ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: The COVID-19 epidemic and the declaration of the state of alarm have led to a decrease in healthcare activity in interventional cardiology units. The objective ...of this study is to quantify these changes in activity, with special interest in the treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A telematic survey of 81 centers involved in STEMI networks in the 17 autonomous communities of Spain. Information was collected on diagnostic activity, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), structural interventions, and PCI in STEMI on changes in the organization of STEMI networks, and on the prevalence of COVID-19 among interventional cardiologists. Data was compared for the week of February 24 through March 1 (before the outbreak) and for the week of March 16 through March 22 (during the outbreak). Results: Response has been obtained from 73 centers (90%). A very significant decrease in the number of diagnostic procedures (─56%), PCI (─48%), structural interventions (─81%) and PCI in STEMI (─40%) has been observed. A slight increase in the use of pharmacological thrombolysis has been reported, although primary angioplasty remains the leading reperfusion strategy. Up to 5% of interventional cardiologists (17) had COVID-19. Conclusions: An important reduction in the activity in interventional cardiology has been observed during the COVID-19 epidemic. Likewise, a great decrease has been detected in the number of patients treated in the STEMI networks, with the risk of increased morbidity and mortality that this represents. Scientific societies and health authorities have to promote that patients presenting STEMI compatible symptoms proceed with no delay to access the health system to receive reperfusion treatment in an appropriate way.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (SCD) in ...patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Risk stratification for SCD in DCM needs to be improved.
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. A systematic search of PubMed and Ovid was performed, and observational studies that analyzed the arrhythmic endpoint (sustained ventricular arrhythmia, appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator ICD therapy, or SCD) in patients with DCM, stratified by the presence or absence of LGE, were included.
Twenty-nine studies were included, accounting for 2,948 patients. The studies covered a wide spectrum of DCM, with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction between 20% and 43%. LGE was significantly associated with the arrhythmic endpoint both in the overall population (odds ratio: 4.3; p < 0.001) and when including only those studies that performed multivariate analysis (hazard ratio: 6.7; p < 0.001). The association between LGE and the arrhythmic endpoint remained significant among studies with mean left ventricular ejection fractions >35% (odds ratio: 5.2; p < 0.001) and was maximal in studies that included only patients with primary prevention ICDs (odds ratio: 7.8; p = 0.008).
Across a wide spectrum of patients with DCM, LGE is strongly and independently associated with ventricular arrhythmia or SCD. LGE could be a powerful tool to improve risk stratification for SCD in patients with DCM. These results raise 2 major questions to be addressed in future studies: whether patients with LGE could benefit from primary prevention ICDs irrespective of their left ventricular ejection fractions, while patients without LGE might not need preventive ICDs despite having severe left ventricular dysfunction.
Background
Heart failure is one of the most pressing current public health concerns. However, in Spain there is a lack of population data. We aimed to examine thirteen‐year nationwide trends in heart ...failure hospitalization, in‐hospital mortality and 30‐day readmission rates in Spain.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients discharged with the principal diagnosis of heart failure from The National Health System’ acute hospitals during 2003‐2015. The source of the data was the Minimum Basic Data Set. Temporal trends were modelled using Poisson regression analysis. The risk‐standardized in‐hospital mortality ratio was calculated using a multilevel risk adjustment logistic regression model.
Results
A total of 1 254 830 episodes of heart failure were selected. Throughout 2003‐2015, the number of hospital discharges with principal diagnosis of heart failure increased by 61%. Discharge rates weighted by age and sex increased during the period incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.03; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.03‐1.03; P < .001), although this increase was motivated by the increase in older age groups (≥75 years old). The crude mortality rate diminished (IRR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98‐1, P < .001), but 30‐day readmission rate increased (IRR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.04‐1.06; P < .001). The risk‐standardized in‐hospital mortality ratio did not change throughout the study period (IRR: 0.997; 95% CI: 0.992‐1; P = .32).
Conclusions
From 2003 to 2015, heart failure admission rates increased significantly in Spain as a consequence of the sustained increase of hospitalization in the population ≥75 years. 30‐day readmission rates increased, but the risk‐standardized in‐hospital mortality ratio did not significantly change for the same period.
Multimorbidity is common in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) is used to evaluate multimorbidity in the general population. Limited long-term data are available on ...the relationship between CCI and AF. We examined the association between CCI, anticoagulation control and outcomes in AF patients.
