Red blood cell distribution width in elderly hospitalized patients with cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND Red blood cell distribution width(RDW)is elevated in patients with cardiovascular disease(CVD).AIM To determine RDW values and impact of CV and non-CV coexisting morbidities in elderly patients hospitalized with chronic CVD.METHODS This prospective study included 204 consecutive elderly patients(age 77.5[7.41]years,female 94[46%],left ventricular ejection fraction 53.00%[37.50,55.00])hospitalized with chronic CVD at the Cardiology Department of Larissa University General Hospital(Larissa,Greece)from January 2019 to April 2019.Elderly patients were selected due to the high prevalence of coexisting morbidities in this patient population.Hospitalized patients with acute CVD(acute coronary syndromes,new-onset heart failure[HF],and acute pericarditis/myocarditis),primary isolated valvular heart disease,sepsis,and those with a history of blood transfusions or cancer were excluded.The evaluation of the patients within 24 h from admission included clinical examination,laboratory blood tests,and echocardiography.RESULTS The most common cardiac morbidities were hypertension and coronary artery disease,with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure(ADCHF)and atrial fibrillation(AF)also frequently being present.The most common non-cardiac morbidities were anemia and chronic kidney disease followed by diabetes mellitus,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,and sleep apnea.RDW was significantly elevated 15.48(2.15);121(59.3%)of patients had RDW>14.5%which represents the upper limit of normal in our institution.Factors associated with RDW in stepwise regression analysis were ADCHF(coefficient:1.406;95%confidence interval[CI]:0.830-1.981;P<0.001),AF(1.192;0.673 to 1.711;P<0.001),and anemia(0.806;0.256 to 1.355;P=0.004).ADCHF was the most significant factor associated with RDW.RDW was on average 1.41 higher for patients with than without ADCHF,1.19 higher for patients with than without AF,and 0.81 higher for patients with than without anemia.When patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of anemia,ADCHF and AF,heart rate was not increased in those with anemia but was significantly increased in those with ADCHF or AF.CONCLUSION RDW was elevated in elderly hospitalized patients with chronic CVD.Factors associated with RDW were anemia and CV factors associated with elevated heart rate(ADCHF,AF),suggesting sympathetic overactivity.

COVID-19 and the heart

An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) occurred in December 2019 due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V-2),which is a strain of SARS-Co V.Patients infected with the virus present a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from mild flu-like symptoms,cough,fever and fatigue to severe lung injury,appearing as bilateral interstitial pneumonia or acute respiratory failure.Although SARS-Co V-2 infection predominantly offends the respiratory system,it has been associated with several cardiovascular complications as well.For example,patients with COVID-19 may either develop type 2 myocardial infarction due to myocardial oxygen demand and supply imbalance or acute coronary syndrome resulting from excessive inflammatory response to the primary infection.The incidence of COVID-19 related myocarditis is estimated to be accountable for an average of 7% of all COVID-19 related fatal cases,whereas heart failure(HF) may develop due to infiltration of the heart by inflammatory cells,destructive action of pro-inflammatory cytokines,micro-thrombosis and new onset or aggravated endothelial and respiratory failure.Lastly,SARSCo V-2 can engender arrhythmias through direct myocardial damage causing acute myocarditis or through HF decompensation or secondary,through respiratory failure or severe res-piratory distress syndrome.In this comprehensive review we summarize the COVID-19 related cardiovascular complications(acute coronary syndromes,myocarditis,HF,arrhythmias) and discuss the main underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Heart failure with reduced,mildly reduced,or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction:Has reasoning been lost?

Left ventricular(LV)ejection fraction(LVEF),defined as LV stroke volume divided by end-diastolic volume,has been systematically used for the diagnosis,classification,and management of heart failure(HF)over the last three decades.HF is classified as HF with reduced LVEF,HF with midrange or mildly reduced LVEF,and HF with preserved LVEF using arbitrary,continuously changing LVEF cutoffs.A prerequisite for using this LVEF-based terminology is knowledge of the LVEF normal range,which is lacking and may lead to erroneous conclusions in HF,especially at the higher end of the LVEF spectrum.

Patent hemostasis of radial artery:Comparison of two methods

BACKGROUND Radial artery obstruction is the most common complication of coronary angiography performed via transradial access.Patent hemostasis can significantly reduce the risk of radial artery occlusion.Previous studies utilized sophisticated methods to evaluate radial artery patency.Simplified and easily applicable methods for successful patent hemostasis are currently lacking.AIM To determine which method(pulse oximeter vs the traditional radial artery palpation)is better to achieve patent hemostasis.METHODS This prospective,single center study included 299 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention between November 2017 and July 2019.Patients less than 18 years old,with a history of radial artery disease,or no palpable artery pulse were excluded from the study.Patients were randomly assigned to two groups.In the first group,radial artery flow was assessed by palpation of the artery during hemostasis(traditional method).In the second group,radial artery patency was estimated with the use of a pulse oximeter.Two different compression devices were used for hemostasis(air chamber and pressure valve).The primary study endpoint was the achievement of successful patent hemostasis.RESULTS The two groups(pulse oximeter vs artery palpation)had no significant differences in age,sex,body mass index,risk factors,or comorbidities except for supraventricular arrhythmias.The percentage of patients with successful patent hemostasis was significantly higher in the pulse oximeter group(82.2%vs 68.1%,P=0.005).A lower percentage of patients with spasm was recorded in the pulse oximeter group(9.9%vs 19.0%,P=0.024).The incidence of local complications,edema,bleeding,hematoma,vagotonia,or pain did not differ between the two groups.In the multivariate analysis,the use of a pulse oximeter(OR:2.35,95%CI:1.34-4.13,P=0.003)and advanced age(OR:1.04,95%CI:1.01-1.07,P=0.006),were independently associated with an increased probability of successful patent hemostasis.The type of hemostatic device did not affect patent hemostasis(P=0.450).CONCLUSION Patent hemostasis with the use of pulse oximeter is a simple,efficient,and safe method that is worthy of further investigation.Larger randomized studies are required to consider its clinical implications.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A distinct heart failure phenotype?

The present work discusses the serious confusion resulting from the arbitrary nomenclature of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF),the presumed underlying pathophysiology,and the supposed features.A consequence of this misconception is that HFpEF trials have recruited patients with entirely different characteristics rendering the extrapolation of the results of one study to the other infeasible and dramatically affecting diagnosis and treatment.

Glucose lowering does not necessarily reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a health condition characterized by glucose dysregulation and affects millions of people worldwide.The presentation of heart failure in diabetic cardiomyopathy extends over a wide phenotypic spectrum,commencing from asymptomatic,subclinical structural abnormalities to severely symptomatic biventricular dysfunction with increased mortality risk.Similarly,the spectrum of systolic dysfunction in diabetic-induced heart failure is diverse.DM leads also to cardiac electrical remodeling reacting on various targets.Dipeptidyl peptidase-4(DPP-4)inhibitors reduce glucagon and blood glucose levels by raising levels of the endogenous hormones glucagon-like-peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide and constitute a safe and effective glucose lowering treatment option in patients with type 2 DM.Despite DPP-4 inhibitors’efficacy regarding glycemic control,their effect on cardiovascular outcomes(myocardial infarction,stroke,hospitalization for heart failure,hospitalization for unstable angina,hospitalization for coronary revascularization,and cardiovascular death)in diabetic patients has been neutral.The potential correlation between atrial flutter and DPP-4 inhibitors administration needs further investigation.