Comparison of Cryoballoon vs. Pulsed Field Ablation in Patients with Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Single-shot devices are increasingly used for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF). The Arctic Front cryoballoon is the most frequently used single-shot technology. A recently developed novel pulsed field ablation (PFA) device (FARAPULSE) has been introduced with the aim to improve procedural safety and efficacy. Objective: This study will compare the novel FARAPULSE PFA device and the Arctic Front cryoballoon for first PVI in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF. Methods: SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial with blinded endpoint adjudication by an independent clinical events committee. Overall, 210 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing their PVI are randomized 1:1 between PFA and cryoballoon ablation. Continuous rhythm monitoring with an implantable cardiac monitor is performed in all patients. Results: The primary endpoint is time to first recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia (AF and/or organized atrial tachyarrhythmia) lasting ≥120 seconds and identified by the implantable cardiac monitor within 91 and 365 days postablation. The composite procedural safety endpoint includes cardiac tamponade requiring drainage, persistent phrenic nerve palsy, vascular complications requiring intervention, stroke/transient ischemic attack, atrioesophageal fistula, and death occurring during or up to 30 days after the procedure. Key secondary endpoints include (1) increase in high-sensitivity troponin on day 1 postablation, (2) analysis of postablation 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping (first 25 patients per study group), (3) AF burden, and (4) quality-of-life changes. Conclusion: SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION will evaluate the efficacy and safety of PVI using the novel FARAPULSE PFA for patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF.

Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis versus surgical pulmonary embolectomy for intermediate-high or high-risk pulmonary embolism: a randomized phase II non-inferiority trial.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (USAT) is non-inferior to surgical pulmonary embolectomy (SPE) to improve right ventricular (RV) function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: In a single-centre, non-inferiority trial, we randomly assigned 27 patients with intermediate-high or high-risk acute PE to undergo either USAT or SPE stratified by PE risk. Primary and secondary outcomes were the baseline-to-72-h difference in right-to-left ventricular (RV/LV) ratio and the Qanadli pulmonary occlusion score, respectively, by contrast-enhanced chest-computed tomography assessed by a blinded CoreLab. RESULTS: The trial was prematurely terminated due to slow enrolment. Mean age was 62.6 (SD 12.4) years, 26% were women, and 15% had high-risk PE. Mean change in RV/LV ratio was -0.34 (95% CI -0.50 to -0.18) in the USAT and -0.53 (95% CI -0.68 to -0.38) in the SPE group (mean difference: 0.152; 95% CI 0.032-0.271; Pnon-inferiority = 0.80; Psuperiority = 0.013). Mean change in Qanadli pulmonary occlusion score was -7.23 (95% CI -9.58 to -4.88) in the USAT and -11.36 (95% CI -15.27 to -7.44) in the SPE group (mean difference: 5.00; 95% CI 0.44-9.56, P = 0.032). Clinical and functional outcomes were similar between the 2 groups up to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with intermediate-high and high-risk acute PE, USAT was not non-inferior when compared with SPE in reducing RV/LV ratio within the first 72 h. In a post hoc superiority analysis, SPE resulted in greater improvement of RV overload and reduction of thrombus burden.

Consecutive or selectively included high bleeding risk patients in the MASTER DAPT screening log and trial.

AIMS: Screening logs have the potential to appraise the actual prevalence and distribution of predefined patient subsets, avoiding selection biases, which are inevitably and potentially present in randomised trials and real-world registries, respectively. We aimed to assess the prevalence of high bleeding risk (HBR) characteristics in the real world and the external validity of the MASTER DAPT trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for at least two consecutive weeks across 65 sites participating in the trial were entered into a screening log. Of 2,847 consecutive patients, 1,098 (38.6 %) were HBR and 109 (9.9 %) consented for trial participation. PRECISE-DAPT score ≥ 25 was the most frequent HBR feature, followed by advanced age, use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and anaemia. Compared with consecutive HBR patients, consenting patients were older (≥ 75 years: 69 % versus 62 %, absolute standardized difference [SD] 0.16), more frequently male (78 % versus 71 %, absolute SD 0.18), had higher use of OAC (38 % versus 20 %, absolute SD 0.39), treatment with steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (10 % versus 5 %, SD 0.16), and prior cerebrovascular events (10 % versus 6 %, absolute SD 0.18) but lower PRECISE DAPT score ≥ 25 (54 % versus 66 %, absolute SD 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: The HBR criteria distribution differed between consecutive versus selectively included HBR patients, suggesting the existence of selection biases in the trial population.

