Burden of disease and management of osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain: healthcare utilization and sick leave in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark (BISCUITS): study design and patient characteristics of a real world data study.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) are common musculoskeletal disorders with substantial patient and societal burden. Nordic administrative registers offer a unique opportunity to study the impact of these conditions in the real-world setting. The Burden of Disease and Management of Osteoarthritis and Chronic Low Back Pain: Health Care Utilization and Sick Leave in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark (BISCUITS) study was designed to study disease prevalence and the societal and economic burden in broad OA and CLBP populations. METHODS: Patients in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark with diagnoses of OA or CLBP (low back pain record plus ≥2 pain relief prescriptions to indicate chronicity) were identified in specialty care, in primary care (Sweden and Finland) and in a quality-of-care register (Sweden). Matched controls were identified for the specialty care cohort. Longitudinal data were extracted on prevalence, treatment patterns, patient-reported outcomes, social and economic burden. RESULTS: Almost 1.4 million patients with OA and 0.4 million with CLBP were identified in specialty care, corresponding to a prevalence in the Nordic countries of 6.3 and 1.9%, respectively. The prevalence increased to 11-14% for OA and almost 6% for CLBP when adding patients identified in primary care. OA patients had a higher Elixhauser comorbidity index (0.66 vs. 0.46) and were using opioids (44.7 vs. 10.2%) or long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) (20.9 vs. 4.5%) more than four times as often as compared to controls. The differences were even larger for CLBP patients compared to their controls (comorbidity index 0.89 vs. 0.39, opioid use 77.7 vs. 9.4%, and long-term NSAID use 37.2 vs. 4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The BISCUITS study offers an unprecedented, longitudinal healthcare data source to quantify the real-world burden of more than 1.8 million patients with OA or CLBP across four countries. In subsequent papers we aim to explore among others additional outcomes and subgroups of patients, primarily those patients who may benefit most from better healthcare management.

SWEDEHEART-1-year data show no benefit of newer generation drug-eluting stents over bare-metal stents in patients with severe kidney dysfunction following percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the transition from bare-metal stents (BMS) to newer generation drug-eluting stents (n-DES) in clinical practice may have reduced the risk also in patients with kidney dysfunction. METHODS: Observational study in the national SWEDEHEART registry, that compared the 1-year risk of in-stent restenosis (RS) and stent thrombosis (ST) in all percutaneous coronary intervention treated patients(n = 92 994) during 2007-2013. RESULTS: N-DES patients were younger than BMS, but had more often diabetes, previous myocardial infarction, previous revascularization and were more often treated with potent platelet inhibition. N-DES versus BMS, was associated with lower 1-year risk of RS in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 with a cumulative probability of 2.1% versus 5.3%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.30, 95% CI (0.27-0.34) and with eGFR 30-60: 3.0% versus 4.9%; hazard ratio 0.46 (0.36-0.60) but not in patients with eGFR <30: 8.1% versus 6.0%; hazard ratio 1.32 (0.71-2.45) (pinteraction = 0.009) as well as lower risk of ST for eGFR >60 and eGFR 30-60: 0.5% versus 0.9%; hazard ratio 0.52 (0.40-0.68) and 0.6% versus 1.3%; hazard ratio 0.54 (0.54-0.72) but not for eGFR <30; 2.1% versus 1.1%; hazard ratio 1.49 (0.56-3.98) (pinteraction = 0.027). CONCLUSION: N-DES is associated with lower 1-year risk of in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis in patients with normal or moderately reduced kidney function but not in patients with severe kidney dysfunction, where stenting is associated with worse outcomes regardless of stent type.

