Cumulative Incidence Of Myocardial Infarction Research Articles

The ABCG5/8 Cholesterol Transporter and Myocardial Infarction Versus Gallstone Disease

The study sought to test the hypothesis that genetic variation in ABCG5/8, the transporter responsible for intestinal and hepatobiliary cholesterol efflux, may simultaneously influence plasma and biliary cholesterol levels, and hence risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and gallstone disease in opposite directions. High plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are a causal risk factor for MI, whereas high levels of biliary cholesterol promote gallstone formation. A total of 60,239 subjects from Copenhagen were included, including 5,647 with MI and 3,174 with symptomatic gallstone disease. Subjects were genotyped for 6 common, nonsynonymous and functional variants in ABCG5/8, and a combined weighted genotype score was calculated. Combined, weighted genotype scores were associated with stepwise decreases in LDL cholesterol of up to 5.9% (0.20 mmol/l) for individuals with a score ≥8.0 (prevalence = 11%) versus <2.0 (prevalence = 9%; p for trend across 5 groups = 2 × 10E-35). The cumulative incidences of MI and gallstone disease as a function of age and increasing genotype score were decreased and increased (log-rank ps for trend: 6 × 10E-4 and 9 × 10E-45), respectively. The multifactorially adjusted odds ratios were 0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.73 to 0.94) for MI and 2.85 (95% confidence interval: 2.39 to 3.39) for symptomatic gallstone disease for individuals with a genotype score ≥8.0 versus <2.0. Genetic variation in ABCG5/8, which associates with decreased levels of plasma LDL cholesterol protects against MI, but increases the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease. These results suggest that MI and gallstones, 2 seemingly unrelated diseases, are intrinsically linked via the function of the ABCG5/8 cholesterol transporter.

Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Heart Disease in Overweight and Obesity With and Without Metabolic Syndrome

Overweight and obesity likely cause myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic heart disease (IHD); however, whether coexisting metabolic syndrome is a necessary condition is unknown. To test the hypothesis that overweight and obesity with and without metabolic syndrome are associated with increased risk of MI and IHD. We examined 71,527 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study and categorized them according to body mass index (BMI) as normal weight, overweight, or obese and according to absence or presence of metabolic syndrome. Hazard ratios for incident MI and IHD according to combinations of BMI category and absence or presence of metabolic syndrome. During a median of 3.6 years' follow-up, we recorded 634 incident MI and 1781 incident IHD events. For MI, multivariable adjusted hazard ratios vs normal weight individuals without metabolic syndrome were 1.26 (95% CI, 1.00-1.61) in overweight and 1.88 (95% CI, 1.34-2.63) in obese individuals without metabolic syndrome and 1.39 (95% CI, 0.96-2.02) in normal weight, 1.70 (95% CI, 1.35-2.15) in overweight, and 2.33 (95% CI, 1.81-3.00) in obese individuals with metabolic syndrome. For IHD, results were similar but attenuated. Normal weight vs overweight vs obesity and presence vs absence of metabolic syndrome did not interact on risk of MI or IHD (P = .90 and P = .44). Among individuals both with and without metabolic syndrome there were increasing cumulative incidences of MI and IHD from normal weight through overweight to obese individuals (log-rank trend P = .006 to P < .001). Although the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for MI in individuals with vs without metabolic syndrome was 1.54 (95% CI, 1.32-1.81) across all BMI categories, addition of metabolic syndrome to a multivariable model including BMI and other clinical characteristics improved the Harell C-statistic only slightly for risk of MI (comparison P = .03) but not for IHD (P = .41). These findings suggest that overweight and obesity are risk factors for MI and IHD regardless of the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome and that metabolic syndrome is no more valuable than BMI in identifying individuals at risk.

Prediction of mortality and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes: validation of the UKPDS Outcomes Model in the Casale Monferrato Survey, Italy

