bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Independent predictors of MACE in patients with cancer
Authors: Kalogera V , Benetos G , Nikolopoulou L , Solomou E , Vakka A , Drakopoulou M , Tsioufis K , Toutouzas K 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Background/Introduction
Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading causes of death worldwide. Both disease entities share common risk factors. More importantly, the main cause of death after disease progression is cardiovascular disease in patients with cancer. Despite the recent advancements in the field of cardio-oncology, the main prognostic factors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remain elusive.

Purpose
To investigate prognostic factors of MACE in a single center cardio-oncology registry.

Methods
Consecutive patients referred to the cardio-oncology outpatient clinic of a tertiary center for cardiologic consultation were included. All patients were followed up clinically or by telephone. Data from national records were also used.

Results
In total, 115 patients were included in the analysis. Of them, 60 (52.2%) were female and the majority of study population suffered from breast cancer (27%). Thirteen patients (11.3%) had hematologic malignancies and the rest solid tumors. Chemotherapy was received by a total of 94 patients (81,7%). The mean follow -up duration was 446 days. During follow up, 32 MACEs (27.8%) occurred. Death from any cause occurred in 21 patients (including 2 cardiac deaths), hospitalization due to heart failure in 6, myocardial infarction in 2, pulmonary embolism in 3 and stroke in 1 patient. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, diabetes mellitus was an independent predictor of MACE, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and body mass index (OR=3.37, 95% CI 1.14-9.99). In Kaplan Meier plots patients with diabetes mellitus showed higher incidence of MACE (log rank p=0.03).

Conclusions
In the present single center study, diabetes mellitus emerged as an independent predictor of MACE. This finding confirms the important and primary role of cardio-oncology units in the strict management of cardiovascular risk factors, leading to improved prognosis of this patient-population.Kaplan Meier Curve
McConnell's sign predicts normotensive shock in patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Zhang R Z , Rhee A R , Grossman K G , Arushi Singh A S , Nayar A N , Elbaum L E , Greco A G , Postelnicu R P , Alviar C A , Bangalore S B 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Background
Patients with intermediate-risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) have mortality rates ranging from 3-15%, with incidence of normotensive shock occurring in up to 30% of patients.1-3 Existing risk models often fall short in accurately identifying those at heightened risk of normotensive shock and those who might derive benefit from advanced therapeutic interventions including catheter based therapies. Diagnosis of normotensive shock typically necessitates invasive right heart catheterization, however, McConnell's sign has been associated with higher risk PEs.4 Consequently, our objective was to assess the relationship between McConnell's sign, a readily available bedside point-of-care tool, and its predictive value in identifying normotensive shock in patients diagnosed with acute intermediate-risk PE.

Methods
All patients with intermediate-risk PE who underwent percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (MT) between August 2020 and April 2023 at a large academic public hospital were included in the study. Normotensive shock was defined as patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 90mmHg in the absence of vasopressor support with pre-procedural invasive measures of CI £ 2.2 L/min/m2 and clinical evidence of hypoperfusion (i.e. elevated lactate, oliguria). The primary outcome was the association between McConnell’s sign and normotensive shock.

Results
A total of 49 patients with intermediate-risk PE underwent MT, 9 patients had incomplete data, resulting in a final cohort of 40 patients (mean age: 57 ± 13 years; 45% female). A total of 29/40 (72.5%) patients had McConnell’s sign. Patients with McConnell’s sign had higher rates of obesity (59% vs 18% p=0.02), higher heart rate (114 vs 99 beats/min, p=0.008), higher rates of elevated lactate (86% vs 55%, p=0..038), lower cardiac index (1.9 vs 3.1 L/min/m2, p=0.003), and higher rates of normotensive shock (76% vs 27%, p=0.005). There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex, race, rates of saddle emboli, left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, presenting blood pressure, sPESI and composite pulmonary embolism shock score scores in patients with or without McConnell’s sign. In patients with normotensive shock, 22/25 (88%) had McConnell’s sign and only 53.3% had McConnell’s sign without shock (Figure 1). Patients with McConnell’s sign had an increased odds (OR 8.38, CI: 1.73-40.53; p=0.008, AUC 0.70, 95% CI: 0.56-0.85) of normotensive shock.

