Fast track to stroke unit for patients not eligible for acute intervention, a case-control register study on 1066 patients.

Stroke patients not eligible for acute intervention often have low priority and may spend long time at the emergency department (ED) waiting for admission. The aim of this retrospective case-control register study was to evaluate outcomes for such "low priority" stroke patients who were transported via Fast Track directly to the stroke unit, according to pre-specified criteria by emergency medical service (EMS). The outcomes of Fast Track patients, transported directly to stroke unit (cases) were compared with the outcomes of patients who fulfilled these critera for Fast Track, but instead were transported to the ED (controls). In all, 557 cases and 509 controls were identified. The latter spent a mean time of 237 min in the ED before admission. The 90-day mortality rate was 12.9% for cases and 14.7% for controls (n.s.). None of the secondary outcome events differed significantly between the groups: 28-day mortality rate; death rate during hospitalisation; proportion of pneumonias, falls or pressure ulcers; or health-related outcomes according to the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. These findings indicates that the Fast Track to the stroke unit by an EMS is safe for selected stroke patients and could avoid non-valuable time in the ED.

Health-related quality of life in stroke survivors: a 5-year follow-up of The Fall Study of Gothenburg (FallsGOT).

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on long-term prevalence and predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in stroke survivors. Therefore, the aim was to describe the prevalence of impaired HRQoL, and to identify factors in acute stroke that are associated with impaired HRQoL, 5 years after stroke. METHODS: The 305 (60.5%) stroke survivors of the original 504 participants from The Fall Study of Gothenburg were invited to participate in a 5-year follow-up including assessment of HRQoL using the EuroQol 5 Dimensions 3 Levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L). To identify baseline predictors of impaired HRQoL, based on the EQ-5D-3L's five dimensions, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 129 participants (42.3% of the survivors) completed the questionnaire at a median follow-up time of 58 months. At baseline, their mean age was 70.6 years, and they had a median NIHSS score of 1. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) EQ-5D-3L index score was 0.87 (0.71-0.93) and the median (IQR) EQ-visual analogue scale was 70 (49.8-88). In total, 102 (79%) participants were classified as having impaired HRQoL, stated primarily (among 68.5%) related to Pain/Discomfort. Higher age was identified as a predictor of impaired HRQoL related to Mobility (Odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.10) and Self-Care (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.17), and longer hospital stay at baseline was identified as a predictor related to Mobility (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.18), Self-Care (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.18)) and Usual Activities. (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.18). CONCLUSION: At 5 years after stroke, four out of five participants (79%) reported impaired HRQoL related to any of the five dimensions assessed by using the EQ-5D-3L. Most reported, impaired HRQoL was related to Pain/Discomfort. Higher age and longer hospital care period at index stroke were associated with impaired HRQoL. The findings could assist to identify individuals at high risk of low HRQoL, who might benefit from special attention and psychological support.

Prepregnancy overweight and obesity and long-term risk of venous thromboembolism in women.

Overweight and obesity rates have increased in recent decades, particularly among the younger population. The long-term consequences of obesity with respect to early venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women have not been established. The aim was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) in early pregnancy as a proxy for non-pregnant weight and long-term post-pregnancy risk of VTE in women. This registry-based prospective cohort study analysed data from the Swedish Medical Birth Registry, linked to the National Patient and the National Cause of Death Registries for information on post-pregnancy long-term risk of VTE. Cox proportional hazards model were used to determine the association between BMI at baseline and VTE events during follow-up starting 1 year after baseline. The mean age at registration was 27.5 (standard deviation, 4.9) years. During a median follow-up duration of 12 years (interquartile range, 6-21 years) starting 1 year after the first antenatal visit, 1765 and 2549 women had a deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. The risk of VTE linearly increased with increasing BMI. Compared to women with 20 ≤ BMI < 22.5 kg/m2, women with high normal weight, i.e. with a BMI of 22.5-25.0 kg/m2, had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.41), whereas those with a BMI of 30-35 kg/m2 and ≥ 35 kg/m2 (severe obesity) had an adjusted HR of 2.35 (95% CI 2.04-2.70) and 3.47 (95% CI 2.82-4.25, respectively. Using BMI in early pregnancy as a proxy for pre-pregnancy or non-pregnant BMI in young women, we found a significantly increased risk of post-pregnancy long-term risk of VTE even in those with high normal BMI, compared with lean women, whereas those with severe obesity had a markedly high risk.

