOS). The three pts who died (at 17 to 35 m) had increased SFs. These pts were not rescued by IV DFO (98 +/− 12 mg/kg/d). The two DFO-treated pts who survived had marginally improved T2*s (1.5 to 3.0 ms and 7.6 to 8.8 ms) over the year prior to EOS. Only one of the seven evaluable pts on DFP/DFO had a T2* < 10 ms, the others averaging 19.4 +/− 6.7 ms. Among the low-risk pts, those on DFP/DFO showed a reduction in SF and an improvement in both LVEF and LVSF. Those on DFO alone had increased SF but essentially no change in LVEFs or LVSFs. Five pts on DFP/DFO had T2* evaluations. In two pts, T2* rose from 9.0 to 37 ms (38 m) and from 9.3 to 11.8 ms (17 m). The remaining three had T2* values > 20 ms at EOS. Similar results were seen in low-risk pts on DFO alone. These finding clearly support the notion that DFP/DFO has a beneficial effect upon the heart, even in well established disease. Moreover, our finding of low T2* values associated with low SF levels indicates the importance of tailoring treatment to each individual.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique N van Dongen ◽  
Rudolf T Tolsma ◽  
Marion J Fokkert ◽  
Erik A Badings ◽  
Aize van der Sluis ◽  
...  

Background: Pre-hospital risk stratification of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) by the complete HEART score has not yet been assessed. We investigated whether pre-hospital risk stratification of patients with suspected NSTE-ACS using the HEART score is accurate in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Methods: This is a prospective observational study, including 700 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS. Risk stratification was performed by ambulance paramedics, using the HEART score; low risk was defined as HEART score ⩽ 3. Primary endpoint was occurrence of MACE within 45 days after inclusion. Secondary endpoint was myocardial infarction or death. Results: A total of 172 patients (24.6%) were stratified as low risk and 528 patients (75.4%) as intermediate to high risk. Mean age was 53.9 years in the low risk group and 66.7 years in the intermediate to high risk group ( p<0.001), 50% were male in the low risk group versus 60% in the intermediate to high risk group ( p=0.026). MACE occurred in five patients in the low risk group (2.9%) and in 111 (21.0%) patients at intermediate or high risk ( p<0.001). There were no deaths in the low risk group and the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in this group was 1.2%. In the high risk group six patients died (1.1%) and 76 patients had myocardial infarction (14.4%). Conclusions: In suspected NSTE-ACS, pre-hospital risk stratification by ambulance paramedics, including troponin measurement, is accurate in differentiating between low and intermediate to high risk. Future studies should investigate whether transportation of low risk patients to a hospital can be avoided, and whether high risk patients benefit from immediate transfer to a hospital with early coronary angiography possibilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Widowati W ◽  
Akbar SH ◽  
Tin MH

Introduction: Enamel demineralization is associated with decrease in saliva pH due to fermentation of sugar by oral commensal. Thus, exploring the changing pattern of saliva pH is meaningful in dental caries prevention. The aim of this study was to compare the changing pattern of saliva pH after consuming different types of sweeteners (sucrose and maltitol). Methods: It was a case-control study involving 14 male patients attending IIUM dental clinic who were selected with the intention of getting seven patients with high caries risk ( DMFT ≥6) and seven patients with low caries risk (DMFT ≤3) with initial saliva pH interval of 6.5 to7.5. Patients were asked to consume snacks containing 8 gram sucrose and 8 gram maltitol as sweeteners. The changing pH values of the saliva were measured by Waterproof pHTestr 10BNC (Oakton, Vernon Hills, USA) seven times consecutively at 0 (before snack consumption), and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 minutes after snack consumption. The pH values of saliva of patients with low and high caries risk after consuming sucrose and maltitol were statistically analized by using Anova and Tukey-HSD tests at α = 0.05. Result: There were significant differences in saliva pH changes between low-risk group and high-risk group after consuming sucrose and maltitol. Conclusion: The changing patterns of saliva pH in high-risk patients were lower than those of low-risk patients after consuming two types of snacks containing sucrose and maltitol.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Grinberg ◽  
T Bental ◽  
Y Hammer ◽  
A R Assali ◽  
H Vaknin-Assa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Following Myocardial Infarction (MI), patients are at increased risk for recurrent cardiovascular events, particularly during the immediate period. Yet some patients are at higher risk than others, owing to their clinical characteristics and comorbidities, these high-risk patients are less often treated with guideline-recommended therapies. Aim To examine temporal trends in treatment and outcomes of patients with MI according to the TIMI risk score for secondary prevention (TRS2°P), a recently validated risk stratification tool. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients with an acute MI, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and were discharged alive between 2004–2016. Temporal trends were examined in the early (2004–2010) and late (2011–2016) time-periods. Patients were stratified by the TRS2°P to a low (≤1), intermediate (2) or high-risk group (≥3). Clinical outcomes included 30-day MACE (death, MI, target vessel revascularization, coronary artery bypass grafting, unstable angina or stroke) and 1-year mortality. Results Among 4921 patients, 31% were low-risk, 27% intermediate-risk and 42% high-risk. Compared to low and intermediate-risk patients, high-risk patients were older, more commonly female, and had more comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. They presented more often with non ST elevation MI and 3-vessel disease. High-risk patients were less likely to receive drug eluting stents and potent anti-platelet drugs, among other guideline-recommended therapies. Evidently, they experienced higher 30-day MACE (8.1% vs. 3.9% and 2.1% in intermediate and low-risk, respectively, P<0.001) and 1-year mortality (10.4% vs. 3.9% and 1.1% in intermediate and low-risk, respectively, P<0.001). During time, comparing the early to the late-period, the use of potent antiplatelets and statins increased among the entire cohort (P<0.001). However, only the high-risk group demonstrated a significantly lower 30-day MACE (P=0.001). During time, there were no differences in 1-year mortality rate among all risk categories. Temporal trends in 30-day MACE by TRS2°P Conclusion Despite a better application of guideline-recommended therapies, high-risk patients after MI are still relatively undertreated. Nevertheless, they demonstrated the most notable improvement in outcomes over time.


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