Prior Coronary Artery Disease Research Articles

Outcomes of Patients with Normal LDL-Cholesterol at Admission for Acute Coronary Syndromes: Lower Is Not Always Better

Background and aim: There are few prospective data on the prognostic value of normal admission low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in statin-naïve patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who are treated with a preemptive invasive strategy. We aimed to analyze the proportion of patients with normal LDL-C at admission for ACS in our practice, and their characteristics and clinical outcomes in comparison to patients with high admission LDL-C. Patients and methods: Two institutions’ prospective registries of patients with confirmed ACS from Jan 2017 to Jan 2023 were used to identify 1579 statin-naïve patients with no history of prior coronary artery disease (CAD), and with available LDL-C admission results, relevant clinical and procedural data, and short- and long-term follow-up data. Normal LDL-C at admission was defined as lower than 2.6 mmol/L. All demographic, clinical, procedural, and follow-up data were compared between patients with normal LDL-C and patients with a high LDL-C level (≥2.6 mmol/L) at admission. Results: There were 242 (15%) patients with normal LDL-C at admission. In comparison to patients with high LDL-cholesterol at admission, they were significantly older (median 67 vs. 62 years) with worse renal function, had significantly more cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) (26% vs. 17%), peripheral artery disease (PAD) (14% vs. 9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (8% vs. 2%), and psychological disorders requiring medical attention (19% vs. 10%). There were no significant differences in clinical type of ACS. Complexity of CAD estimated by coronary angiography was similar between the two groups (median Syntax score 12 for both groups). There were no significant differences in rates of complete revascularization (67% vs. 72%). Patients with normal LDL-C had significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at discharge (median LVEF 52% vs. 55%). Patients with normal LDL-C at admission had both significantly higher in-hospital mortality (5% vs. 2%, RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.08–3.96) and overall mortality during a median follow-up of 43 months (27% vs. 14%, RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.45–2.37). After adjusting for age, renal function, presence of diabetes mellitus, PAD, COPD, psychological disorders, BMI, and LVEF at discharge in a multivariate Cox regression analysis, normal LDL-C at admission remained significantly and independently associated with higher long-term mortality during follow-up (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.05–2.09). Conclusions: A spontaneously normal LDL-C level at admission for ACS in statin-naïve patients was not rare and it was an independent risk factor for both substantially higher in-hospital mortality and mortality during long-term follow-up. Patients with normal LDL-C and otherwise high total cardiovascular risk scores should be detected early and treated with optimal medical therapy. However, additional research is needed to reveal all the missing pieces in their survival puzzle after ACS—beyond coronary anatomy, PCI optimization, numerical LDL-C levels, and statin therapy.

Guiding early revascularization using [15O]H2O PET myocardial perfusion imaging - Impact of atrial fibrillation.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET) is used to guide the selection of patients with angina for invasive angiography and possible revascularization. Our study evaluated whether atrial fibrillation (AF): 1) reduces global hyperemic myocardial blood flow (MBF) and 2) whether [15O]H2O PET MPI effectively guides revascularization procedures for patients with ongoing AF. We prospectively recruited 346 patients with angina and persistent or paroxysmal AF referred for baseline/hyperemic [15O]H2O PET MPI. The primary outcome was revascularization within 3 months of MPI. In the analyses, patients were divided into four groups based on whether they had ongoing AF or sinus rhythm (SR) and whether they had previously documented coronary artery disease (CAD) or not. Thus, four groups were compared: SR-noCAD, AF-noCAD, SR-CAD and AF-CAD. Hyperemic MBF was affected by both ongoing AF and prior CAD [MBF (mL/min/g): 2.82 (SR-noCAD) vs. 2.12 (AF-noCAD) vs. 2.22 (SR-CAD) vs. 1.80 (AF-CAD), two-way ANOVA p<0.0001]. In multiple linear regression ongoing AF was independently associated with reduced hyperemic MBF. Every 0.1 mL/min/g decrease in hyperemic MBF was associated with a 23% increase in odds of early revascularization. ROC-analysis of vessel specific hyperemic MBF to predict early revascularization yielded the following areas under the ROC curve (AUC): SR-noCAD: 0.95 (p<0.0001); AF-noCAD: 0.79 (p<0.0001); SR-CAD: 0.78 (p<0.0001); AF-CAD: 0.88 (p<0.0001). Ongoing AF is associated with 19-25 % reduced global hyperemic MBF as measured by [15O]H2O MPI PET. Regardless, vessel specific hyperemic MBF still predicts early revascularization in patients with AF.

