Acute Myocardial Infarction in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Thirty-Day Readmission Rates, Timing, Causes, and Costs after ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the United States: A National Readmission Database Analysis 2010-2014

Background Readmission after ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction ( STEMI ) poses an enormous economic burden to the US healthcare system. Efforts to prevent readmissions should be based on understanding the timing and causes of these readmissions. This study aimed to investigate contemporary causes, timing, and cost of 30-day readmissions after STEMI . Methods and Results All STEMI hospitalizations were selected in the Nationwide Readmissions Database ( NRD ) from 2010 to 2014. The 30-day readmission rate as well as the primary cause and cost of readmission were examined. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of 30-day readmission and increased cumulative cost. From 2010 to 2014, the 30-day readmission rate after STEMI was 12.3%. Within 7 days of discharge, 43.9% were readmitted, and 67.3% were readmitted within 14 days. The annual rate of 30-day readmission decreased by 19% from 2010 to 2014 ( P<0.001). Female sex, AIDS , anemia, chronic kidney disease , collagen vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure , atrial fibrillation, and increased length of stay were independent predictors of 30-day readmission. A large proportion of patients (41.6%) were readmitted for noncardiac reasons. After multivariate adjustment, 30-day readmission was associated with a 47.9% increase in cumulative cost ( P<0.001). Conclusions Two thirds of patients were readmitted within the first 14 days after STEMI , and a large proportion of patients were readmitted for noncardiac reasons. Thirty-day readmission was associated with an ≈50% increase in cumulative hospitalization costs. These findings highlight the importance of closer surveillance of both cardiac and general medical conditions in the first several weeks after STEMI discharge.

Coronary artery disease in post-menopausal women: are there appropriate means of assessment?

The recognition of sex differences in cardiovascular disease, particularly the manifestations of coronary artery disease (CAD) in post-menopausal women, has introduced new challenges in not only understanding disease mechanisms but also identifying appropriate clinical means of assessing the efficacy of management strategies. For example, the majority of treatment algorithms for CAD are derived from the study of males, focus on epicardial stenoses, and inadequately account for the small intramyocardial vessel disease in women. However, newer investigational modalities, including stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography are providing enhanced diagnostic accuracy and prognostication for women with microvascular disease. Moreover, these investigations may soon be complemented by simpler screening tools such as retinal vasculature imaging, as well as novel biomarkers (e.g. heat shock protein 27). Hence, it is vital that robust, sex-specific cardiovascular imaging modalities and biomarkers continue to be developed and are incorporated into practice guidelines that are used to manage women with CAD, as well as gauge the efficacy of any new treatment modalities. This review provides an overview of some of the sex differences in CAD and highlights emerging advances in the investigation of CAD in post-menopausal women.

Self-Management of Cardiac Pain in Women: A Meta-Summary of the Qualitative Literature

Symptom recognition and self-management is instrumental in reducing the number of deaths related to coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. The purpose of this study was to synthesize qualitative research evidence on the self-management of cardiac pain and associated symptoms in women. Seven databases were systematically searched, and the concepts of the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory were used as the framework for data extraction and analysis. Search strategies yielded 22,402 citations, from which 35 qualitative studies were included in a final meta-summary, comprising data from 769 participants, including 437 (57%) women. The available literature focused cardiac pain self-management from a binary sex and gender perspective. Ethnicity was indicated in 19 (54%) studies. Results support individualized intervention strategies that promote goal setting and action planning, management of physical and emotional responses, and social facilitation provided through social support.

Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease in Women

Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), gender-related disparities continue to exist, and ischemic heart disease mortality in women remains higher than in men. This review will highlight gender-specific differences in the treatment of CAD that may impact outcomes for women. Further studies are needed to clarify the unique pathophysiology of CAD in women and, in turn, create more specific guidelines for its diagnosis, management, and treatment in this patient population.

Specialized Care for Women: the Impact of Women's Heart Centers

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been and remains the leading cause of mortality in women in the United States. For decades, more women died every year of CVD compared to men. Heart centers for women (HCW) are developed in response to the need for greater patient and physician awareness of CVD in women and to conduct sex-specific research in women. Today, many HCW provide multispecialty and focused areas of cardiovascular care for women. HCW provide their female patients with expertise over the many stages of a woman's life. And HCW partner with national organizations to advance research and education through specialized and focused care for women. The purpose of this review is to review the historical development of heart centers for women and discuss the types of care they provide for women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Mortality rates from cardiovascular disease in women are finally reaching the levels of men after decades of focus on awareness, prevention, and evidence-based guideline-directed care for women. Heart centers for women have evolved to provide subspecialty and comprehensive care for women that includes education and research. Heart centers for women are partnering with many other disease-based and patient advocacy organizations to provide care for all women at all stages of life. Alarmingly, there has been increasing CVD mortality in both men and women recently.

Optimal Gender-Specific Strategies for the Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease in Women: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of evidence on gender-specific, individually tailored secondary prevention (cardiac rehabilitation [CR]) services for women with heart disease. Women participate less in CR programs, thus increasing their risk of further cardiac events. This review aims to (1) determine the effectiveness of gender-specific interventions specifically designed for women with heart disease, delivered in outpatient CR settings; and (2) classify key elements of effective CR strategies/models for women with heart disease.

