Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a type of cardiomyopathy characterized anatomically by prominent ventricular trabeculation and deep intertrabecular recesses. The mortality associated with LVNC ranges from 5% to 47%. The etiology of LVNC is yet to be fully understood, although decades have passed since its recognition as a clinical entity globally. Furthermore, critical questions, i.e., whether LVNC represents an acquired pathology or has a congenital origin and whether the reduced contractile function in LVNC patients is a cause or consequence of noncompaction, remain to be addressed. In this study, to answer some of these questions, we analyzed the clinical features of LVNC patients. Out of 9582 subjects screened for abnormal cardiac functions, 45 exhibit the characteristics of LVNC, and 1 presents right ventricular noncompaction (RVNC). We found that 40 patients show valvular regurgitation, 39 manifest reduced systolic contractions, and 46 out of the 46 present different forms of arrhythmias that are not restricted to be caused by the noncompact myocardium. This retrospective examination of LVNC patients reveals some novel findings: LVNC is associated with regurgitation in most patients and arrhythmias in all patients. The thickness ratio of the trabecular layer to compact layer negatively correlates with fractional shortening, and reduced contractility might result from LVNC. This study adds evidence to support a congenital origin of LVNC that might benefit the diagnosis and subsequent characterization of LVNC patients.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a critical condition resulting from impaired blood pumping, leading to fluid accumulation. While calcium plays a vital role in skeletal health and muscle contraction, its potential in preventing CHF remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between calcium intake and the risk of CHF using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2003 and 2018. After completing the questionnaire, participants were classified into CHF and control groups, with calcium intake considered as the primary exposure variable, alongside categorical factors such as age and race. Statistical analyses included t-tests and chi-square tests. A subsequent risk stratification analysis assessed the impact of various covariates on CHF. Additionally, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was applied to identify optimal predictor variables, and model performance was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. A total of 3,083 participants were included in the study. Baseline characteristics revealed significant differences in race (p = 0.004), education (p = 0.019), fasting glucose (p = 0.047), and calcium intake (p = 0.020) between the CHF and control groups. In model 3, calcium intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CHF (p < 0.001, OR = 6.37 × 10^-4, 95% CI = 1.47 × 10^-4 - 1.13 × 10^-3), acting as a protective factor (OR < 1, 95% CI = 1 × 10^-6 - 1 × 10^-5). LASSO regression further identified calcium intake as a predictor variable. Calcium intake serves as a protective factor against CHF, potentially lowering its risk. These findings provide theoretical support for the prevention and diagnosis of CHF.