Lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, or both to prevent cardiovascular events: results of 8. 7 years of follow-up of Heart Outcomes Evaluation Prevention (HOPE)-3 study participants

AIMS Rosuvastatin (10 mg per day) compared with placebo reduced major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events by 24% in 12 705 participants at intermediate CV risk after 5.6 years. There was no benefit of blood pressure (BP) lowering treatment in the overall group, but a reduction in events in the third of participants with elevated systolic BP. After cessation of all the trial medications, we examined whether the benefits observed during the active treatment phase were sustained, enhanced, or attenuated. METHODS AND RESULTS After the randomized treatment period (5.6 years), participants were invited to participate in 3.1 further years of observation (total 8.7 years). The first co-primary outcome for the entire length of follow-up was the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV death [major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE)-1], and the second was MACE-1 plus resuscitated cardiac arrest, heart failure, or coronary revascularization (MACE-2). In total, 9326 (78%) of 11 994 surviving Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE)-3 subjects consented to participate in extended follow-up. During 3.1 years of post-trial observation (total follow-up of 8.7 years), participants originally randomized to rosuvastatin compared with placebo had a 20% additional reduction in MACE-1 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64­0.99] and a 17% additional reduction in MACE-2 (95% CI 0.68­1.01). Therefore, over the 8.7 years of follow-up, there was a 21% reduction in MACE-1 (95% CI 0.69­0.90, P = 0.005) and 21% reduction in MACE-2 (95% CI 0.69­0.89, P = 0.002). There was no benefit of BP lowering in the overall study either during the active or post-trial observation period, however, a 24% reduction in MACE-1 was observed over 8.7 years. CONCLUSION The CV benefits of rosuvastatin, and BP lowering in those with elevated systolic BP, compared with placebo continue to accrue for at least 3 years after cessation of randomized treatment in individuals without cardiovascular disease indicating a legacy effect.

Safety of proton pump inhibitors based on a large, multi-year, randomized trial of patients receiving rivaroxaban or aspirin

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective at treating acid-related disorders. These drugs are well tolerated in the short term, but long-term treatment was associated with adverse events in observational studies. We aimed to confirm these findings in an adequately powered randomized trial. METHODS: We performed a 3 x 2 partial factorial double-blind trial of 17,598 participants with stable cardiovascular disease and peripheral artery disease randomly assigned to groups given pantoprazole (40 mg daily, n = 8791) or placebo (n = 8807). Participants were also randomly assigned to groups that received rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) with aspirin (100 mg once daily), rivaroxaban (5mg twice daily), or aspirin (100 mg) alone. We collected data on development of pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infection, other enteric infections, fractures, gastric atrophy, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive lung disease, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality every 6 months. Patients were followed up for a median of 3.01 years, with 53,152 patient-years of follow-up. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the pantoprazole and placebo groups in safety events except for enteric infections (1.4% vs 1.0% in the placebo group; odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.75). For all other safety outcomes, proportions were similar between groups except for C difficile infection, which was approximately twice as common in the pantoprazole vs the placebo group, although there were only 13 events, so this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In a large placebo-controlled randomized trial, we found that pantoprazole is not associated with any adverse event when used for 3 years, with the possible exception of an increased risk of enteric infections. (AU)

Pantoprazole to prevent gastroduodenal events in patients receiving rivaroxaban and/or aspirin in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Antiplatelets and anticoagulants are associated with increased upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We evaluated whether proton pump inhibitor therapy could reduce this risk. METHODS: We performed a 3 × 2 partial factorial double-blind trial of 17,598 participants with stable cardiovascular disease and peripheral artery disease. Participants were randomly assigned to groups given pantoprazole 40 mg daily or placebo, as well as rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily with aspirin 100 mg once daily, rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily, or aspirin 100 mg alone. The primary outcome was time to first upper gastrointestinal event, defined as a composite of overt bleeding, upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a gastroduodenal lesion or of unknown origin, occult bleeding, symptomatic gastroduodenal ulcer or ≥5 erosions, upper gastrointestinal obstruction, or perforation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in upper gastrointestinal events between the pantoprazole group (102 of 8791 events) and the placebo group (116 of 8807 events) (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-1.15). Pantoprazole significantly reduced bleeding of gastroduodenal lesions (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.94; P = .03); this reduction was greater when we used a post-hoc definition of bleeding gastroduodenal lesion (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.74), although the number needed to treat still was high (n = 982; 95% confidence interval, 609-2528).CONCLUSIONS: In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, we found that routine use of proton pump inhibitors in patients receiving low-dose anticoagulation and/or aspirin for stable cardiovascular disease does not reduce upper gastrointestinal events, but may reduce bleeding from gastroduodenal lesions. ClinicalTrials. (AU)

