Yanjun Wu

Background: Diagnostic rates of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis have increased due to growing awareness, noninvasive diagnoses, and treatments that improve morbidity and mortality. We sought to investigate real‐world trends in baseline characteristics and survival in the United States. Methods: Patient‐level data at 5 cardiac amyloid referral centers were used, and mortality (defined as death or surgical heart failure therapies) was compared by eras (pre‐2010, 2010–2013, 2014–2017, and 2018–2021) and National Amyloidosis Center (NAC) stage. Results: Among 1165 subjects, diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in a more recent era was associated with older age, white race, wild‐type disease, and tafamidis treatment ( P 1 portended an increased risk of death (stage 2: HR, 2.00; P P P =0.041; stage 3: P =0.012) and older age ( P =0.001). Conclusions: In this multicenter study of patients seen at referral centers for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, diagnosis in a more recent era was associated with improved survival, while tafamidis benefits were attenuated by disease severity and older age. Significant residual mortality risk remains in treated patients at higher disease stages.

Public perception regarding diagnostic sample types as well as personal experiences can influence willingness to test. As such, public preferences for specific sample type(s) should be used to inform diagnostic and surveillance testing programs to improve public health response efforts. To understand where preferences lie, we conducted an international survey regarding the sample types used for SARS-CoV-2 tests. A Qualtrics survey regarding SARS-CoV-2 testing preferences was distributed via social media and email. The survey collected preferences regarding sample methods and key demographic data. Python was used to analyze survey responses. From March 30th to June 15th, 2022, 2,094 responses were collected from 125 countries. Participants were 55% female and predominantly aged 25–34 years (27%). Education and employment were skewed: 51% had graduate degrees, 26% had bachelor’s degrees, 27% were scientists/researchers, and 29% were healthcare workers. By rank sum analysis, the most preferred sample type globally was the oral swab, followed by saliva, with parents/guardians preferring saliva-based testing for children. Respondents indicated a higher degree of trust in PCR testing (84%) vs. rapid antigen testing (36%). Preferences for self- or healthcare worker-collected sampling varied across regions. This international survey identified a preference for oral swabs and saliva when testing for SARS-CoV-2. Notably, respondents indicated that if they could be assured that all sample types performed equally, then saliva was preferred. Overall, survey responses reflected the region-specific testing experiences during the COVID-19. Public preferences should be considered when designing future response efforts to increase utilization, with oral sample types (either swabs or saliva) providing a practical option for large-scale, accessible diagnostic testing.