Acute coronary syndromes in women and men

Women Acute Myocardial Infarction-Identifying and Understanding the Gender Gap (WAMy-GAP): A Study Protocol

Barriers to accessing care and misinterpretations of ischemic heart disease symptoms due to lack of awareness contribute to women's delay in seeking care. Women may delay seeking treatment for up to 3 h or even up to 5 days. They often perceive themselves to be at low risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and prioritize family responsibilities or household chores. The causes of this delay are multifactorial and influence the decision-making process, particularly in the pre-hospital phase. The objective of this study protocol is to evaluate prodromal symptoms and identify risk behaviors in women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This is a protocol for a multicenter study that will be conducted using the mixed-method methodology using the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey (MAPMISS) to evaluate symptoms and semi-structured interviews to investigate behaviors. This study protocol is intended to fill an important knowledge gap on premonitory and acute symptoms of AMI in women in Italy, as well as to understand the causes and mechanisms underlying delays in accessing healthcare services during an acute event such as AMI. The investigation of this issue will facilitate the removal of gender-related inequalities in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction while also fostering dialogue on the barriers to behavior change.

Management of cardiac emergencies in women: a clinical consensus statement of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), the Heart Failure Association (HFA), and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC, and the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy

Cardiac emergencies in women, such as acute coronary syndromes, acute heart failure, and cardiac arrest, are associated with a high risk of adverse outcomes and mortality. Although women historically have been significantly underrepresented in clinical studies of these diseases, the guideline-recommended treatment for these emergencies is generally the same for both sexes. Still, women are less likely to receive evidence-based treatment compared to men. Furthermore, specific diseases affecting predominantly or exclusively women, such as spontaneous coronary dissection, myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and peripartum cardiomyopathy, require specialized attention in terms of both diagnosis and management. In this clinical consensus statement, we summarize current knowledge on therapeutic management of these emergencies in women. Key statements and specific quality indicators are suggested to achieve equal and specific care for both sexes. Finally, we discuss several gaps in evidence and encourage further studies designed and powered with adequate attention for sex-specific analysis.

Sex and age differences of major cardiovascular events in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Women usually have higher risk after receiving percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) than men with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sex differences with future outcomes in CAD patients undergoing PCI, to assess the role of age, and to extend observed endpoints to stroke and congestive heart failure.

METHODS

Six thousand six hundred forty-seven patients with CAD who received successful PCIs. The associations between clinic outcomes and sex were analyzed. The primary outcome was major cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infraction, and nonfatal stroke. The secondary outcome was MACE and hospitalization for heart failure (total CV events).

RESULTS

During a mean of 52.7 months of follow-up, 4833 men and 1614 women received PCI. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that women were independently associated with an increased risk of cardiac death (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.32-2.41), hospitalization for heart failure (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.23-1.89), MACE (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.10-1.63), and total CV events (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.20-1.62). In the subgroup analysis, women aged under 60 years had higher cardiovascular risks than men of the same age category.

CONCLUSION

Women with CAD after successful PCI had poorer cardiovascular outcomes than men. Additionally, younger women (aged <60 years) were especially associated with a higher risk of developing future adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

"We are in the forgotten corner!" a qualitative study of experiences and challenges among Chinese older women at the onset of acute myocardial infarction

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common and serious cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is one of the leading causes of death among women globally and in China. However, there are sex-associated differences and inequalities in the detection and management of AMI, especially in older people. There is little research demonstrating how challenges and barriers affect older women's help-seeking behavior and health-related procedures in China.

Purpose

The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of older women with AMI, focusing on their perception, challenges, and coping strategies at the onset of AMI in Wuhan, China.

Methods

This study utilized a qualitative research design approach and conducted semi-structured, in-depth, and audio-recorded interviews with 18 women aged 65-84 years, purposively selected from two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan City from November 2021 to April 2022.

Results

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used in this study to analyze the data on 18 participants and three major themes were generated: disease perception disorder, negative coping strategies, and barriers due to social-environmental contexts.

Conclusion

To reduce older women's delay in seeking help, healthcare professionals should provide public health education that emphasizes sex-related disparities, and age-specific knowledge-attitude aspects to high-risk groups. Policy-based and health administration recommendations, including e-health information support, access to care, and social-environmental factors, should be highlighted to promote women's health behavior.

Sex differences in secondary preventive follow-up after coronary heart events

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Some studies point to sex differences in cardiovascular preventive practices. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in achievement of secondary preventive targets and long-term outcome in men and women after a coronary heart event.

METHODS

This study was a subanalysis from a randomized controlled trial of hospital-based versus primary care-based secondary preventive follow-up at Sorlandet Hospital, Norway, 2007-2022 and included both groups. The main outcome was achievement of treatment targets two years after the index event. Event-free survival was calculated based on the composite of mortality, coronary intervention, stroke, or myocardial infarction during follow-up. Participants were followed-up for up to 10 years after the index event through out-patient consultations.

RESULTS

In total, 337 women and 1203 men were eligible for the study. Due to loss of follow-up during the first two years after the index coronary event 106 (7%) participants were excluded from further analysis (53% withdrawal of consent, 12% death, and 35% other causes) leaving 307 (21%) women and 1127 (79%) men. After two years of follow-up we found no differences between women and men in achievement of blood pressure targets (61% vs. 59%; p = 0.57), LDL-cholesterol goals (64% vs. 69%; p = 0.15), HbA1c-goal in patients with diabetes (49% vs. 45%; p = 0.57), non-smoking (79% vs. 81%; p = 0.34), healthy diets (14% vs. 13%, p = 0.89), physical activity (55% vs. 58%; p = 0.38), use of acetylsalicylic acid (93% vs. 94%; p = 0.39), and use of lipid lowering therapy (92% vs. 94%; p = 0.15). After a median follow-up time of 5.0 [SD 3.2] years there were no differences between women and men regarding composite endpoint (89 [30.0%] vs. 345 [30.6]; p = 0.58), and composite endpoint-free survival did not differ between women and men (hospital-based follow-up HR for women versus men, 0.87, 95% CI 0.62-1.23; p = 0.44 and primary care service HR for women versus men 0.95, 95% CI 0.69-1.31; p = 0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

The study show no sex differences in achievement of secondary preventive targets or composite endpoint after coronary heart events. However, many women and men did not achieve treatment goals, and further improvement in secondary prevention is needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00679237).

Sex, Racial, and Ethnic Disparities in Acute Coronary Syndrome: Novel Risk Factors and Recommendations for Earlier Diagnosis to Improve Outcomes

In this review, sex, racial, and ethnic differences in acute coronary syndromes on a global scale are summarized. The relationship between disparities in presentation and management of acute coronary syndromes and effect on worse clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndromes are discussed. The effect of demographic, geographic, racial, and ethnic factors on acute coronary syndrome care disparities are reviewed. Differences in risk factors including systemic inflammatory disorders and pregnancy-related factors and the pathophysiology underlying them are discussed. Finally, breast arterial calcification and coronary calcium scoring are discussed as methods to detect subclinical atherosclerosis and start early treatment in an attempt to prevent clinical disease.

A bibliometric analysis of acute myocardial infarction in women from 2000 to 2022

Background

Plenty of publications had been written in the last several decades on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in women. However, there are few bibliometric analyses in such field. In order to solve this problem, we attempted to examine the knowledge structure and development of research about AMI in women based on analysis of related publications.

Method

The Web of Science Core Collection was used to extract all publications regarding AMI in women, ranging from January 2000 to August 2022. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer, Cite Space, and an online bibliometric analysis platform.

Results

A total of 14,853 publications related to AMI in women were identified from 2000 to 2022. Over the past 20 years, the United States had published the most articles in international research and participated in international cooperation the most frequently. The primary research institutions were Harvard University and University of Toronto. Circulation was the most cited journal and had an incontrovertible academic impact. 67,848 authors were identified, among which Harlan M Krumholz had the most significant number of articles and Thygesen K was co-cited most often. And the most common keywords included risk factors, disease, prognosis, mortality, criteria and algorithm.

