Evaluation of dyslipidaemia and the impact of hypolipidemic therapy on prognosis in high and very high risk patients through the Hyperlipidaemia Therapy in tERtiary Cardiological cEnTer (TERCET) Registry.

The use of statins in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia leads to a significant decrease in cardiovascular (CV) endpoints, and therapy effects are proportional to the reduction of cholesterol levels. In Poland, information about the effects of statin therapy is scarcely available. The information gathered in the Hyperlipidaemia Therapy in the tERtiary Cardiological cEnTer (TERCET) Registry on high-risk and very high-risk patients might improve our knowledge on this issue and help to introduce suitable activities. The main aim of the TERCET Registry is to achieve the target value of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) during a 1-year follow-up: LDL-C <70 mg/dL in very high-risk patients and LDL-C <100 mg/dL in high-risk patients. All consecutive patients with either stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been included in the Registry, and the information on all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and planned or ACS-caused revascularisation have been being gathered within 12-month follow-up. At the moment, the TERCET Registry includes 14,873 patients (66.8% male) at an average age of 64.8 ±â€¯10.2 with a significantly higher age of women (67.5 ±â€¯10.3 vs. 63.5 ±â€¯9.7; p < .001). The causes of hospitalisation were as the following: sCAD (n = 9375 patients, 63% of the investigated population), ST-elevated myocardial infarction (n = 2328 [15.6%]), non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (n = 1700 [11.4%]), and unstable coronary artery disease (n = 1466 [10%]). 62,7% (n = 9144) of the patients were diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia before hospital admission, with no significant difference between male and female patients. The TERCET registry will allow unveiling real lipid profiles of the high- and very-high risk patients treated in the tertiary hospital. The results may play an essential role in establishing the patients' future clinical outcomes and help to assess if the lipid lowering therapy modifications changed the occurrence of CV endpoints. The registry data will summarize the number of patients unable to reach their LDL-C goals, and who in the future might become candidates suitable for new hypolipidemic therapies (ID: NCT03065543).

Influence of Gaseous Pollutants on COPD Exacerbations in Patients with Cardiovascular Comorbidities.

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are a serious public health issue. Ambient pollution and meteorological factors are considered among precipitating factors. There are few data concerning the impact of ambient pollutants other than particulates on COPD exacerbations. Among gaseous pollutants four main groups of substances are primarily monitored: nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3). In this study, 12,889 hospitalizations in the years 2006-2014 due to exacerbations of COPD in patients having a co-existing cardiovascular pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Cardiovascular disease was ruled out as the underlying reason of hospitalization. Data concerning the then accompanying gaseous pollutants and weather conditions were collected. The findings were that the impact of SO2 content was significantly associated with the relative risk (RR) of COPD exacerbation when the exposure took place at least 30 days or longer before hospital admission (RR 1.04-1.05; p < 0.05). In contrast, risk of COPD exacerbation rose when a shortening of the time lag between exposure to NOx and hospital admission was considered (RR 1.02-1.04; p < 0.05). O3 exposure was associated with a lower risk irrespective of the length of exposure/exacerbation lag (RR 0.77-0.90; p < 0.05). There were insignificant associations observed for CO. In conclusion, the study demonstrates a salient influence of a co-existing cardiovascular malady on the appearance of COPD-related respiratory exacerbations when the pollutant SO2 and NOx contents rose. In contrast, higher O3 content was associated with a lower risk of COPD exacerbation.

Impact of smoking on outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is a well­established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, in patients with ST­segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), smoking has been associated with better clinical outcomes; this phenomenon became known as the "smoker's paradox." OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between smoking and clinical outcomes in STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), using 3 large national registries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 82 235 hospitalized STEMI patients treated with primary PCI. Among the analyzed population, 30 966 patients (37.96%) were smokers, and 51 269 (62.36%) were nonsmokers. We evaluated the baseline characteristics, pharmacotherapy, clinical outcomes, and readmission causes in a 36­month follow­up. RESULTS: The smokers were significantly younger (median [interquartile range] age, 58 [52-64] vs 68 [59-77] years; P <0.001) than the nonsmokers, and there were more men in this group. The patients who smoked were less likely to have traditional risk factors, as compared with the nonsmokers. In the unadjusted analysis, in­hospital and 36­month mortality and rehospitalization rates were lower in the smokers group. However, after adjustment for baseline characteristics that differed between the 2 groups, the multivariable analysis showed that tobacco use was one of the independent risk factors for 36­month mortality (hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06-1.18; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the present large­scale, registry­based analysis, the observed lower 36­month crude rates of adverse events among the smokers, as compared with the nonsmokers, might be partially explained by a significantly lower burden of traditional risk factors and younger age of the smokers. After accounting for age and other baseline differences, smoking was found to be one of the independent risk factors for 36­month mortality.

