Risk of acute kidney injury in critically-ill patients with COVID-19 compared with seasonal influenza: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus can bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors on host renal cells and may cause acute kidney injury (AKI). The comparative risks of AKI in patients severely ill with COVID-19 and influenza A have not been examined. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including patients with positive PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 or influenza A virus admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of 15 public hospitals in Hong Kong between 1st January 2013 and 30th April 2023. Patients who were already on chronic dialysis or had missing values in the confounder model were excluded. Data were retrieved from Hong Kong Hospital Authority's electronic healthcare records. The primary outcome was incident AKI during ICU stay. Secondary outcomes included acute kidney disease (AKD) and hospital mortality. All analyses were examined in multivariable regression adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, baseline eGFR, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, baseline comorbidities, APACHE IV predicted risk of death, Charlson Comorbidity Index, emergent hospital admission, admission from elderly home, reason for ICU admission, presence of bacterial co-infections, use of medications [including vasopressors, antiviral medications, steroids and nephrotoxic antibiotics], as well as anaemia and leucocytosis). Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio using a propensity score generated based on the full confounder model. The analyses were repeated using inverse probability weighting and in propensity-score matched cohorts. Findings: A total of 5495 ICU patients were identified. After excluding 1093 (19.9%) patients who met the exclusion criteria and 74 (1.3%) patients who had one or more missing values in the logistic regression model, a total of 4328 patients were included in the final analysis, with 2787 (64.4%) patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and 1541 (35.6%) patients who tested positive for influenza A virus RT-PCR. The comorbidity burden was greater in patients with COVID-19 (Charlson Comorbidity Index 3 [2-4] vs. 3 [1-4]), but the median APACHE IV predicted risk of death was significantly lower (0.19 [0.08-0.38] vs. 0.25 [0.11-0.52]). A total of 1053 (37.8%) patients with COVID-19 and 828 (53.7%) patients with influenza A developed AKI of any stage during ICU stay. In adjusted analysis, the risk of AKI was significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 compared with influenza A (adjusted odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.61, P < 0.0001]. The risk of stage 3 AKI and AKD were also significantly lower in patients with COVID-19. These results remained robust in multiple pre-planned sensitivity analyses including inverse probability weighting and propensity score matching. Interpretation: Our results suggest that the risk of AKI in patients severely ill with COVID-19 was lower than in patients with influenza A. The burden of concurrent organ failure complicating respiratory viral infections, such as the higher disease-attributable risk of AKI associated with influenza, should be clarified. Funding: An unrestricted philanthropic donation from Mr and Mrs Laurence Tse, The Wai Im Charitable Foundation, Chan Sui Kau Family Benefits and Charitable Foundation, So Ka Wing and Lee Sau Ying Charitable Foundation, Mr & Mrs Tam Wing Fun Edmund Renal Research Fund, the Theme-Based Research Scheme of the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Programme of Enhancing Laboratory Surveillance and Investigation of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance for the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Emergency COVID-19 Project, Major Projects on Public Security, National Key Research and Development Program; Emergency Collaborative Project of Guangzhou Laboratory; the National Key Research and Development Program of China; Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen China; and the High Level-Hospital Program, Health Commission of Guangdong Province, China.

A retrospective cohort study on the clinical outcomes of patients admitted to intensive care units with dysnatremia.

With evolving patient characteristics and patterns of ICU utilization, the impact of dysnatremias on patient outcomes and healthcare costs in the present era have not been well studied. Patients ≥ 18 years admitted to the ICUs in public hospitals in Hong Kong between January 2010 and June 2022 and had at least one serum sodium measurement obtained within 24 h prior to or following ICU admission were stratified into normonatremic (135-145 mmol/L), hyponatremic (< 135 mmol/L) and hypernatremic (> 145 mmol/L) groups. A total of 162,026 patients were included-9098 (5.6%), 40,533 (25.0%) and 112,395 (69.4%) patients were hypernatremic, hyponatremic and normonatremic at the time of ICU admission, respectively. The odds of patients with hypernatremia and hyponatremia dying in the ICU were 27% and 14% higher (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.19-1.36 and aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.19, respectively; P < 0.001 for both), and 52% and 21% higher for dying in the hospital (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.43-1.62 and aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.17-1.26, respectively; P < 0.001 for both] compared with those with normonatremia. Patients with dysnatremia also had longer ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and higher healthcare costs than the normonatremic group. Dysnatremias at ICU admission were associated with increased ICU and in-hospital mortality and overall healthcare burden.

