Novel regional longitudinal strain by speckle tracking to detect significant coronary artery disease in patients admitted to the emergency department for chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Global longitudinal strain has shown variable results in detecting ischemia in patients admitted to the emergency department with chest pain, but without other clear evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim was to investigate whether assessment of regional longitudinal myocardial function could assist in detecting significant CAD in these patients. METHODS: Clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and troponin T were evaluated in 126 patients admitted with chest pain. A subsequent invasive coronary angiography divided patients into two groups: significant CAD (CAD+) or non-significant CAD (CAD-). Global and regional myocardial function were evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography. Regional longitudinal strain was defined as the highest longitudinal strain values in four adjacent left ventricular segments and termed 4AS. RESULTS: CAD+ was found in 37 patients (29%) of which 51% had elevated troponin. Mean 4AS was - 13.1% (± 3.5) in the CAD+ and - 15.2% (± 2.7) (p = 0.002) in the CAD- group. Predictors for CAD+ were age [OR 1.06 (1.01-1.11, p = 0.026)], smoking [OR 3.39 (1.21-9.51, p = 0.020)], troponin [OR 3.32 (1.28-8.60, p = 0.014)) and 4AS (OR 1.24 (1.05-1.46, p = 0.010)]. A cutoff for 4AS of > - 15% showed the best diagnostic performance with event-reclassification of 0.41 (p < 0.001), non-event-reclassification of - 0.34 (p < 0.001) and net reclassification improvement 0.07 (p = 0.60). CONCLUSION: Decreased myocardial function in four adjacent LV segments assessed by strain has the potential to detect significant CAD in patients admitted with chest pain and negative/slightly elevated initial troponin. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Research information system in Norway (CRISTIN). Id: 555249.

Medical and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Low Physical Activity and Increasing Exercise Level After a Coronary Event.

PURPOSE: The reasons why many coronary patients are inactive or have a low level of physical activity (PA) are not completely understood. We identified medical and psychosocial factors associated with PA status and increasing exercise level after a coronary event. METHODS: A cross-sectional study investigated the factors associated with PA in 1101 patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction (MI) and/or a revascularization procedure. Data were collected from hospital records, a self-report questionnaire, and a clinical examination. PA was categorized as inactivity, low activity, and adequate activity (≥ moderate intensity of 30 min ≥2-3 times/wk), an overall summary PA-index was measured as a continuous variable, and self-reported PA increase since the index event was measured on a 0- to 10-point Likert Scale. RESULTS: In all, 18% reported inactivity, 42% low, and 40% adequate activity at follow-up after median 16 mo. In multiadjusted linear regression analyses, low PA-index was significantly associated with smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, depression, female, low education, MI as index diagnosis, and ≥1 previous coronary event. Motivation, risk and illness perceptions, and low reported need of help to increase PA were significantly associated with self-reported increasing PA level in adjusted continuous analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Daily smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, and depression were the major potentially modifiable factors associated with insufficient PA, whereas high motivation and risk and illness perceptions were associated with increasing PA level. Further research on the effect of interventions tailored to the reported significant factors of failure is needed to improve PA level in CHD patients.

Managing patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes after coronary events: individual tailoring needed - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the determinants associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in coronary patients may help to individualize treatment and modelling interventions. We sought to identify sociodemographic, medical and psychosocial factors associated with normal blood glucose (HbA1c < 5.7%), prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%), and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional explorative study applied regression analyses to investigate the factors associated with glycaemic status and control (HbA1c level) in 1083 patients with myocardial infarction and/or a coronary revascularization procedure. Data were collected from hospital records at the index event and from a self-report questionnaire and clinical examination with blood samples at 2-36 months follow-up. RESULTS: In all, 23% had type 2 diabetes, 44% had prediabetes, and 33% had normal blood glucose at follow-up. In adjusted analyses, type 2 diabetes was associated with larger waist circumference (Odds Ratio 1.03 per 1.0 cm, p = 0.001), hypertension (Odds Ratio 2.7, p < 0.001), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Odds Ratio 0.3 per1.0 mmol/L, p = 0.002) and insomnia (Odds Ratio 2.0, p = 0.002). In adjusted analyses, prediabetes was associated with smoking (Odds Ratio 3.3, p = 0.001), hypertension (Odds Ratio 1.5, p = 0.03), and non-participation in cardiac rehabilitation (Odds Ratio 1.7, p = 0.003). In patients with type 2 diabetes, a higher HbA1c level was associated with ethnic minority background (standardized beta [ß] 0.19, p = 0.005) and low drug adherence (ß 0.17, p = 0.01). In patients with prediabetes or normal blood glucose, a higher HbA1c was associated with larger waist circumference (ß 0.13, p < 0.001), smoking (ß 0.18, p < 0.001), hypertension (ß 0.08, p = 0.04), older age (ß 0.16, p < 0.001), and non-participation in cardiac rehabilitation (ß 0.11, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Along with obesity and hypertension, insomnia and low drug adherence were the major modifiable factors associated with type 2 diabetes, whereas smoking and non-participation in cardiac rehabilitation were the factors associated with prediabetes. Further research on the effect of individual tailoring, addressing the reported significant predictors of failure, is needed to improve glycaemic control. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02309255 , December 5th 2014.

