Risk Of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events In Patients Research Articles

Association of Myocardial Perfusion and Coronary Flow Reserve with Prognosis in Patients with Aortic Stenosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Coronary microvascular disease is associated with adverse prognosis in a range of cardiovascular diseases, but its prognostic role in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the prognostic role of myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve, assessed using non-invasive imaging modalities, in patients with AS. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies assessing myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) or coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with AS and reporting clinical outcomes, from inception to January 2024. The definition of abnormal MPR/CFR and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was that used in each study. Estimates of effect were calculated from hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Results: Four studies comprising 384 participants met the inclusion criteria. Myocardial/coronary blood flow was assessed using Doppler echocardiography (n = 2), PET (n = 1), or cardiac magnetic resonance (n = 1). The median optimal cutoff for MPR/CFR across all studies was 2.01 (range 1.85–2.13), with 109 events. Impaired MPR/CFR was associated with a higher incidence of MACE (HR 3.67, 95% CI: 1.66, 8.09, I2 = 63%) in the overall population. Conclusions: Reduced MPR/CFR is associated with increased risk of MACE in patients with AS, although significant heterogeneity exists in published studies. Further studies are required to establish its role in the risk stratification of asymptomatic patients with AS.

Integrating myocardial CT perfusion with coronary CT angiography improves risk stratification in patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease.

Risk stratification for incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease (dd-ESRD) is challenging. Moreover, the usefulness of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is often limited because of high calcification. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of comprehensive cardiac CT in patients with dd-ESRD for predicting MACE. This retrospective analysis included 92 patients with dd-ESRD who underwent comprehensive cardiac CT.Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined by CCTA with > 50% stenosis. Global myocardial blood flow (MBF) and summed stress score (SSS) were obtained through dynamic CTP. Cox regression analysis was used to assess correlation with MACE. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate cumulative event rates, and the global Chi-square test was used to assess the incremental value of dynamic CTP over CCTA. During a median follow-up of 2.3years, 43 patients experienced MACE. Univariate analysis revealed that presence of obstructive CAD, higher SSS, and lower global MBF were significantly associated with increased risk of MACE. In multivariable analysis, lower global MBF and presence of obstructive CAD were independently associated with MACE (p = 0.02, and p = 0.04, respectively). CCTA and dynamic CTP combination had incremental value over CCTA alone for predicting MACE, respectively (global Chi-square score, 19.3 and 11.7, respectively). Presence of obstructive CAD on CCTA and lower global MBF on dynamic CTP are independently associated with increased risk of MACE in patients with dd-ESRD. The addition of dynamic CTP to CCTA may improve risk stratification in this population.

Statin Therapy Reduces Radiation-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Radiotherapy.

To evaluate the efficacy of statin therapy in reducing major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) risk among patients with breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients diagnosed with left-sided early breast invasive ductal carcinoma between 2016 and 2019 were included. Propensity score matching was employed to compare MACE risk between statin users and nonusers. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for MACE, considering cumulative defined daily doses and daily defined doses of statins. Among 1481 patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy, statin use significantly reduced MACE risk (aHR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.25-0.44]). Hydrophilic statins, particularly rosuvastatin and pravastatin, demonstrated the greatest risk reduction. Higher cumulative defined daily doses and daily intensity doses of statins were associated with lower MACE risk, indicating a dose-response relationship. The 5-year cumulative incidence of MACE was significantly lower in statin users compared with nonusers (12.24% versus 31.70%). Statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk of MACE in patients with breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy. Hydrophilic statins rosuvastatin and pravastatin exhibit the most pronounced cardioprotective effects. These findings suggest a potential role for statins in mitigating cardiovascular complications in this population and highlight the need for further research to optimize statin therapy in survivors of breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

Long-Term Prognostic Value of Adipocytokines in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: An 8-Year Clinical Prospective Cohort Study.