Polygenic risk score predicts all-cause death in East Asian patients with prior coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a highly heritable and multifactorial disease. Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) facilitated the construction of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for predicting future incidence of CAD, however, exclusively in European populations. Furthermore, identifying CAD patients with elevated risks of all-cause death presents a critical challenge in secondary prevention, which will contribute largely to reducing the burden for public healthcare. We recruited a cohort of 1,776 Chinese CAD patients and performed medical follow-up for up to 11 years. A pruning and thresholding method was used to calculate PRS of CAD and its 14 risk factors. Their correlations with all-cause death were computed via Cox regression. We found that the PRS for CAD and its seven risk factors, namely myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, angina, heart failure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and C-reaction protein, were significantly associated with death (P ≤ 0.05), whereas the PRS of body mass index displayed moderate association (P < 0.1). Elastic-net Cox regression with 5-fold cross-validation was used to integrate these nine PRS models into a meta score, metaPRS, which performed well in stratifying patients at different risks for death (P < 0.0001). Combining metaPRS with clinical risk factors further increased the discerning power and a 4% increase in sensitivity. The metaPRS generated from the genetic susceptibility to CAD and its risk factors can well stratify CAD patients by their risks of death. Integrating metaPRS and clinical risk factors may contribute to identifying patients at higher risk of poor prognosis.

Guideline-directed low-density lipoprotein cholesterol management following acute ischemic stroke: findings from Clalit health services

Abstract Background Patients with ischemic stroke are at high risk for future cardiovascular events and should be treated intensively with lipid-modifying agents. Combination lipid-lowering therapies are often needed to achieve updated (2019) guideline-directed treatment goals. However, real-world data on intensification of lipid-lowering therapies and attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets after ischemic stroke are limited. Methods Data from a single national health care service on patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke between Jan. 2020 and Feb. 2022. Included were 3027 patients surviving ≥1-year post-stroke, with documented LDL-C levels and lipid-lowering medications at 2 timepoints (&amp;lt;3 months and during 6-12 months post-discharge). Participants were classified according to preexisting stroke and/or coronary artery disease (CAD). Results LDL-C levels &amp;lt;70 mg/dL and &amp;lt;55 mg/dL were attained by 42.3% and 22.9% of patients early post-hospitalization, and in 49.5% and 27.1% during 6-12 months post-hospitalization, respectively. Attainment of guideline-recommended LDL-C goals was higher in those with preexisting cardiovascular disease. The use of combination lipid-lowering therapy (ezetimibe and/or PCSK9 inhibitor plus statin) increased between the 2 timepoints: from 2% to 3.2% in those without prior stroke and/or CAD, and from 5.4% to 7% in those with prior stroke and/or CAD. Conclusions Despite the advances in drug development and the availability of several mechanisms to lower cholesterol levels, the attainment of guideline-recommended LDL-C targets after acute ischemic stroke is suboptimal. Intensification of treatment with combination lipid-lowering therapies 6-12 months following hospitalization is uncommonly performed in clinical practice, even in those with preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Ticagrelor or clopidogrel in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for myocardial infarction

Abstract Background Contemporary guidelines recommend clopidogrel as the P2Y12 receptor inhibitor of choice in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with acute coronary syndrome and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who require concomitant oral anticoagulation (OAC). Conversely, the use of ticagrelor or prasugrel in these settings is discouraged. Purpose To examine the efficacy and safety of more potent P2Y12 inhibitors (ticagrelor or prasugrel) versus clopidogrel in patients with AF on OAC undergoing PCI for myocardial infarction. Methods We conducted a Danish, nationwide, registry-based cohort study of patients on an OAC for presumed AF who underwent PCI for myocardial infarction from 2011 through 2019. Only individuals discharged on a P2Y12 inhibitor and an OAC were included, while those receiving a P2Y12 inhibitor prior to hospitalization were excluded. The primary efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as a composite of death from any cause, recurrent myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, or stroke, while the primary safety outcome was bleeding requiring hospitalization. Death from any cause was the main secondary outcome. Absolute and relative risks for outcomes at 1 year were calculated through multivariable logistic regression with average treatment effect modeling. Efficacy outcomes were standardized for the CHA2DS2-VASc score and aspirin use while bleeding outcomes were standardized for the HAS-BLED score and proton-pump inhibitor use. Results A total of 2259 patients were included of whom 1918 (84.9%) were discharged on clopidogrel and 341 (15.1%) on ticagrelor or prasugrel (the latter two were merged into one group because only 38 persons were discharged on prasugrel). Individuals who received the more potent P2Y12 inhibitors were younger (median age 70 vs. 74 years), more often men (76.0% vs. 70.8%), and less often had prior coronary artery disease (5.6% vs. 9.6%) than those who received clopidogrel. The standardized risk of major adverse cardiovascular events was significantly lower in patients discharged on ticagrelor or prasugrel compared with clopidogrel (standardized absolute risk, 15.8% vs. 19.6%; relative risk, 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68 to 0.93; P=0.003), while the risk of bleeding did not differ (standardized absolute risk, 5.2% vs. 5.2%; relative risk, 1.00, 95% confidence interval, 0.69 to 1.32; P=0.99) (Figure). The risk of death was significantly lower in the group of patients who were prescribed ticagrelor or prasugrel compared with clopidogrel (P&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusions In patients with AF on OAC who had undergone PCI for myocardial infarction, discharge on ticagrelor or prasugrel versus clopidogrel was associated with reduced ischemic risk, but not an increased bleeding risk. While these findings appear to support an individualized choice of P2Y12 inhibitor in this population, they should be interpreted with caution given the observational nature of the study.Figure

