Major Adverse Cardiac And Cerebrovascular Events Research Articles

Coronary sodium [18F]fluoride activity predicts outcomes post-CABG: a comparative evaluation with conventional metrics.

The value of preoperative multidisciplinary approach remains inadequately delineated in forecasting postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Herein, we aimed to ascertain the efficacy of multi-modality cardiac imaging in predicting post-CABG cardiovascular outcomes. Patients with triple coronary artery disease underwent cardiac sodium [18F]fluoride ([18F]NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), coronary angiography, and CT-based coronary artery calcium scoring before CABG. The maximum coronary [18F]NaF activity (target-to-blood ratio [TBR]max) and the global coronary [18F]NaF activity (TBRglobal) was determined. The primary endpoint was perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) within 7-day post-CABG. Secondary endpoint included major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and recurrent angina. This prospective observational study examined 101 patients for a median of 40 months (interquartile range: 19-47 months). Both TBRmax (odds ratio [OR] = 1.445; p = 0.011) and TBRglobal (OR = 1.797; P = 0.018) were significant predictors of PMI. TBRmax>3.0 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.65; sensitivity, 75.0%; specificity, 56.8%; p = 0.036) increased PMI risk by 3.661-fold, independent of external confounders. Kaplan-Meier test revealed a decrease in MACCE survival rate concomitant with an escalating TBRmax. TBRmax>3.6 (AUC, 0.70; sensitivity, 76.9%; specificity, 73.9%; p = 0.017) increased MACCEs risk by 5.520-fold. Both TBRmax (hazard ratio [HR], 1.298; p = 0.004) and TBRglobal (HR = 1.335; p = 0.011) were significantly correlated with recurrent angina. No significant associations were found between CAC and SYNTAX scores and between PMI occurrence and long-term MACCEs. Quantification of coronary microcalcification activity via [18F]NaF PET displayed a strong ability to predict early and long-term post-CABG cardiovascular outcomes, thereby outperforming conventional metrics of coronary macrocalcification burden and stenosis severity. The trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Committee (number: ChiCTR1900022527; URL: www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=37933 ).

Association of Age- and Body Mass Index-Stratified High On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity With Coronary Intervention Outcomes in East Asian Patients.

Although age and body mass index (BMI) significantly affect platelet reactivity units and clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention, there are limited data on the relationship between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) and clinical outcomes on age and BMI differences. Thus, we investigated the association of HPR with clinical outcomes according to age and BMI. The study analyzed 11 714 patients who underwent platelet function tests after percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), whereas the secondary end point was major bleeding. HPR was defined as platelet reactivity units ≥252. Patients were categorized by age (<67 years of age or ≥67 years of age) and BMI (≤22.6 kg/m2 or >22.6 kg/m2). Patients <67 years of age with HPR had increases in both MACCEs (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.436 [95% CI, 1.106-1.867]; P=0.007) and major bleeding (adjusted HR, 1.584 [95% CI, 1.095-2.290]; P=0.015) compared with the those with non-HPR, respectively. In patients ≥67 years of age with HPR, there were no differences in MACCEs, but there was a decrease in major bleeding (adjusted HR, 0.721 [95% CI, 0.542-0.959]; P=0.024). Meanwhile, patients with HPR with BMI >22.6 kg/m2 had increases in MACCEs (adjusted HR, 1.387 [95% CI, 1.140-1.688]; P=0.001). No differences were shown in major bleeding. HPR was linked to an increase in MACCEs or a decrease in major bleeding in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention, depending on age and BMI. This study is the first to observe that clinical outcomes in patients with HPR after percutaneous coronary intervention may vary based on age and BMI. Because the study is observational, the results should be viewed as hypothesis generating and emphasize the need for randomized clinical trials.

Association between the geriatric nutritional risk index and clinical outcomes among peritoneal dialysis patients: A meta-analysis.

