Rates of Stroke in Patients With Different Presentations of Carotid Artery Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid artery stenosis may present without the classical symptoms of transient ischaemic attack or stroke but the rates of stroke for these presentations is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the rates of stroke in patients with different presentations of carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: A multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted across three Australian vascular centres with low rates of surgical treatment of patients without transient ischaemic attack or stroke. Patients with a 50 - 99% carotid artery stenosis presenting with non-focal symptoms (e.g., dizziness or syncope; n = 47), prior contralateral carotid endarterectomy (n = 71), prior ipsilateral symptoms more than six months earlier (n = 82), and no symptoms (n = 304) were recruited. The primary outcome was ipsilateral ischaemic stroke. Secondary outcomes were any ischaemic stroke and cardiovascular death. Data were analysed using Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2020, 504 patients were enrolled (mean age 71 years, 30% women) and followed for a median of 5.1 years (interquartile range 2.5, 8.8; 2 981 person years). Approximately 82% were prescribed antiplatelet therapy, 84% were receiving at least one antihypertensive drug, and 76% were prescribed a statin at entry. After five years the incidence of ipsilateral stroke was 6.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3 - 9.5). There were no statistically significant differences in the annual rate of ipsilateral stroke among people with non-focal symptoms (2.1%; 95% CI 0.8 - 5.7), prior contralateral carotid endarterectomy (0.2%; 0.03 - 1.6) or ipsilateral symptoms > 6 months prior (1.0%; 0.4 - 2.5) compared with those with no symptoms (1.2%; 0.7 - 1.8; p = .19). There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes across groups. CONCLUSION: This cohort study showed no large differences in stroke rates among people with different presentations of carotid artery stenosis.

Clinical Decision Support for Glycemic Management Reduces Hospital Length of Stay.

OBJECTIVE: Dysglycemia influences hospital outcomes and resource utilization. Clinical decision support (CDS) holds promise for optimizing care by overcoming management barriers. This study assessed the impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) of an alert-based CDS tool in the electronic medical record that detected dysglycemia or inappropriate insulin use, coined as gaps in care (GIC). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a 12-month interrupted time series among hospitalized persons aged ≥18 years, our CDS tool identified GIC and, when active, provided recommendations. We compared LOS during 6-month-long active and inactive periods using linear models for repeated measures, multiple comparison adjustment, and mediation analysis. RESULTS: Among 4,788 admissions with GIC, average LOS was shorter during the tool's active periods. LOS reductions occurred for all admissions with GIC (-5.7 h, P = 0.057), diabetes and hyperglycemia (-6.4 h, P = 0.054), stress hyperglycemia (-31.0 h, P = 0.054), patients admitted to medical services (-8.4 h, P = 0.039), and recurrent hypoglycemia (-29.1 h, P = 0.074). Subgroup analysis showed significantly shorter LOS in recurrent hypoglycemia with three events (-82.3 h, P = 0.006) and nonsignificant in two (-5.2 h, P = 0.655) and four or more (-14.8 h, P = 0.746). Among 22,395 admissions with GIC (4,788, 21%) and without GIC (17,607, 79%), LOS reduction during the active period was 1.8 h (P = 0.053). When recommendations were provided, the active tool indirectly and significantly contributed to shortening LOS through its influence on GIC events during admissions with at least one GIC (P = 0.027), diabetes and hyperglycemia (P = 0.028), and medical services (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the alert-based CDS tool to address inpatient management of dysglycemia contributed to reducing LOS, which may reduce costs and improve patient well-being.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm calcification and thrombus volume are not associated with outcome following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic calcification and thrombus have been postulated to worsen outcome following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The purpose of this study was to assess the association of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) calcification and thrombus volume with outcome following EVAR using a reproducible, quantifiable computed tomography (CT) assessment protocol. METHODS: Patients with elective EVAR performed between January 2002 and 2012 at the Townsville Hospital, Mater Private Hospital (Townsville) and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) were included if preoperative CTAs were available for analysis. AAA calcification and thrombus volume were measured using a semiautomated workstation protocol. Outcomes were assessed in terms of clinical failure, endoleak (type I, type II) and reintervention. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Median follow-up was 1.7 years and the interquartile range 1.0-3.8 years. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four patients undergoing elective EVAR were included in the study. Rates of primary clinical success and freedom from reintervention were 82.8% and 88.9% at the 24-month follow-up. AAA calcification and thrombus volume were not associated with clinical failure, type I endoleak, type II endoleak or reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: AAA calcification and thrombus volume were not associated with poorer outcome after EVAR in this study. KEY POINTS: • The association of calcification and thrombus volumes with EVAR outcome is unclear • Quantifiable methods for assessing calcification and thrombus were not used previously • This study used reproducible methods for assessing AAA calcification and thrombus volumes.

Association of obesity and metabolic syndrome with the severity and outcome of intermittent claudication.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is recognized as an independent predictor of coronary artery disease; however, its importance in peripheral arterial disease is less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the association between obesity and the severity and outcome of intermittent claudication. METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study based at a tertiary referral center. Sixty patients with intermittent claudication selected for conservative treatment were assessed for obesity and metabolic syndrome by using the International Diabetes Federation definition. Other risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, smoking history, serum lipids, adipocytokines, and C-reactive protein, were measured by clinical and blood assessment. Obesity and metabolic syndrome were related to the severity of peripheral arterial disease, defined by ankle-brachial pressure index and graded treadmill measured maximum walking distance (MWD) and initial claudication distance, by using multiple linear regression analysis allowing for traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. Patients were followed up for 24 months, and combined outcome was reported in terms of death, cardiovascular events, or requirement for revascularization. The effect of obesity and metabolic syndrome on outcome was investigated by using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: Obesity and serum adiponectin were independently associated with the severity of peripheral arterial disease measured by ankle-brachial pressure index (P = .03 and .001), initial claudication distance (P = .009 and .03), and MWD (P = .001 and .04). Metabolic syndrome was independently associated only with MWD (P = .02). By 24 months, outcome events occurred in 37% +/- 7% and 43% +/- 9% of patients with metabolic syndrome or obesity, respectively, compared with 0% and 11% +/- 6% of those without these diagnoses. Waist circumference independently predicted the likelihood of outcome events (relative risk, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.26; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings, if confirmed in other cohorts, suggest the importance of treating obesity in patients with intermittent claudication. Serum adiponectin concentrations may be an important guide to the efficacy of treatment in patients with intermittent claudication and obesity.