Spontaneous Myocardial Infarction Research Articles

A Narrative Review of Revascularization in Chronic Coronary Syndrome/Disease: Concepts and Misconceptions.

Ischemic heart disease represents a significant global burden of morbidity and mortality. While revascularization strategies are well defined in acute settings, there are uncertainties regarding chronic coronary artery disease treatment. Recent trials have raised doubts about the necessity of revascularization for "stable", chronic coronary syndromes or disease, leading to a shift towards a more conservative approach. However, the issue remains far from settled. In this narrative review, we offer a summary of the most pertinent evidence regarding revascularization for chronic coronary disease, while reflecting on less-often-discussed details of major clinical trials. The cumulative evidence available indicates that there can be a prognostic benefit from revascularization in chronic coronary syndrome patients, provided there is significant ischemia, as demonstrated by either imaging or coronary physiology. Trials that have effectively met this criterion consistently demonstrate a reduction in rates of spontaneous myocardial infarction, which holds both prognostic and clinical significance. The prognostic benefit of revascularization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction remains especially problematic, with a single contemporary trial favouring surgical revascularization. The very recent publication of a trial focused on revascularizing non-flow-limiting "vulnerable" plaques adds further complexity to the field. The ongoing debates surrounding revascularization in chronic coronary syndromes emphasize the importance of personalized strategies. Revascularization, added to the foundational pillar of medical therapy, should be considered, taking into account symptoms, patient preferences, coronary anatomy and physiology, ischemia tests and intra-coronary imaging.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Left Main Disease With and Without Diabetes: Findings From a Pooled Analysis of 4 Randomized Clinical Trials.

Diabetes may be associated with differential outcomes in patients undergoing left main coronary revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes in patients with left main disease with and without diabetes randomized to PCI versus CABG. Individual patient data were pooled from 4 trials (SYNTAX [Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery], PRECOMBAT [Premier of Randomized Comparison of Bypass Surgery Versus Angioplasty Using Sirolimus-Eluting Stent in Patients With Left Main Coronary Artery Disease], NOBLE [Nordic-Baltic-British Left Main Revascularisation Study], and EXCEL [Evaluation of XIENCE Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization]) that randomized patients with left main disease to PCI or CABG. Patients were considered suitable for either approach. Patients were categorized by diabetes status. Kaplan-Meier event rates, Cox model hazard ratios, and interactions were assessed. Among 4393 patients, 1104 (25.1%) had diabetes. Patients with diabetes experienced higher rates of 5-year death (158/1104 [Kaplan-Meier rate, 14.7%] versus 297/3289 [9.3%]; P<0.001), spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI; 67/1104 [6.7%] versus 114/3289 [3.7%]; P<0.001), and repeat revascularization (189/1104 [18.5%] versus 410/3289 [13.2%]; P<0.001). Rates of all-cause mortality did not differ after PCI versus CABG in those with (84/563 [15.3%] versus 74/541 [14.1%]; hazard ratio, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.82-1.52]) or without (155/1634 [9.7%] versus 142/1655 [8.9%]; hazard ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.86-1.36; PintHR=0.87) diabetes. Rates of stroke within 1 year were lower with PCI versus CABG in the entire population, with no heterogeneity based on diabetes status (PintHR=0.51). The 5-year rates of spontaneous MI and repeat coronary revascularization were higher after PCI regardless of diabetes status (spontaneous MI: 45/563 [8.9%] versus 22/541 [4.4%] in diabetes and 82/1634 [5.3%] versus 32/1655 [2.1%] in no diabetes, PintHR=0.47; repeat revascularization: 127/563 [24.5%] versus 62/541 [12.4%] in diabetes and 254/1634 [16.3%] versus 156/1655 [10.1%] in no diabetes, PintHR=0.18). For spontaneous MI and repeat revascularization, there were greater absolute risk differences beyond 1 year in patients with diabetes (4.9% and 9.9%) compared with those without (2.1% and 4.3%; PintARD=0.047 and 0.016). In patients with left main disease considered equally suitable for PCI or CABG and with largely low to intermediate SYNTAX scores, diabetes was associated with higher rates of death and cardiovascular events through 5 years. Compared with CABG, PCI resulted in no difference in the risk of death and a lower risk of early stroke regardless of diabetes status, and a higher risk of spontaneous MI and repeat coronary revascularization, with larger late absolute excess risks in patients with diabetes. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifiers: NCT01205776, NCT0146651, NCT00422968, and NCT00114972.

