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Hypertension is among the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. The artificial intelligence (AI) field is advancing quickly, and there has been little discussion on how AI could be leveraged for improving the diagnosis and management of hypertension. AI technologies, including machine learning tools, could alter the way we diagnose and manage hypertension, with potential impacts for improving individual and population health. The development of successful AI tools in public health and health care systems requires diverse types of expertise with collaborative relationships between clinicians, engineers, and data scientists. Unbiased data sources, management, and analyses remain a foundational challenge. From a diagnostic standpoint, machine learning tools may improve the measurement of blood pressure and be useful in the prediction of incident hypertension. To advance the management of hypertension, machine learning tools may be useful to find personalized treatments for patients using analytics to predict response to antihypertension medications and the risk for hypertension-related complications. However, there are real-world implementation challenges to using AI tools in hypertension. Herein, we summarize key findings from a diverse group of stakeholders who participated in a workshop held by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in March 2023. Workshop participants presented information on communication gaps between clinical medicine, data science, and engineering in health care; novel approaches to estimating BP, hypertension risk, and BP control; and real-world implementation challenges and issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of interventional procedures require large-sheath technology (>12F) with a favorable outcome with endovascular rather than open surgical access. However, vascular complications are a limitation for the management of these patients. This trial aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of the Cross-Seal suture-mediated vascular closure device in obtaining hemostasis at the target limb access site following interventional procedures using 8F to 18F procedural sheaths. METHODS: The Cross-Seal IDE trial (Investigational Device Exemption) was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter study in subjects undergoing percutaneous endovascular procedures utilizing 8F to 18F ID procedural sheaths. The primary efficacy end point was time to hemostasis at the target limb access site. The primary safety end point was freedom from major complications of the target limb access site within 30 days post procedure. RESULTS: A total of 147 subjects were enrolled between August 9, 2019, and March 12, 2020. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement was performed in 53.7% (79/147) and percutaneous endovascular abdominal/thoracic aortic aneurysm repair in 46.3% (68/147) of subjects. The mean sheath ID was 15.5±1.8 mm. The primary effectiveness end point of time to hemostasis was 0.4±1.4 minutes. An adjunctive intervention was required in 9.2% (13/142) of subjects, of which 2.1% (3/142) were surgical and 5.6% (8/142) endovascular. Technical success was achieved in 92.3% (131/142) of subjects. Freedom from major complications of the target limb access site was 94.3% (83/88). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients undergoing percutaneous endovascular procedures utilizing 8F to 18F ID procedural sheath, Cross-Seal suture-mediated vascular closure device achieved favorable effectiveness and safety in the closure of the large-bore arteriotomy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Redo-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can pin the index transcatheter heart valve leaflets open leading to sinus sequestration and restricting coronary access. The impact of initial implant depth and commissural alignment on redo-TAVR feasibility is unclear. We sought to determine the feasibility of redo-TAVR and coronary access after SAPIEN 3 (S3) TAVR stratified by implant depth and commissural alignment. METHODS: Consecutive patients with native valve aortic stenosis were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography. S3 TAVR simulations were done at 3 implant depths, sizing per manufacturer recommendation and assuming nominal expansion in all cases. Redo-TAVR was deemed unfeasible based on valve-to-sinotubular junction distance and valve-tosinus height <2 mm, while the neoskirt plane of the S3 transcatheter heart valve estimated coronary access feasibility. RESULTS: Overall, 1900 patients (mean age, 80.2±8 years; STS-PROM [Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Operative Mortality], 3.4%) were included. Redo-TAVR feasibility reduced significantly at shallower initial S3 implant depths (2.3% at 80:20 versus 27.5% at 100:0, P<0.001). Larger S3 sizes reduced redo-TAVR feasibility, but only in patients with a 100:0 implant (P<0.001). Commissural alignment would render redo-TAVR feasible in all patients, assuming the utilization of leaflet modification techniques to reduce the neoskirt height. Coronary access following TAV-in-TAV was affected by both index S3 implant depth and size. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the critical impact of implant depth, commissural alignment, and transcatheter heart valve size in predicting redo-TAVR feasibility. These findings highlight the necessity for individualized preprocedural planning, considering both immediate results and long-term prospects for reintervention as TAVR is increasingly utilized in younger patients with aortic stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Polyvascular disease (PVD), defined as involvement of ≥2 vascular beds (VBs), that is, coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral, portends a poor prognosis in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; however, data on the association of PVD with outcomes of patients undergoing TAVR are limited. METHODS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry was analyzed to identify patients who underwent TAVR from November 2011 to March 2022. The exposure of interest was PVD. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included major vascular complications, major/lifethreatening bleeding, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack/stroke, and valve- and non--valve-related readmissions. Outcomes were assessed at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS: Of 443 790 patients who underwent TAVR, PVD was present in 150 823 (34.0%; 111 425 [25.1%] with 2VBPVD and 39 398 [8.9%] with 3VB-PVD). On multivariable analysis, PVD was associated with increased all-cause mortality at 1 year (hazard ratio, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.14-1.20]). There was an incremental increase in 1-year mortality with an increasing number of VBs involved (no PVD [reference]; 2VB-PVD: hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.09-1.15]: and 3VB-PVD: hazard ratio, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.26-1.36]). Patients with versus without PVD had higher rates of major vascular complications, major/lifethreatening bleeding, transient ischemic attack/stroke, and non--valve-related readmissions at 30 days and 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: PVD is associated with worse outcomes after TAVR, and the risk is highest in patients with 3VB-PVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prior studies on the use of multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV PCI) for patients with STsegment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease have yielded heterogeneous results. The recent COMPLETE trial (Complete Versus Culprit-Only Revascularization Strategies to Treat Multivessel Disease After Early PCI for STEMI) demonstrated that MV PCI was superior to culprit-only PCI among patients with STEMI. It is unclear how these trial results apply to clinical decisions encountered in routine practice. METHODS: We studied STEMI admissions among patients >65 years with multivessel disease and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-linked data in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2017. MV PCI was defined as PCI to a nonculprit lesion ≤45 days of the index procedure. The primary outcome was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization from 45 days through 1 year. To account for unmeasured confounders, an instrumental variable analysis was used to compare treatment strategies. The instrument was institutional rates of MV PCI. A falsification end point of postdischarge major bleeding was utilized to assess for residual confounding. RESULTS: Of 56 332 admissions from 1102 institutions, 37.7% received MV PCI =45 days of index STEMI PCI. Of those undergoing MV PCI, 74.8% received complete revascularization. In unadjusted analysis, MV PCI was associated with a lower cumulative incidence of the composite outcome between 45 days and 1 year (13.9% versus 18.2% for non-MV PCI, P<0.01). In the instrumental variable analysis, there was no association between MV PCI and the composite outcome (adjusted risk difference, -0.97% [95% CI, -3.52% to 1.59%]; P=0.46). An association between MV PCI and the falsification end point of major bleeding was not observed (adjusted risk difference, -2.54% [95% CI, -5.30% to 0.22%]; P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: In this large, nationwide analysis, we did not find benefit of MV PCI by 1 year among older STEMI patients. The clinical benefit of MV PCI may not extend equally outside of trials to include all patients, including those with more extreme ages and more complex decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risks of stroke and heart failure. Electronic health record (EHR)-based AF risk prediction may facilitate efficient deployment of interventions to diagnose or prevent AF altogether.Methods: We externally validated an electronic health record AF (EHR-AF) score in IBM Explorys Life Sciences, a multi-institutional dataset containing statistically deidentified EHR data for over 21 million individuals (Explorys Dataset). We included individuals with complete AF risk data, ≥2 office visits within 2 years, and no prevalent AF. We compared EHR-AF to existing scores including CHARGE-AF (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Atrial Fibrillation), C2HEST (coronary artery disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, elderly, systolic heart failure, thyroid disease), and CHA2DS2-VASc. We assessed association between AF risk scores and 5-year incident AF, stroke, and heart failure using Cox proportional hazards modeling, 5-year AF discrimination using C indices, and calibration of predicted AF risk to observed AF incidence.Results: Of 21 825 853 individuals in the Explorys Dataset, 4 508 180 comprised the analysis (age 62.5, 56.3% female). AF risk scores were strongly associated with 5-year incident AF (hazard ratio per SD increase 1.85 using CHA2DS2-VASc to 2.88 using EHR-AF), stroke (1.61 using C2HEST to 1.92 using CHARGE-AF), and heart failure (1.91 using CHA2DS2-VASc to 2.58 using EHR-AF). EHR-AF (C index, 0.808 [95% CI, 0.807-0.809]) demonstrated favorable AF discrimination compared to CHARGE-AF (0.806 [95% CI, 0.805-0.807]), C2HEST (0.683 [95% CI, 0.682-0.684]), and CHA2DS2-VASc (0.720 [95% CI, 0.719-0.722]). Of the scores, EHR-AF demonstrated the best calibration to incident AF (calibration slope, 1.002 [95% CI, 0.997-1.007]). In subgroup analyses, AF discrimination using EHR-AF was lower in individuals with stroke (C index, 0.696 [95% CI, 0.692-0.700]) and heart failure (0.621 [95% CI, 0.617-0.625]).Conclusions: EHR-AF demonstrates predictive accuracy for incident AF using readily ascertained EHR data. AF risk is associated with incident stroke and heart failure. Use of such risk scores may facilitate decision support and population health management efforts focused on minimizing AF-related morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most guidelines have recommended lower home blood pressure (BP) threshold when clinic BP threshold of 140/90 mm Hg is used for diagnosis of hypertension. However, home BP thresholds to define hypertension have never been determined in the general population in the United States. We identified home BP thresholds for stage 1 (BP ≥130/80 mm Hg) hypertension using a regression-based approach in the DHS (Dallas Heart Study; n=5768) and the NCMH study (North Carolina Masked Hypertension; n=420). Home BP thresholds were also assessed using outcome-derived approach based on the composite of all-cause mortality or cardiovascular events in the DHS cohort. For this approach, BP thresholds were identified only for systolic BP because diastolic BP was not associated with the outcome. Among untreated participants, the regression-derived thresholds for home BP corresponding to clinic BP for stage 1 hypertension were 129/80 mm Hg in blacks, 130/80 mm Hg in whites, and 126/78 mm Hg in Hispanics, respectively. The results are similar in the North Carolina cohort. The 11-year composite cardiovascular and mortality events corresponding to clinic systolic BP >130 mm Hg were higher in blacks than in whites and Hispanics (13.3% versus 5.98% versus 5.52%, respectively). Using a race/ethnicity-specific composite outcome in the untreated DHS participants, the outcome-derived home systolic BP thresholds corresponding