Different prognostic significance of coronary artery and aortic valve calcium in patients with chest pain

OBJECTIVES

Coronary artery calcification (CorCa) identifies high cardiovascular risk in the general population. In this setting, aortic valve calcification (AoCa) showed contradictory results. Our goal has been to assess the prognostic power of CorCa and AoCa in patients with chest pain who underwent an ECG-gated cardiac multidetector CT (cardiac-MDCT).

METHODS

A total of 528 patients without previous known coronary artery disease, with chest pain who underwent a cardiac-MDCT multidetector, were retrospectively recruited. The primary endpoint included death, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and heart failure.

RESULTS

A total of 61 patients (11.6%) had an event during a mean follow-up of almost 6 years (5.95 ± 2.98). The most frequent event was acute coronary syndrome (6.4%). Total mortality was 4.5%. Patients with CorCa > 0 had more events than those without CorCa (17.3% versus 4.3%; p < 0.001). Likewise, when only patients without AoCa were considered (n = 118), clinical events were more frequent in those with CorCa (12.7% versus 3.6%; p = 0.004). After excluding patients with coronary artery disease, events were more frequent in those with CorCa (12.6% versus 4.3%; p = 0.004). The higher the Agatston score, the more frequent the events. Patients with AoCa  > 0 had more events than those without (16.5% versus 7.3%; p < 0.001), but in patients without CorCa, no difference in events was seen (6.2% versus 3.6%; p = 0.471). A Cox regression analysis showed age, smoking, prior stroke, and CorCa but not AoCa to be independently related to events.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, CorCa, but not AoCa, is related to cardiovascular events in patients with chest pain who undergo a cardiac-MDCT.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

We show that coronary artery calcification, but not aortic valve calcification, detected in a coronary CT scan is tightly related to cardiovascular events. Although this is a message already shown by other groups in the general population, we do believe that this work is unique because it is restricted to patients with chest pain sent to coronary CT. In other words, our work deals with what we face in our routine everyday practice.

KEY POINTS

• The presence and the amount of coronary artery calcification are associated with cardiovascular events in patients with chest pain. • Aortic valve calcification is not associated with cardiovascular events in patients with chest pain.

Chronic use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone inhibitors in hypertensive COVID-19 patients: Results from a Spanish registry and meta-analysis

Background

Hypertension is a prevalent condition among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Whether renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors are beneficial or harmful is controversial.

Methods

We have performed a national retrospective, nonexperimental comparative study from two tertiary hospitals to evaluate the impact of chronic use of RAAS inhibitors in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. A meta-analysis was performed to strengthen our findings.

Results

Of 849 patients, 422 (49.7%) patients were hypertensive and 310 (73.5%) were taking RAAS inhibitors at baseline. Hypertensive patients were older, had more comorbidities, and a greater incidence of respiratory failure (−0.151 [95% CI −0.218, −0.084]). Overall mortality in hypertensive patients was 28.4%, but smaller among those with prescribed RAAS inhibitors before (−0.167 [95% CI −0.220, −0.114]) and during hospitalization (0.090 [−0.008,0.188]). Similar findings were observed after two propensity score matches that evaluated the benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers among hypertensive patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of hypertensive patients found that age, diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, and renal failure were independently associated with all-cause mortality. On the contrary, ACEIs decreased the risk of death (OR 0.444 [95% CI 0.224–0.881]). Meta-analysis suggested a protective benefit of RAAS inhibitors (OR 0.6 [95% CI 0.42–0.8]) among hypertensive COVID-19.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that RAAS inhibitors may play a protective role in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. This finding was supported by a meta-analysis of the current evidence. Maintaining these medications during hospital stay may not negatively affect COVID-19 outcomes.

Cardio-Pulmonary Dysfunction Evaluation in Patients with Persistent Post-COVID-19 Headache

Background (1): Headache is a prevalent symptom experienced during ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also weeks after recovery. Whether cardio-pulmonary dysfunction contributes causally to headache persistence is unknown. Methods (2): We conducted a case-control analysis nested in a prospective cohort study. Individuals were recruited from August 2020 to December 2020. Patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of long-COVID headache for three months after COVID-19 resolution. We compared demographic data, clinical variables, cardio-pulmonary laboratory biomarkers, quality of life, and cardio-pulmonary function between groups. Results (3): A cohort of 70 COVID-19 patients was evaluated. Patients with headaches (n = 10; 14.3%) were more frequently female (100% vs. 58.4%; p = 0.011) and younger (46.9 ± 8.45 vs. 56.13 ± 12 years; p = 0.023). No between-group differences in laboratory analysis, resting echocardiography, cardio-pulmonary exercise test, or pulmonary function tests were observed. Conclusion (4): In this exploratory study, no significant differences in cardio-pulmonary dysfunction were observed between patients with and without long-COVID headache during mid-term follow-up.

Chronic use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors in hypertensive COVID-19 patients: Results from a Spanish registry and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a prevalent condition among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Whether renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors are beneficial or harmful is controversial.

METHODS

We have performed a national retrospective, nonexperimental comparative study from two tertiary hospitals to evaluate the impact of chronic use of RAAS inhibitors in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. A meta-analysis was performed to strengthen our findings.

RESULTS

Of 849 patients, 422 (49.7%) patients were hypertensive and 310 (73.5%) were taking RAAS inhibitors at baseline. Hypertensive patients were older, had more comorbidities, and a greater incidence of respiratory failure (-0.151 [95% CI -0.218, -0.084]). Overall mortality in hypertensive patients was 28.4%, but smaller among those with prescribed RAAS inhibitors before (-0.167 [95% CI -0.220, -0.114]) and during hospitalization (0.090 [-0.008,0.188]). Similar findings were observed after two propensity score matches that evaluated the benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers among hypertensive patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of hypertensive patients found that age, diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, and renal failure were independently associated with all-cause mortality. On the contrary, ACEIs decreased the risk of death (OR 0.444 [95% CI 0.224-0.881]). Meta-analysis suggested a protective benefit of RAAS inhibitors (OR 0.6 [95% CI 0.42-0.8]) among hypertensive COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that RAAS inhibitors may play a protective role in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. This finding was supported by a meta-analysis of the current evidence. Maintaining these medications during hospital stay may not negatively affect COVID-19 outcomes.