Coronary Physiology as Part of a State-of-the-Art Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Strategy: Lessons from SYNTAX II and Beyond.

The use of coronary physiology allows for rational decision making at the time of PCI, contributing to better patient outcomes. Yet, coronary physiology is only one aspect of optimal revascularization. State-of-the-art PCI must also consider other important aspects such as intracoronary imaging guidance and specific procedural expertise, as tested in the SYNTAX II study. In this review, we highlight the technical aspects pertaining to the use of physiology as used in that trial and offer a glimpse into the future with emerging physiologic metrics, including functional coronary angiography, which have already established themselves as useful indices to guide decision making.

Procalcitonin concentration in the emergency department predicts 30-day mortality in COVID-19 better than the lymphocyte count, the neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio, or the C-reactive protein level. / Procalcitonina es superior a recuento linfocitario, índice neutrófilo/linfocito y proteína C reactiva para la predicción de mortalidad a 30 días de pacientes con COVID-19 en el servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: Although many demographic and clinical predictors of mortality have been studied in relation to COVID-19, little has been reported about the prognostic utility of inflammatory biomarkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. All patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 treated in a hospital emergency department were included consecutively if baseline measurements of the following biomarkers were on record: lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio NRL, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels. We analyzed associations between the biomarkers and all-cause 30-day mortality using Cox regression models and dose-response curves. RESULTS: We included 896 patients, 151 (17%) of whom died within 30 days. The median (interquartile range) age was 63 (51-78) years, and 494 (55%) were men. NLR, CRP and PCT levels at ED presentation were higher, while lymphocyte counts were lower, in patients who died compared to those who survived (P .001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves revealed the PCT concentration (0.79; 95% CI, 0.75-0.83) to be a better predictor of 30-day mortality than the lymphocyte count (0.70; 95% CI, 0.65-0.74; P .001), the NLR (0.74; 95% CI, 0.69-0.78; P = .03), or the CRP level (0.72; 95% CI, 0.68-0.76; P .001). The proposed PCT concentration decision points for use in emergency department case management were 0.06 ng/L (negative) and 0.72 ng/L (positive). These cutoffs helped classify risk in 357 patients (40%). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the PCT concentration had the strongest association with mortality. CONCLUSION: PCT concentration in the emergency department predicts all-cause 30-day mortality in patients with COVID-19 better than other inflammatory biomarkers.

OBJETIVO: Existen múltiples variables demográficas y clínicas predictivas de mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19. Sin embargo, hay menos información sobre el valor pronóstico de los biomarcadores inflamatorios. METODO: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo. Se incluyeron de forma consecutiva todos los pacientes con COVID-19, confirmado por laboratorio, atendidos en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) y con valor basal de los siguientes biomarcadores: recuento linfocitario, índice neutrófilo/linfocito (INL), proteína C reactiva (PCR) y procalcitonina (PCT). La relación entre los biomarcadores y la mortalidad total a 30 días se analizó mediante una regresión de Cox y gráficos de dosis-respuesta. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 896 pacientes, 151 (17%) fallecieron en los primeros 30 días. La mediana de edad fue de 63 años (51-78) y 494 (55%) eran hombres. El valor de INL, PCR y PCT fue mayor, mientras que el recuento linfocitario fue menor, en los pacientes que fallecieron respecto a los que sobrevivieron (p 0,001). La PCT fue superior al recuento linfocitario, INL y PCR en la predicción de mortalidad a 30 días (ABC 0,79 [IC 95%: 0,75-0,83] vs 0,70 [IC 95%: 0,65-0,74], p 0,001; 0,74 [IC 95%: 0,69-0,78], p = 0,03; y 0,72 [IC 95%: 0,68-0,76], p 0,001). Los puntos de decisión de PCT propuestos, 0,06 ng/l para exclusión y 0,72 ng/l para inclusión de muerte a 30 días, podrían facilitar la toma de decisiones en urgencias. Hubo 357 pacientes (40%) con valores de PCT en estas categorías. El análisis multivariable mostró una mayor asociación con la mortalidad para PCT que en los otros biomarcadores estudiados. CONCLUSIONES: PCT es el biomarcador con mejor capacidad para predecir mortalidad a 30 días por cualquier causa en pacientes con COVID-19 valorados en un SUH.

Impact of smoking on COVID-19 outcomes: a HOPE Registry subanalysis.

BACKGROUND: Smoking has been associated with poorer outcomes in relation to COVID-19. Smokers have higher risk of mortality and have a more severe clinical course. There is paucity of data available on this issue, and a definitive link between smoking and COVID-19 prognosis has yet to be established. METHODS: We included 5224 patients with COVID-19 with an available smoking history in a multicentre international registry Health Outcome Predictive Evaluation for COVID-19 (NCT04334291). Patients were included following an in-hospital admission with a COVID-19 diagnosis. We analysed the outcomes of patients with a current or prior history of smoking compared with the non-smoking group. The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital death. RESULTS: Finally, 5224 patients with COVID-19 with available smoking status were analysed. A total of 3983 (67.9%) patients were non-smokers, 934 (15.9%) were former smokers and 307 (5.2%) were active smokers. The median age was 66 years (IQR 52.0-77.0) and 58.6% were male. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (48.5%) and dyslipidaemia (33.0%). A relevant lung disease was present in 19.4%. In-hospital complications such sepsis (23.6%) and embolic events (4.3%) occurred more frequently in the smoker group (p<0.001 for both). All cause-death was higher among smokers (active or former smokers) compared with non-smokers (27.6 vs 18.4%, p<0.001). Following a multivariate analysis, current smoking was considered as an independent predictor of mortality (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.82, p=0.017) and a combined endpoint of severe disease (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.43, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Smoking has a negative prognostic impact on patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

