Association of Patient Beliefs and Preferences With Subsequent Testing After Initial Evaluation for Ischemic Heart Disease

Patient-Reported Reasons for Not Using Primary Prevention Statin Therapy

Almost half of patients who meet American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) criteria for statin therapy are untreated. We aimed to evaluate patient-reported reasons for not using guideline-recommended statin therapy in a public healthcare system. Achieving this goal is key to addressing gaps in care and reducing preventable cardiovascular morbidity. We surveyed patients who met 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for statin therapy but were not using statins. The survey probed domains of patient knowledge regarding cardiovascular health and benefits of statins, barriers to use, physician trust, and interest in cardiovascular care. Among 71 patients eligible for guideline-recommended statin therapy but not currently taking statins, 49 (69%) had a high school education or lower, 41 (58%) reported that they were unaware they should be prescribed a statin and 49 (69%) were unaware of the benefits of statins. Almost all patients, 70 (99%), reported caring about their cardiovascular health, 61 (86%) reported that they had a high level of trust in their physician, and 51 (72%) reported a willingness to follow their physician’s advice. Despite interest in cardiovascular health, awareness of benefits of statin therapy was low and knowledge of recommended statin therapy was low. Increasing patients’ awareness of their eligibility through systematic testing and linkage to statin therapy, along with education, may increase statin use among patients recommended for therapy.

Effect of stem cell transplantation on patients with ischemic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) has become a promising way to treat ischemic heart failure (IHF). We performed a large-scale meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to investigate the efficacy and safety of SCT in IHF patients. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving stem cell transplantation for the treatment of IHF were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, SpringerLink, Web of Science, and Cochrane Systematic Review databases as well as from reviews and the reference lists of relevant articles. Fourteen eligible randomized controlled trials were included in this study, for a total of 669 IHF patients, of which 380 patients were treated with SCT. The weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for changes in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (LVEDV and LVESV), and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina grade using a fixed effects model, while relative risk (RR) was used for mortality. Compared with the control group, SCT significantly lowered the NYHA class (MD = − 0.73, 95% CI − 1.32 to − 0.14, P < 0.05), LVESV (MD = − 14.80, 95% CI − 20.88 to − 8.73, P < 0.05), and CCS grade (MD = − 0.81, 95% CI − 1.45 to − 0.17, P < 0.05). Additionally, SCT increased LVEF (MD = 6.55, 95% CI 5.93 to 7.16, P < 0.05). However, LVEDV (MD = − 0.33, 95% CI − 1.09 to 0.44, P > 0.05) and mortality (RR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.66, P > 0.05) did not differ between the two groups. This meta-analysis suggests that SCT may contribute to the improvement of LVEF, as well as the reduction of the NYHA class, CCS grade, and LVESV. In addition, SCT does not affect mortality.

Quantifying Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Care Among Patients Evaluated for Suspected Ischemic Heart Disease

Background: Cardiovascular care sex differences are controversial. We examined sex differences in management and clinical outcomes among patients undergoing noninvasive testing for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: In a rural integrated healthcare system, we identified adults age 40-79 without diagnosed IHD who underwent initial evaluation with a cardiac stress test with imaging or coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA), 2013-2014. We assessed sex differences in statin/aspirin therapy, revascularization, and adverse cardiovascular events. The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association statin guidelines and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force aspirin guidelines were applied. Results: Among 2213 patients evaluated for IHD, median age was 57 years, 48.8% were women, and 9% had a positive stress test/CTA. Women were more likely to be missing lipid values than men (p < 0.001). Mean ASCVD risk score at baseline was 7.2% in women versus 12.4% in men (p < 0.001). There was no significant sex difference in statin therapy at baseline or 60-day follow-up. Women were less likely than men to be taking aspirin at baseline (adj. diff. = -8.5%; 95% CI, -4.2 to -12.9) and follow-up (adj. diff. = -7.7%; 95% CI, -3.3 to -12.1). There were no sex differences in revascularization after accounting for obstructive CAD or adverse cardiovascular outcomes during median follow-up of 33 months. Conclusion: In this contemporary cohort of patients with suspected IHD, women were less likely to receive lipid testing and aspirin therapy, but not statin therapy. Women did not experience worse outcomes. Sex differences in statin therapy reported by others may be due to inadequate accounting for baseline risk.