Strong Predictor Of 1-year Mortality Research Articles

Correlation of Malnutrition Inflammation Score and Highly Sensitive C-reactive Protein with Mortality and Morbidity in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis in a Tertiary Care Center from South India – A Prospective Study

ABSTRACT Background: Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis have a high prevalence of protein energy malnutrition and inflammation. There are very few Indian studies which have looked into the utility of malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) in assessing the prognosis in dialysis patients. The objectives of this study were to assess the correlation of MIS with mortality and morbidity among hemodialysis patients and to compare it with highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Methodology: MIS and hs-CRP were calculated for each patient at the beginning of the study and at the end of 12 months. Patients were followed up for 1 year and assessed for hospitalization rates, infection rates, erythropoietin requirements, cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events, and mortality. Results: A very high mortality of 50% was noted with those who had MIS ≥10. MIS score of >7 was a strong predictor of 1-year mortality. There was an increased rate of hospitalization and infections noted in patients with higher MIS scores. There was a good correlation between MIS scores and hs-CRP among dialysis patients. Upon follow-up, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of serum albumin, hs-CRP, and hospitalization rates among those patients who continued to be in the low-risk group MIS (1–4) when compared to those who had worsening of their MIS scores at the end of 1 year. Conclusion: MIS is a good indicator of mortality and morbidity among dialysis patients. Periodic assessment of MIS score in the dialysis unit will enable us to risk stratify the patients and take necessary measures to improve their quality of life. By providing adequate dialysis, vascular access care, and nutritional support, it is possible to reduce the MIS and decrease the mortality and morbidity among hemodialysis patients.

The Clinical Frailty Scale is a Strong Predictor of 1-Year Mortality in Surgically Managed Hip Periprosthetic Fracture: An Analysis From a High-Volume Institution

BackgroundHip periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) after primary total hip arthroplasty are increasing with the number of primary implants and aging population. Mortality has been reported up to 34% at 1-year. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and 1-year mortality, complication rate, and length of stay (LOS) in surgically managed hip PPFs. MethodsThis was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from January 2008 to January 2021. A total of 282 surgically managed hip PPFs were identified. Mean age was 79 years (range, 42 to 106). Preoperative scores were analyzed through linear regression to identify significant association with mortality, complication and LOS. Receiver operating characteristic curve and Area Under the Curve (AUC) were generated to evaluate the quality of the models and the discriminatory ability of each clinical score. Significance was considered at P values < .05. ResultsMortality was 7.8% at 3-months and 15.7% at 1-year. Complication rate requiring surgery was 19.5% and mean LOS was 8.9 ± 7 days. The CFS was significantly associated with 3-month (odds ratio 2.23, P < .001) and 1-year mortality (odds ratio 2.01, P < .001). The receiver operating characteristic curve test for 1-year mortality showed a greater AUC for the CFS when compared with American Society for Anesthesiologists score and age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (AUC 0.80 versus 0.68 versus 0.72, respectively). ConclusionsFrailty is a syndrome with increased risk of mortality after surgically managed PPF. The CFS can be easily assessed at the time of admission and could be considered as a strong and reliable predictor of 1-year mortality with a greater AUC than the conventionally used American Society for Anesthesiologists score.

Deceleration capacity of heart rate predicts 1-year mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair.

Risk stratification for transcatheter procedures in patients with severe mitral regurgitation is challenging. Deceleration capacity (DC) has already proven to be a reliable risk predictor in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We hypothesized, that DC provides prognostic value in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER). We retrospectively analyzed electrocardiogram signals from 106 patients undergoing TEER at the University Hospital of Tübingen. All patients received continuous heart-rate monitoring to assess DC following the procedure. One-year all-cause mortality was defined as the primary end point. Sixteen patients (15.1%) died within 1 year. The DC in nonsurvivors was significantly reduced compared to survivors (5.1 ± 3.0 vs. 3.0 ± 1.6 ms, p = 0.002). A higher EuroSCORE II and impaired left ventricular function were furthermore associated with poor outcome. In Cox regression analyses, a DC < 4.5 ms was found a strong predictor of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio: 0.10, 95% confidence interval: 0.13-0.79, p = 0.029). Finally, a significant negative correlation was found between DC and residual mitral regurgitation after TEER (r = -0.41, p < 0.001). In patients with severe mitral regurgitation undergoing TEER, DC may serve as a new predictor of follow-up mortality.

