Daniel Rinnström

Height, weight and body mass index in adults with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND High BMI is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and, in contrast, low BMI is associated with worse prognosis in heart failure. The knowledge on BMI and the distribution in different BMI-classes in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are limited. METHODS AND RESULTS Data on 2424 adult patients was extracted from the Swedish Registry on Congenital Heart Disease and compared to a reference population (n=4605). The prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25) was lower in men with variants of the Fontan procedure, pulmonary atresia (PA)/double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and aortic valve disease (AVD) (Fontan 22.0% and PA/DORV 15.1% vs. 43.0%, p=0.048 and p<0.001) (AVD 37.5% vs. 49.3%, p<0.001). Overt obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was only more common in women with AVD (12.8% vs. 9.0%, p=0.005). Underweight (BMI<18.5) was generally more common in men with CHD (complex lesions 4.9% vs. 0.9%, p<0.001 and simple lesions 3.2% vs. 0.6%, <0.001). Men with complex lesions were shorter than controls in contrast to females that in general did not differ from controls. CONCLUSION Higher prevalence of underweight in men with CHD combined with a lower prevalence of overweight/obesity in men with some complex lesions indicates that men with CHD in general has lower BMI compared to controls. In women, only limited differences between those with CHD and the controls were found. The complexity of the CHD had larger impact on height in men. The cause of these gender differences as well as possible significance for prognosis is unknown.

High incidence of infective endocarditis in adults with congenital ventricular septal defect

Objective Ventricular septal defects (VSDs), if haemodynamically important, are closed whereas small shunts are left without intervention. The long-term prognosis in congenital VSD is good but patients are still at risk for long-term complications. The aim of this study was to clarify the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) in adults with VSD. Methods The Swedish registry for congenital heart disease (SWEDCON) was searched for adults with VSD. 779 patients were identified, 531 with small shunts and 248 who had the VSD previously closed. The National Patient Register was then searched for hospitalisations due to IE in adults during a 10-year period. Results Sixteen (2%) patients were treated for IE, 6 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 46.3±12.2 years. The incidence of IE was 1.7–2.7/1000 years in patients without previous intervention, 20–30 times the risk in the general population. Thirteen had small shunts without previous intervention. There was no mortality in these 13 cases. Two patients had undergone repair of their VSD and also aortic valve replacement before the episode of endocarditis and a third patient with repaired VSD had a bicuspid aortic valve, all of these three patients needed reoperation because of their IE and one patient died. No patient with isolated and operated VSD was diagnosed with IE. Conclusions A small unoperated VSD in adults carries a substantially increased risk of IE but is associated with a low risk of mortality.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in adults with previous repair of coarctation of the aorta; Association with systolic blood pressure in the high normal range

BACKGROUND Arterial hypertension is common in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta (CoA). The associations between the diagnosis of hypertension, actual blood pressure, other factors affecting left ventricular overload, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are not yet fully explored in this population. MATERIAL AND RESULTS From the national register for congenital heart disease, 506 adult patients (≥18years old) with previous repair of CoA were identified (37.0% female, mean age 35.7±13.8years, with an average of 26.8±12.4years post repair). Echocardiographic data were available for all patients, and showed LVH in 114 (22.5%) of these. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) (OR 1.02, CI 1.01-1.04), aortic valve disease, (OR 2.17, CI 1.33-3.53), age (years) (OR 1.03, CI 1.01-1.05), diagnosis of arterial hypertension (OR 3.02, CI 1.81-5.02), and sex (female) (OR 0.41, CI 0.24-0.72) were independently associated with LVH. There was an association with LVH at SBP within the upper reference limits [130, 140] mmHg (OR 2.23, CI 1.05-4.73) that further increased for SBP>140mmHg (OR 8.02, CI 3.76-17.12). CONCLUSIONS LVH is common post repair of CoA and is associated with SBP even below the currently recommended target level. Lower target levels may therefore become justified in this population.

Left ventricular remodelling changes without concomitant loss of myocardial fat after long-term dietary intervention.

