Heart failure with normal ejection fraction is uncommon in acute myocardial infarction settings but associated with poor outcomes: a study of 91 360 patients admitted with index myocardial infarction between 1998 and 2010

Prevalence and prognostic impact of left ventricular systolic dysfunction or pulmonary congestion after acute myocardial infarction

AIMS

The aim was to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) developing left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction or pulmonary congestion by applying different criteria to define the population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In patients with MI included in the Swedish web-system for enhancement and development of evidence-based care in heart disease (SWEDEHEART) registry, four different sets of criteria were applied, creating four not mutually exclusive subsets of patients: patients with MI and ejection fraction (EF) < 50% and/or pulmonary congestion (subset 1); EF < 40% and/or pulmonary congestion (subset 2); EF < 40% and/or pulmonary congestion and at least one high-risk feature (subset 3, PARADISE-MI like); and EF < 50% and no diabetes mellitus (subset 4, DAPA-MI like). Subsets 1, 2, 3, and 4 constituted 31.6%, 15.0%, 12.8%, and 22.8% of all patients with MI (n = 87 177), respectively. The age and prevalence of different co-morbidities varied between subsets. For median age, 70 to 77, for diabetes mellitus, 22 to 33%; for chronic kidney disease, 22 to 38%, for prior MI, 17 to 21%, for atrial fibrillation, 7 to 14%, and for ST-elevations, 38 to 50%. The cumulative incidence of death or heart failure hospitalization at 3 years was 17.4% (95% CI: 17.1-17.7%) in all MIs; 26.9% (26.3-27.4%) in subset 1; 37.6% (36.7-38.5%) in subset 2; 41.8% (40.7-42.8%) in subset 3; and 22.6% (22.0-23.2%) in subset 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Depending on the definition, LV systolic dysfunction or pulmonary congestion is present in 13-32% of all patients with MI and is associated with a two to three times higher risk of subsequent death or HF admission. There is a need to optimize management and improve outcomes for this high-risk population.

Reliability of estimating left ventricular ejection fraction in clinical routine: a validation study of the SWEDEHEART registry

OBJECTIVE

Patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Sweden routinely undergo an echocardiographic examination with assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). LVEF is a measurement widely used for outcome prediction and treatment guidance. The obtained LVEF is categorized as normal (> 50%) or mildly, moderately, or severely impaired (40-49, 30-39, and < 30%, respectively) and reported to the nationwide registry for ACS (SWEDEHEART). The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the reported LVEF values by validating them against an independent re-evaluation of LVEF.

METHODS

A random sample of 130 patients from three hospitals were included. LVEF re-evaluation was performed by two independent reviewers using the modified biplane Simpson method and their mean LVEF was compared to the LVEF reported to SWEDEHEART. Agreement between reported and re-evaluated LVEF was assessed using Gwet's AC2 statistics.

RESULTS

Analysis showed good agreement between reported and re-evaluated LVEF (AC2: 0.76 [95% CI 0.69-0.84]). The LVEF re-evaluations were in agreement with the registry reported LVEF categorization in 86 (66.0%) of the cases. In 33 (25.4%) of the cases the SWEDEHEART-reported LVEF was lower than re-evaluated LVEF. The opposite relation was found in 11 (8.5%) of the cases (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Independent validation of SWEDEHEART-reported LVEF shows an overall good agreement with the re-evaluated LVEF. However, a tendency towards underestimation of LVEF was observed, with the largest discrepancy between re-evaluated LVEF and registry LVEF in subjects with subnormal LV-function in whom the reported assessment of LVEF should be interpreted more cautiously.

Prognostic Significance of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure with Preserved, Mid-Range, and Reduced Ejection Fraction Following Acute Myocardial Infarction: Data from the NOAFCAMI-SH Registry

Purpose

The prognostic impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) among different heart failure (HF) subtypes including HF with preserved (HFpEF, ejection fraction [EF] ≥50%), mid-range (HFmrEF, EF 40%~49%), and reduced (HFrEF, EF <40%) EF following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the incidence and prognostic implication of post-MI NOAF across HF subtypes.

Patients and Methods

We included 1413 patients with post-MI HF (743 with HFpEF, 342 with HFmrEF and 328 with HFrEF) between February 2014 and March 2018. NOAF was considered as patients without a preexisting AF who developed AF during the AMI hospitalization. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality.

