Vulnerable plaque features and adverse events in patients with diabetes mellitus: a post hoc analysis of the COMBINE OCT-FFR trial.

BACKGROUND: Thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) lesions are associated with a high risk of future major adverse cardiovascular events. However, the impact of other optical coherence tomography-detected vulnerability features (OCT-VFs) and their interplay with TCFA in predicting adverse events remains unknown. AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the individual as well as the combined prognostic impact of OCT-VFs in predicting the incidence of the lesion-oriented composite endpoint (LOCE) in non-ischaemic lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: COMBINE OCT-FFR (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02989740) was a prospective, double-blind, international, natural history study that included DM patients with ≥1 non-culprit lesions with a fractional flow reserve>0.80 undergoing systematic OCT assessment. OCT-VFs included the following: TCFA, reduced minimal lumen area (r-MLA), healed plaque (HP), and complicated plaque (CP). The primary endpoint, LOCE - a composite of cardiac mortality, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target lesion revascularisation up to 5 years - was analysed according to the presence of these OCT-VFs, both individually and in combination. RESULTS: TCFA, r-MLA, HP and CP were identified in 98 (25.3%), 190 (49.0%), 87 (22.4%), and 116 (29.9%) patients, respectively. The primary endpoint rate increased progressively from 6.3% to 55.6% (hazard ratio 15.2, 95% confidence interval: 4.53-51.0; p<0.001) in patients without OCT-VFs as compared to patients with concomitant HP, r-MLA, CP, and TCFA. The coexistence of TCFA with other OCT-VFs resulted in an increased risk of the LOCE at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In DM patients with non-ischaemic lesions, TCFA was the strongest predictor of future LOCE events. However, lesions that present additional OCT-VFs are associated with a higher risk of adverse events than OCT-detected TCFA alone. Further randomised studies are warranted to confirm these findings and their potential clinical implications.

Prediction of 30-day mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis using risk scores: Insights from a European multicenter comparative validation study.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear today whether risk scores created specifically to predict early mortality after cardiac operations for infective endocarditis (IE) outperform or not the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroSCORE II). METHODS: Perioperative data and outcomes from a European multicenter series of patients undergoing surgery for definite IE were retrospectively reviewed. Only the cases with known pathogen and without missing values for all considered variables were retained for analyses. A comparative validation of EuroSCORE II and five specific risk scores for early mortality after surgery for IE - (1) STS-IE (Society of Thoracic Surgeons for IE); (2) PALSUSE (Prosthetic valve, Age ≥70, Large intra-cardiac destruction, Staphylococcus spp, Urgent surgery, Sex (female), EuroSCORE ≥10); (3) ANCLA (Anemia, New York Heart Association class IV, Critical state, Large intra-cardiac destruction, surgery on thoracic Aorta); (4) AEPEI II (Association pour l'Étude et la Prévention de l'Endocardite Infectieuse II); (5) APORTEI (Análisis de los factores PROnósticos en el Tratamiento quirúrgico de la Endocarditis Infecciosa) - was carried out using calibration plot and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Areas under the curve (AUCs) were compared 1:1 according to the Hanley-McNeil's method. The agreement between APORTEI score and EuroSCORE II of the 30-day mortality prediction after surgery was also appraised. RESULTS: A total of 1,012 patients from five European university-affiliated centers underwent 1,036 cardiac operations, with a 30-day mortality after surgery of 9.7%. All IE-specific risk scores considered achieved better results than EuroSCORE II in terms of calibration; AEPEI II and APORTEI score showed the best performances. Despite poor calibration, EuroSCORE II overcame in discrimination every specific risk score (AUC, 0.751 vs. 0.693 or less, p=0.01 or less). For a higher/lesser than 20% expected mortality, the agreement of prediction between APORTEI score and EuroSCORE II was 86%. CONCLUSION: EuroSCORE II discrimination for 30-day mortality after surgery for IE was higher than five established IE-specific risk scores. AEPEI II and APORTEI score showed the best results in terms of calibration.

