An Aspirin-Free Versus Dual Antiplatelet Strategy for Coronary Stenting: STOPDAPT-3 Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding rates on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) within 1 month after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain high in clinical practice, particularly in patients with acute coronary syndrome or high bleeding risk. Aspirin-free strategy might result in lower bleeding early after PCI without increasing cardiovascular events, but its efficacy and safety have not yet been proven in randomized trials. METHODS: We randomly assigned 6002 patients with acute coronary syndrome or high bleeding risk just before PCI either to prasugrel (3.75 mg/day) monotherapy or to DAPT with aspirin (81-100 mg/day) and prasugrel (3.75 mg/day) after loading of 20 mg of prasugrel in both groups. The coprimary end points were major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 3 or 5) for superiority and cardiovascular events (a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, or ischemic stroke) for noninferiority with a relative 50% margin. RESULTS: The full analysis set population consisted of 5966 patients (no-aspirin group, 2984 patients; DAPT group, 2982 patients; age, 71.6±11.7 years; men, 76.6%; acute coronary syndrome, 75.0%). Within 7 days before randomization, aspirin alone, aspirin with P2Y12 inhibitor, oral anticoagulants, and intravenous heparin infusion were given in 21.3%, 6.4%, 8.9%, and 24.5%, respectively. Adherence to the protocol-specified antiplatelet therapy was 88% in both groups at 1 month. At 1 month, the no-aspirin group was not superior to the DAPT group for the coprimary bleeding end point (4.47% and 4.71%; hazard ratio, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.75-1.20]; Psuperiority=0.66). The no-aspirin group was noninferior to the DAPT group for the coprimary cardiovascular end point (4.12% and 3.69%; hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.87-1.45]; Pnoninferiority=0.01). There was no difference in net adverse clinical outcomes and each component of coprimary cardiovascular end point. There was an excess of any unplanned coronary revascularization (1.05% and 0.57%; hazard ratio, 1.83 [95%CI, 1.01-3.30]) and subacute definite or probable stent thrombosis (0.58% and 0.17%; hazard ratio, 3.40 [95% CI, 1.26-9.23]) in the no-aspirin group compared with the DAPT group. CONCLUSIONS: The aspirin-free strategy using low-dose prasugrel compared with the DAPT strategy failed to attest superiority for major bleeding within 1 month after PCI but was noninferior for cardiovascular events within 1 month after PCI. However, the aspirin-free strategy was associated with a signal suggesting an excess of coronary events. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04609111.

Patient-physician sex concordance and outcomes in cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

The sex disparity in outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease is well-described and has persisted across recent decades. While there have been several proposed mechanisms to explain this disparity, there are limited data on female patient-physician sex concordance and its association with outcomes. The authors review the existing literature on the relationship between patient-physician sex concordance and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease, the evidence of a benefit in clinical outcomes with female patient-physician sex concordance, and the possible drivers of such a benefit and highlight directions for future study.

Impact of the clinical frailty scale on long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: The semiquantitative Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is reportedly a useful marker for predicting short- and mid-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We assessed the long-term prognostic impact of CFS in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI. METHODS: We prospectively assessed patients undergoing TAVI in Kokura Memorial Hospital using a 9-level CFS and enrolled 1594 patients after excluding patients with CFS 8-9. The patients were divided into the low (CFS level, 1-3; N = 842), intermediate (4; N = 469), and high (5-7; N = 283) groups according to their CFS levels. RESULTS: In the low, intermediate, and high groups, 3-year all-cause mortality rates were 17.4%, 29.4%, and 41.7% (P < .001) and composite rates of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization were 12.1%, 19.1%, and 23.9% (P < .001), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that higher frailty was independently associated with all-cause mortality (intermediate group: adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-2.15, P < .001; high group: adjusted HR, 2.18, 95% CI, 1.59-2.99, P < .001) and composite of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization (intermediate group: adjusted HR, 1.47, 95% CI, 1.04-2.08, P = .030; high group: adjusted HR, 1.66, 95% CI, 1.09-2.51, P = .018) and this result was consistent, irrespective of stratification based on age, sex, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, and New York Heart Association functional class without significant interaction. CONCLUSIONS: The simple CFS tool predicts the long-term adverse outcomes post-TAVI.

