Serum Neurofilament Light Chain in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Ongoing AF rhythm was associated with even higher levels of sNFL than in patients with a diagnosis of AF but currently not in AF rhythm.
KEY FINDINGS: sNFL was elevated in patients with AF compared with matched controls without AF. Ongoing AF rhythm was associated with even higher levels of sNFL than in patients with a diagnosis of AF but currently not in AF rhythm. Anticoagulation treatment did not affect sNFL levels.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with stroke and MRI features of cerebral tissue damage but its impact on levels of serum neurofilament light chain (sNFL), an established biochemical marker of neuroaxonal damage, is unknown.
DETAILS: In this observational study, sNFL was analyzed in 280 patients with AF and 280 controls without AF matched for age, sex, and diabetes status within the STABILITY (Stabilization of Atherosclerotic Plaque by Initiation of Darapladib Therapy) trial. None of the patients had a history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack. Patients with a diagnosis of AF were divided into two groups based on if they were in AF rhythm at the time of blood sampling (AF ECG+, n=74), or not (AF ECG-, n=206). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to adjust for clinical risk factors. In patients with AF, the levels of sNFL were 15% (AF ECG+) and 10% (AF ECG-) higher than in the control group after adjustment for clinical risk factors, P=0.047 and 0.04, respectively. There was no association between anticoagulation treatment and sNFL levels.
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Copyright © The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell
Source: Sjolin, K., Aulin, J., Wallentin, L., et al. (2022). Serum Neurofilament Light Chain in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2022; 11(4): e025910. Published: July 15, 2022. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.025910.
Effect of Lipoprotein Apheresis on Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Severe Hypercholesterolemia
An increase in CIMT seen with advanced age and severe hypercholesterolemia was halted with lipoprotein apheresis with an estimated annual rate of change in mean common CIMT of -4 µm/y and maximum CIMT of -3 µm/y.
KEY FINDINGS: In conclusion, an increase in CIMT seen with advanced age and severe hypercholesterolemia was halted with lipoprotein apheresis with an estimated annual rate of change in mean common CIMT of -4 µm/y and maximum CIMT of -3 µm/y.
BACKGROUND: The extent of intervention effects on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) can predict the degree of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk-reduction. It was hypothesized that regular lipoprotein apheresis over the course of 10 years might slow down progression of CIMT in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia.
DETAILS: This case series describes 10 Caucasian patients (mean age 60 ± 9 years, 70% female, 80% statin intolerant) with a severe hypercholesterolemia phenotype treated with lipoprotein apheresis between 2005 and 2020 (mean duration, 10 ± 4 years). The median pretreatment low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was 214 mg/100 ml (95% confidence interval, 145 to 248), lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), 26 mg/100 ml (15 to 109; 40% with Lp(a)>60 mg/100 ml). Three patients were diagnosed with a monogenic cause. The baseline mean CIMT was 850 ± 170 µm, and maximum CIMT was 1,040 ± 220 µm across the age range of 46 to 70 years. Acute effects of lipoprotein apheresis determined as a difference before and immediately after the procedure were estimated as a median of 72 ± 8% and 75 ± 7% reduction in the LDL-C and Lp(a) levels, respectively. Using the imputed trajectories, period-specific on-treatment time-weighted averages for LDL-C and Lp(a) were 141 mg/100 ml (interquartile range, 89 to 152; 38% reduction from the baseline) and 24 mg/100 ml (interquartile range, 12 to 119; 19% reduction from baseline), respectively. The number of patients with CIMT above their "vascular age" decreased from 80% to 30% over the treatment course.
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Source: Safarova, M. S., Nugent, A. K., Gorby L., et al. (2022). Effect of Lipoprotein Apheresis on Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Severe Hypercholesterolemia. Am J Cardiol.. 2022; 177: 22-27. Published: August 15, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.05.002.
Effectiveness of Early Time-Restricted Eating for Weight Loss, Fat Loss, and Cardiometabolic Health in Adults With Obesity
In this randomized clinical trial, eTRE was more effective for losing weight and improving diastolic blood pressure and mood than eating over a window of 12 or more hours at 14 weeks.
KEY FINDINGS: In this randomized clinical trial, eTRE was more effective for losing weight and improving diastolic blood pressure and mood than eating over a window of 12 or more hours at 14 weeks.
