Risk Of Acute Coronary Syndrome Research Articles

Outcomes of Sarcoidosis on Patients with Sickle Cell Disease - a Review of the National Inpatient Database 2016-2020

Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited hemolytic disorder due to an autosomal recessive mutation affecting mainly African Americans. SCD can lead to various complications, including Sickle Cell Crisis (SCC), Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS), strokes, and different osseous complications. Notably, these complications can be provoked using steroids. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder that is characterized by the presence of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy that is commonly treated with steroids. Unfortunately, it is also preferentially affecting African Americans. The complication rates in patients with both diseases have rarely been described. We aim to describe the effect of sarcoidosis on the mortality and complication rates of admitted patients with SCC. Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2016-2020, we analyzed adult SCC and ACS hospitalizations with and without sarcoidosis using International Classification of Diseases - 10 Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes were inpatient morbidities, mean length of stay (LOS), and mean total hospital charge (THC). A multivariate logistic regression and linear regression analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Out of 359655 patients hospitalized with SCC, only 4.6% had concomitant sarcoidosis. Of these, 70% were females, with a mean age of 38.4 compared to an average age of 32 in patients without sarcoidosis (p-value <0.05). The mean LOS for patients with sarcoidosis and SCC was 6.4 days, while it was 5.1 days for patients without sarcoidosis (p-value 0.001). While adjusting for common comorbidities and patients' characteristics, patients with SCC and sarcoidosis did not have a statistical mortality difference compared to patients without sarcoidosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.3, CI: 0.4-14). On stratified analysis, patients with ACS and sarcoidosis had increased odds of mortality with an aOR of 6.68, CI: 1.1-39.7, and a p-value of 0.037. Moreover, amongst patients who had SCC, patients with concomitant sarcoidosis had a higher risk of acute coronary syndrome (aOR: 5.1, CI 1.24-21.0) and avascular necrosis (aOR: 1.57, CI: 1.12-2.20). There were no statistically significant differences in the odds of ischemic strokes, transient ischemic attacks, acute and chronic kidney disease, risk of intubation, pulmonary edema, osteoporosis, venous thrombosis, and THC. Figure 1 shows the Forrest plot for multivariate analysis of in-hospital morbidities when adjusted for patient demographics, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics. Conclusion: Patients admitted with ACS and sarcoidosis had higher odds of mortality. Patients with SCC and sarcoidosis also had higher odds of acute coronary syndrome, avascular necrosis, and mean LOS. Nevertheless, this has not impacted other inpatient comorbidity.

Inflammatory bowel disease patients have an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesSystemic inflammation is increasingly being recognised as a possible mechanism for acute arterial thrombotic events, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Despite this, there is conflicting data on the risk of...

Association between chronic pain and acute coronary syndrome in the older population: a nationwide population-based cohort study

BackgroundChronic pain (CP) may increase the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, this issue in the older population remains unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify it.MethodsWe used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to identify older patients with CP between 2001 and 2005 as the study cohort. Comparison cohort was the older patients without CP by matching age, sex, and index date at 1:1 ratio with the study cohort in the same period. We also included common underlying comorbidities in the analyses. The risk of ACS was compared between the two cohorts by following up until 2015.ResultsA total of 17241 older patients with CP and 17241 older patients without CP were included in this study. In both cohorts, the mean age (± standard deviation) and female percentage were 73.5 (± 5.7) years and 55.4%, respectively. Spinal disorders (31.9%) and osteoarthritis (27.0%) were the most common causes of CP. Older patients with CP had an increased risk for ACS compared to those without CP after adjusting for all underlying comorbidities (adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [sHR] 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.30). The increasement of risk of ACS was more when the follow-up period was longer (adjusted sHR of < 3 years: 1.8 vs. <2 years: 1.75 vs. <1 year: 1.55).ConclusionsCP was associated with an increased risk of ACS in the older population, and the association was more prominent when the follow-up period was longer. Early detection and intervention for CP are suggested in this population.

Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events Score Underestimates Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Mortality among Cancer Patients

Background Patients with prior cancer are at increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with poorer post-ACS outcomes. We aimed to ascertain if the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score accurately predicts mortality risk among patients with ACS and prior cancer. Methods We linked nationwide ACS and cancer registries from 2007 to 2018 in Singapore. A total of 24,529 eligible patients had in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality risk calculated using the GRACE score (2471 prior cancer; 22,058 no cancer). Results Patients with prior cancer had two-fold higher all-cause mortality compared to patients without cancer (in-hospital: 22.8% versus 10.3%, p &lt; 0.001; 1-year: 49.0% vs. 18.7%, p &lt; 0.001). Cardiovascular mortality did not differ between groups (in-hospital: 5.2% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.346; 1-year: 6.9% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.12). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the GRACE score for prediction of all-cause mortality was less for prior cancer (in-hospital: 0.64 vs. 0.80, p &lt; 0.001; 1-year: 0.66 vs. 0.83, p &lt; 0.001). Among patients with prior cancer and a high-risk GRACE score &gt; 140, in-hospital revascularization was not associated with lower cardiovascular mortality than without in-hospital revascularization (6.7% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.50). Conclusions The GRACE score performs poorly in risk stratification of patients with prior cancer and ACS.

Pericarotid Fat Stranding at Computed Tomography Angiography: A Marker of the Short-Term Prognosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Perivascular epicardial fat stranding detected in the coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is associated with culprit lesions and provides helpful information on the risk of acute coronary syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the potential clinical significance of pericarotid fat stranding (PCFS) and investigate the association between PCFS and short-term prognosis in acute stroke using head and neck CT angiography (CTA). This study included 80 patients (mean age, 69.69 ± 11.03; 58 men) who underwent both head and neck CTA and magnetic resonance imaging within a 1-week period. Baseline characteristics, pericarotid adipose tissue attenuation, plaque characteristics, ischemic penumbra, infarct core volume, infarct core growth rate (CGR), and the grade of collateral status were recorded and compared between a PCFS group and a non-PCFS group. Data were compared using the 2-sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher exact test, and Spearman rank correlation analysis. We found that patients with PCFS had a significantly higher pericarotid adipose tissue density than patients without PCFS (-55.75 ± 5.53 vs -65.82 ± 9.65, P < 0.001). Patients with PCFS showed a larger infarct core volume (166.43 ± 73.07 vs 91.43 ± 55.03, P = 0.001) and faster CGR (39.57 ± 12.01 vs 19.83 ± 32.77; P < 0.001), and the frequency of adverse prognosis was more significant than in control participants (83.33% vs 19.11%). Individuals with PCFS showed higher CGR, which was substantially related to worse outcomes in patients with acute stroke with ipsilateral carotid atherosclerosis. Recognition of PCFS may help predict stroke prognosis and allow doctors to take early action to improve patient prognosis.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Duration After Multivessel Optimal Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

There is a scarcity of data evaluating contemporary real-world dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) strategies after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods and Results: In the OPTIVUS-Complex PCI study multivessel cohort enrolling 982 patients undergoing multivessel PCI, including left anterior descending coronary artery using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), we conducted 90-day landmark analyses to compare shorter and longer DAPT. DAPT discontinuation was defined as withdrawal of P2Y12inhibitors or aspirin for at least 2 months. The prevalence of acute coronary syndrome and high bleeding risk by the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium were 14.2% and 52.5%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of DAPT discontinuation was 22.6% at 90 days, and 68.8% at 1 year. In the 90-day landmark analyses, there were no differences in the incidences of a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or any coronary revascularization (5.9% vs. 9.2%, log-rank P=0.12; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-1.08; P=0.09) and BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding (1.4% vs. 1.9%, log-rank P=0.62) between the off- and on-DAPT groups at 90 days. The adoption of short DAPT duration was still low in this trial conducted after the release of the STOPDAPT-2 trial results. The 1-year incidence of cardiovascular events was not different between the shorter and longer DAPT groups, suggesting no apparent benefit of prolonged DAPT in reducing cardiovascular events even in patients who undergo multivessel PCI.