METHODS

Using the PRISMA guidelines, this is a systematic review of CR models tailored to women to improve cardiovascular risk. Four databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) between January 1974 and July 2017 published in peer-reviewed English language journals.

RESULTS

Three RCTs comprising 725 women of gender-specific CR strategies were identified. Significant improvements were found in one-third (1 study) of the included multicomponent CR strategies for outcomes including general health, social functioning, vitality, mental health, depression, and quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Further large-scale RCTs are required to replicate positive findings and accurately assess the capacity for gender-specific multicomponent CR programs that incorporate participant-driven collaborative models to moderate psychological risk and improve functional capacity and quality of life for women with heart disease.

Telephone-based mindfulness training to reduce stress in women with myocardial infarction: Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Elevated stress is associated with adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes and accounts in part for the poorer recovery experienced by women compared with men after myocardial infarction (MI). Psychosocial interventions improve outcomes overall but are less effective for women than for men with MI, suggesting the need for different approaches. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based intervention that targets key psychosocial vulnerabilities in women including rumination (i.e., repetitive negative thinking) and low social support. This article describes the rationale and design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial to test the effects of telephone-delivered MBCT (MBCT-T) in women with MI.

METHODS

We plan to randomize 144 women reporting elevated perceived stress at least two months after MI to MBCT-T or enhanced usual care (EUC), which each involve eight weekly telephone sessions. Perceived stress and a set of patient-centered health outcomes and potential mediators will be assessed before and after the 8-week telephone programs and at 6-month follow-up. We will test the hypothesis that MBCT-T will be associated with greater 6-month improvements in perceived stress (primary outcome), disease-specific health status, quality of life, depression and anxiety symptoms, and actigraphy-based sleep quality (secondary outcomes) compared with EUC. Changes in mindfulness, rumination and perceived social support will be evaluated as potential mediators in exploratory analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

If found to be effective, this innovative, scalable intervention may be a promising secondary prevention strategy for women with MI experiencing elevated perceived stress.

Reproductive Hormones and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Midlife Women

CONTEXT

Reproductive hormones are important to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. However, standard estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) assays lack sensitivity at the levels of postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate relations of mass spectrometry-assessed estrone (E1), E2, and T and SHBG and subclinical CVD in women.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred and four perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 40 to 60 years underwent subclinical CVD measurements. E1, E2, and T were assayed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; free T (FT) was estimated using ensemble allostery models. Regression models were adjusted for CVD risk factors.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Carotid artery intima media thickness, interadventitial diameter (IAD), and plaque; brachial flow mediated dilation (FMD).

RESULTS

Higher E1 was related to higher FMD [β(SE) = 0.77 (0.37), P = 0.04], indicating better endothelial function. Higher E2 was related to lower IAD [β(SE) = -0.07 (0.02), P = 0.004], indicating less carotid remodeling. Higher SHBG was related to higher FMD [β(SE) = 1.31 (0.40), P = 0.001], yet higher IAD [β(SE) = 0.15 (0.06), P = 0.02] and plaque [OR (95% CI) = 1.84 (1.16 to 2.91), P = 0.009]; FT showed a similar yet inverse pattern of relations as SHBG. Thus, higher SHBG and lower FT were associated with better endothelial function, yet greater carotid remodeling and plaque.

CONCLUSIONS

Endogenous E1 levels were related to endothelial function and E2 to vascular remodeling, suggesting distinct roles of these estrogens. SHBG and FT have complex roles depending on the vessel under study.

Sex Differences in Cardiac Troponin Testing in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Chest Pain

BACKGROUND

Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn), with signs/symptoms of ischemia, is a key element in a diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). Underdiagnosis of MI in women has been attributed to atypical symptoms, inconsistent ECG findings, and less diagnostic testing. We sought to determine if there are sex differences in cTn testing following presentation to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of ischemic chest pain (CP) and if presentation affects diagnostic assessment.

METHODS

All adults presenting to six hospital EDs in the Vancouver, Canada with a chief complaint of ischemic CP from 2009 to 2013 were included. The highest cTn level within 24 hours of ED presentation was used. CP was classified into cardiac- or respiratory dominant based on standard Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale coding. Chi-square testing was used to test for sex differences in CP categories and cTn testing within 24 hours. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between sex, cTn testing, and CP categories.

RESULTS

Of 27,063 patients with ischemic CP, cardiac presentation was more common in men than women, irrespective of age. Among cardiac CP, 24.7% of men were <50 years compared to 18.2% of women; however, more women (19.9%) than men (11.6%) were >80 years. Overall, women were 1.8% less likely to have cTn testing; in patients <50 years, testing was markedly lower in women compared to men [odds ratio, OR (95% confidence intervals, CI) 0.78 (0.70-0.87)]. The odds of cardiac catheterization within 90 days of ED presentation were lower in women [OR, (95% CI) 0.52 (0.44-0.63)]. Even with cardiac CP, 17.7% of women versus 32.7% of men had cardiac catheterization.

CONCLUSIONS

In men and women presenting to the ED with ischemic CP, cTn testing overall is similar except among young women under 50 years old, where it is markedly lower. Women undergo less cardiac catheterization, irrespective of CP type.