To identify the relationship between the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and clinical outcomes in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). The PubMed, EBASE, Web of Science and CNKI databases were searched for available studies up to December 25, 2023. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcomes included the incidence of PD dropout, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), technique failure and peritonitis. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to evaluate the predictive value of the GNRI for the occurrence of the above endpoints. Ten cohort studies with 3897 patients were included. The pooled results demonstrated that a lower GNRI was significantly associated with a greater incidence of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55-0.91; P = .007). In addition, a decreased GNRI predicted the occurrence of dropout from PD (HR = 0.971, 95% CI: 0.945-0.998, P = .034) and MACCE (HR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98, P = .001). However, no significant associations of the GNRI with technique failure (P = .167) or peritonitis (P = .96) were observed. A low GNRI is significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes and might serve as a novel and valuable prognostic indicator among PD patients.

Outcomes of ticagrelor versus high dose clopidogrel in CYP2C19 intermediate metabolizer undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndromes

Guidelines on antiplatelet recommendation for CYP2C19 intermediate metabolizer (IM) has not come to an agreement. The current study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of ticagrelor when compared with high dose clopidogrel in CYP2C19 IM after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Patients were enrolled according to CYP2C19 genotype and individual antiplatelet therapy. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected via electronic medical record system. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), namely a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, stent thrombosis within 12 month. The secondary outcome was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) scale bleeding events within 12 months. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed, with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) adjusting for potential confounders. 532 CYP2C19 IM were enrolled in this retrospective single-center study. No statistically significant difference in incidence rate of MACCE was found between patients receiving ticagrelor versus clopidogrel (7.01 vs 9.52 per 100 patient-years; IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32-1.58; adjusted log-rank P=0.396), but the incidence rate of BARC type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding events was statistically higher in LOF-ticagrelor group than LOF-clopidogrel group (13.53 vs 6.16 per 100 patient-years; IPTW-adjusted HR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.10-4.78; adjusted log-rank P=0.027). Ticagrelor treatment in CYP2C19 IM resulted in a statistically higher risk of bleeding compared with high dose clopidogrel, whereas a clear association between treatments and MACCE warrants further investigations.

Incidence of Complications in Obese Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery Under General Anesthesia: A Retrospective Study

Abstract Background The prevalence of obesity has been increasing worldwide. Simultaneously, the number of obese patients undergoing anesthesia and the risk of anesthesia-related complications are increasing. Our study aimed to identify the incidence of intraoperative anesthetic complications in obese patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Methods Electronic medical records of patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 who underwent elective spine surgery at the Neurological Institute of Thailand between January 2018 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was the incidence of five anesthetic adverse events: difficult intubation, oxygen desaturation, hypotension, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and pressure skin lesions. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 165 obese patients' medical records were analyzed. Their mean age was 56.8 ± 11.9 years, and median BMI (interquartile range) was 32.04 kg/m2 (31.11–34.69 kg/m2). Fifty-one patients (30.9%) experienced adverse events. Six patients (3.6%) with class 3 obesity had anesthetic complications. The most common adverse event was intraoperative hypotension (26.7%), followed by pressure skin lesions (4.2%), intraoperative oxygen desaturation (1.2%), and MACCE (0.6%). No difficult intubations or deaths occurred. Conclusion The incidence of overall intraoperative anesthetic complications in obese patients undergoing spine surgery was 30.9%, and class 3 obesity was an independent risk factor for these complications. Consequently, well-trained, vigilant, and experienced anesthesiologists should manage anesthesia in these patients.

