fabio fazzari
@humanitas.net
Cardiologist
Humanitas Research Hospital
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Cardiovascular imaging, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, cardiac computed tomography
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Adriana Argentiero, Maria Cristina Carella, Donato Mandunzio, Giulia Greco, Saima Mushtaq, Andrea Baggiano, Fabio Fazzari, Laura Fusini, Giuseppe Muscogiuri, Paolo Basile,et al.
MDPI AG
Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease characterized by left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction. Patients with DCM are at higher risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). According to current international guidelines, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% represents the main indication for prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation in patients with DCM. However, LVEF lacks sensitivity and specificity as a risk marker for SCD. It has been seen that the majority of patients with DCM do not actually benefit from the ICD implantation and, on the contrary, that many patients at risk of SCD are not identified as they have preserved or mildly depressed LVEF. Therefore, the use of LVEF as unique decision parameter does not maximize the benefit of ICD therapy. Multiple risk factors used in combination could likely predict SCD risk better than any single risk parameter. Several predictors have been proposed including genetic variants, electric indexes, and volumetric parameters of LV. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can improve risk stratification thanks to tissue characterization sequences such as LGE sequence, parametric mapping, and feature tracking. This review evaluates the role of CMR as a risk stratification tool in DCM patients referred for ICD.
Gianluigi Napoli, Valeria Pergola, Paolo Basile, Daniele De Feo, Fulvio Bertrandino, Andrea Baggiano, Saima Mushtaq, Laura Fusini, Fabio Fazzari, Nazario Carrabba,et al.
MDPI AG
Vascular inflammation is recognized as the primary trigger of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, current noninvasive methods are not capable of accurately detecting coronary inflammation. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT), in addition to their role as an energy reserve system, have been found to contribute to the development and progression of coronary artery calcification, inflammation, and plaque vulnerability. They also participate in the vascular response during ischemia, sympathetic stimuli, and arrhythmia. As a result, the evaluation of EAT and PCAT using imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and nuclear imaging has gained significant attention. PCAT-CT attenuation, which measures the average CT attenuation in Hounsfield units (HU) of the adipose tissue, reflects adipocyte differentiation/size and leukocyte infiltration. It is emerging as a marker of tissue inflammation and has shown prognostic value in coronary artery disease (CAD), being associated with plaque development, vulnerability, and rupture. In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), an inflammatory pericoronary microenvironment promoted by dysfunctional EAT/PCAT has been demonstrated, and more recently, it has been associated with plaque rupture in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Endothelial dysfunction, known for its detrimental effects on coronary vessels and its association with plaque progression, is bidirectionally linked to PCAT. PCAT modulates the secretory profile of endothelial cells in response to inflammation and also plays a crucial role in regulating vascular tone in the coronary district. Consequently, dysregulated PCAT has been hypothesized to contribute to type 2 myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and coronary vasculitis. Recently, quantitative measures of EAT derived from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) have been included in artificial intelligence (AI) models for cardiovascular risk stratification. These models have shown incremental utility in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) compared to plaque characteristics alone. Therefore, the analysis of PCAT and EAT, particularly through PCAT-CT attenuation, appears to be a safe, valuable, and sufficiently specific noninvasive method for accurately identifying coronary inflammation and subsequent high-risk plaque. These findings are supported by biopsy and in vivo evidence. Although speculative, these pieces of evidence open the door for a fascinating new strategy in cardiovascular risk stratification. The incorporation of PCAT and EAT analysis, mainly through PCAT-CT attenuation, could potentially lead to improved risk stratification and guide early targeted primary prevention and intensive secondary prevention in patients at higher risk of cardiac events.
Matteo Biroli, Carlo Maria Giacari, Cristina Ferrari, Fabio Fazzari, Valentina Mantegazza, and Federico De Marco
Elsevier BV
Fabio Fazzari, Andrea Baggiano, Laura Fusini, Sarah Ghulam Ali, Paola Gripari, Daniele Junod, Maria Elisabetta Mancini, Riccardo Maragna, Saima Mushtaq, Gianluca Pontone,et al.
