Restenosis after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Experiences from the Patients' Perspective

Impact of cardiac rehabilitation on cardiovascular event in Korea

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) among patients who underwent PCI procedure. We used data from the electronic medical records (EMR) of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, from January 2014 to February 2020. Data from 2988 patients who had experienced their first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included during the study period. we classified patients into CR participants and non-participants based on their participation in the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program within 30 days after discharge. And the outcome was the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke within 1 year after discharge. The association between participation in CR and risk of developing MACE was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Patients who achieved CR after undergoing PCI were at a lower risk of developing MI (HR 0.68, CI 0.53-0.86). There was no significant association between participation in CR and the incidence of stroke. Among patients who had more than three stenotic vessels, the risk of developing MI within 1 year of discharge was reduced in CR users compared to non-users (3 or more stenosis vessels: HR 0.55, CI 0.35-0.86). Among patients who used two and more stents during PCI procedures, the risk of developing MI within 1 year of discharge was reduced in CR users compared to non-users (2 and more stents: HR 0.54, CI 0.35-0.85). Among people diagnosed with ACS and receiving PCI, patients who participated in CR within one month of discharge reduced risk of developing MI. Our study reinforced the current evidence on the effect of CR among patients receiving PCI and presented the expansion and enhancement of the CR program.

Experience and Perceptions among Older Outpatients after Myocardial Infarction following an Exercise Intervention: A Qualitative Analysis from the PIpELINe Trial

Traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs effectively improve physical performance and outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI). However, older patients are less likely to participate in such programs. The aim of this qualitative analysis was to investigate experiences and perceptions of cardiac outpatients enrolled in an innovative and exercise-based CR program and to identify possible barriers to improving adherence and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a sample of 31 patients (84% male; age 76 ± 6 years) from the Physical Activity Intervention in Elderly after Myocardial Infarction (PIpELINe) trial, after about six months of the event. Three main themes were identified: Personal feelings after the event; lifestyle change and perception of barriers; and relationships with familiars. Participants perceived sensations of fear at the time of their diagnosis and showed awareness of the importance of following specific health suggestions. They reported a significative change in previous habits and highlighted the need for periodic controls. Few of them felt insecure in carrying out daily activities or practicing exercise and reported an unnecessary protection from the family members. These findings will provide valuable insights for the development of a more feasible patient-centered CR model of intervention.

Dealing with being prescribed cardiovascular preventive medication: a narrative analysis of qualitative interviews with patients with recent acute coronary heart disease in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

To explore how patients with experience of acute coronary heart disease make sense of, and deal with, the fact of being prescribed cardiovascular preventive medication.

DESIGN

Qualitative interview study.

SETTING

Swedish primary care.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-one participants with experience of being prescribed cardiovascular preventive medication, recruited from a randomised controlled study of problem-based learning for self-care for coronary heart disease.

METHODS

The participants were interviewed individually 6-12 months after their hospitalisation for acute coronary disease. A narrative analysis was conducted of their accounts of being prescribed cardiovascular preventive medication.

RESULTS

Four themes shape the patients' experiences: 'A matter of living' concerns an awareness of the will to live linked to being prescribed cardiovascular preventive medication regarded in the light of the recent hospitalisation. In 'Reconciliation of conflicting self-images', patients dealt with being prescribed preventive medication through work to restore an identity of someone responsible in spite of viewing the taking of medication as questionable. The status of feeling healthy, while being someone in need of medication, also constituted conflicting self-images. Following this, taking medication was framed as necessary, not as an active choice. 'Being in the hands of expertise' is about the seeking of an answer from a reliable prescriber to the question: 'Is this medication really necessary for me?' Existential labour was done to establish that the practice of taking cardiovascular preventive medication was an inevitable necessity, rather than an active choice. 'Taking medicines no longer a big deal' could be the resulting experience of this process.

