Dual Antiplatelet Therapy With Cilostazol for Secondary Prevention in Lacunar Stroke: Subanalysis of the CSPS.com Trial.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to prevent recurrent strokes in patients with lacunar stroke remains unclarified. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and to elucidate the safety and effectiveness of DAPT and single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) in preventing recurrence in chronic lacunar stroke. METHODS: CSPS.com (Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study for Antiplatelet Combination) was a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. In this prespecified subanalysis, 925 patients (mean age, 69.5 years; 69.4% men) with lacunar stroke were selected from 1884 patients with high-risk noncardioembolic stroke, enrolled in the CSPS.com trial after 8 to 180 days following stroke. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either SAPT or DAPT using cilostazol and were followed for 0.5 to 3.5 years. The primary efficacy outcome was the first recurrence of ischemic stroke. The safety outcomes were severe or life-threatening bleeding. RESULTS: The DAPT group receiving cilostazol and either aspirin or clopidogrel and SAPT group receiving aspirin or clopidogrel alone comprised 464 (50.2%) and 461 (49.8%) patients, respectively. Ischemic stroke occurred in 12 of 464 patients (1.84 per 100 patient-years) in the DAPT group and 31 of 461 patients (4.42 per 100 patient-years) in the SAPT group, during follow-up. After adjusting for multiple potential confounding factors, ischemic stroke risk was significantly lower in the DAPT group than in the SAPT group (hazard ratio, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.22-0.84]). The rate of severe or life-threatening hemorrhage did not differ significantly between the groups (2 patients [0.31 per 100 patient-years] versus 6 patients [0.86 per 100 patient-years] in the DAPT and SAPT groups, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.07-1.81]). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with lacunar stroke, DAPT using cilostazol had significant benefits in reducing recurrent ischemic stroke incidence compared with SAPT without increasing the risk of severe or life-threatening bleeding. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT01995370. URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr; Unique identifier: UMIN000012180.

Impact of glycated hemoglobin on 2-year clinical outcomes in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: sub-analysis of ANAFIE Registry, a large observational study.

BACKGROUND: This ANAFIE Registry sub-analysis investigated 2-year outcomes and oral anticoagulant (OAC) use stratified by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels among Japanese patients aged ≥ 75 years with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) with and without clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The ANAFIE Registry was a large-scale multicenter, observational study conducted in Japan; this sub-analysis included patients with baseline HbA1c data at baseline. The main endpoints evaluated (stroke/systemic embolic events [SEE], major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, cardiovascular death, all-cause death, and net clinical outcome [a composite of stroke/SEE, major bleeding, and all-cause death]) were stratified by HbA1c levels (< 6.0%; 6.0% to < 7.0%; 7.0% to < 8.0%; and ≥ 8.0%). RESULTS: Of 17,526 patients with baseline HbA1c values, 8725 (49.8%) patients had HbA1c < 6.0%, 6700 (38.2%) had 6.0% to < 7.0%, 1548 (8.8%) had 7.0% to < 8.0%, and 553 (3.2%) had ≥ 8.0%. Compared with other subgroups, patients with HbA1c ≥ 8.0% were more likely to have lower renal function, higher CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, higher prevalence of non-paroxysmal AF, and lower direct OAC (DOAC) administration, but higher warfarin administration. The HbA1c ≥ 8.0% subgroup had higher event rates for all-cause death (log-rank P = 0.003) and net clinical outcome (log-rank P = 0.007). Similar trends were observed for stroke/SEE. In multivariate analysis, risk of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.46 [95% confidence interval 1.11-1.93]) and net clinical outcome (aHR 1.33 [1.05-1.68]) were significantly higher in the HbA1c ≥ 8.0% subgroup. No significant differences were observed in risks of major bleeding or other outcomes in this and other subgroups. No interaction was observed between HbA1c and OACs. Use/non-use of antidiabetic drugs was not associated with risk reduction; event risks did not differ with/without injectable antidiabetic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly Japanese patients with NVAF, only HbA1c ≥ 8.0% was associated with increased all-cause death and net clinical outcome risks; risks of the events did not increase in other HbA1c subgroups. Relative event risks between patients treated with DOACs and warfarin were not modified by HbA1c level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000024006; date of registration: September 12, 2016.