The prognostic impact of insulin resistance surrogates in patients with acute myocardial infarction with and without type 2 diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Novel markers of insulin resistance and progression of atherosclerosis include the triglycerides and glucose index (TyG index), the triglycerides and body mass index (Tyg-BMI) and the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR). Establishing independent risk factors for in-hospital death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) remains critical. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of in-hospital death and MACCE within 12months after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients with and without T2DM based on TyG index, Tyg-BMI and METS-IR. Retrospective analysis included 1706 patients with STEMI and NSTEMI hospitalized between 2013 and 2021. We analyzed prognostic value of TyG index, Tyg-BMI and METS-IR for in-hospital death and MACCE as its components (death from any cause, MI, stroke, revascularization) within 12months after STEMI or NSTEMI in patients with and without T2DM. Of 1706 patients, 58 in-hospital deaths were reported (29 patients [4.3%] in the group with T2DM and 29 patients [2.8%] in the group without T2DM; p = 0.1). MACCE occurred in 18.9% of the total study population (25.8% in the group with T2DM and 14.4% in the group without T2DM; p < 0.001). TyG index, Tyg-BMI and METS-IR were significantly higher in the group of patients with T2DM compared to those without T2DM (p < 0.001). Long-term MACCE were more prevalent in patients with T2DM (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) for the prediction of in-hospital death and the TyG index was 0.69 (p < 0.001). The ROC curve for predicting in-hospital death based on METS-IR was 0.682 (p < 0.001). The AUC-ROC values for MACCE prediction based on the TyG index and METS-IR were 0.582 (p < 0.001) and 0.57 (p < 0.001), respectively. TyG index was an independent risk factor for in-hospital death in patients with STEMI or NSTEMI. TyG index, TyG-BMI and METS-IR were not independent risk factors for MACCE at 12month follow-up. TyG index and METS-IR have low predictive value in predicting MACCE within 12months after STEMI and NSTEMI.

Predicting outcomes in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft

IntroductionReduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a well-known predictor of adverse events after cardiac surgery. We aimed to assess the outcomes in patients with low LVEF undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. MethodsIn this retrospective cohort, we included all patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40 who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between March 2007 and March 2016 (with a median follow-up of nine years) at Tehran Heart Center. Demographics and clinical characteristics were extracted from the data registry. Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used. The univariate Cox regression was performed. We investigated the predictors of mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) using Cox multivariable regression. ResultsIn total, 5,532 cases (79 % male) with a mean age of 65.58 were included in the study. The nine-year overall survival was calculated at 68 %, and more than half of the patients had MACCE (55 %). In adjusted multivariable Cox regression analysis, moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation, glomerular filtration rate ≤ 60, mild right ventricular dysfunction, and valvular heart disease independently predicted higher mortality. The abovementioned predictors and peripheral vascular disease significantly increased MACCE. ConclusionOur study indicates the clinical significance of mitral regurgitation, valvular heart disease, and renal function in patients with low ejection fraction treated by coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Identifying predictors of adverse events can help with clinical decision-making and risk stratification, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Long-Term Effects of Opium Consumption Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A 10-year Follow-Up Study.

Opium consumption has been an overlooked health issue in the Iranian population, and the prognostic role of opium consumption in patients undergoing coronary revascularization is unknown. We aimed to assess the association between opium consumption and long-term cardiovascular outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We screened 2203 consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI between April 2009 and April 2010 at Tehran Heart Center. Exclusion criteria were unsuccessful PCI, non-elective PCI, and missing opium use data. Opium consumption was defined as self-reported ever use of any traditional opium substances. Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The association between opium use and study outcomes was evaluated using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method. Cumulative hazard curves were demonstrated to further assess the association visually. Furthermore, the effect of opium consumption on individual components of MACCE was evaluated in a competing risk setting. A total of 2025 elective PCI patients were included (age: 58.7 ± 10.67, 29.1% women), among whom 297 (14.6%) patients were opium users. After a median follow-up of 10.7 years, opium consumption was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (IPTW-hazard ratio [HR] = 1.705, 95% CI: 1.125-2.585; P = 0.012) and MACCE (IPTW-HR = 1.578, 95% CI: 1.156-2.153; P = 0.004). The assessment of MACCE components suggested a non-significant borderline trend for higher non-fatal myocardial infarction (IPTW-sub-distribution HR [SHR] = 1.731, 95% CI: 0.928-3.231; P = 0.084) and mortality (IPTW-SHR = 1.441, 95% CI: 0.884-2.351; P = 0.143) among opium users. Opium consumption is associated with a more than 50% increase in long-term risk of mortality and MACCE in patients undergoing PCI. These findings accentuate the importance of preventive strategies to quit opium addiction in this population.

