Polyvascular Disease Research Articles

Identifying clinical phenotype clusters for coronary artery disease: a novel approach using clustering by unsupervised machine learning

Abstract Background Guideline recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are one-size-fits-all. Clinically identifiable phenotypes needing specific considerations might exist. Purpose To identify phenotypes in patients with CAD based on clinical characteristics and their relationship with the risk of new CV events and treatment benefits. Methods Unsupervised machine learning through latent class analysis (LCA) was performed on patients with CAD included in the UCC-SMART cohort (n = 5,888) and SWEDEHEART registry (n = 67,428), to identify patient clusters (i.e., phenotypes) based on clinical characteristics: age, sex, body-mass-index, diastolic blood pressure, history of diabetes, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, polyvascular disease, current smoking, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and C-reactive protein. Number of clusters was determined using the Bayesian information criterion. Event free survival and hazard ratios (HR) for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as primary endpoint, including non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death, were estimated per cluster. The LCA were performed in each respective cohort and cross-validated in the other cohort to assess impact of variations in clustering variables on cluster reproducibility. In UCC-SMART, bootstrapping was performed the assess stability of the LCA model and impact on cluster assignment. Results In UCC-SMART four distinct phenotypes within the CAD population could be distinguished: Phenotype A (16%) of mostly males with isolated CAD, phenotype B (30%) of older patients with polyvascular disease, Phenotype C (28%) of only women with limited traditional risk factors and Phenotype D (27%) young, current smokers with a premature event (Figure 1). Cross-validation in SWEDEHEART identified roughly the same four phenotypes, i.e., phenotype A (39%) with 100% males and 3.8% polyvascular disease, phenotype B (8%) with average age of 71 years and 30% polyvascular disease, phenotype C (19%) with 100% women, and phenotype D (34%) 54 years and 25% current smokers. Notably, although age was comparable between phenotype A and C, MACE-free survival was worse for the female-only cluster. Similarly, although patients where on average 9 years younger in phenotype D when compared to phenotype A, MACE-free survival was worse (Figure 2). No significant changes in clustering models were observed in the bootstrap samples. Conclusion Phenotypes can be distinguished within patients with CAD. These phenotypes are related to differences in the risk of recurrent events. These findings suggest that specific guideline recommendations for these groups could be considered.Cluster interpretation in SMARTSurvival along cluster lines

Cardiovascular risk factors in poly-vascular vs isolated lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. analysis from the SOLACI peripheral registry

