Greater Risk Of Myocardial Infarction Research Articles

Long-Term outcomes after stress echocardiography in real world practice: five-year follow-up of the UK Evarest study.

Stress echocardiography is widely used to assess patients with chest pain. The clinical value of a positive or negative test result to inform on likely longer-term outcomes when applied in real world practice across a healthcare system has not been previously reported. 5503 patients recruited across 32 UK NHS hospitals between 2018 and 2022, participating in the EVAREST/BSE-NSTEP prospective cohort study, with data on medical outcomes up to 2023 available from NHS England were included in analysis. Stress echocardiography results were related to outcomes, including death, procedures, hospital admissions and relevant cardiovascular diagnoses, based on Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard ratios. Median follow-up was 829 days (IQR 224-1434). A positive stress echocardiogram was associated with a greater risk of myocardial infarction (HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.73-4.24, P<0.001), and a composite endpoint of cardiac-related mortality and myocardial infarction (HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.41-2.93, P<0.001). Hazard ratios increased with ischaemic burden. A negative stress echocardiogram identified an event-free 'warranty period' of at least five years in patients with no prior history of coronary artery disease, and four years for those with disease. In real-world practice, the degree of myocardial ischaemia recorded by clinicians at stress echocardiography correctly categorises risk of future events over the next five years. Reporting a stress echocardiogram as negative correctly identifies patients with no greater than a background risk of cardiovascular events over a similar time period.

Abstract 2006: Estrogen Therapy Is Associated With A Greater Risk Of Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic Syndrome And Thrombosis In Cisgender Women, But Spares Transgender Women: A Global Retrospective Study

Despite the use of estrogen-based therapies in cisgender- and transgender-women, and the presumed cardioprotective effect of endogenous estrogen, there are no comprehensive studies investigating the risk of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome in patients taking exogenous estrogen. CKM syndrome is a health disorder attributable to connections among obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cardiovascular disease, including heart failure (HF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and stroke. We hypothesized that cis- and trans-women would have decreased risk of CKM syndrome. We conducted a retrospective analysis using the TriNetX database, which contains patient information from 83 healthcare organizations worldwide. We identified 9,271,702 cis-women +/- estrogen and 17,729 trans-women on estrogen matched 1:1 with cis-men and separated patients into age deciles from 20-69 years. Cis-women taking estrogen showed a significantly increased risk of CKM comorbidities including dyslipidemia, HTN, T2DM, overweight/obesity (OB), HF, IHD, and CKD (p&lt;0.0001 for all), and an elevated risk of thrombotic outcomes, such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) compared to cis-women not taking estrogen (p&lt;0.0001 for all). In contrast, the use of estrogen in trans-women compared to cis-men was not associated with a greater risk of MI, stroke, PE, or DVT, (except in the 60-69 year-aged cohort for DVT, p=0.0056). Trans-women taking estrogen also had a lower risk of HTN, T2DM, HF, IHD, and CKD, despite a higher risk of dyslipidemia, and OB compared to cis-men (p=0.02-&lt;0.0001). This is the first comprehensive study revealing a significant association between exogenous estrogen use and CKM syndrome in cis-women. Additionally, our novel findings indicate that estrogen use in trans-women is associated with dyslipidemia, and OB, but is not associated with a greater overall risk for CKM syndrome or thrombosis. Given these findings, additional prospective studies are needed to confirm the risks or protections provided by estrogen therapy in cisgender and transgender women.

Abstract 16779: Tirzepatide Reduces High-Sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and High Cardiovascular Risk: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SURPASS-4 Trial