MDPI AG
Biological valve failure (BVF) is an inevitable condition that compromises the durability of biological heart valves (BHVs). It stems from various causes, including rejection, thrombosis, and endocarditis, leading to a critical state of valve dysfunction. Echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and nuclear imaging play pivotal roles in the diagnostic multimodality workup of BVF. By providing a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology of BVF and the diagnostic approaches in different clinical scenarios, this review aims to aid clinicians in their decision-making process. The significance of early detection and appropriate management of BVF cannot be overstated, as these directly impact patients’ prognosis and their overall quality of life. Ensuring timely intervention and tailored treatments will not only improve outcomes but also alleviate the burden of this condition on patients’ life. By prioritizing comprehensive assessments and adopting the latest advancements in diagnostic technology, medical professionals can significantly enhance their ability to manage BVF effectively.
M. Muratori, M. Mancini, G. Tamborini, S. Mushtaq, A. Annoni, L. Fusini, F. Celeste, A. Baggiano, F. Fazzari, Valentina Mantegazza,et al.
Acute aortic syndromes comprise a range of interrelated conditions including aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and contained or not contained aortic aneurysm rupture. These syndromes are potentially life threatening; therefore, a rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial. A new Clinical Consensus Statement on Aortic and Peripheral Vascular Disease has recently been published, and we will try to highlight the main innovations in the document.
Andrea Baggiano, Edoardo Conte, Luigi Spiritigliozzi, Saima Mushtaq, Andrea Annoni, Maria Ludovica Carerj, Francesco Cilia, Fabio Fazzari, Alberto Formenti, Antonio Frappampina,et al.
Elsevier BV
Francesco Cannata, Giuseppe Pinto, Mauro Chiarito, Matteo Maurina, Francesco Condello, Sara Bombace, Alessandro Villaschi, Laura Novelli, Kamil Stankowski, Gaetano Liccardo,et al.
Wiley
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular sequelae may occur in patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recent studies have detected a considerable incidence of subclinical myocardial dysfunction-assessed with speckle-tracking echocardiography-and of long-COVID symptoms in these patients. This study aimed to define the long-term prognostic role of subclinical myocardial dysfunction and long-COVID condition in patients recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia.
METHODS
We prospectively followed up 110 patients hospitalized at our institution due to COVID-19 pneumonia in April 2020 and then recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. A 7-month clinical and echocardiographic evaluation was performed, followed by a 21-month clinical follow-up. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and all-cause mortality.
RESULTS
A subclinical myocardial dysfunction-defined as an impairment of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (≥-18%)-was identified at a 7-month follow-up in 37 patients (34%), was associated with an increased risk of long-term MACE with a good discriminative power (area under the curve: .73) and resulted in a strong independent predictor of extended MACE in multivariate regression analyses. Long-COVID condition was not associated with a worse long-term prognosis, instead.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia, a subclinical myocardial dysfunction is present in one-third of the whole population at 7-month follow-up and is associated with a higher risk of MACE at long-term follow-up. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a promising tool to optimize the risk-stratification in patients recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia, while the definition of a long-COVID condition has no prognostic relevance.
Riccardo Maragna, Saima Mushtaq, Andrea Baggiano, Andrea Annoni, Maria Ludovica Carerj, Francesco Cilia, Fabio Fazzari, Alberto Formenti, Laura Fusini, Elisabetta Mancini,et al.
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Abstract Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the world’s leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Likewise, the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have always been based on the detection of the presence and extent of ischaemia by physical or pharmacological stress tests with or without the aid of imaging methods (e.g. exercise stress, test, stress echocardiography, single-photon emission computed tomography, or stress cardiac magnetic resonance). These methods show high performance to assess obstructive CAD, whilst they do not show accurate power to detect non-obstructive CAD. The introduction into clinical practice of coronary computed tomography angiography, the only non-invasive method capable of analyzing the coronary anatomy, allowed to add a crucial piece in the puzzle of the assessment of patients with suspected or chronic IHD. The current review evaluates the technical aspects and clinical experience of coronary computed tomography in the evaluation of atherosclerotic burden with a special focus about the new emerging application such as functional relevance of CAD with fractional flow reserve computed tomography (CT)-derived (FFRct), stress CT perfusion, and imaging inflammatory makers discussing the strength and weakness of each approach.
