Excess Mortality and Loss of Life Expectancy After Myocardial Infarction: A Registry-Based Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of myocardial infarction (MI) on life expectancy is difficult to study because the prevalence of MI hinders direct comparison with the life expectancy of the general population. We sought to assess this in relation to age, sex, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by comparing individuals with MI with matched comparators without previous MI. METHODS: We included patients with a first MI between 1991 and 2022 from the nationwide SWEDEHEART registry (Swedish Web-System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies), each matched with up to 5 comparators on age, sex, and region of residence. Flexible parametric survival models were used to estimate excess mortality risk and mean loss of life expectancy (LOLE) depending on index year, age, sex, and LVEF, and adjusted for differences in characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 335 748 cases were matched to 1 625 396 comparators. A higher LOLE was observed in younger individuals, women, and those with reduced LVEF (<50%). In 2022, the unadjusted and adjusted mean LOLE spanned from 11.1 and 9.5 years in 50-year-old women with reduced LVEF to 5 and 3.7 months in 80-year-old men with preserved LVEF. Between 1992 and 2022, the adjusted mean LOLE decreased by 36% to 55%: from 4.4 to 2.0 years and from 3.3 to 1.9 years in 50-year-old women and men, respectively, and from 1.7 to 1.0 years and from 1.4 to 0.9 years in 80-year-old women and men, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LOLE is higher in younger individuals, women, and those with reduced LVEF, but is attenuated when adjusting for comorbidities and risk factors. Advances in MI treatment during the past 30 years have almost halved LOLE, with no clear sign of leveling off to a plateau.

Importance of hospital and clinical factors for early mortality in Takotsubo syndrome: Insights from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome with symptoms similar to acute myocardial infarction. TTS is often triggered by acute emotional or physical stress and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Predictors of mortality in patients with TS are not well understood, and there is a need to identify high-risk patients and tailor treatment accordingly. This study aimed to assess the importance of various clinical factors in predicting 30-day mortality in TTS patients using a machine learning algorithm. METHODS: We analyzed data from the nationwide Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) for all patients with TTS in Sweden between 2015 and 2022. Gradient boosting was used to assess the relative importance of variables in predicting 30-day mortality in TTS patients. RESULTS: Of 3,180 patients hospitalized with TTS, 76.0% were women. The median age was 71.0 years (interquartile range 62-77). The crude all-cause mortality rate was 3.2% at 30 days. Machine learning algorithms by gradient boosting identified treating hospitals as the most important predictor of 30-day mortality. This factor was followed in significance by the clinical indication for angiography, creatinine level, Killip class, and age. Other less important factors included weight, height, and certain medical conditions such as hyperlipidemia and smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: Using machine learning with gradient boosting, we analyzed all Swedish patients diagnosed with TTS over seven years and found that the treating hospital was the most significant predictor of 30-day mortality.

Use of drugs for hypertension or heart failure and the risk of death in COVID-19: association with loop-diuretics.

PURPOSE: To study the association between the use of drugs for hypertension or heart failure, particularly diuretics, and risk of death in COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study, based on record linked individual-based data from national registers, of all Swedish inhabitants 50 years and older (n = 3,909,321) at the start of the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in Sweden. The association between use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), thiazides, loop diuretics, aldosterone antagonists, beta blocking agents and calcium channel blockers at the index date 6 March 2020, and death in COVID-19 during 7 March to 31 July 2020, was analysed using Cox-proportional hazards regression, adjusted for a wide range of possible confounders. RESULTS: Use of loop diuretics was associated with higher risk [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.26; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.17-1.35] and thiazides with reduced risk (0.78; 0.69-0.88) of death in COVID-19. In addition, lower risk was observed for ACEI and higher risk for beta-blocking agents, although both associations were weak. For ARB, aldosterone antagonists and calcium channel blockers no significant associations were found. CONCLUSION: In this nationwide cohort of nearly 4 million persons 50 years and older, the use of loop diuretics was associated with increased risk of death in COVID-19 during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in Sweden. This contrasted to the decreased risk observed for thiazides. As treatment with loop diuretics is common, particularly in the elderly, the group most affected by severe COVID-19, this finding merit further investigation.

