Interplay between climate, pollution and COVID-19 on ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a large metropolitan region.

BACKGROUND: Collective risk factors such as climate and pollution impact on the risk of acute cardiovascular events, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). There is limited data however on the precise temporal and independent association between these factors and STEMI, and the potentially interacting role of government policies against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially for Latin America. METHODS: We retrospectively collected aggregate data on daily STEMI admissions at 10 tertiary care centers in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, Argentina, from January 1, 2017 to November 30, 2020. Daily measurements for temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind direction, wind speed, and rainfall, as well as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter <10 µm (PM10), were retrieved. Exploratory analyses focused on key COVID-19-related periods (e.g. first case, first lockdown), and Stringency Index quantifying the intensity of government policy response against COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 1498 STEMI occurred over 1430 days, for an average of 0.12 STEMI per center (decreasing from 0.130 in 2018 to 0.102 in 2020, P=0.016). Time series analysis showed that lower temperature and higher concentration of CO and PM10 were all significantly associated with an increased rate of STEMI (all P<0.05), whereas COVID-19 outbreak, lockdown, and stringency of government policies were all inversely associated with STEMI (all P<0.05). Notably, environmental features impacted as early as 28 days before the event (all P<0.05), even if same or prior day associations proved stronger (all P<0.05). Multivariable analysis suggested that maximum temperature (P=0.001) and PM10 (P=0.033) were the strongest predictor of STEMI, even after accounting for COVID-19-related countermeasures (P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Lower temperature and higher concentrations of CO and PM10 are associated with significant increases in the rate of STEMI in a large Latin American metropolitan area. The reduction in STEMI cases seen during the COVID-19 pandemic is at least in part mediated by improvements in pollution, especially reductions in PM10.

[Primary angioplasty in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction: Predictors of mortality]. / Angioplastia primaria en diabéticos vs. no diabéticos con infarto agudo de miocardio: predictores de mortalidad.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diabetes mellitus is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate in-hospital mortality and during follow-up of diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty and to determine its predictors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight hundred and sixty six patients were retrospectively enrolled from January 1993 to December 2013. A hundred patients with a diagnosis of diabetes were evaluated. The median follow-up was 121 months in 90% of the population. RESULTS: Of the 100 diabetic patients included (11.56%) 86% were male and 50% older than 70 years. Overall, 76% presented with a Killip-Kimball grade of 1 at admission and 16% presented with a Killip-Kimball 4. The most frequent location of myocardial infarction was anterior and 65% had 2 or more coronary vessel disease. In-hospital mortality was 15%. The only independent variable significantly associated was the Killip-Kimball at admission. Mortality during follow up was 35% and its independent predictors were: age, Killip-Kimball at admission and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors Interestingly, in the non-diabetic group, Killip-kimball at admission failed to predict long-term mortality CONCLUSION: This group of diabetic patients was older, and with a higher prevalence of 2 or more vessel disease. Cardiogenic shock on admission was the only independent predictor of in-hospital death and along with age and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use, an independent predictor of mortality during long term follow-up.

Angioplastia primaria en el infarto agudo de miocardio: predictores de eventos en el seguimiento a largo plazo / Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Long-Term Predictors of Adverse Events