Mitral valve surgery after failed MitraClip-Operation for the inoperable?

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair technique (MitraClip) is a widely used treatment for mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients assessed with high surgical risk or inoperability. Only limited experiences with this highest-risk patient population exist. Procedural failure for MitraClip or recurrent MR is a strong predictor of 1-year mortality. Open mitral valve surgery constitutes the last bailout for patients within this cohort. This retrospective single-center cohort study analyzed 17 mitral valve surgery patients after failed MitraClip. We, therefore, analyzed a high-risk patient population (EuroSCOREII = 10 ± 2.0) with persistent mitral valve regurgitation, which was mainly caused by detachment or dislocation of the MitraClip. Symptomatic patients with failed MitraClip need a convenient operation (mean time to mitral valve surgery = 23 ± 44 days). The patient's collective showed many complex reoperations with the need for concomitant surgery. Considering the high-risk patient population, we showed an average 30-day all-cause mortality (18%, n = 3) accompanied by typical postoperative complications related to prolonged mechanical ventilation (44 ± 48 h) and ICU stay (11 ± 11 days), reflecting high-risk patients. Further, excellent valve-related outcomes were shown regarding adverse cardiac events (valve-related mortality 6%, n = 1) and postoperative echocardiographic results (moderate or severe paravalvular leak 6%, n = 1). Failure of MitraClip represents a challenging situation limited by high-risk profiles of patients and limits the possibility of surgical valve repair, shown by a high rate of mitral valve replacement (94%, n = 16). Secondary surgery was associated with moderate 30-day and postdischarge outcomes. Therefore, a careful evaluation of patients undergoing MitraClip is of paramount importance.

Surgical aortic valve replacement for low-gradient aortic stenosis.

Low-gradient aortic stenosis is a challenging entity that needs accurate preoperative evaluation. For this high-risk patient population, ad hoc predictive scores are not available and profile risk is currently revealed by the EuroSCOREs. Aims of this study are to verify the suitability of the ES II as predictor of mortality in low-gradient aortic stenosis and to analyse the role of surgery as a treatment. From June 2013 to August 2019, 414 patients underwent surgical aortic valve replacement for low-gradient aortic stenosis. Mean age was 75.78 ± 6.77 years and 190 were women. The prognostic value of Logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II were compared by receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. In-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were respectively 3.4, 2.9 and 4.8% (14, 12 and 20 patients over 414). In-hospital mortality risk calculated by the Additive EuroSCORE was 7.2 ± 2.7%, by the Logistic EuroSCORE was 9 ± 5.2% and by the ES II was 4.13 ± 2.56%. The prognostic values of the EuroSCORE II and of the EuroSCORE were analysed in a ROC curve analysis for the prediction of in-hospital mortality [area under the curve (AUC): 0.62 vs. 0.58], 30-day mortality (AUC: 0.63 vs. 0.64) and 1-year mortality (AUC: 0.79 vs. 0.65). Both scores did not show significant differences with the only exception of 1-year mortality, for which EuroSCORE II had a better predictive ability than the Logistic EuroSCORE (P < 0.05). In low-gradient aortic stenosis undergoing surgery, the EuroSCORE II is a strong predictor of 1-year mortality.

Comparison of outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation following home versus non-home discharge

As more patients undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), knowledge of 1-year mortality and associated factors becomes increasingly important. After other cardiac procedures, discharge location has been shown to be associated with 1-year mortality. We examined outcomes of TAVI patients discharged home vs an extended care facility (ECF). All TAVI patients from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017, were evaluated. Cox proportional hazard regression models with cubic splines were used to estimate the adjusted effect of discharge to ECF on 1-year mortality. A total of 957 (85.6%) patients discharged home were compared to 160 (14.3%) discharged to ECF. On univariate analysis, patients discharged home were younger and had a lower Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality, higher albumin, and fewer vascular complications and strokes. Patients discharged to ECF had a higher 30-day mortality (3.8% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.001) and 1-year mortality (25.7% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard regression models showed increased risk of 1-year mortality for patients discharged to ECF. In conclusion, patients discharged to ECF had a higher 30-day and 1-year mortality. The strongest predictor of 1-year mortality was discharge to ECF. Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality score was not a predictor of 1-year mortality.

