Percutaneous coronary intervention with ridaforolimus eluting-stents in small vessel coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: The ridaforolimus-eluting stent (RES) system uses a novel cobalt alloy-based coronary stent with a durable elastomeric polymer eluting ridaforolimus. AIM OF STUDY: To assess the safety and efficacy of small diameter (2.25 mm) RES (EluNIR) in small coronary artery disease. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label clinical trial. Clinical follow-up was performed at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after the procedure. Target lesions were located in native coronary arteries or bypass graft conduits, with visually estimated diameter of ≥2.25 mm to ≤2.5 mm. The primary endpoint was combined device success, defined as final in-stent residual diameter stenosis <30%, without 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-three patients (28%) had acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at presentation and 37 (46%) had prior myocardial infarction (MI). Most of the target lesions were located in the circumflex coronary artery (44%) and were classified as B2/C grade according to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology classification. The final mean minimal lumen diameter, mean reference vessel diameter, and mean residual percent diameter stenosis were 2.0 ± 0.2 mm, 2.3 ± 0.1 mm, and 14 + 6.6%, respectively. The primary endpoint of device success without 30-day MACE was achieved in 98.8% of the patients. Target lesion failure (TLF) at 6 months was 1.2%. Thirty-day and 1-year MACE rates were 1.2% and 2.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The EluNIR 2.25 mm stent shows excellent results in small coronary artery disease and adds another tool in the treatment of this complex lesion type.

Anti PCSK9 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment in Elderly Patients: A Real-world Clinical Experience.

BACKGROUND: The use of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9 mAbs) is emerging for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, real-world data is lacking for their use among elderly patients. OBJECTIVES: To define the characteristics of elderly patients treated with PCSK9 mAbs and to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability compared with younger patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of elderly patients (≥ 75 years at enrollment) treated with PCSK9 mAbs for primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Data were retrieved for demographic and clinical characteristics; indications for treatment; agents and dosages; concomitant lipid lowering treatment; LDL-C levels at baseline, 6, 12 months, and at the end of follow up. Data also included achieving LDL-C target levels and adverse effects. RESULTS: The cohort included 91 elderly patients and 92 younger patients, mean age 75.2 ± 3.76 and 58.9 ± 7.4 years (P < 0.0001). Most patients (82%, 80%) were in high/very high-risk categories. For almost all (98%, 99%), the indication was statin intolerance, with PCSK9 mAb monotherapy the most prevalent regimen. The average follow-up was 38.1 ± 20.5 and 30.9 ± 15.8 months (P = 0.0258). Within 6 months the LDL-C levels were reduced by 57% in the elderly group and by 59% in the control group (P = 0.2371). Only 53% and 57% reached their LDL-C target levels. No clinically significant side effects were documented. CONCLUSIONS: PCSK9 mAbs have similar effects and are well tolerated among elderly patients as in younger patients.

Cardiac Tamponade in Patients Treated with Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the treatment of choice for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation; however, bleeding risk remains significant. We reported a single-center experience with 11 patients who presented with hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade while treated with DOACs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients under DOACs with cardiac tamponade. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 11 patients treated with DOACs admitted with pericardial tamponade in our cardiology unit during 2018-2021. RESULTS: The mean age was 84 ± 4 years; 7 males. Atrial fibrillation was the indication for anticoagulation in all cases. DOACs included apixaban (8 patients), dabigatran (2 patients), and rivaroxaban (1 patient). Urgent pericardiocentesis via a subxiphoid approach under echocardiography guidance was successfully performed in 10 patients. One patient was treated with urgent surgical drainage with a pericardial window. Reversal of anticoagulation using prothrombin complex concentrate and idarucizumab was given before the procedure to 6 patients treated with apixaban and one patient treated with dabigatran. One patient, initially treated with urgent pericardiocentesis, underwent pericardial window surgery due to re-accumulation of blood in the pericardium. The pericardial fluid analysis demonstrated hemopericardium. Cytology tests were negative for malignant cells in all cases. Discharge diagnoses regarding the cause of hemopericardium included pericarditis (3 patients) and idiopathic (8 patients). Medical therapy included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (1 patient), colchicine (3 patients), and steroids (3 patients). No patient died during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade is a rare complication of DOACs. We found good short-term prognosis following pericardiocentesis.

