Phenotypic clustering of dilated cardiomyopathy patients highlights important pathophysiological differences.

AIMS: The dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) phenotype is the result of combined genetic and acquired triggers. Until now, clinical decision-making in DCM has mainly been based on ejection fraction (EF) and NYHA classification, not considering the DCM heterogenicity. The present study aimed to identify patient subgroups by phenotypic clustering integrating aetiologies, comorbidities, and cardiac function along cardiac transcript levels, to unveil pathophysiological differences between DCM subgroups. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 795 consecutive DCM patients from the Maastricht Cardiomyopathy Registry who underwent in-depth phenotyping, comprising extensive clinical data on aetiology and comorbodities, imaging and endomyocardial biopsies. Four mutually exclusive and clinically distinct phenogroups (PG) were identified based upon unsupervised hierarchical clustering of principal components: [PG1] mild systolic dysfunction, [PG2] auto-immune, [PG3] genetic and arrhythmias, and [PG4] severe systolic dysfunction. RNA-sequencing of cardiac samples (n = 91) revealed a distinct underlying molecular profile per PG: pro-inflammatory (PG2, auto-immune), pro-fibrotic (PG3; arrhythmia), and metabolic (PG4, low EF) gene expression. Furthermore, event-free survival differed among the four phenogroups, also when corrected for well-known clinical predictors. Decision tree modelling identified four clinical parameters (auto-immune disease, EF, atrial fibrillation, and kidney function) by which every DCM patient from two independent DCM cohorts could be placed in one of the four phenogroups with corresponding outcome (n = 789; Spain, n = 352 and Italy, n = 437), showing a feasible applicability of the phenogrouping. CONCLUSION: The present study identified four different DCM phenogroups associated with significant differences in clinical presentation, underlying molecular profiles and outcome, paving the way for a more personalized treatment approach.

Endomyocardial biopsy-confirmed myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy: clinical profile and prognosis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is the only technique able to establish an etiological diagnosis of myocarditis or inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM). The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical profile, outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with suspected myocarditis/ICM undergoing EMB. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, histological findings, and follow-up data of all patients with suspected myocarditis or ICM who underwent EMB between 1997 and 2019 in a Spanish tertiary hospital. The diagnostic yield was compared using the Dallas criteria vs immunohistochemical criteria (IHC). RESULTS: A total of 99 patients underwent EMB (67% male; mean age, 42±15 years; mean left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], 34%±14%). Myocarditis or ICM was confirmed in 28% with application of the Dallas criteria and in 54% with the IHC criteria (P <.01). Lymphocytic myocarditis was diagnosed in 47 patients, eosinophilic myocarditis in 6, sarcoidosis in 3, and giant cell myocarditis in 1 patient. After a median follow-up of 18 months, 23 patients (23%) required heart transplant (HTx), a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and/or died. Among the patients with IHC-confirmed myocarditis, 21% required HTx/LVAD or died vs 7% of those without inflammation (P=.056). The factors associated with a worse prognosis were baseline LVEF ≤ 30%, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ≥ 60mm, and NYHA III-IV, especially in the presence of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: EMB allows an etiological diagnosis in more than half of patients with suspected myocarditis/ICM when IHC techniques are used. IHC-confirmed inflammation adds prognostic value and helps to identify patients with a higher probability of developing complications.

Usefulness of Bleeding After Acute Coronary Syndromes for Unmasking Silent Cancer.