Standard modifiable risk factors and mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: findings from the FRENCHIE cohort

Abstract Background Improvements in the treatment of the 4 main standard modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (SMuRFs), hypertension (HTN), diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking, have led to better survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recent large observational studies have reported that an increasing and sizable proportion of AMI patients have no SMuRF, and these SMURFless patients have (counterintuitively) worse outcomes than patients with at least one SMuRF. Purpose Using a French nationwide MI registry, we aimed to describe the proportion, characteristics and in-hospital mortality of ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) patients according to the burden of SMuRFs. Methods The French Cohort of Myocardial Infarction Evaluation (FRENCHIE) is a large ongoing MI cohort, which collects data from all patients hospitalized for AMI &amp;lt; 48 h of symptom onset in 21 french centres. For the present analysis, patients with STEMI and without prior coronary artery disease (CAD) admitted in 2019 and 2020 were studied. SMuRFless patients were compared to patients with 1 SMuRF or ≥2 SMuRFs. Results Among 4692 STEMI patients, 986(21%) were SMuRFless, 2001(43%) had 1 SMuRF, and 1705(36%) had ≥2 SMuRFs . Among patients with SMuRFs, smoking (51.8%) and HTN (51.1%) were the most frequent SMuRF and HTN+hypercholesterolemia (10.3%) and HTN+smoking (8.3%) the most frequent SMuRFs associations. When compared with patients with 1 or ≥ 2 SMuRFs, SMuRFless patients were characterized by older age (64.1 vs 60.2 and 62.8 y, respectively), but lower rate of female sex (21.7 vs 22.2 and 26.2%, respectively), LVEF&amp;lt;40% (24.5 vs 26.7 and 26.2%), and lower admission CRP (14.8±38.3 vs 15.3±38.7 and 17.3±40.1 mg/L, respectively). There was a slight increase in BMI with increasing SMURFs (0 SMURF : 26±3.9 ; 1 SMuRF : 26.3±4.5 ; ≥2 SMuRFs : 28.0±5 kg/m²). As expected, SMuRFless patients were less frequently under chronic CV medications (7.9 vs 23.5 and 57.7%, respectively). However, acute STEMI medications were similar across the 3 groups. Crude in-hospital mortality showed a trend toward an increase with the number of SMuRFs (p = 0.123). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the number of SMURFs was associated with increasing in-hospital mortality (Figure). In stratified analyses, the odds were similar for both sexes. Conclusion In French patients with an inaugural STEMI, one in 5 patient was SMURFless. The burden of risk factors was independently correlated to worse in-hospital survival. These observations emphasize the importance of standard RF on acute MI outcomes.SMuRF and in-hospital death(forest plot)

Abstract 14724: Health Status and Long-Term Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients Without Standard Modifiable Risk Factors

