Prospective Observational Study for the Comparison of Screening Methods Including Tongue Pressure and Repetitive Saliva Swallowing With Detailed Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study Findings in Patients With Acute Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Simple, noninvasive, and repeatable screening methods are essential for assessing swallowing disorders. We focused on patients with acute stroke and aimed to assess the characteristics of swallowing screening tests, including the modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability score, tongue pressure, and repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), compared with detailed videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) findings to contribute as a helpful resource for their comprehensive and complementary use. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled first-ever patients with acute stroke conducting simultaneous assessments, including VFSS, modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability score, tongue pressure measurement, and RSST. VFSS assessed aspiration, laryngeal penetration, oral cavity residue, vallecular residue, pharyngeal residue, and swallowing reflex delay. Screening tests were compared with VFSS findings, and multiple logistic analysis determined variable importance. Cutoff values for each abnormal VFSS finding were assessed using receiver operating characteristic analyses. We evaluated 346 patients (70.5±12.6 years of age, 143 women). The modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability score was significantly associated with all findings except aspiration. Tongue pressure was significantly associated with oral cavity and pharyngeal residue. The RSST was significantly associated with all findings except oral cavity residue. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that the minimum cutoff value for all VFSS abnormal findings was RSST ≤2. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability is useful for broadly detecting swallowing disorders but may miss mild issues and aspiration. The RSST, with a score of ≤2, is valuable for indicating abnormal VFSS findings. Tongue pressure, especially in oral and pharyngeal residues, is useful. Combining these tests might enhance accuracy of the swallowing evaluation.

Diagnostic ability of Japanese version of high bleeding risk criteria for ischemic outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The Japanese version of high bleeding risk (J-HBR) criteria was domestically proposed to identify patients at HBR after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The applicability of J-HBR on bleeding events has been validated, while whether J-HBR predicts ischemic events is uncertain. This bi-center registry included 904 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary PCI. Patients were stratified by the J-HBR major (1 point) and minor (0.5 point) criteria. Patients with J-HBR ≥ 1 point were diagnosed as having HBR. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke, after discharge. Of the 904 patients, 451 (49.9%) had the J-HBR. The primary endpoint more frequently occurred in patients with J-HBR than in those without (10.9% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.001) during the median follow-up period of 522 days. Probability of MACE was progressively increased with the increase in the number of J-HBR major and minor criteria, in which severe anemia, severe chronic kidney disease, prior heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and prior ischemic stroke were identified as significant factors associated with MACE. In patients with acute MI undergoing PCI, the J-HBR criteria were predictive for ischemic outcomes after discharge, suggesting that the J-HBR criteria may be useful to identify patients at high bleeding and ischemic risks.

The Combinations of the Patterns of Non-adherence to Anti-platelet Regimen in Stented Patients (PARIS) and Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) Thrombotic and Bleeding Risk Scores on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective The Patterns of Non-adherence to Anti-platelet Regimen in Stented Patients (PARIS) and Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) thrombotic and bleeding risk scores were established to predict ischemic and bleeding events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, whether or not the combination of these risk scores is predictive of clinical outcomes is unclear. Methods This bicenter registry included a total of 1,098 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary PCI. Patients were divided into three groups according to the PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto thrombotic and bleeding risk scores. The study endpoints included the rates of both ischemic (cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke) and major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5) events at two years. Results Two years after primary PCI, ischemic and major bleeding events occurred in 17.3% and 10.2% of patients, respectively. The higher-risk categories of PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto scores were associated with increased risks of ischemic and bleeding events. The rates of ischemic and major bleeding events progressively increased with the increase in risk categories in the two risk scoring systems. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the addition of CREDO-Kyoto thrombotic and bleeding risk scores to PARIS scores significantly improved diagnostic ability in predicting ischemic (area under the curve: 0.59 vs. 0.63, p=0.01) and bleeding (area under the curve: 0.65 vs. 0.68, p=0.01) events. Conclusion The combinations of the PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto risk scores might be useful for evaluating ischemic and bleeding risks in patients with acute MI undergoing primary PCI.

Usefulness of PETRA-MRA for Postoperative Follow-Up of Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of Cerebral Aneurysms.