BACKGROUND Accumulation of myocardial triglycerides (MTG) is associated with impaired left ventricular (LV) remodelling and function in obese and diabetic subjects. The role of MTG accumulation in development of heart failure in this group of patients is unknown. Short-term studies suggest that diets that lead to weight loss could mobilize MTG, with a favourable effect on cardiac remodelling. In a 24-month, randomized, investigator-blinded study, we assessed the effect of two different diets and subsequent weight loss on cardiac function and MTG in postmenopausal women. METHODS Sixty-eight healthy postmenopausal women with body mass index [BMI] ≥27kg/m(2) were randomized to an ad libitum Palaeolithic diet (PD) or a Nordic Nutrition Recommendation (NNR) diet for 24months. Morphology, cardiac function, and MTG levels were measured using magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, including proton spectroscopy at baseline and 6 and 24months. RESULTS Despite mean weight losses of 4.9 (1.0) kg (NNR) and 7.8 (1.1) kg (PD), the MTG content did not change over time (p=0.98 in the NNR and p=0.11 in the PD group at 24months). Reduced left ventricular mass was observed in both diet groups over 24months. Blood pressure was reduced at 6months, but returned to baseline levels at 24months. End diastolic volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output decreased over time. No differences between diet groups were observed. CONCLUSIONS Diet intervention and moderate weight loss over 24months improved LV remodelling but did not alter MTG levels in overweight/obese postmenopausal women.

Hypertension in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta

AIMS In adults with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), hypertension (HTN) is a common long-term complication. We investigated the prevalence of HTN and analyzed factors associated with HTN. METHODS AND RESULTS In the national register for congenital heart disease, 653 adults with repaired CoA were identified (mean age 36.9±14.4years); 344 (52.7%) of them had HTN, defined as either an existing diagnosis or blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90mmHg at the clinical visit. In a multivariable model, age (years) (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, CI 1.05-1.10), sex (male) (OR 3.35, CI 1.98-5.68), and body mass index (kilograms per square meter) (OR 1.09, CI 1.03-1.16) were independently associated with having HTN, and so was systolic arm-leg BP gradient where an association with HTN was found at the ranges of (10, 20] and >20mmHg, in comparison to the interval ≤10mmHg (OR 3.58, CI 1.70-7.55, and OR 11.38, CI 4.03-32.11). This model remained valid when all patients who had increased BP (≥140/90mmHg) without having been diagnosed with HTN were excluded from the analyses. CONCLUSIONS Hypertension is common in patients with previously repaired CoA and is associated with increasing age, male sex, and elevated body mass index. There is also an association with arm-leg BP gradient, starting at relatively low levels that are usually not considered for intervention.

Poor blood pressure control in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta and hypertension: a register-based study of associated factors

BACKGROUND Arterial hypertension is common in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta, and is associated with several severe complications. Aims This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of poorly controlled (⩾140/90 mmHg) blood pressure among patients with diagnosed hypertension and to identify associated factors. METHODS In the national register for CHD, adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta and diagnosed hypertension - defined as a registry diagnosis and/or use of anti-hypertensive prescription medication - were identified. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with poorly controlled blood pressure. RESULTS Of the 243 included patients, 27.2% were female, the mean age was 45.4±15.3 years, and 52.3% had poorly controlled blood pressure at the last registration. In a multivariable model, age (years) (OR 1.03, CI 1.01-1.06, p=0.008) was independently associated with poorly controlled blood pressure and so was systolic arm-leg blood pressure gradient in the ranges [10, 20] mmHg (OR 4.92, CI 1.76-13.79, p=0.002) to >20 mmHg (OR 9.93, CI 2.99-33.02, p<0.001), in comparison with the reference interval [0, 10] mmHg. Patients with poorly controlled blood pressure had, on average, more types of anti-hypertensive medication classes prescribed (1.9 versus 1.5, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Poorly controlled blood pressure is common among patients with repaired coarctation of the aorta and diagnosed hypertension, despite what seems to be more intensive treatment. A systolic arm-leg blood pressure gradient is associated with poorly controlled blood pressure, even at low levels usually not considered for intervention, and may be an indicator of hypertension that is difficult to treat.