Which patients with coronary artery disease should include oral nitrates on their discharge medication list?

BACKGROUND: Which patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) should have oral nitrates on their discharge medication list after coronary angiography (CAG)? To assess the relationship between oral nitrates included in the discharge medication list and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among CAD patients, we designed this retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 2979 CAD patients hospitalised in the Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from May 2013 to October 2015 were enrolled, grouped according to whether oral nitrates were included at discharge after CAG, and followed up for MACEs for a mean of 4.42 years after discharge. The primary endpoint was MACEs. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyses potential confounding factors. Stratified analysis was used to observe the relationship between oral nitrates and MACEs by different covariates. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 4.61 years, and 296 (9.94%) patients experienced MACEs. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed no association between oral nitrates on the discharge medication list and the occurrence of MACEs among patients with CAD (p > 0.05) after adjusting for some covariates, such as SYNTAX score (hazard ratio (HR): 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90-1.55, p = 0.2420). Stratified analysis revealed a higher incidence of MACEs among hypertensive patients prescribed oral nitrates at discharge (HR: 1.67, 95% confidence CI: 1.13-2.46, p = 0.0046). However, prescribing nitrates at discharge for patients with low uric acid levels increased the incidence of MACEs, which showed a possible trend towards significance (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 0.99-2.09, p = 0.0525). CONCLUSION: There was no association between oral nitrates included in the discharge medication list and the development of MACEs among patients with CAD after adjusting for some covariates, such as SYNTAX score. Oral nitrates after discharge for CAD patients combined with hypertension increased the occurrence of MACEs. Oral nitrates after discharge for CAD patients combined with low uric acid levels may increase theoccurrence of MACEs, and close monitoring for any adverse events is recommended.

Comparison of Sirolimus and Everolimus Drug-eluting Stents for Treating the Patients With Non ST-elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To compare the efifcacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and everolimus-eluting stent (EES) for treating the patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Methods: A total of 400 NSTE-ACS patients treated in Jining Medical College Hospital from 2013-09 to 2014-09 were studied. According to different stents, the patients were divided into 2 groups: SES group,n=220 and EES group,n=180. A prospective follow-up study was conducted for 1.5 years to compare the incidence rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The patients were further stratiifed by GRACE scores as Low risk group (score140). MACE free survival was studied by Kaplan-Meier curve and analyzed by Long-rank test, predictive value of GRACE for 1.5 year MACE incidence rate was examined. Results: There were 355/400 (89%) patients completed (16.7 ± 5.7) months of follow-up study including 205 in SES group and 150 in EES group. MACE occurrence rates were similar between SES group and EES group (16.10% vs 18.0%), P>0.05. By GRACE score stratiifcation, MACE rates in High risk SES group were higher than High risk EES group (48.00%vs 16.00%),P0.05. ROC curve indicated that the predictive value of GRACE score for 1.5 year MACE incidence was for AUC=0.762, 95% CI (1.026-1.050),P<0.001. Conclusion: Implanting of EES would be more beneifcial for NSTE-ACS patients with high GRACE risk; GRACE score has the better predictive value for their long-term prognosis.