Prevalence and Impact of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an adverse prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, it remains unclear whether this is due to a causal effect of AF or whether AF acts as a surrogate marker for comorbidities in this population. Furthermore, there are limited data on whether coronary artery disease distribution impacts the risk of developing AF. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted with acute MI and treated using percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at a single centre were retrospectively identified. Associations between AF and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) over a median of five years of follow-up were assessed using Cox regression, with adjustment for confounding factors performed using both multivariable modelling and a propensity-score-matched analysis. Results: AF was identified in N = 65/1000 (6.5%) of cases; these patients were significantly older (mean: 73 vs. 65 years, p < 0.001), with lower creatinine clearance (p < 0.001), and were more likely to have a history of cerebrovascular disease (p = 0.011) than those without AF. In addition, patients with AF had a greater propensity for left main stem (p = 0.001) or left circumflex artery (p = 0.004) involvement. Long-term MACCE rates were significantly higher in the AF group than in the non-AF group (50.8% vs. 34.2% at five years), yielding an unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.86 (95% CI: 1.32-2.64, p < 0.001). However, after adjustment for confounding factors, AF was no longer independently associated with MACCEs, either on multivariable (adjusted HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.81-1.92, p = 0.319) or propensity-score-matched (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.59-1.82, p = 0.886) analyses. Conclusions: AF is observed in 6.5% of patients admitted with acute MI, and those with AF are more likely to have significant diseases involving left main or circumflex arteries. Although unadjusted MACCE rates were significantly higher in patients with AF, this effect was not found to remain significant after adjustment for comorbidities. As such, this study provided no evidence to suggest that AF is independently associated with MACCEs.

Partial versus Complete Sternotomy for Aortic Valve Replacement—Multicenter Study

Abstract Background The benefits of minimally invasive techniques in cardiac surgery remain poorly defined. We evaluated the short- and mid-term outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement through partial upper versus complete median sternotomy (MS) in a large, German multicenter cohort. Methods A total of 2,929 patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement via partial upper sternotomy (PUS, n = 1,764) or MS (n = 1,165) at nine participating heart centers between 2016 and 2020. After propensity-score matching, 1,990 patients were eligible for analysis. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke at 30 days and in follow-up, up to 5 years. Secondary end points were acute kidney injury, length of hospital stay, transfusions, deep sternal wound infection, Dressler's syndrome, rehospitalization, and conversion to sternotomy. Results Unadjusted MACCE rates were significantly lower in the PUS group both at 30 days (p = 0.02) and in 5-year follow-up (p = 0.01). However, after propensity-score matching, differences between the groups were no more statistically significant: MACCE rates were 3.9% (PUS) versus 5.4% (MS, p = 0.14) at 30 days, and 9.9 versus 11.3% in 5-year follow-up (p = 0.36). In the minimally invasive group, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was shorter (p = 0.03), Dressler's syndrome occurred less frequently (p = 0.006), and the rate of rehospitalization was reduced significantly (p &lt; 0.001). There were 3.8% conversions to full sternotomy. Conclusion In a large, German multicenter cohort, MACCE rates were comparable in surgical aortic valve replacement through partial upper and complete sternotomies. Shorter ICU stay and lower rates of Dressler's syndrome and rehospitalization were in favor of the partial sternotomy group.

Long-Term Outcomes After Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Valve Regurgitation　- Importance of Left Ventricular End-Systolic Diameter.

