Combined Treatment With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Endovascular Therapy for Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia - Study Protocol for the HOTFOOT Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is regarded as one of the therapeutic options added to standard care to improve lower-limb outcomes in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). However, the current guidelines specify that HBOT should not be offered instead of revascularization to prevent limb loss in CLTI patients. The aim of the HOTFOOT study is to examine the impact of HBOT on wound healing in CLTI patients after successful endovascular therapy (EVT).

Methods and Results: The HOTFOOT study is a multicenter prospective randomized open blinded-endpoint trial that is to be conducted at 10 trial centers in Japan between February 2021 and February 2022. This study will enroll 140 patients with CLTI receiving successful EVT. Eligible participants will be allocated 1 : 1 to either the EVT+HBOT or EVT group; participants in the EVT+HBOT group will receive 30 HBOT sessions. The primary outcome is the time to complete wound healing over the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes during the 6-month follow-up are the proportion of patients who achieved complete wound healing, freedom from major lower-limb amputation, amputation-free survival, and freedom from target lesion reintervention.

Conclusions: This study is expects to assess whether HBOT, in combination with successful EVT, can improve lower-limb outcomes in CLTI patients.

Physical restraint of dementia patients in acute care hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cohort analysis in Japan

Introduction

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for the medical staff worldwide, especially for those in hospitals where COVID-19-positive patients are hospitalized. The announcement of COVID-19 hospital restrictions by the Japanese government has led to several limitations in hospital care, including an increased use of physical restraints, which could affect the care of elderly dementia patients. However, few studies have empirically validated the impact of physical restraint use during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the impact of regulatory changes, consequent to the pandemic, on physical restraint use among elderly dementia patients in acute care hospitals.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we extracted the data of elderly patients (aged > 64 years) who received dementia care in acute care hospitals between January 6, 2019, and July 4, 2020. We divided patients into two groups depending on whether they were admitted to hospitals that received COVID-19-positive patients. We calculated descriptive statistics to compare the trend in 2-week intervals and conducted an interrupted time-series analysis to validate the changes in the use of physical restraint.

Results

In hospitals that received COVID-19-positive patients, the number of patients who were physically restrained per 1,000 hospital admissions increased after the government’s announcement, with a maximum incidence of 501.4 per 1,000 hospital admissions between the 73rd and 74th week after the announcement. Additionally, a significant increase in the use of physical restraints for elderly dementia patients was noted (p = 0.004) in hospitals that received COVID-19-positive patients. Elderly dementia patients who required personal care experienced a significant increase in the use of physical restraints during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion

Understanding the causes and mechanisms underlying an increased use of physical restraints for dementia patients can help design more effective care protocols for similar future situations.

Association between Changes in the Systolic Blood Pressure from Evening to the Next Morning and Night Glucose Variability in Heart Disease Patients

Objectve To assess the impact of glycemic variability on blood pressure in hospitalized patients with cardiac disease. Methods In 40 patients with cardiovascular disease, the glucose levels were monitored by flash continuous glucose monitoring (FGM; Free-Style Libre™ or Free-Style Libre Pro; Abbott, Witney, UK) and self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) for 14 days. Blood pressure measurements were performed twice daily (morning and evening) at the same time as the glucose level measurement using SMBG. Results The detection rate of hypoglycemia using the FGM method was significantly higher than that with the 5-point SMBG method (77.5% vs. 5.0%, p<0.001). Changes in the systolic blood pressure from evening to the next morning [morning - evening (ME) difference] were significantly correlated with night glucose variability (r=0.63, P<0.001). A multiple regression analysis showed that night glucose variability using FGM was more closely correlated with the ME difference [r=0.62 (95% confidence interval, 0.019-0.051); p<0.001] than with the age, body mass index, or smoking history. Night glucose variability was also more closely associated with the ME difference in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) than in those with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF) (r=0.83, p=0.058). Conclusion Night glucose variability is associated with the ME blood pressure difference, and FGM is more accurate than the 5-point SMBG approach for detecting such variability.

Significance of day-to-day glucose variability in patients after acute coronary syndrome

Background

Several studies have recently addressed the importance of glycemic variability (GV) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although daily GV measures, such as mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, are established predictors of poor prognosis in patients with ACS, the clinical significance of day-to-day GV remains to be fully elucidated. We therefore monitored day-to-day GV in patients with ACS to examine its significance.