Cumulative incidence and risk factors of myocardial infarction during 20 years of follow-up: comparing two cohorts of middle-aged men born 30 years apart.

OBJECTIVE: To study cumulative incidence and predictors of myocardial infarction (MI) in two random general population samples consisting of middle-aged Swedish men born 30 years apart. METHOD: Results from the "Study of Men Born In 1913" and the "Study of Men Born In 1943", two longitudinal cohort studies performed in the same geographic area and using the same methodology were compared. Both cohorts were followed prospectively from 50 to 70 years of age. MI was defined as first myocardial infarction, fatal or non-fatal. RESULTS: Men born in 1943 had a 34% lower cumulative risk of first MI [HR 0.66 (0.50-0.88), p = 0.0051] during follow-up as compared to men born in 1913. Interaction analysis showed that hypertension had a significantly higher impact on risk of MI in cohort 1943 than in cohort 1913 [HR 2.33 (95% CI 1.41-3.83)] and [HR 1.10 (0.74-1.62)], p = 0.0009 respectively. The population attributable risk for hypertension was 2.5-fold higher in the cohort of men born in 1943 as compared to men born in 1913, and diabetes mellitus and sedentary lifestyle attributed more to MI risk in cohort 1943 than in cohort 1913. On the contrary, smoking and total cholesterol have less attributable risk to MI in cohort 1943 than in cohort 1913. CONCLUSION: Despite declining incident MI and improved cardiovascular prevention in general, hypertension remains an increasingly important attributable risk factor to MI together with diabetes mellitus and sedentary lifestyle over time.

The risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The optimal duration of anticoagulation in patients with active cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unknown. Current clinical guidelines advocate anticoagulant therapy for 3-6 months and to continue anticoagulant therapy for as long as the cancer is active. However, an adequate systematic review on the rate of recurrent VTE after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy has not been performed. Methods: For this systemic review and meta-analysis, we searched Embase.com, Medline (Ovid), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, from database inception to February 16, 2023, for studies on anticoagulant therapy in patients with cancer and the recurrence of venous thromboembolism after discontinuation of this therapy. We included randomised controlled trials and cohort studies published in English that reported on patients who met the following: cancer and a first VTE, completed at least 3 months of anticoagulant therapy, were followed after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy, and with symptomatic recurrent VTE as an outcome during follow-up. Study-level data were requested from study authors. The primary outcome was the rate of recurrent VTE after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy. A Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the rate of recurrent VTE per 100 person-years for the pooled studies at different time intervals after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy. We also calculated the cumulative VTE recurrence rate at different time intervals. Forest plots were mapped and the results were summarized by the median and 95% credible interval (CIs). This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021249060. Findings: Of 3856 studies identified in our search, 33 studies were identified for inclusion. After requesting study-level data, 14 studies involving 1922 patients with cancer-associated thrombosis were included. The pooled rate of recurrent VTE per 100 person-years after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy was 14.6 events (95% credible interval 6.5-22.8) in the first three months, decreasing to 1.1 events (95% CI 0.3-2.1) in year 2-3, and 2.2 events (95% CI 0.0-4.4) in year 3-5 after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy. The cumulative VTE recurrence rate was 28.3% (95% CI 15.6-39.6%) at 1 year; 31.1% (95% CI 16.5-43.8%) at 2 years; 31.9% (95% CI 16.8-45.0%) at 3 years; and 35.0% (95% CI 16.8-47.4%) at 5 years after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy. Interpretation: This meta-analysis demonstrates a high rate of recurrent VTE over time after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis. Our results support the current clinical guidelines to continue anticoagulant therapy in patients with active cancer. Funding: Erasmus MC.

