Incidence of recognized and unrecognized myocardial infarction in men and women aged 55 and older: the Rotterdam Study

Feasibility and findings of electrocardiogram recording in older adults with intellectual disabilities: results of the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities study

BACKGROUND

Older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have a high risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). At the same time, challenging diagnostic work-up increases the likelihood of underdiagnosis of CVD in this population. To limit this underdiagnosis, it would be beneficial to use objective measures such as the electrocardiogram (ECG). However, little is known about the feasibility of ECG recording and the prevalence of ECG abnormalities in this population. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility of resting ECG recording, to study the prevalence of ECG abnormalities, and to compare the frequency of ECG abnormalities with medical records in older adults with ID.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was performed within a cohort of older adults (≥60 years) with ID as part of the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities (HA-ID) study. A resting 12-lead ECG was attempted, and the ECG recording was considered feasible if the recording could be made and if the ECG could be interpreted by a cardiologist and the Modular ECG Analysis System (MEANS). ECGs were assessed for the presence of ECG abnormalities and medical record review was performed. If the cardiologist or MEANS concluded that there was evidence of myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation or QTc prolongation on the ECG in the absence of this ECG diagnosis in the participant's medical record, this was classified as a previously undiagnosed ECG diagnosis.

RESULTS

ECG recording was feasible in 134 of the 200 participants (67.0%). Of these 134 participants (70.6 ± 5.8 years; 52.2% female), 103 (76.9%) had one or more ECG abnormality, with the most prevalent being prolonged P-wave duration (27.6%), QTc prolongation (18.7%), minor T-wave abnormalities (17.9%), first degree atrioventricular block (12.7%) and myocardial infarction (6.7%). Eight out of 9 (88.9%) myocardial infarctions and all cases of (significant) QTc prolongation (100%) were previously undiagnosed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that ECG recording is feasible in the majority of older adults with ID and revealed a substantial underdiagnosis of ECG abnormalities. These results stress the importance of ECG recording and warrant further research into the yield of opportunistic ECG screening in older adults with ID.

Investigating the Added Value of Beck's Depression Inventory in Atherosclerosis Prediction: Lessons from Paracelsus 10,000

Background: Depression is the most common mental illness worldwide and generates an enormous health and economic burden. Furthermore, it is known to be associated with an elevated risk of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), particularly stroke. However, it is not a factor reflected in many ASCVD risk models, including SCORE2. Thus, we analysed the relationship between depression, ASCVD and SCORE2 in our cohort. Methods: We analysed 9350 subjects from the Paracelsus 10,000 cohort, who underwent both a carotid artery ultrasound and completed a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) screening. Patients were categorised binomially based on the BDI score. Atherosclerotic carotid plaque or absence was dichotomised for logistic regression modelling. Odds ratios and adjusted relative risks were calculated using Stata. Results: Subjects with an elevated BDI (≥14) had higher odds for carotid plaques compared to subjects with normal BDI, especially after adjusting for classical risk factors included in SCORE2 (1.21; 95%CI 1.03-1.43, p = 0.023). The adjusted relative risk for plaques was also increased (1.09; 95%CI 1.01-1.18, p = 0.021). Subgroup analysis showed an increased odds of plaques with increases in depressive symptoms, particularly in women and patients ≤55 yrs. Conclusions: In our cohort, the BDI score is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis beyond classical risk factors. Thus, depression might be an independent risk factor which may improve risk stratification if considered in ASCVD risk prediction models, such as SCORE2. Furthermore, reminding clinicians to take mental health into consideration to identify individuals at increased atherosclerosis risk may provide added opportunities to address measures which can reduce the risk of ASCVD.

Association between subclinical atherosclerosis burden and unrecognized myocardial infarction detected by cardiac magnetic resonance in middle-aged low-risk adults

AIMS

Evidence on the association between subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) and cardiovascular (CV) events in low-risk populations is scant. To study the association between SA burden and an ischaemic scar (IS), identified by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), as a surrogate of CV endpoint, in a low-risk population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cohort of 712 asymptomatic middle-aged individuals from the Progression of Early SA (PESA-CNIC-Santander) study (median age 51 years, 84% male, median SCORE2 3.37) were evaluated on enrolment and at 3-year follow-up with 2D/3D vascular ultrasound (VUS) and coronary artery calcification scoring (CACS). A cardiac magnetic study (CMR) was subsequently performed and IS defined as the presence of subendocardial or transmural late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). On CMR, 132 (19.1%) participants had positive LGE, and IS was identified in 20 (2.9%) participants. Individuals with IS had significantly higher SCORE2 at baseline and higher CACS and peripheral SA burden (number of plaques by 2DVUS and plaque volume by 3DVUS) at both SA evaluations. High CACS and peripheral SA (number of plaques) burden were independently associated with the presence of IS, after adjusting for SCORE2 [OR for 3rd tertile, 8.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.85-24.2; P < 0.001; and 2.77; 95% CI, 1.02-7.51; P = 0.045, respectively] and provided significant incremental diagnostic value over SCORE2.

CONCLUSION

In a low-risk middle-aged population, SA burden (CAC and peripheral plaques) was independently associated with a higher prevalence of IS identified by CMR. These findings reinforce the value of SA evaluation to early implement preventive measures.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis (PESA) Study Identifier: NCT01410318.

Application of the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction in Clinical Practice in Scotland and Sweden

Importance

Whether the diagnostic classifications proposed by the universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI) to identify type 1 MI due to atherothrombosis and type 2 MI due to myocardial oxygen supply-demand imbalance have been applied consistently in clinical practice is unknown.

Objective

To evaluate the application of the universal definition of MI in consecutive patients with possible MI across 2 health care systems.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from 2 prospective cohorts enrolling consecutive patients with possible MI in Scotland (2013-2016) and Sweden (2011-2014) to assess accuracy of clinical diagnosis of MI recorded in hospital records for patients with an adjudicated diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 MI. Data were analyzed from August 2022 to February 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was the proportion of patients with a clinical diagnosis of MI recorded in the hospital records who had type 1 or type 2 MI, adjudicated by an independent panel according to the universal definition. Characteristics and risk of subsequent MI or cardiovascular death at 1 year were compared.

Results

A total of 50 356 patients were assessed. The cohort from Scotland included 28 783 (15 562 men [54%]; mean [SD] age, 60 [17] years), and the cohort from Sweden included 21 573 (11 110 men [51%]; mean [SD] age, 56 [17] years) patients. In Scotland, a clinical diagnosis of MI was recorded in 2506 of 3187 patients with an adjudicated diagnosis of type 1 MI (79%) and 122 of 716 patients with an adjudicated diagnosis of type 2 MI (17%). Similar findings were observed in Sweden, with 970 of 1111 patients with adjudicated diagnosis of type 1 MI (87%) and 57 of 251 patients with adjudicated diagnosis of type 2 MI (23%) receiving a clinical diagnosis of MI. Patients with an adjudicated diagnosis of type 1 MI without a clinical diagnosis were more likely to be women (eg, 336 women [49%] vs 909 women [36%] in Scotland; P < .001) and older (mean [SD] age, 71 [14] v 67 [14] years in Scotland, P < .001) and, when adjusting for competing risk from noncardiovascular death, were at similar or increased risk of subsequent MI or cardiovascular death compared with patients with a clinical diagnosis of MI (eg, 29% vs 18% in Scotland; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, the universal definition of MI was not consistently applied in clinical practice, with a minority of patients with type 2 MI identified, and type 1 MI underrecognized in women and older persons, suggesting uncertainty remains regarding the diagnostic criteria or value of the classification.

Sex Differences in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Importance

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare genetic condition characterized by extremely increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is more common than HoFH, and women with HeFH are diagnosed later and undertreated compared to men; it is unknown whether these sex differences also apply to HoFH.

