Strategies For Coronary Artery Disease Research Articles

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans present PCSK9 to the LDL receptor

Coronary artery disease is the main cause of death worldwide and accelerated by increased plasma levels of cholesterol-rich low-density lipoprotein particles (LDL). Circulating PCSK9 contributes to coronary artery disease by inducing lysosomal degradation of the LDL receptor (LDLR) in the liver and thereby reducing LDL clearance. Here, we show that liver heparan sulfate proteoglycans are PCSK9 receptors and essential for PCSK9-induced LDLR degradation. The heparan sulfate-binding site is located in the PCSK9 prodomain and formed by surface-exposed basic residues interacting with trisulfated heparan sulfate disaccharide repeats. Accordingly, heparan sulfate mimetics and monoclonal antibodies directed against the heparan sulfate-binding site are potent PCSK9 inhibitors. We propose that heparan sulfate proteoglycans lining the hepatocyte surface capture PCSK9 and facilitates subsequent PCSK9:LDLR complex formation. Our findings provide new insights into LDL biology and show that targeting PCSK9 using heparan sulfate mimetics is a potential therapeutic strategy in coronary artery disease.

P5817Effect of introducing an imaging based rule out strategy for coronary artery disease in patients with intermediate risk on the utilization of invasive coronary angiography

P5817Effect of introducing an imaging based rule out strategy for coronary artery disease in patients with intermediate risk on the utilization of invasive coronary angiography

Postoperative outcomes and management strategies for coronary artery disease in patients in need of a lung transplantation.

Patients requiring lung transplantation (LTx) may also have coronary artery disease (CAD). The peri-operative management and long-term outcomes of these patients are not well established. Patients referred for LTx from 2008 to 2014 were included in this study. CAD was defined by angiography as no CAD (stenosis <20%), moderate CAD (20%-69%), and significant CAD (stenosis ≥70%). Revascularization was per recommendations of local heart team. Postoperative cardiovascular outcomes and long-term survival are reported. A total of 1493 patients were screened for LTx during this period and 656 received a transplant. Of the patients that underwent LTx, 51% had no CAD, 33% had moderate non-obstructive CAD, and 16% had obstructive CAD. Forty-three patients underwent revascularization. There was a no increased risk of peri-operative cardiovascular events or for adjusted mortality for patients with obstructive CAD (HR=1.24, 95% CI: 0.83-1.86, P=.290) including those requiring revascularization. There is a high prevalence of coronary disease in the population of patients with advanced lung disease requiring lung transplantation. Careful evaluation and treatment can allow for patients with all severities of CAD including those requiring revascularization to successfully undergo LTx.

In-Stent Restenosis in Drug-Eluting Stents: Issues and Therapeutic Approach

Implantation of coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) became a predominant therapeutic strategy for coronary artery disease. One of the possible complications after DES implantation is in-stent restenosis (ISR) and today it becomes a significant issue for interventional cardiologists that requires further sustained and efficacious treatment. Widely accepted classification of DES-ISR is morphological classification proposed by Mehran et al. Currently available and effective therapeutic approach for DES-ISR include conventional balloon angioplasty, cutting or scoring balloon angioplasty, drug-coated/drug-eluting balloon angioplasty (DCB/DEB), DES in DES stenting (same or different), vascular brachytherapy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, optimal treatment for DES-ISR remains unknown. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) offer initial hope, but further clinical studies are required to establish their long-term efficacy and safety.

Thioredoxin-1 Attenuates Ventricular and Mitochondrial Postischemic Dysfunction in the Stunned Myocardium of Transgenic Mice.