Clinical Outcomes of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Versus Switch of Direct Oral Antcoagulant in Atrial Fibrillation: A Territory-Wide Retrospective Analysis.

Background Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has emerged as an alternative to oral anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, but data comparing LAAO with direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) are sparse. Methods and Results This cohort study compared LAAO (with or without prior anticoagulation) with a switch of one DOAC to another DOAC by 1:2 propensity score matching. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, ischemic stroke, and major bleeding. A total of 2350 patients (874 in the LAAO group and 1476 in the DOAC switch group) were included. After a mean follow-up of 1052±694 days, the primary outcome developed in 215 (24.6%) patients in the LAAO group and in 335 (22.7%) patients in the DOAC switch group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94 [95% CI, 0.80-1.12]; P=0.516). The LAAO group had a lower all-cause mortality (HR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.39-0.60]; P<0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.32-0.73]; P<0.001) but similar risk of ischemic stroke (HR, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.63-1.10]; P=0.194). The major bleeding risk was similar overall (HR, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.94-1.48], P=0.150) but was lower in the LAAO group after 6 months (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.51-0.97]; P=0.032). Conclusions LAAO conferred a similar risk of composite outcome of all-cause mortality, ischemic stroke, and major bleeding, as compared with DOAC switch. The risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were lower with LAAO.

Effects of varying blood flow rate during peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygen (V-A ECMO) on left ventricular function measured by two-dimensional strain.

Background: We evaluated the effects of varying blood flow rate during peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygen (V-A ECMO) on left ventricular function measured by two-dimensional strain. Methods: Adult patients who were supported by peripheral V-A ECMO were recruited. Serial hemodynamic and cardiac performance parameters were measured by transthoracic echocardiogram within the first 48 h after implementation of V-A ECMO. Measurements at 100%, 120%, and 50% of target blood flow (TBF) were compared. Results: A total of 54 patients were included and the main indications for V-A ECMO were myocardial infarction [32 (59.3%)] and myocarditis [6 (11.1%)]. With extracorporeal blood flow at 50% compared with 100% TBF, the mean arterial pressure was lower [66 ± 19 vs. 75 ± 18 mmHg, p < 0.001], stroke volume was greater [23 (12-34) vs. 15 (8-26) ml, p < 0.001], and cardiac index was higher [1.2 (0.7-1.7) vs. 0.8 (0.5-1.3) L/min/m2, p < 0.001]. Left ventricular contractile function measured by global longitudinal strain improved at 50% compared with 100% TBF [-2.8 (-7.6- -0.1) vs. -1.2 (-5.2-0) %, p < 0.001]. Similarly, left ventricular ejection fraction increased [24.4 (15.8-35.5) vs. 16.7 (10.0-28.5) %, p < 0.001] and left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral increased [7.7 (3.8-11.4) vs. 4.8 (2.5-8.5) cm, p < 0.001]. Adding echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function to the Survival After Veno-arterial ECMO (SAVE) score had better discriminatory value in predicting eventual hospital mortality (AUROC 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.84, p = 0.008) and successful weaning from V-A ECMO (AUROC 0.68, 95% CI 0.53-0.83, p = 0.017). Conclusion: In the initial period of V-A ECMO support, measures of left ventricular function including left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain were inversely related to ECMO blood flow rate. Understanding the heart-ECMO interaction is vital to interpretation of echocardiographic measures of the left ventricle while on ECMO.

