Impact of chronic total occlusion on prognosis in cardiogenic shock due to unprotected left main coronary artery culprit lesion. Insights from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding readily available revascularization, significant advancements in mechanical circulatory support, and pharmacological progress, cardiogenic shock (CS) secondary to unprotected left main culprit lesion-related acute myocardial infarction (ULMCL-related AMI) is associated with very high mortality. In this population, chronic total occlusion (CTO) is relatively frequent. AIMS: This study sought to assess the association between the presence of CTO and 12-month mortality in patients with CS due to ULMCL-related AMI. RESULTS: The study included consecutive patients admitted for AMI-related CS with ULMCL who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and were enrolled in the prospective Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) between January 2017 and December 2021. The patients were stratified into two groups based on the presence of at least one CTO. The primary endpoint was all-cause death at 12 months. Of the 250 included patients, 60 (24%) patients had one or more CTOs of a major coronary artery (+CTO), and in 190 (76%) patients, the presence of CTO was not observed (-CTO). The 12-month mortality rates for the +CTO and -CTO patients were 85% and 69.8%, respectively (P log-rank = 0.03). After multivariable adjustment for differences in the baseline characteristics, the presence of CTO remained significantly associated with higher 12-month mortality (hazard ratio, 1.423; 95% CI, 1.027-1.973; P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis showed that in patients with CS due to ULMCL-related AMI treated with PCI, the presence of CTO is associated with worse 12-month prognosis.

Percutaneous transaxillary approach through the first segment of the axillary artery for the Impella-supported PCI Versus TAVR.

Percutaneous transaxillary approach (PTAX) through the first segment of the axillary artery is not widely recognized as a safe method. Furthermore, PTAX has never been directly compared between Impella-supported percutaneous coronary interventions (Impella-PCI) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of PTAX through the first axillary segment in Impella-PCI versus TAVR. In cases where standard imaging guidance was insufficient, a technique involving puncturing the axillary artery "on-the-balloon" was employed. The endpoints were bleeding and vascular complications, as defined by BARC and VARC-3 criteria. PTAX was successfully performed in all 46 attempted cases: 23 for Impella-PCI and 23 for TAVR. Strict adherence to BARC and VARC-3 criteria led to the frequent identification of major bleeding (57%) and a moderately frequent diagnosis of vascular complications (17%). These incidences were primarily based on post-procedural hemoglobin reduction (> 3 g/dl) but not overt bleeding. The Impella group exhibited a higher rate of BARC 3b bleeding due to a greater hemoglobin decline resulting from the prolonged implant duration and PCI itself. Left axillary access was linked to smaller blood loss. Bleeding and vascular complications, as per BARC and VARC-3 definitions, did not affect short-term prognosis, with only 3 Impella patients succumbing to heart failure unrelated to the procedures during one-month follow-up period.

The use of andexanet alpha in the Polish setting: An interdisciplinary protocol. Expert consensus statement of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Andexanet alfa (AA) is a recombinant inactive analog of human activated factor X (FXa), effectively reversing the effects of its inhibitors - rivaroxaban and apixaban, which are available in Poland. The drug was approved for clinical use registration after the publication of the results of the ANNEXA-4 trial (Andexanet Alfa, a Novel Antidote to the Anticoagulation Effects of FXa Inhibitors 4), in which its efficacy in restoring hemostasis in life-threatening hemorrhages in patients receiving using the aforementioned anticoagulants was demonstrated. Hence, AA is now recommended for patients on apixaban or rivaroxaban therapy with massive and uncontrollable hemorrhages, including hemorrhagic strokes (HS) and gastrointestinal bleeding. Drug-specific chromogenic anti-Xa assays are generally best suited for estimating rivaroxaban and apixaban plasma levels, aside from direct assessment of their concentrations. The absence of anti-Xa activity, determined using these assays, allows us to rule out the presence of clinically relevant plasma concentrations of any FXa inhibitor. On the other hand, the dose of AA should not be modified based on the results of coagulation tests, as it depends solely on the time that elapsed since the last dose of FXa inhibitor and oon the dose and type of FXa inhibitor. AA is administered as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus, followed by an i.v. infusion of the drug. The maximum reversal of anti-Xa activity occurs within two minutes of the end of the bolus treatment, with the continuation of the continuous i.v. infusion allowing the effect to be maintained for up to two hours afterwards. Because anticoagulant activity can reappear after the infusion is completed, it is currently unclear at what point after AA administration FXa inhibitors or heparin should be re-administered. In Poland AA is starting to become available and its urgent need to administer it to patients with severe bleeding on apixaban or rivaroxaban.

