1. |
- Bisaccia, Giandomenico, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality Related to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease : a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- 2023
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In: Current Problems in Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0146-2806 .- 1535-6280. ; 48:6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a cardiovascular (CV) risk factor is debated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the CV morbidity and mortality related to NAFLD in the general population, and to determine whether CV risk is comparable between lean and non-lean NAFLD phenotypes.METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, for observational studies published through 2022 that reported the risk of CV events and mortality. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality, CV mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF), and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were assessed through random-effect meta-analysis. We identified 33 studies and a total study population of 10,592,851 individuals (mean age 53±8; male sex 50%; NAFLD 2,9%). Mean follow-up was 10±6 years. Pooled ORs for all-cause and CV mortality were respectively 1.14 (95%CI 0.78-1.67) and 1.13 (95%CI 0.57-2.23), indicating no significant association between NAFLD and mortality. NAFLD was associated with increased risk of MI (OR 1.6; 95%CI 1.5-1.7), stroke (OR 1.6; 95%CI 1.2-2.1), atrial fibrillation (OR 1.7; 95%CI 1.2-2.3) and MACCE (OR 2.3; 95%CI 1.3-4.2). Compared with non-lean NAFLD, lean NAFLD was associated with increased CV mortality (OR 1.50; 95%CI 1.1-2.0), but similar all-cause mortality and risk of MACCE.CONCLUSIONS: While NAFLD may not be a risk factor for total and CV mortality, it is associated with excess risk of non-fatal CV events. Lean and non-lean NAFLD phenotypes exhibit distinct prognostic profiles and should receive equitable clinical care.
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2. |
- Bisaccia, Giandomenico, et al.
(author)
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Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction : What Do We Know?
- 2021
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In: Journal of cardiovascular development and disease. - : MDPI AG. - 2308-3425. ; 8:11, s. 1-15
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), or long COVID syndrome, is emerging as a major health issue in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptoms commonly experienced by patients include fatigue, palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance, and "brain fog". Additionally, symptoms of orthostatic intolerance and syncope suggest the involvement of the autonomic nervous system. Signs of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction appear to be common in PASC and are similar to those observed in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and inappropriate sinus tachycardia. In this review, we report on the epidemiology of PASC, discuss current evidence and possible mechanisms underpinning the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, and suggest nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions to treat and relieve symptoms of PASC-associated dysautonomia.
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3. |
- Brignole, Michele, et al.
(author)
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Clinical controversy : methodology and indications of cardioneuroablation for reflex syncope
- 2023
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In: Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology. - 1532-2092. ; 25:5, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2005, Pachon et al.1 proposed cardiac vagal denervation to treat neurally mediated syncope. Since then, a metanalysis of observational studies2 and a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT)3 have provided some evidence that cardioneuroablation (CNA) is able to prevent syncope recurrence at least during the first 2 years following the procedure in patients affected by reflex syncope. In brief, the recent metanalysis2 of 14 studies including a total of 465 patients reported an average freedom of syncopal recurrence in 92% of patients (95% confidence interval 88–95%) during follow-up. The only available open RCT3 reported 8% recurrence of syncope in the 24 patients randomized to CNA and 54% recurrence rate in 24 untreated controls (P = 0.0004) during 2-year follow-up. In all studies, after the ablation procedure, the patients demonstrated heart rate increase together with reduction of heart rate variability (indicating impaired parasympathetic stimulation of the heart) persisting at least for 2 years. This provides proof-of-concept for the modification of the vagal ganglia activity in the heart.Given these facts, it is likely that CNA will become increasingly popular among physicians caring for syncope patients in the years to come. Nevertheless, many issues concerning clinical indications, methodology, and long-term results remain unresolved. These issues constitute the background of this manuscript in which leaders in CNA and experts in syncope debated critical issues and aimed to find agreement and, if not possible, to highlight the controversies that could be addressed in future studies. The authors were initially requested to give their evidence-based opinion on several predefined motions. These were merged into a manuscript draft, which was subsequently critically revised by means of two rounds of comments.
