Survival After Invasive or Conservative Management of Stable Coronary Disease

Experimental validation of coronary stenosis severity and development of ischemic myocardium

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to evaluate the causal association between hemodynamically significant stenosis and the occurrence of ischemic myocardium using an experimental animal model of coronary artery stenosis.

METHODS

In Yorkshire swine (n=10), coronary stenosis in the left anterior descending artery was induced using a customized vascular occluder to create varying degrees of occlusion severity (40%-99%). Serial changes in coronary pressure and flow velocity were measured in the left anterior descending artery before and after the implantation of the vascular occluder. At 1 month, 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) was performed, followed by the collection of isolated hearts for 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining to quantify the percent area of necrotic myocardium. Three animals in the control group were evaluated using the same protocols, but without the implantation of a vascular occluder.

RESULTS

The median diameter stenosis after vascular occluder implantation was 61.3% (Q1-Q3: 55.9%-72.3%). Significant differences were observed in hyperemic stenosis resistance, fractional flow reserve (FFR), stress perfusion defect and reversibility in PET, as well as in necrotic myocardium in TTC staining based on stenosis severity (control group: <50%, 50%-70%, 70%-90%, and >90%) (all P<.010). Animals with FFR <0.75 at 1 month exhibited a significantly higher area of stress perfusion defect (30.7±3.1% vs 6.0±4.2%, P<.001), reversibility in PET (11.0±4.0% vs 0.0±0.0%, P=.006), and necrotic myocardium in TTC staining (15.8±6.4% vs 0.0±0.0%, P<.001) than those with FFR ≥ 0.75.

CONCLUSIONS

In a porcine model, the induction of hemodynamically significant stenosis with FFR <0.75 was associated with the development of stress perfusion defects and reversibility in PET, as well as necrotic myocardium identified by pathology.

Revascularization in chronic coronary syndrome: shifts in clinical practice guidelines

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The optimal revascularization strategy for chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is rapidly evolving due to emerging evidence and technological advancements. This review will discuss the guidelines for the management of CCS, examining how they align with and respond to recent high-quality studies. We will also discuss the evolution of the guidelines and highlight key differences.

RECENT FINDINGS

While broad consensus exists between the most recent European and American guidelines, notable differences exist in the management of multivessel disease with preserved ejection fraction and left main disease. The role of the Heart Teams has become increasingly vital particularly when the guidelines do not fit the clinical scenarios, and the evidence is controversial.

SUMMARY

Determining the optimal management strategy for patients with CCS requires careful consideration of anatomic complexity, comorbidities, and individual patient preferences. While advances in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and medical therapy have been widely discussed, it is equally important to contextualize these with emerging innovations in surgical revascularization. Techniques such as multiple arterial grafting and minimally invasive surgical approaches represent significant progress in coronary artery bypass surgery. Randomized trials that compare state-of-the-art percutaneous and surgical revascularization techniques are thus needed.

[Invasive treatment of chronic coronary syndrome]

The 2024 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology for the treatment of chronic coronary syndrome provide a comprehensive overview covering prevention, diagnostics, as well as pharmacological and invasive therapies. Based on the latest scientific evidence, the guidelines for myocardial revascularization, valid since 2018, have been updated, and treatment recommendations have been adjusted accordingly. Myocardial revascularization, as an adjunct to optimal pharmacological therapy, remains a key treatment strategy for symptom relief, as well as for improving quality of life and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. The decision between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass surgery depends on the anatomical complexity and functional severity of coronary artery disease, as well as comorbidities, patient preferences, and expectations. A careful risk-benefit assessment and an individualized treatment approach are essential to ensure optimal care for each patient. The current guidelines provide an evidence-based framework for this complex decision-making process.

The impact of stress testing to guide PCI in patients with chronic coronary disease

BACKGROUND

Guidelines and international appropriate use criteria increasingly endorse non-invasive stress testing to evaluate patients with suspected chronic coronary disease (CCD). We sought to review the real-world utilisation of non-invasive stress testing and investigate whether their use prior to PCI associates with outcomes in patients with CCD.

METHODS

Consecutive patients from a multicentre registry who underwent PCI for CCD between 2006 and 2018 were included. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were stratified according to whether stress testing was performed prior to PCI (stress vs no-stress groups). The primary outcome was 3-year all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 8251 patients included, 4970 (60.2 %) underwent pre-PCI stress testing and this proportion increased over time (p-for-trend<0.001). The stress group had a lower prevalence of prior revascularization, myocardial infarction, or heart failure, and a lower incidence of triple vessel disease, in stent re-stenosis, and ACC/AHA class B2/C lesions (all p < 0.001). When comparing post-procedural outcomes, the stress group had lower rates of arrhythmia (1.5 % vs 2.6 %, p = 0.001), new heart failure (0.2 % vs 0.8 %, p = 0.001), renal impairment, and a shorter length of stay (1.6 vs 2.1 days, p < 0.001). Mortality at 3-years was lower in those undergoing PCI following stress testing (5.8 % vs 8.8 %, p < 0.001). After adjusting for key clinical variables, stress guided revascularization was associated with a significantly lower risk of 3-year mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.77, 95 % CI 0.64-0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CCD, PCI guided by non-invasive stress testing is increasingly utilized and associated with improved survival. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether this results from differences in patient characteristics, optimized patient selection, or refined choice of target vessel.

Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Bare-Metal Stents Plus Colchicine Versus Drug-Eluting Stents for Preventing Adverse Cardiac Outcomes: Three-Year Follow-Up Results of the ORal Colchicine in Argentina (ORCA) Trial

Background: In patients with coronary artery disease, bare-metal stents (BMS) are considered a safer but less effective treatment than drug-eluting stents (DES). Oral colchicine therapy may compensate for this limitation of BMS. This randomized trial compared the cost-effectiveness of two different revascularization strategies during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Between March 2020 and April 2022, 410 patients were randomly treated with PCI with BMS plus colchicine (BMS-CO: 205 patients) or DES (205 patients) The patients in the BMS-CO group received 0.5 mg oral doses of colchicine for 3 months. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACEs), defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or target vessel revascularization (TVR), and the costs of each treatment strategy. The secondary endpoints included the individual components of MACEs. Results: No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics, and 76% of the patients presented with acute coronary syndromes. The median follow-up period was 36.8 months. Five percent of the patients in the BMS-CO group discontinued study medication. The cumulative incidence of MACEs was not significantly different, with 12.7% in the BMS-CO group and 15.6% in the DES2G group (p = 0.39) as well individual components of the clinical endpoint. The cumulative costs were lower in the BMS-CO group than in the DES2G group (USD 4826.4 ± 2512 vs. USD 5708 ± 3637, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the 3 years, the DES strategy failed to be cost-saving compared to BMS-CO. However, due to the small sample size, the equivalence in clinical outcomes with both strategies can occur by chance (NCT04382443).

