The Predictive Factors on Extended Hospital Length of Stay in Patients with AMI: Laboratory and Administrative Data.

The length of hospital stay (LOS) is an important measure of efficiency in the use of hospital resources. Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), as one of the diseases with higher mortality and LOS variability in the OECD countries, has been studied with predominant use of administrative data, particularly on mortality risk adjustment, failing investigation in the resource planning and specifically in LOS. This paper presents results of a predictive model for extended LOS (LOSE - above 75th percentile of LOS) using both administrative and clinical data, namely laboratory data, in order to develop a decision support system. Laboratory and administrative data of a Portuguese hospital were included, using logistic regression to develop this predictive model. A model with three laboratory data and seven administrative data variables (six comorbidities and age ≥ 69 years), with excellent discriminative ability and a good calibration, was obtained. The model validation shows also good results. Comorbidities were relevant predictors, mainly diabetes with complications, showing the highest odds of LOSE (OR = 37,83; p = 0,001). AMI patients with comorbidities (diabetes with complications, cerebrovascular disease, shock, respiratory infections, pulmonary oedema), with pO2 above level, aged 69 years or older, with cardiac dysrhythmia, neutrophils above level, pO2 below level, and prothrombin time above level, showed increased risk of extended LOS. Our findings are consistent with studies that refer these variables as predictors of increased risk.

[Impact of red blood cell distribution width on risk for bleeding events in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes]. / Implicações do índice de dispersão eritrocitária no risco de eventos hemorrágicos em doentes com síndrome coronária aguda sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST.

INTRODUCTION: Higher values of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) have recently been associated with worse outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, its relation to bleeding events in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes has not been established. AIM: To determine the prognostic value of RDW in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes, particularly regarding the risk of major bleeding. METHODS: We analyzed 513 consecutive patients admitted with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. The population was divided into tertiles of baseline RDW and clinical, laboratory characteristics and adverse events were analyzed for each group. The primary outcome was defined as the occurrence of major bleeding (according to the Crusade bleeding score). The predictive value of RDW for risk of major bleeding was determined. RESULTS: The mean RDW was 15.13%±1.62%. Patients in the third tertile were older and more frequently had renal dysfunction or previous coronary revascularization. Higher values of RDW were associated with greater risk of major bleeding and in-hospital death. RDW >15.7% was an independent predictor of bleeding events (odds ratio 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-6.9). CONCLUSIONS: In a population of patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes, RDW was associated with higher in-hospital mortality and was an independent predictor of in-hospital major bleeding.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on percutaneous coronary interventions in Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an unprecedented burden on healthcare systems worldwide, changing the profile of interventional cardiology activity. OBJECTIVES: To quantify and compare the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed for acute and chronic coronary syndromes during the first COVID-19 outbreak with the corresponding period in previous years. METHODS: Data on PCI from the prospective multicenter Portuguese Registry on Interventional Cardiology (RNCI) were used to analyze changes in PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) and chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). The number of PCIs performed during the initial period of the COVID-19 outbreak in Portugal, from March 1 to May 2, 2020, was compared with the mean frequency of PCIs performed during the corresponding period in the previous three years (2017-2019). RESULTS: The total number of PCIs procedures was significantly decreased during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Portugal (-36%, p<0.001). The reduction in PCI procedures for STEMI, NSTE-ACS and CCS was, respectively, -25% (p<0.019), -20% (p<0.068) and -59% (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the corresponding period in the previous three years, the number of PCI procedures performed for STEMI and CCS decreased markedly during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal.

Chronic medical comorbidities in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) frequently present chronic noncardiovascular medical comorbidities that can influence treatment and prognosis. Compliance with therapeutic guidelines in ACS is crucial to event reduction and the presence of these comorbidities may be a determining factor in guideline adherence. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of chronic noncardiovascular medical comorbidities in patients with ACS and their impact on guideline adherence. METHODS: We studied consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit of our institution with a diagnosis of ACS. We identified patients with noncardiovascular comorbidities, divided into five groups: chronic renal failure, pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disease, blood disease or cancer). We assessed complete adherence to pharmacological therapy plus reperfusion (mechanical or pharmacological) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and use of coronary angiography in non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. We compared guideline adherence according to the presence or absence of comorbidities and their impact on in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 146 patients, mean age 64 +/- 13 years and 71% male. In 53% of the patients at least one comorbidity was identified: chronic renal failure in 23%, pulmonary disease in 14%, gastrointestinal disease in 20%, blood disease in 7% and cancer in 9%. Patients with comorbidities were older, and more frequently had a history of ACS, heart failure and peripheral arterial disease. Complete adherence to guidelines was worse in the group with comorbidities (56% vs. 74%; p = 0.025). The presence of noncardiovascular comorbidities was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (9% vs. 0%, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Noncardiovascular medical comorbidities are frequently found in patients with ACS. Adherence to therapeutic guidelines for ACS is suboptimal, particularly in patients with chronic noncardiovascular comorbidities. Moreover, the presence of such comorbidities influences short-term prognosis in ACS patients.