Canada acute coronary syndrome risk score predicts no-/slow-reflow in ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BackgroundThe no-/slow-reflow phenomenon following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)is associated with poor prognosis. The early identification of high-risk patients with no-/slow-reflow is critical. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of the Canada Acute Coronary Syndrome (C-ACS) risk score for no-/slow-reflow in these patients. MethodsPatients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI were consecutively enrolled and divided into three groups based on their C-ACS scores: 0, 1, and ≥2. The C-ACS score was computed using the four clinical variables evaluated at admission (one point for each): age ≥75 years, heart rate >100 beats/min, systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg, and Killip class >1. No-/slow-reflow was defined as thrombolysis in a myocardial infarction flow grade of 0–2 after primary PCI. The predictive ability of the C-ACS score for no-/slow-reflow was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. ResultsA total of 834 patients were enrolled, of whom 109 (13.1 %) developed no-/slow-reflow. The incidence of no-/slow-reflow increased from the C-ACS 0 group to the C-ACS ≥2 group (6.1 % vs 17.7 % vs 34.3 %, respectively, p < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, the C-ACS score was an independent predictor of no-/slow-reflow (odd ratio 2.623, 95 % confidence interval 1.948–3.532, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the C-ACS score showed good discrimination for no-/slow-reflow (area under the curve 0.707, 95 % confidence interval 0.653–0.762, p < 0.001). Further subgroup analyses indicated a significant interaction between the C-ACS score and patient sex (p for interaction = 0.011). The independent association between the C-ACS score and no-/slow-reflow was only observed in male patients (odd ratio 3.061, 95 % confidence interval 1.931–4.852, p < 0.001). During a median follow-up duration of 4.3 years, the C-ACS score was independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events independent of the occurrence of no-/slow-reflow (p for interaction = 0.212). ConclusionThe C-ACS risk score could independently predict the no-/slow-reflow in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, particularly in male patients.

Comparison of HEAR and HEART Scores for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events.

Early identification of patients with low and high risk for acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department (ED) is important for process management and proper resource use. The aim of this study was to comparethe HEAR and HEART scores to determine the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over 30 days. Demographic data and clinical evaluations of the patients who presented to theEDwith chest pain were recorded. ECGs were evaluated without knowing the clinical status of the patients. The HEART (including history, ECG, age, coronary risk factors, and troponin level) and HEAR (including four items with no troponin) risk scores were calculated. MACE was defined as all MI, all coronary revascularization procedures (PCI and CABG), all-cause death, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, or life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias within 30 days. Patients with MACE were evaluated as Group 1, and patients without MACE were considered as Group 2, and the data from the two groups were compared. A total of 230 patients were included in the study. There were 56 (24.3%) patients with MACEs. According to the ROC analysis, the threshold value was determined as ≤3 for both scoring systems. According to this threshold value, sensitivity and specificity were found to be 0.77 and 0.78 for the HEAR scoreand 0.82 and 0.77 for the HEART score. Although the HEAR and HEART scoring systems are useful for the management of patients with chest pain in the ED, the HEART score was evaluated to be more effective.

Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of clopidogrel for dose regimen optimization based on CYP2C19 phenotypes: A proof of concept study.

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug used to reduce the risk of acute coronary syndrome and stroke. It is converted by CYP2C19 to its active metabolite; therefore, poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP2C19 exhibit diminished antiplatelet effects. Herein, we conducted a proof-of-concept study for using population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling to recommend a personalized clopidogrel dosing regimen for individuals with varying CYP2C19 phenotypes and baseline P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) levels. Data from a prospective phase I clinical trial involving 36 healthy male participants were used to develop the population PK-PD model predicting the concentrations of clopidogrel, clopidogrel H4, and clopidogrel carboxylic acid, and linking clopidogrel H4 concentrations to changes in PRU levels. A two-compartment model effectively described the PKs of both clopidogrel and clopidogrel carboxylic acid, and a one-compartment model of those of clopidogrel H4. The CYP2C19 phenotype was identified as a significant covariate influencing the metabolic conversion of the parent drug to its metabolites. A PD submodel of clopidogrel H4 that stimulated the fractional turnover rate of PRU levels showed the best performance. Monte Carlo simulations suggested that PMs require three to four times higher doses than extensive metabolizers to reach the target PRU level. Individuals within the top 20th percentile of baseline PRU levels were shown to require 2.5-3 times higher doses than those in the bottom 20th percentile. We successfully developed a population PK-PD model for clopidogrel considering the impact of CYP2C19 phenotypes and baseline PRU levels. Further studies are necessary to confirm actual dosing recommendations for clopidogrel.

Reverse takotsubo after emotional distress and catecholamine bolus

A patient in his 40s was referred from a primary care facility to the emergency department because of chest pain, hypotension which was managed with a bolus of adrenaline, and diffuse ST depression on electrocardiography (ECG) after a life event with a high emotional impact. The patient was admitted with persistent hypotension and a second ECG with persistent ST depression; however, isobiphasic T was observed in some of the precordial leads. Given the evolving ECG, thoracic pain, and elevated troponin levels, the patient was admitted for percutaneous coronary angiography (PCI), considering the risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome. The latter reports coronary arteries without lesions but ventriculography with reverse Takotsubo morphology (Figure 1).

