Growth differentiation factor 15 and cardiovascular risk: individual patient meta-analysis.

AIMS: Levels of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine secreted in response to cellular stress and inflammation, have been associated with multiple types of cardiovascular (CV) events. However, its comparative prognostic performance across different presentations of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: An individual patient meta-analysis was performed using data pooled from eight trials including 53 486 patients. Baseline GDF-15 concentration was analyzed as a continuous variable and using established cutpoints (<1200 ng/L, 1200-1800 ng/L, > 1800 ng/L) to evaluate its prognostic performance for CV death/hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and their components using Cox models adjusted for clinical variables and established CV biomarkers. Analyses were further stratified on ASCVD status: acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stabilized after recent ACS, and stable ASCVD. Overall, higher GDF-15 concentration was significantly and independently associated with an increased rate of CV death/HHF and MACE (P < 0.001 for each). However, while GDF-15 showed a robust and consistent independent association with CV death and HHF across all presentations of ASCVD, its prognostic association with future myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke only remained significant in patients stabilized after recent ACS or with stable ASCVD [hazard ratio (HR): 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-1.31 and HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05-1.28 for MI and stroke, respectively] and not in ACS (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.90-1.06 and HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.39-1.92, respectively). CONCLUSION: Growth differentiation factor 15 consistently adds prognostic information for CV death and HHF across the spectrum of ASCVD. GDF-15 also adds prognostic information for MI and stroke beyond clinical risk factors and cardiac biomarkers but not in the setting of ACS.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Patient-Level Network Meta-Analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials With Interaction Testing by Age and Sex.

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Meta-analyses using individual patient data offer substantial advantages over study-level data. METHODS: We used individual patient data from the COMBINE AF (A Collaboration Between Multiple Institutions to Better Investigate Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Use in Atrial Fibrillation) database, which includes all patients randomized in the 4 pivotal trials of DOACs versus warfarin in atrial fibrillation (RE-LY [Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy], ROCKET AF [Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation], ARISTOTLE [Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation], and ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 [Effective Anticoagulation With Factor Xa Next Generation in Atrial Fibrillation-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 48]), to perform network meta-analyses using a stratified Cox model with random effects comparing standard-dose DOAC, lower-dose DOAC, and warfarin. Hazard ratios (HRs [95% CIs]) were calculated for efficacy and safety outcomes. Covariate-by-treatment interaction was estimated for categorical covariates and for age as a continuous covariate, stratified by sex. RESULTS: A total of 71 683 patients were included (29 362 on standard-dose DOAC, 13 049 on lower-dose DOAC, and 29 272 on warfarin). Compared with warfarin, standard-dose DOACs were associated with a significantly lower hazard of stroke or systemic embolism (883/29 312 [3.01%] versus 1080/29 229 [3.69%]; HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.74-0.89]), death (2276/29 312 [7.76%] versus 2460/29 229 [8.42%]; HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.87-0.97]), and intracranial bleeding (184/29 270 [0.63%] versus 409/29 187 [1.40%]; HR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.37-0.56]), but no statistically different hazard of major bleeding (1479/29 270 [5.05%] versus 1733/29 187 [5.94%]; HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.74-1.01]), whereas lower-dose DOACs were associated with no statistically different hazard of stroke or systemic embolism (531/13 049 [3.96%] versus 1080/29 229 [3.69%]; HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.95-1.19]) but a lower hazard of intracranial bleeding (55/12 985 [0.42%] versus 409/29 187 [1.40%]; HR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.21-0.37]), death (1082/13 049 [8.29%] versus 2460/29 229 [8.42%]; HR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.83-0.97]), and major bleeding (564/12 985 [4.34%] versus 1733/29 187 [5.94%]; HR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.45-0.88]). Treatment effects for standard- and lower-dose DOACs versus warfarin were consistent across age and sex for stroke or systemic embolism and death, whereas standard-dose DOACs were favored in patients with no history of vitamin K antagonist use (P=0.01) and lower creatinine clearance (P=0.09). For major bleeding, standard-dose DOACs were favored in patients with lower body weight (P=0.02). In the continuous covariate analysis, younger patients derived greater benefits from standard-dose (interaction P=0.02) and lower-dose DOACs (interaction P=0.01) versus warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with warfarin, DOACs have more favorable efficacy and safety profiles among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Continuous and Early Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness after Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: 5-Year Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis (RI-CS) is known as one of long-term side effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). However, the clinical time course after irradiation has been poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the natural history of radiation-induced carotid atherosclerosis, comparing the patients who received radiotherapy for HNC with the patients who were treated without radiotherapy. METHODS: The patients who received treatment of HNC at Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Kyoto University Hospital, from November 2012 to July 2015 were enrolled. The patients were assigned into the RT group and the control group, depending on whether radiotherapy was planned or not. Annual carotid ultrasound was performed from the enrollment to 5 years. The increase of mean intima-media thickness (IMT) at common carotid artery from the enrollment (Δmean IMT) was evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients in the RT group and 25 patients in the control group were enrolled. From 5-year follow-up data, the significant higher increase of Δmean IMT was consistently observed in the RT group than in the control group after 2 years. The RT group presented a 7.8-fold increase of mean IMT compared to the control group (0.060 mm per year in the RT group and 0.008 mm per year in the control group). Cumulative incidence curves obtained from the analysis of all vessels revealed that the RT group presented higher incidence of Δmean IMT ≥0.25 mm than the control group (p < 0.01). In the RT group, the patients with mean IMT ≥1.0 mm at enrollment exhibited significantly higher incidence of Δmean IMT ≥0.25 mm than the patients with mean IMT <1.0 mm (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: Radiotherapy for HNC induces continuous carotid mean IMT progression. The irradiated carotid arteries with mean IMT ≥1.0 mm before radiotherapy presented earlier IMT progression than those with mean IMT <1.0 mm.