To elucidate the predictive values of adipocytokines in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Overall, 297 patients with ACS were consecutively enrolled in this prospective cohort study between June 2015 and July 2017 and completed follow-up with a median follow-up time of 6.5 years. For consistency, the last visit date was June 20, 2023. Serum levels of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1), adrenomedullin (ADM), netrin 1 (NTN 1), and omentin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Follow-up data were collected during clinical visits or through telephone interviews at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, and annually. The primary endpoint was defined as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for percutaneous coronary intervention, and severe angina requiring rehospitalization. All biomarkers displayed a good diagnostic ability of MACEs. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the cumulative survival rates of high level of RBP4, IL-1β, and MCP-1 and low level of the ADM, NTN1, and omentin had lower cumulative survival rates (Log rank tests: all p<0.05). After adjustment in the Cox hazard proportional model, the results were RBP4 ≥ 6.87 ng/mL, hazard ratio (HR)=2.512, p=0.003; IL-1β≥ 58.95 pg/mL, HR=3.809, p<0.001; MCP-1 ≥ 401.75 pg/mL, HR=4.047, p<0.001; ADM≤120.01 ng/mL, HR=3.930, p=0.008; NTN1 ≤63.7 pg/mL, HR=3.345, p=0.007; omentin ≤ 4.54 ng/mL, HR=2.830, p=0.004. P-values for interaction were > 0.05 in the sex, age, and dyslipidemia subgroups. Pro-inflammation adipocytokines RBP4, IL-1β, and MCP-1 increased and anti-inflammation biomarkers ADM, NTN1, and omentin decreased were independently associated with a higher risk of MACEs in patients with ACS.

Association of serum cystatin C level and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Recurrent acute myocardial infarction requiring unplanned percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after PCI. There is a continuing controversy about the association between serum cystatin C, a biomarker for the evaluation of renal function, and the prognosis of ACS patients following PCI. The retrospective study evaluated the association between serum cystatin C level and MACE in ACS patients after PCI. Data were retrieved for 330 patients with ACS for primary PCI in a single center. Serum cystatin C levels were measured before PCI. All patients underwent regular follow-ups after PCI, and the studied endpoint was MACE, defined as the need for a repeat revascularization in the heart. The predictive value of serum cystatin C for MACE was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was applied to evaluate the dose-response relationship between serum cystatin C level and MACE in ACS patients following PCI. After a median follow-up of 63 months (range, 1-148 months), 121 of the 330 patients experienced MACE. Compared to patients who did not have MACE, patients who had MACE showed a significant decrease in serum cystatin C levels (0.99±0.32 vs. 1.15±0.78 mg/L, P=0.03). In multivariate regression analysis, serum cystatin C level was an independent risk factor for MACE. According to the serum cystatin C level, patients were divided into 4 categories, Cox regression analysis illustrated that the second quartile of serum cystatin C level indicated an increased risk of MACE in patients with PCI for primary ACS compared to the highest quartile [Q2: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) =2.109; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.193-3.727; P=0.01]. RCS analysis showed a significant U-shaped dose-response relationship between cystatin C level and MACE in patients with PCI for ACS (P for non-linearity =0.004). These results indicated an association between serum cystatin C level and post-PCI MACE in ACS patients.

Counseling Intervention and Cardiovascular Events in People With Peripheral Artery Disease

