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Percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) is a minimally invasive therapy that involves electrodes placed on the ear through needle arrays to stimulate the auricular branches of the cranial nerves. We hypothesize that PENFS can decrease pain in fibromyalgia through stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. We previously published data suggesting a neuromodulatory effect of PENFS in fibromyalgia1, and here we seek to further explore the potential vagal mechanisms. This was a randomized, controlled, open label investigation conducted in a government hospital. Twenty-one veterans with fibromyalgia were randomized to receive either standard therapy or ST with auricular PENFS (ST+PENFS). Seed-based connectivity using a vagal nucleus seed was assessed and correlated to pain scores using the CONN toolbox. Functional connectivity between the vagal nucleus and several clusters in the cuneus and lingual gyri predicted greater decreases in pain for the PENFS treatment group, relative to the standard-care control group. Our results further suggest that connectivity to the vagal nucleus may be predictive of treatment response in fibromyalgia. Future directions include extracting heart rate variability data to further assess the potential effects of PENFS on vagal nerve modulation for pain treatment.

AMA Research Challenge 2022

Vagal Nucleus Connectivity Predicts Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation Treatment Response in Veterans with Fibromyalgia

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Introduction:
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (AC) results due to the consumption of high levels of alcohol on a long-term basis. Its prevalence varies and ranges from 4 to 40 percent. Although AC makes up approximately 4% of all cardiomyopathies, it is the second most common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. We herein explore the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients with AC.

Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for hospital discharges in the United States between 2012 to 2014. We identified the number of patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AC using the ICD-9 code of 4.255. Using the ICD-9 code for PCI (00.66, 36.01, 36.02, 36.05, 36.06, 36.07, 17.55), we identified patients diagnosed with AC who underwent a PCI (AC/PCI). Hospital length of stay (LOS), death, cost of hospitalization, and cardiovascular outcomes, including atrial fibrillation (AF) and Ventricular fibrillation (VF) were compared between patients with and without AC who underwent a PCI.

Results:
A total of 2,488,293 PCIs were performed between 2012 to 2014. Of these, there were a total of 161 admissions for alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The patients with AC/PCI were likely to stay longer in the hospital, with an average stay of 6.6 days (SD = 6.2) compared to patients without AC undergoing PCI -3.7 days (SD = 5.0) (p=0.0001). The mean hospital charge for patients with AC/PCI was $120,225 (SD=101,044), while that of those without AC who underwent PCI was $87,936 (SD=83,947) (p=0.0001). A higher death rate during hospitalization, 3.7%, was recorded in the AC/PCI category vs. 2.3% in patients without AC who underwent PCI (p=0.0001). Patients with AC/PCI had a higher prevalence of AF (30.4%) than VF (7.5%).

Conclusion:
Alcohol abuse increases the disease burden and continues to be a public health concern. Despite the decreased prevalence compared to their non-AC/PCI counterparts, the AC/PCI group had poorer hospital outcomes. Further studies are needed to explore the burden of long-term alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease treatment outcomes.

Alcohol and Heart Health; A Public Health Concern

Assessing Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR): Is remote anticoagulation management as effective as in-person care?

Abstract Title: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a national study of demographics & socioeconomic factors.

Background: Atrial fibrillation(AF) is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac arrhythmia. With a worldwide prevalence of >33 million, it poses a significant economic burden and serious cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Catheter ablation(CA) has proven to be an important curative treatment for paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent AF.

Methods: This retrospective study acquired data from the NIS between January,2007 and December,2017. Primary and secondary diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation were identified using ICD-9 and 10-CM codes. Chi square and unpaired t test were used to evaluate socio-demographic disparities.

Results: From 35,906,946 patients with NVAF, 343641(0.96%) underwent catheter ablation. Patients who underwent CA were mostly in the age group of 50-75 years(63.67%) vs <50 years(8.63%) vs >75 years(27.71%). The majority of patients undergoing CA were men(61.6%) and was more common amongst White race(86.17%) vs Native American(0.58%) vs Black(7.31%). Patients with a median household income falling in 76th-100th percentile(28%) were the majority to have the procedure. Most of the patients had medicare insurance(59.5%) vs Medicaid(4.06%) vs private insurance(32.71%). CA was performed more often during weekdays(89.54%) vs weekends(10.46%) and frequently done as a non-elective procedure(51.41%) vs elective(48.59%). It was more frequent in urban teaching hospitals(73.14%) vs urban non teaching(24.1%) and was more common in the South region(39.57%) vs West region(19.33%). Co-morbidity comparison between the cohorts with vs without CA include hypertension(67.4% vs 75.52%), diabetes(24.53% vs 33.8%), CHF(33.4%
vs 42.45%), alcohol use(2.12% vs 3.17%), tobacco use(7.38% vs 7.72%), and drug abuse(1.02% vs 1.37%). p value was noted to be <0.0001 for above comparisons. In regression analysis, age>50 years(OR-1.59,1.52-1.66,P<0.0001), native-Americans (OR1.39,1.24-1.55,p<0.0001), patients with private insurance(OR-1.307,1.28-1.33,p<0.0001) and high income group(OR-1.154,1.12-1.18,p<0.0001) were associated with higher odds of utilization of catheter ablation.

