Everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffolds for treatment of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: BVS STEMI first study.

AIMS: We evaluated the feasibility and the acute performance of the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) for the treatment of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: The present investigation is a prospective, single-arm, single-centre study, reporting data after the BVS implantation in STEMI patients. Quantitative coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) data were evaluated. Clinical outcomes are reported at the 30-day follow-up. The intent-to-treat population comprises a total of 49 patients. The procedural success was 97.9%. Pre-procedure TIMI-flow was 0 in 50.0% of the patients; after the BVS implantation, a TIMI-flow III was achieved in 91.7% of patients and the post-procedure percentage diameter stenosis was 14.7 ± 8.2%. No patients had angiographically visible residual thrombus at the end of the procedure. Optical coherence tomography analysis performed in 31 patients showed that the post-procedure mean lumen area was 8.02 ± 1.92 mm(2), minimum lumen area 5.95 ± 1.61 mm(2), mean incomplete scaffold apposition area 0.118 ± 0.162 mm(2), mean intraluminal defect area 0.013 ± 0.017 mm(2), and mean percentage malapposed struts per patient 2.80 ± 3.90%. Scaffolds with >5% malapposed struts were 7. At the 30-day follow-up, target-lesion failure rate was 0%. Non-target-vessel revascularization and target-vessel myocardial infarction (MI) were reported. A non-target-vessel non-Q-wave MI occurred. No cases of cardiac death or scaffold thrombosis were observed. CONCLUSION: In the present series, the BVS implantation in patients presenting with acute MI appeared feasible, with high rate of final TIMI-flow III and good scaffold apposition. Larger studies are currently needed to confirm these preliminary data.

Impact of multiple balloon inflations during primary percutaneous coronary intervention on infarct size and long-term clinical outcomes in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: real-world postconditioning.

Interrupting myocardial reperfusion with intermittent episodes of ischemia (i.e., postconditioning) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) has been suggested to protect myocardium in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Nevertheless, trials provide inconsistent results and any advantage in long-term outcomes remains elusive. Using a retrospective study design, we evaluated the impact of balloon inflations during PPCI on enzymatic infarct size (IS) and long-term outcomes. We included 634 first-time STEMI patients undergoing PPCI with an occluded infarct-related artery and adequate reperfusion thereafter and divided these into: patients receiving 1-3 inflations in the infarct-related artery [considered minimum for patency/stent placement (controls); n = 398] versus ≥4 [average cycles in clinical protocols (postconditioning analogue); n = 236]. IS, assessed by peak creatine kinase, was lower in the postconditioning analogue group compared with controls [median (interquartile range) 1,287 (770-2,498) vs. 1,626 (811-3,057) UI/L; p = 0.02], corresponding to a 21 % IS reduction. This effect may be more pronounced in women, patients without diabetes/hypercholesterolemia, patients presenting within 3-6 h or with first balloon re-occlusion ≤1 min. No differences were observed in 4-year mortality or MACCE between groups. Four or more inflations during PPCI reduced enzymatic IS in STEMI patients under well-defined conditions, but did not translate into improved long-term outcomes in the present study. Large-scale randomized trials following strict postconditioning protocols are needed to clarify this effect.

Sex-related trends in mortality in hospitalized men and women after myocardial infarction between 1985 and 2008: equal benefit for women and men.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study sex-related differences in temporal trends in short- and long-term mortality from 1985 to 2008 in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included a total of 14 434 consecutive patients admitted to our intensive coronary care unit between 1985 and 2008 for myocardial infarction. A total of 4028 patients (28%) were women. Women were more likely to present with a higher risk profile and were equally likely to receive pharmacological and invasive reperfusion therapy compared with men. Women had a higher unadjusted mortality rate at 30 days (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.5) and during 20 years (hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.2) of follow-up. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, 30-day mortality was equal (adjusted odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.2) but the hazard for 20-year mortality was lower (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.90) in women compared to men. For 30-day mortality, there was no significant interaction between sex and age, diagnosis, or diabetes mellitus. Survival improved between 1985 and 2008. Temporal mortality reductions between 1985 and 2008 were at least as high in women as in men with myocardial infarction for both 30-day mortality and long-term mortality hazard. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that adjusted mortality rates for men and women treated for myocardial infarction in an intensive coronary care unit were similar and declined markedly over a 24-year period suggests that both sexes benefit from the evidence-based therapies that have been developed and implemented during this time period.

