Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal最新文献

{"title":"Multivariate and survival analysis of prognosis and surgical benefits in infective endocarditis.","authors":"Tian Xu Song, Yao Dong Sun, Bufan Zhang, Yu Xuan, Yi Ze Liu, Nai Shi Wu","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2024.2429994","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2024.2429994","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background.</i> Antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment for infective endocarditis (IE), yet up to 50% of patients still require surgical intervention. However, surgical intervention carries significant risks of mortality and complications for IE patients, and there remains a lack of consensus on which preoperative characteristics of infective endocarditis have a substantial impact on patient prognosis. Particularly, some IE patients develop periannular abscesses, leading to more severe complications. <i>Objectives.</i> The objective of our study is to identify predictors of poor outcomes in infective endocarditis and to further evaluate the impact of surgical intervention on patient prognosis, with the aim of adding value to the existing factors known to affect IE prognosis. <i>Methods.</i> In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 210 patients treated for infective endocarditis (IE) at our hospital between December 2016 and June 2023. To analyze short-term outcomes, the patients were divided into two groups based on whether they experienced poor outcomes. We compared demographic characteristics, echocardiographic findings, laboratory test results, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes between the two groups. Patients' long-term outcomes, including survival status and time of death, were assessed through follow-up, which involved telephone contact with the patient or their family. The follow-up period concluded on June 30, 2024. <i>Results.</i> The median age of the patients was 55 years, with most patients ranging from 42 to 64 years. Male patients accounted for 67.1%, and 21.4% had underlying cardiac conditions. During hospitalization, 125 out of 210 patients (59.5%) underwent surgery, with an emergency surgery rate of 6.2% and an in-hospital mortality rate of 13.8%.Regarding short-term outcomes, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that surgical treatment (OR 0.211, 95% CI 0.073-0.621) was associated with better patient prognosis. Periannular abscess (OR 4.948, 95% CI 1.005-24.349) and poorer cardiac function (NYHA II [OR 0.041, 95% CI 0.008-0.224], NYHA III [HR 0.207, 95% CI 0.057-0.757], with NYHA IV as the reference group) were significantly associated with poor prognosis in IE patients. For long-term outcomes, multivariate Cox survival analysis showed that surgical treatment (HR 0.200, 95% CI 0.091-0.437) was associated with improved long-term survival. Cerebral infarction (HR 1.939, 95% CI 1.050-3.582) and poorer cardiac function (NYHA II [HR 0.108, 95% CI 0.037-0.313], NYHA III [HR 0.308, 95% CI 0.118-0.805], with NYHA IV as the reference group) were significant factors associated with long-term mortality in IE patients. <i>Conclusions.</i> Surgical treatment was associated with improved short-term prognosis and long-term survival rates in patients with infective endocarditis. In terms of short-term outcomes, the presence of periannular abscesses and poor cardiac function were significant factor","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":"59 1","pages":"2429994"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term adherence to flecainide as a rhythm control therapy in recurrent atrial fibrillation - a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Alexander Siotis, Samuel Johansson, Claus Graff, Bjarne Madsen Hardig, Pyotr G Platonov","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2525110","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2525110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>. Flecainide is a first-line rhythm control treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), however long-term treatment outcomes are understudied. <i>Objective</i>. To investigate associations of electro- (ECG) and echocardiographic indices with safety and efficacy outcomes of long-term flecainide treatment for recurrent AF. <i>Methods</i>. Consecutive patients with AF admitted for in-hospital flecainide initiation over a 5-year period were retrospectively included (<i>n</i> = 130, age 60 ± 12 years, 65% males, 29% with persistent AF). Baseline ECGs were processed using the 12SL algorithm. P-wave duration (PWD), Deep terminal negativity of the P-wave in lead V1 (DTNP-V1), left atrial volume index (LAVI), valvular dysfunction and right ventricular fractional area change (RV-FAC) were assessed. The primary endpoint was flecainide discontinuation for any reason. Secondary endpoints were discontinuation due to rhythm control failure and rhythm-related adverse events. <i>Results</i>. After hospital discharge, 120 patients were followed for a median of 1.5 years (interquartile range 0.34-3.1). During follow-up 31% discontinued flecainide, 14% due to rhythm control failure and 10% due to rhythm-related adverse events. Flecainide discontinuation was associated with PWD ≥130 ms (HR 3.65, [1.36-9.75]), DTNP-V1 > 0.1 mV (HR 3.78, [1.15-12.4]), LAVI >48 ml/m² (HR 4.43, [2.02-9.70]), moderate mitral regurgitation (HR 4.40, [1.57-12.4]), and RV-FAC <35% (HR 2.30, [1.03-5.16]). Rhythm control failure was associated with PWD, DTNP-V1, LAVI and moderate mitral regurgitation. Rhythm-related adverse events were associated with RV-FAC, LAVI and moderate mitral regurgitation. <i>Conclusion</i>. ECG and echocardiographic indices were associated with discontinuation of flecainide, including safety and efficacy outcomes in long-term treated patients with AF.