1999 update: ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction)

Lipoprotein(a) and Long-Term Recurrent Infarction After an Acute Myocardial Infarction

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is an emerging risk factor for incident ischemic heart disease. However, its role in risk stratification in in-hospital survivors to an index acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is scarcer, especially for predicting the risk of long-term recurrent AMI. We aimed to assess the relation between Lp(a) and very long-term recurrent AMI after an index episode of AMI. It is a retrospective analysis that included 1,223 consecutive patients with an AMI discharged from October 2000 to June 2003 in a single-teaching center. Lp(a) was assessed during index admission in all cases. The relation between Lp(a) at discharge and total recurrent AMI was evaluated through negative binomial regression. The mean age of the patients was 67.0 ± 12.3 years, 379 (31.0%) were women, and 394 (32.2%) were diabetic. The index event was more frequently non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (66.0%). The median Lp(a) was 28.8 (11.8 to 63.4) mg/100 ml. During a median follow-up of 9.9 (4.6 to 15.5) years, 813 (66.6%) deaths and 1,205 AMI in 532 patients (43.5%) occurred. Lp(a) values were not associated with an increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality (p = 0.934). However, they were positively and nonlinearly associated with an increased risk of total long-term reinfarction (p = 0.016). In the subgroup analysis, there was no evidence of a differential effect for the most prevalent subgroups. In conclusion, after an AMI, elevated Lp(a) values assessed during hospitalization were associated with an increased risk of recurrent reinfarction in the very long term. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate their clinical implications.

Association of Annual N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Measurements With Clinical Events in Patients With Asymptomatic Nonsevere Aortic Stenosis: A Post Hoc Substudy of the SEAS Trial

IMPORTANCE

Recent studies have questioned the presumed low-risk status of patients with asymptomatic nonsevere aortic stenosis (AS). Whether annual N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurements are useful for risk assessment is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of annual NT-proBNP measurements with clinical outcomes in patients with nonsevere AS.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Analysis of annual NT-proBNP concentrations in the multicenter, double-blind Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) randomized clinical trial was performed. SEAS was conducted from January 6, 2003, to April 1, 2008. Blood samples were analyzed in 2016, and data analysis was performed from February 10 to October 10, 2021. SEAS included 1873 patients with asymptomatic AS not requiring statin therapy with transaortic maximal flow velocity from 2.5 to 4.0 m/s and preserved ejection fraction. This substudy included 1644 patients (87.8%) with available blood samples at baseline and year 1.

EXPOSURES

Increased age- and sex-adjusted NT-proBNP concentrations at year 1 and a 1.5-fold or greater relative NT-proBNP concentration change from baseline to year 1. Moderate AS was defined as baseline maximal flow velocity greater than or equal to 3.0 m/s.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Aortic valve events (AVEs), which are a composite of aortic valve replacement, cardiovascular death, or incident heart failure due to AS progression, were noted. Landmark analyses from year 1 examined the association of NT-proBNP concentrations with outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 1644 patients, 996 were men (60.6%); mean (SD) age was 67.5 (9.7) years. Adjusted NT-proBNP concentrations were within the reference range (normal) in 1228 of 1594 patients (77.0%) with NT-proBNP values available at baseline and in 1164 of 1644 patients (70.8%) at year 1. During the next 2 years of follow-up, the AVE rates per 100 patient-years for normal vs increased adjusted NT-proBNP levels at year 1 were 1.39 (95% CI, 0.86-2.23) vs 7.05 (95% CI, 4.60-10.81) for patients with mild AS (P < .01), and 10.38 (95% CI, 8.56-12.59) vs 26.20 (95% CI, 22.03-31.15) for those with moderate AS (P < .01). Corresponding all-cause mortality rates were 1.05 (95% CI, 0.61-1.81) vs 4.17 (95% CI, 2.42-7.19) for patients with mild AS (P < .01), and 1.60 (95% CI, 0.99-2.57) vs 4.78 (95% CI, 3.32-6.87) for those with moderate AS (P < .01). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models, the combination of a 1-year increased adjusted NT-proBNP level and 1.5-fold or greater NT-proBNP level change from baseline was associated with the highest AVE rates in both patients with mild AS (hazard ratio, 8.12; 95% CI, 3.53-18.66; P < .001) and those with moderate AS (hazard ratio, 4.05; 95% CI, 2.84-5.77; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this study suggest that normal NT-proBNP concentrations at 1-year follow-up are associated with low AVE and all-cause mortality rates in patients with asymptomatic nonsevere AS. Conversely, an increased 1-year NT-proBNP level combined with a 50% or greater increase from baseline may be associated with high AVE rates.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00092677.

The Diagnostic Challenges Associated with Type 2 Myocardial Infarction

The diagnostic challenges associated with type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) evolve around an extensive evidence base. T2MI is a type of MI that occurs secondary to ischemia due to increased demand or decreased oxygen supply. This classification has been used for the last 5 years, yet there is little understanding of the characteristics and clinical outcomes. According to a survey, T2M1 can be caused mainly by different factors such as anemia (31%), sepsis (24%), and arrhythmia (17%). Other associated factors, such as age and gender, also play a part in the disease. The pathology behind T2MI is the rise and fall of cardiac troponin values with at least one value above the 99 percentile and evidence of an imbalance unrelated to coronary thrombosis. The diagnosis of the condition is evidence-based backed up with imaging techniques. The treatment of T2MI may involve blood pressure management, administration of blood products, heart rate control, and respiratory support. Depending on the clinical presentation, coronary evaluations can be used to assess the likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD). If indicated, the MI guidelines may apply to CAD. If it shows, the MI guidelines may use electrocardiography findings of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI. However, the absence of CAD indicates that the benefits of cardiovascular risk reduction strategies with T2MI remain uncertain.

The Difference in Accuracy Between Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events Score and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Score in Predicting In-Hospital Mortality of Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients

Background

In-hospital mortality of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients varies between 1% and 19% in Asia. Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score are the most frequently used risk scores for predicting in-hospital mortality. These two scores have different accuracy depending on the risk profiles of each region. This study aimed to identify the difference in accuracy between GRACE and TIMI scores.

Methods

This was an observational cohort retrospective study on consecutive patients with STEMI admitted to Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung between July 2018 and June 2019.

Results

The risk scores were evaluated in 255 patients with STEMI, whose data were collected from medical records. Patients in this study were 58 ± 11 years old, more often male (78.8%) and have smoking (65.5%), dyslipidemia (61%), hypertension (56.5%) and diabetes mellitus (21.6 %) as their risk factors. Forty-five patients died in hospitalization (17%). The TIMI and GRACE scores revealed a significant graded increase in mortality with a rising score. There was a statistically significant difference in accuracy between the scores of 0.082 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.040 - 0.125; P < 0.001) with the GRACE score (C statistics of 0.91; P < 0.001) having better accuracy compared to TIMI score (C statistics of 0.83; P < 0.001). This might be due to the fact that the GRACE scoring system has more detail and complete variables than the TIMI score.