Conclusion: There is a significant racial and sex disparity in patients undergoing CA for NVAF that mandates further investigation. These results are important when interpreting the characteristics of the patients, so future trials can be made to decrease the high burden of NVAF through CA. Study’s limitation is insufficient data on disease severity and cardiovascular
diagnostic test variables for accurately predicting the factors associated with under utilization.



Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a nationwide study of demographics and socioeconomic factors.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Patients with Left Ventricular Thrombus After ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

1Ngoda Manongi, MD MS., 2Emmanuel Moustakakis, MD., 2Sijun Kim, DO. 
1 Department of Internal Medicine, New York Presbyterian Queens
2 Division of Cardiology, New York Presbyterian Queens

Abstract

Background: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) can occur in the setting of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This is a single-center retrospective study to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients who develop LVT as a complication of STEMI to help identify at-risk patients for early diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: In this retrospective single center study, we identified patients diagnosed with STEMI admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens between December 2015 and December 2020 using electronic medical record. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was used to assess the presence of LV thrombus. Demographic data, choice of anticoagulation (AC), use of concomitant antiplatelet agents were collected and reviewed. Clinical outcomes following initiation of AC included bleeding events, stroke, systemic embolism, echocardiographic resolution of LV thrombus, and all-cause mortality. 
Results: Among the 545 patients admitted with STEMI, 14 patients (2.6%) had LVT. The left anterior descending artery was the culprit vessel in all of these cases. The median time from admission to diagnosis using echocardiography was 48 hours (range: 3-74) and the mean LV ejection fraction was 34% (range: 20-45%). Ultrasound enhancing agent was used in all patients. Ten patients (71%) had symptom onset more than 24 hours prior to presentation. Therapeutic anticoagulation was started with heparin and bridged to VKA in 10 patients (71%) and DOAC in 3 patients (21%). One patient did not receive anticoagulation due to bleeding concerns. One patient suffered a stroke shortly after initiating DOAC. Major bleeding event occurred in 1 patient. Follow-up echo was available at six months in 7 patients and showed resolution of LVT in all patients with a mean LV ejection fraction of 42% (range: 25-60%). The median length of hospital stay was 7 days (range 4-21 days). 
Conclusions: The incidence of LVT following STEMI between December 2015 and December 2020 was 2.6%. A high index of suspicion for LVT is needed in patients who have a delayed presentation of STEMI and involve the left anterior descending artery. TTE using ultrasound enhancing agent is important to accurately make the diagnosis.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Patients with Left Ventricular Thrombus After ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background: Asymptomatic aortic stenosis management is not only a daily practice challenge but also an area of clinical research controversy. As evidence on conservative versus early aortic valve replacement (AVR) is debatable, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of conservative versus AVR in asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify any observational or interventional studies that compared the effects of conservative management versus AVR on all causes, cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular mortality. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models.

Results: A total of 6216 patients were included from 12 studies (observational=10, and randomized clinical trial=2) with a mean follow-up duration of 5 years. When compared to early AVR, conservative management has statistically significant higher risk of all cause (RR: 0.36, 95%CI [0.32 to 0.46], p<0.00001), cardiovascular (RR: 0.32, 95%CI [0.24 to 0.41], p<0.00001), and non-cardiovascular mortality with (RR: 0.30, 95%CI [0.12 to 0.73], p=0.008). Regarding other complications, conservative treatment showed significant higher risk in sudden cardiac death (RR: 0.46, 95%CI [0.30-0.71], p=0.0005), yet no difference over AVR in stroke, myocardial infarction (RR: 0.86, 95% CI [0.35 to 2.13], p=0.75) and (RR: 0.54, 95% CI [0.19 to 1.53], p=0.25), respectively. 

