Arterial Thromboembolism in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and CHA2DS2-VASc Score 1: A Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulation is suggested in patients with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥1 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and sex score). To assess granular differences within CHA2DS2-VASc 1, the incidence of arterial thromboembolism according to CHA2DS2-VASc 1 subgroups was examined. METHODS: The Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish Prescription Registry were linked on a nationwide level to identify patients with atrial fibrillation from 2000 to 2021 without oral anticoagulation and categorized according to CHA2DS2-VASc score: CHA2DS2-VASc 0 (male and female subjects); CHA2DS2-VASc 1 (hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, vascular disease, and age 65-74 years); or CHA2DS2-VASc 2 (age ≥75 years without other risk factors). Female sex was not considered a risk factor in any risk group. The outcome was arterial thromboembolism (ischemic stroke, embolism of extremity, or transient cerebral ischemia). Study groups were compared using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: We included 26 701 patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc 0 score; 22 915 with CHA2DS2-VASc 1 (1483 patients with heart failure, 9066 with hypertension, 843 with diabetes, 770 with vascular disease, and 10 753 who were 65 to 74 years of age); and 14 525 patients with CHA2DS2-VASc 2 (≥75 years of age without other risk factors). With a median of 1 year of observation time, the cumulative incidence of arterial thromboembolism was 0.6% (n=154 [95% CI, 0.6%-0.8%]), 1.4% (n=16 [95% CI, 0.8%-2.2%]), 1.9% (n=141 [95% CI, 1.6%-2.2%]), 1.7% (n=12 [95% CI, 0.9%-2.9%]), 2.0% (n=13 [95% CI, 1.1%-3.4%]), 2.3% (n=187 [95% CI, 2.0%-2.7%]), and 4.4% (n=533 [95% CI, 4.1%-4.8%]) for CHA2DS2-VASc 0, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years (CHA2DS2-VASc 1), and age ≥75 years (CHA2DS2-VASc 2), respectively. No statistically significant difference was identified among subgroups of CHA2DS2-VASc 1 (P=0.15 for difference). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with atrial fibrillation, all subgroups of CHA2DS2-VASc 1 were associated with lower incidence of arterial thromboembolism compared with age ≥75 years without other risk factors (ie, CHA2DS2-VASc 2) and a higher incidence compared with CHA2DS2-VASc 0. No statistically significant difference was identified between the subgroups of CHA2DS2-VASc 1. These findings support current recommendations that patients within this intermediate risk group could be identified with a similar risk of arterial thromboembolism.

Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and prognosis in drug-use-associated infective endocarditis in Denmark from 1999 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: While the proportion of drug-use-associated infective endocarditis (DU-IE) has been increasing during the opioid crisis in the United States, it is unknown whether this is seen in Denmark, where several preventive means have been implemented. We aimed to assess the temporal proportion of DU-IE and examine the rate of IE recurrence and mortality. METHODS: This nationwide cohort study identified all patients with first-time infective endocarditis in 1999-2018. Drug use was defined using ICD-8/10 codes or prescription filling of medication for opioid use disorder. Long-term mortality was examined with a Kaplan-Meier estimator and a multivariate Cox model. The recurrence of IE was examined with the Aalen-Johansen method and a multivariate cause-specific hazard model. RESULTS: We included 8,843 patients with IE: 407 with DU-IE (60.7% male, median age 43.8 years) and 8,436 with non-DU-IE (65.8% male, median age 71.5 years). The proportion of DU-IE decreased from 5.9% to 3.8% during our study period. The one-year cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was 16.9% (CI 12.9%-20.8%) for patients with DU-IE and 17.3% (CI 16.4%-18.2%) for patients with non-DU-IE. Drug use was associated with higher one-year mortality (adjusted HR 1.64 (CI 1.23%-2.21%)). The 1-year cumulative incidence of IE recurrence was 12.8% (CI 9.3%-16.3%) in patients with DU-IE and 4.3% (CI 3.8%-4.8%) in patients with non-DU-IE. Drug use was associated with a higher 1-year recurrence of IE (adjusted HR 3.39 (CI 2.35-4.88)). CONCLUSION: In Denmark, the proportion of patients with DU-IE fell by one-third from 1999 to 2018. DU-IE was associated with higher mortality and recurrence rates than non-DU-IE.