Conclusion

There is a significant difference between the accuracy of GRACE and TIMI scores in predicting in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients. The accuracy of the GRACE score is better than the TIMI score for predicting in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients.

Clinical diagnostic value of combined detection of IMA, D-D and MCP-1 in acute myocardial infarction

The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical value of the combined detection of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), D-dimer (D-D) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Altogether 87 patients with AMI from January 2017 to January 2018 were enrolled in the AMI group, and 82 patients without coronary artery disease were included in the control group. The serum levels of IMA, D-D, MCP-1, cardiac troponin (CTnT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the two groups were detected by ELISA. The blood lipids of the two groups and the levels of IMA, D-D, MCP-1 after treatment were detected. The association between IMA, D-D, MCP-1, CTnT, hs-CRP and blood lipid in patients with AMI was analyzed. The values of IMA, D-D, and MCP-1 alone and combined in the diagnosis of AMI were analyzed by ROC curve. The levels of IMA, D-D, MCP-1, CTnT and hs-CRP in the AMI group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of IMA, D-D and MCP-1 in the patients with poor prognosis were significantly higher than those of the good prognosis group (P<0.05). The changes of IMA, D-D and MCP-1 levels were positively correlated with the levels of CTT and hs-CRP (P<0.05). The AUC, specificity and sensitivity of patients with AMI diagnosed with MCP-1 alone were 0.8084, 81.61 and 69.51%, respectively. Those of patients diagnosed by D-D were 0.7302, 59.77 and 81.71%, those of patients diagnosed by IMA alone were 0.7289, 58.62 and 80.49%, and those of patients detected by the combination of MCP-1, D-D and IMA were 0.9047, 58.62 and 93.90%. In conclusion, the levels of IMA, D-D and MCP-1 in AMI patients are higher than those in the control group. The levels of IMA, D-D and MCP-1 were positively correlated with CTnT and hs-CRP levels in AMI patients. Combined detection of IMA, D-D, and MCP-1 can improve the accuracy.

Time for a new paradigm shift in myocardial infarction

The ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)/non-STEMI paradigm per the current guidelines has important limitations. It misses a substantial proportion of acute coronary occlusions (ACO) and results in a significant amount of unnecessary catheterization laboratory activations. It is not widely appreciated how poor is the evidence base for the STEMI criteria; the recommended STEMI cutoffs were not derived by comparing those with ACO with those without and not specifically designed for distinguishing patients who would benefit from emergency reperfusion. This review aimed to discuss the origins, evidence base, and limitations of STEMI/non-STEMI paradigm and to call for a new paradigm shift to the occlusion MI (OMI)/non-OMI.

STEMI: A transitional fossil in MI classification?

An important task in emergency cardiology is distinguishing patients with acute coronary occlusion (ACO), who will benefit from emergent reperfusion therapy, from those without ongoing myocyte loss who can be managed with medical therapy and for whom potentially harmful invasive interventions can be deferred. The electrocardiogram is critical in this process. Although the ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)/non-STEMI paradigm is well-established, with "STEMI" representing ACO, its evidence base is poor, and this can have dire consequences. The universally recommended STEMI criteria do not accurately diagnose ACO; in fact, they miss more than one-fourth of the patients with ACO, and also result in a substantial burden of unnecessary catheterization laboratory activations. We here discuss why we believe it is time to change the current STEMI/non-STEMI paradigm.

Homocysteine and long-term recurrent infarction following an acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

There are no well-established predictors of recurrent ischemic coronary events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Higher levels of homocysteine have been reported to be associated with an increased atherosclerotic burden. The primary endpoint was to assess the relationship between homocysteine at discharge and very long-term recurrent myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

1306 consecutive patients with ACS were evaluated (862 with non-ST-segment elevation ACS [NSTEACS] and 444 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI]) discharged from October 2000 to June 2003 in a single teaching-center. The relationship between homocysteine at discharge and recurrent MI was evaluated through bivariate negative binomial regression accounting for mortality as a competitive event.

RESULTS

The mean age was 66.8 ± 12.4 years, 69.1% were men, and 32.2% showed prior diabetes mellitus. Most of the patients were admitted for an NSTEACS (66.0%). The median (interquartile range) GRACE risk score, Charlson comorbidity index, and homocysteine were 144 (122-175) points, 1 (1-2) points, and 11.9 (9.3-15.6) μmol/L, respectively. In-hospital revascularization was performed in 26.3% of patients. At a median follow-up of 9.7 (4.5-15.1) years, 709 (54.3%) deaths were registered and 779 recurrent MI in 478 (36.6%) patients. The rates of recurrent MI were higher in patients in the upper homocysteine quartiles (p < 0.001). After a multivariate adjustment, homocysteine along its continuum remained almost linearly associated with a higher risk of recurrent MI (p = 0.001) and all-cause mortality (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ACS, higher homocysteine levels identified those at a higher risk of recurrent MI at very long-term follow-up.

Trends in first-time hospitalization, management, and short-term mortality in acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock from 2005 to 2017: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cardiogenic shock remains the leading cause of in-hospital death in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Because of temporary changes in management of cardiogenic shock with widespread implementation of early revascularization along with increasing attention to the use of mechanical circulatory devices, complete and longitudinal data are important in this subject. The objective of this study was to examine temporal trends of first-time hospitalization, management, and short-term mortality for patients with AMI-related cardiogenic shock (AMICS).

METHODS

Using nationwide medical registries, we identified patients hospitalized with first-time AMI and cardiogenic shock from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2017. We calculated annual incidence proportions of AMICS. Thirty-day mortality was estimated with use of Kaplan-Meier estimator comparing AMICS and AMI-only patients. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess mortality rate ratios.

RESULTS

We included 101,834 AMI patients of whom 7,040 (7%) had AMICS. The median age was 72 (interquartile range: 62-80) for AMICS and 69 (interquartile range: 58-79) for AMI-only patients. The gender composition was similar between AMICS and AMI-only patients (male: 64% vs 63%). The annual incidence proportion of AMICS decreased slightly over time (2005: 7.0% vs 2017: 6.1%, P for trend < .0001). In AMICS, use of coronary angiography increased between 2005 and 2017 from 48% to 71%, as did use of left ventricular assist device (1% vs 10%) and norepinephrine (30% to 70%). In contrast, use of intra-aortic balloon pump (14% vs 1%) and dopamine (34% vs 20%) decreased. Thirty-day mortality for AMICS patients was 60% (95% CI: 59-61) and substantially higher than the 8% (95% CI: 7.8-8.2) for AMI-only patients (mortality rate ratio: 11.4, 95% CI: 10.9-11.8). Over time, the mortality decreased after AMICS (2005: 68% to 2017: 57%, P for temporal change in adjusted analysis < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a slight decrease in AMICS hospitalization over time with changing practice patterns. Thirty-day mortality was markedly higher for patients with AMICS compared with AMI only, yet our results suggest improved 30-day survival over time after AMICS.

