Survivors Of After Acute Myocardial Infarction Research Articles

Mental health literacy in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional registry-based study

IntroductionThis study aimed to explore mental health literacy (MHL) and its related factors in a cross-sectional, registry-based sample of patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MethodsAll survivors of AMI between 2017 and 2019 from the Myocardial Infarction Registry Augsburg (n=1.712) received a postal questionnaire on MHL (Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS-GER)) and single questions on experiences with and information on mental disorders in 2023. The response rate was 49.9%. Logistic and linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between these variables and sociodemographic factors.ResultsIn the sample of 855 patients (77.5% male, mean age 71.4 ± 10.9 years), 30.0% had experienced mental problems about 5 years after AMI. Among these, 17.4% received psychotherapy and 26.1% psychotropic drugs. Information about possible mental problems after their AMI was obtained from a physician by 30.8% of the patients and in a rehabilitation setting by 46.4%, respectively. Of the patients, 26.2% wished to receive more information on mental problems after AMI. MHLS-GER subscale scores ranged between and 54 (“Social distance”) and 76 (“Information seeking”) (best score 100). Age was the most important factor that was significantly associated with the report of mental health problems, a perceived lack of information, help seeking behavior and treatment, and MHL.DiscussionElderly and poorly educated patients were at risk of poor MHL. Further studies are required to specify the role of MHL in post-AMI life and health care.

Depression mediates the association between health literacy and health-related quality of life after myocardial infarction.

So far, health literacy (HL) and its related factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction received little attention. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the associations between the different dimensions of HL and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and factors that may affect these relations in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). All survivors of AMI between June 2020 and September 2021, from the Myocardial Infarction Registry Augsburg (n=882) received a postal questionnaire on HL [Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)], HRQOL (MacNew Heart Disease HRQOL questionnaire) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire). From the 592 respondents, 546 could be included in the analysis. Multivariable linear regression models were performed to investigate the associations between the nine subscales of the HLQ and the total score and three subscales of the MacNew questionnaire. A mediation analysis was performed to estimate direct and indirect effects of HL on HRQOL taking into account the mediating effect of depression. In the sample of 546 patients (72.5% male, mean age 68.5 ± 12.2 years), patients with poor education showed significantly lower HLQ scores. Significant associations between the subscales of the HLQ and the MacNew were found, which remained significant after adjustment for sociodemographic variables with few exceptions. More than 50% of the association between HL and HRQOL was mediated by depression in seven HLQ subscales and a complete mediating effect was found for the HLQ subscales 'Actively managing my health' and 'Appraisal of health information'. Depression mediates the associations between HL and disease-specific HRQOL in patients with myocardial infarction.

A risk model for decline in health status after acute myocardial infarction among older adults.

Health status is increasingly recognized as an important patient-centered outcome after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Yet drivers of decline in health status after AMI remain largely unknown in older adults. We sought to develop and validate a predictive risk model for health status decline among older adult survivors of AMI. Using data from a prospective cohort study conducted from 2013 to 2017 of 3041 patients age ≥75 years hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction at 94 U.S. hospitals, we examined a broad array of demographic, clinical, functional, and psychosocial variables for their association with health status decline, defined as a decrease of ≥5 points in the Short Form-12 (SF-12) physical component score from hospitalization to 6 months post-discharge. Model selection was performed in logistic regression models of 20 imputed datasets to yield a parsimonious risk prediction model. Model discrimination and calibration were evaluated using c-statistics and calibration plots, respectively. Of the 2571 participants included in the main analyses, 30% of patients experienced health status decline from hospitalization to 6 months post-discharge. The risk model contained 14 factors, 10 associated with higher risk of health status decline (age, pre-existing AMI, pre-existing cancer, pre-existing COPD, pre-existing diabetes, history of falls, presenting Killip class, acute kidney injury, baseline health status, and mobility impairment) and four associated with lower risk of health status decline (male sex, higher hemoglobin, receipt of revascularization, and arrhythmia during hospitalization). The model displayed good discrimination (c-statistic=0.74 in validation cohort) and calibration (p > 0.05) in both development and validation cohorts. We used split sampling to develop and validate a risk model for health status decline in older adults after hospitalization for AMI and identified several risk factors that may be modifiable to mitigate the threat of this important patient-centered outcome. External validation of this risk model is warranted.

