BACKGROUND:Frailty is a syndrome of decreased physiologic reserve that results from compromise of multiple physiologic systems including cardiovascular system. We aimed to determine the association between the frail phenotype and cardiac abnormalities in liver transplant (LT) candidates through evaluation of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) indices. METHODS:Included were consecutive outpatients listed for LT who underwent a frailty assessment from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016 (using the Liver Frailty Index) and a 2-dimensional/Doppler TTE examination. Patients were categorized as robust, intermediate frail, or frail by the Liver Frailty Index based on scores of less than 3.2, between 3.2 and 4.5, or 4.5 or greater. Linear regression assessed associations between the Liver Frailty Index and TTE indices. RESULTS:Of 335 patients, 19% were robust, 65% intermediate frail, and 16% frail. TTE indices of left atrial (LA) dilatation differed significantly by frailty status: median LA dimension (P = 0.03), LA volume index (LAVI mL/m; P < 0.001) and %LAVI > 34 mL/m (P = 0.001). In linear regression adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes, the Liver Frailty Index was positively associated with LA dimension (coeff, 0.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07-0.34), LAVI mL/m (coeff, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.005-0.02), ejection fraction (coeff, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.32-2.85), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (coeff, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.003-0.02), and negatively associated with LV hypertrophy (coeff, -0.22; 95% CI, -0.37 to -0.06). CONCLUSIONS:In LT candidates, frailty is associated with cardiac structural and functional changes, independent of known risk factors. Our study provides evidence to support that measures of frailty in cirrhotic patients encompass abnormalities of the cardiovascular system and may inform assessments of cardiovascular reserve in this population.

Background

Sleep apnea (SA) is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to determine the effect of SA on cardiac structure in patients with AF, whether therapy for SA was associated with beneficial cardiac structural remodelling, and whether beneficial cardiac structural remodelling translated into a reduced risk of recurrence of AF after pulmonary venous isolation (PVI).

Methods and results

A consecutive group of 720 patients underwent a cardiac magnetic resonance study before PVI. Patients with SA (n=142, 20%) were more likely to be male, diabetic, and hypertensive and have an increased pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular volume, atrial dimensions, and left ventricular mass. Treated SA was defined as duration of continuous positive airway pressure therapy of >4 hours per night. Treated SA patients (n=71, 50%) were more likely to have paroxysmal AF, a lower blood pressure, lower ventricular mass, and smaller left atrium. During a follow-up of 42 months, AF recurred in 245 patients. The cumulative incidence of AF recurrence was 51% in patients with SA, 30% in patients without SA, 68% in patients with untreated SA, and 35% in patients with treated SA. In a multivariable model, the presence of SA (hazard ratio 2.79, CI 1.97 to 3.94, P<0.0001) and untreated SA (hazard ratio 1.61, CI 1.35 to 1.92, P<0.0001) were highly associated with AF recurrence.

Conclusions

Patients with SA have an increased blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular volume, left atrial size, and left ventricular mass. Therapy with continuous positive airway pressure is associated with lower blood pressure, atrial size, and ventricular mass, and a lower risk of AF recurrence after PVI.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a guideline-recommended, multidisciplinary program of exercise training, risk factor management, and psychosocial counseling for people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is beneficial but underused and with substantial disparities in referral, access, and participation. The emergence of new virtual and remote delivery models has the potential to improve access to and participation in CR and ultimately improve outcomes for people with CVD. Although data suggest that new delivery models for CR have safety and efficacy similar to traditional in-person CR, questions remain regarding which participants are most likely to benefit from these models, how and where such programs should be delivered, and their effect on outcomes in diverse populations. In this review, we describe important gaps in evidence, identify relevant research questions, and propose strategies for addressing them. We highlight 4 research priorities: (1) including diverse populations in all CR research; (2) leveraging implementation methodologies to enhance equitable delivery of CR; (3) clarifying which populations are most likely to benefit from virtual and remote CR; and (4) comparing traditional in-person CR with virtual and remote CR in diverse populations using multicenter studies of important clinical, psychosocial, and cost-effectiveness outcomes that are relevant to patients, caregivers, providers, health systems, and payors. By framing these important questions, we hope to advance toward a goal of delivering high-quality CR to as many people as possible to improve outcomes in those with CVD.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether frailty is associated with increased bleeding risk in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background

Frailty is a common syndrome in older adults.