We evaluated the effect of thioredoxin1 (Trx1) system on postischemic ventricular and mitochondrial dysfunction using transgenic mice overexpressing cardiac Trx1 and a dominant negative (DN-Trx1) mutant (C32S/C35S) of Trx1. Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to 15 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion (R). We measured left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP, mmHg), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP, mmHg), and t63 (relaxation index, msec). Mitochondrial respiration, SERCA2a, phospholamban (PLB), and phospholamban phosphorylation (p-PLB) Thr17 expression (Western blot) were also evaluated. At 30 min of reperfusion, Trx1 improved contractile state (LVDP: Trx1: 57.4 ± 4.9 vs. Wt: 27.1 ± 6.3 and DN-Trx1: 29.2 ± 7.1, p < 0.05); decreased myocardial stiffness (LVEDP: Wt: 24.5 ± 4.8 vs. Trx1: 11.8 ± 2.9, p < 0.05); and improved the isovolumic relaxation (t63: Wt: 63.3 ± 3.2 vs. Trx1: 51.4 ± 1.9, p < 0.05). DN-Trx1 mice aggravated the myocardial stiffness and isovolumic relaxation. Only the expression of p-PLB Thr17 increased at 1.5 min R in Wt and DN-Trx1 groups. At 30 min of reperfusion, state 3 mitochondrial O2 consumption was impaired by 13% in Wt and by 33% in DN-Trx1. ADP/O ratios for Wt and DN-Trx1 decrease by 25% and 28%, respectively; whereas the Trx1 does not change after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Interestingly, baseline values of complex I activity were increased in Trx1 mice; they were 24% and 47% higher than in Wt and DN-Trx1 mice, respectively (p < 0.01). These results strongly suggest that Trx1 ameliorates the myocardial effects of I/R by improving the free radical-mediated damage in cardiac and mitochondrial function, opening the possibility of new therapeutic strategies in coronary artery disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 25, 78-88.

Cytochrome P450-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and coronary artery disease in humans: a targeted metabolomics study

Cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) exhibit potent cardiovascular protective effects in preclinical models, and promoting the effects of EETs has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for coronary artery disease (CAD). The relationship between circulating EET levels and CAD extent in humans, however, remains unknown. A panel of free (unesterified) plasma eicosanoid metabolites was quantified in 162 patients referred for coronary angiography, and associations with extent of CAD [no apparent CAD (N = 39), nonobstructive CAD (N = 51), and obstructive CAD (N = 72)] were evaluated. A significant relationship between free EET levels and CAD extent was observed (P = 0.003) such that the presence of obstructive CAD was associated with lower circulating EET levels. This relationship was confirmed in multiple regression analysis where CAD extent was inversely and significantly associated with EET levels (P = 0.013), and with a biomarker of EET biosynthesis (P < 0.001), independent of clinical and demographic factors. Furthermore, quantitative enrichment analysis revealed that these associations were the most pronounced compared with other eicosanoid metabolism pathways. Collectively, these findings suggest that the presence of obstructive CAD is associated with lower EET metabolite levels secondary to suppressed EET biosynthesis. Novel strategies that promote the effects of EETs may have therapeutic promise for patients with obstructive CAD.

Treatment of bioresorbable scaffold failure.

Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) are a promising new interventional treatment strategy for coronary artery disease (CAD). They are intended to overcome some of the shortcomings of metal drug-eluting stents (DES), mainly late reinterventions which occur at a consistent rate after one year and have not been reduced by the use of local drug elution. Initial experience in non-complex lesions established efficacy in opening the vessel and the concept of bioresorption. However, with the use of BRS in more complex lesions, the incidence of BRS failure, including both scaffold restenosis and thrombosis, has also increased. Therefore, understanding of both the pathophysiology and of the available treatment options of scaffold failure remains an important issue in ensuring procedural and long-term clinical success.

Endothelial dysfunction and coronary artery disease: assessment, prognosis, and treatment.

