Effect of rosuvastatin 20 mg versus rosuvastatin 5 mg plus ezetimibe on statin side-effects in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: Rationale and design of a randomized, controlled SaveSAMS trial.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend that patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) use high-intensity statin therapy to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels by at least 50%, irrespective of age. However, in real-world practice, there is reluctance to maintain statin use in response to side-effects, particularly statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Moreover, no randomized trial has been conducted on the safety of statin therapy in elderly patients. TRIAL DESIGN: This investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized clinical trial aimed to investigate the incidence of SAMS and its effect on LDL-cholesterol levels in elderly patients with established ASCVD. Eligible patients were aged 70 years or older with established ASCVD. Consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to receive either intensive statin monotherapy (rosuvastatin 20 mg) or combination therapy (rosuvastatin/ezetimibe, 5/10 mg). The primary endpoint of the study is SAMS at 6 months with regard to treatment strategy. Positive SAMS results are defined as patients with a proposed statin myalgia index score of 7 or higher. The key secondary end-points are target LDL-cholesterol achievement (LDL < 70 mg/dL), incidence of myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, frequency of drug discontinuation, and creatinine kinase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The SaveSAMS study is a multicenter, randomized trial that will compare the incidence of SAMS in patients with established ASCVD who are 70 years or older on intensive statin monotherapy to that combination therapy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation: a nationwide, population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac involvement is present in more than half of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, large-scale studies on the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in this disease do not exist. We aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical significance of AF in SLE. METHODS: Patients with SLE (n=21,143; mean age, 41.8±13.13 years; female, 90.38%) without previous AF were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort database between 2008 and 2014. Age-and sex-matched controls (n=105,715) were randomly sampled in a 5:1 ratio from the population of individuals without SLE from the same database. Both cohorts were followed-up for incidental AF and death until 2015. RESULTS: AF was newly detected in 481 (2.27%) patients with SLE and 619 (0.59%) controls (incidence: 3.692 and 0.941 per 1000 person-years, respectively). After multivariate adjustment, SLE was found to be a risk factor for developing AF [hazard ratio (HR), 2.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.50-3.23]. On subgroup analysis, younger (age <40) patients showed a higher incidence of AF. SLE patients with incidental AF had a higher mortality rate compared with patients without SLE with AF (HR, 2.35; 95% CI 1.73-3.20) and those with SLE without AF (HR, 3.53; 95% CI 2.84-4.39) after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: SLE was an independent risk factor for AF development, especially in younger patients without previous AF, stressing the importance of cardiac assessment in this population. Development of AF in patients with SLE was associated with increased mortality.

Irreversible effects of long-term chronic smoking on arterial stiffness: An analysis focusing on ex-smokers among otherwise healthy middle-aged men.

Objective: Smoking is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor closely related to arterial stiffness (AS). However, data are lacking regarding the chronic effects of smoking on AS, especially in ex-smoker (ES) who faces remnant cardiovascular risk when compared to never-smokers (NS).Methods: Among 1722 health screening participants, we retrospectively evaluated 652 healthy men with different smoking history [240 current smoker (CS) vs. 228 ES vs. 184 NS]. To assess AS, augmentation index (AIx), pulse pressure amplification (PPamp), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) were measured and compared.Results: Baseline characteristics were similar except age and triglyceride level. AIx was lowest in NS, followed by ES, and was highest in CS. PPamp was highest in NS, lowest in CS, and ES was of intermediate level. The differences were more robust after adjustment for baseline covariates (AIx, p = 0.005; PPamp: p = 0.001). On the other hand, no significant intergroup difference was observed for cfPWV in our middle-aged population. With the regression analyses revealing an independent association between smoking duration and AS in ES, subgroup analysis demonstrated that long-term ES (smoking duration ≥20 years) had significantly higher AS than short-term ES (<20 years) and NS, approaching levels comparable to CS (AIx and PPamp: p < 0.0001).Conclusions: Our study demonstrated impaired arterial elastic properties in long-term ES, suggesting that AS caused by chronic smoking might be irreversible even after smoking cessation. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to determine the impacts of past smoking on AS and its clinical relevance.

Subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and incident type 2 diabetes risk: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common finding and represents an early sign of diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the relationship between LV diastolic dysfunction and the incident T2D has not been previously studied. METHODS: A total of 1817 non-diabetic participants (mean age, 54 years; 48% men) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study who were free of cardiovascular disease were studied. LV structure and function were assessed by conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. Subclinical LV diastolic dysfunction was defined using age-specific cutoff limits for early diastolic (Em) velocity, mitral E/Em ratio, and left atrial volume index. RESULTS: During the 6-year follow-up period, 273 participants (15%) developed T2D. Participants with incident T2D had greater LV mass index (86.7 ± 16.4 vs. 91.2 ± 17.0 g/m2), worse diastolic function, reflected by lower Em velocity (7.67 ± 1.80 vs. 7.47 ± 1.70) and higher E/Em ratio (9.19 ± 2.55 vs. 10.23 ± 3.00), and higher prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction (34.6 vs. 54.2%), compared with those who did not develop T2D (all P < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression model, lower Em velocity (odd ratio [OR], 0.867; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.786-0.957) and the presence of LV diastolic dysfunction (OR, 1.617; 95% CI 1.191-2.196) were associated with the development of T2D, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: In a community-based cohort, the presence of subclinical LV diastolic dysfunction was a predictor of the progression to T2D. These data suggest that the echocardiographic assessment of LV diastolic function may be helpful in identifying non-diabetic subjects at risk of incident T2D.

Inferior vena cava collapsibility index, renal dysfunction, and adverse outcomes in patients with broad spectrum cardiovascular disease.

AIMS: The clinical implication of the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI) has not been well evaluated in patients with various cardiovascular diseases. METHOD AND RESULTS: The relationships between clinical characteristics and echocardiographic indicators of the systemic intravascular volume status [IVCCI; the ratio of the early transmitral and early myocardial diastolic velocities (E/Em)] were evaluated at baseline, and the clinical status during follow-up was compared across the IVCCI levels. Among 1166 patients (mean age=63.8±13.4 years), 934, 171, and 61 had high (≥50%), intermediate (25%-50%), and low (<25%) IVCCIs, respectively. Age-, sex-, and body mass index-adjusted serum creatinine (sCr) levels were highest in patients with low IVCCI (P=.002) and E/Em >15 (P<.001). During follow-up (1108±463 days), 67 patients died, and 38 of these deaths were cardiovascular related. Age, body mass index, heart failure (HF), sCr levels, and a low IVCCI (vs high IVCCI: hazard ratio [HR]=3.193, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.297-7.857, P=.012) were associated with all-cause mortality in multivariable analysis. HF, diuretic use, and a low IVCCI (vs high IVCCI: HR=4.428, 95% CI=1.406-13.104, P=.007) were significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSION: A low IVCCI was significantly associated with reduced renal function and was an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes, regardless of underlying cardiovascular disease and renal function.

A Case Report of Primary Pericardial Malignant Mesothelioma Treated with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin.

Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma (PPM) is a very rare malignancy, with an incidence of less than 0.002% and represents less than 5% of all mesotheliomas. The cause of pericardial mesothelioma is uncertain that differ from pleural mesothelioma which is associated with asbestos exposure. This malignancy is terribly aggressive and has very poor prognosis with less than six months of overall survival. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman who was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade caused by PPM and received chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for six months. During two years she was alive without disease progression. To better understand the clinical, pathologic features and treatment outcome of this entity, we reviewed 23 cases described in the English literature from 2009, together with our case, provided a total of 24 cases. Based on this review, we suggest that PPM must be considered in patients who have unexplained massive pericardial effusion and recommend chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for the better outcome of PPM.

