Plasma desmosine, a biomarker of elastin degradation, predicts outcomes in coronary artery disease

Background

Recent evidence from animal studies suggests that elastin degradation accelerates atherosclerosis and increases risk of plaque rupture and subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke. Desmosine is an elastin-specific degradation product. We analysed the prognostic value of plasma desmosine (pDES) in a cohort of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

Patients with CAD (n=400) undergoing elective coronary angiography were prospectively recruited over 3 years and had bloods drawn for analysis of pDES using a validated stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Patients were followed up for 12 months for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of death, myocardial infarction, target vessel repeat revascularisation, target lesion revascularisation, and heart failure hospital admission). The upper limit of normal for pDES is 0.35 ng/mL. The predictive value of pDES for MACE was analysed with Cox-proportional hazards ratio (HR) model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Results

During follow-up, there were 36 MACE events. Median pDES level across the entire cohort was 0.3 ng/mL (IQR 0.23–0.41 ng/mL). Patients with a pDES level >0.35 ng/mL were more likely to be male and older with a mean age of 69.7±10.3 years, have a history of prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and COPD. In univariable analysis, a pDES level of >0.35 ng/mL was associated with an increased risk of MACE (HR 4.76, 95% CI: 2.34–9.68, p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, pDES >0.35 ng/mL was associated with risk of MACE after adjustment for age, sex, COPD status and previous stroke and TIA (HR 3.97; 95% CI: 1.82–8.67, p=0.001) (Figure).

Conclusion

Increased elastin degradation as measured by elevated pDES levels, predicts outcomes in patients with CAD independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and may play a role as a future biomarker in these patients.

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Long-term outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Despite this, data regarding long-term outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are limited.

Methods

We identified 756 patients with RA from the Melbourne Interventional Group PCI registry (2005–2018) and compared outcomes to the remaining cohort (N=38,579). Cox regression analysis was performed to assess risk of adverse cardiac events including long-term mortality (derived from linkage with the National Death Index [NDI]).

Results

Patients with RA were older (68.9±10.0 vs. 64.6±12.0 years) and more often female (40% vs. 23%), with higher rates of hypertension (70% vs 67%), previous stroke (9% vs 6%), peripheral vascular disease (9% vs 6%), obstructive sleep apnoea (10% vs 5%), chronic lung disease (22% vs 12%), prior myocardial infarction (32% vs 27%), and impaired renal function (eGFR<60 ml/min/1.73m2 in 31% vs 24%), while rates of current smoking were lower (20% vs. 25%), all p<0.05. Lesions were more frequently complex (ACC/AHA type B2/C in 61% vs 57%), required longer stents (>20mm in 39% vs 35%), and rates of no reflow were higher (5% vs 3%), all p<0.05. 30-day mortality was higher (4.4% vs. 3.3%, p=0.04) mainly owing to higher non-cardiac mortality (1.6% vs. 0.8%, p=0.01). National Death Index-linked long-term mortality was 28% vs. 19% (p<0.01) with mean follow-up 4.6 vs. 5.4 years. Risk of 30-day and long-term mortality (including by indication subgroup) are presented in the Table.

Conclusions

Patients with RA undergoing PCI have more comorbidities and longer, more complex coronary lesions. After adjustment, risk of short-term adverse outcomes are similar, while risk of long-term mortality is higher, particularly among patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Sex differences in pharmacotherapy and long-term outcomes in patients with ischaemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction

Background

Left ventricular dysfunction and ischaemic heart disease are common amongst women, however, women tend to present later and are less likely to receive guideline-directed medical therapy compared to their male counterparts.

Purpose

To investigate if a sex discrepancy exists for optimal medical therapy (OMT) and long-term mortality in a cohort of patients with known ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods

We analysed prospectively collected data from a multicentre registry database collected between 2005–2018 on pharmacotherapy 30-days post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 13,015 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%. OMT at 30-days was defined as beta-blocker (BB), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB) ± mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA). Long-term mortality was determined by linkage with the National Death Index, with median follow up of 4.7 (IQR 2.0–8.6) years.

