Surgical Versus Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization in Patients With Diabetes and Acute Coronary Syndromes

Impact of Diabetes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Within 48 Hours

BACKGROUND

Diabetic patients with coronary artery disease may benefit from elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It is unknown whether this merit is transferable to patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing surgery.

METHOD

A total of 1,427 patients underwent CABG within 48 hours of being diagnosed with AMI at the current institution between 2001 and 2019. Of these patients, 206 (14.4%) had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 148 (10.4%) had non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Retrospective data analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Patients with NIDDM showed the highest perioperative risk profile, with a EuroScore II of 11.6 (±10.3) compared with 7.8 (±8.0) in non-diabetic patients and 8.4 (±7.8) in patients with IDDM (p<0.001). Sub-analysis demonstrated a higher proportion of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients in the NIDDM cohort compared with the IDDM cohort (70.9% vs 56.8%; p=0.005). Postoperatively, NIDDM patients had more sepsis (p<0.01) and longer ventilation times (p<0.001) compared with non-DM and IDDM patients (p<0.01). Wound healing complications were rare, but almost twice as high in NIDDM patients compared with non-DM and IDDM patients (4.7% vs 0.9% vs 2.4%, respectively). The 30-day mortality was highest in the NIDDM cohort (18.3% vs 11.3% vs 7.8%; p=0.012). Analysis of survival for up to 15 years revealed a significantly reduced survival of diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic patients, with lowest survival rates in NIDDM patients (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients undergoing CABG within 48 hours of being diagnosed with AMI are at increased risk of short-term and long-term complications. Therefore, this particular group should undergo a careful evaluation concerning the expected risks and benefits of CABG in this setting.

Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients Who Underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting during Hospitalization for ST-Segment Elevation or Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

PURPOSE

Little is known about the outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the current percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era.

METHODS

We analyzed 25120 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients hospitalized between January 2011 and December 2016. In-hospital outcomes were compared between patients who underwent CABG during hospitalization and those who did not undergo CABG in the STEMI group (n = 19428) and NSTEMI group (n = 5692).

RESULTS

Overall, CABG was performed in 2.3% of patients, while 90.0% of registered patients underwent primary PCI. In both the STEMI and NSTEMI groups, patients who underwent CABG were more likely to have heart failure, cardiogenic shock, diabetes, left main trunk lesion, and multivessel disease than those who did not undergo CABG. In multivariable analysis, CABG was associated with lower all-cause mortality in both the STEMI group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-0.72) and NSTEMI group (adjusted OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.84).

CONCLUSION

AMI patients undergoing CABG were more likely to have high-risk characteristics than those who did not undergo CABG. However, after adjusting for baseline differences, CABG was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in both the STEMI and NSTEMI groups.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention vs Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery for Left Main Disease in Patients With and Without Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Pooled Analysis of 4 Randomized Clinical Trials

Importance

Patients with left main coronary artery disease presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represent a high-risk and understudied subgroup of patients with atherosclerosis.

Objective

To assess clinical outcomes after PCI vs CABG in patients with left main disease with vs without ACS.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Data were pooled from 4 trials comparing PCI with drug-eluting stents vs CABG in patients with left main disease who were considered equally suitable candidates for either strategy (SYNTAX, PRECOMBAT, NOBLE, and EXCEL). Patients were categorized as presenting with or without ACS. Kaplan-Meier event rates through 5 years and Cox model hazard ratios were generated, and interactions were tested. Patients were enrolled in the individual trials from 2004 through 2015. Individual patient data from the trials were pooled and reconciled from 2020 to 2021, and the analyses pertaining to the ACS subgroup were performed from March 2022 through February 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was death through 5 years. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI), procedural MI, stroke, and repeat revascularization.

Results

Among 4394 patients (median [IQR] age, 66 [59-73] years; 3371 [76.7%] male and 1022 [23.3%] female) randomized to receive PCI or CABG, 1466 (33%) had ACS. Patients with ACS were more likely to have diabetes, prior MI, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50%, and higher SYNTAX scores. At 30 days, patients with ACS had higher all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 3.40; 95% CI, 1.81-6.37; P < .001) and cardiovascular death (HR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.69-6.08; P < .001) compared with those without ACS. Patients with ACS also had higher rates of spontaneous MI (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.25-2.31; P < .001) through 5 years. The rates of all-cause mortality through 5 years with PCI vs CABG were 10.9% vs 11.5% (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.68-1.27) in patients with ACS and 11.3% vs 9.6% (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.95-1.50) in patients without ACS (P = .22 for interaction). The risk of early stroke was lower with PCI vs CABG (ACS: HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.12-1.25; no ACS: HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-0.75), whereas the 5-year risks of spontaneous MI and repeat revascularization were higher with PCI vs CABG (spontaneous MI: ACS: HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.09-2.77; no ACS: HR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.94-4.72; repeat revascularization: ACS: HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.19-2.09; no ACS: HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.54-2.33), regardless of ACS status.

Conclusion and Relevance

Among largely stable patients undergoing left main revascularization and with predominantly low to intermediate coronary anatomical complexity, those with ACS had higher rates of early death. Nonetheless, rates of all-cause mortality through 5 years were similar with PCI vs CABG in this high-risk subgroup. The relative advantages and disadvantages of PCI vs CABG in terms of early stroke and long-term spontaneous MI and repeat revascularization were consistent regardless of ACS status.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT00114972, NCT00422968, NCT01496651, NCT01205776.

Exploring new insights in coronary lesion assessment and treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus: the impact of optical coherence tomography

In this review, we summarise new insights into diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the improvements in therapy, the clinical management of DM patients remains challenging as they develop more extensive CAD at a younger age and consistently have worse clinical outcomes than non-DM patients. Current diagnostic modalities as well as revascularisation treatments mainly focus on ischemic lesions. However, the impact of plaque morphology and composition are emerging as strong predictors of adverse cardiac events even in the absence of identified ischemia. In particular, the presence of vulnerable plaques such as thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) lesions has been identified as a very strong predictor of future adverse events. This emphasises the need for an approach combining both functional and morphological methods in the assessment of lesions. In particular, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has proven to be a valuable asset by truly identifying TCFAs. New treatment strategies should consist of individualised and advanced medical regimens and may evolve towards plaque sealing through percutaneous treatment.

