Residual inflammatory risk at 12 months after acute coronary syndromes is frequent and associated with combined adverse events

Comparison of interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for cardiovascular risk assessment: Findings from the MESA study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammation is a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Elevated levels of both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL6) have been associated with MACE. However, few studies have compared IL6 to hsCRP for cardiovascular risk assessment. Using the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) study cohort, we aim to compare IL6 to hsCRP.

METHODS

We divided IL6 and hsCRP by their median values and created 4 groups i.e., low-low, high-low, low-high and high-high. The median follow-up was 14 years.

RESULTS

6614 (97 %) participants had complete baseline IL6 and hsCRP data. The correlation between hsCRP and IL6 was modest (Rho = 0.53). IL6 ≥1.2 pg/mL (median) was present in 3309 participants, and hsCRP ≥1.9 mg/L (median) was present in 3339 participants. Compared to participants with low IL6 and low hsCRP, those with high IL6 and high hsCRP were older (64 vs. 60 years), more frequently women (63 % vs. 45 %), and with more cardiovascular co-morbidities. hsCRP outcome associations lost statistical significance when adjusting for IL6: MACE HR (95 %CI) 1.06 (0.93-1.20), p =0.39, whereas IL6 associations remained significant after adjusting for hsCRP: HR (95 %CI) 1.44 (1.25-1.64), p <0.001. The C-index of Framingham score for did not improve with hsCRP but improved with IL6. Compared to participants with low IL6 and low hsCRP, those with high IL6, regardless of hsCRP, experienced an increased risk of MACE, heart failure and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In a diverse and asymptomatic population, IL6 showed a stronger association with atherosclerotic, heart failure and fatal outcomes than hsCRP.

History of peripheral artery disease and cardiovascular risk of real-world patients with acute coronary syndrome: Role of inflammation and comorbidities

BACKGROUND

Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remain at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) recurrences. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) may identify a very high risk (VHR) group who may derive greater benefit from intensified secondary prevention.

METHODS

Among ACS-patients enrolled in the prospective multi-center Special Program University Medicine (SPUM), we assessed the impact of PAD on major cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of myocardial infarction, stroke and all-cause death) and major bleeding. Multivariate analysis tested the relation of each significant variable with MACE, as well as biomarkers of inflammation and novel markers of atherogenesis.

RESULTS

Out of 4787 ACS patients, 6.0% (n = 285) had PAD. PAD-patients were older (p < 0.001), with established CVD and signs of increased persistent inflammation (hs-CRP; 23.6 ± 46.5 vs 10.4 ± 27.2 mg/l, p < 0.001 and sFlt-1; 1399.5 ± 1501.3 vs 1047.2 ± 1378.6 ng/l, p = 0.018). In-hospital-death (3.2% vs 1.4%, p = 0.022) and -MACE (5.6% vs 3.0%, p = 0.017) were higher in PAD-patients. MACE at 1 year (18.6% vs 7.9%,p < 0.001) remained increased even after adjustment for confounders (Adj. HR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.14-2.08, p = 0.005). Major bleeding did not differ between groups (Adj. HR 1.18; 95% CI 0.71-1.97, p = 0.512). Although PAD predicted MACE, PAD-patients were prescribed less frequently for secondary prevention at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world ACS patient cohort, concomitant PAD is a marker of VHR and is associated with increased and persistent inflammation, higher risk for MACE without an increased risk of major bleeding. Therefore, a history of PAD may be useful to identify those ACS patients at VHR who require more aggressive secondary prevention.

Post-PCI Risk Assessment by Inflammation Activity According to Disease Acuity and Time from Procedure

BACKGROUND

 High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been proposed as an indicator of inflammation and cardiovascular risk. However, little is known of the comparative temporal profile of hs-CRP and its relation to outcomes according to the disease acuity.

METHODS

 We enrolled 4,263 East Asian patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable disease. hs-CRP was measured at baseline and 1 month post-PCI. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: the composite occurrence of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) and major bleeding were followed up to 4 years.