CONCLUSIONS

Unmet existential needs when being prescribed cardiovascular preventive medication seem to be a component of the burden of treatment. A continuous and trustful relationship with the prescribing doctor may facilitate the reconciliation of conflicting self-images, and support patients in their efforts to incorporate their medicines taking into daily life.

Grounded theory: what makes a grounded theory study?

Grounded theory (GT) is both a research method and a research methodology. There are several different ways of doing GT which reflect the different viewpoints of the originators. For those who are new to this approach to conducting qualitative research, this can be confusing. In this article, we outline the key characteristics of GT and describe the role of the literature review in three common GT approaches, illustrated using exemplar studies.

Remnant Lipoprotein Cholesterol Independently Associates With In-Stent Restenosis After Drug-Eluting Stenting for Coronary Artery Disease

This study evaluated the prognostic value of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) as a predictor of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Consecutive patients with CAD (n = 612) who underwent both successful coronary DES implantation and follow-up angiography ranging from 6 to 24 months were enrolled. The independent predictors of ISR were explored by multivariate logistic regression analysis; 95 (15.52%) patients were identified to have ISR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RLP-C concentration (odds ratio [OR]: 4.245, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.493-7.229), age (OR: 1.026, 95% CI: 1.002-1.051), diabetes mellitus (DM; OR: 1.811, 95% CI: 1.134-2.892), and lesion length (OR: 1.013, 95% CI: 1.002-1.024) were associated with ISR. Via subgroup analysis, we found that RLP-C was independently associated with ISR in both CAD with DM (OR: 4.154, 95% CI: 1.895-9.104) and CAD without DM (OR: 4.455, 95% CI: 2.097-9.464) groups. In the analysis of the receiver operating characteristics curve, RLP-C level >0.515 mmol/L exhibited 77.9% sensitivity and 56.5% specificity (area under the curve: 0.705, 95% CI: 0.648-0.762) in predicting ISR. In conclusion, RLP-C is independently associated with the development of ISR in patients with CAD after DES implantation.

Patient empowerment and general self-efficacy in patients with coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional study

Background

In managing a life with coronary heart disease and the possibility of planning and following a rehabilitation plan, patients’ empowerment and self-efficacy are considered important. However, currently there is limited data on levels of empowerment among patients with coronary heart disease, and demographic and clinical characteristics associated with patient empowerment are not known.

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of patient empowerment and general self-efficacy in patients six to 12 months after the cardiac event. We also aimed to explore the relationship between patient empowerment, general self-efficacy and other related factors such as quality of life and demographic variables.

Methods

A sample of 157 cardiac patients (78% male; age 68 ± 8.5 years) was recruited from a Swedish hospital. Patient empowerment was assessed using the SWE-CES-10. Additional data was collected on general self-efficacy and well-being (EQ5D and Ladder of Life). Demographic and clinical variables were collected from medical records and interviews.

Results

The mean levels of patient empowerment and general self-efficacy on a 0–4 scale were 3.69 (±0.54) and 3.13 (±0.52) respectively, and the relationship between patient empowerment and general self-efficacy was weak (r = 0.38). In a simple linear regression, patient empowerment and general self-efficacy were significantly correlated with marital status, current self-rated health and future well-being. Multiple linear regressions on patient empowerment (Model 1) and general self-efficacy (Model 2) showed an independent significant association between patient empowerment and current self-rated health. General self-efficacy was not independently associated with any of the variables.

Conclusions

Patients with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease reported high levels of empowerment and general self-efficacy at six to 12 months after the event. Clinical and demographic variables were not independently associated with empowerment or low general self-efficacy. Patient empowerment and general self-efficacy were not mutually interchangeable, and therefore both need to be measured when planning for secondary prevention in primary health care.

Trial registration

NCT01462799.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12875-018-0749-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Patients expectations and fulfilment of expectations before and after treatment for suspected coronary artery disease assessed with a newly developed questionnaire in combination with established health-related quality of life questionnaires

Background

Clinical decision-making is often based on evidence of outcome after a specific treatment. Healthcare providers and patients may, however, have different perceptions and expectations of what to achieve from a certain healthcare measure.

