Association between distance from the radiation source and radiation exposure: A phantom-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The study evaluated the association between distance from radiation source and radiation exposure. BACKGROUND: Radiation exposure during medical procedures is associated with increased risk of cancer and other adverse effects. METHODS: An American National Standards Institute phantom was used to study the relationship between measured entrance surface exposure (MESE) and distance from the X-ray source in postero-anterior, left anterior oblique, and right anterior oblique projections. Three distance settings for table height were evaluated with "low" defined as 52 cm, "mid" 66 cm, and "high" 80 cm from the focal point of the X-ray source. Air-kerma and dose-area product measurements were recorded. Operator exposure with each of these conditions was measured, in a short operator (150 cm) as well as in a tall operator (190 cm). RESULTS: Aggregate results for the three projections were as follows. MESE (µGy/frame) significantly decreased as table-height increases (median, interquartile range, p-value) (low table-height 192.5 [122.4-201.2], mid table-height 105.8 [82.7-115.8], and high table-height 71.7 [58.4-75], p < .0005). The operator exposure (µGy/frame), significantly increased as the table-height increased (low table-height 0.0943 [0.0598-0.1157], medium table-height 0.1128 [0.0919-0.1397], and high table-height 0.158 [0.1339-0.2165], p < .0005). A shorter operator received higher radiation exposure compared to a taller operator (short operator 0.1405 [0.1155-0.1758] and tall operator 0.0995 [0.0798-0.1212], p < .0005). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing table-height is associated with a significant decrease in MESE. Operator radiation exposure increases with increasing table-height and shorter operators receive greater radiation exposure compared to taller operators.

SCAI expert consensus update on best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: This statement was endorsed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) in April 2021.

The current document commissioned by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and endorsed by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and Heart Rhythm Society represents a comprehensive update to the 2012 and 2016 consensus documents on patient-centered best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Comprising updates to staffing and credentialing, as well as evidence-based updates to the pre-, intra-, and post-procedural logistics, clinical standards and patient flow, the document also includes an expanded section on CCL governance, administration, and approach to quality metrics. This update also acknowledges the collaboration with various specialties, including discussion of the heart team approach to management, and working with electrophysiology colleagues in particular. It is hoped that this document will be utilized by hospitals, health systems, as well as regulatory bodies involved in assuring and maintaining quality, safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of patient throughput in this high volume area.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on STEMI care: An expanded analysis from the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic migitation measures on of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care. BACKGROUND: We previously reported a 38% decline in cardiac catheterization activations during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures. This study extends our early observations using a larger sample of STEMI programs representative of different US regions with the inclusion of more contemporary data. METHODS: Data from 18 hospitals or healthcare systems in the US from January 2019 to April 2020 were collecting including number activations for STEMI, the number of activations leading to angiography and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), and average door to balloon (D2B) times. Two periods, January 2019-February 2020 and March-April 2020, were defined to represent periods before (BC) and after (AC) initiation of pandemic mitigation measures, respectively. A generalized estimating equations approach was used to estimate the change in response variables at AC from BC. RESULTS: Compared to BC, the AC period was characterized by a marked reduction in the number of activations for STEMI (29%, 95% CI:18-38, p < .001), number of activations leading to angiography (34%, 95% CI: 12-50, p = .005) and number of activations leading to PPCI (20%, 95% CI: 11-27, p < .001). A decline in STEMI activations drove the reductions in angiography and PPCI volumes. Relative to BC, the D2B times in the AC period increased on average by 20%, 95%CI (-0.2 to 44, p = .05). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 Pandemic has adversely affected many aspects of STEMI care, including timely access to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for PPCI.

North American COVID-19 ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NACMI) registry: Rationale, design, and implications.