Non-missense variants of KCNH2 show better outcomes in type 2 long QT syndrome.

AIMS: More than one-third of type 2 long QT syndrome (LQT2) patients carry KCNH2 non-missense variants that can result in haploinsufficiency (HI), leading to mechanistic loss-of-function. However, their clinical phenotypes have not been fully investigated. The remaining two-thirds of patients harbour missense variants, and past studies uncovered that most of these variants cause trafficking deficiency, resulting in different functional changes: either HI or dominant-negative (DN) effects. In this study, we examined the impact of altered molecular mechanisms on clinical outcomes in LQT2 patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 429 LQT2 patients (234 probands) carrying a rare KCNH2 variant from our patient cohort undergoing genetic testing. Non-missense variants showed shorter corrected QT (QTc) and less arrhythmic events (AEs) than missense variants. We found that 40% of missense variants in this study were previously reported as HI or DN. Non-missense and HI-groups had similar phenotypes, while both exhibited shorter QTc and less AEs than the DN-group. Based on previous work, we predicted the functional change of the unreported variants-whether they cause HI or DN via altered functional domains-and stratified them as predicted HI (pHI)- or pDN-group. The pHI-group including non-missense variants exhibited milder phenotypes compared to the pDN-group. Multivariable Cox model showed that the functional change was an independent risk of AEs (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Stratification based on molecular biological studies enables us to better predict clinical outcomes in the patients with LQT2.