Conclusion

The research hotspots and trends of AMI in women were identified and explored using bibliometric and visual methods. Researches about AMI in women are flourishing. Criteria and algorithms might be the focus of research in the near future, which deserved great attentions.

Sex disparities in guideline-recommended therapies and outcomes after ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a contemporary nationwide cohort of patients over an eight-year period

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Outcome has improved during the last decades due to secondary prevention and widespread coronary interventions, but recent studies still show sex differences and insufficient drug adherence. We aimed to determine differences in the treatment strategies and outcomes between women and men with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Germany.

METHODS

From the Federal Association of the Local Health Insurance Funds (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse), 175,187 patients were identified who were hospitalized due to STEMI in Germany between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017.

RESULTS

Compared to men, women were older (median 76 vs. 64 years) and had more often diabetes, hypertension, chronic heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (all p <0.001). Women suffered from higher rates of in-hospital complications such as bleeding (9.3 vs. 6.6%), longer hospitalizations (12.2 vs. 11.7 days) and were less likely to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (75.5 vs. 85.2%). After adjustment for patient's risk profile, female sex was associated with decreased overall survival (HR 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.04; p=0.036). Notably, more men received all four guideline-recommended drugs after STEMI (women 65.7% vs. men 69.8% after 90 days; p <0.001). With increasing number of prescribed drugs, patients benefit even more. This concerned both sexes, but was more pronounced in men (with 4 prescribed drugs: women HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.50-0.55; men HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.47-0.50, pint = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

In a contemporary nationwide analysis, women with STEMI were older, had more comorbidities, underwent revascularization less often and had an increased risk for major complications as well as overall survival. Guideline-recommended drug therapy was applied less frequently in women although associated with an improved overall-survival.

Using Machine Learning to Predict the In-Hospital Mortality in Women with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background

Several studies have shown that women have a higher mortality rate than do men from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The present study was aimed at developing a new risk-prediction model for all-cause in-hospital mortality in women with STEMI, using predictors that can be obtained at the time of initial evaluation.

Methods

We enrolled 8158 patients who were admitted with STEMI to the Tianjin Chest Hospital and divided them into two groups according to hospital outcomes. The patient data were randomly split into a training set (75%) and a testing set (25%), and the training set was preprocessed by adaptive synthetic (ADASYN) sampling. Four commonly used machine-learning (ML) algorithms were selected for the development of models; the models were optimized by 10-fold cross-validation and grid search. The performance of all-population-derived models and female-specific models in predicting in-hospital mortality in women with STEMI was compared by several metrics, including accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, G-mean, and area under the curve (AUC). Finally, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) value was applied to explain the models.

Results

The performance of models was significantly improved by ADASYN. In the overall population, the support vector machine (SVM) combined with ADASYN achieved the best performance. However, it performed poorly in women with STEMI. Conversely, the proposed female-specific models performed well in women with STEMI, and the best performing model achieved 72.25% accuracy, 82.14% sensitivity, 71.69% specificity, 76.74% G-mean and 79.26% AUC. The accuracy and G-mean of the female-specific model were greater than the all-population-derived model by 34.64% and 9.07%, respectively.

Conclusions

A machine-learning-based female-specific model can conveniently and effectively identify high-risk female STEMI patients who often suffer from an incorrect or delayed management.

Comorbid obstructive sleep apnea is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in female patients with acute coronary syndrome complicating metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are each increasingly common in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Whether OSA increases cardiovascular consequences in ACS patients with MetS has not been investigated.

HYPOTHESIS

OSA increases cardiovascular risk in ACS patients with MetS. We aimed to examine the association between OSA and cardiovascular consequences in ACS patients with MetS.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, we consecutive recruited 2160 ACS patients who underwent portable sleep breathing monitoring. OSA is defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 events/h. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure.

RESULTS

A total of 1927 patients with ACS were enrolled. Among them, 1486 (77.1%) had MetS and 1014 (52.6%) had OSA. During 2.9 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of MACCE was similar between OSA and non-OSA groups in patients with MetS (21.9% vs. 17.9%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.29 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99-1.67, p = .06) and patients without MetS (24.4% vs. 17.3%, adjusted HR = 1.21 95% CI: 0.73-2.03, p = .46). Patients with MetS and OSA had a significantly higher risk of MACCE than patients with MetS and without OSA in women (27.8% vs. 18.1%, adjusted HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01-3.09, p = .04) but not in men (21.0% vs. 17.9%, adjusted HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.91-1.59, p = .21).

CONCLUSIONS

In hospitalized ACS patients with MetS, comorbid OSA was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular consequences among women.

Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Older Adult Population: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Diagnostic and therapeutic advances during the past decades have substantially improved health outcomes for patients with acute coronary syndrome. Both age-related physiological changes and accumulated cardiovascular risk factors increase the susceptibility to acute coronary syndrome over a lifetime. Compared with younger patients, outcomes for acute coronary syndrome in the large and growing demographic of older adults are relatively worse. Increased atherosclerotic plaque burden and complexity of anatomic disease, compounded by age-related cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbid conditions, contribute to the worse prognosis observed in older individuals. Geriatric syndromes, including frailty, multimorbidity, impaired cognitive and physical function, polypharmacy, and other complexities of care, can undermine the therapeutic efficacy of guidelines-based treatments and the resiliency of older adults to survive and recover, as well. In this American Heart Association scientific statement, we (1) review age-related physiological changes that predispose to acute coronary syndrome and management complexity; (2) describe the influence of commonly encountered geriatric syndromes on cardiovascular disease outcomes; and (3) recommend age-appropriate and guideline-concordant revascularization and acute coronary syndrome management strategies, including transitions of care, the use of cardiac rehabilitation, palliative care services, and holistic approaches. The primacy of individualized risk assessment and patient-centered care decision-making is highlighted throughout.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction: The Hidden Player in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial inflammatory pathology that involves metabolic processes. Improvements in therapy have drastically reduced the prognosis of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, a significant residual risk is still relevant, and is related to unmet therapeutic targets. Endothelial dysfunction and lipid infiltration are the primary causes of atherosclerotic plaque progression. In this contest, mitochondrial dysfunction can affect arterial wall cells, in particular macrophages, smooth muscle cells, lymphocytes, and endothelial cells, causing an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and intracellular lipid deposition. The detection and characterization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is crucial for assessing mitochondrial defects and should be considered the goal for new future therapeutic interventions. In this review, we will focus on a new idea, based on the analysis of data from many research groups, namely the link between mitochondrial impairment and endothelial dysfunction and, in particular, its effect on atherosclerosis and aging. Therefore, we discuss known and novel mitochondria-targeting therapies in the contest of atherosclerosis.

Sex differences in frailty manifestations in patients with coronary artery disease

Aim. To analyze the differences in detection rate of prefrailty and frailty syndrome (FS) in male and female patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Material and methods. The study included 387 patients admitted for elective primary CABG. Screening for prefrailty and FS in patients before surgery was performed using the questionnaire "Age is not a drawback".

Results. In the age group of 45 to 59 years, 25% of females and only 6% of males had signs of FS, while 25% of women and 34% of men did not present with signs of frailty and prefrailty. Half of middle-aged women and 60% of middle-aged men had prefrailty. Between the ages of 60 and 74, only 14% of women and 24% of men were not frail. Elderly women are more likely than elderly men to present with signs of FS (p=0,040). The symptoms of prefrailty in elderly patients were detected at equal rate in men and women (59% and 60%, respectively). All senile-aged patients presented with the signs of prefrailty or FS.

Conclusion. Patients with multivessel CAD present with manifestation of frailty in senile, elderly, and middle age. At the same time, middle-aged and elderly women with the higher rates of comorbid disorders require special attention.

Women with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and In-Hospital Outcomes from a Latin American Country

Background

Women are underrepresented in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) studies. Furthermore, there is scarce information regarding women with AMI in Latin America.