It is unclear whether counseling to promote walking reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD). To test whether a counseling intervention designed to increase walking reduced the risk of MACE in patients with PAD. The BIP trial was a randomized clinical trial, with recruitment performed between January 2015 and July 2018 and follow-up concluded in August 2023. Participants with walking impairment due to PAD from vascular departments in the Australian cities of Brisbane, Sydney, and Townsville were randomly allocated 1:1 to the intervention or control group. Data were originally analyzed in March 2024. Four brief counseling sessions aimed to help patients with the challenges of increasing physical activity. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in risk of MACE, which included myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and cardiovascular death. The relationship between Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire (ICQ) scores, PAD Quality of Life (PADQOL) scores, and MACE was examined with Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. A total of 200 participants were included, with 102 allocated to the counseling intervention (51.0%) and 98 to the control group (49.0%).Participants were followed up for a mean (SD) duration of 3.5 (2.6) years. Median (IQR) participant age was 70 (63-76) years, and 56 of 200 participants (28.0%) were female. A total of 31 individuals had a MACE (composed of 19 MIs, 4 strokes, and 8 cardiovascular deaths). Participants allocated to the intervention were significantly less likely to have a MACE than participants in the control group (10 of 102 participants [9.8%] vs 21 of 98 [21.4%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.91; P = .03). Greater disease-specific quality of life (QOL) scores at 4 months (ICQ: HR per 1-percentage point increase, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99; P < .001; PADQOL factor 3 [symptoms and limitations in physical functioning]: HR per 1-unit increase, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98; P = .01) and at 12 months (ICQ: HR per 1-percentage point increase, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99; P = .003; PADQOL factor 3: HR per 1-unit increase, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98; P = .02) were associated with a lower risk of MACE. In analyses adjusted for ICQ or PADQOL factor 3 scores at either 4 or 12 months, allocation to the counseling intervention was no longer significantly associated with a lower risk of MACE. This post hoc exploratory analysis of the BIP randomized clinical trial suggested that the brief counseling intervention designed to increase walking may reduce the risk of MACE, possibly due to improvement in QOL. anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12614000592640.

Advantages of using Genetically Elevated Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Predicting 5-Year Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Relating to Coronary Artery Disease in Women.

This study aimed to investigate major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) over 5 years, in general, and depending on sex, lipoprotein(a) level, and number of kringle IV type 2 (KIV-2) repeats in the Lipoprotein(A) (LPA) gene. This study comprised 216 patients (120 women and 96 men) hospitalized with a diagnosis of "CAD, unstable angina IIB class". The three-point risk of MACEs was assessed over 5 years: cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke. The number of KIV-2 repeats in the LPA gene was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The relative risk of MACE in patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) was 2.0 (95% CI 1.04-3.87, p 0.05) for quartile 4 (Q4) 48 mg/dL versus quartile 1 (Q1) 6 mg/dL. This was mainly attributable to an increase in men-relative risk (RR) 2.6 (95% CI 1.10-6.16, p 0.05)-but not in women: RR 1.4 (95% CI 0.50-3.92). Mean lipoprotein(a) levels were inversely correlated with 42.5 and 7.5 for Q1 and Q4 KIV-2 repeat numbers, respectively. The relative risks of MACE for Q1 vs. Q4 KIV-2 repeats were as follows: 3.0 (95% CI 1.48-6.08, p 0.001) for all patients; 3.0 (95% CI 1.20-6.55, p 0.01) for men; 3.3 (95% CI 1.02-10.4, p 0.05) for women. Quantifying kringle IV type 2 repeat copy number in the LPA gene using qPCR more accurately reflects the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events within 5 years in women with coronary artery disease.

Evaluating the Usage of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Rheumatology and Its Impact on Cardiovascular Risk.

Background/purpose Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have been widely used in treating rheumatological conditions like rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Despite their efficacy, there are concerns regarding major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with JAK inhibitors. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of MACE, VTE, and the impact on lipid profiles in patients being treated with JAK inhibitors. Methods We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of patients aged 45-65 years old treated with Tofacitinib, Baricitinib, or Upadacitinib in a rheumatology clinic. We collected data on demographics, comorbidities, medication use, laboratory results, and cardiac complications potentially related to JAK inhibitors. Results Among 100 patients prescribed JAK inhibitors, 71 were included in the study (with an average treatment duration of 2.5 years). The majority of patients were white (72%), followed by Hispanic (6%), Indian (11%), African American (10%), and Asian (1%). Patients were being treated primarily for RA (57%), followed by PsA (17%), colitis (20%), and alopecia areata (6%). There were no significant cases of VTE reported, with one patient developing a pulmonary embolism (PE) during treatment while also having COVID-19, making it difficult to attribute it solely to the medication. Similarly, only one case of atrial fibrillation occurred. However, 43% (31 patients) experienced worsening of their lipid profile, with increased cholesterol (18%), LDL (12.5%), both LDL and cholesterol (11%)or triglycerides (1.5%). In relation to diabetes mellitus (DM), 24 patients who experienced worsening of their lipid panel did not have a history of DM. Conclusion The study findings suggest that patients on Tofacitinib, Baricitinib, and Upadacitinib did not exhibit a high risk for MACE or DVT. However, there was a notable incidence of lipid panel worsening among patients, where 24 patients out of 31 did not havediabetes. Further research and monitoring may be needed to better understand the long-term effects of JAK inhibitors on cardiovascular health and lipid profiles in these patient populations. This real-world data reflects the current evidence that JAK inhibitors do not significantly raise the risk of MACE in patients with RAbut do increase cholesterol levels in these patients that should be monitored closely.