Perimenopause vasomotor symptoms, coronary atherosclerosis and risk of myocardial infarction during menopause: the cardiologist's perspective

Myocardial infarction (MI) is rare in pre-menopausal women, and in most cases has a gender-specific pathogenesis. After menopause, MI incidence increases gradually to equalize men’s rate in the eighth decade of age, with similar pathogenesis. This epidemiological observation has raised a number of hypotheses on the protective effect of estrogen against atherosclerosis and its related diseases. However, MI has a multifactorial pathogenesis with variable contributions of inflammation, eroded or ruptured atherosclerotic plaques, vasoconstriction and thrombosis. Whether perimenopausal vasomotor symptoms are associated with a better, worse or neutral effect on the risk of myocardial infarction has long been disputed. The recent finding of the LADIES ACS study that women reporting transitional vasomotor symptoms have earlier onset myocardial infarction, as compared to women without symptoms, despite similar risk factors and extent of coronary angiographic disease, supports the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction, or other vasoconstrictive mechanisms, may play a key role in precipitating an acute coronary syndrome at an earlier age. These factors, rather than other atherosclerotic markers, should be specifically investigated in order to elucidate the so far elusive link between vasomotor symptoms and risk of MI.

Women's Health Policy in the United States: An American College of Physicians Position Paper

In this position paper, the American College of Physicians (ACP) examines the challenges women face in the U.S. health care system across their lifespans, including access to care; sex- and gender-specific health issues; variation in health outcomes compared with men; underrepresentation in research studies; and public policies that affect women, their families, and society. ACP puts forward several recommendations focused on policies that will improve the health outcomes of women and ensure a health care system that supports the needs of women and their families over the course of their lifespans.

Pregnancy-Associated Myocardial Infarction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To educate clinicians about the epidemiology, etiologies, diagnosis, and management of pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction (PAMI).

RECENT FINDINGS

The risk of myocardial infarction is increased more than threefold around the time of pregnancy. In the recent series, PAMI is most commonly caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection, followed by atherosclerosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting may be required, but conservative management with medical therapy is generally advised when possible, particularly in cases of coronary dissection. Labor and delivery in women with PAMI warrants advanced planning by a multidisciplinary team involving obstetrics, anesthesia, and cardiology. Women with myocardial infarction should be referred to cardiac rehabilitation. Pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Management should be tailored based on the underlying etiology and on whether the patient is still pregnant or postpartum. Further research is needed to define optimal evaluation and management of this condition.

Mapping the Gaps: Gender Differences in Preventive Cardiovascular Care among Managed Care Members in Four Metropolitan Areas

BACKGROUND

Prior research documents gender gaps in cardiovascular risk management, with women receiving poorer quality routine care on average, even in managed care systems. Although population health management tools and quality improvement efforts have led to better overall care quality and narrowing of racial/ethnic gaps for a variety of measures, we sought to quantify persistent gender gaps in cardiovascular risk management and to assess the performance of routinely used commercial population health management tools in helping systems narrow gender gaps.

METHODS

Using 2013 through 2014 claims and enrollment data from more than 1 million members of a large national health insurance plan, we assessed performance on seven evidence-based quality measures for the management of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, a cardiac risk factor, across and within four metropolitan areas. We used logistic regression to adjust for region, demographics, and risk factors commonly tracked in population health management tools.

FINDINGS

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol control (LDL < 100 mg/dL) rates were 5 and 15 percentage points lower for women than men with diabetes mellitus (p < .0001), and coronary artery disease (p < .0001), respectively. Adjusted analyses showed women were more likely to have gaps in LDL control, with an odds ratio of 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 1.27-1.38) in diabetes mellitus and 1.88 (95% confidence interval, 1.65-2.10) in coronary artery disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Given our findings that gender gaps persist across both clinical and geographic variation, we identified additional steps health plans can take to reduce disparities. For measures where gaps have been consistently identified, we recommend that gender-stratified quality reporting and analysis be used to complement widely used algorithms to identify individuals with unmet needs for referral to population health and wellness behavior support programs.

Nationwide Routine-Data Analysis of Sex Differences in Outcome of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Women have been reported to suffer from impaired outcome after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of our study was to determine the impact of sex and age on utilization of inpatient healthcare and outcome in patients with AMI (STEMI and NSTEMI) in a real-life setting. We performed a routine-data-based analysis of 203 106 nationwide inpatients hospitalized with STEMI and NSTEMI, focusing on sex differences regarding risk constellation, treatments, and in-hospital outcome. A logistic regression model was designed to evaluate the use of coronary angiography and interventions and their sex-related impact on mortality (within 30 days). Compared with males, female STEMI patients (25 146, vs 52 965 males) were older and had a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (27.4% vs 20.6%), heart failure (32.8% vs 26.2%), and chronic kidney disease (19.1% vs 13.5%, respectively; all P < 0.05), and had higher observed in-hospital mortality (STEMI, 16.9% vs 9.9%; NSTEMI, 11.7% vs 8.7%). Females were less likely to receive coronary angiography in STEMI in the age groups <60 and ≥ 80 years (odds ratio: 0.8, 95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.83, P < 0.05), despite similar mortality risk reduction. Estimated overall in-hospital mortality showed no differences with respect to sex in STEMI for age groups 40 to 79 years. However, females age ≥ 80 years had slightly higher in-hospital mortality after adjustment. The increased observed in-hospital mortality in females was attributed to the impact of more unfavorable risk and age distribution. Coronary angiography was associated with lower in-hospital mortality; particularly, older females were less frequently treated.