Eligibility for lipid-lowering therapy when applying systemic coronary risk estimation 2 (SCORE2) according to guidelines on apparently healthy middle-aged individuals.

AIMS: To estimate the proportion eligible for lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) when using the systemic coronary risk estimation 2 (SCORE2) on apparently healthy individuals. METHODS: Individuals aged 50-64 years were randomly invited to the Swedish cardiopulmonary bioimage study (SCAPIS, n=30,154). Participants with previous atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus, or chronic kidney disease were excluded. The 10-year risk of CVD was estimated using the SCORE2 equation and the multicell chart. Eligibility for LLT was estimated according to the 2021 European Society of Cardiology CVD prevention guidelines. Presence of coronary atherosclerosis was determined using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). RESULTS: Among 26,570 apparently healthy individuals, 32% had high, and 4% had very-high 10-year CVD risk, according to the SCORE2 equation. Among high and very-high risk individuals, 99% had LDL-C levels above guideline goals making 35% of the total population eligible for LLT. Of those eligible, undergoing imaging, 38% had no signs of coronary atherosclerosis according to CCTA. Using the SCORE2 chart, 52% of the population were eligible for LLT, of which 44% had no signs of coronary atherosclerosis. In those with high or very-high risk, ongoing LLT was reported in 7% and another 11% received LLT within six months after study participation. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all apparently healthy individuals with high and very-high CVD risk, or 35% of the total population, were eligible for LLT according to guidelines, and a large proportion had no signs of atherosclerosis. Compared with the SCORE2 equation, the SCORE2 chart resulted in more individuals being eligible for LLT.

KEY QUESTIONS: What proportion of an apparently healthy middle-aged population would be eligible for lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) according to the 2021 ESC guidelines when using SCORE2? What proportion of those eligible for LLT have atherosclerosis according to coronary imaging? KEY FINDING: According to the guidelines, nearly all individuals categorized as high and very-high risk according to the SCORE2 equation, or 35% of the total population, were eligible for LLT, of which 38% had no signs of coronary atherosclerosis. These proportions increased when the SCORE2 multicell chart was used. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Implementing SCORE2 and the ESC guidelines would result in more than one in three apparently healthy middle-aged individuals being eligible for LLT. A significant proportion would have no signs of coronary atherosclerosis.

Morbidity and mortality among children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer over six decades: a Swedish population-based cohort study (the Rebuc study).

Background: Despite progress in managing cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs), persistent complications may impact their quality of life. This study covers the morbidity and mortality, among CAYAs, with the aim to investigate the influence of socioeconomic factors on outcomes. Methods: This retrospective matched cohort study included the entire Swedish population of individuals under 25 with cancer 1958-2021. The population was identified from the Cancer Register, and controls were paired 1:5 based on age, sex, and residence. Multiple registers provided data on morbidity, mortality, and demographics. Findings: This survey covering 63 years, identified 65,173 CAYAs and matched controls, a total of 378,108 individuals (74% females). CAYAs exhibited a 3.04-times higher risk for subsequent cancer (Odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.92-3.17, p < 0.0001), a 1.23-times higher risk for cardiovascular disease (OR 95% CI 1.20-1.26, p < 0.0001), and a 1.41-times higher risk for external affliction (OR 95% CI 1.34-1.49, p < 0.0001). CAYAs had a higher mortality hazard, and after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, males, individuals born outside Europe, and those with greater sick-leave had a higher association with mortality, while education and marriage showed a beneficial association. Interpretation: The Rebuc study, showed an increased risk for serious complications among young cancer patients in Sweden. Patient-specific variables, demographics, and socioeconomic factors influenced mortality. These results underscore the impact of cancer on the health and lifespan of young individuals and the necessity for further research to address socioeconomic disparities in cancer care. Funding: Grants from the Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden (FORSS), ALF Grants, Region Ostergotland, and The Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund.

