Derivation and Validation of the PRECISE-HBR Score to Predict Bleeding After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Accurate bleeding risk stratification after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is important for treatment individualization. However, there is still an unmet need for a more precise and standardized identification of high bleeding risk patients. We derived and validated a novel bleeding risk score by augmenting the PRECISE-DAPT score with the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) criteria. METHODS: The derivation cohort comprised 29,188 patients undergoing PCI, of whom 1136 (3.9%) had a Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 3 or 5 bleeding at 1 year, from four contemporary real-world registries and the XIENCE V USA trial. The PRECISE-DAPT score was refitted with a Fine-Gray model in the derivation cohort and extended with the ARC-HBR criteria. The primary outcome was BARC 3 or 5 bleeding within 1 year. Independent predictors of BARC 3 or 5 bleeding were selected at multivariable analysis (p<0.01). The discrimination of the score was internally assessed with apparent validation and cross-validation. The score was externally validated in 4578 patients from the MASTER DAPT trial and 5970 patients from the STOPDAPT-2 total cohort. RESULTS: The PRECISE-HBR score (age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, white-blood-cell count, previous bleeding, oral anticoagulation, and ARC-HBR criteria) showed an area under the curve (AUC) for 1-year BARC 3 or 5 bleeding of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.71-0.74) at apparent validation, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.70-0.73) at cross-validation, 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68-0.80) in the MASTER DAPT, and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.66-0.79) in the STOPDAPT-2, with superior discrimination than the PRECISE-DAPT (cross-validation: Δ AUC, 0.01; p=0.02; MASTER DAPT: Δ AUC, 0.05; p=0.004; STOPDAPT-2: Δ AUC, 0.02; p=0.20) and other risk scores. In the derivation cohort, a cut-off of 23 points identified 11,414 patients (39.1%) with a 1-year BARC 3 or 5 bleeding risk ≥4%. An alternative version of the score, including acute myocardial infarction on admission instead of white-blood-cell count, showed similar predictive ability. CONCLUSIONS: The PRECISE-HBR score is a contemporary, simple 7-item risk score to predict bleeding after PCI, offering a moderate improvement in discrimination over multiple existing scores. Further evaluation is required to assess its impact on clinical practice.

Dual antiplatelet therapy duration after percutaneous coronary intervention in high bleeding risk: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

AIMS: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) is still debated. The current study, using the totality of existing evidence, evaluated the impact of an abbreviated DAPT regimen in HBR patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to search randomized clinical trials comparing abbreviated [i.e. very-short (1 month) or short (3 months)] with standard (≥6 months) DAPT in HBR patients without indication for oral anticoagulation. A total of 11 trials, including 9006 HBR patients, were included. Abbreviated DAPT reduced major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding [risk ratio (RR): 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61-0.94; I2 = 28%], major bleeding (RR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99, I2 = 0%), and cardiovascular mortality (RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.95, I2 = 0%) compared with standard DAPT. No difference in all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis was observed. Results were consistent, irrespective of HBR definition and clinical presentation. CONCLUSION: In HBR patients undergoing PCI, a 1- or 3-month abbreviated DAPT regimen was associated with lower bleeding and cardiovascular mortality, without increasing ischaemic events, compared with a ≥6-month DAPT regimen. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number CRD42021284004.

Management of acute coronary syndromes in older adults.

Older patients are underrepresented in prospective studies and randomized clinical trials of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Over the last decade, a few specific trials have been conducted in this population, allowing more evidence-based management. Older adults are a heterogeneous, complex, and high-risk group whose management requires a multidimensional clinical approach beyond coronary anatomic variables. This review focuses on available data informing evidence-based interventional and pharmacological approaches for older adults with ACS, including guideline-directed management. Overall, an invasive approach appears to demonstrate a better benefit-risk ratio compared to a conservative one across the ACS spectrum, even considering patients' clinical complexity and multiple comorbidities. Conversely, more powerful strategies of antithrombotic therapy for secondary prevention have been associated with increased bleeding events and no benefit in terms of mortality reduction. An interdisciplinary evaluation with geriatric assessment should always be considered to achieve a holistic approach and optimize any treatment on the basis of the underlying biological vulnerability.

Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction following Elective Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

The prognostic relevance of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still matter of debate, particularly regarding the type (cardiac troponin or creatin kinase-MB) and different thresholds of biomarkers elevation, as the importance of associated ancillary criteria of ischemia or concomitant angiographic complications. There are still uncertainties regarding the value of PMI as event which is prognostically equivalent to spontaneous myocardial infarction or if it simply represents a marker of baseline risk, atherosclerotic burden and procedural complexity. In the present review, we will present the mechanisms and predictors of PMI occurring during PCI and potential treatment strategies to reduce its occurrence. We will also overview all commonly adopted definitions of PMI, which carry different prevalence and prognostic implications in daily practice and clinical trials. Finally, we will discuss the impact of different PMI definitions on the interpretation of trials results, emphasizing the importance of adequate endpoints selection in the planning and interpretation of clinical trials.

Nonresponse to Acute Vasodilator Challenge and Prognosis in Heart Failure With Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: An acute vasodilator challenge is recommended in patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension during heart transplant evaluation. The aim of the study was to assess which hemodynamic parameters are associated with nonresponsiveness to the challenge. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study is a retrospective analysis of 402 patients with heart failure with pulmonary hypertension who underwent right heart catheterization and a pulmonary vasodilator challenge. Among the 140 who fulfilled the transplant guidelines eligibility criteria for the vasodilator challenge, 38 were responders and 102 nonresponders. At multivariable analysis, a diastolic blood pressure of <70 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance of >5 Woods units, and pulmonary artery compliance of <1.2 mL/mm Hg were independently associated with poor response to vasodilator challenge (all P < .001). The presence of any 2 of these 3 conditions was associated with a 90% probability of being a nonresponder. The covariate-adjusted hemodynamic predictors of death in the entire population were a low baseline systolic blood pressure (P = .0017) and a low baseline right ventricular stroke work index (P = .0395). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, low pulmonary arterial compliance, high pulmonary vascular resistance, and low diastolic blood pressure predict the nonresponsiveness to acute vasodilator challenge whilst a poor right ventricular function predicts a dismal prognosis.

Elevated serum uric acid is associated with a greater inflammatory response and with short- and long-term mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite elevated serum uric acid (eSUA) has been identified as independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, its prognostic value in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still controversial. Although the mechanisms of this possible relationship are unsettled it has been suggested that eSUA could trigger the inflammatory response. This study sought to investigate the association between eSUA with short- and long-term mortality and with inflammatory response in patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood samples were collected on admission and at 24 and 48 h after pPCI: the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil count and neutrophil to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) were considered. Baseline eSUA was defined as ≥6.8 mg/dl. Cumulative 30-days and 1-year mortalities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meyer analysis. Multivariable analyses were performed by Cox proportional hazard models. In the 2369 patients with STEMI considered, 30-day mortality was 5.8% among patients with eSUA and 2% among patient with normal SUA level (p < 0.001); 1-year mortality was 8.5% vs 4%, respectively (p < 0.001). At multivariable analyses eSUA was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (HR 1.196, 95%CI 1.006-1.321, p = 0.042) and 1-year mortality (HR 1.178, 95%CI 1.052-1.320, p = 0.005). eSUA patients presented higher values in on admission CRP (p < 0.001) and in neutrophil count and NLR at 24 h (respectively, p = 0.020 and p < 0.001) and at 48 h (p = 0.018 and p < 0.001) compared to patients with normal SUA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum uric acid is associated with higher short- and long-term mortality and with a greater inflammatory response after reperfusion in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI.

