Rajeev Bhardwaj

Myocardial infarction in young adults-risk factors and pattern of coronary artery involvement

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) mostly occurs in persons older than 45 years of age. In India, CAD manifests almost a decade earlier than in Western countries. This study was done to study the risk factors and angiographic profile in young patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty four consecutive patients presenting with AMI at less than 40 years of age were studied for risk factors. Coronary angiography was done in all. Results: Out of 124 patients, 123 were male. Mean age was 35.94 ± yrs. One hundred and eighteen had ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (95.16%) and six had non ST elevation MI (5.84%). Anterior wall MI was present in 88 patients (70.97%), inferior wall MI in 31 patients (25%) and lateral wall MI in five patients (4.03%). Seventy three patients (58.8%) were smoker, 55 were hypertensive (44.35%), 10 were diabetic (8.06%). Family history of CAD was present in 22 (17.7%) patients. Low High-density lipoprotein (HDL) was seen in 53 patients (42.7%), and high triglycerides in 60 patients (48.38%). Significant CAD was found in 88 (70.96%) patients, 13 (10.48%) had normal coronaries. Single vessel disease was seen in 57 patients, two-vessel disease in 15 patients and three-vessel disease in eight patients. Total 125 lesions were seen and left anterior descending (LAD) was the commonest vessel involved, with 78 lesions (62.4%). Conclusion: AMI in young almost exclusively occurs in male, and ST elevation MI is the main presentation. Anterior wall MI is most common, with LAD being involved in around 2/3 patients. Smoking, hypertension, low HDL and high triglycerides are the major risk factors.

Atrial fibrillation in a tertiary care institute – A prospective study

OBJECTIVE Atrial fibrillation is the commonest sustained arrhythmia. In western countries the common causes of atrial fibrillation are hypertensive heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and coronary heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease being still common in India, we studied its contribution to atrial fibrillation. MATERIAL AND METHODS 137 consecutive patients of atrial fibrillation coming to our hospital were subjected to echocardiography to determine the cause. RESULTS Out of 137 patients with atrial fibrillation, 76 were female (55.47%) and 61 were male (44.43%). Mean age was 51.24±15.36 years. Commonest cause of AF was rheumatic heart disease found in 84 (61.31%) patients. Next common causes were hypertensive heart disease in 14 (10.2%) patients and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 14 (10.2%) patients. Mean left atrial size was 47.8±12.25mm. CONCLUSION In our study of patients coming from a rural back ground of North India, more than 60% patients of AF are due to RHD. Hypertensive heart disease and COPD are the next common causes.

Epidemiological Study of Chronic Mountain Sickness in Natives of Spiti Valley in the Greater Himalayas

AIMS This study determined the prevalence of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) and its predisposing factors among natives of Spiti Valley in the northern state of Indian Himalayas. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in natives of Spiti Valley aged ≥ 20 years residing at altitudes of 3000 to 4200 meters. CMS was diagnosed using Qinghai criteria. Demographics, behavioral characteristics, specified symptoms of CMS were recorded, including BP, anthropometrics, evidence of RHF, PAH, and severe cyanosis. ECG, echocardiography, PFT, and Sao2 were recorded, and Hb level was estimated with the cyanmethhemoglobin method. RESULTS 694 subjects free of cardiorespiratory diseases were analyzed. Prevalence of CMS was 28.7%, (95% C.I. of 25.9%-32.8%) and was higher in women than in men (36.6% vs. 15.7%, p<0.001). Erythrocythemia and hypoxemia were recorded in 10.5% and 7.5%, respectively. Age, truncal obesity, female gender, altitude of residence, and physical activity index were independent predictors of CMS with z statistics of 4.2, 2.29, -3.7, 2.8, and -2.8, respectively, and were statistically significant p<0.001. 6.2% of the surveyed population had HAPH. CONCLUSION 28.7% (95% C.I. of 25.9%-32.8%) of the natives of the Spiti Valley in the Indian Himalayas are affected with CMS. Higher prevalence of CMS amongst women needs further studies. Westernized lifestyle appears to have predisposition to CMS.

