Nationwide cohort study of outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in patients with liver cirrhosis: A nationwide cohort study

The Fibrosis-5 Index Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

This study aimed to evaluate the fibrosis-5 (FIB-5) index as a marker of liver fibrosis for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 406 STEMI patients were enrolled in the study. Over an average follow-up of 27 months, 143 of the patients developed MACE. The patients were subgrouped into tertiles based on the FIB-5 index and Kaplan-Meier survival (MACE-free) curves were plotted, showing statistically significant differences (log-rank test, P < .001). In the adjusted Cox regression model, the hazard ratio (HR) of MACE was 1.95 (95% CI 1.21-3.13; P = .006) in tertile 3 and 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-1.00; P = .013) for per unit increase in the FIB-5 index. The area under the curve (AUC) of the FIB-5 index predicting the occurrence of MACE in STEMI patients after PCI was 0.645 (95% CI 0.590-0.701; P < .001). Low FIB-5 may be a useful predictor of MACE in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Survival outcomes of patients with concomitant acute variceal bleeding and acute coronary syndrome, and the role of antiplatelet agents: an institutional experience from a lower middle-income Country

BACKGROUND

There is strong evidence demonstrating the incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) among patients with cirrhosis, with the initiation of antiplatelet therapy being subject to debate due to an increased risk of bleeding. This study aimed to determine mortality among patients presenting with concomitant Acute Variceal Bleeding (AVB) and ACS at Index admission. Furthermore, the recurrence of AVB and ACS among patients discharged with or without antiplatelet therapy was determined.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan on patients ≥ 18 years of age admitted to our ER with concomitant ACS and AVB between January 2002 to December 2017. Follow-up for 6 months or till death (if < 6 months), was observed, to help determine the incidence of recurrent AVB and ACS. The incidence of AVB and ACS was then compared amongst patient groups based on the usage of anti-platelet drugs on discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 29 patients were included, with a mean age of 58.7 ± 11.0 years. Seven patients died on admission, having worse underlying liver disease. No mortality was reported among the remaining 22 patients. All 22 patients underwent surveillance endoscopy with variceal band ligation until obliteration, as needed. Only 7 patients from the surviving cohort received antiplatelet therapy. After 6.05 ± 1.1 months of follow-up, 1/22 (4.5%) developed recurrent AVB and 2/22 (9.1%) developed cardiovascular events. Importantly, there was no significant difference in the incidence of recurrent AVB (P = 1.000) and ACS (P = 0.091), depending on the use of antiplatelet therapy.

CONCLUSION

Concomitant AVB and ACS is a severe disorder with increased mortality among cirrhotic patients at presentation. The incidence of AVB does not seem to exacerbate with the use of antiplatelet agents, provided successful obliteration of varices is achieved using elective band ligation.

Impact of the De Ritis Ratio on the Prognosis of Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to emphasize the impact of the aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (De Ritis ratio) on the prognosis of patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with SCAD who underwent elective PCI at Shinonoi General Hospital were included. SCAD was defined as epicardial coronary artery diameter stenosis ≥90% or epicardial coronary artery diameter stenosis ≥75% accompanied by symptoms or stress-induced myocardial ischemia. Clinical data were collected, and cardiovascular events were followed after discharge. One-way Cox proportional risk analysis was performed to assess the risk stratification value of the De Ritis ratio, using major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and all-cause mortality as the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. The independent risk stratification value was evaluated by multivariate Cox proportional risk analysis. RESULTS Among 204 patients with SCAD undergoing PCI, during a median follow-up period of 706 days (24 months), 13.7% (28/204) patients experienced MACCE, and 8.8% (18/204) experienced all-cause mortality. Multifactorial Cox regression analysis revealed that a high De Ritis ratio was an independent risk factor for MACCE (HR=2.96, 95% CI: 1.29-6.78, P=0.01) and all-cause mortality (HR=3.61, 95% Cl: 1.31-9.86, P=0.012). The sensitivity analysis further confirmed the incremental value of the De Ritis ratio for adverse cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS A high De Ritis ratio was an independent and valuable risk stratification factor for MACCE and all-cause mortality in patients with SCAD after PCI.

Assessment of Trimetazidine Treatment in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Aims

Trimetazidine (TMZ) is effective at improving clinical outcomes in chronic heart failure and stable coronary artery disease patients. However, no single study has comprehensively evaluated the efficacy of TMZ in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We enrolled 401 Chinese patients. All patients received the same drug prescription except for TMZ. In blinded fashion, patients were randomized to either a control or an experimental group in which 60 mg TMZ was provided at admission and then at 20 mg three times a day thereafter. At 2 and/or 6 days, we evaluated creatine kinase (CK and CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), C-reaction protein (CRP), serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), serum creatinine (Cr), serum urea, glucose, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT), and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST). Additionally, by echocardiography, we assessed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), and cardiac output (CO).