BACKGROUND: It is unclear how effective intermittent fasting is for losing weight and body fat, and the effects may depend on the timing of the eating window. This randomized trial compared time-restricted eating (TRE) with eating over a period of 12 or more hours while matching weight-loss counseling across groups. Aim of this study is to determine whether practicing TRE by eating early in the day (eTRE) is more effective for weight loss, fat loss, and cardiometabolic health than eating over a period of 12 or more hours.
DETAILS: The study was a 14-week, parallel-arm, randomized clinical trial conducted between August 2018 and April 2020. Participants were adults aged 25 to 75 years with obesity and who received weight-loss treatment through the Weight Loss Medicine Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. All participants received weight-loss treatment (energy restriction [ER]) and were randomized to eTRE plus ER (8-hour eating window from 7:00 to 15:00) or control eating (CON) plus ER (>=12-hour window). The co–primary outcomes were weight loss and fat loss. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, insulin levels, and plasma lipid levels. Ninety participants were enrolled (mean [SD] body mass index, 39.6 [6.7]; age, 43 [11] years; 72 [80%] female). The eTRE+ER group adhered 6.0 (0.8) days per week. The eTRE+ER intervention was more effective for losing weight (-2.3 kg; 95% CI, -3.7 to -0.9 kg; P = .002) but did not affect body fat (-1.4 kg; 95% CI, -2.9 to 0.2 kg; P = .09) or the ratio of fat loss to weight loss (-4.2%; 95% CI, -14.9 to 6.5%; P = .43). The effects of eTRE+ER were equivalent to reducing calorie intake by an additional 214 kcal/d. The eTRE+ER intervention also improved diastolic blood pressure (-4 mm Hg; 95% CI, -8 to 0 mm Hg; P = .04) and mood disturbances, including fatigue-inertia, vigor-activity, and depression-dejection. All other cardiometabolic risk factors, food intake, physical activity, and sleep outcomes were similar between groups. In a secondary analysis of 59 completers, eTRE+ER was also more effective for losing body fat and trunk fat than CON+ER.
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Source: Jamshed, H. Steger, F. L., Bryn, D. R., et al. (2022). Effectiveness of Early Time-Restricted Eating for Weight Loss, Fat Loss, and Cardiometabolic Health in Adults With Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med.. Published: August 8, 2022. DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.3050.
Associations of Atrial Fibrillation After Noncardiac Surgery With Stroke, Subsequent Arrhythmia, and Death
Postoperative AF after noncardiac surgery is associated with similar risk for thromboembolism compared with nonoperative AF.
KEY FINDINGS: Postoperative AF after noncardiac surgery is associated with similar risk for thromboembolism compared with nonoperative AF. Our findings have potentially important implications for the early postsurgical and subsequent management of postoperative AF.
BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) after noncardiac surgery confers increased risks for ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). How outcomes for postoperative AF after noncardiac surgery compare with those for AF occurring outside of the operative setting is unknown. Purpose of this study is to compare the risks for ischemic stroke or TIA and other outcomes in patients with postoperative AF versus those with incident AF not associated with surgery.
DETAILS: Patients were categorized as having AF occurring within 30 days of a noncardiac surgery (postoperative AF) or having AF unrelated to surgery (nonoperative AF). The population consisted predominantly of White patients; caution should be used when extrapolating the results to more racially diverse populations. Of 4231 patients with incident AF, 550 (13%) had postoperative AF as their first-ever documented AF presentation. Over a mean follow-up of 6.3 years, 486 patients had an ischemic stroke or TIA and 2462 had subsequent AF; a total of 2565 deaths occurred. The risk for stroke or TIA was similar between those with postoperative AF and nonoperative AF (absolute risk difference [ARD] at 5 years, 0.1% [95% CI, -2.9% to 3.1%]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.01 [CI, 0.77 to 1.32]). A lower risk for subsequent AF was seen for patients with postoperative AF (ARD at 5 years, -13.4% [CI, -17.8% to -9.0%]; HR, 0.68 [CI, 0.60 to 0.77]). Finally, no difference was seen for cardiovascular death or all-cause death between patients with postoperative AF and nonoperative AF.
