Optimizing antithrombotic therapy in patients with coexisting cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disease

Balancing the safety and efficacy of antithrombotic agents in patients with gastrointestinal disorders is challenging because of the potential for interference with the absorption of antithrombotic drugs and for an increased risk of bleeding. In this Review, we address considerations for enteral antithrombotic therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal comorbidities. For those with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), we summarize a general scheme for risk stratification and clinical evidence on risk reduction approaches, such as limiting the use of concomitant medications that increase the risk of GIB and the potential utility of gastrointestinal protection strategies (such as proton pump inhibitors or histamine type 2 receptor antagonists). Furthermore, we summarize the best available evidence and potential gaps in our knowledge on tailoring antithrombotic therapy in patients with active or recent GIB and in those at high risk of GIB but without active or recent GIB. Finally, we review the recommendations provided by major medical societies, highlighting the crucial role of teamwork and multidisciplinary discussions to customize the antithrombotic regimen in patients with coexisting cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.

Efficacy and Safety of Non-Vitamin-K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin Across the Spectrum of Body Mass Index and Body Weight: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of 4 Randomized Clinical Trials of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and safety of non-vitamin-K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) across the spectrum of body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BW) remain uncertain.

METHODS

We analyzed data from COMBINE AF (A Collaboration Between Multiple Institutions to Better Investigate Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Use in Atrial Fibrillation), which pooled patient-level data from the 4 pivotal randomized trials of NOAC versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes were stroke or systemic embolic events (stroke/SEE) and major bleeding, respectively; secondary outcomes were ischemic stroke/SEE, intracranial hemorrhage, death, and the net clinical outcome (stroke/SEE, major bleeding, or death). Each outcome was examined across BMI and BW. Because few patients had a BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (n=598), the primary analyses were restricted to those with a BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2.

RESULTS

Among 58 464 patients, the median BMI was 28.3 (interquartile range, 25.2-32.2) kg/m2, and the median BW was 81.0 (interquartile range, 70.0-94.3) kg. The event probability of stroke/SEE was lower at a higher BMI irrespective of treatment, whereas the probability of major bleeding was lower at a higher BMI with warfarin but relatively unchanged across BMI with NOACs. NOACs reduced stroke/SEE overall (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.73-0.88]; P<0.001), with a generally consistent effect across BMI (Ptrend across HRs, 0.48). NOACs also reduced major bleeding overall (HRadj, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.82-0.94]; P<0.001), but with attenuation of the benefit at a higher BMI (trend test across BMI [Ptrend], 0.003). The overall treatment effects of NOACs versus warfarin for secondary outcomes were consistent across BMI, with the exception of the net clinical outcome and death. While these outcomes were overall reduced with NOACs (net clinical outcome, HRadj, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.87-0.95]; P<0.001; death, HRadj, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.86-0.97]; P=0.003), these benefits were attenuated at higher BMI (Ptrend, 0.001 and 0.08, respectively). All findings were qualitatively similar when analyzed across BW.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment effect of NOACs versus warfarin in atrial fibrillation is generally consistent for stroke/SEE across the spectrum of BMI and BW, whereas the reduction in major bleeding is attenuated in those with higher BMI or BW. Death and the net clinical outcome are overall reduced with NOACs over warfarin, although there remain uncertainties for these outcomes at a very high BMI and BW.

Net clinical benefit of extended dual pathway inhibition according to Baseline risk in patients with chronic coronary syndrome: a COMPASS substudy

AIMS

Guidelines recommend extended dual pathway inhibition (DPI) with aspirin and rivaroxaban in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) at high ischemic risk. The CHADS-P2A2RC score improves risk prediction and enables antithrombotic treatment allocation in these patients. This study evaluated the net clinical benefit of DPI treatment according to baseline risk as classified by the CHADS-P2A2RC score in patients with CCS included in the COMPASS trial.

METHODS

COMPASS patients with CCS (n = 14 670), randomized to aspirin alone or DPI, were stratified according to cardiovascular risk using the CHADS-P2A2RC score. Endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause death, fatal/critical organ bleeding, and composite adverse events (MACE and bleeding). Net clinical benefit was the 30-month risk difference of MACE and bleeding.

RESULTS

30-month incidences of MACE (7.9% vs 3.9%, HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.83-2.18) and fatal/critical organ bleeding (1.2% vs 0.8%, HR 1.49 [1.06-1.92]) were higher in high-risk (CHADS-P2A2RC ≥ 4) than low/moderate-risk (CHADS-P2A2RC < 4) patients. DPI reduced MACE (low/moderate-risk: HR 0.62 [0.47-0.82]; high-risk: HR 0.82 [0.68-0.99], p for interaction 0.09) and all-cause death (low/moderate-risk: HR 0.65 [0.46-0.91]; high-risk: HR 0.81 [0.65-1.00], p for interaction 0.29), without substantially increasing fatal/critical organ bleeding (low/moderate-risk: HR 1.35 [0.72-2.53]; high-risk: HR 1.18 [0.73-1.90], p for interaction 0.73). DPI provided net clinical benefit of similar magnitude in low/moderate-risk (-1.81% [-3.00 to -0.62]) and high-risk CCS patients (-1.96% [-3.60 to -0.33]).

CONCLUSIONS

As classified by the CHADS-P2A2RC score, low/moderate- and high-risk patients with CCS derived similar net clinical benefit and reduction in all-cause death from DPI treatment.

Bleeding Outcomes in Patients Treated With Asundexian in Phase II Trials

BACKGROUND

Phase II trials of asundexian were underpowered to detect important differences in bleeding.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to obtain best estimates of effects of asundexian vs active control/placebo on major and clinically relevant nonmajor (CRNM) and all bleeding, describe most common sites of bleeding, and explore association between asundexian exposure and bleeding.

METHODS

We performed a pooled analysis of 3 phase II trials of asundexian in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), recent acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or stroke. Bleeding was defined according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) criteria.

RESULTS

In patients with AF (n = 755), both asundexian 20 mg and 50 mg once daily vs apixaban had fewer major/CRNM events (3 of 249; incidence rate [IR] per 100 patient-years 5.47 vs 1 of 254 [IR: not calculable] vs 6 of 250 [IR: 11.10]) and all bleeding (12 of 249 [IR: 22.26] vs 10 of 254 [IR: 18.21] vs 26 of 250 [IR: 50.56]). In patients with recent AMI or stroke (n = 3,409), asundexian 10 mg, 20 mg, and 50 mg once daily compared with placebo had similar rates of major/CRNM events (44 of 840 [IR: 7.55] vs 42 of 843 [IR: 7.04] vs 56 of 845 [IR: 9.63] vs 41 of 851 [IR: 6.99]) and all bleeding (107 of 840 [IR: 19.57] vs 123 of 843 [IR: 22.45] vs 130 of 845 [IR: 24.19] vs 129 of 851 [IR: 23.84]). Most common sites of major/CRNM bleeding with asundexian were gastrointestinal, respiratory, urogenital, and skin. There was no significant association between asundexian exposure and major/CRNM bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses of phase II trials involving >500 bleeds highlight the potential for improved safety of asundexian compared with apixaban and similar safety compared with placebo. Further evidence on the efficacy of asundexian awaits the results of ongoing phase III trials.

Single Bolus r-SAK Before Primary PCI for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

It is uncertain whether adjunctive thrombolysis is beneficial for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 120 minutes of presentation. This study was to determine whether in patients presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction a single bolus recombinant staphylokinase (r-SAK) before timely PCI leads to improved patency of the infarct-related artery and reduces the infarct size.

