Recurrent Myocardial Infarction Research Articles

Trends in major cardiac events after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from 2003 to 2017: the western Denmark heart registry

Abstract Background In Denmark, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been the national reperfusion strategy since 2003. We recently reported a gradual decline in 1-year mortality in patients treated with pPCI-treated STEMI from 2003 to 2017. To elucidate potential causes of this observation, we examined temporal trends in the 1-year risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Purpose To examine trends in 1-year risks of MACE following STEMI treated with pPCI from 2003 to 2017. Methods Using the Western Denmark Heart Registry, we identified STEMI patients undergoing first-time pPCI from 2003 to 2017 and divided the patients into four time periods. The main outcome was 1-year risk of MACE, defined as recurrent myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, or cardiovascular death. Cause-specific adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were used to assess temporal trends using the first period (2003-2006) as reference. Further, temporal trends were compared to an age-, sex-, and calendar-year matched general population. Results From 2003 to 2017, 18,540 pPCI-treated STEMI patients were identified (median [Q1-Q3] age, 64 [55-74] years); 13,639 men [74%]). Trends in 1-year risk of MACE showed a gradual reduction over time from 13.0% in 2003-2006, 11.8% in 2007-2010, 9.7% in 2011-2014, to 8.7% in 2015-2017 (Figure). The adjusted relative risk reduction was 33% when comparing 2015-2017 with 2003-2006 (adjusted HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.58-0.76). Comparable relative risk reductions were observed for all three individual components of MACE of 33-35%. Compared to the matched general population, the 1-year risk difference in MACE decreased from 11% in 2003-2006 to 7% in 2015-2017. Conclusions In a high-income European country with a fully implemented pPCI strategy, 1-year risk of MACE declined by approximately one-third after first-time STEMI between 2003 to 2017. This MACE reduction was substantially larger than observed in the matched general population, i.e., confirming an important reduction in the excess risk associated with STEMI.

Prognostic implications of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in patients with Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract Background Limited data exist regarding prognostic implications of N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives The current study sought to evaluate the prognostic implications of NT-proBNP in patients with NSTEMI who underwent PCI. Methods Among a total of 13,104 patients from a nationwide, multicenter, and prospective registry of the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health (KAMIR-NIH), a total of 3,083 patients with NSTEMI who underwent PCI were selected. The selected patients were classified according to the initial NT-proBNP value (cut-off value of NT-proBNP, 700 pg/ml). Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 3 years, a composite of all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), unplanned repeat revascularization, and admission for heart failure. Results Among the study population, 1,813 patients (58.8%) were in the low NT-proBNP group (<700 pg/ml) and 1,270 patients (41.2%) were in the high NT-proBNP group (≥700 pg/ml). The high NT-proBNP group showed significantly higher risk of MACE than the low NT-proBNP group (29.5% vs 12.3%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.07; P<0.001), mainly driven by higher risk of cardiac death or admission for heart failure (15.6% vs. 2.2%; adjusted HR, 2.98; 95% CI, 2.03-4.40; P<0.001). These results were consistent after confounder adjustment by propensity score matching (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.21-2.02; P=0.001) and inverse probability weighting analysis (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.19-2.00; P=0.001). Conclusion In patients with NSTEMI who underwent PCI, elevated initial NT-proBNP level was associated with higher risk of MACE at 3 years, mainly driven by the higher risk of cardiac death or admission for heart failure. The current results suggest that the initial NT-proBNP level may have a clinically significant prognostic value in NSTEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters in predicting major adverse cardiac events one year following st-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract Approximately 50% of patients who survive an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) experience irreversible damage to the heart muscle, which increases long-term risk of developing heart failure. Moreover, cardiovascular mortality constitutes half of all deaths. This research aimed to determine the best combination of patient data collected during a one-year follow-up period to enhance the accuracy of outcome predictions for patients with STEMI. Methods In this study, 246 patients who experienced STEMI and older than 18 were prospectively monitored. All participants received primary percutaneous coronary intervention treatment. The study's primary outcomes, observed over the year following hospital discharge, included cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, newly diagnosed heart failure, and arrhythmias or conduction issues. Of the patients, 18% of patients reached the primary outcomes. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was conducted 3-5 days after the initial event to assess left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography on the apical four-chamber, two-chamber, and long-axis views. Left ventricular mechanical dispersion was calculated as the standard deviation of the time from the Q/R wave onset to peak GLS across 17 segments of the left ventricle. Results The findings revealed that the overall GLS was -10.70 (-12.61 to -8.40), but in patients who met the study's primary outcomes, GLS was significantly lower at -7.83 (-8.70 to -6.90), compared to -12.02 (-13.11 to -10.17) in those who did not, with a significant difference (p=0.00001). Mechanical dispersion was 40.24±26.56 in the entire cohort but significantly higher at 65.62±22.57 in the outcome group compared to 25.79±14.81 in the non-outcome group (p=0.00001). The ejection fraction averaged 48.97±7.69% across all patients, 47.22±7.16% in those with outcomes, and 49.92±7.84% in those without, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.039). Cox regression analysis identified key predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within one year after STEMI, including global longitudinal strain (p=0.0006), left atrium volume index (p=0.0448), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (p=0.045), and mechanical dispersion (p<0.0001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a combination of GLS, left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), mechanical dispersion, and ejection fraction could predict 1-year MACE with high accuracy (χ2 = 85.18; p<0.0001, AUC=0.961 [0.903-0.989]). In conclusion, this study identifies crucial metrics, such as global longitudinal strain, left ventricular end-systolic volume, mechanical dispersion, and ejection fraction, as predictive factors for MACE one year following STEMI. This predictive model is straightforward, reproducible, and can be easily implemented in cardiology practice.