Regional differences in percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes in STEMI patients with diabetes: The Asia-Pacific evaluation of cardiovascular therapies (ASPECT) collaboration

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is associated with poorer outcomes and increased complication rates in STEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Data are notably lacking in the Asia-Pacific region. We report the overall association of Diabetes with clinical characteristics and outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing PCI across the Asia-Pacific, with a particular focus on regional differences.

METHODOLOGY

The Asia Pacific Evaluation of Cardiovascular Therapies (ASPECT) collaboration consists of data from various PCI registries across Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Clinical characteristics, lesion characteristics, and outcomes were provided for STEMI patients. Key outcomes included 30-day overall mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

RESULTS

A total of 12,144 STEMI patients (mean(SD) age 59.3(12.3)) were included, of which 3912 (32.2%) had diabetes. Patients with diabetes were likely to have a higher baseline risk profile, poorer clinical presentation, and more complex lesion patterns (all p < 0.05). Across all regions, patients with diabetes had a higher rate of 30-day mortality and MACE (all p < 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, diabetes was significantly associated with both increased 30-day mortality (9.6%vs 5.5%, OR 1.79 [95% CI 1.40-2.30]) and MACE (13.3% vs 8.6%, R 1.73 [1.44-2.08]). The association between diabetes and 30-day MACE varied by region (p_interaction = 0.041), with the association (OR) ranging from 1.34 [1.08-1.67] in Malaysia, to 2.39 [1.66-3.45] in Singapore.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes portends poorer clinical outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing PCI in the Asia-Pacific with regional variations noted. The development of effective preventative measures and interventional strategies targetted at this high-risk group is crucial.

Coronary Revascularization in Patients With Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Propensity-Matched Studies

OBJECTIVE

Patients with diabetes have poorer outcomes with coronary artery disease (CAD) and pose a unique clinical population for revascularization. We performed a pairwise meta-analysis of randomized trials (RCTs) and propensity-matched observational studies (PMS) to compare the clinical outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify RCT and PMS studies comparing CABG with PCI in patients with diabetes with concurrent CAD. Studies were pooled using the random-effects model to perform a pairwise meta-analysis. Primary outcomes included long-term all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and repeat revascularization. Meta-regression was used to explore the effects of baseline risk factors on primary outcomes with moderate to high heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 18 RCTs and 9 PMS with 28,846 patients were included. PCI was associated with increased long-term all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR] = 1.34, P < 0.001), cardiac mortality (RR = 1.52, P < 0.001), MI (RR = 1.51, P = 0.009), MACCE (RR = 1.65, P < 0.001), and repeat revascularization (RR = 2.48, P < 0.001) compared with CABG. There was no difference in long-term stroke between the 2 groups (RR = 0.95, P = 0.82). At meta-regression, a greater proportion of female patients in studies was associated with a decreased protective benefit for CABG for long-term all-cause mortality but an increased protective benefit for long-term MI and repeat revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

Revascularization of patients with diabetes using CABG is associated with significantly reduced long-term mortality, MI, MACCE, and repeat revascularizations. Future studies exploring the influence of gender on revascularization outcomes are necessary to elucidate the ideal treatment modality in patients with diabetes.

Revascularization outcomes in diabetic patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome with non-ST elevation

Background

To compare the outcomes of diabetic patients hospitalized with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina (UA) referred for revascularization by either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a real-life setting.

Methods

The study included 1987 patients with diabetes mellitus enrolled from the biennial Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey between 2000 and 2016, who were hospitalized for NSTEMI or UA, and underwent either PCI (N = 1652, 83%) or CABG (N = 335, 17%). Propensity score-matching analysis compared all-cause mortality in 200 pairs (1:1) who underwent revascularization by either PCI or CABG.

Results

Independent predictors for CABG referral included 3-vessel coronary artery disease (OR 4.9, 95% CI 3.6–6.8, p < 0.001), absence of on-site cardiac surgery (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9, p = 0.013), no previous PCI (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.2, p = 0.024) or MI (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.6, p = 0.002). While at 2 years of follow-up, survival analysis revealed no differences in mortality risk between the surgical and percutaneous revascularization groups (log-rank p = 0.996), after 2 years CABG was associated with a significant survival benefit (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.07–2.21; p = 0.021). Comparison of the propensity score matching pairs also revealed a consistent long-term advantage toward CABG (log-rank p = 0.031).

Conclusions

In a real-life setting, revascularization by CABG of diabetic patients hospitalized with NSTEMI/UA is associated with better long-term outcomes. Prospective randomized studies are warranted in order to provide more effective recommendations in future guidelines.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01595-5.

Meta-analysis comparing percutaneous coronary intervention with coronary artery bypass grafting for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome in patients with multivessel or left main disease

OBJECTIVES

Outcomes of patients presenting with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) with multivessel coronary disease (MVD) and/or unprotected left main coronary artery disease (CAD) revascularized with percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) is not well defined.

DESIGN

MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE/Ovid were queried for studies that investigated PCI vs. CABG in this disease subset. The primary outcome was major cardiac adverse events (MACE) at 30 days and long-term follow-up (3 to 5 years).

RESULTS

The final analysis included 9 studies with a total of 9299 patients. No significant difference was observed between PCI and CABGin30 days MACE (risk ratio [RR] 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-2.39, all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke. A meta-regression analysis revealed patients with a history of PCI had higher risk of MACE with PCI as compared with CABG. At long-term follow-up, PCI compared with CABG was associated with higher risk of MACE (RR 1.52; 95% CI 1.28-1.81), myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization, while no difference was observed in the risk of stroke and all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSION

In patients with NSTE-ACS and MVD and/or unprotected left main CAD, no differences were observed in the clinical outcomes between PCI and CABG at 30 days follow-up. With long-term follow-up, PCI was associated with a higher risk of MACE.

External Validation of the FREEDOM Score for Individualized Decision Making Between CABG and PCI

BACKGROUND

Although randomized trials have established that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is, on average, the most effective revascularization strategy compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes and multivessel disease (MVD), individual patients differ in many characteristics that can affect the benefits and harms of treatment. The FREEDOM (Future Revascularization Evaluation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus) score was developed to predict different outcomes with CABG vs PCI on the basis of 8 patient characteristics and the smoking-treatment interaction.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the ability of the 5-year major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) model to predict treatment benefit of CABG vs PCI in the SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) and BEST (Bypass Surgery and Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation in the Treatment of Patients with Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease) trials.