Objective

To investigate sex differences in age at diagnosis, risk factors, lipid-lowering treatment, and ASCVD morbidity and mortality in patients with HoFH.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Sex-specific analyses for this retrospective cohort study were performed using data from the HoFH International Clinical Collaborators (HICC) registry, the largest global dataset of patients with HoFH, spanning 88 institutions across 38 countries. Patients with HoFH who were alive during or after 2010 were eligible for inclusion. Data entry occurred between February 2016 and December 2020. Data were analyzed from June 2022 to June 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Comparison between women and men with HoFH regarding age at diagnosis, presence of risk factors, lipid-lowering treatment, prevalence, and onset and incidence of ASCVD morbidity (myocardial infarction [MI], aortic stenosis, and combined ASCVD outcomes) and mortality.

Results

Data from 389 women and 362 men with HoFH from 38 countries were included. Women and men had similar age at diagnosis (median [IQR], 13 [6-26] years vs 11 [5-27] years, respectively), untreated LDL cholesterol levels (mean [SD], 579 [203] vs 596 [186] mg/dL, respectively), and cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, except smoking (38 of 266 women [14.3%] vs 59 of 217 men [27.2%], respectively). Prevalence of MI was lower in women (31 of 389 [8.0%]) than men (59 of 362 [16.3%]), but age at first MI was similar (mean [SD], 39 [13] years in women vs 38 [13] years in men). Treated LDL cholesterol levels and lipid-lowering therapy were similar in both sexes, in particular statins (248 of 276 women [89.9%] vs 235 of 258 men [91.1%]) and lipoprotein apheresis (115 of 317 women [36.3%] vs 118 of 304 men [38.8%]). Sixteen years after HoFH diagnosis, women had statistically significant lower cumulative incidence of MI (5.0% in women vs 13.7% in men; subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.66) and nonsignificantly lower all-cause mortality (3.0% in women vs 4.1% in men; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.40-1.45) and cardiovascular mortality (2.6% in women vs 4.1% in men; SHR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.44-1.75).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of individuals with known HoFH, MI was higher in men compared with women yet age at diagnosis and at first ASCVD event were similar. These findings suggest that early diagnosis and treatment are important in attenuating the excessive cardiovascular risk in both sexes.

Sex and ethnic differences in unrecognized myocardial infarctions: Observations on recognition and preventive therapies from the multiethnic population-based HELIUS cohort

Background

Epidemiological studies suggest sex differences in the prevalence and characteristics of unrecognized and recognized myocardial infarction (uMI, rMI). Despite increasingly diverse populations, observations are limited in multiethnic contexts. Gaining better understanding may inform policy makers and healthcare professionals on populations at risk of uMI who could benefit from preventive measures.

Methods

We used baseline data from the multiethnic population-based HELIUS cohort (2011-2015; Amsterdam, the Netherlands). Using logistic regressions, we studied sex differences in the prevalence and proportion of uMIs across ethnic groups. Next, we studied whether symptoms, clinical parameters, and sociocultural factors were associated with uMIs. Finally, we compared secondary preventive therapies in women and men with a uMI or rMI. We relied on pathological Q-waves on a resting electrocardiogram as the electrocardiographic signature for (past) MI.

Results

Overall, and in Turkish and Moroccan subgroups, the prevalence of uMIs was higher in men than women. The proportion of uMIs was similar in women (21.0%) and men (18.4%), yet varied by ethnicity. In women and men, symptoms (chest pain, dyspnea) and clinical parameters (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia), and in women also lower educational level and diabetes were associated with lower odds of uMIs. Women (0.0%) and men (3.6%) with uMI were unlikely to receive secondary preventive therapies compared to those with rMI (28.1-40.9%).

Conclusions

The prevalence of uMIs was higher in men than women, and sex differences in the proportion of uMIs varied somewhat across ethnic groups. People with uMIs did not receive adequate preventative medications, posing a risk for recurrent events.

Women, lipids, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a call to action from the European Atherosclerosis Society

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women and men globally, with most due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite progress during the last 30 years, ASCVD mortality is now increasing, with the fastest relative increase in middle-aged women. Missed or delayed diagnosis and undertreatment do not fully explain this burden of disease. Sex-specific factors, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, premature menopause (especially primary ovarian insufficiency), and polycystic ovary syndrome are also relevant, with good evidence that these are associated with greater cardiovascular risk. This position statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society focuses on these factors, as well as sex-specific effects on lipids, including lipoprotein(a), over the life course in women which impact ASCVD risk. Women are also disproportionately impacted (in relative terms) by diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and auto-immune inflammatory disease. All these effects are compounded by sociocultural components related to gender. This panel stresses the need to identify and treat modifiable cardiovascular risk factors earlier in women, especially for those at risk due to sex-specific conditions, to reduce the unacceptably high burden of ASCVD in women.

Characteristics of women with ischemic sudden cardiac death

BACKGROUND

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a significant mode of death causing 15-20% of all deaths in high-income countries. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of SCD in both sexes, and SCD is often the first manifestation of underlying CAD in women. This case-control study aimed to determine the factors associated with SCD due to CAD in women.

METHODS

The study group consisted of women with CAD-related SCD (N = 888) derived from the Fingesture study conducted in Northern Finland from 1998 to 2017. All SCDs underwent medicolegal autopsy. The control group consisted of women with angiographically verified CAD without SCD occurring during the 5-year-follow-up (N = 610). To compare these groups, we used medical records, autopsy findings, echocardiograms, and electrocardiograms (ECGs).

RESULTS

Subjects with SCD were older (73.2 ± 11.3 vs. 68.8 ± 8.0, p < 0.001) and were more likely to be smokers or ex-smokers (37.1% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.045) compared to control patients. The proportion of subjects with prior myocardial infarction (MI) was higher in controls (46.9% vs. 41.4% in SCD subjects, p = 0.037), but in contrast, SCD subjects were more likely to have underlying silent MI (25.6% vs. 2.4% in CAD controls, p < 0.001). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was more common finding in SCD subjects (70.9% vs. 55.1% in controls, p < 0.001). Various electrocardiographic abnormalities were more common in subjects with SCD, including higher heart rate, atrial fibrillation, prolonged QTc interval, wide or fragmented QRS complex and early repolarization. The prevalence of Q waves and T inversions did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Underlying LVH and previous MI with myocardial scarring are common and often undiagnosed in women with CAD-related SCD. These results suggest that untreated CAD with concomitant myocardial disease is an important factor in SCD in women.

Increased risk of acute myocardial infarction after COVID-19 recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Few studies have analyzed the incidence and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the post-acute phase of COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence and risk of AMI in COVID-19 survivors after SARS-CoV-2 infection by a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data.

METHODS

Data were obtained searching MEDLINE and Scopus for all studies published at any time up to September 1, 2022 and reporting the risk of incident AMI in patients recovered from COVID-19 infection. AMI risk was evaluated using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects models with Hazard ratio (HR) as the effect measure with 95% confidence interval (CI) while heterogeneity was assessed using Higgins and Thomson I2 statistic.

RESULTS

Among 2765 articles obtained by our search strategy, four studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for a total of 20,875,843 patients (mean age 56.1 years, 59.1% males). Of them, 1,244,604 had COVID-19 infection. Over a mean follow-up of 8.5 months, among COVID-19 recovered patients AMI occurred in 3.5 cases per 1.000 individuals compared to 2.02 cases per 1.000 individuals in the control cohort, defined as those who did not experience COVID-19 infection in the same period). COVID-19 patients showed an increased risk of incident AMI (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.65-2.26, p < 0.0001, I2 = 83.5%). Meta-regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of AMI was directly associated with age (p = 0.01) and male gender (p = 0.001), while an indirect relationship was observed when the length of follow-up was utilized as moderator (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 recovered patients had an increased risk of AMI.

