Long-term Prognosis Of Patients Research Articles

Minute Ventilation/Carbon Dioxide Production Slope Could Predict Short- and Long-Term Prognosis of Patients After Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

(1) Background: Heart failure (HF) leads to functional disability and major cardiovascular events (MACEs). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard for assessing aerobic capacity and prognostic stratification. This study aimed to evaluate the predischarge CPET variables in patients with acute decompensated HF and identify the submaximal CPET variables with prognostic value. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary center in Taiwan. Patients surviving their first episode of decompensated HF and undergoing predischarge CPET (February 2017 to January 2023) were analyzed. Follow-up was conducted until a MACE or administrative censoring (up to 5 years). Cox regression identified the significant predictors of MACE. (3) Results: The study included 553, 485, and 267 patients at the 3-month, 1-year, and 5-year follow-ups, respectively. MACE rates were 15.0%, 34.2%, and 50.9%. The VE/VCO2 slope was a significant predictor of MACE at all intervals. A VE/VCO2 slope >38.95 increased the risk of MACE by 2.49-fold at 3 months and 1.81-fold at 1 year (both p < 0.001). A slope > 37.35 increased the 5-year MACE risk by 1.75-fold (p = 0.002). (4) Conclusions: The VE/VCO2 slope is a significant submaximal CPET predictor of MACE in patients post-acute decompensated HF for both short- and long-term outcomes.

Optimal time for the addition of non-corticosteroid immunosuppressants in myasthenia gravis: a single-center retrospective study in China

IntroductionPatients with myasthenia gravis (MG) display strong treatment heterogeneity. Recent studies have indicated that low-dose steroids or immunosuppressants are effective. However, factors affecting the add-on of non-corticosteroid immunosuppressants to corticosteroids remain unknown.MethodConsecutive patients with MG were retrospectively reviewed from May 15, 2015, to December 29, 2020. We included one group of patients with steroid treatment alone and another group who transitioned to non-steroid immunosuppressant therapy. Clinical features of the included patients were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify potential influential factors.ResultsA total of 107 patients with MG were analyzed, including 66 receiving corticosteroid treatment alone and 41 who subsequently also received non-corticosteroid immunosuppressant therapy. Eight potential factors were primarily selected in univariate analysis (Ps < 0.1). Achieving minimal symptom expression (MSE) within 6 months (HR: 4.424, 95%CI: 2.102–11.865), body mass index (BMI) (HR: 0.385, 95% CI: 0.186–0.797), quantitative MG (QMG) bulbar muscle score (HR: 1.553, 95% CI: 1.140–2.118), disease duration (HR: 0.987, 95% CI: 0.977–0.997) and relapse (HR: 2.638, 95% CI: 1.031–6.750) were finally identified as potential influencing factors.DiscussionWe found multifactorial clinical factors were highly associated with the add-on of non-steroid immunosuppressants after steroid treatment in patients with MG. Achieving MSE within 6 months, BMI, QMG bulbar muscle score at baseline before steroid treatment, disease duration, and disease relapse may represent crucial influencing factors, which should be considered to improve the long-term prognosis for patients with MG in future studies and practice.

The HALP score predicts no-reflow phenomenon and long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Despite recent advances in the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the clinical outcome of some patients is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, early evaluation to identify high-risk individuals in STEMI patients is essential. The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, as a new indicator that can reflect both nutritional status and inflammatory state of the body, can provide prognostic information. In this context, the present study was designed to investigate the relationship between HALP scores assessed at admission and no-reflow as well as long-term outcomes in patients with STEMI. A total of 1040 consecutive STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were enrolled in this retrospective study. According to the best cutoff value of HALP score of 40.11, the study samples were divided into two groups. The long-term prognosis was followed up by telephone. Long-term mortality was significantly higher in patients with HALP scores lower than 40.11 than in those higher than 40.11. The optimal cutoff value of HALP score for predicting no-reflow was 41.38, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.727. The best cutoff value of HALP score for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was 40.11, the AUC was 0.763. The incidence of MACE and all-cause mortality was higher in the HALP score <40.11 group. HALP score can independently predict the development of no-reflow and long-term mortality in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Long-term prognosis of patients with an SCN5A loss-of-function variant and progressive cardiac conduction disorder or Brugada syndrome