Background: Prior studies examining patients who experienced acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as their initial presentation of coronary disease have shown that those without Standard Modifiable Risk Factors (SMuRF; diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and smoking) had worse in-hospital but better long-term survival than those with SMuRFs. However, the health status outcomes, patients’ symptoms, function, and quality of life among those without SMuRF are unknown. Research questions: Are there differences in long-term health status and mortality between patients who survived hospitalization following AMI with and without SMuRFs? Methods: We analyzed data from two prospective registries, PREMIER and TRIUMPH, comprising patients hospitalized to 31 US hospitals with AMI between 2003-2008. We compared the clinical characteristics, 1-year health status (with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ]), and 5-year all-cause mortality between patients with and without SMuRFs. Patients with prior coronary artery disease were excluded. We used hierarchical linear mixed models for health status outcomes and Cox-proportional hazard models for mortality, adjusted for clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, including baseline SAQ scores. Results: Among 4076 patients with AMI (mean age 58.4±12.4 years, 34% female, 22% Black), 569 (13.9%) presented without SMuRFs. Despite similar mean age, patients without SMuRFs were more likely to be male, Non-Hispanic White, have higher income and education, fewer depressive symptoms, and higher SAQ Summary Scores at baseline (83.5±13.2 vs. 79.6±16.5). At 1-year follow-up, patients without SMuRFs had higher SAQ Summary Scores (93.9±10.1 vs. 89.9±14.7), although the difference between groups was attenuated after adjustment (1.69 points, 95% CI 0.40-1.97). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in all-cause mortality over 5 years between groups (adjusted HR= 0.83, 95% CI: 0.59-1.16). Notably, besides sex or race category, a higher incomes and better depression status were negative independent predictors for health status and clinical outcomes. Conclusions: AMI survivors, both with and without SMuRFs, had comparable long-term health status and survival after rigorous adjustment.

CT attenuation correction improves quantitative risk prediction by cardiac SPECT in obese patients.

This study aimed to compare the predictive value of CT attenuation-corrected stress total perfusion deficit (AC-sTPD) and non-corrected stress TPD (NC-sTPD) for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in obese patients undergoing cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). The study included 4,585 patients who underwent CZT SPECT/CT MPI for clinical indications (chest pain: 56%, shortness of breath: 13%, other: 32%) at Yale New Haven Hospital (age: 64 ± 12years, 45% female, body mass index [BMI]: 30.0 ± 6.3kg/m2, prior coronary artery disease: 18%). The association between AC-sTPD or NC-sTPD and MACE defined as the composite end point of mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction or late coronary revascularization (> 90days after SPECT) was evaluated with survival analysis. During a median follow-up of 25months, 453 patients (10%) experienced MACE. In patients with BMI ≥ 35kg/m2 (n = 931), those with AC-sTPD ≥ 3% had worse MACE-free survival than those with AC-sTPD < 3% (HR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.40 - 3.55, p = 0.002) with no difference in MACE-free survival between patients with NC-sTPD ≥ 3% and NC-sTPD < 3% (HR:1.06, 95% CI:0.67 - 1.68, p = 0.78). AC-sTPD had higher AUC than NC-sTPD for the detection of 2-year MACE in patients with BMI ≥ 35kg/m2 (0.631 versus 0.541, p = 0.01). In the overall cohort AC-sTPD had a higher ROC area under the curve (AUC, 0.641) than NC-sTPD (0.608; P = 0.01) for detection of 2-yearMACE. In patients with BMI ≥ 35kg/m2 AC sTPD provided significant incremental prognostic value beyond NC sTPD (net reclassification index: 0.14 [95% CI: 0.20 - 0.28]). AC sTPD outperformed NC sTPD in predicting MACE in patients undergoing SPECT MPI with BMI ≥ 35kg/m2. These findings highlight the superior prognostic value of AC-sTPD in this patient population and underscore the importance of CT attenuation correction.

Prevalence, clinical profile, and risk factors of peripheral artery disease in an Iraqi cohort of chronic kidney disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and a lower quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD, clinical profile, and related risk factors among patients with CKD in Iraq (a low-to middle-income country). A cross sectional study comprised 175 CKD patients, of them 60% were male, their mean age was 56 ± 12.5 years, attending Nephrology unit, Hawler Teaching Hospital, Erbil, Iraq between march 2022 and November 2022. Data on demographic and baseline characteristics were collected. Laboratory tests were performed. All participants underwent a detailed history and clinical examination. Vascular lesions in the lower limbs were assessed using the ankle-brachial index. PAD was diagnosed based on an ankle-brachial index value ˂ 0.9, relevant symptoms, and clinical findings. Forty-nine patients (28%) had PAD, and only 17 (34.7%) were symptomatic. PAD was significantly associated with older age (P = .008), male sex (P = .039), diabetes (P = .012), and hypertension (P = .023). In addition, PAD prevalence was significantly higher in patients with prior coronary artery disease (P < .001), advanced CKD stages (P .032), low estimated glomerular filtration rate (P .03), albuminuria (P .002), elevated glycated hemoglobin (P .04), and high sensitive C-reactive protein (P < .001). No significant association was detected between PAD and body mass index, smoking, CKD duration, cerebrovascular disease, dyslipidemia, albumin, creatinine, hemoglobin, total PTH, and phosphate. Peripheral artery disease was prevalent in patients with CKD in Iraq, and the most affected patients were asymptomatic. Older age, male sex, hypertension, diabetes, prior coronary artery disease, advanced CKD stages, albuminuria, higher glycated hemoglobin level, and increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level were identified as risk factors. Early detection of occult PAD might enhance efforts toward proper prevention and treatment.