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4. |
- Brignole, Michele, et al.
(author)
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Low-blood pressure phenotype underpins the tendency to reflex syncope
- 2021
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In: Journal of Hypertension. - 1473-5598. ; 39:7, s. 1319-1325
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that cardiovascular physiology differs in reflex syncope patients compared with the general population, predisposing such individuals to vasovagal reflex.METHODS: In this multicohort cross-sectional study, we compared aggregate data of resting SBP, DBP, pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR), collected from six community-based cohort studies (64 968 observations) with those from six databases of reflex syncope patients (6516 observations), subdivided by age decades and sex.RESULTS: Overall, in male individuals with reflex syncope, SBP (-3.4 mmHg) and PP (-9.2 mmHg) were lower and DBP (+2.8 mmHg) and HR (+5.1 bpm) were higher than in the general population; the difference in SBP was higher at ages above 60 years. In female individuals, PP (-6.0 mmHg) was lower and DBP (+4.7 mmHg) and HR (+4.5 bpm) were higher than in the general population; differences in SBP were less pronounced, becoming evident only above 60 years. Compared with male individuals, SBP in female individuals exhibited slower increase until age 40 years, and then demonstrated steeper increase that continued throughout remaining life.CONCLUSION: The patients prone to reflex syncope demonstrate a different resting cardiovascular haemodynamic profile as compared with a general population, characterized by lower SBP and PP, reflecting reduced venous return and lower stroke volume, and a higher HR and DBP, suggesting the activation of compensatory mechanisms. Our data contribute to a better understanding why some individuals with similar demographic characteristics develop reflex syncope and others do not.VIDEO ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/HJH/B580.
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5. |
- Brignole, Michele, et al.
(author)
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The Rate of Asystolic Reflex Syncope Is Not Influenced by Age
- 2024
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In: JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. - 2405-5018. ; 10:3, s. 566-574
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The head-up tilt test (HUT) and other evidence suggest that the vagal effect on the heart decreases with age.OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the study was to assess whether this age effect also affects the rate of asystole in spontaneous reflex syncope (RS).METHOD: We performed an analysis of pooled individual data from 4 studies that recruited patients ≥40 years of age affected by certain or suspected RS who received an implantable loop recorder (ILR) and reported follow-up data on syncope recurrence. We assessed the presence of asystolic syncope of >3 seconds or nonsyncopal asystole of >6 seconds recorded by ILR and compared the findings to tilt test results on the same patients.RESULTS: A total of 1,046 patients received ILR because of unexplained syncope. Of these, 201 (19.2%) had a documentation of an asystolic event of 10-second (Q1-Q3: 6- to 15-second) duration. They were subdivided in 3 age tertiles: ≤60 years (n = 64), 61 to 72 years (n = 72), and ≥73 years (n = 65). The rate of asystolic events was similar in the 3 subgroups (50.1%, 50.1%, and 49.2%, respectively; P = 0.99). Conversely, the rate of asystolic syncope induced during HUT (performed in 169 of 201) was greatly age dependent (31.0%, 12.1%, and 11.1% in increasing age tertiles, respectively; P = 0.009).CONCLUSIONS: The rate of the spontaneous asystolic form of RS documented by ILR is constant at any age >40 years. Conversely, the rate of asystolic syncope induced by HUT is higher in younger patients and decreases with age. The contrasting results between spontaneous and tilt-induced events cast doubt on the concept that asystole in RS is less common in older patients.
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6. |
- Casselbrant, Andreas, et al.