Paolo Basile, Andrea Igoren Guaricci, Giuseppina Piazzolla, Sara Volpe, Alfredo Vozza, Marina Benedetto, Maria Cristina Carella, Daniela Santoro, Francesco Monitillo, Andrea Baggiano,et al.
MDPI AG
(1) Background: Glucagone-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) (GLP-1 RAs) are incretine-based medications recommended in the treatment of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or high or very high cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, knowledge of the direct mechanism of GLP-1 RAs on cardiac function is modest and not yet fully elucidated. Left ventricular (LV) Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) with Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) represents an innovative technique for the evaluation of myocardial contractility. (2) Methods: an observational, perspective, monocentric study was conducted in a cohort of 22 consecutive patients with DM2 and ASCVD or high/very high CV risk, enrolled between December 2019 and March 2020 and treated with GLP-1 RAs dulaglutide or semaglutide. The echocardiographic parameters of diastolic and systolic function were recorded at baseline and after six months of treatment. (3) Results: the mean age of the sample was 65 ± 10 years with a prevalence of the male sex (64%). A significant improvement in the LV GLS (mean difference: −1.4 ± 1.1%; p value < 0.001) was observed after six months of treatment with GLP-1 RAs dulaglutide or semaglutide. No relevant changes were seen in the other echocardiographic parameters. (4) Conclusions: six months of treatment with GLP-1 RAs dulaglutide or semaglutide leads to an improvement in the LV GLS in subjects with DM2 with and high/very high risk for ASCVD or with ASCVD. Further studies on larger populations and with a longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.
Francesco Cannata, Kamil Stankowski, Dario Donia, Stefano Figliozzi, Fabio Fazzari, Damiano Regazzoli, Bernhard Reimers, Renato Maria Bragato, Gianluca Pontone, Daniela Trabattoni,et al.
Elsevier BV
Andrea Igoren Guaricci, Francesca Sturdà, Roberto Russo, Paolo Basile, Andrea Baggiano, Saima Mushtaq, Laura Fusini, Fabio Fazzari, Fulvio Bertandino, Francesco Monitillo,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractHeart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are two pathological conditions with a high prevalence in the general population. When they coexist in the same patient, a strict interplay between them is observed, such that patients affected require a clinical multidisciplinary and personalized management. The diagnosis of HF and CKD relies on signs and symptoms of the patient but several additional tools, such as blood-based biomarkers and imaging techniques, are needed to clarify and discriminate the main characteristics of these diseases. Improved survival due to new recommended drugs in HF has increasingly challenged physicians to manage patients with multiple diseases, especially in case of CKD. However, the safe administration of these drugs in patients with HF and CKD is often challenging. Knowing up to which values of creatinine or renal clearance each drug can be administered is fundamental. With this review we sought to give an insight on this sizable and complex topic, in order to get clearer ideas and a more precise reference about the diagnostic assessment and therapeutic management of HF and CKD.
Francesco CONDELLO, Matteo MAURINA, Mauro CHIARITO, Matteo STURLA, Riccardo TERZI, Fabio FAZZARI, Jorge SANZ-SANCHEZ, Francesco CANNATA, Gianluigi CONDORELLI, and Giulio G. STEFANINI
Edizioni Minerva Medica
INTRODUCTION
Evidence about the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with left ventricular thrombosis (LVT) are emerging. The aim of our study was to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence concerning the clinical effects of DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in LVT treatment.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
Systematic search of studies evaluating DOACs versus VKAs use in patients with LVT was performed on May 11th, 2021. Data were pooled by meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Odds ratios (OR) with relative 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as measures of effect estimates. The primary efficacy and safety endpoint were ischemic stroke and any bleeding, respectively. Secondary endpoints were LVT resolution, systemic embolism, major bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, and all cause death.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
Twenty studies were included in the meta-analysis: 1,391 patients were treated with DOACs and 1,534 with VKAs. A significant reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke (OR 0.67, 95% CI, 0.45-0.98, P = 0.048, number needed to treat to benefit [NNTB] 22 [95% CI 15-43]) and any bleeding (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46-0.89, P = 0.009, NNTB 26 [95% CI 16-80]) was observed with DOACs compared to VKAs. No statistically significant difference was observed among the two treatment arms for the secondary endpoints.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared to VKAs, DOACs are associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke and bleeding. In light of these findings, and the practical advantages of DOACs, additional large scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the benefits of DOACs in patients with LVT.