The Impact of Short-Term Outdoor Air Pollution on Clinical Status and Prognosis of Hospitalized Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of acute exposure to air pollutants on patients' profile, short- and mid-term outcomes of hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with coronary angioplasty. METHODS: Out of 19,582 patients of the TERCET Registry, 7521 patients living in the Upper Silesia and Zaglebie Metropolis were included. The study population was divided into two groups according to the diagnosis of chronic (CCS) or acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Data on 24-h average concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) were obtained from eight environmental monitoring stations. RESULTS: No significant association between pollutants' concentration with baseline characteristic and in-hospital outcomes was observed. In the ACS group at 30 days, exceeding the 3rd quartile of PM10 was associated with almost 2-fold increased risk of adverse events and more than 3-fold increased risk of death. Exceeding the 3rd quartile of SO2 was connected with more than 8-fold increased risk of death at 30 days. In the CCS group, exceeding the 3rd quartile of SO2 was linked to almost 2,5-fold increased risk of 12-month death. CONCLUSIONS: The acute increase in air pollutants' concentrations affect short- and mid-term prognosis in patients with CAD.

Myocardial Infarction in Centenarians. Data from The Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: There are no data regarding the mortality rate, risks and benefits of particular reperfusion methods and pharmacological treatment complications in patients aged over 100 years with acute coronary syndromes. We sought to assess the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients older than 100 years and to determine prognostic factors for this group. METHODS: Among the 716,566 patients recorded between 2003 and 2018 in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes, 104 patients aged ≥100 with MI were included. The patients were categorized into two groups: group 1 received conservative treatment (64 patients), and group 2 received invasive strategy (40 patients). RESULTS: The frequencies of in-hospital mortality, MI and stroke were similar in both arms. No difference in the frequency of the combined endpoint (death, reinfarction, stroke) was noted. Invasive treatment was more advantageous for 12-month outcomes; 50 patients in group 1 (79%) and 23 patients in group 2 (57.50%) died (p = 0.017). The multivariate analysis identified the lower left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.96; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.94-0.99; p = 0.012), lack of coronary angiography (HR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.24-0.99; p = 0.048) and cardiac arrest (HR = 4.61; 95% CI: 1.64-12.99; p = 0.0038) as predictors of 12-month mortality in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive MI treatment may be beneficial for selected very old patients.

Clinical Characteristics, Treatments, and Outcomes of Patients with Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA): Results from a Multicenter National Registry.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) requires both clinical evidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and demonstration of non-obstructive coronary arteries using angiography. We compared the clinical features, treatments, and three-year outcomes in patients with MINOCA and myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data for 205,606 hospitalized patients with AMI. MINOCA was indicated as a working diagnosis in 6063 patients (2.94% of all AMI patients). For the control group we included 160,886 patients with MI-CAD. We evaluated the baseline characteristics, medication management options, outcomes, and readmission causes at 36 months follow-up. RESULTS: Patients in the MINOCA group were younger. Females constituted a greater proportion of patients in the MINOCA group when compared to MI-CAD patients. STEMI during admission was diagnosed less frequently in the MINOCA group when compared to the MI-CAD group. All-cause mortality at 12 months was higher in the MINOCA group (10.94% vs. 9.54%, p < 0.001). At 36 months, there was no difference in the all-cause mortality rates (MINOCA 16.18% vs. MI-CAD 14.93%, p = 0.081). All-cause readmission rates were lower in the MINOCA group when compared to the MI-CAD group at both 12 months (45.19% vs. 54.33%, p < 0.001) and 36 months follow-up (56.42% vs. 66.66%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first description of the clinical features, treatments, and three-year outcomes in a large population of Polish patients. The main finding of this study was a relatively low rate of MINOCA, with high rates of adverse events both at 12 and 36 months follow-up.

