Engaging women in decision-making about their heart health: a literature review with patients' perspective.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally. Although the burden of CVD risk factors tends to be lower in women, they remain at higher risk of developing complications when affected by these risk factors. There is still a lack of awareness surrounding CVD in women, both from a patient's and a clinician's perspective, especially among visible minorities. However, women who are informed about their heart health and who engage in decision-making with their healthcare providers are more likely to modify their lifestyle, and improve their CVD risk. A patient-centered care approach benefits patients' physical and mental health, and is now considered gold-standard for efficient patient care. Engaging women in their heart health will contribute in closing the gap of healthcare disparities between men and women, arising from sociocultural, socioeconomic, and political factors. This comprehensive review of the literature discusses the importance of engaging women in decision-making surrounding their heart health and offers tools for an effective and culturally sensitive patient-provider relationship.

Late outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by pharmaco-invasive or primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

AIMS: Pharmaco-invasive percutaneous coronary intervention (PI-PCI) is recommended for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)who are unable to undergo timely primary PCI (pPCI). The present study examined late outcomes after PI-PCI (successful reperfusion followed by scheduled PCI or failed reperfusion and rescue PCI)compared with timely and late pPCI (>120 min from first medical contact). METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients with STEMI presenting within 12 h of symptom onset, who underwent PCI during their initial hospitalization at Liverpool Hospital (Sydney), from October 2003 to March 2014, were included. Amongst 2091 STEMI patients (80% male), 1077 (52%)underwent pPCI (68% timely, 32% late), and 1014 (48%)received PI-PCI (33% rescue, 67% scheduled). Mortality at 3 years was 11.1% after pPCI (6.7% timely, 20.2% late) and 6.2% after PI-PCI (9.4% rescue, 4.8% scheduled); P < 0.01. After propensity matching, the adjusted mortality hazard ratio (HR) for timely pPCI compared with scheduled PCI was 0.9 (95% CIs 0.4-2.0) and compared with rescue PCI was 0.5 (95% CIs 0.2-0.9). The adjusted mortality HR for late pPCI, compared with scheduled PCI was 2.2 (95% CIs 1.2-3.1)and compared with rescue PCI, it was 1.5 (95% CIs 0.7-2.0). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent late pPCI had higher mortality rates than those undergoing a pharmaco-invasive strategy. Despite rescue PCI being required in a third of patients, a pharmaco-invasive approach should be considered when delays to PCI are anticipated, as it achieves better outcomes than late pPCI.

Gender Differences in Medical Student Perceptions of a Career in Cardiology.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, the cardiology profession has an under-representation of women. We assessed medical students' perceptions of cardiology as a career choice with the aim of identifying barriers to gender diversity. METHOD: An anonymous survey was distributed to medical students studying at three Australian medical universities. Questions pertained to demographics, year and stage of medical training, desire to pursue cardiology, and perceived barriers to a cardiology career. Results were analysed according to identified gender and desire to pursue or not pursue a cardiology career. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated for independent associations. The primary outcome were barriers identified to pursuing a career in cardiology. RESULTS: From 127 medical student respondents (86.6% female, mean age 25.9±4.8 years), 37.0% stated they wanted to pursue a career in cardiology (39.1% of women versus 23.5% of men, p=0.54). The top four perceived barriers to a cardiology career included: poor work-life balance (92/127, 72.4%), physician training process (63/127, 49.6%), on-call requirements (50/127, 39.4%) and lack of flexibility (49/127, 38.6%), with no gender differences. Women were more likely to report gender-related barriers (37.3% versus 5.9%, p=0.01) and less likely to identify procedural aspects as a barrier (5.5% women versus 29.4% men, p=0.001). Students in their pre-clinical years were more likely to want a career in cardiology (odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.2-7.7, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of female and male medical students want to pursue a career in cardiology with both genders identifying major barriers of poor work-life balance, lack of flexibility, on-call requirements and the training process.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndromes: An Australian Tertiary Centre Experience.

