Spanish Registry of Acute Aortic Syndrome (RESA). Changes in therapeutic management and lower mortality in acute aortic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The Spanish Registry of Acute Aortic Syndrome (RESA) was launched in 2005 to identify the characteristics of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) in Spain. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in management and mortality in the 3 RESA iterations. METHODS: We analyzed data from patients with AAS prospectively included by 24 to 30 tertiary centers during the 3 iterations of the registry: RESA I (2005-2006), RESA-II (2012-2013), and RESA III (2018-2019). RESULTS: AAS was diagnosed in 1902 patients (74% men; age, 60.7±12.5 years): 1329 (69.9%) type A and 573 (30.1%) type B. Comparison of the 3 periods revealed that the use of computed tomography increased as the first diagnostic technique (77.1%, 77.9%, and 84.2%, respectively; P=.001). In type A, surgical management increased (79.6%, 78.7%, and 84.5%; P=.045) and overall mortality decreased (41.2%, 34.5%, and 31.2%; P=.002), due to a reduction in surgical mortality (33.4%, 25.1%, and 23.9%; P=.003). In type B, endovascular treatment increased (22.8%, 32.8%, and 38.7%; P=.006), while medical and surgical treatment decreased. Overall type B mortality also decreased (21.6%, 16.1%, and 12.0%; P=.005) in line with a reduction in mortality with medical (16.8%, 13.8%, and 8.8%, P=.030) and endovascular (27.0%, 18.0%, and 9.2%; P=.009) treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The iterations of RESA show a decrease in mortality from type A AAS, coinciding with an increase in surgical treatment and a reduction in surgical mortality. In type B, the use of endovascular treatment was associated with improved survival, allowing better management in patients with complications.

Diagnosis, management and mortality in acute aortic syndrome: results of the Spanish Registry of Acute Aortic Syndrome (RESA-II).

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of acute aortic syndrome should improve the outcome of this disease. The Spanish Registry of Acute Aortic Syndrome aimed to assess current results in acute aortic syndrome management in a wide cohort of hospitals in the same geographical area. METHODS: From January 2012 to January 2014, 26 tertiary hospitals included 629 consecutive patients with acute aortic syndrome: 73% men, mean age 64.7±14 years (range 22-92), 443 type A (70.4%) and 186 type B (29.6%). RESULTS: Time elapsed between symptom onset and diagnosis was <12 hours in 70.7% of cases and <24 hours in 84.0% (median 5 hours; 25th-75th percentiles, 2.7-15.5 hours). Computed tomography was the first diagnostic technique in 78% of patients and transthoracic echocardiography in 15%. Surgical treatment was indicated in 78.3% of type A acute aortic syndrome. The interval between diagnosis and surgery was 4.8 hours (quartile 1-3, 2.5-11.4 hours). Among the patients with type B acute aortic syndrome, treatment was medical in 116 cases (62.4%), endovascular in 61 (32.8%) and surgical in nine (4.8%). Type A mortality during hospitalisation was 25.1% in patients treated surgically and 68% in those treated medically. Mortality in type B was 13.8% in those with medical treatment, 18.0% with endovascular therapy and 33.0% with surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of acute aortic syndrome have not resulted in a significant reduction in hospital mortality. The results of this study reflect more overall and less selected information on acute aortic syndrome management and the need for sustained advances in the therapeutic strategy of acute aortic syndrome.

[Clinical predictors of left main coronary artery disease in high-risk patients with a first episode of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome]. / Variables clínicas predictoras de enfermedad del tronco común en pacientes de alto riesgo con un primer episodio de síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Risk stratification in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome makes use of clinical variables that can identify patients at an increased risk of complications. Our objective was to identify clinical variables that predict significant stenosis (i.e., >50%) of the left main coronary artery in high-risk patients who have had a first episode of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome but who do not have a history of coronary artery disease. METHODS: The study included 102 high-risk patients with no history of coronary artery disease who were admitted because of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. All underwent coronary angiography. Patients were divided into two groups: those with significant left main coronary artery stenosis (n=14) and those without (n=88). RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the variables significantly associated with left main coronary artery stenosis were age >65 years (57.1% vs 15.9%, P=.002), diabetes mellitus (71.4% vs 33.0%, P=.006), chronic renal failure (28.6% vs 5.7%, P=.019), left heart failure (71.4% vs 6.8%, P< .0001), cardiogenic shock (21.4% vs 1.1%, P=.008), and a low left ventricular ejection fraction at admission (49.9% [14.7%] vs 58.8% [9.9%], P=.044). In the multivariate analysis, the only significant independent predictor of left main coronary artery disease was left heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of left heart failure at initial assessment of high-risk patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome but without a history of coronary artery disease could be a useful predictor of significant left main coronary artery disease.

[Cardiopulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with morbid obesity]. / Función cardiopulmonar y capacidad de ejercicio en pacientes con obesidad mórbida.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The effect of obesity on cardiac function is still under discussion. The objective of this study was to assess cardiopulmonary capacity in morbidly obese patients. Patients and method. A symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise stress test was carried out in 31 morbidly obese patients (BMI 50 9 kg/m2) and 30 normal controls (BMI 24 2 kg/m2. Cardiovascular function was evaluated using the oxygen pulse (oxygen uptake/heart rate). RESULTS: There were no differences in age, sex and height between both groups. During the effort the obese subjects presented greater oxygen uptake, heart rate, systolic arterial pressure and minute ventilation and shorter test duration than control group (14 3 vs 27 4 min; p < 0.001). Oxygen pulse values were higher in obese patients. However, after oxygen uptake indexation by fat free mass, these differences disappeared, suggesting a similar cardiovascular function. At the end of the exercise, the control group reached 96% of their age-predicted maximal heart rate and their respiratory exchange ratio was 1 0.2. Obese patients only reached 86% and 0.87 0.2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to their need of more energy output to move total body mass morbidly obese patients have a reduced exercise capacity. They finish the test having done a submaximal exercise. However, during this effort they show a normal cardiopulmonar capacity.

Spanish Acute Aortic Syndrome Study (RESA). Better diagnosis is not reflected in reduced mortality.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Because acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is associated with high mortality, early diagnosis and treatment are vital. The aim of the Spanish Acute Aortic Syndrome Study (RESA) was to investigate the effectiveness of current treatment of AAS in a broad range of tertiary care hospitals in Spain. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2007, 24 tertiary care hospitals reported data on 519 patients with AAS (78% male, mean age 61 +/- 13 years, range 20-92 years): 357 had type-A AAS and 162 had type B. RESULTS: The time delay between symptom onset and diagnosis was <24 hours in 67% of cases and >72 hours in 11%. Some 80% of patients with type-A AAS were treated surgically. The interval between diagnosis and surgery was <24 hours in 90% of cases. In patients with type-B AAS, 34% received invasive treatment: 11% had surgery and 23% underwent endovascular procedures. Mortality during hospitalization in patients with type-A disease was 33% in those treated surgically and 71% in those treated medically. Mortality in patients with type-B disease was 17% with medical treatment, 27% with endovascular treatment and 50% with surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant advances in the diagnosis of AAS, in-hospital mortality remains high. The findings of this study are representative of a broad range of unselected patients undergoing treatment for the disease and support the need for continuing improvements in therapeutic approaches to AAS.

Increased exercise capacity after surgically induced weight loss in morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of surgically induced weight loss on exercise capacity in patients with morbid obesity (MO). RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A prospective 1-year follow-up study was carried out, with patients being their own controls. A symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise stress test was performed in 31 MO patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2) before and 1 year after undergoing bariatric surgery. RESULTS: At 1 year after surgery, weight was reduced from 146 +/- 33 to 95 +/- 19 kg (p < 0.001), and BMI went from 51 +/- 4 to 33 +/- 6 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). After weight loss, obese patients performed each workload with lower oxygen consumption, heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, and ventilatory volume (p < 0.001). This reduced energy expenditure allowed them to increase the duration of their effort test from 13.8 +/- 3.8 to 21 +/- 4.2 minutes (p < 0.001). Upon finishing the exercise, MO patients before surgery were able to reach only 83% of their age-predicted maximal heart rate, and their respiratory exchange ratio was 0.87 +/- 0.06. After weight loss, those values were 90% and 1 +/- 0.08, respectively (p < 0.01). When we compared the peak O2 pulse corrected by fat free mass before and after surgery, no significant differences between the groups were found. DISCUSSION: After surgically induced weight loss, MO patients markedly improved their exercise capacity. This is due to the fact that they were able to perform the external work with lower energy expenditure and also to increase cardiovascular stress, optimizing the use of cardiac reserve. There were no differences in cardiac function before and after surgery.

