Publications (22) View all
-
Article: Right ventricular function and survival following cardiac resynchronisation therapy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic marker in heart failure. However, its impact on all-cause mortality following cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) independent of confounding factors has not been evaluated. Furthermore, evidence concerning the effect of CRT on RV function is limited. The study's aims were to: (1) assess the prognostic importance of RV function among CRT recipients, and (2) characterise RV functional change following CRT and its determinants. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Single tertiary centre. PATIENTS: A total of 848 CRT recipients (median age 65 years, 78% male, 60% ischaemic) underwent echocardiography before and 6 months after CRT. RV function was evaluated using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), with a ≤14 mm threshold indicating severe RV impairment. The primary endpoint was long-term all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Significant baseline RV dysfunction was observed in 286 (34%) individuals. After a median 44 months, 288 deaths occurred. RV impairment was associated with a greater incidence of all-cause mortality (log-rank p<0.001). Independent predictors of this endpoint were functional class, ischaemic aetiology, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, renal dysfunction, bigger left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume, less LV dyssynchrony and reduced TAPSE. Importantly, TAPSE added prognostic value to these recognised prognostic parameters (likelihood-ratio test p<0.001). Furthermore, improvement in RV function after CRT was independent of the improvement in LV systolic function but significantly associated with the improvement in LV diastolic function. Importantly, a favourable RV functional response to CRT was associated with superior survival. CONCLUSIONS: RV function is an independent predictor of long-term outcome following CRT.Heart (British Cardiac Society) 01/2013; · 4.22 Impact Factor -
Article: Influence of Diabetes on Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function and on Long-Term Outcome After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE The influence of diabetes on cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains unclear. The aims of the current study were to 1) assess the changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function and 2) evaluate long-term prognosis in CRT recipients with diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA total of 710 CRT recipients (171 with diabetes) were included from an ongoing registry. Echocardiographic evaluation, including LV systolic and diastolic function assessment, was performed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Response to CRT was defined as a reduction of ≥15% in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) at the 6-month follow-up. During long-term follow-up (median = 38 months), all-cause mortality (primary end point) and cardiac death or heart failure hospitalization (secondary end point) were recorded.RESULTSAt the 6-month follow-up, significant LV reverse remodeling was observed both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. However, the response to CRT occurred more frequently in non-diabetic patients than in diabetic patients (57 vs. 45%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant improvement in LV diastolic function was observed both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, but was more pronounced in non-diabetic patients. The determinants of the response to CRT among diabetic patients were LV dyssynchrony, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and insulin use. Both primary and secondary end points were more frequent in diabetic patients (P < 0.001). Particularly, diabetes was independently associated with all-cause mortality together with ischemic cardiomyopathy, renal function, LVESV, LV dyssynchrony, and LV diastolic dysfunction.CONCLUSIONS Heart failure patients with diabetes exhibit significant improvements in LV systolic and diastolic function after CRT, although they are less pronounced than in non-diabetic patients. Diabetes was independently associated with all-cause mortality.Diabetes care 12/2012; · 8.09 Impact Factor -
Article: Primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator treatment: how to identify patients most likely to benefit?
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy 10/2012; 10(10):1197-9. -
Article: The mode of death in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator patients: Results from routine clinical practice.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Although data on the mode of death of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) patients have been examined in randomized clinical trials, in routine clinical practice data are scarce. To provide reasonable expectations and prognosis for patients and physicians, this study assessed the mode of death in routine clinical practice. To assess the mode of death in ICD/CRT-D recipients in routine clinical practice. All patients who underwent an ICD or CRT-D implantation at the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands, between 1996 and 2010 were included. Patients were divided into primary prevention ICD, secondary prevention ICD, and CRT-D patients. For patients who died during follow-up, the mode of death was retrieved from hospital and general practitioner records and categorized according to a predetermined classification: heart failure death, other cardiac death, sudden death, noncardiac death, and unknown death. A total of 2859 patients were included in the analysis. During a median follow-up of 3.4 years (interquartile range 1.7-5.7 years), 107 (14%) primary prevention ICD, 253 (28%) secondary prevention ICD, and 302 (25%) CRT-D recipients died. The 8-year cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was 39.9% (95% confidence interval 37.0%-42.9%). Heart failure death and noncardiac death were the most common modes of death for all groups. Sudden death accounted for approximately 7%-8% of all deaths. For all patients, heart failure and noncardiac death are the most common modes of death. The proportion of patients who died suddenly was low and comparable for primary and secondary ICD and CRT-D patients.Heart rhythm: the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society 04/2012; 9(10):1605-12. · 4.56 Impact Factor -
Article: Update on small-diameter implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads performance.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The performance of small diameter implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads is questionable. However, data on performance during long-term follow-up are scarce. The aim of this study is to provide an update for the lead failure and cardiac perforation rate of Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis ICD lead (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) and St. Jude Medical's Riata ICD lead (St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA). Since 1996, all ICD system implantations at the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands, are registered. For this study, data up to February 2011 on 396 Sprint Fidelis leads (follow-up 3.4 ± 1.5 years), 165 8-French (F) Riata leads (follow-up 4.6 ± 2.6 years), and 30 7-F Riata leads (follow-up 2.9 ± 1.3 years) were compared with a benchmark cohort of 1,602 ICD leads (follow-up 3.4 ± 2.7 years) and assessed for the occurrence of lead failure and cardiac perforation. During follow-up, the yearly lead failure rate of the Sprint Fidelis lead, 7-F Riata lead, 8-F Riata lead, and the benchmark cohort was 3.54%, 2.28%, 0.78%, and 1.14%, respectively. In comparison to the benchmark cohort, the adjusted hazard ratio of lead failure was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4-5.7, P < 0.001) for the Sprint Fidelis lead and 4.2 (95% CI 1.0-18.0, P < 0.05) for the 7-F Riata lead. One cardiac perforation was observed (3.3%) in the 7-F Riata group versus none in the 8-F Riata and Sprint Fidelis lead population. The current update demonstrates that the risk of lead failure during long-term follow-up is significantly increased for both the Sprint Fidelis and the 7-F Riata lead in comparison to the benchmark cohort. Only one cardiac perforation occurred.Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology 02/2012; 35(6):652-8. · 1.35 Impact Factor