Progress in the modification of conventional coronary risk factors and lifestyle behavior has reduced the incidence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease; nonetheless, it continues to be the leading cause of mortality in the world. This might be attributed to the defective risk stratifying and prevention strategy for coronary artery disease. In the current clinical setting, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease risk is estimated on the basis of identifying and quantifying only traditional risk factors; it does not take into consideration nontraditional risk factors. In addition, most of the prevailing therapies for atherosclerosis are targeted toward traditional risk factors rather than atherosclerosis itself. It is desirable to develop a method that can directly assess the activity of atherogenesis at every moment. Endothelial function is an integrated index of all atherogenic and atheroprotective factors present in an individual including nontraditional factors and heretofore unknown factors, and it is reported to have additional predictive value for future cardiovascular events to traditional risk factors. Moreover, endothelial function has a pivotal role in all phases of atherosclerosis, from initiation to atherothrombotic complication, and is reversible at every phase, indicating that endothelial function-guided therapies might be effective and feasible in cardiovascular practice. Thus, the introduction of endothelial function testing into clinical practice might enable us to innovate individualized cardiovascular medicine. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the contribution of endothelial dysfunction to atherogenesis and review the methods that assess endothelial function. Finally, we focus on the effects of major antiatherosclerotic disease therapies on endothelial function and argue the possibility of noninvasive assessment of endothelial function aiming at individualized cardiovascular medicine.

SPECT-MPI PREDICTS DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION OUTCOMES AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease. While renal transplantation is increasingly performed, there is a lack of data on screening strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients post-renal transplantation. Our objective was to determine the prognostic value of Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) in a large patient population post-renal transplantation. METHODS: We examined patients who underwent renal transplantation and post-transplant SPECT-MPI at a single university center over a 10-year period in Ontario, Canada (from 2003-2012). All-cause mortality was compared between patients who underwent post-transplant SPECT MPI vs those who did not undergo testing. Patients were identified from hospital discharge abstracts of the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). Secondary outcomes were a composite of myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular hospitalization. Outcomes were stratified by standard MPI score categories. Morbidity outcomes were determined from the CIHI database, while mortality was determined from the vital statistics registry. RESULTS: Among the study cohort, 556 (median age 48 [40-58 yrs]) underwent SPECT MPI post-renal transplantation. Patients who underwent SPECT MPI had higher prevalence of hypertension (93% vs. 85%, p<0.001), diabetes (56% vs 31%, p0). The median left ventricular ejection fraction by SPECT was 67% (IQR: 59-76) at rest and 70% (IQR: 62-77) post-stress. After adjusting for age, sex, prior MI, cardiac risk factors, and Charlson comorbidity index, an abnormal SSS conferred progressively increased risks of death or hospitalization (Figure). In particular, SSS 7 conferred increased risk of death with adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.55 (95%CI; 1.086.02, p1⁄40.03), and secondary outcomes of MI (adjusted HR 7.60 [95% CI; 1.64-35.24], p1⁄40.01), or cardiovascular hospitalization (adjusted HR 2.89 [95% CI; 1.615.21], p<0.001). In a matched comparison of 218 pairs of renal transplant patients with or without imaging, all-cause death was significantly lower in patients who underwent SPECT MPI (adjusted HR 0.47 [95%CI; 0.32-0.69], p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of patients post-renal transplantation, SPECT MPI stratified the risk of a broad range of cardiovascular disease events. Patients undergoing SPECT MPI exhibited lower mortality risk than those who did not undergo the procedure.

Review: Outcomes of Revascularization Strategies for Coronary Artery Disease

The optimal revascularization strategy for patients with coronary artery disease is influenced by the continuous improvement in medical therapy and the improved designs of the new generation of coronary stents allowing them to be increasingly applied in patients with complex coronary anatomy, including those with left main stem disease. On the other hand, surgical results are also improved as a result of the increased experience over years and the improvement of myocardial protection techniques. This will make the comparison of percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass surgery a moving target. In this paper, we reviewed the recent randomized controlled trials and important registries emphasizing the benefits and the results of each therapy in different patient subsets. A heart team of both cardiologists and cardiac surgeons is of paramount importance in choosing the optimal revascularization strategy.

