The present findings suggest that circulating levels of miRNAs are differentially expressed in patients with HF of different aetiologies. The presence of a transcoronary concentration gradient suggests a selective release of miRNAs by the failing heart into the coronary circulation. The presence of aetiology-specific transcoronary concentration gradients in HF patients might provide important information to better understand their role in HF, and suggests they could be useful biomarkers to distinguish HF of different aetiologies.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, how IR is able to impact the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in non-diabetic patients is unknown. Objectives. We investigated the relation between the IR and the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in non-diabetic patients referred to coronary angiography (CA) Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing to CA for acute coronary syndromes or stable angina were analyzed. The IR was assessed by mean of the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) whereas the SYNTAX score (SS) was used as index of the severity of coronary atherosclerosis Results: Overall, 126 patients were included, with a median SS of 12 (IQR 5.25–20.5). Patients were divided in four groups according to the distribution in quartiles of SS (SS1-2-3-4). A significant correlation between HOMA-IR and SS was observed, especially in women. A progressive increase of HOMA-IR was observed in parallel with the increasing severity (from SS1 to SS4) and extension (1-2-3-vessel disease) of coronary atherosclerosis. Multivariable analysis showed that the HOMA-IR was the strongest independent predictor of severe (SS4) and extensive (three-vessel disease) coronary atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Insulin resistance goes hand in hand with the extension and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in non-diabetic patients. The HOMA index is an independent predictor of three-vessel disease at CA. The HOMA index could be useful for risk stratification of CAD even in absence of T2DM.

Aim Remote monitoring (RM) of implantable cardiac devices has enabled continuous surveillance of atrial high rate episodes (AHREs) with well‐recognized clinical benefits. We aimed to add evidence on the role of the RM as compared to conventional follow‐up by investigating the interval from AHRE onset to physician’s evaluation and reaction time in actionable episodes. Methods and Results A total of 97 dual‐chamber pacemaker recipients were followed with RM (RM‐ON group; N = 64) or conventional in‐office visits (RM‐OFF group; N = 33) for 18 months. In‐office visits were scheduled at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months in the RM‐OFF group and at 1 and 18 months in the RM‐ON group. The overall AHRE rate was 1.98 per patient‐year (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76–2.20) with no difference between the two groups (RM‐ON vs. RM‐OFF weighted‐HR, 0.88; CI, 0.36–2.13; p = .78). In the RM‐ON group, 100% AHREs evaluated within 11 days from onset, and within 202 days in the RM‐OFF group, with a median evaluation delay 79 days shorter in the RM‐ON group versus the RM‐OFF group (p < .0001). Therapy adjustment in actionable AHREs occurred 77 days earlier in the RM‐ON group versus the control group (p < .001). In the RM‐ON group, there were 50% less in‐office visits as compared to the RM‐OFF group (p < .001). Conclusions In our pacemaker population with no history of atrial fibrillation, RM allowed significant reduction of AHRE evaluation delay and prompted treatment of actionable episodes as compared to biannual in‐office visit schedule.

Background: More and more heart failure (HF) patients aged ≥ 75 years undergo cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation, however the data regarding the outcomes and their predictors are scant. We investigated the mid- to long-term outcomes and their predictors in CRT patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: Patients in the Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Modular (CRT MORE) Registry were divided into three age-groups: <65(group A), 65–74 (group B) and ≥75 years (group C). Mortality, hospitalization, and composite event rate were evaluated at 1 year and during long-term follow-up. Results: Patients (n = 934) were distributed as follows: group A 242; group B 347; group C 345. On 12-month follow-up examination, 63% of patients ≥ 75 years displayed a positive clinical response. Mortality was significantly higher in patients ≥ 75 years than in the other two groups, although the rate of hospitalizations for HF worsening was similar to that of patients aged 65–74 (7 vs. 9.5%, respectively; p = 0.15). Independent predictors of death and of negative clinical response were age >80 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Over long-term follow-up (1020 days (IQR 680-1362)) mortality was higher in patients ≥ 75 years than in the other two groups. Hospitalization and composite event rates were similar in patients ≥ 75 years and those aged 65–74 (9 vs. 11.8%; p = 0.26, and 26.7 vs. 20.5%; p = 0.06). Conclusion: Positive clinical response and hospitalization rates do not differ between CRT recipients ≥ 75 years and those aged 65–74. However, age > 80 years, COPD and CKD are predictors of worse outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have higher risk of ischemic stroke. Purpose We investigated whether AF patients experiencing an ischemic stroke have worse outcomes. Methods AF patients admitted to the stroke unit from 2018 to 2021 were included. The NIHSS and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score were calculated at the admission and at discharge. The neurological improvement was calculated as delta NIHSS (NIHSS at admission - NIHSS at discharge =Δdis). Results Six-hundred patients (45% men), mean age 69±13 years. Of these 75 had previous history of atrial fibrillation (AF) and 86 had AF during the hospitalization (46 both). Overall 115 had one of the two. Patients with AF had higher NIHSSad (14.5±7 vs 9.6±7; p&lt;0.001) and NIHSS24 (10.4±8 vs 7.2±7; p&lt;0.001) than patients without, however the neurological improvement was greater (Δdis -8.4±8 vs -5.1±6; p=0.004), indeed the NIHSSdis was similar (5.6±7 vs 4.1±6; p=0.1). Patients with AF also had a more impaired mRS before the ischemic event and at discharge (1.34±1.3 vs 0.58±1.1, p&lt;0.001; 2.6±1.7 vs 1.8±1.9, p=0.005). Amongst AF patients with CHADVASC³2 in men and ³3 in women, 36% of them were taking antiplatelet therapy, 35% anticoagulants and 29% didn’t take any therapy. Of interest, no differences in the NIHSSad nor in the NIHSSdis were found between them and neither in the Δdis. As for the treatment of AF patients, patients who underwent to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) had higher NIHSSad (17± 5) compared to patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IV) or nothing (11± 7 and 12± 8) (p&lt;0.001). The NIHSSdis was similar between the three groups however the Δdis was significantly higher in patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (-12.5±6 vs 3.6±4; vs 3.1±8; p=0.003 and p&lt;0.001 respectively). Conclusions Patients with AF experience more severe stroke, however the neurological recovery is greater than in patients without the arrhythmia. The treatment with antiplatelets or anticoagulants before the event does not reduce the severity of the stroke and does not influence the improvement of the NIHSS at discharge. The mechanical thrombectomy is more effective in reducing the neurological impairment.