Conclusion
This is the first study to suggest that McConnell’s sign can effectively identify those in the intermediate-risk group who are at risk for normotensive shock. Further studies are needed to validate this non-invasive technique that can be rapidly performed at bedside with high reproducibility and whether it can help risk-stratify patients who may benefit from advanced PE therapies.
Body mass index and long-term survival following acute pulmonary embolism: insights from machine learning models
Authors: Pavlov M , Novak A , Radonic V , Letilovic T , Hadzibegovic I , Jurin I 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Introduction
Body mass index (BMI) has been associated with long-term survival in the setting of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) [1,2]. The non-linear pattern of this association proves to be challenging for frequentist statistical analyses. Contemporary machine learning models offer superior handling capabilities of datasets with non-linear data distributions.

Purpose
To examine the predictive power of BMI expressed as a continuous variable in a dataset of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) using the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine learning framework.

Methods
All consecutive patients with confirmed PE admitted to the two tertiary teaching Clinical Hospitals in the metropolitan area from November 2013 until November 2018 were included in the study. The diagnosis was established by multislice computed tomography angiography. Machine learning models were investigated using the LightGBM variant of XGBoost. We allocated 80% of the dataset for model training and the remaining 20% for testing. Two models were tested: (1) a model with 20 variables tailored according to the Cox proportional hazards model in the initial publication; (2) a model with 11 independent predictors of outcome.

Results
The study population is described in detail in previous publications [1,2]. In brief, a total of 761 patients were included in the study. The population was predominantly female (57.4%), aged 73 (61-81). The median overall follow-up was 675 days (114-1331). There were 335 (44.0%) cases of death recorded at follow-up. A Cox proportional hazards model with 19 covariates significantly predicted death during follow-up (χ2 = 595.5, p&lt;0.001). The first BMI quartile was an independent predictor of death (hazard ratio 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.31-2.10). However, when expressed as a continuous variable, BMI failed to enter the model.
In both XGBoost models, BMI expressed as a continuous variable proved to be a feature with high predictive power, second only to pulmonary embolism severity index score (Figure 1 and 2). The models showed high accuracy, with an area under curve of 0.840 and 0.864 respectively.

Conclusion
In the XGBoost analysis, a machine learning framework with superior handling of non-linear data, BMI expressed as a continuous variable emerged as the second strongest predictor of outcome among 761 PE patients.Figure 1Figure 2
Oxygen delivery and consumption in comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients are affected by blood pressure targets
Authors: Schneekloth S , Moeller J E , Beske R P , Grand J , Schmidt H , Kjaergaard J , Hassager C 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Grosserer L. F. Foghts Fond

Background
Hemodynamic instability is common after resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Preventing inadequate oxygen delivery (DO2) to the cells and thus not meeting oxygen demand is crucial to prevent further organ dysfunction. Additionally, oxygen uptake in the cells may be impaired. Oxygen consumption (VO2; the amount of oxygen consumed by the body per minute) could thus also be affected in OHCA.

Purpose
This study aimed to describe the effect of different mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and partial arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) targets on DO2 and VO2.

Methods
This post-hoc study is based on the BOX trial, a 2x2 factorial design that randomized OHCA patients to a MAP of either 63 mmHg (MAP63) or 77 mmHg (MAP77) and a partial pressure of arterial oxygen of 9 to 10 kPa or a liberal oxygen target of a PaO2 of 13 to 14 kPa at two cardiac centers in Denmark. Pulmonary artery catheters were placed to evaluate cardiac output and collect mixed venous blood samples at prespecified time points. Oxygen blood contents were calculated for arterial (CaO2) and mixed venous blood (CvO2) as Hgb (mg/dl) x 10 x 1.39 x Saturation O2 (proportion) + 0.0225 x PaO2. DO2 = CO x CaO2, and VO2 = CO x (CaO2-CvO2).