Comparative outcomes of invasive versus conservative strategy in stable coronary artery disease patients: a risk-stratification-based hypothesis-generative study

BACKGROUND

Whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can improve the long-term prognosis of patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) in comparison to conservative treatment remains controversial. The present study sought to evaluate the impacts of initial invasive versus conservative strategy on long-term clinical outcomes for patients with SCAD stratified by risk scores.

METHODS

This was a sub-analysis of the multicenter, observational Optimal antiPlatelet Therapy for Chinese patients with Coronary Artery Disease (OPT-CAD) study. Clinical outcomes were compared in SCAD patients who initially received PCI (invasive strategy) or conservative treatment according to risk stratification by OPT-CAD score. The primary outcome was ischemic events at 5 years, composed of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) types 2, 3, or 5, and 3 or 5 bleeding.

RESULTS

The conservative group comprised 1767 (58.0%) patients and the invasive group comprised 1278 (42.0%) patients. Overall, invasive strategy did not reduce the risk of ischemic events compared with conservative strategy but was associated with an increased risk of BARC 2, 3, or 5 bleeding (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.59; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-2.26; P = 0.009). Similar results were observed in the low-risk patient subset (N = 2030). While in the moderate-to-high-risk subset (N = 1015), invasive strategy was associated with a reduced risk of ischemic events (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.95; P = 0.02) and all-cause death (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.51-1.03; P = 0.07), and with no excessive risk of bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Invasive strategy could not confer additional clinical benefits in patients with SCAD compared to conservative strategy, except in patients at moderate-to-high risk. The OPT-CAD risk score may be valuable to the guidance of optimal treatment strategy in SCAD patients.

Analysis of risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in percutaneous coronary intervention patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy after surgery

Following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is key to preventing thrombosis. However, the use of DAPT is strongly associated with an increased risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding, which not only affects patient recovery but also increases the healthcare burden. This study aims to determine the influence of past medical history and factors during hospitalization on the development of postoperative GIB in patients undergoing PCI with DAPT. A total of 380 patients were collected in this study. A total of 42 patients developed GIB during the 1-year follow-up period. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data and past medical history of patients were collected to study the correlates affecting the occurrence of GIB in the postoperative period in patients undergoing PCI with DAPT and to establish a prediction model. Single-factor logistic regression analysis showed: gender, age, past history of bleeding, past history of cancer or tumor, smoking history, history of heart failure, history of PPI use, renal insufficiency, and hypoproteinemia are potential risk factors that may influence the occurrence of GIB postoperatively in patients undergoing DAPT for PCI, P < .2. The data obtained were further included in multi-factor logistic regression analysis: gender (female), past history of bleeding, past history of cancer or tumor, smoking history, heart failure, renal insufficiency were independent risk factors influencing the occurrence of GIB postoperatively in PCI patients undergoing DAPT, P < .05. The findings of this study confirm that gender (female), past history of bleeding, past history of cancer or tumor, smoking history, heart failure and renal insufficiency are independent risk factors for the development of GIB postoperatively in PCI patients undergoing DAPT.

Invasive vs Conservative Management of Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion: Results From the ISCHEMIA Trial

BACKGROUND

Randomized trials of chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization vs medical therapy have yielded inconsistent results.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes with an initial invasive strategy (INV) vs an initial conservative strategy (CON) in patients with coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA)-determined CTO in the ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches) trial.

METHODS

Participants in ISCHEMIA who underwent CCTA evaluated for CTO by the core laboratory (3,113 of 5,179 randomized patients [60%]) were categorized into subgroups with (100% stenosis) and without (<100% stenosis) CTO. Primary analysis compared outcomes in those randomized to INV vs CON using an intention-to-treat approach. Secondary analyses compared outcomes using inverse probability weighting to model successful CTO revascularization (REV) in all INV participants vs CON participants.

RESULTS

Of the 3,113 CCTA-evaluable participants, 1,470 had at least 1 CTO (752 INV and 718 CON). INV did not reduce cardiovascular (CV) death or myocardial infarction (MI) (5-year difference -3.5%; 95% CI: -7.8% to 0.8%) and resulted in more procedural MIs (2.5%; 95% CI: 1.0%-4.0%) but fewer spontaneous MIs (-6.3%; 95% CI: -9.7% to -3.2%) than CON. CTO REV modeled across INV had a high probability (>90%) of any lower CV death or MI, MI, spontaneous MI, unstable angina, and heart failure counterbalanced by a higher rate of procedural MI. CTO REV significantly improved angina-related quality of life (mean difference 4.6 points), Rose Dyspnea Scale score (rescaled) (mean difference 5.3 points), and EQ-5D visual analog scale score (4.6 points).

CONCLUSIONS

In the ISCHEMIA trial, the risks and benefits of INV compared with CON were similar among patients with and without CCTA-determined CTO (more frequent procedural MI, less frequent spontaneous MI, and significantly improved angina and dyspnea-related quality of life). In an observational comparison, successful CTO REV was associated with a high probability of lower CV death or MI (driven by lower MI) compared with CON. (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches [ISCHEMIA]; NCT01471522).

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Heart Failure due to Coronary Artery Disease

The role of revascularization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome is well established. However, the incremental value of revascularization over guideline-directed medical therapy is controversial. Currently available data supports the use of PCI to improve angina and quality of life for chronic coronary disease and heart failure (HF). However, there is insufficient data to support revascularization with PCI to improve mortality, reduce cardiovascular events, or improve ejection fraction over medical therapy alone. Additional trials are necessary to identify HF patients who may benefit from revascularization, and the optimal revascularization strategy for this population.

Diagnosing and treating stable angina: a contemporary approach for practicing physicians

Longer life expectancy and advancements in coronary artery disease management have improved life expectancy and survival, increasing the prevalence of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). Angina is a common symptom in patients with CCS but remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Contemporary guidelines provide detailed information on diagnosing and treating angina based on evidence and expert consensus; however, their extensive nature may hinder uptake by non-specialists. This review presents a practical approach to diagnosing stable angina, followed by the three pillars of CCS management: 1) healthy lifestyle including appropriate exercise, diet, and avoiding toxic habits; 2) optimal medical therapy, including treatment recommended to prevent cardiovascular events and drugs for the control of myocardial ischemia and angina tailored to the patient's comorbidities; and 3) myocardial revascularization when indicated. This approach may be useful for practicing physicians but is not intended to substitute more detailed and authoritative documents. Checklists are proposed to help focus patient-physician interactions and make follow-up visits more efficient. This approach seeks to increase the proportion of correct angina diagnoses and patients receiving evidence-based treatments, emphasizing the importance of patient education, managing residual angina, and reducing cardiovascular risk. We include reference to the recently published 2024 ESC guidelines on chronic coronary syndromes.

