Intervention with PTCA and CABG following thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction

The patterns of revascularisation with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the GUSTO 1 trial patients in Australia are described.
In comparison with rates documented in earlier trials of thrombolytic therapy in Australia, the rates of revascularisation post-thrombolysis increased by 50%, primarily due to a doubling in the rate of use of PTCA. However, the rates were low by international comparisons. There were marked variations in the rates of revascularisation between States, but no correlation with differences in mortality between States. The main predictors of post thrombolysis PTCA were prior angina, mild infarction and access to PTCA facilities.     

At medium term follow-up (3.4 ± 2.4 years, range two months to eight years) there was one late death in each group, and seven patients in each group had return of angina or congestive heart failure. Twenty-one patients in the emergency group and 22 patients in the elective group were asymptomatic on no cardiac medications

The clinical characteristics, perioperative complications and medium term outcome were analysed for patients undergoing emergency coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) following failed coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Seven hundred and twenty PTCAs were performed from June 1981 to June 1989, of which 30 (4.2%) resulted in CABG within four hours of PTCA. The perioperative course and follow-up were compared to 30 patients undergoing elective CABG, matched retrospectively for age, sex, month of operation and number of grafts. The emergency group had a tendency to more post operative bleeding, but no increased incidence of early reoperation for bleeding, and had a high incidence of periprocedural Q wave infarction (20% vs 3%, p < 0.05). The emergency group had shorter bypass time and decreased use of the internal mammary artery (7% vs 50%, p<0.05). There was one in-hospital death in the emergency group. We conclude that patients with failed PTCA requiring emergency CABG are more likely than an elective group to have post operative bleeding but no increased risk of early reoperation, and have a higher incidence of perioperative Q wave infarction. There is significant difference in operative technique between emergency and elective coronary bypass groups (greater use of the internal mammary artery in the elective group), but not in hospital mortality. Rapid successful surgical revascularisation after failed PTCA resulted in medium term outcome similar to that of patients undergoing elective coronary surgery. (Aust NZ J Med 1991; 21: 211–216.)     

Early versus late coronary stenting following acute myocardial infarction: Results of the STENTIM I Study (French Registry of Stenting in Acute Myocardial Infarction)

This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility and safety of coronary stenting in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In AMI, primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is accepted as the preferred method of reperfusion for patients presenting at highly experienced centres. Until recently, however, stenting has been avoided during AMI because of a potential high risk of thrombosis. This prospective observational study carried out in 20 centres and included 648 consecutive patients who underwent PTCA with stent implantation for AMI. Of these 648 patients, 269 (41.5%, Group 1) were dilated early (<24 hr) after the onset of the symptoms (75% treated by direct PTCA) and 379 (58.5%, Group 2) were dilated between 24 hr and 14 days after AMI. Combined therapy with ticlopidin and aspirin was used after the procedure. Bailout stenting occurred more often in Group 1 than in Group 2 (17% vs. 9.5%)(P < 0.05). Angiographic successful stenting was similar in both groups of patients (96% vs. 97%). During the hospital follow-up period, stent thrombosis occurred in eight patients (3%) in Group 1 and in six patients (1.6%) in Group 2 (NS). There was 14 deaths (5.2%) in Group 1 and 11 deaths (3.9%) in Group 2 (NS). After multivariate analysis bailout stenting was identified as the sole predictor of stent thrombosis (P < 0.0001). Vascular access-site complications occurred in six patients (1%) with no difference between the two groups. This study indicates that patients who receive a coronary stent in AMI can be managed safely with antiplatelet therapy. Randomized studies are needed to determine the precise indication for coronary stenting as an adjunct to primary PTCA. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 42:243–248, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Why patients do not attend cardiac rehabilitation: role of intentions and illness beliefs

OBJECTIVE: Many patients fail to attend cardiac rehabilitation. Attempts to identify sociodemographic or clinical predictors of non-attendance have not been very successful; therfore, this study aimed to determine whether the illness beliefs held during hospitalisation by patients who had suffered acute myocardial infarction or who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery could predict cardiac rehabilitation attendance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 152 patients were prospectively studied of whom 41% had attended cardiac rehabilitation at six months. RESULTS: In addition to being older, less aware of their cholesterol values, and less likely to be employed, non-attenders were less likely to believe their condition was controllable and that their lifestyle may have contributed to their illness. CONCLUSION: It should now be determined whether interventions aimed at optimising certain perceptions could promote cardiac rehabilitation uptake among those patients who could benefit the most.     

