cardiovascular-agents and Acute-Coronary-Syndrome

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and its main pathological substrate is represented by atherosclerosis. Inflammation is a major promoter of the atherosclerotic process and is involved in both the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, as well as in the occurrence of fatal complications. Until the present moment, Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial is the largest trial to demonstrate a major benefit of low-dose colchicine on major adverse cardiac events in patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI), but the mechanisms behind this relation are not completely known. The purpose of this review is to emphasize the possible pathways through which colchicine improves the clinical outcomes in the acute setting of acute coronary syndromes by referring to the results of the studies published in the past 5 years. Aside from its stated systemic anti-inflammatory effect, colchicine could be a valuable addition to the therapeutic approach of acute MI by reducing the infarct size, stabilizing the coronary plaque, as well as reducing platelet aggregation. Moreover, colchicine may improve endothelial function, reduce the transcoronary release of cytokines, and prevent a rise in inflammatory markers after percutaneous coronary intervention, thus diminishing the residual inflammatory risk.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular System; Colchicine; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Signal Transduction; Treatment Outcome

Establishing efficient perfusion into the myocardium is the main purpose in patients with acute coronary syndrome, but the process of reperfusion is not without risk and can damage the myocardium paradoxically. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for reperfusion injury, and efforts to find an efficient preventive approach are still ongoing. In the past 3 decades, there have been many successful animal studies on how to prevent reperfusion injury; nonetheless, translation to the clinical setting has almost always proven disappointing. In this article, we review clinical studies on the prevention of reperfusion injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a pharmacologic-based approach. We categorize all the agents that are evaluated for the prevention of myocardial reperfusion injury based on their mechanisms of action into 5 groups: drugs that can reduce oxidative stress, drugs that can affect cellular metabolism, rheological agents that target microvascular obstruction, anti-inflammatory agents, and agents with mixed mechanisms of action. Then, review all the clinical studies of these agents in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Finally, we will discuss the possible reasons for the failure in translation of studies into practice and propose potential solutions to overcome this problem.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Cardiovascular Agents; Humans; Membrane Transport Modulators; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Although health disparities in women presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have received growing attention in recent years, clinical outcomes from ACS are still worse for women than for men. Women continue to experience higher patient and system delays and receive less aggressive invasive treatment and pharmacotherapies. Gender- and sex-specific variables that contribute to ACS vulnerability remain largely unknown. Notwithstanding the sex differences in baseline coronary anatomy and function, women and men are treated the same based on guidelines that were established from experimental and clinical trial data over-representing the male population. Importantly, younger women have a particularly unfavourable prognosis and a plethora of unanswered questions remains in this younger population. The present review summarizes contemporary evidence for gender and sex differences in vascular biology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of ACS. We further discuss potential mechanisms and non-traditional risk conditions modulating the course of disease in women and men, such as unrecognized psychosocial factors, sex-specific vascular and neural stress responses, and the potential impact of epigenetic modifications.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Male; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors; Treatment Outcome

Advances in stent design and the development of bioresorbable polymers have allowed the development of novel stent technologies such as the Orsiro bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus eluting stent (BP-SES). Over several noninferiority trials, the BP-SES has demonstrated itself to be a safe and effective therapy for obstructive coronary artery disease. This article reviews the current evidence of the efficacy of the BP-SES and examines its performance in high-risk populations, such as patients presenting with ST-segment myocardial infarction, chronic total occlusions, diabetes, and small vessel disease.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Acute coronary syndrome is a major health problem affecting ~ 1.5 million individuals a year in the USA. We review the contemporary role of anti-anginal and anti-ischemic therapies in the management of an individual presenting with an acute coronary syndrome.. Early diagnosis and appropriate evidence-based therapies significantly improve clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients. Typically, acute coronary syndrome is associated with rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque and either partial or complete thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery. Management of an acute coronary syndrome is targeted towards this underlying pathophysiology. The last few years have seen significant advances in anti-anginal and anti-ischemic therapies in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome. It is important to have a team effort to target risk reduction measures and to emphasize medication and dietary compliance. Long-term pharmacotherapy should include aspirin, beta-blocker, DAPT (for at least 1 year), statins, and ACE inhibitors and PCSK9 inhibitors if indicated.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proprotein Convertase 9

Complex coronary artery bifurcation lesions occurred in hard clinical scenarios, such as acute coronary syndromes, may represent a challenge for interventional cardiologists, with not-defined general consensus on treatment. Even if provisional stenting is the most common option used to restore rapidly the coronary branches flow, improvements in industrial technologies and design of new dedicated bifurcation devices might open new modalities of treatment in these complex cases. The Axxess stent (Biosensors Europe SA, Morges, Switzerland) is a self-expanding biolimus-eluting conical V-shape stent, specifically designed to treat "easily" coronary artery bifurcation lesions, with reported favorable long-term clinical results in stable patients compared to a provisional technique. We report for the first time the feasibility to use this device in a case of "true double coronary bifurcation lesion" occurred in the context of acute coronary syndrome. Moreover, we reviewed studies with bifurcation dedicated devices and available cases of "true double bifurcation lesions", underlying advantages/disadvantages of using one device over the others during acute coronary syndrome.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Male; Prosthesis Design; Sirolimus; Treatment Outcome

Although acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mainly occurs in individuals >60 years, younger adults can be affected as well. Women continue to be at higher risk of 30-day mortality after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) even in the current era of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Importantly, the excess mortality among women is only significant at younger ages. Previous work has suggested that the reason for the differences in outcome is likely multifactorial and may partially be explained by some of the following factors: atypical presentation, delayed presentation, under-recognition of STEMI at initial medical contact, and underuse of medications because of concern regarding increased risk of bleeding. While these hypotheses may be true in some occasions, recent studies pointed out that the proportion of women presenting within 2 h after symptom onset was greater in the younger than in older cohorts. In addition, sex differences in administration of adjunctive medical therapies were greater in the older than in the younger cohort. Thus, there is not any one of the abovementioned factors able to explain the increase in mortality in the young women. Disparities alone could not account for the gap in mortality across sexes. Unless the effects of sex are studied, we will continue to have gaps in the knowledge of potential different mechanisms leading young women and men to die after ACS, which may result in missed opportunities for implementing a better health in our community. Randomizing or balancing the sexes as well as powering studies to detect sex differences is warranted in future research.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age of Onset; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Female; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

The optimal management of patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains controversial. This meta-analysis aims to compare percutaneous coronary intervention of CTO (CTO-PCI) versus optimal medical therapy (OMT) in CTO patients.. A literature search with highly specific terms was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify most relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies with propensity score matching (PSM) evaluating differences in between CTO-PCI versus OMT. The primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs, composite of cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, and repeat PCI, re-PCI) while its single components were defined as secondary endpoints.. A total of eight studies was included, four RCTs and four PSMs. 3,971 patients were included in the analysis (2,050 CTO-PCI versus 1,921 OMT) with a mean follow-up of 3 years. No significant differences were found regarding overall MACE, re-PCI and AMI. Regarding CV-death, CTO-PCI was associated with a better outcome compared with OMT driven by PSMs (OR 0.52, 0.0.81, P < 0.01).. As compared to OMT, CTO-PCI was associated with similar MACE rate; however, CTO-PCI may be associated with reduced CV death, mainly due to PSMs effect.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Cause of Death; Chronic Disease; Coronary Occlusion; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Retreatment; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome. The majority of cases reported in the literature involve a single vessel; multivessel and left main (LM) coronary artery involvement is rare. We present a case of triple vessel and LM SCAD in a postpartum patient and review the literature regarding percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of SCAD.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Angina Pectoris; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Vessel Anomalies; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Vascular Diseases

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) present an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease. The majority of cases of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with SLE are due to atherosclerosis. Less common causes include thrombosis of an angiographically normal coronary artery and coronary vasculitis. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of ACS in these patients. We report the case of a 53-year-old female diagnosed of SLE presenting with an ACS caused by SCAD. She was treated medically and her clinical course was favorable. A literature search identified seven additional cases of SCAD associated with SLE. The main clinical features found in these reports are revised. ACS caused by SCAD in SLE patients is a condition likely under-reported in literature. SCAD should be suspected in patients with SLE and ACS, especially in younger women without evident cardiovascular risk factors. An early accurate diagnosis of SCAD is key to provide specific treatment, which differs from that of usual atherosclerotic ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Vessel Anomalies; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Diseases

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Basophils; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Computed Tomography Angiography; Coronary Angiography; Early Diagnosis; Eosinophils; Female; Graft Occlusion, Vascular; Humans; Male; Myocardial Revascularization; Risk Assessment; Ventricular Remodeling

Ivabradine is a heart rate reducing agent that exhibits anti-ischemic effects through the inhibition of funny electrical current in the sinus node resulting in heart rate reduction, thus enabling longer diastolic perfusion time, and reduced myocardial oxygen consumption without detrimental changes in arterial blood pressure, coronary vasomotion, and ventricular contractility. The current guideline-based clinical use of Ivabradine is reserved for patients with stable angina pectoris who cannot tolerate or whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with beta blockers. In patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, Ivabradine has demonstrated beneficial effects in improving clinical outcomes when added to conventional therapy. However, the role of Ivabradine in acute coronary syndromes has not been established. Based on the results from some relevant preclinical studies and a limited amount of clinical data that were reported recently, the role of Ivabradine in acute ischemic events warrants further investigation. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available literature on the potential role of Ivabradine in the clinical context of acute coronary syndromes.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Benzazepines; Cardiovascular Agents; Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; Heart Rate; Humans; Ivabradine; Treatment Outcome

To assess time trends in the use of main drug classes for secondary prevention, during hospitalization and at hospital discharge, following an acute coronary syndrome, in Portugal, using a systematic review.. We searched PubMed, from inception until 2012, to identify studies reporting the proportion of acute coronary syndrome patients treated with main pharmacological therapy. We used linear regression to quantify the annual variation in use of drugs, adjusting for the proportion of men in the sample and patients' mean age, and including a quadratic term of data collection year when relevant.. In 25 eligible studies, including patients treated from 1993 to 2009, we observed an increase in the prescription of pharmacological treatments at hospital discharge. Extrapolating from these data, and assuming a mean patient age of 65 years and 70% of men, we estimate that in 2008, 95% of patients would have been discharged with aspirin, 92% with clopidogrel, 82% with β-blockers, 80% with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and 91% with statins. Treatment during hospitalization followed a similar pattern, except for a steeper increase in angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors use, which was initially lower, but reached similar levels to those at discharge in recent years.. In Portugal, there was an increase in the use of recommended pharmacological therapy for secondary prevention after an acute coronary syndrome over the last 15 years, during hospitalization and at hospital discharge.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Clopidogrel; Hospitalization; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Secondary Prevention; Ticlopidine

Four years after the latest edition, the 2015 non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology have been published. Novel aspects include a new diagnostic algorithm for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction using high-sensitivity cardiac troponins as well as guidance on cardiac rhythm monitoring duration. A large section is dedicated to antiplatelet therapy including initiation and duration of dual-antiplatelet therapy as well as the management of patients requiring, at the same time, long-term oral anticoagulation. New sections include the management of antiplatelet agent in patients requiring coronary artery bypass surgery and of acute bleeding events related to antiplatelet agents, vitamin K antagonist (VKA), and non-VKA oral anticoagulant drugs. Current evidence supports the radial access over the femoral one for coronary angiography and percutaneous revascularization.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Anticoagulants; Cardiology; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Angiography; Electrocardiography; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Predictive Value of Tests; Societies, Medical

Over 780,000 patients in the United States are diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) each year. As physicians, it is our responsibility to provide prompt workup, diagnosis and management of these patients. After identification of the patient with ACS and confirming there is not ST-segment elevation MI requiring immediate revascularization, physicians should pursue a work-up for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). It is important to understand the latest best practice guidelines in the treatment and management of patients with NSTE-ACS who carry high rates of in-hospital mortality. Physicians must integrate the clinical history and examination, electrocardiogram and laboratory findings in order to properly diagnose an NSTE-ACS. Early treatment with guideline directed medical therapy is imperative even in the setting of an early invasive strategy with cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention. The focus of this review is to discuss the appropriate strategies for evaluation and management of patients with NSTE-ACS based on the most recent ACC/AHA practice guidelines.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Anticoagulants; Biomarkers; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Electrocardiography; Health Behavior; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Life Style; Nitrates; Patient Education as Topic; Physical Examination; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; United States

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) remains an infrequent, elusive, and challenging clinical entity of unknown etiology eight decades after its initial description. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of SCAD, initially limited to information from early pathological studies, case reports, and very short series, has been enriched recently by relatively large contemporary series of patients studied prospectively. The typical presentation involves a young woman without coronary risk factors suffering an acute coronary syndrome but, actually, most patients are middle-aged and have coronary risk factors. A high number of conditions have been related to SCAD, but fibromuscular dysplasia has shown a major intriguing association with potential pathophysiological implications. SCAD may present (a) with an intimal tear and the classic angiographic 'flap' leading to the appearance of two lumens (true and false), or (b) without an intimal rupture, as an intramural hematoma. An increased clinical awareness together with new diagnostic tools have led to a major surge in the diagnosis of SCAD. High-resolution intracoronary techniques provide unique diagnostic insights into the underlying pathophysiology and facilitate identification of the disease in patients misdiagnosed previously. After the initial acute ischemic insult, most patients stabilize and have a benign clinical course and eventually experience spontaneous healing of the vessel wall during follow-up. However, recurrences may still occur in up to 10-20% of cases. Accordingly, a conservative medical management (watchful waiting strategy) has been recommended as the initial approach. Revascularization remains particularly challenging and may be associated with suboptimal results, acute complications, and poor long-term outcome. Nevertheless, in patients with ongoing or refractory ischemia and adequate anatomy, revascularization should be attempted. Some novel and attractive coronary interventions have been proposed in this uniquely challenging anatomic scenario. This review aims to present a comprehensive and contemporary update on this elusive and intriguing clinical entity.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Conservative Treatment; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Vessel Anomalies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multimodal Imaging; Myocardial Reperfusion; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Vascular Diseases; Watchful Waiting

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are inflammatory pathologies, involving interleukins (ILs), such as IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and acute phase proteins production, such as for C reactive protein (CRP). The process begins with retention of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its oxidation inside the intima, with the formation of the "foam cells." Toll-like receptors and inflamassomes participate in atherosclerosis formation, as well as in the activation of the complement system. In addition to innate immunity, adaptive immunity is also associated with atherosclerosis through antigen-presenting cells, T and B lymphocytes. AMI also increases the expression of some ILs and promotes macrophage and lymphocyte accumulation. Reperfusion increases the expression of anti-inflammatory ILs (such as IL-10) and generates oxygen free radicals. Although CAD and AMI are inflammatory disorders, the only drugs with anti-inflammatory effect so far widely used in ischemic heart disease are aspirin and statins. Some immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive promising therapies, such as cyclosporine and colchicine, may have benefits in CAD. Methotrexate also has potential cardioprotective anti-inflammatory effects, through increased adenosine levels. The TETHYS trial (The Effects of mETHotrexate Therapy on ST Segment Elevation MYocardial InfarctionS trial) will evaluate low-dose methotrexate in ST elevation AMI. The CIRT (Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial), in turn, will evaluate low-dose methotrexate in patients with a high prevalence of subclinical vascular inflammation. The CANTOS (The Canakinumab Antiinflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study) will evaluate canakinumab in patients with CAD and persistently elevated CRP. The blockage of other potential targets, such as the IL-6 receptor, CC2 chemokine receptor and CD20, could bring benefits in CAD.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Endothelium, Vascular; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Models, Immunological; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Vasculitis

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; American Heart Association; Cardiovascular Agents; Humans; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; United States

Despite the revolutionary advancements in the past 3 decades in the treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias with device-based therapy, sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains an enormous public health burden. Survivors of SCD are generally at high risk for recurrent events. The clinical management of such patients requires a multidisciplinary approach from postresuscitative care to a thorough cardiovascular investigation in an attempt to identify the underlying substrate, with potential to eliminate or modify the triggers through catheter ablation and ultimately an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for prompt treatment of recurrences in those at risk. Early recognition of low left ventricular ejection fraction as a strong predictor of death and association of ventricular arrhythmias with sudden death led to significant investigation with antiarrhythmic drugs. The lack of efficacy and the proarrhythmic effects of drugs catalyzed the development and investigation of the ICD through several major clinical trials that proved the efficacy of ICD as a bedrock tool to detect and promptly treat life-threatening arrhythmias. The ICD therapy is routinely used for primary prevention of SCD in patients with cardiomyopathy and high risk inherited arrhythmic conditions and secondary prevention in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest. This compendium will review the clinical management of those surviving SCD and discuss landmark studies of antiarrhythmic drugs, ICD, and cardiac resynchronization therapy in the primary and secondary prevention of SCD.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cardiovascular Agents; Catheter Ablation; Clinical Trials as Topic; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Defibrillators, Implantable; Disease Management; Electric Countershock; Electrocardiography; Heart Arrest; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Primary Prevention; Recurrence; Secondary Prevention; Survivors; Sympathectomy

Each year, despite optimal use of recommended acute and secondary prevention therapies, 4%-5% of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) experience relapse of ACS or other cardiovascular events including stroke, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death after the index ACS. The sudden atherosclerotic plaque rupture leading to an ACS event is often accompanied by inflammation, which is thought to be a key pathogenic pathway to these excess cardiovascular events. Losmapimod is a novel, oral p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor that targets MAPKs activated in macrophages, myocardium, and endothelial cells that occur as a part of global coronary vascular inflammation following plaque rupture. This review aims to 1) discuss the pathophysiological pathways through which p38 MAPKs may play key roles in initiation and progression of inflammatory disease and how losmapimod is thought to counteract these p38 MAPKs, and 2) to describe the efficacy and safety data for losmapimod obtained from preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials that support the hypothesis that it has promise as a treatment for patients with ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cardiovascular Agents; Cyclopropanes; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Membrane Proteins; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyridines; Signal Transduction; Treatment Outcome

Acute coronary syndrome is a life-threatening event that affects millions of people each year and accounts for a big portion of hospital visits. With an ever-growing elderly patient population, ischemic heart disease is more prevalent than ever before. It is paramount that physicians of all fields are cognizant of the various presentations of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as its prompt diagnosis and treatment profoundly decreases mortality and morbidity. Under the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association, guidelines are published for the optimal management of patients with acute coronary syndromes. Guidelines are continuously evolving as more multicenter randomized trials, new medications and new technologies continue to change the way we treat acute coronary syndromes. The focus of this review is ST-elevation myocardial infarction and it provides answers to some of the fundamental questions through evidence-based guidelines.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Disease Management; Electrocardiography; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Time Factors

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is the most frequent cause of mortality among men and women. Many epidemiological studies have demonstrated that premenopausal women have a reduced risk for IHD compared with their male counterparts. The incidence of IHD in women increases after menopause, suggesting that IHD is related to declining oestrogen levels. Experimental observations have confirmed the results of epidemiological studies investigating sex-specific differences in cardiac tolerance to ischaemia. Female sex appears also to favourably influence cardiac remodelling after ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Furthermore, sex-related differences in ischaemic tolerance of the adult myocardium can be influenced by interventions during the early phases of ontogenetic development. Detailed mechanisms of these sex-related differences remain unknown; however, they involve the genomic and non-genomic effects of sex steroid hormones, particularly the oestrogens, which have been the most extensively studied. Although the protective effects of oestrogen have many potential therapeutic implications, clinical trials have shown that oestrogen replacement in postmenopausal women may actually increase the incidence of IHD. The results of these trials have illustrated the complexity underlying the mechanisms involved in sex-related differences in cardiac tolerance to ischaemia. Sex-related differences in cardiac sensitivity to ischaemia/reperfusion injury may also influence therapeutic strategies in women with acute coronary syndrome. Women undergo coronary intervention less frequently and a lower proportion of women receive evidence-based therapy compared with men. Although our understanding of this important topic has increased in recent years, there is an urgent need for intensive experimental and clinical research to develop female-specific therapeutic strategies. Only then we will be able to offer patients better evidence-based treatment, a better quality of life and lower mortality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Androgens; Animals; Cardiovascular Agents; Disease Susceptibility; Estrogens; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Heart; Humans; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Myocardium; Sex Characteristics

Increasing pathological insights have highlighted the role of plaque instability in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic syndromes. These studies have identified a specific plaque phenotype, characterized by large burden, expansive arterial wall remodeling, and greater composition of lipid, inflammatory, and necrotic material, as the disease most likely to rupture and provoke acute ischemia. Accordingly, considerable efforts have been made to develop more effective strategies to identify patients more likely to harbor such lesions and to passivate this disease from both a prophylactic and a therapeutic perspective. The approaches to management of plaque stabilization are reviewed.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Vessels; Disease Management; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rupture, Spontaneous

Research and development in the field of coronary stent design is a fast-evolving and fascinating journey. A device that was once introduced to salvage acute closure associated with balloon angioplasty is now the standard of care for many patients with coronary artery disease. Newer generation stents are the product of remarkable progress in technology and innovation, driven by the need to make the stents easier to deliver and to improve their safety and efficacy. As such, the design of these stents has become quite sophisticated and complex. The number of available stents has increased giving patients and physicians more choices on one hand, but also created confusion in selecting the optimal stent for a given patient. Although a 'one size fits all' approach may not be reasonable, several randomized trials have attested to the efficacy and safety of newer generation durable polymer drug eluting stents. This article discusses the evidence base to support various stent choices in contemporary practice.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Diabetic Angiopathies; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Patient Selection; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Stents; Treatment Outcome

Multiple, potentially practice-changing cardiology trials have been presented or published over the past year. In this paper, we summarize and place in clinical context, new data regarding management of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (copeptin assessment, otamixaban, cangrelor, prasugrel, sodium nitrite, inclacumab, ranolazine, preventive coronary intervention of non-culprit lesions, immediate thrombolytic therapy versus transfer for primary intervention), new coronary intervention data (thrombectomy, radial access, pressure wire fractional flow reserve, antiplatelet therapy duration and gene-guidance, permanent and biodegradable polymers, coronary bifurcation and strategies), and coronary artery bypass data (off pump vs. on pump). Latest trials in trans-aortic valve implantation, heart failure (eplerenone, aliskiren, spironolactone, sildenafil, dopamine, nesiritide, omecamtiv mecarbil, the algisyl left ventricular augmentation device, and echo-guided cardiac resynchronization), atrial fibrillation (edoxaban, dabigatran, and ablation), cardiac arrest (hypothermia, LUCAS™ mechanical chest compression), and cardiovascular prevention (vitamins, renal denervation for resistant hypertension, renal artery stenting, saxagliptin, alogliptin, and gastric banding) are also discussed.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Stents; Thrombolytic Therapy

Options for modification of lipoprotein metabolism and, thus, for reduction of atherothrombotic complication have widened over recent years. Apart from the development of novel approaches new pharmacological formulations of common lipid lowering drugs have been prepared- e.g. statin-containing nanoparticles, fibrate nanoparticles with a much higher bioavailability etc. Even the oldest lipid lowering agents - resins - have not been forgotten due to its once again discovered positive impact of these agents on glucose homeostasis while optimally complementing the action of statins. Clinical trials of therapies targeting HDL particle metabolism are being in progress despite we have not gathered any unambiguous evidence of positive effect of the CETP inhibitors or apoA1 mime-tics on the progression of atherosclerosis. Brand new approaches in the treatment of dyslipidemia including MTTP and PCSK9 inhibition or therapies utilizing anti-sense technologies rapidly accumulate evidence from clinical studies. We have already learned about their lipid-modifying efficacy particularly in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, however, data from other patients´ populations can be expected quite soon.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Agents; Carrier Proteins; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dyslipidemias; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Hypolipidemic Agents; Proprotein Convertase 9; Proprotein Convertases; Serine Endopeptidases

Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries is common, extensive, and more unstable among patients with chronic renal impairment or chronic kidney disease (CKD). The initial presentation of coronary disease is often acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that tends to be more complicated and has a higher risk of death in this population. Medical treatment of ACS includes antianginal agents, antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulants, and pharmacotherapies that modify the natural history of ventricular remodeling after injury. Revascularization, primarily with percutaneous coronary intervention and stenting, is critical for optimal outcomes in those at moderate and high risk for reinfarction, the development of heart failure, and death in predialysis patients with CKD. The benefit of revascularization in ACS may not extend to those with end-stage renal disease because of competing sources of all-cause mortality. In stable patients with CKD and multivessel coronary artery disease, observational studies have found that bypass surgery is associated with a reduced mortality as compared with percutaneous coronary intervention when patients are followed for several years. This article will review the guidelines-recommended therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of stable coronary atherosclerosis and ACS and give specific guidance on benefits, hazards, dose adjustments, and caveats concerning patients with baseline CKD.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Revascularization; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Risk Assessment

Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is the commonest acute presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Mortality and morbidity of the condition has improved substantially over the last few decades as a result of the cumulative effect of multiple interventions acting via different mechanisms. Despite a significant increase in the rate of coronary intervention, medical therapy continues to retain a central role in the treatment of NSTE-ACS particularly in frail patients where revascularization is inappropriate or when it is incomplete. Several antiischemic agents have been used in the treatment of the condition. Beta blockers are often the first-line choice with calcium channel blockers and nitrates being used as an alternative when beta blockers are contraindicated, or as an addition to achieve optimal symptom control. Newer agents, such as nicorandil, ivabradine, and ranolazine have also been used in refractory cases. Although most of these agents have been extensively studied in large randomized controlled trials in patients with stable CAD or ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS), the evidence supporting their use in NSTE-ACS is less clear cut. In this article, we review various drugs available for controlling ischemia and the latest evidence in support of their use in NSTE-ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cardiovascular Agents; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Myocardial Ischemia; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilator Agents

The acute coronary syndrome is most often caused by plaque rupture and can result in a variety of clinical conditions. There are two general strategies (early invasive versus conservative) currently employed in the treatment of unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Pooled data from recent clinical trials have demonstrated that high-risk patients benefit from a routine or early invasive approach while certain low-risk subgroups have similar outcomes with a conservative approach. Most patients in the USA are treated aggressively given advances in technology and the relative ease of interventional therapy. The routine invasive approach, however, remains controversial and has important limitations that are not well identified in trials. Furthermore, data from trials are difficult to interpret given their relevance to contemporary practice in today's cost conscious, health care environment. The decision to pursue an invasive or conservative approach should be based upon an individual patient's risk profile, and the level of medical therapy should be based on the underlying pathophysiology. The best strategy incorporates aggressive anti-atherosclerotic therapy with early risk stratification and invasive therapy when appropriate-the so-called hybrid approach. Identifying plaque rupture helps identify patients that would benefit from potent antiplatelet, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory therapies, and further insight into the natural history of coronary artery disease coupled with continued advances in diagnostic and interventional approaches will hopefully help guide long-term primary and secondary management.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Selection; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Morbidities related to atherosclerosis, such as acute coronary syndromes (ACS) including unstable angina and myocardial infarction, remain leading causes of mortality. Unstable plaques are inflamed and infiltrated with macrophages and T lymphocytes. Activated dendritic cells interact with T cells, yielding predominantly Th1 responses involving interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), while the role of interleukin 17 (IL-17) is questionable. The expansion of CD28nullCD4 or CD8 T cells as well as pattern recognition receptors activation (especially Toll-like receptors; TLR2 and TLR4) is characteristic for unstable plaque. Inflammation modifies platelet and fibrin clot characteristics, which are critical for ACS. Understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms of atherothrombosis, bridging inflammation, oxidative stress and immune regulation, will allow for the detection of subjects at risk, through the use of novel biomarkers and imaging techniques including intravascular ultrasound, molecular targeting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). Moreover, understanding the specific inflammatory pathways of plaque rupture and atherothrombosis may allow for immunomodulation of ACS. Statins and anti-platelet drugs are anti-inflammatory, but importance of immune events in ACS warrants the introduction of novel, specific treatments directed either on cytokines, TLRs or inflammasomes. While the prime time for the introduction of immunologically inspired diagnostic tests and treatments for atherosclerosis have not come yet, we are closer than ever before to finally being able to benefit from this vast body of experimental and clinical evidence. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the role of the immune system and inflammation in ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Atherosclerosis; Autoimmune Diseases; Bacterial Infections; Cardiovascular Agents; Cytokines; Dendritic Cells; Diagnostic Imaging; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Inflammasomes; Inflammation; Macrophages; Mast Cells; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Oxidative Stress; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Receptors, Pattern Recognition; Rupture, Spontaneous; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Thrombophilia

Current acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) dosing algorithms for the prevention of secondary thrombotic events in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are inconsistent and lack sufficient data support.. We performed a systematic review of the literature for studies that assessed clinical outcomes in patients with ACS following coronary stent insertion (SI) or medical treatment (MT). Acetylsalicylic acid dosing was stratified into low- (<160 mg) and high- (≥ 160 mg) dose categories. Outcomes were assessed at 1, 6, and 12 months and included major bleeding, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the value of the mean for each outcome variable.. Of 12,472 publications identified, 136 studies with 289,330 patients were analyzed. In the 1-month SI analysis, proportions of patients (95% CI) in the low- and high-dose ASA categories experiencing major bleeding were 2.1% (1.5-2.6) and 1.9% (0.0-3.8); proportions with myocardial infarction were 2.1% (1.3-2.8) and 1.8% (0.9-2.6); and proportions of all-cause death were 2.8% (2.2-3.4) and 2.4% (1.3-3.5), respectively. Results were similar in the MT analysis, except that major bleeding rates for low and high doses were 1.7% (1.3-2.2) and 4.0% (2.2-5.8), respectively. Regression analyses suggested that the proportion of patients reporting each of the outcomes evaluated were not significantly different between the low- and high-dose categories, with the exception of the 1-month major bleeding following MT.. Our results suggest no improved clinical outcomes associated with higher ASA maintenance doses in ACS patients receiving SI or MT. In the MT analysis, there was more major bleeding in the first month after an ACS event with high-dose ASA.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Bypass; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prosthesis Implantation; Stents

The acute coronary syndrome is the most severe form of coronary artery disease. It is an immediate threat of life and the mortality rate can be high without proper therapy and patient management. Based on the first ECG, two different forms can be distinguished: acute coronary syndrome with and without ST elevation. Besides adequate medication, management of these patients is an essential part of treatment. In case of ST elevation, coronarography and percutaneous coronary intervention is needed in general, within 24 hours from the onset of symptoms. When ST elevation is not detected on the ECG, individual ischemic risk factors and predictable mortality of the patient may define the necessity and the date of the invasive examination. The Hungarian hemodynamic laboratory network covers almost the whole country and, therefore, practically each patient may receive a state-of-the-art therapy. Although indicators of cardiovascular diseases are still prominent, the mortality rate of myocardial Infarction is decreasing in Hungary due to the well-organized invasive care.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Heart Conduction System; Humans; Hungary; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Acute coronary syndrome is a common cause of morbidity and mortality, both in the United States and worldwide. The goal of this review is to familiarize clinicians with recent information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome.. PubMed search and review of the relevant medical literature.. Acute coronary syndrome encompasses three clinical diagnoses: unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction), and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The definition, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction are reviewed here. Diagnosing unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is a significant challenge in critically ill patients not initially suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (i.e., noncardiac intensive care unit patients), and diagnostic and treatment strategies for these patients have not been clearly established.. Patients with acute coronary syndrome benefit from intensive medical therapy, including antianginal, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, and statin agents. Depending on their risk for future cardiovascular events as well as their risk of bleeding complications, patients may benefit from either an early invasive treatment strategy, in which routine coronary revascularization is performed, or a conservative strategy, in which revascularization is reserved for patients with recurrent or provocable cardiac ischemia.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina, Unstable; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Critical Illness; Diagnosis, Differential; Electrocardiography; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Revascularization; Thrombosis

Persons aged 65 years or older, often referred to as the elderly, are a rapidly increasing population in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and death in this age group, and acute coronary syndrome accounts for a significant proportion of the deaths. Percutaneous coronary intervention is a well-established treatment for acute coronary syndrome and symptomatic coronary artery disease. However, community studies have shown that elderly patients are less likely to undergo revascularization, perhaps due to a "treatment-risk" paradox: elderly patients-at higher risk of morbidity and death from acute coronary syndrome-are denied revascularization even though they are likely to benefit from it. Age alone is one of the many reasons why percutaneous coronary intervention is avoided in elderly patients. This review examines past clinical trials and the existing evidence that supports performing percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Evidence-Based Medicine; Heart Diseases; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Selection; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome

A 37-year-old man is admitted to the hospital for retrosternal chest pain lasting more than 30  min and nonspecific ECG findings. Serial assays of cardiac biomarkers reveal an isolated elevation of creatine kinase-MB and negative troponin levels. A coronary angiography shows normal vessels in the presence of a Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 2 flow. How should this patient be managed and treated? Is it a myocardial infarction? We here provide a review of the relevant literature and suggest that such a strange condition, for which several explanations are possible, involves a worse prognosis than for normal creatine kinase-MB and troponins.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Angina Pectoris; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Creatine Kinase, MB Form; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electrocardiography; Humans; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Troponin; Up-Regulation

Heart disease affects 1 in 3 individuals in the United States, and the prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing exponentially. Although our understanding of the disease progression of congestive HF (CHF) has advanced, refining the areas of diagnosis, risk stratification, prognosis, and treatment is still needed. The natriuretic peptides, specifically B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), have shown promise in clinical practice. Brain natriuretic peptide is released from cardiac ventricular myocytes in response to volume or pressure overload. Rapid measurement of plasma BNP or NT-proBNP has been shown to increase the diagnostic accuracy of HF exacerbations. A cutoff value of 100 pg/mL has a sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 73%, respectively, according to the Breathing Not Properly Study. In addition, BNP and NT-proBNP have been considered independent predictors of adverse outcome. One study calculated a 35% increase in risk of death due to HF for every 100-pg/mL increase in BNP level. Lastly, natriuretic peptides have been known to decrease following medical therapy of HF, suggesting the role of their measurement in monitoring inpatient disease progression and outpatient medical programs. The future of natriuretic peptides lies in risk stratification in other cardiac diseases, such as acute coronary syndrome, and possibly determining severity of valvular disease. Although there is substantial work done in elucidating the power of natriuretic peptides in clinical practice, more research is necessary to reach a consensus regarding how to appropriately utilize them in treatment regimens.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Heart Failure; Heart Valve Diseases; Humans; Mass Screening; Monitoring, Physiologic; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Sensitivity and Specificity

