Contemporary data on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target value attainment and distance to target in a cohort of 57,885 statin-treated patients by country and region across the world

Data presented here refer to 57,885 patients on lipid-lowering statin therapy from the Dyslipidaemia International Study (DYSIS) registry. Subjects were divided into 3 discrete subsets: those at very high-risk, high-risk, and non-high-risk for cardiovascular events, with assigned low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets of 70 mg/dl, 100 mg/dl and 115 mg/dl, respectively. Overall, the highest proportion of patients meeting their LDL-C target was seen in the UAE and Kuwait (49.5%), while the lowest was seen in Germany (14.3%). The smallest median distance to target was documented in Canada (18.8 mg/dl), and the largest in the Baltics (42.1 mg/dl). Interpretation and discussion of this data can be found in the manuscript entitled “Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a global cohort of 57,885 statin-treated patients” (Gitt et al., 2016) [1].

Incidence and predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: analysis from the German transcatheter aortic valve interventions registry

OBJECTIVES

To determine predictors of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation up to 30 days after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in a prospective multicenter registry.

BACKGROUND

Conduction disorders requiring PPM implantation are one of the most common complications seen after TAVI. Knowledge about possible predictors may help to decrease the rate of PPM implantations.

METHODS

In total, 1347 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in 22 centers were prospectively enrolled in the German transcatheter aortic valve interventions registry. Both Medtronic CoreValve™ and Edwards Sapien™ valves were implanted. Patients with preprocedurally implanted PPM or implantable cardioverter defibrillator were excluded from the analysis (n = 199). Regression analysis of baseline and procedure characteristics of the remaining 1,147 patients was performed.

RESULTS

Procedural success was achieved in 97.4% of the cases. The rate for PPM after TAVI was 33.7%. The absence of prior valve surgery, the use of Medtronic CoreValve™ prosthesis and the presence of a porcelain aorta were identified as independent predictors for PPM after TAVI. Mortality at 30 days did not differ between patients with or without PPM necessity (6.0% vs. 8.1%, respectively; HR 0.72; CI (0.45-1.16); P = 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

PPM is a common postprocedure requirement after TAVI. The absence of prior valve surgery, the implantation of Medtronic CoreValve™ prosthesis, and the presence of a porcelain aorta were independently associated with PPM after TAVI.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and outcome of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LG-AS).

BACKGROUND

Patients with LG-AS have a poor prognosis with medical treatment and a high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and June 2010, a total of 1,302 patients underwent TAVI for severe AS and were prospectively included in the multicenter German TAVI registry.

RESULTS

LG-AS was present in 149 patients (11.4%; mean age: 80.2 ± 6.3 years). In this subgroup, the EuroSCORE was significantly higher (26.8 ± 16.6 vs. 20.0 ± 13.3; p < 0.0001) compared with patients with high-gradient AS (HG-AS). The procedural success rate (LG-AS: 95.3% vs. HG-AS: 97.5%; p = 0.13) and the rate of TAVI-associated complications were comparable in both groups (new pacemaker: 27.0% vs. 28.1%; p = 0.76; cerebrovascular events: 3.4% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.83). However, post-operative low-output syndrome occurred more frequently in the LG-AS-group (LG-AS: 14.9% vs. HG-AS: 5.7%, p < 0.0001), and mortality at 30 days and 1 year was significantly higher in this subgroup (LG-AS: 12.8% and 36.9% vs. HG-AS: 7.4% and 18.1%; p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Post-operative New York Heart Association functional class improved, and self-assessed quality of life increased significantly, demonstrating a substantial benefit in the LG-AS group at 30 days and 1 year after TAVI.

CONCLUSIONS

In high-risk patients with LG-AS, TAVI is associated with a significantly higher mortality at 30 days and at 1 year. However, long-term survivors benefit from TAVI with functional improvement and a significantly increased quality of life. Therefore, in view of the poor prognosis with medical treatment, TAVI should be considered an option in high-risk patients with LG-AS.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with and without concomitant coronary artery disease: comparison of characteristics and early outcome in the German multicenter TAVI registry

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence and impact of concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) on short-term outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of CAD in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement is estimated at 30-50 % and its presence increases procedural risk. The prevalence and impact of CAD on outcome after TAVI are not well defined.

METHODS

We analyzed 1,382 patients enrolled in the German TAVI registry; the majority (81 %) received the Medtronic CoreValve. The presence of coronary lesions with ≥50 % stenosis on pre-TAVI angiography defined the existence of concomitant CAD.

RESULTS

859 patients (62.2 %) had concomitant CAD, of which 534 (62.3 %) had multi-vessel and 83 (9.7 %) left main disease. Patients with CAD were younger (81.5 ± 6.1 vs. 82.1 ± 6.3 years, p < 0.05), more commonly males (49.4 vs. 30.0 %, p < 0.0001) and diabetics (36.9 vs. 31.2 %, p < 0.05), and had a worse Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class at baseline compared to patients with no CAD. During TAVI patients with CAD more often required additional coronary intervention and had longer procedures, but procedural success rates were similar (97.1 vs. 97.7 %). Crude in-hospital mortality was higher in patients with CAD (10.0 vs. 5.5 %, OR 1.90, 95 % CI 1.23-2.93), but this was not significant after adjustment for confounders (adjusted OR 1.41, 95 % CI 0.85-2.33). Both groups had significant improvement in 30-day symptoms and quality of life.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of CAD in contemporary TAVI patients is high. Its presence characterizes a high-risk population and is associated with increased crude short-term mortality, largely explained by co-morbidities, but does not limit functional improvement after TAVI.