METHODS

This is an open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized study. We enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who were within 12 hours of symptom onset of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and expected to undergo PCI within 120 minutes. Patients were administered loading doses of aspirin and ticagrelor and intravenous heparin and were randomized to receive 5 mg bolus of r-SAK or normal saline intravenously before PCI. The primary end point was Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 to 3 or grade 3 in the infarct-related artery 60 minutes after thrombolysis. The infarct size was detected by cardiac magnetic resonance 5 days after randomization. The safety end point was major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥3) during 30-day follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 283 patients were screened from 8 centers and 200 were randomized (median age, 58.5 years; 14% female). The median symptom to thrombolysis time was 252.5 (interquartile range, 142.8-423.8) minutes and thrombolysis to coronary arteriography was 50.0 (interquartile range, 37.0-66.0) minutes. Patients randomized to r-SAK compared with normal saline more often had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 to 3 (69.0% versus 29.0%; P<0.001) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 (51.0% versus 18.0%; P<0.001) and had smaller infarct size (21.91±10.84% versus 26.85±12.37%; P=0.016). There was no increase in major bleeding (r-SAK, 1.0% versus control, 3.0%; P=0.616).

CONCLUSIONS

A single bolus r-SAK before primary PCI for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction improves infarct-related artery patency and reduces infarct size without increasing major bleeding.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05023681.

When Direct Oral Anticoagulants Should Not Be Standard Treatment: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

For most patients, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over vitamin K antagonists for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and for venous thromboembolism treatment. However, randomized controlled trials suggest that DOACs may not be as efficacious or as safe as the current standard of care in conditions such as mechanical heart valves, thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome, and atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic heart disease. DOACs do not provide a net benefit in conditions such as embolic stroke of undetermined source. Their efficacy is uncertain for conditions such as left ventricular thrombus, catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and for patients with atrial fibrillation or venous thrombosis who have end-stage renal disease. This paper provides an evidence-based review of randomized controlled trials on DOACs, detailing when they have demonstrated efficacy and safety, when DOACs should not be the standard of care, where their safety and efficacy are uncertain, and areas requiring further research.

Outcomes of Patients with a Mechanical Heart Valve and Poor Anticoagulation Control on Warfarin

BACKGROUND

 Patients with a mechanical heart valve (MHV) require oral anticoagulation. Poor anticoagulation control is thought to be associated with adverse outcomes, but data are limited.

OBJECTIVE

 To assess the risks of clinical outcomes in patients with a MHV and poor anticoagulation control on warfarin.

PATIENTS/METHODS

 We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing MHV implantation at a tertiary care center (2010-2019). Primary outcome was a composite of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, or prosthetic valve thrombosis. Major bleeding and death were key secondary outcomes. We constructed multivariable regression models to assess the association between time in therapeutic range (TTR) on warfarin beyond 90 days after surgery with outcomes.

RESULTS

 We included 671 patients with a MHV (80.6% in aortic, 14.6% in mitral position; mean age 61 years, 30.3% female). Median follow-up was 4.9 years, mean TTR was 62.5% (14.5% TTR <40%, 24.6% TTR 40-60%, and 61.0% TTR >60%). Overall rates of the primary outcome, major bleeding, and death were 0.73, 1.41, and 1.44 per 100 patient-years. Corresponding rates for patients with TTR <40% were 1.31, 2.77, and 3.22 per 100 patient-years. In adjusted analyses, every 10% decrement in TTR was associated with a 31% increase in hazard for the primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.52), 34% increase in major bleeding (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.17-1.52), and 32% increase in death (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11-1.57).

CONCLUSION

 In contemporary patients with a MHV, poor anticoagulation control on warfarin was associated with increased risks of thrombotic events, bleeding, and death.

Individual lifetime benefit from low-dose colchicine in patients with chronic coronary artery disease

AIMS

Low-dose colchicine reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but absolute benefits may vary between individuals. This study aimed to assess the range of individual absolute benefits from low-dose colchicine according to patient risk profile.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guideline-recommended SMART-REACH model was combined with the relative treatment effect of low-dose colchicine and applied to patients with CAD from the Low-Dose Colchicine 2 (LoDoCo2) trial and the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (UCC-SMART) study (n = 10 830). Individual treatment benefits were expressed as 10-year absolute risk reductions (ARRs) for myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death (MACE), and MACE-free life-years gained. Predictions were also performed for MACE plus coronary revascularization (MACE+), using a new lifetime model derived in the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry. Colchicine was compared with other ESC guideline-recommended intensified (Step 2) prevention strategies, i.e. LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) reduction to 1.4 mmol/L and systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction to 130 mmHg. The generalizability to other populations was assessed in patients with CAD from REACH North America and Western Europe (n = 25 812). The median 10-year ARR from low-dose colchicine was 4.6% [interquartile range (IQR) 3.6-6.0%] for MACE and 8.6% (IQR 7.6-9.8%) for MACE+. Lifetime benefit was 2.0 (IQR 1.6-2.5) MACE-free years, and 3.4 (IQR 2.6-4.2) MACE+-free life-years gained. For LDL-c and SBP reduction, respectively, the median 10-year ARR for MACE was 3.0% (IQR 1.5-5.1%) and 1.7% (IQR 0.0-5.7%), and the lifetime benefit was 1.2 (IQR 0.6-2.1) and 0.7 (IQR 0.0-2.3) MACE-free life-years gained. Similar results were obtained for MACE+ and in American and European patients from REACH.

CONCLUSION

The absolute benefits of low-dose colchicine vary between individual patients with chronic CAD. They may be expected to be of at least similar magnitude to those of intensified LDL-c and SBP reduction in a majority of patients already on conventional lipid-lowering and blood pressure-lowering therapy.

Standard of care in advanced HIV disease: review of HIV treatment guidelines in six sub-Saharan African countries

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an evidence-based package of care to reduce mortality and morbidity among people with advanced HIV disease (AHD). Adoption of these recommendations by national guidelines in sub-Saharan Africa is poorly documented. We aimed to review national guidelines for AHD management across six selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa for benchmarking against the 2021 WHO recommendations.

METHODS

We reviewed national guidelines from six countries participating in an ongoing randomized controlled trial recruiting people with AHD. We extracted information addressing 18 items of AHD diagnosis and management across the following domains: [1] Definition of AHD, [2] Screening, [3] Prophylaxis, [4] Supportive care, and [5] HIV treatment. Data from national guideline documents were compared to the 2021 WHO consolidated guidelines on HIV and an agreement score was produced to evaluate extent of guideline adoption.

RESULTS

The distribution of categories of agreement varied for the national documents. Four of the six countries addressed all 18 items (Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda). Overall agreement with the WHO 2021 guidelines ranged from 9 to 15.5 out of 18 possible points: Malawi 15.5 points, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone 14.5 points, South Africa 13.5 points, Uganda 13.0 points and Botswana with 9.0 points. Most inconsistencies were reported for the delay of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in presence of opportunistic diseases. None of the six national guidelines aligned with WHO recommendations around ART timing in patients with tuberculosis. Agreement correlated with the year of publication of the national guideline.

CONCLUSION

National guidelines addressing the care of advanced HIV disease in sub-Saharan Africa are available. Besides optimal timing for start of ART in presence of tuberculosis, most national recommendations are in line with the 2021 WHO standards.