Differences in risk profiles and clinical outcomes according to age in patients with high-risk myocardial infarction: insights from the PARADISE-MI trial

Abstract Introduction Temporal declines in rates of rehospitalization and death after acute myocardial infarction (MI) have not been uniform across age groups. A better understanding of how risk profiles and clinical outcomes differ after MI by age may allow for targeted treatment and prevention strategies. Aims To investigate risk profiles and clinical outcomes following high-risk MI according to age in the Prospective ARNI vs ACE inhibitor trial to DetermIne Superiority in reducing heart failure Events after Myocardial Infarction (PARADISE-MI). Methods Adults without prior heart failure (HF) were randomized to sacubitril/valsartan versus ramipril within 0.5 to 7 days of a MI complicated by transient pulmonary congestion and/or left ventricular systolic dysfunction and additional risk-augmenting factors. Associations between age and clinical outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models, which were additionally adjusted for baseline demographic and clinical covariates (Figure). Results The mean age of the 5,661 PARADISE-MI participants was 64 ± 11 years. Patients aged ≥75 years (n=1051) were more likely women, had more hypertension and atrial fibrillation and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, were less likely to present with ST-segment elevation MI and regardless of type of MI were less likely to receive primary reperfusion and guideline-based medical therapy (Table). Age was significantly associated with all-cause death (HR 1.54 per 10-year increase; 95% CI, 1.41-1.68) and was more strongly associated with non-CV death (HR 2.09; 95% CI, 1.70-2.56) than with CV death (HR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.29-1.57). Age was also associated with incident HF (HR 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25-1.49) (Figure). Multivariable adjustment attenuated the risk relationship of age with recurrent fatal or non-fatal MI (HR 1.08; 95% CI, 0.96-1.21) and the coronary composite outcome (HR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93-1.09). The relative treatment effect of sacubitril/valsartan versus ramipril on the primary composite outcome of CV death or incident HF was not significantly modified by age (p-interaction = 0.19). Conclusions Following high-risk MI, age was most strongly associated with subsequent non-CV death followed by CV death and incident HF, but was not independently associated with recurrent coronary events. The heightened risk of CV death and HF with advancing age was not explained by differences in clinical characteristics. Older patients may require closer surveillance and more aggressive treatment after MI to mitigate the elevated risk of CV death and HF.

The clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated with impaired activity daily living