The prevalence and predictors of elevated C-reactive protein after a coronary heart disease event.

Objective An interleukin-beta antagonist reduces the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in coronary patients with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) ≥2 mg/L. It remains to be defined how large the coronary population at inflammatory risk is, and what the predictors of elevated risk are. Methods A cross-sectional study investigated the proportion of patients with elevated hs-CRP (i.e. ≥2 mg/L) and the respective demographic and clinical predictors in 971 patients without concomitant inflammatory diseases who had been hospitalized with myocardial infarction (80%) and/or a revascularization procedure. Data were collected from hospital records, a self-report questionnaire and a clinical examination with blood samples. Results After 2-36 month follow-up, 39% ( n = 378) had hs-CRP ≥ 2 mg/L, among whom 64% ( n = 243) had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥1.8 mmol/L and 47% ( n = 176) used a low-intensity statin regime. Only 24% had both LDL and hs-CRP at target range, 27% had elevation of both, whereas 12% had hs-CRP ≥ 2 mg/L and LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/L. Somatic comorbidity (odds ratio (OR) 1.3/1.0 point on the Charlson score), ≥1 previous coronary event (OR 2.4), smoking (OR 2.2), higher body mass index (OR 1.2/1.0 kg/m2), high LDL-C (OR 1.4/1.0 mmol/L) and higher anxiety scores (OR 1.1/1.0 point increase on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale score) were significantly associated with hs-CRP ≥2 mg/L in adjusted analyses. Conclusions Elevated hs-CRP was frequently observed after a coronary event and associated with unfavourable LDL-C and unhealthy lifestyles and psychosocial distress. Intensified statin therapy and strategies to target these modifiable factors are the encouraged first steps to reduce inflammation and improve LDL-C in these patients.

Medical and sociodemographic factors predict persistent smoking after coronary events.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the determinants of persistent smoking after a coronary event constitutes the basis of modelling interventions of smoking cessation in secondary prevention programs. We aim to identify the potentially modifiable medical, sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, comprising the study factors, associated with unfavourable risk factor control after CHD events. METHODS: A cross-sectional explorative study used logistic regression analysis to investigate the association between study factors and smoking status in 1083 patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction and/or coronary revascularization. Hospital record data, a self-report questionnaire, clinical examination and blood samples were applied. RESULTS: At the index hospitalization, 390 patients were smoking and at follow-up after 2-36 months 167 (43%) of these had quit, while 230 reported persistent smoking. In adjusted analyses, unemployed or disability benefits (Odds ratio (OR) 4.1), low education (OR 3.5), longer smoking duration (OR 2.3) and not having ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as index event (OR 2.3) were significantly associated with persistent smoking. Psychosocial factors at follow-up were not associated with persistent smoking. Smokers reported high motivation for cessation, with 68% wanting help to quit. Only 42% had been offered nicotine replacement therapy or other cessation aids. Smokers rated use of tobacco as the most important cause of their coronary disease (6.8 on a 1-10 Likert scale). CONCLUSIONS: Low socioeconomic status, prior duration of smoking, and not having STEMI as index event were associated with persisting smoking. Persistent smokers in this study seem to have an acceptable risk perception and were motivated to cease smoking, but needed assistance through cessation programs including prescription of pharmacological aids. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02309255 , registered retrospectively.

Reproducibility of an extensive self-report questionnaire used in secondary coronary prevention.