Effect of colchicine on perioperative atrial fibrillation and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery (COP-AF): an international randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers are associated with an increased risk of perioperative atrial fibrillation and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS). Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug that might reduce the incidence of these complications.

METHODS

COP-AF was a randomised trial conducted at 45 sites in 11 countries. Patients aged 55 years or older and undergoing major non-cardiac thoracic surgery were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oral colchicine 0·5 mg twice daily or matching placebo, starting within 4 h before surgery and continuing for 10 days. Randomisation was done with use of a computerised, web-based system, and was stratified by centre. Health-care providers, patients, data collectors, and adjudicators were masked to treatment assignment. The coprimary outcomes were clinically important perioperative atrial fibrillation and MINS during 14 days of follow-up. The main safety outcomes were a composite of sepsis or infection, and non-infectious diarrhoea. The intention-to-treat principle was used for all analyses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03310125.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 14, 2018, and June 27, 2023, we enrolled 3209 patients (mean age 68 years [SD 7], 1656 [51·6%] male). Clinically important atrial fibrillation occurred in 103 (6·4%) of 1608 patients assigned to colchicine, and 120 (7·5%) of 1601 patients assigned to placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0·85, 95% CI 0·65 to 1·10; absolute risk reduction [ARR] 1·1%, 95% CI -0·7 to 2·8; p=0·22). MINS occurred in 295 (18·3%) patients assigned to colchicine and 325 (20·3%) patients assigned to placebo (HR 0·89, 0·76 to 1·05; ARR 2·0%, -0·8 to 4·7; p=0·16). The composite outcome of sepsis or infection occurred in 103 (6·4%) patients in the colchicine group and 83 (5·2%) patients in the placebo group (HR 1·24, 0·93-1·66). Non-infectious diarrhoea was more common in the colchicine group (134 [8·3%] events) than the placebo group (38 [2·4%]; HR 3·64, 2·54-5·22).

INTERPRETATION

In patients undergoing major non-cardiac thoracic surgery, administration of colchicine did not significantly reduce the incidence of clinically important atrial fibrillation or MINS but increased the risk of mostly benign non-infectious diarrhoea.

FUNDING

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium, Innovation Fund of the Alternative Funding Plan for the Academic Health Sciences Centres of Ontario, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, Division of Cardiology at McMaster University, Canada; Hanela Foundation, Switzerland; and General Research Fund, Research Grants Council, Hong Kong.

Warfarin faring better: vitamin K antagonists beat rivaroxaban and apixaban in the INVICTUS and PROACT Xa trials

Although guidelines give preference to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), DOACs are not recommended in those with rheumatic heart disease or mechanical heart valves. The results of the INVICTUS trial (Investigation of Rheumatic AF Treatment Using Vitamin K Antagonists, Rivaroxaban or Aspirin Studies), which compared rivaroxaban with a VKA in patients with rheumatic heart disease-associated AF, and the PROACT Xa trial (A Trial to Determine if Participants with an On-X Aortic Valve Can be Maintained Safely on Apixaban), which compared apixaban with warfarin in patients with an On-X valve in the aortic position, support the use of VKAs for these indications. In this paper, we review the results of these trials, provide perspective on why VKAs were superior to DOACs, and discuss future directions for anticoagulation in these disorders.

Efficacy and safety of a bolus of half-dose r-SAK prior to primary PCI in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Rationale and design of the OPTIMA-6 trial

BACKGROUND

Time to reperfusion is the key to the treatment of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It is uncertain whether adjunctive thrombolytic therapy combined with contemporary antiplatelet agent ticagrelor improves outcomes as administered prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) expected to be performed within 120 minutes.

METHODS

OPTIMA-6 is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and superiority trial to evaluate the efficacy of a bolus of half-dose recombinant staphylokinase (r-SAK) vs placebo prior to timely primary PCI in patients with STEMI. Enrollment began in April 2023 and is expected to enroll 2,260 patients at approximately 50 centers. Patients with acute STEMI presenting ≤12 hours of symptom onset and expected to undergo primary PCI within 120 minutes but more than 30 minutes are to be randomized to a bolus of half-dose r-SAK or placebo. All recruited patients will be mandatory to take aspirin and ticagrelor and receive a bolus of loading dose heparin before the thrombolytic therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint is major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 90 days, and the MACE is defined as a composite of all-cause death, reinfarction, unplanned target vessel revascularization, heart failure or cardiogenic shock, and major ventricular arrhythmia. The primary safety endpoints are major bleeding events (BARC 3, 5) within 90 days.

CONCLUSIONS

OPTIMA-6 will reveal the efficacy and safety of a contemporary facilitated PCI with a bolus of half-dose r-SAK in combination with ticagrelor in patients with STEMI.

Colchicine and diabetes in patients with chronic coronary artery disease: insights from the LoDoCo2 randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Despite optimal treatment, patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are at high risk of cardiovascular events, emphasizing the need for new treatment options. The Low-Dose Colchicine 2 (LoDoCo2) trial demonstrated that colchicine reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic CAD. This analysis determines the efficacy of colchicine in patients with chronic CAD and DM as well as the effect of colchicine on the development of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

The LoDoCo2 trial randomized 5,522 patients to placebo or colchicine 0.5 mg once daily, with a median follow-up of 28.6 months. The primary composite endpoint was cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven revascularization. The effect of its treatment in patients with and without DM was evaluated by including an interaction term in the model.

Results

A total of 1,007 participants (18.2%) had T2DM at baseline. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [(95% confidence interval (CI)] for the primary endpoint in the T2DM group was 1.52 (1.15-2.01, p < 0.01) compared with the group without T2DM. The HR for the treatment effect on the primary endpoint was 0.87 (0.61-1.25) in participants with T2DM and 0.64 (0.51-0.80) in participants without diabetes (pinteraction = 0.14). The incidence of new-onset T2DM was 1.5% (34 out of 2,270) in the colchicine group and 2.2% (49 out of 2,245) in the placebo group (p = 0.10).

Discussion

In conclusion, based on the current evidence, the beneficial effects of colchicine on cardiovascular endpoints are consistent regardless of DM status. The potential benefits of colchicine in preventing new-onset DM need further investigation. These findings are only hypothesis-generating and require larger prospective trials to confirm the results.

In healthy older adults, low-dose aspirin increased incident anemia at a median 4.7 y

SOURCE CITATION

McQuilten ZK, Thao LT, Pasricha SR, et al. Effect of low-dose aspirin versus placebo on incidence of anemia in the elderly: a secondary analysis of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly trial. Ann Intern Med. 2023;176:913-921. 37335992.

Adult malaria mortality during 2019 at Bo Government Hospital, Sierra Leone

It is uncertain whether malaria is an important cause of death among adults in endemic areas. We performed a chart review of adults admitted to Bo Government Hospital during 2019. Of 893 admissions, 149 (59% female, mean age 58.5 years) had a laboratory diagnosis of malaria and 22 (14.8%) died. Mortality was significantly higher among patients with severe malaria compared with those who had non-severe malaria (6/20 [30%] versus 16/129 [12.4%], p=0.031).  Our results suggest that malaria is a common cause of death in hospitalized Sierra Leonian adults.

In DVT, oral DTIs and factor Xa inhibitors reduce major bleeding but not recurrent VTE vs. conventional anticoagulants

SOURCE CITATION

Wang X, Ma Y, Hui X, et al. Oral direct thrombin inhibitors or oral factor Xa inhibitors versus conventional anticoagulants for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;4:CD010956. 37058421.