Five-year clinical results of coronary angioplasty with drug-eluting stents. National initiative in strategic innovation, iNOS.

INTRODUCTION: The use of drug-eluting stents (DES) is beneficial in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and there is particular interest in long-term follow-up. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess and characterize early DES use in Portugal during 2003 and patient follow-up over a 5-year period. We developed a web-based database to collect and organize patient and procedural data from PCI performed in ten cardiovascular interventional centers sharing the same database. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study that included 1833 consecutive angiographically successful coronary angioplasties in which a DES was implanted in 2003. A subgroup of patients with 5-year clinical follow-up after the initial procedure was selected for which there was at least a 90% follow-up rate during one quarter of 2003. Demographic, clinical and angiographic characteristics of the entire population were assessed. In the clinical follow-up cohort, the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE)--death, myocardial infarction and surgical or percutaneous target lesion revascularization--was analyzed by survival curves and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the total population, 23% were female, and mean age was 62 +/- 11 years (25-92). The main risk factors were hypertension (60.5%), dyslipidemia (42.9%), smoking (45.1%) and diabetes (23.9%, of whom 13.2% were on insulin therapy). There was a history of myocardial infarction, PCI or bypass surgery respectively in 23.1%, 25.1%, and 9.7% of the patients. Multivessel disease was present in 59.9% of patients (mean of 1.86 +/- 0.81 vessels). PCI was performed on average in 1.24 +/- 0.48 lesions, and complete revascularization in 58.8%. A total of 2058 stents were used (mean of 1.62 +/- 0.84) in 1271 patients. The longitudinal substudy included only 320 PCIs, for which follow-up was achieved in 319 (99%; median: 1875 days, P25: 1457 days, P75: 2045 days). Thirty-seven deaths (11.6%) and 61 MACE (19.1%) occurred in this group, with no differences between insulin-treated and other diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to analyze the early Portuguese experience with drug-eluting stents. The clinical results compare favorably with the first published international registries. The on-line platform used was successful in collecting data in a standardized format on the clinical experience of multiple centers.

[Sinus Tachycardia in the Adolescent: The Importance of Differential Diagnosis]. / Taquicardia Sinusal em Adolescentes: A Importância do Diagnóstico Diferencial.

Sinus tachycardia is common in pediatric age, and is usually related to benign physiological conditions, such as somatoform disorders. Nevertheless, it can also be a presenting sign of a disease with an ominous prognosis. We present a case of a previously healthy 15-year-old girl, admitted for syncope. She had been well until one week before admission, when thoracic pain developed. One month prior to the admission she had started oral contraceptives. On examination, she had persistent sinus tachycardia, despite hemodynamic stability and no other associated sign or symptom. Thoracic computed tomography angiography revealed thrombi in the main pulmonary arteries, which confirmed bilateral pulmonary embolism. She was started on anticoagulation with unremarkable clinical course evolution. Pediatric pulmonary embolism is rare, although probably underdiagnosed, given the nonspecific presentation in most cases. Maintaining a high level of clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism avoids delay in the diagnosis, allows early appropriate treatment and improves prognosis.

A taquicardia sinusal é uma manifestação comum em Pediatria, associada frequentemente a condições fisiológicas, nomeadamente as síndromes de somatização. Pode ser um sinal precoce de patologias graves, com prognóstico adverso. Adolescente de 15 anos, sexo feminino, saudável e sob anticoncetivos orais desde há um mês. Admitida no serviço de urgência por lipotimia. Estava assintomática e não apresentava alterações ao exame objetivo, à exceção de taquicardia sinusal persistente, apesar da estabilidade hemodinâmica. A angio-tomografia computorizada torácica revelou trombos nas artérias pulmonares principais, confirmando o diagnóstico de embolia pulmonar bilateral. Foi iniciada hipocoagulação com boa evolução. A embolia pulmonar em idade pediátrica é rara, embora provavelmente sub-diagnosticada pela apresentação clínica inespecífica, que pode conduzir ao atraso diagnóstico e, consequentemente, agravar o prognóstico.

Permanent cardiac pacing for patients with iatrogenic or potentially reversible bradyarrhythmia. / Bradidisrritmia puramente iatrogénica existe?