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has resulted in a global pandemic. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors or established cardiovascular disease are more likely to experience severe or critical COVID-19 illness and myocardial injury is a key extra-pulmonary manifestation. These patients frequently present with ST-elevation on an electrocardiogram (ECG) due to multiple etiologies including obstructive, non-obstructive, and/or angiographically normal coronary arteries. The incidence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) mimics in COVID-19-positive hospitalized patients, and the association with morbidity and mortality is unknown. Understanding the natural history and appropriate management of COVID-19 patients presenting with ST elevation is essential to inform patient management decisions and protect healthcare workers. Methods: The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and The Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology (CAIC) in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology Interventional Council have collaborated to create a multi-center observational registry, NACMI. This registry will enroll confirmed COVID-19 patients and persons under investigation (PUI) with new ST-segment elevation or new onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) on the ECG with clinical suspicion of myocardial ischemia. We will compare demographics, clinical findings, outcomes and management of these patients with a historical control group of over 15,000 consecutive STEMI activation patients from the Midwest STEMI Consortium using propensity matching. The primary clinical outcome will be in- hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, recurrent MI, and repeat unplanned revascularization in COVID-19 confirmed or PUI. Secondary outcomes will include the following: reporting of etiologies of ST Elevation; cardiovascular mortality due to myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest and /or shock; individual components of the primary outcome; composite primary outcome at 1 year; as well as ECG and angiographic characteristics. Conclusion: The multicenter NACMI registry will collect data regarding ST elevation on ECG in COVID-19 patients to determine the etiology and associated clinical outcomes. The collaboration and speed with which this registry has been created, refined, and promoted serves as a template for future research endeavors.

Safe Ambulation of Critically Ill Cardiac Patients With Femoral Balloon Pumps: A Case Cohort Study.

We sought to demonstrate the safety of ambulation of patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) inserted via the femoral approach in the setting of 1 cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit and 1 cardiac care unit. We studied 70 patients who had received femoral IABPs at our institution between December 2015 and June 2019 and who met standardized criteria for ambulation. These patients underwent initial standing trials with a specialty standing bed/tilt table and progressed to standing exercises and, ultimately, to ambulation (defined as covering a distance of at least 10 feet) with the physical therapist. A total of 323 sessions of ambulation were successfully performed in 70 patients with IABPs inserted via the femoral approach, for an average of 4.61 sessions per patient. The average ambulation session time was 45 minutes (3-62 minutes, covering a median distance of 420 ft [805 IQR]). Complications were defined as major or minor and were monitored for during and after ambulation. Major complications included limb ischemia, arterial dissection, aortic aneurysm, balloon rupture, significant hemodynamic compromise, and death. Minor complications included balloon migration, infection, paresthesia, changes in balloon augmentation, and hematoma at insertion site. No major complications were associated with ambulation, and only 11 minor complications were observed. The total complication rate was 3.40% for all ambulation sessions. Ambulation of selected patients with femoral IABPs appears to be a safe activity when using the enclosed protocol and selection process. Future studies are required to show that such activities decrease muscle deconditioning in these patients and enhance recovery.

SCAI expert consensus statement update on best practices for transradial angiography and intervention.

Transradial angiography and intervention continues to become increasingly common as an access site for coronary procedures. Since the first "Best Practices" paper in 2013, ongoing trials have shed further light onto the safest and most efficient methods to perform these procedures. Specifically, this document comments on the use of ultrasound to facilitate radial access, the role of ulnar artery access, the utility of non-invasive testing of collateral flow, strategies to prevent radial artery occlusion, radial access for primary PCI and topics that require further study.

Considerations for cardiac catheterization laboratory procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic perspectives from the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Emerging Leader Mentorship (SCAI ELM) Members and Graduates.

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is highly infectious, carries significant morbidity and mortality, and has rapidly resulted in strained health care system and hospital resources. In addition to patient-related care concerns in infected individuals, focus must also relate to diminishing community spread, protection of staff, case selection, and concentration of resources. The current document based on available data and consensus opinion addresses appropriate catheterization laboratory preparedness for treating these patients, including procedure-room readiness to minimize external contamination, safe donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to eliminate risk to staff, and staffing algorithms to minimize exposure and maximize team availability. Case selection and management of both emergent and urgent procedures are discussed in detail, including procedures that may be safely deferred or performed bedside.

