Background: Sepsis survivors are at risk of developing myocardial infarction and heart failure. It remains unclear whether coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major contributor to the development of these complications. This study sought to characterize the burden and distribution of significant CAD in sepsis survivors. Methods: Sepsis survivors who underwent computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) or invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in a UK tertiary cardiac center for suspected ischemic heart disease were retrospectively studied. Results: Of the 30 sepsis survivors (age 57 ± 12 years; 50% males), 21 patients underwent CTCA and 9 patients underwent ICA a median 39 days [IQR 12–152] from the sepsis episode. Eight patients (~27%) had angiographically significant CAD (n = 6 severe [>70%] stenosis; n = 2 moderate [50–70%] stenosis). The CT coronary calcium score was higher in patients with significant CAD compared to patients without significant CAD (638 [368–1015] vs. 4 [1–72]; p < 0.001). Of the 8 patients with significant CAD, 3 patients had LV systolic dysfunction (38%) on echocardiography and 8/21 (38%) patients without significant CAD had LV systolic dysfunction (p = 1.00). Long-term adverse complications (all-cause mortality and/or heart failure hospitalization) occurred 3/8 (38%) patients with significant CAD and 4/22 (18%) patients without significant CAD (p = 0.345). Conclusions: A minority of sepsis survivors have significant CAD. The presence of significant CAD cannot fully explain the occurrence of post-sepsis LV systolic dysfunction and adverse outcomes. The ischemic and non-ischemic mechanisms underlying post-sepsis cardiovascular disease require further investigation.

Background: Post-sepsis cardiomyopathy is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. It remains poorly understood, which limits therapeutic development. This study characterised post-sepsis cardiomyopathy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Methods: Patients admitted with acute sepsis and suspected cardiac injury or heart failure who subsequently (47 days [IQR: 22–122]) underwent CMR at a UK tertiary cardiac centre were included. Age- and gender-matched controls (n = 16) were also included. Subjects underwent CMR at 1.5 Tesla with cines, native T1- and T2-mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Results: Of the 22 post-sepsis patients (age 50 ± 13 years; 64% males), 13 patients (59%) had left ventricular (LV) dilatation. Patients had significantly elevated left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indices compared to controls (p = 0.011 and p = 0.013, respectively). Eleven patients (50%) had LV systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%), most of whom (8/11) had non-ischaemic patterns of LGE (n = 7 mid-wall; n = 1 mid-wall/patchy). In the eleven patients with preserved LV systolic function (ejection fraction ≥ 50%), three patients (27%) had significant LGE (n = 1 mid-wall; n = 1 subepicardial/mid-wall; n = 1 patchy). Compared to controls, patients had elevated septal native myocardial T1 values (p < 0.001) but similar septal native myocardial T2 values (p = 0.090), suggesting the presence of myocardial fibrosis without significant oedema. Conclusions: Post-sepsis cardiomyopathy is characterised by LV dilatation, systolic dysfunction, and myocardial fibrosis in a non-ischaemic distribution. Significant myocardial oedema is not prominent several weeks post-recovery. Further work is needed to test these findings on a multi-centre basis and to develop novel therapies for post-sepsis cardiomyopathy.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidemiological data demonstrate that the overlap between CVD, Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) is becoming increasingly apparent, with aging populations making these patient cohorts more difficult to treat. In the last decade, three standout drug classes have emerged with the potential to broaden the treatment options for patients with multi-morbid CVD and heart failure. These are sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), e.g., Finerenone, and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). These medications are now entering UK and European guidelines for the treatment of CVDs including HF whilst crucially providing associated prognostic benefits for patients with T2DM and CKD. The future of these agents for CVD risk stratification may involve primary care at the forefront, alongside tailored, patient-specific medication regimens. This review article aims to discuss these three main drug classes (SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1RAs and non-steroidal MRAs) in detail by exploring their current evidence base across heart failure (HF) and CVD management and future clinical implications of their usage as mainstream medical therapies.

Background: Sepsis survivors can develop left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and heart failure. These patients are often treated with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) known to be effective in patients with non-sepsis-related heart failure. This study sought to assess the use of GDMT on sepsis survivors with LVSD. Methods: Sepsis survivors with suspected myocardial injury and/or heart failure diagnosed with LVSD in a UK cardiac centre were retrospectively studied. Clinical and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) data were recorded and analysed. Results: Of the 25 sepsis survivors (age 56 ± 11 years; 52% males), 11 (44%) had LVSD (LVEF < 50%). LV end-diastolic internal diameter (LVIDd) was similar between patients with vs. without LVSD (5.2 ± 0.8 cm vs. 4.7 ± 0.8 cm; p = 0.214). Patients with LVSD had significantly greater LV end-systolic internal diameter (LVIDs) than those without LVSD (4.0 ± 1.2 cm vs. 2.8 ± 0.6 cm; p = 0.027). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was similar between the two groups (2.1 ± 0.5 cm vs. 2.2 ± 0.6 cm; p = 0.910). Of the 11 patients with LVSD, nine patients underwent repeat TTE scans after 6 months [IQR 3–9], most of whom were taking GDMT. The majority (8/9) of these patients demonstrated LV systolic functional recovery (>5% LVEF increase; mean LVEF improvement 16 ± 11%) after GDMT. Reductions were seen in LVIDd (5.3 ± 0.8 cm to 5.0 ± 0.7 cm) and LVIDs (4.1 ± 1.2 cm to 3.7 ± 0.8 cm) after GDMT, though these changes did not reach statistical significance (both p > 0.05). Conclusions: GDMT appears beneficial in sepsis survivors with LV dysfunction. This finding should be validated on a larger and multi-centre basis to further affirm the value of medical therapy in post-sepsis heart failure.