Risk of ICU Admission and Related Mortality in Patients With Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors: A Territory-Wide Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: The benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in reducing the occurrence rate of adverse cardiac and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes has been well described in randomized trials. Whether this benefit extends to patients at the most severe end of the disease spectrum requiring admission to the ICU remains to be examined. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Data were obtained from a territory-wide clinical registry in Hong Kong (Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System). PATIENTS: All adult patients (age ≥ 18 yr) with type 2 diabetes and newly prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After 1:2 propensity score matching, a total of 27,972 patients (10,308 SGLT2 inhibitors vs 17,664 DPP-4 inhibitors) were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 59 ± 11 years, and 17,416 (62.3%) were male. The median follow-up period was 2.9 years. The use of SGLT2 inhibitors was associated with decreased ICU admission (286 [2.8%] vs 645 [3.7%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69-0.91; p = 0.001) and lower risks of all-cause mortality (315 [3.1%] vs 1,327 [7.5%]; HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.38-0.49; p < 0.001), compared with DPP-4 inhibitors. The severity of illness upon ICU admission by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV-predicted risk of death was also lower in SGLT2 inhibitors users. Admissions and mortality due to sepsis were lower in SGLT2 inhibitor users compared with DPP-4 inhibitor users (admissions for sepsis: 45 [0.4%] vs 134 [0.8%]; p = 0.001 and mortality: 59 [0.6%] vs 414 [2.3%]; p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes, SGLT2 inhibitors were independently associated with lower rates of ICU admission and all-cause mortality across various disease categories.

Restrictive and liberal transfusion strategies in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the outcomes of patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support who had a restrictive transfusion strategy with those who had a liberal strategy. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients from 2010 to 2019 who received a minimum of one packed red blood cell (pRBC) during ECMO. Hemoglobin values before each transfusion were retrieved. Restrictive transfusion strategy was defined as a transfusion threshold ≤8.5 g/dl in all transfusion episodes for a single patient, while liberal transfusion strategy was defined as a transfusion threshold >8.5 g/dl in any transfusion episode. RESULTS: The analysis included 763 patients, with 138 (18.1%) patients in the restrictive and 625 (81.9%) in the liberal transfusion strategy group. The median hemoglobin level, taking into account all measured hemoglobin values, during ECMO support was 8.3 and 9.9 g/dl, and the average units of pRBC received per day were 0.7 (0.3-1.8) and 1.2 (0.6-2.3), respectively. There were no significant differences in intensive care unit (ICU) mortality (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.86; 95% CI 0.56-1.30; p = .47), hospital mortality (adjusted OR, 0.79; 95% CI 0.52-1.21; p = .28), and 90-day mortality (adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% CI 0.55-1.28; p = .42) between the two groups. Among subgroup analyses, a restrictive transfusion strategy was associated with decreased risk of ICU mortality in patients on veno-venous ECMO (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95% CI 0.17-0.73; p = .005). There was no heterogeneity on outcomes across patients stratified by age, APACHE IV score, or need for large volume transfusion. DISCUSSION: Our data suggested it may be safe to adopt a restrictive red cell transfusion threshold of 8.5 g/dl in patients on ECMO, and highlighted the need for prospective trials in this heavily-transfused population.

Incidence, Prediction, and Outcomes of Major Bleeding After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Chinese Patients.