Abstract Background Previous studies have indicated that activities of daily living (ADL) can influence the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study is to delineate the clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and prognosis of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who have impaired ADL. Methods The data for this study were derived from a Health and Medical Big Data Superplatform, comprising a retrospective cohort of patients admitted to and discharged from 72 secondary and tertiary hospitals from 2010 to 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed patients with a discharge diagnosis of STEMI.ADL prior to STEMI was evaluated using the Barthel index(BI),a widely used assessment tool for evaluating ADL.The patients' BI were obtained from their resident health records.Patients were categorized into two groups: ADL normal group and ADL impaired group. A comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups regarding clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and prognosis. Results This study included 24,906 STEMI patients with normal ADL and 1,002 STEMI patients with impaired ADL. Baseline data revealed that patients in the ADL impaired group had a higher proportion of females (43.0% vs. 37.8%, p=0.001), were older (74.0[64.0,81.0] vs. 69.0[65.0,75.0], p<0.001), and had a higher proportion of Killip III and above (24.30% vs. 14.10%, p<0.001). Additionally, the ADL impaired group had a higher prevalence of comorbidities. In terms of treatment, the ADL impaired group had lower proportions of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (43.8% vs. 65.3%, p<0.001) and primary PCI (PPCI) (36.4% vs. 55.1%, p<0.001). Additionally, the ADL impaired group exhibited lower utilization rates of antiplatelet drugs, ACEI/ARB, beta-blockers, ARNI, and statins, but higher rates of diuretics and cardiac glycosides. Regarding prognosis, the ADL impaired group had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (5.69% vs. 2.89%, p<0.001). The median follow-up time was 1,220 days. In the ADL impaired group, the rates of all-cause mortality (52.0% vs. 24.7%, p<0.001), cardiovascular mortality (37.3% vs. 17.3%, p<0.001), recurrent non-fatal myocardial infarction (11.1% vs. 8.30%, p=0.002), and recurrent stroke (11.9% vs. 8.66%, p=0.001) were higher. However, the rate of revascularization was lower in the ADL impaired group (6.69% vs. 9.20%, p=0.008), and the risk of cerebral hemorrhage showed no significant difference (1.00% vs. 0.81%, p=0.631). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, Killip, medical history, and treatment strategies, impaired ADL remained an independent risk factor for increased all-cause mortality (aHR 1.309, 95% CI: 1.195-1.434, p<0.001). Conclusions Impairment of ADL is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI.Baseline characteristics of patientsMedications of patients

The prognosis evaluation of guideline-directed medical therapy for type 2 acute myocardial infarction patients with acute respiratory failure

Abstract Backgrounds Type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) arises from an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand during acute illness such as tachyarrhythmia, hypoxia, or hypotension without acute atherothrombosis. The efficacy of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in T2MI complicated by acute respiratory failure remains uncertain. Purposes This study was aimed to assess the impact of GDMT (including dual antiplatelet therapy, statins and β-blockers) on the prognosis of patients with T2MI and acute respiratory failure. Methods The data for this study were derived from a retrospective cohort of patients admitted to and discharged from 72 secondary and tertiary hospitals between 2010 and 2023. Inclusion criteria included patients with a discharge diagnosis of T2MI and acute respiratory failure. GDMT was defined according to the ACC/AHA Class I recommendations. Patients were divided into GDMT and N-GDMT groups, with differences in clinical characteristics adjusted using propensity score matching (PSM). Primary outcome indicators were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), while secondary outcome indicators included in-hospital mortality, cardiac mortality, non-lethal myocardial infarction, recurrent ischemic stroke, bleeding events and revascularization. Results This study comprised 898 patients in the GDMT group and 3,777 in the N-GDMT group, resulting in 888 matched pairs after PSM. Baseline data showed that patients in the GDMT group had a higher burden of pre-existing comorbidities. In terms of treatment, the GDMT group had a higher proportion of patients undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) (4.84% vs. 1.80%, p= 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the GDMT group (12.4% vs. 26.4%, p< 0.001).Over amedian follow-up of 1,304 days, the incidence of MACCE within 1 month was significantly lower in the GDMT group (23.1% vs. 41.3%, p< 0.001). Furthermore, the GDMT group exhibited lower all-cause mortality (52.4% vs. 60.1%, p＜0.01) and cardiac mortality (41.3% vs. 50.3%, p< 0.001) compared to the N-GDMT group, with higher rates of revascularization (3.15% vs. 1.24%, p＜0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of bleeding BARC3 (0.45% vs. 0.45%, p=1), recurrent non-lethal myocardial infarction (0.23% vs. 0%, p =0.5) and recurrent stroke (1.46% vs. 0.79%, p =0.261). GDMT at discharge was associated with a lower risk of MACCE in unadjusted analysis (HR=0.51, 95%CI= 0.44-0.59, p＜0.01) and after adjusting for age, gender, Killip classification and comorbidities in multivariate Coxregression analysis (aHR = 0.49, 95%CI= 0.41-0.58). Conclusions Adherence to GDMT was associated with a lower incidence of MACCE during 1-month follow-up, suggesting the importance of GDMT in this patient population.Clinical characteristics of patients

Machine learning model using cardiovascular magnetic resonance to predict cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients with known CAD

