Association of Coffee Consumption With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between coffee consumption and mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular disease.Patients and MethodsData from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study representing 43,727 participants with 699,632 person-years of follow-up were included. Baseline data were collected by an in-person interview on the basis of standardized questionnaires and a medical examination, including fasting blood chemistry analysis, anthropometry, blood pressure, electrocardiography, and a maximal graded exercise test, between February 3, 1971, and December 30, 2002. Cox regression analysis was used to quantify the association between coffee consumption and all-cause and cause-specific mortality.ResultsDuring the 17-year median follow-up, 2512 deaths occurred (804 [32%] due to cardiovascular disease). In multivariate analyses, coffee intake was positively associated with all-cause mortality in men. Men who drank more than 28 cups of coffee per week had higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.40). However, after stratification based on age, younger (<55 years old) men and women showed a significant association between high coffee consumption (>28 cups per week) and all-cause mortality after adjusting for potential confounders and fitness level (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.30-1.87 for men; and HR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.26-3.59 for women).ConclusionIn this large cohort, a positive association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality was observed in men and in men and women younger than 55 years. On the basis of these findings, it seems appropriate to suggest that younger people avoid heavy coffee consumption (ie, averaging >4 cups per day). However, this finding should be assessed in future studies of other populations.     

Myocardial Infarction Risk Among Patients With Fractures Receiving Bisphosphonates

ObjectiveTo determine if bisphosphonates are associated with reduced risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Patients and MethodsA cohort of 14,256 veterans 65 years or older with femoral or vertebral fractures was selected from national administrative databases operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and was derived from encounters at Veterans Affairs facilities between October 1, 1998, and September 30, 2006. The time to first AMI was assessed in relationship to bisphosphonate exposure as determined by records from the Pharmacy Benefits Management Database. Time to event analysis was performed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. An adjusted survival analysis curve and a Kaplan-Meier survival curve were analyzed.ResultsAfter controlling for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors and medications, bisphosphonate use was associated with an increased risk of incident AMI (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08-1.77; P=.01). The timing of AMI correlated closely with the timing of bisphosphonate therapy initiation.ConclusionOur observations in this study conflict with our hypothesis that bisphosphonates have antiatherogenic effects. These findings may alter the risk-benefit ratio of bisphosphonate use for treatment of osteoporosis, especially in elderly men. However, further analysis and confirmation of these findings by prospective clinical trials is required.     

Body Composition and Mortality in a Large Cohort With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Untangling the Obesity Paradox

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of body composition as a function of lean mass index (LMI) and body fat (BF) on the correlation between increasing body mass index (BMI; calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared) and decreasing mortality, which is known as the obesity paradox.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively assessed 47,866 patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (≥50%). We calculated BF by using the Jackson-Pollock equation and LMI using (1 − BF) × BMI. The population was divided according to the sex-adjusted BMI classification, sex-adjusted LMI classification, and sex-adjusted BF tertiles. The population was analyzed by using multivariate analysis for total mortality over a mean follow-up duration of 3.1 years by using the National Death Index, adjusting for left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular mass index, age, sex, and relative wall thickness.ResultsIn the entire population, higher BMI was narrowly associated (hazard ratio [HR], 0.99; P<.001) with lower mortality. The higher LMI group was clearly protective (HR, 0.71; P<.001), whereas BF tertile was associated with lower mortality only if no adjustment was made for LMI (HR, 0.87; P<.001 without LMI; HR, 0.97; P=.23 with LMI). In the lean patients, low BMI was clearly associated with higher mortality (HR, 0.92; P<.001) and lower BF tertile was associated with lower mortality only if no adjustment was made for LMI (HR, 0.80; P<.001 without LMI; HR, 1.01; P=.83 with LMI). The underweight patients stratified by BF seemed to have an increased mortality (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.56-2.34) that was independent of LMI. However, in obese patients, both BMI (HR, 1.03; P<.001) and BF (HR, 1.18; P=.003) were associated with higher mortality, even after adjusting for LMI, which remained protective (HR, 0.57; P<.001) independently of BF.ConclusionBody composition could explain the inverse J shape of the mortality curve noted with increasing BMI. Body fat seems to be protective in this cohort only if no adjustment was made for LMI, although being underweight stratified by BF seems to be an independent risk factor. Lean mass index seems to remain protective in obese patients even when BMI is not.     