The long-term prognosis of patients with a loss-of-function variant in the cardiac sodium channel gene SCN5A is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term arrhythmic risk in patients with an SCN5A loss-of-function variant to identify predictors of arrhythmic events. Probands and family members with (likely-)pathogenic SCN5A loss-of-function variants were retrospectively included. Clinical and ECG data at baseline and last follow-up were collected. Patients with a history of cardiac arrest, sustained ventricular tachycardia, symptomatic or documented atrial tachy- or bradyarrhythmia, or arrhythmogenic syncope, were categorized as symptomatic. Arrhythmic events at follow-up were defined as sudden death, aborted cardiac arrest, documented ventricular fibrillation and/or sustained ventricular tachycardia. We included 615 patients (349 males, 242 probands, 157 spontaneous type-1 Brugada-ECG and 111 symptomatic at baseline). During 9.5 (5.0-14.3) years follow-up, arrhythmic events occurred in 41 patients (6.7%), equating an overall event rate of 0.7%/year; 2.0%/year in symptomatic and 0.3%/year in asymptomatic patients. In the overall study population, symptoms at baseline, male sex, and QRS prolongation were identified as independent predictors of arrhythmic events. In asymptomatic patients, also male sex and QRS prolongation were identified as predictors. Asymptomatic women with QRS <100ms did not experience arrhythmic events at follow-up. Key predictors of arrhythmic risk in patients with an SCN5A loss-of-function variant, regardless of a Brugada syndrome diagnosis, are symptoms at baseline, male sex, and prolonged QRS. Our findings may enable more tailored management strategies in patients with an SCN5A loss-of-function variant based on their individual risk profiles.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can predict the clinical prognosis of patients with primary adosteronism

Abstract Background Excess aldosterone-mediated inflammatory response is thought to be a factor in the high risk of cardiovascular events in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Leucocyte related inflammatory parameters, especially NLR, were significantly independent of aldosterone (PAC) in PA patients. However, the impact of NLR on the long-term prognosis of PA patients is unclear. Objective To explore the predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the long-term prognosis of patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods The data for this study were derived from the Tianjin Health and Medical Big Data Super platform, comprising a retrospective cohort of patients discharged from 72 hospitals in our city from 2010 to 2023. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 570 patients were ultimately included in the statistical analysis. Each patient had laboratory measurements, including blood cell counts, taken after admission and before interventional treatment. The primary endpoint was major cardiovascular events (MACEs), defined as cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and nonfatal stroke. Results During a mean follow-up period of 5 years, 125（21.9%）MACEs were recorded. ROC curve analysis displayed that the best cut-off value of NLR for predicting MACEs was 4.87. The MACEs of the high NLR group at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years were higher than those of the low NLR group（25.0% vs 9.4%，40.3% vs17.1% 和 40.3% vs 19.3%；P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the survival rate of the low NLR group was higher than that of the high NLR group (P&amp;lt;0.001). The results of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of PA patients, and the difference was statistically significant (P&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions Elevated NLR is associated with adverse prognosis in patients with PA. NLR can serve as a simple and practical indicator to evaluate the long-term prognosis of PA patients. These findings warrant external validation, preferably in a prospective design.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with moderate multivalvular disease in the context of tricuspid regurgitation

Abstract Background The clinical features and the long-term prognosis of patients with moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the context of concomitant moderate left-sided valvular disease (VD) are poorly characterized. Purpose This study sought to describe the characteristics and the outcomes of patients with combined moderate TR and moderate mitral or aortic VD. Methods Baseline clinical and follow-up data were collected from 2110 patients with moderate TR in combination with a moderate left-sided VD diagnosed at our centers from January 2012 to July 2020; the final cohort was divided in 4 groups as shown in Figure 1. The primary endpoint was all-cause death; secondary EP was the first occurrence of heart failure (HF) hospitalization. Results Group 1 patients (1529, 72.5%) had the highest prevalence of chronic kidney disease (897, 66%) and lowest left ventricular systolic function (LVEF &amp;lt;50%, 298, 21%), as detailed in Table 1. Coronary artery disease was most prevalent in Group 2 patients (43, 41%), which also presented with the lowest average Charlson Index scores (3.95±1.87) and most prevalent dyspnea symptoms (44, 41%). Group 3 patients (41, 1.9%) were the oldest (82±7 years), had the highest rate of comorbidities (mean Charlson score 5.2±1.6), atrial fibrillation (20, 54%) and pulmonary hypertension (17, 46%). Eventually, Group 4 patients (422, 20%) were the youngest (74±13 years), more commonly female (279, 66%) and with the highest right ventricular dysfunction rate (TAPSE &amp;lt; 17 mm, 114, 40%). After a median follow-up of 2.1 years, the primary endpoint occurred in 895 (42.4%) patients, with a significantly higher incidence in Group 3 patients (p&amp;lt;0.001) (Figure 1). The secondary endpoint occurred in 316 (15.0%) patients and, similarly, significantly more frequently in Group 3 patients (p=0.01). Subgroup analysis for the primary and secondary endpoint in patients with preserved ejection fraction (LVEF &amp;gt; 50%) confirmed the results of the primary analysis, with Group 3 as the cohort with the most adverse outcomes. Conclusions Patients with significant TR frequently exhibit concurrent left-sided VD, identifying distinct patient subgroups with varying clinical profiles. Notably, TR combined with moderate AS is associated with the most severe clinical presentation and the poorest long-term prognosis, even in patients with preserved LVEF.Figure 1.