PolarX vs Arctic Front for Cryoballoon Ablation of Paroxysmal AF: The Randomized COMPARE CRYO Study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein isolation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Cryoballoon ablation using the Arctic Front cryoballoon (Medtronic) was found to be superior to antiarrhythmic drug treatment. Recently, a novel cryoballoon system was introduced (PolarX, Boston Scientific). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of the 2 cryoballoons in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF were enrolled in 2 centers and randomized 1:1 to pulmonary vein isolation using the PolarX or the Arctic Front cryoballoon. All patients received an implantable cardiac monitor. The primary endpoint was first recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia [AT]) between days 91 and 365. Procedural safety was assessed by a composite of tamponade, phrenic nerve palsy lasting >24 hours, vascular complications, stroke/transient ischemic attack, atrioesophageal fistula or death up to 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients were enrolled. At 1 year, recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia had occurred in 41 of 99 patients (41.6%) assigned to the PolarX group and in 48 of 102 patients (47.1%) assigned to the Arctic Front group (HR: 0.85 [95% CI: 0.56-1.30]; P = 0.03 for noninferiority; P = 0.46 for superiority). The safety endpoint occurred in 5 patients (5%) in the PolarX group (n = 5 phrenic nerve palsies lasting >24 hours), whereas no safety endpoints occurred in the Arctic Front group (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized controlled trial using implantable cardiac monitors for continuous rhythm monitoring, the novel PolarX cryoballoon was noninferior compared with the Arctic Front cryoballoon regarding efficacy. However, the PolarX balloon resulted in significantly more phrenic nerve palsies. (Comparison of PolarX and the Arctic Front Cryoballoons for PVI in Patients With Symptomatic Paroxysmal AF [COMPARE-CRYO]; NCT04704986).

Ultrathin-strut versus thin-strut stent healing and outcomes in preclinical and clinical subjects.

BACKGROUND: Compared with thin-strut durable-polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES), ultrathin-strut biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) improve stent-related clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Reduced stent strut thickness is hypothesised to underlie these benefits, but this conjecture remains unproven. AIMS: We aimed to assess the impact of strut thickness on stent healing and clinical outcomes between ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES. METHODS: First, we performed a preclinical study of 8 rabbits implanted with non-overlapping thin-strut (diameter/thickness 3.5 mm/80 µm) and ultrathin-strut (diameter/thickness 3.0 mm/60 µm) BP-SES in the infrarenal aorta. On day 7, the rabbits underwent intravascular near-infrared fluorescence optical coherence tomography (NIRF-OCT) molecular-structural imaging of fibrin deposition and stent tissue coverage, followed by histopathological analysis. Second, we conducted an individual data pooled analysis of patients enrolled in the BIOSCIENCE and BIOSTEMI randomised PCI trials treated with ultrathin-strut (n=282) or thin-strut (n=222) BP-SES. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1-year follow-up, with a landmark analysis at 30 days. RESULTS: NIRF-OCT image analyses revealed that ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES exhibited similar stent fibrin deposition (p=0.49) and percentage of uncovered stent struts (p=0.63). Histopathological assessments corroÂborated these findings. In 504 pooled randomised trial patients, TLF rates were similar for those treated with ultrathin-strut or thin-strut BP-SES at 30-day (2.5% vs 1.8%; p=0.62) and 1-year follow-up (4.3% vs 4.7%; p=0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES demonstrate similar early arterial healing profiles and 30-day and 1-year clinical outcomes.