Methods

In 25 patients with ACS, glucose levels were monitored for 14 days using a flash continuous glucose monitoring system. Mean of daily differences (MODD) was calculated as a marker of day-to-day GV. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was evaluated within 4 days after hospitalization. Cardiac function (left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume) was assessed by echocardiography at 3–5 days after admission and at 10–12 months after the disease onset.

Results

Of the 25 patients, 8 (32%) were diagnosed with diabetes, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-based MODD was high (16.6 to 42.3) in 17 patients (68%). Although MODD did not correlate with max creatine kinase (CK), there was a positive correlation between J-index, high blood glucose index, and NT-proBNP (r = 0.83, p < 0.001; r = 0.85, p < 0.001; r = 0.41, p = 0.042, respectively).

Conclusions

In patients with ACS, MODD was associated with elevated NT-proBNP. Future studies should investigate whether day-to-day GV in ACS patients can predict adverse clinical events such as heart failure.

Prognostic impact of six versus eight cycles of standard regimen in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: propensity score-matching analysis

Background

R-CHOP-21 has been the standard treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but there is a paucity of evidence focusing on the number of cycles of regimens.

Patients and methods

We conducted a retrospective study to compare the effectiveness of six cycles of standard regimens versus eight cycles for overall survival (OS) in DLBCL patients using propensity score matching, in consideration of relative dose intensity (RDI).

Results

A total of 685 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were identified in three institutions from 2007 to 2017. Patients treated using six cycles of standard regimens were matched by propensity scores with those treated using eight cycles. A 1 : 1 propensity score matching yielded 138 patient pairs. Eight cycles did not significantly improve OS in the conventional Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio 0.849, 95% confidence interval 0.453-1.588, P = 0.608). Restricted cubic spline Cox models for OS confirmed that the effect of the number of cycles was not modified by total average RDI, the International Prognostic Index, and age. Occurrence of adverse events did not differ between six and eight cycles.

Conclusion

Even considering the impact of RDI, six cycles of the initial standard regimen for DLBCL is not inferior to eight cycles.

•

The optimal number of cycles of standard regimens including R-CHOP-21 for newly diagnosed DLBCL has not been determined.

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This study was conducted to verify whether six cycles or eight cycles of standard regimen improved the prognosis of DLBCL.

•

Propensity score matching and a Cox hazards model with restricted cubic spline were used in this study.

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No survival benefit of eight cycles compared with six cycles was seen, even taking into account RDI.

•

Prognosis was no better with eight cycles of (R-)CHOP-21 or THP-COP-21 than with six cycles, after age and IPI modifications.

The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on hospital admissions for alcohol-related liver disease and pancreatitis in Japan

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been health concerns related to alcohol use and misuse. We aimed to examine the population-level change in cases of alcohol-related liver disease and pancreatitis that required admission during the COVID-19 epidemic by interrupted time series (ITS) analysis using claims data. We defined the period from April 2020, when the Japanese government declared a state of emergency, as the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic. This ITS analysis included 3,026,389 overall admissions and 10,242 admissions for alcohol-related liver disease or pancreatitis from 257 hospitals between July 2018 and June 2020. The rate of admissions per 1000 admissions during the COVID-19 epidemic period (April 2020-June 2020) was 1.2 times (rate ratio: 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.12-1.33) compared to the pre-epidemic period. Analyses stratified by sex revealed that the increases in admission rates of alcohol-related liver disease or pancreatitis for females were higher than for males during the COVID-19 epidemic period. The COVID-19 epidemic in Japan might associates an increase in hospital admissions for alcohol-related liver disease and pancreatitis. Our study could support the concern of alcohol consumption and health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association of the Geriatric 8 with treatment intensity and prognosis in older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Because of the heterogeneity among older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the establishment of an easy-to-use geriatric assessment tool is an unmet need. We verified the impact of the Geriatric 8 (G8) on treatment stratification and overall survival (OS). We conducted a retrospective, multicentre analysis of older patients (≥65 years) with DLBCL. The primary endpoint was OS. The total average relative dose intensity (tARDI) was defined as the average delivered dose intensity divided by the planned dose intensity through all cycles. A total of 451 patients were diagnosed with DLBCL from 2007 to 2017, and 388 patients received standard regimens. A multivariate Cox model confirmed that the G8 was a significant predictor of OS (hazard ratio 0·88, 95% confidence interval 0·828-0·935). A Cox model with restricted cubic spline showed a linear association between the G8 and the mortality risk. The G8 had a significant impact on OS in elderly patients with DLBCL. The upper limit of tARDI for standard regimens to improve OS might be appropriate at ≥80% for patients with high G8 scores and 60% for patients with low G8 scores. However, the standard regimens should be given to all patients regardless of the G8 score to improve OS.

