Factors Affecting Early Mortality and 1-Year Outcomes in Young Women With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Aged Less Than or Equal to 45 Years.

Given that up to 2% of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) are young women, the purpose of this study was to evaluate factors affecting outcomes in young women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) aged less than or equal to 45 years. We evaluated 796 women with STEMI aged less than or equal to 45 years between 2007 and 2014, and mortality was 4.0%. Death occurred more often in women with prehospital sudden cardiac arrest, and severe symptoms of heart failure; less commonly, the women were subjected to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with a higher rate of incomplete revascularization. Beta blockers (BB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors were frequently used in the survivor group. The independent predictor of 30-day mortality was as follows: inability to undergo PCI (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-14.76, P = 0.009), sudden cardiac arrest (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.5-18.3, P = 0.04). An increase in systolic blood pressure for every 5 mm Hg was associated with lower mortality, OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.76-0.97 in patients without cardiogenic shock (CS) and OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.61-0.78, P < 0.0001 in the group with CS. Predictors for 1-year mortality were the inability to undergo PCI (hazard ratio [HR] 84, 95% CI 1.6-43.1, P = 0.01) and CS (HR 6.97, 95% CI 1.39-34.7, P = 0.01). An increase of 5% in left ventricular ejection fraction reduced the mortality rate for 60% (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.26-0.63, P < 0.0001) and an increase in systolic blood pressure for every 5 mm Hg reduced mortality for 34% (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.52-0.84, P = 0.02). Both short- and long-term outcomes in young women aged less than or equal to 45 years with STEMI are good. The strongest predictor for both 30-day and 1-year mortality was the inability to undergo PCI. Suboptimal use of beta blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors affect the outcomes in young women. Hypotension in the acute phase of MI increased mortality in young women, independent of coexisting CS.

Differences in Symptomatology and Clinical Course of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Women ≤45 Years of Age Compared to Older Women.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in young people are rare. The data regarding differences in symptoms in relation to age are scarce, which may have an influence on outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the clinical course of ACS between younger women (≤45 years old) and older women (63-64 years old). We compared 7481 women with ACS from the Polish Registry of ACS between 2007 and 2014 (1834 women aged ≤45 years and 5647 women aged 63-64 years). The predominant symptom of ACS in both groups was chest pain, with a higher incidence occurring in younger women (90.4% vs 88.5%, P = 0.025). Prehospital cardiac arrest occurred more often in younger women (2.1% vs 0.8%, P < 0.001), and onset-to-balloon time was shorter (8.9 vs 15.2 hours, P < 0.0001) in this group. Younger women presented with a lower Killip class at admission (class I at admission: 92.7% vs 86.2%, P < 0.001). The dominant type of ACS in the younger cohort was ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (42% vs 26.1%), localized mainly in the anterior wall (47.7% vs 36.1%, P < 0.001), with a higher percentage of total occlusion of infarct-related artery (TIMI 0, 45.2% vs 36.1%) and left anterior descending artery engagement for all (33.5% vs 26.5%, P < 0.001). Drug-eluting stents were often used in the younger patients (43.3% vs 38.2%, P = 0.003) without significant differences in percutaneous coronary intervention numbers. Pharmacotherapy was used less in younger women. The 30-day and 2-year mortality in young women was lower than in the older cohort. The clinical course of ACS in younger women differed in comparison to older women. Younger women had a higher occurrence of typical chest pain, STEMI, and left anterior descending artery engagement. Except STEMI patients young women received faster revascularization, however with no significant differences in invasive treatment. Pharmacotherapy was inadequate in younger women and that resulted in a lower usage of the beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins in that group. Short- and long-term mortality was low, regardless of the type of ACS.

