International journal of cardiology
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Comparative Study
Six-minute walk test distance and resting oxygen saturations but not functional class predict outcome in adult patients with Eisenmenger syndrome.
Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) represents the extreme manifestation of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with congenital heart disease, associated with significant exercise intolerance and mortality. Even though of six-minute-walk-test (6MWT) is routinely used in these patients, little is known about its prognostic value in comparison to functional class. ⋯ The 6MWD and resting SO2, but not functional class were predictive of outcome in this contemporary cohort of Eisenmenger patients and should be incorporated in both risk stratification and management algorithms for these patients.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
A comparison of clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with first-diagnosed atrial fibrillation: the Belgrade Atrial Fibrillation Study.
To investigate baseline characteristics and long-term prognosis of carefully characterized asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in a 'real-world' cohort of first-diagnosed non-valvular AF over a 10-year follow-up period. ⋯ In a 'real-world' setting, patients with asymptomatic presentation of their first-diagnosed AF could have different risk profile and long-term outcomes compared to those with symptomatic AF. Whether more intensive monitoring and comprehensive AF management including AF ablation at early stage following the incident episode of AF and increased quality of oral anticoagulation could alter the long-term prognosis of these patients requires further investigation.
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Evidence supporting a predictive role for depression in the pathgenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) has mainly come from studies in Western countries. Conflicting data exist regarding the association between antidepressant use and the incidence of CHD. This population-based study tracked the risk of composite coronary events in a cohort with newly diagnosed depression compared to an age- and gender-matched cohort without depression. The association between antidepressant use and risk of coronary events in individuals with depression was also investigated. ⋯ Depression is associated with an increased risk for CHD. No evidence supporting an association between antidepressants and coronary events was found.
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The arterial switch operation (ASO) is currently the treatment of choice for infants with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Little is known, however, about the alteration of anatomic left ventricular (LV) torsional mechanics after the operation. This study sought to evaluate LV torsion in patients of transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA/IVS) using speckle tracking echocardiography. ⋯ Two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography may sensitively detect impaired LV torsional mechanics in patients with TGA/IVS early after ASO, and the impairment of LV relaxation leads to increased LV filling pressure which is consistent with higher E/e'. However, all patients recovered well thereafter and the overall midterm outcome of ASO is satisfactory.
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Functional iron deficiency and diastolic function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Functional iron deficiency (FID) is an independent risk factor for poor outcome in advanced heart failure with reduced EF, but its role in heart failure with preserved EF (HFPEF) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of FID on cardiac performance determined by pressure-volume loop analysis in HFPEF. ⋯ In non-anemic HFPEF patients, cardiac dysfunction and impaired exercise capacity occur independently of FID.