Negative selection bias for women inclusion in a clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the growing awareness towards the importance of adequate representation of women in clinical trials among patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), available evidence continues to demonstrate a skewed distribution of study populations in favour of men. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this pre-specified analysis from the MASTER DAPT screening log and trial, we aimed to investigate the existence of a negative selection bias for women inclusion in a randomized clinical trial. A total of 2847 consecutive patients who underwent coronary revascularization across 65 participating sites, during a median of 14 days, were entered in the screening log, including 1749 (61.4%) non-high bleeding risk (HBR) and 1098 (38.6%) HBR patients, of whom 109 (9.9%) consented for trial participation. Female patients were less represented in consented versus non-consented HBR patients (22% versus 30%, absolute standardized difference: 0.18) and among non-consented eligible versus consented eligible patients (absolute standardized difference 0.14). The observed sex gap was primarily due investigators' choice not to offer study participation to females because deemed at very high risk of bleeding and/or ischemic complications, and only marginally to a slightly higher propensity of females compared to males to refuse study participation. CONCLUSIONS: Female HBR patients undergoing PCI are less prevalent, but also less likely to participate in the trial than male patients, mainly due to investigators' preference.

Long-Term Impact of Cardiac Damage Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Extravalvular cardiac damage caused by aortic stenosis affects prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The long-term impact of changes in cardiac damage in response to relief from mechanical obstruction has not been fully investigated. OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to investigate changes in cardiac damage early after TAVR and the prognostic impact of the cardiac damage classification after TAVR. METHODS: In this single-center observational study, patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR were retrospectively evaluated for cardiac damage before and after TAVR and classified into 5 stages of cardiac damage (0-4). RESULTS: Among 1,863 patients undergoing TAVR between January 2007 and June 2022, 56 patients (3.0%) were classified as stage 0, 225 (12.1%) as stage 1, 729 (39.1%) as stage 2, 388 (20.8%) as stage 3, and 465 (25.0%) as stage 4. Cardiac stage changed in 47.7% of patients (improved: 30.1% in stages 1-4 and deteriorated: 24.7% in stages 0-3) early after TAVR. Five-year all-cause mortality was associated with cardiac damage both at baseline (HRadjusted: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.24-1.44; P < 0.001 for linear trend) and after TAVR (HRadjusted: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.30-1.51; P < 0.001 for linear trend). Five-year all-cause mortality was stratified by changes in cardiac damage (improved, unchanged, or worsened) in patients with cardiac stage 2, 3, and 4 (log-rank P < 0.001 for stage 2, 0.005 for stage 3, and <0.001 for stage 4). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of extra-aortic valve cardiac damage before and after TAVR and changes in cardiac stage early after TAVR have important prognostic implications during long-term follow-up. (SwissTAVI Registry; NCT01368250).

Ticagrelor or Clopidogrel Monotherapy vs Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Patient-Level Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it remains unclear whether the treatment efficacy of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) depends on the type of P2Y12 inhibitor. Objective: To assess the risks and benefits of ticagrelor monotherapy or clopidogrel monotherapy compared with standard DAPT after PCI. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, TCTMD, and the European Society of Cardiology website were searched from inception to September 10, 2023, without language restriction. Study Selection: Included studies were randomized clinical trials comparing P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy with DAPT on adjudicated end points in patients without indication to oral anticoagulation undergoing PCI. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Patient-level data provided by each trial were synthesized into a pooled dataset and analyzed using a 1-step mixed-effects model. The study is reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Individual Participant Data. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary objective was to determine noninferiority of ticagrelor or clopidogrel monotherapy vs DAPT on the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke in the per-protocol analysis with a 1.15 margin for the hazard ratio (HR). Key secondary end points were major bleeding and net adverse clinical events (NACE), including the primary end point and major bleeding. Results: Analyses included 6 randomized trials including 25 960 patients undergoing PCI, of whom 24 394 patients (12 403 patients receiving DAPT; 8292 patients receiving ticagrelor monotherapy; 3654 patients receiving clopidogrel monotherapy; 45 patients receiving prasugrel monotherapy) were retained in the per-protocol analysis. Trials of ticagrelor monotherapy were conducted in Asia, Europe, and North America; trials of clopidogrel monotherapy were all conducted in Asia. Ticagrelor was noninferior to DAPT for the primary end point (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.74-1.06; P for noninferiority = .004), but clopidogrel was not noninferior (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.01-1.87; P for noninferiority > .99), with this finding driven by noncardiovascular death. The risk of major bleeding was lower with both ticagrelor (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.36-0.62; P < .001) and clopidogrel monotherapy (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.81; P = .006; P for interaction = 0.88). NACE were lower with ticagrelor (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64-0.86, P < .001) but not with clopidogrel monotherapy (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.78-1.28; P = .99; P for interaction = .04). Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that ticagrelor monotherapy was noninferior to DAPT for all-cause death, MI, or stroke and superior for major bleeding and NACE. Clopidogrel monotherapy was similarly associated with reduced bleeding but was not noninferior to DAPT for all-cause death, MI, or stroke, largely because of risk observed in 1 trial that exclusively included East Asian patients and a hazard that was driven by an excess of noncardiovascular death.

