Association of Early and Late Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a common complication in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG). However, few studies demonstrate the association between the prognosis and developed CA-AKI in the different periods after the operation. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 3206 patients with preoperative serum creatinine (Scr) and at least twice SCr measurement after CAG. CA-AKI was defined as an increase ≥50% or ≥0.3 mg/dL from baseline in the 72 hours after the procedure. Early CA-AKI was defined as having the first increase in SCr within the early phase (<24 hours), and late CA-AKI was defined as an increase in SCr that occurred for the first time in the late phase (24-72 hours). The first endpoint of this study was long-term all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to count the cumulative mortality, and the log-rank test was used to assess differences between curves. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were performed to assess whether patients who developed different type CA-AKI were at increased risk of long-term mortality. RESULTS: The number of deaths in the 3 groups was 407 for normal (12.7%), 106 for early CA-AKI (32.7%) and 57 for late CA-AKI (17.7%), during a median follow-up period of 3.95 years. After adjusting for important clinical variables, early CA-AKI (HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02-1.74, P=0.038) was significantly associated with mortality, while late CA-AKI (HR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.65-1.31, P=0.633) was not. The same results were found in patients with coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and percutaneous coronary intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Early increases in Scr, i.e., early CA-AKI, have better predictive value for long-term mortality. Therefore, in clinical practice, physicians should pay more attention to patients with early renal injury related to long-term prognosis and give active treatment.

Achieved blood pressure post-acute kidney injury and risk of adverse outcomes after AKI: A prospective parallel cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There has recently been considerable interest in better understanding how blood pressure should be managed after an episode of hospitalized AKI, but there are scant data regarding the associations between blood pressure measured after AKI and subsequent adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that among AKI survivors, higher blood pressure measured three months after hospital discharge would be associated with worse outcomes. We also hypothesized these associations between blood pressure and outcomes would be similar among those who survived non-AKI hospitalizations. METHODS: We quantified how systolic blood pressure (SBP) observed three months after hospital discharge was associated with risks of subsequent hospitalized AKI, loss of kidney function, mortality, and heart failure events among 769 patients in the prospective ASSESS-AKI cohort study who had hospitalized AKI. We repeated this analysis among the 769 matched non-AKI ASSESS-AKI enrollees. We then formally tested for AKI interaction in the full cohort of 1538 patients to determine if these associations differed among those who did and did not experience AKI during the index hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 769 patients with AKI, 42 % had subsequent AKI, 13 % had loss of kidney function, 27 % died, and 18 % had heart failure events. SBP 3 months post-hospitalization did not have a stepwise association with the risk of subsequent AKI, loss of kidney function, mortality, or heart failure events. Among the 769 without AKI, there was also no stepwise association with these risks. In formal interaction testing using the full cohort of 1538 patients, hospitalized AKI did not modify the association between post-discharge SBP and subsequent risks of adverse clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our first hypothesis, we did not observe that higher stepwise blood pressure measured three months after hospital discharge with AKI was associated with worse outcomes. Our data were consistent with our second hypothesis that the association between blood pressure measured three months after hospital discharge and outcomes among AKI survivors is similar to that observed among those who survived non-AKI hospitalizations.

Prognostic Implication of Tricuspid Regurgitation in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with adverse prognosis in various patient populations but currently no data is available about the prevalence and prognostic implication of TR in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possible implication of TR among STEMI patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and its relation to major clinical and echocardiographic parameters. Patient records were assessed for the prevalence and severity of TR as well as the relation to the clinical profile, key echocardiographic parameters, in-hospital outcomes, and long-term mortality. Patients with previous myocardial infarction or known previous TR were excluded. RESULTS: The study included 1071 STEMI patients admitted between September 2011 and May 2016 (age 61 ± 13 years; predominantly male). A total of 205 patients (19%) had mild TR while another 32 (3%) had moderate or greater TR. Patients with significant TR demonstrated worse echocardiographic parameters, were more likely to have in-hospital complications, and had higher long-term mortality (28% vs. 6%, P < 0.001). Following adjustment for significant clinical and echocardiographic parameters, mortality hazard ratio of at least moderate to severe TR remained significant (2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.06-5.6, P = .036) for patients with moderate to severe TR. CONCLUSIONS: Among STEMI patients after primary PCI, the presence of moderate to severe TR was independently associated with adverse outcomes and significantly lower survival rate.

