Six-month cardiovascular prognostic impact of type 1 And type 2 myocardial infarction in patients hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular events and myocardial infarction (MI). Myocardial supply-demand mismatch results in type 2 MI(T2MI) and atherosclerotic plaque rupture leads to type 1 MI(T1MI). Data comparing the prognostic impact of these MI types in GIB are sparse. METHODS: Patients hospitalized for GIB were identified in the 2019 US Nationwide Readmissions Sample. In this population, we studied the differences in management of T1MI and T2MI, and the association of these MI types with in-hospital mortality and risk for 6-month MI and MI-related mortality. RESULTS: Of 444,475 patients admitted for a GIB, 12,860 (2.9%) had an MI (1.7% T2MI, 1.2% T1MI). Patients with T1MI were more likely to receive coronary angiography and revascularization than patients with T2MI. In-hospital mortality occurred in 2.0% patients, at a significantly higher rate in patients with an MI (7.9% vs 1.8%; P < 0.001), and higher with T1MI (11.9%) than T2MI (5.3%; P < 0.001). Among the survivors, 2.2% patient had an MI within 6 months, at a significantly higher rate in patients with index MI (13.1% vs 2.0%, adjusted OR 4.3 95% CI 3.83-4.90; P < 0.001). Mortality during the subsequent MI occurred in 0.3% of all patients (12% with an MI), at a 6-fold higher rate in patients with index MI (1.7% vs 0.3%; adjusted OR 3.69 95% CI 2.75-4.95; P < 0.001). The elevated risks were associated with both MI types. The risks for 6-month MI and related mortality were similar between T1MI and T2MI (6-month AMI: adjusted OR for T2MI = 1.03, 95% 0.83-1.29; fatal MI: adjusted OR for T2MI = 1.5, 95% CI 0.85-2.7). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of an MI is associated with a substantially elevated risk for subsequent AMI and related mortality in patients hospitalized for a GIB. This future prognostic impact was similar between T1MI and T2MI.

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on heart failure hospitalizations after an acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: The presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can impact the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and is associated with higher mortality. Few studies addressed COPD impact on heart failure hospitalisations (HFHs) in AMI survivors. Material and methods: Adult survivors of an AMI between January and June 2014 were identified from the US Nationwide Readmissions Database. The impact of COPD on HFH within 6 months, fatal HFH and the composite of in-hospital HF or 6-month HFH was studied. Results: Of 237,549 AMI survivors, patients with COPD (17.5%) were older, more likely female, had a higher prevalence of cardiac comorbidities and a lower coronary revascularization rate. In-hospital HF was more frequent in patients with COPD (47.0% vs. 25.4%; p < 0.001). HFH within 6 months occured in 12,934 (5.4%) patients, at a 114% higher rate in patients with COPD (9.4% vs. 4.6%, OR = 2.14, 95% CI : 2.01-2.29; p < 0.001), which was attenuated to a 39% higher adjusted risk (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.30-1.49). Findings were consistent across subgroups of age, AMI type, and major HF risk factors. Mortality during a HFH (5.7% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.001) and the rate of the composite HF outcome (49.0% vs. 26.9%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with COPD. Conclusions: COPD was present in 1 of 6 AMI survivors and was associated with worse HF related outcomes. The increased HFH rate in COPD patients was consistent across several clinically relevant subgroups and these findings highlight the need for optimal in-hospital and post-discharge management of these higher-risk patients.

Effect of Genotype-Guided Oral P2Y12 Inhibitor Selection After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Clopidogrel is the most frequently used P2Y12 inhibitor as a component of the dual antiplatelet regimen in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Prior studies have shown the variable efficacy of clopidogrel due to genotypic differences in the CYP2C19 enzyme function, which converts clopidogrel to its active metabolite. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of genotype testing-guided P2Y12 inhibitor prescription therapy to patients after PCI for ACS compared to non-genotype guided conventional treatment. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane to identify relevant trials. Summary effects were calculated using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model as odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals for all the clinical endpoints. RESULTS: Seven studies with 9617 patients were included. Genotype-guided strategy arm included prasugrel or ticagrelor prescription to patients with loss of function (LOF) of CYP219 alleles (most commonly alleles being *2 and *3) and clopidogrel prescription to those without the LOF allele. The conventional arm included patients treated with clopidogrel without genotype testing. Comparison of genotype arm with conventional arm showed decreased major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), improved cardiovascular (CV) mortality, and reduced incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in the genotype arm, and a similar stroke incidence in the two arms. Regarding adverse events, the incidence of stent thrombosis was lower in the genotype arm than the conventional arm. CONCLUSION: Our analysis illustrates the possible advantages of genotype-guided P2Y12 inhibitor prescription strategy compared to non-genotype-guided strategy with reductions in MACE, CV mortality, MI, and stent thrombosis. This analysis can be used as a stepping stone to conducting further trials determining the efficacy of this treatment strategy in various ACS subtypes.