Long-term outcomes of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease presenting non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data concerning the optimal revascularization in patients with mul- tivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). The aim was to evaluate long-term outcomes of patients with multivessel CAD presenting NSTE-ACS depending on the management after coronary angiography. METHODS: 3,166 patients with NSTE-ACS hospitalized between 2006 and 2014 were screened. After ex- clusions, 1,342 patients were enrolled with multivessel CAD and were divided depending on their man- agement after coronary angiography; the medical-only therapy group (n = 91), the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group (n = 1,122), the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) group (n = 129). Propensity scores matching was used to adjust for differences in patient baseline characteristics. RESULTS: After propensity score analysis, 273 well-matched patients were chosen. Both before and after matching, patients treated with a medical-only therapy were burdened with the highest percentage of 24-month all-cause death and non-fatal MI in comparison to PCI and CABG groups, respectively. In the CABG group, ACS-driven revascularization rate was lowest. In the overall population, PCI (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.20-0.53; p < 0.0001) and CABG (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.31-0.93; p = 0.028) were independent factors associated with favorable 24-month prognosis. However, in a matched population only PCI was an independent predictor of long-term prognosis with a 63% decrease of 24-month mortal- ity (HR 0.37; 95% CI 0.19-0.69; p = 0.0020). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multivessel CAD presenting with NSTE-ACS, medical-only man- agement is related with adverse long-term prognosis in contrast to revascularization, which reduces 24-month mortality, especially among patients undergoing percutaneous intervention. Performance of PCI is an independent factor for improving long-term prognosis.

Influence of particulate matter air pollution on exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease depending on aerodynamic diameter and the time of exposure in the selected population with coexistent cardiovascular diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Particulate matter air pollution constitutes an important factor affecting the course of various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Two main monitored groups of particulate pollution are particulate matter with the aerodynamic diameter below 10 µm (PM10) and 2.5 µm (PM2.5). One of the most important respiratory diseases is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical presentation of COPD and cardiovascular diseases is similar and can cause complications during therapy. The study explores connection between particulate matter and COPD exacerbations in population with cardiovascular cause of symptoms excluded. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis was based on data from hospitalisations in the years 2006-2016 in the hospitals of Upper Silesian Agglomeration, Poland. The data were correlated with meteorological conditions and particulate matter concentrations up to 90 days before hospital admission. RESULTS: During the whole observation period no connection between PM10 concentration changes and COPD exacerbations were observed. On the other hand PM 2,5 influence started to be significant on 14 day before admission (RR 1.06) and increased up to maximal analysed period of 90 days (RR 1.32). CONCLUSIONS: Overall this study highlights the importance of particulate matter pollution emission impact on COPD exacerbations in a long time perspective.

Early and long-term outcomes of complete revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease presenting with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical significance of complete revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (CR-PCI) in patients with non-ST-segment acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) remains uncertain. AIM: To evaluate the impact of CR-PCI during index hospitalization on short and long-term incidence of death and composite endpoint among patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting with NSTE-ACS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed consecutive data of 1,592 patients with multivessel CAD from 2006 to 2014. Patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), cardiogenic shock, treated conservatively or with CABG and scheduled for planned CABG or PCI after discharge were excluded. The 30-day and 12-month composite endpoint was defined as all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or ACS-driven unplanned revascularization. Six hundred and ninety-five patients were divided into 2 groups: CR-PCI (n = 137) (CR-PCI during index hospitalization) and IR-PCI (n = 558) (incomplete revascularization). RESULTS: Incidence of composite endpoint (3.6% vs. 10.2%; HR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12-0.87; p = 0.025) and death (0.7% vs. 5.7%, HR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02-0.93; p = 0.043) at 30 days was lower in CR-PCI than in IR-PCI. At 12-month follow-up occurrence of composite endpoint was lower in CR-PCI (14.7%) than in IR-PCI (27.4%, p = 0.0037). Multivariate analysis confirmed that CR PCI was associated with a reduction in 12-month composite endpoint (HR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.31-0.99; p = 0.046). The 12-month mortality was lower in CR-PCI (7.4% vs. 14.8%; p = 0.031), but it was not confirmed in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multivessel CAD and NSTE-ACS, CR-PCI during index hospitalization was independently associated with improved early and long-term prognosis without significant differences in periprocedural outcomes in comparison to IR-PCI.