The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Outcomes Model can be used to estimate the lifetime occurrence of major diabetes-related complications in order to calculate health economic outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the performance of the model by comparing the predicted and observed mortality and the incidence of macrovascular complications in an Italian population-based cohort with type 2 diabetes. We used data from the Casale Monferrato Survey, a cohort enrolled in 1988 and surveyed in 1991 (n = 1,967) to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. In 2000, a new survey included all the members of the original cohort who were still alive (n = 860), and in addition all individuals identified with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes since 1993 (n = 2,389). We compared the mortality predicted by the model for the 1991 survey over the subsequent 17-year period with the observed risk. The following outcomes were analysed in the 2000 survey: myocardial infarction (MI), other ischaemic heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure (CHF) and amputation. For all-cause mortality, the predictions from the model at 5 and 10 years (23% and 47%, respectively) were identical to the observed risks. At 15 years, the risk of death was slightly overestimated (an estimate of 67% vs 64% observed, 95% CI 61%, 66%). The performance of the model was best for patients with a recent history of disease (duration <6 years). Among the complications, the predicted cumulative incidences of MI and CHF were very close to those observed. External validation is essential to assess the accuracy of simulation models. The UKPDS Outcomes Model satisfactorily predicted a set of actual incidences of mortality and complications in an Italian diabetes cohort up to a duration of approximately 12 years. The longer term performance of such models should be carefully evaluated.

Retracted: Effects of fasting blood glucose, diabetes treatment, blood pressure and anti-hypertension treatment on cardiovascular disease incidence: a 30-year follow-up study of 740 incident patients with Type 2 diabetes

To analyse the effects of hyperglycaemia and blood pressure, diabetes and anti-hypertension treatment on total and various types of cardiovascular disease incidence in patients with Type 2 diabetes followed for 30years. A total of 740 incident patients with Type 2 diabetes were registered at the Laxå Primary Health Care Centre, Sweden between 1972 and 2001. Information on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, mean fasting blood glucose, type of diabetes and anti-hypertension treatment was obtained from the patient records, and information on cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and stroke events from National Registers. During the follow-up period the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular disease increased significantly with male sex (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.85), age (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.07), year of diabetes onset (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05), BMI, (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07), mean arterial blood pressure (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.05) and number of previous cardiovascular disease events (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.21), and decreased significantly with sulfonylurea treatment (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49-0.84), insulin (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33-0.98) and calcium channel blocker treatment (HR, 0.69, 95% CI 0.48-0.99). Cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction increased significantly with male sex, age, BMI, mean arterial blood pressure, number of previous myocardial infarction events and diuretic treatment, and decreased with metformin treatment. Cumulative incidence of stroke increased with age, year of diabetes onset, mean arterial blood pressure, and previous number of stroke events. Cumulative cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and incidence of stroke increased with number of previous events and presence of hypertension and decreased with pharmacological anti-diabetic treatment and, to a lesser extent, with anti-hypertension treatment.

History of non‐fatal cardiovascular disease in a cohort of Dutch and British patients with haemophilia

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is reported to be lower in haemophilia patients than in the general population, but information on the occurrence of non-fatal CVD is lacking. The aim of our study was to assess CVD history in a cohort of living haemophilia patients. Retrospective data on the occurrence of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, ischaemic stroke and intracranial bleeding in 709 living Dutch and British haemophilia patients aged 30 yr or older were analysed and compared with the general age-matched male population. There was a trend towards a lower cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction (1.7% vs. 4.0%) and ischaemic stroke (0% vs. 1.5%) in patients with severe haemophilia than in the general population, while the occurrence of angina pectoris was similar (3.2 vs. 3.7%). As expected, the cumulative incidence of intracranial bleeding was, on the other hand, significantly increased in haemophilia patients (1.6% vs. 0.4% in the general population). Our results suggest a protective effect of severe haemophilia against acute ischaemic CVD.

Cardiac Disease Evaluation and Management Among Kidney and Liver Transplantation Candidates

The challenges inherent in conducting accurate, clinically effective, and cost-effective cardiac evaluations among transplantation candidates relate to the large size of the target population, the prevalence of disease, the limited number of donated organs, and the often extended waiting periods between initial evaluation and transplantation surgery. According to Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) records, nearly 85 000 candidates were on the waiting list for kidney transplantation in 2010, and ≈17 700 kidney transplantations (including 828 kidney-pancreas transplantations) were performed.1 Also in 2010, 16 000 people were awaiting liver transplantation and 6000 received liver allografts.1 Marked shifts in the age composition of transplant waitlists toward older adults are also raising the average medical complexity and comorbidity burden among listed candidates. In 2011, 62% of kidney transplantation candidates were ≥50 years of age compared with 28.7% of kidney transplantation candidates in 1991.1 A similar shift in age distribution has occurred among liver transplantation candidates; now, 77% are ≥50 years of age.1 Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage failure of noncardiac organs before and after transplantation. Estimates of the cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) based on Medicare billing claims have ranged from 8.7% to 16.7% by 3 years after kidney transplant listing and from 4.7% to 11.1% after kidney transplantation.2,3 Observational data suggest particularly high frequencies of cardiovascular events in the first months after kidney transplantation.2,4,5 Cardiovascular diseases in aggregate make up the most common cause of death in patients with functioning allografts at all times after kidney transplantation, accounting for 30% of mortality overall, with highest rates in the peritransplantation period.6 Guidelines and position papers by national organizations can serve as useful tools for informing cardiac evaluation practices before …