Association of type of oral anticoagulation with risk of bleeding in 45,114 patients with venous thromboembolism during initial and extended treatment-A nationwide register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Safety data for different anticoagulant medications in venous thromboembolism (VTE) are scarce, in particular for extended treatment. OBJECTIVES: To compare major bleeding rates depending on the choice of anticoagulation during initial (first 6 months) and extended treatment (6 months up to 5 years). METHODS: A nationwide register-based study including cancer-free patients with a first-time VTE between 2014 and 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare bleeding rates. RESULTS: We included 6558 patients on warfarin, 18,196 on rivaroxaban, and 19,498 on apixaban. At 6 months, 4750 (72.4%) remained on warfarin, 11,366 (62.5%) on rivaroxaban, and 11,940 (61.2%) on apixaban. During initial treatment, major bleeding rates were 3.86 (95% CI 3.14-4.58), 2.93 (2.55-3.31), and 1.95 (1.65-2.25) per 100 patient-years for warfarin, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, respectively, yielding adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of 0.89 (95% CI 0.71-1.12) for rivaroxaban versus warfarin, 0.55 (0.43-0.71) for apixaban versus warfarin, and 0.62 (0.50-0.76) for apixaban versus rivaroxaban. During extended treatment, major bleeding rates were 1.55 (1.19-1.91), 1.05 (0.85-1.26), and 0.96 (0.78-1.15) per 100 patient-years for warfarin, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, respectively, with aHRs of 0.72 (0.53-0.99) for rivaroxaban versus warfarin, 0.60 (0.44-0.82) for apixaban versus warfarin, and 0.85 (0.64-1.12) for apixaban versus rivaroxaban. Previous bleeding and increasing age were risk factors for bleeding both during initial and extended treatment. CONCLUSION: Apixaban had a lower bleeding risk than warfarin or rivaroxaban during initial treatment. During extended treatment, bleeding risk was similar for apixaban and rivaroxaban, and higher with warfarin.

Fatigue in stroke survivors: a 5-year follow-up of the Fall study of Gothenburg.

Longer term knowledge of post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is limited. Our aim was to describe the prevalence of, and to identify baseline predictors associated with, PSF 5 years after stroke. We undertook a follow-up of stroke survivors from the 504 consecutively recruited participants in the observational "The Fall Study of Gothenburg", conducted between 2014 and 2016. The dependent variable, PSF, was assessed using the Swedish version of the Fatigue Assessment Scale (S-FAS) and defined as having a S-FAS score ≥ 24. The S-FAS questionnaire was mailed to potential participants in August 2020. The independent variables, previously obtained from medical records, included age; sex; comorbidities; stroke severity; hospital length of stay; body mass index (BMI); number of medications and lifestyle factors at index stroke. To identify predictors of PSF, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Of the 305 eligible participants, 119 (39%) responded with complete S-FAS. Mean age at index stroke was 71 (SD 10.4) years and 41% were female. After a mean of 4.9 years after stroke, the prevalence of PSF was 52%. Among those with PSF, almost two thirds were classified as having both physical and mental PSF. In the multivariable analysis, only high BMI predicted PSF with an odds ratio of 1.25 (95% CI 1.11-1.41, p < 0.01). In conclusion, half of the participants reported PSF 5 years after index stroke and higher body mass index was identified as a predictor. The findings from this study are important for healthcare professionals, for planning health-related efforts and rehabilitation of stroke survivors.ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT02264470.

Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis after COVID-19: long-term risk in a population-based cohort study.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) (pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT)) is common during acute COVID-19. Long-term excess risk has not yet been established. Objective: To study long-term VTE risk after COVID-19. Methods: Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years, hospitalized and/or testing positive for COVID-19 between January 1, 2020, and September 11, 2021 (exposed), stratified by initial hospitalization, were compared to matched (1:5) non-exposed population-derived subjects without COVID-19. Outcomes were incident VTE, PE or DVT recorded within 60, 60-<180, and ≥180 days. Cox regression was used for evaluation and a model adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities and socioeconomic markers developed to control for confounders. Results: Among exposed patients, 48,861 were hospitalized for COVID-19 (mean age 60.6 years) and 894,121 were without hospitalization (mean age 41.4 years). Among patients hospitalized for COVID-19, fully adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) during 60-<180 days were 6.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.80─7.62) for PE and 3.97 (CI 2.96─5.33) for DVT, compared to non-exposed with corresponding estimates among COVID-19 without hospitalization 1.17 (CI 1.01─1.35) and 0.99 (CI 0.86─1.15), based on 475 and 2,311 VTE events, respectively. Long-term (≥180 days) HRs in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were 2.01 (CI 1.51─2.68) for PE and 1.46 (CI 1.05─2.01) for DVT while non-hospitalized had similar risk to non-exposed, based on 467 and 2,030 VTE events, respectively. Conclusions: Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 retained an elevated excess risk of VTE, mainly PE, after 180 days, while long-term risk of VTE in individuals with COVID-19 without hospitalization was similar to the non-exposed.

Heart failure outcomes in low-risk patients with atrial fibrillation: a case-control study of 680 523 Swedish individuals.

AIMS: Knowledge of long-term outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains limited. We sought to evaluate the risk of new-onset heart failure (HF) in patients with AF and a low cardiovascular risk profile. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the Swedish National Patient Register were used to identify all patients with a first-time diagnosis of AF without underlying cardiovascular disease at baseline between 1987 and 2018. Each patient was compared with two controls without AF from the National Total Population Register. In total, 227 811 patients and 452 712 controls were included. During a mean follow-up of 9.1 (standard deviation 7.0) years, the hazard ratio (HR) for new-onset HF was 3.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.51-3.60] in patients compared with controls. Women with AF (18-34 years) had HR for HF onset 24.6 (95% CI 7.59-80.0) and men HR 9.86 (95% CI 6.81-14.27). The highest risk was within 1 year in patients 18-34 years, HR 103.9 (95% CI 46.3-233.1). The incidence rate within 1 year increased from 6.2 (95% CI 4.5-8.6) per 1000 person-years in young patients (18-34 years) to 142.8 (95% CI 139.4-146.3) per 1000 person-years among older patients (>80 years). CONCLUSIONS: Patients studied had a three-fold higher risk of developing HF compared with controls. Young patients, particularly women, carry up to 100-fold increased risk to develop HF within 1 year after AF. Further studies in patients with AF and low cardiovascular risk profile are needed to prevent serious complications such as HF.

Youth athletes at Swedish sports high schools with an athletics specialism emphasise environmental support for injury risk management: a focus group study.

In this study, we examined knowledge and understanding of sport-related injuries among youth athletics (track and field) athletes and assessed their needs in managing any health problems. Qualitative data were collected via 12 focus groups with youth athletes (16-19 years) studying at Swedish sports high schools with an athletics specialism. All focus group discussions were audiorecorded and transcribed before being analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Four researchers independently reviewed the transcripts, generated codes and developed themes. Three overarching themes related to the athletes' knowledge and understanding of sport-related injury were developed: (1) awareness of injuries, (2) perception of injuries, and (3) factors contributing to injuries. The youth athletes were typically uncertain about how to acknowledge a sport-related injury. They expressed that knowledge about injuries was obtained in part by reflecting on the lived experiences of their peers. It was also demonstrated that there appears to be a 'culture of acceptance' regarding injury occurrence. In contrast, causes of injuries were viewed as dependent on multiple factors (eg, lack of context-specific knowledge about training practices). Regarding athletes' needs in managing injuries, an additional three themes were developed: (1) creating functioning elite sports environments, (2) application of knowledge and (3) fostering athletes. An apparent lack of structure and organisation related to the school environment was identified as an important issue to review to create opportunities for sustainable athletic development. The study identified areas that can be improved in Swedish sports high schools with an athletic specialism and could be applied in other youth sports contexts. The results of this study guide school stakeholders, alongside the sport governing bodies who have the mandate to influence activities in youth sports contexts, whereby special attention should be directed towards improving the social environment for youth athletes.

Injury acknowledgement by reduction of sports load in world-leading athletics (track and field) athletes varies with their musculoskeletal health literacy and the socioeconomic environment.