Distal coronary embolization following acute myocardial infarction increases early infarct size and late left ventricular wall thinning in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Distal coronary embolization (DCE) of thrombotic material occurs frequently during percutaneous interventions for acute myocardial infarction and can alter coronary flow grades. The significance of DCE on infarct size and myocardial function remains unsettled. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of DCE sufficient to cause no-reflow on infarct size, cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in a porcine acute myocardial infarction model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Female Yorkshire pigs underwent 60 min balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion and injection of either microthrombi (prepared from autologous porcine blood) sufficient to cause no-reflow (DCE), or saline (control). Animals were sacrificed at 3 h (n = 5), 3 days (n = 20) or 6 weeks (n = 20) post-AMI. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), serum troponin-I, and cardiac gelatinase (MMP) and survival kinase (Akt) activities were assessed. At 3d, DCE increased infarct size (CMR: 18.8% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.04; serum troponin-I: 13.3 vs. 6.9 ng/uL, p < 0.05) and MMP-2 activity levels (0.81 vs. 0.49, p = 0.002), with reduced activation of Akt (0.06 versus 0.26, p = 0.02). At 6 weeks, there were no differences in infarct size, ventricular volume or ejection fraction between the two groups, although infarct transmurality (70% vs. 57%, p< 0.04) and ventricular thinning (percent change in mid anteroseptal wall thickness:-25.6% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.03) were significantly increased in the DCE group. CONCLUSIONS: DCE increased early infarct size, but without affecting later infarct size, cardiac function or ventricular volumes. The significance of the later remodelling changes (ventricular thinning and transmurality) following DCE, possibly due to changes in MMP-2 activity and Akt activation, merits further study.

Heparan sulfate side chains have a critical role in the inhibitory effects of perlecan on vascular smooth muscle cell response to arterial injury.

Perlecan is a proteoglycan composed of a 470-kDa core protein linked to three heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycan chains. The intact proteoglycan inhibits the smooth muscle cell (SMC) response to vascular injury. Hspg2(Δ3/Δ3) (MΔ3/Δ3) mice produce a mutant perlecan lacking the HS side chains. The objective of this study was to determine differences between these two types of perlecan in modifying SMC activities to the arterial injury response, in order to define the specific role of the HS side chains. In vitro proliferative and migratory activities were compared in SMC isolated from MΔ3/Δ3 and wild-type mice. Proliferation of MΔ3/Δ3 SMC was 1.5× greater than in wild type (P < 0.001), increased by addition of growth factors, and showed a 42% greater migratory response than wild-type cells to PDGF-BB (P < 0.001). In MΔ3/Δ3 SMC adhesion to fibronectin, and collagen types I and IV was significantly greater than wild type. Addition of DRL-12582, an inducer of perlecan expression, decreased proliferation and migratory response to PDGF-BB stimulation in wild-type SMC compared with MΔ3/Δ3. In an in vivo carotid artery wire injury model, the medial thickness, medial area/lumen ratio, and macrophage infiltration were significantly increased in the MΔ3/Δ3 mice, indicating a prominent role of the HS side chain in limiting vascular injury response. Mutant perlecan that lacks HS side chains had a marked reduction in the inhibition of in vitro SMC function and the in vivo arterial response to injury, indicating the critical role of HS side chains in perlecan function in the vessel wall.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients with renal dysfunction: results from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on short- and long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in elderly (>75 yr old) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with renal dysfunction. As part of Korea AMI Registry (KAMIR), elderly patients with AMI and renal dysfunction (GFR<60 mL/min) received either medical (n=439) or PCI (n=1,019) therapy. Primary end point was in-hospital death. Secondary end point was MACE during a 1 month and 1 yr follow-up. PCI group showed a significantly lower incidence of in-hospital death (20.0% vs 14.3%, P=0.006). Short-term and long-term MACE rates were higher in medical therapy group (31.9% vs 19.0%; 57.7% vs 31.3%, P<0.001), and this difference was mainly attributed to cardiac death (29.3% vs 17.6%; 51.9% vs 25.0%, P<0.001). MACE-free survival time after adjustment was also higher in PCI group on short-term (hazard ratio, 0.67; confidence interval, 0.45-0.98; P=0.037) and long-term follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.61, confidence interval, 0.45-0.83; P=0.002). In elderly AMI patients with renal dysfunction, PCI therapy yields favorable in-hospital and short-term and long-term MACE-free survival.