Abstract Background Despite declining rates, recurrent cardiovascular events continue to pose significant mortality and morbidity risks in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Traditional prognostic assessments in these patients rely on limited clinical and imaging data. Although several studies have shown the strong prognostic value of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in asymptomatic patients with known CAD, no dedicated score using CMR was established. Machine learning (ML) methods present an opportunity to leverage a wider array of variables to address this gap. Purpose This study sought to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of ML using stress CMR and clinical data to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over a 10-year period in patients with known obstructive CAD, comparing its performance with traditional statistical methods. Methods Between 2009 and 2011, consecutive asymptomatic patients with known obstructive CAD referred for vasodilator stress CMR in two independent centres were followed for the occurrence of MACE defined by cardiovascular mortality or recurrent non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). Known obstructive CAD was defined by a history of percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass surgery, or MI. The first center (N=866) was designated as the derivation cohort for variable selection and model building. The second center (N=224) was used as the validation cohort to evaluate the performance of the final ML-model. Various feature selection methods (Random Forest [RF], XGBoost, and Boruta) were employed to identify robust and informative variables. A final RF model was trained on the derivation cohort and evaluated on the validation cohort. Performance was compared with a standard generalized logistic regression model (GLM), utilizing the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and the precision-recall (PR) curves as well as the area under the curves (AUC). Results In the derivation cohort (age 67±7 years, LVEF 43±8%, 81% male), 243 (28%) out of 866 patients encountered MACE during the 10-year follow-up period while in the validation cohort (age 67±7 years, LVEF 43±7%, 84% male), 53 (24%) out of 224 patients experienced MACE. Through feature selection method in the derivation cohort, one clinical and four CMR variables emerged as key predictors: number of ischemic segments, number of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) segments, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter indexed, and age (Figure 1). Using those 5 variables, the RF model significantly outperformed the GLM, demonstrating superior predictive accuracy (AUROC: 0.89 vs. 0.73; PRAUC: 0.78 vs. 0.58, all p<0.001) in the validation cohort (Figure 2). Conclusions A supervised machine learning model using RF, integrating age and stress-CMR data, outperformed traditional statistical methods in predicting 10-year MACE for asymptomatic patients with known CAD.Figure1:Variable selectionFigure2:Models performance on validatio

The clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated with impaired activity daily living

Abstract Background Impaired activities of daily living (ADL) have been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognosis of acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients with impaired ADL. Methods The data for this study were derived from a Health and Medical Big Data Superplatform, comprising a retrospective cohort of patients admitted to and discharged from 72 secondary and tertiary hospitals from 2010 to 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed patients with a discharge diagnosis of NSTEMI.ADL prior to NSTEMI was evaluated using the Barthel index(BI),a widely used assessment tool for evaluating ADL.The patients' BI were obtained from patients’ resident health records, and patients were categorized into two groups: ADL normal and ADL impaired group. A comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups regarding clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and prognosis. Results The study included 28,227 NSTEMI patients with normal ADL and 1,576 NSTEMI patients with impaired ADL. Baseline data revealed that the ADL impaired group had a higher proportion of females (49.4% vs. 43.2%, p < 0.001), older age (77.0 [69.0, 83.0] vs. 71.0 [66.0, 78.0], p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of patients with KILLIP III and above (25.86% vs. 17.44%, p < 0.001). Additionally, the ADL impaired group had a greater number of pre-existing comorbidities. Regarding treatment, the proportion of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was significantly lower in the ADL impaired group (16.5% vs. 65.3%, p < 0.001). Moreover, the ADL impaired group showed lower utilization rates of antiplatelet agents, ACEI/ARBs, beta-blockers, ARNI, statins, and nitrates, while the utilization rates of diuretics and cardiac glycosides were higher. In terms of prognosis, the ADL impaired group exhibited a higher in-hospital mortality rate (6.03% vs. 3.35%, p < 0.001). During a median follow-up period of 876 days, the ADL impaired group had significantly higher rates of all-cause mortality (61.2% vs. 35.9%, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (41.8% vs. 24.8%, p < 0.001), while the rate of revascularization (6.69% vs. 9.20%, p = 0.008) was lower. There were no significant differences in the risks of recurrent non-fatal myocardial infarction (10.7% vs. 10.8%, p = 0.935), recurrent stroke (10.90% vs. 9.48%, p = 0.08), and hemorrhagic stroke (0.82% vs. 0.74%, p = 0.806). Following adjustment for age, gender, KILLIP classification, medical history, and treatment strategies in a multivariable Cox regression analysis, impaired ADL remained an independent risk factor for increased all-cause mortality (aHR 1.167, 95%CI: 1.091-1.249, p < 0.001). Conclusions The decline in ADL is significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes among NSTEMI patients.Baseline characteristics of patientsMedications of patients

Prognostic impact of the extent of coronary artery disease in patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction undergoing complete percutaneous revascularization

