Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Type 1 and 2 Diabetes Mellitus After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Trends in Survival After First Myocardial Infarction in People With Diabetes

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate temporal trends in survival and subsequent cardiovascular events in a nationwide myocardial infarction population with and without diabetes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between 2006 and 2020, we identified 2527 individuals with type 1 diabetes, 48 321 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 243 170 individuals without diabetes with first myocardial infarction in national health care registries. Outcomes were trends in all-cause death after 30 and 365 days, cardiovascular death and major adverse cardiovascular events (ie, nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and heart failure hospitalization). Pseudo-observations were used to estimate the mortality risk, with 95% CIs, using linear regression, adjusted for age and sex. Individuals with type 1 diabetes were younger (62±12.2 years) and more often women (43.6%) compared with individuals with type 2 diabetes (75±10.8 years; women, 38.1%), and individuals without diabetes (73±13.2 years; women, 38.4%). Early death decreased in people without diabetes from 23.1% to 17.5%, (annual change -0.48% [95% CI, -0.52% to -0.44%]) and in people with type 2 diabetes from 22.6% to 19.3% (annual change, -0.33% [95% CI, -0.43% to -0.24%]), with no such significant trend in people with type 1 diabetes from 23.8% to 21.7% (annual change, -0.18% [95% CI, -0.53% to 0.17%]). Similar trends were observed with regard to 1-year death, cardiovascular death, and major adverse cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSIONS

During the past 15 years, the trend in survival and major adverse cardiovascular events in people with first myocardial infarction without diabetes and with type 2 diabetes have improved significantly. In contrast, a similar improvement was not seen in people with type 1 diabetes.

External validation of the SYNTAX score II 2020 in patients with chronic renal insufficiency

BACKGROUND

The SYNTAX score Ⅱ 2020 (SSⅡ-2020) was created as a customized decision-making tool for individuals diagnosed with complex coronary artery disease (CAD). Nevertheless, there has been a scarcity of research investigating the long-term predictive significance of SSⅡ-2020 for patients with both CAD and chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AIMS

We sought to showcase the prognostic capacity of SSII-2020 in evaluating long-term all-cause mortality (ACM) within this high-risk patient cohort.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort comprising 1156 individuals diagnosed with CRI and exhibiting left main CAD, three-vessel CAD or both was included in this investigation. We categorized participants into three groups based on the optimal SSII-2020 threshold for predicting long-term ACM, determined using the X-tile software.

RESULTS

At the median follow-up duration of 6.3 years, the ACM rates were determined to be 10% in the low, 17% in the moderate, and 28% in the high SSII-2020 groups (p < 0.001). Employing multivariate Cox regression analysis, it was observed that the high SSII-2020 group exhibited a 3.289-fold increased risk of ACM (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.229-4.856, p < 0.001) compared with the low SSII-2020 group, whereas the high SSII-2020 group displayed a 1.757-fold (95% CI: 1.190-2.597, p = 0.005) in comparison to the median SSII-2020 groups. Compared with SSII, the SSII-2020 had an incremental value for predicting 7-year ACM (C-index: 0.662 vs. 0.534, p = 0.007; IDI: 0.016, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SSII-2020 enhances long-term ACM prediction, facilitates improved risk stratification, and improves clinical utility for PCI patients with complex CAD and CRI.

Molecular Mechanisms Linking Diabetes with Increased Risk of Thrombosis

This review will provide an overview of what is currently known about mechanisms linking poor glycaemic control with increased thrombotic risk. The leading causes of death in people with diabetes are strokes and cardiovascular disease. Significant morbidity is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, resulting in myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, along with the sequelae of these events, including loss of functional ability, heart failure, and amputations. While the increased platelet activity, pro-coagulability, and endothelial dysfunction directly impact this risk, the molecular mechanisms linking poor glycaemic control with increased thrombotic risk remain unclear. This review highlights the complex mechanisms underlying thrombosis prevalence in individuals with diabetes and hyperglycaemia. Post-translational modifications, such as O-GlcNAcylation, play a crucial role in controlling protein function in diabetes. However, the role of O-GlcNAcylation remains poorly understood due to its intricate regulation and the potential involvement of multiple variables. Further research is needed to determine the precise impact of O-GlcNAcylation on specific disease processes.

Factors Affecting Recovery of 6-Minute Walk Distance After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background: This single-center retrospective analysis investigated the number of days required for postoperative 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) to recover to preoperative values after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the factors influencing this recovery. Methods and Results: The 6MWD was measured in 101 patients (median age 69 years; 18 women) before and every day after CABG. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors affecting 6MWD recovery to preoperative values after CABG. The median number of days required for recovery of 6MWD after CABG was 9 (interquartile range 7-11 days). Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the median number of days required for recovery of 6MWD; there were 60 patients in the early recovery group (<9 days) and 41 in the "non-early" recovery group (38 who recovered after the median 9 days, and 3 who did not recover during hospitalization). Using univariate logistic regression analysis, diabetes (P=0.01), stroke (P=0.26), left ventricular ejection fraction (P=0.27), and grip strength (P=0.13) were selected for multivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that diabetes (odds ratio 2.955; 95% confidence interval 1.208-7.229; P=0.02) was the only independent predictor of 6MWD recovery. Conclusions: Diabetes was the single factor influencing the recovery of postoperative 6MWD in patients undergoing CABG.

Analysis of immunogenic cell death in atherosclerosis based on scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data

BACKGROUND

Regulated cell death plays a very important role in atherosclerosis (AS). Despite a large number of studies, there is a lack of literature on immunogenic cell death (ICD) in AS.