两个年龄段急性心肌梗死患者临床特征的比较

目的：比较〈60岁及≥60岁急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者的临床特征。方法：回顾分析2012年8月-2013年8月因AMI在我院心脏科住院患者200例,将其分为〈60岁和〉160岁两个年龄组,比较两组患者的冠心病危险因素、临床化验指标、左室收缩功能、冠脉病变的严重程度（改良Gensini评分等）。结果：〈60岁组患者中男性比例、吸烟者比例、高脂血症患者以及阳性家族史比例更高（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）,而高血压病患者、脑梗死患者比例低于≥60岁组（P〈0．01）。临床检验发现〈60岁组患者肾小球滤过率（eGFR）、三酰甘油（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、载脂蛋白B（ApoB）均显著高于≥60岁组患者（P〈0．01）。〈60岁和≥60岁AMI患者冠脉造影结果比较发现前者单支病变比例更高（P〈0．05）,而后者三支病变比例更高（P〈0．01）。前者改良的Gensini评分显著低于后者（P〈0．05）。结论：〈60岁和≥60岁AMI患者的传统冠心病危险因素、临床检查指标以及冠脉病变特点均有显著不同。     

Value of first day angiography/angioplasty in evolving Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: an open multicenter randomized trial. The VINO Study.

AIMS: Direct angioplasty is an effective treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The role of very early angioplasty in non-ST-elevation infarction is not known. Thus, a randomized study of first day angiography/angioplasty vs early conservative therapy of evolving myocardial infarction without persistent ST-elevation was conducted. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one patients with confirmed acute myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevations were randomized within 24 h of last rest chest pain: 64 in the first day angiography/angioplasty group and 67 in the early conservative group (coronary angiography only after recurrent or stress induced myocardial ischaemia). RESULTS: All patients in the invasive group underwent coronary angiography on the day of admission (mean randomization-angiography time 6.2 h). First day angioplasty of the infarct related artery was performed in 47% of the patients and bypass surgery in 35%. In the conservative group, 55% underwent coronary angiography, 10% angioplasty and 30% bypass surgery within 6 months. The primary end-point (death/reinfarction) at 6 months occurred in 6.2% vs 22.3% (P<0.001). Six month mortality in the first day angiography/angioplasty group was 3.1% vs 13.4% in the conservative group (P<0.03). Non-fatal reinfarction occurred in 3.1% vs. 14.9% (P<0.02). CONCLUSIONS: First day coronary angiography followed by angioplasty whenever possible reduces mortality and reinfarction in evolving myocardial infarction without persistent ST-elevation, in comparison with an early conservative treatment strategy.     

Clinical and demographic determinants of heart rate variability in patients post myocardial infarction: insights from the cardiac arrhythmia suppression trial (CAST)

BACKGROUND: Clinical and demographic determinants of heart rate variability (HRV), an almost universal predictor of increased mortality, have not been systematically investigated in patients post myocardial infarction (MI). HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between pretreatment clinical and demographic variables and HRV in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST). METHODS: CAST patients were post MI and had > or =6 ventricular premature complexes/h on pretreatment recording. Patients in this substudy (n = 769) had usable pretreatment and suppression tapes and were successfully randomized on the first antiarrhythmic treatment. Tapes were rescanned; only time domain HRV was reported because many tapes lacked the calibrated timing signal needed for accurate frequency domain analysis. Independent predictors of HRV were determined by stepwise selection. RESULTS: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) after the qualifying MI was the strongest determinant of HRV. The markedly decreased HRV associated with CABG was not associated with increased mortality. Ejection fraction and diabetes were also independent predictors of HRV. Other predictors for some indices of HRV included beta-blocker use, gender, time from MI to Holter, history of CABG before the qualifying MI, and systolic blood pressure. Decreased HRV did not predict mortality for the entire group. For patients without CABG or diabetes, decreased standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDANN) predicted mortality. Clinical and demographic factors accounted for 31% of the variance in the average of normal-to-normal intervals (AVGNN) and 13-26% of the variance in other HRV indices. CONCLUSIONS: Heart rate variability post MI is largely independent of clinical and demographic factors. Antecedent CABG dramatically reduces HRV. Recognition of this is necessary to prevent misclassification of risk in patients post infarct.     