Mitral valve surgery for ischemic papillary muscle rupture: outcomes from the Japan cardiovascular surgery database

Background

Ischemic papillary muscle rupture (PMR) is a catastrophic complication following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We evaluated early outcomes of PMR by using data from the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database, a nationwide Japanese registry.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from 196 patients diagnosed with PMR following AMI in Japan between January 2014 and December 2017. Risk factors for operative mortality and severe complications following mitral valve surgery were analyzed.

Results

The 30-day and hospital mortality rates were 20% and 26%, respectively. Chronic hemodialysis, abrupt rupture after AMI, resuscitation before surgery, and preoperative venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were associated with mortality. Mitral valve replacement was chosen mainly (90%) for surgical correction of mitral regurgitation in these patients. There was no significant difference in short-term outcomes between mitral valve replacement versus mitral valve repair, despite non-matched characteristics in background between the treatment groups. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting had no impact on short-term outcomes.

Conclusions

Information derived from the nationwide database of patients with AMI-associated PMR show that PMR is a rare condition in the modern era. However, PMR is a severe disease with a mortality rate as high as 26%. The severity of the condition is associated with the risk for poor outcomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11748-020-01418-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Delay in coronary artery bypass grafting for STEMI patients improves hospital morbidity and mortality

Objectives

The optimal timing of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ST elevated acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. The purpose of the study is to evaluate and compare the outcomes in STEMI patients who underwent CABG within the various time intervals within the first 7 days of either emergent or urgent hospital admission.

Methods

Patients aged 30 years old and older diagnosed with STEMI who underwent CABG within first 7 days after non-elective hospital admission were selected from the National Inpatient Sample 2010–2014 using the appropriate ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. These patients were divided into 3 cohorts based on timing of surgery: within 24 h (group A), 2nd-3rd day (group B), and 4th–7th day (group C). The rates of postoperative complications, mortality, and postoperative hospital length of stay (LOS) were compared using the Chi-square test, multivariable logistic regression analysis, and Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Results

A total of 5963 patients were identified: group A = 28.5%, group B = 36.1%, group C = 35.4%. Mean age overall was 63.1 ± 11.1 years; 76.9% were males and 72.9% were whites. Compared to groups B and C, patients in group A were more likely to develop cardiac complications (OR [odds ratio] =1.33, 95%CI [confidence interval] 1.12–1.59 and OR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.17–1.67, respectively) and respiratory complications (OR = 1.31, 95%CI 1.13–1.51 and OR = 1.53, 95%CI 1.32–1.78, respectively). They were also more likely to have renal complications (OR = 1.31, 95%CI 1.11–1.54) and bleeding (OR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.37) than patients in group B and had a similar tendency compared to group C. We did not find significant differences in the above complications between groups B and C. Postoperative stroke and sternal wound infection rates were similar between all three groups. In-hospital mortality was also higher in group A (8.2%) compared to group B (3.5%) and group C (2.9%, P < 0.0001 for both); differences between groups B and C were not significant. This was confirmed in the multivariable logistic regression analysis with controlling for age, gender, race, the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and complications (group A vs B: OR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.52–2.25; group A vs C: OR = 2.21; 95%CI 1.82–2.68). Patients in group A had a significantly longer postoperative LOS (median 7 days with IQR [interquartile range] 5–10 days) compared to those in group B (median 6 days, IQR 5–8 days) and group C (median 6 days, IQR 4–8 days; P < 0.0001 for both).

Conclusions

The results of this study show that despite the urgency and severity of STEMI, patients who undergo CABG within the first 24 h after non-elective hospital admission have increased hospital morbidity and mortality. These findings suggest that a delay in surgery beyond the first 24 h may be beneficial to patient outcomes. Furthermore, there is a significant cost effectiveness when the patients delay surgery because the hospital length of stay is reduced as well as the subsequent hospital costs.

Lipoprotein(a) and long-term recurrent infarction after an episode of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

In established ischemic heart disease, the relationship between lipoprotein(a) and new cardiovascular events showed contradictory results. Our aim was to assess the relationship between lipoprotein(a) and very long-term recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) after an index episode of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

We included 435 consecutive STEMI patients discharged from October 2000 to June 2003 in a single teaching center. The relationship between lipoprotein(a) at discharge and recurrent MI was evaluated through negative binomial regression and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age was 65 years (55-74 years), 25.5% were women, 34.7% were diabetic, and 66% had a MI of anterior location. Fibrinolysis, rescue, or primary angioplasty was performed in 215 (49.4%), 19 (4.4%), and 18 (4.1%) patients, respectively. The median lipoprotein(a) was 30.4 mg/dL (12-59.4 mg/dL). After a median follow-up of 9.6 years (4.1-15 years), 180 (41.4%) deaths and 187 MI in 133 (30.6%) patients were recorded. After a multivariate adjustment, the risk gradient of lipoprotein(a) showed a neutral effect along most of the continuum and only extreme higher values identified those at higher risk of recurrent MI (P = 0.020). Those with lipoprotein(a) values >95th percentile (≥135 mg/dL) showed a higher risk of recurrent MI (incidence rate ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-4.02; P = 0.002). Lipoprotein(a) was not related to the risk of mortality (P = 0.245).

CONCLUSIONS

After an episode of STEMI, only extreme high values of lipoprotein(a) were associated with an increased risk of long-term recurrent MI.

Quality of Care for Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) in Pakistan: A Retrospective Study

A wide variation exists in the practice patterns of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care worldwide, leading to differences in clinical outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the quality of process care and its impact on in-hospital outcomes among AMI patients in Pakistan, as no such study has been conducted in Pakistan thus far based upon recommended guidelines. We investigated a sample of 2663 AMI patients across 11 territory hospitals in Punjab province of Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 8.6%. We calculated compliance rates of quality indicators (QIs) for all eligible patients. The association between process care and in-hospital outcome was assessed using hierarchical generalized linear model that adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics. In addition, we examined the effect of patient composite scores on clinical outcomes. Aspirin (73.08%) and clopidogrel (67.86%) indicated relatively better conformance than other QIs. The percutaneous coronary intervention also showed significantly low adherence. All QIs showed no significant association with in-hospital mortality. In contrast, 4 out of 8 QIs were observed positively correlated with in-hospital length of stay (LOS). The overall patient composite score was found to be statistically significant with in-hospital LOS. The assessment of quality of care showed low adherence to clinical care recommendations, and increased adherence was associated with longer in-hospital LOS among AMI patients. Evaluation of valid QIs for AMI treatment and their impact on in-hospital outcomes is an important tool for improving health care delivery in the overall AMI population in Pakistan. Low adherence to performance measures strongly compel to focus on guideline-based tools for AMI in Pakistan.