We determined the left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDs) cut-off value for risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in Japanese asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic valve regurgitation (AR), and investigated the effect of left ventricular dilation on long-term postoperative outcomes.Methods and Results: The 168 patients who underwent surgical AVR for AR at Shiga University of Medical Science between January 2002 and December 2022 were included in this study. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of preoperative LVDs for the incidence of MACCE was 42.8 mm (area under the curve 0.616). Postoperative outcomes were compared between patients with preoperative LVDs >42.8 mm (n=77) and those with preoperative LVDs ≤42.8 mm (n=91) using propensity score matching. The 10-year estimated rates of freedom from MACCE in those with LVDs >42.8 and ≤42.8 mm were 59.9% and 85.7%, respectively; the curves differed significantly (P=0.004). In multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, preoperative LVDs >42.8 mm was an independent predictor of MACCE (hazard ratio 2.485; 95% confidence interval 1.239-4.984; P=0.010). Preoperative LVDs >42.8 mm is associated with an increased risk of MACCE in Japanese patients undergoing AVR for AR.

Free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio as a marker of poor prognosis in euthyroid patients with acute coronary syndrome and diabetes after percutaneous coronary intervention.

In recent years, the free triiodothyronine/free thyroxine (FT3/FT4) ratio, a new comprehensive index for evaluating thyroid function, which could reflect thyroid function more stably and truly than serum thyroid hormone level, has been demonstrated to correlate with the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in euthyroid adults. However, the correlation between thyroid hormone sensitivity and long-term prognosis in euthyroid patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and diabetes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. A total of 1,786 euthyroid patients with ACS who successfully underwent PCI at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from August 2021 to April 2022 were included in our study, which was divided into three groups according to tertiles of thyroid hormone sensitivity index. Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier, and receiver operating characteristic analyses were applied to analyze the associations between the FT3/FT4 ratio with ACS and diabetes after PCI. Our analysis indicated that a lower level of FT3/FT4 ratio in euthyroid patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and diabetes after PCI showed significantly higher incidences of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) when compared with a higher level of FT3/FT4 ratio. After adjusting for other covariates, patients with a lower level of FT3/FT4 ratio were negatively associated with the risk of MACCE than those with a higher level of FT3/FT4 ratio (adjusted OR =1.61, 95% CI 1.05-2.47, P = 0.028). In subgroup analyses, individuals were stratified by age, sex, BMI, ACS type, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, showing that there were no significant interactions between the FT3/FT4 ratio and all subgroups for MACCE. In addition, the FT3/FT4 ratio performed better on ROC analyses for cardiac death prediction [area under the curve (AUC), 0.738]. A reduced level of FT3/FT4 ratio was a potential marker of poor prognosis in euthyroid patients with ACS and diabetes after PCI.

Outcomes of Pledgeted versus Nonpledgeted Suture Technique for Isolated Aortic Valve Replacement

Objective: To compare outcomes of pledgeted versus nonplegdeted suture techniques for aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods: This was a retrospective study utilizing an institutional database of AVRs performed at our center between 2010 and 2020. All patients who underwent isolated surgical AVR were included, while those who underwent concomitant procedures were excluded. Patients were dichotomized into those who underwent pledgeted vs. nonpledgeted AVR, and 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was employed. Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival estimation and Cox regression were performed. Cumulative incidence functions were generated for all-cause readmissions and for heart-failure readmissions. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were also analyzed and compared using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: A total of 2240 patients were identified. PSM yielded 892 matched pairs. Mean gradient was significantly higher in the pledgeted group (p &lt; 0.001), but patients in this group had a smaller median valve size implanted. There were no significant differences in paravalvular leak rates. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, cumulative incidence of readmissions, and freedom from MACCE were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Long-term survival, readmission rates, and freedom from MACCE are comparable after pledgeted and nonpledgeted AVR. There were no differences in paravalvular leak rates between the two techniques.

