CJC OpenPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-05-05DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2026.04.015
Kathryn A. Albrecht MD, Sabrina C. Martini MD, Cecily Taylor MD, Noelle Mahon BN, RN, Lauren Archer BN, RN, Andreas Dauter BHSc, Sandra Coad BN, RN, Lea Harper MD, Robert J.H. Miller MD, Omid Kiamanesh MD
{"title":"Self-perceived Health Exceeds Societal Valuation Across Cardiac Neuromuscular Disease: Implications for Device Therapy Decision-making","authors":"Kathryn A. Albrecht MD, Sabrina C. Martini MD, Cecily Taylor MD, Noelle Mahon BN, RN, Lauren Archer BN, RN, Andreas Dauter BHSc, Sandra Coad BN, RN, Lea Harper MD, Robert J.H. Miller MD, Omid Kiamanesh MD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.04.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.04.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cardiac complications are a leading cause of mortality in neuromuscular disease (NMD). Clinical assessment typically infers quality of life from functional impairment, which may overlook the disability paradox. We examined how patient-reported domain impairment, societal health valuation, and self-perceived health relate to one another in cardiac NMD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We surveyed 156 patients (61% response rate) at a specialized cardiac NMD clinic using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire. Three constructs were compared: domain impairment (5 domain levels); societal valuation (Index Score); and self-perceived health (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]). Spearman correlations quantified associations; VAS was compared across mobility strata by Kruskal-Wallis testing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The cohort included 47% with cardiomyopathy and 28% with conduction disease. Ninety-one percent reported impairment in at least 1 domain, most often mobility (74%) and pain/discomfort (71%). VAS and Index Score were moderately correlated (ρ = 0.544, <em>P</em> < 0.001). VAS declined across mobility strata (81.5 to 61.1 from no problems to unable to walk; <em>P</em> < 0.001), but this 25% relative decline was far shallower than the 63% decline in Index Score (0.888-0.329). Mean VAS was 68.6 (standard deviation 20.6), lower than the Alberta population norm of 77.4 (Cohen <em>d</em> = 0.43) but modest given the burden of domain impairment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In cardiac NMD, self-perceived health declines less steeply than societal valuation as functional impairment worsens, consistent with psychological adaptation. Direct measurement of patient-reported well-being should inform shared decision-making around device therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1143-1150"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CJC OpenPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-05-26DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.008
Dionysios Adamopoulos MD, PhD, Quentin Liabot MD, Léon Genecand, Christina Gkotsoulia, Sarah Mauler-Wittwer, Georgios Giannakopoulos MD, Jean-François Deux MD, Jakub Walenczak MD, Georgios Rovas PhD, Marc Arcens MD, Lindsey Crowe PhD, Hajo Müller MD, Nikolaos Stergiopulos PhD, Jean-Paul Vallée MD, PhD, Stéphane Noble MD
{"title":"Prognostic Impact of Main Pulmonary Artery Enlargement in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement","authors":"Dionysios Adamopoulos MD, PhD, Quentin Liabot MD, Léon Genecand, Christina Gkotsoulia, Sarah Mauler-Wittwer, Georgios Giannakopoulos MD, Jean-François Deux MD, Jakub Walenczak MD, Georgios Rovas PhD, Marc Arcens MD, Lindsey Crowe PhD, Hajo Müller MD, Nikolaos Stergiopulos PhD, Jean-Paul Vallée MD, PhD, Stéphane Noble MD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pulmonary hypertension is characterized by extensive remodelling of the pulmonary tree, with enlargement of the pulmonary arteries. The predictive value of pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been demonstrated. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of the pre-procedural main pulmonary artery (mPA) enlargement, assessed by computed tomography angiography, in patients undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis (AS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed 337 consecutive patients with AS from our local registry who underwent right heart catheterization and computed tomography angiography before TAVR. The cohort was divided into 2 groups according to the presence of an enlarged mPA (mPA axial diameter ≥ 29 mm for male patients and ≥ 27 mm for female patients, mPA<sub>e</sub>, n = 192, mean age 83 ± 6 years, 41% male) or not (mPA<sub>n</sub>, n = 145, mean age 84 ± 6 years, 46% male). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 1 year.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A significant correlation between invasive mean pulmonary artery pressure and mPA axial diameter was noted (Pearson <em>r</em> = 0.393, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Compared with the mPA<sub>n</sub> group, patients with an enlarged mPA had higher 1-year mortality rates (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-6.04, <em>P</em> = 0.027). The prognostic significance was even stronger after indexing the mPA diameter to the ascending aortic diameter (HR 3.83, 95% CI: 1.85-7.87, <em>P</em> < 0.001). This measure remained significant after adjustment for baseline comorbidities (adjusted HR 4.2; 95% CI: 2.00-8.98, <em>P</em> < 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pre-procedural mPA enlargement is strongly associated with 1-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVR. This finding may pave the way for a more precise noninvasive risk stratification in patients with severe AS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1232-1240"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CJC OpenPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-06-17DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2026.06.003