A new risk score predicting 1- and 5-year mortality following acute myocardial infarction Soroka Acute Myocardial Infarction (SAMI) Project

Background

Risk stratification of patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), in order to identify patients whose clinical outcomes can be improved through specific medical interventions, is needed.

Objectives

Development and validation of a prognostic tool comprising a variety of non-cardiovascular co-morbidities, to predict mortality of hospital survivors after AMI.

Methods

The study cohort included 2773 consecutive patients with AMI who were discharged live from the Soroka University Medical Center between 2002 and 2004. Two-thirds were used obtain the model (training set) and one-third to validate it (validation set). Data were collected from the hospital's routine computerized information systems. The primary outcome was post-discharge 1-year all-cause mortality. The weight of each variable in the final score was computed based on the odds ratio values of the multivariate model. Additionally, the ability of the index to predict 5-year mortality was assessed.

Results

These are comprised of the following parameters: 4 points — age > 75 years, abnormal echocardiography findings; 3 points — at least one of following: gastro-intestinal hemorrhage, COPD, malignancy, alcohol or drug addiction, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders; 2 points — no echocardiography results, renal diseases, anemia, hyponatremia; −3 points for PCI or thrombolytic therapy; −6 points — CABG; −2 points — obesity. The c-statistics for 1-year all-cause mortality were 0.86 and 0.83 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The c-statistics for 5-year mortality was 0.858 for both sets combined.

Conclusions

The new score is a simple robust tool for predicting mortality in patients discharged alive following AMI.     

Plasma total homocysteine concentration and the risk of acute coronary events: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

OBJECTIVES: Results from prospective studies concerning the association between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration and coronary heart disease (CHD) are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that plasma tHcy is associated with an increased risk of acute coronary events in middle-aged men. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: We investigated this association in a prospective nested case-control study among Eastern Finnish men aged 42-60 years. Plasma tHcy measurements were carried out for 163 men who had an acute coronary event during an average 8 years and 11 months follow-up of the whole cohort and for 163 control subjects. Both the cases and the controls were from a cohort of 2005 men who had no clinical CHD at the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease (KIHD) baseline. RESULTS: Men in the highest plasma tHcy concentration quarter had no increase in the risk of coronary events compared with men with lower tHcy concentrations (odds ratio = 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.44-1.76). Average follow-up time before the first coronary event was 4.9 years (SD 3.2) in men in the highest plasma tHcy quarter and 5.5 years (SD 3.1) in men in the three lowest quarters (P = 0.368). CONCLUSION: We conclude that plasma tHcy is not associated with an increased risk of coronary events in the middle-aged male population in eastern Finland.     

Association of silent myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram and coronary artery calcium: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background

Silent myocardial infarction (SMI) on electrocardiogram (ECG) is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but the relationship between SMI on ECG and coronary artery calcium (CAC) remains poorly understood.

Objective

Characterize the relationship between SMI on ECG and CAC.

Methods

Eligible participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis study had ECG and CAC scoring at study enrollment (2000–2002). SMI was defined as ECG evidence of myocardial infarction in the absence of a history of clinical cardiovascular disease. CAC was modeled both continuously and categorically. The cross-sectional relationships between SMI on ECG and CAC were assessed using logistic regression and linear regression.