to stage 1 hypertension were 130 mm Hg in blacks, 129 mm Hg in whites, and 131 mm Hg in Hispanics, respectively. Our data based on both regression-derived and outcome approach support home BP threshold of 130/80 mm Hg for diagnosis of hypertension in blacks, whites, and Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--A significant proportion of patients requiring aortic valve replacement (AVR) have undergone prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Reoperative heart surgery is associated with increased risk. Data on relative utilization and comparative outcomes of transcatheter (TAVR) versus surgical AVR (SAVR) in patients with prior CABG are limited. Methods and Results--We queried the 2012 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample databases to identify isolated AVR hospitalizations in adults with prior CABG. In-hospital outcomes of TAVR versus SAVR were compared using propensitymatched analysis. Of 147 395 AVRs, 15 055 (10.2%) were in patients with prior CABG. The number of TAVRs in patients with prior CABG increased from 1615 in 2012 to 4400 in 2014, whereas the number of SAVRs decreased from 2285 to 1895 (Ptrend<0.001). There were 3880 records in each group in the matched cohort. Compared with SAVR, TAVR was associated with similar in-hospital mortality (2.3% versus 2.4%; P=0.71) but lower incidence of myocardial infarction (1.5% versus 3.4%; P<0.001), stroke (1.4% versus 2.7%; P<0.001), bleeding complications (10.6% versus 24.6%; P<0.001), and acute kidney injury (16.2% versus 19.3%; P<0.001). Requirement for prior permanent pacemaker was higher in the TAVR cohort, whereas the incidence of vascular complications and acute kidney injury requiring dialysis was similar in the 2 groups. Average length of stay was shorter in patients undergoing TAVR. Conclusions--TAVR is being increasingly used as the preferred modality of AVR in patients with prior CABG. Compared with SAVR, TAVR is associated with similar in-hospital mortality but lower rates of in-hospital complications in this important subset of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--Prior studies have reported higher inhospital mortality in women versus men with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Whether this is because of worse baseline risk profile compared with men or sex-based disparities in treatment is not completely understood. Methods and Results--We queried the 2003 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample databases to identify all hospitalizations in patients aged =18 years with the principal diagnosis of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Complex samples multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine sex differences in use of an early invasive strategy and inhospital mortality. Of 4 765 739 patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, 2 026 285 (42.5%) were women. Women were on average 6 years older than men and had a higher comorbidity burden. Women were less likely to be treated with an early invasive strategy (29.4% versus 39.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-0.94). Women had higher crude inhospital mortality than men (4.7% versus 3.9%; unadjusted odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.25). After adjustment for age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.98) and additionally for comorbidities, other demographics, and hospital characteristics, women had 10% lower odds of inhospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.92). Further adjustment for differences in the use of an early invasive strategy did not change the association between female sex and lower riskadjusted inhospital mortality. Conclusions--Although women were less likely to be treated with an early invasive strategy compared with men, the lower use of an early invasive strategy was not responsible for the higher crude inhospital mortality in women, which could be entirely explained by older age and higher comorbidity burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: To assess the current landscape of the heart failure (HF) epidemic and provide targets for future health policy interventions in Medicare, a contemporary appraisal of its epidemiology across inpatient and outpatient care settings is needed. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a national 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2002 to 2013, we identified a cohort of 2 331 939 unique fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries =65-years-old followed for all inpatient and outpatient encounters over a 10-year period (2004-2013). Preexisting HF was defined by any HF encounter during the first year, and incident HF with either 1 inpatient or 2 outpatient HF encounters. Mean age of the cohort was 72 years; 57% were women, and 86% and 8% were white and black, respectively. Within this cohort, 518 223 patients had preexisting HF, and 349 826 had a new diagnosis of HF during the study period. During 2004 to 2013, the rates of incident HF declined 32%, from 38.7 per 1000 (2004) to 26.2 per 1000 beneficiaries (2013). In contrast, prevalent (preexisting + incident) HF increased during our study period from 162 per 1000 (2004) to 172 per 1000 beneficiaries (2013) (Ptrend <0.001 for both). Finally, the overall 1-year mortality among patients with incident HF is high (24.7%) with a 0.4% absolute decline annually during the study period, with a more pronounced decrease among those diagnosed in an inpatient versus outpatient setting (Pinteraction <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, there have been substantial changes in the epidemiology of HF in Medicare beneficiaries, with a decline in incident HF and a decrease in 1-year HF mortality, whereas the overall burden of HF continues to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--The optimal revascularization strategy in patients with multivessel disease presenting with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction remains unknown. Methods and Results--Databases were searched from 1999 to October 2016. Studies comparing immediate/single-stage multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV-PCI) versus culprit vessel-only PCI (CO-PCI) in patients with multivessel disease, ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock were included. Primary end point was short-term (in-hospital or 30 days) mortality. Secondary end points included long-term mortality, cardiovascular death, reinfarction, and repeat revascularization. Safety end points were in-hospital stroke, renal failure, and major bleeding. The meta-analysis included 11 nonrandomized studies and 5850 patients (1157 MV-PCI and 4693 CO-PCI). There was no significant