Long-Term Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Chronic Kidney Disease Predisposes to Acute Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiogenic Shock, and Mortality in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The relations between degrees of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well characterized. We sought to determine the relation between different stages of CKD and acute CHF events, including HF and cardiogenic shock (CS), and the impact of CKD stages on all-cause mortality after PCI. Patients who underwent PCI from 2009 to 2017 were identified from our institution's National Cardiovascular Disease Registry CathPCI Database. Patients were stratified by CKD stage 1 (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2), 2 (60 to 89), 3a (45 to 59), 3b (30 to 44), 4 (16 to 29), 5 (≤15), and current dialysis. The primary end point was composite HF events defined as acute HF or CS within 30 days after PCI, or in-hospital mortality, stratified by CKD and analyzed by multivariable regression after screening with univariate analysis (p <0.05 entry criteria). Patients with CKD stage 3a or worse had more composite HF events, with an increase in all components, compared with patients with CKD stages 1 to 2 (p <0.0001 for all comparisons). After multivariable adjustment, CKD stages 3a to 5 remained independent predictors of composite HF or in-hospital mortality events. eGFR remained a strong predictor of acute HF events after multivariable adjustment, with a model including eGFR and baseline and procedural characteristics achieving excellent discriminatory ability with area under the curve 0.92. In conclusion, baseline eGFR is a strong, independent predictor of acute HF events after PCI. CKD stages 3a to 5 independently predict HF events including HF decompensation and CS and are predictors of in-hospital mortality after PCI. Patients with baseline CKD may benefit from targeted interventions to limit acute HF events after PCI.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Processes of Care and Long-Term Mortality of Non-ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Nationwide Cohort Study and Long-Term Follow-Up

BACKGROUND

A growing population of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, although little is known about their longer-term mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the MINAP (Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project) registry, linked to Office for National Statistics mortality data, we analyzed 363 559 UK patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, with or without CKD. Cox regression models were fitted, adjusting for baseline demographics. Compared with patients without CKD, patients with CKD were less frequently prescribed P2Y12 inhibitors (89% versus 86%, P<0.001) less likely to undergo invasive angiography (67% versus 41%, P<0.001) or percutaneous coronary intervention (41% versus 25%, P<0.001), and were less often referred to cardiac rehabilitation (80% versus 66%, P<0.001). Following non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, patients with CKD had higher risk of 30-day (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.24 [95% CI, 1.20-1.29], 1-year 1.47 [95% CI, 1.44-1.51]) and 5-year mortality 1.55 (95% CI, 1.53-1.58) than patients without CKD (all P<0.001). Risk of mortality over the entire study period was highest in CKD Stage 5 (HR, 2.98 [95% CI, 2.87-3.10]), even after excluding mortality ≤30 days (HR, 3.03 [95% CI, 2.90-3.17]) (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in proportion of deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease at 30 days (CKD; 76% versus no CKD; 76%), or 1 -year (CKD; 62% versus no CKD; 62%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CKD were significantly less likely to receive invasive investigation or undergo percutaneous coronary intervention and had significantly higher risk of short- and longer-term mortality. Risk of mortality increased with reducing CKD stage. Cardiovascular disease was the main cause of mortality in patients with CKD, but at comparable rates to the general population with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Higher post procedural bleeding in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) is common in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Post-PCI bleeding has been shown to increase mortality and remains an important challenge in these patients. Previous studies have shown increased post-PCI bleeding in CKD patients but often ACKD patients are excluded from these trials. The goal of this study was to evaluate if patients undergoing PCI with advanced renal disease have higher bleeding complications.

METHODS

We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to compare the post-PCI bleeding rates for ACKD (CKD stage 3 and above) undergoing PCI between 2006 and 2011 to those without ACKD in patients over the age of 40. Specific ICD-9 CM codes were used to identify these patients.

RESULTS

A total of 49,192 patients had post-PCI bleeding during the study period of which 3,675 (7.5%) had ACKD. Patients with ACKD were older (68.7±11.7 years). During the study period, there was a decline in post-PCI bleeding rates in both ACKD and control groups. Patients with ACKD have significantly higher post-PCI bleeding rates compared to the control group. For example, in 2006, 133.9 in patients with ACKD had bleeding vs. 104.4 per 100,000 in patients without ACKD (P<0.05). After multivariate adjustment for bassline comorbidities, ACKD remained independently associated with post-PCI bleeding risk (OR: 1.07, CI: 1.03-1.11, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Despite the overall decline in post-PCI bleeding in patients undergoing PCI, ACKD remains independently associated with post-procedural bleeding.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index predicts bleeding event in patients with heart failure

AIMS

We aimed to elucidate the association between malnutrition and the occurrence of bleeding events in patients with heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated the nutritional status of patients with heart failure [n = 2044, median (inter-quartile range) age 69.0 (59.0-78.0) years, 1209 (59.1%) males] using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). The primary endpoint was a composite of bleeding events such as haemorrhagic stroke or gastrointestinal bleeding. According to the survival classification and regression tree analysis, the accurate cut-off point of GNRI for predicting the primary endpoint was 106.2. We divided the patients into two groups based on GNRI levels: high GNRI group (GNRI ≥ 106.2, n = 606, 29.6%) and low GNRI group (GNRI < 106.2, n = 1438, 70.4%). We compared the patients' characteristics and prognosis between the two groups. The low GNRI group was older [72.0 (63.0-79.0) vs. 63.0 (53.0-73.0) years, P < 0.001] and had a lower prevalence of male sex (56.9% vs. 64.5%, P = 0.001). There were no differences in the use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants between the two groups. Levels of B-type natriuretic peptide were higher [321.1 (123.3-667.4) vs. 111.6 (42.6-235.4) pg/mL, P < 0.001] and levels of haemoglobin were lower [12.4 (10.8-13.7) vs. 14.2 (12.9-15.4) g/dL, P < 0.001] in the low GNRI group. The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that bleeding event rates were higher in the low GNRI group (log-rank P < 0.001). The multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that low GNRI (hazard ratio 1.952, 95% confidence interval 1.002-3.805, P = 0.049) was associated with bleeding events.

CONCLUSIONS

Heart failure patients with poor nutritional status, determined by GNRI under 106.2, experienced high bleeding event rates. Comprehensive management is required to avoid bleeding event in those populations.

Interpretable machine learning models for predicting in-hospital and 30 days adverse events in acute coronary syndrome patients in Kuwait

The relationships between acute coronary syndromes (ACS) adverse events and the associated risk factors are typically complicated and nonlinear, which poses significant challenges to clinicians' attempts at risk stratification. Here, we aim to explore the implementation of modern risk stratification tools to untangle how these complex factors shape the risk of adverse events in patients with ACS. We used an interpretable multi-algorithm machine learning (ML) approach and clinical features to fit predictive models to 1,976 patients with ACS in Kuwait. We demonstrated that random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) algorithms, remarkably outperform traditional logistic regression model (AUCs = 0.84 & 0.79 for RF and XGB, respectively). Our in-hospital adverse events model identified left ventricular ejection fraction as the most important predictor with the highest interaction strength with other factors. However, using the 30-days adverse events model, we found that performing an urgent coronary artery bypass graft was the most important predictor, with creatinine levels having the strongest overall interaction with other related factors. Our ML models not only untangled the non-linear relationships that shape the clinical epidemiology of ACS adverse events but also elucidated their risk in individual patients based on their unique features.

