Stress hyperglycaemia is an independent predictor of left ventricular remodelling after first anterior myocardial infarction in non-diabetic patients

Stress hyperglycemia ratio linked to worse prognosis in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit patients: A retrospective observational study

AIMS

This study aimed to delineate correlation between stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and clinical outcomes among patients in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU).

METHODS

Participants were categorized based on their SHR threshold values. Key outcomes were short-term mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at 1-year follow-up. The association between SHR and outcomes was estimated using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Kaplan-Meier analyses. The C-statistic was used to gauge the predictive capability of SHR.

RESULTS

The study included 1,133 patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV and 412 from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that individuals with elevated SHR exhibited higher 90-day mortality and MACEs. When considering SHR levels and diabetes status simultaneously, those with increased SHR but non-diabetes had the highest 90-day mortality and MACEs. SHR was associated with short-term mortality and MACEs (HRadjusted 1.63 95%CI 1.15-2.30; HRIPTW 1.47 95%CI 1.05-2.05). Upon integrating SHR into the foundational model, the C-statistic was 0.821, outperforming other hyperglycemia metrics.

CONCLUSION

SHR is a valuable indicator for predicting poor outcomes in CICU patients. Its utility spans potential risk stratification and offers insights for tailoring prognostic treatments to CICU patients.

Stress hyperglycemia ratio as a prognostic indicator for long-term adverse outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Recent studies highlighted that stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is a potential predictor for future risk in heart failure (HF) patients. However, its implications specifically in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are not yet fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the association between SHR and long-term clinical outcomes in HFpEF patients.

METHODS

HFpEF patients enrolled between 2015 and 2023, were followed (mean 41 months) for a composite outcome of all-cause, cardiovascular mortality, and HF rehospitalization. SHR was established as the ratio of acute-chronic glycemia from admission blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin. The optimal cut-off for SHR to predict outcomes based on event prediction was determined through ROC analysis, and the cutoff was identified at 0.99. The effect of SHR on adverse risk was examined through the Cox hazards and Kaplan-Meier survival methods. A Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between SHR and the severity of HF, as indicated by N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. Furthermore, the incremental prognostic value of SHR was further assessed by the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and the net reclassification improvement (NRI).

RESULTS

Among the 400 enrolled patients, 190 individuals (47.5%) encountered composite events over the 41-month follow-up period. SHR was significantly elevated in patients with events compared with those without (p < 0.001). All patients were stratified into high SHR (n = 124) and low SHR (n = 276) groups based on the SHR cutoff. The high SHR group had a significantly higher incidence of adverse events than the low SHR group (log-rank; p < 0.001). Additional analysis indicated a poorer prognosis in patients with low left ventricular EF (LVEF) levels (50 < LVEF < 60) and high SHR (SHR > 0.99) in comparison to the other groups (log-rank p < 0.001). In adjusted analysis, after accounting for age, sex, diabetes, and NT-proBNP, elevated SHR remained independently predictive of adverse outcomes (adjusted HR: 2.34, 95% CI 1.49-3.67; p < 0.001). Furthermore, adding SHR to a model with MAGGIC score provided an incremental improvement in predicting adverse events. Additionally, SHR displayed a slight correlation with NT-proBNP.

CONCLUSION

Elevated SHR was independently associated with an increased risk for composite events of all-cause, cardiovascular mortality, and HF readmission than those with lower SHR. SHR is a valuable tool for predicting and stratifying long-term adverse risks among HFpEF patients.

Relationship between the triglyceride-glucose index and the SYNTAX score 2 in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

We evaluated if admissiontriglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) correlated with the anatomical synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score 2 in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), nondiabetic patients.

Methods

SYNTAX score 2 (SSII) was retrospectively evaluated in 260 nondiabetic patients hospitalized with NSTEMI who underwent coronary angiography. The TyG index was calculated using the following equation: log [fasting triglycerides (mg/dl) × fasting glucose (mg/dl)/2]. We stratified patients according to tertiles of SSII (≤21.5, 21.5-30.6, and ≥30.6). These score ranges were defined as SSII low, SSII mid, and SSII high, respectively.