Echocardiographic Parameters of Left Atrial Structure and Function and Clinical Outcomes at 2 Years in Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation　- The ANAFIE Echocardiographic Substudy.

BACKGROUND: This prospective ANAFIE Registry substudy investigated the relationship between the echocardiographic parameters of left atrial (LA) structure and function and clinical outcomes at 2 years among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients aged ≥75 years.Methods and Results: Outcomes of 1,474 elderly non-valvular AF (NVAF) patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography at baseline were analyzed by categories of maximum LA volume index (max. LAVi) and LA emptying fraction (LAEF) total. Baseline mean±standard deviation LAEF total and max. LAVi were 28.2±14.9% and 54.2±25.9 mL/m2, respectively. Proportions of oral anticoagulant (OAC), direct OAC, and warfarin use were 92.7%, 68.7%, and 24.0%, respectively. Patients with LAEF total ≤45.0% (n=1,213) vs. >45.0% (n=224) were at higher risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.19, P=0.021) and heart failure (HF) hospitalization (HR: 2.25, P=0.045). Risk of all-cause death was higher with max. LAVi >48.0 mL/m2(n=656) vs. ≤48.0 mL/m2(n=621) (HR: 1.69, P=0.048). Subgroups with abnormal LA function and structure had increased incidence of cardiac/cardiovascular events and HF hospitalization. No significant interaction was observed between echocardiographic parameters and OAC type. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly Japanese patients with NVAF and LAEF total ≤45.0% were at higher risk of cardiovascular events and HF hospitalization, and those with max. LAVi >48.0 mL/m2were at higher risk of all-cause death.

Causes of Death in Elderly Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation　- Results From the ANAFIE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) included a limited number of elderly patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). This subanalysis of the ANAFIE Registry evaluated 2-year mortality according to causes of death of elderly non-valvular AF (NVAF) patients in the DOAC era.Methods and Results: The ANAFIE Registry was a multicenter prospective observational study. Mean patient age was 81.5 years and 57.3% of patients were male. Of the 32,275 patients completing the study, 2,242 died. The most frequent causes of death were cardiovascular (CV) death (32.4%), followed by infection (17.1%) and malignancy (16.1%). Incidence rates of CV-, malignancy-, and infection-related death were 1.20, 0.60, and 0.63 per 100 person-years, respectively. Patients aged ≥85 years showed increased proportions of non-CV and non-malignancy deaths and a decreased proportion of malignancy deaths compared with patients aged <85 years. The incidence of death due to congestive heart failure/cardiogenic shock, infection, and renal disease was higher in patients aged ≥85 than those aged <85 years. Compared with warfarin, DOACs were associated with a significantly lower risk of death by intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and renal disease. CONCLUSIONS: This subanalysis described the mortality according to causes of death of Japanese elderly NVAF patients in the DOAC era. Our results imply that a more holistic approach to comorbid conditions and stroke prevention are required in these patients.

Relationship Between Direct Oral Anticoagulant Doses and Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation　- ANAFIE Registry Sub-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This sub-analysis of the ANAFIE Registry, a prospective, observational study of >30,000 Japanese non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients aged ≥75 years, assessed the prevalence of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) under-dose prevalence, identified the factors of under-dose prescriptions, and examined the relationship between DOAC dose and clinical outcomes.Methods and Results: Patients, divided into 5 groups by DOAC dose (standard, over-, reduced, under-, and off-label), were analyzed for background factors, cumulative incidences, and clinical outcome risk. Endpoints were stroke/systemic embolic events (SEE), major bleeding, and all-cause death during the 2-year follow-up. Of 18,497 patients taking DOACs, 20.7%, 3.8%, 51.6%, 19.6%, and 4.3%, were prescribed standard, over-, reduced, under-, and off-label doses. Factors associated with under-dose use were female sex, age ≥85 years, reduced creatinine clearance, history of major bleeding, polypharmacy, antiplatelet agents, heart failure, dementia, and no history of catheter ablation or cerebrovascular disease. After confounder adjustment, under-dose vs. standard dose was not associated with the incidence of stroke/SEE or major bleeding but was associated with a higher mortality rate. Patients receiving an off-label dose showed similar tendencies to those receiving an under-dose; that is, they showed the highest mortality rates for stroke/SEE, major bleeding, and all-cause death. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate low DOAC doses (under- or off-label dose) were not associated with stroke/SEE or major bleeding but were associated with all-cause death.