Fifteen-Year Nationwide Trend in Antiplatelet Treatment among Drug-Eluting Stent Recipients in Korea: Many Patients Receive Very Prolonged Dual-Antiplatelet Treatment, and Newer Drugs Are Replacing the Older Ones.

Drug-eluting stent (DES) recipients require 6-12 months of dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) and long-term aspirin mono-antiplatelet treatment (MAPT). Given the diversity of contemporary antiplatelet agents, antiplatelet treatment (APT) selection is becoming more complicated. We evaluated 15-year APT trends based on nationwide prescription data of 79,654 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using DESs from 2002 to 2018 in Korea. DAPT (80.7%) was the most preferred initial APT post-PCI. Many DES recipients received prolonged DAPT (post-PCI 3 years: 41.0%; 10 years: 27.7%). There was a noticeable delay in DAPT-to-MAPT conversion from the mid to late 2000s (after the late-stent thrombosis concerns of first-generation DESs raised); the conversion after that was similar during the 2010s, occurring most robustly at 12-18 months post-PCI. Clopidogrel had long and increasingly been used for MAPT, surpassing aspirin. The recent increase in newer P2Y12 inhibitor prescriptions was noted. The patients treated with newer P2Y12 inhibitors were more likely younger men and presented with acute myocardial infarction. Real-world APT is evolving, and guideline-practice gaps exist. Further studies exploring the impact of diverse APT strategies on patient outcomes are expected to provide insights into optimal APT that can sophisticatedly balance the ischemic and bleeding risks.

The effects of socioeconomic status on major adverse cardiovascular events: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although multiple factors influence the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), the effects of socioeconomic status on MACE in the presence and absence of renal dysfunction (RD) have not been comprehensively explored in Korea. METHODS: We examined the effects of socioeconomic status on MACE in individuals with and without RD. The data of 44,473 Koreans from 2008 to 2017 were obtained from the Health Care Big Data Platform of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea. Their socioeconomic status was assessed using a socioeconomic score (SES) based on marital status, education, household income, and occupation. The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death was compared according to SES level (0-4). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for outcomes based on participant SES. RESULTS: MI risk was only affected by education level. The participants' income, education, and SES affected their stroke risk, whereas death was associated with all four socioeconomic factors. The incidence of stroke and death increased as SES worsened (from 0 to 4). SES was positively related to risk of stroke and death in participants without RD. SES did not affect MI, stroke, or death in participants with RD. CONCLUSION: A low socioeconomic status is associated with risk of stroke and death, especially in individuals without RD.

GFR and cardiovascular outcomes after acute myocardial infarction: results from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence linking decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to worse outcomes, the impact of GFR on mortality and morbidity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not well defined. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 12,636 patients with AMI in the Korea AMI Registry database from November 2005 to July 2008. 93% of patients in this registry had coronary angiography, and 91% of patients with coronary angiography had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PREDICTOR: GFR was estimated (eGFR) using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, and patients were grouped into 5 eGFR categories: >90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m(2). OUTCOMES: Primary end points were death and in-hospital complications. Secondary end points were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during a 1-month (short-term) and 1-year (long-term) follow-up after AMI. RESULTS: Mean eGFR was 72.8 ± 24.6 mL/min/1.73 m(2), mean age was 64 ± 13 years, and 70.4% were men. A graded association was observed between eGFR and clinical outcomes. In adjusted analyses, compared with eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m(2), patients with eGFR of 30-59, 15-29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m(2) experienced increased risks of short- (respective HRs of 2.30 [95% CI, 1.70-3.11], 3.10 [95% CI, 2.14-4.14], and 3.64 [95% CI, 2.44-5.43]; P < 0.001) and long-term MACEs (HRs of 1.58 [95% CI, 1.32-1.90], 2.12 [95% CI, 1.63-2.75], and 2.50 [95% CI, 1.89-3.29]; P < 0.001). Older age, Killip class higher than I, PCI, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level also were associated with higher short- and long-term MACEs. Use of ß-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and statins was associated with decreased risk of MACEs. LIMITATIONS: Single assessment of serum creatinine. CONCLUSION: eGFR was associated independently with mortality and complications after AMI. PCI, ß-blocker, ACE inhibitor or ARB, and statin use were associated with decreased risks of short- and long-term MACEs.