Resting Heart Rate in First Year Survivors of Myocardial Infarction and Long-term Mortality: A Community Study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the long-term prognostic effect of resting heart rate (HR) at index myocardial infarction (MI) and during the first year after MI among 1-year survivors.Patients and MethodsThe community-based cohort consisted of 1571 patients hospitalized with an incident MI from January 1, 1983, through December 31, 2007, in Olmsted County, Minnesota, who were in sinus rhythm at index MI and had HR measurements on electrocardiography at index and during the first year after MI. Outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular deaths.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 7.0 years, 627 deaths and 311 cardiovascular deaths occurred. Using patients with HRs of 60/min or less as the referent, this study found that long-term all-cause mortality risk increased progressively with increasing HR at index (hazard ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.25-2.09) and even more with increasing HR during the first year after MI (hazard ratio, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.64-2.84) for patients with HRs greater than 90/min, adjusting for clinical characteristics and β-blocker use. Similar results were observed for cardiovascular mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.14-2.42; and adjusted hazard ratio, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.27-2.94; for HR at index and within 1 year after MI, respectively).ConclusionThese data from a large MI community cohort indicate that HR is a strong predictor of long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality not only at initial presentation of MI but also during the first year of follow-up.     

Natural Disasters and Myocardial Infarction: The Six Years After Hurricane Katrina

ObjectiveTo determine the prolonged effect of Hurricane Katrina on the incidence and timing of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the city of New Orleans.Patients and MethodsOur study population consisted of 1476 patients with AMI before (August 29, 1999, to August 28, 2005) and after (February 14, 2006, to February 13, 2012) Hurricane Katrina at Tulane University Health Sciences Center to determine post-Katrina alterations in the occurrence and timing of AMI.ResultsCompared with pre-Katrina values, there was a more than 3-fold increase in the percentage of admissions for AMI during the 6 years after Hurricane Katrina (P<.001). The percentage of admissions for AMI after Hurricane Katrina increased significantly on nights (P<.001) and weekends (P<.001) and decreased significantly on mornings (P<.001), Mondays (P<.001), and weekdays (P<.001). Patients with AMI after Hurricane Katrina also had significantly higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities (P=.01), smoking (P<.001), lack of health insurance (P<.05), and unemployment (P<.001).ConclusionThese results indicate that the effect of natural disasters on the occurrence of AMI may persist for at least a 6-year period and may be related to various factors including population shifts, alterations in the health care system, and the effects of chronic stress and associated behaviors.     

Increased Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Associated With Excessive Exercise in Heart Attack Survivors

ObjectiveTo test whether greater exercise is associated with progressively lower mortality after a cardiac event.Patients and MethodsWe used Cox proportional hazard analyses to examine mortality vs estimated energy expended by running or walking measured as metabolic equivalents (3.5 mL O₂/kg per min per day or metabolic equivalent of task-h/d [MET-h/d]) in 2377 self-identified heart attack survivors, where 1 MET-h/d is the energy equivalent of running 1 km/d. Mortality surveillance via the National Death Index included January 1991 through December 2008.ResultsA total of 526 deaths occurred during an average prospective follow-up of 10.4 years, 376 (71.5%) of which were related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) (International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes I00-I99). CVD-related mortality compared with the lowest exercise group decreased by 21% for 1.07 to 1.8 MET-h/d of running or walking (P=.11), 24% for 1.8 to 3.6 MET-h/d (P=.04), 50% for 3.6 to 5.4 MET-h/d (P=.001), and 63% for 5.4 to 7.2 MET-h/d (P<.001) but decreased only 12% for ≥7.2 MET-h/d (P=.68). These data represent a 15% average risk reduction per MET-h/d for CVD-related mortality through 7.2 MET-h/d (P<.001) and a 2.6-fold risk increase above 7.2 MET-h/d (P=.009). Relative to the risk reduction at 7.2 MET-h/d, the risk for ≥7.2 MET-h/d increased 3.2-fold (P=.006) for all ischemic heart disease (IHD)–related mortalities but was not significantly increased for non–IHD-CVD, arrhythmia-related CVD, or non–CVD-related mortalities.ConclusionRunning or walking decreases CVD mortality risk progressively at most levels of exercise in patients after a cardiac event, but the benefit of exercise on CVD mortality and IHD deaths is attenuated at the highest levels of exercise (running: above 7.1 km/d or walking briskly: 10.7 km/d).     