Prehospital Tirofiban Increases the Rate of Disrupted Myocardial Infarction in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the On-TIME 2 Trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), prehospital tirofiban significantly improved myocardial reperfusion. However, its impact on the rate of disrupted myocardial infarction (MI), particularly in the context of high-sensitive cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays, is still unclear. METHODS: The On-TIME 2 (The Ongoing Tirofiban In Myocardial infarction Evaluation 2) trial randomly assigned STEMI patients to prehospital tirofiban or placebo before transportation to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centre. In this post hoc analysis, we evaluated STEMI patients that underwent primary PCI and had measured hs-cTn levels. Troponin T levels were collected at 18-24 h and 72-96 h after PCI. Disrupted MI was defined as peak hs-cTn T levels ≤10 times the upper limit of normal (≤140 ng/L). RESULTS: Out of 786 STEMI patients, 47 (6%) had a disrupted MI. Disrupted MI occurred in 31 of 386 patients (8.0%) in the tirofiban arm and in 16 of 400 patients (4.0%) in the placebo arm (p=0.026). After multivariate adjustment, prehospital tirofiban remained independently associated with disrupted MI (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.10 to 3.87; P= 0.027). None of the patients with disrupted MI died during the one-year follow-up, compared to a mortality rate of 2.6% among those without disrupted MI. CONCLUSION: Among STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, the use of prehospital tirofiban was independently associated with a higher rate of disrupted MI. These results, highlighting a potential benefit, underscore the need for future research focusing on innovative pretreatment approaches which may increase the rate of disrupted MI.

Apoptosis, a useful marker in the management of hot-phase cardiomyopathy?

AIMS: 'Hot phases', characterized by chest pain and troponin release, may represent the first clinical presentation of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies. Differential diagnosis with acute myocarditis is an unmet challenge for the clinicians. We sought to investigate histological and genetic features in patients with cardiomyopathy presenting with hot phases. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated a case series of consecutive patients hospitalized for suspected 'hot-phase cardiomyopathy' in two Italian centres from June 2017 to March 2022 (median follow-up 18 months) that underwent both endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and genetic testing. Apoptosis was confirmed with TUNEL assay. Among the 17 enrolled patients (mean age 34 ± 15 years, 76% male), only six patients (35%) presented standard histological and immunohistochemical markers for significant cardiac inflammation at EMB. Conversely, apoptosis was found in 13 patients (77%). Genetic testing was positive for a pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant in genes involved in cardiomyopathies (most frequently in DSP) in eight patients (48%), rising to 62% among patients with apoptosis on EMB. Notably, all patients without apoptosis tested negative for P/LP disease-related variants. Left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in patients showing apoptosis at EMB compared to those without (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis, rather than significant inflammation, was mostly prevalent in this case series of patients with 'hot-phase' presentation, especially in carriers of variants in cardiomyopathy-related genes. Detecting apoptosis on EMB might guide clinicians in performing genetic testing and in more tailored therapeutic choices in 'hot-phase cardiomyopathy'.

Impact of Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury on One-Year Outcomes in Very Elderly STEMI Patients: Insights From a Multicenter Registry in Northern Italy.

Data about contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in oldest old (age ≥85 years) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are scarce. We evaluated the incidence and the 1-year prognostic impact of CA-AKI in this population. Patients were included in a multicenter real-world registry, and CA-AKI was defined according to KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) criteria. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were defined as the composite of all-cause death, stroke, unplanned coronary revascularization, and heart failure hospitalization. The primary outcome was the incidence and impact of CA-AKI on MACCEs at 1 year follow-up. Out of 461 STEMI patients (mean age 88.6 ± 2.9 years), 102 (22.1%) patients developed CA-AKI. Chronic kidney disease was the strongest predictor of CA-AKI (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95% CI: 2.81-7.30, P < .01). The CA-AKI cohort showed a higher risk of MACCEs (adjusted HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.71, P = .01), driven mainly by all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.41-4.07, P = .01) and followed by heart failure hospitalization (adjusted HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.08-3.76, P = .01). Among oldest old STEMI, CA-AKI was frequent and associated with a higher incidence of MACCEs at 1-year follow-up.

Gender differences in the development of heart failure after acute coronary syndrome: Insight from the CORALYS registry.