Objective: Image evaluation after stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC) for a cerebral aneurysm is difficult with conventional MRA or CTA because of metal artifacts. Pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA)-MRA is a noninvasive imaging examination that can reduce metal artifacts. This study aimed to examine whether PETRA-MRA can be used as a follow-up imaging after SAC. Methods: Twelve patients (eight women and four men; mean age, 66.9 ± 13.2 years) underwent SAC for unruptured aneurysms and were retrospectively evaluated using time-of-flight (TOF)- and PETRA-MRA data from the same follow-up session. Two neurosurgeons independently compared the aneurysm occlusion status and flow visualization score in the stented parent artery (4-point scale, where 4 points represented excellent visualization) between TOF- and PETRA-MRA images. If DSA was performed within 3 months before or after PETRA-MRA, the aneurysm assessment was compared between MRA and DSA. The interobserver agreement for each MRA was evaluated. Results: Nine of the 12 patients underwent DSA within 3 months before and after TOF- and PETRA-MRA. The aneurysm occlusion status on DSA was more consistent with PETRA-MRA (eight of nine cases) than with TOF-MRA (one of nine cases; P = 0.023). The median visualization score of the stented parent artery was significantly higher for PETRA-MRA (4 [interquartile range {IQR} 3-4]) than for TOF-MRA (1 [IQR 1-1], P = 0.003). The interobserver agreement for evaluation of the aneurysm occlusion status and visualization score of the parent artery for PETRA-MRA were excellent (κ = 0.98 and 0.93, respectively). In one case, PETRA-MRA was able to detect aneurysm recurrence, leading to subsequent retreatment. Conclusion: PETRA-MRA is a noninvasive examination that can be used to evaluate the occlusion status of aneurysms after SAC and visualize the stented parent artery. PETRA-MRA is useful for repeated follow-up examinations after SAC.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with chronic systemic inflammatory disease in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Chronic systemic inflammatory diseases (CSIDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are reportedly associated with an increased risk of ischemic cardiovascular events including acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, data are limited on clinical characteristics and ischemic and bleeding outcomes after acute MI in patients with CSIDs. METHODS: This bi-center registry included a total of 1001 patients with acute MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. CSIDs included inflammatory rheumatological conditions (RA, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, etc.) and organ-specific diseases (chronic hepatitis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.). The primary endpoint was net adverse clinical events (NACE), a composite of ischemic (all-cause death, MI, and ischemic stroke) and major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5) events, during hospitalization and after discharge. RESULTS: Of the 1001 patients, 58 (5.8%) had CSIDs. The proportion of women was higher in patients with CSIDs than those without (37.9% vs. 22.1%, p = 0.009). During the hospitalization, no significant differences in the primary endpoint of NACE were observed between patients with and without CSIDs (10.3% vs. 12.7%, p = 0.84). During the median follow-up of 42.6 months after discharge, patients with CSIDs had a higher risk of NACE (22.5% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.01) than those without, mainly driven by an increased risk of ischemic events (18.4% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A small but significant proportion of patients with acute MI (5.8%) had CSIDs. While the incidence of in-hospital events was similar, patients with CSIDs had worse outcomes after discharge, suggesting that further clinical investigations and therapeutic approaches are needed in this patient subset.

Differential Impact of Clinical Factors for Predicting High Platelet Reactivity on Clinical Outcomes in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients Treated With Clopidogrel and Prasugrel.

AIMS: Several scoring systems, including the ABCD-GENE and HHD-GENE scores incorporating clinical and genetic factors, have been developed to identify patients likely to have high platelet reactivity on P2Y12 inhibitors, leading to increased risks of ischemic events. However, genetic testing is not widely available in daily practice. We aimed to evaluate the differential impact of clinical factors in the scores on ischemic outcomes in patients treated with clopidogrel and prasugrel. METHODS: This bi-center registry included 789 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and treated with either clopidogrel or prasugrel at discharge. The relations of the number of clinical factors included in the ABCD-GENE (age ≥ 75 years, body mass index ＞30 kg/m2, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes) and HHD-GENE (hypertension, hemodialysis, and diabetes) scores to the primary endpoint of major cardiovascular events after discharge, a composite of death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke, were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of clinical factors in the ABCD-GENE score was not predictive of ischemic outcomes after discharge in patients treated with clopidogrel and/or prasugrel, while the increase in the number of clinical factors of the HHD-GENE score was associated with an increased risk of the primary endpoint in a stepwise manner in patients on a P2Y12 inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical factors listed in the HHD-GENE score may help stratify ischemic risks in patients with acute MI treated with clopidogrel and prasugrel, whereas risk stratification without genetic testing in patients treated with clopidogrel may be challenging.