Clinical outcomes following bifurcation double-stenting with bioresorbable scaffolds.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate outcomes following bifurcation double-stenting utilizing a bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) in the main branch (MB) and either a BRS or metallic drug-eluting stent (DES) in the side branch (SB). BACKGROUNDS: Data on outcomes of bifurcation lesions treated with BRSs, especially with double-stenting, are currently lacking. METHODS: Data were examined from 42 de novo bifurcation lesions (41 patients) treated with double-stenting utilizing Absorb BRS in MB and BRS/DES in SB. Clinical outcomes including cardiac death, follow-up myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and definite scaffold/stent thrombosis (ST) were investigated. RESULTS: The majority of target lesions were left anterior descending artery (LAD) bifurcations, and intravascular imaging was used in the majority of cases (92.9%). In SBs, BRSs were utilized in 19 lesions (19 patients) and DESs in 23 lesions (22 patients). Angiographic success was achieved in all lesions. The median follow-up was 594 days (interquartile range 214 - 838 days). The overall TLR-rates were 9.7% at 1 year and 14.0% at 2 years (MB-TLR: 6.9% at 1 year and 11.1% at 2 years; SB TLR: 9.7% at 1 year and 14.0% at 2 years). No definite ST was observed during follow-up. TLR rates in both the MB and SB tended to be higher in the SB-BRS group when compared to the SB-DES group. CONCLUSION: Mid-term clinical outcomes following double-stenting using BRS were acceptable. Bifurcation lesions treated with DES in SB tended to have lower TLR rates in both the MB and SB when compared to implanting BRS in both branches. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Preliminary Report of Clinical Outcomes After Single Crossover Bioresorbable Scaffold Implantation Without Routine Side Branch Strut Dilation.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes following single crossover bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) implantation without routine side branch (SB) strut dilation. BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether SB strut dilation is routinely required after single crossover BRS implantation if there is no compromise of the jailed SB. METHODS: Among 187 bifurcation lesions treated with Absorb BRS, 115 lesions (101 patients) were treated with single crossover BRS implantation. Strut dilation toward SB was considered only when SB was compromised (SB TIMI flow < 3 or SB ostium > 75%) after main branch (MB) BRS implantation. Clinical outcomes including cardiac death, follow-up myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and definite scaffold thrombosis (ST) were investigated. RESULTS: The majority of target lesions were in the left anterior descending artery (73.0%) and the rate of true bifurcation lesions was 42.6%. SB strut dilation was performed in only 20% of lesions (n = 23), and intravascular imaging was used in most cases (90.4%). The rates of TLR per lesion at 1-year was 3.1% in MB, and 0% in SB. In all patients, the cumulative rate of cardiac death was 1.1% at 1-year, follow-up MI 2.2%, TVR 3.5%, and definite ST 1.0%. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcomes were acceptable in bifurcation lesions treated with single crossover BRS implantation without routine SB strut dilation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Use of cangrelor for complex percutaneous coronary intervention in the context of concomitant severe aortic stenosis: a case series.

Background: There is a growing need for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to be performed within the same transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. In such cases, cangrelor, a fast-acting intravenous P2Y12-inhibitor with a short offset, is potential clinical utility to minimize bleeding and vascular complications during large-bore arterial access (LBAA) as well as the thrombotic risk associated with concomitant PCI. Case summary: We report two cases of TAVI with an indication to concomitant, high-risk PCI. In the first one, cangrelor was started only after LBAA was secured and TAVI completed, just before the initiation of complex PCI. In the second case, due to predicted complex coronary cannulation after TAVI, complex PCI was performed before TAVI and cangrelor started just after LBAA. In both cases, use of cangrelor (vs. pre-treatment with oral P2Y12-i) allowed for a tailored minimization of the risk of bleeding and vascular complications during LBAA while offering full platelet inhibition during a complex/high-risk PCI. Discussion: In this case series, we illustrate a possible approach to the use of cangrelor for patients undergoing TAVI and complex/high-risk PCI. In such complex cases, thorough pre-procedural planning might include a cangrelor to minimize vascular, bleeding, and ischaemic complications.

[Contemporary diagnosis and treatment of tricuspid regurgitation: from neglected valve to primetime]. / Diagnosi e trattamento contemporaneo dell'insufficienza tricuspidale: da valvola dimenticata a primetime.