In-hospital outcomes of PCI in patients who have ESRD vs non-ESRD patients, a retrospective study involving a National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD is known to affect a large portion of the American population. Previous data for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the setting of ESRD for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and non-ACS etiologies have shown to have an increase in in-hospital mortality, and prolonged hospitalization among other complications.

METHODS

The national inpatient sample (NIS) was used to identify patients who underwent PCI between the years 2016-2019. Patients were then grouped into those with ESRD on renal replacement therapy (RRT). Logistic regression models were employed to assess the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality, while linear regression models were utilized to evaluate secondary outcomes, including hospitalization cost and length of stay.

RESULTS

A total of 21,366 unweighted observations were initially included, consisting of 50 % ESRD patients and 50 % randomly selected patients without ESRD who underwent PCI. These observations were weighted to represent a national estimate of 106,830 patients. The mean age of the study population was 65 years, and 63 % of the patients were male. The ESRD group had a greater representation of minority groups compared to the control group. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in the ESRD group compared to the control group, with an odds ratio of 1.803 (95 % CI: 1.502 to 2.164; p-value of 0.0002). Additionally, the ESRD group had significantly higher healthcare costs and longer length of stay, with a mean difference of $47,618 (95 % CI: $42,701 to $52,534, p-value <0.0001) and 2.933 days (95 % CI, 2.729 to 3.138 days, p-value <0.0001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In-hospital mortality, cost, and length of stay for patients undergoing PCI were found to be significantly greater in the ESRD group.

Ischemic and Bleeding Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Chronic Kidney Disease or Dialysis (from a Japanese Nationwide Registry)

The relation between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and outcomes in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is thought to be bidirectional; these patients are at a higher risk of ischemic and bleeding events. From a Japanese nationwide PCI registry, ischemic (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal ischemic stroke) and bleeding events (fatal or nonfatal major bleeding) 1 year after discharge among patients who had second- or newer-generation drug-eluting stent implantation were analyzed. Patients on oral anticoagulants were excluded. Patients were stratified according to their preprocedural renal function: CKD stages 1 to 2 (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m²), 3 (eGFR 30 to 59), or 4 to 5 (eGFR <30), or those receiving dialysis. Overall, 23,349 patients, including 2,798 patients with CKD 3 to 5 (12.0%) and 1,464 patients on dialysis (6.3%), were investigated. One-year ischemic events were observed in 1.5%, 5.2%, 9.7%, and 5.3% in the CKD stages 1-to-2, 3, 4-to-5, and dialysis groups, respectively; patients with CKD stages 3 or 4 to 5 and those receiving dialysis were associated with higher risks of ischemic events after adjustment of covariates than were patients without CKD. Compared with ischemic events, 1-year bleeding events were low, with incidence rates of 1.5%, 2.0%, 3.4%, and 2.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of CKD or dialysis was not associated with a higher risk of bleeding events after adjustment of covariates. In conclusion, in the contemporary nationwide PCI registry, the presence of CKD and dialysis was independently associated with a higher risk of ischemic events but not with bleeding events, and this suggests a need to alter the models of care delivery in these patients.

The PRECISE-DAPT score and 5-year outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention: a large-scale, real-world study from China

AIMS

The PRECISE-DAPT (predicting bleeding complications in patients undergoing stent implantation and subsequent dual-antiplatelet therapy) score is recommended by guidelines for predicting out-of-hospital bleeding in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the long-term prognostic value of the PRECISE-DAPT score in patients after PCI remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a prospective study of 10 724 patients who underwent PCI throughout 2013 in Fuwai Hospital. The bleeding endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. The ischaemic endpoints were all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). After a 5-year follow-up, 10 109 patients were finally analysed. A total of 415 (4.11%) patients experienced bleeding, 364 (3.60%) experienced all-cause death, and 2049 (20.27%) had MACCE. Using Cox regression, the risks of bleeding [hazard ratio (HR): 1.721, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.180-2.511, P = 0.005], MACCE (HR: 1.607, 95% CI: 1.347-1.917, P < 0.001), and all-cause-death (HR: 3.902, 95% CI: 2.916-5.221, P < 0.001) in patients with a high score were significantly higher than those in patients with a low score. The PRECISE-DAPT score showed prognostic value for 5-year events of bleeding (C-statistic: 0.566, 95% CI: 0.537-0.594), MACCE (C-statistic: 0.540, 95% CI: 0.527-0.553), and all-cause death (C-statistic: 0.673, 95% CI: 0.644-0.702).

CONCLUSION

After 5 years of follow-up, the PRECISE-DAPT score has a statistically significant predictive value for long-term bleeding events in the Chinese PCI population, and also some prognostic value for death and MACCE.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

In this real-world, large-sample study, the PRECISE-DAPT (predicting bleeding complications in patients undergoing stent implantation and subsequent dual-antiplatelet therapy) score shows a statistically significant 5-year predictive value for bleeding in Chinese patients with percutaneous coronary intervention and dual-antiplatelet therapy. The study also shows that the PRECISE-DAPT score has moderate predictive value for all-cause death.

Development of a Laboratory Risk-Score Model to Predict One-Year Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction Survivors

The high post-discharge mortality rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors is concerning, indicating a need for reliable, easy-to-use risk prediction tools. We aimed to examine if a combined pre-procedural blood testing risk model predicts one-year mortality in AMI survivors. Overall, 1355 consecutive AMI patients who received primary coronary revascularization were divided into derivation (n = 949) and validation (n = 406) cohorts. A risk-score model of parameters from pre-procedural routine blood testing on admission was generated. In the derivation cohort, multivariable analysis demonstrated that hemoglobin < 11 g/dL (odds ratio (OR) 4.01), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 3.75), albumin < 3.8 mg/dL (OR 3.37), and high-sensitivity troponin I > 2560 ng/L (OR 3.78) were significantly associated with one-year mortality after discharge. An increased risk score, assigned from 0 to 4 points according to the counts of selected variables, was significantly associated with higher one-year mortality in both cohorts (p < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristics curve analyses of risk models demonstrated adequate discrimination between patients with and without one-year death (area under the curve (95% confidence interval) 0.850 (0.756−0.912) in the derivation cohort; 0.820 (0.664−0.913) in the validation cohort). Our laboratory risk-score model can be useful for predicting one-year mortality in AMI survivors.

Efficacy and Safety of the Reduced Bivalirudin in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Stratified by Renal Function (REDUCE BOLUS): A Single-Blind, Stratified Randomized, Non-inferiority Trial

Background

In clinical practice, some cases indicated that the loading dose of bivalirudin increased the bleeding risk, particularly in patients with renal insufficiency. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the low-dose (80%) bolus injection of bivalirudin in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization stratified by renal function.

Methods

A total of 204 individuals in the REDUCE BOLUS trial were stratified 1:1 to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 ml/min cohort or eGFR < 60 ml/min cohort, then randomized 1:1 to the reduced bolus bivalirudin group (i.e., the experimental group) or normal bolus bivalirudin group (i.e., the control group), respectively. The primary end point was to compare the differences of the area under the curve of activated clotting time (ACT) between the two groups. The secondary end points were the postoperative net adverse clinical events (NACEs) before discharge, defined as the all-cause mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization, stroke, and bleeding events.