Conclusion: Patients with asymptomatic aortic valve stenosis, managed with early AVR, have a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular mortality when compared to conservative management.

Conservative management versus early aortic valve replacement for treatment of asymptomatic aortic stenosis: a systematic review & meta-analysis

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common postoperative complication after 
coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Studies have shown a higher incidence 
of postoperative AF in White patients than in Black patients. This retrospective 
cross-sectional study aims to characterize the incidence and risk factors for 
postoperative AF in Middle Eastern and Black patients compared to White 
patients. 

Methods: Adult patients were included if they had undergone CABG between 
January 2014 and December 2021. Baseline demographics and perioperative 
data were collected. Patients’ race designations were based on self-identification 
in the electronic health records. Univariate and multivariable analyses were 
conducted to identify predictors of postoperative AF. 

Results: A total of 1686 patients were included (median age 67 years, 27% were 
females). There was a total of 1169 White, 440 Black, and 77 Middle Eastern patients. 
The overall incidence of postoperative AF was 40%. We observed a lower incidence 
of postoperative AF in Middle Eastern (32%, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.97, P = 0.034) 
and Black patients (28%, OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.37-0.60, P = <0.001) as compared to 
White patients (45%). Other variables associated with postoperative AF on the 
univariate analysis included female gender, pre-operative AF, age, chronic kidney 
disease, left atrial size, obstructive sleep apnea, pre-operative AV nodal blockade, 
concomitant valvular surgery, and moderative-severe valvular disease. On 
multivariable analysis, the Middle Eastern race was associated with a lower incidence 
of postoperative AF with a trend towards significance (OR 0.60 95% CI 0.34-1.07, P 
0.081), whereas the Black race continued to be significantly associated with a lower 
incidence of postoperative AF (OR 0.59 95% CI 0.44-0.79, P <0.001). Other variables 
that continued to be significantly associated with postoperative AF included age ≥65 
years (OR 1.44 P 0.007), female gender (OR 0.63 P 0.002), left atrial size index >32 
ml/kg (OR 1.64 P 0.005), moderate-severe aortic stenosis (OR 1.88 P 0.005), 
preoperative AF (OR 4.55 P 0.005), and AV nodal blockade (OR 0.632 P 0.019). 

Conclusion: We report a lower prevalence of postoperative AF in Middle Eastern 
and Black patients. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying 
associations between racial and ethnic categories and AF post CABG.

Effect of Race on the incidence of atrial fibrillation post-coronaryartery bypass surgery in a Middle Eastern Community in the United States

Introduction: Heart failure is a growing public health problem with an estimated prevalence of 4-5 million American population. Despite significant advances in heart failure management, the mortality remains high. This study aspires to investigate the risk factors that are associated with mortality in hospitalized heart failure patients.
Methods: We utilized the 2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) under the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Patients with Heart Failure (HF) were identified using Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). Variable of interest include hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, peripheral vascular disease, nicotine use and sleep apnea. Clinical outcomes include HF hospitalizations and effect of different variable on HF mortality. 
Results: A weighted total of 5,675,784 HF related hospitalizations were recorded in the year 2019. A total of 3907455(68.9%) had hypertension, 2080710(36%) had diabetes and 3081445 (54%) had dyslipidemia . 651035(11%) had a comorbidity of peripheral arterial disease, 1542990 (27.1%) were nicotine dependent, and 991150 (17.4%) had sleep apnea. The mortality rate per 10,000 HF hospitalizations were analyzed. There were 7047 deaths due to hypertension as compared to 2953 in non-hypertensive population, 2368 deaths due to diabetes as compared to 2122 deaths in patients without diabetes. The Mortality rate was 4502 in patients with dyslipidemia as compared to 4234 in patients without dyslipidemia. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) lead to 2434 death as compared to 2183 death in patients without PAD. The mortality rate 4649 deaths due to nicotine use as compared to 4278 in patients who do not use nicotine and 4580 was due to sleep apnea as compared to 4336 death in patients with no sleep apnea. 
Conclusion: Heart failure lead to significant number of hospitalization in the United States in year 2019. Among all studied factors, hypertension was found to be associated with highest mortality risk. This study guides the importance of strict blood pressure control in significantly decreasing mortality associated with heart failure. 