The Clinical Significance of LDL-Cholesterol on the Outcomes of Hemodialysis Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background and objectives: Dyslipidemia is one of the most important modifiable risk factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in the general population, but its importance in the hemodialysis (HD) population is uncertain. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study includes HD patients hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the period 2015-2020 with lipid profile data during ACS. A control group with preserved kidney function was matched. Risk factors for 30-day and 1-year mortality were assessed. Results: Among 349 patients included in the analysis, 246 were HD-dependent ("HD group"). HD group patients had higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease than the control group. At ACS hospitalization, lipid profile and chronic statin treatment were comparable between groups. Odds ratios for 30-day mortality in HD vs. control group was 5.2 (95% CI 1.8-15; p = 0.002) and for 1-year, 3.4 (95% CI 1.9-6.1; p <0.001). LDL and LDL < 70 did not change 30-day and 1-year mortality rates in the HD group (p = 0.995, 0.823, respectively). However, survival after ACS in HD patients correlated positively with nutritional parameters such as serum albumin (r = 0.368, p < 0.001) and total cholesterol (r = 0.185, p < 0.001), and inversely with the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP; r = -0.348, p < 0.001) and neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR; r = -0.181, p = 0.019). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that heart failure was the only significant predictor of 1-year mortality (OR 2.8, p = 0.002). LDL < 70 mg/dL at ACS hospitalization did not predict 1-year mortality in the HD group. Conclusions: Despite comparable lipid profiles and statin treatment before and after ACS hospitalization, mortality rates were significantly higher among HD group. While malnutrition-inflammation markers were associated with survival of dialysis patients after ACS, LDL cholesterol was not. Thus, our study results emphasize that better nutritional status and less inflammation are associated with improved survival among HD patients.

[CUFFING PRISONERS AND DETAINEES IN ISRAELI HOSPITALS - A MULTI-CENTER STUDY].

AIMS: To describe the extent of prisoner/detainee cuffing and characterize cuffing methods. BACKGROUND: Thousands of prisoners and detainees receive medical treatment in Israeli hospitals every year. According to the Israeli law, cuffing during hospital stay should be an exceptional measure, to be considered only in cases of real threat of violence or escape, based on individual assessment. There is no documentation of cuffing rates in hospitals. METHODS: A multi-center study in 12 hospitals was performed during 2020-2021. Data were collected prospectively or retrieved retrospectively from security records, when available. RESULTS: A total of 1857 prisoners/detainees were documented, of whom 1794 (96.6%) were cuffed. Of the 241 hospitalized patients, 230 (95.4%) were cuffed. Details regarding cuffing methods were available for 185 hospitalized patients, revealing that at least 63 patients (68% of patients for whom details regarding cuffing to bed were available) were cuffed to the bed with opposite arm and leg in a cross position. Cuffing rates of prisoners under custody of the Prisons Authority, police and the Israeli Defense Forces, were 98.5%, 96.6%, and 83%, respectively. Impaired mobility for medical reasons was documented in 64 cases, of whom 85.9% were cuffed regardless. CONCLUSIONS: Cuffing of prisoners/detainees in Israeli hospitals is performed non-selectively, in violation of the law. During hospitalization, cuffing is usually performed in a cross position, severely impairing mobility. Our findings highlight the need for routine documentation of cuffing due to its medical consequences and the responsibility of medical staff towards patients according to rules of ethics and regulations.

Shifting from vitamin K antagonists to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: predictors, patterns and temporal trends.