Plasma angiopoietin-2 and its association with heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation

AIMS

Several biomarkers are associated with clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but a causal relationship has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate angiopoietin-2, a novel candidate biomarker of endothelial inflammation and vascular remodelling, in patients with AF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Angiopoietin-2 was measured in plasma obtained from patients with AF treated with aspirin monotherapy (exploration cohort, n = 2987) or with oral anticoagulation (validation cohort, n = 13 079). Regression models were built to assess the associations between angiopoietin-2, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. In both cohorts, plasma angiopoietin-2 was independently associated with AF on the baseline electrocardiogram and persistent/permanent AF, age, history of heart failure, female sex, tobacco use/smoking, body mass index, renal dysfunction, diabetes, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Angiopoietin-2 was independently associated with subsequent hospitalization for heart failure after adjusting for age, creatinine, and clinical characteristics in the exploration cohort [c-index 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-0.82; third vs. first quartile, hazard ratio (HR) 1.74, 95% CI 1.26-2.41] and in the validation cohort (c-index 0.76, 95% CI 0.74-0.78; HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.37-1.82). In both cohorts, the association persisted when also adjusting for NT-proBNP (P ≤ 0.001). In full multivariable models also adjusted for NT-proBNP, angiopoietin-2 did not show statistically significant associations with ischaemic stroke, cardiovascular and all-cause death, or major bleeding that were consistent across the two cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AF, plasma levels of angiopoietin-2 were independently associated with subsequent hospitalization for heart failure and provided incremental prognostic value to clinical risk factors and NT-proBNP.

Individual net clinical outcome with oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation using the ABC-AF risk scores

BACKGROUND

Decisions on stroke prevention strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) depend on the perceived risks of stroke and bleeding with different antithrombotic treatment strategies. The study objectives were to evaluate net clinical outcome with oral anticoagulation (OAC) for the individual patient with AF and to identify clinically relevant thresholds for OAC treatment.

METHODS

Patients with AF receiving OAC treatment in the randomized ARISTOTLE and RE-LY trials, with available biomarkers for calculation of ABC-AF scores at baseline, were included (n = 23,121). Observed 1-year risk on OAC was compared with predicted 1-year risk if the same patients would not have received OAC using the ABC-AF scores calibrated for aspirin. Net clinical outcome was defined as the sum of stroke and major bleeding risks.

RESULTS

The ratio between the 1-year incidence of major bleeding and stroke/systemic embolism events ranged from 1.4 to 10.6 according to different ABC-AF risk profiles. Net clinical outcome analyses showed that in patients with an ABC-AF-stroke risk >1% per year on OAC (>3% without OAC), treatment with OAC consistently provides larger net clinical benefit than no-OAC treatment. In patients with an ABC-AF-stroke risk <1.0% per year on OAC (<3% without OAC) an individualized balancing of risks regarding OAC or no-OAC treatment is needed.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AF, the ABC-AF risk scores allow an individual and continuous estimate of the balance between benefits and risks with OAC treatment. This precision medicine tool therefore seems useful as decision support and visualizes the net clinical benefit or harm with OAC treatment (http://www.abc-score.com/abcaf/).

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00412984 (ARISTOTLE) and NCT00262600 (RE-LY).

Association of Low-Dose Colchicine With Incidence of Knee and Hip Replacements : Exploratory Analyses From a Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis is a major contributor to pain and disability worldwide. Given that inflammation plays an important role in the development of osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatory drugs may slow disease progression.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether colchicine, 0.5 mg daily, reduces incident total knee replacements (TKRs) and total hip replacements (THRs).

DESIGN

Exploratory analysis of the LoDoCo2 (Low-Dose Colchicine 2) randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12614000093684).

SETTING

43 centers in Australia and the Netherlands.

PATIENTS

5522 patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

INTERVENTION

Colchicine, 0.5 mg, or placebo once daily.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was time to first TKR or THR since randomization. All analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

A total of 2762 patients received colchicine and 2760 received placebo during a median follow-up of 28.6 months. During the trial, TKR or THR was performed in 68 patients (2.5%) in the colchicine group and 97 (3.5%) in the placebo group (incidence rate, 0.90 vs. 1.30 per 100 person-years; incidence rate difference, -0.40 [95% CI, -0.74 to -0.06] per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.69 [CI, 0.51 to 0.95]). In sensitivity analyses, similar results were obtained when patients with gout at baseline were excluded and when joint replacements that occurred in the first 3 and 6 months of follow-up were omitted.

LIMITATION

LoDoCo2 was not designed to investigate the effect of colchicine in osteoarthritis of the knee or hip and did not collect information specifically on osteoarthritis.

CONCLUSION

In this exploratory analysis of the LoDoCo2 trial, use of colchicine, 0.5 mg daily, was associated with a lower incidence of TKR and THR. Further investigation of colchicine therapy to slow disease progression in osteoarthritis is warranted.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

None.

Outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke while on oral anticoagulation

AIMS

The prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke while taking oral anticoagulation is poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the outcomes of patients following a stroke event while on oral anticoagulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Individual participant data from five pivotal randomized trials of antithrombotic therapy in AF were used to assess the outcomes of patients with a post-randomization ischemic stroke while on study medication (warfarin, standard-, or lower-dose direct oral anticoagulant regimen) during trial follow-up. The primary outcome was recurrent ischemic stroke after the first post-randomization ischemic stroke. The primary analysis included 1163 patients with a first post-randomization ischemic stroke while on study medication (median age 73 years, 39.3% female, 35.4% history of stroke before trial enrollment). During a median continued follow-up of 337 days, 74 patients had a recurrent ischemic stroke [cumulative incidence at 1 year: 7.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.2%-8.7%]. The cumulative incidence of mortality at 3 months after stroke was 12.4% (95% CI 10.5%-14.4%). Consistent results for the incidence of recurrent ischemic stroke at 1 year were obtained in an analysis accounting for the competing risk of death (6.2%, 95% CI 4.8%-7.9%) and in a landmark analysis excluding the first 2 weeks after the index stroke and only including patients without permanent study drug discontinuation since then (6.8%, 95% CI 4.6%-8.9%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with AF and ischemic stroke while on oral anticoagulation are at increased risk of recurrent ischemic stroke and death. These patients currently have an unmet medical need.

Dietary intake and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic vascular disease: insights from the COMPASS trial cohort

AIMS

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE). There are limited data regarding dietary patterns and the risk of recurrent MACE and MALE in CAD and PAD patients. We aimed to identify dietary patterns associated with MACE and MALE in patients with CAD and/or PAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analysed data collected from patients enrolled into the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) trial, in which diet was assessed by a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline. Two dietary pattern scores, the modified Alternate Healthy Eating Index (mAHEI) and Mediterranean Diet Score (mMDS), were calculated. We tested the association between mAHEI and mMDS and the incidence of MACE and/or MALE. The mean mAHEI score was 23.0 ± 7.7 (out of 70) overall and was similar comparing CAD and PAD patients. The incidence of MACE or MALE was 6.3% in the lowest diet quality quartile (as assessed by mAHEI) compared with 4.2% in the highest quartile over 30 months. In the fully adjusted model, the hazard ratio of a low diet quality (Quartile 1) compared with the highest (Quartile 4) for MACE or MALE was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.08-1.49; P = 0.004, Q1 vs. Q4). This excess hazard was primarily driven by higher MACE in both the CAD and PAD cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor diet quality as assessed by the mAHEI is independently associated with a higher risk of recurrent MACE and MALE in patients with chronic CAD and/or PAD.