Surgical volume reduction and the announcement of triage during the 1st wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a cohort study using an interrupted time series analysis

Purpose

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for surgical staffs to minimize exposure to COVID-19 or save medical resources without harmful patient outcomes, in accordance with the statement of each surgical society. No research has empirically validated declines in surgical volume in Japan, based on the usage of surgical triage. We aimed to identify whether the announcement of surgical priorities by each Japanese surgical society may have affected the surgical volume decline during the 1st wave of this pandemic.

Methods

We extracted 490,719 available cases of patients aged > 15 years who underwent elective major surgeries between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2020. After the categorization of surgical specialities, we calculated descriptive statistics to compare the year-over-year trend and conducted an interrupted time series analysis to validate the decline of each surgical procedure.

Results

Monthly surgical cases of eight surgical specialities, especially ophthalmology and ear/nose/throat surgeries, decreased from April 2020 and reached a minimum in May 2020. An interrupted time series analysis showed no significant trends in oncological and critical surgeries.

Conclusion

Non-critical surgeries showed obvious and statistically significant declines in case volume during the 1st wave of the COVID-19 pandemic according to the statement of each surgical society in Japan.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00595-021-02286-6.

Hospitalization of mild cases of community-acquired pneumonia decreased more than severe cases during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number and severity of cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Japan.

METHODS

Using claims data from the Quality Indicator/Improvement Project (QIP) database, urgent cases of inpatients for CAP from 01 August 2018 to 30 July 2020 were included. The monthly ratios of inpatient cases were compared from August 2018 to July 2019 and August 2019 to July 2020 as a year-over-year comparison. These ratios were also compared according to the "A-DROP" severity score, and an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the monthly number of inpatient cases.

RESULTS

This study included a total of 67,900 inpatient cases for CAP in 262 hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic (defined as the period between March and July 2020) the number of inpatient cases for CAP drastically decreased compared with the same period in the previous year (-48.1%), despite a temporary reduction in the number of other urgent admissions. The number of inpatient cases decreased according to the severity of pneumonia. Milder cases showed a greater decrease in the year-over-year ratio than severe ones: mild -55.2%, moderate -45.8%, severe -39.4%, and extremely severe -33.2%. The ITS analysis showed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the monthly number of inpatient cases for CAP (estimated decrease: -1233 cases; 95% CI -521 to -1955).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a significant reduction in the number of inpatient cases for CAP during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The milder cases showed a greater decrease in the year-over-year ratio of the number of inpatient cases.

Trends, Treatment Approaches, and In-Hospital Mortality for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Japan During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has left negative spillover effects on the entire health care system. Previous studies have suggested significant declines in cases of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We performed a quasi-experimental, retrospective cohort study of ACS hospitalisations by using a multi-institutional administrative claims database in Japan. We used interrupted time series analyses to ascertain impacts on cases, treatment approaches, and in-hospital mortality before and after Japan’s state of emergency to respond to COVID-19. The primary outcome was the change in ACS cases per week.

Results: A total of 30,198 ACS cases (including 21,612 acute myocardial infarction and 8,586 unstable angina) were confirmed between 1^st July 2018 and 30^th June 2020. After the state of emergency, an immediate decrease was observed in ACS cases per week (-18.3%; 95% confidence interval, -13.1 to -23.5%). No significant differences were found in the severity of Killip classification (P=0.51) or cases of fibrinolytic therapy (P=0.74). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in-hospital mortality in ACS patients was no longer observed after adjustment for clinical characteristics (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.12;P=0.49).

Conclusions: We demonstrated the characteristics and trends of ACS cases in a Japanese population by applying interrupted time series analyses. Our findings provide significant insights into the association between COVID-19 and decreases in ACS hospitalisations during the pandemic.

Associations between cachexia and metalloproteinases, haemodynamics and mortality in heart failure

