bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do psychosocial factors affect readmission in heart failure patients? A single centre study in a veteran population in south Florida, USA
Authors: Mahabir S , Kittipibul V , Zarrabian B , Alarcon-Calderon A , Olarte N , Marzouka G , Palacio A
Published: November 2020

Background

We aim to determine the influence of psychosocial factors on readmission rates in a south Florida hospital serving a largely minority Veteran population with unique psychosocial co-morbidities that impact their health care.

Purpose

We aim determine which psychosocial factors are predictors of readmission in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods

This is a retrospective study conducted at the Miami Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in South Florida, USA. Patients who were admitted for heart failure exacerbations from September 2018 to August 2019 were identified and included in this study. Data on baseline charateristics and co-morbidities was obtained from review of patients' electronic health records. Psychosocial assessment was done via telephone interview using a previously validated questionnaire on gender, self-reported ethnicity, level of education, marital status, employment status, homelessness, monthly financial strain, overall stress level, neighbourhood safety and social interaction. Perceived health competence was assessed with the two items Perceived Health Competence Scale (PHCS-2).

Results

We identified 185 patients during the study period (mean age 70.8±11.9 years, 98% male). Thirty-eight of these patients had one or more readmissions within one year. Our cohort was 22% White, 15% Hispanic and 60% African American based on self-reported race. We interviewed 78 patients; 14 with readmission, 64 without readmission. 21% had died at the time of our follow-up and we were unable to contact 27% of patients. On univariate analysis, homelessness and ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% were significantly associated with HF readmission (OR 8.3 p=0.002 and OR 6.8 p=0.008, respectively). No significant differences in other psychosocial characteristics were noted between groups. After adjustment for age in multivariate analysis, homelessness and LVEF <40% remained significant predictors for HF readmission (OR 13.4 p=0.005 and OR 8.8 p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study population was largely a minority population (15% Hispanic and 60% African American). After comparing multiple psychosocial factors, homelessness was found to be a significant and independent risk factor for heart failure readmission. This suggests that the recent focus on heart failure readmissions may need to include social interventions targeting homelessness. Future research should aim to determine whether multidisciplinary interventions aimed at addressing homelessness in patients with heart failure would help reduce hospital readmissions for congestive heart failure.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Risk of heart failure associated with thiazide diuretics compared with calcium channel blockers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide nested case-control study
Authors: Malik M.E , Andersson C , Feifel J , Gerds T.A , Zareini B , Malmborg M , Lund-Kristensen S , Lamberts M , Koeber L , Torp-Pedersen C , Gislason G , Schou M
Published: November 2020

Background

Thiazide diuretics and calcium channel blockers (CCB's) are two important and widely used antihypertensive drugs classes among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The risk of developing heart failure (HF) is increased in patients with T2D but whether use of these two drugs are associated with changes in HF risk is unknown.

Purpose

To examine and compare the association of two different classes of antihypertensive drugs, thiazide diuretics and CCB's, with the development of new onset HF in patients with T2D.

Methods

The study cohort comprised T2D patients >40 years on metformin and renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-i) without a history of HF or use of loop diuretics identified in Danish health care registers (period 1995 to 2015). A nested case-control study was conducted by matching all HF cases on sex, age and duration of T2D with 10 controls from the T2D population. Exposure was defined as three redeemed prescriptions of either a thiazide diuretic or a CCB up to 365 days before index, which corresponds to one year of antihypertensive therapy. Conditional logistic regression adjusted for comorbidities (atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and anemia) was used to estimate and compare the treatment effect of thiazide diuretics and CCB's, with patients receiving neither of the two drugs as reference.

Results

The study population consisted of 170,514 T2D patients using metformin and RAS-i, comprising 13,814 HF cases each matched on sex, age and duration of T2D with 10 controls. The median age was 62 years and 55% were men. T2D patients, who had received antihypertensive treatment with only thiazide diuretics one year prior to index had a significantly lower risk of HF compared to the reference group who did not receive treatment with neither thiazide diuretics or CCB's: Hazard ratio (HR) 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74–0.85]. Patients who had received treatment with only CCB's had a comparable risk of HF: HR 0.98 [95% CI 0.94–1.02]. Patients who had received treatment with both thiazide diuretics and CCB's were not associated with a lower risk of HF: HR 1.01 [95% CI 0.96–1.08].

Conclusion

Patients with T2D who received antihypertensive therapy with thiazide diuretics for at least one year had a significantly lower risk of HF compared to those who were not treated with either thiazide diuretics or CCB's. No association between use of CCB's and HF was observed. Use of thiazide diuretics may prevent development of HF in T2D and a randomized clinical trial evaluating diuretics is patients with T2D is warranted.

Risk of new onset heart failure

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Rates and causes of readmissions following index admissions for Takotsubo syndrome-a meta-analysis of 118,941 index hospitalizations
Authors: Desai R , Sachdeva S , Singh S , Rajan S.K , Shaik A.S , Haider M , Fong H.K , Gangani K , Sachdeva R , Kumar G
Published: November 2020

Background

Rising trends in takotsubo syndrome (TTS)-related complications warrant data to identify the rate, causes and predictors of readmission on a large scale. We conducted the first-ever meta-analysis to evaluate the pooled rate of short-term and long-term readmissions after index TTS admissions.

