As hundreds of participants gathered to share and learn about the latest science from the Latin America region, the top three posters from ACC Latin America 2025 earned a spot to present at ACC.26 in New Orleans, LA.

Myocardial Contraction Fraction

The first, a study by Carlos M. Peñate, MD, et al., out of Cuba, found that myocardial contraction fraction (MCF) was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. The prospective study followed 30 patients (mean age 70 years; 23% women) with confirmed cardiac amyloidosis who had undergone transthoracic echocardiography. Results showed that during a mean follow-up period of 18 months, six patients experienced the primary outcome of all-cause mortality. Median MCF was significantly lower among patients who died during follow-up: 21.9 vs. 38.2 (p<0.0001), with 92.3% of those who died having an MCF ≤25%. "These findings support its potential role in clinical assessment and risk stratification," write the authors.

Vericiguat in HFrEF

In a separate study out of Mexico City, Patricia Nava-Sanchez, MD, et al., found that initiation of vericiguat did not affect left atrial strain in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The study started 20 patients (mean age 62; 40% women; mean LVEF, 32%) on 2.5 mg vericiguat and titrated up to 10 mg. Of the patients, 50% had an NYHA class of III-IV, 60% had ischemic etiology, and 60% had atrial fibrillation. Results showed that there was no significant change in left atrial strain over time for all patients, nor in a subgroup of patients with ischemic HFrEF and sinus rhythm. Left atrial strain showed high internal consistency over time and was positively correlated with LVEF at baseline and 30 days, as well as LV global longitudinal strain. It was inversely correlated with NYHA class at seven days and with NT-proBNP. The results suggest "a potential stabilizing effect" and "support the prognostic value of left atrial strain in HFrEF," the authors write.

Long COVID

The third winning poster by Lev Bladimir Ramírez, et al., out of Colombia, found that women with long COVID had greater cardiovascular symptom persistence and pulmonary function impairment at both 6- and 12-months' follow-up. The prospective cohort study evaluated 205 Colombian patients (64% women; median age 56 years) with long COVID, defined as symptoms persisting beyond four weeks post-infection. At six months, women reported more dizziness, dyspnea/fatigue and edema than men, with symptoms persisting at 12 months. Pulmonary function was also worse in women, and analysis found that the sex-based differences in dyspnea and pulmonary function (marked by FVC) were statistically significant (p<0.05 for both). "These findings underscore the need for sex-specific post-COVID follow-up protocols to ensure equitable recovery and reduce long-term morbidity in women," the authors conclude.

Clinical Topics: COVID-19 Hub, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Acute Heart Failure

Keywords: COVID-19, Latin America, Heart Failure