Minneapolis, MN - November 7, 2014 - Dr. Ankur Kalra, MD, the chief cardiovascular fellow at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, will present today at the Tenth Annual Cardiovascular Young Investigators' Forum behind held in Chicago, Illinois on November 6-9, 2014. Dr. Kalra's presentation, titled "Doppler Tissue Imaging Predicts Progressive Heart Failure Prognosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy," is the product of a study conducted using the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation's extensive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) database, which was compiled in large part by MHIF Research Cardiologist Dr. Barry Maron.
Until Dr. Kalra began his study, limited research had been conducted on the causes of heart failure progression in HCM patients. Researchers had investigated the risk factors of sudden cardiac death due to HCM, but the risk factors in HCM patients that are associated with heart failure progression remained unstudied and unknown. Previously, family history was the only risk factor associated with heart failure progression in HCM, a conclusion derived from a study conducted by MHIF Research Cardiologist Dr. Kevin M. Harris. Now, Dr. Kalra has made significant headway in identifying a risk marker in HCM patients that is associated with heart failure progression.
In the study, Dr. Kalra examined echocardiograms of 404 patients, looking at Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) to determine whether it has an association with heart failure progression in HCM. He found that the existence of abnormalities in DTI on initial echocardiogram is an independent risk marker for progression to HCM-related heart failure death, cardiac transplantation or progression of heart failure symptoms. Being able to identify a high risk of heart failure progression then allows for aggressive management and closer monitoring of high-risk patients.
Forty presentations in two categories - clinical and basic science - will be heard at the Young Investigators' Forum. Dr. Kalra's presentation will be made in the clinical category. One person in each category will receive $10,000 to conduct further research. The Forum is an independent medical education activity accredited by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Office of Continuing Medical Education.
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About the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation is dedicated to creating a world without heart disease through groundbreaking clinical and population health research and community outreach. MHIF's mission is to improve people's lives through the highest quality cardiovascular research and education.
Scientific Innovation and Research - Publishing more than 120 peer-reviewed studies each year, MHIF is a recognized research leader in the broadest range of cardiovascular medicine. Each year, cardiologists and hospitals around the world adopt MHIF protocols to save lives and improve patient care.
Education and Outreach - Research shows that modifying specific health behaviors can significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As part of its mission, the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation has been involved in cutting-edge, transformative population health research to connect, engage, inform and empower individuals and communities to improve their health.
About the Minneapolis Heart Institute
The Minneapolis Heart Institute is recognized internationally as one of the world's leading providers of heart and vascular care. This state-of-the-art facility combines the finest in personalized patient care with sophisticated technology in a unique, family-oriented environment. The Institute's programs, a number of which are conducted in conjunction with Abbott Northwestern Hospital, address the full range of heart and vascular health needs: prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.