Introducción: El infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) es una de las principales causas de muerte cardiovascular. Los tratamientos de reperfusión, aplicados dentro de las primeras horas del evento, han contribuido a disminuir significativamente esa mortalidad. No existen en nuestro país registros con seguimiento a largo plazo de pacientes con IAM tratados con angioplastia transluminal coronaria primaria (ATCP). Objetivos: Evaluar los resultados intrahospitalarios y el pronóstico alejado de pacientes sometidos a ATCP por IAM con supra-desnivel del segmento ST (IAMCST) y su relación con las principales variables clínicas y terapéuticas aplicadas en diferentes décadas (1993-2002 vs. 2003-2012). Material y métodos: Estudio observacional y retrospectivo de todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de IAMCST a los que se les realizó una ATCP en dos hospitales de comunidad entre los años 1993 y 2012. Resultados: Se incluyeron 851 pacientes ingresados consecutivamente entre los años 1993 y 2012. La edad promedio fue de 61 ± 12 años y la mediana de seguimiento fue de 7,8 años en el 85% de la población. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria total fue del 6% y del 1,6% excluidos los pacientes con shock al ingreso; las variables independientes asociadas fueron la edad (OR 1,06, IC 1,03-1,09; p < 0,001), el sexo femenino (OR 3,1, IC 1,5-6,2; p < 0,002), la diabetes mellitus (OR 3,9, IC 1,86-8; p < 0,001) y la enfermedad de tres vasos coronarios (OR 4,3, IC 2,1-8,6; p < 0,001); el flujo final TIMI 3 fue una variable predictora de menor mortalidad intrahospitalaria (OR 0,28, IC 0,08-0,11; p < 0,008). La mortalidad global en el seguimiento fue del 14,3% y los predictores independientes fueron la edad (OR 3,1, IC 1,8-5,5; p < 0,001), la diabetes mellitus (OR 2,3, IC 1,25-4,3; p < 0,007) y la clase C o D de la clasificación de Killip y Kimball (KK) al ingreso (OR 4, IC 1,7-9; p < 0,001); la utilización de stent se asoció con menor mortalidad global alejada (OR 0,35, IC 0,21-0,6; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: En este grupo de pacientes con IAMCST, la ATCP aplicada adecuadamente y una elevada tasa de seguimiento alejado permitió obtener resultados intrahospitalarios favorables que se mantienen en el largo plazo. La edad avanzada al momento del IAMCST, la diabetes mellitus, el sexo femenino y la presencia de lesiones significativas en más de un vaso epicárdico mayor fueron los predictores de mortalidad intrahospitalaria, mientras que los dos primeros (edad y diabetes mellitus) y el KK C o D fueron predictores independientes de mortalidad en el seguimiento. Los pacientes asistidos durante la segunda década mostraron una tendencia no significativa a menor mortalidad intrahospitalaria en comparación con los de la primera década.

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death. Reperfusion treatments performed within the first hours have contributed to produce a significant reduction in mortality. In our country, there are no long-term follow-up registries of AMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the in-hospital results and long-term outcome of ST-segment elevation AMI (STEMI) patients undergoing primary PCI and their correlation with the main clinical and therapeutic variables applied in different decades (1993-2002 vs. 2003-2012). Methods: We performed an observational and retrospective study of all STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in two community hospitals between 1993 and 2012. Results: The study included 851 patients consecutively admitted between 1993 and 2012. Mean age was 61 ± 12 years and median follow-up was 7.8 years in 85% of the population. In-hospital mortality was 6% and 1.6% when patients with shock at admission were excluded. It was independently associated with age (OR 1.06, CI 1.03-1.09; p < 0.001), female sex (OR 3.1, CI 1.5-6.2; p < 0.002), diabetes mellitus (OR 3.9, CI 1.86-8; p < 0.001) and three-vessel disease (OR 4.3, CI 2.1-8.6; p < 0.001). Conversely, final TIMI grade 3 flow predicted lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.28, CI 0.08-0.11; p < 0.008). During follow-up, overall mortality was 14.3% and the independent predictors were age (OR 3.1, CI 1.8-5.5; p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.3, CI 1.25-4.3; p < 0.007) and Killip and Kimball (KK) class C or D at admission (OR 4, CI 1.7-9; p < 0.001); stent implant was associated with lower overall long-term mortality (OR 0.35, CI 0.21-0.6; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this group of STEMI patients, the adequate use of primary PCI and the high rate of patients at long-term follow-up allowed the collection of favorable in-hospital and long-term results. Advanced age at the moment of STEMI, diabetes mellitus, female sex and multiple vessel disease were predictors of in-hospital mortality, while age, diabetes mellitus and KK class C or D were independent predictors of mortality during follow-up. Patients treated during the second decade showed a non-significant trend towards reduced in-hospital mortality compared with those of the first decade.

Angioplastia primaria en el infarto agudo de miocardio: predictores de eventos en el seguimiento a largo plazo / Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Long-Term Predictors of Adverse Events

