Timeliness of reperfusion in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and outcomes in Kerala, India: results of the TRUST outcomes registry.

PURPOSE: Transatlantic guidelines endorse quality metrics for timely reperfusion in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Compliance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely unknown. STUDY DESIGN: We prospectively evaluated 2928 STEMI patients in Kerala, India, across 16 PCI-capable hospitals who received reperfusion with either primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) or fibrinolysis. Primary endpoint was a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke or readmission for heart failure at 1-year. RESULTS: Among reperfused STEMI patients, 320 (10.9%) received timely reperfusion with either PPCI or fibrinolysis, 1985 (67.8%) received delayed PPCI, and 623 (21.3%) received delayed fibrinolysis. Timely reperfusion had lower unadjusted MACE rates than delayed PCI or fibrinolysis (timely reperfusion: 11.9%, delayed PPCI: 13.6%, delayed fibrinolysis: 23.9%, P < 0.001). Mortality was lowest in the timely reperfusion group (timely reperfusion: 6.3%, delayed PPCI: 7.8%, delayed fibrinolysis 18.8%, P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, delayed fibrinolysis had a higher MACE rate (HR 1.52 95% CI 1.04-2.21) and mortality (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.18-3.25) compared to timely reperfusion. Total ischemic time > 3 h and delayed first medical contact-to-needle time predicted MACE at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Among STEMI patients in Kerala, India, only one in 10 eligible patients received timely reperfusion. Longer total ischemic times and delayed fibrinolysis were associated with 1-year MACE. Improving timely reperfusion is critical to enhancing STEMI outcomes in LMICs. What is already known on this topic Given the established link between delay to reperfusion and worse major adverse cardiac events (MACE), global efforts have concentrated on minimizing different components of the total ischemic time to improve ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) outcomes. Compliance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely unknown. What this study adds In this cohort of STEMI patients in Kerala, India, total ischemic time and first medical contact-to-needle time correlated with long-term MACE rates, whereas other timeliness indicators did not. How this study might affect research, practice or policy Our study highlights the significant barriers to accessing STEMI care that are prevalent in LMICs despite incremental growth in the number of PCI-capable hospitals. The pre-hospital phase within total ischemic time is the most important quality improvement metric of STEMI care in LMICs, especially for patients chosen for fibrinolysis.

Reevaluate the effect of ACEI/ARB therapy at discharge on patients with STEMI in the contemporary reperfusion era.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) had beneficial effects on clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the pre-reperfusion or thrombolytic era. It is unknown if the benefits persist in the contemporary reperfusion era. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine if ACEI/ARB improves clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI in the contemporary reperfusion era according to the reperfusion strategy. METHODS: 12596 patients were analyzed from the prospective, nationwide, multicenter China Acute Myocardial Infarction (CAMI) Registry. These patients were classified into the no reperfusion group (n=6004) and the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group (n=6592). Two-year all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were compared. RESULTS: In the no reperfusion group, ACEI/ARB therapy at discharge may reduce the incidences of 30-day MACCE (4.7% vs 7.4%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-0.85; P<0.001), stroke (0.5% vs 1.1%; adjusted HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.21-0.83; P=0.01), and revascularization (2.1% vs 3.1%; adjusted HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.46-0.94; P=0.02) compared to patients not treated with ACEI/ARB. Patients treated with ACEI/ARB also showed a lower rate of two-year MACCE (17.0% versus 19.1%; adjusted HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.76-0.99; P=0.04). No differences were observed in the remaining outcomes. In the primary PCI group, no differences were observed for all examined outcomes before and after multivariate adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ACEI/ARB at discharge may reduce cardiovascular events in STEMI patients not receiving reperfusion, while no significant benefits were observed in those receiving primary PCI.

