Smoking cessation after acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation is an effective secondary prevention measure after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We conducted a systematic review with the aim to better understand which patients have a greater propensity to quit smoking and the risk factors for continued smoking after ACS. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies that evaluated smoking cessation after ACS. The pooled rate of smoking cessation across included studies was performed. Random effects meta-analysis for different variables and their association with smoking cessation was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 39 studies with 11 228 patients were included in this review. The pooled rate of smoking cessation following ACS across 38 studies was 45.0%. Factors associated with greater likelihood of smoking cessation were attendance at cardiac rehabilitation (OR 1.90 95% CI 1.44-2.51), married/not alone (OR 1.68 95% CI 1.32-2.13), intention/attempt to quit smoking (OR 1.27 95% CI 1.11-1.46), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.24 95% CI 1.03-1.51) and hospitalised duration (OR 1.09 95% CI 1.02-1.15). Variables associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation were depression (OR 0.57 95% CI 0.43-0.75), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/lung disease (OR 0.73 95% CI 0.57-0.93), previous admission with acute myocardial infarction/cardiac admission (OR 0.61 95% CI 0.47-0.80), cerebrovascular disease/transient ischaemic attack (OR 0.42 95% CI 0.30-0.58) and unemployment (OR 0.37 95% CI 0.17-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of smokers with an ACS continue to smoke after admission. Patients attending cardiac rehabilitation show increased odds of quitting while people who are depressed and those with chronic lung disease were less likely to quit smoking and should be targeted for intensive smoking cessation interventions.

Percutaneous closure of postinfarction ventricular septal defect: in-hospital outcomes and long-term follow-up of UK experience.

BACKGROUND: Postinfarction ventricular septal defect carries a grim prognosis. Surgical repair offers reasonable outcomes in patients who survive a healing phase. Percutaneous device implantation represents a potentially attractive early alternative. METHODS AND RESULTS: Postinfarction ventricular septal defect closure was attempted in 53 patients from 11 centers (1997-2012; aged 72±11 years; 42% female). Nineteen percent had previous surgical closure. Myocardial infarction was anterior (66%) or inferior (34%). Time from myocardial infarction to closure procedure was 13 (first and third quartiles, 5-54) days. Devices were successfully implanted in 89% of patients. Major immediate complications included procedural death (3.8%) and emergency cardiac surgery (7.5%). Immediate shunt reduction was graded as complete (23%), partial (62%), or none (15%). Median length of stay after the procedure was 5.0 (2.0-9.0) days. Fifty-eight percent survived to discharge and were followed up for 395 (63-1522) days, during which time 4 additional patients died (7.5%). Factors associated with death after postinfarction ventricular septal defect closure included the following: age (hazard ratio [HR]=1.04; P=0.039), female sex (HR=2.33; P=0.043), New York Heart Association class IV (HR=4.42; P=0.002), cardiogenic shock (HR=3.75; P=0.003), creatinine (HR=1.007; P=0.003), defect size (HR=1.09; P=0.026), inotropes (HR=4.18; P=0.005), and absence of revascularization therapy for presenting myocardial infarction (HR=3.28; P=0.009). Prior surgical closure (HR=0.12; P=0.040) and immediate shunt reduction (HR=0.49; P=0.037) were associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous closure of postinfarction ventricular septal defect is a reasonably effective treatment for these extremely high-risk patients. Mortality remains high, but patients who survive to discharge do well in the longer term.

Transradial intervention in ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) represents the current gold standard reperfusion therapy. Recent advances in antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy have reduced the risk of ischemic complications and mortality in PPCI although this has been at the expense of major bleeding complications. Access site-related bleeding complications account for up to 50 % of major peri-procedural bleeding complications in PCI. Increasing adoption of the radial artery as the default access site has been shown to markedly reduce such major bleeding complications and mortality in selected patient cohorts. Recent data has suggested that adoption of the transradial access site in STEMI PCI procedures is associated with significant reductions in major bleeding complications and mortality in both national registry data and randomised controlled trials. We provide an overview of this data and discuss the remaining uncertainties around the synergy between access site and contemporary antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy in such patients. Finally, whilst adoption of the radial artery as the default access site in PPCI has yielded a similar reduction in mortality as observed in the switch from thrombolysis to PPCI in the past, its adoption as a default access site is not universal. We discuss the remaining obstacles and challenges for more widespread adoption of the radial access site as the default access site in PPCI.