Different Patterns of Statin Use in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Statins have well-established cardiovascular benefits, and recent evidence suggests that discontinuing statin therapy after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is harmful. Our objective was to assess the association between statin discontinuation post-AMI and 1-year all-cause mortality in a real world setting. Data on survivors of AMI between 2000 and 2007 were extracted from the hospital discharge summary database of Quebec and the provincial physician and drug claims database. Statin prescription filling was used to establish cohort groups. Previous statin use was defined as having filled a statin prescription in the 90 days pre-AMI, while post-AMI statin use was filling a prescription between discharge from hospital post-AMI and 90 days post-discharge. AMI patients who survived 90 days (n=48,229) were divided into 4 groups: i) non-users (n=11,657), did not receive statins pre- or post- AMI (reference group), ii) starters (n=22,452), received statins only post-AMI, iii) stoppers (n=488), received statins pre- but not post-AMI, and, iv) users (n=13,632), received statins pre- and post-AMI. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR). Compared with non-users, stoppers had increased 1-year all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.36; 95% CI 1.08- 1.70, P=0.008). Starters (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.59-0.71, P<0.0001) and users (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.74-0.88, P<0.0001) had lower mortality than non-users. Discontinuation of statins in survivors of AMI was associated with an increase in 1-year all-cause mortality. Physicians should use caution when discontinuing statins post-AMI.

Secondary prevention medication after myocardial infarction: persistence in elderly people over the course of 1 year.

Persistent use of guideline-recommended drugs after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is frequently reported to be inadequate in the elderly and scarce knowledge exists about factors that influence persistence in outpatient care. Our aim was to evaluate drug use and its predictors in survivors of AMI above 64 years from hospital discharge to 1-year post-AMI. In a single-centre randomised controlled trial, discharge medication of 259 patients with AMI was obtained from medical records at hospital stay. Follow-up drug use and use of the healthcare system were self-reported to study nurses over 1 year in 3-month intervals. Predictors for persistence were modelled with multivariate logistic regression analysis considering demographics, co-morbidities and treatment characteristics. At discharge, 99.2 % of the patients used anti-platelets, 86.5 % beta blockers, 95.0 % statins and 90.4 % angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Use of the combination of all four drug classes decreased from discharge to 1 year post-AMI from 74.1 to 37.8 % and was significantly reduced by age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR] 0.49; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.85) and ten or more visits with general practitioners (GPs) over 1 year (OR 0.29; 95 % CI 0.17-0.51). Persistence from month 3 to 12 was significantly associated with drug use at discharge for the single drug classes, but not for the drug combination. Older age and frequent GP visits are associated with decreased use of the guideline-recommended drug combination after AMI. Further research is needed to specify underlying reasons and develop measures to improve persistence.

Predictors of 1-year mortality in patients with contemporary guideline-adherent therapy after acute myocardial infarction: results from the OMEGA study

Predictors of long-term mortality after discharge after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are well characterized. However, these established risk factors are based on data almost exclusively derived from older studies without consistent use of revascularization therapy and adjunctive therapy with statins, platelet inhibitors, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors/ARBs. We therefore sought to investigate predictors of 1-year mortality in survivors of AMI treated with contemporary guideline-adherent therapy. We performed a retrospective analysis of 3,782 patients surviving acute ST-elevation and non ST-elevation myocardial infarction who were enrolled in the prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled OMEGA trial with 104 German centers. The primary objective of the OMEGA study was to determine the effect of highly purified omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters-90 on the rate of sudden cardiac death in patients surviving AMI and receiving current guideline-adherent treatment within the 1-year of follow-up. 80.8 % of the patients received early revascularization therapy. At discharge, 94.2 % of the patients received beta-blocker, 90.4 % ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, 94.3 % statin, 95.4 % aspirin and 88.4 % clopidogrel. During the 1-year follow-up 139 patients (3.7 %) died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the following independent predictors of 1-year mortality in decreasing order of importance: ejection fraction <45 % [odds ratio (OR) 2.28, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.53-3.41], age ≥70 years (OR 2.17, 95 % CI 1.42-3.32), no acute revascularization (OR 2.02, 95 % CI 1.33-3.08), prior stroke/transient ischemic attack (OR 1.90, 95 % CI 1.09-3.30), peripheral arterial disease (OR 1.86, 95 % CI 1.12-3.10), heart rate >85/min (OR 1.82, 95 % CI 1.23-2.71), chronic obstructive lung disease (OR 1.77, 95 % CI 1.01-3.10) and HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dl (OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.15-2.67). In patients surviving AMI and treated with contemporary guideline-adherent therapy, 1-year mortality was low. Nevertheless, traditional risk factors such as ejection fraction <45 %, older age, no acute revascularization and comorbidities were the strongest predictors of long-term mortality supporting the findings from previous studies.