Outcomes after STEMI in old multimorbid patients with complex health needs and the effect of invasive management.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess one-year outcomes of invasive and non-invasive strategies in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) among multimorbid older people with complex health needs. METHODS: We included patients, registered between 2006 and 2013 in the SWEDEHEART registry, who were 70 years old or older with STEMI, had multimorbidity and complex health needs and were discharged alive. The one-year outcomes of patients who underwent invasive strategy (examined with coronary angiography ≤14 days) were compared to those who did not. The primary event was a composite of all-cause death, admission due to new acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack. RESULTS: We identified patients, and 1089 were managed invasively and 570 non-invasively. The mean age was 79 years and 83 years in the 2 groups, respectively. After multivariable adjustment for baseline differences between the groups, including propensity scores, the primary event occurred in 31% of patients in the invasive group and 55% in the non-invasive group, adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals): 0.67 (0.54-0.83). One-year mortality was 18% in the invasive group and 45% in the non-invasive group, adjusted hazard ratio 0.51 (0.39-0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbid older people with complex health needs and STEMI had high rates of new ischemic events and death. In this cohort of older, high risk STEMI patients, an invasive strategy was associated with lower event rates. Randomized studies are needed to clarify whether these high risk patients who might benefit from invasive care are being managed too conservatively.

Clinical use of cangrelor: nationwide experience from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR).

AIMS: This nationwide study aimed to analyse the first 2 years of routine clinical use of cangrelor in all Swedish patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: This observational Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) study identified 915 cangrelor-treated patients. As 899 were ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-patients undergoing primary PCI, we decided to exclude all non-STEMI patients (n = 16) from the following analysis. We then identified all primary PCI patients, January 2016 to January 2018 (n = 10 816). Excluding hospitals without cangrelor use, tailoring time frames from first cangrelor use per hospital, patients treated with cangrelor (n = 899) were compared with those without cangrelor treatment (n = 4614). A separate analysis was performed for cardiac arrest STEMI patients (n = 273). Cangrelor-use in primary PCI varied greatly between hospitals (4-36%, mean 16%). At variance with randomized trials, cangrelor was used nearly exclusively in STEMI, often with cardiac arrest (19%). Cangrelor was combined with ticagrelor in two-thirds of patients, among which >50% was prehospital. Cangrelor was used more frequently in high-risk patients: left main PCI, thrombus aspiration, and cardiac arrest. Despite cangrelor being used in more high-risk patients, crude definite stent thrombosis rates at 30 days were low and similar in cangrelor (0.7%) and non-cangrelor treated patients (0.8%). CONCLUSION: Cangrelor was used nearly exclusively in primary PCI STEMI patients, predominantly with ticagrelor. Despite being used in very high-risk patients, often with cardiac arrest, cangrelor treatment was associated with low stent thrombosis rates.

External Validation of the DAPT Score in a Nationwide Population.

BACKGROUND: The dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) score guides decisions on DAPT duration after coronary stenting by simultaneously predicting ischemic and bleeding risk. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the performance of the DAPT score in a nationwide real-world population. METHODS: The study used register data in Sweden (2006 to 2014) and followed 41,101 patients who had undergone 12 months of event-free DAPT, from months 12 to 30 after stenting. Risk of myocardial infarction (MI) or stent thrombosis, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (MI, stroke, and all-cause death), and fatal or major bleeding were compared according to DAPT score. RESULTS: The score had a discrimination of 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 0.60) for MI or stent thrombosis, 0.54 (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.55) for MACCE, and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.45 to 0.53) for fatal or major bleeding. Risk of MI or stent thrombosis was significantly increased at scores of ≥3 while MACCE risk followed a J-shaped pattern and increased at scores of ≥4. Absolute differences in fatal or major bleeding risk were small between scores. Event rates of ischemic and bleeding outcomes in patients with high (≥2) and low (<2) scores differed compared to the DAPT Study from which the score was derived; fatal or major bleeding rates were approximately one-half of those in the placebo arm of the DAPT Study. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide population, the DAPT score did not adequately discriminate ischemic and bleeding risk, the relationship between score and ischemic risk did not correspond to the suggested decision rule for extended DAPT, and risk of bleeding was lower compared with the DAPT Study. The score and its decision rule may not be generalizable to real-world populations.

Stent thrombosis rates the first year and beyond with new- and old-generation drug-eluting stents compared to bare metal stents.

