Association of obesity indices with in-hospital and 1-year mortality following acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: According to the "obesity paradox", adults with obesity have a survival advantage following acute coronary syndrome, compared with those without obesity. Previous studies focused on peripheral obesity and whether this advantage is conferred by central obesity is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe the association of peripheral and central obesity indices with risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality following acute coronary syndrome (ACS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Gulf COAST is a prospective ACS registry that enrolled 4044 patients age ≥18 years from January 2012 through January 2013, across 29 hospitals in four Middle Eastern countries. Associations of indices of peripheral obesity (body-mass index, [BMI]) and central obesity (waist circumference [WC] and waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]) with mortality following ACS were analyzed in logistic regression models (odds ratio, 95% CI) with and without adjustment for Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score. RESULTS: Of 3882 patients analyzed (mean age: 60 years; 33.3% women [n = 1294]), the prevalence of obesity was 34.5% (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2), 72.2% (WC ≥ 94.0 cm [men] or ≥80.0 cm [women]) and 90.0% (WHtR ≥ 0.5). In adjusted models, deciles of obesity indices showed higher risk of mortality at extreme versus intermediate deciles (U-shaped). When defined by conventional cut-offs, peripheral obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 versus 18.5-29.9 kg/m2) showed inverse association with risk of in-hospital mortality (0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.99; P = 0.04; central obesity showed trend toward reduced mortality). In contrast, for risk of 1-year mortality, all indices showed inverse association. Obesity, defined by presence of all three indices, versus nonobesity showed inverse association with risk of 1-year mortality (0.52; 95% CI, 0.35-0.75; P = 0.001). Results were similar among men and women. CONCLUSION: The degree of obesity paradox following ACS depends on the obesity index and follow-up time. Obesity indices may aid in risk stratification of mortality following ACS.

Compliance of atrial fibrillation treatment with the ABC pathway in patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus in the Middle East based on the Gulf SAFE registry.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) constitute a heavy burden on healthcare expenditure due to their negative impact on clinical outcomes in the Middle East. The Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway provides a simple strategy of integrated approach of AF management: A-Avoid stroke; B-Better symptom control; C-Cardiovascular comorbidity risk management. AIMS: Evaluation of the AF treatment compliance to ABC pathway in DM patients in the Middle East. Assessment of the impact of ABC pathway adherence on all-cause mortality and the composite outcome of stroke/systemic embolism, all-cause death and cardiovascular hospitalisations. METHODS: From 2043 patients in the Gulf SAFE registry, 603 patients (mean age 63; 48% male) with DM were included in an analysis of ABC pathway compliance: A-appropriate use of anticoagulation according to CHA2 DS2 -VASc score; B-AF symptoms management according to the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) scale; C-Optimised cardiovascular comorbidities management. RESULTS: 86 (14.3%) patients were treated in compliance with the ABC pathway. During 1-year follow-up, 207 composite outcome events and 87 deaths occurred. Mortality was significantly lower in the ABC group vs non-ABC (5.8% vs 15.9%, P = .0014, respectively). On multivariate analysis, ABC compliance was associated with a lower risk of all-cause death and the composite outcome after 6 months (OR 0.18; 95% CI: 0.42-0.75 and OR 0.54; 95% Cl: 0.30-1.00, respectively) and at 1 year (OR 0.30; 95% Cl: 0.11-0.76 and OR 0.57; 95% Cl: 0.33-0.97, respectively) vs the non-ABC group. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with the ABC pathway care was independently associated with the reduced risk of all-cause death and the composite outcome in DM patients with AF, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to AF management.

Impact of Dual versus Single Antiplatelet Therapy on Major Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Arabian Gulf.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of dual versus single antiplatelet therapy with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Arabian Gulf. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data were analyzed from 3,559 patients with a diagnosis of ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in 4 Arabian Gulf countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and United Arab Emirates) from January 2012 to January 2013. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), consisting of aspirin and clopidogrel, was compared to aspirin alone. MACE included 12-months cumulative stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, and readmissions for cardiac reasons, post discharge. Analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 74% (n = 2,634) of the patients were on DAPT. At 12-month follow-up, patients on DAPT were significantly less likely to experience MACE events (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61-0.86; p < 0.001). Lower cardiovascular (CV) event rates were also consistent across the following MACE components; MI (aOR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.88; p = 0.005), all-cause mortality (aOR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51-0.94; p = 0.018), and readmissions for cardiac reasons (aOR 0.79; 95% CI: 0.66-0.95; p = 0.011). Conversely, DAPT was adversely associated with increased risk of stroke/TIA (aOR 1.68; 95% CI: 1.05-2.69; p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: DAPT, compared to aspirin therapy alone, was generally associated with better CV outcomes after an ACS event. However, DAPT was adversely associated with increased risk of stroke/TIA in ACS patients in the Arabian Gulf.