Aims

To describe the presentation, clinical characteristics, risk factor burden, evidence-based care, and in-hospital outcome in a population of women with AMI admitted to a coronary care unit (CCU) in Mexico.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study including patients with AMI admitted from January 2006 to December 2021 in a CCU. We identified patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We described demographic characteristics, clinical variables, treatment, and in-hospital outcomes according to gender. Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality.

Results

Our study included 12,069 patients with AMI, of whom 7,599 had STEMI and 4,470 had NSTEMI. Women represented 19.6% of the population. Women had higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and atrial fibrillation than men. For STEMI, women were less likely to receive reperfusion therapy (fibrinolysis; 23.7 vs. 28.5%, p < 0.001 and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); 31.2 vs. 35.1%, p = 0.001) and had more major adverse events than men: heart failure (4.2 vs. 2.5%, p = 0.002), pulmonary edema (3.4% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001), major bleeding (2.1% vs. 1%, p = 0.002), stroke (1.3% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.008), and mortality (15.1% vs. 8.1%, p < 0.001). For NSTEMI, women were less likely to undergo coronary angiography or PCI and had more major bleeding and mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that females had an increase in mortality in STEMI and NSTEMI (HR 1.21, CI 1.01-1.47, p = 0.05 and HR 1.39, CI 1.06-1.81, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Real-world evidence from a hospital in a Latin American low- to middle-income country (LMIC) showed that women with AMI had more comorbidities, received less reperfusion treatment or invasive strategies, and had worse outcomes. In STEMI and NSTEMI, female gender represented an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality.

Sex and Gender Bias as a Mechanistic Determinant of Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes

Defined as a prejudice either for or against something, biases at the provider, patient, and societal level all contribute to differences in cardiovascular disease recognition and treatment, resulting in outcome disparities between sexes and genders. Provider bias in the under-recognition of female-predominant cardiovascular disease and risks might result in underscreened and undertreated patients. Furthermore, therapies for female-predominant phenotypes including nonobstructive coronary artery disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are less well researched, contributing to undertreated female patients. Conversely, women are less likely to seek urgent medical attention, potentially related to societal bias to put others first, which contributes to diagnostic delays. Furthermore, women are less likely to have discussions around risk factors for coronary artery disease compared with men, partially because they are less likely to consider themselves at risk for heart disease. Provider bias in interpreting a greater number of presenting symptoms, some of which have been labelled as "atypical," can lead to mislabelling presentations as noncardiovascular. Furthermore, providers might avoid discussions around certain therapies including thrombolysis for stroke, and cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure, because it is incorrectly assumed that women are not interested in pursuing options deemed more invasive. To mitigate bias, organizations should aim to increase the visibility and involvement of women in research, health promotion, and clinical and leadership endeavours. More research needs to be done to identify effective interventions to mitigate sex and gender bias and the resultant cardiovascular outcome discrepancies.

Lower paraoxonase 1 paraoxonase activity is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the main manifestations of coronary artery disease, with a higher prevalence and worst prognosis. Oxidative stress is important in atherosclerosis and ACS, and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is directly related to reducing the effects of oxidative stress on lipoproteins. The present study evaluated the prognostic value of PON1 activity in patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS [non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA)], included in the ERICO study.

METHODS

PON1 paraoxonase activity was determined in serum samples from 485 patients collected on admission. The prognostic value in the follow-up of up to 5 years was evaluated according to cutoff points established by tertiles. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were used for the analysis of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

RESULTS

The sample consisted mainly of elderly patients with a high frequency of cardiovascular risk factors. At follow-up of up to 5 years, there were 126 deaths from all causes (80 deaths from CVD). The lowest tertile of PON1 paraoxonase activity was associated with a higher risk of death in patients with NSTEMI, but not in patients with UA.

CONCLUSION

PON1 paraoxonase activity has potential prognostic value in patients with NSTEMI.

Sex difference in circulating PCSK9 and its clinical implications

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a proprotein convertase that increases plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by triggering the degradation of LDL receptors (LDLRs). Beyond the regulation of circulating LDL-C, PCSK9 also has direct atherosclerotic effects on the vascular wall and is associated with coronary plaque inflammation. Interestingly, emerging data show that women have higher circulating PCSK9 concentrations than men, suggesting that the potential roles of PCSK9 may have different impacts according to sex. In this review, we summarize the studies concerning sex difference in circulating levels of PCSK9. In addition, we report on the sex differences in the relations of elevated circulating PCSK9 levels to the severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and neurological damage after cardiac arrest and liver injury, as well as inflammatory biomarkers and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Moreover, sex difference in the clinical efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors application are reviewed. Finally, the underlying mechanisms of sex difference in circulating PCSK9 concentrations and the clinical implications are also discussed.

Clinical characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes among young patients with acute myocardial infarction in Kerala, India: A secondary analysis of ACS QUIK trial

Background

Limited data exist on the risk profile and outcomes among young patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs). This study explored differences in the clinical characteristics, medical care, and outcomes of AMI in young adults in India with a subanalysis focusing on sex disparities amongst the young.

Methods

Using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala trial database, we compared baseline characteristics, management, and outcomes amongst the young patients(≤50 years) and their older counterparts. The primary outcomes were the rates of in-hospital and 30-day composite of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE).

Results

Of the 21,374 adults enrolled, 4762(22%) were young, of which 614 (12.9%) were females. Young patients with AMI were more likely to be smokers(41.9% vs. 27.8%;P < 0.001) and undergo coronary angiography (66.3%vs.57.3%;P < 0.001) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)(57.5% vs. 47.0%;P < 0.001), compared to older patients. After adjustment for potential confounders, younger patients had a lower likelihood of in-hospital (RR = 0.49; 95%CI 0.40-0.61;P < 0.001) and 30-day MACE (RR = 0.54; 95%CI 0.46-0.64;P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis comparing young males and females revealed worse cardiovascular risk profile among young women except for smoking. In-hospital MACE(RR = 1.60; 95%CI, 1.0-2.45;P = 0.048) were higher for young women compared to men.

Conclusion

Young AMI patients had higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors, were more likely to receive reperfusion therapy, and had better short and intermediate outcomes, compared to older patients. Compared to young men with AMI, young women had worse cardiovascular risk profile, were less likely to be treated with diagnostic angiography or PCI and experienced higher in-hospital death and MACE.

Sex differences in machine learning computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) derived machine learning fractional flow reserve (ML-FFR_CT) can assess the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenoses. We aimed to assess sex differences in the association of ML-FFR_CT and incident cardiovascular outcomes. We studied a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients who underwent clinically indicated CCTA and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Obstructive stenosis was defined as ≥ 70% stenosis severity in non-left main vessels or ≥ 50% in the left main coronary. ML-FFR_CT was computed using a machine learning algorithm with significant stenosis defined as ML-FFR_CT < 0.8. The primary outcome was a composite of death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (D/MI). Our study population consisted of 471 patients with mean (SD) age 65 (13) years, 53% men, and multiple comorbidities (78% hypertension, 66% diabetes, 81% dyslipidemia). Compared to men, women were less likely to have obstructive stenosis by CCTA (9% vs. 18%; p = 0.006), less multivessel CAD (4% vs. 6%; p = 0.25), lower prevalence of ML-FFR_CT < 0.8 (39% vs. 44%; p = 0.23) and higher median (IQR) ML-FFR_CT (0.76 (0.53-0.86) vs. 0.71 (0.47-0.84); p = 0.047). In multivariable adjusted models, there was no significant association between ML-FFR_CT < 0.8 and D/MI [Hazard Ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval (0.30, 2.20); p = 0.25 for interaction with sex.]. In a high-risk cohort of symptomatic patients who underwent CCTA and SPECT testing, ML-FFR_CT was higher in women than men. There was no significant association between ML-FFR_CT and incident mortality or MI and no evidence that the prognostic value of ML-FFR_CT differs by sex.

