Increase in ticagrelor use over time is associated with lower rates of ischemic stroke following myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a rapid change in preferred treatment from clopidogrel to ticagrelor on the risk of ischemic stroke following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Data for AMI patients treated with either clopidogrel or ticagrelor were obtained from the Swedish Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions (RIKS-HIA). Patients were divided into two cohorts, each covering a two-year time period; the initial prescription of ticagrelor (20 Dec 2011) was used as a cut-off point. Patients in the early cohort (n = 23,447) were treated with clopidogrel, while those in the later cohort (n = 24,227), were treated with either clopidogrel (47.9%) or ticagrelor (52.1%). Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to assess the risk of ischemic stroke over time, with multivariable Cox regression analyses used to identify predictors of ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Of 47,674 patients, there were 1203 cases of ischemic stroke. Cumulative Kaplan-Meier incidence estimates of ischemic stroke after one year were 2.8% vs. 2.4% for the early and late cohorts, respectively (p = 0.001). Older age, hypertension, diabetes, previous stroke, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and ST-elevation myocardial infarction were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Percutaneous coronary intervention and statins at discharge were associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke, as was higher estimated glomerular filtration rate. Membership of the late cohort correlated with a 13% reduction in the relative risk of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of ticagrelor as well as an improved management of AMI was associated with a lower rate of ischemic stroke in a relatively unselected AMI population.

Nurse-led, telephone-based follow-up after acute coronary syndrome yields improved risk factors after 36 months: the randomized controlled NAILED-ACS trial.

We investigated whether a nurse-led, telephone-based follow-up including medical titration was superior to usual care in improving blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values 36 months after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We screened all patients admitted with ACS at Östersund hospital, Sweden, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, for inclusion based on ability to participate in a telephone-based follow-up. Participants were randomly allocated to usual care or an intervention group that received counselling and medical titration to target BP < 140/< 90 mmHg and LDL-C < 2.5/< 1.8 mmol/L. The primary outcome was LDL-C at 36 months. Of 962 patients, 797 (83%) were available for analysis after 36 months. Compared to controls, the intervention group had a mean systolic BP (SBP) 4.1 mmHg lower (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-6.5), mean diastolic BP (DBP) 2.9 mmHg lower (95% CI 1.5-4.5), and mean LDL-C 0.28 mmol/L lower (95% CI 0.135-0.42). All P < 0.001. A significantly greater proportion of patients reached treatment targets with the intervention. After 36 months of follow-up, compared to usual care, the nurse-led, telephone-based intervention led to significantly lower SBP, DBP, and LDL-C and to a larger proportion of patients meeting target values.Trial registration: ISRCTN registry. Trial number ISRCTN96595458. Retrospectively registered.

The introduction of ticagrelor is associated with lower rates of recurrent ischemic stroke after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Previous ischemic stroke is a predictor of recurrent ischemic stroke after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Dual antiplatelet therapy, including a P2Y12-inhibitor, is important in secondary prevention after AMI. Ticagrelor, a P2Y12-inhibitor, is more potent than the commonly used clopidogrel. Here, we evaluated the impact of ticagrelor on the risk of ischemic stroke following AMI in patients with previous ischemic stroke. METHODS: Data for patients with AMI that had a previous ischemic stroke were obtained from the Swedish Registry of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions. Patients were assigned to early and late cohorts, each covering a two-year time period before and after, respectively, the introduction of ticagrelor prescriptions (20 Dec 2011). Patients in the early cohort (n = 1633) were treated with clopidogrel (100%); those in the late cohort (n = 1642) were treated with either clopidogrel (66.3%) or ticagrelor (33.7%). We assessed the risk of ischemic stroke and intracranial bleeding over time with Kaplan-Meier analyses. We identified predictors of ischemic stroke with multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 3275 patients, 311 experienced ischemic stroke after AMI. Cumulative Kaplan-Meier incidence estimates of ischemic stroke within one year after AMI were 12.1% versus 8.6% for the early and late cohorts, respectively (p<0.01). Intracranial bleeding incidences (1.2% versus 1.5%) were similar between the two cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor introduction was associated with a lower rate of ischemic stroke, with no increase in intracranial bleeding, in an AMI population with a history of ischemic stroke.

International feasibility trial on the use of an interactive mobile health platform for cardiac rehabilitation: protocol of the Diversity 1 study.

INTRODUCTION: The implementation of home-based cardiac rehabilitation has demonstrated potential to increase patient participation, but the content and the delivering of the programmes varies across countries. The objective of this study is to investigate whether an Australian-validated mobile health (mHealth) platform for cardiac rehabilitation will be accepted and adopted irrespectively from the existing organisational and contextual factors in five different European countries. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This international multicentre feasibility study will use surveys, preliminary observations and analysis to evaluate the use and the user's perceptions (satisfaction) of a validated mHealth platform in different contextual settings. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol has been approved by the Australian research organisation CSIRO and the respective ethical committees of the European sites. The dissemination of this trial will serve as a ground for the further implementation of an international large randomised controlled trial which will contribute to an effective global introduction of mHealth into daily clinical practice.