BACKGROUND

Addressing cachexia in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients is an urgent issue in Japan, the most aged country in the world. We investigated the possible relationships between cachexia and, metalloproteinases and haemodynamics assessed by the cardiac catheterization. We also clarified the prognostic value of cardiac cachexia in the Japanese CHF population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 370 participants (median age, 69 years; 35% women) were included. The haemodynamic effects of cachexia were analysed by right heart catheterization. The serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP), as myocardial collagen turnover markers, were also assessed. Cachexia was present in 88 patients (31%). Overall, 59 patients (16%) had all-cause death. Serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels were higher in cachectic patients than in noncachectic patients (797.5 [649.0-1066.8] vs 610.0 [461.8-756.8] ng/mL; P = .004 and 39.0 [28.0-49.0] vs 24.0 [19.0-37.0] ng/mL; P = .008, respectively). Cachectic patients had greater values of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (161.9 [119.4-225.4] vs 127.8 [90.7-164.8] dynes/sec/cm^-5 , P = .020). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated higher probabilities of all-cause death in the cachexia group (log-rank P = .010). Cox proportional hazards modelling showed cachexia was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.37; P = .029). The random forest model showed that C-reactive protein, age, haemoglobin, PVR and MMP-2 were predictors of cardiac cachexia.

CONCLUSIONS

Cachexia, applying the globally accepted definition, was associated with adverse outcomes in the Japanese CHF population and accompanied by increased activity of MMP species and PVR.

Early impact of school closure and social distancing for COVID-19 on the number of inpatients with childhood non-COVID-19 acute infections in Japan

Many countries have implemented school closures as part of social distancing measures intended to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to assess the early impact of nationwide school closure (March-May 2020) and social distancing for COVID-19 on the number of inpatients with major childhood infectious diseases in Japan. Using data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination system in Japan, we identified patients aged 15 years or younger with admissions for a diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), influenza, gastrointestinal infection (GII), appendicitis, urinary tract infection (UTI), or skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) between July 2018 and June 2020. Changes in the trend of the weekly number of inpatients between the two periods were assessed using interrupted time-series analysis. A total of 75,053 patients in 210 hospitals were included. The overall weekly number of inpatients was decreased by 52.5%, 77.4%, and by 83.4% in the last week of March, April, and May 2020, respectively, when compared on a year-on-year basis. The estimated impact was a reduction of 581 (standard error 42.9) inpatients per week in the post-school-closure period (p < 0.001). The main part of the reduction was for pre-school children. Remarkable decreases in the number of inpatients with URI, LRTI, and GII were observed, while there were relatively mild changes in the other groups.Conclusion: We confirmed a marked reduction in the number of inpatients with childhood non-COVID-19 acute infections in the post-school-closure period. What is Known: • Most countries have implemented social distancing measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). • A large decrease in pediatric emergency visits has been reported from several countries after the social distancing. What is New: • Based on administrative claims data, a marked reduction in the number of inpatients for childhood non-COVID-19 acute infections was found in the post-school-closure period in Japan. • The magnitude of the reduction was different between the disease groups.

Utility of the Geriatric 8 for the Prediction of Therapy-Related Toxicity in Older Adults with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

The management of severe adverse events (AEs) is important in safely and effectively providing chemotherapy to older adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, reports on simple and DLBCL-specific predictive models for treatment-related toxicity in elderly individuals are scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of Geriatric 8 (G8) in predicting treatment-related severe AEs, nonhematological toxicity, and febrile neutropenia in older adults with DLBCL in real-world practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study on 398 consecutive patients with DLBCL (aged ≥65 years) who received standard therapy at three centers in Japan (University of Fukui Hospital, the Fukui Prefectural Hospital, and the Japanese Red Cross Fukui Hospital), between 2007 and 2017.

RESULT

Multivariate logistic analysis demonstrated that the G8 score was an independent predictive factor for severe AEs. Moreover, a logistic regression model with restricted cubic spline showed a nonlinear association between the incidence of severe AEs and the G8 score. According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, the most discriminative cutoff value of the G8 for the incidence of severe AEs was 11, with an area under the curve value of 0.670. AEs occurred most often in the first course of chemotherapy and decreased as the course progressed.

CONCLUSION

The G8 score, an easy-to-use geriatric assessment tool, can be a useful prediction model of treatment-related severe AEs during standard therapy in older adults with DLBCL.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

In older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), to accurately predict the risk of severe adverse events (AEs) in advance is essential for safe and effective treatment. This study demonstrated that the Geriatric 8 score, a simple and established geriatric assessment tool, indicated a high predictive ability for occurrence of therapy-related severe AEs in elderly patients with DLBCL who were treated with standard treatment.

Effects of PCSK9 inhibitor on adverse limb outcomes in patients with critical limb ischemia

Background

The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9-I), evolocumab, reduced the risk of cardiovascular event in patients with peripheral artery disease in FOURIER trial. However, the effects of evolocumab on favorable limb outcomes in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) is still unclear.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of evolocumab on favorable limb outcomes and lipid profile in patients with CLI.