Clinical Studies with Anticoagulants that Have Changed Clinical Practice

Anticoagulant therapy is the cornerstone of treatment and prevention of arterial and venous thromboembolism. Taking a historical perspective, starting in the 1960s, and progressing through to 2022, we discuss key clinical trials of anticoagulants that have changed clinical practice, and examine obstacles encountered in bringing these anticoagulants to the clinic. The design of some of the early studies that shaped clinical practice was poor by current standards, but their results were influential because nothing better was available. Both heparin and vitamin K antagonists had been in clinical use for several decades before well-designed trials in the 1980s optimized their dosing and enhanced their safety and efficacy. Low-molecular-weight heparin then replaced unfractionated heparin because it had a more predictable dose-response and a longer half-life, thereby allowing it to be used conveniently in out-of-hospital settings. More recently, direct oral anticoagulants became the oral anticoagulants of choice for most indications because they were shown to be at least as safe and effective as vitamin K antagonists when used in fixed doses without the need for laboratory monitoring. The design of the trials that led to the approval of the direct oral anticoagulants was excellent, but further studies are required to optimize their dosing in selected patients who were underrepresented in these trials.

Total events and net clinical benefit of rivaroxaban and aspirin in patients with chronic coronary or peripheral artery disease: The COMPASS trial

BACKGROUND

Low dose rivaroxaban with aspirin reduced major cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to aspirin alone in patients with cardiovascular disease although effects on total events are unknown.

METHODS

The COMPASS clinical trial randomized 27,395 participants with chronic coronary and/or peripheral artery disease to rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg daily, rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily alone, or aspirin 100 mg daily. We analyzed total (first and recurrent) MACE outcomes of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction, and the primary safety outcome of major bleeding. Exploratory analyses included on-treatment and net clinical benefit. Total MACE and safety events were modeled for each treatment.

RESULTS

MACE events were lowest in rivaroxaban with aspirin (379 first MACE, 432 total MACE) compared with rivaroxaban (448 first, 508 total) or aspirin alone (496 first, 574 total). Rivaroxaban and aspirin reduced total MACE events compared with aspirin alone [HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66-0.85, P < .0001, number needed to treat for 2 years (NNT_2y) of 63]. Total major bleeding was higher for rivaroxaban with aspirin compared to aspirin, but severe bleeding was not increased. The net clinical benefit of rivaroxaban plus aspirin was 20% higher compared with aspirin alone [HR 0.80 (95% CI 16.3%-31.6%)]. Rivaroxaban alone had no benefit on MACE outcomes compared with aspirin alone. MACE outcomes were similar for those on and off randomized treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Low dose rivaroxaban with aspirin significantly reduces first and total cardiovascular events compared with aspirin alone with a NNT_2y of 63 and a 20% net clinical benefit.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01776424. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01776424.

Adult malaria mortality during 2019 at Bo Government Hospital, Sierra Leone

It is uncertain whether malaria is an important cause of death among adults in endemic areas. We performed a chart review of adults admitted to Bo Government Hospital during 2019. Of 893 admissions, 149 (59% female, mean age 58.5 years) had a laboratory diagnosis of malaria and 22 (14.8%) died. Mortality was significantly higher among patients with severe malaria compared with those who had non-severe malaria (6/20 [30%] versus 16/129 [12.4%], p=0.031).  Our results suggest that malaria is a common cause of death in hospitalized Sierra Leonian adults.

Final Study Report of Andexanet Alfa for Major Bleeding With Factor Xa Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Andexanet alfa is a modified recombinant inactive factor Xa (FXa) designed to reverse FXa inhibitors. ANNEXA-4 (Andexanet Alfa, a Novel Antidote to the Anticoagulation Effects of Factor Xa Inhibitors) was a multicenter, prospective, phase-3b/4, single-group cohort study that evaluated andexanet alfa in patients with acute major bleeding. The results of the final analyses are presented.

METHODS

Patients with acute major bleeding within 18 hours of FXa inhibitor administration were enrolled. Co-primary end points were anti-FXa activity change from baseline during andexanet alfa treatment and excellent or good hemostatic efficacy, defined by a scale used in previous reversal studies, at 12 hours. The efficacy population included patients with baseline anti-FXa activity levels above predefined thresholds (≥75 ng/mL for apixaban and rivaroxaban, ≥40 ng/mL for edoxaban, and ≥0.25 IU/mL for enoxaparin; reported in the same units used for calibrators) who were adjudicated as meeting major bleeding criteria (modified International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis definition). The safety population included all patients. Major bleeding criteria, hemostatic efficacy, thrombotic events (stratified by occurring before or after restart of either prophylactic [ie, a lower dose, for prevention rather than treatment] or full-dose oral anticoagulation), and deaths were assessed by an independent adjudication committee. Median endogenous thrombin potential at baseline and across the follow-up period was a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

There were 479 patients enrolled (mean age, 78 years; 54% male, 86% White; 81% anticoagulated for atrial fibrillation at a median time of 11.4 hours since last dose, with 245 (51%) on apixaban, 176 (37%) on rivaroxaban, 36 (8%) on edoxaban, and 22 (5%) on enoxaparin. Bleeding was predominantly intracranial (n=331 [69%]) or gastrointestinal (n=109 [23%]). In evaluable apixaban patients (n=172), median anti-FXa activity decreased from 146.9 ng/mL to 10.0 ng/mL (reduction, 93% [95% CI, 94-93]); in rivaroxaban patients (n=132), it decreased from 214.6 ng/mL to 10.8 ng/mL (94% [95% CI, 95-93]); in edoxaban patients (n=28), it decreased from 121.1 ng/mL to 24.4 ng/mL (71% [95% CI, 82-65); and in enoxaparin patients (n=17), it decreased from 0.48 IU/mL to 0.11 IU/mL (75% [95% CI, 79-67]). Excellent or good hemostasis occurred in 274 of 342 evaluable patients (80% [95% CI, 75-84]). In the safety population, thrombotic events occurred in 50 patients (10%); in 16 patients, this occurred during treatment with prophylactic anticoagulation that began after the bleeding event. No thrombotic episodes occurred after oral anticoagulation restart. Specific to certain populations, reduction of anti-FXa activity from baseline to nadir significantly predicted hemostatic efficacy in patients with intracranial hemorrhage (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.54-0.70]) and correlated with lower mortality in patients <75 years of age (adjusted P=0.022; unadjusted P=0.003). Median endogenous thrombin potential was within the normal range by the end of andexanet alfa bolus through 24 hours for all FXa inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with major bleeding associated with the use of FXa inhibitors, treatment with andexanet alfa reduced anti-FXa activity and was associated with good or excellent hemostatic efficacy in 80% of patients.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov; Unique identifier: NCT02329327.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants in the Very Elderly

No Abstract.

Factor XI inhibitors: cardiovascular perspectives

Anticoagulants are the cornerstone for prevention and treatment of thrombosis but are not completely effective, and concerns about the risk of bleeding continue to limit their uptake. Animal studies and experience from patients with genetic coagulation factor XI deficiency suggesting that this factor is more important for thrombosis than for haemostasis raises the potential for drugs that target factor XI to provide safer anticoagulation. Multiple factor XI inhibitors are currently under evaluation in clinical trials, including parenterally administered antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and orally active small-molecule inhibitors. Promising results of phase 2 trials in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery, and in those with end-stage kidney disease, atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes have led to large phase 3 trials that are currently ongoing. We here review premises for the use of these agents, results so far accrued, ongoing studies, and perspectives for future patient care.