difference in short-term mortality with MV-PCI versus CO-PCI (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-1.43; P=0.61). Similarly, there were no significant differences in long-term mortality (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.54-1.30; P=0.43), cardiovascular death (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.42-1.23; P=0.23), reinfarction (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.84-3.26; P=0.15), or repeat revascularization (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.76-1.69; P=0.54) between the 2 groups. There was a nonsignificant trend toward higher in-hospital stroke (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 0.98-2.72; P=0.06) and renal failure (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.98-1.72; P=0.06), with no difference in major bleeding (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.39-5.63; P=0.57) with MV-PCI when compared with CO-PCI. Conclusions--This meta-analysis of nonrandomized studies suggests that in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, there may be no significant benefit with single-stage MV-PCI compared with CO-PCI. Given the limitations of observational data, randomized trials are needed to determine the role of MV-PCI in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--Readmissions after cardiac procedures are common and contribute to increased healthcare utilization and costs. Data on 30-day readmissions after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are limited. Methods and Results--Patients undergoing TAVR (International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-CM codes 35.05 and 35.06) between January and November 2013 who survived the index hospitalization were identified in the Nationwide Readmissions Database. Incidence, predictors, causes, and costs of 30-day readmissions were analyzed. Of 12 221 TAVR patients, 2188 (17.9%) were readmitted within 30 days. Length of stay >5 days during index hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.73), acute kidney injury (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.44), >4 Elixhauser comorbidities (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.46), transapical TAVR (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.39), chronic kidney disease (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39), chronic lung disease (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34), and discharge to skilled nursing facility (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34) were independent predictors of 30-day readmission. Readmissions were because of noncardiac causes in 61.8% of cases and because of cardiac causes in 38.2% of cases. Respiratory (14.7%), infections (12.8%), bleeding (7.6%), and peripheral vascular disease (4.3%) were the most common noncardiac causes, whereas heart failure (22.5%) and arrhythmias (6.6%) were the most common cardiac causes of readmission. Median length of stay and cost of readmissions were 4 days (interquartile range, 2-7 days) and $8302 (interquartile range, $5229-16 021), respectively. Conclusions--Thirty-day readmissions after TAVR are frequent and are related to baseline comorbidities, TAVR access site, and post-procedure complications. Awareness of these predictors can help identify and target high-risk patients for interventions to reduce readmissions and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visit-to-visit variability (VVV) in blood pressure values has been reported in clinical studies. However, little is known about VVV in clinical practice and whether it is associated with patient characteristics in real-world setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to quantify VVV in systolic blood pressure (SBP) values in a real-world setting. We included adults (age ≥18 years) with at least 2 outpatient visits between January 1, 2014 and October 31, 2018 from Yale New Haven Health System. Patient-level measures of VVV included SD and coefficient of variation of a given patient's SBP across visits. We calculated patient-level VVV overall and by patient subgroups. We further developed a multilevel regression model to assess the extent to which VVV in SBP was explained by patient characteristics. Results: The study population included 537 218 adults, with a total of 7 721 864 SBP measurements. The mean age was 53.4 (SD 19.0) years, 60.4% were women, 69.4% were non-Hispanic White, and 18.1% were on antihypertensive medications. Patients had a mean body mass index of 28.4 (5.9) kg/m2 and 22.6%, 8.0%, 9.7%, and 5.6% had a history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease, respectively. The mean number of visits per patient was 13.3, over an average period of 2.4 years. The mean (SD) intraindividual SD and coefficient of variation of SBP across visits were 10.6 (5.1) mm Hg and 0.08 (0.04). These measures of blood pressure variation were consistent across patient subgroups defined by demographic characteristics and medical history. In the multivariable linear regression model, only 4% of the variance in absolute standardized difference was attributable to patient characteristics. Conclusions: The VVV in real-world practice poses challenges for management of patients with hypertension based on blood pressure readings in outpatient settings and suggest the need to go beyond episodic clinic evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, current screening strategies are limited. In 2478 participants without clinical disease from the Dallas Heart Study, we evaluated a multimarker screening strategy that complements electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for LVH with 2 biomarkers, amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and highly sensitive cardiac troponin T. An integer LVH risk score from 0 to 3 was determined as the sum of the following: (1) LVH by Sokolow-Lyon ECG; (2) amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in the highest sex-specific quartile; and (3) detectable cardiac troponin T. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-determined LVH served as the primary outcome. The probability of LVH increased from 2% with an LVH risk score of 0 to 50% with a score of 3 (P<0.001). Sokolow-Lyon ECG afforded low sensitivity (26% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 17-32%]) and high specificity (96% [95% CI, 95-97%]), whereas a risk score ≥2 offered higher sensitivity (44% [95% CI, 34-51%]) with good specificity (90% [95% CI, 89-93%]) and a score threshold of 1 offered reasonable sensitivity (76% [95% CI, 67-83%]) with lower specificity (55% [95% CI, 53-61%]) and high negative predictive value (98% [95% CI, 97-98%]). Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve improved from 0.760 (95% CI, 0.716-0.804) for ECG alone to 0.798 (95% CI, 0.754-0.842) for the LVH risk score (P=0.0012), consistent with modest improvement in overall discrimination. Better screening for LVH may be achieved by combining simple tests, which collectively provide additional information compared with ECG alone. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of a multimarker screening strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background—There has been an increase in the use of pulmonary artery (PA) catheters in heart failure (HF) in the United States in recent years. However, patterns of hospital use and trends in patient outcomes are not known. Methods and Results—In the National Inpatient Sample 2001 to 2012, using International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision codes, we identified 11 888 525 adult (≥18 years) HF hospitalizations nationally, of which an estimated 75 209 (SE 0.6%) received a PA catheter. In 2001, the number of hospitals with ≥1 PA catheterization was 1753, decreasing to 1183 in 2011. The mean PA catheter use per hospital trended from 4.9 per year in 2001 (limits 1–133) to 3.8 per year in 2007 (limits 1–46), but increased to 5.5 per year in 2011 (limits 1–70). During 2001 to 2006, PA catheterization declined across hospitals; however, in 2007 to 2012, there was a disproportionate increase at hospitals with large bedsize, teaching programs, and advanced HF capabilities. The overall in-hospital mortality with PA catheter use was higher than without PA catheter use (13.1% versus 3.4%; P<0.0001); however, in propensity-matched analysis, differences in mortality between these groups have attenuated over time—risk-adjusted odds ratio for mortality for PA catheterization, 1.66 (95% confidence interval, 1.60–1.74) in 2001 to 2003 down to 1.04 (95% confidence interval, 0.97–1.12) in 2010 to 2012. Conclusions—There is substantial hospital-level variability in PA catheterization in HF along with increasing volume at fewer hospitals over-represented by large, academic hospitals with advanced HF capabilities. This is accompanied by a decline in excess mortality associated with PA catheterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence from large randomized clinical trials supports the benefit of SGLT2i (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors) to improve cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease. Considering this evidence, which has been expanding since the product label indication for empagliflozin to reduce risk of cardiovascular death in 2016, clinician-level variation in the prescription of SGLT2i among US Medicare beneficiaries was evaluated.Methods: Antihyperglycemic medication prescribers were identified as those physicians and advanced practice providers prescribing metformin in Medicare part D prescriber data. In this cross-sectional study, the proportion prescribing SGLT2i was assessed overall and across specialties in 2018, with changes assessed from 2014 to 2018. SGLT2i use was compared with other second-line antihyperglycemic medication classes, sulfonylureas and DPP4is (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors).Results: Among 232 523 unique clinicians who prescribed metformin for Medicare beneficiaries in 2018 (diabetes-treating clinicians), 45 255 (19.5%) prescribed SGLT2i. There was substantial variation across specialties-from 72% of endocrinologists to 14% of cardiologists who prescribed metformin also prescribed SGLT2i. Between 2014 and 2018, the number prescribing SGLT2i increased 5-fold from 9048 in 2014 to 45 255 in 2018. Among clinicians who prescribed both sulfonylureas and SGLT2i in 2018, SGLT2i was prescribed to a median 33 beneficiaries for every 100 prescribed sulfonylureas (interquartile range, 18-67). SGLT2i use relative to sulfonylureas increased from 19 (interquartile range, 11-34) per 100 in 2014 to 33 (interquartile range, 18-67) per 100 in 2018 (Ptrend<0.001).Conclusions: Eighty percent of clinicians prescribing metformin to Medicare beneficiaries did not prescribe SGLT2i in 2018. Moreover, sulfonylureas prescriptions were 3 times more frequent than those of SGLT2is, although a pattern of increasing uptake may portend future trends. These findings highlight a baseline opportunity to improve care and outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation of body fat distribution to left ventricular (LV) structure and function is poorly defined.A total of 2710 participants without heart failure or LV dysfunction in the Dallas Heart Study underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and MRI assessment of fat distribution, LV morphology, and hemodynamics. Cross-sectional associations of fat distribution with LV structure and function were examined after adjustment for age, sex, race, comorbidities, and lean mass. Mean age was 44 years with 55% women; 48% blacks; and 44% obese. After multivariable adjustment, visceral adipose tissue was associated with concentric remodeling characterized by lower LV end-diastolic volume (β=-0.21), higher concentricity (β=0.20), and wall thickness (β=0.09; P<0.0001 for all). In contrast, lower body subcutaneous fat was associated with higher LV end-diastolic volume (β=0.48), reduced concentricity (β=-0.50), and wall thickness (β=-0.28, P<0.0001 for all). Visceral adipose tissue was also associated with lower cardiac output (β=-0.10, P<0.05) and higher systemic vascular resistance (β=0.08, P<0.05), whereas lower body subcutaneous fat associated with higher cardiac output (β=0.20, P<0.0001) and lower systemic vascular resistance (β=-0.18, P<0.0001). Abdominal subcutaneous fat showed weaker associations with concentric remodeling and was not associated with hemodynamics. Among the subset of obese participants, visceral adipose tissue, but not abdominal subcutaneous fat, was significantly associated with concentric remodeling.Visceral adipose tissue, a marker of central adiposity, was independently associated with concentric LV remodeling and adverse hemodynamics. In contrast, lower body subcutaneous fat was associated with eccentric remodeling. The impact of body fat distribution on heart failure risk requires prospective study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study that evaluates left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) detection by means of a multimarker screening strategy that complements electrocardiographic (ECG). The screening method consisted of two biomarkers, amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and highly sensitive cardiac troponin T. The study concludes that combining simple tests that collectively provide additional information compared with ECG alone is a better way to screen for LVH.

