This review aims to explore the status of heart failure (HF) practice and research in Oman. Extensive search of databases (Arab World Research Source, EBSCOhost, Medline, and Google Scholar) yielded eight published literatures in the last two decades in Oman. The escalation of HF among older adults in Oman has been documented across the two decades. Ischemic heart disease continues to dominate as the cause for HF among the Omani population. Recent researchers have highlighted that acute coronary syndrome and noncompliance with medications are factors which precipitate an acute HF. One-year follow-up of HF patients in Oman has estimated their mortality rate at 25%. Our knowledge of HF is very limited by the few published research and data sets. However, the prevalence of HF is increasing, and is expected to dramatically increase with the rise in the Omani population in hypertension and diabetes. More research is needed in the area of HF on the Omani population.

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Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery (MINOCA) is a syndrome, which requires both clinical documentation of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (abnormal cardiac biomarker, ischemic symptoms, and electrocardiography changes) and detection of nonobstructive coronary arteries. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of and characteristics of patients with MINOCA in the Yemeni population. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted between January and June 2019 at Al-Thawra Hospital, Sana'a (Yemen), with STEMI diagnosis were enrolled in this study. Demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and coronary angiography characteristics of patients were noted. Results: MINOCA was identified in 63 patients (25%) out of 249 admitted with STEMI diagnosis at Al-Thawra Hospital. The mean age of MINOCA patients was similar to obstructive coronary group; however, they were more often females and less frequently with diabetes and family history of coronary artery disease. Other risk factors like smoking, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and oral tobacco were similar. Conversely, the percentage of Khat chewers was significantly higher in the MINOCA patients (P < 0.01) as compared to obstructive group. Conclusions: The relatively high incidence of MINOCA in our country and the long list of multiple potential causes of MINOCA should open further working diagnosis after coronary angiography and further efforts for defining the cause of myocardial infarction in each individual patient in Middle East countries.

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Aim: To investigate the precipitating factors that contribute to hospitalization and mortality in postacute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization in the Middle-East region. Methods: We evaluated patient data from the Gulf AHF registry (Gulf CARE), a prospective multicenter study conducted on hospitalized AHF patients in 47 hospitals across seven Middle Eastern Gulf countries in 2012. We performed analysis by adjusting confounders to identify important precipitating factors contributing to rehospitalization and 90- to 120-day follow-up mortality. Results: The mean age of the cohort (n = 5005) was 59.3 ± 14.9 years. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (27.2%), nonadherence to diet (19.2%), and infection (14.6%) were the most common precipitating factors identified. After adjusting for confounders, patients with AHF precipitated by infection (hazard ratio [HR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.78) and ACS (HR-1.23; 95% CI: 0.99-1.52) at admission showed a higher 90-day mortality. Similarly, AHF precipitated by infection (HR-1.13; 95% CI: 0.93–1.37), and nonadherence to diet and medication (HR-1.12; 95% CI: 0.94–1.34) during hospitalization showed a persistently higher risk of 12-month mortality compared with AHF patients without identified precipitants. Conclusion: Precipitating factors such as ACS, nonadherence to diet, and medication were frequently identified as factors that influenced frequent hospitalization and mortality. Hence, early detection, management, and monitoring of these prognostic factors in-hospital and postdischarge should be prioritized in optimizing the management of HF in the Gulf region.

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Background: The vast majority of literature on atrial fibrillation (AF) is based on studies from the developed world that mainly includes Caucasian patients. Data on AF in other ethnicities is very limited. The aim of this hospital-based study is to evaluate the effect of concomitant hypertension (HTN) on the characteristics and outcomes of Middle Eastern Arab and South Asian patients with AF in the state of Qatar. Materials and Methods and Results: During the 20-year period, 3850 AF patients were hospitalized; 1483 (38.5%) had HTN, and 2367 (61.5%) without HTN. Patients with HTN were 11 years older, compared to non-HTN patients, and had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and dyslipidemia, compared to non-HTN patients. Furthermore, underlying coronary artery disease and heart failure were significantly more common but not valvular and rheumatic heart diseases which were more common in those without HTN. The rates of in-hospital mortality and stroke were significantly higher in the presence of HTN (5.3% versus 3.5%, and 0.7% versus 0.2% respectively, P = 0.001), compared to non-HTN patients. Conclusions: HTN is significantly associated with more comorbidities and worse clinical outcomes when it coexists with AF in hospitalized Middle Eastern Arab and South Asian patients.

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Background: Digoxin poisoning leads to the development of cardiac and noncardiac complications. Digoxin immune fab is a safe and effective antidote, but clinical trials have not been performed in this regard, and most of the evidence is based on prospective studies. Understanding the toxicoepidemiology pattern of digoxin poisoning could provide valuable context for better managing its acute poisoning. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the toxicoepidemiology pattern of acute digoxin poisoning through a 5-year assessment in Iran. Methodology: In this observational study, the records of 97 patients who were referred with acute digoxin poisoning between 2010 and 2015 were evaluated. Demographic characteristics, past medical history, drug history, chief complaints, vital signs, paraclinical findings, digoxin immune fab administration, and clinical outcomes recorded. Results: The mean age of patients was 34.02 ± 17.87 years old. About 24.7% of patients had underlying diseases, and among them, heart failure was the most prevalent disease (29.2%) 42.3% of patients needed intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The mean duration of ICU stay was 4.00 ± 2.29 days. Digoxin immune fab was administered for 4.1% of patients, and an average of 6.2 ± 2.2 vials were used for them. All patients survived, and no mortality was reported. Conclusions: Digoxin immune fab administration did not alter the mortality rate. Hence, it can be concluded digoxin immune fab is not appropriate in acute poisoning, but it may be considered in chronic poisoning. Furthermore, acute digoxin poisoning is more common in Iran, and it responds appropriately to conventional treatment.

