Temporal trends in admission for cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome in France from 2009 to 2021: Persistent sex, age and social disparities

BACKGROUND

Cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome is recommended to decrease patient morbidity and mortality and to improve quality of life.

AIMS

To describe time trends in the rates of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome in France from 2009 to 2021, and to identify possible disparities.

METHODS

All patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome in France between January 2009 and June 2021 were identified from the national health insurance database. Cardiac rehabilitation attendance was identified within 6 months of acute coronary syndrome hospital discharge. Age-standardized cardiac rehabilitation rates were computed and stratified for sex and acute coronary syndrome subtypes (ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation). Patient characteristics and outcomes were described and compared. Factors independently associated with cardiac rehabilitation attendance were identified.

RESULTS

In 2019, among 134,846 patients with an acute coronary syndrome, 22.3% underwent cardiac rehabilitation within 6 months of acute coronary syndrome hospital discharge. The mean age of patients receiving cardiac rehabilitation was 62 years. The median delay between acute coronary syndrome hospitalization and cardiac rehabilitation was 32 days, with about 60% receiving outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Factors significantly associated with higher cardiac rehabilitation rates were male sex, younger age (35-64 years), least socially disadvantaged group, ST-segment elevation, percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass graft. Between 2009 and 2019, cardiac rehabilitation rates increased by 40% from 15.9% to 22.3%. Despite greater upward trends in women, their cardiac rehabilitation rate was significantly lower than that for men (14.8% vs. 25.8%). In 2020, cardiac rehabilitation attendance dropped because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the health benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, current cardiac rehabilitation attendance after acute coronary syndrome remains insufficient in France, particularly among the elderly, women and socially disadvantaged people.

Nationwide time trends in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome: a worrying generational and social effect among women

AIMS

To estimate the time trends in the annual incidence of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in France from 2009 to 2021 and to analyse the current sex and social differences in ACS, management, and prognosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All patients hospitalized for ACS in France were selected from the comprehensive National Health Insurance database. Age-standardized rates were computed overall and according to age group (over or under 65 years), sex, proxy of socioeconomic status, and ACS subtype [ST-segment elevation (STSE) and non-ST-segment elevation]. Patient characteristics and outcomes were described for patients hospitalized in 2019. Differences in management (coronarography, revascularization), and prognosis were analysed by sex, adjusting for cofonders. In 2019, 143,670 patients were hospitalized for ACS, including 53,227 STSE-ACS (mean age = 68.8 years; 32% women). Higher standardized incidence rates among the most socially deprived people were observed. Women were less likely to receive coronarography and revascularization but had a higher excess in-hospital mortality. In 2019, the age-standardized rate for hospitalized ACS patients reached 210 per 100 000 person-year. Between 2009 and 2019, these rates decreased by 11.4% (men: -11.2%; women: -14.0%). Differences in trends of age-standardized incidence rate have been observed according to sex, age, and social status. Middle aged women (45-64 years) showing more unfavourable trends than in other age classes or in men. In addition, among women the temporal trends were more unfavourable as social deprivation increased.

CONCLUSION

Despite encouraging overall trends in patients hospitalized for ACS rates, the increasing trends observed among middle-aged women, especially socially deprived women, is worrying. Targeted cardiovascular prevention and close surveillance of this population should be encouraged.

Advanced practice nurse intervention versus usual care for hypertension control: study protocol for an open-label randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is the most frequent chronic pathology in France and in the world. It is one of the main modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In France, 50% of treated hypertensives are uncontrolled and only 30% of treated patients are fully adherent to their antihypertensive treatment. Poor adherence to drug treatments is considered as one of the main causes of non-control of hypertension. Since 2018, a new profession has entered the French healthcare system: advanced practice nurses (APN). They have many broad-based skills, at the interface of nursing and medical exercises. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of an APN intervention versus usual care on hypertension control.

METHODS

The study will take place at the Hôtel-Dieu University Hospital, Paris, France, as prospective, open-label, controlled, randomized 1-to-1, monocentric, and superiority trial. The participants will be recruited during day hospitalization for cardiovascular assessment in the context of their hypertension management. Patients will be divided into two groups: a "usual care" group which will continue traditional follow-up (day hospitalization followed by consultation with a medical doctor (MD) within approximately 2-12 months) and an "intervention" group which will meet an APN between the day hospitalization and the MD consultation. Participants will be monitored until 12 months after the day hospitalization, depending on their last follow-up study appointment (MD consultation). The primary outcome is the rate of controlled BP (BP < 140/90 mmHg in office BP measurement) in each group. The hypothesis formulated is that an individual APN intervention, included in usual hypertension management, improves hypertension control.

DISCUSSION

This innovative study will be the first in France where APNs are beginning to be established in the healthcare system. It will provide an objective look at this new profession and the impact it can have in the framework of global management of hypertension.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0448249. Registered on June 24, 2020.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events in Patients Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus

BACKGROUND

An increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was reported in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), without identifying factors associated with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) events.