Abstract Introduction Atherosclerotic disease in more than one vascular bed (Polyvascular disease), is a strong independent risk factor for ischemic events and has worse clinical outcomes than those with disease in a single territory. Aims The objective of the present interim analysis is to describe the differences in cardiovascular risk factors and clinical presentation between patients with isolated infra-aortic peripheral artery disease (lower limb: "LL-PAD") and patients with Polyvascular Disease ("PD": simultaneuous coexistence of LL-PAD and affection of at least one more vascular bed) from a cohort of patients undergoing LL endovascular procedures in Latinamerica. Methods Our cohort included patients from The SOLACI Peripheral Registry from March 2021 to February 2024 (a prospective, multi-center, observational, and hospital-based registry of patients with LL- PAD, treated with endovascular interventions across 10 Latin American countries, 42 centers). Patients were considered to have PD if besides LL-PAD, they had a documented history of previous myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, cerebrovascular, aortic, and/or carotid artery disease. Results A total of 1438 patients were included in the analysis. PD was present in 506 patients(35.1%), of which 225(44.5%) had previous MI; 296(58.5%) previous coronary revascularization;265(52.4%) had aortic and / or carotid disease; and 121(23.9%) had cerebrovascular disease. Patients with PD were older than those with LL-PAD(70.5±9.76 vs 68.6±10.7). PD was more prevalent in men(69.6% vs 62.4%), former smokers(48.2% vs 32.8%), hypertension(92.1% vs 80.5%) and patients with dyslipidemia(75.3% vs 64%). The distribution of treated lesions in the PD group was: 15.4% ilio-femoral; 34 % femoropopliteal; 23.3% infrapopliteal; and 24% had multiple peripheral territories affected and treated at the same time-point. In the LL-PAD group, the distribution of treated lesions was: 12.5% ilio-femoral; 28.6% femoropopliteal; 31.5% infrapopliteal; and 24.8% had multiple peripheral territories affected simultaneously and treated during the same procedure. In general, the lesions were shorter in the PD group: ilio-femoral(53.5±29.2 vs 66.7±48.2mm); femoropopliteal(119±73.6 vs 122±81.7mm); and infrapopliteal(129±83.1 vs 147±93.1mm). In the PD group, a higher percentage of patients were treated with statins and antithrombotic agents: statins (87.5% vs 70.8%), aspirin (91.5% vs 81.1%), clopidogrel (60.9% vs 40.1%), and oral anticoagulants (13.8% vs 6.5%). The use of rivaroxaban was similar in both groups (3.4% vs 3.9%). The PD group had higher intrahospital complication rates: intrahospital death (2.2% vs 0.8%), cardiovascular intrahospital death (1.2% vs 0.4%), MI (0.8% vs 0.1%), stroke (0.4% vs 0%) and bleeding (0.8% vs 0.9%). Conclusions Patients with PD represent a very high-risk population. Systematic screening of multiple vascular beds in patients with LL-PAD may be warranted to prevent worse outcomes.

Gender-differences in Polyvascular disease: implications for lipid-lowering management and cardiovascular outcomes

Abstract Background Polyvascular disease (PolyVD) exhibits extensive atherosclerotic disease in multiple vascular beds. Despite lowering LDL-C with a statin, patients with PolyVD still present elevated risks of subsequent atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, suggesting the need to better understand pathophysiology of PolyVD. Female gender has been reported to mitigate severity of atherosclerotic disease and future events’ risks. However, whether this gender-difference exists in patients with PolyVD remains to be fully elucidated yet. Purpose To characterize gender-differences in cardiovascular outcomes in patients with and without PolyVD, respectively. Methods The on-going multi-center registry enroll patients with CAD receiving intravascular imaging-guided PCI. The current study included 679 patients with CAD. PolyVD was defined as the concomitance of other atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (stroke and/or LEAD). In patients with PolyVD (n=185) and Non-PolyVD (n=494), clinical characteristics and major cardiovascular outcomes (MACE) were compared between men and women, respectively. MACE was defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI, ischemic stroke, LEAD and coronary revascularization. Results The proportion of women was 21% and 18% in Non-PolyVD and PolyVD subjects, respectively. In patients with non-PolyVD, women were more likely to be older (75 vs. 68 years, p<0.001) and exhibit a lower BMI (22.3 vs. 24.0 kg/m2, p<0.001) with a lower frequency of previous myocardial infarction (13.5 vs. 24.9%, p=0.01). LDL-C levels did not differ between the two groups [102 (76-130) vs. 93 (71-120) mg/dL, p=0.06). However, during the observational period (median=3 years), women were associated with a lower frequency of MACE compared to men (HR=0.31, 95%CI=0.13-0.78, p=0.012, Figure, Table). In patients with PolyVD, BMI, and the frequency of established risk factors and previous myocardial infarction were comparable between men and women. Despite the use of high-intensity statin in over 40% of study subjects (44 vs. 36%, p=0.41), women still exhibited an elevated level of LDL-C [103 (74-122) vs. 82 (64-103) mg/dL, p=0.04]. Furthermore, in contrast to Non-PolyVD patients, similar cardiovascular outcomes were observed in both men and women with PolyVD (Figure). On multivariate analysis adjusting clinical characteristics, women were not a significant factor associated with a reduced risk of MACE (Table). Conclusion 18% of PolyVD were women who presented a higher LDL-C level. While women with Non-PolyVD exhibited better cardiovascular outcomes compared to men, this gender-difference did not exist in patients with PolyVD. Our findings indicate that female PolyVD did not necessarily show better outcomes but similar cardiovascular event’s risks compared to men. Further intensified anti-atherosclerotic managements are required in both men and women with PolyVD.