Role of neutrophil extracellular trap and immune infiltration in atherosclerotic plaque instability: Novel insight from bioinformatics analysis and machine learning.

The instability of atherosclerotic plaques increases the risk of acute coronary syndrome. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), mesh-like complexes consisting of extracellular DNA adorned with various protein substances, have been recently discovered to play an essential role in atherosclerotic plaque formation and development. This study aimed to investigate novel diagnostic biomarkers that can identify unstable plaques for early distinction and prevention of plaque erosion or disruption. Differential expression analysis was used to identify the differentially expressed NET-related genes, and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed. We filtered the characteristic genes using machine learning and estimated diagnostic efficacy using receiver operating characteristic curves. Immune infiltration was detected using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis and the biological signaling pathways involved in characteristic genes utilizing gene set enrichment analysis were explored. Finally, miRNAs- and transcription factors-target genes networks were established. We identified 8 differentially expressed NET-related genes primarily involved in immune-related pathways. Four were identified as capable of distinguishing unstable plaques. More immune cells infiltrated unstable plaques than stable plaques, and these cells were predominantly positively related to characteristic genes. These 4 diagnostic genes are involved in immune responses and the modulation of smooth muscle contractility. Several miRNAs and transcription factors were predicted as upstream regulatory factors, providing further information on the identification and prevention of atherosclerotic plaques rupture. We identified several promising NET-related genes (AQP9, C5AR1, FPR3, and SIGLEC9) and immune cell subsets that may identify unstable atherosclerotic plaques at an early stage and prevent various complications of plaque disruption.

Effets de la pollution de l'air sur les évènements cardiovasculaires en unité de soins intensifs cardiologiques

Many environmental factors influence the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Among these, air pollution is certainly the most harmful, due to its dual composition and effects. Air pollution is both particulate and gaseous, and can vary in concentration and composition according to its source and type of emission. Moreover, clinical effects are not only observed at long-term but also at short-term, following rapid deterioration in air quality.Air pollution must therefore be seen both as a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease, and as a trigger for cardiovascular events. These acute effects are essentially mediated by an increased risk of acute coronary syndromes and heart failure. The effects of air pollution on admissions for ventricular arrhythmias and arterial hypertension are also possible. The cardiotoxicity of pollution is mainly mediated by sympatho-vagal imbalance, by the initiation and amplification of an oxidative, inflammatory and pro-aggregatory cascade, and by endothelial dysfunction and activation of metalloproteinases.Although now well established, the consequences of air pollution on acute cardiovascular events require further investigation. Environmental cardiology is an emerging discipline whose current vision still fails to integrate qualitative aspects, such as the oxidative potential of particulate matter, and the joint effects of multiple environmental exposures.

Development and Validation of CCTA-based Radiomics Signature for Predicting Coronary Plaques With Rapid Progression.

Rapid plaque progression (RPP) is associated with a higher risk of acute coronary syndromes compared with gradual plaque progression. We aimed to develop and validate a coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based radiomics signature (RS) of plaques for predicting RPP. A total of 214 patients who underwent serial CCTA examinations from 2 tertiary hospitals (development group, 137 patients with 164 lesions; validation group, 77 patients with 101 lesions) were retrospectively enrolled. Conventional CCTA-defined morphological parameters (eg, high-risk plaque characteristics and plaque burden) and radiomics features of plaques were analyzed. RPP was defined as an annual progression of plaque burden ≥1.0% on lesion-level at follow-up CCTA. RS was built to predict RPP using XGBoost method. RS significantly outperformed morphological parameters for predicting RPP in both the development group (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.82 versus 0.74; P=0.04) and validation group (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.81 versus 0.69; P=0.04). Multivariable analysis identified RS (odds ratio, 2.35 [95% CI, 1.32-4.46]; P=0.005) as an independent predictor of subsequent RPP in the validation group after adjustment of morphological confounders. Unlike unchanged RS in the non-RPP group, RS increased significantly in the RPP group at follow-up in the whole dataset (P<0.001). The proposed CCTA-based RS had a better discriminative value to identify plaques at risk of rapid progression compared with conventional morphological plaque parameters. These data suggest the promising utility of radiomics for predicting RPP in a low-risk group on CCTA.