Prevalence of High Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension Among the Natives of Spiti Valley—A High Altitude Region in Himachal Pradesh, India

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of high altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) and its predisposing factors among natives of Spiti Valley. A cross-sectional survey study was done on the permanent natives of Spiti Valley residing at an altitude of 3000 m to 4200 m. Demographic characteristics, health behavior, anthropometrics, and blood pressure were recorded. Investigations included recording of 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG), SaO2 with pulse oximeter, spirometry and echocardiography study, and measurement of Hb levels using the cynmethhemoglobin method. HAPH was diagnosed using criteria; tricuspid regurgitation (TR) gradient of ≥46 mmHg. ECG evidence of RV overload on 12 lead ECG was documented based on presence of 2 out of 3 criteria; R>S in V1, right axis deviation or RV strain, T wave inversion in V1 and V2. Data of 1087 subjects were analyzed who were free of cardiorespiratory diseases to determine the prevalence of HAPH and its predisposing factors. HAPH was recorded in 3.23% (95% C.I. of 0.9-8.1%) and ECG evidence of right ventricular (RV) overload was 1.5% in the study population. Prevalence of HAPH was not different in men and women 2.63% vs. 3.54% p<0.2. Age (Z statistics of 3.4 p<0.0006), hypoxemia (Z statistics of 2.9 p<0.002), and erythrocythemia (Z statistics of 4.7 p<0.003) were independently associated with HAPH. Altitude of residence was not found to be significantly associated with HAPH, although there was a trend of increasing prevalence with increasing altitude. It can be concluded that HAPH is prevalent in 3.23% of natives of Spiti Valley. Increasing age, erythrocythemia and hypoxemia are independent predisposing factors.

Uterine artery embolisation.

PURPOSE OF STUDY Fibroids are commonest benign tumour of the uterus. It presents with bleeding per vagina in most of the cases. Surgical treatment consists of myomectomy or hysterectomy with or without salpingo oophrectomy, with its inherent morbidity, prolonged hospital stay and psychosocial problems. Surgery is not the best option especially in unmarried and nullipara. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-five patients were subjected to uterine artery embolisation (UAE). Mean age was 35.51 ± 7.36 years. Two patients were suffering from advanced carcinoma of cervix, 32 had fibroid of uterus, one had endometriosis. Three patients were unmarried, three did not have any issue, three had associated haemodynamically significant cardiac disorders, one had polycystic renal disease, and one had hypernephroma. Four patients had multiple fibroids. The UAE was done through contralateral femoral artery puncture, bilaterally, with the help of Judkins right coronary catheter. Ultrasound was repeated after 3 months. RESULTS The UAE was successful in all patients. Mean procedural time was 75 minutes. Hospital stay was 1 day only. Bleeding stopped in all 35 patients. One patient had recurrence of bleeding after 2 months and underwent surgery. Fibroids disappeared in eight patients, decreased in size by > 75% in 11 patients, and by 50-75% in six patients. Five patients did not report back with ultrasound. Two patients had normal delivery after UAE. CONCLUSION Uterine artery embolisation is effective therapy to stop uterine bleeding. It is effective in controlling the symptoms in uterine fibroids and also decreases the size of fibroids. Hospital stay is only 1 day.

Prevalence of congenital heart disease in rural population of Himachal – A population-based study

Aim There is no community-based study about the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Himachal; hence, we undertook this study. Methods and results A population-based survey was done in four villages of different districts of Himachal Pradesh. In total, 1882 persons were examined. 909 were male and 973 were female. There were 12 cases of CHD in the population (6.3/1000): four of these were male (33.3%) and 8 were female (66.6%). Mean age of these patients was 19.5 ± 11.07 years. Atrial septal defect (ASD) was the commonest lesion followed by ventricular septal defect (VSD). Conclusion Prevalence of CHD in general population was 6.3/1000. ASD was the commonest lesion. CHD was more common in female.