Sex Differences in Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

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

Dapagliflozin and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular safety profile of dapagliflozin, a selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 that promotes glucosuria in patients with type 2 diabetes, is undefined. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with type 2 diabetes who had or were at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to receive either dapagliflozin or placebo. The primary safety outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke. The primary efficacy outcomes were MACE and a composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure. Secondary efficacy outcomes were a renal composite (≥40% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate to <60 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area, new end-stage renal disease, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes) and death from any cause. RESULTS: We evaluated 17,160 patients, including 10,186 without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, who were followed for a median of 4.2 years. In the primary safety outcome analysis, dapagliflozin met the prespecified criterion for noninferiority to placebo with respect to MACE (upper boundary of the 95% confidence interval [CI], <1.3; P<0.001 for noninferiority). In the two primary efficacy analyses, dapagliflozin did not result in a lower rate of MACE (8.8% in the dapagliflozin group and 9.4% in the placebo group; hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.03; P=0.17) but did result in a lower rate of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure (4.9% vs. 5.8%; hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P=0.005), which reflected a lower rate of hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.88); there was no between-group difference in cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.17). A renal event occurred in 4.3% in the dapagliflozin group and in 5.6% in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.87), and death from any cause occurred in 6.2% and 6.6%, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.04). Diabetic ketoacidosis was more common with dapagliflozin than with placebo (0.3% vs. 0.1%, P=0.02), as was the rate of genital infections that led to discontinuation of the regimen or that were considered to be serious adverse events (0.9% vs. 0.1%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes who had or were at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, treatment with dapagliflozin did not result in a higher or lower rate of MACE than placebo but did result in a lower rate of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure, a finding that reflects a lower rate of hospitalization for heart failure. (Funded by AstraZeneca; DECLARE-TIMI 58 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01730534 .).

The efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in women and men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Women remain underrepresented in clinical trials and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin reduces the risk of CV death or heart failure hospitalisations in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Here, we performed a pre-specified analysis to examine whether sex modifies these effects. METHODS: The DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial randomised 17,160 patients with type 2 diabetes with or at risk for atherosclerotic disease to dapagliflozin or placebo (median follow-up 4.2 years). The dual efficacy outcomes were CV death or heart failure hospitalisations, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; CV death, myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke). The renal-specific composite outcome was a sustained ≥40% drop in eGFR to <60 ml min-1 [1.73 m]-2, new end-stage renal disease or renal death. Cox models were run separately by sex with treatment-by-sex interaction testing for each outcome. RESULTS: At baseline, women (n = 6422, 37.4%) had higher HbA1c, longer type 2 diabetes duration, and were on fewer glucose-lowering medications. There was no evidence of modification of the effect of dapagliflozin by sex for (1) CV death or heart failure hospitalisations: women (3.8% vs 4.5%; HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.66, 1.07) and men (5.3% vs 6.4%; HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71, 0.96; pinteraction = 0.90); (2) MACE: women (6.3% vs 6.8%; HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.77, 1.12) and men (10.0% vs 10.7%; HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.83, 1.05; pinteraction = 0.99); or (3) renal-specific composite: women (1.4% vs 2.8%; HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.35, 0.70) and men (1.5% vs 2.5%; HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42, 0.73; pinteraction = 0.64). The overall safety profile of dapagliflozin was similar for women and men. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Dapagliflozin offers comparable CV and renal benefits and a comparable safety profile in women and men. FUNDING: AstraZeneca. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT01730534.

Overview of the 84th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society　- Change Practice!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 84thAnnual Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) was held in a web-based format for the first time in its history as "The Week for JCS 2020" from Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 2, 2020. All sessions, including general abstracts, were streamed live or on-demand. The main theme of the meeting was "Change Practice!" and the aim was to organize the latest findings in the field of cardiovascular medicine and discuss how to change practice. The total number of registered attendees was over 16,800, far exceeding our expectations, and many of the sessions were viewed by far more people than at conventional face-to-face scientific meetings. At this conference, the power of online information dissemination was fully demonstrated, and the evolution of online academic meetings will be a direction that cannot be reversed in the future. The meeting was completed with great success, and we express our heartfelt gratitude to all affiliates for their enormous amount of work, cooperation, and support.