Feasibility of Simple Evaluation of Coronary Artery Calcium Using a Number of Chest Computed Tomography Slices: A Multicenter Study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the visual measurements of coronary artery calcium (CAC) on nonelectrocardiogram (ECG)-gated chest computed tomography (CT) using a simple scoring method that involves counting the number of CT slices containing CAC. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 163 participants who underwent both coronary and chest CT examinations at six centers within 3 months. Agatston scores were calculated on standard ECG-gated scans and classified as none (0), mild (1-99), moderate (100-400), or severe (>400). Next, chest CT images were reconstructed to standard 5.0 mm axial slices. Then, CAC on chest CT scans was measured using two methods: the Weston score (sum of the assigned score of each vessel, range: 0-12) and number of slices showing CAC (Ca-slice#). Results: When the Weston score and Ca-slice# were divided into four levels according to the optimal divisional levels corresponding to the Agatston score classes, good agreements with the 4-grade Agatston score were observed (kappa value=0.610 and 0.794, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of Ca-slice# ≥9 to identify severe Agatston scores of >400 were 86% and 96%, respectively. Conclusion: The Ca-slice#, a simple scoring method using chest CT scans, was in good agreement with the ECG-gated Agatston score.

Peak expiratory flow, but not tongue pressure, can predict pneumonia development in older adults.

PURPOSE: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in aging populations. Major causes of pneumonia in older adults are swallowing dysfunction and decreased airway clearance capacity, including an impaired cough reflex. Maximal tongue pressure is useful for evaluating swallowing function, and peak expiratory flow indirectly reflects cough strength. However, it is unclear whether they can predict pneumonia development in older adults. In this study, we investigated whether tongue pressure and peak expiratory flow could predict pneumonia development in older adults. METHODS: This two-center prospective observational study included older adults aged 65 years or older without respiratory disease or head and neck cancer. We enrolled 383 consenting participants, many of whom had a history of stroke, and followed them for 2 years. The association between time to pneumonia development and tongue pressure or peak expiratory flow at enrollment was examined in a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 77.1 ± 6.2 years, and 36.0% of them were women. The mean tongue pressure was 35.4 ± 10.5 kPa and median peak expiratory flow was 218 L/min at enrollment. Six patients developed pneumonia during the study period. A low peak expiratory flow at enrollment was significantly associated with pneumonia development in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, but this association was not observed for tongue pressure. CONCLUSION: Decreased peak expiratory flow may predict pneumonia development in older adults. Future studies should investigate interventions for peak expiratory flow improvement.

Validation of the Domestic High Bleeding Risk Criteria for Japanese Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

AIMS: The Academic Research Consortium (ARC) has proposed international criteria to standardize the definition of high bleeding risk (HBR) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this context, Japan has also established its own guidelines, that is, the Japanese version of HBR (J-HBR) criteria. However, the J-HBR criteria have not been fully validated, especially in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: This bi-center registry included 1079 patients with acute MI undergoing primary PCI in a contemporary setting. Patient bleeding risks were evaluated using the ARC-HBR and J-HBR criteria. The primary endpoint was rates of major bleeding events (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5) at 1 year. RESULTS: Of the 1079 patients, 505 (46.8%) and 563 (52.2%) met the ARC-HBR and J-HBR criteria, respectively. Patients who met the J-HBR criteria were found to have a higher rate of major bleeding events at 1 year than those who did not (12.8% vs. 3.3%, p＜0.001). When patients were scored and stratified using the J-HBR major and minor criteria, risks of major bleedings were progressively increased with the increase in the number of J-HBR criteria. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the ARC-HBR and J-HBR significantly predicted subsequent major bleedings after PCI, with ARC-HBR having greater predictive ability than J-HBR. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the patients with acute MI undergoing primary PCI in Japan met the J-HBR criteria. Although the J-HBR criteria successfully identified patients who were likely to develop major bleeding events after primary PCI, the superiority of J-HBR to ARC-HBR in predicting bleeding outcomes warrants further investigation.