Performance of the heart team approach in daily clinical practice in high-risk patients with aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The heart team (HT) approach plays a key role in selecting the optimal treatment strategy for patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, little is known about the HT decision process and its impact on outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the HT decision and evaluate clinical outcomes according to the treatment choice. METHODS: The study included a total of 286 consecutive patients with AS referred for discussion in the weekly HT meeting in a cardiovascular institute over 2 years. Patients were stratified according to the selected therapeutic approach: medical treatment (MT), surgical (SAVR), or transcatheter (TAVR) aortic valve replacement. Baseline characteristics involved in making a therapeutic choice were identified and a decision-making tree was built using classification and regression tree methodology. RESULTS: Based on HT discussion, 53 patients were assigned to SAVR, 210 to TAVR, and 23 to MT. Older patients (≥88 years old) were mainly assigned to TAVR or MT according to the logistic EuroSCORE (

Underlying heart diseases and acute COVID-19 outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The presence of any underlying heart condition could influence outcomes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: The registry HOPE-COVID-19 (Health Outcome Predictive Evaluation for COVID-19, NCT04334291) is an international ambispective study, enrolling COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital, dead or alive. RESULTS: HOPE enrolled 2798 patients from 35 centers in 7 countries. Median age was 67 years (IQR: 53.0-78.0), and most were male (59.5%). A relevant heart disease was present in 682 (24%) cases. These were older, more frequently male, with higher overall burden of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking habit, obesity) and other comorbidities such renal failure, lung, cerebrovascular disease and oncologic antecedents (p < 0.01, for all). The heart cohort received more corticoids (28.9% vs. 20.4%, p < 0.001), antibiotics, but less hydroxychloroquine, antivirals or tocilizumab. Considering the epidemiologic profile, a previous heart condition was independently related with shortterm mortality in the Cox multivariate analysis (1.62; 95% CI 1.29-2.03; p < 0.001). Moreover, heart patients needed more respiratory, circulatory support, and presented more in-hospital events, such heart failure, renal failure, respiratory insufficiency, sepsis, systemic infammatory response syndrome and clinically relevant bleedings (all, p < 0.001), and mortality (39.7% vs. 15.5%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An underlying heart disease is an adverse prognostic factor for patients suffering COVID-19. Its presence could be related with different clinical drug management and would benefit from maintaining treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers during in-hospital stay.

Interaction between age and vitamin D deficiency in severe COVID-19 infection.

INTRODUCTION: Background: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can induce an exaggerated inflammatory response. Vitamin D is a key modulator of the immune system. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) could increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. Methods: patients with confirmed COVID-19 seen at the emergency department of our hospital with recent measurements of 25(OH)D were recruited. We explored the association of vitamin D deficiency (VDD), defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 20 ng/mL, with a composite of adverse clinical outcomes. Results: we included 80 patients, of which 31 (39 %) presented the endpoint. VDD tended to predict an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, cardiac disease, and kidney disease [OR 3.2 (95 % CI: 0.9-11.4), p = 0.07]. Age had a negative interaction with the effect of VDD on the composite outcome (p = 0.03), indicating that the effect was more noticeable at younger ages. Furthermore, male gender was associated with VDD and with severe COVID-19 at younger ages. Conclusions: in this retrospective study, vitamin D deficiency showed a signal of association with severe COVID-19 infection. A significant interaction with age was noted, suggesting VDD may have a greater impact in younger patients. These findings should be confirmed in larger, prospective, adequately powered studies.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Antecedentes: la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) puede inducir una respuesta inflamatoria exagerada. La vitamina D es un modulador clave del sistema inmune. Planteamos que la deficiencia de vitamina D (VDD) podría aumentar el riesgo de desarrollar infección grave por COVID-19. Métodos: se reclutaron pacientes consecutivos que acudieron al servicio de urgencias de nuestro centro con diagnóstico de COVID-19 confirmado (PCR-COVID-19 positiva) y mediciones recientes de 25(OH)D. Exploramos la asociación de la deficiencia de vitamina D (VDD), definida como una 25-hidroxivitamina D < 20 ng/ml, con un compuesto de resultados clínicos adversos. Resultados: se incluyeron 80 pacientes, de los cuales 31 (39 %) presentaron el criterio de valoración primario. El VDD tendió a predecir un mayor riesgo de desarrollar COVID-19 grave después de ajustar edad, sexo, obesidad, enfermedad cardíaca y enfermedad renal [OR: 3,2 (IC 95 %: 0,9-11,4), p = 0,07]. La edad tuvo una interacción negativa con el efecto de la VDD en el resultado compuesto (p = 0,03), lo que indica que el efecto fue más notable a edades más tempranas. Además, el género masculino se asoció con la VDD y con la COVID-19 grave en las edades más jóvenes. Conclusiones: en este estudio retrospectivo, la deficiencia de vitamina D mostró una tendencia de asociación con la infección grave por COVID-19. Se observó una interacción significativa con la edad, lo que sugiere que la VDD puede tener un mayor impacto en los pacientes más jóvenes. Estos hallazgos deben confirmarse en estudios más grandes, prospectivos y con potencia adecuada.