Risk factors predisposing to acute coronary syndromes in young women ≤45 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are rare in young women. The purpose of this study was to characterize risk factors (RF) predisposing to ACS in young women and evaluate possible age-related differences. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 1941 young women with ACS aged ≤45 years (≤45ACS) from the PL-ACS registry and compared them with two control groups: 4275 women aged 63-64 years with ACS (63-64ACS) from the PL-ACS registry and 1170 young healthy women aged ≤45 years (≤45H) without confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD), from two national, representative, cross-sectional population health surveys, NATPOL 2011 and WOBASZ. The prevalence of major RF in these three groups was as follows, respectively: (≤45 ACS vs. 63-64ACS vs. ≤45H, for all P < 0.0001): hypertension 49.8% vs. 78.1% vs. 16.8%; hypercholesterolemia 36.1% vs. 44.3% vs. 12.9%; obesity 22.3% vs. 28.1% vs. 15.6%; diabetes 10.6% vs. 29.9% vs. 1.8% and smoking 48.7% vs. 22.2% vs. 39%. Healthy women had the lowest number of major RF (1.7 ±â€¯1.2 vs. 2.0 ±â€¯1.1 vs. 1.1 ±â€¯1.0). No RF was found in 16.7% vs. 8.2% vs. 34.4% women, respectively. Independent predictors of ACS in the ≤45ACS group included diabetes [odds ratio (OR) 6.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.47-12.74]*, hypertension (OR 4.30, 95% CI 3.42-5.38)*, hypercholesterolemia (OR 3.45; 95% CI 2.60-4.29)*, and smoking (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.34-1.98)*, *(P < 0.0001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of risk factors for acute coronary syndromes in young women with ACS is different to those in healthy women and to those in older women. The prevalence of smoking was higher. The strongest predictor of ACS in women ≤45 years of age was diabetes, with a 6-fold increase in risk. There is still need to improve the cardio-vascular primary prevention and health promotion in the population of young women.

Relationship between infarct artery location, acute total coronary occlusion, and mortality in STEMI and NSTEMI patients.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of total coronary occlusion of an infarct­related artery (IRA) and its impact on the outcome can differ between patients with non­ST­elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and those with ST­segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the impact of IRA occlusion on the outcome of myocardial infarction according to the presence or absence of ST­segment elevation and the location of the culprit lesion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 4581 patients with STEMI and 2717 patients with NSTEMI who underwent PCI and were enrolled in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes. Patients were divided into 3 cohorts depending on the IRA: left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCx), or right coronary artery (RCA). Patients were further divided according to preprocedural Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow to either a subgroup with total occlusion (TO; TIMI flow grade, 0) or a subgroup with incomplete occlusion (nTO; TIMI flow grade ≥1). RESULTS: TO was observed in 2949 patients (64.4%) with STEMI and 723 patients (26.6%) with NSTEMI. The most common IRAs were the RCA (49.4%) and LCx (48.4%) in the STEMI and NSTEMI groups, respectively. STEMI patients with TO of the LAD showed higher mortality during the 36­month follow­up; mortality in the NSTEMI group was comparable between patients with TO and nTO. STEMI and NSTEMI groups with TO of the LCx showed higher in­hospital mortality. No differences were observed between patients with TO and nTO of the RCA. CONCLUSIONS: Totally occluded IRA (TIMI flow grade 0) on baseline angiogram was not associated with higher 36­month mortality rates after both NSTEMI and STEMI treated with PCI in comparison with patients with patent IRA except for totally occluded LAD in STEMI.

Efficacy and safety of antazoline in the rapid cardioversion of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (the AnPAF Study).

AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess the clinical efficacy of antazoline, a first-generation anti-histaminic agent, in the rapid conversion of paroxysmal non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm in patients without heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was a single center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, superiority clinical trial. We enrolled patients with an AF episode lasting less than 43 h, in stable cardiopulmonary condition. Subjects who fulfilled the selection criteria were randomly assigned to receive intravenously either a placebo or up to 250 mg of antazoline. The primary end point was the conversion of AF to sinus rhythm confirmed in electrocardiogram (ECG). We enrolled 74 patients: 36 (48.6%) in the antazoline group and 38 (51.4%) in the control group. The mean age was 68 ± 12 years (range 31-90 years), 39 (53.3%) patients were male. The successful conversion of AF to sinus rhythm during the observation period was achieved in 26 (72.2%) patients treated with antazoline and 4 (10.5%) in the control group: RR 6.86 (95% CI: 2.66-17.72, P < 0.0001). Median time to conversion was 16.0 min in antazoline and 72.5 min in the control group (P = 0.0246). There were no cases of atrial tachycardia/flutter in the antazoline group. CONCLUSION: Intravenous antazoline was effective and safe in the rapid conversion of non-valvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in patients without heart failure. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT01527279.