Methods

PubMed/Medline, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases were systematically reviewed to find studies through October 2019 reporting rates and causes of readmission following index TTS admissions. Random effects models were used to estimate pooled rates and causes of readmissions and I2 statistics were used to report inter-study heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 16 cohorts with 118,941 TTS index admissions (mean age 65–75 yrs; female >85%, median follow-up 272.5 days) revealed a 16.6% [95% CI-13.2%-20.3%, I2=99%] pooled rate of readmission. Short-term and long-term pooled readmission rates are displayed in Fig.1. The readmission rate was higher in cohorts with young patients (<70 vs. >70 yrs), smaller sample size (n<100 vs. n>100) and single-centres vs. multicentres. Studies published from the USA (16.4% vs. 14.9%) had a higher readmission rate as compared to Italy. The most frequent causes were cardiac (40.6%), respiratory (15.7%) and renal (7.0%). Among readmissions with cardiac diagnoses, heart failure was most common (40.1%).

Conclusions

This global meta-analysis revealed that the pooled rate of readmission following index TTS admissions was ∼17% and causes were mainly cardiac or respiratory.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Functional assessment of myocardial ischemia by intracoronary electrocardiogram
Authors: Bigler M.R , Praz F , Siontis G.C.M , Stoller M , Grossenbacher R , Tschannen C , Seiler C
Published: November 2020

Background

In patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) targets hemodynamically significant stenoses, i.e., those thought to cause ischemia. The hemodynamic severity of a coronary stenosis increases with its tightness and with the myocardial mass of viable myocardium downstream of the stenosis. Besides the structural angiographic approach, assessment of functional relevance by pressure measurements (fractional flow reserve, FFR; instantaneous wave-free ratio, iFR) is recommended. However, visual angiographic assessment continues to dominate the treatment decisions for intermediate coronary lesions. Conversely, intracoronary ECG (icECG) potentially provides an inexpensive, sensitive and direct measure of myocardial ischemia.

Purpose

The goal of this study was to test the accuracy of intracoronary ECG during pharmacologic inotropic stress to determine coronary lesion severity in comparison to established physiologic indices (FFR/iFR) as well as with quantitatively determined percent diameter stenosis (%S) using biplane coronary angiography.

Method

This was a prospective, open-label study in patients with CCS. The primary study end point was the maximal change in icECG ST-segment shift during pharmacologic inotropic stress induced by dobutamine plus atropine obtained within 1 minute after the point of maximal heart rate (estimated by the formula 220 - age). IcECG was acquired by attaching an alligator clamp to the angioplasty guidewire positioned downstream of a stenosis. For the pressure-derived ratios, i.e. FFR and iFR, the coronary perfusion pressure downstream of a lesion as well as the aortic pressure were continuously recorded.

Results

One hundred patients were included in the study. Pearson-Correlation coefficient was significant between icECG and all three comparators (%S p<0.001, iFR p<0.001, FFR p<0.001). Using the FFR threshold of 0.80 defining coronary hemodynamic significance, ROC-analysis of the absolute icECG ST-segment shift showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.708±0.053 (p=0.0001, n=100, FFR<0.80 n=41). AUC for iFR was 0.919±0.030 (p<0.0001), for percent diameter stenosis it was 0.867±0.036 (p<0.0001).

Conclusions

During pharmacologic inotropic stress, intracoronary ECG ST-segment shift provides specific evidence for regional myocardial ischemia irrespective of the etiology and thus, provides an additional (patho-)physiologic information for decision making in borderline coronary lesions.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Swiss Heart Foundation
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels, endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in patients with stable coronary artery disease
Authors: Mourouzis K , Siasos G , Oikonomou E , Zaromitidou M , Tsigkou V , Antonopoulos A.S , Bletsa E , Stampouloglou P.K , Vlassis K , Vavouranakis M , Tousoulis D
Published: November 2020

Background

Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), has inflammatory and atherogenic actions in the vascular wall. We investigate the impact of high Lp-PLA2 levels on endothelial function and arterial stiffness on patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

We enrolled 374 consecutive patients with stable CAD (mean age 61±11 years). Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and reflected waves with augmentation index (AIx) of the central aortic pressure. Serum levels of Lp-PLA2 were measured with ELISA.

Results

In the studied population the median values of Lp-PLA2 levels was 125 (96–152) μg/L. There was no difference between subjects with Lp-PLA2 levels above and below 125μg/L concerning classical risk factors for CAD. Importantly, subjects with Lp-PLA2 values ≥125μg/L had significantly impaired FMD (4.44±2.19% vs. 4.89±2.07%, p=0.04) and AIx values (25.21±8.70% vs. 23.06±9.47%, p=0.03), compared to participants with lower Lp-PLA2 serum levels. A linear regression analysis revealed that Lp-PLA2 ≥125μg/L negatively relates to impaired FMD [b=−0.54 (95% CI: −1.05 to −0.02), p=0.04] and AIx values [b=2.14 (95% CI: 0.18–4.01), p=0.03] independently of cofounders.