Impact of Positron Emission Tomographic Myocardial Perfusion Imaging on Patient Selection for Revascularization

BackgroundPositron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) quantifies left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at peak stress. PET LVEF reserve (LVEF-R = stress LVEF − rest LVEF) offers diagnostic and prognostic value. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine if PET LVEF-R identifies patients with survival benefit postrevascularization. MethodsWe followed 14,649 unique consecutive patients undergoing 82Rb rest/stress PET MPI from January 2010 to January 2016 (excluding known cardiomyopathy). Adjusted Cox models were built to predict all-cause death, and the 3-way interaction of known coronary artery disease (CAD) (prior myocardial infarction/revascularization), LVEF-R, and 90-day revascularization was tested. ResultsKnown CAD was present in 4,982 (34.0%). Ischemia was detected in 5,396 (36.8%; ≥10% in 1,909 [13%]). Mean LVEF-R was 4.2% ± 5.7%, and was ≤0, 1 to 5, and >5 in 3,349 (22.9%), 5,266 (35.9%), and 6,034 (41.2%). Over median follow-up of 3.4 years (IQR: 1.9-5.2 years), 1,324 (8.1%) had 90-day revascularization, and there were 2,192 (15.0%) deaths. In multivariable modeling, there was a significant 3-way interaction among known CAD, LVEF-R, and 90-day revascularization (P = 0.025), such that LVEF-R ≤0 identified patients with survival benefit with 90-day revascularization in those without prior CAD (interaction P = 0.005), independently beyond percent ischemia and myocardial flow reserve. Among patients with known CAD, LVEF-R was not prognostic of death (HR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98-1.02; P = 0.98). ConclusionsA lack of augmentation or drop in LVEF with vasodilator stress on PET MPI independently identifies patients who have better survival with revascularization within 90 days post-MPI compared with medical therapy, in absence of prior myocardial infarction or revascularization. Multiparametric assessment of ischemia with PET can optimize post-test management.

Medical follow-up and long-term survival of patients with cerebrovascular accident: data from the REGION-M registry

Aim. To assess the survival rate of patients after cerebrovascular accident (CVA), depending on the visits to the local outpatient clinic and the type of medical supervision, and in the first year after hospital discharge.Material and methods. The outpatient part of the REGION-M registry included 684 patients assigned to the City Polyclinic № 64 of Moscow, discharged from the F. I. Inozemtsev City Clinical Hospital (Moscow) in the period from January 1, 2012 to April 30, 2017 with a confirmed diagnosis of cerebral stroke/transient ischemic attack.Results. During the first year after the CVA, 451 (65,9%) patients visited the local clinic on their own (group 1), while 166 (24,3%) patients was consulted by house call (group 2), and 67 (9,8%) did not see the physician (group 3). Patients visited by house call were more likely to have prior coronary artery disease and stroke, and the age of men was older than in other groups. Patients who did not see a doctor were less likely to have comorbidities and disabilities, and were less likely to visit the clinic before stroke. The mortality of patients in group 3 was significantly higher throughout the entire follow-up period (55,2%, 70,1% and 77,6% at stages 1, 2 and 3 (p&lt;0,001), respectively) than in group 2 (31,2%, 55,4% (p&lt;0,001)) and group 1 (23,7%, 37,0% and 54,3% (p&lt;0,001)). Mortality of patients in group 1 was lower than group 2 (p&lt;0,05-0,01). The relative risk of death in clinic visitors was 0,450 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0,333-0,608, p&lt;0,0001), while in those visited by a doctor at home — 0,668 (95% CI, 0,482-0,927, p&lt;0,05). In multivariate analysis and adjustment for sex and age (relative risk (RR) of death, 0,08 (95% CI, 0,048-0,133), p&lt;0,0001 and 1,036 (95% CI, 1,031-1,042), p&lt;0,001, respectively), the independent contribution of the factor of clinic visits was preserved. Thus, the RR of death in visitors was 0,996 (95% CI, 0,994-0,999), p&lt;0,001 and 0,998 (95% CI, 0,995-1,0), p&lt;0,05.Conclusion. The lower mortality among those visited the local clinic in the first year after CVA and among those who were visited by a doctor at home, compared with patients who were not observed, confirms the important role of medical supervision in the post-hospital period.