Weekend effect in acute coronary syndrome: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: The effect of a weekend compared with a weekday hospital admission on patient outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome is unclear. This study aims to determine whether collectively there is a weekend effect in acute coronary syndrome. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies examining the association between weekend compared to weekday admission at any time of the day and early mortality (in-hospital or 30-day). A search was performed on Medline and Embase and relevant studies were pooled using random effects meta-analysis for risk of early mortality. Additional analyses were performed considering only more recent studies (conducted after 2005) and by patient group (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] or non-STEMI [NSTEMI]), as well as meta-regression according to starting year and mean year of study. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included with over 14 million participants incorporating 3 million weekend and over 11.5 million weekday admissions and the rates of mortality were 19.2% and 23.4%, respectively. The pooled results of all 18 studies suggest that weekend admission was associated with a small increased risk of early mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.09). The results for subgroups of STEMI and NSTEMI cohorts were not statistically significant and timing of admission after 2005 had minimal influence on the results (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.95-1.17). CONCLUSIONS: There is a small weekend effect for admission with acute coronary syndrome that has persisted over time.

Choice of Stent for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Saphenous Vein Grafts.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on comparison of contemporary drug-eluting stent (DES) platforms, previous generation DES, and bare-metal stents (BMS) for percutaneous coronary intervention in saphenous vein grafts (SVG). We aimed to assess clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention to SVG in patients receiving bare-metal stents (BMS), first-generation DES, and newer generation DES in a large unselected national data set from the BCIS (British Cardiovascular Intervention Society). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to SVG in the United Kingdom from January 2006 to December 2013 were divided into 3 groups according to stent use: BMS, first-generation DES, and newer generation DES group. Study outcomes included in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality. Patients (n=15 003) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention to SVG in England and Wales during the study period. Of these, 38% received BMS, 15% received first-generation DES, and 47% received second-generation DES. The rates of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events were significantly lower in patients treated with second-generation DES (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.68; P<0.001), but not with first-generation DES, compared with BMS-treated patients. Similarly, 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.59; P<0.001) and 1-year mortality (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.71; P<0.001) were lower in patients treated with second-generation DES, but not with first-generation DES, compared with the patients treated with BMS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving second-generation DES for the treatment SVG disease have lower rates of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality, compared with those receiving BMS.

Meta-Analysis of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Isolated Proximal Left Anterior Descending Coronary Disease.

We performed a meta-analysis of the studies comparing the efficacy and safety of coronary artery bypass surgery against percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (PCI-DES) in patients with isolated LAD disease. Because of the limited randomized trial data, the optimal revascularization strategy for patients with isolated LAD disease remains uncertain. Using MEDLINE and EMBASE to source data, 11 studies (3 randomized trials and 8 cohort studies) including 5,044 participants were identified. No significant difference in mortality between PCI-DES and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG; 111 of 2,122 [5.2%] and 120 of 2,574 [4.7%]; relative risk [RR] 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90 to 1.69) was detected. For MACE, PCI-DES was associated with significant increase in adverse events (RR 1.41; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.93, 8 studies, 4,230 participants). There were no significant differences in the risk of myocardial infarction (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.26) or stroke (RR 2.36; 95% CI 0.54 to 10.43) between the 2 groups. There were 239 target vessel revascularization (TVR) events among 2,237 participants in the PCI-DES group (10.7%) and 145 TVR events among 2,793 participants in the CABG group (5.2%) with a significant increased risk of TVR in the PCI group (RR 2.52; 95% CI 1.69 to 3.77, 5,030 participants) compared with CABG. In conclusion, for patients with isolated disease of the LAD, meta-analysis of the available data suggests revascularization with a PCI-DES strategy offers similar mortality, MI, and stroke rates to CABG at the expense of increased TVR. Much of the data are derived from registries using first-generation DES, and further randomized trials with more contemporary platforms are needed.