Decline in 20-year mortality after myocardial infarction in patients with chronic kidney disease: evolution from the prethrombolysis to the percutaneous coronary intervention era.

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here we measured temporal trends in treatment and mortality after myocardial infarction (MI) depending on kidney function at presentation in 12,087 patients admitted for MI to a coronary care unit from 1985 to 2008. The patients were categorized into those with normal kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate over 90 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)), and those with CKD as defined by Kidney Foundation practice guidelines, with 8632 patients (71%) at CKD stages 2-5. Use of evidence-based care increased over time in all CKD stages. Mortality rates fell over the entire time period. When comparing data from 2000-2008 to that from 1985-1990, adjusted 30-day mortality fell both in patients with CKD stages 4-5 (adjusted odds 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.60) and in those without kidney impairment (adjusted odds 0.21, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.42). This mortality decrease was sustained during long-term follow-up. There was no significant interaction between kidney function and decade of admission. Overall, median survival was over 20, 15, 8, and 1.8 years for patients with normal kidney function, stage 2, stage 3, and stage 4-5 CKD, respectively. Thus, during the past 25 years, treatment of patients with a MI improved substantially with a concomitant decline in mortality. Although our findings were similar for all stages of kidney function, the prognosis remains poor for patients with stage 4-5 CKD.

Seven-year safety and efficacy of the unrestricted use of drug-eluting stents in saphenous vein bypass grafts.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the 7-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with either drug-eluting stents (DES) or bare-metal stents (BMS) for saphenous vein graft disease (SVG). BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic disease in SVG has several peculiarities which make it difficult to extrapolate outcomes of the use of DES as compared to BMS, from outcomes observed in native coronary arteries. To date no long-term safety and efficacy results for DES in SVG have been published. METHODS: Between January, 2000 and December, 2005 a total of 250 consecutive patients with saphenous vein graft disease were sequentially treated with DES (either sirolimus- or paclitaxel-eluting stents) or with BMS. Yearly follow-up was performed. RESULTS: At 87 months (7.25 years), a total of 101 patients died (58 [46%] in the BMS group and 43 [42%] in the DES group, P-value= 0.4). There was no significant difference in the combined endpoint mortality or myocardial infarction. Cumulative target vessel revascularisation (TVR) was higher in the BMS group compared to the DES group (41% vs. 29%, respectively; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-1.0). The cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events was 73% vs. 68% in the BMS and DES groups, respectively (adjusted HR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.67-1.3). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the unrestricted use of DES for SVG lesions appeared safe and effective up to 7.25 years- and the use of DES resulted in a clinically relevant lower rate of TVR.

Impact of renal insufficiency on safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents compared to bare-metal stents at 6 years.

BACKGROUND: There is few information on the long-term efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) compared to bare metal stents (BMS) in all-comer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-patients complicated by renal insufficiency (RI). OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the 6-year clinical outcome of PCI-patients with RI treated exclusively with BMS, SES, or PES in our academic hospital. METHODS: A total of 1382 patients, included in three cohorts of consecutive PCI-patients (BMS = 392; SES = 498; PES = 492), were categorized by creatinine clearance calculated by the Cockroft-Gault formula (normal kidney function ≥ 90; mild RI = 60-89; moderate RI < 60) and systematically followed for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). RESULTS: Mortality rates were significantly higher for patients with moderate RI compared to mild RI and normal kidney function at 6 years (Kaplan-Meier estimate: moderate RI (34%) vs. mild RI (12%), P < 0.001; moderate RI (34%) vs. normal kidney function (8%), P < 0.001). After multivariate Cox-regression analysis, SES and PES decreased the occurrence of target-vessel revascularization (TVR) and MACE at 6 years in patients with a normal creatinine clearance compared to BMS [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28-0.84; aHR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.97, respectively] with no significant effect on mortality. Safety- and efficacy end points were comparable for the three stent types in patients with mild- and moderate renal function. CONCLUSION: Patients with a normal creatinine clearance had significant improvement in TVR and MACE rates after SES- or PES implantation compared to BMS at 6 years. However, there was no superiority of both drug-eluting stents over BMS in safety and efficacy end points for patients with impaired renal function.