Association between Carotid Wall Shear Stress-Based Vascular Vector Flow Mapping and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

AIM: Wall shear stress (WSS) is the frictional force caused by viscous blood flowing along the vessel wall. Decreased WSS is associated with local vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. The vector flow mapping (VFM) technique detects the direction of intracardiac blood flow and WSS on the vessel wall with echocardiography. In this study, we examined carotid WSS by applying the VFM technique to the carotid arteries and evaluated its relationship with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). METHODS: This is a single-center, prospective, observational study. We investigated the association between carotid WSS and SVD imaging, and cognitive outcomes in consecutive 113 patients with acute lacunar infarction. RESULTS: Carotid WSS was negatively associated with age (r=-0.376, p＜0.001). Lower WSS was correlated with total SVD scores (ρ=-0.304, p=0.004), especially with enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) in the basal ganglia ＞10 (p＜0.001). The carotid intima-media thickness was not associated with the total SVD score (ρ=-0.183, p=0.052). Moreover, lower WSS was associated with executive dysfunction. CONCLUSION: EPVS has recently been reported as a marker of early SVD imaging, and executive dysfunction is common in vascular cognitive impairment. These results suggested that decreased carotid WSS based on vascular VFM, which can be measured easily, is associated with imaging and cognitive changes in the early stages of SVD.

Prognostic Value of Natriuretic Peptide Levels and In-Hospital Heart Failure Events in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), elevated natriuretic peptide (NP) concentrations are reportedly associated with worse clinical outcomes. This study evaluated the prognostic value of NP concentrations and in-hospital heart failure (HF) events after AMI.Methods and Results: The present bicenter registry included 600 patients with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. HF was evaluated at 3 different time points after AMI: on admission, during hospitalization, and at the short-term follow-up at 1 month. When HF was present at each time point, 1 point was assigned to the "HF time points" (HFTP) risk scoring system; possible total scores on this system ranged from 0 to 3. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death and HF rehospitalization after discharge. Among the 600 patients who survived to discharge, the primary outcome occurred in 69 (11.5%) during a mean follow-up period of 488 days. HF on admission, during hospitalization, and at the short-term follow-up were all significantly associated with subsequent clinical outcomes. Higher scores on the HFTP scoring system were related to an increased risk of the primary endpoint. Multivariable analysis indicated scores of 2 and 3 were independently associated with outcome events in a stepwise manner. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with AMI, HF evaluation at different time points was useful in stratifying risks of mortality and HF rehospitalization after discharge.

Impact of Denture Use on Ischemic and Bleeding Outcomes of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective Oral diseases, including periodontitis and stomatitis, are highly prevalent worldwide and reportedly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Given the high rate of stomatitis in individuals wearing dentures, denture users may be at high risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes. We therefore investigated whether or not the use of dentures is associated with a poor clinical outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Methods This two-center retrospective observational study was conducted between January 2012 and March 2020. A total of 1,046 patients with acute MI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were divided into two groups according to denture use status. The primary outcomes included ischemic events (cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke) and major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5). Results Of the 1,046 patients with acute MI, 387 (37.0%) used dentures. An older age and prior MI were associated with an increased likelihood of denture use. During the mean 660-day follow-up period, ischemic and major bleeding events occurred in 169 (16.2%) and 102 (9.8%) patients, respectively. Denture use was associated with an increased risk of ischemic events, whereas no significant intergroup differences were observed in major bleeding outcomes. The results were similar among patients ≥75 years old. Conclusion More than one-third of the patients with acute MI wore dentures. Our findings suggest that denture use is significantly associated with an increased risk of ischemic events but not bleeding outcomes after acute MI.

Prognostic Factors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock.

Among patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), in-hospital mortality remains high. In the present study, we aimed to identify factors associated with clinical outcomes of acute MI patients with CS in a contemporary setting. A total of 1102 patients with acute MI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included, among whom 196 (17.8%) were complicated by CS. The primary outcome was all-cause death during hospitalization, and factors associated with in-hospital mortality were explored in patients with acute MI and CS. Of the 196 patients with acute MI complicated by CS, 77 (39.3%) died during hospitalization. The rates of non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) (33.8% vs. 19.3%, p = 0.02) and culprit lesion in the left main or left anterior descending coronary artery (68.8% vs. 47.9%, p = 0.004) were higher, while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower (24.4 ± 11.7% vs. 39.7 ± 13.8%, p < 0.001) in non-survivors than in survivors. Multivariable analysis identified NSTEMI presentation and lower LVEF as independent predictors of in-hospital death. In conclusion, NSTEMI and low LVEF were identified as factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality. The identification of even higher-risk subsets and targeted therapeutic strategies may be warranted to improve survival of patients with acute MI and CS.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients With No Standard Modifiable Risk Factors in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the impact of the lack of standard modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and current smoking, has been investigated in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI). The present study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients with no standard risk factors in acute MI. METHODS: This bi-centre registry included 1,093 patients with acute MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The participants were divided into two groups: patients having at least one of the four standard risk factors and those having none of the risk factors. The study endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (death, recurrent MI, and stroke) and major bleeding events during hospitalisation. Any MACE and major bleeding events after discharge were also evaluated as an exploratory analysis. RESULTS: Of 1,093 patients, 64 (5.9%) had none of the four standard risk factors. The patients with no standard risk factors were likely to present with Killip class IV and cardiac arrest. The rate of in-hospital MACE was higher in patients with no risk factors than in their counterparts (25.0% vs 9.9%; p<0.001), whereas the incidence of in-hospital major bleeding was not significantly different between the two groups (9.4% vs 6.7%; p=0.44). Active cancer and autoimmune/inflammatory diseases were often found in patients with no standard risk factors. After discharge, no significant differences were observed in the risks of MACE and major bleeding events between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: No standard modifiable risk factors were not uncommon and were associated with poor short-term outcomes in patients with acute MI.