Our Efforts for Ideal Stroke Prevention and Treatment in Japan.

In the present short review for the Sherman Award, Dr Yamaguchi introduces studies at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, which included development of intravenous thrombolysis using low-dose alteplase that was officially approved in Japan, long-term dual antiplatelet therapy using cilostazol together with aspirin or clopidogrel, and others. He also discusses efforts to ensure the passage of the "Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease Control Act," the aims of which are better primary prevention, better acute treatment, rehabilitation, and secondary prevention of stroke for people living in Japan.

Impact of Previous Stroke on Clinical Outcome in Elderly Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: ANAFIE Registry.

BACKGROUND: We determined the long-term event incidence among elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in terms of history of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and oral anticoagulation. METHODS: Patients aged ≥75 years with documented nonvalvular atrial fibrillation enrolled in the prospective, multicenter, observational All Nippon Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly Registry between October 2016 and January 2018 were divided into 2 groups according to history of stroke/TIA. The primary end point was the occurrence of stroke/systemic embolism within 2 years, and secondary end points were major bleeding and all-cause death within 2 years. Cox models were used to determine whether there was a difference in the hazard of each end point in patients with/without history of stroke/TIA, and in ischemic stroke/TIA survivors taking direct oral anticoagulants versus those taking warfarin. RESULTS: Of 32 275 evaluable patients (13 793 women [42.7%]; median age, 81.0 years), 7304 (22.6%) had a history of stroke/TIA. The patients with previous stroke/TIA were more likely to be male and older and had higher hazard rates of stroke/systemic embolism (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.25 [95% CI, 1.97-2.58]), major bleeding (1.25, 1.05-1.49), and all-cause death (1.13, 1.02-1.24) than the other groups. Of 6446 patients with prior ischemic stroke/TIA, 4393 (68.2%) were taking direct oral anticoagulants and 1668 (25.9%) were taking warfarin at enrollment. The risk of stroke/systemic embolism was comparable between these 2 groups (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.71-1.14]), while the risk of major bleeding (0.67, 0.48-0.94), intracranial hemorrhage (0.57, 0.39-0.85), and cardiovascular death (0.71, 0.51-0.99) was lower among those taking direct oral anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged ≥75 years with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and previous stroke/TIA more commonly had subsequent ischemic and hemorrhagic events than those without previous stroke/TIA. Among patients with previous ischemic stroke/TIA, the risk of hemorrhagic events was lower in patients taking direct oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique Identifier: UMIN000024006.

Effect of Cancer on Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation　- Substudy of the ANAFIE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Data on outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and active cancer are scarce. The effect of active cancer on thrombosis and bleeding risks in elderly (≥75 years) patients with non-valvular AF (NVAF) enrolled in the All Nippon AF In the Elderly (ANAFIE) Registry were prospectively analyzed.Methods and Results:In this subanalysis of the ANAFIE Registry, a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted in Japan, we compared the incidence rates of clinical outcomes between active cancer and non-cancer groups. Relationships between primary outcomes and anticoagulation status were evaluated. Of the 32,725 patients enrolled in the Registry, 3,569 had active cancer at baseline; 92.0% of active cancer patients received anticoagulants (23.7%, warfarin; 68.2%, direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs]). Two-year probabilities of stroke/systemic embolic events (SEE) were similar in the cancer (3.33%) and non-cancer (3.16%) groups. Patients with cancer had greater incidences of major bleeding (2.86% vs. 2.04%), all-cause death (10.95% vs. 6.77%), and net clinical outcomes (14.63% vs. 10.00%) than those without cancer. In patients without cancer, DOACs were associated with a decreased risk of stroke/SEE, major bleeding, all-cause death, and net clinical outcome compared with warfarin. No between-treatment differences were observed in patients with active cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Active cancer had no effect on stroke/SEE incidence in elderly NVAF patients, but those with cancer had higher incidences of major bleeding events and all-cause death than those without cancer.