METHODS

This study identified 702 patients with diabetes and MVD to mirror the FREEDOM participants. Discrimination was assessed by C-index, and calibration was assessed by calibration plots in the PCI and CABG arms, respectively. The ability of the FREEDOM score to predict treatment benefit of CABG vs PCI was assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, CABG was associated with a lower rate of 5-year MACE compared with PCI (12.4% vs 20.3%; log-rank P = 0.021) irrespective of a history of smoking (P_interaction = 0.975). Both discrimination and calibration were helpful in the PCI arm (C-index: 0.69; slope: 0.96, intercept: -0.24), but moderate in the CABG arm (C-index: 0.61; slope: 0.61; intercept: -0.53). The FREEDOM score showed some heterogeneity of treatment benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

The FREEDOM score could identify some heterogeneity of treatment benefit of CABG vs PCI for 5-year MACE. Until further prospective validations are performed, these results should be taken into consideration when using the FREEDOM score in patients with diabetes and MVD. (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery [SYNTAX]; NCT00114972) (Bypass Surgery and Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation in the Treatment of Patients with Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease [BEST]; NCT00997828) (Future Revascularization Evaluation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus [FREEDOM]; NCT00086450).

Acute coronary syndromes in diabetic patients, outcome, revascularization, and antithrombotic therapy

Diabetes exacerbates the progression of atherosclerosis and is associated with increased risk of developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Approximatively 25-30% of patients admitted for ACS have diabetes. ACS occurs earlier in diabetics and is associated with increased mortality and a higher risk of recurrent ischemic events. An increased proinflammatory and prothrombotic state is involved in the poorer outcomes of diabetic patients. In the past decade advancement in both percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) techniques and more potent antiplatelet drugs like prasugrel and ticagrelor improved outcomes of diabetic patients with ACS, but this population still experiences worse outcomes compared to non-diabetic patients. While in ST elevation myocardial infarction urgent PCI is the method of choice for revascularization, in patients with non-ST elevation ACS an early invasive approach is suggested by the guidelines, but in the setting of multivessel (MV) or complex coronary artery disease (CAD) the revascularization strategy is less clear. This review describes the accumulating evidence regarding factors involved in promoting increased incidence and poor prognosis of ACS in patients with diabetes, the evolution over time of prognosis and outcomes, revascularization strategies and antithrombotic therapy studied until now.

Revascularization Strategies in Patients with Diabetes and Acute Coronary Syndromes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the current evidence for coronary revascularization in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

RECENT FINDINGS

In patients with DM and stable multivessel ischemic heart disease, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has been observed to be superior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in long-term follow-up, leading to lower rates of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization. In the ACS setting, PCI remains the most frequently performed procedure. In patients with an ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), primary PCI should be the revascularization method of choice, whenever feasible. Controversy still exists regarding when and how to deal with possible residual lesions. In the non-ST-segment-elevation (NSTE) ACS setting, although there are no data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), recent observational data and sub-analyses of randomized studies have suggested that CABG may be the preferred approach for patients with DM and multivessel coronary disease. There is a paucity of RCTs evaluating revascularization strategies (PCI and CABG) in patients with DM and ACS. CABG may be a viable strategy, leading to improved outcomes, especially following NSTE-ACS.

Coronary Revascularization for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Contemporary Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the contemporary literature comparing CABG and PCI in diabetic patients providing an up-to-date perspective on the differences between the interventions.

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is common and diabetic patients are at a 2-to-4-fold increased risk of developing coronary artery disease. Approximately 75% of diabetic patients die of cardiovascular disease. Previous literature has identified CABG as superior to PCI for revascularization in diabetic patients with complex coronary artery diseas.

METHODS

PubMed and Medline were systematically searched for articles published from January 1, 2015 to April 15, 2021. This systematic review included all retrospective, prospective, and randomized trial studies comparing CABG and PCI in diabetic patients. 1552 abstracts were reviewed and 25 studies were included in this review. The data was analyzed using the RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

Diabetic patients undergoing CABG experienced significantly reduced rates of 5-year mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, myocardial infarction, and required repeat revascularization. Patients who underwent PCI experienced improved rates of stroke that trended toward significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous literature regarding coronary revascularization in diabetic patients has consistently demonstrated superior outcomes for patients undergoing CABG over PCI. The development of 1st and 2nd generation DES have narrowed the gap between CABG and PCI, but CABG continues to be superior. Continued investigation with large randomized trials and retrospective studies including long term follow-up comparing CABG and 2nd generation DES is necessary to confirm the optimal intervention for diabetic patients.

The additive effect of essential hypertension on coronary artery plaques in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a coronary computed tomography angiography study

Background

The effect of comorbid hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on coronary artery plaques examined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is not fully understood. We aimed to comprehensively assess whether comorbid hypertension and T2DM influence coronary artery plaques using CCTA.

Materials and methods

A total of 1100 T2DM patients, namely, 277 normotensive [T2DM(HTN−)] and 823 hypertensive [T2DM(HTN +)] individuals, and 1048 normotensive patients without T2DM (control group) who had coronary plaques detected on CCTA were retrospectively enrolled. Plaque type, coronary stenosis, diseased vessels, the segment involvement score (SIS) and the segment stenosis score (SSS) based on CCTA data were evaluated and compared among the groups.

Results

Compared with patients in the control group, the patients in the T2DM(HTN−) and T2DM(HTN +) groups had more partially calcified plaques, noncalcified plaques, segments with obstructive stenosis, and diseased vessels, and a higher SIS and SSS (all P values < 0.001). Compared with the control group, T2DM(HTN +) patients had increased odds of having any calcified and any noncalcified plaque [odds ratio (OR) = 1.669 and 1.278, respectively; both P values < 0.001]; both the T2DM(HTN-) and T2DM(HTN +) groups had increased odds of having any partially calcified plaque (OR = 1.514 and 2.323; P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively), obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR = 1.629 and 1.992; P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), multivessel disease (OR = 1.892 and 3.372; both P-values < 0.001), an SIS > 3 (OR = 2.233 and 3.769; both P values < 0.001) and an SSS > 5 (OR = 2.057 and 3.580; both P values < 0.001). Compared to T2DM(HTN−) patients, T2DM(HTN +) patients had an increased risk of any partially calcified plaque (OR = 1.561; P = 0.005), multivessel disease (OR = 1.867; P < 0.001), an SIS > 3 (OR = 1.647; P = 0.001) and an SSS > 5 (OR = 1.625; P = 0.001).