Myocardial analysis from routine 4D cardiac-CT to predict reverse remodeling and clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to determine whether 4D cardiac computed tomography (4DCCT) based quantitative myocardial analysis may improve risk stratification and can predict reverse remodeling (RRM) and mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing clinically indicated 4DCCT prior to TAVI were prospectively enrolled. 4DCCT-derived left- (LV) and right ventricular (RV), and left atrial (LA) dimensions, mass, ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial strain were evaluated to predict RRM and survival. RRM was defined by either relative increase in LVEF by 5% or relative decline in LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) by 5% assessed by transthoracic echocardiography prior TAVI, at discharge, and at 12-month follow-up compared to baseline prior to TAVI. RESULTS: Among 608 patients included in this study (55 % males, age 81 ± 6.6 years), RRM was observed in 279 (54 %) of 519 patients at discharge and in 218 (48 %) of 453 patients at 12-month echocardiography. While no CCT based measurements predicted RRM at discharge, CCT based LV mass index and LVEF independently predicted RRM at 12-month (ORadj = 1.012; 95 %CI:1.001-1.024; p = 0.046 and ORadj = 0.969; 95 %CI:0.943-0.996; p = 0.024, respectively). The most pronounced changes in LVEF and LVEDD were observed in patients with impaired LV function at baseline. In multivariable analysis age (HRadj = 1.037; 95 %CI:1.005-1.070; p = 0.022) and CCT-based LVEF (HRadj = 0.972; 95 %CI:0.945-0.999; p = 0.048) and LAEF (HRadj = 0.982; 95 %CI:0.968-0.996; p = 0.011) independently predicted survival. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive myocardial functional information derived from routine 4DCCT in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI could predict reverse remodeling and clinical outcomes at 12-month following TAVI.

Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Versus Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Agents After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing long-term outcomes between non-vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulant agents (direct oral anticoagulant agents [DOACs]) and VKA anticoagulant agents after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are scarce, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the periprocedural, short-term, and long-term safety and effectiveness of DOACs vs VKAs in patients undergoing TAVR via femoral access with concomitant indications for oral anticoagulation. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR in the prospective national SwissTAVI Registry between February 2011 and June 2021 were analyzed. Net clinical benefit (a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and life-threatening or major bleeding) and the primary safety endpoint (a composite of life-threatening and major bleeding) were compared between the VKA and DOAC groups at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years after TAVR. RESULTS: After 1:1 propensity score matching, 1,454 patients were available for analysis in each group. There was no significant difference in the rate of the net clinical benefit and the safety endpoints between the groups as assessed at 30 days and 1 and 5 years post-TAVR between VKAs and DOACs. VKAs were associated with significantly higher rates of 1- year (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.01-1.62) and 5-year (HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.11-1.40) all-cause mortality. Long-term risk for disabling stroke was significantly lower in the VKA group after excluding periprocedural events (HR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.46-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: At 5 years after TAVR, VKAs are associated with a higher risk for all-cause mortality, a lower risk for disabling stroke, and a similar rate of life-threatening or major bleeding compared with DOACs. (SwissTAVI Registry; NCT01368250).