Impact of Palliative Care in End-of-Life of Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease Patients.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and high symptom burden. Studies evaluating the benefits of palliative care examined mainly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. We aim to examine the impact of palliative care on a broader group of fibrotic ILD patients. Methods: Single center retrospective cohort study comparing deceased ILD patients who received outpatient palliative care services (palliative-intervention group) against a usual care group. Results: Of 63 subjects, 26 (41%) were in the palliative-intervention group and 37 (59%) in the usual care group. Median time to palliative care referral was 8.6 (IQR .3-21.2) months. Dyspnea-related disability was greater in the palliative-intervention group [mMRC dyspnea score 3.5(IQR 2-4) vs 2(IQR 2-4), P = .039], with more patients requiring long term oxygen therapy (70% vs 30%, P < .001). There was no difference in the median number of hospitalizations or length of stay in the last 6months of life. Patients in the palliative-intervention group had a higher uptake of advance care planning (ACP) (39% vs 11%, P = .014), lower frequency of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (5% vs 19%, P = .102) and were prescribed more opioids (96% vs 27%, P < .001) and benzodiazepines (39% vs 14%, P = .022). The palliative-intervention group experienced a longer median survival of 23.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.1-33.7) compared to the usual group (11.4months [95% CI 5.4-17.3] (log-rank test: P = .023). Male gender was a strong predictor of 1-year mortality. Conclusions: The palliative-intervention group received earlier pharmacologic intervention for symptom relief. Healthcare utilization was not increased despite greater dyspnea-related disability.

Knee Extension Strength Measures Indicating Probable Sarcopenia Is Associated with Health-Related Outcomes and a Strong Predictor of 1-Year Mortality in Patients Following Hip Fracture Surgery.

To examine if knee-extension strength (KES) measures indicating probable sarcopenia are associated with health-related outcomes and if KES and hand grip strength (HGS) measures are associated with 1-year mortality after hip fracture. Two groups of older patients with hip fracture had either HGS (n = 32) or KES (n = 150) assessed during their acute hospital stay. Cut-points for HGS (<27 kg for men and <16 kg for women), and cut-points for maximal isometric KES (non-fractured limb), being the lowest sex-specific quintile (<23.64 kg for men and <15.24 kg for women), were used to examine association with health-related outcomes and 1-year mortality. Overall, 1-year mortality was 12.6% in the two strength groups, of which 47% (HGS) and 46% (KES) respectively, were classified as probable sarcopenia. Probable sarcopenia patients (KES) had lower prefracture function, performed poorly in mobility measures and expressed a greater concern of falling compared to their stronger counterparts. Hazard ratio for 1-year mortality was 2.7 (95%CI = 0.49–14.7, p = 0.3) for HGS and 9.8 (95%CI = 2.2–43.0, p = 0.002) for KES for probable sarcopenia patients compared to those not. Sex-specific KES measures indicating sarcopenia is associated with health-related outcomes and a strong predictor of 1-year mortality after hip fracture.

Abstract 14216: Predictors of 30-day and 1-year Mortality After Transvenous Lead Extraction for Device Infection

