Incidence Of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Research Articles

Major adverse cardiovascular events in advanced-stage lung cancer: a multicenter cohort study.

Lung cancers are common worldwide. First-line targeted therapy and chemotherapy are both standard treatments in the current guidelines. With the development of new anticancer therapy, the lifespan of patients with late-stage lung cancer has increased. Cardiovascular events can occur during cancer treatment. This observational study aimed to report the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after cancer treatment using real-world data. Patients diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer between January 2011 and December 2017 were enrolled. Data were collected from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD). Retrospective cohort study. Baseline characteristics, clinical stages, pathologies, and outcomes were retrieved from the CGRD. We identified 4406 patients with advanced lung cancer, of whom 2197 received first-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy and 2209 received first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Most patients in the first-line EGFR-TKI group were never-smokers (74.9%), whereas those in the first-line chemotherapy group were ever-smokers (66.0%). The incidence of MACE was not significantly different between the two groups (12.0% versus 11.9%, p = 0.910). However, the incidence of ischemic stroke was higher in the first-line EGFR-TKI group than in the first-line chemotherapy group (3.9% versus 1.9%, p < 0.001). MACEs are common in patients with advanced-stage lung cancer during treatment. The incidence of MACE was similar between the first-line EGFR-TKI therapy and first-line chemotherapy groups. Although more patients in the EGFR-TKI group were female and never-smokers, the risk of ischemic stroke was higher in patients who received first-line EGFR-TKI therapy than in those who received first-line chemotherapy.

Nitroglycerin use and adverse clinical outcomes in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome

ObjectiveThe primary care for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes the administration of nitroglycerin (GTN). This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of GTN before percutaneous coronary intervention...

Post-traumatic stress disorder as a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events: a cohort study of a South African medical insurance scheme.

Prior research, largely focused on US male veterans, indicates an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data from other settings and populations are scarce. The objective of this study is to examine PTSD as a risk factor for incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in South Africa. We analysed reimbursement claims (2011-2020) of a cohort of South African medical insurance scheme beneficiaries aged 18years or older. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for associations between PTSD and MACEs using Cox proportional hazard models and calculated the effect of PTSD on MACEs using longitudinal targeted maximum likelihood estimation. We followed 1,009,113 beneficiaries over a median of 3.0years (IQR 1.1-6.0). During follow-up, 12,662 (1.3%) persons were diagnosed with PTSD and 39,255 (3.9%) had a MACE. After adjustment for sex, HIV status, age, population group, substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, major depressive disorder, sleep disorders and the use of antipsychotic medication, PTSD was associated with a 16% increase in the risk of MACEs (aHR 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.28). The risk ratio for the effect of PTSD on MACEs decreased from 1.59 (95% CI 1.49-1.68) after 1year of follow-up to 1.14 (95% CI 1.11-1.16) after 8years of follow-up. Our study provides empirical support for an increased risk of MACEs in males and females with PTSD from a general population sample in South Africa. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring cardiovascular risk among individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

The Prognostic Value of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Forecasting Ten-Year Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Non-Diabetic Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

This study aimed to explore the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over a ten-year period in non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We included 375 consecutive non-diabetic patients presenting with acute MI who underwent primary PCI. The TyG index was calculated and patients were divided based on a cut-off value of ≥ 8.84 into high and low TyG index groups. The incidence of MACE, including all-cause mortality, target vessel revascularization, reinfarction, and rehospitalization for heart failure, was assessed over 10 years. Over the next 10 years, patients who underwent PCI for acute MI experienced a significantly higher incidence of MACE in the group with a high TyG index (≥ 8.84) (P = 0.004). Multivariable analysis revealed that the TyG index independently predicted MACE in these patients [odds ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-2.21; P = 0.002]. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the TyG index effectively predicted MACE in patients with acute MI following PCI, with an area under the curve of 0.562 (95% CI: 0.503-0.621; P = 0.038). This study established a correlation between high TyG index levels and an elevated risk of MACE in non-diabetic patients with acute MI. The findings suggest that the TyG index could be a reliable indicator of clinical outcomes for non-diabetic acute MI patients undergoing PCI.