There is a growing body of evidence on the incidence and negative prognostic impact of postdischarge hemorrhagic complications after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the risk of subsequent cancer after postdischarge bleeding in these patients is currently poorly known. The aim of this study was to assess the association of postdischarge bleeding with newly diagnosed cancers after an ACS. Data from a single-center registry of 3,644 ACS patients, who were discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, were used to investigate the association between postdischarge bleeding and diagnosis of cancer. During a median follow-up of 56.2 months, bleeding events were documented in 1,216 patients and newly diagnosed cancers in 227 patients. Postdischarge bleeding was associated with cancer diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.62 to 4.50), but only spontaneous bleeding (adjusted HR 4.38, 95% CI 3.31 to 5.79). This association was stronger as the severity of the bleeding increased (HR 1.52, 4.88, 7.30, and 12.29, for BARC type 1, 2, 3a, and 3b bleeding, respectively). Positive predictive values for cancer diagnosis of postdischarge bleeding was 7.7%. Median time from bleeding to cancer was 4.6 months. In conclusion, spontaneous postdischarge bleeding in ACS patients is strongly associated with subsequent cancer diagnosis within the first 6 months. A prompt evaluation of bleeding could be useful for enabling an early detection of cancer in these patients.

Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Nonagenarian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: Nonagenarian patients are underrepresented in clinical trials that have evaluated oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to assess the pronostic impact of oral anticoagulation in patients with AF age ≥90 years. DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter study of nonagenarian patients with AF. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1750 nonagenarian inpatients and outpatients with nonvalvular AF between January 2013 and December 2018 in 3 Spanish health areas were studied. METHODS: Patients were divided into 3 groups based on antithrombotic therapy: nonoral anticoagulants (30.5%), vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs; 28.6%), and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs; 40.9%). During a mean follow-up of 23.6 ± 6.6 months, efficacy outcomes (death and embolic events) were evaluated using a Cox regression analysis and safety outcomes (bleeding requiring hospitalization) by competing-risk regression. Results were complemented with a propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS: During follow-up, 988 patients died (56.5%), 180 had embolic events (10.3%), and 186 had major bleeding (10.6%). After multivariable adjustment, DOACs were associated with a lower risk of death and embolic events than nonanticoagulation [hazard ratio (HR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI)] 0.61‒0.92), but VKAs were not (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.72‒1.05). These results were confirmed after propensity score matching analysis. For bleeding, both DOACs and VKAs proved to be associated with a higher risk (HR for DOAC 1.43; 95% CI 0.97‒2.13; HR for VKA 1.94; 95% CI 1.31‒2.88), although findings for DOACs were not statistically significant (P = .074). For intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), only VKAs-not DOACs-presented a higher risk of ICH (HR 4.43; 95% CI 1.48‒13.31). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In nonagenarian patients with AF, DOACs led to a reduction in mortality and embolic events in comparison with nonanticoagulation. This reduction was not observed with VKAs. Although both DOACs and VKAs increased the risk of bleeding, only VKAs were associated with higher ICH rates.

New Cancer Diagnosis After Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Bleeding is frequent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with oral anticoagulant therapy, and may be the first manifestation of underlying cancer. We sought to investigate to what extent bleeding represents the unmasking of an occult cancer in patients with AF treated with oral anticoagulants. Methods and Results Using data from CardioCHUVI-AF (Retrospective Observational Registry of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation From Vigo's Health Area), 8753 patients with AF aged ≥75 years with a diagnosis of AF between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed. Of them, 2171 (24.8%) experienced any clinically relevant bleeding, and 479 (5.5%) were diagnosed with cancer during a follow-up of 3 years. Among 2171 patients who experienced bleeding, 198 (9.1%) were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Patients with bleeding have a 3-fold higher hazard of being subsequently diagnosed with new cancer compared with those without bleeding (4.7 versus 1.4 per 100 patient-years; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.2 [95% CI, 2.6-3.9]). Gastrointestinal bleeding was associated with a 13-fold higher hazard of new gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis (HR, 13.4; 95% CI, 9.1-19.8); genitourinary bleeding was associated with an 18-fold higher hazard of new genitourinary cancer diagnosis (HR, 18.1; 95% CI, 12.5-26.2); and bronchopulmonary bleeding was associated with a 15-fold higher hazard of new bronchopulmonary cancer diagnosis (HR, 15.8; 95% CI, 6.0-41.3). For other bleeding (nongastrointestinal, nongenitourinary, nonbronchopulmonary), the HR for cancer was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.5-3.6). Conclusions In patients with AF treated with oral anticoagulant therapy, any gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or bronchopulmonary bleeding was associated with higher rates of new cancer diagnosis. These bleeding events should prompt investigation for cancers at those sites.