Beyond the short-term: Clinical outcome and valve performance 2 years after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in 227 patients

Although the procedural feasibility of transcatheter aortic valve implantation has been shown by multiple groups, longer-term data are rare. We report on 2-year follow-up clinical and echocardiographic results after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in 227 patients. Patients' mean age was 81 ± 7 years, 59% were female, mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation was 21% ± 14%, mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 7% ± 5%, and access routes were transfemoral (n = 164), transapical (n = 54), axillary (n = 5), or transaortic (n = 4). A CoreValve (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) prosthesis was implanted in 174 patients, and a SAPIEN prosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif) was implanted in 53 patients. Clinical and echocardiographic investigations were performed at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Survival was 88.5% at 30 days, 75.9% at 6 months, 74.5% at 1 year, and 64.4% at 2 years. Patients improved significantly in New York Heart Association class after 6 months (from 3.2 ± 0.5 to 1.7 ± 0.7, P < .001) and up to 2 years (1.9 ± 0.7). Cumulative incidences of myocardial infarction, stroke, and life-threatening or major bleeding were 2.7%, 6.2%, and 16.2% at 2 years, respectively. The postprocedural mean transprosthetic gradient was 12 ± 4 mm Hg for all valves and did not change up to 2 years, and the effective orifice area was 1.5 ± 0.4 cm² with no change over 2 years of follow-up. Moderate or severe prosthetic regurgitation was present in 8% of patients at 2 years. In 6% of patients, the paravalvular or valvular regurgitation grade increased significantly over time. With excellent functional recovery of the patients, good systolic valve function, and overall low morbidity at 2 years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation may be considered the treatment of choice for aortic valve stenosis in elderly patients with an increased risk for surgery with a heart-lung machine.

Ten-year risk for myocardial infarction in patients with first-ever stroke: a community-based study

Stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) share common risk factors. The risk for stroke patients to have a myocardial infarction (MI) has not been fully explored. Three hundred and seventy-seven first-ever stroke patients were ascertained prospectively. The 10-year incidence of MI was examined by register searches. The results were compared to the general Swedish population. Predictors for MI were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis. The cumulative incidence of MI over 10 years was 25.0/100 (95% confidence interval (CI), 19.5-31.5), 26.5 for men, (95% CI, 18.9-45.8) and 23.4 for women (95% CI, 16.0-32.9). Compared to the general population, the relative risk for stroke patients having a MI was 1.6 for men (95% CI, 1.12-2.37) and 1.9 for women (95% CI, 1.27-2.90). In multivariate analysis, CHD before the stroke (MI, angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass grafting, or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) and peripheral artery disease were significant predictors for MI. The risk for MI is significantly higher, for both male and female stroke patients, compared to the general population. Stroke patients with previous CHD and peripheral artery disease are at highest risk. Stroke patients should receive adequate secondary prevention, and cardiac complaints must be taken seriously.

The safety of using anti-VEGF: Is there strength in numbers? Curtis LH, Hammill BG, Schulman KA, Cousins SW (2010) Risks of mortality, myocardial infarction, bleeding, and stroke associated with therapies for age-related macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol 128(10):1273–1279

The safety of using anti-VEGF: Is there strength in numbers? Curtis LH, Hammill BG, Schulman KA, Cousins SW (2010) Risks of mortality, myocardial infarction, bleeding, and stroke associated with therapies for age-related macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol 128(10):1273–1279

Ten-year fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction incidence in elderly populations in Spain: the EPICARDIAN cohort study

