Abdelfatah Elasfar

Clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of acute heart failure patients: observations from the Gulf acute heart failure registry (Gulf CARE).

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of acute heart failure (HF) patients from the Gulf acute heart failure registry (Gulf CARE).

Clinical features, management, and short- and long-term outcomes of patients with acute decompensated heart failure: phase I results of the HEARTS database.

The HEart function Assessment Registry Trial in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS) is a national multicentre project, studying clinical features, management, short‐ and long‐term outcomes, and mortality predictors in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

BMI is inversely correlated to the risk of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for acute heart failure: Findings from the Gulf aCute heArt failuRE (Gulf-CARE) registry

BACKGROUNDnA U-shaped relationship has been reported between BMI and cardiovascular events among patients with acute heart failure (AHF). We hypothesized that an obesity paradox also governs the relationship between BMI and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and AHF.nnnMETHODSnWe studied 3-month and 12-month mortality in patients with T2D hospitalized for AHF according to 5 BMI categories: Underweight (<20kg/m2), normal weight (referent group, 20-24.9kg/m2), overweight, (25-29.9kg/m2), obese (30-34.9kg/m2) and severely obese (≥35kg/m2), in the Gulf aCute heArt failuRe rEgistry (GULF-CARE).nnnRESULTSnAmong the 5005 participants in this cohort, 2492 (49.8%) had T2D. Underweight patients had a higher 3-month and 12-month mortality risk (OR 2.04, 95% CI [1.02-4.08]; OR 2.44, 95% CI [1.35-4.3]; respectively), compared to normal weight. Severe obesity was associated with a lower 3-month and 12-month mortality risk (OR 0.53, 95% CI [0.34-0.83]; OR 0.58, 95% CI [0.42-0.81]; respectively). After adjustment for several risk variables in 2 different models, the primary outcome was still significantly increased in underweight patients, and decreased in severely obese patients, at 3months and 12months. Further, the odds of mortality decreases with increasing BMI by 0.38 at 3months and at 0.45 at 12months in a near-linear shape (p=0.007; p=0.037; respectively).nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn this cohort of patients with AHF, BMI was inversely correlated to the risk of mortality in patients with T2D. Moreover, severe obesity was associated with less mortality risk.

Worsening heart failure in 'real-world' clinical practice: predictors and prognostic impact.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features, predictors, and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF), with and without worsening heart failure (WHF).

Clinical characteristics, precipitating factors, management and outcome of patients with prior stroke hospitalised with heart failure: an observational report from the Middle East

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence, clinical characteristics, precipitating factors, management and outcome of patients with prior stroke hospitalised with acute heart failure (HF). Design Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Setting Data were derived from Gulf CARE (Gulf aCute heArt failuRe rEgistry), a prospective multicentre study of consecutive patients hospitalised with acute HF in 2012 in seven Middle Eastern countries and analysed according to the presence or absence of prior stroke; demographics, management and outcomes were compared. Participants A total of 5005 patients with HF. Outcome measures In-hospital and 1-year outcome. Results The prevalence of prior stroke in patients with HF was 8.1%. Patients with stroke with HF were more likely to be admitted under the care of internists rather than cardiologists. When compared with patients without stroke, patients with stroke were more likely to be older and to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidaemia, chronic kidney disease, ischaemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and left ventricular dysfunction (p=0.001 for all). Patients with stroke were less likely to be smokers (0.003). There were no significant differences in terms of precipitating risk factors for HF hospitalisation between the two groups. Patients with stroke with HF had a longer hospital stay (mean±SD days; 11±14 vs 9±13, p=0.03), higher risk of recurrent strokes and 1-year mortality rates (32.7% vs 23.2%, p=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that stroke is an independent predictor of in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Conclusions This observational study reports high prevalence of prior stroke in patients hospitalised with HF. Internists rather than cardiologists were the predominant caregivers in this high-risk group. Patients with stroke had higher risk of in-hospital recurrent strokes and long-term mortality rates. Trial registration number NCT01467973.

Predictors of developing significant mitral regurgitation following percutaneous mitral commissurotomy with inoue balloon technique.

Background. Despite the high technical expertise in percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC), mitral regurgitation (MR) remains a major procedure-related complication. The aim of this work is to find out the most sensitive and applicable predictors of development of significant mitral regurgitation (SMR) following percutaneous mitral commissurotomy using Inoue balloon technique. Methods. We studied prospectively the preprocedural (clinical, echocardiography, and hemodynamic) and procedural predictors of significant mitral regurgitation (identified as increase of ≥2/4 grades of pre-PMC MR by color Doppler flow mapping) following valvuloplasty using Inoue balloon in 108 consecutive patients with severe mitral stenosis. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables found positive on univariate analysis to determine the most important predictor(s) of developing SMR. Results. The incidence of SMR following PMC using Inoue technique was 18.5% (10 patients). MV scoring systems were the only variables that showed significant differences between both groups (Group A without SMR and Group B with SMR). However, no clinical, other echocardiographic measurements, hemodynamic or procedural variables could predict the development of SMR. Using multiple regression analysis, the best predictive factor for the risk of SMR after Inoue BMV was the total MR-echo score with a cutoff point of 7 and a predictive percentage of 97.7%. Conclusions. The total MR-echo score is the only independent predictor of SMR following PMC using Inoue technique with a cutoff point of 7.