Background: People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who have elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) face a greater risk of myocardial infarction and coronary death. Early data for tirzepatide (TZP), a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, suggest a hsCRP lowering effect. Here, we compare the effect of TZP and insulin glargine (iGlar) on hsCRP in patients with T2D and established or high risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Methods: hsCRP concentration was quantified by immunoassay (Roche, Indianapolis, IN) with lower limits of detection at concentrations of 0.15 mg/L. Plasma was collected from 1995 fasted participants at baseline (329, 328, 338, and 1000 on 5, 10, 15 mg TZP and on iGlar, respectively) and 52 weeks in SURPASS-4. The % changes of hsCRP from baseline were estimated by mixed model with repeated measures. The shifts in hsCRP risk categories (hsCRP &gt;3 mg/L or 1-3 mg/L versus &lt;1 mg/L) from baseline to 52 weeks are reported. The linear relationship between % change from baseline of hsCRP and change in body mass index (BMI) was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Baseline hsCRP (mean ± SD, 5.6 ± 12.5 mg/L) was elevated in this study population. Among the participants, 48%, 36%, and 16% were in the &gt;3, 1-3 and &lt;1 mg/L hsCRP categories, respectively. Participants in the elevated hsCRP categories had higher body weight and BMI at baseline. After 52 weeks of treatment, the 5, 10, 15 mg TZP and iGlar groups resulted in -38.0%, -44.2%, -47.8%, and 0.6% changes in the concentration of hsCRP, respectively. More TZP-treated patients improved their hsCRP categories when compared with iGlar-treated participants (Table). The reduction in hsCRP in the pooled TZP groups correlated with the reduction of BMI (r=0.07, p=0.049). Conclusions: Tirzepatide treatment significantly lowers hsCRP in patients with T2D and increased CV risk versus baseline and iGlar. Substantially more participants shift to a lower hsCRP category when compared with insulin glargine.

Appraisal of Postoperative Outcomes of Volatile and Intravenous Anesthetics: A Network Meta-Analysis of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

To determine the relative efficacy of specific regimens used as primary anesthetics, as well as the potential combination of volatile and intravenous anesthetics among patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery. This frequentist, random-effects network meta-analysis was registered prospectively (CRD42022316328) and conducted according to the PRISMA-NMA framework. Literature searches were conducted up to April 1, 2022 across relevant databases. Risk of bias (RoB) and confidence of evidence were assessed by RoB-2 and CINeMA, respectively. Pooled treatment effects were compared with propofol monotherapy. Fifty-three randomized controlled trials (N=8,085) were included, of which 46 trials (N=6,604) enrolled patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Trials enrolling adults (≥18) undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery, using the same induction regimens, and comparing volatile and/or total intravenous anesthesia for the maintenance of anesthesia. Given that the majority of trials focused on those undergoing cardiac surgery and the heterogeneity, analyses were restricted to this population. Outcomes of interest included intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), myocardial infarction, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, stroke, and delirium. Across 19 trials (N=1,821; 9 arms; I2=64.5%), sevoflurane combined with propofol decreased ICU LOS (mean difference [MD] -18.26 hours; 95% CI -34.78 to -1.73 hours), whereas midazolam with propofol (MD 17.51 hours; 95% CI 2.78-32.25 hours) was associated with a significant increase in ICU LOS, when compared with propofol monotherapy. Among 27 trials (N=4,080; 10 arms; I2=0%), midazolam was associated with significantly greater risk of myocardial infarction versus propofol (risk ratio 1.94; 95% CI 1.01-3.71). There were no significant differences across other outcomes. In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, sevoflurane with propofol was associated with decreased ICU LOS compared with propofol monotherapy. Midazolam with propofol increased ICU LOS compared with propofol alone. The combined use of intravenous and volatile anesthetics should be explored further. Future trials in thoracic and vascular surgery are warranted.

Females Do Not Have Increased Adverse Events After Combined Carotid Endarterectomy and Cardiac Operations Despite Greater Abundance of Symptomatic Carotid Disease in This Female Cohort

