Risk factors for major bleeding and for minor bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention in 634 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Of 634 consecutive patients who had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes, 34 (5%) had major bleeding after PCI, 253 (40%) had minor bleeding after PCI, and 347 (55%) had no bleeding after PCI. Significant independent risk factors for major bleeding after PCI were increased troponin I level (P = 0.004; odds ratio [OR] = 4.7), prior coronary artery disease (P = 0.029; OR = 3.7), platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (P = 0.002; OR = 9.8), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30 versus >or=60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P < 0.0001; OR = 39.7), GFR 30-59 versus >or=60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P = 0.0001; OR = 9.4), and clopidogrel loading dose >300 mg (P = 0.0001; OR = 8.9). Significant independent risk factors for minor bleeding after PCI were increased troponin I level (P = 0.0004; OR = 2.1), platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (P = 0.039; OR = 2.4), GFR 30-59 versus >or=60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P < 0.0001; OR = 2.5), thrombolytics (P = 0.01; OR = 2.7), clopidogrel loading dose >300 mg (P < 0.0001; OR = 4.2), and systolic blood pressure during PCI (P < 0.0001; OR = 1.03 per mm Hg). In-hospital deaths included 5 of 34 patients (15%) with major bleeding, none of 253 patients (0%) with minor bleeding, and none of 347 patients (0%) with no bleeding (P < 0.0001). Hospital duration was 11.0 days in patients with major bleeding, 3.4 days in patients with minor bleeding, and 1.8 days in patients with no bleeding (P < 0.0001).

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following drugeluting stent (DES) implantation remains a subject of an ongoing debate. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and CENTRAL databases were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared short-term (ï¿¡ 6 months) DAPT with long-term (≥ 12 months) DAPT following DES implantation. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), stroke, or major bleeding. The secondary outcome were the individual components of the primary outcome, cardiovascular death, stent thrombosis and any bleeding episode. RESULTS: A total of 15,378 patients from 7 RCTs were studied. There were no statistically significant differences between the short-term and long-term DAPT groups with respect to the occurrence of the primary outcome (risk ratio [RR] 1.017; 0.872-1.186; I2 = 0%), all cause death (RR 0.896; 0.708-1.134), cardiovascular death (RR 0.924; 0.668-1.279), MI (RR 1.139; 0.887-1.461), TVR (RR 1.174; 0.916-1.505), stent thrombosis (RR 1.264; 0.786-2.032), and stroke (RR 0.876; 0.685-1.611). However, there was a statistically significant lower risk of major bleeding in the short-term DAPT group (RR 0.57; 0.36-0.90; p = 0.02). There were no statistically significant differences in the sub-group analysis of patients with diabetes and patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, RR 1.029; 0.745-1.421 and RR 1.062; 0.785-1.438, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in efficacy outcomes between short-term and long-term DAPT following DES, even among high-risk patients. However, longer duration of DAPT was found to be associated with increased risk of major bleeding.

Clinical factors associated with early readmission among acutely decompensated heart failure patients.

INTRODUCTION: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common cause of hospital readmission. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at Harlem Hospital in New York City. Data were collected for 685 consecutive adult patients admitted for decompensated CHF from March, 2009 to December, 2012. Variables including patient demographics, comorbidities, laboratory studies, and medical therapy were compared between CHF patient admissions resulting in early CHF readmission and not resulting in early CHF readmission. RESULTS: Clinical factors found to be independently significant for early CHF readmission included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio (OR) = 6.4), HIV infection (OR = 3.4), African-American ethnicity (OR = 2.2), systolic heart failure (OR = 1.9), atrial fibrillation (OR = 2.3), renal disease with glomerular filtration rate < 30 ml/min (OR = 2.7), evidence of substance abuse (OR = 1.7), and absence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker therapy after discharge (OR = 1.8). The ORs were used to develop a scoring system regarding the risk for early readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying patients with clinical factors associated with early CHF readmission after an index hospitalization for CHF using the proposed scoring system would allow for an early CHF readmission risk stratification protocol to target particularly high-risk patients.

Exercise capacity as an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes among nondiabetic and diabetic patients.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate if decreased exercise capacity is an independent risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in diabetics and nondiabetics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The association of decreased exercise capacity (EC) during a treadmill exercise sestamibi stress test with MACE was investigated in 490 nondiabetics and 404 diabetics. Mean follow-up was 53 months. RESULTS: Nondiabetics with a predicted EC < 85% had a higher prevalence of myocardial ischemia (34% vs. 19%, p = 0.0002), 2- or 3-vessel obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (31% vs. 13%, p = 0.016), myocardial infarction (MI) (17% vs. 7%, p = 0.0005), stroke (8% vs. 2%, p = 0.002), death (11% vs. 3%, p = 0.0002), and MI or stroke or death at follow-up (32% vs. 11%, p < 0.001) compared to nondiabetics with a predicted EC ≥ 85%. Diabetics with a predicted EC < 85% had a higher prevalence of myocardial ischemia (48% vs. 32%, p = 0.0009), 2- or 3-vessel obstructive CAD (54% vs. 28%, p = 0.001), MI (32% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), stroke (22% vs. 6%, p < 0.001), death (17% vs. 9%, p = 0.031), and MI or stroke or death at follow-up (65% vs. 27%, p < 0.001). Stepwise Cox regression analysis showed decreased EC was an independent and significant risk factor for MACE among nondiabetics (hazard ratio 3.3, p < 0.0001) and diabetics (hazard ratio 2.7, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetics and nondiabetics with decreased EC were at increased risk for MACE with nondiabetics and decreased EC at similar risk as diabetics with normal EC.