The effect of intracoronary versus intralesional injection of eptifibatide on myocardial perfusion outcomes during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; A randomized clinical trial study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have proved that intracoronary injection of eptifibatide is safe and more effective in infarct size reduction and clinical outcomes than intravenously injection in the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to compare the effect of localized and intracoronary injection of eptifibatide on myocardial perfusion improvement and its outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized clinical trial study of 60 patients presented with thrombotic AMI. The patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and were randomly divided into two equal number groups. The first group received two bolus doses of 180 μg/kg eptifibatide through guiding catheter. The second group received the same bolus doses through export aspiration catheter into the coronary lesion directly. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow, myocardial blush grade (MBG), and no-reflow phenomenon were primary end points. Secondary end points were pre- and postprocedure cardiac arrhythmia, in-hospital mortality, adverse effects, reinfection, pre-discharge ventricular systolic function, and re-hospitalization and mortality after 6 month of follow up.

RESULTS

The mean ages of group I and group II were 58.3 ± 1.8 and 57.0 ±2.0 years, respectively, and most of patient were men (90% in group I and 80% in group II). Postprocedural TIMI flow grade 3 was achieved in 60.0% and 76.7% of the intracoronary and intralesional groups, respectively (P = 0.307). Postprocedural MBG grade 3 was achieved in 53.3% and 70.0% in intracoronary and intralesional groups, respectively (P = 0.479). There was no significant difference between the groups in no-reflow assessment. Moreover, no significant difference was seen between the two groups in secondary end-point analysis.

CONCLUSION

Both methods of intracoronary and intralesional eptifibatide administration during primary PCI in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were safe and similar in myocardial perfusion outcomes.

The combination of nonthyroidal illness syndrome and renal dysfunction further increases mortality risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a prospective cohort study

Background

Both nonthyroidal illness syndrome and renal dysfunction are associated with increased mortality risk in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it is unclear whether combined NTIS and renal dysfunction further increase mortality risk. Therefore, our aim is to investigate whether combined NTIS and renal dysfunction further increases mortality risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

A total of 1295 inpatients with AMI were divided into normal group (n = 692), NTIS group (n = 139), renal dysfunction group (n = 304), and combined NTIS and renal dysfunction group (n = 160). Heart function, in-hospital, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were compared among the four groups.

Results

After adjustment for age and sex, left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in the combined group (48 ± 11%) than in the NTIS group (52 ± 10%, P = 0.017), the renal dysfunction group (52 ± 10%, P = 0.001) and the normal group (56 ± 8%, P < 0.001). After controlling for confounding factors, compared with the normal group, the NTIS and the renal dysfunction group represented higher risks of in-hospital mortality (OR: 3.643, P = 0.028; OR:3.135, P = 0.042, respectively), all-cause mortality (HR: 2.138, P = 0.007; HR: 2.050, P = 0.003, respectively), and cardiovascular mortality (HR:2.134, P = 0.042; HR:2.237, P = 0.010, respectively). Compared to those in the NTIS and the renal dysfunction group, the patients in the combined group showed a further increased risk for in-hospital mortality (OR:2.916, P = 0.039; OR:2.487, P = 0.036, respectively), all-cause mortality (HR: 1.939, P = 0.015; HR: 2.020, P = 0.002, respectively) and cardiovascular mortality (HR:2.420, P = 0.010; HR:2.303, P = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

Both NTIS and renal dysfunction increase short-term in-hospital mortality, and long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in patients with AMI. Furthermore, the coexistence of NTIS and renal dysfunction presents further increased mortality risk in AMI patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12872-019-1027-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Impact of right coronary dominance on triple-vessel coronary artery disease: A cross-sectional study

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between right coronary dominance and coronary angiographic characteristics in patients with or without significant coronary artery disease (CAD).A total of 2225 patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) between January 2011 and November 2014 were recruited in our study. Based on the CAG results, patients were divided into the left dominance (LD) group, right dominance (RD) group, and co-dominance (CD) group. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to analyze the relationships between coronary dominance and triple-vessel CAD.We found that patients with RD had a higher prevalence of triple-vessel CAD (36.6% vs 27.3%, P = .008) and significant stenosis in the right coronary artery (40.5% vs 29.2%, P = .001). In addition, results of multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that RD was significantly associated with the triple-vessel disease (odds ratio 1.768, 95% confidence interval 1.057-2.956, P = .030).In conclusion, RD positively correlated with triple-vessel CAD rather than LD or CD in patients. This result suggested that RD may serve as a risk factor for triple-vessel CAD and more effective measures should be taken in RD patients to prevent fatal cardiovascular events.

Risk Factors and Trends in Incidence of Heart Failure Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Patients who develop heart failure (HF) after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are at higher risk of adverse fatal and nonfatal outcomes. Published studies on the incidence and associations of HF after infarction have been contradictory, with some reporting increasing and others decreasing incidence. Between 2000 and 2015, 109,717 patients admitted for a first AMI in New Jersey were discharged alive. In the 15 years from 2000 to 2015, the rates of admission for HF in AMI patients who were discharged alive decreased by 60%, from 3.48% to 1.4%, at 1-year follow-up. At 5 years of follow-up, the decline was more pronounced, from 7.21% to 1.4%, an 80% decline. All-cause death, and the combined end point of admission for HF or death, showed decreasing trends. Cox regression indicated a decrease in the risk of admission for HF over time (hazard ratio [HR] 0.955, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.949 to 0.961). Younger age, male gender, and commercial insurance were associated with lower HRs for HF (p <0.001), whereas history of hypertension, diabetes, kidney, or lung disease were associated with higher HRs (p <0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of HF between subendocardial and transmural AMI (adjusted OR was 0.96, CI 0.90 to 1.03, p = 0.241). Revascularization was associated with a marked decrease in HF admissions (adjusted OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.25, p <0.001 for percutaneous coronary intervention and OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.51, p <0.001 for CABG). In conclusion, the rate of admission for HF after discharge for a first myocardial infarction as well as all-cause death decreased markedly from 2000 to 2015.

Pharmacologic and Liability Considerations of Therapeutic Interchange with Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Therapeutic interchange (TI), a formulary management process, is used by health care systems to help contain medication costs. A scientifically defensible and pharmacoeconomically beneficial TI program adheres to rigorous criteria enforced by an institution's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. In situations where adherence to essential criteria is not mandated, TI may not produce the intended clinical and economic outcomes, and in practice may have legal implications. Appropriate application of TI has been described within the position statements of certain health care organizations and associations. Due to the high cost and frequent use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), health care institutions have identified this pharmacologic class as a potential target for TI. Currently, the application of the TI process to LMWHs is questionable. This paper reviews the TI process and explores its controversial role in the formulary management of LMWHs.

Time to Treatment: Focus on Transfer in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

In the modern ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) system, the use of electrocardiogram by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and the option to bypass emergency departments on route to a PCI-capable hospital is of particular importance. Through training and a standardized referral process, EMS personnel can now accurately diagnose and refer STEMI patients directly to the catheterization laboratory of a percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital. Regional STEMI models have been implemented successfully across North America, resulting in palpable reductions in door-to-balloon time, morbidity, and mortality.