BackgroundIn Spain, more than 85% of coronary heart disease deaths occur in adults older than 65 years. However, coronary heart disease incidence and mortality in the Spanish elderly have been poorly described. The aim of this study is to estimate the ten-year incidence and mortality rates of myocardial infarction in a population-based large cohort of Spanish elders.MethodsA population-based cohort of 3729 people older than 64 years old, free of previous myocardial infarction, was established in 1995 in three geographical areas of Spain. Any case of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction was investigated until December 2004 using the "cold pursuit method", previously used and validated by the the WHO-MONICA project.ResultsMen showed a significantly (p < 0.001) higher cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction (7.2%; 95%CI: 5.94-8.54) than women (3.8%; 95%CI: 3.06-4.74). Although cumulative incidence increased with age (p < 0.05), gender-differences tended to narrow. Adjusted incidence rates were higher in men (957 per 100 000 person-years) than in women (546 per 100 000 person-years) (p < 0.001) and increased with age (p < 0.001). The increase was progressive in women but not in men. Adjusted mortality rates were also higher in men than in women (p < 0.001), being three times higher in the age group of ≥ 85 years old than in the age group of 65-74 years old (p < 0.001).ConclusionIncidence of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction is high in the Spanish elderly population. Men show higher rates than women, but gender differences diminish with age.

Impact of Target Lesion and Nontarget Lesion Cardiac Events on 5-Year Clinical Outcomes After Sirolimus-Eluting or Bare-Metal Stenting

We sought to compare patient-oriented outcomes related to target vessel or nontarget vessel events for sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) versus bare-metal stents. SES significantly reduce restenosis but the influence of reduced restenosis on overall patient-oriented outcome has not been reported. The study population included 1,057 patients randomized in the SIRIUS (Sirolimus-Eluting Stent in De Novo Native Coronary Lesions) study and followed clinically for 5 years. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality, any myocardial infarction, or any repeat revascularization. In secondary analyses, myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization events attributed to the target vessel or a nontarget vessel were compared by stent type. Patients with an SES were more likely to be free from the primary composite end point at 5 years (60.4% vs. 47.8%, p < 0.001) chiefly due to a sustained reduction in target lesion revascularization for SES (cumulative incidence: 12.5% vs. 28.8%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction or revascularization attributed to remote segments of the target vessel. Events attributed to the nontarget vessel were frequent and not different for SES versus bare-metal stents (25.7% vs. 25.8%). The benefit of SES over bare-metal stents for reduced target lesion revascularization is maintained for 5 years. Remote coronary segments of the target vessel and nontarget vessel remain an important cause of future adverse events despite sustained restenosis benefit.

Pentanucleotide Repeat Polymorphism, Lipoprotein(a) Levels, and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease

Lipoprotein(a) is a cardiovascular risk factor. Levels of lipoprotein(a) are predominantly determined by apolipoprotein(a) gene variation, including a pentanucleotide repeat promoter polymorphism. We tested the hypothesis that apolipoprotein(a) pentanucleotide repeat genotype predicts elevated lipoprotein(a) levels and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the general population. We used a cohort study of the Danish general population, The Copenhagen City Heart Study, including 10,276 individuals of which 860 and 1,781 developed MI and IHD, respectively, during up to 31 yr of follow-up, and a case-control study including 1,814 IHD patients and 5,076 controls. Follow-up was 100% complete. Allele frequencies were 0.0018, 0.0018, 0.6750, 0.1596, 0.1465, 0.0146, and 0.0004 for 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 repeats, respectively. Mean lipoprotein(a) levels were 40, 36, and 27 mg/dl for individuals with 14-15, 16, and 17-22 repeats (sum of repeats on both alleles), respectively (trend, P < 0.001). Cumulative incidence of MI and IHD was increased for individuals with 14-15 vs. at least 16 repeats (log rank, P < 0.001 and P = 0.002). Multifactorially adjusted hazard ratios for 14-15 and 17-22 vs. 16 repeats were 3.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.6-5.8) and 1.0 (0.9-1.2) for MI and 2.2 (1.3-3.6) and 1.0 (0.9-1.1) for IHD. In the case-control study, multifactorially adjusted odds ratios for 14-15 and 17-22 vs. 16 repeats were 2.9 (1.1-7.8) and 0.9 (0.8-1.0) for MI and 2.5 (1.0-6.0) and 0.9 (0.8-1.0) for IHD. Apolipoprotein(a) 14-15 pentanucleotide repeats predict elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) and a 3- and 2-fold increased risk of MI and IHD in the general population.