Echocardiographic Structure and Function in Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Japan　- The ANAFIE Echocardiographic Substudy.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic data on the cardiac structure and function in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are limited. This subcohort study of the ANAFIE Registry analyzed echocardiographic parameters to identify cardiac structural and functional characteristics.Methods and Results:Of 32,726 subjects in the ANAFIE population, 1,494 (4.6%) were entered as the echocardiography subcohort. Half of the patients, including those with persistent and permanent AF, older age (≥80 years), and CHADS2score ≥2, had left atrial (LA) volume index ≥48 mL/m2, indicating severe LA enlargement. LA enlargement significantly correlated with impaired LA reservoir function, regardless of age and CHADS2score. Types of AF and rhythm were strongly related to LA volume and reservoir function (P<0.0001). Moderate-to-severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation were significantly more common, and the early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to mitral annulus velocity ratio was significantly higher among patients with than without HF history (all, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this subcohort, LA enlargement correlated with impaired LA reservoir function. Elderly patients with non-valvular AF and a history of HF had LA enlargement and dysfunction, increased LV mass index, low LV ejection fraction, and high heart rate.

Effect of Polypharmacy on Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation　- A Sub-Analysis of the ANAFIE Registry.

BACKGROUND: This All Nippon AF in the Elderly (ANAFIE) Registry sub-analysis evaluated the impact of polypharmacy on 2-year outcomes in a large, elderly (aged ≥75 years) Japanese population with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).Methods and Results: The ANAFIE Registry was a multicenter, prospective, observational study with a 24-month follow-up period. Of 32,275 enrolled NVAF patients, 31,419 were grouped by the number of prescribed concomitant medications (other than oral anticoagulants [OACs]): 0-4 [38.8%], 5-8 [43.3%], and ≥9 [17.9%]). Patients receiving more concomitant medications were older, had poor renal function, and suffered more comorbidities than those receiving fewer concomitant medications. Several patient background factors, including diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, and chronic kidney disease, were significantly correlated with an increased number of concomitant medications. With increasing medications, OAC prescription rates decreased, but the warfarin prescription rate increased, and the cumulative incidence rates of stroke/systemic embolic events (SEE), major bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, fracture/falls, cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death significantly increased (each, P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, increasing medications was independently associated with increases in these events, except for stroke/SEE. There were no significant interactions between the number of medications and anticoagulant treatment with direct OAC or warfarin concerning the incidence of these events. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy was frequent among elderly patients with NVAF who were older with more comorbidities, and was independently associated with a higher incidence of extracranial events.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Using Cilostazol With Aspirin or Clopidogrel: Subanalysis of the CSPS.com Trial.

Background and Purpose: Although dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel reduces the recurrence of ischemic stroke while significantly increasing the bleeding events compared with monotherapy, the CSPS.com trial (Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study combination) showed that DAPT using cilostazol was more effective without the bleeding risk. In the CSPS.com trial, aspirin or clopidogrel was used as the underlying antiplatelet drug. The effectiveness and safety of each combination were examined and clarified. Methods: In the CSPS.com trial, a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled study, patients with high-risk, noncardioembolic ischemic stroke 8 to 180 days after onset treated with aspirin or clopidogrel alone at the discretion of the physician in charge were recruited. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either monotherapy or DAPT using cilostazol and followed for 0.5 to 3.5 years. The primary efficacy outcome was first recurrence of ischemic stroke. The safety outcome was severe or life-threatening bleeding. The analysis was based on the underlying antiplatelet agents. Results: A total of 763 patients taking aspirin and 1116 taking clopidogrel were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Although the clopidogrel group had more risk factors than the aspirin group, the primary efficacy outcome and safety outcome did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. In the aspirin group, the primary efficacy outcome and safety outcome did not differ significantly between the DAPT group and the aspirin-monotherapy group. In the clopidogrel group, the primary end point occurred at a rate of 2.31 per 100 patient-years in the DAPT group and 5.19 per 100 patient-years in the clopidogrel-monotherapy group (hazard ratio, 0.447 [95% CI, 0.258­0.774]). Safety outcome did not differ significantly between groups (0.51 per 100 patient-years versus 0.71 per 100 patient-years, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.730 [95% CI, 0.206­2.588]). Conclusions: The combination of cilostazol and clopidogrel significantly reduced the recurrence of ischemic stroke without increasing the bleeding risk in noncardioembolic, high-risk patients. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01995370. URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; Unique identifier: UMIN000012180.

