CJC Open

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a growing public health concern associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. In recent years there has been mounting evidence to support the efficacy of early catheter ablation in managing AF compared with antiarrhythmic drugs alone,1 which has increased the demand for catheter ablation.

Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a well-established treatment for systolic heart failure (HF) with prolonged QRS duration (QRSd),1,2 response to CRT remains variable, with approximately one-third of patients failing to respond altogether.3 At its core, traditional CRT delivers right ventricular (RV) and single-site left ventricular (LV) pacing with static atrioventricular delays (AVDs).

Receiving a heart transplant (HT) can greatly improve the life expectancy and quality of life in selected patients with end-stage heart failure.1 However, access to HT is limited by donor-heart availability, which in Canada is restricted to donations that occur after neurologic determination of death (NDD). An organ shortage has led to increased waiting times.

Abstract Patients with complex congenital heart disease and Fontan palliation frequently develop extracardiac disease, including hematologic abnormalities, such as lymphopenia. However, the clinical implications of this finding are poorly understood and are therefore the topic of this investigation. Patients with Fontan physiology in our centre (1999-2018) were evaluated for the presence and impact of lymphopenia.

Why Her Heart Matters: Evidence-Based Practice and Practice-Based Evidence Colleen Norris Dr Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Sharon Mulvagh Dr Division of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie, University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Abstract Patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are at high risk of recurrence, posing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Despite the established benefit of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in many such patients, and recommendations by guidelines, few studies have described the proportion of OHCA patients who receive guideline-concordant care.

ABSTRACT This final chapter of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance “ATLAS on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Women” presents ATLAS highlights from the perspective of current status, challenges, and opportunities in cardiovascular care for women.

Abstract Balancing the effects of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in the era of potent purinergic receptor type Y, subtype 12 (P2Y12) inhibitors remains a challenge in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following a 2-stage process consisting of searching for systematic reviews published between 2019 and November 2022.

ABSTRACT Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is an LDL-like particle in which apolipoprotein (apo) B is covalently bound to a plasminogen-like molecule called apo(a). High levels of Lp(a) have been demonstrated to be an independent, causal and prevalent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), as well as aortic valve disease, through mechanisms which promote atherogenesis, inflammation and thrombosis.

Abstract People living with frailty are vulnerable to poor outcomes and incur higher health care costs after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Frailty-defining instruments for population-level research in the CABG setting have not been established.