Incidence of ischaemic stroke and mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome and first-time detected atrial fibrillation: a nationwide study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine contemporary data on the 1-year prognosis of patients surviving acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and concomitant first-time detected atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified all patients surviving a first-time admission with ACS from 2000 to 2018 and grouped them into (i) those without AF prior to or during ACS; (ii) those with a history of AF; and (iii) those with first-time detected AF during admission with ACS. With 1 year of follow-up, rates of ischaemic stroke, death, and bleeding were compared between study groups using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis. We included 161 266 ACS survivors: 135 878 (84.2%) without AF, 18 961 (11.8%) with history of AF, and 6427 (4.0%) with first-time detected AF at admission with ACS. Compared to those without AF, the adjusted 1-year rates of outcomes were as follows: ischaemic stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 1.38 (95% CI 1.22-1.56) for patients with history of AF and HR 1.67 (95% CI 1.38-2.01) for patients with first-time detected AF]; mortality [HR 1.25 (95% CI 1.21-1.31) for patients with history of AF and HR 1.52 (95% CI 1.43-1.62) for patients with first-time detected AF]; and bleeding [HR 1.22 (95% CI 1.14-1.30) for patients with history of AF and HR 1.28 (95% CI 1.15-1.43) for patients with first-time detected AF]. CONCLUSION: In patients with ACS, first-time detected AF appeared to be at least as strongly associated with the 1-year rates of ischaemic stroke, mortality, and bleeding as compared with patients with a history of AF.

Time to Thrombolysis and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Nationwide Study.

Background and Purpose: It is well-established that increasing treatment delay reduces the benefits of thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, most studies focus on short-term outcomes. This study examined long-term outcomes according to time to thrombolysis in patients with first-time ischemic stroke. Methods: In this nationwide cohort study, all Danish patients with first-time ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis between 2011 and 2017 and alive at discharge were identified through the Danish Stroke Registry. The association between time from symptom onset to thrombolysis and the long-term rate of the composite of death and recurrent ischemic stroke was examined using multivariable Cox regression and restricted cubic spline analysis. Results: The study population included 6252 patients with first-time ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis (median age, 69 years [25th­75th percentile 60­78 years], 60% men). The median follow-up was 2.5 years (25th­75th percentile 1.2­4.1 years). The median time to thrombolysis was 138 minutes (25th­75th percentile 101­185 minutes), and the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at presentation was 5 (25th­75th percentile 3­10). The absolute 3-year risk of the composite outcome was 19.0% (95% CI, 16.4%­21.8%) in the 0 to 90 minute group, 23.3% (21.8%­24.9%) in the 91 to 180 minute group, and 23.8% (21.6%­26.1%) in the 181 to 270 minute group. Compared with thrombolysis within 90 minutes, time to thrombolysis >90 minutes was associated with a higher rate of the composite outcome (91­180 minute: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.06­1.48]; 181­270 minutes: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.12­1.61]). In restricted cubic spline analysis, the rate of the composite outcome increased with increasing time to thrombolysis and leveled off after 138 minutes. Conclusions: In this nationwide cohort of patients with ischemic stroke, the long-term rate of the composite of death and recurrent ischemic stroke increased with increasing time from symptom onset to initiation of thrombolysis.

Outcome of Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Infective Endocarditis: A Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) may be complicated by acute kidney injury, yet data on the use of dialysis and subsequent reversibility are sparse. METHODS: Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified patients with first-time IE from 2000 to 2017. Dialysis-naïve patients were grouped into: those with and those without dialysis during admission with IE. Continuation of dialysis was followed 1 year postdischarge. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to examine 1-year mortality for patients surviving IE according to use of dialysis. RESULTS: We included 7307 patients with IE; 416 patients (5.7%) initiated dialysis treatment during admission with IE and these were younger, had more comorbidities and more often underwent cardiac valve surgery compared with nondialysis patients (47.4% vs 20.9%). In patients with both cardiac valve surgery and dialysis treatment (n = 197), 153 (77.7%) initiated dialysis on or after the date of surgery. The in-hospital mortality was 40.4% and 19.0% for patients with and without dialysis, respectively (P < .0001). Of those who started dialysis and survived hospitalization, 21.6% continued dialysis treatment within 1 year after discharge. In multivariable adjusted analysis, dialysis during admission with IE was associated with an increased 1-year mortality from IE discharge, hazard ratio = 1.64 (95% confidence interval, 1.21-2.23). CONCLUSION: In dialysis-naïve patients with IE, approximately 1 in 20 patients initiated dialysis treatment during admission with IE. Dialysis identified a high-risk group with an in-hospital mortality of 40% and an approximate 20% risk of continued dialysis. Those with dialysis during admission with IE showed worse long-term outcomes than those without.

