Marcelo Iorio Garcia

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: use of delayed contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance in risk assessment

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe and progressive disease. Its early diagnosis is the greatest clinical challenge. Objective To evaluate the presence and extension of the delayed myocardial contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance, as well as to verify if the percentage of the myocardial fibrosis mass is a severity predictor. Methods Cross-sectional study with 30 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension of groups I and IV, subjected to clinical, functional and hemodynamic evaluation, and to cardiac magnetic resonance. Results The mean age of patients was 52 years old, with female predominance (77%). Among the patients, 53% had right ventricular failure at diagnosis, and 90% were in functional class II/III. The mean of the 6-minute walk test was 395m. In hemodynamic study with right catheterism, the mean average pulmonary arterial pressure was 53.3mmHg, of the cardiac index of 2.1L/ min.m2, and median right atrial pressure was 13.5 mmHg. Delayed myocardial contrast enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance was found in 28 patients. The mean fibrosis mass was 9.9 g and the median percentage of fibrosis mass was 6.17%. The presence of functional class IV, right ventricular failure at diagnosis, 6-minute walk test < 300 meters and right atrial pressure ≥ 15 mmHg, with cardiac index < 2.0 L/ min.m2, there was a relevant association with the increased percentage of myocardial fibrosis. Conclusion The percentage of the myocardial fibrosis mass indicates a non-invasive marker with promising perspectives in identifying patients with high risk factors for pulmonary hypertension.

Atrial Fibrillation in Decompensated Heart Failure: Associated Factors and In-Hospital Outcome

Background Studies on atrial fibrillation (AF) in decompensated heart failure (DHF) are scarce in Brazil. Objectives To determine AF prevalence, its types and associated factors in patients hospitalized due to DHF; to assess their thromboembolic risk profile and anticoagulation rate; and to assess the impact of AF on in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay. Methods Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study of incident cases including 659 consecutive hospitalizations due to DHF, from 01/01/2006 to 12/31/2011. The thromboembolic risk was assessed by using CHADSVASc score. On univariate analysis, the chi-square, Student t and Mann Whitney tests were used. On multivariate analysis, logistic regression was used. Results The prevalence of AF was 40%, and the permanent type predominated (73.5%). On multivariate model, AF associated with advanced age (p < 0.0001), non-ischemic etiology (p = 0.02), right ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.03), lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.02), higher ejection fraction (EF) (p < 0.0001) and enlarged left atrium (LA) (p < 0.0001). The median CHADSVASc score was 4, and 90% of the cases had it ≥ 2. The anticoagulation rate was 52.8% on admission and 66.8% on discharge, being lower for higher scores. The group with AF had higher in-hospital mortality (11.0% versus 8.1%, p = 0.21) and longer hospital length of stay (20.5 ± 16 versus 16.3 ± 12, p = 0.001). Conclusions Atrial fibrillation is frequent in DHF, the most prevalent type being permanent AF. Atrial fibrillation is associated with more advanced age, non-ischemic etiology, right ventricular dysfunction, lower SBP, higher EF and enlarged LA. Despite the high thromboembolic risk profile, anticoagulation is underutilized. The presence of AF is associated with longer hospital length of stay and high mortality.

Hemodynamic assessment in heart failure: role of physical examination and noninvasive methods