Background/Objectives: Survivors of sepsis can develop left ventricular (LV) systolic function with focal myocardial fibrosis. The relationship between diffuse myocardial fibrosis or oedema and LV systolic function remains unknown in this patient cohort. This study sought to address this knowledge gap using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parametric mapping methods. Methods: Sepsis survivors who underwent CMR at a UK cardiac centre were included. CMR images analysed include cines, native T1-mapping, native T2-mapping, and post-contrast T1-mapping. Synthetic extracellular volume (ECV) fraction was also estimated. Native myocardial T1 values, native myocardial T2 values, and ECV values were compared against LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Results: Of the 37 sepsis survivors (age 53 ± 16 years old; 57% males), the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 55% (IQR 43–62), and 43% of the patients had LV systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 50%). Mean native myocardial T1 values were 1055 ± 65 ms (septal) and 1051 ± 60 ms (global). Mean synthetic ECV values were 0.30 ± 0.04. Mean native myocardial T2 values were 52 ± 7 ms (septal) and 53 ± 6 ms (global). Septal and global native myocardial T1 values were not significantly correlated with LVEF (rho = 0.080, p = 0.637; rho = 0.036, p = 0.831, respectively). Synthetic ECV was not significantly correlated to LVEF (rho = −0.082; p = 0.723). Septal and global native myocardial T2 values were weakly correlated with LVEF (rho = 0.261, p = 0.281; rho = 0.216, p = 0.375, respectively). On ROC analysis, the performance of native myocardial T1 values, ECV, and native myocardial T2 values for predicting LV dysfunction was modest (AUC: 0.53 ± 0.10, 0.54 ± 11, and 0.68 ± 0.14; all p > 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: CMR markers of diffuse myocardial fibrosis (native T1-mapping and ECV) and myocardial oedema (native T2-mapping) have weak relationships with left ventricular systolic function in this study cohort of sepsis survivors. Further work is needed to better assess the role of diffuse myocardial fibrosis and oedema in the pathophysiology of post-sepsis cardiomyopathy.

Background and aim:Simulation based learning is becoming an increasingly important focus across medical curricula internationally [1]. The need for medical students to be both theoretically and practically competent is essential in the transition to becoming a successful junior doctor. High technology driven manikin simulations are useful, however access is limited by lack of equipment, finance, and training. In district general hospitals this restricts junior doctors’ exposure to teaching and students’ access to a diversity of cases. Utilizing junior doctors as Near Peer Tutors (NPTs) provides a real life equivalent to the simulation experience that comes closer to exposing trainees to the realities of hospital life as an on-call doctor [2].Methods:A 6-week programme originally designed in a separate NHS Trust was adapted and streamlined with improvements made to data collection, labour division and content delivery. Ten simulation sessions across two district general hospitals ran from 18/10/22 to 21/04/23 with 37 medical students and 8 NPTs. Each week focused on typical, in-hospital scenarios commonly faced by junior doctors. A self-assessment confidence survey and digital knowledge quiz was undertaken on the weekly topic followed by a 10-minute, high yield, interactive lecture delivered by a NPT. Students were split into groups of two and each group assessed the ‘acutely unwell patient’ with an ‘ABCDE’ styled approach to diagnosis and management. The NPT actor simulated improvement or decline based on the management decisions of the students. A STOP5 hot debrief ran at the end to give constructive feedback and promote discussion [3].Results:Self-assessment confidence scores by medical students were quantified against a 4-point Likert confidence scale. The students’ confidence rating improved by an average of 0.65 units (average pre-teaching = 2.40, average post-teaching = 3.05) (p<0.00001). Following the session, 35/37 students described themselves as ‘quite confident’ managing an emergency scenario compared with 13/37 prior to the session. Thematic analysis of the perceived benefit by students highlighted 3 main areas; an opportunity to engage in practical scenarios, utilization of A-E assessments, and the benefits of real-life actors. Students enjoyed the ‘informal setting’, ‘life like’ encounters, and expressed they would like to attend additional specialty specific sessions.Conclusion:NPT centred medical simulation in a low-cost environment is a compelling method of engaging junior doctors as teachers and equipping medical students with the skills to become future on-call doctors. We encourage the implementation of similar programmes alongside medical school curricula to supplement preparation for practice.Ethics statement:Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.