Secondary prevention with medications is essential for the better prognosis of patients who have experienced cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the use of guideline-based medications for ...secondary prevention in older adults in the community settings after discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using anonymized claims data of older beneficiaries in a suburban city of Japan between April 2012 and March 2015. The prescriptions of antiplatelets, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and β-blockers were evaluated for 3 months before and after the month in which the participants underwent PCI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the associations of age (“pre-old” group 63-72 years vs. “old” group ≥ 73 years) and sex with the prescriptions, adjusting for whether a participant was followed-up by the PCI-performing hospital. Of 815 participants, 59.6% constituted the old group and 70.9% were men. The prescription rates for antiplatelets, statins, ACEi/ARB, and β-blockers after discharge were 94.6%, 65.0%, 59.3%, and 32.9%, respectively. The adjusted analysis indicated that statins were less likely to be prescribed for the old group (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 0.70; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.51-0.95; p = 0.023) and for men (aOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45-0.89; p = 0.008). β-blockers were more likely to be prescribed for men (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.17-2.33; p = 0.004). Our results suggest the potential for improvements in secondary prevention by increasing the prescription rates of guideline-based medications in this population.
Patient-reported quality of life (PRQL) is a primary therapeutic target for patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and is associated with long-term prognosis. However, its utility in hospitalized ...HF (HHF) patients in the acute setting remains unclear. We aimed to assess the utility of PRQL (the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire KCCQ) in HHF patients and its association with long-term prognosis as well as with the clinical risk score (Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure GWTG-HF risk score). PRQL was evaluated using the KCCQ in consecutive 114 HHF patients. Its association with the composite outcome of all-cause mortality or HF readmission within the first year after discharge was analyzed. Furthermore, its distribution by the clinical risk score (GWTG-HF) was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The median KCCQ was 34.9, but was widely distributed (interquartile range 23.7–56.8). After adjustment for known prognostic indicators, the KCCQ was not an independent predictor of the composite outcome within the first year (group with high vs. low KCCQ scores: hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval 0.26–1.71). There was no significant correlation between the KCCQ and the GWTG-HF risk score. In conclusion, PRQL during the acute phase of HF was significantly impaired and also varied widely, irrespective of patient characteristics or severity. PRQL assessment and risk prediction for HHF patients in the acute setting seemed to provide two distinct types of information for health care providers.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Objectives
This study sought to provide an overview of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in dialysis patients from a Japanese nationwide registry.
Background
Little is known about dialysis ...patients undergoing PCI because few are enrolled in clinical trials.
Methods
We analyzed 624,900 PCI cases including 41,384 dialysis patients (6.6%) from 1,017 Japanese hospitals between 2014 and 2016. We investigated differences in characteristics and in‐hospital outcomes between dialysis and nondialysis patients, and assessed factors associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes.
Results
Dialysis patients had more comorbidities than nondialysis patients and higher rates of complications including in‐hospital mortality (3.3% vs. 1.5%, respectively, in the acute coronary syndrome ACS cohort, 0.2% vs. 0.1% in the non‐ACS cohort) and bleeding complications requiring blood transfusion (1.1% vs. 0.4% in ACS, 0.5% vs. 0.2% in non‐ACS). Dialysis was significantly associated with an increased risk of in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio OR: 1.42, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.24–1.62 in ACS, OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.66–3.05 in non‐ACS) and bleeding (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.30–1.96 in ACS, OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.27–1.88 in non‐ACS). For dialysis patients, age, acute heart failure, and cardiogenic shock were associated with an increased risk of in‐hospital mortality in the ACS cohort, whereas age, female gender, and history of heart failure were associated with higher in‐hospital mortality in the non‐ACS cohort.
Conclusions
PCI was widely performed for dialysis patients with either ACS or non‐ACS in Japan. Dialysis patients had a greater risk of adverse outcomes than nondialysis patients after PCI.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Background:Door-to-balloon (DTB) time ≤90 min is an important quality indicator in the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but a considerable number of patients still do not ...meet this goal, particularly in countries outside the USA and Europe.Methods and Results:We analyzed 2,428 STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI ≤12 h of symptom onset who were registered in an ongoing prospective multicenter database (JCD-KiCS registry), between 2008 and 2013. We analyzed both the time trend in DTB time within this cohort in the registry, and independent predictors of delayed DTB time >90 min. Median DTB time was 90 min (IQR, 68–115 min) during the study period and there were no significant changes with year. Predictors for delay in DTB time included peripheral artery disease, prior revascularization, off-hour arrival, age >75 years, heart failure at arrival, and use of IABP or VA-ECMO. Notably, high-volume PCI-capable institutions (PCI ≥200/year) were more adept at achieving shorter DTB time compared with low-volume institutions (PCI <200/year).Conclusions:Half of the present STEMI patients did not achieve DTB time ≤90 min. Targeting the elderly and patients with multiple comorbidities, and PCI performed in off-hours may aid in its improvement.