Long-term outcome and prognostic value of angiographic slow/no-reflow phenomenon after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

The coronary slow flow/no-reflow phenomenon (CSF/NRP) is a common complication of emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Its long-term prognostic value, however, remains unclear. This study investigated the long-term outcome and prognostic value of CSF/NRP after emergency PCI for STEMI. This retrospective, multicenter registry-based cohort study was conducted in STEMI patients who underwent emergency PCI between 2015 and 2016. Incidence of in-hospital mortality, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up were compared between CSF/NRP patients and the normal flow group. Cox proportional-hazards regression model was performed to identify the predictive impact of CSF/NRP in short- and long-term outcomes. A total of 649 STEMI patients were included in the study, of whom 193 (29.7%) developed CSF/NRP following emergency PCI. The CSF/NRP group had a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality than the non-CSF/NRP group (8.2 vs. 4.3%, P = 0.04). All-cause mortality incidence was also higher in the CSF/NRP group during 5-year follow-up (22.2 vs. 16.2%, P = 0.04). The Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for demographic and clinical variables identified the NRP as an independent predictor of 5-year cardiac mortality [hazard ratio: 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-3.31; P = 0.02]. In a landmark analysis, no difference was seen in overall mortality among the two study groups between 1 month and 5-year follow-up (hazard ratio: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.80-2.21, P-value: 0.23). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed lower 3-year cumulative MACCE-free survival in the CSF/NRP group compared with the normal flow group (P = 0.02). CSF/NRP in STEMI patients is associated with a worse short- and long-term prognosis. These results, however, are mostly related to the acute phase, and CSF/NRP had limited influence on clinical outcomes in early survivors of STEMI.

Safety of Clopidogrel vs. Ticagrelor in Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Regimens for High-Bleeding Risk Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: A Comprehensive Meta-analysis of Adverse Outcomes.

Patients of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at a high-bleeding risk (HBR) often require dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. Clopidogrel and ticagrelor are the most commonly used antiplatelet agents in DAPT regimens. However, the safety profiles of these drugs in ACS patients at HBR remain a subject of ongoing debate. To investigateany difference between the safety of clopidogrel and ticagrelor used as a part of DAPT regimen in ACS patients at HBR. A systematic search on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify experimental and observational studies published up to the knowledge cutoff date in September 2023. Studies comparing the safety of clopidogrel and ticagrelor in ACS patients at HBR were included for analysis. The primary outcomes assessed were major bleeding events, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI), while secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and net adverse clinical and cerebral events (NACCE). We included a total of 8 observational studies in our meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the risk of MI (pooled RR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.12-1.83; P = 0.005) in the patients using clopidogrel. There were no statistically significant differences in major bleeding events (pooled RR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.82-1.09; P = 0.44), stroke (pooled RR = 1.36; 95% CI 0.86-2.14; P = 0.18), all-cause mortality (pooled RR = 1.17; 95% CI 0.97-1.41; P = 0.10), MACCE (pooled RR = 1.07; 95% CI 0.76-1.50; P = 0.69) and NACCE (pooled RR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.66-1.37; P = 0.78) between the two groups. Subgroup analyses based on region were performed. Both drugs are generally safe for treating ACS patients with HBR at baseline, although a higher risk of MI was observed with the use of clopidogrel. Nevertheless, drug choice should factor in regional variations, patient-specific characteristics, cost, accessibility, and potential drug interactions.

Clinical Outcomes of Renal Transplant Recipients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Clinical outcomes of patients with renal transplant (RT) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain poorly elucidated. Between 2014 and 2021, data were analysed for the following three groups of patients undergoing PCI enrolled in a multicentre Australian registry: (1) RT recipients (n=226), (2) patients on dialysis (n=992), and (3) chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], 30‒60 mL/min per 1.73 m2) without previous RT (n=15,534). Primary outcome was 30-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs)-composite of mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularisation, and stroke. RT recipients were younger than dialysis and patients with CKD (61±10 vs 68±12 vs 78±8.2 years, p<0.001). Patients with RT less frequently had severe left ventricular dysfunction compared with dialysis and CKD groups (6.7% vs 14% and 8.5%); however more, often presented with acute coronary syndrome (58% vs 52% and 48%), especially STEMI (all p<0.001). Patients with RT and CKD had lower rates of 30-day MACCE (4.4% and 6.8% vs 11.6%, p<0.001) than the dialysis group. Three-year survival was similar between RT and CKD groups, however was lower in the dialysis group (80% and 83% vs 60%, p<0.001). After adjustment, dialysis was an independent predictor of 30-day MACCE (odds ratio [OR] 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44‒2.50, p<0.001), however RT was not (OR 0.91, CI 0.42‒1.96, p=0.802). Both RT (hazard ratio [HR] 2.07, CI 1.46‒2.95, p<0.001) and dialysis (HR 1.35, CI 1.02‒1.80, p=0.036) heightened the hazard of long-term mortality. RT recipients have more favourable clinical outcomes following PCI compared with patients on dialysis. However, despite having similar short-term outcomes to patients with CKD, the hazard of long-term mortality is significantly greater for RT recipients.