BACKGROUND: Non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) emerged as an alternative with comparable or superior efficacy and safety to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to investigate the patterns, predictors, timelines and temporal trends of shifting from VKAs to NOACs. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, the computerized database of a large healthcare provider in Israel, Maccabi Healthcare Services, was searched to identify patients with AF for whom either a VKA or NOAC was prescribed between 2012 and 2015. Time from diagnosis to therapy initiation and to shifting between therapies was evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 6987 eligible AF incident patients, 2338 (33.4%) initiated treatment with a VKA and 2221 (31.7%) with a NOAC. In addition, 5259 prevalent patients were analyzed. During the study period, NOAC prescriptions proportion among the newly diagnosed cases increased from 32 to 68.4% (p for trend <  0.001). The median time from diagnosis to first dispensing was greater in NOAC than VKA and decreased among patients treated with NOAC during the study period (2012: 1.9 and 0.3 months, 2015: 0.7 and 0.2 months, respectively). During follow-up, 3737 (49%) patients (54.3% and 47.1% of the incident and prevalent cases, respectively), shifted from a VKA to a NOAC, after a median of 22 months and 39 months in the incident and prevalent cases, respectively, decreasing throughout the study period. Female gender, younger age, southern district, higher CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASC score, non-smoking, and treatment with antiplatelets were associated with a greater likelihood for therapy shift. Shifting from a NOAC to a VKA decreased over time from 8 to 4.5% in 2012 to 0.5% and 0.7% in 2015 in the incident and prevalent groups, p <  0.001 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Shifting from VKA to NOAC occurred in 50% of the cases, more frequently among incident cases, and younger patients with greater stroke risk. Shifting from a NOAC to a VKA was much less frequent, yet it occurred more often in incident cases and decreased over time. A socially and economically sensitive program to optimize the initiation of OAC therapy upon diagnosis is warranted.

Assessment of the CHA2DS2-VASc Score in Predicting Mortality and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes of Patients on Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing chronic hemodialysis are at high mortality and cardiovascular risk. This study was aimed to assess whether the CHA2DS2-VASc score may be used for risk stratification of this population. METHODS: Included were patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis at Meir Medical Center. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated for each patient at the initiation of hemodialysis. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score: 0-3 (low), 4-5 (intermediate), and ≥6 (high). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke during the first year of hemodialysis. RESULTS: Of the 457 patients with ESRD, 181 (40%) had low, 193 (42%) intermediate, and 83 (18%) high CHA2DS2-VASc scores. During the first year of hemodialysis, 109 (23.8%) patients died, 17 (3.7%) had a stroke, and 28 (6.1%) had a myocardial infarction. Compared to patients in the low CHA2DS2-VASc score group, those in the intermediate and high score groups had higher risk for the composite endpoint (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.6-4.2, p < 0.01 and OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.3-7.5, p < 0.01, respectively). Each 1-point increase in CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with a 38% increased risk for the composite endpoint, a 19% increased risk for 1-year myocardial infarction, and a 29% increased risk for 1-year stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ESRD are at an extremely high mortality and cardiovascular risk within the first year of hemodialysis. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was strongly associated with adverse outcomes and may be used for risk stratification of these patients.

Hyperphosphatemia is required for initiation but not propagation of kidney failure-induced calcific aortic valve disease.

High serum levels of phosphate are associated with uremia-induced calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). However, it is not clear whether hyperphosphatemia is required in all phases of the process. Our aim was to determine the effects of phosphate and phosphate depletion at different phases of valve disease. The experimental design consisted of administering a uremia-inducing diet, with or without phosphate enrichment, to rats for 7 wk. Forty-two rats were fed with a phosphate-enriched uremic regimen that caused renal insufficiency and hyperphosphatemia. Another 42 rats were fed with a phosphate-depleted uremic regimen, which induces similar severity of renal insufficiency, but without its related mineral disorder. Aortic valves were evaluated at several points during the time of diet administration. In the second part, additional 54 rats were fed a phosphate-enriched diet for various time periods and were then switched to a phosphate-depleted diet to complete 7 wk of uremic diet. Osteoblast-like phenotype, inflammation, and eventually valve calcification were observed only in rats that were fed with a phosphate-enriched regimen. Significant valve calcification was observed only in rats that were fed a phosphate-enriched diet for at least 4 wk. Valve calcification was observed only when the switch to a phosphate-depleted regimen occurred after osteoblast markers and activation of Akt and ERK intracellular signaling pathways had already been found in the valve. Phosphate is essential for the initiation of the calcification process. However, when osteoblast markers are already expressed in valve tissue, phosphate depletion will not halt the disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY High serum levels of phosphate are associated with uremia-induced calcific aortic valve disease. However, it is not clear whether hyperphosphatemia is required in all phases of the process. Our aim was to determine the effects of phosphate and phosphate depletion at different phases of valve disease. Our findings indicated that phosphate is essential for the initiation of the process that includes macrophage accumulation and osteoblast phenotype. Furthermore, hyperphosphatemia is dispensable beyond a certain phase of the process, a point of "no return" after which phosphate depletion does not prevent calcification. This point is relatively early in the course of calcification, when no calcification is apparent, but the inflammation, osteoblast markers, and activation of ERK and Akt pathways have already been identified. Our findings emphasize the complexity of the calcification process and suggest that different mediators might be required during different phases and that the role of phosphate precedes the actual calcification.

