Assessing GPT-4's Performance in Delivering Medical Advice: Comparative Analysis With Human Experts.

Background: Accurate medical advice is paramount in ensuring optimal patient care, and misinformation can lead to misguided decisions with potentially detrimental health outcomes. The emergence of large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI's GPT-4 has spurred interest in their potential health care applications, particularly in automated medical consultation. Yet, rigorous investigations comparing their performance to human experts remain sparse. Objective: This study aims to compare the medical accuracy of GPT-4 with human experts in providing medical advice using real-world user-generated queries, with a specific focus on cardiology. It also sought to analyze the performance of GPT-4 and human experts in specific question categories, including drug or medication information and preliminary diagnoses. Methods: We collected 251 pairs of cardiology-specific questions from general users and answers from human experts via an internet portal. GPT-4 was tasked with generating responses to the same questions. Three independent cardiologists (SL, JHK, and JJC) evaluated the answers provided by both human experts and GPT-4. Using a computer interface, each evaluator compared the pairs and determined which answer was superior, and they quantitatively measured the clarity and complexity of the questions as well as the accuracy and appropriateness of the responses, applying a 3-tiered grading scale (low, medium, and high). Furthermore, a linguistic analysis was conducted to compare the length and vocabulary diversity of the responses using word count and type-token ratio. Results: GPT-4 and human experts displayed comparable efficacy in medical accuracy ("GPT-4 is better" at 132/251, 52.6% vs "Human expert is better" at 119/251, 47.4%). In accuracy level categorization, humans had more high-accuracy responses than GPT-4 (50/237, 21.1% vs 30/238, 12.6%) but also a greater proportion of low-accuracy responses (11/237, 4.6% vs 1/238, 0.4%; P=.001). GPT-4 responses were generally longer and used a less diverse vocabulary than those of human experts, potentially enhancing their comprehensibility for general users (sentence count: mean 10.9, SD 4.2 vs mean 5.9, SD 3.7; P<.001; type-token ratio: mean 0.69, SD 0.07 vs mean 0.79, SD 0.09; P<.001). Nevertheless, human experts outperformed GPT-4 in specific question categories, notably those related to drug or medication information and preliminary diagnoses. These findings highlight the limitations of GPT-4 in providing advice based on clinical experience. Conclusions: GPT-4 has shown promising potential in automated medical consultation, with comparable medical accuracy to human experts. However, challenges remain particularly in the realm of nuanced clinical judgment. Future improvements in LLMs may require the integration of specific clinical reasoning pathways and regulatory oversight for safe use. Further research is needed to understand the full potential of LLMs across various medical specialties and conditions.

Comparison of Statin With Ezetimibe Combination Therapy Versus Statin Monotherapy for Primary Prevention in Middle-Aged Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lipid lowering therapy is essential to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events; however, limited evidence exists regarding the use of statin with ezetimibe as primary prevention strategy for middle-aged adults. We aimed to investigate the impact of single pill combination therapy on clinical outcomes in relatively healthy middle-aged patients when compared with statin monotherapy. METHODS: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, a propensity score match analysis was performed for baseline characteristics of 92,156 patients categorized into combination therapy (n=46,078) and statin monotherapy (n=46,078) groups. Primary outcome was composite outcomes, including death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke. And secondary outcome was all-cause death. The mean follow-up duration was 2.9±0.3 years. RESULTS: The 3-year composite outcomes of all-cause death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke demonstrated no significant difference between the 2 groups (10.3% vs. 10.1%; hazard ratio (HR), 1.022; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.980-1.064; p=0.309). Meanwhile, the 3-year all-cause death rate was lower in the combination therapy group than in the statin monotherapy group (0.2% vs. 0.4%; p<0.001), with a significant HR of 0.595 (95% CI, 0.460-0.769; p<0.001). Single pill combination therapy exhibited consistently lower mortality rates across various subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the statin monotherapy, the combination therapy for primary prevention showed no difference in composite outcomes but may reduce mortality risk in relatively healthy middle-aged patients. However, since the study was observational, further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Prognostic Impact of CYP2C19 Genotypes on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Older Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Carriers of CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles have increased adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention, but limited data are available for older patients. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of CYP2C19 genotypes on clinical outcomes in older patients after percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 1201 older patients (aged ≥75 years) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and received clopidogrel-based dual antiplatelet therapy in South Korea. Patients were grouped on the basis of CYP2C19 genotypes. The primary outcome was 3-year major adverse cardiac events, defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis. Older patients were grouped into 3 groups: normal metabolizer (36.6%), intermediate metabolizer (48.1%), and poor metabolizer (15.2%). The occurrence of the primary outcome was significantly different among the groups (3.1, 7.0, and 6.2% in the normal metabolizer, intermediate metabolizer, and poor metabolizer groups, respectively; P=0.02). The incidence rate of all-cause death at 3 years was greater in the intermediate metabolizer and poor metabolizer groups (8.1% and 9.2%, respectively) compared with that in the normal metabolizer group (3.5%, P=0.03) without significant differences in major bleeding. In the multivariable analysis, the intermediate metabolizer and poor metabolizer groups were independent predictors of 3-year clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In older patients, the presence of any CYP2C19 loss-of-function allele was found to be predictive of a higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events within 3 years following percutaneous coronary intervention. This finding suggests a need for further investigation into an optimal antiplatelet strategy for older patients. REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT04734028.

