Risk scores for predicting incident heart failure admission in patients with chronic coronary syndromes: Validation in a prospective, monocentric, long-term, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) admission in chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients has a prognostic impact. Stratification schemes have been described for predicting this endpoint, but none of them has been externally validated. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to develop point scores for predicting incident HF admission with data from previous studies, to perform an external validation in an independent prospective cohort and to compare their discriminative ability for this event. METHODS: Independent predictive variables of HF admission in CCS patients without baseline HF were selected from four previous prospective studies (CARE, PEACE, CORONOR and CLARIFY), generating scores based on the relative magnitude of the coefficients of Cox of each variable. Finally, the scores were validated and compared in a monocentric prospective cohort. RESULTS: The validation cohort included 1212 patients followed for up to 17 years, with 171 patients suffering at least one HF admission in the follow-up. Discriminative ability for predicting HF admission was statistically significant for all, and paired comparisons among them were all nonsignificant except for CORONOR score was superior to CLARIFY score (C-statistic 0.73, 95%CI 0.69-0.76 vs. 0.69, 95% CI 0.65-0.73; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: All tested scores showed significant discriminative ability for predicting incident HF admission in this independent validation study. Their discriminative ability was similar, with significant differences only between the two scores with higher and lower performance.

Long-Term Prognostic Impact of Sex in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A 17-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Women and men with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) have different clinical features and management, and studies on mid-term prognosis have reported conflicting results. Our objective was to investigate the impact of the female sex in the prognosis of the disease in the very long term. Methods and Results: We investigated differential features and very long-term prognosis in 1268 consecutive outpatients with CCS (337 [27%] women and 931 [73%] men). Women were older than men, more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, angina, and atrial fibrillation, and less likely to be exsmoker/active smoker and to have been treated with coronary revascularization (p < 0.05 for all). The prescription of statins, antiplatelets, and betablockers was similar in both groups. After up to 17 years of follow-up (median = 11 years, interquartile range = 4-15 years), cumulative incidences of acute myocardial infarction (10.2% vs. 11.8%) or stroke (11% vs. 10%) at median follow-up were similar, but the risks of major cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death, 41.2% vs. 33.6%), hospital admission for heart failure (20.9% vs. 11.9%), or cardiovascular death (32.3% vs. 22.1%) were significantly higher for women (p < 0.0005), with a nonsignificant trend to higher overall mortality (45.2% vs. 39.1%, p = 0.07). However, after multivariate adjustment, all these differences disappeared. Conclusion: Although women and men with CCS presented a different clinical profile, and crude rates of major cardiovascular events, heart failure and cardiovascular death were higher in women, female sex was not an independent prognostic factor in this study with up to 17 years of follow-up.

The Role of Left Atrial Longitudinal Strain in the Diagnosis of Acute Cellular Rejection in Heart Transplant Recipients.

Our aim was to investigate the role of left atrial longitudinal strain (LALS) in the non-invasive diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR) episodes in heart transplant (HTx) recipients. Methods: We performed successive echocardiographic exams in 18 consecutive adult HTx recipients in their first year after HTx within 3 h of the routine surveillance endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) in a single center. LALS parameters were analyzed with two different software. We investigated LALS association with ACR presence, as well as inter-vendor variability in comparable LALS values. Results: A total of 147 pairs of EMB and echo exams were carried out. Lower values of LALS were significantly associated with any grade of ACR presence. Peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) offered the best diagnostic value for any grade of ACR, with a C statistic of 0.77 using one software (95% CI 0.68−0.84, p < 0.0005) and 0.64 with the other (95% CI 0.54−0.73, p = 0.013) (p = 0.02 for comparison between both curves). Reproducibility between comparable LALS parameters was poor (intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.60 for PALS, 95% CI 0.42−0.73, p < 0.0005; and 0.42 for PALS rate, 95% CI −0.13−0.68, p < 0.0005). Conclusions: LALS variables might be a sensitive marker of ACR in HTx recipients, principally discriminating between those studies without rejection and those with any grade of ACR. Inter-vendor variability was significant.

Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. 31th Official Report of the Heart Failure Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The present report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain and updates the data to 2019. METHODS: We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants performed in Spain in 2019, as well as trends in this procedure from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS: In 2019, 300 transplants were performed (8794 since 1984; 2745 between 2010 and 2019). Compared with previous years, the most notable findings were the decreasing rate of urgent transplants (38%), and the consolidation of the type of circulatory support prior to transplant, with an almost complete disappearance of counterpulsation balloon (0.7%), stabilization in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (9.6%), and an increase in the use of ventricular assist devices (29.0%). Survival from 2016 to 2018 was similar to that from 2013 to 2015 (P=.34). Survival in both these periods was better than that from 2010 to 2012 (P=.002 and P=.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Heart transplant activity has remained stable during the last few years, as have outcomes (in terms of survival). There has been a trend to a lower rate of urgent transplants and to a higher use of ventricular assist devices prior to transplant.

Tissue Doppler velocities for ruling out rejection in heart transplant recipients in the context of myocardial strain imaging: a multivariate, prospective, single-center study.

To investigate the value of tissue Doppler velocities for ruling out treatment-requiring acute cellular rejection (TR-ACR), in the context of myocardial deformation analysis performed by means of speckle tracking echocardiography. We performed serial echocardiograms in 37 heart transplant recipients in their first year post-transplantation within 3 h of the routine surveillance endomyocardial biopsies (EMB). The association of the sum of lateral mitral annulus systolic (s') and early diastolic (e') velocities, in absolute values, measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography (s'+ e'), with TR-ACR (ACR grade ≥ 2R) was investigated by multivariate analysis, including classic echocardiographic parameters and myocardial deformation variables. A total of 251 pairs of EMB and echo exams were performed, 35 (14%) with rejection grade ≥ 2R (TR-ACR). s' + e' was independently associated to TR-ACR (OR 0.80, 95%CI 0.72-0.89, p < 0.0005), with a C statistic of 0.79 (95%CI 0.71-0.87, p < 0.0005) by ROC curve analysis. An s'+ e' value ≥ 23 cm/s, present in 43% of studies, had a negative predictive value of 98% for ruling out TR-ACR. Moreover, in the same patients, s'+ e' significantly decreased when TR-ACR occurred after a study without this condition (- 3.7 ± 3.3 cm/s, p = 0.003), but it was similar when rejection status was the same in the present versus the previous study. A drop in s'+ e' value < 2.7 cm/s from the previous echocardiogram, had a 99% negative predictive value for ruling out TR-ACR. Tissue Doppler velocities, a widely available echo parameter, were found to be a valuable marker for ruling out TR-ACR in this multivariate study which included myocardial deformation variables.

Use of Idarucizumab to reverse the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran in cardiac transplant surgery. A multicentric experience in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation in heart transplant (HT) recipients increases the risk of hemorrhagic complications, so correct reversal of anticoagulation is needed. Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is increasingly used for anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) whose effect can be reversed by idarucizumab. AIM: To present a nationwide experience using idarucizumab for the urgent reversal of dabigatran before HT. METHODS: Multicenter observational study in 12 Spanish centers to analyze the clinical outcomes after using idarucizumab before HT surgery. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were included (81.1% male). 7.5% required re-operation in the immediate postoperative period to control bleeding and 66% transfusion of blood products. Median length of stay in the intensive care unit was 6 days and total hospital stay 24 days. 30-day survival was 92.4%. There were four deaths in the first month, all in the first 5 days post-HT. Only in one patient (transplanted due to a congenital heart disease, after sternotomy) who had surgical problems and right ventricular failure post-HT death was associated with bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: These results may support the use of dabigatran as an alternative to vitamin K antagonists in patients listed for HT requiring anticoagulation due to NVAF. More studies are needed to reaffirm these observations.