Clinical profile and prognosis of Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) in patients with previous Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Abstract Introduction Myocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) may occur in patients with a personal history of ischaemic heart disease, making diagnosis even more difficult. In addition, the role of cardiovascular risk factors, which are well known in patients with acute myocardial infarction with obstructed arteries (MICAD), is less well defined in MINOCA. The aim of this study is to define the clinical characteristics, risk factors and long-term prognosis in patients with MINOCA and previous acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods A prospective, analytical, observational study was designed. Included all patients admitted to our centre with ACS between 2016 and 2023 in which a coronary angiography was performed. Patients were classified as MINOCA according to the definition of the 2020 European ACS guidelines. MINOCA patients with and without a history of previous ischaemic heart disease were compared. At follow-up, MACE was defined as all-cause death, hospitalisation, reinfarction and stroke. The median follow-up was 43 [IQR 20-71]. Results A total of 136 patients were included, of whom 17 had a history of ACS. The proportion of men was significantly higher in the group with previous ACS (82% vs 48%; p=0.008). Patients with a history of ACS had higher rates of smoking (71% vs 51%, p=0.139), more night work (80% vs 39%, p=0.017) and less stress (33% vs 61%, p=0.152). They also had more peripheral vascular disease (24% vs 3%, p=0.005), diabetes (41% vs 19%, p=0.042), dyslipidaemia (71% vs 43%, p=0.04) and a higher rate of atrial fibrillation (29% vs 9%, p=0.032). However, despite a higher rate of previous ventricular dysfunction (24% vs 3%, p=0.005), they had lower troponin levels on admission (62 [IQR 37-368] vs 152 [IQR 49-424]). We found no differences in the other comorbidities analysed (Table 1). On admission, patients with previous ACS had significantly more non-ST-segment elevation (29% vs 10%, P=0.05) and received more beta-blocker treatment (82% vs 57%, p=0.046). When analysing the mechanism of infarction, patients without previous ACS were more likely to have vasospasm and coronary embolism. However, there was a significantly higher rate of type II AMI (41% vs 18%, p=0.044) in the group with previous ACS. During follow-up, patients with a history of ACS are more likely to have a new infarction (7% vs 3%, p=0.3) or stroke (14% vs 6%, p=0.2). There was also a trend towards a higher incidence of MACE in patients with prior ACS, although this did not reach statistical significance (HR 2.379, 95% IC 0,883-6,405) (Table 2). Conclusion MINOCA patients with a history of ACS have distinct and worse epidemiological features in which classic cardiovascular risk factors play a significant role, with more ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation. In addition, they appear to have a worse prognosis with increased cardiovascular complications. That might suggest a more MICAD-like profile.

Safe and favorable prognosis of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the low-risk patients with non-acute type B aortic dissection

ObjectivePreemptive thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has the potential to improve the prognosis of Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD), however it is important to determine whether it could be safely performed as a prophylactic treatment. This study aimed to determine the short- and long-term outcomes of preemptive TEVAR for uncomplicated TBAD with a small aortic aneurysm.DesignRetrospective multicenter analysis.MethodsWe analyzed 212 patients with medically treated uncomplicated subacute TBAD between July 2004 and October 2019 in two Japanese academic centers. The short- and long-term prognosis of patients who underwent preemptive TEVAR and the changes in aortic diameter over time after TEVAR were analyzed. Aorta-related complications, aortic-related death and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. Analysis was performed on an intension-to-treat basis.ResultsDuring follow-up, patients were divided into two groups: optimal medical treatment [OMT; n = 185 (87%)] and preemptive TEVAR [n = 27 (13%)]. In all cases, aortic enlargement was the reason for therapeutic intervention in the preemptive TEVAR group. Propensity score matching yielded a cohort of 27 control patients with OMT (group A) and 27 patients who underwent preemptive TEVAR (group B). Preoperative characteristics were similar between groups. In group B, only one patient developed type A dissection at a late stage and died from aortic rupture. Freedom from aortic-related death at 1/5/10 years was 100%/92%/92% in group B. Overall growth (mm/year) of max aorta was significantly smaller in the TEVAR group than in the control group (−3.7 ± 2.9 vs. 0.4 ± 5.6, p &amp;lt; 0.01), and the diameter of the false lumen was reduced (−8 ± 4.8 vs. −1.3 ± 8.0, p &amp;lt; 0.001).ConclusionsShort- and long-term outcomes of TEVAR for uncomplicated TBAD with a small aortic aneurysm were excellent, with few postoperative complications. After TEVAR, aortic remodeling was observed in the short term, suggesting that it may contribute to the prevention of aortic-related death due to rupture.