Role of echocardiography in the diagnosis and clinical management of infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a deadly disease, constituting both diagnostic and treatment challenges. A positive outcome requires rapid and accurate diagnosis, and for that, echocardiography unequivocally remains the cornerstone. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) have complementary roles and have been markedly improved during the last decades. The transthoracic modality is the recommended first-line approach but may only be sufficient in patients where the probability of IE is low and/or with clear acoustic windows, especially in patients with right-sided IE. The transesophageal modality is superior to TTE in most aspects and is recommended for all other patients. Both TTE and TEE may delineate vegetation location and size, assess for paravalvular extension of infection, and have the added advantage of defining the hemodynamic effects of valvular or device infection. However, echocardiography still has significant limitations, and novel imaging techniques are increasingly being exploited to improve diagnostic potential. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) performs better than TEE in the detection of abscess or pseudoaneurysm, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has limited value in the diagnostic phase of IE but adds knowledge to the evaluation of extracardiac events. Nuclear molecular techniques are evolving as key supplementary methods in difficult-to-diagnose cases. Although newer imaging modalities are undergoing preliminary evaluation and multimodal imaging will play an increasing role in IE, echocardiography will continue to be pivotal in patients with IE for the foreseeable future.

Impact of Acute Kidney Injury After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the prognosis and especially on future kidney function has been sparsely examined, and data from large cohorts are warranted. METHODS AND RESULTS: With Danish nationwide registries, we identified all patients undergoing TAVR from 2014 to 2021 with no previous dialysis treatment. According to 2 plasma creatinine samples, we identified those suffering a postprocedural AKI within 21 days after TAVR. With 1 year of follow-up, we compared the associated rates of dialysis treatment and death between patients with and without an AKI using multivariable Cox analysis. Finally, according to the lowest recorded creatinine sample, we assessed the kidney function among AKI survivors between 90 and 180 days after the index date. We identified 4091 TAVRs: 193 (4.7%) with AKI (55.4% men; median age, 82 years) and 3898 (95.3%) without AKI (57.0% men; median age, 81 years). Compared with those without AKI, patients with AKI showed increased associated 1-year rates of dialysis treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 7.20 [95% CI, 4.10-12.66]) and death (HR, 2.39 [95% CI, 1.59-3.58]). After 6 months, 74% of AKI survivors had complete kidney recovery, 14.7% had incomplete kidney recovery, 6.3% failed to recover, and 5.1% were on dialysis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We identified that AKI after TAVR was associated with an increased rate of future dialysis treatment and all-cause death. Among survivors, 74% had complete kidney recovery within 6 months.

Prognosis and antithrombotic practice patterns in patients with recurrent and transient atrial fibrillation following acute coronary syndrome: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: First-time detected atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with aggravated prognosis in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Yet, among patients surviving beyond one year after ACS, it remains unclear how the recurrence of AF within the initial year after ACS affects the risk of stroke. METHODS: With Danish nationwide data from 2000 to 2021, we identified all patients with first-time ACS who were alive one year after discharge (index date). Patients were categorized into: i) no AF; ii) first-time detected AF during ACS admission without a recurrent hospital contact with AF (transient AF); and iii) first-time detected AF during ACS admission with a subsequent recurrent hospital contact with AF (recurrent AF). From index date, two-year rates of ischemic stroke were compared using multivariable adjusted Cox regression analysis. Treatment with antithrombotic therapy was assessed as filled prescriptions between 12 and 15 months following ACS discharge. RESULTS: We included 139,137 patients surviving one year post ACS discharge: 132,944 (95.6%) without AF, 3920 (2.8%) with transient AF, and 2273 (1.6%) with recurrent AF. Compared to those without AF, the adjusted two-year hazard ratios of ischemic stroke were 1.45 (95% CI, 1.22-1.71) for patients with transient AF and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.17-1.85) for patients with recurrent AF. Prescription rates of oral anticoagulation increased over calendar time, reaching 68.3% and 78.7% for transient and recurrent AF, respectively, from 2019 to 2021. CONCLUSION: In patients surviving one year after ACS with first-time detected AF, recurrent and transient AF were associated with a similarly increased long-term rate of ischemic stroke.

