Cardiology and Angiology: An International Journal

A Novel Method for Measuring Myocardial Performance Index using Non-contact Ballistocardiogram System

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 12:23:25 +0000

Aim: The aim was to validate the Systolic Time Intervals (STI) measured by Ballistocardiography (BCG) with STI derived from simultaneously performed Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE) and attempt to create an AI algorithm that automatically calculates Tei Index from BCG tracings.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Cardiology and Department of Electrophysiology of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research, Bangalore, India, between January 2020 and January 2021.

Methodology: Two hundred seventy-four patients with clinically indicated TTE were enrolled in the study, average age was 52. Simultaneous recordings on BCG and TTE were done. 150 patients had clinically usable TTE images for accurate calculations. STI was calculated independently by operators experienced in TTE and BCG. Results were compared using Pearson’s R. A proprietary AI algorithm for automatically calculating the MPI, was trained over a subset of patients. Its accuracy in detecting STI was compared to that of TTE and manually calculated STI from BCG.

Results: There was a strong positive correlation (r=0.766, P<0.00, 99%CI [0.691,0.824]) between the TTE and BCG derived MPI values. The result was validated over predetermined subgroups of subjects with reduced EF (EF<50) and subjects with normal EF (EF>=50). The AI algorithm had correlation of 0.54(p<0.01) with the MPI calculated by TTE and 0.34(P<0.10) with the manually calculated MPI on the BCG.

Conclusion: BCG derived manual and automated MPI correlates well with TTE derived MPI in a variety of EF fraction subgroups. Automated calculation algorithms for MPI derived from BCG remain a work under progress.

The Correlations between Admission Heart Rate and Corrected QT Interval Prolongations with Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Coronary heart disease is a major cause of mortality and this health problem is reaching pandemic in both developed, and developing countries. ACS carries significant morbidity and mortality and the prompt diagnosis, and appropriate treatment is essential. HR was identified as a risk predictor of ACS. Both continuous increase in high baseline heart rate and decrease in low baseline heart rate are associated with higher risk of CVD. Decreased heart rate could also cause dispersion of atrial repolarization which, in turn, initiate cardiovascular events.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between heart rate and severity of coronary artery disease in patient with acute coronary syndrome.

Patients and Methods: The retrospective study was conducted on 120 patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited from Cardiology department in Tanta university hospitals presented with acute coronary syndrome.

Results: There was highly significant difference between both groups regarding admission heart rate & QTc interval. Both groups of low AHR< 60 bpm & high AHR >90bpm were significantly associated with severe CAD &.Mainly those patients with higher admission heart rate were more likely to have higher Syntax scores (severe coronary lesion). Also, patients with prolonged QTc had severe coronary artery diseases, higher SS & high probability to suffer adverse cardiac events more than patients without prolonged QTc interval.

Conclusion: The current study showed that QTc interval prolongation and admission HR are independent predictors of the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Physical Training as a Blood Pressure Reducer and a Remodeler of Cardiac Fibers in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR)

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Hypertension is the most prevalent of all cardiovascular diseases, reaching target organs such as the heart. Blood pressure control is critical for preventing organ damage induced by hypertension.

Objective: To analyze blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular thickness, the percentage of cardiac fibrosis and the percentage of type III collagen in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) submitted to swimming physical training.

Methods: The experimental groups were composed of male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats (309-311g), which were divided into: 1) Normotensive Sedentary group (SN) (n = 6); 2) Trained Normotensive group (TN) (n = 6); 3) Sedentary Hypertensive group (SH) (n = 6); 4) Trained Hypertensive group (TH) (n = 6). After the end of the protocol, the animals were initially anesthetized to measure blood pressure.

Results: Physical training was responsible for decreasing blood pressure (F = 16,968; p <0.001) and heart rate (F = 10.710; p = 0.004) in the trained groups (normotensive and hypertensive). Moreover, training was responsible for providing an increase in the thickness of the left ventricle (F = 7,254; p = 0.014) and a reduction in the percentage of cardiac fibrosis (F = 16,081; p <0.001). Furthermore, it was observed that the trained group had lower values of type III collagen (F = 13,166; p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Physical swimming training triggered a decrease in blood pressure, heart rate, the percentage of fibrosis and the percentage of type III collagen. In addition, there was also a cardiac remodeling due to the increase in left ventricular hypertrophy.