OBJECTIVE: Although injury burden prompts elite athletics (track and field) athletes to engage in injury management, little is known about their health literacy. We investigated musculoskeletal (MS) health literacy in world-leading athletics athletes and associations with prechampionship injury acknowledgement by reduction of training load in different socioeconomic environments. METHODS: Adult and youth athletics athletes (n=1785) preparing for World Championships were invited to complete the Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems instrument and report acknowledgement of injury by reduction in training load during prechampionship tapering. Their socioeconomic standing was estimated through the Human Development Index of their home country. Demographic differences were examined using χ2 tests and determinants of injury acknowledgement assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Complete data were obtained from 780 athletes (43.7%) with 26% demonstrating sufficient MS health literacy, higher in adult (41%) than youth (13%) athletes (p<0.001). Adult athletes at the uppermost socioeconomic level showed higher MS health literacy than athletes at lower socioeconomic levels (p<0.001). At the uppermost socioeconomic level, adult athletes with sufficient MS health literacy had increased likelihood of acknowledging an injury by reduction in training load compared with peers demonstrating insufficient MS health literacy (OR=2.45; 95% CI 1.33-4.53). Athletes at middle socioeconomic levels with sufficient MS health literacy had decreased likelihood for acknowledging an injury during tapering (OR=0.29; 95% CI 0.11-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sufficient MS health literacy in world-leading athletics athletes is low. Associations between MS health literacy and injury acknowledgement in these athletes vary with the resourcefulness of the socioeconomic environment, implying that health literacy and resources for medical and performance support should be ascertained concurrently.

Prevalence of Cancer in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Nationwide Case-Control Study in Sweden.

Cancer is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to define sex-specific risk of preceding cancer in patients with a first-time VTE by conducting a nationwide Swedish registry-based study including 298 172 patients with VTE and 1 185 079 matched controls. This included 44 685 patients with a diagnosis of cancer at/or within 1 year before a VTE diagnosis. Female patients with VTE had a higher multivariable adjusted odds ratios of preceding cancer than male patients with VTE (5.5 [99% confidence interval 5.4-5.7] vs 3.9 [3.8-4.0]). The highest risk of cancer in patients with VTE were found for pancreatic cancer (women: 19.6 [15.8-24.4]; men: 17.2 [13.7-21.6]) and brain cancer (women: 17.4 [12.9-23.4]; men: 17.5 [13.8-22.2]). Weak associations were seen between VTE and bladder/urothelial cancer (women: 1.31 [1.12-1.53]; men: 1.34 [1.23-1.47]), prostate cancer (men: 2.17 [2.07-2.27]), malignant melanoma (women: 2.51 [2.07-3.05]; men: 2.67 [2.23-3.18]), and kidney cancer (women: 3.20 [2.49-4.11]; men: 3.33 [2.79-4.07]). In conclusion, associations with VTE were weak for bladder/urothelial cancer and kidney cancer, and strong for pancreatic, brain, and biliary cancers.

Universal prevention through a digital health platform reduces injury incidence in youth athletics (track and field): a cluster randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether universal prevention via a digital health platform can reduce the injury incidence in athletics athletes aged 12-15 years and if club size had an influence on the effect of the intervention. METHODS: This was a cluster randomised trial where young athletics athletes were randomised through their club following stratification by club size into intervention (11 clubs; 56 athletes) and control (10 clubs; 79 athletes) groups. The primary endpoint was time from baseline to the first self-reported injury. Intervention group parents and coaches were given access to a website with health information adapted to adolescent athletes and were encouraged to log in and explore its content during 16 weeks. The control group continued training as normal. Training exposure and injury data were self-reported by youths/parents every second week, that is, eight times. The primary endpoint data were analysed using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyse the second study aim with intervention status and club size included in the explanatory models. RESULTS: The proportion of completed training reports was 85% (n=382) in the intervention group and 86% (n=545) in the control group. The injury incidence was significantly lower (HR=0.62; χ2=3.865; p=0.049) in the intervention group. The median time to first injury was 16 weeks in the intervention group and 8 weeks in the control group. An interaction effect between the intervention and stratification factor was observed with a difference in injury risk between athletes in the large clubs in the intervention group versus their peers in the control group (HR 0.491 (95% CI 0.242 to 0.998); p=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: A protective effect against injury through universal access to health information adapted for adolescent athletes was observed in youth athletics athletes. The efficacy of the intervention was stronger in large clubs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03459313.