Percutaneous closure of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture - A single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Post-infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but lethal mechanical complication of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Survival to 1 month without intervention is 6%. Given high surgical mortality, transcatheter closure has emerged as a potential strategy in selected cases. Indian data on percutaneous device closure of post AMI-VSR is scarce hence we report our single-centre experience with ASD occluder device (Amplatzer and lifetech) for closure of post-AMI VSR.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this single-centre, retrospective, cohort study, patients who underwent transcatheter closure of post-MI VSR between 2005 and 2015 at KIMS Hospital were included. Primary outcome was mortality rate at 30 days. Seven patients were included in the study (mean age, 58.29±9.8 years). 5 patients had anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI) & 2 had inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI). None of the patients received thrombolytic therapy. Device was successfully placed in 5 patients (71.4%) with minimal residual shunt in 2 patients (40%). Out of 7 cases 2 patients survived (29% survival rate) and are doing well on follow up at 1 and 5 years respectively. Cardiogenic shock, IWMI and serpigenious form of VSR were associated with poor outcomes. Delayed revascularization (PCI) was associated with better outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous closure is a potential technique in a selected group of patients. The presence of cardiogenic shock, IWMI and serpigeneous form of VSR constitutes important risk factors for mortality. Device implantation is in general successful with few procedure-related complications and should be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Temporal Trends in Care and Outcomes of Patients Receiving Fibrinolytic Therapy Compared to Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the Get With The Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) Registry

Background

Timely reperfusion after ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves survival. Guidelines recommend primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) within 90 minutes of arrival at a PCI‐capable hospital. The alternative is fibrinolysis within 30 minutes for those in those for whom timely transfer to a PCI‐capable hospital is not feasible.

Methods and Results

We identified STEMI patients receiving reperfusion therapy at 229 hospitals participating in the Get With the Guidelines—Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG‐CAD) database (January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2008). Temporal trends in the use of fibrinolysis and PPCI, its timeliness, and in‐hospital mortality outcomes were assessed. We also assessed predictors of fibrinolysis versus PPCI and compliance with performance measures. Defect‐free care was defined as 100% compliance with all performance measures. We identified 29 190 STEMI patients, of whom 2441 (8.4%) received fibrinolysis; 38.2% of these patients achieved door‐to‐needle times ≤30 minutes. Median door‐to‐needle times increased from 36 to 60 minutes (P=0.005) over the study period. Among PPCI patients, median door‐to‐balloon times decreased from 94 to 64 minutes (P<0.0001) over the same period. In‐hospital mortality was higher with fibrinolysis than with PPCI (4.6% vs 3.3%, P=0.001) and did not change significantly over time. Patients receiving fibrinolysis were less likely to receive defect‐free care compared with their PPCI counterparts.

Conclusions

Use of fibrinolysis for STEMI has decreased over time with concomitant worsening of door‐to‐needle times. Over the same time period, use of PPCI increased with improvement in door‐to‐balloon times. In‐hospital mortality was higher with fibrinolysis than with PPCI. As reperfusion for STEMI continues to shift from fibrinolysis to PPCI, it will be critical to ensure that door‐to‐needle times and outcomes do not worsen.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and management practices of acute coronary syndrome in a tertiary care hospital

BACKGROUND

A prospective study of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who met the inclusion criteria, was carried out. It was conducted in the cardiology department of tertiary care referral hospital in Kerala. An attempt was made to identify and determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients presenting with ACS and to evaluate the current treatment practice pattern of ACS and to compare it with standard treatment guidelines, thereby improving the quality of life of patients.

METHODS

Data of patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected in specially designed data collection form. The form included the patient data such as demographics, risk factors, procedures performed during the hospital stay, and in-hospital and discharge drug therapy. Patients with ACS included those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina (UA). Descriptive statistics were performed. All statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16.0.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were studied having mean age of 62.57 years±12.18 years. Fifty-one percent were having NSTEMI, 33% were having STEMI, and 16% were having UA. Hypertension (63%) and diabetes (51%) were more prevalent in both men and women. Smoking among males was consistently high (48.6%), being highest among adults. Cardiac procedures performed include percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 45%, coronary angiogram (CAG) in 20%, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in 7%. In-hospital medications were antiplatelets (100%), thrombolytics (28%), statins (97%), anticoagulants (80%), nitrates (73%), β-blocker (32%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (6%), angiotensin receptor blocker (9%), potassium opener (7%), vasodilator (1%), calcium channel blocker (9%), α-blocker (7%), and α+β blocker (7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The contemporary profile of treatment patterns for patients with ACS indicates an improved adherence to the guidelines. The alarmingly high rate of modifiable risk factors remains a cause of concern and a challenge that needs to be tackled, as better control of cardiovascular risk factors is expected to have a favorable impact on the incidence of ACS.

Comparison of Long-Term Mortality of Patients Aged ≤40 Versus >40 Years With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Young patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) have a more favorable prognosis than older patients with MI. However, there are limited data comparing the prognosis of young patients with MI with young population controls. Comparison with an age-matched background population could unmask residual mortality risk in young patients with MI that would otherwise not be apparent when merely comparing the mortality risk of young and older patients with MI. We studied 15,151 patients with AMI from 2000 to 2005, of which 601 patients were ≤40 years (young MI). The relative survival ratio (RSR) was calculated as the ratio of the observed survival of patients with MI divided by the expected survival, estimated from the background population (n = 3,771,700) matched for age, gender, and follow-up year. An RSR of <1.0 or >1.0 indicates poorer or better survival, respectively, than the background population. The 12-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality of young versus older patients was 12.8% versus 50.7% (p <0.001) and 9.2% versus 34.5% (p <0.001), respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality comparing young with older patients was 0.20 (0.16 to 0.27) and 0.27 (0.20 to 0.36), respectively. The RSR (95% confidence interval) of young and older patients was, respectively, 0.969 (0.950 to 0.980) and 0.804 (0.797 to 0.811) at 1 year, 0.942 (0.918 to 0.960) and 0.716 (0.707 to 0.726) at 5 years, and 0.908 (0.878 to 0.938) and 0.638 (0.620 to 0.654) at 9 years. In conclusion, despite a fivefold lower long-term mortality than older patients with MI, young patients with MI remain at significantly greater risk of long-term mortality than an age-matched background population.

Generic Forms of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins: Some Practical Considerations

This commentary briefly reviews the controversies of therapeutic and generic interchangeability, as they apply to the antithrombotic drug class called low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Recommendations are prepared for the generic LMWH approval process by various regulatory bodies.

Multi-detector CT and MRI of microembolized myocardial infarct: monitoring of left ventricular function, perfusion, and myocardial viability in a swine model

BACKGROUND

Patients with acute myocardial infarct (MI) show additional damage after coronary interventions.