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We present the case of a 38-year-old male with a history of acute chest pain associated with electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation and levels of myocardial damage markers. Few studies have evaluated chest pain and elevated troponin T during subacute thyroiditis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the reported case of myopericarditis associated with increased thyroid hormones in the bloodstream and accompanied by a significant increase in troponin T and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings of myopericarditis during the acute phase of subacute thyroiditis.

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Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) in the context of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a challenging situation with no clear guidelines. In the absence of a consensus, optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides a better well-informed decision whether to stent or not. Herein, we report a case of MINOCA that underwent stenting of the proximal left anterior descending artery in the setting of extensive anterior wall STEMI in view of high-risk clinical presentation and OCT features of a ruptured plaque.

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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for bicuspid aortic valve stenosis can pose several technical challenges including difficult valve crossing. We report the case of a 77-year-old woman undergoing transfemoral TAVI for symptomatic severe bicuspid aortic stenosis. It proved impossible to cross the bicuspid aortic valve retrogradely despite the use of multiple catheters and wires and attempts by two interventional cardiologists. We describe a novel approach to antegrade crossing, through a transseptal access, to permit retrograde implant of prosthesis.

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an important sleep disorder and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Several recent studies have demonstrated an association OSA and atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, it is of great importance understanding the pathophysiological substrate and the interaction between OSA and AF. Moreover, it is well accepted that interatrial block (IAB), evaluated not only by the P-wave duration but also by the P-wave morphology, has the potential to give information about the anatomical substrate predisposing to AF. OSA and AF share many risk factors and comorbidities, including older age, male gender, obesity, hypertension, heart failure, and coronary artery diseases. IAB is defined when the P-wave is ≥120 ms which signifies excessive time for sinus impulses to conduct from the right atrium to the left atrium and may predict future AF events. Accordingly, recent studies have suggested that OSA is associated with atrial functional and structural remodeling which indeed are associated with increased risk of AF. We speculate that IAB, a known factor to predict future AF episodes, may associate with OSA and contribute to the development of arrhythmic events. In the present case, the report presents a woman with OSA and IAB on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) automatic P-wave analysis and some short episodes of AF in the external event recorder monitoring.

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Background: Cerebrovascular events (CVEs) are one of the rare complications of cardiac catheterization. This prospective single-center study was conducted to assess the incidence, presentations, and outcomes of CVEs in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Methods: Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization who developed CVEs within 48 h of procedure were analyzed prospectively with clinical assessment and neuroimaging. Results: Out of 55,664 patients, 35 had periprocedural CVEs (0.063%). The incidence of periprocedural CVEs with balloon mitral valvotomy, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary angiography was 0.127%, 0.112%, and 0.043%, respectively. A larger proportion of periprocedural CVEs occurred in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS, 77.1%) than in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The majority of CVEs were ischemic type (33 patients, 94.3%). It was most commonly seen in the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Hemorrhagic CVEs were very rare (2 patients, 5.7%). The majority of the CVEs manifested during or within 24 h of the procedure (31 patients, 88.6%). Neurodeficits persisted during the hospital stay in 20 patients (57.2%), who had longer duration of procedure compared to those with recovered deficits (P = 0.0125). In-hospital mortality occurred in three patients (8.5%) and post-discharge mortality in another 3 (8.5%). Conclusions: Periprocedural CVEs are rare and have decreased over time. They occur in a greater proportion in patients with ACS than in patients with stable CAD, more with interventional than diagnostic procedures. Ischemic event in the left MCA territory is the most common manifestation, commonly seen within 24 h of the procedure. Longer duration of procedure was a risk factor for larger infarcts and hence persistent neurodeficit at discharge. Although a substantial number of patients recover the neurodeficits, periprocedural CVEs are associated with adverse outcomes.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) elevation with characteristics of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) episode (duration and maximum heart rate) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) findings in patients with SVT who presented to the emergency room with palpitation. Methods: This retrospective, single-center, noninvasive study included all patients aged between 18 years and 65 years who presented to the emergency department due to narrow-complex SVT and underwent CCTA to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD) due to elevation of hs-cTnT and reverted back to sinus rhythm after intravenous adenosine. The first, second, and the maximum hs-cTnT levels were obtained from the database. The patients were classified into normal coronaries, nonobstructive CAD, and obstructive CAD according to findings of the CCTA. The findings of the groups were compared. Results: Eighty-five patients were enrolled in the study. Of them, 21 (26%) patients were female. Sixty-three patients (74%) had normal coronary arteries as per CCTA results, whereas 22 patients (22%) had nonobstructive CAD and two patients (2%) had obstructive CAD. The groups did not differ statistically in respect to hs-cTnT measurements, duration of the arrhythmia, and maximum heart rate at SVT episode. There was no significant statistical correlation between hs-cTnT and the study parameters except the maximum heart rate. Conclusion: Cardiac troponins may increase in patients with paroxysmal SVT irrespective of the presence of coronary lesions, and the CCTA may not be an appropriate investigation in the differential diagnosis of paroxysmal SVT with elevated hs-cTnT.

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Congestive heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of cardiac-related morbidity and mortality, despite major therapeutic advancements. A newer class of medications has recently been developed which targets the root cause of HF, which is reduced myocardial contractility. This article aims to highlight the cardiac myosin activator class of drugs and the trials to date highlighting their effects on HF outcomes.

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