Outpatient management of heart failure in the United States, 2006-2008.

Better outpatient management of heart failure might improve outcomes and reduce the number of rehospitalizations. This study describes recent outpatient heart-failure management in the United States. We analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of 2006-2008, a multistage random sampling of non-Federal physician offices and hospital outpatient departments. Annually, 1.7% of all outpatient visits were for heart failure (51% females and 77% non-Hispanic whites; mean age, 73 ± 0.5 yr). Typical comorbidities were hypertension (62%), hyperlipidemia (36%), diabetes mellitus (35%), and ischemic heart disease (29%). Body weight and blood pressure were recorded in about 80% of visits, and health education was given in about 40%. The percentage of patients taking ß-blockers was 38%; the percentage taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARBs) was 32%. Medication usage did not differ significantly by race or sex. In multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models, a visit to a cardiologist, hypertension, heart failure as a primary reason for the visit, and a visit duration longer than 15 minutes were positively associated with ACEI/ARB use; and a visit to a cardiologist, heart failure as a primary reason for the visit, the presence of ischemic heart disease, and visit duration longer than 15 minutes were positively associated with ß-blocker use. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was negatively associated with ß-blocker use. Approximately 1% of heart-failure visits resulted in hospitalization. In outpatient heart-failure management, gaps that might warrant attention include suboptimal health education and low usage rates of medications, specifically ACEI/ARBs and ß-blockers.

Incidence of myocardial infarction or stroke or death at 47-month follow-up in patients with diabetes and a predicted exercise capacity 85% during an exercise treadmill sestamibi stress test.

A treadmill exercise sestamibi stress test (TESST) was performed in 609 consecutive diabetic persons with a mean age of 70 years and no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) who were referred for a TESST because of chest pain or dyspnea. Of 609 patients, 301 (49%) had a predicted exercise capacity 85% (group B). Group A patients had a higher prevalence of myocardial ischemia (43% vs 30%, P=.0005), 2- or 3-vessel obstructive CAD (38% vs 18%, P=.001), myocardial infarction (17% vs 9%, P=.004), death (10% vs 4%, P=.008), and myocardial infarction or stroke or death at 47-month follow-up (21% vs 12%, P=.001). Stepwise Cox regression analysis showed that the only significant independent predictor for the time to development of myocardial infarction or stroke or death was a predicted exercise capacity >85% (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.78; P=.002). Diabetic persons with a predicted exercise capacity >85% had a 48% lower chance of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death than those with a predicted exercise capacity

Fabry disease: cardiac manifestations and therapeutic options.

Fabry disease is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by the partial or complete deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A), resulting in excess cellular glycosphingolipid deposition. Accumulation of the neutral glycosphingolipid globotriaosyl-ceramide predominates and involves small blood vessels, nerves, dorsal root ganglia, renal glomerular, and tubular epithelial cells and cardiomyocytes. Disease transmission is X-linked, therefore it predominantly affects males and females as asymptomatic carriers. However, females may also develop symptomatic disease of varying severity. Glycosphingolipid deposition in various tissues leads to episodic pain crises and acroparesthesias, gastrointestinal disturbances, angiokeratomas, corneal, and lenticular opacities, and eventually in the third to fifth decades of life, the kidney, heart and central nervous system are involved. Cardiac involvement is usually part of the multisystem disorder and presents in the fourth decade with other organ manifestations; however, a variant of Fabry disease with predominant cardiac manifestations has also been recognized. Patients may present with angina pectoris, dyspnea, palpitations, or syncope, and these symptoms are due to vascular, endothelial, myocardial (with increase in left ventricular mass), and conduction system involvement. Advanced cardiac disease may require a permanent pacemaker and cardiac transplant. Substrate inhibition with enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy instituted early in the disease course might slow progression of the cardiac manifestations.