Statistical primer: an introduction into the principles of Bayesian statistical analyses in clinical trials

Trials in cardiac surgery are often hampered at the design level by small sample sizes and ethical considerations. The conventional analytical approach, combining frequentist statistics with null hypothesis significance testing, has known limitations and its associated P-values are often misinterpreted, leading to dichotomous conclusions of trial results. The Bayesian statistical framework may overcome these limitations through probabilistic reasoning and is subsequently introduced in this Primer. The Bayesian framework combines prior beliefs and currently obtained data (the likelihood), resulting in updated beliefs, also known as posterior distributions. These distributions subsequently facilitate probabilistic interpretations. Several previous cardiac surgery trials have been performed under a Bayesian framework and this Primer enhances the understanding of their basic concepts by linking results to graphical presentations. Furthermore, contemporary trials that were initially analysed under a frequentist framework, are re-analysed within a Bayesian framework to demonstrate several interpretative advantages.

High long-term mortality in ischaemic heart disease accentuated among ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe: findings from a prospective all-comers percutaneous coronary intervention registry in Romania

BACKGROUND

Long-term outcomes in cardiovascular diseases are historically under-reported in Eastern Europe. Our aim was to report long-term survival and to identify survival predictors in a prospective Romanian percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry, with an emphasis on important under-resourced minorities, such as Hungarian and Roma ethnicities.

METHODS

An all-comers patient population treated by PCI in a tertiary cardiovascular centre that has been included prospectively in the local registry since January 2016 was analysed. Cardiovascular cause and all-cause mortality data were available as of December 2023.

RESULTS

A total of 6867 patients with 8442 PCI procedures were included. Romanian group consisted of 5095 (74.2%) patients, the Hungarian group consisted of 1417 (20.6%) patients and the Roma group consisted of 355 (5.1%) patients. During a median follow-up of 3.60 (1.35-5.75) years, a total of 1064 cardiovascular-cause and 1374 all-cause events occurred. Romanian, Hungarian and Roma patients suffered 5.12, 5.89 and 7.71 all-cause deaths per 100 patient-years, respectively. Romanian, Hungarian and Roma patients suffered 3.94, 4.63 and 6.22 cardiovascular-cause deaths per 100 patient-years, respectively. Both Hungarian and Roma patients presented significantly higher all-cause mortality than Romanian patients (adjusted HR (aHR)=1.20 (1.05-1.36), p=0.005 and aHR=1.51 (1.21-1.88), p=0.0001). Similarly, Hungarian and Roma patients presented significantly higher cardiovascular cause mortality than Romanian patients (aHR=1.22 (1.05-1.41), p=0.006 and aHR=1.51 (1.18-1.92), p=0.0008).

CONCLUSIONS

High long-term cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was observed for the entire included population. Long-term survival was significantly lower in ethnic minorities, such as the Hungarian and Roma minority than in the Romanian population.

Associations of patient knowledge with drug-modifiable cardiovascular risk factor control in coronary artery disease patients with and without diabetes mellitus: results from the cross-sectional KNOW-ABC study

BACKGROUND

Control of major drug-modifiable risk factors for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remains unsatisfactory in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to analyze patient knowledge and attainment of LDL-C, BP, and HbA1c treatment goals and associated factors in German CAD patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS/RESULTS

A total of 204 CAD patients (68 ± 8 years; 75.0% male; 84 with DM (41.2%)) completed a questionnaire assessing their knowledge of LDL-C (< 55 mg/dL), BP (age-adapted), and HbA1c (< 7.0%) treatment goals and levels of information on predefined CAD topics as well as associated factors, including CAD duration, adherence to pharmacotherapy, and physician monitoring of secondary prevention. LDL-C, BP, and HbA1c were measured. The mean duration of CAD was 9.8 ± 8 years. A total of 98.5% reported good adherence to pharmacotherapy. Measurements of LDL-C (81.4%) and HbA1c (71.4%) were predominantly performed by general practitioners. LDL-C goals were attained significantly better in patients with DM (39.3% with vs. 16.7% without DM, p < 0.01). The attainment of BP goals did not differ between patients with and without DM (71.4% vs. 72.5%, p = 0.87). HbA1c goals were attained by 48.8% of DM patients. LDL-C goals were known by 6.0% of patients with vs. 9.2% without DM (p = 0.44), and BP goals were known by 36.9% with vs. 30.0% without DM (p = 0.36). Knowledge of HbA1c goals was prevalent in 53.6% of DM patients. Subjective levels of information on CAD topics did not differ between patients with and without DM. Logistic regression revealed that DM (odds ratio (OR) 3.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-7.63) and knowledge of treatment goals were associated with LDL-C goal attainment (OR 3.84, CI 1.19-12.41); no such associations were identified for BP or HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS

In German CAD patients with and without DM, a remarkable lack of knowledge and attainment of LDL-C treatment goals exists compared with BP and HbA1c. DM and knowledge of treatment goals were significantly associated with LDL-C treatment goal attainment. General practitioners rather than cardiologists or other specialties currently manage risk factor control.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register studyID DRKS00030703.

Anatomic vs. Ischemia-Driven Strategies for Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization in Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A Network Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

In patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS), the benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) added to optimal medical therapy (OMT) remains unclear. The indication to PCI may be driven either by angiographic evaluation or ischemia assessment, thus depicting different potential strategies which have not yet been thoroughly compared.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing OMT versus PCI angio-guided or versus PCI non-invasive or invasive ischemia guided were identified and compared via network meta-analysis. Major adverse clinical events (MACE), as defined by each included trial, were the primary endpoint, while cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), and unplanned revascularization the secondary ones.

RESULTS

18 studies, encompassing 17,512 patients, were included, with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. PCI guided by ischemia defined either invasively or not was associated with a reduced risk of MACE compared with OMT alone. Furthermore, PCI guided by non-invasive assessment of ischemia was associated with a reduced risk of MI compared with OMT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.61 [95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.94). This strategy ranked best also in preventing CV death. Notably, iFR and FFR guided approaches showed the highest probability of performing best for reduction of subsequent revascularizations.

CONCLUSION

In patients with CCS, ischemia-guided PCI, either by invasive or non-invasive assessment, resulted in a reduced risk of MACE compared with OMT alone. The use of invasive or non-invasive tests influenced the benefit of ischemia-driven PCI: non-invasive tests significantly reduced risk of MI compared with OMT, while iFR or FFR showed the highest probability of reducing the need of subsequent revascularization.

Evaluating the Appropriate Use Criteria for Coronary Revascularization in Stable Ischemic Heart Disease Using Randomized Data From the ISCHEMIA Trial

BACKGROUND

The appropriate use criteria for revascularization of stable ischemic heart disease have not been evaluated using randomized data. Using data from the randomized ISCHEMIA trial (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches; July 2012 to January 2018, 37 countries), the health status benefits of an invasive strategy over a conservative one were examined within appropriate use criteria scenarios.

METHODS

Among 1833 participants mapped to 36 appropriate use criteria scenarios, symptom status was assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire-7 at 1 year for each scenario and for each of the 6 patient characteristics used to define the scenarios. Coronary anatomy and SYNTAX(Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery) scores were measured using coronary computed tomography angiography. Treatment effects are expressed as an odds ratio for a better health status outcome with an invasive versus conservative treatment strategy using Bayesian hierarchical proportional odds models. Differences in the primary clinical outcome were similarly examined.