Supervivencia a largo plazo de una población española con cardiopatía isquémica estable: el registro CICCOR / Long-term survival in a Spanish population with stable ischemic heart disease. The CICCOR registry

Introducción y objetivos: La información sobre el pronóstico de la cardiopatía isquémica crónica (CIC) es escasa. El objetivo es analizar los predictores de la mortalidad y la supervivencia a largo plazo de estos pacientes. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes prospectivo y monocéntrico que reclutó a 1.268 pacientes con CIC desde enero de 2000 hasta febrero de 2004. Se registraron los fallecimientos durante el seguimiento. Se compararon las tasas de mortalidad total y cardiovascular ajustadas con la población española. Se investigó la asociación de variables basales con la mortalidad. Resultados: La media de edad fue 68+/-10 años; el 73% eran varones. Tras 17 años de seguimiento máximo (mediana, 11 años), murieron 629 pacientes (50%). La edad (HR=1,08; IC95%, 1,07-1,11; p<0,001), la diabetes (HR=1,36; IC95%, 1,14-1,63; p <0,001), la frecuencia cardiaca (HR=1,01; IC95%, 1,00-1,02; p <0,001), la fibrilación auricular (HR=1,61; IC95%, 1,22-2,14); p=0,001), las alteraciones electrocardiográficas (HR=1,23; IC95%, 1,02-1,49; p=0,02) y el tabaquismo (HR=1,85; IC95%, 1,31-2,80; p=0,001) han resultado predictores independientes de la mortalidad total. La tasa de mortalidad total fue mayor que en la población española (47,81 frente a 36,29/1.000 pacientes/año; razón de mortalidad estandarizada=1,31; IC95%, 1,21-1,41). La tasa de mortalidad cardiovascular fue 15,25 frente a 6,94/1.000 pacientes/año de la población general (razón de mortalidad estandarizada=2,19; IC95%, 1,88-2,50). Conclusiones: En esta muestra de pacientes con CIC, la tasa de mortalidad fue significativamente mayor que en la población general. Las variables clínicas identifican a los pacientes con mayor riesgo de muerte en el seguimiento

Introduction and objectives: Data are lacking on the long-term prognosis of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). Our aim was to analyze long-term survival in patients with SIHD and to identify predictors of mortality. Methods: A total of 1268 outpatients with SIHD were recruited in this single-center prospective cohort study from January 2000 to February 2004. Cardiovascular and all-cause death during follow-up were registered. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were compared with those in the Spanish population adjusted by age, sex, and year. Predictors of these events were investigated. Results: The mean age was 68+/-10 years and 73% of the patients were male. After a follow-up lasting up to 17 years (median 11 years), 629 (50%) patients died. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality were age (HR, 1.08; 95%CI, 1.07-1.11; P <.001), diabetes (HR, 1.36; 95%CI, 1.14-1.63; P <.001), resting heart rate (HR, 1.01; 95%CI, 1.00-1.02; P <.001), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.61; 95%CI, 1.22-2.14; P=.001), electrocardiographic changes (HR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.02-1.49; P=.02) and active smoking (HR, 1.85; 95%CI, 1.31-2.80; P=.001). All-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality rates were significantly higher in the sample than in the general Spanish population (47.81/1000 patients/y vs 36.29/1000 patients/y (standardized mortality rate, 1.31; 95%CI, 1.21-1.41) and 15.25/1000 patients/y vs 6.94/1000 patients/y (standardized mortality rate, 2.19; 95%CI, 1.88-2.50, respectively). Conclusions: The mortality rate was higher in this sample of patients with SIHD than in the general population. Several clinical variables can identify patients at higher risk of death during follow-up

Contemporary differences between men and women with acute coronary syndromes: CIAM multicenter registry.

