Peculiar mechanical complication of myocardial infarction
A 58-year-old man presented to the chest pain unit with crescendo angina over 24 hours and worsening dyspnoea of 10 hours duration. He was a known diabetic and hypertensive on regular treatment for 10 years and a habitual smoker with over 15 pack-years smoking duration. Examination revealed a profusely diaphoretic and dyspnoeic (respiratory rate of 45/min) individual with a blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg and heart rate of 124 beats/min. He was hypoxic and his oxygen saturation in the ambient air was 64%. His jugular venous pressure was elevated with a prominent V wave. Cardiovascular examination revealed a harsh grade IV/V...
Source: Heart Asia - February 23, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Mathen, P. G., Ghosh, G. C., Thomson, V. S. Tags: Image challenge Source Type: research
Knowledge of risk factors for hypertension in a rural Indian population
Conclusion
Knowledge of risk factors and consequences of hypertension in this disadvantaged population was poor. There was better knowledge of risk factors in some, but not all, people who were aware of having hypertension. Screening and targeted educational programmes are warranted in this population to improve health behaviours and reduce the consequences of hypertension. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - February 23, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Busingye, D., Arabshahi, S., Evans, R. G., Riddell, M. A., Srikanth, V. K., Kartik, K., Kalyanram, K., Zhu, X., Suresh, O., Howard, G., Thrift, A. G. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
MiR-93-5p is a novel predictor of coronary in-stent restenosis
Conclusion
This novel finding that miR-93-5 p independently predicts ISR extends our recent observation that miR-93-5 p predicted CAD after adjustment for traditional CAD RFs. These data suggest further potential diagnostic utility. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - February 22, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: O'Sullivan, J. F., Neylon, A., Fahy, E. F., Yang, P., McGorrian, C., Blake, G. J. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
Managing hypertension in 2018: which guideline to follow?
Hypertension is a global public health issue and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence is increasing in many Asian countries, with a number of countries with blood pressure above the global average. Although the average systolic blood pressure is decreasing worldwide since the 1980s at the rate of about 1 mm Hg systolic blood pressure per decade, it is increasing in low-income and middle-income countries, especially in the East and South Asian population. Of note, the much larger base Asian population results in a considerably larger absolute number of individuals affected. When compared with Western cou...
Source: Heart Asia - February 22, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Angeli, F., Reboldi, G., Trapasso, M., Aita, A., Verdecchia, P. Tags: Clinical practice Source Type: research
Global cardiac surgery: lessons learnt from the global neurosurgery movement
Introduction Surgical care is increasingly considered as a crucial pillar of robust health systems. Five billion people worldwide lack access to safe surgical care, responsible for 16.9 million deaths every year and one-third of the global burden of disease.1 Contrary to previous belief, investing in surgical care is cost-effective on an individual and macroeconomic level, preventing a loss of 12.3 trillion dollars in economic growth by low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) by 2030.1 In the past decade, the field of global surgery has gradually evolved, with its zenith paralleling the 2015 launch of the Lancet Com...