Effects of Prandial Versus Fasting Glycemia on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes: The HEART2D trial

OBJECTIVE—Hyperglycemia and Its Effect After Acute Myocardial Infarction on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (HEART2D) is a multinational, randomized, controlled trial designed to compare the effects of prandial versus fasting glycemic control on risk for cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Patients (type 2 diabetes, aged 30–75 years) were randomly assigned within 21 days after AMI to the 1) prandial strategy (PRANDIAL) (three premeal doses of insulin lispro targeting 2-h postprandial blood glucose <7.5 mmol/l) or the 2) basal strategy (BASAL) (NPH twice daily or insulin glargine once daily targeting fasting/premeal blood glucose <6.7 mmol/l).RESULTS—A total of 1,115 patients were randomly assigned (PRANDIAL n = 557; BASAL n = 558), and the mean patient participation after randomization was 963 days (range 1–1,687 days). The trial was stopped for lack of efficacy. Risks of first combined adjudicated primary cardiovascular events in the PRANDIAL (n = 174, 31.2%) and BASAL (n = 181, 32.4%) groups were similar (hazard ratio 0.98 [95% CI 0.8–1.21]). Mean A1C did not differ between the PRANDIAL and BASAL groups (7.7 ± 0.1 vs. 7.8 ± 0.1%; P = 0.4) during the study. The PRANDIAL group showed a lower daily mean postprandial blood glucose (7.8 vs. 8.6 mmol/l; P < 0.01) and 2-h postprandial blood glucose excursion (0.1 vs. 1.3 mmol/l; P < 0.001) versus the BASAL group. The BASAL group showed lower mean fasting blood glucose (7.0 vs. 8.1 mmol/l; P < 0.001) and similar daily fasting/premeal blood glucose (7.7 vs. 7.3 mmol/l; P = 0.233) versus the PRANDIAL group.CONCLUSIONS—Treating diabetic survivors of AMI with prandial versus basal strategies achieved differences in fasting blood glucose, less-than-expected differences in postprandial blood glucose, similar levels of A1C, and no difference in risk for future cardiovascular event rates.

Usefulness of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction as a Predictor of One-Year Rehospitalization in Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Presence of severe left ventricular (LV) diastolic function has been shown to independently predict risk of heart failure or death after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to determine whether common echocardiographic parameters and (LV) diastolic function evaluated during AMI hospitalization can predict the risk of rehospitalization, up to 1 year after AMI. One hundred ninety consecutive patients with AMI, who were prospectively enrolled in a longitudinal post-AMI registry, had survived for 1 year, and had a clinically indicated echocardiogram during the index admission, were included in the study. The independent effect of diastolic dysfunction on 1-year all-cause rehospitalization was assessed using multivariable proportional hazards regression. Average age was 62.5 years, 93% were Caucasian, 66% were men, and mean LV ejection fraction was 46%. At 1 year, 78 patients (41%) had been rehospitalized >or=1 time. In multivariable analysis, presence of severe LV diastolic dysfunction was the only echocardiographic variable that predicted increased risk of rehospitalization 1 year after AMI (hazard ration 3.31, 95% confidence interval 1.26 to 8.69). Seventy-eight percent of patients with severe LV diastolic dysfunction (restrictive diastolic physiology) compared with 30% with normal diastolic function (p = 0.0052) and 37% with nonrestrictive physiology during the index admission were rehospitalized. In conclusion, severe LV diastolic dysfunction is the only echocardiographic predictor of rehospitalization in survivors of AMI and routine assessment of diastolic function during AMI hospitalization can provide additional prognostic risk stratification at dismissal.