Increases in statin eligibility to reduce cardiovascular risk according to the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines in the Africa Middle East region: a sub-analysis of the Africa Middle East Cardiovascular Epidemiological (ACE) study.

BACKGROUND: With development of cholesterol management guidelines by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), more individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease may be eligible for statin therapy. It is not known how this affects statin eligibility in the Africa and Middle East Region. METHODS: Data were used from the Africa Middle East Cardiovascular Epidemiological (ACE) study. The percentage of subjects eligible for statins per the ACC/AHA 2013 cholesterol guidelines and the 2002 National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP III) recommendations were compared. Analyses were carried out according to age, gender, community (urban/rural), and country income categories based on World Bank definitions. RESULTS: According to the ACC/AHA recommendations, 1695 out of 4378 subjects (39%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 37-40%) satisfied statin eligibility criteria vs. 1043/4378 (24%; 95% CI, 23-25%) per NCEP-ATP recommendations, representing a 63% increase in statin eligibility. Consistent increases in eligibility for statin therapy were seen according to the ACC/AHA vs. NCEP-ATP guidelines across sub-groups of age, gender, community, and country income. Notable increases for statin eligibility according to ACC/AHA vs. NCEP-ATP were seen, respectively, in subjects aged ≥65 years (86% vs. 39%), in males (46% vs. 25%), in low-income countries (28% vs. 14%), and rural communities (37% vs. 19%). CONCLUSION: An increase in statin eligibility was seen applying ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines compared with previous NCEP-ATP recommendations in the Africa Middle East region. The economic consequences of these guideline recommendations will need further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The ACE trial is registered under NCT01243138 .

Social Determinants of Health and Mortality After Premature and Non-premature Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objective: To describe and compare the determinants of 1-year mortality after premature vs non-premature acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients and Methods: Participants presenting with ACS were enrolled in a prospective registry of 29 hospitals in 4 countries, from January 22, 2012 to January 22, 2013, with 1-year of follow-up data. The primary outcome was all-cause 1-year mortality after premature ACS (men aged <55 years and women aged <65 years) and non-premature ACS (men aged ≥55 years and women aged ≥65 years). The associations between the baseline patient characteristics and 1-year mortality were analyzed in models adjusting for the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score and reported as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% CI). Results: Of the 3868 patients, 43.3% presented with premature ACS that was associated with lower 1-year mortality (5.7%) than those with non-premature ACS. In adjusted models, women experienced higher mortality than men after premature (aOR, 2.14 [1.37-3.41]) vs non-premature ACS (aOR, 1.28 [0.99-1.65]) (P interaction=.047). Patients lacking formal education vs any education had higher mortality after both premature (aOR, 2.92 [1.87-4.61]) and non-premature ACS (aOR, 1.78 [1.36-2.34]) (P interaction=.06). Lack of employment vs any employment was associated with approximately 3-fold higher mortality after premature and non-premature ACS (P interaction=.72). Using stepwise logistic regression to predict 1-year mortality, a model with GRACE risk score and 4 characteristics (education, employment, body mass index [kg/m2], and statin use within 24 hours after admission) had higher discrimination than the GRACE risk score alone (area under the curve, 0.800 vs 0.773; P comparison=.003). Conclusion: In this study, women, compared with men, had higher 1-year mortality after premature ACS. The social determinants of health (no formal education or employment) were strongly associated with higher 1-year mortality after premature and non-premature ACS, improved mortality prediction, and should be routinely considered in risk assessment after ACS.

