Carbon monoxide and prognosis in smokers hospitalised with acute cardiac events: a multicentre, prospective cohort study.

Background: Smoking cigarettes produces carbon monoxide (CO), which can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. We aimed to determine whether elevated expiratory CO levels would be associated with a worse prognosis in smokers presenting with acute cardiac events. Methods: From 7 to 22 April 2021, expiratory CO levels were measured in a prospective registry including all consecutive patients admitted for acute cardiac event in 39 centres throughout France. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause death. Initial in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MAE; death, resuscitated cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock) were also analysed. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05063097). Findings: Among 1379 patients (63 ± 15 years, 70% men), 368 (27%) were active smokers. Expiratory CO levels were significantly raised in active smokers compared to non-smokers. A CO level >11 parts per million (ppm) found in 94 (25.5%) smokers was associated with a significant increase in death (14.9% for CO > 11 ppm vs. 2.9% for CO ≤ 11 ppm; p < 0.001). Similar results were found after adjustment for comorbidities (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval (CI)]): 5.92 [2.43-14.38]) or parameters of in-hospital severity (HR 6.09, 95% CI [2.51-14.80]) and propensity score matching (HR 7.46, 95% CI [1.70-32.8]). CO > 11 ppm was associated with a significant increase in MAE in smokers during initial hospitalisation after adjustment for comorbidities (odds ratio [OR] 15.75, 95% CI [5.56-44.60]) or parameters of in-hospital severity (OR 10.67, 95% CI [4.06-28.04]). In the overall population, CO > 11 ppm but not smoking was associated with an increased rate of all-cause death (HR 4.03, 95% CI [2.33-6.98] and 1.66 [0.96-2.85] respectively). Interpretation: Elevated CO level is independently associated with a 6-fold increase in 1-year death and 10-fold in-hospital MAE in smokers hospitalized for acute cardiac events. Funding: Grant from Fondation Coeur & Recherche.

Eligibility for icosapent ethyl in a French population of coronary outpatients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: We determined eligibility for icosapent ethyl (EPA) treatment in coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes and CAD were prospectively included from 03/2019 to 12/2020. Results: 574 patients were included; mean age 71 years, 81% males, with a high prevalence of other risk factors (81% hypertension). Mean lipid-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 85 mg/dl, mean glycated hemoglobin HbA1c 7.1%, mean triglycerides 148 mg/dl; 82% received statins. Based on National Lipid Association criteria, 31% would be eligible for EPA. Conclusions: In this contemporary survey in consecutive, unselected CAD patients in daily practice, almost a third would be potentially eligible for EPA.

Characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with direct oral anticoagulants and new insights into inappropriate dosing: results from the French National Prospective Registry: PAFF.

AIMS: Since the introduction of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy, inappropriate and/or underdosing of these drugs has been a major clinical challenge. We evaluated the characteristics of patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs from October 2021 to December 2021 were evaluated from the French National Prospective Registry (PAFF). We evaluated 1890 patients with AF receiving DOACs (apixaban 55%, dabigatran 7%, and rivaroxaban 38%). Inappropriate dosing was noted in 18% of the population. Patients with appropriate dosing had less comorbidities: younger age (75 ± 10 vs. 82 ± 8 years old, P < 0.0001), reduced chronic renal failure (26 vs. 61%, P < 0.0001), and lower CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores (3 ± 2 vs. 4 ± 3, P < 0.0001; 2 ±1 vs. 2 ± 2, P < 0.0001), respectively. In multivariate analysis, older age (P < 0.0001) and a higher CHA2DS2VASc score (P = 0.0056) were independently associated with inappropriate DOAC dosing. Among 472 patients (27%) treated with low-dose rivaroxaban or apixaban, 46% were inappropriately underdosed. Patients inappropriately underdosed were younger (82.3 ± 8.4 vs. 85.9 ± 5.9 years, P < 0.0001) with less chronic renal disease (47 vs. 98%, P < 0.0001). However, these patients had higher rates of prior haemorrhagic events (18 vs. 10%, P = 0.01), clopidogrel use (11 vs. 3%, P = 0.0002), and apixaban prescription (74 vs. 50%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Within this large registry, DOACs were associated with inappropriate dosing in 18% of cases. Independent predictors of inappropriate dosing were high CHA2DS2VASc scores and older age. Moreover, 46% of patients treated with low-dose DOACs were inappropriately underdosed and more frequently in patients treated with apixaban.