Predicting protective gene biomarker of acute coronary syndrome by the circRNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA regulatory network

Background: The mortality and disability rates of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are quite high. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that plays an important role in the pathophysiology of ACS. Our goal is to screen circRNA-associated ceRNA networks for biomarker genes that are conducive to the diagnosis or exclusion of ACS, and better understand the pathology of the disease through the analysis of immune cells. Materials and methods: RNA expression profiles for circRNAs (GSE197137), miRNAs (GSE31568), and mRNAs (GSE95368) were obtained from the GEO database, and differentially expressed RNAs (DEcircRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and DEmRNAs) were identified. The circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA regulatory links were retrieved from the CircInteractome database and TargetScan databases, respectively. As a final step, a regulatory network has been designed for ceRNA. On the basis of the ceRNA network, hub mRNAs were verified by quantitative RT-PCR. Hub genes were validated using a third independent mRNA database GSE60993, and ROC curves were used to evaluate their diagnostic values. The correlation between hub genes and immune cells associated with ACS was then analyzed using single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Results: A total of 17 DEcircRNAs, 229 DEmiRNAs, and 27 DEmRNAs were found, as well as 52 circRNA-miRNA pairings and 10 miRNA-mRNA pairings predicted. The ceRNA regulatory network (circRNA-miRNA-mRNA) was constructed, which included 2 circRNA (hsa_circ_0082319 and hsa_circ_0005654), 4 miRNA (hsa-miR-583, hsa-miR-661, hsa-miR-671-5p, hsa-miR-578), and 5 mRNA (XPNPEP1, UCHL1, DBNL, GPC6, and RAD51). The qRT-PCR analysis result showed that the XPNPEP1, UCHL1, GPC6 and RAD51 genes had a significantly decreased expression in ACS patients. Based on ROC curve analysis, we found that XPNPEP1 has important significance in preventing ACS occurrence and excluding ACS diagnosis. ACS immune infiltration analysis revealed significant correlations between the other 3 hub genes (UCHL1, GPC6, RAD51) and the immune cells (Eosinophils, T folliculars, Type 2 T helper cells, and Imumature dendritic cells). Conclusion: Our study constructed a circRNA-related ceRNA network in ACS. The XPNPEP1 gene could be a protective gene biomarker for ACS. The UCHL1, GPC6 and RAD51 genes were significantly correlated with immune cells in ACS.

Association between symptoms and risk of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction according to age and sex in patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome: a single-centre retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the association between symptoms and risk of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients admitted to an emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome based on sex and age.

DESIGN

Post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study conducted between September 2015 and May 2019.

SETTING

University hospital in Norway.

PARTICIPANTS

1506 participants >18 years of age (39.6% women and 31.0% 70 years of age or older).

FINDINGS

The OR for NSTEMI was 9.4 if pain radiated to both arms, 3.0 if exertional chest pain was present during the last week and 2.9 if pain occurred during activity. Men had significantly lower OR compared with women if pain was dependent of position, respiration or palpation (OR 0.17 vs 0.53, p value for interaction 0.047). Patients <70 years had higher predictive value than older patients if they reported exertional chest pain the last week (OR 4.08 vs 1.81, 95%, p value for interaction 0.025) and lower if pain radiated to the left arm (OR 0.73 vs 1.67, p value for interaction 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Chest pain with radiation to both arms, exertional chest pain during the last week and pain during activity had the strongest predictive value for NSTEMI. The differences in symptom presentation and risk of NSTEMI between sex and age groups were small.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

WESTCOR study ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02620202).

Low Pain Tolerance Is Associated With Coronary Angiography, Coronary Artery Disease, and Mortality: The Tromsø Study

Background

The initial presentation to coronary angiography and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) vary greatly among patients, from ischemia with no obstructive CAD to myocardial infarction with 3‐vessel disease. Pain tolerance has been suggested as a potential mechanism for the variation in presentation of CAD. We aimed to investigate the association between pain tolerance, coronary angiography, CAD, and death.

Methods and Results

We identified 9576 participants in the Tromsø Study (2007–2008) who completed the cold‐pressor pain test, and had no prior history of CAD. The median follow‐up time was 10.4 years. We applied Cox‐regression models with age as time‐scale to calculate hazard ratios (HR). More women than men aborted the cold pressor test (39% versus 23%). Participants with low pain tolerance had 19% increased risk of coronary angiography (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.03–1.38]) and 22% increased risk of obstructive CAD (HR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.01–1.47]) adjusted by age as time‐scale and sex. Among women who underwent coronary angiography, low pain tolerance was associated with 54% increased risk of obstructive CAD (HR, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.09–2.18]) compared with high pain tolerance. There was no association between pain tolerance and nonobstructive CAD or clinical presentation to coronary angiography (ie, stable angina, unstable angina, and myocardial infarction). Participants with low pain tolerance had increased risk of mortality after adjustment for CAD and cardiovascular risk factors (HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.19–1.64]).

Conclusions

Low cold pressor pain tolerance is associated with a higher risk of coronary angiography and death.

MIKB: A manually curated and comprehensive knowledge base for myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction knowledge base (MIKB; http://www.sysbio.org.cn/mikb/; latest update: December 31, 2020) is an open-access and manually curated database dedicated to integrating knowledge about MI to improve the efficiency of translational MI research. MIKB is an updated and expanded version of our previous MI Risk Knowledge Base (MIRKB), which integrated MI-related risk factors and risk models for providing help in risk assessment or diagnostic prediction of MI. The updated MIRKB includes 9701 records with 2054 single factors, 209 combined factors, 243 risk models, 37 MI subtypes and 3406 interactions between single factors and MIs collected from 4817 research articles. The expanded functional module, i.e. MIGD, is a database including not only MI associated genetic variants, but also the other multi-omics factors and the annotations for their functional alterations. The goal of MIGD is to provide a multi-omics level understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of MI. MIGD includes 1782 omics factors, 28 MI subtypes and 2347 omics factor-MI interactions as well as 1253 genes and 6 chromosomal alterations collected from 2647 research articles. The functions of MI associated genes and their interaction with drugs were analyzed. MIKB will be continuously updated and optimized to provide precision and comprehensive knowledge for the study of heterogeneous and personalized MI.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Admitted With Type 2 Myocardial Infarction

Type 2 myocardial infarction (Type 2 MI) is a common problem and carries a high diagnostic uncertainty. Large studies exploring outcomes in type 2 MI are lacking. Nationwide Readmission Database (2017) was queried using the International Classification of Diseases codes (ICD-10-CM) to identify type 2 MI patients. Characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, 30-day readmissions, and predictors of in-hospital mortality as well as 30-day readmissions were explored. We identified 21,738 patients with a diagnosis of type 2 MI. Most common primary diagnosis at presentation included infection/sepsis (27.5%), hypertensive heart disease (15.3%) and pulmonary diseases (8.5%). Overall, in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission for patients with type 2 MI were 9.0% and 19.1% respectively. On multivariable analysis, significant predictors of increased in-hospital mortality included male gender, coexisting atrial fibrillation/flutter, peripheral vascular disease, coagulopathy, malignancy, and fluid/electrolyte abnormalities. Significant predictors of 30-day readmission were coexisting diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation/ flutter, carotid artery stenosis, anemia, COPD, CKD and prior history of myocardial infarction, A primary diagnosis of sepsis, pulmonary issues including respiratory failure, neurological conditions including stroke carried highest risk of mortality however readmission risk was not influenced by primary diagnosis at presentation. In conclusion, approximately 1 in 10 patients admitted for type 2 MI died during admission, and nearly 1 in 5 patients were readmitted at 30 days after discharge. In-hospital mortality varied based on associated primary diagnosis at presentation. Proposed predictive model for mortality and 30-day readmission in our study can help to target high risk patients for post-Type 2 MI care.

Prevalence of unrecognized or "silent" myocardial ischemia in chronic kidney disease patients: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at an extremely high risk of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI). However, there is a dearth of evidence on the worldwide prevalence of this very lethal and yet unrecognizable complication of CKD. The proposed systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the global prevalence of SMI among CKD patients.

