Impact of multivessel disease on infarct size among STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty

The FAST-STEMI Network in Biella From 2013 to 2019: Impact of the Delocalization of the Hospital Facilities on Ischemia Time and In-hospital Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The optimization of the strategies for myocardial revascularization has improved the outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. In Piedmont, the FAST-STEMI regional network was created for improving the management and transportation of ST-segment elevation (STEMI) patients to primary percutaneous coronary intervention facilities, reducing the time to reperfusion. Within this network, the Hospital of Biella was delocalized in December 2014 to a new suburban structure designed for an easier access, which might have shortened the duration of patients' transportation and ischemia, with potential positive prognostic effects. The aim of the present study was to define the impact of the decentralization of the hospital structure on the time to reperfusion and in-hospital outcomes among STEMI patients admitted to the Hospital of Biella.

METHODS

We included STEMI patients admitted to our urban hospital between 2013 and 2019 and included in the FAST-STEMI database. The primary endpoint was the duration of ischemia, defined as pain to balloon (PTB). The primary outcome endpoint (PE) was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

We included 276 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention between 2016 and 2019 in the new hospital facility, which were compared with 170 patients treated between 2013 and June 2014 in the prior structure. Patients' characteristics included a mean age of 67.5 ± 12.5 years, 72.1% males and 18.7% patients with diabetes. In the new facility, the median PTB was 188 minutes [interquartile range: 125-340 min], reduced as compared with the period 2013-2014 [215 (128.5-352 min), P = 0.002]. The median in-hospital stay was also shorter (P = 0.004), whereas a nonsignificant improvement was noted for ejection fraction (EF) at discharge (P = 0.14). A linear relationship was demonstrated between PTB and the EF (r = -0.183, P = 0.003) in patients treated between 2016 and 2019 while not affecting the length of hospitalization or in-hospital outcomes. In fact, in-hospital death occurred in 36 patients, 8% in the new structure versus 7.7% in 2013-2014 [hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 1.20 (0.59-2.42), P = 0.62]. The independent predictors of mortality were patients' age and EF at discharge (age ≥ 75 y: adjusted HR [95% CI] = 6.75 [1.51-30.1], P = 0.01; EF: adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.91 [0.88-0.95], P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that, among the STEMI patients treated in our center, the delocalization of the hospital facilities and the optimization of the FAST-STEMI network reduced the duration of ischemia, with positive effects on left ventricular function at discharge. However, this did not translate into a significant benefit in survival, which was instead conditioned by the aging of the population.

Impact of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease on Long Term Prognosis in Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: A significant proportion of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD), and they are at high risk for recurrent cardiac events. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of MVD on long-term cardiovascular mortality in STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Method: This study included 3,115 consecutive STEMI patients hospitalized in the Coronary Care Unit of the Clinical Centre of Serbia, between November 2005 and January 2012. Patients were divided in two groups: MVD and no MVD. MVD disease was defined as stenosis greater than 50% by visual assessment in more than one major coronary artery. Primary PCI was limited to the infarct-related artery (IRA). Cardiovascular mortality was defined as any death from cardiovascular reason (myocardial reinfarction, low-output heart failure, and sudden death). Patients presenting with cardiogenic shock were excluded. Patients were followed-up for 6 years after enrollment. Results: Among 3,115 analyzed patients, 1,352 (43.4%) patients had no MVD and 1,763 (56.6%) had MVD; among patients with MVD, 926 (52.6%) had two-vessel disease and 837 (47.4%) had three-vessel disease. Compared with patients with single-vessel disease, patients with MVD were older, had longer pain duration, and presented more often with heart failure; they were more likely to have previous coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease; post-procedural flow TIMI <3 was more frequently observed in patients with MVD than in patients with no MVD (5.9% vs. 3.1%, p <0.001). Patients with MVD had lower left ventricular ejection fraction than patients with single-vessel disease: 45% (interquartile range [IQR] 40¬–55%) vs. 50% (IQR 43–55%), p <0.001. Revascularization of non-IRA lesions was performed at index hospitalization in 1,075 (61%) patients, and in 602 (34.1%) patients revascularization was performed in the first few months after pPCI (median 1.5 months, IQR 1–2.5 months); coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 291 (18.4%) patients and PCI (with stent implantation) in 1,368 (81.6%) patients. Six-year cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in patients with MVD than in patients with single-vessel disease (10.4% vs. 4.6%, p <0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, MVD remained an independent predictor for 6-year cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.11–2.06, p = 0.041). Conclusion: In STEMI patients treated with pPCI, the presence of MVD remained an independent predictor for higher long-term cardiovascular mortality despite early revascularization of the remaining stenosis in non-IRA.

Clinical predictors for the manifestation of late gadolinium enhancement after acute myocardial infarction

Despite prompt revascularization, some patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) develop myocardial scars, which can be visualized by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Our goal was to identify angiographic findings that were predictive for scar development in patients after reperfused AMI.We examined 136 patients after first ST-elevated myocardial infarction by CMR after a median of 4 days (range: 2-7). Patients with manifestation of LGE were matched to patients without LGE by means of age and gender. Clinical follow-up with a combined primary endpoint including myocardial reinfarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, death and development of left ventricular thrombus was reported after 24 months.Patients with manifestation of LGE had a significant longer time of symptom-to-intervention, a higher prevalence of anterior AMI, and more proximal culprit lesions. Furthermore, left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased, and peak values of infarct markers were significantly higher in these patients. Preinterventional thrombolysis in myocardial infarction-0-flow was significantly more frequent in patients with LGE manifestation. The presence of 3-vessel disease (odds ratio 53.99, 95% confidence interval 8.22-354.63, P <.001), a proximal culprit lesion, and high creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) values were identified as independent predictors of LGE. Follow-up demonstrated a higher incidence of clinical events in the group with LGE, with the most common cause of heart failure (38.2% vs 7.4%, P <.001).The extent of angiographic findings in AMI plays a major role in the manifestation of LGE. The presence of a multivessel disease, a proximal culprit lesion, and high values of CK-MB are strong independent predictors for LGE manifestation.