Predictors of In-stent Restenosis and Patient Outcome After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetics have a significantly higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and in-stent restenosis (ISR) than nondiabetics after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Predictors of MACEs and ISR are uncertain in diabetics. In recent studies, microalbuminuria and proliferative retinopathy have been believed to relate to progressive coronary atherosclerosis. We retrospectively studied 191 consecutive patients (mean age 65 +/- 9 years) with diabetes who underwent PCI to determine predictors of ISR and MACEs (defined as cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction, revascularization, or death from cardiovascular cause), with special reference to microalbuminuria and proliferative retinopathy. Of 191 patients, 106 (56%) had a follow-up coronary angiogram at 16 +/- 2 months. Of these 106 patients, 66 (62%) developed ISR. In the multivariate model, microalbuminuria or proliferative retinopathy did not achieve significant association with ISR. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly associated with a lower incidence of ISR (odds ratio [OR] 0.928, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.876 to 0.983, p = 0.011) and MACEs (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.931 to 1.000, p = 0.048). Use of drug-eluting stents also had a negative association with ISR (OR 0.171, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.585, p = 0.004). Renal insufficiency was associated with higher MACEs (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.45 to 7.031, p = 0.0039). In conclusion, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were inversely associated with ISR or MACEs.

Rates of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease and risk factors in patients treated with radiation therapy for early‐stage breast cancer

Radiation therapy (RT), a critical component of breast-conserving therapy for breast cancer, has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in numerous older studies, but the risk may be lower with modern techniques. Observed rates of cardiac events in 828 patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and RT at the University of Michigan were compared with expected rates. Relations between potential risk factors and actuarial rates of first CAD event were analyzed. Observed risks of cardiac events were lower than expected. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of myocardial infarction (MI) was 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.70). The SIR of MI or CAD requiring intervention was 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27-0.68). With a median follow-up of 6.8 years, 12 (1.4%) patients had at least 1 MI on follow-up and 20 (2.4%) had at least 1 MI or CAD requiring intervention. Median age at first cardiac event was 75.9 years (range, 43.1-91.5). Median interval from RT to occurrence of the first cardiac event was 3.7 years (range, 13 days to 15.4 years). The 10-year cumulative incidence of MI was 1.2% and cumulative incidence of MI or CAD requiring intervention was 2.7%. On multivariate analysis, age, diabetes mellitus, active smoking, and laterality of RT were significant predictors of MI. Age and active smoking were significant predictors of MI or CAD requiring intervention. Patients in this series had lower risk of ischemic cardiac events than expected. Although small in absolute magnitude, patients radiated to the left side did have a statistically significant increased risk of MI. These findings support further investigation of techniques to minimize the long-term cardiac risks faced by breast cancer patients.

Characteristics of WHHLCA and WHHLMI Rabbits, Animal Models for Hypercholesterolemia and Coronary Atherosclerosis, and the Use for Studies about Atheroma Stabilizing Effects of Hypolipidemic Drugs

Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which include unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death, are estimated more than 20 million in the world. Pathological examinations have demonstrated that vulnerable coronary atheromatous plaque is important in the onset of ACS. However, the detail mechanism is still uncertain. Several clinical intervention trials have showed that statins, inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, suppress the onset of ACS. On the other hand, in vitro studies suggested that statins suppressed smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and induced the apoptosis, while SMC is important in stabilization of atheromatous plaque. Therefore, results of in vitro studies are contradictory to observation of clinical studies. To clarify the mechanism of ACS and preventive effects of statins on ACS, suitable animal models have been required. We developed coronary atherosclerosis-prone WHHLCA rabbits and myocardial infarction-prone WHHLMI rabbits by a technique of selective breeding and examined statins' effects on coronary atherosclerosis. The original WHHL rabbits showed hypercholesterolemia due to deficiency of the LDL receptors and aortic atherosclerosis while the coronary plaques were mild and the frequency was very low. WHHLCA rabbits were developed from the original WHHL rabbit and have advanced coronary plaques but incidence of myocardial infarction is very low. WHHLMI rabbits were developed from WHHLCA rabbits and the cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction is more than 90% at 30 months old. WHHLMI and WHHLCA rabbits closely resemble humans in the lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis although mice and rats are largely different. In WHHLCA and WHHLMI rabbits, the coronary atherosclerosis start to develop from 2 months old and becomes transitional lesions at about 10 months old. At above 20 months old, the coronary plaques become complicated lesions. In intervention studies using WHHLCA and WHHLMI rabbits, therefore, we start treatments from 10 months old for one year, and examined coronary plaques at the end of the experiment. This study design is compatible to human intervention treatments. As a result, statins prevent destabilization of coronary plaques due to depression of macrophages in the plaque. The results support the hypothesis derived from human clinical studies that statins would stabilize coronary plaques and stabilization of coronary plaque would be important to prevent ACS. In addition, our results also suggested that statins effects on arterial smooth muscle cells are very weak in vivo compared to in vitro studies. In conclusion, since WHHLCA and WHHLMI rabbits resemble humans in the characteristics of lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, these rabbit strains are useful for studies of hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and development of hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic drugs.