Conclusions

Elevated Lp-PLA2 relates to endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in CAD patients. These findings highlight the significant role of Lp-PlA2 in the process of atherosclerosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Quantitative flow ratio to predict non-target-vessel-related events at 5 years in STEMI patients undergoing angiography-guided revascularization
Authors: Baer S , Kavaliauskaite R , Ueki Y , Otsuka T , Engstrom T , Baumbach A , Roffi M , Von Birgelen C , Vukcevic V , Pedrazzini G , Kornowski R , Tueller D , Losdat S , Windecker S , Raeber L
Published: November 2020

Background

In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), angiography-based complete revascularization is associated with superior outcomes compared with culprit-lesion-only percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Quantitative Flow Ratio (QFR) is a novel, non-invasive, vasodilator-free method to assess the hemodynamic significance of coronary stenoses.

Purpose

To investigate the incremental value of QFR over angiography alone in the assessment of non-culprit lesions (NCL) in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Methods

In the randomized, multicenter COMFORTABLE AMI trial, STEMI patients underwent angiography-guided complete revascularization. QFR was determined in untreated non-target vessels by assessors blinded for clinical outcomes.

Results

Out of 1161 STEMI patients, 946 vessels in 617 patients could be analyzed by QFR. At 5-year follow-up, the rate of the primary endpoint cardiac death, non-target vessel myocardial infarction (non-TV-MI) and clinically indicated, non-target vessel revascularization (non-TVR) was significantly higher in patients with QFR ≤0.80 compared with QFR >0.80 (62.9% vs. 12.7%, HR 7.20, 95% CI 4.46–11.62, p<0.001), driven by higher rates of non-TV-MI (15.4% vs. 3.6%, HR 4.59, 95% CI 1.72–12.23, p=0.002) and non-TVR (58.6% vs. 7.7%, HR 10.99, 95% CI 6.39–18.91, p<0.001). No significant differences for cardiac death were observed. Multivariate analysis identified QFR ≤0.80, MI SYNTAX score and left ventricular function as independent predictors of the primary endpoint. QFR ≤0.80 showed an accuracy of 86.1%, sensitivity of 23.2%, specificity of 97.5%, positive predictive value of 62.9% and negative predictive value of 87.5% for the prediction of the primary endpoint.

Conclusions

Our study results suggest incremental value of QFR over angiography-guided PCI for NCL among STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Kaplan-Meier curves of primary endpoint

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Determinants of trajectories of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation: a population based study
Authors: Bonnet G , Coutance G , Van Keer J , Raynaud M , Aubert O , Bories M.C , Bruneval P , Varnous S , Leprince P , Empana J.P , Naesens M , Patel J.K , Loupy A , Kobashigawa J , Jouven X
Published: November 2020

Background

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major contributor of heart transplant recipient's mortality. Little is known about determinants of CAV trajectories at a population level.

Purpose

We aimed to identify the respective contribution of immune and non-immune factors in the different evolutive profiles of CAV.

Methods

Heart transplant recipients receiving care at 2 academic centers (2004 to 2016) were included. Patients underwent prospective, protocol-based monitoring consisting of repeated coronary angiographies together with systematic assessment of clinical, functional, histological and immunological parameters. The outcome was CAV trajectories, identified with unsupervised latent class mixed models. The independent, predictive factors of CAV trajectories were investigated with multinomial regressions (NCT04117152).

Results

Overall, 815 patients were included. The median follow-up post-transplant was 7.7 years (IQR=5.14) with 2,742 coronary angiographies analyzed. We identified 4 distinct profiles of CAV trajectories over 10 years that were characterized by i) Patients without CAV at baseline and non-progression (n=459, 56.3%), ii) patients without CAV at baseline and late onset CAV progression (n=62, 7.6%), iii) patients with mild baseline CAV and mild progression (n=188 23.1%), iv) patients with mild baseline CAV and accelerated CAV progression (n=106, 13.0%, discrimination 0.92). Six early independent predictors of CAV trajectories were identified: donor age (p<0.001), donor male gender (p<0.001), donor tobacco consumption (p=0.001), recipient post-transplant dyslipidemia (p=0.009), preexisting or de novo class II anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies (p=0.004) and episode of acute cellular rejection ≥2R during the first year post transplantation (p=0.028).

Conclusion

In a large multicentric and highly phenotyped prospective cohort of heart transplant recipients, we identified 4 robust CAV trajectories and their respective immune and non-immune determinants. Our results provide the basis for a trajectory-based assessment of heart transplant patients for early patient risk stratification and patient monitoring.

Factors associated CAV trajectories in multivariate analyses in the derivation cohort. This table shows the association of clinical, immunological, functional and structural parameters associated with CAV trajectories in multivariate multinomial regression analysis. The trajectory of reference was trajectory #1, including patients with no CAV at baseline and stable CAV grade over time.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and long-term mortality may differ from lipoprotein(a) levels among patients undergoing coronary angiography
Authors: Guo Z , Lei L , Ying M , Wang B , Liu J , Liu L , He Y , Sun G , Chen S , Liu B , Chen G , Chen J , Liu Y
Published: November 2020

Background

The use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as an inflammation biomarker in predicting long-term mortality remains controversial. We aimed to investigate whether the association of hs-CRP with long-term mortality differs from another inflammation biomarker, lipoprotein(a), in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods

A total of 2422 patients undergoing CAG were included in the final analysis from a prospective, observational study. We divided them into 4 groups according to hs-CRP level (high ≥4.8 mg/l, low <4.8 mg/l) and lipoprotein(a) level (high ≥17 mg/dl, low <17 mg/dl).

