The Canadian journal of cardiology
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We assessed the presence of immortal time bias (ITB) in observational studies evaluating the effectiveness of radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) on reduction of stroke. Eligible studies were classified based on presence or absence of ITB. Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled using the random-effects model. ⋯ Pooling studies without ITB indicated no statistically significant reduction in incident strokes (HR 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-1.02]. In conclusion, the pervasiveness of ITB in observational studies precludes definitive conclusions regarding an effect of AF ablation on strokes. Further studies designed to avoid ITB are warranted.
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Perioperative cardiovascular events are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after noncardiac surgery. We propose a simplified method for perioperative risk stratification. ⋯ Patients with cardiovascular risk factors are at increased risk of perioperative MI, those without risk factors are at low risk. Further evaluation is needed to determine the effect of a simplified risk score in the perioperative setting.
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The data on acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are limited. The study sought to compare the incidence of AKI and its impact on 5-year mortality after TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients without CKD. ⋯ TAVR in patients without CKD was associated with a significantly less frequent incidence of AKI compared with SAVR. AKI significantly increased the risk of 5-year mortality after either TAVR or SAVR, and increasing severity of AKI was incrementally associated with 5-year mortality.
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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has placed pressure on health care systems and intensive care unit capacity worldwide. Respiratory insufficiency is the most common reason for hospital admission in patients with COVID-19. The most severe form of respiratory failure is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. ⋯ With growing strain on critical care capacity, clinicians from diverse backgrounds, including cardiovascular specialists, might be required to help care for the growing number of patients with severe respiratory failure and ARDS. The aim of this article is to outline the fundamentals of ARDS diagnosis and management, including mechanical ventilation, for the nonintensivist. In the absence of mechanical ventilation trials specifically in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS, the information presented is on the basis of general ARDS trials.
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In Ontario on March 16, 2020, a directive was issued to all acute care hospitals to halt nonessential procedures in anticipation of a potential surge in COVID-19 patients. This included scheduled outpatient cardiac surgical and interventional procedures that required the use of intensive care units, ventilators, and skilled critical care personnel, given that these procedures would draw from the same pool of resources required for critically ill COVID-19 patients. We adapted the COVID-19 Resource Estimator (CORE) decision analytic model by adding a cardiac component to determine the impact of various policy decisions on the incremental waitlist growth and estimated waitlist mortality for 3 key groups of cardiovascular disease patients: coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmias. ⋯ Second, with better local epidemiology data, we predicted that across 5 regions of Ontario, there may be insufficient resources to resume all elective outpatient cardiac procedures. Finally in the recovery phase, we showed that the estimated incremental growth in waitlist for all cardiac procedures is likely substantial. These outputs informed timely data-driven decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the provision of cardiovascular care.