An invasive strategy is associated with decreased mortality in patients 80 years and older with acute myocardial infarction

The value of invasive therapy in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction is controversial. The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 140 consecutive patients 80 years and older who were hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction. Hospital outcomes and long-term survival were compared in 79 patients referred for cardiac catheterization during hospitalization with outcomes in 61 patients managed conservatively. Vital status as of December 2003 was determined from the Social Security Death Index. Propensity analysis was used to limit confounding from 13 variables. After a mean follow-up of 333 days, unadjusted mortality was lower in the invasive group (16.5% vs 50.8%; P<.001). The multivariable propensity-adjusted hazard ratio for death was 0.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.76; P=.01), favoring the invasive group. These data suggest that in patients 80 years and older who are hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction, an invasive strategy confers a significant survival advantage during the first year after hospital discharge.     

An invasive strategy is associated with decreased mortality in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: GUSTO IIb trial

There has been much debate concerning an invasive versus a conservative strategy for patients with acute coronary syndromes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early in-hospital catheterization reduced mortality in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.We performed a retrospective analysis of data collected in the Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) IIb trial, which compared hirudin and heparin in patients with acute coronary syndromes. We identified 8011 patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina who were enrolled in the trial. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality at 30 days and 1 year. Data were analyzed with multivariate hazards models and propensity scores.After accounting for inception time bias, there were 7897 patients identified, of whom 4536 patients (57%) underwent invasive therapy and 3361 (43%) underwent conservative therapy. Adjusting for propensity scores, the adjusted 30-day mortality for the invasive group was 2.5% compared with 2.7% in the conservative group (P = 0.92); at 1 year, the invasive group had a 6.2% mortality, versus 8.6% in the conservative group (P = 0.005). In a multivariate analysis that adjusted for other clinical factors, an invasive strategy was associated with lower 1-year mortality (hazard ratio = 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 0.84).In patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes, an invasive strategy is associated with improved survival at 1 year even after adjusting for baseline differences.     

Factors associated with off-label use of drug-eluting stents in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) are used in >80% of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures; however, up to 2/3 are used for off-label indications. Factors associated with DES use in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are not known in contemporary clinical practice. We analyzed temporal trends, geographic patterns, and sociodemographic factors associated with off-label use of DESs in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI from July 2004 to March 2006 in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR). The main outcome of this study was receipt of any DES, and the candidate independent variables were sociodemographic, hospital, clinical, and procedural variables. We also analyzed temporal trends and geographic patterns for use of DESs. A total of 30,235 patients with STEMI underwent primary PCI with use of DESs (84%) or bare metal stents (16%). Adoption of DESs was rapid but varied widely as a function of geographic location. After adjusting for clinical and procedural variables, older age was associated with lower use (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91 to 0.98), whereas white race (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.27), commercial insurance (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.34), and the west census region (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.81) were associated with higher use of DESs. In conclusion, adoption of DESs was rapid in patients with STEMI, but geographic location and sociodemographic and hospital factors were associated with the use DESs.     

The elevated prevalence of apolipoprotein E2 in patients with gout is associated with reduced renal excretion of urates

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that the lower renal excretion of urates in patients with hyperuricaemia is inversely related to plasma very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, and the different genotypes of the apolipoprotein E gene are related to the plasma levels of lipids. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of apolipoprotein E in hyperuricaemic patients and to investigate whether the renal excretion of urates is conditioned by the apoliprotein E genotype. METHOD: The plasma levels of lipoproteins, cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid, and the renal excretion of uric acid were studied in 68 patients with gout and in another control group of 50 healthy subjects. Both groups were genotyped for apolipoprotein E by means of an amplification technique and inverse hybridization. RESULTS: The prevalence of the E2 allele was greater in the patients than in the control group. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid were greater in the patients, whereas the levels of high-density lipoprotein were lower. The patients with the E2 allele had higher levels of triglycerides in VLDL and intermediate-density lipoproteins and a lower renal excretion of urates. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the reduced renal excretion of uric acid in patients with gout is mediated by high levels of VLDL and by the high prevalence of the E2 allele of apolipoprotein E.     