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Hyperintensities in Acute and Subacute-Phase Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities are observed in intracerebral hemorrhage patients at times and might be associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. However, the suitable time to evaluate diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities to influence stroke outcome remains unclear. This study investigated the associations between acute and sub-acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities and functional outcomes among patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: Diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities were evaluated within 24 h (acute phase) and at 14 ± 5 days (sub-acute phase). An unfavorable functional outcome was a score of 5-6 on the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months. RESULTS: Among 268 intracerebral hemorrhage patients, diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities in the acute phase were observed in 32 (11.9%). Among 227 patients who underwent a second magnetic resonance imaging in the sub-acute phase, diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities were observed in 57 (25.1%). Multivariable analysis revealed that the baseline intracerebral hemorrhage volume, history of stroke, and severe white matter lesions were associated with sub-acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities. The patients with unfavorable outcomes (n = 37) had a higher frequency of sub-acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities than those without (n = 190) (51.4% vs. 20.0%, P < 0.001); the frequencies of acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities were not significantly different between the groups (13.5% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.559). Sub-acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities were independently associated with unfavorable outcomes after adjusting for confounding factors (Odds Ratio, 3.35, 95% CI 1.20-9.35, P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: The rate of sub-acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities was higher than acute diffusion-weighted imaging hyperintensities among acute intracerebral hemorrhage patients and likely to be associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Association of ankle-brachial index with cognitive decline in patients with lacunar infarction.

Atherosclerosis is an important risk factor for cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) with cognitive function in patients with lacunar infarction. We included records of consecutive patients with their first-ever acute stroke and a diagnosis of lacunar infarction through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2018. We excluded patients diagnosed with dementia, including strategic single-infarct dementia, before or after stroke onset. Moreover, we excluded patients with one or more microbleeds, severe white matter lesions, or severe medial temporal atrophy on MRI. For ABI, we used the lower ankle side and divided the results into ABI < 1.0 and ABI ≥ 1.0. For baPWV, we used the higher ankle side and divided the results into two groups based on the median value of the participants. We analyzed 176 patients with stroke (age 72.5 ± 11.4 years, 67 females). The median score on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was 27. The number of patients with ABI < 1.0 was 19 (10.8%). Univariate analysis revealed that the MMSE score was associated with age, body mass index, education, chronic kidney disease, periventricular hyperintensity, and ABI < 1.0 (p < 0.10), but not baPWV. Multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index (p = 0.039) and ABI < 1.0 (p = 0.015) were independently associated with the MMSE score. For patients with lacunar infarction, a lower ABI, but not a higher PWV, was associated with cognitive decline.

In-hospital adverse events in low-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction - Potential implications for earlier discharge.

BACKGROUND: In acute myocardial infarction (MI), the prognosis has been improved, and the length of hospital stay has been shortened. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of identifying low-risk patients for early discharge after acute MI using the GRACE and CADILLAC risk scores. METHODS: This bi-center registry included 797 patients with acute MI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the tertiles and pre-defined thresholds of the GRACE and CADILLAC scores. The primary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital major adverse events (all-cause death, sustained ventricular arrhythmia, recurrent MI, heart failure requiring intravenous treatment, stroke, and major bleeding events). RESULTS: Of 797 patients, 271 (34.0%) and 316 (39.7%) had low GRACE and CADILLAC risk scores. During the hospitalization, 251 (31.5%) patients had major adverse events. Higher GRACE and CADILLAC scores were associated with longer length of stay and higher in-hospital adverse event rates. In patients with low GRACE and/or CADILLAC risk scores, 16 (5.9%) and 16 (5.1%) had in-hospital adverse events, most of which occurred within 3 days. Only 1 (0.4% and 0.3%) patient had major adverse events on day 4 or later in the low GRACE and CADILLAC risk score groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute MI with low GRACE and/or CADILLAC risk scores who were free from acute events within 3 days, early discharge after primary percutaneous coronary intervention may be feasible and safe.