Value of the SYNTAX score in patients treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: The MI SYNTAXscore study.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to evaluate the SYNTAX score (SXscore) calculated at 2 stages during a primary percutaneous intervention (PPCI), that is, SXscore I (diagnostic) and SXscore II (postwiring), and assess its additional value to standard clinical risk scores in acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: SXscores I and II were applied to 736 consecutive acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients referred for PPCI between November 2006 and February 2008. SXscore changed significantly before (I: 16, interquartile range 9.5-23) and after wiring (II: 11, interquartile range 6-19), P < .001. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to compare the primary end point major adverse coronary events (MACE; composite of repeat MI, target vessel revascularization [TVR], and mortality) and secondary end point mortality at 1.5 years in tertiles of SXscore I and SXscore II. Major adverse coronary event was highest in the higher SXscore I tertile (11% vs 15% vs 23%, log-rank <0.01), driven primarily by increased rate of mortality (9% vs 11% vs 17%, log-rank 0.02). Major adverse coronary event was also highest in SXscore II tertile, by a combination of increased mortality and also TVR (TVR rate 2% vs 3% vs 9%, log-rank <0.01). Predictive Cox regression models for mortality and MACE were significantly and similarly improved by the addition of either SXscore I or SXscore II (hazard ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.18-2.26, P < .01 for MACE) with respective c indices of 0.61 and 0.63 for MACE and 0.60 and 0.61 for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: SXscore during PPCI is a useful tool that provides additional risk stratification to known risk factors of long-term mortality and MACE in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Six-month clinical follow-up of the Tryton side branch stent for the treatment of bifurcation lesions: a two center registry analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of bifurcation lesions with the Tryton Sidebranch stent has been shown to be feasible with an acceptable clinical outcome and low side branch late loss in the first in man trial. OBJECTIVE: To report acute procedural and six month clinical follow-up after the use of the Tryton Sidebranch stent in an "all comer" registry. METHODS: The first 100 coronary bifurcation lesions assigned for treatment with the Tryton stent were included in a prospective registry. Procedural and angiographic success rates were determined from patient charts and pre- and postprocedural quantitative coronary angiography. RESULTS: Totally, 96 patients with 100 lesions were included in the study. Seventy-two percent presented with stable angina, 25% with unstable angina/NSTEMI, and 3% STEMI. The bifurcation was located in the left main in 8%. Two lesions were chronic total occlusions. Sixty-nine percent were true bifurcation lesions. One failure of stent delivery occurred. Acute gain in SB was 0.76 ± 0.64 mm and three patients had residual stenosis of >30%. Angiographic success rate was 95%; procedural success rate reached 94%. Peri-procedural MI occurred in two and there was one cardiac death during hospitalization. At a median six months follow-up, TLR rate was 4%, MI 3%, and cardiac death 1%. The percentage MACE-free survival at six months was 94%. No cases of definite stent thrombosis occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In a real world the use of the Tryton Sidebranch stent is associated with good procedural safety and angiographic success rate and acceptable outcome at six months of follow-up.

Proteomic identification of Axc, a novel beta-lactamase with carbapenemase activity in a meropenem-resistant clinical isolate of Achromobacter xylosoxidans.

The development of antibiotic resistance during treatment is a threat to patients and their environment. Insight in the mechanisms of resistance development is important for appropriate therapy and infection control. Here, we describe how through the application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics, a novel beta-lactamase Axc was identified as an indicator of acquired carbapenem resistance in a clinical isolate of Achromobacter xylosoxidans. Comparative proteomic analysis of consecutively collected susceptible and resistant isolates from the same patient revealed that high Axc protein levels were only observed in the resistant isolate. Heterologous expression of Axc in Escherichia coli significantly increased the resistance towards carbapenems. Importantly, direct Axc mediated hydrolysis of imipenem was demonstrated using pH shift assays and 1H-NMR, confirming Axc as a legitimate carbapenemase. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the susceptible and resistant isolates were remarkably similar. Together these findings provide a molecular context for the fast development of meropenem resistance in A. xylosoxidans during treatment and demonstrate the use of mass spectrometric techniques in identifying novel resistance determinants.