Baseline Characteristics of Elderly Japanese Patients Aged ≥75 Years With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation and a History of Stroke　- ANAFIE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Despite the well-established benefits in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), oral anticoagulants (OAC) have been underused in elderly patients. We investigated the characteristics and status of anti-thrombotic therapy in elderly NVAF patients in Japan according to a history of stroke or of transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods and Results:In a multicenter, prospective, observational study, 32,726 Japanese patients aged ≥75 years with NVAF were enrolled, and divided into 3 groups for the present analysis: 6,543 patients with previous ischemic stroke (IS) or TIA (2,410 women), 275 with previous hemorrhagic stroke (HS; 113 women), and the other 25,908 without previous stroke or TIA (11,470 women). Median CHADS2score was 5 in patients with IS/TIA, 2 in those with HS and 2 in those without stroke/TIA (P<0.05). Anti-thrombotic agents were used in 97.1% of patients with IS/TIA (OAC alone in 73.0%; antiplatelets alone in 3.7%; and both in 23.4%), 90.2% of those with HS (84.7%, 3.2%, and 12.1%, respectively), and 94.1% of those without stroke/TIA (83.4%, 2.7%, and 13.9%, respectively; P<0.05 for any anti-thrombotic choice). Of patients taking OAC, 72.2% received direct OAC (DOAC). CONCLUSIONS: In this unique nationwide NVAF registry of >30,000 elderly patients, >90% of patients, even those with HS, received anti-thrombotic therapy, nearly always with OAC. DOAC were the major choice of OAC.

Age-Related Differences in the Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Japan　- Insight From the ANAFIE (All Nippon AF In Elderly) Registry.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing as the global population ages. Elderly AF patients (≥75 years) have a worse prognosis than younger patients, and effective management is often difficult due to multiple comorbidities. This analysis examined the age-related differences in clinical characteristics and treatment in real-world elderly Japanese AF patients.Methods and Results:The ANAFIE Registry is a multicenter, prospective, observational registry of 32,726 non-valvular AF patients aged ≥75 years. The present study assessed the age-related differences in baseline clinical status and anticoagulant therapy between age groups 75-<80, 80-<85, 85-<90, and ≥90 years. The prevalence of persistent or permanent AF increased, and that of paroxysmal AF decreased, with increasing age (trend P<0.0001). The risk of stroke, based on CHADS2and CHA2DS2-VASc scores, and bleeding, based on HAS-BLED score, increased with age. Both warfarin and apixaban were used more often as age increased (trend P<0.0001, for each), while other anticoagulants were used less. Anticoagulant doses were significantly lower in older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Permanent/persistent AF, comorbidities, and cardiovascular and bleeding risk all increased significantly with age. Furthermore, use of warfarin and apixaban increased with age, accompanied by a decrease in other oral anticoagulant usage.

Pharmacodynamic assessment of prasugrel and clopidogrel in patients with non-cardioembolic stroke: a multicenter, randomized, active-control clinical trial.

Prasugrel, a novel P2Y12 receptor antagonist, has been shown to be more effective than clopidogrel for preventing cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We investigated the dose-response antiplatelet effects of prasugrel compared with clopidogrel in Japanese patients with non-cardioembolic stroke. The influence of cytochrome P450 (CYP) polymorphisms on the antiplatelet effects of both drugs was also compared. In this multicenter randomized active-control comparative study, patients were randomized to receive prasugrel 2.5 mg, 5 mg, or 7.5 mg (double blind) or clopidogrel 75 mg (open label) once daily for 14 days. The primary endpoint was inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA) in response to adenosine diphosphate 20 µM within 8 h of study drug administration on day 14. Of the 66 patients randomized, data from 63 (prasugrel 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 7.5 mg groups, n = 14, 16, and 18, respectively; clopidogrel group, n = 15) were used in the pharmacodynamic assessment. IPA (arithmetic mean ± SD) after prasugrel administration increased dose-dependently (33 ± 9%, 44 ± 11%, and 53 ± 14%, at 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 7.5 mg, respectively) and was higher in these groups than after clopidogrel (23 ± 16%). In a subgroup of CYP2C19 intermediate metabolizers, IPA was higher in the prasugrel 5 mg and 7.5 mg groups than in the clopidogrel group. No death or serious adverse events were reported. Prasugrel was well tolerated at doses up to 7.5 mg/day and had antiplatelet effects higher than those of clopidogrel 75 mg/day. CYP2C19 polymorphisms may have reduced clopidogrel-induced IPA.