Safety and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Myocardial Revascularization Therapy for Refractory Angina Pectoris

ObjectiveTo assess the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave myocardial revascularization (ESMR) therapy in treating patients with refractory angina pectoris.Patients and MethodsA single-arm multicenter prospective trial to assess safety and efficacy of the ESMR therapy in patients with refractory angina (class III/IV angina) was performed. Screening exercise treadmill tests and pharmacological single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed for all patients to assess exercise capacity and ischemic burden. Patients were treated with 9 sessions of ESMR to ischemic areas over 9 weeks. Efficacy end points were exercise capacity by using treadmill test as well as ischemic burden on pharmacological SPECT at 4 months after the last ESMR treatment. Safety measures included electrocardiography, echocardiography, troponin, creatine kinase, and brain natriuretic peptide testing, and pain questionnaires.ResultsFifteen patients with medically refractory angina and no revascularization options were enrolled. There was a statistically significant mean increase of 122.3±156.9 seconds (38% increase compared with baseline; P=.01) in exercise treadmill time from baseline (319.8±157.2 seconds) to last follow-up after the ESMR treatment (422.1±183.3 seconds). There was no improvement in the summed stress perfusion scores after pharmacologically induced stress SPECT at 4 months after the last ESMR treatment in comparison to that at screening; however, SPECT summed stress score revealed that untreated areas had greater progression in ischemic burden vs treated areas (3.69±6.2 vs 0.31±4.5; P=.03). There was no significant change in the mean summed echo score from baseline to posttreatment (0.4±5.1; P=.70). The ESMR therapy was performed safely without any adverse events in electrocardiography, echocardiography, troponins, creatine kinase, or brain natriuretic peptide. Pain during the ESMR treatment was minimal (a score of 0.5±1.2 to 1.1±1.2 out of 10).ConclusionIn this multicenter feasibility study, ESMR seems to be a safe and efficacious treatment for patients with refractory angina pectoris. However, larger sham-controlled trials will be required to confirm these findings.     

Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

ObjectiveTo conduct a meta-analysis summarizing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality (ACM) in relation to alcohol consumption in patients with hypertension, focusing on clarifying dose-response associations.Patients and MethodsPubMed and EMBASE were searched for eligible prospective cohort studies from December 3, 1949, through January 18, 2014. The semi-parameter method and dose-response analysis were used.ResultsNine studies (11 cohorts) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the lowest alcohol level (abstainers/occasional drinkers), the pooled relative risk (RR) was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.68-0.77) for the third highest category (median, 10 g/d), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.71-0.93) for the second highest category (median, 20 g/d), and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.54-0.67) for the highest category (median, 30 g/d). A J-shaped relationship between alcohol use and ACM was observed, and the nadir (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.88) was found to be at a dose of 8 to 10 g of alcohol consumption per day.ConclusionFindings of this meta-analysis suggest that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption was inversely significantly associated with the risk of CVD and ACM in patients with hypertension.     

Protective Role of Resting Heart Rate on All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

ObjectiveTo study the protective role of lower resting heart rate (RHR) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality.Patients and MethodsPatients (n=53,322) who received a baseline medical examination between January 1, 1974, and December 31, 2002, were recruited from the Cooper Clinic, Dallas, Texas. They completed a medical questionnaire and underwent clinical evaluation. Patients with CVD or cancer or who had less than 1 year of mortality follow-up were excluded from the study. Relative risks and 95% CIs for all-cause and CVD mortality across RHR categories were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsHighest cardiorespiratory fitness with lower mortality was found in individuals with an RHR of less than 60 beats/min. Similarly, patients with a higher RHR (≥80 beats/min) were at greater risk for CVD and all-cause mortality compared with an RHR of less than 60 beats/min. This analysis was followed by stratification of the data by hypertension, where hypertensive individuals with high RHRs (≥80 beats/min) were found to be at greater risk for CVD and all-cause mortality compared with those with hypertension and lower RHRs (<60 beats/min). In addition, unfit individuals with high RHRs had the greatest risk of CVD and all-cause mortality. The unfit with low RHR group had a similar risk for CVD and all-cause mortality as the fit with high RHR group.ConclusionLower cardiorespiratory fitness levels and higher RHRs are linked to greater CVD and all-cause mortality.     

