Transcatheter Repair versus Mitral-Valve Surgery for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

Journal

The New England journal of medicine
ISSN: 1533-4406
Titre abrégé: N Engl J Med
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0255562

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
31 Aug 2024
Historique:
medline: 1 9 2024
pubmed: 1 9 2024
entrez: 31 8 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Current treatment recommendations for patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation include transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and mitral-valve surgery. Data from randomized trials comparing these therapies are lacking in this patient population. In this noninferiority trial conducted in Germany, patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation who continued to have symptoms despite guideline-directed medical therapy were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to undergo either transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (intervention group) or surgical mitral-valve repair or replacement (surgery group). The primary efficacy end point was a composite of death, hospitalization for heart failure, mitral-valve reintervention, implantation of an assist device, or stroke within 1 year after the procedure. The primary safety end point was a composite of major adverse events within 30 days after the procedure. A total of 210 patients underwent randomization. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 70.5±7.9 years, 39.9% were women, and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 43.0±11.7%. Within 1 year, at least one of the components of the primary efficacy end point occurred in 16 of the 96 patients with available data (16.7%) in the intervention group and in 20 of the 89 with available data (22.5%) in the surgery group (estimated mean difference, -6 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -17 to 6; P<0.001 for noninferiority). A primary safety end-point event occurred in 15 of the 101 patients with available data (14.9%) in the intervention group and in 51 of the 93 patients with available data (54.8%) in the surgery group (estimated mean difference, -40 percentage points; 95% CI, -51 to -27; P<0.001). Among patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair was noninferior to mitral-valve surgery with respect to a composite of death, rehospitalization for heart failure, stroke, reintervention, or implantation of an assist device in the left ventricle at 1 year. (Funded by Abbott Vascular; MATTERHORN ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02371512.).

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Current treatment recommendations for patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation include transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and mitral-valve surgery. Data from randomized trials comparing these therapies are lacking in this patient population.
METHODS METHODS
In this noninferiority trial conducted in Germany, patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation who continued to have symptoms despite guideline-directed medical therapy were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to undergo either transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (intervention group) or surgical mitral-valve repair or replacement (surgery group). The primary efficacy end point was a composite of death, hospitalization for heart failure, mitral-valve reintervention, implantation of an assist device, or stroke within 1 year after the procedure. The primary safety end point was a composite of major adverse events within 30 days after the procedure.
RESULTS RESULTS
A total of 210 patients underwent randomization. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 70.5±7.9 years, 39.9% were women, and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 43.0±11.7%. Within 1 year, at least one of the components of the primary efficacy end point occurred in 16 of the 96 patients with available data (16.7%) in the intervention group and in 20 of the 89 with available data (22.5%) in the surgery group (estimated mean difference, -6 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -17 to 6; P<0.001 for noninferiority). A primary safety end-point event occurred in 15 of the 101 patients with available data (14.9%) in the intervention group and in 51 of the 93 patients with available data (54.8%) in the surgery group (estimated mean difference, -40 percentage points; 95% CI, -51 to -27; P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair was noninferior to mitral-valve surgery with respect to a composite of death, rehospitalization for heart failure, stroke, reintervention, or implantation of an assist device in the left ventricle at 1 year. (Funded by Abbott Vascular; MATTERHORN ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02371512.).

Identifiants

DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2408739 PMID: 39216093
pubmed: 39216093
doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2408739
doi:

Banques de données

ClinicalTrials.gov
['NCT02371512']

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.

Auteurs

Stephan Baldus (S)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Torsten Doenst (T)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Roman Pfister (R)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Jan Gummert (J)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Mirjam Kessler (M)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Peter Boekstegers (P)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Edith Lubos (E)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Jörg Schröder (J)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Holger Thiele (H)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Thomas Walther (T)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Malte Kelm (M)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Jörg Hausleiter (J)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Ingo Eitel (I)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Ulrich Fischer-Rasokat (U)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Alexander Bufe (A)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Alexander Schmeisser (A)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Hüseyin Ince (H)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Philipp Lurz (P)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Ralph Stephan von Bardeleben (RS)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Christian Hagl (C)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Thilo Noack (T)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Sebastian Reith (S)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Harald Beucher (H)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Hermann Reichenspurner (H)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Wolfgang Rottbauer (W)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

P Christian Schulze (PC)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Wiebke Müller (W)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Julia Frank (J)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Martin Hellmich (M)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Thorsten Wahlers (T)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Volker Rudolph (V)

From the Department of Internal Medicine III (S.B., R.P.), the Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology (W.M., J.F., M.H.), and Cardiothoracic Surgery (T. Wahlers), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (T.D.) and Cardiology (P.C.S.), Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.G.) and General and Interventional Cardiology/Angiology (V.R.), Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Medical Faculty OWL, Bad Oeynhausen, the Department of Cardiology, Ulm University Heart Center, Ulm (M. Kessler, W.R.), the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine (P.B.), and Helios Klinikum Krefeld (A.B.), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Marienkrankenhaus (E.L.), the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf (E.L.), and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (H.R.), Hamburg, the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (J.S.), Cardiac Surgery (T.N.), Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University (H.T.), and Leipzig Heart Science (H.T.), Leipzig, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt and Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (T. Walther), University Hospital Düsseldorf and CARID (Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf), Düsseldorf (M. Kelm), Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I (J.H.) and the Department of Cardiac Surgery (C.H.), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Medical Clinic II, University Heart Center Lübeck, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Lübeck (I.E.), the Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart Center, Bad Nauheim (U.F.-R.), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg (A.S.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock (H.I.), the Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (P.L., R.S.B.), and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) partner site Rhine Main (P.L.), Mainz, St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster (S.R.), and the Department of Cardiology, Helios Klinikum Siegburg, Siegburg (H.B.) - all in Germany.

Classifications MeSH