Abbreviated or Standard Dual Antiplatelet Therapy by Sex in Patients at High Bleeding Risk: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Abbreviated dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) reduces bleeding with no increase in ischemic events in patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives: To evaluate the association of sex with the comparative effectiveness of abbreviated vs standard DAPT in patients with HBR. Design, Setting, and Patients: This prespecified subgroup comparative effectiveness analysis followed the Management of High Bleeding Risk Patients Post Bioresorbable Polymer Coated Stent Implantation With an Abbreviated vs Standard DAPT Regimen (MASTER DAPT) trial, a multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial conducted at 140 sites in 30 countries and performed from February 28, 2017, to December 5, 2019. A total of 4579 patients with HBR were randomized at 1 month after PCI to abbreviated or standard DAPT. Data were analyzed from July 1 to October 31, 2022. Interventions: Abbreviated (immediate DAPT discontinuation, followed by single APT for ≥6 months) or standard (DAPT for ≥2 additional months, followed by single APT for 11 months) treatment groups. Main Outcomes and Measures: One-year net adverse clinical events (NACEs) (a composite of death due to any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or major bleeding), major adverse cardiac or cerebral events (MACCEs) (a composite of death due to any cause, myocardial infarction, or stroke), and major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (MCB). Results: Of the 4579 patients included in the analysis, 1408 (30.7%) were women and 3171 (69.3%) were men (mean [SD] age, 76.0 [8.7] years). Ischemic and bleeding events were similar between sexes. Abbreviated DAPT was associated with comparable NACE rates in men (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.75-1.24]) and women (HR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.60-1.26]; P = .65 for interaction). There was evidence of heterogeneity of treatment effect by sex for MACCEs, with a trend toward benefit in women (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.44-1.05]) but not in men (HR, 1.17 [95% CI, 0.88-1.55]; P = .04 for interaction). There was no significant interaction for MCB across sex, although the benefit with abbreviated DAPT was relatively greater in men (HR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.50-0.84]) than in women (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.53-1.12]; P = .46 for interaction). Results remained consistent in patients with acute coronary syndrome and/or complex PCI. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that women with HBR did not experience higher rates of ischemic or bleeding events compared with men and may derive particular benefit from abbreviated compared with standard DAPT owing to these numerically lower rates of events. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03023020.

Higher 1-year mortality on rest days in patients with acute coronary syndromes and decompensated heart failure-A SPUM-ACS sub-study.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) occurring on rest days have been associated with higher mortality, but the current literature remains inconsistent in this regard. This study included ACS patients presenting with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) investigating the relationship between time of coronary catheterization and outcomes. METHODS: Analyses were performed from the prospective, multicentric Special Program University Medicine Acute Coronary Syndromes and Inflammation (SPUM-ACS) Cohort. Patients were divided into two groups according to time of coronary catheterization on either workdays (Monday, 00:00 to Friday, 23:59) or rest days (Saturday, 00:00 to Sunday, 23:59 and public holidays). ADHF was defined by Killip Class III or IV upon presentation. Patients were followed over 1 year. RESULTS: Out of 4787 ACS patients enrolled in the SPUM-ACS Cohort, 207 (4.3%) presented with ADHF. 52 (25.1%) and 155 (74.9%) patients underwent coronary angiography on rest days or workdays, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar among these groups. ACS patients with ADHF showed increased 1-year mortality on rest days (34.6% vs. 17.4%, p-value = 0.009). After correction for baseline characteristics, including the GRACE 2.0 Score, rest day presentation remained a significant predictor for 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.42 [95% confidence interval: 1.14-5.17], p-value = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: One-year all-cause mortality was high in ACS patients with ADHF and doubled for patients admitted on rest days. The present data support the association of a rest day effect and long-term patient survival and indicate a need for further investigations.

What is the current status of care by neuro-otology specialists in Switzerland-A national survey.