Francesco Cannata, Mauro Chiarito, Giuseppe Pinto, Alessandro Villaschi, Jorge Sanz‐Sánchez, Fabio Fazzari, Damiano Regazzoli, Antonio Mangieri, Renato M. Bragato, Antonio Colombo,et al.
Wiley
AIMS
Aortic stenosis (AS) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA) are typical diseases of the elderly. Up to 16% of older adults with severe AS referred to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have a concomitant diagnosis of CA. CA-AS population suffers from reduced functional capacity and worse prognosis than AS patients. As the prognostic impact of TAVR in patients with CA-AS has been historically questioned and in light of recently published evidence, we aim to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the efficacy and safety of TAVR in CA-AS patients.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies: (i) evaluating mortality with TAVR as compared with medical therapy in CA-AS patients and (ii) reporting complications and clinical outcomes of TAVR in CA-AS patients as compared with patients with AS alone. A total of seven observational studies were identified: four reported mortality with TAVR, and four reported complications and clinical outcomes after TAVR of patients with CA-AS compared with AS alone patients. In patients with CA-AS, the risk of mortality was lower with TAVR (n = 44) as compared with medical therapy (n = 36) [odds ratio (OR) 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.73, I2 = 0%, P = 0.001, number needed to treat = 3]. The safety profile of TAVR seems to be similar in patients with CA-AS (n = 75) as compared with those with AS alone (n = 536), with comparable risks of stroke, vascular complications, life-threatening bleeding, acute kidney injury, and 30 day mortality, although CA-AS was associated with a trend towards an increased risk of permanent pacemaker implantation (OR 1.76, 95% CI 0.91-4.09, I2 = 0%, P = 0.085). CA is associated with a numerically higher rate of long-term mortality and rehospitalizations following TAVR in patients with CA-AS as compared with those with AS alone.
CONCLUSIONS
TAVR is an effective and safe procedure in CA-AS patients, with a substantial survival benefit as compared with medical therapy, and a safety profile comparable with patients with AS alone except for a trend towards higher risk of permanent pacemaker implantation.
Antonio Mangieri, Alessandro Sticchi, Aisha Gohar, Damiano Regazzoli, Fabio Fazzari, Daniela Pini, Marta Pellegrino, Beniamino Pagliaro, Ferdinando Loiacono, Mauro Chiarito,et al.
IMR Press
Fabio Fazzari, Francesco Cannata, Matteo Maurina, Renato Maria Bragato, and Marco Francone
IMR Press
Fabio Fazzari, Ottavia Cozzi, Matteo Maurina, Valeria Donghi, Eleonora Indolfi, Mirko Curzi, Pier Pasquale Leone, Francesco Cannata, Giulio G. Stefanini, Arturo Chiti,et al.
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Aims Currently, there are few available data regarding a possible role for subclinical atherosclerosis as a risk factor for mortality in Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) patients. We used coronary artery calcium (CAC) score derived from chest computed tomography (CT) scan to assess the in-hospital prognostic role of CAC in patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods Electronic medical records of patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) were excluded. A CAC score was calculated for each patient and was used to categorize them into one of four groups: 0, 1–299, 300–999 and at least 1000. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality for any cause. Results The final population consisted of 282 patients. Fifty-seven patients (20%) died over a follow-up time of 40 days. The presence of CAC was detected in 144 patients (51%). Higher CAC score values were observed in nonsurvivors [median: 87, interquartile range (IQR): 0.0–836] compared with survivors (median: 0, IQR: 0.0–136). The mortality rate in patients with a CAC score of at least 1000 was significantly higher than in patients without coronary calcifications (50 vs. 11%) and CAC score 1–299 (50 vs. 23%), P < 0.05. After adjusting for clinical variables, the presence of any CAC categories was not an independent predictor of mortality; however, a trend for increased risk of mortality was observed in patients with CAC of at least 1000. Conclusion The correlation between CAC score and COVID-19 is fascinating and under-explored. However, in multivariable analysis, the CAC score did not show an additional value over more robust clinical variables in predicting in-hospital mortality. Only patients with the highest atherosclerotic burden (CAC ≥1000) could represent a high-risk population, similarly to patients with known CAD.