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Blood Loss, Surgical; Cardiovascular Agents; Contraindications; Contrast Media; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Myocardial Revascularization; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Although preventive pharmacological therapies effectually reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in our country, Japan. Disruption of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques and flow-limiting thrombus formation in non-stent segments of native coronary arteries are considered a main mechanism of ACS. In addition, stent thrombosis originating from implanted metallic coronary stents, so-called vulnerable stents, occasionally appears as ACS in the clinical settings. Coronary angioscopy is a unique imaging modality permitting direct visualization of luminal structures, such as atherosclerotic plaque, thrombus, stent struts, and proliferating neointima. On the basis of accumulated angioscopic findings, intense yellow plaques and stents without neointimal coverage are considered vulnerable plaques and vulnerable stents, respectively. In contrast, morphological disappearance of vulnerable plaques or vulnerable stents by pharmacological and trans-catheter therapies imply stabilization of the plaques or stents. Hence, angioscopic assessment for vulnerability (or stability) of atherosclerotic plaques and implanted stents might be useful for risk classification in the future events of ACS. To evaluate serial changes of coronary lumen after pharmacological and catheter interventions using angioscopy might also provide important information on potential benefits and surrogate endpoints of the therapies and on patients' management.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Angioscopy; Animals; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Metals; Predictive Value of Tests; Prosthesis Design; Risk Assessment; Stents; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Kounis syndrome is potentially a life-threatening medical emergency with both a severe allergic reaction and acute coronary syndrome. Most of the information about this syndrome has come from the case reports. The management of these patients may be challenging for clinicians, and unfortunately guidelines have not been established yet. In this article, we review the current guidelines of acute coronary syndromes and anaphylaxis along with the published cases with Kounis syndrome secondary to beta-lactam antibiotics. We have summarized our recommendations for the work-up and treatment of Kounis syndrome from available data. Obviously, larger prospective studies are needed to establish definitive treatment guidelines for these patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Anaphylaxis; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Hypersensitivity; Epinephrine; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Humans; Hypertension; Intraoperative Period; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Tachycardia

The advent of drug-eluting stents (DES) has revolutionized the field of interventional cardiology. Their dramatic and persistent restenotic and target lesion revascularization advantages are unquestioned. However, concerns over the rare but potentially catastrophic risk of stent thrombosis (ST) have tempered universal acceptance of these devices. Although the precise mechanism of DES ST is undoubtedly multifactorial and as yet not fully elucidated, delayed or incomplete endothelial healing clearly plays a pivotal role. Detailed histopathological data have implicated a contributory allergic or hypersensitivity component, as verified by the Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Device Experience Center and the Research on Adverse Drug/device events And Reports (RADAR) project. These findings thus suggest a potential connection with the Kounis syndrome, the concurrence of acute coronary events with allergic, hypersensitivity, anaphylactic, or anaphylactoid reactions. Potential culprits responsible for this phenomenon include: arachidonic acid metabolites such as leukotrienes and thromboxane, proteolytic enzymes such as chymase and tryptase, histamine, cytokines, and chemokines. Additionally, inflammatory cells such as macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and mast cells are probably also contributory. Autopsy-confirmed infiltrates of various inflammatory cells including lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, and eosinophils have been reported in all 3 vascular wall layers and are reminiscent of those associated with the Kounis syndrome. Although the concurrence of acute coronary syndromes with hypersensitivity reactions has been long established, the specific association with DES ST remains unproven. Potential incorporation of hypersensitivity suppressive agents might represent a promising paradigm shift from efficacy to safety in future DES designs.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug Hypersensitivity; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Metals; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prosthesis Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Thrombosis; Treatment Failure

The spectrum of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction accounts for increasing numbers of deaths among persons age > or = 65 years in the US. This is important given demographic changes involving falling birth rates and increasing life expectancy. Elderly patients are likely to benefit the most from treatment of ACS, even though community practice still demonstrates less use of cardiac medications as an early-invasive approach among this population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Angina, Unstable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Evidence-Based Medicine; Health Services for the Aged; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Selection; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Thrombolytic Therapy; Treatment Outcome

With the availability of new data and the recent release of new European and US guidelines, contemporary care paradigms for the treatment of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS), including those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, are likely to undergo substantial changes. In recognition of this shifting landscape as well as the impact of new guidelines on care models for the treatment of patients with NSTE ACS, a roundtable was convened on October 25, 2007, to discuss the implications of these changes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the presentations and subsequent discussions from the roundtable, which examined the guidelines and evidence from a variety of perspectives, and to explore the best ways to incorporate new treatment paradigms into everyday clinical care. The multiple viewpoints expressed by the roundtable attendees illustrate the recognition that at this point, consensus has not been reached on the optimum algorithm for treatment of these patients. This article focuses on issues discussed during the roundtable from the perspective of the practicing cardiologist.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Algorithms; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clopidogrel; Emergency Treatment; Evidence-Based Medicine; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hirudins; Humans; Peptide Fragments; Piperazines; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prasugrel Hydrochloride; Recombinant Proteins; Risk Assessment; Stents; Thiophenes; Thrombosis; Ticlopidine

"Metabolic treatment" involves the use of drugs to improve cardiomyocyte function. Trimetazidine is the most investigated drugs in this group. The ESC 2006 guidelines on the management of patients with stable angina mention the efficacy of metabolic treatment in improving physical efficiency and decreasing the recurrence of pain. The available data suggest that combined therapy of trimetazidine and haemodynamic drugs is an effective antianginal treatment that reduces the risk of pain recurrence (in as many as 64% of patients). The most recent studies also suggest that trimetazidine might be effective in patients with acute coronary syndromes, ischemic cardiomyopathy and heart failure. However, while trimetazidine has shown beneficial effects on surrogate endpoints in several small trials its effect on cardiovascular events is uncertain. Further large randomized studies are needed before its effects on cardiovascular events can be evaluated.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina Pectoris; Cardiovascular Agents; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Trimetazidine

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association have updated their guidelines for the management of non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome for the first time since 2002. In the interim, several important studies affecting choices of therapy potentially begun in the emergency department have been completed, and care patterns have changed and matured significantly. In this review, we present the new recommendations that are pertinent to emergency medicine practice and comment on their potential implementation into an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and management of this challenging patient population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina, Unstable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Anticoagulants; Cardiology; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Societies, Medical; United States

Over the last 3 decades, our ability to mechanically dilate obstructive coronary arterial stenoses has fundamentally altered our approach to managing patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The result has been a swing from an initial pharmacologic approach to anatomically driven revascularization. An accumulation of clinical evidence provides strong support for such intervention in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In stable CAD, dilative therapy was believed to be superior based on the assumption that high-risk coronary anatomy or myocardial ischemia increases the risk of future death and myocardial infarction. However, there have been major advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of ACS and the recognition of the significance of predisposing non-flow-limiting coronary stenoses prone to rupture, as well as increasing insight into plaque and patient vulnerability. This improved understanding of the disease has led to the more aggressive use of appropriately targeted pharmacologic agents and an evolution in what constitutes optimal medical therapy (OMT). Data from recent studies, such as the Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) trial, support the concept that in patients with stable CAD, OMT alone in this day and age compares favorably with a therapeutic strategy combining OMT with mechanical intervention. Thus, the treatment pendulum may be swinging back to the understanding that "best practice" today requires the judicious use of interventional and medical therapies in the appropriate patient population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina, Unstable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Benchmarking; Cardiovascular Agents; Chronic Disease; Coronary Disease; Disease Progression; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Inflammation; Myocardial Revascularization; Oxidative Stress; Risk Factors; Xanthophylls

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Collateral Circulation; Coronary Stenosis; Coronary Vasospasm; Diagnosis, Differential; Electrocardiography; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Prognosis

The elderly constitute an increasingly important sector of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), although they have been under-represented in many therapeutic trials. Elderly patients with ACS usually have more complex co-morbidities and worse outcomes than their younger counterparts, and they are less likely to undergo revascularisation or to receive short- and long-term evidence-based medications. The most common ACS in the elderly is non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which is associated with high mortality. For this reason, elderly patients with non-STEMI and unstable angina should be treated invasively early in the course of the episode. In elderly patients with STEMI, primary angioplasty seems to be more effective than fibrinolysis, and in patients aged >85 years a more conservative approach to fibrinolysis is also warranted because of the higher risk for cerebral haemorrhage. Therefore, angioplasty should be preferred when feasible, although more trials are needed before this strategy can definitely be documented as the preferred option. Drug-eluting stents afford greater benefit than bare metal stents in elderly patients and are more cost effective. After fibrinolysis, low-molecular-weight heparin appears to be superior to unfractionated heparin in elderly patients with STEMI but major bleeding and intracranial haemorrhages occur more frequently, especially in women aged >75 years. It is very important to understand that the elderly with ACS constitute a subgroup of atherosclerotic patients for whom decision making must be guided by the patients''physiological age' (determined by their physical condition and other co-morbidities) and not strictly by their 'chronological age'.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina Pectoris; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug-Eluting Stents; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prognosis; Shock, Cardiogenic; Stents

Acute coronary syndrome is a major health problem affecting approximately 1.5 million individuals a year. Early diagnosis and appropriate evidence-based therapies improve clinical outcomes significantly. Current data suggest that an early invasive therapy may improve intermediate-term and long-term outcomes, particularly in high-risk individuals. The last few years also have seen significant advances in antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapies for the management of patients who have acute coronary syndrome.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina, Unstable; Cardiovascular Agents; Clinical Protocols; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Revascularization; Risk Assessment

To compare the efficacy and safety of the dual-therapy CD34 antibody-covered sirolimus-eluting Combo stent (DTS) and the sirolimus-eluting Orsiro stent (O-SES) in patients with and without acute coronary syndrome (ACS) included in the SORT OUT X study.. The incidence of target lesion failure (TLF) after treatment with modern drug-eluting stents has been reported to be significantly higher in patients with ACS when compared to patients without ACS. Whether the results from the SORT OUT X study apply to patients with and without ACS remains unknown.. In total, 3146 patients were randomized to stent implantation with DTS (n = 1578; ACS: n = 856) or O-SES (n = 1568; ACS: n = 854). The primary end point, TLF, was a composite of cardiac death, target-lesion myocardial infarction (MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR) within 1 year.. At 1 year, the rate of TLF was higher in the DTS group compared to the O-SES group, both among patients with ACS (6.7% vs. 4.1%; incidence rate ratio: 1.65 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08-2.52]) and without ACS (6.0% vs. 3.2%; incidence rate ratio: 1.88 [95% CI: 1.13-3.14]). The differences were mainly explained by higher rates of TLR, whereas rates of cardiac death and target lesion MI did not differ significantly between the two stent groups in patients with or without ACS CONCLUSION: Compared to the O-SES, the DTS was associated with a higher risk of TLF at 12 months in patients with and without ACS. The differences were mainly explained by higher rates of TLR.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) has been widely used by Chinese medicine practitioners for chronic cardiovascular diseases. However, its direct clinical efficacy in patients with acute coronary syndrome following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been reported yet. The present trial aimed to investigate potential cardioprotection of STS in patients undergoing PCI for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 372 patients with NSTE-ACS were randomly assigned to receive STS (n = 192) or saline (n = 180) for 2 days before and 3 days after PCI along with standard therapy. The primary endpoint was the composite incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization of the target vessel, and stent thrombosis, within 30 days after PCI.. The 30-day MACEs occurred in 18.8% of the patients in the STS group and in 27.2% of the patients in the control group (P = 0.038); this difference was mostly driven by reduction of myocardial infarction incidence (17.2% vs. 26.7%, P = 0.027). Post-procedural elevation of troponin-I was also significantly lower in the STS group (26.56% vs. 47.78%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified STS as a predictor of decreased risk of MACE occurrence (odds ratio: 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.36 to 0.99; P = 0.045).. Addition of STS to the standard treatments recommended by the current practice guidelines in patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI could reduce myocardial injury and the occurrence of short-term cardiovascular events, primarily driven by non-fatal myocardial infarction.. ChiCTR-TRC-14005182.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Comorbidity; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Phenanthrenes

Patients with diabetes and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at high risk for subsequent heart failure. Apabetalone is a selective inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins, epigenetic regulators of gene expression. Preclinical data suggest that apabetalone exerts favorable effects on pathways related to myocardial structure and function and therefore could impact subsequent heart failure events. The effect of apabetalone on heart failure events after an ACS is not currently known.. The phase 3 BETonMACE trial was a double-blind, randomized comparison of apabetalone versus placebo on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 2425 patients with a recent ACS and diabetes. This prespecified secondary analysis investigated the impact of apabetalone on hospitalization for congestive heart failure, not previously studied.. Patients (age 62 years, 74.4% males, 90% high-intensity statin use, LDL-C 70.3 mg/dL, HDL-C 33.3 mg/dL and HbA1c 7.3%) were followed for an average 26 months. Apabetalone treated patients experienced the nominal finding of a lower rate of first hospitalization for heart failure (2.4% vs. 4.0%, HR 0.59 [95%CI 0.38-0.94], P = 0.03), total number of hospitalizations for heart failure (35 vs. 70, HR 0.47 [95%CI 0.27-0.83], P = 0.01) and the combination of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure (5.7% vs. 7.8%, HR 0.72 [95%CI 0.53-0.98], P = 0.04).. Apabetalone treatment was associated with fewer hospitalizations for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes and recent ACS. Future studies are warranted to define the potential for BET inhibition with apabetalone to prevent heart failure in patients with diabetes and ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Admission; Patient Readmission; Quinazolinones; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Background Plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-PUFAs) have been shown to be inversely correlated with the risk of cardiovascular death in primary prevention. The risk relationship in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome is less well established. Methods and Results Baseline plasma ω3-PUFA composition (α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) was assessed through gas chromatography with flame ionization detection in a case-cohort study involving 203 patients with cardiovascular death, 325 with myocardial infarction, 271 with ventricular tachycardia, and 161 with atrial fibrillation, and a random sample of 1612 event-free subjects as controls from MERLIN-TIMI 36 (Metabolic Efficiency With Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST-Elevation-Acute Coronary Syndrome-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 36), a trial of patients hospitalized with non-ST-segment-elevation -acute coronary syndrome. After inverse-probability-weighted multivariable adjustment including all traditional risk factors, a higher relative proportion of long-chain ω3-PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) were associated with 18% lower odds of cardiovascular death (adjusted [adj] odds ratio [OR] per 1 SD, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68-0.98) that was primarily driven by 27% lower odds of sudden cardiac death (adj OR per 1 SD, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.97). Long-chain ω3-PUFA levels in the top quartile were associated with 51% lower odds of cardiovascular death (adj OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27-0.86) and 63% lower odds of sudden cardiac death (adj OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.16-0.56). An attenuated relationship was seen for α-linolenic acid and subsequent odds of cardiovascular (adj OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.74-1.14) and sudden cardiac death (adj OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.67-1.25). No significant relationship was observed between any ω3-PUFAs and the odds of cardiovascular death unrelated to sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, or early post-acute coronary syndrome ventricular tachycardia. Conclusions In patients after non-ST-segment-elevation-acute coronary syndrome, plasma long-chain ω3-PUFAs are inversely associated with lower odds of sudden cardiac death, independent of traditional risk factors and lipids. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00099788.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Electrocardiography; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Ranolazine; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; United States

This study sought to compare next-generation cobalt-chromium-based titanium-nitride-oxide (TiNO)-coated stents with a platinum-chromium-based biodegradable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (EES) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. Previous generation TiNO-coated stents showed acceptable performance in patients with ACS.. In a multicenter, randomized trial, we randomly assigned 1,491 ACS patients (2:1) to receive either a TiNO-coated stent (n = 989) or EES (n = 502). The primary endpoint was the rate of a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization at 12-month follow-up. The co-primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, MI, or major bleeding at 18 months.. A primary endpoint event occurred in 6.3% of patients in the TiNO-coated stent group versus in 7.0% in the EES group (hazard ratio: 0.93; 95% confidence interval: 0.71 to 1.22; p = 0.66 for superiority; p < 0.001 for noninferiority). A co-primary endpoint event occurred in 3.7% of the patients in the TiNO group and in 7.8% in the EES group (hazard ratio: 0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.51 to 0.80; p = 0.001). TiNO-coated stents were associated with lower rates of cardiac death (0.6% vs. 2.6%; p = 0.002) and MI (2.2% vs. 5.0%; p = 0.007) at 18 months of follow-up. Rates of target lesion revascularization were not significantly different at 18 months (5.8% vs. 4.4%; p = 0.27).. In patients with ACS, cobalt-chromium-based TiNO-coated stents were noninferior to platinum-chromium-based biodegradable polymer EES for major cardiac events at 12 months, and were superior for the co-primary endpoint of cardiac death, MI, and bleeding at 18 months. (Comparison of Titanium-Nitride-Oxide-Coated Bio-Active-Stent (Optimax™) to the Drug (Everolimus) -Eluting Stent (Synergy™) in Acute Coronary Syndrome [TIDES-ACS]; NCT02049229).

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug-Eluting Stents; Europe; Everolimus; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Time Factors; Titanium; Treatment Outcome

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) might represent a specific subgroup, in which bioresorbable scaffold implantation in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), might lead to better outcomes when compared to conventional treatment with metallic drug eluting stents. In this prespecified subgroup analysis of the Amsterdam Investigator-Initiated Absorb Strategy All-Comers (AIDA) trial, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) versus Xience everolimus eluting stent (EES) treated patients presenting either with or without ACS.. We classified AIDA patients on the basis of clinical presentation of ACS or of no-ACS. The rate of the 2-year primary endpoint of target vessel failure (TVF) was similar after treatment with Absorb BVS or Xience EES in ACS patients (10.2% versus 9.0% respectively; P = 0.49) and in no-ACS patients (11.7% versus 10.7%, respectively; P = 0.67) Definite or probable device thrombosis occurred more frequently with Absorb BVS compared to Xience EES in ACS patients (4.3% versus 1.7%, respectively, P = 0.03) as well as in no-ACS patients (2.4% versus 0.2%, respectively; P = 0.002). There were no statistically significant interactions between clinical presentation and randomized device modality for TVF (P = 0.80) and for the endpoint of definite or probable device thrombosis (P = 0.17).. In the AIDA trial, the 2-year outcomes of PCI with Absorb BVS versus Xience EES were consistent in ACS and no-ACS patients: similar rates for TVF and consistently higher rates of definite or probable stent thrombosis under Absorb BVS versus Xience EES. There were no statistically significant interactions between clinical presentation and randomized device modality.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Male; Metals; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Risk Factors; Single-Blind Method; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The aim of the present report was to compare 2-year safety outcomes of two biodegradable polymer (BP) sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) with different drug eluting and polymer absorption kinetics in a subgroup of complex patients and lesions.. The previously published PANDA III study showed the BuMA BP SES, with faster drug elution and polymer absorption, was non-inferior to the Excel SES in target lesion failure (TLF).. In PANDA III trial, patients who fulfilled one or more of the following criteria were included: Small vessel disease (reference vessel diameter ≤ 2.5 mm); long lesion (lesion length ≥ 20 mm); chronic total occlusion lesion; and diabetic patients.. Among 2,348 patients randomly assigned to treatment with BuMA (n = 1,174) or Excel SES (n = 1,174) in the PANDA III study, 858 in the BuMA group and 855 in the Excel group satisfied the inclusion criteria. At 2-year follow-up, the incidence of definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST) was significantly lower with BuMA SES as compared with Excel SES (0.7% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.03). This difference was mainly caused by decreased subacute stent thrombosis rate (0% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.03). In patients who did not fulfill the complex patient and lesion criteria, there were no between-group difference in ST (0.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.50). Myocardial infarction and TLF rates were similar (5.7% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.79 and 8.8% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.34, respectively), whereas patient-oriented composite endpoint was higher with BuMA SES mainly due to high risk of revascularization (15.6% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.01; 8.4% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.01).. Two-year subgroup analysis of the all-comer PANDA III trial revealed the increased safety benefit of the BuMA SES is more prominently seen in complex patient and lesion population.. ClinicalTrial.gov, Identifier-NCT02017275.

Topics: Absorption, Physicochemical; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Kinetics; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polyesters; Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Treatment Outcome

Randomized trials evaluating the Orsiro biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES; 60 and 80 μm strut thickness for stent diameters ≤3 and >3 mm, respectively) did not stratify according to vessel size and failed to specify the impact of ultrathin-strut thickness on long-term clinical outcomes compared with durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES). We sought to assess the long-term effect of ultrathin-strut (60 μm) BP-SES versus thin-strut (81 μm) DP-EES on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization for small vessel disease.. In a subgroup analysis of the randomized, multicenter, noninferiority BIOSCIENCE trial, patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome randomly assigned to treatment with BP-SES or DP-EES were stratified according to vessel size (≤3 mm versus >3 mm) as a surrogate to compare patients treated with ultrathin-strut versus thin-strut drug-eluting stent. The primary end point was target lesion failure, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization, within 5 years.. Among 2109 patients, 1234 (59%) were treated for small vessel disease. At 5 years, target lesion failure occurred in 124 patients (cumulative incidence, 22.3%) treated with ultrathin-strut BP-SES and 109 patients (18.3%) treated with thin-strut DP-EES (rate ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.94-1.58;. We found no significant difference in clinical outcomes throughout 5 years between patients with small vessel disease treated with ultrathin-strut BP-SES versus thin-strut DP-EES.. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01443104.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Single-Blind Method; Sirolimus; Switzerland; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The safety and efficacy of antithrombotic regimens may differ between patients with atrial fibrillation who have acute coronary syndromes (ACS), treated medically or with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and those undergoing elective PCI.. Using a 2×2 factorial design, we compared apixaban with vitamin K antagonists and aspirin with placebo in patients with atrial fibrillation who had ACS or were undergoing PCI and were receiving a P2Y. An antithrombotic regimen consisting of apixaban and a P2Y. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02415400.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Atrial Fibrillation; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Management; Drug Therapy, Combination; Elective Surgical Procedures; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hemorrhage; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists; Pyrazoles; Pyridones; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin K

In this substudy of the SORT OUT VII trial, the clinical outcomes among patient with diabetes mellitus treated with Orsiro sirolimus-eluting stent (O-SES; Biotronik, Bülach, Switzerland) or Nobori biolimus-eluting stent (N-BES; Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) were compared.. Diabetes is associated with increased risk of target lesion failure (TLF) after percutaneous coronary intervention.. In total, 2525 patients were randomized to stent implantation with O-SES (n = 1261, diabetes: n = 236) or N-BES (n = 1264, diabetes: n = 235). The primary endpoint, TLF, was a composite of cardiac death, target-lesion myocardial infarction (MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR) within 2 years.. At 2 year, TLF did not differ between O-SES vs N-BES in diabetic (9.3% vs 9.4%; RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.54-1.78) patients. The individual components of the primary endpoint did not differ among stent type. In diabetics, cardiac death occurred in 3% of O-SES-treated and in 3.8% of N-BES-treated patients (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.29-2.08), MI occurred in 3.0% of O-SES-treated and in 3.8% of N-BES-treated patients (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.28-2.06) and TLR occurred in 5,5% of O-SES-treated and in 6.0% of N-BES-treated patients (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.43-1.95).. TLF did not differ between O-SES- and N-BES-treated diabetic patients.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Prosthesis Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stents (PF-AES) represent a novel elution technology in the current era of drug-eluting stents. The clinical safety and efficacy of PF-AES as compared with latest-generation permanent-polymer zotarolimus-eluting stents (PP-ZES) have not yet been investigated in a large randomized trial.. In this physician-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial, an all-comers population requiring percutaneous coronary intervention was enrolled across 3 European sites. Randomization (1:1 ratio) to PP-ZES or PF-AES was performed after stratification for troponin status and diabetes mellitus. In both treatment arms, troponin-positive patients were planned for 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy, whereas troponin-negative patients were planned for 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy. Outcome assessors were blinded to the allocated treatment. The device-oriented primary end point of target-lesion failure was defined as cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization at 12-months as analyzed by modified intention-to-treat (80% power, and a 3.5% noninferiority margin).. In total, 1502 patients were randomized and 1491 treated with the assigned stent and available for follow-up. The primary end point occurred in 42 (5.6%) of the 744 patients receiving PP-ZES versus 46 (6.2%) of the 747 patients receiving PF-AES. PF-AES were clinically noninferior to PP-ZES (risk difference, 0.5%; upper limit 1-sided 95% confidence interval, 2.6%; P. PF-AES were noninferior to PP-ZES regarding target-lesion failure at 12 months. Findings regarding the secondary end point and prespecified subgroups were generally consistent with that of the primary end point.. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02328898.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina, Stable; Angina, Unstable; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Europe; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The benefits of routine invasive management in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafts presenting with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes are uncertain because these patients were excluded from pivotal trials.. In a multicenter trial, non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft were prospectively screened in 4 acute hospitals. Medically stabilized patients were randomized to invasive management (invasive group) or noninvasive management (medical group). The primary outcome was adherence with the randomized strategy by 30 days. A blinded, independent Clinical Event Committee adjudicated predefined composite outcomes for efficacy (all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for refractory ischemia/angina, myocardial infarction, hospitalization because of heart failure) and safety (major bleeding, stroke, procedure-related myocardial infarction, and worsening renal function).. Two hundred seventeen patients were screened and 60 (mean±SD age, 71±9 years, 72% male) were randomized (invasive group, n=31; medical group, n=29). One-third (n=10) of the participants in the invasive group initially received percutaneous coronary intervention. In the medical group, 1 participant crossed over to invasive management on day 30 but percutaneous coronary intervention was not performed. During 2-years' follow-up (median [interquartile range], 744 [570-853] days), the composite outcome for efficacy occurred in 13 (42%) subjects in the invasive group and 13 (45%) subjects in the medical group. The composite safety outcome occurred in 8 (26%) subjects in the invasive group and 9 (31%) subjects in the medical group. An efficacy or safety outcome occurred in 17 (55%) subjects in the invasive group and 16 (55%) subjects in the medical group. Health status (EuroQol 5 Dimensions) and angina class in each group were similar at 12 months.. More than half of the population experienced a serious adverse event. An initial noninvasive management strategy is feasible. A substantive health outcomes trial of invasive versus noninvasive management in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafts appears warranted.. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01895751.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Cause of Death; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Patient Readmission; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United Kingdom

Background Elderly patients have been underrepresented in secondary cardiovascular prevention programmes. This study aimed to ascertain the effects of a secondary coronary disease prevention programme in these patients. Design Open randomised intervention study with parallel groups. Methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients aged ≥70 years with a recent acute coronary syndrome were randomised to a protocolised clinical intervention plus usual care (intervention group, n = 64) or to usual care alone (control group, n = 63). Patients were assessed at baseline and after 12 months. The main outcome was the percentage of patients with optimal risk factor control after 12 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included changes in Mediterranean diet adherence, quality of life and functionality. Mortality was evaluated three years after the end of the intervention. Results One hundred and six patients (83.4%) completed 12 months of follow-up (54 in the intervention group and 52 in the control group). At the end of intervention, 34.2% more patients in the intervention group had achieved optimal risk factor control with a number needed to treat of 3 (relative risk 2.18, 95% confidence interval 1.36 to 3.50). The intervention group improved adherence to the Mediterranean diet ( p = 0.013) and functionality assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery ( p = 0.047). No differences between groups were found in quality of life (Short-Form 36 Health Survey) or mortality after three years (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.41 to 3.45). Conclusions A secondary coronary disease prevention programme in elderly patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome improved risk factor control, Mediterranean diet adherence and functionality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Cardiovascular Agents; Diet, Healthy; Diet, Mediterranean; Exercise; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health Status; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans; Male; Patient Compliance; Patient Readmission; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Secondary Prevention; Smoking Cessation; Spain; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of the novel biodegradable polymer cobalt-chromium sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) versus the durable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (DP-SES) in the I-LOVE-IT2 trial.. Comparisons of the long-term safety and efficiency of the BP-DES versus the DP-DES are limited.. A total of 2,737 patients eligible for coronary stenting were randomized to the BP-SES or DP-SES group at a 2:1 ratio. The primary endpoint of target lesion failure (TLF) was defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (MI), or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization.. A three-year clinical follow-up period was available for 2,663 (97.3%) patients. There were no significant differences in TLF (8.9% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.81), patient-oriented composite endpoint (PoCE) (15.2% vs.14.5%, P = 0.63), or individual components between the BP-SES and DP-SES. Definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST) was low and similar at 3 years (0.8% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.64). Landmark analysis of 1-3 years showed that the TLF (2.7% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.81), PoCE (6.2% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.28), and definite/probable ST (0.4% vs. 0.4%, P = 1.00) were comparable between the 2 arms.. In this prospective randomized trial, the BP-SES showed similar clinical results versus the DP-SES in terms of safety and efficacy outcomes over a 3-year follow-up period.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Chromium Alloys; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Hemorrhage; Humans; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prosthesis Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The study sought to evaluate for the first time the 5-year outcomes after treating an all-comers population with newer-generation cobalt chromium-based Resolute Integrity zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, California) versus platinum chromium-based PROMUS Element everolimus eluting stents (EES) (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts).. The DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) (DUrable polymer-based sTent CHallenge of Promus ElemEnt versus ReSolute integrity: TWENTE II) trial is a randomized, multicenter, single-blinded, investigator-initiated all-comers trial that found at its main analysis similar 1-year safety and efficacy for both drug-eluting stents. It is the first randomized trial ever to investigate the Resolute Integrity ZES and the first trial to compare both devices.. In total, 1,811 patients were 1:1 randomized to ZES versus EES. We performed a pre-specified assessment of the 5-year clinical outcomes in terms of safety and efficacy. The main endpoint target vessel failure (TVF) is a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization. Secondary endpoints included the individual components of TVF, and stent thrombosis. The study was independently monitored, and adverse clinical events were independently adjudicated.. Five-year clinical follow-up data was available in 1,798 (99.3%) patients. The ZES and EES groups showed favorable outcomes, with similar 5-year incidence of TVF (13.2% vs. 14.2%; p. At 5-year follow-up, the Resolute Integrity ZES and PROMUS Element EES showed similar and sustained results in terms of safety and efficacy for treating a broad population of all-comers.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Netherlands; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Risk Factors; Single-Blind Method; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Presentation with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) constitutes a high-risk subset of patients with worse outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention. We report clinical outcomes in subjects with ACS from the BIOFLOW V trial (BIOTRONIK - A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of the Orsiro Sirolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System in the Treatment of Subjects With up to Three De Novo or Restenotic Coronary Artery Lesions) comparing an ultrathin strut (60 μm) bioresorbable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) with a thin strut (81 μm) durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES).. Among 1334 patients randomized to 2:1 treatment with either BP-SES or DP-EES, 677 (50.7%) ACS patients without ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (MI; 454 BP-SES and 223 DP-EES) were identified in the retrospective post hoc analysis. The primary end point of 12-month target lesion failure, individual component end points, and stent thrombosis were evaluated. Recurrent MI was defined as a ≥50% increase of creatine kinase-myocardial band or in the absence of creatine kinase-myocardial band, troponin >50% increase over previous level and >3× the upper limit of normal). All events were adjudicated by a blinded independent clinical events committee. Overall, baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics of the ACS population were similar between the 2 treatment groups. At 12 months, target lesion failure occurred in 5.6% (24/426) of BP-SES patients versus 11.0% (23/209) in DP-EES patients ( P=0.02); target lesion failure composite components were cardiac death, 0% versus 1.0% ( P=0.11); target vessel-related MI, 3.5% versus 9.7% ( P=0.003); and clinically driven target lesion revascularization, 2.8% versus 3.4% ( P=0.80). Spontaneous target vessel MI was 0.5% (2/425) for BP-SES versus 2.4% (5/206) for DP-EES ( P=0.041). Stent thrombosis rates at 1 year were similar (0.5% versus 1.0%; P=0.601).. In the ACS subgroup population of the BIOFLOW V study, treatment with BP-SES compared with DP-EES was associated with a significantly lower rate of 12-month target lesion failure, a difference driven by significantly lower periprocedural MI and spontaneous MI. These findings support treatment with an ultrathin strut BP-SES in ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02389946.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Single-Blind Method; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

This study sought to compare the clinical outcomes of 6-month versus 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients receiving multiple biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) implants.. The clinical outcomes for patients who undergo multiple BP-SES implantation with different DAPT durations are uncertain.. In the I-LOVE-IT 2 trial, 907 patients treated with multiple BP-SES (total stent number ≥2) were assigned to receive 6-month (n = 440) or 12-month (n = 467) DAPT. The primary endpoint was 12-month target lesion failure (TLF), which is a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (MI) or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization. The major secondary endpoints were 12-month net adverse clinical events, a composite of all causes of death, MI, stroke, any revascularization and bleeding.. The number of stents per patient between the 6-month and 12-month DAPT group was similar (2.4 ± 0.7 vs. 2.4 ± 0.7, P = 0.47). The incidence of 12-month TLF was comparable in the 6-month and 12-month DAPT groups (9.3% vs.7.5%, Log-rank P = 0.33). However, landmark analysis showed that 12-month DAPT, compared to 6-month DAPT, was associated with a significantly lower risk of TLF (4.8% vs. 2.4%, Log-rank P = 0.049) at a cost of a slightly increased risk of all bleeding events (0.5% vs. 1.7%, Log-rank P = 0.07) between 6 and 12 months.. In patients treated with multiple BP-SES, 6- and 12-month DAPT had similar impacts on 12-month clinical outcomes. Additionally, 12-month DAPT might reduce TLF between 6 and 12 months at the cost of a slightly increased risk of all bleeding events. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Polymers; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Stroke; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Prevention of repeat cardiovascular events is an important means of addressing the increasing burden of coronary heart disease in China, however there is minimal information about the use of cardiovascular prevention treatment following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in China.. We analysed data from baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24-month follow-up surveys of 15,140 consecutive ACS patients recruited in 70 hospitals from 17 provinces of China. We describe the use of indicated cardiovascular prevention medicines, risk factor control, change over time and factors associated with continued prevention.. 12,094 patients had follow-up data up to 12months. At discharge, 86.1% were on a combination of antiplatelet, statin and blood pressure (BP) lowering drugs. Use of this combination fell to 68.0% at 12months and 59.7% in patients followed to 24months. Patients admitted to tertiary hospitals were more likely to be on the combination compared to secondary hospitals (at discharge 90.1% vs. 79.5%, p<0.0001; at 12months 71% vs. 64%, p<0.001 respectively). At 12months 25.2% achieved control in ≥four of five guideline levels of risk factors and this was similar by hospital level. Prescription of BP-lowering drugs and statins at discharge was the strongest predictor of use at 12months follow-up. Lower income was associated with less use of both.. Use of cardiovascular prevention treatment declines steadily over time following an ACS. The largest proportional decline is in the first six months. Ensuring patients are discharged on these therapies and addressing barriers for low-income earners may help address this gap.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of drug-coated stents (DCS) versus bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients who are candidates for long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) after percutaneous coronary interventions.. The randomized controlled LEADERS FREE (A Randomized Clinical Evaluation of the BioFreedom™ Stent) trial demonstrated the superior safety and efficacy of a polymer-free biolimus A9 DCS compared with a similar BMS used with 1 month of dual antiplatelet therapy in 2,466 patients at high bleeding risk.. The 2 stents were compared in a pre-specified analysis of the 879 LEADERS FREE patients (35.6%) scheduled to remain on OAC after percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis. The primary efficacy endpoint was the incidence of clinically driven target lesion revascularization.. Baseline characteristics of 448 DCS and 431 BMS recipients were similar, 78.8% had histories of atrial fibrillation, and 21% presented with acute coronary syndromes. Four hundred patients in the DCS group and 376 in the BMS group were discharged on OAC after percutaneous coronary intervention. At 2 years, for the DCS and BMS recipients, respectively, the incidence of clinically driven target lesion revascularization was 7.5% versus 11.2% (hazard ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.40 to 1.01; p = 0.0514), the safety endpoint was reached by 14.4% and 15.0% (p = NS), and the rates of major bleeding events (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 3 to 5) were 10.7% and 12.9% (p = NS).. The efficacy advantage of DCS over BMS up to 2 years appears confirmed in patients on long-term OAC. Despite the very short course of dual antiplatelet therapy, both the DCS and BMS groups experienced similarly high rates of major bleeding. (A Randomized Clinical Evaluation of the BioFreedom™ Stent [Leaders Free]; NCT01623180).