METHODS AND ANALYSES

This protocol was conceived according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. The systematic review will involve all observational studies and clinical trials published until April 30, 2021, and reporting on the prevalence of SMI in CKD patients. Electronic sources including MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews will be perused for potentially eligible studies, restricted to only studies published in English or French. Two investigators will independently select studies and use a pre-pilot tested form to extract data. Further, they will independently perform a qualitative assessment of the risk of bias and overall quality of the selected studies, followed by a quantitative assessment using funnel plots and Egger's tests. The heterogeneity between studies will be assessed with the Cochrane's Q statistic, and the I2 statistic will measure the percentage of variation across studies that is due to their heterogeneity rather than chance; the I2 will decide if a meta-analysis can be conducted. In case it cannot be conducted, a descriptive analysis will be performed. Otherwise, study-specific estimates will be pooled using either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model, depending on the value of the I2 statistic. Subgroup and random effects meta-regression analyses will further investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. Finally, sensitivity analyses will be performed to measure the impact of low-quality studies on the results of the meta-analysis, and power calculations will determine the probability that we will detect a true effect if it does exist.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020211929.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

The intended systematic review and meta-analysis will fill the knowledge gap on the global prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) in CKD patients. The eligible studies will be identified through a methodic literature search followed by a rigorous screening process; we will then use robust meta-analysis tools to pool the data and provide reliable estimates of the global prevalence of SMI in CKD patients. Two major limitations could be: the predominance of clinical trials that might limit the generalizability of the findings, given that some informative patients might have been sidelined by the strict inclusion criteria of these studies; the high probability of type 1 error originating from the important number of subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

Prevalence of asymptomatic or "silent" myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Myocardial ischemia (MI) is a top ranked cause of death among diabetic patients, yet it is mostly asymptomatic or "silent". There is a need for summary epidemiologic measures on this highly lethal and unnoticeable complication of diabetes. The proposed systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate of the global prevalence of silent MI among diabetic patients.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol was prepared according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. The systematic review will include all observational studies published until March 23, 2021 and reporting on the prevalence of silent MI in diabetic patients. Electronic sources including MEDLINE(PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science will be searched for potentially eligible studies, restricted to only studies published in English. Two investigators will select studies and use a pre-pilot tested form to extract data. Further, they will independently perform a qualitative assessment of the risk of bias and overall quality of the selected studies, followed by a quantitative assessment using funnel plots and Egger's tests. The heterogeneity between studies will be assessed with the Cochrane's Q statistic, and the I2 statistic will measure the percentage of variation across studies that is due to their heterogeneity rather than chance; it will decide if a meta-analysis can be conducted. In case a meta-analysis cannot be conducted, a descriptive analysis will be performed. Otherwise, study-specific estimates will be pooled using either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model depending on the value of the I2 statistic. Subgroup and random effects meta-regression analyses will be used to further investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. Finally, sensitivity analyses will be performed to measure the impact of low-quality studies on the results of the meta-analysis, and power calculations will determine the probability that we will detect a true effect if it does exist.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

The intended review will provide an up-to-date summary of the global prevalence of silent MI in diabetic patients. We will conduct a thorough literature search for eligible studies, and we will use robust meta-analysis tools to provide reliable estimates of the global prevalence of silent MI in diabetic patients. Two major limitations could be: the predominance of clinical trials that might limit the generalizability of the findings, given that the strict inclusion criteria of these studies might have excluded other patients; the risk of type 1 error emanating from the high number of subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019138136.

Missed acute myocardial infarction: an underrecognized problem that contributes to poor patient outcomes

Ischemic heart disease is the number one killer in the world. While improvements in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have resulted in lower mortality rates, there are still cases where AMI is missed with rates varying depending on the setting where the evaluation took place, the population sample, the definition of missed AMI and timing of evaluation. There is consistent evidence that missed AMI is associated with increased risk of complications and mortality. Many factors contribute to missed AMI which include patient factors, clinician factors and institutional factors. While several studies have been conducted to evaluate missed AMI, there is considerable heterogeneity in methodology, which has resulted in variable rates of missed AMI and the factors associated with missed AMI. In this review, we provide an overview on missed AMI discussing rates reported in the literature, why it is important, reasons why it occurs, some of the challenges in evaluating missed AMI and what could potentially be done to reduce these undesirable outcomes for patients.

Silent Myocardial Infarction and Subsequent Ischemic Stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that silent myocardial infarction (MI) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, we evaluated the association between silent MI and subsequent ischemic stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

METHODS

The Cardiovascular Health Study prospectively enrolled community-dwelling individuals ≥65 years of age. We included participants without prevalent stroke or baseline evidence of MI. Our exposures were silent and clinically apparent, overt MI. Silent MI was defined as new evidence of Q-wave MI, without clinical symptoms of MI, on ECGs performed during annual study visits from 1989 to 1999. The primary outcome was incident ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes were ischemic stroke subtypes: nonlacunar, lacunar, and other/unknown. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to model the association between time-varying MI status (silent, overt, or no MI) and stroke after adjustment for baseline demographics and vascular risk factors.

RESULTS

Among 4,224 participants, 362 (8.6%) had an incident silent MI, 421 (10.0%) an incident overt MI, and 377 (8.9%) an incident ischemic stroke during a median follow-up of 9.8 years. After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, silent MI was independently associated with subsequent ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.21). Overt MI was associated with ischemic stroke both in the short term (HR, 80; 95% CI, 53-119) and long term (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.04-2.44). In secondary analyses, the association between silent MI and stroke was limited to nonlacunar ischemic stroke (HR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.36-4.22).

CONCLUSION

In a community-based sample, we found an association between silent MI and ischemic stroke.

Aortic Valve Calcification Is Associated with Future Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND

While an association between atherosclerosis and dementia has been identified, few studies have assessed the longitudinal relationship between aortic valve calcification (AVC) and cognitive impairment (CI).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine whether AVC derived from lung cancer screening CT (LCSCT) was associated with CI in a moderate-to-high atherosclerotic risk cohort.

METHODS

This was a single site, retrospective analysis of 1401 U.S. veterans (65 years [IQI: 61, 68] years; 97%male) who underwent quantification of AVC from LCSCT indicated for smoking history. The primary outcome was new diagnosis of CI identified by objective testing (Mini-Mental Status Exam or Montreal Cognitive Assessment) or by ICD coding. Time-to-event analysis was carried out using AVC as a continuous variable.

RESULTS

Over 5 years, 110 patients (8%) were diagnosed with CI. AVC was associated with new diagnosis of CI using 3 Models for adjustment: 1) age (HR: 1.104; CI: 1.023-1.191; p = 0.011); 2) Model 1 plus hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, CKD stage 3 or higher (glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min) and CAD (HR: 1.097; CI: 1.014-1.186; p = 0.020); and 3) Model 2 plus CVA (HR: 1.094; CI: 1.011-1.182; p = 0.024). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the association between AVC and new diagnosis of CI remained significant upon exclusion of severe AVC (HR: 1.100 [1.013-1.194]; p = 0.023). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that this association remained significant when including education in the multivariate analysis (HR: 1.127 [1.030-1.233]; p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

This is the first study demonstrating that among mostly male individuals who underwent LCSCT, quantified aortic valve calcification is associated with new diagnosis of CI.

Association Between Silent Myocardial Infarction and Long-Term Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

Background Although silent myocardial infarction (SMI) is prognostically important, the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among patients with incident SMI is not well established. Methods and Results We examined 2 community-based cohorts: the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study (n=13 725) and the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) (n=5207). Incident SMI was defined as electrocardiographic evidence of new myocardial infarction during follow-up visits that was not present at the baseline. The primary study end point was physician-adjudicated SCD. In the ARIC study, 513 SMIs, 441 clinically recognized myocardial infarctions (CMIs), and 527 SCD events occurred during a median follow-up of 25.4 years. The multivariable hazard ratios of SMI and CMI for SCD were 5.20 (95% CI, 3.81-7.10) and 3.80 (95% CI, 2.76-5.23), respectively. In the CHS, 1070 SMIs, 632 CMIs, and 526 SCD events occurred during a median follow-up of 12.1 years. The multivariable hazard ratios of SMI and CMI for SCD were 1.70 (95% CI, 1.32-2.19) and 4.08 (95% CI, 3.29-5.06), respectively. The pooled hazard ratios of SMI and CMI for SCD were 2.65 (2.18-3.23) and 3.99 (3.34-4.77), respectively. The risk of SCD associated with SMI is stronger with White individuals, men, and younger age. The population-attributable fraction of SCD was 11.1% for SMI, and SMI was associated with an absolute risk increase of 8.9 SCDs per 1000 person-years. Addition of SMI significantly improved the predictive power for both SCD and non-SCD. Conclusions Incident SMI is independently associated with an increased risk of SCD in the general population. Additional research should address screening for SMI and the role of standard post-myocardial infarction therapy.