BACKGROUND: Countries who suffered large COVID-19 outbreaks reported a decrease in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presentations and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The impact of the pandemic in countries like Australia, with relatively small outbreaks yet significant social restrictions, is relatively unknown. There is also limited and conflicting data regarding the impact on clinical outcomes, symptom-to-door time (STDT) and door-to-balloon time (DTBT). METHODS: Consecutive ACS patients treated with PCI were prospectively recruited from a tertiary hospital network in Melbourne, Australia. The pre-pandemic period (11 March 2019-10 March 2020) was compared to the pandemic period (11 March 2020-10 May 2020) using an interrupted time series analysis with a primary endpoint of number PCI-treated ACS per day. Secondary endpoints included STDT, DTBT, total mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). RESULTS: A total 984 ACS patients (14.8% during the pandemic period) received PCI. Mean number of PCI-treated ACS per day did not differ between the two periods (2.3 vs 2.4, p=0.61) with no difference in STDT [+51.3 mins, 95% confidence interval (CI) -52.4 to 154.9, p=0.33], 30-day mortality (5% vs 5.3%, p=0.86) or MACE (5.2% vs 6.1%, p=0.68). DTBT was significantly longer during the pandemic versus the pre-pandemic period (+18.1 mins, 95% CI 1.6-34.5, p=0.03) and improved with time (slope estimate: -0.76, 95% CI -1.62 to 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant social restrictions imposed in Melbourne, numbers of ACS treated with PCI and 30-day outcomes were similar to pre-pandemic times. DTBT was significantly longer during the COVID-19 pandemic period, likely reflecting infection control measures, which reassuringly improved with time.

The Australian New Zealand Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (ANZ-SCAD) Registry - A Multi-Centre Cohort Study: Protocol, Background and Significance.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an under-recognised cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a strong female predominance. There are currently limited prospective studies and no randomised controlled trials that inform on SCAD's best clinical care. Little is also known about predictors of acute SCAD deterioration or recurrence. We describe the study design of a multi-centre prospective and historical cohort study recruiting patients with SCAD across 15-20 sites in Australia/New Zealand (NZ). The primary aim is to describe the clinical presentation, management and outcomes along with predictors of acute deterioration and recurrence in a large Australian/NZ SCAD cohort, with international data pooling. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Consented patients diagnosed with SCAD during a hospital admission for an ACS will be prospectively followed at 30 days then yearly, for up to 5 years. Each recruiting site will also retrospectively identify historical cases of SCAD from the proceeding 10 years, with a waiver of consent. For historical cases, data will be collected in a de-identified manner with date of last follow-up or death obtained from the medical records. All cases undergo core laboratory adjudication of coronary angiography and any accompanying imaging to confirm SCAD diagnosis. The primary endpoint will be occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events; a composite of all-cause mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction (including SCAD recurrence), stroke/transient ischaemic attack, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest/ventricular arrhythmia, heart transplantation and, repeat/unplanned revascularisation. Secondary endpoints will include each individual primary outcome as well as acute SCAD extension and quality of life/Seattle Angina Score in prospectively recruited participants. Endpoints will be assessed at the end of the hospital admission and at 30-days, 1 year, and median long-term follow-up. ETHICS: Multicentre ethics approval has been granted from the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (2021/ETH00040). DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS: The analysed results will be published in peer-reviewed journals on completion of the historical data collection and then on completion of the prospective data collection. REGISTRATION DETAILS: The ANZ-SCAD registry has been prospectively registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000824864).

Sex Disparities in Myocardial Infarction: Biology or Bias?

Women have generally worse outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI) compared to men. The reasons for these disparities are multifactorial. At the beginning is the notion-widespread in the community and health care providers-that women are at low risk for MI. This can impact on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women, with lower use of preventative therapies and lifestyle counselling. It can also lead to delays in presentation in the event of an acute MI, both at the patient and health care provider level. This is of particular concern in the case of ST elevation MI (STEMI), where "time is muscle". Even after first medical contact, women with acute MI experience delays to diagnosis with less timely reperfusion and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Compared to men, women are less likely to undergo invasive diagnostic testing or PCI. After being diagnosed with a STEMI, women receive less guideline-directed medical therapy and potent antiplatelets than men. The consequences of these discrepancies are significant-with higher mortality, major cardiovascular events and bleeding after MI in women compared to men. We review the sex disparities in pathophysiology, risk factors, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for acute MI, to answer the question: are they due to biology or bias, or both?