Thrombosis, anticoagulation and outcomes in malignant superior vena cava syndrome.

Anticoagulation is often used in superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) associated with cancer (i.e malignant SVCS), even without thrombosis, but its effect on outcomes has not been reported. We aimed to determine factors and outcomes associated with thrombosis and anticoagulation in malignant SVCS. Patients with malignant SVCS diagnosed on computerized tomography (CT) were retrospectively included, indexed at diagnosis and followed for 6 months using medical records. The cohort included 183 patients with malignant SVCS of which 153 (84%) were symptomatic. Thirty of the 127 patients (24%) with a reviewable baseline CT had thrombosis of the SVC or tributaries at diagnosis. Patients with baseline thrombosis more often had symptomatic SVCS (p < 0.01). 70% (21/30) of patients with thrombosis and 52% (49/97) of those without thrombosis at baseline received anticoagulation, most often at therapeutic doses. Thrombosis occurred in 5/39 patients with anticoagulation (13%) compared to 2/18 (11%) of those without, during follow-up (p = 0.85). Anticoagulation was associated with a reduction in risk of SVC stent placement during follow-up that did not reach statistical significance (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.2-1.13, p = 0.09). Major bleeding occurred in 7 (4%) patients, six of whom received anticoagulation (four therapeutic and two intermediate dose). Neither thrombosis nor anticoagulation affected survival. Anticoagulation is commonly used as primary prevention but its benefit remains to be proven. The role of reduced-dose anticoagulation in non-thrombotic malignant SVCS should be prospectively assessed.

Non-invasive hemodynamic profiling of patients undergoing hemodialysis - a multicenter observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intradialytic blood pressure (BP) measurement is currently the main parameter used for monitoring hemodynamics during hemodialysis (HD). Since BP is dependent on cardiac output and total peripheral resistance, knowledge of these parameters throughout the HD treatment would potentially be valuable. METHODS: The use of a novel non-invasive monitoring system for profiling hemodynamic response patterns during HD was explored: a whole-body bio-impedance system was used to assess cardiac index (CI), total peripheral resistance index (TPRI), cardiac power index (CPI) among other parameters in chronic HD patients from 4 medical centers. Measurements were made pre, during and post dialysis. Patients were grouped into 5 hemodynamic profiles based on their main hemodynamic response during dialysis i.e. high TPRI; high CPI; low CPI; low TPRI and those with normal hemodynamics. Comparisons were made between the groups for baseline characteristics and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: In 144 patients with mean age of 67.3 ± 12.1 years pre-dialysis hemodynamic measurements were within normal limits in 35.4% but only 6.9% overall remained hemodynamically stable during dialysis. Intradialytic BP decreased in 65 (45.1%) in whom, low CPI (47 (72.3%)) and low TPRI (18 (27.7%) were recorded. At 1-year follow-up, mortality rates were highest in patients with low CPI (23.4%) and low TPRI (22.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive assessment of patients' response to HD provides relevant hemodynamic information that exceeds that provided by currently used BP measurements. Use of these online analyses could potentially improve the safety and performance standards of dialysis by guiding appropriate interventions, particularly in responding to hypertension and hypotension.

The Association Between the Risk Scores for Cardiovascular Disease and Long-Term Mortality Following an Acute Coronary Event.