Tricuspid insufficiency has long been considered an entity with low prognostic importance and associated with symptoms and signs only secondarily to left heart pathology. Scientific research in recent years has debunked this myth, demonstrating a key role in determining symptoms and signs of right heart failure, even in advanced stages. In parallel, advances in transcatheter technologies have opened up treatment options even for patients with increased surgical risk, who were previously excluded from traditional surgical options, with increasingly convincing results in reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life of our patients. The contemporary challenge is to translate these messages into everyday clinical practice and to encourage the centralization of patients in centers that currently have the expertise for feasibility evaluation and subsequent treatment. In this Review, we will analyze the most recent evidence on the pathophysiology and diagnosis of tricuspid insufficiency, the latest recommendations from European guidelines, and we will try to illustrate the most common technologies for percutaneous treatment and the abundant evidence supporting them.

The VENERE Study: EffectiVenEss of a Rehabilitation Treatment With Nordic Walking in ObEse or OveRweight Diabetic PatiEnts With Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Nordic walking (NW) has several potential benefits for individuals with cardiovascular (CV) disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity and/or overweight. NW improves cardiovascular health, including exercise capacity and blood pressure control. NW enhances glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in diabetes, and aids in weight management and body composition improvement. NW offers additional advantages, such as improvement in muscular strength, joint mobility, physical activity levels, and psychological well-being. Methods: This open-label study with 3 arms will aim to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and adherence to exercise prescription in obese and/or overweight diabetic patients with CV complications. The primary objective will be to assess the CV performance of participants after a 6-month and a 12-month follow-up period, following a 3-month NW intervention, compared with standard rehabilitation, and with cardiological counseling (control group) training lasting 3 months. Results: The results of the study will provide valuable insights into the comparative effectiveness of a NW intervention vs standard rehabilitation and control group training in improving CV performance in obese and/or overweight diabetic patients with CV complications. Additionally, safety and adherence data will help inform the feasibility and sustainability of the exercise prescription over an extended period. Conclusions: These findings may have implications for the development of tailored exercise programs for this specific patient population, with the aim of optimizing CV health outcomes. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT05987410.

Contexte: La marche nordique offre plusieurs bienfaits potentiels aux personnes atteintes d'une maladie cardiovasculaire (CV), de diabète de type 2, de surpoids ou d'obésité. Elle améliore la santé cardiovasculaire, notamment l'endurance à l'effort et la régulation de la pression artérielle, en plus de favoriser l'équilibre glycémique et d'accroître la sensibilité à l'insuline chez les personnes diabétiques. Elle facilite également la gestion du poids et l'amélioration de la composition corporelle. Par ailleurs, la marche nordique présente d'autres avantages, comme l'augmentation de la force musculaire, de la mobilité articulaire, du niveau d'activité physique et du bien-être psychologique. Méthodologie: Cette étude ouverte à 3 groupes vise à évaluer l'efficacité, la sécurité et l'observance des exercices prescrits chez des sujets diabétiques obèses ou en surpoids présentant des complications CV. Le principal objectif consistera à évaluer la performance CV des participants au cours d'une période de suivi de 6 et 12 mois après un programme de marche nordique de 3 mois, comparativement à un programme de réadaptation standard et à un programme d'encadrement en soins CV (groupe témoin) de 3 mois. Résultats: Les résultats de l'étude fourniront de précieux renseignements sur l'efficacité d'un programme de marche rapide comparativement à un programme de réadaptation standard et à un programme d'encadrement (groupe témoin) pour améliorer la performance CV chez des sujets diabétiques obèses ou en surpoids présentant des complications CV. Les données relatives à la sécurité et à l'observance permettront également d'évaluer la faisabilité et la viabilité de la prescription d'exercices sur une longue période. Conclusions: Ces résultats pourraient s'avérer utiles dans l'élaboration de programmes d'exercices spécifiquement conçus pour cette population de patients, afin d'optimiser les résultats en santé CV. Numéro d'inscription de l'essai clinique: NCT05987410.

Tailoring oral antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes: from guidelines to clinical practice.

