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Abstract Background Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been suggested to play paradoxical roles in patients with heart failure. The role of EAT in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients remains unclear. We aimed to assess the associations between the dynamic changes EAT and left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in DCM patients based on baseline and follow-up CMR. Methods In this prospective study, we consecutive enrolled DCM patients with baseline and follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examinations. All participating patients underwent 1–2 years of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) at follow-up. The EAT was measured as pericardial and epicardial fat thickness, and paracardial fat volume, while the abdominal adiposity was measured in terms of subcutaneous and visceral fat thickness. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations of changes in abdominal and epicardial adiposities with the presence of LVRR. Results A total of 232 patients (mean age, 45.7 ± 15.1 years, 157 male) at baseline were enrolled. After a period of GDMT with a median duration of 15.5 months (interquartile range, 12.5–19.1 months) all participants underwent follow-up CMR with the same standardized protocol. Patients who reached LVRR showed a significant increment in EAT parameters compared to those who did not. After adjusting for age, sex, and delta changes of body mass index (BMI), the increment of pericardial fat thickness (odds ratio [OR]: 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27 to 1.83; p

Abstract Background The impact of the coexistence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) on clinical profiles, myocardial fibrosis, and outcomes remain incompletely understood. Method A total of 1152 patients diagnosed with non-ischemic DCM were prospectively enrolled from June 2012 to October 2021 and categorized into T2DM and non-T2DM groups. Clinical characteristics, cardiac function, and myocardial fibrosis evaluated by CMR were compared between the two groups. The primary endpoint included both all-cause mortality and heart transplantation. Cause of mortality was classified into heart failure death, sudden cardiac death, and non-cardiac death. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to identify the association between T2DM and clinical outcomes. Propensity score matching (PSM) cohort including 438 patients was analyzed to reduce the bias from confounding covariates. Results Among the 1152 included DCM patients, 155 (13%) patients had T2DM. Patients with T2DM were older (55 ± 12 vs. 47 ± 14 years, P

ABSTRACT: Background: Evidence to support risk stratification in Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is still very limited. We hypothesized that biventricular longitudinal strain analysis could have potential prognostic value in ES. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 57 consecutive ES patients with post-tricuspid shunt who underwent both cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and right heart catheterization between June 2013 and March 2022. Biventricular longitudinal strains were evaluated by CMR feature-tracking analysis. The composite endpoint included all-cause mortality and re-admission for heart failure or hemoptysis. Cox regression analysis, Kaplan–Meier curves, and C-index were employed to assess the relationship between biventricular longitudinal strain and prognosis. Results: During a median follow-up of 33 months (interquartile range: 12–50), 35.1% (20/57) patients reached the composite endpoint. Patients with composite endpoints had significantly lower absolute values of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RV FWLS) than patients without composite endpoints (p

Background: The prognostic value of follow-up cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients is unclear. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of cardiac function, structure, and tissue characteristics at mid-term CMR follow-up. Methods: The study population was a prospectively enrolled cohort of DCM patients who underwent guideline-directed medical therapy with baseline and follow-up CMR, which included measurement of biventricular volume and ejection fraction, late gadolinium enhancement, native T1, native T2, and extracellular volume. During follow-up, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as a composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, and heart-failure readmission. Results: Among 235 DCM patients (median CMR interval: 15.3 months; interquartile range: 12.5–19.2 months), 54 (23.0%) experienced MACE during follow-up (median: 31.2 months; interquartile range: 20.8–50.0 months). In multivariable Cox regression, follow-up CMR models showed significantly superior predictive value than baseline CMR models. Stepwise multivariate Cox regression showed that follow-up left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91–0.96; p 1273 ms or LVEF 15%). Conclusions: Follow-up CMR provided better risk stratification than baseline CMR. Improvements in the LVEF and T1 mapping are associated with a lower risk of MACE.

Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still remains a life‐threatening disorder with poor prognosis. The right ventricle (RV) adapts to the increased afterload by a series of prognostically significant morphological and functional changes, the adaptive nature should also be understood in the context of ventricular interdependence. We hypothesized that left ventricle (LV) underfilling could serve as an important imaging marker for identifying maladaptive changes and predicting clinical outcomes in PAH patients. We prospectively enrolled patients with PAH who underwent both cardiac magnetic resonance and right heart catheterization between October 2013 and December 2020. Patients were categorized into four groups based on their LV and RV mass/volume ratio (M/V). LV M/V was stratified using the normal value (0.7 g/mL for males and 0.6 g/mL for females) to identify patients with LV underfilling (M/V ≥ normal value), while RV M/V was stratified based on the median value. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality, and the composite endpoints included all‐cause mortality and heart failure‐related readmissions. A total of 190 PAH patients (53 male, mean age 37 years) were included in this study. Patients with LV underfilling exhibited higher NT‐proBNP levels, increased RV mass, larger RV but smaller LV, lower right ventricular ejection fraction, and shorter 6‐min walking distance. Patients with LV underfilling had a 2.7‐fold higher risk of mortality than those without and LV M/V (hazard ratio [per 0.1 g/mL increase]: 1.271, 95% confidence interval: 1.082–1.494, p = 0.004) was also independent predictors of all‐cause mortality. Moreover, patients with low LV M/V had a better prognosis regardless of the level of RV M/V. Thus, LV underfilling is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with PAH, and it could be an important imaging marker for identifying maladaptive changes in these patients.