Rationale, design and baseline characteristics of participants in the cardiovascular outcomes for people using anticoagulation strategies (COMPASS) trial

BACKGROUND: Long-term aspirin prevents vascular events but is only modestly effective. Rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin might be more effective than aspirin alone for vascular prevention in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD). Rivaroxaban as well as aspirin increase upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and this might be prevented by proton pump inhibitor therapy. METHODS: Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) is a double-blind superiority trial comparing rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily combined with aspirin 100 mg once daily or rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily vs aspirin 100 mg once daily for prevention of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death in patients with stable CAD or PAD. Patients not taking a proton pump inhibitor were also randomized, using a partial factorial design, to pantoprazole 40 mg once daily or placebo. The trial was designed to have at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in each of the rivaroxaban treatment arms compared with aspirin and to detect a 50% reduction in upper GI complications with pantoprazole compared with placebo...

Five-year outcomes after off-pump or on-pump coronary-artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that there was no significant difference at 30 days or at 1 year in the rate of the composite outcome of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or renal failure between patients who underwent coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed with a beating-heart technique (off-pump) and those who underwent CABG performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump). We now report the results at 5 years (the end of the trial). METHODS: A total of 4752 patients (from 19 countries) who had coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to undergo off-pump or on-pump CABG. For this report, we analyzed a composite outcome of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure, or repeat coronary revascularization (either CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention). The mean follow-up period was 4.8 years. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the off-pump group and the on-pump group in the rate of the composite outcome (23.1% and 23.6%, respectively; hazard ratio with off-pump CABG, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.10; P=0.72) or in the rates of the components of the outcome, including repeat coronary revascularization, which was performed in 2.8% of the patients in the off-pump group and in 2.3% of the patients in the on-pump group (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.73; P=0.29)...

Off-pump or on-pump coronary-arterybypass grafting at 30 days

BackgroundThe relative benefits and risks of performing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) with a beating-heart technique (off-pump CABG), as compared with cardiopulmonarybypass (on-pump CABG), are not clearly established.MethodsAt 79 centers in 19 countries, we randomly assigned 4752 patients in whom CABG was planned to undergo the procedure off-pump or on-pump. The first coprimary outcome was a composite of death, nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or new renal failure requiring dialysis at 30 days after randomization.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the rate of the primary composite outcomebetween off-pump and on-pump CABG (9.8% vs. 10.3%; hazard ratio for the offpump group, 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79 to 1.14; P = 0.59) or in any of its individual components. The use of off-pump CABG, as compared with on-pump CABG, significantly reduced the rates of blood-product transfusion (50.7% vs. 63.3%; relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.85; P<0.001), reoperation for perioperative bleeding(1.4% vs. 2.4%; relative risk, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.93; P = 0.02), acute kidney injury (28.0% vs. 32.1%; relative risk, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.96; P = 0.01), and respiratorycomplications (5.9% vs. 7.5%; relative risk, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.98; P = 0.03) but increased the rate of early repeat revascularizations (0.7% vs. 0.2%; hazard ratio, 4.01; 95% CI, 1.34 to 12.0; P = 0.01).ConclusionsThere was no significant difference between off-pump and on-pump CABG with respect to the 30-day rate of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or renal failure requiring dialysis. The use of off-pump CABG resulted in reduced rates of transfusion, reoperation for erioperative bleeding, respiratory complications, and acute kidney injury but also resulted in an increased risk of early revascularization. (Funded by theCanadian Institutes of Health Research; CORONARY ClinicalTrials.gov number,NCT00463294.)

