| 1. |
- Delgado-Vega, Angelica Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Family History and Warning Symptoms Precede Sudden Cardiac Death in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (From A Nationwide Study in Sweden)
- 2022
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 178, s. 124-130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited cardiacdisease explaining about 4% of sudden cardiac death (SCD) cases among the youngin Sweden. The aim of this study was to describe the circumstances preceding SCDdue to ARVC in all victims <35 years of age who received an autopsy-confirmeddiagnosis of ARVC from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2010 in Sweden (n=22).Data on demographics, medical and family history, circumstances of death, andanatomopathological findings were collected from several compulsory national healthregistries, clinical records, family interviews, and autopsy reports. Registry-based datawas compared with age-, sex- and geographically-matched population controls. Duringthe 6 months preceding SCD, 15 cases (68%) had experienced symptoms of cardiacorigin, mainly syncope or presyncope (54%), and chest discomfort (27%). Eight cases(36%) had sought medical care due to cardiac symptoms. The occurrence of hospitalvisits was significantly increased in cases compared with controls (OR 4.62 [1.35-15.8]). Ten cases (45%) had a family history of SCD. The most common activity at thetime of death was exercise (41%). Complete cardiac investigation was seldomperformed, only one case was diagnosed with ARVC before death. In conclusion, inthis nationwide study we observed a high prevalence of symptoms of cardiac origin,health-care utilization, and family history of SCD preceding SCD due to ARVC amongthe young. Increased awareness of these warning signals in the young is critical toimprove risk stratification and early disease detection.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Guerra, Federico, et al.
(författare)
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The use of social media for professional purposes by healthcare professionals : the #intEHRAct survey
- 2022
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 24:4, s. 691-696
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Social media (SoMe) represents a medium of communication in everyday life and has gained importance for professional use among clinicians. In the #intEHRAct survey, we aimed to describe the use of SoMe by the healthcare community in a professional setting. The EHRA e-Communication Committee and the Scientific Initiatives Committee prepared a questionnaire and distributed it via newsletters, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. The survey consisted of 19 questions made on an individual basis and collected anonymously. Two hundred and eighty-five responders from 35 countries (72.3% male, age 49 +/- 11 years old) completed the survey. Most respondents (42.7%) declared to use SoMe as passive users while 38.3% and 19.0% declared to share content on a non-daily and daily basis, respectively. The respondents estimated they spent a median of 5 (Q1-Q3: 2-10) h per week on SoMe. The most widely used SoMe was LinkedIn (60.8%), but the use of each platform was heterogeneous between countries. Among the advantages of SoMe, respondents indicated the chance of being updated on recent publications (66.0%), networking (48.5%), and the availability of rare or interesting cases (47.9%) as the most useful. Regarding the disadvantages of SoMe, the respondents underlined the loss of personal contact (40.7%), the inability to get 'hands-on' training (38.7%), and the lack of control regarding quality of scientific evidence (37.1%). Social media is increasingly used for professional purposes for scientific updating, networking, and case-based learning. The results of this survey encourage scientific societies, journals, and authors to enhance the quality, reach and impact of scientific content provided through SoMe.
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| 4. |
- Guerra, Federico, et al.
(författare)
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Use and misuse of instant messaging in clinical data sharing : the EHRA-SMS survey
- 2021
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 23:8, s. 1326-1330
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Instant messaging (IM) enables medical professionals to quickly share clinical data to their peers for counselling. Purpose of this survey is to assess the habits related to IM, their application in clinical practice and the perceived pros and cons. An online survey was distributed to the medical community via newsletters, Twitter, Linkedin, and Facebook. The survey consisted of 22 questions made on an individual-basis and collected anonymously on SurveyMonkey. A total of 287 subjects from 33 countries responded to the survey (mean age 43 years, 74.8% male). Of all respondents, 88.3% routinely send and 90.3% receive clinical data through IM which was second only to face-to-face contact as the preferred method for sharing clinical data. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms (88.6%), medical history (61.4%), and echo loops (55.7%) were the data shared most often. Nearly half of the clinical data that are sent (43%) or received (44%) are not anonymized. In the same way, 29.3% of the respondents were not aware of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) at the time of the survey. IM apps are used by medical professionals worldwide to share and discuss clinical data and are preferred to many other methods of data sharing, being second only to face-to-face contact. IM are often used to share many different types of clinical data, being perceived as a fast and easy way of communication. Medical professionals should be aware of the appropriate use of IM to prevent legal and privacy issues.
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| 5. |
- Kommata, Varvara, et al.