Introducción: El infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) es una de las principales causas de muerte cardiovascular. Los tratamientos de reperfusión, aplicados dentro de las primeras horas del evento, han contribuido a disminuir significativamente esa mortalidad. No existen en nuestro país registros con seguimiento a largo plazo de pacientes con IAM tratados con angioplastia transluminal coronaria primaria (ATCP). Objetivos: Evaluar los resultados intrahospitalarios y el pronóstico alejado de pacientes sometidos a ATCP por IAM con supra-desnivel del segmento ST (IAMCST) y su relación con las principales variables clínicas y terapéuticas aplicadas en diferentes décadas (1993-2002 vs. 2003-2012). Material y métodos: Estudio observacional y retrospectivo de todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de IAMCST a los que se les realizó una ATCP en dos hospitales de comunidad entre los años 1993 y 2012. Resultados: Se incluyeron 851 pacientes ingresados consecutivamente entre los años 1993 y 2012. La edad promedio fue de 61 ± 12 años y la mediana de seguimiento fue de 7,8 años en el 85% de la población. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria total fue del 6% y del 1,6% excluidos los pacientes con shock al ingreso; las variables independientes asociadas fueron la edad (OR 1,06, IC 1,03-1,09; p < 0,001), el sexo femenino (OR 3,1, IC 1,5-6,2; p < 0,002), la diabetes mellitus (OR 3,9, IC 1,86-8; p < 0,001) y la enfermedad de tres vasos coronarios (OR 4,3, IC 2,1-8,6; p < 0,001); el flujo final TIMI 3 fue una variable predictora de menor mortalidad intrahospitalaria (OR 0,28, IC 0,08-0,11; p < 0,008). La mortalidad global en el seguimiento fue del 14,3% y los predictores independientes fueron la edad (OR 3,1, IC 1,8-5,5; p < 0,001), la diabetes mellitus (OR 2,3, IC 1,25-4,3; p < 0,007) y la clase C o D de la clasificación de Killip y Kimball (KK) al ingreso (OR 4, IC 1,7-9; p < 0,001); la utilización de stent se asoció con menor mortalidad global alejada (OR 0,35, IC 0,21-0,6; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: En este grupo de pacientes con IAMCST, la ATCP aplicada adecuadamente y una elevada tasa de seguimiento alejado permitió obtener resultados intrahospitalarios favorables que se mantienen en el largo plazo. La edad avanzada al momento del IAMCST, la diabetes mellitus, el sexo femenino y la presencia de lesiones significativas en más de un vaso epicárdico mayor fueron los predictores de mortalidad intrahospitalaria, mientras que los dos primeros (edad y diabetes mellitus) y el KK C o D fueron predictores independientes de mortalidad en el seguimiento. Los pacientes asistidos durante la segunda década mostraron una tendencia no significativa a menor mortalidad intrahospitalaria en comparación con los de la primera década.(AU)

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death. Reperfusion treatments performed within the first hours have contributed to produce a significant reduction in mortality. In our country, there are no long-term follow-up registries of AMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the in-hospital results and long-term outcome of ST-segment elevation AMI (STEMI) patients undergoing primary PCI and their correlation with the main clinical and therapeutic variables applied in different decades (1993-2002 vs. 2003-2012). Methods: We performed an observational and retrospective study of all STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in two community hospitals between 1993 and 2012. Results: The study included 851 patients consecutively admitted between 1993 and 2012. Mean age was 61 ± 12 years and median follow-up was 7.8 years in 85% of the population. In-hospital mortality was 6% and 1.6% when patients with shock at admission were excluded. It was independently associated with age (OR 1.06, CI 1.03-1.09; p < 0.001), female sex (OR 3.1, CI 1.5-6.2; p < 0.002), diabetes mellitus (OR 3.9, CI 1.86-8; p < 0.001) and three-vessel disease (OR 4.3, CI 2.1-8.6; p < 0.001). Conversely, final TIMI grade 3 flow predicted lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.28, CI 0.08-0.11; p < 0.008). During follow-up, overall mortality was 14.3% and the independent predictors were age (OR 3.1, CI 1.8-5.5; p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.3, CI 1.25-4.3; p < 0.007) and Killip and Kimball (KK) class C or D at admission (OR 4, CI 1.7-9; p < 0.001); stent implant was associated with lower overall long-term mortality (OR 0.35, CI 0.21-0.6; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this group of STEMI patients, the adequate use of primary PCI and the high rate of patients at long-term follow-up allowed the collection of favorable in-hospital and long-term results. Advanced age at the moment of STEMI, diabetes mellitus, female sex and multiple vessel disease were predictors of in-hospital mortality, while age, diabetes mellitus and KK class C or D were independent predictors of mortality during follow-up. Patients treated during the second decade showed a non-significant trend towards reduced in-hospital mortality compared with those of the first decade.(AU)

Pseudo dislodgement of a stent due to crumpling of a coronary artery: a hitherto unreported complication of the "accordion effect".

The "accordion effect" is a mechanical remodeling of the arterial wall produced by endoluminal introduction of stiff guidewires, leading to vessel wall shortening and development of multiple eccentric constrictions. This phenomenon is unresponsive to vasodilators and may lead to unnecessary stenting of the pseudo-lesions. It must be suspected with the development of multiple lesions and when a tortuous artery assumes a linear shape after advancing distally a stiff wire. In the situation of a complete occlusion of the artery the diagnosis may be challenging. Stenting in this scenario can be demanding because of the difficulty to appropriately size the length of the stent to the true lesion. We present a case of an unrecognized accordion phenomenon in an occluded coronary artery with a long dissection treated with two stents that after retrieving the wire were insufficient to cover the whole dissection.