BACKGROUND: Impact of gender on heart remodeling after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and consequently on development of heart failure (HF) remains to be elucidated. METHODS: CORALYS is a multicenter, retrospective, observational registry enrolling consecutive patients admitted for ACS and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. HF hospitalization was the primary endpoint while all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint of incidence of first HF hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality were the secondary ones. RESULTS: Among 14,699 patients enrolled in CORALYS registry, 4578 (31%) were women and 10,121 (69%) males. Women were older, had more frequently hypertension and diabetes and less frequently smoking habit. History of myocardial infarction (MI), STEMI at admission and multivessel disease were less common in women. After median follow up of 2.9 ± 1.8 years, women had higher incidence of primary and secondary endpoints and female sex was an independent predictor of HF hospitalization (HR 1.26;1.05-1.50; p = 0.011) and cardiovascular death/HF hospitalization (HR 1.18;1.02-1.37; p = 0.022). At multivariable analysis women and men share as predictors of HF diabetes, history of cancer, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, complete revascularization and left ventricular ejection fraction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR 2.34;1.70-3.22, p < 0.001) and diuretics treatment (HR 1.61;1.27-2.04, p < 0.001) were predictor of HF in men, while history of previous MI (HR 1.46;1.08-1.97, p = 0.015) and treatment with inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system (HR 0.69;0,49-0.96 all 95% CI, p = 0.030) in women. CONCLUSIONS: Women are at increased risk of HF after ACS and gender seems to be an outcome-modifier of the relationship between a variable and primary outcome.

Management of high and intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism: A position paper of the Interventional Cardiology Working Group of the Italian Society of Cardiology.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition that remains a major global health concern. Noteworthy, patients with high- and intermediate-high-risk PE pose unique challenges because they often display clinical and hemodynamic instability, thus requiring rapid intervention to mitigate the risk of clinical deterioration and death. Importantly, recovery from PE is associated with long-term complications such as recurrences, bleeding with oral anticoagulant treatment, pulmonary hypertension, and psychological distress. Several novel strategies to improve risk factor characterization and management of patients with PE have recently been introduced. Accordingly, this position paper of the Working Group of Interventional Cardiology of the Italian Society of Cardiology deals with the landscape of high- and intermediate-high risk PE, with a focus on bridging the gap between the evolving standards of care and the current clinical practice. Specifically, the growing importance of catheter-directed therapies as part of the therapeutic armamentarium is highlighted. These interventions have been shown to be effective strategies in unstable patients since they offer, as compared with thrombolysis, faster and more effective restoration of hemodynamic stability with a consistent reduction in the risk of bleeding. Evolving standards of care underscore the need for continuous re-assessment of patient risk stratification. To this end, a multidisciplinary approach is paramount in refining selection criteria to deliver the most effective treatment to patients with unstable hemodynamics. In conclusion, the current management of unstable patients with PE should prioritize tailored treatment in a patient-oriented approach in which transcatheter therapies play a central role.

Percutaneous edge-to-edge repair as a bailout option to treat Iatrogenic leaflet perforation.

An 80-year-old man was referred to our center for heart failure and severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). Transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe MR due to anterior leaflet prolapse, mainly in its central portion (A2) in the context of fibroelastic deficiency.

Implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator after ST-elevation myocardial infarction: when and how frequently is it implanted and what is the rate of appropriate interventions? Insight from Trieste registry.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Therefore, we evaluated when and how frequently an ICD is implanted after pPCI, the rate of appropriate ICD interventions, and predictors of ICD implantation. METHODS: We analyzed STEMI patients treated with pPCI at the University Hospital of Trieste, Italy, between January 2010 and December 2019. We cross-matched patients' data with those present in the Trieste ICD registry. RESULTS: Among 1805 consecutive patients treated with pPCI, 3.6% underwent ICD implantation during a median follow-up of 6.7 [interquartile range (IQR) 4.3-9.2] years. At 12 months, the mean number of ICD implantations was 2.3/100 patients [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.7-3.1] and remained stable over time (at 24 months: 2.5/100 patients, 95% CI 2.0-3.5 and at 36 months: 2.6/100 patients, 95% CI 2.3-3.8); 83.1% of ICDs were implanted for primary prevention, and more than half (55%) were implanted in patients with ejection fraction more than 35% at the moment of STEMI discharge. The rate of appropriate ICD interventions was 16.9% at a median follow-up of 5.7 years (IQR 3.3-8.3 years) after ICD implantation. At 12 months, the mean number of appropriate ICD interventions was 5/100 patients and 7/100 patients after 24 months. In patients with ejection fraction more than 35% at STEMI discharge (median ejection fraction 43%; IQR 40-48), independent predictors of ICD implantation were male sex, anterior STEMI and troponin peak more than 100 000 ng/dl. CONCLUSION: The rate of ICD implantations after pPCI is low; however, the rate of appropriate ICD interventions is high. A relevant subgroup of patients received ICD implantations at follow-up despite a nonsevere ejection fraction at discharge after STEMI. Among these patients, those with high troponin release deserve strict follow-up and full optimal medical treatment.