Triple vs. dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction and renal dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The question as to whether triple antiplatelet therapy is superior to dual antiplatelet therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and renal dysfunction, who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is unresolved. METHODS AND RESULTS: As part of the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR), 2,288 AMI patients with renal dysfunction (glomerular filtration rate <60ml/min·1.73m(2)) received either dual (aspirin plus clopidogrel; n=1,587) or triple (aspirin plus clopidogrel and cilostazol; n=701) antiplatelet therapy. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 month and 1 year were compared between these 2 groups. On comparison with the dual therapy group, the triple therapy group had a similar incidence of major bleeding events but a significantly lower incidence of in-hospital mortality. The MACE rate at 1 month was significantly higher for the dual therapy group than for the triple therapy group (16.3% vs. 11.1%, P<0.05), and this difference was mainly attributed to death rather than repeat PCI (12.9% vs. 9.1%, P<0.05). The MACE rate at 1 year and the MACE-free survival time, however, did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In AMI patients with renal dysfunction, triple antiplatelet therapy has a favorable in-hospital and short-term MACE impact, but it does not have an impact on the 1-year MACE-free survival.

Discordant impairment of multidirectional myocardial deformation in rats with Doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: In doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC), the sequence of decrease in multidirectional myocardial deformation has not been clearly elucidated. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the sequence of myocardial deformations in rat DIC, using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). METHODS: Twenty rats were treated with doxorubicin (1.25 mg/kg × 16 times, intraperitoneal) for 4 weeks and compared with nine control rats. Myocardial strain analysis with 2DSTE, as well as conventional echocardiography, was obtained. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, longitudinal strain/strain rate (LS/LSr) decreased at week 2 (-15.7 ± 1.5 to -14.1 ± 1.4%, P = 0.01 for LS; -4.4 ± 0.7 to -3.9 ± 0.5 per second, P = 0.009 for LSr). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and circumferential strain (CS) decreased at week 4 (80.3 ± 3.2 to 78.1 ± 3.3%, P = 0.031 for LVEF; -18.6 ± 1.9 to -15.0 ± 3.4%, P = 0.019 for CS). Circumferential strain rate (CSr) decreased at week 6 (-5.5 ± 0.8 to -4.6 ± 1.0 per second, P = 0.008). Radial strain/strain rate (RS/RSr) decreased at week 8 (54.8 ± 9.4 to 43.7 ± 10.6%, P = 0.005 for RS; 8.0 ± 1.1 to 7.0 ± 1.1 per second, P = 0.005 for RSr), while there was no significant change in LS/LSr, LVEF, CS/CSr, or RS/RSr in the control group. LVEF had the highest correlation with LS (r =-0.607, P = 0.000) and the lowest correlation with RSr (r = 0.357, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: In DIC of rat hearts, LS/LSr decreased first, and then LVEF, CS, CSr, RS/RSr subsequently decreased. LS/LSr is considered to be a more sensitive predictor than LVEF in progressive rat DIC, and RS/RSr was preserved until the last stage.