Discontinuation of statin therapy following an acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study

Randomized clinical trials have shown that statins can reduce mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the impact of changes in patterns of statin use, particularly stopping statins, on survival post-AMI is unknown. Our objective was to estimate the extent to which different patterns of statin use are associated with post-AMI mortality. Population-based, cohort study, from 2002 through 2004 in the United Kingdom General Practice Research Database (GPRD), involving patients surviving 90 days after their first AMI. Past statin use was defined as any statin prescription within 90 days before AMI; statin use post-AMI as any statin prescription within 90 days after AMI. Cohort entry was at day 90 post-AMI; subjects were followed for 1 year. Four groups were identified: (i) non-users (patients never on statins); (ii) users (on statins before and continued post-AMI); (iii) starters (started statins after the event); and (iv) stoppers (stopped statins after the event). Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards model. The main outcome measure was 1-year all-cause mortality. The cohort included 9939 AMI survivors (mean age: 68.4 ± 12.8 years; 60.3% men), 22.7% of whom were not prescribed a statin post-AMI. When the non-user group (n = 2124) was considered as the reference, the adjusted HRs (95% confidence intervals) of death were 0.84 (0.66-1.09) for users (n = 2026), 0.72 (0.57-0.90) for starters (n = 5652), and 1.88 (1.13-3.07) for stoppers (n = 137). Stoppers of control medications (aspirin, β-blockers, and proton pump inhibitors) were not associated with increased mortality. Discontinuation of statins in survivors of a first AMI was relatively rare in this cohort. However, statin discontinuation was associated with higher total mortality and this may represent a biological rebound or/and a risk-treatment mismatch phenomenon, where treatment is withdrawn from very ill patients. While awaiting further research, at present statin use should only be withdrawn under judicious clinical supervision.

The influence of age on health status outcomes after acute myocardial infarction

Older age is a risk factor for higher mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the association with health status outcomes is largely unexplored. In a prospective cohort of 2498 patients in the PREMIER study, we compared health-related quality of life (HRQL) and burden of angina symptoms among survivors of AMI by age strata (age groups > or = 75, 65-74, 50-64, and 19-49 years) using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. Multivariable analyses assessed the relationship between age and 1-year HRQL and angina burden, adjusting for differences in clinical characteristics, treatment, and baseline health status. Older patients comprised a majority: 20.1% were > or = 75 years of age, 41.7% were 65 to 74 years of age, 20.7% were 50 to 64 years of age, and 17.4% were < 50 years of age. At 12 months, older patients had higher mortality (17.0% vs 8.7% vs 6.1% vs 3.2% for age groups > or = 75, 65-74, 50-64, 19-49; P < .001). Among survivors of AMI, increasing age was associated with less angina and better HRQL. By 12 months, older patients reported less angina (10.9% vs 12.7% vs 19.3% vs 23.4% for age groups > or = 75, 65-74, 50-64, 19-49; P < .0001) and better HRQL (scores 89.1 vs 88.1 vs 82.5 vs 80.0, respectively; P < .0001), which persisted after adjustment for baseline angina, HRQL, and other demographic, clinical, disease severity, and treatment differences. Although older patients have higher mortality after AMI, those who survive experience fewer symptoms and better HRQL at 1 year than younger patients. Angina remains present in a number of patients across the spectrum of age, supporting strategies to systematically assess and treat symptoms after AMI.

Clinical Impact of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Additive Effect With Smoking on Subsequent Cardiac Events After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Little information is available regarding the clinical effect of metabolic syndrome (MS) or its combined effect with smoking on subsequent cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To examine whether MS independently predicts cardiac events (cardiac death and nonfatal reinfarction) and to assess the combined effect of MS and smoking on cardiac events after AMI, we studied 3,858 survivors of AMI registered in the Osaka Acute Coronary Insufficiency Study (OACIS). During a median follow-up of 725 days, the incidence of cardiac events was higher in patients with MS than in those without MS (p=0.021). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, MS was an independent predictor of cardiac events after AMI (hazard ratio [HR] 1.480, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.128 to 1.942, p=0.005). Compared with patients who did not have MS and were nonsmokers, the adjusted HR for cardiac events was 2.868 (95% CI 1.573 to 5.227, p=0.001) in patients with MS who continued smoking after AMI. Cessation of smoking after AMI was associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiac events in patients with MS (HR 0.485, 95% CI 0.281 to 0.837, p=0.009) but not in patients without MS (HR 0.618, 95% CI 0.330 to 1.157, p=0.132). In conclusion, MS is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiac events after AMI. Smoking has an additive adverse effect on cardiac events after AMI, and cessation of smoking is beneficial and strongly recommended for AMI, especially in patients with MS.