Cangrelor - Expanding therapeutic options in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Cangrelor is the only intravenous P2Y12 receptor antagonist. It is an adenosine triphosphate analog that selectively, directly, and reversibly binds to the platelet P2Y12 receptors exerting its antiaggregatory effect. Cangrelor is characterized by linear, dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and rapid onset of action providing potent platelet inhibition exceeding 90%. Cangrelor is rapidly metabolized by endothelial endonucleotidase; thus, its half-life is 2.9 to 5.5 min, and its antiplatelet effect subsides within 60 to 90 min. Data originating from three pivotal cangrelor trials (CHAMPION PLATFORM, CHAMPION PCI, and CHAMPION PHOENIX) indicate that cangrelor reduces the risk of periprocedural thrombotic complications during percutaneous coronary intervention at the expense of mild bleedings. Its unique pharmacological properties allow it to overcome the limitations of oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, mainly related to the delayed and decreased bioavailability and antiplatelet effect of these agents, which are often observed in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. Subgroups of patients who could theoretically benefit the most from cangrelor include those in whom pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral P2Y12 receptor antagonists are most disturbed, namely patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, those treated with opioids, with mild therapeutic hypothermia, or in cardiogenic shock. Cangrelor could also be useful if bridging is required in patients undergoing surgery. According to the current guidelines cangrelor may be considered in P2Y12 receptor inhibitor-naïve patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in both acute and stable settings.

Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation in Acute Coronary Syndrome Survivors Reduces Major Cardiovascular Events and Mortality.

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients is increasing. Data on outcomes of anticoagulation in ACS patients with AF are lacking.The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of stroke, myocardial infarction, bleeding complications, and all-cause mortality in this population.PL-ACS and AMI-PL registries gather an all-comer population of ACS patients in Poland, exceeding half a million records. We have selected ACS survivors with concomitant AF on admission, divided them into subgroups with regard to the administered anticoagulation, and followed up with them for a 12-month period (n = 13,973). Subsequently, groups were propensity score matched for age, sex, ejection fraction, diabetes, heart failure, renal impairment, and type of ACS.The study population was divided with regard to the administration of anticoagulation. Anticoagulation was prescribed in 2,466 patients (17.6%). The (D)OAC+ patients were younger; however, comorbidities were more prevalent in this group. The 12-month follow-up showed that the (D)OAC+ patients had significantly lower rates of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke, with no significant increase in bleeding events. After matching, the study groups consisted of 2,194 patients each and showed no differences in baseline characteristics. The outcomes of the 12-month observation were similar to the findings before matching.This all-comer national registry analysis shows that the use of guideline-recommended therapy and anticoagulation in ACS survivors with AF is associated with a lower rate of all-cause mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke.

Association of body mass index and long-term mortality in patients from nationwide LIPIDOGRAM 2004-2015 cohort studies: no obesity paradox?

BACKGROUND: An obesity paradox has been described in relation to adverse clinical outcomes (e.g., mortality) with lower body mass index (BMI). AIMS: We sought to evaluate the association between BMI and weight loss with long-term all-cause mortality in adult populations under the care of family physicians. METHODS: LIPIDOGRAM studies were conducted in primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006, and 2015 and enrolled a total of 45,615 patients. The LIPIDOGRAM Plus study included 1627 patients recruited in the LIPIDOGRAM 2004 and repeated measurements in 2006 edition. Patients were classified by BMI categories as underweight, normal weight, overweight and class I, II, or III (obesity). Follow-up data up to December 2021 were obtained from the Central Statistical Office. Differences in all-cause mortality were analyzed using Kaplan‒Meier and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 45,615 patients, 10,987 (24.1%) were normal weight, 320 (0.7%) were underweight, 19,134 (41.9%) were overweight, and 15,174 (33.2%) lived with obesity. Follow-up was available for 44,620 patients (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years, 61.7% females). In the crude analysis, long-term all-cause mortality was lowest for the normal-weight group (14%) compared with other categories. After adjusting for comorbidities, the highest risk of death was observed for the class III obesity and underweight categories (hazard ratio, HR 1.79, 95% CI [1.55-2.05] and HR 1.57, 95% CI [1.22-2.04]), respectively. The LIPIDOGRAM Plus analysis revealed that a decrease in body weight (by 5 and 10%) over 2 years was associated with a significantly increased risk of death during long-term follow-up-HR 1.45 (95% CI 1.05-2.02, p = 0.03) and HR 1.67 (95% CI 1.02-2.74, p < 0.001). Patients who experienced weight loss were older and more burdened with comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Being underweight, overweight or obese is associated with a higher mortality risk in a population of patients in primary care. Patients who lost weight were older and more burdened with cardiometabolic diseases, which may suggest unintentional weight loss, and were at higher risk of death in the long-term follow-up. In nonsmoking patients without comorbidities, the lowest mortality was observed in those with a BMI < 25 kg/m2, and no U-curve relationship was observed.