Methods

This was a single center, prospective observational study. A total of 39 patients with CLI were enrolled between November 2016 to May 2019. The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on evolocumab administration: evolocumab-treated group: E group (mean 69.4±11.7 years, n=14) and evolocumab non-treated group: Non-E group (mean 74.0±8.8 years, n=25). Baseline characteristics were assessed at admission. Lipid profile was evaluated at admission, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. The primary outcome was defined 18-month amputation-free survival (AFS). The secondary outcomes were defined 18-month overall survival (OS) and wound-free limb salvage. Mean follow-up period was 18±11 months.

Results

The patients in E group had greater reduction in levels of LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol than those in Non-E group over time. The reduction in MDA-LDL level was maintained at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, respectively. The 18-month AFS rate in the E-group was significantly higher than those in the Non-E group (log-rank p=0.02). The patients receiving evolocumab had a lower hazard regarding AFS (hazard ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.94; P=0.043) and a higher proportion of wound-free limb salvage at 12 months (E group [92%] vs Non-E group [57%], P=0.034) and 18 months (92% vs 52%, P=0.03). Otherwise, evolocumab administration was not associated with 18-month OS (log-rank p=0.053).

Conclusions

Evolocumab administration may be associated with the favorable outcome of 18-month AFS in the patients with CLI. Additionally, long-term administration of evolocumab over 12 months may improve wound-free limb salvage.

Effects of evolocumab on limb outcomes

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Effects of PCSK9 Inhibitor on Favorable Limb Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of evolocumab on favorable limb events in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Methods: A single-center, prospective observational study was performed on 30 patients with CLTI. The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on evolocumab administration: evolocumab-treated (E) group ( n =14) and evolocumab non-treated (non-E) group ( n =16). The primary outcome was 12-month freedom from major amputation. The secondary outcomes were 12-month amputation-free survival (AFS), overall survival (OS), and wound-free limb salvage. The mean follow-up period was 18±11 months.

Results: No significant difference was detected between the two groups for the 12-month freedom from major amputation (log-rank p =0.15), while the 12-month AFS rate was significantly higher in the E group than that in the non-E group (log-rank p =0.02). The 12-month OS rate in the E group was shown a tendency for improvement, as compared with that in the non-E group (log-rank p =0.056). Evolocumab administration was not associated with a significant change in freedom from major amputation (HR, 0.23, 95% CI, 0.03-2.07, p =0.19). However, evolocumab administration was related to a tendency for improvement of AFS and OS (HR, 0.13, 95% CI, 0.02-1.06, p =0.056; HR, 0.16, 95% CI, 0.02-1.37, p =0.09, respectively). Moreover, The E group had a higher proportion of wound-free limb salvage at 12 months (92% vs. 42%, p =0.03).

Conclusion: Evolocumab administration was associated with a better AFS outcome in patients with CLTI. Long-term administration of evolocumab over 12 months contributed to improving proportion of wound-free limb salvage.

Prognostic utility of a geriatric nutritional risk index in combination with a comorbidity index in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Reflecting the increasing risk in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), prognostic predictors other than the International Prognostic Index have attracted more attention. This study presents the first analysis of the prognostic utility of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in combination with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for overall survival (OS) in elderly DLBCL patients. A multicentre retrospective was conducted on a cohort of 451 patients (≥65 years). The GNRI and CCI were independent predictors in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. There was a nonlinear correlation between the GNRI and OS in a Cox model with restricted cubic spline. Multivariate receiver operating characteristic curves showed a significant improvement in prediction accuracy when the GNRI was added to CCI. Adding the GNRI to CCI yielded a significant category-free net reclassification improvement (0·556; 95% CI: 0·378-0·736, P < 0·001) and integrated discrimination improvement (0·094; 95% CI: 0·067-0·122, P < 0·001). The decision curve analysis demonstrated the clinical net benefit associated with the adoption of the GNRI. The GNRI was not only a predictor of OS but also remarkably improved the prognosis prediction accuracy when incorporated with the CCI, having the ability to stratify the prognosis of elderly DLBCL patients.

Preprocedural Troponin T Levels Predict the Improvement in the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter

Background

Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is reversible in some patients once the arrhythmia is controlled. However, identifying this arrhythmia‐induced cardiomyopathy among patients with LV systolic dysfunction is challenging. We explored the factors predicting the reversibility of the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter in patients with LV systolic dysfunction.