We studied 1956 from the FANTASIIA registry, an observational Spanish nationwide study on anticoagulated AF patients. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) was used to evaluate anticoagulation control. Stroke/TIA, major bleeding, cardiovascular (CV) death and all-cause death were study outcomes.
Mean ± SD CCI was 1.1 ± 1.2. Based on CCI quartiles, patients were categorised in four groups: 676 (34.6%) in Q1 (CCI 0); 683 (34.9%) in Q2 (CCI 1); 345 (17.6%) in Q3 (CCI 2); and 252 (12.9%) in Q4 (CCI ≥3). In vitamin K antagonist treated patients, the highest CCI quartile was inversely associated with TTR >70% (odds ratio:0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.45–0.99). During observation, a progressively higher rate of major bleeding, CV death and all-cause death was found across the quartiles (all p < 0.001). The final Cox multivariable regression analysis showed an association with increasing risk for major bleeding occurrence in Q3 and Q4 (hazard ratio (HR):1.69, 95%CI:1.00–2.87 and HR:1.92, 95%CI:1.08–3.41). An increasing risk for all-cause death and CV death was found across CCI quartiles.
In a nationwide contemporary cohort of AF anticoagulated patients, multimorbidity was inversely associated with good anticoagulation control. A progressively higher risk for major bleeding, CV death and all-cause death was found across CCI quartiles.
Background Current electrocardiographic algorithms lack sensitivity to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the presence of left bundle branch block. Methods and Results A multicenter ...retrospective cohort study including consecutive patients with suspected AMI and left bundle branch block, referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention between 2009 and 2018. Pre-2015 patients formed the derivation cohort (n=163, 61 with AMI); patients between 2015 and 2018 formed the validation cohort (n=107, 40 with AMI). A control group of patients without suspected AMI was also studied (n=214). Different electrocardiographic criteria were tested. A total of 484 patients were studied. A new electrocardiographic algorithm (BARCELONA algorithm) was derived and validated. The algorithm is positive in the presence of ST deviation ≥1 mm (0.1 mV) concordant with QRS polarity, in any lead, or ST deviation ≥1 mm (0.1 mV) discordant with the QRS, in leads with max (R|S) voltage (the voltage of the largest deflection of the QRS, ie, R or S wave) ≤6 mm (0.6 mV). In both the derivation and the validation cohort, the BARCELONA algorithm achieved the highest sensitivity (93%-95%), negative predictive value (96%-97%), efficiency (91%-94%) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.92-0.93), significantly higher than previous electrocardiographic rules (
<0.01); the specificity was good in both groups (89%-94%) as well as the control group (90%). Conclusions In patients with left bundle branch block referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention, the BARCELONA algorithm was specific and highly sensitive for the diagnosis of AMI, leading to a diagnostic accuracy comparable to that obtained by ECG in patients without left bundle branch block.
Accelerated endothelial healing after targeted antiproliferative drug delivery may limit the long-term inflammatory response of drug-eluting stents (DESs). The novel Supreme DES is designed to ...synchronize early drug delivery within 4 to 6 weeks of implantation, leaving behind a prohealing permanent base layer. Whether the Supreme DES is safe and effective in the short term and can improve long-term clinical outcomes is not known.
In an international, 2:1 randomized, single-blind trial, we compared treatment with Supreme DES to durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES) in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes. The primary end point was target lesion failure-a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target lesion revascularization. The trial was designed to demonstrate noninferiority (margin of 3.58%) of the Supreme DES at 12 months compared with DP-EES (URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03168776).
From October 2017 to July 2019, a total of 1629 patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to the Supreme DES (N=1086) or DP-EES (N=543). At 12 months, target lesion failure occurred in 57 of 1057 patients (5.4%) in the Supreme DES group and in 27 of 532 patients (5.1%) in the DP-EES group (absolute risk difference, 0.32% 95% CI, -1.87 to 2.5;
=0.002. There were no significant differences in rates of device success, clinically driven target lesion revascularization, or stent thrombosis at 12 months, and the safety composite of cardiovascular death and target vessel myocardial infarction was 3.5% versus 4.6% (hazard ratio, 0.76 95% CI, 0.46-1.25) with Supreme DES compared with DP-EES, although rates of combined clinically and non-clinically driven target lesion revascularization at 12 months were higher with Supreme DES.
Among patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, the Supreme DES proved to be noninferior to the standard DP-EES. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03168776.