Long-term prognosis in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation

Abstract Aims The aim of the analysis was to assess the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in the long-term observation of contemporary patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), who did not have recurrence during the first year after catheter ablation. Methods Retrospective analysis has been performed. Inclusion criteria: (1) the patients undergoing their first PVI in years 2017–2022, (2) the electroanatomical system, contact force catheters and lesion indexes (Ablation Index or Lesion Size Index) were used, (3) no recurrences were observed during the first 12 months of follow-up, and (4) follow-up longer than 12 months was available. Demographic, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected. Follow-up was based on ambulatory visits with ECG/holter monitoring or implanted device interrogation, when available. Results A total of 247 patients were included. The median follow-up was 22 months (interquartile range, 16–31 months). After 24 months, ablation efficacy was 84%, and after 36 months, it was 72%. In the univariate Cox regression analysis, age, previous electrical cardioversion, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the presence of coronary artery disease were linked to AF-free survival. Interestingly, nonparoxysmal AF, left atrial (LA) dimension, heart failure, hypertension or diabetes were not linked to the risk of long-term recurrences. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, presence of coronary artery disease and previous electrical cardioversion were independently linked to the risk of long-term recurrence. In 127 (51.4%) patients, information about the presence of low voltage areas (LVA) was available, and in 21 (16.5%) patients in this group, the presence of LVA was found. Survival of patients with LVA was strikingly worse than that of those without (Figure 1), log-rank test p &amp;lt;0.0001. Conclusions Patients who had no recurrences within one year after PVI, still have substantial risk of recurrence in the next 2 years. That concerns specially the patients who had LVA in the electroanatomical mapping.

Association of PCSK6 rs1531817(C/A) polymorphism with the prognosis and coronary stenosis in premature myocardial infarction patients: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background An increasing proportion of younger patients are currently hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. Exploring the factors affecting coronary artery lesions and prognosis in patients with premature myocardial infarction (PMI) from a genetic perspective is of great significance to clinical management. Proprotein convertase subtilisins/kexins 6(PCSK6), a member of the PCSK family, functions in protein hydrolytic cleavage. It has been shown that PCSK6 polymorphisms are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Purpose This research intended to evaluate the relationship between the PCSK6 rs1531817 polymorphism and the prognosis of PMI patients and their coronary stenosis. Methods This study was a prospective cohort study, which consecutively included 605 patients with PMI who underwent emergency PCI from January 2017 to August 2022 at X Hospital. Using the Massarray technique, the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) of PCSK6 rs1531817 were identified, and the patients underwent follow-up for 12 to 72 months, with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) as the outcome. Analyze the relationship between patients' SNPs, Gensini score(GS), Triple vessel diseases(TVD), and MACEs. Results In PMI patients with PCSK6 rs1531817 CA+AA genotypes, ApoA1/ApoB levels were higher than in patients with CC genotype, and TC/HDL levels were lower (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the PCSK6 rs1531817 polymorphism (Dominant model: CA+AA vs.CC) was significantly correlated with the GS (high vs. low GS, adjOR=0.297, 95%CI:0.139-0.632, p=0.002; high vs. medium GS, adjOR=0.449, 95%CI:0.211-0.956, p=0.038), and it was correlated with the number of coronary artery lesions (TVD vs. SVD, adjOR=0.420, 95%CI:0.226-0.782, p=0.006; TVD vs. DVD, adjOR=0.406, 95%CI:0.214-0.773, p=0.006). According to multivariate Cox regression analysis, the PCSK6 rs1531817 dominant model was associated with the MACEs in PMI patients (adjHR=0.454, 95%CI:0.269-0.766, p=0.003). The mediation effect results showed that ApoA1/ApoB played a partially mediating role in the association between PCSK6 rs1531817 polymorphism and the severity of coronary stenosis (the effect leading to high GS and TVD accounted for 14.6% and 8.3% respectively), TC/HDL and TVD partially parallel mediated the association between PCSK6 rs1531817 polymorphism and MACEs (effect proportions were 8.1% and 17.1%, respectively). Conclusion Carrying the PCSK6 rs1531817 mutant A allele is an independent protective predictor of severe coronary stenosis and long-term prognosis in patients with PMI. Patients with the PCSK6 CA+AA genotypes have milder coronary stenosis partially because they have higher levels of ApoA1/ApoB; in addition, these patients have a better long-term prognosis partially because they have lower TC/HDL levels and fewer TVD patients.Figure 1.ApoA1/ApoB and TC/HDL were compareFigure 2.Correlation of PCSK6 rs1531817 pol