Adam I. Kramer MD, MSc, Husam Abdel-Qadir MD, PhD, Beth L. Abramson MD, MSc, Alexis Baass MD, MSc, Jean Bergeron MD, MSc, Apoorva Bollu MD, Lubomira Cermakova MSc, Patrick Couture MD, PhD, Christopher B. Fordyce MD, MHS, MSc, Milan Gupta MD, Robert A. Hegele MD, G.B. John Mancini MD, Ruth McPherson MD, PhD, Nathaniel Moulson MD, MHA, Glen J. Pearson PharmD, Thomas Roston MD, PhD, Isabelle Ruel PhD, Tara Sedlak MD, MBA, Mark H. Sherman MD, George Thanassoulis MD, Liam R. Brunham MD, PhD
{"title":"Rationale and Design of the Canadian Lipoprotein(a) Registry","authors":"Adam I. Kramer MD, MSc, Husam Abdel-Qadir MD, PhD, Beth L. Abramson MD, MSc, Alexis Baass MD, MSc, Jean Bergeron MD, MSc, Apoorva Bollu MD, Lubomira Cermakova MSc, Patrick Couture MD, PhD, Christopher B. Fordyce MD, MHS, MSc, Milan Gupta MD, Robert A. Hegele MD, G.B. John Mancini MD, Ruth McPherson MD, PhD, Nathaniel Moulson MD, MHA, Glen J. Pearson PharmD, Thomas Roston MD, PhD, Isabelle Ruel PhD, Tara Sedlak MD, MBA, Mark H. Sherman MD, George Thanassoulis MD, Liam R. Brunham MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent, heritable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Guidelines recommend Lp(a) testing once in a lifetime and recognize it as a risk-enhancing factor. However, management of elevated Lp(a) in real-world clinical practice is not well described. Here we describe the rationale, design, and preliminary baseline characteristics of the Canadian Lp(a) Registry, a prospective, longitudinal observational study of patients with Lp(a) ≥ 100 nmol/L (≥ 50 mg/dL). Patient demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, laboratory results, and clinical outcomes are collected at baseline and at annual follow-up. The primary objective is to evaluate the clinical management and outcomes of patients with elevated Lp(a). From April 2024 to April 2025, 127 patients (mean age 57.5 ± 12.7 years, 48.8% female) were enrolled with a median Lp(a) level of 225 nmol/L (interquartile range 186-346 nmol/L), and 51.2% had multiple Lp(a) levels obtained. The most recent mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was 2.49 ± 1.74 mmol/L. At the time of registry entry, 104 (81.9%) patients were receiving lipid-lowering therapies, including statins (74.8%), ezetimibe (48.0%), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (27.6%), whereas 18.1% were not taking prescription lipid-lowering therapy. There were 66 (52.0%) patients with an LDL-C < 2.0 mmol/L. The Canadian Lp(a) Registry is an ongoing prospective, observational study designed to evaluate the clinical management, cardiovascular risk profile, and outcomes for patients with elevated Lp(a). It is expected to improve our understanding of how elevated Lp(a) is managed in contemporary clinical practice and to identify opportunities to improve care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1198-1207"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Very Late–Onset Cancer Therapy–Related Cardiac Dysfunction After More Than 100 Courses of Anti-HER2-Based Therapy for Breast Cancer","authors":"Masayuki Kikuchi MD, Hirokazu Matsushima MD, Takahiro Uchida MD, Rika Miyabe MD, PhD, Hidenori Kita MD, Tsunehiro Shintani MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.04.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.04.019","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1219-1223"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CJC OpenPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.001
Hena Qureshi MSc, Douglas C. Dover PhD, Emily E. Ellis MPH, Sean Virani MD, MSc, MPH, FRCPC, Nathanial M. Hawkins MD, Robert McKelvie MD, PhD, FRCPC, Anique Ducharme MD, MSc, M. Patrice Lindsay RN, PhD, Padma Kaul PhD
{"title":"Historical Drug Costs Among Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure in Canada, 2013-2014 to 2018-2019","authors":"Hena Qureshi MSc, Douglas C. Dover PhD, Emily E. Ellis MPH, Sean Virani MD, MSc, MPH, FRCPC, Nathanial M. Hawkins MD, Robert McKelvie MD, PhD, FRCPC, Anique Ducharme MD, MSc, M. Patrice Lindsay RN, PhD, Padma Kaul PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Heart failure (HF) management guidelines continue to evolve with emerging evidence from landmark trials defining new standards for guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). However, data on HF drug costs in Canada remain limited. This study examined long-term historical costs of drugs associated with HF management among elderly patients hospitalized with HF between 2013-2014 and 2018-2019.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Prescription claims from the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System were linked for patients aged > 65 years with a HF hospitalization between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2019 in Canada, except Quebec, Nova Scotia, and the Territories. HF management drugs included GDMT and diuretics; costs were inflated to 2025 Canadian dollars. Annual total and per-patient drug costs were calculated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The total drug cost for managing HF in 163,973 elderly hospitalized patients over the 5-year period was CAD$252.2 million. Although average annual per-patient costs remained relatively stable ($567 in 2013/-2014 to $593 in 2018-2019), total annual costs rose from $31.5 million to $50.8 million, driven largely by an increase in the number of patients hospitalized with HF. GDMT accounted for the majority of drug costs, and its level of use increased from 72.2% to 76.0%. In 2018-2019, costs were higher in male patients ($632) than female patients ($558), were highest among patients aged 65-74 years ($680), and were lowest among those aged ≥ 90 years ($493).