Results

The average age of the patients was 57.2 ± 10.9 years; 135 patients (52.2%) were males. The average TyG index was 8.68 ± 0.12, and SSII was 18.9 ± 9.9. A moderate correlation was found between TyG index and SSII (r = 0.347; P < 0.001) and TyG index was independent risk factors for SSII high [odds ratio (OR), 6.0; 95% CI, 2.7-17.0; P < 0.001].

Conclusion

In nondiabetic patients with NSTEMI, TyG index correlated with the SSII.

Association of stress induced hyperglycemia with angiographic findings and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Stress induced hyperglycemia (SIH) is common among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), even in patients without diabetes mellitus. However, evidence regarding its role on the angiographic outcomes and the prognosis of patients presenting with STEMI is scarce.

METHODS

This study included 309 consecutively enrolled STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Patients were diagnosed with SIH if blood glucose on admission was > 140 mg/dl. Also, patients had to fast for at least 8 hours before blood sampling. The objective was to assess whether SIH was associated with major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (MACCE) events and explore its relationship with angiographic predictors of worse prognosis such as poor initial TIMI flow, intracoronary thrombus burden, distal embolization, and presence of residual thrombus after pPCI.

RESULTS

SIH in diabetic and non-diabetic patients was associated with a higher incidence of LTB (aOR = 2.171, 95% CI 1.27-3.71), distal embolization (aOR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.51-4.86), and pre-procedural TIMI flow grade = 0 (aOR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.43-5.04) after adjusting for relevant clinical variables. Importantly, during a median follow-up of 1.7 years STEMI patients with SIH with or without diabetes experienced increased occurrence of MACCE both in univariate (HR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.19-3.01) and multivariate analysis (aHR = 1.802, 95% CI 1.01-3.21).

CONCLUSIONS

SIH in STEMI patients with or without diabetes was independently associated with increased MACCE. This could be attributed to the fact that SIH was strongly correlated with poor pre-procedural TIMI flow, LTB, and distal embolization. Large clinical trials need to validate SIH as an independent predictor of adverse angiographic and clinical outcomes to provide optimal individualized care for patients with STEMI.

Prognostic Significance of Relative Hyperglycemia after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with and without Recognized Diabetes

BACKGROUND

The research on the association between the relative glycemic level postpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and adverse prognosis in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients is relatively inadequate.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to identify whether the glycemic level post-PCI predicts adverse prognosis in NSTE-ACS patients.

METHODS

Patients (n=2465) admitted with NSTE-ACS who underwent PCI were enrolled. The relative glycemic level post-procedure was calculated as blood glucose level post-PCI divided by HbA1c level, which was named post-procedural glycemic index (PGI). The primary observational outcome of this study was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and any revascularization].

RESULTS

The association between PGI and MACE rate is presented as a U-shape curve. Higher PGIs [hazard ratio (HR): 1.669 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.244-2.238) for the third quartile (Q3) and 2.076 (1.566-2.753) for the fourth quartile (Q4), p<0.001], adjusted for confounding factors, were considered to be one of the independent predictors of MACE. The association between the PGI and the risk of MACE was more prominent in the non-diabetic population [HR (95%CI) of 2.356 (1.456-3.812) for Q3 and 3.628 (2.265-5.812) for Q4, p<0.001]. There were no significant differences in MACE risk between PGI groups in the diabetic population.

CONCLUSION

Higher PGI was a significant and independent predictor of MACE in NSTE-ACS patients treated with PCI. The prognostic effect of the PGI is more remarkable in subsets without pre-existing diabetes than in the overall population. The predictive value of PGI was not identified in the subgroup with diabetes.