Impact of renin-angiotensin system blockade on the prognosis of acute coronary syndrome based on left ventricular ejection fraction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: For patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it is unclear whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are associated with reduced mortality, particularly with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The goal of this study was to determine the association between ACEI/ARB and mortality in ACS patients undergoing PCI, with and without reduced LVEF. METHODS: Data from the BleeMACS registry were used. The endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality. The prognostic value of ACEI/ARB was tested after weighting by survival-time inverse probability and after adjustment by Cox regression, propensity score, and instrumental variable analysis. RESULTS: Among 15 401 ACS patients who underwent PCI, ACEI/ARB were prescribed in 75.2%. There were 569 deaths (3.7%) during the first year after hospital discharge. After multivariable adjustment, ACEI/ARB were associated with lower 1-year mortality, ≤ 40% (HR, 0.62; 95%CI, 0.43-0.90; P=.012). The relative risk reduction of ACEI/ARB in mortality was 46.1% in patients with LVEF ≤ 40%, and 15.7% in patients with LVEF> 40% (P value for treatment-by-LVEF interaction=.008). For patients with LVEF> 40%, ACEI/ARB was associated with lower mortality only in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (HR, 0.44; 95%CI, 0.21-0.93; P=.031). CONCLUSION: The benefit of ACEI/ARB in decreasing mortality after an ACS in patients undergoing PCI is concentrated in patients with LVEF ≤ 40%, and in those with LVEF> 40% and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. In non-ST-segment elevation-ACS patients with LVEF> 40%, further studies are needed to assess the prognostic impact of ACEI/ARB.

Impact of anticoagulation in patients with dementia and atrial fibrillation. Results of the CardioCHUVI-FA registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Population aging is associated with an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia. This study aimed to analyze the impact of oral anticoagulation in elderly patients with AF and moderate-severe dementia. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective study analyzing patients aged ≥ 85 years with a diagnosis of AF between 2013 and 2018. The impact of anticoagulation on mortality, embolisms, and bleeding events was assessed by multivariate Cox analysis. In patients with dementia, this analysis was complemented by propensity score matching, depending on whether the patients were prescribed anticoagulant treatment or not. RESULTS: Of the 3549 patients aged ≥ 85 years with AF, 221 had moderate-severe dementia (6.1%), of whom 88 (60.2%) were anticoagulated. During a follow-up of 2.8 ±1.7 years, anticoagulation was associated with lower embolic risk and higher bleeding risk both in patients with dementia (hazard ratio [HR]embolisms, 0.36; 95%CI, 0.15-0.84; HRbleeding, 2.44; 95%CI, 1.04-5.71) and in those without dementia (HRembolisms, 0.58; 95%CI, 0.45-0.74; HRbleeding, 1.55, 95%CI, 1.21-1.98). However, anticoagulation was associated with lower mortality only in patients without dementia (HR, 0.63; 95%CI, 0.53-0.75) and not in those with dementia (adjusted HR, 1.04; 95%CI, 0.63-1.72; P=.541; HR after propensity score matching 0.91, 95%CI, 0.45-1.83; P=.785). CONCLUSIONS: In patients aged ≥ 85 years with moderate-severe dementia and AF, oral anticoagulation was significantly associated with a lower embolic risk and a higher bleeding risk, with no differences in total mortality.