Heart Failure World: Risk factors for heart failure mortality in hospitalized patients

Impact of the type of Heart failure and Social determinants of health on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among patients in the South Bronx

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and left atrial (LA) strain abnormality are more common in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), but the relationship between CMD and LA strain is not well characterized. HFpEF is a major health burden in the United States, representing the number one cause of hospitalization for Americans over 65
years old. (1) Understanding how coronary microvascular dysfunction impacts HFpEF is important because CMD may be an important prognostic sign of deteriorating heart function, particularly in the HFpEF subset of heart failure. Despite CMD’s prognostic potential, it is currently difficult to measure; only invasive techniques can measure CMD.

OBJECTIVE: We undertook a study to see if non-invasive measurements of LA strain could be correlated with invasive measurements of CMD. We additionally looked at differences between HFpEF and control patients to see if LASr and CMD correlations were generalizable across disease states.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study of 90 patients at the University of Chicago Medical Center who had an indication for coronary angiography with coronary physiology testing from 2010-2021. CMD was defined as having an invasively-determined coronary flow reserve (CFR) ≤ 2.0. Non-invasive echocardiographic auto-strain analysis was used to obtain LA reservoir strain (LASr), LA conduit strain, and LA contractile strain. Univariable and multivariable logistic
regression was performed for HFpEF patients with various degrees of CMD.

RESULTS: For both HFpEF and control patients, lower LASr was more commonly found in patients with abnormal CFR (HFpEF: 22.5% ± 12.1 vs. 30.7% ± 10.7, P = 0.018; control: 26.0% ± 16.4 vs. 31.0% ± 9.8 , P = 0.185). Both a univariable and multivariable logistic regression of HFpEF patients found LASr to be a significant predictor of abnormal CFR (OR: 0.94, P =0.041).

CONCLUSIONS: There were substantially more patients with CFR ≤ 2.0 in the HFpEF group (50%) compared to control (28%). In HFpEF patients, non-invasively measured LASr showed significant correlation with invasively measured CFR, thus emerging as a potential predictive variable for CFR ≤ 2.0 in patients with this form of heart failure.

Left Atrial Strain Echocardiography May Be Correlated with Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) are especially susceptible to COVID-19-related complications and mortality approaches 30%. We hypothesized that Boosted Tree (BT) mortality risk variance explained (VE%) by cardiac injury and putative COVID-19 thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers would be different between survivors and non-survivors in HF patients undergoing index hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Presentation demographics, anthropometrics, laboratory results (within 8h), and ICD-10 codes were collected. Discrete data summarized as proportions were compared with chi-squared test. Continuous data summarized with median [IQR] were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test. COVID-19 therapy across 6-pandemic surges, demographics, and comorbidities were statistically balanced. Univariate logistic regression tested association (p<.05) of COVID-19 clinical traits putatively linked with mortality risk and provided a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve while computing Youden’s cut point. BT algorithm optimized area under ROC curve (AUROC) representing prediction accuracy while providing VE% contributed by each cut point variable.

Results: Among 5,841 consecutive patients discharged from index COVID-19 hospitalization between March 18, 2020, and April 30, 2022, 1039 harbored extant HF. Those with at least 1 high sensitivity troponin (hs-cTnI) assay, 483, were studied. Hospital mortality (n=62, 13%) and survival (n=421, 87%) patient demographics were statically similar with 63% males and 37% females aged 75[64-83] years distributed across Whites (82%), Blacks (11%), and other races (7%). Subsequent results are similarly sequenced. Most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (81% vs. 92%, p=.007), diabetes (48% vs. 42%, p=.41), obesity (50% vs. 34%, p<.02), renal failure (34% vs. 38%, p=.58), iron deficiency anemia (35% vs. 35%, p=1.0), and chronic coagulation disorder (39% vs 17%, p=.0002). Biomarker cut points were hs-cTnI ≥26 ng/L (71% vs. 53%, p=.006), CRP ≥6.0 mg/dL (63% vs. 22%, p<.0001), d-dimer ≥2.98 ug/mL (45% vs. 26%, p=.015), LDH ≥444 U/L (61% vs. 20%, p<.0001), and ferritin ≥668 ng/mL (68% vs. 26%, p<.0001). BT model demonstrated 38% R2, AUROC=0.86 with VE% contributed by hs-cTnI (41%), CRP (27%), d-dimer (14%), LDH (10%), and ferritin (8%). 

Conclusion: Our training model demonstrates a machine learning strategy to integrate hs-cTnI with putative biomarkers of COVID-19 severity to enhance understanding of host response contributing to mortality risk at presentation in hospitalized HF patients.


Mortality Risk Variance Explained by High Sensitivity Troponin I Exceeds Putative COVID-19 Severity Biomarkers in Heart Failure Patients Hospitalized with Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection

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