Cardiac Surgery in Indigenous Australians – How Wide is ‘The Gap’?

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the Indigenous Australian population. Limited research exists in regards to cardiac surgery in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) population. We aimed to investigate risk profiles, surgical pathologies, surgical management and short term outcomes in a contemporary group of patients. Variables were assessed for 557 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at our institution between August 2008 and March 2010. 19.2% (107/557) of patients were of Indigenous origin. ATSI patients were significantly younger at time of surgery (mean age 54.1±13.23 vs. 63.1±12.46; p=<0.001) with higher rates of preventable risk factors. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was the dominant valvular pathology observed in the Indigenous population. Significantly higher rates of left ventricular impairment and more diffuse coronary artery disease were observed in ATSI patients. A non-significant trend towards higher 30-day mortality was observed in the Indigenous population (5.6% vs. 3.1%; p=0.244). Cardiac surgery is generally required at a younger age in the Indigenous population with patients often presenting with more advanced disease. Despite often more advanced disease, surgical outcomes do not differ significantly from non-Indigenous patients. Continued focus on preventative strategies for coronary artery disease and RHD in the Indigenous population is required.

Research Highlights: Highlights from the latest articles in antithrombotic and myocardial revascularization strategies in coronary artery disease

Research Highlights: Highlights from the latest articles in antithrombotic and myocardial revascularization strategies in coronary artery disease

Carotid Artery Stenting 2013: Thumbs up.

It has been customary for interventional cardiologists involved in carotid artery stenting, to underline non-inferiority of the percutaneous technique versus surgical carotid endarterectomy. To that end, all cause morbidity and mortality figures of both methods are compared. Surgery has, in most large randomized studies, had an edge over stenting in terms of cerebrovascular adverse events. This may have partly been due to occasional indiscriminate indication for stenting in lesions and/or vessels with unfavourable characteristics (severe target vessel tortuosity and calcification, Type III aortic arch, and so on). On one hand, the author pleads for improvement of the excellent results of endarterectomy, by subjecting all patients planned for surgery to a thorough preoperative cardiological work up, including generous invasive investigation, thus reducing the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction, heart failure and cardiac death. On the other hand, we are convinced that the results of carotid stenting should then be compared to best practice surgery. The rate of neurological adverse event rate after carotid endarterectomy at our institution lies under 0.7% at 30 days postoperatively. Specifically, the goal should be that carotid stenting underbids surgical endarterectomy, also and mainly, in terms of cerebral and cerebrovascular adverse events. Cardiac morbidity and mortality as well as laryngeal nerve palsy should no more be the main arguments for the percutaneous approach. This should easily be possible if patient selection for carotid revascularisation would be approached according to morphological criteria, in analogy with the “Syntax”-score used to optimise revascularisation strategies in coronary artery disease.

The prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy compared to coronary angiography in women with positive stress test results

Modern diagnostic strategy in coronary artery disease (CAD) makes it necessary not only to establish a diagnosis but also to assess the cardiovascular risk. It is not clear which strategy should be followed in the case of women with positive ECG stress test results to assess prognosis and start appropriate diagnostics and treatment.The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in comparison with coronary angiography in women suspected of CAD and with positive ECG stress test results. The study population comprised 115 women (mean age 58.08 ± 8.8 years) suspected of CAD, with a history of chest pain and positive stress test results, who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. In 58 women coronary angiography was performed as the next step of the diagnostic procedure. All the patients were interviewed and had a physical examination, including the assessment of the cardiovascular risk in accordance with the SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) scale and the probability of CAD (POST-TEST) in accordance with the ESC guidelines. The gated single photon emission computed tomography (GSPECT) with Tc-99m-MIBI was considered positive if moderate perfusion changes were observed in at least two segments or severe reversible perfusion disorders were found, regardless of the number of involved segments.The degree of coronary stenosis was assessed visually and changes greater than 50% stenosis of the luminal diameter were considered haemodynamically significant. The evaluation period covered 43.2 ± 30.8 months on average. The sensitivity of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy against cardiovascular events was 100% and the sensitivity of coronary angiography was 92.3%. The specificity was 93.1%and 88.9% respectively. The PPV of scintigraphy for cardiovascular events was 65% and of coronary angiography was 70.6%. The NPV was 100% and 97.6%respectively. The accuracy of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy for cardiovascular events was 93.9% and the accuracy of coronary angiography for cardiovascular events was 89.7%. The survival analysis confirmed the high prognostic value of SPECT and coronary angiography. However, if compared, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was a better predictor of survival without cardiovascular events than coronary angiography was (c2 = 9.39, p < 0.01).The most important factors in assessing the cardiovascular risk in the study population included: positive result of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, positive result of coronary angiography,and high SCORE and high POST-TEST values. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is superiorto coronary angiography in the prediction of necessary revascularisation procedures in women suspected of coronary artery disease and with positive stress test results.

The prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy compared to coronary angiography in women with positive stress test results

BACKGROUND: Modern diagnostic strategy in coronary arterydisease (CAD) makes it necessary not only to establish a diagnosisbut also to assess the cardiovascular risk. It is not clearwhich strategy should be followed in the case of women withpositive ECG stress test results to assess prognosis and startappropriate diagnostics and treatment.The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value ofmyocardial perfusion scintigraphy in comparison with coronaryangiography in women suspected of CAD and with positive ECGstress test results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population comprised115 women (mean age 58.08 ± 8.8 years) suspected of CAD, witha history of chest pain and positive stress test results, who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. In 58 women coronaryangiography was performed as the next step of the diagnosticprocedure. All the patients were interviewed and had a physicalexamination, including the assessment of the cardiovascularrisk in accordance with the SCORE (Systematic Coronary RiskEvaluation) scale and the probability of CAD (POST-TEST) inaccordance with the ESC guidelines. The gated single photonemission computed tomography (GSPECT) with Tc-99m-MIBIwas considered positive if moderate perfusion changes wereobserved in at least two segments or severe reversible perfusiondisorders were found, regardless of the number of involved segments.The degree of coronary stenosis was assessed visuallyand changes greater than 50% stenosis of the luminal diameterwere considered haemodynamically significant. RESULTS: The evaluation period covered 43.2 ± 30.8 monthson average. The sensitivity of myocardial perfusion scintigraphyagainst cardiovascular events was 100% and the sensitivity ofcoronary angiography was 92.3%. The specificity was 93.1%and 88.9% respectively.The PPV of scintigraphy for cardiovascular events was 65% and ofcoronary angiography was 70.6%. The NPV was 100% and 97.6%respectively. The accuracy of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy forcardiovascular events was 93.9% and the accuracy of coronaryangiography for cardiovascular events was 89.7%. The survivalanalysis confirmed the high prognostic value of SPECT and coronaryangiography. However, if compared, myocardial perfusionscintigraphy was a better predictor of survival without cardiovascularevents than coronary angiography was (c2 = 9.39, p &lt; 0.01).The most important factors in assessing the cardiovascular riskin the study population included: positive result of myocardialperfusion scintigraphy, positive result of coronary angiography,and high SCORE and high POST-TEST values. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is superiorto coronary angiography in the prediction of necessary revascularisation procedures in women suspected of coronary arterydisease and with positive stress test results.