Atrial fibrillation incidence after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention: the prospective AFAF cohort study.

Objectives. Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia in patients with ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting surgery during 30 days of follow-up. Design. This was a prospective multi-center cohort study on atrial fibrillation incidence following percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting for stable angina or non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. Heart rhythm was monitored for 30 days postoperatively by in-hospital telemetry and handheld thumb ECG recordings after discharge were performed. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of atrial fibrillation 30 days after the index procedure. Results. In-hospital atrial fibrillation occurred in 60/123 (49%) coronary artery bypass graft and 0/123 percutaneous coronary intervention patients (p < .001). The cumulative incidence of atrial fibrillation after 30 days was 56% (69/123) of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and 2% (3/123) of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (p < .001). CABG was a strong predictor for atrial fibrillation compared to PCI (OR 80.2, 95% CI 18.1-354.9, p < .001). Thromboembolic stroke occurred in-hospital in one coronary artery bypass graft patient unrelated to atrial fibrillation, and at 30 days in two additional patients, one in each group. There was no mortality. Conclusion. New-onset atrial fibrillation during 30 days of follow-up was rare after percutaneous coronary intervention but common after coronary artery bypass grafting. A prolonged uninterrupted heart rhythm monitoring strategy identified additional patients in both groups with new-onset atrial fibrillation after discharge.

P-selectin and C-reactive protein in relation to home blood pressure and coronary calcification: a SCAPIS substudy.

BACKGROUND: Soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) have previously been associated with hypertension, but the relation with out-of-office blood pressure (BP) and coronary artery calcification score is unknown. We aimed to examine the relationship between sP-selectin, hsCRP and home BP, as well as coronary artery calcification score and carotid artery plaques. METHODS: In the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), 5057 randomly selected participants were evaluated with office and home BP using the semi-automatic Omron M10-IT device. For this cross-sectional study, participants with sP-selectin <4 standard deviations above mean and hsCRP <5 mg/l, representing low-grade inflammation, were included. Using generalized linear models, these inflammatory markers were evaluated in relation to BP classifications, as well as coronary artery calcification score and carotid artery plaques. RESULTS: Of participants, 4548 were included in the analyses. The median age was 57.2 (53.4-61.2) years, and 775 (17.0%) reported taking medication for hypertension. Participants in the highest quartile of sP-selectin [odds ratio (OR) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-1.98, P  < 0.001] and hsCRP [OR 2.25, (95% CI 1.89-2.60), P  < 0.001] were more likely to have sustained hypertension. Participants in the highest quartile of hsCRP were also more likely to have masked hypertension, OR (95% CI) 2.31 (1.72-3.10), P  < 0.001 and carotid artery plaques, OR (95% CI) 1.21 (1.05-1.38), P  = 0.007. CONCLUSION: Increased sP-selectin and hsCRP were independently associated with sustained hypertension. These findings indicate an association between hypertension and platelet activity, as expressed by sP-selectin.

Cohort Profile: the European Unified Registries On Heart care Evaluation and Randomised Trials (EuroHeart) - Acute Coronary Syndrome and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

AIMS: The European Unified Registries On Heart care Evaluation And Randomized Trials (EuroHeart) aims to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease. The collaboration of acute coronary syndrome/percutaneous coronary intervention (ACS/PCI) registries is operational in seven vanguard European Society of Cardiology member countries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adults admitted to hospitals with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are included, and individual patient-level data collected and aligned according to the internationally agreed EuroHeart data standards for ACS/PCI. The registries provide up to 155 variables spanning patient demographics and clinical characteristics, in-hospital care, in-hospital outcomes, and discharge medications. After performing statistical analyses on patient data, participating countries transfer aggregated data to EuroHeart for international reporting.Between 1st January 2022 and 31st December 2022, 40 021 admissions (STEMI 46.7%, NSTEMI 53.3%) were recorded from 192 hospitals in the seven vanguard countries: Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, and Sweden. The mean age for the cohort was 67.9 (standard deviation 12.6) years, and it included 12 628 (31.6%) women. CONCLUSION: The EuroHeart collaboration of ACS/PCI registries prospectively collects and analyses individual data for ACS and PCI at a national level, after which aggregated results are transferred to the EuroHeart Data Science Centre. The collaboration will expand to other countries and provide continuous insights into the provision of clinical care and outcomes for patients with ACS and undergoing PCI. It will serve as a unique international platform for quality improvement, observational research, and registry-based clinical trials.