Long-Term Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in High-Risk Subgroups.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reportedly reduce upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, whether the benefits of PPIs differ in high-risk subgroups is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 24,563 patients undergoing first PCI in the CREDO-Kyoto registry Cohort-2 and -3, we evaluated long-term effects of PPI for UGIB, defined as GUSTO moderate/severe bleeding, in several potential high-risk subgroups. In the study population, 45.6% of patients were prescribed PPIs. Over a median 5.6-year follow-up, PPIs were associated with lower adjusted risk of UGIB (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-0.80; P<0.001) and a non-significant but numerically lower risk of any gastrointestinal bleeding (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71-1.01; P=0.06). PPIs were not associated with a lower risk of GUSTO moderate/severe bleeding (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.94-1.15; P=0.40) or a higher adjusted risk of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.90-1.12; P=0.97), but were associated with higher adjusted mortality risk (HR 1.18; 95% CI 1.09-1.27; P<0.001). The effects of PPIs for UGIB, myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke, and all-cause death were consistent regardless of age, sex, acute coronary syndrome, high bleeding risk, oral anticoagulant use, and type of P2Y12inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: PPIs were associated with a lower risk of UGIB and a neutral risk of ischemic events regardless of high-risk subgroup.

Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Severe Aortic Stenosis　- Insights From the CURRENT AS Registry-2.

BACKGROUND: Data on concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) are scarce.Methods and Results: We investigated the risk of concomitant MR in patients with severe AS in the CURRENT AS Registry-2 according to initial treatment strategy (transcatheter aortic valve implantation [TAVI], surgical aortic valve replacement [SAVR], or conservative). Among 3,365 patients with severe AS, 384 (11.4%) had moderate/severe MR (TAVI: n=126/1,148; SAVR: n=68/591; conservative: n=190/1,626). The cumulative 3-year incidence for death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization was significantly higher in the moderate/severe than no/mild MR group in the entire population (54.6% vs. 34.3%, respectively; P<0.001) and for each treatment strategy (TAVI: 45.0% vs. 31.8% [P=0.006]; SAVR: 31.9% vs. 18.7% [P<0.001]; conservative: 67.8% vs. 41.6% [P<0.001]). The higher adjusted risk of moderate/severe MR relative to no/mild MR for death or HF hospitalization was not significant in the entire population (hazard ratio [HR] 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95-1.39; P=0.15); however, the risk was significant in the SAVR (HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.04-3.56; P=0.04) and conservative (HR 1.30; 95% CI 1.02-1.67; P=0.04) groups, but not in the TAVI group (HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.70-1.52; P=0.86), despite no significant interaction (Pinteraction=0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate/severe MR was associated with a higher risk for death or HF hospitalization in the initial SAVR and conservative strategies, while the association was less pronounced in the initial TAVI strategy.

Zero-Contrast Left Atrial Appendage Closure in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) usually requires contrast medium during the procedure. However, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of developing contrast nephropathy. This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of zero-contrast LAAC in patients with CKD.Methods and Results: Zero-contrast LAAC was attempted in 15 patients with CKD Stages 3b-5 who were not on hemodialysis. All procedures were performed successfully, without any periprocedural complications. At the 45-day follow-up, no device-related complications or acute kidney disease were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy of zero-contrast LAAC in patients with CKD can be an acceptable option.

Prevalence and Effects of High-Intensity Statins for Japanese Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome　- A Post Hoc Secondary Analysis of STOPDAPT-2 ACS.

BACKGROUND: The REAL-CAD trial, reported in 2017, demonstrated a significant reduction in cardiovascular events with high-intensity statins in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. However, data are scarce on the use of high-intensity statins in Japanese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods and Results: In STOPDAPT-2 ACS, which exclusively enrolled ACS patients between March 2018 and June 2020, 1,321 (44.2%) patients received high-intensity statins at discharge, whereas of the remaining 1,667 patients, 96.0% were treated with low-dose statins. High-intensity statins were defined as the maximum approved doses of strong statins in Japan. The incidence of the cardiovascular composite endpoint (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, stroke) was significantly lower in patients with than without high-intensity statins (1.44% vs. 2.69% [log-rank P=0.025]; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-0.94, P=0.03) and the effect was evident beyond 60 days after the index percutaneous coronary intervention (log-rank P=0.01; aHR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.86, P=0.02). As for the bleeding endpoint, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (0.99% vs. 0.73% [log-rank P=0.43]; aHR 0.96, 95% CI 0.35-2.60, P=0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of high-intensity statins has increased substantially in Japan. The use of the higher doses of statins in ACS patients recommended in the guidelines was associated with a significantly lower risk of the primary cardiovascular composite endpoint compared with lower-dose statins.