Differentiating the Prognostic Determinants of Myocardial Steatosis for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background Myocardial steatosis and fibrosis may play a role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We therefore investigated the prognostic significance of epicardial fat (epicardial adipose tissue [EAT]) and myocardial diffuse fibrosis. Methods and Results Myocardial fibrosis, estimated as extracellular volume (ECV), and EAT were measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 163 subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We also evaluated cardiac structure and diastolic and systolic function by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. After 24 months' follow-up, 39 (24%) subjects had experienced cardiovascular events, including hospitalization for heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, and cardiovascular death. Median EAT and mean ECV were significantly higher in subjects with cardiovascular events thansurvivors (EAT, 35 [25-45] versus 31 [21-38], P=0.006 and ECV, 28.9±3.16% versus 27.2±3.56%, P=0.04). Subjects with high EAT (≥42 g) had increased risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR], 2.528 [95% CI, 1.704-4.981]; P=0.032). High ECV (>29%) was also significantly associated with poorer outcomes (HR, 1.647 [95% CI, 1.263-2.548]; P=0.013). With respect to secondary end points, high EAT and high ECV were associated with increased risk of the incident acute coronary syndrome (HR, 1.982 [95% CI, 1.008-4.123]; P=0.049) and hospitalization for heart failure (HR, 1.789 [95% CI, 1.102-6.987]; P=0.033), respectively. Conclusions Our study suggested that increased epicardial fat and ECV detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have an impact on cardiovascular prognosis, in particular acute coronary syndrome and hospitalization for heart failure, respectively.

The association between SGLT2 inhibitors and new-onset acute coronary syndrome in the elderly: a population-based longitudinal cohort study

BackgroundSeveral observational cohorts and meta-analytical studies on humans have shown that users of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have a lower risk for new-onset acute coronary syndrome (ACS) than nonusers. However, some studies, including randomized clinical trials, reported the opposite results. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of a SGLT2i on new-onset ACS in a population.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study involving 56,356 subjects who received SGLT2i therapy and 112,712 patients who did not receive SGLT2i therapy between May 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. The outcome was the risk of new-onset ACS. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for associations between SGLT2i use and ACS risk.ResultsA total of 670 and 1408 ACS events occurred in SGLT2i users and nonusers, respectively, during a follow-up of 3.7 years. SGLT2i use was associated with a nonsignificantly lower risk of ACS (adjusted HR 0.95, 95%confidence intervals (CI 0.87–1.04, P = 0.3218). We confirmed the robustness of these results through a propensity score 1:1 matching analysis. The results of the subgroup analysis of the subtype of the SGLT2i treatments were consistent with the main findings. An increased risk for the incidence of ACS in male and older (> 70 years) patients were also found.ConclusionsIn this population-based cohort study, we found that SGLT2i use is associated with a nonsignificantly decreased risk of ACS. No difference in the SGLT2i subtype was observed in subgroup analyses. However, the results of this study indicated an increased risk for the incidence of ACS in male and older (> 70 years) patients.

Preferred monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials

BackgroundRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy following short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, no studies have compared P2Y12 inhibitor and aspirin monotherapy following short-term DAPT. We aimed to compare available strategies for DAPT duration and post-DAPT antiplatelet monotherapy following PCI. MethodsSeven DAPT strategies [ticagrelor or clopidogrel following 1-month DAPT, ticagrelor following 3-month DAPT, aspirin following 3–6 months of DAPT (reference strategy), aspirin or P2Y12 inhibitor following 6–18-months of DAPT, and DAPT for ≥18 months] were compared using a network meta-analysis. The primary efficacy outcome was defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The primary bleeding outcome was trial-defined major or minor bleeding. ResultsOur analysis identified 25 eligible RCTs, including 89,371 patients who underwent PCI. Overall, none of the strategies negatively affected the primary efficacy outcomes. For primary bleeding outcomes, ticagrelor following 3-month DAPT was associated with a reduced risk of primary bleeding outcomes (HR 0.73; 95 % CI 0.57–0.95). Clopidogrel following 1-month DAPT was also associated with a reduced risk of primary bleeding outcomes (HR 0.54; 95 % CI 0.34–0.85), however, the strategy was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis. Similar trends were observed among patients with acute coronary syndrome and high bleeding risk. ConclusionsCompared with aspirin monotherapy following short-term DAPT, ticagrelor following 3-month DAPT was associated with a reduced risk of primary bleeding outcomes without increasing any ischemic outcomes.