Conclusion

T2DM is related to the presence of partially calcified plaques, obstructive CAD, and more extensive coronary artery plaques. Comorbid hypertension and diabetes further increase the risk of partially calcified plaques, and more extensive coronary artery plaques.

The Impact of Diabetes on Vascular Disease: Progress from the Perspective of Epidemics and Treatments

At present, the global incidence of diabetes has increased in countries with large populations, and the changes in developing regions are particularly worthy of attention. In the past 40 years or so, the income situation in China, India, and other countries has exploded, leading to changes in the way of life and work as well as an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. Metabolic disorders caused by diabetes can lead to secondary vascular complications, which have long-term malignant effects on the heart, kidneys, brain, and other vital organs of patients. Adequate primary prevention measures are needed to reduce the incidence of diabetic vascular complications, and more attention should be given to treatment after the disease. To this end, it is necessary to determine a standardized drug and physical therapy system and to build a more efficient and low-cost chronic disease management system.

Impact of prediabetes and duration of diabetes on radial artery atherosclerosis in acute coronary syndrome patients: An optical coherence tomography study

BACKGROUND

Prediabetes (PDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. The present study evaluated the association between diabetes status and radial artery (RA) atherosclerosis using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in ACS patients.

METHODS

A total of 335 ACS patients who underwent RA OCT were categorized into the DM group, the PDM group, and the normal glucose metabolism (NGM) group. OCT characteristics and clinical variables were compared.

RESULTS

RA atherosclerotic plaques were more frequent in the PDM and DM groups than in the NGM group (38.7% vs. 33.3% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.001). Lipid and calcified plaque occurrence were significantly more common in the DM group, followed by the PDM and NGM groups (19.3% vs. 14.6% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.027; 11.8% vs. 6.5% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.009). The prevalence of microvessels in the PDM group was significantly higher (42.7% vs 23.7%, p = 0.017) than in the NGM group but was comparable to the DM group. Multivariate analysis revealed that HbA1c level and age were independent predictors of RA plaque formation and eccentric intimal hyperplasia (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

RA atherosclerosis characteristics differ according to diabetes status. HbA1c level could be a useful marker for RA atherosclerosis progression in ACS patients.

Comparison of invasive treatment strategies in patients with non–ST elevation acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To compare the mortality associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with non–ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods

We searched publications from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception until December 23, 2020. All randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing all-cause mortality after treatment with CABG versus PCI for patients with NSTE-ACS with minimum follow-up of 6 months were included. Restricted mean survival time (RMST) differences from RCTs and adjusted RMST differences from observational studies were computed by reconstructing time-to-event data from published Kaplan–Meier curves. Extracted hazard ratios (HRs) were also assessed as a secondary analysis.

Results

Our systematic review included an individual participant data analysis of 3 RCTs and 8 observational studies. A meta-regression showed a significant association between log-transformed HRs and duration of follow-up (−0.009 [95% confidence interval (CI), −0.002 to −0.016] log-HR per 1-year longer follow-up; P = .037), suggesting a violation of the proportional hazard assumption. Analysis of 6 studies with available RMST data showed a significant inverse association between adjusted RMST differences and cutoff years (slope, −0.028 [95% CI, −0.042 to −0.013] year difference per 1-year longer cutoff; P < .005), suggesting a longer survival benefit in the CABG arm compared with the PCI arm with longer follow-up.

Conclusions

There was a trend toward a benefit of CABG compared with PCI in the longer follow-up in patients with NSTE-ACS. A large, well-designed RCT with longer follow-up is needed to obtain definitive evidence on this topic.

Biodegradable Polymer DES (Ultimaster) vs. Magnesium Bioresorbable Scaffold (BRS Magmaris) in Diabetic Population with NSTE-ACS: A One-Year Clinical Outcome of Two Sirolimus-Eluting Stents

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) with significant involvement of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major cause of death and disability among the diabetic population. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to evolve, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a well-established marker of poor clinical prognosis after PCI, which is mainly attributed to the rapid progression of atherosclerosis requiring recurrent revascularizations. Hence, the use of bioresorbable materials could provide some solution to this problem. Material and Methods. The study was divided into two arms. For the first one, we qualified 169 patients with NSTE-ACS treated with PCI who received the drug-eluting stent (DES) coated with a biodegradable polymer Ultimaster (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan). The second arm was composed of 193 patients with ACS who underwent PCI with a magnesium bioresorbable scaffold Magmaris (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany). Both arms were divided into two subsequent groups: the T2DM (59 and 72) and the non-DM (110 and 121, respectively). The primary outcomes were cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and in-stent thrombosis. The main secondary outcomes included target lesion failure (TLF) and were recorded at a 1-year-follow-up.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the diabetic and nondiabetic populations in primary endpoints or main secondary endpoints (TLF, scaffold restenosis, death from any reason, and other cardiovascular events) either in the Ultimaster or Magmaris group. At a 1-year-follow-up, the primary endpoint in the DM t.2 population was recorded in 2.7% Ultimaster vs. 5.1% Magmaris, respectively. At the same time, the TLF occurred in the diabetic group in 4.1% Magmaris and 3.3% in the Ultimaster arm, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Both, Ultimaster and Magmaris revealed relative safety and efficiency at a one-year follow-up in the diabetic population in ACS settings. The observed rates of TLF were low, which combined with a lack of in-stent thrombosis suggests that both investigated devices might be an interesting therapeutic option for diabetics with ACS. Nevertheless, further large randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm fully our results.

Disturbed Lipid Metabolism in Diabetic Patients with Manifest Coronary Artery Disease Is Associated with Enhanced Inflammation

Background: Diabetic vasculopathy plays an important role in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) with oxidative stress as a strong mediator. This study aims to elucidate the underlying pathomechanisms of diabetic cardiac vasculopathy leading to coronary disease with an emphasis on the role of oxidative stress. Therefore, novel insights into antioxidant pathways might contribute to new strategies in the treatment and prevention of diabetic CAD. Methods: In 20 patients with insulin-dependent or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM/NIDDM) and 39 non-diabetic (CTR) patients, myocardial markers of oxidative stress, vasoactive proteins, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), activated phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS), and antioxidant enzymes, e.g., tetrahydrobiopterin generating dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), heme oxygenase (HO-1), as well as serum markers of inflammation, e.g., E-selectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and lipid metabolism, e.g., high- and low-density lipoptrotein (HDL- and LDL-cholesterol) were determined in specimens of right atrial tissue and in blood samples from type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Results: IDDM/NIDDM increased markers of inflammation (e.g., E-selectin, p = 0.005 and IL-6, p = 0.051), decreased the phosphorylated myocardial p-eNOS (p = 0.032), upregulated the myocardial stress response protein HO-1 (p = 0.018), and enhanced the serum LDL-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (p = 0.019). However, the oxidative stress markers in the myocardium and the expression of vasoactive proteins (eNOS, DHFR) showed only marginal adverse changes in patients with IDDM/NIDDM. Conclusion: Dyslipidemia and myocardial inflammation seem to be the major determinants of diabetic CAD complications. Dysregulation in pro-oxidative enzymes might be attributable to the severity of CAD and oxidative stress levels in all included patients undergoing CABG.

