Variabilidad interregional en el uso de tecnologías cardiovasculares (2011-2019). Correlación con índices económicos y frecuentación y mortalidad hospitalarias / Interregional variability in the use of cardiovascular technologies (2011-2019). Correlation with economic indicators, admissions, and in-hospital mortality

Introducción y objetivos La igualdad de oportunidades para acceder a avances técnicos de reconocido valor clínico debe ser una prioridad del sistema público de salud. Se analizó la variabilidad entre todas las comunidades autónomas españolas en el uso de técnicas cardiológicas con indicación ya establecida y su relación con indicadores económicos, carga de enfermedad y mortalidad hospitalaria. Métodos Se analizaron los registros de actividad de las asociaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología desde 2011 a 2019 en coronariografía, intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) general, ICP primaria, desfibrilador automático implantable (DAI), terapia de resincronización cardiaca e implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI). Se obtuvieron índices económicos (producto interior bruto y gasto sanitario per cápita) y datos sobre frecuentación y mortalidad hospitalarias reportados en los informes RECALCAR (Recursos y Calidad en Cardiología) de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Se analizó el coeficiente de variación en la actividad y la correlación de esta con los índices regionales económicos, de frecuentación y la razón de mortalidad hospitalaria estandarizada por riesgo. Resultados Existe una variación notable en el uso de las tecnologías, especialmente ICP primaria (18%), DAI (22%), terapia de resincronización cardiaca (36%) y TAVI (42%). Solo se observó cierta correlación con la frecuentación de la ICP general y el DAI. No se encontró una correlación significativa entre la penetración de las técnicas y los índices económicos de riqueza y gasto. La correlación con la mortalidad hospitalaria no mostró resultados significativos, aunque es el análisis con más limitaciones, ya que estas técnicas tienen mayor impacto en la supervivencia en el medio y largo plazo. Conclusiones Los resultados del estudio, con sus limitaciones inherentes (AU)

Introduction and objectives Equal opportunities to access technical advances with recognized clinical value should be a priority of the publicly-funded health system. We analyzed variability among all the Spanish autonomous communities in the use of cardiovascular techniques with an established indication and its relationship with economic indicators, burden of disease, and hospital mortality. Method The activity registries of various Associations of the Spanish Society of Cardiology from 2011 to 2019 were analyzed for coronary angiography, overall percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), primary PCI, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Economic indices (gross domestic product and per capita health care expenditure) were obtained from public sources and data on attendance rates and mortality from the Resources and Quality in Cardiology (RECALCAR) reports of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. We analyzed the coefficient of variation for activity and the correlation of activity with regional economic indices, attendance rates, and risk-adjusted rates of in-hospital mortality. Results We identified wide variability in the use of technologies, especially for primary PCI (18%), ICD (22%), cardiac resynchronization therapy (36%), and TAVR (42%). A certain correlation with attendance rates was seen only for overall PCI and ICD. In general, no significant correlation was found between the use of the techniques and the economic indices of wealth and expenditure. The correlation with in-hospital mortality showed no significant results, although this was the analysis with the greatest limitations because the impact of these techniques on survival is exerted more in the mid- and long-term Conclusions The results of this study, despite its inherent limitations, show marked variability between autonomous communities in the use of cardiovascular technologies (AU)

The use of the acute Pd/Pa drop after intracoronary nitroglycerin infusion to rule out significant FFR: CANICA (Can intracoronary nitroglycerin predict fractional flow reserve without adenosine?) multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Functional assessment of coronary artery stenosis is performed by measuring the fractional flow reserve (FFR) under hyperemic conditions (Adenosine). However, the use of adenosine portends limitations. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the relationship and correlation between FFR and the Pd/Pa value obtained just after the intracoronary infusion (acute drop) of nitroglycerin (Pd/Pa-NTG) and if this parameter enhances diagnostic accuracy for FFR prediction compared to the resting baseline Pd/Pa. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter study including prospectively patients presenting intermediate coronary artery stenosis (30-70%) evaluated with pressure wire. Resting baseline Pd/Pa, Pd/Pa-NTG and FFR were measured. RESULTS: 283 patients (335 lesions) were included. Resting baseline Pd/Pa value was 0.72 to 1.0 (0.93 ± 0.04), Pd/Pa-NTG was 0.60 to 1.0 (0.87 ± 0.07) and FFR 0.55 to 1.0 (0.83 ± 0.08). The ROC curves for resting baseline Pd/Pa and for Pd/Pa-NTG, using a FFR ≤ 0.80 showed an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.92, P < 0.001) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92-0.96, P < 0.001) respectively. The optimal cutoff values of resting baseline Pd/Pa and Pd/Pa-NTG for an FFR > 0.80, were >0.96 and >0.88, respectively. These values were present in a 29.8% (n = 100) and a 47.1% (n = 158), of the total lesions. Scatter plots showed a better correlation and agreement points with Pd/Pa-NTG than resting baseline Pd/Pa. The cutoff value of Pd/Pa-NTG > 0.88 showed an excellent NPV (96.2% for FFR > 0.8 and 100% for FFR > 0.75) and sensitivity (95% for FFR > 0.8 and 100% for FFR > 0.75) which were consistently high across all the subgroups analysis. CONCLUSION: The cutoff value of acute Pd/Pa-NTG > 0.88 has a high NPV meaning adenosine-FFR can be avoided in almost half of lesions.

Atrial flutter after heart transplantation: mechanism and catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial flutter is a frequent arrhythmia after heart transplantation, but little is known about its mechanism and treatment. We report the results of an electrophysiologic study in patients with atrial flutter after orthotopic heart transplantation, describing its mechanism and demonstrating the acute and long-term efficacy of catheter ablation for treating this arrhythmia. METHODS: We included 14 patients with symptomatic atrial flutter after orthotopic heart transplantation. All of them underwent an electrophysiologic study to determine the mechanism of the arrhythmia and catheter ablation when possible. RESULTS: Counterclockwise right atrial circuit around the tricuspid annulus involving the cavotricuspid isthmus was demonstrated in 13 patients (86%). Catheter ablation of the isthmus was performed with good acute results in all but 1. During a mean follow-up of 24 ± 17 months, recurrent atrial flutter was documented in 3 patients and atrial fibrillation in 2. In another patient, we demonstrated a left atrial origin. CONCLUSIONS: The most common mechanism of atrial flutter in heart transplant recipients is a counterclockwise circuit around the tricuspid annulus involving the cavotricuspid isthmus. Catheter ablation of the isthmus between tricuspid annulus and posterior atrial suture line represents an effective treatment in these patients. This condition may be avoided by changing the surgical technique to a bicaval anastomosis.