Acute Coronary Syndrome in Women: An Update.

The goal of this manuscript is to provide a concise summary of recent developments in the approach to and treatment of women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This review covers terminology updates relating to ACS and myocardial injury and infarction. Updates on disparities in recognition, treatments, and outcomes of women with ACS due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease are covered. Other causes of ACS, including spontaneous coronary artery dissection and myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease are discussed, given the increased frequency in women compared with men. The review summarizes the latest on the unique circumstance of ACS in women who are pregnant or post-partum, including etiologies, diagnostic approaches, medication safety, and revascularization considerations. Compared with men, women with ACS have unique risk factors, presentations, and pathophysiology. Treatments known to be effective for men with atherosclerosis-related ACS are also effective for women; further work remains on reducing the disparities in diagnosis and treatment. Implementation of multimodality imaging will improve diagnostic accuracy and allow for targeted medical therapy in the setting of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Impact of Incomplete Revascularization After PCI in Left Main Disease: The EXCEL Trial.

The importance of complete revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with left main coronary artery disease is uncertain. We investigated the clinical impact of complete revascularization in patients with left main coronary artery disease undergoing PCI in the EXCEL trial (Evaluation of XIENCE Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization). Composite rates of death or myocardial infarction (MI) following PCI during 5-year follow-up were examined in 903 patients based on core laboratory definitions of anatomic and functional complete revascularization, residual SYNTAX score (The Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery), and residual Jeopardy Score (rJS). The risk of death or MI did not vary based on anatomic, functional, or residual SYNTAX score complete revascularization but did differ according to the rJS (5-year rates 17.6%, 19.5%, and 38.9% with rJS 0, 2, and ≥4, respectively; P=0.006). The higher rate of death or MI with rJS≥4 versus rJS≤2 was driven conjointly by increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.29 [95% CI, 1.11-4.71]; P=0.02) and spontaneous MI (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.89 [95% CI, 1.17-7.17]; P=0.02). The most common location for untreated severe stenoses in the rJS≥4 group was the left circumflex artery (LCX), and the post-PCI absence, compared with the presence, of any untreated lesion with diameter stenosis ≥70% in the LCX was associated with reduced 5-year rates of death or MI (18.9% versus 35.2%; hazard ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.32-0.74]; P<0.001). The risk was the highest for residual ostial/proximal LCX lesions. Among patients undergoing PCI in EXCEL trial, incomplete revascularization according to the rJS was associated with increased rates of death and spontaneous MI. Post-PCI untreated high-grade lesions in the LCX (especially the ostial/proximal LCX) drove these outcomes. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01205776.

The role of drug-coated balloons for coronary bifurcation management: results from the prospective EASTBOURNE-BIF study.

Coronary bifurcation lesions are associated with less favourable outcome as compared to other lesion subsets. The role of drug-coated balloons (DCB) for bifurcation lesions has been only investigated in small studies so far, which reported encouraging results. We here describe the results of EASTBOURNE-BIF prospective registry, in which a sirolimus-DCB was used for the treatment of bifurcation lesions. Overall, 194 patients with bifurcations lesions identified in the EASTBOURNE study (Medina 1.1.1/1.1.0/1.0.1/0.1.1/0.1.0) were compared with 1049 patients with de-novo lesions from the same registry. Both a blended-strategy using a drug-eluting stent in the main branch and a DCB in the side branch as well as a full-DCB approach were used in the treatment of bifurcation lesions. At one year of follow-up the study primary endpoint, target-lesion revascularization occurred at a similar rate in the bifurcation group versus the de-novo group (4.2 vs. 2%, P=0.28). Similar outcomes were observed in terms of all-cause death (3.3 vs. 1.4%, P=0.138), major adverse cardiovascular events (8.8 vs. 5.2%, P=0.081) and the rate of spontaneous myocardial infarction (2.8 vs. 1.0%, P=0.117). The results of EASTBOURNE-BIF study show how the use of this DCB alone or in combination with drug eluting stents could represent a safe and effective alternative to stents for the treatment of bifurcations.