Lack of recognition and documentation of stress hyperglycemia is a disruptor of optimal continuity of care

Stress hyperglycemia (SH) is a manifestation of altered glucose metabolism in acutely ill patients which worsens outcomes and may represent a risk factor for diabetes. Continuity of care can assess this risk, which depends on quality of hospital clinical documentation. We aimed to determine the incidence of SH and documentation tendencies in hospital discharge summaries and continuity notes. We retrospectively examined diagnoses during a 12-months period. A 3-months representative sample of discharge summaries and continuity clinic notes underwent manual abstraction. Over 12-months, 495 admissions had ≥ 2 blood glucose measurements ≥ 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL), which provided a SH incidence of 3.3%. Considering other glucose states suggestive of SH, records showing ≥ 4 blood glucose measurements ≥ 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) totaled 521 admissions. The entire 3-months subset of 124 records lacked the diagnosis SH documentation in discharge summaries. Only two (1.6%) records documented SH in the narrative of hospital summaries. Documentation or assessment of SH was absent in all ambulatory continuity notes. Lack of documentation of SH contributes to lack of follow-up after discharge, representing a disruptor of optimal care. Activities focused on improving quality of hospital documentation need to be integral to the education and competency of providers within accountable health systems.

Stress Induced Hyperglycemia in the Context of Acute Coronary Syndrome: Definitions, Interventions, and Underlying Mechanisms

Elevation of glucose level in response to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been recognized as stress induced hyperglycemia (SIH). Plenty of clinical studies have documented that SIH occurs very common in patients hospitalized with ACS, even in those without previously known diabetes mellitus. The association between elevated blood glucose levels with adverse outcome in the ACS setting is well-established. Yet, the precise definition of SIH in the context of ACS remains controversial, bringing confusions about clinical management strategy. Several randomized trials aimed to evaluate the effect of insulin-based therapy on outcomes of ACS patients failed to demonstrate a consistent benefit of intensive glucose control. Mechanisms underlying detrimental effects of SIH on patients with ACS are undetermined, oxidative stress might play an important role in the upstream pathways leading to subsequent harmful effects on cardiovascular system. This review aims to discuss various definitions of SIH and their values in predicting adverse outcome in the context of ACS, as well as the effect of intensive glucose control on clinical outcome. Finally, a glimpse of the underlying mechanisms is briefly discussed.

Relationship Between Fasting Glucose, HbA1c Levels, and the SYNTAX Score 2 in Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

We evaluated if admission glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) and fasting glucose levels are correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), nondiabetic, patients. Coronary artery disease severity, according to the anatomical synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score 2 (SSII), was retrospectively evaluated in 359 nondiabetic patients hospitalized with NSTEMI who underwent coronary angiography. Glucose intolerance was assessed by serum fasting glucose and HbA_1c levels. We stratified patients according to tertiles of SSII (≤21.5, 21.5-30.6, and ≥30.6). These score ranges were defined as SSII low, SSII mid, and SSII high, respectively. The average age of the patients was 57.1 ± 10.9 years; 189 (52.1%) patients were males. The average fasting glucose was 114 ± 52 mg/dL, HbA_1c was 5.8% ± 0.9%, and SSII was 18.9 ± 10.3. A stronger correlation was found between HbA_1c and SSII than fasting glucose and SSII (r1 = 0.901, P < .001, r2 = 0.378, P < .001, respectively), and HbA_1c level and hypertension were independent risk factors for SSII high (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2 (95% CI: 0.5-9.0, P < .001; OR: 1.1 (1.0-1.3), P = .007, respectively). In conclusion, in nondiabetic patients with NSTEMI, HbA_1c levels correlated with CAD severity as measured by the SSII.

The stress hyperglycaemia ratio is associated with left ventricular remodelling after first acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular negative remodelling after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is considered as the major cause for the poor prognosis. But the predisposing factors and potential mechanisms of left ventricular negative remodelling after STEMI remain not fully understood. The present research mainly assessed the association between the stress hyperglycaemia ratio (SHR) and left ventricular negative remodelling.