The article presents a study on recent trends in hospital mortality for patients with myocardial infarction (MI) according to diabetes mellitus (DM) status from 1994-2006. It analyzed data from the U.S. National Registry of Myocardial Infarction, representing a fourth of all U.S. acute care hospitals. It finds that the hospital mortality gap between MI patients with and without DM narrowed significantly within the period, with the greatest improvement seen in women with DM.

The article presents several cases of patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) who were treated with famciclovir. Among the data collected from patients at a computerized database in January 2007-December 2009 are drugs administered, clinical response, and final visual acuity. It defines ARN as a rare but possibly blinding condition that is caused by herpes group of viruses.

The article focuses on a study which determined the genetic variants related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) through the process of dense genotyping of candidate gene loci. It explains an extreme HDL-C case-control study design which the researchers utilized as a discovery cohort to examine the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HDL-C candidate genes. The study has identified a variety of genes with multiple, independent SNPs that are associated with HDL-C.

The article presents a study that investigates on the association of cystatin c on the function and structure of left ventricular (LV). The study was carried out from the participants of Dallas Heart Study whose age ranges from 30 to 65 years wherein their cystatin c level and concentricity were assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study reveals that high level of cystatin c establish a link on the development of LV mass and hypertrophy.

To elucidate mechanisms by which left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) increases the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease, we sought to determine whether LVH is independently associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the general population. The Dallas Heart Study is a population-based sample in which 2633 individuals underwent cardiac MRI to measure LV structure, electron beam CT to measure CAC, and measurement of plasma CRP. We used univariate and multivariable analyses to determine whether LV mass and markers of concentric LV hypertrophy or dilation were associated with CAC and CRP. Increasing quartiles of LV mass indexed to fat-free mass, LV wall thickness, and concentricity, but not LV volume, were associated with CAC in both men and women (P<0.001). After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and statin use, LV wall thickness and concentricity remained associated with CAC in linear regression (P<0.001 for each). These associations were particularly robust in blacks. LV wall thickness and concentricity were also associated with elevated CRP levels (P=0.001 for both) in gender-stratified univariate analyses, although these associations did not persist in multivariable analysis. In conclusion, concentric LVH is an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis. LVH is also associated with an inflammatory state as reflected in elevated CRP levels, although this relationship appears to be mediated by comorbid conditions. These data likely explain in part why individuals with LVH are at increased risk for myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Severe fecal incontinence remains a disabling condition for the patient and a major therapeutic challenge for the physician. A series of observational studies have indicated that placement of an artificial bowel sphincter is associated with marked improvement of continence and quality of life. We have performed a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effect of placement of an artificial bowel sphincter (Acticon Neosphincter®) on continence and quality of life in a group of severely incontinent adults. METHODS: Fourteen adults (male:female, 1:13; age range, 44-75 years) were randomized to placement of the artificial bowel sphincter or to a program of supportive care and were followed for six months from operation or entry into the study. The principal outcome measure was the level of continence, measured with the Cleveland Continence Score, which provides a scale from 0 to 20, representing perfect control through to total incontinence. Secondary outcome measures were perioperative and late complications in the artificial bowel sphincter group, and the changes in quality of life in both groups. RESULTS: In the control group, the Cleveland Continence Score was not significantly altered, with an initial value of 17.1 ± 2.3 and a final value of 14.3 ± 4.6 at six months. The artificial bowel sphincter group showed a highly significant improvement, changing from 19.0 ± 1.2 before placement to 4.8 ± 4.0 at six months after placement. One patient in the artificial bowel sphincter group had failure of healing of the perineal wound and explantation of the device (14 percent explantation rate). There were two other significant perioperative events of recurring fecal impaction initially after placement in one patient and additional suturing of the perineal wound in another. There were major improvements in the quality of life for all measures in the artificial bowel sphincter group. There was significant improvement in all eight subscales of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 measures. The American Medical Systems Quality of Life score was raised from 39 ± 6 to 83 ± 14 and the Beck Depression Inventory showed reduction from a level of mild depression (10.8 ± 9.3) to a normal value (6.8 ± 8.7). No significant changes in any of the quality of life measures occurred for the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Through a prospective, randomized trial format, we have shown that placement of an artificial bowel sphincter is safe and effective when compared with supportive care alone. Perioperative and late problems are likely to continue to occur and between 15 percent and 30 percent of patients may require permanent explantation. For the remainder, the device is easy and discrete to use, highly effective in achieving continence, and able to generate a major improvement in the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the relationship between polyphenols and cholesterol efflux. It says there is an inverse connection between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and cardiovascular risk. It mentions that macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), in which cholesterol is transported from macrophage foam cells to the liver for excretion, plays a role in HDL-mediated atheroprotection.