METHOD

Carotid atherosclerotic plaque single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing data were analyzed to define involved cells and determine their transcriptomic characteristics. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE and ssGSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis), consensus clustering analysis, random forest (RF), Decision Curve Analysis (DCA), and the Drug-Gene Interaction and DrugBank databases were applied for bulk sequencing data. All data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO).

RESULT

mDCs and CTLs correlated obviously with AS occurrence and development (k2(mDCs) = 48.333, P < 0.001; k2(CTL) = 130.56, P < 0.001). In total, 21 differentially expressed genes were obtained for the bulk transcriptome; KEGG enrichment analysis results were similar to those for differentially expressed genes in endothelial cells. Eleven genes with a gene importance score > 1.5 were obtained in the training set and validated in the test set, resulting in 8 differentially expressed genes for ICD. A model to predict occurrence of AS and 56 drugs that may be used to treat AS were obtained with these 8 genes.

CONCLUSION

Immunogenic cell death occurs mainly in endothelial cells in AS. ICD maintains chronic inflammation in AS and plays a crucial role in its occurrence and development. ICD related genes may become drug-targeted genes for AS treatment.

Identification and validation of diagnostic biomarkers of coronary artery disease progression in type 1 diabetes via integrated computational and bioinformatics strategies

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to identify early peripheral blood diagnostic biomarkers and elucidate the immune mechanisms of coronary artery disease (CAD) progression in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

METHODS

Three transcriptome datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene modules associated with T1DM were selected with weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CAD and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) peripheral blood tissues were identified using limma. Candidate biomarkers were selected with functional enrichment analysis, node gene selection from a constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and 3 machine learning algorithms. Candidate expression was compared, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and nomogram were constructed. Immune cell infiltration was assessed with the CIBERSORT algorithm.

RESULTS

A total of 1283 genes comprising 2 modules were detected as the most associated with T1DM. In addition, 451 DEGs related to CAD progression were identified. Among them, 182 were common to both diseases and mainly enriched in immune and inflammatory response regulation. The PPI network yielded 30 top node genes, and 6 were selected using the 3 machine learning algorithms. Upon validation, 4 genes (TLR2, CLEC4D, IL1R2, and NLRC4) were recognized as diagnostic biomarkers with the area under the curve (AUC) > 0.7. All 4 genes were positively correlated with neutrophils in patients with AMI.

CONCLUSION

We identified 4 peripheral blood biomarkers and provided a nomogram for early diagnosing CAD progression to AMI in patients with T1DM. The biomarkers were positively associated with neutrophils, indicating potential therapeutic targets.

Trends in Prescriptions of Cardioprotective Diabetic Agents After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Among U.S. Veterans

OBJECTIVE

Patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are at risk for cardiovascular events. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 receptor inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are effective cardioprotective agents; however, their prescription among CABG patients is uncertain. The aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the overall use of SGLT2i/GLP-1RA after CABG and explore longitudinal trends and 2) to examine patient-related factors associated with the use of SGLT2i or GLP-1RA.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed the nationwide Veterans Affairs (VA) database (2016-2019) to report trends and factors associated with SGLT2i or GLP-1RA prescription after CABG.

RESULTS

Among 5,109 patients operated on at 40 different VA medical centers, 525 of 5,109 (10.4%), 352 of 5,109 (6.8%), and 91 of 5,109 (1.8%) were prescribed SGLT2i, GLP-1RA, and both, respectively. A substantial increase in the quarterly SGLT2i prescription rates (1.6% [first quarter of 2016 (2016Q1)], 33% [2019Q4]) was present but was lower for GLP-1RA (0.8% [2016Q1], 11.2% [2019Q4]). SGLT2i use was less likely with preexisting vascular disease (odd ratio [OR] 0.75, 95% CI 0.75, 0.94) or kidney disease (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58, 0.88), while GLP-1RA use was associated with obesity (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.50, 2.46).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall utilization of SGLT2i or GLP-1RA drugs in U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes undergoing CABG is low, with SGLT2i preferred over GLP-1RA.

Prognostic impact of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in atrial fibrillation and the effect of severe hypoglycaemia: A nationwide cohort study

AIMS

To compare prognosis between individuals without diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes in a nationwide atrial fibrillation cohort in Sweden and study the significance of severe hypoglycaemia.

METHODS

Using data from all-inclusive national registers, 309,611 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation were enrolled during 2013-2014. Of these, 2,221 had type 1 and 58,073 had type 2 diabetes. Patients were followed for all-cause mortality until March 27, 2017, and for myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and first-ever diagnosis of heart failure or dementia until December 31, 2015. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox and competing risk regression.

RESULTS

Using individuals without diabetes as reference (HR = 1), the adjusted HRs in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes were for mortality 1.87 (CI 1.73-2.02) vs. 1.51 (CI 1.47-1.55), heart failure 1.59 (CI 1.42-1.78) vs. 1.41 (CI 1.34-1.48), myocardial infarction 2.49 (CI 2.17-2.85) vs. 1.70 (CI 1.59-1.81), ischaemic stroke 1.59 (CI 1.35-1.87) vs. 1.31 (CI 1.22-1.40) and dementia 1.46 (CI 1.15-1.85) vs. 1.28 (CI 1.18-1.40). Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, those with previous severe hypoglycaemia had increased risk of mortality (HR 1.26; CI 1.17-1.36) and dementia (HR 1.37; CI 1.08-1.73) compared with those without previous severe hypoglycaemia.

CONCLUSION

Presence of diabetes-regardless of type- in atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of premature death, cardiovascular events and dementia. This increase is more pronounced in type 1 than in type 2 diabetes. A history of severe hypoglycaemia is associated with a worsened prognosis in type 2 diabetes.