Results

Among 6705 eligible participants, 178 (2.7%) had baseline SMI. Compared to participants without SMI, those with SMI had higher CAC (median [IQR]: 61.2 [0–261.7] vs. 0 [0–81.5]; p < .0001). Participants with SMI were more likely to have non-zero CAC (74% vs. 49%) and were more likely to have CAC ≥ 100 (40% vs. 23%). In a multivariable-adjusted logistic model, SMI was associated with higher odds of non-zero CAC (odds ratio 2.17, 95% CI 1.48–3.20, p < .0001) and 51% higher odds of CAC ≥ 100 (odds ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.06–2.16, p = .02).

Conclusion

An incidental finding of SMI on ECG may serve to identify patients who have a higher odds of significant CAC and may benefit from additional risk stratification to further refine their cardiovascular risk. Further exploration of the utility of CAC assessment in this patient population is needed.     

The role of cardiac troponin t and other new biochemical markers in evaluation and risk stratification of patients with acute chest pain syndromes

Background and hypothesis: Increased serum creatinine kinase (CK) and CK-MB enzyme levels have been used for years to detect myocardial infarction (MI). However, serum myoglobin and CK-MB mass or protein levels may indicate MI earlier; cardiac troponin T is the most specific marker of myocardial injury and it can detect even minor myocardial necrosis. The diagnostic and prognostic utility of the traditional and new markers of cardiac injury in the emergency evaluation of patients with acute chest pain syndromes were therefore compared. Methods: One hundred and fifteen consecutive patients with an acute coronary syndrome, and 64 controls recruited during the same period, were examined. The time elapsed from onset of symptoms to blood collection was recorded. Cardiac markers were measured in specimens collected upon arrival (0 h), and 2 and 5–9 h, and later in cases of longer observation. The major cardiac events occurring up to 40 months after the index examination were recorded. Results: cTnT levels provided unique information: they were the most specific indicators of myocardial damage and identified unstable angina patients at high risk of future major events. Up to 6 h after the onset of chest pain, the new markers were elevated more frequently than the traditional ones and permitted earlier MI recognition. The worst prognosis (nonfatal myocardial infarction or death) was noted in subjects with chest pain at rest within 48 h before the index examination and elevated cTnT levels. Conclusions: The new markers, particularly cardiac troponin T, offer considerable advantages and they should be more widely used in the diagnosis and risk stratification of acute coronary syndromes.     

Age-related differences in clinical characteristics, early outcomes and cardiac management of acute myocardial infarction in Japan: Lessons from the Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (TAMIS)

Recent data suggest substantial variations in the treatment strategies for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) based on age. This study aimed to compare the management and early outcomes of AMI across age groups in Japan. Data from 13 acute care hospitals that were included in the Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study sample were used. This is a retrospective study of all patients admitted to the hospitals with the diagnosis of AMI from 1995–1997. We abstracted the baseline and procedural characteristics from detailed chart reviews. Patients were stratified into four age categories: up to 64; 65–74; 75–84; and 85 or more years of age. A total of 966 patients were aged up to 64 years, 608 were 65–74 years, 365 were 75–84 years, and 79 were 85 or more years. The rates at which the treadmill test, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention were performed decreased with advancing age (−14%, P  < 0.01; −55%, P  < 0.01; and −42%, P  < 0.01, respectively, for the up to 64-year-old vs 85-year-old or more groups). Thrombolytic therapy was less often prescribed in the older groups ( P  < 0.01). At discharge, aspirin, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, nitrates, calcium antagonists, and anti-hyperlipidemics were prescribed less often in the older groups ( P  < 0.01, <0.05, <0.01, <0.01, <0.01, <0.01, respectively), while diuretics were prescribed more often in the older groups ( P  < 0.01). Our results suggest that fewer elderly patients were under-treated and had a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality.     