Long-term Mortality Risks Among Living Kidney Donors in Korea.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Living kidney donors may have a higher risk for death and kidney failure. This study aimed to investigate the long-term mortality experience of living kidney donors compared with members of the general public in Korea who underwent voluntary health examinations. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: We first calculated standardized mortality ratios for 1,292 Korean living kidney donors who underwent donor nephrectomy between 1982 and 2016 and 72,286 individuals who underwent voluntary health examinations between 1995 and 2016. Next we compared survival between the 1,292 living kidney donors and a subgroup of the health examination population (n=33,805) who had no evident contraindications to living kidney donation at the time of their examinations. Last, a matched comparator group was created from the health examination population without apparent contraindication to donation by matching 4,387 of them to donors (n=1,237) on age, sex, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urine dipstick albumin excretion, previously diagnosed hypertension and diabetes, and era. EXPOSURES: Donor nephrectomy. OUTCOMES: All-cause mortality and other clinical outcomes after kidney donation. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: First, standardized mortality ratios were calculated separately for living kidney donors and the health examination population standardized to the general population. Second, we used Cox regression analysis to compare mortality between living kidney donors versus the subgroup of the health examination population without evident donation contraindications. Third, we used Cox regression analysis to compare mortality between living kidney donors and matched comparators from the health examination population without apparent contraindication to donation. RESULTS: The living kidney donors and health examination population had excellent survival rates compared with the general population. 52 (4.0%) of 1,292 kidney donors died during a mean follow-up of 12.3±8.1 years and 1,072 (3.2%) of 33,805 in the health examiner subgroup without donation contraindications died during a mean follow-up of 11.4±6.1 years. Donor nephrectomy did not elevate the hazard for mortality after multivariable adjustment in kidney donors and the 33,805 comparators (adjusted HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.71-1.44; P=0.9). Moreover, living donors showed a similar mortality rate compared with the group of matched healthy comparators. LIMITATIONS: Donors from a single transplantation center. Residual confounding owing to the observational study design. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney donors experienced long-term rates of death comparable to nondonor comparators with similar health status.

Association of Side-Branch Treatment and Patient Factors in Left Anterior Descending Artery True Bifurcation Lesions: Analysis from the GRAND-DES Pooled Registry.

METHODS: Patients undergoing PCI to left anterior descending (LAD) bifurcation lesions with contemporary DES were analyzed from a nationwide registry. Baseline risk was assessed using the Age, Creatinine, and Ejection Fraction (ACEF) score. Target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization, was assessed at 3 years. RESULTS: Among 1,089 patients with LAD bifurcation lesions, 548 (50.3%) patients underwent SB treatment. The SB treatment group showed a nonsignificant, but numerically lower rate of 3-year TLF (6.6% vs. 9.2%, HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.44-1.28, p = 0.29). In patients with low pretreatment risk (ACEF<1.22), SB treatment was associated with a lower rate of 3-year TLF (HR 0.43, 95%CI 0.19-0.96, p = 0.04), while no significant difference was observed in patients with high risk (ACEF≥1.22). The difference in the low risk group was mostly driven by target lesion revascularization (HR 0.24, 95%CI 0.08-0.75, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SB treatment for LAD bifurcation lesions showed favorable long-term outcomes compared with main-branch-only intervention, especially in patients with low pretreatment risk.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes for Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with High-Risk Angiographic Findings Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the long-term prognosis of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients with high-risk coronary anatomy (HRCA). BACKGROUND: Coronary disease severity is important for therapeutic decision-making and prognostication among patients presenting with NSTE-ACS. However, long-term outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with HRCA is still unknown. METHOD: NSTE-ACS patients undergoing PCI in Fuwai Hospital in 2013 were prospectively enrolled and subsequently divided into HRCA and low-risk coronary anatomy (LRCA) groups according to whether angiography complies with the HRCA definition. HRCA was defined as left main disease >50%, proximal LAD lesion >70%, or 2- to 3- vessel disease involving the LAD. Prognosis impact on 2-year and 5-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) is analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 4,984 enrolled patients with NSTE-ACS, 3,752 patients belonged to the HRCA group, while 1,232 patients belonged to the LRCA group. Compared with the LRCA group, patients in the HRCA group had worse baseline characteristics including higher age, more comorbidities, and worse angiographic findings. Patients in the HRCA group had higher incidence of unplanned revascularization (2 years: 9.7% vs. 5.1%, p < 0.001; 5 years: 15.4% vs. 10.3%, p < 0.001), 2-year MACCE (13.1% vs. 8.8%, p < 0.001), and 5-year death/MI/revascularization/stroke (23.0% vs. 18.4%, p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed similar results. After adjusting for confounding factors, HRCA is independently associated with higher risk of revascularization (2 years: HR = 1.636, 95% CI: 1.225-2.186; 5 years: HR = 1.460, 95% CI: 1.186-1.798), 2-year MACCE (HR = 1.275, 95% CI = 1.019-1.596) and 5-year death/MI/revascularization/stroke (HR = 1.183, 95% CI: 1.010-1.385). CONCLUSION: In our large cohort of Chinese patients, HRCA is an independent risk factor for long-term unplanned revascularization and MACCE.