Background: Vertigo and dizziness are frequent presenting symptoms in the emergency department and in outpatient centers. While the majority of dizzy patients are evaluated by primary care physicians, specialists are often involved in the diagnostic workup. We aimed to gain more insights into the role of specialists in the care of dizzy patients. Materials and methods: Board-certified neurologists and ear-nose-throat (ENT) physicians working in Switzerland were invited to participate in an online survey. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, and prospectively defined hypotheses were assessed using correlation analyses. Results: All 111 participating specialists (neurologists = 62; ENT specialists = 49) were familiar with testing for posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and 66% regularly applied provocation maneuvers for suspected lateral canal BPPV. Reposition maneuvers for posterior (99%) and lateral (68%) canals were frequently performed. ENT physicians were familiar with lateral canal BPPV repositioning maneuvers significantly more often than neurologists (84 vs. 56%, p ≤ 0.012). Specialists strongly agreed that performing the head impulse test (86%) and looking for deficient eccentric gaze holding (82%) are important. Compared to neurologists, significantly fewer ENT physicians indicated ordering brain MRI in acutely dizzy patients (OR = 0.33 [0.16-0.067], p = 0.002) and physical therapy in patients with acute (50 vs. 20%, p = 0.005) or episodic/chronic dizziness (78 vs. 50%, p = 0.003). Conclusion: We found substantial differences in the care of dizzy patients by neurologists and ENT physicians. This underlines the need for a standardized, guideline-oriented diagnostic workup and treatment across specialties. Dedicated training for performing lateral canal BPPV repositioning maneuvers should be prioritized for neurologists. Similarly, physical therapy should be considered more often by ENT physicians.

Long-Term Risk of Stroke After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the SwissTAVI Registry.

BACKGROUND: Stroke after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Predictors of stroke and the long-term risk after TAVR remain incompletely understood. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to investigate the short- and long-term incidence and predictors of stroke after TAVR in the SwissTAVI Registry. METHODS: Between February 2011 and June 2021, consecutive patients undergoing TAVR were included. Standardized stroke ratios (SSRs) were calculated to compare trends in stroke of TAVR patients with an age- and sex-matched general population in Switzerland derived from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study. RESULTS: A total of 11,957 patients (81.8 ± 6.5 years of age, 48.0% female) were included. One-third of the patients (32.3%) had a history of atrial fibrillation, and 11.8% had a history of cerebrovascular accident. The cumulative 30-day incidence rate of stroke was 3.0%, with 69% of stroke events occurring within the first 48 hours after TAVR. The incidence of stroke was 4.3% at 1 year, and 7.8% at 5 years. Compared with an age- and sex-adjusted general population, the risk of stroke was significantly higher in the TAVR population during the first 2 years after TAVR: first year: SSR 7.26 (95% CI: 6.3-8.36) and 6.82 (95% CI: 5.97-7.79) for males and females, respectively; second year: SSR 1.98 (95% CI: 1.47-2.67) and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.09-2.02) for males and females, respectively; but returned to a comparable level to that observed in the matched population thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with an age- and sex-matched population, TAVR patients experienced a higher risk of stroke for up to 2 years after the procedure, and a comparable risk thereafter. (SwissTAVI Registry; NCT01368250).

Drinking patterns of alcohol and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events after an acute coronary syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate the risk of alcohol consumption after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: A total of 6557 patients hospitalized for ACS at 4 Swiss centres were followed over 12 months. Weekly alcohol consumption was collected at baseline and 12 months. Binge drinking was defined as consumption of ≥6 units of alcohol on one occasion. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke or clinically indicated target vessel coronary revascularization. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the risk of MACE in patients with heavy (>14 standard units/week), moderate (7-14 standard units per week), light consumption (<1 standard unit/week) or abstinence, and with binge drinking episodes, adjusted for baseline differences. RESULTS: At baseline, 817 (13.4%) patients reported heavy weekly alcohol consumption. At one-year follow-up, 695/1667 (41.6%) patients reported having at least one or more episodes of binge drinking per month. The risk for MACE was not significantly higher in those with heavy weekly consumption compared to abstinence (8.6% vs. 10.2%, HR 0.97, 95%CI 0.69-1.36) or light consumption (8.6% vs. 8.5 %, HR 1.41, 95%CI 0.97-2.06). Compared to patients with no-binge drinking, the risk of MACE was dose-dependently higher in those with binge drinking with less than one episode per month (9.2% vs 7.8%, HR 1.61, 95%CI 1.23-2.11), or one or more episodes per month (13.6% vs 7.8%, HR 2.17, 95%CI 1.66-2.83). CONCLUSION: Binge drinking during the year following an ACS, even less than once per month, is associated with worse clinical outcomes.