Abstract Background The value of right atrial (RA) function in cardiovascular diseases is currently limited. This study was to explore the prognostic value of RA strain derived from fast long axis method by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods We prospectively enrolled patients with DCM who underwent CMR from June 2012 to March 2019 and 120 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Fast long-axis strain method was performed to assess the RA phasic function including RA reservoir strain, conduit strain, and booster strain. The predefined primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The composite heart failure (HF) endpoint included HF death, HF readmission, and heart transplantation. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival curve were performed to describe the association between RA strain and outcomes. Results A total of 624 patients (444 men, mean 48 years) were studied. After a median follow-up of 32.5 months, 116 patients (18.6%) experienced all-cause mortality and 205 patients (32.9%) reached composite HF endpoint. RA function was impaired in DCM patients compared with healthy subjects (all P

Abstract Background Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathophysiological process involved in many cardiovascular diseases. However, limited prior studies suggested no association between focal myocardial fibrosis detected by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and disease severity in Eisenmenger syndrome (ES). This study aimed to explore potential associations between myocardial fibrosis evaluated by the CMR LGE and T1 mapping and risk stratification profiles including exercise tolerance, serum biomarkers, hemodynamics, and right ventricular (RV) function in these patients. Methods Forty-five adults with ES and 30 healthy subjects were included. All subjects underwent a contrast-enhanced 3T CMR. Focal replacement fibrosis was visualized on LGE images. The locations of LGE were recorded. After excluding LGE in ventricular insertion point (VIP), ES patients were divided into myocardial LGE-positive (LGE+) and LGE-negative (LGE−) subgroups. Regions of interest in the septal myocardium were manually contoured in the T1 mapping images to determine the diffuse myocardial fibrosis. The relationships between myocardial fibrosis and 6-min walk test (6MWT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), hematocrit, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), RV/left ventricular end-systolic volume (RV/LV ESV), RV ejection fraction (RVEF), and risk stratification were analyzed. Results Myocardial LGE (excluding VIP) was common in ES (16/45, 35.6%), and often located in the septum (12/45, 26.7%). The clinical characteristics, hemodynamics, CMR morphology and function, and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) were similar in the LGE+ and LGE− groups (all P > 0.05). ECV was significantly higher in ES patients (28.6 ± 5.9% vs. 25.6 ± 2.2%, P

Background Right heart failure may lead to impaired liver perfusion and venous congestion, resulting in different extents of liver fibrosis. However, whether hepatic tissue deterioration determined by native T1 mapping and extracellular volume fraction using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is associated with poor outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension remains unclear. Methods and Results A total of 131 participants with pulmonary arterial hypertension (mean age, 36±13 years) and 64 healthy controls (mean age, 44±18) between October 2013 and December 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Hepatic native T1 and extracellular volume fraction values were measured using modified Look–Locker inversion recovery T1 mapping sequences. The primary end point was all‐cause mortality; the secondary end point was all‐cause mortality and repeat hospitalization attributable to heart failure. Cox regression models and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were used to identify the association between variables and clinical outcome. During a median follow‐up of 34.5 months (interquartile range: 25.3–50.8), hepatic native T1 (hazard ratio per 30‐ms increase, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.07–1.39]; P=0.003) and extracellular volume fraction (hazard ratio per 3% increase, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.04–1.34]; P=0.010) values were associated with a higher risk of death. In the multivariate Cox model, hepatic native T1 value (hazard ratio per 30‐ms increase, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.04–1.27]; P=0.009) remained as an independent prognostic factor for the secondary end point. Conclusions Hepatic T1 mapping values were predictors of adverse cardiovascular events in participants with pulmonary arterial hypertension and could be novel imaging biomarkers for poor prognosis recognition.