Sex-Based Differences in Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction

Background

Myocardial infarction is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in both men and women. Atypical or the absence of symptoms, more prevalent among women, may contribute to unrecognized myocardial infarctions and missed opportunities for preventive therapies. The aim of this research is to investigate sex‐based differences of undiagnosed myocardial infarction in the general population.

Methods and Results

In the Lifelines Cohort Study, all individuals ≥18 years with a normal baseline ECG were followed from baseline visit till first follow‐up visit (≈5 years, n=97 203). Individuals with infarct‐related changes between baseline and follow‐up ECGs were identified. The age‐ and sex‐specific incidence rates were calculated and sex‐specific cardiac symptoms and predictors of unrecognized myocardial infarction were determined. Follow‐up ECG was available after a median of 3.8 (25th and 75th percentile: 3.0–4.6) years. During follow‐up, 198 women experienced myocardial infarction (incidence rate 1.92 per 1000 persons‐years) compared with 365 men (incidence rate 3.30; P<0.001 versus women). In 59 (30%) women, myocardial infarction was unrecognized compared with 60 (16%) men (P<0.001 versus women). Individuals with unrecognized myocardial infarction less often reported specific cardiac symptoms compared with individuals with recognized myocardial infarction. Predictors of unrecognized myocardial infarction were mainly hypertension, smoking, and higher blood glucose level.

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of myocardial infarctions are unrecognized, especially in women. Opportunities for secondary preventive therapies remain underutilized if myocardial infarction is unrecognized.

Prognosis of unrecognised myocardial infarction determined by electrocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognosis of unrecognised myocardial infarction determined by electrocardiography (UMI-ECG) or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (UMI-CMR).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar.

STUDY SELECTION

Prospective cohort studies were included if they reported adjusted relative risks, odds ratios, or hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all cause mortality or cardiovascular outcomes in participants with unrecognised myocardial infarction compared with those without myocardial infarction.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

The primary outcomes were composite major adverse cardiac events, all cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality associated with UMI-ECG and UMI-CMR. The secondary outcomes were the risks of recurrent coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Pooled hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported. The heterogeneity of outcomes was compared in clinically recognised and unrecognised myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 30 studies with 253 425 participants and 1 621 920 person years of follow-up. UMI-ECG was associated with increased risks of all cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.30 to 1.73), cardiovascular mortality (2.33, 1.66 to 3.27), and major adverse cardiac events (1.61, 1.38 to 1.89) compared with the absence of myocardial infarction. UMI-CMR was also associated with increased risks of all cause mortality (3.21, 1.43 to 7.23), cardiovascular mortality (10.79, 4.09 to 28.42), and major adverse cardiac events (3.23, 2.10 to 4.95). No major heterogeneity was observed for any primary outcomes between recognised myocardial infarction and UMI-ECG or UMI-CMR. The absolute risk differences were 7.50 (95% confidence interval 4.50 to 10.95) per 1000 person years for all cause mortality, 11.04 (5.48 to 18.84) for cardiovascular mortality, and 27.45 (17.1 to 40.05) for major adverse cardiac events in participants with UMI-ECG compared with those without myocardial infarction. The corresponding data for UMI-CMR were 32.49 (6.32 to 91.58), 37.2 (11.7 to 104.20), and 51.96 (25.63 to 92.04), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

UMI-ECG or UMI-CMR is associated with an adverse long term prognosis similar to that of recognised myocardial infarction. Screening for unrecognised myocardial infarction could be useful for risk stratification among patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Coronary artery disease prediction in women and men using chest pain characteristics and risk factors: an observational study in outpatient clinics

OBJECTIVES

To assess the diagnostic value of non-acute chest pain characteristics for coronary artery disease in women and men referred to outpatient cardiology clinics.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This is an observational study performed at outpatient cardiology centres of the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

The study population consisted of 1028 patients with non-acute chest pain (505 women).

ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

Twenty-four women (5%) and 75 men (15%) were diagnosed with coronary artery disease by invasive coronary angiography or CT angiography during regular care follow-up. Elastic net regression was performed to assess which chest pain characteristics and risk factors were of diagnostic value. The overall model selected age, provocation by temperature or stress, relief at rest and functional class as determinants and was accurate in both sexes (area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.85) in women and 0.83 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.88) in men). Both sex-specific models selected age, pressuring nature, radiation, duration, frequency, progress, provocation and relief at rest as determinants. The female model additionally selected dyspnoea, body mass index, hypertension and smoking while the male model additionally selected functional class and diabetes. The sex-specific models performed better than the overall model, but more so in women (AUC: 0.89, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.96) than in men (AUC: 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

In both sexes, the diagnostic value of non-acute chest pain characteristics and risk factors for coronary artery disease was high. Provocation, relief at rest and functional class of chest pain were the most powerful diagnostic predictors in both women and men. When stratified by sex the performance of the model improved, mostly in women.

Observed and Expected Survival in Men and Women After Suffering a STEMI

INTRODUCTION

Mortality caused by ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has declined because of greater use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is unknown if patients >75 have similar survival as peers. We aim to know it stratifying by sex and assessing how the sex may impact the survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively selected all patients >75 who suffered a STEMI treated with primary PCI at our institution. We compared their survival with that of the reference population (general population matched by age, sex, and geographical region). A Cox-regression analysis controlling for clinical factors was performed to know if sex was a risk factor.

RESULTS

Total of 450 patients were studied. Survival at 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up for patients who survived the first 30 days was 91.22% (CI95% 87.80-93.72), 79.71% (CI95% 74.58-83.92), and 68.02% (CI95% 60.66-74.3), whereas in the reference population it was 93.11%, 79.10%, and 65.01%, respectively. Sex was not a risk factor, Hazard Ratio = 1.02 (CI95% 0.67-1.53; p = 0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Life expectancy of patients suffering a STEMI is nowadays intimately linked to survival in the first 30 days. After one year, the risk of death for both men and women seems similar to that of the general population.

[Rivaroxaban in prevention of stroke in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation]

Data regarding efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban in prevention of stroke in elderly polymorbid patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation are presented. In this aspect results of randomized clinical trial in direct comparison of rivaroxaban and warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation ROCKET-AF are discussed. Results of rivaroxaban use in elderly patients in real medical practice are also considered.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with non-chest pain presentation at the Emergency Department: Insights from the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) often presents acutely at the Emergency Department (ED). Although chest pain is a classical symptom, a significant proportion of patients do not present with chest pain. The impact of a non-chest pain (NCP) presentation on ED processes-of-care and outcomes is not fully understood. We utilised a national registry to characterise predictors, processes-of-care, and outcomes of NCP STEMI presentations. Retrospective data for all STEMI cases occurring between 2010 and 2012 were analysed from the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry. Cases of inpatient onset, inter-facility transfers, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests were excluded. Univariable analysis of demographic, clinical, processes-of-care, and outcome variables was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression ascertained independent predictors of a NCP presentation and 28-day mortality. Of 4667 STEMI cases, 12.9% presented without chest pain. Patients with NCP presentation were older (median, years = 74 vs. 58; p < 0.001), more likely to be female (39.1% vs. 15.7%; p < 0.001), of the Chinese race (72.5% vs. 62.7%; p < 0.001), and with diabetes (48.6% vs. 36.7%; p < 0.001). These patients were more likely to present with syncope (6.0% vs. 1.9%; p < 0.001) or epigastric pain (10.6% vs. 4.9%; p < 0.001). Patients with NCP presentation were less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (27.0% vs. 75.6%; p < 0.001), had longer door-to-balloon time (median, minutes = 83 vs. 63; p < 0.001), and experienced greater mortality at 28 days (31.2% vs. 4.5%; p < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, independent predictors of a NCP presentation included age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.07), diabetes (aOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.40-2.19), BMI (aOR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.96), and dyslipidemia (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.91). Absence of chest pain was an independent predictor for 28-day mortality (aOR = 3.46, 95% CI 2.64-4.52). Patients who presented with a NCP STEMI had a distinct clinical profile and experienced poorer outcomes. Routine triage ECG could be considered for patients with high-risk factors and non-classical symptoms.

