Cohort profile: the ESC EURObservational Research Programme Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) Registry

AIMS

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) Registry aims to identify international patterns in NSTEMI management in clinical practice and outcomes against the 2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without ST-segment-elevation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutively hospitalised adult NSTEMI patients (n = 3620) were enrolled between 11 March 2019 and 6 March 2021, and individual patient data prospectively collected at 287 centres in 59 participating countries during a two-week enrolment period per centre. The registry collected data relating to baseline characteristics, major outcomes (in-hospital death, acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and 30-day mortality) and guideline-recommended NSTEMI care interventions: electrocardiogram pre- or in-hospital, pre-hospitalization receipt of aspirin, echocardiography, coronary angiography, referral to cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation advice, dietary advice, and prescription on discharge of aspirin, P2Y12 inhibition, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), beta-blocker, and statin.

CONCLUSION

The EORP NSTEMI Registry is an international, prospective registry of care and outcomes of patients treated for NSTEMI, which will provide unique insights into the contemporary management of hospitalised NSTEMI patients, compliance with ESC 2015 NSTEMI Guidelines, and identify potential barriers to optimal management of this common clinical presentation associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Poster No. 080 Relationship between triglyceride glucose index, MACE and nephropathy in type 2 diabetes

Background

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a simple surrogate estimate of insulin resistance, has been demonstrated to predict cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in the general population. To explore the relationship between TyG index, MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events) and diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes, we evaluated TyG index for 3 consecutive years.

Material and methods

This was a cross-sectional observational study that examined 172 subjects with T2DM. The mean age of the study participants was 61.71 ± 13.16 years, and 90 were female. The primary outcomes included the occurrence of MACE, defined as all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke. Subjects underwent a detailed standard evaluation to detect diabetic nephropathy (defined as urinary albumin excretion ≥ 30 mg/24 h). The TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting triglycerides × fasting glucose/2) and stratified into 4 quartiles (TyG-Q). The baseline characteristics of the study population in the four TyG-Q (Q1 (≤ 8.95) n = 43, Q2 (> 8.95 to ≤ 9.27) n = 43, Q3 (> 9.27 to ≤ 9.7) n = 43, and Q4 (> 9.7) n = 43) were analysed.

Results and conclusions

Higher TyG-Q correlated with the presence of nephropathy (p = 0.028), age (p = 0.0172), HbA1c levels (p = 0.001) and the presence of arterial hypertension (p = 0.032). The optimal TyG index cut-off for predicting MACE was 9.271 (sensitivity 54.0%; specificity 54%; area under the curve 0.532).The TyG index was significantly associated with MACE, suggesting that the TyG index may be a valid marker for risk stratification and prognosis in patients with T2DM.

Epidemiology and impact of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation in Europe

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a medical syndrome characterised by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Data regarding the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are still inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to perform a comprehensive evaluation of frailty in a large European cohort of AF patients.

METHODS

A 40-item frailty index (FI) was built according to the accumulation of deficits model in the AF patients enrolled in the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry. Association of baseline characteristics, clinical management, quality of life, healthcare resources use and risk of outcomes with frailty was examined.

RESULTS

Among 10,177 patients [mean age (standard deviation) 69.0 (11.4) years, 4,103 (40.3%) females], 6,066 (59.6%) were pre-frail and 2,172 (21.3%) were frail, whereas only 1,939 (19.1%) were considered robust. Baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks were independently associated with increasing FI. Frail patients with AF were less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs) (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.89), especially with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs and managed with a rhythm control strategy, compared with robust patients. Increasing frailty was associated with a higher risk for all outcomes examined, with a non-linear exponential relationship. The use of OAC was associated with a lower risk of outcomes, except in patients with very/extremely high frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of AF patients, there was a high burden of frailty, influencing clinical management and risk of adverse outcomes. The clinical benefit of OAC is maintained in patients with high frailty, but not in very high/extremely frail ones.

Seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Among Small Ruminants from Southern Romania

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease that can be contracted by direct contact with viremic animals or humans. Domestic animals are accidental hosts and contribute to the spread and amplification of the virus. The main objective of this study was to provide updated information related to CCHF virus (CCHFV) infection in Southern Romania by assessing the seroprevalence of CCHF in small ruminants (sheep and goats) using a double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by detection of CCHFV in engorged ticks and serum samples using real-time RT-PCR. The overall seroprevalence of CCHF in small ruminants was 37.7% (95% CI 31.7 to 43.7). No statistical seroprevalence difference was observed between the two species of ruminants (p = 0.76), but a significant difference was established between the locations (p < 0.01). No CCHFV RNA was detected in tick pools and small ruminant's sera tested by real-time RT-PCR, although the high seroprevalence to CCHFV among ruminants indicates that CCHV or a closely related virus circulates in Southern Romania.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genotypes and cardiac remodeling response to essential hypertension

Background/Introduction

Cardiac remodeling represent a response to uncontrolled essential hypertension (EHT). The morphological response is expressed by left ventricular (LV) mass index values and/or relative wall thickness (RWT) &gt;0.42. Functionally response is expressed by isolated alteration of LV diastolic function (E/A&lt;1).