Decade Long Temporal Trends in Revascularization for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus (From the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group)

The FREEDOM trial demonstrated superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and multivessel coronary artery disease (MV CAD) as compared to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug eluting stent (PCI-DES). We sought to study the impact of the FREEDOM trial on clinical practice. We studied trends in the use of CABG vs. PCI and factors associated with revascularization strategy among 6,985 patients with concomitant CAD and MV CAD at 7 centers pre- and post-trial (2008-2012 vs. 2013-2017) as well as hospital outcomes. Multivariable mixed effects logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with choice of revascularization strategy among the patients with 3-vessel CAD (3V CAD). 41% of patients had 3V CAD and 18% were ≥75 years of age. While PCI-DES was the preferred strategy in 2-vessel CAD (2V CAD), 72% of patients with 3V CAD underwent CABG. For patients with 3V CAD, the ratio of CABG to PCI-DES procedures was 2.47 over the decade and did not differ pre- and post-trial (adjusted odds ratio (OR) for CABG (vs. PCI) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-1.20). Independent risk factors of CABG among patients with DM and 3V CAD included peripheral arterial disease and absence of prior myocardial infarction and prior PCI. The risk factors for PCI were female sex (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.50-0.73, p<0.001) and age ≥75 (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.35-0.72, p<0.001). Center based variability was observed for CABG vs. PCI (center effect, rho=14%, p<0.001). In conclusion, PCI-DES is the preferred strategy for DM patients with MV CAD. Yet, among those with 3V CAD, CABG was chosen in ¾ of patients with no change in clinical practice related to the publication of the FREEDOM trial.

Effect of once-weekly exenatide on hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome or coronary revascularization in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cardiovascular (CV) outcome studies of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have shifted the paradigm of type 2 diabetes management given their benefits regarding a reduction in major adverse CV events. However, the relationship between GLP-1 RAs and coronary revascularization remains poorly understood. In this EXSCEL post-hoc analysis, we used univariate Cox proportional models and Kaplan Meier survival analysis to evaluate the effect of once-weekly exenatide (EQW) on a composite outcome of hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or coronary revascularization. Similar models were utilized to evaluate the relationship between significant participant characteristics within the entire study population and the composite outcome. Of the 14,736 participants in EXSCEL with complete follow-up data, 1642 (11.1%) experienced an ACS or coronary revascularization event during a median follow-up of 3.3 years (interquartile range, 2.3-4.4). EQW had no effect on hospitalization for ACS or coronary revascularization (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.91-1.10). Among EXSCEL participants, enrollment in Latin America (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.43-0.60) and a history of peripheral artery disease (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.90) were associated with a reduced risk for coronary revascularization, whereas enrollment in North America (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.74-2.12), a history of CV disease (HR 3.24, 95% CI 2.78-3.78), and a previous myocardial infarction (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.39-1.71) were associated with increased risk for study end points. EQW had no association with hospitalization for ACS or coronary revascularization. Participant enrollment location and CV disease burden may play a role in the variable CV efficacy of GLP-1 RAs that has been observed in trials thus far.

Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization: JACC Historical Breakthroughs in Perspective

Over the last 4 decades, percutaneous coronary intervention has evolved dramatically and is now an acceptable treatment option for patients with advanced coronary artery disease. However, trialists have struggled to establish the respective roles for percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass graft surgery, especially in patients with multivessel disease and unprotected left-main stem coronary artery disease. Several pivotal trials and meta-analyses comparing these 2 revascularization strategies have enabled the relative merits of each technique to be established with regard to the type of ischemic syndrome, the coronary anatomy, and the patient's overall comorbidity. Precision medicine with individualized prognosis is emerging as an important method of selecting treatment. However, the never-ending advancement of technology, in conjunction with the emergence of novel pharmacological agents, will in the future continue to force us to reconsider the evolving question: "Which treatment strategy is better and for which patient?"

Comparison of the cost in percutaneous coronary intervention between ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction vs. non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a standard strategy for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) as well as for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The device cost for PCI may be more expensive in NSTEMI, because the culprit lesion morphology may be more complex in NSTEMI. This study aimed to compare the total device cost of PCI between STEMI and NSTEMI. We included 504 patients with acute myocardial infraction (AMI) who underwent PCI, and divided those into a STEMI group (n = 286) and a NSTEMI group (n = 218). We compared the total device cost, the number of used devices, and procedure cost between the 2 groups. The total device cost was significantly higher in the NSTEMI group [¥371,300 (¥320,700-503,350)] than in the STEMI group [¥341,200 (¥314,200-410,475)] (p = 0.001), whereas the procedure cost was significantly higher in the STEMI group [¥343,800 (¥243,800-343,800)] than in the NSTEMI group [¥220,000 (¥216,800-243,800)] (p < 0.001). Drug eluting stent (85.3% vs. 76.1%, p = 0.029) and aspiration catheter (16.8% vs. 2.3%, p < 0.001) were more frequently used in the STEMI group, whereas rotablator (0.7% vs. 8.3%, p < 0.001) were more frequently used in the NSTEMI group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NSTEMI was significantly associated with the high device cost (odds ratio 1.899, 95% confidence interval 1.166-3.093, p = 0.01). In conclusion, the total device cost for PCI was significantly higher in the culprit lesions of NSTEMI than in those of STEMI, whereas the procedure cost was significantly higher in the culprit lesions of STEMI than in those of NSTEMI.