Dementia in patients with early cardiovascular complications following ischaemic stroke: A neglected complication of the stroke-heart syndrome

Abstract Background Early cardiovascular complications may occur in 20-30% of patients following following ischaemic stroke (stroke-heart-syndrome, SHS). The risk of dementia in patients with SHS remains unexplored. We aimed to quantify the risk of incident dementia in patients with SHS. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis using a global federated health care network (TriNetX). We included patients who were discharged alive post-ischaemic stroke from 2000 to 2022. These individuals were classified into two cohorts based on the incidence of cardiovascular complications within 30 days post-stroke (acute heart failure [HF], acute myocardial infarction [AMI], ventricular fibrillation or flutter [VFF], or Takotsubo disease [TTS]), ie. those with SHS (Group 1) and those with stroke-only (without SHS; Group 2). The primary outcome was the five-year risk of dementia (vascular dementia [F01], dementia in other disease [F02], unspecified dementia [F03], Alzheimer’s disease [G30]). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox regression analysis after 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). Results We identified 70,113 patients with SHS (age 67.3±14.0; 42.2% females) and 1,092,540 patients with stroke-only (age 65.2±14.9, 48.1% females). Prior to PSM, patients with SHS were generally older and had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular treatments compared to those without SHS. Following PSM, 70,111 well-balanced patients were considered in each group, however, patients with SHS had a higher risk of dementia compared to patients with stroke-only (HR 1.25, 95%CI 1.20-1.30). Among the SHS complications, the highest dementia risks were associated with acute HF (HR 1.28, 95%CI 1.21-1.36) and AMI (HR 1.24, 95%CI 1.17-1.30), with no significant associations were found for TTS, and VFF. The increased risk of dementia in patients with SHS compared to patients with stroke-only was independent of oral anticoagulant (OAC) use, sex, and age (&amp;gt; or &amp;lt; 75 years) [Figure 1]. Conclusion Stroke-heart syndrome is associated with increased risk of dementia. Innovative strategies to identify and to prevent SHS complications would improve long-term prognosis in patients with recent stroke.

Pre-discharge prediction of long-term prognosis in patients after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction - the ValAMI-P risk score

Abstract Background Despite contemporary management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, cardiovascular death (CV death) and re-admission for acute heart failure (aHF) are frequent complications during follow-up. Several clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic variables have been identified as risk factors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in this setting. We aim to study the usefulness of a risk score using universally available clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic variables at discharge to stratify the risk of MACE during follow-up. Methods We prospectively included 712 patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention after STEMI. We registered clinical, ECG and echocardiography-derived pre-discharge data. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was categorized according to current recommendations. The primary endpoint was time to first MACE, defined as CV death or aHF, whichever occurred first. We created a risk score (ValAMI-P) including variables independently associated with MACE in multivariable analysis. Patients were classified in three groups (low, intermediate, and high risk) according to the ValAMI-P score. Results Mean age was 60±12 years, most patients (78.5%) were male, and smoking was the most prevalent risk factor (54.4%). During an 8.1-year median follow-up, 154 MACE (21.6%) were registered. In multivariable analysis, age (HR 1.03 [1.01-1.05], p=0.001), previous hypertension (HR 1.49 [1.04-2.12], p=0.029), GRACE score (HR 1.01 [1.01-1.02], p&amp;lt;0.001), mildly reduced LVEF (41-49%; HR 1.92 [1.18-3.11], p=0.008), reduced LVEF (≤40%; HR 5.2 [3.53-7.65], p&amp;lt;0.001) and the number of leads with Q-wave and residual ST-segment elevation at pre-discharge ECG (Q-STE; HR 1.13 [1.03-1.25], p=0.013) associated with long-term MACE. After classification according to the ValAMI-P risk score, patients with intermediate (8-13 points) and high (≥14 points) score depicted an increased risk of MACE (31% and 50%, respectively) compared to patients with low ValAMI-P risk score (≤7 points; 13%; p&amp;lt;0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusions The ValAMI-P risk score, which comprises widely available clinical, ECG and echocardiographic variables at discharge, can identify patients at increased long-term risk of MACE after STEMI.ValAMI-P risk score after STEMI

Efficacy and safety of of SGLT2 ihibtors in post mi patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs

Abstract Introduction Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have demonstrated a decrease in cardiovascular (CV) events, especially in diabetic patients. However, it remains unclear whether the early administration of SGLT2is confers cardioprotective benefits following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Purpose Our objective is to explore the in-hospital and long-term prognoses of patients presenting with AMI who are treated with SGLT2is compared to non-SGLT2is users. Methods We conducted comprehensive searches across PubMed, CENTRAL, WOS, Scopus, and EMBASE until October 2023. Pooled data were reported using risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI). This systematic review and meta-analysis is registered with PROSPERO. Results We included 14 studies with a total of 37,038 patients. Compared to non-SGLT-2 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors were associated with a decreased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR: 0.60 with 95% CI [0.45, 0.82], P&amp;lt; 0.01), all-cause mortality (RR: 0.67 with 95% CI [0.55, 0.81], P&amp;lt; 0.01), heart failure (RR: 0.68 with 95% CI [0.57, 0.80], P&amp;lt; 0.01), stroke (RR: 0.67 with 95% CI [0.45, 0.99], P= 0.04), increased left ventricular ejection fraction (MD: 2.45 with 95% CI [0.81, 4.09], P&amp;lt; 0.01), and decreased left ventricular end-systolic volume (MD: -5.72 with 95% CI [-10.76, -0.67], P= 0.03). Conclusion SGLT-2 inhibitors significantly decrease MACE, all-cause mortality, heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and left ventricular end-systolic volume in myocardial infarction patients.Figure 1Figure 2

Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of patients experiencing intra-cranial hemorrhage with or without acute cardiovascular events

Abstract Background Acute cardiovascular (CV) events would happen during the acute stage of ischemic stroke or intra-cranial hemorrhage (ICH), so called "Stroke-Heart Syndrome". However, long-term outcomes of patients who experienced acute CV events during the acute stage of ICH were unclear. In the present study, we aimed to report and compare long-term prognosis of patients with or without acute CV events after ICH. Methods A total of 104,955 patients who experienced ICH and survived longer than 90 days without past history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmia (VA) were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Among them, 1,888 patients experienced CV events (AMI, HF, AF or VA) within 90 days after ICH, while 103,067 did not. Results Compared to patients without acute CV events, patients with acute CV events were older (73.53 vs 62.46 years, p&amp;lt;0.001), less males (57.89% vs 61.83%, p&amp;lt;0.001) and had more comorbidities , such as hypertension (77.17% vs 61.58%), diabetes mellitus (35.81% vs 26.54%), vascular diseases (3.5% vs 2.02%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15.57% vs 9.88%), all p&amp;lt;0.001. Compared to patients without acute CV events, those experiencing acute CV events had a higher adjusted risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.564), recurrent ICH (aHR 1.266), HF (aHR 4.693), AF (aHR 19.116), VA (aHR 3.485), AMI (aHR 2.463), sudden cardiac death (aHR 1.609) and mortality (aHR 1.855)(Figure). Conclusions Acute CV events occurring during acute stage of ICH were not a benign course simply related to acute stress and were associated with a poor long-term outcome. How to improve long-term clinical outcomes of these patients deserves more attentions, efforts and studies involving both cardiologists and neurologists.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in cardiac intensive care unit patients: a real challenge to overcome