Currently, South Asia accounts for a quarter of the world population, yet it already claims ≈60% of the global burden of heart disease. Besides the epidemics of type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease already faced by South Asian countries, recent studies suggest that South Asians may also be at an increased risk of heart failure (HF), and that it presents at earlier ages than in most other racial/ethnic groups. Although a frequently underrecognized threat, an eventual HF epidemic in the densely populated South Asian nations could have dramatic health, social and economic consequences, and urgent interventions are needed to flatten the curve of HF in South Asia. In this review, we discuss recent studies portraying these trends, and describe the mechanisms that may explain an increased risk of premature HF in South Asians compared with other groups, with a special focus on highly relevant features in South Asian populations including premature coronary heart disease, early type 2 diabetes mellitus, ubiquitous abdominal obesity, exposure to the world's highest levels of air pollution, highly prevalent pretransition forms of HF such as rheumatic heart disease, and underdevelopment of healthcare systems. Other rising lifestyle-related risk factors such as use of tobacco products, hypertension, and general obesity are also discussed. We evaluate the prognosis of HF in South Asian countries and the implications of an anticipated HF epidemic. Finally, we discuss proposed interventions aimed at curbing these adverse trends, management approaches that can improve the prognosis of prevalent HF in South Asian countries, and research gaps in this important field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) predicts atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events, inclusive of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, and is a decision-making aid for primary prevention. The predictive value of CAC categories for CHD and stroke separately and across sex and race groups of an asymptomatic population is unclear. Methods: White, Black, and Hispanic participants of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) and DHS (Dallas Heart Study) underwent CAC measurement at enrollment and were followed for incident ASCVD events. Ten-year CHD-to-stroke incidence ratios across CAC score categories 0, 1 to 99, and ≥100 were assessed. Associations of CAC with incident CHD and stroke events were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted Cox models and multiplicative interactions of CAC with sex/race were tested. Results: Among 7042 participants (mean age, 57 years, 54% women, 36% Black, 23% Hispanic, 49% CAC=0, 19% CAC ≥100), 574 incident ASCVD events (333 CHD and 241 stroke) were observed over 12.3-year follow-up. Ten-year CHD-to-stroke incidence ratio increased significantly across CAC categories in men, women, Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics (all P <0.001). High CAC burden (score ≥100) was independently associated with ASCVD and CHD risk in all groups and with stroke risk in the overall cohort and Blacks. No sex- or race-based CAC interactions for ASCVD, CHD, and stroke events were observed. Adding CAC to a traditional risk factor model improved risk discrimination and reclassification for CHD but not for stroke events. Conclusions: In 2 population-based cohorts of asymptomatic individuals, 10-year CHD-to-stroke incidence ratio was higher with increasing CAC score categories across sex and race groups, and CAC was consistently a better predictor of CHD than stroke. High CAC burden comparably associated with ASCVD risk across sex and race groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many clinical investigations depend on participant self-report as a principal method of identifying health care events. If self-report is used as the trigger to collect and adjudicate medical records, any event that is not reported by the patient will be missed by the investigators, reducing the power of the study and misrepresenting the risk of its participants. We sought to determine the rates and predictors of underreporting hospitalization events during the follow-up period of a prospective study of patients hospitalized with an acute myocardial infarction.Methods and Results: The TRIUMPH (Translational Research Investigating Underlying Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients' Health Status) registry, a longitudinal multicenter cohort study of people with acute myocardial infarction in the United States, queried patients for hospitalization events during interviews at 1, 6, and 12 months. To validate these self-reports, medical records for all events at every hospital where the patient reported receiving care were acquired for adjudication, not just those for the reported events. Of the 4340 participants in TRIUMPH, 1209 (28%) reported at least one hospitalization. After medical records abstraction and adjudication, we identified 1086 hospitalizations from 639 participants (60.2±12 years of age, 38.2% women). Of these hospitalizations, 346 (31.9%) were underreported by the participants. Rates of underreporting ranged from 22.5% to 55.6% based on different patient characteristics. The odds of underreporting were highest for those not currently working (adjusted odds ratio, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.04-2.63]), lowest for those married (adjusted odds ratio, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.33-0.76]), and increased the longer the elapsed time between the admission and the patient's follow-up interview (adjusted odds ratio per month, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.08-1.24]). There was a substantial within-individual variation on the accuracy of reporting.Conclusions: Hospitalizations after acute myocardial infarction are commonly underreported in interviews and should not be used alone to determine event rates in clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The trend of increasing total and out-of-pocket expenditure among patients with diabetes mellitus represents a risk of financial hardship for Americans and a threat to medical and nonmedical needs. We aimed to describe the national scope and associated tradeoffs of financial hardship from medical bills among nonelderly individuals with diabetes mellitus.Methods and Results: We used the National Health Interview Survey data from 2013 to 2017, including adults ≤64 years old with a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Among 164 696 surveyed individuals, 8967 adults ≤64 years old reported having diabetes mellitus, representing 13.1 million individuals annually across the United States. The mean age was 51.6 years (SD 10.3), and 49.1% were female. A total of 41.1% were part of families that reported having financial hardship from medical bills, with 15.6% reporting an inability to pay medical bills at all. In multivariate analyses, individuals who lacked insurance, were non-Hispanic black, had low income, or had high-comorbidity burden were at higher odds of being in families with financial hardship from medical bills. When comparing the graded categories of financial hardship, there was a stepwise increase in the prevalence of high financial distress, food insecurity, cost-related nonadherence, and