Prognostic and Practical Validation of ESC/EACTS High Ischemic Risk Definition on Long-Term Thrombotic and Bleeding Events in Contemporary PCI Patients

Aims: The ESC/EACTS myocardial revascularization guidelines recently standardized the definition of patients at high ischemic risk (HIR). However, the ability of ESC/EACTS–HIR criteria to stratify ischemic and bleeding risk in a contemporary real-world East Asian cohort remains unexplored.

Methods: A total of 10,167 consecutive patients undergoing PCI from prospective Fuwai PCI Registry (January 2013 to December 2013) were reviewed. ESC/EACTS–HIR features was defined as having at least one of the eight clinical and angiographic characteristics. The primary ischemic endpoint was target vessel failure (cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction [MI], or target vessel revascularization [TVR]); bleeding outcome was assessed using the BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Median follow-up was 29 months.

Results: Compared with non-HIR patients, HIR patients ( n =5,149, 50.6%) were associated with increased risk for target vessel failure (adjusted hazard ratio [HR _adjust ]: 1.48 [1.25–1.74]) and patient-oriented composite outcome (HR _adjust : 1.44 [1.28–1.63]), as well as cardiac death, MI, and TVR. By contrast, the risk of clinically relevant bleeding was not significantly different between the two groups. (HR _adjust : 0.84 [0.66–1.06]). Greater than or equal to three implanted stents and diabetic patients with diffuse multivessel coronary disease emerged as independent predictors for long-term adverse outcomes. There was no significant interaction between high bleeding risk (HBR) status and clinical outcomes associated with ESC/EACTS–HIR criteria (all P _interaction ＞0.05).

Conclusion: The ESC/EACTS–HIR features identified patients at increased risk of thrombotic events, including cardiac death, but not for clinically relevant bleeding. Importantly, HBR did not modify cardiovascular risk subsequent to patients with ESC/EACTS–HIR features, suggesting its potential clinical applicability in tailoring antithrombotic therapy.

Generalizability of Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial in patients with a history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), there remains persistent risk of ischemic events despite secondary prevention strategies, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering. Although REDUCE-IT recently demonstrated the benefits of icosapent ethyl (IPE) on reducing ischemic events in a broad population of primary and secondary prevention patients, its generalizability to a contemporary CABG population is not known. This article aims to ascertain the proportion of patients with a history of CABG that would be eligible for IPE treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

A review of recent literature highlights the presence of residual ischemic following CABG. Using the Québec Heart Database, a repository of contemporary Canadian cardiac patient information, was searched between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2016, to ascertain generalizability of IPE.

SUMMARY

In a large (N = 12 641), contemporary, Canadian cohort of patients with a history of CABG and currently on statin therapy, 21.9, 33.6 and 26.4% would be eligible for IPE, according to REDUCE-IT, Health Canada, and Food and Drug Administration criteria, respectively. These analyses would support IPE as an adjunct to secondary prevention therapies post-CABG.

Long-Term Survival After Surgical or Percutaneous Revascularization in Patients With Diabetes and Multivessel Coronary Disease

BACKGROUND

There remains a paucity of real-world observational evidence comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with diabetes and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD).

OBJECTIVES

This study compared early and long-term outcomes of PCI versus CABG in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

Clinical and administrative databases in Ontario, Canada were linked to obtain records of all patients with diabetes with angiographic evidence of 2- or 3-vessel CAD who were treated with either PCI or isolated CABG from 2008 to 2017. A 1:1 propensity score match was performed to account for baseline differences. All-cause mortality and the composite of myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke, or death (termed major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events [MACCEs]) were compared between the matched groups using a stratified log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

A total of 4,519 and 9,716 patients underwent PCI and CABG, respectively. Before matching, patients who underwent CABG were significantly younger (age 65.7 years vs. 68.3 years), were more likely to be men (78% vs. 73%) and had more severe CAD. Propensity score matching based on 23 baseline covariates yielded 4,301 well-balanced pairs. There was no difference in early mortality between PCI and CABG (2.4% vs. 2.3%; p = 0.721) after matching. The median and maximum follow-ups were 5.5 and 11.5 years, respectively. All-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.51) and overall MACCEs (HR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.86 to 2.12) were significantly higher with PCI compared with CABG.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with multivessel CAD and diabetes, CABG was associated with improved long-term mortality and freedom from MACCEs compared with PCI.

Effect of Smoking on Coronary Artery Plaques in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Evaluation With Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

BACKGROUND

The effect of smoking on coronary artery plaques examined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is not fully understood. This study explored the effect of smoking on coronary artery plaques by comparing the characteristics of plaques between diabetes patients with and without a smoking history and among those with different smoking durations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 1058 DM patients found to have coronary plaques on CCTA were categorized into the smoker (n=448) and nonsmoker groups (n=610). Smokers were stratified by smoking duration [≤20 years (n=115), 20~40 years (n=233) and >40 years (n=100)]. The plaque types, luminal stenosis [obstructive (<50%) or nonobstructive (≥50%) stenosis], segment involvement score (SIS), and segment stenosis score (SSS) of the CCTA data were compared among groups.

RESULTS

Compared to nonsmokers, smokers demonstrated increased odds ratios (ORs) of any noncalcified plaques (OR=1.423; P=0.014), obstructive plaques (OR=1.884; P<0.001), multivessel disease (OR=1.491; P=0.020), SIS≥4 (OR=1.662; P<0.001), and SSS≥7 (OR=1.562; P=0.001). Compared to diabetes patients with a smoking duration ≤20 years, those with a smoking duration of 20~40 years and >40 years had higher OR of any mixed plaques (OR=2.623 and 3.052, respectively; Ps<0.001), obstructive plaques (OR=2.004 and 2.098; P=0.003 and 0.008, respectively), multivessel disease (OR=3.171 and 3.784; P<0.001 and P=0.001, respectively), and SSS≥7 (OR=1.605 and 1.950; P=0.044 and 0.020, respectively). Diabetes with a smoking duration >40 years had a higher OR of SIS≥4 (OR=1.916, P=0.034).

CONCLUSION

Smoking is independently associated with the presence of noncalcified, obstructive, and more extensive coronary artery plaques in diabetes patients, and a longer smoking duration is significantly associated with a higher risk of mixed, obstructive, and more extensive plaques.