Effect of a fixed-dose combination of Telmisartan/S-amlodipine on circadian blood pressure compared with Telmisartan monotherapy: TENUVA-BP study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the circadian efficacy of a telmisartan 40 mg/S-amlodipine 2.5 mg fixed-dose combination (Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5) compared to telmisartan 80 mg (Telmisartan80) in patients with essential hypertension who did not respond to 2-4 weeks' treatment with telmisartan 40 mg. METHODS: Eligible patients with essential hypertension (clinic mean sitting systolic blood pressure [MSSBP] ≥140 mmHg, or ≥ 130 mmHg in those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease) were randomly assigned to Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 or Telmisartan80 for 8 weeks. All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) at baseline and 8 weeks later. Primary endpoints were changes in mean 24-h SBP and DBP on 24-h ABPM from baseline after 8 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in daytime, nighttime, and morning SBP and DBP, and clinic MSSBP and MSDBP. RESULTS: A total of 316 Korean patients were enrolled, 217 patients were randomized to treatment, and 192 patients completed the study. Compared to Telmisartan80, Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 showed significantly better reductions in 24-h mean SBP and DBP after 8 weeks. Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 also significantly reduced secondary endpoints compared to Telmisartan80. Among 15 adverse events (7 [Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5] and 8 [Telmisartan80]), there were five adverse drug reactions; 14 events were mild, and none were identified with significant between-group differences. CONCLUSIONS: Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 was tolerable and more effective than Telmisartan80 in lowering 24-h mean ambulatory BP in patients with essential hypertension not responding adequately to Telmisartan40. Our findings support the fact that the combination of S-amlodipine with telmisartan is more appropriate than increasing the dose of telmisartan monotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02231788 . Registered 4 September 2014.

Low waist circumference prior to percutaneous coronary intervention predict the risk for end-stage renal disease: a nationwide Korean population based-cohort study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The obesity paradox has been known in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the effect of body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the development of ESRD is not clear. METHODS: Using nationally representative data from the Korean National Health Insurance System, we enrolled 140,164 subjects without ESRD at enrolment who underwent PCI between 2010 and 2015, and were followed-up until 2017. Patients were stratified into five levels based on their baseline BMI and six levels based on their WC with 5-cm increments. BMI and WC were measured at least 2 years prior to PCI. The primary outcome was the development of ESRD. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 5.4 years, 2,082 (1.49%) participants developed ESRD. The underweight group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.331; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.955 to 1.856) and low WC (< 80/< 75) (HR, 1.589; 95% CI, 1.379 to 1.831) showed the highest ESRD risk and the BMI 25 to 30 group showed the lowest ESRD risk (HR, 0.604; 95% CI, 0542 to 0.673) in all participants after adjusting for all covariates. In the subgroup analysis for diabetes mellitus (DM) duration, WC < 85/80 cm (men/women) increased ESRD risk in only the DM group (DM < 5 years and DM ≥ 5 years) compared to the reference group (85-90/80-85 of WC), but not the normal or impaired fasting glucose group. CONCLUSION: Low WC prior to PCI showed an increased ESRD risk in patients with DM undergoing PCI as compared to those without DM.

Favorable Vasomotor Function after Drug-Coated Balloon-Only Angioplasty of De Novo Native Coronary Artery Lesions.

Balloon-injured coronary segments are known to harbor abnormal vasomotion. We evaluated whether de novo coronary lesions treated using drug-coated balloon (DCB) are prone to vasospasm and how they respond to ergonovine and nitrate. Among 132 DCB angioplasty recipients followed, 89 patients underwent ergonovine provocation test at 6-9 months follow-up. Within-subject ergonovine- and nitrate-induced diameter changes were compared among three different sites: DCB-treated vs. angiographically normal vs. segment showing prominent vasoreactivity (spastic). No patient experienced clinically refractory vasospastic angina or symptom-driven revascularization during follow-up. Ergonovine induced vasospasm in seven patients; all were multifocal spasm either involving (n = 2) or rather sparing DCB-treated segments (n = 5). None showed focal spasm that exclusively involved DCB-treated lesions. Among 27 patients with vasospastic features, DCB-treated segments showed less vasoconstriction than spastic counterparts (p < 0.001). A total of 110 DCB-treated lesions were analyzed to assess vasomotor function. Vasomotor function, defined as a combined constrictor and dilator response, was comparable between DCB-treated and angiographically normal segments (p = 0.173), while significant differences were observed against spastic counterparts (p < 0.001). In our study, DCB-treated lesions were not particularly vulnerable to vasospasm and were found to have vasomotor function similar to angiographically normal segments, supporting safety of DCB-only strategy in treating de novo native coronary lesions.