Presence of Atherosclerosis in Multiple Arterial Beds is Associated with Increased Mortality in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Patients with polyvascular disease are considered high risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). This retrospective study utilised the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database to quantify the effect of polyvascular disease on outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The VQI database was queried from to 2012 - 2022 for elective EVAR. Patients were identified as having peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease, or cerebrovascular disease, and then stratified based on the number of arterial beds involved (one to three). Primary outcomes were peri-operative death and MACEs. Multivariate analysis was performed to find associations between comorbidities and primary outcomes. Of the 21 160 patients with arterial disease included in the study, 83.7% were male and the mean age was 73.73 ± 8.57 years. After stratification, 16 892 patients had atherosclerosis in one arterial bed, 3 869 in two arterial beds, and 399 in three arterial beds. Pre-operatively, patients with atherosclerosis in three arterial beds were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and renal failure (all p < .001). Post-operatively, patients with disease in three arterial beds were more likely to experience a post-operative complication (11.5% vs. 8.3% vs. 5.4%; p < .001), including MACE (4.6% vs. 4.1% vs. 2.8%; p < .001) and death (3.0% vs. 2.5% vs. 1.7%; p < .010). On multivariate analysis, polyvascular disease was associated with MACEs (odds ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval 1.29 - 1.84; p < .001). Kaplan-Meier analysis estimates showed statistically significant differences in survival at approximately the three year follow up (p < .001). In this review of patients undergoing elective EVAR, patients with polyvascular disease experienced worse peri-operative outcomes, including death and MACEs, the latter of which was confirmed on multivariable analysis. These patients should be considered high risk and managed accordingly.

Comparative analysis of cardiogenic shock outcomes in acute myocardial infarction with polyvascular disease

BackgroundCardiogenic shock (CS) is the leading cause of mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, especially in those with vascular disease. This study aimed to assess the association between extent of polyvascular disease and the in hospital management and outcome of patients with AMI-induced CS. MethodUsing the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2019, adult patients with AMI and CS with known vascular disease were identified and stratified by number of diseased vascular beds and into STEMI and NSTEMI subgroups. The study assessed in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), mortality, acute CVA and major bleeding, as well as invasive management by number of diseased vascular beds. ResultsOut of 136,245 patients, 57.9 % attributed to STEMI and 42.1 % to NSTEMI. The study revealed that the likelihood of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) [(aOR for 2 beds 0.94, CI 0.91–0.96, p-value < 0.001; 3 beds 1.0, CI 0.94–1.06, p-value 0.96)] and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) [(aOR for 2 beds 0.66, CI 0.64–0.69, p-value < 0.001; 3 beds 0.76, CI 0.71–0.81, p-value < 0.001)] decreased as the number of diseased vascular sites increased. The study also highlighted a direct dose-response relationship between the number of diseased vascular beds and major adverse outcomes, including MACCE, mortality and acute CVA, underscoring the prognostic significance of polyvascular disease in this patient population. ConclusionThe study demonstrated that polyvascular disease significantly worsens AMI-induced CS outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of early identification and aggressive management of polyvascular disease in these patients. Further research is needed to develop targeted treatment strategies for this high-risk population.

Patients With Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease and Polyvascular Disease. Sub-Analysis of the Real-World Registry KAMMA (Clinical Registry on Patient Population With Polyvascular Disease in the Russian Federation and Eurasian Countries).

