Determinantes e impacto pronóstico de la insuficiencia cardiaca y la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo en el síndrome coronario agudo

Introduction and objectives

Contemporary data on the incidence and prognosis of heart failure (HF) and the influence of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are scant. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between LVEF and HF with long-term prognosis in a cohort of patients with ACS.

Usefulness of the PARIS Score to Evaluate the Ischemic-hemorrhagic Net Benefit With Ticagrelor and Prasugrel After an Acute Coronary Syndrome

Introduction and objectives

The PARIS score allows combined stratification of ischemic and hemorrhagic risk in patients with ischemic heart disease treated with coronary stenting and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Its usefulness in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with ticagrelor or prasugrel is unknown. We investigated this issue in an international registry.

Calidad del cuidado y mortalidad a 30 días de mujeres y varones con infarto agudo de miocardio

Introduction and objectivesDespite increased awareness of sex disparities in care and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there appears to have been no consistent attenuation of these differences over the last decade. We investigated differences by sex in management and 30-day mortality using the European Society of Cardiology Acute Cardiovascular Care Association quality indicators (QIs) for AMI.MethodsProportions and standard errors of the 20 Acute Cardiovascular Care Association QIs were calculated for 771 patients with AMI who were admitted to the cardiology departments of 2 tertiary hospitals in Portugal between August 2013 and December 2014. The association between the composite QI and 30-day mortality was derived from logistic regression.ResultsSignificantly fewer eligible women than men received timely reperfusion, were discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy and high-intensity statins, and were referred to cardiac rehabilitation. Women were less likely to receive recommended interventions (59.6% vs 65.2%; P < .001) and also had higher mean GRACE 2.0 risk score-adjusted 30-day mortality (3.0% vs 1.7%; P < .001). An inverse association between the composite QI and crude 30-day mortality was observed for both sexes (OR, 0.08; 95%CI, 0.01-0.64 for the highest performance tertile vs the lowest).ConclusionsPerformance in AMI management is worse for women than men and is associated with higher 30-day mortality, which is also worse for women. Evidence-based QIs have the potential to improve health care delivery and patient prognosis in the overall AMI population and may also bridge the disparity gap between women and men.Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org/en     

Clinical and Administrative Data on the Research of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Spain. Minimum Basic Data Set Validity

Introduction and objectives

Health outcomes research is done from clinical registries or administrative databases. The aim of this work was to evaluate the concordance of the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) with the DIOCLES (Descripción de la Cardiopatía Isquémica en el Territorio Español) registry and to analyze the implications of use of the MBDS in the study of acute coronary syndrome in Spain.

Mortalidad hospitalaria de 415.798 pacientes con IAM: 4 años antes en Canarias que en el conjunto de España

Introduction and objectivesThe Canary Islands has the highest mortality from diabetes in Spain. The aim of this study was to determine possible differences in mortality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during hospital admission between this autonomous community and the rest of Spain, as well as the factors associated with this mortality and the population fraction attributable to diabetes.MethodsCross-sectional study of hospital admissions for AMI in Spain from 2007 to 2014, registered in the Minimum Basic Data Set.ResultsA total of 415 798 AMI were identified. Canary Island patients (16 317) were younger than those living in the rest of Spain (63.93 ± 13.56 vs 68.25 ± 13.94; P < .001) and death occurred 4 years earlier in the archipelago (74.03 ± 11.85 vs 78.38 ± 11.10; P < .001). This autonomous community had the highest prevalence of smoking (44% in men and 23% in women); throughout Spain, AMI occurred 13 years earlier in smokers than in nonsmokers. Patients in the Canary Islands had the highest mortality rates whether they had diabetes (8.7%) or not (7.6%), and they also showed the highest fraction of AMI mortality attributable to diabetes (9.4; 95% CI, 4.8-13.6). After adjustment for type of AMI, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, cocaine use, renal failure, sex and age, the Canary Islands showed the highest risk of mortality vs the rest of Spain (OR = 1.25; 95%CI, 1.17-1.33; P < .001) and it was one of the autonomous communities showing no significant improvement in the risk of mortality due to AMI during the study period.ConclusionsMortality due to AMI during hospital admission is higher in the Canary Islands than in the rest of Spain.Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org/en     

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Vitamin K Antagonists in Real-life Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction and objectives

To assess the effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants vs vitamin K antagonists in real-life patients with atrial fibrillation.