Early stroke following acute myocardial infarction: incidence, predictors and outcome in six Middle-Eastern countries.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke is a potential complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to identify the incidence, risk factors predisposing to stroke and in-hospital outcome during the index admission with AMI among patients in the Middle East. METHODS: For a period of 6 months in 2006 and 2007, 5,833 consecutive AMI patients were enrolled from 64 hospitals in 6 Middle East countries. RESULTS: The incidence of in-hospital stroke following AMI was 0.85%. Most cases were ST segment elevation AMI-related and ischemic in nature. Patients with in-hospital stroke were older than patients without stroke and were more likely to be female (36 vs. 18.6%, p = 0.0033). They were also more likely to have diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, prior AMI, or percutaneous/surgical coronary revascularization. Patients with stroke were more likely to present with advanced Killip class II-IV, higher mean heart rate and higher serum creatinine. Independent predictors of stroke were age, prior stroke, prior coronary artery bypass surgery, anterior AMI and systolic blood pressure >190 mm Hg on presentation. Early administration of statins was independently associated with reduced stroke risk (odds ratio, OR, 0.4, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.19-0.90, p = 0.025). Stroke was fatal in 44% of the cases and was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 12.5, 95% CI 5.7-27.4, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There is a low incidence of in-hospital stroke in Middle-Eastern patients presenting with AMI but with very high fatality rates. Early statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction in stroke risk. Future work should be focused on reducing the risk and improving the outcome of this devastating complication.

Impact of diabetic status on the hyperglycemia-induced adverse risk of short term outcomes in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes in the Middle East: findings from the Gulf registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE).

BACKGROUND: While glucose levels on admission are clearly a much stronger predictor of short term adverse outcomes than diabetes status, there is a paucity of data on how diabetes status impacts the hyperglycemia-induced increased risk. METHODS: 2786 patients admitted to the hospital with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and diabetic level hyperglycemia (random >11.1 mmol/L or fasting >7 mmol/L) were identified from a Gulf registry of ACS. We divided the cohort into two groups. Those who were previously known to have diabetes mellitus were identified as the known diabetes group, and the non-diabetic group included those without a previous diabetes diagnosis. We used logistic regression models to assess the effect of glycemic status on hospital mortality and other patient outcomes including heart failure, stroke, recurrent ischemia, cardiogenic shock, major bleeding, and ventilation. RESULTS: About two-thirds of the hyperglycemics on admission had been diagnosed previously with diabetes. After adjusting for age, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the non-diabetic group (OR: 2.36; 95% CI 1.54-3.61) compared to the diabetic group. As for the other outcomes, known diabetes patients had significantly lower incidences of heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and ventilation compared to non-diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: The effects of hyperglycemia are mitigated by the presence of the chronic diabetic state, and thus, hyperglycemia has a worse effect in those not known to have chronic diabetes. These findings are important and call for further investigation.

Regional variability in hospital mortality in patients hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: findings from the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events.

OBJECTIVES: To study the short-term mortality from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the Arabian Gulf region of the Middle East, and to examine whether these geographically and culturally related countries had similar or different outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events recruited consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients from six Middle Eastern countries over a 5-month period. RESULTS: Of 6,706 patients recruited, 2,626 (39%) had STEMI, and a total of 165 patients died in hospital, with a crude mortality rate of 6.3%. However, mortality rates varied geographically between 10% in Yemen, 9.6% in Oman and 3.3% in the other countries. The unadjusted odds ratio of mortality for Yemen was 3.2 (95% CI: 2.2-4.7), and 3.1 (95% CI: 1.9-4.8) for Oman, compared to other Gulf countries. Even after adjusting for age and gender, the mortality remained significantly higher, almost double, in Oman and Yemen compared to other countries. This could be understood in the light of significant differences in a number of practice pattern variables such as reperfusion therapy, timely presentation and use of evidence-based medications. CONCLUSION: We found significant variability in STEMI mortality among Gulf Arab countries and identified areas requiring further efforts to reduce excess mortality in the region.

