Towards risk factor assessment in inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy: the SFB/TR 19 study

Is There a Cardiotoxicity Associated With Metallic Head Hip Prostheses? A Cohort Study in the French National Health Insurance Databases

BACKGROUND

There are four distinguishable types of THA devices in wide use, as defined by the femoral and acetabular bearing surfaces: metal-on-polyethylene (MoP), ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP), metal-on-metal (MoM), and ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC). Metallic head THAs (MoP and MoM) can potentially induce cardiac toxicity because cobalt species, generated at the head-neck trunnion, and in the case of MoM devices, at the articular surface as well, can be absorbed systemically. However, studies have provided inconsistent results.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or heart failure (HF) associated with metallic head THAs using data from the French national health insurance databases.

METHODS

Between 2008 and 2011 in France, 399,968 patients ≥ 55 years had a first THA. A total of 127,481 were excluded after we applied the exclusion criteria regarding arthroplasty and 17,137 as a result of a history of DCM/HF, recorded in the French national health insurance reimbursement databases, between January 1, 2006, and the date of inclusion. The final cohort included 255,350 individuals (43% men; mean age 72 ± 9 years). Of them, 93,581 (37%) had been implanted with MoP, 58,095 (23%) with CoP, 11,298 (4%) with MoM, and 92,376 (36%) with CoC THAs. Patients were followed until December 2015. Patients with incident DCM/HF were identified by a new entitlement to the long-term disease scheme or a first hospitalization with a diagnosis of DCM or HF. MoP and CoP THAs are generally implanted in old patients, whereas MoM and CoC are mostly indicated in young, active male patients. Thus, to consider the specific indications of the bearing couples, analyses were separately performed in two distinct subcohorts, one comprising patients with MoP or CoP and one comprising patients with MoM or CoC THA. In each subcohort, the DCM/HF risk was compared between patients with metallic head versus nonmetallic head THAs (MoP versus CoP, MoM versus CoC). Hazard ratios (adjusted HRs) of incident DCM/HF were estimated using Cox models adjusted for baseline sex, age, THA characteristics (fixation technique with cement, use of a modular femoral neck), and comorbidities at baseline. Cox models were stratified by sex and age.

RESULTS

The crude incidence of DCM/HF per 100 person-years was 2.4 in patients with MoP, 1.8 with CoP, 1.2 with MoM, and 1.1 with CoC THAs. Overall, metallic head THAs were associated with a slight increase in DCM/HF risk (MoP versus CoP: adjusted HR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.12; p < 0.001; MoM versus CoC: adjusted HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03-1.19; p = 0.007). In the MoM-CoC subcohort, the risk tended to be more pronounced with MoM versus CoC THAs in women (MoM versus CoC: adjusted HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.35; p = 0.002) and patients aged ≥ 75 years (MoM versus CoC: adjusted HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04-1.29; p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Metallic head THAs were associated with a slightly increased DCM/HF risk, especially with MoM in women and older patients. Some caveats should be mentioned: severity of DCM or HF was not available and residual confounding cannot be ruled out despite considering many covariates. Our findings suggest that cardiac function should be regularly monitored in patients with metallic head THAs. Further investigations should be planned on large international cohorts.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Dilated cardiomyopathy with hypertension: prevalence and response to high-dose β1-adrenoceptor antagonist therapy

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hypertension in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to determine the tolerance and efficacy of a high dose of the β1-adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol in the long-term treatment of DCM patients. 2. The prevalence of hypertension in DCM patients (n = 362) and age-matched controls (n = 401) was evaluated and compared. To investigate the effects of metoprolol, DCM patients were divided into hypertensive (DCM-H) or normotensive (DCM-N) subgroups. Metoprolol was administered at a starting dosage of 6.25 mg/day and increased gradually to 250 mg/day or the maximum tolerable dose. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left atrial end-diastolic dimension (LAEDD), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) and ventricular septal thickness (VST) were determined at baseline and 6 and 12 months after metoprolol treatment. 3. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in DCM patients than in age-matched controls (32.8 vs 20.1%, respectively; P < 0.01). Resting HR and a family history of hypertension were highest in the DCM-H group. There were no significant differences in age, gender and occupation between the DCM-H, DCM-N and age-matched control groups. 4. The tolerable dose for metoprolol was significantly higher in the DCM-H group than the DCM-N group (189.6 ± 14.8 vs 133.9 ± 12.0 mg/day, respectively; P < 0.05). Metoprolol significantly reduced BP and HR in the DCM-H group and improved LVEDD, LAEDD and LVEF in all DCM patients, with a greater effect seen in the DCM-H group. 5. In conclusion, DCM patients have a higher prevalence of hypertension than the general population. Patients in the DCM-H subgroup were characterized by a higher resting HR and a family history of hypertension and were more tolerant of and more responsive to metoprolol treatment. These data suggest that this subgroup of DCM patients could have higher sympathetic nerve activity and is suitable for treatment with a higher dose of metoprolol.