A Comparison of In-Hospital Outcomes Between the Use of Impella and IABP in Acute Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The use of Impella ventricular support systems and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) has increased in recent years and expanded treatment options, although the comparative clinical outcomes and device safety remain unclear. METHODS: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2012-2017) to identify adults who were admitted for AMI complicated by CS and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The study sample was divided into Impella and IABP groups. Patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and comorbidities were balanced between groups using propensity-score matching. Regression analysis was utilized to study outcome differences between groups. RESULTS: We identified 51,150 patients, of whom 44,265 (86.54%) received IABP and 6885 (13.46%) received Impella. After propensity matching, compared with the Impella group (n = 1592), the IABP group (n = 8638) had lower rates of sepsis (6.44% vs 12.69%; P=.01), blood transfusion (8.92% vs 14.28%; P=.01), mortality (28.95% vs 49.59%; P<.01), and hospitalization costs ($49,420 vs $68,087; P<.001). The IABP group had similar rates of cardiac arrest (20.32% vs 22.22%; P=.32), in-hospital stroke (1.46% vs 1.59%; P=.37), and length-of-stay (8.56 days vs 8.64 days; P=.26) compared with the Impella group. CONCLUSION: In patients with CS complicating AMI who underwent PCI, Impella use compared with IABP was associated with higher mortality with no differences in in-hospital stroke and cardiac arrest rates, although study interpretation is limited by retrospective observational design and the potential for remaining confounders. Further prospective research is warranted to elucidate the optimal mechanical circulatory support device in these patients.

Analysis of outcome of 6-month readmissions after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is an alternative strategy for prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and unsuitable for long-term oral anticoagulation. The study aimed to evaluate the causes and timing of readmissions within 6 months following percutaneous LAAO in a real-world setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of percutaneous LAAO performed in the USA between January and June of 2016-2018 using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. RESULTS: Overall, 12 446 patients who underwent LAAO were included in the analyses and 3477 patients (28%) were readmitted within 6 months following the interventions. Readmitted patients were more often women (p=0.001). The index hospitalisation was characterised by longer duration of hospital stay (p<0.001) and complicated with acute kidney injury (p<0.001) among readmitted patients compared with those without readmissions. Readmissions within 6 months following the index intervention were mainly due to heart failure (13%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (12%). Characteristics associated with readmissions due to heart failure included previously known heart failure (HR 2.39; 95% CI 1.70 to 3.37), valvular heart disease (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.84) and chronic kidney disease (HR 1.42; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.94). Readmissions due to gastrointestinal bleeding were associated with diabetes mellitus (HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.25 to 2.53), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.81) and previous anaemia (HR 2.41; 95% CI 1.54 to 3.77). CONCLUSIONS: After percutaneous LAAO, over a quarter of the patients in the USA required rehospitalisation within 6 months, mainly due to heart failure and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Impact of Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease on Heart Failure Hospitalizations After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Very few studies evaluated the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on heart failure (HF) hospitalization risk following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). For this retrospective cohort analysis, we identified adult AMI survivors from January to June 2014 from the United States Nationwide Readmissions Database. Outcomes were a 6-month HF, fatal HF, composite of HF during the AMI or a 6-month HF, and a composite of 6-month HF or death during a non-HF-related admission. We analyzed differences in outcomes across categories of patients without renal injury, AKI without CKD, stable CKD, AKI on CKD, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Of 237,549 AMI survivors, AKI was present in 13.8%, CKD in 16.5%, ESRD in 3.4%, and AKI on CKD in 7.7%. Patients with renal failure had lower coronary revascularization rates and higher in-hospital HF. A 6-month HF hospitalization occurred in 12,934 patients (5.4%). Compared with patients without renal failure (3.3%), 6-month HF admission rate was higher in patients with AKI on CKD (14.6%; odds ratio [OR] 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81 to 2.19), ESRD (11.2%; OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.81), stable CKD (10.7%; OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.56 to 1.88), and AKI (8.6%; OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.70). Results were generally homogenous in prespecified subgroups and for the other outcomes. In conclusion, 1 in 4 AMI survivors had either acute or chronic renal failure. The presence of any form of renal failure was associated with a substantially increased risk of 6-month HF hospitalizations and associated mortality with the highest risk associated with AKI on CKD.