Abstract Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs), but in cardiac intensive care unit (CICU), despite the evidence of a causal link between cardiac illness and AKI, few data are available (1). Purpose We analyzed the predictive factors of AKI in CICU, as well as the impact of AKI on the long-term prognosis of patients admitted to CICU. Methods We reviewed the medical data of patients admitted to our CICU over a 2-year period. We excluded patients with chronic kidney disease prior to admission. We defined AKI according to the KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) classification based on serum creatinine and urine output. To determine the predictive factors, we performed a logistic regression analysis, and to determine the prognostic impact of AKI, we performed a Cox proportional hazards regression, taking all-cause mortality at 30 months as the main study outcome. p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant Results We included in our study 1581 patients hospitalized in our unit over a 2-year period, 70.4% of whom were men and 29.6% women. Among these patients, 291 presented with AKI (18.4%), 35.5% classified as KDIGO 1, 42% as KDIGO 2, and 22.5% as KDIGO 3. For the admission diagnosis of patients with AKI, STEMI came first at 56.3%, followed by NSTEMI at 17.3%, acute heart failure at 9.3%, pulmonary embolism at 2.1%, severe arrhythmias at 7.9%, and valvular disease at 1.1%. Among patients in the KDIGO 3 group, 54% benefited from a renal replacement strategy. La morta For factors predictive of AKI, and after adjustment for variables significant in univariate analysis, we objectified the following factors: arterial hypertension (OR=1.92, p&amp;lt;0.001), Diabetes (OR=1.50, p=0.007), KILLIP&amp;gt;2 at admission (OR=1.75, p=0.003), Ejection fraction&amp;lt;40% at admission (OR=1. 93, p&amp;lt;0.001), right ventricular systolic dysfunction (OR=2.95, p&amp;lt;0.001), anemia with Hb&amp;lt;10g/dl (OR=2.95, p&amp;lt;0.001), cardiogenic shock (OR=3.02, p&amp;lt;0.001), high-grade conduction disorder (OR=2.7, p=0.003) and bleeding events (OR=5.93, p&amp;lt;0.001) (Table 1-figure 1). For all-cause mortality at 30 months, 204 events were observed, 104 in the AKI group (35%), and 100 in the non-AKI group (7.75%) (p&amp;lt;0.001), and AKI was independently associated with the outcome studied for all KDIGO classes with for stage 1 (HR = 1.33; p=0.03), stage 2 (HR = 2.28; p&amp;lt;0. 001), and stage 3 (HR = 5.71; p&amp;lt;0.001), adding to this diabetes (HR = 1.96; p&amp;lt;0.001), cardiogenic shock (HR = 2.27; p&amp;lt;0.001) and finally EF&amp;lt;35% at discharge (HR = 1.53; p=0.001) (Table 2-figure 1). The Kaplein-Meier survival analysis showed a significant difference between the rates of mortality between the different KDIGO at 30-months, with a log-rank test p&amp;lt;0.001 (Figure 2). Conclusion We can conclude that AKI remains a real challenge for admitted patients, since long-term mortality in this group is very high.Figure 1.Figure 2.

Current strategies for predicting post-hepatectomy liver failure and a new ultrasound-based nomogram

Liver cancer is associated with a few factors, such as viruses and alcohol consumption, and hepatectomy is an important treatment for patients with liver cancer. However, post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is the most serious complication and has a high mortality rate. Effective prediction of PHLF allows for the adjustment of clinical treatment strategies and is critical to the long-term prognosis of patients. Many factors have been associated with the development of PHLF, so there is an increasing interest in the development of predictive models for PHLF, such as nomograms that integrate intra-operative factors, imaging and biochemical characteristics of the patient. Ultrasound, as a simple and important examination method, plays an important role in predicting PHLF, especially the Nomogram established based on ultrasound measurements of liver stiffness and spleen area provides a more convenient way to predict the occurrence of PHLF.

Population-based long-term prognosis analysis of subcutaneous gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Subcutaneous gastrointestinal stromal tumors (scGISTs) are extremely rare tumors, and the analysis of their long-term prognosis remains unreported. Therefore, our objective is to analyze the long-term prognosis of patients with scGISTs using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Patients diagnosed with GISTs between 2000 and 2019 were included in the study. To handle missing data, multiple imputation techniques were employed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS), and subgroup analyses were conducted for various variables. A total of 12,882 patients were enrolled, with 12,636 diagnosed with GISTs and 246 with scGISTs. In comparison to GISTs patients, scGISTs patients exhibited inferior OS [hazard ratio (HR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45-1.98, P < 0.001] and CSS (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.78-2.61, P < 0.001). Across various subgroups, including age, sex, surgical intervention, marital status, and chemotherapy, scGISTs patients consistently demonstrated significantly poorer OS and CSS outcomes compared to GISTs patients (P < 0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates for scGISTs patients were 78.4%, 60.3%, and 49.3%, respectively, with corresponding CSS rates of 83.3%, 67.8%, and 57.4%. Notably, scGISTs patients who received surgical treatment had significantly higher 5-year OS rates (62.1% vs 30.9%, P < 0.001) and CSS rates (67.8% vs 40.0%, P < 0.001) compared to those who did not undergo surgery. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified age, surgical status, and mitotic rate as risk factors influencing OS in scGISTs patients, while surgical status and mitotic rate were identified as risk factors affecting CSS. Compared to GISTs patients, scGIST patients exhibit a less favorable prognosis; nonetheless, surgical intervention has been demonstrated to enhance their prognosis.

Assessing the Risk of Delirium and Death in Sepsis Using the Braden Score: A Retrospective Study.