Bone morphogenetic protein 10: a novel risk marker of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

AIMS

Biomarkers specifically related to atrial tissue may increase the understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) and further improve risk prediction in this setting. Bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) is a protein expressed in the atrial myocardium. We evaluated the association between BMP10 and the risk of ischaemic stroke and other cardiovascular events in large cohorts of patients with AF, treated with and without oral anticoagulation (OAC).

METHODS AND RESULTS

BMP10 was measured in plasma samples collected at randomisation in patients with AF without OAC in the ACTIVE A and AVERROES trials (n = 2974), and with OAC in the ARISTOTLE trial (n = 13 079). BMP10 was analysed with a prototype Elecsys immunoassay. Associations with outcomes were evaluated by Cox-regression models adjusted for clinical characteristics, kidney function, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Median concentrations of BMP10 were 2.47 and 2.44 ng/mL, in the non-OAC and OAC cohort, respectively. Increasing BMP10 was associated with lower body mass index, older age, female sex, kidney dysfunction, and AF rhythm. BMP10 was consistently associated with ischaemic stroke. In the non-OAC cohort, BMP10 increased the concordance index of the multivariable model from 0.713 to 0.733 (P = 0.004) and in the OAC cohort from 0.673 to 0.694 (P < 0.001). Additionally, BMP10 maintained a significant prognostic value after additionally adjusting for NT-proBNP. BMP10 was not independently associated with bleeding or with death.

CONCLUSION

The novel atrial biomarker BMP10 was independently associated with ischaemic stroke in patients with AF irrespective of OAC treatment. BMP10 seems to be more specifically related to the risk of ischaemic stroke in AF.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

In this study, BMP10 may be a novel specific biomarker of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, irrespective of oral anticoagulation.

Long-Term Treatment with the Combination of Rivaroxaban and Aspirin in Patients with Chronic Coronary or Peripheral Artery Disease: Outcomes During the Open Label Extension of the COMPASS trial

AIMS

To describe outcomes of patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD) enrolled in the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) randomized trial who were treated with the combination of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily and aspirin 100 mg once daily during long-term open-label extension (LTOLE).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Of the 27 395 patients enrolled in COMPASS, 12 964 (mean age at baseline 67.2 years) from 455 sites in 32 countries were enrolled in LTOLE and treated with the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin for a median of 374 additional days (range 1-1191 days). During LTOLE, the incident events per 100 patient years were as follows: for the primary outcome [cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (MI)] 2.35 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.11-2.61], mortality 1.87 (1.65-2.10), stroke 0.62 (0.50-0.76), and MI 1.02 (0.86-1.19), with CIs that overlapped those seen during the randomized treatment phase with the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin. The incidence rates for major and minor bleeding were 1.01 (0.86-1.19) and 2.49 (2.24-2.75), compared with 1.67 (1.48-1.87) and 5.11 (95% CI 4.77-5.47), respectively, during the randomized treatment phase with the combination.

CONCLUSION

In patients with chronic CAD and/or PAD, extended combination treatment for a median of 1 year and a maximum of 3 years was associated with incidence rates for efficacy and bleeding that were similar to or lower than those seen during the randomized treatment phase, without any new safety signals.

Colchicine and the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (ACT): an open-label, factorial, randomised, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 disease is accompanied by a dysregulated immune response and hypercoagulability. The Anti-Coronavirus Therapies (ACT) inpatient trial aimed to evaluate anti-inflammatory therapy with colchicine and antithrombotic therapy with the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin for prevention of disease progression in patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

METHODS

The ACT inpatient, open-label, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised, controlled trial was done at 62 clinical centres in 11 countries. Patients aged at least 18 years with symptomatic, laboratory confirmed COVID-19 who were within 72 h of hospitalisation or worsening clinically if already hospitalised were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive colchicine 1·2 mg followed by 0·6 mg 2 h later and then 0·6 mg twice daily for 28 days versus usual care; and in a second (1:1) randomisation, to the combination of rivaroxaban 2·5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily for 28 days versus usual care. Investigators and patients were not masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome, assessed at 45 days in the intention-to-treat population, for the colchicine randomisation was the composite of the need for high-flow oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or death; and for the rivaroxaban plus aspirin randomisation was the composite of major thrombosis (myocardial infarction, stroke, acute limb ischaemia, or pulmonary embolism), the need for high-flow oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or death. The trial is registered at www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov, NCT04324463 and is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Oct 2, 2020, and Feb 10, 2022, at 62 sites in 11 countries, 2749 patients were randomly assigned to colchicine or control and the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin or to the control. 2611 patients were included in the analysis of colchicine (n=1304) versus control (n=1307); 2119 patients were included in the analysis of rivaroxaban and aspirin (n=1063) versus control (n=1056). Follow-up was more than 98% complete. Overall, 368 (28·2%) of 1304 patients allocated to colchicine and 356 (27·2%) of 1307 allocated to control had a primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR] 1·04, 95% CI 0·90-1·21, p=0·58); and 281 (26·4%) of 1063 patients allocated to the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin and 300 (28·4%) of 1056 allocated to control had a primary outcome (HR 0·92, 95% CI 0·78-1·09, p=0·32). Results were consistent in subgroups defined by vaccination status, disease severity at baseline, and timing of randomisation in relation to onset of symptoms. There was no increase in the number of patients who had at least one serious adverse event for colchicine versus control groups (87 [6·7%] of 1304 vs 90 [6·9%] of 1307) or with rivaroxaban and aspirin versus control groups (85 [8·0%] vs 91 [8·6%]). Among patients assigned to colchicine, 8 (0·61%) had adverse events that led to discontinuation of study drug, mostly gastrointestinal in nature. 17 (1·6%) patients assigned to the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin had bleeding compared with seven (0·66%) of those allocated to control (p=0·042); the number of serious bleeding events was two (0·19%) versus six (0·57%), respectively (p=0·18). No patients assigned to rivaroxaban and aspirin had serious adverse events that led to discontinuation of study drug.

INTERPRETATION

Among patients hospitalised with COVID-19, neither colchicine nor the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin prevent disease progression or death.

FUNDING

Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Bayer, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences Research Institute, Thistledown Foundation.

TRANSLATIONS

For the Portuguese, Russian and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Colchicine and aspirin in community patients with COVID-19 (ACT): an open-label, factorial, randomised, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The large number of patients worldwide infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus has overwhelmed health-care systems globally. The Anti-Coronavirus Therapies (ACT) outpatient trial aimed to evaluate anti-inflammatory therapy with colchicine and antithrombotic therapy with aspirin for prevention of disease progression in community patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