Long-Term Cause of Death in Patients Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

As our knowledge on treatment with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) increases and more implantations are conducted, we need knowledge on how TAVI affects the end of life. Long-term causes of death remain sparsely described. The aim of the study was to examine differences in the cause of death according to time from TAVI. All patients who underwent TAVI in Denmark from 2008 to 2017 were matched on gender, age, and calendar year with controls from the background population (1:4). Mortality and the proportion of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death was assessed at 1-year time points during follow-up. A total of 3,434 patients receiving TAVI and 13,672 controls were identified. The median follow-up was 2.67 years for patients receiving TAVI and 2.90 years for controls. Among patients receiving TAVI, 1,254 deaths (36.5%) were recorded, with 46.7% being from cardiovascular causes. The corresponding numbers for controls were 3,338 deaths (24.4%) and 27.2% being from cardiovascular causes. The proportion of cardiovascular deaths decreased from 53.8% in the first year after TAVI to 32.7% among those who died >7 years from TAVI (p = 0.008 for trend). For controls, no difference was seen in the proportion of cardiovascular death regardless of follow-up time. In conclusion, with data from nationwide registries, we provide results reassuring that patients with long-term survival from TAVI resemble the general public regarding the cause of death.

Impact of first-time detected atrial fibrillation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A nationwide study.

Background: The prognostic implications of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in conjunction with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is sparsely examined. Therefore, we aimed to examine the impact of first-time detected AF after TAVR on all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF). Methods: With Danish nationwide data from 2008 to 2021, we identified all patients who underwent TAVR and were alive 30 days after discharge (index date). Patients were categorized into i) no AF; ii) history of AF; and iii) first-time detected AF within 30 days after discharge. From the index date, two-year rates of all-cause mortality and HF admissions were compared using multivariable adjusted Cox analysis. Results: We identified 6,807 patients surviving 30 days beyond TAVR: 4,229 (62.1%) without AF (55% male, median age 81), 2,283 (33.6%) with history of AF (58% male, median age 82), and 291 (4.3%) with first-time detected AF (56% male, median age 81). Compared with patients without AF, adjusted analysis yielded increased associated hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality in patients with history of AF (1.53 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-1.77]) and in patients with first-time detected AF (2.06 (95%CI, 1.55-2.73]). Further, we observed increased associated HRs of HF admissions in patients with history of AF (1.70 [95%CI, 1.45-1.99]) and in patients with first-time detected AF (1.77 [95%CI, 1.25-2.50]). Conclusion: In TAVR patients surviving 30 days beyond discharge, first-time detected AF appeared to be at least as strongly associated with two-year rates of all-cause mortality and HF admissions, as compared with patients with history of AF.

Temporal changes in incidence, treatment strategies and 1-year re-admission rates in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter under 65 years of age: A Danish nationwide study.

AIM: To examine temporal changes in incidence rates of atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), treatment strategies, and AF readmission rates in patients <65 years. METHODS: Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified patients <65 years with a first-time AF diagnosis from 2000 to 2018. The cohort was categorized according to calendar periods; 2000-2002, 2003-2006, 2007-2010, 2011-2014, and 2015-2018. In this retrospective cohort study the incidence rate (IR) of AF per 100,000 person years (PY), catheter ablation, electrical cardioversion, use of pharmacotherapy, and AF readmission, were investigated in the first year following AF diagnosis. RESULTS: We identified 60,917 patients; 8150 (13.4%) in 2000-2002, 11,898 (19.5%) in 2003-2006, 13,560 (22.3%) in 2007-2010, 14,167 (23.3%) in 2011-2014, and 13,142 (21.6%) in 2015-2018. Apart from 2015 to 2018, a stepwise increase in the crude IR of AF was observed across calendar periods; 2000-2002: 78.7 (95% CI 77.0;80.4), 2003-2006: 86.3 (84.7;87.8), 2007-2010: 97.9 (96.3;99.6), 2011-2014: 102.3 (100.7;104.0), 2015-2018: 93.6 (92.0;95.2). Over the studied time-periods, we found a stepwise increase in the cumulative incidence of catheter ablation (1.2% to 7.6%) electrical cardioversion (2.0% to 8.7%) and treatment with oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC) (28.5% to 47.8%) within the first year of diagnosis. No temporal differences in incidence of 1-year AF readmission were identified (AF-readmissions: 2000-2002: 32.7%, 2003-2006: 31.1%, 2007-2010: 32.2%, 2011-2014: 32.1% and 2015-2018: 31.7%). CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of AF in patients <65 years increased from 2000 to 2018, as did the use of catheter ablation, electrical cardioversion and OAC in the first year following AF diagnosis. 1-year AF readmission incidence remained stable around 32% over the study period.

