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  • Cardiovascular rehabilitation in patients aged 70-year-old or older: benefits on functional capacity, physical activity and metabolic profile in younger vs. older patients
    Publication . Fontes-Oliveira, Marta; Trêpa, Maria; Rodrigues, Patrícia; Preza-Fernandes; Magalhães, Sandra; Cabral, Sofia; Santos, Mario; Torres, Severo
    Background: The benefits of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) programs in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients have been demonstrated. Our aim was to assess the impact of EBCR in ≥ 70-years-old vs. younger post-AMI patients. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent a supervised EBCR protocol, twice a week during 6-12 weeks. We evaluated changes in several outcomes based on pre- and post-CRP assessments. Results: Of a total of 1607 patients, 333 (21%) were ≥ 70-years-old. After the EBCR, an overall improvement on functional capacity, daily physical activity, lipid profile, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and C-reactive protein was observed in both younger and older patients (P < 0.05). Older patients showed a smaller benefit on the increment of daily physical activity and lipid profile improvement, but a larger reduction in NT-pro-BNP. In the multivariate analysis, only improvements on daily physical activity and HbA1c were dependent on age. Conclusion: As their younger counterparts, older patients, significantly improved functional capacity, metabolic parameters and level of daily physical activity after EBCR.
  • Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventriculo-arterial Coupling: Clinical Correlates and Prognostic Impact in Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
    Publication . Bragança, Bruno; Trêpa, Maria; Baggen Santos, Raquel; Silveira, Inês; Fontes-Oliveira, Marta; Sousa, Maria João; Hipólito-Reis, António; Torres, Severo; Santos, Mario
    Background: Right ventriculo-arterial coupling (RV-PA) can be estimated by echocardiography using the ratio between tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and it has prognostic value in the general heart failure (HF) population. We aimed to study the clinical correlates and prognostic value of RV-PA in HF patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods: We retrospectively studied 70 HF patients undergoing CRT implantation. Results: RV-PA coupling was estimated by TAPSE/PASP ratio using baseline echocardiography. Non-response to CRT was defined as improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction < 5% in a follow-up echo 6-12 months after CRT. Those with lower TAPSE/PASP ratios (worse RV-PA coupling) had higher NT-proBNP concentrations and increased E/e' ratio. TAPSE/PASP ratio and PASP, but not TAPSE, predicted nonresponse to CRT with TAPSE/PASP ratio showing the best discriminative ability with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 71%. Among these parameters, PASP independently predicted all-cause mortality. Conclusions: RV-PA coupling estimated by TAPSE/PASP ratio was associated with established prognostic markers in HF. It numerically outperformed PASP and TAPSE in predicting the response to CRT. Our data suggest that this simple and widely available echocardiographic parameter conveys significant pathophysiological and prognostic meaning in HF patients undergoing CRT.
  • Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality after Recovered Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Patients with Proven Significant Coronary Artery Disease: A Retrospective Study
    Publication . Trêpa, Maria; Bastos, Samuel; Fontes-Oliveira, Marta; Costa, Ricardo; Dias-Frias, André; Luz, André; Dias, Vasco; Santos, Mario; Torres, Severo
    Introduction: Recovered Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (rOHCA) population is heterogenous. Few studies focused on outcomes in the rOHCA subgroup with proven significant coronary artery disease (SigCAD). We aimed to characterize this subgroup and study the determinants of in-hospital mortality. Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive rOHCA patients submitted to coronary angiography. Only patients with SigCAD were included. Results: 60 patients were studied, 85% were male, mean age was 62.6 ± 12.1 years. In-hospital mortality rate was 43.3%. Patients with diabetes and history of stroke were less likely to survive. Significant univariate predictors of in-hospital mortality were further analysed separately, according to whether they were present at hospital admission or developed during hospital evolution. At hospital admission, initial non-shockable rhythm, low-flow time>12min, pH<7.25mmol/L and lactates >4.75mmol/L were the most relevant predictors and therefore included in a score tested by Kaplan-Meyer. Patients who had 0/4 criteria had 100% chance of survival till hospital discharge, 1/4 had 77%, 2/4 had 50%, 3/4 had 25%. Patients with all 4 criteria had 0% survival. During in-hospital evolution, a pH<7.35 at 24h, lactates>2mmol/L at 24h, anoxic brain injury and persistent hemodynamic instability proved significant. Patients who had 0/4 of these in-hospital criteria had 100% chance of survival till hospital discharge, 1/4 had 94%, 2/4 had 47%, 3/4 had 25%. Patients with all 4 criteria had 0% survival. Contrarily, CAD severity and ventricular dysfunction didn't significantly correlate to the outcome. Conclusion: Classic prehospital variables retain their value in predicting mortality in the specific group of OHCA with SigCAD. In-hospital evolution variables proved to add value in mortality prediction. Combining these simple variables in risk scores might help refining prognostic prediction in these patients's subset.