Sex-related differences in the management and outcomes of patients hospitalized with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a comparison within four European myocardial infarction registries

Aims

Data on how differences in risk factors, treatments, and outcomes differ between sexes in European countries are scarce. We aimed to study sex-related differences regarding baseline characteristics, in-hospital managements, and mortality of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in different European countries.

Methods and results

Patients over the age of 18 with STEMI who were treated in hospitals in 2014–17 and registered in one of the national myocardial infarction registers in Estonia (n = 5817), Hungary (n = 30 787), Norway (n = 33 054), and Sweden (n = 49 533) were included. Cardiovascular risk factors, hospital treatment, and recommendation of discharge medications were obtained from the infarction registries. The primary outcome was mortality, in-hospital, after 30 days and after 1 year. Logistic and cox regression models were used to study the associations of sex and outcomes in the respective countries. Women were older than men (70–78 and 62–68 years, respectively) and received coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, left ventricular ejection fraction assessment, and evidence-based drugs to a lesser extent than men, in all countries. The crude mortality in-hospital rates (10.9–15.9 and 6.5–8.9%, respectively) at 30 days (13.0–19.9 and 8.2–10.9%, respectively) and at 1 year (20.3–28.1 and 12.4–17.2%, respectively) after hospitalization were higher in women than in men. In all countries, the sex-specific differences in mortality were attenuated in the adjusted analysis for 1-year mortality.

Conclusion

Despite improved awareness of the sex-specific inequalities on managing patients with acute myocardial infarction in Europe, country-level data from this study show that women still receive less guideline-recommended management.

Increased Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients With Uveitis: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background

Uveitis, a sight-threatening ocular inflammatory state, is associated with autoimmune diseases and systemic inflammation. This prolonged systemic inflammation may cause plaque formation in coronary arteries, subsequently resulting in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

This retrospective, population-based study (15-year period) used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database based on the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Chi-square and Student's t-tests were used to examine differences between the study and comparison cohorts for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Fine and Gray's competing risk model was used to determine the hazard ratio of the risk of ACS. Furthermore, the cumulative risk of ACS was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

A total of 1,111 patients with AS and uveitis were enrolled in this study cohort, and 4,444 patients with AS without uveitis were enrolled in the comparison cohort. After adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities, patients with AS and uveitis demonstrated an increased risk of ACS compared to those without uveitis (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.675, p<0.001). In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with AS and uveitis had a significantly higher risk of ACS than those without uveitis (p<0.001). Age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and systemic steroids were significant risk factors for ACS. Both anterior uveitis and posterior segment involvement were associated with an increased risk of ACS in patients with AS. All-cause mortality was higher in the uveitis group (9.81%) than in the non-uveitis group (8.10%) (p=0.015).

Conclusion

Our analysis revealed that uveitis could potentially be a predictor of ACS in patients with AS. However, further prospective controlled studies are required to assess the association between uveitis and ACS in patients with AS.

Triglyceride and Glucose Index Predicts Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

This study investigated whether the triglyceride (TG) glucose (TyG) index at diagnosis could predict acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The medical records of 152 AAV were reviewed. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. The TyG index was calculated by TyG index = Ln (fasting TG (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2). The cut-offs of Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) and the TyG were obtained by the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve and the highest tertile (9.011). The mean age was 57.2 years and 32.9% were male. AAV patients with a TyG index ≥ 9.011 exhibited a lower cumulative ACS-free survival rate than those with a TyG index < 9.011. However, a TyG index ≥ 9.011 was not independently associated with ACS in the multivariable Cox analysis. Meanwhile, there might be a close relationship for predicting ACS among the TyG index, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and BVAS. AAV patients with a TyG index ≥ 9.011 exhibited a higher risk for MetS than those with a TyG index < 9.011 (relative risk 2.833). AAV patients with BVAS ≥ 11.5 also exhibited a higher risk for ACS than those with BVAS < 11.5 (relative risk 10.225). Both AAV patients with MetS and those with BVAS ≥11.5 exhibited lower cumulative ACS-free survival rates than those without. The TyG index at AAV diagnosis could estimate the concurrent presence of MetS and predict the occurrence of ACS during follow-up along with high BVAS at diagnosis in patients with AAV.

Sex as a Biological Variable in Cardiovascular Diseases: JACC Focus Seminar 1/7

Sex and gender influence all aspects of cardiovascular health and disease-including epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestation, disease progression, and response to treatment-in complex and interrelated ways. Sex-based and gender-based differences have been identified in risk and presentation of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); however, failure to address sex and gender as key variables in CVD research and reporting and limited understanding of differences have contributed to disparities in risk assessment, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Improved consideration of both sex and gender in all phases of the biomedical research continuum, along with educational and training curricula focused on the role of sex and gender in CVD, are needed to provide targeted therapies and improve cardiovascular health outcomes for all.

External validation of the GRACE risk score and the risk-treatment paradox in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objectives

To validate the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score and examine the extent and impact of the risk–treatment paradox in contemporary patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

Data from 5015 patients with ACS enrolled in the FORCE-ACS registry between January 2015 and December 2019 were used for model validation. The performance of the GRACE risk score for predicting in-hospital and 1-year mortality was evaluated based on indices of model discrimination and calibration. Differences in the delivery of guideline-recommended care among patients who survived hospitalisation (n=4911) per GRACE risk stratum were assessed and the association with postdischarge mortality was examined.

Results

Discriminative power of the GRACE risk score was good for predicting in-hospital (c-statistic: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.90) and 1-year mortality (c-statistic: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.84). However, the GRACE risk score overestimated the absolute in-hospital and 1-year mortality risk (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test p<0.01). Intermediate-risk and high-risk patients were 12% and 29% less likely to receive optimal guideline-recommended care compared with low-risk patients, respectively. Optimal guideline-recommended care was associated with lower mortality in intermediate- and high-risk patients.

Conclusions

The GRACE risk score identified patients at higher risk for in-hospital and 1-year mortality, but overestimated absolute risk levels in contemporary patients. Optimal guideline-recommended care was associated with lower mortality in intermediate-risk and high-risk patients, but was less likely to be delivered with increasing mortality risk.

Women Specific Characteristics and 1-Year Outcome Among Patients Hospitalized for Peripheral Artery Disease: A Monocentric Cohort Analysis in a Tertiary Center

Although women have lower age-standardized cardiovascular disease incidence, prevalence, and death-related rates than men, there are also reports indicating that women with cardiovascular disease receive less care, fewer investigations, and have poorer outcomes after a coronary event. The aims of this study were to compare the characteristics of men and women hospitalized for peripheral artery disease (PAD), their cardiovascular and limb outcomes, and their 1-year mortality. The study is a prospective registry collecting data about all consecutive patients hospitalized for PAD within the vascular department of the tertiary center Georges-Pompidou European Hospital (Paris, France). Patients were required to have one of three inclusion criteria: previous revascularization of the lower limb or any lower limb artery occlusion due to an atherosclerotic vascular disease or hemodynamic evidence of PAD. Exclusion criteria were patients with lower extremity arterial occlusion due to another cause. All patients were followed-up for at least 12 months after the initial hospitalization. Among the 235 patients included, there were 61 women (26%), older than men with a median age of 75.6 and 68.3 years, respectively. Main cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities were similar for men and women except more former or current smokers [145 (83.4%) vs. 33 (54.1%)] and more history of coronary heart disease [42 (24.1%) vs. 7 (11.5%)] in men. Most patients [138 (58.8%)] had critical limb ischemia and 97 (41.3%) had claudication, with no difference for sex. After discharge, 218 patients received an antithrombotic therapy (93.2%), 195 a lipid-lowering drug (83.3%), 185 an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin-receptor blocker (78.9%), similarly between sex. At 1-year, overall mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, major adverse limb events did not differ with 23 (13.2%), 11 (6.3%) and 32 (18.4%) in men, and 8 (13.1%), 3 (4.9%), 15 (24.6%) in women, respectively, despite the difference in age. Overall mortality, cardiovascular outcomes, limb revascularization or amputation did not differ between men and women, 1-year after hospitalization for PAD although the latter were older, less smoker and had less coronary artery disease. Due to the small size of this cohort, larger studies and future research are needed to better understand sex-specific mechanisms in the pathophysiology and natural history of PAD.