Rationale and design of the coronary artery bypass grafting surgery off or on pump revascularization study: a large international randomized trial in cardiac surgery

Background Uncertainty remains regarding the benefits and risks of the technique of operating on a beating heart(off pump) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery versus on-pump CABG. Prior trials had few events and relativelyshort follow-up. There is a need for a large randomized, controlled trial with long-term follow-up to inform both the short- andlong-term impact of the 2 approaches to CABG.Methods We plan to randomize 4,700 patients in whom CABG is planned to undergo the procedure on pump or offpump. The coprimary outcomes are a composite of total mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and renal failure at30 days and a composite of total mortality, MI, stroke, renal failure, and repeat revascularization at 5 years. We will alsoundertake a cost-effectiveness analysis at 30 days and 5 years after CABG surgery. Other outcomes include neurocognitivedysfunction, recurrence of angina, cardiovascular mortality, blood transfusions, and quality of life.Results As of May 3, 2011, CORONARY has recruited N3,884 patients from 79 centers in 19 countries. Currently,patient's mean age is 67.6 years, 80.7% are men, 47.0% have a history of diabetes, 51.4% have a history of smoking, and34.4% had a previous MI. In addition, 20.9% of patients have a left main disease, and 96.6% have double or triplevessel disease.Conclusions CORONARY is the largest trial yet conducted comparing off-pump CABG to on-pump CABG. Its resultswill lead to a better understanding of the safety and efficacy of off-pump CABG. (Am Heart J 2012;163:1-6.)

Cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica: resultados do Sistema Único de Saúde / Myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS): results from National Health System (SUS) / Cirugía de revascularización miocárdica: resultados del Sistema Único de Salud

FUNDAMENTO: A cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM) é a cirurgia cardíaca mais frequentemente praticada no país, sendo a maior parte realizada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados da CRM, não associada a outros procedimentos. MÉTODOS: Analisaram-se as informações do banco de dados SIH/DATASUS, disponibilizado on-line. Esse banco de dados contém informações relativas a: sexo, idade, permanência hospitalar, valor da autorização de internação hospitalar (AIH), número de cirurgias realizadas por hospital e mortalidade hospitalar. Avaliaram-se apenas as CRM realizadas sem procedimentos associados. RESULTADOS: Entre 2005 e 2007 foram realizadas 63.529 cirurgias em 191 hospitais. Foram excluídos 16 hospitais de muito baixo volume cirúrgico, restando 63.272 cirurgias para análise final. A mortalidade hospitalar total foi de 6,22 por cento, sendo maior nos hospitais de pequeno volume do que nos de grande volume (> 300 cirurgias no período), 7,29 por cento versus 5,77 por cento (p<0,001). A média de permanência hospitalar foi de 12 dias, não havendo diferença entre os de pequeno (12,08±5,52) e de grande volume (12,15±7,70). O gênero masculino teve menor mortalidade do que o feminino, 5,20 por cento versus 8,25 por cento (p<0,001), assim como os mais jovens quando comparados com os idosos (> 65 anos), 4,21 por cento versus 9,36 por cento (p<0,001). Encontrou-se uma pequena variação no valor da AIH entre a região Sul, R$ 7.214,63 e Nordeste, R$ 6.572,03 (p<0,01). A distribuição regional de cirurgias foi desigual, Sul e Sudeste concentram 77 por cento delas. CONCLUSÃO: A CRM realizada pelo SUS tem mortalidade maior nos hospitais de baixo volume, nas mulheres e nos idosos. Futuros estudos prospectivos se fazem necessários.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS) is the most common surgery in this country, with most being performed through the National Health System(SUS). OBJECTIVES: To assess MRS results when not associated to other procedures. METHODS: The information from the Hospital Information System (SIH/DATASUS) made available online was submitted to analysis. The data include information on gender, age, hospital stay period, hospital admission authorization (AIH) costs, number of surgeries at each hospital, and in-hospital mortality rate. Only MRS with no associated procedures were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 63,529 surgeries were performed in the period between 2005 and 2007 at 191 hospitals. Sixteen hospitals reporting very low surgery volume were excluded. The remaining total number of surgeries came down to 63,272 for the final analysis. In-hospital mortality rate was 6.22 percent, with small surgery volume hospitals reporting higher rate than high volume hospitals (≥300 surgeries in the time period under study), 7.29 percent versus 5.77 percent (p<0.001). Average hospital stay time length was 12 days, with no difference having been reported between low (12.08±5.52) and high volume (12.15±7.70) hospitals. Males reported lower mortality rate than females - 5.20 percent versus 8.25 percent (p<0.001), similarly to younger individuals when compared to the elderly (≥ 65 years of age), 4.21 percent versus 9.36 percent (p<0.001). A slight variation was observed in AIH values between the Southern Region (R$ 7.214,63 - approximately US$ 3,600.00) and the Northeastern Region (R$ 6.572,03 - approximately US$ 3,280.00) (p<0.01). Regional distribution of surgeries was not comparable in all regions in the country, with Southern and Southeastern Regions having reported 77 percent of them. CONCLUSION: MRS performed by SUS has reported high mortality rate in low volume hospitals, among women, and among the elderly. Future ...