BACKGROUND: A patient`s individual chance of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can be determined by risk scores. OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk score profiles of patients presenting with a first acute coronary event according to pre-admission risk factors and to evaluate its association with long-term mortality. METHODS: The research was based on a retrospective study of a cohort from the 2010 and 2013 Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS). Inclusion criteria included first event and no history of coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease risk equivalent. The Framingham Risk Score, the European Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/ (ACC/AHA) risk calculator were computed for each patient. The risk profile of each patients was determined by the three scores. The prognostic value of each score for 5 year survival was evaluated. RESULTS: The study population comprised 1338 patients enrolled in the prospective ACSIS survey. The ACC/AHA score was the most accurate in identifying patients as high risk based on pre-admission risk factors (73% of the subjects). The Framingham algorithm identified 53%, whereas SCORE recognized only 4%. After multivariate adjustment for clinical factors at presentation, we found that no scores were independently associated with 5 year mortality following the first acute coronary event. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with first acute coronary event had a higher pre-admission risk scores according to the ACC/AHA risk algorithm. No risk scores were independently associated with 5 year survival after an event.

Physical Training in a Medical Fitness Room for Patients with Chronic Diseases: Functional and Metabolic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a pivotal factor in the development and progression of various chronic diseases. However, most fitness facilities exclude unhealthy individuals. Therefore, an exercise program that admits such patients is imperative. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a fitness facility that admits adult subjects with multiple chronic diseases. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective screening of patient records from the Medical Fitness Facility at Meir Medical Center, Israel. Intake of subjects was done by a multidisciplinary team. For each individual, personalized diet and exercise plans were developed and patients attended the facility twice a week. Each participant was evaluated at enrolment and after 4 months for well-being, metabolic parameters, exercise capacity, and laboratory blood tests. RESULTS: A total of 838 individuals were enrolled, mean age 57 years. Their medical conditions included dyslipidemia (48.8%), hypertension (37.6%), and diabetes mellitus (24.9%), followed by musculoskeletal problems (arthropathy 19%, lower back pain 16.1%) and ischemic heart disease (13.4%). Less common diagnoses were vascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, and malignancy. Only 40.5% of participants adhered to the regimen with advanced age being the best predictor for adherence. At the follow-up visit, body mass index was lower (31.2 vs. 30.2 kg/m2, P <0.0001), exercise capacity increased (measured as maximal MET; 7.1 vs. 8.1, P < 0.0001), and well-being improved (measured by Short Form Survey [SF-36]; 69.3 vs. 76.0, P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We show that a fitness program for patients with multiple chronic diseases is feasible and effective in improving prognostic parameters, albeit significantly challenged by adherence limitations.

[SECONDARY PREVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME HOSPITALIZED IN INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENTS].

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention treatment with aspirin/ clopidogrel, beta blockers, inhibitors of the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone converting system and statins reduces the morbidity and mortality of patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, clinical experience suggests that prescription rates in patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments may be low. AIM: To determine the rate of administration of secondary prevention in ACS patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments; identify predictors for full regimen use and evaluate reasons for non-prescription of the medications. METHODS: Retrospective review of the files of 399 patients with ACS hospitalized in the 5 departments of internal medicine in a university affiliated medical center in 2010. Data were collected on demographic and clinical parameters, findings on current admission, medications at admission and at discharge, and reasons for nonprescription of secondary preventive medications. RESULTS: Overall, 62% of patients were discharged with full secondary preventive treatment. In the remainder, the reason for not prescribing the medications was usually not specified. Factors associated with prescription of the "full regimen" were patient receipt of full secondary prevention treatment prior to admission, hypertension, history of myocardial infarction and revascularization, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction as the reason for the current admission, and performance of percutaneous coronary intervention during the current hospitalization. Atrial fibrillation was a negative predictor. CONCLUSIONS: The prescription of full secondary prevention treatment in ACS patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments is suboptimal. Further efforts are needed to implement comprehensive guideline-based management.