Beta-Blockers after Myocardial Infarction and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Most trials that have shown a benefit of beta-blocker treatment after myocardial infarction included patients with large myocardial infarctions and were conducted in an era before modern biomarker-based diagnosis of myocardial infarction and treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention, antithrombotic agents, high-intensity statins, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonists. METHODS: In a parallel-group, open-label trial performed at 45 centers in Sweden, Estonia, and New Zealand, we randomly assigned patients with an acute myocardial infarction who had undergone coronary angiography and had a left ventricular ejection fraction of at least 50% to receive either long-term treatment with a beta-blocker (metoprolol or bisoprolol) or no beta-blocker treatment. The primary end point was a composite of death from any cause or new myocardial infarction. RESULTS: From September 2017 through May 2023, a total of 5020 patients were enrolled (95.4% of whom were from Sweden). The median follow-up was 3.5 years (interquartile range, 2.2 to 4.7). A primary end-point event occurred in 199 of 2508 patients (7.9%) in the beta-blocker group and in 208 of 2512 patients (8.3%) in the no-beta-blocker group (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.79 to 1.16; P = 0.64). Beta-blocker treatment did not appear to lead to a lower cumulative incidence of the secondary end points (death from any cause, 3.9% in the beta-blocker group and 4.1% in the no-beta-blocker group; death from cardiovascular causes, 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively; myocardial infarction, 4.5% and 4.7%; hospitalization for atrial fibrillation, 1.1% and 1.4%; and hospitalization for heart failure, 0.8% and 0.9%). With regard to safety end points, hospitalization for bradycardia, second- or third-degree atrioventricular block, hypotension, syncope, or implantation of a pacemaker occurred in 3.4% of the patients in the beta-blocker group and in 3.2% of those in the no-beta-blocker group; hospitalization for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 0.6% and 0.6%, respectively; and hospitalization for stroke in 1.4% and 1.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent early coronary angiography and had a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (≥50%), long-term beta-blocker treatment did not lead to a lower risk of the composite primary end point of death from any cause or new myocardial infarction than no beta-blocker use. (Funded by the Swedish Research Council and others; REDUCE-AMI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03278509.).

Management and outcome in foreign-born vs native-born patients with myocardial infarction in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on disparities in healthcare and outcome have shown conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess differences in baseline characteristics, management, and outcome in myocardial infarction (MI) patients, by country of birth. METHODS: In total, 194 259 MI patients (64% male, 15% foreign-born) from the nationwide SWEDEHEART registry were included and compared by geographic region of birth. The primary outcome was one-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including all-cause death, MI, and stroke. Secondary outcomes were long-term MACE (up to 12 years), the individual components of MACE, 30-day mortality, management, and risk factors. Logistic regression, Cox proportional hazard models and propensity score matching (PSM), accounting for baseline differences, were used. RESULTS: Foreign-born patients were younger, often male, and had a higher cardiovascular (CV) risk factor burden, including smoking, diabetes, and hypertension. In PSM analyses, Asia-born patients had higher likelihood of revascularisation (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.30), statins and betablocker prescription at discharge and a 34% lower risk of 30-day mortality. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were found in the primary outcomes except for Asia-born patients having lower risk of one-year MACE (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.98), driven by lower mortality (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57-0.91). The results persisted over long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that in a system with universal healthcare coverage in which acute and secondary preventive treatments do not differ by country of birth, foreign-born patients, despite higher CV risk factor burden, will do at least as well as native-born patients.

Provision of professional interpreters and Heart School attendance for foreign-born compared with native-born myocardial infarction patients in Sweden.