FUNDAMENTO: La cirugía de revascularización de miocardio (CRM) es la cirugía cardiaca más frecuentemente practicada en el país, con la mayor parte realizada por el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS). OBJETIVO: Evaluar los resultados de la CRM no asociada a otros procedimientos. MÉTODOS: Se analizaron las informaciones del banco de datos SIH/DATASUS, disponible online. Este banco de datos contiene informaciones relativas a: sexo, edad, permanencia hospitalaria, valor de la autorización de internación hospitalaria (AIH), número de cirugías realizadas por hospital y mortalidad hospitalaria. Se evaluaron solamente las CRM realizadas sin procedimientos asociados. RESULTADOS: Entre 2005 y 2007 se llevaron a cabo 63.529 cirugías en 191 hospitales. Se excluyeron 16 hospitales de muy bajo volumen quirúrgico, restando 63.272 cirugías para análisis final. La mortalidad hospitalaria total fue del 6,22 por ciento, con mayor índice en los hospitales de pequeño volumen que en los de gran volumen (≥300 cirugías en el período), el 7,29 por ciento versus el 5,77 por ciento (p<0,001). El promedio de permanencia hospitalaria fue de 12 días, sin diferencia entre los de pequeño (12,08±5,52) y de gran volumen (12,15±7,70). El género masculino tuvo menor mortalidad que el femenino, el 5,20 por ciento versus el 8,25 por ciento (p<0,001), así como los más jóvenes cuando comparados con los adultos mayores (≥ 65 años), el 4,21 por ciento versus el 9,36 por ciento (p<0,001). Se encontró una pequeña variación en el valor de la AIH entre la región Sur, R$ 7.214,63 y Nordeste, R$ 6.572,03 (p<0,01). La distribución regional de cirugías fue desigual, Sur y Sudeste concentran el 77 por ciento de ellas. CONCLUSIÓN: La CRM realizada por el SUS tiene mortalidad mayor en los hospitales de bajo volumen, en las mujeres y en los adultos mayores. Futuros estudios prospectivos se hacen necesarios.

Inibidor da ECA e concentrações do peptídeo natriurético do tipo B, em idosos com insuficiência cardíaca / ACE inhibitors and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels in elderly patients with heart failure / Inhibidor de la enzima conversora de la angiotensina y concentraciones del péptido natriurético de tipo B, en personas adultas mayores con insuficiencia cardiaca

Fundamento: Ensaios clínicos demonstraram os benefícios dos inibidores da ECA (IECA) na atividade neuro-hormonal e na capacidade funcional de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca (IC), com a magnitude desses efeitos sendo proporcional à dose desses agentes. Entretanto, a sistemática exclusão dos idosos, observada na maioria desses estudos, tem questionado a validação e incorporação de tais resultados na população geriátrica. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de quinapril, um IECA com meia vida biológica >24 horas, nas concentrações plasmáticas do PNB, nas distâncias percorridas no teste da caminhada de 6 minutos (TC-6 min) e na incidência de reações adversas, em idosos com IC sistólica. Métodos: Foram avaliados 30 pacientes (76,1 ± 5,3 anos; 15 mulheres), IC II-III (NYHA), FE ventricular esquerda < 40% (33,5 ± 4,5%), em uso de diuréticos (30), digoxina (24) e nitratos (13). As avaliações foram realizadas no momento da inclusão (basal) e a cada dois meses, com a adição de 10, 20, 30 e 40 mg de quinapril. Resultados: Completados oito meses, as concentrações do PNB foram 67,4% menores e as distâncias percorridas no TC-6 min 64,9% maiores em relação à condição basal. Hipotensão arterial com sintomas de baixo débito cerebral e/ou disfunção renal não foram observadas, possibilitando o emprego da dose máxima de quinapril em todos os pacientes. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstraram os benefícios dos IECA no perfil neuro-hormonal e na capacidade funcional de idosos com IC sistólica, bem como a relação positiva entre a dose e o efeito desses fármacos.

