The utilization and safety of apixaban for therapeutic anticoagulation in heart transplant population requiring routine endomyocardial biopsies.

PURPOSE: Routine endomyocardial (EM) biopsies pose a challenge in the management of heart transplant recipients requiring anticoagulation. Apixaban is a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) with a short half-life allowing for brief interruptions of anticoagulation for procedures. The study objective was to determine the safety and efficacy of apixaban in heart transplant patients undergoing EM biopsies. METHODS: This retrospective case series evaluated patients with a heart transplant from April 1, 2017 to July 30, 2020 who were treated with apixaban within 90 days post-transplant. The primary outcome was the occurrence of a bleeding or thrombotic event. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients with >100 biopsies were included. The median age was 54 years (IQR 37-59) with a mean weight of 91 ± 20 kg. There were no bleeding or thrombotic events. During therapy, patients underwent an average of eight biopsies. The median time from transplant to initiation of apixaban was 39.5 days (range 9-77). Therapy was maintained without any need for reversal for a median of 276 days (IQR 45-245). CONCLUSIONS: Apixaban is safe to use for anticoagulation of heart transplant recipients undergoing routine biopsies. Using apixaban allows for a short interruption of therapeutic anticoagulation to accommodate a biopsy without increased risk of bleeding.

PredischaRge initiation of Ivabradine in the ManagEment of Heart Failure: Results of the PRIME-HF Trial.

BACKGROUND: Ivabradine is guideline-recommended to reduce heart failure (HF) hospitalization in patients with stable chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Ivabradine initiation following acute HF has had limited evaluation, and there are few randomized data in US patients. The PredischaRge initiation of Ivabradine in the ManagEment of Heart Failure (PRIME-HF) study was conducted to address predischarge ivabradine initiation in stabilized acute HF patients. METHODS: PRIME-HF was an investigator-initiated, randomized, open-label study of predischarge initiation of ivabradine versus usual care. Eligible patients were hospitalized for acute HF but stabilized, with EF ≤35%, on maximally tolerated ß-blocker and in sinus rhythm with heart rate ≥70 beats/min. Ivabradine was acquired per routine care. The primary end point was the proportion of patients on ivabradine at 180 days. Additional end points included heart rate change, patient-reported outcomes, ß-blocker use/dose, and safety events (symptomatic bradycardia and hypotension). RESULTS: Overall, 104 patients (36% women, 64% African American) were randomized, and the study was terminated early because of funding limitations. At 180 days, 21 of 52 (40.4%) of patients randomized to predischarge initiation were treated with ivabradine compared with 6 of 52 (11.5%) randomized to usual care (odds ratio 5.19, 95% CI 1.88-14.33, P = .002). The predischarge initiation group experienced greater reduction in heart rate through 180 days (mean -10.0 beats/min, 95% CI -15.7 to -4.3 vs 0.7 beats/min, 95% CI -5.4 to 6.7, P = .011). Patient-reported outcomes, ß-blocker use/dose, and safety events were similar (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Ivabradine initiation prior to discharge among stabilized HF patients increased ivabradine use at 180 days and lowered heart rates without reducing ß-blockers or increasing adverse events. As the trial did not achieve the planned enrollment, additional studies are needed.

Smoking abstinence 1 year after acute coronary syndrome: follow-up from a randomized controlled trial of varenicline in patients admitted to hospital.

BACKGROUND: Patients who continue to smoke after acute coronary syndrome are at increased risk of reinfarction and death. We previously found use of varenicline to increase abstinence 24 weeks after acute coronary syndrome; here we report results through 52 weeks. METHODS: The EVITA trial was a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of varenicline for smoking cessation in patients admitted to hospital with acute coronary syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive varenicline or placebo for 12 weeks, in conjunction with low-intensity counselling. Smoking abstinence was assessed via 7-day recall, with biochemical validation using exhaled carbon monoxide. Participants lost to follow-up or withdrawn were assumed to have returned to smoking. RESULTS: Among the 302 participants, abstinence declined over the course of the trial, with 34.4% abstinent 52 weeks after acute coronary syndrome. Compared with placebo, point estimates suggest use of varenicline increased point-prevalence abstinence (39.9% v. 29.1%, difference 10.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01% to 21.44%; number needed to treat 10), continuous abstinence (31.1% v. 21.2%, difference 9.9%, 95% CI -0.01% to 19.8%) and reduction in daily cigarette smoking by 50% or greater (57.8% v. 49.7%, difference 8.1%, 95% CI -3.1% to 19.4%). Varenicline and placebo groups had similar occurrence of serious adverse events (24.5% v. 21.9%, risk difference 2.7%, 95% CI -7.3% to 12.6%) and major adverse cardiovascular events (8.6% v. 9.3%, risk difference -0.7%, 95% CI -7.8% to 6.5%). INTERPRETATION: Varenicline was efficacious for smoking cessation in this high-risk patient population. However, 60% of patients who received treatment with varenicline still returned to smoking. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT00794573.

Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Less than one-third of smokers hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain abstinent following discharge. We assessed whether varenicline, begun in-hospital, is efficacious for smoking cessation following ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which smokers hospitalized with an ACS were randomized to varenicline or placebo for 12 weeks. All patients received low-intensity counseling. The primary end point was point-prevalence smoking abstinence assessed at 24 weeks by 7-day recall and biochemical validation using expired carbon monoxide. A total of 302 patients were randomized (mean age 55±9 years; 75% male; 56% ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; 38% non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; 6% unstable angina). Patients smoked a mean of 21±11 cigarettes/d at the time of hospitalization and had been smoking for a mean of 36±12 years. At 24 weeks, patients randomized to varenicline had significantly higher rates of smoking abstinence and reduction than patients randomized to placebo. Point-prevalence abstinence rates were 47.3% in the varenicline group and 32.5% in the placebo group (P=0.012; number needed to treat=6.8). Continuous abstinence rates were 35.8% and 25.8%, respectively (P=0.081; number needed to treat=10.0), and rates of reduction ≥50% in daily cigarette consumption were 67.4% and 55.6%, respectively (P=0.05; number needed to treat=8.5). Adverse event rates within 30 days of study drug discontinuation were similar between groups (serious adverse events: varenicline 11.9%, placebo 11.3%; major adverse cardiovascular events: varenicline 4.0%, placebo 4.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Varenicline, initiated in-hospital following ACS, is efficacious for smoking cessation. Future studies are needed to establish safety in these patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00794573.

Intoxicated Donors and Heart Transplant Outcomes: Long-Term Safety.

BACKGROUND: The opioid crisis has led to an increase in available donor hearts, although questions remain about the long-term outcomes associated with the use of these organs. Prior studies have relied on historical information without examining the toxicology results at the time of organ offer. The objectives of this study were to examine the long-term survival of heart transplants in the recent era, stratified by results of toxicological testing at the time of organ offer as well as comparing the toxicology at the time of donation with variables based on reported history. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was requested as well as the donor toxicology field. Between 2007 and 2017, 23 748 adult heart transplants were performed. United Network for Organ Sharing historical variables formed a United Network for Organ Sharing Toxicology Score and the measured toxicology results formed a Measured Toxicology Score. Survival was examined by the United Network for Organ Sharing Toxicology Score and Measured Toxicology Score, as well as Cox proportional hazards models incorporating a variety of risk factors. RESULTS: The number and percent of donors with drug use has significantly increased over the study period (P<0.0001). Cox proportional hazards modeling of survival including toxicological and historical data did not demonstrate differences in post-transplant mortality. Combinations of drugs identified by toxicology were not associated with differences in survival. Lower donor age and ischemic time were significantly positively associated with survival (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Among donors accepted for transplantation, neither history nor toxicological evidence of drug use was associated with significant differences in survival. Increasing use of such donors may help alleviate the chronic donor shortage.

Smokers and Postcessation Weight Gain After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation and weight management are recommended after acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, little is known about the effects of smoking cessation on weight change after ACS. We aimed to assess the effect of smoking cessation after ACS on weight over a 12-month follow-up period. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were prospectively collected from the EVITA (Evaluation of Varenicline in Smoking Cessation for Patients Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome) trial. Weight change was compared among 3 groups of patients: those who were completely abstinent (n=70), those who smoked intermittently (n=68), and those who smoked persistently (n=34). Patients' mean baseline weight was 83.9 kg (SD 17.7) with a mean body mass index of 28.5 (SD 5.4). Patients smoked a mean of 37.7 years (SD 17.7) and a mean of 21.0 cigarettes (SD 9.0) per day prior to their ACS. Weight change varied across groups, with abstainers gaining a mean of 4.8 kg (SD 8.6), intermittent smokers gaining a mean of 2.0 kg (SD 8.9) and persistent smokers losing a mean of 0.7 kg (SD 7.4). At 52 weeks, abstainers were more likely to gain weight than persistent smokers (difference in means 5.5 kg; 95% CI 2.3-8.8). This weight gain was not associated with an increase in the use of antihypertensive or antidiabetic medications. CONCLUSIONS: Following an ACS, significant weight is gained by patients who quit smoking. Weight-management interventions among smokers who quit after ACS should be a focus of investigation in future research so that the cardiovascular benefits achieved by smoking cessation are not offset by weight gain in this high-risk population. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00794573.