The ACT outpatient, open-label, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised, controlled trial, was done at 48 clinical sites in 11 countries. Patients in the community aged 30 years and older with symptomatic, laboratory confirmed COVID-19 who were within 7 days of diagnosis and at high risk of disease progression were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive colchicine 0·6 mg twice daily for 3 days and then 0·6 mg once daily for 25 days versus usual care, and in a second (1:1) randomisation to receive aspirin 100 mg once daily for 28 days versus usual care. Investigators and patients were not masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was assessed at 45 days in the intention-to-treat population; for the colchicine randomisation it was hospitalisation or death, and for the aspirin randomisation it was major thrombosis, hospitalisation, or death. The ACT outpatient trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324463 and is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Aug 27, 2020, and Feb 10, 2022, 3917 patients were randomly assigned to colchicine or control and to aspirin or control; after excluding 36 patients due to administrative reasons 3881 individuals were included in the analysis (n=1939 colchicine vs n=1942 control; n=1945 aspirin vs 1936 control). Follow-up was more than 99% complete. Overall event rates were 5 (0·1%) of 3881 for major thrombosis, 123 (3·2%) of 3881 for hospitalisation, and 23 (0·6%) of 3881 for death; 66 (3·4%) of 1939 patients allocated to colchicine and 65 (3·3%) of 1942 patients allocated to control experienced hospitalisation or death (hazard ratio [HR] 1·02, 95% CI 0·72-1·43, p=0·93); and 59 (3·0%) of 1945 of patients allocated to aspirin and 73 (3·8%) of 1936 patients allocated to control experienced major thrombosis, hospitalisation, or death (HR 0·80, 95% CI 0·57-1·13, p=0·21). Results for the primary outcome were consistent in all prespecified subgroups, including according to baseline vaccination status, timing of randomisation in relation to onset of symptoms (post-hoc analysis), and timing of enrolment according to the phase of the pandemic (post-hoc analysis). There were more serious adverse events with colchicine than with control (34 patients [1·8%] of 1939 vs 27 [1·4%] of 1942) but none in either group that led to discontinuation of study interventions. There was no increase in serious adverse events with aspirin versus control (31 [1·6%] vs 31 [1·6%]) and none that led to discontinuation of study interventions.

INTERPRETATION

The results provide no support for the use of colchicine or aspirin to prevent disease progression or death in outpatients with COVID-19.

FUNDING

Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Bayer, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences Research Institute, and Thistledown Foundation.

TRANSLATIONS

For the Portuguese, Russian and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Health Status and Cognitive Function for Risk Stratification in Chronic Coronary and Peripheral Artery Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It is unclear whether health status and cognitive function assessments can augment traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) biomedical risk prediction frameworks. We examined the association between health status and cognitive function and subsequent adverse cardiovascular and limb events in CAD and PAD.

METHODS

Stable CAD and PAD patients from the international, multi-center COMPASS trial completed the visual analogue scale, (VAS) of the EQ-5D-3L to assess overall health status, and the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST) to assess cognitive function. Main outcomes were incident development of major adverse cardiovascular events, and the combined endpoint major adverse cardiovascular or limb events. The EQ VAS (per 10 unit increase) and DSST (per 5 unit increase) were added to fully adjusted (medications, demographics, cardiovascular history and risk factors) hierarchical Cox regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 23,433 patients were in the CAD cohort and 6,899 in the PAD cohort. Among both the CAD and PAD groups, higher scores on the EQ VAS (CAD: HR = 0.89, 95%CI 0.88-0.89; PAD HR = 0.89, 95%CI 0.88-0.89) and DSST (CAD HR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.94-0.95) (PAD HR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.94-0.95) were associated with a lower risk of a major adverse cardiovascular or limb events. Population attributable risks associated with the lower two quartiles vs. upper quartiles for the EQ-5D and DSST scores were 7% and 16%, respectively in the CAD cohort; and for PAD, at 14% and 18%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Adding health status and cognitive functioning information to biomedical evaluations can augment cardiovascular risk-stratification in CAD and PAD.

Comparison of Investigator-Reported vs Centrally Adjudicated Major Adverse Cardiac Events: A Secondary Analysis of the COMPASS Trial

IMPORTANCE

In the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) trial, there was a significant reduction in the adjudicated primary outcome among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease randomized to dual pathway inhibition (rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg daily) vs aspirin monotherapy, but not with rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily vs aspirin monotherapy. Whether the results are similar without adjudication is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of dual pathway inhibition (with rivaroxaban plus aspirin) or rivaroxaban monotherapy compared with aspirin monotherapy on investigator-reported CV events and to understand the extent of concordance between investigator-reported and centrally adjudicated clinical events.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a secondary analysis of the COMPASS trial, an international, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized clinical trial with a 3-by-2 partial factorial design that evaluated participants with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease receiving rivaroxaban plus aspirin, rivaroxaban monotherapy, or aspirin monotherapy. End points were collected by blinded site investigators and adjudicated by a blinded clinical end point committee. Data were analyzed from March 2013 through February 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants received dual inhibition pathway (2.5 mg rivaroxaban twice daily plus 100 mg aspirin once daily), rivaroxaban monotherapy (5 mg twice daily), or aspirin monotherapy (100 mg once daily).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of cardiovascular (CV) death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (MI). Adjudicated and investigator-reported end points were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 27 395 patients (mean [SD] age, 68.2 [7.9] years; 78.0% men) were assessed, including 9152 patients randomized to dual pathway inhibition, 9117 patients randomized to rivaroxaban monotherapy, and 9126 patients randomized to aspirin monotherapy. Adjudication reduced the number of events by 10% to 15% for most end points. Among investigator-reported end points, dual pathway inhibition significantly reduced the rate of the primary efficacy outcome compared with aspirin alone (411 patients [4.5%] vs 542 patients [5.9%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.75 [95% CI, 0.66-0.85]; P < .001), with similar reduction in adjudicated end points, (379 patients [4.1%] vs 496 patients [5.4%]; HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66-0.86]; P < .001). Likewise, effects on ischemic end points were highly concordant (κ statistic = 0.94 [95% CI, 0.93-0.95] for the primary composite end point). Unlike with adjudicated outcomes, there was a significant reduction in the primary end point with rivaroxaban monotherapy vs aspirin monotherapy using investigator-reported events (477 patients [5.2%] vs 542 patients [5.9%]; HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.78-0.99]; P = .04) compared with adjudicated events (448 patients [4.9%] vs 496 patients [5.4%]; HR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.79-1.03]; P = .12).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This secondary analysis of the COMPASS trial found that whether assessed by blinded site investigators or adjudicators, dual pathway inhibition significantly reduced CV events among patients with stable atherosclerotic disease compared with aspirin plus placebo. These findings suggest that using investigator-reported events in blinded clinical trials may be a more efficient alternative to adjudication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01776424.

Antithrombotic treatment beyond one year after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aims

Beyond 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), guidelines recommend anticoagulant monotherapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) rather than dual therapy with an anticoagulant and an antiplatelet drug. The risks and benefits of this strategy, however, remain uncertain. We examined hospitalization for bleeding and ischemic risk beyond 1 year after PCI in patients with AF treated with monotherapy versus dual therapy. Furthermore, among patients treated with monotherapy, we compared direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy and vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy.

Methods and results

We included all patients with AF undergoing first-time PCI between 2003 and 2017 from the Western Denmark Heart Registry and followed them for up to 4 years. Follow-up started 15 months after PCI to enable assessment of medical treatment after 12 months. Using a Cox regression model, we computed weighted hazard ratios (HRw) of hospitalization for bleeding and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Analyses comparing monotherapy versus dual therapy included 3331 patients, and analyses comparing DOAC versus VKA monotherapy included 1275 patients. Risks of hospitalization for bleeding (HRw 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75–1.09) and MACE (HRw 1.04, 95% CI 0.90–1.19) were similar with monotherapy and dual therapy. Similarly, risks of hospitalization for bleeding (HRw 1.27, 95% CI 0.84–1.92) and MACE (HRw 1.15, 95% CI 0.87–1.50) were equal with DOAC and VKA monotherapy.

Conclusion

Our results support long-term OAC monotherapy beyond 1 year after PCI in patients with atrial fibrillation and suggest that DOAC monotherapy is as safe and effective as VKA monotherapy.