Sex Differences in Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of studies comparing the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for women and men stratified by the presentation of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or stable coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods and Results: The study population included 26,316 patients who underwent PCI (ACS: n=11,119, stable CAD: n=15,197) from the CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort-2 and Cohort-3. The primary outcome was all-cause death. Among patients with ACS, women as compared with men were much older. Among patients with stable CAD, women were also older than men, but with smaller difference. The cumulative 5-year incidence of all-cause death was significantly higher in women than in men in the ACS group (26.2% and 17.9%, log rank P<0.001). In contrast, it was significantly lower in women than in men in the stable CAD group (14.2% and 15.8%, log rank P=0.005). After adjusting confounders, women as compared with men were associated with significantly lower long-term mortality risk with stable CAD but not with ACS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.82, P<0.001, and HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1.01, P=0.07, respectively). There was a significant interaction between the clinical presentation and the mortality risk of women relative to men (interaction P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with men, women had significantly lower adjusted mortality risk after PCI among patients with stable CAD, but not among those with ACS.

Polypharmacy and Bleeding Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy was reported to be associated with major bleeding in various populations. However, there are no data on polypharmacy and its association with bleeding in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods and Results: Among 12,291 patients in the CREDO-Kyoto PCI Registry Cohort-3, we evaluated the number of medications at discharge and compared major bleeding, defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium Type 3 or 5 bleeding, across tertiles (T1-3) of the number of medications. The median number of medications was 6, and 88.0% of patients were on ≥5 medications. The cumulative 5-year incidence of major bleeding increased incrementally with increasing number of medications (T1 [≤5 medications] 12.5%, T2 [6-7] 16.5%, and T3 [≥8] 20.4%; log-rank P<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, the risks for major bleeding of T2 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.36; P=0.001) and T3 (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.12-1.45; P<0.001) relative to T1 remained significant. The adjusted risks of T2 and T3 relative to T1 were not significant for a composite of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke (HR 0.95 [95% CI 0.83-1.09; P=0.47] and HR 1.06 [95% CI 0.91-1.23; P=0.48], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world population of patients undergoing PCI, approximately 90% were on ≥5 medications. Increasing number of medications was associated with a higher adjusted risk for major bleeding, but not ischemic events.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Duration After Multivessel Optimal Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of data evaluating contemporary real-world dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) strategies after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods and Results: In the OPTIVUS-Complex PCI study multivessel cohort enrolling 982 patients undergoing multivessel PCI, including left anterior descending coronary artery using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), we conducted 90-day landmark analyses to compare shorter and longer DAPT. DAPT discontinuation was defined as withdrawal of P2Y12inhibitors or aspirin for at least 2 months. The prevalence of acute coronary syndrome and high bleeding risk by the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium were 14.2% and 52.5%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of DAPT discontinuation was 22.6% at 90 days, and 68.8% at 1 year. In the 90-day landmark analyses, there were no differences in the incidences of a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or any coronary revascularization (5.9% vs. 9.2%, log-rank P=0.12; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-1.08; P=0.09) and BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding (1.4% vs. 1.9%, log-rank P=0.62) between the off- and on-DAPT groups at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of short DAPT duration was still low in this trial conducted after the release of the STOPDAPT-2 trial results. The 1-year incidence of cardiovascular events was not different between the shorter and longer DAPT groups, suggesting no apparent benefit of prolonged DAPT in reducing cardiovascular events even in patients who undergo multivessel PCI.