AIM: Differences exist in the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) between men and women. However, recent advancements in the management of ACSs might have attenuated this sex gap. We evaluated the status of ACS management in a multicenter registry in 10 tertiary Spanish hospitals. METHODS: We enrolled 1056 patients in our study, including only those with type 1 myocardial infarctions or unstable angina presumably not related to a secondary cause in an 'all-comers' design. RESULTS: The women enrolled (29%) were older than men (71.0 ±â€Š12.8 vs. 64.0 ±â€Š12.3, P = 0.001), with a higher prevalence of hypertension (71.0 vs. 56.5%, P < 0.001), insulin-treated diabetes (13.7 vs. 7.9%, P = 0.003), dyslipidemia (62.2 vs. 55.3%, P = 0.038), and chronic kidney disease (16.9 vs. 9.1%, P = 0.001). Women presented more frequently with back or arm pain radiation (57.3 vs. 49.7%, P = 0.025), palpitations (5.9 vs. 2.0%, P = 0.001), or dyspnea (33.0 vs. 19.4%, P = 0.001). ACS without significant coronary stenosis was more prevalent in women (16.8 vs. 8.1%, P = 0.001). There were no differences in percutaneous revascularization rates, but drug-eluting stents were less frequently employed in women (75.4 vs. 67.8%, P = 0.024); women were less often referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program (19.9 vs. 33.9%, P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in in-hospital complications such as thrombosis or bleeding. CONCLUSION: ACS presenting with atypical symptoms and without significant coronary artery stenosis is more frequent in women. Selection of either an invasive procedure or conservative management is not influenced by sex. Cardiac rehabilitation referral on discharge is underused, especially in women.

Long-term Survival in a Spanish Population With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease. The CICCOR Registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Data are lacking on the long-term prognosis of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). Our aim was to analyze long-term survival in patients with SIHD and to identify predictors of mortality. METHODS: A total of 1268 outpatients with SIHD were recruited in this single-center prospective cohort study from January 2000 to February 2004. Cardiovascular and all-cause death during follow-up were registered. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were compared with those in the Spanish population adjusted by age, sex, and year. Predictors of these events were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age was 68±10 years and 73% of the patients were male. After a follow-up lasting up to 17 years (median 11 years), 629 (50%) patients died. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality were age (HR, 1.08; 95%CI, 1.07-1.11; P <.001), diabetes (HR, 1.36; 95%CI, 1.14-1.63; P <.001), resting heart rate (HR, 1.01; 95%CI, 1.00-1.02; P <.001), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.61; 95%CI, 1.22-2.14; P=.001), electrocardiographic changes (HR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.02-1.49; P=.02) and active smoking (HR, 1.85; 95%CI, 1.31-2.80; P=.001). All-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality rates were significantly higher in the sample than in the general Spanish population (47.81/1000 patients/y vs 36.29/1000 patients/y (standardized mortality rate, 1.31; 95%CI, 1.21-1.41) and 15.25/1000 patients/y vs 6.94/1000 patients/y (standardized mortality rate, 2.19; 95%CI, 1.88-2.50, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate was higher in this sample of patients with SIHD than in the general population. Several clinical variables can identify patients at higher risk of death during follow-up.

Endocarditis infecciosa sobre válvula nativa del lado izquierdo: influencia de la edad y de cardiopatía previa / Left-sided native valve infective endocarditis: Influence of age and the presence of underlying heart disease