Background: The patterns of late major bleeding (MB) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain unknown in Chinese patients. Objectives: This study sought to determine the incidence, prediction, and long-term outcomes of late MB in Chinese patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study from 14 hospitals in Hong Kong. Participants were patients undergoing first-time PCI without MB within 30 days or death within 1 year. Patients were stratified by the presence of late MB, defined as MB between 30 and 365 days. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results: A total of 32,057 patients were analyzed. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, periprocedural characteristics, and medications on discharge, the risks of all-cause mortality at 5 years were significantly higher with late MB (HR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.92-2.41; P < 0.001). Late MB was also associated with a higher risk of MACE (HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03-1.50; P < 0.001), myocardial infarction (HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04-1.52; P = 0.02), and stroke (HR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.09-1.73; P = 0.006). The CARDIAC (anti-Coagulation therapy, Age, Renal insufficiency, Drop In hemoglobin, baseline Anemia in Chinese patients) score had a good discriminating power for prediction of MB within 365 days (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve: 0.76). Conclusions: Late MB was independently associated with a higher risk of mortality, MACE, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients undergoing PCI. The CARDIAC score is a simple model that can predict MB after PCI. Prevention of MB represents an important strategy to optimize cardiovascular outcomes for patients undergoing PCI.

Sensitivity of ventricular systolic function to afterload during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

AIMS: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) increases afterload to the injured heart and may hinder myocardial recovery. We aimed to compare the sensitivity of left ventricular (LV) systolic function to the afterload effects of peripheral V-A ECMO during the acute and delayed stages of acute myocardial dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 46 adult patients who were supported by peripheral V-A ECMO between April 2019 and June 2021 were analysed. Serial cardiac performance parameters were measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on mean day 1 ± 1 of V-A ECMO initiation (n = 45, 'acute phase') and mean day 4 ± 2 of V-A ECMO initiation (n = 36, 'delayed phase'). Measurements were obtained at 100%, 120%, and 50% of ECMO target blood flow (TBF). LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) significantly improved from -6.1 (-8.9 to -4.0)% during 120% TBF to -8.8 (-11.5 to -6.0)% during 50% TBF (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of LV GLS to changes in ECMO flow was significantly greater in the acute phase of myocardial injury compared with the delayed phase [median (IQR) percentage change: 72.7 (26.8-100.0)% vs. 22.5 (14.9-43.8)%, P < 0.001]. Findings from other echocardiographic parameters including LV ejection fraction [43.0 (29.1-56.8)% vs. 22.8 (9.2-42.2)%, P = 0.012] and LV outflow tract velocity-time integral [45.8 (18.6-58.7)% vs. 24.2 (12.6-34.0)%, P = 0.001] were similar. A total of 24 (52.2%) patients were weaned off ECMO successfully. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that LV systolic function was significantly more sensitive to the afterload effects of V-A ECMO during the acute stage of myocardial dysfunction compared with the delayed phase. Understanding the evolution of the heart-ECMO interaction over the course of acute myocardial dysfunction informs the clinical utility of echocardiographic assessment in patients on V-A ECMO.

Effect of hospital case volume on clinical outcomes of patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a territory-wide longitudinal observational study.

Background: The utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has increased rapidly around the world. Being an overall low-volume high-cost form of therapy, the effectiveness of having care delivered in segregated units across a geographical locality is debatable. Methods: All adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cases admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong between 2010 and 2019 were included. "High-volume" centers were defined as those with >20 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cases in the respective calendar year, while "low-volume" centers were those with ≤20. Clinical outcomes of patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation care in high-volume centers were compared with those in low-volume centers. Results: A total of 911 patients received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-297 (32.6%) veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, 450 (49.4%) veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 164 (18.0%) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The overall hospital mortality was 456 (50.1%). The annual number of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cases in high- and low-volume centers were 29 and 11, respectively. Management in a high-volume center was not significantly associated with hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61-1.21, P=0.38), or with intensive care unit mortality (adjusted OR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.54-1.06, P=0.10) compared with a low-volume center. Over the 10-year period, the overall observed mortality was similar to the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation IV-predicted mortality, with no significant difference in the standardized mortality ratios between high- and low-volume centers (P=0.46). Conclusions: In a territory-wide observational study, we observed that case volumes in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers were not associated with hospital mortality. Maintaining standards of care in low-volume centers is important and improves preparedness for surges in demand.

Risk of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in Chinese undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention treated with potent P2Y12 inhibitor versus clopidogrel.