Cytokine-Based Validation of the Inflammation-Based Risk Score in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

This study aimed to validate an inflammation-based risk score in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by examining their cytokine profiles. Upon admission, patients were evaluated for systemic inflammation using a risk score that assigned points based on specific biomarkers: 1 point for leukocyte count ≥9.3 × 10³ cells/µL, 2 points for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥13.0 mg/L, and 3 points for serum albumin ≤3.6 g/dL. Patients were categorized into three groups: no inflammation (0 points, n = 13), mild inflammation (1-2 points, n = 35), and severe inflammation (3-6 points, n = 26). Serum levels of 16 key cytokines were measured. Patients with higher risk scores showed elevated interleukin (IL)-6 levels (19.6 vs. 8.5 vs. 6.8 pg/mL; P = 0.021) and decreased interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10) levels (73.4 vs. 68.8 vs. 112.2 pg/mL; P = 0.011). IL-6 was positively correlated with hsCRP (ρ 0.307) and negatively correlated with albumin (ρ -0.298), while IP-10 was negatively correlated with leukocyte count (ρ -0.301). No other cytokines showed significant association with the risk score. Higher inflammation scores were also associated with an increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, particularly acute heart failure. This study underscores the association between the inflammation-based risk score and cytokine levels, specifically IL-6 and IP-10, in patients with STEMI.

Myocardial Infarction and Pulmonary Embolism: Causal or Temporal Association?

Ischemic electrocardiographic changes in the setting of pulmonary embolism are typically the result of dilatation of the right cavities and/or right ventricular ischaemia, without coronary occlusion. We present a patient with pulmonary embolism and concomitant myocardial infarction, with the aim of exploring the possible links between these 2 distinct entities.

Hepatic T1 Mapping as a Novel Cardio-Hepatic Axis Imaging Biomarker Early after STEMI.

BACKGROUND: The hepatic response after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may be associated with mortality and morbidity. We aimed to assess the cardio-hepatic axis post-STEMI using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS: This prospective, observational, single-centre study included consecutive STEMI patients who underwent CMR after primary angioplasty from January 2015 to January 2019. Standard infarct characteristics were analysed, and hepatic T1 and hepatic extracellular volume (ECV) were assessed using pre- and post-contrast T1-mapping sequences. The primary endpoint was the relationship between native hepatic T1-values and ischemic right ventricular (RV) involvement, determined by RV ejection fraction (EF) dysfunction and/or the presence of RV acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The diagnostic performance of hepatic T1 values for detecting RV involvement was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: Of 177 consecutive STEMI patients undergoing CMR, 142 were included. Patients with RV ischemic involvement, compared to those without, had significantly higher native hepatic T1 (p < 0.001) and hepatic ECV (p = 0.016). Hepatic T1 values demonstrated a good diagnostic performance in detecting RV involvement (AUC 0.826, p < 0.001) and correlated positively with NT-proBNP values (r = 0.754, p < 0.001). Patients with high hepatic T1 values (>605 ms) had significantly higher NT-proBNP levels (<0.001), larger RV end-diastolic volume (p < 0.001), lower RV-EF (p < 0.001), and a higher prevalence of RV AMI (p = 0.022) compared to those with hepatic T1 ≤ 605 ms, while left ventricular EF and infarct size were similar. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified RV-EF (p = 0.010) and NT-proBNP values (p < 0.001) as independent predictors of increased hepatic T1 values. Patients with increased hepatic T1 values had a higher rate of re-hospitalization for heart failure at 17-month follow-up (12.1% vs 2.0%, p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic T1 mapping has emerged as a possible novel imaging biomarker of the cardio-hepatic axis in STEMI, being associated with RV involvement and increased NT-proBNP values.

Association Between Patient and System Delays and In-Hospital Mortality in Primary PCI for STEMI: Findings from a Large, Nationwide Inpatients Sample.

PURPOSE: System delay is associated with mortality in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the influence of patient delay has been relatively overlooked. We aimed to evaluate the influence of patient and system delays on STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in China. METHODS: STEMI patients registered at the Nationwide Chinese Cardiovascular Association Database-Chest Pain Center from January 2017 to September 2021 were screened. The exposures were total ischemic time (TIT), system delay and patient delay. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Among 458,260 patients from 2529 centers, median TIT, system delay and patient delay were 4.1, 1.5 and 2.1 hours, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio of in-hospital mortality increased by 2.2% (odds ratio [OR], 1.022, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017-1.027), 2.3% (1.023, 1.006-1.040) and 2.2% (1.022, 1.017-1.027) for every one-hour increase in TIT, system delay and patient delay, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patient delay demonstrated a comparable impact to system delay on in-hospital mortality among STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. Widespread primary PCI-capable center, improved awareness about myocardial infarction and regional transfer system are essential to shorten patient delay.