Results

The overall incidence of all-cause long-term mortality was 133/2422 (5.5%). In the high lipoprotein(a) group, after adjusting for LDL-cholesterol concentration (LDL-C), age, sex, smoking status, diabetes mellitus and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a high hs-CRP level was an independent predictor of all-cause long-term mortality (hazard ratio: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.13–3.54; p=0.02). In the low lipoprotein(a) group, a similar result was not found (hazard ratio: 1.42; 95% CI: 0.92–2.01; p=0.24).

Conclusions

Our data suggested that the association of hs-CRP with all-cause long-term mortality may differ from lipoprotein(a) levels among patients undergoing CAG. In addition to hs-CRP, a high lipoprotein(a) level might be a simultaneous intervention target for improving long-term prognosis in the future.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Predictive value of preprocedural albuminuria for contrast-induced nephropathy non-recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Chen H , Lin K , He C , He H , Zhang S , Guo Y
Published: November 2020

Background

The degree of renal recovery from contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) may affect long-term outcomes. Albuminuria had been generally considered to be an independent risk factor of CIN. However, the predictive value of albuminuria for CIN non-recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unknown.

Purpose

To evaluate the association of preprocedual albuminuria and CIN non-recovery after PCI.

Methods

From January 2012 to December 2018, 550 consecutive patients developing CIN after PCI and reassessing kidney function among 1 to 12 months were enrolled. CIN non-recovery was defined as a relative decrease of serum creatinine ≥25% or 0.5 mg/dl over baseline at 1 to 12 months in patients who developed CIN. Patients were stratified into three groups according to urinary albumin: negative group (urine dipstick negative), trace group (urine dipstick trace) and positive group (urine dipstick ≥1+).

Results

Overall, 88 (16%)patients had trace urinary albumin, 74 (13.5%) patients had positive urinary albumin and 40 (7.3%) patients developed CIN non-recovery. Patients with positive urinary albumin had significantly higher incidence of CIN non-recovery [negative (3.4%), trace (11.4%) and positive (23.0%), respectively; P<0.0001]. Multivariate analysis showed that trace and positive urinary albumin were associated with an increased risk of CIN non-recovery (trace vs. negative: OR: 2.879, P=0.022; positive vs negative: OR: 2.991, P=0.021).

Conclusion

Preprocedural albuminuria was associated CIN non-recovery in patients undergoing PCI.

Incidence of CIN non-recovery

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
The impact of emergent PCI on clinical outcome in AMI patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Yamagata AMI registry
Authors: Otaki Y , Watanabe T.W , Goto J.G , Toshima T.T , Wanezaki M.W , Nishiyama S.N , Tamura H.T , Kato S.K , Takahashi H.T , Arimoto T.A , Watanabe M.W
Published: November 2020

Background

Despite improvement of survival rate in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is still devasting condition. The association of emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with clinical outcome in AMI patients with OHCA has not yet been fully elucidated.

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of emergent PCI on the clinical outcome in AMI patients with OHCA.

Method and results

We analyzed the data from Yamagata AMI registry among 2012–2017, which is multicenter surveillance conducted in all institution on Yamagata prefecture. Among 3332 AMI patients, there were 254 AMI patients with OHCA. The acute death rate was higher in AMI patients with OHCA than those without (70% vs. 13%, P<0.0001). Successful PCI was defined as TIMI grade flow III. AMI patients with OHCA were divided into three groups based on the PCI (successful PCI group, n=70; unsuccessful PCI group, n=14; and Non-PCI group, n=170). The acute death rates in successful PCI, unsuccessful PCI, and non-PCI group were 13%, 64%, 94%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that acute death rate was the lowest in successful PCI group compared to other groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis demonstrated that successful PCI was inversely associated with acute death after adjustment for confounding factors. The rate of thrombus aspiration was higher in successful PCI than in unsuccessful PCI group.

Conclusion

Successful PCI is of critical importance to prevent acute death in AMI patients with OHCA.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Short-term risk stratification using CADILLAC risk score in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Satou T , Kitahara H , Ishikawa K , Nakayama T , Fujimoto Y , Sano K , Kobayashi Y
Published: November 2020

Background

The recent reperfusion therapy for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has made the length of hospital stay shorter without adverse events. CADILLAC risk score is reportedly one of the risk scores predicting the long-term prognosis in STEMI patients.

Purpose

To invenstigate the usefulness of CADILLAC risk score for predicting short-term outcomes in STEMI patients.

Methods

Consecutive patients admitted to our university hospital and our medical center with STEMI (excluding shock, arrest case) who underwent primary PCI between January 2012 and April 2018 (n=387) were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the CADILLAC risk score: low risk (n=176), intermediate risk (n=87), and high risk (n=124). Data on adverse events within 30 days after hospitalization, including in-hospital death, sustained ventricular arrhythmia, recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure requiring intravenous treatment, stroke, or clinical hemorrhage, were collected.