Prognostic Value of Optical Flow Ratio among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease after Percutaneous Coronary Treatment: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cohort Investigation

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the prognostic performance of optical flow ratio (OFR) among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We recruited patients with CAD undergoing optical coherence tomography (OCT)-directed PCI between January 2019 and June 2021 for our single-center, hospital-based, retrospective cohort investigation. We assessed the link between post-PCI OFR and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) via multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the best post-PCI OFR threshold for MACE was 0.91, and introduction of OFR into the baseline profile and OCT results markedly enhanced MACE identification after PCI. On the basis of survival curves, patients with OFR ≤0.91 (P &lt; 0.001) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (P = 0.007) exhibited higher MACE incidence, and myocardial infarction (MI) incidence was considerably greater among patients with OFR ≤0.91 (P &lt; 0.001), compared with OFR &gt;0.91. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that OFR ≤0.91 (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–10.44; P = 0.019), and TCFA (HR: 3.63; 95% CI: 1.42–9.20; P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for MACE, and OFR ≤0.91 was independently associated with MI (HR: 14.64; 95% CI: 3.27–65.54; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: OFR after PCI is an independent MACE bio-indicator among patients with CAD. Adding OFR to post-PCI OCT results may potentially enhance MACE prediction.

Clinical Significance of PCSK9 and Soluble P-selectin in Predicting Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the association of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) with soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), and their values in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1-year follow-up in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving dual antiplatelet therapy after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 563 patients with ACS who underwent primary PCI were prospectively recruited from March 2020 to June 2021. The baseline levels of PCSK9, sP-selectin, and other platelet reactivity biomarkers were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: sP-selectin and ox-LDL levels significantly increased with increasing PCSK9 tertiles. High sP-selectin was associated with high PCSK9 levels, and PCSK9 was positively correlated with sP-selectin. Patients with both PCSK9 &gt;17.4 ng/mL and sP-selectin &gt;7.2 ng/mL had a significantly higher incidence of MACE than patients with lower levels. Multivariate analysis indicated that high sP-selectin and PCSK9 levels were independent risk factors for MACE, and the combination of PCSK9 and sP-selectin had better predictive value than each biomarker alone. Conclusion: PCSK9 and sP-selectin may be potential predictive biomarkers for 1-year prognosis in patients with ACS after primary PCI.

Elevated lipoprotein(a) increases risk of subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and coronary revascularisation in incident ASCVD patients: A cohort study from the UK Biobank

Background and aimsElevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetic driver for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to provide novel insights into the associated risk of elevated versus normal Lp(a) levels on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in an incident ASCVD cohort. MethodsThis was an observational cohort study of incident ASCVD patients. MACE counts and incidence rates (IRs) per 100-person-years were reported for patients with normal (<65 nmol/L) and elevated (>150 nmol/L) Lp(a) within the first year after incident ASCVD diagnosis and overall follow-up. Cox proportional hazard models quantified the risk of MACE associated with a 100 nmol/L increase in Lp(a). ResultsThe study cohort included 32,537 incident ASCVD patients; 5204 with elevated and 22,257 with normal Lp(a). Of those with elevated Lp(a), 41.2% had a subsequent MACE, versus 35.61% with normal Lp(a). Within the first year of follow-up, the IRs of composite MACE and coronary revascularisation were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with elevated versus normal Lp(a) (IR difference 6.79 and 4.66). This trend was also observed in the overall follow-up (median 4.7 years). Using time to first subsequent MACE, a 100 nmol/L increase in Lp(a) was associated with an 8.0% increased risk of composite MACE, and 18.6% increased risk of coronary revascularisation during the overall follow-up period. ConclusionsThe association of elevated Lp(a) with increased risk of subsequent MACE and coronary revascularisation highlights a population who may benefit from earlier and more targeted intervention for cardiovascular risk including Lp(a), particularly within the first year after ASCVD diagnosis. Proactive Lp(a) testing as part of routine clinical practice can help identify and better manage these higher-risk individuals.