Diabetes and Incomplete Revascularisation in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Incomplete revascularisation is common and prognostically important. The degree to which incomplete revascularisation (IR) is associated with adverse cardiac outcomes in patients with diabetes and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. METHODS: Late outcomes (3.6 years) were evaluated in 589 consecutive STEMI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in this observational study. Associations between incomplete revascularisation, and diabetes were assessed. A residual SYNergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) Score (rSS) >8 defined IR. The primary endpoint studied was cardiac death, myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. RESULTS: Incomplete revascularisation occurred in 36% of patients with diabetes (46/127) and 32% of patients without diabetes (147/462); p=0.329. The primary endpoint occurred in 27% of patients with diabetes compared to 18% of patients without diabetes (p=0.042); and in 28% with a rSS>8 compared to 16% of patients with a rSS≤8 (p<0.001). The primary endpoint occurred in 35% of patients with both diabetes and a rSS>8, 27% without diabetes with a rSS>8, 22% with diabetes and a rSS≤8, and 14% of with patients neither factor (p<0.001), with cardiac death rates respectively of 22%, 9%, 6%, 2% (p<0.001). Patients with both IR and diabetes accounted for only 8% of STEMI patients but 30% of all cardiac deaths. On multivariable analyses diabetes and IR were independently associated with cardiac death, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident; both p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and IR contribute independently to late outcomes in STEMI patients. The prognostic impact of diabetes was not due to IR alone. Diabetes acts synergistically with incomplete revascularisation to worsen prognosis.

Gender equity within medical specialties of Australia and New Zealand: cardiology's outlier status.

BACKGROUND: Gender disparity remains a prominent medical workforce issue, extending beyond surgical specialties with low proportions of female doctors. AIMS: To examine female representation within Australia and New Zealand (NZ) among physician specialties and certain comparator surgical specialties with a focus on cardiology as an outlier of workforce gender equality. METHODS: Data of practising medical specialists, new consultants and trainees were sought from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the Medical Council of NZ and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2015-2017). The stratified data pertaining to interventional cardiologists were obtained through direct contact with individual hospitals (from 2017 to 2018) and derived from state-based cardiac registries. RESULTS: In Australia and NZ, there were fewer female practising adult medicine physician consultants (n = 8956, 32%, P < 0.001), with gender disparities seen across most physician specialties. Cardiology (15%) was the only physician specialty with <20% representation; gastroenterology (23%), neurology (27%) and respiratory medicine (29%) had <30% female representation at the consultant level. The rates of cardiology (15%) and interventional cardiology (5%) were similar to general surgery (15%) and orthopaedics (4%). Although more than half of physician trainees are female, and most physician specialties are approaching or have equal gender ratios at the trainee level, cardiology (23%) and interventional cardiology (9%) remain significantly underrepresented. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiology is the only physician specialty with <20% female consultants, and this disparity is reflected throughout every stage of the cardiology training programme. Increased awareness and proactive strategies are needed to improve gender disparity within this underrepresented medical specialty.

The impact of incomplete revascularization on early and late outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with multivessel disease, there is a lack of consensus regarding the importance of complete revascularization and the timing of treatment of nonculprit stenoses. Our objective was to investigate the impact of incomplete revascularization in STEMI patients using the residual Synergy Between PCI with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery score (rSS) to define completeness of revascularization. METHODS: This study examined associations between incomplete revascularization, determined by the rSS, and the combined outcome of cardiac death and myocardial infarction (MI). Patients were divided into groups: rSS = 0 (complete revascularization), rSS = 1-8 (incomplete revascularization with a low burden of residual disease), or rSS >8 (incomplete revascularization with a high burden of residual disease). RESULTS: The rSS score was calculated in 589 consecutive patients; 25% had an rSS of 0, 42% rSS 1-8, and 33% rSS >8. At median follow-up of 3.5 years, cardiac death and MI occurred in 5% of rSS = 0 patients, 15% rSS = 1-8, and 26% with rSS >8 (P < .001). The rSS was powerful independent predictor of cardiac death and MI (hazard ratio 5.05, CI 2.89-12.00, rSS >8 vs rSS 0, P < .001 and hazard ratio 2.96, CI 1.31-6.69, rSS = 1-8 vs rSS = 0, P = .009), respectively, and an independent predictor of mortality, MI, unplanned revascularization, and major adverse cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with STEMI, the rSS independently predicts cardiac death and MI. Patients with an rSS >8 had substantially higher rates of cardiac death or MI. The rSS can be used to define incomplete revascularization in STEMI and predict adverse outcomes.

Validation of the RETRIEVE (REverse TRIage EVEnts) Criteria for Same Day Return of Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients to Referring Non-PCI Centres.

