Selective FFRCT testing in suspected stable angina in clinical practice - initial experiences.

Coronary CT angiography (CTA) derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) is recommended for physiological assessment in intermediate coronary stenosis for guiding referral to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). In this study, we report real-world data on the feasibility of implementing a CTA/FFRCT test algorithm as a gatekeeper to ICA at referral hospitals. Retrospective all-comer study of patients with new onset stable symptoms and suspected coronary stenosis (30-89%) by CTA. Evaluation of CTA datasets, interpretation of FFRCT analysis, and decisions on downstream testing were performed by skilled CT-cardiologists. CTA was performed in 3974 patients, of whom 381 (10%) were referred directly to ICA, whereas 463 (12%) to non-invasive functional testing: FFRCT 375 (81%) and perfusion imaging 88 (19%). FFRCT analysis was rejected in 8 (2%) due to inadequate CTA image quality. Number of patients deferred from ICA after FFRCT was 267 (71%), while 100 (27%) were referred to ICA. Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was confirmed in 62 (62%) patients and revascularization performed in 53 (53%). Revascularization rates, n (%), were higher in patients undergoing FFRCT-guided versus CTA-guided referral to ICA: 30-69% stenosis, 28 (44%) versus 8 (21%); 70-89% stenosis, 39 (69%) versus 25 (46%), respectively, both p < 0.05. Implementation of FFRCT at referral hospitals was feasible, reduced the number of invasive procedures, and increased the revascularization rate.

Completeness of revascularization by FFRCT in stable angina: Association to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic impact of complete coronary revascularization relative to non-invasive testing methods is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between completeness of revascularization defined by CTA-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stable angina. METHODS: Multicenter 3-year follow-up study of patients with new onset stable angina and ≥ 30% stenosis by CTA. The lesion-specific FFRCT value (two cm-distal-to-stenosis) was registered in all vessels with stenosis and considered abnormal when ≤ 0.80. Patients with FFRCT ≤ 0.80 were categorized as: Completely revascularized (CR-FFRCT), all vessels with FFRCT ≤ 0.80 revascularized; incompletely revascularized (IR-FFRCT), ≥ 1 vessels with FFRCT ≤ 0.80 non-revascularized. Early revascularization (< 90 days from index CTA) categorized vessels as revascularized. The primary endpoint comprised cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction; the secondary endpoint vessel-specific late revascularization and non-fatal myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Amongst 900 patients and 1759 vessels, FFRCT was ≤ 0.80 in 377 (42%) patients, 536 (30%) vessels; revascularization was performed in 244 (27%) patients, 340 (19%) vessels. Risk of the primary endpoint was higher for IR-FFRCT (15/210 [7.1%]) compared to CR-FFRCT (4/167 [2.4%]), RR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.01-8.8, p â€‹= â€‹0.036, and to normal FFRCT (3/523 [0.6%]), RR: 12.45; 95% CI: 3.6-42.6, p â€‹< â€‹0.001. Incidence of the secondary endpoint was higher in non-revascularized vessels with FFRCT ≤ 0.80 (29/250 [12%]) compared to revascularized vessels with FFRCT ≤ 0.80 (5/286 [1.7%]), p â€‹= â€‹0.001, and to vessels with FFRCT > 0.80 (10/1223 [0.8%]), p â€‹< â€‹0.001. CONCLUSION: Incomplete revascularization of patients with lesion-specific FFRCT ≤ 0.80 is associated to unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes compared to those with complete revascularization or FFRCT > 0.80.