RESULTS

The mean age was 63 years, 81% were male, and 71% were White. Diabetes was present in 28% and multivessel disease in 51%. Most clinical scenarios favored invasive for better 1-year health status. The benefit of an invasive strategy on Seattle Angina Questionnaire angina frequency scores was reduced for asymptomatic patients (odds ratio [95% credible interval], 1.16 [0.66-1.71] versus 2.26 [1.75-2.80]), as well as for those on no antianginal medications. Diabetes, number of diseased vessels, proximal left anterior descending coronary artery location, and SYNTAX score did not effectively identify patients with better health status after invasive treatment, and minimal differences in clinical events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Applying the randomization scheme from the ISCHEMIA trial to appropriate clinical scenarios revealed baseline symptoms and antianginal therapy to be the primary drivers of health status benefits from invasive management. Consideration should be given to reducing the patient characteristics collected to generate appropriateness ratings to improve the feasibility of future data collection.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01471522.

2023 ACC/AHA Chronic Coronary Disease Guideline - An opportunity to reestablish coronary artery bypass recommendations

Coronary artery bypass (CABG) has evolved over the decades, supported by scientific evidence from robust studies. The downgrade of the recommendation for CABG in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease proposed by the 2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization and the 2023 ACC/AHA Chronic Coronary Disease Guidelines has brought this discussion to the fore, with prestigious cardiothoracic surgery societies such as AATS and STS not supporting these recommendations. The purpose of this article is to broaden this discussion in light of published studies.

2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2025 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2024 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. This year's edition includes a continued focus on health equity across several key domains and enhanced global data that reflect improved methods and incorporation of ≈3000 new data sources since last year's Statistical Update.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Recent Advances in Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) have been a point of interest of the medical community for the last decade. The natural history of CTOs was for a long time unknown, as the presence of a single CTO was the most frequent cause for the exclusion of patients from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Recent CTO RCTs have failed to show any benefit in terms of hard endpoints as major adverse cardiovascular events, but have shown a significant improvement in quality of life, as well in the frequency of angina; however, these studies are characterized by the limitation of the short duration of their follow-up period. Real-world data from observational studies indicate a significant improvement in cardiovascular death and overall mortality, suggesting that the results depend on the duration of the follow-up, and not on the procedure per se. The aim of the current review is to summarize all the existing RCTs, and to analyze the most important registries, as well as to present the current development of techniques to boost the successful interventional treatment of CTOs.

[Emergency measures in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic forms of ischemic heart disease]

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases and the most common cause of death in Russia. Primary diagnostics of CHD involves assessing the pre-test probability of CHD. Thereafter, myocardial ischemia should be verified by visualization technique: stress echocardiography or stress single-photon emission computed tomography of the myocardium. Myocardial revascularization improves the prognosis in patients with stable CHD who have three-vessel coronary disease or significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery. Outpatient monitoring and free provision of medications can significantly reduce mortality among patients with stable high-risk CHD.

The European Society of Cardiology 2024 Guidelines on Chronic Coronary Syndromes: A Critical Appraisal

Background: During the 2024 annual meeting in London, The European Society of Cardiology released new guidelines (GLs) on chronic coronary syndromes (CCSs) and simultaneously published them in the European Heart Journal. Method: A few experts on the topic from Europe, South America, India, and Asia, who attended the presentation and the Question and Answer sections, met virtually to comment on the GLs after carefully reading the 123-page document. Result: There is a consensus that the presented GLs are a comprehensive, up-to-date, clear document of the available data on how to diagnose and treat CCSs and a definite step forward compared to all previous GLs. Of particular value are (a) the efforts to link both diagnosis and treatment to the underlying pathophysiology with the recognition that not all the ischaemic episodes are the same; (b) the decision to adopt the graphic of the so-called "Diamond Approach", although its spirit that no antianginal drug is superior to another is not fully adopted; and (c) the innovative way it condenses and expresses the relevant messages with eye-catching illustrations. Conclusions: The present article summarises and comments on the 123-page GLs, highlighting strengths and weaknesses according to the thoughts of the authors.

Transparency in Science Reporting: A Call to Researchers and Publishers

A recent science communication meeting highlighted a common pitfall in scientific communication: the failure to link the "what" - the findings - to the "so what" - their real-world implications. The real world is complex, and exploring the complexities of "living world phenomena" requires addressing the interconnectedness and interdependencies of the many variables that shape the patterned outcomes of patient conditions we see in everyday practice. While scientific methods by necessity must simplify complexities, these simplifications should be transparently communicated to foster trust and understanding. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) aim to eliminate contextual confounders, producing statistically significant average outcomes for a hypothetical "average" patient. While they ensure high internal validity, RCTs often lack external validity, limiting their transferability to real-world practice, where patients differ from the average trial participant. This is an inherent problem of RCTs that cannot be overcome. What is not inherent and should be changed are the outcome elements of the study design and especially their reporting. To achieve "statistical significance", trials use large sample sizes, surrogate and arbitrarily designed composite endpoints, and typically emphasise relative benefits, obscuring absolute benefits, which are often clinically marginal. Transparent reporting of absolute benefits, contextualised to patients' realities, is crucial for informed, shared decision-making. Patients and clinicians alike must weigh small disease-specific benefits against potential harms, especially when interventions compromise overall well-being or ability to manage daily life circumstances. Transparency matters, it is a moral and ethical imperative. Applied to medical sciences, it is no longer acceptable to argue that the statistical significance of research findings justifies a tacit paternalism that undermines patient autonomy. We propose a transparency framework that could enhance clear and honest communication of research findings - this is crucial to empower both clinicians and patients in making well-informed clinical or public health decisions.

[Guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology on chronic coronary syndrome from 2024]

The 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on chronic coronary syndrome comprehensively summarize the symptoms, diagnostics and treatment of coronary artery disease, excluding acute coronary syndromes. The processing always begins with an estimation of the clinical probability, which should include not only the symptom profile but also the number of cardiovascular risk factors and is further modified by any conspicuous findings in electrocardiography (ECG), exercise testing, or echocardiography. For further diagnostics, coronary angiography via computed tomography is the first-line approach if the probability lies between 5% and 50%. For probabilities of 50-85% procedures for imaging-based ischemia detection are indicated, while for even higher probabilities immediate invasive diagnostics are given priority. The treatment includes intensive risk modification, medicinal anti-anginal treatment and finally revascularization by coronary intervention or bypass surgery. In the absence of high-risk constellations a medication-based approach should be initially preferred, with revascularization indicated if symptoms persist. The new guidelines also extensively address angina and ischemia without obstructive coronary lesions. In this context, intensive risk modification and initial medication treatment are again recommended.