Association of Age- and Body Mass Index-Stratified High On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity With Coronary Intervention Outcomes in East Asian Patients.

BACKGROUND: Although age and body mass index (BMI) significantly affect platelet reactivity units and clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention, there are limited data on the relationship between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) and clinical outcomes on age and BMI differences. Thus, we investigated the association of HPR with clinical outcomes according to age and BMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study analyzed 11 714 patients who underwent platelet function tests after percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), whereas the secondary end point was major bleeding. HPR was defined as platelet reactivity units ≥252. Patients were categorized by age (<67 years of age or ≥67 years of age) and BMI (≤22.6 kg/m2 or >22.6 kg/m2). Patients <67 years of age with HPR had increases in both MACCEs (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.436 [95% CI, 1.106-1.867]; P=0.007) and major bleeding (adjusted HR, 1.584 [95% CI, 1.095-2.290]; P=0.015) compared with the those with non-HPR, respectively. In patients ≥67 years of age with HPR, there were no differences in MACCEs, but there was a decrease in major bleeding (adjusted HR, 0.721 [95% CI, 0.542-0.959]; P=0.024). Meanwhile, patients with HPR with BMI >22.6 kg/m2 had increases in MACCEs (adjusted HR, 1.387 [95% CI, 1.140-1.688]; P=0.001). No differences were shown in major bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: HPR was linked to an increase in MACCEs or a decrease in major bleeding in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention, depending on age and BMI. This study is the first to observe that clinical outcomes in patients with HPR after percutaneous coronary intervention may vary based on age and BMI. Because the study is observational, the results should be viewed as hypothesis generating and emphasize the need for randomized clinical trials.

The Use of Coronary Imaging for Predicting Future Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Despite advancements in coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment with drug-eluting stent, its morbidity and mortality remain high. In context, intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly recommended for better clinical outcomes in patient with CAD. Near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS), as one of the intravascular imaging methods, is effective in detecting lipid-rich plaques, which is crucial for identifying high-risk or vulnerable plaques employing near-infrared light. High lipid core burden, as identified by NIRS-IVUS, correlates with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events and shows varying degrees of efficacy in plaque management and event prevention. Summary: This article addresses about how NIRS-IVUS can be used to predict event of CAD. The study highlights the crucial role of NIRS-IVUS in predicting future cardiovascular events. Findings indicate that the presence of high lipid core burden is related to increased risks of periprocedural myocardial infarction and reduced coronary flow during PCI. The study also outlines the predictive value of NIRS-IVUS in non-culprit lesions, where plaques with high lipid core burden significantly increase the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events as demonstrated in the PROSPECT II trial. In terms of therapeutic strategies, the study reviews the effectiveness of high-intensity lipid-lowering strategies in stabilizing vulnerable plaques, as evidenced in trials such as the YELLOW and PACMAN AMI trials. Key Messages: NIRS-IVUS emerges as a valuable diagnostic tool in treating CAD. It effectively identifies vulnerable plaques and aids in predicting and preventing future adverse cardiac events. However, to enhance its practicality and promote widespread adoption in clinical settings, further long-term outcome research of NIRS-IVUS-guided PCI is necessary. These efforts can potentially make NIRS-IVUS a more accessible and indispensable tool in cardiovascular disease management.