Entre as doencas cardiovasculares, a insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) apresenta elevada taxa de internacao hospitalar, morbidade e mortalidade, consumindo grandes recursos financeiros do sistema de saude no Brasil e em outros paises. A correta determinacao das pressoes de enchimento do ventriculo esquerdo, por avaliacao invasiva ou nao invasiva, e fundamental para o adequado tratamento dos pacientes com IC cronica descompensada, considerando que a congestao e o principal fator determinante dos sintomas e da hospitalizacao. O exame fisico tem se mostrado inadequado para prever o padrao hemodinâmico. Varios estudos sugerem que a concordância em achados de exame fisico por diferentes medicos e pequena e que, por fim, as proprias alteracoes fisiologicas adaptativas na IC cronica mascaram importantes aspectos do exame fisico. Como a avaliacao clinica falha em prever a hemodinâmica e pelo fato de a utilizacao do cateter de Swan-Ganz de rotina nao ser recomendada para esse fim em pacientes com IC, metodos de avaliacao hemodinâmica nao invasivos, como o BNP, o ecocardiograma e a bioimpedância cardiografica, vem sendo crescentemente utilizados. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo realizar, para o clinico, uma revisao da funcao de cada uma dessas ferramentas, na definicao da condicao hemodinâmica em que se encontram os pacientes com IC descompensada, visando a um tratamento mais racional e individualizado.Among the cardiovascular diseases, heart failure (HF) has a high rate of hospitalization, morbidity and mortality, consuming vast resources of the public health system in Brazil and other countries. The correct determination of the filling pressures of the left ventricle by noninvasive or invasive assessment is critical to the proper treatment of patients with decompensated chronic HF, considering that congestion is the main determinant of symptoms and hospitalization. Physical examination has shown to be inadequate to predict the hemodynamic pattern. Several studies have suggested that agreement on physical findings by different physicians is small and that, ultimately, adaptive physiological alterations in chronic HF mask important aspects of the physical examination. As the clinical assessment fails to predict hemodynamic aspects and because the use of Swan-Ganz catheter is not routinely recommended for this purpose in patients with HF, noninvasive hemodynamic assessment methods, such as BNP, echocardiography and cardiographic bioimpedance, are being increasingly used. The present study intends to carry out, for the clinician, a review of the role of each of these tools when defining the hemodynamic status of patients with decompensated heart failure, aiming at a more rational and individualized treatment.

Diretriz Brasileira de Insuficiência Cardíaca Crônica e Aguda

Parte 1: Diretriz Brasileira de Insuficiencia Cardiaca Cronica […] Diretriz Brasileira de Insuficiencia Cardiaca Cronica e Aguda

Global Longitudinal Strain Accuracy for Cardiotoxicity Prediction in a Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients During Anthracycline and/or Trastuzumab Treatment

Background The high cardiotoxicity morbidity and mortality rates associated with the antineoplastic therapy for breast cancer could be reduced with the early use of cardioprotective drugs. However, the low sensitivity of left ventricular ejection fraction limits its use in that preventive strategy. New parameters, such as global longitudinal strain, are being used in the early detection of contractile function changes. Objectives To assess the incidence of cardiotoxicity in patients treated for breast cancer, the independent factors associated with that event, and the ability of strain to identify it early. Methods Prospective observational study of consecutive outpatients diagnosed with breast cancer, with no previous antineoplastic treatment and no ventricular dysfunction, who underwent anthracycline and/or trastuzumab therapy. The patients were quarterly evaluated on a 6- to 12-month follow-up by an observer blind to therapy. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association of cardiotoxicity with clinical, therapeutic and echocardiographic variables. A ROC curve was built to identify the strain cutoff point on the third month that could predict the ejection fraction reduction on the sixth month. For all tests, the statistical significance level adopted was p ≤ 0.05. Results Of 49 women (mean age, 49.7 ± 12.2 years), cardiotoxicity was identified in 5 (10%) on the third (n = 2) and sixth (n = 3) months of follow-up. Strain was independently associated with the event (p = 0.004; HR = 2.77; 95%CI: 1.39-5.54), with a cutoff point for absolute value of -16.6 (AUC = 0.95; 95%CI: 0.87-1.0) or a cutoff point for percentage reduction of 14% (AUC = 0.97; 95%CI: 0.9-1.0). Conclusion The 14% reduction in strain (absolute value of -16.6) allowed the early identification of patients who could develop anthracycline and/or trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity.