INTRODUCTION: In iatrogenic or potentially reversible bradyarrhythmia, drug discontinuation or metabolic correction is recommended before permanent cardiac pacemaker (PM) implantation. These patients often have conduction system disease and there are few data on recurrence or the need for a permanent PM. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the need for PM implantation in patients with iatrogenic bradyarrhythmia or bradyarrhythmia associated with other potentially reversible causes. METHODS: We assessed consecutive symptomatic patients admitted to the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of bradyarrhythmia (atrioventricular [AV] node disease - complete or second-degree AV block (AVB) [CAVB: 2nd-degree AVB - 2:1], sinus bradycardia [SB] and atrial fibrillation [AF] with slow ventricular response [SVR]) in the context of iatrogenic causes or metabolic abnormalities. We determined the percentage of patients who required PM implantation. RESULTS: We studied 153 patients (47% male) admitted for iatrogenic or potentially reversible bradyarrhythmia. Diagnoses were SB 16%, CAVB 63%, second-degree AVB 12%, and AF with SVR 10%. Eighty-five percent of patients were under negative chronotropic therapy, 3% had hyperkalemia and 12% had a combined etiology. After correction of the cause, 55% of patients (n=84) needed a PM. In these patients the most common type of bradyarrhythmia was CAVB, in 77% (n=65) patients. CONCLUSION: In a high percentage of patients with bradyarrhythmia associated with a potentially reversible cause, the arrhythmia recurs or does not resolve during follow-up. Patients with AV node disease constitute a subgroup with a higher risk of recurrence who require greater vigilance during follow-up and should be considered for PM implantation after the first episode.

Adjuvant antithrombotic therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Contemporaneous Portuguese cross-sectional data.

INTRODUCTION: The standard of care for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) includes the activation of a STEMI care network, the administration of adjuvant medical therapy, and reperfusion through primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). While primary PCI is nowadays the first option for the treatment of patients with STEMI, antithrombotic therapy, including antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents, is the cornerstone of pharmacological treatment to optimize their clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe contemporaneous real-world patterns of use of antithrombotic treatments in Portugal for STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. METHODS: An observational, retrospective cross-sectional study was performed for the year 2016, based on data from two national registries: the Portuguese Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes (ProACS) and the Portuguese Registry on Interventional Cardiology (PRIC). Data on oral antiplatelet and procedural intravenous antithrombotic drugs were retrieved. RESULTS: In 2016, the ProACS enrolled 534 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI, while the PRIC registry reported data on 2625 STEMI patients. Of these, 99.6% were treated with aspirin and 75.6% with dual antiplatelet therapy (mostly clopidogrel). GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors (mostly abciximab) were used in 11.6% of cases. Heparins were used in 80% of cases (78% unfractionated heparin [UFH] and 2% low molecular weight heparin). None of the patients included in the registry were treated with cangrelor, prasugrel or bivalirudin. Missing data are one of the main limitations of the registries. CONCLUSIONS: In 2016, according to data from these national registries, almost all patients with STEMI were treated with aspirin and 76% with dual antiplatelet agents, mostly clopidogrel. GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in few patients, and UFH was the most prevalent parenteral anticoagulant drug.

Fifteen years of coronary intravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary intervention in Portugal. / Quinze anos de ecografia intravascular coronária em intervenção coronária percutânea em Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is increasingly important in catheterization laboratories due to its positive prognostic impact. This study aims to characterize the use of IVUS in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Portugal. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed based on the Portuguese Registry on Interventional Cardiology of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. The clinical and angiographic profiles of patients who underwent PCI between 2002 and 2016, the percentage of IVUS use, and the coronary arteries assessed were characterized. RESULTS: A total of 118 706 PCIs were included, in which IVUS was used in 2266 (1.9%). Over time, use of IVUS changed from none in 2002 to generally increasing use from 2003 (0.1%) to 2016 (2.4%). The age of patients in whom coronary IVUS was used was similar to that of patients in whom IVUS was not used, but in the former group there were fewer male patients, and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes), previous myocardial infarction, previous PCI, multivessel coronary disease, C-type or bifurcated coronary lesions, and in-stent restenosis. IVUS was used in 54.8% of elective PCIs and in 19.15% of PCIs of the left main coronary artery. CONCLUSION: Coronary IVUS has been increasingly used in Portugal since 2003. It is used preferentially in elective PCIs, and in patients with higher cardiovascular risk, with more complex coronary lesions and lesions of the left main coronary artery.

Purulent pericarditis with cardiac tamponade caused by anaerobic agents.

Purulent pericarditis is a rare disease associated with high mortality, even with appropriate antibiotic therapy. The authors report the case of a patient with purulent pericarditis with no identifiable primary source that presented clinically as cardiac tamponade. The patient required emergency pericardiocentesis and surgical pericardiectomy due to persisting signs of tamponade. Microbiology cultures isolated anaerobic agents of Fusobacterium spp., Corynebacterium spp. and Peptostreptococcus. The authors review the etiology and treatment of this entity and its main complication, the development of constrictive pericarditis.