Prognostic value of peak exercise systolic blood pressure on long-term survival after myocardial infarction

Mental Distress Factors and Exercise Capacity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Attending Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

PURPOSE

There is still insufficient data on mental distress factors contributing to exercise capacity (EC) improvement before and after cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of our study was to evaluate the associations between various mental distress factors and EC before and after exercise-based CR (EBCR).

METHODS

Over 12 months, 223 CAD patients (70% men, mean age 58 ± 9 years) were evaluated for socio-demographic, clinical, and mental distress symptoms as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Patients were tested for EC at baseline and after EBCR.

RESULTS

In a multivariate linear regression model, EC before EBCR was associated with HADS anxiety subscale (β = -.186, p = .002) and BDI-II somatic/affective subscale (β = -.249, p < .001). EC after EBCR was associated with HADS anxiety and depression subscales (β = -.198, p < .001; β = -.170, p = .002, respectively) and BDI-II (β = -.258, p < .001). The BDI-II somatic/affective subscale was the best predictor of reduced EC before and after EBCR.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental distress and somatic/affective symptoms of depression are strongly associated with EC both at the beginning and after EBCR. Analysis of possible mediating or moderating factors was beyond the scope of our study. Future studies should focus on comprehensive evaluation of EC risk factors including other mental distress characteristics, subjectively experienced fatigue, and post-operative CAD symptoms.

Hemodynamic variables during stress testing can predict referral to early catheterization but failed to show a prognostic impact on emerging cardiac events in patients aged 70 years and older undergoing exercise (99m)Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of hemodynamic variables during ergometric stress testing for (99m)Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) as compared to several patient-related variables and MPS results with regard to referral to early coronary angiography (<3 months after MPS; CA) as well as cardiac event (CE) free survival in a study population aged > or =70 years. About 90 patients aged > or =70 years (74.5 +/- 3.6 years) who underwent ergometric stress/rest MPS were included in this study. About 19 hemodynamic variables during stress testing were assessed. Semiquantitative visual interpretation of MPS images were performed and Summed-Stress-(SSS), Summed-Difference-, and Summed-Rest-Scores were calculated. Emerging CE comprised myocardial revascularization and -infarction as well as cardiac-related death. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed for evaluation of independent prognostic impact of hemodynamic-, MPS- and clinical-variables with regard to referral to early catheterization as well as emerging CE. Kaplan-Meier survival- and log rank analyses were calculated for assessment of CE free survival. History of CAD (Odds ratio; OR: 99.3), low rest heart rate (OR: 14.9) and low peak systolic blood pressure (OR: 15.4) during ergometric stress testing as well as pathological SSS (OR: 48.4) were significantly associated with referral to CA. History of ischemic ECG (OR: 4.7) and pathological SSS (OR: 3.7) independently predicted emerging CE and were associated with a lower CE free survival. In patients aged > or =70 years, CA is independently predicted by clinical variables, pathological results of MPS and hemodynamic variables. In contrast, hemodynamic response to stress testing failed to show any predictive impact on emerging CE.

The effect of tadalafil on the time to exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia in subjects with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of tadalafil on the time to exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD). Background CAD and erectile dysfunction (ED) share similar risk factors. It is important to know the cardiovascular effects of tadalafil in patients with CAD during physical exertion that is comparable with sexual activity.

METHODS

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-period, crossover study comparing the effects of tadalafil 10 mg and placebo on the time to exercise treadmill test (ETT)-induced myocardial ischaemia in subjects with stable CAD (n = 23; age range: 53-75 years, all exhibited ST-segment depression >1.5 mm at screening ETT at > 5METS). Haemodynamic responses to sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) were assessed before and after ETT.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, tadalafil did not significantly affect the time to ETT-induced ischaemia (13 min/31 s vs. 13 min/36 s, respectively). Before exercise, NTG evoked decreases in sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) that were significantly greater when subjects received tadalafil compared with placebo, and after exercise, more subjects experienced a decrease in SBP <85 mmHg in response to NTG after taking tadalafil vs. placebo. When subjects received tadalafil compared with placebo, SBP was lower at rest (-7 mmHg; -12,-2), during ETT (-10 mmHg; -16, -3), and after ETT (-13 mmHg; -19, -7).

CONCLUSION

Tadalafil did not significantly alter the time to ETT-induced ischaemia compared with placebo in subjects with CAD. Tadalafil reduced resting and exercise SBP. Due to the potential for hypotension, the concomitant use of nitrates and tadalafil is contraindicated.

Prediction of all-cause mortality in women with known or suspected coronary artery disease by stress technetium-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging

We studied the incremental value of stress technetium-99m tetrofosmin imaging for predicting all-cause mortality in 503 women (aged 58 +/- 12 years) with known or suspected coronary artery disease. The annual mortality rate was 1.4% with normal perfusion and 4% with abnormal perfusion (p <0.01) during a follow-up of 3.5 +/- 1.2 years. In an incremental multivariate analysis model, clinical predictors of mortality were age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and a lower systolic blood pressure during stress. An abnormal scan was incremental to clinical data in predicting mortality.