Association Between Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction and Cerebral Infarction on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Importance

It is uncertain whether unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is a risk factor for cerebral infarction.

Objective

To determine whether unrecognized MI detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with cerebral infarction.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a cross-sectional study of ICELAND MI, a cohort substudy of the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study conducted in Iceland. Enrollment occurred from January 2004 to January 2007 from a community-dwelling cohort of older Icelandic individuals. Participants aged 67 to 93 years who underwent both brain MRI and late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI were included. Data analysis was performed from September 2018 to March 2019.

Exposures

Unrecognized MI identified by cardiac MRI.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Unrecognized MI was defined as cardiac MRI evidence of MI without a history of clinically evident MI. Recognized MI was defined as cardiac MRI evidence of MI with a history of clinically evident MI. Cerebral infarctions on brain MRI were included regardless of associated symptoms. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between MI status (no MI, unrecognized MI, or recognized MI) and cerebral infarction after adjustment for demographic factors and vascular risk factors. In addition, we evaluated the association between unrecognized MI and embolic infarcts of undetermined source.

Results

Five enrolled participants had nondiagnostic brain MRI studies and were excluded. Among 925 participants, 480 (51.9%) were women; the mean (SD) age was 75.9 (5.3) years. There were 221 participants (23.9%) with cardiac MRI evidence of MI, of whom 68 had recognized MI and 153 unrecognized MI. There were 308 participants (33.3%) with brain MRI evidence of cerebral infarction; 93 (10.0%) had embolic infarcts of undetermined source. After adjustment for demographic factors and vascular risk factors, the likelihood (odds ratio) of having cerebral infarction was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.2-3.4; P = .01) for recognized MI and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.02-2.2; P = .04) for unrecognized MI. After adjustment for demographics and vascular risk factors, unrecognized MI was also associated with embolic infarcts of undetermined source (odds ratio, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.1-3.5]; P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance

In a population-based sample, we found an association between unrecognized MI and cerebral infarction. These findings suggest that unrecognized MI may be a novel risk factor for cardiac embolism and cerebral infarction.

Interrelations Between Serum Uric Acid, Silent Myocardial Infarction, and Mortality in the General Population

Whether elevated uric acid (UA) is associated with silent myocardial infarction (SMI) or whether their joint association predicts an increased risk of mortality has not been explored. This analysis included 6,323 participants (58.4 ± 13.1 years, 53.9% women, and 49.7% Non-Hispanic whites) without clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) from third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. SMI was defined as electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial infarction (MI) without a history of MI. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the cross-sectional association between baseline UA and SMI. Cox-proportional hazard analysis was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality with UA in the absence and presence of SMI. The higher baseline level of UA was associated with higher odds of baseline SMI. The prevalence of SMI was 0.79%, 1.18%, 1.59%, and 2.27% across the UA quartiles respectively; multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (95% CI): 2.37 (1.11 to 5.08) comparing the upper with lower quartile. During a median follow up of 14 years, there were 1916 all-cause death of whom 774 were CVD deaths. Compared with participants with the lowest UA quartile values and without SMI, those with highest UA had a 29% increased the risk of all-cause mortality (multivariable-adjusted HR: [95% CI]: 1.29 [1.10 to 1.51]). This risk increased by 107% in the presence of SMI (multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI): 2.07 (1.38 to 3.10)). Similar results were observed for CVD mortality. SMI carried an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality only in higher quartiles of UA. In conclusion, the strong association of UA with SMI and the additive effect of UA and SMI on mortality further support the potential role of UA as a marker of poor outcomes.

Trends in electrocardiographic abnormalities and risk of cardiovascular mortality in Lithuania, 1986-2015

Background

This study aimed to assess the trends in the prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities from 1986 to 2015 and impact of ECG abnormalities on risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Lithuanian population aged 40–64 years.

Methods

Data from four surveys carried out in Kaunas city and five randomly selected municipalities of Lithuania were analysed. A resting ECG was recorded and CVD risk factors were measured in each survey. ECG abnormalities were evaluated using Minnesota Code (MC). Trends in age-standardized prevalence of ECG abnormalities were estimated for both sexes. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for coronary heart disease (CHD) and CVD mortality. Net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement and other indices were used for evaluation of improvement in the prediction of CVD and CHD mortality risk after addition of ECG abnormalities variable to Cox models.

Results

From1986 to 2008, the decrease in the prevalence of Q-QS MC was observed in both genders. The prevalence of high R waves increased in men, while the prevalence of ST segment and T wave abnormalities as well as arrhythmias decreased in women. Ischemic changes and possible MI were associated with a 2.5-fold and 4.4-fold higher risk of death from CVD in men and 1.51-fold and 2.56-fold higher mortality risk from CVD in women as compared to individuals with marginal or no ECG abnormalities. The addition of ECG abnormalities to traditional CVD risk factors improved Cox regression models performance. According to NRI, 18.6% of men were correctly reclassified in CVD mortality prediction model and 25.2% of men - in CHD mortality prediction model.

Conclusions

the decreasing trends in the prevalence of ischemia on ECG in women and increasing trends in the prevalence of left VH in men were observed. ECG abnormalities were associated with higher risk of CVD mortality. The addition of ECG abnormalities to the prediction models modestly improved the prediction of CVD mortality beyond traditional CVD risk factors. The use of ECG as routine screening to identify high risk individuals for more intensive preventive interventions warrants further research.

High-Sensitivity Troponin Assays in Clinical Diagnostics of Acute Coronary Syndrome

Nowadays, measurement of cardiac troponins (cTn) in patient plasma is central for diagnosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). High-sensitivity (hs) immunoassays have been developed that can very precisely record slightly elevated and rising plasma concentrations of cTn very early after onset of clinical symptoms. Algorithms integrate measurements of hs-cTn at onset of clinical symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 1 or 3 h after onset, to rule-in and rule-out AMI patients. More and more point-of-care (POC) cTn assays conquer the diagnostic market, but thorough clinical validation studies are required before potential implementation of such POC tests into hospital settings. This review provides an overview of the technical aspects, as well as diagnostic and prognostic use of cardiac troponins in AMI patients and in the healthy population.

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Dementia

Dementia, characterized by a progressive cognitive decline and a cumulative inability to behave independently, is highly associated with other diseases. Various cardiovascular disorders, such as coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, are well-known risk factors for dementia. Currently, increasing evidence suggests that sex factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases, including cardiovascular disease and dementia. Recent studies show that nearly two-thirds of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are women; however, the incidence difference between men and women remains vague. Therefore, studies are needed to investigate sex-specific differences, which can help understand the pathophysiology of dementia and identify potential therapeutic targets for both sexes. In the present review, we summarize sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of dementia by subtypes. This review also describes sex differences in the risk factors of dementia and examines the impact of risk factors on the incidence of dementia in both sexes.

Small and large vessel disease in persons with unrecognized compared to recognized myocardial infarction: The Tromsø Study 2007-2008

BACKGROUND

Unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is a frequent condition with unknown underlying reason. We hypothesized the lack of recognition of MI is related to pathophysiology, specifically differences in underlying small and large vessel disease.