Influence of diabetes on the outcome of acute coronary syndrome in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the baseline characteristics and management of patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to assess the influence of DM on hospital outcomes and hospital mortality. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from a 6-month observational study (Kuwait Acute Coronary Syndrome Registry) of unselected patients admitted with a diagnosis of AMI over a period of 6 months, from December 2003 through May 2004. RESULTS: Of 1,295 patients enrolled, 609 (47%) were diabetics and 686 (53%) were non-diabetics. Diabetics were more likely to have a past history of coronary artery disease, hypertension and left ventricular systolic dysfunction than non-diabetics. There was less use of beta-blockers and aspirin in diabetics as compared to non-diabetics (62 vs. 71% and 95.5 vs. 97.9%, p < 0.03, for beta-blockers and aspirin, respectively). Left ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock occurred more often in diabetics compared to non-diabetics (16 vs. 7% and 5 vs. 3%, p < 0.001, for left ventricular failure and shock, respectively). The mortality rate was 6% for diabetics and 2% for non-diabetics (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DM is a major health problem among the adult population in Kuwait, and almost half the AMI population suffer from diabetes. Diabetic patients had higher rates of complications, especially left ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock, as compared to non-diabetic patients. The in-hospital mortality among diabetics with AMI was almost triple that of non-diabetics. The results of this study highlight the need to improve adherence to evidence-based treatment in diabetic patients with AMI.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of young adults with first myocardial infarction: Results from Gulf COAST.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data exists on the risk factor profile and outcomes of young patients suffering their first acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We examined 1562 Gulf-Arabs without prior cardiovascular disease presenting with first AMI enrolled in the Gulf COAST prospective cohort. Clinical characteristics were compared in patients ≤50 years of age (young) vs. >50 years (older). Associations between age group and in-hospital adverse events (re-infarction, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, stroke, and in-hospital death) or post-discharge mortality were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Young patients represented 26.1% (n = 407) of first AMI cases and were more likely to be men (82.8% vs. 66.5%), current smokers (49.9% vs 19.0%), obese (38.3% vs 28.0%), and have family history of premature coronary artery disease (21.4% vs 10.4%) compared with older patients (all P < 0.001). Young patients were more likely to receive ß-blockers (83.0% vs 74.4%; P < 0.001), clopidogrel (82.3% vs 76.0%; P = 0.009) and primary reperfusion therapy (85.6% vs. 75.6%; P = 0.003). Young adults had lower in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.37; 95%CI = 0.16-0.86) or any in-hospital adverse cardiovascular events (aOR = 0.53; 95%CI = 0.34-0.83). Young adults had lower likelihood of cumulative death at 12-month post-discharge (aOR = 0.34; 95%CI = 0.19-0.59) after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Young patients with first AMI were more likely to be obese, smokers and have family history of premature coronary artery disease compared to older adults. Young patients were more likely to receive guideline-proven therapies and have better in-hospital and post-discharge mortality. These data highlight important age-related care gaps in patients suffering AMI for the first time.

One-year all-cause mortality risk among atrial fibrillation patients in Middle East with and without diabetes: The Gulf SAFE registry.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) poses a great risk of mortality, especially when associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the rate and risk factors for mortality among AF patients with and without DM in the population from the Middle East where it has never been investigated before. METHODS: We analyzed the Gulf-SAFE registry, involving patients with nonvalvular AF from the Middle East, for one-year all-cause mortality. The predictive capability of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for death was also investigated. RESULTS: Among a total of 2043 AF patients 606 had DM. Patients with DM were older and had significantly higher prevalence of multiple comorbidities (p < 0.05, respectively). Among patients with DM, age ≥ 75 (relative risk 2.34, 95% confidence interval 1.19-4.61), heart failure (HF) (RR 2.14, 95%CI 1.03-4.43), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (RR 3.36, 95%CI 1.22-9.30) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (RR 2.60, 95%CI 1.16-5.81) were independent risk factors for one year all-cause mortality. Patients with DM had significantly higher rates of heart failure and AF-related hospital admissions, all-cause mortality and composite outcome rates, in one year follow up. Among patients with DM, the CHA2DS2-VASc score was predictive of one-year all-cause mortality with c-index of 0.741 (95%CI 0.688-0.794). CONCLUSIONS: AF patients in Middle East with DM have a higher risk for all-cause mortality, HF and AF admission and composite outcome, compared to patients without DM. Multiple risk factors contribute to the higher mortality rate among patients with DM.

Efficacy and Safety of Pharmacoinvasive Strategy Compared to Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Management of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Country-Wide Registry.

