Cardiac function and pulmonary hypertension in Central Asian highlanders at 3250 m

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 1902474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Lichtblau ◽  
Stéphanie Saxer ◽  
Michael Furian ◽  
Laura Mayer ◽  
Patrick R. Bader ◽  
...  

The question addressed by the studyChronic exposure to hypoxia increases pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in highlanders, but the criteria for diagnosis of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) are debated. We assessed cardiac function and PAP in highlanders at 3250 m and explored HAPH prevalence using different definitions.Patients and methodsCentral Asian highlanders free of overt cardiorespiratory disease, permanently living at 2500–3500 m compared to age-matched lowlanders living <800 m. Participants underwent echocardiography close to their altitude of residence (at 3250 m versus 760 m).Results173 participants (97 highlanders, 76 lowlanders), mean±sd age 49±9 years (49% females) completed the study. Results in lowlanders versus highlanders were systolic PAP (23±5 versus 30±10 mmHg), right ventricular fractional area change (42±6% versus 39±8%), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (2.1±0.3 versus 2.0±0.3 cm), right atrial volume index (20±6 versus 23±8 mL·m−2), left ventricular ejection fraction (62±4% versus 57±5%) and stroke volume (64±10 versus 57±11 mL); all between-group comparisons p<0.05. Depending on criteria, HAPH prevalence varied between 6% and 35%.The answer to the questionChronic exposure to hypoxia in highlanders is associated with higher PAP and slight alterations in right and left heart function compared to lowlanders. The prevalence of HAPH in this large highlander cohort varies between 6% according to expert consensus definition of chronic high-altitude disease to 35% according to the most recent definition of pulmonary hypertension proposed for lowlanders.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M F Dietz ◽  
E A Prihadi ◽  
P Van Der Bijl ◽  
N Ajmone Marsan ◽  
V Delgado ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can be caused by atrial fibrillation (AF) in the absence of left-sided heart disease or pulmonary hypertension. The prognostic impact of AF-TR has not been investigated. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of TR in AF patients who do not show left-sided heart disease, pulmonary hypertension or primary structural abnormalities. Methods A total of 63 AF patients with moderate and severe TR were identified and matched by age and gender to 116 patients with AF without significant TR, resulting in a total study population of 179 patients (mean age 71±7 years, 59% male). As per design of the study, patients with primary TR, significant (moderate or severe) aortic and/or mitral valve disease, previous valvular surgery, congenital heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, systolic pulmonary artery pressure >40mmHg, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads in situ were excluded as well as patients with AF de novo. Patients were followed for the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, hospitalization for heart failure and stroke. Results Patients with AF-TR had more often paroxysmal AF as compared to patients without TR (60% vs. 43%, p=0.028). In addition, right atrial volumes and the tricuspid annulus diameter (TAD) were significantly larger in patients with AF-TR compared to their counterparts (p<0.001 for all). Furthermore, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion was significantly lower in patients with AF-TR (17±5 mm vs. 21±6 mm, p<0.001). During follow-up (median 62 [32–95] months) 55 events for the combined endpoint occurred. One- and 5-year event-free survival rates for patients with TR were 71% and 53%, compared to 92% and 85% for patients without TR, respectively (Log rank Chi-Square p<0.001; Figure). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, gender, NYHA functional class >2, renal function, right ventricular (RV) function and TAD, the presence of significant TR was independently associated with the combined endpoint (HR, 2.495; 95% CI, 1.167–5.335; p=0.018), while RV function was not (HR, 1.026; 95% CI, 0.971–1.085; p=0.364). Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curves Conclusion In the absence of left-sided heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, significant TR is independently associated with worse event-free survival in patients with AF.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Fredholm ◽  
S E Ricksten ◽  
K Karason ◽  
S E Bartfay ◽  
G Dellgren ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and aim The occurrence of right ventricular failure (RVF) in patients with chronic left heart disease (LHD) has important therapeutic and prognostic consequences. Echocardiography (Echo) parameters describing the RV longitudinal function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, TAPSE; peak systolic free wall longitudinal strain, RV-Str; tricuspid annulus peak systolic velocity, TAPSm) are today commonly used to define RV dysfunction. In the present study we hypothesised that these parameters are load dependent. Methods We retrospectively included 66 patients with LHD (age 52 ± 13 years, males 79%) that underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) and Echo within 48 hours. RHC was performed as part of diagnostic- or pre-transplant work-up. Fifty-six patients (85%) had left ventricular ejection fraction &lt; 40%. From RHC data the patients were divided into three groups: Patients with RV decompensation and increased right atrial pressure (RAP) ≥10 mmHg (iRAP, n = 21), with normal RAP but reduced stroke volume index (SVI &lt; 35 mL/m2) (rSVI, n = 21) and with normal RAP and normal SVI (nSVI, n = 24). Results Patients with iRAP had compared with rSVI/nSVI more advanced LHD with higher PAMP, PCWP and larger RV diastolic area (RVdA). TAPSE, RV-Str and FAC did not differ between iRAP and rSVI patients. The ratio RVdA/RV-Str was significantly higher in iRAP patients compared with rSVI and nSVI. The rSVI and nSVI patients did not differ regarding RAP response during supine exercise (P = 0.84). Conclusions Reduced RV longitudinal function in patients with chronic LHD and normal RAP can be due to left ventricular forward failure and not RV systolic dysfunction. iRAP (n = 21) rSVI (n = 21) nSVI (n = 24) Overall P-value iRAP vs rSVI iRAP vs nSVI rSVI vs nSVI RAP (mmHg) 13 ± 2 5 ± 3 4 ± 2 &lt;0.001 &lt;0.001 &lt;0.001 0.34 PAMP (mmHg) 33 ± 8 24 ± 8 22±] &lt;0.001 0.001 &lt;0.001 0.34 PCWP (mmHg) 22 ± 5 16 ± 8 11 ± 6 &lt;0.001 0.003 &lt;0.001 0.025 CI (l/min/m2) 2.2 ± 0.4 2.2 ± 0.4 2.8 ± 0.5 &lt;0.001 0.75 &lt;0.001 &lt;0.001 PVR (Wood unit) 2.6 ± 1.2 1.5 ± 1.6 1.9 ± 1.0 0.032 0.022 0.035 0.60 RVdA (cm2) 26 ± 7 21 ± 7 21 ± 5 0.012 0.007 0.017 0.63 TAPSE (mm) 12 ± 3 13 ± 3 18 ± 6 &lt;0.001 0.28 &lt;0.001 0.001 TAPSm (cm/s) 8 ± 2 8 ± 2 10 ± 4 0.06 - - - RV-str (%) -15 ± 5 -17 ± 5 -21 ± 6 0.002 0.11 0.001 0.028 FAC (%) 28 ± 9 29 ± 11 39 ± 11 &lt;0.001 0.72 0.001 0.003 RVdA/RV-str (cm2/%) 2.2 ± 1.3 1.3 ± 0.7 1.1 ± 0.6 &lt;0.001 0.013 0.001 0.27