Aims

To evaluate patients’ expectations, perceptions and health related quality of life (HRQoL) before a care process including coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease and to evaluate the fulfilment of these expectations in relation to established patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) 6 months later. Furthermore, an aim was to try to define meaningful patient reported experience measures (PREMs) in this population.

Methods

544 patients planned for coronary angiography completed a newly developed questionnaire to assess expectations and perceptions of treatment, the expectation questionnaire (ExpQ) and two established HRQoL questionnaires together with the established generic Short-Form 36 (SF36) and the disease specific Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ).

Results

Patients had before the intervention, in general, high expectations of improvement after investigation and treatment and there was a positive attitude towards life style changes, medication and participation in decision-making regarding their own treatment. Only, 56.4% of the patients, however, reported fulfilment of treatment expectations. Fulfilment of treatment expectations correlated strongly with improvement in HRQoL after the care process.

Conclusions

To measure patients ´ expectations and fulfilments of these may offer simple and meaningful outcomes to evaluate a healthcare process from a patient ´s perspective. To approach patients’ expectations may also strengthen patient involvement in the care process with the possibilities of both higher patient satisfaction and medical results of the treatment.

Tong-xin-luo capsule for patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a standard treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD). Restenosis, defined as a 50% reduction in luminal diameter at six months after PCI, indicates a need for revascularisation. Restenosis has proven to be a major drawback to PCI. Tong-xin-luo is one of the prophylactic strategies for cardiovascular events in patients after PCI that is widely used in China, but its efficacy and safety have not been systematically evaluated.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically assess the efficacy and safety of Tong-xin-luo capsules in preventing cardiovascular events after PCI in patients with CHD.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), WanFang, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Medical Current Contents, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from their inception to June 2014. We also searched other resources, including ongoing trials and research registries. We applied no language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials of participants with CHD after PCI were included. Participants in the intervention group received Tong-xin-luo capsules for at least three months.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third review author. The primary outcomes included occurrence of angiographic restenosis and adverse events; the secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, heart failure, angina, all cause mortality, mortality due to any cardiovascular event, use of revascularisation, patient acceptability, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Dichotomous data were measured with risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

MAIN RESULTS

Sixteen studies involving 1063 participants were identified. The risk of bias for fifteen studies was high and along with imprecision and possible publication bias, this lowered our confidence in the results. There was low quality evidence that Tong-xi-luo reduced the rates of angiographic restenosis (RR 0.16, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.34), myocardial infarction (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.66), heart failure (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.62), and use of revascularisation (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.45). There was very low quality evidence for the effect of Tong-xin-luo on all-cause mortality (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.06 to 2.56), angina (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.34) and death due to any cardiovascular event (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.12). Adverse events were seldom reported, and included gastrointestinal reactions and nausea.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The addition of Tong-xin-luo to conventional Western medicine may possibly prevent restenosis and recurrence of cardiovascular events in patients with CHD after PCI. However, the data are limited by publication bias and high risk of bias for included studies. Further high-quality trials are required to evaluate the potential effects of this intervention.

[Development of a stress scale for elderly patients with coronary artery disease]

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to evaluate stress in elderly patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD) and to examine validity and reliability of the scale.

METHODS

The development process for the preliminary scale included construction of a conceptual framework and initial items, verification of content analysis, sentence correction, and pilot study. This study was conducted using a questionnaire survey with one-to-one interviews during January and February, 2012. Participants were 240 elderly patients with CAD. Data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, criterion related validity, and internal consistency.

RESULTS

The developed scale consisted of 32 items and 6 factors - aging and disease (7 items), family relations (5 items), anxiety and withdrawal (9 items), management of daily living (3 items), compliance of medical regimen (4 items), poverty and finance (4 items), and explained 68.5% of total variance. The scale had significantly positive correlation with the Korean Perceived Stress Scale (KPSS). Cronbach's alpha was .96, and Guttman split half coefficient was .91.