Results

In the low risk group, adverse events within 30 days were significantly less observed, compared to the intermediate and high risk groups (n=13, 7.4% vs. n=13, 14.9% vs. n=58, 46.8%, p<0.001). In particular, all adverse events occurred within 3 days in the low risk group, although adverse events, such as heart failure (n=4), recurrent myocardial infarction (n=1), stroke (n=1), and gastrointestinal bleeding (n=1), were substantially observed after day 4 of hospitalization in the intermediate and high risk groups.

Conclusions

In STEMI patients with low CADILLAC risk score, better short-term prognosis was observed compared to the intermediate and high risk groups, and all adverse events occurred within 3 days of hospitalization, suggesting that discharge at day 4 might be safe in this study population. CADILLAC risk score may help stratify patient risk for short-term prognosis and adjust management of STEMI patients.

Initial event occurrence timing

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Can left ventricular global function index be a novel marker of unfavorable outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Minushkina L , Brazhnik V , Selezneva N , Safarjan V , Alekhin M , Kapustina A , Zateyshchikov D
Published: November 2020

Left ventricular (LV) global function index (LVGFI) is a MRI marker of left ventricular remodeling. LVGFI has high predictive significance in young healthy individuals. The aim of the study was to assess prognostic significance in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

We include into this analysis 2169 patients with ACS (1340 (61.8%) men and 829 (38.2%) women), mean age 64.08±12.601 years. All patients were observed in 2 Russian multicenter observational studies: ORACLE I (ObseRvation after Acute Coronary syndrome for deveLopment of trEatment options) (2004–2007 years) and ORACLE II (NCT04068909) (2014–2019 years). 1886 (87.0%) pts had arterial hypertension, 1539 (71.0%) – history of coronary artery disease, 647 (29.8%) – history of myocardial infarction, 444 (20.5%) - diabetes mellitus. Duration of the follow-up was 1 years after the hospital discharge. Cases of death from any cause, coronary deaths, repeated coronary events (fatal and non-fatal) were recorded. An echocardiographic study was conducted 5–7 days from the time of hospitalization. The LVGFI was defined as LV stroke volume/LV global volume × 100, where LV global volume was the sum of the LV mean cavity volume ((LV end-diastolic volume + LV end-systolic volume)/2) and myocardial volume (LV mass/density).

During the follow-up, 193 deaths were recorded (8.9%), 122 deaths (5.6%) were coronary. In total, repeated coronary events were recorded in 253 (11.7%) patients. Mean LVGFI was 22.64±8.121%. Patients who died during the follow-up were older (73.03±10.936 years and 63.15±12.429 years, p=0.001), had a higher blood glucose level at the admission to the hospital (8.12±3.887 mmol/L and 7.17±3.355 mmol/L, p=0.041), serum creatinine (110.86±53.954 μmol/L and 99.25±30.273 μmol/L, p=0.007), maximum systolic blood pressure (196.3±25.17 mm Hg and 190.3±27.83 mm Hg, p=0.042). Those who died had a lower LVGFI value (19.75±6.77% and 23.01±8.243%, p<0.001). Myocardial mass index, ejection fraction and other left ventricular parameters did not significantly differ between died and alive patients. Among the patients who died, there were higher rate of women, pts with a history of myocardial infarction, heart failure, diabetes. In a multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus OR1.67 95% CI [1.12–2.51] p=0.012, history of heart failure (1.78 [1.2.-2.59], p=0.003), a history of myocardial infarction (1.47 [1.05–2.05], p=0024), age (1.06 [1.05–1.08], p=0.001) and LVGFI <22% (1.53 [1.08–2.17], p=0.015) were independent predictors of death from any cause. The LVGFI was also independently associated with the risk of coronary death, but not with the risk of all recurring coronary events.

Thus, LVGFI may be useful the marker to assess risk in patients who have experienced an ACS episode.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Quantification of calcium volume by coronary CT compared to OCT
Authors: Monizzi G , Sonck J , Nagumo S , Buytaert D , Van Hoe L , Grancini L , Bartorelli A.L , De Bruyne B , Andreini D , Collet C
Published: November 2020

Background

Coronary artery calcifications are frequently observed in patients referred for cardiac catheterization. Using OCT, the calcified volume can be determined. CT is a sensitive non-invasive tool to detect coronary artery calcifications and may be useful to guide percutaneous coronary intervention.

Purpose

The aim of the study was to investigate the accuracy of CT-derived calcium volume with OCT as a reference in patients undergoing PCI.

Methods

66 calcified plaques (32 vessels) from 31 patients undergoing OCT-guided PCI with coronary CT angiography acquired as a standard of care were included. Coronary CT angiography and OCT images were matched using fiduciary points. Calcified plaques were reconstructed in three dimensions to calculate calcium volume. A Passing-Bablok regression analysis and the Bland-Altman method were used to assess agreement between imaging modalities.