Risk Factors Associated with Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events after Ischemic Stroke: A Linked Registry Study

Introduction: Survivors of stroke are at risk of experiencing subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We aimed to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, MACE after first-ever ischemic stroke, by age group (18–64 years vs. ≥65 years). Methods: Observational cohort study using patient-level data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (2009–2013), linked with hospital administrative data. We included adults with first-ever ischemic stroke who had no previous acute cardiovascular admissions and followed these patients for 2 years post-discharge, or until the first post-stroke MACE event. A Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard model, accounting for the competing risk of non-cardiovascular death, was used to determine factors for incident post-stroke MACE. Results: Among 5,994 patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke (median age 73 years, 45% female), 17% were admitted for MACE within 2 years (129 events per 1,000 person-years). The median time to first post-stroke MACE was 117 days (89 days if aged <65 years vs. 126 days if aged ≥65 years; p = 0.025). Among patients aged 18–64 years, receiving intravenous thrombolysis (sub-distribution hazard ratio [SHR] 0.51 [95% CI, 0.28–0.92]) or being discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (SHR 0.65 [95% CI, 0.46–0.92]) were associated with a reduced incidence of post-stroke MACE. In those aged ≥65 years, being unable to walk on admission (SHR 1.33 [95% CI 1.15–1.54]), and history of smoking (SHR 1.40 [95% CI 1.14–1.71]) or atrial fibrillation (SHR 1.31 [95% CI 1.14–1.51]) were associated with an increased incidence of post-stroke MACE. Acute management in a large hospital (>300 beds) for the initial stroke event was associated with reduced incidence of post-stroke MACE, irrespective of age group. Conclusions: MACE is common within 2 years of stroke, with most events occurring within the first year. We have identified important factors to consider when designing interventions to prevent MACE after stroke, particularly among those aged <65 years.

Prediabetes increases the risk of major limb and cardiovascular events

BackgroundPrediabetes, an intermediate stage between normal blood sugar levels and a diabetes mellitus diagnosis, is increasing in prevalence. Severe prediabetes is associated with a similar risk of complications as diabetes, but its relationship with peripheral arterial disease remains underexplored.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 36,950 adult patients, utilizing electronic medical records from the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2014 and 2019. We employed multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analysis with the log-rank test to analyze major adverse limb events (MALE) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in relation to normal glucose regulation (NGR) and prediabetes.ResultsDuring the 131,783 person-years follow-up, 17,754 cases of prediabetes and 19,196 individuals with normal glucose regulation (NGR) were identified. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed an increased incidence of both MALE and MACE in individuals with prediabetes. (log-rank p = 0.024 and < 0.001). Prediabetes exhibited a significant association with an elevated risk of MALE (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.26 [95% CI 1.10–1.46], p = 0.001) and MACE (aHR 1.46 [1.27–1.67], p < 0.001). Furthermore, in individuals with prediabetes, the elevation in the risk of MALE commenced before HbA1c levels surpassed 5.0% (for HbA1c 5.0-5.5%: aHR 1.78 (1.04–3.04), p = 0.036; HbA1c 5.5-6.0%: aHR 1.29 [1.06–1.58], p = 0.012; aHbA1c 6.0-6.5%: aHR 1.39 [1.14–1.70], p < 0.001). Similarly, the onset of increased MACE risk was observed when HbA1c levels exceeded 5.5% (for HbA1c 5.5–6.0%: aHR 1.67 [1.39–2.01], p < 0.001; HbA1c 6.0-6.5%: HR 2.10 [1.76–2.51], p < 0.001). Factors associated with both MALE and MACE in prediabetes include advanced age, male gender, higher body mass index, and a history of heart failure or atrial fibrillation.ConclusionWe demonstrated higher susceptibility to MALE and MACE in prediabetes compared to normoglycemic counterparts, notwithstanding lower HbA1c levels. Complications may manifest at an earlier prediabetes trajectory. Intensive lifestyle modification may improve the prognosis of severe prediabetes.