Coronary computed tomography angiography derived fractional flow reserve and risk of recurrent angina: A 3-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The association between coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) and risk of recurrent angina in patients with new onset stable angina pectoris (SAP) and stenosis by CTA is uncertain. METHODS: Multicenter 3-year follow-up study of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of new onset SAP who underwent first-line CTA evaluation and subsequent standard-of-care treatment. All patients had at least one ≥30 â€‹% coronary stenosis. A per-patient lowest FFRCT-value ≤0.80 represented an abnormal test result. Patients with FFRCT ≤0.80 who underwent revascularization were categorized according to completeness of revascularization: 1) Completely revascularized (CR-FFRCT), all vessels with FFRCT ≤0.80 revascularized; or 2) incompletely revascularized (IR-FFRCT) ≥1 vessels with FFRCT ≤0.80 non-revascularized. Recurrent angina was evaluated using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. RESULTS: Amongst 769 patients (619 [80 â€‹%] stenosis ≥50 â€‹%, 510 [66 â€‹%] FFRCT ≤0.80), 174 (23 â€‹%) reported recurrent angina at follow-up. An FFRCT ≤0.80 vs â€‹> â€‹0.80 associated to increased risk of recurrent angina, relative risk (RR): 1.82; 95 â€‹% CI: 1.31-2.52, p â€‹< â€‹0.001. Risk of recurrent angina in CR-FFRCT (n â€‹= â€‹135) was similar to patients with FFRCT >0.80, 13 â€‹% vs 15 â€‹%, RR: 0.93; 95 â€‹% CI: 0.62-1.40, p â€‹= â€‹0.72, while IR-FFRCT (n â€‹= â€‹90) and non-revascularized patients with FFRCT ≤0.80 (n â€‹= â€‹285) had increased risk, 37 â€‹% vs 15 â€‹% RR: 2.50; 95 â€‹% CI: 1.68-3.73, p â€‹< â€‹0.001 and 30 â€‹% vs 15 â€‹%, RR: 2.03; 95 â€‹% CI: 1.44-2.87, p â€‹< â€‹0.001, respectively. Use of antianginal medication was similar across study groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with SAP and coronary stenosis by CTA undergoing standard-of-care guided treatment, FFRCT provides information regarding risk of recurrent angina.

High Lipoprotein(a) May Explain One-Quarter of Clinical Familial Hypercholesterolemia Diagnoses in Danish Lipid Clinics.

CONTEXT: Cholesterol carried in lipoprotein(a) adds to measured low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and may therefore drive some diagnoses of clinical familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). OBJECTIVE: We investigated plasma lipoprotein(a) in individuals referred to Danish lipid clinics and evaluated the effect of plasma lipoprotein(a) on a diagnosis of FH. METHODS: Individuals referred to 15 Danish lipid clinics who were suspected of having FH according to nationwide referral criteria were recruited between September 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021. All individuals were classified according to the Dutch Lipid Clinical Network criteria for FH before and after LDL-C was adjusted for 30% cholesterol content in lipoprotein(a). We calculated the fraction of individuals fulfilling a clinical diagnosis of FH partly due to elevated lipoprotein(a). RESULTS: We included a total of 1166 individuals for analysis, of whom 206 fulfilled a clinical diagnosis of FH. Median lipoprotein(a) was 15 mg/dL (29 nmol/L) in those referred and 28% had lipoprotein(a) greater than or equal to 50 mg/dL (105 nmol/L), while 2% had levels greater than or equal to 180 mg/dL (389 nmol/L). We found that in 27% (55/206) of those fulfilling a clinical diagnosis of FH, this was partly due to high lipoprotein(a). CONCLUSION: Elevated lipoprotein(a) was common in individuals referred to Danish lipid clinics and in one-quarter of individuals who fulfilled a clinical diagnosis of FH, this was partly due to elevated lipoprotein(a). These findings support the notion that the LPA gene should be considered an important causative gene in patients with clinical FH and further support the importance of measuring lipoprotein(a) when diagnosing FH as well as for stratification of cardiovascular risk.