Management of myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: Expert opinion of the Association of Intensive Cardiac Care and Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Society of Cardiology.

Despite significant advances in interventional cardiology and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) techniques, outcomes for patients with myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) remain suboptimal. This expert consensus aims to provide information on the current management of patients with MI complicated by CS in Poland and to propose solutions, including systemic ones, for all stages of care. The document uses data from the Polish PL-ACS Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes, which includes records of more than 820 000 hospital admissions. We describe the role of medical rescue teams, highlighting the necessity to expand their range of competencies at the level of prehospital care. We emphasize the importance of treating the underlying cause of CS and direct patient transfer to centers capable of performing percutaneous coronary interventions. We present current recommendations of scientific societies on MCS use. We underline the role of the Cardiac Shock Team in the management of patients with MI complicated by CS. Such teams should comprise an interventional cardiologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and an intensive care physician. Patients should be transferred to highly specialized CS centers, following the example of so-called Cardiac Shock Care Centers described in some other countries. We propose criteria for the operation of such centers Other important aspects discussed in the document include the role of rehabilitation, multidisciplinary care, and long-term follow-up of treatment outcomes. The document was developed in cooperation with experts from different scientific societies in Poland, which illustrates the importance of interdisciplinary care in this patient population.

Intensive Statin Therapy Versus Upfront Combination Therapy of Statin and Ezetimibe in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis Based on the PL-ACS Data.

Background We aimed to compare statin monotherapy and upfront combination therapy of statin and ezetimibe in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). Methods and Results The study included consecutive patients with ACS included in the PL-ACS (Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes), which is a national, multicenter, ongoing, prospective observational registry that is mandatory for patients with ACS hospitalized in Poland. Data were matched using the Mahalanobis distance within propensity score matching calipers. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis, including all variables, was next used in propensity score matching analysis. Finally, 38 023 consecutive patients with ACS who were discharged alive were included in the analysis. After propensity score matching, 2 groups were analyzed: statin monotherapy (atorvastatin or rosuvastatin; n=768) and upfront combination therapy of statin and ezetimibe (n=768 patients). The difference in mortality between groups was significant during the follow-up and was present at 1 (5.9% versus 3.5%; P=0.041), 2 (7.8% versus 4.3%; P=0.019), and 3 (10.2% versus 5.5%; P=0.024) years of follow-up in favor of the upfront combination therapy, as well as for the overall period. For the treatment, rosuvastatin significantly improved prognosis compared with atorvastatin (odds ratio [OR], 0.790 [95% CI, 0.732-0.853]). Upfront combination therapy was associated with a significant reduction of all-cause mortality in comparison with statin monotherapy (OR, 0.526 [95% CI, 0.378-0.733]), with absolute risk reduction of 4.7% after 3 years (number needed to treat=21). Conclusions The upfront combination lipid-lowering therapy is superior to statin monotherapy for all-cause mortality in patients with ACS. These results suggest that in high-risk patients, such an approach, rather than a stepwise therapy approach, should be recommended.

Position of the Polish Cardiac Society on therapeutic targets for LDL cholesterol concentrations in secondary prevention of myocardial infarctions.

Cardiovascular diseases account for 43% of deaths in Poland. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of cardiovascular deaths by as much as 16.7%. Lipid metabolism disorders are observed in about 20 million Poles. Lipid disorders are usually asymptomatic, they cause a significant increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Up to 20% of patients who experience an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may experience a recurrence of a cardiovascular event within a year, and up to 40% of these patients may be re-hospitalized. Within 5 years after a myocardial infarction, 18% of patients suffer a second ACS and 13% have got a stroke. Lipid-lowering therapy is an extremely important element of comprehensive management, both in primary and secondary prevention, and its main goal is to prevent or extend the time to the onset of heart or vascular disease and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. A patient with a history of ACS belongs to the group of a very high risk of a cardiovascular event due to atherosclerosis. In this group of patients, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels should be aimed below 55 mg/dl (1.4 mmol/l). Many scientific guidelines define the extreme risk group, which includes not only patients with two cardiovascular events within two years, but also patients with a history of ACS and additional clinical factors: peripheral vascular disease, multivessel disease (multilevel atherosclerosis), or multivessel coronary disease, or familial hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes with at least one additional risk factor: elevated Lp(a) >50 mg/dl or hsCRP >3 mg/l, or chronic kidney disease (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m²). In this group of patients, the LDL-C level should be aimed at below 40 mg/dl (1.0 mmol/l). Achieving therapeutic goals in patients after ACS should occur as soon as possible. For this purpose, a high-dose potent statin should be added to the therapy at the time of diagnosis, and ezetimibe should be added if the goal is not achieved after 4-6 weeks. Combination therapy may be considered in selected patients from the beginning. After 4-6 weeks of combination therapy, if the goal is still not achieved, adding a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 protein inhibitor or inclisiran should be considered. In order to increase compliance with the recommendations, Polish Cardiac Society and Polish Lipid Society propose to attach in the patient's discharge letter a statement clearly specifying what drugs should be used and what LDL-C values should be achieved. It is necessary to cooperate between the patient and the doctor, to follow the recommendations and take medicines regularly, to achieve and maintain therapeutic goals.