Treatment Discontinuations With New Oral Agents for Long-term Anticoagulation: Insights From a Meta-analysis of 18 Randomized Trials Including 101,801 Patients

ObjectiveTo systematically examine discontinuation rates with new US Food and Drug Administration–approved oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with various indications for long-term anticoagulation.Patients and MethodsPoor adherence to medications is considered a potential and frequent cause of treatment failure. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, EBSCO, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases for articles published from January 1, 2001, through September 15, 2013. The following Medical Subject Heading terms and/or keywords were used for our database searches: rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, new oral anticoagulants, oral thrombin inhibitors, and oral factor Xa inhibitors. Articles in English that focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NOACs (apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban) with conventional therapy or placebo were abstracted. Independent extraction of relevant data was performed by 2 authors. The primary end point of interest was discontinuation due to all causes. Other end points of interest were discontinuation due to adverse events, consent withdrawal, and nonadherence.ResultsEighteen RCTs including a total of 101,801 patients were included for analysis. Total study drug discontinuation rates were not statistically different with NOACs in comparison to pharmacologically active comparators for treatment of venous thromboembolism/pulmonary embolism (risk ratio [RR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.74-1.13; P=.40) and for NOACs in comparison to warfarin and aspirin for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.87-1.17; P=.92). In contrast, in acute coronary syndromes, total study drug discontinuation with NOACs was significantly higher than with placebo (RR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.07-1.83; P=.01). Overall discontinuations were comparable to those with active comparators.ConclusionStudy drug discontinuations with NOACs were not significantly different from those with conventional drugs in treatment of venous thromboembolism/pulmonary embolism and prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation but were worse in acute coronary syndromes as noted in evidence from contemporary RCTs.     

Bone Mass in Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Associations With Activity-Based Therapy,Neurologic and Functional Status,a Retrospective Study

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of osteoporosis and its association with functional electrical stimulation (FES) use in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI)-related paralysis.DesignRetrospective cross-sectional evaluation.SettingClinic.ParticipantsConsecutive persons with SCI (N=364; 115 women, 249 men) aged between 18 and 80 years who underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasurePrevalence of osteoporosis defined as DXA T score ≤−2.5.ResultsThe prevalence of osteoporosis was 34.9% (n=127). Use of FES was associated with 31.2% prevalence of osteoporosis compared with 39.5% among persons not using FES. In multivariate adjusted logistic regression analysis, FES use was associated with 42% decreased odds of osteoporosis after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, type and duration of injury, Lower Extremity Motor Scores, ambulation, previous bone fractures, and use of calcium, vitamin D, and anticonvulsant; (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], .35–.99; P=.039). Duration of injury >1 year was associated with a 3-fold increase in odds of osteoporosis compared with individuals with injury <1 year; (adjusted OR=3.02; 95% CI, 1.60–5.68; P=.001).ConclusionsFES cycling ergometry may be associated with a decreased loss of bone mass after paralysis. Further prospective examination of the role of FES in preserving bone mass will improve our understanding of this association.     