Comparison of the OPTIVUS-Complex PCI Multivessel Cohort With the Historical CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-3.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on the effect of optimal intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with standard PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with multivessel disease.Methods and Results: The OPTIVUS-Complex PCI study multivessel cohort was a prospective multicenter single-arm study enrolling 1,021 patients undergoing multivessel PCI including the left anterior descending coronary artery using IVUS aiming to meet the prespecified criteria for optimal stent expansion. We conducted propensity score matching analyses between the OPTIVUS group and historical PCI or CABG control groups from the CREDO-Kyoto registry cohort-3 (1,565 and 899 patients) fulfilling the inclusion criteria for this study. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or any coronary revascularization. In the propensity score-matched cohort (OPTIVUS vs. historical PCI control: 926 patients in each group; OPTIVUS vs. historical CABG control: 436 patients in each group), the cumulative 1-year incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly lower in the OPTIVUS group than in the historical PCI control group (10.4% vs. 23.3%; log-rank P<0.001) or the historical CABG control group (11.8% vs. 16.5%; log-rank P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: IVUS-guided PCI targeting the OPTIVUS criteria combined with contemporary clinical practice was associated with superior clinical outcomes at 1 year compared with not only the historical PCI control, but also the historical CABG control.

Rationale, Design, and Baseline Characteristics of the CURRENT AS Registry-2.

BACKGROUND: There is scarce data evaluating the current practice pattern and clinical outcomes for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), including both those who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and those who were managed conservatively in the TAVI era.Methods and Results: The Contemporary outcomes after sURgery and medical tREatmeNT in patients with severe Aortic Stenosis (CURRENT AS) Registry-2 is a prospective, physician-initiated, multicenter registry enrolling consecutive patients who were diagnosed with severe AS between April 2018 and December 2020 among 21 centers in Japan. The rationale for the prospective enrollment was to standardize the assessment of symptomatic status, echocardiographic evaluation, and other recommended diagnostic examinations such as computed tomography and measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide. Moreover, the schedule of clinical and echocardiographic follow up was prospectively defined and strongly recommended for patients who were managed conservatively. The entire study population consisted of 3,394 patients (mean age: 81.6 years and women: 60%). Etiology of AS was degenerative in 90% of patients. AS-related symptoms were present in 60% of patients; these were most often heart failure symptoms. The prevalence of high- and low-gradient AS was 58% and 42%, respectively, with classical and paradoxical low-flow low-gradient AS in 4.6% and 6.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CURRENT AS Registry-2 might be large and meticulous enough to determine the appropriate timing of intervention for patients with severe AS in contemporary clinical practice.

Bleeding Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Past Two Decades in Japan　- From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-2 and Cohort-3.

BACKGROUND: Optimal intensity is unclear for P2Y12receptor blocker therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in real-world clinical practice.Methods and Results: From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry, the current study population consisted of 25,419 patients (Cohort-2: n=12,161 and Cohort-3: n=13,258) who underwent their first PCI. P2Y12receptor blocker therapies were reduced dose of ticlopidine (200 mg/day), and global dose of clopidogrel (75 mg/day) in 87.7% and 94.8% of patients in Cohort-2 and Cohort-3, respectively. Cumulative 3-year incidence of GUSTO moderate/severe bleeding was significantly higher in Cohort-3 than in Cohort-2 (12.1% and 9.0%, P<0.0001). After adjusting 17 demographic factors and 9 management factors potentially related to the bleeding events other than the type of P2Y12receptor blocker, the higher bleeding risk in Cohort-3 relative to Cohort-2 remained significant (hazard ratio (HR): 1.52 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-1.68, P<0.0001). Cohort-3 compared with Cohort-2 was not associated with lower adjusted risk for myocardial infarction/ischemic stroke (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.87-1.06, P=0.44). CONCLUSIONS: In this historical comparative study, Cohort-3 compared with Cohort-2 was associated with excess bleeding risk, which might be at least partly explained by the difference in P2Y12receptor blockers.