Abstract Background The management of acute myocardial infarction has been revolutionised by the introduction of early coronary angiography and the reperfusion strategies. Recent studies support the standard of care of complete myocardial revascularization in all patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without assessing the prognostic role of the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). Purpose To evaluate whether the extent of CAD in patients with STEMI has a prognostic impact independent of complete myocardial revascularization. Methods Observational cohort study of 365 patients with STEMI who underwent complete revascularization. For each patient the extent of CAD has been quantified using Gensini Score (GS), which takes into account both the severity and location of the lesions. The primary endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality, while cardiovascular mortality and a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiovascular mortality, recurrent acute myocardial infarction or myocardial revascularization and stroke) were defined as secondary endpoints. To assess the prognostic role of GS in predicting all-cause mortality, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. The best cut-off was determined as the one that maximized Youden's index (sensitivity + specificity - 1). Results Patients with a GS >80, indicating extensive coronary disease, had significantly higher rates of both cardiovascular [4 (16.7%) vs. 12 (3.5%); p = 0.002] and all-cause mortality [5 (20.8%) vs. 24 (7%); p = 0.016], than those with a GS ≤80. A GS >80 was demonstrated to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio = 5; 95% confidence interval: 1.5-16.8; p = 0.01] Conclusions The Gensini Score can identify high-risk patients with STEMI who may benefit from more intensive therapies to improve prognosis, although current guidelines do not specify treatment based on the extent of coronary disease.Long-term outcomes according to GSPrognostic value of GS

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes and suspected plaque erosion

Abstract Background Plaque erosion (PE) is the second most common pathology of acute coronary events after plaque rupture. PE is characterized by endothelial denudation and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. Patients with PE may have a different prognosis as compared to those with plaque rupture. Specific clinical and laboratory predictors were validated to suspect PE among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Purpose The objectives of this study were to compare both clinical and laboratory findings, and outcomes of ACS patients with high probability of PE and those with less likely PE. Methods Six hundred ninety-six ACS patients were divided into two groups (suspected PE vs less likely PE) based on 5 reported predictors of PE. The predictors were: age <68, anterior ischemia, no diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin >15 g/dL and normal renal function (eGFR> 60 ml/min) as assessed at hospital admission. Patients with 4 or 5 of these 5 predictors were included in the suspected PE group, while patients with 0 or 1 entered less likely PE group. Baseline clinical features and laboratory analyses at hospital admission were compared between the two groups. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as death from any cause, non-fatal myocardial infarction or unplanned revascularization, were compared between the two groups at 20 months after hospital discharge. Results Among 696 patients, 283 (41%) composed the suspected PE group, while 413 (59%) entered into less likely PE group. The suspected PE group had a higher prevalence of current smokers and had a higher BMI. They showed higher values of both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were significantly lower. The suspected PE group showed a higher frequency of single vessel disease (Table). The suspected PE group showed a significantly lower rate of MACEs at 20 months (7.4% vs 28.8%, p=0.0001) as well as death from any cause was significantly lower (2.1% vs 24.9%, p=0.0001). The median time from the index ACS episode to recurrent myocardial infarction or unplanned coronary revascularization tended to be longer in the suspected PE group as compared to the less likely PE group (15 months [9-20] vs 9 months [6-13], p=0.062) (Figure). Conclusions In a cohort of ACS population, the suspected PE group showed distinctive clinical characteristics with less coronary plaque burden and low grade of systemic inflammation. The suspected PE group had a better prognosis at 20-month follow-up time with a significantly lower rate of death from any cause, and non-fatal coronary events tended to occur later.Table.Baseline characteristicsFigure.Non fatal coronary events

Platelet Reactivity with MACE in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Post-PCI under Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Meta-Analysis.