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Administration, Oral; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticoagulants; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Double-Blind Method; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Metals; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Prosthesis Design; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Our aim was to report the long-term safety and efficacy of the biodegradable polymer-coated biolimus- eluting Nobori stent compared to the durable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting CYPHER stent.. SORT OUT V randomised 2,468 patients 1:1 to the Nobori (n=1,229) versus the CYPHER stent (n=1,239). Clinically driven event detection based on Danish registries was used. The primary endpoint was a composite of safety (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis) and efficacy (target vessel revascularisation). Individual components of the primary endpoint comprise the secondary endpoints. At five-year follow-up, the composite endpoint rate was found to be similar in patients treated with the two study stents (Nobori 182/1,229 [14.8%] vs. CYPHER 197/1,239 [15.8%]; odds ratio [OR] 0.93, 95% CI: 0.75-1.16; p=0.53). The rates of definite stent thrombosis were also found to be similar in patients treated with the two study stents (Nobori 23/1,229 [1.9%] vs. CYPHER 18/1,239 [1.5%]; OR 1.31, 95% CI: 0.70-2.47; p=0.40), as were the other secondary endpoints.. At five-year follow-up, the Nobori stent with a biodegradable polymer coating provided a similar safety and efficacy profile when compared to the durable polymer first-generation CYPHER stent.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Stenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation remains undetermined, especially for those at high risk of cardiac events postprocedure.. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of 6 versus 12 months of DAPT after DES implantation based on risk stratification with the residual SYNTAX score (rSS).. A total of 2737 patients in the I-LOVE-IT 2 trial were grouped according to rSS status (low rSS [rSS = 0, n = 1474] versus high rSS [rSS > 0, n = 1263]) and DAPT duration (6 months vs. 12 months). The primary endpoint was 12-month target lesion failure (TLF), and the major secondary endpoints were 12-month net adverse clinical events (NACE) and major bleeding.. Incidences of TLF (5.2 vs. 7.4%, P = 0.01) and NACE (9.2 vs. 13.4%, P < 0.001) at 12 months were significantly higher in patients with high rSSs compared with patients with low rSSs. Landmark analysis showed that, in patients with high rSS, 12-month DAPT was associated with slightly lower risks of TLF (3.0% vs. 1.6%, P = 0.08) and NACE (7.0 vs. 4.4%, P = 0.054) compared with 6-month DAPT within 6 to 12 months after PCI. Patients with different DAPT durations had similar risks of bleeding both in the low and high rSS groups.. Patients with high rSSs have an increased risk of TLF and NACE at 12 months after DES implantation. Twelve-month DAPT might be superior to 6-month DAPT in patients with high rSS for reducing adverse events within 6 to 12 months after PCI without excessive risk of bleeding. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Decision Support Techniques; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Predictive Value of Tests; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The aim of the present study was to evaluate vascular healing of the bioengineered COMBO Dual Therapy Stent compared with a cobalt-chromium (CoCr) everolimus-eluting stent (EES) as assessed by optical coherence tomography in patients with acute coronary syndromes.. CD34+ cells promote endothelial repair after vascular injury. The bioengineered COMBO Dual Therapy Stent combines CD34+ cell-capturing technology with abluminal sirolimus release, but more data from clinical studies evaluating the vascular response are needed.. In a prospective randomized multicenter clinical trial, 60 patients with acute coronary syndromes were randomized 1:1 to COMBO or CoCr EES implantation. The primary endpoint was the percentage of uncovered stent struts per stent. Stent assessment by optical coherence tomography was performed at baseline and at 60 days, followed by independent core laboratory analysis.. The percentage of uncovered struts per stent was higher with the COMBO than the CoCr EES at 60 days (median 14.7% vs. 7.7%; p = 0.04). However, no significant difference in uncovered stent struts was observed in the strut level-based analysis at 60 days, which also accounted for clustering (COMBO vs. CoCr EES; 13.6% vs. 6.9%; p = 0.09; generalized linear mixed models-adjusted analysis). Neointimal thickness at 60 days was lower with the COMBO compared with the CoCr EES (median 30.17 vs. 50.26 μm; p = 0.02; stent-level analysis). There were no significant differences in the frequency of major adverse cardiac events and each component of major adverse cardiac events within the study population between the 2 groups at 30, 60, 180, 360, and 540 days post-procedure. No target vessel stent thrombosis has been documented within 540 days.. The present multicenter, prospective clinical study for the first time compared the vascular response of the bioengineered COMBO Dual Therapy Stent with a CoCr EES in patients early after acute coronary syndrome by using intracoronary optical coherence tomographic analysis. The percentage of uncovered stent struts per stent was somewhat higher after COMBO versus CoCr EES implantation as detected by optical coherence tomography, associated with reduced neointimal thickness.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Antibodies; Antigens, CD34; Cardiovascular Agents; Chromium Alloys; Coronary Vessels; Drug-Eluting Stents; Endothelial Cells; Europe; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neointima; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; United States; Wound Healing

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; P-Selectin; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome

To investigate clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention using a sirolimus-eluting stent with bioresorbable polymer, Ultimaster (BP-SES) compared with a permanent polymer everolimus-eluting stent, Xience (PP-EES) in patients with high risk (ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) enrolled in the CENTURY II trial.. CENTURY II is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, single blind, controlled trial comparing BP-SES and PP-EES, with primary endpoint of target lesion failure (TLF) at 9month post-stent implantation. Out of 1123 patients enrolled in CENTURY II trial, 264 high risk ACS patients were included in this subgroup analysis, and the clinical outcomes including target lesion failure (TLF), target vessel failure (TVF), cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis were evaluated at 24months.. The baseline clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics were similar between two groups. At 24months, TLF occurred in 6.3% of patients receiving a BP-SES and 6.5% of patients receiving a PP-EES (P=0.95); TVF was 6.3% in patients receiving a BP-SES and 9.4% in patients receiving a PP-EES (P=0.36). There were no significant differences in cardiac death, myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis rate.. BP-SES achieved similar safety and efficacy outcomes as PP-EES in this ACS subgroup of CENTURY II study, at 24-month follow-up. This finding is hypothesis-generating and needs to be confirmed in larger trials with longer follow-up.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Europe; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Japan; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polymers; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Republic of Korea; Risk Factors; Single-Blind Method; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

This registry evaluated the safety and clinical outcomes of the Combo stent in an all-comers population in routine clinical practice. We report 1-year results.. Limitations of current generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are 3-fold: stent thrombosis, neoatherosclerosis related to impaired healing, and repeat revascularization due to (late-) in-stent restenosis. The Combo stent combines an abluminal biodegradable coating eluting sirolimus and a luminal anti-CD34(+) antibody layer to attract endothelial progenitor cells in order to promote vessel healing, thus preventing neointima formation and restenosis.. The REMEDEE (Randomized study to Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an abluMinal sirolimus coatED bio-Engineered StEnt) post-market registry was an international, multicenter, prospective trial that evaluated clinical outcomes after deployment of the Combo stent, in an all-comers population of patients treated with a Combo stent in the setting of routine clinical care. Clinical endpoints were target lesion failure (TLF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR).. Between June 2013 and March 2014, a total of 1,000 patients were included in the registry, 49.9% of whom presented with acute coronary syndrome. Mean age was 65 ± 11 years old (range: 34 to 94 years of age), and 74% of patients were male; 58.9% of 1,255 lesions were American Heart Association type B2 or C lesions. The primary endpoints were 5.7% TLF, 1.7% cardiac death, 0.7% target vessel MI, and 4.4% TLR. Definite stent thrombosis occurred in 0.5% of subjects; no thrombosis occurred after 9 days post-stenting.. This registry showed excellent 1-year results of novel Combo bioengineered stent technology in an all-comers patient population. (Prospective Registry to Assess the Long-term Safety and Performance of the Combo Stent [REMEDEE]; NCT01874002).

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Europe; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Neointima; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing

To evaluate the impact of comorbidities on the management and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients without chest pain/discomfort (i.e. ACS without typical presentation).. Of the 11,458 ACS patients, enrolled by the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01218776), 8.7% did not have typical presentation at the initial evaluation, and 40.2% had comorbidities. The odds of atypical presentation increased proportionally with the number of comorbidities (odds ratio [OR]: 1, no-comorbid; OR: 1.64, 1 comorbidity; OR: 2.52, 2 comorbidities; OR: 4.57, ≥3 comorbidities).. Stratifying the study population by the presence/absence of comorbidities and typical presentation, we found a decreasing trend for use of medications and percutaneous intervention (OR: 1, typical presentation and no-comorbidities; OR: 0.70, typical presentation and comorbidities; OR: 0.23, atypical presentation and no-comorbidities; OR: 0.18, atypical presentation and comorbidities). On the opposite, compared with patients with typical presentation and no-comorbidities (OR: 1, referent), there was an increasing trend (p<0.001) in the risk of death (OR: 2.00, OR: 2.52 and OR: 4.83) in the above subgroups. However, after adjusting for comorbidities, medications and invasive procedures, atypical presentation was not a predictor of in-hospital death. Independent predictors of poor outcome were history of stroke (OR: 2.04), chronic kidney disease (OR: 1.57), diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.49) and underuse of invasive procedures.. In the ISACS-TC, atypical ACS presentation was often associated with comorbidities. Atypical presentation and comorbidities influenced underuse of in-hospital treatments. The latter and comorbidities are related with poor in-hospital outcome, but not atypical presentation, per se.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Chest Pain; Comorbidity; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Registries; Risk Factors

Medication non-adherence leads to a vast range of negative outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. An automated web-based system managing short message service (SMS) reminders is a telemedicine approach to optimise adherence among patients who frequently forget to take their medications or miss the timing.. This paper sought to investigate the effect of automated SMS-based reminders on medication adherence in patients after hospital discharge following acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. An interventional study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia. A total of 62 patients with ACS were equally randomised to receive either automated SMS reminders before every intake of cardiac medications or only usual care within eight weeks after discharge. The primary outcome was adherence to cardiac medications. Secondary outcomes were the heart functional status, and ACS-related hospital readmission and death rates.. There was a higher medication adherence level in the intervention group rather than the usual care group, (χ(2) (2)=18.614, p<0.001). The risk of being low adherent among the control group was 4.09 times greater than the intervention group (relative risk =4.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-9.18). A meaningful difference was found in heart functional status between the two study groups with better results among patients who received SMS reminders, (χ(2) (1) = 16.957, p<0.001).. An automated SMS-based reminder system can potentially enhance medication adherence in ACS patients during the early post-discharge period.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Patient Preference; Patient Readmission; Reminder Systems; Self Report; Text Messaging

Despite the advanced therapy with statins, antithrombotics and antihypertensive agents, the medical treatment of coronary artery disease is less than optimal. Therefore, additional therapeutic anti-atherosclerotic options are desirable. This VH-IVUS study (intravascular ultrasonography with virtual histology) was performed to assess the potential anti-atherogenic effect of the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone in non-diabetic patients. A total of 86 non-culprit atherosclerotic lesions in 54 patients with acute coronary syndrome were observed in a 9-month prospective, double-blind, and placebo-controlled IVUS study. Patients were randomized to receive either 30 mg pioglitazone (Pio) or placebo (Plac). As primary efficacy parameter, the change of relative plaque content of necrotic core was determined by serial VH-IVUS analyses. Main secondary endpoint was the change of total plaque volume. In contrast to placebo, in the pioglitazone-treated group, the relative plaque content of necrotic core decreased significantly (Pio -1.3 ± 6.9% vs. Plac +2.6 ± 6.5%, p < 0.01). In comparison to the placebo group, the plaques in pioglitazone-treated patients showed significantly greater reduction of the total plaque volume (Pio -16.1 ± 26.4 mm3 vs. Plac -1.8 ± 30.9 mm3, p = 0.02). Treatment with a PPARγ agonist in non-diabetic patients results in a coronary artery plaque stabilization on top of usual medical care.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Vessels; Disease Progression; Double-Blind Method; Female; Germany; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Pilot Projects; Pioglitazone; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; PPAR gamma; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Stents; Thiazolidinediones; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Newer troponin assays offer the ability to quantify circulating troponin levels at an order of magnitude lower than contemporary assays, fueling continued debate over the prognostic implications of very low-level increases in concentration. We evaluated the prognostic implications of low-level increases in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) using an investigational single-molecule high-sensitivity assay in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. We measured cTnI using both a high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) assay (Erenna, Singulex, 99(th) percentile 9 pg/ml) and a current generation sensitive assay (TnI-Ultra, Siemens, 99(th) percentile 40 pg/ml) at baseline in 1807 patients with non-ST elevation ACS and compared their prognostic ability for adverse cardiovascular events at 30 days and one year.. Among patients with TnI-Ultra<99(th) percentile, patients with elevated hsTnI (≥ 9 pg/ml) had a significantly higher risk than patients with hsTnI<9 pg/ml: cardiovascular death (CVD) or myocardial infarction (MI) at one year (7.0% vs 3.8%; p<0.001, hazard ratio (HR) 2.05, confidence interval (CI) 1.23-3.41); including a higher risk of CVD (3.5% vs 1.5%, p<0.001) and MI (5.0% vs 2.8%, p<0.001) individually. This higher risk of CVD/MI was independent of clinical risk stratification using the TIMI Risk Score (adj. HR 1.76, CI 1.05-2.90). Moreover, hsTnI showed a trend toward a gradient of risk even below the hsTnI 99 percentile.. Low-level cardiac troponin detected using a single-molecule technique, below the cutpoint of a contemporary sensitive assay, identified a significant gradient of risk. These findings support the prognostic relevance of low-level cardiac troponin elevation with increasingly sensitive assays in patients with ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Ranolazine; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Troponin I

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and the efficacy of the novel sirolimus-eluting Prolim® stent with a biodegradable polymer in the all-comers population.. We prospectively enrolled all patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome treated with Prolim® stent between January and December 2013 in two interventional cardiology centers in Poland. Angiographic control was planned at 12 months, in which 15 % of patients (randomly chosen) underwent optical coherence tomography imaging. The primary end-point was the cumulative rate of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 12 months.. There were 204 patients enrolled, in whom 238 Prolim® stents were deployed (1.17 stent per patient). The mean age was 68 ± 10 years and 32.8 % were females. The examined stent was implanted in 5.9 % in STEMI patients, in 21.6 % - in NSTE-ACS and in 72.5 % - in patients with stable coronary artery disease. The Prolim® stent was most frequently implanted in right coronary artery (38.2 %) followed by left anterior descending artery (34.0 %). The cumulative major adverse cardiovascular events rate at 12 months was 6.9 %, and the clinically-driven target lesion revascularization rate - 5.4 %. At 12 months in quantitative coronary angiography the late lumen loss was 0.21 ± 0.18 mm, and in optical coherence tomography the mean neointima burden was 24.6 ± 8.6 %.. Sirolimus-eluting Prolim® stent with a biodegradable polymer is a feasible device with a very good safety profile and long-term clinical effectiveness.. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02545985 .

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Vessels; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Neointima; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Poland; Polymers; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome

Current guidelines recommend intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering with statins, with a target of 70 mg/dL (1.81 mmol/L) LDL cholesterol for those with a very high risk of coronary artery events. However, there is no multicenter study assessing the effect of intensive lipid-lowering therapy with statins on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a Chinese population with low baseline LDL cholesterol levels.. Patients (n=1355) with ACS were treated with a moderate dose of statin (atorvastatin 10 mg/d, or equivalent dose of other statins, n=675) or with an intensive dose of statin (atorvastatin, 20 or 40 mg/d, or equivalent dose of other statins, n=680) for 2 years. The primary end points were cardiac death, non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (MI), revascularization, ischemic stroke and documented unstable angina or severe heart failure requiring emergency hospitalization. Baseline lipid levels were nearly identical in both groups with a mean LDL cholesterol level of 2.7 mmol/L (103 mg/dL). At 3 months, LDL cholesterol levels declined 20.2% in the moderate dose statin group and 26.6% in the intensive statin group, respectively (P<0.001). In a 2-year follow-up, a primary end point event occurred in 20 patients in the moderate dose statin group and in 28 patients in the intensive statin group. There was no significant between-group difference in the primary outcome (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-2.46; P=0.245).. For ACS patients with a relatively low baseline LDL cholesterol level who received optimized current medication and interventional therapy, the incremental LDL cholesterol reduction of 6.4% achieved by double-dose statin did not bring significant clinical effectiveness.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Atorvastatin; C-Reactive Protein; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Cholesterol, LDL; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endpoint Determination; Female; Heptanoic Acids; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Pyrroles; Treatment Outcome

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) have several potentially protective vascular effects. Most clinical studies of therapies targeting HDL have failed to show benefits vs. placebo.. To investigate the effects of an HDL-mimetic agent on atherosclerosis by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA).. A prospective, double-blinded, randomized trial was conducted at 51 centres in the USA, the Netherlands, Canada, and France. Intravascular ultrasonography and QCA were performed to assess coronary atherosclerosis at baseline and 3 (2-5) weeks after the last study infusion.. Five hundred and seven patients were randomized; 417 and 461 had paired IVUS and QCA measurements, respectively.. Patients were randomized to receive 6 weekly infusions of placebo, 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, or 12 mg/kg CER-001.. The primary efficacy parameter was the nominal change in the total atheroma volume. Nominal changes in per cent atheroma volume on IVUS and coronary scores on QCA were also pre-specified endpoints.. The nominal change in the total atheroma volume (adjusted means) was -2.71, -3.13, -1.50, and -3.05 mm(3) with placebo, CER-001 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 12 mg/kg, respectively (primary analysis of 12 mg/kg vs. placebo: P = 0.81). There was also no difference among groups for the nominal change in per cent atheroma volume (0.02, -0.02, 0.01, and 0.19%; nominal P = 0.53 for 12 mg/kg vs. placebo). Change in the coronary artery score was -0.022, -0.036, -0.022, and -0.015 mm (nominal P = 0.25, 0.99, 0.55), and change in the cumulative coronary stenosis score was -0.51, 2.65, 0.71, and -0.77% (compared with placebo, nominal P = 0.85 for 12 mg/kg and nominal P = 0.01 for 3 mg/kg). The number of patients with major cardiovascular events was 10 (8.3%), 16 (13.3%), 17 (13.7%), and 12 (9.8%) in the four groups.. CER-001 infusions did not reduce coronary atherosclerosis on IVUS and QCA when compared with placebo. Whether CER-001 administered in other regimens or to other populations could favourably affect atherosclerosis must await further study. Name of the trial registry: Clinicaltrials.gov; Registry's URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01201837?term=cer-001&rank=2;. NCT01201837.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apolipoprotein A-I; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Phospholipids; Prospective Studies; Recombinant Proteins; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography

We examined 140 patients (mean age 54.8±3.1 years) with ST elevation acute coronary syndrome resulting in Q-wave myocardial infarction of the left ventricle. From the first hours complex therapy of these patients comprised meldonium (1 g/day intravenously for 2 weeks then orally until 1.5 months). Therapy with meldonium accelerated restoration of left ventricular diastolic function what was in agreement with lowering of NT-proBNT concentration in blood. It was established that administration of meldonium led to reduction of number of high grade ventricular extrasystoles during first 6 hours after thrombolysis, to lowering of blood concentration of lipoperoxide degradation products. Early use of meldonium decreases probability of emergence of fatal arrhythmias and improves prognosis of hospital stage of rehabilitation of patients with acute coronary syndrome resulting in Q-wave myocardial infarction.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Diastole; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Monitoring; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Male; Methylhydrazines; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Prognosis; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Function, Left

Incomplete stent endothelialization is associated with late and very late stent thrombosis. In a post hoc analysis of the BASE-ACS trial, we sought to assess neointimal coverage and coronary flow reserve (CFR) 9 months after implantation of titanium-nitride-oxide-coated bioactive stents (BAS) versus everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In the BASE-ACS trial, 827 patients with ACS were randomized to receive either BAS or EES. In the current study, we examined neointimal growth and strut coverage by optical coherence tomography and CFR by trans-thoracic echocardiography in 28 consecutive non-diabetic patients with the culprit lesion in the left anterior descending coronary artery. The primary endpoints were binary stent strut coverage and CFR at 9-month follow-up. A total of 13 patients were included in the BAS group (2,033 struts); 15 in the EES group (2,898 struts). Binary stent strut coverage was higher and malapposed struts lower with BAS versus EES (99.4 vs 89.2, and 0.2 vs 4.6%, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). Neointimal hyperplasia thickness was greater with BAS versus EES (274.2 vs 100.1 μm, respectively, p < 0.001). CFR was lower with EES versus BAS (2.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.0 ± 0.5, respectively, p = 0.001). Abnormal CFR (<2.5) were detected in 10 patients in the EES group versus one in the BAS group (p = 0.002). The current study demonstrated that in patients with ACS, BAS resulted in improved neointimal stent strut coverage and better coronary vasodilator function as compared with EES at 9-month follow-up.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Circulation; Coronary Vessels; Drug-Eluting Stents; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; Everolimus; Humans; Hyperplasia; Neointima; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Single-Blind Method; Sirolimus; Stents; Time Factors; Titanium; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilation

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that aspirin would reduce the risk for acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) in patients with pneumonia.. Pooled data suggest that pneumonia may trigger an ACS as a result of inflammatory reactions and the prothrombotic changes in patients with pneumonia. Hypothetically considering its antiaggregating and anti-inflammatory effects, aspirin might also be beneficial for the primary prevention of ACS in patients with pneumonia.. One hundred and eighty-five patients with pneumonia who had more than one risk factor for cardiovascular disease were randomized to an aspirin group (n=91) or a control group (n=94). The patients in the aspirin group received 300 mg of aspirin daily for 1 month. ECGs were recorded on admission and 48 h and 30 days after admission to assess silent ischemia. The level of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T was measured on admission and 48 h after admission. The primary endpoint was the development of ACS within 1 month. The secondary endpoints included cardiovascular death and death from any cause within 1 month.. The χ-test showed that the rates of ACS at 1 month were 1.1% (n=1) in the aspirin group and 10.6% (n=10) in the control group (relative risk, 0.103; 95% confidence interval 0.005-0.746; P=0.015). Aspirin therapy was associated with a 9% absolute reduction in the risk for ACS. There was no significant decrease in the risk of death from any cause (P=0.151), but the aspirin group had a decreased risk of cardiovascular death (risk reduction: 0.04, P=0.044).. This randomized open-label study shows that acetyl salicylic acid is beneficial in the reduction of ACS and cardiovascular mortality among patients with pneumonia.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aspirin; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Pneumonia; Primary Prevention; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Troponin T; Turkey

Ventricular arrhythmias remain a lethal complication of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, the incidence and prognosis of sustained ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in contemporary non-ST-segment-elevation (NSTE) ACS populations are not well described.. We examined the incidence of VT/VF and subsequent survival among 9211 patients enrolled in the Early Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibition in NSTE ACS (EARLY ACS) trial. The cumulative incidence of VT/VF was 1.5% (n=141); 0.6% (n=55) had VT/VF ≤48 hours after enrollment, and 0.9% (n=86) had VT/VF >48 hours after enrollment. Patients with VT/VF more frequently had prior heart failure, an ejection fraction <30%, and triple-vessel coronary artery disease. Predictors of sustained VT/VF were similar regardless of the timing of VT/VF (≤48 versus >48 hours). Patients with VT/VF ≤48 hours after enrollment had higher 30-day mortality than those who did not have VT/VF ≤48 hours (13.0% versus 2.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 6.73; 95% confidence interval, 2.68-16.9). The increased risk of death associated with VT/VF ≤48 hours persisted at 1 year. The risk of mortality, relative to patients without VT/VF, was greater for patients with VT/VF >48 hours (hazard ratio, 20.70; 95% confidence interval, 15.39-27.85) than for those with earlier VT/VF (hazard ratio, 7.45; 95% confidence interval, 4.60-12.08; P=0.0003). The frequency of arrhythmic death was higher in patients with VT/VF than in those without VT/VF (26.4% versus 6.9%).. Sustained VT/VF is infrequent after NSTE ACS but is as likely to occur after 48 hours as within the first 48 hours. The marked increase in all-cause death among NSTE ACS patients with both early and late sustained VT/VF raises important considerations for aggressive monitoring beyond 48 hours and interventions to prevent arrhythmic death in these patients.. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00089895.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Cohort Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Ventricular Fibrillation

Adherence to cardioprotective medications in the year after acute coronary syndrome hospitalization is generally poor and is associated with increased risk of rehospitalization and mortality. Few interventions have specifically targeted this high-risk patient population to improve medication adherence. We hypothesize that a multifaceted patient-centered intervention could improve adherence to cardioprotective medications.. To evaluate this intervention, we propose enrolling 280 patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome event into a multicenter randomized, controlled trial. The intervention comprises 4 main components: (1) pharmacist-led medication reconciliation and tailoring; (2) patient education; (3) collaborative care between pharmacist and primary care provider/cardiologist; and (4) 2 types of voice messaging (educational and medication refill reminder calls). Patients in the intervention arm will visit with the study pharmacist ≈1 week post-hospital discharge. The pharmacist will work with the patient and collaborate with providers to reconcile medication issues. Voice messages will augment the educational process and remind patients to refill their cardioprotective medications. The study will compare the intervention versus usual care for 12 months. The primary outcome of interest is adherence using the ReComp method. Secondary and tertiary outcomes include achievement of targets for blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein, and reduction in the combined cardiovascular end points of myocardial infarction hospitalization, coronary revascularization, and all-cause mortality. Finally, we will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared with usual care.. If the intervention is effective in improving medication adherence and demonstrating a lower cost, the intervention has the potential to improve cardiovascular outcomes in this high-risk patient population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Community Pharmacy Services; Cooperative Behavior; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Health Care Costs; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitalization; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Medication Adherence; Medication Reconciliation; Patient Care Team; Patient Discharge; Patient Education as Topic; Patient Readmission; Patient-Centered Care; Prospective Studies; Reminder Systems; Research Design; Time Factors; United States

This study sought to determine the risk versus benefit ratio of an early aggressive (EA) approach in elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS).. Elderly patients have been scarcely represented in trials comparing treatment strategies in NSTEACS.. A total of 313 patients ≥ 75 years of age (mean 82 years) with NSTEACS within 48 h from qualifying symptoms were randomly allocated to an EA strategy (coronary angiography and, when indicated, revascularization within 72 h) or an initially conservative (IC) strategy (angiography and revascularization only for recurrent ischemia). The primary endpoint was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, disabling stroke, and repeat hospital stay for cardiovascular causes or severe bleeding within 1 year.. During admission, 88% of the patients in the EA group underwent angiography (55% revascularization), compared with 29% (23% revascularization) in the IC group. The primary outcome occurred in 43 patients (27.9%) in the EA group and 55 (34.6%) in the IC group (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53 to 1.19; p = 0.26). The rates of mortality (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.49 to 1.56), myocardial infarction (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.36), and repeat hospital stay (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.45 to 1.46) did not differ between groups. The primary endpoint was significantly reduced in patients with elevated troponin on admission (HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.80), but not in those with normal troponin (HR: 1.67; 95% CI: 0.75 to 3.70; p for interaction = 0.03).. The present study does not allow a definite conclusion about the benefit of an EA approach when applied systematically among elderly patients with NSTEACS. The finding of a significant interaction for the treatment effect according to troponin status at baseline should be confirmed in a larger size trial. (Italian Elderly ACS Study; NCT00510185).

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Humans; Italy; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Readmission; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stroke; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Troponin; Up-Regulation

Depression is independently associated with poor outcomes among patients with acute cardiac disease. Collaborative care depression management programs have been used in outpatients to improve depression outcomes, but such a program had never been initiated in the hospital or used for patients with a wide range of cardiac illnesses.. This was a prospective, randomized trial of a low-intensity, 12-week collaborative care program versus usual care for 175 depressed patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmia, or heart failure. Study outcomes, assessed using mixed regression models to compare groups at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months, included mental health (depression, cognitive symptoms of depression, anxiety, and mental health-related quality of life) and medical (physical health-related quality of life, adherence to medical recommendations, and cardiac symptoms) outcomes. Collaborative care subjects (n=90) had significantly greater improvements on all mental health outcomes at 6 and 12 weeks, including rates of depression response (collaborative care, 59.7% versus usual care 33.7%; odds ratio, 2.91; P=0.003 at 6 weeks; 51.5% versus 34.4%; odds ratio, 2.02; P=0.04 at 12 weeks), though these effects decreased after intervention. At 6 months, intervention subjects had significantly greater self-reported adherence and significantly reduced number and intensity of cardiac symptoms.. Among patients with a broad range of cardiac diagnoses, a collaborative care depression management program initiated during hospitalization led to significant improvements in multiple clinically important mental health outcomes and had promising effects on relevant medical outcomes after intervention. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00847132.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Antidepressive Agents; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiovascular Agents; Depression; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Regression Analysis; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome

Despite the association of obesity with incident cardiovascular disease, obese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) appear to have more favourable short-term outcomes. A study was undertaken to determine whether this 'obesity paradox' persists in the long term and to examine the specific relationship of central obesity with outcomes after ACS.. The relationship was investigated between two measures of obesity-body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)-and 30-day and 1-year outcomes after ACS. 6560 patients with non-ST elevation ACS in the MERLIN-TIMI 36 trial were followed for 1 year. Patients were stratified into three BMI groups (<25, 25-30, ≥30 kg/m2) and gender-specific tertiles of WC. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or recurrent ischaemia.. Patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 had a significantly lower risk of the primary endpoint than those with BMI <25 kg/m(2) (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.81, p<0.0001) at 30 days. However, after the 30-day acute phase, landmark analysis from 30 days to 1 year showed no difference in risk between BMI groups (HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.29, p=0.34). WC tertiles demonstrated a similar relationship. When BMI groups were stratified by WC there was a trend towards more adverse outcomes in higher WC groups among those in lower BMI groups. The group with the lowest BMI and highest WC had the highest risk (HR 2.8; 95% CI 0.93 to 8.3; p=0.067).. Obesity is associated with more favourable short-term outcomes after ACS. However, in the longer term the obesity paradox is no longer present and may reverse. Those with WC out of proportion to BMI suggestive of significant central adiposity may be at highest risk following ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Anthropometry; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Revascularization; Obesity, Abdominal; Prognosis; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome; Waist Circumference

The extent to which recurrent events in patients with stable coronary artery disease is attributable to progression of an index lesion originally ≥50% diameter stenosis (DS) but not revascularized or originally <50% DS is unknown during optimal medical therapy (OMT).. In the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial, 205 patients assigned to OMT plus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 284 patients assigned to OMT only had symptom-driven angiograms suitable for analysis. Percentages of patients in the OMT+PCI and OMT-only cohorts with index lesions originally <50% DS were 30% and 32%, respectively; 20% and 68% had index lesions originally ≥50% DS. In both groups, index lesions originally <50% or ≥50% DS represented <4% and <25% of all such lesions, respectively. The only angiographic predictor of myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome was the number of lesions originally ≥50% DS that had not been revascularized (odds ratio, 1.15; confidence limits, 1.01-1.31; P<0.04).. Lesions originally <50% DS were index lesions in one third of patients referred for symptom-driven repeat angiography, but represented <4% of all such lesions. Nonrevascularized lesions originally ≥50% DS were more often index lesions in OMT-only patients, but still represented a minority (<25%) of all such lesions. These findings underscore the need for improved therapies to arrest plaque progression and reliable strategies for selecting stenoses warranting PCI.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Disease Progression; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been designed to prevent restenosis, but long-term clinical outcome may be offset by an increased risk of stent thrombosis, which is associated with suboptimal stent implantation or delayed re-endothelialization. DES implantation has also been associated with local persistent endothelial dysfunction. Conversely, Trapidil is a potent anti-inflammatory, vasodilatator and antiproliferative drug and several studies have shown anti-restenotic effects, suggesting substantial clinical benefits through the use of Trapidil-eluting DES.. This is a longitudinal, single-blind, double-arm, randomized multicenter study. Forty patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes who present at the index procedure with multivessel coronary disease in the major epicardial coronary arteries will be enrolled. Patients should present a culprit lesion with stenosis 70% or more associated with another stenosis 70% or more in another coronary artery. Patients will be randomized in a 1: 1 fashion to receive either an Intrepide trapidil-eluting stent or a Taxus paclitaxel-eluting stent on the culprit lesion. After 90 days, the nonculprit lesion will be treated with the stent of the opposite randomization arm and optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis of the index stented segment will be performed. Follow-up angiography, combined with vasomotor analysis of endothelial function by rapid atrial pacing, will be done at 12 months after the index procedure on both stents. To further characterize the status of the endothelium, serum measurement of vascular endothelial growth factor gradient between the aorta and 15 mm distal to the implanted stent will be performed at 12 months. The primary endpoint of the study is to compare stent struts re-endothelialization at 90 days by OCT. The secondary endpoint is to compare angiographic outcome and coronary endothelial function 12 months after the index procedure and to compare clinical outcome at 1 and 2 years between trapidil-eluting DES versus paclitaxel-eluting DES.. We hypothesize that the utilization of trapidil-eluting DES in the setting of acute coronary syndromes will be characterized by a greater early re-endothelialization associated with an antiproliferative effect offering a similar efficacy with a better safety profile compared with first-generation DES.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Biomarkers; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Cell Proliferation; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Vessels; Drug-Eluting Stents; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Italy; Longitudinal Studies; Paclitaxel; Prosthesis Design; Research Design; Single-Blind Method; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Trapidil; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Medication errors and adverse drug events are common after hospital discharge due to changes in medication regimens, suboptimal discharge instructions, and prolonged time to follow-up. Pharmacist-based interventions may be effective in promoting the safe and effective use of medications, especially among high-risk patients such as those with low health literacy.. The Pharmacist Intervention for Low Literacy in Cardiovascular Disease (PILL-CVD) study is a randomized controlled trial conducted at 2 academic centers-Vanderbilt University Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or acute decompensated heart failure were randomly assigned to usual care or intervention. The intervention consisted of pharmacist-assisted medication reconciliation, inpatient pharmacist counseling, low-literacy adherence aids, and tailored telephone follow-up after discharge. The primary outcome is the occurrence of serious medication errors in the first 30 days after hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes are health care utilization, disease-specific quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Enrollment was completed September 2009. A total of 862 patients were enrolled, and 430 patients were randomly assigned to receive the intervention. Analyses will determine whether the intervention was effective in reducing serious medication errors, particularly in patients with low health literacy.. The PILL-CVD study was designed to reduce serious medication errors after hospitalization through a pharmacist-based intervention. The intervention, if effective, will inform health care facilities on the use of pharmacist-assisted medication reconciliation, inpatient counseling, low-literacy adherence aids, and patient follow-up after discharge. Clinical Trial Registration- clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT00632021.

Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Counseling; Delivery of Health Care; Drug Interactions; Educational Status; Health Care Costs; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heart Failure; Humans; Medication Adherence; Medication Errors; Patient Discharge; Patient Education as Topic; Pharmacists; Professional Role; Quality of Life; Research Design; Time Factors; United States

To determine the effect of a new CHOICE (Choice of Health Options In prevention of Cardiovascular Events) programme on cardiovascular risk factors in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) survivors.. Single-blind randomised controlled trial.. Tertiary referral hospital in Sydney Australia.. 144 ACS survivors who were not accessing standard cardiac rehabilitation. Data were also collected on a further 64 ACS survivors attending standard cardiac rehabilitation.. The CHOICE group (n = 72) participated in a brief, patient-centred, modular programme comprising a clinic visit plus telephone support, encompassing mandatory cholesterol lowering and tailored preferential risk modification. The control group (n = 72) participated in continuing conventional care but no centrally coordinated secondary prevention.. Values for total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking status and physical activity.. CHOICE and control groups were well matched at baseline. At 12 months, the CHOICE group (n = 67) had significantly better risk factor levels than controls (n = 69) for total cholesterol (TC) (mean (SEM) 4.0 (0.1) vs 4.7 (0.1) mmol/l, p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (131.6 (1.8) vs 143.9 (2.3) mm Hg, p<0.001), body mass index (28.9 (0.7) vs 31.2 (0.7) kg/m(2), p = 0.025) and physical activity (1369.1 (167.2) vs 715.1 (103.5) METS/kg/min, p = 0.001) as well as a better knowledge of risk factor targets. Also at 1 year, fewer CHOICE participants (21%) had three or more risk factors above widely recommended levels then controls (72%) (p<0.001).. Participation in a brief CHOICE programme significantly improved the modifiable risk profiles and risk factor knowledge of ACS survivors over 12 months. CHOICE is an effective alternative for dealing with the widespread underuse of existing secondary prevention programmes.. ISRCTN42984084.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Agents; Choice Behavior; Cholesterol; Drug Utilization; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New South Wales; Patient Participation; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome

Ranolazine is a novel antianginal shown in an exploratory analysis in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic angina to be associated with a decline in hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)). We designed a prospective evaluation of the effect of ranolazine on hyperglycemia as part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled outcomes trial.. We compared HbA(1c) (percentage) and the time to onset of a > or =1% increase in HbA(1c) among 4918 patients with acute coronary syndrome randomized to ranolazine or placebo in the MERLIN-TIMI 36 trial. Ranolazine significantly reduced HbA(1c) at 4 months compared with placebo (5.9% versus 6.2%; change from baseline, -0.30 versus -0.04; P<0.001). In patients with diabetes mellitus treated with ranolazine, HbA(1c) declined from 7.5 to 6.9 (change from baseline, -0.64; P<0.001). Diabetic patients were more likely to achieve an HbA(1c) <7% at 4 months with ranolazine compared with placebo (59% versus 49%; P<0.001) and were less likely to have a > or =1% increase in HbA(1c) (14.2% versus 20.6% at 1 year; hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.77; P<0.001). Moreover, ranolazine reduced recurrent ischemia in diabetic patients (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 0.93; P=0.008). Notably, in patients without diabetes mellitus at baseline, the incidence of new fasting glucose >110 mg/dL or HbA(1c) > or =6% was reduced by ranolazine (31.8% versus 41.2%; hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.53 to 0.88; P=0.003). Reported hypoglycemia did not increase with ranolazine (P=NS).. Ranolazine significantly improved HbA(1c) and recurrent ischemia in patients with diabetes mellitus and reduced the incidence of increased HbA(1c) in those without evidence of previous hyperglycemia. The mechanism of this effect is under investigation.

Topics: Acetanilides; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Blood Glucose; Cardiovascular Agents; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Piperazines; Prospective Studies; Ranolazine; Recurrence

We sought to compare the clinical presentation and angiographic patterns of saphenous vein graft (SVG) failure after stenting with a paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) versus a similar bare-metal stent (BMS).. The mode of SVG failure after stenting has been poorly characterized.. The SOS (Stenting Of Saphenous Vein Grafts) trial enrolled 80 patients with 112 lesions in 88 SVGs who were randomized to a BMS or PES. Angiographic follow-up at 12 months was available in 83% of the patients.. Binary angiographic restenosis occurred in 51% (24 of 47) of BMS-treated lesions versus 9% (4 of 43) of PES-treated lesions (p < 0.0001). Graft occlusion occurred in 9 of the 21 SVGs (43%) that failed in the BMS group and in 2 of 4 SVGs (50%) that failed in the PES group. SVG failure after stenting presented as an acute coronary syndrome in 10 of the 24 patients (42%) (7 of those 10 patients presented with non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction), stable angina in 9 (37%) patients, and without symptoms in 5 (21%) patients. Of the 19 patients (with 20 grafts) who developed symptomatic graft failure, repeat SVG revascularization was successfully performed in all 13 (100%) subtotally obstructed SVGs but was attempted (and successful) in only 1 of 7 (14%) occluded SVGs. Revascularization of a native coronary artery was performed in an additional 4 of 7 (57%) symptomatic patients with an occluded SVG.. SVG failure after stenting often presents as acute myocardial infarction and with SVG occlusion. Compared with BMS, PES reduce SVG failure.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Coronary Restenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Graft Occlusion, Vascular; Greece; Humans; Metals; Myocardial Infarction; Paclitaxel; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Saphenous Vein; Single-Blind Method; Stents; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United States

This study sought to determine whether initial medical therapy (MT) only or percutaneous coronary intervention plus medical therapy (PCI+MT) is better for patients with low-risk stable coronary artery disease (CAD) indicated for intervention in Japan.. Several multicenter studies have suggested that in the above patients, an initial management strategy of PCI+MT does not reduce the long-term risk of cardiovascular events more effectively than initial MT only.. We conducted a randomized comparative study (JSAP [Japanese Stable Angina Pectoris] study) in the previously mentioned patients.. The patients were randomized to PCI+MT (n = 192) or initial MT only group (n = 192), and the patient characteristics were very similar in the 2 groups. During the 3.3-year follow-up, there was no significant difference in the cumulative death rate between PCI+MT (2.9%) and MT (3.9%). However, the cumulative risk of death plus acute coronary syndrome was significantly smaller in PCI+MT.. In stable low-risk CAD, PCI+MT may improve long-term prognosis more effectively than MT.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Angina Pectoris; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Humans; Incidence; Japan; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

After coronary stenting with drug eluting stents, long-term clinical outcome of unprotected left main coronary artery disease is unknown, even large scale registries or randomised trials with coronary artery bypass graft are ongoing.. To report clinical and angiographic results of paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation for left main coronary artery stenosis (a series of 101 consecutive patients).. This report is a prospective study performed to evaluate the immediate and mid-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients undergoing paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis. From January 2004 to December 2005, 101 consecutive patients were stented with paclitaxel-eluting stents (the provisional T stenting technique followed by Kissing balloon for distal left main vessel disease).. Mean age was 68.9+/-11.07 years. 73.3% of patients were male. Acute coronary syndrome was present in 65% of patients, of whom 22.8% had ST elevation. Distal left main trunk lesions were present in 87.1% of cases. Three-vessel disease represented 7% of cases. Angiographic success was obtained in 97.03% of patients with an acute gain of 2.18+/-0.53mm. GpIIbIIIa inhibitors were used in only 8.9% of cases. Hospital stay was 7.6 +/- 3.7 days. In-hospital complications were present in 7.9%, with a hospital mortality rate of 2%. At six month follow-up, the rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 3%, and the rate for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was 8.9%. Angiographic control was performed in 88.1% and a late loss of 0.1mm (0.04-0.2mm) was noted. Re-stenosis occurred in 4 patients (4.5% of cases). 4 patients (4%) died, including 2 from cardiac causes.. Paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary disease appears to be safe with high procedural success rate and a low re-stenosis rate at six month-follow-up.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Stenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Feasibility Studies; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Paclitaxel; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

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Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Animals; C-Reactive Protein; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Inflammation; Mice; Ranolazine; Sodium; Sodium Channel Blockers

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) with significant involvement of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major cause of death and disability among the diabetic population. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to evolve, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a well-established marker of poor clinical prognosis after PCI, which is mainly attributed to the rapid progression of atherosclerosis requiring recurrent revascularizations. Hence, the use of bioresorbable materials could provide some solution to this problem.. There were no significant differences between the diabetic and nondiabetic populations in primary endpoints or main secondary endpoints (TLF, scaffold restenosis, death from any reason, and other cardiovascular events) either in the Ultimaster or Magmaris group. At a 1-year-follow-up, the primary endpoint in the DM t.2 population was recorded in 2.7% Ultimaster vs. 5.1% Magmaris, respectively. At the same time, the TLF occurred in the diabetic group in 4.1% Magmaris and 3.3% in the Ultimaster arm, respectively.. Both, Ultimaster and Magmaris revealed relative safety and efficiency at a one-year follow-up in the diabetic population in ACS settings. The observed rates of TLF were low, which combined with a lack of in-stent thrombosis suggests that both investigated devices might be an interesting therapeutic option for diabetics with ACS. Nevertheless, further large randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm fully our results.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Diabetes Mellitus; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Magnesium; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Polymers; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Drug-eluting balloons currently constitute a therapeutic tool used in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Long-term results remain unknown. We evaluated the prognosis of PCI using a second generation paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PEB) in real-world patients. We included all PCI with PEB in de novo or in-stent restenosis coronary lesions performed in our unit from March 2009 to March 2019. We assessed the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) rate after a median follow-up of 42 months. Consecutive patients (n = 320) with 386 lesions were included; 46.9% presented with stable angina and 53.1% acute coronary syndromes; 52.6% of the lesions were in-stent restenosis and 47.3% de novo lesions with a mean diameter of 2.4 ± 0.5 mm. A bare metal stent was implanted in 6.7% and a drug-eluting stent in 8.5% of patients. The MACE rate was 8%: 10 (2.6%) cardiovascular deaths, 13 (3.4%) myocardial infarctions, and 16 (4.1%) target lesion revascularization. The all-cause death rate was 5.2%. No cases of thrombosis were recorded. In conclusion, PEB was a safe and effective tool to treat in-stent restenosis and de novo coronary lesions, especially small vessel disease, during long-term follow-up.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiac Catheters; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Equipment Design; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Paclitaxel; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Heart; Humans; Myocardial Infarction

Contemporary cardiovascular medicine is complex, dynamic, and interactive. Therefore, multidisciplinary dialogue between different specialists is required to deliver optimal and patient-centred care. This has led to the concept of explicit collaborations of different specialists caring for patients with complex cardiovascular diseases-that is 'heart teams'. These teams are particularly valuable to minimize referral bias and improve guideline adherence as so to be responsive to patient preferences, needs, and values but may be challenging to coordinate, especially in the acute setting. This position paper-jointly developed by four cardiovascular associations-is intended to provide conceptual and practical considerations for the composition, structure, and function of multidisciplinary teams. It focuses on patients with complex coronary artery diseases in both elective and urgent setting and provide guidance on how to implement the heart team both in chronic and in acute coronary syndromes patients, including cases with mechanical complications and haemodynamic instability; it also discusses strategies for clear and transparent patient communication and provision of a patient-centric approach. Finally, gaps in evidence and research perspectives in this context are discussed.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Humans; Myocardial Revascularization; Patient Care Team

Whether very elderly women with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) should receive aggressive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still controversial. We assessed the effectiveness and long-term clinical outcomes of successful PCI in this population and identified prognostic factors which might contribute to the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in the very elderly female PCI cohort.. Female ACS patients aged ≥ 80 years were consecutively enrolled (n = 729) into the study. All the patients were divided into female PCI group (n = 232) and medical group (n = 497). MACCE was followed up, including non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure requiring hospitalization (HFRH), cardiovascular (CV) death, and the composite of them. After propensity score matching (1:1), the incidences of MACCE were compared between the two groups. Clinical and coronary artery lesion characteristics were compared between the female PCI patients with (n = 56) and without MACCE (n = 176). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors which independently associated with MACCE in the female PCI patients. MACCE of male PCI patients, who aged ≥ 80 years and hospitalized in the same period (n = 264), was also compared with that of the female PCI patients.. A total of 32% very elderly female ACS patients received PCI in the present study. (1) Compared to female medical group, PCI procedure significantly alleviated the risks of MACCE: non-fatal MI (6.2% vs. 20.2%, P < 0.001), HFRH (10.9% vs. 22.5%, P = 0.012), CV death (12.4% vs. 28.7%, P < 0.001) and the composite MACCE (24.0% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.001) during the median follow-up period of 36 months. (2) Between very elderly female and male PCI patients, there were no significant differences in occurrence of MACCE (P = 0.232) and CV death (P = 0.951). (3) Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (HR 1.944, 95% CI 1.11-3.403, P = 0.02) and elevated log- N-Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (HR 1.689, 95% CI 1.029-2.773, P = 0.038) were independently associated with the incidence of MACCE in the female PCI patients.. PCI procedure significantly attenuated the risk of MACCE and improved the long-term clinical outcomes in very elderly female ACS patients. Aggressive PCI strategy may be reasonable in this population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Contemporary cardiovascular medicine is complex, dynamic, and interactive. Therefore, multidisciplinary dialogue between different specialists is required to deliver optimal and patient-centred care. This has led to the concept of explicit collaborations of different specialists caring for patients with complex cardiovascular diseases-that is 'heart teams'. These teams are particularly valuable to minimize referral bias and improve guideline adherence as so to be responsive to patient preferences, needs, and values but may be challenging to coordinate, especially in the acute setting. This position paper-jointly developed by four cardiovascular associations-is intended to provide conceptual and practical considerations for the composition, structure, and function of multidisciplinary teams. It focuses on patients with complex coronary artery diseases in both elective and urgent setting and provide guidance on how to implement the heart team both in chronic and in acute coronary syndromes patients, including cases with mechanical complications and haemodynamic instability; it also discuss strategies for clear and transparent patient communication and provision of a patient-centric approach. Finally, gaps in evidence and research perspectives in this context are discussed.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Humans; Myocardial Revascularization; Patient Care Team

Adherence to medical therapy following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) affects a patient's prognosis. In this cohort study, we sought to assess the factors that could affect a patient's adherence to therapy after ACS.. We prospectively collected information from patients (N = 964) hospitalized at the coronary care unit of the Federico II University Hospital, from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2017, for ACS. Adherence to three classes of drugs including statins, antiplatelets [dual or single antiplatelet agent (SAPT)] and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACE-I/ARB) and their composites were assessed at 1 month, 1 and 2 years after discharge.. At 30 days adherence to prescribed therapy was 94.4% for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), 78.2% for statins, 92.7% for ACE-I/ARB and 70.7% for multitherapy. At 1 year, it was 91.1% for DAPT, 81.2% for ACE-I/ARB, 84.9% for statins and 71.4% for multitherapy. At 2 years, it was 97.1% for SAPT, 78.1% for ACE-I/ARB, 91.8% for statins, 72.8% for multitherapy. Multivariable logistic analysis demonstrated that at each time point, a telephone follow-up assessment predicts nonadherence to multitherapy and that a percutaneous coronary intervention at the index hospitalization is an independent predictor of adherence to composite therapy at 1 month and 1 year.. Up to 2 years after ACS, three out of four patients are adherent to multitherapy prescription; percutaneous coronary intervention during the index hospitalization improves a patient's adherence, whereas telephone follow-up is associated with reduced adherence to multitherapy.Campania Salute Network Registry (Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT02211365).

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Care Units; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Italy; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Registries; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention

We aimed to examine cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) according to potential extension of eligibility criteria for protein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) to all patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) equal or above 1.8 mmol/l.. In this prospective cross-sectional study, patients with ACS between 2009 and 2016 and with available LDL-c at one year were considered. We defined three mutually exclusive groups of patients according to eligibility for PCSK9i: "not eligible", "currently eligible", and "newly eligible". We explored the control of cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors.. Out of 3025 patients who had an ACS one year ago, 1071 (35.4%) were not eligible for PCSK9i, 415 (13.7%) were currently eligible, and 1539 (50.9%) were newly eligible. The proportion of patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the not eligible group was lower than in the group currently eligible (27.6% vs 33.6%, p = 0.02), but similar to the group newly eligible (27.6% vs 28.2%, p = 0.73). The proportion of smokers in the not eligible group was lower than in the group currently eligible (21.2% vs 28.0%, p = 0.02), but similar to the group newly eligible (21.2% vs 22.5%, p = 0.51).. More than half of patients with ACS would be additionally eligible for PCSK9i if prescription is extended from current guidelines to all patients with LDL-c equal or above 1.8 mmol/l. Patients currently eligible for PCSK9i one year after an ACS had a worst control of cardiovascular risk factors than patients potentially newly eligible.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; PCSK9 Inhibitors; Proprotein Convertase 9; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors

We are currently faced with an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease in China and the inadequacy of the application of guidelines in clinical practice. In the past decade, China has been strengthening the healthcare system, but it still lacked a national performance measurement system and an appropriate quality improvement strategy. Therefore, in order to improve the implementation of guideline recommendations in clinical practice, China has learnt from the successful experience of Get With The Guidelines project in 2014. Under the guidance of the Medical and Health Hospital of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the Chinese Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association jointly launched the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project. The project team provided an analysis report on the completion of key medical quality evaluation indicators of each hospital every month, supplied guidance through education, training, experience exchange and on-site investigation for problems, and certified hospitals with outstanding performance and obvious progress. The circle pattern, including evaluation, training, improvement and re-evaluation, will boost the guidelines compliance on clinical practice in China and improve the quality of medical services.. This study was conducted in a centre of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. It included patients with ACS from December 2009 to December 2011 (n=225), patients with ACS in the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome project coming from the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (n=665), 12 hospitals in Hunan Province (n=4333) and 150 hospitals in China (n=63 641) from November 2014 to April 2017. It assessed the situation of drug therapy, hospitalisation day, mortality during hospitalisation, median of door-to-needle (D-to-N) time and median of door-to-balloon (D-to-B) time of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the proportion of D-to-N within 30 min and D-to-B within 90 min, and the proportion of reperfusion therapy. Patients with ACS from the centre from November 2014 to April 2017 were divided into five groups (every 6 months as a group according to time). The study observed change trends in all the above-mentioned indexes.. Compared with before participating in the CCC project, there were increases after participating in the CCC project in the drug usage rates of aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel or ticagrelor), β-blocker, statin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB). Hospitalisation day and mortality during hospitalisation were shortened. D-to-N and D-to-B times of patients with STEMI were shorter. Compared with Hunan Province and China, the drug usage rates were higher; hospitalisation day and D-to-N time were shorter; D-to-B time was longer; and the proportion of reperfusion therapy was higher. The trend of drug usage rates was on the rise. There was no significant change in the hospitalisation day and D-to-N and D-to-B times. The mortality during hospitalisation showed a downward trend. The proportion of D-to-N within 90 min and reperfusion therapy showed upward trends.. Quality of care for patients with ACS improved over time in the CCC project, including taking medicine following the guidelines, increased use of reperfusion therapy and faster time to treatment. Although overall mortality has improved, we also should attach importance to high-risk patients. The influence of the CCC project, which is based on guidelines on prognosis of ACS in the centre, presents an important clinical implication that it is necessary to enhance adherence to the guidelines in the treatment of ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Cost of Illness; Female; Guideline Adherence; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Reperfusion; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prognosis; Quality Improvement; Risk Adjustment; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Time-to-Treatment

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is increasingly becoming a common cause of cardiovascular mortality in developing countries. Even though, there is an introduction of limited percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolytic therapies, in-hospital mortality due to ACS still remains high in sub-Saharan countries.. The aim of the study was to assess treatment outcome of ACS patients admitted to Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia.. A retrospective cross-sectional study was done by collecting data from patients' medical records using a data abstraction tool. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to determine crude and adjusted odds ratio. At 95% confidence interval, p-value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.. Of the total 151 patients, in-hospital mortality was found to be 24.5%, and hypertension was the most frequent (46.4%) risk factor of ACS. Concerning the management practice, catheterization and primary percutaneous coronary intervention were done in 27.1%, and 3.9% respectively. Additionally, in emergency setting loading dose of aspirin and clopidogrel were used in about 63.8% and 62.8%, respectively. The other frequently used medications were beta-blockers (86.9%), angiotensin converting enzymes/angiotensin receptor blockers (84.1%) and statins (84.1%). Streptokinase was administered in 6.3% of patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction and heparins in 78.1% of them. The commonly prescribed discharge medications were aspirin (98.2%), statins (94.7%) and clopidogrel (92%). Non-use of beta-blockers (p = 0.014), in-hospital complication of cardiogenic shock (p = 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤ 30% (p = 0.032) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.. The proportion of in-hospital mortality due to ACS was found to be high. Therefore, timely evidence based therapy should be implemented in the setup.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Stroke Volume; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Function, Left

Coronary artery disease is becoming the leading cause of death in women in Western society. However, the available data shows that women are still underdiagnosed and undertreated with guideline-recommended secondary prevention therapy, leading to a significantly higher rate of in-hospital complications and in-hospital mortality.. The main objective of this work is to assess the approach to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Portugal, including form of presentation, in-hospital treatment and in-hospital complications, according to gender and in three different periods.. We performed an observational study with retrospective analysis of all patients included between 2002 and 2019 in the Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ProACS), a voluntary, observational, prospective, continuous registry of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology and the National Center for Data Collection in Cardiology.. A total of 49 113 patients (34 936 men and 14 177 women) were included. Obesity, hypertension, diabetes (p<0.001 for all) and dyslipidemia (p=0.022) were all more prevalent in women, who were more frequently admitted for non-ST segment elevation ACS (p<0.001), and more frequently presented with atypical symptoms. Women had more time until needle and until reperfusion, which is less accessible to this gender (p<0.001). During hospitalization, women had a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.94 [1.78-2.12], p<0.001), major bleeding (OR 1.53 [1.30-1.80], p<0.001), heart failure (OR 1.87 [1.78-1.97], p<0.001), atrial fibrillation (OR 1.55 [1.36-1.77], p<0.001), mechanical complications (OR 2.12 [1.78-2.53], p<0.001), cardiogenic shock (OR 1.71 [1.57-1.87], p<0.001) and stroke (OR 2.15 [1.76-2.62], p<0.001). Women were more likely to have a normal coronary angiogram or coronary lesions with <50% luminal stenosis (p<0.001 for both), and thus a final diagnosis other than ACS. Both during hospitalization and at hospital discharge, women were less likely to receive guideline-recommended secondary prevention therapy.. In women admitted for ACS, revascularization strategies are still underused, as is guideline-recommended secondary prevention therapy, which may explain their higher incidence of in-hospital complications and higher unadjusted mortality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Revascularization; Portugal; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors

Despite therapeutic advances, patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at an increased long-term risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. This risk continues to rise as the number of associated comorbidities, often observed in patients presenting with ACS, increases. Such a level of clinical complexity can lead to gaps in care and subsequently worse outcomes. Guidelines recommend providing an evidence-based post-discharge plan to prevent readmission and recurrent ACS, including cardiac rehabilitation, medication, patient/caregiver education, and ongoing follow-up. A patient-centric multidisciplinary approach is critical for the effective management of the transition of care from acute care in the hospital setting to the outpatient care setting in patients with ACS. Ongoing communication between in-hospital and outpatient healthcare providers ensures that the transition is smooth. Primary care providers and pharmacists have a pivotal role to play in the effective management of transitions of care in patients with ACS. Guideline recommendations regarding the post-discharge care of patients with ACS and the role of the primary care provider and the pharmacist in the management of transitions of care will be reviewed.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Cardiovascular Agents; Communication; Comorbidity; Continuity of Patient Care; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Patient Care Team; Patient Discharge; Patient Education as Topic; Pharmacists; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Primary Health Care; Professional Role; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diagnosis, Differential; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Female; Heart Failure; Heart Transplantation; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Hypertension; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Immunosuppressive Agents; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pericarditis; Pneumonia, Viral; Postoperative Complications; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Shock, Cardiogenic

Elderly, frail patients are often excluded from clinical trials so there is lack of data regarding optimal management when they present with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD).. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate an unselected elderly population with CAD for the occurrence of frailty, and its association with quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes.. Consecutive patients aged ≥80 years presenting with CAD were prospectively assessed for frailty (Fried frailty phenotype (FFP), Edmonton frailty scale (EFS)), QoL (Short form survey (SF-12)) and comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)). Patients were re-assessed at 4 months to determine any change in frailty and QoL status as well as the clinical outcome.. One hundred fifty consecutive patients with symptomatic CAD were recruited in the study. The mean age was 83.7±3.2 years, 99 (66.0%) were men. The clinical presentation was stable angina in 68 (45.3%), the remainder admitted with an acute coronary syndrome including 21 (14.0%) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Frailty was present in 28% and 26% by FFP and EFS, respectively, and was associated with a significantly higher CCI (7.5±2.4 in frail, 6.2±2.2 in prefrail, 5.9±1.6 in those without frailty, p=0.005). FFP was significantly related to the physical composite score for QoL, while EFS was significantly related to the mental composite score for QoL (p=0.003). Treatment was determined by the cardiologist: percutaneous coronary intervention in 51 (34%), coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 15 (10%) and medical therapy in 84 (56%). At 4 months, 14 (9.3%) had died. Frail participants had the lowest survival. Cardiovascular symptom status and the mental composite score of QoL significantly improved (52.7±11.5 at baseline vs 55.1±10.6 at follow-up, p=0.04). However, overall frailty status did not significantly change, nor the physical health composite score of QoL (37.2±11.0 at baseline vs 38.5±11.3 at follow-up, p=0.27).. In patients referred to hospital with CAD, frailty is associated with impaired QoL and a high coexistence of comorbidities. Following cardiac treatment, patients had improvement in cardiovascular symptoms and mental component of QoL.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged, 80 and over; Angina, Stable; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Coronary Artery Bypass; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Male; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome

The number of very old patients admitted to intensive care units for acute coronary syndromes has increased gradually, but these patients are under-represented in randomized clinical trials.. The aim of this study was to analyse mortality of nonagenarians compared with octogenarians admitted to an intensive care unit for acute coronary syndromes, to describe their management and to identify prognostic factors.. Patients aged≥80years admitted to an intensive care unit (Croix-Rousse University Hospital, Lyon) with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016 were included retrospectively. After exclusion of type 2 acute coronary syndromes, the data for 311 octogenarians and 92 nonagenarians were analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves and a multivariable Cox regression model.. More than 70% of patients received renin-angiotensin-system blockers, beta-blockers and statins, without significant difference between nonagenarians and octogenarians. Nonagenarians were treated significantly less frequently with ticagrelor than octogenarians (P=0.028). Overall, 97.8% of patients had a coronary angiogram, and 80.4% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. At 5-year follow-up, the survival rate was 62.8% for nonagenarians compared with 73.1% for octogenarians (P=0.007), but no significant difference was observed for cardiovascular mortality (P=0.17). Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score and increased age were significantly associated with higher mortality rate, while renin-angiotensin-system blockers, statins and ticagrelor were protective factors.. Although overall mortality was higher in patients aged≥90 years compared with those aged<90years with acute coronary syndromes, the overall survival reported here is acceptable. In addition to the effect of age, the difference in prognosis according to age may be explained, in part, by a non-optimal treatment strategy for older patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Databases, Factual; Female; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Patient Admission; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Diabetes Mellitus; Heart Failure; Humans; Risk Factors; Sex Factors

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cardiovascular Agents; Clopidogrel; Cyclophosphamide; Diltiazem; Doxorubicin; Female; Humans; Lymphoma, Follicular; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prednisone; Rituximab; Secondary Prevention; Vincristine

Limited data exist on bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate novolimus-eluting BRS (DESolve) as interventional treatment for patients with ACS, and to compare its 12-month outcomes with the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffolds (Absorb).. In this retrospective study, patients with ACS (including unstable angina pectoris, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) treated with either the Absorb or the DESolve BRS were evaluated in a 1:1 matched-pair analysis. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization, were evaluated as a major endpoint. The occurrence of scaffold thrombosis was also assessed.. A total of 102 patients were eligible for this analysis. The rate of MACE at 12 months was comparable between the Absorb and the DESolve group (8.3% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.738). The occurrence of target lesion revascularization (6.2% vs. 4.7%; p = 0.700) and scaffold thrombosis (4.1% vs. 2.1%; p = 0.580) was comparable as well. All instances of scaffold thrombosis occurred within 30 days of the index procedure.. In this study, similar 12-month event rates were observed for both BRS types after implantation for the treatment of ACS.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Everolimus; Humans; Macrolides; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Atrial Fibrillation; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Elective Surgical Procedures; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hemorrhage; Hospitalization; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists; Pyrazoles; Pyridones; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin K

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Biopsy; Cardiovascular Agents; Diagnostic Errors; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Myositis; Predictive Value of Tests; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Disease; Aortic Diseases; Cardiovascular Agents; Humans; Prognosis; Stents

We assessed the effect of a pre-discharge medication checklist on discharge prescription rates of guideline recommended medications following myocardial infarction. In addition, we assessed what proportion of the residual prescribing gap following implementation of the checklist was due to the presence of contraindications.. We examined baseline prescription rates of guideline recommended medications in 100 patients discharged from our institution following acute myocardial infarction. We then introduced a pre-discharge checklist and reassessed discharge medications and reasons for non-prescription of guideline recommended medications in 447 patients with acute myocardial infarction.. We demonstrated a significant gap in the prescription of guideline recommended secondary prevention medications at the time of discharge in our pre-intervention cohort. Introduction of a pre-discharge checklist resulted in a significant improvement in the prescription rates of all guideline recommended secondary prevention medications, with aspirin increasing from 90% to 97% (p=0.004), Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist from 84% to 96% (p=0.0001), B-blocker from 79% to 87% (p=0.03), statin from 88% to 96% (p=0.002) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor from 58% to 70% (p=0.03). The residual gap in prescribing was largely explained by the presence of contraindications or absence of an indication in the case of ACE-inhibitors. Once these were taken into account there was a residual gap of 0-4% which represents genuine non-adherence to the guidelines.. Introduction of a pre-discharge checklist led to significant improvement in prescription rates of all five guideline recommended secondary prevention medications. The residual gap in medication prescription following introduction of the checklist was largely due to the presence of contraindications rather than non-adherence.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Discharge; Prospective Studies; Secondary Prevention

Nowadays, the majority of patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) are treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In recent years, there have been ongoing improvements in PCI techniques, devices and concomitant pharmacotherapy. However, reports on further mortality reduction among PCI-treated STEMI patients remain inconclusive. The aim of this study was to compare changes in management and mortality in PCI-treated STEMI patients between 2005 and 2011 in a real-life setting.. Data on 79,522 PCI-treated patients with STEMI from Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) admitted to Polish hospitals between 2005 and 2011 were analyzed. First, temporal trends of in-hospital management in men and women were presented. In the next step, patients from 2005 and 2011 were nearest neighbor matched on their propensity scores to compare in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality rates and in-hospital management strategies and complications.. Some significant changes were noted in hospital management including shortening of median times from admission to PCI, increased use of drug-eluting stents, potent antiplatelet agents but also less frequent use of statin, beta-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers. There was a strong tendency toward preforming additional PCI of non-infarct related arteries, especially in women. After propensity score adjustment there were significant changes in inhospital but not in 30-day or 1-year mortality rates between 2005 and 2011. The results were similar in men and women.. There were apparent changes in management and significant in-hospital mortality reductions in PCI-treated STEMI patients between 2005 and 2011. However, it did not result in 30-day or 1-year survival benefit at a population level. There may be room for improvement in the use of guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Guideline Adherence; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Poland; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes of the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) system (Abbott Vascular) in an all-comers Middle East population.. This prospective registry study included an initial set of patients with coronary lesions treated using Absorb BVS. Patients were followed for target vessel failure (TVF) including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization.. A total of 217 patients (age, 55 ± 11 years; male, 169) with 300 treated lesions were included (median follow-up, 36 months [range, 26-41 months]; complete follow-up, 201 patients). Diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome were present in 50% and 57% of patients, respectively. TVF rate was 32/201 (15.9%), including cardiac death in 10 (5%), target vessel MI in 13 (6.5%), and target lesion revascularization in 22 patients (10.9%). Definite or probable device thrombosis occurred in 11/201 patients (5.5%). TVF was associated with heart failure, worse ejection fraction, multi-vessel BVS, multi BVS in lesion, and total BVS length >50 mm.. Long-term outcome following Absorb BVS implantation in a population with high prevalence of high-risk and complex patients is acceptable, but heart failure, worse ejection fraction, and multi-vessel or long BVS implantation were associated with worse outcomes.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Diabetes Mellitus; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prospective Studies; Registries; Stroke Volume; Treatment Outcome; United Arab Emirates

Despite improvements in acute care and survival after non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) hospitalization, early readmissions remain common, and have significant clinical and financial impact.. Determine the predictors and etiologies of 30-day readmissions in NSTE-ACS.. The study cohort was derived from the National Readmission Database 2014 identifying patients with a primary diagnosis of NSTE-ACS using ICD9 code.. We identified a total of 300,269 patients admitted with NSTE-ACS; 13.4% were readmitted within 30-day. The most common cause of readmission was heart failure (HF) (15.6%), followed by a recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) (10%). Predictors of increased readmissions were age ≥ 75 years (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.30-1.39), female gender (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.09-1.16), a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) >3 (OR 2.11, 95% CI: 2.04-2.18), ESRD (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.89-2.14), CKD (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.51-1.64), length of stay ≥5 days (OR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.46-1.56) and adverse events during the index admission such as AKI (OR:1.31, 95% CI: 1.25-1.36), major bleeding (OR:1.20, 95% CI: 1.12-1.24); whereas admission to a teaching hospital (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89-0.95) and PCI (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.67-0.72) were associated with less likelihood of 30-day readmission.. Readmission rate at 30-days is high among NSTE-ACS patients and the most common readmission etiologies are HF and recurrent MI. A CCI more than 3 and ESRD were the most significant predictors for readmission; patients undergoing PCI had less odds of readmission.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Coronary Artery Bypass; Databases, Factual; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Patient Readmission; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United States; Young Adult