Comparison of warfarin versus DOACs in patients with concomitant indication for oral anticoagulation undergoing TAVI; results from the ATLAS registry.

The optimal antithrombotic therapy for patients undergoing TAVI with concomitant indication for oral anticoagulation remains unclear. In this high-risk population group, there is a paucity of data with regards to the use of DOACs. In the present study we compared long-term clinical outcomes of TAVI patients requiring anticoagulation, treated with warfarin versus DOACs. Consecutive patients, who underwent TAVI with indication for oral anticoagulation from the multicenter ATLAS registry were studied and divided in two groups depending on the chosen anticoagulation regimen, warfarin vs. DOACs. 30-day survival, as well as estimated 1 and 2-year all-cause mortality were compared between groups. The secondary endpoint included in-hospital major or life-threatening bleeding. The study group included 217 patients (102 treated with warfarin; 115 treated with DOACs). Kaplan-Meier estimated survival was found to be statistically similar in the warfarin and DOAC groups (90.6% vs. 93.7% for 1-year and 84.5% vs. 88.5%, for 2-year survival, respectively, Plog-rank = 0.984). Adjusted hazard ratio for all cause mortality was similar between the two groups (HRwarfarin vs. DOAC = 1.15; 95% CI 0.33 to 4.04, p = 0.829). Propensity matching revealed similar results. At 30-days, all-cause mortality was found to be comparable between the two groups. With regards to BARC defined bleeding complications, major and life-threatening complications did not differ between the two anticoagulation groups (6% vs. 8% for warfarin and DOACs respectively, p = 0.857). DOACs seem to demonstrate a similar safety and efficacy profile compared to warfarin in TAVI patients with a concomitant indication for oral anticoagulation.

Elevated serum YKL40 level is a predictor of MACE during the long-term follow up in hypertensive patients.

Background: YKL-40 (human cartilage glycoprotein 39, chitinase-3-like protein 1) is an inflammatory marker secreted mainly by macrophages and has distinctive roles on extracellular matrix remodeling, macrophage maturation, adhesion, and migration. Despite the presence of robust data suggesting the association of YKL-40 with variety of cardiovascular diseases (CV), there is no study up to date evaluating the role of YKL-40 on the long-term prognosis in patients with hypertension (HT).Methods: A single center, prospective, observational cohort study that included 327 consecutive hypertensive patients which were presented to a cardiology outpatient clinic. Patients were followed up for 7.89 ± 0.12 years. Primary outcome of the study was the occurrence of major cardiovascular outcomes (MACE) defined as all-cause mortality, new onset heart failure (HF), and coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring revascularization.Results: A total of 135 patients constituted the final study population [mean age: 52.4 ± 10.2, female: 63 (46%)]. A total of 28 (20.7%) patients had MACE during the follow up. Cox regression analysis revealed that age (HR: 1.046, 1.016-1.093 CI 95%, p = .026), diabetes (HR: 2.278, 1.026-5.057 CI 95%, p = .043), and YKL-40 level (HR: 1.019, 1.013-1.026 CI 95%, p = .005) significantly predicted MACE. We found that sensitivity and specificity of YKL-40 > 93.5 for predicting MACE was 71.4% and 65%, respectively with an area under curve (AUC) 0.723 (0.617-0.828 CI 95%, p < .001)Conclusion: Elevated serum YKL-40 level predicted MACE in hypertensive patients during a long-term follow up.