OBJECTIVES: Old-generation drug-eluting coronary stents (o-DES) have despite being safe and effective been associated with an increased propensity of late stent thrombosis (ST). We evaluated ST rates in o-DES, new-generation DES (n-DES) and bare metal stents (BMS) the first year (< 1 year) and beyond 1 year (> 1 year). METHODS: We evaluated all implantations with BMS, o-DES (Cordis Cypher, Boston Scientific Taxus Liberté and Medtronic Endeavor) and n-DES in the Swedish coronary angiography and angioplasty registry (SCAAR) between 1 January 2007 and 8 January 2014 (n = 207 291). All cases of ST (n = 2 268) until 31 December 2014 were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall risk of ST was lower in both n-DES and o-DES compared with BMS up to 1 year (n-DES versus BMS: adjusted risk ratio (RR) 0.48 (0.41-0.58) and o-DES versus BMS: 0.56 (0.46-0.67), both p < 0.001). From 1 year after stent implantation and onward, the risk for ST was higher in o-DES compared with BMS [adjusted RR, 1.82 (1.47-2.25], p < 0.001). N-DES were associated with similar low ST rates as BMS from 1 year and onward [adjusted RR 1.21 (0.94-1.56), p = 0.135]. CONCLUSION: New-generation DES were associated with lower ST rates in comparison to BMS during the first-year post-stenting. After 1 year, n-DES and BMS were associated with similar ST rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was a retrospective observational study and as such did not require clinical trial database registration.

Outcomes in patients treated with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel after acute myocardial infarction stratified by renal function.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyse outcomes of ticagrelor and clopidogrel stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a large unselected cohort of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: We used follow-up data in MI survivors discharged on ticagrelor or clopidogrel enrolled in the Swedish Web-System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies registry. The association between ticagrelor versus clopidogrel and the primary composite outcome of death, MI or stroke and the secondary outcome rehospitalisation with bleeding diagnosis at 1 year, was studied using adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, stratifying after eGFR levels. RESULTS: In total, 45 206 patients with MI discharged on clopidogrel (n=33 472) or ticagrelor (n=11 734) were included. The unadjusted 1-year event rate for the composite endpoint of death, MI or stroke was 7.0%, 18.0% and 48.0% for ticagrelor treatment and 11.0%, 33.0% and 64.0% for clopidogrel treatment in patients with eGFR>60 (n=33 668), eGFR30-60 (n=9803) and eGFR<30 (n=1735), respectively. After adjustment, ticagrelor as compared with clopidogrel was associated with a lower 1-year risk of the composite outcome (eGFR>60: HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.76 to 99, eGFR30-60: 0.82 (0.70 to 0.97), eGFR<30: 0.95 (0.69 to 1.29), P for interaction=0.55) and a higher risk of bleeding (eGFR>60: HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.35, eGFR30-60: 1.13 (0.84 to 1.51), eGFR<30: 1.79 (1.00 to 3.21), P for interaction=0.30) across the eGFR strata. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ticagrelor as compared with clopidogrel in patients with MI was associated with lower risk for the composite of death, MI or stroke and a higher bleeding risk across all strata of eGFR. Of caution, bleeding events were more abundant in patients with eGFR<30.

Culprit and Nonculprit Recurrent Ischemic Events in Patients With Myocardial Infarction: Data From SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies).

BackgroundLong-term disease progression after myocardial infarction (MI) is inadequately understood. We evaluated the pattern and angiographic properties (culprit lesion [CL]/non-CL [NCL]) of recurrent MI (re-MI) in a large real-world patient population. Methods and ResultsOur observational study used prospectively collected data in 108 615 patients with first-occurrence MI enrolled in the SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) between July 1, 2006 and November 29, 2014. During follow-up (median, 3.2 years), recurrent hospitalization for MI occurred in 11 117 patients (10.2%). Of the patients who underwent coronary angiography for the index MI, a CL was identified in 44 332 patients. Of those patients, 3464 experienced an re-MI; the infarct originated from the NCL in 1243 patients and from the CL in 655 patients. In total, 1566 re-MIs were indeterminate events and could not be classified as NCL or CL re-MIs. The risk of re-MI within 8 years related to the NCL was 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05-0.06), compared with 0.03 (95% CI, 0.02-0.03) for the CL. There were no large differences in baseline characteristics of patients with subsequent NCL versus CL re-MIs. Independent predictors of NCL versus CL re- MI were multivessel disease (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.87-2.82), male sex (odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09-1.71), and a prolonged time between the index and re-MI (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.10-1.22). ConclusionsIn a large cohort of patients with first-occurrence MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, the risk of re-MI originating from a previously untreated lesion was twice higher than the risk of lesions originating from a previously stented lesion. Clinical Trial RegistrationURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03099395.