Influence of prediabetes on the prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies evaluating the association between prediabetes the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) showed inconsistent results. The aim of the meta-analysis was to compare the long-term incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) between AMI patients with prediabetes and normoglycemia.MethodsRelevant prospective cohort studies were obtained by searching Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Only studies with follow-up duration of at least one year were included. A random-effects model was utilized to pool the results by incorporating the influence of heterogeneity.ResultsTwelve studies with 6972 patients with AMI were included. Among them, 2998 were with prediabetes and 3974 were with normoglycemia. During a mean follow-up of 52.6 months, 2100 patients developed MACEs. Compared to those with normoglycemia, AMI patients with prediabetes were associated with a higher incidence of MACEs (risk ratio [RR]: 1.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.07 to 1.58, p = 0.008; I2 = 67%). Subgroup analysis showed a stronger association between prediabetes and MACEs in studies of patients with mean age ≥ 60 years compared to < 60 years (RR: 1.66 versus 1.10, p for subgroup difference = 0.04), with proportion of men < 75% compared to ≥ 75% (RR: 1.87 versus 1.08, p for subgroup difference = 0.01), and in prediabetes evaluated at or after discharge compared to that evaluated within three days of AMI onset (RR: 1.39 versus 0.78, p for subgroup difference = 0.01).ConclusionsPrediabetes may be associated with a higher risk of MACEs in patients with AMI.

Clinical impact of Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding-Risk scores on clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

High bleeding risk (HBR), as defined by the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) criteria, has been recently reported to be associated with an increased risk of major bleeding events and cardiovascular events. We investigated the association between the ARC-HBR score and clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We assessed 328 consecutive patients with stable CAD who underwent PCI between January 2017 and December 2020. We scored the ARC-HBR criteria by assigning 1 point to each major criterion and 0.5 points to each minor criterion. Patients were stratified into low (ARC-HBR score < 1), intermediate (1 ≤ ARC-HBR score < 2), and high (ARC-HBR score ≥ 2) bleeding-risk groups. The primary outcome measure was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke. We compared the discriminative abilities of the ARC-HBR score with the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Secondary Prevention (TRS2°P) and ARC-HBR score with Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) thrombotic risk score. The mean patient age was 70.1 ± 10.2years (males, 76.8%). During the median follow-up period of 983 (618-1338) days, 44 patients developed MACE. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that a stepwise significant increase in the cumulative incidence of MACE as the ARC-HBR score increased (log-rank p < 0.001). In the time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for predicting MACE within 2years, the area under the curve (AUC) of the ARC-HBR score was significantly higher than that of the TRS2°P (AUC: 0.825 vs. 0.725, p value for the difference = 0.023) and similar to that of CREDO-Kyoto thrombotic risk score (AUC: 0.825 vs. 0.813, p value for the difference = 0.627). Conclusions: The ARC-HBR score adequately stratified future risk of MACE in patients with stable CAD who underwent PCI. The ARC-HBR score showed a higher discriminative ability for predicting mid-term MACE than the TRS2°P.