Results

27 left anterior descending arteries and 5 right coronary arteries were analyzed. Median calcium volume by CT angiography and OCT were 18.23 mm 3 [IQR 8.09, 36.48] and 10.03 mm 3 [IQR 3.6, 22.88]. The Passing-Bablok analysis showed a proportional difference without a systematic difference (Coefficient A 0.08, 95% CI: −1.37 to 1.21, Coefficient B 1.61, 95% CI: 1.45 to 1.84); with a mean difference of 9.69 mm3 (LOA −10.2 mm 3 to 29.6 mm 3). No significant differences were observed for MLA: median value for CT 2.84 mm2 [IQR 2.03, 3.74] and for OCT 2.55 mm2 [IQR 1.91, 4.43].

Conclusions

Coronary CT angiography volumetric calcium evaluation overestimates calcium volume by 60% compared to OCT. Accounting for CT overestimation may allow for appropriate interpretation of calcific burden in the non-invasive setting. Coronary CT angiography may emerge as a tool to quantify calcium burden for invasive procedural planning.

Calcium burden comparison CT vs OCT

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Diagnostic and prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score of zero: is it time for guidelines to change?
Authors: Arbas Redondo E , Tebar Marquez D , Poveda Pinedo I.D , Dalmau Gonzalez-Gallarza R , Valbuena Lopez S.C , Guzman Martinez G , Terol Espinosa De Los Monteros B , Rosillo Rodriguez S.O , Lopez Fernandez T , Lopez Sendon J.L
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) use has progressively increased as the preferred initial test to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD) when clinical likelihood is low. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) detected by CT is a well-established marker for cardiovascular risk. However, it is not recommended for diagnosis of obstructive CAD. Absence of CAC, defined as an Agatston score of zero, has been associated to good prognosis despite underestimation of non-calcified plaques.

Purpose

To evaluate whether zero CAC score could help ruling out obstructive CAD in a safely manner.

Methods

Observational study based on a prospective database of patients (pts) referred to cardiac CT between 2017 and 2019. Pts with an Agatston score of zero were selected.

Results

We included 176 pts with zero CAC score and non-invasive coronary angiography performed. The median duration of follow-up was 23.9 months. Baseline characteristics of the population are shown in Table 1. In 117 pts (66.5%), cardiac CT was indicated as part of their chest pain evaluation. Mean age was 57.2 years old, 68.2% were women and only and 9.4% were active smokers. Normal coronary arteries were found in 173 pts (98.3%). Obstructive CAD, defined as ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis of a major vessel, was present in 1/176 (0.6%); while non-obstructive atherosclerotic plaques were found in 2 pts (1.1%). During follow-up, one patient died of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. None either suffered from myocardial infarction or needed coronary revascularization.

Conclusions

In our cohort, a zero CAC score detected by cardiac CT rules out obstructive coronary artery disease in 98.3%, with only 1.7% of non-calcified atherosclerosis plaques and 0.6% of major adverse events. Although further research on this topic is needed, these results support the fact that non-invasive coronary angiography could be avoided in patients with low clinical likelihood of CAD and zero CAC score, facilitating the management of the increasing demand for coronary CT and reduction of radiation dose.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Clinical implications of post-stent optical coherence tomographic findings after drug-eluting stent implantation: severe malapposition and thrombotic events
Authors: Kim B.G , Kachel M , Kim J.S , Guagliumi G , Milewski K , Hong S.J , Ahn C.M , Shin D.H , Kim B.K , Ko Y.G , Choi D.H , Jang Y.S
Published: November 2020

Background

The clinical implications of optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessment following percutaneous coronary intervention are controversial.

Purpose

We sought to evaluate the impact of post-stent OCT findings, including significant malapposition, on long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods

A total of 1,290 patients with 1,348 lesions, in which OCT was performed immediately post-stent, were consecutively enrolled in the prospective OCT registry. Post-stent OCT findings were assessed to identify predictors of device-oriented clinical end points (DoCE), including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). We also looked for significant malapposition criteria that may be associated with thrombotic events such as cardiac death, target vessel-related MI, and stent thrombosis.

Results

Incidences of stent edge dissection, tissue prolapse, thrombus, and malapposition after intervention were not associated with occurrence of adverse thrombotic events. However, patients with significant malapposition [total malapposition volume (TMV) ≥7.0 mm3 or TMV/stent volume ≥4.1%] exhibited more frequent thrombotic events. In multivariate analysis, smaller minimal stent area (MSA) was identified as an independent predictor for DoCE (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21 [1.01–1.45]; P=0.037). Malapposition with TMV ≥7.0 mm3 was found to be an independent predictor of thrombotic events (HR, 4.62 [1.29–16.47]; P=0.018).

Conclusions

Although most high-resolution OCT findings were not associated with clinical outcome, smaller MSA was associated with DoCE, driven mainly by TLR, and significant malapposition with TMV ≥7.0 mm3 was associated with more thrombotic events after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Kaplan-Meier curve

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Three-year outcomes after deferral of revascularization based on instantaneous wave-free ratio or fractional flow reserve: insights from the J-CONFIRM Registry
Authors: Kuramitsu S , Matsuo H , Takashima H , Yokoi H , Tanaka N
Published: November 2020

Background

The safety of deferral of revascularization based on instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is established in randomized controlled trials. However, there is little data regarding long-term outcomes after deferral of revascularization based on iFR in real-world practice.