Timing of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a SWEDEHEART study.

Aims: Although routine invasive management is recommended in NSTEMI patients, the optimal timing of the procedure is not defined. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes in relation to timing of PCI in NSTEMI patients. Methods and results: This was an observational, prospective, multicentre cohort study from the SWEDEHEART registry including all Swedish PCI centres. We included 40 494 consecutive PCI-treated patients who were admitted to any coronary care unit from 2006 to 2013. The primary outcome was all-cause death, and secondary outcomes were recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, and severe in-hospital bleeding. Outcomes were assessed within 1 year from admission in relation to pre-specified cut-offs to define early PCI: within 1, 2, or 3 days. Patients who received delayed PCI, compared with those who did not, were older, and had a higher prevalence of comorbidities (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, and prior stroke) but showed similar angiographic findings. Cox mixed-effects models showed a lower risk of all-cause death with early PCI across all three cut-offs: HR (95% CI) of 0.88 (0.80-0.98), 0.78 (0.71-0.86), and 0.75 (0.68-0.84), for the 1-, 2-, and 3-day cut-offs, respectively. Early PCI was associated with lower risk of recurrent MI for the 2- and 3-day cut-offs, but not for the 1-day cut-off. The reported rates of severe in-hospital bleeding were low, but tended to be higher in patients receiving delayed PCI. Conclusion: In patients undergoing PCI for NSTEMI, early invasive treatment is associated with lower risk of ischaemic outcomes.

Outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention with the Absorb bioresorbable scaffold: data from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR).

AIMS: Randomised trials indicate higher rates of stent thrombosis (ST) and target lesion failure (TLF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) compared with modern drug-eluting stents (DES). We aimed to investigate the outcome of all Swedish patients treated with the Absorb BRS. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Absorb BRS (n=810) was compared with commonly used modern DES (n=67,909). The main outcome measure was definite ST; mean follow-up was two years. Despite being implanted in a younger, lower-risk population compared with modern DES, the Absorb BRS was associated with a higher crude incidence of definite ST at stent level: 1.5 vs. 0.6%, hazard ratio (HR) 2.38 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-4.23), adjusted HR 4.34 (95% CI: 2.37-7.94); p<0.001. The patient level adjusted HR was 4.44 (95% CI: 2.25-8.77). Rates of in-stent restenosis were similar for BRS and DES. Non-compliance with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) guidelines was noted in six out of 12 BRS ST events. Three very late ST events occurred with the Absorb BRS. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world observational study, the Absorb BRS was associated with a significantly higher risk of definite ST compared with modern DES. Non-compliance with DAPT guideline recommendations was common among Absorb definite ST events.