Seeing Bradycardia: How Ultrasound Improves Medical Decision-Making.

There is a broad differential for new-onset cardiac dysrhythmia, and the rapid identification of the underlying cause of these cardiac emergencies can be lifesaving. Identifying wall motion abnormalities on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is not a core echocardiography application for Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians. However, ruling in a regional wall motion abnormality can expedite patient-centered care and assist the busy EM physician in high-risk cases.

Comparative Study of Laboratory Versus Bedside High-Sensitivity Troponin I in the Emergency Medicine Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in India.

BACKGROUND:  Evaluating high-sensitivity troponin I levels in emergency medicine is critical for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aims to evaluate the central laboratory versus bedside troponin I test in the emergency department of a tertiary care center. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  This prospective observational study was conducted at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India, from October to December 2023. Patient samples were analyzed in the central laboratory using the Dimension EXL 200 (Siemens® Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Erlangen, Germany) as the gold standard test and through point-of-care testing using the TriageTrue® (Quidel Corporation, San Diego, CA) high-sensitivity troponin I kit, which was run on the Triage® MeterPro® device (Quidel Corporation, San Diego, CA). This device quantitatively determines troponin I in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-anticoagulated whole blood and plasma specimens. The results were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). An unpaired t-test was performed to compare the difference in time taken using the two testing methods. RESULT:  The mean time for obtaining troponin I results was substantially shorter with bedside testing (14.91 minutes, standard deviation (SD) = 0.5) than with laboratory testing (119.1 minutes, SD = 5.03). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (t = -172.36, p < 0.001). A chi-square test was conducted to assess the disparity between the two testing methods, yielding a chi-square value of 32.64 and a p value of 0.00001, indicating a significant difference between bedside testing and laboratory testing. CONCLUSION: The bedside high-sensitivity troponin I test offers a considerable advantage over laboratory testing regarding turnaround time within the emergency medicine department in India. This rapid diagnostic capability is crucial for timely management, which is beneficial for patients inconclusive of acute coronary syndrome-like non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). It is also cost-effective. It also reduces the emergency boarding time and may reduce the number of unnecessary admissions in healthcare facilities.

Complete vs Culprit-Only Revascularization in Older Patients With Myocardial Infarction With or Without ST-Segment Elevation.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of complete revascularization is well established in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but it is less investigated in those with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess whether complete revascularization, compared with culprit-only revascularization, was associated with consistent outcomes in older patients with STEMI and NSTEMI. METHODS: In the FIRE (Functional Assessment in Elderly MI Patients with Multivessel Disease) trial, 1,445 older patients with myocardial infarction (MI) were randomized to culprit-only or physiology-guided complete revascularization, stratified by STEMI (n = 256 culprit-only vs n = 253 complete) and NSTEMI (n = 469 culprit-only vs n = 467 complete). The primary outcome comprised a composite of death, MI, stroke, or revascularization at 1 year. The key secondary outcome included a composite of cardiovascular death or MI at 1 year. RESULTS: In the overall study population, physiology-guided complete revascularization reduced both primary and key secondary outcomes. The primary outcome occurred in 54 (21.1%) STEMI patients randomized to culprit-only vs 41 (16.2%) STEMI patients of the complete group (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.50-1.13) and in 98 (20.9%) NSTEMI patients randomized to culprit-only vs 72 (15.4%) NSTEMI patients of the complete group (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.53-0.97), with negative interaction testing (P for interaction, 0.846). Similarly, no signal of heterogeneity with respect to the initial clinical presentation was observed for the key secondary endpoint (P for interaction, 0.654). CONCLUSIONS: Physiology-guided complete revascularization, compared with culprit-only revascularization, provided consistent benefit across the whole spectrum of patients with MI. (FIRE [Functional Assessment in Elderly MI Patients With Multivessel Disease]; NCT03772743).