Minimally Invasive and Full Sternotomy Aortic Valve Replacements Lead to Comparable Long-Term Outcomes in Elderly Higher-Risk Patients: A Propensity-Matched Comparison.

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) via upper ministernotomy (MiniAVR) is a standard alternative to full sternotomy access. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has been proven to provide a number of benefits to patients. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes after MiniAVR versus conventional AVR via full sternotomy (FS) using a biological prosthesis in an elderly higher-risk population. Between January 2006 and July 2009, 918 consecutive patients received AVR ± additional procedures with different prostheses at our center. Amongst them, 441 received isolated AVR using a biological prosthesis (median age of 74.5; range: 52-93 years; 50% females) and formed the study population (EuroSCORE II: 3.62 ± 5.5, range: 0.7-42). In total, 137 (31.1%) of the operations were carried out through FS, and 304 (68.9%) were carried out via MiniAVR. Follow-up was complete in 96% of the cases (median of 7.6 years, 6610 patient-years). Propensity score matching (PSM) resulted in two groups of 68 patients with very similar baseline profiles. The primary endpoints were long-term survival, freedom from reoperation, and endocarditis, and the secondary endpoints were early major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). FS led to shorter cardio-pulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp durations: 90 (47-194) vs. 100 (46-246) min (p = 0.039) and 57 (33-156) vs. 69 (32-118) min (p = 0.006), respectively. Perioperative stroke occurred in three patients (4.4%; FS) vs. one patient (1.5%; MiniAVR) (p = 0.506). The 30-day mortality was similar in both groups (2.9%, p = 1.000). Survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 94.1 ± 3% (FS and MiniAVR), 80.3 ± 5% vs. 75.7 ± 5%, and 45.3 ± 6% vs. 43.8 ± 6%, respectively (p = 0.767). There were two (2.9%) reoperations in each group and two thrombo-embolic events (2.9%) vs. one (1.5%) thrombo-embolic event in the MiniAVR and FS groups, respectively (p = 0.596). In comparison to FS, MiniAVR provided similar short- and long-term outcomes in a higher-risk elderly population receiving biological prostheses. In particular, long-term survival, freedom from reoperation, and the incidence of endocarditis were comparable. These results clearly advocate for the routine use of MiniAVR as a standard procedure for AVR, even in a high-risk population.

Prediction of cardiovascular risk in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving anti-angiogenic drugs: lessons from sorafenib.

Antiangiogenics are associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACE). The identification of at-risk subjects is relevant in the case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), for which anti-angiogenic TKIs and bevacizumab are used in first and subsequent lines of therapy, to select alternative drugs for patients with excessive risk. We verified the ability to predict MACE in sorafenib-treated patients of the 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC-2022) score for anti-angiogenics and the recently proposed CARDIOSOR score. A retrospective analysis was conducted of prospectively collected data of the ARPES and ITA.LI.CA databases. All patients received sorafenib for unresectable HCC from 2008 to 2018. Baseline information to calculate the ESC-2022 and CARDIOSOR scores and registration of evolutive events (including MACE) were available for all patients. The predictive ability of both scores was verified using competing risk regressions and tests for goodness of fit. This study included 843 patients (median follow-up 11.3months). Thirty-four (4.0%) patients presented a MACE. The four-tier ESC-2022 classification showed a progressive risk increase for every class (cumulative risk 1.7%, 2.7%, 4.3%, and 15.0% in the low, medium, high, and high-risk tiers, respectively). The dichotomous CARDIOSOR scale identified a high-risk group with a fourfold increased risk of MACE (sHR 4.66, p = 0.010; cumulative risk 3.8% and 16.4%). ESC-2022 showed a better goodness of fit compared to the CARDIOSOR score [C-index 0.671 (0.583-0.758) vs 0.562 (0.501-0.634), p = 0.021], but this gap was eliminated using the linear version of CARDIOSOR. Both the ESC-2022 and CARDIOSOR scores discriminated patients at increased risk for MACE. The use of these scores in clinical practice should be encouraged, since therapeutic measures can mitigate the cardiovascular risk.