Chronic Coronary Artery Disease: Wall Disease vs. Lumenopathy

Acute and chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) are interconnected, representing two facets of the same condition. Chronic CAD exhibits a dynamic nature, manifesting as stable or acute ischemia, or both. Myocardial ischemia can be transient and reversible. The genesis of CAD involves diverse anatomical and functional mechanisms, including endothelial dysfunction, arteriolar remodeling, capillary rarefaction, and perivascular fibrosis, though no single factor explains its heterogeneity. Chronic CAD is often stable but may present as symptomatic or asymptomatic (e.g., in diabetes) and affect various coronary compartments (epicardial or microcirculation). This complexity necessitates a reappraisal of our approach, as pathophysiological mechanisms vary and often overlap. A comprehensive exploration of these mechanisms using advanced diagnostic techniques can aid in identifying the dynamic processes underlying CAD. The disease may present as obstructive or non-obstructive, stable or unstable, underscoring its diversity. The primary source of CAD lies in the arterial wall, emphasizing the need for research on its components, such as the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells, and factors disrupting arterial homeostasis. Shifting focus from arterial luminal status to the arterial wall can provide insights into the genesis of atheromatous plaques, enabling earlier interventions to prevent their development and progression.

The Relationship Between Quantitative Ischemia, Early Revascularization, and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events: A Multicenter Study

Background

Observational data have suggested that patients with moderate to severe ischemia benefit from revascularization. However, this was not confirmed in a large, randomized trial.

Objectives

Using a contemporary, multicenter registry, the authors evaluated differences in the association between quantitative ischemia, revascularization, and outcomes across important subgroups.

Methods

Patients who underwent myocardial perfusion imaging in 12 centers were included in this retrospective analysis. The population was divided into original (2009-2014) and recent (2014-2021) registry sites. Early revascularization was defined as any revascularization within 90 days of myocardial perfusion imaging. A propensity score was developed to adjust for nonrandomization. Propensity score-adjusted survival analyses were used to evaluate the associations between quantitative ischemia, early revascularization, and death or myocardial infarction (MI) to identify at what severity of ischemia the HR for early revascularization crosses 1 (threshold for potential benefit).

Results

Overall, 40,449 patients were included with a median follow-up of 3.5 (IQR: 2.4-4.6) years, during which death or MI occurred in 2,797 (6.9%). Early revascularization was associated with reduced death or MI in patients with >9.0% myocardial ischemia (95% upper CI: 11.2%, interaction P < 0.001). The threshold for ischemia, above which patients may benefit from revascularization, was higher in more recent patients (14.0% vs 6.5%), but similar in female (>10.0%) and male patients (>8.6%).

Conclusions

Early revascularization was associated with reduced risk in patients with a higher burden of quantitative ischemia in more recent populations. These findings suggest that methods integrating more factors than just ischemia are needed to improve patient selection for revascularization.

Long-term outcomes and operators' experience in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is typically performed by experienced operators. Therefore, the safety of pPCI for STEMI performed by less experienced operators with the support of experienced operators remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of pPCI for STEMI performed by less experienced operators with the support of experienced operators. In total, 775 STEMI patients were enrolled and divided into groups according to operator experience in PCI: less experienced (n = 384) and experienced (n = 391) operator groups. Experienced operators were defined as those who had performed > 50 elective PCI procedures per year as the first operator or instructional assistant, whereas less experienced operators were defined as others. When less experienced operators performed the pPCI, experienced operators supported them. The primary endpoint was any cardiovascular event, defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned hospitalization for heart failure. In the propensity score-matched analysis, 324 patients were included in each group. The cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint over a median of 5 years in the less experienced operator group was similar to that in the experienced operator group (15% vs. 18%, P = 0.209). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, there was no excess risk for patients operated upon by less experienced operators for the primary endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-1.25; P = 0.417). pPCI for STEMI by less experienced operators did not increase the risk of in-hospital mortality or 5-year long-term cardiovascular events if supported by experienced operators.

Aortic Stenosis and Coronary Artery Disease: Decision-Making Between Surgical and Transcatheter Management

Aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coexist and share pathophysiological mechanisms. The proportion of patients with AS and CAD requiring revascularization varies widely because of uncertainty about best clinical practices. Although combined surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting has been the standard of care, management options in patients with AS and CAD requiring revascularization have expanded with the advent of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Potential alternative treatment pathways include revascularization before TAVR, concomitant TAVR and percutaneous coronary intervention, percutaneous coronary intervention after TAVR and deferred percutaneous coronary intervention or hybrid procedures. Selection depends on underlying disease severity, antithrombotic treatment strategies, clinical presentation, and symptom evolution after TAVR. In patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement, the addition of coronary artery bypass grafting has been associated with improved long-term mortality, especially if CAD is complex. although it is associated with higher periprocedural risk. The therapeutic impact of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with TAVR is less well-established. The multitude of clinical permutations and remaining uncertainties do not support a uniform treatment strategy for patients with AS and CAD. Therefore, to provide the best possible care for each individual patient, heart teams need to be familiar with the available data on AS and CAD. Herein, we provide an in-depth review of the evidence supporting the decision-making process between transcatheter and surgical approaches and the key elements of treatment selection in patients with AS and CAD.

Percutaneous coronary revascularization versus medical therapy in chronic coronary syndromes: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a main cause of morbidity and mortality. The effectiveness of coronary revascularization in chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) is still debated. Our recent study showed the superiority of coronary revascularization over optimal medical therapy (OMT) in reducing cardiovascular (CV) mortality and myocardial infarction (MI). The recent publication of the ORBITA-2 trial suggested superiority of percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCI) in reducing angina and improving quality of life. Therefore, we aimed to provide an updated meta-analysis evaluating the impact of PCI on both clinical outcomes and angina in CCS.

METHODS

Relevant studies were screened in PubMed/Medline until 08/01/2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PCI to OMT in CCS were selected. The primary outcome was CV death. Secondary outcomes were MI, all-cause mortality, stroke, major bleeding and angina severity.

RESULTS

Nineteen RCTs involving 8616 patients were included. Median follow-up duration was 3.3 years. Revascularization significantly reduced CV death (4.2% vs. 5.5%; OR = .77; 95% CI .62-.96, p = .02). Subgroup analyses favoured revascularization in patients without chronic total occlusions (CTOs) (p = .052) and those aged <65 years (p = .02). Finally, a follow-up duration beyond 3 years showed increased benefit of coronary revascularization (p = .04). Secondary outcomes analyses showed no significant differences, except for a lower angina severity in the revascularization group according to the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) (p = .04) and to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification (p = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

PCI compared to OMT significantly reduces CV mortality and angina severity, improving quality of life in CCS patients. This benefit was larger without CTOs, in patients aged <65 years and with follow-up duration beyond 3 years.