BackgroundGiven the rapid innovation of wearable technology, additional physical indicators can be detected, and blood pressure (BP) has become the focus of many emerging medical-device manufacturers. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of the newly developed HUAWEI WATCH in BP monitoring, according to the American National Standards Institute/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/International Organization for Standardization (ANSI/AAMI/ISO 81060-2:2018) guidelines.Materials and methodsThe same arm sequential BP measurement was applied. One validation included four reference BP measurements taken simultaneously by two independent observers using a mercury sphygmomanometer, alternating with three test-watch measurements. Each test-watch measurement was compared against the average of the previous and subsequent reference BP readings. Two criteria were required for validation: (1) a mean BP difference of 5 mm Hg or less, with a standard deviation (SD) of 8 mm Hg or less for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the 255 pairs of measurements, and (2) an SD for the of 85 averaged BP differences within the threshold defined by the mean test-reference BP difference listed in the ANSI/AAMI/ISO 81060-2:2018 guidelines.ResultsThe mean age of the 85 participants was 48 ± 18 years (range: 21–85), and 53 (62.4%) were male. The mean differences between the test and reference BPs were -0.25 ± 5.62 mm Hg and -1.33 ± 6.81 mm Hg for SBP and DBP, respectively (according to Criterion 1). The mean differences between the test BPs and reference BPs were -0.25 ± 5.00 mm Hg and -1.33 ± 6.31 mm Hg for SBP and DBP, respectively, according to Criterion 2.ConclusionBlood pressure measurement using the HUAWEI WATCH showed excellent consistency with reference BPs, and fulfilled both validation criteria of the guidelines, show its promise as a wearable device for BP self-monitoring.

Abstract Background Parameters of myocardial deformation may provide improved insights into right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We quantified RV longitudinal myocardial function using a fast, semi-automated method and investigated its diagnostic and prognostic values in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), who respectively exemplify patients with RV volume and pressure overload conditions. Methods The study enrolled 150 patients (rTOF, n = 75; PAH, n = 75) and 75 healthy controls. RV parameters of interest were fast global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rates during systole (GLSRs), early diastole (GLSRe) and late diastole (GLSRa), obtained by tracking the distance from the medial and lateral tricuspid valve insertions to the RV epicardial apex on cine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Results The RV fast GLS exhibited good agreement with strain values obtained by conventional feature tracking approach (bias − 4.9%, error limits (± 2·standard deviation) ± 4.3%) with fast GLS achieving greater reproducibility and requiring reduced analysis time. Mean RV fast GLS was reduced in PAH and rTOF groups compared to healthy controls (PAH

BackgroundNighttime physical activity (PA) has significant effects on human health. Whether excessive nighttime PA is associated with adverse long-term prognosis remains unknown.MethodsThree thousand six hundred ninety adults from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2006 with accelerometer monitor recording PA data were included. Nighttime PA was quantified by the nighttime to all-day PA intensity ratio (NAPAIR). Participants with the NAPAIR above the population median (0.17) were defined as the nighttime active population (NAP), otherwise as the daytime active population. All-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality status was acquired from the US National Death Index from their interview and physical examination date through December 31, 2015.ResultsAmong 3690 adults (weighted mean age 48.1 years), 1781 (weighted proportion 48.8%) were females. One thousand eight hundred six (48.9%) were determined as the NAP. During the follow-up period of up to 13.1 years (median, 10.7 years), 639 deaths occurred (heart diseases, 114). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model showed that the NAP was associated with higher risks of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–1.75) and cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.03–2.41) mortality compared with the daytime active population, and each 0.1 increase in the NAPAIR was associated with 15% increased all-cause mortality risks.ConclusionIn this nationally representative prospective cohort study of a sample of United States adults, excessive nighttime PA was associated with a higher risk of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the reference standard for non-invasive assessment of right-sided heart function. Recent advances in CMR post-processing facilitate quantification of tricuspid annular (TA) dynamics and longitudinal strains of the right ventricle (RV) and right atrium (RA). We aimed to determine age- and sex-specific changes in CMR-derived TA dynamics, and RV and RA functional parameters in healthy Asian adults. We studied 360 healthy subjects aged 21–79 years, with 30 men and 30 women in each of the six age groups. Functional parameters of RV and RA were measured on standard four-chamber cine CMR using fast feature tracking: (1) TA peak velocities (systolic velocity S′, early diastolic velocity E′, late diastolic velocity A′) and TA plane systolic excursion (TAPSE); (2) RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rates; and (3) RA phasic longitudinal strains and strain rates. S′ and TAPSE exhibited negative correlations with age. RV GLS was significantly higher in females than in males but not associated with age in both sexes. Females had similar E′, lower A′, and higher E′/A′ ratios compared to males. Positive associations of E′ and E′/A′, and negative association of A′ with age were observed in both sexes. Females had higher RA reservoir and conduit strains compared to males. There were significantly negative and positive associations between RA conduit and booster strains, respectively, with age. Age- and sex-specific reference ranges were established, and associations revealed, for fast CMR feature tracking parameters of right heart function in a large normal Asian population.