(författare)
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Epicardial conduction abnormalities in patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and mutation positive healthy family members – a study using electrocardiographic imaging
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in early stages is challenging. The aim was therefore to study whether electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) can detect epicardial depolarization changes in ARVC patients and healthy mutation-carriers (M-carriers).Method: Twelve ARVC patients, 20 M-carriers and 8 controls underwent 12-lead ECG, signal-averaged ECG, 2-dimensional echocardiography, 24-hours Holter monitoring and ECGI (body surface mapping and computer tomography with offline analysis of reconstructed epicardial signals). Total and Right Ventricular Activation Time (tVAT and RVAT respectively), area of Ventricular Activation during the terminal 20 milliseconds (aVAte20) and the activation patterns were compared between groups.Results: In ARVC patients the locations of aVAte20 were scattered or limited to smaller RV parts versus in controls, in whom aVAte20 was confined to RVOT and LV base (+/- RV base). ARVC patients had smaller aVAte20 (35cm2 vs 87cm2, p<0.05), longer tVAT (99msec vs 58msec, p<0.05) and longer RVAT (66msec vs 43msec, p<0.05) versus controls. In 50% of M-carriers, the locations of aVAte20 were also eccentric. This sub-group presented smaller aVAte20 (53cm2 vs 87cm2, p= 0.009), longer RVAT (55msec vs 48msec, p=0.043), but similar tVAT (65msec vs 60msec, p=0.529) compared with the M-carriers with normal activation pattern.Conclusions: The observation of localized delayed epicardial conduction in the RV in M-carriers suggests an early stage of ARVC and may be a useful diagnostic marker enhancing an early detection of the disease.
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| 6. |
- Kommata, Varvara, 1980-
(författare)
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Novel approaches using electrocardiographic imaging for early detection of ARVC in patients and relatives and symptoms preceding sudden death
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited disease of the myocardium, predominantly affecting the right ventricle (RV). Arrhythmias are common among patients with the disease and Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) can occur even in early stages. The overall purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effectiveness of new diagnostic methods in detecting early abnormalities in genetically predisposed individuals and to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis. The analysis of body surface mapping (BSM) signals recorded using a 252-lead vest revealed abnormal repolarisation patterns in all ARVC patients, but also in 25% of family members who were carriers of the family pathogenic variant (M-carriers). The abnormal repolarization patterns preceded repolarization abnormalities on 12-leads electrocardiogram (ECG). Depolarization abnormalities were also detected by the analysis of body surface signals. The QRS dispersion calculated by the body surface signals was significantly higher among ARVC patients compared with controls. 20% of M-carriers presented also with a slightly elevated QRS dispersion. ECG based QRS dispersion could not adequately differentiate ARVC patients from controls. Thus, the higher resolution of the BSM system permitted the detection of repolarization and depolarization abnormalities even in early stages of the disease.The analysis of reconstructed epicardial signals using Electrocardiographic Imaging (ECGI) revealed terminal ventricular epicardial activation (the last 20msecs) located only in parts of RV, as opposed to controls, where the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and cardiac base (both right and left ventricle) were activated last. The total ventricular activation time and the RV activation time were both longer in ARVC patients, whereas the area activated during the last 20 msecs was smaller. Similar pattern with delayed conduction in limited areas of the RV were also observed in 50% of the M-carriers. This subgroup presented also smaller area of terminal ventricular activation and longer RV activation time, but the total ventricular activation was normal. Through nationwide registries, the first SCD cohort due to ARVC in Sweden was described. Cardiac related symptoms were common (68%) prior to death and 36% of cases had sought medical care the last six months prior to death. A family history of SCD was present in 45% of the cases. The careful clinical evaluation of young individuals seeking with cardiac related symptoms and the evaluation of both medical and family history is crucial.In conclusion, new technologies, using multiple electrodes for the recording of body surface signals and the reconstruction of the epicardial signals have shown promising results in detecting early repolarization and depolarization abnormalities and could facilitate the early diagnosis in M-carriers.
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| 7. |
- Kommata, Varvara, et al.
(författare)
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QRS dispersion detected in ARVC patients and healthy gene carriers using 252-leads body surface mapping : an explorative study of a potential diagnostic tool for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
- 2021
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Ingår i: Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. - : Wiley. - 0147-8389 .- 1540-8159. ; 44:8, s. 1355-1364
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of ARVC remains complex requiring both imaging and electrocardiographic (ECG) techniques. The purpose was therefore to investigate whether QRS dispersion assessed by body surface mapping (BSM) could be used to detect early signs of ARVC, particularly in gene carriers.METHODS: ARVC patients, gene carriers without a history of arrhythmias or structural cardiac changes and healthy controls underwent 12-lead resting ECG, signal-averaged ECG, echocardiographic examination, 24-hours Holter monitoring, and BSM with electrocardiographic imaging. All 252-leads BSM recordings and 12-leads ECG recordings were manually analyzed for QRS durations and QRS dispersion.RESULTS: Eight controls, 12 ARVC patients with definite ARVC and 20 healthy gene carriers were included. The ECG-QRS dispersion was significantly greater in ARVC patients (42 vs. 25 ms, p < .05), but failed to fully differentiate them from controls. The BSM-derived QRS dispersion was also significantly greater in ARVC patients versus controls (65 vs. 29 ms, p < .05) and distinguished 11/12 cases from controls using the cut-off 40msec. The BSM derived QRS dispersion was abnormal (> 40 ms) in 4/20 healthy gene carriers without signs of ARVC, which may indicate early depolarization changes.CONCLUSIONS: QRS dispersion, when assessed by BSM versus 12-lead ECG, seem to better distinguish ARVC patients from controls, and could potentially be used to detect early ARVC in gene carriers. Further studies are required to confirm the value of BSM-QRS dispersion in this respect.