Results

Of 1413 patients (mean age 66.8 ± 12.6 years, 72.9% men) analyzed, 200 (14.2%) developed post-MI NOAF. Patients with HFrEF were more likely to experience NOAF compared to those with HFmrEF or HFrEF (18.9%, 13.7% and 12.2% in HFrEF, HFmrEF and HFpEF, respectively; p for trend = 0.006). During a median follow-up of 28.5 months, 192 patients died (70 with HFrEF, 35 with HFmrEF and 87 with HFpEF) and 195 patients experienced HF rehospitalization (79 with HFrEF, 37 with HFmrEF and 79 with HFpEF). After multivariable adjustment, NOAF was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-3.12) only in the HFrEF group compared to sinus rhythm (SR), whereas an increased risk of HF rehospitalization was found in all HF subtypes, particularly in HFmrEF (HR: 5.08, 95% CI: 2.29-11.25) and HFpEF (HR: 2.83 95% CI: 1.64-4.90).

Conclusion

In patients with post-MI HF, NOAF carried a worse prognosis for all-cause death in the HFrEF group and for HF rehospitalization in all HF subtypes.

Potassium variability during hospitalization and outcomes after discharge in patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The variability of metabolic biomarkers has been determined to provide incremental prognosis information, but the implications of electrolyte variability remained unclear.

METHODS

We investigate the relationships between electrolyte fluctuation and outcomes in survivors of acute myocardial infarction (n = 4386). Ion variability was calculated as the coefficient of variation, standard deviation, variability independent of the mean (VIM) and range. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using the multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional regression method.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12 months, 161 (3.7%) patients died, and heart failure occurred in 550 (12.5%) participants after discharge, respectively. Compared with the bottom quartile, the highest quartile potassium VIM was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.36-4.06) and heart failure (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.01-1.72) independent of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), infarction site, mean potassium and other traditional factors, while those associations across sodium VIM quartiles were insignificant. Similar trend remains across the strata of variability by other three indices. These associations were consistent after excluding patients with any extreme electrolyte value and diuretic use.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher potassium variability but not sodium variability was associated with adverse outcomes post-infarction. Our findings highlight that potassium variability remains a robust risk factor for mortality regardless of clinical dysnatraemia and dyskalaemia.

Predictors of treatment benefits after enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with refractory angina pectoris

Background

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive treatment that can decrease limiting symptoms in patients with refractory angina pectoris (RAP). Identifying responders to EECP is important as EECP is not widely available and relatively time intensive.

Hypothesis

The effect of EECP treatment on physical capacity in patients with RAP can be predicted from baseline patient characteristics and clinical factors.

Methods

This explorative study includes all patients from a cardiology clinic who had finished one EECP treatment and a 6 min walk test pre and post EECP. Clinical data, including Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), were assessed before treatment. If patients increased their 6 min walking distance (6MWD) by 10% post EECP, they were considered responders.

Results

Of the 119 patients (men = 97, 40–91 years), 49 (41.2%) were responders. Multinomial regression analysis showed that functional status (i.e., CCS class ≥3) (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.12–8.57), LVEF <50% (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.02–7.80), and prior performed revascularization (i.e., ≤ 1 type of intervention) (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.06–7.20) were predictors of response to EECP (p < .05, Accuracy 63.6%). Traditional risk factors (e.g., gender, smoking, and comorbidities) did not predict response.

Conclusions

EECP treatment should be considered preferentially for patients that have a greater functional impairment, evidence of systolic left ventricular dysfunction, and exposure to fewer types of revascularization, either PCI or CABG. Improvement in 6MWD post EECP could imply improvement in physical capacity, which is a likely contributor to improved well‐being among patients with RAP.

Adherence to beta-blockers and long-term risk of heart failure and mortality after a myocardial infarction

Aims

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between adherence to beta‐blocker treatment after a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and long‐term risk of heart failure (HF) and death.

