Kamran Abbasi, Parveen Ali, Virginia Barbour, Thomas Benfield, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Stephen Hancocks, Richard Horton, Laurie Laybourn-Langton, Robert Mash, Peush Sahni, Wadeia Mohammad Sharief, Paul Yonga, Chris Zielinski
{"title":"Time to treat the climate and nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency","authors":"Kamran Abbasi, Parveen Ali, Virginia Barbour, Thomas Benfield, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Stephen Hancocks, Richard Horton, Laurie Laybourn-Langton, Robert Mash, Peush Sahni, Wadeia Mohammad Sharief, Paul Yonga, Chris Zielinski","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjimp/qyad031","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135738254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ramtin Hakimjavadi, Juan Lu, Yeung Yam, Girish Dwivedi, Gary R Small, Benjamin J W Chow
{"title":"Pre-screening for Non-Diagnostic Coronary CT Angiography","authors":"Ramtin Hakimjavadi, Juan Lu, Yeung Yam, Girish Dwivedi, Gary R Small, Benjamin J W Chow","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjimp/qyad026","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Aims Indiscriminate coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) referrals for suspected coronary artery disease could result in a higher rate of equivocal and non-diagnostic studies, leading to inappropriate downstream resource utilization or delayed time to diagnosis. We sought to develop a simple clinical tool for predicting the likelihood of a non-diagnostic CCTA to help identify patients who might be better served with a different test. Methods and results We developed a clinical scoring system from a cohort of 21 492 consecutive patients who underwent CCTA between February 2006 and May 2021. Coronary computed tomography angiography study results were categorized as normal, abnormal, or non-diagnostic. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to produce a model that predicted the likelihood of a non-diagnostic test. Machine learning (ML) models were utilized to validate the predictor selection and prediction performance. Both logistic regression and ML models achieved fair discriminate ability with an area under the curve of 0.630 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.618–0.641] and 0.634 (95% CI 0.612–0.656), respectively. The presence of a cardiac implant and weight >100 kg were among the most influential predictors of a non-diagnostic study. Conclusion We developed a model that could be implemented at the ‘point-of-scheduling’ to identify patients who would be best served by another non-invasive diagnostic test.","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135248445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lorenzo R Sewanan, Marco R Di Tullio, Andrew F Laine, Belinda D’Souza, Jay Leb, Alexander Mironov, Ahsan Khan, Dylan E Stanger, Elisa E Konofagou, Rochelle L Goldsmith, Sachin R Jambawalikar, Cole B Hirschfeld, Michelle Castillo, Kathleen J Durkin, Stephen Dashnaw, J Thomas Vaughan, Andrew J Einstein
{"title":"Absence of long-term structural and functional cardiac abnormalities on multimodality imaging in a multi-ethnic group of COVID-19 survivors from the early stage of the pandemic","authors":"Lorenzo R Sewanan, Marco R Di Tullio, Andrew F Laine, Belinda D’Souza, Jay Leb, Alexander Mironov, Ahsan Khan, Dylan E Stanger, Elisa E Konofagou, Rochelle L Goldsmith, Sachin R Jambawalikar, Cole B Hirschfeld, Michelle Castillo, Kathleen J Durkin, Stephen Dashnaw, J Thomas Vaughan, Andrew J Einstein","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjimp/qyad034","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Aims Many patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), particularly from the pandemic’s early phase, have been reported to have evidence of cardiac injury such as cardiac symptoms, troponinaemia, or imaging or ECG abnormalities during their acute course. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) have been widely used to assess cardiac function and structure and characterize myocardial tissue during COVID-19 with report of numerous abnormalities. Overall, findings have varied, and long-term impact of COVID-19 on the heart needs further elucidation. Methods and results We performed TTE and 3 T CMR in survivors of the initial stage of the pandemic without pre-existing cardiac disease and matched controls at long-term follow-up a median of 308 days after initial infection. Study population consisted of 40 COVID-19 survivors (50% female, 28% Black, and 48% Hispanic) and 12 controls of similar age, sex, and race-ethnicity distribution; 35% had been hospitalized with 28% intubated. We found no difference in echocardiographic characteristics including measures of left and right ventricular structure and systolic function, valvular abnormalities, or diastolic function. Using CMR, we also found no differences in measures of left and right ventricular structure and function and additionally found no significant differences in parameters of tissue structure including T1, T2, extracellular volume mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement. With analysis stratified by patient hospitalization status as an indicator of COVID-19 severity, no differences were uncovered. Conclusion Multimodal imaging of a diverse cohort of COVID-19 survivors indicated no long-lasting damage or inflammation of the myocardium.","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135735999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohamed Abdelkhalek, Nikrouz Bahadormanesh, Javier Ganame, Zahra Keshavarz-Motamed
