During follow-up, annualized mortality rate varies markedly according to the number of CAD risk factors in patients without known heart disease and a normal exercise SPECT stress. Despite overall excellent long-term prognosis of a normal exercise SPECT, the burden of traditional CAD risk factors exert a strong synergistic influence on long-term survival and warrant aggressive treatment in this patient population.

In mild-to-moderate LVDD patients, both FP and the Tei index were significantly higher when LVH was present. This may suggest LVH as a possible predictor for the future development of severe LVDD and diastolic heart failure.

Background Clinical characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients have been varied internationally but have not been studied in an Australian cohort. Aim To describe characteristics and outcomes of approximately the first 200 documented COVID‐19 cases during the first outbreak in the Gold Coast. Methods Retrospective observational cohort study of COVID‐19 patients managed by Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS). Demographics, clinical characteristics and outcomes data were collected. Results One hundred and ninety‐seven patients were included (mean age 45 years); 52.3% were female and 9.1% were healthcare workers. Most were overseas travellers (53.8%), contacts of a local confirmed case (25.4%) or cruise ship passengers (17.3%). The commonest comorbidities were hypertension (14.2%) and asthma (11.2%). The commonest symptoms were cough (74.1%), fever (58.9%), sore throat (48.7%), headache (48.7%) and rhinorrhoea (46.2%). Sixty‐three patients were hospitalised and the rest admitted to a ‘virtual ward’. Of 63 hospitalised patients, 5 (7.9%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 3 (4.8%) required intubation. No patients died. Due to low numbers of accurate exposure dates, the incubation period could not be reliably calculated for a significant proportion of the cohort. Average duration of symptoms was 14 days, time from first symptom to hospitalisation was 5.3 days and time from first symptom to ICU admission was 11.6 days. The majority (88%) experienced mild disease and achieved complete symptom resolution (97%). Nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction was the main diagnostic method (99%). Twenty‐four patients received anti‐viral pharmacotherapy, with 87.5% getting hydroxychloroquine. Conclusions The present study provides characteristics and outcomes of the first 197 patients with COVID‐19 in the Gold Coast.

and non-invasive ventilation. TTE revealed biventricular dilatation with severe global systolic dysfunction, and raised pulmonary pressures. A small residual pericardial effusion remained. CT coronary angiogram revealed calcium score of zero. He was discharged on bisoprolol, ramipril, and ivabradine. Progress TTE 6 weeks post-pericardiocentesis revealed resolution of systolic function. Discussion: Three possible mechanisms include pre/ afterload mismatch [1], unmasking of pre-existing LV dysfunction [3], and myocardial stunning from compression of epicardial vessels [4]. Literature reviews [2, 5] note that PDS occurred after drainage of 450-2100ml, onset within seconds to weeks, a third of cases were fatal, and two thirds of systolic dysfunction normalised. Intercostal catheters are routinely clamped to prevent re-expansion pulmonary oedema, however no such guidelines exist for pericardiocentesis. Here we suggest limiting immediate drainage to 200ml in order to reduce the likelihood of PDS. Conclusion: Further research on limiting the rate and volume of drainage may clarify how to prevent PDS.