Methods and results

All patients admitted for a first AMI included in the nationwide Swedish web‐system for enhancement and development of evidence‐based care in heart disease evaluated according to recommended therapies register between 2005 and 2010 were eligible (n = 71 638). After exclusion of patients who died in‐hospital, patients with previous HF, patients with unknown left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), and patients who died during the first year after the index event, 38 608 patients remained in the final analysis. Adherence to prescribed beta‐blockers was determined for 1 year after the index event using the national registry for prescribed drugs and was measured as proportion of days covered, the ratio between the numbers of days covered by the dispensed prescriptions and number of days in the period. As customary, a threshold level for proportion of days covered ≥80% was used to classify patients as adherent or non‐adherent. At discharge 90.6% (n = 36 869) of all patients were prescribed a beta‐blocker. Among 38 608 1 year survivors, 31.1% (n = 12 013) were non‐adherent to beta‐blockers. Patients with reduced EF with and without HF were more likely to remain adherent to beta‐blockers at 1‐year compared with patients with normal EF without HF (NEF). Being married/cohabiting and having higher income level, hypertension, ST‐elevation MI, and percutaneous coronary intervention were associated with better adherence. Adherence was independently associated with lower all‐cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71–0.84] and a lower risk for the composite of HF readmission/death, (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.89, P value <0.001) during the subsequent 4 years of follow up. These associations were favourable but less apparent in patients with HFNEF and NEF.

Conclusions

Nearly one in three AMI patients was non‐adherent to beta‐blockers within the first year. Adherence was independently associated with improved long‐term outcomes; however, uncertainty remains for patients with HFNEF and NEF.

Temporal changes in left ventricular ejection fraction and their prognostic impacts in patients with Stage B heart failure

BACKGROUND

We have recently demonstrated that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) dynamically changes over time with prognostic impacts in Stage C/D patients, namely, those who have a current or past history of heart failure (HF). However, it is unknown whether this is also the case in asymptomatic Stage B patients, namely, those who have a risk of HF, but do not have a history of HF.

METHODS

In our CHART-2 Study (N = 10,219), we enrolled 4005 Stage B patients and divided them into 3 groups by LVEF; preserved EF (pEF, LVEF ≥50%, N = 3526), mid-range EF (mrEF, LVEF 41-49%, N = 302), and reduced EF (rEF, LVEF ≤40%, N = 177). We examined the prognostic impacts of LVEF transitions among the 3 groups in comparison with 4477 patients with Stage C/D HF.

RESULTS

Stage B were characterized by less severe clinical status and better prognosis compared with Stage C/D. Stage B in mrEF and rEF at baseline dynamically transitioned to other groups at 1-year, whereas those in pEF unchanged; at 1-year, mrEF transitioned to pEF/rEF by 50/16%, and rEF transitioned to pEF/mrEF by 25/31%, respectively, whereas pEF transitioned to mrEF/rEF by only 3.6/0.7%, respectively, which were consistent with findings in findings with Stage C/D. Although LVEF decrease was directly associated with all-cause mortality in both the Stage B and Stage C/D with pEF, factors related to LVEF changes were different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In Stage B, LVEF dynamically changes with prognostic impacts as in Stage C/D, whereas different determination factors may be involved in the 2 stages.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District (CHART)-2 (NCT00418041).

Left ventricular dyssynchrony in coronary artery disease patients without regional wall-motion abnormality: Correlation with Gensini score

OBJECTIVES

Our study investigated left ventricular dyssynchrony (LVD) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients without regional wall-motion abnormality (RWMA) by three-dimensional echocardiography (3-DE) and explored the relationship between LVD and severity of CAD as assessed by the Gensini score (GS).

METHODS

Sixty-one patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CAD by coronary angiography (CAG) were enrolled. We quantified LVD parameters, including the left ventricular segments (16, 12, and 6) standard deviation of the time to minimum systolic volume (TmsvSD-16, TmsvSD-12, and TmsvSD-6) and the systolic dyssynchrony index in regions 16, 12, and 6 (16R-SDI, 12R-SDI, 6R-SDI) using 3-DE. The severity of coronary atherosclerotic lesions was evaluated by the GS system on the basis of CAG findings. We further divided all patients into three groups according to the tertiles of GS: low-GS ≤20, mid-GS >20 and ≤48, and high-GS >48. The differences of LVD values among the three groups were compared, and the associations between LVD parameters and GS were analyzed.

RESULTS

Coronary artery disease patients demonstrated increased LVD parameters compared with healthy controls. TmsvSD12, 16R-SDI, and 6R-SDI were prolonged in the high-GS group compared with the low- and mid-GS groups. 16R-SDI was positively correlated with the GS, and multivariate regression analysis showed that 16R-SDI was an independent predictor of the GS. 16R-SDI above 10.7% had a sensitivity of 84.21% and a specificity of 92.86% for identifying high-GS.