Comparison of the Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide Receptor Agonists and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Prevention of Major Adverse Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as 2 new classes of antihyperglycemic agents that also reduce cardiovascular risk. The relative benefits in patients with and without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease for different outcomes with these classes of drugs remain undefined. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and trial-level meta-analysis of GLP1-RA and SGLT2i cardiovascular outcomes trials using the PubMed and EMBASE databases (Excerpta Medica Database). The primary outcomes were the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death (MACE); hospitalization for heart failure; and progression of kidney disease. RESULTS: In total, data from 8 trials and 77 242 patients, 42 920 (55.6%) in GLP1-RA trials, and 34 322 (44.4%) in SGLT2i trials, were included. Both drug classes reduced MACE in a similar magnitude with GLP1-RA reducing the risk by 12% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.84-0.94; P<0.001) and SGLT2i by 11% (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.96; P=0.001). For both drug classes, this treatment effect was restricted to a 14% reduction in those with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93; P=0.002), whereas no effect was seen in patients without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.87-1.19; P=0.81; P interaction, 0.028). SGLT2i reduced hospitalization for heart failure by 31% (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.61-0.79; P<0.001), whereas GLP1-RA did not have a significant effect (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.83-1.04; P=0.20). Both GLP1-RA (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75-0.89; P<0.001) and SGLT2i (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.58-0.67; P<0.001) reduced the risk of progression of kidney disease including macroalbuminuria, but only SGLT2i reduced the risk of worsening estimated glomerular filtration rate, end-stage kidney disease, or renal death (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.48-0.64; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In trials reported to date, GLP1-RA and SGLT2i reduce atherosclerotic MACE to a similar degree in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, whereas SGLT2i have a more marked effect on preventing hospitalization for heart failure and progression of kidney disease. Their distinct clinical benefit profiles should be considered in the decision-making process when treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Effect of Dapagliflozin on Heart Failure and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: In DECLARE-TIMI 58 (Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58), the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduced the composite end point of cardiovascular death/hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) in a broad population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the impact of baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) on the clinical benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition is unknown. METHODS: In the DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial, baseline heart failure (HF) status was collected from all patients, and EF was collected when available. HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) was defined as EF <45%. Outcomes of interest were the composite of cardiovascular death/HHF, its components, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 17 160 patients, 671 (3.9%) had HFrEF, 1316 (7.7%) had HF without known reduced EF, and 15 173 (88.4%) had no history of HF at baseline. Dapagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death/HHF more in patients with HFrEF (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62 [95% CI, 0.45-0.86]) than in those without HFrEF (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.76-1.02]; P for interaction=0.046), in whom the treatment effect of dapagliflozin was similar in those with HF without known reduced EF (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.66-1.17]) and those without HF (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.74-1.03]). Whereas dapagliflozin reduced HHF both in those with (HR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.43-0.95]) and in those without HFrEF (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.62-0.92]), it reduced cardiovascular death only in patients with HFrEF (HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.34-0.90]) but not in those without HFrEF (HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.89-1.31]; P for interaction=0.012). Likewise, dapagliflozin reduced all-cause mortality in patients with HFrEF (HR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.40-0.88;) but not in those without HFrEF (HR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.86-1.10]; P for interaction=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: In the first sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor cardiovascular outcome trial to evaluate patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus stratified by EF, we found that dapagliflozin reduced HHF in patients with and without HFrEF and reduced cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality in patients with HFrEF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01730534.