Major Bleeding and Adverse Outcome following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Advances in anti-thrombotic and anti-platelet therapies have improved outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) through a reduction in ischaemic events, at the expense of peri-procedural bleeding complications. These may occur through either the access site through which the PCI was performed or through non-access-related sites. There are currently over 10 definitions of major bleeding events consisting of clinical events, changes in laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes, where different definitions will differentially influence the reported incidence of major bleeding events. Use of different major bleeding definitions has been shown to change the reported outcome of a number of therapeutic strategies in randomised controlled trials but as yet a universal bleeding definition has not gained widespread adoption in assessing the efficacy of such therapeutic interventions. Major bleeding complications are independently associated with adverse mortality and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) outcomes, irrespective of the definition of major bleeding used, with the worst outcomes associate with non-access-site related bleeds. We consider the mechanisms through which bleeding complications may affect longer-term outcomes and discuss bleeding avoidance strategies, including access site choice, pharmacological considerations and formal bleeding risk assessment to minimise such bleeding events.

What are older peoples' experiences of taking antidepressants?

BACKGROUND: Antidepressants are prescribed widely to older people but little is known about older peoples' own reported experiences of taking them in routine practice. METHODS: A doctor interviewed 92 people, aged over 65, with a hospital diagnosis of depression, who had been prescribed an antidepressant in the past year. RESULTS: Most of the subjects were prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), at a standard dose, for at least 8 weeks. Most people felt the antidepressants were helpful, although a third felt they made no difference. Two thirds of older people reported having adverse effects of which most were moderate or severe. The most common adverse effects were headache and dry mouth. Only a third said that they always took their tablets. LIMITATIONS: The sample was restricted to older people seen by hospital services. Interviews were carried out by a doctor and patients may not have been entirely truthful. CONCLUSIONS: Older people have important views about their treatment that they are prepared to tell a doctor. A lot of older people do not think their antidepressants are helpful, and the majority experience adverse effects. Many do not always take their medication. Doctors should routinely ask older people about their experiences of taking antidepressants.

Dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is characterised by chronic, global, non-reversible deterioration in memory, executive function, and personality. Speech and motor function may also be impaired. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of treatments on cognitive symptoms of dementia (Alzheimer's, Lewy body, or vascular)? What are the effects of treatments on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (Alzheimer's, Lewy body, or vascular)? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to July 2011 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS: We found 49 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine), antidepressants (clomipramine, fluoxetine, imipramine, sertraline), antipsychotics (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone), aromatherapy, benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), cognitive stimulation, exercise, ginkgo biloba, memantine, mood stabilisers (carbamazepine, sodium valproate/valproic acid), music therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), omega 3 (fish oil), reminiscence therapy, and statins.

Depression in adults: drug and physical treatments.

INTRODUCTION: Depression may affect up to 10% of the population, with half of affected people having recurrence of their symptoms. In mild to moderate depression, there is no reliable evidence that any one treatment is superior in improving symptoms of depression, but the strength of evidence supporting different treatments varies. In severe depression, only prescription antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy are known to improve symptoms. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of treatments in mild to moderate and severe depression, and in treatment-resistant depression? Which interventions reduce relapse rates? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to June 2009 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS: We found 88 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: antidepressant drugs (tricyclic antidepressants [including low-dose tricyclic antidepressants], selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or venlafaxine), continuing prescription antidepressant drugs, electroconvulsive therapy, exercise, lithium augmentation, pindolol augmentation, and St John's wort.

Dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is characterised by chronic, global, non-reversible deterioration in memory, executive function, and personality. Speech and motor function may also be impaired. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments on cognitive symptoms of dementia (Alzheimer's, Lewy body, or vascular)? What are the effects of treatments on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (Alzheimer's, Lewy body, or vascular)? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to April 2008 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS: We found 33 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine), antidepressants (clomipramine, fluoxetine, imipramine, sertraline), antipsychotics (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone), aromatherapy, benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), cognitive stimulation, exercise, ginkgo biloba, memantine, mood stabilisers (carbamazepine, sodium valproate/valproic acid), music therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), omega 3 (fish oil), reminiscence therapy, and statins.