Accuracy of Outcome Ascertainment in Long-Term Mortality After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Long-term outcome ascertainment can be affected by the follow-up performance and needs to use a different data source for more comprehensive data capture. However, a universal tracking system is absent in Japan, and long-term outcomes are often ascertained through electronic medical records (EMRs), the reliability of which is uncertain. In this study, we compared EMR-based and direct outreach-based collections on outcome ascertainment accuracy in 500 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Mortality data for all patients were extracted from the EMR, as standard data collection. When patient death was not confirmed in the EMR, we enhanced to collect updated mortality information by direct outreach to patients, their family, or their physicians, as enhanced direct outreach data. As a result, the Kaplan-Meier curves found a notable separation between different data sources analyzed. Interestingly, mortality events in the latter half of the follow-up period (median, 6.5 years) were overestimated in the EMR-based data collection analysis because of the reduced number of actively tracked cases, highlighting a potential bias in the EMR-based data collection on long-term prognoses. Our findings suggest that an active follow-up strategy with better adherence will enhance the accuracy of long-term outcome ascertainment and be helpful to build more reliable real-world evidence.

Reassessing the Role of Ischemia Imaging: Insights from the ISCHEMIA Trial

Ischemia imaging plays an important role in prognostication as well as guiding decision for revascularization with known CAD, as shown in multiple observational registries. However, results from the ISCHEMIA trial (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches) presented conflicting results, hinting at no survival benefit after revascularization in patients with moderate to severe ischemia on nuclear imaging. More recent analysis from the trial did, however, show decrease in cardiac mortality and increase in non-cardiac mortality following early revascularization. However, the ISCHEMIA trial has several limitations; most importantly, the trial design does not support a comparison between imaging modalities. Additionally, results of the trial do not apply to patients with previous CABG or ACS as they are exclusion criteria, which affects the diagnostic accuracy of nuclear stress imaging. Observational imaging registries offer better evidence about the accuracy of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in guiding revascularization for patients with ischemia. Results from ISCHEMIA trial can be used to guide management of patients with severe to moderate ischemia, provided they meet inclusion criteria. For those who do, shared decision-making is important to decide between invasive management or optimal medical therapy only.

Cardiac radiation exposure and incident cancer: challenges and opportunities

The use of radiological procedures has enormously advanced cardiology. People with heart disease are exposed to ionizing radiation. Exposure to ionizing radiation increases lifetime cancer risk with a dose-proportional hazard according to the linear no-threshold model adopted for radioprotection purposes. In the USA, the average citizen accumulates a median annual medical radiation exposure of 2.29 millisievert per year per capita as of the radiologic year 2016, corresponding to the dose exposure of 115 chest X-rays. Cardiology studies often involve high exposures per procedure accounting for ∼30-50% of cumulative medical radiation exposures. Malignancy is more incident in the most radiosensitive organs receiving the largest organ dose from cardiac interventions and cardiovascular imaging testing, such as the lung, bone marrow, and female breast. The latency period between radiation exposure and cancer is thought to be at least 2 years for leukaemia and 5 years for all solid cancers, and differences are more likely to emerge in cardiology studies with longer follow-up and inclusion of non-cardiovascular endpoints such as cancer incidence. In cardiological studies, excess cancers are observed 3-12 years following exposure, with longer follow-up times showing greater differences in cancer incidence. The presumed associated excess cancer risk needs greater study. These exposures provide a unique opportunity to expand our knowledge of the relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and cancer risk. Future trials comparing interventional fluoroscopy vs. optimal medical therapy or open surgery should include a cancer incidence endpoint.

Impact of treatment management on the hospital stay in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

The length of hospital stay in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is crucial for determining clinical outcomes, managing healthcare resources, controlling costs, and ensuring patient well-being. This study aimed to explore the impact of treatment approaches on the length of stay (LOS) for ACS patients.

METHODS

A total of 7109 ACS cases were retrospectively recruited from a hospital between 2018 and 2023. Demographical baseline data, laboratory examinations, and diagnostic and treatment information of the included subjects were extracted from electronic medical records to investigate the factors contributing to extended hospitalization and further explore the impact of treatment management on the LOS.

RESULTS

Advanced age, female sex, and elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were identified as risk factors for extended hospitalization. At the 0.2-0.9 quantile of LOS, compared with the non-invasive group, the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty group and the stent implantation group exhibited decreases in LOS of 0.37-2.37 days and 0.12-2.28 days, respectively. Stratified analysis based on diagnosis showed that percutaneous coronary intervention decreased hospitalization time in the high quantile of LOS but conversely increased it in the low quantile.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous coronary intervention is important for reducing hospitalization duration, particularly for patients susceptible to prolonged stays. Early and assertive management intervention, incorporating elements such as lipid-lowering therapy, and anti-inflammatory agents, is essential for improving outcomes within high-risk groups.

Association of Coronary Microvascular Rarefaction and Myocardial Fibrosis With Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND

To evaluate, in a cohort study, whether coronary microvasculature and myocardial structure differ between people with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed histological analysis of left ventricle free wall obtained at autopsy from 25 men and 23 women with ≥1 coronary artery with ≥75% area stenosis, and 25 men and 25 women without (no or minimal) CAD, matched for sex and age, who died suddenly from noncardiac causes. Decedents with myocardial infarction or other cardiac abnormality were excluded. Decedents with and without CAD had similar height and weight. Heart weight of decedents with CAD was higher than that of decedents without CAD (mean, 391 versus 364 g; mean difference, 27 g [95% CI, 0.3-54.0], P=0.048). Decedents with CAD had lower arteriole density (mean, 1.4 per mm2 versus 1.8 per mm2; mean difference, -0.4 per mm2 [95% CI, -0.6 to -0.2], P=0.0001), lower capillary length density (mean, 3164 versus 3701 mm/mm3; mean difference, -537 [95% CI, -787 to -286], P<0.0001), and higher total myocardial fibrosis (mean, 7.5% versus 5.7%; mean difference, 1.7% [95% CI, 1.0-2.5], P<0.0001), than decedents without CAD.

CONCLUSIONS

CAD was associated with coronary microvascular rarefaction and increased myocardial fibrosis. The association of CAD with coronary microvascular rarefaction and increased myocardial fibrosis may contribute to the increased risks of death, myocardial infarction and heart failure that accompany CAD, and may attenuate the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention on cardiovascular risk in people with stable angina.

Long-term health outcomes of young patients with low-complexity coronary disease: a weighted analysis according to revascularization strategy

OBJECTIVES

Age is an important factor weighing on revascularization decisions. We analysed long-term health outcomes of young patients with low-complexity coronary anatomy suitable for both coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to revascularization strategy.

METHODS

Patients 60 years old or less, undergoing invasive coronary angiography between January 2007 and December 2015, presenting with proximal left anterior descending artery involvement, left main or multivessel disease and a SYNTAX Score ≤22 were retrospectively selected. An inverse probability of treatment weight methodology generated a pseudopopulation with well-balanced characteristics, which was used to estimate the average treatment effect between PCI (n = 374) and CABG (n = 173).