SGLT2 inhibitors for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on specific cardiovascular and renal outcomes and whether heterogeneity is based on key baseline characteristics remains undefined. METHODS: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled, cardiovascular outcome trials of SGLT2i in patients with type 2 diabetes. We searched PubMed and Embase for trials published up to Sept 24, 2018. Data search and extraction were completed with a standardised data form and any discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Efficacy outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death), the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for heart failure, and progression of renal disease. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were pooled across trials, and efficacy outcomes were stratified by baseline presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and degree of renal function. FINDINGS: We included data from three identified trials and 34 322 patients (60·2% with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease), with 3342 major adverse cardiovascular events, 2028 cardiovascular deaths or hospitalisation sfor heart failure events, and 766 renal composite outcomes. SGLT2i reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 11% (HR 0·89 [95% CI 0·83-0·96], p=0·0014), with benefit only seen in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (0·86 [0·80-0·93]) and not in those without (1·00 [0·87-1·16], p for interaction=0·0501). SGLT2i reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for heart failure by 23% (0·77 [0·71-0·84], p<0·0001), with a similar benefit in patients with and without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and with and without a history of heart failure. SGLT2i reduced the risk of progression of renal disease by 45% (0·55 [0·48-0·64], p<0·0001), with a similar benefit in those with and without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The magnitude of benefit of SGLT2i varied with baseline renal function, with greater reductions in hospitalisations for heart failure (p for interaction=0·0073) and lesser reductions in progression of renal disease (p for interaction=0·0258) in patients with more severe kidney disease at baseline. INTERPRETATION: SGLT2i have moderate benefits on atherosclerotic major adverse cardiovascular events that seem confined to patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, they have robust benefits on reducing hospitalisation for heart failure and progression of renal disease regardless of existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or a history of heart failure. FUNDING: None.

Diabetes Mellitus and Long-Term Risk for Heart Failure After Coronary Revascularization.

BACKGROUND: The effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) status on the long-term risk for heart failure (HF) in patients undergoing coronary revascularization has not been adequately evaluated.Methods and Results:In this study, 15,231 patients who underwent coronary revascularization in the CREDO-Kyoto Registry Cohort-2 were divided into 2 groups according to DM status (DM group: n=5,999; Non-DM group: n=9,232). The DM group was further divided into 2 groups according to insulin treatment (insulin-treated DM [ITDM]: n=1,353; non-insulin-treated DM [NITDM]: n=4,646). The primary outcome measure was HF hospitalization. The cumulative 5-year incidence of HF hospitalization was significantly higher in the DM than non-DM group (11.0% vs. 6.6%, respectively; log-rank P<0.0001), and in the ITDM than NITDM group (14.6% vs. 10.0%, respectively; log-rank P<0.0001). After adjusting for confounders, the increased risk of HF hospitalization with DM relative to non-DM remained significant (hazard ratio [HR] 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-1.67, P<0.0001), whereas the risk associated with ITDM relative to NITDM was not significant (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.96-1.43, P=0.12). CONCLUSIONS: The adjusted long-term risk for HF hospitalization after coronary revascularization was significantly higher in DM than non-DM patients, regardless of revascularization strategy, but did not differ between ITDM and NITDM patients.

Influence of seasonal changes on disease activity and distribution of affected joints in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that RA activity is sensitive to seasonal changes. This study explored the influence of season on RA activity, particularly the distribution of affected joints, using a nationwide database in Japan. METHODS: We investigated 12,839 patients whose RA activity was recorded in spring (n = 3250), summer (n = 916), fall (n = 1021), and winter (n = 7652). Disease activity score (DAS) 28-CRP, simplified disease activity index (SDAI), and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were used as indices of disease activity. Disease activity was also assessed according to DAS28-CRP scores (remission, low, moderate, or high). The affected joint distribution was investigated using novel joint indices (x, y, z), where x and y are indices for the upper and lower joints, respectively, and z is the index for large joint predominance. RESULTS: Mean DAS28-CRP and median SDAI and CDAI scores were highest in spring and lowest in fall. There was a significant difference in the DAS28-CRP for fall versus spring and winter. Fall was associated with a higher remission rate, and spring and winter with high and moderate RA activity, respectively. Significant differences in x, y, SDAI, and CDAI scores were found for spring versus summer, fall, and winter, in addition to fall versus winter (except in y). There was no seasonal difference in the z index. CONCLUSIONS: RA activity in the upper and lower extremities may be highest in spring, followed by winter. Seasonal changes should be considered in patients with RA to better understand their symptoms.