Short- and Long-Term Clinical Outcome After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for the Percutaneous Treatment of Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

The impact of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing percutaneous intervention for left main (LM) coronary disease is largely unknown. From April 2001 to December 2003, 181 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for LM stenosis at our institution. The first cohort consisted of 86 patients (19 protected LM) treated with bare metal stents (pre-DES group); the second cohort comprised 95 patients (15 protected LM) treated exclusively with DES. The 2 cohorts were well balanced for all baseline characteristics. At a median follow-up of 503 days (range, 331 to 873 days), the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was lower in the DES cohort than in patients in the pre-DES group (24% versus 45%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.52 [95% CI, 0.31 to 0.88]; P=0.01). Total mortality did not differ between cohorts; however, there were significantly lower rates of both myocardial infarction (4% versus 12%, respectively; HR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.65]; P=0.006) and target vessel revascularization (6% versus 23%, respectively; HR, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.10 to 0.65]; P=0.004) in the DES group. On multivariate analysis, use of DES, Parsonnet classification, troponin elevation at entry, distal LM location, and reference vessel diameter were independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events. When percutaneous coronary intervention is undertaken at LM lesions, routine DES implantation, which reduces the cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction and the need for target vessel revascularization compared with bare metal stents, should currently be the preferred strategy.

Asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias and mortility risk in subjects withs with left ventricular hypertrophy

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognostic role of asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias in original Framingham Heart Study subjects and Framingham Offspring Study subjects who had echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy.Background. Echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias. There are no population-based data available with regard to the long-term prognostic implications of asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias in subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy.Methods. In a population-based cohort study, we studied 224 men and 393 women with echocardiographicaliy determined left ventricular hypertrophy who were free of coronary heart disease and had 1-h ambulatory electrocardiograms at the baseline examination. The age-adjusted prevalence of complex or frequent ventricular arrhythmias (>30 ventricular premature beats/h, multiform premature complexes, couplets, ventricular tachycardia or R on T ventricular premature complexes) was 28% (51 of 224) in men and 17% (71 of 393) in women. The mean follow-up period was 5.7 years lor cohort and 4.5 years for offspring subjects.Results. In men with complex or frequent arrhythmias, the 6-year cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was 38%, whereas in those free of arrhythmia it was 12%; corresponding values in women were 22% and 11%. The cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction or death due to coronary heart disease was 2% for men with and 10% for men without arrhythmia, but in women little difference was noted (5% vs. 4%). After adjustment for age and gender in a Cox proportional hazards model, subjects with complex or frequent arrhythmia were at increased risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13 to 2.87, p = 0.013). After adjusting for eight clinical covariates, the increased risk for all-cause mortality remained marginally significant (hazard ratio 1.62, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.68, p = 0.058). No significant increased risk was noted for myocardial infarction or death due to coronary heart disease.Conclusions. In subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy, the presence of asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias was associated with higher mortality, which was statistically significant after adjusting for age and gender and marginally significant after taking into account other covariates.

Stroke and its modification in Parkinson's disease.

Previous studies have not agreed on the incidence of ischemic stroke in persons with Parkinson's disease. There are epidemiologic and neurochemical facets of Parkinson's disease that might confer some benefit or protection against ischemic stroke. We used a case-control method to determine the lifetime history of ischemic stroke in 200 patients with Parkinson's disease and 200 controls of a similar age range. Analysis was also carried out for myocardial infarction as a marker of generalized atherosclerotic disease and for stroke risk factors. The cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke was significantly less in the patients with Parkinson's disease than in the controls, as was the cumulative incidence of myocardial infarction. Among risk factors, significantly fewer patients with Parkinson's disease used tobacco than controls. The decreased incidence of ischemic stroke in the patients with Parkinson's disease appears to be related to their less severe generalized atherosclerosis, possibly due to their lower incidence of tobacco use. In view of the known potential for dopamine to exacerbate experimental ischemic tissue damage, the possibility that the dopamine deficiency in the central nervous system of persons with Parkinson's disease confers an additional specific protective benefit against ischemic stroke cannot be excluded and requires further study.