Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a heterogeneous condition. To date, no registry data exists reflecting the spectrum of disease across the five diagnostic groups encountered in a specialist referral centre.Data was retrieved for consecutive, treatment-naïve cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2010 using a catheter-based approach. 1,344 patients were enrolled, with a mean follow-up of 2.9 yrs.The 3-yr survival was 68% for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), 73% for PH associated with left heart disease, 44% for PH associated with lung disease (PH-lung), 71% for chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH) and 59% for miscellaneous PH. Compared with PAH, survival was inferior in PH-lung and superior in CTEPH (p,0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that diagnostic group independently predicted survival. Within PAH, Eisenmenger's survival was superior to idiopathic PAH, which was superior to PAH associated with systemic sclerosis (p,0.005). Within PH-lung, 3-yr survival in sleep disorders/alveolar hypoventilation (90%) was superior to PH-lung with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (41%) and interstitial lung disease (16%) (p,0.05). In CTEPH, long-term survival was best in patients with surgically accessible disease undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy.In this large registry of consecutive, treatment-naïve patients identified at a specialist PH centre, outcomes and characteristics differed between and within PH groups. The current system of classification of PH has prognostic value even when adjusted for age and disease severity, emphasising the importance of systematic evaluation and precise classification.

Within the limitations of the available data, the meta-analysis therefore supports an association of the ACE D allele with MI risk and strengthens the justification for further evaluation in appropriately powered studies.

Objective: To study the effect of Tai Chi on exercise tolerance in patients with moderate heart failure. Design: Randomised parallel group study balanced for baseline variables. Setting: Cardiology Department, Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Patients and methods: 52 patients (42 men, mean age (68.9 years), range (46-90 years), and 10 women, mean age (70.0 years), range (58-82)) with chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association symptom class II-III) were studied. Patients were randomised to Tai Chi Chuan twice a week for 16 weeks or to standard medical care without exercise rehabilitation. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was the change in the distance walked in the shuttle walk test. Secondary outcome measures were changes in symptom scores and quality of life indices. Results: Objective measures of exercise tolerance did not improve significantly with Tai Chi, but patients having Tai Chi exercise had an improvement in symptom scores of heart failure measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (comparison of deltas, 22.4 control vs 214.9; p = 0.01), and depression scores measured by the SCL-90-R questionnaire (22.9 vs 26.8; p = 0.12) compared with those patients in the control group. Conclusion: In patients with chronic heart failure, 16 weeks of Tai Chi training was safe, with no adverse exercise related problems. It was enjoyed by all taking part and led to significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.

Background: Four-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (4D flow CMR) is an emerging non-invasive imaging technology that can be used to quantify mitral regurgitation (MR) volume. Current methods of quantification have demonstrated limitations in accurate analysis, particularly in difficult cases such as complex congenital heart disease. 4D flow CMR methods aim to circumvent these limitations and allow accurate quantification of MR volume even in complex cases. This systematic review aims to summarize the available literature on 4D flow CMR MR quantification methods and examine their ability to accurately classify MR severity. Methods: Structured searches were carried out on Medline and EMBASE in December 2018 to identify suitable research outcome studies. The titles and abstracts were screened for relevance, with a third adjudicator utilized when study suitability was uncertain. Results: Seven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. The most widely used 4D flow MRI method was retrospective valve tracking (RVT) which was examined in five papers. The key finding of these papers was that RVT is a reliable and accurate method of regurgitant volume quantification. Conclusions: MR quantification through 4D flow MRI is both feasible and accurate. The evidence gathered suggests that for MR assessment, 4D flow MRI is potentially as accurate and reliable to echocardiography and may be complementary to this technique. Further work on MR quantification 4D flow image analysis is needed to determine the most accurate analysis technique and to demonstrate 4D flow MRI as a predictor of clinical outcome. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42019122837, http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019122837