Clinical efficacy and safety of adjunctive treatment of chronic ischemic heart failure with Qishen Yiqi dropping pills: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Our study was to evaluate the effect of Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills(QSYQ) on the prognosis of chronic ischemic heart failure(CIHF) and its safety. Databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library and EMbase were searched from their inception to April 2023 to screen relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary indicators included readmission rates, rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause mortality rates. The quality of the literature was assessed according to the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook 5.0 and the Modified Jadad Scale (with a score of 4-7 rated as high quality). Meta-analysis was performed using the meta-package created by R software version 4.2.3, continuous data were compared using SMDs, and dichotomous and ordered data were compared using ORs; and the I2 test was used to assess the heterogeneity. Fifty-nine studies out of 1,745 publications were finally included, totalling 6,248 patients. Most studies were poorly designed and had some publication bias, with only 26 high-quality papers (Jadad score ≥4). Meta-analysis showed that the combined application of QSYQ was able to reduce the readmission rate [OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.33, 0.53), P < 0.001], all-cause mortality rate [OR = 0.43, 95% CI (0.27, 0.68), P < 0.001], and the incidence of MACE [OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.31, 0.56), P < 0.001]. Also, the treatment method can improve clinical effectiveness [OR = 2.25, 95% CI (1.97, 2.58), P < 0.001], increase 6-min walking distance (6MWD) [SMD = 1.87, 95% CI (1.33, 2.41), P < 0.0001] and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [SMD = 1.08, 95% CI (0.83, 1.33), P < 0.0001], and decrease the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores [SMD = -2.03, 95% CI (-3.0, -1.07), P < 0.0001], BNP levels [SMD = -2.07, 95% CI (-2.81, -1.33), P < 0.0001] and NT-ProBNP levels [SMD = -2.77, 95% CI (-4.90, -0.63), P < 0.05]. A total of 21 studies (n = 2,742) evaluated their adverse effects, of which 13 studies reported no adverse effects and 8 studies reported minor adverse effects. Our results suggest that the combined application of QSYQ can further improve patients' cardiac function and exercise tolerance, improve their quality of life, and ultimately improve patients' prognosis with a favorable safety profile. Nonetheless, limited by the quality and high heterogeneity of the literature, we must be conservative and cautious about the present results. PROSPERO (CRD42023449251).

Elevated plasma pyruvate kinase M2 concentrations are associated with the clinical severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease.

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). We tested whether plasma PKM2 concentrations were correlated with clinical severity and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in CAD patients. A total of 2443 CAD patients and 238 controls were enrolled. The follow-up time was two years. Plasma PKM2 concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Cloud-Clone, Wuhan, China) using SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader (Molecular Devices, San Jose, USA). The predictors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. The association between PKM2 concentration in different quartiles and MACEs was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models. The predictive value of PKM2 and a cluster of conventional risk factors was determined by Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The net reclassification improvement (NRI) and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were utilized to evaluate the enhancement in risk prediction when PKM2 was added to a predictive model containing a cluster of conventional risk factors. In CAD patients, PKM2 concentration was the independent predictor of ACS (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curves and Cox proportional hazards analyses revealed that patients with a higher PKM2 concentration had higher incidence of MACEs compared to those with a lower PKM2 concentration (P < 0.001). The addition of PKM2 to a cluster of conventional risk factors significantly increased its prognostic value of MACEs. Baseline plasma PKM2 concentrations predict the clinical severity and prognosis of CAD.

Impact of Guideline-Directed Management Strategies for Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Control in Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background/ObjectiveThere are little direct comparative evidences of strategies between more than 50% and absolute target goal of LDL-C level less than 55mg/dL for the patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical impact of different strategies between two in patients underwent PCI. MethodsA total of 3,104 patients with prior PCI were retrospectively enrolled from 2014 to 2020 at Yeungnam University Medical Center. The study population was stratified into two groups based on whether LDL-C level were less than 55 mg/dL at one-year mark or not. Furthermore, the 50% reduction rate of LDL-C was also categorized based on whether it had decreased by 50% or more from the initial LDL-C level at the one-year mark. The primary endpoint was 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which was defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, target-lesion revascularization, hospitalization for heart failure, or non-fatal stroke. ResultsThere was no significant difference between the LDL < 55 mg/dL group and the LDL ≥ 55 mg/dL group in the risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–1.38; P = 0.690) after propensity score matching. However, the group that achieved ≥ 50% reduction of LDL-C from baseline LDL-C level showed a significant reduction in the occurrence of MACE in the subgroup of LDL-C level ≥ 55 mg/dL (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.19-0.89; P= 0.025), compared to the group with < 50% reduction of LDL-C. Among all patients, the achievement rate of target LDL-C < 55 mg/dL and more than 50% reduction from baseline was 17.2%. ConclusionGuideline directed management strategy of more than 50% reduction of LDL-C from the baseline will be needed to reduce the incidence of MACE in PCI treated patients with LDL-C ≥ 55 mg/dL and additional efforts to increase target-goal achievement rate of LDL-C are warranted.