Determinants of In-hospital Death in Non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction with Triple-vessel Disease.

Objective Triple-vessel disease (TVD) is a well-established prognostic factor for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, there is a paucity of literature regarding the risk factors for in-hospital death in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and TVD. In this retrospective study, we examined the determinants of in-hospital death in patients with NSTEMI and TVD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for culprit lesions. Methods The primary objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with in-hospital death using a multivariate analysis. We included 253 patients with NSTEMI and TVD and divided them into a survivor group (n=239) and an in-hospital death group (n=14). Results Systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission was significantly higher in the survivor group than in the in-hospital death group. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was also higher in the survivor group than in the in-hospital death group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, in-hospital death was inversely associated with the SBP at admission (odds ratio [OR] 0.984, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.970-0.999, p<0.035) and eGFR (OR 0.966, 95% CI 0.939-0.994, p=0.019) and was associated with cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) before PCI (OR 8.448, 95%CI 1.863-38.309, p=0.006). Conclusion In-hospital death was associated with CPA before PCI and inversely associated with the SBP at admission and eGFR in patients with NSTEMI and TVD who underwent PCI for the culprit lesion. It may be important to recognize these high-risk features in order to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with NSTEMI and TVD.

Right ventricular function and determining factors of dysfunction in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional study with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Background: Over the past few decades, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients has been the focus of research. Recently, co-occurring right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has received more attention in clinical practice. We aimed to assess RV function using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and identify factors that may contribute to RV dysfunction in STEMI patients. Methods: We retrospectively studied 189 patients with STEMI who underwent CMR 1-7 days after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The ejection fraction (EF), wall thickening rate (WTR), peak radial strain (RS), circumferential strain (CS) and longitudinal strain (LS) of the LV, interventricular septum (IVS) and RV were measured with cine images. The location and extent of the infarct were determined using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. The differences of function between STEMI patients with right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) <50% and those with RVEF ≥50% were compared using an independent-sample t-test. Linear regression analyses were used to determine independent predictors of RVEF. Results: RVEF <50% was observed in 32.28%% STEMI patients, who also demonstrated significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), WTR, RS, CS, LS and larger infarct sizes than those with RVEF ≥50%. Patients with RVEF <50% also demonstrated a higher incidence of RV infarction, higher RV end-systolic volume (ESV) index, and lower RV RS and CS. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed LV EF, IVS WTR and IVS RS as significant predictors for RVEF, while male gender, the culprit lesion in the right coronary artery (RCA), peak troponin were negative predictors for RVEF. Notably, peak troponin, LV EF, LV RS, LV CS, LV WTR, and IVS WTR demonstrated higher area under the curve (AUC) values for predicting RV dysfunction. Conclusions: RV dysfunction was detected in 32.28% of STEMI patients. Patients with acute STEMI and RVEF <50% had impaired LV and IVS functions. Systolic function of the LV and IVS, peak troponin, and culprit lesions in the RCA were independent predictors of RV dysfunction in STEMI patients.

Prognostic value of NT-proBNP and uric acid in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients after complete revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and uric acid (UA) in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after complete revascularization (CR). METHODS: The clinical and physical data from 125 acute STEMI patients (research group) who underwent CR between December 2017 and December 2020 and 60 healthy individuals (control group) who concurrently underwent physical examinations in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Serum samples were collected from both groups to determine the levels of NT-proBNP and UA. The 3-year follow-up data of acute STEMI patients were collected, which were used to group the patients into a good and a poor prognosis group based on their prognoses to comparatively analyze NT-proBNP and UA levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to analyze the prognostic value of NT-proBNP and UA in STEMI patients following CR, and survival curves were plotted to observe their influences on patients' 3-year overall survival (OS). Meanwhile, a univariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with the 3-year OS of acute STEMI patients after CR. RESULTS: The data showed significantly higher expression levels of serum NT-proBNP and UA in acute STEMI patients than in the controls. Besides, the good prognosis group exhibited markedly lower serum NT-proBNP and UA levels than the poor prognosis group. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of NT-proBNP and UA in predicting the prognosis of acute STEMI patients after CR were all above 0.700, and the AUC of their combined detection reached over 0.800. In addition, high serum NT-proBNP and UA levels were strongly associated with lower 3-year OS rates. As indicated by the univariate analysis, a history of smoking and alcoholism as well as high NT-proBNP and UA levels were closely associated with 3-year OS in acute STEMI patients after CR. CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP and UA have promising prognostic value in acute STEMI after CR.