Results

Between January 3, 2020, and March 26, 2021, 204 patients undergoing coronary angiography were randomly assigned, including 102 (i.e., 51 in the control group and 51 in the experimental group) with normal eGFR and 102 (i.e., 51 control and 51 experimental) with abnormal eGFR. No difference was observed in the curve of ACT between the control group and the experimental group (0.55 ± 0.09 vs. 0.56 ± 0.08, P = 0.542 and 0.55 ± 0.06 vs. 0.57 ± 0.05, P = 0.075, respectively, for normal eGFR cohort and abnormal eGFR cohort). The one-sided 97.5% lower confidence bound for the difference in the area under the ACT curve was –0.017 and 0.0015 in eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min and eGFR<60 ml/min cohort, respectively, both above the preset non-inferiority criterion of -0.07, establishing the non-inferiority. There was no incidence of NACE and stent thrombosis before discharge in each group.

Conclusion

In patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, the efficacy and safety of the reduced bolus of bivalirudin were non-inferior to the normal one, even in patients without chronic kidney disease.

Clinical Trial Registration

[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT03588611].

Untangling the difficult interplay between ischemic and hemorrhagic risk: The role of risk scores

BACKGROUND

Bleedings are an independent risk factor for subsequent mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and in those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. This represents a hazard equivalent to or greater than that for recurrent ACS. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) represents the cornerstone in the secondary prevention of thrombotic events, but the benefit of such therapy is counteracted by the increased hemorrhagic complications. Therefore, an early and individualized patient risk stratification can help to identify high-risk patients who could benefit the most from intensive medical therapies while minimizing unnecessary treatment complications in low-risk patients.

AIM

To review existing literature and gain better understanding of the role of ischemic and hemorrhagic risk scores in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

METHODS

We used a combination of terms potentially used in literature describing the most common ischemic and hemorrhagic risk scores to search in PubMed as well as references of full-length articles.

RESULTS

In this review we briefly describe the most important ischemic and bleeding scores that can be adopted in patients with IHD, focusing on GRACE, CHA2DS2-Vasc, PARIS CTE, DAPT, CRUSADE, ACUITY, HAS-BLED, PARIS MB and PRECISE-DAPT score. In the second part of this review, we try to define a possible approach to the IHD patient, using the most suitable scores to stratify patient risk and decide the most appropriate patient treatment.

CONCLUSION

It becomes evident that risk scores by themselves can’t be the solution to balance the ischemic/bleeding risk of an IHD patient. Instead, some risk factors that are commonly associated with an elevated risk profile and that are already included in risk scores should be the focus of the clinician while he/she is taking care of a patient affected by IHD.

Impact of Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease on Heart Failure Hospitalizations After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Very few studies evaluated the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on heart failure (HF) hospitalization risk following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). For this retrospective cohort analysis, we identified adult AMI survivors from January to June 2014 from the United States Nationwide Readmissions Database. Outcomes were a 6-month HF, fatal HF, composite of HF during the AMI or a 6-month HF, and a composite of 6-month HF or death during a non-HF-related admission. We analyzed differences in outcomes across categories of patients without renal injury, AKI without CKD, stable CKD, AKI on CKD, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Of 237,549 AMI survivors, AKI was present in 13.8%, CKD in 16.5%, ESRD in 3.4%, and AKI on CKD in 7.7%. Patients with renal failure had lower coronary revascularization rates and higher in-hospital HF. A 6-month HF hospitalization occurred in 12,934 patients (5.4%). Compared with patients without renal failure (3.3%), 6-month HF admission rate was higher in patients with AKI on CKD (14.6%; odds ratio [OR] 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81 to 2.19), ESRD (11.2%; OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.81), stable CKD (10.7%; OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.56 to 1.88), and AKI (8.6%; OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.70). Results were generally homogenous in prespecified subgroups and for the other outcomes. In conclusion, 1 in 4 AMI survivors had either acute or chronic renal failure. The presence of any form of renal failure was associated with a substantially increased risk of 6-month HF hospitalizations and associated mortality with the highest risk associated with AKI on CKD.

Acute on Chronic Limb Ischemia Treatment: Case Series

ABSTRACT   BACKGROUND: Acute on chronic limb ischemia is a condition caused by acute disruption in chronic vessel disease. The major cause is peripheral arterial disease or embolism. Treating the acute phase while considering the origin of disease is important to treat acute on chronic limb ischemia. CASE DESCRIPTION: 3 cases were described on this serial case report. The first and second case represent acute on chronic limb ischemia conditions with history of intermittent claudication (IC) and signs of acute limb ischemia (ALI) upon arrival. They were both treated with surgical intervention for ALI. Despite of adequate surgical intervention, both cases showed suboptimal limb recovery. Both patients were referred for further evaluation of chronic vessel disease with angiography. Third case represent chronic limb ischemia as end point of treatment from the first and second case. Patient with worsening IC despite adequate medical and exercise treatment underwent angiography examination. Angiography result found two sites of total occlusion of right common iliac artery and superficial femoral artery. Angioplasty and primary stenting were done on common iliac artery. Drug coated balloon and stenting was also performed on superficial femoral artery. CONCLUSION: Patients with acute on chronic limb ischemia need to be treated during acute phase and the remaining chronic vessel disease. Consideration and care should be taken when managing similar cases for optimal treatment.   KEYWORDS: Acute on chronic limb ischemia, Thrombectomy, Angioplasty, Drug-coated Balloon.

Development and Validation of a Predictive Model for Chronic Kidney Disease After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Chinese

AIM

There is no model for predicting the outcomes for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To develop and validate a model to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with comorbid CKD and CHD undergoing PCI.

METHODS

We enrolled 1714 consecutive CKD patients who underwent PCI from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017. In the development cohort, we used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression for data dimension reduction and feature selection. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to develop the prediction model. Finally, we used an independent cohort to validate the model. The performance of the prediction model was evaluated with respect to discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness.

RESULTS

The predictors included a positive family history of CHD, history of revascularization, ST segment changes, anemia, hyponatremia, transradial intervention, the number of diseased vessels, dose of contrast media >200 ml, and coronary collateral circulation. In the validation cohort, the model showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.612; 95% confidence interval: 0.560, 0.664) and good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P  =  0.444). Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model was clinically useful.

CONCLUSIONS

We created a nomogram that predicts MACEs after PCI in CHD patients with CKD and may help improve the screening and treatment outcomes.

Bivalirudin Presents a Favorable Safety Profile Regarding Adverse Drug Reactions, Thrombocytopenia, and Bleeding in Chinese Patients With High Bleeding Risk Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Prospective, Multi-Center, Intensive Monitoring Study

Background

This study aimed to comprehensively explore the occurrence and risk factors for adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (especially for thrombocytopenia and bleeding) in Chinese patients with high bleeding risk (older adults, or complicated with diabetes mellitus or renal function impairment) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bivalirudin as an anticoagulant.

Methods

A total of 1,226 patients with high bleeding risk who received PCI with bivalirudin as an anticoagulant from 27 Chinese medical centers were enrolled in this prospective, multi-center, intensive monitoring study. AEs, ADRs, thrombocytopenia, and bleeding were collected from admission to 72 h post-bivalirudin administration; subsequently, patients were followed up on the 30th day with the safety data collected as well.