RESULTS

Mean age was 53 ± 7 years old, 27% had diabetes mellitus and 48% presented with an acute coronary syndrome. Mean SYNTAX score was 13.6 ± 4.9 and 68% underwent PCI as index revascularization strategy. In the weighed population, the adjusted hazard of the primary end-point of all-cause death at total follow-up (median 9.3 years; interquartile range 6.9-11.7) was 0.40 (95% confidence interval 0.19-0.7) for CABG vs PCI (incidence rate 5.8 vs 14.0 deaths/1000-person-years). Accounting for death as competing risk, the cumulative hazard of new revascularization (sub-distribution hazard ratio 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.25) and any cause hospital readmission (sub-distribution hazard ratio 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.41-1.07) were lower in CABG patients, as opposed to death/stroke rates at 30 days which were higher with CABG (0.3% vs 1.7%; risk ratio = 5.84).

CONCLUSIONS

In this quasi-experimental analysis of young patients with coronary artery disease and an equivalent indication for both PCI and CABG, long-term health outcomes were favourably associated with CABG, as compared to PCI. These observations support the need for dedicated randomized trials with longer follow-up in order to better inform lifetime treatment options.

Percutaneous coronary intervention plus medical therapy versus medical therapy alone in chronic coronary syndrome: a propensity score-matched analysis from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is frequently used for patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). However, the role of PCI beyond symptom relief in CCS remains controversial. The objective of this study was to determine whether PCI is associated with better outcomes, compared with medical therapy (MT) alone.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Using the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry, we included all patients with CCS undergoing coronary angiography in Sweden between 2010 and 2020. Two groups were formed based on treatment strategy: PCI+MT versus MT alone. One-to-one propensity score (PS) matching was used to address confounding. Outcome was assessed using matched win ratio analysis, a statistical method that ranks the components of the composite by clinical importance. The primary outcome was net adverse clinical event (NACE) within 5 years. In the win ratio analysis, the components of NACE were ranked as follows: (1) all-cause mortality, (2) myocardial infarction (MI), (3) bleeding and (4) urgent revascularisation. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of NACE, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cardiovascular mortality.

RESULTS

After PS matching, two groups of 7220 patients each were formed. The hierarchical outcome analysis of NACE and MACE showed that PCI was associated with improved outcome (matched win ratio: 1.28 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.36, p<0.001) and matched win ratio: 1.38 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.48, p<0.001), respectively). The use of PCI was associated with higher win ratio of MI (matched win ratio: 1.15, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.28, p=0.008), urgent revascularisation (matched win ratio: 1.85, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.03, p<0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (matched win ratio: 1.15, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.34, p=0.044). No difference in win ratio was observed for all-cause mortality or bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, which sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with CCS using a hierarchical approach, patients selected for revascularisation with PCI experienced better outcome compared with MT alone.

Outcomes with revascularisation versus conservative management of participants with 3-vessel coronary artery disease in the ISCHEMIA trial

BACKGROUND

Whether revascularisation (REV) improves outcomes in patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease (3V-CAD) is uncertain.

AIMS

Our objective was to evaluate outcomes with REV (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] or coronary artery bypass graft surgery [CABG]) versus medical therapy in patients with 3V-CAD.

METHODS

ISCHEMIA participants with 3V-CAD on coronary computed tomography angiography without prior CABG were included. Outcomes following initial invasive management (INV) with REV (PCI or CABG) versus initial conservative management (CON) with medical therapy alone were evaluated. Regression modelling was used to estimate the outcomes if all participants were to undergo prompt REV versus those assigned to CON. Outcomes were cardiovascular (CV) death/myocardial infarction (MI), death, CV death, and quality of life. Bayesian posterior probability for benefit (Pr [benefit]) for 1 percentage point lower 4-year rates with REV versus CON were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among 1,236 participants with 3V-CAD (612 INV/624 CON), REV was associated with lower 4-year CV death/MI (adjusted 4-year difference: -4.4, 95% credible interval [CrI] -8.7 to -0.3 percentage points, Pr [benefit]=94.8%) when compared with CON, with similar results for PCI versus CON (-5.8, 95% CrI: -10.8 to -0.5 percentage points, Pr [benefit]=96.4%) and CABG versus CON (-3.7, 95% CrI: -8.8 to 1.5 percentage points, Pr [benefit]=84.7%). Adjusted 4-year REV versus CON differences were as follows: death -1.2 (95% CrI: -4.7 to 2.2) percentage points, CV death -2.3 (95% CrI: -5.5 to 0.8) percentage points, with similar results for PCI and for CABG. The Pr (benefit) for death with REV (PCI or CABG) versus CON was 49-63%. The adjusted 12-month Seattle Angina Questionnaire-7 summary score differences favoured REV: REV versus CON 4.6 (95% CrI: 2.7-6.4) percentage points; PCI versus CON 3.6 (95% CrI: 1.2-5.8) percentage points and CABG versus CON 4.3 (95% CrI: 1.5-6.9) percentage points with high Pr (benefit).

CONCLUSIONS

In participants with 3V-CAD, REV (either PCI or CABG) was associated with a lower 4-year CV death/MI rate and improved quality of life, with similar results for PCI versus CON and CABG versus CON. The differences in all-cause mortality between REV and CON were small with wide confidence intervals. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01471522).

PET myocardial perfusion imaging: Trends, challenges, and opportunities

Various non-invasive images are used in clinical practice for the diagnosis and prognostication of chronic coronary syndromes. Notably, quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) through positron emission tomography (PET) has seen significant technical advancements and a substantial increase in its use over the past two decades. This progress has generated an unprecedented wealth of clinical information, which, when properly applied, can diagnose and fine-tune the management of patients with different types of ischemic syndromes. This state-of-art review focuses on quantitative PET MPI, its integration into clinical practice, and how it holds up at the eyes of modern cardiac imaging and revascularization clinical trials, along with future perspectives.

Rapid outpatient evaluation for emergency department patients with intermediate risk chest pain safely reduces admissions

Objective

This study aims to assess the safety of an outpatient chest pain pathway (OCPP) for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain and a HEART score of 4 or 5.

Methods

This is a retrospective, observational, non-inferiority study assessing the impact of the OCPP on the management and outcomes of ED patients with HEART score of 4 or 5. The study compared patients evaluated in the pre-OCPP (January‒May 2018) and the post-OCPP period (January‒October 2022). Data were collected via non-blinded chart review. The primary outcome was the rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and death in patients utilizing the OCPP compared to patients with HEART score 4 or 5 in 2018. Secondary outcomes included admission rates before and after the implementation of this pathway. Non-inferiority of the post-intervention study epoch for the AMI/death composite outcome was assessed via the two one-sided tests (TOST), procedure.

Results

After implementing the OCPP, rates of patients with ED HEART score of 4 or 5 admitted from the ED decreased from 85.1% (605/711) to 74.1% (1239/1671) in 2022. Of the 432 total patients discharged in 2022, 237 (54.6%) patients were referred to emergent cardiology follow-up via the OCPP. The 30-day rate of AMI/death for patients discharged via the OCPP was 0.4% (1/237), as compared to 2.2% (8/368) in 2018. When compared to rates of AMI/death for all patients with HEART score 4 or 5 in 2018, outcomes for OCPP patients were found to be non-inferior.