See article vol. 28: 241-248 Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been recognized as an intervenable risk factor for incident cardioembolic stroke in various studies. Today, patients with AF receive oral ...anticoagulation therapy to prevent future thromboembolic events, based on clinical risk scores such as the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc. Both scores incorporate risk factors such as age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, previous stroke, and other vascular diseases that incrementally increase the likelihood of incident stroke events, particularly among the Caucasian population. Similarly, in a joint cohort of five representative AF registries in Japan, previous stroke, advanced age, hypertension, low body mass index, and persistent/permanent AF were identified as independent risk factors for ischemic stroke.
ObjectivesTo describe the experiences of patients who have postacute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection with internal vibrations and tremors as a prominent component, we leveraged the efforts by Survivor ...Corps, a grassroots COVID-19 patient advocacy group, to gather information from individuals belonging to its Facebook group with a history of COVID-19 suffering from vibrations and tremors.Setting and designA narrative analysis was performed on 140 emails and 450 social media comments from 140 individuals collected as a response to a call to >180 000 individuals participating in Survivor Corps between 15 July and 27 July 2021. We used common coding techniques and the constant comparative method for qualitative data synthesis and categorising emails. Coded data were entered into NVivo V.12 to identify recurrent themes, theme connections and supporting quotations. Comments were analysed using Word Clouds, generated with R V.4.0.3 using quanteda, wordcloud and tm packages.Main outcome measuresPatient-reported long COVID symptom themes and domains related to internal tremors and vibration.ResultsThe respondents’ emails represented 22 themes and 7 domains pertaining to their experience with internal tremor and vibrations. These domains were as follows: (1) symptom experience, description and anatomic location; (2) initial symptom onset; (3) symptom timing; (4) symptom triggers or alleviators; (5) change from baseline health status; (6) experience with medical establishment and (7) impact on individuals’ lives and livelihood. There were 22 themes in total, each corresponding to one of the broader domains. Among the responses, many described symptoms that varied in location, timing and triggers, occurred soon after their COVID-19 infection, and were markedly debilitating. There were often frustrating experiences with the healthcare system.ConclusionsThis study describes key themes and experiences among a group of people reporting long COVID and having a prolonged and debilitating symptom complex that prominently features internal tremors and vibrations.
Limiting the contrast volume to creatinine clearance (V/CrCl) ratio is crucial for preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, ...the incidence of CI-AKI and the distribution of V/CrCl ratios may vary according to patient body habitus.
We aimed to identify the clinical factors predicting CI-AKI in patients with different body mass indexes (BMIs).
We evaluated 8782 consecutive patients undergoing PCI and who were registered in a large Japanese database. CI-AKI was defined as an absolute serum creatinine increase of 0.3 mg/dL or a relative increase of 50%. The effect of the V/CrCl ratio relative to CI-AKI incidence was evaluated within the low- (≤25 kg/m2) and high- (>25 kg/m2) BMI groups, with a V/CrCl ratio > 3 considered to be a risk factor for CI-AKI.
A V/CrCl ratio > 3 was predictive of CI-AKI, regardless of BMI (low-BMI group: odds ratio OR, 1.77 1.42-2.21; P < 0.001; high-BMI group: OR, 1.67 1.22-2.29; P = 0.001). The relationship between BMI and CI-AKI followed a reverse J-curve relationship, although baseline renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance <60 mL/min, 46.9% vs. 21.5%) and V/CrCl ratio > 3 (37.3% vs. 20.4%) were predominant in the low-BMI group. Indeed, low BMI was a significant predictor of a V/CrCl ratio > 3 (OR per unit decrease in BMI, 1.08 1.05-1.10; P < 0.001).
A V/CrCl ratio > 3 was strongly associated with the occurrence of CI-AKI. Importantly, we also identified a tendency for physicians to use higher V/CrCl ratios in lean patients. Thus, recognizing this trend may provide a therapeutic target for reducing the incidence of CI-AKI.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention has become the standard of care, particularly in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Current clinical guidelines ...recommend novel P2Y12 inhibitors (e.g., prasugrel or ticagrelor) in addition to aspirin based on the results of representative randomized controlled trials conducted predominantly in Western countries. These agents were superior to clopidogrel in reducing the composite ischemic events, with a trade-off of the increased bleeding events. However, multiple differences exist between East Asian and Western patients, especially with respect to their physique, thrombogenicity, hemorrhagic diathesis, and on-treatment platelet reactivity. Recent studies from East Asian countries (e.g., Japan or South Korea) have consistently demonstrated that use of novel P2Y12 inhibitors is associated with a higher risk of bleeding events than use of clopidogrel, despite borderline statistical difference in the incidence of composite ischemic events. Additionally, multiple studies have shown that the optimal duration of DAPT may be shorter in East Asian than Western patients. This review summarizes clinical studies of antithrombotic strategies in East Asian patients with ACS. Understanding these differences in antithrombotic strategies including DAPT and their impacts on clinical outcomes will aid in selection of the optimal tailored antithrombotic therapy for patients with ACS.
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