Purpose

We aimed to establish the association between anatomical and functional adaptation to EHT, with two genetic variants of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS): M235T-AGT and A3123C-R2 AngII.

Methods

In 139 hypertensive subjects cohort, we determined the M235T-AGT and A3123C-R2 AngII genotypes, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The relationship between the studied RAAS gene polymorphisms and morphological and functional cardiac remodeling was assessed by multiple logistic regressions.

Results

We found that the C/C, A/C genotypes of the A3123C-R2 AngII polymorphism were statistically significantly associated with RWT&lt;0.42 (p=0.033), so hypertensive patients carrying this genotype had a 2.7-fold increased risk to have a non-concentric type of cardiac response. The association was maintained even after adjustment for confounders - age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP (p=0.008). We found statistically significant associations between LV diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients cohort carrying the T/T, M/T genotypes (M235T-AGT polymorphism) (p=0.037). Moreover, the association remained statistically significant even after adjustment for age, BMI, systolic BP, and diastolic BP (p=0.039). We could not identify any statistically significant associations between M235T-AGT, A3123C-R2 AngII polymorphisms, and LV mass index.

Conclusion(s)

Non-concentric type of cardiac response to essential hypertension was associated with A3123C-R2 AngII polymorphism. M235T-AGT polymorphism was found to be statistically significantly associated with alteration of LV diastolic function.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, as part of Doctoral Research Projects (DRP) 2016

Common European Origin of Hepatitis E Virus in Human Population From Eastern Romania

The purpose of this research was to improve the epidemiological data on HEV infection in the human population in Romania. The analysis targeted hospitalized subjects with acute hepatitis (n = 94) of unknown etiology from the Infectious Diseases Regional Hospital in Iasi. Moreover, patients without liver disease (n = 40) from a different county hospital located in Eastern Romania were included. The presence of HEV infection and first characterization of human HEV strains was determined using serological and molecular assays. The apparent HEV seroprevalence varied between 29.16% (95% CI, 16.31–42.03) and 32.5% (95% CI, 17.98–47.02) according to patient grouping. Molecular analysis enhanced the detection of two HEV isolates, that clustered in subtype HEV-3c, the most commonly identified subtype in Europe. Identification of acute hepatitis E cases, together with the first detection and molecular characterization of human HEV in Romania represent the originality attributes of the present study.

P1810 Impact of pulmonary hypertension on survival in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis, prospective clinical trial

Introduction

Aortic stenosis has become the most common degenerative valvular heart disease, due to aging of the population. It represents 43% of degenerative valvular disease.

Methods

We prospectively followed 196 patients with degenerative aortic stenosis, for a period of 6 years. Of these, 106 had mild aortic stenosis, 28 had moderate aortic stenosis and 62 patients had severe aortic stenosis. Of the 196 patients, 54 had mild pulmonary hypertension (PH), 22 had moderate PH and 7 had severe PH. The survival data were estimated by the Kaplan - Meier method and the logrank test. The Cox proportional- hazards regression was performed to assess the differences between the groups.

Results

During the follow-up period, of a total of 196 patients, 61 patients died. We studied if the presence of PH has an influence on survival in patients with aortic stenosis and we found out that the patients who had PH had reduced survival rates, compared with those who hadn"t. The survival rate at 5 years was lower in the group with mild PH compared with the group with normal pulmonary pressure ( p = 0.045, HR 1.84, 95%CI 1.01-3.36). In the group with mild PH, 20 patients (37.03%) died at 5 years, compared with 23 in the group without PH (20.35%). The survival rate at 5 years was also lower in the group with moderate PH compared with the group with normal pulmonary pressure ( p = 0.001, HR 5.82, 95% CI 3.02-11.22). At 5 years, 15 patients with moderate PH died ( 68.18% compared with 20.35 in the group without PH). Comparing the group with severe PH with the group with normal pulmonary pressure the results showed a reduced survival rate in those with severe pulmonary hypertension ( p = 0.139, HR 2.48, 95% CI 0.74-8.27). At 5 years, 3 patients with severe PH died (42.85% compared with 20.35 in the group without PH).

Conclusion

The presence of PH in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis has a negative impact on survival, highly statistically significant (p &lt;0.001, HR 1.03, 95% CI, 1.02-1.04). Given these findings, perhaps an increased attention should be paid to the treatment of the patients with PH compared to those without PH.

