In Vivo Computed Tomography Sizing for Redo-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Evolut Valves: Impact on Sizing, Feasibility, and Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch.

BACKGROUND: SAPIEN3 (S3) is a ubiquitous redo-transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) replacement alternative for degenerated Evolut valves, but S3 sizing for S3-in-Evolut remains unclear. We sought to compare the impact of in vivo computed tomography (CT)-sizing on redo-TAV feasibility for S3-in-Evolut with traditional bench-sizing. METHODS: CT scans of 290 patients treated using Evolut R/PRO/PRO+ between July 2015 and December 2021 were analyzed. S3-in-Evolut was simulated using S3 outflow/neoskirt plane (NSP) at node-6, -5, and -4. CT-sizing for S3 was determined by averaging 4 areas of the Evolut stent frame at NSP level and 3 nodes below. Redo-TAV was deemed feasible if the NSP was below the coronaries, or the narrowest valve (virtual S3)-to-aorta distance was >4 mm. Risk of prosthesis-patient mismatch was estimated using predicted indexed-effective orifice area. RESULTS: Compared with bench-sizing, CT-sizing yielded smaller S3 size in 82% at node-6, 81% at node-5, and 84% at node-4. Factors associated with CT-sizing less than bench-sizing were larger index Evolut size, underexpansion of index Evolut, and shallower implant depth (all P<0.05). CT-sizing increased redo-TAV feasibility by +8% at node-6, +10% at node-5, and +4% at node-4. Redo-TAV feasibility increased with annulus size, sinotubular junction dimensions, coronary heights, index Evolut size, deeper Evolut implant depth, and lower NSP levels (all P<0.05). CT-sizing had a slightly higher estimated risk of severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (9% at node-6, 7% at node-5, and 6% at node-4), which could be mitigated by changing the NSP. CONCLUSIONS: CT-sizing for S3-in-Evolut is associated with higher feasibility of redo-TAV compared with bench-sizing, potentially reducing the risk of excessive oversizing and S3 underexpansion. Further validation using real-world clinical data is necessary.

Clinical characteristics and statin eligibility of patients under 50 with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: This study seeks to understand the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and statin eligibility of younger adults who present with STEMI. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of STEMI patients <50 years. Baseline characteristics, medical history, prior medications, drug use, lipid profiles, cardiovascular risk factors were examined. Ten-year ASCVD risk was calculated utilizing the Pooled Cohort Equations. Statin eligibility was determined according to the 2019 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) and the 2022 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. RESULTS: Six hundred and thirty-five individuals were included, the majority were men (82.4%) and white (89%), with a median age was 46.9 [42.0-48.0]. The most prevalent risk factors were current smoking (59%), hyperlipidemia (44%), and hypertension (37%). Drug use was rare (8.3%). Preventative medication use was low, aspirin was the most common (14%), followed by ACE inhibitors/ARBs (12%), statins (11%), and beta-blockers (9.1%). Mean HDL-C was low at 36.4 ± 12.0 mg/dL, while mean LDL was unremarkable at 112.4 ± 37.9 mg/dL. According to the 2019 ACC/AHA guidelines, 45.5% were classified as statin recommended, 8.7% were classified as statin considered, and 45.8% were classified as statin not recommended. According to the 2022 USPSTF guidelines, 29% were classified as statin recommended, 12.4% were classified as statin considered, and 58.6% were classified as statin not recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Younger adults with STEMI exhibit high rates of tobacco use and low rates of preventative medications use. Approximately half of the cohort did not meet criteria for statin initiation.