PURPOSE

To longitudinally quantify structural and functional changes in the left ventricle (LV) subjected to microembolized MI using multidisciplinary computed tomography (MDCT) and independent reference methods.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Swine (n = 20) served as controls (group I) or were subjected to a combination of coronary occlusion, microembolization, and reperfusion and imaged at 3 days (group II) or 3 days and 5 weeks (group III). LV volumes, perfusion, and MI mass were quantified on cine, perfusion, and delayed contrast enhancement (DE) MDCT. MRI, cardiac injury biomarkers, histochemical and histopathologic stains were used as independent references.

RESULTS

MDCT showed a reduction in ejection fraction and increased end systolic volume (31 ± 2% and 82 ± 3 mL, respectively) of group III compared with I (48 ± 2% and 57 ± 1 mL, respectively). It also demonstrated perfusion deficits in microembolized MI and peri-infarcts. DE-MDCT delineated microvascular obstruction (MVO) zones embedded in acute microembolized MI and microinfarct specks resulting from persistent MVO by deposited microemboli in microvessels of peri-infarct zone. Bland-Altman test showed close agreements between the extents of microembolized MI measured on DE-MDCT, DE-MRI, and histochemical TTC staining, but not between these modalities and microscopy. MI resorption was evident between 3 days and 5 weeks (13.4 ± 0.5 g and 9.8 ± 0.5 g, P < 0.017) and histologic examination revealed incomplete healing. Injury biomarkers were increased after intervention.

CONCLUSION

MDCT can longitudinally quantify regional perfusion deficits, LV dysfunction, and resorption of microembolized MI. MDCT or MRI can be used alternatively after coronary interventions in cases of contraindications for one modality or the other.

Longer procedural times are independently associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke undergoing thrombectomy

BACKGROUND

Time to reperfusion is an essential factor in determination of outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

OBJECTIVE

To establish the effect of the procedural time on the clinical outcomes of patients with AIS.

METHODS

Data from all consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy between September 2010 and July 2012 were analysed retrospectively. The variable of interest was procedural time (defined as time from groin puncture to final recanalization time). Outcome measures included the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH, defined as any parenchymal hematoma-eg, PH-1/PH-2), final infarct volume, 90-day mortality, and independent functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) at 90 days.

RESULTS

The cohort included 242 patients with a mean age of 65.5±14.2 and median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 20. 51% of the patients were female. The mean procedure time was significantly shorter in patients with a good outcome (86.7 vs 73.1 min, respectively, p=0.0228). Patients with SICH had significantly higher mean procedure time than patients without SICH (79.67 vs 104.5 min, respectively; p=0.0319), which remained significant when controlling for the previous factors (OR=0.974, 95% CI 0.957 to 0.991). No correlation was found between the volume of infarction and the procedure time (r=0.10996, p=0.0984). No association was seen between procedure time and 90-day mortality (77.8 vs 88.2 min in survivals vs deaths, respectively; p=0.0958).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support an association between the risk of SICH and a longer procedure time, but no association between procedural times and the final infarction volume or long-term functional outcomes was found.

Fibrinolytic therapy in hospitals without percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities in China from 2001 to 2011: China PEACE-retrospective AMI study

BACKGROUND

Fibrinolytic therapy is the primary reperfusion strategy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in China, and yet little is known about the quality of care regarding its use and whether it has changed over time. This issue is particularly important in hospitals without the capacity for cardiovascular intervention.

METHODS

Using a sequential cross-sectional study with two-stage random sampling in 2001, 2006, and 2011, we characterised the use, timing, type and dose of fibrinolytic therapy in a nationally representative sample of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction admitted to hospitals without the ability to perform percutaneous coronary intervention.

RESULTS

We identified 5306 patients; 2812 (53.0%) were admitted within 12 hours of symptom onset, of whom 2463 (87.6%) were ideal candidates for fibrinolytic therapy. The weighted proportion of ideal candidates receiving fibrinolytic therapy was 45.8% in 2001, 50.0% in 2006, and 53.0% in 2011 ( P_trend=0.0042). There were no regional differences in fibrinolytic therapy use. Almost all ideal patients (95.1%) were treated after admission to the hospital rather than in the emergency department. Median admission to needle time was 35 minutes (interquartile range 10-82) in 2011, which did not improve from 2006. Underdosing was common. Urokinase, with little evidence of efficacy, was used in 90.2% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past decade in China, the potential benefits of fibrinolytic therapy were compromised by underuse, patient and hospital delays, underdosing and the predominant use of urokinase, an agent for which there is little clinical evidence. There are ample opportunities for improvement.

Aggressive Measures to Decrease "Door to Balloon" Time and Incidence of Unnecessary Cardiac Catheterization: Potential Risks and Role of Quality Improvement

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of an aggressive protocol to decrease the time from hospital arrival to onset of reperfusion therapy ("door to balloon [DTB] time") on the incidence of false-positive (FP) diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and in-hospital mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study population included 1031 consecutive patients with presumed STEMI and confirmed ST-segment elevation who underwent emergent catheterization between July 1, 2008, and December 1, 2012, On July 1, 2009, we instituted an aggressive protocol to reduce DTB time. A quality improvement (QI) initiative was introduced on January 1, 2011, to maintain short DTB while improving outcomes. Outcomes were compared before and after the initiation of the DTB time protocol and similarly before and after the QI initiative. Outcomes were DTB time, the incidence of FP-STEMI, and in-hospital mortality. A review of the emergency catheterization database for the 10-year period from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2010, was performed for historical comparison.

RESULTS

Of the 1031 consecutive patients with presumed STEMI who were assessed, 170 were considered to have FP-STEMI. The median DTB time decreased significantly from 76 to 61 minutes with the aggressive DTB time protocol (P=.001), accompanied by an increase of FP-STEMI (7.7% vs 16.5%; P=.02). Although a nonsignificant reduction of in-hospital mortality occurred in patients with true-positive STEMI (P=.60), a significant increase in in-hospital mortality was seen in patients with FP-STEMI (P=.03). After the QI initiative, a shorter DTB time (59 minutes) was maintained while decreasing FP-STEMI in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION

Aggressive measures to reduce DTB time were associated with an increased incidence of FP-STEMI and FP-STEMI in-hospital mortality. Efforts to reduce DTB time should be monitored systematically to avoid unnecessary procedures that may delay other appropriate therapies in critically ill patients.

National assessment of early β-blocker therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction in China, 2001-2011: The China Patient-centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events (PEACE)-Retrospective AMI Study

BACKGROUND

Since 2007, clinical practice guidelines have recommended β-blocker therapy early in the course of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for patients who are not at high risk for complications. Our objective was to perform a national quality assessment of early β-blocker use during hospitalization for AMI over the past decade in China.

METHODS

We conducted medical record review of a nationally representative sample of patients admitted to Chinese hospitals with AMI and studied those without absolute contraindications to β-blocker therapy in 2001, 2006, and 2011. We evaluated the use, type, and dose of β-blockers within the first 24 hours of admission over time and identified predictors of not using this treatment both in ideal candidates and in those with risk factors for cardiogenic shock.