METHODS

We recruited 127 first-time, anterior, and acute STEMI patients in the present study. All enrolled patients were divided into 2 subgroups equally according to the median value of SHR level (1.191). Echocardiography was conducted within 24 h after admission and 6 months post-STEMI to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD). Changes in echocardiography parameters (δLVEF, δLVEDD, δLVESD) were calculated as LVEF, LVEDD, and LVESD at 6 months after infarction minus baseline LVEF, LVEDD and LVESD, respectively.

RESULTS

In the present study, the mean SHR was 1.22 ± 0.25 and there was significant difference in SHR between the 2 subgroups (1.05 (0.95, 1.11) vs 1.39 (1.28, 1.50), p < 0.0001). The global LVEF at 6 months post-STEMI was significantly higher in the low SHR group than the high SHR group (59.37 ± 7.33 vs 54.03 ± 9.64, p  = 0.001). Additionally, the global LVEDD (49.84 ± 5.10 vs 51.81 ± 5.60, p  = 0.040) and LVESD (33.27 ± 5.03 vs 35.38 ± 6.05, p  = 0.035) at 6 months after STEMI were lower in the low SHR group. Most importantly, after adjusting through multivariable linear regression analysis, SHR remained associated with δLVEF (beta = -9.825, 95% CI -15.168 to -4.481, p  < 0.0001), δLVEDD (beta = 4.879, 95% CI 1.725 to 8.069, p  = 0.003), and δLVESD (beta = 5.079, 95% CI 1.421 to 8.738, p  = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present research, we demonstrated for the first time that SHR is significantly correlated with left ventricular negative remodelling after STEMI.

Predictive Value of Fasting Blood Glucose for Microvascular Obstruction in Nondiabetic Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background

The relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and microvascular obstruction (MVO) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear in nondiabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to determine the predictive value of FBG in MVO in nondiabetic STEMI patients.

Methods

A total of 108 nondiabetic STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into either the MVO group or non-MVO group based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Results

FBG in the MVO group was higher than in the non-MVO group. Univariate analysis showed that FBG, peak high-sensitive troponin T (TnT), pre-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (pre-PCI TIMI) flow, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), infarction size, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were likely predictive factors of MVO. After adjustment for other parameters, FBG, peak TnT, LVEF, and LVEDV remained independent predictors for MVO.

Conclusion

FBG was independently associated with MVO in nondiabetic STEMI patients.

Augmented glycaemic gap is a marker for an increased risk of post-infarct left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Background

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) occurs frequently after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The predisposing factors and underlying mechanism of post-infarct LVSD are not fully understood. The present study mainly investigated the correlation between glycaemic gap, a novel index of stress-induced hyperglycaemia (SIH), and post-infarct LVSD.

Methods

A total of 274 first STEMI patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed within 48 h after admission and at 6 months after discharge to obtain left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The change in LVEF was calculated as LVEF at 6 months after discharge minus baseline LVEF. Additionally, post-infarct LVSD was defined as LVEF ≤ 50%. Most importantly, glycaemic gap was calculated as admission blood glucose (ABG) minus the estimated average glucose over the previous 3 months.