Results
This study included 715 patients (90% of the total cohort with a pulmonary catheter) for analysis. A restrictive or liberal oxygen supplement did not affect DO2 or VO2 during the initial 48 hours. The MAP77 group exhibited on average 11% higher DO2 (95%CI: 6%-15%) and on average a 6% higher VO2 in the first 48 hours (95%CI: 3%-10%) compared to the MAP63 group (see Figure 1).

Conclusion
Targeting a PaO2 of either 9 to 10 kPa or 13 to 15 kPa resulted in no significant changes in the provision of oxygen to the cells, nor did it increase the consumption of oxygen. In contrast, targeting a MAP of 77 mmHg resulted in an increase in both the provision of oxygen and consumption of oxygen compared to a MAP target of 63 mmHg.Figure 1
All lactate are not equal substudy of the BOX trial
Authors: Paulin Beske R , Moeller J E M , Schmidt H S , Kjaergaard J K , Hassager C H 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The BOX trial was supported by a grant (NNF17OC0028706) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Dr. Hassager's work is funded by a grant (R186-2015-2132) from the Lundbeck Foundation.

Background
Lactate levels following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are associated with arrest duration (time to ROSC) and mortality. However, given the complexity of lactate generation and clearance, lactate levels assessed at hospital arrival represent not only time to ROSC but also the quality of resuscitation, circulatory stability following ROSC, dose of epinephrine administered, kidney, liver, and mitochondrial function in the early post-cardiac arrest phase. Accordingly, we describe the lactate levels at hospital arrival according to time to ROSC and one-year mortality.

Method
In this sub-study of the randomized clinical BOX trial, blood lactate levels were measured immediately at hospital arrival. Time to ROSC was registered in the medical records. Patients were divided into two groups according to median time to ROSC (≤ 18 min or &gt; 18 min). The primary outcome was one-year mortality.

Results
The study included 768 (97% of the randomized population) patients of which 386 (50%) patients had ≤ 18 min and 382 (50%) patients had &gt; 18 min to ROSC. The median age (64 (54-73) years) and sex distribution (81% men) was similar in both groups. One-year mortality was 76 (20%) and 199 (52%) in the ≤ 18 min and &gt; 18 min to ROSC groups respectively. Mean lactate levels were 3.8 mmol/L (95%CI: 3.5-4.1) and 5.9 mmol/L (95%CI: 5.4-6.2), respectively. Lactate levels differed significantly between one-year survivors and non-survivors in the patients with ≤ 18 min to ROSC (mean difference: 1.9 mmol/L, 95%CI: 1.0 - 2.8) but not for patients with &gt; 18 min to ROSC (mean difference: 0.6 mmol/L, 95%CI: -0.1-1.3), Figure 1. Further, lactate’s ability to predict one-year mortality was fair in the ≤ 18 min group with an Area Under Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) of 0.68 (95%CI: 0.62-0.75) but poor for the &gt; 18 min groups with an AUC of 0.55 (95%CI: 0.50-0.61) (DeLong's test for two ROC curves, p = 0.004), Figure 2.

Conclusion
Lactate's predictive value for one-year mortality decreases with increasing time to ROSC in OHCA. This highlights the importance of individualized clinical approaches based on lactate dynamics in OHCA patients.Figure 1Figure 2
Clinical impact of a cardiac intensivist in an adult cardiac care unit from the RESCUE registry
Authors: Bae D , Lee S Y , Yang J H , Gwon H C 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Purpose
Dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing is assocated with a reduction in ICU mortality rates in general medical and surgical ICUs. However, limited data area available on the role of cardiac intensivist in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). We investigated the association of cardiac intensivist-directed care with clinical outcomes in adult patients admitted to the CICU.