To investigate the prevalence, predictors and associations between guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from eight academic centers in the United States.. Evidence for GDMT in patients with AMI comes from randomized controlled trials. The use of GDMT in clinical practice is unknown in this setting.. PROMETHEUS is a multicenter observational registry comprising 19,914 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing PCI. Patients with AMI were divided into two groups based on the prescription of GDMT or not (non-GDMT) at discharge. GDMT was defined according to American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) class I recommendations, specifically, dual antiplatelet therapy, statin and beta-blocker for all AMI patients, and additional ACEI/ARB in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40%, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as a composite of all-cause death, MI, stroke or unplanned target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 1 year.. Out of 4,834 patients with AMI, 3,356 (69.4%) patients were discharged on GDMT. Patients receiving GDMT were more often younger and male. Compared with non-GDMT patients, GDMT patients had a significantly lower frequency of comorbidities. Predictors of greater GDMT prescription at discharge were ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and increased body mass index (BMI), whereas hypertension, prior PCI, anemia and CKD were associated with less GDMT prescription. At 1 year, the use of GDMT was associated with a significantly lower incidence of MACE (13.7% vs. 22.5%; adjusted HR 0.68; 95%CI 0.58-0.80; P < 0.001), death (3.7% vs. 9.4%; adjusted HR 0.61; 95%CI 0.46-0.80; P < 0.001), and unplanned TVR (8.4% vs. 11.3%; adjusted HR 0.76; 95%CI 0.61-0.96; P = 0.020). However, there were no significant differences in the incidence of MI (4.3% vs. 7.0%; adjusted HR 0.75; 95%CI 0.56-1.01; P = 0.056), stroke (1.5% vs. 2.0%; adjusted HR 0.79; 95%CI 0.47-1.34; P = 0.384) between the two groups.. In a contemporary practice setting in the United States, GDMT was utilized in just over two-thirds of AMI patients undergoing PCI. Predictors of GDMT prescription at discharge included STEMI, BMI and absence of hypertension, CKD, anemia or prior PCI. Use of GDMT was associated with significantly lower risk of 1-year MACE and mortality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Utilization; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Discharge; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Polypharmacy; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Registries; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United States

The aim of this single center all-comers retrospective registry study was to assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using drug-coated balloon (DCB) in de novo lesions including large proximal coronary arteries.. A total of 487 PCIs were performed using paclitaxel-coated DCB in 562 de novo lesions with the possibility for bailout stenting in a patient population presenting with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Half of the patients had at least one risk factor for bleeding. All of the treated lesions were de novo and 60% of DCBs used were ≥ 3.0 mm in diameter. The median follow-up time was 18 months for MACE and 60 months for survival.. The total mortality after DBC only strategy was 2.3 and 9.3% at 12 months in stable CAD and ACS, respectively. The 12-month MACE rate was 7.1 and 12% in stable CAD and ACS. The rate of ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization was only 1.4% in stable CAD and 2.8% after ACS at 12 months. Median duration of DAPT was one month. The 12 month rate of significant bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium types 2-5) was 5.9%. Acute vessel closure occurred only in one case (0.2%) after DCB treatment. Bailout stenting was used in 12% of lesions.. PCI using DCB-only strategy with the possibility for provisional stenting is a safe and efficient in de novo coronary artery lesions in both stable CAD and ACS. This strategy may be useful especially in patients with high bleeding risk.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angina, Unstable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiac Catheters; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Paclitaxel; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

We investigated the safety and efficacy of the bioabsorbable polymer-coated, everolimus-eluting coronary stent (SYNERGY) stent in a real-world study population with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).. A number of clinical trials support the overall efficacy and safety of the SYNERGY stent. However, a recent trial (TIDES-ACS) in the context of ACS reported worrying figures of infarction and definite/probable stent thrombosis in the SYNERGY control arm.. This is a multicenter registry (10 centers) including consecutive patients with ACS (unstable angina, non-ST elevated myocardial infarction, ST elevated myocardial infarction) who underwent percutaneous revascularization with the implantation of SYNERGY stent. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization at 12 months.. A total of 1008 patients were included with age 65.4 ± 14.8 years, 23.8% females and a 24.5% diabetics. Regarding presentation, a 15.2% with unstable angina, 43% with non-ST elevated myocardial infarction and 41.8% with ST elevated myocardial infarction. Primary outcome was met in 3% (7% in SYNERGY TIDES-ACS arm, P superiority <0.01 and 6.3% in OPTIMAX TIDES-ACS arm, P superiority <0.01). Cardiac death was 1.3% (1.6%, p = 0.8 and 0.5%, P superiority =0.1 respectively). Myocardial infarction was 1.6% (4.6%, p < 0.01 and 1.8%, P superiority = 0.9 respectively). Target lesion revascularization was 1% (3.4%, p < 0.01 and 5.4%, P superiority <0.01 respectively). Definite or probable thrombosis was 0.9% (2.8%, p ≤ 0.01 and 1.1%, P superiority = 0.8 respectively).. The results of this registry show a very good safety and efficacy profile at 12 months for the SYNERGY stent in patients with ACS.. A recent trial (TIDES-ACS) in the context of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) reported worrying figures of infarction and definite/probable stent thrombosis in the SYNERGY stent control arm. We investigated the safety of SYNERGY stent in a real-world study population with ACS applying the same inclusion/exclusion criteria as used in the TIDES-ACS trial. Primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and TLR at 12 months. A total of 1008 patients have been included. Primary outcome was met in 3% (7% in SYNERGY TIDES-ACS arm, P superiority <0.01 and 6.3% in OPTIMAX TIDES-ACS arm, P superiority <0.01).

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angina, Unstable; Cardiovascular Agents; Chromium; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platinum; Prosthesis Design; Recurrence; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Spain; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality among women. Systematic evaluation of the quality of care and outcomes in women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), an acute manifestation of coronary heart disease, remains lacking in China.. The CCC-ACS project (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome) is an ongoing nationwide registry of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. Using data from the CCC-ACS project, we evaluated sex differences in acute management, medical therapies for secondary prevention, and in-hospital mortality in 82 196 patients admitted for ACS at 192 hospitals in China from 2014 to 2018.. Women with ACS were older than men (69.0 versus 61.1 years, P<0.001) and had more comorbidities. After multivariable adjustment, eligible women were less likely to receive evidence-based acute treatments for ACS than men, including early dual antiplatelet therapy, heparins during hospitalization, and reperfusion therapy for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. With respect to strategies for secondary prevention, eligible women were less likely to receive dual antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins at discharge, and smoking cessation and cardiac rehabilitation counseling during hospitalization. In-hospital mortality rate was higher in women than in men (2.60% versus 1.50%, P<0.001). The sex difference in in-hospital mortality was no longer observed in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (adjusted odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.41; P=0.057) and non-ST-segment elevation ACS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.06; P=0.147) after adjustment for clinical characteristics and acute treatments.. Women hospitalized for ACS in China received acute treatments and strategies for secondary prevention less frequently than men. The observed sex differences in in-hospital mortality were mainly attributable to worse clinical profiles and fewer evidence-based acute treatments provided to women with ACS. Specially targeted quality improvement programs may be warranted to narrow sex-related disparities in quality of care and outcomes in patients with ACS.. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Cardiology Service, Hospital; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Female; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Reperfusion; Patient Admission; Registries; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Sex Factors; Smoking Cessation; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

This prospective, patient-level analysis assessed the safety and efficacy of NeoVas sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) in patients with coronary lesions. Furthermore, to meet China Food and Drug Administration requirements, we conducted an objective performance criterion study by pooling all patients implanted with the NeoVas BRS in a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) and registry trial.. Drug-eluting stent-related permanent vessel caging by metallic struts may lead to several complications associated with percutaneous coronary intervention. BRSs reportedly result in more stent thromboses (ST) in comparison to everolimus-eluting stents. The NeoVas (Lepu Medical, Beijing, China) is a novel sirolimus-eluting poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA)-based BRS whose safety and efficacy remains to be fully elucidated.. Patient-level data derived from 1,103 patients with de novo native coronary lesions in the NeoVas RCT (n = 278) and NeoVas registry (n = 825) were prospectively collected, pooled, and analyzed. The primary outcome was 12-month target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven-target lesion revascularization. The patient-oriented composite endpoint (PoCE) of all-cause death, all MI, or any revascularization was also analyzed.. The 12-month rate of TLF in 1,103 patients (follow-up rate, 99.8%) was 3.0%, significantly lower than the performance goal of 8.5% (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, 50 (5.4%) PoCEs and five definite/probable ST (0.5%) were recorded.. This pooled, patient-level analysis indicates that the NeoVas BRS has promising 1-year efficacy and safety profiles.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Registries; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

We aimed to corroborate clinical evidence on the safety and efficacy of the ultrathin-strut biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting Orsiro stent in an all-comer population including high-risk subgroups.. The nationwide, prospective, all-comer BIOFLOW-III Satellite Registry was conducted at 18 Italian sites. High-risk subgroups [diabetes, small vessels (≤2.75 mm), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and chronic total occlusions (CTOs)] were prespecified. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 12 months, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (MI), emergent coronary artery bypass graft, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR).. In all, 601 patients were enrolled (31.9% diabetes, 34.6% AMIs) with 736 lesions (37.2% small vessels, 5.7% CTOs, and 15.5% bifurcation lesions). Cumulative TLF rate at 12 months was 4.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2-6.6]: 6.9% (95% CI 4.1-11.6) in the diabetic patients, 5.0% (95% CI 2.7-9.1) in acute MI subgroup, 4.2% (95% CI 2.3-7.7) in small vessels, and 5.3% (95% CI 1.4-19.7) in CTOs. At 18-month follow-up, TLF, target vessel revascularization, and clinically driven TLR rates in the overall population were 5.2% (95% CI 3.7-7.4), 1.8% (95% CI 1.0-3.3), and 1.6% (95% CI 0.8-3.1), respectively. Probable stent thrombosis rate was 0.5% (95% CI 0.1-1.4), whereas no definite stent thrombosis was observed.. The study results confirmed the excellent clinical performance of the Orsiro drug-eluting stents at 18 months in the whole all-comer population and in the prespecified high-risk subgroups.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Kidney Injury; Cardiovascular Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Contrast Media; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Angiopathies; Female; Glucagon-Like Peptides; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Liraglutide; Male; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Risk Reduction Behavior; Treatment Outcome

Background The benefits of preventive medications after acute coronary syndrome are impeded by low medication persistence, in particular among marginalized patient groups. Patient education might increase medication persistence, but the effect is still uncertain, especially among migrant groups. We, therefore, assessed whether use of patient education was associated with medication persistence after acute coronary syndrome and whether migrant background modified the potential associations. Methods and Results A cohort of patients discharged with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (N=33 199) was identified in national registers. We then assessed number of contacts for patient education during a period of 6 months after discharge and the initiation and discontinuation of preventive medications during a period of up to 5 years. Results were adjusted for comorbidity and sociodemographic factors. Three or more contacts for patient education was associated with a higher likelihood of initiating preventive medications, corresponding to adjusted relative risks ranging from 1.12 (95% CI , 1.06-1.18) for statins to 1.39 (95% CI , 1.28-1.51) for ADP inhibitors. Lower risks of subsequent discontinuation were also observed, with adjusted hazard ratios ranging from 0.86 (95% CI , 0.79-0.92) for statins to 0.92 (95% CI , 0.88-0.97) for β blockers. Stratification and test for effect modification by migrant status showed insignificant effect modification, except for initiation of ADP inhibitors and statins. Conclusions Patient education is associated with higher chance of initiating preventive medications after acute coronary syndrome and a lower long-term risk of subsequent discontinuation independently of migrant status.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adolescent; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Adult; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Agents; Denmark; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Recurrence; Registries; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Time Factors; Transients and Migrants; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Long-term effectiveness of evidence-based cardiovascular medications (EBCMs) indicated after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) needs to be assessed considering the combination effects for these drugs recommended in association. Using a nationwide database, we conducted a cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of all possible incomplete EBCMs-based combinations as compared to that associating the four recommended EBCMs over up to 5 years of follow-up. Among the 31,668 patients included, 22.9% had ACS recurrence or died during follow-up. The risks associated with the use of 3-EBCM based combinations were 1.46 (95% confidence interval: 1.33-1.60) for the combinations without statins, 1.30 (1.17-1.43) for the combinations without angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, 1.11 (0.98-1.25) for the combinations without antiplatelet agents, and 0.99 (0.89-1.10) for the combination without beta-blockers. These findings question the interest of maintaining long-term treatment with beta-blockers in addition to the other EBCMs for post-ACS secondary prevention.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Secondary Prevention

To report long-term results of a novel sirolimus-eluting stent with biodegradable polymer BACKGROUND: Newer generation drug-eluting stents are characterized by thin struts, improved platform design and highly biocompatible polymer carrying the antiproliferative drug. The RapstromTM stent, sharing these features, showed promising outcomes in preclinical models and in a first-in-man trial.. The present study is a multicenter, non-randomized post-market registry, including patients with de novo coronary artery disease treated with implantation of one or more Rapstrom stents. Primary endpoint of the study was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at three-year follow-up.. 1073 patients were enrolled, with a high prevalence of diabetes (35%) and acute coronary syndrome at presentation (82%); at three-year follow up, MACE rate was 14.8%, with a low incidence of definite or probable stent thrombosis (0.75%).. These data confirm the good clinical performance of the Rapstrom stent, supporting the concept that the combination of thin struts and biodegradable polymer is associated with positive clinical outcomes.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Coronary Stenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Incidence; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prevalence; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of in-hospital mortality in Sri Lanka. Acute Coronary Syndrome Sri Lanka Audit Project (ACSSLAP) is the first national clinical-audit project that evaluated patient characteristics, clinical outcomes and care provided by state-sector hospitals.. ACSSLAP prospectively evaluated acute care, in-hospital care and discharge plans provided by all state-sector hospitals managing patients with ACS. Data were collected from 30 consecutive patients from each hospital during 2-4 weeks window. Local and international recommendations were used as audit standards.. Data from 87/98 (88.7%) hospitals recruited 2177 patients, with 2116 confirmed as having ACS. Mean age was 61.4±11.8 years (range 20-95) and 58.7% (n=1242) were males. There were 813 (38.4%) patients with unstable angina, 695 (32.8%) with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 608 (28.7%) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Both STEMI (69.9%) and NSTEMI (61.4%) were more in males (P<0.001). Aspirin, clopidogrel and statins were given to over 90% in acute setting and on discharge. In STEMI, 407 (66.9%) were reperfused; 384 (63.2%) were given fibrinolytics and only 23 (3.8%) underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Only 42.3 % had thrombolysis in <30 min and 62.5% had PCI in <90 min. On discharge, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers were given to only 50.7% and 69.2%, respectively and only 17.6% had coronary interventions planned.. In patients with ACS, aspirin, clopidogrel and statin use met audit standards in acute setting and on discharge. Vast majority of patients with STEMI underwent fibrinolyisis than PCI, due to limited resources. Primary PCI, planned coronary interventions and timely thrombolysis need improvement in Sri Lanka.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Male; Medical Audit; Medication Therapy Management; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Patient Care Management; Patient Discharge; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Sri Lanka; Thrombolytic Therapy; Time-to-Treatment

A two-step strategy of invasive management without stenting, guided by optical coherence tomography (OCT), in selected patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), might avoid systematic stent implantation and allow medical therapy alone.. To assess the feasibility and safety of such a procedure, and to define coronary imaging characteristics in a specific population.. This single-centre proof-of-concept study included all patients with ACS who benefited from a two-step revascularization procedure with optimal reperfusion during primary percutaneous coronary intervention followed by delayed angiography and OCT. OCT imaging determined medical therapy treatment alone without stenting in case of absence of vulnerable plaque rupture and <70% stenosis. Follow-up consisted of screening for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 12months.. Forty-six patients were included, mainly men (86.9%) and smokers (65.2%), with a mean age of 47.1years. Most cases (80.4%) were large thrombus burden lesions. Delayed angiography and OCT were performed in a median period of 6 [3-10] days. No adverse events occurred between the initial and second angiograms. Plaque rupture was detected in 39.1% of patients, plaque erosion in 54.3% and calcified nodule in 6.5%. Twenty-three patients benefited from systematic delayed OCT over a median period of 171days, showing an increase in minimal lumen area. At 12months, two patients (4.3%) presented MACE and were stented. No sudden death or myocardial infarction recurrence occurred.. Analysing ACS mechanisms by OCT might facilitate treatment decisions in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction managed by a two-step procedure. Conservative treatment with antithrombotic therapy without stenting seems to be a reliable option in a selected population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Clinical Decision-Making; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Stenosis; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Proof of Concept Study; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome

To evaluate the prevalence and impact of the prescribing of an evidence-based cardiac medication (EBM) combination on 1-month, 6-months, and 12-months all-cause mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. Data were analyzed from 3681 consecutive patients diagnosed with ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in 4 Middle Eastern countries from January 2012 to January 2013. The EBM combination consisted of concurrent prescribing of an antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), β-blocker, and a statin, at hospital discharge. Analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques.. The overall mean age of the cohort was 60 ± 13 years, 66% (n = 2436) were males. In all, 69% (n = 2542) of the patients received the quadruple EBM combination at discharge. Two-way interactions between EBM and age (P = 0.824), EBM and GRACE risk score (P = 0.873) and between EBM and discharge diagnosis (P = 0.836) were all not statistically significant. Adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, the prescribing of EBM combination was associated with significantly lower cumulative all-cause mortality at 1-month (adjusted OR (aOR), 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24-0.79; P = 0.007), which persisted at 6-months (aOR, 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38-0.72; P < 0.001) and at 12-months of follow-up (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.75; P < 0.001) posthospital discharge.. Among patients discharged after an ACS event, concurrent EBM prescribing was associated with lower all-cause mortality that persists for up to 12-months posthospital discharge. The relative benefits of EBMs were also consistent across age, GRACE risk score, and discharge diagnosis.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Agents; Cause of Death; Drug Therapy, Combination; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Middle East; Patient Discharge; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prospective Studies; Registries; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Prolonged dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) is undesirable in certain patients. The biolimus-A9 drug-coated stent (BA9-DCS) has a rapid drug-elution profile allowing shortened DAPT.. The demographics, procedural data, and clinical outcomes for 505 patients presenting with an ACS to three UK centres and treated with a BA9-DCS stent (PCI-DCS) were collected, and compared to a consecutive ACS cohort of unselected patients treated in the same period with drug-eluting stents (PCI-DES).. PCI-DCS patients were older, more often female with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, severe LV dysfunction, and peripheral vascular disease more frequent than the PCI-DES cohort. PCI-DCS patients had a much higher Mehran bleed risk score (21.5 ± 7.7 vs. 15.9 ± 7.7, P < 0.0001). Baseline disease burden was greater in the PCI-DCS cohort with more left main and three vessel disease. During PCI, more stents (1.91 ± 1.1 vs. 1.57 ± 0.94, P < 0.0001), total stent length (38.2 ± 20.8 vs. 31.4 ± 20.3, P < 0.0001) and longer stents (38.2 ± 20.8 vs. 31.4 ± 20.3 mm, P < 0.0001) were used in the PCI-DCS cohort with rotational atherectomy also used more frequently. Physician-recommended DAPT duration was 2.9 ± 3.9 months for PCI-DCS patients and 11.3 ± 2.4 months for PCI-DES patients (P < 0.0001). At 12-month follow-up, definite stent thrombosis (0.6% vs. 1.1%) and TLR (3.2% vs. 2.7%) rates were similar between the two groups. After adjustment for baseline differences, there were no statistically significant differences in death and combined MACE rates at 12 months.. The outcomes of patients treated with polymer-free BA9 drug-coated stent who present with an ACS and who were deemed unsuitable for prolonged DAPT are encouraging. Further studies are warranted.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Preliminary Data; Prosthesis Design; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United Kingdom

Patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) are often managed conservatively. Clinical practice guidelines recommend treating these patients with the same pharmacological drugs as those who receive invasive treatment. We analyze the use of new antiplatelet drugs (NADs) and other recommended treatments in people discharged following an NSTE-ACS according to the treatment strategy used, comparing the medium-term prognosis between groups.. Prospective observational multicenter registry study in 1717 patients discharged from hospital following an ACS; 1143 patients had experienced an NSTE-ACS. We analyzed groups receiving the following treatment: No cardiac catheterization (NO CATH): n = 134; 11.7%; Cardiac catheterization without revascularization (CATH-NO REVASC): n = 256; 22.4%; percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): n = 629; 55.0%; and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): n = 124; 10.8%. We assessed major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality, and hemorrhagic complications at one year.. NO CATH was the oldest, had the most comorbidities, and was at the highest risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic events. Few patients who were not revascularized with PCI received NADs (NO CATH: 3.7%; CATH-NO REVASC: 10.6%; PCI: 43.2%; CABG: 3.2%; p<0.001). Non-revascularized patients also received fewer beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and statins (p<0.001). At one year, MACE incidence in NO CATH group was three times that of the other groups (30.1%, p<0.001), and all-cause mortality was also much higher (26.3%, p<0.001). There were no significant differences in hemorrhagic events. Belonging to NO CATH group was an independent predictor for MACE at one year in the multivariate analysis (HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.29-5.73; p = 0.008).. Despite current invasive management of NSTE-ACS, patients not receiving catheterization are at very high risk for under treatment with recommended drugs, including NADs. Their medium-term prognosis is poor, with high mortality. Patients treated with PCI receive better pharmacological management, with high use of NADs.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Conservative Treatment; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Disease; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Heart Failure; Humans; Nerve Block; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Splanchnic Nerves

Background Cardiovascular medications have been commonly associated with medication errors. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and predictors of medication errors in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Setting the coronary care unit of a university teaching hospital. Methods This was a prospective observational study on 150 patients admitted to the coronary care unit between August 2014 and July 2015. Main outcome measure The principal outcome was the number (frequency) of encountered medication errors. Results Of total 5790 prescription items reviewed, 547 (9.4%) potential medication errors were identified of which 523 (9.0%) were prescribing errors and 24 were monitoring errors. The most frequent prescribing errors were dosing errors (231, 42.2%) followed by loading dose omission error (91, 16.6%), omission of essential drugs on 1st day (43, 7.9%), and timing error (40, 7.3%). Errors frequently encountered with drugs such as aspirin, enoxaparin, beta-blockers followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and clopidogrel. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that renal impairment (OR 6.02; 95% CI 1.4-35.4; p = 0.02) and longer duration of hospital stay (OR 4.01; 95% CI 1.5-10.7; p = 0.005) were predictors of the higher incidence of medication errors. Conclusion Prescribing and monitoring errors in coronary care unit are frequent and avoidable, with the majority of errors were ranked to be of mild to moderate severity. Dosing errors, omission of essential drugs and monitoring errors were most common error types encountered. Dosage adjustment based on estimation of the glomerular filtration rate immediately after admission help avoiding dosage-related errors.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Care Units; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Monitoring; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Hospitalization; Hospitals, University; Humans; Incidence; Length of Stay; Logistic Models; Male; Medication Errors; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prospective Studies

Cardioprotective medications improve outcomes following acute coronary syndromes (ACS) but add to medication complexity. We set out to describe the use of these medications and quantify medication changes in patients admitted and discharged for ACS.. Retrospective cohort study.. Using archived data from the electronic health record (EHR), we evaluated patients with ACS admitted to 1 of 2 hospitals between January 2008 and December 2012. Patients aged 18 to 89 years who were discharged with a principal diagnosis of ACS were included in the study. Descriptive statistics were compiled and medication use was compared at 3 time points: admission, discharge, and within 90 days post discharge.. This study included 4767 patients. The mean number of total medications increased from 8.6 ± 6.5 to 11.4 ± 5.4 from admission to discharge, dropping slightly within 90 days post discharge (11.1 ± 5.2). Patients taking medications at least twice daily increased from 6.4 of 10 at admission to 9 of 10 at discharge. Cardioprotective medication use increased by a relative 76% for aspirin, 72% for statins, 85% for beta-blockers, and 29% for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers from admission to discharge, whereas P2Y12 receptor inhibitor use increased 4-fold.. Medication complexity among patients with ACS are high, with notable changes from admission to discharge. Awareness of the extent of medication burden provides clinicians and policy makers with insight to help address medication use during the ACS peri-hospitalization period.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Cohort Studies; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Pennsylvania; Retrospective Studies; Secondary Prevention

Cardiovascular complications, in particular perioperative myocardial infarctions, are central contributors to morbidity and mortality after non-cardiac surgery. We present a case of a 41-year-old male, smoker and dyslipidemic, who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic jaw surgery with the development of an acute coronary syndrome in the immediate postoperative period. We managed to early diagnose the myocardial infarction and promptly performed a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, resulting in a positive outcome.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Anesthesia, General; Angioplasty; Anticoagulants; Atorvastatin; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Susceptibility; Drug-Eluting Stents; Dyslipidemias; Early Diagnosis; Elective Surgical Procedures; Humans; Male; Maxilla; Orthognathic Surgery; Postoperative Complications; Smoking; Surgery, Plastic

The aim of this study was to report clinical outcomes in patients treated in routine practice 2 years after everolimus-eluting bioresorbable stent (BRS) implantation.. Long-term results in patients undergoing BRS implantation in routine clinical practice are sparse, and existing evidence from randomized trials considers mostly selected patients.. The ISAR-ABSORB registry enrolled consecutive patients undergoing BRS implantation in routine clinical practice at 2 high-volume centers in Germany. Angiographic follow-up was scheduled after 6 to 8 months and clinical follow-up to 24 months. The primary endpoint was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization, and secondary endpoints included individual components of the primary endpoint and definite stent thrombosis. Event rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.. A total of 419 patients were included. The mean age was 66.6 ± 10.9 years, 31.5% had diabetes, and 39.0% presented with acute coronary syndrome. Forty-nine percent of lesions were considered complex (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association type B2 or C), and 13.1% were bifurcation lesions. The mean reference vessel diameter was 2.89 ± 0.46 mm. At 2 years, the primary endpoint had occurred in 21.6% of patients: death in 6.3%, myocardial infarction in 3.9%, target lesion revascularization in 16.0%, and definite stent thrombosis in 3.8%.. Long-term follow-up of patients treated with BRS in routine practice showed higher event rates than expected. Future studies are required to determine the impact of changes in implantation technique and to define the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy in these patients.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Stenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Germany; Hospitals, High-Volume; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Survey of Assessment and MAnagement of CoRonary Heart Disease PaTients was undertaken to describe profile and management pattern of adult Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients from presentation till discharge, in private tertiary care Indian hospitals.. This was an observational, prospective study. Based on standard criteria, patients were diagnosed to have ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina (UA). For patients surviving till hospital discharge, demographic characteristics, medical history, time to hospital presentation, investigations, vascular interventions and medical management during the hospital stay were recorded.. In total, 1340 patients with definitive ACS diagnosis and surviving their hospital stay were enrolled. Mean patient age was 58.7 years, 75% were males and 36.9% were diagnosed with STEMI, 8.9% with NSTEMI and 54.2% with UA. 41.9%, 35% and 18.4% patients reached hospital within 6 hours for STEMI, NSTEMI and UA respectively. Pre-existing hypertension and diabetes were observed less frequently in patients with STEMI (54.8%, 31.9%) than in NSTEMI (70.8%, 45.8%) or UA (64.2%, 41.5%). Aspirin, clopidogrel, nitrates, β-Blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and statins were used more frequently in NSTEMI than in STEMI or UA patients. Percutaneous trans-coronary angioplasty was performed more commonly in STEMI (64.2%) than in NSTEMI (41.7%) or UA (41.2%).. UA is the commonest and NSTEMI is the least common type of ACS observed in our study. We observed important differences in patient profile, time to hospital presentation, in-hospital acute pharmacological management and vascular interventions performed between the three different types of ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Angina, Unstable; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; India; Male; Middle Aged; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prospective Studies; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Time-to-Treatment

Given the proven effectiveness of several cardiac medications for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we examined the national use of 4 classes of effective medications, overall and by age, sex, and race/ethnicity in 2005 to 2014. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including a self-reported diagnosis of CAD and independently verified medication use. Weighting procedures extrapolated our data to the adult US population with CAD. Analyses included 1,789 US adults aged ≥45 years with a history of CAD. The average age of this population was 68 years; 40% were women and 79% were non-Hispanic whites. In 2005 to 2014, 53.2% (standard error [SE] = 1.5) reported use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers, 58.5% (SE = 1.5) β blockers, and 67.2% (SE = 1.4) statins. Two of these medications were used by 64.1% (SE = 1.5) of the study population and all 3 by 29.1% (SE = 1.3). In 2011 to 2014, 68.5% (SE = 2.4) of American adults with a history of CAD reported use of aspirin. The use of statins increased from 63.1% in 2005/2006 to 76.8% in 2013/2014. Adults aged 45 to 64 years old, women, and racial/ethnic minorities had lower use of effective cardiac medications compared with older adults, men, and non-Hispanic whites. In conclusion, the use of statins, but not other medications, has increased over the past 10 years among American adults with previously diagnosed CAD. Continued targeted efforts are needed to increase the receipt of effective cardiac medications among all US adults with CAD, especially those aged 45 to 64 years, women, and racial/ethnic minorities.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Utilization; Ethnicity; Female; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Prevalence; Racial Groups; Registries; Retrospective Studies; United States

We sought to assess the angiographic and long-term clinical outcomes in a predominantly medically treated population with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).. There are little data on the angiographic and long-term outcome in patients with SCAD.. We studied 64 patients with SCAD (mean age 53 years, 94% females, three peripartum) with acute coronary syndrome who were treated using coronary bypass grafting (n = 1), percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 7), or medical therapy (n = 56). A repeat angiogram was performed in 40/64 (63%) patients. The median clinical follow-up was 4.5 years.. Five (8%) patients had a major cardiac event. One patient with peripartum left main SCAD and cardiogenic shock died during PCI. One patient with conservatively treated SCAD of the posterior descending artery suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 16 days after the initial angiogram but survived. Three patients experienced a second SCAD in another vessel 3.7, 4.7, and 7.9 years after the index event while the initial dissection had healed. Thirty medically treated patients underwent a scheduled repeat angiogram showing healing of the dissection in all but one patient. After a median follow-up of 4.5 (1.8-8.4) years, all 63 patients surviving the index event were alive and free of symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischemia.. In general, the long-term outcome of patients with SCAD is excellent, and medical therapy can be safely applied in the majority of patients. However, SCAD can be a life-threatening and sometimes catastrophic event, and some patients experience early or late complications including SCAD of another vessel. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Coronary Vessel Anomalies; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Recurrence; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Shock, Cardiogenic; Switzerland; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Diseases

Patients hospitalized for first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are frequently discharged on multiple new medications. The short-term tolerability of these medications is unknown.. This single-center cohort study assessed 30-day health-care utilization and how it may be impacted by medication prescribing trends. We included Olmsted County patients presenting with ACS and previously undiagnosed coronary artery disease in 2008 to 2009. All health-care contacts were reviewed 30 days after index hospital discharge for potential adverse medication effects including documented hypotension or bradycardia, or symptoms likely attributed to the medications.. The study included 86 patients; their mean age was 63 (standard deviation: 15.5 years). Antianginal or antihypertensive cardiovascular (CV) medications were prescribed to 98% of patients at discharge; 76% were prescribed 2 or more. There were 233 health-care contacts in 30 days; 90 (39%) of these contacts were unscheduled. More CV medications tended to be prescribed to patients with unscheduled contacts, both pre-ACS ( P = .045) and upon hospital discharge ( P = .051). Hypotension and/or bradycardia at follow-up occurred in 52 patients (60%). Surprisingly, there was no association between hypotension and/or bradycardia at follow-up and increased health-care utilization ( P = .12). Potential adverse drug effects were reported in 34 (40%) patients. These patients had significantly more total health-care contacts ( P < .001) and unscheduled health-care contacts (median 0 vs 1.5; P < .001).. Symptoms of adverse drug effects were associated with more frequent health-care utilization after ACS. Clinicians need to consider this while striving to increase patient compliance with post-ACS medications and optimize care transitions.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Appointments and Schedules; Bradycardia; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Prescriptions; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Health Resources; Humans; Hypotension; Male; Middle Aged; Minnesota; Office Visits; Patient Discharge; Patient Readmission; Polypharmacy; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Time Factors

Bioresorbable polymer drug-eluting stent technologies have been considered to have the potential to enhance vascular healing by reducing polymer exposure to the vessel wall, potentially allowing the earlier discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy. At present, the early vascular healing response to this type of technologies is still unclear.. The TIMELESS study is a multicenter, prospective, single-arm study that enrolled real-world patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. All patients underwent Synergy stent implantation, which consists of a platinum-chromium platform coated with an ultra-thin abluminal bioabsorbable poly-D,L-lactide-co-glycolide polymer-eluting everolimus.. A total of 37 patients were included in the study. The majority of the patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention because of acute coronary syndromes. At 3 months, angiographic follow-up showed a percentage diameter of stenosis of 8.1±7.5% and an angiographic late loss of 0.03±0.24 mm. In all analyzed struts, less than 1% of struts were definitely uncovered or covered with fibrin, 12.5% (5.0-18.5%) showed evidence of partial coverage, and the remaining (∼85%) were fully covered. No stent thrombosis was observed up to 12 months of clinical follow-up.. In a real-world population, the implantation of a bioresorbable polymer drug-eluting stent resulted in almost complete strut coverage throughout the entire stent length at 3 months. The clinical implications for antiplatelet therapy and outcomes should be investigated further.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Chromium; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Stenosis; Coronary Vessels; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Lactic Acid; Male; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platinum; Polyglycolic Acid; Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; Predictive Value of Tests; Prosthesis Design; Time Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Conservative Treatment; Coronary Angiography; Humans; Life Expectancy; Myocardial Revascularization; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Norway; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Proportional Hazards Models; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Troponin C

