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Elderly patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) represent a growing demographic population. These patients typically present more comorbidities and experience poorer outcomes compared to younger patients. Furthermore, they are less frequently subjected to revascularization procedures and are less likely to receive evidence-based medications in both the short and long-term periods. Assessing frailty is crucial in elderly patients with ACS because it can influence management decisions, as well as risk stratification and prognosis. Indeed, treatment decisions should consider geriatric syndromes, frailty, polypharmacy, sarcopenia, nutritional deficits, prevalence of comorbidities, thrombotic risk, and, at the same time, an increased risk of bleeding. Rigorous clinical assessments, clear revascularization criteria, and tailored approaches to antithrombotic therapy are essential for guiding personalized treatment decisions in these individuals. Assessing frailty helps healthcare providers identify patients who may benefit from targeted interventions to improve their outcomes and quality of life. Elderly individuals who experience ACS remain significantly underrepresented and understudied in randomized controlled trials. For this reason, the occurrence of ACS in the elderly continues to be a particularly complex issue in clinical practice, and one that clinicians increasingly have to address, given the general ageing of populations. This review aims to address the complex aspects of elderly patients with ACS to help clinicians make therapeutic decisions when faced with such situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as the broken-heart syndrome, is a reversible condition typically observed in female patients presenting for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Despite its increasing incidence, TTS often remains undiagnosed due to its overlap with ACS. The pathophysiology of TTS is complex and involves factors such as coronary vasospasm, microcirculatory dysfunction, increased catecholamine levels, and overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. Diagnosing TTS requires a comprehensive approach, starting with clinical suspicion and progressing to both non-invasive and invasive multimodal tests guided by a specific diagnostic algorithm. Management of TTS should be personalized, considering potential complications, the presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD), diagnostic test results, and the patient's clinical course. The current data primarily derive from case series, retrospective analyses, prospective registries, and expert opinions. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of gender differences in the pathophysiology, presentation, and outcomes of TTS. This review provides an updated overview of gender disparities, highlighting the importance of tailored diagnostic and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common sustained arrhythmia necessitating dual focus: acute complication management and sustained longitudinal oversight to modulate disease progression and ensure comprehensive patient care over time. AF is a multifaceted disorder; due to such a great number of potential exacerbating conditions, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) should manage AF patients by cooperating with a cardiologist. Effective management of AF patients necessitates the implementation of a well-coordinated and tailored care pathway aimed at delivering optimized treatment through collaboration among various healthcare professionals. Management of AF should be carefully evaluated and mutually agreed upon in consultation with healthcare providers. It is crucial to recognize that treatment may evolve due to the emergence of new risk factors, symptoms, disease progression, and advancements in treatment modalities. In the context of multidisciplinary AF teams, a coordinated approach involves assembling a diverse team tailored to meet individual patients' unique needs based on local services' availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral valve prolapse is a common valve disorder that usually has a benign prognosis unless there is significant regurgitation or LV impairment. However, a subset of patients are at an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, which has led to the recognition of "arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse" as a clinical entity. Emerging risk factors include mitral annular disjunction and myocardial fibrosis. While echocardiography remains the primary method of evaluation, cardiac magnetic resonance has become crucial in managing this condition. Cine magnetic resonance sequences provide accurate characterization of prolapse and annular disjunction, assessment of ventricular volumes and function, identification of early dysfunction and remodeling, and quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation when integrated with flow imaging. However, the unique strength of magnetic resonance lies in its ability to identify tissue changes. T1 mapping sequences identify diffuse fibrosis, in turn related to early ventricular dysfunction and remodeling. Late gadolinium enhancement sequences detect replacement fibrosis, an independent risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. There are consensus documents and reviews on the use of cardiac magnetic resonance specifically in arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse. However, in this article, we propose an algorithm for the broader use of cardiac magnetic resonance in managing this condition in various scenarios. Future advancements may involve implementing techniques for tissue characterization and flow analysis, such as 4D flow imaging, to identify patients with ventricular dysfunction and remodeling, increased arrhythmic risk, and more accurate grading of mitral regurgitation, ultimately benefiting patient selection for surgical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic stenosis (AS) represents a notable paradigm for cardiovascular (CV) and geriatric disorders owing to comorbidity. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was initially considered a therapeutic strategy in elderly individuals deemed unsuitable for or at high risk of surgical valve replacement. The progressive improvement in TAVR technology has led to the need to refine older patients' stratification, progressively incorporating the concept of frailty and other geriatric vulnerabilities. Recognizing the intricate nature of the aging process, reliance exclusively on chronological age for stratification resulted in an initial but inadequate tool to assess both CV and non-CV risks effectively. A comprehensive geriatric evaluation should be performed before TAVR procedures, taking into account both physical and cognitive capabilities and post-procedural outcomes through a multidisciplinary framework. This review adopts a multidisciplinary perspective to delve into the diagnosis and holistic management of AS in elderly populations in order to facilitate decision-making, thereby optimizing outcomes centered around patient well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a wealth of evidence, aspirin is one of the cornerstones of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, despite several studies showing efficacy also in primary prevention, an unopposed excess risk of bleeding leading to a very thin safety margin is evident in subjects without a clear acute cardiovascular event. Overall, the variability in recommendations from different scientific societies for aspirin use in primary prevention is a classic example of failure of simple risk stratification models based