Sirolimus-coated balloon in all-comer population of coronary artery disease patients: the EASTBOURNE DIABETES prospective registry

BackgroundThe outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in diabetic patients are still suboptimal, and it is unclear if diabetic patients might derive a benefit from the use of drug-coated balloons.AimsTo evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus on the outcomes of patients undergoing PCI with sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB) MagicTouch (Concept Medical, India).MethodsWe conducted a subgroup analysis of the prospective, multicenter, investigator-initiated EASTBOURNE registry, evaluating the performance of MagicTouch SCB in patients with and without diabetes. The study primary endpoint was target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12-month follow-up. Secondary clinical endpoints were major adverse clinical events (MACE), death, myocardial infarction (MI), and BARC 2–5 bleedings.ResultsAmong 2,083 enrolled patients, a total of 864 suffered from diabetes (41.5%). Patients with diabetes had a numerically higher occurrence of TLR (6.5% vs. 4.7% HR 1.38, 95%CI 0.91–2.08), all-cause death (3.8% vs. 2.6%, HR 1.81, 95%CI 0.95–3.46), and MACE (12.2% vs. 8.9%; HR 1.26 95%CI 0.92–1.74). The incidence of spontaneous MI was significantly higher among diabetic patients (3.4% vs. 1.5%, HR 2.15 95%CI 1.09–4.25); bleeding events did not significantly differ. The overall incidence of TLR was higher among in-stent restenosis (ISR) as compared to de-novo coronary lesions, irrespectively from diabetes status.ConclusionsIn the EASTBOURNE DIABETES registry, diabetic patients treated with the MagicTouch SCB did not have a significant increase in TLR when compared to non-diabetic patients; moreover, diabetic status did not affect the study device performance in terms of TLR, in both de-novo lesions and ISR.

Impact of Low Bone Mineral Content Index on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The prognostic value of bone mineral content (BMC) for the clinical outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unknown. The present study evaluated the association between BMC index (BMCI) and cardiovascular events between January 2020 to June 2021, in consecutive patients (n = 257) with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Nagano Municipal Hospital. BMCI was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis and calculated as the BMC divided by height squared. Patients were classified as low (<0.918) or high BMCI (≥0.918) groups according to the receiver operating characteristics curve analysis for the primary endpoint, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, stroke, and any revascularization. During a median follow-up of 744days, the low BMCI group (n = 152) had an increased risk of MACE compared with the high group (n = 105) (19.7 vs 6.7%, P = .004). A low BMCI was significantly associated with MACE in the multivariable Cox and the Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting analyses (hazard ratio: 3.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.15-8.67, P = .025). In conclusion, among patients with CAD undergoing PCI, BMCI was a predictor for cardiovascular events. Further research is required to determine whether medical interventions for BMC can improve patient prognosis.

Mortality after periprocedural myocardial injury and spontaneous myocardial infarction according to the levels of troponin increase: insights from a large PCI registry