Lifestyle Modification in the Management of Metabolic Syndrome: Statement From Korean Society of CardioMetabolic Syndrome (KSCMS).

With the recent rapid increase in obesity worldwide, metabolic syndrome (MetS) has gained significant importance. MetS is a cluster of obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors including abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and impaired glucose tolerance. MetS is highly prevalent and strongly associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, putting a great burden on human society. Therefore, it is very important to reduce MetS risk, which can improve patients' cardiovascular prognosis. The primary and most effective strategy to control each component of MetS is lifestyle change such as losing body weight, keeping regular exercise, adopting a healthy diet, quitting smoking and alcohol drinking in moderation. Many studies have shown that lifestyle modification has improved all components of MetS, and reduces the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Here, the Korean Society of CardioMetabolic Syndrome has summarized specific and practical methods of lifestyle modification in the management of MetS in the healthcare field.

Prevalence of Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension and Development of Arterial Stiffness, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions: The KoGES (Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study).

Background Apart from nondippers' impact on cardiovascular events, the prevalence of isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) and its consequences on both the heart and brain were not clearly investigated in the general population. Methods and Results The participants underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring evaluations for arterial stiffness, echocardiography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. They were grouped into normotension, INH, and overt diurnal hypertension, based on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and history of antihypertensive treatment. White matter hyperintensity, arterial stiffness, and echocardiographic parameters were compared. Of the 1734 participants, there were 475 (27.4%) subjects with normotension, 314 with INH (18.1%), and 945 with overt diurnal hypertension (54.5%). Prevalence of INH was not different between sex or age. Of INH, 71.3% (n=224) was caused by elevated diastolic blood pressure. After multivariable adjustment, INH showed higher pulse wave velocity (P<0.001) and central systolic blood pressure (P<0.001), left ventricular mass index (P=0.026), and worse left ventricular diastolic function (early diastolic mitral annular velocity) (P<0.001) than normotension. Mean white matter hyperintensity scores of INH were not different from normotension (P=0.321), but the odds for white matter hyperintensity presence were higher in INH than normotension (odds ratio, 1.504 [95% CI, 1.097-2.062]; P=0.011). Conclusions INH was common in the general population and associated with increased arterial stiffness, left ventricular hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction. White matter hyperintensity was more likely to be present in the INH group than in the normotension group. The use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be encouraged to identify masked INH and prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Drug-eluting vs. bare-metal stents for treatment of acute myocardial infarction with renal insufficiency. Results from Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic kidney disease have had conflicting results between drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS). The aim of the present study was to determine whether DES is preferable for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with renal insufficiency, and to elucidate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes of each stent. METHODS AND RESULTS: As a part of the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR), 2,175 AMI patients with renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate <60ml/min) comprising 208 patients with BMS and 1,967 DES implantation were selected. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiac event (MACE), defined as a composite of mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization. In the overall population, the MACE rate at 1 year was significantly higher in the BMS group than that of DES (44% vs. 26%, P<0.05), which was mainly due to death rather than repeat intervention (44% vs. 26%, P<0.05). In the diabetic group with DES implantation, the MACE rate was higher compared with the DES group without DM, mainly due to repeat intervention (5% vs. 8%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In AMI patients with renal insufficiency, DES implantation exhibits a favorable 1-year clinical outcome than BMS implantation, and subgroup analysis for diabetic subjects showed worse outcomes in the DM group with implanted DES.