Objective: Interactive patient education, referred to as Heart School (HS), is an important part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after myocardial infarction (MI), which has been associated with improved outcomes. Little is known about HS attendance among foreign-born patients. The aims were to assess; 1) HS attendance in foreign-born versus native-born patients, 2) the association between the provision of professional interpreters and HS attendance, and 3) secondary prevention goal attainment after MI based on HS attendance. Methods: The provision of professional interpreters during post-MI follow-up was assessed by a questionnaire sent to all 78 Swedish CR sites. Patient-specific data was retrieved from the SWEDEHEART registry. The association between the provision of professional interpreters and HS attendance was estimated with logistic regression models. HS attendance and attainment of secondary prevention goals by country of birth were investigated. Results: In total, 8377 patients < 75 years (78 % male) were included. Foreign-born (19.8 %) had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and were less likely to attend HS (33.7 vs 51.3 %, p < 0.001), adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.59 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.52-0.68), compared with native-born patients. CR centers providing professional interpreters had higher HS attendance among foreign-born (adjusted OR 1.55, 95 % CI 1.20-2.01) but not among native-born patients. Attending HS was similarly associated with improved secondary prevention goal attainment in both groups. Conclusions: Despite similar positive association between HS attendance and attainment of secondary prevention goals, foreign-born patients attended HS less often. With the provision of professional interpreters, HS attendance increased in foreign-born patients.

Effects of pharmacological interventions on mortality in patients with Takotsubo syndrome: a report from the SWEDEHEART registry.

AIMS: Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a heart condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction. TS is characterized by a sudden weakening of the heart muscle, usually triggered by physical or emotional stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of pharmacological interventions on short- and long-term mortality in patients with TS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed data from the SWEDEHEART (the Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-based care in Heart disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) registry, which included patients who underwent coronary angiography between 2009 and 2016. In total, we identified 1724 patients with TS among 228 263 individuals in the registry. The average age was 66 ± 14 years, and 77% were female. Nearly half of the TS patients (49.4%) presented with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, and a quarter (25.9%) presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Most patients (79.1%) had non-obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography, while 11.7% had a single-vessel disease and 9.2% had a multivessel disease. All patients received at least one pharmacological intervention; most of them used beta-blockers (77.8% orally and 8.3% intravenously) or antiplatelet agents [aspirin (66.7%) and P2Y12 inhibitors (43.6%)]. According to the Kaplan-Meier estimator, the probability of all-cause mortality was 2.5% after 30 days and 16.6% after 6 years. The median follow-up time was 877 days. Intravenous use of inotropes and diuretics was associated with increased 30 day mortality in TS [hazard ratio (HR) = 9.92 (P < 0.001) and HR = 3.22 (P = 0.001), respectively], while angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins were associated with decreased long-term mortality [HR = 0.60 (P = 0.025) and HR = 0.62 (P = 0.040), respectively]. Unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparins were associated with reduced 30 day mortality [HR = 0.63 (P = 0.01)]. Angiotensin receptor blockers, oral anticoagulants, P2Y12 antagonists, aspirin, and beta-blockers did not statistically correlate with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that some medications commonly used to treat TS are associated with higher mortality, while others have lower mortality. These results could inform clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes in TS. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and to identify optimal pharmacological interventions for patients with TS.

Pulmonary function and atherosclerosis in the general population: causal associations and clinical implications.

Reduced lung function is associated with cardiovascular mortality, but the relationships with atherosclerosis are unclear. The population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage study measured lung function, emphysema, coronary CT angiography, coronary calcium, carotid plaques and ankle-brachial index in 29,593 men and women aged 50-64 years. The results were confirmed using 2-sample Mendelian randomization. Lower lung function and emphysema were associated with more atherosclerosis, but these relationships were attenuated after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Lung function was not associated with coronary atherosclerosis in 14,524 never-smokers. No potentially causal effect of lung function on atherosclerosis, or vice versa, was found in the 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. Here we show that reduced lung function and atherosclerosis are correlated in the population, but probably not causally related. Assessing lung function in addition to conventional cardiovascular risk factors to gauge risk of subclinical atherosclerosis is probably not meaningful, but low lung function found by chance should alert for atherosclerosis.

