Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes for drug-eluting stents (DES) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery ...(ULMCA) stenosis. Background Expert guidelines recommend coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for the treatment of significant stenosis of the unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) if the patient is eligible for CABG; however, treatment by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common. Methods Details of patients (n = 343, ages 69.9 ± 11.9 years) undergoing coronary revascularization for ULMCA stenosis (April 2003 to January 2007) were recorded. A total of 223 patients were treated with CABG (mean interquartile range: follow-up 600 226 to 977) days) and 120 by PCI (follow-up 362 192 to 586) days). The hazard ratios (HRs) for death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were calculated incorporating propensity score adjustment. Survival comparisons were conducted in propensity-matched subjects (n = 134), and in low- and high-risk subjects for CABG. Results Patients treated by PCI were more likely to be ≥75 years of age (49% vs. 33%; p = 0.005), and of greater surgical risk (Parsonnet score 17.2 ± 11.2 vs. 13.0 ± 9.3; p < 0.001) than patients treated by CABG. Overall, the propensity-adjusted HR for death was not statistically different (HR 1.93, 95% confidence interval CI 0.89 to 4.19, p = 0.10), but MACCE was greater in the PCI group (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.32, p = 0.05). In propensity-matched individuals, neither survival nor MACCE-free survival were different. Survival was equivalent among low-risk candidates, but PCI had a tendency to inferior survival in high-risk candidates (Ellis category IV, log-rank p = 0.05). Interaction testing, however, failed to demonstrate a difference in outcomes of the 2 revascularization techniques as a function of baseline risk assessment. Conclusions Overall, the propensity-adjusted risk of mortality for treatment of ULMCA disease does not differ between PCI- and CABG-treated groups. There appears to be sufficient equipoise that a randomized clinical trial to compare the techniques would not be ethically contraindicated.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association recently updated recommendations for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease ...from class III to II(b) according to the results of the SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) trial. The SYNTAX score is an angiographic tool using solely the coronary anatomy. We studied the effect of co-morbidities (Parsonnet's score) on the ability of the SYNTAX score to predict long-term outcomes in patients with ULMCA disease treated by revascularization. A total of 328 patients underwent revascularization of ULMCA from April 2003 to February 2007. Of the 328 patients, 120 underwent PCI (median follow-up 973 days) and 208 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (median follow-up 1,298 days). The ability of the SYNTAX score to predict outcomes was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model. The outcomes between the PCI and CABG groups were compared by propensity analysis. The median SYNTAX score was 26 in the PCI and 28 in the CABG group (p = 0.5). In the PCI group, greater quartiles were associated with worse survival (62.1% at SYNTAX score of ≥36 vs 82.4% at SYNTAX score of <36, p = 0.03) and all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events, and target vessel revascularization-free (MACCE) survival (47.7%, SYNTAX score ≥20 vs 76.6%, SYNTAX score <20, p = 0.02). Using the Parsonnet score as a covariate, the SYNTAX score continued to be an independent predictor of MACCE and demonstrated a trend toward predicting mortality in the PCI group. In contrast, the SYNTAX score did not predict the outcomes for the CABG group. No difference was found in mortality between the PCI and CABG groups for ULMCA disease, regardless of coronary complexity; although greater SYNTAX scores were associated with increased MACCE rates with PCI compared to CABG. Both the coronary anatomy (SYNTAX score) and co-morbidities (Parsonnet's score) predicted long-term outcomes for PCI of ULMCA disease. In contrast, the SYNTAX score did not predict the outcomes after CABG. In conclusion, the ideal scoring system to guide an appropriate revascularization decision for ULMCA disease should take into account both the coronary anatomy and the co-morbidities.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
A meta-analysis of published studies was conducted to evaluate the incidence, predictors, and clinical outcomes of stent fractures. Eight studies with 108 stent fractures in 5,321 patients were ...analyzed using the Bayesian method. Study end points included in-stent restenosis (ISR) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). The mean incidence of stent fracture per patient was 4.0% (95% confidence interval 0.4% to 16.3%). All cases, except 1, were reported with sirolimus-eluting stents. The incidence of stent fracture was 30.4% in the left anterior descending coronary artery, 10.9% in the left circumflex coronary artery, 56.4% in the right coronary artery, <0.01% in the left main coronary artery, and 1.7% in saphenous vein grafts. The probability of stent fracture was significantly higher in the right coronary artery than in the left anterior descending and left circumflex lesions (p <0.01). Left main stents were less likely to fracture compared to those in all other vessels (p <0.01). The probability of stent fracture was significantly increased in overlapping stents (7.5% vs 2.1%, p = 0.01) and long stents (46 vs 32.5 mm, p <0.01). Lesions with stent fractures had higher rates of ISR (38% vs 8.2%, p <0.01) and TLR (17% vs 5.6%, p <0.01). Conversely, the probability of stent fractures was higher in patients with ISR (12.8% vs 2.1%, p <0.01) and TLR (8.8% vs 2.7%, p <0.01). In conclusion, although not always associated with clinical sequelae, the probability of ISR and TLR is increased with stent fracture. Conversely, the probability of stent fractures is increased in lesions with ISR or TLR, thus raising the need for surveillance and management guidelines for at-risk patients.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The management strategy in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) is controversial. Aortic valve replacement has significant morbidity and mortality, while there is a risk for sudden ...cardiac death with conservative management. There is no consensus on the prognostic value of stress testing to stratify management. A pooled analysis of studies in patients with severe AS was performed to assess the prognostic value of stress testing for adverse events, including angina, dyspnea, acute heart failure, sudden death, and symptoms requiring aortic valve replacement. A search of published research was performed using the terms “stress test” and “asymptomatic aortic stenosis.” A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Data from 7 studies were included (491 patients with asymptomatic severe AS). None of the patients experienced any complications during or after stress testing. There were no sudden deaths in the patients with normal stress test results after 1 year of follow-up, while 5% with abnormal stress test results had sudden cardiac death. Overall, 52 of 253 patients (21%) with normal stress test results had adverse cardiac events, compared with 156 of 238 (66%) with abnormal stress test results (odds ratio 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.21, p <0.001). In conclusion, stress testing in asymptomatic patients with severe AS is safe and identifies patients at risk for adverse cardiac events and sudden cardiac death. These data suggest that stress tests can be used for risk stratification and for deciding on the timing of aortic valve replacement in asymptomatic patients with severe AS.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
5.