THE "DARK SIDE" OF DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS--CASE REPORT

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an increasingly common cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. In various malignancies the incidence of thrombosis ranges from 5% to 60%, that is four times higher in cancer patients compared to the general population. Large retrospective studies have shown that in men the tumors which are most commonly associated with VTE are lung cancer and pancreatic cancer and, in women cancer of the genital area, pancreas, colon and rectum. Thromboembolic events may often occur before the cancer diagnosis. We present the case of a 41-year-old female patient with a history of genital cancer which was surgically treated and who is now admitted for clinical signs of ileofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the left leg. The diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory data and Doppler ultrasound and the patient received anticoagulant treatment. Given the history of the patient, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound and computer tomography (CT) were performed to detect the cause who predisposed to the thrombotic event. These confirmed the ovarian cancer, this time on the right side, and the presence of hepatic and pulmonary metastasis. This case highlights the importance of screening for a cause of the thromboembolic event in patients, especially in those who have a history of a neoplasia.

Iron hypothesis of cardiovascular disease: still controversial

Iron hypothesis has been a controversial subject for over 30 years as many studies support its role as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, while other studies found no evidence to support it. The conflicting results are accounted for by the non-homogeneity of trial design in terms of population inclusion criteria and different endpoints, non-uniform use of parameters for assessing iron role, and incomplete understanding of the mechanisms of action. The nature of iron is dual, being of crucial importance for the human body, but also toxic as "free iron" induces oxidative stress. Under physiological conditions, there are efficient and complex mechanisms against iron-induced oxidative stress, which could be reproduced for creating new, intelligent antioxidants. Iron depletion improves the cardiovascular prognosis only if serum concentration is at the lowest limit of normal ranges. However, low iron levels and the type of dietary iron intake correlate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, influence the ischemic endpoints in the elderly, and exert negative impact on heart failure prognosis. So far, the causal relation and involved mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Iron overload is a difficult and frequent condition, involving the cardiovascular system by specific pathogenic pathways, therefore determining a particular form of restrictive cardiomyopathy and vaso-occlusive arterial damage.

[Cardiorenal syndrome]

Cardiac and renal disease are common and frequently coexist, resulting in increased risk of mortality, morbidity and cost of care. The interaction between heart and kidney is refered to as cardiorenal syndrome, but a consensus definition has not been established. Also, there are limited data about the true incidence, the pathophisiology is poorly understood and standardized diagnostic criteria are lacking. Because the process is complex, treatment can be a challenge despite the novel therapies. This paper addresses all the complex interactive aspects of the cardiorenal relationship, from pathophysiology to epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, to have more clear perspectives on the future therapeutic approaches to this deadly association.

[Obesity paradox]

Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions and is associated with major cardiovascular diseases and reduced overall survival. This paper reviews the metabolic and vascular consequences of dysfunctional adipocytokines in obesity as well as the pathological effects on blood pressure, cardiovascular structure and function. Despite this adverse association, numerous studies have documented an obesity paradox in which overweight and obese population with established cardiovascular disease have a better prognosis. There are potential explanations offered by literature for these puzzling data. For obese hypertensive patients the paradox is possibly linked to the lower systemic vascular resistance and plasma renin activity. In heart failure the excess body weight may confer some protective effects on mortality, due to a more metabolic reserve, higher levels of arterial pressure compatible with higher doses of cardioprotective medications, and a specific neuroendocrine profile with lower levels of circulating natriuretic atrial peptides, attenuated sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin responses. For coronary heart disease and peripheral arterial disease the mechanisms are still uncertain. There are discussed a lesser severity of coronary lesions and left ventricular dysfunction, or a reduced prevalence of moderate-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients selected for surgery. On the other hand, the constellation of data which supports purposeful weight reduction in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, induces a controversial position regarding this new concept.

[Questionnaire regarding the self perception of health status and attitude to family planning of the roma population in Iaşi county]

The integration of Romania into the European Union implies the adjustment of the medical care strategies, including the family planning policies.

AIM

To evaluate the knowledge level concerning family planning of the roma population of Iaşi County.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The transversal study has been applied in 4 communities, with a population structure in which the roma ethnic have a grown weight. The questionnaire that was validated, has been applied to 363 women, includes data which are structured in 4 domains: demographic, socio-economic, information concerning the self-perception of the health status and family planning. The variables have been analyzed using specific statistic tests.

RESULTS

The female population of fertile age does have the self-perception of a risen the health status of themselves, and of the whole family, in the areas where there is a good collaboration with the family doctor. The answers concerning the usage of modern contraceptive methods emphasizes that the women from different communities have adopted this type of family planning methods, correlated to a high educational level (6.14 +/- 3.5 school yrs.), older age at first marriage (19.29 +/- 2.94 vs. 15.79 +/- 3.5 yrs.) and at first birth (21 +/- 3.45 yrs. vs. 18.4 +/- 3.0 yrs.).

CONCLUSION

The attitude towards modern family planning methods of the roma population in Iaşi County and the level of information about the health status have been positively influenced by the activity of the sanitary mediators and by the involvement of the family physician.