Factors Associated with Discharge against Medical Advice among Acute Stroke Patients: Analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample

Introduction: Patients discharged against medical advice have been shown to have worse outcomes across a host of different conditions. However, risk factors related to increased odds of discharge against medical advice remain understudied in patients who suffer from acute cerebral infarction. Methods: We retrospectively examined the 2019 National Emergency Department Sample Database for stroke patients. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations between patient- and hospital-level factors and the outcome of discharge against medical advice. Results: Of the 603,623 encounters for acute ischemic stroke, 8,858 (1.5%) were discharged against medical advice. Predictors of discharge against medical advice were lower income quartile and having either Medicaid insurance (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10–1.58) or being uninsured (OR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03–1.58). Vascular comorbidities associated with discharge against medical advice included prior tobacco use (OR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.45–1.78) and coronary artery disease (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04–1.35). Treatment with thrombectomy (OR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.78) or systemic thrombolysis (OR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.23–0.66) was inversely associated with discharge against medical advice. A high modified Charlson comorbidity index (3+ vs. 0, OR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.42–0.56) was also associated with a lower odds of discharge against medical advice. Presenting to a Northeastern hospital had the highest rate of discharge against medical advice, when compared to other regions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Certain patient-level, socioeconomic, and regional factors were associated with discharge against medical advice following acute stroke. These patient- and systems-level factors warrant heightened attention in order to optimize acute care and secondary prevention strategies.

The diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio and perfusion imaging in patients with prior coronary artery disease.

In chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD), ischaemia detection by myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and an invasive approach are viable diagnostic strategies. We compared the diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with prior CAD [previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and/or myocardial infarction (MI)]. This PACIFIC-2 sub-study evaluated 189 CCS patients with prior CAD for inclusion. Patients underwent SPECT, PET, and CMR followed by invasive coronary angiography with fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements of all major coronary arteries (N = 567), except for vessels with a sub-total or chronic total occlusion. Quantitative flow ratio computation was attempted in 488 (86%) vessels with measured FFR available (FFR ≤0.80 defined haemodynamically significant CAD). Quantitative flow ratio analysis was successful in 334 (68%) vessels among 166 patients and demonstrated a higher accuracy (84%) and sensitivity (72%) compared with SPECT (66%, P < 0.001 and 46%, P = 0.001), PET (65%, P < 0.001 and 58%, P = 0.032), and CMR (72%, P < 0.001 and 33%, P < 0.001). The specificity of QFR (87%) was similar to that of CMR (83%, P = 0.123) but higher than that of SPECT (71%, P < 0.001) and PET (67%, P < 0.001). Lastly, QFR exhibited a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.89) than SPECT (0.57, P < 0.001), PET (0.66, P < 0.001), and CMR (0.60, P < 0.001). QFR correlated better with FFR in patients with prior CAD than MPI, as reflected in the higher diagnostic performance measures for detecting FFR-defined, vessel-specific, significant CAD.

Effects of vitamins K2 and D3 supplementation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionCoronary artery calcification (CAC) and especially progression in CAC is a strong predictor of acute myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality. Supplementation with vitamin K2 and D3 has been suggested to...

Circulating miR-183-5p levels are positively associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.

Serum miR-183-5p levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis, while less is known about the relationship between circulating miR-183-5p levels and stable coronary artery disease (CAD). In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients with chest pain who underwent coronary angiograms from January 2022 to March 2022 at our center were enrolled. Those presenting acute coronary syndrome or had a prior CAD were excluded. Clinical presentations, laboratory parameters, and angiographic findings were collected. Serum miR-183-5p levels were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. CAD severity was displayed as the number of diseased vessels and further evaluated by the Gensini score system. Overall, 135 patients (median age, 62.0 years; male, 52.6%) were included in the present study. Stable CAD was identified in 85.2% of the study population, with 45.9% having 1-vessel disease, 21.5% having 2-vessel disease, and 17.8% having 3-vessel or left main disease. Serum miR-183-5p levels were significantly increased in CAD patients with different severities than non-CAD patients (all adjusted p < 0.05). Serum miR-183-5p levels increased as tertiles of the Gensini score progressed (all adjusted p < 0.05). Importantly, serum miR-183-5p levels could predict the presence of CAD and 3-vessel or left main disease in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (both p < 0.01), and also in multivariate analysis adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypersensitive-C-reactive protein (both p < 0.05). Serum miR-183-5p levels are independently and positively correlated with CAD presence and severity.

