Faculty Bibliography

Background There is limited research on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is the most common inherited cardiac disorder, in diverse populations, including Black individuals. Current literature lacks comprehensive data on HCM disease expression, comorbidities, and outcomes in this historically disadvantaged group. The purpose of this study was to examine structural HCM characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes in a Black and White cohort with HCM. Methods and Results The study was a subgroup analysis from a longitudinal, prospective study on HCM, with supplemental chart review. The sample included adults (≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of HCM, who self-identified as Black/African American or White. The study sample comprised 434 individuals; 57 (13.1%) were Black, and 180 (41.5%) were women. Black patients were younger than White patients, 54.6 (13.4) versus 62.5 (14.8) years, P=0.001. Black patients were more likely to have sub-basal and diffuse hypertrophy, 22 (38.6%) versus 56 (14.9%), P<0.001, 6 (10.5%) versus 15 (4%), P=0.017, mid-LV obstruction, 7 (12.3%) versus 21 (5.5%), P=0.025, and cardiac fibrosis ≥15%, 10 (22.2%) versus 19 (8.8%), P=0.009, than White patients. Black patients were more likely to experience appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator interventions, 5 (38.5) versus 5 (6.8), P<0.001 and were more likely to have ≥2 sudden death risk factors. Comorbidities were largely similar between groups, though more Black participants had Class II obesity, 12 (21.8) versus 30 (8.1), P<0.001. Both groups had similar rates of genetic testing usage. Conclusions This study underscores the need for continued research of HCM in Black populations, including tailored approaches to diagnosis and precise evaluation of cardiac anatomy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disorder, affecting between 0.2% to 0.5% of the US population. Clinical HCM guidelines do not address diverse populations and there are gaps in the existing literature on Blacks with HCM, a traditionally underserved group. Objective: The purpose of this dissertation was to compare a Black and White cohort with HCM and describe HCM genotype and phenotype, symptom experience, including quality of life, functional capacity and provider assigned functional class (NYHA class), and outcomes differences between groups; to examine the relationship between HCM phenotype, comorbidities, and outcomes; to examine the relationship between functional capacity, HCM structural phenotype, outcomes and co-morbidities.Methods: Secondary analysis of an existing HCM dataset. Results: Blacks comprised 13% of the study sample of 434. Follow - up was a mean 2.2(SD 1.2) years. Both groups had similar magnitude of left ventricular hypertrophy but significant differences in distribution of hypertrophy. Blacks had more cardiac fibrosis. Both groups had similar number of co-morbid conditions, and obesity and hypertension were prevalent across groups. There was overall low mortality in both groups, though Blacks had more aborted sudden death events. While Blacks and Whites had similar functional class and quality of life scores, Blacks had a lower functional capacity. There was no significant association between race, HCM phenotype, symptom experience, and outcomes. Conclusions: Blacks were underrepresented in this sample, consistent with the existing HCM literature. Research with larger samples of Blacks with HCM, especially those who get HCM care in the community, is necessary to allow generalizability of results and to elucidate targets for intervention to reduce health disparities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

BACKGROUND:Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disorder globally, affecting 0.2% to 0.5% of individuals. Existing clinical HCM guidelines do not address diverse populations, specifically minority groups who often experience health disparities. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to describe the state of the science of HCM in black populations. METHODS:This integrated review guided by Whittemore and Knafl's methodology included literature search of multiple databases, data evaluation, and analysis. Publications between 2000 and 2020 were included if they addressed HCM cardiac anatomic manifestations, disease course, symptoms, quality of life, or outcomes in black populations. RESULTS:Six articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall, blacks are underrepresented in HCM research. Certain HCM structural phenotypes are more commonly exhibited in blacks, and physiology drives HCM treatment. Sudden death events and all-cause mortality do not differ between blacks and whites with HCM. Fewer blacks with HCM undergo genetic testing than whites with HCM. The lack of diversity in general genomic databases has resulted in reclassification of several genetic variants identified as more common in blacks. CONCLUSIONS:Blacks are underrepresented in HCM research, even those focused on elucidating HCM manifestations, disease course, and outcomes in black populations. This may be due in part to HCM research that is largely generated from specialty centers that can require patients to navigate complex healthcare systems to reach expert HCM care. Longitudinal studies with large samples of blacks with HCM are necessary to elucidate how HCM affects this population.