Machine learning prediction of no reflow in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: No-reflow (NRF) phenomenon is a significant challenge in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Accurate prediction of NRF may help improve clinical outcomes of patients. This retrospective study aimed at creating an optimal model based on machine learning (ML) to predict NRF in these patients, with the additional objective of guiding pre- and intra-operative decision-making to reduce NRF incidence. Methods: Data were collected from 321 STEMI patients undergoing pPCI between January 2022 and May 2023, with the dataset being randomly divided into training and internal validation sets in a 7:3 ratio. Selected features included pre- and intra-operative demographic data, laboratory parameters, electrocardiogram, comorbidities, patients' clinical status, coronary angiographic data, and intraoperative interventions. Post comprehensive feature cleaning and engineering, three logistic regression (LR) models [LR-classic, LR-random forest (LR-RF), and LR-eXtreme Gradient Boosting (LR-XGB)], a RF model and an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model were developed within the training set, followed by performance evaluation on the internal validation sets. Results: Among the 261 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 212 were allocated to the normal flow group and 49 to the NRF group. The training group consisted of 183 patients, while the internal validation group included 78 patients. The LR-XGB model, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.829 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.779-0.880], was selected as the representative model for logistic regression analyses. The LR model had an AUC slightly lower than XGBoost model (AUC 0.835, 95% CI: 0.781-0.889) but significantly higher than RF model (AUC 0.731, 95% CI: 0.660-0.802). Internal validation underscored the unique advantages of each model, with the LR model demonstrating the highest clinical net benefit at relevant thresholds, as determined by decision curve analysis. The LR model encompassed seven meaningful features, and notably, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow after initial balloon dilation (TFAID) was the most impactful predictor in all models. A web-based application based on the LR model, hosting these predictive models, is available at https://l7173o-wang-lyn.shinyapps.io/shiny-1/. Conclusions: A LR model was successfully developed through ML to forecast NRF phenomena in STEMI patients undergoing pPCI. A web-based application derived from the LR model facilitates clinical implementation.

Relationship Between Infarct Artery, Myocardial Injury, and Outcomes After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The extent to which infarct artery impacts the extent of myocardial injury and outcomes in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention is uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a pooled analysis using individual patient data from 7 randomized STEMI trials in which myocardial injury within 30 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention was assessed in 1774 patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (n=1318) or technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (n=456). Clinical follow-up was performed at a median duration of 351 days (interquartile range, 184-368 days). Infarct size and outcomes were assessed in anterior (infarct vessel=left anterior descending) versus nonanterior (non-left anterior descending) STEMI. Median infarct size (percentage left ventricular myocardial mass) was larger in patients with anterior compared with nonanterior STEMI (19.7% [interquartile range, 9.4%-31.7%] versus 12.6% [interquartile range, 5.1%-20.5%]; P<0.001). Patients with anterior compared with nonanterior STEMI were at higher risk for 1-year all-cause mortality (6.2% versus 3.6%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.66 [95% CI, 1.02-2.69]; P=0.04) and heart failure hospitalization (4.4% versus 2.6%; adjusted HR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.15-3.36]; P=0.01). Infarct size was a predictor of subsequent all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization in anterior STEMI (adjusted HR per 1% increase, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.03-1.07]; P<0.001), but not in nonanterior STEMI (adjusted HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.99-1.05]; P=0.19). The P value for this interaction was 0.04. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior STEMI was associated with substantially greater myonecrosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention compared with nonanterior STEMI, contributing in large part to the worse prognosis in patients with anterior infarction.