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| 8. |
- Kommata, Varvara, et al.
(författare)
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Repolarisation abnormalities unmasked with a 252-lead BSM system in patients with ARVC and healthy Gene Carriers
- 2022
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Ingår i: Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0147-8389 .- 1540-8159. ; 45:4, s. 509-518
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Diagnosing Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) at an early stage can be challenging even after ECG recording and a combination of several imaging techniques. The purpose of this study was to explore if a Body Surface Mapping (BSM) system with 252-leads could identify repolarization abnormalities and thereby diagnose early stages of ARVC.METHODS: ARVC patients, gene carriers without signs of ARVC and controls underwent a 12 lead resting ECG, signal-averaged ECG, echocardiography, 24-hours Holter monitoring and BSM with electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI). All 252-leads, divided into four quadrants of the vest, were analyzed regarding concordances between T wave polarity and QRS main vector.RESULTS: Of 40 patients included there were 12 ARVC patients, 20 gene carriers and 8 controls. The ARVC patients had two different repolarization patterns, one with more pronounced negative T waves at the lower left panel and another with mixed changes that clearly differed from the controls, all of whom had a normal 12 lead ECGs and consistent repolarization patterns on their BSM recordings. The patterns observed in ARVC patients were also present in 5/20 (25%) gene carriers, three of whom had normal resting ECG. A novel repolarization index successfully detected all ARVC patients and 88% of gene carriers with pathologic repolarization pattern.CONCLUSIONS: The finding that abnormal repolarization patterns could be unmasked by BSM in 25% of healthy gene carriers, suggests that it may potentially be a useful tool for identifying early manifestations of ARVC. Further and larger studies are warranted to assess its diagnostic accuracy.
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| 10. |
- Kommata, Varvara, et al.
(författare)
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The repolarization pattern of ARVC patients, healthy gene carriers and controls as analyzed with a 252-leads Body Surface Mapping Vest
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 41:Supplement_2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Repolarization abnormalities have a central role on the diagnosis of ARVC according to recent HRS consensus document from 2019 stating that T wave inversion in the right precordial leads is a major criteria if it appears in V1-V3 or a minor criteria if it appears in only V1-V2.Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate whether repolarization patterns as recorded by a Body Surface Mapping (BSM) system consisting of a vest with 252 ECG leads, could differentiate ARVC patients and even gene carriers from normal individuals. Our hypothesis is that the method can potentially identify repolarization disturbances earlier or better than conventional 12-lead ECG.Method: 12 definite ARVC patients, 20 healthy gene carriers and 8 family members who tested negative for the family mutation (controls) were included. All patients underwent 12-lead ECG, including right precordial leads (V4R) and BSM recordings. Repolarization (T-wave polarity and concordance with QRS complex vector) was analyzed qualitatively in all BSM recordings, the results of which were displayed on a color code map (fig.1).Results: The mean age was 49.6, 43.6 and 38.8 years in ARVC patients, healthy gene carriers and controls, respectively. The number of males in the three groups were 8/12, 8/20 and 5/8, respectively.All 8 controls had similar repolarization patterns with negative and concordant T waves on the right back panel, and T waves that successively changed from negative concordant (green) to positive disconcordant (red) and finally positive concordant (blue) on the left front panel (pattern 1). All 12 ARVC patients had different repolarization patterns as compared to the controls. Two of these patients had no apparent repolarization changes on conventional 12 lead ECG. The pattern type 2 repolarization, as defined by same pattern as the controls at the right back panel but different pattern at the front left panel was seen in 3/12 ARVC patients. The remaining 9 ARVC patients had different repolarization patterns both on the front and on the back panel (pattern 3). Among gene carriers, 15 had a normal repolarization pattern (pattern 1) and 5 demonstrated an abnormal repolarization pattern (4 had pattern type 2 and one pattern 3) despite normal surface ECG.Conclusions: Using BSM recordings, abnormal repolarization patterns can be detected in all ARVC patients, even in those without repolarization changes on conventional surface ECG. The observation that 25% of gene carriers had divergent repolarization patterns, may indicate an early stage of the disease, and be used as an early diagnostic marker of the disease. Further and larger studies are warranted to confirm these observations.
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