Background: Clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of ACE inhibitors (ACEI) in the neurohormonal activity and in the functional capacity of patients with heart failure (HF), and also that these effects are dose dependent. However, since elderly individuals have been systematically excluded from the majority of these studies, the validation and incorporation of these results in the geriatric population has been questioned. Objective: To evaluate the effects of different doses of quinapril, an ACEI with a > 24-hour biological half-life, on plasma BNP levels, on the distance walked in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and on the incidence of adverse reactions in elderly individuals with systolic HF. Methods: A total of 30 patients (76.1 ± 5.3 years; 15 women), in NYHA functional class II-III HF, with left ventricular EF < 40% (33.5 ± 4.5%), on diuretics (30), digoxin (24) and nitrates (13) were included. The patients were assessed at baseline and every two months, with escalating doses of quinapril of 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg.Results: After eight months, BNP levels were 67.4% lower and the distance walked in the 6MWT was 64.9% longer in relation to baseline. Arterial hypotension with symptoms of low cerebral blood flow and/or renal dysfunction was not observed, so that the maximum quinapril dose could be used in all patients. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the benefits of ACEI on the neurohormonal profile and functional capacity of elderly individuals with systolic HF, as well as the positive relationship between dose and effect of these drugs.

Fundamento: Ensayos clínicos revelaron los beneficios de los inhibidores de la enzima conversora de la angiotensina (IECA) en la actividad neurohormonal y en la capacidad funcional de pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca (IC). La magnitud de esos efectos fue proporcional a la dosificación de esos agentes. Sin embargo, la sistemática exclusión de las personas adultas mayores, observada en la mayoría de esos estudios, ha conllevado al cuestionamiento de la validación e incorporación de dichos resultados en la población geriátrica. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos de diferentes dosis de quinapril, un IECA con vida media biológica >24 horas, en las concentraciones plasmáticas del péptido natriurético de tipo B (PNB), en las distancias recorridas en el test de marcha de 6 minutos (TM6m) y en la incidencia de reacciones adversas, en personas adultas mayores con IC sistólica. Métodos: Se evaluaron a 30 pacientes (76,1 ± 5,3 años; 15 mujeres), IC II-III (NYHA), fracción de eyección (FE) ventricular izquierda < 40% (33,5 ± 4,5%), en uso de diuréticos (30), digoxina (24) y nitratos (13). Las evaluaciones se realizaron a la inclusión (basal) y a cada dos meses, con la adición de 10, 20, 30 y 40 mg de quinapril. Resultados: Completados ocho meses, las concentraciones del PNB fueron de un 67,4% menor y las distancias recorridas en el TM6m de un 64,9% mayor con relación a la condición basal. No se observaron hipotensión arterial con síntomas de bajo débito cerebral y/o disfunción renal, posibilitando así el empleo de la dosificación máxima de quinapril en todos los pacientes. Conclusión: Los resultados revelaron los beneficios de los IECA en el perfil neurohormonal y en la capacidad funcional de personas adultas mayores con IC sistólica, así como la relación positiva entre la dosificación y el efecto de esos fármacos.

The Guardian: an implantable system for chronic ambulatory monitoring of acute myocardial infarction

The AngelMed Guardian is an implantable medical device that records cardiac data and detects ischemic events using a standard pacemaker intracardiac lead positioned in the right ventricular apex. The Guardian has been implanted in 55 people in the United States and Brazil and is currentlyundergoing a Food and Drug Administration phase 2 pivotal trial in the United States. The Guardiandetects acute ischemic events by analyzing ST-segment shifts. The ST-segment shifts are calculated as the difference between the ST deviation of a current 10-second electrogram window and a baseline ST deviation value. If the ST-segment shift is greater than a heart rate–dependent programmable threshold, then the device generates an emergency alert signal. Results thus far have demonstrated that (i) the intracardiac electrogram is relatively noise-free and (ii) the ST-shifttechnique used by the Guardian is effective for detecting acute ischemic events.

