HEART INTERNATIONAL – VOLUME 16, ISSUE 1 – 2022

Welcome to the latest issue of Heart International. We are delighted to bring you another excellent issue, full of the varied and expert articles that you can expect from our authors. We begin with some exciting news. We are delighted to announce that Heart International has been accepted for listing in PubMed, one of the most widely accessible […]

Despite improved treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.1 Treatment of traditional risk factors, mainly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, is the foundation of atherosclerotic risk reduction. However, a considerable residual risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) still exists despite reducing LDL cholesterol.2 Beyond traditional risk factors, other […]

As clinicians and academics, we have at least three reasons for developing a simple stepwise algorithm for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular response (RVR) in the emergency department (ED). First, AF is the most common rhythm disorder encountered by physicians, including in the acute cardiovascular care setting of the ED.1 The presentation […]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been associated with several cardiovascular disease manifestations, including acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias, heart failure, thromboembolic complications and myocardial injury.1 Myocardial injury, defined as elevation in serum cardiac troponin levels, can occur with myocarditis, stress cardiomyopathy and microvascular thrombosis, and is associated with […]

As of the publication of this article, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has affected over 400 million people around the world and caused over 6 million deaths.1 Although COVID-19 infection predominantly affects the respiratory system, studies have described a wide spectrum of cardiovascular manifestations, including asymptomatic myocardial injury, myocardial infarction and myocarditis.2 Echocardiography is an easily […]

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by cardiac pump dysfunction resulting in end-organ hypoperfusion and hypoxia.1,2 Although multiple treatment strategies have been explored in clinical trials, optimal therapy for CS is still debatable and mortality remains substantially high at around 50%.1 This need for improved treatment, together with a growing burden of patients with congestive […]

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a complex disease with several independent causes. Consequently, outcomes and response to therapy vary widely. Severe or progressive TR often results in gradual right ventricular (RV) failure and is associated with poor long-term outcomes.1 Most cases of severe TR are secondary to left-sided heart disease, pulmonary hypertension or dilated cardiomyopathy, causing tricuspid […]

Cryptogenic stroke (CS) is a brain infarction that cannot be clearly attributed to cardioembolism, large-vessel atherosclerosis or small artery disease, despite extensive clinical evaluation.1 It represents approximately one-third of all ischaemic strokes worldwide.2 Stroke represents a major public health crisis, as it is the fifth most common cause of death in the USA and a significant cause […]

Conventionally, according to the European Society of Cardiology pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) guidelines, patients with clinical heart failure and an echocardiographically measured left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of <35% are considered for CRT implantation or standard right ventricular (RV) pacing (RVP) system upgrade.1 The recommendations for CRT typically follow failure to improve after 3 […]