Sex-differences in the management and clinical outcome among patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

The current study was to compare the management and clinical outcome between women and men with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHOD

This was a retrospective study. Patients with ACS presented to the emergency department were enrolled. Management and clinical outcomes (including mortality and acute decompensated heart failure [ADHF]) were compared between women and men.

RESULTS

A total of 686 patients were included and women accounted for 38.5% (n = 264). Women were less likely to receive ticagrelor at the emergency department (18.2% vs 25.1%). Duration from arrival at the emergency department to undergo electrocardiogram was longer in women (7.5 min vs 5.3 min). The duration from symptom onset to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention was longer in women (14.4 h vs 7.2 h). After adjusting for covariates, odds ratio (OR) for cardiovascular mortality was 0.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-1.02) and ADHF was 0.63 (95% CI 0.55-1.01) for women vs men. Socioeconomic status, duration from symptom onset to arrive at the emergency department, and management at the emergency department were the important factors contributing to the sex-differences in clinical outcome.

CONCLUSION

Among ACS patients undergoing PCI, there was no sex-difference in in-hospital clinical outcome after adjusting for covariates. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether improving management at the emergency department can improve clinical outcomes in women and men with ACS.

The Most Relevant Factors Affecting the Perioperative Death Rate in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and COVID-19, Based on Annual Follow-Up in the ORPKI Registry

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is significantly affecting the functioning of the entire healthcare system. The disease itself may be associated with thromboembolic complications. The purpose of this study is to compare patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and patients with ACS who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in terms of their clinical profile, management, treatment complications, and prognosis. Methods: We analyzed 47,940 cases of patients treated for ACS in 2020, including 44,952 patients (93.8%) who were not diagnosed with COVID-19 and 2988 patients (6.2%) who tested positive for COVID-19. Results: Patients with COVID-19 were significantly more likely to experience out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (7.9 vs. 1.1%; p < 0.0001) and be transported directly to a catheterization laboratory (21.3% vs. 8.1%; p < 0.0001). Mortality was significantly higher in this group (0.9% vs. 0.4%; p < 0.0001). The risk of perioperative death was increased by age over 65 years, use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI IIb/IIIa), femoral access, critical left main stem coronary artery (LMCA) vascular lesions, ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and no-reflow phenomenon. Conclusions: Despite the pandemic, patients with COVID-19 were treated equally to healthy patients. Efficient organization of the healthcare system allowed the prompt transportation of patients to catheterization laboratories. The study group was characterized by a worse prognosis that was affected by multiple factors.

Gender disparities in difficulty accessing healthcare and cost-related medication non-adherence: The CDC behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) survey

Ensuring healthcare access is critical to maintain health and prevent illness. Studies demonstrate gender disparities in healthcare access. Less is known about how these vary with age, race/ethnicity, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We utilized cross-sectional data from 2016 to 2019 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a U.S. telephone-based survey of adults (≥18 years). Measures of difficulty accessing healthcare included absence of healthcare coverage, delay in healthcare access, absence of primary care physician, >1-year since last checkup, inability to see doctor due to cost, and cost-related medication non-adherence. We studied the association between gender and these variables using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, stratifying by age, race/ethnicity, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease status. Our population consisted of 1,737,397 individuals; 54% were older (≥45 years), 51% women, 63% non-Hispanic White, 12% non-Hispanic Black,17% Hispanic, 9% reported atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In multivariable-adjusted models, women were more likely to report delay in healthcare access: odds ratio (OR) and (95% confidence interval): 1.26 (1.11, 1.43) [p < 0.001], inability to see doctor due to cost: 1.29 (1.22, 1.36) [p < 0.001], cost-related medication non-adherence: 1.24 (1.01, 1.50) [p = 0.04]. Women were less likely to report lack of healthcare coverage: 0.71 (0.66, 0.75) [p < 0.001] and not having a primary care physician: 0.50 (0.48, 0.52) [p < 0.001]. Disparities were pronounced in younger (<45 years) and Black women. Identifying these barriers, particularly among younger women and Black women, is crucial to ensure equitable healthcare access to all individuals.

Identification of Endothelial Proteins in Plasma Associated With Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Objective:

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is a well-established response to cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as smoking and obesity. Risk factor exposure can modify EC signaling and behavior, leading to arterial and venous disease development. Here, we aimed to identify biomarker panels for the assessment of EC dysfunction, which could be useful for risk stratification or to monitor treatment response.

Approach and Results:

We used affinity proteomics to identify EC proteins circulating in plasma that were associated with cardiovascular disease risk factor exposure. Two hundred sixteen proteins, which we previously predicted to be EC-enriched across vascular beds, were measured in plasma samples (N=1005) from the population-based SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study) pilot. Thirty-eight of these proteins were associated with body mass index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, smoking, hypertension, or diabetes. Sex-specific analysis revealed that associations predominantly observed in female- or male-only samples were most frequently with the risk factors body mass index, or total cholesterol and smoking, respectively. We show a relationship between individual cardiovascular disease risk, calculated with the Framingham risk score, and the corresponding biomarker profiles.

Conclusions:

EC proteins in plasma could reflect vascular health status.

Prognosis Impact of Diabetes in Elderly Women and Men with Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Few studies have addressed to date the interaction between sex and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the prognosis of elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Our aim was to address the role of DM in the prognosis of non-selected elderly patients with NSTEACS according to sex. A retrospective analysis from 11 Spanish NSTEACS registries was conducted, including patients aged ≥70 years. The primary end point was one-year all-cause mortality. A total of 7211 patients were included, 2,770 (38.4%) were women, and 39.9% had DM. Compared with the men, the women were older (79.95 ± 5.75 vs. 78.45 ± 5.43 years, p < 0.001) and more often had a history of hypertension (77% vs. 83.1%, p < 0.01). Anemia and chronic kidney disease were both more common in women. On the other hand, they less frequently had a prior history of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease or comorbidities such as peripheral artery disease and chronic pulmonary disease. Women showed a worse clinical profile on admission, though an invasive approach and in-hospital revascularization were both more often performed in men (p < 0.001). At a one-year follow-up, 1090 patients (15%) had died, without a difference between sexes. Male sex was an independent predictor of mortality (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.32, p = 0.035), and there was a significant interaction between sex and DM (p = 0.002). DM was strongly associated with mortality in women (HR: 1.45, 95% CI = 1.18–1.78; p < 0.001), but not in men (HR: 0.98, 95% CI = 0.84–1.14; p = 0.787). In conclusion, DM is associated with mortality in older women with NSTEACS, but not in men.

Sex Differences in the Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Treated with Two Generations (Absorb and Magmaris) of Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds

Background: Despite the developments in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), women are still more likely than men to have unfavorable outcomes after PCI performed in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The mechanisms of this phenomena are not fully understood. Potential benefits of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) may be particularly expressed in the female population. Nevertheless, the data available currently are inconsistent and limited. This study evaluated the gender-related differences in the short-term clinical outcomes in ACS patients treated with implantation of two generations of BRS (first generation, Absorb; second generation, Magmaris). Methods: The study was divided into two arms. To the first one, we qualified 160 patients with ACS treated with PCI who received 210 Absorb scaffolds. The second arm was composed of 193 patients with ACS who underwent PCI with Magmaris implantation. Results: There were no significant sex-related differences in primary endpoints (cardiovascular-death, myocardial infarction, in-stent thrombosis) or principal secondary endpoints (of target-lesion failure, scaffold restenosis, death from any reason, other cardiovascular events) in either generation of BRS in a 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: Both genders tended to have a similar outcome in routine clinical practice following BRS implantation due to ACS. The magnesium bioresorbable scaffold (Magmaris) early outcome seemed to be more favorable in comparison to the Absorb scaffold.