Aim/Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a condition characterized by acute cardiac ischemia, is among the major causes of death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, whether there is a correlation between platelet reactivity and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remains debatable, and whether platelet function tests should be tailored for ACS patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still under discussion. This study aims to investigate the relationship between platelet reactivity and the occurrence of MACE in ACS patients post-PCI and to discuss the implications of these findings. Methods Clinical studies on 'PCI, ACS, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), platelet reactivity, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)' up to 31 October 2023, were systematically collected from Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library. Twelve articles meeting predefined criteria were selected. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 (Cochrane, London, UK) and Stata 15.0 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA) to compute pooled effect sizes, assess heterogeneity, explore sources of heterogeneity, and evaluate publication bias. Results Twelve articles consisting of 9297 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that ACS patients with high platelet reactivity (HPR) who received PCI and used DAPT for 1-2 years had a greater risk of MACE (risk ratio (RR) = 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30-2.46) compared to those with low platelet reactivity. Moreover, greater platelet reactivity was associated independently with all-cause mortality (RR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.63-3.12), cardiac mortality (RR = 2.87, 95% CI: 2.16-3.8), myocardial infarction (RR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.53-2.5), in-stent restenosis (RR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.22-2.87), as well as stroke (RR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.02-2.57), but not with coronary revascularization events (RR = 0.99, p = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.80-1.24). On the other hand, meta-regression revealed that region (p = 0.99), type of ACS patient (p = 0.16), drug regimen (p = 0.48), testing method (p = 0.51), sampling time (p = 0.70), follow-up time (p = 0.45), and PCI protocol (p = 0.27) were not sources of heterogeneity in the study. Conclusion The meta-analysis outcomes indicate that in ACS patients receiving PCI and using dual antiplatelet therapy for 1-2 years, HPR was independently positively correlated with major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause (or cardiac) mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction, in-stent restenosis, and stroke. This suggests that platelet reactivity testing has clinical and translational significance in predicting patients' risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

Investigating the Impact of Microgravity on Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Disease Treatment

Cardiovascular disease is a widespread cause of physical disability, and while treatment options result in reduced mortality, they are still limited in their capabilities for cardiac repair. Since their discovery, the regenerative capacities of stem cells have been hypothesized to one day reverse countless diseases. Current stem cell research in cardiovascular disease has delineated the regenerative capabilities of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and cardiac stem cells, but has its limitations. Additionally, current therapies reduce mortality rates and the risk of recurrent myocardial infarctions and damage, but they do not address the apparently irreversible remodeling of myocardial tissue, which is linked to frequent hospitalizations and a diminished quality of life. As researchers continue to investigate the most efficacious growth mediums for stem cells, microgravity appears to be a supportive environment for stem cell growth. Thus, this review aims to catalogue existing research on microgravity’s differing effects on various stem cell lineages and what implications it may have on the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Cells grown under these conditions have increased expression of cardioprotective proteins and improved proliferative capacities but may have elevated tumorigenic potential and hypertrophic pathways. Additionally, the results of microgravity’s effects on stem cells are mixed. Nonetheless, microgravity’s impact on the cytoskeleton, overexpression of electrical contraction receptors, and increased proliferative and pluripotent effects make these cells promising avenues for potential improved clinical treatment options.

Combination of oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy does not change the 1-year prognosis compared to oral anticoagulant alone in stroke patients with atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combined antiplatelet and oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy versus OAC therapy alone on one-year post-stroke outcomes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and systemic atherosclerosis. A retrospective study was conducted using the recorded data of patients diagnosed with ischemic cerebrovascular disease between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023, at the Neurology Clinic, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University. Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and systemic atherosclerosis were included in the study. Collected data included demographic information, medical history. Patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment regimen used at discharge: those receiving OAC alone and those receiving a combination of OAC and antiplatelet therapy. Clinical outcomes were evaluated within one year following the stroke. A total of 671 stroke patients were screened, and 565 (84.2%) had ischemic stroke. Among these, 113 (20%) had NVAF, and 53 had both NVAF and systemic atherosclerosis. Data from these 53 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 71.81±11.90 years, with a female gender ratio of 52.8%. Logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups in terms of all-cause mortality, bleeding, recurrent stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke (p>0.05 for all comparisons). The combination of antiplatelet and OAC therapy did not demonstrate superiority over OAC therapy alone in reducing the risks of recurrent ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, and mortality in patients with NVAF and systemic atherosclerosis. These findings suggest that OAC therapy alone may provide sufficient protection in this patient population. Prospective studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these results.

Assessment of the Predictive Ability of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with In-Stent Restenosis after COVID-19.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an independent predictor of the severity of coronary heart disease and COVID-19. This study aims to assess the predictive ability of the NLR in patients with in-stent restenosis after COVID-19. a cross-sectional study included 931 patients who underwent repeated myocardial revascularization between May 2020 and May 2023. The 420 patients of the main group had in-stent restenosis, of which 162 patients had COVID-19 previously. The control group included 511 patients without stent restenosis (107 patients had COVID-19 previously). All reported events were verified by hospital electronic records from the Complex Medical Information System. The mean values of the NLR were 2.51 and 2.68 in the study groups, respectively. A statistically significant positive relationship in both groups was found between the NLR and troponin, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, creatinine, ALT, and AST. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between NLR and myocardial infarction (MI) in patients of both groups (p = 0.004; p < 0.001, respectively) and a negative relationship with the ejection fraction (p = 0.001; p < 0.036, respectively). An evaluation of the predictive ability of the clinical and laboratory predictors of recurrent myocardial infarction shows a high degree of utility of this model. The area under the ROC curve for AUC for NLR was 0.664 with 95% CI from 0.627 to 0.700 (p < 0.001). NLR is one of the significant factors for predicting the development of adverse outcomes in patients with revascularized myocardium after COVID-19.

Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Elderly Patients: A Narrative Review through Decisional Crossroads.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) pose particular challenges in elderly patients. When high troponin levels are detected, the distinction between non-ischemic myocardial injury (NIMI), type 1, and type 2 myocardial infarction (MI) is the necessary first step to guide further care. However, the assessment of signs of ischemia is hindered in older patients, and no simple clinical or laboratory tool proved useful in this discrimination task. Current evidence suggests a benefit of an invasive vs. conservative approach in terms of recurrence of MI, with no significant impact on mortality. In patients with multivessel disease in which the culprit lesion has been treated, a physiology-guided complete percutaneous revascularization significantly reduced major events. The management of ACS in elderly patients is an example of the actual need for a multimodal, thorough clinical approach, coupled with shared decision-making, in order to ensure the best treatment and avoid futility. Such a need will likely grow throughout the next decades, with the aging of the world population. In this narrative review, we address pivotal yet common questions arising in clinical practice while caring for elderly patients with ACS.

Impact of admission glucose and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events on patients with chest pain in an emergency setting: insights from the China EMPACT registry.

Although the association between admission glucose (AG) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) is well-documented, its relationship with 30-day MACE in patients presenting with cardiac chest pain remains unclarified. In light of this, this study aims to examine the correlation between AG levels and the incidence of MACE in patients with chest pain in an emergency setting. We consecutively enrolled patients who presented to the emergency department for chest pain symptoms within 24 h from the EMPACT cohort in Eastern China (clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT02536677). The primary outcome was 30-day MACE, including all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, urgent target vessel revascularization, stroke, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest (CA). The associations of AG levels with 30-day MACE were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models. Among 1,705 patients who were included in this study, 154 (9.03%) patients met the primary outcome at 30 days. The average age of the patients was 65.23 ± 12.66 years, with 1,028 (60.29%) being male and 500 (29.33%) having diabetes. The median AG levels were 7.60 mmol/L (interquartile range: 6.30-10.20). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significant differences in the 30-day MACE risk (P < 0.001 according to the log-rank test). We found that the highest AG level (Q4) was associated with increased MACE risk compared with the lowest AG level [adjusted hazard radio (aHR): 2.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-3.815; P = 0.010]. In addition, Q4 level was also associated with increased all-cause death risk (aHR: 3.825; 95% CI: 1.613-9.07; P = 0.002) and increased CA risk (aHR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.251-7.884; P = 0.015). An elevated AG level significantly correlates with a higher incidence of 30-day MACE in patients with acute chest pain. The findings reveal the importance of managing AG levels to potentially reduce the risk of adverse cardiac events.

Short- and long-term effects of beta-blockers on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a pre-specified quality of life sub-study from the REDUCE-AMI trial.

Among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the REDUCE-AMI trial did not demonstrate a benefit of beta-blocker vs. no beta-blocker treatment on all-cause mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction. The aim of this pre-specified sub-study was to investigate effects of beta-blockers on self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. In this parallel-group, open-label, registry-based randomized trial, assessments with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were obtained at hospitalization and two follow-up points (6-10 weeks and 12-14 months) after MI. Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle using linear mixed models, calculating both short- and long-term effects. From August 2018 through June 2022, 806 patients were enrolled. At baseline, 27% of patients were possible cases of anxiety (m, 5.6; SD, 3.9) and 14% were possible cases of depression (m, 3.9; SD, 3.2). Beta-blocker treatment had a negative effect on depressive symptoms at both follow-ups 1 (β = 0.48; 95% CI 09-0.86; P = 0.015) and 2 (β = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.01-0.81; P = 0.047), but no effect on anxiety. Beta-blocker treatment led to a modest increase in depressive symptoms among MI patients with preserved LVEF. This observed effect was most pronounced in individuals with prior beta-blocker treatment. In routine initiation and continuation of beta-blocker treatment, a risk of slightly increased depressive symptoms should be considered.