Cross-cultural adaption and inter-rater reliability of the Swedish version of the updated clinical frailty scale 2.0.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, there is a large and growing group of older adults. Frailty is known as an important discriminatory factor for poor outcomes. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) has become a frequently used frailty instrument in different clinical settings and health care sectors, and it has shown good predictive validity. The aims of this study were to describe and validate the translation and cultural adaptation of the CFS into Swedish (CFS-SWE), and to test the inter-rater reliability (IRR) for registered nurses using the CFS-SWE. METHODS: An observational study design was employed. The ISPOR principles were used for the translation, linguistic validation and cultural adaptation of the scale. To test the IRR, 12 participants were asked to rate 10 clinical case vignettes using the CFS-SWE. The IRR was assessed using intraclass correlation and Krippendorff's alpha agreement coefficient test. RESULTS: The Clinical Frailty Scale was translated and culturally adapted into Swedish and is presented in its final form. The IRR for all raters, measured by an intraclass correlation test, resulted in an absolute agreement value among the raters of 0.969 (95% CI: 0.929-0.991) and a consistency value of 0.979 (95% CI: 0.953-0.994), which indicates excellent reliability. Krippendorff's alpha agreement coefficient for all raters was 0.969 (95% CI: 0.917-0.988), indicating near-perfect agreement. The sensitivity of the reliability was examined by separately testing the IRR of the group of specialised registered nurses and non-specialised registered nurses respectively, with consistent and similar results. CONCLUSION: The Clinical Frailty Scale was translated, linguistically validated and culturally adapted into Swedish following a well-established standard technique. The IRR was excellent, judged by two established, separately used, reliability tests. The reliability test results did not differ between non-specialised and specialised registered nurses. However, the use of case vignettes might reduce the generalisability of the reliability findings to real-life settings. The CFS has the potential to be a common reference tool, especially when older adults are treated and rehabilitated in different care sectors.

Plasma type I collagen α1 chain in relation to coronary artery disease: findings from a prospective population-based cohort and an acute myocardial infarction prospective cohort in Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between type I collagen α1 chain (COL1α1) levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) by using absolute quantification in plasma. Also, to investigate the correlates of COL1α1 to clinical characteristics and circulating markers of collagen metabolism. DESIGN: Life conditions, Stress and Health (LSH) study: prospective cohort study, here with a nested case-control design.Assessing Platelet Activity in Coronary Heart Disease (APACHE) study: prospective cohort study. SETTING: LSH: primary care setting, southeast Sweden.APACHE: cardiology department, university hospital, southeast Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: LSH: 1007 randomly recruited individuals aged 45-69 (50% women). Exclusion criteria was serious disease. After 13 years of follow-up, 86 cases with primary endpoint were identified and sex-matched/age-matched to 184 controls. APACHE: 125 patients with myocardial infarction (MI), 73 with ST-elevation MI and 52 with non-ST-elevation MI. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Intervention study participation, warfarin treatment and short life expectancy. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was the association between baseline COL1α1 and first-time major event of CAD, defined as fatal/non-fatal MI or coronary revascularisation after 13 years. Secondary outcomes were the association between the collagen biomarkers PRO-C1 (N-terminal pro-peptide of type I collagen)/C1M (matrix metalloproteinase-mediated degradation of type I collagen) and CAD; temporal change of COL1α1 after acute MI up to 6 months and lastly, correlates between COL1α1 and patient characteristics along with circulating markers of collagen metabolism. RESULTS: COL1α1 levels were associated with CAD, both unadjusted (HR=0.69, 95% CI=0.56 to 0.87) and adjusted (HR=0.55, 95% CI=0.41 to 0.75). PRO-C1 was associated with CAD, unadjusted (HR=0.62, 95% CI=0.47 to 0.82) and adjusted (HR=0.61, 95% CI=0.43 to 0.86), while C1M was not. In patients with MI, COL1α1 remained unchanged up to 6 months. COL1α1 was correlated to PRO-C1, but not to C1M. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma COL1α1 was independently and inversely associated with CAD. Furthermore, COL1α1 appeared to reflect collagen synthesis but not degradation. Future studies are needed to confirm whether COL1α1 is a clinically useful biomarker of CAD.