Conclusion

The OCPP resulted in non-inferior rates of AMI/death in patients with HEART scores of 4 or 5 as compared to usual care.

Asymptomatic coronary artery disease in ischaemic stroke survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ischaemic stroke and coronary artery disease share risk factors and stroke survivors experience a high rate of cardiac events. Recent work suggests a high burden of asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) in ischaemic stroke survivors. Thus, we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to A) estimate the prevalence of CAD in ischaemic stroke survivors without known CAD and B) evaluate the association between coronary atherosclerosis and future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in stroke survivors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement. We included studies investigating acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack where participants underwent anatomical assessment of all coronary arteries. For objective B) we included studies that reported an association between coronary atherosclerosis and MACE. Two reviewers used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess risk of bias. We used random-effects modelling for our analyses.

RESULTS

We identified 2983 studies of which 17 were included. These studies had a total of 6862 participants between 2008 and 2022. The pooled prevalence of any coronary atherosclerosis was 66.8% (95% CI 57.2%-75.1%) with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 95.2%). The pooled prevalence of obstructive (>50%) stenosis was 29.3% with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 91%). High-risk coronary anatomy (triple vessel disease or left main stenosis) was found in 7.0% (95% CI 4%-12%) with high heterogeneity I2 = 72%. One study examined high-risk plaques and found a prevalence of 5.9%. Five studies reported the association of coronary atherosclerosis with future MACE. The presence of obstructive CAD confers a HR of 8.0 (95% CI 1.7-37.1, p = 0.007) for future MACE.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic CAD is common in ischaemic stroke survivors. The presence and severity of asymptomatic CAD strongly associates with the risk of future MACE. Further evaluation of the benefits of routine coronary assessment in ischaemic stroke is warranted.

The Spectrum of Coronary Artery Disease in Elite Endurance Athletes-A Long-Standing Debate: State-of-the-Art Review

Physical activity is recommended for the prevention of primary and secondary cardiovascular (CV) disease as it is linked to a number of health benefits, especially CV. However, recent research suggests that high-volume, long-term endurance exercise may hasten rather than slow the coronary atherosclerosis progression. This contentious theory has generated a great discussion and is still a major source of doubt when it comes to the clinical treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in athletes. CAD is the primary cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes over 35 years. Thus, recent studies evaluated the prevalence of CAD in athletes and its clinical and prognostic implications. Indeed, many studies have shown a relationship between endurance sports and higher volumes of coronary calcified plaque as determined by computed tomography. However, the precise pathogenetic substrate for the existence of an increased coronary calcification burden among endurance athletes remains unclear. Moreover, the idea that coronary plaques in elite athletes present a benign morphology has been cast into doubt by some recent studies showing potential association with adverse cardiovascular events. This review aims to analyze the association between physical activity and CAD, explaining possible underlying mechanisms of atherosclerotic progression and non-ischemic coronary lesions, focusing primarily on clinical and prognostic implications, multimodal evaluation, and management of CAD in endurance athletes.

Optimizing Management of Stable Angina: A Patient-Centered Approach Integrating Revascularization, Medical Therapy, and Lifestyle Interventions

Angina pectoris may arise from obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) or in the absence of significant CAD (ischemia with nonobstructed coronary arteries [INOCA]). Therapeutic strategies for patients with angina and obstructive CAD focus on reducing cardiovascular events and relieving symptoms, whereas in INOCA the focus shifts toward managing functional alterations of the coronary circulation. In obstructive CAD, coronary revascularization might improve angina status, although a significant percentage of patients present angina persistence or recurrence, suggesting the presence of functional mechanisms along with epicardial CAD. In patients with INOCA, performing a precise endotype diagnosis is crucial to allow a tailored therapy targeted toward the specific pathogenic mechanism. In this expert opinion paper, we review the evidence for the management of angina, highlighting the complementary role of coronary revascularization, optimal medical therapy, and lifestyle interventions and underscoring the importance of a personalized approach that targets the underlying pathobiology.

An updated meta-analysis of optimal medical therapy with or without invasive therapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of optimal medical therapy (OMT) with or without revascularization therapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared OMT with or without revascularization therapy for SCAD patients.

METHODS

Studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials from January 1, 2005, to December 30, 2023. The main efficacy outcome was a composite of all-cause death, myocadiac infarction, revascularization, and cerebrovascular accident. Results were pooled using random effects model and fixed effects model and are presented as odd ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Ten studies involving 12,790 participants were included. The arm of OMT with revascularization compared with OMT alone was associated with decreased risks for MACCE (OR 0.55 [95% CI 0.38-0.80], I²=93%, P = 0.002), CV death (OR 0.84 [95% CI 0.73-0.97], I²=36%, P = 0.02), revascularization (OR 0.32 [95% CI 0.20-0.50], I²=92%, P < 0.001), and MI (OR 0.85 [95% CI 0.76-0.96], I²=45%, P = 0.007). While there was no significant difference between OMT with revascularization and OMT alone in the odds of all-cause death (OR 0.94 [95% CI 0.84-1.05], I²=0%, P = 0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

The current updated meta-analysis of 10 RCTs shows that in patients with SCAD, OMT with revascularization would reduce the risk for MACCE, cardiovascular death, and MI. However, the invasive strategy does not decrease the risks for all-cause mortality when comparing with OMT alone.

Inspiratory Muscle Training in Phase 1 and 2 Postoperative Cardiac Rehabilitation Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength, length of hospital stay (LOS), and quality of life (QOL) following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

METHODS

The search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Cochrane Handbook and included the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and CENTRAL. The review included randomized controlled trials utilizing IMT during phase 1 or 2 postoperative cardiac rehabilitation (PoCR) versus alternative treatment (active or passive control) in patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included (11 phase 1 studies, 4 phase 2 studies) with no reported adverse events. In phase 1 PoCR, IMT reduced the LOS (-1.02 days; 95% CI = -2.00 to -0.03) and increased exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance) (+75.46 m; 95% CI = 52.34 to 98.57), and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) (10.46 cm H2O; 95% CI = 2.83 to 18.10), but had no effect on maximal expiratory pressure. In phase 2 PoCR, IMT increased 6-minute walk distance (45.84 m; 95% CI = 10.89 to 80.80), MIP (-23.19 cm H2O; 95% CI = -31.31 to -15), maximal expiratory pressure (20.18 cm H2O; 95% CI = 9.60 to 30.76), and QOL (-11.17; 95% CI = -17.98 to -4.36), with no effect on peak oxygen uptake. There was a high risk of bias for MIP (75% of the phase 1 studies) and 6MWT (1 of 4 phase 2 studies). The quality of the evidence ranged from very low to moderate.

CONCLUSION

IMT significantly improves exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength, LOS, and QOL in phase 1 and 2 PoCR.

IMPACT

IMT may benefit patients during phase 1 and 2 of PoCR, considering the safety, low cost, and potential benefits.