Fabio Fazzari, Riccardo Mantovani, Valeria Donghi, Mirko Curzi, and Renato Maria Bragato
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Fabio Fazzari, Stefano Figliozzi, Renato Maria Bragato, and Lorenzo Monti
Oxford University Press (OUP)
F. Cannatà, Jorge Sanz-Sánchez, Ottavia Cozzi, M. Briani, L. Bertoldi, F. Fazzari, G. Ferrante, E. Corrada, R. Bragato, G. Stefanini,et al.
Acute mitral regurgitation is a life-threatening pathology. Nowadays, percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip device offers, in selected patients, a safe and effective therapeutic alternative to open surgery. Hereby, we report the case of an 82-year-old woman with lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction determining severe acute mitral regurgitation, who was treated with an urgent MitraClip procedure. Moreover, we discuss echocardiographic assessment of acute mitral regurgitation and we review available literature and possible management of this complex scenario.
Matteo Maurina, Alessandro Villaschi, Carlo Andrea Pivato, Antonio Mangieri, Mauro Chiarito, Letizia Bertoldi, Martina Briani, Fabio Fazzari, Bernhard Reimers, Damiano Regazzoli,et al.
OAE Publishing Inc.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with morbidity and mortality due to cerebral or systemic embolization, with cardiac thrombi mainly forming in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Anticoagulation is the treatment of choice; however, in patients who do not tolerate anticoagulation, LAA occlusion (LAAO) is a valid alternative. Over the last decade, many different LAAO devices have been developed and tested in trials, providing good clinical results. The purpose of this paper is to make an overview of the current state of the art of LAAO procedure, with a focus on available devices and future perspectives.
Pier Pasquale Leone, Fabio Fazzari, Francesco Cannata, Jorge Sanz-Sanchez, Antonio Mangieri, Lorenzo Monti, Ottavia Cozzi, Giulio Giuseppe Stefanini, Renato Bragato, Antonio Colombo,et al.
Frontiers Media SA
Prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM) is present when the effective area of a prosthetic valve inserted into a patient is inferior to that of a normal human valve; the hemodynamic consequence of a valve too small compared with the size of the patient's body is the generation of higher than expected transprosthetic gradients. Despite evidence of increased risk of short- and long-term mortality and of structural valve degeneration in patients with PPM after surgical aortic valve replacement, its clinical impact in patients subject to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is yet unclear. We aim to review and update on the definition and incidence of PPM after TAVI, and its prognostic implications in the overall population and in higher-risk subgroups, such as small aortic annuli or valve-in-valve procedures. Last, we will focus on the armamentarium available in order to reduce risk of PPM when planning a TAVI procedure.
Giuseppe Ferrante, Fabio Fazzari, Ottavia Cozzi, Matteo Maurina, Renato Bragato, Federico D’Orazio, Chiara Torrisi, Ezio Lanza, Eleonora Indolfi, Valeria Donghi,et al.
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Abstract Aims Whether pulmonary artery (PA) dimension and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, as assessed by chest computed tomography (CT), are associated with myocardial injury in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not known. The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors for myocardial injury and death and to investigate whether myocardial injury has an independent association with all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19. Methods and Results This is a single-centre cohort study including consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 undergoing chest CT on admission. Myocardial injury was defined as high-sensitivity troponin I &gt;20 ng/L on admission. A total of 332 patients with a median follow-up of 12 days were included. There were 68 (20.5%) deaths; 123 (37%) patients had myocardial injury. PA diameter was higher in patients with myocardial injury compared with patients without myocardial injury [29.0 (25th–75th percentile, 27–32) mm vs. 27.7 (25–30) mm, P &lt; 0.001). PA diameter was independently associated with an increased risk of myocardial injury [adjusted odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.19, P = 0.01] and death [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.17, P = 0.01]. Compared with patients without myocardial injury, patients with myocardial injury had a lower prevalence of a CAC score of zero (25% vs. 55%, P &lt; 0.001); however, the CAC score did not emerge as a predictor of myocardial injury by multivariable logistic regression. Myocardial injury was independently associated with an increased risk of death by multivariable Cox regression (adjusted HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.27–3.96, P = 0.005). Older age, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and lower PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission were other independent predictors for both myocardial injury and death. Conclusions An increased PA diameter, as assessed by chest CT, is an independent risk factor for myocardial injury and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Myocardial injury is independently associated with an approximately two-fold increased risk of death.