Revascularization strategies in patients with diabetes and stable ischemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

AIMS

The optimal treatment strategy comparing invasive revascularization versus optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) still remains unclear. We aimed to investigate clinical outcomes of invasive revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting or both) versus OMT in patients with DM and SIHD from updated published randomised-controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive literature search through PubMed and EMBASE to investigate the effect of revascularization versus OMT for patients with DM and SIHD. The studies were limited to RCTs or their subgroup data for a meta-analysis. The outcomes of interest were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with DM and SIHD.

RESULTS

Our search identified subgroup data with DM of four RCTs including a total of 5742 patients with SIHD. Our results showed that invasive revascularization was not associated with a decreased risk of MACE when compared to OMT [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.95 (0.85-1.05), P = 0.31; I2 = 0%].

CONCLUSION

Invasive revascularization was not associated with a decreased risk of MACE when compared with OMT.

Genetic analysis of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ferroptosis from coronary artery disease

Ferroptosis plays a key role in the death of cells including cardiomyocytes, and it is related to a variety of cardiac diseases. However, the role of ferroptosis‐related genes (FRGs) in coronary artery disease (CAD) is not well characterized. We downloaded CAD‐related information and FRGs from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database and Ferroptosis Database (FerrDb) respectively. A total of 10 CAD‐related DE‐FRGs were obtained, which were closely linked to autophagy regulation and immune response. Subsequently, CA9, CBS, CEBPG, HSPB1, SLC1A4, STMN1 and TRIB3 among the 10 DE‐FRGs were identified as marker genes by LASSO and SVM‐RFE algorithms, which had tolerable diagnostic capabilities. Subsequent functional enrichment analysis showed that these marker genes may play a corresponding role in CAD by participating in the regulation of immune response, amino acid metabolism, cell cycle and multiple pathways related to the pathogenesis of CAD. Furthermore, a total of 58 drugs targeting 7 marker genes had been obtained. On the contrary, the ceRNA network revealed a complex regulatory relationship based on the marker genes. Also, CIBERSORT analysis showed that the changes in the immune microenvironment of CAD patients may be related to CBS, HSPB1 and CEBPG. We developed a diagnostic potency and provided an insight for exploring the mechanism for CAD. Before clinical application, further research is needed to test its diagnostic value for CAD.

Tight glycaemic control and surgical site infections post cardiac surgery: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most serious potential complications post cardiac surgery among patients with diabetes and has a number of adverse health outcomes. The literature shows discrepancies regarding the effect of different glycaemic control protocols on reducing adverse health outcomes including SSIs. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review that investigated the effect of the optimal range of tight glycaemic control protocols using a continuous insulin infusion on reducing the incidence of SSIs in adult patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery.

METHOD

A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA statement and guidelines. Search terms were used to identify research studies published between 2000 and 2019 across five key databases, including CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Database and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies met the review inclusion criteria. The reviewed literature tended to support the implementation of a tight glycaemic control protocol, particularly in the postoperative phase, that demonstrated fewer potential complications associated with cardiac surgery. On the other hand, the literature also supported the application of a moderate glycaemic control protocol in the intraoperative phase to obtain better glycaemic stability with fewer potential complications among those patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery.

CONCLUSION

This analysis concludes that tight glycaemic control is more effective than moderate glycaemic control intraoperatively in terms of glycaemic stability among patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery. Results also emphasised the importance of time-based protocol implementation to ensure better health outcomes and better quality of care for patients.

The effect of intraoperative glycemic control on surgical site infections among diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

OBJECTIVE

Perioperative poor glycemic control in diabetic patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery has been associated with infectious complications, particularly surgical site infections that are linked with adverse health surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different intraoperative glycemic control protocol, tight and conventional, on thirty-day postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) rates among diabetic patients undergoing CABG surgery.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was employed in the study, with a convenience sample of 144 adult patients who were scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

SETTING

A main referral heart institute in Amman, Jordan.

PARTICIPANTS

Subjects were randomly assigned to either the tight glycemic control group (n = 72), which maintained an intraoperative blood glucose level of 110-149 mg/dl via continuous intravenous insulin infusion, or the conventional glycemic control group (n = 72), which maintained an intraoperative blood glucose level of 150-180 mg/dl via continuous intravenous insulin infusion. The postoperative SSIs among both groups were evaluated and compared by independent blinded physicians.

RESULTS

The primary findings of this study indicated no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in terms of SSI rates and their potential adverse surgical outcomes (p = 0.512).

CONCLUSION

Nurses should consider the glycemic stability and glycemic control approach to minimize adverse surgical outcomes post CABG surgery. Healthcare providers should also carefully consider diabetic patients who have undergone CABG surgery and are at risk of developing postoperative SSIs.

CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER

NCT04451655 was retrospectively registered in 30/06/2020.

Bilateral vs Single Internal Mammary Artery Grafts for Coronary Artery Bypass in the United States

BACKGROUND

The use of the bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting remains controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term outcomes using the BIMA vs the single internal mammary artery (SIMA) in the United States.

METHODS

Medicare beneficiaries who underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass surgery using the SIMA or BIMA from 1999 to 2010 were included in this retrospective study, with follow-up through 2014. Greedy matching algorithms were used for 1:4 matching on propensity score based on age, gender, year of surgery, and comorbidities. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed. The primary outcome was death from any cause.

