Twenty-year trends in the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in young acute coronary syndrome patients hospitalized in Switzerland.

AIMS: Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) play a key role in the development of coronary artery disease. We evaluated 20-year trends in RF prevalence among young adults hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Switzerland. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were analysed from the Acute Myocardial Infarction in Switzerland (AMIS) Plus registry from 2000 to 2019. Young patients were defined as those aged <50 years. Among 58 028 ACS admissions, 7073 (14.1%) were young (median 45.6 years, IQR 42.0-48.0), of which 91.6% had at least one modifiable RF and 59.0% had at least two RFs. Smoking was the most prevalent RF (71.4%), followed by dyslipidaemia (57.3%), hypertension (35.9%), obesity (21.7%), and diabetes (10.1%). Compared with older patients, young patients were more likely to be obese (21.7% vs. 17.4%, P < 0.001) and active smokers (71.4% vs. 33.9%, P < 0.001). Among young patients, between 2000 and 2019, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension from 29.0% to 51.3% and obesity from 21.2% to 27.1% (both Ptrend < 0.001) but a significant decrease in active smoking from 72.5% to 62.5% (Ptrend = 0.02). There were no significant changes in the prevalence of diabetes (Ptrend = 0.32) or dyslipidaemia (Ptrend = 0.067). CONCLUSION: Young ACS patients in Switzerland exhibit a high prevalence of RFs and are more likely than older patients to be obese and smokers. Between 2000 and 2019, RF prevalence either increased or remained stable, except for smoking which decreased but still affected approximately two-thirds of young patients in 2019. Public health initiatives targeting RFs in young adults in Switzerland are warranted.

We evaluated the prevalence of risk factors (RFs) among young patients admitted with ACS in Switzerland between 2000 and 2019. Young ACS patients in Switzerland exhibited a high prevalence of RFs. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension and obesity. Despite a significant decrease, active smoking remained the most prevalent RF. These findings strongly suggest that public health initiatives targeting RFs in young adults in Switzerland are warranted.

Temporal trends in cardiovascular risk factors' prevalence in patients with myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about changes in cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) profile over time in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We assessed changes in age and CVRF profile in consecutive AMI patients enrolled in the Swiss nationwide AMIS Plus registry between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2018. RESULTS: A total of 57 995 AMI patients were included in the analysis. Mean age at presentation was 71.5 ± 11.3 years for women and 63.9 ± 12.8 years for men and did not change over time. Overall, the mean (standard deviation) number of CVRF increased from 1.76 (1.07) in 1997/98 to 2.26 (1.10) in 2017/18 in men (Ptrend  < .001), while the corresponding rates in females were 1.83 (1.11) and 2.24 (1.08) (Ptrend  < .001). In terms of active smoking, no significant trend was detected for males, while there was a significant increase in females (P < .001). As a result, the gap in smoking rates between men and women presenting with AMI decreased from 19.9% (45.3% vs 25.4%) in 1997/98 to 7.9% (41.2% vs 33.3%) in 2017/18. Reassuring was the stability in terms of diabetes prevalence for both genders. Obesity was more prevalent over time in men, while the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia increased in both genders. CONCLUSION: Among patients with AMI in Switzerland over two decades, age at presentation remained stable, while the mean number of CVRF increased in both men and women. Striking was the increase in the prevalence of smoking in women, leading to a reduction of the gender gap over time.

Antidepressant prescription in acute myocardial infarction is associated with increased mortality 1 year after discharge.

AIMS: To assess the impact of antidepressant (AD) prescription at discharge on 1-year outcome of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Switzerland. METHODS: We used data from the AMIS Plus registry including patients admitted between March 2005 and August 2016 with AMI to a Swiss hospital who were followed up by telephone, 12 months after discharge. We compared patients who received AD medication at discharge with those who did not, with regard to baseline characteristics and outcomes in 1-year follow-ups using logistic regression. Outcome endpoints included mortality, re-hospitalisation, cerebrovascular events, re-infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft as well as pacemaker and/or cardioverter-defibrillator implantations. Additionally, work and daily life conditions were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Among 8911 AMI patients, 565 (6.3%) received AD at discharge. These patients were predominantly female, older, experienced more often non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, were in higher Killip classes, and had more frequently hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity and comorbidities. They underwent less frequently PCI, and stayed in hospital longer. The AD-receiving group had higher crude all-cause mortality at 1-year follow-up than the non-receiving group (7.4% vs 3.4%; p < .001) and AD prescription was an independent predictor for mortality (OR 1.67; CI: 1.17 to 2.40). CONCLUSION: AD medication at discharge was associated with poorer prognosis in AMI patients at 1-year follow-up. However, this study has limited data on depression diagnosis and drug classes. Further research is needed to pinpoint the causes and underlying pathomechanisms for the higher mortality observed in this patient group.