Abstract Background Periprocedural myocardial injury and spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) are potential complications in patients with coronary artery disease. The prognostic impact of periprocedural myocardial injury as compared to that of spontaneous MI has not been fully assessed. Aim To assess the impact on mortality of periprocedural myocardial injury and spontaneous MI according to thresholds of troponin increase proposed in expert consensus documents. Methods Among patients undergoing PCI at a large volume center, we included those presenting with: 1) chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) with normal (≤1x upper reference level [URL]) cardiac troponin I (cTnI) at baseline and after PCI (no myocardial events); 2) CCS with normal baseline cTnI and increased (&amp;gt;1 URL) cTnI in the 48 hours after PCI (periprocedural myocardial injury), and 3) type I MI (spontaneous MI). Patients with missing cTnI values, patients with CCS and increased baseline cTnI (&amp;gt;1 URL) and patients with unstable angina were excluded. Patients with periprocedural myocardial injury and spontaneous MI were stratified in 4 groups according to the cTnI peak value: 1-5, 5-35, 35-70, &amp;gt;70 times (x) above the URL. The risk of all-cause death at 1-year after PCI was assessed across the cTnI strata using the group with no myocardial events as reference. The conventional cTnI was measured with the Architect methodology (Abbott, Chicago, Illinois) and the URL was 0.4 ng/mL. Results Among patients undergoing PCI between 2012 and 2019, 7602 had no myocardial events, 913 had periprocedural myocardial injury and 2192 presented with spontaneous MI. CTnI peak was 1-5x, 5-35x, 35-70x, &amp;gt;70x above URL in 53%, 41%, 4%, 2% of patients with periprocedural myocardial injury, respectively, and in 24%, 38%, 11%, 26% of patients with spontaneous MI, respectively (Figure 1). Rate of all-cause death was 1.4% in patients with no myocardial events. The risk of all-cause death at 1-year was increased after periprocedural myocardial injury with a peak cTnI of 35-70x URL and tended to be higher with a peak cTnI &amp;gt;70x URL (Figure 2). Among patients with spontaneous MI, the risk of all-cause death was significantly higher in all cTnI strata (Figure 2). Adjusted results and p-value for comparisons between periprocedural myocardial injury and spontaneous MI will be presented at ESC 2023. Conclusions All-cause death at 1-year was not increased after periprocedural myocardial injury with a peak cTnI ≤35x URL. Periprocedural myocardial injury with cTnI peak &amp;gt;35x URL and spontaneous MI with any cTnI elevation were associated with a similar crude risk of all-cause death.Figure 2

Current use of antiplatelet therapy in the management of acute myocardial infarction: overview of the FRENCHIE national registry

Abstract Background There are many options for antiplatelet therapy (APT) at various stages in the management of acute myocardial infarction (MI) but few contemporary data regarding use in routine clinical practice in unselected patients. Purpose to describe the contemporary use of APT treatments in unselected MI patients. Methods FRENCHIE (FRENch CoHort of myocardial Infarction Evaluation) is a multicenter observational study (38 centers in France) consecutively enrolling patients with spontaneous MI whose symptoms were &amp;lt; 48 hours. Exclusion criteria were age &amp;lt; 18 years, no health coverage, unstable angina and procedure-related MI. Results Between September 2019 and December 2020, 10190 patients with MI were enrolled. Complete data on APT use were available for 9842 patients. Of these, 54.5% had ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 45.5% non-STEMI (NSTEMI). During the first 24 hours, APT use for STEMI and NSTEMI patients, was as follows, respectively: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 95.1% and 88.8%, clopidogrel 12.4% and 17.7%, ticagrelor 79.5% and 55.0%, prasugrel 4.8% and 3.6%, GPIIb-IIIa inhibitors 23.8% and 6.5%, Cangrelor 1.1% and 0.8%. Among STEMI patients, 3.2% had undergone thrombolysis, 92.2% primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and 4.5% did not have reperfusion during acute phase management. The use of ASA was similar regardless of the initial reperfusion strategy, but that of P2Y12 inhibitors (P2Y12i) was different. Clopidogrel was mainly used in case of thrombolysis, 69.6% of cases, while ticagrelor was mainly used in case of pPCI or medical treatment alone, respectively in 83.9% and 59.7% of cases. GPIIb-IIIa inhibitors were used in 9.3%, 26.2% and 11.4% in patients who had undergone thrombolysis, pCI and medical treatment respectively. At hospital discharge, APT use was as follows, respectively for STEMI and NSTEMI patients: ASA 94.6% and 91.2%, clopidogrel 14.7% and 21.8%, ticagrelor 72.6% and 54.9%, prasugrel 6.9% and 5.7%. The first P2Y12i administered was different from that retained at discharge in 15.4% of STEMI and 12.5% of NSTEMI patients. The most common scenario was switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel in 64.2% of STEMI patients and 57.2% of NSTEMI patients. No P2Y12i was prescribed at discharge in 3.6% of STEMI patients and 11.3% of NSTEMI patients. Conclusion In contemporary practice in France, P2Y12i use was different according to MI type and to initial reperfusion strategy. GPIIb-IIIa inhibitors were used in more than a quarter of STEMI patients with pPCI. Switching between P2Y12i occurred in 1/8 of patients before discharge and deserves further investigation.