METHODS

6128 participants were examined with retinal photography, ultrasound of the carotid artery and a 12‑lead electrocardiography (ECG). Small vessel disease was defined as narrower retinal arterioles and/or wider retinal venules measured on retinal photographs. Large vessel disease was defined as carotid artery pathology. We defined unrecognized MI as ECG-evidence of MI without a clinically recognized event. We analyzed the cross-sectional relationship between MI recognition and markers of small and large vessel disease, adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS

Unrecognized MI was present in 502 (8.2%) and recognized MI in 326 (5.3%) of the 6128 participants. Compared to recognized MI, unrecognized MI was associated with small vessel disease indicated by narrower retinal arterioles (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.05-2.62, highest vs. lowest quartile). Unrecognized MI was less associated with wider retinal venules (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.87, lowest vs. highest quartile). Compared to recognized MI, unrecognized MI was less associated with large vessel disease indicated by presence of plaque in the carotid artery (OR for presence of carotid artery plaque in unrecognized MI 0.51, 95% CI 0.37-0.69). No significant sex interaction was present.

CONCLUSIONS

Unrecognized MI was more associated with small vessel disease and less associated with large vessel disease compared to recognized MI. These findings suggest that the pathophysiology behind unrecognized and recognized MI may differ.

Sex-Specific Versus Overall Clinical Decision Limits for Cardiac Troponin I and T for the Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The overall clinical decision limits of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI; 26 ng/L) and T (hs-cTnT; 14 ng/L) may contribute to underdiagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in women. We performed a systematic review to investigate sex-specific and overall 99th percentiles of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT derived from healthy reference populations.

CONTENT

We searched in PubMed and EMBASE for original studies, and by screening reference lists. Reference populations designed to establish 99th percentiles of hs-cTnI (Abbott) and/or hs-cTnT (Roche), published between January 2009 and October 2017, were included. Sex-specific and overall 99th percentile values of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT were compared with overall clinical decision ranges (hs-cTnI, 23-30 ng/L; hs-cTnT, 13-25 ng/L). Twenty-eight studies were included in the systematic review. Of 16 hs-cTnI and 18 hs-cTnT studies, 14 (87.5%) and 11 (61.1%) studies reported lower female-specific hs-cTn cutoffs than overall clinical decision ranges, respectively. Conversely, male-specific thresholds of both hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT were in line with currently used overall thresholds, particularly hs-cTnT (90% concordance). The variation of estimated overall 99th percentiles was much higher for hs-cTnI than hs-cTnT (29.4% vs 80.0% of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT studies reported values within the current overall clinical decision range, respectively).

SUMMARY

Our data show substantially lower female-specific upper reference limits of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT than overall clinical decision limits of 26 ng/L and 14 ng/L, respectively. The statistical approach strongly affects the hs-cTnI threshold. Downward adjustment of hs-cTn thresholds in women may be warranted to reduce underdiagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in women.

Sex-Related Aspects of Biomarkers in Cardiac Disease

Biomarkers play an important role in the clinical management of cardiac care. In particular, cardiac troponins (cTn) and natriuretic peptides are the cornerstones for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF), respectively. Current guidelines do not make a distinction between women and men. However, the commonly used "one size fits all" algorithms are topic of debate to improve assessment of prognosis, particularly in women. Due to the high-sensitivity assays (hs-cTn), lower cTn levels (and 99th percentile upper reference limits) were observed in women as compared with men. Sex-specific diagnostic thresholds may improve the diagnosis of AMI in women, though clinical relevance remains controversial and more trials are needed. Also other diagnostic aspects are under investigation, like combined biomarkers approach and rapid measurement strategies. For the natriuretic peptides, previous studies observed higher concentrations in women than in men, especially in premenopausal women who might benefit from the cardioprotective actions. Contrary to hs-cTn, natriuretic peptides are particularly incorporated in the ruling-out algorithms for the diagnosis of HF and not ruling-in. Clinical relevance of sex differences here seems marginal, as clinical research has shown that negative predictive values for ruling-out HF were hardly effected when applying a universal diagnostic threshold that is independent from sex or other risk factors. Apart from the diagnostic issues of AMI in women, we believe that in the future most sex-specific benefits of cardiac biomarkers can be obtained in patient follow-up (guiding therapy) and prognostic applications, fitting modern ideas on preventive and personalized medicine.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Cardiac Diseases. An Urgent Need for Integrated Care

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health issue with high social and economic costs. Concomitant chronic cardiac disorders are frequent in patients with COPD, likely owing to shared risk factors (e.g., aging, cigarette smoke, inactivity, persistent low-grade pulmonary and systemic inflammation) and add to the overall morbidity and mortality of patients with COPD. The prevalence and incidence of cardiac comorbidities are higher in patients with COPD than in matched control subjects, although estimates of prevalence vary widely. Furthermore, cardiac diseases contribute to disease severity in patients with COPD, being a common cause of hospitalization and a frequent cause of death. The differential diagnosis may be challenging, especially in older and smoking subjects complaining of unspecific symptoms, such as dyspnea and fatigue. The therapeutic management of patients with cardiac and pulmonary comorbidities may be similarly challenging: bronchodilators may have cardiac side effects, and, vice versa, some cardiac medications should be used with caution in patients with lung disease. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence of the relationship between COPD and the three most frequent and important cardiac comorbidities in patients with COPD: ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. We have chosen a practical approach, first summarizing relevant epidemiological and clinical data, then discussing the diagnostic and screening procedures, and finally evaluating the impact of lung-heart comorbidities on the therapeutic management of patients with COPD and heart diseases.

Prevalence of Conventional Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes in Slovakia

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major health problem and the leading cause of death and disability in Slovakia. This is the first study to describe the prevalence rate of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in patients hospitalized for ACS.

METHODS

Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and cigarette smoking were documented in 1,567 cases (mean age, SD: 66.1±12.0 years, 34.8% of females) enrolled in the SLOVAKS registry from August 2011 through September 2011.

RESULTS

Overall, 83.5% (95% CI, 81.6-85.2%) of the patients with ACS had hypertension, 65.0% (62.5-67.2%) had a hyperlipidemic profile, 32.6% (30.3-34.9%) were diagnosed with diabetes, and 27.6% (25.1-29.8%) were smokers at the time of a heart-related event. Only 5% of patients with ACS lacked any of the 4 conventional risk factors. Higher prevalence rates of all major risk factors, except smoking, were detected in women than in men, in older (≥65 years of age) than younger patients, and in rural (<2,000 inhabitants) than in urban areas. Premature ACS (<45 years of age) was associated with smoking in men, and smoking and hypertension in women. Smoking, in all risk factor combinations, reduced the age at the time of a heart-related event, on average, by 10.0 years in men and by 12.4 years in women.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest an appreciable burden of major cardiovascular risk factors and also highlight differences that may aid the targeting of public health interventions.

Electrocardiographic QRS-T angle and the risk of incident silent myocardial infarction in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study

BACKGROUND

Silent myocardial infarction (SMI) accounts for about half of the total number of MIs, and is associated with poor prognosis as is clinically documented MI (CMI). The electrocardiographic (ECG) spatial QRS/T angle has been a strong predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. Whether spatial QRS/T angle also is predictive of SMI, and the easy-to-obtain frontal QRS/T angle will show similar association are currently unknown.

METHODS

We examined the association between the spatial and frontal QRS/T angles, separately, with incident SMI among 9498 participants (mean age 54years, 57% women, and 20% African-American), who were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline (visit 1, 1987-1989) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Incident SMI was defined as MI occurring after the baseline until visit 4 (1996-1998) without CMI. The frontal plane QRS/T angle was defined as the absolute difference between QRS axis and T axis. Values greater than the sex-specific 95th percentiles of the QRS/T angles were considered wide (abnormal).