Genetic testing increases the likelihood of a diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia among people referred to lipid clinics: Danish national study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is unclear to what extent genetic testing improves the ability to diagnose familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). We investigated the percentage with FH among individuals referred to Danish lipid clinics, and evaluated the impact of genetic testing for a diagnosis of FH. METHODS: From September 2020 through November 2021, all patients referred for possible FH to one of the 15 Danish lipid clinics were invited for study participation and >97% (n = 1488) accepted. The Dutch Lipid Clinical Network criteria were used to diagnose clinical FH. The decision of genetic testing for FH was based on local practice. RESULTS: A total of 1243 individuals were referred, of whom 25.9% were diagnosed with genetic and/or clinical FH. In individuals genetically tested (n = 705), 21.7% had probable or definite clinical FH before testing, a percentage that increased to 36.9% after genetic testing. In individuals with unlikely and possible FH before genetic testing, 24.4% and 19.0%, respectively, had a causative pathogenic variant. CONCLUSIONS: In a Danish nationwide study, genetic testing increased a diagnosis of FH from 22% to 37% in patients referred with hypercholesterolaemia suspected of having FH. Importantly, approximately 20% with unlikely or possible FH, who without genetic testing would not have been considered having FH (and family screening would not have been undertaken), had a pathogenic FH variant. We therefore recommend a more widespread use of genetic testing for evaluation of a possible FH diagnosis and potential cascade screening.

Diagnostic Yield of Genetic Testing in Young Patients With Atrioventricular Block of Unknown Cause.

Background The cause of atrioventricular block (AVB) remains unknown in approximately half of young patients with the diagnosis. Although variants in several genes associated with cardiac conduction diseases have been identified, the contribution of genetic variants in younger patients with AVB is unknown. Methods and Results Using the Danish Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Registry, we identified all patients younger than 50 years receiving a pacemaker because of AVB in Denmark in the period from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2015. From medical records, we identified patients with unknown cause of AVB at time of pacemaker implantation. These patients were invited to a genetic screening using a panel of 102 genes associated with inherited cardiac diseases. We identified 471 living patients with AVB of unknown cause, of whom 226 (48%) accepted participation. Median age at the time of pacemaker implantation was 39 years (interquartile range, 32-45 years), and 123 (54%) were men. We found pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in genes associated with or possibly associated with AVB in 12 patients (5%). Most variants were found in the LMNA gene (n=5). LMNA variant carriers all had a family history of either AVB and/or sudden cardiac death. Conclusions In young patients with AVB of unknown cause, we found a possible genetic cause in 1 out of 20 participating patients. Variants in the LMNA gene were most common and associated with a family history of AVB and/or sudden cardiac death, suggesting that genetic testing should be a part of the diagnostic workup in these patients to stratify risk and screen family members.

Coronary CT angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in-stable angina: association with recurrent chest pain.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) and recurrent chest pain (CP) at 1-year follow-up in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). METHODS AND RESULTS: Study of patients (n = 267) with SAP who underwent CCTA and FFRCT testing; 236 (88%) underwent invasive coronary angiography; and 87 (33%) were revascularized. Symptomatic status at 1-year follow-up was gathered by a structured interview. Three different FFRCT algorithms were applied using the following criteria for abnormality: (i) 2 cm-FFRCT ≤0.80; (ii) d-FFRCT ≤0.80; and (iii) a combination in which both a d-FFRCT ≤0.80 and a ΔFFRCT ≥0.06 must be present in the same vessel (c-FFRCT). Patients were classified into two groups based on the FFRCT test result and revascularization: completely revascularized/normal (CRN), patients in whom all coronary arteries with an abnormal FFRCT test result were revascularized or patients with completely normal FFRCT test results, and incompletely revascularized (IR), patients in whom ≥1 coronary artery with an abnormal FFRCT test result was not revascularized. Recurrent CP was present in 62 (23%) patients. Classification of patients (CRN or IR) was significantly associated with recurrent CP for all applied FFRCT interpretation algorithms. When applying the c-FFRCT algorithm, the association with recurrent CP was found, irrespective of the extent of coronary calcification and the degree of coronary stenosis. A negative association between per-patient minimal d-FFRCT and recurrent CP was demonstrated, P < 0.005. CONCLUSION: An abnormal FFRCT test result is associated with an increased risk of recurrent CP in patients with new-onset SAP.