Short-Term Risk of Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery Grafting in Diabetic Patients

This study compares the morbidity and mortality at 30 days following the use of bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMA) vs a single internal mammary artery (SIMA) at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with a preoperative HbA1c. Patients undergoing CABG from January 2008 to December 2016 reported to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: use of BIMA or use of SIMA and propensity matched. To assess the effect of preoperative HbA1c, both groups were further divided into 5 subgroups: patients without diabetes mellitus (DM), or patients with DM and a preoperative HbA1c level in one of four groups (< 7%, 7-9%, 9-11%, or >11%). The postoperative outcomes in both the BIMA and SIMA groups were compared. There were 700,504 and 28,115 patients with measured preoperative HbA1c levels in the SIMA and BIMA groups, respectively. Propensity score matching identified 23,635 comparable patients in each group for analysis. There was no difference in postoperative mortality between the BIMA and SIMA groups (1.3% vs 1.2%). The incidences of sternal wound infection (SWI) in patients undergoing placement of BIMA vs SIMA were: 0.8% vs 0.4% with no DM (P < 0.0001), 1.9% vs 1.0% with HbA1c < 7% (P < 0.001), 2.4% vs 1.2% with HbA1c 7-9% (P < 0.001), 2.8% vs 1.4% with HbA1c 9-11% (P = 0.02), 4.1% vs 1.5% with HbA1c > 11% (P = 0.01). Based on the incidence of SWI, BIMA is a reasonable approach with an HbA1c<7%.

Re-evaluating the Role of CABG in Acute Coronary Syndromes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The use of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has markedly declined during the past decade, with an increase in the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, long-term data continues to show survival advantages for patients undergoing CABG over PCI. We describe the current indications for and outcomes of CABG in patients who present with ACS.

RECENT FINDINGS

Real-world studies demonstrate better long-term outcomes with CABG than with PCI after NSTE-ACS. Staged CABG after culprit-vessel PCI for STEMI is also a feasible option in certain patients. In patients presenting with ACS and cardiogenic shock who are treated with CABG, the use of mechanical circulatory support has produced a limited but significant reduction in mortality. The optimal revascularization strategy after ACS depends on many variables. The pre-eminent factor in selecting the best mode of revascularization and improving outcomes is careful patient selection based on deliberation by an interdisciplinary heart team.

Clinical practice patterns in revascularization of diabetic patients with coronary heart disease: nationwide register study

Aims: To compare diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) needing revascularization to corresponding non-diabetic patients in terms of revascularization methods, comorbidities and urgency of procedure. We also examined the impact of patient characteristics and comorbidities on the revascularization method.Methods: We identified all diabetic (n = 33,018) and non-diabetic (n = 106,224) patients with first-ever, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from electronic health records in Finland between 2000 and 2015.Results: Overall, PCI was the most common revascularization method. PCI outnumbered CABG in women and men both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. However, diabetic patients were more likely to undergo CABG than PCI (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.27-1.34, adjusted for age, gender, region of residence and procedure year). Moreover, 26.9% of diabetic patients' urgent procedures were CABG compared to 21.6% in non-diabetic patients (p<.001). Among diabetic patients, prior myocardial infarction was associated with increased odds of CABG, whereas female gender, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, hypertension and later procedure year were associated with lower odds of CABG.Conclusions: CABG has been performed more frequently in diabetic than in non-diabetic CHD patients. Nevertheless, PCI was the dominant revascularization method over CABG both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. KEY MESSAGESPCI was the dominant revascularization method in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Diabetic patients were more likely to undergo CABG than PCI when compared to non-diabetic patients (OR: 1.30; CI 1.27-1.34).Diabetic patients underwent urgent CABG procedures more often than non-diabetic patients and had more comorbidities compared to non-diabetic patients.

Examining Coronary Revascularization Practice Patterns for Diabetics: Perceived Barriers, Facilitators, and Implications for Knowledge Translation

BACKGROUND

The FREEDOM trial provided robust evidence that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was superior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary revascularization in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD). The present study examined practice pattern changes and perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing FREEDOM trial evidence in British Columbia (BC).

METHODS

Using a population-based database of cardiac procedures in BC, PCI:CABG ratios from 2007-2014 were compared before and after publication of the FREEDOM trial in the 4 tertiary cardiac centres that provided both CABG and PCI. Surveys of barriers and facilitators to implementation of evidence in practice were completed by 57 health care providers (HCPs) attending educational outreach sessions conducted in 2016-17 at 5 tertiary cardiac centres in BC.

RESULTS

The overall PCI:CABG ratio declined from 1.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-1.70, range 1.16-1.86) before publication to 0.88 (95% CI 0.75-1.01, range 0.56-0.82) after publication (P < 0.01). This decline from before to after publication was significant in 3 centres, but not in the fourth centre (from 1.62 to 1.49; P = 0.61). Barriers were identified at the levels of evidence (applicability, credibility), HCP (awareness/knowledge, practice behaviours), patient (knowledge/misconceptions, preferences), and systems (siloing of care, financial disincentives, resource limitations, geography). Facilitators were additional studies/guidelines, education/dissemination, shared decision making, a heart team approach, changes to remuneration models, and increased resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Following publication of the FREEDOM trial, the proportion of patients with DM and MV-CAD undergoing CABG increased in BC; however, practice patterns varied across cardiac centres. HCPs attributed these practice variations to multilevel barriers and facilitators. Future knowledge translation strategies should be multifaceted and tailored to identified determinants.

Individualizing Revascularization Strategy for Diabetic Patients With Multivessel Coronary Disease

BACKGROUND

In patients with diabetes and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD), the FREEDOM (Future Revascularization Evaluation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Optimal Management of Multivessel Disease) trial demonstrated that, on average, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was superior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for major acute cardiovascular events (MACE) and angina reduction. Nonetheless, multivessel PCI remains a common revascularization strategy in the real world.

OBJECTIVES

To translate the results of FREEDOM to individual patients in clinical practice, risk models of the heterogeneity of treatment benefit were built.

METHODS

Using patient-level data from 1,900 FREEDOM patients, the authors developed models to predict 5-year MACE (all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke) and 1-year angina after CABG and PCI using baseline covariates and treatment interactions. Parsimonious models were created to support clinical use. The models were internally validated using bootstrap resampling, and the MACE model was externally validated in a large real-world registry.