BACKGROUND: There are continuing bed constraints in percutaneous coronary intervention centres (PCI) so efficient patient triage from referral hospitals is pivotal. To evaluate a strategy of PCI centre (PCIC) bed-sparing we examined return of patients to referral hospitals screened by the RETRIEVE (REverse TRIage EVEnts) criteria and validated its use as a tool for screening suitability for same day transfer of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) patients post PCI to their referring non-PCI centre (NPCIC). METHODS: From May 2008 to May 2011, 433 NSTEACS patients were prospectively screened for suitability for same day transfer back to the referring hospital at the completion of PCI. Of these patients, 212 were excluded from same day transfer using the RETRIEVE criteria and 221 patients met the RETRIEVE criteria and were transferred back to their NPCIC. RESULTS: Over the study period, 218 patients (98.6%) had no major adverse events. The primary endpoint (death, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, major bleeding event, cerebrovascular accident, major vascular site complication, or requirement for return to the PCIC) was seen in only three transferred patients (1.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The RETRIEVE criteria can be used successfully to identify NSTEACS patients suitable for transfer back to NPCIC following PCI. Same day transfer to a NPCIC using the RETRIEVE criteria was associated with very low rates of major complications or repeat transfer and appears to be as safe as routine overnight observation in a PCIC.

Re-infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Thrombus formation, usually on a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque, is pivotal in the pathogenesis of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This thrombus formation provides the milieu for re-occlusion of the infarct-related artery, the main location of re-infarction post-STEMI. Although rates of re-infarction are lower after reperfusion by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than after fibrinolytic therapy, re-infarction remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. RECENT FINDINGS: The predominant cause of re-infarction after primary PCI is stent thrombosis. Two recent trials [A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Ambulance Initiation of Bivalirudin vs. Heparin ± Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors in Patients with STEMI Undergoing Primary PCI (EUROMAX) and Unfractionated heparin versus bivalirudin in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (HEAT-PPCI)] have each reported higher rates of stent thrombosis in the first 24 h after primary PCI in patients assigned to receive bivalirudin, which affects the balance of risks and benefit of bivalirudin post-STEMI. Also, in a subanalysis of the Platelet Inhibition And Patient Outcomes trial, ticagrelor reduces re-infarction compared with clopidogrel in patients with STEMI after primary PCI. Other nonpharmacological or mechanical interventions during primary PCI, with the exception of newer-generation drug-eluting stents in the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry, have not affected rates of re-infarction. SUMMARY: Re-infarction remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Re-infarction rates are altered by pharmacological strategy and stent selection in primary PCI. The design of future trials to detect possible treatment differences in relatively low event rates will provide challenges, and may require more novel strategies such as administrative data collection for patient characteristics and key outcomes.

The invasive investigation of INOCA in the coronary catheterization lab.

Over half of all patients with angina have no angiographically demonstratable obstructive coronary disease, with a significant proportion of these patients having undiagnosed microvascular dysfunction and/or vasospastic angina. In chronic coronary syndrome, ischemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) often remains undiagnosed, or uninvestigated. INOCAmay occur due to vasospastic angina and microvascular dysfunction and require invasive assessment in the coronary catheterization lab. To evaluate INOCA coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) are used to assess microvascular dysfunction before acetylcholine provocation testing for coronary spasm. This review provides an overview of the invasive investigation of INOCA in the coronary catheterization lab for patients with angina to be optimally managed.

INOCA: Ischemia in non-obstructive coronary arteries.

This article provides a summary of the clinical spectrum of no obstructive coronary arteries. We describe the pathologies, invasive and noninvasive assessment, and management strategies.

Sonothrombolysis Before and After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Provides the Largest Myocardial Salvage in ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Sonothrombolysis is a therapeutic application of ultrasound with ultrasound contrast for patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recent trials demonstrated that sonothrombolysis, delivered before and after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), increases infarct vessel patency, improves microvascular flow, reduces infarct size, and improves ejection fraction. However, it is unclear whether pre-pPCI sonothrombolysis is essential for therapeutic benefit. We designed a parallel 3-arm sham-controlled randomized controlled trial to address this. METHODS: Patients presenting with first STEMI undergoing pPCI within 6 hours of symptom onset were randomized 1:1:1 into 3 arms: sonothrombolysis pre-/post-pPCI (group 1), sham pre- sonothrombolysis post-pPCI (group 2), and sham pre-/post-pPCI (group 3). Our primary end point was infarct size (percentage of left ventricular mass) assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at day 4 ± 2. Secondary end points included myocardial salvage index (MSI) and echocardiographic parameters at day 4 ± 2 and 6 months. RESULTS: Our trial was ceased early due to the COVID pandemic. From 122 patients screened between September 2020 and June 2021, 51 patients (age 60, male 82%) were included postrandomization. Median sonothrombolysis took 5 minutes pre-pPCI and 15 minutes post-, without significant door-to-balloon delay. There was a trend toward reduction in median infarct size between group 1 (8% [interquartile range, 4,11]), group 2 (11% [7, 19]), or group 3 (15% [9, 22]). Similarly there was a trend toward improved MSI in group 1 (79% [64, 85]) compared to groups 2 (51% [45, 70]) and 3 (48% [37, 73]) No major adverse cardiac events occurred during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-pPCI sonothrombolysis may be key to improving MSI in STEMI. Multicenter trials and health economic analyses are required before clinical translation.