Invasive aortic pulse pressure is not superior to cuff pulse pressure in cardiovascular risk prediction.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic pulse pressure (PP) represents the hemodynamic cardiac and cerebral burden more directly than cuff PP. The objective of this study was to investigate whether invasively measured aortic PP confers additional prognostic value beyond cuff PP for cardiovascular events and death. With increasing age, cuff PP progressively underestimates aortic PP. Whether the prognostic association between cuff PP and outcomes is age-dependent remains to be elucidated. METHODS: Cuff PP and invasively measured aortic PP were recorded in 21 908 patients (mean age 63 years, 58% men, 14% with diabetes) with stable angina pectoris undergoing elective coronary angiography during January 2001--December 2012. Multivariate Cox models were used to assess the association with incident myocardial infarction, stroke, and death. Discrimination was assessed using Harrell's C-index. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 3.7 years (range 0.1-10.8 years), 422 strokes, 511 myocardial infarctions, and 1530 deaths occurred. Both cuff and aortic PP were associated with stroke, myocardial infarction, and death in crude analyses. However, only cuff PP remained associated with stroke (hazard ratio per 10 mmHg, 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01--1.12)] and myocardial infarction [hazard ratio per 10 mmHg 1.05 (95% CI 1.01--1.11)] in multivariate Cox models. Both cuff and aortic PP lost significance as predictors of death in multivariate models. Age did not modify the prognostic association between cuff PP and stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. CONCLUSION: Invasively measured aortic PP did not add prognostic information about cardiovascular outcomes and death beyond cuff PP in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Design and rationale of the Danish trial of beta-blocker treatment after myocardial infarction without reduced ejection fraction: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with beta-blockers is currently recommended after myocardial infarction (MI). The evidence relies on trials conducted decades ago before implementation of revascularization and contemporary medical therapy or in trials enrolling patients with heart failure or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%). Accordingly, the impact of beta-blockers on mortality and morbidity following acute MI in patients without reduced LVEF or heart failure is unclear. METHODS/DESIGN: The Danish trial of beta-blocker treatment after myocardial infarction without reduced ejection fraction (DANBLOCK) is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, non-blinded endpoint clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of beta-blocker treatment in post-MI patients in the absence of reduced LVEF or heart failure. We will randomize 3570 patients will be randomized within 14 days of index MI to beta-blocker or control for a minimum of 2 years. The primary endpoint is a composite of all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, acute decompensated heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or stroke. The primary composite endpoint will be assessed through locally reported and adjudicated endpoints supplemented by linkage to the Danish national registers. A number of secondary endpoints will be investigated including patient reported outcomes and cardiovascular mortality. Data from similar ongoing trials in Norway and Sweden will be pooled to perform an individual patient data meta-analysis. DISCUSSION: DANBLOCK is a randomized clinical trial investigating the effect of long-term beta-blocker therapy after myocardial infarction in patients without heart failure and reduced LVEF. Results from the trial will add important scientific evidence to inform future clinical guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03778554. Registered on 19 December 2018. European Clinical Trials Database, 2018-002699-42, registered on 28 September 2018.

Prediction of Coronary Revascularization in Stable Angina: Comparison of FFRCT With CMR Stress Perfusion Imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare head-to-head fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) (FFRCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) stress perfusion imaging for prediction of standard-of-care-guided coronary revascularization in patients with stable chest pain and obstructive coronary artery disease by coronary CTA. BACKGROUND: FFRCT is a novel modality for noninvasive functional testing. The clinical utility of FFRCT compared to CMR stress perfusion imaging in symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease is unknown. METHODS: Prospective study of patients (n = 110) with stable angina pectoris and 1 or more coronary stenosis ≥50% by coronary CTA. All patients underwent invasive coronary angiography. Revascularization was FFR-guided in stenoses ranging from 30% to 90%. FFRCT ≤0.80 in 1 or more coronary artery or a reversible perfusion defect (≥2 segments) by CMR categorized patients with ischemia. FFRCT and CMR were analyzed by core laboratories blinded for patient management. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients (35%) underwent revascularization. Per-patient diagnostic performance for identifying standard-of-care-guided revascularization, (95% confidence interval) yielded a sensitivity of 97% (86% to 100%) for FFRCT versus 47% (31% to 64%) for CMR, p < 0.001; corresponding specificity was 42% (30% to 54%) versus 88% (78% to 94%), p < 0.001; negative predictive value of 97% (91% to 100%) versus 76% (67% to 85%), p < 0.05; positive predictive value of 47% (36% to 58%) versus 67% (49% to 84%), p < 0.05; and accuracy of 61% (51% to 70%) versus 74% (64% to 82%), p > 0.05, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable chest pain referred to invasive coronary angiography based on coronary CTA, FFRCT and CMR yielded similar overall diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity for prediction of revascularization was highest for FFRCT, whereas specificity was highest for CMR.