Natriuretic Peptide and Clinical Evaluation in the Diagnosis of Heart Failure Hemodynamic Profile: Comparison with Tissue Doppler Echocardiography

Background Physical examination and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been used to estimate hemodynamics and tailor therapy of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients. However, correlation between these parameters and left ventricular filling pressures is controversial. Objective This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination, chest radiography (CR) and BNP in estimating left atrial pressure (LAP) as assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiogram. Methods Patients admitted with ADHF were prospectively assessed. Diagnostic characteristics of physical signs of heart failure, CR and BNP in predicting elevation (> 15 mm Hg) of LAP, alone or combined, were calculated. Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between non-normal distribution variables. The level of significance was 5%. Results Forty-three patients were included, with mean age of 69.9 ± 11.1years, left ventricular ejection fraction of 25 ± 8.0%, and BNP of 1057 ± 1024.21 pg/mL. Individually, all clinical, CR or BNP parameters had a poor performance in predicting LAP ≥ 15 mm Hg. A clinical score of congestion had the poorest performance [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.53], followed by clinical score + CR (AUC 0.60), clinical score + CR + BNP > 400 pg/mL (AUC 0.62), and clinical score + CR + BNP > 1000 pg/mL (AUC 0.66). Conclusion Physical examination, CR and BNP had a poor performance in predicting a LAP ≥ 15 mm Hg. Using these parameters alone or in combination may lead to inaccurate estimation of hemodynamics.

Exactitud de vinculación probabilística de registros para identificar muertes en una cohorte de pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada

Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the methods accuracy for identifying deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard). OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort studies.Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the method’s accuracy for identifying deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard). OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort studies.

Acurácia do relacionamento probabilístico de registros na identificação de óbitos em uma coorte de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca descompensada

Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the methods accuracy for identifying deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard). OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort studies.Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the method’s accuracy for identifying deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard). OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort studies.

Accuracy of probabilistic record linkage for identifying deaths in a cohort of patients with decompensated heart failure

Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the methods accuracy for identifying deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard). OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort studies.Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the method’s accuracy for identifying deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard). OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort studies.

Evaluación hemodinámica en la insuficiencia cardíaca: papel del examen físico y de los métodos no invasivos

Entre as doencas cardiovasculares, a insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) apresenta elevada taxa de internacao hospitalar, morbidade e mortalidade, consumindo grandes recursos financeiros do sistema de saude no Brasil e em outros paises. A correta determinacao das pressoes de enchimento do ventriculo esquerdo, por avaliacao invasiva ou nao invasiva, e fundamental para o adequado tratamento dos pacientes com IC cronica descompensada, considerando que a congestao e o principal fator determinante dos sintomas e da hospitalizacao. O exame fisico tem se mostrado inadequado para prever o padrao hemodinâmico. Varios estudos sugerem que a concordância em achados de exame fisico por diferentes medicos e pequena e que, por fim, as proprias alteracoes fisiologicas adaptativas na IC cronica mascaram importantes aspectos do exame fisico. Como a avaliacao clinica falha em prever a hemodinâmica e pelo fato de a utilizacao do cateter de Swan-Ganz de rotina nao ser recomendada para esse fim em pacientes com IC, metodos de avaliacao hemodinâmica nao invasivos, como o BNP, o ecocardiograma e a bioimpedância cardiografica, vem sendo crescentemente utilizados. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo realizar, para o clinico, uma revisao da funcao de cada uma dessas ferramentas, na definicao da condicao hemodinâmica em que se encontram os pacientes com IC descompensada, visando a um tratamento mais racional e individualizado.Among the cardiovascular diseases, heart failure (HF) has a high rate of hospitalization, morbidity and mortality, consuming vast resources of the public health system in Brazil and other countries. The correct determination of the filling pressures of the left ventricle by noninvasive or invasive assessment is critical to the proper treatment of patients with decompensated chronic HF, considering that congestion is the main determinant of symptoms and hospitalization. Physical examination has shown to be inadequate to predict the hemodynamic pattern. Several studies have suggested that agreement on physical findings by different physicians is small and that, ultimately, adaptive physiological alterations in chronic HF mask important aspects of the physical examination. As the clinical assessment fails to predict hemodynamic aspects and because the use of Swan-Ganz catheter is not routinely recommended for this purpose in patients with HF, noninvasive hemodynamic assessment methods, such as BNP, echocardiography and cardiographic bioimpedance, are being increasingly used. The present study intends to carry out, for the clinician, a review of the role of each of these tools when defining the hemodynamic status of patients with decompensated heart failure, aiming at a more rational and individualized treatment.