The predictive value of lesion-specific pericoronary fat attenuation index for major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic significance of the lesion-specific pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI) in forecasting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThis study conducted a retrospective analysis of 304 patients diagnosed with T2DM who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in our hospital from December 2011 to October 2021. All participants were followed for a period exceeding three years. Detailed clinical data and CCTA imaging features were carefully recorded, encompassing lesion-specific pericoronary FAI, FAI of the three prime coronary arteries, features of high-risk plaques, and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS). The MACE included in the study comprised cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome (which encompasses unstable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction), late-phase coronary revascularization procedures, and hospital admissions prompted by heart failure.ResultsWithin the three-year follow-up, 76 patients with T2DM suffered from MACE. The lesion-specific pericoronary FAI in patients who experienced MACE was notably higher compared to those without MACE (–84.87 ± 11.36 Hounsfield Units (HU) vs. –88.65 ± 11.89 HU, p = 0.016). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that CACS ≥ 100 (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.071, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.157–7.683, p < 0.001) and lesion-specific pericoronary FAI higher than − 83.5 HU (HR = 2.400, 95% CI 1.399–4.120, p = 0.001) were independently associated with heightened risk of MACE in patients with T2DM over a three-year period. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with higher lesion-specific pericoronary FAI were more likely to develop MACE (p = 0.0023). Additionally, lesions characterized by higher lesion-specific pericoronary FAI values were found to have a greater proportion of high-risk plaques (p = 0.015). Subgroup analysis indicated that lesion-specific pericoronary FAI higher than − 83.5 HU (HR = 2.017, 95% CI 1.143–3.559, p = 0.015) was independently correlated with MACE in patients with T2DM who have moderate to severe coronary calcification. Moreover, the combination of CACS ≥ 100 and lesion-specific pericoronary FAI>-83.5 HU significantly enhanced the predictive value of MACE in patients with T2DM within 3 years.ConclusionsThe elevated lesion-specific pericoronary FAI emerged as an independent prognostic factor for MACE in patients with T2DM, inclusive of those with moderate to severe coronary artery calcification. Incorporating lesion-specific pericoronary FAI with the CACS provided incremental predictive power for MACE in patients with T2DM.

Effects of Smoking on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Coronary Artery Spasm: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Smoking is an established independent risk factor for coronary artery spasm (CAS), but its effects on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with CAS have not been systematically assessed. This systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published from January 2000 to July 2023 was conducted to examine the relationship between smoking and MACE in patients with CAS. Data on MACE were obtained from both smoking and non-smoking CAS patient groups. The effects of smoking on MACE in patients with CAS were assessed through meta-analysis, utilising Stata 17.0 software for all statistical analyses. Nine studies, encompassing 9,376 patients, from Japan (5 studies), Korea (4 studies) and Spain (1 study) were included in the final analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that smoking significantly impacted MACE in patients with CAS (RR 1.965; 95% CI 1.348-2.865), a finding further validated by sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analyses identified a stronger correlation between smoking and increased MACE endpoints in Japanese patients and in those with >3 years of follow-up. This meta-analysis strongly indicates that smoking escalates the risk of MACE in patients with CAS, with a more pronounced association observed in Japanese patients and those with extended follow-up periods.

Significance of QRS scoring system in left ventricular function recovery after acute myocardial infarction.

The Selvester scoring system has been derived from ECG parameters for estimating infarct size. However, there is still a lack of evidence for Selvester score as an alternative to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial injury makers for risk stratification and prediction of left ventricular function (LVF) recovery among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This multicentre observational study enrolled 328 STEMI patients (88.4% men, 57.3±10.6years of age) undergoing CMR examination 1week post-reperfusion therapy. Patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<50% underwent a follow-up CMR 6months later, categorized into baseline normal LVF (ejection fraction [EF]≥50% at baseline, n=155); recovered LVF (EF<50% at baseline and ≥50% after 6months, n=69); and reduced LVF (EF<50% at baseline and after 6months, n=104). The median follow-up was 4 (3-4) years for all patients, with 61 patients experiencing major adverse cardiovascular event (MACEs). Patients with reduced LVF had a higher risk of MACEs than those with baseline normal LVF (P=0.01), while the recovered LVF group had no significant difference (P>0.05). A Selvester score >10 doubled the risk of MACEs in patients with systolic dysfunction (1.91 [1.02 to 3.58], P=0.04). Additionally, Selvester score, baseline LVEF, transmural infarction, and peak CK-MB were independent predictors of recovered LVF, with Selvester score providing incremental predictive value to peak CK-MB in predicting recovered LVF (∆AUC=0.07, P<0.05). The Selvester score improves risk stratification among STEMI patients beyond LVEF and provide independent and incremental information to clinical parameters in predicting recovered LVF.