CONCLUSION

Three-dimensional echocardiography is a noninvasive technique to detect LVD in non-RWMA CAD patients, and the parameter 16R-SDI was significantly correlated with CAD severity.

Low CPNE3 expression is associated with risk of acute myocardial infarction: A feasible genetic marker of acute myocardial infarction in patients with stable coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Gene COPINE III may be related to a phosphoprotein with intrinsic kinase activity and belongs to an unconventional kinase family. The CPNE3 gene may be used as a biomarker for assess- ment of occurrence and prognosis of various tumors.

METHODS

Peripheral blood was collected from 87 stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and 91 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction test and the western blot method were adopted to measure expression quantity of CPNE3 gene at the mRNA level and the protein level.

RESULTS

The expression of the CPNE3 gene in peripheral blood of AMI patients was significantly lower than those in peripheral blood of stable CAD patients. Low expression of CPNE3 gene was found to be unrelated to level of fasting blood glucose and serum blood lipid of patients, quantity of cardiac troponin and time of onset but was found to be correlated to the Gensini score for coronary artery. When the ex- pression of CPNE3 gene at the mRNA level in peripheral blood was used as the criterion for diagnosing AMI, its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 69%, 64.8%, 68.6% and 65.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to stable CAD patients, AMI patients have a lower expression of CPNE3 gene in their peripheral blood. Patients who have low CPNE3 expression in peripheral blood are more likely to suffer from AMI than those with stable CAD. Low expression of CPNE3 gene serves as an potential independent risk factor of AMI.

Determinants and Prognostic Impact of Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Acute Coronary Syndrome Settings

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Contemporary data on the incidence and prognosis of heart failure (HF) and the influence of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are scant. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between LVEF and HF with long-term prognosis in a cohort of patients with ACS.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational study of 6208 patients consecutively admitted for ACS to 2 different Spanish hospitals. Baseline characteristics were examined and a follow-up period was established for registration of death and HF rehospitalization as the primary endpoint.

RESULTS

Among the study participants, 5064 had ACS without HF during hospitalization: 290 (5.8%) had LVEF<40%, 540 (10.6%) LVEF 40% to 49%, and 4234 (83.6%) LVEF ≥ 50%. The remaining 1144 patients developed HF in the acute phase: 395 (34.6%) had LVEF<40%, 251 (21.9%) LVEF 40% to 49%, and 498 (43.5%) LVEF ≥ 50%. Patients with LVEF 40% to 49% had a demographic and clinical profile with intermediate features between the LVEF <40% and LVEF ≥ 50% groups. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that mortality and HF readmissions were statistically different depending on LVEF in the non-HF group but not in the HF group. Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50% was an independent prognostic factor in the non-HF group only.

CONCLUSIONS

In ACS, long-term prognosis is considerably worse in patients who develop HF during hospitalization than in patients without HF, irrespective of LVEF. This parameter is a strong prognostic predictor only in patients without HF.

Prognostication in Different Heart Failure Phenotypes: The Role of Circulating Biomarkers

Heart failure (HF) is multifactorial syndrome with high cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality rates associated with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Measuring plasma levels of circulating biomarkers, i.e., natriuretic peptides, cardiac-specific troponins, metabolomic intermediates, Galectin-3, ST2, cardiotrophin-1, soluble endoglin and growth differentiation factor 15, may assist in the prognostication of HF development. However, the role of biomarker models in the prediction of an early stage of HF with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is not still understood. This review explores the knowledge regarding the utility of cardiac biomarkers, aiming to reclassify patients with different phenotypes of HF. The review reports that several biomarkers reflected on subsequently alter collagen turnover, cardiac fibrosis and inflammation, which might have diagnostic and predictive value in HFpEF and HFrEF. The best candidates for determining the early stage of HF development were sST2, Galectin-3, CT-1 and GDF-15. However, increased plasma concentrations of these biomarkers were not specific to a distinct disease group of HFpEF and HFrEF. Finally, more investigations are required to determine the role of novel biomarkers in the prediction of HF and the determination of the early stages of HFpEF and HFrEF development.