Defective recovery of QT dispersion following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: frequency, predictors and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Corrected QT dispersion (cQTD) has been correlated with non-uniform ventricular repolarisation and increased mortality. In patients with aortic stenosis, cQTD has been shown improved after surgical valve replacement, but the effects of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are unknown. Therefore, we sought to explore the frequency, predictors and prognostic effects of defective cQTD recovery at 6 months after TAVI. METHODS: A total of 222 patients underwent TAVI with the Medtronic-CoreValve System between November 2005 and January 2012. Patients who were on class I or III antiarrhythmics or on chronic haemodialysis or who developed atrial fibrillation, a new bundle branch block or became pacemaker dependent after TAVI were excluded. As a result, pre-, post- and follow-up ECG (median: 6 months) analysis was available in 45 eligible patients. Defective cQTD recovery was defined as any progression beyond the baseline cQTD at 6 months. RESULTS: In the 45 patients, the mean cQTD was 47 ± 23 ms at baseline, 45 ± 17 ms immediately after TAVI and 40 ± 16 ms at 6 months (15% reduction, P = 0.049). Compared to baseline, cQTD at 6 months was improved in 60% of the patients whereas defective cQTD recovery was present in 40%. cQTD increase immediately after TAVI was an independent predictor of defective cQTD recovery at 6 months (per 10 ms increase; OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.15-3.12). By univariable analysis, defective cQTD recovery was associated with late mortality (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.05-2.17). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a gradual reduction of cQTD after TAVI, 40% of the patients had defective recovery at 6 months which was associated with late mortality. More detailed ECG analysis after TAVI may help to avoid late death.

Early and late optical coherence tomography findings following everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation in myocardial infarction: a preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: Although bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) have been used with promising results in patients with stable and unstable angina, little is known about the acute vascular response following BVS implantation in myocardial infarction. We present angiographic and OCT findings from the first patients undergoing bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in our institution. METHODS: The first 5 patients with NSTEMI and the first 5 patients with STEMI who underwent BVS implantation in our institution, followed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the treated culprit vessel, were included in this series. All patients underwent angiographic analysis pre- and post- BVS implantation, as well as OCT analysis, including qualitative and quantitative assessment. RESULTS: Implantation was successful in all cases, as assessed by angiography and OCT. There were no cases with coronary spasm, distal embolization or no-reflow. No adverse clinical events were recorded in any patient at the 6-month follow up. Specific illustrative cases demonstrating the challenges of BVS implantation in myocardial infarction are presented. CONCLUSIONS: BVS implantation can potentially be used in the setting of thrombotic lesions encountered in myocardial infarction; however, the role of this treatment approach warrants systematic evaluation in prospective studies.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease and survival after myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Several risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) have been associated with improved in-hospital survival after myocardial infarction (MI). We aimed to confirm this paradox and assess whether it extends to long-term outcome. In addition, we investigated temporal mortality trends. METHODS: We examined the relation between the presence of four modifiable risk factors for CHD (hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking) and mortality in 14,434 consecutive patients admitted with MI to a coronary care unit from 1985 to 2008. RESULTS: Two-thirds of MI patients (n = 10,003) had at least one risk factor for CHD on hospital admission. The presence of at least one compared to no CHD risk factors was associated with a favourable 30-day mortality rate (5% vs. 7%, adjusted odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-0.83). There was significant interaction between the presence of CHD risk factors and decade of hospitalization (p = 0.001). The adjusted 10-year mortality hazard ratio (HR) of at least one CHD risk factor compared to none, was 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0--1.4), 0.89 (0.65--1.2) and 0.89 (0.79--0.99) in 1985--1990, 1990--2000 and 2000--2008, respectively. Survival improved over time. Adjusted 10-year mortality fell (adjusted HR [2000--2008 vs. 1985--1990] 0.59 [95% CI: 0.52--0.66] in patients with, and 0.76 [95% CI: 0.65-0.89] in those without CHD risk factors). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of at least one modifiable CHD risk factor was associated with improved outcome after MI. Patients with CHD risk factors benefited from more substantial mortality reductions during the past few decades.