To study the clinical status and data of laboratory and instrumental examination of patients with non-obstructive ischemic heart disease (IHD) and multifocal atherosclerosis (MFA) included in the KAMMA registry. The subanalysis included 1,893 IHD patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and ultrasonic examination of peripheral arteries. Based on the CAG data, patients were divided into two groups: group 1, patients with obstructive coronary atherosclerosis (CA) (maximum stenosis ≥50% and/or history of percutaneous coronary intervention/coronary artery bypass grafting, n=1728; 91.3%) and group 2, patients with non-obstructive CA (maximum stenosis &lt;50%, n = 165; 8.7%). A comparative analysis based on the degree of coronary obstruction in patients with verified IHD who were included in the KAMMA registry showed that 8.7% of them had coronary artery stenosis of less than 50%. The overwhelming majority of patients with non-obstructive CA had MFA affecting the brachiocephalic arteries in 94.3% and the lower extremity arteries in 40.2%. Among patients with non-obstructive IHD, women predominated; risk factors such as smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus were less frequent in this group than in the obstructive IHD group. Patients with non-obstructive CA more frequently had a history of dyslipidemia; they had higher total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and they more frequently received moderate-intensity statin therapy than patients with obstructive CA (55.8% vs. 34.5%). Characteristic features of patients with non-obstructive CA were less severe IHD and less frequent history of acute coronary syndrome. However, the incidence of stroke, peripheral arterial thrombosis, and chronic arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities did not differ in groups 1 and 2, whereas the incidence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was higher in the non-obstructive IHD group. IHD patients without coronary obstruction also require assessment of the peripheral arterial status, as they may have advanced MFA, which should be taken into account when choosing the "aggressiveness" of therapy.

Diabetes and Its Impact on Cardiogenic Shock Outcomes in Acute Myocardial Infarction with Polyvascular Disease: A Comparative Analysis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly impacts cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). The presence of polyvascular disease further complicates the prognosis due to the increased burden of atherosclerosis and comorbidities. This study was designed to investigate the combined impact of DM and polyvascular disease on outcomes in patients with AMI and CS. Using the National Inpatient Sample database, we analyzed 39,140 patients with AMI complicated by CS and known polyvascular disease. The patients were stratified by diabetes status. The study assessed in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), mortality, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and major bleeding. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between in-hospital outcomes and diabetes, adjusting for baseline differences. Of the study population, 54% had DM. The patients with DM were younger (69.5 vs. 72.1 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be female (36.7% vs. 34.2%, p < 0.001). After adjustment, the patients with DM showed a 17% increased mortality risk (aOR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.11-1.23, p < 0.001) and a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (aOR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.10, p = 0.020). DM significantly impacts outcomes in patients with AMI complicated by CS and polyvascular disease, leading to increased mortality risk, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and specialized care strategies for this high-risk population.

Impact of sex on outcomes associated with polyvascular disease in patients after PCI

Atherosclerosis in more than one vs. one arterial bed is associated with increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This study aimed to determine whether the risk of post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) MACE associated with polyvascular disease (PVD) differs by sex. We analyzed 18,721 patients undergoing PCI at a tertiary-care center between 2012-2019. Polyvascular disease was defined as history of peripheral artery and/or cerebrovascular disease. The primary endpoint was MACE, a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 1 year. Multivariate Cox regression was used to adjust for differences in baseline risk between patients with PVD vs. coronary artery disease (CAD) alone and interaction testing was used to assess risk modification by sex. Women represented 29.2% (N=5,467) of the cohort and were more likely to have PVD than men (21.7% vs. 16.1%; p<0.001). Among both sexes, patients with PVD were older with higher prevalence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors. Women with PVD had the highest MACE rate (10.0%), followed by men with PVD (7.2%), women with CAD alone (5.0%), and men with CAD alone (3.6%). Adjusted analyses revealed similar relative MACE risk associated with PVD vs. CAD alone in women and men (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.99; p<0.001 and aHR 1.31, 95% CI 1.06-1.62; p=0.014, respectively; p-interaction=0.460). Women and men derive similar excess risk of MACE from PVD after PCI. The heightened risk associated with PVD needs to be addressed with maximized use of secondary prevention in both sexes.

