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ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence, characteristics and prognostic value of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in hospitalised, non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsThis single-centre, observational, cross-sectional study included 211 patients with COVID-19 admitted to non-ICU departments who underwent a single transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Patients with poor acoustic window (n=11) were excluded. Clinical, imaging, laboratory and TTE findings were compared in patients with versus without PH (estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure >35 mm Hg) and with versus without RVD (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion <17 mm or S wave <9.5 cm/s). The primary endpoint was in-hospital death or ICU admission.ResultsA total of 200 patients were included in the final analysis (median age 62 (IQR 52–74) years, 65.5% men). The prevalence of PH and RVD was 12.0% (24/200) and 14.5% (29/200), respectively. Patients with PH were older and had a higher burden of pre-existing cardiac comorbidities and signs of more severe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (radiological lung involvement, laboratory findings and oxygenation status) compared with those without PH. Conversely, patients with RVD had a higher burden of pre-existing cardiac comorbidities but no evidence of more severe SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with those without RVD. The presence of PH was associated with a higher rate of in-hospital death or ICU admission (41.7 vs 8.5%, p<0.001), while the presence of RVD was not (17.2 vs 11.7%, p=0.404).ConclusionsAmong hospitalised non-ICU patients with COVID-19, PH (and not RVD) was associated with signs of more severe COVID-19 and with worse in-hospital clinical outcome.Trial registration numberNCT04318366

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To improve the success rates of chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention, a large range of CTO-dedicated guidewires (GWs), devices and techniques have been developed. However, such an abundant choice of materials confuses inexperienced operators. Therefore, the usefulness of a simple antegrade treatment algorithm with a limited set of GWs, for easy to intermediate lesions, was investigated. Between November 2011 and March 2013, 105 patients were included, who underwent CTO PCI following the algorithm. Lesions were classified according to the Multicenter CTO Registry of Japan score. Overall technical success was achieved in 77%. Study endpoint was successful GW crossing within 30 min and was reached in 57%. High success rates were achieved in easy (81%) and intermediate (64%) lesion types. In both types, a soft wire could successfully cross in 57% and 51% respectively, with the Fielder XT ® (Asahi Intecc Co.) capable of crossing most commonly (90%). The proposed treatment algorithm simplifies the percutaneous treatment of easy to intermediate CTO lesions. However, it merits further evaluation, especially for operators/centers who perform a low to intermediate amount of CTO PCI.