Background
Thrombocytopenia after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is common and has been related to higher mortality and major complications. No comparison between balloon‐expandable ...(BEV) and self‐expanding valves (SEV) regarding drop platelet count (DPC) has been reported to date. The objectives of this study were to analyze the differences in DPC between BEVs or SEVs and their prognostic implications in clinical outcomes.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing TAVI. Platelet counts after TAVI were collected. Two groups were created: DPC ≤ 30% and DPC > 30%. VARC‐2 criteria were used to define outcomes.
Results
Study population was composed of 195 patients (age 77.5 ± 6.7, 57.4% males). All of them but one experienced DPC (mean DPC 31.9 ± 15.3%). DPC was significantly higher among the patients treated with BEV compared to those treated with SEV (36.3 ± 15.1% vs 27.7 ± 14.4, P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, the use of BEV was independently associated with a higher rate of DPC > 30% (67.4% vs 36.0%; OR 3.4; 95% CI, 1.42‐8.16). At 30 days, the DPC > 30% was associated with a higher rate of life‐threatening/major bleeding, major vascular complications, in‐hospital sepsis and mortality. At one year, there were no statistically significant differences in the mortality rate between groups (6.35% vs 10.0%, HR 1.54; 95% CI, 0.56–4.25).
Conclusions
In this study, the use of BEV was associated with a higher risk of DPC after TAVI. A DPC rate > 30% was associated with an increased risk of major complications at 30 days.
BACKGROUNDSex and prior cardiovascular disease (CVD) are known independent prognostic factors following an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to examine whether the association ...between sex and 30-day mortality differ according to the presence of previous CVD in STEMI patients. METHODSProspective, observational, multicentre registry of consecutive patients managed in 17 STEMI networks in Spain (83 centres), between April and June 2019. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models assessed the association of 30-day mortality with sex and prior CVD status, as well as their interaction. RESULTSAmong 4366 patients (mean age 63.7 ± 13.0 years; 78% male), there were 337 (8.1%) deaths within the first 30 days. There was an association between crude 30-day mortality and sex (women 10.4% vs. men 7.4%, p = 0.003), and prior CVD (CVD 13.7% vs non-CVD 6.8%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounding, neither sex nor prior CVD were apparently associated with mortality. Nevertheless, we found a significant sex-CVD interaction (p-interaction = 0.006), since women were at lower risk than men in the subset of patients with prior CVD (OR = 0.30, 95%CI = 0.12-0.80) but not in those without CVD (OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 0.79-1.74). CONCLUSIONSWomen as well as patients with prior CVD have an increased crude risk of 30-day mortality. However, sex-related differences in short term mortality are modulated by the interaction with CVD in STEMI patients. Compared to men, women had a similar prognosis in the subset of patients without CVD, whereas they were associated with a lower risk of mortality among those with prior CVD after adjusting for other prognostic factors.
The direct-acting platelet P2Y12 receptor antagonist ticagrelor can reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events when administered at hospital admission to patients with ST-segment ...elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Whether prehospital administration of ticagrelor can improve coronary reperfusion and the clinical outcome is unknown.
We conducted an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study involving 1862 patients with ongoing STEMI of less than 6 hours' duration, comparing prehospital (in the ambulance) versus in-hospital (in the catheterization laboratory) treatment with ticagrelor. The coprimary end points were the proportion of patients who did not have a 70% or greater resolution of ST-segment elevation before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the proportion of patients who did not have Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 in the infarct-related artery at initial angiography. Secondary end points included the rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and definite stent thrombosis at 30 days.
The median time from randomization to angiography was 48 minutes, and the median time difference between the two treatment strategies was 31 minutes. The two coprimary end points did not differ significantly between the prehospital and in-hospital groups. The absence of ST-segment elevation resolution of 70% or greater after PCI (a secondary end point) was reported for 42.5% and 47.5% of the patients, respectively. The rates of major adverse cardiovascular events did not differ significantly between the two study groups. The rates of definite stent thrombosis were lower in the prehospital group than in the in-hospital group (0% vs. 0.8% in the first 24 hours; 0.2% vs. 1.2% at 30 days). Rates of major bleeding events were low and virtually identical in the two groups, regardless of the bleeding definition used.
Prehospital administration of ticagrelor in patients with acute STEMI appeared to be safe but did not improve pre-PCI coronary reperfusion. (Funded by AstraZeneca; ATLANTIC ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01347580.).
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