Acute myocardial infarction in young women: current perspectives

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Every year, in the USA alone, more than 30,000 young women <55 years of age are hospitalized with AMI. In recent decades, the incidence of AMI is increasing in younger women in the context of increasing metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and non-traditional risk factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Although women are classically considered to present with atypical chest pain, several observational data confirm that men and women experience similar rates of chest pain, with some differences in intensity, duration, radiation, and the choice of descriptors. Women also experience more number of symptoms and more prodromal symptoms compared with men. Suboptimal awareness, sociocultural and financial reasons result in pre-hospital delays in women and lower rates of access to care with resulting undertreatment with guideline-directed therapies. Causes of AMI in young women include plaque-related MI, microvascular dysfunction or vasospasm, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Compared with men, women have greater in-hospital, early and late mortality, as a result of baseline comorbidities. Post-AMI women have lower referral to cardiac rehabilitation with more dropouts, lower levels of physical activity, and poorer improvements in health status compared with men, with higher inflammatory levels at 1-year from index presentation. Future strategies should focus on primary and secondary prevention, adherence, and post-AMI health-related quality of life. This review discusses the current evidence in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AMI in young women.

Injectable Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

In light of the limited efficacy of current treatments for cardiac regeneration, tissue engineering approaches have been explored for their potential to provide mechanical support to injured cardiac tissues, deliver cardio-protective molecules, and improve cell-based therapeutic techniques. Injectable hydrogels are a particularly appealing system as they hold promise as a minimally invasive therapeutic approach. Moreover, injectable acellular alginate-based hydrogels have been tested clinically in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and show preservation of the left ventricular (LV) indices and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This review provides an overview of recent developments that have occurred in the design and engineering of various injectable hydrogel systems for cardiac tissue engineering efforts, including a comparison of natural versus synthetic systems with emphasis on the ideal characteristics for biomimetic cardiac materials.

Sustained sex-based treatment differences in acute coronary syndrome care: Insights from the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease Registry

BACKGROUND

Sex-based differences in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mortality may attenuate with age due to better symptom recognition and prompt care.

HYPOTHESIS

Age is a modifier of temporal trends in sex-based differences in ACS care.

METHODS

Among 104 817 eligible patients with ACS enrolled in the AHA Get With the Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease registry between 2003 and 2008, care and in-hospital mortality were evaluated stratified by sex and age. Temporal trends within sex and age groups were assessed for 2 care processes: percentage of STEMI patients presenting to PCI-capable hospitals with a DTB time ≤ 90 minutes (DTB90) and proportion of eligible ACS patients receiving aspirin within 24 hours.

RESULTS

After adjustment for clinical risk factors and sociodemographic and hospital characteristics, 2276 (51.7%) women and 6276 (56.9%) men with STEMI were treated with DTB90 (adjusted OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.80-0.91, P < 0.0001 for women vs men). Time trend analysis showed an absolute increase ranging from 24% to 35% in DTB90 rates among both men and women (P for trend <0.0001 for each group), with consistent differences over time across the 4 age/sex groups (3-way P-interaction = 0.93). Despite high rate of baseline aspirin use (87%-91%), there was a 9% to 11% absolute increase in aspirin use over time, also with consistent differences across the 4 age/sex groups (all 3-way P-interaction ≥0.15).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial gains of generally similar magnitude existed in ACS performance measures over 6 years of study across sex and age groups; areas for improvement remain, particularly among younger women.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Current State of the Science: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, and sudden death, particularly among young women and individuals with few conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. Patient-initiated research has spurred increased awareness of SCAD, and improved diagnostic capabilities and findings from large case series have led to changes in approaches to initial and long-term management and increasing evidence that SCAD not only is more common than previously believed but also must be evaluated and treated differently from atherosclerotic myocardial infarction. High rates of recurrent SCAD; its association with female sex, pregnancy, and physical and emotional stress triggers; and concurrent systemic arteriopathies, particularly fibromuscular dysplasia, highlight the differences in clinical characteristics of SCAD compared with atherosclerotic disease. Recent insights into the causes of, clinical course of, treatment options for, outcomes of, and associated conditions of SCAD and the many persistent knowledge gaps are presented.

Gender disparities in first medical contact and delay in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a prospective multicentre Swedish survey study

OBJECTIVES

Compare gender disparities in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) regarding first medical contact (FMC) and prehospital delay times and explore factors associated with prehospital delay in men and women separately.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study based on medical records and a validated questionnaire. Eligible patients were enrolled within 24 hours after admittance to hospital.

SETTING

Patients were included from November 2012 to January 2014 from five Swedish hospitals with catheterisation facilities 24/7.

PARTICIPANTS

340 men and 109 women aged between 31 and 95 years completed the survey.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

FMC were divided into five possible contacts: primary healthcare centre by phone or directly, national advisory nurse by phone, emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency room directly. Two parts of prehospital delay times were studied: time from symptom onset to FMC and time from symptom onset to diagnostic ECG.