CONCLUSION

Results indicate that the Stress Scale for Elderly Patients with CAD has validity and reliability, and is a suitable scale in health care settings to assess stress in elderly patients with CAD.

Lentivirus-mediated RNAi knockdown of the gap junction protein, Cx43, attenuates the development of vascular restenosis following balloon injury

Percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)] has been developed into a mature interventional treatment for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the long-term therapeutic effect is compromised by the high incidence of vascular restenosis following angioplasty, and the underlying mechanisms of vascular restenosis have not yet been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the role of the gap junction (GJ) protein, connexin 43 (Cx43), in the development of vascular restenosis. To establish vascular restenosis, rat carotid arteries were subjected to balloon angioplasty injury. At 0, 7, 14 and 2 days following balloon injury, the arteries were removed, and the intimal/medial area of the vessels was measured to evaluate the degree of restenosis. We found that the intimal area gradually increased following balloon injury. Intimal hyperplasia and restenosis were particularly evident at 14 and 28 days after injury. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of Cx43 was temporarily decreased at 7 days, and subsequently increased at 14 and 28 days following balloon injury, as shown by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. To determine the involvement of Cx43 in vascular restenosis, the lentivirus vector expressing shRNA targeting Cx43, Cx43-RNAi-LV, was used to silence Cx43 in the rat carotid arteries. The knockdown of Cx43 effectively attenuated the development of intimal hyperplasia and vascular restenosis following balloon injury. Thus, our data indicate the vital role of the GJ protein, Cx43, in the development of vascular restenosis, and provide new insight into the pathogenesis of vascular reste-nosis. Cx43 may prove to be a novel potential pharmacological target for the prevention of vascular restenosis following PCI.

Self-Care Behaviour and Factors Associated with Patient Outcomes Following Same-Day Discharge Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: The demand for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) exerts constant pressure on health care systems to meet the growing needs of patients. The practice of same-day discharge PCI has emerged as a medically safe option to optimize resource utilization and improve access to care.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe elective same-day discharge PCI patients' self-care behaviour in the two to five days following their procedure, and the factors associated with cardiac self-efficacy (CSE) and self-care agency (SCA).

Methods: Using a cross-sectional correlational design, 98 consecutive patients were contacted by telephone, following PCI, and asked about their CSE, SCA, and adherence to discharge recommendations. Associations between selected variables were explored through multiple regression analysis.

Results: The findings revealed a high degree of adherence to discharge recommendations, although participants' appreciation of the long term management of their chronic disease was limited. Factors associated with lower levels of CSE and SCA included the burden of having additional chronic co-morbidities, living alone and lacking social support, and a positive screening for psychosocial distress.

Conclusion: Same-day discharge PCI presents a sustainable option for delivery of care for most patients. Some clients may require additional support to manage the transition between acute intervention and chronic disease management.

[The development and effects of an integrated symptom management program for prevention of recurrent cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention]

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to develop and to determine the effects of an integrated symptom management program for prevention of recurrent cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODS

Subjects consisted of 58 CAD patients (experimental group: 30, control group: 28). The experimental group participated in an integrated symptom management program for 6 months which was composed of tailored education, stress management, exercise, diet, deep breathing, music therapy, periodical telephone monitoring and a daily log. The control group received the usual care.

RESULTS

The experimental group significantly decreased symptom experiences and the level of LDL compared to the control group. The experimental group significantly increased self care activity and quality of life compared to the control group. Although no significant difference was found in cardiac recurrence, the experimental group had fewer recurrences.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that an integrated symptom management program for prevention of recurrent cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention can improve symptom aggravation, recurrent rate, self care activity and quality of life. Nursing interventions are needed to maintain and further enhance the quality of life of these patients and the interventions should be implemented in the overall transition period.