Results

Adverse events were observed in 198 (16.2) patients, among which severe AEs occurred in 16 (1.3%) patients. Meanwhile, bivalirudin-related ADRs were reported in 66 (5.4%) patients, among which 5 (0.4%) patients experienced bivalirudin-related severe ADRs. Besides, thrombocytopenia and bleeding occurred in 45 (3.7%) and 19 (1.5%) patients, respectively. The subsequent multivariate logistic analysis revealed that age >75 years [p = 0.017, odds ratio (OR) = 1.856] and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) (p = 0.030, OR = 2.022) were independently related to higher ADR risk; SCAD (p = 0.017, OR = 2.426) was independently correlated with higher thrombocytopenia risk, while radial artery access (p = 0.015, OR = 0.352) was independently correlated with lower thrombocytopenia risk; and the administration of bivalirudin preoperatively or intraoperatively (p = 0.013, OR = 5.097) was independently associated with higher bleeding risk.

Conclusion

Bivalirudin presents a favorable safety profile regarding ADRs, thrombocytopenia, and bleeding in Chinese patients with high bleeding risk undergoing PCI.

Impact of Renal Insufficiency on Prognosis of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Purpose

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and it is associated with poor outcomes. However, data are limited. Hence, we examined the long-term prognostic significance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among Chinese patients hospitalized with ACS.

Patients and Methods

This is a multicenter, observational study that included 1860 ACS patients enrolled between March 2014 and June 2019 from 11 hospitals in Chengdu. CKD-EPI equation was used to calculate the baseline eGFR. Patients were divided into three groups: eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min (normal renal function), eGFR 60 to <90 mL/min (mild impaired renal function), and eGFR < 60 mL/min (moderate or severe renal dysfunction). The endpoint was all-cause death during follow-up.

Results

At baseline, 714 patients had normal renal function, while 746 patients had mild impaired renal function, and 400 patients had moderate or severe renal dysfunction. In the follow-up of 15 months (10 months, 22 months), 261 (14.0%) patients died;, 139 (34.8%) in the moderate or severe renal dysfunction group, 94 (12.6%) in the mild impaired renal function group, and 28 (3.9%) in the normal renal function group (log-rank p-value from Kaplan–Meier analysis <0.001). In multivariable Cox Proportional hazard analysis, age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate, eGFR, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were independent predictors of all-cause death.

Conclusion

In this study, among Chinese patients with ACS, renal insufficiency was associated with unfavorable long-term prognosis. Age, SBP, heart rate, eGFR, STEMI, and PCI could identify those at risk.

2021 Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Consensus Recommendations on the Use of P2Y12 Receptor Antagonists in the Asia-Pacific Region: Special Populations

Advanced age, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease not only increase the risk for ischaemic events in chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) but also confer a high bleeding risk during antiplatelet therapy. These special populations may warrant modification of therapy, especially among Asians, who have displayed characteristics that are clinically distinct from Western patients. Previous guidance has been provided regarding the classification of high-risk CCS and the use of newer-generation P2Y₁₂ inhibitors (i.e. ticagrelor and prasugrel) after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Asia. The authors summarise evidence on the use of these P2Y₁₂ inhibitors during the transition from ACS to CCS and among special populations. Specifically, they present recommendations on the roles of standard dual antiplatelet therapy, shortened dual antiplatelet therapy and single antiplatelet therapy among patients with coronary artery disease, who are either transitioning from ACS to CCS; elderly; or with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, multivessel coronary artery disease and bleeding events during therapy.

Validation of the 4-Item PRECISE-DAPT Score: A SWEDEHEART Study

Background

The Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (PRECISE‐DAPT) score has been shown to predict out‐of‐hospital major bleeding after myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). However, large validation studies have been scarce and the discriminative ability for patients with a preexisting bleeding risk factor (elderly, underweight, women, anemia, kidney dysfunction, or cancer) in a real‐world setting is unknown.

Methods and Results

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for myocardial infarction between 2008 and 2017 were included from the SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web System for Enhancement of Evidence‐Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) registry (n=66 295). The predictive value of the PRECISE‐DAPT score for rehospitalization with major bleeding during dual antiplatelet therapy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analyses. A high PRECISE‐DAPT score (≥25; n=13 894) was associated with increased risk of major bleeding (3.9% versus 1.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 2.2; 95% CI, 2.0–2.5; P<0.001) compared with a non‐high score (<25; n=52 401). The score demonstrated a c‐statistic of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.63–0.66). The discriminative ability of the score to further stratify bleeding risk in patients with preexisting bleeding risk factors was poor, especially in patients who are elderly (c‐statistic=0.57; 95% CI, 0.55–0.60) or underweight (c‐statistic=0.56; 95% CI, 0.51–0.61), for whom a non‐high PRECISE‐DAPT score was associated with similar bleeding risk as a high PRECISE‐DAPT score in the general myocardial infarction population.

Conclusions

In this nationwide population‐based study, the PRECISE‐DAPT score performed moderately in the general myocardial infarction population and poorly in patients with preexisting bleeding risk factors, where its usefulness seems limited.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on In-Hospital and 3-Year Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated by Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Optimal Medical Therapy - Insights From the J-MINUET Study

BACKGROUND

The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on long-term outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the era of modern primary PCI with optimal medical therapy is still in debate.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 3,281 patients with AMI were enrolled in the J-MINUET registry, with primary PCI of 93.1% in STEMI. CKD stage on admission was classified into: no CKD (eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2); moderate CKD (60>eGFR≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2); and severe CKD (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2). While the primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, the secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of all-cause death, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Of the 3,281 patients, 1,878 had no CKD, 1,073 had moderate CKD and 330 had severe CKD. Pre-person-days age- and sex-adjusted in-hospital mortality significantly increased from 0.014% in no CKD through 0.042% in moderate CKD to 0.084% in severe CKD (P<0.0001). Three-year mortality and MACE significantly deteriorated from 5.09% and 15.8% in no CKD through 16.3% and 38.2% in moderate CKD to 36.7% and 57.9% in severe CKD, respectively (P<0.0001). C-index significantly increased from the basic model of 0.815 (0.788-0.841) to 0.831 (0.806-0.857), as well as 0.731 (0.708-0.755) to 0.740 (0.717-0.764) when adding CKD stage to the basic model in predicting 3-year mortality (P=0.013; net reclassification improvement [NRI] 0.486, P<0.0001) and MACE (P=0.046; NRI 0.331, P<0.0001) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CKD remains a useful predictor of in-hospital and 3-year mortality as well as MACE after AMI in the modern PCI and optimal medical therapy era.

Ticagrelor or Prasugrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in Relation to Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of ticagrelor versus prasugrel for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) according to their estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs).

BACKGROUND

The outcomes of ticagrelor versus prasugrel in patients with ACS according to eGFR have not been defined.

METHODS

Patients (n = 4,012) were categorized into 3 groups: low eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m²), intermediate eGFR (≥60 and <90 mL/min/1.73 m²), and high eGFR (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m²). The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and stroke; the secondary safety endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium types 3 to 5 bleeding, both at 1 year.