The use of evidence-based medical therapy in patients with critical limb-threatening ischaemia.

AIMS: To describe the practice patterns of evidence-based medical therapy (EBM) and overall mortality in high-risk patients with critical limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI), compared with patients with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Danish registries, we identified patients 40-100 years of age with a first-time hospitalization for CLTI or MI from 2008-2018 and grouped them into CLTI, MI, and CLTI and history of MI (CLTI + MI). We examined the likelihood of filling prescriptions with EBM [i.e. antiplatelets (Aps), lipid-lowering agents (LLAs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi), or angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs)] within 3 months after discharge among survivors. Further, we assessed the adjusted 3-year mortality rates. We included 92 845 patients: 14 941 with CLTI (54.7% male), 74 830 with MI (64.6% male) and 3,074 with CLTI + MI (65.2% male). Patients with CLTI and CLTI + MI were older and had more comorbidities than patients with MI. Compared with patients with MI, the unadjusted odds ratios of filling prescriptions were 0.15 [confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.15] for AP, 0.26 (CI: 0.25-0.27) for LLA, and 0.71 (CI: 0.69-0.74) for ARB/ACEi in patients with CLTI, and 0.22 (CI: 0.20-0.24) for AP, 0.38 (CI: 0.35-0.42) for LLA, and 1.17 (CI: 1.08-1.27) for ARB/ACEi in patients with CLTI + MI. Adjusted analyses showed similar results. Compared with patients with MI, adjusted 3-year hazard ratios for mortality were 1.69 (CI: 1.64-1.74) in patients with CLTI and 1.60 (CI: 1.51-1.69) in patients with CLTI + MI. CONCLUSION: Patients with CLTI were undertreated with EBM and carried a more adverse prognosis, as compared with patients with MI, despite similar guidelines.

KEY FINDINGS: Patients with CLTI are undertreated, compared with patients suffering from heart attacks, despite similar treatment guidelines. Patients with CLTI had an increased risk of death compared with patients suffering from a heart attack.

Patients with critical limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) have a higher risk of cardiovascular complications and death compared with patients suffering from a heart attack. Clinicians are recommended by guidelines to prescribe drugs that can reduce the risk in both patient groups.

Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation and One-year Clinical Outcomes in Patients Following Major Emergency Abdominal Surgery.

The prevalence and impact of perioperative atrial fibrillation (AF) during an admission for major emergency abdominal surgery are sparsely examined. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the 30-day and 1-year outcomes (AF-related hospitalization, stroke, and all-cause mortality) in patients with and without perioperative AF to their major emergency abdominal surgery. All patients without a history of AF who underwent major emergency abdominal surgery from 2000 to 2019 and discharged alive were identified using Danish nationwide registries. Patients with and without perioperative AF (defined as new-onset AF during the index hospitalization) were matched 1:4 on age, gender, year of surgery, and type of surgery. The cumulative incidences and hazard ratios of outcomes were assessed using a multivariable Cox regression analysis comparing patients with and without perioperative AF. A total of 2% of patients were diagnosed with perioperative AF. The matched cohort comprised 792 and 3,168 patients with and without perioperative AF, respectively (median age 78 years [twenty-fifth to seventy-fifth percentile 70 to 83 years]; 43% men). Cumulative incidences of AF-related hospitalizations, stroke, and mortality 1 year after discharge were 30% versus 3.4%, 3.4% versus 2.7%, and 35% versus 22% in patients with and without perioperative AF, respectively. The 30-day outcomes were similarly elevated among patients with perioperative AF. Perioperative AF during an admission for major emergency abdominal surgery was associated with higher 30-day and 1-year rates of AF-related hospitalization and mortality and similar rates of stroke. These findings suggest that perioperative AF is a prognostic marker of increased morbidity and mortality in relation to major emergency abdominal surgery and warrants further investigation.

Long term mortality in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - A Danish nationwide study.

