{"title":"Validation for the Diagnostic Use of the HEART Score in Patients With Acute Chest Pain in Japan.","authors":"Shinnosuke Nomura, Mamoru Toyofuku, Junichi Tazaki, Shojiro Tatsushima, Takanari Fujita, Shuhei Tsuji, Takahiro Iseda, Tomoya Kimura, Yuichiro Shibamori, Yuta Matsui, Kohei Ueda, Tomohiro Ichiyanagi, Akinori Yoshida, Ryo Sakamoto, Ryotaro Kai, Takeshi Morimoto, Takeshi Kimura","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0060","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Current clinical guidelines recommend that patients with acute chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) should be assessed using a risk scoring system. The History, Electrocardiogram, Age, Risk factors and Troponin (HEART) score is one such scoring system; however, large-scale validation studies remain limited in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>This study analyzed 487 patients presenting with chest pain in our emergency department (ED) between April and December 2022. We enrolled patients with suspected ACS without ST-segment elevation and shock state. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 30 days following the ED visit. The endpoint occurred in 108 patients, including 90 patients with myocardial infarction. The HEART score identified 140 (28%) low-risk patients with a HEART score ≤3 who did not have any endpoint occurrence within 30 days. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the HEART score for MACE was 0.87. The results were more favorable when the highest troponin level was considered in calculating the conventional HEART score.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The HEART score was reliable for predicting MACE within 30 days in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain in this single center study in Japan. Low-risk patients with HEART scores ≤3 can be safely ruled out for ACS. Considering the highest troponin level for scoring improved its diagnostic utility.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"547-553"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240625/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610853","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":"Influence of Kinesiophobia on Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease - Protocol for Systematic Review.","authors":"Yuki Nonaka, Ren Fujii, Yusuke Kawamura, Takaki Tateishi, Kazuyuki Tabira","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0038","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recent studies indicate a high prevalence of kinesiophobia among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the impact of kinesiophobia on rehabilitation outcomes. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive summary and synthesis of the extant evidence regarding the impact of kinesiophobia on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with CVD.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>This systematic review will adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. This systematic review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 8 February, 2025 (Registration no. CRD42025623535). Electronic searches will be performed in the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CINAHL electronic databases, with a date range from the start date to January 2025. The study designs were observational, encompassing cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies. Narrative reviews, editorials, clinical guidelines and conference abstracts will be excluded. We will consider articles that are published in English. In addition, only officially published papers are included and grey literature is excluded from the review. The specific outcomes of interest include physical function, activities of daily living, physical activity, and quality of life.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This systematic review will provide comprehensive evidence on the relationship between kinesiophobia and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with CVD.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"578-581"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12242194/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610847","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":"Impact of Recurrent Heart Failure Hospitalization on Decline in Activities of Daily Living for Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved or Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction.","authors":"Yuta Ozaki, Yusuke Uemura, Shogo Yamaguchi, Takashi Okajima, Takayuki Mitsuda, Shinji Ishikawa, Kenji Takemoto, Toyoaki Murohara, Masato Watarai","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0056","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>For patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), there is no treatment that improves survival, but some will reduce HF hospitalizations. Recurrent HF admissions may impair activities of daily living (ADL) and increase the societal burden.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>We analyzed 130 patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF who had recurrent HF hospitalizations. The multivariate linear mixed-effects model revealed that HF hospitalization frequency remained an independent predictor of ADL decline, as evaluated by the Barthel index.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Recurrent hospitalization for HF contributes to ADL decline. Preventing rehospitalization due to HF is crucial.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"542-546"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240618/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610775","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}
Circulation reportsPub Date : 2025-05-25eCollection Date: 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0055
Masahiro Biyajima, Jun Tsuyuzaki, Takayuki Eizawa, Yoshiki Sekijima