Angiographic severity does not correlate with fractional flow reserve in heavily calcified coronary arteries.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between severity of stenosis and hemodynamic significance in calcified coronary arteries. BACKGROUND: Severity of stenosis is widely used to determine the need for revascularization but the effect of lesion calcification on hemodynamic significance is not well understood. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing fractional flow reserve (FFR) testing of an intermediate coronary lesion with a pressure wire and intravenous infusion of adenosine were studied. Coronary calcium was quantified based upon radiopacities at the site of the stenosis on cineangiography using the method of Mintz et al. (0 = none or mild calcium, 1 = moderate calcium, 2 = severe calcium). RESULTS: Mean age was 61 ± 11 years, 66% were males, 87.5% had hypertension, 44.5% had diabetes, and 20.5% were current smokers. The mean coronary stenosis by quantitative coronary angiography was 60 ± 12% and the mean FFR was 0.83 ± 0.08. There were 109, 45, and 46 patients classified as Calcium Score of 0, 1, or 2, respectively. Compared to those with no/mild or moderate calcification, patients with severe coronary calcium were older and more likely to have chronic kidney disease and pulmonary disease. The correlation between angiographic severity and FFR decreased as lesion calcification increased [calcium score = 0 (R2 = 0.25, P < 0.005); calcium score = 1 (R2 = 0.11, P < 0.005); calcium score = 2 (R2 = 0.02, P = 0.35)]. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions, there was no association between angiographic stenosis and hemodynamic significance and FFR is needed to determine hemodynamic significance of intermediate lesions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Use of outcome measures in pulmonary hypertension clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of surrogate measures in pulmonary hypertension (PH) clinical trials and how it relates to clinical practice. BACKGROUND: Studies of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) employ a variety of surrogate measures in addition to clinical events because of a small patient population, participant burden, and costs. The use of these measures in PH drug trials is poorly defined. METHODS: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE/Embase for randomized or prospective cohort PAH clinical treatment trials from 1985 to 2013. Extracted data included intervention, trial duration, study design, patient characteristics, and primary and secondary outcome measures. To compare with clinical practice, we assessed the use of surrogate measures in a clinical sample of patients on PH medications at Duke University Medical Center between 2003 and 2014. RESULTS: Between 1985 and 2013, 126 PAH trials were identified and analyzed. Surrogate measures served as primary endpoints in 119 trials (94.0%). Inclusion of invasive hemodynamics decreased over time (78.6%, 75.0%, 52.2%; P for trend = .02), while functional testing (7.1%, 60.0%, 81.5%; P for trend < .0001) and functional status or quality of life (0%, 47.6%, 62.8%; P for trend < .0001) increased in PAH trials over the same time periods. Echocardiography data were reported as a primary or secondary outcome in 32 trials (25.4%) with increased use from 1985-1994 to 1995-2004 (7.1% vs 35.0%, P = .04), but the trend did not continue to 2005-2013 (25.0%). In comparison, among 450 patients on PAH therapies at our institution between 2003 and 2013, clinical assessments regularly incorporated serial echocardiography and 6-minute walk distance tests (92% and 95% of patients, respectively) and repeat measurement of invasive hemodynamics (46% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of PAH trials have utilized surrogate measures as primary endpoints. The use of these surrogate endpoints has evolved significantly over time with increasing use of patient-centered endpoints and decreasing or stable use of imaging and invasive measures. In contrast, imaging and invasive measures are commonly used in contemporary clinical practice. Further research is needed to validate and standardize currently used measures.

Conversations in cardiology: bridging antiplatelet therapy before surgery.

Bridging for antiplatelet therapy remains a subject of debate with data favoring GP blockers but at a risk of bleeding. This Conversation in Cardiology addresses a key and often asked question about use of alternatives to P2Y12 agents in patients requiring surgery within 6 months after drug eluting stent implantation.

Association of inpatient vs outpatient onset of ST-elevation myocardial infarction with treatment and clinical outcomes.