The purpose of this study was to compare the 1-year outcome of everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffolds (eBRS) and Novolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffolds (nBRS) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in a real-life clinical practice scenario.. eBRS and nBRS are available and have been proved safe for coronary artery stenting in well-selected patients.. Consecutive patients who underwent bioresorbable scaffold implantation were evaluated retrospectively via 2:1 propensity matching. Target lesion failure comprising cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization was examined after 12 months, along with its individual components as well as scaffold thrombosis.. A total 506 patients were available for matching. Of these, 212 eBRS patients (mean age = 62.9 years) and 106 nBRS patients (mean age = 63.1 years) were analyzed after matching. Baseline characteristics and clinical presentation were comparable in both groups. Acute coronary syndromes were present in 53.3% of the eBRS group and in 48.1% of the nBRS group (p = 0.383). Lesion characteristics were also similar. Pre-dilation (99.5% vs. 98.1%; p = 0.218) and post-dilation (84.4% vs. 86.8%; p = 0.576) were performed in the same proportion of matched eBRS and nBRS patients, respectively. The 1-year rates of target lesion failure (4.7% vs. 4.5%; p = 0.851), target lesion revascularization (2.6% vs. 3.5%; p = 0.768), cardiac death (1.5% vs. 2.0%; p = 0.752), and definite scaffold thrombosis (2.0% vs. 1.0%; p = 0.529) did not differ significantly between the eBRS and nBRS groups.. The present study reveals comparable clinical results for the 2 types of bioresorbable scaffolds when used during routine practice, but further evidence from randomized controlled trials is needed.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Thrombosis; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Macrolides; Male; Matched-Pair Analysis; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Non-traditional indicators of socioeconomic status (SES; e.g., home ownership) may be just as or even more predictive of health outcomes as traditional indicators of SES (e.g., income). This study tested whether financial strain (i.e., difficulty paying monthly bills) predicted medication non-adherence and worse self-rated health. Research assistants administered surveys to 1,527 patients with acute coronary syndromes or acute decom-pensated heart failure. In adjusted models, having a higher income was associated with being more adherent (p < .001), but was non-significant when adjusted for financial strain. Education, income, less financial strain, and being employed were each associated with better self-rated health (p < .001). Financial strain was associated with less adherence (β =-.17, p < .001) and worse self-rated health (β = -.23, p < .001), and mediated the effect of income on adherence (coeff = .078 [BCa 95% CI: .051 to .108]). Future research should further explore the nuanced link between SES and health behaviors and outcomes.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Health Status; Heart Failure; Humans; Income; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Social Class

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular events. Cystatin C (CysC) has been proposed as a sensitive marker for CKD. However, the predictive value of CysC for cardiovascular events in CAD patients with preserved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is unclear. We enrolled 277 consecutive patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). Patients with an eGFR ≤60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) were excluded. Serum CysC levels were measured immediately before SES implantation. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were defined as cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and hospitalization because of congestive heart failure. After a median follow-up of 63 months, 29 patients had MACCE. The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on median serum CysC levels and eGFR (0.637 mg/L and 72.43 ml/min/1.73 m(2), respectively). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the high CysC group had a significantly higher occurrence of MACCE than the low CysC group (p = 0.006), although a low level of eGFR was not significantly associated with an increased risk for occurrence of MACCE. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum CysC levels were an independent predictor of MACCE [hazards ratio: 1.30 per 0.1 mg/L (1.01-1.63), p = 0.038]. These data suggested that serum CysC level is an independent predictor of MACCE, even in patients with preserved eGFR after elective SES implantation.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Coronary Artery Disease; Cystatin C; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Heart Failure; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Kidney; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Proportional Hazards Models; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Stroke; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Up-Regulation

We aimed to analyze angiographic and clinical results of patients undergoing BRS implantation in a real-world setting.. Angiographic and clinical outcome data from patients undergoing implantation of drug-eluting bioresorbable stents (BRS) in routine clinical practice is scant.. Consecutive patients undergoing implantation of everolimus-eluting BRS at two high-volume centers in Munich, Germany were enrolled. Data were collected prospectively. All patients were scheduled for angiographic surveillance 6-8 months after stent implantation. Quantitative coronary angiographic analysis was performed in a core laboratory. Clinical follow-up was performed to 12 months and events were adjudicated by independent assessors.. A total of 419 patients were studied. Mean age was 66.6 ± 10.9 years, 31.5% had diabetes mellitus, 76.1% had multivessel disease, and 39.0% presented with acute coronary syndrome; 49.0% of lesions were AHA/ACC type B2/C, 13.1% had treatment of bifurcation lesions. Mean reference vessel diameter was 2.89 ± 0.46 mm. At angiographic follow-up in-stent late loss was 0.26 ± 0.51 mm, in-segment diameter stenosis was 27.5 ± 16.1, and binary angiographic restenosis was 7.5%. At 12 months, the rate of death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization was 13.1%. Definite stent thrombosis occurred in 2.6%.. The use of everolimus-eluting BRS in routine clinical practice is associated with high antirestenotic efficacy in patients undergoing angiographic surveillance. Overall clinical outcomes at 12 months are satisfactory though stent thrombosis rates are not insignificant. Further study with longer term follow-up and larger numbers of treated patients is required before we can be sure of the role of these devices in clinical practice.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Coronary Vessels; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Germany; Hospitals, High-Volume; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Risk Factors

In Qatar, ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) has become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Guidelines recommend that ACS patients should receive indefinite treatment with antiplatelets, β-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and statins. The study objectives were to assess the use of evidence-based secondary prevention medication at discharge among ACS patients in Qatar and to determine the clinical and demographic characteristics associated with the use of these medications.. A retrospective medical record review was conducted at the Heart Hospital in Qatar. A random sample of 1068 ACS patients was selected. Patient characteristics were summarized. Prevalence of medications at discharge were computed for each medication as well as for medication combinations. Multiple logistic regression was used to detect patient variables that were associated with the outcomes. A p≤0.05 was considered significant.. -Percentage of ACS patients discharged on each of the following medications: antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel), β-blockers, ACEI or ARBs and statins and on the combination of these medications-Association between the use of these medications and patient characteristics.. In total, 1064 records were reviewed. The majority were males (85.3%) and about 1 in 5 (18.7%) were Qatari. At discharge, patients were prescribed the following: aspirin (96.0%), clopidogrel (92.0%), β-blockers (90.6%) and statins (97.7%). ACEI and ARBs were prescribed to 63.5 and 11.3%, respectively. The concurrent 4 medications (aspirin or clopidogrel, statins or other lowering cholesterol medication, β-blockers and ACEI or ARB) were prescribed to 773 patients (77.8%; 95% confidence interval: 75.2-80.4%). Being overweight or obese, and having PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) or hypertension were associated with higher prescription of the concurrent medications. Those with diabetes had a 52% increase in the odds of prescribing the 4 medications. Those with kidney disease had a 67% reduction in the odds of prescribing.. Most ACS patients were prescribed antiplatelets, β-blockers and statins, but the use of ACEIs or ARBs was suboptimal. Strategies are needed to enhance ACEI or ARB prescribing, especially for high risk patients who would have the greatest therapeutic benefit from these drugs.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Agents; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Patient Discharge; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Qatar; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention

Data on multiple bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) for the treatment of coronary lesions are limited. We compared clinical results after implantation of single or multiple BVS for the treatment of de-novo coronary artery disease.. We enrolled 236 patients with 311 lesions treated with Absorb BVS. Quantitative coronary angiography before and after scaffold implantation was performed. All lesions were predilated. Absorb was implanted with slow inflation and 81% were postdilated with a high-pressure balloon. Patients received dual antiplatelet therapy for 6 months for stable angina pectoris and for 12 months for acute coronary syndrome. Patients were clinically followed for 12 months. Acute gain was 1.39±0.47 mm. Multiple scaffolds per lesion were implanted in 23.8% (N=74/311 lesions). The mean scaffold length was 21 mm for single and 48 mm (range 28-112 mm) for multiple BVS. Periprocedural myocardial infarction (13.5 vs. 4.6%, P<0.013) and target lesion revascularization (6.8 vs. 0.8%; P=0.003) were significantly higher in the multiple-scaffold group compared with the single-scaffold group. There was no definite scaffold thrombosis. (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02162056).. Target lesion revascularization within 12 months and periprocedural myocardial infarction were higher for lesions treated with multiple scaffolds compared with lesions treated with single BVS.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina, Stable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Germany; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Guidelines recommend use of evidence-based medications in patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Yet the current rates of adherence in many eastern European countries are unknown.. To determine whether 6month outpatient follow-up after ACS is associated with recommended rates of medication adherence in Montenegro.. A prospective analysis was conducted in 585 ACS patients confirmed to be alive after ACS at 6month follow-up. The study was undertaken between 2012 and 2015, from 9 International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) hospitals in the Montenegro. The primary outcome was guideline-concordant care, defined as 100% compliance with 5 medications: aspirin, clopidogrel, beta-blockers, and statins in ACS patients, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers [ACEI/ARB] for the subset of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, as assessed by an ejection fraction less than 40% at discharge. In addition to the composite end point, the achievement of each single treatment measure was analyzed. Multivariate predictors of long-term medication adherence were also identified.. Guideline-concordant care (GCC) at discharge increased from 2012 to 2015 (adjusted OR for increase 1.51; CI 0.88-2.52). GCC over 6months was adhered in 73% of patients. In patients who did not achieve GCC, adherence was persistently high with 92.3% for aspirin, 91.3% for statins and 72% for ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). Adherence was lower for clopidogrel (57.7%) and beta-blockers (64.4%). After adjusting for demographic and clinical differences, in-hospital referral to PCI and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were associated with greater medication adherence at 6month follow-up.. In Montenegro, long-term adherence to evidence-based medication after ACS is high. Adherence to guideline-recommended therapies increased over time with participation to the ISACS-TC. The lower achievement of GCC in patients treated medically and in those with non-ST-segment elevation ACS needs particular attention.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Clopidogrel; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Montenegro; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prospective Studies; Ticlopidine

Although an invasive strategy is a class I clinical practice guideline for non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndromes, there is wide variation in the proportion of patients who undergo revascularization despite early angiography. We sought to identify the predictors of early revascularization versus medical therapy alone in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing an invasive strategy and to assess their clinical outcomes.. We assessed revascularization status by percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting within 7 days of the index angiogram in all patients with non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome who underwent an invasive strategy in Ontario, Canada, from October 1, 2008, to October 31, 2013, with follow-up through December 31, 2014. The primary outcome was mortality. Multivariable hierarchical logistic models identified predictors of revascularization, and multivariable Cox models with treatment strategy as a 3-level time-varying covariate assessed the relationship between revascularization status and clinical outcomes. We identified 50 302 patients of whom 34 288 (68.2%) underwent revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention: 28 011 and coronary artery bypass grafting: 6277). There was a 2-fold variation in revascularization rates across hospitals. A higher risk presentation significantly predicted revascularization (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.35), as did having the angiogram by an interventional cardiologist (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-1.98). Revascularized patients with either percutaneous coronary intervention (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.69) or coronary artery bypass grafting (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.60) had improved survival compared with medically treated patients.. Although the majority of patients with non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome who underwent an early invasive approach received revascularization, there was wide variation. Revascularization was associated with significantly improved survival.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Odds Ratio; Ontario; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Describe the dispensing patterns for guideline-recommended medications during 2008 in people with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and how dispensing varies by gender and time since last ACS hospitalization.. A descriptive cohort spanning 20 years of people alive post-ACS in 2008. We extracted all ACS hospitalizations and deaths in Western Australia (1989-2008), and all person-linked Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims nationally for 2008. Participants were 23 642 men and women (36.8%), alive and aged 65-89 years in mid-2008 who were hospitalized for ACS between 1989 and 2008. Main outcome was the proportion of the study cohort (in 2008) dispensed guideline-recommended cardiovascular medications in that year. Adjusted odds ratios estimating the association between type (and number) of guideline-recommended medications and time since last ACS hospitalization.. Medications most commonly dispensed in 2008 were statins (79.6% of study cohort) and then angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ACEi/ARBs) (71.1%), aspirin or clopidogrel (59.4%), and β-blockers (54.6%). Only 51.8% of the cohort was dispensed three or more of these drug types in 2008. Women with ACS were 18% less likely to be dispensed statins (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.82; 95% CI 0.76-0.88). Overall, for each incremental year since last ACS admission, there was an 8% increased odds (adjusted OR=1.08; 95% CI 1.07-1.08) of being dispensed fewer of the recommended drug regimen in 2008.. Longer time since last ACS admission was associated with dispensing fewer medications types and combinations in 2008. Interventions are warranted to improve dispensing long term and any apparent gender inequality in the drug class filled.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Databases, Factual; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Guideline Adherence; Healthcare Disparities; Hospitalization; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Odds Ratio; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Western Australia

Acute coronary syndrome is a life threatening disease with high mortality rate without optimal therapy. Due to the continuous development in the treatment of the disease, the prognosis has dramatically improved over the last 30 years. Apart from the improvement of the medication, the most important factor is the availability of an immediate coronary intervention for everyone, at any time. Currently, nineteen interventional centers provide this care in Hungary, 24 hours a day. Thanks to the European guidelines, the care system is now more efficient in determining who and when needs the treatment. This article summarises the principles of the treatment currently in use. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(38), 1500-1506.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Echocardiography; Female; Heart Conduction System; Humans; Hungary; Male; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common causes of death worldwide, with many individuals having experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS). How patients with a history of ACS value aspects of their medical treatment have been evaluated rarely. The aim of this study was to determine patient priorities for long-term drug therapy after experiencing ACS.. To identify patient-relevant treatment characteristics, a systematic literature review and qualitative patient interviews were conducted. A questionnaire was developed to elicit patient's priorities for different characteristics of ACS treatment using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). To evaluate the patient-relevant outcomes, the eigenvector method was applied.. Six-hundred twenty-three patients participated in the computer-assisted personal interviews and were included in the final analysis. Patients showed a clear priority for the attribute "reduction of mortality risk" (weight: 0.402). The second most preferred attribute was the "prevention of a new myocardial infarction" (weight: 0.272), followed by "side effect: dyspnea" (weight: 0.165) and "side effect: bleeding" (weight: 0.117). The "frequency of intake" was the least important attribute (weight: 0.044).. In conclusion, this study shows that patients strongly value a reduction of the mortality risk in post-ACS treatment. Formal consideration of patient preferences and priorities can help to inform a patient-centered approach, clinical practice, development of future effective therapies, and health policy for decision makers that best represents the needs and goals of the patient.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Agents; Decision Support Techniques; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Preference; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors

The proportion of elderly acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who receive optimal medical therapy (OMT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and whether OMT affects their long-term outcomes remain unclear. We retrospectively investigated 405 ACS patients who underwent stent implantation between 2005 and 2009, and compared the outcomes between patients <80 years of age vs. ≥80 years of age. The prescription rate of the recommended medical agents for ACS in both groups during hospitalization and 2 years after admission was also retrieved. Among the enrolled study population, 75 patients (19%) were aged ≥80 years. These elderly patients had a higher 2-year mortality compared with patients aged <80 years group. The prescription rate of beta-blockers, angiotensin-blocking drugs, and statins tended to be lower in patients aged ≥80 years than in those aged <80 years. Furthermore, among patients ≥80 years of age, those who received OMT had better clinical outcome of 2-year mortality compared to those without OMT. Elderly patients with ACS treated by PCI are at substantially higher risk of adverse events than younger patients. However, they are less likely to receive OMT. PCI with OMT might improve the clinical outcomes of elderly ACS patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Utilization Review; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Japan; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Proportional Hazards Models; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Catheter Ablation; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Management; Electric Countershock; Humans; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; Male; Middle Aged; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Purkinje Fibers; Recurrence; Shock, Cardiogenic; Stents; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Ventricular Fibrillation

Few data exist on the recent trends in the outcome of women hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome. We examined temporal trends in the hospital management and outcomes of women hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome in a real-world setting.. We evaluated time-dependent changes in the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of women enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS) between 2000 and 2010. Periods were categorized as early (2000-2004) and late (2006-2010).. Among 11,536 patients enrolled in ACSIS, 2710 (24%) were women. Frequency of women presenting with acute coronary syndrome had declined from 25% in 2000 to 22% in 2010 (P for trend = .002). Women presented less frequently with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and more frequently with associated comorbidities (P < .001 for both). There was no significant reduction in the time delay from symptom onset to emergency department between early and late periods (median: 128 vs 125 minutes; P = .86). This was further reflected in no increase in the frequency of women meeting the goal of door-to-balloon time of ≤90 minutes. The utilization of evidence-based cardiovascular therapies had increased significantly over the past decade (P < .001 for all). After multivariate adjustment, admission in the late surveys was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day major adverse cardiac events and 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.9, and 0.73; 0.59-0.89, respectively).. Despite increased frequency of comorbidities and lack of change in time to admission among women hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome, temporal change in management strategies over the last decade may have contributed to improved outcomes in this population.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Coronary Care Units; Diabetes Mellitus; Disease Management; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Hypertension; Israel; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Odds Ratio; Patient Admission; Registries; Time-to-Treatment; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Guideline Adherence; Hemorrhage; Heparin; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Performance metrics currently focus on the measurement of the application of guideline-indicated medications without considering the appropriate dosing of these drugs.. We studied 39 291 patients from the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines (CRUSADE) registry with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. We evaluated hospital variability in the composite use of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline-recommended therapies (adherence) and the proportion of treated patients with the recommended dose of heparins or a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist (safety), and its association with risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality and bleeding. The rates of composite guideline adherence (median, 85%; 25th, 75th percentile, 82, 88) and antithrombotic dosing safety (median, 53%; 25th, 75th percentile, 45%, 60%) varied among hospitals. Correlation between hospital composite adherence and safety metrics was significant but low (r=0.16, P=0.008). Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was inversely related to both guideline adherence (odds ratio-10% increment, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.94) and safety metrics (odds ratio-10% increment, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.98). Safety was inversely related to major bleeding (adjusted odds ratio-10% increment, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.87-0.98). In comparison with hospitals with low adherence and safety (≤median performance) metrics, those with mixed performance metrics (high adherence and low safety, low adherence and high safety) had intermediate risk-adjusted mortality rates, whereas hospitals with above-average performance on both metrics (>median performance) had a trend for lowest risk adjusted mortality rates (odds ratio 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.01). Hospitals with high safety had lower bleeding rates in comparison to those with low safety.. Guideline adherence and dosing safety appeared to provide independent and complementary information on hospital bleeding and mortality, supporting the need for broader metrics of quality that should include measures of both guideline-based care and safety.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; American Heart Association; Cardiovascular Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guideline Adherence; Hemorrhage; Heparin; Hospital Mortality; Hospitals; Humans; Inpatients; Odds Ratio; Patient Safety; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Treatment Outcome; United States

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Vasospasm; Coronary Vessels; Drug-Eluting Stents; Electrocardiography; Everolimus; Heart Arrest; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nitroglycerin; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study was to describe the multimodal outcome 12 months after implantation of coronary bioresorbable scaffolds (BVS) for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).. Functional and imaging data on the use of BVS are limited to simple, stable lesions; in the setting of ACS, only short-term clinical follow-up data are available, and no information from intracoronary imaging and vasomotion tests has been reported.. A total of 133 patients (age 62 ± 12 years, 74% males, 15% diabetic) underwent BVS (n = 166) implantation for the treatment of thrombotic lesions in the setting of ACS (43% non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 38% ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 20% unstable angina). Clinical, angiographic, intracoronary imaging, and vasomotor endpoints were evaluated at 12 months.. During the 374 days (interquartile range: 359 to 411 days) of follow-up, there were 4 deaths; 3 definite and 1 probable in-BVS thromboses (all in the first 6 months). At 12-month angiography (75 patients, 83 BVS), in-segment late lumen loss was 0.19 ± 0.45 mm, and 3 (4%) patients showed binary restenosis. Optical coherence tomography (80 BVS, n = 70) showed a mean lumen area of 6.3 ± 2.3 mm(2). Malapposition was evidenced in 21 (26%) BVS. Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation were observed in 48% and 49% of the BVS.. Twelve months after BVS implantation, clinical, intracoronary imaging, and vasomotion data appear to provide a rationale for the use of BVS in the setting of ACS and the basis for a randomized study.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Coronary Vessels; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Predictive Value of Tests; Prosthesis Design; Recovery of Function; Registries; Time Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilation

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Vessels; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Predictive Value of Tests; Prosthesis Design; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Previous literature from high-income countries has repeatedly shown sex differences in the presentation, diagnosis, and management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), with women having atypical presentations and undergoing less aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic measures. However, much less data exist evaluating sex differences in ACS in India.. This study sought to evaluate sex differences in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with ACS in Kerala, India.. The Kerala ACS Registry collected data from 25,748 consecutive ACS admissions (19,923 men and 5,825 women) from 125 hospitals in the Indian state of Kerala from 2007 to 2009. This study evaluated the association between sex differences in presentation, in-hospital management, and discharge care with in-hospital mortality and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (defined as death, reinfarction, stroke, heart failure, or cardiogenic shock).. Women with ACS were older than men with ACS (64 vs. 59, p < 0.001) and were more likely to have a history of previous myocardial infarction (16% vs. 14%, p < 0.001). Inpatient diagnostics and management and discharge care were similar between sexes. No significant differences between men and women in the outcome of death (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80 to 1.38) or in the composite outcome of death, reinfarction, stroke, heart failure, or cardiogenic shock (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.25) were seen after adjustment for possible confounding factors.. In Kerala, even though women with ACS were older and more likely to have previous myocardial infarction, there were no significant differences in in-hospital and discharge management, in-hospital mortality, or major adverse cardiovascular events between sexes. Whether these results apply to other parts of India or acute presentations of other chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries warrants further study.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina Pectoris; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; India; Male; Middle Aged; Registries; Sex Distribution

To analyze if the demographic and socioeconomic variables, as well as percutaneous coronary intervention are associated with the use of medicines for secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome.. In this cohort study, we included 138 patients with acute coronary syndrome, aged 30 years or more and of both sexes. The data were collected at the time of hospital discharge, and after six and twelve months. The outcome of the study was the simultaneous use of medicines recommended for secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome: platelet antiaggregant, beta-blockers, statins and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. The independent variables were: sex, age, education in years of attending, monthly income in tertiles and percutaneous coronary intervention. We described the prevalence of use of each group of medicines with their 95% confidence intervals, as well as the simultaneous use of the four medicines, in all analyzed periods. In the crude analysis, we verified the outcome with the independent variables for each period through the Chi-square test. The adjusted analysis was carried out using Poisson Regression.. More than a third of patients (36.2%; 95%CI 28.2;44.3) had the four medicines prescribed at the same time, at the moment of discharge. We did not observe any differences in the prevalence of use in comparison with the two follow-up periods. The most prescribed class of medicines during discharge was platelet antiaggregant (91.3%). In the crude analysis, the demographic and socioeconomic variables were not associated to the outcome in any of the three periods.. The prevalence of simultaneous use of medicines at discharge and in the follow-ups pointed to the under-utilization of this therapy in clinical practice. Intervention strategies are needed to improve the quality of care given to patients that extend beyond the hospital discharge, a critical point of transition in care.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Brazil; Cardiovascular Agents; Cohort Studies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Secondary Prevention

The term acute coronary syndrome (ACS) refers to any group of clinical symptoms compatible with acute myocardial ischemia. These high-risk manifestations of coronary atherosclerosis are important causes of the use of emergency medical care and hospitalization. We evaluated the feasibility and the acute performance of the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) for the treatment of patients presenting with ACS.. The present investigation was a prospective, single-centre study. Clinical outcomes were reported at the 30-day, 6-month, 1 year and 2 years follow-up. The procedural success was 100.0%. After the BVS implantation a TIMI flow 3 was achieved in all 15 patients and the postprocedure percentage diameter stenosis was 16.4 ± 8.6%. No patients had angiographically visible residual thrombus at the end of the procedure. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis was performed in 8 patients (53.3%) and showed that the post-procedure mean lumen area was 7.86 ± 1.81 mm(2), minimum lumen area 5.51 ± 1.58 mm(2). At the 30-day, 6-month, 1 year (15 patients) and 2 years follow-up (5 patients) target-lesion failure rate was 0%. Non-target vessel revascularization and target vessel myocardial infarction were not reported. No cases of cardiac death or scaffold thrombosis were observed.. BVS implantation in patients presenting with ACS appeared feasible, with high rate of final TIMI-flow 3 and good scaffold apposition.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Angiography; Everolimus; Feasibility Studies; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Republic of North Macedonia; Time Factors; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Benzazepines; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Ivabradine; Male; Treatment Outcome

To assess the proportion of patients receiving pharmacological therapy for secondary prevention after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Portugal and to identify age and sex inequalities.. Retrospective cohort study.. We studied 747 episodes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 1364 of non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS), within a sample of ACS cases consecutively discharged from 10 Portuguese hospitals, in 2008-2009. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the association of age and sex with the use of each pharmacological treatment.. In STEMI and NSTE-ACS patients, the proportion of patients discharged with aspirin was 96 and 88%, clopidogrel 91 and 78%, aspirin+clopidogrel 88 and 71%, beta-blockers 80 and 76%, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/ARB 82 and 80%, statins 93 and 90%, 3-drug (aspirin/clopidogrel+beta-blocker+statin) 76 and 69%, and 5-drug treatment (aspirin+clopidogrel+beta-blocker+ACE inhibitor/ARB+statin) 61 and 48%, respectively. Among STEMI patients, those aged ≥80 years were substantially less often discharged with clopidogrel (OR 0.22, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.08-0.56), aspirin+clopidogrel (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15-0.76), beta-blockers (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.82), 3-drug (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.83), and 5-drug treatments (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23-0.83) than those <60 years; women were less likely to be discharged with aspirin+clopidogrel (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29-0.91). Among NSTE-ACS patients, those aged ≥80 years were much less likely to be discharged with beta-blockers (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36-0.93), statins (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19-0.64), and 3-drug treatment (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.75); sex had no significant effect on treatment prescription.. The vast majority of younger patients were discharged on evidence-based secondary preventive medications, but only half received the 5-drug combination. Recommended therapies were substantially underprescribed in older patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug Utilization Review; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Guideline Adherence; Health Care Surveys; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Odds Ratio; Patient Discharge; Portugal; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Young Adult

The safety of BVS implantation in patients with a high risk for early thrombotic complications has not been studied. We report on the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) treated with bioresorbable, everolimus-eluting, vascular scaffolds (BVS).. 150 consecutive patients with ACS (194 lesions) treated with BVS between May 2012 and July 2013 were compared with a control group composed of 103 consecutive patients (129 lesions) who underwent everolimus drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in the same time period. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE: death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or reintervention) before discharge, at one month and six months was evaluated. Clinical characteristics and presentation were similar between groups. Procedural characteristics were also similar between groups, except for the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (p<0.01). Procedural success was obtained in all but two patients in the BVS group. In-hospital, 30-day and six-month MACE rates were similar between both groups (all p>0.5), with most complications occurring during the first ten days. Definite or probable in-stent/scaffold thrombosis occurred in two BVS patients and one DES patient during the index admission and it occurred in another patient in each group in the first month after BVS/DES implantation. In multivariate analysis, BVS utilisation did not influence the incidence of MACE (p>0.9).. BVS implantation for patients with ACS is safe, with outcomes comparable with those of drug-eluting metal stents.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug-Eluting Stents; Everolimus; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Humans; Medication Adherence; Patient Compliance; Patient Discharge

Non-adherence to medication is common among coronary heart disease patients. Non-adherence to medication may be either intentional or unintentional. In this analysis we provide estimates of intentional and unintentional non-adherence in the year following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. In this descriptive prospective observational study of patients with confirmed ACS medication adherence measures were derived from responses to the Medication Adherence Report Scale at approximately 2 weeks (n=223), 6 months (n=139) and 12 months (n=136) following discharge from acute treatment for ACS.. Total medication non-adherence was 20%, 54% and 53% at each of these time points respectively. The corresponding figures for intentional non-adherence were 8%, 15% and 15% and 15%, 52% and 53% for unintentional non-adherence. There were significant increases in the levels of medication non-adherence between the immediate discharge period (2 weeks) and 6 months that appeared to stabilize between 6 and 12 months after acute treatment for ACS.. Unintentional non-adherence to medications may be the primary form of non-adherence in the year following ACS. Interventions delivered early in the post-discharge period may prevent the relatively high levels of non-adherence that appear to become established by 6 months following an ACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Disease; Female; Humans; Intention; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Prospective Studies

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Apolipoprotein A-I; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Phospholipids; Recombinant Proteins

In the cardiovascular area, the rate of occurrence of relevant clinical events decreased over the last decades due to the large adoption of evidence-based treatments. This implies that large numbers of patients are needed to provide reliable answers to research open questions. Therefore, the conduction of multinational large-scale studies became necessary. In this setting, it is not infrequent to find relevant differences in the trial results across countries. The interpretation of these differences should be extremely cautious to avoid the well known mistakes related to subgroup analyses. To believe in differences, it is necessary to adopt appropriate methodologies in the analysis of data but, even more important, to find a biological plausibility that can explain the observed difference. A further confirmation from other studies can also help in the interpretation. In the literature there are some examples of such differences that, in some cases, produced erroneous interpretations of the results of a trial, and also induced regulatory authorities to take decisions based on these differences.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adenosine; Americas; Benzazepines; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clopidogrel; Ethnicity; Europe; Female; Georgia (Republic); Heart Failure; Humans; Internationality; Male; Metoprolol; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Russia; Sample Size; Spironolactone; Ticagrelor; Ticlopidine; Tolvaptan

To evaluate the proportion of patients hospitalised with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Australia and New Zealand who received optimal inpatient preventive care and to identify factors associated with preventive care.. All patients hospitalised bi-nationally with ACS were identified between 14-27 May 2012. Optimal in-hospital preventive care was defined as having received lifestyle advice, referral to rehabilitation, and prescription of secondary prevention pharmacotherapies. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with receipt of optimal preventive care.. For the 2299 ACS survivors, mean (SD) age was 69 (13) years, 46% were referred to rehabilitation, 65% were discharged on sufficient preventive medications, and 27% received optimal preventive care. Diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction (OR: 2.64 [95% CI: 1.88-3.71]; p<0.001) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (OR: 1.99 [95% CI: 1.52-2.61]; p<0.001) compared with a diagnosis of unstable angina, having a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (OR: 4.71 [95% CI: 3.67-6.11]; p<0.001) or coronary bypass (OR: 2.10 [95% CI: 1.21-3.60]; p=0.011) during the admission or history of hypertension (OR:1.36 [95% CI: 1.06-1.75]; p=0.017) were associated with greater exposure to preventive care. Age over 70 years (OR:0.53 [95% CI: 0.35-0.79]; p=0.002) or admission to a private hospital (OR:0.59 [95% CI: 0.42-0.84]; p=0.003) were associated with lower exposure to preventive care.. Only one-quarter of ACS patients received optimal secondary prevention in-hospital. Patients with UA, who did not have PCI, were over 70 years or were admitted to a private hospital, were less likely to receive optimal care.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Australia; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Management Audit; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; New Zealand; Patient Discharge; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Preventive Health Services; Referral and Consultation; Rehabilitation; Risk Reduction Behavior; Secondary Prevention

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) may precipitate up to a third of acute heart failure (AHF) cases. We assessed the characteristics, initial management, and survival of AHF patients with (ACS-AHF) and without (nACS-AHF) concomitant ACS.. Data from 620 AHF patients were analyzed in a prospective multicenter study. The ACS-AHF patients (32%) more often presented with de novo AHF (61% vs. 43%; P < .001). Although no differences existed between the 2 groups in mean blood pressure, heart rate, or routine biochemistry on admission, cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema were more common manifestations in ACS-AHF (P < .01 for both). Use of intravenous nitrates, furosemide, opioids, inotropes, and vasopressors, as well as noninvasive ventilation and invasive coronary procedures (angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft surgery), were more frequent in ACS-AHF (P < .001 for all). Although 30-day mortality was significantly higher for ACS-AHF (13% vs. 8%; P = .03), survival in the 2 groups at 5 years was similar. Overall, ACS was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.07-3.79; P = .03).. Whereas medical history and the manifestation and initial treatment of AHF between ACS-AHF and nACS-AHF patients differ, long-term survival is similar. ACS is, however, independently associated with increased short-term mortality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Disease; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Disease Management; Female; Finland; Heart Failure; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Myocardial Revascularization; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Edema; Shock, Cardiogenic; Survival Analysis

Few studies have evaluated age-related predictors associated with the underuse of medications in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The objective of this study was to identify age-related differences in the factors associated with the underuse of recommended medications in patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. From August 2009 to April 2011, we recruited 469 consecutive ACS patients from a cardiac center at a university hospital. We divided the patients into older (65 years of age and older, n = 202) and younger groups (younger than 65 years of age, n = 267). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and medication use were obtained from a telephone survey administered 18 to 24 months after hospital discharge. Additionally, we asked the patients to provide reasons for not taking their medications.. A significantly increased underuse of medication was noted in older patients compared with younger patients, including aspirin (24.8% vs. 37.1%, p = 0.005), beta-blockers (20.3% vs. 34.8%, p = 0.001), ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers (27.2% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.030), and statins (21.8% vs. 29.6%, p = 0.005). Among older patients, the factors associated with the underuse of medications included low education level (odds ratio [OR], 3.93), greater number of comorbidities (OR, 1.64), and total number of discharge medications (OR, 1.31). The reasons provided by older patients for not taking medication included the fact that the medication was considered to be non-essential and the large number of medications. Among younger patients, low income (OR, 3.97) and depression (OR, 2.62) were predictors for underuse of medication, and the reasons provided for not taking medications included high costs and the fear of adverse effects.. At least one year after ACS hospital discharge, the underuse of recommended medications is related to low education level, comorbidities, and the total number of discharge medications in elderly patients, whereas underuse in younger patients is associated with low income and depression. The disparities related to these different predictors may have implications for age-related interventions targeting secondary preventions in CHD patients to improve their use of medication.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Comorbidity; Depression; Drug Therapy, Combination; Educational Status; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitals, University; Humans; Income; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Patients; Polypharmacy; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Cardiovascular Agents; Diagnostic Errors; Drug Substitution; Electrocardiography; Humans; Long QT Syndrome; Male; Sertraline; Sodium Channel Blockers; Tachycardia, Sinus; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