The assessment of bleeding and ischemic risk is a crucial step in establishing appropriate composition and duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with percutaneous coronary angioplasty. Evidence from recent randomized clinical trials led to some paradigm shifts in current guidelines recommendations. Options alternative to the standard 12-month DAPT duration include shorter periods of DAPT followed by single antiplatelet treatment with either aspirin or P2Y12 monotherapy, guided or unguided de-escalation DAPT, prolonged DAPT beyond the 12-month treatment period. Although DAPT composition and duration should be selected for each ACS patient on an individual basis weighing clinical and procedural variables, data from latest trials and meta-analyses may permit suggesting the most appropriate DAPT strategy according to the ischemic and bleeding risk assessed using validated tools and scores.

Dual antiplatelet therapy duration after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with indication to oral anticoagulant therapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIMS: Optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with concomitant indication to oral anticoagulation (OAC) is still debated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic review was performed on electronic databases to search for randomized controlled trials comparing an abbreviated or prolonged (≥3 months) DAPT regimen in patients with OAC and they were analysed in the framework of standard and network meta-analyses. Co-primary endpoints were major or clinically relevant non-major bleedings (MCRB) and major bleeding, while the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was the key safety endpoint. Five studies and 7 665 patients (abbreviated DAPT n = 3 843; prolonged DAPT n = 3 822) were included. Both MCRB and major bleeding were lower with abbreviated DAPT [risk ratio (RR) 0.69 (0.52-0.91); P = 0.01 and 0.70 (0.52-0.95); P = 0.01, respectively] while MACE [RR: 0.96 (0.70-1.33); P = 0.6], all-cause death, cardiovascular death, stent thrombosis, or myocardial infarction did not differ. Network meta-analysis showed that peri-procedural DAPT had the highest probability to prevent MCRB and major bleeding (97.1 and 92.0% respectively) when compared with both short (4-6 weeks) and longer (≥3 months) DAPT regimens. Sensitivity analyses and meta-regressions showed consistency in different clinical scenarios and suggested a larger bleeding reduction with P2Y12 inhibitors vs. aspirin after DAPT discontinuation. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing PCI with concomitant OAC indication, an abbreviated DAPT regimen reduced MCRB and major bleeding without increasing MACE or other ischaemic events. Peri-procedural DAPT and P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after DAPT withdrawal appear to be the best strategies to optimize the bleeding and ischaemic risk tradeoff. Trial registration. PROSPERO CRD284001.

Antiplatelet Strategies for Older Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes: Finding Directions in a Low-Evidence Field.

Patients ≥ 75 years of age account for about one third of hospitalizations for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Since the latest European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend that older ACS patients use the same diagnostic and interventional strategies used by the younger ones, most elderly patients are currently treated invasively. Therefore, an appropriate dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is indicated as part of the secondary prevention strategy to be implemented in such patients. The choice of the composition and duration of DAPT should be tailored on an individual basis, after careful assessment of the thrombotic and bleeding risk of each patient. Advanced age is a main risk factor for bleeding. Recent data show that in patients of high bleeding risk short DAPT (1 to 3 months) is associated with decreased bleeding complications and similar thrombotic events, as compared to standard 12-month DAPT. Clopidogrel seems the preferable P2Y12 inhibitor, due to a better safety profile than ticagrelor. When the bleeding risk is associated with a high thrombotic risk (a circumstance present in about two thirds of older ACS patients) it is important to tailor the treatment by taking into account the fact that the thrombotic risk is high during the first months after the index event and then wanes gradually over time, whereas the bleeding risk remains constant. Under these circumstances, a de-escalation strategy seems reasonable, starting with DAPT that includes aspirin and low-dose prasugrel (a more potent and reliable P2Y12 inhibitor than clopidogrel) then switching after 2-3 months to DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel for up to 12 months.