Impact of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia on kidney transplant outcome.

BACKGROUNDS: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. While the acute phase toxicity in patients with PCP is well-characterized, there is a lack of data on the effects of PCP on long-term graft outcome. METHOD: This retrospective observational study analyzed 1502 adult patients who underwent kidney transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital between 2000 and 2017. After a propensity score matching was performed, the graft and survival outcomes were compared between PCP-negative and PCP-positive groups. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (4.5%) developed PCP after transplantation. The multivariable Cox analysis showed that positivity for cytomegalovirus and lack of initial oral antibiotic prophylaxis were risk factors of post-transplant PCP. The PCP-positive group had higher hazard ratios of graft failure [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.1 (1.14-8.26); P = 0.027] and mortality [adjusted HR, 11.0 (3.68-32.80); P < 0.001] than the PCP-negative group. However, the PCP event was not related with subsequent development of de novo donor-specific antibodies or pathologic findings, such as T-cell or antibody mediated rejection and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: PCP is a risk factor of long-term graft failure and mortality, irrespective of rejection. Accordingly, appropriate prophylaxis and treatment is needed to avoid adverse transplant outcomes of PCP.

Abdominal aortic calcification is superior to other arteries calcification in predicting the mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients - a 8 years cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been a growing concern that abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has a predictive effect on the prognosis of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, whether other vascular calcification (VC) can predict the occurrence of adverse events in patients, and whether it is necessary to assess the calcification of other blood vessels remains controversial. This study aimed to assess VC in different sites using X-ray films, and to investigate the predictive effects of VC at different sites on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: The data of Radiographs (lateral abdominal plain film, frontal pelvic radiograph and both hands radiograph) were collected to evaluate the calcification of abdominal aorta, iliac artery, femoral artery, radial artery, and finger arteries. Patients' demographic data, clinical characteristics, laboratory data were recorded. The total follow-up period was 8 years, and the time and cause of death were recorded. Survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. COX regression analysis was used to examine independent predictors of all-cause mortality and CV mortality. RESULTS: One hundred fifty PD patients were included, a total of 79 patients (52.7%) died at the end of follow-up. After adjusting variables in the multivariate COX regression analysis, AAC was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in PD patients (HR = 2.089, 95% CI: 1.089-4.042, P = 0.029), and was also an independent predictor of CV mortality (HR = 4.660, 95% CI: 1.852-11.725, P = 0.001). We also found that femoral artery calcification had a predictive effect on all-cause and CV mortality. But the calcification in iliac artery, radial artery, and finger arteries were not independent predictors of patients' all-cause and CV mortality in PD patients. CONCLUSION: AAC was more common in PD patients and was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and CV mortality. The femoral artery calcification also can predict the mortality, but the calcification of iliac artery, radial artery, and finger arteries cannot predict the mortality of PD patients.

Remote organ failure in acute kidney injury.

Despite supportive care with renal replacement therapy, acute kidney injury (AKI) remains linked with increased short and long-term mortality, not just because of renal failure but also because of accompanying remote organ dysfunction. Increasing evidence from animal studies suggests that numerous factors contribute both to the development of AKI and the impairment of various vital organs, including pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, leukocyte infiltration, vascular permeability changes, ion channel derangement, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. Human studies have reported that AKI with concomitant multi-organ dysfunction is associated with a high death rate. We propose that persistent organ dysfunction after AKI can be considered in relation to three proposed mechanisms (1) classical uremic stress and its associated sequelae (2) systemic inflammation as a consequence of kidney injury (3) treatment-related effects. Using this framework, we discuss the known pathways through which AKI can affect the function of a number of remote organs. We review the short- and long-term clinical impact of AKI on other organ systems and potential mechanisms through which AKI may affect remote organ systems. Further elucidating the effects of AKI on remote organ function may lead to new therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes after AKI.