Guideline adherence to statin therapy and association with major adverse cardiac events in high-risk patients following major noncardiac surgery

Abstract Introduction Statins are widely used for the prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated secondary cardiovascular complications. Despite established evidence in acute and chronic cardiovascular disease, the optimal perioperative use of statins remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate adherence to current guideline recommendations regarding statin therapy in high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery and its association with major adverse cardiac event (MACE). Methods Class I indications for statin therapy according to current ESC clinical practice guidelines were assessed among consecutive high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery enrolled in a prospective multicentre cohort study. The primary endpoint MACE, a composite of cardiovascular death and spontaneous acute myocardial infarction, was recorded during 120-day follow up and centrally adjudicated by cardiologists blinded to statin therapy. As a co-primary endpoint, perioperative myocardial infarction/injury (PMI) due to a type 1 MI (T1MI) or likely type 2 MI (lT2MI) within the first three postoperative days was used. After multivariable adjustment with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to account for differences between statin and non-statin users, we performed a Cox proportional hazard model with MACE and a logistic regression model with PMI due to T1MI or lT2MI as endpoints. Results Between October 2014 and February 2018, we included 8116 high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. 4227 of 8116 patients (52.1%) had at least one class I indication for statin therapy. The most common indication for statin use was CAD in 2235 patients (52.9%) followed by diabetes with comorbidities in 1676 patients (39.6%) and peripheral artery disease in 1514 patients (35.8%). From all patients with a class I indication for statin use, only 2440 (57.7%) were on statins preoperatively. Usage was highest in patients with prior myocardial infarction (828/1110 [74.6%]) and lowest in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3-5 (494/996 [49.6%]). During the follow up of 120 days, 192 MACE occurred (4.6%) including 116 cardiovascular deaths. After multivariable adjustment, preoperative use of statins was associated with a reduced risk of MACE (weighted hazard ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-0.86; p = 0.006). PMI due to T1MI or lT2MI occurred in 508 of 4170 (12.2%) patients. After IPTW, the weighted odds ratio for PMI in patients receiving preoperative statin therapy was 1.15 (95%CI 1.01-1.31; p = 0.036). Conclusion Current adherence to guideline-recommended statin therapy in the noncardiac surgery population is suboptimal. The use of statins was associated with reduced rates of adverse cardiac events within 120 days, but not with cardiac PMI.Percentage of patients receiving statinsMACE within 120 days

Effect of Body Mass Index on the Prognostic Value of Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the prognostic value of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) for adverse cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) varied across different BMI groups. (2) Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry involving 1725 ACS patients undergoing PCI. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal ischemic stroke, non-fatal spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI), and unplanned repeat revascularization. (3) Results: The study population finally consisted of 526 patients with BMI < 24 kg/m2 (age 62 ± 10 years; male 64.3%), 827 patients with 24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2 (age 60 ± 10 years; male 81.8%), and 372 patients with BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 (age 57 ± 11 years; male 81.2%). The AIP as a continuous variable increased the risk for the primary endpoint in ACS patients undergoing PCI with BMI < 24 kg/m2 (HR 2.506; 95% CI 1.285-4.885; p = 0.007), while it did not increase the risk in patients with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.747; 95% CI 0.921-3.316; p = 0.088 for patients with 24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2; and HR: 2.096; 95% CI 0.835-5.261; p = 0.115 for patients with BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, respectively). Compared with the lowest AIP tertile, the top AIP tertile was associated with a significantly increased risk of the primary endpoint in BMI < 24 kg/m2 group (HR: 1.772, 95% CI: 1.110 to 2.828, p = 0.016). (4) Conclusions: The AIP was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events in ACS patients undergoing PCI with BMI < 24 kg/m2, but not in the patients with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2.

Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Women.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women globally. Numerous studies show ongoing disparities in diagnosis, management, and outcomes of ischemic heart disease in women compared to men. We aim to review the factors contributing to sex-based differential outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in women. Hormonal influence on coronary arteries and progression of atherosclerosis in women results in distinct coronary plaque characteristics and unique pathological process such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection and myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. During the presentation of acute coronary syndromes, women are older and have higher burden of comorbidities, with higher short- and long-term mortality. Awareness of differences in vascular biology and unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women is essential for sustained improvement in cardiovascular mortality. Better representation of women in trials is crucial to address the gaps in knowledge and allow for individualized treatment approaches in women.