Association of Coronary Artery Calcification With Hepatic Steatosis in Asymptomatic Individuals

ObjectiveTo determine the association of coronary artery calcification with hepatic steatosis in asymptomatic volunteers.Patients and MethodsThe study group comprised 400 asymptomatic volunteers, enrolled from April 1, 2011, to September 30, 2012, without known coronary artery disease who were self-referred for screening noncontrast computed tomography to determine coronary calcium score (CCS). Computed tomographic images were used to determine the presence of hepatic steatosis. An a priori model was created to predict a CCS of 100 Agatston units (AU) or higher on the basis of Framingham risk factors, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Hepatic steatosis was then added to this model. Computation of the odds ratio (OR) for hepatic steatosis predicting a CCS of 100 AU or higher was performed. Finally, the OR for a CCS of 100 AU or higher being associated with hepatic steatosis was calculated.ResultsWhen hepatic steatosis was added to traditional coronary risk factors, it was independently associated with a CCS of 100 AU or higher (OR, 2.85). This was greater than the OR of Framingham factors, diabetes mellitus, or metabolic syndrome. A CCS of 100 AU or higher was independently associated with an increased risk for hepatic steatosis (OR, 2.4). This OR was higher than traditional hepatic steatosis risk factors or metabolic syndrome.ConclusionHepatic steatosis is a strong independent predictor of a CCS of 100 AU or higher in asymptomatic patients. It is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease beyond that expected from traditional coronary risk factors and/or metabolic syndrome. Additional studies are needed to clarify the role of hepatic steatosis as a possible independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease.     

Association of Dysglycemia and All-Cause Mortality Across the Spectrum of Coronary Artery Disease

ObjectiveTo assess the association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and all-cause mortality across the spectrum of coronary artery disease (CAD).Patients and MethodsThe study included 18,999 patients during a study period of April 1, 2004, through October 31, 2010. The primary end points were in-hospital and follow-up all-cause mortality. According to the quartiles of FPG levels, patients were categorized into 4 groups: quartile 1, less than 5.1 mmol/L; quartile 2, 5.1 to less than 5.9 mmol/L; quartile 3, 5.9 to less than 7.5 mmol/L; and quartile 4, 7.5 mmol/L or greater. The conversion factor for units of plasma glucose is 1.00 mmol/L equals 18 mg/dL. Presented as mg/dL, the 4 quartile ranges of plasma glucose concentrations used in our data analysis are ≤90.0 mg/dL, 90.1-106.0 mg/dL, 106.1 mg/dL-135.0 mg/dL and ≥135.1 mg/dL. Quartile 1 was recognized as the lower glycemic group, quartiles 2 and 3 as the normoglycemic groups, and quartile 4 as the higher glycemic group.ResultsIn patients with acute myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality for the dysglycemic groups was higher than for the normoglycemic groups: in-hospital mortality for quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 1.0%, 0.9%, 0.2%, and 1.5%, respectively (P=.001); follow-up mortality for quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 1.7%, 0.9%, 0.3%, and 1.8%, respectively (P<.001). In patients with stable CAD, no significant differences in mortality were found among groups. However, in patients with unstable angina pectoris, the normoglycemic groups had lower follow-up mortality and roughly equal in-hospital mortality compared with the dysglycemic groups. After adjusting for confounding factors, this observation persisted.ConclusionThe association between lower FPG level and mortality differed across the spectrum of CAD. In patients with acute myocardial infarction, there was a U-shaped relationship. In patients with stable CAD or unstable angina pectoris, mildly to moderately decreasing FPG level was associated with neither higher nor lower all-cause mortality.     

Risk Scores for 30-Day Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: New Insights Into Causes and Risk of Death

ObjectiveTo determine the causes and risk of death after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and to compare the discriminatory ability of the New York State Risk Score (NYSRS) with the Mayo Clinic Risk Score (MCRS).Patients and MethodsWe studied in-hospital and 30-day mortality after PCI in 4898 patients treated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2010, to validate the NYSRS equation with recalibrated predicted probabilities of death.ResultsOf the 4898 patients studied, 93 (1.9%) died during the index hospitalization, and 36 (0.7%) died within 30 days after discharge. For the in-hospital and 30-day mortality, respectively, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.92 and 0.88 for the NYSRS and 0.93 and 0.90 for the MCRS, indicating excellent discrimination. The NYSRS model underpredicted event rates when applied in Mayo Clinic data (2.6% observed [127 of 4898 patients] vs 2.3% predicted [114 of 4898 patients]), even after recalibration. The instantaneous hazard over time revealed the highest risk of death in the first 3 days after PCI (daily probability, >0.2%), declined to 0.1% until about day 12, and then decreased below 0.1%. Cardiac causes (mainly myocardial infarction) dominated in the first week (83 of 85 deaths [97.6%]) and then decreased to 59.5% (25 of 42 deaths) between 8 and 30 days after PCI.ConclusionThe discriminatory ability of the NYSRS and the MCRS for in-hospital and 30-day mortality after PCI is roughly interchangeable. The risk of death is highest during the first 2 weeks and is dominated by cardiac causes of death.     