Association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary atherosclerosis in a general middle-aged population.

Despite abundant knowledge about the relationship between inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis, it is still unknown whether systemic inflammation measured as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in a general population. This study aimed to examine the association between hsCRP and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-detected coronary atherosclerosis in a population-based cohort. Out of 30,154 randomly invited men and women aged 50 to 64 years in the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study (SCAPIS), 25,408 had a technically acceptable CCTA and analysed hsCRP. Coronary atherosclerosis was defined as presence of plaque of any degree in any of 18 coronary segments. HsCRP values were categorised in four groups. Compared with hsCRP below the detection limit, elevated hsCRP (≥ 2.3 mg/L) was weakly associated with any coronary atherosclerosis (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24), coronary diameter stenosis ≥ 50% (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.47), ≥ 4 segments involved (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26 ) and severe atherosclerosis (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.69) after adjustment for age, sex and traditional risk factors. The associations were attenuated after further adjustment for body mass index (BMI), although elevated hsCRP still associated with noncalcified plaques (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02-1.32), proposed to be more vulnerable. In conclusion, the additional value of hsCRP to traditional risk factors in detection of coronary atherosclerosis is low. The association to high-risk noncalcified plaques, although unlikely through a causal pathway, could explain the relationship between hsCRP and clinical coronary events in numerous studies.

Comparison between ticagrelor and clopidogrel in myocardial infarction patients with high bleeding risk.

AIMS: Ticagrelor is associated with a lower risk of ischemic events than clopidogrel. However, it is uncertain whether the benefits of more intensive anti-ischemic therapy outweigh the risks of major bleeding in patients who have a high bleeding risk (HBR). Therefore, this study compared ticagrelor and clopidogrel in myocardial infarction (MI) patients with HBR. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study included all patients enrolled in the SWEDEHEART registry who were discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy using ticagrelor or clopidogrel following MI between 2010 and 2017. High bleeding risk was defined as a PRECISE-DAPT score ≥25. Information on ischemic events, major bleeding, and mortality was obtained from national registries, with 365 days of follow-up. Additional outcomes include major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of MI, stroke and all-cause mortality, and net adverse clinical events (NACE), a composite of MACE and bleeding. This study included 25 042 HBR patients, of whom 11 848 were treated with ticagrelor. Ticagrelor was associated with a lower risk of MI, stroke, and MACE, but a higher risk of bleeding compared to clopidogrel. There were no significant differences in mortality and NACE. Additionally, when examining the relationship between antiplatelet therapy and bleeding risk in 69 040 MI patients, we found no statistically significant interactions between the PRECISE-DAPT score and treatment effect. CONCLUSIONS: We observed no difference in NACE when comparing ticagrelor and clopidogrel in HBR patients. Moreover, we found no statistically significant interactions between bleeding risk and the comparative effectiveness of clopidogrel and ticagrelor in a larger population of MI patients.

Association of beta-blockers beyond 1 year after myocardial infarction and cardiovascular outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Beta-blockers (BB) are an established treatment following myocardial infarction (MI). However, there is uncertainty as to whether BB beyond the first year of MI have a role in patients without heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). METHODS: A nationwide cohort study was conducted including 43 618 patients with MI between 2005 and 2016 in the Swedish register for coronary heart disease. Follow-up started 1 year after hospitalisation (index date). Patients with heart failure or LVSD up until the index date were excluded. Patients were allocated into two groups according to BB treatment. Primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, MI, unscheduled revascularisation and hospitalisation for heart failure. Outcomes were analysed using Cox and Fine-Grey regression models after inverse propensity score weighting. RESULTS: Overall, 34 253 (78.5%) patients received BB and 9365 (21.5%) did not at the index date 1 year following MI. The median age was 64 years and 25.5% were female. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the unadjusted rate of primary outcome was lower among patients who received versus not received BB (3.8 vs 4.9 events/100 person-years) (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.04). Following inverse propensity score weighting and multivariable adjustment, the risk of the primary outcome was not different according to BB treatment (HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.04). Similar findings were observed when censoring for BB discontinuation or treatment switch during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Evidence from this nationwide cohort study suggests that BB treatment beyond 1 year of MI for patients without heart failure or LVSD was not associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes.