Treatment Trends, Effectiveness, and Safety of Statins on Lipid Goal Attainment in Chinese Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Patients: a Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Limited data exist on the use of statins in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We therefore conducted this study to observe the usage trend and the effectiveness of statins on LDL-C goal attainment and other lipid parameters among PCI-treated patients. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, observational, longitudinal cohort study was conducted in PCI-treated patients with CAD between July 1, 2011, and February 28, 2015. Primary study outcomes included statin treatment pattern after PCI and proportion of patients achieving target (LDL-C) levels 1 month after PCI and initiating statin therapy. FINDINGS: Data were analyzed for 2708 patients (mean age, 59 [10] years; median body mass index, 25.6 [4.0] kg/m2). From baseline to the end of 1 month, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were the most prescribed statins; 20 mg and 10 mg were the most prescribed doses and therefore chosen for efficacy comparisons. In patients without dose changes, LDL-C reduction with rosuvastatin 10 mg was significantly greater compared with atorvastatin 20 mg (-0.67 mmol/L [from 2.44 mmol/L to 1.77 mmol/L] vs -0.54 mmol/L [from 2.40 mmol/L to 1.86 mmol/L]; P = 0.008). However, there was no difference in HDL-C, triglyceride, or total cholesterol values between groups. Age and LDL-C levels at baseline were significantly associated with target LDL-C achievement. IMPLICATIONS: In real-world, PCI-treated Chinese patients, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were the most prescribed statins. Compared with atorvastatin 20 mg, rosuvastatin 10 mg was associated with greater LDL-C reductions and achievement of LDL-C targets in a higher percentage of patients. This analysis of real-world data shows that both rosuvastatin and atorvastatin were well tolerated and seemed to be suitable drugs for controlling lipid levels and preventing CVD risk in post-PCI Chinese patients with CAD.

Real-life clinical outcomes with everolimus eluting platinum chromium stent with an abluminal biodegradable polymer in patients from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR).

BACKGROUND: No previous studies have evaluated the performance of the Synergy stent in a large real-life population. OBJECTIVES: To describe the initial real-life experience with a novel everolimus eluting platinum chromium stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer (SYNERGY) in unselected patients from a nationwide registry. METHODS: All implanted Synergy stents were compared with other new generation drug eluting stents (n-DES) with >1,000 implantations in Sweden between March 2013 and October 2015. Restenosis, definite stent thrombosis (ST), myocardial infarction (MI) and death rates were assessed using propensity score and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 7,886 of Synergy stents and 64,429 other n-DES (BioMatrix, N = 1,953; Orsiro, N = 4,946; Promus Element Plus, N= 2,543; Promus Premier, N= 20,414; Xience Xpedition, N= 7,971, Resolute/Resolute Integrity, N = 19,021; Ultimaster, N = 1,156; Resolute Onyx, N = 6,425) were implanted in 42,357 procedures. Restenosis and stent thrombosis occurred in 642 and 314 cases, respectively, in the overall population at 1 year. The cumulative rate of restenosis (1.1% vs. 1.0%, adjusted HR: 1.24 95% CI: 0.88-1.75; P = 0.21) and ST (0.4% vs. 0.5%, adjusted HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.63-1.50; P = 0.17) up to 1 year was low in both the Synergy group and the other n-DES group. Death occurred in 5.2% versus 4.5% (adjusted HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.96-1.36; P = 0.11) and MI in 3.2% versus 3.5%, (adjusted HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.93-1.33; P = 0.24) up to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: In a large real-life population the Synergy stent appears to be safe and effective with a low rate of restenosis and ST comparable with other n-DES. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Unfractionated heparin versus bivalirudin in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a SWEDEHEART study.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to compare outcomes in unfractionated heparin (UFH) and bivalirudin-treated patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: This observational study contained 20,612 PPCI patients treated with either UFH monotherapy or bivalirudin with or without concomitant UFH. Patients with oral anticoagulant or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) treatment were excluded. The primary outcome measure was definite early stent thrombosis (ST) that occurred at low and similar rates in UFH only and bivalirudin-treated patients: 0.9% vs. 0.8% (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7-1.65). All-cause death at 30 days occurred in 6.9% vs. 5.4% of patients (adjusted HR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.44) and within 365 days in 12.1% vs. 8.9% (adjusted HR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.19-1.52) in the two groups, respectively. The incidence of major bleeding within 30 days was 0.8% vs. 0.6% (adjusted HR 1.54, 95% CI: 0.97-2.45). The incidence of reinfarction within 365 days and stroke within 30 days was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this large, nationwide observational study we found low and similar rates of early ST in UFH only and bivalirudin-treated patients undergoing primary PCI. Mortality was higher in UFH compared with bivalirudin-treated patients.