RESULTS

The 5-year MACE occurred in 346 (18.2%) patients, and 310 (16.3%) had angina at 1 year. The MACE model included 8 variables and treatment interactions with smoking status (c = 0.67). External validation in stable CAD (c = 0.65) and ACS (c = 0.68) demonstrated comparable performance. The 6-variable angina model included a treatment interaction with SYNTAX score (c = 0.67). PCI was never superior to CABG, and CABG was superior to PCI for MACE in 54.5% of patients and in 100% of patients with history of smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

To help disseminate the results of FREEDOM, the authors created a personalized risk prediction tool for patients with diabetes and multivessel CAD that could be used in shared decision-making for CABG versus PCI by estimating each patient's personal outcomes with both treatments.

Triglyceride glucose index for predicting cardiovascular outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a simple surrogate estimate of insulin resistance, has been demonstrated to predict cardiovascular (CV) disease morbidity and mortality in the general population and many patient cohorts. However, to our knowledge, the prognostic usefulness of the TyG index after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been determined. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the TyG index with adverse CV outcomes in patients with T2DM and ACS who underwent PCI.

METHODS

The TyG index was calculated using the formula ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned repeat revascularization. The association between the TyG index and adverse CV outcomes was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 776 patients with T2DM and ACS who underwent PCI (mean age, 61 ± 10 years; men, 72.2%) were included in the final analysis. Over a median follow-up of 30 months, 188 patients (24.2%) had at least 1 primary endpoint event. The follow-up incidence of the primary endpoint rose with increasing TyG index tertiles. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis adjusted for multiple confounders revealed a hazard ratio for the primary endpoint of 2.17 (95% CI 1.45-3.24; P for trend = 0.001) when the highest and lowest TyG index tertiles were compared.

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index was significantly and positively associated with adverse CV outcomes, suggesting that the TyG index may be a valuable predictor of adverse CV outcomes after PCI in patients with T2DM and ACS.

Late clinical outcomes of unselected patients with diabetic mellitus and multi-vessel coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

The Future Revascularization Evaluation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Optimal Management of Multi-Vessel Disease (FREEDOM) clinical trial randomized only a proportion of screened patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and multi-vessel disease (MVD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We determined late rates of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in all 430 patients with DM who had MVD identified on angiographic screening for the FREEDOM Trial, which recruited from June 2006 -March 2010 at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Mortality at 6 years [median] was 23% among 192 FREEDOM-eligible patients and 26% among 238 FREEDOM-ineligible patients, of whom 139 [58%] had prior. CABG (mortality 31%). Overall, 196 (45%) had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 127 (30%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (who were 4 years younger; p = 0.003), and 107 (25%) had neither procedure of whom 80 were considered unsuitable for revascularization. Mortality was 26% post-PCI 16%, post-CABG and 33% among those who did not undergo revascularization (p = 0.01). On multivariable analyses, factors associated with late mortality were older age, hypertension and not undergoing CABG (all p < 0.05). Factors associated with late MI were presented with an acute coronary syndrome, whereas patients that underwent treatment with either PCI or CABG had less late MI (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Among consecutive diabetic patients with MVD, at a median of 6-years CABG was associated with better survival and fewer non-fatal MI outcomes compared to PCI.

Weighing Coronary Revascularization Options in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk for developing coronary artery disease. Choosing the optimal revascularization strategy, such as coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), may be difficult in this population. A large body of evidence suggests that, for patients with DM and stable multivessel ischemic heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting is usually superior to PCI, leading to lower rates of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization in the long term. In patients with less complex coronary anatomy (2- or single-vessel disease, especially without involvement of the proximal left anterior descendent artery), PCI may be a viable option. Because these anatomic patterns are less frequent in patients with DM, there is less evidence to guide revascularization in these cases. Patients with DM and left main disease and those in the acute coronary syndrome setting are also underrepresented in randomized trials, and the best revascularization strategy for these patients is not clear. Once the revascularization procedure is performed, patients should be kept engaged in controlling the risk factors for progression of cardiovascular disease. Avoidance of smoking, control of cholesterol, blood pressure and glycemic levels; regular practice of physical activity of at least moderate intensity; and a balanced diet are of key importance in the post-revascularization period. In this study, we review the current literature in the management of patients with DM and coronary artery disease undergoing a revascularization procedure.

p27kip1 haploinsufficiency preserves myocardial function in the early stages of myocardial infarction via Atg5‑mediated autophagy flux restoration

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of mortality in adults worldwide. Over the last two decades, gene therapy has been a hot topic in cardiology, and there has been a focus on cell cycle inhibitors and their protective effects on the myocardium post-MI. In our previous study, the haploinsufficiency of p27^kip1 (p27) was demonstrated to improve cardiac function in mice post-MI by promoting angiogenesis and myocardium protection through the secretion of growth factors. Autophagy is an adaptive response of cells to environmental changes, such as nutrient deprivation, ischemia and hypoxia. The appropriate regulation of autophagy may improve myocardial function by preventing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In this study, we used immunoassays, transmission electron microscopy and cardiac ultrasound to confirm that p27 haploinsufficiency prevents myocardial apoptosis by restoring autophagy protein 5-mediated autophagy flux in the early stages of MI. The present study provides a novel method for studying MI or ischemic heart disease therapy.

Long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention relative to bypass surgery in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease according to clinical presentation

BACKGROUND

For diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD), limited data exist on the long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) according to clinical presentation [stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) or non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS)].

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From a Korean multicenter registry, we analyzed 1135 diabetic patients with MVD treated with PCI (n = 660) or CABG (n = 475). After propensity score matching, 8-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events [MACCE; composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke] were compared between PCI and CABG according to clinical presentation.

RESULTS

After matching, MACCE was not different between PCI and CABG for SCAD patients [15.6 vs. 17.2%, hazard ratio (HR)  = 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI)  = 0.55-1.63, P = 0.837], whereas it was higher in PCI than in CABG for NSTE-ACS patients (31.1 vs. 22.4%, HR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.03-2.59, P = 0.036), mainly driven by the higher MI occurrence (HR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.04-4.59, P = 0.035). A significant interaction between revascularization strategy and clinical presentation was observed for MACCE (P-interaction = 0.022). However, when PCI was further classified according to revascularization completeness, the treatment gap between PCI and CABG with respect to MI in NSTE-ACS patients was improved by complete-revascularization PCI.

CONCLUSION

Among diabetic patients with MVD, the long-term outcomes of PCI versus CABG differed according to clinical presentation. CABG may be more beneficial for NSTE-ACS patients with MVD in reducing MACCE and MI, whereas PCI was as effective as CABG for SCAD patients with MVD. Therefore, clinical presentation must be considered when choosing revascularization strategies in these patients.