Sex Differences in Outcome and Prescribing Practice in ST-elevation MI Patients with Multivessel Disease and Incomplete Revascularisation.

Objective: To investigate the extent to which multivessel disease, incomplete revascularisation and prescribing differences contribute to sex-based outcome disparities in patients with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and establish whether differences in cardiac death and MI (CDMI) rates persist at long-term follow-up. Methods and results: This observational study evaluates sex-based outcome differences (median follow-up 3.6 years; IQR [2.4-5.4]) in a consecutive cohort of patients (n=2,083) presenting with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention). Of the studied patients 20.3% (423/2,083) were women and 38.3% (810/2,083) had multivessel disease (MVD). Incomplete revascularisation was common. The median residual SYNTAX score (rSS) was 5.0 (IQR [0-9]) in women and 5.0 (IQR [1-11]) in men (p=0.369), and in patients with MVD it was 9 (IQR [6-17]) in women and 10 (IQR [6-15]) in men (p=0.838). The primary endpoint CDMI occurred in 20.3% of women (86/423) and in 13.2% of men (219/1,660) (p=0.028). Differences persisted following multivariable risk adjustment: female sex was independently associated with CDMI (aHR 1.33; IQR [1.02-1.74]). Women with MVD had CDMI more often than all other groups (p<0.001 for all). Significant sex-based prescribing differences were evident: women were less likely to receive guideline-recommended potent P2Y12 inhibitors than men (31% versus 43%; p=0.012), and differences were particularly evident in patients with MVD (25% in women versus 45% in men, p=0.011). Conclusion: Sex-based differences in STEMI patient outcome persist at long-term follow-up. Poor outcomes were disproportionately found in women with MVD and those with rSS>8. Observed differences in P2Y12 prescribing practices may contribute to poor outcomes for women with MVD and incomplete revascularisation.

Sex-Specific Differences in Potent P2Y12 Inhibitor Use in British Cardiovascular Intervention Society Registry STEMI Patients.

BACKGROUND: Sex-based outcome differences for women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have not been adequately addressed, and the role played by differences in prescription of potent P2Y12 inhibitors (P-P2Y12) is not well defined. This study explores the hypothesis that disparities in P-P2Y12 (prasugrel or ticagrelor) use may play a role in outcome disparities for women with STEMI. METHODS: Data from British Cardiovascular Intervention Society national percutaneous coronary intervention database were analyzed, and 168 818 STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from 2010 to 2020 were included. RESULTS: Among the included women (43 131; 25.54%) and men (125 687; 74.45%), P-P2Y12 inhibitors were prescribed less often to women (51.71%) than men (55.18%; P<0.001). Women were more likely to die in hospital than men (adjusted odds ratio, 1.213 [95% CI, 1.141-1.290]). Unadjusted mortality was higher among women treated with clopidogrel (7.57%), than P-P2Y12-treated women (5.39%), men treated with clopidogrel (4.60%), and P-P2Y12-treated men (3.61%; P<0.001). The strongest independent predictor of P-P2Y12 prescription was radial access (adjusted odds ratio, 2.368 [95% CI, 2.312-2.425]), used in 67.93% of women and 74.38% of men (P<0.001). Two risk adjustment models were used. Women were less likely to receive a P-P2Y12 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.957 [95% CI, 0.935-0.979]) with risk adjustment for baseline characteristics alone, when procedural factors including radial access were included in the model differences were not significant (adjusted odds ratio, 1.015 [95% CI, 0.991-1.039]). CONCLUSIONS: Women were less likely to be prescribed prasugrel or ticagrelor, were less likely to have radial access, and had a higher mortality when being treated for STEMI. Improving rates of P-P2Y12 use and radial access may decrease outcome disparities for women with STEMI.