RESULTS

Patients with low eGFRs had a higher risk for the primary endpoint compared with patients with intermediate eGFRs (adjusted HR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.46-2.46]) and those with high eGFRs (adjusted HR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.57-3.46). A risk excess for low eGFR was also observed for bleeding (adjusted HR: 1.55 [95% CI: 1.12-2.13] vs intermediate eGFR; adjusted HR: 1.59 [95% CI: 1.01-2.50] vs high eGFR). However, eGFR did not affect the relative efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus prasugrel. In patients with low eGFR, the primary endpoint occurred in 20.5% with ticagrelor and in 14.7% with prasugrel (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.04-2.08; P = 0.029); there was no significant difference in bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that among patients with ACS, reduction of eGFR is associated with increased risk for ischemic and bleeding events but has no significant impact on the relative efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus prasugrel. (Prospective, Randomized Trial of Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome [ISAR-REACT 5]; NCT01944800).

Anticoagulation in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Intravenous anticoagulation is standard of care in the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most common reperfusion strategy. Four anticoagulant options are available: unfractionated heparin, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, and bivalirudin. This article discusses the mechanism of action and key pharmacodynamic characteristics of these agents. The evolution of outcomes with unfractionated heparin compared with bivalirudin in the changing landscape of contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention is chronicled. Current anticoagulation recommendations from practice guidelines are provided and unresolved issues including treatment of patient subsets such as women and chronic kidney disease are explored.

Long-term antiplatelet therapy in medically managed non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: The EPICOR Asia study

OBJECTIVES

To describe long-term antithrombotic management patterns (AMPs) in medically managed Asian patients with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina (UA).

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines support an early invasive strategy in NSTEMI and UA patients, but many are medically managed, and data are limited on long-term AMPs in Asia.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from medically managed NSTEMI and UA patients included in the prospective, observational EPICOR Asia study (NCT01361386). Survivors to hospital discharge were enrolled (June 2011 to May 2012) from 8 countries/regions across Asia. Baseline characteristics and AMP use up to 2 years post-discharge were collected. Outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death) and bleeding.

RESULTS

Among 2289 medically managed patients, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) use at discharge was greater in NSTEMI than in UA patients (81.8% vs 65.3%), and was significantly associated with male sex, positive cardiac markers, and prior cardiovascular medications (p < 0.0001). By 2 years, 57.9% and 42.6% of NSTEMI and UA patients, respectively, were on DAPT. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, risk of MACE at 2 years was most significantly associated with older age (HR [95% CI] 1.85 [1.36, 2.50]), diagnosis of NSTEMI vs UA (1.96 [1.47, 2.61]), and chronic renal failure (2.14 [1.34, 3.41]), all p ≤ 0.001. Risk of bleeding was most significantly associated with region (East Asia vs Southeast/South Asia) and diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately half of all patients were on DAPT at 2 years. MACE were more frequent in NSTEMI than UA patients during follow-up.

Central aortic pressure and long-term outcome in hypertensive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Elevated central pulse pressure (CPP) had a negative influence on long-term outcome in patients with hypertension (HT). However, little is known about the impact of central pulse pressure on long-term outcomes in hypertensive patients undergoing PCI. A total number of 1184 hypertensive patients who received PCI procedure were prospectively collected. They were divided into two groups according to the median of central pulse pressure. Baseline characteristics, risk factors, hemodynamic data including central systolic pressure (CSP), central diastolic pressure (CDP) and CPP were measured. Invasive strategies were also analyzed to compare the long term outcome between patients with reference CPP and patients with high CPP. We further analyzed the predictors for myocardial infarction (MI), mortality, repeated PCI procedure in hypertensive patients undergoing PCI. We found patients in the reference CPP group had a lower CSP and higher CDP compared with high CPP group (Both P < 0.001) and male preponderance (P < 0.001). Patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) tend to have a high CPP (both P < 0.001). Drugs including Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and statin were used more frequently in patients with reference CPP group (P = 0.035 and P = 0.001, respectively). Freedom from all-cause mortality and cardiovascular(CV) mortality was lower in the patients with high CPP group (P = 0.001, P = 0.01, respectively).Logistic regression revealed that CPP is a major predictor for all-cause mortality and repeated PCI procedure [hazard ratio (HR): 2.46 and 1.41, respectively]. In hypertensive patients receiving PCI, elevated CPP had a negative impact on long-term mortality; CPP also strongly predicts all-cause mortality and repeated PCI procedures in hypertensive patients undergoing PCI.

Improved Renal Function After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Non-Dialysis Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Advanced Renal Dysfunction

BACKGROUND

The deterioration of renal function is a strong prognostic predictor in patients with coronary artery disease. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has sometimes resulted in improved renal function (IRF) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, its clinical implications have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of IRF after PCI and its relationship with long-term renal outcomes.

METHODS

In this retrospective observational cohort study, we examined data from 177 ACS patients with non-dialysis advanced renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²) who underwent PCI. Patients with and without IRF were compared in terms of baseline demographic, clinical, and procedural characteristics and renal outcomes. IRF was defined as a 20% increase in eGFR from baseline at 7 or 30 days after the index PCI.

RESULTS

IRF was observed in 66 (37.3%) patients. ST-elevation myocardial infarction and shock during PCI were independent predictors of IRF. Patients were followed up for a median of 695 days. Kaplan-Meier analyses demonstrated that patients with IRF had the lower incidence of initiation of permanent dialysis than those without IRF (Log-rank P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

IRF was relatively common in non-dialysis patients with ACS and advanced renal dysfunction who underwent PCI. ST-elevation myocardial infarction and shock, which may be indicative of hemodynamic instability during PCI, were independent predictors of IRF. Further, IRF was associated with favorable renal outcomes. Hemodynamic stabilization may be important for improving the short-term and long-term renal outcomes of high-risk patients.

TicagRelor Or Clopidogrel in severe or terminal chronic kidney patients Undergoing PERcutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome: The TROUPER trial

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cardiovascular death. CKD patients suffering from ACS are exposed to an increased risk of thrombotic recurrences and a higher bleeding rate than patients with normal renal function. However, CKD patients are excluded or underrepresented in clinical trials. Therefore, determining the optimal antiplatelet strategy in this population is of utmost importance. We designed the TicagRelor Or Clopidogrel in severe or terminal chronic kidney patients Undergoing PERcutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome (TROUPER) trial: a prospective, controlled, multicenter, randomized trial to investigate the optimal P2Y12 antagonist in CKD patients with ACS. Patients with stage ≥3b CKD are eligible if the diagnosis of ACS is made and invasive strategy scheduled. Patients are randomized 1:1 between a control group with a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel followed by a 75-mg/d maintenance dose for 1 year and an experimental group with a 180-mg loading dose of ticagrelor followed by a 90-mg twice daily maintenance dose for the same duration. The primary end point is defined by the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events, including death, myocardial infarction, urgent revascularization, and stroke at 1 year. Safety will be evaluated by the bleeding rate (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium). To demonstrate the superiority of ticagrelor on major adverse cardiovascular events, we calculated that 508 patients are required. The aim of the TROUPER trial is to compare the efficacy of ticagrelor and clopidogrel in stage >3b CKD patients presenting with ACS and scheduled for an invasive strategy. RCT# NCT03357874.

Type of Anemia, Chronic Non-cardiovascular Illnesses, and Outcomes of Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of different types of anemia and of concomitant non-cardiovascular chronic illnesses on outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and baseline anemia admitted to the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit.

METHODS

Based on the mean corpuscular volume, anemia was stratified into: microcytic (<80 fL), normocytic (≥80, <96 fL), and macrocytic (≥96 fL). Data on concomitant chronic non-cardiovascular illnesses including malignancies were carefully collected. Endpoints included in-hospital bleeding as well as all-cause mortality at long-term follow-up.

