Objective Our objective was to evaluate the natural history of moderate aortic stenosis in veterans—a unique patient population with significant comorbidities. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the ...records of all patients who underwent echocardiography at a single veterans affairs hospital during 2006. We identified consecutive patients who had moderate aortic stenosis as indicated by a mean transaortic gradient of 25 to 40 mm Hg, peak aortic jet velocity of 3 to 4 m/s, or aortic valve area of 1.0 to 1.5 cm2 . The primary end point was defined as survival without aortic valve replacement. Results Of the 104 patients (mean age, 74 ± 10 years), 49% had diabetes, 21% had peripheral vascular disease, 21% were current smokers, 18% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 60% had coronary artery disease, 89% had hypertension, and 31% had a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or more. Mean ejection fraction was 49% ± 12%. During the mean follow-up period of 22 months (range, 1-67 months), 30% of patients underwent aortic valve replacement—26% for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and 4% concomitantly with coronary artery bypass grafting as the primary indicated operation—and 61% died. Event-free survivals were 48%, 24%, and 15% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions Our cohort of military veteran patients had significant comorbidities. Event-free survival for such patients who have moderate aortic stenosis is significantly lower than previously reported data suggest. Within this unique group of patients, identifying factors that accelerate the progression of moderate aortic stenosis would help surgeons select patients who may benefit from early aortic valve replacement for moderate aortic stenosis.
This paper describes the medical therapy used in the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial and its effect on risk factors.
Most cardiovascular ...clinical trials test a single intervention. The COURAGE trial tested multiple lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions (optimal medical therapy) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary disease.
All patients, regardless of treatment assignment, received equivalent lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions for secondary prevention. Most medications were provided at no cost. Therapy was administered by nurse case managers according to protocols designed to achieve predefined lifestyle and risk factor goals.
The patients (n = 2,287) were followed for 4.6 years. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in proportion of patients achieving therapeutic goals. The proportion of smokers decreased from 23% to 19% (p = 0.025), those who reported <7% of calories from saturated fat increased from 46% to 80% (p < 0.001), and those who walked >or=150 min/week increased from 58% to 66% (p < 0.001). Body mass index increased from 28.8 +/- 0.13 kg/m(2) to 29.3 +/- 0.23 kg/m(2) (p < 0.001). Appropriate medication use increased from pre-randomization to 5 years as follows: antiplatelets 87% to 96%; beta-blockers 69% to 85%; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors 46% to 72%; and statins 64% to 93%. Systolic blood pressure decreased from a median of 131 +/- 0.49 mm Hg to 123 +/- 0.88 mm Hg. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased from a median of 101 +/- 0.83 mg/dl to 72 +/- 0.88 mg/dl.
Secondary prevention was applied equally and intensively to both treatment groups in the COURAGE trial by nurse case managers with treatment protocols and resulted in significant improvement in risk factors. Optimal medical therapy in the COURAGE trial provides an effective model for secondary prevention among patients with chronic coronary disease. (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation; NCT00007657).
We examined factors affecting the choice of surgical versus medical treatment of severe aortic stenosis and evaluated associated patient survival.
We retrospectively reviewed data from all patients ...diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis at a Veterans Affairs medical facility between January 1997 and April 2008.
Of 345 patients with severe aortic stenosis, 260 (75%) underwent surgical evaluation, and 205 (59%) underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). The patient's decision to decline surgical referral or AVR (n = 47) and severe comorbidities (n = 34) were the top two reasons for medical treatment rather than AVR. The AVR group was younger (69.5 +/- 9.6 years versus 75.7 +/- 8.6 years; p < 0.001) and had a higher prevalence of symptoms (96% versus 71%; p < 0.001) than the medical group. The medical group had a lower cardiac ejection fraction (0.42 +/- 0.15 versus 0.50 +/- 0.12; p < 0.001) and was less likely to be independent in activities of daily living (64% versus 74%). The AVR group had higher survival rates than the medical patients at 1 year (92% versus 65%), 3 years (85% versus 29%), and 5 years (73% versus 16%; log-rank test p < 0.0001). Valve replacement was independently associated with decreased mortality (hazard ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.27; p < 0.0001).
The management of severe aortic stenosis in veterans is sometimes limited to medical evaluation and treatment. Surgeons should be involved in the complex process of risk assessment, to select patients with severe aortic stenosis who would benefit from the survival advantage associated with AVR.
Papillary fibroelastomas are the most common benign neoplasms of the cardiac valvular structures, and they are being recognized more frequently because of higher-resolution imaging technology. ...Papillary fibroelastomas are associated with substantial complications that are secondary to systemic embolism. Incidentally discovered papillary fibroelastomas are treated on the basis of their size, mobility, and associated comorbidities and symptoms. Surgical resection should be offered to all patients who have symptoms and to asymptomatic patients who have pedunculated lesions or tumors larger than 1 cm in diameter. Valve-sparing excision produces good long-term results in most instances.Herein, we present the case of a patient who was scheduled for elective myocardial revascularization and in whom an aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma was discovered incidentally during routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The timely recognition of this asymptomatic tumor enabled a modified operative approach: the patient underwent myocardial revascularization with concomitant valve-sparing resection of the tumor. We discuss the pathophysiology of fibroelastomas of the aortic valve and operative approaches to the management of these tumors when they are discovered incidentally.