Results

Mean age was 65±12 years; women represented 20.2% (2,634) of the cohort. Women were on average 5 years older, had higher average BMI, higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, renal dysfunction, prior stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Men were more likely to have sleep apnoea, be current/ex-smokers and to have had prior myocardial infarction, PCI and bypass surgery. Overall, 72.3% (9,411) of patients were on OMT, which was similar between sexes (72.7% in women vs. 72.2% in men, p=0.58). Rates of BB therapy were similar between sexes (85.2% vs. 84.5%, p=0.38), while women were less likely to be on an ACEi/ARB (80.4% vs. 82.4%, p=0.02) and more likely to be on a MRA (12.1% vs. 10.0%, p=0.003). Amongst those with LVEF ≤35% (n=1,652), BB (88.7% vs. 87.3%, p=0.46), ACEi/ARB (83.3% vs. 82.1%, p=0.59) and MRA use (32.5% vs. 33.3%, p=0.78) was comparable. Aspirin use was similar between sexes (95.3% vs. 95.9%, p=0.12), while women were less likely to be on statin therapy (93.5% vs. 95.3%, p<0.001) and a second antiplatelet agent (94.4% vs. 95.6%, p=0.007). On unadjusted analysis women had significantly higher long-term mortality of 25.4% compared to 19.0% for men (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis out to 14 years demonstrated that men on OMT have the best long-term survival overall and women on sub-OMT have significantly poorer outcomes compared to men on sub-OMT. However, after adjusting for OMT and other comorbidities there was no difference in long-term mortality between sexes (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.87–1.14, p=0.94).

Conclusion

From this large multicentre registry, we found similar rates of guideline-directed pharmacotherapy for left ventricular dysfunction between sexes, however women were less likely to be on appropriate IHD secondary prevention. The increased unadjusted long-term mortality amongst women is likely due to differing baseline risk, given that adjusted mortality was similar between sexes.

Kaplan-Meier Survival Analysis

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

P5290Impact of extreme obesity on long-term outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Obesity is a growing health concern worldwide, particularly in developed countries where there has been an unprecedented rise in the proportion of overweight and obese individuals in the population. Previous studies have reported a protective effect of obesity compared to normal BMI in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, it is unclear whether this effect extends to the extremely obese over long-term follow-up.

Objective

To determine whether an obesity paradox persists in contemporary PCI practice over long-term follow-up, and in particular to further evaluate the association between extreme obesity and long-term clinical outcomes after PCI.

Method

We prospectively collected data on 25,645 patients undergoing PCI between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2017 who were enrolled in the statewide multi-centre Melbourne Interventional Group Registry. This registry collects data on all patients undergoing PCI at 6 academic tertiary hospitals. Patients were stratified by World Health Organization-defined BMI categories. Long-term mortality data was obtained by linkage to the National Death Index (NDI), a database that contains records of all deaths occurring in Australia. The primary endpoint was NDI-linked mortality. Median length of follow-up was 4.4 years (IQR 2.0–7.6 years).

Results

Of the study cohort, 24.6% had normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), 0.9% were underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2) and 3.3% were extremely obese (BMI ≥40 kg/m2). As BMI increased, mean age decreased while the prevalence of diabetes increased (p<0.001). The proportion of females at both extremes of BMI. Procedural characteristics were similar across the groups although there was more radial access and less femoral access used with increasing BMI (p<0.001). In terms of secondary prevention therapy, underweight patients were significantly less likely to receive a beta blocker, ACE inhibitor and statins, compared to the other BMI groups. In-hospital, 30-day and long-term mortality were all highest for underweight patients (37.7%) and lowest for the moderately obese patients (BMI 35–40 kg/m2) (12.2%). After adjustment for age, comorbidities and presentation with cardiogenic shock, a U-shaped association between the different BMI categories and adjusted hazard ratio for long-term mortality was observed (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Conclusion

An obesity paradox is still apparent in contemporary practice with elevated BMI up to 35 kg/m2 associated with reduced long-term mortality after PCI. However, this protective effect appears not to extend to patients with extreme obesity. Factors behind this phenomenon are likely multifactorial and require further mechanistic and epidemiological studies.