Differences in Short-Term Outcomes and Hospital-Based Resource Utilization Between Septal Reduction Strategies for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Given clinical equipoise in a subset of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) patients who are candidates for both alcohol septal ablation (ASA) or septal myectomy (SM), other considerations such as cost, readmissions, and hospital length of stay (LOS) may be important to optimize healthcare resource utilization and inform shared decision making. METHODS: In this retrospective observational analysis of the United States Nationwide Readmissions Database years 2012-2014, we identified adults who underwent isolated septal reduction (SR) for OHCM. We studied the differences in short-term outcomes (inpatient mortality and 90-day readmission rate) and in-hospital resource utilization (LOS and costs) between the SR strategies. RESULTS: Of the 2250 patients in this study, ASA was performed in 1113 (49.5%) and SM in 1137 (50.5%). Inpatient mortality occurred in 21 patients (0.9%), with similar rates between strategies (10 SM patients [0.9%] vs 11 ASA patients [1.0%]; P=.30). Of the 2229 patients who survived to discharge, 298 (13.4%) were readmitted 386 times within 90 days with a similar readmission rate between SM (14.9%) and ASA (11.8%; P=.16). During the index admission, average LOS and cost were significantly lower for ASA (3.9 days, United States [US] $20,322) compared with SM (7.6 days, US $39,470; P<.001). Average LOS and cost during 90-day readmissions were similar between ASA and SM. Combining index admissions and readmissions, patients undergoing ASA had significantly lower LOS and hospitalization costs. CONCLUSIONS: In this non-randomized observational study of OHCM patients undergoing isolated septal reduction, ASA was associated with similar short-term outcomes, including mortality, but substantially lower hospitalization costs and LOS compared with SM.

Influence of diabetes mellitus interactions with cardiovascular risk factors on post-myocardial infarction heart failure hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of information regarding how cardiovascular risk factors (RF) modulate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the heart failure hospitalization (HFH) risk following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Adult survivors of an AMI were retrospectively identified from the 2014 US Nationwide Readmissions Database. The impact of DM on the risk for a 6-month HFH was studied in subgroups of RFs using multivariable logistic regression to adjust for baseline risk differences. Individual interactions of DM with RFs were tested. RESULTS: Of 237,549 AMI survivors, 37.2% patients had DM. Primary outcome occurred in 12,934 patients (5.4%), at a 106% higher rate in DM patients (7.9% vs 4.0%, p < 0.001), which was attenuated to a 45% higher adjusted risk. Higher HFH risk in DM patients was consistent across subgroups and significant interactions were present between DM and other RFs. The increased HFH risk with DM was more pronounced in patients without certain HF RFs compared with those with these RFs [age < 65: OR for DM 1.84 (1.58-2.13) vs age ≥ 65: OR 1.34 (1.24-1.45); HF absent during index AMI: OR for DM 1.87 (1.66-2.10) vs HF present: OR 1.24 (1.14-1.34); atrial fibrillation absent: OR for DM 1.57 (1.46-1.68) vs present: OR 1.19 (1.06-1.33); Pinteraction < 0.001 for all]. Similar results were noted for hypertension and chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: AMI survivors with DM had a higher risk of 6-month HFHs. The impact of DM on the increased HFH risk was more pronounced in patients without certain RFs suggesting that more aggressive preventive strategies related to DM and HF are needed in these subgroups to prevent or delay the onset of HFHs.

Dual Versus Triple Therapy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and an Anticoagulation Indication: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial-Sequential Analysis.

Choosing an antithrombotic regime in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a concomitant indication for anticoagulation is a challenge commonly encountered by clinicians. Our aim in this article is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of triple antithrombotic therapy (TT, anticoagulant plus dual antiplatelet) versus dual antithrombotic therapy [dual therapy (DT), anticoagulant plus single antiplatelet] in patients with ACS. We included all randomized trials comparing the outcomes of single versus dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with ACS on anticoagulants. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Other outcomes studied were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, stent thrombosis (ST), and major bleeding. The Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RR) random-effects model was used to summarize data. Six studies, with a total of 11,437 patients, met our selection criteria. With a follow-up duration of 9-14 months, there was no significant difference between DT and TT in terms of MACE [RR 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-1.17], all-cause mortality (RR 1.00; 95% CI, 0.77-1.29), cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.03; 95% CI, 0.79-1.34), MI (RR 1.14; 95% CI, 0.90-1.45), stroke (RR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.56-1.23), and ST (RR 1.32; 95% CI, 0.87-2.01). Compared with TT, DT was associated with significant reductions in major bleeding 4.1% versus 6.5% (RR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.45-0.81; number needed to treat = 42), clinically significant bleeding 10.5% versus 16.4% (RR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.48-0.80) and intracranial hemorrhage 0.4% versus 0.8% (RR 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24-0.77). In patients on anticoagulant therapy, the strategy of single antiplatelet therapy (DT) confers a benefit of less major bleeding with no difference in MACE, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, MI, stroke, and ST.

Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Complications With COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has affected the health of people across the globe. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a significant relationship with COVID-19, both as a risk factor and prognostic indicator, and as a complication of the disease itself. In addition to predisposing to CVD complications, the ongoing pandemic has severely affected the delivery of timely and appropriate care for cardiovascular conditions resulting in increased mortality. The etiology behind the cardiac injury associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is likely varied, including coronary artery disease, microvascular thrombosis, myocarditis, and stress cardiomyopathy. Further large-scale investigations are needed to better determine the underlying mechanism of myocardial infarction and other cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients and to determine the incidence of each type of cardiac injury in this patient population. Telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies can play an important role in optimizing outcomes in patients with established CVD. In this article, we summarize the various impacts that COVID-19 has on the cardiovascular system, including myocardial infarction, myocarditis, stress cardiomyopathy, thrombosis, and stroke.

The potential impact of mammographic breast arterial calcification on physician practices in a primary care setting.

Aim: This study sought to determine breast arterial calcification (BAC) prevalence in a primary care setting and its potential use in guiding further cardiovascular workup. Materials & methods: A radiologist reviewed 282 consecutive mammograms. Characteristics of BAC-positive and negative women were compared. Results: BAC prevalence was 34%. BAC-positive women were older (mean age: 60 vs 52, p < 0.001), had higher mean 10-year cardiac risk (11 vs 6%, p < 0.001), more hypertension (65 vs 40%, p < 0.001) and coronary artery disease (10 vs 2%, p = 0.0041), statin (50 vs 32%, p = 0.006) and aspirin use (28 vs 16%, p = 0.012). Thirty-seven percent (33/96) of BAC-positive women could potentially benefit from further cardiac testing. Conclusion: Mammography identifies BAC-positive women with low traditionally assessed cardiovascular risk who might benefit from further cardiovascular workup.

Sex differences in heart failure hospitalisation risk following acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the sex differences in 6-month heart failure (HF) hospitalisation risk in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors. METHODS: For this retrospective cohort analysis, adult survivors of an AMI between January and June 2014 were identified from the US Nationwide Readmissions Database. The primary outcome was a HF hospitalisation within 6 months. Secondary outcomes were fatal HF hospitalisation and the composite of index in-hospital HF or 6-month HF hospitalisation. RESULTS: Of 237 549 AMI survivors, females (37.9%) were older (70±14 years vs 65±13 years; p<0.001), had a higher prevalence of cardiac comorbidities and a lower revascularisation rate compared with males. The primary outcome occurred in 12 934 patients (5.4%), at a 49% higher rate in females (6.8% vs 4.6% in males, p<0.001), which was attenuated to a 19% higher risk after multivariable adjustment. Findings were consistent across subgroups of age, AMI type and major risk factors. In the propensity-matched time-to-event analysis, female sex was associated with a 13% higher risk for 6-month HF readmission (6.4% vs 5.8% in males; HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.21, p<0.001), and the increased risk was evident early on after the AMI. Fatal HF rate was similar between groups (4.7% vs 4.6%, p=0.936), but females had a higher rate of the composite HF outcome (36.2% vs 27.5%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In a large all-comers AMI survivors' cohort, females had a higher HF hospitalisation risk that persisted after adjustment for baseline risk differences. This was consistent across several clinically relevant subgroups and was evident early on after the AMI.

Statin therapy for primary cardiovascular prevention in adults older than 75 years.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. An abundance of research demonstrated that low­density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL­C) is an important risk factor for CVD that can be modified with the drug class hydroxymethylglutaryl­CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins.Statins have an unequivocal benefit in reducing CVD risk across age groups for secondary prevention. However, the benefit of these drugs for primary prevention in adults older than 75 years of age remains equivocal and controversial. The global population is aging rapidly and primary CVD prevention recommendations to guide statin therapy above the age of 75 years are necessary. However, current trends in statin therapy illustrate that it is underutilized for primary prevention in that age group. Concerns exist regarding the higher incidence of common adverse events from statin use in the older population; however, there are no confirmatory data regarding these associations. In the light of available evidence, it is reasonable to offer statin therapy for primary prevention to all older individuals following a shared decision­making process that takes life expectancy, polypharmacy, frailty, and potential adverse effects into consideration. Combination therapies with other agents for the management of dyslipidemia should be considered to facilitate the use of tolerable doses of statins. Future investigations of dyslipidemia therapies must appropriately include this at­risk population to identify optimal drugs and drug combinations that have a high benefit­to ­risk ratio for the prevention of CVD in the very old.