Analysis of long-term prognosis and risk factors in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Objective: To investigate the risk factors and long-term prognosis of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACEs) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Clinical information from 300 patients with DCM hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2013 to April 2023 was collected. Based on echocardiography results, the patients were divided into two groups: isolated DCM and DCM with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC). The MACEs, including major heart failure events, severe ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiovascular death, were recorded by outpatient or telephone follow-up. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with DCM. Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank were used for survival analysis to compare the difference in the incidence of cardiovascular events between the two groups. Results: The included 300 DCM patients were (47.8±16.8) years old, with 197 males (65.7%), of which 237 (79.0%) were isolated DCM and 63 (21.0%) were DCM with LVNC. The follow-up time was 4.0 (1.9, 6.2) years. A total of 142 (47.3%) MACEs occurred, including 117 (39.0%) major heart failure events, 20 (6.7%) severe ventricular arrhythmia events, and 53 (17.7%) cardiovascular death events. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (HR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.01-1.44, P=0.042), moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (HR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.19-2.47, P=0.004), increased ln (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) (HR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.10-1.54, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for dverse cardiovascular events in DCM patients, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)/angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) treatment (HR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.26-0.78, P=0.004) was independent protective factor. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis found no significant difference in the risk of MACEs between isolated DCM and DCM with LVNC (P=0.22). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the incidence of major heart failure, severe ventricular arrhythmia, and cardiovascular death between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: An increase in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and non use of ACEI/ARB/ARNI are independent predictors of cardiovascular events in DCM patients. There was no significant risk of MACEs in patients with isolated DCM and DCM with LVNC, and suggested that LVNC may be a unique phenotype and should be accurately managed in combination with genetic background.

Chinese herbal medicine may reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with dialysis hypotension: A taiwan nationwide cohort study

BackgroundThe association between Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and the risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with dialysis hypotension is unclear and has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to determine whether CMH intervention could reduce the risk of MACEs in patients with dialysis hypotension. MethodsThe study data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were analyzed to clarify this association. For this study, a case-control design with a cohort of patients who received hemodialysis (HD) from 2008 to 2018, 20 295 HD patients who had received blood pressure (BP) raising drugs were identified. After 1:1 frequency-matching, 730 patients were identified as CHM users and CHM non-users. Vascular access revision/reconstruction and MACEs were observed as the main outcomes during the follow-up period. ResultsThe occurrence of vascular access revision/reconstruction in HD patients receiving BP raising drugs was associated with a 0.34-fold lower risk in CHM users than in CHM non-users [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.26, 0.45]. The occurrences of MACEs in HD patients receiving BP raising drugs was associated with a 0.41-fold lower risk in CHM users than in CHM non-users (aHR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.33, 0.51). A markedly predominant effect was observed in those receiving CHM for more than 180 days (aHR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.45). ConclusionThe findings revealed lower vascular access dysfunction and MACEs risk correlated with the use of CHM treatment among HD patients who received BP raising drugs.

Glycemic variability evaluated by HbA1c rather than fasting plasma glucose is associated with adverse cardiovascular events.