Background: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are generally regarded as having increased risk of arrhythmia, stroke, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death, but reported mortality rates vary considerably and originate from selected populations. Study objective: We aimed to investigate the long-term mortality rate in a nationwide cohort of patients with HCM compared to a matched cohort from the general Danish population. Methods: All patients with a first-time HCM diagnosis in Denmark between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2018 were identified through nationwide registries. In the main analysis, two visits in an outpatient clinic were required in order to increase specificity. Patients were matched to controls from the background population in a 1:3 ratio based on age, sex, selected comorbidities and date of HCM. Mortalities were compared using Kaplan Meier estimator and multivariable Cox regression models. Results: We identified 3126 patients with a first-time diagnosis of HCM. 1197 patients had at least two visits in the outpatient clinic (43 % female, median age 63.1 [25th-75th percentile 52.1-72.1] years). All-cause mortality was significantly higher in HCM patients than in matched controls: 10-year probabilities of death were 36.4 % (95 % CI 30.2-43.5 %) for HCM patients and 19.4 % (95 % CI 16.8-22.5 %) for controls. After adjusting for additional comorbidities and medications, a diagnosis with HCM was associated with an increased mortality rate (HR 1.48 (95 % CI 1.18-1.84, p = 0.001)). Conclusion: Compared to matched controls from the background population, presence of HCM was associated with a significant increase in mortality rate.

Temporal trends of mortality in patients with infective endocarditis: a nationwide study.

AIMS: Little is known about the mortality for patients with infective endocarditis (IE) on a nationwide scale, and previous studies have been conducted in selected cohorts from tertiary centers. We aimed to investigate temporal trends in mortality using nationwide Danish registries. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified patients with first-time IE between 1999-2018, and they were grouped by calendar periods (1999-2003, 2004-2008, 2009-2013, 2014-2018). One-year mortality was estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. For calendar periods, odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) were computed using multivariable adjusted logistic regression and Cox proportional Hazards analyses for in-hospital and one-year mortality, respectively. We identified 8804 patients with IE. Age and proportions of men were: 66.7 (25th-75th percentile: 53.4-76.7) years and 59.9% in 1999-2003 and 72.8 (25th-75th percentile: 63.4-80.3) and 65.8% in 2014-2018. In-hospital mortality was 1999-2003: 24.5%, 2004-2008: 22.8%, 2009-2013: 18.8%, and 2014-2018: 18.3%. Relative to 1999-2003, adjusted likelihoods of in-hospital mortality were: OR = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69-0.96) in 2004-2008, OR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.50-0.69) in 2009-2013, and OR = 0.51 (95% CI: 0.43-0.60) in 2014-2018. By calendar periods, crude risks of one-year mortality were: 34.4% (95% CI: 32.0-36.8%), 33.5% (95% CI: 31.5-35.6%), 32.1% (95% CI: 30.2-34.0%), and 33.1% (95% CI: 31.3-34.8%). Relative to 1999-2003, adjusted rates of one-year mortality were: HR = 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.99) in 2004-2008, HR = 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68-0.86) in 2009-2013, and HR = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.64-0.81) in 2014-2018. CONCLUSION: In this nationwide study of patients with first-time IE between 1999-2018, both short- and long-term survival has improved over time when accounting for changes in patient characteristics. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: When accounting for patient characteristics, both short- and long-term mortality have improved in patients with first-time infective endocarditis.

Prevalence and Mortality of Infective Endocarditis in Community-Acquired and Healthcare-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Danish Nationwide Registry-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) can be community-acquired or healthcare-associated, and prior small studies have suggested that this mode of acquisition impacts the subsequent prevalence of infective endocarditis (IE) and patient outcomes. Methods: First-time SAB was identified from 2010 to 2018 using Danish nationwide registries and categorized into community-acquired (no healthcare contact within 30 days) or healthcare-associated (SAB >48 hours of hospital admission, hospitalization within 30 days, or outpatient hemodialysis). Prevalence of IE (defined from hospital codes) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis. One-year mortality of S aureus IE (SAIE) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: We identified 5549 patients with community-acquired SAB and 7491 with healthcare-associated SAB. The prevalence of IE was 12.1% for community-acquired and 6.6% for healthcare-associated SAB. Community-acquired SAB was associated with a higher odds of IE as compared with healthcare-associated SAB (odds ratio, 2.12 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.86-2.41]). No difference in mortality was observed with 0-40 days of follow-up for community-acquired SAIE as compared with healthcare-associated SAIE (HR, 1.07 [95% CI, .83-1.37]), while with 41-365 days of follow-up, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, .53-.95]). Conclusions: Community-acquired SAB was associated with twice the odds for IE, as compared with healthcare-associated SAB. We identified no significant difference in short-term mortality between community-acquired and healthcare-associated SAIE. Beyond 40 days of survival, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality.