Long-term survival in elderly patients with stable coronary disease.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess long-term prognosis of stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) in patients aged ≥ 75 years and to identify clinical predictors of cardiovascular and overall mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2000 to January 2007, 391 outpatients aged ≥ 75 years (median 78 years, interquartile range [IQR] 76-81 years, 66% male) with sCAD were recruited in this prospective cohort study. Associations of baseline variables with long-term cardiovascular and all-cause death were investigated. RESULTS: After up to 11 years of follow-up (median 4 years, IQR 2-6 years), 89 patients died (23%, 5·45%/year), 35 from cardiovascular causes (9%, 2·14%/year). Multivariate analysis identified family history of coronary disease (HR 4·28, 95% CI 1·22-15·02, P = 0·02), baseline atrial fibrillation (HR 3·18, 95% CI 1·37-7·39, P = 0·007), age (HR 1·61 per 5 year increase, 95% CI 1·04-2·50, P = 0·03), resting heart rate (HR 1·26 per 5 bpm increase, 95% CI 1·09-1·47, P = 0·003) and previous revascularization (HR 0·17, 95% CI 0·04-0·77, P = 0·02) as independent predictors of cardiovascular death, and previous acute coronary syndrome (HR 4·93, 95% CI 1·49-16·30, P = 0·009), baseline atrial fibrillation (HR 1·96, 95% CI 1·12-3·43, P = 0·02), tobacco use (HR 1·69, 95% CI 1·00-2·84, P = 0·049 for ex-smoking and HR 6·78, 95% CI 0·89-51·47, P = 0·06 for active smoking), age (HR 1·58 per 5 year increase, 95% CI 1·18-2·11, P = 0·002), resting heart rate (HR 1·10 per 5 bpm increase, 95% CI 1·00-1·22, P = 0·05) and diastolic blood pressure (HR 0·97, 95% CI 0·94-0·99, P = 0·01) as independent predictors of overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 4-years overall mortality was 23% among elderly patients with sCAD. Simple clinical variables can identify patients at higher risk of mortality.

Prognostic impact of baseline low blood pressure in hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease of daily clinical practice.

The authors' aim was to investigate the prognostic value of first-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) in hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) in conditions of contemporary daily clinical practice. From February 1, 2000, to January 31, 2004, 690 consecutive hypertensive patients with sCAD (mean age 68 ± 10 years, 65% male) were prospectively followed in the outpatient cardiology clinic for major events (acute coronary syndrome, revascularization, stroke, heart failure, or death) and associations with baseline SBP/DBP were investigated. At first visit, median SBP/SDP were 130/75 mm Hg (interquartile range, 25-75; 120-140/70-80 mm Hg). After 25 months of follow-up (median), 19 patients died (2.8%); 10 from cardiovascular causes (1.5%), 87 patients experienced a coronary event (13%), and 130 patients (19%) a major event. After adjusting for baseline variables, DBP <75 mm Hg or SBP <130 mm Hg resulted in independent predictors of major events (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.16, P=.02; HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.18-2.40, P=.004, respectively), coronary events (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.15-2.75, P=.009; HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.20-2.83, P=.005, respectively), and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 7.02; 95% CI, 1.26-39.04, P=.03; HR, 9.26; 95% CI, 1.33-64.32, P=.02, respectively). In this study, a low first-visit SBP or DBP was associated with an adverse prognosis in hypertensive patients with sCAD of contemporary daily clinical practice.