Clinical Significance of Reciprocal ST-segment Changes in Patients With STEMI: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Introduction and objectives

We sought to determine the association of reciprocal change in the ST-segment with myocardial injury assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Out-of-hospital treatment of acute myocardial infarction in Andalusia, Spain

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Clinical trials and meta-analyses have shown that out-of-hospital thrombolysis is effective. Our objectives were to investigate out-of-hospital emergency management of acute myocardial infarction by paramedical teams and to identify factors associated with out-of-hospital use of fibrinolytic therapy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The study made use of a registry of all patients with ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome who were diagnosed and treated out of hospital by emergency paramedical teams in Andalusia, Spain in the 2-year period: 2001-2002. Follow-up was carried out during hospital admission and after one month. RESULTS: The study included 981 patients, mean age 65 [13] years, 777 male (79.2%). In total, 152 (15.5%) received out-of-hospital thrombolysis; 18% within the first hour, and 68% within the first 2 hours following symptom onset. No hemorrhagic stroke was observed following thrombolysis. During hospitalization, 206 (21%) patients died, eight (0.8%) of whom had received out-of-hospital thrombolysis. Factors associated with the administration of out-of-hospital thrombolysis included: age under 55 years (P<.0001), normal systolic blood pressure (odds ratio = 6.825; 95% confidence interval, 2.442-19.069), and an in-hospital diagnosis of anterior acute myocardial infarction (P<.022). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of out-of-hospital thrombolysis by emergency paramedical teams enables treatment to be administered within the optimum time interval. Mortality during hospital admission is lower in this subgroup of patients than in those who did not receive out-of-hospital thrombolysis. Moreover, the low complication rate observed indicates that the procedure is safe. However, the patients who received out-of-hospital thrombolysis appeared to be those at a lower risk.     

Tendencias temporales en los pacientes con IAMCEST y presentación tardía: datos del registro AMIS Plus 1997-2017

Introduction and objectivesA substantial proportion of patients experiencing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have a late presentation. There is a lack of temporal trends drawn from large real-word scenarios in these patients.MethodsAll STEMI patients included in the AMIS Plus registry from January 1997 to December 2017 were screened and patient-related delay was assessed. STEMI patients were classified as early or latecomers according to patient-related delay (≤ or > 12 hours, respectively).ResultsA total of 27 231 STEMI patients were available for the analysis. During the study period, the prevalence of late presentation decreased from 22% to 12.3% (P < .001). In latecomer STEMI patients, there was a gradual uptake of evidence-based pharmacological treatments (rate of P2Y₁₂ inhibitors at discharge, from 6% to 90.6%, P < .001) and a marked increase in the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), particularly in 12- to 48-hour latecomers (from 11.9%-87.9%; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was reduced from 12.4% to 4.5% (P < .001). On multivariate analysis, PCI had a strong independent protective effect on in-hospital mortality in 12- to 48-hour latecomers (OR, 0.29; 95%CI, 0.15-0.55).ConclusionsDuring the 20-year study period, there was a progressive reduction in the prevalence of late presentation, a gradual uptake of main evidence-based pharmacological treatments, and a marked increase in PCI rate in latecomer STEMI patients. In-hospital mortality was reduced to a third (to an absolute rate of 4.5%); in 12- to 48-hour latecomers, this reduction seemed to be mainly associated with the increasing implementation of PCI.     