Results

In patients without diabetes mellitus (DM), multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that both glycaemic gap (Beta = − 1.214, 95% CI − 1.886 to − 0.541, p < 0.001) and ABG (Beta = − 1.124, 95% CI − 1.795 to − 0.453, p = 0.001) were associated with change in LVEF. In DM patients, only glycaemic gap was still associated with change in LVEF, although this association was not observed in univariate linear regression analysis. Regarding the association between SIH and post-infarct LVSD, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both glycaemic gap (OR = 1.490, 95% CI 1.043 to 2.129, p = 0.028) and ABG (OR = 1.600, 95% CI 1.148 to 2.229, p = 0.005) were associated with an increased risk of having post-infarct LVSD in non-DM patients. However, after multivariate adjustment in DM patients, only glycaemic gap (OR = 1.399, 95% CI 1.021 to 1.919, p = 0.037) remained associated with an increased risk of having post-infarct LVSD. Furthermore, the predictive value of glycaemic gap for post-infarct LVSD was not inferior to ABG in non-DM patients (p = 0.499), and only glycaemic gap, instead of ABG, could significantly predict post-infarct LVSD in DM patients (AUC = 0.688, 95% CI 0.591 to 0.774, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Glycaemic gap was strongly associated with a change in LVEF and an increased risk of having post-infarct LVSD in patients following STEMI. In STEMI patients with DM, glycaemic gap could provide more valuable information than ABG in identifying patients at high risk of developing post-infarct LVSD.

EPO protects mesenchymal stem cells from hyperglycaemic injury via activation of the Akt/FoxO3a pathway

INTRODUCTION

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have demonstrated positive outcomes for treating cardiovascular disease. However, the proliferative ability of MSCs decreases during chronic exposure to hyperglycaemia; their ability to contribute to endogenous injury repair is thus reduced. Erythropoietin (EPO) was recently reported to protect against hyperglycaemia-related injury in various cells and may be a good candidate for enhancing MSC functions under hyperglycaemic conditions.

METHODS

Bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated from male donor rats weighing 60-80 g. The roles of EPO in regulating cell viability, senescence, angiogenesis and inflammation were investigated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays; senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining; VEGF, HGF, IGF, bFGF ELISAs and TNF-α ELISA, respectively. ROS production was measured by flow cytometry. The expression levels of Akt, forkhead box class O3a (FoxO3a) and VEGF proteins in MSCs were analysed by western blotting. Matrigel was used for tube formation assays.

RESULTS

The results of the current study showed that EPO has beneficial effects on MSCs exposed to hyperglycaemia by promoting proliferation, inhibiting senescence and the release of pro-inflammatory factors, increasing the secretion of proangiogenic cytokines, and enhancing the ability of MSCs to stimulate tube formation among human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the beneficial effects of EPO may result from the activation of the Akt/FoxO3a signalling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates for the first time that EPO protects MSCs from hyperglycaemia-induced damage by targeting the Akt/FoxO3a signalling pathway.

The stress hyperglycemia ratio, an index of relative hyperglycemia, as a predictor of clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the outcome-predicting value of a novel index of stress hyperglycemia in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study. Four-thousand-three-hundred-sixty-two subjects from the COACT registry were used to estimate the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), which are defined as composites of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and non-fatal stroke. The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) was calculated by dividing the random serum glucose at admission with the estimated average glucose derived from HbA1c.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 2.5years, 344 (7.9%), 43 (1.0%), and 89 (2.0%) cases of death, non-fatal MI, and non-fatal stroke occurred, respectively. Compared with the subjects in the lower three quartiles of SHR, the HR (95% CI) for the highest SHR quartile (Q4) group for MACCE was 1.31 (1.05, 1.64) in the total population and 1.45 (1.02, 2.06) in the non-diabetic population after adjusting for potential covariables. The risk of MACCE in the SHR Q4 group was significantly higher in patients presenting with ST-elevation MI (STEMI), which was not the case for patients presenting with other CAD types. The prognostic impact of SHR was more prominent for the 30-day MACCE. Similar results were observed in another cohort consisting of patients who only presented with acute MI.

CONCLUSIONS

SHR is a useful predictive marker of MACCE after PCI, especially in non-diabetic patients with STEMI, which could be utilized to identify high-risk patients for adverse outcomes.

An Overview of Concentrated Insulin Products

IN BRIEF This article provides a summary of the use of available concentrated insulins in the outpatient treatment of patients with diabetes. Concentrated insulins work through the same mechanisms as other insulin products. They vary from each other in concentrations and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics profiles but are each similar to their U-100 concentration counterparts. Patient education is important to minimize errors and the risk of hypoglycemia when using these insulin formulations.