Medicare Patients with Symptomatic Carotid Disease Requiring Carotid Revascularization Are Likely to Have Delayed Access: An Analysis of a Multicenter Surgical Data

The Society for Vascular Surgery clinical practice guidelines for management of extracranial cerebrovascular disease recommends carotid revascularization as soon as the patient is neurologically stable after 48 hours and before 14 days of symptom onset in patients with recent stroke. In the United States, insurance status has been demonstrated to play a role in wait times for surgical care. There are no large-scale studies that assess the effect of patient primary insurance status on time to surgery in patients with symptomatic carotid disease. We utilized the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database to evaluate our hypothesis that insurance status is associated with waiting times before surgery in patients with symptomatic carotid disease. All patients who underwent carotid revascularization in the VQI dataset from 2010 to 2022 were included. Patients with incomplete or missing outcomes data, Modified Rankin score of >2 and asymptomatic were excluded. Primary outcome was time between onset of symptomatic carotid disease and intervention. Categorical variables were compared using χ2 test and one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between insurance status and waiting time to surgery while adjusting for potential confounders. The study consisted of 11,973 patients who had carotid revascularization within 14 days of symptoms (early cohort) and 21,253 patients in the late cohort (after 14 days). Patients in the late cohort were older (70.1 ± 9.8 vs 69.8 ± 10.5; P = .02), less likely to undergo carotid endarterectomy (85.9% vs 88.4%; P < .01), and more likely to have an elective procedure (90.3% vs 44.3%; P < .01). Fig 1 shows the distribution of insurance coverage among the study cohort. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared to Medicare, recipients of other insurer types had lower odds of experiencing delayed surgery: Medicare Advantage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.99; P = .03), commercial (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78-0.90; P < .001), military/Department of Veterans Affairs (aOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.84; P < .001), and self-pay (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.45-0.65; P < .001). Medicaid patients had similar delay (aOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.78-1.03; P = .14) and non-US insurance had longer delay to surgery (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.13-1.95; P = .005), in comparison to Medicare patients (Fig 2). Symptomatic carotid patients on Medicare and Medicaid are more likely to receive delayed revascularization procedures compared to patient with commercial insurance. Future studies are needed to investigate and potentially mitigate the underlying causes for the delay and the overall health implications of such a delay on the long-term outcomes of these patients.Fig 2Adjusted odds of receiving late carotid revascularization in symptomatic patients requiring surgery: comparing other major insurance providers with Medicare. *Model adjusted for urgency of procedure, prior coronary artery disease, prior carotid endarterectomy/coronary artery stenting, preoperative beta-blocker use, prior congestive heart failure, type of procedure (carotid endarterectomy, transcarotid artery revascularization, transfemoral carotid artery stenting), age, race, body mass index, preoperative creatinine levels, preoperative hemoglobin concentration, preoperative dysrhythmia, previous major amputation, preoperative functional status, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and degree of stenosis.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Long-Term Outcomes of Early Coronary Artery Disease Testing After New-Onset Heart Failure.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) testing remains underutilized in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure (HF). The longitudinal clinical impact of early CAD testing has not been well-characterized. We investigated changes in clinical management and long-term outcomes after early CAD evaluation in patients with incident HF. We identified Medicare patients with incident HF from 2006 to 2018. The exposure variable was early CAD testing within 1 month of initial HF diagnosis. Covariate-adjusted rates of cardiovascular interventions after testing, including CAD-related management, were modeled using mixed-effects regression with clinician as a random intercept. We assessed mortality and hospitalization outcomes using landmark analyses with inverse probability-weighted Cox proportional hazards models. Falsification end points and mediation analysis were employed for bias assessment. Among 309 559 patients with new-onset HF without prior CAD, 15.7% underwent early CAD testing. Patients who underwent prompt CAD evaluation had higher adjusted rates of subsequent antiplatelet/statin prescriptions and revascularization, guideline-directed therapy for HF, and stroke prophylaxis for atrial fibrillation/flutter than controls. In weighted Cox models, 1-month CAD testing was associated with significantly reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.91-0.96]). Mediation analyses indicated that ≈70% of this association was explained by CAD management, largely from new statin prescriptions. Falsification end points (outpatient diagnoses of urinary tract infection and hospitalizations for hip/vertebral fracture) were nonsignificant. Early CAD testing after incident HF was associated with a modest mortality benefit, driven mostly by subsequent statin therapy. Further investigation on clinician barriers to testing and treating high-risk patients may improve adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular interventions.