Preprocedural Computed Tomography Planning for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Selection of transcatheter valve size using preprocedural computed tomography (CT) is standardized and well established. However, valve sizing for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is currently performed intraoperatively by using sizers, which may result in variation among operators and risk for prosthesis-patient mismatch. This study evaluated the usefulness of CT annulus measurement for SAVR valve sizing. METHODS: This study included patients who underwent SAVR using Inspiris or Magna Ease and received preoperative electrocardiogram-gated CT imaging. Starting from June 2022, study investigators applied a CT sizing algorithm using CT-derived annulus size to guide minimum SAVR label size. The final decision of valve selection was left to the operating surgeon during SAVR. The study compared the appropriateness of valve selection (comparing implanted size with CT-predicted size) and prosthesis-patient mismatch rates without aortic root enlargement between 2 cohorts: 102 cases since June 2022 (CT sizing cohort) and 180 cases from 2020 to 2021 (conventional sizing cohort). RESULTS: Implanted size smaller than CT predicted size and severe prosthesis-patient mismatch were significantly lower by CT sizing than by conventional sizing (12% vs 31% [P = .001] and 0% vs 6% [P = .039], respectively). Interoperator variability was a factor associated with implanted size smaller than CT predicted with conventional sizing, whereas it became nonsignificant with CT sizing. CONCLUSIONS: Applying CT sizing to SAVR led to improved valve size selection, less prosthesis-patient mismatch, and less interoperator variability. CT sizing for SAVR could also be used to predict prosthesis-patient mismatch before SAVR and identify patients who need aortic root enlargement.

Coronary artery calcium and the risk of a cardiovascular events and mortality in younger adults: a meta-analysis.

AIMS: ACC/AHA 2019 prevention guidelines recommend utilizing coronary artery calcium (CAC) to stratify cardiovascular risk in selected cases. However, data regarding CAC and risk in younger adults is less robust due to the lower prevalence of CAC and lower incidence of events. The objective of this meta-analysis is to determine the ability of CAC to predict the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in adults less than 50. METHODS: PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were electronically searched through May 2022 for studies with a primary prevention cohort under age 55 who underwent CAC scoring. RESULTS: Six observational studies with a total of 45,919 individuals with an average age of 43.1 and mean follow-up of 12.1 years were included. The presence of CAC was associated with an increased risk of adverse events (pooled hazard ratio (HR) = 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-2.56, P = 0.012, I2 = 65.5). Compared to a CAC of 0, a CAC of 1-100 did carry an increased risk of cardiovascular events (pooled HR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.08-3.16, p = 0.0248, I2 = 50.3), but not mortality (pooled HR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.85-1.69, p = 0.2917), while a CAC > 100 did carry an increased risk of cardiovascular events (pooled HR = 6.57, 95% CI 3.23-13.36, p < 0.0001, I2 = 72.6) and mortality (pooled HR = 2.91, 95% CI 2.23-3.80, p < 0.0001) . CONCLUSIONS: In a meta-analysis of younger adults undergoing CAC scoring, a CAC of 1-100 was associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular events, while a CAC>100 was associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular events and mortality.

This paper compiles prior studies into a meta-analysis to clarify the ability of coronary artery calcium (CAC) to predict cardiovascular risk and mortality risk in adults < 55 years. A mildly elevated CAC (1-100) in adults < 55 likely has an increased cardiovascular risk but does not appear to have an increased mortality risk.A moderately or highly elevated CAC (>100) in adults < 55 has a substantial increase in cardiovascular risk and mortality risk.

Incidence, treatment and outcomes of coronary artery dissection during percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery dissection is a feared and potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, and outcomes of coronary dissection at a tertiary care institution. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2019, unplanned coronary dissection occurred in 141 of 10,278 PCIs (1.4%). Median patient age was 68 (60, 78) years, 68% were men, and 83% had hypertension. The prevalence of diabetes (29%), and prior PCI (37%) was high. Most target vessels were significantly diseased: 48% had moderate/severe tortuosity and 62% had moderate/severe calcification. The most common cause of dissection was guidewire advancement (30%), followed by stenting (22%), balloon angioplasty (20%), and guide-catheter engagement (18%). TIMI flow was 0 in 33% and 1-2 in 41% of cases. Intravascular imaging was used in 17% of the cases. Stenting was used to treat the dissection in 73% of patients. There was no consequence of dissection in 43% of patients. Technical and procedural success was 65% and 55%, respectively. In-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 23% of patients: 13 (9%) had an acute myocardial infarction (MI), 3 (2%) had emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and 10 (7%) died. During a mean follow up of 1612 days, 28 (20%) patients died, and the rate of target lesion revascularization was 11.3% (n=16). CONCLUSION: Coronary artery dissection is an infrequent complication of PCI, but is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, such as death and acute MI.