Hyperglycemia in acute coronary syndromes: from mechanisms to prognostic implications

Hyperglycemia is a frequent condition in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Hyperglycemia during ACS is caused by an inflammatory and adrenergic response to ischemic stress, when catecholamines are released and glycogenolysis induced. Although the involved pathophysiological mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated, it is believed that hyperglycemia is associated with an increase in free fat acids (which induce cardiac arrhythmias), insulin resistance, chemical inactivation of nitric oxide and the production of oxygen reactive species (with consequent microvascular and endothelial dysfunction), a prothrombotic state, and vascular inflammation. It is also related to myocardial metabolic disorders, leading to thrombosis, extension of the damaged area, reduced collateral circulation, and ischemic preconditioning. In the last few years, several observational studies demonstrated that hyperglycemia in ACS is a powerful predictor of survival, increasing the risk of immediate and long-term complications in patients both with and without previously known diabetes mellitus. Glucose management strategies in ACS may improve outcomes in patients with hyperglycemia, perhaps by reducing inflammatory and clotting mediators, by improving endothelial function and fibrinolysis and by reducing infarct size. Recent clinical trials of insulin in ACS have resulted in varying levels of benefit, but the clinical benefit of an aggressive treatment with insulin is yet unproved.

Admission glucose and left ventricular systolic function in non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction

Carbohydrate metabolism disorder in patients hospitalized due to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with poor outcome. The association is even stronger in non-diabetic patients compared to the diabetics. Poor outcome of patients with elevated parameters of carbohydrate metabolism may be associated with negative impact of these disorders on left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of admission glycemia on LV systolic function in acute phase and 6 months after myocardial infarction in STEMI patients treated with primary angioplasty, without carbohydrate disorders. The study group consisted of 52 patients (9 female, 43 male) aged 35-74 years, admitted to the Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, due to the first STEMI treated with primary coronary angioplasty with stent implantation, without diabetes in anamnesis and carbohydrate metabolism disorders diagnosed during hospitalization. Echocardiography was performed in all patients in acute phase and 6 months after MI. Plasma glucose were measured at hospital admission. In the subgroup with glycemia ≥7.1 mmol/l, in comparison to patients with glycemia <7.1 mmol/l, significantly lower ejection fraction (EF) was observed in acute phase of MI (44.4 ± 5.4 vs. 47.8 ± 6.3 %, p = 0.04) and trend to lower EF 6 months after MI [47.2 ± 6.5 vs. 50.3 ± 6.3 %, p = 0.08 (ns)]. Higher admission glycemia in patients with STEMI and without carbohydrate metabolism disturbances, may be a marker of poorer prognosis resulting from lower LV ejection fraction in the acute phase and in the long-term follow-up.

Usefulness of circulating biomarkers for the prediction of left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) indicates a high risk of heart failure and death, but LV remodeling remains difficult to predict. Biomarkers may help to refine risk stratification for a more personalized medical approach. They may also shed light on the pathophysiologic processes involved. We performed a systematic review of the published evidence about the association of circulating biomarkers with LV remodeling after MI. We selected 59 publications. Overall, these studies examined 112 relations between 52 different biomarkers and LV remodeling. The biomarkers most consistently associated with LV remodeling were involved in extracellular matrix turnover or neurohormonal activation: matrix metalloproteinase-9, collagen peptides, and B-type natriuretic peptide. This review underscores the vitality of the research on LV remodeling but concludes that the ideal biomarker has not yet been identified. To reach this goal, future studies will have to be larger, have standardized imaging end points, and include replication populations to define optimal cutoffs for LV remodeling prediction. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance appears to be the best technique for LV remodeling assessment but its current availability may be a concern for recruitment for multicenter studies. Recent technologic advances will probably yield new candidate biomarkers of LV remodeling. Tests are necessary to determine whether a multimarker approach would significantly improve risk prediction.