The design and rationale for the Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events (DECLARE)-TIMI 58 Trial.

BACKGROUND: Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor that reduces blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by promoting glycosuria via inhibiting urinary glucose reabsorption. In addition to improving blood glucose control, treatment with dapagliflozin results in glucose-induced osmotic diuresis, weight loss, and blood pressure lowering. Previous trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors showed reductions in cardiovascular (CV) events, including CV death and hospitalization for heart failure, and ischemic events in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: DECLARE-TIMI 58 (NCT01730534) is a phase 3b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the CV safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin that has completed randomization of 17,160 patients with T2DM and a history of either established ASCVD (n=6,971) or multiple risk factors for ASCVD (n=10,189). Patients were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to dapagliflozin 10 mg or matching placebo. The primary safety outcome is the time to the first event of the composite of CV death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke (major adverse cardiovascular events; MACEs). The co-primary efficacy outcomes are the composite of CV death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke and the composite of CV death or hospitalization for heart failure. This event-driven trial will continue until at least 1,390 subjects have a MACE outcome, thereby providing >99% power to test for the primary outcome of safety of dapagliflozin measured by rejecting the hypothesis that the upper bound of the CI >1.3 for the primary outcome of MACE, as well as 85% power to detect a 15% relative risk reduction in MACE and an estimated 87% power to detect a 20% reduction in the composite of CV death or hospitalization for heart failure at a 1-sided α level of .0231. CONCLUSION: The DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial is testing the hypotheses that dapagliflozin is safe (does not increase) and may reduce the occurrence of major CV events. DECLARE-TIMI 58 is the largest study to address this question with an SGLT-2 inhibitor in patients with T2DM and with established CV disease and without CV disease but with multiple risk factors.

DECLARE-TIMI 58: Participants' baseline characteristics.

AIM: To describe the baseline characteristics of participants randomized in the Dapagliflozin Effect on CardiovascuLAR Events (DECLARE-TIMI 58) trial, the pivotal study conducted to assess cardiovascular (CV) outcomes with dapagliflozin. METHODS: The DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial will analyse 17 160 patients with type 2 diabetes randomized to treatment with dapagliflozin (10 mg/d) or matching placebo. We analysed their baseline characteristics. RESULTS: The participants' mean ± SD age was 63.8 ± 6.8 years, 62.6% were male, and their mean ± SD diabetes duration was 11.8 ± 7.8 years, glycated haemoglobin 8.3% ± 1.2% (67 mmol/mol ± 9.7 mmol/mol) and body mass index 32.1 ± 6.0 kg/m2 . Randomization included 6971 (40.6%) patients with atherosclerotic CV disease (CVD), and 10 189 (59.4%) patients with multiple risk factors (MRF) for CVD (defined as men age ≥ 55 years or women ≥60 years, with at least one of dyslipidaemia, hypertension or smoking). Patients with CVD compared with patients with MRF were younger (62.5 ± 8.1 vs 64.7 ± 5.6 years), more frequently male (72.1% vs 56.1%), less often used metformin (74.6% vs 81.2%), more often used insulin (44.2% vs 36.4%), and more frequently used statins, aspirin, clopidogrel and ß-blockers (82.2%, 71.1%, 24.7% and 66.6% vs 63.7%, 39.1%, 1.5% and 32.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial is expected to provide conclusive data on the effect of treatment with dapagliflozin in addition to standard of care, on CV outcomes in a broad patient population with type 2 diabetes and CVD or MRF for CVD.

Growth differentiation factor-15 and metabolic features in chronic heart failure: Insights from the SUPPORT Trial -GDF15 across the BMI spectrum.