Background: A pharmacoinvasive reperfusion strategy is recommended for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients when primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) cannot be achieved in a timely fashion. This is based on a limited number of trials. The effectiveness of this strategy in the real-world is unclear. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of pharmacoinvasive strategy versus primary PCI using a nationwide prospective registry of STEMI patients. Methods: We examined 936 STEMI patients from the reperfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Kuwait (REPERFUSE Kuwait) registry who underwent either primary PCI or pharmacoinvasive reperfusion. A composite outcome was measured based on death, congestive heart failure, reinfarction or stroke prospectively ascertained during hospital stay and up to one-year follow-up. The association between reperfusion strategy and the composite outcome was assessed using multivariate regression and Poisson proportional hazard model. Results: Compared to the pharmacoinvasive group, those undergoing primary PCI had higher Killip class on presentation and required more blood transfusions during hospitalization. There was no significant difference between primary PCI and pharmacoinvasive strategy with regards to the incidence of the composite outcome during the in-hospital period (RR = 1.0; 95% CI 0.98-1.02; p = 0.96) after adjustment for possible confounders. Over one-year follow-up, the survival of the two groups was not different (p = 0.66). The incidence of major bleeding was similar in both groups. Conclusion: STEMI patients treated with a pharmacoinvasive strategy have comparable outcomes to those treated with primary PCI with no increased risk of major bleeding. These real-world data support the use of a pharmacoinvasive strategy when primary PCI cannot be achieved in a timely fashion.

Implementation of Guideline-Recommended Therapies for Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Regional Arab Middle East Experience.

We describe the characteristics of ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the Gulf region (Middle East) and the implementation of guideline-recommended treatments. We included 2427 HFrEF outpatients (mean age 59 ± 13 years, 75% males and median left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] of 30%). A high proportion of patients received guideline-recommended medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI]/angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor [ARNI] 87%, ß-blocker 91%, mineralocorticoid antagonist [MRA] 64%). However, only a minority of patients received guideline-recommended target doses (ACEI/ARB/ARNI 13%, ß-blocker 27%, and MRA 4.4%). Old age was a significant independent predictor for not prescribing treatment (P < .001 for ACEI/ARB/ARNI and MRA; and P = .002 for ß-blockers). Other independent predictors were chronic kidney disease (for both ACEI/ARB/ARNI and MRA, P < .001) and higher LVEF (P = .014 for ß-blockers and P < .001 for MRA). Patients with HFrEF managed by heart failure specialists more often received recommended target doses of ACEI/ARB/ARNI (40% vs 11%, P < .001) and ß-blockers (56% vs 26%, P < .001) compared to those treated by general cardiologists. Although the majority of our patients with HFrEF received guideline-recommended medications, the doses they were prescribed were suboptimal. Understanding the reasons behind this is important for improved practice.

Compliance of Atrial Fibrillation Treatment with the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care (ABC) Pathway Improves the Clinical Outcomes in the Middle East Population: A Report from the Gulf Survey of Atrial Fibrillation Events (SAFE) Registry.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with substantially increased risk of cardiovascular events and overall mortality. The Atrial fibrillation Better Care (A-Avoid stroke, B-Better symptom management, C-Cardiovascular and comorbidity risk management) pathway provides a simple and comprehensive approach for integrated AF therapy. This study's goals were to evaluate the ABC pathway compliance and determine the main gaps in AF management in the Middle East population, and to assess the impact of ABC pathway adherence on the all-cause mortality and composite outcome in AF patients. 2021 patients (mean age 57; 52% male) from the Gulf SAFE registry were studied. We evaluated: A-appropriate implementation of OACs according to CHA2DS2-VASc score; B-symptom control according to European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) symptom scale; C-proper cardiovascular comorbidities management. The primary endpoints were the composite cardiovascular outcome (ischemic stroke or systemic embolism, all-cause death and cardiovascular hospitalization) and all-cause mortality. One-hundred and sixty-eight (8.3%) patients were optimally managed according to adherence with the ABC pathway. Over the one-year follow up (FU), there were 578 composite outcome events and 224 deaths. Patients managed with integrated care had significantly lower rates for the composite outcome and mortality comparing to non-ABC group (20.8% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.02 and 7.3% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.033, respectively). On multivariable analysis, ABC compliance was independently associated with reduced risk of composite outcome (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.36-0.8, p = 0.002) and death (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.25-0.86, p = 0.015). Integrated ABC pathway adherent care resulted in the reduced composite outcome and all-cause mortality in AF patients from Middle East, highlighting the necessity of promoting comprehensive holistic and integrated care management of AF.

Management and outcomes of Middle Eastern patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes in the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE).

OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics, management and hospital outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in the Gulf region of the Middle East. METHODS AND RESULTS: Overall, 8176 consecutive patients with the final diagnosis of ACS were recruited in 6 months, from 64 hospitals in 6 countries. The mean age of patients was 56 years. At presentation, 40% of patients had diabetes and 38% were current smokers. Of 2268 patients eligible for reperfusion, 183 (8%) underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention, 1856 (82%) received thrombolytic therapy and 219 patients (10%) did not receive any reperfusion. The median door-to-needle time was 45 minutes. The majority of patients received aspirin (96%), beta-blockers (77%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (77%) and statins (83%) at discharge. Less than I in 5 patients received coronary angiography (19%). Low-risk patients were more likely to undergo coronary angiography than high-risk patients (odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.15 to 1.58, P < 0.001). Patients with recurrent ischaemia were 4 times more likely to undergo coronary angiography than those without; and patients who lived in UAE and Bahrain were about 3-4 times more likely to undergo this procedure than those who lived in other participating countries (P < 0.001 for both).The overall hospital mortality was 3.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ACS in the Arab Middle East are younger than in developed countries and have higher rates of diabetes and smoking. There is good adherence to evidence-based medications; however, improvement in door-to-needle time and utilisation of interventional procedures is needed.

Infectious dental diseases in patients with coronary artery disease: an orthopantomographic case-control study.

PURPOSE: To investigate a potential association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and a variety of radiographically detectable infectious dental diseases, a hospital-based prospective case-control study was conducted in Kuwait. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight consecutive patients with a first attack of unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction were enrolled as cases and were matched on the basis of age, sex and nationality with control patients who were known not to have CAD. The severity and extent of periodontal bone loss and other radiographic signs of infection in both cases and controls were analyzed with orthopantomograms. RESULTS: More cases than controls had teeth needing extraction (p = 0.043), periapical lesions (p = 0.028), molars with furcation lesions (p < 0.001), teeth with marginal bone loss > or = 6 mm (p = 0.001) and teeth with angular (vertical) bone loss (p < 0.001). Analysis of the total dental index showed that the median scores were higher for cases than controls for both radiographically diagnosed periodontitis (p < 0.001) and periapical lesions (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, there was a significant association between radiographically diagnosed periodontal diseases and CAD. These results should not be regarded as indicating a causal relationship, especially given that the diagnosis of periodontitis was based only on a radiographic examination. The true impact of oral infections on CAD should be examined in a large prospective clinical and interventional study.

Association between education and major adverse cardiac events among patients with acute coronary syndrome in the Arabian Gulf.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between education and major adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Arabian Gulf. METHODS: Data were analysed from 3874 consecutive patients diagnosed with ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in four Arabian Gulf countries from January 2012 to January 2013. Education was defined as any type of formal training from primary school and above. MACE included stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality and readmissions for cardiac reasons. RESULTS: The overall mean age was 60±13 years and 67% (n=2579) were men. A total of 53% (n=2039) of the patients had some form of school education. Adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics as well as socioeconomic measures (insurance type and employment), at 12-month follow-up, educated patients were significantly less likely to have had MACE (adjusted OR (aOR): 0.55; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.68; p<0.001) than those with no formal education. The lower rate of events was also consistent across all MACE components: stroke/TIA (aOR: 0.56; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.94; p=0.030), MI (aOR: 0.58; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.86; p=0.008), all-cause mortality (aOR: 0.58; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.87; p=0.009) and readmissions for cardiac reasons (aOR: 0.61; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.77; p<0.001). MACE outcomes were consistent across men and women and across countries. CONCLUSIONS: Education was associated with lower MACE events in patients with ACS in the Arabian Gulf. Interventions promoting healthy lifestyles and management of clinical risk factors for patients with low health literacy are urgently required.