IMPORTANCE: Reperfusion times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurring in outpatients have improved significantly, but quality improvement efforts have largely ignored STEMI occurring in hospitalized patients (inpatient-onset STEMI). OBJECTIVE: To define the incidence and variables associated with treatment and outcomes of patients who develop STEMI during hospitalization for conditions other than acute coronary syndromes (ACS). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective observational analysis of STEMIs occurring between 2008 and 2011 as identified in the California State Inpatient Database. EXPOSURES: STEMIs were classified as inpatient onset or outpatient onset based on present-on-admission codes. Patients who had a STEMI after being hospitalized for ACS were excluded from the analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Regression models were used to evaluate associations among location of onset of STEMI, resource utilization, and outcomes. Adjustments were made for patient age, sex, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics. The analysis allowed for the location of inpatient STEMI to have a multiplicative rather than an additive effect for resource utilization since these measures were highly skewed. RESULTS: A total of 62,021 STEMIs were identified in 303 hospitals, of which 3068 (4.9%) occurred in patients hospitalized for non-ACS indications. Patients with inpatient-onset STEMI were older (mean, 71.5 [SD, 13.5] years vs 64.9 [SD, 14.1] years; P < .001) and more frequently female (47.4% vs 32%; P < .001) than those with outpatient-onset STEMI. Patients with inpatient-onset STEMI had higher in-hospital mortality (33.6% vs 9.2%; adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 3.05; 95% CI, 2.76-3.38; P < .001), were less likely to be discharged home (33.7% vs 69.4%; AOR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.34-0.42; P < .001), and were less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization (33.8% vs 77.8%; AOR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.16-0.21; P < .001) or percutaneous coronary intervention (21.6% vs 65%; AOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.21-0.26; P < .001). Length of stay and inpatient charges were higher for inpatient-onset STEMI (mean length of stay, 13.4 days [95% CI, 12.8-14.0 days] vs 4.7 days [95% CI, 4.6-4.8 days]; adjusted multiplicative effect, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.35-2.69; P < .001; mean inpatient charges, $245,000 [95% CI, $235,300-$254,800] vs $129,000 [95% CI, $127,900-$130,100]; adjusted multiplicative effect, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.93-2.28; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patients who had a STEMI while hospitalized for a non-ACS condition, compared with those with onset of STEMI as an outpatient, were less likely to undergo invasive testing or intervention and had a higher in-hospital mortality rate.

TransRadial Education and Therapeutics (TREAT): shifting the balance of safety and efficacy of antithrombotic agents in percutaneous coronary intervention: a report from the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an integral part of the treatment of coronary artery disease. The most common complication of PCI, bleeding, typically occurs at the vascular access site and is associated with short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality. Periprocedural bleeding also represents the primary safety concern of concomitant antithrombotic therapies essential for PCI success. Use of radial access for PCI reduces procedural bleeding and hence may change the risk profile and net clinical benefit of these drugs. This new drug-device safety interaction creates opportunities to advance the safe and effective use of antithrombotic agents during PCI. In June 2010 and March 2011, leaders from government, academia, professional societies, device manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries convened for 2 think tank meetings. Titled TREAT I and II, these forums examined approaches to improve the overall safety of PCI by optimizing strategies for antithrombotic drug use and radial artery access. This article summarizes the content and proceedings of these sessions.

Intravascular Imaging During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Coronary angiography has historically served as the gold standard for diagnosis of coronary artery disease and guidance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Adjunctive use of contemporary intravascular imaging (IVI) technologies has emerged as a complement to conventional angiography-to further characterize plaque morphology and optimize the performance of PCI. IVI has utility for preintervention lesion and vessel assessment, periprocedural guidance of lesion preparation and stent deployment, and postintervention assessment of optimal endpoints and exclusion of complications. The role of IVI in reducing major adverse cardiac events in complex lesion subsets is emerging, and further studies evaluating broader use are underway or in development. This paper provides an overview of currently available IVI technologies, reviews data supporting their utilization for PCI guidance and optimization across a variety of lesion subsets, proposes best practices, and advocates for broader use of these technologies as a part of contemporary practice.

Comparing the long-term outcomes in chronic coronary syndrome patients with prior ST-segment and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: findings from the TIGRIS registry.