Clinical spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) has been expanded to include patients with mild or no thickening of the left ventricle (LV), who nevertheless have outflow tract obstruction at rest or after exercise, due to systolic anterior motion (SAM) and ventricular septal contact, with mitral valve elongation and papillary muscles anomalies. Apical ballooning mimicking a takotsubo syndrome (TS) wall motion pattern can occur in HC with mild septal thickening when latent obstruction becomes unrelenting. To define the prevalence of anatomic abnormalities characteristic of HC in patients diagnosed with TS, we analyzed echocardiograms of 44 unselected TS patients, age 67±12 years, 95% women including studies performed before the event (n = 11, median 515 days) and after recovery of left ventricular function (n = 33, median 92 days, interquartile range = 29 to 327) and compared the findings to 60 age and sexed matched controls. Analysis of echocardiograms was blinded to event timing, and patient vs. control status. During the ballooning event, 13 patients (30%) had SAM including 9 with LV outflow obstruction, peak gradients 71±40 mmHg, as well as: ventricular septal thickening (16 ± 4 mm), elongated anterior leaflets (30 ± 3mm), and increased mitral coaptation to posterior wall distance (17 ± 5 mm), consistent with diagnosis of the HC phenotype. Compared to 31 TS patients without SAM, study patients with SAM had longer anterior leaflets (30 ± 3 vs 26 ± 4 mm, p = 0.006), thicker septum (16 ± 4 vs 12 ± 3 mm), increased coaptation to posterior wall distance (17 ± 5 vs 14 ± 4 mm, p < 0.04) and reduced distance from coaptation to septum (19 ± 5 vs 27 ± 5, p < 0.001). In the 13 patients with SAM, morphologic characteristics of HC persisted after normalization of LV function. In conclusion, a subset of patients experiencing TS events demonstrates a constellation of morphologic abnormalities characteristic of HC that persist after recovery of LV wall motion. These findings suggest that dynamic outflow obstruction may cause apical ballooning in susceptible patients.

Background Recently the clinical spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been expanded to include patients with mild or no thickening of the left ventricle (LV) yet who have outflow tract obstruction at rest or after exercise, principally due to characteristic HCM anterior mitral leaflet (AML) elongation and papillary muscle anomalies. Apical ballooning mimicking a takotsubo syndrome (TTS) wall motion pattern can occur in mild-septal-thickening HCM when latent obstruction becomes unrelenting. The objective of this study is to define the prevalence of anatomic abnormalities characteristic of HCM in an unselected population of patients diagnosed clinically with TTS. Methods We analyzed echocardiograms of 44 admitted TTS patients including studies performed during admission, before the event (n=11, median 515 days before) and after recovery of left ventricular function (n=33, median 92 days, IQR=29-327) and compared them to 60 controls, age-matched normal women. Analysis of 148 echocardiograms was blinded to timing, and patient vs. control status. Results Age was 67+/-12 years, 42 female (95%). During the ballooning event, 13 (30%) had SAM and 9 patients (20%) had LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), gradients 71+/-40 mmHg. Compared to TTS patients without SAM, those with SAM had longer AML (30 vs. 26mm), and thicker septum (16 vs. 12 mm) and less distance from septum to coaptation (19 vs. 27mm), all p <=0.006. Eleven of the SAM patients had >=2 anatomic abnormalities predisposing to obstruction (defined as > 2 SD above normal), and/or an anomalous papillary muscle/chordae. In the 44 TTS patients each parameter differed from controls before, during and after the TTS event. Eight (18%) had abnormal right ventricular wall motion, none of whom were obstructed. Conclusion Thirty percent of unselected TTS patients have SAM and 20% have significant LVOT gradients. This subset had AML abnormalities and septal thickening typical of obstructive HCM and known to predispose to LVOT obstruction. They are phenotypically identical to patients with documented HCM with mild septal thickening and LVOT obstruction, who have experienced episodes of ballooning.

The United States (U.S.) workforce is aging. There is a paucity of literature exploring aging nurses' work ability. This study explored the work-related barriers and facilitators influencing work ability in older nurses. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of aging nurses working in direct patient care (N = 17). Participants completed phone or in-person semi-structured interviews. We used a content analysis approach to analyzing the data. The overarching theme influencing the work ability of aging nurses was intrinsically motivated. This was tied to the desire to remain connected with patients at bedside. We identified factors at the individual, unit-based work level and the organizational level associated with work ability. Individual factors that were protective included teamwork, and feeling healthy and capable of doing their job. Unit-based level work factors included having a schedule that accommodated work-life balance, and one's chronotype promoted work ability. Organizational factors included management that valued worker's voice supported work ability.

BACKGROUND:Acute left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning with normal coronary angiography occurs rarely in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM); it may be associated with severe hemodynamic instability. METHODS, RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:We searched for acute LV ballooning with apical hypokinesia/akinesia in databases of two HCM treatment programs. Diagnosis of OHCM was made by conventional criteria of LV hypertrophy in the absence of a clinical cause for hypertrophy and mitral-septal contact. Among 1519 patients, we observed acute LV ballooning in 13 (0.9%), associated with dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and high gradients, 92 ± 37 mm Hg, 10 female (77%), age 64 ± 7 years, LVEF 31.6 ± 10%. Septal hypertrophy was mild compared to that of the rest of our HCM cohort, 15 vs 20 mm (P < 0.00001). An elongated anterior mitral leaflet or anteriorly displaced papillary muscles occurred in 77%. Course was complicated by cardiogenic shock and heart failure in 5, and refractory heart failure in 1. High-dose beta-blockade was the mainstay of therapy. Three patients required urgent surgical relief of LVOT obstruction, 2 for refractory cardiogenic shock, and one for refractory heart failure. In the three patients, surgery immediately normalized refractory severe LV dysfunction, and immediately reversed cardiogenic shock and heart failure. All have normal LV systolic function at 45-month follow-up, and all have survived. CONCLUSIONS:Acute LV apical ballooning, associated with high dynamic LVOT gradients, may punctuate the course of obstructive HCM. The syndrome is important to recognize on echocardiography because it may be associated with profound reversible LV decompensation.