Secondary stroke prevention and guideline adherent antithrombotic treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation: Insights from the Gulf Survey of atrial fibrillation events (Gulf SAFE).

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is well established as effective thromboprophylaxis. However, AF patients with prior stroke are often treated with suboptimal antithrombotic treatment (ATT). In the present study, we investigated clinical characteristics and outcomes in AF patients with versus without prior stoke, in relation to guideline adherence in ATT. METHODS: We used data from the Gulf SAFE registry, which included patients with AF who presented to hospitals in Gulf countries of the Middle East. Adherence to guideline recommended ATT was assessed against the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. RESULTS: Of 1860 patients, 15.4% had a history of stroke (secondary stroke prevention). For secondary stroke prevention, 62.0% of patients were prescribed oral anticoagulants, while 27.9% were still prescribed antiplatelet therapy alone and 10.1% received no ATT. Overall, 49.0% were treated with guideline adherent ATT, 25.5% were undertreated, and 25.4% were overtreated. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, undertreatment (OR; 2.763, 95% CI; 1.426-5.352, p = 0.003) was significantly associated with an increased risk of 1-year stroke. On the other hand, overtreatment was significantly associated with an increased risk of 1-year bleeding (OR; 3.294, 95% CI; 1.517-7.152, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Only half of the AF patients received optimal ATT for stroke prevention if we apply guideline recommendations. Guideline adherent ATT significantly reduced the risk of stroke and bleeding compared with non-guideline adherent ATT.

Clinical presentation and outcomes of acute coronary syndromes in the gulf registry of acute coronary events (Gulf RACE).

OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics, treatments and hospital outcomes for patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the Gulf area. METHODS: Prospective, multinational, multicentre, observational survey of consecutive ACS patients who were admitted to 65 hospitals during May 2006. RESULTS: A total of 1484 ACS patients were recruited. The mean age was 55 years, and 76% were men. The final discharge diagnosis was ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 37%, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in 32%, left bundle branch block myocardial infarction (LBBB MI) in 2%, and unstable angina in 29%. Among patients with STEMI and LBBB MI, the reperfusion rate was 65%, with use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in 7% and thrombolytic therapy in 93%. When thrombolytic therapy was used, the median door to needle time was 45 minutes, with 37% receiving it within 30 minutes of hospital presentation. During the first day of hospitalization, aspirin was administered to 94%, clopidogrel to 51%, and beta blockers to 65%. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/Angiotensin receptor blockers and statins were used in 62% and 82%, respectively. Coronary angiography during hospitalization was performed in 21%. In-hospital mortality was 3%. CONCLUSION: We were able to determine the characteristics, treatments and in-hospital outcomes of patients hospitalized with ACS in our region. There is room for improvement in using medications, reducing needle to door time and utilizing more cardiac catheterization services.

Effect of evidence-based cardiac drug therapy on mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Findings from the Gulf COAST registry.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and impact of the prescribing of an evidence-based cardiac medication (EBM) combination on 1-month, 6-months, and 12-months all-cause mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Data were analyzed from 3681 consecutive patients diagnosed with ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in 4 Middle Eastern countries from January 2012 to January 2013. The EBM combination consisted of concurrent prescribing of an antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), ß-blocker, and a statin, at hospital discharge. Analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. RESULTS: The overall mean age of the cohort was 60 ± 13 years, 66% (n = 2436) were males. In all, 69% (n = 2542) of the patients received the quadruple EBM combination at discharge. Two-way interactions between EBM and age (P = 0.824), EBM and GRACE risk score (P = 0.873) and between EBM and discharge diagnosis (P = 0.836) were all not statistically significant. Adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, the prescribing of EBM combination was associated with significantly lower cumulative all-cause mortality at 1-month (adjusted OR (aOR), 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24-0.79; P = 0.007), which persisted at 6-months (aOR, 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38-0.72; P < 0.001) and at 12-months of follow-up (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.75; P < 0.001) posthospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients discharged after an ACS event, concurrent EBM prescribing was associated with lower all-cause mortality that persists for up to 12-months posthospital discharge. The relative benefits of EBMs were also consistent across age, GRACE risk score, and discharge diagnosis.