Sudden Cardiac Death From the Perspective of Coronary Artery Disease

Sudden cardiac death accounts for approximately 50% of all deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease in the United States. It is most commonly associated with coronary artery disease and can be its initial manifestation or may occur in the period after an acute myocardial infarction. Decreasing the rate of sudden cardiac death requires the identification and treatment of at-risk patients through evidence-based pharmacotherapy and interventional strategies aimed at primary and secondary prevention. For this review, we searched PubMed for potentially relevant articles published from January 1, 1970, through March 1, 2014, using the following key search terms: sudden cardiac death, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. Searches were enhanced by scanning bibliographies of identified articles, and those deemed relevant were selected for full-text review. This review outlines various mechanisms for sudden cardiac death in the setting of coronary artery disease, describes risk factors for sudden cardiac death, explores the management of cardiac arrest, and outlines optimal practice for the monitoring and treatment of patients after an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction to decrease the risk of sudden death.     

Prognostic Value of Exercise Capacity in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: The FIT (Henry Ford ExercIse Testing) Project

ObjectiveTo examine the prognostic value of exercise capacity in patients with nonrevascularized and revascularized coronary artery disease (CAD) seen in routine clinical practice.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed 9852 adults with known CAD (mean ± SD age, 61±12 years; 69% men [n=6836], 31% black race [n=3005]) from The Henry Ford ExercIse Testing (FIT) Project, a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent physician-referred stress testing at a single health care system between January 1, 1991, and May 31, 2009. Patients were categorized by revascularization status (nonrevascularized, percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], or coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery) and by metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved on stress testing. Using Cox regression models, hazard ratios for mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and downstream revascularizations were calculated after adjusting for potential confounders, including cardiac risk factors, pertinent medications, and stress testing indication.ResultsThere were 3824 all-cause deaths during median follow-up of 11.5 years. In addition, 1880 MIs, and 1930 revascularizations were ascertained. Each 1-MET increment in exercise capacity was associated with a hazard ratio (95% CI) of 0.87 (0.85-0.89), 0.87 (0.85-0.90), and 0.86 (0.84-0.89) for mortality; 0.98 (0.96-1.01), 0.88 (0.84-0.92), and 0.93 (0.90-0.97) for MI; and 0.94 (0.92-0.96), 0.91 (0.88-0.95), and 0.96 (0.92-0.99) for downstream revascularizations in the nonrevascularized, PCI, and CABG groups, respectively. In each MET category, the nonrevascularized group had similar mortality risk as and higher MI and downstream revascularization risk than the PCI and CABG surgery groups (P<.05).ConclusionExercise capacity was a strong predictor of mortality, MI, and downstream revascularizations in this cohort. Furthermore, patients with similar exercise capacities had an equivalent mortality risk, irrespective of baseline revascularization status.     

Role of Dietary Salt and Potassium Intake in Cardiovascular Health and Disease: A Review of the Evidence

The objective of this review was to provide a synthesis of the evidence on the effect of dietary salt and potassium intake on population blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Dietary guidelines and recommendations are outlined, current controversies regarding the evidence are discussed, and recommendations are made on the basis of the evidence. Designed search strategies were used to search various databases for available studies. Randomized trials of the effect of dietary salt intake reduction or increased potassium intake on blood pressure, target organ damage, cardiovascular disease, and mortality were included. Fifty-two publications from January 1, 1990, to January 31, 2013, were identified for inclusion. Consideration was given to variations in the search terms used and the spelling of terms so that studies were not overlooked, and search terms took the following general form: (dietary salt or dietary sodium or [synonyms]) and (dietary potassium or [synonyms]) and (blood pressure or hypertension or vascular disease or heart disease or chronic kidney disease or stroke or mortality or [synonyms]). Evidence from these studies demonstrates that high salt intake not only increases blood pressure but also plays a role in endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular structure and function, albuminuria and kidney disease progression, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population. Conversely, dietary potassium intake attenuates these effects, showing a linkage to reduction in stroke rates and cardiovascular disease risk. Various subpopulations, such as overweight and obese individuals and aging adults, exhibit greater sensitivity to the effects of reduced salt intake and may gain the most benefits. A diet that includes modest salt restriction while increasing potassium intake serves as a strategy to prevent or control hypertension and decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thus, the body of evidence supports population-wide sodium intake reduction and recommended increases in dietary potassium intake as outlined by current guidelines as an essential public health effort to prevent kidney disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.     