Bifurcation PCI with a hybrid strategy with drug- eluting balloons versus a stepwise provisional two- stent strategy: Rationale and design of the hybrid DEB study

The Hybrid DEB study is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial investigating noninferiority of a hybrid DEB approach, using a combination of a drug-eluting stent (DES) in the main vessel and DEB in the side branch, compared to stepwise provisional two-stent strategy in patients with true bifurcation lesions. A total of 500 patients with de novo true coronary bifurcation lesions, treated with a stepwise provisional approach and an unsatisfactory result of the side branch after main vessel stenting (≥ 70% stenosis and/or < thrombolysis in myocardial infarction III flow), will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either treatment with a DEB or with a DES in the side branch. The primary endpoint is a composite endpoint of the occurrence of all-cause death, periprocedural or spontaneous myocardial infarction and/or target vessel revascularization at the anticipated median 2-year follow-up. The Hybrid DEB study will compare in a multicenter, randomized fashion a hybrid DEB approach with a stepwise provisional two-stent strategy in patients with true bifurcation lesions. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT05731687.

Colchicine and diabetes in patients with chronic coronary artery disease: insights from the LoDoCo2 randomized controlled trial.

Despite optimal treatment, patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are at high risk of cardiovascular events, emphasizing the need for new treatment options. The Low-Dose Colchicine 2 (LoDoCo2) trial demonstrated that colchicine reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic CAD. This analysis determines the efficacy of colchicine in patients with chronic CAD and DM as well as the effect of colchicine on the development of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The LoDoCo2 trial randomized 5,522 patients to placebo or colchicine 0.5 mg once daily, with a median follow-up of 28.6 months. The primary composite endpoint was cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven revascularization. The effect of its treatment in patients with and without DM was evaluated by including an interaction term in the model. A total of 1,007 participants (18.2%) had T2DM at baseline. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [(95% confidence interval (CI)] for the primary endpoint in the T2DM group was 1.52 (1.15-2.01, p < 0.01) compared with the group without T2DM. The HR for the treatment effect on the primary endpoint was 0.87 (0.61-1.25) in participants with T2DM and 0.64 (0.51-0.80) in participants without diabetes (pinteraction = 0.14). The incidence of new-onset T2DM was 1.5% (34 out of 2,270) in the colchicine group and 2.2% (49 out of 2,245) in the placebo group (p = 0.10). In conclusion, based on the current evidence, the beneficial effects of colchicine on cardiovascular endpoints are consistent regardless of DM status. The potential benefits of colchicine in preventing new-onset DM need further investigation. These findings are only hypothesis-generating and require larger prospective trials to confirm the results.

Diagnostic Puzzles and Cause-Targeted Treatment Strategies in Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries: An Updated Review.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a distinct subtype of myocardial infarction (MI), occurring in about 8-10% of spontaneous MI cases referred for coronary angiography. Unlike MI with obstructive coronary artery disease, MINOCA's pathogenesis is more intricate and heterogeneous, involving mechanisms such as coronary thromboembolism, coronary vasospasm, microvascular dysfunction, dissection, or plaque rupture. Diagnosing MINOCA presents challenges and includes invasive and non-invasive strategies aiming to differentiate it from alternative diagnoses and confirm the criteria of elevated cardiac biomarkers, non-obstructive coronary arteries, and the absence of alternate explanations for the acute presentation. Tailored management strategies for MINOCA hinge on identifying the underlying cause of the infarction, necessitating systematic diagnostic approaches. Furthermore, determining the optimal post-MINOCA medication regimen remains uncertain. This review aims to comprehensively address the current state of knowledge, encompassing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, in the context of MINOCA while also highlighting the evolving landscape and future directions for advancing our understanding and management of this intricate myocardial infarction subtype.

Guideline adherence to statin therapy and association with short-term and long-term cardiac complications following noncardiac surgery: A cohort study.