Although studies have shown that glycemic variability is positively associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, few studies have compared hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) variability with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This was a post hoc analysis of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the relationship between HbA1c or FPG variability and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). In total, 9,547 patients with T2DM were enrolled in this study. During the median 4.6 ± 1.5 years follow-up period, 907 patients developed MACEs. The risk of MACEs increased in the HbA1c variability group in each higher quartile of HbA1c variability (P < 0.01). Compared with those in the first quartile of HbA1c variability, patients in the fourth quartile had a hazard ratio of 1.37 (Model 2, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.67) for MACEs. Higher FPG variability was not associated with a higher risk of MACEs in patients with T2DM (P for trend=0.28). A U-shaped relationship was observed between HbA1c and FPG variability, and MACEs. Glucose control therapy modified the relationship between HbA1c and MACEs; participants with higher HbA1c variability receiving intensive glucose control were more likely to develop MACEs (P for interaction <0.01). In adults with T2DM, the relationship between glycemic variability evaluated using HbA1c and FPG was U-shaped, and an increase in HbA1c variability rather than FPG variability was significantly associated with MACEs. The relationship between HbA1c variability and MACEs was affected by the glucose control strategy, and a higher HbA1c variability was more strongly associated with MACEs in patients receiving an intensive glucose control strategy.

Prediction of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events by Triglyceride Glucose Index in Predominantly Male Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by persistent joint inflammation. RA patients experience a considerably increased risk of cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. The current study investigated the association between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in a predominantly male cohort of RA patients. A total of 1613 RA patients (81.53% male) were selected from the Kailuan study. The TyG index was calculated as the logarithmic product of fasting blood triglyceride and fasting blood glucose divided by two. MACEs were defined as the composite of non-fatal myocardial infarctions and non-fatal strokes. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to study the association between the TyG index and MACEs. A total of 59 MACEs occurred during the median follow-up time of 5.32 years. Following adjustment for age and gender, analysis by multivariable Cox proportional hazards (model 1) showed that an elevated TyG index was associated with an increased risk of MACEs (quartile 2, hazard ratio (HR): 2.741, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.220-6.157, p = 0.015; quartile 4, HR: 2.521, 95% CI: 1.074-5.917, p = 0.034). After adjustment for other variables, Cox proportional hazards analysis (model 2) showed that an elevated TyG index was independently associated with an increased risk of MACEs (quartile 2, HR: 2.348, 95% CI: 1.009-5.465, p = 0.048). In addition, subgroup analysis showed a higher TyG index was significantly linked to an increased risk of MACEs in patients aged more than 65 years (quartile 2, HR: 6.048, 95% CI: 1.311-27.908, p = 0.021; quartile 4, HR: 12.074, 95% CI: 1.438-101.358, p = 0.022). The TyG index was associated with an increased risk of MACEs in a predominantly male cohort of RA patients. This index may be helpful for the prediction of MACEs in male patients with RA. Registration number in the Chinese clinical trial registry: ChiCTR-TNRC-11001489.

Development of a Novel Nomogram to Predict Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion.

Objectives: To create a nomogram using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging and 18F-FDG positron emissions tomography (PET) gated myocardial metabolism imaging to forecast major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT). Methods: A total of 257 patients who received OMT between January 2016 and December 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were randomly divided into development (n=179) and validation (n=78) cohorts. A thorough evaluation was conducted, encompassing clinical features and imaging analysis, which involved assessing myocardial perfusion and metabolism. Independent risk factors were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the clinical usefulness. Results: In the development cohort, 53 patients (29.6%) experienced MACE out of 179 patients, while in the validation cohort, MACE occurred in 23 (29.5%) patients out of 78. The PET-left ventricular end-systolic volume (P-ESV) (HR 1.01; 95% CI 1.003-1.017; p=0.003), hibernating myocardium / total perfusion defect (HM/TPD) (HR 1.053; 95% CI 1.038-1.069; p<0.001), PET-left ventricular ejection fraction (P-LVEF) (HR 0.862; 95% CI 0.788-0.943; p=0.001), and left anterior descending branch (LAD) (HR 2.303; 95% CI 1.086-4.884; p=0.03) were significantly associated with MACE and were used to develop the nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated excellent discrimination with C-indexes of 0.931 and 0.911 in the development and validation cohorts. DCA determined that the model exhibited a considerably superior net advantage in predicting MACE. Conclusion: A new nomogram integrating clinical factors and imaging features was created to predict the risk of MACE in patients with CTO.

Association between quantitative flow ratio and clinical outcomes in multivessel disease STEMI patients with diabetes mellitus.