Introduction: The incidence of device infection is constantly increasing; requiring transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Data regarding predictors of short and long-term mortality after TLE for infection are limited. Methods: We collected data regarding 30-day and 1-year mortality of patients undergoing TLE at a university hospital between April 2004 and June 2015. Patients with less than 30-day follow up were excluded. Results: Out of total 1223 TLE procedures, 700 were performed for infectious indications. 30-day follow-up was available for 620 patients (88.6%) and 1-year follow up was available for 541 patients (77.3%). Overall 30-day mortality was 9% (4.3% for pocket infection, 12.3% for systemic infection) and 1-year mortality was 27.5% (16% for pocket infection, 35.8% for systemic infection). Patient age, end-stage renal disease, history of valve replacement, atrial fibrillation, Staphylococcus aureus infection, systemic infection, any procedural complication, elevated WBC count, low hemoglobin, need for CCU admission, need for pressor support, acute kidney injury, cardiogenic shock and need for blood transfusion were predictors of both 30-day and 1-year mortality in univariate analysis. Any retained fragment was predictor of 30-day mortality. Peripheral vascular disease and low platelet count were predictors of 1-year mortality. Patient age, history of valve replacement, need for pressor support and low hemoglobin were independent predictors of 30-day as well as 1-year mortality in multivariate analysis. End-stage renal disease, atrial fibrillation, elevated WBC count and need for CCU admission were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Systemic infection, low platelet count and need for blood transfusion were predictors of 1-year mortality. Strongest predictor of 30-day mortality was history of valve replacement (Odds ratio 4.23) and strongest predictor of 1-year mortality was need for pressor support (Odds ratio 3.12). Conclusions: In conclusion, 30-day and 1-year mortality after device infection remains high despite successful TLE. Patient age, history of valve replacement, need for pressor support and low hemoglobin are independent predictors of both short and long-term mortality in multivariate analysis.

Quantifying inflammation using interleukin-6 for improved phenotyping and risk stratification in acute heart failure

Abstract Background Acute heart failure (AHF) is the most common cause of hospital admission and continues to have unacceptable high rates of mortality and morbidity. In contrast to acute myocardial infarction, the pathophysiology of AHF is incompletely understood and risk-prediction is poorly defined. Aim We aimed to quantify systemic inflammation to assess its possible role in the pathophysiology and risk stratification of patients with AHF. Methods Using a novel Interleukin-6 immunoassay with unprecedented sensitivity (limit of detection 0.01ng/l) we quantified systemic inflammation in unselected patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department in a multicenter study. Plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP (open label) and Interleukin-6 (blinded) were measured at presentation and at discharge. The final diagnosis of AHF and the AHF phenotype were adjudicated by two independent cardiologists. 1-year mortality was the prognostic endpoint. Results Among 2042 patients, 1026 (50.2%) had an adjudicated diagnosis of AHF. Interleukin-6 concentrations were significantly higher in AHF patients compared to patients with other causes of dyspnoea (11.2 [6.1–26.5] ng/l vs 9.0 [3.2–32.3] ng/l, p&amp;lt;0.0005). Among patients with AHF Interleukin-6 concentrations were elevated (&amp;gt;4.45ng/l) in 83.7% of them. Among the different AHF phenotypes, Interleukin-6 concentrations were highest in patients with cardiogenic shock (25.7 [14.0–164.2] ng/l) and lowest in patients with hypertensive HF (9.3 [4.8–21.6] ng/l, p=0.001). Inflammation as quantified by Interleukin-6 was a strong predictor of 1-year mortality both in AHF as well as in other causes of acute dyspnea (Figure). During in-hospital treatment Interleukin-6 concentrations significantly decreased in AHF patients. However, changes in the extend of systemic inflammation (delta Interleukin-6) were poorly correlated with changes in hemodynamic stress as quantified by NT-proBNP (delta NT-proBNP, Φc=0.11, p=0.004). Conclusions An unexpectedly high percentage of patients with AHF have subclinical systemic inflammation that can be quantified by Interleukin-6, which seems to contribute to the AHF phenotype and to the risk of death. Kaplan Meier curves for mortality Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Heart Foundation, European Union, Stiftung für kardiovaskuläre Forschung Basel, University of Basel, University Hospital Basel

Standardisation of management after Norwood operation has not improved 1-year outcomes.

Treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome varies across institutions. This study examined the impact of introducing a standardised programme. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the effects of a comprehensive strategy on 1-year transplant-free survival with preserved ventricular and atrioventricular valve (AVV) function following a Norwood operation. This strategy included standardised operative and perioperative management and dedicated interstage monitoring. The post-implementation cohort (C2) was compared to historic controls (C1). Outcomes were assessed using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. The study included 105 patients, 76 in C1 and 29 in C2. Groups had similar baseline characteristics, including percentage with preserved ventricular (96% C1 versus 100% C2, p = 0.28) and AVV function (97% C1 versus 93% C2, p = 0.31). Perioperatively, C2 had higher indexed oxygen delivery (348 ± 67 ml/minute/m2 C1 versus 402 ± 102ml/minute/m2 C2, p = 0.015) and lower renal injury (47% C1 versus 3% C2, p = 0.004). The primary outcome was similar in both groups (49% C1 and 52% C2, p = 0.78), with comparable rates of death and transplantation (36% C1 versus 38% C2, p = 0.89) and ventricular (2% C1 versus 0% C2, p = 0.53) and AVV dysfunction (11% C1 versus 11% C2, p = 0.96) at 1-year. When accounting for cohort and 100-day freedom from hospitalisation, female gender (OR 3.7, p = 0.01) increased and ventricular dysfunction (OR 0.21, p = 0.02) and CPR (OR 0.11, p = 0.002) or ECMO use (OR 0.15, p = 001) decreased the likelihood of 1-year transplant-free survival. Standardised perioperative management was not associated with improved 1-year transplant-free survival. Post-operative ventricular or AVV dysfunction was the strongest predictor of 1-year mortality.

Pre- and Post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Serum Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels and All-Cause Mortality

Background: Risk stratification in patients post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is limited to and is based on clinical judgment and surgical scoring systems. Serum natriuretic peptides are used for general risk stratification in patients with aortic stenosis, reflecting the increase in their afterload and thereby stressing the need for valve intervention. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of pre- and post-procedural serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) on 1-year all-cause mortality in patients who underwent TAVR. Methods: In this population-based study, we included 148 TAVR patients treated at the Poriya Medical Center between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2018. Routine blood samples for serum BNP levels (pg/mL) were taken just before the TAVR and 24 h post-TAVR. Our primary clinical outcome was defined as 1-year all-cause mortality. We used backward regression models and included all variables that had a p value <0.1 in the univariable analysis. A receiver-operating characteristic curve was calculated for the prediction of all-cause mortality by serum BNP levels using the median as the cut-off point. Results: In this study cohort, BNP levels 24 h post-TAVR higher than the cohort median versus lower than the cohort median (387.5 pg/mL; IQR 195–817.6) were the strongest predictor of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 9; 95% CI 2.72–30.16; p < 0.001). The statistically significant relationship was seen in the unadjusted regression model as well as after the adjustment for clinical variables. Conclusions: Serum BNP levels 24 h post-procedure were found to be a meaningful marker in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality in patients after TAVR procedure.

Geriatric factors associated with 1-year mortality after aortic valve replacement.

Surgical aortic valve replacement has been shown to improve survival and quality of life in patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, clinical variables are known to be associated with an increased mortality rate. As geriatric conditions are highly prevalent in this older population, the aim of this study was to identify geriatric factors associated with 1-year mortality after a surgical aortic valve replacement among older patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Between January 2012 and September 2014, all patients ≥ 75years referred for a surgical aortic valve replacement after a complete pre-operative evaluation in a university-affiliated center were included in this observational study. Association between 1-year mortality surgical aortic valve replacement and baseline characteristics including cardiac and geriatric factors was analysed by Cox models. Mean age of the 197 patients studied was 81.3 ± 3.5years and 48.2% were men. At 1 year of the intervention, 19 patients (9.6%) were dead. On multivariate analysis, previous cardiac surgery (Hazard ratio [HR] = 10.47, p = 0.03), undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery (HR = 6.22, p = 0.03), pulmonary hypertension (HR = 3.73, 0.04) were still associated with 1-year mortality. Moreover, cognitive impairment was also associated with 1-year mortality (HR = 4.67, p = 0.04). This study is the first study to show that among geriatric factors, cognitive impairment was a strong predictor of 1-year mortality after a surgical aortic valve replacement in patients aged 75years old and older, independently of other geriatric and cardiac factors. This study highlights the importance of pre-operative cognitive assessment.