Despite numerous reports of female patients having more adverse events after vascular procedures, the impact of birth sex on adverse outcomes following combined carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and cardiac operations has not been reported. The objective of this project was to define the event rate using an institutional data warehouse. We hypothesized that women undergoing combined carotid and cardiac operations would be more likely than men to have postoperative adverse events. We identified patients by Current Procedural Terminology codes and performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent CEA and cardiac operations (coronary artery bypass grafting with or without valve or isolated valve operations) in a simultaneous or staged fashion between 2007 and 2020. Patient comorbidities, operative indications, symptomatic status, and postoperative outcomes were abstracted via chart review. Late deaths, defined as deaths that occurred after initial 30-day postoperative period, were obtained from the National Death Index. The primary exposure variable was male or female birth sex. Fisher’s exact test with a P value of less .05 used to test for significance. We identified 134 patients (40.3% female) who underwent combined CEA + cardiac operations. Most (105) of the cardiac operations (105) were coronary artery bypass grafts, 16 were coronary artery bypass grafts + valve, and 13 were valve operations. Women were more likely to present with symptomatic carotid disease (women 19% vs men 6%; P < .05) (Table). The mean time between staged carotid and cardiac operations was 3.8 ± 3.3 days. There was one myocardial infarction (MI) in a male patient after CEA in the staged cohort and one MI in a female patient after synchronous group. There were two postprocedural strokes in male patients, both after staged cardiac operation and neither involved the CEA distribution. There were five perioperative deaths related to the cardiac operation. There were 14 late deaths with an average time to late death of 1272 ± 721 and 1248 ± 1219 days for women and men, respectively, after the CEA (Table). In our institutional database, women comprised 40% of patients undergoing combined carotid and cardiac operations. We found that women were more likely to have symptomatic carotid disease, but they did not have a greater risk of MI, stroke, or death (perioperative or late) compared with men. There were few adverse events suggesting that CEA is safe in women and men undergoing cardiac operations. We conclude that female sex does not increase the risk of adverse events in this challenging cohort of vascular patients.TablePatient comorbidities, operative indications, and outcome metricsFemaleΜaleP value(n = 54)(n = 80)Comorbidities Age (average)66.1 ± 8.668.2 ± 7.9- Diabetes26 (48%)39 (49%)1 Average A1c7.1 ± 1.87.5 ± 1.9- Hypertension47 (87%)73 (91%).57 Hyperlipidemia41 (76%)59 (74%)1 Renal dysfunction8 (15%)23 (29%).09 Average body mass index33.0 ± 8.230.3 ± 7.1- Tobacco exposure31 (57%)54 (68%).32Operative indications Symptomatic carotid10 (19%)5 (6%).048a Symptomatic heart28 (52%)35 (44%).382 Symptomatic for both3 (6%)1 (1%).302 Staged operation32 (59%)42 (53%).482 Synchronous operations22 (41%)38 (48%).482Outcomes MI1 (2%)1 (1%)1 Stroke0 (0%)2 (3%).515 Postoperative death2 (4%)3 (4%)1 Late deatha6 (11%)8 (10%)1MI, Myocardial infarction.Data are presented as percentage (x/n) or mean ± standard deviation.aP < .05.bDeaths captured via data warehouse query of the National Death Index. Open table in a new tab

The Functional Role of Lipoproteins in Atherosclerosis: Novel Directions for Diagnosis and Targeting Therapy.

Dyslipidemia, characterized by a high level of lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, or both), can increase the risk of developing and progressing atherosclerosis. As atherosclerosis progresses, the number and severity of aterial plagues increases with greater risk of myocardial infarction, a major contributor to cardiovascular mortality. Atherosclerosis progresses in four phases, namely endothelial dysfunction, fatty streak formation, lesion progression and plaque rupture, and eventually thrombosis and arterial obstruction. With greater understanding of the pathological processes underlying atherosclerosis, researchers have identified that lipoproteins play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. In particular, apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins have been shown to associate with atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) also contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis whereas high-density lipoproteins (HDL) contribute to the removal of cholesterol from macrophages thereby inhibiting the formation of foam cells. Given these known associations, lipoproteins may have potential as biomarkers for predicting risk associated with atherosclerotic plaques or may be targets as novel therapeutic agents. As such, the rapid development of drugs targeting lipoprotein metabolism may lead to novel treatments for atherosclerosis. A comprehensive review of lipoprotein function and their role in atherosclerosis, along with the latest development of lipoprotein targeted treatment, is timely. This review focuses on the functions of different lipoproteins and their involvement in atherosclerosis. Further, diagnostic and therapeutic potential are highlighted giving insight into novel lipoprotein-targetted approaches to treat atherosclerosis.