Impact of cardiac rehabilitation referral on one-year outcome after discharge of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation after an acute myocardial infarction has a class I recommendation in the present guidelines. However, data about the impact on mortality in Switzerland are not available. Therefore, we analysed one-year outcome of acute myocardial infarction patients according to cardiac rehabilitation referral at discharge. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the Swiss AMIS Plus registry and included patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, who were asked to give their informed consent to a telephone follow-up one year after discharge. RESULTS: From 10,141 patients, 1956 refused to participate in follow-up and 302 were lost to follow-up. There were 4508 (57.2%) patients with cardiac rehabilitation referrals compared with 3375 (42.8%) without. Patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation were younger (62.4 years vs. 68.8 years), more often male (77% vs. 70%), presented more often with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (63.5% vs. 52.1%) and, apart from smoking (44.0% vs. 34.9%), they had fewer risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia (55.0% vs. 60.1%), hypertension (55.6% vs. 65.3%) and diabetes (16.7% vs. 21.5%). Patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation had a lower crude one-year all-cause mortality (1.7% vs. 5.8%; p < 0.001) and lower rates of re-infarction, rehospitalization for cardiovascular disease and intervention (all p < 0.005). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, cardiac rehabilitation was an independent predictor for lower mortality rate (odds ratio 0.65; 95% confidence interval 0.48-0.89; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Although the detailed data of cardiac rehabilitation programmes and patient participation were not available for this study, our data from 7883 acute myocardial infarction patients showed a better one-year outcome for patients with cardiac rehabilitation referrals than for those without.

Referral for cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction: Insights from nationwide AMIS Plus registry 2005-2017.

BACKGROUND: Referral rates for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are low despite a Class I recommendation in the present guidelines. Therefore, we aimed to identify predictors for referral and patient characteristics from the national Swiss AMIS Plus registry. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the Swiss AMIS Plus registry between 2005 and 2017, which included patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). For 32,416 patient (93.2%) data about destination at discharge were available with 10,940 (33.7%) having a recommendation for CR while 12,282 (37.9%) went home. 9194 (28.4%) were transferred to another hospital after index hospitalisation and were excluded. RESULTS: Patients referred to CR were younger (62.6 vs. 68.2 years) and had a higher prevalence of obesity (22.0% vs. 20.4%). Except for smoking (44.0% vs 34.9%), they had less risk factors such as dyslipidemia (55.0% vs. 60.1%), hypertension (55.6% vs. 65.3%) and diabetes (16.7% vs. 21.5%). Patients with in-hospital complications were more likely being referred for CR. Furthermore, STEMI (OR 1.61; CI 1.52-1.71), performed PCI (OR 2.65; CI 2.42-2.90) and Killip class >2 (OR 1.58; CI 1.36-1.84) favoured referral for CR, while age > 65 years, previous myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease or peripheral artery disease had a negative impact on referral for CR. CONCLUSIONS: Our data from 23,222 patients after AMI demonstrate that in Switzerland patients referred for CR are younger, more obese with more STEMI. In-hospital complications were strong predictors for CR recommendation. Unlike anticipated, other risk factors were less present in CR patients.

Treatment of patients with myocardial infarction depends on history of cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although cancer treatment considerably affects cardiovascular health, little is known about how cancer patients are treated for an acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate whether acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer received the same guideline recommended treatment as those acute myocardial infarction patients without and whether they differ with respect to inhospital outcome. METHODS: All patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, enrolled between 2002 and mid-2015 in the acute myocardial infarction in Switzerland (AMIS Plus) registry with comorbidity data based on the Charlson comorbidity index were analysed. Patients were classified as having cancer if one of the cancer diseases of the Charlson comorbidity index was indicated. Immediate treatment strategies and inhospital outcomes were compared between groups using propensity score matching. RESULTS: Of 35,249 patients, 1981 (5.6%) had a history of cancer. After propensity score matching for age, gender, Killip class >2, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and renal disease (1981 patients per group), significant differences were no longer found for a history of acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and cerebrovascular disease between cancer and non-cancer patients. However, cancer patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention less frequently (odds ratio (OR) 0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-0.88) and received P2Y12 blockers (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.71-0.94) and statins (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76-0.99) less frequently. Inhospital mortality was significantly higher in cancer patients (10.7% vs. 7.6%, OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.17-1.81). However, the main cause of death was cardiac in both groups ( P=0.06). CONCLUSION: Acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer were less likely to receive guideline recommended treatment and had worse inhospital outcomes than non-cancer patients.

