Novel Imaging-Based Biomarkers for Identifying Carotid Plaque Vulnerability.

Carotid artery disease has traditionally been assessed based on the degree of luminal narrowing. However, this approach, which solely relies on carotid stenosis, is currently being questioned with regard to modern risk stratification approaches. Recent guidelines have introduced the concept of the "vulnerable plaque," emphasizing specific features such as thin fibrous caps, large lipid cores, intraplaque hemorrhage, plaque rupture, macrophage infiltration, and neovascularization. In this context, imaging-based biomarkers have emerged as valuable tools for identifying higher-risk patients. Non-invasive imaging modalities and intravascular techniques, including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and near-infrared spectroscopy, have played pivotal roles in characterizing and detecting unstable carotid plaques. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the evolving understanding of carotid artery disease and highlight the significance of imaging techniques in assessing plaque vulnerability and informing clinical decision-making.

Impacto de la COVID-19 sobre los indicadores hospitalarios: análisis de los grupos relacionados por el diagnóstico en un servicio de cirugía vascular / Impact of COVID-19 on key performance indicators: analysis of diagnosis related groups in a vascular surgery department

Objetivos: evaluar el impacto de la pandemia por la COVID-19 sobre una serie de indicadores funcionaleshospitalarios mediante el uso de grupos relacionados por el diagnóstico (GRD). Comparar los resultados del Servicio de Angiología, Cirugía Vascular y Endovascular (ACV) del Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes (HUCAB) con la base de datos del Ministerio de Sanidad.Material y métodos: altas hospitalarias del servicio de ACV del HUCAB durante los años 2019, 2020 y 2021. Se utilizó el sistema all patients refined (APR)-GRD para la codificación de altas. Los indicadores clave estudiados fueron: número de altas, mortalidad, estancia media (EM) y peso medio (PM) del GRD. Se estudiaron los resultados globales por año y en función de los GRD más prevalentes. Los resultados obtenidos se cotejaron con los datos anuales de la codifi cación del conjunto mínimo básico de datos (CMBD) del Ministerio de Sanidad. Se analizó también la EM ajustada por el funcionamiento del estándar (EMAF) y por la casuística (EMAC), el índice de EM ajustada (IEMA), el índice funcional (IF) y casuístico (IC) y el número de estancias evitables.Resultados:el número de altas en 2020 disminuyó un 10 % respecto a 2019. Las altas ligadas a ingresos desde Urgencias aumentaron en el GRD 181 más de un 50 % durante el año 2020 y más del 100 % en el año 2021 con respecto a 2019. Respecto a la mortalidad, no se constató un aumento signifi cativo de forma global. La EM disminuyó un 20 % en 2020 y un 18 % en 2021 respecto a 2019. El PM aumentó de forma progresiva hasta alcanzar una media de 7,7 % en 2021. La EMAF fue superior a la EM estándar y el número de estancias ahorradas fue superior al esperado.Conclusiones: la pandemia por la COVID-19 ha infl uido sobre los indicadores hospitalarios estudiados: han disminuido el número de altas y la EM y ha aumentando el PM de los GRD. El número de estancias evitables ahorradas ha sido mayor que el estándar.(AU)

Objectives: to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 on the hospital key performance indicators using the diagnosis-related groups (DRG). To compare the results of the Angiology and Vascular Surgery Department of the University Hospital of Cabueñes (HUCAB) with the database of the Ministry of Health.Material and methods: hospital discharges from the Vascular Surgery Department of the HUCAB during theyears 2019, 2020 and 2021. All patients refined (APR)-DRG system was extracted for discharge coding. The hospital key indicators studied were: number of discharges, mortality, mean stay (EM) and mean weight (PM) of the DRG. The overall results per year and according to the most prevalent DRGs were studied. The results obtained were compared with the annual data from the coding of the Minimum Basic Data Set (CMBD) of the Ministry of Health. The configured EM by adjusting the performance of the standard (EMAF) and by the casuistry (EMAC), the index of the adjusted EM (IEMA), the functional index (FI), casuistic index (CI) and the number of avoidable hospital stays were also analyzed. Results: number of discharges: it was 10 % inferior in 2020 compared to 2019. Discharges of the GRD 181 linked to admissions from the Emergency increased more than 50 % during 2020 and more than 100 % in 2021 compared to 2019. Mortality: there was no significant increase. EM: it decreased 20 % in 2020 and 18 % in 2021, compared to 2019. PM: it increased progressively to 7.7% on average in 2021. EMAF: it was superior to standard EM. The number of stays saved was higher than expected. Conclusions: the pandemic of COVID-19 influenced the hospital key performance indicators studied, reducing the number of discharges and ME and increasing the PM of the DRGs. The number of avoidable stays saved was greater than the standard.(AU)

Evaluation of Intima-Media Thickness and Arterial Stiffness as Early Ultrasound Biomarkers of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis.

Carotid atherosclerosis is a major and potentially preventable cause of ischemic stroke. It begins early in life and progresses silently over the years. Identification of individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis is needed to initiate early aggressive vascular prevention. Although carotid plaque appears to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness can be detected at the initial phases and, therefore, they are considered important new biomarkers of carotid atherosclerosis. There is a well-documented association between CIMT and cerebrovascular events. CIMT provides a reliable marker in young people, in whom plaque formation or calcification is not established. However, the usefulness of CIMT measurement in the improvement of risk cardiovascular models is still controversial. Carotid stiffness is also significantly associated with ischemic stroke. Carotid stiffness adds value to the existing risk prediction based on Framingham risk factors, particularly individuals at intermediate cardiovascular risk. Carotid ultrasound is used to assess carotid atherosclerosis. During the last decade, automated techniques for sophisticated analysis of vascular mechanics have evolved, such as speckle tracking, and new methods based on deep learning have been proposed with promising outcomes. Additional research is needed to investigate the imaging-based cardiovascular risk prediction of CIMT and stiffness.