Forecasting the Risk of Heart Failure Hospitalization After Acute Coronary Syndromes: the CORALYS HF Score.

The present study aimed to identify patients at a higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in a population of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with percutaneous coronary revascularization without a history of HF or reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction before the index admission. We performed a Cox regression multivariable analysis with competitive risk and machine learning models on the incideNce and predictOrs of heaRt fAiLure After Acute coronarY Syndrome (CORALYS) registry (NCT04895176), an international and multicenter study including consecutive patients admitted for ACS in 16 European Centers from 2015 to 2020. Of 14,699 patients, 593 (4.0%) were admitted for the development of HF up to 1 year after the index ACS presentation. A total of 2 different data sets were randomly created, 1 for the derivative cohort including 11,626 patients (80%) and 1 for the validation cohort including 3,073 patients (20%). On the Cox regression multivariable analysis, several variables were associated with the risk of HF hospitalization, with reduced renal function, complete revascularization, and LV ejection fraction as the most relevant ones. The area under the curve at 1 year was 0.75 (0.72 to 0.78) in the derivative cohort, whereas on validation, it was 0.72 (0.67 to 0.77). The machine learning analysis showed a slightly inferior performance. In conclusion, in a large cohort of patients with ACS without a history of HF or LV dysfunction before the index event, the CORALYS HF score identified patients at a higher risk of hospitalization for HF using variables easily accessible at discharge. Further approaches to tackle HF development in this high-risk subset of patients are needed.

Periprocedural continuation versus interruption of oral anticoagulant drugs during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: rationale and design of the POPular PAUSE TAVI trial.

About one-third of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) use oral anticoagulants (OAC), mainly due to atrial fibrillation. General guidelines advise interrupting OAC in patients with a high risk of bleeding undergoing interventions. However, preliminary observational data suggest that the continuation of OAC during TAVI is safe and may reduce the risk of periprocedural thromboembolic events. The Periprocedural Continuation Versus Interruption of Oral Anticoagulant Drugs During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (POPular PAUSE TAVI) is a multicentre, randomised clinical trial with open-label treatment and blinded endpoint assessment. Patients are randomised 1:1 to periprocedural continuation versus interruption of OAC and are stratified for vitamin K antagonist or direct oral anticoagulant use. The primary endpoint is a composite of cardiovascular mortality, all stroke, myocardial infarction, major vascular complications and type 2-4 bleeding within 30 days after TAVI, according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria. Secondary endpoints include separate individual and composite outcomes, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Since continuation of OAC is associated with the ancillary benefit that it simplifies periprocedural management, the primary outcome is first analysed for non-inferiority; if non-inferiority is proven, superiority will be tested. Recruitment started in November 2020, and the trial will continue until a total of 858 patients have been included and followed for 90 days. In summary, POPular PAUSE TAVI is the first randomised clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of periprocedural continuation versus interruption of OAC in patients undergoing TAVI.

Impact of Complete Revascularization on Development of Heart Failure in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Multivessel Disease: A Subanalysis of the CORALYS Registry.

Background The impact of complete revascularization (CR) on the development of heart failure (HF) in patients with acute coronary syndrome and multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention remains to be elucidated. Methods and Results Consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome with multivessel coronary artery disease from the CORALYS (Incidence and Predictors of Heart Failure After Acute Coronary Syndrome) registry were included. Incidence of first hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular death was the primary end point. Patients were stratified according to completeness of coronary revascularization. Of 14 699 patients in the CORALYS registry, 5054 presented with multivessel disease. One thousand four hundred seventy-three (29.2%) underwent CR, while 3581 (70.8%) did not. Over 5 years follow-up, CR was associated with a reduced incidence of the primary end point (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.66 [95% CI, 0.51-0.85]), first HF hospitalization (adjusted HR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.49-0.90]) along with all-cause death and cardiovascular death alone (adjusted HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.56-0.97] and HR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.38-0.84], respectively). The results were consistent in the propensity-score matching population and in inverse probability treatment weighting analysis. The benefit of CR was consistent across acute coronary syndrome presentations (HR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.39-0.89] for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.50-0.99] for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome) and in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction >40% (HR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.37-0.72]), while no benefit was observed in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.37-1.10], P for interaction 0.04). Conclusions CR after acute coronary syndrome reduced the risk of first hospitalization for HF and cardiovascular death, as well as first HF hospitalization, and cardiovascular and overall death both in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04895176.