Nationwide Actions Against Heart Failure Pandemic in Japan　- What Should We Do From Academia?

Heart failure pandemic is rapidly approaching in Japan, requiring nationwide actions. In particular, the Japanese Circulation Society and related societies launched the Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease Control Act, which was passed by the National Diet, as the first ever legislative policy measure against stroke and cardiovascular disease. In association with this, actions against heart failure pandemic from the scientific field are also important. Because heart failure pandemic is a critical problem not only in Japan but also in many developed countries, we believe the nationwide approach, as summarized here, will greatly contribute to the development of cardiovascular medicine, particularly the management and treatment of heart failure worldwide.

Baseline Demographics and Clinical Characteristics in the All Nippon AF in the Elderly (ANAFIE) Registry.

BACKGROUND: Despite the well-established benefits in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), anticoagulants have been underused in elderly patients. The All Nippon AF In the Elderly (ANAFIE) Registry is a multicenter, prospective, observational study with 2-year follow-up of Japanese patients aged ≥75 years with a definitive diagnosis of NVAF, aiming to collect detailed information on clinical status and therapeutic challenges in this patient population.Methods and Results:Patients were enrolled from October 2016 to January 2018. A total of 32,726 patients (57.2% male) were included. The average age, CHADS2score, and creatinine clearance were 81.5±4.8 years (26.2% of patients were aged ≥85 years), 2.9±1.2, and 48.4±21.8 mL/min, respectively. Paroxysmal AF was the most common clinical AF type (42.0%), and most patients (97.2%) had comorbidities. Most patients (91.9%) were receiving anticoagulant therapy; of these, 27.8% and 72.2% were treated with warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants, respectively. The average number of concomitant drugs used was 6.6±3.2, including anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS: The ANAFIE Registry is the largest prospective registry study of elderly Japanese patients with NVAF to date. Baseline data indicate that patients in this age group are treated in a manner similar to their younger counterparts.

Japanese Versus Non-Japanese Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke: Subanalysis of TIA registry.org.

BACKGROUND: TIAregistry.org is an international cohort of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke within 7 days before enrollment in the registry. Main analyses of 1-year follow-up data have been reported.5 We conducted subanalysis on the baseline and 1-year follow-up data of Japanese patients. METHODS: The patients were classified into 2 groups based on Japanese ethnicity, Japanese (345) and non-Japanese (3238), and their baseline data and 1-year event rates were compared. We also determined risk factors and predictors of 1-year stroke. RESULTS: Current smoking, regular alcohol drinking, intracranial arterial stenosis, and small vessel occlusion; and hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, and extracranial arterial stenosis were more and less common among Japanese patients, respectively. Stroke risk was higher and TIA risk was lower at 1-year follow-up among Japanese patients. The baseline risk factors for recurrent stroke were diabetes, alcohol drinking, and large artery atherosclerosis. Independent predictors of 1-year stroke risk were prior congestive heart failure and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The two populations of patients featured differences in risk factors, stroke subtypes, and outcome events. Predictors of recurrent stroke among Japanese patients included congestive heart failure and regular alcohol drinking. Strategies to attenuate residual risk of stroke aside from adherence to current guidelines should take our Japanese-patient specific findings into account.

