The association of timing of coronary artery bypass grafting for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and clinical outcomes in the contemporary United States.

BACKGROUND: In contrast to the timing of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention, the optimal timing of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has not been determined. Therefore, we compared in-hospital outcomes according to different time intervals to CABG surgery in a contemporary NSTEMI population in the USA. METHODS: We identified all NSTEMI hospitalizations from 2016 to 2020 where revascularization was performed with CABG. We excluded NSTEMI with high-risk features using prespecified criteria. CABG was stratified into ≤24 h, 24-72 h, 72-120 h, and >120 h from admission. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality, perioperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and hospital cost. RESULTS: A total of 147 170 NSTEMI hospitalizations where CABG was performed were assessed. A greater percentage of females, Blacks, and Hispanics experienced delays to CABG surgery. No difference in in-hospital mortality was observed, but CABG at 72-120 h and at >120 h was associated with higher odds of non-home discharge and acute kidney injury compared with CABG at ≤24 h from admission. In addition to these differences, CABG at >120 h was associated with higher odds of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and need for blood transfusion. All 3 groups with CABG delayed >24 h had longer LOS and hospital-associated costs compared with hospitalizations where CABG was performed at ≤24 h. CONCLUSION: CABG delays in patients with NSTEMI are more frequently experienced by women and minority populations and are associated with an increased burden of complications and healthcare cost.

Development of a Novel Inflammatory Index to Predict Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) have previously demonstrated predictive value in coronary artery disease (CAD). We developed on an expanded, novel systemic immune-inflammation response index (SIIRI), calculated as peripheral neutrophil × monocyte × platelet ÷ lymphocyte count. We assessed 240 patients with an acute coronary syndrome that subsequently underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. CAD severity was measured using the SYNTAX score. Laboratory measurements, including cell counts, were obtained on admission. On multivariate analysis, the SIIRI was an independent predictor of severe CAD with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.666 [1.376-2.017] per 105-unit increase. The SIIRI had the highest area under the receiver operator curve of .771 [.709-.833] compared to the SII, SIRI neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-lymphocyte ratio. The optimal cut-off for SIIRI was 4.3 × 105, with sensitivity = 69.9% and specificity = 75.8%. Increment in model performance resulting from adding SIIRI versus other inflammatory indices was assessed using discrimination, calibration, and goodness-of-fit measures. When added to a baseline model, the SIIRI resulted in a significant increase in the c-statistic and significant net reclassification index (.808, P < .0001) and integrated discrimination index (.129, P < .0001), and a decrease in Akaike and Bayesian information criteria.

Combined nutritional and frailty screening improves assessment of short-term prognosis in older adults following percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Frailty and malnutrition are well-known factors influencing outcomes of myocardial infarction (MI) in older adults. Due to considerable overlap between both entities, whether the simultaneous assessment of frailty and nutrition adds nonredundant value to risk assessment is unknown. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study on 402 patients aged at least 65 years diagnosed with ST-elevation MI that underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Nutritional status was assessed by Controlling Nutritional Status score (CONUT), Prognostic Nutritional Index, and Geriatric Nutritional Response Index. Frailty was assessed by Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Derby frailty index, and acute frailty network. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), comprising all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, and unplanned repeat revascularization during 28-day follow-up. Increment in Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score performance following the addition of nutrition and frailty was assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of MACE was 8.02 (6.38-9.95) per 1000 person-days. The CONUT score and CFS were the best predictors of MACE and independent predictors in the multivariate Cox-regression models [hazard ratios, 2.80 (1.54-5.09) and 2.54 (1.50-4.29)]. CONUT score classified 151 (37.6%) patients as malnourished, and CFS classified 131 (32.6%) as frail. The addition of both CONUT and CFS to the GRACE score led to better model discrimination and calibration through improved c-statistic (+0.165) ( P < 0.0001) and Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. CONCLUSION: Combining CONUT and CFS provides nonredundant prognostic value despite their overlapping nature. Combined nutritional and frailty screening may improve risk prognostication in older adults following MI.

The systemic immune-inflammation index in predicting sepsis mortality.

BACKGROUND: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a novel parameter and its role in the prognosis of sepsis has never been explored previously. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 267 patients with blood-culture confirmed sepsis. Clinical and laboratory data recorded at intensive care unit (ICU) admission were analyzed. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and length-of-stay (LOS) in the ICU. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, SII, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of LOS and mortality. Area under receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) curves were used to determine optimum cutoffs, and the incremental effect of SII on the SOFA score was assessed using model discrimination and calibration properties. RESULTS: There were 76 (28.5%) non-survivors. SII, NLR, and PLR were independent predictors of sepsis mortality, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.51 (1.24-1.84), 1.67 (1.30-2.13) and 1.24 (1.11-1.39). SII and SOFA score were independent predictors of LOS. SII had an AUROC of 0.848, and the optimum cutoff was 564 with a sensitivity and specificity of 85.5% and 71.2%. The addition of SII to the model had a significant incremental effect on the predictive ability of SOFA score (Net Reclassification Index = 0.084, P = 0.025; Integrated Discrimination Index = 0.056, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The SII is an inexpensive parameter that can be used in addition to clinical sepsis scores to improve the accuracy of patient assessment.

