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BackgroundHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the prevalent inherited cardiomyopathy and a major contributor to sudden death and heart failure in young adults. Although depression has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease, the relationship between anxiety and HCM clinical outcomes has not been addressed. We aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in patients with HCM and the association between anxiety and adverse prognosis in this population.MethodsA total of 793 patients with HCM were prospectively enrolled and followed up for a mean of 4.1 years from March 2014 to January 2018. The primary endpoint was sudden cardiac death (SCD) events, and the secondary endpoint was HCM-related heart failure events. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) during outpatient visits or hospital stays.ResultsElevated scores on the HADS anxiety subscale (HADS-A ≥ 8) were defined as clinically significant anxiety. SCD and HCM-related heart failure events occurred in 76 and 149 patients, respectively, during the follow-up period. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated the significant association of anxiety with SCD events (log-rank P = 0.012) and HCM-related heart failure events (log-rank P = 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed anxiety as a predictor of SCD events and HCM-related heart failure events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–2.04, P = 0.03; adjusted HR = 2.9,2 95% CI = 1.73–4.03, P < 0.001), independent of conventional risk factors and depression. Besides, patients with comorbid anxiety and depression showed a fourfold higher risk of heart failure events and 3.5-fold higher risk of SCD versus those with neither (adjusted HR = 4.08, 95% CI = 2.76–5.91, P < 0.001; adjusted HR = 3.52, 95% CI = 2.24–4.67, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsAnxiety was prevalent among Chinese patients with HCM, and it was independently associated with a higher risk of SCD and HCM-related heart failure events, particularly when comorbid with depression. Psychological assessment and intervention should be considered to alleviate anxiety symptoms in this population.Clinical Trial Registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2000040759.

BackgroundA pocket hematoma is a well-recognized complication that occurs after pacemaker or defibrillator implantation. It is associated with increased pocket infection and hospital stay. Patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and undergoing cardiovascular electronic implantable device (CIED) surgery are widely prescribed and treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). In this study, the use of a novel compression device was evaluated to examine its ability to decrease the incidence of pocket hematomas following device implantation with uninterrupted DOACs.MethodsA total of 204 participants who received DOACs and underwent CIED implantation were randomized into an experimental group (novel compression device) and a control group (elastic adhesive tape with a sandbag). The primary outcome was pocket hematoma, and the secondary outcomes were skin erosions and patient comfort score. Grade 3 hematoma was defined as a hematoma that required anticoagulation therapy interruption, re-operation, or prolonged hospital stay.ResultsThe baseline characteristics of both groups had no significant differences. The incidence of grades 1 and 2 hematomas was significantly lower in the compression device group than in the conventional pressure dressing group (7.8 vs. 23.5 and 2.0 vs. 5.9%, respectively; P < 0.01). Grade 3 hematoma occurred in 2 of 102 patients in the experimental group and 7 of 102 patients in the control group (2.0 vs. 6.9%; P = 0.03). The incidence rates of skin erosion were significantly lower, and the patient comfort score was much higher in the compression device group than in the control group (P < 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the use of novel compression device was a significant protective factor for pocket hematoma (OR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.29–0.69, P = 0.01).ConclusionsThe incidence of pocket hematomas and skin erosions significantly decreases when the proposed compression device is used for patients undergoing device implantation with uninterrupted DOACs. Thus, the length of hospital stay and re-operation rate can be reduced, and patient comfort can be improved.Clinical Trial Registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2100049430.

BackgroundMyocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous entity with varying underlying etiologies and occurs in ~5–10% of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Sleep disorders and short sleep duration are common phenomena experienced by patients with coronary heart disease and are associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, the association between sleep quality, sleep duration, and the MINOCA prognosis is less clear.MethodsWe performed a prospective observational study of 607 patients with MINOCA between February 2016 and June 2018. The mean follow-up period was 3.9 years. Sleep quality and sleep duration were measured by the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and the secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure hospitalization.ResultsDuring the follow-up period, all-cause death occurred in 69 participants and 105 participants developed MACE. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significant association between poor sleep quality and all-cause mortality (log-rank P = 0.005) and MACE (log-rank P = 0.004). Multivariable Cox regression model indicated that poor sleep quality was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality as well as MACE [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.649; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.124–2.790; P < 0.001; and adjusted HR = 1.432; 95% CI, 1.043–2.004; P = 0.003, respectively]. For sleep duration, short sleep duration (8 h/d). A poorer sleep profile (including poor sleep quality and short sleep duration) was associated with a 149.4% increased risk of death (HR = 2.494; 95% CI, 1.754–4.562; P < 0.001) and a 96.7% increased risk of MACE (HR = 1.967; 95% CI, 1.442–3.639; P < 0.001) than those with neither.ConclusionSleep disorders were common among Chinese patients with MINOCA. Poor sleep quality and short sleep duration were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and MACE in the MINOCA population. Meanwhile, a poor sleep profile has an additive effect with regard to cardiovascular risks; in these populations, efforts should be made to improve both sleep quality and sleep duration for secondary cardiovascular prevention.Clinical Trial Registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2000040701.

Background and Aims: Weight-loss diets reduce body weight and improve blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Intermittent energy restriction (IER) is an alternative to continuous energy restriction (CER) for weight reduction. We aimed to compare the effects of IER with those of CER on blood pressure control and weight loss in overweight and obese patients with hypertension during a 6-month period.Methods: Two hundred and five overweight or obese participants (BMI 28.7 kg/m2) with hypertension were randomized to IER (5:2 diet, a very-low-calorie diet for 2 days per week, 500 kcal/day for women and 600 kcal/day for men, along with 5 days of a habitual diet) compared to a moderate CER diet (1,000 kcal/day for women and 1,200 kcal/day for men) for 6 months. The primary outcomes of this study were changes in blood pressure and weight, and the secondary outcomes were changes in body composition, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and blood lipids.Results: Of the 205 randomized participants (118 women and 87 men; mean [SD] age, 50.2 [8.9] years; mean [SD] body mass index, 28.7 [2.6]; mean [SD] systolic blood pressure, 143 [10] mmHg; and mean [SD] diastolic blood pressure, 91 [9] mmHg), 173 completed the study. The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that IER and CER are equally effective for weight loss and blood pressure control: the mean (SEM) weight change with IER was −7.0 [0.6] kg vs. −6.8 [0.6] kg with CER, the mean (SEM) systolic blood pressure with IER was −7 [0.7] mmHg vs. −7 [0.6] mmHg with CER, and the mean (SEM) diastolic blood pressure with IER was −6 [0.5] mmHg vs. −5 [0.5] mmHg with CER, (diet by time P = 0.62, 0.39, and 0.41, respectively). There were favorable improvements in body composition, HbA1c, and blood lipid levels, with no differences between groups. Effects did not differ according to completer analysis. No severe hypoglycemia occurred in either group during the trial.Conclusions: Intermittent energy restriction is an effective alternative diet strategy for weight loss and blood pressure control and is comparable to CER in overweight and obese patients with hypertension.Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2000040468.

Background and Aims: Myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) occurs in 5–10% of all patients with acute myocardial infarction. Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but the relationship of OSAHS and outcomes in patients with MINOCA remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between OSAHS and clinical outcomes in patients with MINOCA.Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2016, we carried out a consecutive cohort study of 583 patients with MINOCA and followed them up for 3 years. An apnea-hypopnea index of ≥ 15 events per hour recorded by polysomnography was defined as the diagnostic criterion for OSAHS. The primary end point was all-cause mortality, and the second end point was major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiovascular-related rehospitalization, and stroke.Results: All-cause mortality happened in 69 patients and MACCE occurred in 113 patients during the 3-year follow-up. Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated the significant relationship of OSAHS with all-cause mortality (log-rank P = 0.012) and MACCE (log-rank P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated OSAHS as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and MACCE [adjusted hazard ratio: 1.706; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.286–2.423; P = 0.008; and adjusted hazard ratio: 1.733; 95% CI: 1.201–2.389; P < 0.001; respectively], independent of age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors and discharge medications.Conclusions: OSAHS is independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and MACCE in patients with MINOCA. Intervention and treatment should be considered to alleviate OSAHS-associated risk.