RESULTS

A total of 1,156,339 and 25,005 patients who were 72 ± 7.6 years of age and 70.3 ± 7.9 years of age underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass surgery using SIMA and BIMA, respectively. Matching created comparable groups with 95,780 SIMA and 24,160 BIMA patients. Matched median survival using SIMA vs BIMA was 11.8 vs 12.4 years (P < .001) and 9.6 vs 10 years in diabetic patients (P = .006), respectively. At 10 years of follow-up, the respective survival rates of using SIMA vs BIMA were 58.3% vs 61.1%, respectively. The stratified matched median survival using SIMA vs BIMA with 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more aortocoronary bypasses were 11.8 vs 12.3 years (P = .005), 11.7 vs 12.5 years (P < .001), 11.9 vs 12.3 years (P = .01), and 11.4 vs 12 years (P = .02), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary isolated coronary artery bypass surgery using the BIMA rather than the SIMA was associated with improved long-term survival. This survival advantage was independent of aortocoronary bypass grafts or patient diabetes status.

Sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are independently associated with cardiovascular events and hospitalization for heart failure after coronary artery bypass grafting

The relative and combined effects of sleep apnea with diabetes mellitus (DM) on cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remain unknown. In this secondary analysis of data from the SABOT study, 1007 patients were reclassified into four groups based on their sleep apnea and DM statuses, yielding 295, 218, 278, and 216 patients in the sleep apnea (+) DM (+), sleep apnea (+) DM (−), sleep apnea (−) DM (+), and sleep apnea (−) DM (−) groups, respectively. After a mean follow-up period of 2.1 years, the crude incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event was 18% in the sleep apnea (+) DM (+), 11% in the sleep apnea (+) DM (−), 13% in the sleep apnea (−) DM (+), and 5% in the sleep apnea (−) DM (−) groups. Using sleep apnea (−) DM (−) as the reference group, a Cox regression analysis indicated that sleep apnea (+) and DM (+) independently predicted MACCEs (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.7–6.2; p = 0.005) and hospitalization for heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio, 12.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.0–52.3; p < 0.001). Sleep apnea and DM have independent effects on the prognosis of patients undergoing CABG.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identification no. NCT02701504.

Long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with diabetes

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to investigate the outcome of patients with diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in a whole population with main focus on long-term mortality and complications.

METHODS

This was a nationwide retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent isolated primary CABG in Iceland between 2001 and 2016. Overall survival together with the composite end point of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was compared between patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of diabetes on both short- and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Of a total of 2060 patients, 356 (17%) patients had diabetes. Patients with diabetes had a higher body mass index (29.9 vs 27.9 kg/m2) and more often had hypertension (83% vs 62%) and chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤60 ml/min/1.73 m2, 21% vs 14%). Patients with diabetes had an increased risk of operative mortality [odds ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-4.80] when adjusted for confounders. 5-Year overall survival (85% vs 91%, P < 0.001) and 5-year freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were also inferior for patients with diabetes (77% vs 82%, P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders showed that the diagnosis of diabetes significantly predicted all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.87, 95% CI 1.53-2.29] and increased risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.23-1.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with diabetes have significantly lower survival after CABG, both within 30 days and during long-term follow-up.

Redevelopment and validation of the SYNTAX score II to individualise decision making between percutaneous and surgical revascularisation in patients with complex coronary artery disease: secondary analysis of the multicentre randomised controlled SYNTAXES trial with external cohort validation

BACKGROUND

Randomised controlled trials are considered the gold standard for testing the efficacy of novel therapeutic interventions, and typically report the average treatment effect as a summary result. As the result of treatment can vary between patients, basing treatment decisions for individual patients on the overall average treatment effect could be suboptimal. We aimed to develop an individualised decision making tool to select an optimal revascularisation strategy in patients with complex coronary artery disease.

METHODS

The SYNTAX Extended Survival (SYNTAXES) study is an investigator-driven extension follow-up of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial done in 85 hospitals across 18 North American and European countries between March, 2005, and April, 2007. Patients with de-novo three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease were randomly assigned (1:1) to either the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) group. The SYNTAXES study ascertained 10-year all-cause deaths. We used Cox regression to develop a clinical prognostic index for predicting death over a 10-year period, which was combined, in a second stage, with assigned treatment (PCI or CABG) and two prespecified effect-modifiers, which were selected on the basis of previous evidence: disease type (three-vessel disease or left main coronary artery disease) and anatomical SYNTAX score. We used similar techniques to develop a model to predict the 5-year risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal stroke, or non-fatal myocardial infarction) in patients receiving PCI or CABG. We then assessed the ability of these models to predict the risk of death or a major adverse cardiovascular event, and their differences (ie, the estimated benefit of CABG versus PCI by calculating the absolute risk difference between the two strategies) by cross-validation with the SYNTAX trial (n=1800 participants) and external validation in the pooled population (n=3380 participants) of the FREEDOM, BEST, and PRECOMBAT trials. The concordance (C)-index was used to measure discriminative ability, and calibration plots were used to assess the degree of agreement between predictions and observations.

FINDINGS

At cross-validation, the newly developed SYNTAX score II, termed SYNTAX score II 2020, showed a helpful discriminative ability in both treatment groups for predicting 10-year all-cause deaths (C-index=0·73 [95% CI 0·69-0·76] for PCI and 0·73 [0·69-0·76] for CABG) and 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events (C-index=0·65 [0·61-0·69] for PCI and C-index=0·71 [0·67-0·75] for CABG). At external validation, the SYNTAX score II 2020 showed helpful discrimination (C-index=0·67 [0·63-0·70] for PCI and C-index=0·62 [0·58-0·66] for CABG) and good calibration for predicting 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events. The estimated treatment benefit of CABG over PCI varied substantially among patients in the trial population, and the benefit predictions were well calibrated.

INTERPRETATION

The SYNTAX score II 2020 for predicting 10-year deaths and 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events can help to identify individuals who will benefit from either CABG or PCI, thereby supporting heart teams, patients, and their families to select optimal revascularisation strategies.