Identificación y cuantificación del efecto fin de semana y festivos en la atención del síndrome coronario agudo en el Sistema Nacional de Salud

Introduction and objectivesTo analyze whether admission on weekends or public holidays (WHA) influences the management (performance of angioplasty, percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) and outcomes (in-hospital mortality) of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome in the Spanish National Health System compared with admission on weekdays.MethodsRetrospective observational study of patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or for non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) in hospitals of the Spanish National Health system from 2003 to 2018.ResultsA total of 438 987 episodes of STEMI and 486 565 of NSTEACS were selected, of which 28.8% and 26.1% were WHA, respectively. Risk-adjusted models showed that WHA was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality in STEMI (OR, 1.05; 95%CI,1.03-1.08; P < .001) and in NSTEACS (OR, 1.08; 95%CI, 1.05-1.12; P < .001). The rate of PCI performance in STEMI was more than 2 percentage points higher in patients admitted on weekdays from 2003 to 2011 and was similar or even lower from 2012 to 2018, with no significant changes in NSTEACS. WHA was a statistically significant risk factor for both STEMI and NSTEACS.ConclusionsWHA can increase the risk of in-hospital death by 5% (STEMI) and 8% (NSTEACS). The persistence of the risk of higher in-hospital mortality, after adjustment for the performance of PCI and other explanatory variables, probably indicates deficiencies in management during the weekend compared with weekdays.     

Valor pronóstico de las frecuencias cardiacas bajas en pacientes ingresados con infarto agudo de miocardio

Introduction and objectivesThe risk prediction scores adopted in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) use incremental models to estimate mortality for heart rate (HR) above 60 bpm. Nonetheless, previous studies reported a nonlinear relationship between HR and events, suggesting that low HR may have an unrecognized prognostic role. We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of low HR in ACS, defined as admission HR < 50 bpm.MethodsThis study analyzed data from the AMIS Plus registry, a cohort of hospitalized patients with ACS between 1999 and 2021. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality, while a composite of all-cause mortality, major cardiac/cerebrovascular events was set as the secondary endpoint. A multilevel statistical method was used to assess the prognostic role of low HR in ACS.ResultsThe study included 51 001 patients. Crude estimates showed a bimodal distribution of primary and secondary endpoints with peaks at low and high HR. A nonlinear relationship between HR and in-hospital mortality was observed on restricted cubic spline analysis. An HR of 50 to 75 bpm showed lower mortality than HR < 50 bpm (OR, 0.67; 95%CI, 0.47-0.99) only after primary multivariable analysis, which was not confirmed after multiple sensitivity analyses. After propensity score matching, progressive fading of the prognostic role of HR < 50 bpm was evident.ConclusionsLow admission HR in ACS is associated with a higher crude rate of adverse events. Nonetheless, after correction for baseline differences, the prognostic role of low HR was not confirmed. Therefore, low HR probably represents a marker of underlying morbidity. These results may be clinically relevant in improving the accuracy of risk scores in ACS.     

Factores de riesgo de muerte hospitalaria en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio durante la pandemia de la COVID-19

Introduction and objectivesDespite advances in treatment, patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) still exhibit unfavorable short- and long-term prognoses. In addition, there is scant evidence about the clinical outcomes of patients with AMI and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, complications, and risk factors for mortality in patients admitted for AMI during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, cohort study included all consecutive patients with AMI who underwent coronary angiography in a 30-day period corresponding chronologically with the COVID-19 outbreak (March 15 to April 15, 2020). Clinical presentations and outcomes were compared between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. The effect of COVID-19 on mortality was assessed by propensity score matching and with a multivariate logistic regression model.ResultsIn total, 187 patients were admitted for AMI, 111 with ST-segment elevation AMI and 76 with non-ST-segment elevation AMI. Of these, 32 (17%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. GRACE score, Killip-Kimball classification, and several inflammatory markers were significantly higher in COVID-19-positive patients. Total and cardiovascular mortality were also significantly higher in COVID-19-positive patients (25% vs 3.8% [P < .001] and 15.2% vs 1.8% [P = .001], respectively). GRACE score > 140 (OR, 23.45; 95%CI, 2.52–62.51; P = .005) and COVID-19 (OR, 6.61; 95%CI, 1.82-24.43; P = .02) were independent predictors of in-hospital death.ConclusionsDuring this pandemic, a high GRACE score and COVID-19 were independent risk factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality.Full English text available from:www.revespcardiol.org/en     