Gennaro Giustino, Lori B. Croft, Giulio G. Stefanini, Renato Bragato, Jeffrey J. Silbiger, Marco Vicenzi, Tatyana Danilov, Nina Kukar, Nada Shaban, Annapoorna Kini,et al.
Elsevier BV
Background
Myocardial injury is frequent among patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with a poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms of myocardial injury remain unclear and prior studies have not reported cardiovascular imaging data.
Objectives
This study sought to characterize the echocardiographic abnormalities associated with myocardial injury and their prognostic impact in patients with COVID-19.
Methods
We conducted an international, multicenter cohort study including 7 hospitals in New York City and Milan of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who had undergone transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) and electrocardiographic evaluation during their index hospitalization. Myocardial injury was defined as any elevation in cardiac troponin at the time of clinical presentation or during the hospitalization.
Results
A total of 305 patients were included. Mean age was 63 years and 205 patients (67.2%) were male. Overall, myocardial injury was observed in 190 patients (62.3%). Compared with patients without myocardial injury, those with myocardial injury had more electrocardiographic abnormalities, higher inflammatory biomarkers and an increased prevalence of major echocardiographic abnormalities that included left ventricular wall motion abnormalities, global left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction grade II or III, right ventricular dysfunction and pericardial effusions. Rates of in-hospital mortality were 5.2%, 18.6%, and 31.7% in patients without myocardial injury, with myocardial injury without TTE abnormalities, and with myocardial injury and TTE abnormalities. Following multivariable adjustment, myocardial injury with TTE abnormalities was associated with higher risk of death but not myocardial injury without TTE abnormalities.
Conclusions
Among patients with COVID-19 who underwent TTE, cardiac structural abnormalities were present in nearly two-thirds of patients with myocardial injury. Myocardial injury was associated with increased in-hospital mortality particularly if echocardiographic abnormalities were present.
Andrea Baggiano, Laura Fusini, Alberico Del Torto, Patrizia Vivona, Marco Guglielmo, Giuseppe Muscogiuri, Margherita Soldi, Chiara Martini, Enrico Fraschini, Mark G. Rabbat,et al.
MDPI AG
Stress computed tomography perfusion (Stress-CTP) and computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) are functional techniques that can be added to coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) to improve the management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). This retrospective analysis from the PERFECTION study aims to assess the impact of their availability on the management of patients with suspected CAD scheduled for invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and invasive FFR. The management plan was defined as optimal medical therapy (OMT) or revascularization and was recorded for the following strategies: cCTA alone, cCTA+FFRCT, cCTA+Stress-CTP and cCTA+FFRCT+Stress-CTP. In 291 prospectively enrolled patients, cCTA+FFRCT, cCTA+Stress-CTP and cCTA+FFRCT+Stress-CTP showed a similar rate of reclassification of cCTA findings when FFRCT and Stress-CTP were added to cCTA. cCTA, cCTA+FFRCT, cCTA+Stress-CTP and cCTA+FFRCT+Stress-CTP showed a rate of agreement versus the final therapeutic decision of 63%, 71%, 89%, 84% (cCTA+Stress-CTP and cCTA+FFRCT+Stress-CTP vs cCTA and cCTA+FFRCT: p < 0.01), respectively, and a rate of agreement in terms of the vessels to be revascularized of 57%, 64%, 74%, 71% (cCTA+Stress-CTP and cCTA+FFRCT+Stress-CTP vs cCTA and cCTA+FFRCT: p < 0.01), respectively, with an effective radiation dose (ED) of 2.9 ± 1.3 mSv, 2.9 ± 1.3 mSv, 5.9 ± 2.7 mSv, and 3.1 ± 2.1 mSv. The addition of FFRCT and Stress-CTP improved therapeutic decision-making compared to cCTA alone, and a sequential strategy with cCTA+FFRCT+Stress-CTP represents the best compromise in terms of clinical impact and radiation exposure.