Synergetic predictive value of albuminuria and von Willebrand factor toward cardiovascular and bleeding complications in patients with polyvascular disease

Synergetic predictive value of albuminuria and von Willebrand factor toward cardiovascular and bleeding complications in patients with polyvascular disease

Inflammatory risk and clinical outcomes according to polyvascular atherosclerotic disease status in patients undergoing PCI.

Individuals suffering from polyvascular atherosclerotic disease (PolyVD) face a higher likelihood of adverse cardiovascular events. Additionally, inflammation, assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), affects residual risk following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to explore the interplay between PolyVD and hsCRP in terms of clinical outcomes after PCI. Patients undergoing PCI for chronic coronary disease at a tertiary center between January 2012 and February 2020 were included for the current analysis. PolyVD was defined by additional history of cerebrovascular and/or peripheral artery disease. HsCRP levels were defined as elevated when the measured baseline concentration was > 3mg/L. The primary outcome of interest was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of all-cause mortality, spontaneous MI, or target vessel revascularization. Overall, 10,359 participants were included in the current study, with 17.4% affected by PolyVD and 82.6% included in the non-PolyVD subgroup. Patients with PolyVD had higher hsCRP levels than those without. Among the PolyVD group, a larger proportion (33.6%) exhibited elevated hsCRP compared to the non-PolyVD group (24.7%). Patients with both PolyVD and elevated hsCRP levels had significantly higher adverse event rates than all other subgroups at 1-year follow-up. Furthermore, an independent association between elevated hsCRP and MACE was observed within the PolyVD population, while this was not the case for individuals without PolyVD. A residual risk of adverse outcomes after PCI linked to inflammation appears to be present among individuals with PolyVD. This could help define further target populations for anti-inflammatory treatment options.

Redefining common and rare HTRA1 variants as risk factors for polyvascular disease.

Redefining common and rare HTRA1 variants as risk factors for polyvascular disease.

Why should we consider the patient with polyvascular disease?

Why should we consider the patient with polyvascular disease?

Prevalence and Impact of Polyvascular Disease in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Contemporary Era of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - Insights From the Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (JAMIR).

This post hoc subanalysis aimed to investigate the impact of polyvascular disease (PolyVD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the contemporary era of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods and Results: The Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (JAMIR), a multicenter prospective registry, enrolled 3,411 patients with AMI between December 2015 and May 2017. Patients were classified according to complications of a prior stroke and/or peripheral artery disease into an AMI-only group (involvement of 1 vascular bed [1-bed group]; n=2,980), PolyVD with one of the complications (2-bed group; n=383), and PolyVD with both complications (3-bed group; n=48). The primary endpoint was all-cause death. Secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and major bleeding. In the 1-, 2-, and 3-bed groups, the cumulative incidence of all-cause death was 6.8%, 17.5%, and 23.7%, respectively (P<0.001); that of MACE was 7.4%, 16.4%, and 33.8% (P<0.001), respectively; and that of major bleeding was 4.8%, 10.0%, and 13.9% (P<0.001), respectively. PolyVD was independently associated with all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48-3.29), MACE (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.40-3.07), and major bleeding (HR 1.68; 95% CI 1.04-2.71). PolyVD was significantly associated with worse outcomes, including thrombotic and bleeding events, in the contemporary era of PCI in AMI patients.