{"title":"Incremental prognostic value of intensity-weighted regional calcification scoring using contrast CT imaging in TAVR","authors":"Mohamed Abdelkhalek, Nikrouz Bahadormanesh, Javier Ganame, Zahra Keshavarz-Motamed","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjimp/qyad027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Aims Aortic valve calcification scoring plays an important role in predicting outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the impact of relative calcific density and its causal effect on peri-procedural complications due to sub-optimal valve expansion remains limited. This study aims to investigate the prognostic power of quantifying regional calcification in the device landing zone in the context of peri-procedural events and post-procedural complications based on pre-operative contrast computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images. Assess the effect of calcification on post-procedural device expansion and final configuration. Methods and results We introduce a novel patient invariant topographic scheme for quantifying the location and relative density of landing zone calcification. The calcification was detected on CCTA images based on a recently developed method using automatic minimization of the false positive rate between aortic lumen and calcific segments. Multinomial logistic regression model evaluation and ROC curve analysis showed excellent classification power for predicting paravalvular leakage [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.8; P < 0.001] and balloon pre-dilation (AUC = 0.907; P < 0.001). The model exhibited an acceptable classification ability for left bundle branch block (AUC = 0.748; P < 0.001) and balloon post-dilation (AUC = 0.75; P < 0.001). Notably, all evaluated models were significantly superior to alternative models that did not include intensity-weighted regional volume scoring. Conclusions TAVR planning based on contrast computed tomography images can benefit from detailed location, quantity, and density contribution of calcific deposits in the device landing zone. Those parameters could be employed to stratify patients who need a more personalized approach during TAVR planning, predict peri-procedural complications, and indicate patients for follow-up monitoring.","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135588751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aortic size distribution among normal, hypertension, bicuspid, and Marfan populations.","authors":"Jinlin Wu, Weiyue Zeng, Xiaoshan Li, Jiade Zhu, Chenyu Zhou, Ruixin Fan, Tucheng Sun, Hongwen Fei, Xin Li","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad019","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Large-scale investigations on ascending aortic diameter, especially in the Asian population, are lacking. Furthermore, relevant evidence regarding the distribution of hypertension (HP), bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), and Marfan syndrome (MFS) is scarce. We aimed to examine the distribution of ascending aortic diameter in these populations in China.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>The data of a total number of 698 795 individuals who underwent cardiac ultrasound were subjected to retrospective analysis. After screening, 647 087 individuals were included in the final analysis. In the normal population, the mean ascending aortic diameter was 28.1 ± 3.2 mm (27.2 ± 3.1 mm in women vs. 29.0 ± 3.1 mm in men) (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Aortic diameter increased gradually with age (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The prevalence of aortic dilation, aneurysm, and dissection in individuals with HP was 12.83%, 2.70%, and 4.77%, respectively. In individuals with MFS, the corresponding rates were 43.92%, 35.31%, and 26.11%. Notably, although BAV patients had high incidences of aortic dilation (37.00%) and aortic aneurysm (16.46%), the incidence of aortic dissection was relatively low (0.74%). Most cases of aortic dissection occurred at an aortic diameter of less than 55 mm. However, in the overall population, the incidence of aortic dissection significantly increased with the increase in the aortic diameter, revealing the existence of an 'aortic paradox'.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>(i) The ascending diameter increases with age and is larger in men than in women; (ii) 'Aortic paradox' is explained; (iii) BAV bears a high rate of aortic dilation, but a low incidence of aortic dissection.</p>","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11195692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77132199","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}
Mark Westwood, Ana G Almeida, Emanuele Barbato, Victoria Delgado, Santo Dellegrottaglie, Kevin F Fox, Luna Gargani, Kurt Huber, Pál Maurovich-Horvat, Jose L Merino, Richard Mindham, Denisa Muraru, Lis Neubeck, Robin Nijveldt, Michael Papadakis, Gianluca Pontone, Susanna Price, Giuseppe M C Rosano, Alexia Rossi, Leyla Elif Sade, Jeanette Schulz-Menger, Franz Weidinger, Stephan Achenbach, Steffen E Petersen