Atherogenic index of plasma predicts coronary artery disease severity and major adverse cardiac events in absence of conventional risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Various overlapping risk factors lead to coronary artery disease (CAD). The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a marker for CAD severity and progression. However, little is known about its contribution to the residual risk of CAD observed in the absence of all typical risk factors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 366 Indian patients undergoing coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and diagnosed with stable CAD. Diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, previous CAD, alcohol or lipid-lowering medication intake, renal, liver or thyroid dysfunction were exclusion criteria. Coronary stenosis was graded using the CAD-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS™) system. Lipid profile, HbA1c, uric acid, highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and anthropometric measurements were taken. AIP, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and total cholesterol (Tc)/HDLc ratios were calculated. Independent predictors of CAD severity and the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during 2.57 (0.52) years of follow-up were identified using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Sixty patients experienced a MACE during a cumulative 887.03 person-years. HbA1c, uric acid, hsCRP, Tc/HDLc and AIP were independent predictors of severe coronary lesions (CAD-RADS 4,5) on multivariate analysis with odds ratio 4.52 (2.37-8.61), 1.41 (1.08-1.84), 1.33 (1.09-1.62), 1.76 (1.27-2.44) and 1.29 (1.11-1.50), respectively. Only AIP and Tc/HDLc were independent predictors of MACE with hazard ratios of 1.41 (1.20-1.65) and 1.78 (1.33-2.39) besides patient age and CAD severity. CONCLUSION: AIP is associated with both the severity of CAD and the occurrence of MACE within 3 years. It could serve as an effective marker of residual risk of CAD in patients devoid of traditional risk factors. Lipid-profile ratios, such as AIP are cost-effective and accessible parameters suitable for low and middle-income settings.

Vaccination status and COVID-19 related mortality: A hospital based cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of vaccines studied in clinical trial settings are likely to be different from their effectiveness in a real-world scenario. Indian Armed Forces launched its vaccine drive against COVID-19 on 16 Jan 2021. This study evaluated the effect of vaccination on mortality amongst hospitalized COVID patients. METHODS: A cross sectional study was done on all admitted moderate to severe COVID-19 patients at a designated COVID hospital in New Delhi. The primary outcome assessed the association of being fully vaccinated with mortality. Unadjusted odds ratios (OR) (with 95% CI) was performed for each predictor. Logistic regression was used for multivariable analysis and adjusted odds ratios obtained. RESULTS: The 1168 patients included in the study had a male preponderance with a mean age of 54.6 (± 17.51) years. A total of 266 (23%) patients were partially vaccinated with COVISHIELD® and 184 (16%) were fully vaccinated. Overall, 518 (44.3%) patients had comorbidities and 332 (28.4%) died. Among those fully vaccinated, there was 12.5% (23/184) mortality while it was 31.45 % (309/984) among the unvaccinated (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.5, p<0.0001). In a logistic regression model, complete vaccination status and younger age were found to be associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination with two doses of COVISHIELD® was associated with lower odds of mortality among hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID.

Platelet Indices and Their Kinetics Predict Mortality in Patients of Sepsis.

Platelet indices are inexpensive, easily accessible parameters and potentially useful prognostic indicators in sepsis. In this study we explore the differences in platelet indices and their kinetics between sepsis survivors and non-survivors. A retrospective cohort-study of 97 cases of culture-positive sepsis at a tertiary-care center in North India. Demographics, clinical and laboratory parameters at admission were assessed. Platelet count (PLT), mean-platelet-volume (MPV), platelet-distribution-width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT) on admission, and third, fifth and last days of hospitalization were analyzed. Fractional change in platelet indices (ΔMPV72h, ΔPDW72h, ΔPCT72h, and ΔPLT72h) by day-3 were calculated. Unpaired and paired t-tests were used to compare survivors with non-survivors, and to study the change in platelet indices with time. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. ROC-curves and optimum cut-offs to predict mortality were obtained. There were 64 survivors. Non-survivors had significantly higher ΔMPV72h, ΔPDW72h, day-1 MPV and PDW, and lower ΔPLT72h. MPV and PDW increased, and PLT decreased with time among non-survivors. Trends were reversed in survivors. Only MPV and PDW showed significant change by day-3. Both were independent predictors of mortality on multivariate analysis, alongside ΔMPV72h and ΔPLT72h. On ROC analysis, MPV, PDW, ΔMPV72h, ΔPDW72h and ΔPLT72h effectively predicted mortality. Cut-off for MPV was 10.25 fL (sensitivity = 93.9%, specificity = 60.9%), and PDW, 12.6% (sensitivity = 84.8%, specificity = 51.6%). A rise in MPV and a fall in PLT was associated with mortality in this study. MPV and PDW values at admission are effective predictors of mortality and may be used in conjunction with traditional parameters.