Early and late recurrent cardiovascular events among high‐risk patients with an acute coronary syndrome: Meta‐analysis of phase III studies and implications on trial design

BackgroundDespite low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol‐lowering therapies and other standard‐of‐care therapy, there remains a substantial residual atherosclerotic risk among patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aims to estimate the risk of early and late recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and address its implications on trial design.MethodsA literature search was performed to collect phase III interventional trials on high‐risk ACS patients. Pooled event rates at 90 and 360 days were estimated by fitting random‐effects models using the DerSimonian–Laird method. Under the assumption of a total sample size of 10,000 and 1:1 allocation at a one‐sided alpha of 0.025 using the log‐rank test, the relationship between power and relative risk reduction (RRR) or absolute risk reduction (ARR) was explored for early versus late MACE endpoint.ResultsSeven trials representing 82,727 recent ACS patients were analyzed. The pooled rates of recurrent MACE were 4.1% and 8.3% at 90 and 360 days. Approximately 49% of events occurred within the first 90 days. Based on the estimated risks at 90 and 360 days, to attain 90% statistical power, a lower magnitude of RRR is required for late MACE than early MACE (22% vs. 30%), whereas a lower magnitude of ARR is required for early MACE than late MACE (1.2% vs. 1.8%).ConclusionThe initial 90‐day window after ACS represents a vulnerable period for recurrent events. From a trial design perspective, determining a clinically important benefit by RRR versus ARR may influence the decision between early and late MACE as the study endpoint.     

New aspects of HbA1c as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

Abstract. Eeg‐Olofsson K, Cederholm J, Nilsson PM, Zethelius B, Svensson A‐M, Gudbjörnsdóttir S, Eliasson B (Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala; Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala; and Center of Registers in Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden) New aspects of HbA1c as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). J Intern Med 2010; 268 : 471–482. Aims. To analyse the association between glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). Methods. An observational study of 18 334 patients (age 30–79 years, previous CVD in 18%, baseline HbA1c 5.0–10.9%) who were followed for 6 years (mean 5.6 years) from 1997/1998 until 2003. Results. Hazard ratios per 1% unit increase in baseline or updated mean HbA1c for fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), CVD and total mortality were 1.11–1.13, 1.10–1.11 and 1.09–1.10, respectively (all P < 0.001), adjusted for several risk factors and clinical characteristics in Cox regression. Adjusted 6‐year event rates increased with higher baseline or updated mean HbA1c with no J‐shaped risk curves, in all patients and also when subgrouping by shorter (mean 3 years) or longer (mean 14 years) diabetes duration, by presence or absence of previous CVD, or by treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) or insulin. Risk reductions of 20% for CHD and 16% for CVD (P < 0.001) were found in patients with a baseline mean HbA1c of 6.5%, compared to those with a mean level of 7.5%. Compared to OHA‐treated patients, insulin‐treated patients had an increased risk of total mortality, due almost exclusively to an increased risk of non‐CVD mortality, and due less to a weakly significant increased risk of fatal CVD. HbA1c was not associated with non‐CVD mortality. Conclusions. This observational study showed progressively increasing risks of CHD, CVD and total mortality with higher HbA1c, and no risk increase at low HbA1c levels even with longer diabetes duration, previous CVD or treatment with either insulin or OHAs. Patients achieving HbA1c <7% showed benefits for risk reduction.     

Factors associated with use of percutaneous coronary intervention among very elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction: Lessons from the Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (TAMIS)

Background:   Although prior studies have shown that older patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than younger patients, the predictors of PCI use among the very elderly are unknown. We identified the predictors using data from the Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (TAMIS), a multi-hospital retrospective study performed in Japan.
Methods:   All of the study subjects were patients hospitalized for newly diagnosed AMI at one of 13 acute care hospitals between January 1995 and December 1997. We abstracted the baseline and procedural characteristics from detailed chart reviews. Multivariate analysis was performed, controlling for the variables found to be significantly different between AMI patients aged 75 and over with and without PCI by χ² test or unpaired Student's t -test. We evaluated a total of 207 patients with PCI and 201 without PCI.
Results:   The univariable analysis abstracted four predictors: age, previous heart failure, hospital and maximum creatine phosphokinase. After multivariable adjustment, age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.89) and previous heart failure (OR = 0.36), and number of hospital beds (351–550, OR = 0.38; ≥551, OR = 0.17, respectively) were still independent predictors.
Conclusions:   Our results suggest that advanced age itself and number of hospital beds are important predictors of underuse of PCI among very elderly patients.