血清促红细胞生成素水平与急性心肌梗死患者梗死面积有关

目的观察血清促红细胞生成素（EPO）水平与急性心肌梗死（AMI）直接经皮冠状动脉介入（PCI）治疗后梗死面积的关系。方法初次急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死86例,在发病12 h内成功地接受了PCI的患者测定血清EPO和肌酸肌酶（CK）,并计算其CK累积释放量。以EPO中间值（19.6 U/L）分为高EPO组[（39±17）U/L]和低EPO组[（14±4）U/L],对两组CK累计释放量进行比较,并对CK累积释放量的可能影响因素做多元逐步回归分析。结果CK累积释放量在血清高EPO组明显低于低EPO组[（1 150±226）μkat/（L.h）vs（1 740±210）μkat/（L.h）,P<0.05)]。多元逐步回归分析显示,血清EPO水平、PCI术后TIMI血流等级和梗死前心绞痛是CK累积释放量的独立预测因子。结论内源性EPO水平高者AMI成功地直接PCI术后梗死面积较少,两者呈负相关。     

Nitroglycerin use in myocardial infarction patients

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and its sequelae are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate [GTN]) remains a first-line treatment for angina pectoris and acute MI. Nitroglycerin achieves its benefit by giving rise to nitric oxide (NO), which causes vasodilation and increases blood flow to the myocardium. However, continuous delivery of GTN results in tolerance, limiting the use of this drug. Nitroglycerin tolerance is caused, at least in part, by inactivation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), an enzyme that converts GTN to the vasodilator, NO. We recently found that in a MI model in animals, in addition to GTN's effect on the vasculature, sustained treatment negatively affected cardiomyocyte viability following ischemia, thus resulting in increased infarct size. Coadministration of Alda-1, an activator of ALDH2, with GTN improves metabolism of reactive aldehyde adducts and prevents the GTN-induced increase in cardiac dysfunction following MI. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms associated with the benefits and risks of GTN administration in MI.     

Leptin is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: Leptin is involved in the regulation of bodyweight and metabolism in man and might also be involved in the pathophysiology of the insulin resistance syndrome, which is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. We tested whether leptin is a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a nested case-referent study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two men with first-ever AMI were identified who, prior to AMI, had participated in population-based health surveys in Northern Sweden. Referents were matched for sex, age, date and type of health survey, and geographical region. Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and the presence of smoking, diabetes and hypertension were recorded. Total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1), apolipoprotein B (apo B), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), insulin, and leptin were analysed in stored samples. Their influences on first-ever AMI were analysed by conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Men with first-ever AMI had higher BMI, plasma insulin and leptin, and diastolic blood pressure than the referents. Furthermore, they had lower plasma apo A-1 and were more often smokers. Smoking, high leptin, PAI-1 and cholesterol, and low apo A-1 levels were significant risk factors for first-ever AMI in univariate analysis. High leptin (OR 8.97; 95% CI: 1.73-46.5) and cholesterol (OR 5.18; 95% CI: 1.34-20.0) levels remained significant risk factors for AMI in a multivariate model. High apo A-1 was protective (OR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.03-0.55). The combination of high leptin and low apo A-1 was associated with a particularly pronounced increased risk for AMI. CONCLUSION: Plasma leptin strongly predicts first-ever AMI. Our data support the hypothesis that leptin is an important link in the development of cardiovascular disease in obesity.     

Nocturnal hypoxemic burden is associated with epicardial fat volume in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Increased epicardial fat volume (EFV) is a common feature of patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), is considered as an established marker of cardiovascular risk, and is associated with adverse cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

To investigate the association between different measures of SDB severity and EFV after acute MI, we enrolled 105 patients with acute MI in this study. Unattended in-hospital polysomnography was performed to determine the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour during sleep (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI). To determine nocturnal hypoxemic burden, we used pulse oximetry and applied a novel parameter, the hypoxia load representing the integrated area of desaturation divided by total sleep time (HL_TST). Of 105 patients, 56 underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance to define EFV.

Results

HL_TST was significantly associated with EFV (r²?=?0.316, p?=?0.025). Multivariate linear regression analysis accounting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and left ventricular mass demonstrated that the HL_TST was an independent modulator of EFV (B-coefficient 0.435 (95% CI 0.021–0.591); p?=?0.015). In contrast, AHI or established measures of hypoxemia did not correlate with EFV.