High platelet reactivity strongly predicts early stent thrombosis in patients with drug-eluting stent implantation.

Stent thrombosis (ST) is a fatal complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The association between P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) level and stent thrombosis occurrence remains unclear. Based on the multicenter, observational PTRG-DES (Platelet function and genoType-Related long-term proGnosis in DES-treated patients) registry of patients with drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation, a total of 11,714 patients with PRU values were analyzed. We sought to identify the predictors of early stent thrombosis (EST) and compared the primary outcome, a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization, between EST and non-EST groups. EST, defined as definite ST within 1 month after index PCI, occurred in 51 patients. PRU values were significantly higher in the EST group (263.5 ± 70.8 vs. 217.5 ± 78.7, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, PRU ≥ 252 (OR, 5.10; 95% CI 1.58-16.46; p = 0.006) and aspirin reaction unit ≥ 414 (OR 4.85; 95% CI 1.07-21.97; p = 0.040) were independent predictors of EST. The cumulative incidence of primary composite outcome at one year was significantly higher in the EST group (38.2% vs. 3.9%, Log-rank p < 0.001). In patients treated with clopidogrel after successful DES implantation, EST was associated with higher platelet reactivities, and a greater risk of cardiovascular events.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04734028.

Moderate-Intensity Statin With Ezetimibe Combination Therapy vs High-Intensity Statin Monotherapy in Patients at Very High Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Post Hoc Analysis From the RACING Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: High-intensity statin is strongly recommended in patients at very high risk (VHR) of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, concerns about statin-associated adverse effects result in underuse of this strategy in practice. Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of a moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination in VHR and non-VHR patients with ASCVD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a post hoc analysis of the Randomized Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Lipid Lowering With Statin Monotherapy vs Statin/Ezetimibe Combination for High-Risk Cardiovascular Disease (RACING) open-label, multicenter, randomized clinical trial. The study was conducted from February 2017 to December 2018 at 26 centers in Korea. Study participants included patients with documented ASCVD. Data were analyzed from April to June 2022. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe (rosuvastatin, 10 mg, with ezetimibe, 10 mg) or high-intensity statin monotherapy (rosuvastatin, 20 mg). Patients at VHR for ASCVD were defined according to the 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the 3-year outcome of cardiovascular death, coronary or peripheral revascularization, hospitalization of cardiovascular events, or nonfatal stroke. Results: A total of 3780 patients (mean [SD] age, 64 [10] years; 2826 male [75%]) in the RACING trial, 1511 (40.0%) were categorized as VHR, which was associated with a greater occurrence of the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.15-1.75). There was no significant difference in the primary end point between those who received combination therapy and high-intensity statin monotherapy among patients with VHR disease (11.2% vs 11.7%; HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.71-1.30) and non-VHR disease (7.7% vs 8.7%; HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.66-1.18). The median low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was significantly lower in the combination therapy group than in the high-intensity statin group (VHR, 1 year: 57 [47-71] mg/dL vs 65 [53-78] mg/dL; non-VHR, 1 year: 58 mg/dL vs 68 mg/dL; P < .001). Furthermore, in both the VHR and non-VHR groups, combination therapy was associated with a significantly greater mean change in LDL-C level (VHR, 1 year: -19.1 mg/dL vs -10.1 mg/dL; 2 years: -22.3 mg/dL vs -13.0 mg/dL; 3 years: -18.8 mg/dL vs -9.7 mg/dL; non-VHR, 1 year: -23.7 mg/dL vs -12.5 mg/dL; 2 years: -25.2 mg/dL vs -15.1 mg/dL; 3 years: -23.5 mg/dL vs -12.6 mg/dL; all P < .001) and proportion of patients with LDL-C level less than 70 mg/dL (VHR, 1 year: 73% vs 58%; non-VHR, 1 year: 72% vs 53%; P < .001). Discontinuation or dose reduction of the lipid-lowering drug due to intolerance occurred less frequently in the combination therapy group (VHR, 4.6% vs 7.7%; P = .02; non-VHR, 5.0% vs 8.7%; P = .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Results suggest that the outcomes of ezetimibe combination observed in the RACING trial were consistent among patients at VHR of ASCVD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03044665.