BACKGROUND: GDF15 plays pivotal metabolic roles in nutritional stress and serves as a physiological regulator of energy balance. However, the patterns of GDF15 levels in underweight or obese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are not well-understood. METHODS: We assessed serum GDF15 levels at baseline and 3 years and the temporal changes in 940 Japanese patients (642 paired samples), as a sub-analysis of the SUPPORT trial (age 65.9 ± 10.1 years). The GDF15 levels were analyzed across BMI groups (underweight [<18.5 kg/m2; n = 50], healthy weight [18.5-22.9; n = 27 5], overweight [23-24.9; n = 234], and obese [≥25; n = 381]), following WHO recommendations for the Asian-Pacific population. Landmark analysis at 3 years assessed the association between GDF15 levels and HF hospitalization or all-cause death. RESULTS: Compared to the healthy weight group, the underweight group included more females (54.0%) with advanced HF (NYHA class III; 20.0%) and exhibited increased GDF15 level (1764 pg/mL [IQR 1067-2633]). Obese patients, younger (64.2 years) and diabetic (53%), had a similar GDF15 level to the healthy weight group. A higher baseline GDF15 level was associated with worse outcomes across the BMI spectrum. GDF15 increased by 208 [21-596] pg/mL over 3 years, with the most substantial increase observed in the underweight group (by +28.9% [6.2-81.0]). Persistently high GDF15 levels (≥1800 pg/mL) was independently associated with worse outcomes after 3 years (adjusted HR 1.8 [95%CI 1.1-2.9]). CONCLUSIONS: In underweight patients with CHF, GDF15 level was elevated at baseline and experienced the most significant increase over 3 years. Its consistent elevation suggested a worse outcome.

The Importance of Patient and Family Engagement, the Needs for Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) - Our Perspectives Learned Through a Story of SMBG Assistive Devices Made by a Husband of the Patient with Diabetes.

Despite some negative reports regarding the need for the self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), including the issue of cost-effectiveness, there are still many users, and in diabetes treatment, which is largely dependent on the patient's self-care, SMBG remains an important tool in establishing such self-care habits, with several reports supporting this notion. In addition, devices are needed to assist in SMBG for patients with diabetes who have difficulty performing SMBG, such as the elderly or those with visual impairment. In current diabetes care, it is reported that patient-centered care that respects the preferences, needs, and values of individual patients and personalized care that consider the characteristics and comorbidities of each patient are important. Through a case study of a patient with diabetes who had difficulty performing SMBG due to visual impairment, we learned of the needs of SMBG and its assistive devices and the importance of patient and family engagement with emphasis on patient-centered and personalized care. We herein report what we learned through this case in the form of perspectives. Through this report, we hope that medical professionals involved in diabetes care will learn of the importance and needs of these issues and apply them to their actual clinical practice.

Clinical variables, including novel joint index, associated with future patient-physician discordance in global assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity based on a large RA database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Discordance between patient global assessment (PGA) and physician global assessment (PhGA) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity is mainly determined by pain and functional disabilities. This study aimed to investigate the shift in PGA-PhGA discordance and the variables associated with future positive discordance (PGA > PhGA) based on the NinJa database in Japan. METHODS: We examined 7557 adults with RA registered in both NinJa 2014 and 2018, with a discordance cutoff of 3 on a 10-cm scale. The affected joint distribution was investigated using the joint indices x, y, and z, which were calculated as indices for the upper joint, lower joint, and large joint involvement, respectively. The variables in NinJa 2014 that were associated with positive discordance in NinJa 2018 were examined using binary stepwise logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Due to the small number of patients with RA categorized as having negative discordance (PGA < PhGA), we focused on patients with RA categorized as having either concordance or positive discordance. Logistic regression analysis revealed that positive discordance in NinJa 2018 was associated with age, pain, modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (mHAQ) score, corticosteroid use, and existent positive discordance and was inversely associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) and x at baseline (NinJa 2014). The same findings were observed when patients with RA were divided based on the discordance status at baseline. Persistence (positive discordance to positive discordance) was associated with pain and mHAQ scores but inversely associated with CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Positive discordance may persist. Circumventing this requires adequate management of pain and functional impairment.