IMPACT OF POLYVASCULAR DISEASE ON LONG–TERM PROGNOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME. A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY IN ITALY

Abstract Background Atherothrombosis should be considered a systemic disease that may involve one or more than one vascular beds. Data on the impact of polyvascular disease on long–term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are still scarce. Aim To assess the prevalence of symptomatic polyvascular disease in a cohort of patients with ACS and to investigate the impact on long–term outcomes of single versus multiple vascular beds involvement. Methods We analyzed a nationwide, comprehensive, and universal administrative database of consecutive patients older than 40 years admitted for a new episode of ACS in 2013–14 in Italy. Patients with ACS were stratified according to the presence of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) only, Cerebrovascular Disease (CeVD) only, PAD and CeVD (PAD+CeVD) or neither (noPAD/noCeVD). A Cox proportional hazard multivariate model was used to evaluate the impact of PAD only, CeVD only and PAD+CeVD on 5–year MACCE. Results 331320 new episode of ACS were identified. Among them, 24491 (7.4%) were patients with PAD only, 16269 (4.9%) with CeVD only and 4710 (1.4%) with PAD+CeVD. The 5 years MACCE was 42.6%, 64.7%, 66.1 and 72.2 (p&amp;lt;0.001) for noPAD/noCeVD, PAD only, CeVD only and PAD+CeVD, respectivelly. After adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities, the hazard ratio (HR) for 5–year MACCE was 1.30 (p&amp;lt;0.0001), 1.39 (p&amp;lt;0.0001), and 1.46 (p&amp;lt;0.0001) in patients with PAD only, CeVD only, and PAD+CeVD, respectively, as compared with patients without PAD and CeVD. Conclusion Polyvascular disease represents a major risk factor in patients with ACS. The simultaneous involvement of three vascular beds further increases the risk of long–term outcomes. Greater effort should be directed toward identification of subclinical/clinical atherosclerosis of beds different from coronary for a better risk stratification.

Mature neutrophils as a marker of hypoechoic carotid plaques and a predictor of polyvascular disease progression

Aim. To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating mature and aging neutrophils in relation to hypoechoic carotid plaques and short-term progression of carotid and multifocal atherosclerosis.Material and methods. The study included 200 patients (89 males and 111 fe­males), aged 40-64 years. All patients underwent duplex ultrasound of the carotid and lower extremity arteries at the first visit and at a repeat visit after 12-24 months. Ultrasound morphology of carotid plaques was assessed using greyscale median analysis. Phenotyping and differentiation of neutrophil subpopulations was carried out using flow cytometry.Results. The absolute and relative number of mature neutrophils directly correlated with ultrasound indicators of carotid atherosclerosis, while the number of aging neutrophils — with the degree of lower extremity artery stenosis. Patients with hypoechoic carotid plaques were characterized by a significantly higher absolute number of mature neutrophils (p=0,0340). An increase in the number of mature neutrophils over 3023,0 cells/μL made it possible to predict the hypoechoic carotid plaques with a sensitivity of 75,0% and a specificity of 69,5%. Patients with carotid atherosclerosis progression had a higher absolute number of mature neutrophils (p=0,0140), as did patients with progression of multifocal atherosclerosis (p=0,0162). An increase in the number of mature neutrophils more than 3223,0 cells/μL was associated with an increase in the relative risk of polyvascular disease progression by 3,09 times (95% confidence interval, 1,34-7,17; p=0,0082) after adjustment for baseline cardiovascular disease risk.Conclusion. Among patients aged 40-64 years, increased numbers of circulating mature neutrophils are associated with an increased carotid plaque burden and hypoechoic carotid plaques. An increase in the number of mature neutrophils over 3223,0 cells/μL was associated with a 3,09-fold increase in the relative risk of polyvascular disease after adjustment for baseline cardiovascular risk.

Polyvascular Disease: A Narrative Review of Risk Factors, Clinical Outcomes and Treatment.