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The cost of drugs to manage HF is substantial and is increasing over time, primarily as a result of the increasing number of patients being hospitalized with HF. Modest shifts occurred toward greater use of GDMT, with variations across province, sex, and age groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1166-1176"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PaO2/FiO2 Ratio As an Exploratory Indicator of Oxygenation Changes in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Treated with Intravenous Tolvaptan","authors":"Hiroki Hoya MD, Yodo Gatate MD, PhD, Keisuke Matsuo MD, PhD, Michiru Nomoto MD, PhD, Takahide Arai MD, PhD, Shintaro Nakano MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pulmonary congestion leading to dyspnea is the main cause of hospitalization in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Intravenous tolvaptan (TLV) is an option for acute decongestion, but its effects on pulmonary congestion remain unclear, due to limited objective tools. The arterial oxygen partial pressure to inspired oxygen fraction (PaO<sub>2</sub>/FiO<sub>2</sub> [P/F]) ratio is a practical index of oxygenation and may serve as an exploratory indicator of oxygenation changes in this setting. This exploratory study evaluated whether adding intravenous TLV to furosemide improves the 24-hour P/F ratio and factors associated with improved oxygenation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed adults hospitalized for ADHF between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients receiving TLV plus furosemide (TLV+F) were compared with those receiving furosemide (F alone). The primary endpoint was the 24-hour P/F ratio; secondary endpoints were urine output and safety (serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, and hemodynamics). Logistic regression identified factors associated with improved oxygenation. Subgroup analyses were by left ventricular ejection fraction (< 40% vs ≥ 40%).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 120 patients (TLV+F n = 48; F alone n = 72), the TLV+F group achieved a higher 24-hour P/F ratio (340 ± 89 vs 281 ± 87; <em>P</em> < 0.001) and greater urine output, both in absolute terms (3925 ± 1890 vs 3097 ± 1181 mL; <em>P</em> = 0.004) and when indexed to body weight (63.3 ± 24.3 vs 52.3 ± 21.1 mL/kg; <em>P</em> = 0.01). Serum sodium level rose modestly<strong><em>,</em></strong> with no apparent short-term renal or hemodynamic differences. TLV use independently predicted improved oxygenation. In subgroup analyses by left ventricular ejection fraction, no significant interaction was observed (<em>P</em> = 0.38).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In ADHF, use of adjunctive intravenous TLV was associated with improved early oxygenation and diuresis without an apparent increase in short-term adverse events. These exploratory findings suggest that intravenous TLV may be a useful component of acute decongestive therapy, warranting prospective validation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1249-1258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CJC OpenPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-05-25DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.009
Wenbo Cheng MD, Xue Chen MD, Shiyi Wang MM, Mu Qin MD, Zonghan Zhao MD
{"title":"Pulsed Field Ablation with the Pentaspline Catheter vs Radiofrequency Ablation for Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation","authors":"Wenbo Cheng MD, Xue Chen MD, Shiyi Wang MM, Mu Qin MD, Zonghan Zhao MD","doi":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cjco.2026.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a non-thermal energy modality for catheter ablation. Although recent studies have demonstrated that PFA is noninferior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the initial treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), its comparative efficacy and safety in patients who had AF recurrence following the initial ablation procedure remain unknown.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024, 223 consecutive patients who had AF recurrence following the initial ablation procedure were prospectively enrolled from 2 participating centres and underwent either PFA using the pentaspline catheter (PFA group, n = 77) or RFA (RFA group, n = 146), based on clinical judgment. The effectiveness endpoint was freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence at 12 months.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At 12 months, no significant difference was present in the rate of freedom from AF/AT recurrence between the PFA and RFA groups (71.4% vs 67.8%; log-rank <em>P</em> = 0.514; hazard ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.52-1.38). Similarly, the incidence of safety endpoints did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (2.6% vs 3.4%; <em>P</em> = 0.947).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In patients who had AF recurrence following the initial ablation procedure, PFA using a pentaspline catheter demonstrated comparable effectiveness and safety to RFA, with similar rates of freedom from AF/AT recurrence and adverse events at 12 months.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36924,"journal":{"name":"CJC Open","volume":"8 9","pages":"Pages 1158-1165"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148917457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}