Acute myocardial infarction in the young with diabetes mellitus- national inpatient sample study with sex-based difference in outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Mortality after AMI is on the decreasing trend; however, this favorable trend is not observed in the young, especially women. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify sex-based outcomes following AMI in young with diabetes. METHODS: NIS 2010-2014 was used to identify all patients with AMI using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Men (N = 30,950) and women (N = 17,928) patients diagnosed with diabetes were identified and stratified as young if age >18 and <45 years. RESULTS: Young women with AMI and concomitant diabetes having a higher burden of overall traditional and non-traditional comorbidities. NSTEMI was the major presentation in women as compared to men. Young women with AMI and concomitant diabetes were less likely to receive revascularization with PCI [51.1% vs. 58.2%; OR 0.86, CI 0.78-0.94] or CABG [7.9% vs. 10.1%; OR 0.64, CI 0.54-0.75]. Adjusted all-cause in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups [OR 1.06, CI 0.74-1.52]. Women had lower odds of developing cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmias, and AKI, and were more likely to develop major bleeding requiring transfusion, and mitral regurgitation. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences between young men and women with diabetes in terms of baseline characteristics and clinical presentation, use of revascularization, and cardiac complications, yet overall, in-hospital mortality does not appear to differ. More studies are needed to identify the interaction of sex and diabetes in young AMI population, and areas for practice improvement.

The Impact on Medical Students of the 9/11 Attacks on New York's World Trade Center.

Phenomenon: Little is known about how participation in disaster relief impacts medical students. During the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, New York Medical College School of Medicine students witnessed the attacks and then became members of emergency treatment teams at St. Vincent's Hospital, the trauma center nearest to the World Trade Center. To date, only two reports describe how 9/11 influenced the lives of medical students. This study was designed to characterize the short- and long-term effects on NYMC students and to compare those effects between students assigned to St Vincent's Hospital and classmates assigned to rotations at facilities more remote from the attack site. We hypothesized that participation in direct relief efforts by students assigned to the St. Vincent's site might have long-lasting effects on their lives and these effects might vary when compared to classmates assigned elsewhere. Approach: This was a retrospective, survey-based, unmatched cohort study. Participants included all school of medicine graduates who were St. Vincent's rotators on 9/11 (N = 22) and classmates (N = 24) assigned to other sites who could be contacted and agreed to participate. Our primary measure was whether the 9/11 experience affected the participant's life, defined as an affirmative response to the item which asked whether the 9/11 experience affected the participant's "life thereafter, career choice, attitudes toward life or attitudes toward practice." Secondary measures included self-reported effects on career, life, attitudes, health, resilience, personal growth, personality features, and the temporal relationship between the attack and stress symptoms. Findings: Completed surveys were received from 16/22 (73%) St. Vincent's and 18/24 (75%) non-Saint Vincent's participants: 62% male, 82% had children, 74% identified as Caucasian/white and 76% employed full-time. Overall, slightly more than half (58%) of respondents reported an effect of 9/11 on their life, with a greater but non-significant proportion of St. Vincent's rotators reporting life impact (67% versus 50% for St. Vincent's versus other locations, respectively). High post-9/11 stress levels, current marriage, and ability to make and keep family and social relationships were associated with an effect on life which approached statistical significance. Participants reported positive or no post 9/11 effects on empathy and altruism (50%), resilience (47%), attitudes toward medical practice and career (32%), and charitable giving (24%), while positive, negative, or no effects were reported for attitude toward life, family and social relations, physical health, and conscientiousness. Mental health was the only domain in which all participants reported unchanged or negative effects. Two St. Vincent's rotators but no students assigned elsewhere believed they experienced 9/11-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Insights: Just over half of New York Medical College School of Medicine students rotating at St. Vincent's Hospital on 9/11 or elsewhere reported significant life-effects as a result of direct/indirect experiences related to the attack. Perceived stress may have been a more important driver of this life-change than other factors such as geographic proximity to the disaster site and/or direct participation in relief efforts. Further study of medical school interventions focused on stress reduction among students who participate in disaster relief is warranted.