Methods

Frailty was examined among AMI patients ≥65 years of age treated at 775 U.S. hospitals participating in the ACTION (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network) Registry from January 2015 to December 2016. Frailty was classified on the basis of impairments in 3 domains: walking (unassisted, assisted, wheelchair/nonambulatory), cognition (normal, mildly impaired, moderately/severely impaired), and activities of daily living. Impairment in each domain was scored as 0, 1, or 2, and a summary variable consisting of 3 categories was then created: 0 (fit/well), 1 to 2 (vulnerable/mild frailty), and 3 to 6 (moderate-to-severe frailty). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the independent association between frailty and bleeding.

Results

Among 129,330 AMI patients, 16.4% had any frailty. Frail patients were older, more often female, and were less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization. Major bleeding increased across categories of frailty (fit/well 6.5%; vulnerable/mild frailty 9.4%; moderate-to-severe frailty 9.9%; p < 0.001). Among patients who underwent catheterization, both frailty categories were independently associated with bleeding risk compared with the non-frail group (vulnerable/mild frailty adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23 to 1.44; moderate-to-severe frailty adjusted OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.58). Among patients managed conservatively, there was no association of frailty with bleeding (vulnerable/mild frailty adjusted OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.19; moderate-to-severe frailty adjusted OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.14).

Conclusions

Frail patients had lower use of cardiac catheterization and higher risk of major bleeding (when catheterization was performed) than nonfrail patients, making attention to clinical strategies to avoid bleeding imperative in this population.

Aims

Obesity is associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), and both obesity and AF are independently associated with the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We tested the hypothesis that sleep apnea (SA) would have a body mass index (BMI) independent association with adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling and clinical outcomes in patients with AF and preserved LV function.

Methods and results

From 720 consecutive patients with AF, 403 patients without myocardial disease (preserved LV function) were identified and followed up for 3.3 ± 1.5 years. The primary outcome was a combination of all-cause mortality/heart failure hospitalization. Left ventricular mass and LV mass-to-volume ratio were higher in patients with SA and obesity (P < .0001 for all). Body mass index (β per log = .47; P < .0001) and SA (β = .05; P = .045) were independently associated with LV mass index. Patients with treated SA had a lower LV mass index (but not LV mass-to-volume ratio) compared with untreated (P = .002). In a best overall multivariable model, SA therapy (β = -.129; P = .001) and BMI (β per log = .373; P = .0007) had opposing associations with LV mass index. Sleep apnea (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.94; P = .0004) and BMI (HR per 1 kg/m(2) = 1.08; P = .004) were associated with clinical outcome in unadjusted analysis. Only SA was associated with clinical outcome in a best overall multivariable model (HR = 2.14; P = .02).

Conclusion

Sleep apnea and obesity are independently associated with adverse LV remodeling and clinical outcomes in patients with preserved LV function, whereas continuous positive airway pressure therapy is associated with a beneficial effect on LV remodeling. Research investigating SA therapies in patients at high risk for LV remodeling and heart failure is warranted.

BACKGROUND:Data are sparse regarding the value of physical activity (PA) surveillance among older adults-particularly among those with mobility limitations. The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal associations between objectively measured daily PA and the incidence of cardiovascular events among older adults in the LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) study. METHODS AND RESULTS:Cardiovascular events were adjudicated based on medical records review, and cardiovascular risk factors were controlled for in the analysis. Home-based activity data were collected by hip-worn accelerometers at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months postrandomization to either a physical activity or health education intervention. LIFE study participants (n=1590; age 78.9±5.2 [SD] years; 67.2% women) at baseline had an 11% lower incidence of experiencing a subsequent cardiovascular event per 500 steps taken per day based on activity data (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.96; P=0.001). At baseline, every 30 minutes spent performing activities ≥500 counts per minute (hazard ratio, 0.75; confidence interval, 0.65-0.89 [P=0.001]) were also associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events. Throughout follow-up (6, 12, and 24 months), both the number of steps per day (per 500 steps; hazard ratio, 0.90, confidence interval, 0.85-0.96 [P=0.001]) and duration of activity ≥500 counts per minute (per 30 minutes; hazard ratio, 0.76; confidence interval, 0.63-0.90 [P=0.002]) were significantly associated with lower cardiovascular event rates. CONCLUSIONS:Objective measurements of physical activity via accelerometry were associated with cardiovascular events among older adults with limited mobility (summary score >10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery) both using baseline and longitudinal data. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01072500.