Prospective Comparison of FFR Derived From Coronary CT Angiography With SPECT Perfusion Imaging in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The ReASSESS Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the per-patient diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) with that of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), using a fractional flow reserve (FFR) value of ≤0.80 as the reference for diagnosing at least 1 hemodynamically significant stenosis in a head-to-head comparison of patients with intermediate coronary stenosis as determined by coronary CTA. BACKGROUND: No previous study has prospectively compared the diagnostic performance of FFRCT and myocardial perfusion imaging by SPECT in symptomatic patients with intermediate range coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This study was conducted at a single-center as a prospective study in patients with stable angina pectoris (N = 143). FFRCT and SPECT analyses were performed by core laboratories and were blinded for the personnel responsible for downstream patient management. FFRCT ≤0.80 distally in at least 1 coronary artery with a diameter ≥2 mm classified patients as having ischemia. Ischemia by SPECT was encountered if a reversible perfusion defect (summed difference score ≥2) or transitory ischemic dilation of the left ventricle (ratio >1.19) were found. RESULTS: The per-patient diagnostic performance for identifying ischemia (95% confidence interval [CI]), FFRCT versus SPECT, were sensitivity of 91% (95% CI: 81% to 97%) versus 41% (95% CI: 29% to 55%; p < 0.001); specificity of 55% (95% CI: 44% to 66%) versus 86% (95% CI: 77% to 93%; p < 0.001); negative predictive value of 90% (95% CI: 82% to 98%) versus 68% (95% CI: 59% to 77%; p = 0.001); positive predictive value of 58% (95% CI: 48% to 68%) versus 67% (95% CI: 51% to 82%; p = NS); and accuracy of 70% (95% CI: 62% to 77%) versus 68% (95% CI: 60% to 75%; p = NS) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable chest pain and CAD as determined by coronary CTA, the overall diagnostic accuracy levels of FFRCT and SPECT were identical in assessing hemodynamically significant stenosis. However, FFRCT demonstrated a significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity than SPECT.

The Danish Cardiac Rehabilitation Database.

AIM OF DATABASE: The Danish Cardiac Rehabilitation Database (DHRD) aims to improve the quality of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to the benefit of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). STUDY POPULATION: Hospitalized patients with CHD with stenosis on coronary angiography treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, or medication alone. Reporting is mandatory for all hospitals in Denmark delivering CR. The database was initially implemented in 2013 and was fully running from August 14, 2015, thus comprising data at a patient level from the latter date onward. MAIN VARIABLES: Patient-level data are registered by clinicians at the time of entry to CR directly into an online system with simultaneous linkage to other central patient registers. Follow-up data are entered after 6 months. The main variables collected are related to key outcome and performance indicators of CR: referral and adherence, lifestyle, patient-related outcome measures, risk factor control, and medication. Program-level online data are collected every third year. DESCRIPTIVE DATA: Based on administrative data, approximately 14,000 patients with CHD are hospitalized at 35 hospitals annually, with 75% receiving one or more outpatient rehabilitation services by 2015. The database has not yet been running for a full year, which explains the use of approximations. CONCLUSION: The DHRD is an online, national quality improvement database on CR, aimed at patients with CHD. Mandatory registration of data at both patient level as well as program level is done on the database. DHRD aims to systematically monitor the quality of CR over time, in order to improve the quality of CR throughout Denmark to benefit patients.