In patients with stable coronary artery disease, it remains unclear whether an initial management strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with intensive pharmacologic therapy and ...lifestyle intervention (optimal medical therapy) is superior to optimal medical therapy alone in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
We conducted a randomized trial involving 2287 patients who had objective evidence of myocardial ischemia and significant coronary artery disease at 50 U.S. and Canadian centers. Between 1999 and 2004, we assigned 1149 patients to undergo PCI with optimal medical therapy (PCI group) and 1138 to receive optimal medical therapy alone (medical-therapy group). The primary outcome was death from any cause and nonfatal myocardial infarction during a follow-up period of 2.5 to 7.0 years (median, 4.6).
There were 211 primary events in the PCI group and 202 events in the medical-therapy group. The 4.6-year cumulative primary-event rates were 19.0% in the PCI group and 18.5% in the medical-therapy group (hazard ratio for the PCI group, 1.05; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.87 to 1.27; P=0.62). There were no significant differences between the PCI group and the medical-therapy group in the composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke (20.0% vs. 19.5%; hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.27; P=0.62); hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (12.4% vs. 11.8%; hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.37; P=0.56); or myocardial infarction (13.2% vs. 12.3%; hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.43; P=0.33).
As an initial management strategy in patients with stable coronary artery disease, PCI did not reduce the risk of death, myocardial infarction, or other major cardiovascular events when added to optimal medical therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00007657 ClinicalTrials.gov.).
Objectives This paper describes the medical therapy used in the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial and its effect on risk factors. Background ...Most cardiovascular clinical trials test a single intervention. The COURAGE trial tested multiple lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions (optimal medical therapy) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary disease. Methods All patients, regardless of treatment assignment, received equivalent lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions for secondary prevention. Most medications were provided at no cost. Therapy was administered by nurse case managers according to protocols designed to achieve predefined lifestyle and risk factor goals. Results The patients (n = 2,287) were followed for 4.6 years. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in proportion of patients achieving therapeutic goals. The proportion of smokers decreased from 23% to 19% (p = 0.025), those who reported <7% of calories from saturated fat increased from 46% to 80% (p < 0.001), and those who walked ≥150 min/week increased from 58% to 66% (p < 0.001). Body mass index increased from 28.8 ± 0.13 kg/m2 to 29.3 ± 0.23 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). Appropriate medication use increased from pre-randomization to 5 years as follows: antiplatelets 87% to 96%; beta-blockers 69% to 85%; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors 46% to 72%; and statins 64% to 93%. Systolic blood pressure decreased from a median of 131 ± 0.49 mm Hg to 123 ± 0.88 mm Hg. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased from a median of 101 ± 0.83 mg/dl to 72 ± 0.88 mg/dl. Conclusions Secondary prevention was applied equally and intensively to both treatment groups in the COURAGE trial by nurse case managers with treatment protocols and resulted in significant improvement in risk factors. Optimal medical therapy in the COURAGE trial provides an effective model for secondary prevention among patients with chronic coronary disease. (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation; NCT00007657 )
To evaluate the effectiveness of simple clinical variables and radionuclide ventriculogram in separating those patients with isolated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from those with COPD ...and coexisting left ventricular dysfunction (LVD).
Retrospective record review of 77 patients with increasing dyspnea, defined as recent deterioration in exercise tolerance, new use of corticosteroids, or recent hospital admission for COPD; referred to the outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center from July 1987 to October 1992.
Outpatient medical clinic.
Veterans who were referred to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.
History and physical findings, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, distance achieved in a 12-min walk, dyspnea score, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, and radionuclide multigated ventriculography.
Twenty-five of 77 patients evaluated in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for increasing dyspnea were functionally more limited (12-min walk 10.4 vs 13.9 laps; MRC score 2.68 vs 2.06; *p<0.05) and had left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) (left ventricular ejection fraction <40%) associated with wall motion abnormalities on radionuclide ventriculogram. Careful standard clinical evaluation did not separate those patients with COPD from those with both COPD and LVD.
LVD was found in 32% of patients with COPD presenting with symptomatic deterioration. Since the therapeutic approach to these two disorders differs, the identification of patients with LVD is important. Prospective studies are needed to identify the most cost-effective approach to this problem of coexisting disease and to evaluate the benefit from therapy.
OBJECTIVES
We wished to determine the effect of post-infarct management strategy on event rates (death or recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction MI) in patients who evolved non–Q-wave MI (NQMI) ...following thrombolytic therapy.
BACKGROUND
Patients who evolve NQMI following thrombolytic therapy are often considered to be at high risk and are frequently managed with routine early invasive testing despite a lack of data supporting improved outcome.
METHODS
The Veterans Affairs Non-Q-Wave Infarction Strategies In-Hospital (VANQWISH) study included 115 patients who evolved NQMI following thrombolytic therapy. We compared the event rates in patients randomized to routine early coronary angiography with those in patients randomized to a conservative strategy of noninvasive functional assessment, with angiography reserved for patients with spontaneous or induced ischemia.
RESULTS
During an average follow-up of 23 months, 19 of 58 patients (33%) randomized to the invasive management strategy died or suffered recurrent nonfatal MI, compared with 11 of 57 patients (19%) randomized to the conservative strategy (p = 0.152). Equivalent numbers of patients were subjected to revascularization (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft). There were more deaths in the invasive management group than in the conservative management group (11 vs. 2). Excess deaths could not be attributed to periprocedural mortality.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall event rates (death or recurrent nonfatal MI) are comparable with conservative and invasive strategies in patients who evolve NQMI following thrombolytic therapy. Mortality rate in patients managed conservatively is low (3.5%), and routine invasive management may be associated with an increased risk of death.
PDF
