In this special preview episode for SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Houston taking place November 6-7, 2026, SMA President Dr. David Netscher is joined by Olympian and sports psychologist Lennie Waite, PhD, for a compelling conversation on performance, resilience, and the mental demands of high-pressure environments.
Objective: Despite advancements in heart failure (HF) diagnostics and treatment, many palliative care patients with HF often seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve quality of life and address unmet physical and emotional needs. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and patterns of CAM use among HF patients…
Objectives: Current evidence describing physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in people with and without heart failure (HF) is limited. This study examines PA participation and ST in a nationally representative sample of US adults with and without self-reported HF. Methods: The study sample (N = 21,633) included US…
Dr. Sara Paul, a nurse practitioner in a private cardiology practice in Western North Carolina, and SMA President Dr. Lee Carter, an internal medicine specialist in private practice in Hickory, North Carolina, offer listeners a preview of Dr. Paul’s Assembly presentation on heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic autosomal dominant disorder of the heart muscle that is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and sudden cardiac death. It is the most common inherited cardiac disease. HCM is defined by sarcomeric mutations that result in fibrosis of the heart, affecting contraction. In most cases,…
Objectives: Obesity and cardiovascular disease remain significant burdens on the overall provision of health care in the United States. Obesity has been shown to be a direct risk factor for heart failure (HF). We conducted a nationwide cohort study to assess the short-term impact of obesity in hospitalized patients with…
Objective: To assess the current use of β-blockers in patients with compelling indications for use, following the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective observational study using data from all of the patients admitted to five institutions for an acute exacerbation of COPD. Patients…
Objectives: Gas exchange measurements obtained during submaximal exercise have been shown to provide prognostic and diagnostic information in patients with heart failure (HF) and to differentiate heart versus lung limitations in patients with unexplained dyspnea. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical utility of submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise…
Evidence suggests prognostic utility of troponin (Tn) serum concentrations for a variety of conditions. We sought to determine whether elevated concentrations early after anthracycline chemotherapy predict the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in adult patients with cancer. PubMed/MEDLINE searches identified original reports that assessed cardiac TnI or TnT within…
Background: Hepatitis secondary to infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most common causes of viral hepatitis worldwide. Multiple extrahepatic manifestations of HCV infection have been recognized. Dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with HCV infection have been recently described in the literature; however, the effect of…
Objectives: This study assessed if patients enrolled in a heart failure disease management program (HFDMP) reach the JNC VII target goals for blood pressure (BP) control, eliminate disparities in hypertension control by race/ ethnicity and the impact BP control has on survival. Methods: Patients (N = 898) with an ejection…
Objective: To determine if B-natriuretic peptide (BNP), handheld ultrasound, and echo interpretation was an accurate and reliable screening for stage B heart failure. Methods: One hundred and forty-five indigent diabetic patients were prospectively enrolled, and their BNP levels were measured. Each patient underwent a handheld echo. Results: BNP was correlated…
Background: Heart failure (HF) management programs worldwide have reported conflicting outcomes in the past. Objectives: We sought to determine retrospectively whether the multidisciplinary outpatient management (MOM) program [heart failure clinic (HFC)], decreased readmission rates (RR), duration of hospital stay, and/or mortality in HF patients. Methods: Records of 138 HF patients…
Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of both morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world. The frequency of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) is significantly increased in individuals with cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure. Given the co-morbidities associated with SRBD coexisting with HF, prompt recognition and early management of…
Abstract:A 55-year-old man evaluated for syncope had mild and gradually progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction on initial workup. Although not identified initially, repeat cardiac magnetic resonance one year later demonstrated the presence of trabeculations in the left ventricle consistent with the diagnosis of isolated non-compaction of the left ventricular myocardium….
Abstract:Type 2 diabetes is a common problem with serious complications. Optimal glycemic control is a major challenge in diabetes, and inadequate control can lead to acute complications as well as end-organ damage. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in diabetes. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), one of the newer classes of…
A 35-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit with heart failure and chest pain. Echocardiography had shown dilated cardiomyopathy, with a preponderance of right heart findings and pulmonary hypertension. In a woman with multiple prior uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, and no other known risk factors of developing pulmonary…
Abstract:A previously healthy 29-year-old patient presented with new onset congestive heart failure. Based on findings on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at an outside center, the patient was diagnosed as having a dilated cardiomyopathy with structural abnormalities in the ventricular septum and left ventricular (LV) apex…
Carbohydrate antigen 125, known as a marker for ovarian cancer, has been reported to be elevated in heart failure caused by left ventricular dysfunction. A case of elevated carbohydrate antigen 125 in isolated right heart failure due to atrial septal defect with preserved left ventricular function is reported. Key Points…
Ethacrynic acid is a loop diuretic little used today because of its side-effect profile and the availability of multiple alternative agents. However, in our clinical experience, ethacrynic acid can alleviate acute congestive heart failure and ascites resistant to other diuretics. Two patients aged 89 and 94 in life-threatening pulmonary edema…
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