Deceleration capacity of heart rate predicts 1-year mortality of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Risk prediction in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is challenging. Development of novel markers for patient risk assessment is of great clinical value. Deceleration capacity (DC) of heart rate is a strong risk predictor in post-infarction patients. DC provides prognostic information in patients undergoing TAVI. We enrolled 374 consecutive patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI. All patients received 24-hour Holter recording or continuous heart-rate monitoring to assess DC before intervention. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality after 1 year. Forty-nine patients (13.1%) died within 1 year. DC was significantly lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors (1.2 ± 4.8 ms vs 3.3 ± 2.9 ms; P < 0.001), whereas the logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II were comparable between groups (logistic EuroSCORE: 27.3% ± 17.0% vs 22.9% ± 14.2%; P = 0.122; EuroSCORE II: 8.0% ± 6.9% vs 6.7% ± 4.8%, P = 0.673). One-year mortality in the 116 patients with impaired DC (<2.5 ms) was significantly higher than in patients with normal DC (23.3% vs 8.5%; P < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis that included DC, sex, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, hemoglobin level before TAVI, and logistic EuroSCORE, DC was the strongest predictor of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio: 0.88, 95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.94, P < 0.001). DC yielded an AUC in the ROC analysis of 0.645. DC of heart rate is a strong and independent predictor of 1-year mortality in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI.

Effect of Pulmonary Hypertension Hemodynamic Presentation on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Severe Symptomatic Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) frequently coexists with severe aortic stenosis, and PH severity has been shown to predict outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The effect of PH hemodynamic presentation on clinical outcomes after TAVI is unknown. Of 606 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI, 433 (71.4%) patients with severe aortic stenosis and a preprocedural right heart catheterization were assessed. Patients were dichotomized according to whether PH was present (mean pulmonary artery pressure, ≥25 mm Hg; n=325) or not (n=108). Patients with PH were further dichotomized by left ventricular end-diastolic pressure into postcapillary (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, >15 mm Hg; n=269) and precapillary groups (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, ≤15 mm Hg; n=56). Finally, patients with postcapillary PH were divided into isolated (n=220) and combined (n=49) subgroups according to whether the diastolic pressure difference (diastolic pulmonary artery pressure-left ventricular end-diastolic pressure) was normal (<7 mm Hg) or elevated (≥7 mm Hg). Primary end point was mortality at 1 year. PH was present in 325 of 433 (75%) patients and was predominantly postcapillary (n=269/325; 82%). Compared with baseline, systolic pulmonary artery pressure immediately improved after TAVI in patients with postcapillary combined (57.8±14.1 versus 50.4±17.3 mm Hg; P=0.015) but not in those with precapillary (49.0±12.6 versus 51.6±14.3; P=0.36). When compared with no PH, a higher 1-year mortality rate was observed in both precapillary (hazard ratio, 2.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-5.22; P=0.046) and combined (hazard ratio, 3.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-6.93; P=0.004) but not isolated PH patients (P=0.11). After adjustment, combined PH remained a strong predictor of 1-year mortality after TAVI (hazard ratio, 3.28; P=0.005). Invasive stratification of PH according to hemodynamic presentation predicts acute response to treatment and 1-year mortality after TAVI.

Impact of Nonculprit Vessel Myocardial Perfusion on Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndromes: Analysis From the ACUITY Trial (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy)

This study evaluated the impact of nonculprit vessel myocardial perfusion on outcomes of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) patients. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients have decreased perfusion in areas remote from the infarct-related vessel. The impact of myocardial hypoperfusion of regions supplied by nonculprit vessels in NSTE-ACS patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. The angiographic substudy of the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) trial included 6,921 NSTE-ACS patients. Complete 3-vessel assessments of baseline coronary TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow grade and myocardial blush grade (MBG) were performed. We examined the outcomes of PCI-treated patients according to the worst nonculprit vessel MBG identified per patient. Among the 3,826 patients treated with PCI, the worst nonculprit MBG was determined in3,426 (89.5%) patients, including 375 (10.9%) MBG 0/1 patients, 475 (13.9%) MBG 2 patients, and 2,576 (75.2%) MBG 3 patients. Nonculprit MBG 0/1 was associated with worse baseline clinical characteristics. Patients with nonculprit MBG 0/1 versus MBG 3 had increased rates of 30-day (3.0% vs.0.7%, p < 0.0001) and 1-year (4.4% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.0001) death. Similar results were found among patients with pre-procedural TIMI flow grade 3 in the culprit vessel, where nonculprit vessel MBG 0/1 (hazard ratio: 2.81 [95% confidence interval: 1.63 to 4.84], p= 0.0002) was the strongest predictor of 1-year mortality. Reduced myocardial perfusion in an area supplied by a nonculprit vessel is associated with increased short- and long-term mortality rates in NSTE-ACS patients undergoing PCI. Furthermore, worst nonculprit MBG is able to risk-stratify patients with normal baseline flow of the culprit vessel.