Ischemic and bleeding risk after complex percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with or without high bleeding risk.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate utility of the complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) criteria in real-world practice. BACKGROUND: Applicability of procedural complexity criteria for risk stratification has not been adequately evaluated in real-world practice. METHODS: Among 13,087 patients undergoing first PCI in the CREDO-Kyoto registry cohort-2, the study population consisted of 7,871 patients after excluding patients with acute myocardial infarction and those without stent implantation. Complex PCI was defined as PCI, which fulfills at least one of the followings: three vessels treated, > = 3 stents implanted, > = 3 lesions treated, bifurcation with two stents, >60 mm total stent lengths, and target of chronic total occlusion. RESULTS: The cumulative incidences of and adjusted risks for the primary ischemic (myocardial infarction/ischemic stroke), and bleeding (GUSTO moderate/severe) endpoints were significantly higher in patients with complex PCI (N = 2,777 [35%]) than in those with noncomplex PCI (N = 5,094 [65%]) (15.4% vs. 10.9%, log-rank p < .001; odds ratio (OR): 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31-1.79, p < .001, and 11.9% vs. 9.9%, log-rank p = .004; OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.46, p = .01). In the 30-day landmark analysis, the higher risks of patients with complex PCI for ischemic and major bleeding events were only seen within 30 days after PCI (ischemic; within 30 days: HR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.79-2.69, p < .001; beyond 30 days: HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.92-1.34, p = .26, and bleeding; within 30 days: HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.13-2.16, p = .007; beyond 30 days: HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.94-1.31, p = .22). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with complex PCI as compared with patients with noncomplex PCI had a higher risk for both ischemic and bleeding events mainly within 30 days after PCI.

Effects of Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stable Coronary Artery Disease on Bleeding and Ischemic Risk After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Data evaluating the effects of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) relative to stable coronary artery disease (CAD) on bleeding risk after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are scarce.Methods and Results:From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-3, 13,258 patients undergoing first PCI (5,521 ACS; 7,737 stable CAD) were identified. Patients were further stratified according to ACS presentation and Academic Research Consortium High Bleeding Risk (HBR): ACS/HBR: n=2,502; ACS/no-HBR: n=3,019; stable CAD/HBR: n=3,905; and stable CAD/no-HBR: n=3,832. The primary bleeding endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 3/5 bleeding, whereas the primary ischemic endpoint was myocardial infarction (MI)/ischemic stroke. Compared with stable CAD, ACS was associated with a significantly higher adjusted risk for bleeding (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-2.03; P<0.0001), with a markedly higher risk within 30 days (HR 4.24; 95% CI 3.56-5.06; P<0.0001). Compared with the stable CAD/no-HBR group, the ACS/HBR, no-ACS/HBR, and ACS/no-HBR groups were associated with significantly higher adjusted risks for bleeding, with HRs of 3.05 (95% CI 2.64-3.54; P<0.0001), 1.89 (95% CI 1.66-2.15; P<0.0001), and 1.69 (95% CI 1.45-1.98; P<0.0001), respectively. There was no excess adjusted risk of the ACS relative to stable CAD group for MI/ischemic stroke (HR 1.07; 95% CI 0.94-1.22; P=0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Bleeding risk after PCI depended on both ACS presentation and HBR, with a significant effect of ACS within 30 days.

Risk factors affecting pressure ulcer healing: Impact of prescription medications.

Treatment of pressure ulcers requires removing the cause as well as eliminating factors that interfere with healing. There are no reports on the effect of medications prescribed for underlying diseases on pressure ulcers. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate whether medications prescribed to patients with pressure ulcers could be a factor that influences pressure ulcer healing. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with pressure ulcer who were admitted to Chiba University Hospital between June 2009 and June 2015. A total of 110 patients were included in this study. In univariate analysis, there were significant differences in corticosteroid use and total caloric intake. Logistic regression analysis was performed for four factors, including corticosteroid use and total caloric intake, which were significant at P < .05, plus the two factors malignancy and body mass index, which were previously reported as factors that may affect pressure ulcer healing. The results showed that corticosteroid use [odds ratio (OR) 0.205, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.046 to 0.911, P = .037] and total caloric intake [OR 1.002, 95% CI: 1.000 to 1.003, P = .006] were significant risk factors influencing pressure ulcer healing. This study revealed that use of corticosteroids and total caloric intake could be risk factors affecting pressure ulcer healing. These findings provide useful information for the management of pressure ulcer.

Transradial vs. Transfemoral Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With or Without High Bleeding Risk Criteria.