Prevalence of angina pectoris and association with coronary atherosclerosis in a general population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the contemporary prevalence of, and factors associated with angina pectoris symptoms, and to examine the relationship to coronary atherosclerosis in a middle-aged, general population. METHODS: Data were based on the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), in which 30 154 individuals were randomly recruited from the general population between 2013 and 2018. Participants that completed the Rose Angina Questionnaire were included and categorised as angina or no angina. Subjects with a valid coronary CT angiography (CCTA) were categorised by degree of coronary atherosclerosis; ≥50% obstruction (obstructive coronary atherosclerosis), <50% obstruction or any atheromatosis (non-obstructive coronary atherosclerosis) or none (no coronary atherosclerosis). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 28 974 questionnaire responders (median age 57.4 years, female 51.6%, hypertension 19.9%, hyperlipidaemia 7.9%, diabetes mellitus 3.7%), of which 1025 (3.5%) fulfilled the criteria of angina. Coronary atherosclerosis was more common in individuals having angina compared with those with no angina (n=24 602, obstructive coronary atherosclerosis 11.8% vs 5.4%, non-obstructive coronary atherosclerosis 38.9% vs 37.0%, no coronary atherosclerosis 49.4% vs 57.7%, all p<0.001). Factors independently associated with angina were birthplace outside of Sweden (OR 2.58 (95% CI 2.10 to 2.92)), low educational level (OR 1.41 (1.10 to 1.79)), unemployment (OR 1.51 (1.27 to 1.81)), poor economic status (OR 1.85 (1.38 to 2.47)), symptoms of depression (OR 1.63 (1.38 to 1.92)) and high degree of stress (OR 2.92 (1.80 to 4.73)). CONCLUSION: Angina pectoris symptoms are common (3.5%) among middle-aged individuals of the general population of Sweden, though with low association to obstructive coronary atherosclerosis. Sociodemographic and psychological factors are highly associated with angina symptoms, irrespective of degree of coronary atherosclerosis.

Platelet Function is Preserved After Moderate Cardiopulmonary Bypass Times But Transiently Impaired After Protamine.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have described impaired platelet function after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Whether this is still valid in contemporary cardiac surgery is unclear. This study aimed to quantify changes in function and number of platelets during CPB in a present-day cardiac surgery cohort. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled clinical study. SETTING: A single-center university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery with CPB. INTERVENTIONS: Platelet function and numbers were measured at 6 timepoints in 39 patients during and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery; at baseline before anesthesia, at the end of CPB, after protamine administration, at intensive care unit (ICU) arrival, 3 hours after ICU arrival, and on the morning after surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Platelet function was assessed with impedance aggregometry and flow cytometry. Platelet numbers are expressed as actual concentration and as numbers corrected for dilution using hemoglobin as a reference marker. There was no consistent impairment of platelet function during CPB with either impedance aggregometry or flow cytometry. After protamine administration, a decrease in platelet function was seen with impedance aggregometry and for some markers of activation with flow cytometry. Platelet function was restored 3 hours after arrival in the ICU. During CPB (85.0 ± 21 min), the number of circulating platelets corrected for dilution increased from 1.73 ± 0.42 × 109/g to 1.91 ± 0.51 × 109/g (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During cardiac surgery with moderate CPB times, platelet function was not impaired, and no consumption of circulating platelets could be detected. Administration of protamine transiently affected platelet function.