Polyvascular disease has a significant global burden and is associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiac events with each additional vascular territory involved. The purpose of this review is to highlight the risk factors, associated outcomes, emerging genetic markers, and evidence for screening and treatment of polyvascular disease. Polyvascular disease is the presence of atherosclerosis in two or more vascular beds. It has a significant global burden, with a prevalence of 30-70% in patients with known atherosclerosis. Patients with polyvascular disease experience elevated rates of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke, especially among high-risk subgroups like those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and there is a step-wise increased risk of adverse outcomes with each additional vascular territory involved. Genetic analyses demonstrate that some individuals may carry a genetic predisposition, while others exhibit higher levels of atherogenic lipoproteins and inflammatory markers. Routine screening for asymptomatic disease is not currently recommended by major cardiovascular societies unless patients are high-risk. While there are no established protocols for escalating treatment, existing guidelines advocate for lipid-lowering therapy. Additionally, recent studies have demonstrated benefit from antithrombotic agents, such as P2Y12 inhibitors and low-dose anticoagulation, but the optimal timing and dosage of these agents has not been established, and the ischemic benefit must be balanced against the increased risk of bleeding in the polyvascular population. Due to the high prevalence and risks associated with polyvascular disease, early identification and treatment intensification are crucial to reduce disease progression. Future research is needed to develop screening protocols and determine the optimal timing and dosing of therapy to prevent ischemic events.

Polyvascular disease is common in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and lower extremity bypass and is associated with worse outcomes

BackgroundPolyvascular disease is strongly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, its prevalence in patients undergoing carotid and lower extremity surgical revascularization and its impact on outcomes are unknown. MethodsThe Vascular Quality Initiative was queried for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or infrainguinal lower extremity bypass (LEB), 2013-2019. Polyvascular disease was defined as presence of atherosclerotic occlusive disease in more than one arterial bed: carotid, coronary, and infrainguinal. Primary outcomes were (1) composite perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) or death and (2) 5-year survival. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were evaluated using the χ2 test and multivariable logistic regression. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards multivariable models. ResultsPolyvascular disease was identified in 47% of CEA (39.0% in 2 arterial beds, 7.6% in 3 arterial beds; n = 93,736) and 47% of LEB (41.0% in 2 arterial beds, 5.7% in 3 arterial beds; n = 25,223). For both CEA and LEB, patients with polyvascular disease had more comorbidities including hypertension, congestive heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease (P < .0001). Perioperative MI/death rates increased with increasing number of vascular beds affected following CEA (0.9% in 1 bed vs 1.5% in 2 beds vs 2.7% in 3 beds; P < .001) and LEB (2.2% in 1 bed vs 5.3% in 2 beds vs 6.6% in 3 beds; P < .001). Polyvascular disease was associated independently with perioperative MI/death after CEA (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-1.81;P < .0001) and LEB (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.52-2.08; P < .0001). Five-year survival was decreased in patients with polyvascular disease after CEA (82% in 3 beds vs 88% in 2 beds vs 92% in 1 bed; P < .01) and LEB (72% in 3 beds vs 75% in 2 beds vs 84% in 1 bed; P < .01) in a dose-dependent manner, with the lowest 5-year survival observed in those with three arterial beds involved. Polyvascular disease was independently associated with 5-year mortality after CEA (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.24-1.40; P = .0001) and LEB (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20-1.41; P = .0001). ConclusionsPolyvascular disease is common in patients undergoing CEA and LEB and is associated with a higher risk of perioperative MI/death and decreased long-term survival. After revascularization, patients with polyvascular disease should be considered for more aggressive cardioprotective medications and closer follow-up.

Lower extremity arterial disease vs. coronary artery disease: mortality differences after revascularization.