Effect of Danshen for improving clinical outcomes in patients with bladder cancer: a retrospective, population-based study.

Introduction: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a broad application in healthcare, with Danshen being a notable herb used in Eastern medicine for cancer treatment. This study aims to explore the relationship between Danshen use and cardiovascular risks among bladder cancer patients. Methods: Patients were selected based on a confirmed diagnosis of bladder cancer with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to control for certain comorbidities and treatments. Utilizing Taiwan's National Health Insurance data from 2003 to 2013, this retrospective, population-based study identified three groups: 525 patients treated with Danshen, 6,419 patients not treated with TCM, and 4,356 patients treated with TCM but not with Danshen. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to estimate the risks of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) and mortality while accounting for various confounders. Results: The overall incidence of MACEs was significantly lower in the Danshen group (5%) compared to the TCM (8.1%) and non-TCM (9.9%) groups (p < 0.001). The Cox model revealed that bladder cancer patients treated with Danshen had the lowest risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.84) and all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.82). Discussion: The findings suggest that Danshen reduces the risk of MACE and all-cause mortality in bladder cancer patients, highlighting its potential benefits. This underpins the necessity for further research to substantiate the cardiovascular benefits of Danshen in bladder cancer patients and potentially broaden its application in oncology healthcare.

Platelet RNA Biomarker of Ticagrelor-Responsive Genes Is Associated With Platelet Function and Cardiovascular Events.

Identifying patients with the optimal risk:benefit for ticagrelor is challenging. The aim was to identify ticagrelor-responsive platelet transcripts as biomarkers of platelet function and cardiovascular risk. Healthy volunteers (n=58, discovery; n=49, validation) were exposed to 4 weeks of ticagrelor with platelet RNA data, platelet function, and self-reported bleeding measured pre-/post-ticagrelor. RNA sequencing was used to discover platelet genes affected by ticagrelor, and a subset of the most informative was summarized into a composite score and tested for validation. This score was further analyzed (1) in CD34+ megakaryocytes exposed to an P2Y12 inhibitor in vitro, (2) with baseline platelet function in healthy controls, (3) in peripheral artery disease patients (n=139) versus patient controls (n=30) without atherosclerosis, and (4) in patients with peripheral artery disease for correlation with atherosclerosis severity and risk of incident major adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Ticagrelor exposure differentially expressed 3409 platelet transcripts. Of these, 111 were prioritized to calculate a Ticagrelor Exposure Signature score, which ticagrelor reproducibly increased in discovery and validation cohorts. Ticagrelor's effects on platelets transcripts positively correlated with effects of P2Y12 inhibition in primary megakaryocytes. In healthy controls, higher baseline scores correlated with lower baseline platelet function and with minor bleeding while receiving ticagrelor. In patients, lower scores independently associated with both the presence and extent of atherosclerosis and incident ischemic events. Ticagrelor-responsive platelet transcripts are a biomarker for platelet function and cardiovascular risk and may have clinical utility for selecting patients with optimal risk:benefit for ticagrelor use.

Effectiveness of Early Direct Oral Anticoagulant Monotherapy within One Year of Coronary Stent Implantation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

We evaluated the effectiveness of early direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) monotherapy within one year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using Korean National Health Insurance Service data. AF patients who underwent PCI were included and divided into the DOAC monotherapy group and the combination therapy group (DOAC with an antiplatelet agent) based on the medications used at 6 months after PCI. A major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) was defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, or systemic thromboembolic event between 6 and 12 months after PCI. In the overall study population, the DOAC dose reduction rate was high in both the monotherapy group (70.8%) and the combination therapy group (79.1%). After propensity score matching, the MACE incidence was not significantly different between the two groups (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42 [0.90–2.24]). The numerical trend for higher MACE in the monotherapy group was mainly driven by the difference in stroke incidence (HR 1.84 [0.97–3.46]). All-cause death (HR 1.29 [0.61–2.74] or the incidence of major bleeding (HR 1.07 [0.49–2.35]) results were similar in the two groups. In conclusion, early DOAC monotherapy was not significantly associated with MACE risk between 6 and 12 months after PCI.