Among patients with multivessel disease and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MVD-STEMI), complete revascularization (CR) has been shown with improved outcomes. However, it is controversial whether diabetes mellitus (DM) status affects the outcomes. Quantitative flow ratio (QFR), as a newer non-invasive tool for identifying functional coronary stenosis and determining the presence of functional CR (FCR), may open up a new perspective for studying the above issues. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate an association between QFR-based FCR and clinical outcomes in MVD-STEMI patients under DM status. A total of 623 patients were included in the final analysis. The patients were divided into nonDM cohort and DM cohort. Within each cohort, patients were further stratified into functional CR (FCR) layer and functional incomplete revascularization (FIR) layer based on QFR assessment. The primary outcomes were 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), encompassing cardiac death, ischemia-driven revascularization (target vessel and non-target vessel), rehospitalization due to unstable angina pectoris, and non-fatal myocardial infarction. The incidence of MACEs was significantly lower in the FCR layer than in the FIR layer (12.6% vs 24.0%, log-rank P<0.001). In the nonDM cohort, the incidence of MACEs was also lower in the FCR layer than in the FIR layer (9.8% vs 18.5%, log-rank P = 0.032). Similar situations occurred in the DM cohort (16.1% vs 27.9%, log-rank P = 0.017). In addition, the multivariate Cox analysis showed that rSSQFR (QFR-derived residual SYNTAX score) was significantly associated with the increased risk of MACEs in the nonDM cohort (HR (95% CI) = 1.18 (1.10-1.26), P<0.001) and DM cohort (HR (95% CI) = 1.13 (1.09-1.18), P<0.001). ROC analysis showed adding rSSQFR into the model of clinical risk factors yielded a significant improvement in prediction of MACEs, especially in the DM cohort (AUC (95% CI) = 0.747 (0.675-0.819), P = 0.001) than in the nonDM cohort (AUC (95% CI) = 0.697 (0.602-0.791), P = 0.033). Furthermore, additional multivariate Cox analysis showed that rSSQFR was associated with the increased risk of MACEs in patients with moderate lesions (DS of 50%-89%) after procedure (HR (95% CI) = 1.16 (0.11-1.22), P<0.001). In patients with MVD-STEMI, the incidence of MACEs was lower in FCR than in FIR, and the decrease was particularly significant in the DM cohort. The association between QFR-derived rSSQFR and MACEs was independent of baseline characteristic differences, and rSSQFR provided higher prognostic predictive ability in DM cohort than in nonDM cohort. Additionally, QFR had the additional utility of identifying moderate residual lesions that require revascularization.

Effect of quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound on the long-term prognosis of patients with chronic coronary syndrome.

Ultrasound is one of the most commonly used examination methods in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and is valuable in evaluating patient prognosis. Although contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can assess more in depth the vascular lesions of patients, there is still a lack of relevant research on the value of quantitative parameters of CEUS in predicting the long-term prognosis of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), thus, we designed this study. From January 2016 to December 2017, a total of 473 patients with CCS admitted to Yueyang People's Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were followed up for five years. According to whether the patients had major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), patients were divided into the MACE group (n=113) and the control group (n=360). The CEUS was performed to detect the myocardial perfusion status. The value of quantitative parameters of CEUS in predicting the MACE in patients with CCS was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Peak intensity of contrast agent at platform stage, rising rate of microbubble reperfusion, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were found to be valuable in predicting the risk of MACE in patients with CCS. Among them, the peak intensity of contrast agent at platform stage had the highest predictive value, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.860 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.827-0.894, P<0.001]. Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed that the peak intensity of contrast agent at platform stage <4.54 dB and rising rate of microbubble reperfusion <0.275 s were independent risk factors of MACE in patients with CCS. The relative risks were 12.238 (95% CI: 6.632-22.585) and 5.724 (95% CI: 3.149-10.405), respectively. Quantitative parameters of CEUS can be used as predictors of MACE in patients with CCS, and strengthening the management of such high-risk patients may be beneficial to reduce the incidence of MACE.