Ischemic stroke rates decrease with increased ticagrelor use after acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aims It is unknown whether dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor instead of clopidogrel reduces the risk of ischaemic stroke in acute myocardial infarction patients that undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. This study investigated whether the introduction of dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor was associated with reduced ischaemic stroke risk in a real-world population. Methods and results Patients with ischaemic stroke after acute myocardial infarction from 8 December 2009-31 December 2013 were identified using the Register for Information and Knowledge on Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions and the Swedish National Patient Register. The study period was divided into two similar periods using the date of the first prescription of ticagrelor as the cut-off. The risk of ischaemic stroke in percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients during the first period (100% clopidogrel treatment) versus the second period (60.7% ticagrelor treatment) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Variables associated with ischaemic stroke were identified using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. There were 686 ischaemic stroke events (2.0%) among 34931 percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients within one year, 366 (2.2%) during the first period and 320 (1.8%) during the second period ( p = 0.004). The Cox model showed a 21% relative risk reduction in ischaemic stroke in the second period versus the first one (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.92; p = 0.003). The independent predictors of increased stroke risk were older age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, heart failure during hospitalization, previous ischaemic stroke, and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Conclusion The risk of ischaemic stroke in percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients decreased after the introduction of ticagrelor in Sweden.

Nurse-led telephone-based follow-up of secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome: One-year results from the randomized controlled NAILED-ACS trial.

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could reduce morbidity and mortality, but guideline targets are seldom reached. We hypothesized that nurse-led telephone-based intervention would increase adherence. METHODS: The NAILED ACS trial is a prospective, controlled, randomized trial. Patients admitted for ACS at Östersund hospital, Sweden, were randomized to usual follow-up by a general practitioner or a nurse-led intervention. The intervention comprised telephone follow-up after 1 month and then yearly with lifestyle counselling and titration of medications until reaching target values for LDL-C (<2.5 mmol/L) and blood pressure (BP; <140/90 mmHg) or set targets were deemed unachievable. This is a 12-month exploratory analysis of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 768 patients (396 intervention, 372 control) completed the 12-month follow-up. After titration at the 1-month follow-up, mean LDL-C was 0.38 mmol/L (95% CI 0.28 to 0.48, p<0.05), mean systolic BP 7 mmHg (95% CI 4.5 to 9.2, p<0.05), and mean diastolic BP 4 mmHg (95% CI 2.4 to 4.1, p<0.05) lower in the intervention group. Target values for LDL-C and systolic BP were met by 94.1% and 91.9% of intervention patients and 68.4% and 65.6% of controls (p<0.05). At 12 months, mean LDL was 0.3 mmol/L (95% CI 0.1 to 0.4, p <0.05), systolic BP 1.5 mmHg (95% CI -1.0 to 4.1, p = 0.24), and mean diastolic BP 2.1 mmHg (95% CI 0.6 to 3.6, p <0.05) lower in the intervention group. Target values for LDL-C and systolic BP were met in 77.7% and 68.9% of intervention patients and 63.2% and 63.7% of controls (p<0.05 and p = 0.125). CONCLUSION: Nurse-led telephone-based secondary prevention was significantly more efficient at improving LDL-C and diastolic BP levels than usual care. The effect of the intervention declined between 1 and 12 months. Further evaluation of the persistence to the intervention is needed.

Implementation of a telephone-based secondary preventive intervention after acute coronary syndrome (ACS): participation rate, reasons for non-participation and 1-year survival.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of death from a non-communicable disease. Secondary prevention is effective for reducing morbidity and mortality, but evidence-based targets are seldom reached and new interventional methods are needed. The present study is a feasibility study of a telephone-based secondary preventive programme in an unselected ACS cohort. METHODS: The NAILED (Nurse-based Age-independent Intervention to Limit Evolution of Disease) ACS trial is a prospective randomized controlled trial. All eligible patients admitted for ACS were randomized to usual follow-up by a general practitioner or telephone follow-up by study nurses. The intervention was made by continuous telephone contact, with counseling on healthy living and titration of medicines to reach target values for blood pressure and blood lipids. Exclusion criteria were limited to physical inability to follow the study design or participation in another study. RESULTS: A total of 907 patients were assessed for inclusion. Of these, 661 (72.9%) were included and randomized, 100 (11%) declined participation, and 146 (16.1%) were excluded. The main reasons for exclusion were participation in another trial, dementia, and advanced disease. "Excluded" and "declining" patients were significantly older with more co-morbidity, decreased functional status, and had more seldom received education above compulsory school level than "included" patients. Non-participants had a higher 1-year mortality than participants. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse-led telephone-based follow-up after ACS can be applied to a large proportion in an unselected clinical setting. Reasons for non-participation, which were associated with increased mortality, include older age, multiple co-morbidities, decreased functional status and low level of education. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): ISRCTN96595458 (archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6RlyhYTYK). Application date: 10 July 2011.