Stepwise relationship between delay in percutaneous coronary intervention and long-term mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend coronary catheterization in patients with non-ST- -segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) within 24 hours of hospital admission. However, whether there is a stepwise relationship between the time to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and long-term mortality in patients with NSTEMI treated invasively within 24 hours of admission has not been established yet. AIMS: The study aimed to evaluate the association between door-to-PCI time and all-cause mortality at 12 and 36 months in NSTEMI patients presenting directly to a PCI-capable center who underwent PCI within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. METHODS: We analyzed data of patients hospitalized for NSTEMI between 2007-2019, included in the nationwide registry of acute coronary syndromes. Patients were stratified into twelve groups based on 2-hour intervals of door-to-PCI time. The mortality rates of patients within those groups were adjusted for 33 confounding variables by the propensity score weighting method using overlap weights. RESULTS: A total of 37 589 patients were included in the study. The median age of included patients was 66.7 (interquartile range [IQR], 59.0-75.8) years; 66.7% were male, and the median GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) score was 115 (98-133). There were increased 12-month and 36-month mortality rates in consecutive groups of patients stratified by 2-hour door-to-PCI time intervals. After adjustment for patient characteristics, there was a significant positive correlation between the time to PCI and the mortality rates (rs = 0.61; P = 0.04 and rs = 0.65; P = 0.02 for 12-month and 36-month mortality, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The longer the door-to-PCI time, the higher were 12-month and 36-month all-cause mortality rates in NSTEMI patients.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Do we have to perform coronary angiography?

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a leading cause of global mortality, while survivors are burdened with long-term neurological and cardiovascular complications. OHCA management at the hospital level remains challenging, due to heterogeneity of OHCA presentation, the critical status of OHCA patients reaching the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and the demands of post ROSC treatment. The validity and optimal timing for coronary angiography is one important, yet not fully defined, component of OHCA management. Guidelines state clear recommendations for coronary angiography in OHCA patients with shockable rhythms, cardiogenic shock, or in patients with ST-segment elevation observed in electrocardiography after ROSC. However, there is no established consensus on the angiographic management in other clinical settings. While coronary angiography may accelerate the diagnostic and therapeutic process (provided OHCA was a consequence of coronary artery disease), it might come at the cost of impaired post-resuscitation care quality due to postponing of intensive care management. The aim of the current statement paper is to discuss clinical strategies for the management of OHCA including the stratification to invasive procedures and the rationale behind the risk-benefit ratio of coronary angiography, especially with patients in critical condition.

Clinical manifestations of cancer in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Neoplasmatic disease increases the risk of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) by different pathophysiological mechanisms that favor thrombosis in patients with cancer. Recently, the role of cancer (active and occult) in the prevalence of venous thromboembolism has been discussed more thoroughly in the subject literature. MATERIAL: Medical records of 366 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of APE (aged: mean = 65.0 ±â€Š16.6, median = 68, range = 19-94; men = 41%/women = 59%) were collected with a wide range of demographic data, medical history of coexisting diseases, computer examination, and laboratory tests. METHODS: The APE patients were analyzed in two groups: negative cancer cases (83%), i.e. without concomitant active malignancy or a history of cancer, and positive ones (17%), i.e. those hospitalized with concomitant active cancer disease or a history of cancer within the past 5 years. RESULTS: Based on the application of the Student's t -test for independent samples and the χ2 test of independence, a statistically significant difference ( P  < 0.05) between cancer (-) and cancer(+) groups of patients was calculated for the following selected risk factors: BMI, smoking status, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell, urea, glomerular filtration rate, high-sensitivity troponin T, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and NT-proBNP. Using univariate Cox regression and a discrete-time hazard model, the estimated hazard ratios and odds ratios, respectively, for the risk of an earlier death from cancer as well as for a secondary APE episode in APE patients with malignancy are more than three times higher than in cancer-free patients and they are statistically significant ( P  < 0.05). Moreover, the modeled discrete-time hazard curves show a constant excess risk of death and a secondary APE episode in patients diagnosed with malignancy over the period of observation. CONCLUSION: Cancer and APE seem to go 'hand in hand'. Attention should be paid to many factors, primarily clinical, differentiating patients with cancer from those with an APE incident. The patients with cancer after a primary APE should receive anticoagulants to prevent a secondary APE episode and to reduce the risk of mortality.