Longitudinal association of dietary fat intake with cardiovascular events in a prospective cohort study in Eastern Mediterranean region

We examined the association of dietary fats intake with the 13-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Iranian population. Totally 5432 participants of Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS) aged ≥ 35 years were included in the current study. The frequency of dietary fats including hydrogenated vegetables oil (HVO), non-hydrogenated vegetables oil (nHVO), olive oil, ghee, and animal fats during the preceding year were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals in the top quartile of HVO tended to have 68% greater risk for myocardial infarction compared with those in the first quartile (95% CI: 1.02, 2.78; P = 0.058). No association was found for other dietary fat sources with ischaemic heart disease, stroke, all-cause and CVD mortality after adjustment for all potential confounders. Higher consumption of HVO was associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction.

Investigation of association of genetic variant rs3918242 of matrix metalloproteinase-9 with hypertension, myocardial infarction and progression of ventricular dysfunction in Irish Caucasian patients with diabetes: a report from the STOP-HF follow-up programme

BackgroundHypertension and/or myocardial infarction are common causes of heart failure in Type 2 diabetes. Progression to heart failure is usually preceded by ventricular dysfunction, linked to matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) mediated extracellular matrix changes. We hypothesise that the minor allele of genetic variant rs3918242 in the promoter region of the MMP-9 gene is associated with hypertension and/or myocardial infarction, with resultant progression of dysfunctional cardiac remodelling in patients with diabetes without symptomatic heart failure.MethodsWe genotyped 498 diabetes patients participating in the St Vincent’s Screening TO Prevent Heart Failure (STOP-HF) follow-up programme for the rs3918242 single nucleotide polymorphism and investigated associations with the co-primary endpoints hypertension and/or myocardial infarction using a dominant model. We also evaluated resulting cardiometabolic phenotype and progression of ventricular dysfunction and cardiac structural abnormalities over a median follow-up period of 3.5 years.ResultsThe CT/TT genotype comprised 28.1% of the cohort and was associated with a twofold higher risk of myocardial infarction (17.9% vs 8.4%), a reduction in ejection fraction and greater left ventricular systolic dysfunction progression [adjusted OR = 2.56 (1.09, 6.01), p = 0.026] over a median follow-up of 3.5 years [IQR 2.6, 4.9 years]. Conversely, rs3918242 was not associated with hypertension, blood pressure, pulse pressure or left ventricular mass index at baseline or over follow up.ConclusionsDiabetes patients with the minor T allele of rs3918242 in the STOP-HF follow up programme have greater risk of myocardial infarction, lower ejection fraction and greater progression of left ventricular systolic abnormalities, a precursor to heart failure. These data may support further work on MMP-9 as a biomarker of ventricular dysfunction and the investigation of MMP-9 inhibitors for heart failure prevention in diabetes, particularly in the post-infarction setting.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00921960

Hemoglobin A1c and Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From a Large Single-Center Registry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes in relation to pre-procedural glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from a large, contemporary cohort. There are limited data evaluating associations between HbA1c, a marker of glycemic control, and ischemic risk following PCI. All patients with known HbA1c levels undergoing PCI at a single institution between 2009 and 2017 were included. Patients were divided into 5 groups on the basis of HbA1c level:≤5.5%, 5.6% to 6.0%, 6.1% to 7.0%, 7.1% to 8.0%, and >8.0%. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death or myocardial infarction (MI), at 1-year follow-up. A total of 13,543 patients were included (HbA1c≤5.5%, n=1,214; HbA1c 5.6% to 6.0%, n=2,202; HbA1c 6.1% to 7.0%, n=4,130; HbA1c 7.1% to 8.0%, n=2,609; HbA1c >8.0%, n=3,388). Patients with both low (HbA1c≤5.5%) and high (HbA1c >8.0%) levels displayed an increased risk for MACE compared with those with values between 6.1% and 7.0%. Excess risk was driven primarily by higher rates of all-cause death among those with low HbA1c levels, while higher values were strongly associated with greater MI risk. Patterns of risk were unchanged among patients with serial HbA1c levels and persisted after multivariate adjustment. Among patients undergoing PCI, pre-procedural HbA1c levels display a U-shaped association with 1-year MACE risk, a pattern that reflects greater risk for death in the presence of low HbA1c (≤5.5%) and higher risk for MI with higher values (>8.0%).