Hospital-Acquired Anemia in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: Epidemiology and Potential Impact on Long-Term Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Anemia (either pre-existing or hospital-acquired) is considered an independent predictor of mortality in acute coronary syndromes. However, it is still not clear whether anemia should be considered as a marker of worse health status or a therapeutic target. We sought to investigate the relationship between hospital-acquired anemia and clinical and laboratory findings and to assess the association with mortality and major cardiovascular events at long-term follow-up. METHODS: Patients consecutively admitted at Niguarda Hospital between February 2014 and November 2020 for an acute coronary syndrome were included in this cohort analysis and classified as anemic at admission (group A), with normal hemoglobin at admission but developing anemia during hospitalization (hospital-acquired anemia) (group B); and with normal hemoglobin levels throughout admission (group C). RESULTS: Among 1294 patients included, group A included 353 (27%) patients, group B 468 (36%), and group C 473 patients (37%). In terms of cardiovascular burden and incidence of death, major cardiovascular events and bleeding at 4.9-year median follow-up, group B had an intermediate risk profile as compared with A and C. Baseline anemia was an independent predictor of death (hazard ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.25; P = .04) along with frailty, Charlson comorbidity Index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, previous myocardial infarction, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conversely, hospital-acquired anemia was not associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-1.75; P = .4). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital-acquired anemia affects one-third of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome and is associated with age, frailty, and comorbidity burden, but was not found to be an independent predictor of long-term mortality.

Natural history and clinical burden of moderate aortic stenosis: a systematic review and explorative meta-analysis.

AIMS: The mortality risk of patients with moderate aortic stenosis is not well known, but recent studies suggested that it might negatively affect prognosis. We aimed to assess the natural history and clinical burden of moderate aortic stenosis and to investigate the interaction of patients' baseline characteristics with prognosis. METHODS: Systematic research was conducted on PubMed. The inclusion criteria were inclusion of patients with moderate aortic stenosis; and report of the survival at 1-year follow-up (minimum). Incidence ratios related to all-cause mortality in patients and controls of each study were estimated and then pooled using a fixed effects model. All patients with mild aortic stenosis or without aortic stenosis were considered controls. Meta-regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of left ventricular ejection fraction and age on the prognosis of patients with moderate aortic stenosis. RESULTS: Fifteen studies and 11 596 patients with moderate aortic stenosis were included. All-cause mortality was significantly higher among patients with moderate aortic stenosis than in controls in all timeframes analysed (all P  < 0.0001). Left ventricular ejection fraction and sex did not significantly impact on the prognosis of patients with moderate aortic stenosis ( P  = 0.4584 and P  = 0.5792), while increasing age showed a significant interaction with mortality (estimate = 0.0067; 95% confidence interval: 0.0007-0.0127; P  = 0.0323). CONCLUSION: Moderate aortic stenosis is associated with reduced survival. Further studies are necessary to confirm the prognostic impact of this valvulopathy and the possible benefit of aortic valve replacement.

Fighting Cardiac Thromboembolism during Transcatheter Procedures: An Update on the Use of Cerebral Protection Devices in Cath Labs and EP Labs.

Intraprocedural stroke is a well-documented and feared potential risk of cardiovascular transcatheter procedures (TPs). Moreover, subclinical neurological events or covert central nervous system infarctions are concerns related to the development of dementia, future stroke, cognitive decline, and increased risk of mortality. Cerebral protection devices (CPDs) were developed to mitigate the risk of cardioembolic embolism during TPs. They are mechanical barriers designed to cover the ostium of the supra-aortic branches in the aortic arch, but newer devices are able to protect the descending aorta. CPDs have been mainly designed and tested to provide cerebral protection during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), but their use in both Catheterization and Electrophysiology laboratories is rapidly increasing. CPDs have allowed us to perform procedures that were previously contraindicated due to high thromboembolic risk, such as in cases of intracardiac thrombosis identified at preprocedural assessment. However, several concerns related to their employment have to be defined. The selection of patients at high risk of thromboembolism is still a subjective choice of each center. The aim of this review is to update the evidence on the use of CPDs in either Cath labs or EP labs, providing an overview of their structural characteristics. Future perspectives focusing on their possible future employment are also discussed.