RESULTS

Women more often called an advisory nurse as FMC (28% vs 18%, p=0.02). They had a longer delay until FMC, 90 (IQR 39-221) vs 66 (28-161) min, p=0.04 and until ECG, 146 (68-316) vs 103 (61-221) min, p=0.03. Men went to hospital because of believing they were stricken by an MI to a higher extent than women did (25% vs 15%, p=0.04) and were more often recommended to call EMS by bystanders (38% vs 22%, p<0.01). Hesitating about going to hospital and experiencing pain in the stomach/back/shoulders were factors associated with longer delays in women. Believing the symptoms would disappear or interpreting them as nothing serious were corresponding factors in men. In both genders bystanders acting by contacting EMS explained shorter prehospital delays.

CONCLUSIONS

In STEMI, women differed from men in FMC and they had longer delays. This was partly due to atypical symptoms and a longer decision time. Bystanders acted more promptly when men than when women fell ill. Public knowledge of MI symptoms, and how to act properly, still seems insufficient.

Clinical Characteristics, Sex Differences, and Outcomes in Patients With Normal or Near-Normal Coronary Arteries, Non-Obstructive or Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Background

Normal or near‐normal coronary arteries (NNCAs) or nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are found on invasive coronary angiography in ≈55% of patients. Some attribute this to frequent referral of low‐risk patients. We sought to identify the referral indications, pretest risk, key clinical characteristics, sex, and outcomes in patients with NNCAs and nonobstructive CAD versus obstructive CAD on nonemergent invasive coronary angiography.

Methods and Results

Over 24 months, 925 consecutive patients were classified as having NNCAs (≤20% stenosis), nonobstructive CAD (21–49% stenosis), or obstructive CAD (≥50% stenosis). Outcomes included cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and late revasclarization. NNCAs were found in 285 patients (31.0%), nonobstructive CAD in 125 (13.5%), and obstructive CAD in 513 (55.5%). NNCAs or nonobstructive CAD was found in 40.5% with stress ischemia, 27.9% after a non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, and in 55.5% with stable or unstable angina. More women than men (53.5% versus 37.2%; P<0.001) had NNCAs or nonobstructive CAD across all referral indications. Pretest risk was high and ICA appropriate in 75.5% and 99.2% of patients, respectively. Annual rates of cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction were 1.0%, 1.1%, and 6.7%, respectively, for patients with NNCAs, nonobstructive CAD, and obstructive CAD (P<0.001). No sex differences in outcomes were observed with either NNCAs, nonobstructive CAD, or obstructive CAD (P=0.84).

Conclusions

Many (44.5%) patients undergoing nonemergent invasive coronary angiography have NNCAs or nonobstructive CAD despite high pretest risk, including ischemia and troponin elevation. Although women had more NNCAs or nonobstructive CAD, there were no differences in event rates by sex. Patients with NNCAs and nonobstructive CAD had very low event rates.

Fatigue and acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review of contributing factors

Fatigue is a symptom of ACS, but it remains unclear who is at risk and what factors contribute to fatigue. The purpose of the systematic review was to identify factors that influence fatigue in patients with ACS. The review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Literature published from 1981 to 2017 was reviewed, and of 983 articles screened, 36 met inclusion criteria. Variables contributing to fatigue fell into 3 categories: demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and other factors. More fatigue was found in women than men, and significant differences in fatigue were identified by race. Additionally, sleep deprivation, depression, and anxiety were associated with higher levels of fatigue. The findings highlight the importance of demographic, clinical, and other factors' impact on fatigue in ACS patients. Fatigue is an important symptom in ACS and healthcare providers must recognize how patient variables affect symptom expression.

Sex Differences in Outcomes After STEMI: Effect Modification by Treatment Strategy and Age

IMPORTANCE

Previous works have shown that women hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have higher short-term mortality rates than men. However, it is unclear if these differences persist among patients undergoing contemporary primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the risk of 30-day mortality after STEMI is higher in women than men and, if so, to assess the role of age, medications, and primary PCI in this excess of risk.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

From January 2010 to January 2016, a total of 8834 patients were hospitalized and received medical treatment for STEMI in 41 hospitals referring data to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry (NCT01218776).

EXPOSURES

Demographics, baseline characteristics, clinical profile, and pharmacological treatment within 24 hours and primary PCI.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Adjusted 30-day mortality rates estimated using inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) logistic regression models.

RESULTS

There were 2657 women with a mean (SD) age of 66.1 (11.6) years and 6177 men with a mean (SD) age of 59.9 (11.7) years included in the study. Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher for women than for men (11.6% vs 6.0%, P < .001). The gap in sex-specific mortality narrowed if restricting the analysis to men and women undergoing primary PCI (7.1% vs 3.3%, P < .001). After multivariable adjustment for comorbidities and treatment covariates, women under 60 had higher early mortality risk than men of the same age category (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.04-3.26; P = .02). The risk in the subgroups aged 60 to 74 years and over 75 years was not significantly different between sexes (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.88-1.88; P = .19 and OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.80-1.73; P = .40; respectively). After IPTW adjustment for baseline clinical covariates, the relationship among sex, age category, and 30-day mortality was similar (OR, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.05-2.3]; OR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.15-1.92]; and OR, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.93-1.57]; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Younger age was associated with higher 30-day mortality rates in women with STEMI even after adjustment for medications, primary PCI, and other coexisting comorbidities. This difference declines after age 60 and is no longer observed in oldest women.