Assessing the Risks of Bleeding vs Thrombotic Events in Patients at High Bleeding Risk After Coronary Stent Implantation

Patients who are candidates for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and are at high bleeding risk constitute a therapeutic challenge because they often also face an increased risk of thrombotic complications. To develop and validate models to predict the risks of major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium [BARC] types 3 to 5 bleeding) and myocardial infarction (MI) and/or stent thrombosis (ST) for individual patients at high bleeding risk and provide assistance in defining procedural strategy and antithrombotic regimens. This prognostic study used individual patient data from 6 studies conducted from July 1, 2009, to September 5, 2017, for 6641 patients at more than 200 centers in Europe, the US, and Asia who underwent PCI and were identified as being at high bleeding risk using the Academic Research Consortium criteria. In 1 year of follow-up (excluding periprocedural events), individual patient risks of MI and/or ST and major bleeding were evaluated using 33 baseline variables. To validate these models, a subgroup of 1458 patients at high bleeding risk from the ONYX ONE trial were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed from February 1, 2019, to April 30, 2020. All patients underwent PCI with bare metal, drug-coated, or drug-eluting stent implants. Forward, stepwise multivariable proportional hazards models were used to identify highly significant predictors of MI and/or ST and BARC types 3 to 5 bleeding. A total of 6641 patients (4384 men [66.0%]; median age, 77.9 years [interquartile range, 70.0-82.6 years]) were included in this study. Over 365 days, nonperiprocedural MI and/or ST occurred in 350 patients (5.3%), and BARC types 3 to 5 bleeding occurred in 381 patients (5.7%). Eight independent baseline predictors of risk of MI and/or ST and 8 predictors for risk of BARC types 3 to 5 bleeding were identified. Four of these predictors were in both risk models. Both risk models showed moderate discrimination: C statistic = 0.69 for predicting MI and/or ST and 0.68 for predicting BARC types 3 to 5 bleeding. Applying these same models to the validation cohort gave a similar strength of discrimination (C statistic = 0.74 for both MI and/or ST and BARC types 3-5 bleeding). Patients with MI and/or ST had a mortality hazard ratio of 6.1 (95% CI, 4.8-7.7), and those with BARC types 3 to 5 bleeding had a mortality hazard ratio of 3.7 (95% CI, 2.9-4.8) compared with patients free of both events. Taking these data into account, the risk scores facilitate investigation of the individual patient trade-off between these 2 risks: 2931 patients (44.1%) at high bleeding risk in the 6 studies had a greater risk of MI and/or ST than of BARC 3 to 5 bleeding, 1555 patients (23.4%) had a greater risk of BARC 3 to 5 bleeding than of MI and/or ST, and 2155 (32.4%) had a comparable risk of both events. In a large cohort of patients at high bleeding risk undergoing PCI, 2 prognostic models have been developed to identify individual patients' risk of major coronary thrombotic and bleeding events. In future clinical practice, using an application on a smartphone to evaluate the trade-off between these 2 quantifiable risks for each patient may help clinicians choose the most appropriate revascularization strategy and tailor the duration and intensity of antithrombotic regimens.

Diabetes, Glycated Hemoglobin, and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Women and Men: A Prospective Cohort Study of the UK Biobank.

Diabetes has shown to be a stronger risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) in women than men. Whether sex differences exist across the glycemic spectrum is unknown. We investigated sex differences in the associations of diabetes status and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with the risk of MI. Data were used from 471,399 (56% women) individuals without cardiovascular disease (CVD) included in the UK Biobank. Sex-specific incidence rates were calculated by diabetes status and across levels of HbA1c using Poisson regression. Cox proportional hazards analyses estimated sex-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and women-to-men ratios by diabetes status and HbA1c for MI during a mean follow-up of 9 years. Women had lower incidence rates of MI than men, regardless of diabetes status or HbA1c level. Compared with individuals without diabetes, prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and previously diagnosed diabetes were associated with an increased risk of MI in both sexes. Previously diagnosed diabetes was more strongly associated with MI in women (HR 2.33 [95% CI 1.96; 2.78]) than men (1.81 [1.63; 2.02]), with a women-to-men ratio of HRs of 1.29 (1.05; 1.58). Each 1% higher HbA1c, independent of diabetes status, was associated with an 18% greater risk of MI in both women and men. Although the incidence of MI was higher in men than women, the presence of diabetes is associated with a greater excess relative risk of MI in women. However, each 1% higher HbA1c was associated with an 18% greater risk of MI in both women and men.