{"title":"Incidental Cardiac Uptake Leading to Early Diagnosis of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis.","authors":"Masahiro Biyajima, Jun Tsuyuzaki, Takayuki Eizawa, Yoshiki Sekijima","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0055","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0055","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"584-585"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240624/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610846","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":"Assessment of Cognitive Function via Biomarkers in Japanese Patients With Chronic Heart Failure Treated With Angiotensin-Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor.","authors":"Masaya Kogure, Fukiko Kitani-Morii, Tomoya Kitani, Masatsugu Oishi, Hirokazu Shiraishi, Harutsugu Tatebe, Satoaki Matoba, Takahiko Tokuda, Takashi Kasai","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-24-0175","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-24-0175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Angiotensin-receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) improve outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, neprilysin is a major amyloid beta (Aβ)-degrading enzyme in the brain and although previous studies suggest that ARNI use does not induce neurocognitive dysfunction in CHF patients, data in Japanese patients are limited.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>This single-center, prospective, observational study enrolled 15 CHF patients: 6 who were being treated with ARNI (ARNI) and 9 who were not (non-ARNI). Cognitive assessments and blood biomarkers were evaluated at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Participants from the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Dimensional Neuroimaging Initiative cohort, comprising 7 patients with cerebral Aβ deposition (Aβ-positive) and 7 patients without deposition (Aβ-negative), were used for comparison. Despite the small sample size, significant differences in the Japanese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 level were observed between the Aβ-negative and Aβ-positive groups. In contrast, no significant difference in cognitive function or blood biomarkers were found between the non-ARNI and ARNI groups at baseline or after 1 year of follow-up.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this pilot-scale study, ARNI use was not associated with cognitive impairment or elevated blood biomarkers related to cognitive dysfunction in Japanese patients with CHF. Due to the limited sample size and follow-up, further validation in larger, long-term trials is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"535-541"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12242193/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610771","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":"Occupational Therapy for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease - A Systematic Review.","authors":"Tomonori Takeda, Daichi Tsukakoshi, Atsuhiro Tsubaki, Shuhei Yamamoto","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-24-0162","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-24-0162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is high worldwide. Occupational therapy (OT) allows individuals to participate in activities of daily living (ADLs) and improves their quality of life. However, whether OT improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL), ADLs, fatigue, occupational performance, rehospitalization, and mortality in patients with CVD remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether OT improves HRQOL, ADLs, fatigue, occupational performance, rehospitalization, and mortality in patients with CVD using a systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>A literature search of 3 databases in October 2024 yielded 4 RCTs on OT in CVD patients. Two trials (n=208) assessed HRQOL, while 2 others (n=220) examined ADLs. One trial (n=23) evaluated fatigue and occupational performance, and another (n=93) assessed rehospitalization and mortality. Due to insufficient data on HRQOL and ADL improvement in 1 trial, a meta-analysis was not feasible. Similarly, a meta-analysis of fatigue, occupational performance, rehospitalization, and mortality could not be performed due to the limited number of studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results showed no clear evidence that OT improves HRQOL or ADLs in patients with CVD.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 6","pages":"395-402"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12148352/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268330","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":"Regional Disparities in Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation Based on the Japanese National Survey.","authors":"Takahiro Kamihara, Shinji Kaneko, Takuya Omura, Akihiro Hirashiki, Manabu Kokubo, Atsuya Shimizu","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0025","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has increased with aging populations, making catheter ablation essential. However, access to this treatment across regions, even with universal healthcare, is not well understood. This study aims to explore potential regional disparities in AF catheter ablation rates and identify associated factors.