Incidence, predictors and prognostic impact of intracranial bleeding within the first year after an acute coronary syndrome in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The rate of intracranial haemorrhage after an acute coronary syndrome has been studied in detail in the era of thrombolysis; however, in the contemporary era of percutaneous coronary intervention, most of the data have been derived from clinical trials. With this background, we aim to analyse the incidence, timing, predictors and prognostic impact of post-discharge intracranial haemorrhage in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: We analysed data from the BleeMACS registry (patients discharged for acute coronary syndrome and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from Europe, Asia and America, 2003-2014). Analyses were conducted using a competing risk framework. Uni and multivariate predictors of intracranial haemorrhage were assessed using the Fine-Gray proportional hazards regression analysis. The endpoint was 1-year post-discharge intracranial haemorrhage. RESULTS: Of 11,136 patients, 30 presented with intracranial haemorrhage during the first year (0.27%). The median time to intracranial haemorrhage was 150 days (interquartile range 55.7-319.5). The fatality rate of intracranial haemorrhage was very high (30%). After multivariate analysis, only age (subhazard ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.07) and prior stroke/transient ischaemic attack (hazard ratio 3.29, 95% confidence interval 1.36-8.00) were independently associated with a higher risk of intracranial haemorrhage. Hypertension showed a trend to associate with higher intracranial haemorrhage rate. The combination of older age (⩾75 years), prior stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and/or hypertension allowed us to identify most of the patients with intracranial haemorrhage (86.7%). The annual rate of intracranial haemorrhage was 0.1% in patients with no risk factors, 0.2% in those with one factor, 0.6% in those with two factors and 1.3% in those with three factors. CONCLUSION: The incidence of intracranial haemorrhage in the first year after an acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention is low. Advanced age, previous stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and hypertension are the main predictors of increased intracranial haemorrhage risk.

P2Y12 inhibitors in acute coronary syndrome patients with renal dysfunction: an analysis from the RENAMI and BleeMACS projects.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to establish the safety and efficacy profile of prasugrel and ticagrelor in real-life acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with renal dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients from RENAMI (REgistry of New Antiplatelets in patients with Myocardial Infarction) and BLEEMACS (Bleeding complications in a Multicenter registry of patients discharged with diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome) registries were stratified according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower or greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Death and myocardial infarction (MI) were the primary efficacy endpoints. Major bleedings (MBs), defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeding types 3 to 5, constituted the safety endpoint. A total of 19 255 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 63 ± 12; 14 892 (77.3%) were males. A total of 2490 (12.9%) patients had chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Mean follow-up was 13 ± 5 months. Mortality was significantly higher in CKD patients (9.4% vs. 2.6%, P < 0.0001), as well as the incidence of reinfarction (5.8% vs. 2.9%, P < 0.0001) and MB (5.7% vs. 3%, P < 0.0001). At Cox multivariable analysis, potent P2Y12 inhibitors significantly reduced the mortality rate [hazard ratio (HR) 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54-0.96; P = 0.006] and the risk of reinfarction (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.30-0.95; P = 0.033) in CKD patients as compared to clopidogrel. The reduction of risk of reinfarction was confirmed in patients with preserved renal function. Potent P2Y12 inhibitors did not increase the risk of MB in CKD patients (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.59-1.68; P = 0.985). CONCLUSION: In ACS patients with CKD, prasugrel and ticagrelor are associated with lower risk of death and recurrent MI without increasing the risk of MB.

Risk of cancer after an acute coronary syndrome according to the type of P2Y12 inhibitor.

INTRODUCTION: There are conflicting clinical and laboratory data about the effect of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on cancer incidence, including analysis suggesting an increased cancer risk. This study aims to analyze if there are differences in the incidence of cancer according to the type of P2Y12 inhibitor prescribed (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor), among a population of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) survivors treated with DAPT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among 4229 consecutive ACS patients discharged from a tertiary hospital with DAPT from 2010 to 2016. Cox regression, propensity score, and survival-time inverse probability analysis were done. RESULTS: A total of 311 were diagnosed of cancer during a median follow-up of 46.2 months. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) of cancer (per 100 patients/year) was 2.2 for clopidogrel, 1.6 for prasugrel, and 0.3 for ticagrelor. After multivariate analysis, we have found that ticagrelor resulted associated with lower cancer risk than clopidogrel (sHR 0.20: 95% CI 0.05-0.84; p = 0.028), without differences between prasugrel and clopidogrel. After propensity score matching, ticagrelor was also associated with lower incidence of cancer than clopidogrel/prasugrel (sHR 0.22; 95% CI 0.05-0.90; p = 0.036), regardless of DAPT duration. CONCLUSION: DAPT with ticagrelor could be associated with lower follow-up cancer incidence than DAPT with clopidogrel or prasugrel after an ACS.

Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade and Risk of Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction Based on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study was to determine the association between the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and follow-up heart failure (HF) according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: This cohort study used a retrospective registry of 8169 consecutive patients discharged with a diagnosis of AMI from two university hospitals in Spain between 2010 and 2016. We used a multivariable competing risk analysis, survival-time inverse probability weighting (IPW) propensity score adjusting, and propensity score matching (PSM) to investigate the association between ACEI/ARB treatment and follow-up HF. RESULTS: During the follow-up (3.3 ± 2.2 years), 1296 patients were admitted for HF (5.2 per 100 person-years). ACEI/ARB use was not associated with fewer follow-up HF admissions in patients with LVEF > 40% (univariate analysis: sub-hazard ratio [sHR] 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95-1.27; p = 0.197; IPW adjusting analysis: sHR 1.11; 95% CI 0.95-1.29; p = 0.192; PSM analysis: sHR 1.12; 95% CI 0.92-1.36; p = 0.248). However, ACEI/ARB use was associated with a significant reduction in HF admission rates in patients with LVEF ≤ 40% (univariate analysis: HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.56-0.88; p = 0.003; IPW adjusting analysis: HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.50-0.83; p = 0.001; PSM analysis: HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.46-0.92; p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized survivors of AMI, the use of ACEIs/ARBs was associated with a lower risk of follow-up HF in patients with LVEF ≤ 40% but not in those with LVEF > 40%. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.

Usefulness of the PARIS Score to Evaluate the Ischemic-hemorrhagic Net Benefit With Ticagrelor and Prasugrel After an Acute Coronary Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The PARIS score allows combined stratification of ischemic and hemorrhagic risk in patients with ischemic heart disease treated with coronary stenting and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Its usefulness in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with ticagrelor or prasugrel is unknown. We investigated this issue in an international registry. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter study with voluntary participation of 11 centers in 6 European countries. We studied 4310 patients with ACS discharged with DAPT with ticagrelor or prasugrel. Ischemic events were defined as stent thrombosis or spontaneous myocardial infarction, and hemorrhagic events as BARC (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium) type 3 or 5 bleeding. Discrimination and calibration were calculated for both PARIS scores (PARISischemic and PARIShemorrhagic). The ischemic-hemorrhagic net benefit was obtained by the difference between the predicted probabilities of ischemic and bleeding events. RESULTS: During a period of 17.2 ± 8.3 months, there were 80 ischemic events (1.9% per year) and 66 bleeding events (1.6% per year). PARISischemic and PARIShemorrhagic scores were associated with a risk of ischemic events (sHR, 1.27; 95%CI, 1.16-1.39) and bleeding events (sHR, 1.14; 95%CI, 1.01-1.30), respectively. The discrimination for ischemic events was modest (C index = 0.64) and was suboptimal for hemorrhagic events (C index = 0.56), whereas calibration was acceptable for both. The ischemic-hemorrhagic net benefit was negative (more hemorrhagic events) in patients at high hemorrhagic risk, and was positive (more ischemic events) in patients at high ischemic risk. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ACS treated with DAPT with ticagrelor or prasugrel, the PARIS model helps to properly evaluate the ischemic-hemorrhagic risk.