The cardiovascular risk of alcohol consumption and of binge drinking episodes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been established. Our data suggested the following: After ACS, regular weekly alcohol consumption is not associated with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), except for patients reporting binge drinking who have a two-fold increased risk of MACE within one year of the index event.After ACS, episodes of binge drinking, even less than once per month, are associated with worse clinical outcomes. It is not the frequency, but rather the quantity of alcohol intake in a binge drinking episode, that is associated with worse prognosis in patients after an ACS.

Effects of SARS-COV-2 infection on outcomes in patients hospitalized for acute cardiac conditions. A prospective, multicenter cohort study (Swiss Cardiovascular SARS-CoV-2 Consortium).

Background: Although the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily affects the respiratory system, the disease entity has been associated with cardiovascular complications. This study sought to assess the effect of concomitant SARS-COV-2 infection on clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized primarily for acute cardiac conditions on cardiology wards in Switzerland. Methods: In this prospective, observational study conducted in 5 Swiss cardiology centers during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients hospitalized due to acute cardiac conditions underwent a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test at the time of admission and were categorized as SARS-COV-2 positive (cases) or negative (controls). Patients hospitalized on cardiology wards underwent treatment for the principal acute cardiac condition according to local practice. Clinical outcomes were recorded in-hospital, at 30 days, and after 1 year and compared between cases and controls. To adjust for imbalanced baseline characteristics, a subgroup of patients derived by propensity matching was analyzed. Results: Between March 2020 and February 2022, 538 patients were enrolled including 122 cases and 416 controls. Mean age was 68.0 ± 14.7 years, and 75% were men. Compared with controls, SARS-COV-2-positive patients more commonly presented with acute heart failure (35% vs. 17%) or major arrhythmia (31% vs. 9%), but less commonly with acute coronary syndrome (26% vs. 53%) or severe aortic stenosis (4% vs. 18%). Mortality was significantly higher in cases vs. controls in-hospital (16% vs. 1%), at 30 days (19.0% vs. 2.2%), and at 1 year (28.7% vs. 7.6%: p < 0.001 for all); this was driven primarily (up to 30 days) and exclusively (at one-year follow-up) by higher non-cardiovascular mortality, and was accompanied by a greater incidence of worsening renal function in cases vs. controls. These findings were maintained in a propensity-matched subgroup of 186 patients (93 cases and 93 controls) with balanced clinical presentation and baseline characteristics. Conclusions: In this observational study of patients hospitalized for acute cardiac conditions, SARS-COV-2 infection at index hospitalization was associated with markedly higher all-cause and non-cardiovascular mortality throughout one-year follow-up. These findings highlight the need for effective, multifaceted management of both cardiac and non-cardiac morbidities and prolonged surveillance in patients with acute cardiac conditions complicated by SARS-COV-2 infection.

Long-term outcomes with biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: 5-year follow-up of the BIOSTEMI randomised superiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents improve early stent-related clinical outcomes compared to durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The long-term advantages of biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents after complete degradation of its polymer coating in patients with STEMI remains however uncertain. METHODS: BIOSTEMI Extended Survival (BIOSTEMI ES) was an investigator-initiated, follow-up extension study of the BIOSTEMI prospective, multicentre, single-blind, randomised superiority trial that compared biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents with durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention at ten hospitals in Switzerland. All individuals who had provided written informed consent for participation in the BIOSTEMI trial were eligible for this follow-up study. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure, defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial re-infarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularisation, at 5 years. Superiority of biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents over durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents was declared if the Bayesian posterior probability for a rate ratio (RR) of less than 1 was greater than 0·975. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05484310. FINDINGS: Between April 26, 2016, and March 9, 2018, 1300 patients with STEMI (1622 lesions) were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to treatment with biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (649 patients, 816 lesions) or durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (651 patients, 806 lesions). At 5 years, the primary composite endpoint of target lesion failure occurred in 50 (8%) patients treated with biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents and in 72 (11%) patients treated with durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (difference of -3%; RR 0·70, 95% Bayesian credible interval 0·51-0·95; Bayesian posterior probability for superiority 0·988). INTERPRETATION: In patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI, biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents were superior to durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents with respect to target lesion failure at 5 years of follow-up. The difference was driven by a numerically lower risk for ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation. FUNDING: Biotronik.