Effect of Cilostazol on Patients With Diabetes Who Underwent Endovascular Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background No large-scale study has compared the clinical impact of triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT: aspirin, clopidogrel, and cilostazol) and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on adverse limb events in patients with diabetes after endovascular therapy (EVT) for peripheral artery disease. Thus, we investigate the effect of cilostazol added to a DAPT on the clinical outcomes after EVT in patients with diabetes using a nationwide, multicenter, real-world registry. Methods and Results A total of 990 patients with diabetes who underwent EVT were enrolled from the retrospective cohorts of a Korean multicenter EVT registry and were divided according to the antiplatelet regimen (TAPT [n=350; 35.4%] versus DAPT [n=640; 64.6%]). After propensity score matching based on clinical characteristics, a total of 350 pairs were compared for clinical outcomes. The primary end points were major adverse limb events, a composite of major amputation, minor amputation, and reintervention. For the matched study groups, the lesion length was 125.4±102.0 mm, and severe calcification was observed in 47.4%. The technical success rate (96.9% versus 94.0%; P=0.102) and the complication rate (6.9% versus 6.6%; P>0.999) were similar between the TAPT and DAPT groups. At 2-year follow-up, the incidence of major adverse limb events (16.6% versus 19.4%; P=0.260) did not differ between the 2 groups. However, the TAPT group showed less minor amputation than the DAPT group (2.0% versus 6.3%; P=0.004). In multivariate analysis, TAPT was an independent predictor of minor amputation (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.354 [95% CI, 0.158-0.794]; P=0.012). Conclusions In patients with diabetes undergoing EVT for peripheral artery disease, TAPT did not decrease the incidence of major adverse limb events but may be associated with a decreased risk of minor amputation.

Two-Year clinical outcomes after coronary bifurcation stenting in older patients from Korea and Italy.

Background: Older patients who treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at a higher risk of adverse cardiac outcomes. We sought to investigate the clinical impact of bifurcation PCI in older patients from Korea and Italy. Methods: We selected 5,537 patients who underwent bifurcation PCI from the BIFURCAT (comBined Insights from the Unified RAIN and COBIS bifurcAtion regisTries) database. The primary outcome was a composite of target vessel myocardial infarction, clinically driven target lesion revascularization, and stent thrombosis at two years. Results: In patients aged ≥75 years, the mean age was 80.1 ± 4.0 years, 65.2% were men, and 33.7% had diabetes. Older patients more frequently presented with chronic kidney disease (CKD), severe coronary calcification, and left main coronary artery disease (LMCA). During a median follow-up of 2.1 years, older patients showed similar adverse clinical outcomes compared to younger patients (the primary outcome, 5.7% vs. 4.5%; p = 0.21). Advanced age was not an independent predictor of the primary outcome (p = 0.93) in overall patients. Both CKD and LMCA were independent predictors regardless of age group. Conclusions: Older patients (≥75 years) showed similar clinical outcomes to those of younger patients after bifurcation PCI. Advanced age alone should not deter physicians from performing complex PCIs for bifurcation disease.

Effect of rosuvastatin 20 mg versus rosuvastatin 5 mg plus ezetimibe on statin side-effects in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: Rationale and design of a randomized, controlled SaveSAMS trial.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend that patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) use high-intensity statin therapy to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels by at least 50%, irrespective of age. However, in real-world practice, there is reluctance to maintain statin use in response to side-effects, particularly statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Moreover, no randomized trial has been conducted on the safety of statin therapy in elderly patients. TRIAL DESIGN: This investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized clinical trial aimed to investigate the incidence of SAMS and its effect on LDL-cholesterol levels in elderly patients with established ASCVD. Eligible patients were aged 70 years or older with established ASCVD. Consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to receive either intensive statin monotherapy (rosuvastatin 20 mg) or combination therapy (rosuvastatin/ezetimibe, 5/10 mg). The primary endpoint of the study is SAMS at 6 months with regard to treatment strategy. Positive SAMS results are defined as patients with a proposed statin myalgia index score of 7 or higher. The key secondary end-points are target LDL-cholesterol achievement (LDL < 70 mg/dL), incidence of myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, frequency of drug discontinuation, and creatinine kinase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The SaveSAMS study is a multicenter, randomized trial that will compare the incidence of SAMS in patients with established ASCVD who are 70 years or older on intensive statin monotherapy to that combination therapy.