Sex differences in the contemporary management of HIV patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Studies have reported sex differences in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the general population. This observational study is designed to evaluate whether sex differences exist in the contemporary management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients admitted for diagnosis of AMI.

HYPOTHESIS

There is no difference in management of HIV patients with AMI.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Sample database, we identified patients with a primary diagnosis of AMI and a secondary diagnosis of HIV. We described baseline characteristics and outcomes using NIS documentation. Our primary areas of interest were revascularization and mortality.

RESULTS

Among 2 977 387 patients presenting from 2010 to 2014 with a primary diagnosis of AMI, 10907 (0.4%) had HIV (mean age, 54.1 ± 9.3 years; n = 2043 [18.9%] female). Females were younger, more likely to be black, and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and anemia. Although neither males nor females were more likely to undergo coronary angiography in multivariate analysis, revascularization was performed less frequently in females than in males (45.4% vs 62.7%; P < 0.01), driven primarily by lower incidence of PCI. In a multivariate model, females were less likely to undergo revascularization (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45-0.78, P < 0.01), a finding driven solely by PCI (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49-0.83, P < 0.01). All-cause mortality was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

AMI was more common in males than females with HIV. Females with HIV were more likely to be younger and black and less likely to be revascularized by PCI.

Deciphering chest pain in women

The causes of chest pain range from benign sources such as muscle strain to life-threatening diagnoses such as aortic dissection and myocardial infarction. The likelihood and presentations of disorders causing chest pain are different between women and men. This article highlights important features in determining a correct diagnosis.

Predictive value of coronary computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic individuals with diabetes mellitus: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Coronary CT angiography (CTA) is generally not established as a screening tool for asymptomatic individuals. However, it is controversial whether this test may have a role for screening asymptomatic individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) due to the high prevalence of asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) in this subgroup.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and EMBASE through May 2017 for studies that reported on the association between findings at coronary CTA and future cardiac events in asymptomatic individuals with DM. Summary hazard ratios for the presence of obstructive CAD (≥50% stenosis), presence of non-obstructive plaque (<50% stenosis), segment involvement score, and segment stenosis score were derived using a random effects regression model. I² was calculated to quantify between-study heterogeneity and causing factors were identified using meta-regression.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies reporting on 5012 individuals with DM (median age: 62.3 years, median proportion of women: 40.5%) were included in the analysis. The presence of obstructive CAD on coronary CTA (vs. non-obstructive or no CAD) was associated with a significantly elevated risk for adverse events (summary HR: 4.07, 95% CI: 2.30 to 7.21). The estimated summary HR for non-obstructive plaque (vs. no CAD) was 2.17 (95% CI: 1.11 to 4.25). The pooled HRs per unit for segment stenosis score and segment involvement score were 1.44 (95% CI: 0.98 to 2.12), and 1.73 (95% CI: 1.07 to 2.80) respectively. On meta-regression analysis, we observed a trend towards a higher risk estimate in studies with a higher proportion of females (p = 0.1063).

CONCLUSION

The presence and extent of CAD on coronary CTA are strong, independent predictors of cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals with DM despite heterogeneity between studies in endpoints, study population and length of follow-up.

Genetic variants associated with earlier age at menopause increase the risk of cardiovascular events in women

OBJECTIVE

To better understand the relationship between cardiovascular disease risk and age-at-natural menopause using genetic data.

METHODS

Early menopause is associated with cardiovascular disease risk. We constructed a genetic risk score comprising 56 age-at-natural menopause decreasing alleles in men and women from the Framingham Heart Study, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, and the Rotterdam Study. If the genetic predisposition to earlier age-at-natural menopause is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, it is reasonable to ask whether the risk is shared by men carrying the alleles, despite not experiencing menopause. We estimated the hazard ratio for the score for time to first cardiovascular event. To investigate the possible genetic pleiotropy between age-at-natural menopause and cardiovascular disease, we performed cross-trait linkage disequilibrium score regressions between age-at-natural menopause and cardiovascular disease and risk factors using genome-wide association studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-two thousand five hundred and sixty-eight cardiovascular disease-free participants at baseline were analyzed (9,808 men, 12,760 women). Each additional unit of the genetic propensity to earlier age-at-natural menopause increased the hazard of both cardiovascular disease and cardiac death in women (cardiovascular disease: hazard ratio 1.10 [1.04-1.16], P = 9.7 × 10; cardiac death: 1.12 [1.02-1.24], P = 0.03), whereas no effect was observed for either outcome in men (hazard ratio 0.99 [0.95-1.04], P = 0.71; 1.05 [0.94-1.16], P = 0.34). We found significant negative genetic correlations in women, but not men, between age-at-natural menopause and cardiovascular disease and risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Genetic variants associated with earlier age-at-natural menopause are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in women, but not men, suggesting sex-specific genetic effects on cardiovascular disease risk.

Differences in relative and absolute effectiveness of oral P2Y 12 inhibition in men and women: a meta-analysis and modelling study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the absolute treatment effects of newer P2Y12 inhibitors (ticagrelor and prasugrel) compared with clopidogrel in men and women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomised controlled trials of oral P2Y12 inhibitors for acute stroke or ACS. Age-specific and sex-specific mortality was obtained for all patients admitted to hospital with myocardial infarction in Scotland from 2006 to 2010 (prior to introduction of prasugrel or ticagrelor).