Neural Circuits of Interoception

The present paper considers recent progress in our understanding of the afferent/ascending neural pathways and neural circuits of interoception. Of particular note is the extensive role of rostral neural systems, including cortical systems, in the recognition of internal body states, and the reciprocal role of efferent/descending systems in the regulation of those states. Together these reciprocal interacting networks entail interoceptive circuits that play an important role in a broad range of functions beyond the homeostatic maintenance of physiological steady-states. These include the regulation of behavioral, cognitive, and affective processes across conscious and nonconscious levels of processing. We highlight recent advances and knowledge gaps that are important for accelerating progress in the study of interoception.

Management of acute coronary syndromes in older adults

Older patients are underrepresented in prospective studies and randomized clinical trials of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Over the last decade, a few specific trials have been conducted in this population, allowing more evidence-based management. Older adults are a heterogeneous, complex, and high-risk group whose management requires a multidimensional clinical approach beyond coronary anatomic variables. This review focuses on available data informing evidence-based interventional and pharmacological approaches for older adults with ACS, including guideline-directed management. Overall, an invasive approach appears to demonstrate a better benefit-risk ratio compared to a conservative one across the ACS spectrum, even considering patients' clinical complexity and multiple comorbidities. Conversely, more powerful strategies of antithrombotic therapy for secondary prevention have been associated with increased bleeding events and no benefit in terms of mortality reduction. An interdisciplinary evaluation with geriatric assessment should always be considered to achieve a holistic approach and optimize any treatment on the basis of the underlying biological vulnerability.

The Lancet women and cardiovascular disease Commission: reducing the global burden by 2030

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. Decades of grassroots campaigns have helped to raise awareness about the impact of cardiovascular disease in women, and positive changes affecting women and their health have gained momentum. Despite these efforts, there has been stagnation in the overall reduction of cardiovascular disease burden for women in the past decade. Cardiovascular disease in women remains understudied, under-recognised, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. This Commission summarises existing evidence and identifies knowledge gaps in research, prevention, treatment, and access to care for women. Recommendations from an international team of experts and leaders in the field have been generated with a clear focus to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease in women by 2030. This Commission represents the first effort of its kind to connect stakeholders, to ignite global awareness of sex-related and gender-related disparities in cardiovascular disease, and to provide a springboard for future research.

Outcomes of Individuals With and Without Heart Failure Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Major adverse cardiac event (MACE) and bleeding risks following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are not well defined in individuals with heart failure (HF). We followed 1,145 individuals in the Pharmacogenomic Resource to improve Medication Effectiveness Genotype Guided Antiplatelet Therapy cohort for MACE and bleeding events following PCI for ACS. We constructed Cox proportional hazards models to compare MACE and bleeding in those with versus without HF, adjusting for sociodemographics, comorbidities, and medications. We also determined predictors of MACE and bleeding events in both groups. 370 (32%) individuals did and 775 (68%) did not have HF prior to PCI. Mean age was 61.7 ± 12.2 years, 31% were female, and 24% were African American. After a median follow-up of 0.78 years, individuals with HF had higher rates of MACE compared to those without HF (48 vs. 24 events per 100 person years) which remained significant after multivariable adjustment (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00 to 1.72). Similarly, bleeding was higher in those with versus without HF (22 vs. 11 events per 100 person years), although this was no longer statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (HR 1.29, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.93). Diabetes and peripheral vascular disease were predictors of MACE, and end-stage renal disease was a predictor of bleeding among participants with HF. MACE risk is higher in individuals with versus without HF following PCI for ACS. However, the risk of bleeding, especially among those with end-stage renal disease , must be considered when determining post-PCI anticoagulant strategies.

Epidemiology and the Magnitude of Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the foremost single cause of mortality and loss of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) globally. A large percentage of this burden is found in low and middle income countries. This accounts for nearly 7 million deaths and 129 million DALYs annually and is a huge global economic burden.

OBJECTIVE

To review epidemiological data of coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome in low, middle and high income countries.

METHODS

Keyword searches of Medline, ISI, IBSS and Google Scholar databases. Manual search of other relevant journals and reference lists of primary articles.

RESULTS

Review of the results of studies reveals the absolute global and regional trends of the CAD and the importance and contribution of CAD for global health. Data demonstrates which region or countries have the highest and lowest age-standardized DALY rates and what factors might explain these patterns. Results also show differences among the determinants of CAD, government policies, clinical practice and public health measures across the various regions of world.

CONCLUSION

CAD mortality and prevalence vary among countries. Estimation of the true prevalence of CAD in the population is complex. A significant number of countries have not provided data, the estimation of the exact figures for epidemiological data is a barrier. The incidence of CAD continues to fall in developed countries over the last few decades and this may be due to both effective treatment of the acute phase and improved primary and secondary preventive measures. Developing countries show considerable variability in the incidence of CAD. The globalization of the Western diet and increased sedentary lifestyle will have a dramatic influence on the progressive increase in the incidence of CAD in these countries.

Sex and gender in cardiovascular medicine: presentation and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome

Although health disparities in women presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have received growing attention in recent years, clinical outcomes from ACS are still worse for women than for men. Women continue to experience higher patient and system delays and receive less aggressive invasive treatment and pharmacotherapies. Gender- and sex-specific variables that contribute to ACS vulnerability remain largely unknown. Notwithstanding the sex differences in baseline coronary anatomy and function, women and men are treated the same based on guidelines that were established from experimental and clinical trial data over-representing the male population. Importantly, younger women have a particularly unfavourable prognosis and a plethora of unanswered questions remains in this younger population. The present review summarizes contemporary evidence for gender and sex differences in vascular biology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of ACS. We further discuss potential mechanisms and non-traditional risk conditions modulating the course of disease in women and men, such as unrecognized psychosocial factors, sex-specific vascular and neural stress responses, and the potential impact of epigenetic modifications.

Differences in Comorbidities Between Women and Men Treated with Elective Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is performed to prevent rupture. For reasons as yet unknown, the 30-day mortality risk after elective AAA repair is higher in women than in men. We hypothesised that this higher risk might be related to differences in comorbidity.

METHODS

Systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42019133314) according to PRISMA guidelines. A search in the EMBASE/MEDLINE/CENTRAL databases identified 1870 studies that included patients who underwent elective AAA repair (final search February 17^th, 2021). Ultimately, 28 studies were included and all reported comorbidities were categorised into 17 comorbidity groups. Additionally, 15 groups of clearly defined comorbidities were used for sensitivity analysis. For both groups, meta-analyses of each comorbidity were performed to estimate the difference in pooled prevalence between women and men with a random effects model.

RESULTS

When analysing data of all reported comorbidities (17 groups), smoking [risk difference (RD) 11%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4-18], diabetes (RD 3%, 95% CI 2-4), ischaemic heart disease (RD 12%, 95% CI 8-16), arrhythmia (RD 3%, 95% CI 0.4-5), liver disease (RD 0.1%, 95% CI 0.01-0.2), and cancer (RD 3%, 95% CI 2-4)) were less prevalent in women, whereas, hypertension (RD 4%, 95% CI 3-6) and pulmonary disease (RD 4%, 95% CI 3-5) were more prevalent in women. At the time of surgery women were significantly older than men (74.9 years versus 72.4; mean difference 2.4 years (95% CI 2.1-2.7)). In the sensitivity analysis of 15 comorbidity groups, the same comorbidities remained significantly different between women and men, except smoking and arrhythmia. Women had a higher mortality risk than men (RD 1%, 95% CI 1-2).

CONCLUSIONS

Although women undergoing elective AAA repair have fewer baseline comorbidities than men, their 30-day mortality risk is higher. In-depth studies on the cause of death in women after elective AAA repair are needed to explain this discrepancy in mortality.