Treatment and outcomes of patients with chronic lung disease and acute myocardial infarction: Insights from the nationwide AMIS plus registry.

Limited data are available on patients with chronic lung disease (CLD) presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to analyse baseline characteristics, treatment and outcome of those patients enrolled in the Swiss nationwide prospective AMIS Plus registry. All AMI patients enrolled between January 2002 and December 2021 with data on CLD, as defined in the Charlson Comorbidity Index, were included. The primary endpoints were in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), defined as all-cause death, reinfarction and cerebrovascular events. Baseline characteristics, in-hospital treatments and outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Among 53,680 AMI patients enrolled during this time, 5.8% had CLD. Compared with patients without CLD, CLD patients presented more frequently with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and type 2 MI (12.8% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.001). With respect to treatment, CLD patients were less likely to receive P2Y12 inhibitors (p < 0.001) and less likely to undergo percutaneous coronary interventions (68.7% vs. 82.5%; p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality declined in AMI patients with CLD over time (from 12% in 2002 to 7.3% in 2021). Multivariable regression analysis showed that CLD was an independent predictor for MACCE (adjusted OR was 1.28 [95% CI 1.07-1.52], p = 0.006). Patients with CLD and AMI were less likely to receive evidence-based pharmacologic treatments, coronary revascularization and had a higher incidence of MACCE during their hospital stay compared to those without CLD. Over 20 years, in-hospital mortality was significantly reduced in AMI patients, especially in those with CLD.

The effectiveness of a web-based information-knowledge-attitude-practice continuous intervention on the psychological status, medical compliance, and quality of life of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a parallel randomized clinical trial

BackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) often experience a severe psychological burden for a long period of time, which can adversely affect their post-operative prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a web-based Information-Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (WIKAP) continuous intervention on the psychological status, medical compliance, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with CAD after CABG surgery.MethodsA parallel randomized clinical trial enrolled 174 CAD patients who underwent CABG at our hospital between January 2018 and December 2019. The participants were randomly divided into the Control and WIKAP group and received intervention for 12 months. The scores for anxiety, depression, medical compliance, and QoL were assessed on the first day (M0), 3rd month (M3), 6th month (M6), 9th month (M9) and 12th month (M12) after discharge. Furthermore, the occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional regression models for an additional 24-month follow-up period without any intervention.ResultsAfter the 12-month intervention, the scores of anxiety and depression were significantly reduced in the WIKAP group at M9 and M12 compared to those in the Control group (all P < 0.05). Additionally, the scores of medical compliance in the WIKAP group were remarkably elevated at M6, M9, and M12 compared with those scores in the Control group (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the QoL scores were lower in the WIKAP group at M6, M9, and M12 compared to the Control group (all P < 0.05). However, the MACCE-free survival showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Cox proportional regression analysis also showed that the nursing intervention (Control vs. WKIAP) was not associated with the incidence of MACCE.ConclusionWIKAP nursing intervention effectively improved the psychological health, medical compliance, and QoL in CAD patients who underwent CABG operation, but it did not prolong MACCE-free survival.Trail registrationThe study is registered in isrctn.org: ISRCTN13653455.