BACKGROUND: The transradial approach is reportedly associated with reduced bleeding complications and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is unknown whether the clinical benefits of transradial vs. transfemoral PCI differ between high bleeding risk (HBR) and non-HBR patients.Methods and Results:After excluding patients with acute myocardial infarction, dialysis, and a transbrachial approach from the 13,087 patients undergoing first PCI in the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-2, 6,828 patients were eligible for this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to bleeding risk based on Academic Research Consortium HBR criteria, and then divided into a further 2 groups according to access site, radial or femoral: HBR-radial, n=1,054 (38.3%); HBR-femoral, n=1,699 (61.7%); non-HBR-radial, n=1,682 (41.3%); and non-HBR-femoral, n=2,393 (58.7%). In the HBR group, the 30-day incidence and adjusted risk for major bleeding (1.9% vs. 4.7% [P<0.001]; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-0.71 [P<0.001]) and all-cause death (0.3% vs. 0.9% [P=0.04]; aHR 0.30, 95% CI 0.07-0.93 [P=0.04]) were significantly lower in the radial than femoral group. There were no significant differences in the 30-day incidence and adjusted risk for major bleeding (0.5% vs. 1.0% [P=0.09]; aHR 0.68, 95% CI 0.30-1.45 [P=0.33]) or all-cause death (0.1% vs. 0.1% [P=0.96]; aHR 1.51, 95% CI 0.19-9.54 [P=0.67]) between the radial and femoral approaches in the non-HBR group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with transfemoral PCI, transradial PCI was associated with lower risk for 30-day major bleeding and mortality in HBR but not non-HBR patients.

Effects of Body Weight on Bleeding and Ischemic Events in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention　- From the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-2.

BACKGROUND: The effect of body weight (BW) on bleeding and ischemic events has not been adequately evaluated in real-world percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice.Methods and Results:12,690 consecutive patients undergoing first PCI in the CREDO-Kyoto registry cohort-2 were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of BW stratified by sex (male; Tertile 1 [<60.0 kg], 2 [60.0-68.0 kg], and 3 [>68.0 kg], and female; Tertile 1 [<47.9 kg], 2 [47.9-55.8 kg], and 3 [>55.8 kg]). Cumulative 5-year incidences of the primary bleeding (GUSTO moderate/severe) and ischemic (myocardial infarction/ischemic stroke) endpoints increased incrementally with decrease in BW in both strata (male Tertiles 1, 2, and 3: 13.7%, 10.3%, and 8.0%, P<0.001, and 13.9%, 11.3%, and 10.2%, P<0.001; female Tertiles 1, 2, and 3: 17.9%, 12.9%, and 10.1%, P<0.001, and 17.9%, 12.9%, and 10.1%, P<0.001). Compared with Tertile 3, the adjusted risks of Tertile 1 for the primary bleeding and ischemic endpoints remained significant in the female stratum (hazard ratio (HR): 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-1.87, P=0.003, and HR:1.49, 95% CI:1.13-1.95, P=0.004), but not in the male stratum (HR:1.10, 95% CI:0.92-1.32, P=0.31, and HR:1.06, 95% CI:0.90-1.27, P=0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative incidences of bleeding and ischemic events increased incrementally as BW decreased in both men and women. The adjusted risks of underweight relative to overweight for bleeding and ischemic events were significant only in women.

Cerebrovascular Disease Detected on Preprocedural Computed Tomography in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of data on the prevalence and clinical impact of cerebrovascular disease detected on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) before aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing AVR, the authors compared clinical outcomes between patients with and without cerebrovascular disease detected on preprocedural CT, which was defined as chronic brain infarction or hemorrhage. The primary outcome measure in this study was a composite of all-cause death or stroke. Among 567 study patients, 200 patients (35.3%) had cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT. Among 200 patients with cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT, only 28.5% of patients had a clinical history of symptomatic stroke. The cumulative 3-year incidence of death or stroke was higher in patients with cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT than in those without cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT (40.7% versus 24.1%, log-rank P<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, the higher risk of patients with cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT relative to those without remained significant for death or stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42 [95% CI, 1.02-1.98]; P=0.04). Among 200 patients with cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT, patients with prior symptomatic stroke compared with those without were not associated with higher adjusted risk for death or stroke (HR, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.72-1.94]; P=0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing AVR, a substantial proportion had cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT, with a clinical history of symptomatic stroke in one-fourth of patients. Regardless of history of symptomatic stroke, patients with cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT had worse clinical outcomes compared with those without cerebrovascular disease on preprocedural CT.