RESULTS

Of 1,390 patients with STEMI, 294 patients had baseline anemia (21.2%), in whom normocytic, microcytic, and macrocytic anemia was present in 77.2%, 17.0%, and 5.8% patients, respectively. In-hospital bleeding occurred in 25 (8.5%) of the study population without significant differences between the three groups. At a mean follow-up of 5.5±3.5 years, 104 patients (35.4%) had died. Mortality was the highest in patients with macrocytic anemia, followed by patients with normocytic anemia and microcytic anemia (58.8%, 37.0%, and 20.0%, respectively; P=0.009). Chronic non-cardiovascular condition was identified as an independent predictor of both in-hospital bleeding (odds ratio=2.57, P=0.01) and long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.54, P=0.019). Performance of coronary angiography within index hospitalization was associated with lower long-term mortality (HR 0.38, P=0.001). Mean corpuscular volume did not predict either in-hospital bleeding or mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic non-cardiovascular illnesses are highly prevalent among patients with STEMI and baseline anemia, and are strongly associated with higher in-hospital bleeding and long-term mortality. Type of anemia is not related to prognosis post-STEMI.

Effect of Renal Dysfunction on the Risks for Ischemic and Bleeding Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

There is a paucity of studies exploring whether the ischemia-bleeding trade-off could be different according to the stages of renal dysfunction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Among 19,598 patients in a pooled database from 3 Japanese PCI studies (CREDO-Kyoto Cohort-2, RESET, and NEXT), 1,547 patients had concomitant AF. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to their renal function (Creatinine clearance [CCr] >60 ml/min: n = 703, 60≥ CCr >30 ml/min: n = 627, CCr ≤30 ml/min: n = 126, Dialysis: n = 91). The cumulative 3-year incidences of both the primary ischemic (ischemic stroke/myocardial infarction) and bleeding (GUSTO moderate/severe) outcome increased incrementally with worsening renal function (11.4%, 12.6%, 16.8%, and 31.7%, p <0.001, and 7.5%, 14.9%, 26.3%, and 29.5%, p <0.001, respectively). Compared with CCr >60 ml/min group, the excess adjusted risk for the primary ischemic outcome was significant only in dialysis group (hazards ratio [HR] 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22 to 3.69, p = 0.009), but not in 60≥ CCr >30 ml/min and CCr ≤30 ml/min groups (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.29, p = 0.54, and HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.69, p = 0.83, respectively), whereas the excess adjusted risk for the primary bleeding outcome was significant in all 3 groups of renal dysfunction (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.45, p = 0.01, HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.58 to 4.61, p <0.001, and HR 3.26, 95% CI 1.85 to 5.75, p <0.001, respectively). In conclusion, in AF patients receiving PCI, the worsening renal function was strongly associated with the increasingly higher risk for bleeding events, whereas the excess risk for ischemic events was significant only in patients on dialysis.

Stent selection among patients with chronic kidney disease: Results from the NCDR CathPCI Registry

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to define contemporary rates of drug eluting stent (DES) usage in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

BACKGROUND

Among patients with CKD undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), outcomes are superior for those who receive DES compared to those who receive bare metal stents (BMSs). However, perceived barriers may limit the use of DES in this population.

METHODS

All adult PCI cases from the NCDR CathPCI Registry involving coronary stent placement between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015 were analyzed. The rate of DES usage was then compared among four groups, stratified by CKD stage (I/II, III, IV, and V). Subgroup analysis was conducted based on PCI status and indication. Cases were linked to Medicare claims data to assess 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 3,650,333 PCI cases met criteria for analysis. DES usage significantly declined as renal function worsened (83.0%, 79.9%, 75.6%, and 75.6%, respectively, in the four CKD stages; p < .001). DES usage was universally lower across the four groups in the setting of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) (70.6%, 66.5%, 58.7%, 58.0%; p < .001) and higher in the setting of elective PCI (87.6%, 84.9%, 82.3%, 77.9%; p < .0001). DES was associated with improved 1-year survival, and usage increased over time across each group.

CONCLUSIONS

DESs are underutilized in patients with advanced renal dysfunction. Although DES usage has increased over time, variation still exists between patients with normal renal function and those with CKD.

Comparison of long-term outcomes of medical therapy and successful recanalisation for coronary chronic total occlusions in elderly patients: a report of 1,294 patients

Background

Little is known about the long-term outcomes of medical therapy (MT) versus successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs).

Methods

There were 1,294 consecutive patients with 1,520 CTOs included (2007 to 2016) and were divided into the younger group (age <65 years; n=664, 51.3%) and the older group (age ≥65 years; n=630, 48.7%). In the older group, 630 patients were divided into MT group (n=421) and successful CTO-PCI group (n=209) according to the initial treatment strategy. In the younger group, they were divided into two groups: 379 patients in the MT group and 285 patients in the successful CTO-PCI group. We performed propensity score matching to minimize any selection bias. The primary end point was cardiac mortality. The secondary end point was major adverse cardiac event (MACE).

Results

After 3.6 (IQR, 2.1-5.0) years follow-up, no significant difference was observed between the MT and successful CTO-PCI groups in terms of cardiac mortality (MT vs. successful CTO-PCI: 9.3% vs. 5.0%, P=0.378) and MACE (28.3% vs. 15.1%, P=0.070) in the older group. After propensity score matching analysis (120 pairs), the risk of cardiac mortality (6.7% vs. 8.3%, P=0.624) was found to be comparable between the two groups. In the younger group, the occurrence of cardiac death (MT vs. successful CTO-PCI: 3.7% vs. 1.4%, P=0.072) was similar, whereas the MACE rate (27.7% vs. 17.9%, P=0.003) was significantly higher in MT group. After multivariate analysis, previous myocardial infarction (MI) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-2.49, P=0.006], CTO in right coronary artery (HR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07-2.25, P=0.020), multivessel disease (HR 2.02, 95% CI: 1.10-3.72, P=0.024) and calcification (HR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07-2.42, P=0.023) were independent predictors of MACE in elderly.

Conclusions

In the treatment of elderly patients with CTOs, successful CTO-PCI compared with MT alone didn't reduce the risk of cardiac death or MACE.

Temporal Trends in Utilization of Cardiac Therapies and Outcomes for Myocardial Infarction by Degree of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Report From the NCDR Chest Pain-MI Registry

Background

We sought to determine temporal trends in use of evidence‐based therapies and clinical outcomes among myocardial infarction (MI) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods and Results

MI patients from the NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) Chest Pain–MI Registry between January 2007 and December 2015 were categorized into 3 groups by degree of CKD (end‐stage renal disease on dialysis, CKD [glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m²] not requiring dialysis, and no CKD [glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m²]). Logistic regression modeling was used to determine the association between calendar years (2014–2015 versus 2007–2008) and each outcome by degree of CKD. Among 325 396 patients with ST‐segment–elevation MI, 1.0% had end‐stage renal disease requiring dialysis, and 26.1% had CKD not requiring dialysis. Use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention increased over time regardless of the presence or degree of CKD (P=0.40 for interaction). In‐hospital mortality was temporally higher among patients with preserved renal function (odds ratio: 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–1.39; P<0.001) but not among patients with CKD (P=0.035 for interaction). Among 506 876 non–ST‐segment–elevation MI patients, 3.4% had end‐stage renal disease requiring dialysis, and 34.4% had CKD not requiring dialysis. P2Y₁₂ inhibitor use within 24 hours increased over time only among dialysis patients (P for interaction <0.001). Use of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention also increased, with the greatest increase among dialysis patients (P for interaction <0.001 and <0.001, respectively). In‐hospital mortality was lower, regardless of the presence or degree of CKD (P=0.64 for interaction).