Quantitative Association between Computed-Tomography-Based L1 Skeletal Muscle Indices and Major Adverse Clinical Events Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Sarcopenia is as a non-traditional risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Further investigation is required to elucidate the prognostic significance of computed tomography (CT)-based sarcopenia assessment in coronary artery disease (CAD). We prospectively enrolled 475 patients, who underwent coronary stent implantation and peri-procedural CT scans within one month. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was assessed cross-sectionally at the first lumbar vertebra (L1) level. The participants were grouped based on sex-specific L1 SMI quartiles. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and the secondary composite endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) over a 3-year follow-up period. Three-year all-cause mortality and MACE incidence increased significantly in patients in the lower L1 SMI quartiles compared to those of patients in the higher quartiles (p &lt; 0.001). The individual composite endpoints consistently showed a higher incidence in the lower quartiles of L1 SMI (p &lt; 0.001). In multivariable analysis, the lower L1 SMI quartiles independently predicted 3-year all-cause mortality and MACEs (lowest vs. highest quartiles, respectively: OR 4.90 (95% CI 1.54–15.5), p = 0.007; and OR 12.3 (95% CI 4.99–30.4), p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, CT-based L1 SMI demonstrated a distinct dose-dependent relationship with future MACEs in CAD patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, thereby enhancing cardiovascular risk stratification.

Effect of quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound on the long-term prognosis of patients with chronic coronary syndrome.

Ultrasound is one of the most commonly used examination methods in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and is valuable in evaluating patient prognosis. Although contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can assess more in depth the vascular lesions of patients, there is still a lack of relevant research on the value of quantitative parameters of CEUS in predicting the long-term prognosis of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), thus, we designed this study. From January 2016 to December 2017, a total of 473 patients with CCS admitted to Yueyang People's Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were followed up for five years. According to whether the patients had major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), patients were divided into the MACE group (n=113) and the control group (n=360). The CEUS was performed to detect the myocardial perfusion status. The value of quantitative parameters of CEUS in predicting the MACE in patients with CCS was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Peak intensity of contrast agent at platform stage, rising rate of microbubble reperfusion, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were found to be valuable in predicting the risk of MACE in patients with CCS. Among them, the peak intensity of contrast agent at platform stage had the highest predictive value, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.860 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.827-0.894, P<0.001]. Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed that the peak intensity of contrast agent at platform stage <4.54 dB and rising rate of microbubble reperfusion <0.275 s were independent risk factors of MACE in patients with CCS. The relative risks were 12.238 (95% CI: 6.632-22.585) and 5.724 (95% CI: 3.149-10.405), respectively. Quantitative parameters of CEUS can be used as predictors of MACE in patients with CCS, and strengthening the management of such high-risk patients may be beneficial to reduce the incidence of MACE.

Fibrates and the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in chronic kidney disease patients.

The high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been well described. However, the efficacy of fibrates on the risk of MACE in patients with CKD remains unclear. We conducted a nested case-control study using data from a large administrative database that included more than 1.5 million Japanese patients. We defined cases as CKD patients with incidences of MACE and matched them with controls based on age, sex, calendar year of cohort entry and CKD stage. Fibrate exposure timing was categorized as current, recent or past. A conditional logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between fibrate use and the risk of MACE. Our study included 47 490 patients with CKD, with 15 830 MACE identified during a median follow-up of 9.4 months. The numbers of fibrates used during the study period were 556 (3.5%) in the case group and 1109 (3.5%) in the control group. Fibrate use was significantly associated with a decreased risk of MACE [odds ratio (OR) 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-0.94], particularly for current (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.68-0.97) and recent use (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.48-0.90). Regarding the class effect of fibrates, pemafibrate use, but not bezafibrate or fenofibrate use, was significantly associated with a decreased risk of MACE (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.528-0.997). Recent and current fibrate use, especially pemafibrate use, was associated with a reduced risk of MACE in patients with CKD. This suggests the potential benefits of continuous fibrate therapy and the possible superiority of pemafibrate over other fibrates. However, further investigations in different populations are required to confirm the generalizability of these findings.