FUNDING

The German Heart Research Foundation and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Preoperative disturbances of glucose metabolism and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND

Disturbances of glucose metabolism are important risk factors for coronary artery disease and are associated with an increased mortality risk. The aim was to investigate the association between preoperative disturbances of glucose metabolism and long-term all-cause mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

Patients undergoing a first isolated CABG in 2005-2013 were included. All patients without previously known diabetes underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before surgery. They were categorised as having normal glucose tolerance (NGT), pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose) or newly discovered diabetes. Data were collected from nationwide healthcare registers. Cox regression was used to calculate adjusted HR with 95% CI for death in patients with pre-diabetes and diabetes, using NGT as reference.

RESULTS

In total, 497 patients aged 40-86 years were included. According to OGTT, 170 (34%) patients had NGT, 219 (44%) patients with pre-diabetes and 108 (22%) patients had newly discovered diabetes. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except for slightly higher age among patients with newly discovered diabetes. There were 133 (27%) deaths during a mean follow-up time of 10 years. The cumulative 10-year survival was 77% (69%-83%), 83% (77%-87%) and 71% (61%-79%) in patients with NGT, pre-diabetes and newly discovered diabetes, respectively. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the groups after multivariable adjustment.

CONCLUSION

In this study, patients with pre-diabetes or newly discovered diabetes prior to CABG had similar long-term survival compared with patients with NGT.

Prognostic Value of the PARIS Thrombotic Risk Score for 2-Year Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The Patterns of non-Adherence to Anti-Platelet Regimen in Stented Patients (PARIS) thrombotic risk score is a novel score for predicting the risk of coronary thrombotic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We assessed the prognostic value of this score for mortality in patients with PCI. In this prospective, observational study, we enrolled 10 724 consecutive patients underwent PCI. The primary end point was all-cause death and the secondary end point was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, stent thrombosis, or stroke. Among 9782 patients without in-hospital events, a total of 97 deaths and 1002 MACCE occurred during the 2-year follow-up. The mortality risk of patients in the high-risk group was 2.31 times higher than that in the low-risk group (hazard ratio, 2.31; P = .001). This risk score showed prognostic value in evaluating mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.607; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.551-0.663) and MACCE (AUROC, 0.544; 95% CI, 0.526-0.563; both P < .001). The prognostic value of mortality was higher than that of MACCE (Z = 2.09, P = .04). The PARIS thrombotic risk score shows modest prognostic value for mortality and MACCE, and the prognostic value of mortality is better than that of MACCE.

The role of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus for poor in-hospital prognosis of coronary artery bypass grafting

Background: The management of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who need myocardial revascularization is a great challenge. Aims: To study the role of newly diagnosed T2DM in the development of in-hospital adverse outcomes after coronary artery surgery (CABG). Methods: 708 consecutive patients underwent CABG were included. All patients without history of T2DM and with border fasting hyperglycemia underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. Results: The screening allowed to diagnose T2DM in 8.9% and prediabetes in 10.4% of the study population. The the number of patients with T2DM increased from 15.2% to 24.1%, and with prediabetes from 3.0% to 13.4%. The total number of patients with carbohydrate metabolism disorders increased from 18.2% to 37.5%. The trend towards higher rate of in-hospital complications after CABG was defined among patients with newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed T2DM. The regression analysis demonstrated the presence of the relationships between the previously diagnosed T2DM and the total number of significant complications (odds ratio (OR) 1.350, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0571.723, p=0.020) and prolonged in-hospital stay (OR 1.609, 95%CI 1.2022.155, p=0.001). The significance of these relationships increased with the addition of newly diagnosed T2DM to the regression model (for in-hospital complications: OR 1.731, 95% CI 1.1312.626, p=0.012; for prolonged in-hospital stay: OR 2.229, 95%CI 1.4123.519, p0.001). Moreover, additional associations between T2DM and the risk of developing multiple organ dysfunction (OR 2.911, 95% CI 1.0727.901, p=0.039), urgent lower extremity surgery (OR 1.638, 95%CI 1.00915.213, p=0.020) and the need for extracorporeal correction of hemostasis (OR 3.472, 95%CI 1.04211.556, p=0.044) have been defined. Importantly, the presence of these associations would not have been identified without including newly diagnosed DM in the regression model. Conclusion: The newly diagnosed T2DM affects the prognosis of CABG as well as the previously diagnosed T2DM. The obtained results suggest the importance of active preoperative T2DM screening.

Diabetes Exacerbates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Down-Regulation of MicroRNA and Up-Regulation of O-GlcNAcylation

Management for patients with diabetes experiencing myocardial infarction remains a challenge. Here the authors show that hyperglycemia- and hyperinsulinemia-induced microRNA-24 (miR-24) reduction and O-GlcNAcylation in the diabetic heart contribute to poor survival and increased infarct size in diabetic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). In a mouse model of myocardial I/R, pharmacological or genetic overexpression of miR-24 in hearts significantly reduced myocardial infarct size. Experimental validation revealed that miR-24 targets multiple key proteins, including O-GlcNac transferase, ATG4A, and BIM, to coordinately protect the myocardium from I/R injury. These results establish miR-24 as a promising therapeutic candidate for diabetic I/R injury.

Estimated glucose disposal rate predicts mortality in adults with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the association between insulin resistance as determined by the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), and survival in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Sweden.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using the Swedish National Diabetes Register, indviduals with T1D were included from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2012. Outcomes were retrieved from National healthcare registers. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the associations between eGDR (mg/kg/min) categorized into <4, 4 to 5.99, 6 to 7.99, and ≥8 (reference) and outcomes. Relative survival methods were used to compare survival to a matched Swedish reference population.