Musculoskeletal corticosteroid injection and risk of acute coronary syndrome: a case control study.

Musculoskeletal corticosteroid injection (CSI) is a frequently used treatment, considered safe with a low incidence of minor side effects. To investigate whether the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is increased following corticosteroid injection for musculoskeletal conditions. Data were reviewed from 41,276 patients aged over 40 years and hospitalised with ACS between January 2015 and December 2019. Each ACS case was allocated up to 10 control patients from their primary care clinic, matched for age and sex. The cases and controls were reviewed for orthopaedic or rheumatological consultation including a CSI procedure and occurring prior to the hospital admission date. The incidence of CSI was compared between the case and control groups. Data from a total of 413,063 patients were reviewed, 41,276 ACS cases and 371,787 controls. The mean age was 68.1, standard deviation (SD) = 13.1, 69.4% male. In the week prior to their hospital admission, 118 ACS patients were treated with CSI compared with 495 patients in the control group; odds ratio (OR) = 1.95 (1.56-2.43). In total, 98% of CSI procedures were carried out by orthopaedic specialists. An association between ACS and prior CSI was strongest in the days immediately prior to hospitalisation: OR = 3.11 (2.10-4.61) for patients who were injected 1 day before ACS. The association between ACS and CSI declined with increasing time between injection and hospital admission: at 90 days OR = 1.08 (0.98-1.18). The association remained robust when cardiovascular risk factors, history of rheumatological disease, and other co-morbidity were taken into consideration. Musculoskeletal corticosteroid injection appears to substantially increase the risk of acute coronary syndrome.

Triglycerides, polymorphisms and the risk of acute coronary syndrome in the Czech population

Triglycerides, polymorphisms and the risk of acute coronary syndrome in the Czech population

Comparative Effectiveness of Coronary CT Angiography and Standard of Care for Evaluating Acute Chest Pain: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To perform a living systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and standard of care (SOC) in the evaluation of acute chest pain (ACP). Multiple electronic databases were systematically searched, with the most recent search conducted on October 31, 2022. Studies were stratified into two groups according to the pretest probability for acute coronary syndrome (group 1 with predominantly low-to-intermediate risk vs group 2 with high risk). A meta-regression analysis was also conducted using participant risk, type of SOC used, and the use or nonuse of high-sensitivity troponins as independent variables. The final analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials (9379 total participants; 4956 assigned to CCTA arms and 4423 to SOC arms). There was a 14% reduction in the length of stay and a 17% reduction in immediate costs for the CCTA arm compared with the SOC arm. In group 1, the length of stay was 17% shorter and costs were 21% lower using CCTA. There was no evidence of differences in referrals to invasive coronary angiography, myocardial infarction, mortality, rate of hospitalization, further stress testing, or readmissions between CCTA and SOC arms. There were more revascularizations (relative risk, 1.45) and medication changes (relative risk, 1.33) in participants with low-to-intermediate acute coronary syndrome risk and increased radiation exposure in high-risk participants (mean difference, 7.24 mSv) in the CCTA arm compared with the SOC arm. The meta-regression analysis found significant differences between CCTA and SOC arms for rate of hospitalization, further stress testing, and medication changes depending on the type of SOC (P < .05). The results support the use of CCTA as a safe, rapid, and less expensive in the short term strategy to exclude acute coronary syndrome in low- to intermediate-risk patients presenting with acute chest pain.Keywords: Acute Coronary Syndrome, Chest Pain, Emergency Department, Coronary Computed Tomography, Usual Care Supplemental material is available for this article. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.

ANMCO Position paper: Colchicine as a therapeutic agent in coronary syndromes

With the growing knowledge about the role of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions, inflammation has been identified as a cardiovascular risk factor and therapeutic target to reduce the residual risk in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Several therapeutic agents with anti-inflammatory action have been tested to evaluate their efficacy and safety in the context of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Among these, colchicine, a drug with multiple therapeutic effects including anti-inflammatory action, in randomized clinical trials conducted in the setting of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease secondary prevention, significantly reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.This position paper of the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) summarizes the main biological mechanisms through which colchicine contributes to the inhibition of inflammatory processes that increase the atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, the document reports the available evidence on clinical impact of colchicine treatment in the reduction of residual cardiovascular risk in chronic and acute coronary syndromes. Finally, practical information is provided regarding the use of this drug in this specific clinical setting, emphasizing precautions and possible side effects.