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Vital Statistics survey of Japanese events in 2022 (124,947,000 people), the Japanese government Survey of Household Economy, the Survey on the Impact of the Diagnosis Procedure Combination System, and publicly available data from the Japan Heart Rhythm Society. Principal component regression analysis revealed that the number of AF hospitalizations exhibited a positive correlation with the prevalence of hypertension and the percentage of unemployed men. The number of ablations positively correlated with overtime hours, university graduate salaries, part-time employment rates, and the number of arrhythmia specialists. AF hospitalization rates exhibited a negative correlation with AF ablation rates. The number of arrhythmia specialists correlated positively with ablation rates but negatively with AF hospitalization rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Socioeconomic factors appear to influence AF hospitalizations and treatment decisions. An increase in arrhythmia specialists may optimize ablation rates and reduce AF hospitalization rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"512-520"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240619/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610850","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":"Relationship Between the Change in Post-Cardiovascular Surgery Patients' 6-min Walking Distance and Physical Activity During Hospitalization.","authors":"Masashi Wakana, Kiyokazu Koga, Satoshi Ohtsubo, Masaru Yoshikai, Cen Chen, Takafumi Saito, Hiro Kishimoto","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-24-0133","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-24-0133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The 6-min walking distance (6MWD) is an indicator of exercise tolerance in post-cardiovascular surgery patients and is associated with life expectancy. The association between the physical activity levels of these patients during hospitalization and changes in their 6MWD and the association by activity types are unknown. We investigated the association between 6MWD changes and physical activity by activity types in post-cardiovascular surgery patients.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>Patients who had undergone cardiovascular surgery (n=70) were divided into 6MWD≥0 and 6MWD<0 groups based on the difference between their pre-surgery and pre-discharge 6MWD values. The physical activity of each patient after transfer from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the general ward was objectively measured with a triaxial accelerometer. Activity types were classified as locomotive and non-locomotive, with intensity divided into light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The 6MWD≥0 group was significantly younger and had earlier days of ADL independence than 6MWD<0 group. In the first post-ICU discharge week, the 6MWD≥0 group engaged in significantly higher locomotive MVPA, and significantly higher non-locomotive LPA and MVPA in the following week, compared with the 6MWD<0 group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among post-cardiovascular surgery patients, physical activity was higher in those with an increase in 6MWD at discharge compared with pre-surgery levels. Notably, locomotive activity was higher in the first week after ICU discharge, while non-locomotive activity increased from the second week.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 7","pages":"521-527"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12240623/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610851","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}
Circulation reportsPub Date : 2025-05-16eCollection Date: 2025-06-10DOI: 10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0041
Ken Nishikawa, Masatoshi Minamisawa, Koji Yoshie, Sho Suzuki, Kiu Tanaka, Yukari Okuma, Kazuhiro Kimura, Yasushi Ueki, Yasutaka Oguchi, Tamon Kato, Tatsuya Saigusa, Soichiro Ebisawa, Ayako Okada, Hirohiko Motoki, Koichiro Kuwahara
{"title":"Clinical Profile and Prognosis of Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Who Met the Obesity-Related Eligibility for Subcutaneous Semaglutide - Findings From the CURE-HF Registry.","authors":"Ken Nishikawa, Masatoshi Minamisawa, Koji Yoshie, Sho Suzuki, Kiu Tanaka, Yukari Okuma, Kazuhiro Kimura, Yasushi Ueki, Yasutaka Oguchi, Tamon Kato, Tatsuya Saigusa, Soichiro Ebisawa, Ayako Okada, Hirohiko Motoki, Koichiro Kuwahara","doi":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0041","DOIUrl":"10.1253/circrep.CR-25-0041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obesity is well-established risk factor of heart failure (HF); however, \"obesity paradox\" has been described in symptomatic HF patients. The STEP-HFpEF study suggested that once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide might improve outcomes in patients with obesity-related HF. We explored the prevalence of obesity-related eligibility for semaglutide treatment among patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and evaluated their prognoses.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>We analyzed data from 1,017 ADHF patients (median, 81 years; 44.2% female) enrolled in the CURE-HF registry. We assessed prevalence of obesity-related eligibility for semaglutide administration and examined the association between this eligibility and all-cause death over a median follow-up of 2.7 years. There were 73 patients (7.2%) who were semaglutide-eligible and they had a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus than patients who were semaglutide non-eligible (64.4% vs. 26.4%, P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that semaglutide-eligible patients had a significantly lower all-cause mortality rate than non-eligible patients (log-rank P=0.005). After adjustment for demographic characteristics, there was no significant difference in mortality rate between the 2 groups (adjusted hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-1.17, P=0.14). In the propensity score-matched cohort, we did not observe a significant difference in mortality rate (log-rank, P=0.79).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Almost 7.2% of the ADHF patients were semaglutide-eligible. Our findings did not affirm the \"obesity paradox\" in semaglutide-eligible HF patients after adjusting for demographic factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":94305,"journal":{"name":"Circulation reports","volume":"7 6","pages":"463-472"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12149744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268325","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}