Assessment of fractional flow reserve in intermediate coronary stenosis using optical coherence tomography-based machine learning.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of machine learning (ML)- fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) with wire-based FFR irrespective of the coronary territory. Background: ML techniques for assessing hemodynamics features including FFR in coronary artery disease have been developed based on various imaging modalities. However, there is no study using OCT-based ML models for all coronary artery territories. Methods: OCT and FFR data were obtained for 356 individual coronary lesions in 130 patients. The training and testing groups were divided in a ratio of 4:1. The ML-FFR was derived for the testing group and compared with the wire-based FFR in terms of the diagnosis of ischemia (FFR ≤ 0.80). Results: The mean age of the subjects was 62.6 years. The numbers of the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries were 130 (36.5%), 110 (30.9%), and 116 (32.6%), respectively. Using seven major features, the ML-FFR showed strong correlation (r = 0.8782, P < 0.001) with the wire-based FFR. The ML-FFR predicted wire-based FFR ≤ 0.80 in the test set with sensitivity of 98.3%, specificity of 61.5%, and overall accuracy of 91.7% (area under the curve: 0.948). External validation showed good correlation (r = 0.7884, P < 0.001) and accuracy of 83.2% (area under the curve: 0.912). Conclusion: OCT-based ML-FFR showed good diagnostic performance in predicting FFR irrespective of the coronary territory. Because the study was a small-size study, the results should be warranted the performance in further large-scale research.

Early Invasive Strategy Based on the Time of Symptom Onset of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: A limitation of the current guidelines regarding the timing of invasive coronary angiography for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome is the randomization time. To date, no study has reported the clinical outcomes of invasive strategy timing on the basis of the time of symptom onset. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of invasive strategy timing from the time of symptom onset on the 3-year clinical outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHODS: Among 13,104 patients from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health, 5,856 patients with NSTE myocardial infarction were evaluated. The patients were categorized according to symptom-to-catheter (StC) time (<48 or ≥48 hours). The primary outcome was 3-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 3,919 patients (66.9%) were classified into the StC time <48 hours group. This group had lower all-cause mortality than the group with StC time ≥48 hours (7.3% vs 13.4%; P < 0.001). The lower risk for all-cause mortality in the group with StC time <48 hours group was consistent in all subgroups. Notably, emergency medical service use (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.19-0.52) showed a lower risk for all-cause mortality than no emergency medical service use (HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.46-0.65; P value for interaction = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: An early invasive strategy on the basis of StC time was associated with a decreased risk for all-cause mortality in patients with NSTEMI. Because the study was based on a prospective registry, the results should be considered hypothesis generating, highlighting the need for further research. (iCReaT Study No. C110016).

Platelet Reactivity and Clinical Outcomes After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: Results From the PTRG-DES Consortium.

BACKGROUND: The long-term prognostic implication of platelet reactivity after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not clearly known. OBJECTIVES: The impacts of platelet reactivity from the PTRG-DES consortium were assessed. METHODS: The primary endpoint was the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or stroke. Key secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality, major bleeding, and net adverse clinical events (NACE), including MACCE and bleeding. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2018, a total of 11,714 patients were enrolled and grouped into tertiles according to P2Y12 reaction units (PRUs): high PRUs (≥253), intermediate PRUs (188-252), and low PRUs (<188). The Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates of the primary outcome were significantly different across the groups; the high-PRU group showed the highest MACCE rate at 5 years (12.9%, 11.1%, and 7.0% in high-, intermediate-, and low-PRU groups, respectively; P < 0.001), as well as at 1 year (P < 0.001). The high-PRU group had the greatest KM estimates of all-cause death (8.2%, 5.9%, and 3.7%, respectively; P < 0.001) at 5 years without significant differences of major bleeding, and resultant of a higher KM estimates of NACE (15.7%, 13.6%, and 9.7%, respectively; P < 0.001). A PRU ≥252, the best cutoff value, was strongly related to MACCE (HR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.11-1.74; P = 0.003) and all-cause death at 5 years after PCI (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04-1.94; P = 0.026). The optimal cutoff value of aspirin reaction units predicting the MACCE occurrence was ≥414 and was significantly associated with 5-year MACCE occurrence or all-cause death (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale cohort, high PRU was significantly associated with occurrence of MACCE, all-death death, and NACE at 5 years, as well as 1 year after PCI. (PTRG-DES Consortium [PTRG]; NCT04734028).

Association between High Lipid Burden of Target Lesion and Slow TIMI Flow in Coronary Interventions.