Invasively Measured Aortic Systolic Blood Pressure and Office Systolic Blood Pressure in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Aortic systolic blood pressure (BP) represents the hemodynamic cardiac and cerebral burden more directly than office systolic BP. Whether invasively measured aortic systolic BP confers additional prognostic value beyond office BP remains debated. In this study, office systolic BP and invasively measured aortic systolic BP were recorded in 21 908 patients (mean age: 63 years; 58% men; 14% with diabetes mellitus) with stable angina pectoris undergoing elective coronary angiography during January 2001 to December 2012. Multivariate Cox models were used to assess the association with incident myocardial infarction, stroke, and death. Discrimination and reclassification were assessed using Harrell's C and the Continuous Net Reclassification Index. Data were analyzed with and without stratification by diabetes mellitus status. During a median follow-up period of 3.7 years (range: 0.1-10.8 years), 422 strokes, 511 myocardial infarctions, and 1530 deaths occurred. Both office and aortic systolic BP were associated with stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio per 10 mm Hg, 1.18 [95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.30] and 1.14 [95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.24], respectively) and with myocardial infarction in patients without diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.12] and 1.05 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.10], respectively). In models including both BP measurements, aortic BP lost statistical significance and aortic BP did not confer improvement in either C-statistics or net reclassification analysis. In conclusion, invasively measured aortic systolic BP does not add prognostic information about cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality compared with office BP in patients with stable angina pectoris, either with or without diabetes mellitus.

Non-attendance and drop-out in cardiac rehabilitation among patients with ischaemic heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown drop-out from cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to have prognostic influence on morbidity and mortality among patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). We aimed to identify and clarify patients' reasons for non-attendance and drop-out from CR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 872 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction and/or after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery were asked by conventional mail to fill in a self-completion questionnaire on their choice of post-hospital CR and their reasons for drop-out or for non-attendance. RESULTS: Age, employment and marital status had a statistically significant influence on the overall course of CR. Younger age, affiliation with the labour market and living alone were related to a higher drop-out from CR in univariate analysis. We found no evidence of a gender difference among the patients who withdrew. Lack of time was stated as the prevailing reason for non-attendance and withdrawal from CR programmes among employed patients and in people aged 65 years or younger. Patients above 75 years of age asked for additional differentiation of exercise levels; currently two levels are offered. Or they found CR meaningless given their physical condition or their overall life situation. CONCLUSION: In patients with IHD, age, marital status and employment status play a role in the patient's attendance or drop out from CR. Different physical conditions, lack of time, too great a distance from residence to hospital, transport problems and lack of understanding of the benefits of CR explain why patients refuse to participate in or drop-out from CR. FUNDING: supported by grant from The Danish Ministry of Health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

Social factors and coping status in asymptomatic middle-aged Danes: association to coronary artery calcification.

AIMS: Understanding the determinants of social and coping inequalities in subclinical cardiovascular disease is an important prerequisite in developing and implementing preventive strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between social factors and coping status, respectively, and subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in middle-aged Danes. METHODS: This is a DanRisk screening substudy, thus including healthy Danish males and females aged 50 or 60 years. Social measures included grade of education, employment and co-habiting status. The coping status was estimated by the general self-efficacy (GES) scale. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) was assessed by computed tomography using the Agatston score (AS). Conventional clinical risk factors included sex, family history of CAD, BMI > 25, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension. RESULTS: In 568 individuals the prevalence of subjects with CAC was 267 (45%). Independent predictors of CAC in males were age (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04-1.16, p < 0.001), smoking (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.03-2.99, p = 0.038), and low co-habiting status (OR = 3.66, 95% CI = 1.19-11.25, p = 0.023). Independent predictors in females were age (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.02-1.12, p = 0.006), and smoking (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.06-2.78, p = 0.029). Higher AS was associated to lower employment level in females (p = 0.001) but not in males (p = 0.833). CONCLUSIONS: Social factors are associated to the prevalence and severity of CAC in asymptomatic middle-aged individuals with gender differences. The relative value of gender specific social versus conventional clinical risk factors in the risk assessment of subclinical CAC in middle-aged individuals needs further investigation in future prospective studies.

Lack of correlation between depression and coronary artery calcification in a non-selected Danish population.