Peri-operative complications are common and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Optimising the use of statins might be of important benefit in peri-operative care and reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate adherence to current guideline recommendations regarding statin therapy and its association with peri-operative and long-term cardiac complications. Prospective cohort study. Multicentre study with enrolment from October 2014 to February 2018. Eight thousand one hundred and sixteen high-risk inpatients undergoing major noncardiac surgery who were eligible for the institutional peri-operative myocardial injury/infarction (PMI) active surveillance and response program. Class I indications for statin therapy were derived from the current ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines during the time of enrolment. PMI was prospectively defined as an absolute increase in cTn concentration of the 99th percentile in healthy individuals above the preoperative concentration within the first three postoperative days. Long-term cardiac complications included cardiovascular death and spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) within 120 days. The mean age was 73.7 years; 45.2% were women. Four thousand two hundred and twenty-seven of 8116 patients (52.1%) had a class I indication for statin therapy. Of these, 2440 of 4227 patients (57.7%) were on statins preoperatively. Adherence to statins was lower in women than in men (46.9 versus 63.9%, P < 0.001). PMI due to type 1 myocardial infarction/injury (T1MI; n = 42), or likely type 2 MI (lT2MI; n = 466) occurred in 508 of 4170 (12.2%) patients. The weighted odds ratio in patients on statin therapy was 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.31, P = 0.036]. During the 120-day follow-up, 192 patients (4.6%) suffered cardiovascular death and spontaneous MI. After multivariable adjustment, preoperative use of statins was associated with reduced risk; weighted hazard ratio 0.59 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.86, P = 0.006). Adherence to guideline-recommended statin therapy was suboptimal, particularly in women. Statin use was associated with an increased risk of PMI due to T1MI and lT2MI but reduced risk of cardiovascular death and spontaneous MI within 120 days. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02573532.

Comparison of Recurrent With First-Time In-Stent Restenosis

Recurrent in-stent restenosis (Re-ISR) remains a therapeutic challenge. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment, and long-term outcomes in patients with Re-ISR compared with those with first-time ISR (First-ISR). This retrospective study consecutively enrolled patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ISR in Fuwai Hospital between January 2017 and December 2018. Re-ISR was defined as a second event of ISR after a previous successful treatment of the ISR lesion. The primary outcome was defined as a composite of all-cause death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization. A total of 2,006 patients (2,154 lesions) with ISR underwent successful PCI were enrolled and categorized into 2 groups: the Re-ISR group (246 patients/259 lesions) and the First-ISR group (1,760 patients/1,895 lesions). During a mean follow-up of 36months, the primary outcomes occurred in 80 patients (32.5%) in the Re-ISR group and 349 patients (19.3%) in the First-ISR group (p <0.001 by log-rank test), major driven by spontaneous myocardial infarction (4.9% vs 2.7%, p=0.049) and repeat revascularization (30.1% vs 16.5%, p <0.001). The multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that Re-ISR was independently associated with a higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.39 to 2.53, p <0.001) and repeated revascularization (adjusted hazard ratio 2.09, 95% confidence interval 1.53 to 2.84, p <0.001). The relation remained consistent after the propensity score analysis. In conclusion, in the present cohort of patients who underwent PCI for ISR, Re-ISR was significantly associated with a higher risk of long-term outcomes than First-ISR.

Drug-eluting stent and drug-coated balloon for the treatment of de novo diffuse coronary artery disease lesions: A retrospective case series study.

The hybrid strategy of a combination of drug-eluting stent (DES) and drug-coated balloon (DCB) is promising for the treatment of de novo diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD). To investigate the efficacy and functional results of hybrid strategy. This case series study included patients treated with a hybrid approach for de novo diffuse CAD between February 2017 and November 2021. Postprocedural quantitative flow ratio (QFR) was used to evaluate the functional results. The primary endpoint was procedural success rate. The secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) (including peri-procedural MI), and target vessel revascularization. A total of 109 patients with 114 lesions were treated. DES and DCB were commonly used in larger proximal segments and smaller distal segments, respectively. The mean QFR value was 0.9 ± 0.1 and 105 patients (96.3%) had values >0.8 in all the treated vessels. Procedural success was achieved in 106 (97.2%) patients. No cases of cardiac death were reported at a median follow-up of 19 months. Spontaneous MI occurred in three (2.8%) patients and target vessel revascularization in six (5.5%) patients. Estimated 2-year rate of MACE excluding peri-procedural MI was higher in the group with lower QFR value (12.1 ± 5.7% vs. 5.6 ± 4.4%, log-rank p = .035) (cut-off value 0.9). Hybrid strategy is a promising approach for the treatment of de novo diffuse CAD. Postprocedural QFR has some implications for prognosis and may be helpful in guiding this approach.