End-of-trial inflammatory biomarkers, lipid levels, creatine kinase and markers of renal and liver function in the LoDoCo2 trial

Background

The Low-Dose Colchicine 2 (LoDoCo2) trial demonstrated that colchicine reduced major cardiovascular events in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). The effect of long-term colchicine treatment on inflammatory biomarkers and markers reflecting renal and liver function have not been investigated yet.

Purpose

This substudy examines levels of inflammatory biomarkers, lipid fractions, creatine kinase (CK) and markers of renal and liver function at close-out of the trial.

Methods

The LoDoCo2 trial randomly assigned patients with chronic CAD to colchicine 0.5 mg once daily or placebo. Blood samples were drawn during close-out visits after a median follow-up of 32.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 24.0–48.6) months.

Results

Assignment to colchicine was associated with lower levels of high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (0.94 mg/L [0.53–1.93] vs. 1.24 mg/L [0.73–2.55]; −24.2%; p&lt;0.01) and interleukin-6 (2.70 ng/L [1.79–4.18] vs. 3.16 ng/L [2.07–4.95]; −14.9%; p&lt;0.01), but was not associated with any differences in lipid fractions or markers of renal function. Although CK levels were higher after colchicine (123.0 U/L, [84.0–184.0] vs. 110.0 U/L, [77.0–164.0], p&lt;0.01), the number of participants with marked elevations of CK (&gt;5 times upper limit of normal [ULN]) was low and not different between treatment groups. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ULN 40 U/L) and albumin (ULN 50 U/L) were higher (p&lt;0.01) in the colchicine group compared to placebo (30.0 U/L [22.0–40.0] vs. 26.0 U/L [19.0–34.0] and 43.01 g/L±2.39 vs. 42.64 g/L±2.48, respectively). There were no differences in gamma-glutamyl transferase or bilirubin.

Conclusion

Long-term low-dose colchicine in patients with chronic CAD was associated with lower levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 but was not associated with clinically important differences in lipid fractions, CK, renal or liver function.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): The National Health Medical Research Council of AustraliaThe Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development

The effects of colchicine in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic coronary artery disease: a post-hoc analysis of the LoDoCo2-trial

Background

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and is accelerated by diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) who also have DM are at high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. The role of inflammation in atherosclerosis is well established, whereas the role of inflammation on incident and progression of DM has been hypothesized. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in particular, may play an important role in the onset and progression of T2DM. The anti-inflammatory drug colchicine attenuates the NLRP3-inflammasome. The Low-Dose Colchicine 2 (LoDoCo2) trial showed that colchicine reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic CAD.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of colchicine in patients with chronic CAD and DM on cardiovascular events as well as the effect of colchicine on the development of new-onset DM.

Methods

The LoDoCo2 trial randomized 5522 to placebo or colchicine, with a median follow-up of 28.6 months (interquartile range 20.5–44.4). The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, or ischaemia-driven revascularization. Secondary outcomes consisted of the aforementioned events, separately. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate univariable associations between DM status for all endpoints in the placebo group. The interactions between treatment group and DM status were evaluated with the addition of treatment and the treatment-by-DM variable interaction.

Results

In total, 1007 participants (18.2%) had DM at baseline. The hazard ratio for the primary endpoint was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.61–1.25) in those with DM and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.51–0.80) in those without DM (p for interaction&gt;0.05). Treatment effects of colchicine were consistent over all secondary endpoints (p for interaction&gt;0.05). The incidence of new-onset DM was 1.5% (34/2270) in the colchicine group and 2.2% (49/2245) in the placebo group (p=0.10). Participants with DM were at higher risk for all endpoints. The primary composite end point in the placebo group occurred in 13.0% (67/515) patients with DM and in 8.8% (197/2245) of the patients without DM (unadjusted hazard ratio 1.54 [95% CI 1.16–2.03, p&lt;0.01]) compared to the group without DM. DM was also strongly associated with the occurrence of all secondary end points.

Conclusion

This study shows that the beneficial effects of colchicine on cardiovascular endpoints are consistent regardless of DM status. The data indicate that larger trials are needed to assess whether colchicine reduces the incidence of new-onset DM.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): National Health Medical Research Council of Australia and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development

Impact of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 rs956115 and CYP2C19 rs4244285 Genotypes on Clinical Outcome of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background

Insulin receptor substrate‐1 (IRS‐1) rs956115 is associated with vascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease and concomitant diabetes. CYP2C19*2 (rs4244285) modulates clopidogrel response and predicts the outcome of coronary artery disease. This study was designed to explore the association between IRS‐1, CYP2C19*2 genotypes, platelet reactivity, and 1‐year outcome in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and Results

Genotyping was performed using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction technique. Platelet aggregation was assessed by light transmission aggregometry. Major adverse cardiovascular events were defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. A total of 2213 consecutive patients were screened and 1614 were recruited. At 1 month, patients with IRS‐1 CG genotype had significantly lower levels of ADP‐induced platelet aggregation compared with patients with CC homozygotes. Patients with IRS‐1 CG or GG genotype had a 2.09‐fold higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared with those with CC homozygotes (95% CI, 1.04–4.19; P=0.0376). By comparison, patients with CYP2C19*2 GA or AA genotype had higher ADP‐induced platelet aggregation compared with patients with GG homozygotes. Although there was no significant difference in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events between patients with GA/AA and GG genotypes, patients with GA genotype had a 2.19‐fold higher risk than those with GG homozygotes (95% CI, 1.13–4.24; P=0.0200). No interaction between IRS‐1 and CYP2C19*2 genotypes was observed.

Conclusions

In patients following percutaneous coronary intervention, IRS‐1 GG/CG and CYP2C19*2 GA genotypes were associated with 2.09‐ and 2.19‐fold increased cardiovascular risk, respectively, at 1‐year follow‐up. The association between IRS‐1 genotypes and major adverse cardiovascular events appeared to be independent of known clinical predictors.

Registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01968499.

Association of body mass index with outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: GARFIELD-AF

Objective

While greater body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), the impact of BMI on outcomes in newly diagnosed AF is unclear. We examine the influence of BMI on outcomes and whether this is modified by sex and evaluate the effect of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with high BMI.

Methods

GARFIELD-AF is a prospective registry of 52 057 newly diagnosed AF patients. The study population comprised 40 482 participants: 703 underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m²), 13 095 normal (BMI=18.5–24.9 kg/m²), 15 043 overweight (BMI=25.0–29.9 kg/m²), 7560 obese (BMI=30.0–34.9 kg/m²) and 4081 extremely obese (BMI ≥35.0 kg/m²). Restricted cubic splines quantified the association of BMI with outcomes. Comparative effectiveness of NOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) by BMI was performed using propensity score overlap-weighted Cox models.

Results

The median age of participants was 71.0 years (Q1; Q3 62.0; 78.0), and 55.6% were male. Those with high BMI were younger, more often had vascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. Within 2-year follow-up, a U-shaped relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality was observed, with BMI of ~30 kg/m² associated with the lowest risk. The association with new/worsening heart failure was similar. Only low BMI was associated with major bleeding and no association emerged for non-haemorrhagic stroke. BMI was similarly associated with outcomes in men and women. BMI did not impact the lower rate of all-cause mortality of NOACs compared with VKAs.

Conclusions

In the GARFIELD-AF registry, underweight and extremely obese AF patients have increased risk of mortality and new/worsening heart failure compared with normal or obese patients.