Mottling as a prognosis marker in cardiogenic shock.

AIMS: Impact of skin mottling has been poorly studied in patients admitted for cardiogenic shock. This study aimed to address this issue and identify determinants of 30-day and 1-year mortality in a large cardiogenic shock cohort of all etiologies. METHODS AND RESULTS: FRENSHOCK is a prospective multicenter observational registry conducted in French critical care units between April and October, 2016. Among the 772 enrolled patients (mean age 65.7 ± 14.9 years; 71.5% male), 660 had skin mottling assessed at admission (85.5%) with almost 39% of patients in cardiogenic shock presenting mottling. The need for invasive respiratory support was significantly higher in patients with mottling (50.2% vs. 30.1%, p < 0.001) and likewise for the need for renal replacement therapy (19.9% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.09). However, the need for mechanical circulatory support was similar in both groups. Patients with mottling at admission presented a higher length of stay (19 vs. 16 days, p = 0.033), a higher 30-day mortality rate (31% vs. 23.3%, p = 0.031), and also showed significantly higher mortality at 1-year (54% vs. 42%, p = 0.003). The subgroup of patients in whom mottling appeared during the first 24 h after admission had the worst prognosis at 30 days. CONCLUSION: Skin mottling at admission in patients with cardiogenic shock was statistically associated with prolonged length of stay and poor outcomes. As a perfusion-targeted resuscitation parameter, mottling is a simple, clinical-based approach and may thus help to improve and guide immediate goal-directed therapy to improve cardiogenic shock patients' outcomes.

Prevalence of psychoactive drug use in patients hospitalized for acute cardiac events: Rationale and design of the ADDICT-ICCU trial, from the Emergency and Acute Cardiovascular Care Working Group and the National College of Cardiologists in Training of the French Society of Cardiology.

BACKGROUND: Psychoactive drugs, including illicit drugs, are associated with an increased rate of cardiovascular events. The prevalence and outcome of patients using these drugs at the time of admission to an intensive cardiac care unit is unknown. AIM: To assess the prevalence of psychoactive drugs detected in consecutive patients hospitalized in an intensive cardiac care unit for an acute cardiovascular event. METHODS: This is a nationwide prospective multicentre study, involving 39 centres throughout France, including all consecutive patients hospitalized in an intensive cardiac care unit within 2weeks. Psychoactive drug use will be assessed systematically by urine drug assay within 2hours of intensive cardiac care unit admission, to detect illicit (cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, heroin and other opioids) and non-illicit (barbiturates, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, methadone and buprenorphine) psychoactive drugs. Smoking will be investigated systematically by exhaled carbon monoxide measurement, and alcohol consumption using a standardized questionnaire. In-hospital major adverse events, including death, resuscitated cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock, will be recorded. After discharge, all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events will be recorded systematically and adjudicated at 12months of follow-up. RESULTS: The primary outcome will be the prevalence of psychoactive drugs detected by systematic screening among all patients hospitalized in an intensive cardiac care unit. The in-hospital major adverse events will be analysed according to the presence or absence of detected psychoactive drugs. Subgroup analysis stratified by initial clinical presentation and type of psychoactive drug will be performed. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective multicentre study to assess the prevalence of psychoactive drugs detected by systematic screening in consecutive patients hospitalized for acute cardiovascular events.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after cardiac surgery: A case-series and systematic review of literature.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a rare entity after cardiac surgery. Aims: To describe patients' profile who developed postoperative TTC after cardiac surgery, management, and outcomes. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search to extract cases of TTC after adult cardiac surgery (from 1990 to 2021). Additionally, we extracted all cases of TTC in a prospective single-center cohort database of 10,000+ patients (from 2007 to 2019). We then combined all cases in a single cohort to describe its clinical features. Results: From 694 screened articles, we retained 71 individual cases published in 20 distinct articles (19 cases reports and 1 case-series). We combined these to 10 cases extracted from our cohort [among 10,682 patients (0.09%)]. Overall, we included 81 cases. Patients were aged 68 ± 10 years-old and 64/81 (79%) were women. Surgery procedures included mitral valve and/or tricuspid valve surgery in 70/81, 86%. TTC was diagnosed in the first days after surgery [median 4 (1-4) days]. Incidence of cardiogenic shock, defined as requirement of vasopressor and/or inotropic support was 24/29, 83% (data available on 29/81 patients). Refractory cardiogenic appeared in 5/81, 6% who required implantation of arterio-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, and 6/81, 7%, intra-aortic balloon pump. In-hospital mortality was 5/81, 6%. Conclusion: This systematic review, based on case reports and case series, showed that postoperative TTC appears as a rare complication after cardiac surgery and mainly occurred after mitral and/or tricuspid valve repair procedures. In this population, TTC is associated with high rate of cardiogenic shock.