Introducción y objetivos: La epidemiología de la endocarditis infecciosa sobre válvula nativa izquierda (EIVNI) se ha modificado, consecuencia del aumento en la edad media de los pacientes. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es analizar la influencia de la edad y la presencia de una cardiopatía predisponente previa en el pronóstico de estos pacientes. Métodos: Analizamos 257 casos consecutivos de EIVNI en función de su edad, tanto en la serie global como en el subgrupo de pacientes sin cardiopatía predisponente. Resultados: La edad media fue de 54,6 (18,6) años. Existió un aumento en la proporción de pacientes de edad igual o mayor a 70 años entre 1987-2000 y 2001-2014 (9,8 frente a 34,8%, p < 0,001), que presentaban una mayor prevalencia de valvulopatía degenerativa (50 frente a 22,8%), ausencia de cardiopatía (50 frente a 39,9%), p < 0,001, casos relacionados con atención sanitaria (41,8 frente a 23,6%, p = 0,016), menor tasa de cirugía (43,7 frente a 63,8%, p = 0,005) y mayor mortalidad hospitalaria (39,1 frente a 20,7%, p = 0,003), sin diferencias respecto a comorbilidades. Los pacientes sin cardiopatía también presentaron una mortalidad hospitalaria más elevada (47 frente a 22%, p = 0,01). La edad igual o mayor a 70 años constituye un predictor independiente de mortalidad en pacientes con EIVNI (OR 2,53, IC 95% 1,24-5,15, p = 0,011), igual que en aquellos que no presentan cardiopatía (OR 3,98, IC 95% 1,49-10,62, p = 0,006). Conclusiones: Los pacientes que tienen una edad igual o mayor a 70 años con un episodio de EIVNI son cada vez más frecuentes y presentan peor pronóstico, con una tasa menor de cirugía y mayores tasas de mortalidad hospitalaria (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Left-sided native valve infective endocarditis (LNVIE) epidemiology has been modified as a result of the increase in average age. The aim of our study is to analyze the influence of age and the presence of predisposing heart disease in the prognosis of these patients. Methods: We analyzed a series of 257 cases of LNVIE depending on their age (greater than or equal to 70 years old), both in the overall series and in the subgroup of patients without predisposing heart disease. Results: Mean age was 54.6 (18.6) years. There was an increase in the percentage of cases of older patients between 1987-2000 and 2001-2014 (9.8 vs. 34.8%, P < .001). These patients present higher prevalence of degenerative valves (50 vs. 22.8%) or not predisposing heart disease (50 vs. 39.9%), P < .001, health-care associated episodes (41.8 vs. 23.6%, P = .016), lower rate of surgery (43.7 vs. 63.8%, P = .005) and higher in-hospital mortality (39.1 vs. 20.7%, P = .003), with no differences in comorbidities. Older patients who did not have predisposing heart disease also suffered higher in-hospital mortality (47 vs. 22%, P = .01).Age greater than or equal to 70 years old is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with LNVIE (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.24-5.15, P = .011), as in those without previous heart disease (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.49-10.62, P = .006). Conclusions: Patients of age greater than or equal to 70 years old and who suffer an LNVIE are becoming more frequent and have a worse prognosis with a lower rate of surgery and higher rates of in-hospital mortality (AU)

[Left-sided native valve infective endocarditis: Influence of age and the presence of underlying heart disease]. / Endocarditis infecciosa sobre válvula nativa del lado izquierdo: influencia de la edad y de cardiopatía previa.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Left-sided native valve infective endocarditis (LNVIE) epidemiology has been modified as a result of the increase in average age. The aim of our study is to analyze the influence of age and the presence of predisposing heart disease in the prognosis of these patients. METHODS: We analyzed a series of 257 cases of LNVIE depending on their age (greater than or equal to 70 years old), both in the overall series and in the subgroup of patients without predisposing heart disease. RESULTS: Mean age was 54.6 (18.6) years. There was an increase in the percentage of cases of older patients between 1987-2000 and 2001-2014 (9.8 vs. 34.8%, P<.001). These patients present higher prevalence of degenerative valves (50 vs. 22.8%) or not predisposing heart disease (50 vs. 39.9%), P<.001, health-care associated episodes (41.8 vs. 23.6%, P=.016), lower rate of surgery (43.7 vs. 63.8%, P=.005) and higher in-hospital mortality (39.1 vs. 20.7%, P=.003), with no differences in comorbidities. Older patients who did not have predisposing heart disease also suffered higher in-hospital mortality (47 vs. 22%, P=.01). Age greater than or equal to 70 years old is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with LNVIE (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.24-5.15, P=.011), as in those without previous heart disease (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.49-10.62, P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: Patients of age greater than or equal to 70 years old and who suffer an LNVIE are becoming more frequent and have a worse prognosis with a lower rate of surgery and higher rates of in-hospital mortality.