Aims: To establish a set of quality indicators (QIs) for the cardiovascular (CV) assessment and management of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery (NCS). Methods and results: The Quality Indicator Committee of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) in collaboration with Task Force members of the 2022 ESC Guidelines on CV assessment and management of patients undergoing NCS followed the ESC methodology for QI development. This included (1) identification, by constructing a conceptual framework of care, of domains of the CV assessment, and management of patients with risk factors or established cardiovascular disease (CVD) who are considered for or undergoing NCS, (2) development of candidate QIs following a systematic literature review, (3) selection of the final set of QIs using a modified Delphi method, and (4) evaluation of the feasibility of the developed QIs. In total, eight main and nine secondary QIs were selected across six domains: (1) structural framework (written policy), (2) patient education and quality of life (CV risk discussion), (3) peri-operative risk assessment (indication for diagnostic tests), (4) peri-operative risk mitigation (use of hospital therapies), (5) follow-up (post-discharge assessment), and (6) outcomes (major CV events). Conclusion: We present the 2022 ESC/ESAIC QIs for the CV assessment and management of patients with risk factors or established CVD who are considered for or are undergoing NCS y. These indicators are supported by evidence from the literature, underpinned by expert consensus, and align with the 2022 ESC Guidelines on CV assessment and management of patients undergoing NCS.

Background: Chemotherapeutic agents have many side effects; among them is cardiotoxicity. Ejection fraction fails to detect the subtle alterations of left ventricular (LV) function; that is why there is a need for a more sensitive tool. The aim is to detect subclinical LV systolic dysfunction after chemotherapeutic treatment, using NT-BNP plasma level as well as speckle tracking echo-global longitudinal strain (STE-GLS). Seventy-four asymptomatic, non-metastasizing breast cancer female patients without risk factors were included. They were assessed before and 6 weeks after taking their first chemotherapeutic session. Assessment included clinical characteristics, conventional two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, and 2D STE-GLS. Blood samples for NT-BNP plasma level were collected on both visits and were later analyzed using a Sandwich ELISA technique. Results: The median NT-proBNP almost doubled after 6 weeks of chemotherapy (73.50 vs 34.4 pg/L, p value 10% to less 15%) and all of them had a relatively higher NT-proBNP. A 2.2 relative elevation of the NT-proBNP was able to define a relative reduction of LV-GLS >15% by a 100% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity. Conclusion: The relative reduction of LV-GLS and the relative elevation of NT-proBNP were successful in defining subclinical, subtle chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity after 6 weeks of the first chemotherapeutic agent administration.

The level of evidence (LOE) grading system for European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) classifies the quality of the evidence supporting a recommendation. However, the current taxonomy does not fully consider the optimal study design necessary to establish evidence for different types of recommendations in ESC guidelines. Therefore, two separate task forces of clinical and methodological experts were appointed by the CPG Committee, with the first tasked with updating the LOE grading system for therapy and prevention and the second responsible for developing a LOE grading system for diagnosis and prediction. This report from the second of these Task Forces develops a new system for diagnostic tests and prediction models which maintains the three-level grading structure to classify the quality of the evidence but introduces new definitions specific for diagnosis and prediction. For diagnostic tests, LOE A represents conclusive evidence of adequate diagnostic ability from at least two high-quality studies. Level of evidence B represents suggestive evidence from one high-quality or at least two moderate-quality studies. Level of evidence C represents preliminary evidence not classified as A or B, including evidence from less than two moderate-quality studies, or from expert consensus. For prediction models, LOE A represents conclusive evidence of adequate predictive ability from at least one high-quality derivation and two or more external validation studies of at least moderate quality. Level of evidence B represents suggestive evidence in one or more derivation studies and one or more external validation studies of at least moderate quality. Level of evidence C represents preliminary evidence not classified as A or B, including evidence from a derivation study of at least moderate quality, but with low quality or no external validation, or a derivation study of low quality.

Although epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are scarce in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region, Lancet Global Burden of Disease estimated the prevalence of HF in the MENAT region in 2019 to be 0.78%, versus 0.71% globally. There is also a high incidence of HFpEF risk factors and co-morbidities in the region, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, anaemia and chronic kidney disease. For instance, 14.5–16.2% of adults in the region reportedly have diabetes, versus 7.0% in Europe. Together with increasing life expectancy, this may contribute towards a higher burden of HFpEF in the region than currently reported. This paper aims to describe the epidemiology and burden of HFpEF in the MENAT region, including unique risk factors and co-morbidities. It highlights challenges with diagnosing HFpEF, such as the prioritization of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the specific profile of HFpEF patients in the region and barriers to effective management associated with the healthcare system. Guidance is given on the diagnosis, prevention and management of HFpEF, including the emerging role of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors. Given the high burden of HFpEF coupled with the fact that its prevalence is likely to be underestimated, healthcare professionals need to be alert to its signs and symptoms and to manage patients accordingly. Historically, HFpEF treatments have focused on managing co-morbidities and symptoms, but new agents are now available with proven effects on outcomes in patients with HFpEF.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), established treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, exhibit cardiovascular benefits extending to heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Mechanisms contributing to HF improvement include significant weight loss, blood pressure reduction, enhanced glycaemic control, anti-inflammatory effects and potential direct cardioprotective and vascular actions. Although cardiovascular outcome trials provided initial positive signals, dedicated HFpEF trials confirmed the efficacy of GLP-1RAs in HFpEF patients with obesity and/or diabetes. In some trials, GLP-1RAs significantly improved weight, symptoms of HF and HF events. Current evidence strongly supports GLP-1RAs in patients with HFpEF and obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes. The data do not support their use solely for HF with reduced ejection fraction.