Conclusions

HL_TST, a novel parameter to determine nocturnal hypoxemic burden, and not AHI as an event-based measure of SDB, was associated with EFV in patients with acute MI. Further studies are warranted to confirm the link between nocturnal hypoxemia and EFV and to determine the prognostic value of a more detailed characterization of nocturnal hypoxemic burden in patients with high cardiovascular risk.

     

Higher number of teeth is associated with decreased prevalence of hearing impairment in Japan

Background/ObjectivesThere is limited evidence on the association between tooth loss and hearing impairment (HI). The present cross-sectional study investigated the association between tooth loss and the prevalence of HI in 1004 Japanese adults aged 36 to 84 years.MethodsHI was defined as present when pure-tone average was > 25 dB at a frequency of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better hearing ear. Visual oral examinations were performed. Adjustments were made for age, sex, smoking status, leisure-time physical activity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, history of depression, body mass index, waist circumference, employment, education, and household income.ResultsOf 1004 study subjects, the prevalence of HI was 24.8% (n = 249). Compared with having 28 teeth, having < 22 teeth, but not having 26 to < 28 or 22 to < 26 teeth, was associated with an increased prevalence of HI; the multivariate adjusted ORs (95% CI) of having 26 to < 28, 22 to < 26, and < 22 teeth were 1.41 (0.85−2.38), 1.51 (0.90−2.57), and 1.96 (1.18−3.30), respectively (p for trend = 0.01).ConclusionsThe results suggest that tooth loss may be associated with an increased prevalence of HI.     

Persistent hyperglycemia is associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The relationship of changes in blood glucose concentrations after admission to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with recanalized anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood glucose concentrations were measured on admission and 24 h after symptom onset in 210 patients with recanalized anterior AMI within 6 h of symptom onset. Of them, 142 had hyperglycemia on admission, defined as a blood glucose >or=8.9 mmol/L, and 68 patients did not. Among the patients with admission hyperglycemia, 49 had persistent hyperglycemia, defined as a blood glucose >or=8.9 mmol/L 24 h after onset, and 93 did not. The incidences of myocardial blush grade of 0/1 after recanalization indicating impaired myocardial perfusion (71%), and peak creatine kinase concentration (5,631+/-2,855 mU/ml) were higher and predischarge LV function (43+/-11%) was lower in patients with persistent hyperglycemia than in those without (p<0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that persistent hyperglycemia was independently associated with LV dysfunction, defined as a predischarge LV ejection fraction 相似文献   

High triglyceride-glucose index is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background and aimsTriglyceride glucose (TyG) index is considered a new surrogate marker of insulin resistance that associated with the development of vascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TyG index in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods and resultsA total of 3181 patients with AMI were included in the analysis. Patients were stratified into 2 groups according to their TyG index levels: the TyG index <8.88 group and the TyG index ≥8.88 group. The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) during a median of 33.3-month follow-up were recorded. Multivariable Cox regression models revealed that the TyG index was positively associated with all-cause death [HR (95% CI): 1.51 (1.10,2.06), p = 0.010], cardiac death [HR (95% CI): 1.68 (1.19,2.38), p = 0.004], revascularization [HR (95% CI): 1.50 (1.16,1.94), p = 0.002], cardiac rehospitalization [HR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.05,1.49), p = 0.012], and composite MACEs [HR (95% CI): 1.19 (1.01,1.41), p = 0.046] in patients with AMI. The independent predictive effect of TyG index on composite MACEs was mainly reflected in the subgroups of male gender and smoker. The area under the curve (AUC) of the TyG index predicting the occurrence of MACEs in AMI patients was 0.602 [95% CI 0.580,0.623; p < 0.001].ConclusionHigh TyG index levels appeared to be associated with an increased risk of MACEs in patients with AMI. The TyG index might be a valid predictor of cardiovascular outcomes of patients with AMI.Trial registrationRetrospectively registered.     

Colchicine and myocardial infarction: A review

Central illustration. Potential impact of colchicine on the pathways involved in atherosclerosis. IL: interleukin; MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; SMC: smooth muscle cells. Adapted from [42].