Temporal trends in the use of high-dose potent statins following acute coronary syndrome in Israel.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with the prescription of high-dose potent statin (HDPS) therapy following hospitalization for acute coronary events. STUDY DESIGN: Sub-analysis was made using the data of 3,525 patients enrolled in the 2008 and 2010 Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS). METHODS: Analyses were carried out to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with the prescription of HDPS therapy (atorvastatin 40-80 mg/day or rosuvastatin 20-40 mg/day) at discharge compared with the prescription of lower-dose statins. RESULTS: Among the study patients, 1,387 (39%) were discharged on HDPS, 1,860 (53%) with lower-dose statin regimens and 278 (8%) with no recommendation for statin therapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pre-admission usage of HDPS and participation in the more recent (2010) ACSIS survey were independently associated with a higher likelihood of HDPS prescription at discharge from the index event (odds ratio, OR, 21.07, p < 0.001, and 5.61, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas factors independently associated with a lack of HDPS prescription included age >75 years (OR 0.76, p = 0.03), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels <100 mg/dl on admission (OR 0.67, p < 0.001) and a history of heart failure prior to the index hospitalization (OR 0.54, p = 0.0018). The 30-day compliance with the HDPS regimen was 98%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show increased use of HDPS therapy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, although this mode of medical therapy is still underutilized in the important subset of high-risk ACS patients.

The Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Gaps, Challenges, and Solutions.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high burden of coronary artery disease (CAD), which remains the leading cause of death in CKD patients. Despite the high cardiovascular risk, ACS patients with renal dysfunction are less commonly treated with guideline-based medical therapy and are less frequently referred for coronary revascularization. Summary: The management of CAD is more challenging in patients with CKD than in the general population due to concerns regarding side effects and renal toxicity, as well as uncertainty regarding clinical benefit of guideline-based medical therapy and interventions. Patients with advanced CKD and especially those receiving dialysis have not traditionally been represented in randomized trials evaluating either medical or revascularization therapies. Thus, only scant data from small prospective studies or retrospective analyses are available. Recently published studies suggest that there are significant opportunities to substantially improve both cardiovascular and renal outcomes of patients with CAD and CKD, including new medications and interventions. Thus, the objective of this review is to summarize the current evidence regarding the management of CAD in CKD patients, in particular with respect to improvement of both cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Key Messages: Adequate medical therapy and coronary interventions using evidence-based strategies can improve both cardiac and renal outcomes in patients with CAD and CKD.

Statin therapy impact on Long-Term outcomes in acute heart Failure: Retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients.

Background: Statin therapy is well-established for treating hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease (IHD), but its role in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) remains less clear. Despite varying clinical guidelines, the actual utilization and impact of statin therapy initiation in patients with ADHF with an independent indication for statin therapy have not been thoroughly explored. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study on 5978 patients admitted with ADHF between January 1st, 2007, and December 31st, 2017. Patients were grouped based on their statin therapy status at admission and discharge. We performed multivariable analyses to identify independent predictors of short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term mortality. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted on patients with an independent indication for statin therapy but who were not on statins at admission. Results: Of the total patient cohort, 73.9% had an indication for statin therapy. However, only 38.2% were treated with statins at admission, and 56.1% were discharged with a statin prescription. Patients discharged with statins were younger, predominantly male, and had a higher prevalence of IHD and other comorbidities. Statin therapy at discharge was an independent negative predictor of 5-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.76-0.85). The sensitivity analysis confirmed these findings, demonstrating higher mortality rates in patients not initiated on statins during admission. Conclusions: The study highlights significant underutilization of statin therapy among patients admitted with ADHF, even when there's an independent indication for such treatment. Importantly, initiation of statin therapy during hospital admission was independently associated with improved long-term survival.

Effectiveness and Safety of Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation for Patients After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Cardiac rehabilitation improves cardiovascular outcomes in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recently there has been a growing interest in remote cardiac rehabilitation (RCR) programs. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of RCR compared with center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR). This is an observational study including patients after hospital admission for ACS. The study group included patients at low-to-moderate risk for cardiovascular complications who were referred for RCR. The control group included patients at similar risk who participated in CBCR. The primary end points were the improvement of at least 10% to 25% in exercise capacity after 6 months of cardiac rehabilitation. Included were 305 patients who completed 6 months of cardiac rehabilitation. Of them, 107 patients participated in RCR and 198 in CBCR. RCR patients were younger and more frequently males. Improvement of ≥10% in exercise capacity after 6 months was achieved more frequently in patients participating in RCR compared with CBCR (69.3% and 55% respectively, p = 0.03). A similar trend was observed for improvement of ≥25% in exercise capacity after 6 months (33.8% and 22.7% in RCR and CBCR, respectively, p = 0.05). While weight reduction and the increase in muscle mass were similar in the 2 groups, fat percent reduction was significantly greater in the RCR compared with the CBCR (2.5% and 1.4% respectively, p <0.005). We conclude that RCR program is an effective and safe option for low-risk patients after hospital admission for ACS. It enables optimizing the utilization of this important service for patients with coronary artery disease.