METHODS

HIV-HCV coinfected patients were enrolled in the Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS) CO13 HEPAVIH nationwide cohort. Primary outcome was total ASCVD events. Secondary outcomes were coronary and/or cerebral ASCVD events, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) ASCVD events. Incidences were estimated using the Aalen-Johansen method. Factors associated with ASCVD were identified using cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

At baseline, median age of the study population (N = 1213) was 45.4 (interquartile range [IQR] 42.1-49.0) years and 70.3% were men. After a median follow-up of 5.1 (IQR 3.9-7.0) years, the incidence was 6.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.19-9.38) per 1000 person-years for total ASCVD events, 4.01 (2.78-6.00) for coronary and/or cerebral events, and 3.17 (2.05-4.92) for PAD ASCVD events. Aging (hazard ratio [HR] 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.12), prior CVD (HR 8.48; 95% CI, 3.14-22.91), high total cholesterol (HR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.11-1.83), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HR 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.63), statin use (HR 3.31; 95% CI, 1.31-8.38), and high alcohol intake (HR 3.18; 95% CI, 1.35-7.52) were independently associated with total ASCVD events, whereas undetectable baseline viral load (HR 0.41, 95% CI, 0.18-0.96) was associated with coronary and/or cerebral events.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-HCV coinfected patients experienced a high incidence of ASCVD events. Some traditional cardiovascular risk factors were the main determinants of ASCVD. Controlling cholesterol abnormalities and maintaining undetectable HIV RNA are essential to control cardiovascular risk.

Hypertension artérielle et COVID-19

L’âge et les comorbidités cardiovasculaires sont des facteurs indépendants de mortalité et d’hospitalisation en unité de soins intensifs chez les patients atteints de coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), contrairement à l’hypertension artérielle (HTA).

La forte prévalence de l’HTA chez les personnes âgées, coronariens ou insuffisants cardiaques, explique l’importante prévalence de l’HTA parmi les patients hospitalisés et présentant des formes sévères de COVID-19.

L’HTA, en tant que premier facteur de risque de morbi-mortalité cardiovasculaire, constitue le lit des comorbidités cardiovasculaires qui favorisent les formes sévères de COVID-19.

L’hypothèse d’une surexpression de l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine de type 2 membranaire par les inhibiteurs de l’enzyme de conversion et antagonistes des récepteurs de l’angiotensine 2, favorisant l’invasion cellulaire par le severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reste hypothétique, est insuffisante pour expliquer la pathogénie de ce virus, et ne doit pas amener à interrompre ces traitements.

Les patients hypertendus et cardiovasculaires doivent faire l’objet d’une surveillance particulière en raison de leur susceptibilité aux formes graves de COVID-19, de leur risque accru de complications cardiovasculaires aiguës ou de décompensation de maladies cardiovasculaires chroniques.

Le risque d’infection par le SARS-CoV-2 ne doit pas détourner les soignants et les patients de la prise en charge des urgences cardiovasculaires, même en temps d’épidémie.

Does left atrial appendage morphology have any impact on the results of percutaneous closure?

Introduction

Transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is an alternative treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), high CHADSVASC Score and a contra-indication to anticoagulants. This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate the impact of LLA morphology on procedure outcomes.

Methods

Patients from eight French centers who underwent left atrial appendage occlusion from February 2012 to January 2017 were included in this retrospective cohort study. LLA morphology was described by preoperative cardiac computed tomography (CT). Clinical data and Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or CT results were collected during follow-up.

Results

Among 469 included patients, LAA morphologies were described in 215 cases 45.8%), 150 patients (70%) were implanted with Watchman devices, 57 (26%) with Amplatzer devices and 8 procedures (4%) failed. LAA Morphology was Chicken Wing (34%), Windsock (45%), cauliflower (18%) and 3% had another morphology including Cactus.

There was no difference in patient characteristics between the different morphology groups. Mean follow-up was 9.6±11 months, during which 190 patients underwent LAA imaging (TEE in 171 and CT in 19 patients). There was no significant difference in the failure rate (p=0.72), duration of the procedure (p=0.065), peri-device leak (p=0.83) device-related thrombus (p=0.96) and the occurrence of stroke (p=1) during follow-up.

Conclusion

LLA morphology did not influence complication occurrence after occlusion in this cohort.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Arterial Stiffness and Coronary Ischemia: New Aspects and Paradigms

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Aortic stiffness (AS) is widely associated with hypertension and considered as a major predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). AS is measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), particularly when this parameter is associated with an index involving age, gender, heart rate, and mean blood pressure. The present review focuses on the interest of measurement of PWV and the calculation of individual PWV index for the prediction of CHD, in addition with the use of new statistical nonlinear models enabling results with very high levels of accuracy.

RECENT FINDINGS

PWV index may so constitute a substantial marker of large arteries prediction and damage in CHD and may be also used in cerebrovascular and renal circulations models. PWV index determinations are particularly relevant to consider in angiographic CHD decisions and in the presence of vulnerable plaques with high cardiovascular risk. Due to the variability in symptoms and clinical characteristics of patients, together with some imperfections in results, there is no very simple adequate diagnosis approach enabling to improve the so defined CHD prediction in usual clinical practice. In recent works in relation to "artificial intelligence" and involving "decision tree" models and "artificial neural networks," it has been possible to determine consistent pathways introducing predictive medicine and enabling to obtain efficient algorithm classification models of coronary prediction.