Patients undergoing revascularization for lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) may face a higher risk of mortality than those with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to characterize the difference in mortality risk between patients undergoing revascularization for LEAD and CAD and identify associated factors. The 1-year database of 10 754 patients undergoing revascularization for CAD (n = 6349) and LEAD (n = 4405) was analysed. Poisson regression models were used to characterize interpopulation differences in mortality, adjusting for baseline clinical features, including age, sex, polyvascular disease, comorbidities, medications, and vulnerabilities. Individuals with LEAD were older, were more likely to have polyvascular disease, had more comorbidities, and received fewer cardioprotective drugs than those with CAD. Vulnerabilities remained more common in the LEAD group even after adjusting for these clinical features. The crude risk ratio of mortality incidence for LEAD vs. CAD was 2.91 (95% confidence interval, 2.54-3.34), attenuated to 2.14 (1.83-2.50) after controlling for age, sex, and polyvascular disease. The percentage attenuation in the excessive mortality associated with LEAD was 29%. The stepwise addition of comorbidities, medications, and vulnerabilities as adjusting factors attenuated the incidence risk ratio to 1.48 (1.26-1.72), 1.33 (1.12-1.58), and 1.17 (0.98-1.39), respectively, and increased the percentage attenuation to 64%, 73%, and 86%, respectively. Mortality risk was almost three-fold higher in patients undergoing revascularization for LEAD than in those with CAD. The excessive mortality was considerably attributable to inter-group differences in baseline characteristics, including potentially clinically or socially modifiable factors.

Impact of Polyvascular Disease in Patients Undergoing Unprotected Left Main Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in treating left main coronary artery disease (LM-CAD) in select patients. Polyvascular disease (PolyVD) is associated with adverse events in all-comers with CAD. However, there is little data examining the interplay between PolyVD and LM-PCI, which we sought to investigate in a retrospective single-center study. We included patients undergoing unprotected LM-PCI at a tertiary center from 2012-2019. The patient population was stratified based on the presence or absence of PolyVD (i.e. medical history of cerebrovascular and/or peripheral artery disease in addition to LM-CAD). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) combining all-cause mortality and spontaneous myocardial infarction within one year after index PCI. Overall, 869 patients were included, and 23.8% of the population had PolyVD. Individuals with PolyVD were older and had a greater burden of comorbidities. After 1 year follow-up individuals with PolyVD exhibited significantly higher rates of both MACE (22.8% vs. 9.4%; p<0.001) and bleeding events compared to those without PolyVD. MACE was primarily driven by an increase in all-cause mortality (18.3% vs. 7.1%; p<0.001). Results persisted after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, among patients undergoing LM-PCI, the presence of PolyVD is linked to an increased risk of MACE and bleeding after 1 year of follow-up, which highlights the vulnerability of this patient population.

Peculiarities of polyvascular disease and the diagnostic significance of the ankle-brachial index in patients with coronary artery disease: results from the real-world registry KAMMA (Clinical registry on patient population with polyvascular disease in the Russian Federation and Eurasian countries)

Aim. To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of polyvascular disease in the Eurasian region's population with one or more previously established locations of atherosclerotic arterial damage, and to evaluate the diagnostic importance of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a marker for polyvascular disease (PVD).Material and methods. A total of 1837 patients were included in the main branch of the KAMMA registry (patients with PVD), among which 91,6% had coronary artery disease (CAD) (n=1683). For further analysis, the group of patients with CAD was combined with 1222 patients included in the second branch of the registry — KAMMA-cardio, forming a patient population (n=2905), in which all patients had verified CAD. The mean age of patients was 66,0 [59,0; 72,0] years, with 60,3% being male. Peripheral arteries was assessed using ultrasound examination.Results. PVD was present in 95,6% of patients with coronary atherosclerosis: dual-region involvement was observed in 51,3% of patients, three-region involvement in 37,1%, four-region involvement in 3,4%, and five-region involvement in 2,0%. Stenoses of the common carotid artery were observed in 71% of patients, internal carotid artery — in 68%, lower limb artery — in 52%, and renal and mesenteric artery — in 8,3%. There were following diagnostic effectiveness of the ABI for detecting patients with lower limb artery stenosis was: sensitivity — 58,0%, specificity — 83,6%. The quality of antithrombotic and lipid-lowering therapy was insufficient.Conclusion. In the overwhelming majority (95,6%) of patients with CAD in the KAMMA registry, PVD was revealed, with nearly half of the patients having involvement in three or more arterial zones. In the patient population with CAD, there should be an active effort to identify patients with PVD, using at least the ABI determination and active modern antithrombotic and lipid-lowering therapy according to current clinical guidelines.