Methods
The SMART-RESCUE study is a multicenter, retrospective and prosective registry of patients that presented witth cardiogenic shock (CS). Between January 2014 and December 2018, 1,247 patients with CS were enrolled from 12 major centers in Korea. The study population was divided into 2 groups, according to the presence of a cardiac intensivist. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.

Results
THe analysis with SMART-RESCUE registry included 1,247 patients with CS (n=552 in the group with cardiac intensivist and n=695 in the group without cardiac intensivist) (Table 1). The in-hospital survival rate was significant higher in the group with intensivist than that in the group without intensivist (72.1% vs 59.2%, p &lt; 0.001) (Figure 1). Cardiac intensive care with cardiac intensivist was associated with a reduction in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio for in hospital death, 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.401 to 0.704; p &lt; 0.001). Survival analysis also revealed significantly higher death free survival in te group with intensitivst. In multivariable analysis, cardiac intensivist, chronic kidney disease, ECMO-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ST elevation myocardial infarction presentation and vasotrope-inotrope score were selected to be significant prognostic predictors for death in the CICU.
Concluison: The presence of a dedicated cardiac intensivist was associated with a reduction in hospital mortality rates in patients with cardiovascular disease who required critical care.
The influence of perceived stress in acute coronary syndromes presentation
Authors: Figueiredo M , Paula S O F I A , Santos M A R I A N , Coelho M A R I A N , Lopes A R T U R , Almeida S A M U E L , Almeida L U R D E S 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Introduction
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the result of a complex pathophysiological process, influenced by multiple factors, including stress. The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a validated instrument to estimate stress levels in clinical practice and may be useful in the assessment of ACS (Figure 1).

Purpose
We aimed to assess if perceived stress had influence on the presentation of an ACS as a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), at admission, during hospitalization for this event, and at follow-up.

Methods
Single-center prospective study engaging patients hospitalized for ACS from 20/03/2019 to 31/03/2020. The PSS-10 was completed during the hospitalization period. Patients were divided into two groups, according to the type of ACS: group A – STEMI patients - and group B - NSTEMI patients. Follow-up of these patients (regarding death, readmissions for cardiac causes and readmissions for other causes) was carried out until December 11, 2022. Logistic regression was performed to assess if stress was a predictor of NSTEMI.

Results
A total of 166 patients were included: 52 in group A and 94 in group B. In group A, mean age was 63 ± 18 years and 34.60% were women, while in group B mean age was 66 ± 20 years, and 38.70% were female. Group B presented more with preserved ejection fraction (79.30% vs 60.40% in group A, p=0.018). There were no other statistically significant differences regarding clinical presentation, or intrahospital complications between the two groups. PSS-10 score in group A was 17.17 ± 8.62, while group B scored 20.83 ± 6.10 (p=0.039). The follow-up of these two groups did not show significant differences in terms of death (7.70% in group A vs 16.10% in group B, p=0.149), readmissions for other causes (19.20% in group A vs 28.00% in group B, p=0.243) or readmissions for cardiac causes (group A 9.60% and group B 22.60%, p=0.051). Logistic regression revealed that perceived stress was a predictor of NSTEMI (odds ratio (OR) 1.006, p=0.025, confidence interval (CI) 1.001-1.011). There were no statistically significant differences in follow-up between the two groups.

Conclusions
This is the first prospective study carried out in the Portuguese population regarding this thematic, which showed that perceived stress was a predictor of NSTEMI and can influence patients with ACS manifestations.Figure 1
Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds - a single center experience
Authors: Rocha De Almeida A , Carias De Sousa M , Congo K , Neves D , Lino L 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Background/Introduction
Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) were considered promising alternatives to drug-eluting stents in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). They would restore the normal vasomotor tone and allow positive remodeling, reducing the trigger for inflammation and facilitating further interventions. Although randomized trials showed beneficial outcomes up to 1 year of follow-up, longer-term results have been disappointing, with increased rates of events, leading to its discontinuation.

