Impact of anemia on outcomes and resource utilization in patients with myocardial infarction: A national database analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although anemia is common in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), management remains controversial. We quantified the association of anemia with in-hospital outcomes and resource utilization in patients admitted with MI using a large national database. METHODS: All hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis code for acute MI in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2014 and 2018 were identified. Among these hospitalizations, patients with anemia were identified using a secondary diagnosis code. Data on demographic and clinical variables were collected. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital adverse events, length of stay (LOS), and total cost. Multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear models were used to evaluate the relationship between anemia and outcomes. RESULTS: Among 1,113,181 MI hospitalizations, 254,816 (22.8%) included concomitant anemia. Anemic patients were older and more likely to be women. After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, anemia was associated with higher mortality (7.1 vs. 4.3%; odds ratio 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.12, p < 0.001). Anemia was also associated with a mean of 2.71 days longer LOS (average marginal effects [AME] 2.71; 95% CI 2.68-2.73, p < 0.05), and $ 9703 mean higher total costs (AME $9703, 95% CI $9577-$9829, p < 0.05). Anemic patients who received blood transfusions had higher mortality as compared with those who did not (8.2% vs. 7.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In MI patients, anemia was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, adverse events, total cost, and length of stay. Transfusion was associated with increased mortality, and its role in MI requires further research.

Angiographic Lesion Discordance in Women Presenting With Ischemic Heart Disease: Comparison of Visual Assessment, Quantitative Coronary Angiography, and Quantitative Flow Ratio.

BACKGROUND: Although visual assessment of stenosis severity is routinely used to guide coronary revascularization, there are concerns about its accuracy, especially in women, who present a higher variability in coronary anatomy and ischemic heart disease (IHD). The aim of this study was to assess whether quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and quantitative flow ratio (QFR) could provide better discrimination of coronary stenosis severity and functional significance than visual assessment alone in women with IHD. METHODS: Coronary angiography was performed in a cohort of women with ischemic symptoms and non-invasive stress perfusion imaging. Visual assessment was done by blinded operators in clinical practice, while QCA and QFR were analyzed in an independent core laboratory. RESULTS: Ninety-nine consecutive patients with 101 lesions were included in the registry, and QFR was successfully measured in 81 lesions (80.2%). Visual assessment provided higher readings of angiographic severity than QCA in 50.5% (n = 51) of lesions. Mean absolute difference between QCA and visual assessment was significantly higher in lesions with >70% diameter stenosis (DS) (25.3 ± 7.3%), compared with both the 40%-55% (9.3 ± 6.8%; P<.001) and the <40% groups (7.0 ± 6.0%; P<.001). QFR was >0.80 in 33.3% of lesions with visually defined >70% DS, while all lesions with QCA-defined >70% DS had QFR ≤0.80. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional cardiologists' visual assessment results in a higher degree of coronary stenosis than QCA. Among women with ischemic symptoms and non-invasive stress perfusion imaging, additional lesion assessment by QCA and QFR may improve operators' ability to determine which patients and lesions will benefit from coronary revascularization.

Sex disparities in in-hospital outcomes of left ventricular aneurysm complicating acute myocardial infarction: A United States nationwide analysis.

Background: Previous studies have reported sex-specific differences in the presentation, mechanisms, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We assessed differences between women and men in the incidence and in-hospital outcomes of left ventricular (LV) aneurysm complicating AMI. Methods: Hospitalizations for AMI with LV aneurysm were identified retrospectively in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2001 to 2017. Incidence and trends in in-hospital mortality, complications, length of stay and costs were analyzed in women and men. Results: A total of 16,334 AMI hospitalizations with concomitant LV aneurysm were identified including 6994 (42.8%) women and 9340 (57.2%) men. Among these hospitalizations, women had a higher incidence of LV aneurysm compared to men (0.16% vs. 0.14%; p < 0.001). Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was higher in women than men (12.7% vs. 7.2%; p < 0.001). After adjusting for demographic and baseline characteristics and excluding inter-hospital transfers, women with AMI complicated by LV aneurysm had 49% greater odds of in-hospital mortality than men (OR 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.10, p = 0.02). Women with LV aneurysm were less likely than men to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (28.5% vs. 35.4%; p < 0.001), bypass surgery (15.8% vs. 25.1%; p < 0.001), coronary atherectomy (0.8% vs. 1.9%; p = 0.009) and LV aneurysm surgery (7.8% vs. 11.1%; p = 0.001). Conclusions: In this large population-based cohort study, women had a slightly higher incidence but dramatically higher in-hospital mortality associated with LV aneurysm complicating AMI compared to men. Further research is necessary to validate strategies to ensure that women receive guideline-directed therapy for AMI and LV aneurysm to address the sex disparity in mortality.

Racial and ethnic disparities in coronary, vascular, structural, and congenital heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States. However, percutaneous interventional cardiovascular therapies are often underutilized in Blacks, Hispanics, and women and may contribute to excess morbidity and mortality in these vulnerable populations. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is committed to reducing racial, ethnic, and sex-based treatment disparities in interventional cardiology patients. Accordingly, each of the SCAI Clinical Interest Councils (coronary, peripheral, structural, and congenital heart disease [CHD]) participated in the development of this whitepaper addressing disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in underserved populations. The councils were charged with summarizing the available data on prevalence, treatment, and outcomes and elucidating potential reasons for any disparities. Given the huge changes in racial and ethnic composition by age in the United States (Figure 1), it was difficult to determine disparities in rates of diagnosis and we expected to find some racial differences in prevalence of disease. For example, since the average age of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is 80 years, one may expect 80% of TAVR patients to be non-Hispanic White. Conversely, only 50% of congenital heart interventions would be expected to be performed in non-Hispanic Whites. Finally, we identified opportunities for SCAI to advance clinical care and equity for our patients, regardless of sex, ethnicity, or race.