on competing risks (atherothrombosis vs. bleeding), perceived to be opposed but intertwined at the pathophysiological level. Notably, cardiovascular risk is dynamic in nature and cannot be accurately captured by scores, which do not always consider risk enhancers. Furthermore, the widespread use of other potent medications in primary prevention, such as lipid-lowering and anti-hypertensive drugs, might be reducing the benefit of aspirin in recent trials. Some authors, drawing from specific pathophysiological data, have suggested that specific subgroups might benefit more from aspirin. This includes patients with diabetes and those with obesity; sex-based differences are considered as well. Moreover, molecular analysis of platelet reactivity has been proposed. A beneficial effect of aspirin has also been demonstrated for the prevention of cancer, especially colorectal. This review explores evidence and controversies concerning the use of aspirin in primary prevention, considering new perspectives in order to provide a comprehensive individualized approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beta blockers (BBs) play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life and extending the survival of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Initiating the therapy at low doses and gradually titrating the dose upwards is recommended to ensure therapeutic efficacy while mitigating potential adverse effects. Vigilant monitoring for signs of drug intolerance is necessary, with dose adjustments as required. The management of older HF patients requires a case-centered approach, taking into account individual comorbidities, functional status, and frailty. Older adults, however, are often underrepresented in randomized clinical trials, leading to some uncertainty in management strategies as patients with HF in clinical practice are older than those enrolled in trials. The present article performs a scoping review of the past 25 years of published literature on BBs in older HF patients, focusing on age, outcomes, and tolerability. Twelve studies (eight randomized-controlled and four observational) encompassing 26,426 patients were reviewed. The results indicate that BBs represent a viable treatment for older HFrEF patients, offering benefits in symptom management, cardiac function, and overall outcomes. Their role in HF with preserved EF, however, remains uncertain. Further research is warranted to refine treatment strategies and address specific aspects in older adults, including proper dosing, therapeutic adherence, and tolerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) is a lysosome storage disorder resulting from an X-linked inheritance of a mutation in the galactosidase A (GLA) gene encoding for the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (α-GAL A). This mutation results in a deficiency or absence of α-GAL A activity, with a progressive intracellular deposition of glycosphingolipids leading to organ dysfunction and failure. Cardiac damage starts early in life, often occurring sub-clinically before overt cardiac symptoms. Left ventricular hypertrophy represents a common cardiac manifestation, albeit conduction system impairment, arrhythmias, and valvular abnormalities may also characterize AFD. Even in consideration of pleiotropic manifestation, diagnosis is often challenging. Thus, knowledge of cardiac and extracardiac diagnostic "red flags" is needed to guide a timely diagnosis. Indeed, considering its systemic involvement, a multidisciplinary approach may be helpful in discerning AFD-related cardiac disease. Beyond clinical pearls, a practical approach to assist clinicians in diagnosing AFD includes optimal management of biochemical tests, genetic tests, and cardiac biopsy. We extensively reviewed the current literature on AFD cardiomyopathy, focusing on cardiac "red flags" that may represent key diagnostic tools to establish a timely diagnosis. Furthermore, clinical findings to identify patients at higher risk of sudden death are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The importance of atrio‐ventricular synchrony pacing in sinus rhythm patients is known. To identify patients in whom leadless pacemakers are able to guarantee this atrio‐ventricular synchrony, we explored correlations among echocardiographic measures of left atrial (LA) size and function (doppler parameter and strain) with A4 amplitude in patients implanted with new generation Micra‐AV device. Methods: After implantation with Micra‐AV system, patients underwent device interrogation to evaluate AV synchrony based on the sensing of atrial mechanics and echocardiographic exam to assess LA morphology and LA function. Results: In the 21 studied patients (14 males, 72 ± 13 years), the A4 wave amplitude values inversely correlated with LA antero‐posterior diameter, LA volume, LA contraction strain and LA conduit strain, while they were positively related with LA reservoir strain. Discussion: Our results indicate a statistically significant relationship between morphological echocardiographic LA parameters and atrial contraction signal (A4), detected by leadless pacemakers and used to synchronize ventricular pacing with the atrium. Instantaneous LA function assessment obtained with LA strain provides incremental information over morphological parameters. LA strain evaluates atrial myocardial deformation during the whole cardiac cycle. We found higher value of A4 in patients that have grater absolute value of LAsr, LAscd and LAsct, that are simple and measurable parameters of LA functional capacity. Conclusion: Preimplant echocardiographic evaluation of the atrial contractility may be useful in predicting adequate A4 sensing and consequently a good atrio‐ventricular synchrony pacing. Echocardiography LA strain study seems promising in Micra‐AV patient selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) is a novel therapeutic approach for cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this trial is to investigate the feasibility of STAR for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in elderly patients. Methods and results Inclusion criteria were age >70 years, symptomatic AF, antiarrhythmic drugs failure, or intolerance. All patients underwent to 4D cardiac computed tomography simulation. The clinical target volume was identified in the area around pulmonary veins (PV). Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation was performed with a total dose of 25 Gy (single fraction) delivered in 3 min. Twenty patients were enrolled and 18 underwent STAR. One patient withdrew informed consent before treatment and one patient was excluded due to unfavourable oesophagus position. With a median follow-up (FU) of 16 months (range 12–23), no acute toxicity more than Grade 3 was reported. Five patients had a Grade 1 oesophagitis 24 h after STAR; eight patients had an asymptomatic Grade 1 pericardial effusion, and one patient had a torsade de pointes treated effectively by electrical cardioversion and subsequent cardiac implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Most patients had a significant reduction in AF episodes. Five patients, due to arrhythmias recurrences after STAR, performed electrophysiological study documenting successful PV isolation. Finally, a significant improvement of quality of life was documented (48 ± 15 at enrolment vs. 75 ± 15 at 12 months FU; P < 0.001). Conclusion The present phase II trial demonstrated the feasibility of STAR in paroxysmal AF elderly patients and its potential role in increasing the quality of life. Surely, more robust data are needed about safety and efficacy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04575662 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]