Intracoronary pharmacological therapy versus aspiration thrombectomy in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (IPAT-STEMI): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Large thrombus load remains a challenge in the interventional cardiology practice. It precludes direct stent implementation and aggravates coronary obstruction leading to impaired myocardial perfusion, worsened cardiac function, and adverse clinical outcomes. Thus, various strategies have been advocated such as aspiration thrombectomy (AT), and/or localized or intracoronary (IC) treatment with thrombolytic agents and/or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI).

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of IC-administered pharmacological agents alone or combined with AT compared with AT alone as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI patients with large thrombus burden.

Methods

The method was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. A systematic search strategy using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRALE, Scopus, ProQuest Public Health, Web of Science databases was performed on February 22, 2020 and updated on February 13, 2021. Eligible trials were randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing IC-administered thrombolytic agents and/or GPI with or without AT to AT alone in patients presenting with STEMI who underwent PCI. The primary outcomes included coronary reperfusion indices e.g., thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 3 (G3), TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) 3, Myocardial blush grade (MBG) 2/3, ST-segment resolution (STR). Others included clinical outcomes e.g., major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Results

Twelve RCT enrolled 1,466 patients were included in the final analysis. The trials were categorized into 3 groups: (1) Thrombolytics [4 RCT], (2) GPI [3 RCT], and (3) GPI+AT [7 RCT]. Groups 2 and 3 included two mutual studies with multiple arms. In comparison with AT alone, thrombolytic therapy, as presented in four RCT, significantly improved TIMI flow G3 (OR = 3.71, 95% CI: 1.85–7.45; P overall effect = 0.0002; heterogeneity = 0%), complete STR (OR = 3.64, 95% CI: 1.60–8.26; P overall effect = 0.002; heterogeneity = 34%) and MACE (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.22–0.99; P overall effect = 0.05; heterogeneity = 46%), but not TMPG 3. Pooling the data of the two studies with similar intervention i.e., thrombolytics + AT further refined the results with statistical improvement of TMPG 3 as well (OR = 5.44, 95% CI: 2.61- 11.34; P overall effect <0.ehab724.211201; heterogeneity = 0%) (Fig. 1). Pooled results for GPI and GPI+AT groups did not show statistical improvement in TIMI flow G3, MBG 2/3, nor complete STR (Fig. 2).

Conclusion

The findings of this meta-analysis showed that IC-administered thrombolytic agents improved myocardial reperfusion and MACE compared with AT alone in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Relationship between pharmaceutical pricing strategies with price, availability, and affordability of cardiovascular disease medicines: surveys in Qatar and Lebanon

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Lebanon and Qatar. When lifestyle modifications prove insufficient, medication becomes a cornerstone in controlling such diseases and saving lives. Price, availability, and affordability hinder the equitable access to medicines. The study aimed to assess prices, availability, and affordability of essential cardiovascular disease medicines in relation to pricing strategies in Qatar and Lebanon.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey using a variant of the World Health Organization and Health Action International (WHO/HAI) methodology as outlined in "Measuring medicine prices, availability, affordability and price components" (2008), second edition, was adopted. Prices and availability of 27 cardiovascular medicines were collected from public and private dispensing outlets. For international comparison, prices were adjusted to purchasing power parity. Data was analyzed across multiple sectors, within and across countries.

RESULTS

A total of 15 public and private outlets were surveyed in each country. Prices were more uniform in Qatar than in Lebanon. In the public sector, medicines were free-of-charge in Lebanon and priced lower than the international reference prices in Qatar. The ratio of medicine unit price to international reference price in the private sectors surveyed are significantly higher than the acceptable threshold of 4. This ratio of originator brands and lowest priced generics in Qatar were up to two and five times those in Lebanon, respectively, even after adjusting for purchasing power parity. However, prices of lowest priced generics in the private sector were at least 35% cheaper in Qatar and 65% cheaper in Lebanon than their comparative originator brands. Medicines were more available in the private sector in Lebanon than in Qatar, but only the originator brand availability in the public sector in Qatar exceeded the WHO target of more than 80%. While affordable in the public sector in Qatar, four out of thirteen medicines exceeded the threshold in all private sectors covered. Hence, only the public sector in Qatar had a satisfying level of availability and affordability.

CONCLUSIONS

Except for the Qatari public sector, medicine prices, availability, and affordability are falling short from targets. Key policy decisions should be implemented to improve access to medicines.

A nested case-control study on relapse predictors among tuberculosis patients treated in Yemen's NTCP

SETTING

The National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme in Yemen.

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors associated with TB relapse.

METHODS

In a prospective nested case-control study, relapse cases were recruited from a cohort of pulmonary TB patients registered between July 2007 and June 2008. Four controls per case were randomly selected from the list of non-relapse patients. Three forms were used for data collection, which included interviews with the participants and review of their medical cards and TB registers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for relapse.

RESULTS

A relapse rate of 5.7% was found. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that unemployment, smoking, presence of cavitations, weight gain, weight loss, non-adherence during the continuation phase and diabetes were significantly associated with relapse (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Relapse rates can be reduced by ensuring that patients take their treatment regularly and are counselled effectively to stop smoking. Reinforcing the implementation of the DOTS strategy and strengthening the anti-smoking campaigns are important actions. Action to help unemployed patients, including free services and the creation of new job opportunities, should be adopted. Using rifampicin-based regimens in the treatment of cavitary TB and bi-directional screening in TB and diabetes patients are recommended.

Management of diarrhoea cases by community pharmacies in 3 cities of Pakistan

Community pharmacies are valued for their potential role in the management of common ailments. This cross-sectional study aimed to document the management of diarrhoea by community pharmacies in 3 cities in Pakistan. Visits were performed to 371 randomly selected pharmacies to request advice for a simulated paediatric case of diarrhoea. The pharmacy's management was scored on a checklist including history taking and provision of advice and information. Customers were served by a salesperson in 97.3% of visits and by a pharmacist in only 2.2%. Medication was dispensed in 77.1% of visits. Of the medications dispensed, 58.7% were antiamoebics, 14.0% antibiotics and 18.9% antidiarrhoeals; only 8.4% were oral rehydration salts. None of the regimens matched with a standard prescription. The dosage regimen was explained to the customer in only 52.6% of cases. Drug safety, unqualified personnel, lack of history taking, inappropriate treatment and lack of counselling are concerns to be addressed.