RESULTS

Among 14,241 patients with AMI (representing 43,165 patients in 2001, 106,167 patients in 2006, and 221,874 patients in 2011 in China, respectively), 45.1% had no contraindications to early β-blocker therapy; 21.1% had risk factors for cardiogenic shock but no absolute contraindication. β-blocker use in ideal patients was 54.3% in 2001, 67.8% in 2006, and 61.8% in 2011 (P = .28 for trend). Predictors of nontreatment were older age, lower systolic blood pressure, lower heart rate, absence of chest discomfort, and admission to a nonteaching hospital. Use in patients with risk factors for cardiogenic shock was 42.6% in 2001, 59.5% in 2006, and 52.9% in 2011 (P = .31 for trend). Metoprolol was used most frequently (91.5%), but dosages were often below those recommended in guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of early β-blocker therapy for patients with AMI in China is suboptimal, with underuse in patients who could benefit and substantial use among those who might be harmed. Patterns of use have not changed over time, thus creating an important target of efforts to improve quality of care for AMI.

Effect of calycosin on left ventricular ejection fraction and angiogenesis in rat models with myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To evaluated the effect of calycosin on left ventricular ejection fraction and angiogenesis.

METHODS

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into calycosin-treated groups (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg qd), a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or a sham-operated control group. The myocardial ischaemia (MI) model was intraperitoneally administered calycosin for 28 days. The survival rates and left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) were compared between groups. The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) in ischaemic myocardium were also measured and compared.

RESULTS

The construction of MI model resulted in a LVEF reduction of 50% compared with the sham-control. After 28 days, the LVEF value was 10% higher when calycosin (4 mg/kg) was administered compared with the DMSO group. The expression of VEGF and CD31 showed a dose-dependent manner when calycosin was administrated. The calycosin-treated (4 mg/kg) group displayed a two-fold increase in VEGF expression at both the mRNA and protein levels compared with the DMSO group. In addition, CD31 expression in the microvascular increased 1.5-fold in the 4 mg/kg calycosin-treated group.

CONCLUSION

Calycosin improved left ventricular ejection fraction in the MI rat models, induced VEGF expression in the ischaemic myocardium, increased CD31 expression and promoted angiogenesis.

Nebivolol compared with metoprolol for erectile function in males undergoing coronary artery bypass graft

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate erectile function in males undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) while on two different adrenoceptor beta-blocker regimens, namely nebivolol and metoprolol. We hypothesize that the negative effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on erectile function may be possibly attenuated by preferring a vasodilating selective β1-blocker, nebivolol, to metoprolol as an anti-ischemic and antiarrhythmic agent in males undergoing CABG.

METHODS

This randomized, double-blind, prospective clinical study was conducted in patients scheduled for CABG surgery between February 2012 and June 2014. A total of 60 consecutive patients who met inclusion criteria were randomized and divided into the following two groups: N group, which received 5 mg of nebivolol orally for 2 weeks before surgery plus 12 weeks after surgery or M group, which received 50 mg of metoprolol orally for the same period. All patients were evaluated by the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) at the time of admission (before starting the beta-blocker) and 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

In the metoprolol group, the mean IIEF-5 score decreased significantly from a baseline of 15.2±5.8 to 12.9±5.8 (p<0.001), but in the nebivolol group, this difference was not significant (from a baseline 12.9±5.5 to 12.4±5.5, p=0.053). In all patients, the mean IIEF-5 score decreased significantly from a baseline of 14.0±5.7 to 12.6±5.6 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although erectile function in males undergoing CABG surgery decreases when metoprolol is used, nebivolol exerts protective effects on erectile function against the disruptive effects of cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing CABG.

The predictive capacity and additional prognostic power of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in Chinese elderly with chronic heart failure

Objective

This study was conducted to research the prognostic utility of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), compare the utility of the Seattle Heart Failure Score (SHFS) with NT-proBNP, develop a risk-evaluation model based on NT-proBNP, assess the associations of NT-proBNP with patient characteristics, and screen for decisive factors of NT-proBNP in Chinese elderly with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Patients and methods

There were 306 patients (≥60 years) with CHF chosen as study subjects. Each one received an assessment of NT-proBNP on serum. The end point was all-cause mortality during a mean follow-up period of 471 days.

Results

Subjects had a median age of 85 (60–100) years, a median NT-proBNP of 1,743.4 pg/mL, and a median SHFS of 1.87. During the follow-up period, 104 deaths occurred. NT-proBNP was significantly related to mortality (odds ratio 1.603, 95% confidence interval 1.407–1.826; P<0.001) and the significance persisted after full adjustment (odds ratio 1.282, 95% confidence interval 1.103–1.489; P=0.001). Age, New York Heart Association class IV CHF, plasma albumin, and neutrophils/lymphocytes were also independent predictors for mortality (P<0.05 for all). NT-proBNP and the SHFS showed similar predictive capacities (0.736 versus 0.796, P=0.105). The addition of NT-proBNP to the SHFS (0.818 versus 0.796, P=0.168) generated marginal growth in the c-statistic. The model based on NT-proBNP consisting of all selected predictors in this study, including age, New York Heart Association class IV CHF, plasma albumin, neutrophils/lymphocytes, and NT-proBNP, had a moderately higher c-statistic compared with the SHFS (0.846 versus 0.796, P=0.066). NT-proBNP was bound with the SHFS (r=0.500, P<0.001). Characteristics regarding general condition, inflammation, and cardiac and renal function were the decisive factors of NT-proBNP (P<0.05 for all).

Conclusion

As a comprehensive representation of the patient characteristics described earlier, NT-proBNP values provided significant prognostic power similar to the SHFS in Chinese elderly with CHF. A novel model based on NT-proBNP could offer help for risk stratification.

[Left ventricular aneurysm and interventricular communication complicating myocardial infarction]

L'association d'une communication interventriculaire post infarctus du myocarde et d'un anévrysme du ventricule gauche chez un même patient est extrêmement rare et survient habituellement durant la première semaine qui suit un infarctus du myocarde. Nous rapportons le cas insolite d'un patient âgé de 63 ans, admis pour choc cardiogénique en rapport avec une communication inter ventriculaire apicale et un anévrysme ventriculaire gauche causés par un infarctus du myocarde antérieur. La correction chirurgicale a consisté en une fermeture du défect septal par un patch en dacron via une ventriculotomie gauche associée à une anévrysectomie et un mono pontage coronaire. Cette observation illustre d'une part la rareté de l'association communication inter ventriculaire-anévrysme ventriculaire gauche post infarctus du myocarde, et d'autre part l'efficacité du traitement chirurgical qui reste la seule option salvatrice pour cette pathologie.

Mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system among the elderly population in Brazilian Amazon: temporal and spatial analysis

INTRODUCTION

Circulatory Diseases (CD) are the major cause of death among the elderly population in Brazilian Amazon.