Methods and Results

Forty patients with a reduced LVEF (LVEF <50%; 66.2±10.7 years; 32 men) who underwent atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter ablation were included. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed before and during the early (<4 days) and late phases (>3 months) after the ablation. Responders were defined as having a normalized LVEF (≥50%) during the late phase after the ablation. The LVEF improved from 39.8±8.8 to 50.9±10.9% at 1.2±0.6 days after the procedure, and to 56.2±12.2% at 9.6±8.0 months after the procedure (both for P<0.001). Thirty (75.0%) patients were responders. The preprocedural echocardiographic parameters were comparable between the responders and nonresponders. In the multivariate analysis, the preprocedural high‐sensitivity troponin T was the only independent predictor of the recovery of the LV dysfunction during the late phase after ablation (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06–1.33; P=0.001), and a level of ≤12 pg/mL predicted recovery of the LV dysfunction with a high accuracy (sensitivity, 90.0%; specificity, 76.7%; positive predictive value, 56.3%; and negative predictive value, 95.8%).

Conclusions

Preprocedural high‐sensitivity troponin T levels might be a simple and useful parameter for predicting the reversibility of the LV systolic dysfunction after atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter ablation in patients with a reduced LVEF.

Sequential organ failure assessment score on admission predicts long-term mortality in acute heart failure patients

Aims

The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score has been a widely used predictor of outcomes in the intensive care unit, whereas short‐term and long‐term survivals of heart failure (HF) patients are predicted by the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines–Heart Failure (GWTG‐HF) risk score. The purpose of present study was to examine whether the SOFA score on admission is more useful for predicting long‐term mortality in acute HF patients than the GWTG‐HF risk score.

Methods and results

A total of 269 patients (mean age, 78.5 ± 10.9 years; all‐cause mortality, 53.9%) seen in a single facility from January 2007 to December 2016 were enrolled retrospectively. They were followed up for a mean of 32.1 ± 22.3 months. All‐cause death was associated with higher SOFA and GWTG‐HF risk scores. However, no significant difference was observed in the area under the curve value between the scores. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that higher SOFA scores (P < 0.001) and GWTG‐HF risk scores (P < 0.001) were related to increased probabilities of all‐cause death. On multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis, the SOFA score (P < 0.001) and GWTG‐HF (P < 0.001) score were independent predictors of all‐cause death. Incorporating the SOFA score into the GWTG‐HF risk score yielded a significant net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement. On decision curve analysis, the net benefit of the SOFA score model when compared with the reference model was greater across the range of threshold probabilities.

Conclusions

In acute HF patients, long‐term all‐cause mortality can be predicted by the SOFA score. Discriminative performance metrics, such as net reclassification improvement, integrated discrimination improvement, and decision curve analysis, for predicting mortality were improved when the SOFA score was incorporated.

Effects of Sitagliptin on the Coronary Flow Reserve, Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1alpha

Objective Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are regulated by stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1α) and are reduced in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). SDF-1α is a substrate of dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4), so we investigated whether or not DPP-4-inhibitors modulate EPC levels in type 2 DM patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Thirty patients with CAD and type 2 DM treated using an ordinary regimen were enrolled. EPC and SDF-1α levels were compared between those receiving additional 24-week treatment with a DPP-4-inhibitor (n=11) and no additional treatment (n=19). We determined the HbA1c, 1.5-Anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5-AG), coronary flow reserve (CFR), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), E/e', and circulating EPC proportion and SDF-1α levels at baseline and the end of follow-up. The CFR was assessed using a dual-sensor-equipped guidewire. The primary endpoints were changes in the EPC count, SDF-1α levels, and CFR from baseline to the end of follow-up. The secondary endpoints were changes in the HbA1c and 1,5-AG, which are useful clinical markers of postprandial hyperglycemia, as well as the BNP and E/e'. Results After the 6-month follow-up, compared with ordinary regimen subjects, the patients receiving a DPP-4-inhibitor showed no significant increase in the EPC proportion (-0.01±0.50 vs. 0.02±0.77%, p=0.87), SDF-1α level (-600.4±653.6 vs. -283.2±543.1 pg/mL, p=0.18), or CFR (0.0±0.2 vs. 0.1±0.6, p=0.20), whereas both the 1.5-AG level (2.4±4.6 vs. -0.7±2.5 μg/dL, p=0.07) and HbA1c (-0.8±1.8 vs. 0.0±0.7%, p=0.02) were improved. There were no significant differences between the two groups in changes in the BNP and E/e'. Conclusion DPP-4 inhibition with sitagliptin did not increase or decrease the EPC proportion, SDF-1α level, or CFR, although the glycemic control was improved.