Double Culprit Lesions in a Patient With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Should I Stent or Should I Go?

We describe the case of simultaneous acute thrombotic occlusions in 2 major coronary arteries in a young patient admitted for extensive myocardial infarction. We highlight the importance of intravascular imaging to determine the underlying putative mechanism and to optimize treatment decisions. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Preload reserve is restored in patients with decompensated chronic heart failure who respond to treatment.

The authors designed this prospective study to show the relationship between preload reserve and treatment effectiveness of chronic heart failure (CHF). Fifty patients, aged 77±24 years, with decompensated CHF (B-type brain natriuretic peptide [BNP] >1000 pg/mL) were included. Preload reserve was assessed by the changes in contraction indices during a passive leg raise (PLR). Contraction indices were assessed noninvasively using Bioreactance technology. After 4 days of optimized therapy, the same variables were reassessed and treatment-induced differences were calculated. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by the 4-day changes in BNP, body weight, and thoracic fluid content. The authors then compared treatment-induced changes in preload reserve with treatment effectiveness. Therapy was associated with an overall decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac power index (CPi) and with an increase in all preload reserve indices. Treatment effectiveness correlated well with changes in preload reserve. The best correlation was found between treatment-induced changes in BNP and in PLR-induced changes of CPi (R=0.63, P<.001). The PLR-induced changes in CPi increased from 21±48 to 51±48 in BNP responders and decreased from 34±34 to 5±19 mW/m(2) in BNP nonresponders (P<.0001). Hence, effective treatment, as indexed by a decrease in BNP, restores the preload reserve in patients with decompensated CHF.

Noninvasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM): a clinical validation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical utility of a new device for continuous noninvasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM) based on chest bio-reactance compared with cardiac output measured semi-continuously by thermodilution using a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC-CCO). DESIGN: Prospective, single-center study. SETTING: Intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Consecutive adult patients immediately after cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Cardiac output measurements obtained from NICOM and thermodilution were simultaneously recorded minute by minute and compared in 110 patients. We evaluated the accuracy, precision, responsiveness, and reliability of NICOM for detecting cardiac output changes. Tolerance for each of these parameters was specified prospectively. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: A total of 65,888 pairs of cardiac output measurements were collected. Mean reference values for cardiac output ranged from 2.79 to 9.27 l/min. During periods of stable PAC-CCO (slope<+/-10%, 2SD/mean<20%), the correlation between NICOM and thermodilution was R=0.82; bias was +0.16+/-0.52 l/min (+4.0+/-11.3%), and relative error was 9.1%+/-7.8%. In 85% of patients the relative error was <20%. During periods of increasing output, slopes were similar with the two methods in 96% of patients and intra-class correlation was positive in 96%. Corresponding values during periods of decreasing output were 90% and 84%, respectively. Precision was always better with NICOM than with thermodilution. During hemodynamic challenges, changes were 3.1+/-3.8 min faster with NICOM (p<0.01) and amplitude of changes did not differ significantly. Finally, sensitivity of the NICOM for detecting significant directional changes was 93% and specificity was 93%. CONCLUSION: Cardiac output measured by NICOM had most often acceptable accuracy, precision, and responsiveness in a wide range of circulatory situations.