Adenosine sestamibi SPECT post-infarction evaluation (INSPIRE) trial: A randomized, prospective multicenter trial evaluating the role of adenosine Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT for assessing risk and therapeutic outcomes in survivors of acute myocardial infarction

Background Preliminary studies indicate that adenosine myocardial perfusion single photon tomography (SPECT) can safely and accurately stratify patients into low and high risk groups early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and results INSPIRE is a prospective, randomized multicenter trial which enrolled 728 clinically stable survivors of AMI. Following baseline adenosine sestamibi gated SPECT, patients were classified as low, intermediate or high risk based on the quantified total and ischemic left ventricular (LV) perfusion defect size (PDS). A subset of high risk patients with a LV ejection fraction ≥35% were randomized to a strategy of either intensive medical therapy or coronary revascularization. Adenosine SPECT was repeated at 6-8 weeks to determine the relative effects of anti-ischemic therapies on total and ischemic PDS (primary endpoint). All patients were followed for one year. The baseline demographic, clinical and scintigraphic characteristics of the study population are presented. Adenosine SPECT was performed within 1 day of admission in 12% of patients and in 64% by Day 4. Conclusion The unique study design features of INSPIRE will further clarify the role of adenosine sestamibi SPECT in defining initial patient risk after AMI and in monitoring the benefits of intensive anti-ischemic therapies.

Comparison of the prognostic value of RR-interval variability after acute myocardial infarction in patients with versus those without diabetes mellitus

Diabetic patients have substantially greater long-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than nondiabetic patients. Traditionally, cardiac autonomic neuropathy is believed to contribute significantly to the increased mortality rate in patients with diabetes mellitus. In contrast, a recent study suggested that RR-interval variability (RRV) did not predict mortality after AMI in diabetic patients. We compared, in diabetic and nondiabetic patients, the relation between low RRV and long-term mortality in the Multicenter Post Infarction Program (MPIP), a longitudinal observational study of 715 survivors of AMI, including 117 diabetic patients. We studied the association between mortality and 6 frequency-domain measurements and 1 time-domain measurement of RRV. We tested 2 hypotheses: (1) RRV is lower in diabetic patients; and (2) low RRV is less predictive of mortality in diabetic patients. Reduced RRV was significantly more frequent in diabetic patients than nondiabetic patients for all measurements, except high-frequency (HF) power. In diabetic patients, the association between reduced RRV and long-term mortality was at least as strong as it was in nondiabetic patients for all measurements except HF power; this pattern was found for all-cause, cardiac, and arrhythmic death. In multivariable models, reduced RRV was significantly associated with all-cause mortality in diabetic patients even when adjusted for left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure class, and ventricular arrhythmias. In our post-AMI sample, RRV provided valuable prognostic information among diabetic patients. Our findings suggest that cardiac autonomic neuropathy plays a role in the high mortality rate seen in diabetic patients after AMI.

Thrombolytic Therapy Preserves Vagal Activity Early after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Objective - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of thrombolytic therapy on vagal tone after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Design - Holter monitoring for 24 h was performed at hospital discharge and 6 weeks after AMI in 74 consecutive male survivors of a first AMI, who fulfilled established criteria for thrombolytic therapy. Thirty-five patients received thrombolyses, while the remaining 39 patients did not (controls). In each Holter recording 24-h heart rate variability was calculated as pNN50, which represents the percentage of successive RR interval differences >50 ms. Alterations in pNN50 are known to reflect changes in vagal tone. Results - The analysis showed that controls early after AMI had low pNN50 values without any diurnal changes. Six weeks after AMI pNN50 values in controls exhibited a circadian rhythm with higher values during night-time. This pattern was similar to the pattern observed in thrombolysed patients early after AMI. In thrombolysed patients pNN50 values, particularly at night, were further improved 6 weeks after AMI (p = 0.037). Conclusion - These observations indicate that thrombolytic therapy, given for a first AMI, preserves vagal activity when compared with patients who are not thrombolysed. The enhanced parasympathetic tone may be a part of the beneficial mechanisms responsible for the reduction in mortality after thrombolysis in AMI.