Prognostic implications of bleeding measured by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) categorisation in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between inhospital bleeding as defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) consensus classification and short-term and long-term mortality in unselected patients admitted for primary percutaneous coronary...

Are Biomarkers the Answer to the Heart Failure Readmissions Problem?

Readmissions after hospitalization for heart failure (HF)3 are an increasingly important problem, with 1 in 4 patients rehospitalized within 30 days of discharge. Given the economic and public health implications of readmissions, several health care–related institutes and payers have focused on this metric as an indicator of the quality of care. On October 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began to financially penalize hospitals with higher than expected 30-day readmission rates for pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction, and HF. This has led to advocacy for a variety of approaches to reduce readmissions, including improved coordination of care in the postdischarge period, earlier postdischarge follow-up, more home-based follow-up, and enhanced patient education and self-management. Because biomarkers play an important role in the diagnosis and management of HF, there has been interest in understanding their potential as part of a strategy to reduce readmissions. There are two potential roles for the use of biomarkers in a strategy to reduce readmissions in HF. First, biomarkers may help to predict which patients are at increased risk for readmission. Second, monitoring serial values in the outpatient setting may allow for early intervention aimed at reducing readmissions. Although the use of biomarkers in identifying patients at highest risk for readmissions seems like a natural extension of their current use, there are several problems to address. What biomarkers would be most useful in this setting? Although a wide variety of biomarkers have been demonstrated to predict death in patients with HF, their record is more mixed in regard to predicting readmission. Natriuretic peptides are the most commonly used markers in this regard. In a single-center study of patients admitted with acute decompensated HF, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measured at hospital discharge was a strong predictor of 1-year mortality, having an area under the …

Prognostic Value of Myocardial Injury Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

There is a lack of clarity concerning the clinical implications of myocardial injury occurring after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, degree, and timing of myocardial injury associated with TAVI procedures and to evaluate its 1-year prognostic value. Among 68 consecutive patients (mean age 80.9 ± 6.4 years) treated with TAVI, 3 patients who died within 24 hours, precluding cardiac biomarker measurements, and 3 patients with major procedural complications were excluded. Cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase-MB, and creatinine levels were determined at baseline and 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after TAVI. All complications were defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium. Myocardial injury was observed in all patients (n= 62), as determined by an increase in cardiac troponin I (median peak at 12 hours 3.8 μg/L, interquartile range 1.8 to 25.67), and a higher degree of myocardial injury was observed in patients (n= 9) who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) (p= 0.026). Periprocedural myocardial infarction was not found. At 1-year follow-up, 5 patients had died, and 7 patients had been hospitalized for heart failure. The development of AKI, not the degree of peak cardiac troponin I (p= 0.348), was identified as the only strong independent predictor of 1-year mortality from any cause (including heart failure) after TAVI (hazard ratio 4.74, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 20.03, p= 0.034). In conclusion, TAVI was systematically associated with myocardial injury, occurring with a higher degree in patients who developed AKI. However, the simultaneousdevelopment of AKI occurring after TAVI is the strongest predictor of 1-year mortality.

The Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: Twenty-eighth Adult Heart Transplant Report—2011

This Twenty-eighth Report of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Transplant Registry is based on data submitted by participating transplant centers worldwide. A total of 388 heart transplant centers have contributed information to the Registry. This year we have also achieved another important milestone: the 100,000 heart transplant recipient was registered in the database. This report reviews important statistics for the entire cohort of patients registered in the database. However, similar to prior reports, many of the more detailed analyses will focus on recent transplant recipients, exploring information relevant to contemporary heart transplantation practice. The first part of the report reviews important donor, recipient, and medical center demographics. The second part provides an overview of immunosuppressive therapies used after transplantation. The third part examines survival, mortality risk factors, and causes of death after adult heart transplantation. The last section focuses on quality of life after transplant.