Conclusions

Uptake of evidence‐based medical and invasive therapies has increased over the past decade among MI patients with CKD, particularly dialysis patients, with improvement of in‐hospital mortality observed among patients with non–ST‐segment–elevation MI, but not ST‐segment–elevation MI, and CKD.

See Editorial by Hira

SWEDEHEART-1-year data show no benefit of newer generation drug-eluting stents over bare-metal stents in patients with severe kidney dysfunction following percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

We hypothesized that the transition from bare-metal stents (BMS) to newer generation drug-eluting stents (n-DES) in clinical practice may have reduced the risk also in patients with kidney dysfunction.

METHODS

Observational study in the national SWEDEHEART registry, that compared the 1-year risk of in-stent restenosis (RS) and stent thrombosis (ST) in all percutaneous coronary intervention treated patients(n = 92 994) during 2007-2013.

RESULTS

N-DES patients were younger than BMS, but had more often diabetes, previous myocardial infarction, previous revascularization and were more often treated with potent platelet inhibition. N-DES versus BMS, was associated with lower 1-year risk of RS in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 with a cumulative probability of 2.1% versus 5.3%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.30, 95% CI (0.27-0.34) and with eGFR 30-60: 3.0% versus 4.9%; hazard ratio 0.46 (0.36-0.60) but not in patients with eGFR <30: 8.1% versus 6.0%; hazard ratio 1.32 (0.71-2.45) (pinteraction = 0.009) as well as lower risk of ST for eGFR >60 and eGFR 30-60: 0.5% versus 0.9%; hazard ratio 0.52 (0.40-0.68) and 0.6% versus 1.3%; hazard ratio 0.54 (0.54-0.72) but not for eGFR <30; 2.1% versus 1.1%; hazard ratio 1.49 (0.56-3.98) (pinteraction = 0.027).

CONCLUSION

N-DES is associated with lower 1-year risk of in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis in patients with normal or moderately reduced kidney function but not in patients with severe kidney dysfunction, where stenting is associated with worse outcomes regardless of stent type.

Higher Hemoglobin A1c Level Is Associated With Poor Outcome of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background: Pre-morbid chronic hyperglycemia is associated with the poor outcome of ischemic stroke, but the association between chronic hyperglycemia, and the long-term outcome of acute intracerebral hemorrhage is still poor understood.

Methods: Data on patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage in the ACROSS-China registry (Abnormal Glucose Regulation in Patients With Acute Stroke Across China) were reviewed. Elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level on admission was indicative of chronic hyperglycemia. According to the clinical categories of HbA1c, patients were divided into three groups. Multivariable logistic regression or Cox method was performed to analyze the association of HbA1c and the prognosis of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (poor functional outcome [modified Rankin scale score 3–6] and mortality) at 1 year.

Results: A total of 416 patients were included in this study. Fifty-two (12.5%) patients died and 130 (31.8%) had poor functional outcome at 1-year follow-up. The higher levels of HbA1c (≥6.5%) was associated with a poor functional outcome (OR 2.35, 95% CI, 1.28–4.29) and increased mortality (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.34–5.15), compared with the lowest category. When further stratified by diabetic or non-diabetic medical history, higher HbA1c (≥6.5%) still increased the risk of poor functional outcome (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.39–8.44) and mortality (OR 4.48, 95% CI 1.64–12.24) in patients with non-diabetic medical history. However, higher HbA1c didn't have the association with the increased risk of poor functional outcome (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.37–3.03) and mortality (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.39–3.72) in patients with diabetic medical history.

Conclusions: Higher HbA1c was associated with a higher risk of death and poor functional outcome 1 year after intracerebral hemorrhage, especially in patients without a diabetic history.

Gender Differences in Long-Term Outcomes of Medical Therapy and Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions

Background

There is a paucity of information about the gender differences in clinical outcomes of successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with medical therapy (MT) in patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs).

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the impact of gender on long-term clinical outcomes associated with successful CTO-PCI versus MT in patients with CTOs.

Methods

Between January 2007 and December 2016, a total of 1702 patients with ≥1 CTO were enrolled. After exclusion, 1294 patients with 1520 CTOs were analyzed and were divided into the female group (n = 304, 23.5%) and the male group (n = 990, 76.5%). The patients in the female or male group were assigned to a MT group or successful CTO-PCI group according to the treatment strategy. In the female group, they were divided into two groups: 177 patients in the MT group and 127 patients in the successful CTO-PCI group. In the male group, they were divided into two groups: 623 patients in the MT group and 367 patients in the successful CTO-PCI group. The primary outcome was cardiac death. The secondary outcome was major adverse cardiac event (MACE).

Results

The median overall follow-up duration was 3.6 (IQR, 2.1–5.0) years, there were no significant differences between the MT and successful CTO-PCI groups with respect to the prevalence of cardiac death (MT vs. successful PCI: 6.8% vs. 3.9%, p=0.287) and MACE (20.9% vs. 21.3%, p=0.810) in female patients. In the male group, the occurrence of cardiac death (MT vs. successful PCI: 6.6% vs. 3.8%, p=0.066) was similar between the two groups. The MACE rate (30.0% vs. 18.5%, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the MT group. Heart failure (hazard ratio 3.40, 95% confidence interval 1.23–9.40, p=0.018) was an independent predictor of cardiac death in female patients.

Conclusions

Successful CTO-PCI was not associated with reduced risk of cardiac death compared with medical therapy alone in both female and male patients. However, men have a significant reduction in MACE rate after successful CTO-PCI. Aggressive CTO-PCI should be considered carefully among female patients.

Revascularization Strategies in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent condition that increases the incidence and complexity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this review is to summarize current evidence, uncertainties, and opportunities in the management of patients with CKD and ACS, with a focus on revascularization.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patients with CKD have been systematically under-represented or excluded from clinical trials in ACS. Available data, however, demonstrates that although patients with CKD and ACS benefit from revascularization, they are also less likely to receive recommended medical and revascularization therapies when compared to patients with normal kidney function. Despite the increased short-term risk of major morbidity and mortality, patients with CKD and ACS should be considered for an early invasive strategy while also trying to mitigate the risks of procedural related complications. Until evidence emerges from randomized clinical trials, the decision about revascularization strategy should involve multi-disciplinary collaboration, heart team consensus, and patient shared decision-making.