RESULTS

Among 17 050 included individuals with T1D, 10.5%, 20.2%, 20.5% and 48.9% had an eGDR of <4, 4 to 5.99, 6 to 7.99, and ≥8, respectively. Individuals with an eGDR <8 were older and had more comorbidities. During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, there were 946 (6%) deaths; 264 (15%), 367 (11%), 195 (6%) and 120 (1%) deaths occurred in individuals with an eGDR of <4, 4 to 5.99, 6 to 7.99 and ≥8, respectively. After adjustment for a wealth of different covariates including diabetes duration, age, sex and renal function, individuals with an eGDR <4, 4 to 5.99, and 6 to 7.99 had an increased risk of death compared to those with an eGDR ≥8 (adjusted HRs, 95% CIs, P values: 2.78, 2.04 to 3.77, <.001; 1.92, 1.49 to 2.46, <.001; 1.73, 1.34 to 2.21, <.001). Survival in individuals with an eGDR ≥8 was equal to a matched general population.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong association between eGDR and all-cause mortality, as well as cardiovascular mortality, in individuals with T1D. Our findings may guide preventive measures by improving risk assessment in individuals with T1D.

Failure of Isoflurane Cardiac Preconditioning in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Mice Involves Aberrant Regulation of MicroRNA-21, Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase, and Mitochondrial Complex I

BACKGROUND

Diabetes impairs the cardioprotective effect of volatile anesthetics, yet the mechanisms are still murky. We examined the regulatory effect of isoflurane on microRNA-21, endothelial nitric-oxide synthase, and mitochondrial respiratory complex I in type 2 diabetic mice.

METHODS

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was produced in obese type 2 diabetic (db/db) and C57BL/6 control mice ex vivo in the presence or absence of isoflurane administered before ischemia. Cardiac microRNA-21 was quantified by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction. The dimers and monomers of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase were measured by Western blot analysis. Mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide fluorescence was determined in Langendorff-perfused hearts.

RESULTS

Body weight and fasting blood glucose were greater in db/db than C57BL/6 mice. Isoflurane decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure from 35 ± 8 mmHg in control to 23 ± 9 mmHg (P = 0.019, n = 8 mice/group, mean ± SD) and elevated ±dP/dt 2 h after post-ischemic reperfusion in C57BL/6 mice. These beneficial effects of isoflurane were lost in db/db mice. Isoflurane elevated microRNA-21 and the ratio of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase dimers/monomers and decreased mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels 5 min after ischemia in C57BL/6 but not db/db mice. MicroRNA-21 knockout blocked these favorable effects of isoflurane, whereas endothelial nitric-oxide synthase knockout had no effect on the expression of microRNA-21 but blocked the inhibitory effect of isoflurane preconditioning on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.

CONCLUSIONS

Failure of isoflurane cardiac preconditioning in obese type 2 diabetic db/db mice is associated with aberrant regulation of microRNA-21, endothelial nitric-oxide synthase, and mitochondrial respiratory complex I.

Tissue-engineered smooth muscle cell and endothelial progenitor cell bi-level cell sheets prevent progression of cardiac dysfunction, microvascular dysfunction, and interstitial fibrosis in a rodent model of type 1 diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for coronary artery disease and diabetic cardiomyopathy, and adversely impacts outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting. Current treatments focus on macro-revascularization and neglect the microvascular disease typical of diabetes mellitus-induced cardiomyopathy (DMCM). We hypothesized that engineered smooth muscle cell (SMC)-endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) bi-level cell sheets could improve ventricular dysfunction in DMCM.

Methods

Primary mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and EPCs were isolated from the bone marrow of Wistar rats, and MSCs were differentiated into SMCs by culturing on a fibronectin-coated dish. SMCs topped with EPCs were detached from a temperature-responsive culture dish to create an SMC-EPC bi-level cell sheet. A DMCM model was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. Four weeks after induction, rats were randomized into 3 groups: control (no DMCM induction), untreated DMCM, and treated DMCM (cell sheet transplant covering the anterior surface of the left ventricle).

Results

SMC-EPC cell sheet therapy preserved cardiac function and halted adverse ventricular remodeling, as demonstrated by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 8 weeks after DMCM induction. Myocardial contrast echocardiography demonstrated that myocardial perfusion and microvascular function were preserved in the treatment group compared with untreated animals. Histological analysis demonstrated decreased interstitial fibrosis and increased microvascular density in the SMC-EPC cell sheet-treated group.

Conclusions

Treatment of DMCM with tissue-engineered SMC-EPC bi-level cell sheets prevented cardiac dysfunction and microvascular disease associated with DMCM. This multi-lineage cellular therapy is a novel, translatable approach to improve microvascular disease and prevent heart failure in diabetic patients.

Haptoglobin 2-2 Phenotype Is Associated With Increased Acute Kidney Injury After Elective Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Recent studies reported an association between the 2-2 phenotype of haptoglobin (Hp 2-2) and increased cardiorenal morbidity in nonsurgical diabetic patients. Our goal was to determine whether the Hp 2-2 phenotype was associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) after elective cardiac surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively enrolled 99 diabetic patients requiring elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Haptoglobin phenotypes were determined by gel electrophoresis. Cell-free hemoglobin, haptoglobin, and total serum bilirubin were quantified as hemolysis markers. The primary outcome was postoperative AKI, as defined by the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification. The incidence of AKI was significantly higher in Hp 2-2 patients compared with patients without this phenotype (non-Hp-2-2; 55.6% versus 27%, P<0.01). The need for renal replacement therapy was also significantly higher in the Hp 2-2 group (5 patients versus 1 patient, P=0.02). Thirty-day mortality (3 versus 0 patients, P=0.04) and 1-year mortality (5 versus 0 patients, P<0.01) were also significantly higher in patients with the Hp 2-2 phenotype. In multivariable analysis, Hp 2-2 was an independent predictor of postoperative AKI (P=0.01; odds ratio: 4.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-12.48).