Survival with oral d-Sotalol in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction: Rationale, design, and methods (the SWORD trial)

Impaired left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with an increased risk of death. Despite recent advances in the management of these patients, sudden death accounts for up to 50% of this mortality, and effective treatment strategies have yet to be identified. Preliminary trials with amiodarone have offered promise that drugs that prolong action potential duration by blocking the potassium channel may be useful in reducing this mortality. The Survival With Oral d-Sotalol (SWORD) trial is a multicenter, multinational study which tests the hypothesis that the class III agent d-sotalol will reduce all-cause mortality in high-risk survivors of AMI. The trial will enroll 6,400 patients with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤40%) and a recent (6 to 42 days) or a remote (>42 days) AMI with overt heart failure (New York Heart Association class II or III). In approximately 500 centers throughout the world, men and women aged ≥18 years will be enrolled and randomized to placebo or d-sotalol (200 mg/day). The minimal follow-up will be 18 months. The trial has a 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality. The rationale, design, and trial methods are described.

791-3 The Influence of Clinical Risk Factors on the Use of Angiography and Revascularization After Acute Myocardial Infarction

After acute myocardial infarction (AMI). the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend angiography in patients “if the prognosis is judged to be poor … and … outcome can be improved by urgent bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty (PTCA).” In 4823 consecutive survivors of AMI, we examined the relationship between both angiography (n = 2274) and revascularization (n = 692 for PTCA, n = 469 for bypass surgery) and 7 clinical variables that predict mortality (age, recurrent angina, ejection fraction, heart failure, use of thrombolytics, prior infarction, cardiogenic shock). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that except for recurrent angina, most factors predicting higher mortality were associated with a lower use of angiography (OR(95%CI) = 2.75 (2.39–3.17) for recurrent angina, 0.47 (0.43–0.51) for older age, 0.85 (0.74–0.97) for prior infarction, 0.50 (0.43–0.59) for no thrombolytic treatment, and 0.63 (0.55–0.73) for heart failure during hospitalization). A similar relationship was observed among patients who underwent PTCA (OR(95%CI) = 1.94 (1.53–2.47) for recurrent angina, 0.51 (0.40–0.65) for low ejection fraction, 0.72 (0.57–0.93) for no thrombolytic therapy and 0.74 (0.56–0.98) for history of prior infarction). In contrast, patients with unfavorable prognostic profiles were more likely to undergo coronary bypass surgery (OR(95%CI) = 1.66 (1.34–2.06) for recurrent angina, 1.28 (1.11–1.47) for older age, 2.24 (1.78–2.82) for heart failure, 1.46 (1.18–1.80) for prior infarction and 1.28 for no thrombolytic therapy). Angiography and PTCA are performed more often in patients who are at relatively low risk for subsequent mortality. Since there is currently no evidence of a survival advantage from PTCA, the risks of this procedure could be avoided in some patients by initially treating them conservatively and subsequently performing PTCA in only those patients whose symptoms are not controlled with medications alone.

Value of low-dose echodobutamine in the diagnosis of patency of the infarct related coronary artery.

The resumption of contractility of asynergic segments in survivors after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be detected in viable myocardial areas. We have correlated the detection of viable myocardium, assessed with low dose dobutamine testing, with coronary angiography and clinical outcome in 66 consecutive survivors of AMI using the echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. The test enabled the identification of two groups: group A, comprising 32 patients (pts) demonstrating wall motion recovery at dobutamine infusion and group B, comprising 34 pts without wall motion recovery. The mean basal asynergy score index was 5.8 +/- 4.2 in group A and 6.0 +/- 4.2 in group B (p = ns). With dobutamine testing the score decreased to 2.8 +/- 3.6 in group A (p < 0.001 with respect to basal value), while it did not change significantly in group B. Left ventricular end diastolic volume (ml) was similar in the two groups (114 +/- 35 vs 107 +/- 79, p = NS). The infarct related artery (IRA) patency rate was 87.5% in group A, vs 26.5% in group B (p < 0.001). After a mean follow-up of 11 +/- 5 months, group A pts had basal asynergy score improvement (2.6 +/- 3.1, p < 0.001) and mild left ventricular end diastolic volume (ml) reduction, (108 +/- 32, p = NS), while group B pts had left ventricle end diastolic volume enlargement (130 +/- 38, p < 0.05), without score asynergy modification. Moreover all pts who experienced heart failure at follow-up were in group B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Beneficial effect of long-term beta blockade after acute myocardial infarction in patients without anterograde flow in the infarct artery