Prognostic Value of Coronary CT Angiography-derived Fractional Flow Reserve on 3-year Outcomes in Patients with Stable Angina.

Background The prognostic value of coronary CT angiography (CTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) beyond 1-year outcomes and in patients with high levels of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is uncertain. Purpose To assess the prognostic value of coronary CTA-derived FFR test results on 3-year clinical outcomes in patients with coronary stenosis and among a subgroup of patients with high levels of CAC. Materials and Methods This study represents a 3-year follow-up of patients with new-onset stable angina pectoris who were consecutively enrolled in the Assessing Diagnostic Value of Noninvasive CT-FFR in Coronary Care, known as ADVANCE (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02499679) registry, between December 2015 and October 2017 at three Danish sites. A high CAC was defined as an Agatston score of at least 400. A lesion-specific coronary CTA-derived FFR value of 2 cm with distal-to-stenosis value at or below 0.80 represented an abnormal test result. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause death and nonfatal spontaneous myocardial infarction. Event rates were estimated using the one-sample binomial model, and relative risk was compared between participants stratified by results of coronary CTA-derived FFR. Results This study included 900 participants: 523 participants with normal results (mean age, 64 years ± 9.6 [SD]; 318 male participants) and 377 with abnormal results from coronary CTA-derived FFR (mean age, 65 years ± 9.6; 264 male participants). The primary end point occurred in 11 of 523 (2.1%) and 25 of 377 (6.6%) participants with normal and abnormal coronary CTA-derived FFR results, respectively (relative risk, 3.1; 95% CI: 1.6, 6.3; P < .001). In participants with high CAC, the primary end point occurred in four of 182 (2.2%) and 19 of 212 (9.0%) participants with normal and abnormal coronary CTA-derived FFR results, respectively (relative risk, 4.1; 95% CI: 1.4, 11.8; P = .001). Conclusion In individuals with stable angina, a normal coronary CTA-derived FFR test result identified participants with a low 3-year risk of all-cause death or nonfatal spontaneous myocardial infarction, both in the overall cohort and in participants with high CAC scores. Clinical trial registration no. NCT02499679 Published under a CC BY 4.0 license. Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Sinitsyn in this issue.

Clinical outcomes of coronary intravascular lithotripsy in patients with stent failure (COIL registry)

BackgroundIntravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment of calcified de novo coronary lesions. Safety data on the use of IVL within stented segments are lacking. We sought to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and long-term outcomes of IVL in patients with stent failure. MethodsThis was a retrospective multi-centre registry that included consecutive patients with stent failure who had undergone IVL treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was procedural success defined as residual stenosis <30% (determined by quantitative coronary angiography analysis) in patients who survived hospital admission without in-hospital adverse events. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as the composite endpoints of cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularisation at one-year follow up. Results102 patients were included in this study. Mean age was 73 ± 9 years and 81% were male. The duration from previous stent implantation and IVL treatment was 24 (interquartile range 7–76) months, of which 10.8% received IVL for acute under-expanded stent. IVL treatment allowed significant improvement in both minimal lumen diameter (1.14 ± 0.60 to 2.53 ± 0.59, P < 0.001) and degree of stenosis (66.8 ± 19.9 to 20.3 ± 11.3%, P < 0.001). The rate of procedural success was 78.4% (80/102 of patients). The one-year MACE was 15.7%. Ostial disease (HR 5.16; 95% CI 1.19 to 22.33; P = 0.028) and lesion length (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.10; P = 0.010) were independently associated with one-year MACE. ConclusionsIn patients with stent failure, IVL is a safe and feasible treatment for this high-risk group.