Benefits of smoking bans on preterm and early-term births: a natural experimental design in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Birth outcomes are relevant for future children's heath. Capitalising on a natural experimental design in Switzerland, we evaluated how regional smoking bans introduced at different time points affected birth outcomes, including preterm and early-term births. METHODOLOGY: We used birth registry data of all singleton neonates born in Switzerland (2007-2012). We developed canton-specific interrupted time-series followed by random meta-analysis to evaluate the benefits of smoking bans on preterm (<37 gestational weeks) and early-term (37-38 gestational weeks) births. Heterogeneity across type of ban and contextual characteristics was explored through metaregression. A time-to-event approach was used for evaluating duration of pregnancy under the smoking bans and effects, taking into account individual maternal factors. RESULTS: We observed a decrease in the risk of preterm birth of 3.6% (95% CI, -9.3% to 2.5%), and early-term birth of 5.0% (95% CI -7.5% to -2.5%). Results showed a clear dose-response relationship. Greater risk reductions were obtained for preterm births in areas with more comprehensive bans (-6.8%; 95% CI -12.1% to 0.1%), and for pregnancies with the longest gestational time under smoking bans (HR, 0.991; 95% CI 0.984 to 0.997 per 10% increase in duration). Benefits were unequal across outcomes and characteristics of cantons and mothers. CONCLUSION: Smoking bans resulted in improved birth outcomes in Switzerland with cantons that adopted more comprehensive smoking bans achieving greater benefits. Early-term births constitute a previously ignored though important group.

Treatment and outcomes of patients with recurrent myocardial infarction: A prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about differences in therapies and outcomes of patients with first myocardial infarction (MI) or recurrent MI (reMI). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of prior MI on therapies and outcomes in patients who presented with ST-elevation MI (STEMI). METHODS: All STEMI patients enrolled from 2002 to 2014 in the AMIS Plus registry were included. Outcome was analyzed using logistic multivariate regression. RESULTS: From 19,665 STEMI patients, 2845 (14%) had reMI. These patients were older (69.5y vs. 64.2y; p<0.001), more frequently male, with more risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia), and more comorbidities. Patients with reMI presented 25min earlier than those with first MI, were more frequently in Killip class 3/4 (12% vs. 7%; p<0.001), and were less likely to receive guideline-recommended drug therapy: aspirin (93% vs. 97%; p<0.001), P2Y12 inhibitors (76% vs. 83%; p<0.001), or statins (73% vs. 77%; p<0.001), or undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (77% vs. 87%; p<0.001). These patients developed more frequently cardiogenic shock (7% vs. 5%; p<0.001) and reinfarction (2% vs. 1%; p<0.001) during hospitalization, and had higher crude mortality (10% vs. 5%; p<0.001) than patients without prior MI. Prior MI was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.05-1.53; p<0.001). A subgroup (n=4486) was followed 1 year after discharge (3893 with first MI and 593 with reMI at initial hospitalization). Crude mortality was 2.9% for patients with first MI vs. 6.7% for those with reMI (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.14-2.47; p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with reMI are high-risk patients, they were less likely to receive evidence-based treatment and had worse in-hospital and 1-year outcomes compared to patients with first MI. Short- and long-term management of patients with recurring MI should be improved.

Cardiorespiratory hospitalisation and mortality reductions after smoking bans in Switzerland.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking bans are considered one of the most effective policies to reduce population exposure to tobacco smoke and prevent adverse health outcomes. However, evidence on the effect of contextual variables on the effectiveness of smoking bans is still lacking. AIMS: The patchwork of cantonal smoke-free laws in Switzerland was used as a quasi-experimental setting to assess changes after their introduction in: hospitalisations and mortality due to cardiorespiratory diseases in adults; total hospitalisations and hospitalisations due to respiratory disorders in children; and the modifying effects of contextual factors and the effectiveness of the laws. METHODS: Using hospital and mortality registry data for residents in Switzerland (2005-2012), we conducted canton-specific interrupted time-series analyses followed by random effects meta-analyses to obtain nationwide smoking ban estimates by subgroups of age, sex and causes of hospitalisation or death. Heterogeneity of the impact caused by strictness of the ban and other smoking-related characteristics of the cantons was explored through meta-regression. RESULTS: Total hospitalisation rates due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases did not significantly change after the introduction of the ban. Post-ban changes were detected in ischaemic heart disease hospitalisations, with a 2.5% reduction (95% confidence interval [CI)] -6.2 to 1.3%) for all ages and 5.5% (95% CI -10.8 to -0.2%) in adults 35-64 years old. Total mortality due to respiratory diseases decreased by 8.2% (95% CI -15.2 to -0.6%) over all ages, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality decreased by 14.0% (95% CI -22.3 to -4.5%) in adults ≥65 years old. Cardiovascular mortality did not change after the introduction of the ban, but there was an indication of post-ban reductions in mortality due to hypertensive disorders (-5.4%, 95% CI -12.6 to 2.3%), and congestive heart failure (-6.0%, 95% CI -14.5 to 3.4%). No benefits were observed for hospitalisations due to respiratory diseases in children or for infant mortality. The type of smoking ban implemented explained the heterogeneity of benefits across cantons for some outcomes. CONCLUSION: Smoking bans in Switzerland were associated with overall reductions in cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalisation and mortality in adults.