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2525110"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144476520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The efficacy of colchicine compared to placebo for preventing ischemic stroke among individuals with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Shulai Zhu, Weiwei Pan, Yingjie Yao, Kai Shi","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2024.2441112","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2024.2441112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background.</i> Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug with promising efficacy for preventing cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess the pooled effect of colchicine on ischemic stroke among patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. <i>Methods</i>. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched from the inception to August 5, 2024. A random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) model was used to conduct this meta-analysis. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (I) being a randomized controlled trial; and (II) measuring the efficacy of colchicine compared to placebo for preventing ischemic stroke among those with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. <i>Results</i>. We identified 13 eligible clinical trials with 24900 participants. Colchicine significantly decreased the risk of ischemic stroke (relative risk (RR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.72, 0.99), I²=2.92%) among those with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Colchicine was more effective when used at 0.5 mg/day (RR 0.86, 95% CI (0.75, 0.99)), prescribed for more than 30 days (RR 0.86, 95% CI (0.75, 1.00)) or for more than 90 days (RR 0.65, 95% CI (0.46, 0.92)), or administered for patients with acute coronary syndrome (RR 0.46, 95% CI (0.23, 0.92)). In addition, colchicine was more effective in studies with a sample size of more than 500 patients, consistent with sensitivity analysis, which indicated that the results relied on large-sized clinical trials. <i>Conclusion</i>. Colchicine may decrease the risk of ischemic stroke among patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, particularly after long-term use; however, future studies are needed due to inconsistencies between existing trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2441112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142847577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond anatomic predictors: unaddressed variables in pacemaker risk after TAVI.","authors":"Hakan Suygun","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2566058","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2566058","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2566058"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145131830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Outcomes following repair of acute type A aortic dissection in patients with cerebral malperfusion.","authors":"Jacob Ede, Karl Teurneau-Hermansson, Birgitta Ramgren, Marion Moseby-Knappe, Mårten Larsson, Johan Sjögren, Per Wierup, Shahab Nozohoor, Igor Zindovic","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2514742","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2514742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) presenting with cerebral malperfusion have significantly poorer postoperative outcomes, making the decision whether to perform acute surgery difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate types of neurological symptoms and radiological findings and their association with permanent neurological injury and mortality following ATAAD repair.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study. A total of 629 patients underwent ATAAD surgery between January 1998 and December 2023 at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Of these, 93 (14.7%) presented with cerebral malperfusion and constituted the study population. The primary endpoints were clinical neurological injury and 30-day mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall 30-day mortality was 25.0%. Fifty-two patients (57.1%) had persisting neurological deficit. Patients with postoperative neurological deficit had significantly higher 30-day mortality than patients without postoperative neurological deficit (37.3% vs 5.1%, <i>p</i> > 0.001<b>)</b>. Common carotid artery dissection and carotid artery occlusion were significantly more frequent in patients who developed postoperative neurological injury. Preoperative hemiparesis/hemiplegia was associated with a significant increase of persisting neurological deficits, and unconsciousness was associated with a significant increase in 30-day mortality or persisting neurological deficits. After repair, 52.2% of patients showed an improvement in their clinical neurological status.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In ATAAD patients who present with cerebral malperfusion, the risk of permanent neurological deficit and 30-day mortality is high, but a significant proportion of patients survive and more than half demonstrate an improved neurological state postoperatively.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2514742"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144209404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Percutaneous coronary intervention in nonagenarians.","authors":"Matti Riihiniemi, Jarkko Piuhola, Matti Niemelä, Fausto Biancari, Juhani Junttila","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2514880","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2514880","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Due to aging population, nonagenarians are increasingly undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the safety and efficacy of PCI in this elderly population remains somewhat unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of consecutive nonagenarians who underwent PCI at the Oulu University Hospital between 2012 and 2022. Patients (<i>n</i> = 107; mean age 91.2 ± 1.4 years; 58.9% women) were stratified into three groups based on their presentation: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) or stable coronary artery disease (CAD). One-year mortality was the primary outcome of this analysis. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital major bleeding and 1-year rates of myocardial infarction, stroke and repeat revascularisation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Majority had acute coronary syndrome, with STEMI in 35 (32.7%) and NSTEACS in 51 (47.7%) patients, while in 21 (19.6%) patients' indication was stable CAD. Early mortality was mainly related to STEMI (in-hospital mortality: STEMI 22.9% vs. NSTEACS 5.9% vs. stable CAD 0.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.011; 30-day mortality: 34.3% vs. 13.7% vs. 4.8%, respectively, <i>p</i> = 0.011). Rate of major in-hospital bleeding was 3.7%. There was no significant difference in 1-year mortality between groups (40.0% vs. 27.5% vs. 19.0%, respectively, <i>p</i> = 0.227). One-year rates for myocardial infarction, stroke and repeat revascularisation were 7.5%, 1.9% and 3.7%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Excess mortality in nonagenarians undergoing PCI is mainly related to STEMI where it is driven by early adverse events. Mortality in this study can be seen as acceptable in comparison to that in general population, supporting the use of PCI in selected nonagenarians.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2514880"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144209405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation of alcohol screening and brief interventions in cardiology: a cross-sectional study of practice in Sweden.","authors":"Paul Welfordsson, Anna-Karin Danielsson, Caroline Björck, Bartosz Grzymala-Lubanski, Kristina Hambraeus, Ida Haugen Löfman, Frieder Braunschweig, Matthias Lidin, Sara Wallhed Finn","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2533825","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2533825","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Aims</i>. To investigate rates of alcohol screening and brief interventions (SBI) in cardiology, and to examine associations between patient characteristics and the implementation of screening and brief interventions (BIs). <i>Methods</i>. Cross-sectional survey of cardiology patients (aged ≥18 years) in three towns/cities in Sweden (Falun, Gävle, Stockholm). Self-reported study outcomes included: (a) being screened for alcohol use and (b) receiving a BI. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors. We examined associations between covariates and study outcomes using logistic regression models. <i>Results</i>. From a total of 1051 participants (median age = 73 years, 66% men), 54% were screened for alcohol use, mostly by doctors (48%) and nurses (40%). Odds ratios (ORs) for being screened were lower among participants aged ≥80 years (OR = 0.57, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.41-0.79), relative to those aged 65-79 years, and higher among participants with overweight (OR = 1.84, 95%CI = 1.38-2.44). Of those screened, 12% received BIs. Odds ratios for receiving BIs were higher among: men (OR = 3.04, 95%CI = 1.41-6.56), current smokers (OR = 10.88, 95%CI = 3.86-30.69), and participants with hazardous drinking (OR = 5.66, 95%CI = 2.59-12.36). <i>Conclusions</i>. Just over half cardiology patients were screened for alcohol use. Almost two-thirds of those identified with hazardous drinking did not receive BIs. Screening and BI practices varied according to individual participant characteristics, and there was a shortfall in screening among the elderly. Findings indicate inconsistent implementation of European cardiology guidelines, which recommend universal screening, and highlight a need for improved implementation strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2533825"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144643271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The ESCAPER study-exploring protective mechanisms against cardiovascular disease in subjects at high risk: rationale, study protocol, and first results.","authors":"Ola Ekström, Håkan Arheden, Anders Christensson, Gunnar Engström, Erik Hedström, Cecilia Kennbäck, Agne Laucyte-Cibulskiene, Simon Lundgren, Valeriya Lyssenko, Magnus Löndahl, Martin Magnusson, Peter M Nilsson, Anders Gottsäter","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2513865","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2513865","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Introduction.</i> The ESCAPER project explores cardiovascular resilience in individuals who, despite a high-risk factor burden-longstanding Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), obesity, or kidney failure-avoid or delay macrovascular complications. This suggests underlying protective mechanisms. Initiated in September 2022, this exploratory study aims to uncover and define these mechanisms, potentially leading to novel therapeutic targets in preventive medicine. <i>Research design and methods.</i> Participants from the Skåne region, Southern Sweden, are divided into three subgroups: (1) T1D patients (>30 years duration) without macrovascular complications or macroalbuminuria, (2) obese individuals with normal cardiac function and no cardiovascular medications, and (3) kidney failure patients awaiting transplantation with no arterial calcification, alongside respective controls. Comprehensive phenotyping includes 24-h blood pressure, ECG monitoring, vascular ultrasound, cardiac MRI, and ergospirometry (in a subgroup), along with laboratory investigations, including biomarker and omics analyses. Arterial biopsies are collected from kidney failure patients. The study leverages Swedish national medical registries for detailed follow-up of healthcare utilization, diagnoses, and prescriptions, enabling longitudinal outcome assessments. <i>Results.