Mild-to-Moderate Kidney Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analyses.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. METHODS: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million person-years of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25 917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank. RESULTS: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eGFR values <60 or >105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, compared with those with eGFR between 60 and 105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR <60 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, with a 14% (95% CI, 3%-27%) higher CHD risk per 5 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2 lower genetically predicted eGFR, but not for those with eGFR >105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function.

Impact of elevated systolic arterial pulmonary pressure on the total mortality rate after acute myocardial infarction in the elderly.

Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is associated with increased mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the prognostic impact of elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) in the very elderly patients after AMI is lacking. We aimed to study the impact of elevated sPAP on one- and five-year all-cause mortality after AMI in very elderly patients, 80 years of age and older. Of a total number of 353 patients (≥ 80 years) who were hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome, 162 patients presenting with AMI and with available data of sPAP on echocardiography were included and followed-up for 5 years. The survival analyses were performed using Cox-Regression models adjusted for conventional risk factors including LVEF. Altogether 66 of 162 patients (41%) had ST-segment elevation MI, and 121 (75%) of patients were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in the acute phase. Echocardiography during the admission revealed that 78 patients (48%) had a LVEF ≤ 45% and 66 patients (41%) had a sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg. After one and five years of follow-up, 23% (n = 33) and 53% (n = 86) of patients died, respectively. A multivariable Cox-Regression analysis showed that the elevated sPAP (≥ 40 mmHg) was an independent predictor of increased mortality in both one and five years after AMI; HR of 2.63 (95%, CI 1.19-5.84, P 0.017) and HR of 2.08 (95%, CI 1.25-3.44, P 0.005) respectively, whereas LVEF ≤ 45% did not show any statistically significant impact, neither on one- nor on five-year mortality (HR 1.3, 95% CI 0.6-2.9, p = 0.469) and (HR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8-2.4, p = 0.158), respectively. Elevated sPAP was an independent risk factor for one- and five-year all-cause mortality after AMI in very elderly patients and sPAP seems to be a better prognostic predictor for all-cause mortality than LVEF. The risk of all-cause mortality after AMI increased with increasing sPAP.

Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis-comorbidities and temporary provoking factors in a register-based study of 1.48 million people.

Background: Knowledge on differences in patients who present with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and those with pulmonary embolism (PE) is incomplete. Objective: To determine comorbidities and temporary provoking factors in patients with a first-time PE or DVT. Methods: This was a nationwide Swedish registry-based, retrospective, case-control study including 298 172 patients with first-time venous thromboembolism (VTE) and 1 185 079 controls matched for age, sex, and county of residence, free of VTE at the time of matching. Results: Patients with PE were older than those with DVT (mean age, 69 vs 66 years) and included slightly more women (PE, 53.4% vs DVT, 52.1%). After multivariable adjustment for comorbidities (within 7 years) and temporary provoking factors (within 3 months), heart failure (PE: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.64 [99% confidence interval [CI], 2.55-2.73]; DVT: aOR, 1.66 [99% CI, 1.60-1.72]), ischemic heart disease (PE: aOR, 1.51 [99% CI, 1.47-1.56]; DVT: aOR, 1.01 [99% CI, 0.98-1.04]), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PE: aOR, 2.51 [99% CI, 2.40-2.63]; DVT, 1.54 [99% CI, 1.47-1.62]) were among diseases that showed higher odds ratios in patients with PE than in those with DVT, compared with controls. Comorbidities registered within 6 months were associated with higher aORs than those within 7 years. The highest population attributable risks for PE were for cancer (13.0%) and heart failure (11.7%). Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary diseases, particularly with recent onset, imply a higher risk for PE, whereas orthopedic surgery and lower-extremity fractures carry a higher risk of DVT.