Glucose levels compared with diabetes history in the risk assessment of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background Both a history of diabetes mellitus and elevated inhospital glucose levels predict death after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, only diabetes history (and not glucose levels) is routinely considered in AMI risk assessment. Methods We conducted a post hoc analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials of AMI with ST-segment elevation to compare the prognostic value of inhospital glucose levels with diabetes history in 30,536 subjects. Average inhospital glucose (mean of glucose levels at admission, 6 hours, and 24 hours), diabetes history, and death at 30 days (occurring in 2,808subjects) were documented. Results Average glucose predicted 30-day death (OR 1.10 per 1-mmol/L [18-mg/dL] increase, 95% CI 1.09-1.11, P < .0001); this was unchanged after adjusting for diabetes history. In contrast, diabetes history alone predicted 30-day death (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.48-1.78, P < .0001), but not after adjusting for average glucose (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.88-1.09, P = .72). The C-indices (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves) for 30-day death were 0.54 for diabetes history alone, 0.64 for average glucose alone, and 0.64 for glucose plus diabetes. Higher glucose levels predicted death in patients with and without diabetes history, but this relationship was more steep in nondiabetic subjects such that their rate of 30-day death (13.2%) matched that of diabetic patients (13.7%) when average glucose was ¡Ý144 mg/dL (8 mmol/L) (P = .55 after multivariable adjustment). Conclusions Although diabetes history is routinely considered in the risk stratification of AMI patients, inhospital glucose levels are a much stronger predictor of death and should be incorporated in their risk assessment. Patients with AMI with inhospitalglucose ¡Ý144 mg/dL have a very high risk of death regardless of diabetes history.

Magnitude and prognosis associated with ventricular arrhythmias in patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (from the GRACE Registry)

The incidence, prognosis, and factors associated with ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in acute coronary syndrome are unknown. We sought to examine the magnitude, predictors, and outcomes of in-hospital VA in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The population comprised 52,380 patients enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events from 1999 to 2005. The proportion who developed VA during hospitalization was 6.9% (1.8% with ventricular tachycardia, 5.1% with ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest). The incidence of in-hospital VA decreased over time (8.0% in 1999, 7.0% in 2002, 5.8% in 2005, p <0.001). In-hospital case-fatality rates were higher in patients with versus those without VA (52% vs 1.6%). Several demographic and clinical variables were associated with the occurrence of VA including ST deviation, Killip class, age, initial cardiac markers, serum creatinine and heart rate, and history of selected co-morbidities. Six-month postdischarge mortality was higher in survivors of in-hospital VA versus those who did not develop VA during hospitalization (odds ratio 1.57, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 1.95). In conclusion, development of VA during hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome was associated with higher in-hospital and 6-month mortalities.

Conceitos de pesquisa clínica para o cardiologista / Research concepts practice medicine for the cardiologist

A pesquisa clínica é o estudo sistemático científico aplicável a seres humanos, denominados voluntários ou "sujeitos de pesquisa". A prática cardiológica vem sedimentando-se através dos resultados de estudos clínicos controlados randomizados. Sem a valiosa contibuição desses estudos, torna-se quase improvável a comprovação confiável do impacto de um determinado tratamentosobre a prática clínica diária. Um ensaio clínico pode ser definido em fases: fase pré-clínica, fase I, fase II, fase III e fase IV. Na cardiologia, a maior parte desses estudos são multicêntricos internacionais, com seguimento de um grande número de pacientes, o mais heterogêneo possivel, o qe torna seus resultados e suas conclusões, quando adequadamente medidos e analisados, mais robustos e sólidos...

Síndromes coronárias agudas com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST: diagnóstico e estratificação de risco / Acute coronary syndromes with ST-segment elevation: diagnosis and risk stratification

Avanços substanciais foram alcançados na última década para um melhor manejo da AI/IAMSSST. Esses avanços aconteceram tanto na área terapêutica como na área diagnóstica. O diagnóstico preciso e, ainda mais, a estratificação correta e individual de cada caso, tornaram-se fundamentais para a seleção da melhor terapêutica a ser aplicada. Não só a terapêutica farmacológica antiisquêmica e antitrombótica a ser empregada, mas as intervenções por cateter ou cirurgia, tem sua aplicação direcionada pelo paciente. O sucesso do tratamento será obtido pela associação da estratificação de risco e a correta seleção da terapêutica.