RESULTS

From 9277 articles, nine fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Three trials compared newer P2Y12 inhibitors to clopidogrel in ACS, in which the treatment rate ratio (RR) for major adverse cardiovascular events in men was 0.80 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.93). For the same outcome, across all nine trials, the sex-treatment interaction RR was 1.08 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.19). Combining these estimates yielded a treatment RR in women of 0.86 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.04).17 842 women and 27 818 men were admitted to hospital with myocardial infarction. Mortality was higher for women than men for all-cause (5708, 32.0% vs 5891, 21.2%), cardiovascular (4032, 22.6% vs 4117, 14.8%) and bleeding (193, 1.1% vs 228, 0.8%) deaths.On applying the sex-specific RRs to this population, the absolute risk reduction for mortality at 1 year was similar for women and men for all-cause (2.30% (95% CI -0.92% to 5.22%) vs 2.47% (95% CI 0.62% to 4.10%)), cardiovascular (2.70% (95% CI -0.63% to 5.74%)) vs 2.72% (95% CI 0.92% to 4.35%)) and bleeding (-0.27% (95% CI -1.06% to 0.30%) vs -0.18% (95% CI -0.71% to 0.24%)) deaths.

CONCLUSION

Newer P2Y12 inhibitors may be slightly less efficacious in women than men, but the absolute risk reduction is similar in both sexes.

Matrix Metalloproteinase Mediated Type I Collagen Degradation is an Independent Predictor of Increased Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Postmenopausal Women

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is often underdiagnosed in women. It is therefore of interest to identify biomarkers that indicate increased risk of AMI and thereby help clinicians to have additional focus on the difficult AMI diagnosis. Type I Collagen, a component of the cardiac extracellular matrix, is cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) generating the neo-epitope C1M. We investigated the association between serum-C1M and AMI and evaluated whether C1M is a prognostic marker for outcome following AMI. This study is based on The Prospective Epidemiological Risk Factor (PERF) Study including postmenopausal women. 316 out of 5,450 women developed AMI within the follow-up period (14 years, median). A multivariate Cox analysis assessed association between serum-C1M and AMI, and re-infaction or death subsequent to AMI. The risk of AMI increased by 18% (p = 0.03) when serum-C1M was doubled and women in the highest quartile had a 33% increased risk compared to those in the low quartiles (p = 0.025). Serum-C1M was, however not related to reinfarction or death subsequent to AMI. In this study C1M was be an independent risk factor for AMI. Measuring MMP degraded type I collagen could be useful for prediction of increased risk of AMI if replicated in other cohorts.

Lipid Effects of Icosapent Ethyl in Women with Diabetes Mellitus and Persistent High Triglycerides on Statin Treatment: ANCHOR Trial Subanalysis

Background: High triglycerides (TG) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are stronger predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women than in men, but few randomized, controlled clinical trials have investigated lipid-lowering interventions in women and none have reported results specifically in women with high TG and DM2. Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) is pure prescription eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl ester approved at 4 g/day as an adjunct to diet to reduce TG ≥500 mg/dL.

Methods: The 12-week ANCHOR trial randomized 702 statin-treated patients (73% with DM; 39% women) at increased CVD risk with TG 200–499 mg/dL despite controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 40–99 mg/dL) to receive icosapent ethyl 2 g/day, 4 g/day, or placebo. This post hoc analysis included 146 women with DM2 (97% white, mean age 62 years) randomized to icosapent ethyl 4 g/day (n = 74) or placebo (n = 72).

Results: Icosapent ethyl significantly reduced TG (−21.5%; p < 0.0001) without increasing LDL-C and lowered other potentially atherogenic lipid/lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and inflammatory parameters versus placebo. Icosapent ethyl increased EPA levels in plasma (+639%; p < 0.0001; n = 49) and red blood cells (+599%; p < 0.0001; n = 47) versus placebo. Safety and tolerability of icosapent ethyl were generally similar to placebo.

Conclusion: In women with DM2 at high CVD risk with persistently high TG on statins, icosapent ethyl 4 g/day reduced potentially atherogenic parameters with safety and tolerability comparable to placebo. Potential CVD benefits of icosapent ethyl are being tested in ∼8000 men and women at high CVD risk with high TG on statins in the ongoing Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl - Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT) cardiovascular (CV) outcome trial.

4-Step Protocol for Disparities in STEMI Care and Outcomes in Women

BACKGROUND

Women with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receive suboptimal care and have worse outcomes than men. Whether strategies to reduce STEMI care variability impact disparities in the care and outcomes of women with STEMI is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The study assessed the care and outcomes of men versus women with STEMI before and after implementation of a comprehensive STEMI protocol.

METHODS

On July 15, 2014, the authors implemented: 1) emergency department catheterization lab activation; 2) STEMI Safe Handoff Checklist; 3) immediate transfer to an immediately available catheterization lab; and 4) radial first approach to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The authors prospectively studied consecutive patients with STEMI and assessed guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) before PCI, median door-to-balloon time (D2BT), in-hospital adverse events, and 30-day mortality stratified by sex before (January 1, 2011 to July 14, 2014; control group) and after (July 15, 2014 to December 31, 2016) implementation of the STEMI protocol.