AIMS: Self-reported information from questionnaires is frequently used in clinical epidemiological studies, but few provide information on the reproducibility of instruments applied in secondary coronary prevention studies. This study aims to assess the test-retest reproducibility of the questionnaire applied in the cross-sectional NORwegian CORonary (NOR-COR) Prevention Study. METHODS: In the NOR-COR study 1127 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of 249 questions, of which there are both validated instruments and de novo questions. Test-retest reliability of the instrument was estimated after four weeks in 99 consecutive coronary patients. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Kappa (κ) were calculated. RESULTS: The mean interval between test and retest was 33 (±6.4) days. Reproducibility values for questions in the first part of the questionnaire did not differ from those in the latter. A good to very good reproducibility was found for lifestyle factors (smoking: κ = 1.0; exercise: ICC = 0.90), medical factors (drug adherence: ICC = 0.74; sleep apnoea: ICC = 0.87), and psychosocial factors (anxiety and depression: ICC = 0.95; quality of life 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF12): ICC = 0.89), as well as for the majority of de-novo-created variables covering the patient's perceptions, motivation, needs, and preferences. CONCLUSIONS: The present questionnaire demonstrates a highly acceptable reproducibility for all key items and instruments. It thus emerges as a valuable tool for evaluating patient factors associated with coronary risk factor control in CHD patients.

Unfavourable risk factor control after coronary events in routine clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Risk factor control after a coronary event in a recent European multi-centre study was inadequate. Patient selection from academic centres and low participation rate, however, may underscore failing risk factor control in routine clinical practice. Improved understanding of the patient factors that influence risk factor control is needed to improve secondary preventive strategies. The objective of the present paper was to determine control of the major risk factors in a coronary population from routine clinical practice, and how risk factor control was influenced by the study factors age, gender, number of coronary events, and time since the index event. METHODS: A cross-sectional study determined risk factor control and its association with study factors in 1127 patients (83% participated) aged 18-80 years with acute myocardial infarction and/or revascularization identified from medical records. Study data were collected from a self-report questionnaire, clinical examination, and blood samples after 2-36 months (median 16) follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent were current smokers at follow-up. Of those smoking at the index event 56% continued smoking. Obesity was found in 34%, and 60% were physically inactive. Although 93% were taking blood-pressure lowering agents and statins, 46% were still hypertensive and 57% had LDL cholesterol >1.8 mmol/L at follow-up. Suboptimal control of diabetes was found in 59%. The patients failed on average to control three of the six major risk factors, and patients with >1 coronary events (p < 0.001) showed the poorest overall control. A linear increase in smoking (p < 0.01) and obesity (p < 0.05) with increasing time since the event was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of coronary patients in a representative Norwegian population did not achieve risk factor control, and the poorest overall control was found in patients with several coronary events. New strategies for secondary prevention are clearly needed to improve risk factor control. Even modest advances will provide major health benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT02309255 ).

The "smoker's paradox" in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Smokers have been shown to have lower mortality after acute coronary syndrome than non-smokers. This has been attributed to the younger age, lower co-morbidity, more aggressive treatment and lower risk profile of the smoker. Some studies, however, have used multivariate analyses to show a residual survival benefit for smokers; that is, the "smoker's paradox". The aim of this study was, therefore, to perform a systematic review of the literature and evidence surrounding the existence of the "smoker's paradox". METHODS: Relevant studies published by September 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE (from 1980), MEDLINE (from 1963) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with a combination of text words and subject headings used. English-language original articles were included if they presented data on hospitalised patients with defined acute coronary syndrome, reported at least in-hospital mortality, had a clear definition of smoking status (including ex-smokers), presented crude and adjusted mortality data with effect estimates, and had a study sample of > 100 smokers and > 100 non-smokers. Two investigators independently reviewed all titles and abstracts in order to identify potentially relevant articles, with any discrepancies resolved by repeated review and discussion. RESULTS: A total of 978 citations were identified, with 18 citations from 17 studies included thereafter. Six studies (one observational study, three registries and two randomised controlled trials on thrombolytic treatment) observed a "smoker's paradox". Between the 1980s and 1990s these studies enrolled patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) according to criteria similar to the World Health Organisation criteria from 1979. Among the remaining 11 studies not supporting the existence of the paradox, five studies represented patients undergoing contemporary management. CONCLUSION: The "smoker's paradox" was observed in some studies of AMI patients in the pre-thrombolytic and thrombolytic era, whereas no studies of a contemporary population with acute coronary syndrome have found evidence for such a paradox.

Long-term impact of secondary preventive treatments in patients with stable angina.