Functional decline in elderly patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes: impact on midterm outcome

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are less likely to be enrolled into randomized, controlled trials or receive guideline-recommended therapies, because of a higher burden of comorbidity, including functional decline.

AIM

To assess the prognostic value of functional decline in a prospective, observational cohort of elderly ACS patients.

METHODS

ACS patients aged > or = 70 years were enrolled. The ACS definition included ST- and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina pectoris. Clinical admission and laboratory data and echocardiographic variables were recorded. Functional decline was defined as needing assisted care in daily life. The study endpoint was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 151 patients were enrolled (mean age 78 + or - 5 years; 52% men). Twenty-eight (19%) patients had functional decline. No significant difference in therapeutic management was observed between patients with functional decline and those living independently. Twenty-seven (18%) patients died during follow-up (median 447 days). Functional decline correlated with poor outcome (p = 0.008; hazard ratio [HR] 2.87 [1.31-6.25]). Other prognostic markers were diabetes, Killip class > or = II, elevated E/Ea ratio, C-reactive protein, B-type natriuretic peptide, haemoglobin, glycaemia and no coronary angiography. By multivariable analysis, C-reactive protein >13 mg/L correlated with poor outcome (p = 0.007; HR 4.77 [1.52-14.96]). There was a trend towards correlation between functional decline and poor outcome (p = 0.051; HR = 2.77 [0.99-7.72]).

CONCLUSION

Functional decline seems to portend poor prognosis in elderly ACS patients. Larger, community-based studies are needed to confirm these findings in a multivariable model.

Effect of intracoronary thrombectomy on 30-day mortality in non-diabetic patients with acute hyperglycemia after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence about useful therapeutic interventions for patients with acute hyperglycemia (AH) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

We studied 2433 consecutive non-diabetic AMI patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 24h after the onset. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of AH (admission serum glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmol/l). We assessed the association between intracoronary thrombectomy and the clinical outcome in AMI patients with AH.

RESULTS

Patients with AH had more risk factors than those without AH. The 30-day mortality rate of patients with AH was significantly higher than that of those without (11.7% vs 1.7%, p<0.001). Among patients with AH, the 30-day mortality rate was significantly lower for those with intracoronary thrombectomy than those without it (4.9% vs 17.2%, p=0.004). Among patients without AH, however, the 30-day mortality rate was similar between those with and without intracoronary thrombectomy (1.5% vs 1.9%, p=NS). Multivariate analysis showed that intracoronary thrombectomy was associated with an improved 30-day mortality rate for patients with AH (hazard ratio: HR 0.184, 95% CI 0.057-0.598, p=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

In AMI patients with AH, intracoronary thrombectomy prior to PCI might improve the 30-day mortality rate.

Causes and consequences of hyperglycemia in critical illness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews recent epidemiologic and intervention studies addressing the impact of hyperglycemia on morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. It also discusses a growing body of literature examining why elevated blood glucose occurs in hospitalized patients without previously recognized diabetes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hyperglycemia is highly prevalent in the intensive care unit. Numerous observational studies have demonstrated the association between hyperglycemia and adverse outcomes, independent of pre-existing diabetes. Intervention trials of insulin therapy are limited but overall demonstrate that glucose lowering significantly improves outcomes. The ideal target for blood glucose and the population that would benefit most from intervention remain controversial. Less frequently studied than the consequences, the causes of hyperglycemia occurring during critical illness remain unclear. Although glucose abnormalities in hospitalized patients have traditionally been explained by mediators of stress, a growing body of evidence has examined whether underlying defects in glucose metabolism may also be important contributors.

SUMMARY

In general, evidence suggests that hyperglycemia is a potentially correctable abnormality that has deleterious effects in critically ill individuals. Hyperglycemic patients without previously recognized diabetes appear to be particularly vulnerable, and thus further examination of the mechanisms underlying the development of elevated blood glucose is warranted.