Cancer-related deaths among different treatment options in chronic coronary artery disease

The primary end points of randomized clinical trials evaluating the outcome of therapeutic strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) have included nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, the need for further revascularization, and overall mortality. Noncardiac causes of death may distort the interpretation of the long-term effects of coronary revascularization. This post-hoc analysis of the second Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study evaluates the cause of mortality of patients with multivessel CAD undergoing medical treatment, percutaneous coronary intervention, or surgical myocardial revascularization [coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG)] after a 6-year follow-up. Mortality was classified as cardiac and noncardiac death, and the causes of noncardiac death were reported. Patients were randomized into CABG and non-CABG groups (percutaneous coronary intervention plus medical treatment). No statistical differences were observed in overall mortality (P=0.824). A significant difference in the distribution of causes of mortality was observed among the CABG and non-CABG groups (P=0.003). In the CABG group, of the 203 randomized patients, the overall number of deaths was 34. Sixteen patients (47.1%) died of cardiac causes and 18 patients (52.9%) died of noncardiac causes. Of these, seven deaths (20.6%) were due to neoplasia. In the non-CABG group, comprising 408 patients, the overall number of deaths was 69. Fifty-three patients (77%) died of cardiac causes and 16 patients (23%) died of noncardiac causes. Only five deaths (7.2%) were due to neoplasia. Different treatment options for multivessel coronary artery disease have similar overall mortality: CABG patients had the lowest incidence of cardiac death, but the highest incidence of noncardiac causes of death, and specifically a higher tendency toward cancer-related deaths.

214 The alphabet strategy for coronary artery disease and diabetes, a simple mnemonic novel approach in chronic disease management

The European Task Force on diabetes (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) highlighted the problem of poor diabetes management in patients presenting with cardiovascular problems. The Alphabet Strategy for Diabetes (ASD) is a novel mnemonic based template for diabetes management. Implementation of this approach resulted in improvements in all assessed components. Since it is now recognized that DM and CAD are “two sides of the same coin”, the Alphabet Strategy was therefore modified for treating patients with CAD (ASC).

Optimizing Revascularization Strategies in Coronary Artery Disease for Optimal Benefit to Patients

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have undergone substantial technological advances, and revascularization is an established therapeutic option in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Here we focus on optimization of decision making in revascularization strategies, as is being addressed in recent large clinical trials and the guidelines issued by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS).

Impact of cardiac hybrid single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging on choice of treatment strategy in coronary artery disease

AimsCardiac hybrid imaging by fusing single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) provides important complementary diagnostic information for coronary artery disease (CAD) assessment. We aimed at assessing the impact of cardiac hybrid imaging on the choice of treatment strategy selection for CAD.Methods and resultsThree hundred and eighteen consecutive patients underwent a 1 day stress/rest 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT and a CCTA on a separate scanner for evaluation of CAD. Patients were divided into one of the following three groups according to findings in the hybrid images obtained by fusing SPECT and CCTA: (i) matched finding of stenosis by CCTA and corresponding reversible SPECT defect; (ii) unmatched CCTA and SPECT finding; (iii) normal finding by both CCTA and SPECT. Follow-up was confined to the first 60 days after hybrid imaging as this allows best to assess treatment strategy decisions including the revascularization procedure triggered by its findings. Hybrid images revealed matched, unmatched, and normal findings in 51, 74, and 193 patients. The revascularization rate within 60 days was 41, 11, and 0% for matched, unmatched, and normal findings, respectively (P< 0.001 for all inter-group comparisons).ConclusionCardiac hybrid imaging with SPECT and CCTA provides an added clinical value for decision making with regard to treatment strategy for CAD.

Cardiac Surgery in Indigenous Australians—How Wide is ‘The Gap’?

Background Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the Indigenous Australian population. Limited research exists in regards to cardiac surgery in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) population. We aimed to investigate risk profiles, surgical pathologies, surgical management and short term outcomes in a contemporary group of patients. Methods Variables were assessed for 557 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at our institution between August 2008 and March 2010. Results 19.2% (107/557) of patients were of Indigenous origin. ATSI patients were significantly younger at time of surgery (mean age 54.1±13.23 vs. 63.1±12.46; p = p =0.244). Conclusions Cardiac surgery is generally required at a younger age in the Indigenous population with patients often presenting with more advanced disease. Despite often more advanced disease, surgical outcomes do not differ significantly from non-Indigenous patients. Continued focus on preventative strategies for coronary artery disease and RHD in the Indigenous population is required.