Background: No data exist about the characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) according to transcatheter valve type. We aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with IE post-TAVR treated with balloon-expandable valve (BEV) versus self-expanding valve (SEV) systems. Methods: Data from the multicenter Infectious Endocarditis After TAVR International Registry was used to compare IE patients with BEV versus SEV. Results: A total of 245 patients with IE post-TAVR were included (SEV, 47%; BEV, 53%). The timing between TAVR and IE was similar between groups (SEV, 5.5 [1.2–15] months versus BEV, 5.3 [1.7–11.4] months; P =0.89). Enterococcal IE was more frequent in the SEV group (36.5% versus 15.4%; P <0.01), and vegetation location differed according to valve type (stent frame, SEV, 18.6%; BEV, 6.9%; P =0.01; valve leaflet, SEV, 23.9%; BEV, 38.5%; P =0.01). BEV recipients had a higher rate of stroke/systemic embolism (20.0% versus 8.7%, adjusted OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.04–5.82, P =0.04). Surgical explant of the transcatheter valve (SEV, 8.7%; BEV, 13.8%; P =0.21), and in-hospital death at the time of IE episode (SEV, 35.6%; BEV, 37.7%; P =0.74) were similar between groups. After a mean follow-up of 13±12 months, 59.1% and 54.6% of the SEV and BEV recipients, respectively, had died ( P =0.66). Conclusions: The characteristics of IE post-TAVR, including microorganism type, vegetation location, and embolic complications but not early or late mortality, differed according to valve type. These results may help to guide the diagnosis and management of IE and inform future research studies in the field.

There is limited evidence that supports the use of the global longitudinal strain (GLS) in long-term cardiac monitoring of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors (CLSs). Our aim was to assess the utility of automated GLS to detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in long-term CLSs. Asymptomatic and subclinical LVSD were defined as LVEF < 50% and GLS < 18.5%, respectively. Echocardiographic measurements and biomarkers were compared with a control group. Inverse probability weighting was used to reduce confounding. Regression models were used to identify factors associated with LVEF and GLS in the survivors. Ninety survivors with a median follow-up of 18 (11–26) years were included. The prevalence of LVSD was higher using GLS than with LVEF (26.6% vs. 12.2%). The measurements were both reduced as compared with the controls (p < 0.001). There were no differences in diastolic parameters and NT-ProBNP. Survivors were more likely to have Hs-cTnI levels above the detection limit (40% vs. 17.2%, p = 0.006). The dose of anthracycline was associated with LVEF but not with GLS in the survivors. Biomarkers were not associated with GLS or LVEF. In conclusion, LVSD detection using automated GLS was higher than with LVEF in long-term CLSs. Its incorporation into clinical routine practice may improve the surveillance of these patients.

Background: Worsening heart failure (WFH) includes heart failure (HF) hospitalisation, representing a strong predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, there is little evidence analysing the impact of the number of previous HF admissions. Our main objective was to analyse the clinical profile according to the number of previous admissions for HF and its prognostic impact in the medium and long term. Methods: A retrospective study of a cohort of patients with HFrEF, classified according to previous admissions: cohort-1 (0–1 previous admission) and cohort-2 (≥2 previous admissions). Clinical, echocardiographic and therapeutic variables were analysed, and the medium- and long-term impacts in terms of hospital readmissions and cardiovascular mortality were assessed. A total of 406 patients were analysed. Results: The mean age was 67.3 ± 12.6 years, with male predominance (73.9%). Some 88.9% (361 patients) were included in cohort-1, and 45 patients (11.1%) were included in cohort-2. Cohort-2 had a higher proportion of atrial fibrillation (49.9% vs. 73.3%; p = 0.003), chronic kidney disease (36.3% vs. 82.2%; p < 0.001), and anaemia (28.8% vs. 53.3%; p = 0.001). Despite having similar baseline ventricular structural parameters, cohort-1 showed better reverse remodelling. With a median follow-up of 60 months, cohort-1 had longer survival free of hospital readmissions for HF (37.5% vs. 92%; p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (26.2% vs. 71.9%; p < 0.001), with differences from the first month. Conclusions: Patients with HFrEF and ≥2 previous admissions for HF have a higher proportion of comorbidities. These patients are associated with worse reverse remodelling and worse medium- and long-term prognoses from the early stages, wherein early identification is essential for close follow-up and optimal intensive treatment.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the mayor contributors to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated to reduce the risk of hospitalization for HF in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We aimed to assess the risk for re-hospitalization in a cohort of patients hospitalized for HF according to whether or not they received canagliflozin at discharge, as well as changes in N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) concentration during follow-up. Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study at a tertiary centre including 102 consecutive T2D patients discharged for acute HF without contraindication for SGLT2 inhibitors. We compared adverse clinical events (HF rehospitalization and cardiovascular death) and NT-ProBNP changes according to canagliflozin prescription at discharge. Results: Among the 102 patients included, 45 patients (44.1%) were prescribed canagliflozin and the remaining 57 (55.9%) were not prescribed any SGLT2 inhibitors (control group). After a median follow-up of 22 months, 45 patients (44.1%) were hospitalized for HF. Most of the rehospitalizations occurred during the first year (37.3%). HF readmission at first year occurred in 10 patients (22.2%) in the canagliflozin group and 29 patients (49.1%) in the control group (hazard ratio (HR): 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.96; p < 0.039). A composite outcome of hospitalization for HF or death from cardiovascular causes was lower in the canagliflozin group (37.8%) than in the control group (70.2%) (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.27–0.95; p < 0.035). Analysis of NT-ProBNP concentration showed an interaction between canagliflozin therapy and follow-up time (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Canagliflozin therapy at discharge was associated with a lower risk of readmission for HF and a reduction in NT-ProBNP concentration in patients with diabetes after hospitalization for HF.

There are limited data regarding right ventricle (RV) impairment in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CLS). The aim of this study was to assess RV function in these patients using echocardiographic conventional measurements and automated RV strain. Echocardiographic recordings of 90 CLS and 58 healthy siblings from the CTOXALL cohort were analyzed. For group comparisons, inverse probability weighting was used to reduce confounding. The CLS group (24.6 ± 9.7 years, 37.8% women) underwent an echocardiographic evaluation 18 (11–26) years after the diagnosis. RV systolic dysfunction was found in 16.7% of CLS individuals using RV free-wall strain (RVFWS) compared to 2.2 to 4.4% with conventional measurements. RV systolic function measurements were lower in the CLS than in the control group: TAPSE (23.3 ± 4.0 vs. 25.2 ± 3.4, p = 0.004) and RVFWS (24.9 ± 4.6 vs. 26.8 ± 4.7, p = 0.032). Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity (p = 0.022) and smoking (p = 0.028) were independently associated with reduced RVFWS. In conclusion, RV systolic function impairment was frequent in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia, underscoring the importance of RV assessment, including RVFWS, in the cardiac surveillance of these patients.