OBJECTIVES: Compared with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, non-STEMI (NSTEMI) patients have more comorbidities and extensive coronary artery disease. Contemporary comparative data on the long-term prognosis of stable post-myocardial infarction subtypes are needed. DESIGN: Long-Term rIsk, clinical manaGement and healthcare Resource utilisation of stable coronary artery dISease (TIGRIS) was a multinational, observational and longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Patients were enrolled from 350 centres, with >95% coming from cardiology practices across 24 countries, from 19 June 2013 to 31 March 2017. PARTICIPANTS: This study enrolled 8277 stable patients 1-3 years after myocardial infarction with ≥1 additional risk factor. OUTCOME MEASURES: Over a 2 year follow-up, cardiovascular events and deaths and self-reported health using the EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire score were recorded. Relative risk of clinical events and health resource utilisation in STEMI and NSTEMI patients were compared using multivariable Poisson regression models, adjusting for prognostically relevant patient factors. RESULTS: Of 7752 patients with known myocardial infarction type, 46% had NSTEMI; NSTEMI patients were older with more comorbidities than STEMI patients. NSTEMI patients had significantly poorer self-reported health and lower prevalence of dual antiplatelet therapy at hospital discharge and at enrolment 1-3 years later. NSTEMI patients had a higher incidence of combined myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death (5.6% vs 3.9%, p<0.001) and higher all-cause mortality (4.2% vs 2.6%, p<0.001) compared with STEMI patients. Risks were attenuated after adjusting for other patient characteristics. Health resource utilisation was higher in NSTEMI patients, although STEMI patients had more cardiologist visits. CONCLUSIONS: Post-NSTEMI chronic coronary syndrome patients had a less favourable risk factor profile, poorer self-reported health and more adverse cardiovascular events during long-term follow-up than individuals post STEMI. Efforts are needed to recognise the risks of stable patients after NSTEMI and optimise secondary prevention and care. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01866904.

Guideline based eligibility for primary prevention statin therapy - Insights from the North India ST-elevation myocardial infarction registry (NORIN-STEMI).

BACKGROUND: Current risk scores to estimate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and allocate statins in at-risk persons have largely been developed in Western populations; their applicability in India is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To assess eligibility for primary prevention statin therapy using the 2018 U.S Multisociety Guideline and other contemporary cholesterol guidelines in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the North India STEMI (NORIN-STEMI) registry. METHODS: NORIN-STEMI registry prospectively enrolled 3,635 patients at 2 tertiary care centers in Delhi, India from January 2019 to February 2020. Pooled cohort risk equations were used to estimate ASCVD risk at presentation. Patients were evaluated for statin eligibility using the 2018 U.S Multisociety Guideline, United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) III cholesterol guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 2,551 met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 54 years; 17% were women. The median ASCVD risk was 7.0%. At the time of MI, 54% of patients were eligible for primary prevention statin therapy by Multisociety Guideline, 46% by USPSTF, and 30% by NCEP III guidelines. These findings were applicable in both women and men. Compared with patients aged ≥50 years, those <50 years were less likely to be recommended statin therapy by all the three guidelines. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients with STEMI in India did not meet the current guideline-based threshold for statin therapy for primary prevention. Novel risk stratification tools are needed to identify patients for primary prevention statin therapy in this population.

Ionizing radiation exposure to patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Invasive and noninvasive cardiovascular imaging is beneficial in the care of patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. Little is known about patients' cumulative radiation exposure. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients admitted with an acute myocardial infarction to any of 49 University HealthSystem Consortium member hospitals from 2006 to 2009 were reviewed for inpatient procedures involving ionizing radiation that included chest radiograph, computed tomogram scans, radionuclide imaging, diagnostic cardiac catheterization, and percutaneous coronary intervention. The average cumulative effective radiation dose per patient was estimated on the basis of published typical effective radiation doses for imaging procedures. Patients (n=64 071) admitted for acute myocardial infarction had a median age of 64.9 years. A total of 276 651 procedures involving ionizing radiation were performed during the study period, a median of 4.3 procedures per patient per admission. The majority of patients had invasive catheterization (77%), followed by computed tomogram scans (52%), mostly body examinations. The median cumulative effective radiation dose delivered was 15.02 mSv per patient per acute myocardial infarction admission. Postprocedural bleeding was a significant predictor of radiation exposure (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.85 to 2.18), together with postprocedural mechanical complications resulting from device implantation (odds ratio, 2.86; 95% confidence interval, 2.61 to 3.13). Patients with higher underlying clinical complexity (defined by severity of illness scores) had higher radiation exposure and higher mortality (P<0.0001). There was also significant geographic variation in radiation exposure; patients in New England received the lowest cumulative exposure (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.74 to 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Acute myocardial infarction inpatients are exposed to an approximate median radiation dose of 15 mSv. This exposure is a result of multiple cardiovascular and noncardiovascular procedures. Efforts should be made to understand the risks and benefits of radiation exposure per episode of care for acute myocardial infarction.