P999Major adverse events with percutaneous left atrial appendage closure in patients with atrial fibrillation in real life setting

Methods

We analysed data from all AF patients treated with Watchman or Amplatzer LAA closure according to European guidelines in 8 French cardiology departments. Antithrombotic management was decided for each patient on an individual basis. A Cox regression model was used for multivariable analysis of major adverse events. Yearly rate of ischemic stroke during follow-up was calculated and compared to that expected for a same risk score population. Yearly rate of bleeding was extrapolated from that reported with the HASBLED score.

Results

A total of 469 consecutive AF patients (299 males, 74.9±8.9 years old, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 4.5±1.4, HASBLED score 3.7±1.0) received LAA closure from March 2012 to January 2017. There were 272 Watchman devices (58%) and 197 ACP devices (42%) implanted. At discharge, 36% received a single anti platelet therapy (APT), 23% received dual APT, 29% received OAC and no APT, 5% received OAC plus APT and 8% received no antithrombotic therapy. Mean follow up was 11.4 months (median 7, interquartile 3–22 months) during which 70 major adverse events (19 ischemic strokes, 18 major haemorrhages and 33 deaths) were recorded in 69 patients. The annual rate of ischemic stroke was 3.96%, which translates into a 13% relative risk reduction (95% CI −59 to 52%) as compared with the calculated stroke rate for similar CHA2DS2-VASc score after adjustment for exposure to APT and OAC. The annual rate of major bleeding in the study was 3.75%, which corresponds to a 48% relative risk reduction (95% CI 9 to 70%) as compared with the rate that would have been expected based on a comparable HAS-BLED score. Yearly rate of mortality was 7.4% (2.5 to 3 fold higher than in previous randomized trials) and the rate of non-cardiovascular death was 82%. None of the baseline characteristics was predictive of major adverse events, neither in univariate nor in multivariable analysis, which highlights the difficulty in identifying a risk of unfavourable outcome with simple tools.

Conclusions

AF patients treated with LAA closure may have a lower risk of stroke and bleeding events compared to their theoretical risk. However, our findings indicate that a high rate of major adverse events is observed in these patients during follow-up. This questions the suggested cost-effectiveness of the procedure (with models based on previous trials) for a real-life perspective. A better identification of patients with a relevant benefit of LAA closure is needed among those with long-term anticoagulation contraindication, both for an optimal management of each patient on an individual basis and for a global perspective with limited healthcare resources.

P5341Predictive factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases events in HIV-HVC co-infected patients: results from hepavih ANRS co13 cohort

Introduction

Several studies highlighted an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HIV-HCV co-infected patients without clearly identifying specific virologic factors associated with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) events.

Purpose

Hence, we analyzed data collection from the French nationwide ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort to determine the incidence of ASCVD events in HIV-HCV co-infected patients and the predictive factors associated with its occurrence.

Methods

The French multicenter nationwide ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH clinic-based cohort collected prospective clinical and biological data from HIV-HCV co-infected patients followed-up in 28 different university hospitals between December 2005 to November 2016. Participants with at least one year of follow-up were included. Primary outcome was the occurrence of major ASCVD events (cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization and stroke). Secondary outcomes were total ASCVD events including major ASCVD events and minor ASCVD events (peripheral arterial disease [PAD]). Incidence rates were estimated using Aalen-Johansen method and factors associated with ASCVD identified with Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

A total of 1213 patients were included: median age 45.4 years [42.1–49.0], 70.3% men, current smoking 70.2%, overweight 19.5%, liver cirrhosis 18.9%, chronic alcohol consumption 7.8%, diabetes mellitus (5.9%), personal history of CVD 2.7%, and statins use 4.1%. After a median follow-up of 5.1 years [3.9–7.0], 44 participants experienced at least one ASCVD event (26 major ASCVD event, and 20 a minor event). Incidences for total, major and minor ASCVD events were of 6.98 [5.19; 9.38], 4.01 [2.78; 6.00], and 3.17 [2.05; 4.92] per 1000 person-years, respectively. Personal history of CVD (Hazard Ratio (HR)=13.94 [4.25–45.66]), high total cholesterol (HR=1.63 [1.24–2.15]), low HDL cholesterol (HR=0.08 [0.02–0.34]) and undetectable HIV viral load (HR=0.41 [0.18–0.96]) were identified as independent factors associated with major ASCVD events while cirrhosis status, liver fibrosis and HCV sustained viral response were not.

Cumulative incidence of CV events

Conclusion

HIV-HCV co-infected patients experience a high incidence of ASCVD events both coronary and peripheral artery diseases. Traditional CV risk factors are the main determinants of ASCVD whereas undetectable HIV viral load seems to be protective. Management of cholesterol abnormalities and controlling viral load are essential to modify this high cardiovascular risk.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Agence Natoinale de Recherche sur le SIDA et les Hépatites virales