Abstract
Background
There are few reports on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the evaluation of valvular heart disease in a specific area or region.
Methods and results
This cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 2023 in Kumamoto Prefecture, where 106 hospitals provide cardiology services. Ninety-three (88%) of the hospitals completed questionnaires regarding TTE. The severity of low flow/low gradient AS was evaluated by dobutamine stress echocardiography in only 7% of hospitals and exercise stress echocardiography for asymptomatic mitral regurgitation in only 5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that participation in remote multi-institutional echocardiographic meetings and use of the Kumamoto Prefecture echocardiographic manual were significantly associated with the use of a multi-window approach (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
In Kumamoto Prefecture, echocardiographic measurements are performed according to the recommendations at a relatively low rate. Dissemination of recommendations through remote meetings and the use of the echocardiographic manual may increase the likelihood of TTE being performed according to the recommendations.
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Data availability
The data underlying the research results described in this paper are not publicly available due to the requirement to maintain the privacy of the research participants’ data.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Edanz (https://jp.edanz.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.
Funding
Pfizer Japan Incorporated, Edwards Lifesciences.
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H. U. received research grant from Pfizer Japan Incorporated and Edwards Lifesciences.
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The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kumamoto University (Kumamoto University Reference no. 1540) and conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Usuku, H., Yamamoto, E., Oike, F. et al. Current awareness and use of transthoracic echocardiography in evaluation of valvular heart disease in Kumamoto Prefecture -a report from the Kumamoto cardiovascular echocardiography standardization project. J Echocardiogr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12574-024-00648-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12574-024-00648-w