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Source: Siontis, K. C., Gersh, B. J., Weston, S. A., et al. (2022). Associations of Atrial Fibrillation After Noncardiac Surgery With Stroke, Subsequent Arrhythmia, and Death: A Cohort Study. Annals of Internal Medicine. Published: July 26, 2022. DOI: 10.7326/M22-0434.
Prevalence of Left Ventricular Noncompaction in Newborns
The prevalence of LVNC based on neonatal echocardiography was 0.076%. LVNC was associated with lower LV systolic function.
KEY FINDINGS: The prevalence of LVNC based on neonatal echocardiography was 0.076%. LVNC was associated with lower LV systolic function. The findings in normal newborns support the cutoff NC:C >=2 as an appropriate diagnostic criterion.
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is characterized by excessive trabeculations of the LV and may be associated with reduced systolic function or severe adverse outcomes. Several aspects remain to be elucidated; there is controversy to whether LVNC cardiomyopathy is a distinct cardiomyopathy caused by failure of the spongy fetal myocardium to condense during fetal development or acquired later in life as a morphological trait associated with other types of cardiomyopathy; the prevalence in unselected populations is unknown and the distinction between normal variation and pathology remains to be defined. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of LVNC and the association to LV systolic function in a large, population-based cohort of neonates. In addition, we assessed the normal ratio of noncompact to compact (NC:C) myocardium in 150 healthy neonates.
DETAILS: Echocardiographic data were prospectively collected in the population study Copenhagen Baby Heart Study. The ratio of NC:C was measured in 12 ventricular segments. LVNC was defined as NC:C >=2 in at least one segment. Neonates with LVNC were matched 1:10 to controls on sex, gestational age, and weight and age at the examination day. In total, 25,590 neonates (52% males, median age 11 [interquartile range, 7-15] days) underwent echocardiography. Among 21,133 with satisfactory visualization of ventricular segments, we identified a prevalence of LVNC of 0.076% (95% CI, 0.047-0.123). LV ejection fraction was lower in neonates with LVNC compared with matched controls (median 49.5 versus 59.0%; P&;t;0.0001). In neonates with otherwise healthy hearts, the median NC:C ratio ranged from 0.0 to 0.7 and the 99th percentiles from 1.0 to 1.9 for each of the 12 segments.
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Source: Borresen, M. F., Blixenkrone-Moller, E., Kock, T. O., et al. (2022). Prevalence of Left Ventricular Noncompaction in Newborns. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2022; 15(6). Published: June 21, 2022. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.121.014159.
Pulmonary Congestion During ESE
B-lines identify the pulmonary congestion phenotype at rest, and more frequently, during ESE in ischemic and heart failure patients.
Summary
Pulmonary Congestion During Exercise Stress Echocardiography in Ischemic and Heart Failure Patients
[Posted 2/Jun/2022]
AUDIENCE: Cardiology, Emergency Medicine
KEY FINDINGS: B-lines identify the pulmonary congestion phenotype at rest, and more frequently, during ESE in ischemic and heart failure patients. Stress B-lines may help to refine risk stratification in these patients.
BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasound detects pulmonary congestion as B-lines at rest, and more frequently, during exercise stress echocardiography (ESE).
DETAILS: Performed ESE plus lung ultrasound (4-site simplified scan) in 4392 subjects referred for semi-supine bike ESE in 24 certified centers in 9 countries. B-line score ranged from 0 (normal) to 40 (severely abnormal). Five different populations were evaluated: control subjects (n=103); chronic coronary syndromes (n=3701); heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (n=395); heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (n=70); ischemic mitral regurgitation >= moderate at rest (n=123). In a subset of 2478 patients, follow-up information was available. During ESE, B-lines increased in all study groups except controls. Age, hypertension, abnormal ejection fraction, peak wall motion score index, and abnormal heart rate reserve were associated with B-lines in multivariable regression analysis. Stress B lines (hazard ratio, 2.179 [95% CI, 1.015-4.680]; P=0.046) and ejection fraction <50% (hazard ratio, 2.942 [95% CI, 1.268-6.822]; P=0.012) were independent predictors of all-cause death (n=29 after a median follow-up of 29 months).
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Source: Merli, E., Ciampi, Q., Scali, M. C., et al. (2022). Pulmonary Congestion During Exercise Stress Echocardiography in Ischemic and Heart Failure Patients. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.. 2022; 15(5): e013558. Published: May 17, 2022. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.121.013558.
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