Hemoglobin A1c in Nondiabetic Patients: An Independent Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease and Its Severity

ObjectiveTo examine the association between hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) and the presence, severity, and complexity of angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) in nondiabetic patients.Patients and MethodsWe performed a single-center, observational, cross-sectional study of 1141 consecutive nondiabetic patients who underwent coronary angiography from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. The study population was divided into 4 interquartiles according to HbA_1c levels (<5.5%, 5.5%-5.7%, 5.8%-6.1%, and >6.1%).ResultsPatients with higher HbA_1c levels tended to be older, overweight, and hypertensive, had higher blood glucose levels, and had lower glomerular filtration rates. Higher HbA_1c levels were associated in a graded fashion with the presence of CAD, disease severity (higher number of diseased vessels and presence of left main and/or triple vessel disease), and disease complexity (higher SYNTAX score, higher number of patients in intermediate or high SYNTAX tertiles, coronary calcium, and chronic total occlusions). After adjustment for major conventional cardiovascular risk factors, compared with patients with HbA_1c levels less than 5.5%, the odds ratios of occurrence of CAD in the HbA_1c quartiles of 5.5% to 5.7%, 5.8% to 6.1%, and greater than 6.1% were 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.7), 3.5 (95% CI, 2.3-5.3), and 4.9 (95% CI, 3.0-8.1), respectively.ConclusionThe HbA_1c level has a linear incremental association with CAD in nondiabetic individuals. The HbA_1c level is also independently correlated with disease severity and higher SYNTAX scores. Thus, HbA_1c measurement could be used to improve cardiovascular risk assessment in nondiabetic individuals.     

Association of Coronary Artery Calcium and Coronary Heart Disease Events in Young and Elderly Participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis: A Secondary Analysis of a Prospective,Population-Based Cohort

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and coronary heart disease (CHD) events among young and elderly individuals.Participants and MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of data from a prospective, multiethnic, population-based cohort study designed to study subclinical atherosclerosis. A total of 6809 persons 45 through 84 years old without known cardiovascular disease at baseline were enrolled from July 2000 through September 2002. All participants had CAC scoring performed and were followed up for a median of 8.5 years. The main outcome measures studied were CHD events, defined as myocardial infarction, definite angina or probable angina followed by revascularization, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or death attributable to CHD.ResultsComparing individuals with a CAC score of 0 with those with a CAC score greater than 100, there was an increased incidence of CHD events from 1 to 21 per 1000 person-years and 2 to 23 per 1000 person-years in the 45- through 54-year-old and 75- through 84-year-old groups, respectively. Compared with a CAC score of 0, CAC scores of 1 through 100 and greater than 100 impart an increased multivariable-adjusted CHD event risk in the 45- through 54-year-old and 75- through 84-year-old groups (hazard ratio [HR], 2.3; 95% CI, 0.9-5.8; for those 45-54 years old with CAC scores of 1-100; HR, 12.4; 95% CI, 5.1-30.0; for those 45-54 years old with CAC scores >100: HR, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.2-23.8; for those 75-84 years old with CAC scores of 1-100; and HR, 12.1; 95% CI, 2.9-50.2; for those 75-84 years old with CAC scores >100).ConclusionIncreased CAC imparts an increased CHD risk in younger and elderly individuals. CAC is highly predictive of CHD event risk across all age groups, suggesting that once CAC is known chronologic age has less importance. The utility of CAC scoring as a risk-stratification tool extends to both younger and elderly patients.