Premature STEMI in Men and Women: Current Clinical Features and Improvements in Management and Prognosis

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent cause of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Etiopathogenic and prognostic characteristics in young patients may differ from older patients and young women may present worse outcomes than men. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of men and women with premature STEMI.

METHODS

A total 1404 consecutive patients were referred to our institution for emergency cardiac catheterization due to STEMI suspicion (1 January 2014-31 December 2018). Patients with confirmed premature (<55 years old in men and <60 in women) STEMI (366 patients, 83% men and 17% women) were included (359 atherothrombotic and 7 spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)).

RESULTS

Premature STEMI patients had a high prevalence of classical cardiovascular risk factors. Mean follow-up was 4.1 years (±1.75 SD). Mortality rates, re-hospitalization, and hospital stay showed no significant differences between sexes. More than 10% of women with premature STEMI suffered SCAD. There were no significant differences between sexes, neither among cholesterol levels nor in hypolipemiant therapy. The global survival rates were similar to that expected in the general population of the same sex and age in our region with a significantly higher excess of mortality at 6 years among men compared with the general population.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed a high incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, a high prevalence of SCAD among young women, and a generally good prognosis after standardized treatment. During follow-up, 23% suffered a major cardiovascular event (MACE), without significant differences between sexes and observed survival at 1, 3, and 6 years of follow-up was 96.57% (95% CI 94.04-98.04), 95.64% (95% CI 92.87-97.35), and 94.5% (95% CI 91.12-97.66). An extra effort to prevent/delay STEMI should be invested focusing on smoking avoidance and optimal hypolipemiant treatment both in primary and secondary prevention.

Heart disease in women: a narrative review

Cardiovascular disease is the worldwide leading cause of death in women. Biological differences between the sexes, a result of genetic, epigenetic and sex hormone-mediated factors, are complex and incompletely understood. These differences are compounded by socio-cultural factors and together account for the variation in the prevalence, presentation and natural history of cardiovascular disease between men and women. Although there is growing recognition of sex-specific determinants of outcomes, women remain under-represented in clinical trials, and sex-disaggregated diagnostic and management strategies are not currently recommended in clinical guidelines. Women remain more likely to experience delays in diagnosis, to be treated less aggressively and to have worse outcomes. As a consequence, cardiovascular disease in women remains understudied, underdiagnosed and undertreated. This review will focus on female-specific characteristics of cardiovascular disease and how these may impact on anaesthetic and peri-operative risk assessment and care. We highlight significant differences between the sexes in the natural history of cardiovascular disease, including those disease entities that are more common in women, such as sudden coronary artery dissection or microvascular dysfunction. Given the rapidly rising incidence of maternal cardiovascular disease and associated complications, special consideration is given to the risk assessment and management of these conditions during pregnancy. Increased awareness of these issues has the potential to improve the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary heart team and ultimately improve the care provided to women.

Identification of vulnerable plaques and patients by intracoronary near-infrared spectroscopy and ultrasound (PROSPECT II): a prospective natural history study

BACKGROUND

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and intravascular ultrasound are promising imaging modalities to identify non-obstructive plaques likely to cause coronary-related events. We aimed to assess whether combined NIRS and intravascular ultrasound can identify high-risk plaques and patients that are at risk for future major adverse cardiac events (MACEs).

METHODS

PROSPECT II is an investigator-sponsored, multicentre, prospective natural history study done at 14 university hospitals and two community hospitals in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. We recruited patients of any age with recent (within past 4 weeks) myocardial infarction. After treatment of all flow-limiting coronary lesions, three-vessel imaging was done with a combined NIRS and intravascular ultrasound catheter. Untreated lesions (also known as non-culprit lesions) were identified by intravascular ultrasound and their lipid content was assessed by NIRS. The primary outcome was the covariate-adjusted rate of MACEs (the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or progressive angina) arising from untreated non-culprit lesions during follow-up. The relations between plaques with high lipid content, large plaque burden, and small lumen areas and patient-level and lesion-level events were determined. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02171065.

FINDINGS

Between June 10, 2014, and Dec 20, 2017, 3629 non-culprit lesions were characterised in 898 patients (153 [17%] women, 745 [83%] men; median age 63 [IQR 55-70] years). Median follow-up was 3·7 (IQR 3·0-4·4) years. Adverse events within 4 years occurred in 112 (13·2%, 95% CI 11·0-15·6) of 898 patients, with 66 (8·0%, 95% CI 6·2-10·0) arising from 78 untreated non-culprit lesions (mean baseline angiographic diameter stenosis 46·9% [SD 15·9]). Highly lipidic lesions (851 [24%] of 3500 lesions, present in 520 [59%] of 884 patients) were an independent predictor of patient-level non-culprit lesion-related MACEs (adjusted odds ratio 2·27, 95% CI 1·25-4·13) and non-culprit lesion-specific MACEs (7·83, 4·12-14·89). Large plaque burden (787 [22%] of 3629 lesions, present in 530 [59%] of 898 patients) was also an independent predictor of non-culprit lesion-related MACEs. Lesions with both large plaque burden by intravascular ultrasound and large lipid-rich cores by NIRS had a 4-year non-culprit lesion-related MACE rate of 7·0% (95% CI 4·0-10·0). Patients in whom one or more such lesions were identified had a 4-year non-culprit lesion-related MACE rate of 13·2% (95% CI 9·4-17·6).

INTERPRETATION

Combined NIRS and intravascular ultrasound detects angiographically non-obstructive lesions with a high lipid content and large plaque burden that are at increased risk for future adverse cardiac outcomes.

FUNDING

Abbott Vascular, Infraredx, and The Medicines Company.

Prevalence of atherosclerosis risk factors in Egyptian patients with acute coronary syndrome: final data of the nationwide cross-sectional 'CardioRisk' project

Background

Little are known about the prevalence of atherosclerosis risk factors in Egyptian patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Objective

Describe the prevalence of these risk factors with focus on gender-specific data and patients with premature presentation.

Methods

From November 2015 to August 2018, data were collected from 3224 patients with ACS in 30 coronary care centers covering 11 governorates across Egypt, with focus premature ACS.

Results

The vast majority were males (74%) and the most prevalent age group was (56-65 years) representing 37% of whole study population. Among female patients, 92% were post-menopausal. The prevalence of premature ACS was 51%. Forty five percent of total males and 69.6% of total females with ACS had premature presentation (P<0.001). Abdominal obesity was the most prevalent risk factor (66%). Nearly half of the entire study patients were current smokers (48%). We showed a high prevalence of documented dyslipidemia (48%) as well. Early invasive management strategy was employed in 65% of patients with no significant gender disparity noticed. Vascular access for coronary angiography was most commonly femoral (80% of time). Emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was attempted in 53% of patients. Thrombolytic therapy (using Streptokinase) was used in 24% of included participants.

Conclusion

Among Egyptian patients with ACS, premature presentation is common with greater male preponderance. Abdominal obesity is the most prevalent risk factor followed by hypertension. Most traditional risk factors (apart from smoking) were more prevalent in women than men.

Sex and gender differences in presentation, treatment and outcomes in acute coronary syndrome, a 10 year study from a multi-ethnic Asian population: The Malaysian National Cardiovascular Disease Database-Acute Coronary Syndrome (NCVD-ACS) registry

BACKGROUND

Sex and gender differences in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been well studied in the western population. However, limited studies have examined the trends of these differences in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

OBJECTIVES

To study the trends in sex and gender differences in ACS using the Malaysian NCVD-ACS Registry.

METHODS

Data from 24 hospitals involving 35,232 ACS patients (79.44% men and 20.56% women) from 1st. Jan 2012 to 31st. Dec 2016 were analysed. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, coronary risk factors, anthropometrics, treatments and outcomes. Analyses were done for ACS as a whole and separately for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), Non-STEMI and unstable angina. These were then compared to published data from March 2006 to February 2010 which included 13,591 ACS patients (75.8% men and 24.2% women).