foregone/delayed medical care, reaching 70.5%, 49.4%, 49.5%, and 74% among those unable to pay bills, respectively. Compared with those without diabetes mellitus, individuals with diabetes mellitus had higher odds of financial hardship from medical bills (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.27 [95% CI, 1.18-1.36]) or any of its consequences, including high financial distress (aOR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.05-1.24]), food insecurity (aOR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.16-1.40]), cost-related medication nonadherence (aOR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.30-1.57]), and foregone/delayed medical care (aOR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.20-1.40]).Conclusions: Nonelderly patients with diabetes mellitus have a high prevalence of financial hardship from medical bills, with deleterious consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Coronary artery calcium scoring only represents a small fraction of all information available in noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CAC-CT). We hypothesized that an automated pipeline using radiomics and machine learning could identify phenotypic information about high-risk left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) embedded in CAC-CT. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 1982 participants from the DHS (Dallas Heart Study) who underwent CAC-CT and cardiac magnetic resonance. Two hundred twenty-four participants with high-risk LVH were identified by cardiac magnetic resonance. We developed an automated adaptive atlas algorithm to segment the left ventricle on CAC-CT, extracting 107 radiomics features from the volume of interest. Four logistic regression models using different feature selection methods were built to predict high-risk LVH based on CAC-CT radiomics, sex, height, and body surface area in a random training subset of 1587 participants. Results: The respective areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for the cluster-based model, the logistic regression model after exclusion of highly correlated features, and the penalized logistic regression models using least absolute shrinkage and selection operators with minimum or one SE λ values were 0.74 (95% CI, 0.67–0.82), 0.74 (95% CI, 0.67–0.81), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.69–0.83), and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.66–0.80) for detecting high-risk LVH in a distinct validation subset of 395 participants. Conclusions: Ventricular segmentation, radiomics features extraction, and machine learning can be used in a pipeline to automatically detect high-risk phenotypes of LVH in participants undergoing CAC-CT, without the need for additional imaging or radiation exposure. Registration: URL http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00344903. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hospitals participating in the national Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation registry receive an award for high rates of adherence to quality metrics for in-hospital cardiac arrest. We sought to evaluate whether awards based on these quality metrics can be considered a proxy for performance on cardiac arrest survival. Methods and Results Among 195 hospitals with continuous participation in Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation between 2012 and 2015, we identified 78 that received an award (Gold or Silver) for ≥85% compliance for all 4 metrics for in-hospital cardiac arrest-time to chest compressions, ≤1 minute; time to defibrillation, ≤2 minutes; device confirmation of endotracheal tube placement; and a monitored/witnessed arrest-for at least 12 consecutive months during 2014 to 2015. Award hospitals had higher cardiac arrest volumes than nonaward hospitals but otherwise had similar site characteristics. During 2014 to 2015, award hospitals had higher rates of return of spontaneous circulation for in-hospital cardiac arrest than nonaward hospitals (median [interquartile range], 71% [64%-77%] versus 66% [59%-74%]; Spearman ρ, 0.19; P=0.009). However, rates of risk-standardized survival to discharge at award hospitals (median, 25% [interquartile range, 22%-30%]) were similar to nonaward hospitals (median, 24% [interquartile range, 12%-27%]; Spearman ρ, 0.13; P=0.06). Among hospitals in the best tertile for survival to discharge in 2014 to 2015, 55.4% (36/65) did not receive an award, with poor discrimination of high-performing hospitals by award status (C statistic, 0.53). Similarly, there was only a weak association between hospitals' award status in 2014 to 2015 and their rates of survival to discharge in the preceding 2-year period (Spearman ρ, 0.16; P=0.03). Conclusions The current recognition mechanism within a national registry for in-hospital cardiac arrest captures hospital performance on return of spontaneous circulation but is not well correlated with survival to discharge. This suggests that current awards for resuscitation quality may not adequately capture hospital performance on overall survival-the outcome of greatest interest to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Targeted temperature management (TTM) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with improved functional survival and is a class I recommendation in resuscitation guidelines. However, patterns of utilization of TTM and adherence to recommended TTM guidelines in contemporary practice are unknown. Methods and Results In a multicenter, prospective cohort of consecutive adults with non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium in 2012 to 2015, we identified all adults (≥18 years) who were potential candidates for TTM. Of 37 898 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients at 186 hospitals across 10 Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium sites, 8313 survived for ≥4 hours after hospital arrival, of which, 2878 (34.6%) received TTM. Mean age was 61.5 years and 36.3% were women. Median hospital rate of TTM use was 27% (interquartile range [IQR]: 14%, 45%), with an over 2-fold difference across sites after accounting for differences in presentation characteristics (median odds ratio, 2.10 [1.83-2.26]). Notably, TTM utilization decreased during the study period (57.5% [2012] to 26.5% [2015], P<0.001) including among shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (73.4% to 46.3%, P<0.001). When administered, the median rate of deviation from one or more recommended practices was 60% (IQR: 40%, 78%). The median rate for delayed onset of TTM was 13% (IQR: 0%, 25%), varying by 70% for identical patients across 2 randomly chosen hospitals (median odds ratio 1.70 [1.39-1.97]). Similarly, the median rate for TTM <24 hours was 20% (IQR: 0%, 34%) and for achieved temperature <32°C was 18% (IQR: 0%, 39%), with marked variation across sites (median odds ratios of 1.44 [1.18-1.64] and 1.98 [1.62-2.31], respectively). Conclusions There has been a substantial decline in the utilization of TTM with significant variation in its real-world implementation. Further standardization of contemporary post-resuscitation practices, like TTM, is critical to ensure that their potential survival benefit is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]