(author)
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Common physiologic and proteomic biomarkers in pulmonary and coronary artery disease
- 2022
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 17:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. There is a well-known comorbidity between COPD and CAD, which is only partly explained by smoking and other known common risk factors. In order to better understand the relationship between COPD and CAD, we analyzed myocardial perfusion, pulmonary function and novel cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with symptoms suggesting myocardial ischemia.METHODS: A total of 396 subjects from the Swedish Biomarkers and Genetics CardioPulmonary Physiology Study (BiG CaPPS) were included, all of whom had been referred to myocardial perfusion imaging due to suspected myocardial ischemia. Subjects performed myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), pulmonary function tests (PFT) and analysis of 92 proteomic biomarkers, previously associated with cardiovascular disease. Linear regression was used to study the relationship between MPI and PFT results and proteomic biomarkers.RESULTS: Subjects with CAD (n = 159) had lower diffusing capacity (DLCO) than patients without CAD (6.64 versus 7.17 mmol/(min*kPa*l); p = 0.004) in models adjusted for common covariates such as smoking, but also diabetes and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The association remained significant after additional adjustment for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (p = 0.009). Subjects with CAD, compared with subjects without CAD, had higher total airway resistance (0.37 vs 0.36 kPa/(l/s); p = 0.036). Among 92 protein biomarkers, nine were associated with a combined diagnosis of CAD and airflow obstruction: VSIG2, KIM1, FGF-23, REN, XCL1, GIF, ADM, TRAIL-R2 and PRSS8.SIGNIFICANCE: Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is decreased in patients with CAD, independently of decreased FEV1, diabetes, and elevated BNP. Several cardiovascular biomarkers are associated with co-existent CAD and airflow obstruction, but none with airflow obstruction only. The current findings indicate that the interaction between CAD and lung function is complex, including mechanisms beyond the known association between CAD and reduced ventilation.
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8. |
- Engström, Gunnar, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovagal Function Measured by the Deep Breathing Test : Relationships With Coronary Atherosclerosis
- 2022
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In: Journal of the American Heart Association. - 2047-9980. ; 11:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The cardiovagal function can be assessed by quantification of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during a deep breathing test. However, population studies of RSA and coronary atherosclerosis are lacking. This population-based study examined the relationship between RSA during deep breathing and coronary atherosclerosis, assessed by coronary artery calcium score (CACS). Methods and Results SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study) randomly invited men and women aged 50 to 64 years from the general population. CACS was obtained from computed tomography scanning, and deep breathing tests were performed in 4654 individuals. Expiration-inspiration differences (E-Is) of heart rates were calculated, and reduced RSA was defined as E-I in the lowest decile of the population. The relationship between reduced RSA and CACS (CACS≥100 or CACS≥300) was calculated using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. The proportion of CACS≥100 was 24% in the lowest decile of E-I and 12% in individuals with E-I above the lowest decile (P<0.001), and the proportion of CACS≥300 was 12% and 4.8%, respectively (P<0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for CACS≥100 was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.10-1.84) and the adjusted OR for CACS≥300 was 1.62 (95% CI, 1.15-2.28), when comparing the lowest E-I decile with deciles 2 to 10. Adjusted ORs per 1 SD lower E-I were 1.17 (P=0.001) for CACS≥100 and 1.28 (P=0.001) for CACS≥300. Conclusions Low RSA during deep breathing is associated with increased coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by CACS, independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiovagal dysfunction could be a prevalent and modifiable risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis in the general population.
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10. |
- Fedorowski, Artur, et al.
(author)
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Cardiorespiratory dysautonomia in post-COVID-19 condition: Manifestations, mechanisms and management
- 2023
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 294:5, s. 548-562
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A significant proportion of COVID-19 patients experience debilitating symptoms for months after the acute infection. According to recent estimates, approximately 1 out of 10 COVID-19 convalescents reports persistent health issues more than 3 months after initial recovery. This 'post-COVID-19 condition' may include a large variety of symptoms from almost all domains and organs, and for some patients it may mean prolonged sick-leave, homestay and strongly limited activities of daily life. In this narrative review, we focus on the symptoms and signs of post-COVID-19 condition in adults - particularly those associated with cardiovascular and respiratory systems, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or airway disorders - and explore the evidence for chronic autonomic dysfunction as a potential underlying mechanism. The most plausible hypotheses regarding cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the wide spectrum of observed symptoms - such as lingering viruses, persistent inflammation, impairment in oxygen sensing systems and circulating antibodies directed to blood pressure regulatory components - are discussed. In addition, an overview of currently available pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options is presented.
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