BACKGROUND: Stroke after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can be devastating. It is uncertain whether the risks of ischaemic stroke or intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) are associated with different choices of P2Y12 inhibitors (potent P2Y12 inhibitors such as ticagrelor and prasugrel vs clopidogrel). Even though East Asians are known to have different thrombotic and haemorrhagic profiles from Caucasians, data on Chinese patients are sparse. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study conducting in Chinese patients with ACS who underwent first-ever percutaneous coronary intervention from 14 hospitals in Hong Kong between 2010 and 2017. The primary efficacy endpoint was ischaemic stroke. The secondary efficacy endpoint was a composite outcome of thrombotic events including all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke. The primary safety endpoint was ICH. The secondary safety endpoint was a composite of major bleeding events. RESULTS: After adjustment of baseline characteristics by 1:1 propensity score matching, a total of 6220 patients (3110 on each group) were analysed. Compared with clopidogrel, potent P2Y12 inhibitors were associated with a lower risk of ischaemic stroke (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.87; p=0.008) and a lower risk of thrombotic events (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.90; p=0.001). Potent P2Y12 inhibitor was associated with similar risk of ICH (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.25, p=0.20) and major bleeding (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.01, p=0.069). CONCLUSIONS: Potent P2Y12 inhibitors were associated with a lower adjusted risk of ischaemic stroke and thrombotic events, compared with clopidogrel. The risks of ICH and major bleeding were similar.

Survivals of Angiography-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Proportion of Intracoronary Imaging at Population Level: The Imaging Paradox.

Background: There is a significant disparity between randomized controlled trials and observational studies with respect to any mortality benefit with intracoronary imaging during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This raises a suspicion that the imaging paradox, in which some operators may become over reliant on imaging and less proficient with angiography-guided PCI, might exist. Method: This was a retrospective cohort study from 14 hospitals under the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017. Participants were patients who underwent first-ever PCI. The association between mortality risks of patients undergoing angiography-guided PCI and three tertiles (low, medium, and high) of the proportion of PCI done under intracoronary imaging guidance at a population level (background imaging rate), were evaluated after confounder adjustment by multivariable logistic regression. Results: In an adjusted analysis of 11,816 patients undergoing angiography-guided PCI, the risks of all-cause mortality for those were higher in the high-tertile group compared with the low-tertile group (OR, 1.45, 95% CI, 1.10-1.92, P = 0.008), the risks of cardiovascular mortality were higher in the high-tertile group compared with the low-tertile group (OR, 1.51, 95% CI, 1.08-2.13, P = 0.017). The results were consistent with multiple sensitivity analyses. Threshold analysis suggested that the mortality risks of angiography-guided PCI were increased when the proportion of imaging-guided PCI exceeded approximately 50%. Conclusions: The risks of the all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were higher for patients undergoing angiography-guided PCI in practices with a higher background imaging rate.

Impact of contrast-induced acute kidney injury on long-term major adverse cardiovascular events and kidney function after percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from a territory-wide cohort study in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: The impact of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) on long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remains controversial. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study from 14 hospitals under the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong between 2004 and 2017. Severe CI-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine of >50% from the baseline value, an absolute increase of >1 mg/dL (88 µmol/L) or requiring dialysis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Mild CI-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine of >25% from the baseline value or an absolute increase of >0.5 mg/dL (44 µmol/L) after PCI but not fulfilling the criteria for severe CI-AKI. The primary endpoint was MACE, defined as a composite outcome of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction after hospital discharge, stroke or any unplanned coronary revascularization, in a time-to-first-event analysis up to 5 years after PCI. The secondary endpoints were individual components of MACE and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: A total of 34 576 patients were analysed. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, procedural characteristics and medication use, the risk of MACE at 5 years was significantly higher with mild CI-AKI {hazard ratio [HR], 1.18 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.26); P < 0.001} and severe CI-AKI [HR 1.92 (95% CI 1.78-2.07); P < 0.001]. Severe CI-AKI was associated with higher adjusted risks of each secondary end point and the risks monotonically accrued over time. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing a first-ever PCI, CI-AKI of any severity was associated with a higher adjusted risk of MACE at 5 years. Severe CI-AKI has a stronger association with MACE and its individual components, with an excess of early and late events.