Defining high bleeding risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a consensus document from the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk

Identification and management of patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are of major importance, but a lack of standardization in defining this population limits trial design, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making. The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) is a collaboration among leading research organizations, regulatory authorities, and physician-scientists from the United States, Asia, and Europe focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention-related bleeding. Two meetings of the 31-member consortium were held in Washington, DC, in April 2018 and in Paris, France, in October 2018. These meetings were organized by the Cardiovascular European Research Center on behalf of the ARC-HBR group and included representatives of the US Food and Drug Administration and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, as well as observers from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. A consensus definition of patients at high bleeding risk was developed that was based on review of the available evidence. The definition is intended to provide consistency in defining this population for clinical trials and to complement clinical decision-making and regulatory review. The proposed ARC-HBR consensus document represents the first pragmatic approach to a consistent definition of high bleeding risk in clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of devices and drug regimens for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Defining High Bleeding Risk in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Identification and management of patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are of major importance, but a lack of standardization in defining this population limits trial design, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making. The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) is a collaboration among leading research organizations, regulatory authorities, and physician-scientists from the United States, Asia, and Europe focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention-related bleeding. Two meetings of the 31-member consortium were held in Washington, DC, in April 2018 and in Paris, France, in October 2018. These meetings were organized by the Cardiovascular European Research Center on behalf of the ARC-HBR group and included representatives of the US Food and Drug Administration and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, as well as observers from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. A consensus definition of patients at high bleeding risk was developed that was based on review of the available evidence. The definition is intended to provide consistency in defining this population for clinical trials and to complement clinical decision-making and regulatory review. The proposed ARC-HBR consensus document represents the first pragmatic approach to a consistent definition of high bleeding risk in clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of devices and drug regimens for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Acute kidney injury in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using radial versus femoral access

BACKGROUND

Data on radial access (RA) as an independent risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are conflicting. Our aim was to assess how RA influences the incidence of AKI in MI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Data from 3842 MI patients undergoing PCI at our institution from January 2011 to December 2016, of which 35.8% were performed radially, were retrospectively analyzed. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to adjust for differences in the baseline characteristics between the RA and femoral access (FA) groups. The effect of RA on the incidence of AKI was observed.

RESULTS

In the unmatched cohort, AKI occurred less often in the RA group [77 (5.6%) patients in the RA group compared to 250 (10.1%) patients in the FA group; p = 0.001]. After propensity-matched adjustment, the incidence of AKI was similar in the two groups. After adjustment for potential confounders, RA was not identified as an independent predictive factor for AKI in either the unmatched or the propensity-matched cohort. Bleeding, heart failure, age ≥ 70 years, renal dysfunction, and the contrast volume/GFR ratio predicted AKI in both cohorts. Additionally, diabetes, contrast volume, and hypertension were predictive of AKI in the unmatched cohort.

CONCLUSION

The access site was not independently associated with the incidence of AKI in patients with MI in both a non-matched and a propensity-matched cohort. Our study result suggests that the lower incidence of AKI in patients treated with RA in an unmatched cohort might be substantially influenced by confounding factors, especially bleeding.

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease affect long-term outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving percutaneous coronary intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is commonly used for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension (HT) on long-term outcomes in patients with stable CAD receiving PCI are still unclear. A total of 1,676 patients treated with PCI were prospectively enrolled and divided into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of HT or CKD. General characteristics, clinical medications, risk factors, angiographic findings, and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Patients with CKD had the highest rate of all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality (both P < 0.01). Patients with CKD alone had the lowest event-free rate of all-cause and CV deaths (both P < 0.001). Based on Cox proportional hazard model, patients with CKD alone had the highest risk of all-cause death (HR:2.86, 95% CI:1.73–4.75) and CV death (HR: 3.57,95% CI:2.01–6.33); while patients with both CKD and HT had the highest risk of repeat PCI (HR: 1.42, 95% CI:1.09–1.85).We found that in stable CAD patients after undergoing PCI, those with CKD alone had the highest long-term mortality. Comorbid CKD appears to increase risk in patient with HT, whereas comorbid HT doesn’t seem to increase risk in patients with CKD.

Predictors of atherosclerotic events in patients on haemodialysis: post hoc analyses from the AURORA study

Background

Patients on haemodialysis (HD) are at high risk for cardiovascular events, but heart failure and sudden death are more common than atherosclerotic events. The A Study to Evaluate the Use of Rosuvastatinin in Subjects on Regular Hemodialysis: An Assessment of Survival and Cardiovascular Events (AURORA) trial was designed to assess the effect of rosuvastatin on myocardial infarction and death from any cardiac cause in 2773 HD patients. We studied predictors of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in AURORA.

Methods

We readjudicated all deaths and presumed myocardial infarctions according to the criteria used in the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP); these were specifically developed to separate atherosclerotic from non-atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. The readjudicated atherosclerotic end point included the first event of the following: non-fatal myocardial infarction, fatal coronary heart disease, non-fatal and fatal non-haemorrhagic stroke, coronary revascularization procedures and death from ischaemic limb disease. Stepwise Cox regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of such events.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, 506 patients experienced the new composite atherosclerotic outcome. Age, male sex, prevalent diabetes, prior cardiovascular disease, weekly dialysis duration, baseline albumin [hazard ratio (HR) 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-0.99 per g/L increase], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.22 per mg/L increase) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (HR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.17 per 10 U/L increase) were selected as significant predictors in the model. Neither LDL cholesterol nor allocation to placebo/rosuvastatin therapy predicted the outcome.

Conclusions

Even with the use of strict criteria for end point definition, non-traditional risk factors, but not lipid disturbances, predicted atherosclerotic events in HD patients.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusions (from the Japanese Multicenter Registry)

The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and potential pharmacologic intervention on clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remains unknown. A total of 1,463 patients underwent successful CTO-PCI between August 2004 and December 2014. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization, cardiac death, and stent thrombosis were compared between patients with and without CKD (555 and 908 patients, respectively). The results demonstrated higher risks of MACE (log-rank p = 0.015), all-cause death (log-rank p <0.001), and cardiac death (log-rank p <0.001) in the CKD group compared with the non-CKD group. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that CKD was an independent predictor for MACE (hazard ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.47, p = 0.03). With regard to pharmacotherapy, statin use was associated with significantly lower rates of MACE in the CKD group (log-rank p = 0.003). In conclusion, the presence of CKD would be an important predictor of long-term clinical outcomes in patients who underwent CTO-PCI, and use of statin may influence in reducing the adverse clinical outcomes.

Relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and renal dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with cardiovascular complications. However, the effect of SDB on renal function in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear.

METHODS

We enrolled 154 consecutive ACS patients without heart failure. A sleep study was performed immediately after PCI.

RESULTS

The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 16.4±13.1, and 33 patients (21%) had severe SDB, defined as AHI≥25. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values on admission (60±12mL/min/1.73m² vs. 67±17mL/min/1.73m², p=0.046) and at discharge (54±15mL/min/1.73m² vs. 63±15mL/min/1.73m², p=0.002) were lower in patients with severe SDB than in those patients without severe SDB. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that AHIs were significantly correlated with absolute changes in eGFR values from admission to discharge (β=0.201, p=0.004). Median 24-h urinary noradrenaline excretion measured on the same day of the sleep study was higher [297 (interquartile range {IQR}: 232-472) vs. 174 (IQR: 107-318)μg/day, p=0.021] in patients with severe SDB. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of severe SDB was a significant predictor (adjusted odds ratio 3.76, 95% confidence interval 1.06-13.9, p=0.047) for eGFR of less than 45mL/min/1.73m² at discharge. This association was independent of age, eGFR on admission, and a presentation of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

CONCLUSION

In patients with ACS who undergo PCI, severe SDB is associated with impaired renal function on admission and its deterioration during hospitalization. Further studies will be needed to conclude that SDB would be a therapeutic target in ACS.