Total coronary occlusion of infarct-related arteries in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularisation.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and impact of total coronary occlusion of an infarct-related artery (IRA) on outcomes in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) remain unclear. AIM: We evaluated the clinical significance of total coronary occlusion in NSTEMI patients. METHODS: A total of 2767 patients with NSTEMI enrolled in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes, who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions, were analysed. The patients were divided into two groups according to preprocedural culprit vessel thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flows (TIMI flow 0 - total coronary occlusion [TO]: 728, 26.3% of the patients, and TIMI flow 1-3 - non-total occlusion [non-TO]: 2039, 73.7% of the patients). RESULTS: Patients with total occlusion were younger, were more often current smokers, and had lower incidence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The left circumflex artery (LCx) was the major IRA in the TO group (48.1%), whereas the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was more commonly the IRA in the non-TO group (38.8%). Multivariate analysis revealed that LCx as the culprit lesion (OR ± 95 CI 1.54 [1.26-1.89], p < 0.0001) was an independent predictor of TIMI flow 0 in IRA. In-hospital and one-month mortality occurred more frequently in the TO group (4.0% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.0005 and 5.5% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.0175, respectively), no differences in the 12-, 24-, or 36-month mortalities were observed between these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Only LCx as a culprit lesion was an independent predictor of total occlusion in IRAs. The NSTEMI patients with TO had higher in-hospital and one-month mortalities, but their long-term outcomes were similar to those of non-TO patients.

Post-procedural TIMI flow grade 2 is not associated with improved prognosis in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization (PL-ACS registry).

BACKGROUND: The impact of final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow in the infarct-related artery (IRA) on outcomes in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarc-tion (NSTEMI) patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of post-procedural TIMI flow in IRA on outcomes in NSTEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. METHODS: We analyzed 2,767 patients with first NSTEMI from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) who underwent PCI. The patients were divided according to post-procedural culprit vessel TIMI (0-1: 90, 3.26%; 2: 61, 2.20%; 3: 2,616, 94.54%). RESULTS: The following mortality values were obtained in TIMI 0-1, 2, and 3 groups, respec-tively: in-hospital, 12.22%, 13.11%, 1.72% (p < 0.0001); 1-month, 13.33%, 13.11%, 3.44% (p < 0.0001); 12-month, 15.56%, 16.39%, 6.50% (p < 0.0001); 36-month, 25.56%, 21.31%, 13.91% (p = 0.0007). Mortality rates in patients with final TIMI 0-1 and 2 were not signifi-cantly different. Optimal TIMI 3 was independently associated with baseline TIMI 2-3 (OR ± ± 95% CI: 7.070 [4.35-11.82]), p < 0.0001; higher ejection fraction (1.30 [1.03-1.63]), p = 0.0038; and family history of coronary artery disease (2.83 [1.17-8.11]), p = 0.0294. Type C lesion, previous heart failure, and PCI without stenting independently predicted suboptimal TIMI 0-2. CONCLUSIONS: Only achieving final TIMI 3 in IRA improves outcomes in NSTEMI patients treated with percutaneous coronary revascularization. The mortality rate of near-normal TIMI 2 is comparable to that of TIMI 0-1 after PCI. (.

Acute coronary syndromes in young women - the scale of the problem and the associated risks.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system mainly affect elderly patients, but they are increasingly often encountered in young individuals. It is estimated that 1 in 20 patients with ischemic heart disease is under the age of 45 years. Only 20% of them are women. According to the PL-ACS register, cases of acute coronary syndromes in young women represent 0.6% of all acute coronary syndrome cases. The most common etiology is atherosclerosis (80%). Other causes include dissections and spasms of the coronary arteries as well as clotting disorders. Smoking tobacco is the most important risk factor, followed by hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. The long-term prognosis is usually favorable, but it deteriorates significantly in the event of complications. The literature on this subject is not extensive. Most data come from non-randomized studies of young patients conducted regardless of sex. The purpose of this paper is to present the problem posed by acute coronary syndromes in young women.

Acute coronary syndrome in a 100-year-old woman treated successfully with primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

We present a case of a 100-year-old woman living alone with ST-elevation myocardial infarction acute coronary syndrome of the infero-lateral wall treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. Coronary angiography revealed critical 99% stenosis in the marginal branch of the circumflex artery and insignificant lesions in other arteries. Two bare metal stents were implanted successfully in the same session. The patient was discharged home in good general condition, able to live and function independently.