Prognostic value of resting heart rate in a broad population of patients with stable coronary artery disease: prospective single-center cohort study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the prognostic value of the resting heart rate (RHR) in a broad unselected population of patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD). METHOD: Between February 1, 2000 and January 31, 2004, 1264 ambulatory patients with sCAD were recruited into the prospective study. Patients were followed up for major events (i.e. death, acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure). Associations between these events and the RHR (i.e. ≥ 70 beats per minute [bpm] versus < 70 bpm) were evaluated. RESULTS: The patients' median age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR] 60-74 years) and 926 (73%) were male. The RHR was ≥ 70 bpm in 645 patients (51%) and < 70 bpm in 619 (49%). After a median follow-up period of 25 months (IQR 12-39 months), with only seven patients lost to follow-up, the probability of an event was 17.48% in patients with an RHR ≥ 70 bpm and 17.67% in those with an RHR < 70 bpm (P =. 32) and total mortality was 2.32% and 2.5%, respectively (P = .56). After adjustment for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure, baseline cardiac rhythm, ejection fraction and treatment at first visit, no significant association was found between the RHR and major events (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.43; P = .79) or mortality (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 0.55-2.81; P=.61). CONCLUSIONS: The RHR was not an adverse prognostic factor in this group of unselected patients with sCAD. The prognostic value of the RHR in daily clinical practice could be low in this population.

Valor pronóstico de la frecuencia cardiaca en reposo en una población general de pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica crónica: un estudio prospectivo, monocéntrico de cohortes / Prognostic value of resting heart rate in a broad population of patients with stable coronary artery disease: prospective single- center cohort study

Introducción y objetivos. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el valor pronóstico de la frecuencia cardiaca en reposo (FCr) en una población general no seleccionada de pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica crónica (CIC). Métodos. Del 1 de febrero de 2000 al 31 de enero de 2004, se incluyó prospectivamente a 1.264 pacientes ambulatorios con CIC, y se los siguió para eventos mayores (mortalidad, síndrome coronario agudo, revascularización coronaria, ictus e ingreso por insuficiencia cardiaca) para evaluar la asociación de éstos con la FCr (≥ 70 frente a < 70 lat/min). Resultados. La mediana [p25-p75] de edad fue 68 [60- 74] años, y 926 pacientes eran varones (73%); 645 pacientes (51%) presentaron una FCr ≥ 70 lat/min y 619 (49%), FCr < 70 lat/min. Tras una mediana de seguimiento de 25 [12-39] meses, con sólo 7 pacientes perdidos, la probabilidad de eventos fue del 17,48% en pacientes con FCr ≥ 70 lat/min y del 17,67% en pacientes con FCr < 70 lat/min (p = 0,32) y la mortalidad total, del 2,32 y el 2,5% respectivamente (p = 0,56). Tras ajustar por edad, sexo, factores de riesgo cardiovascular, presión arterial, ritmo basal, fracción de eyección y tratamiento en la primera visita, no encontramos asociación entre la FCr y la tasa de eventos mayores (hazard ratio [HR] = 1,04; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 0,76-1,43; p = 0,79) o la mortalidad total (HR = 1,24; IC del 95%, 0,55-2,81; p = 0,61). Conclusiones. La FCr no ha sido un factor pronóstico adverso en esta muestra no seleccionada de pacientes con CIC. La importancia pronóstica de la FCr en la práctica clínica habitual podría ser baja en esta población (AU)

Introductions and objectives. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic value of the resting heart rate (RHR) in a broad unselected population of patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD). Method. Between February 1, 2000 and January 31, 2004, 1264 ambulatory patients with sCAD were recruited into the prospective study. Patients were followed up for major events (i.e. death, acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure). Associations between these events and the RHR (i.e. ≥70 beats per minute [bpm] versus <70 bpm) were evaluated. Results. The patients’ median age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR] 60-74 years) and 926 (73%) were male. The RHR was ≥70 bpm in 645 patients (51%) and <70 bpm in 619 (49%). After a median follow-up period of 25 months (IQR 12-39 months), with only seven patients lost to follow-up, the probability of an event was 17.48% in patients with an RHR ≥70 bpm and 17.67% in those with an RHR <70 bpm (P=.32) and total mortality was 2.32% and 2.5%, respectively (P=.56). After adjustment for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure, baseline cardiac rhythm, ejection fraction and treatment at first visit, no significant association was found between the RHR and major events (hazard ratio [HR]=1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.43; P=.79) or mortality (HR=1.24; 95% CI, 0.55-2.81; P=.61). Conclusions. The RHR was not an adverse prognostic factor in this group of unselected patients with sCAD. The prognostic value of the RHR in daily clinical practice could be low in this population (AU)