RESULTS

A total of 317 (3.3%) incident SMIs occurred during a 9-year median follow-up. In a model adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors and potential confounders, both abnormal frontal (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.58-3.29) and spatial (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.44-3.06) QRS/T angles were associated with an over 2-fold increased risk of incident SMI. Similar patterns of associations were observed when the results were stratified by sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Both frontal and spatial QRS/T angles are predicative of SMI suggesting a potential use for these markers in identifying individuals at risk.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Trajectories Are Associated With Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Results From the Doetinchem Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Earlier age at menopause is widely considered to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain undetermined. Indications suggest that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), an ovarian reserve marker, plays a physiological role outside of the reproductive system. Therefore, we investigated whether longitudinal AMH decline trajectories are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurrence.

METHODS

This study included 3108 female participants between 20 and 60 years of age at baseline of the population-based Doetinchem Cohort. Participants completed ≥1 of 5 consecutive quinquennial visits between 1987 and 2010, resulting in a total follow-up time of 20 years. AMH was measured in 8507 stored plasma samples. Information on total CVD, stroke, and coronary heart disease was obtained through a hospital discharge registry linkage. The association of AMH trajectories with CVD was quantified with joint modeling, with adjustment for age, smoking, oral contraceptive use, body mass index, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone therapy use, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels.

RESULTS

By the end of follow-up, 8.2% of the women had suffered from CVD, 4.9% had suffered from coronary heart disease, and 2.6% had experienced a stroke. After adjustment, each ng/mL lower _logAMH level was associated with a 21% higher risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.36) and a 26% higher risk of coronary heart disease (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.46). Each additional ng/mL/year decrease of _logAMH was associated with a significantly higher risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.87) and coronary heart disease (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.12). No association between AMH and stroke was found.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that AMH trajectories in women are independently associated with CVD risk. Therefore, we postulate that the decline of circulating AMH levels may be part of the pathophysiology of the increased cardiovascular risk of earlier menopause. Confirmation of this association and elucidation of its underlying mechanisms are needed to place these results in a clinical perspective.

Pain Tolerance in Persons With Recognized and Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is a prevalent condition associated with a similar risk of death as recognized MI. It is unknown why some persons experience MI with few or no symptoms; however, one possible explanation is attenuated pain sensitivity. To our knowledge, no previous study has examined the association between pain sensitivity and recognition of MI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study with 4849 included participants who underwent the cold pressor test (a common experimental pain assay) and ECG. Unrecognized MI was present in 387 (8%) and recognized MI in 227 (4.7%) participants. Participants with unrecognized MI endured the cold pressor test significantly longer than participants with recognized MI (hazard ratio for aborting the cold pressor test, 0.64; CI, 0.47-0.88), adjusted for age and sex. The association was attenuated and borderline significant after multivariable adjustment. The association between unrecognized MI and lower pain sensitivity was stronger in women than in men, and statistically significant in women only, but interaction testing was not statistically significant (P for interaction=0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that persons who experience unrecognized MI have reduced pain sensitivity compared with persons who experience recognized MI. This may partially explain the lack of symptoms associated with unrecognized MI.

Prevalence and incidence of Q-wave unrecognized myocardial infarction in general population: Diagnostic value of the electrocardiogram. The REGICOR study

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) remains an open question in epidemiological and clinical studies, inhibiting effective secondary prevention of myocardial infarction. We aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of Q-wave UMI in asymptomatic individuals aged 35 to 74years, and to ascertain the positive predictive value (PPV) of asymptomatic Q-wave to diagnose UMI.

METHODS

Two population-based cross-sectional studies were conducted, in 2000 (with 10-year follow-up) and in 2005. A baseline electrocardiogram was obtained for each participant. Imaging techniques (echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computerized tomography) were used to confirm UMI in patients with asymptomatic Q-wave.

RESULTS

The prevalence of confirmed Q-wave UMI in the 5580 participants was 0.18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.33) and the incidence rate was 27.1 Q-wave UMI per 100,000person-years. The proportion of confirmed Q-wave UMI with respect to all prevalent MI was 8.1% (95% CI: 4.4-14.2). The PPV of asymptomatic Q-wave to diagnose Q-wave UMI was 29.2% (95% CI: 18.2-43.2%) overall, but much higher (75%, 95% CI: 40.9-92.9%) in participants with 10-year CHD risk ≥10%, compared to lower-risk participants.

CONCLUSION

Opportunistic identification of asymptomatic Q-waves by routine electrocardiogram overestimates actual Q-wave UMI, which represents 8% to 13% of all myocardial infarction in the population aged 35 to 74years. This overestimation is particularly high in the population at low cardiovascular risk. In epidemiological studies and in clinical practice, diagnosis of a pathologic Q-wave in asymptomatic patients requires detailed analysis of imaging tests to confirm or rule out myocardial necrosis.

Epidemiology of coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome

The aim of this review is to summarize the incidence, prevalence, trend in mortality, and general prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) and a related condition, acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although CHD mortality has gradually declined over the last decades in western countries, this condition still causes about one-third of all deaths in people older than 35 years. This evidence, along with the fact that mortality from CHD is expected to continue increasing in developing countries, illustrates the need for implementing effective primary prevention approaches worldwide and identifying risk groups and areas for possible improvement.

The long-term risk of recognized and unrecognized myocardial infarction for depression in older men

BACKGROUND

The association between myocardial infarction (MI) and depression is well described. Yet, the underlying mechanisms are unclear and the contribution of psychological factors is uncertain. We aimed to determine the risk of recognized (RMI) and unrecognized (UMI) myocardial infections on depression, as both have a similar impact on cardiovascular health but differ in psychological epiphenomena.

METHOD

Participants of the Rotterdam Study, 1823 men aged ⩾55 years, were followed for the occurrence of depression. RMI and UMI were ascertained using electrocardiography and medical history at baseline. We determined the strength of the association of RMI and UMI with mortality, and we studied the relationship of RMI and UMI with depressive symptoms and the occurrence of major depression.

RESULTS

The risk of mortality was similar in men with RMI [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45-2.03] and UMI (aHR 1.58, 95% CI 1.27-1.97). Men with RMI had on average [unstandardized regression coefficient (B) 1.14, 95% CI 0.07-2.21] higher scores for depressive symptoms. By contrast, we found no clear association between UMI and depressive symptoms (B 0.55, 95% CI -0.51 to 1.62) in men. Analysis including occurrence of major depression as the outcome were consistent with the pattern of association.

CONCLUSION

The discrepant association of RMI and UMI with mortality compared to depression suggests that the psychological burden of having experienced an MI contributes to the long-term risk of depression.

Race and Sex Differences in the Incidence and Prognostic Significance of Silent Myocardial Infarction in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

BACKGROUND

Race and sex differences in silent myocardial infarction (SMI) are not well established.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The analysis included 9498 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study who were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline (visit 1, 1987-1989). Incident SMI was defined as ECG evidence of MI without clinically documented MI (CMI) after the baseline until ARIC visit 4 (1996-1998). Coronary heart disease and all-cause deaths were ascertained starting from ARIC visit 4 until 2010. During a median follow-up of 8.9 years, 317 participants (3.3%) developed SMI and 386 (4.1%) developed CMI. The incidence rates of both SMI and CMI were higher in men (5.08 and 7.96 per 1000-person years, respectively) than in women (2.93 and 2.25 per 1000-person years, respectively; P<0.0001 for both). Blacks had a nonsignificantly higher rate of SMI than whites (4.45 versus 3.69 per 1000-person years; P=0.217), but whites had higher rate of CMI than blacks (5.04 versus 3.24 per 1000-person years; P=0.002). SMI and CMI (compared with no MI) were associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease death (hazard ratio, 3.06 [95% confidence interval, 1.88-4.99] and 4.74 [95% confidence interval, 3.26-6.90], respectively) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.34 [95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.65] and 1.55 [95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.85], respectively). However, SMI and CMI were associated with increased mortality among both men and women, with potentially greater increased risk among women (interaction P=0.089 and 0.051, respectively). No significant interactions by race were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

SMI represents >45% of incident MIs and is associated with poor prognosis. Race and sex differences in the incidence and prognostic significance of SMI exist that may warrant considering SMI in personalized assessments of coronary heart disease risk.