OBJECTIVE

to analyze standardized mortality rates of diseases of the circulatory system (DCS), according to the main causes of death among the elderly, in microregions of the Brazilian Amazon, in the period of 1998 - 2007.

METHODS

ecological study of mortality rates distribution standardized by CD and corrected by deaths from poorly defined causes among the elderly (> 65 years of age) who lived in Brazilian Amazon in the period of 1998 - 2007. The analysis were carried out by the linear regression, trend, and spatial distribution of Kernel.

RESULTS

We verified an increasing trend in mortality by CD (β1 = 28.34 p = 0.01), due to the increasing trend in the States of Maranhão and Tocantins. The central region of Mato Grosso, Northern Tocantins, Eastern Pará and Southwestern Maranhão present hot spots with the highest mortality rates. Males present higher rates when compared to females all over the region; rates of mortality due to acute myocardial infarction and hypertensive disease present the same spatial standard of the CD group and the rates of cerebrovascular diseases present a different spatial distribution standard. Increment in mortality rates according to age was observed: the greater the age, the higher is mortality by CD.

CONCLUSION

The Brazilian Amazon presents an increasing trend with high rates of mortality by the circulatory diseases, and the geographic areas with the highest rates are around the Brazilian Amazon, in the states of Tocantins, Maranhão and Mato Grosso.

Mortality Trends in Patients Hospitalized with the Initial Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Middle Eastern Country over 20 Years

We aimed to define the temporal trend in the initial Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) management and outcome during the last two decades in a Middle Eastern country. A total of 10,915 patients were admitted with initial AMI with mean age of 53 ± 11.8 years. Comparing the two decades (1991–2000) to (2001–2010), the use of antiplatelet drugs increased from 84% to 95%, β-blockers increased from 38% to 56%, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) increased from 12% to 36% (P < 0.001 for all). The rates of PCI increased from 2.5% to 14.6% and thrombolytic therapy decreased from 71% to 65% (P < 0.001 for all). While the rate of hospitalization with Initial MI increased from 34% to 66%, and the average length of hospital stay decreased from 6.4 ± 3 to 4.6 ± 3, all hospital outcomes parameters improved significantly including a 39% reduction in in-hospital Mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher utilization of antiplatelet drugs, β-blockers, and ACEI were the main contributors to better hospital outcomes. Over the study period, there was a significant increase in the hospitalization rate in patients presenting with initial AMI. Evidence-based medical therapies appear to be associated with a substantial improvement in outcome and in-hospital mortality.

MR imaging of myocardial infarction

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays an important role in evaluation of various aspects of myocardial infarction (MI). MR imaging is useful in establishing the diagnosis of acute MI, particularly in patients who present with symptoms of MI but outside the diagnostic time frame of altered cardiac enzyme levels or with clinical features of acute MI but without an angiographic culprit lesion. MR imaging is valuable in establishing a diagnosis of chronic MI and distinguishing this condition from nonischemic cardiomyopathies, mainly through use of delayed-enhancement patterns. MR imaging also provides clinicians with several prognostic indicators that enable risk stratification, such as scar burden, microvascular obstruction, hemorrhage, and peri-infarct ischemia. The extent and transmurality of scar burden have been shown to have independent and incremental prognostic power over a range of left ventricular function. The extent of scarring at MR imaging is an important predictor of successful outcome after revascularization procedures, and extensive scarring in the lateral wall indicates poor outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy. Scar size at MR imaging is also a useful surrogate end point in clinical trials. Finally, MR imaging can be used to detect complications of MI, such as aneurysms, pericarditis, ventricular septal defect, thrombus, and mitral regurgitation. Supplemental material available at http://radiographics.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/rg.335125722/-/DC1.

Diagnosis of Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome by the Measurement of Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein in Serum: A Prospective Case Control Study

A prospective case control study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) in comparison to cardiac TnT and TnI in 33 patients admitted with chest pain, diagnosed as NSTE-ACS (non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome) and 22 healthy controls. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was highest for H-FABP (AUC 0.79; 95% CI 0.66-0.89) versus cTnI (AUC 0.73; 95% CI 0.59-0.84) and cTnT (AUC 0.71; 95% CI 0.57-0.83). The H-FABP level above 6.5 ng/mL showed 56.7% (CI 37.4-74.5) sensitivity, 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.7) negative likelihood ratio (-LR), 100% (CI 84.6-100.0) specificity, and 100% (CI 79.4-100.0) positive predictive value (PPV), 62.9% (CI 44.9-78.5) negative predictive value (NPV). cTnI level above 0.009 μg/L had 40% (CI 22.7-59.4) sensitivity, 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-0.8) -LR, 100% (CI 84.6-100.0) specificity, 100% (CI 73.5-100.0) PPV, and 55% (CI 38.5-70.7) NPV. cTnT showed 46.7% (CI 28.3-65.7) sensitivity, 0.5 (95% CI 0.4-0.7) -LR, 100% (CI 84.6-100.0) specificity, 100% (CI 76.8-100.0) PPV, and 57.9% (CI 40.8-73.7) NPV at level above 9 μg/L. +LR were 12.5 (95% CI 1.8-86.8), 1.7 (95% CI 1.0-3.0), and 1.2 (95% CI 0.8-1.9) for H-FABP, cTnI, and cTnT respectively. In conclusion measurement of H-FABP is a valuable tool in the early diagnosis of patients with chest pain (6-8 hrs) and seems to be a preferred biomarker in the differential diagnosis of NSTE-ACS. More studies are needed to determine whether serum H-FABP further improves diagnostic performance.

Percutaneous occlusion of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septum rupture

Aims

The aim of this systematic review is to gain insight into the published experience on percutaneous closure of a post-infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR).

Method

Relevant literature was obtained by MeSH-term searches in the online search-engine PubMed. Articles published in the last 10 years were included. Further filtering was done by using search limits and individual article selection based on the aims of this systematic review.

Conclusion

Percutaneous closure is a potential technique in a select group of patients. The presence of cardiogenic shock and closure in the acute phase after VSR diagnosis are important risk factors of mortality. Device implantation is in general successful with few procedure-related complications. Reduction of the shunt fraction has been reported frequently. This technique is a less invasive alternative to surgical treatment and should be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Circulatory disease mortality rates in the elderly and exposure to PM(2.5) generated by biomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon in 2005

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the exposure to fine particulate matter and circulatory disease mortality rates in the elderly living in the Brazilian Amazon. An ecological study of circulatory disease, acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease mortality rates in micro areas of the Brazilian Amazon was carried out. The environmental exposure indicator used was percentage hours of PM(2.5) concentrations > 25µg/m(3) divided by the total number of estimated hours of PM(2.5) in 2005. The association between exposure and circulatory disease mortality rates was strongest in the oldest age group. No significant statistical association was found between cerebrovascular disease mortality rates and exposure. Circulatory disease mortality rates in the elderly living in the Amazon have been influenced by atmospheric pollution from emissions caused by forest fires.