Current Role of Intracoronary Imaging for Implementing Risk Stratification and Tailoring Culprit Lesion Treatment: A Narrative Review.

Our understanding of the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome and of the vascular biology of coronary atherosclerosis has made enormous progress with the implementation of intravascular imaging. Intravascular imaging contributes to overcoming the known limitations of coronary angiography and allows for the in vivo discrimination of plaque morphology giving insight into the underlying pathology of the disease process. The possibility of using intracoronary imaging to characterize lesion morphologies and correlate them with clinical presentations may influence the treatment of patients and improve risk stratification, offering the opportunity for tailored management. This review examines the current role of intravascular imaging and describes how intracoronary imaging represents a valuable tool for modern interventional cardiology in order to improve diagnostic accuracy and offer a tailored approach to the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, especially in the acute setting.

Exploring new insights in coronary lesion assessment and treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus: the impact of optical coherence tomography.

In this review, we summarise new insights into diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the improvements in therapy, the clinical management of DM patients remains challenging as they develop more extensive CAD at a younger age and consistently have worse clinical outcomes than non-DM patients. Current diagnostic modalities as well as revascularisation treatments mainly focus on ischemic lesions. However, the impact of plaque morphology and composition are emerging as strong predictors of adverse cardiac events even in the absence of identified ischemia. In particular, the presence of vulnerable plaques such as thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) lesions has been identified as a very strong predictor of future adverse events. This emphasises the need for an approach combining both functional and morphological methods in the assessment of lesions. In particular, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has proven to be a valuable asset by truly identifying TCFAs. New treatment strategies should consist of individualised and advanced medical regimens and may evolve towards plaque sealing through percutaneous treatment.

Alcohol Septal Ablation in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: A Contemporary Perspective.

Alcohol septal ablation is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. The procedure causes a controlled myocardial infarction of the basal portion of the interventricular septum by the injection of absolute alcohol with the aim of reducing LVOT obstruction and improving the patient's hemodynamics and symptoms. Numerous observations have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the procedure, making it a valid alternative to surgical myectomy. In particular, the success of alcohol septal ablation depends on appropriate patient selection and the experience of the institution where the procedure is performed. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on alcohol septal ablation and highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of clinical and interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons with high expertise in the management of HOCM patients-the Cardiomyopathy Team.

Long-Term Follow-Up of a Nonprogressive Left Main Coronary Artery Fistula to Right Atrium.

Coronary artery fistula is a rare cardiac abnormality, occurring more frequently in young patients and treated with cardiac surgery or percutaneous interventions in most cases. We present the case of a 63-year-old man with an incidental diagnosis of coronary artery fistula, treated with conservative strategy. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Age-Related Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mechanical Reperfusion and 30-Day Mortality for STEMI: Results of the ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 Registry.

BACKGROUND: The constraints in the management of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been suggested to have severely impacted mortality levels. The aim of the current analysis is to evaluate the age-related effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mechanical reperfusion and 30-day mortality for STEMI within the registry ISACS-STEMI COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter registry was performed in high-volume PPCI centers on four continents and included STEMI patients undergoing PPCI in March-June 2019 and 2020. Patients were divided according to age (< or ≥75 years). The main outcomes were the incidence and timing of PPCI, (ischemia time longer than 12 h and door-to-balloon longer than 30 min), and in-hospital or 30-day mortality. RESULTS: We included 16,683 patients undergoing PPCI in 109 centers. In 2020, during the pandemic, there was a significant reduction in PPCI as compared to 2019 (IRR 0.843 (95%-CI: 0.825-0.861, p < 0.0001). We found a significant age-related reduction (7%, p = 0.015), with a larger effect on elderly than on younger patients. Furthermore, we observed significantly higher 30-day mortality during the pandemic period, especially among the elderly (13.6% vs. 17.9%, adjusted HR (95% CI) = 1.55 [1.24-1.93], p < 0.001) as compared to younger patients (4.8% vs. 5.7%; adjusted HR (95% CI) = 1.25 [1.05-1.49], p = 0.013), as a potential consequence of the significantly longer ischemia time observed during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the treatment of patients with STEMI, with a 16% reduction in PPCI procedures, with a larger reduction and a longer delay to treatment among elderly patients, which may have contributed to increase in-hospital and 30-day mortality during the pandemic.