Heart

OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding the effect of napping on cardiovascular disease (CVD), with most studies failing to consider napping frequency. We aimed to assess the relationship of napping frequency and average nap duration with fatal and non-fatal CVD events. METHODS: 3462 subjects of a Swiss population based cohort with no previous history of CVD reported their nap frequency and daily nap duration over a week, and were followed over 5.3 years. Fatal and non-fatal CVD events were adjudicated...

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OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the relationship between guideline adherence for recommended therapy on discharge and relevant 60-day and 1-year clinical outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Of 5625 acute patients with HF in the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry, 986 patients with HF and documented AF were analysed. Guideline adherence scores were calculated for the prescription of ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and anticoagulants...

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OBJECTIVE: Despite its predictive value for mortality in various diseases, the relevance of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) as prognostic biomarker in pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains unclear. This study investigated the association between GDF-15 and outcomes in adults with PH. METHODS: This is a single-centre prospective observational cohort study. All adults with PH were included at the day of their diagnostic right heart catheterisation between 2012 and 2016...

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OBJECTIVE: In the Fontan circulation, non-pulsatile pulmonary blood flow is suggested to negatively affect pulmonary artery growth. The pulmonary vasculature is regarded a key determinant of outcome after Fontan completion. We hypothesised that in Fontan patients pulmonary artery size correlates with follow-up and functional clinical status. METHODS: This is a single-centre, cross-sectional cohort study. Thirty-nine paediatric and adult Fontan patients with a concomitant cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scan and a cardiopulmonary exercise test between 2012 and 2013 were included...

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OBJECTIVE: The current guidelines suggest alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is less effective in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients with severe left ventricular hypertrophy, despite acknowledging that systematic data are lacking. Therefore, we analysed patients in the Euro-ASA registry to test this statement. METHODS: We compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with basal interventricular septum (IVS) thickness <30 mm Hg to those with ≥30 mm Hg treated using ASA in nine European centres...

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OBJECTIVES: To investigate sex differences in left ventricular remodelling and outcome in patients undergoing surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (SAVR/TAVR). METHODS: In this multicentre, observational, outcome study with imaging core-lab analysis, patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) listed for intervention at one of six UK centres were prospectively recruited and underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and secondary endpoint was cardiovascular mortality...

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BACKGROUND: Fabry disease is a treatable X-linked condition leading to progressive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia and premature death. Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias contribute significantly to adverse prognosis; however, guidance to determine which patients require cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is sparse. We aimed to evaluate indications for implantation practice in the UK and quantify device utilisation. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included demographic, clinical and imaging data from patients in four of the largest UK Fabry centres...

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OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery or catheter interventions are nowadays commonly performed to reduce volume loading of the right ventricle in adults with congenital heart disease. However, little is known, on the effect of such procedures on pre-existing tricuspid regurgitation (TR). We assessed the potential reduction in the severity of TR after atrial septal defect (ASD) closure and pulmonic valve replacement (PVR). METHODS: Demographics, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of consecutive patients undergoing ASD closure or PVR between 2005 and 2014 at a single centre who had at least mild preoperative TR were collected and analysed...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, currently affecting over 33 million individuals worldwide, and its prevalence is expected to more than double over the next 40 years. AF is associated with a twofold increase in premature mortality, and important major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart failure, severe stroke and myocardial infarction. Significant effort has been made over a number of years to define the underlying cellular, molecular and electrophysiological changes that predispose to the induction and maintenance of AF in patients...

OBJECTIVE: Despite the progression of treatments over decades, heart failure (HF) is a disease with high morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Influenza infection is an important trigger for cardiovascular (CV) events, including HF. Influenza vaccination has been seen to reduce the risk of CV mortality in patients with coronary disease, but the effect in patients with HF is still unclear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effect of influenza vaccination in the morbimortality of patients with HF...

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prognostic significance of atrial fibrillation (AF) versus sinus rhythm (SR) on the management and outcomes of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: 1847 consecutive patients with severe AS (aortic valve area ≤1.0 cm2 and aortic valve systolic mean Doppler gradient ≥40 mm Hg or peak velocity ≥4 m/s) and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were identified. The independent association of AF and all-cause mortality was assessed...

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