Annual Incidence of Confirmed Stent Thrombosis and Clinical Predictors in Patients With ACS Treated With Ticagrelor or Prasugrel.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence on rates of stent thrombosis (ST) in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor or prasugrel. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and predictors of ST after an acute coronary syndrome among patients receiving DAPT with ticagrelor vs prasugrel. METHODS: We used data from the RENAMI registry (REgistry of New Antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute Myocardial Infarction), analyzing a total of 4123 acute coronary syndrome patients discharged with DAPT with ticagrelor or prasugrel in 11 centers in 6 European countries. The endpoint was definite ST within the first year. A competitive risk analysis was carried out using a Fine and Gray regression model, with death being the competitive event. RESULTS: A total of 2604 patients received DAPT with ticagrelor and 1519 with prasugrel; ST occurred in 41 patients (1.10%), with a similar cumulative incidence between ticagrelor (1.21%) and prasugrel (0.90%). The independent predictors of ST were age (sHR, 1.03; 95%CI, 1.01-1.06), ST segment elevation (sHR, 2.24; 95%CI, 1.22-4.14), previous myocardial infarction (sHR, 2.56; 95%CI, 1.19-5.49), and serum creatinine (sHR, 1.29; 95%CI, 1.08-1.54). CONCLUSIONS: Stent thrombosis is infrequent in patients receiving DAPT with ticagrelor or prasugrel. The variables associated with an increased risk of ST were advanced age, ST segment elevation, previous myocardial infarction, and serum creatinine.

Prasugrel or ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndrome and diabetes: a propensity matched substudy of RENAMI.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and efficacy of prasugrel and ticagrelor in patients with diabetes mellitus presenting with acute coronary syndrome and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention remain to be assessed. METHODS: All diabetes patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome and enrolled in the REgistry of New Antiplatelets in patients with Myocardial Infarction (RENAMI) were compared before and after propensity score matching. Net adverse cardiovascular events (composite of death, stroke, myocardial infarction and BARC 3-5 bleedings) and major adverse cardiovascular events (composite of death, stroke and myocardial infarction) were the co-primary endpoints. Single components of primary endpoints were secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Among 4424 patients enrolled in RENAMI, 462 and 862 diabetes patients treated with prasugrel and ticagrelor, respectively, were considered. After propensity score matching, 386 patients from each group were selected. At 19±5 months, major adverse cardiovascular events and net adverse cardiovascular events were similar in the prasugrel and ticagrelor groups (5.4% vs. 3.4%, P=0.16 and 6.7% vs. 4.1%, P=0.11, respectively). Ticagrelor was associated with a lower risk of death and BARC 2-5 bleeding when compared to prasugrel (2.8% vs. 0.8%, P=0.031 and 6.0% vs. 2.6%, P=0.02, respectively) and a clear but not significant trend for a reduction of BARC 3-5 bleeding (2.3% vs. 0.8%, P=0.08). There were no significant differences in myocardial infarction recurrence and stent thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Diabetes patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome seem to benefit equally in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events from ticagrelor or prasugrel use. Ticagrelor was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause death and bleedings, without differences in recurrent ischaemic events, which should be confirmed in dedicated randomised controlled trials.

Prognostic usefulness of an age-adapted equation for renal function assessment in older patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND:: Renal dysfunction negatively impacts survival in acute coronary syndrome patients. The Berlin Initiative Study creatinine-based (BIScrea) equation has recently been proposed for renal function assessment in older persons. However, up to now it is unknown if the superiority of the new BIScrea equation, with respect to the most recommended chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration creatinine-based (CKD-EPIcrea) formula, would translate into better risk prediction of adverse events in older patients with acute coronary syndrome. OBJECTIVES:: To study the impact of using estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated according to the BIScrea and CKD-EPIcrea equations on mortality in acute coronary syndrome patients aged 70 years and over. METHODS:: Retrospectively, between 2011 and 2016, a total of 2008 patients with acute coronary syndrome (64% men; age 79±7 years) were studied. Follow-up was 18±10 months. Measures of performance were evaluated using continuous data and stratifying patients into three estimated glomerular filtration rate subgroups: ≥60, 59.9-30 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS:: The two formulas afforded independent prognostic information over follow-up. However, risk prediction was most accurate using the BIScrea formula as evaluated by Cox proportional hazards models (hazard ratio (for each 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 decrease) 1.47 vs. 1.27 with the CKD-EPI equation; P<0.001 for comparison), c-statistic values (0.69 vs. 0.65, respectively; P=0.04 for comparison) and Bayesian information criterion. Net reclassification improvement based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate categories significantly favoured BIScrea +9 (95% confidence interval 2-16%; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS:: Our findings suggest that the BIScrea formula may improve death risk prediction more than the CKD-EPIcrea formula in older patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Assessing the performance of the PRECISE-DAPT and PARIS risk scores for predicting one-year out-of-hospital bleeding in acute coronary syndrome patients.