RESULTS

Of 1,272 participants (68% men, 32% women), women were older with more comorbidities than men. In the control group, women had less GDMT (77% vs. 69%; p = 0.019) and longer D2BT (median 104 min; [interquartile range (IQR): 79 to 133] min vs. 112 [IQR: 85 to 147] min; p = 0.023). Women had more in-hospital stroke, vascular complications, bleeding, transfusion, and death. In the comprehensive 4-step STEMI protocol, sex disparities in GDMT (84% vs. 80%; p = 0.32), D2BT (89 [IQR: 68 to 106] min vs. 91 [IQR: 68 to 114] min; p = 0.15), and in-hospital adverse events resolved. The absolute sex difference in 30-day mortality decreased from the control group (6.1% higher in women; p = 0.002) to the comprehensive 4-step STEMI protocol (3.2% higher in women; p = 0.090).

CONCLUSIONS

A systems-based approach to STEMI care reduces sex disparities and improves STEMI care and outcomes in women.

Gender differences in acute coronary syndromes: focus on the women with ACS without an obstructing culprit lesion

INTRODUCTION

The etiologies of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in women expand beyond the traditional paradigm of obstructive epicardial atherosclerotic disease and plaque rupture. Fundamental differences in pathobiology and presentation can partially explain the gender disparity in ACS diagnosis and management, but there is also much we do not know about the spectrum of coronary artery disease in women. Areas covered: This review seeks to explain some key differences between men and women in terms of risk factors, pathophysiology, and clinical presentations, as well as identify areas where more data are needed, focusing on women presenting with ACS but without a culprit lesion to explain their presentation. Literature search was undertaken with PubMed and Google Scholar. Expert commentary: Women with acute coronary syndromes but without plaque rupture or obstructive epicardial atherosclerosis can be difficult to diagnose and manage. Improving care in this underdiagnosed and undertreated population will require early identification of at risk patients, development of better diagnostic strategies, and standardized implementation of guideline-based therapies.

Self-Management Interventions for Women With Cardiac Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac pain is considered the primary indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD). Existing reviews lack appropriate numbers of women or sex-based subgroup analyses, or both; thus, the benefits of self-management (women with cardiac pain actively participating in their own care and treatment) remain uncertain.

METHODS

Using methods described by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre at the Institute of Education, 7 databases were systematically searched to examine and synthesize the evidence on self-management interventions for women with cardiac pain and cardiac pain equivalents, such as fatigue, dyspnea, and exhaustion.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 22,402 article titles and abstracts. Of these, 57 randomized controlled trials were included in a final narrative synthesis, comprising data from 13,047 participants, including 5299 (41%) women. Self-management interventions targeting cardiac pain in women compared with a control population reduced (1) cardiac pain frequency and cardiac pain proportion (obstructive and nonobstructive CAD), (2) fatigue at 12 months, and (3) dyspnea at 2 months. There was no evidence of group differences in postprocedural (percutaneous coronary intervention or cardiac surgery) pain. Results indicated that self-management interventions for cardiac pain were more effective if they included a greater proportion of women (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.01; standard error, 0.003; P = 0.02), goal setting (SMD, -0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.49 to -0.03), and collaboration/support from health care providers (SMD, -0.57; 95% CI, -1.00 to -0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this review suggest that self-management interventions reduce cardiac pain and cardiac pain equivalents.

LncRNA ZFAS1 as a SERCA2a Inhibitor to Cause Intracellular Ca2+ Overload and Contractile Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Myocardial Infarction

RATIONALE

Ca²⁺ homeostasis-a critical determinant of cardiac contractile function-is critically regulated by SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase 2a). Our previous study has identified ZFAS1 as a new lncRNA biomarker of acute myocardial infarction (MI).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of ZFAS1 on SERCA2a and the associated Ca²⁺ homeostasis and cardiac contractile function in the setting of MI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

ZFAS1 expression was robustly increased in cytoplasm and sarcoplasmic reticulum in a mouse model of MI and a cellular model of hypoxia. Knockdown of endogenous ZFAS1 by virus-mediated silencing shRNA partially abrogated the ischemia-induced contractile dysfunction. Overexpression of ZFAS1 in otherwise normal mice created similar impairment of cardiac function as that observed in MI mice. Moreover, at the cellular level, ZFAS1 overexpression weakened the contractility of cardiac muscles. At the subcellular level, ZFAS1 deleteriously altered the Ca²⁺ transient leading to intracellular Ca²⁺ overload in cardiomyocytes. At the molecular level, ZFAS1 was found to directly bind SERCA2a protein and to limit its activity, as well as to repress its expression. The effects of ZFAS1 were readily reversible on knockdown of this lncRNA. Notably, a sequence domain of ZFAS1 gene that is conserved across species mimicked the effects of the full-length ZFAS1. Mutation of this domain or application of an antisense fragment to this conserved region efficiently canceled out the deleterious actions of ZFAS1. ZFAS1 had no significant effects on other Ca²⁺-handling regulatory proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

ZFAS1 is an endogenous SERCA2a inhibitor, acting by binding to SERCA2a protein to limit its intracellular level and inhibit its activity, and a contributor to the impairment of cardiac contractile function in MI. Therefore, anti-ZFAS1 might be considered as a new therapeutic strategy for preserving SERCA2a activity and cardiac function under pathological conditions of the heart.