Las diferencias por sexo en la mortalidad tras un síndrome coronario agudo se incrementan en los países de menor riqueza y mayor desigualdad de ingresos

Introduction and objectivesAlthough several factors associated with sex differences in the management and outcomes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been reported, little is known about the influence of socioeconomic factors on sex disparities. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of country wealth and income inequality on national sex differences in mortality after ACS.MethodsSex differences in 2-year postdischarge mortality were evaluated in 23 489 ACS patients from the EPICOR and EPICOR Asia registries. Adjusted Cox regression models by country-based terciles of gross national income per capita and income inequality were used.ResultsWomen (24.3%) were older than men (65.5 vs 59.4 years, P < .001), had more comorbidities, were less often revascularized (63.6% vs 75.6%, P < .001) and received fewer guideline recommended therapies at discharge. Compared with men, a higher percentage of women died during follow-up (6.4% vs 4.9%, P < .001). The association between sex and mortality changed direction from hazard ratio (HR) 1.32 (95%CI, 1.17-1.49) in the univariate assessment to HR 0.76 (95%CI, 0.67-0.87) after adjustment for confounders. These differences were more evident with increasing country wealth (HR_{low-income countries} = 0.85; 95%CI, 0.72-1.00; HR_{mid-income countries} = 0.66; 95%CI, 0.50-0.87; HR_{high-income countries} = 0.60; 95%CI, 0.40-0.90; trend test P = .115) and with decreasing income inequality (HR_{low-inequality index} = 0.54; 95%CI, 0.36-0.81; HR_{intermediate-inequality index} = 0.66; 95%CI, 0.50-0.88; HR_{high-inequality index} = 0.87; 95%CI, 0.74-1.03; trend test P = .031).ConclusionsWomen with ACS living in high socioeconomic countries showed a lower postdischarge mortality risk compared with men. This risk was attenuated in countries with poorer socioeconomic background, where adjusted mortality rates were similar between women and men.     

Disección coronaria espontánea en España: un estudio sobre bases administrativas realizado a partir del Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos español

Introduction and objectivesSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We sought to compare the results on in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission rates among patients with AMI-SCAD vs AMI due to other causes (AMI-non-SCAD).MethodsRisk-standardized in-hospital mortality (rIMR) and risk-standardized 30-day readmission ratios (rRAR) were calculated using the minimum dataset of the Spanish National Health System (2016-2019).ResultsA total of 806 episodes of AMI-SCAD were compared with 119 425 episodes of AMI–non-SCAD. Patients with AMI-SCAD were younger and more frequently female than those with AMI–non-SCAD. Crude in-hospital mortality was lower (3% vs 7.6%; P < .001) and rIMR higher (7.6 ± 1.7% vs 7.4 ± 1.7%; P = .019) in AMI-SCAD. However, after propensity score adjustment (806 pairs), the mortality rate was similar in the 2 groups (AdjOR, 1.15; 95%CI, 0.61-2,2; P = .653). Crude 30-day readmission rates were also similar in the 2 groups (4.6% vs 5%, P = .67) whereas rRAR were lower (4.7 ± 1% vs 4.8% ± 1%; P = .015) in patients with AMI-SCAD. Again, after propensity score adjustment (715 pairs) readmission rates were similar in the 2 groups (AdjOR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.67–1.98; P = .603).ConclusionsIn-hospital mortality and readmission rates are similar in patients with AMI-SCAD and AMI–non-SCAD when adjusted for the differences in baseline characteristics. These findings underscore the need to optimize the management, treatment, and clinical follow-up of patients with SCAD.     