Long-term Outcomes of Contemporary Coronary Revascularization by Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for choosing between revascularization modalities may not be appropriate for young patients. OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes and guide treatment options for patients < 40 years of age, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 2008 and 2018. METHODS: Outcomes were compared for 183 consecutive patients aged < 40 years who underwent PCI or CABG between 2008 and 2018, Outcomes were compared as time to first event and as cumulative events for non-fatal outcomes. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 36.3 years and 96% were male. Risk factors were similar for both groups. Drug eluting stents were implemented in 71% of PCI patients and total arterial revascularization in 74% of CABG patients. During a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 16 patients (8.6%) died. First cardiovascular events occurred in 35 (38.8%) of the PCI group vs. 29 (31.1%) of the CABG group (log rank P = 0.022), repeat events occurred in 96 vs. 51 (P < 0.01), respectively. After multivariate adjustment, CABG was associated with a significantly reduced risk for first adverse event (hazard ratio [HR] 0.305, P < 0.01) caused by a reduction in repeat revascularization. CABG was also associated with a reduction in overall repeat events (HR 0.293, P < 0.01). There was no difference in overall mortality between CABG and PCI. CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with coronary disease treated by CABG showed a reduction in the risk for non-fatal cardiac events. Mortality was similar with CABG and PCI.

Mortality and vertebral fracture risk associated with long-term oral steroid use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Short-term oral steroid use may improve lung function and respiratory symptoms in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, long-term oral steroid (LTOS) use is not recommended owing to its potential adverse effects. Our study aimed to investigate whether chronic use of oral steroids for more than 4 months would increase mortality and vertebral fracture risk in patients with stable COPD. A systemic search of the PubMed database was conducted, and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. Five studies with a total of 1795 patients showed there was an increased risk of mortality in patients using LTOS (relative risk, 1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-2.23; p < 0.0001; I2 = 86%). In addition, four studies with a total of 17,764 patients showed there was an increased risk of vertebral fracture in patients using LTOS (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.52-3.50; p = 0.03; I2 = 65%). Our meta-analysis showed LTOS was associated with increased mortality and vertebral fracture risk in patients with COPD, and this risk may be due to the adverse effects of LTOS and progression COPD.

High comorbidity index is not associated with high morbidity and mortality when employing constrained arthroplasty as a primary treatment for intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.

AIM: The aim of our study is to investigate the results of constrained total hip arthroplasty as a primary treatment of intertrochanteric fractures (ITF) in elderly patients with high comorbidities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total hip replacement (THR) with a retentive cup was performed on 73 patients with ITF over the age of 54 years who had high comorbidities and a Charlson score above five. Short- and long-term complications were determined by follow-up. Bivariate analysis was conducted in order to determine the possible determinants of mortality and factors associated with comorbidity as measured by the Charlson comorbidities index. RESULTS: Patient demographics that consisted of females (58.9%) (p < 0.04) with the mean age of both males and females demonstrated no statistical significance. The mean hospitalization time and weight bearing time were 11 and 2.67 days, respectively. Only 4.1% needed re-intervention due to re-fracture and none due to prosthesis failure. There was a statistical significance between the comorbidity index and the mortality rate. However, no statistical significance was identified between the comorbidity index and the functional status after constrained THR. CONCLUSION: High comorbidity index is not associated with high morbidity and mortality when employing constrained arthroplasty as a primary treatment for ITF in elderly patients.

Prediction of long-term net clinical outcomes using the TIMI-AF score: Comparison with CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED.