Frequency and outcomes of STEMI patients presenting between 12 and 24 h after symptom onset: Late-presenting STEMI.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the characteristics and prognosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, presenting between 12 and 24 h after symptom onset, in contemporary regional STEMI systems of care in the United States. BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies have been inconsistent regarding the benefit of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with conservative management for late-presenting STEMI patients and the majority of randomized trials are from the fibrinolytic era. METHODS: Using a two-center registry-based cohort from March 2003 to December 2020, we evaluated the frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of STEMI patients, stratified by symptom onset to balloon time: <3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-24 h (late presenters). RESULTS: Among 5427 STEMI patients with available symptom onset time, 6.2% were late presenters, which increased to 11% during the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. As symptom onset to balloon time increased, patients were more likely to be older, female, and have a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Late presenters with an identifiable culprit lesion were less likely to be revascularized with PCI (96%, 96%, 95%, and 92%; p for trend = 0.004) and had a longer median door-to-balloon time (82, 109, 107, and 117 min; p for trend < 0.001). In-hospital and 1-year death risks were comparable between late and earlier presenters. CONCLUSION: Despite the unfavorable risk profile and longer door-to-balloon time, clinical outcomes of late presenters were similar to those presenting within 12 h of symptom onset.

Impact of social capital, harassment of women and girls, and water and sanitation access on premature birth and low infant birth weight in India.

BACKGROUND: Globally, preterm birth (PTB) and low infant birth weight (LBW) are leading causes of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Inadequate water and sanitation access (WASH) are risk factors for PTB and LBW in low-income countries. Physical stress from carrying water and psychosocial stress from addressing sanitation needs in the open may be mechanisms underlying these associations. If so, then living in a community with strong social capital should be able to buffer the adverse effects of WASH on birth outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess the relationships between WASH access and social conditions (including harassment and social capital) on PTB and LBW outcomes among Indian women, and to test whether social conditions modified the association between WASH and birth outcomes. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This cohort study examined the effect of pre-birth WASH and social conditions on self-reported PTB status and LBW status for 7,926 women who gave birth between 2004/2005 and 2011/2012 Waves of the India Human Development Survey. PTB and LBW occurred in 14.9% and 15.5% of women, respectively. After adjusting for maternal biological and socioeconomic conditions, PTB was associated with sharing a building/compound latrine (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.55; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.01, 2.38) versus private latrine access, but suggested an effect in the opposite direction for sharing a community/public latrine (OR = 0.67; CI = 0.45, 1.01). Open defecation, type of drinking water source, minutes per day spent fetching water, and one-way time to a drinking water source were not associated with PTB. LBW was associated with spending more than two hours per day fetching water compared to less than two hours (OR = 1.33; CI = 1.05, 1.70) and suggested an association with open defecation (OR = 1.22; CI = 1.00, 1.48), but was not associated with other types of sanitation, type of drinking water source, or time to a drinking water source. Harassment of women and girls in the community was associated with both PTB (OR = 1.33; CI = 1.09, 1.62) and LBW (OR = 1.26; CI = 1.03, 1.54). The data also showed a possible association of local crime with LBW (OR = 1.30; CI = 1.00, 1.68). Statistically significant (p<0.05) evidence of effect modification was only found for collective efficacy on the association between type of sanitation access and PTB. In addition, stratified analyses identified differences in effect size for walking time to the primary drinking water source and PTB by crime, sanitation access and PTB by harassment, and total hours per day fetching water and LBW by collective efficacy. Limitations of this observational study include risk of bias, inability to confirm causality, reliance on self-reported outcomes, and limited sub-group sample sizes for testing effect modification. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between adverse birth outcomes and sanitation access, domestic water fetching, crime, and gender-based harassment suggests physical and psychosocial stress are possible mechanisms by which WASH access affects PTB and LBW among Indian women. Interventions that reduce domestic responsibilities related to water and sanitation and change social norms related to gender-based harassment may reduce rates of PTB and LBW in India.