Source: Heart Asia - January 18, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Vervoort, D., Park, K. B., Swain, J. D. Tags: Viewpoints Source Type: research
Secondary prevention therapies in acute coronary syndrome and relation to outcomes: observational study
Conclusions
Use of secondary prevention therapies diminishes over time following an ACS. Patients receiving secondary prevention had decreased rates of death and MACE at 2 years. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 12, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Chow, C. K., Brieger, D., Ryan, M., Kangaharan, N., Hyun, K. K., Briffa, T., for the CONCORDANCE Investigators, Brieger, Xu, Kilian, Myers, Parkin, Morrison, Rajaratnam, Tattam, Waites, Baldo, Kamaladasa, Davies, Collins, Nyman, Blenkhorn, Boys, Juergens, Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
Low levels of ideal cardiovascular health in a semi-urban population of Western Nepal: a population-based, cross-sectional study
Conclusions
Prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health is low in the semi-urban population in Nepal. Concerted efforts are needed to develop a population-based intervention to improve cardiovascular health in Nepal. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 10, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Gyawali, B., Mishra, S. R., Virani, S. S., Kallestrup, P. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Impact of Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Project on Outcomes-Quality Improvement (C3PO-QI) in LMICs
Conclusion
Collaborative efforts between developed and LMIC CCL are significant in advancing system-level processes. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 10, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ali, F., Qasim Mehdi, M., Akhtar, S., Aslam, N., Abbas, R., Shah, I., Abidi, J., Arthur, S., Nizar, Z., Goodmann, A., Bergersen, L., Hasan, B. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Novel technique to manage pacemaker exposure with buried flap reconstruction: case series
Conclusions
This flap technique is recommended for cases of impending pacemaker exposure resulting due to scar dehiscence over the edge and helps by addressing the predisposing factors at an initial stage. In our experience, this technique also helped to salvage exposed pacemaker with superficial infection. To our bestof knowledge this technique has not been described before in the literature. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - January 10, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Tiwari, R., Marwah, S., Roy, A., Singhal, M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Electrophysiological properties of the South Asian heart
Conclusions
South Asians have significant differences in their resting heart rate, QRS duration and AV nodal function compared with Caucasians. These differences may reflect variations in autonomic function and may also be influenced by genetic factors. Electrophysiological differences such as these may help to explain why South Asians have a lower burden of arrhythmia. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - November 28, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: ONeill, J., Tayebjee, M. H. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Optimal duration and predictors of diagnostic utility of patient-activated ambulatory ECG monitoring
Conclusion
Patient-activated ambulatory event monitoring for 7 days may be sufficient in the diagnosis of symptomatic patients as significant events first detected beyond 10 days were rare. Patients with a history of AF, arrhythmia or previous abnormal ambulatory monitoring may require even shorter monitoring periods. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - November 24, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Tan, E. S. J., Seow, S.-C., Kojodjojo, P., Singh, D., Yeo, W. T., Lim, T. W. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Single-use medical devices: economic issues
The size of the medical new-device and reuse markets Evaluate MedTech estimated that worldwide sales of medical devices in 2017 were US$386.8 billion. Cardiology was among the largest groups, with $44.6 billion in sales.1 The Emergo Group estimated US sales to be $147.7 billion and sales in India to be $3.5 billion.2 The average annual growth of the device market since 2009 has been about 16%.3 Although many devices have been labelled as ‘single-use’ by the original manufacturers, some of these have nonetheless been reprocessed and used again. Some device manufacturers have warned against this practice,4 5 oste...
Source: Heart Asia - November 9, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Jacobs, P., Akpinar, I. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Reuse of catheters and devices labelled for single use: evidence, recommendations and oversight
Introduction Cardiovascular disease has become the most common cause of death and morbidity throughout the world, not just the affluent societies. In 2015, there were 422 million prevalent cases of cardiovascular disease worldwide, and it accounted for an estimated 30% of deaths.1 2As most people live in low-income and middle-income countries, the burden of cardiovascular disease is the greatest in resource-poor countries. The cardiovascular epidemic has a direct impact on the health of the patients and also on the welfare of the economies in which those patients live and work. Poverty can be both a contributing cause and ...
Source: Heart Asia - November 9, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Crawford, T. C., Eagle, K. A. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Cancer antigen-125 and outcomes in acute heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Conclusion
Our meta-analysis found that high CA125 levels are associated with AHF symptoms, heart failure-related hospital readmissions and all-cause mortality. Therefore, CA125 emerges as a useful risk stratification tool for identifying high-risk patients with more severe fluid overload, as well as for monitoring following an AHF episode. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - October 26, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Li, K. H. C., Gong, M., Li, G., Baranchuk, A., Liu, T., Wong, M. C. S., Jesuthasan, A., Lai, R. W. C., Lai, J. C. L., Lee, A. P. W., Bayes-Genis, A., de la Espriella, R., Sanchis, J., Wu, W. K. K., Tse, G., Nunez, J., On behalf of International Health Inf Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Preoperative cigarette smoking and short-term morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis
Currently, the choice of whether or not to electively operate on current smokers is varied among cardiothoracic surgeons. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether preoperative current versus ex-smoking status is related to short-term postoperative morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgical patients. Systematic literature searches of the PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were carried out to identify all studies in cardiac surgery that investigated the relationship between smoking status and postoperative outcomes. Extracted data were analysed by random effects models. Primary outcomes included 30-day or in-hospita...
Source: Heart Asia - October 24, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bayfield, N. G. R., Pannekoek, A., Tian, D. H. Tags: Review Source Type: research