</i> Initial findings from 90 T1D patients and 31 obese individuals indicate well-managed cardiovascular risk factors. The T1D subgroup shows a mean BMI of 25.6 kg/m² and HbA1c of 52 mmol/mol, while the obesity subgroup presents a BMI of 32.9 kg/m² with normal glucose levels. <i>Conclusions.</i> ESCAPER has the potential to advance understanding of cardiovascular resilience and refine prevention strategies. Its comprehensive methodology and registry-based follow-up provide robust insights into protective mechanisms and long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2513865"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sleep duration and quality, physical activity and cardiometabolic multimorbidity: findings from the English Longitudinal study of Ageing.","authors":"Setor K Kunutsor, Jari A Laukkanen","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2550279","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2550279","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Objectives:</i> We aimed to assess the prospective associations of sleep duration and quality with the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and the interplay with physical activity. <i>Design:</i> Sleep duration and quality and physical activity were self-reported using standardized questionnaires. Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was defined as the presence of at least two multiple long-term conditions (hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases) at follow-up. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for cardiometabolic risk factors including physical activity. <i>Results:</i> We included 3,428 participants [mean (SD) age 63 (9) years, 44.8% male] free of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke at baseline. At 15 years follow-up, 206 participants developed CMM. There was an approximate U-shaped trend between sleep duration and CMM risk. Compared to sleep duration of 7-8 hrs/day, the multivariable OR (95% CI) for CMM was 1.39 (1.03-1.90) for sleep duration ≤6 hrs/day and 1.05 (0.55-2.00) for sleep duration ≥9 hrs/day. The odds of CMM appeared to decrease with each additional hour of sleep among participants with short sleep duration (≤6 hrs/day), although this association did not reach statistical significance (OR, 0.78, 95% CI: 0.59-1.02). Sleep quality or physical activity was not associated with CMM. <i>Conclusions:</i> Short sleep duration is associated with an increased CMM risk independent of physical activity. The observed trend suggests that increasing sleep duration among short sleepers may help mitigate CMM risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":"59 1","pages":"2550279"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144967049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of COVID-19 on cardiovascular function and exercise tolerance in healthy middle-age and older individuals.","authors":"Sophie L Russell, Nduka C Okwose, Mushidur Rahman, Ben J Lee, Gordon McGregor, Stuart M Raleigh, Hardip Sandhu, Laura C Roden, Prithwish Banerjee, Djordje G Jakovljevic","doi":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2468339","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14017431.2025.2468339","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect cardiovascular function in health and disease. The present study assessed the effect of prior COVID-19 infection on cardiovascular phenotype at rest and in response to exercise in middle age and older individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control, single-centre study recruited 124 participants: 84 with a history of COVID-19 (59.9 ± 7.41 years, 54.8% female) and 40 participants without history of COVID-19 infection (62.8 ± 7.14 years, 62.5% female). All participants underwent non-invasive assessment of arterial function using pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (Alx) and hemodynamic function (i.e. cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP)) at rest. Cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing with simultaneous gas exchange and hemodynamic (bioreactance) measurements was also performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were no differences between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups in PWV (COVID-19: 7.52 ± 1.66 m/s, non-COVID-19: 7.32 ± 1.79 m/s, <i>p</i> = 0.440); Alx (COVID-19: 29.2 ± 9.12%, non-COVID-19: 29.2 ± 8.44%, <i>p</i> = 0.980); CI (COVID-19: 2.85 ± 0.39 L/min/m², non-COVID-19: 2.79 ± 0.37 L/min/m², <i>p</i> = 0.407); SVI (COVID-19: 46.5 ± 7.54 mL/m², non-COVID-19: 47.0 ± 7.59 mL/m², <i>p</i> = 0.776), HR (COVID-19: 62.3 ± 10.6 beats/min, Non-COVID-19: 60.2 ± 8.52 beats/min, <i>p</i> = 0.263), or MAP (COVID-19: 98.1 ± 11.2 mmHg, non-COVID-19: 96.6 ± 9.46 mmHg, <i>p</i> = 0.464). COVID-19 participants however demonstrated lower O₂ consumption at anaerobic threshold (15.5 ± 4.25 vs 16.8 ± 4.51 mL/kg/m², <i>p</i> = 0.034), peak cardiac index (10.4 ± 2.3 vs 11.3 ± 2.5 L/min/m², <i>p</i> = 0.040) and peak stroke volume index (82.1 ± 25.3 vs 98.6 ± 37.6 mL/m², <i>p</i> = 0.028).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthy middle-age and older individuals with history COVID-19 infection demonstrate reduced exercise tolerance and cardiac function response to exercise.</p>","PeriodicalId":21383,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal","volume":" ","pages":"2468339"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143425636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}