Previous studies have shown that long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is improved by β-adrenergic blockade and anterograde flow in the infarct artery. This study was done to assess the influence of β blockade on mortality in survivors of AMI without anterograde flow. Over 9.5 years, 113 subjects (87 men and 26 women, aged 26 to 66 years) with AMI and no anterograde flow in the infarct artery and no disease of the other arteries were medically treated for 48 ± 28 (mean ± standard deviation) months. Forty-six patients received long-term β blockade (group I), whereas 67 did not (group II). The groups were similar in age, sex, cardioactive medications, left ventricular performance and infarct artery. Of the 46 group I subjects, 1 (2%) died of cardiac causes; in contrast, 20 (30%) of the group II patients died of cardiac causes (p = 0.007 compared with group I). Thus, in survivors of AMI without anterograde flow in the infarct artery, mortality is markedly reduced by long-term β blockade.

Reduction in the frequency of ventricular late potentials after acute myocardial infarction by early thrombolytic therapy

Ventricular late potentials are strong predictors of arrhythmic events after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To assess the effect of intravenous thrombolysis on the incidence of ventricular late potentials, 223 consecutive patients surviving a first AMI were included in the present study: 59 patients (53 men, 6 women, mean age ± standard deviation 55 ± 10 years) received intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (100 mg over 3 hours, group A) and 164 patients (123 men, 41 women, mean age 61 ± 11 years) received conventional medical treatment (group B). A time-domain signal-averaged electrocardiogram and a high-resolution beat-to-beat recording (gain 10 6, filters 100 to 300 Hz) were performed at 10 ± 3 days after AMI. There was no difference between group A and B patients in terms of AMI location (anterior in 28 of 59 vs 80 of 164, difference not significant [NS]), mean left ventricular ejection fraction (55 ± 10 vs 55 ± 13%, NS), or presence of heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV in 12 of 59 vs 40 of 164, NS). The incidence of ventricular late potentials was 10% (6 of 59) in group A and 24% (39 of 164) in group B (p < 0.05). Among the 146 patients who underwent coronary arteriography, the incidence of ventricular late potentials was 13% (10 of 80) in patients with a patent infarct-related artery and 26% (17 of 66) in patients with an occluded infarct-related artery (p < 0.05). No relation was found between the presence of ventricular late potentials and the presence of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia as detected by 24-hour Holter monitoring. In conclusion, intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator reduces the incidence of ventricular late potentials in survivors of a first AMI; this reduced frequency is not related to global left ventricular function and appears to be related to the patency of the infarct-related artery (induced by a thrombolytic agent or occurring spontaneously). Further prospective studies are needed to assess the prognostic significance of this finding.

Effects of cigarette smoking and propranolol in survivors of acute myocardial infarction

The effect of propranolol on mortality and reinfarction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in cigarette smokers and nonsmokers was studied in the Beta Blocker Heart Attack Trial. Cigarette smokers (n = 2,332) were 5 years younger than nonsmokers and had a lower incidence of diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, previous AMI and cardiomegaly. Among cigarette smokers, the placebo group had a higher total mortality rate than the propranolol group (11.0 vs 7.4%, p < 0.0008) and more sudden cardiac deaths (7.1 vs 4.6%, p < 0.009). In nonsmokers the placebo group had a mortality (7.9 vs 7.1%, p > 0.64) similar to the propranolol group. After baseline adjustment, cigarette smokers were estimated to have 1.6 times the risk of dying as compared to nonsmokers (p < 0.0007). Adjusting for baseline differences, both treatment with propranolol and nonsmoking were predictors of survival. No detectable nonsmoking/ propranolol interaction could be identified. In survivors of AMI a beneficial effect of propranolol is observed for cigarette smokers. Nevertheless, cigarette smoking continues to be a risk factor for mortality after AMI even for those receiving propranolol.