Michael B Hadley

• MD MPH
• Medical Doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital

p>The recent publication of The Lancet Commission on pollution and health is a watershed moment for one of the greatest challenges to cardiovascular health. In this Comment article, we discuss the global burden of air pollution on cardiovascular health.</p

Nearly 3 billion people are exposed to household air pollution emitted from inefficient cooking and heating stoves, and almost the entire global population is exposed to detectable levels of outdoor air pollution from traffic, industry, and other sources. Over 3 million people die annually of ischemic heart disease or stroke attributed to air pollu...

Background Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who develop cardiac injury are reported to experience higher rates of malignant cardiac arrhythmias. However, little is known about these arrhythmias—their frequency, the underlying mechanisms, and their impact on mortality. Methods We extracted data from a registry (NCT04358029) regardi...

Distinguishing Libman-Sacks endocarditis from other valvular heart disease etiologies has important implications for management. We present a case of a 23-year-old man who presented in extremis with fever and cardiogenic shock caused by Libman-Sacks endocarditis with associated mitral valve chord rupture. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)

Background Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) following cardiovascular interventions is associated with adverse events during hospitalization and follow‐up. Mitral transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair is increasingly utilized for treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). We investigated whether SIRS following mitral transcatheter edge‐to‐edg...

The number of structural aortic valve procedures has increased significantly in recent years. Pre-procedural planning and follow-up with noninvasive testing are essential. Although cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for assessing left ventricular mass, volume, and function, it is not performed routinely in patients undergoing str...

We report the case of a 59-year-old female with a history of kappa light chain multiple myeloma. The patient underwent multiple lines of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant, with evidence of disease progression. Subsequently, a tongue mass was biopsied and pathology demonstrated a plasmacytoma. A full-body positron emission to...

We report a case of a 76-year-old male with a history of AL (lambda light chain) amyloidosis diagnosed by fat pad biopsy. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging performed in 2019 was consistent with cardiac amyloidosis (Panels A and B). The patient underwent treatment with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone and achieved partial remis...

The diagnostic evaluation of coronary artery disease is undergoing a dramatic transformation with a new focus on atherosclerotic plaque. This review details the evidence needed for effective risk stratification and targeted preventive care based on recent advances in automated measurement of atherosclerosis from coronary computed tomography angiogr...

Wildfire smoke is a rapidly growing threat to global cardiovascular health. We review the literature linking wildfire smoke exposures to cardiovascular effects. We find substantial evidence that short-term exposures are associated with key cardiovascular outcomes, including mortality, hospitalization, and acute coronary syndrome. Wildfire smoke exp...

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a common complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Significant PVL is associated with adverse prognosis, but may be challenging to assess accurately. We report the case of an 81-year-old man with shortness of breath 5 months post TAVR. Echocardiography classified PVL as either moderate or sever...

Background Environmental exposures account for a growing proportion of global mortality. Large cohort studies are needed to characterize the independent impact of environmental exposures on mortality in low-income settings. Methods We collected data on individual and environmental risk factors for a multiethnic cohort of 50,045 individuals in a lo...

Introduction: Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare coronary artery anomaly that carries 90% mortality in the first year of life when left untreated. The diagnosis of ALCAPA is rare in adulthood, and it includes a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, including sudden cardiac death (SCD). C...

More than twenty percent of all cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths are caused by air pollution — more than three million deaths every year — and these numbers will continue to rise unless the global community takes action. Nine out of ten people worldwide breathe polluted air, which disproportionately affects those living in low-resource settings....

Background Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) results in increased inflammatory markers previously associated with atrial arrhythmias. However, little is known about their incidence or specificity in COVID-19, or their association with outcomes. We determined the incidence, predictors and outcomes of atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF/AFL) in pati...

Background Idjwi, an island of approximately 220,000 people, is located in eastern DRC and functions semi-autonomously under the governance of two kings (mwamis). At more than 8 live births per woman, Idjwi has one of the highest total fertility rates (TFRs) in the world. Rapid population growth has led to widespread environmental degradation and f...