Open Heart ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e001104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahrai Saeed ◽  
Jenna Smith ◽  
Karine Grigoryan ◽  
Stig Urheim ◽  
John B Chambers ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe true prevalence and disease burden of moderate or severe (significant) tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients undergoing routine echocardiography remains unknown. Our aim was to explore the prevalence of significant TR and the impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on outcome in a less selected cohort of patients referred to echocardiography.MethodsFrom 12 791 echocardiograms performed between January and December 2010, a total of 209 (1.6%) patients (72±14 years, 56% men) were identified with significant TR; 123 (0.96%) with moderate and 86 (0.67%) with severe TR. Median follow-up time was 80 months (mean 70±33 months). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was derived from peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitant jet plus the right atrial pressure and considered elevated if ≥40 mm Hg (PH).ResultsDuring follow-up there were 123 (59%) deaths with no difference in mortality between moderate and severe TR (p=0.456). The death rates were 93 (67%) in patients with PH versus 30 (42%) without PH (p<0.001). PH was associated with lower event-free survival in moderate (log-rank, p<0.001), but not in severe TR (log-rank, p=0.133). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, smoking, coronary artery disease, reduced right ventricle S′, lower left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline, right atrium size and mitral valve replacement, PH remained a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (HR 2.22; 95% CI 1.41 to 3.47, p=0.001).ConclusionsModerate or severe TR was found in 1.6% of patients attending for routine echocardiograms. PH identified a high-risk subset of patients with moderate TR but not with severe TR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Baturova ◽  
A Svensson ◽  
J H Svendsen ◽  
H Bundgaard ◽  
J Carlson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Recent studies in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) support atrial involvement in the disease progression and consider atrial fibrillation (AF) as one of the primary manifestations of ARVC. We aimed to assess clinical factors, components of 2010 Task Force criteria (TFC2010) and echocardiographic characteristics of atria associated with AF in the Scandinavian cohort of ARVC patients. Methods Study sample comprised of 106 definite ARVC patients by TFC2010 from three tertiary care centers participating in the Nordic ARVC Registry (33% females, median age at ARVC diagnosis 41 years [IQR 30–54 years]). No concomitant diseases were observed in 90 patients (85%) while 16 patients had one or more comorbidities: hypertension (n=6), diabetes mellitus (n=5), coronary artery disease (n=5) or congestive heart failure (n=9). AF was included in the registry protocol as a pre-specified clinical event and verified by processing of the electronic ECG databases which contains all ECG recordings from the involved hospitals catchment areas (earliest ECG from 1988). Left (LA) and right atrial (RA) dimensions were obtained by revisiting cardiac ultrasound examinations performed at the time of ARVC diagnosis. Association between AF and clinical characteristics was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender. Results AF was diagnosed in 29 patients (27%) at a median age of 53 (IQR 38–63) years, 7 females (24%). Median time from ARVC diagnosis to AF onset was 8 (IQR 2–12) years. AF was univariately associated with right ventricular structural abnormalities meeting the definition of major imaging criterion by 2010TFC, ventricular tachycardia (VT) with superior axis (major criterion) and LA volume index. Significantly associated variables were included in a multivariate model, in which LA volume index (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p=0.021) and superior axis VT (OR=7.45, 95% CI 1.82–30.55, p=0.005) remained independently associated with AF. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, LA volume index was significantly associated with AF (AUC=0.703, p=0.005) and with superior axis VT (AUC=0.703, p=0.021). AF was not associated with either RA volume index (univariate OR=1.03, 95% CI 0.99–1.06, p=0.203) or left ventricular ejection fraction (OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.92–1.03, p=0.299). Conclusion In patients with ARVC,AF is primarily associated with LA structural abnormalities without indication of RA involvement and is strongly associated with ventricular arrhythmias thus indicating parallel development of atrial and ventricular arrhythmic substrate.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1752
Author(s):  
Joanna Petryka-Mazurkiewicz ◽  
Karolina Kryczka ◽  
Łukasz Mazurkiewicz ◽  
Barbara Miłosz-Wieczorek ◽  
Mateusz Śpiewak ◽  
...  

