Lipid Control and Medical Costs Among Patients With and Without Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Followed in a Brazilian Private Healthcare System.

Background: There is limited real-world data of lipid control and healthcare costs among patients with and without Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) in Latin America. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including patients with LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) assessment from 2015 to 2017 was performed in a health insurance database. Patient characteristics, comorbidities and laboratory data were collected, and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes were used to identify a subcohort of patients with ASCVD (secondary prevention) and assess the proportion of these patients with LDL-C controlled. Lipid control among patients without ASCVD (primary prevention) and healthcare costs in one year in the overall population were also assessed. Results: From the 17,434 patients selected, 5,208 (29.8%) had ASCVD. The mean age of these patients in secondary prevention was 68.9 (±12.3) years and 47.8% were male patients. LDL-C < 70 mg/dL was identified in 19.1% of the ASCVD population and only 4.1% had an LDL-C < 50 mg/dL. LDL control was worse in women compared to men (13.1% vs. 25.7%; P < 0.01). The average cost in one year was 3,591 American dollars (USD) per patient in primary prevention compared to 8,210 dollars per year for patients in secondary prevention (P < 0.01). While outpatient costs accounted for 59.8% of the total cost in the primary prevention group, the main cost of the secondary prevention population was related to hospital costs (54.1%). Conclusion: Despite the favorable evidence for intensive cholesterol reduction, the evaluation of large real-world database with more than 17,000 individuals showed that the targets of guideline recommendations have not yet been adequately incorporated into clinical practice. Average annual cost per patient in secondary prevention is more than twice compared to primary prevention. Hospital expenses account for most of the cost in the secondary prevention group, while outpatient costs predominate in primary prevention.

Ultrassom e microbolhas na recanalização de artérias coronarianasno infarto agudo do miocárdio / Ultrasound and microbubbles for coronary artery recanalization in acute myocardial infarction

Fundamento: Microbolhas intravenosas (MB) e ultrassom (US) têm sido utilizados para recanalizar vasos epicárdicos em modelos animais de infarto agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (IAM-SST). Nenhum estudo prévio demonstrando o valor dessa técnica foi realizado em humanos. Objetivo: Estudo piloto realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a eficácia da utilização de MB e US (sonotrombólise) sobre as taxas iniciais de recanalização de artérias coronarianas em pacientes com IAM-SST. Método: Estudamos 24 pacientes (18 homens, média etária de 58 ± 9 anos) que deram entrada no serviço de emergência com IAM-SST. Pacientes foram randomizados em um dos três grupos: MB + US especificamente desenvolvido para este protocolo, com duração de pulso 4-20 useg e índice mecânico (IM) >1.0 (n = 7), MB + US com impulsos repetitivos de alto IM (1.0), com duração de pulso < 2 useg (n = 8), ou grupo controle (n = 9) que recebeu MB + US apenas paraanalisar a perfusão dentro da área de risco. As MB utilizadas no estudo consistiam em solução de Definity 3%. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a intervenção coronariana percutânea (ICP). Resultados: As médias dos tempos porta-balão foram 76 ± 35 minutos no grupo MB + US 4-20 useg, 70 ± 20 minutos no grupo MB + US impulsos repetitivos e 81 ± 13 minutos no grupo controle (p = NS). Recanalização angiográfica antes da angioplastia foi observada em 75% dos pacientes tratados com MB + US impulsos repetitivos, em 43% nogrupo tratado com MB + US 4-20 useg e em 11% do grupo controle (p = < 0,05). Conclusão: Utilização de MB e US com impulsos repetitivos pode ser um método para recanalização precoce de artérias epicárdicas em pacientes com IAM-SST.

Background: Intravenous microbubbles (MB) and transthoracic ultrasound (US) have been utilized to recanalize epicardial vessels in animalmodels of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The feasibility of such an ultrasound-guided approach in humans with STEMIhave not been studied. Objective: Pilot study with the aim to evaluate the efficacy of MB plus US on coronary artery recanalization rate in patients with STEMI. Methods: Twenty-four patients (18 men, mean age 58 ± 9 years) admitted to the emergency room with STEMI were randomized into 3 groups. Patients either received MB plus custom designed high mechanical index (MI) impulses at 4-20 usec pulse duration (n = 7), MB plus diagnostichigh MI (MI = 1.0) with multiple impulses < 2 usec pulse duration (n = 8) or MB plus limited diagnostic high MI impulses (< 5) just to analyzemyocardial perfusion, control group (n = 9). MB utilized in the study consisted of a solution of Definity 3%. All randomized groups underwent emergent PCI.Results: The mean door-to-balloon time were 76 ± 35 minutes in group US 4-20 usec, 70 ± 20 minutes in group US multiple impulses and 81 ± 13 minutes in control group (p = NS). Angiographic recanalization before PCI was observed in 75% of patients treated with US multiple impulses, in 43% for US 4-20 usec and 11% in control (p = <0.05).Conclusion: Utilization of MB and diagnostic US with multiple impulses may be a method of achieving early recanalization in acute STEMI.