Purpose

We sought to assess clinical outcomes after deferral of revascularization based on iFR in clinical practice as compared with those based on fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods

This is a post hoc analysis of the J-CONFIRM registry (long-term outcomes of Japanese patients with deferral of coronary intervention based on fractional flow reserve in multicenter registry), in which 1262 patients with 1447 lesions deferred the revascularization based on FFR. Of these, both FFR and iFR were measured in 399 patients with 452 lesions. The patients were classified into the two groups: the iFR group (iFR >0.89; 308 patients with 348 lesions) and the FFR group (FFR >0.80; 740 patients with 855 lesions). The primary study endpoint was the 3-year target vessel failure (TVF) including cardiac death, target-vessel related myocardial infarction (TVMI), and clinically driven target vessel revascularization (CDTVR).

Results

Mean iFR was 0.96±0.04 in the iFR group. Mean FFR was significantly lower in the iFR group than in the FFR group (0.87±0.05 vs. 0.89±0.05, p=0.002). The iFR group included 35 lesions (11.4%) with FFR ≤0.80. At 3 years, the rate of TVF on a lesion basis were not significantly different between the iFR and FFR groups (8.8% vs. 6.1%, p=0.10), whereas CDTVR rate was significantly higher in the iFR group than in the FFR group (8.5% vs. 5.3%, p=0.044). Cardiac death and TVMI on a patient basis rarely occurred in both groups during the 3-year follow-up (0.33% vs. 0.77%, p=0.47; 0.66% vs. 0.56%, p=0.85, respectively).

Conclusion

At 3 years, TVF rate in deferred lesions was numerically higher in the iFR group than in the FFR group, driven by a higher rate of CDTVR. However, cardiac death and TVMI was very rare in both groups, highlighting the safety of both iFR- and FFR-based deferral of revascularization in daily practice.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Mortality benefit with remote ischemic preconditioning in STEMI: a frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Shariff M , Pedreira Vaz I , Doshi R , Adalja D , Krishnan A , Kumar A
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Myocardial infarction related morbidity and mortality remains substantial despite perpetual improvement in patient care. Remote ischemic preconditioning among patients with myocardial infarction has exhibited to improve surrogate markers of ischemia. However, its effect on all-cause mortality is not well established.

Purpose

An updated frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis of randomised control trials [RCTs] investigating remote ischemic preconditioning among patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and its effect on all-cause mortality.

Methods

A systematic search across PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases was performed. The inclusion criteria was RCTs comparing remote ischemic preconditioning with standard treatment juxtaposed to standard treatment alone among patients with STEMI and reporting all-cause mortality. Data extraction was carried out by two independent authors and looked for reproducibility. Inverse variance method with Paule-Mandel estimator for tau2 and Hartung-Knapp adjustment was used to calculate Risk Ratio with 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. We estimated the robustness of our pooled effect size using Bayesian meta-analysis. A weakly informative prior [normal (0, 1) for intercept and uniform (0, 2) for standard deviation] and 20000 iterations [10000 warm-up + 10000 sampling] were used for Bayesian meta-analysis. We used meta ( ) and brm ( ) package in R for frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis, respectively. All statistical analysis was carried out using R statistical software version 3.6.2. The certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE).

Results

Five RCTs comprising a total of 6043 patients [3010 intervention and 3033 controls] were included in the final analysis. The largest included RCT was the CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI 2019 trial. Remote ischemic preconditioning among patients with STEMI had no effect on all-cause mortality at follow-up [RR=0.70, 95% confidence interval = 0.26–1.87, I2=60%] [Figure 1, Panel A]. Similar results were obtained from hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis [RR=0.55, 95% credibility interval = 0.23–1.38] [Figure 1, Panel B]. Low certainty of evidence as per GARDE, reports no benefit of remote ischemic preconditioning in reducing the risk of all-cause mortality in STEMI.

Conclusion

Remote ischemic preconditioning among patients with STEMI has no effect on all-cause mortality at follow-up.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Conversion and outcome of dual antiplatelet therapy after bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Ye Z.S , Huang R , Wang J.I.E
Published: November 2020

Objective

To explore the conversion and outcome of antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have suffered bleeding after receiving aspirin combined with ticagrelor.

Methods

Patients who diagnosed with ACS and given aspirin 100 mg once daily combined with ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) were selected. The patients were divided into bleeding group and non-bleeding group according to whether bleeding events occurred within one year after DAPT. The bleeding group was divided into the next four groups according to the converted antiplatelet treatment strategy decided by the doctor and the patient. Patients in group A to D were treated with ticagrelor 90mg twice a day plus aspirin 0–50mgonce a day, ticagrelor 60mg twice a day plus aspirin 100mgonce a day, clopidogrel 75mgonce a day plus aspirin 100mg once a day and ticagrelor 90mg twice a day plus aspirin 100mg once a day, respectively. All patients were followed up for 1 year after DAPT. The primary outcome is change of bleeding degree by BARC. The secondary outcomes includes BARC bleeding, all-cause mortality and MACE.