Background: Peripartum (PPCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies are distinct forms of cardiac disease that share certain aspects in clinical presentation. Aim: We hypothesized that different cardiac structural changes underlie PPCM and DCM, and we aimed to investigate them with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods: We included 21 PPCM patients (30.5 ± 5.9 years) and 30 female DCM patients (41.5 ± 16.8 years) matched for left ventricular ejection fraction. Biventricular and biatrial volumetric and functional parameters were assessed along with ventricular and atrial strain indices based on feature-tracking techniques. The presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was also assessed. Results: In PPCM, the left ventricular (LV) stroke volume index was lower (p = 0.04), right atrial (RA) minimal and pre-systolic volumes were higher (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively), and the total RA ejection fraction was lower (p = 0.02) in comparison to DCM. Moreover, in PPCM, the LV global longitudinal strain (p = 0.03), global circumferential strain rate (p = 0.04), and global longitudinal strain rate (p < 0.01) were less impaired than in DCM. Both PPCM and DCM patients with LGE had more dilated ventricles and more impaired LV and left atrial function than in PPCM and DCM patients without LGE. Conclusions: Subtle differences appear on CMR between PPCM and DCM. Most importantly, the RA is larger and more impaired, and LV global longitudinal strain is less reduced in PPCM than in DCM. Furthermore, similarly to DCM, PPCM patients with LGE have more dilated and impaired ventricles than patients without LGE.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Jaroszyński ◽  
T. T. Schlegel ◽  
T. Zaborowski ◽  
T. Zapolski ◽  
W. Załuska ◽  
...  

AbstractPulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with increased mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The ventricular gradient optimized for right ventricular pressure overload (VG-RVPO) is sensitive to early changes in right ventricular overload. The study aimed to assess the ability of the VG-RVPO to detect PHT and predict all-cause and cardiac mortality in HD patients. 265 selected HD patients were enrolled. Clinical, biochemical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. Patients were divided into normal and abnormal VG-RVPO groups, and were followed-up for 3 years. Abnormal VG-RVPO patients were more likely to be at high or intermediate risk for PHT, were older, had longer HD vintage, higher prevalence of myocardial infarction, higher parathormone levels, shorter pulmonary flow acceleration time, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher values of left atrial volume index, left ventricular mass index, and peak tricuspid regurgitant velocity. Both all-cause and CV mortality were higher in abnormal VG-RVPO group. In multivariate Cox analysis, VG-RVPO remained an independent and strong predictor of all-cause and CV mortality. In HD patients, abnormal VG-RVPO not only predicts PHT, but also all-cause and CV mortality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
Lucian Florin Dorobantu ◽  
Ovidiu Chioncel ◽  
Alexandra Pasare ◽  
Dorin Lucian Usurelu ◽  
Ioan Serban Bubenek-Turconi ◽  
...  

Myxomas comprise 50% of all benign cardiac tumors in adults, with the right atrium as their second most frequent site of origin. Surgical resection is the only effective therapeutic option for patients with these tumors. The association between right atrial myxomas and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction is extremely rare and makes treatment even more challenging. This was the case for our patient, a 47-year-old male with a right atrial mass and a severely impaired left ventricular function, with a 20% ejection fraction. Global enlargement of the heart was also noted, with moderate right ventricular dysfunction. The tumor was successfully excised using the on-pump beating heart technique, with an immediate postoperative improvement of the left ventricular ejection fraction to 35%. The technique proved useful, with no increased risk to the patient.


2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57
Author(s):  
Daniela Maria Cardinale ◽  
Martina Zaninotto ◽  
Carlo Maria Cipolla ◽  
Claudio Passino ◽  
Mario Plebani ◽  
...  

AbstractDrug-induced cardiotoxicity is a major clinical problem; cardiotoxic drugs may induce both cardiac dysfunction and myocardial injury. Several recent studies reported that cardiac troponins measured with high-sensitivity methods (hs-cTn) can enable the early detection of myocardial injury related to chemotherapy or abuse of drugs that are potentially cardiotoxic. Several authors have some concerns about the standard definition of cardiotoxicity, in particular, regarding the early evaluation of chemotherapy cardiotoxicity in cancer patients. Several recent studies using the hs-cTn assay indicate that myocardial injury may precede by some months or years the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) based on the evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Accordingly, hs-cTn assay should considered to be a reliable laboratory test for the early detection of asymptomatic or subclinical cardiotoxic damage in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. In accordance with the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction and also taking into account the recent experimental and clinical evidences, the definition of drug-cardiotoxicity should be updated considering the early evaluation of myocardial injury by means of hs-cTn assay. It is conceivable that the combined use of hs-cTn assay and cardiac imaging techniques for the evaluation of cardiotoxicity will significantly increase both diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, and also better prevent chemotherapy-related left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and other adverse cardiac events. However, large randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of standardized protocols for the early detection of cardiotoxicity using hs-cTn assay in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. IMI.S13939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandi Hari Krishna ◽  
Pravati Pal ◽  
G. K. Pal ◽  
J. Balachander ◽  
E. Jayasettiaseelon ◽  
...  

Aims The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether yoga training in addition to standard medical therapy can improve cardiac function and reduce N terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro BNP) in heart failure (HF). Methods 130 patients were recruited and randomized into two groups: Control Group (CG) ( n = 65), Yoga Group (YG). In YG, 44 patients and in CG, 48 patients completed the study. Cardiac function using left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial performance index (Tei index), and NT pro BNP, a biomarker of HF, was assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Result Improvement in LVEF, Tei index, and NT pro BNP were statistically significant in both the groups. Furthermore, when the changes in before and after 12 weeks were in percentage, LVEF increased 36.88% in the YG and 16.9% in the CG, Tei index was reduced 27.87% in the YG and 2.79% in the CG, NT pro BNP was reduced 63.75% in the YG and 10.77% in the CG. The between group comparisons from pre to post 12 weeks were significant for YG improvements (LVEF, P < 0.01, Tei index, P < 0.01, NT pro BNP, P < 0.01). Conclusion These results indicate that the addition of yoga therapy to standard medical therapy for HF patients has a markedly better effect on cardiac function and reduced myocardial stress measured using NT pro BNP in patients with stable HF.


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