Cardiac manifestations of sarcoidosis and therapeutic options.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by granulomatous infiltration and the development of noncaseating granulomas in many organ systems. Although the lungs, eyes, and skin are most commonly affected, virtually any body organ can be involved. Clinical evidence of sarcoid heart disease (SHD) is seen only in 5% of patients and the disease may present with tachyarrhythmias, conduction disturbance, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death. SHD may present at any age and occurs in all ethnic groups. Cardiac involvement, although typically silent, is an important prognostic factor in sarcoidosis. Various diagnostic tests such as the electrocardiogram, two-dimensional echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography scan, radionuclide scan, and a transvenous endomyocardial biopsy are available for the early detection of cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis. Given that early diagnosis and treatment may prevent substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiac involvement, it remains important to screen patients with sarcoidosis and initiate early treatment with corticosteroids. Other immunosuppressive agents, antiarrhythmic drugs, placement of an automated implantable cardiac defibrillator, or surgical options such as a pericardial window, ventricular aneurysm repair and cardiac transplant, may also be required for the management of patients with SHD.

Relation of bone mineral density to stress test-induced myocardial ischemia.

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometric scans of the spine and left hip were performed before stress testing for myocardial ischemia in 629 women and 136 men (mean age 63 years) with chest pain and no previous coronary artery disease. Of the 765 patients, 254 (33%) had osteoporosis, 260 (34%) had osteopenia, and 251 (33%) had normal bone mineral density (BMD). Stress test-induced myocardial ischemia was present in 95 of 254 patients (37%) with osteoporosis, in 81 of 260 patients (31%) with osteopenia, and in 62 of 251 patients (25%) with normal BMD (p = 0.002 comparing osteoporosis with normal BMD and p = 0.007 comparing osteoporosis or osteopenia with normal BMD). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia had a 1.7 times higher chance of stress test-induced myocardial ischemia than those with normal BMD after controlling the confounding effects of systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and age. In conclusion, patients with chest pain undergoing stress testing have a higher prevalence of stress test-induced myocardial ischemia if they have osteoporosis or osteopenia than if they have normal BMD.

Obstructive coronary artery disease in high-risk diabetic patients with and without atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the severity of coronary artery disease by coronary angiography in age-matched and sex-matched patients with diabetes mellitus with atrial fibrillation versus sinus rhythm. METHODS: The patients included 245 men and women, mean age of 70 years, with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and 245 age-matched and sex-matched patients with diabetes and sinus rhythm who underwent coronary angiography. Baseline characteristics and indications for coronary angiography were similar in both groups. RESULTS: Greater than 50% narrowing of one, two, or three major coronary arteries were present in 229 of 245 patients (94%) with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and in 211 of 245 patients (86%) with diabetes and with sinus rhythm (P<0.01). Greater than 50% narrowing of three major coronary arteries were present in 150 of 245 patients (61%) with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and in 75 of 245 patients (31%) with diabetes and sinus rhythm (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with diabetes and atrial fibrillation have a significantly higher prevalence of greater than 50% narrowing of one or more major coronary arteries and of three major coronary arteries than patients with diabetes and sinus rhythm.

Major adverse cardiac events at follow-up after bare-metal stenting versus drug-eluting stenting in ST-elevated myocardial infarction.

After thrombolytic therapy with tenecteplase for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, 376 patients were transferred from their hospital to Westchester Medical Center for percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting. Of 376 patients, 102 (27%) received bare-metal stents and 274 (73%) received drug-eluting stents with sirolimus-eluting or paclitaxel-eluting stents. At 43 months of follow-up, major adverse cardiac events occurred in 25 (25%) of 102 patients treated with bare-metal stents versus 40 (15%) of 274 patients treated with drug-eluting stents (p = 0.024). Cox regression analysis showed that significant independent prognostic factors for major adverse cardiac events were previous coronary artery bypass surgery (hazard ratio 2.2, p = 0.019), width of stent (hazard ratio 0.44, p = 0.006), and bare-metal stent (hazard ratio 1.8, p = 0.019). In conclusion, patients with bare-metal stents had a 1.8 times greater risk of developing major adverse cardiac events than did those using drug-eluting stents after controlling the confounding effects of previous coronary artery bypass surgery and stent width.

Acute inferior wall myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention of the right coronary during active labor: a clinical report and review of the literature.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare event in women of childbearing age and has been estimated to occur at a rate of 1 in 10,000 women during pregnancy. First reported on in 1922, subsequent reports appeared in the literature indicating the unique features of this condition which can significantly affect both maternal and fetal outcomes. With the current maternal trend of childbearing at an older age, in addition to the effects of cigarette smoking, stress and cocaine use, the occurrence of AMI during pregnancy, albeit uncommon, can be expected to increase. In this article we describe a unique case of a 42-year-old woman with an acute inferior wall MI who underwent a percutaneous angioplasty and placement of a bare-metal stent during active labor. The patient tolerated the procedure well and underwent a successful cesarean section with delivery of twins. The subsequent discussion examines the clinical aspects of gestational and early postpartum AMI and reviews current strategies for both diagnosis and treatment.