The TIMI-AF score was described to predict net clinical outcomes (NCOs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients receiving warfarin. However, this score derived from the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial, and no external validation exists in real world clinical practice. We tested the long-term predictive performance of the TIMI-AF score in comparison with CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED in a 'real-world' cohort of anticoagulated AF patients. METHODS: We included 1156 consecutive AF patients stable on vitamin K antagonist (INR 2.0-3.0) during 6 months. The baseline risk of NCOs (composite of stroke, life-threatening bleeding, or all-cause mortality) was calculated using the novel TIMI-AF score. During follow-up, all NCOs were recorded and the predictive performance and clinical usefulness of TIMI-AF was compared with CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED. RESULTS: During 6.5 years (IQR 4.3-7.9), there were 563 NCOs (7.49%/year). 'Low-risk' (6.07%/year) and 'medium-risk' (9.49%/year) patients defined by the TIMI-AF suffered more endpoints that low- and medium-risk patients of CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED (2.37%/year and 4.40%/year for low risk; 3.48%/year and 6.39%/year for medium risk, respectively). The predictive performance of TIMI-AF was not different from CHA2DS2-VASc (0.678 vs 0.677, P = .963) or HAS-BLED (0.644 vs 0.671, P = .054). Discrimination and reclassification did not show improvement of prediction using the TIMI-AF score, and decision curves analysis did not demonstrate higher net benefit. CONCLUSIONS: In VKA-experienced AF patients, the TIMI-AF score has limited usefulness predicting NCOs over a long-term period of follow-up. This novel score was not superior to CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED identifying low-risk AF patients.

Long-term clinical outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy with or without defibrillation: impact of the aetiology of cardiomyopathy.

Aims: There is a continuing debate as to whether cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillation (CRT-D) is superior to CRT-pacing (CRT-P), particularly in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). We sought to quantify the clinical outcomes after primary prevention of CRT-D and CRT-P and identify whether these differed according to the aetiology of cardiomyopathy. Methods and results: Analyses were undertaken in the total study population of patients treated with CRT-D (n = 551) or CRT-P (n = 999) and in propensity-matched samples. Device choice was governed by the clinical guidelines in the United Kingdom. In univariable analyses of the total study population, for a maximum follow-up of 16 years (median 4.7 years, interquartile range 2.4-7.1), CRT-D was associated with a lower total mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.72] and the composite endpoints of total mortality or heart failure (HF) hospitalization (HR 0.72) and total mortality or hospitalization for major adverse cardiac events (MACE; HR 0.71) (all P < 0.001). After propensity matching (n = 796), CRT-D was associated with a lower total mortality (HR 0.72) and the composite endpoints (all P < 0.01). When further stratified according to aetiology, CRT-D was associated with a lower total mortality (HR 0.62), total mortality or HF hospitalization (HR 0.63), and total mortality or hospitalization for MACE (HR 0.59) (all P < 0.001) in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). There were no differences in outcomes between CRT-D and CRT-P in patients with NICM. Conclusion: In this study of real-world clinical practice, CRT-D was superior to CRT-P with respect to total mortality and composite endpoints, independent of known confounders. The benefit of CRT-D was evident in ICM but not in NICM.

[Ischaemia of a femoral stump in short- and long-term periods after limb amputation]. / Ishemiia kul'ti bedra v rannem i pozdnem periodakh posle amputatsii.

The authors retrospectively analysed medical case histories of 287 patients subjected to femoral amputations over the period from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2013. The studied parameters were as follows: the frequency of and risk factors for femoral stump ischaemia, as well as the effect on patients' survival after femoral amputation. Amongst 156 patients having endured transfemoral truncation of the limb performed as the first amputation, early femoral stump ischaemia (EFSI) within 3 postoperative months was found to have occurred in 43 (27.6%) patients, whereas amongst 127 patients first subjected to amputation of the crus and then to femoral truncation it occurred in 15 (13.2%) cases; p<0.05. The incidence rate of late femoral stump ischaemia (LFSI) was virtually similar in both groups, amounting to 5.8% (9 of 156) and 5.5% (7 of 127), respectively; p>0.05. The survival rate for patients without stump ischaemia at 12 months after amputation amounted to 79.4%, for those with EFSI to 50.0% (p=0.00928), and for those with LFSI to 71.4% (p=0.22576), whereas by the end of a 5-year follow up period these values appeared to equal 49.2%, 32.1% (p=0.13225) and 7.1% (p=0.01385), respectively. The obtained findings demonstrated that the risk factors for EFSI were as follows: the presence of a femoral stump on the contralateral side, grade III ischaemia, and proximal localization of the lesion of the arterial bed (odds ratio 3.3, 2.7 and 3.8, respectively); a risk factor for LFSI was the presence of a femoral stump on the contralateral side (odds ratio 6.0).