Trade-off of major bleeding versus myocardial infarction on mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The choice of antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is heavily dependent on the relative trade-off between major bleeding (MB) and myocardial infarction (MI). However, the mortality trade-off was mostly described in Western populations and remained unknown in East Asians. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study from 14 hospitals under the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong between 2004 and 2017. Participants were patients undergoing first-time PCI and survived for the first year. Patients were stratified by the presence of MB and MI during the first year. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality between 1 and 5 years after PCI. The secondary endpoint was cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: A total of 32 180 patients were analysed. After adjustment for baseline characteristics and using patients with neither events as reference, the risks of all-cause mortality were increased in patients with MI only (HR, 1.63; 95% CI 1.45 to 1.84; p<0.001), further increased in those with MB only (HR, 2.11, 95% CI 1.86 to 2.39; p<0.001) and highest in those with both (HR, 2.92; 95% CI 2.39 to 3.56; p<0.001). In both Cox regression and propensity score analyses, MB had a stronger impact on all-cause mortality than MI, but similar impact on cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Both MB and MI within the first year after PCI were associated with increase in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Chinese patients, but the impact was stronger with MB.

Predictors of Favorable Neurologic Outcomes in a Territory-First Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Program.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is an advanced resuscitation method that has been associated with better outcomes after cardiac arrest compared with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This is a retrospective analysis of all patients who received ECPR for cardiac arrest in Hong Kong's first ECPR program from 2012 to 2020. The primary outcome was favorable neurologic outcome at 3 months. A new risk prediction model was developed and its performance was compared with published risk scores. One-hundred two patients received ECPR and 19 (18.6%) patients survived with favorable neurologic outcome. Having a shockable rhythm was the strongest predictor of favorable neurologic outcome in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 9.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49 to 62.30; P = 0.017). We developed a simple model with three parameters for the prediction of favorable neurologic outcomes - presence of shockable rhythm, mean arterial pressure after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation IV score, with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.94). In Hong Kong's first ECPR program, 18.6% patients survived with favorable neurologic outcomes, and having a shockable rhythm at presentation was the strongest predictor. Risk scores are useful in predicting important patient outcomes and should be included in clinical decision-making for patients who received ECPR.

High-Intensity Statin vs. Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Target for Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From a Territory-Wide Cohort Study in Hong Kong.

Background: Different guidelines recommend different approaches to lipid management in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We aim to determine the best strategy for lipid management in Asian patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Method: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in patients who underwent first-ever PCI from 14 hospitals in Hong Kong. All participants either achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <55 mg/dl with ≥50% reduction from baseline (group 1), or received high-intensity statin (group 2), or both (group 3) within 1 yr after PCI. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and any unplanned coronary revascularization between 1 and 5 yr after PCI. Results: A total of 8,650 patients were analyzed with a median follow-up period of 4.2 yr. After the adjustment of baseline characteristics, complexity of PCI and medications prescribed and the risks of the primary outcome were significantly lower in group 2 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.93, P = 0.003) and group 3 (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.90; P = 0.002). The primary outcome occurred at similar rates between group 2 and group 3. Conclusions: Use of high intensity statin, with or without the attainment of guidelines recommended LDL-C target, was associated with a lower adjusted risk of MACE at 5 yr, compared with patients who attained LDL-C target without high intensity statin.