Geriatric conditions and invasive management in frail patients with NSTEMI. A subgroup analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Invasive management in frail patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) remains controversial. We investigated the impact of various geriatric conditions. METHODS: The MOSCA-FRAIL trial included 167 adults aged ≥ 70 years with frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS] ≥ 4 points) and NSTEMI, who were randomized to either an invasive (n=84) or conservative (n=83) strategy. In addition to frailty, we measured activities of daily living (Barthel index), cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer test), and comorbidities (Charlson index). The primary endpoint was the difference (invasive minus conservative) in restricted mean survival time (RMST) for all-cause mortality at a median follow-up of 3.9 years. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients died. The RMST difference favored invasive management at the CFS 25th percentile (CFS=4; 157 days, 95%CI, 18-295; P=.027), which changed to a nonsignificant effect at the 50th and 75th percentiles. The RMST difference remained nonsignificant, irrespective of the severity of other geriatric assessments. In time-to-event analysis, invasive management was associated with an initially lower life expectancy, peaking at around 1 year, among all subgroups. However, patients with CFS=4 experienced a benefit at the end of follow-up (181 days, 95%CI, 19-343), whereas those with CFS >4 did not (-16 days, 95%CI, -217 to 186; interaction P=.16). Subgroups defined by other geriatric markers showed a similar time-dependent trend, albeit with weaker statistical interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with frailty and NSTEMI, the CFS might be useful for evaluating the relative risks and benefits of invasive management. A CFS >4 could serve as a valuable threshold for decision-making.

Establishment and validation of a nomogram model containing a triglyceride-glucose index and neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio for predicting major adverse cardiac events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the predictive value of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR) for in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to establish an associated nomogram model. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we collected data from consecutive STEMI patients who underwent PCI from October 2019 to June 2023 at the Second People's Hospital of Hefei and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, as training and validation sets. Stepwise regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to screen independent risk factors, and a nomogram model was constructed and evaluated for its predictive efficacy. RESULTS: The TyG index, NHR, urea, diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent risk factors for in-hospital MACE after PCI, and were used to construct the nomogram model. The C-index of the training and validation sets were 0.799 and 0.753, respectively, suggesting that the model discriminated well. Calibration and clinical decision curves also demonstrated that the nomogram model had good predictive power. CONCLUSION: In STEMI patients, increased TyG index and NHR were closely related to the occurrence of in-hospital MACE after PCI. Our constructed nomogram model has some value for predicting the occurrence of in-hospital MACE in STEMI patients.

CVIT expert consensus document on primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in 2024.

Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) has significantly contributed to reducing the mortality of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) even in cardiogenic shock and is now the standard of care in most of Japanese institutions. The Task Force on Primary PCI of the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT) proposed an expert consensus document for the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) focusing on procedural aspects of primary PCI in 2018 and updated in 2022. Recently, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published the guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndrome in 2023. Major new updates in the 2023 ESC guideline include: (1) intravascular imaging should be considered to guide PCI (Class IIa); (2) timing of complete revascularization; (3) antiplatelet therapy in patient with high-bleeding risk. Reflecting rapid advances in the field, the Task Force on Primary PCI of the CVIT group has now proposed an updated expert consensus document for the management of ACS focusing on procedural aspects of primary PCI in 2024 version.