In-hospital and postdischarge treatment rates for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain low in India. However, little is known about the prevalence and associations of the package of optimal ACS medical care in India. Our objective was to define the prevalence, associations, and impact of optimal in-hospital and discharge medical therapy in the Kerala ACS Registry of 25,718 admissions.. We defined optimal in-hospital ACS medical therapy as receiving the following 5 medications: aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, β-blocker, and statin. We defined optimal discharge ACS medical therapy as receiving all of the above therapies except heparin. Comparisons by optimal versus nonoptimal ACS care were made via Student t test for continuous variables and χ(2) test for categorical variables. We created random effects logistic regression models to evaluate the association between Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score variables and optimal in-hospital or discharge medical therapy. Optimal in-hospital and discharge medical care were delivered in 40% and 46% of admissions, respectively. Wide variability in both in-hospital and discharge medical care was present, with few hospitals reaching consistently high (>90%) levels. Patients receiving optimal in-hospital medical therapy had an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.93 (0.71, 1.22) for in-hospital death and an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.79 (0.63, 0.99) for major adverse cardiovascular event rates. Patients who received optimal in-hospital medical care were far more likely to receive optimal discharge care (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 10.48 [9.37, 11.72]).. Strategies to improve in-hospital and discharge medical therapy are needed to improve local process-of-care measures and ACS outcomes in Kerala.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiology Service, Hospital; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Continuity of Patient Care; Female; Guideline Adherence; Hospital Mortality; Humans; India; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Patient Admission; Patient Discharge; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Quality Improvement; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Registries; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome

Women are more likely to have atypical cardiovascular symptoms compared with men. This may lead to delayed diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and suboptimal treatment. The exercise stress test is the initial test for women with suspected or known CAD. The addition of imaging (eg, echocardiography, nuclear medicine, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging) to the exercise component may improve the diagnostic value of the test. Drugs used to manage CAD in women include antiplatelets, beta blockers, lipid-lowering drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and nitrates. Invasive therapy with angioplasty or bypass surgery is performed less frequently in women than in men. Women may present with acute coronary syndrome and atypical symptoms. Initial treatment should be the same for men and women. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare condition that is seen more frequently in older, postmenopausal women.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diagnostic Imaging; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy; Women's Health

to assess rognostic value of ECG signs of left bundle brunch block (LBBB) using database of registries of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) RECORD 1 (2007-2008) and 2 (2009-2011).. Total number of included patients was 2452, 2321 patients (94.9%) had no signs of LBBB, for 5 patients (0.2%) there was no information on the presence of LBBB. Among 126 patients (5.1%) with LBBB it was designated as "new" in 72 (2.9%), "old" in 39 (1.6%), and of "unknown duration" in 15 (0.6%) patients. For further analysis we combined patients with "new" and "unknown duration" LBBB (n=87 [3.5%]). Among these patients 43 (49.5%) were considered as having ST elevation (STE) and 44 (50/5%) - non STE ACS.. Patients with LBBB were significantly older, had more concomitant diseases, more severe course of ACS, and higher GRACE score. Patients with new LBBB irrespective of ACS type significantly less often received active drug therapy while reperfusion therapy was significantly less often used in patients with LBBB and diagnosed STE myocardial infarction. Unfavorable events such as cardiogenic shock, death, death and myocardial infarction during hospitalization occurred more often among patients with STEACS and new LBBB.. Patients with ECG signs of LBBB at the background of ACS were characterized by severe clinical course of the disease and have unfavorable short term prognosis. However quality of hospital care of these patients was significantly worse compared with average quality of care of patients with ACS without LBBB.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bundle-Branch Block; Cardiovascular Agents; Electrocardiography; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Reperfusion; Prognosis; Registries; Risk Factors; Russia; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome

Positive changes are declared to occur during recent years in management of hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Russia. Most of these changes are related to availability of invasive treatment. But considerable portion of patients (pts) are still treated in hospitals without facilities for invasive myocardial revascularization (noninvasive hospitals - NIHs). Aim of this study was to compare some characteristics of management of ACS in NIHs which participated in ACS registries RECORD (2007-2008, 8 NIHs from 6 cities; n=381) and RECORD-2 (2009-2011, 3 NIHs from 3 cities, n=680). Results. Groups of pts recruited in these NIHs had similar mean age and portion of women (67.6 and 66.5 years, 51.1 and 53.1 % in RECORD-2 and RECORD, respectively, p=0.64). Time from symptoms onset to hospitalization was shorter in RECORD-2 (3.2 vs 4.1 hours for ST-elevation [STE], =0.03; 4.0 vs 6.5 hours for non ST elevation [NSTE] ACS, <0.0001). Among RECORD-2 NSTEACS pts more had ST depressions (50.6 vs 28.7%, <0.0001), high risk of death according to GRACE score (39.1 vs 20.9 %, <0.0001), but less Killip class >II (15.0 vs 21.6%, p=0.025). No such differences existed among STEACS pts. Thrombolysis was more often used in RECORD-2 (62.6 vs 34.1%, <0.0001). Both STEACS and NSTEACS RECORD-2 pts more often received clopidogrel (63.5 vs 18.8%, p<0.0001, and 41.6 vs 11.1%, <0.0001, respectively). More NSTEACS RECORD-2 pts were given parenteral anticoagulants (93.4 vs 80.4%, <0.0001), low molecular weight heparins (23.4 vs. 3.4%, <0.0001) and fondaparinux (10.4 vs 0.7%, <0.0001), but still in 20% of NSTEACS RECORD-2 pts unfractionated heparin was given subcutaneously. Twenty RECORD-2 pts (2.9%) were transferred to invasive hospital but none during first 24 hours. There were no significant differences between registers in hospital mortality (20.0 vs 21.2%, =0.84; 4.2 vs 2.7%, =0.24 in STE and NSTE ACS pts of RECORD-2 and RECORD, respectively). Conclusions. Despite some improvement in management of pts occurring in 2-3 years NIHs mortality in STEACS remained very high. Numerically higher mortality in NSTEACS could be partially attributed to higher risk of RECORD-2 pts.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; Disease Management; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Russia; Severity of Illness Index

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged, 80 and over; Aortic Diseases; Atherosclerosis; Calcinosis; Cardiovascular Agents; Colitis, Ischemic; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary; Hypertension; Hypotension; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Nephrosclerosis; Obesity; Parenteral Nutrition; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis; Renal Dialysis; Splanchnic Circulation

To characterize inhospital management of patients (pts) with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) using data from Moscow snapshot registry of hospitalized pts with ACS.. The registry included data on consecutive pts with ACS hospitalized with label ACS in coronary care units (CCU) or equivalents within 24 hours (h) after onset of symptoms during one week in November 2013. Data was obtained from 32 (17 percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] capable or "invasive") city hospitals officially treating ACS patients.. Total number of pts--584 (mean age 66.4 +/- 13.1 years; > or = 65 years 54.6%; women 44.2%; registered in invasive hospital--42%). Portions of pts labeled ST-elevation (STE) and non ST-elevation (NSTE) ACS--27.9 and 72.1%, respectively. Portion of pts hospitalized within 1-st 12 h after symptoms onset--65.2% (68% among STEACS pts). Reperfusion therapy--44.8% of pts with STEACS (54.3% in invasive and 21.3% in noninvasive hospitals, p < 0.0001). Thrombolysis (TI) was performed in 19% of STEACS pts (41.9% prehospital). In hospital median admission to initiation of TI time--0.30 h (quartiles I-III 0.15-0.30 h). Rate of primary (p) PCI in STEACS pts--overall 25.8%, in invasive hospitals--36.2%, in pts admitted within 12 h--31.4 and 40.5%, respectively. Median admission--pPCI initiation time--1.35 h (quartiles I-III 1.00- 2.15 h). PCI rate among NSTEACS pts--6.2 overall and 20.5% in invasive hospitals (14.7% during 1st 72 h). Medication in hospital: aspirin--95.2, clopidogrel--70.7, ticagrelor--4.3%, parenteral anticoagulants--88.9 (1/3 unfractionated heparin [UFH] subcutaneously), ACE inhibitors--83.3, beta-blockers--86.3, statins--58.3%. Mean duration of hospital stay--13.2 +/- 4.4 days. Transferral from noninvasive to invasive hospital for urgent coronary intervention--4.5 and 3.5% of STE and NSTE ACS pts, respectively. Hospital mortality--12.4 and 1.9% among pts registered as STE and NSTEACS, respectively. Cardiac troponins measured--42% (39% among STEACS) pts.. The following features of inhospital management of pts diagnosed as ACS at CCU (or its equivalent) admission could be object of improvement: low rate of reperfusion therapy and use of PCI, long interval between admission and initiation of PCI, insufficient use of some standard medications, frequent use of subcutaneous UFH, rare transferal of PCI eligible pts from noninvasive to invasive hospitals. However existing management was associated with reported low hospital mortality in patients labeled as NSTEACS.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Care Units; Female; Health Services Needs and Demand; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Moscow; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Registries

After an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), optimal medical therapy (OMT) has been shown to be effective in reducing subsequent cardiovascular (CV) events. However, even in populations that reach recommended secondary prevention goals, there is a subset of patients that experience subsequent CV events.. To identify biological or clinical predictors of residual risk of CV events in post-ACS patients receiving OMT.. A total of 990 post-ACS patients benefited from OMT (optimized treatment during the acute and chronic post-ACS phase, along with a therapeutic and dietary education programme). Traditional CV risk factors and atheroma disease markers (intima-media thickness measurement, carotid atheroma, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) measured by ankle brachial index, and the number of coronary arteries with a >50% stenosis) were evaluated at 3 months post ACS. Cardiovascular events were recorded at follow up.. At 20-month follow up, >80% of the patients reached the recommended secondary prevention goals. In this population, diabetes was the only CV risk factor significantly associated with CV events in multivariate analysis including traditional risk factors (HR 1.61, p = 0.017). In multivariate analyses including CV risk factors and atheroma disease markers, only PAD remained significantly associated with CV events (HR 1.83, p = 0.04). The number of vascular beds involved was associated with poorer prognosis (HR for disease in 3-vascular-beds 3.85, p = 0.001, using disease in 1-vascular-bed as a reference group).. In post-ACS patients with OMT, atheroma burden is a powerful prognostic marker of recurrent CV events, while diabetes remains the only independent marker of CV events among traditional CV risk factors.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Ankle Brachial Index; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Carotid Artery Diseases; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Stenosis; Diabetes Mellitus; Diet, Reducing; Echocardiography; Exercise; Female; France; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Predictive Value of Tests; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Secondary Prevention; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Despite common European Society of Cardiology recommendations, adherence to guideline therapy varies, both temporally and geographically. We sought to examine current differences in the use of guideline-recommended therapies among 14 European countries in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).. Data were obtained from the Antiplatelet Therapy Observational Registry (APTOR), a non-interventional, prospective observational cohort study enrolling patients with ACS undergoing PCI. Medication data were captured through 1 year. The large majority of patients in the APTOR registry received statins at hospital discharge (89%) and remained on statins at 1 year (87%), a finding that was consistent across countries. Likewise, beta-blocker use was similar at discharge and 1 year (83 and 81%, respectively). There was large disparity in aspirin loading dose between countries, but the discharge maintenance dose was more consistent, with most receiving ≤ 100 mg (87%). While 95% of patients were discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy, 71% remained on both treatments by 1 year, with wide variation by country in 1-year use.. These data from the APTOR study provide key information on current European ACS patient care management from hospitalization through 1 year. Even with European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, variations in practice patterns exist among ACS patients treated with PCI between the 14 European countries studied, including the use of proven therapies, as well as appropriate duration and dosing of antiplatelet regimens. Efforts are needed to further explain why such variation exists and to continue to improve adherence to ESC guidelines to improve patient care.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug Utilization; Drug Utilization Review; Europe; Female; Guideline Adherence; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prospective Studies; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Registries; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Despite the availability of various prevention guidelines on acute coronary syndrome (ACS), secondary prevention practice utilizing aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and statins still can be sub-optimal.. To review and document the utilization of pharmacotherapy for the secondary prevention of ACS in patients discharged from a Malaysian hospital.. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Penang, Malaysia. Patients with a primary diagnosis of ACS were identified from medical records over a 4-month period. A range of clinical data was extracted from medical records, including medical history, clinical presentation and pharmacotherapy both on admission and at discharge. This audit focused on the use of four guideline-recommended therapies: aspirin ± clopidogrel, beta-blockers, statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).. Data pertaining to a total of 380 ACS patients was extracted and reviewed, the mean age of the study population was 57.49 years and 73.9% of population was males. Patients with unstable angina accounted for 56.6% of the admissions whereas 23.4% and 20% of the patients were admitted for ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation infarct respectively. 95.7% of the patients received antiplatelets comprising of at least aspirin, and 82% received aspirin plus clopidogrel. Furthermore, 80.3% of the patients received a beta-blocker at discharge, 95% a statin and 69.7% received either an ACEI or ARB. Compared with patients who presented with myocardial infarction (with or without ST-segment elevation), those presenting with unstable angina were less likely to receive the combination of aspirin plus clopidogrel or an ACEI/ARB at discharge. Patients over 65 years of age were also less likely to receive a beta-blocker at discharge, compared with younger patients.. There is a good adherence to evidence-based guidelines for the secondary prevention of ACS in this local setting. However, there is some potential underutilization in the older population and patients presenting with unstable angina.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Utilization; Evidence-Based Practice; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Retrospective Studies; Secondary Prevention; Tertiary Care Centers

The biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents have been proposed as an alternative to durable polymer DES, theoretically improving vessel healing and reducing the need for prolonged double anti platelet therapy (DAPT), however clinical significance of this technology is under debate. Therefore, we sought to compare the clinical outcomes of two Paclitaxel eluting stents (PES) containing different polymer-based eluting matrices.. In this multicenter registry of 392 consecutive patients who underwent PCI between June 2006 and September 2008, we included patients with stable angina or NSTE-ACS displaying at least one significant lesion (>50% diameter stenosis) in native coronary arteries.. Biodegradable polymer PES (BP-PES, LUC Chopin(2) , Balton, Poland) was implanted in 206 patients, whereas durable polymer PES (DP-PES, Taxus, Boston Scientific, USA) was implanted in 186 patients. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups with the exception of increased diabetes and number of lesions for BP-PES. In risk-unadjusted analysis at 1-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in TLR (BP-PES: 8.4% vs.. 6%; P = 0.36), TVR (BP-PES: 11.1% vs.. 8.4%; P = 0.36) and incidence of stent thromboses (BP-PES: 2.15% vs.. 3.4%; P = 0.42) between groups. There was also no difference in MACCE between groups (17.6% vs. 14.4%, P = 0.49). The mean dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) compliance at 1 year was 77% for BP-PES versus 92% for DP-PES (P = 0.03). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher long-term stroke free survival in BP-PES (P = 0.04). After adjustment, this was sustained with an additional tendency toward higher MI free survival for BP-PES (P = 0.059).. In this observational analysis, BP-PES were comparable to DP-PES, with regard to incidence of repeated revascularizations, stent thromboses and MACCE despite earlier DAPT discontinuation.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina, Stable; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Stenosis; Coronary Thrombosis; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Incidence; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Paclitaxel; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Poland; Polymers; Propensity Score; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Clinical utility of QTc prolongation as a predictor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) has not been definitely established. Ranolazine causes modest QTc prolongation, yet it shows antiarrhythmic properties. We aimed to determine the association between prolonged QTc and risk of SCD, and the effect of ranolazine on this relationship.. The relationship between baseline QTc and SCD was studied in 6492 patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) randomized to placebo or ranolazine in the MERLIN-TIMI 36 trial. In the placebo group, an abnormal QTc interval (≥450 ms in men, ≥470 ms in women) was associated with a two-fold increased risk of SCD (hazard ratio, HR, 2.3, P = 0.005) after adjustment for other risk factors (age ≥75 years, NYHA class III/IV, high TIMI risk score, ventricular tachycardia ≥8 beats, digitalis, and antiarrhythmics). In the ranolazine group, the association between abnormal QTc and SCD was similar to placebo, but not significant (HR 1.8, P = 0.074). There was no significant difference between placebo and ranolazine in the risk for SCD in patients with abnormal QTc (HR 0.78, P = 0.48). When QTc was used as a continuous variable, for every 10 ms increase in QTc, hazard rate for SCD increased significantly by 8% (P = 0.007) in the placebo group, and only by 2.9% (P = 0.412; P for interaction=0.25) in the ranolazine group.. In NSTEACS patients treated with placebo, prolonged QTc was a significant independent predictor for SCD. Ranolazine, compared with placebo, was not associated with increased risk for SCD in patients with prolonged QTc.

Topics: Acetanilides; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Incidence; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Long QT Syndrome; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Piperazines; Proportional Hazards Models; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Ranolazine; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cardiobacterium; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Dental Caries; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Embolism; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is increasingly recognised in patients presenting with features of acute coronary syndrome. We present a single centre experience of TC with medium term follow up.. Fifty-two consecutive patients presenting with a diagnosis of TC were included. The clinical presentation, complications, baseline and follow-up echocardiograms and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were analysed.. Fifty-one patients were female. A stressful event preceded presentation in 37 (71%) patients. Chest pain was the most common symptom (83%). Two patients presented with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ST segment elevation (40%) and global T wave inversion (44%) were the most frequent electrocardiogram changes. Left ventricular assessment demonstrated typical apical ballooning in 41 patients and 11 patients demonstrated the mid-wall variant. In-hospital complications occurred in 11 patients (21%) and included acute pulmonary oedema (n = 2), cardiogenic shock (n = 5); two of whom had a significant left ventricular outflow gradient, atrial fibrillation (n = 1), left ventricular thrombus (n = 2) and a cerebrovascular event (n = 2). Left ventricular function at presentation and follow up was compared in 40 patients. The mean ejection fraction in this group at presentation was 47% (20-70%) compared with that at follow up of 63% (44-76%). There were no significant complications or recurrences at follow up.. While TC is a reversible condition with low rates of complications and recurrence at follow up it is, as demonstrated in our cohort, associated with significant in-hospital morbidity in a proportion of patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atrial Fibrillation; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Chest Pain; Diagnosis, Differential; Electrocardiography; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Arrest; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Pulmonary Edema; Queensland; Shock, Cardiogenic; Stress, Psychological; Stroke Volume; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy; Ultrasonography; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Management of elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is not standardized and physicians discretion for invasive versus conservative strategies lacks sufficient evidence. The purpose of this analysis was, therefore, to evaluate treatment strategies and outcomes of elderly patients with ACS and to highlight reasons for the treatment decision in a consecutive series of elderly patients.. This is a retrospective analysis of 1,001 elderly patients (>75 years) presenting with ACS. Patients were identified on the basis of their final discharge diagnosis. Baseline data, past medical history, cardiac and noncardiac concomitant diseases, treatment strategy, and adverse outcomes were evaluated, using patient's charts. Various co-variates were used to determine the association or predictive value of these co-variates to the invasive versus conservative management of the subjects. Thirty-day mortality and long-term survival were assessed either directly or in discharged patients via telephone interview with the patients, the patients' relatives or the primary care physicians.. A total of 776 (77.5%) patients were treated invasively and 225 (22.5%) conservatively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with advanced age, Killip class > II, pre-existing coronary artery disease, prior stroke, pre-existing renal failure, obesity, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, prior ACS, and the presence of supraventricular arrhythmias were significantly more likely to undergo conservative treatment. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in conservatively treated patients (P < 0.001).. In this retrospective analysis, we identified age as the main predictor for a conservative treatment strategy in elderly patients, albeit an invasive strategy was associated with a significantly better outcome.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Comorbidity; Decision Support Techniques; Female; Hospital Mortality; Hospitals, Community; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Logistic Models; Male; Patient Selection; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Anemia is common in hospitalized cardiac patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the association of anemia with early and long-term outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). Included were 5,304 consecutive patients (73% men, 61 ± 12 years of age) admitted to a coronary care unit from 1985 through 2008 for ACS. According to the World Health Organization, anemia was defined as serum hemoglobin levels <13 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women. Anemia was divided into tertiles to compare mild, moderate, and severe anemia to nonanemia. For trend analyses the study population was categorized in 3 groups: 1985 to 1990, 1991 to 2000, and 2001 to 2008. Outcome measurements were all-cause mortality at 30-days and 20 years. Anemia was present in 2,016 patients (38%), of whom 655 had mild anemia, 717 moderate anemia, and 646 severe anemia. Median follow-up duration was 10 years (range 2 to 25). Compared to nonanemia, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality at 30 days were 1.40 for moderate anemia (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 1.87) and 1.67 for severe anemia (95% CI 1.25 to 2.24). At 20 years HRs were 1.13 for moderate anemia (95% CI 1.01 to 1.27) and 1.39 for severe anemia (95% CI 1.23 to 1.56). In addition, survival during hospitalization improved over time. Compared to 1985 to 1990 adjusted HRs were 0.52 for 1991 to 2000 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.66) and 0.36 for 2001 to 2008 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.51). In conclusion, presence and severity of anemia is an important predictor of higher in-hospital and long-term mortality after ACS. In addition, since the 1980s in-hospital outcome of patients with ACS and anemia has improved.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Distribution; Aged; Anemia; Cardiovascular Agents; Comorbidity; Coronary Care Units; Female; Hemoglobins; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index

Randomized trials have established the benefit of medical therapy and revascularization in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the 2 most common diseases worldwide. In clinical practice, cancer patients are frequently afflicted with MI. The benefit of medical and/or revascularization therapy in the cancer population with MI is less well known.. Medical and revascularization therapy reduces mortality in cancer patients with MI.. After approval by the institutional review board, we retrospectively reviewed all patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute MI who were admitted to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between December 2000 and October 2006 and evaluated the association between cardiac treatments with survival outcomes.. A total of 456 patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute MI were identified and included in the study, of which 386 had non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) and 70 had ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). Compared with patients with NSTEMI, patients who had STEMI were more often prescribed aspirin (66% vs 43%; P = 0.004), β-blockers (61% vs 46%; P = 0.018), and thrombolytic therapy (9% vs 0.3%; P = 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, aspirin use was associated with a 23% decreased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60-0.98, P = 0.033) and β-blocker use was associated with a 36% decreased risk of death (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.51-0.81, P = 0.0002). Statins (HR: 0.82, P = 0.18) and catheter-based revascularization (HR: 0.57, P = 0.09) did not have an impact on the risk of death. Compared with patients with limited cancer, advanced cancer patients were twice as likely to die (HR: 2.12, 95 CI: 1.47-3.04, P < 0.0001). Previous chemotherapy (P = 0.005) and chest radiotherapy (P = 0.017) were associated with increased 1-year mortality, whereas hyperlipidemia (P = 0.018) was protective.. In this study of cancer patients with MI, medical therapy with aspirin and β-blockers was associated with improved survival. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Revascularization; Neoplasms; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Texas; Thrombolytic Therapy; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Revascularization; Neoplasms; Thrombolytic Therapy

This study sought to assess the impact of invasive strategy (IS) versus a conservative strategy (CS) on in-hospital complications and 3-year outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) from the FAST-MI (French Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome).. Results from randomized trials comparing IS and CS in patients with NSTEMI are conflicting.. Of the 3,670 patients in FAST-MI, which included patients with acute myocardial infarction (within 48 h) over a 1-month period in France at the end of 2005, 1,645 presented with NSTEMI.. Of the 1,645 patients analyzed, 80% had an IS. Patients in the IS group were younger (67 ± 12 years vs. 80 ± 11 years), less often women (29% vs. 51%), and had a lower GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk score (137 ± 36 vs. 178 ± 34) than patients treated with CS. In-hospital mortality and blood transfusions were significantly more frequent in patients with CS versus IS (13.1% vs. 2.0%, 9.1% vs. 4.6%). Use of IS was associated with a significant reduction in 3-year mortality and cardiovascular death (17% vs. 60%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35 to 0.55 and 8% vs. 36%, adjusted HR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.50). After propensity score matching (181 patients per group), 3-year survival was significantly higher in patients treated with IS.. In a real-world setting of patients admitted with NSTEMI, the use of IS during the initial hospital stay is an independent predictor of improved 3-year survival, regardless of age. (French Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome [FAST-MI]; NCT00673036).

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Transfusion; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; France; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Odds Ratio; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Propensity Score; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Decision Support Techniques; Female; Humans; Male

The burden of cardiovascular diseases is anticipated to rise in developing countries. We sought to describe the epidemiology, management, and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in three countries in western North Africa.. Adult patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of ACS were enrolled in the prospective ACute Coronary Events - a multinational Survey of current management Strategies (ACCESS) registry over a 13-month period (January 2007 to January 2008). We report on patients enrolled at sites in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. A standardized form was used to collect data on patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes.. A total of 1687 patients with confirmed ACS were enrolled (median age 59 [interquartile range 52, 68] years; 76% men), 59% with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 41% with non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). During hospitalization, most patients received aspirin (96%) and a statin (90%), 83% received a beta-blocker and 74% an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Among eligible STEMI patients, 42% (419/989) did not receive fibrinolysis or undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. All-cause death at 12 months was 8.1% and did not differ significantly between patients with STEMI or NSTE-ACS (8.3% vs 7.7%, respectively; Log-rank test P=0.82). Clinical factors associated with higher risk of death at 12 months included cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, bleeding episodes and diabetes, while percutaneous coronary intervention and male sex were associated with lower risk.. In this observational study of ACS patients from three Maghreb countries, the use of evidence-based pharmacological therapies for ACS was quite high; however, 42% of the patients with STEMI were not given any form of reperfusion therapy.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Algeria; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Comorbidity; Disease Management; Drug-Eluting Stents; Ethnicity; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Inpatients; International Cooperation; Male; Middle Aged; Morocco; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Reperfusion; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prospective Studies; Registries; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Tunisia; Young Adult

Apical ballooning syndrome mimics acute coronary syndromes and it is characterized by reversible left ventricular apical ballooning in the absence of angiographically significant coronary artery stenosis.. This is a case of a 40-year-old Caucasian male without any health related problems that was submitted to an urgent coronary angiography because of acute chest pain and marked precordial T-wave inversions suggestive of acute myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiography showed no significant stenosis of the coronary arteries. Left ventriculography showed systolic apical ballooning with mild basal hypercontraction.. Physicians should be aware of the presentation of apical ballooning syndrome, and the chest pain after following acute stress should not be readily attributed to anxiety.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Cardiovascular Agents; Chest Pain; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Stenosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Stress, Psychological; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy; Unemployment

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor outcomes after acute coronary syndromes, yet selection for invasive investigation and management is low.. Patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or intermediate- to high-risk non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) (n=2597) were stratified into groups based on kidney function, defined as normal (glomerular filtration rate (GFR)≥60mL/min/1.73m(2) ), moderate CKD (GFR 30-59mL/min/1.73m(2) ) and severe CKD (GFR <30mL/min/1.73m(2)). Based on these stratums of kidney function, incidence and outcome measures were obtained for: rates of angiography and revascularization; 6-month mortality; and the incidence and outcome of in-hospital acute kidney impairment (AKI).. Patients with CKD were less likely to be offered coronary angiography after STEMI/NSTEACS (P<0.001); however, after selection, revascularization rates were similar (percutaneous coronary intervention (P=0.8); surgery (P=0.4)). Six-month mortality rates increased with CKD (GFR≥60, 2.8%; GFR 30-59, 9.9%; GFR<30, 16.5%, P≤0.001), as well as the combined efficacy/safety end-point (GFR≥60, 9.4%; GFR 30-59, 20.2%; GFR<30, 27.1%, P≤0.001). Six-month mortality was lower in patients who had received prior angiography (GFR≥60, 1.5% vs 3.6%, P=0.001; GFR 30-59, 5.1% vs 12.7%, P<0.001; GFR<30, 7.3% vs 18.5%, P=0.094). Risk of AKI increased with CKD (GFR≥60, 0.7%; GFR 30-59, 3.4%; GFR<30, 6.8%, P≤0.001), and was associated with high 6-month mortality (35.6% vs 4.1%, P<0.001).. In patients with CKD after STEMI/NSTEACS, 6-month mortality and morbidity is high, selection for angiography is lower, yet angiography is associated with a reduced long-term mortality, and with comparable revascularization rates to those without CKD. In-hospital AKI is more common in CKD and predicts a high 6-month mortality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Kidney Injury; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Chronic Disease; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Angiography; Disease Management; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Incidence; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Kidney Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Revascularization; New South Wales; Risk; Selection Bias; Treatment Outcome

To determine the effect of opening an on-site diagnostic catheterization facility on 30-day and 2-year mortality rates in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).. The study included 1539 consecutive MI patients aged 25-74 years who were recruited before and after the catheterization laboratory opened in 1998: during 1995-1997 and 1999-2003, respectively.. The 641 consecutive MI patients recruited in 1995-1997 had worse 30-day mortality than the 898 recruited between 1999-2003 (11.2% versus 6.35%, respectively; P=.001). The number of coronary angiographies and percutaneous coronary interventions carried out was greater in the second period (19.4% versus 3.3%, and 54.8% versus 23.0%, respectively; P<.001). Two-year survival curves were significantly better in the second period for all-cause and cardiovascular death. The adjusted odds ratio for death at 30 days was 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.95) for the second period compared with the first and the adjusted hazard ratio for cardiovascular death at 2 years for patients still alive at 30 days was 0.62 (95%CI 0.39-0.99). After adjustment for the prescription of statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers and antiplatelet drugs at discharge, the effect observed at 2 years was no longer significant.. Opening a new on-site diagnostic catheterization unit significantly increased the 30-day survival of MI patients. However, the increase in 2-year survival of 30-day survivors observed was largely explained by the implementation of better secondary prevention.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Electrocardiography; Endpoint Determination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Laboratories; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Sex Factors; Survival Rate

Aims Previous studies have reported differences in the use of cardiovascular medications for acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) according to the sex of the patient. We analysed which clinical factors are associated with underutilization of evidence-based therapies in women. Methods and results From the Canadian Registry of ACS I and II, 6558 patients (4471 men and 2087 women) with a final diagnosis of ACS were selected for the current analysis. Covariates were chosen using the approach described by Blackstone. The final selected model included 23 patient clinical variables. Women were less likely than men to receive beta-blockers (75.76 vs. 79.24%; P < 0.01), lipid-modifying agents (56.37 vs. 65.44%; P < 0.0001), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors (55.52 vs. 59.99%; P < 0.01). Female sex and clinical decision not to investigate with cardiac catheterization were the strongest independent predictors for not receiving lipid-modifying agents and ACE-inhibitors. Age, Killip class 2, and Killip class 3/4 were significant independent predictors of underutilization of beta-blocker use. Women were older (69 ± 12 vs. 64 ± 12; P < 0.01) with a higher prevalence of Killip class ≥ 2 (19.95 vs. 15.54%; P < 0.068), and they were less likely to be referred for cardiac catheterization (41.9 vs. 49.6 %; P < 0.001). Conclusions The current findings demonstrate that underutilization of evidence-based therapies in women with ACS compared with men is associated with multiple factors related to the patient (age), the consequences of the disease (congestive heart failure), and the physician's assessment of patient risk (decision to catheterize). Female gender remains associated with underutilization of lipid-modifying agents and ACE-inhibitors despite adjustment for these confounders.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Canada; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Delivery of Health Care; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Sex Factors

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina, Stable; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Stenosis; Delivery of Health Care; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Male

In the PREVENIR-5 study, artificial neural networks (NN) were applied to a large sample of patients with recent first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to identify determinants of persistence of evidence-based cardiovascular medications (EBCM: antithrombotic + beta-blocker + statin + angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor-ACEI and/or angiotensin-II receptor blocker-ARB). From October 2006 to April 2007, 1,811 general practitioners recruited 4,850 patients with a mean time of ACS occurrence of 24 months. Patient profile for EBCM persistence was determined using automatic rule generation from NN. The prediction accuracy of NN was compared with that of logistic regression (LR) using Area Under Receiver-Operating Characteristics-AUROC. At hospital discharge, EBCM was prescribed to 2,132 patients (44%). EBCM persistence rate, 24 months after ACS, was 86.7%. EBCM persistence profile combined overweight, hypercholesterolemia, no coronary artery bypass grafting and low educational level (Positive Predictive Value = 0.958). AUROC curves showed better predictive accuracy for NN compared to LR models.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Administration Schedule; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Neural Networks, Computer; Patient Discharge

We assessed the clinical profile of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in a real world setting, focusing on pattern of care and on prognosis.. Each nonobstructive CAD (<50% stenosis in any epicardial coronary artery) patient was matched with an obstructive CAD patient; adjusted estimates of prescription of guideline-recommended drugs at discharge and of long-term prognosis were evaluated.. Among 2995 consecutive ACS patients who underwent coronary angiography, 125 (4.2%) had nonobstructive CAD. Nonobstructive CAD patients had significantly lower odds of receiving aspirin [odds ratio (OR) 0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.68], thienopyridines (OR 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.07), statins (OR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.17-0.58), beta-blockers (OR 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17-0.63) and angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitors /angiotensin receptor blockers (OR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17-0.91) compared with matched patients. During a 3-year follow-up, nonobstructive CAD patients had significantly fewer cardiovascular deaths and myocardial infarctions but numerically more episodes of unstable angina.. The prevalence of nonobstructive CAD appears lower (4.2%) compared with published data. After extensive adjustment, patients with nonobstructive CAD were significantly less likely to be treated with guideline-recommended therapy, including aspirin and statins. Multicenter prospective studies targeting this specific population and the potential benefit of guideline-recommended therapies appear warranted.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Occlusion; Coronary Stenosis; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug Utilization; Female; Guideline Adherence; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Italy; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Patient Discharge; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors

We report the case of a 55-year-old man who presented with acute coronary syndrome due to coronary slow flow after spinal cord injury. Data regarding the causes and clinical manifestations of coronary slow flow are inconclusive, but the autonomic nervous system is believed to be at least a contributing factor. The predominant vagal activity causes vasodilation and hemostasis, which can lead to acute coronary syndrome. We hereby call attention to hyperactive parasympathetic tonicity, which can lead to coronary slow flow and acute coronary syndrome in acute spinal cord injury patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Circulation; Electrocardiography; Hemostasis; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; No-Reflow Phenomenon; Physical Therapy Modalities; Spinal Cord Injuries; Treatment Outcome; Vagus Nerve; Vasodilation

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Occlusion; Coronary Stenosis; Female; Humans; Male; Practice Patterns, Physicians'

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina Pectoris; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Angioscopy; Animals; Biomedical Research; Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Cardiovascular Agents; Career Choice; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Vessels; Diagnostic Imaging; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Male; Sirolimus; Thrombosis; Tunica Intima; Ultrasonography, Interventional