Eyeball Test for the Assessment of Frailty in Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Study.

Frailty has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to assess the accuracy of the Eyeball test for frailty assessment in elderly patients with CVD. This is a prospective study including stable patients ≥75 years old who were followed-up in a cardiology clinic. Frailty assessment was performed separately through the Eyeball test and the Fried test in a blinded way. Cardiologists were asked to rate the frailty status of participants based on their routine clinical assessment and grade frailty on a Fried-type scale (1 to 5, with frailty defined as a score ≥3). Each patient then underwent formal frailty assessment using the Fried test. Included were 300 consecutive patients with a mean age of 81 ± 6 years. Frailty was diagnosed in 109 (36%) and 125 patients (41%) according to the Fried and Eyeball tests, respectively. The Eyeball test demonstrated 86% sensitivity and 82% specificity for the diagnosis of frailty. A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.82 for the diagnosis of frailty. The Eyeball test demonstrated a very high negative predictive value of 90% and a modest positive predictive value of 73% for frailty assessment. Similar results were observed after subgroup analysis according to age and gender. In conclusion, the Eyeball test is an accurate method to rule out frailty in elderly patients with CVD. However, when frailty is suspected based on the Eyeball test, a formal tool such as the Fried test should be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Marital status impact on the outcomes of patients admitted for acute decompensation of heart failure: A retrospective, single-center, analysis.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting evidence exists regarding the association between marital status and outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Further, it is not clear whether type of unmarried status (never married, divorced, or widowed) disparities exist in this context. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that marital status will be associated with better outcomes in patients with HF. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study utilized a cohort of 7457 patients admitted with acute decompensated HF (ADHF) between 2007 and 2017. We compared baseline characteristics, clinical indices, and outcomes of these patients grouped by their marital status. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the independency of the association between marital status and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Married patients accounted for 52% of the population while 37%, 9%, and 2% were widowed, divorced, and never married, respectively. Unmarried patients were older (79.8 ± 11.5 vs. 74.8 ± 11.1 years; p < 0.001), more frequently women (71.4% vs. 33.2%; p < 0.001), and less likely to have traditional cardiovascular comorbidities. Compared with married patients, all-cause mortality incidence was higher in unmarried patients at 30 days (14.7% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.001), 1 year, and 5 years (72.9% vs. 68.4%, p < 0.001). Nonadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates for 5-year all-cause mortality by sex, demonstrated the best prognosis for married women, and by marital status in unmarried patients, the best prognosis was demonstrated in divorced patients while the worst was recorded in widowed patients. After adjustment for covariates, marital status was not found to be independently associated with ADHF outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Marital status is not independently associated with outcomes of patients admitted for ADHF. Efforts for outcomes improvement should focus on other, more traditional risk factors.

Outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome according to COVID-19 vaccination status.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccination has been associated with reduced risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, several studies have reported cardiovascular complications following vaccination. We aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination status on the treatment and outcome of ACS patients. METHODS: The study was based on the 2021 Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey. Patients were stratified into two groups according to COVID-19 vaccination status, vaccinated compared to unvaccinated. Patients who had received at least 2 vaccination doses up to 1 week prior to ACS hospitalization were considered vaccinated. The primary endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1261 patients with ACS were included, of whom 990 (78.5%) were vaccinated. Vaccinated patients were older and less frequently smokers. There were no significant differences in coronary reperfusion rates and treatment with guideline-based medical therapy during hospital stay and at discharge. The primary endpoint of 1-year all-cause mortality occurred in 38 (3.8%) and 14 (5.2%) patients in the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups respectively (P = 0.42). 30-day MACE occurred in 94 (9.5%) in the vaccinated patients compared to 31 (11.5%) in the unvaccinated group (P = 0.39). These results remained similar following adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSION: There was no association between COVID-19 vaccination status and the outcomes of patients with ACS. Our findings provide support for the cardiovascular safety of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in patients at high cardiovascular risk.