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis seems to play a central role in this relation. In several studies, multislice computed tomography (CT) has been applied for detection and quantification of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in relation to depression. To our knowledge, only one previous study has investigated the relation between CAC and depression in an unselected population. METHODS: A total of 617 persons were randomly selected from the background population. The participants underwent CT of the heart and were screened for depression by use of the Major Depression Inventory questionnaire. Quantification of CAC was performed using the Agatston method. The Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's correlational analysis, and logistic regression were used to assess the association between depression and CAC. RESULTS: The median Agatston score was not significantly different in subjects with depression than in those without depression (p = 0.783), and depression scores did not correlate significantly with Agatston scores (r = 0.023; 95% CI: -0.056-0.102; p = 0.573). This was also the case when correlational analyses were stratified by sex or age. Furthermore, after the exclusion of an outlier, no significant association between CAC and depression was found in either the unadjusted or adjusted logistic regression model, OR = 1.00 (95% CI: 0.88-1.14; p = 0.994) and OR = 1.04 (95% CI: 0.92-1.18; p = 0.529), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Depression was not associated with CAC in an unselected middle-aged population, although a trend-level association was found in men (p = 0.086).

Persistent lipid abnormalities in statin-treated patients and predictors of LDL-cholesterol goal achievement in clinical practice in Europe and Canada.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of persistent lipid abnormalities in patients receiving statins in primary and secondary care is needed to formulate recommendations for future treatment. Studies associating cardiovascular risk factors with lipid target goal achievement are lacking. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study that assessed the prevalence of persistent dyslipidemia in patients treated with statins and analyzed predictors of lipid target achievement. METHODS: Serum lipid values of 22,063 statin-treated patients were studied in the context of their cardiovascular risk factors, and the potency and composition of their lipid-lowering treatment. European Society of Cardiology recommendations were used to classify patient risk, and to define LDL-cholesterol goal and normal levels for HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. RESULTS: Overall, 48.2% of patients did not achieve the therapeutic goal for LDL-cholesterol, either as a single lipid anomaly or associated with low HDL-cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, or both. Lack of goal achievement was more prevalent among low-risk patients (55.8%) than high-risk patients (46.8%). Serum LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in high-risk patients. Predictors associated with LDL-cholesterol goal achievement were higher statin dose (odds ratio (OR): 0.35), specialist treatment (OR: 0.74), or combined lipid-lowering therapy (OR: 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of statin-treated patients missed their therapeutic LDL-cholesterol goal, highlighting a gap between recommendations and clinical practice. Better achievement of LDL-cholesterol therapeutic goal was found among patients at high cardiovascular risk, those on high statin doses or using combination therapy, and patients managed by specialists. Results suggest that residual dyslipidemia in statin-treated patients at low cardiovascular risk may be reduced by increasing statin dose.

A medical admission unit reduces duration of hospital stay and number of readmissions.

INTRODUCTION: Political initiatives promoting a more efficient emergency admission process have triggered a reorganisation of the Danish health system with a view to creating fewer and larger admission units counting more experienced physicians. At our hospital, a medical admission unit (MAU) was established. We present the effect of this on the length of hospital stay, mortality rates and the number of readmissions for the last year with the previous structure and the first year of the new MAU structure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively extracted data from the hospital databases on two periods: one year before and the first year after establishment of the MAU. RESULTS: After establishment of the MAU, the overall average length of hospital stay was reduced from 4.1 to 3.8 days (p < 0.01). No increase in mortality either in-house or within 30 days after discharge was seen. A substantial reduction (26%) in the overall number of readmissions within 30 days after discharge was observed. CONCLUSION: The establishment of the MAU improved efficacy at the hospital owing to reduction in the length of hospital stay and the number of readmissions. As judged from mortality rates and indicated by readmission rates, neither the quality of treatment nor patient safety was compromised in a setup, where patients with suspected cardiac diseases are admitted along with patients suspected to suffer from other internal medical diseases. The dynamics between multidisciplinary physicians and nurses seems to improve when they are working close to each other in a setting where team spirit evolves. FUNDING: not relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

[Incidental extracardial findings in connection with cardiac CT]. / Tilfaeldige ekstrakardiale fund ved hjertecomputertomografi.

We report three cases with significant incidental extracardiac findings during the implementation of 64-slice CT coronary angiography. On the basis of these findings we recommend that radiologists are involved in the evaluation of cardiac CT on a routine basis.