Prevention of Recurrent Myocardial Infarction in an Outpatient Setting

The aim was to study the medical and social characteristics of patients with repeated myocardial infarction (MI), features of the course of the disease, as well as the degree of contribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) to its development, in order to optimize secondary prevention measures at the primary health care level. Material and methods. Part of the study was carried out on the basis of a retrospective analysis of the outpatient records of all patients registered at the dispensary who had suffered primary MI and recurrent MI. Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental studies were carried out. Results. The study population had both non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors, among which the most common were low levels of physical activity, excess body weight, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The study also revealed gender differences in the prevalence of risk factors for coronary artery disease, which must be taken into account when conducting secondary prevention at the outpatient stage. Clear correlations were revealed between RF, clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic, and morphological, as well as functional parameters in patients with recurrent MI. The most significant correlations in patients with recurrent MI were between the number of complications and the degree of systolic cardiac dysfunction, as well as lipid metabolism disorders. Effective management of patients who have had an MI on an outpatient basis will reduce the risks of recurrent cardiovascular complications and will positively affect the long-term prognosis and clinical endpoints of MI.

Effect of Four Hemoglobin Transfusion Threshold Strategies in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Anemia : A Target Trial Emulation Using MINT Trial Data.

The optimal hemoglobin threshold to guide red blood cell (RBC) transfusion for patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and anemia is uncertain. To estimate the efficacy of 4 individual hemoglobin thresholds (<10 g/dL [<100 g/L], <9 g/dL [<90 g/L], <8 g/dL [<80 g/L], and <7 g/dL [<70 g/L]) to guide transfusion in patients with acute MI and anemia. Prespecified secondary analysis of the MINT (Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion) trial using target trial emulation methods. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02981407). 144 clinical sites in 6 countries. 3492 MINT trial participants with acute MI and a hemoglobin level below 10 g/dL. Four transfusion strategies to maintain patients' hemoglobin concentrations at or above thresholds of 10, 9, 8, or 7 g/dL. Protocol exceptions were permitted for specified adverse clinical events. Data from the MINT trial were leveraged to emulate 4 transfusion strategies and estimate per protocol effects on the composite outcome of 30-day death or recurrent MI (death/MI) and 30-day death using inverse probability weighting. The 30-day risk for death/MI was 14.8% (95% CI, 11.8% to 18.4%) for a <10-g/dL strategy, 15.1% (CI, 11.7% to 18.2%) for a <9-g/dL strategy, 15.9% (CI, 12.4% to 19.0%) for a <8-g/dL strategy, and 18.3% (CI, 14.6% to 22.0%) for a <7-g/dL strategy. Absolute risk differences and risk ratios relative to the <10-g/dL strategy for 30-day death/MI increased as thresholds decreased, although 95% CIs were wide. Findings were similar and imprecise for 30-day death. Unmeasured confounding may have persisted despite adjustment. The 30-day risks for death/MI and death among patients with acute MI and anemia seem to increase progressively with lower hemoglobin concentration thresholds for transfusion. However, the imprecision around estimates from this target trial analysis precludes definitive conclusions about individual hemoglobin thresholds. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Major vascular events after first incident stroke: a population-based study.

Recent advances in stroke care have led to improvements in survival and rates of stroke recurrence. However, there is a lack of data on trends of major vascular events, and risk factors associated with non-fatal and fatal outcomes. We aim to identify demographical and clinical factors leading to incidence of subsequent major vascular events after the first-ever stroke. 6051 patients' records with first-ever stroke between 1995 and 2018 in South London, UK were analysed. Semicompeting risks models were constructed to estimate factors affecting time to incidence of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), mortality and transitions from poststroke recurrence/MI to mortality (indirect mortality). Cumulative incidence functions were plotted for each major vascular event, stratified by stroke subtypes. All models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, stroke severity and stroke subtype. Five years of cumulative incidences were 9.2% (95% CI (8.4% to 10.0%)) for recurrent stroke, 4.4% (95% CI 3.9% to 5.0%) for MI, and 45% (95% CI 44% to 47%) for mortality. Prior atrial fibrillation was associated with 47% increased risk of mortality (HR=1.47 (95% CI 1.23 to 1.75)) and a previous diagnosis of MI was the strongest risk factor for poststroke MI (HR=9.17 (95% CI 6.28 to 13.39)). Stroke unit was associated with a 40% lower hazard of mortality without having a recurrent stroke/MI (HR=0.60 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.72)) and a 39% lower hazard of indirect mortality (HR=0.57 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.87)). Major vascular events are prevalent after stroke, particularly among those with concurrent vascular conditions. The rate of stroke recurrence plateaued in the last decade, yet MI incidence increased. Targeted strategies to control risk factors are required to reduce the incidence of a second vascular event and prevent progression to mortality in these high-risk groups.