To provide a viable tool for the early clinical identification of high-risk populations in patients with sepsis. Sepsis-associated delirium (SAD) has the potential to significantly impact the short- and long-term prognosis of patients. However, accurately predicting and effectively managing SAD remains a significant challenge. This study employed a retrospective analysis of adult sepsis patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for the first time. Patients were divided into two groups based on their initial Braden score upon admission to the ICU: a high-risk group (≤ 15 points) and a low-risk group (> 15 points). The relationship between Braden score and delirium was assessed using logistic regression and restricted cubic splines, while restricted mean survival time was employed to analyse the relationship between Braden scores and patients' 90- and 180-day mortality. Of the 28,312 patients included in the study, those in the high-risk group exhibited a significantly elevated risk of delirium (44.8% vs. 29.7%) and higher 90-day (28.7% vs. 19.4%) and 180-day (33.2% vs. 24.1%) mortality rates (all p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding variables, logistic regression demonstrated that the risk of delirium was 1.54 times higher in the high-risk group (95% CI = 1.45-1.64, p < 0.001). Following propensity score matching, the difference in survival was statistically significant at both time points, with the high-risk group having a reduced survival rate of 7.50 days (95% CI = -8.24, -6.75; p < 0.001) and 15.74 days (95% CI = -17.40, -14.08; p < 0.001) at 90 days and 180 days, respectively. The Braden score is a simple and effective tool for the early identification of patients at increased risk of adverse outcomes in sepsis. Retrospective study. The Braden score can be employed by clinical nurses for the purpose of early identification of poor prognostic risk in patients with sepsis. This study was conducted according to the Strengthening Research in Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Patients were involved in the sample of the study.

Multidimensional analysis of the impact of Gemmatimonas, Rhodothermus, and Sutterella on drug and treatment response in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer across the globe. Despite a diversity of treatment methods, the recurrence and mortality rates of the disease remain high. Recent studies have revealed a close association of the gut microbiota with the occurrence, development, treatment response, and prognosis of colorectal cancer. This study aims to integrate transcriptome and microbiome data to identify colorectal cancer subtypes associated with different gut microbiota and evaluate their roles in patient survival prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and drug treatment response. An integrated analysis of microbiome data was conducted on samples of colorectal cancer from public databases. Based on this, two tumor subtypes (C1 and C2) closely associated with patient survival prognosis were identified and a risk score model was constructed. The survival status, clinical parameters, immune scores, and other features were analyzed in-depth, and the sensitivity of various potential drugs was examined. A thorough examination of microbiome information obtained from colorectal cancer patients led to the identification of two primary tumor clusters (C1 and C2), exhibiting notable variations in survival outcomes. Patients with the C1 subtype were closely associated with better prognosis, while those with the C2 subtype had higher gut microbial richness and poorer survival prognosis. A predictive model utilizing the microbiome data was developed to accurately forecast the survival outcome of patients with colorectal cancer. The TME scores provided a biological basis for risk assessment in high-risk (similar to the C2 subtype) patient cohorts. Evaluation of the sensitivity of different subtypes to various potential drugs, indicated the critical importance of personalized treatment. Further analysis showed good potential of the developed risk-scoring model in predicting immune checkpoint functions and treatment response of patients, which may be crucial in guiding the selection of immunotherapy strategies for patients with colorectal cancer. This study, through a comprehensive analysis of colorectal cancer microbiome, immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity, enhances the current understanding of the multidimensional interactions of colorectal cancer and provides important clinical indications for improving future treatment strategies. The findings offer a new perspective on improving treatment response and long-term prognosis of patients with CRC through the regulation of microbiota or the utilization of biomarkers provided by it.

Impact of bacterial co-isolation on treatment initiation and long-term prognosis of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), a chronic respiratory condition, presents a growing challenge globally. Uncertainties exist regarding the impact of concurrent bacterial co-isolation on treatment initiation and long-term prognosis. This study analysed data from participants enrolled in an ongoing prospective observational cohort study on NTM-PD (NCT01616745) between 1 July 2011, and 31 December 2022, who provided sputum samples for bacterial culture at enrolment. Identification of potential pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) was defined as a positive bacterial culture. Clinical characteristics were compared between NTM-PD patients with Pseudomonas, non-pseudomonal PPMs, and those without PPM co-isolation. Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to assess the association of bacterial co-isolation with rates of NTM-PD treatment initiation and all-cause mortality. Overall, 453 patients (median age, 62 years; 30% male) were included in the analysis. PPMs were co-isolated in 77 patients (17%), including 13 with Pseudomonas species. Co-isolation of Pseudomonas was associated with a significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.02) and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score (P = 0.01). Non-pseudomonal PPM co-isolation was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of NTM-PD treatment initiation (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR], 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.36, P = 0.036), whereas co-isolation of Pseudomonas was independently correlated with increased all-cause mortality (aHR, 3.25, 95% CI, 1.08-9.84, P = 0.037). Our findings emphasize the importance of microbial surveillance, as bacterial co-isolation affects treatment initiation and prognosis in patients with NTM-PD.