RESULT

 The AMI group (n = 2,376; 55.7%) had higher hs-CRP_baseline than the non-AMI group (n = 1,887; 44.3%) (median: 1.5 vs. 1.0 mg/L; p < 0.001), which remained higher at 1 month post-PCI (median: 1.0 vs. 0.9 mg/L; p = 0.001). During 1 month, a high inflammatory-risk phenotype (upper tertile: hs-CRP_baseline ≥ 2.4 mg/L) was associated with a greater MACE in the AMI group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR_adj]: 7.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.29-25.59; p < 0.001), but not in the non-AMI group (HR_adj: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.12-4.40; p = 0.736). Between 1 month and 4 years, a high inflammatory-risk phenotype (upper tertile: hs-CRP_{1 month} ≥ 1.6 mg/L) was associated with greater MACE compared to the other phenotype in both the AMI (HR_adj: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.73-3.45; p < 0.001) and non-AMI groups (HR_adj: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.80-3.94; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

 AMI patients have greater inflammation during the early and late phases than non-AMI patients. Risk phenotype of hs-CRP_baseline correlates with 1-month outcomes only in AMI patients. However, the prognostic implications of this risk phenotype appears similar during the late phase, irrespective of the disease acuity.

Association of Residual Inflammatory Risk with Stroke Recurrence in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke or TIA

BACKGROUND

To explore the association of residual inflammatory risk (RIR) with stroke recurrence after an index acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transit ischemic attack (TIA).

METHODS

This study was based on the Third China National Stroke Registry. A total of 5,840 patients with two high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements at baseline and at 3-month were included in the analysis. High RIR was defined as a hsCRP≥3 mg/L. Patients were divided into four groups: persistent high RIR (first high then high hsCRP), attenuated RIR (first high then low hsCRP), increased RIR (first low then high hsCRP), and persistent low RIR (first low then low hsCRP). The primary outcome was new stroke onset during the 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included composite vascular events, all-cause mortality, and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 3-6).

RESULTS

During the 1-year follow-up, 523 (9.0%) patients had stroke recurrence. Patients with persistent high RIR had an increased risk of stroke recurrence (hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval: 1.39 [1.08-1.78]), compared with those with persistent low RIR. Similar results were found for the outcome of composite vascular events, mortality, and poor functional outcome. An increased risk of stroke recurrence was further found in patients with persistent high RIR and intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) or large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) stroke subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AIS or TIA, persistent high RIR increased the risks of 1-year stroke recurrence, especially in those with ICAS or LAA subtype; composite vascular events; mortality, and poor functional outcome.

Combined impact of residual inflammatory risk and chronic kidney disease on long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory status is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and renal function impairment. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the incidence of cardiovascular events. However, whether the presence of residual inflammatory risk (RIR) and CKD together has a synergistic effect on the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with stable CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear.

METHODS

We assessed 2,948 consecutive patients with stable CAD who underwent the first PCI from 2000 to 2016. Of these, we analyzed the data of patients (2,087) with measurements of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) available at follow-up (6-9 months later). High RIR was defined as hs-CRP of >0.6 mg/L according to the median value at follow-up. Patients were classified into four groups: Group 1 (low RIR, non-CKD), Group 2 (high RIR, non-CKD), Group 3 (low RIR, CKD), and Group 4 (high RIR, CKD). We evaluated all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The median follow-up period was 5.2 (interquartile range, 1.9-9.9) years.

RESULTS

In total, 189 (16.1%) and 128 (11.2%) cases of all-cause mortality and MACE, respectively, were identified during follow-up. The rates of all-cause mortality and MACE were significantly higher in Group 4 than those in the other groups (p<0.001). There was a stepwise increase in the incidence of all-cause mortality and MACE. Upon adjustment for important covariates, the presence of high RIR and/or CKD showed an independent association with a high incidence of MACE and all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of high RIR and CKD conferred a synergistic adverse effect on the long-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing PCI.