Decreased thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow is associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, its predictors are not fully known. A combination of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) could be used to detect lesions at high risk of slow TIMI flow. This study evaluated 636 consecutive patients undergoing target-lesion NIRS-IVUS imaging prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The maximal lipid core burden index over 4-mm segments (maxLCBI4mm) per target vessel was calculated. The primary endpoint was the association between maxLCBI4mm and post-interventional TIMI flow. A high lipid core burden index (LCBI) cut-off point was determined using receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Decreased TIMI flow (TIMI less than 3) occurred in 90 patients and normal TIMI flow in 546 patients. The decreased TIMI flow group showed significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular events (5.6% vs. 1.5%, log-rank p = 0.010) in three months of composite events including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization. In multivariable analysis, a high LCBI (≥354) was independently associated with slow TIMI flow (OR, 2.59 (95% CI, 1.33-5.04), p = 0.005). High LCBI measured using NIRS-IVUS imaging was an independent predictor of decreased post-PCI TIMI flow. Performing PCI for high-LCBI lesions may necessitate adjunctive measures to prevent suboptimal post-PCI reperfusion.

Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a basic test for screening cardiovascular disease. However, the impact of ECG abnormalities on cardiovascular prognosis in patients with CKD is largely unknown. A total of 2442 patients with CKD (stages 3−5) who underwent ECG between 2013 and 2015 were selected from the electronic health record database of the Korea University Anam Hospital. ECG abnormalities were defined using the Minnesota classification. The five-year major adverse cerebrocardiovascular event (MACCE), the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke were analyzed. The five-year incidences for MACCE were 27.7%, 20.8%, and 17.2% in patients with no, minor, and major ECG abnormality (p < 0.01). Kaplan−Meier curves also showed the highest incidence of MI, death, and MACCE in patients with major ECG abnormality. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed age, sex, diabetes, CKD stage, hsCRP, antipsychotic use, and major ECG abnormality as independent risk predictors for MACCE (adjusted HR of major ECG abnormality: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09−1.76, p < 01). Among the detailed ECG diagnoses, sinus tachycardia, myocardial ischemia, atrial premature complex, and right axis deviation were proposed as important ECG diagnoses. The accuracy of cardiovascular risk stratification was improved when the ECG results were added to the conventional SCORE model (net reclassification index 0.07). ECG helps to predict future cerebrocardiovascular events in CKD patients. ECG diagnosis can be useful for cardiovascular risk evaluation in CKD patients when applied in addition to the conventional risk stratification model.

Target Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol and Secondary Prevention for Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.

Although lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels following acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the cornerstone of secondary prevention, the attainment of recommended LDL-C goals remains suboptimal in real-world practice. We sought to investigate recurrent adverse events in post-MI patients. From the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction-National Institutes of Health registry, a total of 5049 patients with both measurements of plasma LDL-C levels at index admission and at the one-year follow-up visit were identified. Patients who achieved an LDL-C reduction ≥ 50% from the index MI and an LDL-C level ≤ 70 mg/dL at follow-up were classified as target LDL-C achievers. The primary endpoint was a two-year major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), including cardiovascular mortality, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke. Among the 5049 patients, 1114 (22.1%) patients achieved the target LDL-C level. During a median follow-up of 2.1 years, target LDL-C achievers showed a significantly lower incidence (2.2% vs. 3.5%, log-rank p = 0.022) and a reduced adjusted hazard of MACCE (0.63; p = 0.041). In patients with acute MI, achieving a target LDL-C level was associated with a lower incidence and a reduced hazard of recurrent clinical events. These results highlight the need to improve current practices for managing LDL-C levels in real-world settings.

The association between cardiac involvement and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