RESULTS

Women were older and more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, previous heart failure and renal failure than men. Women remained less likely to receive aspirin, beta-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and statin. Women were less likely to undergo angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) despite an overall increase. In the STEMI cohort, despite a marked increase in presentation with Killip class IV, women were less likely to received primary PCI or fibrinolysis and had longer median door-to-needle and door-to-balloon time compared to men, although these had improved. Women had higher unadjusted in-hospital, 30-Day and 1-year mortality rates compared to men for the STEMI and NSTEMI cohorts. After multivariate adjustments, 1-year mortality remained significantly higher for women with STEMI (adjusted OR: 1.31 (1.09-1.57), p<0.003) but were no longer significant for NSTEMI cohort.

CONCLUSION

Women continued to have longer system delays, receive less aggressive pharmacotherapies and invasive treatments with poorer outcome. There is an urgent need for increased effort from all stakeholders if we are to narrow this gap.

The Neuro-Inflammatory-Vascular Circuit: Evidence for a Sex-Dependent Interrelation?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide with mortality rates in women currently exceeding those in men. To date, evidence is widely lacking for unique female determinants of CVD. However, strong associations with psychological stress, obesity or elevated inflammatory biomarkers with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women have been identified in various studies. Interestingly, amygdalar metabolic activity, a central neural structure involved in emotional stress processing, has proven to be an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Moreover, upregulated amygdalar metabolism was directly linked to myocardial injury in women, but not in men. This newly suggested sex-dependent brain-heart interrelation was further supported by the discovery that bone marrow activity, a surrogate parameter of inflammation, represents a potential bridging link between amygdalar activity and cardiovascular pathology by fueling inflammatory processes that promote atherosclerotic disease. Such malignant cascade of events might account, at least in part, for the excess female mortality seen in women with coronary artery disease and calls for sex-specific research toward pharmacologic or behavioral modulators to improve cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in women. This mini review summarizes recent advances in cardiovascular sex-specific medicine, thereby focusing on the interplay between the limbic system, autonomic regulation and inflammatory biomarkers, which may help to tailor CVD management toward the female cardiovascular phenotype.

Disparities in Cardiovascular Care and Outcomes for Women From Racial/Ethnic Minority Backgrounds

Purpose of review

Racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in cardiovascular care are well-documented. This review aims to highlight the disparities and impact on a group particularly vulnerable to disparities, women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds.

Recent findings

Women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds remain underrepresented in major cardiovascular trials, limiting the generalizability of cardiovascular research to this population. Certain cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent in women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, including traditional risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Female-specific risk factors including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia as well as non-traditional psychosocial risk factors like depressive and anxiety disorders, increased child care, and familial and home care responsibility have been shown to increase risk for cardiovascular disease events in women more so than in men, and disproportionately affect women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds. Despite this, minimal interventions to address differential risk have been proposed. Furthermore, disparities in treatment and outcomes that disadvantage minority women persist. The limited improvement in outcomes over time, especially among non-Hispanic Black women, is an area that requires further research and active interventions.

Summary

Understanding the lack of representation in cardiovascular trials, differential cardiovascular risk, and disparities in treatment and outcomes among women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds highlights opportunities for improving cardiovascular care among this particularly vulnerable population.

Sex-related impacts on clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention

The aim of this study is to investigate sex-related impacts on clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed 90,305 patients (29.0% of women) with the first episode of coronary artery disease who underwent PCI from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database between July 2013 and June 2017. Women were significantly older than men (71.5 ± 10.5 vs. 61.8 ± 11.7 years, p < 0.001). The study population had a median follow-up of 2.2 years (interquartile range, 1.2–3.3). In the propensity-score matched angina population (15,104 pairs), the in-hospital mortality of women was not different from men (odds ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval: 0.71–1.08, p = 0.202). However, the post-discharge mortality of women was significantly lower (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval: 0.69–0.80, p < 0.001) than that of men. In the propensity-score matched acute myocardial infarction (AMI) population (8,775 pairs), the in-hospital mortality of women was significantly higher than that of men (odds ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.34, p = 0.006). Meanwhile, there was no difference in mortality after discharge (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval: 0.91–1.06, p = 0.605). The post-discharge mortality of women was not higher than men under the contemporary PCI treatment. Altered sex-related impacts on clinical outcomes might be attributed to improved medical and procedural strategies.

Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery: Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative Aspects, Implications, and Directions

Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) differs from myocardial infarction in being defined by troponin elevation apparently from cardiac ischemia with or without signs and symptoms. Such myocardial injury is common, silent, and strongly associated with mortality. MINS is usually asymptomatic and only detected by routine troponin monitoring. There is currently no known safe and effective prophylaxis for perioperative myocardial injury. However, appropriate preoperative screening may help guide proactive postoperative preventative actions. Intraoperative hypotension is associated with myocardial injury, acute kidney injury, and death. Hypotension is common and largely undetected in the postoperative general care floor setting, and independently associated with myocardial injury and mortality. Critical care patients are especially sensitive to hypotension, and the risk appears to be present at blood pressures previously regarded as normal. Tachycardia appears to be less important. Available information suggests that clinicians would be prudent to avoid perioperative hypotension.

Variations between women and men in risk factors, treatments, cardiovascular disease incidence, and death in 27 high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries (PURE): a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Some studies, mainly from high-income countries (HICs), report that women receive less care (investigations and treatments) for cardiovascular disease than do men and might have a higher risk of death. However, very few studies systematically report risk factors, use of primary or secondary prevention medications, incidence of cardiovascular disease, or death in populations drawn from the community. Given that most cardiovascular disease occurs in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is a need for comprehensive information comparing treatments and outcomes between women and men in HICs, middle-income countries, and low-income countries from community-based population studies.

METHODS

In the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological study (PURE), individuals aged 35-70 years from urban and rural communities in 27 countries were considered for inclusion. We recorded information on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, medication use, cardiac investigations, and interventions. 168 490 participants who enrolled in the first two of the three phases of PURE were followed up prospectively for incident cardiovascular disease and death.

FINDINGS

From Jan 6, 2005 to May 6, 2019, 202 072 individuals were recruited to the study. The mean age of women included in the study was 50·8 (SD 9·9) years compared with 51·7 (10) years for men. Participants were followed up for a median of 9·5 (IQR 8·5-10·9) years. Women had a lower cardiovascular disease risk factor burden using two different risk scores (INTERHEART and Framingham). Primary prevention strategies, such as adoption of several healthy lifestyle behaviours and use of proven medicines, were more frequent in women than men. Incidence of cardiovascular disease (4·1 [95% CI 4·0-4·2] for women vs 6·4 [6·2-6·6] for men per 1000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0·75 [95% CI 0·72-0·79]) and all-cause death (4·5 [95% CI 4·4-4·7] for women vs 7·4 [7·2-7·7] for men per 1000 person-years; aHR 0·62 [95% CI 0·60-0·65]) were also lower in women. By contrast, secondary prevention treatments, cardiac investigations, and coronary revascularisation were less frequent in women than men with coronary artery disease in all groups of countries. Despite this, women had lower risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease events (20·0 [95% CI 18·2-21·7] versus 27·7 [95% CI 25·6-29·8] per 1000 person-years in men, adjusted hazard ratio 0·73 [95% CI 0·64-0·83]) and women had lower 30-day mortality after a new cardiovascular disease event compared with men (22% in women versus 28% in men; p<0·0001). Differences between women and men in treatments and outcomes were more marked in LMICs with little differences in HICs in those with or without previous cardiovascular disease.

INTERPRETATION

Treatments for cardiovascular disease are more common in women than men in primary prevention, but the reverse is seen in secondary prevention. However, consistently better outcomes are observed in women than in men, both in those with and without previous cardiovascular disease. Improving cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, especially in LMICs, should be vigorously pursued in both women and men.

FUNDING

Full funding sources are listed at the end of the paper (see Acknowledgments).