Purpose
This study aims to evaluate our center’s 5-year follow-up of the BVS implantations, in terms of safety and efficacy.

Methods
Retrospective cohort of 46 patients submitted to PCI with a BVS was evaluated. The outcomes assessed were composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization (DMR), target vessel failure (TVF) and cardiovascular death, and each endpoint individually. Data analysis was done with SPSS software.

Results
The cohort was a total of 46 patients, with a mean age 69,5±1,5 years, and 23,9% women (n=11). The mean follow-up time was 5,6±0,2 years. BVS were implanted 74% (n=34) of the times in acute coronary syndromes, and 68% (n=31) were PCI on previous stent failure. Total of 24% (n=11) had an episode in the follow-up. Regarding each individual outcome, there was 9% (n=4) of MI, 0% (n=0) of cardiovascular deaths and 15,2% (n=7) of BVS re-stenosis requiring revascularization. Only 4% (n=2) of patients had complete BVS resorption on reassessment coronary angiography.

Conclusions
In the 5-year follow-up, there was a high rate of events, with 24% (n=11) of events, of which the most common was BVS re-stenosis, with 15,2% cases (n=7), and MI in 9% (n=4). Despite theoretical benefits with the resorption of BVS, it was only verified in 4% of the cases (n=2). According to the recent data, from the longer-term follow-up, BVS have been associated with a higher number of events, with the intended benefit not being verified.
Impact of acute aortic pathology care process reengineering on mortality of type A acute aortic syndrome
Authors: Ramos Gonzalez-Cristobal I , Ferrera C , Vilacosta I , Guerrero A , Gutierrez F , Gonzalez Del Castillo J , Dominguez M J , Alvarez E , Fernandez F , Martinez I , Cobiella J , Noriega F J , Viana-Tejedor A , Perez Villacastin J , Maroto-Castellanos L 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Introduction
Type A Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is a life-threatening disease. Although emergent surgery is the treatment of choice, these procedures are highly complex and require a high level of expertise. Process reengineering has demonstrated prognostic benefit in acute cardiovascular pathology.

Purpose
The aim of the present work is to assess whether the reorganization of AAS care has an impact on patient prognosis.

Methods
The "Aorta Code" (AC) is a protocol for AAS-patients’ care within a network of 4 hospitals with a tertiary hospital as a referral center. A common diagnostic algorithm was specifically designed and periodical training programs were carried out in the different emergency departments at the 4 hospitals. Once activated, the out of hospital emergency service immediately transfers the patient to the Acute Cardiovascular Care Unit at the referral center. An Aortic Dissection Team was responsible for patients’ care. Only two cardiac surgeons and two vascular surgeons performed all AAS surgeries. All patients with AAS were prospectively and consecutively collected and patients with type A AAS were selected for analysis. Expected 30-day mortality was calculated using the GERAADA score.

Results
From April-2019 to April-2023, 113 patients with AAS were included. Of them, 75.9% (83) were type A. 12% (10) of the patients died before reaching the operating theatre. In 9% (8) of the sample, surgery was rejected due to comorbidities and unacceptable surgical risk, of whom 4 patients died. Mean age was 66.7±13.7 years and 71% were males. Patients with type A AAS presented a significant burden of pre-surgical complications: severe aortic regurgitation (35.6%), cardiac tamponade (26.8%), shock (32.9%), cardiorespiratory arrest (8.5%), need for intubation (26.8%), acute renal failure (27%), peripheral malperfusion (12.7%) and myocardial ischemia (9.52%).
Although the AC included a high risk AAS population, the process reorganization, and concentration of patients’ care in an experienced medical and surgical team resulted in a significant reduction of surgical mortality of patients with type A AAS compared to the expected mortality based on risk (figure).

Conclusion
AAS process reengineering and concentration of AAS management in an experienced medical-surgical team is associated with an improvement in the expected prognosis and mortality.Pre-surgical type A AAS complications.