CONCLUSIONS

Hp 2-2 phenotype is an independent predictor of postoperative AKI and is associated with decreased short and long-term survival after cardiac surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The application of remote ischemic conditioning in cardiac surgery

Perioperative myocardial ischemia and infarction are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality following anesthesia and surgery. The discovery of endogenous cardioprotective mechanisms has led to testing of new methods to protect the human heart. These approaches have included ischemic pre-conditioning, per-conditioning, post-conditioning, and remote conditioning of the myocardium. Pre-conditioning and per-conditioning include brief and repetitive periods of sub-lethal ischemia before and during prolonged ischemia, respectively; and post-conditioning is applied at the onset of reperfusion. Remote ischemic conditioning involves transient, repetitive, non-lethal ischemia and reperfusion in one organ or tissue (remote from the heart) that renders myocardium more resistant to lethal ischemia/reperfusion injury. In healthy, young hearts, many conditioning maneuvers can significantly increase the resistance of the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury. The large multicenter clinical trials with ischemic remote conditioning have not been proven successful in cardiac surgery thus far. The lack of clinical success is due to underlying risk factors that interfere with remote ischemic conditioning and the use of cardioprotective agents that have activated the endogenous cardioprotective mechanisms prior to remote ischemic conditioning. Future preclinical research using remote ischemic conditioning will need to be conducted using comorbid models.

Impact of type 2 diabetes on vascular reactivity to cGMP generators in human internal thoracic arteries

OBJECTIVE

The balance between nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive and -insensitive forms of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) has been demonstrated to be disrupted in certain lifestyle-related diseases. However, it remains unclear whether type 2 diabetes results in a shift of sGC to the NO-insensitive form. This study addressed this issue in the human blood vessel.

METHODS

Internal thoracic arteries were obtained from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Helically cut strips of the arteries were suspended in organ chambers, and relaxant responses to nitroglycerin (NO-sensitive sGC stimulant) and BAY 60-2770 (NO-insensitive sGC stimulant) were assessed.

RESULTS

The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of type 2 diabetes (HbA1c: 7.0±0.3%) or its absence (HbA1c: 5.6±0.1%). Nitroglycerin-induced relaxation was not different in the arteries obtained from type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In addition, the relaxant response to BAY 60-2770 in type 2 diabetics was comparable to that observed in non-diabetics. Although the patients enrolled often had vascular risk factors other than type 2 diabetes, the relaxant responses were still in the same range in a comparison based on the number of risk factors. However, in separate experiments, the relaxant response to nitroglycerin was attenuated by pre-incubation of the arteries with ODQ (sGC imbalance inducer), whereas the relaxant response to BAY-60-2770 was augmented.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that type 2 diabetes does not affect the balance between NO-sensitive and -insensitive sGC in human internal thoracic artery grafts.

Bakuchiol attenuates myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury by maintaining mitochondrial function: the role of silent information regulator 1

Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury (IRI) is associated with poor prognoses in the settings of both cardiac surgery and ischemic heart disease and causes mitochondrial oxidative stress and cell death. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), a member of the histone deacetylase family, exerts anti-IRI effects. Bakuchiol (BAK), an analog of resveratrol and a monoterpene phenol isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia (Leguminosae), protects tissues from injury. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of BAK treatment in the setting of myocardial IRI and to elucidate the potential mechanism of those effects. Prior to induction of IR, isolated rat hearts or cardiomyocytes were exposed to BAK in either the absence or presence of the SIRT1 inhibitors Sirtinol and SIRT1 siRNA. BAK exerted cardioprotective effects, as evidenced by the improvements noted in cardiac function following ischemia, attenuated myocardial apoptosis, and changes in several biochemical parameters (including increases in the level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2, decreases in the level of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and decreases in the cleaved Caspase 3 level). However, Sirtinol and SIRT1 siRNA each blocked BAK-induced cardioprotection by inhibiting SIRT1 signaling. Additionally, BAK significantly increased the activities of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase, and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and decreased the production of malondialdehyde. These findings suggested that BAK significantly attenuated IR-induced mitochondrial oxidative damage. However, Sirtinol and SIRT1 siRNA abolished BAK-dependent mitochondrial function. In summary, our results demonstrate that BAK treatment attenuates IRI by attenuating IR-induced mitochondrial oxidative damage via the activation of SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling.

Myocardial revascularization in patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes

The review discusses myocardial revascularization in patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The data presented include findings from recent research and international and national recommendations and provides evidence on the advantages of coronary artery bypass surgery over percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with diabetes mellitus, stable coronary artery disease and multiple coronary artery lesions. Type 2 diabetes remains a significant predictor of adverse long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass surgery. Therefore, we review studies showing that different strategies of coronary revascularization and preoperative preparation can affect the results of coronary intervention in patients with diabetes.

Prognosis and Complications of Diabetic Patients Undergoing Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Objective:

Compare the prognosis and complications of diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery at a hospital with a high surgical volume.

Methods:

Data of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery from June 2009 to July 2010 were analyzed. We selected diabetic and non-diabetic patients and evaluated their postoperative and long-term prognosis based on clinical complications. To reduce the disparity within the sample, statistical analyses were performed using propensity scores.