In Memoriam, George A. Diamond, MD 1941 to 2015 Kaul, Sanjay, MD; Rozanski, Alan, MD; Berman, Daniel S., MD ...
The American journal of cardiology,
04/2016, Volume:
117, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Over the last few years, he was inspired by the potential of evidence-based medicine to energize health care reform by encouraging quality improvement and cost control through adherence to clinical ...practice guidelines. ...the original "fee-for-benefit" proposal evolved into a system of "evidence-based reimbursement" incentives whereby reimbursement is more closely aligned to the evidence of benefit.4,5 In recognition of these pioneering works and scientific contributions that forever changed the landscape of cardiovascular medicine, the Cedars-Sinai Alumni Association bestowed on him the "2009 Alumnus of the Year Award."
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Inflammatory cytokines have a central role in atherogenesis and plaque rupture. These mediators, including tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, and matrix metalloproteinases and transforming growth ...factor-β are also prominent in other chronic progressive diseases characterized by cell apoptosis and tissue fibrosis. This review extends the inflammation hypothesis to critical analysis of studies to bearing on the role of inflammation in chronic conditions that commonly accompany coronary disease. Because statins inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators, the review then analyzes the laboratory and clinical data that may justify trials of statins in nonatherosclerotic disease. In conclusion, despite far different clinical presentations, chronic progressive diseases characterized by apoptosis and fibrosis have persistence of inflammatory cytokines as a final common pathway, and thus may benefit from the pleiotropic effects of statin therapy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Evidence from multiple large prospective studies suggests that a common polymorphism that encodes an arginine (Arg)–to–tryptophan substitution at position 719 in the KIF6 gene is associated with ...coronary heart disease (CHD) and reduction in coronary events from statin therapy. Carriers of the 719Arg allele were at greater risk for primary and secondary CHD events, and statin therapy significantly reduced coronary events in 719Arg carriers but not in noncarriers. The number needed to treat to prevent a single CHD event ranged from 10 to 20 for 719Arg carriers, compared to >80 for noncarriers in the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) study, the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS), the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER), and the Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 22 (PROVE IT–TIMI22) study. In conclusion, assessment of 719Arg carrier status holds promise for stratification of coronary event risk and for selection of optimal therapy in primary and secondary CHD prevention.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background Little skin cancer prevention research has focused on the US Hispanic population. Objective This study examined the prevalence and correlates of skin cancer surveillance behaviors among ...Hispanic adults. Methods A population-based sample of 788 Hispanic adults residing in 5 southern and western states completed an online survey in English or Spanish in September 2011. The outcomes were ever having conducted a skin self-examination (SSE) and having received a total cutaneous examination (TCE) from a health professional. The correlates included sociodemographic, skin cancer–related, and psychosocial factors. Results The rates of ever conducting a SSE or having a TCE were 17.6% and 9.2%, respectively. Based on the results of multivariable logistic regressions, factors associated with ever conducting a SSE included older age, English linguistic acculturation, a greater number of melanoma risk factors, more frequent sunscreen use, sunbathing, job-related sun exposure, higher perceived skin cancer risk, physician recommendation, more SSE benefits, and fewer SSE barriers. Factors associated with ever having a TCE were older age, English linguistic acculturation, a greater number of melanoma risk factors, ever having tanned indoors, greater skin cancer knowledge, higher perceived skin cancer severity, lower skin cancer worry, physician recommendation, more TCE benefits, and fewer SSE barriers. Limitations The cross-sectional design limits conclusions regarding the causal nature of observed associations. Conclusions Few Hispanic adults engage in skin cancer surveillance behaviors. The study highlights Hispanic subpopulations that are least likely to engage in skin cancer surveillance behaviors and informs the development of culturally appropriate interventions to promote these behaviors.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The new Adult Treatment Panel guidelines will be published in 2011. This paper suggests the consideration of major changes in the existing management guidelines for low-density lipoprotein ...cholesterol management based on 2 fundamental principles: return the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level to the normal range and begin treatment closer to disease onset. These principles suggest the value of rethinking all 3 of the principal features of the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol management: the initiation criteria, the use of variable targets, and the level of the treatment target. Because the principal issue surrounding guideline change is likely to be uncertainty concerning cost and toxicity, the text of new guidelines would have to completely satisfy this concern by strong emphasis on a prudent conservative approach to implementation and would include both cautionary data and caveats concerning the tradeoffs between the potency, cost, and toxicity of statins. The proposed changes in the guidelines, if combined with effective implementation, would likely lead to the displacement of atherosclerotic disease as the nation's number 1 killer. This review provides a logical rationale and discusses the pros and cons for each of the proposed changes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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