Impact of PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto Thrombotic and Bleeding Risk Scores on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto risk scores were developed to identify patients at risks of thrombotic and bleeding events individually after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, these scores have not been well validated in different cohorts.Methods and Results:This 2-center registry enrolled 905 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary PCI. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto thrombotic and bleeding risk scores. The study endpoints included ischemic (cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke) and major bleeding events. Of 905 patients, 230 (25%) and 219 (24%) had high thrombotic and bleeding risks, respectively, with the PARIS scores, compared with 78 (9%) and 50 (6%) patients, respectively, with the CREDO-Kyoto scores. According to the 2 scores, >50% of patients with high bleeding risk had concomitant high thrombotic risk. During the mean follow-up period of 714 days, 163 (18.0%) and 95 (10.5%) patients experienced ischemic and bleeding events, respectively. Both PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto scores were significantly associated with ischemic and bleeding events after primary PCI. For ischemic events, the CREDO-Kyoto rather than PARIS thrombotic risk score had better diagnostic ability. CONCLUSIONS: In the present Japanese cohort of acute MI patients undergoing contemporary primary PCI, the PARIS and CREDO-Kyoto thrombotic and bleeding risk scores were discriminative for predicting ischemic and bleeding events.

Differential Impact of Clinical and Genetic Factors on High Platelet Reactivity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Treated with Clopidogrel and Prasugrel.

AIM: High platelet reactivity (HPR) is associated with increased risks of thrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease. The recently developed ABCD-GENE score identified five clinical and genetic factors (age, body mass index, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and the CYP2C19 loss-of-function allele) for HPR, although the significance of various stages of each factor is unclear. METHODS: Four prospective studies were pooled, in which platelet reactivity was measured using the VerifyNow assay with clopidogrel and prasugrel; genotyping of CYP2C19 was also performed. Each component of the ABCD-GENE score was divided into three subcategories. VerifyNow P2Y12 reactivity units ＞208 were defined as HPR. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were included, of which 111 (60%) and 51 (28%) had HPR with clopidogrel and prasugrel. Chronic kidney disease had an impact on HPR on both clopidogrel and prasugrel, whereas the impact of diabetes was more evident in patients treated with prasugrel. Although the number of CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles was clearly associated with a likelihood of HPR with clopidogrel, P2Y12 reactivity units with prasugrel treatment were also significantly and progressively higher in patients with more CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and genetic factors had a differential effect on a P2Y12 inhibitor reactivity with clopidogrel and prasugrel in patients with coronary artery disease. The severity of the factors also had a different impact on HPR.

Derivation of a Novel Scoring System Predicting High Platelet Reactivity on Prasugrel in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

AIMS: High platelet reactivity (HPR) has been associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. HPR has been well examined in patients treated with clopidogrel; however, HPR on prasugrel is poorly investigated. METHODS: Four prospective studies were pooled, in which platelet reactivity on prasugrel was measured using VerifyNow assay; genotyping of CYP2C19 was also performed. Factors associated with HPR on prasugrel were identified using multivariable analysis to develop a risk prediction model. RESULTS: In total, 180 patients were examined in this study, of whom 51 (28%) had HPR on prasugrel. The multivariable analysis indicated that hypertension, diabetes, hemodialysis, and the number of CYP2C19 loss-of-function (LOF) alleles are significant factors for HPR on prasugrel. These four factors were then incorporated to develop the HHD-GENE score. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the HHD-GENE score predicted HPR on prasugrel (area under the curve (AUC) 0.74, best cutoff value 5, p＜0.001). With the best cutoff value, patients with the HHD-GENE score ≥ 5 had a significantly increased risk of HPR on prasugrel than their counterpart (50% vs. 18%, p＜0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The HHD-GENE score consisting of hypertension, diabetes, hemodialysis, and CYP2C19 LOF alleles may be useful in identifying patients on prasugrel who are at high risk for HPR. External validation is needed to define the clinical utility of this novel scoring system.