Association between proton pump inhibitors after percutaneous coronary intervention and risk of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showing an association between chronic use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and gastric cancer are limited by confounding by indication. This relationship has not been studied in patients receiving PPI for prophylaxis, such as those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study including 14 hospitals under the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2017. Participants were patients who underwent first-ever PCI, were not on PPI prescription within 30 days before admission for PCI, had no known malignancy and survived for 365 days after PCI. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics and other prescription patterns. The primary outcome was diagnosis of gastric cancer made >365 days after PCI as a time-to-first-event analysis. The secondary outcome was death from gastric cancer. RESULTS: Among the 13 476 patients (6738 pairs) matched by propensity score, gastric cancer developed in 17 (0.25%) PPI users and 7 (0.10%) PPI non-users after a median follow-up of 7.1 years. PPI users had a higher risk of gastric cancer (HR 3.55; 95% CI 1.46 to 8.66, p=0.005) and death from gastric cancer (HR 4.18; 95% CI 1.09 to 16.08, p=0.037), compared with non-users. The association was duration-dependent and patients who took PPI for ≥365 days were at increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic use of PPI was significantly associated with increased risk of gastric cancer and death from gastric cancer in patients for whom it was prescribed as prophylaxis. Physicians should judiciously assess the relevant risks and benefits of chronic PPI use before prescription.

Association Between Radial Versus Femoral Access for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Long-Term Mortality.

Background Percutaneous coronary intervention with radial arterial access has been associated with fewer occurrences of major bleeding. However, published data on the long-term mortality and major adverse cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention with radial or femoral arterial access are inconclusive. Method and Results This was a territory-wide retrospective cohort study including 26 022 patients who underwent first-ever percutaneous coronary intervention between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017 in Hong Kong. Among the 14 614 patients matched by propensity score (7307 patients in each group), 558 (7.6%) and 787 (10.8%) patients died during the observation period in the radial group and femoral group, respectively, resulting in annualized all-cause mortality rates of 2.69% and 3.87%, respectively. The radial group had a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with the femoral group up to 3 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.63-0.78; P<0.001). Radial access was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiac events (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.83, P<0.001), myocardial infarction after hospital discharge (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.87, P<0.001), and unplanned revascularization (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68-0.85, P<0.001). The risks of stroke were similar across the 2 groups (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82-1.13, P=0.655). Conclusions Radial access was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality at 3 years compared with femoral access. Radial access was associated with reduced risks of myocardial infarction and unplanned revascularization, but not stroke. The benefits were sustained beyond the early postoperative period.

Blood eosinophil count as a predictor of hospital length of stay in COPD exacerbations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Airway inflammation accompanying exacerbations varies among individuals with some having neutrophilic, while others showing eosinophilic inflammation. This study assessed the cut-off values of blood eosinophil count for identifying subjects with longer hospital length of stay (LOS) with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). METHODS: Patients were recruited at presentation to the hospital with an AECOPD. Complete blood picture with differential count was taken on admission. Patients were treated with a standard course of systemic corticosteroid and antibiotic and evaluated at 8 weeks post-exacerbation for lung function measurement and 6-min walk. They were followed up in 1 year for any readmissions or mortality. Cut-off values of eosinophils for assessment of longer LOS were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 346 patients with admission eosinophil count were included in the analysis (333 (96.2%) were males; mean ± SD age: 74.9 ± 7.8 years; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ): 43.4 ± 16.3% predicted). The median (interquartile range (IQR)) of the absolute peripheral eosinophil count, percent eosinophil count and LOS were 0.11 (0.25) × 109 /L, 1 (3) % and 5 (7) days, respectively. Using the median LOS of ≥5 days as the cut-off, ROC analysis of the cut-off value of eosinophil count associated with longer LOS was at <2% (area under the curve (AUC): 0.666, P < 0.001) while absolute eosinophil count was at <0.144 × 109 /L (AUC: 0.645, P < 0.001). These eosinophil cut-off values could predict longer LOS independent of age, lung function and previous hospital admissions, but had no association with readmissions for AECOPD and mortality at 12 months. CONCLUSION: An eosinophil value of <0.144 × 109 /L on admission or <2% was associated with longer hospital LOS for AECOPD.