Comparative effectiveness of exercise electrocardiography versus exercise echocardiography in women presenting with suspected coronary artery disease: a randomized study.

There is a paucity of randomized diagnostic studies in women with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). This study sought to assess the relative value of exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) compared with exercise electrocardiography (Ex-ECG) in women with CAD. Accordingly, 416 women with no prior CAD and intermediate probability of CAD (mean pre-test probability 41%), were randomized to undergo either Ex-ECG or ESE. The primary endpoints were the positive predictive value (PPV) for the detection of significant CAD and downstream resource utilization. The PPV of ESE and Ex-ECG were 33% and 30% (P = 0.87), respectively for the detection of CAD. There were similar clinic visits (36 vs. 29, P = 0.44) and emergency visits with chest pain (28 vs. 25, P = 0.55) in the Ex-ECG and ESE arms, respectively. At 2.9 years, cardiac events were 6 Ex-ECG vs. 3 ESE, P = 0.31. Although initial diagnosis costs were higher for ESE, more women underwent further CAD testing in the Ex-ECG arm compared to the ESE arm (37 vs. 17, P = 0.003). Overall, there was higher downstream resource utilization (hospital attendances and investigations) in the Ex-ECG arm (P = 0.002). Using National Health Service tariffs 2020/21 (British pounds) the cumulative diagnostic costs were 7.4% lower for Ex-ECG compared with ESE, but this finding is sensitive to the cost differential between ESE and Ex-ECG. In intermediate-risk women who are able to exercise, Ex-ECG had similar efficacy to an ESE strategy, with higher resource utilization whilst providing cost savings.

Liraglutide treatment is associated with progression of coronary artery fibrous plaque: a prospective 1-year follow-up study in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the association between clinically indicated liraglutide treatment and coronary artery plaque progression during 1-year follow-up in asymptomatic diabetes.MethodsPatients were divided into a group receiving liraglutide (Lira+) and a group not receiving liraglutide (Lira-). Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) was performed to assess total atheroma volume (TAV) and subtypes of plaque volumes (dense calcium, fibrous, fibrous-fatty, and necrotic core plaque) and the plaque progression during one year follow-up.ResultsFifty-five patients (27%) receiving liraglutide and 149 (73%) how did not were included. Changes in TAV during 1-year of follow-up were similar in the two groups (38 ± 180 (Lira+) vs. -1 ± 160 mm3 (Lira-), P = 0.13). A greater increase in fibrous plaque volume was seen in the Lira + vs. the Lira- group (34 ± 129 vs. -2 ± 101 mm3, P = 0.04). Changes over 1-year in the other plaque subtypes were similar in the two groups. Treatment duration of liraglutide was not associated with changes in TAV.ConclusionIn patients with T2D without known prior coronary artery disease, liraglutide treatment was associated with a significant increase in coronary artery fibrous plaque volume during 1-year follow-up.

Outcomes of ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction without Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors - Newer Insights from a Prospective Registry in India.

Patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs; dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking) are reported to have a worse clinical outcome compared to those with SMuRFs. However, robust prospective data and low-and middle-income country perspective are lacking. We aimed to study the patients with first STEMI and assess the influence of SMuRFs on clinical outcomes by comparing the patients with and without SMuRFs. We included all consecutive STEMI patients without prior coronary artery disease enrolled in the Madras Medical College STEMI Registry from September 2018 to October 2019. We collected baseline clinical characteristics, revascularisation strategies and clinical outcome. We analysed suboptimal self-reported sleep duration as a 5th extended SMuRF (eSMuRF). Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital complications and one-year all-cause mortality. Among 2,379 patients, 605 patients (25.4%) were SMuRF-less. More women were SMuRF-less than men (27.1% vs 22.1%; P = 0.012). SMuRF-less patients were older (57.44 ± 13.95 vs 55.68 ± 11.74; P < 0.001), more often former tobacco users (10.4% vs 5.0%; P < 0.001), with more anterior wall MI (62.6% vs 52.1%; P = 0.032). The primary outcome [in-hospital mortality (10.7% vs 11.3%; P = 0.72)] and secondary outcomes [in-hospital complications (29.1% vs 31.7%; P = 0.23) and one-year all-cause mortality (22.3% vs 22.7%; P = 0.85)] were similar in both groups. Addition of suboptimal self-reported sleep duration as a 5th eSMuRF yielded similar results. 25% of first STEMI patients were SMuRF-less. Clinical outcomes of patients without SMuRFs were similar to those with SMuRFs. Suboptimal sleep duration did not account for the risk associated with the SMuRF-less status.