AIMS: The PRECISE-DAPT and PARIS risk scores (RSs) were recently developed for bleeding risk assessment in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). We aimed to assess the performance of these RSs for predicting out-of-hospital bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospectively, we studied 1,926 consecutive ACS patients treated with PCI and DAPT. The performance of RSs for predicting one-year BARC type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding and BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding was assessed and compared. Both RSs were effective for the prediction of bleeding events. For BARC type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding, the c-statistic values for PRECISE-DAPT and PARIS were 0.61 and 0.63 (p=0.29), respectively. The two scores displayed equal c-statistics of 0.73 for predicting BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding. PARIS significantly outperformed PRECISE-DAPT in terms of indices of categoryless net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination. Decision curve analyses also favoured PARIS. CONCLUSIONS: Within our cohort, PARIS and PRECISE-DAPT were fairly to moderately effective for the prediction of bleeding. Their predictiveness varies according to the bleeding severity. PARIS-derived bleeding risk assessment was associated with a higher net benefit compared to PRECISE-DAPT-based bleeding risk assessment.

Association Between Ischemic and Bleeding Risk Scores and the Use of New P2Y12 Inhibitors in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) guidelines recommend the use of newer P2Y12 inhibitors (prasugrel and ticagrelor) over clopidogrel in patients with moderate-to-high ischemic risk, unless they have an increased bleeding risk. The aim of our study was to assess the GRACE risk score and the CRUSADE bleeding risk score relative to prescription of newer P2Y12 inhibitors at discharge in ACS patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a multicenter ACS registry; 3515 consecutive patients were included. The association between risk scores and prescription of newer P2Y12 inhibitors was assessed by binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1021 patients (29%) were treated with prasugrel or ticagrelor. On multivariate analyses, both GRACE (OR per 10 points, 0.89; 95%CI, 0.86-0.92; P < .001) and CRUSADE (OR per 10 points, 0.96; 95%CI, 0.94-0.98; P < .001) risk scores were inversely associated with the use of newer P2Y12 inhibitors. Moreover, other factors not included in these scores (revascularization approach, in-hospital stent thrombosis, major bleeding, and concomitant indication for anticoagulation therapy) also predicted the use of newer P2Y12 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: New P2Y12 inhibitors were more frequently prescribed among ACS patients with lower CRUSADE bleeding risk. However, an ischemic risk paradox was found, with higher use of these agents in patients with lower ischemic risk based on GRACE risk score estimates. These results underscore the importance of risk stratification to safely deliver optimal therapies.