Results:

We included 2,688 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery; 36% of them had diabetes, their mean age was 62.1±9.49 years and 70% (1,884) of them were men. Patients with diabetes were older (63±9 years vs. 61±10 years; P<0.001), more often obese (BMI>25 kg/m²: 70.7% vs. 64.5%; P<0.001), dyslipidemic (50.4% vs. 41.1%; P<0.001), hypertensive (89.2% vs. 78.7%; P<0.001), and presented chronic renal failure (8.3% vs. 3.8%; P<0.001). They also presented higher rates of acute renal failure (5.6% vs. 2.7%, P<0.001), infection (11.4% vs. 7.2%, P<0.001) and mortality after one year (9.1% vs. 5.6%, P<0.001). Pneumonia was more common among patients with diabetes (7.7% vs. 4.0%, P<0.001). According to propensity scoring, 430 patients (215 diabetics and 215 non-diabetics) had a mean age of 61.3±8.97 years, and 21.2% (91 of 430) were women. However, diabetes was not an independent factor for poor prognosis.

Conclusion:

Patients with diabetes were at higher risk for postoperative complications and mortality after undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. However, diabetes did not explain the poor prognosis of these patients after pairing this factor with the propensity score.

Blood glucose concentration for predicting poor outcomes in patients with and without impaired glucose metabolism undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery - long-term observational study

INTRODUCTION

Strict glucose control is an everyday practice in the perioperative period. Elevated glucose level has a deleterious impact on clinical results, but a therapeutic target has not been stated yet.

AIM

To determine a glucose concentration range affecting long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study is a retrospective evaluation of consecutive patients treated in a university hospital in Poland from 2004 to 2008. Patients were divided into 2 groups: an impaired glucose metabolism group (IGM) if they had 1) known DM or 2) perioperative hyperglycaemia defined as ≥ 200 mg/dl; and a non-IGM group. The end point (EP) was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

One thousand two hundred and eleven patients were covered by the analysis. The observation time was from 01.01.2004 until 01.08.2012. Patients who had maximal glucose concentrations < 242 mg/dl had the lowest mortality risk (EP in 21.1%); a higher risk was noted in the group with glucose concentrations 242-324 mg/dl (EP in 30.8%); and a very high risk was found for the group where glucose concentration was > 324 mg/dl (EP in 44.2%) (p = 0.041). Patients with IGM had a shorter survival at the end of the study (p < 0.001). The longest survival was observed in patients whose maximal glucose level was ≤ 242 mg/dl (p < 0.001) and the minimal glucose concentration was in the range 61-110 mg/dl (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Tight glucose concentration control should be performed irrespective of a diabetes diagnosis and proper treatment introduced when necessary. Maximal glucose concentration should be kept < 242 mg/dl, while the minimum should be in the range 60-110 mg/dl.

Coronary Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiologic Basis for Diagnosis and Management

Coronary atherosclerosis is a long lasting and continuously evolving disease with multiple clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to stable angina, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure (HF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis. In this review, current knowledge related to the diagnosis and management of coronary atherosclerosis based on pathophysiologic mechanisms will be discussed. In addition to providing state-of-the-art concepts related to coronary atherosclerosis, special consideration will be given on how to apply data from epidemiologic studies and randomized clinical trials to the individual patient. The greatest challenge for the clinician in the twenty-first century is not in absorbing the fast accumulating new knowledge, but rather in applying this knowledge to the individual patient.

Neighbourhood socioeconomic status and coronary heart disease in individuals between 40 and 50 years

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) has decreased in general but not among younger middle-aged adults. We performed a cohort study of the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES) at the age of 40 and risk of MI before the age of 50 years.

METHODS

All individuals in Sweden were included in the year of their 40th birthday, if it occurred between 1998 and 2010. National registers were used to categorise neighbourhood SES into high, middle and low, and to retrieve information on incident MI and coronary heart disease (CHD). Cox regression models, adjusted for marital status, education level, immigrant status and region of residence, provided an estimate of the HRs and 95% CIs for MI or CHD.

RESULTS

Out of 587 933 men and 563 719 women, incident MI occurred in 2877 (0.48%) men and 932 (0.17%) women; and CHD occurred in 4400 (0.74%) men and 1756 (0.31%) women during a mean follow-up of 5.5 years. Using individuals living in middle-SES neighbourhoods as referents, living in high-SES neighbourhoods was associated with lower risk of MI in both sexes (HR (95% CI): men: 0.72 (0.64 to 0.82), women: 0.66 (0.53 to 0.81)); living in low-SES neighbourhoods was associated with a higher risk of MI (HR (95% CI): men: 1.31 (1.20 to 1.44), women: 1.28 (1.08 to 1.50)). Similar risk estimates for CHD were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study suggest an increased risk of MI and CHD among residents from low-SES neighbourhoods and a lower risk in those from high-SES neighbourhoods compared with residents in middle-SES neighbourhoods.

Long-Term Risk of Stroke in Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BACKGROUND

We performed a nationwide population-based cohort study to investigate the long-term risk of stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All patients who underwent primary coronary artery bypass grafting in Sweden from 2000 through 2011 were included from the SWEDEHEART register. We excluded patients with prior stroke, and patients who had a stroke or died within 30 days of surgery. The National Diabetes Register was used to identify patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Incident stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic), and all-cause mortality was obtained by record linkage with the National Patient Register and the Cause of Death register. We used multivariable Cox regression to estimate the risk of stroke in relation to type of diabetes. A total of 53 820 patients (type 1 diabetes [n=714], type 2 diabetes [n=10 054], no diabetes [n=43 052]) were included. During a mean follow-up of 7.4 years (398 337 person-years), in total, 8.0% (n=4296) of the patients had a stroke: 7.3% (n=52) in patients with type 1 diabetes, 9.1% (n=915) in patients with type 2 diabetes, and 7.7% (n=3329) in patients with no diabetes. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for all stroke was 1.59 (1.20-2.11) in type 1 diabetes, and 1.32 (1.23-1.43) in type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term risk for stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting was increased in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, compared to patients with no diabetes.