AIMS: Despite advances in contemporary cardiopulmonary therapies, cardiomyopathy remains the leading cause of death in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Also, the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with DMD and cardiomyopathy is unknown. This study investigated long-term clinical outcomes and their associated factors in patients with late-stage DMD. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 116 patients with late-stage DMD (age > 15 years) were enrolled in this retrospective study. All enrolled patients were followed up at a single tertiary referral hospital. LV systolic dysfunction was dichotomously defined as reduced [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%] vs. preserved [>40%] based on the initial echocardiographic result. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. The secondary endpoint was a composite event defined as death or unexpected hospitalization due to cardiovascular reasons including chest pain, dyspnoea, and generalized oedema. The patients were divided into preserved (n = 84, 72.4%) and reduced LVEF groups (n = 32, 27.6%). The mean age was 20.8 ± 5.9 years, the mean disease duration, 8.8 ± 3.7 years, and the mean follow-up duration, 1708 ± 659 days. For primary endpoint, the reduced LVEF group showed a lower rate of overall survival (Reduced LVEF vs. Preserved LVEF; 81.3% vs. 98.8%, log-rank P = 0.005). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, brain-natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.088, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.019-1.162, P = 0.011) and diuretic use (adjusted HR 9.279, 95%CI 1.651-52.148, P = 0.011) were significant predictors of all-cause death in patients with DMD. For the secondary endpoint, the reduced LVEF group had a lower rate of freedom from composite events than the preserved LVEF group (65.6% vs. 86.9%, log-rank P = 0.005). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, BNP level (adjusted HR 1.057, 95%CI 1.005-1.112, P = 0.032) and diuretic use (adjusted HR 4.189, 95% CI 1.704-10.296, P = 0.002) were significant predictors of the composite event in patients with DMD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DMD and reduced LVEF had worse clinical outcomes than those with preserved LVEF. BNP level and diuretic use were associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with late-stage DMD, irrespective of LVEF.

Long-term Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors After Endovascular Treatment in Patients With Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endovascular therapy (EVT) first strategy has been widely adopted for the treatment of chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) patients in real-world practice. This study aimed to investigate long-term outcomes of CLTI patients who underwent EVT and identify prognostic factors. METHODS: From the retrospective cohorts of a Korean multicenter endovascular therapy registry, 1,036 patients with CLTI (792 men, 68.8 ± 9.5 years) were included. The primary endpoint was amputation-free survival (AFS) defined as the absence of major amputation or death. Secondary endpoints were major adverse limb events (MALE; a composite of major amputation, minor amputation, and reintervention). RESULTS: Five-year AFS and freedom from MALE were 69.8% and 61%, respectively. After multivariate analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.476; p<0.001), end-stage renal disease (ESRD; HR, 2.340; p<0.001), Rutherford category (RC) 6 (HR, 1.456; p=0.036), and suboptimal EVT (HR, 1.798; p=0.005) were identified as predictors of major amputation or death, whereas smoking (HR, 0.594; p=0.007) was protective. Low body mass index (HR, 1.505; p=0.046), ESRD (HR, 1.648; p=0.001), femoropopliteal lesion (HR, 1.877; p=0.004), RC-6 (HR, 1.471; p=0.008), and suboptimal EVT (HR, 1.847; p=0.001) were predictors of MALE. The highest hazard rates were observed during the first 6 months for both major amputation or death and MALE. After that, the hazard rate decreased and rose again after 3-4 years. CONCLUSIONS: In CLTI patients, long-term outcomes of EVT were acceptable. ESRD, RC-6, and suboptimal EVT were common predictors for poor clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02748226.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Delayed Hospitalization for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has reduced, whereas increased mortality was reported. A plausible explanation for increased mortality was prehospital delay because of patients' reticence of their symptoms. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between prehospital delay and clinical outcomes in patients with NSTEMI METHODS: Among 13,104 patients from the Korea-Acute-Myocardial-Infarction-Registry-National Institutes of Health, the authors evaluated 6,544 patients with NSTEMI. Study patients were categorized into 2 groups according to symptom-to-door (StD) time (<24 or ≥24 hours). The primary outcome was 3-year all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was 3-year composite of all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, and hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS: Overall, 1,827 (27.9%) patients were classified into the StD time ≥24 hours group. The StD time ≥24 hours group had higher all-cause mortality (17.0% vs 10.5%; P < 0.001) and incidence of secondary outcomes (23.3% vs 15.7%; P < 0.001) than the StD time <24 hours group. The higher all-cause mortality in the StD time ≥24 hours group was observed consistently in the subgroup analysis regarding age, sex, atypical chest pain, dyspnea, Q-wave in electrocardiogram, use of emergency medical services, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, left ventricle dysfunction, TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow, and the GRACE risk score. In the multivariable analysis, independent predictors of prehospital delay were the elderly, women, nonspecific symptoms such as atypical chest pain or dyspnea, diabetes, and no use of emergency medical services. CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital delay is associated with an increased risk of 3-year all-cause mortality in patients with NSTEMI. (iCReaT Study No. C110016).