Outcome of Acute Ischemic Stroke after the Treatment with Edaravone and 0.6 Mg/Kg Alteplase in Japanese Patients with Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: We investigated how diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the outcome of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), comparing with the outcomes in those who had hypertension (HT) and atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: This study was a sub-analysis of PROTECT4.5, which was previously performed as a large-scale, prospective observational study of edaravone with approximately 10,000 patients with AIS in Japan. The study patients treated with edaravone alone or edaravone + alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator [tPA]) were analyzed for their outcomes and explored for the risk factors of poor outcome, after being divided into 8 groups according to their affected complications of DM, HT, or AF in the groups treated with edaravone alone or edaravone + tPA. RESULTS: Among patients treated with edaravone alone and edaravone + tPA, the mean reduction in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale from baseline to 3 months after the onset was 2.0 and 4.4 in DM groups, respectively. The reduction was smaller in these groups compared with other groups (3.3-4.3 and 6.0-7.7, respectively). The logistic regression model revealed that DM was an independent risk factor for highly unfavorable outcome of modified Rankin Scale score 3-6 at 3 months after the onset, among both patients treated with edaravone alone and those treated with edaravone + tPA (odds ratio [OR]: 2.23, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.42-3.50 and OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.33-3.14, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: DM is suggested to adversely affect the outcome of AIS in Japanese patients.

Edaravone with and without .6 Mg/Kg Alteplase within 4.5 Hours after Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study (PROTECT4.5).

BACKGROUND: Edaravone is widely used to treat acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within 24 hours of onset. We aimed to evaluate current edaravone treatment practices and the efficacy and safety of edaravone used with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in AIS patients within 4.5 hours of onset. The results were compared with those of the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Registry (SITS-ISTR) study. METHODS: PROTECT4.5 was a prospective observational study conducted from April 2010 to March 2013 in Japan. The primary end points were favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score [mRS] 0-1) at 3 months after onset and incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within 36 hours of treatment. For comparison with SITS-ISTR, patients were categorized based on the time from onset to treatment (within 3 hours of and 3-4.5 hours after onset) and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS). RESULTS: Among the 11,384 registered patients, 11,126 and 8274 patients were included in the safety and efficacy analysis populations, respectively. The proportions of patients with mRS 0-1 receiving edaravone alone and edaravone + tPA were 51.3% (95% confidence interval, 49.7%-52.8%) and 39.0% (37.6%-40.5%), respectively. The incidence of sICH within 36 hours after tPA treatment (edaravone + tPA group) was 1.6% (1.3%-2.0%). When compared with the SITS-ISTR results, those treated with edaravone + tPA appeared to show better outcomes in patients with NIHSS score ≥16. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with tPA and administered within 4.5 hours of AIS onset were demonstrated with numerically lower incidence of sICH and better outcomes.

Effects of a Public Education Campaign on the Association Between Knowledge of Early Stroke Symptoms and Intention to Call an Ambulance at Stroke Onset: The Acquisition of Stroke Knowledge (ASK) Study.

BACKGROUND: An immediate ambulance call offers the greatest opportunity for acute stroke therapy. Effectively using ambulance services requires strengthening the association between knowledge of early stroke symptoms and intention to call an ambulance at stroke onset, and encouraging the public to use ambulance services. METHODS: The present study utilized data from the Acquisition of Stroke Knowledge (ASK) study, which administered multiple-choice, mail-in surveys regarding awareness of early stroke symptoms and response to a stroke attack before and after a 2-year stroke education campaign in two areas subject to intensive and moderate intervention, as well as in a control area, in Japan. In these three areas, 3833 individuals (1680, 1088 and 1065 participants in intensive intervention, moderate intervention, and control areas, respectively), aged 40 to 74 years, who responded appropriately to each survey were included in the present study. RESULTS: After the intervention, the number of correctly identified symptoms significantly associated with intention to call an ambulance (P < 0.05) increased (eg, from 4 to 5 correctly identified symptoms), without increasing choice of decoy symptoms in the intensive intervention area. Meanwhile, in other areas, rate of identification of not only correct symptoms but also decoy symptoms associated with intention to call an ambulance increased. Furthermore, the association between improvement in the knowledge of stroke symptoms and intention to call an ambulance was observed only in the intensive intervention area (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that intensive interventions are useful for strengthening the association between correct knowledge of early stroke symptoms and intention to call an ambulance, without strengthening the association between incorrect knowledge and intention to call an ambulance.