Discordant Values in Lower Extremity Physiologic Studies Predict Increased Cardiovascular Risk.

BackgroundAnkle‐brachial indexes (ABI) are a noninvasive diagnostic tool for peripheral arterial disease and a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. ABI is calculated using the highest systolic blood pressure of the 4 ankle arteries (bilateral dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial). Accordingly, patients may be assigned a normal ABI when the result would be abnormal if calculated using one of the other blood pressure readings. Cardiovascular outcomes for patients with discordant ABIs are undescribed.Methods and ResultsWe performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent ABI measurement for any indication between January 1996 and June 2018. Those with normal ABIs (1.00–1.39) were included. We compared patients with all 4 normal ABIs (calculated using all 4 ankle arteries; n=15 577, median age 64.0 years, 54.4% men) to those with discordant ABIs (at least 1 abnormal ABI ≤0.99; n=2095, median age 66.0 years, 47.8% men). The outcomes assessed were ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and all‐cause mortality. Compared with patients with concordant normal ABIs, patients with discordant ABIs were older; women; smoked; and had chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, or prior stroke. Patients with discordant ABIs had a greater risk of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10–1.56), ischemic stroke (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.37–1.72), and all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.16–1.39), including after adjustment for baseline comorbidities.ConclusionsDiscordant ABI results were associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and all‐cause mortality in the studied population. Clinicians should examine ABI calculations using all 4 ankle arteries to better characterize a patient's cardiovascular risk.

Revisiting the effects of omitting aspirin in combined antithrombotic therapies for atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes or percutaneous coronary interventions: meta-analysis of pooled data from the PIONEER AF-PCI, RE-DUAL PCI, and AUGUSTUS trials

Recently, three randomized trials reported that dual antithrombotic treatments (DATs) including non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and a P2Y12 inhibitor without aspirin were associated with significantly less bleeding than vitamin K antagonist (VKA)-based triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We conducted an analysis of pooled data from these trials. A meta-analysis of the PIONEER AF-PCI, RE-DUAL PCI, and AUGUSTUS trials considering major bleeding [International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction], clinically relevant non-major bleeding, all-cause/cardiovascular death, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and stent thrombosis. Treatment effect is reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. Among 9463 patients (53% with ACS), DAT regimens were associated with significantly less bleeding than TAT (OR 0.598, 0.491 -0.727; P < 0.001 for ISTH major bleeding), as were NOAC-based vs. VKA-based regimens (OR 0.577, 0.477 -0.698; P < 0.001). Stroke and mortality rates were similar, but there was statistically non-significant trend towards greater risk of MI (OR 1.211, 0.955 -1.535; P = 0.115) and significantly higher risk for stent thrombosis (OR 1.672, 1.022 -2.733, P = 0.041) with DAT vs. TAT (but not NOAC- vs. VKA-based regimens). This was mainly driven by Dabigatran 110 mg; the trends were lower with full-dose NOAC or Rivaroxaban 15 mg-based DATs. Our findings support the use of full-dose NOAC (Apixaban 5 mg, Dabigatran 150 mg) or Rivaroxaban 15 mg-based treatments in most AF patients with ACS or undergoing PCI. Notwithstanding the better safety of DAT, an initial course of NOAC-based TAT may be desirable in most AF patients.

Risk of myocardial infarction among people living with HIV: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveCardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading non-AIDS-defining causes of death among HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals. However, the evidence surrounding specific components of CVD risk remains inconclusive. We conducted a...

Unmet Needs in Managing Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Malignancy.

Patients with cancer face a high short-term risk of arterial thromboembolism. One of the most fatal manifestations of arterial thromboembolism is myocardial infarction (MI), and patients with cancer face a 3-fold greater risk of MI than patients without cancer. The individual risk for arterial thrombotic events in patients with cancer is determined by the complex interaction of baseline cardiovascular risk factors, cancer type and stage, chemotherapeutic regimen, and other general contributing factors for thrombosis. Managing MI in patients with cancer is a clinical challenge, particularly due to cancer's unique pathophysiology, which makes it difficult to balance thrombotic and bleeding risks in this specific patient population. When patients with cancer present with MI, a limited proportion are treated with guideline-recommended therapy, such as antiplatelet therapy or invasive revascularization. Despite the limited evidence, existing reports consistently suggest similar clinical benefits of guideline-recommended therapy when administered to patients with cancer presenting with MI. In this review, we briefly summarize the available evidence, clinical challenges, and future perspectives on simultaneous management of MI and cancer, with a focus on invasive strategy.