Comparative analysis of four nutritional scores predicting the incidence of MACE in older adults with acute coronary syndromes after PCI

To determine the most appropriate nutritional assessment tool for predicting the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 1 year in elderly ACS patients undergoing PCI from four nutritional assessment tools including PNI, GNRI, CONUT, and BMI. Consecutive cases diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of the Air force characteristic medical center from 1 January 2020 to 1 April 2022 were retrospectively collected. The basic clinical characteristics and relevant test and examination indexes were collected uniformly, and the cases were divided into the MACE group (174 cases) and the non-MACE group (372 cases) according to whether a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) had occurred within 1 year. Predictive models were constructed to assess the nutritional status of patients with the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Controlling nutritional status (CONUT) scores, and Body Mass Index (BMI), respectively, and to analyze their relationship with prognosis. The incremental value of the four nutritional assessment tools in predicting risk was compared using the Integrated Discriminant Improvement (IDI) and the net reclassification improvement (NRI). The predictive effect of each model on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 1 year in elderly ACS patients undergoing PCI was assessed using area under the ROC curve (AUC), calibration curves, decision analysis curves, and clinical impact curves; comparative analyses were performed. Among the four nutritional assessment tools, the area under the curve (AUC) was significantly higher for the PNI (AUC: 0.798, 95%CI 0.755–0.840 P < 0.001) and GNRI (AUC: 0.760, 95%CI 0.715–0.804 P < 0.001) than for the CONUT (AUC: 0.719,95%CI 0.673–0.765 P < 0.001) and BMI (AUC: 0.576, 95%CI 0.522–0.630 P < 0.001). The positive predictive value (PPV) of PNI: 67.67% was better than GNRI, CONUT, and BMI, and the negative predictive value (NPV): of 83.90% was better than CONUT and BMI and similar to the NPV of GNRI. The PNI, GNRI, and CONUT were compared with BMI, respectively. The PNI had the most significant improvement in the Integrated Discriminant Improvement Index (IDI) (IDI: 0.1732, P < 0.001); the PNI also had the most significant improvement in the Net Reclassification Index (NRI) (NRI: 0.8185, P < 0.001). In addition, of the four nutritional assessment tools used in this study, the PNI was more appropriate for predicting the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 1 year in elderly ACS patients undergoing PCI.

Prognostic Value of Coronary Artery Calcium in the Intermediate-Risk Population of Developing Coronary Artery Disease

Background: The present study was designed to estimate the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and its association with the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in asymptomatic patients who are at risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Objective: To estimate the CACS and its association with the incidence of MACE in asymptomatic patients. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional observational study, 108 consecutive patients were enrolled. Demographic details and clinical data including lipid profile, systolic blood pressure, electrocardiography, 2D echocardiography, and routine blood investigations were reported. CACS was derived from computed tomography using a 256-slice scanner with a rotation time of 270 milliseconds. MACE was recorded at a one-year follow-up. Results: The mean age was 54.55 ± 7.7 years with male predominance (62%). CACS categories 0, 1-99, 10-399, 400-999, and more than 1000 constituted 43.5%, 28.7%, 18.52%, 8.33%, and 0.93% respectively. The correlation between the groups of positive and negative CACS and the presence or absence of standard risk factors was found to be statistically significant in diabetes mellitus (P=&lt;0.001), hypertension (P=&lt;0.001), and history of CAD in the family (P = 0.036). Although the association between smokers and calcium was statistically insignificant, it had clinical significance (P= 0.294). Out of 108 patients, MACE was observed in 16 (14.81%) patients with positive CACS at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusion:CACS measurement is often regarded as the primary non-invasive approach for risk stratification, MACE estimation, and promptly identifying high-risk asymptomatic individuals. Keywords: Coronary Artery Calcium Score; Cardiovascular Events; Coronary Calcification; Risk Stratificationa