The impact of peripheral arterial disease on early outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: results from the German Transcatheter Aortic Valve Interventions Registry

BACKGROUND

A significant proportion of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which plays a crucial role in the preinterventional selection process of determining an optimal vascular access site. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of PAD on clinical outcome after TAVI in a real-world setting.

METHODS

A total of 1,315 patients (mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation 20.6% ± 13.7%) underwent TAVI in 27 centers and were included in the prospective German TAVI Registry.

RESULTS

Of the 1,315 patients with TAVI, 330 (25.1%) had PAD. These patients had a higher logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score (27.7% ± 16.0% vs 18.3% ± 12.0%, P < .0001), mainly attributed to more frequent and severe comorbidities. Compared with patients without PAD, patients with PAD had a higher rate of vascular complications (28.5% vs 20.7%, P < .01), dialysis-dependent renal failure (11.2% vs 5.4%, P < .001), myocardial infarction (1.2% vs 0.3%, P < .05), and, subsequently, 30-day mortality (12.7% vs 6.9%, P < .001). Choosing a surgical approach, for example, transapical access, did not reduce the periprocedural risk associated with PAD; in-hospital mortality was 15.7% for surgical and 10.5% for percutaneous patients with TAVI having PAD (P < .001). In a multivariate regression analysis, PAD was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7, P = .004) after TAVI.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world TAVI Registry, PAD was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with percutaneous and surgical TAVI, including vascular complications. Assessment of PAD should play a crucial role in the preinterventional selection process, regardless of the access strategy.

Treatment patterns and risk factor control in patients with and without metabolic syndrome in cardiac rehabilitation

Aim

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of factors that are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We aimed to investigate the proportion of patients with MetS in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR), and to describe differences between patients with MetS compared to those without MetS with regard to (1) patient characteristics including demographics, risk factors, and comorbidities, (2) risk factor management including drug treatment, and (3) control status of risk factors at entry to CR and discharge from CR.

Methods

Post-hoc analysis of data from 27,904 inpatients (Transparency Registry to Objectify Guideline-Oriented Risk Factor Management registry) that underwent a CR period of about 3 weeks were analyzed descriptively in total and compared by their MetS status.

Results

In the total cohort, mean age was 64.3 years, (71.7% male), with no major differences between groups. Patients had been referred after a ST elevation of myocardial infarction event in 41.1% of cases, non-ST elevation of myocardial infarction in 21.8%, or angina pectoris in 16.7%. They had received a percutaneous coronary intervention in 55.1% and bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft) in 39.5%. Patients with MetS (n = 15,819) compared to those without MetS (n = 12,085) were less frequently males, and in terms of cardiac interventions, more often received coronary artery bypass surgery. Overall, statin use increased from 79.9% at entry to 95.0% at discharge (MetS: 79.7% to 95.2%). Patients with MetS compared to those without MetS received angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, oral antidiabetics, and insulin at entry and discharge more frequently, and less frequently clopidogrel and aspirin/clopidogrel combinations. Mean blood pressure was within the normal range at discharge, and did not differ substantially between groups (124/73 versus 120/72 mmHg). Overall, between entry and discharge, levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were substantially lowered, in particular in MetS patients. Thus, control rates of lipid parameters improved substantially, with the exception of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol rates <100 mg/dL increased from 38.7% at entry to 73.8% at discharge (MetS: from 39.4% to 74.6%) and triglycerides control rates (<150 mg/dL) from 58.1% to 70.4% (MetS: 43.7% to 62.2%). Physical fitness on exercise testing improved substantially in both groups.

Conclusion

Patients with and without MetS benefited substantially from the participation in CR, as their lipid profile, blood pressure, and physical fitness improved. Treatment effects were similar in the two groups.

Current state of cardiac rehabilitation in Germany: patient characteristics, risk factor management and control status, by education level

Background

After the acute hospital stay, most cardiac patients in Germany are transferred for a 3–4-week period of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation. We aim to describe patient characteristics and risk factor management of cardiac rehabilitation patients with a focus on drug treatment and control status, differentiated by education level (low level, elementary school; intermediate level, secondary modern school; high level, grammar school/university).

Methods

Data covering a time period between 2003 and 2008 from 68,191 hospitalized patients in cardiac rehabilitation from a large-scale registry (Transparency Registry to Objectify Guideline- Oriented Risk Factor Management) were analyzed descriptively. Further, a multivariate model was applied to assess factors associated with good control of risk factors.

Results

In the total cohort, patients with a manifestation of coronary artery disease (mean age 63.7 years, males 71.7%) were referred to cardiac rehabilitation after having received percutaneous coronary intervention (51.6%) or coronary bypass surgery (39.5%). Statin therapy increased from 76.3% at entry to 88.9% at discharge, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol < 100 mg/dL rates increased from 31.1% to 69.6%. Mean fasting blood glucose decreased from 108 mg/dL to 104 mg/dL, and mean exercise capacity increased from 78 W to 95 W. Age and gender did not differ by education. In contrast with patients having high education, those with low education had more diabetes, hypertension, and peripheral arterial disease, had lower exercise capacity, and received less treatment with statins and guideline-orientated therapy in general. In the multivariate model, good control was significantly more likely in men (odds ratio 1.38; 95% confidence interval 1.30–1.46), less likely in patients of higher age (0.99; 0.99–0.99), with diabetes (0.90; 0.85–0.95), or peripheral arterial disease (0.88; 0.82–0.95). Compared with a low level education, a mid level education was associated with poor control (0.94; 0.89–0.99), while high education did not have a significant effect (1.08; 0.99–1.17).

Conclusion

Patients with different levels of education treated in cardiac rehabilitation did not differ relevantly in terms of demographics, but did differ in some clinical aspects. With respect to the ultimate goal of cardiac rehabilitation, ie, optimal control of risk factors, education level does not play an important role.