Racial disparities in women with ST elevation myocardial infarction: A National Inpatient Sample review of baseline characteristics, co-morbidities, and outcomes in women with STEMI.

BACKGROUND: A third of the patients admitted with Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Previous studies showed that females with STEMI have higher mortality than men. HYPOTHESIS: There exist significant disparities in outcomes among women of different races presenting with STEMI. METHODS: National inpatient sample (NIS) data was obtained from January 2016 to December 2018 for the hospitalization of female patients with STEMI. We compared outcomes, using an extensive multivariate regression analysis amongst women from different races. Our primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were revascularization use, procedure complications, and healthcare utilization. RESULTS: Of 202 223 female patients with STEMI; 11.3% were African American, 7.4% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, and 4.3% another race. In-hospital mortality was higher in non-Caucasian groups. African American (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.30; p < .01) and another race (aOR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.15-1.63; p < .01) had higher odds of mortality when compared with white women. African American (aOR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.62-0.72; p < .01), Hispanics (aOR 0.81; 95% CI: 0.74-0.88; p < .01), and Asian (aOR 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69-0.90; p < .01) had lower odds of percutaneous intervention (PCI) when compared with whites. African Americans had fewer odds of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) and use of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) during the index admission. Non-Caucasians had more comorbidities, complications, and healthcare utilization costs. CONCLUSION: There are significant racial disparities in clinical outcomes and revascularization in female patients with STEMI. African American women have a higher likelihood of mortality among the different races. Females from minority groups are also less likely to undergo PCI.

The Chicken or the Egg? An Interesting Case Presentation of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Versus Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

This is an interesting cardiovascular imaging and coronary angiography case of a 67-year-old female patient who presented with chest pain, abnormal electrocardiogram (EKG), and heart failure who was subsequently found to have spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) on imaging studies. The case presentation highlights the importance of imaging studies and prompt diagnosis in these patients. This study may also highlight the need for early medical intervention in patients with suspected systolic dysfunction due to either of these pathophysiologic processes.

Association of medical noncompliance and long-term adverse outcomes, after myocardial infarction in a minority and uninsured population.

The association of noncompliance with evidence-based medical therapies after myocardial infarction (MI) on long-term outcomes is not well recognized in minority and uninsured populations. Consecutive MI patients at a large urban hospital were followed for compliance with evidence-based medications (aspirin, clopidogrel, statins, beta blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs]/angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]). Noncompliance was defined as proportion of days covered < or =80%. The outcome was combined mortality and MI. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to explore the impact of noncompliance > or =4 medications. Of the 509 patients (86% minorities, 77% uninsured, and 54% diabetics), 132 (25.9%) presented with ST segment elevation with myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 377 (74.1%) with a non-ST segment elevation with myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), revascularization was performed in 297 (58.4%) patients, 72 (14.2%) patients died, 22 (4.3%) patients had an MI, and 91 (17.9%) patients had either event at a median follow-up of 2 (0.5-2.9) years. Noncompliance > or = 4 medications was significantly associated with adverse survival compared with compliant patients (29.7% vs 78.9%). After adjusting for traditional risk factors, The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score for predicting death during 6 months post-discharge, revascularization, left ventricular (LV) function, coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, and punctual clinic visits, noncompliance with > or = 4 evidence-based medications was an independent factor associated with death or MI (hazard ratio [HR], 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.60-5.01) in this minority and uninsured population.

Value of early cardiac troponin I to predict long-term adverse events after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: High values of both preoperative and postoperative cardiac troponin I (cTnI) contribute to higher rates of short-term cardiac events following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The prognostic value of very early cTnI in this context is unclear. HYPOTHESIS: Measurement of cTnI very early after admission to the emergency room can be used as a prognosticator for long-term outcomes after CABG. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study on 160 consecutive patients with ACS undergoing CABG at The John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County (Chicago, IL) representing a total follow-up of 290.42 person-years. Adverse outcomes were defined as death or reinfarction. We used robust multivariate survival analyses to determine whether early cTnI measurement can independently predict the adverse outcomes in the study subjects. RESULTS: In univariate and stepwise multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling we found that unit rise in early cTnI is associated with a 3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2%- 5%, p < 0.001) faster progression to long-term adverse events after CABG even after adjusting for the type of ACS. Prognostically, the most informative cut off value for cTnI was 5.6 ng/mL. Above this value, CABG patients progressed 2.58 times faster to adverse outcomes (95% CI: 1.05-6.36, p = 0.039). This effect remained after adjustment for other significant confounders namely, poor compliance to medications, female sex, Medicaid insurance, and electrocardiographic ischemia. CONCLUSION: Early cTnI measurement after admission can predict adverse outcomes after CABG. This association extends to long-term adverse events after CABG.

The effect of ethnicity on the relationship between premature coronary artery disease and traditional cardiac risk factors among uninsured young adults.

Prior studies of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults did not address the association of race/ethnicity and risk factors. Therefore, the authors conducted a study of 400 patients 40 years and older undergoing coronary angiography at a large, urban public hospital that serves predominantly minority, uninsured populations. The prevalence of risk factors and their association with premature CAD varied markedly by ethnic group. Among blacks, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and smoking were independently associated with premature CAD. Among Hispanics, dyslipidemia, male sex, and family history of CAD were independently associated with premature CAD. Smoking was the only risk factor in whites, and no independent risk factor was identified in Asian Indians. Whites and Asian Indians had a higher prevalence of disease than blacks or Hispanics--before and after adjusting for risk factor imbalances across ethnic groups. In this ethnically diverse population, the authors' findings underscore the importance of identifying distinctive risk factors in various ethnic groups.