We assessed the independent effects of beta blockers, calcium antagonists, lipid-lowering drugs, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), anti-platelet drugs, vitamin K antagonists, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) on mortality and on the composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure in patients with stable angina pectoris. We estimated the effects of the interventions used at baseline by multivariate Cox regression and during follow-up by G-estimation in 7,665 patients followed for a mean of 5 years in the ACTION trial. Adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) comparing all cause mortality among users during follow-up to non-users were 1.01 (0.91, 1.09) for beta blockade, 0.82 (0.75, 0.89) for ACEIs or ARBs, 0.93 (0.87, 0.98) for calcium antagonists, 0.54 (0.49, 0.62) for lipid-lowering drugs, 0.49 (0.42, 0.53) for anti-platelet drugs, 0.74 (0.69, 0.78) for PCI, and 0.91 (0.82, 0.98) for CABG. Effects on the composite endpoint were less marked. This observational study confirms that ACEIs or ARBs, lipid-lowering and anti-platelet drugs as used in the everyday management of stable angina have independent secondary preventive effects. Calcium antagonists, PCI and CABG also appear to improve outcome.

The effect of tobacco smoking and treatment strategy on the one-year mortality of patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a previously shown survival benefit resulting from routine early invasive management of unselected patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) may differ according to smoking status and age. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients admitted for NSTEMI in 2003 (conservative strategy cohort [CS]; n = 185) and 2006 (invasive strategy cohort [IS]; n = 200). A strategy for transfer to a high-volume invasive center and routine early invasive management was implemented in 2005. Patients were subdivided into current smokers and non-smokers (including ex-smokers) on admission. RESULTS: The one-year mortality rate of smokers was reduced from 37% in the CS to 6% in the IS (p < 0.001), and from 30% to 23% for non-smokers (p = 0.18). Non-smokers were considerably older than smokers (median age 80 vs. 63 years, p < 0.001). The percentage of smokers who underwent revascularization (angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting) within 7 days increased from 9% in the CS to 53% in the IS (p < 0.001). The corresponding numbers for non-smokers were 5% and 27% (p < 0.001). There was no interaction between strategy and age (p = 0.25), as opposed to a significant interaction between strategy and smoking status (p = 0.024). Current smoking was an independent predictor of one-year mortality (hazard ratio 2.61, 95% confidence interval 1.43-4.79, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment effect of an early invasive strategy in unselected patients with NSTEMI was more pronounced among smokers than non-smokers. The benefit for smokers was not entirely explained by differences in baseline confounders, such as their younger age.

Effect of implementing routine early invasive strategy on one-year mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the implementation of an early invasive strategy for unselected patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) would be associated with reduced long-term mortality compared to a conservative approach. In this prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients admitted for AMI in 2003 (conservative cohort, n = 311) and 2006 (invasive cohort [IC], n = 307), an 11% absolute and 41% relative reduction in 1-year mortality was found for patients with AMI in the IC compared to the conservative cohort (p = 0.001). These findings were consistent after adjustment for age, gender, previous AMI, previous stroke, diabetes, smoking status, previous left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and serum creatinine at admission (hazard ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.38 to 0.78) and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 0.97). More patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction received primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the IC (57% vs 3%, p <0.001), and a sixfold (25% vs 4%, p <0.001) increase in early percutaneous coronary intervention (<72 hours) for patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was observed. A greater proportion of patients in the IC received clopidogrel, aspirin, and statins during follow-up; otherwise, the secondary prevention measures were similar in the 2 cohorts. In conclusion, the introduction of a strategy for routine transfer to a high-volume percutaneous coronary intervention center for early invasive therapy was accompanied by a substantial reduction in mortality among unselected patients with AMI. Differences in unmeasured confounders might have accounted for a part of the difference in outcome.