Comparison of Risk Factor Profile and Angiographic Pattern AmongPre-Menopausal and Post-Menopausal Women Presenting with Angina:Results from a Prospective Single Center Observational Study

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has become the major killer in women. The exact mechanism of postmenopausal increase in CAD is still under research. Limited data exists on the comparison of risk factor profiles and angiographic disease patterns in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Methods: This prospective study included a total of 674 consecutive female patients who underwent coronary angiogram for suspected ischemic heart disease over a period of 2 years from March 2015. Detailed risk factor profiles and angiographic patterns of disease were recorded and analyzed using EPIINFO statistical software. Results: Out of total 674 patients, 137(20.3%) were in the premenopausal group with mean age of (42.05 ± 4.40) years, and 537(79.7%) in the postmenopausal group with mean age of (59.05 ± 8.01) years. Premenopausal women were more likely to be obese (57.7% vs 46.9%, p=0.0), hypothyroid (23.4% vs 10.2%, p 3 risk factors more frequently (42.1% vs 30.7%, p=0.009). Atypical chest pain was more common as presenting diagnosis among premenopausal women (23.4% vs 10.2%, p<0.0001). They were also more likely to have positive exercise stress test (62.1% vs 38.3%, p<0.0001) and normal coronary angiogram (59.9% vs 32%, p<0.0002) with endothelial dysfunction (84.7% vs 66.8%, p<0.0001) than post-menopausal women. Post-menopausal women had greater burden of obstructive CAD characterized by more prevalent multivessel disease in the form of double vessel (17.5% vs 8%, p=0.06) and triple vessel disease (20.5% vs 5.8%, p<0.0002). Conclusion: There is a distinct difference between the risk factor profile and angiographic disease pattern among women according to the status of menopause. Recognition of these differences would help in better understanding of relationship of menopause to development of CAD.

Bronchial Artery Embolization for Moderate to Massive Hemoptysis

Purpose of study: Hemoptysis is a common emergency coming to the pulmonary medicine and general Medicine department. Massive hemoptysis has high mortality even after surgical treatment. Bronchial artery embolization is an effective alternative to surgery for controlling hemoptysis, with high success rate.

Inferior wall STEMI presenting with a ruptured intraseptal pseudoaneurysm

A 78-year-old man presented with progressively increasing dyspnoea, 2 weeks after experiencing ST elevation inferior wall myocardial infarction that was not thrombolysed because of late presentation. He was Killip class 2 with raised jugular venous pressure. Cardiac auscultation revealed a grade 4 harsh systolic murmur in the lower left parasternal area, and a loud S2 with a prominent right ventricular S3. Echocardiography demonstrated akinetic and thinned out basal inferior and basal inferior septal segments (video 1). A pseudoaneurysm extending from the inferior septum was noticed (video 1 and figure 1A), which was thin walled and had a relatively narrow entrance, with a shelf-like overhanging edge (figure 2). Colour flow signals demonstrated marked turbulence of blood flow from the cavity of the left ventricle (LV) into the pseudoaneurysm and then into the right ventricular cavity, confirming rupture into the right ventricle (RV) (figures 1B and 3). An emergent cardiac MRI confirmed …

Prevalence, risk determinants and consequences of atrial fibrillation in rheumatic heart disease: 6 years hospital based-Himachal Pradesh- Rheumatic Fever/Rheumatic Heart Disease (HP-RF/RHD) Registry

Objective To report the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Methods The Himachal Pradesh- Rheumatic Fever/Rheumatic Heart Disease (HP-RF/RHD) Registry database of 1918 patients was analyzed. AF was diagnosed with 12-lead ECG recording at entry in to the registry. The association of AF with nature and severity of valvular dysfunction was analyzed, adjusted for age, left atrial (LA) dimension and pulmonary arterial hypertension using multivariable logistic regression model and strength of association was reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (C. I.). Results The study population consisted of young (40.2 ± 14.3 years), predominantly females (72.3%) from rural area (94.1%). Prevalence of AF was 23.9% (95% C. I. 22.1%–25.8%). The independent determinants AF were age (OR 1.04, 95% C.I. 1.03–1.06), LA size (OR 1.10, 95% C.I. 1.08–1.11). The association of AF with age, New York Heart Association functional class, mitral stenosis severity and tricuspid regurgitation was statistically significant and graded. Mitral regurgitation and aortic valve disease had no significant independent association with AF. The prevalence of heart failure, stroke, peripheral embolism and mortality was significantly higher among patients with AF (p < .01). Conclusion AF is common in RHD patients and is significantly associated with heart failure and systemic thromboembolism. Age, mitral stenosis severity, tricuspid regurgitation and LA size were independently associated with AF.