Pronóstico a largo plazo de la extensión de la TAPD en una cohorte consecutiva de pacientes con IAMCEST

Introduction and objectivesDual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a matter of debate.MethodsWe analyzed the effect of DAPT on 5-year all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular readmission or mortality in a cohort of 1-year survivor STEMI patients.ResultsA total of 3107 patients with the diagnosis of STEMI were included: 93% of them were discharged on DAPT, a therapy that persisted in 275 high-risk patients at 5 years. Cardiovascular mortality in patients on single antiplatelet therapy vs DAPT at 5 years was 1.4% vs 3.6% (P < .01), respectively, whereas noncardiovascular mortality was 3.3% vs 5.8% (P = .049) at 5 years. Cardiovascular readmission or mortality in patients with single antiplatelet therapy vs DAPT was 11.4% vs 46.5% (P < .001). Extended DAPT was independently associated with worse 5-year all-cause mortality (HR, 2.16; 95%CI, 1.40-3.33), cardiovascular mortality (HR, 2.83; 95%CI, 1.37-5.84), and cardiovascular readmission or mortality (HR, 5.20; 95%CI, 3.96-6.82). These findings were confirmed in propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting analyses.ConclusionsOur results suggest the hypothesis that, in 1-year STEMI survivors, extending DAPT up to 5 years in high-risk patients does not improve their long-term prognosis.     

Evaluación económica de revascularización completa y revascularización guiada por ecocardiografía de estrés en el SCACEST con enfermedad multivaso

Introduction and objectivesEconomic studies may help decision making in the management of multivessel disease in the setting of myocardial infarction. We sought to perform an economic evaluation of CROSS-AMI (Complete Revascularization or Stress Echocardiography in Patients With Multivessel Disease and ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction) randomized clinical trial.MethodsWe performed a cost minimization analysis for the strategies (complete angiographic revascularization [ComR] and selective stress echocardiography–guided revascularization [SelR]) compared in the CROSS-AMI clinical trial (N = 306), attributable the initial hospitalization and readmissions during the first year of follow-up, using current rates for health services provided by our health system.ResultsThe index hospitalization costs were higher in the ComR group than in SelR arm (19 657.9 ± 6236.8 € vs 14 038.7 ± 4958.5 €; P < .001). There were no differences in the costs of the first year of follow-up rehospitalizations between both groups for (ComR 2423.5 ± 4568.0 vs SelR 2653.9 ± 5709.1; P = .697). Total cost was 22 081.3 ± 7505.6 for the ComR arm and 16 692.6 ± 7669.9 for the SelR group (P < .001).ConclusionsIn the CROSS-AMI trial, the initial extra economic costs of the ComR versus SelR were not offset by significant savings during follow-up. SelR seems to be more efficient than ComR in patients with ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome and multivessel disease treated by emergent angioplasty.Study registred at ClinicalTrial.gov (Identifier: NCT01179126).     

Complicaciones y mortalidad a 30 días y al año en pacientes con primer IAMCEST tratados en la red Codi IAM en 2010-2016: análisis del efecto del género

Introduction and objectivesST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) emergency care networks aim to increase reperfusion rates and reduce ischemic times. The influence of sex on prognosis is still being debated. Our objective was to analyze prognosis according to sex after a first STEMI.MethodsThis multicenter cohort study enrolled first STEMI patients from 2010 to 2016 to determine the influence of sex after adjustment for revascularization delays, age, and comorbidities. End points were 30-day mortality, the 30-day composite of mortality, ventricular fibrillation, pulmonary edema, or cardiogenic shock, and 1-year all-cause mortality.ResultsFrom 2010 to 2016, 14 690 patients were included; 24% were women. The median [interquartile range] time from electrocardiogram to artery opening decreased throughout the study period in both sexes (119 minutes [85-160] vs 109 minutes [80-153] in 2010, 102 minutes [81-133] vs 96 minutes [74-124] in 2016, both P = .001). The rates of primary PCI within 120 minutes increased in the same period (50.4% vs 57.9% and 67.1% vs 72.1%, respectively; both P = .001). After adjustment for confounders, female sex was not associated with 30-day complications (OR, 1.06; 95%CI, 0.91-1.22). However, female 30-day survivors had a lower adjusted 1-year mortality than their male counterparts (HR,0.76; 95%CI, 0.61-0.95).ConclusionsCompared with men, women with a first STEMI had similar 30-day mortality and complication rates but significantly lower 1-year mortality after adjustment for age and severity.