Physical performance is associated with markers of vascular inflammation in patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease as well as major cardiovascular risk factors are associated with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers. There is, however, limited information about how changes in lifestyle improving the cardiovascular risk profile influence these levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether changes in lifestyle measures with special attention to physical activity, were associated with the levels of such markers. DESIGN: Coronary heart disease patients (n = 197) were randomized to either a comprehensive lifestyle intervention programme comprising regular physical activity, low fat diet and smoking cessation, or usual care with routine follow-up in the outpatient clinic for 6 months. An exercise test and fasting blood samples analysed for soluble cell adhesion molecules, C reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated before and at the end of the study. RESULTS: Improved diet, physical performance and reduction in smoking were obtained in the intervention programme when compared with usual care patients, but no significant group differences in levels of inflammatory markers were observed. In the total population, however, physical performance significantly and inversely predicted levels of soluble cell adhesion molecule 1, (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (P < 0.001) and interleukin-6 (P = 0.01) at 6 months. Smokers had elevated levels of soluble cell adhesion molecule 1 when compared with non-smokers (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that physical performance is inversely correlated with levels of pro-inflammatory markers in coronary heart disease patients, possibly retarding the process of atherosclerosis. No effect on inflammatory markers was obtained with a 6-month lifestyle intervention programme when compared with patients who received usual care follow-up.

[Referral to elective and emergency coronary investigation from a medium-size central hospital]. / Henvisning til elektiv og akutt koronarutredning fra et middels stort sentralsykehus.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about regional differences in the incidence of acute and elective invasive coronary procedures in Norway. Such information is important in the planning of new invasive centres. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study all patients referred to coronary angiography at the Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo (100 km remote) from the county of Vestfold (218,000 inhabitants) from 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003 were included. Referrals were categorised as acute or elective. Based upon the discharge summaries from Oslo, all coronary angiographies, percutaneous interventions and coronary artery bypass grafts were registered. RESULTS: A total of 760 patients were referred, of whom 746 (98 %) underwent coronary angiography (19 % acutely). They were treated as follows: percutaneous coronary intervention, n = 295 (31 % acutely); coronary artery bypass grafting, n = 123 and conservative treatment, n = 342. INTERPRETATION: Based upon these results, the incidence figures for 100,000 inhabitants per year in 2003 were similar to the nation-wide average for percutaneous interventions per year in Norway in 2001 and approximately 30 % below that average for 2003. Therefore, in the planning of an optimal peripheral catheterisation laboratory, the population basis has to be calculated from the local incidence of procedures, since there are obviously significant regional differences in the use of such procedures.

[Congenital heart defects. Varying degrees of severity; 25 percent of children with heart defects will have persistent cardiac problems in adulthood]. / Medfødte hjertefeil. Stor variasjon i alvorlighetsgrad; 25 prosent av barn med hjertefeil vil rekrutteres til voksen alder med et persisterende kardialt problem.

In a population based study including 35,218 infants born alive during the 15-year period 1982-1996, 360 (1%) were diagnosed having a congenital heart defect (CHD). At a follow-up 3-18 years later (median 9.5 years) 154 patients (42.8%) were spontaneously cured, of whom 142 (92.2%) had ventricular septal defects (VSD). 42 patients (11.7%) had died, 22 of whom (52.4%) during the neonatal period (0-28 days after birth). A total of 119 patients (33.1%) underwent therapeutic procedures (surgery, catheter interventions), of whom 24 (20.2%) died. Of the 95 children surviving therapeutic procedures 54 (56.8%) had their defects completely repaired, while 41 (43.2%) had residual defects or cardiac sequelae, often of minor importance. Of 69 children (19.2%) with persistent untreated defects, 43 (62.3%) had VSD. A chromosomal disorder, various syndromes or extracardiac malformations occurred in 72 children (20%). The study underlines the fact that CHD presents itself in varying degrees of severity, including a high neonatal mortality rate as well as a high rate of spontaneous cure.

[A patient with thromboangiitis obliterans]. / En pasient med thrombangiitis obliterans.

BACKGROUND: Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) is characterised by inflammatory thrombi in small and middle-sized arteries and in the veins. As opposed to arteriosclerosis, the vessel wall remains normal. Diagnostic criteria are the presence of distal ischaemia in the extremities, documented by noninvasive vascular testing; exclusion of autoimmune diseases, hypercoagulable states, and diabetes mellitus, age less than 45 years and cigarette smoking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The article is based on a case history and review of the literature. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: A 31-year-old man was in 1953 diagnosed with thromboangiitis obliterans. Lumbar sympathectomy on the left side in 1953 and on the right side in 1971 had excellent symptomatic effect. The patient has been treated with anticoagulants for 48 years. Amputation of the left 2nd toe was performed in 1971. At age 80, he is without further cardiovascular events and takes regular physical exercise. Over the last fifty years, the incidence of thromboangiitis obliterans has been drastically reduced. The reason for this is unknown. The only proven treatment is complete discontinuation of tobacco. The effect of sympathectomy and long-term anticoagulation has not been proven.