Differential Prognostic Impact on Mortality of Myocardial Infarction Compared With Bleeding Severity in Contemporary Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The impact on mortality of myocardial infarction (MI) compared with the specific degree of bleeding severity occurring after discharge in acute coronary syndrome is poorly characterized. Defining this relationship may help to achieve a favorable therapeutic risk-benefit balance. METHODS: Using Cox-based shared frailty models, we assessed the relationship between mortality and postdischarge MI and bleeding severity-graded according to Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC)-in 4229 acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing in-hospital coronary arteriography between January 2012 and December 2015. RESULTS: Both MI (HR, 5.8; 95%CI, 3.7-9.8) and bleeding (HR, 5.1; 95%CI, 3.6-7.7) were associated with mortality. Myocardial infarction had a stronger impact on mortality than BARC type 2 and 3a bleedings: (RRr, 3.8 and 1.9; P < .05), respectively, but was equivalent to BARC type 3b (RRr, 0.9; P = .88). Mortality risk after MI was significantly lower than after BARC type 3c bleeding (RRr, 0.25; P < .001). Mortality was higher after an MI in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) at the time of the event (HR, 2.9; 95%CI, 1.8-4.5) than in those off-DAPT (HR, 1.5; 95%CI, 0.7-3.4). In contrast, mortality was lower after a bleeding event in patients on-DAPT (HR, 1.6; 95%CI, 1.1-2.6) than in those off-DAPT (HR, 3.2; 95%CI, 1.7-5.8). CONCLUSIONS: The differential effect on mortality of a postdischarge MI vs bleeding largely depends on bleeding severity. The DAPT status at the time of MI or bleeding is a modifier of subsequent mortality risk.

Effect of beta-blocker dose on mortality after acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Beta-blocker doses that have been shown to be effective in randomized clinical trials are not commonly used in daily clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze whether there is a prognostic benefit of high rather than low doses of beta-blockers after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 2092 ACS patients discharged from hospital between June 2013 and January 2016 were classified according to the beta-blocker dose prescribed: high dose (≥50% of the target dose tested in clinical trials) and low dose (<50%). Two groups of 501 matched patients were obtained through propensity score matching according to treatment with high or low doses of beta-blockers. The prognostic impact (mortality) during follow-up of high vs. low dose was analyzed by Cox regression and represented by Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Of the 2092 patients, 80.5% were discharged under beta-blockers, with lower mortality during follow-up (18.6±9.7 months). Of the 1685 patients discharged under beta-blockers, only 31.4% received high doses. There were no differences in mortality during follow-up between patients under high-dose vs. low-dose beta-blockers (HR 0.935, 95% CI 0.628-1.392, p=0.740), and the equivalence between the two doses remained after propensity score matching (HR 1.183, 95% CI 0.715-1.958, p=0.513). CONCLUSION: No prognostic benefit was found in terms of mortality for high-dose vs. low-dose beta-blockers after an ACS.

Development and external validation of a post-discharge bleeding risk score in patients with acute coronary syndrome: The BleeMACS score.

BACKGROUND: Accurate 1-year bleeding risk estimation after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may help clinicians guide the type and duration of antithrombotic therapy. Currently there are no predictive models for this purpose. The aim of this study was to derive and validate a simple clinical tool for bedside risk estimation of 1-year post-discharge serious bleeding in ACS patients. METHODS: The risk score was derived and internally validated in the BleeMACS (Bleeding complications in a Multicenter registry of patients discharged with diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome) registry, an observational international registry involving 15,401 patients surviving admission for ACS and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from 2003 to 2014, engaging 15 hospitals from 10 countries located in America, Europe and Asia. External validation was conducted in the SWEDEHEART population, with 96,239 ACS patients underwent PCI and 93,150 without PCI. RESULTS: Seven independent predictors of bleeding were identified and included in the BleeMACS score: age, hypertension, vascular disease, history of bleeding, malignancy, creatinine and hemoglobin. The BleeMACS risk score exhibited a C-statistic value of 0.71 (95% CI 0.68-0.74) in the derivation cohort and 0.72 (95% CI 0.67-0.76) in the internal validation sample. In the SWEDEHEART external validation cohort, the C-statistic was 0.65 (95% CI 0.64-0.66) for PCI patients and 0.63 (95% CI 0.62-0.64) for non-PCI patients. The calibration was excellent in the derivation and validation cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The BleeMACS bleeding risk score is a simple tool useful for identifying those ACS patients at higher risk of serious 1-year post-discharge bleeding. ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier: NCT02466854.