To evaluate the baseline demographic/clinical characteristics, in-hospital treatment and outcomes among patients with or without prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) presenting as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from six Middle East countries.. Data was derived from a prospective, multinational, multicenter registry of 7881 consecutive patients hospitalized with ACS in six Middle East countries. Data were analyzed according to their history of prior CABG.. Of 7881 ACS patients, 336 (4.2%) had a history of CABG. Patients with prior CABG were older (mean 63 ± 10.8 vs. 56 ± 12.6 years; P = 0.001) and more frequently to be men (76%) with significantly more prior angina, infarction and percutaneous revascularization. They were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, prior congestive heart failure, stroke, renal failure, peripheral arterial disease and had higher prevalence of previous treatment with evidence-based medications. They were more likely to present with unstable angina (45.5% vs. 23.4%), followed by non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (43.8% vs. 29.5%), STEMI (10.7% vs. 47.1%) (All P = 0.001) with less prominent peak values of cardiac biomarkers than patients without prior CABG. Patients with prior CABG were more likely to present with significantly worse Killip class (≥ 2), higher Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score, multivessel disease, severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (LV ejection fraction ≤ 30%) and developed significantly higher cardiogenic shock and major bleeding. In patients with prior CABG, no significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality (4.2% vs. 4.6%, P=0.735) or mortality at one month (6.5% vs. 8.2%, P=0.277) or after one year (15% vs. 12.4%, P=0.204) when compared to patients without prior CABG.. ACS patients from Middle East countries with prior CABG have adverse baseline characteristics, reported higher GRACE risk score, multivessel disease, more severe LV dysfunction, cardiogenic shock, in-hospital major bleeding, but with less incidence of STEMI with less prominent surge of cardiac biomarkers. However, there was no significant difference in mortality during hospitalization, at 30 days and at one year between ACS patients with and without prior CABG. The reasons for this 'risk-mortality' paradox need to be further evaluated.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Comorbidity; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Middle East; Prospective Studies; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Thrombolytic Therapy; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Radiography

Cocaine use is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and can promote acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Use of beta-blockers is controversial in patients who use cocaine, and the safety and efficacy of these medications in ACS in patients actively using cocaine is unknown. We enrolled 90 patients with ACS and positive urine drug screen for cocaine. Patients received standard ACS therapy plus either labetalol (n = 60) or diltiazem (n = 30). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at baseline and 48 hours. Levels of serum CD40 ligand, interleukin (IL)-6, and choline at baseline and 48 hours were determined. There were no baseline differences in hemodynamics or serum levels of inflammatory markers between the labetalol and diltiazem groups. Both groups experienced a significant and equivalent decrease in BP and HR at 48 hours compared with baseline. At 48 hours of treatment, there were significant decreases of 17% in CD40 ligand (P < .005) and 16% in IL-6 (P < .005) but no change in choline in the diltiazem group. Furthermore, in the labetalol group, there were significant differences of 30% in CD40 ligand (P < .005 time and group comparison), 22% in IL-6 (P < .005 time and group comparison), and 18% in choline (P < .005 time and group comparison). There were no adverse events during hospitalization in any patients who received labetalol. In conclusion, labetalol appears to be safe in cocaine-associated ACS. Furthermore, labetalol provides a beneficial hemodynamic response and, in comparison to diltiazem, potentiates an anti-inflammatory vascular response in this setting.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; CD40 Ligand; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Diltiazem; Female; Georgia; Hemodynamics; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Labetalol; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome

This paper studies in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following bare-metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) in all consecutive patients between 2004 and 2007 undergoing PCI for ISR lesions at our centre.. We compared the clinical presentation, pattern and angiographic outcomes in 838 patients with BMS ISR (487) and SES ISR (351). About 18% of the patients presented with acute coronary syndrome with 2% presenting as ST elevation myocardial infarction, similar in both groups. Angiographic pattern was predominantly focal with SES ISR (47%SES ISR vs. 19% BMS ISR; p<0.001) and diffuse with BMS ISR (SES ISR 16% vs. BMS ISR 36%; p=0.003). In our series the use of balloon angioplasty was higher for the treatment of SES ISR patients as compared to BMS ISR (41.6% vs. 18.3%; p<0.001) and the usage of stent was higher in BMS ISR patients (38.6% vs. 23.4%; p<0.001). Angiographic recurrent restenosis with conventional treatment in a consecutive series of patients was 38.6% and target lesion revascularisation was seen in 33.6%. These outcomes were seen slightly higher in SES ISR group (41.1% vs. 36.9%, p=ns). We have identified unstable angina at presentation (OR 3.02; 95%CI: 1.58-5.77, p=0.001), focal pattern of ISR (OR 0.50; 95% CI: .25-.99, p=0.04), stent usage (OR .25; 95% CI .13-.47, p<0.001), and baseline% diameter stenosis (OR1.03; 95%CI: 1.03-1.06, p=0.01) as independent predictors of BMS ISR recurrent restenosis. Unstable angina, focal pattern of ISR, reference vessel diameter, and% diameter stenosis were shown to be independent predictors of SES ISR.. ISR is not a benign condition, and one fifth of the patients presented with acute coronary syndrome. The pattern of restenosis is predominantly non-focal with BMS ISR and focal with SES ISR. Recurrent restenosis rates are high following conventional treatment and further optimal therapies mainly with SES ISR needs to defined.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina, Unstable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Stenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Japan; Logistic Models; Male; Metals; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Prosthesis Design; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sirolimus; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Percutaneous treatment of old, degenerated saphenous vein grafts (SVG) is associated with a high likelihood of major adverse cardiac events. When an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) develops in a patient with old SVG, fresh thrombus may superimpose on an old, degenerative atheroma: a sudden increase in the athero-thrombotic burden ensues with consequent, frequent total occlusion of the lumen. In this scenario, transluminal recanalization of the graft is usually associated with the highest chance of distal embolization and no-reflow and positioning of an embolic protection device (EPD) is almost mandatory. However, distal EPD are difficult to place when the vessel is totally occluded and do not completely avoid distal embolization. We report two cases of totally occluded SVG in patients admitted for ACS that were recanalized with the aid of a proximal EPD system with angiographic and clinical success.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Drug-Eluting Stents; Embolism; Equipment Design; Everolimus; Female; Filtration; Graft Occlusion, Vascular; Humans; Male; Metals; Middle Aged; Prosthesis Design; Saphenous Vein; Sirolimus; Stents; Thrombectomy; Thrombosis; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Patency

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The impact of suboptimal risk-factor control and drug prescription on morbidity and mortality rates in patients with PVD following an ACS remains to be established.. To assess whether a global atherosclerosis management programme and optimal secondary prevention could benefit high-risk PVD patients after an ACS.. A total of 851 ACS patients underwent an intensified intervention focusing on evaluating risk factors and atherosclerosis lesions, and on optimizing treatment and education. We compared its impact on long-term risk factors, medication observance and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) alone (n=715, 84.0%) and with both CAD and PVD (n=136).. At a median follow-up of 18.6months, both groups reached recommended secondary prevention goals and showed no significant differences in rates of drug prescription. PVD was not associated with minor cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-3.02) but remained independently associated with major (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.12-4.13) and total (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.05-2.93) cardiovascular events. Compared to patients with CAD alone, this risk was significantly higher in CAD patients with both PVD and diabetes (HR 2.87, 95% CI 1.52-5.43), but not in PVD patients without diabetes (HR 1.35, 95% CI 0.71-2.56) or diabetic patients without PVD (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.68-1.81).. Despite optimization of risk-factor control and drug prescription after ACS, patients with both PVD and diabetes carry a 2.9-fold higher risk of cardiovascular events at 18-month follow-up versus patients with CAD alone. This excess risk was not significant in PVD patients without diabetes or in diabetic patients without PVD.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Diabetes Complications; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Peripheral Vascular Diseases; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

To assess the impact of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) on in-hospital major adverse cardiac events across the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) spectrum.. From January 29, 2007, through July 29, 2007, 6 adjacent Middle Eastern countries participated in the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events, a prospective, observational registry of 8176 patients. Patients were categorized according to estimated glomerular filtration rate into 4 groups: normal (>or=90 mL/min), mild (60-89 mL/min), moderate (30-59 mL/min), and severe CRI (<30 mL/min). Patients' characteristics and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events in the 4 groups were analyzed.. Of 6518 consecutive patients with ACS, 2828 (43%) had mild CRI, 1304 (20%) had moderate CRI, and 345 (5%) had severe CRI. In CRI groups, patients were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. On admission, these patients had a higher resting heart rate and frequently had atypical and delayed presentations. Compared with the normal estimated glomerular filtration group, CRI groups were less likely to receive antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins and were less likely to undergo coronary angiography. In-hospital heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and major bleeding episodes were significantly higher in all CRI groups. In multivariate analysis, mild, moderate, and severe CRI were associated with a higher adjusted odds ratio (OR) of death (mild: OR, 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-3.7; moderate: OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 3.9-11.5; and severe: OR, 12.0; 95% CI, 6.6-21.7).. Across the ACS spectrum, patients with CRI had a worse risk profile, had more atypical and delayed presentations, and were less likely to receive evidence-based therapy. Chronic renal insufficiency of varying stages is an independent predictor of in-hospital morbidity and mortality.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Adult; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Comorbidity; Diabetes Mellitus; Dyslipidemias; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Hypertension; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Middle East; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Patient Admission; Registries; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome

A limited number of studies have examined the age and sex differences, and potentially changing trends, in cardiac medication and procedure use in patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. Using data from a large multinational study, we examined the age and sex differences, and changing trends (1999-2007) therein, in the hospital use of evidence-based therapies in patients hospitalized with an ACS using data from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (n=50 096).. After adjustment for several variables, in comparison with men below 65 years, patients in other age-sex strata had a significantly lower odds of receiving aspirin [odds ratios (ORs) for men 65-74, 75-84, and >or=85 years, women <65, 65-74, 75-84, and >or=85 years were 0.86, 0.84, 0.72, 0.80, 0.86, 0.68 and 0.46, respectively], angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ORs, 1.08, 1.01, 0,71, 0.83, 0.90, 0.89, and 0.63), beta blockers (ORs, 0.66, 0.52, 0.53, 0.67, 0.54, 0.53, and 0.52), statins (ORs, 0.72, 0.49, 0.29, 0.82, 0.68, 0.44, and 0.22), and undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery or a percutaneous coronary intervention (ORs, 0.79, 0.53, 0.21, 0.64, 0.57, 0.38, and 0.13) during their acute hospitalization. Age and sex differences in the receipt of these therapies remained relatively unchanged during the period under study.. Although there were increasing trends in the use of evidence-based medications and cardiac procedures over time, important gaps in the utilization of effective cardiac treatment modalities persist in elderly patients and younger women.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Aspirin; Australia; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Drug Therapy, Combination; Europe; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Revascularization; New Zealand; North America; Odds Ratio; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; South America; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Contraindications; Electrocardiography; Europe; Humans; Myocardial Reperfusion; Risk Assessment; Secondary Prevention

Heart failure (HF) is extremely important as a predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).. To evaluate the predictors of morbidity and mortality in ACS in the long term.. A cohort study of 403 consecutive patients with complaints of chest pain. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapy-related data were described and the patients were evaluated during hospitalization and for up to eight years after being discharged, for the presence or absence or cardiovascular events and deaths.. There were 403 patients complaining of chest pain, 65.8% of whom had been diagnosed as having ACS without ST elevation, 27.8% had ACS with ST elevation and 6.5% without ACS. Among such patients, the 377 patients with ACS were evaluated (37.9% of whom were females), and the mean age was 62.2 ± 11.6 years. The presence of HF before or during hospitalization influenced mortality. Among the prognostic factors, emphasis should be placed on the initial creatinine level, with the cutoff point being set at 1.4 mg/dl (accuracy = 62.1%, HR = 3.27; p < 0.001). We noted a worse prognosis for each additional ten years of age (HR = 1.37, p < 0.001) and for each increment of 10 bpm heart rate (HR = 1.22 p < 0.001). As for the therapies used before and after 2002, there was an increase of beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), statins and antiplatelet agents, having an impact on mortality.. HF upon admission, creatinine, age and HR were independent predictors of mortality. It was observed that HF patients treated before 2002 had a worse survival when compared with that seen after 2002 and the change in therapy was responsible for it.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Creatinine; Female; Heart Failure; Heart Rate; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Prognosis; Time Factors

The prognostic significance of monitoring risk factors and adjusting treatments in patients after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is well documented. However, studies over the last few years show that secondary prevention objectives are rarely met. Prevention programmes are effective but their benefit is only partially maintained in long-term follow-up.. To evaluate the efficacy of a global management programme for atherosclerosis (the CEPTA programme) on the long-term monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors, on adherence to treatment, and to compare the data of clinical events post-ACS with that contained in the scientific literature.. Six hundred and sixty consecutive patients were hospitalised three months after the occurrence of an ACS to evaluate residual risk factors, the atherosclerosis burden, and to undergo a treatment adjustment and a therapeutic and dietary education programme. We evaluated the impact of this long-term programme on the balance of risk factors, treatment maintenance and clinical events. At the end of an average follow-up of 20 months, 96.3% of patients were on antiaggregates, 86.0% were on beta-blockers or Verapamil, 62.4% were on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin to receptor antagonists, 88.4% were on cholesterol-lowering medication and 75.5% were receiving a combination of beta-blocker antiaggregates and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Monitoring of LDL cholesterol and blood pressure was done in over 81 and 71% of patients, respectively. At 20 months of follow-up, total mortality was 3.6% and one cardiovascular event occurred in 12% of patients. In conclusion, this short programme following ACS is beneficial for the long-term management of cardiovascular risk factors and the sustainability of drug treatments.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Artery Disease; Diet; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Patient Education as Topic; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Sirolimus; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome

Myocardial infarction complicates approximately 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. Although coronary artery dissection is the leading cause of pregnancy-related myocardial infarction during the postpartum period, the pathogenesis of coronary dissection during this period remains uncertain.Herein, we report the case of a 52-year-old black postmenopausal woman with no apparent cardiovascular risk factors who gave birth to twins after in vitro fertilization. Ten days after delivery, she presented with an acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography revealed dissection of all 3 coronary arteries. Despite aggressive medical management, the patient experienced recurrent myocardial ischemia. Repeat coronary angiography revealed progression of the dissection process, which required urgent coronary artery bypass surgery. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. To our knowledge, this report is the 1st description of pregnancy-associated coronary artery dissections in a postmenopausal woman, and the 1st such event in a pregnancy that resulted from in vitro fertilization.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aortic Dissection; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Aneurysm; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Live Birth; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Postmenopause; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome; Twins

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that associates with a high acute-phase mortality rate, whereas long-term outcome is less well described.. To describe the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of SCAD.. Retrospective case-identification study from the Western Denmark Heart Registry and the database of the Forensic Institute at Aarhus University from 1999 through 2007.. SCAD was documented in 22 of 32,869 (0.7 per thousand) angiograms in the angiographic registry. The SCAD incidence among cases of ACS was 22 of 11,175 (2.0 per thousand). None was seen in the forensic database. The mean age was 48.7 +/- 8.9 years (range: 37-71 years). Females constituted 17 of 22 (77%) patients and all had undergone one or more pregnancies; two cases occurred in the postpartum period. The left descending artery (LAD) was the predominant site of entry. The age distribution, prevalence of the cardiovascular risk factors, presence of coronary atherosclerosis, and entry of the dissection were comparable among genders. Treatment was percutaneous coronary intervention in 13 of 22 (59%), coronary artery bypass operation in 2 of 22 (9%), and medical treatment in 7 of 22 (32%) patients. The mean follow-up period was 3.6 +/- 2.9 years. One patient suffered from recurrent SCAD; another patient died suddenly. The MACE- (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and new revascularization) free survival was 81% after 24 months.. SCAD is a rare disease that mainly affects younger women. Compared with earlier reports, the prognosis seems to be improved by early diagnosis and interventional treatment.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Aortic Dissection; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Aneurysm; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass; Denmark; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Incidence; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional

We aimed to evaluate the risk of definite stent thrombosis with bare-metal stents (BMS) and drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients treated for acute coronary syndromes.. Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have been reported as increasing the risk for stent thrombosis.. Between January 2000 and December 2005, 5,816 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for de novo lesions with a single stent type. These patients consisted of 3 sequential groups of BMS (n = 2,248), sirolimus-eluting stents (n = 822) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (n = 2,746). In total, 3,485 patients presented with an ACS.. After a median follow-up of 1,394 days, patients with ACS had a definite stent thrombosis rate of 2.5% versus 1.0% in patients with stable angina (propensity score-adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72 to 4.56). ACS patients had a higher risk of early and late stent thrombosis, although the increased risk of very late stent thrombosis was only present in ACS patients treated with DES. In stable patients, any stent thrombosis resulted in a significant increase in mortality (adjusted HR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.7 to 9.3), although this was particularly evident for late or very late stent thrombosis; in contrast only early stent thrombosis significantly increased mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome patients (adjusted HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0 to 4.1).. Patients with acute coronary syndromes are at higher risk of early and late stent thrombosis with either BMS or DES, although very late stent thrombosis seems to be uniquely associated with DES. The clinical sequelae of late and very late stent thrombosis are more pronounced in stable patients.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina Pectoris; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Metals; Middle Aged; Paclitaxel; Proportional Hazards Models; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Stents; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiovascular Agents; Electrocardiography; Humans; Risk Assessment

A preoperative electrocardiogram in a 16-year-old boy scheduled for surgery for a fractured radius and mandibular condyle after a motorcycle accident showed signs of myocardial ischemia as an incidental finding. Coronary arteriography revealed complete occlusion of the anterior descending artery, confirming a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation, with no myocardial viability. As the patient's general condition was acceptable, to prevent severe functional sequelae, surgery was rescheduled for 17 days later. An axillary block was well tolerated at that time. While indiscriminate ordering of preoperative tests is not recommended in the literature, such testing continues to be practiced in many hospitals, possibly for reasons of organization and legal cover. In our case, the electrocardiogram made it possible to diagnose a severe lesion and adjust the anesthetic technique to suit this situation, thereby possibly preventing devastating consequences. We recommend performing an electrocardiogram on all patients with suspected blunt chest trauma, regardless of the severity of the lesions, particularly in patients scheduled for surgery.

Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adolescent; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Vessels; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Electrocardiography; Fracture Fixation, Internal; Heart Injuries; Humans; Incidental Findings; Male; Mandibular Condyle; Mandibular Fractures; Multiple Trauma; Nerve Block; Preoperative Care; Radius Fractures; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

The objective of this study was to evaluate in-hospital and 1-year outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) enrolled in clinical studies. Among patients included in the Canadian ACS Registries, patients enrolled in clinical studies (n = 883, 13.4%) were compared with patients who were not enrolled. Enrolled patients were younger, more likely to be smokers, had less diabetes, less hypertension, less previous myocardial infarction, and less previous percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting. Enrollment in clinical studies was higher in patients with ST-elevation and ST-depression ACS. Furthermore, patients enrolled had more coronary interventions (percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting) and received more evidence-based therapies such as aspirin and statins. Unadjusted event rates were significantly higher in patients not enrolled in clinical studies: in-hospital death 2.4 versus 1.1% (P = 0.02), and 1-year death 9.2 versus 6.1% (P = 0.003), and death or myocardial infarction 16.1 versus 13.8% (P = 0.09). After multivariable analysis, enrollment in clinical studies showed a trend towards decreased in-hospital and 1-year death. Patients with ACS in Canada who participate in clinical studies are more likely to receive evidence-based therapies and interventions throughout hospitalization. After multivariable analysis, enrollment in a clinical trial may also contribute to better in-hospital and 1-year outcome.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Canada; Cardiovascular Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Coronary Artery Bypass; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Inpatients; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to compare outcomes among unselected patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with either sirolimus-eluting (SES) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES).. Although the benefits of both SES and PES are well-established, studies comparing these stents directly have yielded conflicting results.. We used data from the EVENT (Evaluation of Drug Eluting Stents and Ischemic Events) registry to compare in-hospital and 1-year outcomes among unselected patients undergoing nonemergent PCI with either SES or PES implantation.. Between July 2004 and June 2006, 6,035 patients underwent PCI with either SES (n = 3,443) or PES (n = 2,592) at 47 U.S. centers. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were generally similar for the 2 stent types. At 1-year, there were no differences in the primary end point of cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) between the SES and PES groups (9.1% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.11) or in any individual end points including cardiac death, nonfatal MI, or stent thrombosis. In unadjusted analyses, target lesion revascularization (TLR) was slightly more common with SES than with PES (4.4% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.048), but this difference was no longer apparent after adjusting for baseline characteristics as well as site-related factors (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.09, 95% confidence interval: 0.78 to 1.50).. Among unselected patients undergoing PCI, adjusted rates of both ischemic complications as well as clinically important restenosis were similar for SES and PES. The unexpected finding that TLR was influenced by site characteristics suggests that the correlation between TLR and angiographic restenosis might be weaker than previously described and warrants further study.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Stenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Paclitaxel; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Registries; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Sirolimus; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United States

Point-of-care (POC) testing may expedite the care of emergency department (ED) patients suspected of having acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated the use patterns of cardiac bedside markers or POC testing for troponin in patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) ACS.. NSTE ACS data were collected from the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines (CRUSADE) registry. We compared hospital and patient characteristics, in-hospital events, and process-of-care variables between hospitals to those that did not use POC testing in > or = 50% of enrolled patients. We examined characteristics, in-hospital events, and process-of-care differences between patients with negative vs positive troponin POC testing results.. Of 568 hospitals, 74 (16,276 patients) had high POC usage compared with 197 hospitals (50,782 patients) with no troponin POC usage. From the high POC usage hospitals, 12,604 patients had recorded troponin POC test results. Hospitals with high POC usage had a shorter ED length of stay and were less likely to administer aspirin, beta-blockers, and heparin during the first 24 hours of care. Patients with positive troponin POC results were more often older, minority, female, Medicare-insured, diabetic, and renally impaired. They had fewer electrocardiograms within 10 minutes but were more likely to get aspirin, beta-blockers, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and heparin within 24 hours of arrival. They also had longer ED lengths of stay, received fewer in-hospital and interventional procedures, and had more adverse clinical events.. Differences existed in how hospitals used POC testing and the care given based on those results. Positive POC results are associated with expedited and higher use of anti-ischemic therapies.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Electrocardiography; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Health Care Surveys; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Point-of-Care Systems; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Predictive Value of Tests; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Troponin; United States

Slow coronary flow is an angiographic phenomenon characterized by delayed opacification of vessels in the absence of any evidence of obstructive epicardial coronary disease. In this article, we present serious clinical manifestations of extremely slow coronary flow in two hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction in echocardiographical examination: a 57 year-old woman with acute coronary syndrome and temporary ST elevation; and a 65 year-old man with atrial tachycardia which was leading to sudden arrest of circulation. The woman was admitted to hospital due to recurrent syncope and chest pain. Because of severe bradycardia, an AAI pacemaker was implanted. Coronary angiography without evident obstructive lesion revealed extremely slow flow of dye through arteries. The man was admitted to hospital because of heart palpitations (paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, PAT) followed by chest pain. During hospitalization, a sudden arrest of circulation in the course of supraventricular tachycardia of 220/min with atrioventricular conduction of 1:1 occurred. Coronary arteriography did not show any occlusions in the coronary arteries, although extremely slow dye flow was seen. Electrophysiological examination revealed arrhythmia of the left atrial (PAT) (tricuspid valve anulus mapping) without induced ventricular arrhythmia. Because of symptomatic bradyarrhythmia, a VVI heart pacemaker was implanted. Over a 12-month observation, his heart rate remained under control, and the patient did not complain of chest pains or heart palpitations.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Angina Pectoris; Blood Flow Velocity; Bradycardia; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Circulation; Coronary Disease; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Syncope; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; Tachycardia, Supraventricular; Treatment Outcome

To describe the persistent use of evidence-based cardiovascular medications (EBCMs) 3 months after discharge from an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event and patient-reported reasons for nonpersistence across age groups.. Medication Applied and Sustained Over Time (MAINTAIN) is a longitudinal follow-up cohort study of the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress ADverse Outcomes with Early Implementation quality improvement initiative and Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network registry.. Forty-one acute care hospitals in the United States from January 2006 to September 2007.. One thousand fifty-four patients with a median age of 60 (interquartile range 52-71), including 27% aged 70 and older, admitted with an ACS.. Three-month posthospital discharge telephone follow-up with EBCMs reviewed and reconciled. Patients who reported nonpersistence were surveyed regarding reasons for EBCM discontinuation.. At 3-month follow-up, overall persistence was 71.2%. There was a significant trend toward lower overall persistence with prescribed EBCMs in older adults than in the other age groups (74.9% for <60, 71.0% for 60-69, 64.5% for > or =70; P=.02). Overall, 112 (10.6%) patients discontinued EBCMs with provider advice, and 178 (16.9%) self-discontinued. Provider discontinuation increased across age groups (9.1%, 10.4%, and 13.6%, respectively). A similar trend was observed for EBCM self-discontinuation (15.2%, 17.0%, and 19.9%, respectively). Reasons for self-discontinuation included adverse effects, cost, and perception that the medication was not needed.. Older patients are less likely to be persistent with EBCMs after an ACS event at 3-month follow-up. Understanding patient-reported reasons for discontinuation can influence intervention strategies to improve long-term adherence to EBCMs.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged; Angina, Unstable; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Costs; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Long-Term Care; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Patient Discharge; Patient Education as Topic; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prospective Studies; Registries; Secondary Prevention; United States

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been established as an independent predictor of long-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction. However, this is less well defined across the whole spectrum of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). The Acute Coronary Syndrome Prospective Audit is a prospective multicenter registry with 12-month outcome data for 3,393 patients (755 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 1942 with high-risk non-ST-segment elevation ACS [NSTE-ACS], and 696 with intermediate-risk NSTE-ACS). A total of 149 patients (4.4%) had new-onset AF and 387 (11.4%) had previous AF. New-onset AF was more, and previous AF was less frequent in those with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction than in those with high-risk NSTE-ACS or intermediate-risk NSTE-ACS (p <0.001). Compared to patients without arrhythmia, patients with new-onset AF and previous AF were significantly older and had more high-risk features at presentation (p <0.004). Patients with new-onset AF more often had left main coronary artery disease, resulting in a greater rate of surgical revascularization (p <0.001). Only new-onset AF resulted in adverse in-hospital outcomes (p <0.001). Only patients with previous AF had greater long-term mortality (hazard ratio 1.42, p <0.05). New-onset AF was only associated with a worse long-term composite outcome (hazard ratio 1.66, p = 0.004). However, the odds ratio for the composite outcome was greatest for patients with new-onset AF with intermediate-risk NSTE-ACS (odds ratio 3.9, p = 0.02) than for those with high-risk NSTE-ACS (odds ratio 2.0, p = 0.01) or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (odds ratio 1.4, p = 0.4). In conclusion, new-onset AF was associated with worse short-term outcomes and previous AF was associated with greater mortality even at long-term follow-up. The prognostic burden of new-onset AF differed with the type of ACS presentation.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Kidney Injury; Age Factors; Aged; Atrial Fibrillation; Australia; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Bypass; Coronary Artery Disease; Creatine Kinase; Drug Utilization; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart Failure; Heart Rate; Hemorrhage; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Registries; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Stroke

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Emergency Medical Services; Family Practice; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Patient Admission; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Survival Rate

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Male; Multiple Organ Failure; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Sirolimus; Thrombosis; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional

The valid and reliable measurement of health service utilization, productivity losses and consequently total disease-related costs is a prerequisite for health services research and for health economic analysis. Although administrative data sources are usually considered to be the most accurate, their use is limited as some components of utilization are not systematically captured and, especially in decentralized health care systems, no single source exists for comprehensive utilization and cost data. The aim of this study was to develop and test a questionnaire for the measurement of disease-related costs for patients after an acute cardiac event (ACE).. To design the questionnaire, the literature was searched for contributions to the assessment of utilization of health care resources by patient-administered questionnaires. Based on these findings, we developed a retrospective questionnaire appropriate for the measurement of disease-related costs over a period of 3 months in ACE patients. Items were generated by reviewing existing guidelines and by interviewing medical specialists and patients. In this study, the questionnaire was tested on 106 patients, aging 35-65 who were admitted for rehabilitation after ACE. It was compared with prospectively measured data; selected items were compared with administrative data from sickness funds.. The questionnaire was accepted well (response rate = 88%), and respondents completed the questionnaire in an average time of 27 minutes. Concordance between retrospective and prospective data showed an intraclass correlation (ICC) ranging between 0.57 (cost of medical intake) and 0.9 (hospital days) with the other main items (physician visits, days off work, medication) clustering around 0.7. Comparison between self-reported and administrative data for days off work and hospitalized days were possible for n = 48. Respective ICCs ranged between 0.92 and 0.94, although differences in mean levels were observed.. The questionnaire was accepted favorably and correlated well with alternative measurement approaches. This first assessment showed promising characteristics of this questionnaire in different aspects of validity for patients with ACE. However, additional research and more extensive tests in other patient groups would be worthwhile.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Attitude to Health; Cardiac Care Facilities; Cardiovascular Agents; Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; Feasibility Studies; Female; Germany; Health Care Costs; Health Services; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Process Assessment, Health Care; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cost-effectiveness can be a helpful indicator of therapeutic value and is an important consideration when determining whether to use an invasive strategy in patients with non-ST-elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes. In an economic analysis using results from RITA 3, Henriksson et al. found that an invasive strategy was not cost-effective in patients with low-risk disease, but was cost-effective for patients with high-risk disease and of equivocal cost-effectiveness in patients with intermediate-risk disease. This finding is consistent with those of other studies, especially FRISC II and TACTICS-TIMI 18, which found an invasive strategy to be cost-effective in patients with biomarker-positive NSTE myocardial infarction. An invasive strategy should, therefore, be considered for treatment of patients with high-risk NSTE myocardial infarction. Although available data are not based on the latest technology, another trial in this area would be difficult to conduct and of questionable ethics.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Costs; Health Care Costs; Humans; Markov Chains; Models, Economic; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Revascularization; Patient Selection; Risk Assessment; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina Pectoris; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Coronary Artery Disease; Humans; Incidence; Patient Selection; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Ranolazine is a piperazine derivative believed to reduce anginal symptoms by preventing ischemia-mediated sodium and calcium overload in myocardial cells through inhibition of the late sodium current (late INa). Three small studies demonstrated the antianginal efficacy of ranolazine alone and in combination with betablockers or calcium channel blockers on conventional end points such as total exercise duration and time to ischemia/angina on a treadmill; however, questions of safety related to QT prolongation, efficacy in women and potential utility in higher risk populations remained. Metabolic Efficiency with Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (MERLIN-TIMI) 36 was a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of ranolazine initiated acutely and continued as chronic therapy following a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome event. A total of 6560 patients were randomized 1:1 to ranolazine or placebo; the primary efficacy end point of the trial was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or recurrent ischemia. The key safety end points were death from any cause and symptomatic documented arrhythmia. Although statistically significant differences between the ranolazine and placebo groups were not reached in the primary efficacy analysis or in the major secondary outcome end point analyses (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or severe recurrent ischemia), the individual component of recurrent ischemia was significantly reduced by ranolazine, and ranolazine was demonstrated to be safe.

Topics: Acetanilides; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Acute Disease; Angina Pectoris; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Disease; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Piperazines; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Ranolazine; Recurrence; Sex Factors; Thrombolytic Therapy

Between 6-25% of patients undergoing coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD).. One-hundred and eighty patients presenting with an ACS who were taking part in a risk factor modification study and had undergone coronary angiography were examined. We compared baseline characteristics, medical treatment and 12-month outcome in patients with NOCAD (<50% lumen diameter stenosis at coronary angiography) and obstructive CAD (> or = 50% lumen diameter stenosis at coronary angiography).. There were 29 (16%) patients with NOCAD and 151 (84%) with obstructive CAD (CAD). Patients with NOCAD were significantly younger, more likely to be female, had higher mean total cholesterol and LDL levels, and fewer received cardiac rehabilitation, treatment with statins, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers or clopidogrel. Over the next 12-months, there was no mortality or myocardial infarction in the NOCAD group compared to 2% in the CAD group, but 14% with NOCAD were readmitted for a cardiovascular cause including 2 patients (7%) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).. Patients presenting with ACS and NOCAD may not have a completely benign prognosis, and preventative strategies and therapies such as statins in this group of patients appear to be under-utilised.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior

Age is an important predictor of mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The safety and efficacy of PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES) in nonagenarians have not been extensively studied.. A retrospective analysis of 889 consecutive patients identified 28 (3.1%) nonagenarians who underwent PCI with DES from May 2003 to December 2005 at our institution.. The mean age was 92 +/- 2 years, 39% were male, and 4% were diabetic. Sirolimus-eluting stents were used in 79%. A mean of 1.5 +/- 0.9 stents/patient were implanted with a total stent length of 31 +/- 20 mm. Twenty-nine percent presented with unstable angina and 39% with myocardial infarction. The angiographic success rate obtained was 100%. The 30-day mortality rate was 21%. The 6 patients who died within 30 days included 3 patients who had cardiogenic shock and one patient with critical aortic stenosis who died due to complications during percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. The cumulative survival rate for all nonagenarians at 1 year and 3 years was (68 +/- 9)% and (61 +/- 9)%. When the four patients who were in extremis on presentation were excluded, there were no in-hospital deaths, the 30-day mortality was 8%, and the 1 year and 3 year survival rate was (79 +/- 8)% and (71 +/- 9)% for the nonagenarians. No patient had definite stent thrombosis.. The majority of the nonagenarians who underwent PCI with DES presented with acute coronary syndrome. Percutaneous coronary intervention with DES was safe in nonagenarians as there were no in-hospital deaths and acceptable 3-year survival rates when patients who were in extremis on presentation were excluded. The high-risk profile of these patients and the expected attrition of nonagenarians may contribute to their mortality rates.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged, 80 and over; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Prosthesis Design; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Age Factors; Aged, 80 and over; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Humans; Male; Patient Selection; Prosthesis Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sirolimus; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Restenosis; Coronary Stenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Humans; Paclitaxel; Patient Selection; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

To determine the effect of insulin for the management of hyperglycaemia in non-diabetic patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome.. An observational study from the MINAP (National Audit of Myocardial Infarction Project) database during 2003-5 in 201 hospitals in England and Wales. Patients were those with a final diagnosis of troponin-positive acute coronary syndrome who were not previously known to have diabetes mellitus and whose blood glucose on admission was > or = 11 mmol/l. The main outcome measure was death at 7 and 30 days.. Of 38,864 patients who were not previously known to be diabetic, 3835 (9.9%) had an admission glucose > or = 11 mmol/l. Of patients having a clear treatment strategy, 36% received diabetic treatment (31% with insulin). Mortality at 7 and 30 days was 11.6% and 15.8%, respectively, for those receiving insulin, and 16.5% and 22.1%, respectively, for those who did not. Compared with those who received insulin, after adjustment for age, gender, co-morbidities and admission blood glucose concentration, patients who were not treated with insulin had a relative increased risk of death of 56% at 7 days and 51% at 30 days (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.0, p<0.001 at 7 days; HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.86, p<0.001 at 30 days).. In non-diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome and hyperglycaemia, treatment with insulin was associated with a reduction in the relative risk of death, evident within 7 days of admission, which persists at 30 days.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Glucose; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Reperfusion; Treatment Outcome