Compliance with Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Early Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Activation in Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate compliance with guideline-directed optimal medical therapy (OMT) and its association with early implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) activation in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: Retrospective data from 307 patients who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention from 2011 to 2017 were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the study participants, only 23.8% received the maximum tolerated dose of OMT prior to ICD implantation, with 59.0% receiving all three OMT medication groups. No significant difference in OMT compliance was found between patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and those with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, DCM patients received ICDs more frequently at the time of diagnosis than ICM patients (13.8% vs. 0.7%). Early ICD activation (within 3 months) occurred in only one patient who had not received appropriate OMT, representing 0.7% of all ICM patients. Furthermore, early activation was also infrequent in patients who received OMT (2.9% of ICM patients and 2.6% of DCM patients). Echocardiography follow-up data revealed that 20.4% of ICM patients and 29.8% of DCM patients who did not receive OMT before ICD implantation showed improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) to 35% or more. Conclusions: This study found suboptimal compliance with OMT prior to ICD implantation in HFrEF patients. The results showed that early ICD activation was rare in all patient groups, especially those who did not receive the prescribed 3 months of OMT. More research is needed to investigate longer waiting periods for the evaluation of potential EF improvement, and to better evaluate the eligibility of HFrEF patients for ICD. The current findings have potential implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Is CYP2C Haplotype Relevant for Efficacy and Bleeding Risk in Clopidogrel-Treated Patients?

A recently discovered haplotype-CYP2C:TG-determines the ultrarapid metabolism of several CYP2C19 substrates. The platelet inhibitor clopidogrel requires CYP2C19-mediated activation: the risk of ischemic events is increased in patients with a poor (PM) or intermediate (IM) CYP2C19 metabolizer phenotype (vs. normal, NM; rapid, RM; or ultrarapid, UM). We investigated whether the CYP2C:TG haplotype affected efficacy/bleeding risk in clopidogrel-treated patients. Adults (n = 283) treated with clopidogrel over 3-6 months were classified by CYP2C19 phenotype based on the CYP2C19*2*17 genotype, and based on the CYP2C19/CYP2C cluster genotype, and regarding carriage of the CYP2:TG haplotype, and were balanced on a number of covariates across the levels of phenotypes/haplotype carriage. Overall, 45 (15.9%) patients experienced ischemic events, and 49 (17.3%) experienced bleedings. By either classification, the incidence of ischemic events was similarly numerically higher in PM/IM patients (21.6%, 21.8%, respectively) than in mutually similar NM, RM, and UM patients (13.2-14.8%), whereas the incidence of bleeding events was numerically lower (13.1% vs. 16.6-20.5%). The incidence of ischemic events was similar in CYP2C:TG carries and non-carries (14.1% vs. 16.1%), whereas the incidence of bleedings appeared mildly lower in the former (14.9% vs. 20.1%). We observed no signal to suggest a major effect of the CYP2C19/CYP2C cluster genotype or CYP2C:TG haplotype on the clinical efficacy/safety of clopidogrel.

Medication, nocturnal dipping profile and hypertensive emergency / Medicación, perfil de inmersión nocturna y emergencia hipertensiva

INTRODUCTION: the aim of this study was to analyze the medication used by the patients with hypertensive crisis (blood pressure above 180/120mmHg) and its impact on the main risk factors for hypertensive emergency development. METHODS: a total of 233 patients (108 male, 125 female), 184 had hypertensive urgency/ 53 emergency (54.44% /50.95% in women) at the Emergency department during 11 months. Patients were divided in five age groups as decades starting from the age of 40 (mean 65.85 years) and a total ten groups depending on which type of hypertensive medication they were using (ACEi, ARB, BB, CCB, diuretics, moxonidine, and their combinations). RESULTS: by using antihypertensive monotherapy percentage of hypertensive emergencies were 100.00%, 50.00%, 41.66%, 33.33%, 21.05%. Using ACEi + CCB + diuretic significantly decreased the number of emergencies to 0%, 18.47%, 21.05%, 25.00%, 33.33%; but adding beta blocker additionally diminished the risk. Overall 53 patients had no medication (22.75%) and 68 of 233 patients were smokers (29.18%, 63.23% male) of which 36 patients had hypertensive emergency (52.94% of smokers). The biggest number of non-dippers was found in patients who took ARBs, diuretics and/or CCB but the smallest number was shown in patients who took ACEi in combination with moxonidine (-20.07%). 22.02% of smokers were non-dippers (-54.67% nonsmokers). Odds ratio for getting hypertensive emergency in case patient had a non-dipper profile was 4.18 (CI 1.02 ­ 18.89, p < 0.05). Patients taking different medication (or none) did not have increased chance for hypertensive emergency development (OR 1.21, p = NS). We didn't find any differences in the non-dipping profile incidence between genders (72.12% males, 72.83% females). CONCLUSION: combinations of all antihypertensive medication showed benefit over monotherapy. Higher 24-hour and nighttime blood pressure (non-dipping profile) was significantly associated with greater change for developing hypertensive emergency.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la medicación utilizada por los pacientes con crisis hipertensiva (presión arterial superior a 180/120mmHg) y su impacto en los principales factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de la emergencia hipertensiva. MÉTODOS: un total de 233 pacientes (108 hombres, 125 mujeres), 184 tenían urgencia hipertensiva/ 53 emergencia (54,44% /50,95% en mujeres) en el servicio de Urgencias durante 11 meses. Los pacientes fueron divididos en cinco grupos de edad según décadas a partir de los 40 años (media de 65,85 años) y un total de diez grupos según el tipo de medicación hipertensiva que utilizaban (IECA, ARA, BB, BCC, diuréticos, moxonidina y sus combinaciones). RESULTADOS: utilizando monoterapia antihipertensiva el porcentaje de urgencias hipertensivas fue del 100,00%, 50,00%, 41,66%, 33,33%, 21,05%. El uso de IECA + BCC + diuréticos disminuyó significativamente el número de urgencias al 0%, 18,47%, 21,05%, 25,00%, 33,33%; pero la adición de betabloqueantes disminuyó el riesgo. En general, 53 pacientes no tenían medicación (22,75%) y 68 de 233 pacientes eran fumadores (29,18%, 63,23% hombres), de los cuales 36 pacientes tuvieron una urgencia hipertensiva (52,94% de los fumadores). El mayor número de hipertensos no inmersivos se encontró en los pacientes que tomaban ARA, diuréticos y/o BCC, pero el menor número se mostró en los pacientes que tomaban IECA en combinación con moxonidina (-20,07%). El 22,02% de los fumadores no eran hipertensos inmersivos (-54,67% de los no fumadores). El odds ratio para obtener una emergencia hipertensiva en caso de que el paciente tuviera un perfil no inmersivo fue de 4,18 (IC 1,02 - 18,89, p < 0,05). Los pacientes que tomaban una medicación diferente (o ninguna) no tenían mayor probabilidad de desarrollar una emergencia hipertensiva (OR 1,21, p = NS). No se encontraron diferencias en la incidencia de perfil no inmersivo entre géneros (72,12% varones, 72,83% mujeres). CONCLUSIÓN: las combinaciones de toda la medicación antihipertensiva mostraron beneficios sobre la monoterapia. Una mayor presión arterial de 24 horas y nocturna (perfil de hipertensión no inmersiva) se asoció significativamente con un mayor cambio para desarrollar una emergencia hipertensiva.