Impact of ischaemic heart disease severity and age on risk of cardiovascular outcome in diabetes patients in Sweden: a nationwide observational study

ObjectivesTo compare short-term cardiovascular (CV) outcome in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients without ischaemic heart disease (IHD), with IHD but no prior myocardial infarction (MI), and those with prior MI;...

The long-term prognosis of heart diseases for different metabolic phenotypes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association of different categories of weight and metabolic status with risk of heart diseases including myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and heart failure (HF). Data from relevant studies were identified systematically by searching PubMed and Scopus search engines up to 29 May 2018. Prospective studies were included in the analyses with metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) as the reference. Pooled RRs and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effect models when appropriate. Subgroup analysis was applied to define possible sources of heterogeneity. Overall, 21 studies (n = 778,401 participants) were eligible for the present meta-analysis. Generally, the risk of CVDs for all metabolic phenotypes in metabolically unhealthy obese increased compared with the MHNW group. A significant positive association between all metabolic phenotypes and the risk of HF was also observed expect for MHOW (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.60-2.00, P = 0.76) and MHO phenotypes (RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.25-3.77, P = 0.95). Moreover, MUHO phenotype was associated with greater risk of MI compared with the MHNW phenotype (RR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.50-2.22, P < 0.001, respectively). Our findings showed that all metabolically unhealthy phenotypes in different categories of weight were associated with increased incident of CVDs/HF and MI. Furthermore, healthy overweight and obese subjects had increased risk of CVDs.

Association of the Haptoglobin Gene Polymorphism With Cognitive Function and Decline in Elderly African American Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

African American individuals have higher dementia risk than individuals of white race/ethnicity. They also have higher rates of type 2 diabetes, which may contribute to this elevated risk. This study examined the association of the following 2 classes of alleles at the haptoglobin (Hp) locus that are associated with poor cognition, cardiovascular disease, and mortality: Hp 1-1 (associated with poor cognition and cerebrovascular disease) and Hp 2-1 and Hp 2-2 (associated with greater risk of myocardial infarction and mortality). An additional polymorphism in the promoter region of the Hp 2 allele, restricted to individuals of African descent, yields a fourth genotype, Hp 2-1m. African American adults have a higher prevalence of Hp 1-1 (approximately 30%) compared with individuals of white race/ethnicity (approximately 14%), but the potential role of the Hp genotype in cognition among elderly African American individuals with type 2 diabetes is unknown. To assess the association of the Hp genotypes with cognitive function and decline in elderly African American adults with type 2 diabetes. This cohort study used publicly available data and specimens from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes-Memory in Diabetes (ACCORD-MIND) study to investigate the association of the Hp genotypes with cognitive function and decline in 466 elderly African American participants with type 2 diabetes. The hypothesis was that the Hp 1-1 genotype compared with the other genotypes would be associated with more cognitive impairment and faster cognitive decline in elderly African American adults with type 2 diabetes. The initial ACCORD trial was performed from October 28, 1999, to September 15, 2014. This was a multicenter clinical study performed in an academic setting. The Hp genotypes were determined from serum samples by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to measure cognitive function and change after 40 months. The MMSE score ranges from 0 to 30 points; higher scores represent better cognition. Associations were examined with analysis of covariance and linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, education, baseline glycated hemoglobin level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol level, creatinine level, and treatment arm (intensive vs standard). The cognitive change model adjusted also for the baseline MMSE score. Among 466 African American study participants (mean [SD] age, 62.3 [5.7] years), 64.8% were women, and the genotype prevalences were 29.4% (n = 137) for Hp 1-1, 36.1% (n = 168) for Hp 2-1, 10.9% (n = 51) for Hp 2-1m, and 23.6% (n = 110) for Hp 2-2. The groups differed in their baseline MMSE scores (P = .006): Hp 1-1 had the lowest MMSE score (mean [SE], 25.68 [0.23]), and Hp 2-1m had the highest MMSE score (mean [SE], 27.15 [0.36]). Using the least squares method, the 40-month decline was significant for Hp 1-1 (mean [SE], -0.41 [0.19]; P = .04) and for Hp 2-2 (mean [SE], -0.68 [0.21]; P = .001). However, the overall comparison across the 4 groups did not reach statistical significance for the fully adjusted model. The interaction of age with the Hp 1-1 genotype on MMSE score decline estimate per year change was significant (mean [SE], -0.87 [0.37]; P = .005), whereas it was not significant for Hp 2-1 (mean [SE], 0.06 [0.37]; P = .85), Hp 2-1m (mean [SE], -0.06 [0.51]; P = .89), and Hp 2-2 (mean [SE], -0.44 [0.41]; P = .29), indicating that cognitive decline in Hp 1-1 carriers was accentuated in older ages, whereas it was not significant for the other Hp genotypes. In this study, the Hp 1-1 genotype, which is 2-fold (approximately 30%) more prevalent among African American individuals than among individuals of white race/ethnicity, was associated with poorer cognitive function and greater cognitive decline than the other Hp genotypes. The Hp gene polymorphism may explain the elevated dementia risk in African American adults. The neuropathological substrates and mechanisms for these associations merit further investigation.

Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Network Meta-analysis of the Cardiovascular Safety of Macrolides.

Studies reporting an increased risk for cardiac toxicities with macrolide antibiotics have raised concern regarding their cardiovascular safety. We sought to assess the cardiac safety of macrolide antibiotics as a class and of the individual agents by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to February 2018 for studies reporting on cardiovascular outcomes with macrolides. We followed the PRISMA 2009 guidelines for data selection and extraction. Outcomes were pooled using random-effects models and odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for arrhythmia, cardiovascular death, and myocardial infarction (MI). A total of 33 studies and data on 22,601,032 subjects were retrieved and included in the current meta-analyses. Macrolide use was not associated with the risk of arrhythmia or cardiovascular mortality. In the primary analysis, macrolide use was associated with a small but statistically significant 15% increase in risk for MI (OR = 1.15 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.30]). In indirect network meta-analysis, erythromycin and clarithromycin were ranked considerably more likely to be associated with a higher risk for MI and significantly associated with increased risk of MI compared to azithromycin (OR = 1.58 [95% CI, 1.18 to 2.11] and OR = 1.41 [95% CI, 1.11 to 1.81], respectively). Our findings indicate that macrolide antibiotics as a group are associated with a significant risk for MI but not for arrhythmia and cardiovascular mortality. Among the macrolides, erythromycin and clarithromycin were associated with a greater risk of MI. However, it is possible that the association between macrolide use and risk of MI is the result of residual confounding.

Sleep duration on workdays or nonworkdays and cardiac–cerebral vascular diseases in Southern China

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the relationship between sleep duration on work or nonworkdays and myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in Southern China. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 15,364 participants of age ≥15 years in Southern China from November 2013 to August 2014. Data on self-reported duration of sleep on workdays or nonworkdays as well as history of MI and stroke were collected in the questionnaire. The subjects were examined for weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of sleep duration with MI and stroke. ResultOverall, compared with a sleep duration of 6–8 h, individuals who slept <6 h on workdays and nonworkdays were associated with increased risk for MI (odds ratio [OR] = 3.17, 2.04). Furthermore, individuals who slept >8 h on workdays and nonworkdays were associated with an increased risk for stroke (OR = 1.86, 1.54). Although this association persisted in men and subjects aged <65 years, we also observed that long sleep duration on workdays was associated with MI, especially among women, and short sleep duration on nonworkdays was associated with stroke among those aged 65 years or older. Participants with abnormal sleep duration and hypertension had higher risk of MI and stroke. Sleep debt was independently associated with MI risk, but not stroke (OR = 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.86), specifically among men aged <65 years. ConclusionsCompared with a sleep duration of 6–8 h, both short and long sleep duration were associated with the prevalence of MI and stroke and these associations were more pronounced among hypertensive persons, and tended to vary by age and sex. Moreover, sleep debt was linked to greater MI risk among men aged <65 years. These findings suggest that we should develop a healthy biological clock.