Variables clínicas predictoras de enfermedad del tronco común en pacientes de alto riesgo con un primer episodio de síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST / Clinical Predictors of Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in High-Risk Patients With a First Episode of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Introducción y objetivos. En la estratificación del síndrome coronario agudo disponemos de variables clínicas para identificar a los pacientes con alto riesgo de presentar complicaciones. Analizamos si los pacientes de alto riesgo, sin antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica, que presentan un primer episodio de síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST presentan variables clínicas predictoras de estenosis significativa (> 50%) del tronco común. Métodos. Se analizó a 102 pacientes de alto riesgo sin antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST, a los que se les practicó coronariografía. Establecemos 2 grupos: con estenosis significativa del tronco común (n = 14) y el resto (n = 88). Resultados. Variables relacionadas con la estenosis del tronco común en el análisis univariado: edad > 65 años (el 57,1 frente al 15,9%; p = 0,002), diabetes mellitus (el 71,4 frente al 33,0%; p = 0,006), insuficiencia renal crónica (el 28,6 frente al 5,7%; p = 0,019), insuficiencia cardiaca izquierda (el 71,4 frente al 6,8%; p < 0,0001), shock cardiogénico (el 21,4 frente al 1,1%; p = 0,008) y fracción de eyección más reducida en el momento del ingreso (49,9 ± 14,7 frente a 58,8 ± 9,9%; p = 0,044). La única variable con valor predictivo significativo independiente de enfermedad del tronco común en el análisis multivariable fue la insuficiencia cardiaca izquierda. Conclusiones. La presencia de insuficiencia cardiaca izquierda en la evaluación inicial del síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del ST, en pacientes de alto riesgo sin antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica, puede ser un predictor útil de enfermedad del tronco común (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Risk stratification in non- ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome makes use of clinical variables that can identify patients at an increased risk of complications. Our objective was to identify clinical variables that predict significant stenosis (i.e., >50%) of the left main coronary artery in high-risk patients who have had a first episode of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome but who do not have a history of coronary artery disease. Methods. The study included 102 high-risk patients with no history of coronary artery disease who were admitted because of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. All underwent coronary angiography. Patients were divided into two groups: those with significant left main coronary artery stenosis (n=14) and those without (n=88). Results. Univariate analysis showed that the variables significantly associated with left main coronary artery stenosis were age >65 years (57.1% vs 15.9%, P=.002), diabetes mellitus (71.4% vs 33.0%, P=.006), chronic renal failure (28.6% vs 5.7%, P=.019), left heart failure (71.4% vs 6.8%, P<.0001), cardiogenic shock (21.4% vs 1.1%, P=.008), and a low left ventricular ejection fraction at admission (49.9% [14.7%] vs 58.8% [9.9%], P=.044). In the multivariate analysis, the only significant independent predictor of left main coronary artery disease was left heart failure. Conclusions. The presence of left heart failure at initial assessment of high-risk patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome but without a history of coronary artery disease could be a useful predictor of significant left main coronary artery disease (AU)

Función cardiopulmonar y capacidad de ejercicio en pacientes con obesidad mórbida / Cardiopulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with morbid obesity

Introducción y objetivos. La repercusión de la obesidad sobre la función cardíaca es motivo de controversia. El propósito del presente estudio ha sido determinar la capacidad cardiopulmonar en pacientes con obesidad mórbida. Pacientes y método. Hemos realizado una ergoespirometría limitada por síntomas a 31 pacientes con obesidad mórbida (IMC 50 ñ 9 kg/m2) y a 30 individuos como grupo control (IMC 24 ñ 2 kg/m2). La función cardiovascular ha sido valorada mediante el pulso de oxígeno (consumo de oxígeno/frecuencia cardíaca).Resultados. No existían diferencias en edad, sexo y talla entre ambos grupos. Durante el esfuerzo, los sujetos obesos presentaron un consumo de oxígeno, frecuencia cardíaca, presión arterial sistólica y ventilación por minuto significativamente más elevados que el grupo control, con menor duración de la prueba (14 ñ 3 frente a 27 ñ 4 min; p < 0,001). Los valores de pulso de oxígeno fueron más altos en los pacientes obesos. Sin embargo, tras corregir el consumo de oxígeno por la masa magra, las diferencias en el pulso de O2 desaparecieron, demostrando una función cardiovascular similar. Al final del ejercicio, el grupo control alcanzó el 96 por ciento de su frecuencia cardíaca máxima teórica y su cociente respiratorio fue de 1 ñ 0,2. Los pacientes obesos sólo alcanzaron el 86 por ciento de la frecuencia cardíaca máxima teórica y su cociente respiratorio fue de 0,87 ñ 0,2.Conclusiones. Los pacientes con obesidad mórbida tienen una capacidad de trabajo reducida debido al gran consumo energético que realizan al mover su masa corporal. Finalizan la prueba habiendo realizado un esfuerzo submáximo. No obstante, durante este esfuerzo demuestran una capacidad cardiopulmonar normal (AU)