Predictors for long-term survival after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair.

OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors for long-term outcome in high-risk patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) for severe mitral regurgitation (MR). BACKGROUND: There is no data on predictors of long-term outcome in high-risk real-world patients. METHODS: From August 2009 to April 2011, 126 high-risk patients deemed inoperable were treated with TMVR in two high-volume university centers. RESULTS: MR could be successfully reduced to grade ≤2 in 92.1% of patients (116/126 patients). Long-term clinical follow-up up to 5 years (95.2% follow-up rate) revealed a mortality rate of 35.7% (45/126 patients). Repeat mitral valve treatment (surgery or intervention) was needed in 19 patients (15.1%). Long-term clinical improvement was demonstrated with 69% of patients being in NYHA class ≤II. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, the post-procedural grade of MR (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55 per grade, P = 0.035), the left ventricular ejection fraction (HR 0.58 for difference between 75th and 25th percentile, P = 0.031) and the glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.33 for 75th vs 25th percentile, P < 0.001) were independent predictors for long-term mortality. Patients with primary MR and a post-procedural MR grade ≤1 had the most favorable long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study determines predictors of long-term clinical outcome after TMVR and demonstrates that the grade of residual MR determines long-term survival. Our data suggest that it might be of benefit reducing residual MR to the lowest possible MR grade using TMVR-especially in selected high-risk patients with primary MR who are not considered as candidates for surgical MVR.

Impact of right and left ventricular systolic dysfunction on perioperative outcome and long-term survival after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to determine the impact of right- and left-ventricular systolic dysfunction on perioperative outcome and long-term survival after TAVR. METHODS: Study population consisted of 702 TAVRs between 2009 and 2014, 345 by TF, 357 by TA route. RV and LV function were determined by TAPSE and LVEF measurement during baseline echocardiography. Patients were divided according to TAPSE (>18 mm/14-18 mm/<14 mm) and LVEF (>50%/30-50%/<30%) tertiles. Outcome at day-30 and Kaplan-Meier 4-year survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Impaired RV and LV-function did not adversely affect mortality, stroke, bleeding, and vascular-complications at 30 days. Patients with TAPSE < 14 mm displayed elevated rate of renal failure requiring dialysis (11%; P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival was adversely affected by RV-systolic dysfunction RVSD (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that impaired RVSD but not LVSD was an independent determinant for late mortality (hazard ratio TAPSE 14-18 mm: 1.53; P = 0.02; TAPSE <14 mm: 2.12; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Peri-operative mortality and risk of stroke after TAVR are not adversely affected by preexisting RV or LV dysfunction. Long-term survival is impaired in patients with RVSD. RVSD but not LVSD is an independent risk factor for late mortality. TAVR should be the preferred therapy for patients with RVSD and LVSD, especially when patient is suitable for TF.

Long-term outcomes of domiciliary intravenous iloprost in idiopathic and connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There are few published data on the efficacy of i.v. iloprost in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We present long-term outcomes in PAH patients receiving i.v. iloprost in a large UK referral centre. METHODS: Eighty patients with idiopathic PAH (iPAH, n = 46) or PAH associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-PAH, n = 34) were identified as receiving domiciliary i.v. iloprost between January 1999 and April 2015. Baseline characteristics, doses achieved, functional class at follow-up and survival data were retrieved from hospital databases. RESULTS: Median maximum dose achieved was 4.6 ng/kg/min in the iPAH group and 5.0 ng/kg/min in CTD-PAH patients. Exercise capacity significantly improved in the first 6 months of therapy in IPAH patients. Overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival was 78%, 64% and 52% in iPAH (P = 0.002) and 64%, 26% and 21% in CTD-PAH. Independent predictors of survival were age and exercise capacity. CONCLUSION: We report improved survival to that previously reported in iPAH patients treated with domiciliary i.v. iloprost. This may be in part related to higher administered doses. Patients with CTD-PAH had poorer survival, reinforcing the need for early transplantation referral in suitable patients.