The triglyceride-glucose index is associated with no-reflow phenomenon in STEMI patients with type 2 diabetes after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between baseline TyG index and no-reflow phenomenon in STEMI patients with T2DM after PCI. Methods: This study enrolled 695 patients with T2DM and STEMI from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (2014-2019). Patients were divided into tertiles according to the TyG index levels. The incidence of no-reflow phenomenon was recorded. A multivariate regression model was developed to analyze the association between the baseline TyG index and no-reflow phenomenon. The linear association between the baseline TyG index and no-reflow phenomenon was explored using smooth curve fitting with parallel subgroup analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the predictive power of the TyG index. Results: A multivariate logistic regression model revealed that the TyG index was an independent risk factor of no-reflow phenomenon [OR = 3.23, 95%CI: 2.15-4.86, P < 0.001], and the occurrence of no-reflow phenomenon increased gradually with the increase of TyG index tertile interval (P < 0.001). Smooth curve fitting showed that the TyG index was linearly related to the risk of no-reflow. Subgroup analysis showed that they participated in this positive correlation. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the TyG index for evaluating the occurrence of no-reflow was 0.710 (95% CI: 0.640-0.780; P < 0.01). Conclusions: The TyG index is independently associated with no-reflow phenomenon, suggesting that the simple index of the TyG index can be used for risk assessment of no-reflow phenomenon after PCI in STEMI patients with T2DM.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between proximal and non-proximal right coronary artery occlusion in patients with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to the occlusion of left coronary artery are worse in patients with proximal occlusion than in those with non-proximal occlusion. However, there are few reports that focus on the comparison of clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI between proximal and non-proximal right coronary artery (RCA) occlusions. METHODS: We included 356 patients with STEMI whose infarct-related artery is RCA and divided them into the proximal group (n = 129) and the non-proximal group (n = 227). We defined segment 1 of RCA as proximal, and segments 2, 3, and 4 as non-proximal according to the reporting system of the American Heart Association. The primary endpoint was major cardiovascular events (MACE), which was defined as the composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, readmission for heart failure, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: Incidence of shock at admission, requirement for catecholamine during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or mechanical support during PCI tended to be higher in the proximal group (42.6 %) than in the non-proximal group (33.5 %) (p = 0.088). Although the incidence of right ventricular infarction tended to be higher in the proximal group (17.8 %) than in the non-proximal group (10.6 %) without reaching statistical significance (p = 0.072), the incidence of in-hospital death was similar between the 2 groups (1.6 % versus 1.8 %, p = 1.000). The MACE-free survival curves were not different between the 2 groups (p = 0.400). Multivariate Cox hazard analysis revealed that proximal RCA occlusion was not associated with MACE (HR 1.095, 95%CI 0.691-1.737, p = 0.699). CONCLUSIONS: Although the acute phase conditions such as shock or right ventricular infarction tended to be more severe in patients with proximal occlusion, overall clinical outcomes including long-term outcomes were comparable between the proximal and distal RCA occlusions. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that the proximal RCA occlusion was not associated with MACE after hospital discharge.

Pre-hospital heparin is not associated with infarct vessel patency and mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Pre-hospital heparin administration has been reported to improve prognosis in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This beneficial effect may be limited to the subgroup of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. METHODS: To assess the impact of pre-hospital heparin loading on TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) flow grade and mortality in STEMI patients with OHCA, we analyzed data from 2,566 consecutive patients from two hospitals participating in the prospective Feedback Intervention and Treatment Times in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (FITT-STEMI) trial. RESULTS: In 394 participants with OHCA, 272 (69%) received heparin from the emergency medical service (EMS). Collapse witnessed by EMS (odds ratio (OR) = 3.53, 95%-confidence interval (CI) = 1.54-8.09; p = 0.003) and pre-hospital ECG recording (OR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.06-10.35; p = 0.039) were identified as parameters significantly associated with pre-hospital heparin use. In univariate analysis, in-hospital mortality was lower in the group receiving heparin in the pre-hospital setting (26.8% vs. 42.6%, p = 0.002). However, in a regression model, pre-hospital heparin use was no longer a significant predictor of mortality (OR = 0.992; p = 0.981). Patency of the infarct artery prior to coronary revascularization, as measured by TIMI flow grade, was not associated with pre-hospital administration of heparin in OHCA patients (OR = 0.840; p = 0.724). CONCLUSIONS: In STEMI patients with OHCA, pre-hospital use of heparin is neither associated with improved early patency of the infarct artery nor with a better prognosis. Our results do not support the assumption of a positive effect of heparin administration in the pre-hospital treatment phase in STEMI patients with OHCA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00794001.