Body iron stores had no impact on coronary heart disease outcomes: a middle-aged male cohort from the general population with 21-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Body iron stores (BISs) have been proposed to be related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, results from epidemiological studies are conflicting. Knowledge on the long-term impact of BIS on cardiovascular outcomes in the general population is lacking. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between BIS and coronary heart disease (CHD) including death due to CHD. METHODS: This investigation is part of 'The Study of Men Born in 1943', a longitudinal prospective study of men living in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. This random population sample was examined in 1993 (all at 50 years of age at baseline). A medical examination was performed, and questionnaires were used to evaluate lifestyle factors. Biomarkers for iron stores (serum ferritin and serum transferrin receptor) was analysed from frozen blood samples in 2014. All hospital admissions were registered through national registers during the entire follow-up from 1993 to 2014. HRs were estimated by Cox proportional-hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: During the 21 years follow-up period, 120 participants (15.2%) developed CHD and 16 patients (2%) died due to CHD. The all-cause mortality was 15.2% (n=120) including 40 cardiovascular deaths (5.1%). In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, the daily smoking, hypertension and the increased resting heart rate was independent predictors of CHD, while no significant association was found between BIS and risk of CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of middle-aged men from the general population with well validated and prospectively collected data, we did not find any association between serum ferritin or serum transferrin receptor as markers of BIS and CHD events after 21 years of follow-up. TRAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03138122.

Prehospital recognition of stroke is associated with a lower risk of death.

OBJECTIVE: Among patients assessed by the emergency medical service (EMS) and hospitalized with a final diagnosis of stroke, to describe delays, patient characteristics, actions taken and outcome in relation to the early recognition of stroke by the EMS clinician. METHODS: Patients admitted to any of six stroke units in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, with a final diagnosis of stroke from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015 were included. Data on follow-up were retrieved from the Swedish Stroke Register. RESULTS: In all, 5467 patients were included. Stroke was recognized by the EMS clinician in 4396 cases (80.4%). The mean difference in the time from dialling 112 until arrival at the stroke unit was 556 min shorter when stroke was recognized, while the mean difference in the time from dialling 112 until a preliminary report from a computed tomography (CT) scan was 219 min shorter as compared with the patients in whom stroke was not recognized. After adjustment for age, sex, neurological deficits and coma, a lack of suspicion of stroke on EMS arrival was associated with an increased risk of death during three months of follow-up (odds ratio 1.66; 95% confidence interval 1.19-2.32; p = .003). CONCLUSION: Among patients with a stroke, more than 80% were recognized by the EMS clinician. Early recognition of stroke was associated with a markedly shorter time until arrival at the stroke unit and until the preliminary report of a CT scan. A lack of early stroke recognition was associated with an increased risk of death.

Mid-life extrapyramidal symptoms predict cognitive impairment 23 years later.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of dementia is growing rapidly worldwide. The early identification and treatment of cognitive decline could reduce the burden on the health care system. Our objective was to investigate whether factors measured at an examination at age 50 predict cognitive impairment (CI) 23 years later. MATERIALS & METHODS: In 1993 we enrolled a randomly selected sample of 798 men, 50 years of age, from the general population. They all underwent a physical examination, provided blood samples and filled out questionnaires addressing lifestyle and psychosocial factors. Cognitive testing was offered to all participants still alive in 2016, at age 73. RESULTS: A total of 333 men participated in the cognitive study, of which 80 (24.0%) performed at a level corresponding to mild cognitive impairment, and four (1.2%) at a level consistent with severe cognitive impairment. After the first step in the multivariable analysis, hypertension, heavy smoking, high intake of alcohol, financial stress, difficulty falling asleep, and cogwheel rigidity were associated with cognitive impairment. After further adjustment, only wide waist circumference measured in cm (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08, p = .04), leg pendulousness (OR 41.97, 95% CI 3.27-538.62, p = .004) and self-assessed hidden irritability (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.10-4.32, p = .03) at baseline, remained as being associated with cognitive impairment 23 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Extrapyramidal symptoms such as leg pendulousness, at the age of 50, may be an indicator for very early identification of future cognitive decline.