Advances in understanding and treating ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurocognitive behavioral developmental disorder most commonly seen in childhood and adolescence, which often extends to the adult years. Relative to a decade ago, there has been extensive research into understanding the factors underlying ADHD, leading to far more treatment options available for both adolescents and adults with this disorder. Novel stimulant formulations have made it possible to tailor treatment to the duration of efficacy required by patients, and to help mitigate the potential for abuse, misuse and diversion. Several new non-stimulant options have also emerged in the past few years. Among these, cognitive behavioral interventions have proven popular in the treatment of adult ADHD, especially within the adult population who cannot or will not use medications, along with the many medication-treated patients who continue to show residual disability.

Outcomes of decreasing versus increasing cardiac troponin in patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Surveillance Study.

BACKGROUND: The fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction requires an increase or decrease in cardiac troponin for the classification of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We sought to determine whether the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction differ by the initial biomarker pattern. METHODS: We identified patients in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Surveillance Study admitted with chest pain and an initially elevated cardiac troponin I, who presented within 12 hours of symptom onset and were classified with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A change in cardiac troponin I required an absolute difference of at least 0.02 ng/mL on the first day of hospitalization, prior to invasive cardiac procedures. RESULTS: A total of 1926 hospitalizations met the inclusion criteria, with increasing cardiac troponin I more commonly observed (78%). Patients with decreasing cardiac troponin I were more often black (45% vs. 35%) and women (54% vs. 40%), and were less likely to receive non-aspirin antiplatelets (44% vs. 63%), lipid-lowering agents (62% vs. 80%), and invasive angiography (38% vs. 64%). Inhospital mortality was 3%, irrespective of the cardiac troponin I pattern. However, patients with decreasing cardiac troponin I had twice the 28-day mortality (12% vs. 5%; P=0.01). Fatalities within 28 days were more often attributable to non-cardiovascular causes in those with decreasing versus increasing cardiac troponin I (75% vs. 38%; P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with chest pain and an initially elevated cardiac troponin I which subsequently decreases are less often managed by evidence-based therapies and have greater mortality, primarily driven by non-cardiovascular causes. Whether associations are attributable to type 2 myocardial infarction or a subacute presentation merits further investigation.

Outcomes of decreasing versus increasing cardiac troponin in patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Surveillance Study.

BACKGROUND: The fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction requires an increase or decrease in cardiac troponin for the classification of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We sought to determine whether the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction differ by the initial biomarker pattern. METHODS: We identified patients in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Surveillance Study admitted with chest pain and an initially elevated cardiac troponin I, who presented within 12 hours of symptom onset and were classified with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A change in cardiac troponin I required an absolute difference of at least 0.02 ng/mL on the first day of hospitalization, prior to invasive cardiac procedures. RESULTS: A total of 1926 hospitalizations met the inclusion criteria, with increasing cardiac troponin I more commonly observed (78%). Patients with decreasing cardiac troponin I were more often black (45% vs. 35%) and women (54% vs. 40%), and were less likely to receive non-aspirin antiplatelets (44% vs. 63%), lipid-lowering agents (62% vs. 80%), and invasive angiography (38% vs. 64%). Inhospital mortality was 3%, irrespective of the cardiac troponin I pattern. However, patients with decreasing cardiac troponin I had twice the 28-day mortality (12% vs. 5%; P=0.01). Fatalities within 28 days were more often attributable to non-cardiovascular causes in those with decreasing versus increasing cardiac troponin I (75% vs. 38%; P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with chest pain and an initially elevated cardiac troponin I which subsequently decreases are less often managed by evidence-based therapies and have greater mortality, primarily driven by non-cardiovascular causes. Whether associations are attributable to type 2 myocardial infarction or a subacute presentation merits further investigation.