Asymptomatic Brugada – A Silent Danger
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Risk stratification of patients with asymptomatic Brugada remains a clinical dilemma and makes expectant guidance difficult. This article has demonstrated the highest risk of arrythmia in those with spontaneous type-1 BrECG (Brugada ECG) as compared to those with drug-induced-only BrECG.
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Asymptomatic Patients With Brugada ECG Pattern: Long-Term Prognosis From a Large Prospective Study. Circulation. 2023 Nov 14;148(20):1543-1555. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.064689. Epub 2023 Oct 13.
How to Lower Your Mortality (And Your Patients) – One Step at a Time
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There is a nonlinear inverse dose-response trend between daily step count and all-cause death and cardiovascular disease, with progressive risk reductions starting at as few as 2500 to 2700 steps/day, independent of sex. Walking faster provided additive health benefits.
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Relationship of Daily Step Counts to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Oct 10;82(15):1483-1494. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.07.029. Epub 2023 Sep 6.
Can We Simplify a HEART Score to a HET Score?
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Both the HEART- and HET-score (using history, ECG changes, and high-sensitivity troponin) performed similarly when risk-stratifying ACS rule-out patients, but the HET-score had higher overall diagnostic accuracy.
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HEART-score can be simplified without loss of discriminatory power in patients with chest pain - Introducing the HET-score. Am J Emerg Med. 2023 Oct 1;74:104-111. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.09.037. Epub ahead of print.
Loperamide (Imodium) and Mitragynine (Kratom) and Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmia
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Loperamide, an over-the-counter antidiarrheal opiate, and mitragynine (kratom) are both associated with ventricular arrhythmia and death.
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Ventricular Arrhythmias Associated With Over-the-Counter and Recreational Opioids. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Jun 13;81(23):2258-2268. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.009.
STREAM-2 RCT | Half-Dose Tenecteplase for STEMI
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The STREAM-2 trial found half-dose tenecteplase was effective in treating STEMI patients ≥60, though with increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage.
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STREAM-2: Half-Dose Tenecteplase or Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Older Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized, Open-Label Trial. Circulation. 2023 Aug 29;148(9):753-764. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.064521. Epub 2023 Jul 13.
AHA Guideline | 10 Tips Life-Threatening Toxicity From Poisoning
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Here are ten tips from the AHA for the next super-sick poisoned patient you encounter.
New DOAC Score Outperforms HAS-BLED for Major Bleeding
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The new DOAC score had stronger predictive performance for major bleeding in patients on anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (A-fib) compared to the HAS BLED score.
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Development and Validation of the DOAC Score: A Novel Bleeding Risk Prediction Tool for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation on Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants. Circulation. 2023 Sep 19;148(12):936-946. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.064556. Epub 2023 Aug 25.
How to Spot Ischemia in RBBB Patients
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In non-ischemic right bundle branch block (RBBB) ECGs, we expect discordant ST depression and T wave inversions in leads V1-V3. ST segment elevation, or even an isoelectric ST segment, in these leads is abnormal and should make us concerned for ischemia. See below.
Recalibrating…HEART Score with High-Sensitivity Troponin T
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A recalibrated HEART score ≤ 3 utilizing hs-cTnT ruled out MACE (adjudicated type 1 MI, unplanned coronary revascularization, and all cause death) at 30 days at a sensitivity of 98.5% and NPV of 99.7% with the ability to discharge 46.5% of patients in this cohort.
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HEART Score Recalibration Using Higher Sensitivity Troponin T. Annals of emergency medicine, S0196-0644(23)00313-X. 10 Jun. 2023, doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.04.024
DOACS Better than Warfarin in A-fib Even in CKD Patients
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Analysis of multiple prior RCTs finds direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) have improved safety and efficacy vs. warfarin in atrial fibrillation (AF) even as renal function decreases to as low as 25 mL/min.
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Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin Across the Spectrum of Kidney Function: Patient-Level Network Meta-Analyses From COMBINE AF. Circulation. 2023 Jun 6;147(23):1748-1757. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.062752. Epub 2023 Apr 12.