{"title":"Competency-based cardiac imaging for patient-centred care. A statement of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). With the contribution of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), and the support of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions (ACNAP), the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), the European…","authors":"Mark Westwood, Ana G Almeida, Emanuele Barbato, Victoria Delgado, Santo Dellegrottaglie, Kevin F Fox, Luna Gargani, Kurt Huber, Pál Maurovich-Horvat, Jose L Merino, Richard Mindham, Denisa Muraru, Lis Neubeck, Robin Nijveldt, Michael Papadakis, Gianluca Pontone, Susanna Price, Giuseppe M C Rosano, Alexia Rossi, Leyla Elif Sade, Jeanette Schulz-Menger, Franz Weidinger, Stephan Achenbach, Steffen E Petersen","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjimp/qyad023","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Imaging plays an integral role in all aspects of managing heart disease and cardiac imaging is a core competency of cardiologists. The adequate delivery of cardiac imaging services requires expertise in both imaging methodology—with specific adaptations to imaging of the heart—as well as intricate knowledge of heart disease. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging have developed and implemented a successful education and certification programme for all cardiac imaging modalities. This programme equips cardiologists to provide high quality competency-based cardiac imaging services ensuring they are adequately trained and competent in the entire process of cardiac imaging, from the clinical indication via selecting the best imaging test to answer the clinical question, to image acquisition, analysis, interpretation, storage, repository, and results dissemination. This statement emphasizes the need for competency-based cardiac imaging delivery which is key to optimal, effective and efficient, patient care.","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134931671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lavinia Del Punta, Nicolò De Biase, Silvia Armenia, Valerio Di Fiore, Davide Maremmani, Luna Gargani, Matteo Mazzola, Marco De Carlo, Alessandro Mengozzi, Tommaso Lomonaco, Gian Giacomo Galeotti, Frank L Dini, Stefano Masi, Nicola Riccardo Pugliese
{"title":"Combining cardiopulmonary exercise testing with echocardiography: a multiparametric approach to the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems.","authors":"Lavinia Del Punta, Nicolò De Biase, Silvia Armenia, Valerio Di Fiore, Davide Maremmani, Luna Gargani, Matteo Mazzola, Marco De Carlo, Alessandro Mengozzi, Tommaso Lomonaco, Gian Giacomo Galeotti, Frank L Dini, Stefano Masi, Nicola Riccardo Pugliese","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exercise intolerance is a prominent feature of several cardiovascular conditions. However, the physical effort requires the intertwined adaptation of several factors, namely the cardiovascular system, the lungs, and peripheral muscles. Several abnormalities in each domain may be present in a given patient. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has been used to investigate metabolic and ventilatory alterations responsible for exercise intolerance but does not allow for direct evaluation of cardiovascular function. However, this can readily be obtained by concomitant exercise-stress echocardiography (ESE). The combined CPET-ESE approach allows for precise and thorough phenotyping of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underpinning exercise intolerance. Thus, it can be used to refine the diagnostic workup of patients with dyspnoea of unknown origin, as well as improve risk stratification and potentially guide the therapeutic approach in specific conditions, including left and right heart failure or valvular heart disease. However, given its hitherto sporadic use, both the conceptual and technical aspects of CPET-ESE are often poorly known by the clinician. Improving knowledge in this field could significantly aid in anticipating individual disease trajectories and tailoring treatment strategies accordingly. Therefore, we designed this review to revise the pathophysiologic correlates of exercise intolerance, the practical principles of the combined CPET-ESE examination, and its main applications according to current literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11195726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75173244","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}
A Hokkanen, H Hämäläinen, T M Laitinen, T P Laitinen
{"title":"Decreased liver-to-spleen ratio in low-dose computed tomography as a biomarker of fatty liver disease reflects risk for myocardial ischaemia.","authors":"A Hokkanen, H Hämäläinen, T M Laitinen, T P Laitinen","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad016","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>A strong association between fatty liver disease (FLD) and coronary artery disease is consistently reported. Our aim was to evaluate whether FLD diagnosed using low-dose non-contrast computed tomography (LDCT), as a by-product of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), is associated with myocardial ischaemia or left ventricular function parameters.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>We analysed 742 patients who had undergone MPI using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and LDCT. A liver-to-spleen ratio (in Hounsfield units) of <1 was defined as FLD. Myocardial ischaemia was defined as a summed difference score (SDS) ≥3. Left ventricular size and systolic function were assessed from the electrocardiogram-gated SPECT. FLD patients were younger (63 vs. 68 years) and had a higher body mass index (34.6 vs. 29.0 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) and a higher SDS (2.65 vs. 1.63), <i>P</i> < 0.001 for all. Independently of several possible confounding factors including traditional risk factors, patients with FLD had a 1.70-fold risk of ischaemia (95% confidence interval 1.11-2.58, <i>P</i> = 0.014). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (109 vs. 109 mL) and ejection fraction (61 vs. 61%) were comparable in those with and without FLD (non-significant for both).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>With the help of LDCT, it is possible to identify FLD, which is associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischaemia. Therefore, evaluation of FLD from LDCT is recommended along with MPI.</p>","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11240163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90894483","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}
Sigbjorn Sabo, Hakon Neergaard Pettersen, Erik Smistad, David Pasdeloup, Stian Bergseng Stølen, Bjørnar Leangen Grenne, Lasse Lovstakken, Espen Holte, Havard Dalen
{"title":"Real-time guiding by deep learning during echocardiography to reduce left ventricular foreshortening and measurement variability.","authors":"Sigbjorn Sabo, Hakon Neergaard Pettersen, Erik Smistad, David Pasdeloup, Stian Bergseng Stølen, Bjørnar Leangen Grenne, Lasse Lovstakken, Espen Holte, Havard Dalen","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad012","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Apical foreshortening leads to an underestimation of left ventricular (LV) volumes and an overestimation of LV ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain. Real-time guiding using deep learning (DL) during echocardiography to reduce foreshortening could improve standardization and reduce variability. We aimed to study the effect of real-time DL guiding during echocardiography on measures of LV foreshortening and inter-observer variability.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>Patients (<i>n</i> = 88) in sinus rhythm referred for echocardiography without indication for contrast were included. All participants underwent three echocardiograms. The first two examinations were performed by sonographers, and the third by cardiologists. In Period 1, the sonographers were instructed to provide high-quality echocardiograms. In Period 2, the DL guiding was used by the second sonographer. One blinded expert measured LV length in all recordings. Tri-plane recordings by cardiologists were used as reference. Apical foreshortening was calculated at the end-diastole. Both sonographer groups significantly foreshortened the LV in Period 1 (mean foreshortening: Sonographer 1: 4 mm; Sonographer 2: 3 mm, both <i>P</i> < 0.001 vs. reference) and reduced foreshortening in Period 2 (2 and 0 mm, respectively. Period 1 vs. Period 2, <i>P</i> < 0.05). Sonographers using DL guiding did not foreshorten more than cardiologists (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.409). Real-time guiding did not improve intra-class correlation (ICC) [LV end-diastolic volume ICC, (95% confidence interval): DL guiding 0.87 (0.77-0.93) vs. no guiding 0.92 (0.88-0.95)].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Real-time guiding reduced foreshortening among experienced operators and has the potential to improve image standardization. Even though the effect on inter-operator variability was minimal among experienced users, real-time guiding may improve test-retest variability among less experienced users.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT04580095.</p>","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11195768/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88078026","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":"A comparison of cardiovascular imaging practices in Africa, North America, and Europe: two faces of the same coin.","authors":"Suvasini Lakshmanan, Irina Mbanze","doi":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad005","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ehjimp/qyad005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are significant differences in the burden of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors, across high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. Cardiac imaging by echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging are well-established non-invasive tests that aid in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of various cardiac diseases. However, there are significant inequalities in availability and access to imaging modalities in low- and middle-income countries attributed to financial constraints, disparities in healthcare and technical infrastructure. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, these disparities are exaggerated by the continued technological advancements driving innovations in the field of cardiovascular (CV) imaging in high-income countries, while there is an urgent need to provide sustainable access to diagnostic imaging for patients in economically strained healthcare systems in regions like Africa. This review aims to highlight the inequalities in the burden of cardiac disease, associated risk factors, and access to diagnostic CV imaging tests, while also exploring the need for sustainable solutions to implementing CV imaging all over the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":94317,"journal":{"name":"European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11195774/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90490579","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}