Age-dependent care and long-term (20 year) mortality of 14,434 myocardial infarction patients: changes from 1985 to 2008.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether age-dependent inequalities in care and outcome changed over a 24 year period for patients admitted with a myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: We examined four age groups (<55, 55-65, 65-75, and >75 years) and treatment and mortality in 14,434 consecutive patients admitted for MI to an intensive coronary care unit from 1985 to 2008. Temporal trend analyses were performed by comparing decades of admission (1985-1990 vs. 1990-2000 vs. 2000-2008). RESULTS: A total of 2040 (14%) of the patients were >75 years of age. Older patients more often were female and less often presented with an ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). Systematic differences in care were present between the age groups: older patients were less likely to receive evidence-based medical care and reperfusion therapy during the last 24 years, although the differences became smaller over time. In 2000-2008, 30-day (adjusted OR 0.28, 95%CI: 0.23-0.34) and 5-year (adjusted HR 0.61, 95%CI: 0.54-0.68) mortality were lower compared to 1985-1990. These temporal trends were equal across all age groups. Hence, the change in mortality over the 24-year study period is similar among the spectrum of ages. Patients aged <55, 55-65, 65-75, and >75 years had a 20-year mortality of 38, 63, 87 and >95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients with an MI remained less likely to receive evidence-based care during 24 years of observation. Temporal reductions in mortality were similar among all age groups. The application of proven MI therapies to appropriate patients regardless of age may even further improve these outcomes.

Relation of admission glucose levels, short- and long-term (20-year) mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

We examined temporal trends in mortality after myocardial infarction from 1985 to 2008 depending on admission glucose levels. We included 11,324 consecutive patients admitted to our intensive coronary care unit for myocardial infarction from 1985 to 2008. Patients were categorized into normal, mild, and severe hyperglycemia groups (admission glucose levels <140, 140 to 200, and ≥200 mg/dl, respectively). Temporal trends were determined using 3 groups: 1985 to 1990, 1990 to 2000, and 2000 to 2008. The prevalence of hyperglycemia increased from 26% in the 1980s to 49% in the 2000s. The prevalence of hyperglycemia primarily increased in patients without diabetes. Kaplan-Meier mortality was 4%, 8%, and 17% at 30 days and 64%, 71%, and 82% at 20 years in patients with normal, mild, and severe hyperglycemia, respectively. Compared with normal admission glucose level, adjusted 30-day mortality was 3.6-fold greater (95% confidence interval 2.9 to 4.3) in patients with severe hyperglycemia. This association was not dependent on diabetic status (p for interaction = 0.43) but was dependent on the decade of hospitalization with a stronger association from 2000 to 2008 (adjusted odds ratio 7.7, 95% confidence interval 5.4 to 11, p for interaction <0.001). Compared with diabetes, hyperglycemia was a better discriminator for 30-day mortality. Mortality at 30 days decreased from 1985 to 2008, however, it decreased less in patients with hyperglycemia compared with those with normoglycemia. In conclusion, elevated admission glucose levels are common in patients with myocardial infarction and are strongly associated with increased mortality. Mortality decreased less from 1985 to 2008 in patients with hyperglycemia compared with those with normoglycemia. Efforts that establish optimal treatment for these patients remain warranted.

Pacemaker dependency after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the self-expanding Medtronic CoreValve System.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To determine pacemaker (PM) dependency at follow-up visit in patients who underwent new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: Single center prospective observational study including 167 patients without previous PM implantation who underwent TAVI with the self-expanding Medtronic CoreValve System (MCS) between November 2005 and February 2011. PM dependency was defined by the presence of a high degree atrioventricular block (HDAVB; second [AV2] and third degree [AV3B]), or a slow (<30 bpm) or absent ventricular escape rhythm during follow-up PM interrogation. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients (21.6%) received a new PM following TAVI. The indication for PM was AV2B (n=2, 5.6%), AV3B (n=28, 77.8%), postoperative symptomatic bradycardia (n=3, 8.3%), brady-tachy syndrome (n=1, 2.8%), atrial fibrilation with slow response (n=1, 2.8%) and left bundle branch block (n=1, 2.8%). Long term follow-up was complete for all patients and ranged from 1 to 40 months (median (IQR): 11.5 (5.0-18.0 months). Of those patients with a HDAVB, 16 out of the 30 patients (53.3%) were PM independent at follow-up visit (complete or partial resolution of the AV conduction abnormality). Overall, 20 out of the 36 patients (55.6%) who received a new PM following TAVI were PM independent at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Partial and even complete resolution of peri-operative AV conduction abnormalities after MCS valve implantation occurred in more than half of the patients.

The new European Society of Cardiology guidelines on myocardial revascularisation: an appraisal.

The latest European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on myocardial revascularisation are reviewed. The nearly 300 recommendations make it difficult to apply them in their totality. The authors would propose 20-30 recommendations per guideline based on sound clinical evidence. Also, the scope of the current guidelines is very wide as it includes topics already incorporated in other guidelines, such as strategies for pre-intervention diagnosis and imaging as well as on secondary prevention. Some recommendations in the new guidelines are sensible and will not be disputed. In particular, the encouragement of a balanced multidisciplinary decision process (the 'heart team') is welcome. Although coronary revascularisation in unstable high risk patients is well accepted, this is less the case for the low risk patient with chest pain. This issue is controversial and a balanced discussion of the pros and cons of percutaneous coronary intervention is missing. Despite convincing evidence indicating lack of benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion, this procedure is not discouraged. Lastly, most committee members were interventional cardiologists or cardiac surgeons. Guideline committees should be representative of the whole group of professionals as the interpretation of the evidence by specialists may be biased. There may be a role for procedure oriented guidelines but, in that case, the items at issue should remain confined to matters directly related to technical aspects of the procedure.

Short- and long-term mortality after myocardial infarction in patients with and without diabetes: changes from 1985 to 2008.

OBJECTIVE: To study temporal trends in short- and long-term outcome after myocardial infarction (MI) according to diabetes status. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We included all 14,434 consecutive patients admitted for ST-segment elevation MI or non-ST-segment elevation MI at our center between 1985 and 2008. The study patients were compared according to prevalent diabetes. Temporal trend analyses were performed by comparing decades of admission (1985-1989 vs. 1990-1999 vs. 2000-2008). RESULTS: A total of 2,015 (14%) of the patients had prevalent diabetes. The risk of presenting with diabetes increased from 8 to 17% from 1985 to 2008. Diabetic patients presented with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. With time, the use of evidence-based therapies increased in both patients with and without diabetes. Diabetes is associated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of mortality at the 20-year follow-up. Ten-year mortality decreased over time in patients with diabetes, from 53% in 1985-1989 to 39% in 2000-2008 (adjusted hazard ratio 0.56 [95% CI 0.43-0.73]), and in those without diabetes, from 38% in 1985-1989 to 29% in 2000-2008 (0.66 [0.60-0.73]; P interaction = 0.83). Patients with diabetes benefitted from a higher 30-day and 10-year absolute survival increase. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal mortality reductions after MI between 1985 and 2008 were at least as high in patients with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. However, long-term mortality remained higher in diabetic patients. Awareness of the high-risk profile of diabetic patients is warranted and might stimulate optimal medical care and outcome.

Effect of anemia on short- and long-term outcome in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes.

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.

Usefulness of the SYNTAX score to predict "no reflow" in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

The no-reflow phenomenon has been shown to have a significant effect on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Angiographic features incorporated in the SYNTAX Score (SXScore) obtained on diagnostic angiography during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) may be associated with the occurrence of myocardial no-reflow. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the SXScore to predict no-reflow during PPCI. The SXScore was applied to 669 consecutive patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from November 2006 to February 2008. Angiographic analysis of the PPCI procedure was used to determine no-reflow. The median SXScore was 16 (range 9.5 to 23). No-reflow occurred in 77 patients (12%). On univariate logistic regression analysis, the SXScore showed a strong association (for each 10-unit increase in SXScore, odds ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 1.76, p <0.001). On multivariate logistic regression in a model including clinical variables, SXScore was an independent predictor of no-reflow (odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.63, p <0.001). Classification and regression tree analysis identified SXScore >21 as the best cutoff, with patients having double the risk for no-reflow compared to those with SXScore ≤21 (events 9% vs 18%, p = 0.006). In conclusion, the SXScore obtained in the diagnostic phase of PPCI for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction can identify patients at risk for developing no-reflow.