Results

A total of 752 cases were enrolled, including 250 in the bleeding group and 502 in the non-bleeding group. The bleeding group was divided into four treatment groups, which were 63, 43, 38 and 95 cases among A, B, C and D group. There was a significant difference in the improvement of bleeding among the four groups. To be noted, patients in group A has the highest improvement rate of hemorrhage (65.1% vs 62.8% vs 47.4% vs 24.2%, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the incidence of MACE and all-cause mortality (P>0.05). The incidence of major MACE in patients in the bleeding group was 14.4%, which was higher than that in the non-bleeding group (9.2%, P=0.03).The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR=5.18, 95% CI: 1.61–16.65, P=0.006), low body weight (OR=7.73, 95% CI: 2.46–24.49, P<0.001) and low AA-induced maximum platelet aggregation rate (OR=2.72, 95% CI:1.09–6.84, P=0.033) were independent risk factors for hemorrhage.

Conclusion

Patients with acute coronary syndrome who have suffered bleeding after receiving aspirin combined with ticagrelor were at a higher risk of MACE than those who did not. Low-dose aspirin (0–50mg/d) combined with ticagrelor or even ticagrelor alone has the best effect on reducing bleeding without increasing the risk of ischemia. Female, low body mass and low AA-induced maximum platelet aggregation rate are independent risk factors for bleeding.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Relation of multi-vessel coronary artery disease to response to aspirin
Authors: Shiyovich A , Sasson L , Lev E , Solodky A , Kornowski R , Perl L
Published: November 2020

Background

Multi-vessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD) is correlated with worse outcomes compared with single-vessel CAD (SV-CAD), potentially attributed to more advanced atherosclerotic disease in other vascular beds, greater endothelial dysfunction, thrombin activation and possibly greater platelet reactivity.

Objectives

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between MV-CAD and high on-aspirin platelet reactivity (HAPR) in patients with stable CAD treated with aspirin.

Methods

Patients with known stable CAD, who were taking aspirin (75–100 mg qd) regularly for at least one month, and had undergone coronary angiography at least 3 months prior to the test, were enrolled. Blood was drawn from the participants and sent for platelet function testing. MV-CAD was defined as >50% stenosis in ≥2 separate major coronary territories per coronary angiography. HAPR was defined as aspirin reaction units (ARU) >550.

Results

Overall 507 patients were analyzed; age 66.7±11.2, 17.9% women, 223 (44%) had MV-CAD. Mean ARU was significantly higher among patients with MV-CAD vs. SV-CAD (460±68 vs. 440±55, p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the rate of HAPR was significantly higher among patients with MV-CAD (figure 1). In a multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders, MV-CAD was found to be a strong independent predictor of HAPR [OR=1.8 (95% CI1.05–4.7), p=0.014]. In a reverse analysis, HAPR was associated with a higher number of coronary vessels involved (1.95±0.65 vs. 1.45±0.57, p<0.01) and a strong independent predictor of MVD (OR-2.44, CI 1.83–25.6, p=0.015).

Conclusions

MV-CAD is significantly associated with HAPR. This could potentially explain, in part, the increased risk and/or worse outcomes in patients with MV-CAD and implies considering intensive anti-thrombotic therapy among these patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Optimal antiplatelet therapy in out-hospital cardiac arrest with mild therapeutic hypothermia
Authors: Jimenez Britez G , Freixa X , Sabate M , Diaz M , Hernandez-Enriquez M
Published: November 2020

Background

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) and Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) has been linked to an increased risk of Stent Thrombosis (ST) in comatose survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is no formal recommendation about which antiplatelet regimen should be used in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) after OHCA

Methods

Prospective, single center study.

We compared antiplatelet efficacy of clopidogrel and ticagrelor at different time points after primary PCI in OHCA patients underwent MTH with 2 systems (VerifyNow®) and light transmission aggregometry.

With the system (VerifyNow®) the results were expressed in P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) in response to ADP-prostaglandin E1.

With the aggregometry in vitro platelet aggregation was measured in response to ADP (20 lmol/L at 37 C). The main result was the percentage of maximal platelet aggregation

Results

24 consecutive OHCA patients were included in our hospital.

We confirmed that residual platelet activity was higher with clopidogrel than with ticagrelor, expressed by PRU, 2 h after loading dose (229±56 vs. 180±30, p<0.014), 6h after loading dose during MTH (203±45 vs. 135±51, p<0.004), 24h after loading dose during MTH (188±52 vs. 58±64, p<0.0001), after warming (200±55 vs. 27±24, p<0.0001) and 24 h after warming (201±57 vs. 31±24, p<0.0001).

With the aggregometry we observed higher percentajes of maximal platelet aggregation in response to ADP with clopidogrel than ticagrelor since 6 hs after loading dose. 2 h after loading dose (44±17 vs. 36±23, p: 0.439), 6h after loading dose during MTH (42±13 vs. 24±20, p<0.02), 24h after loading dose during MTH (26±20 vs. 9.5±6.5, p<0.005), after warming (26±16 vs. 12±8, p<0.02)..

Conclusion

In this study, we observed a lower antiplatelet efficacy of clopidogrel compared with ticagrelor in patients with OHCA after PCI with MHT. This decrease in antiplatelet efficacy persists after the warming. Similarly to other settings, ticagrelor might be a valid alternative to clopidogrel in those patients

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Instituto Carlos III, Fondo Investigaciόn Sanitaria. Spain