Comparison of Indian subcontinent and Middle East acute heart failure patients: Results from the Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry.

Objective To compare Middle East Arabs and Indian subcontinent acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Methods AHF patients admitted from February 14, 2012 to November 14, 2012 in 47 hospitals among 7 Middle East countries. Results The Middle Eastern Arab group (4157) was older (60 vs. 54 years), with high prevalence of coronary artery disease (48% vs. 37%), valvular heart disease (14% vs. 7%), atrial fibrillation (12% vs. 7%), and khat chewing (21% vs. 1%). Indian subcontinent patients (382) were more likely to be smokers (36% vs. 21%), alcohol consumers (11% vs. 2%), diabetic (56% vs. 49%) with high prevalence of AHF with reduced ejection fraction (76% vs. 65%), and with acute coronary syndrome (46% vs. 26%). In-hospital mortality was 6.5% with no difference, but 3-month and 12-month mortalities were significantly high among Middle East Arabs, (13.7% vs. 7.6%) and (22.8% vs. 17.1%), respectively. Conclusions AHF patients from this region are a decade younger than Western patients with high prevalence of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and AHF with reduced ejection fraction. There is an urgent need to control risk factors among both groups, as well as the need for setting up heart failure clinics for better postdischarge management.

Splenic abscess associated with infective endocarditis; Case series

Splenic abscess is a well-described but rare complication of infective endocarditis. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are essential as its course can be fatal. We present three case reports that describe the management of splenic abscesses in patients initially diagnosed with infective endocarditis. In all cases, the diagnosis was based on the findings of abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In two of the cases, splenectomy was performed before valve surgery; while in the third case, the spleen was removed after cardiac surgery. All three patients recovered fully, with satisfactory follow-up as outpatients. Immediate splenectomy, combined with appropriate antibiotics and valve replacement surgery alongside multi-disciplinary team work could be the treatment of choice in this clinical scenario.

Endovascular repair of severe aortic coarctation, transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis, and percutaneous coronary intervention in an elderly patient with long term follow-up

To the best of our knowledge, there have not been any reports of total transcatheter approach including stenting of severe coarctation of the aorta (CoA), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for concomitant severe aortic valve stenosis, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat significant coronary artery disease in a single patient. We report a 70-year-old female, who presented with uncontrolled hypertension and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and was found to have severe CoA, severe bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis, and significant proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease. In a multidisciplinary heart team meeting, we decided to perform an endovascular repair of both cardiac and vascular pathologies using a two-stage approach due to the significant comorbidities; mainly uncontrolled hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and severe calcifications of the ascending aorta. The procedures were successfully performed and the patient was asymptomatic 30u202fmonths later at follow-up and was without any significant gradients across the coarctation or the aortic valve.

Non-withdrawal of beta blockers in acute decompensated chronic and de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in a prospective multicentre study of patients with acute heart failure in the Middle East

Objectives Beta blockers reduce mortality in heart failure (HF). However, it is not clear whether they should be temporarily withdrawn during acute HF. Design Analysis of prospectively collected data. Setting The Gulf aCute heArt failuRe rEgistry is a prospective multicentre study of patients hospitalised with acute HF in seven Middle Eastern countries. Participants 5005 patients with acute HF. Outcome measures We studied the effect of beta blockers non-withdrawal on intrahospital, 3-month and 12-month mortality and rehospitalisation for HF in patients with acute decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF) and acute de novo heart failure (ADNHF) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%. Results 44.1% of patients were already on beta blockers on inclusion. Among those, 57.8% had an LVEF <40%. Further, 79.9% were diagnosed with ADCHF and 20.4% with ADNHF. Mean age was 61 (SD 13.9) in the ADCHF group and 59.8 (SD 13.8) in the ADNHF group. Intrahospital mortality was lower in patients whose beta blocker therapy was not withdrawn in both the ADCHF and ADNHF groups. This protective effect persisted after multivariate analysis (OR 0.05, 95%u2009CI 0.022 to 0.112; OR 0.018, 95%u2009CI 0.003 to 0.122, respectively, p<0.001 for both) and propensity score matching even after correcting for variables that remained significant in the new model (OR 0.084, 95%u2009CI 0.015 to 0.468, p=0.005; OR 0.047, 95%u2009CI 0.013 to 0.169, p<0.001, respectively). At 3 months, mortality was still lower only in patients with ADCHF in whom beta blockers were maintained during initial hospitalisation. However, the benefit was lost after correcting for confounding factors. Interestingly, rehospitalisation for HF and length of hospital stay were unaffected by beta blockers discontinuation in all patients. Conclusion In summary, non-withdrawal of beta blockers in acute decompensated chronic and de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is associated with lower intrahospital mortality but does not influence 3-month and 12-month mortality, rehospitalisation for heart failure,and the length of hospital stay. Trial registration number NCT01467973; Post-results.