Results

CK and CKMB, which were recorded on the second day in the hospital (each p=0.022), and cTNI, which was recorded on the sixth day in the hospital (p=0.003), were reduced with TMZ treatment compared to control. In addition, ALT and AST (p=0.001, p=0.000, respectively) and glucose after 6 days (p=0.011) were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Furthermore, LVEF after 10–14 days and 6 months after discharge (p=0.039 and p=0.047, respectively) was increased with TMZ treatment. The effects of TMZ on CRP, TNF-α, Cr, urea, LVEDD, and CO were not significant (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions

For AMI patients undergoing PCI, TMZ reduced circulating biomarkers of myocardial infarction, reduced values of ALT, AST, and glucose, and improved cardiac function compared with the control group.

Impact of liver cirrhosis on ST-elevation myocardial infarction related shock and interventional management, a nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND

Critical care is rapidly evolving with significant innovations to decrease hospital stays and costs. To our knowledge, there is limited data on factors that affect the length of stay and hospital charges in cirrhotic patients who present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock (SRCS).

AIM

To identify the factors that increase inpatient mortality, length of stay, and total hospital charges in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) compared to those without LC.

METHODS

This study includes all adults over 18 from the National Inpatient Sample 2017 database. The study consists of two groups of patients, including SRCS with LC and without LC. Inpatient mortality, length of stay, and total hospital charges are the primary outcomes between the two groups. We used STATA 16 to perform statistical analysis. The Pearson's chi-square test compares the categorical variables. Propensity-matched scoring with univariate and multivariate logistic regression generated the odds ratios for inpatient mortality, length of stay, and resource utilization.

RESULTS

This study includes a total of 35798453 weighted hospitalized patients from the 2017 National Inpatient Sample. The two groups are SRCS without LC (n = 758809) and SRCS with LC (n = 11920). The majority of patients were Caucasian in both groups (67% vs 72%). The mean number of patients insured with Medicare was lower in the LC group (60% vs 56%) compared to the other group, and those who had at least three or more comorbidities (53% vs 90%) were significantly higher in the LC group compared to the non-LC group. Inpatient mortality was also considerably higher in the LC group (28.7% vs 10.63%). Length of Stay (LOS) is longer in the LC group compared to the non-LC group (9 vs 5.6). Similarly, total hospital charges are higher in patients with LC ($147407.80 vs $113069.10, P ≤ 0.05). Inpatient mortality is lower in the early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group (OR: 0.79 < 0.11), however, it is not statistically significant. Both early Impella (OR: 1.73 < 0.05) and early extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (OR: 3.10 P < 0.05) in the LC group were associated with increased mortality. Early PCI (-2.57 P < 0.05) and Impella (-3.25 P < 0.05) were also both associated with shorter LOS compared to those who did not. Early ECMO does not impact the LOS; however, it does increase total hospital charge (addition of $24717.85, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LC is associated with a significantly increased inpatient mortality, length of stay, and total hospital charges in patients who develop SRCS. Rural and Non-teaching hospitals have significantly increased odds of extended hospital stays and higher adjusted total hospital charges. The Association of LC with worse outcomes outlines the essential need to monitor these patients closely and treat them early on with higher acuity care. Patients with early PCI had both shorter LOS and reduced inpatient mortality, while early Impella was associated with increased mortality and shorter LOS. Early ECMO is associated with increased mortality and higher total hospital charges. This finding should affect the decision to follow through with interventional management in this cohort of patients as it is associated with poor outcomes and immense resource utilization.

Low incidence of COVID-19 in a prospective cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma treated at a tertiary medical center during the 2020 pandemic

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) are considered to be at increased risk for mortality when acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequently developing Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are regarded as sites with increased risk of infection. Therefore, patient contacts are often limited to urgent indications, which could negatively affect disease monitoring. However, data regarding actual infection rates in cirrhotic patients is limited. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with LC with/without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with physical presentation at our University Medical Center.

METHODS

Patients were enrolled between 1st April and 30th June 2020 at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Symptoms of upper airway infection at baseline and presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG/IgM/IgA) were assessed at baseline and follow-up (FU) using an Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (Roche Elecsys). FU visits, including liver function test, clinical assessment and symptom questionnaire, were conducted after 6-8 weeks (FU-1) and 6 months (FU-2). Prior to inclusion of the first patient, obligatory face masks and personal distance were implemented as protective measures.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients were enrolled, 23% (n = 35) also had diagnosis of HCC (median age: 64 years, range: 19-86), 69% were male. Liver function according to Child-Pugh score (CPS) was: CPS A: 46% (n = 62); CPS B: 37% (n = 50); CPS C: 17% (n = 23). Clinical symptoms indicating upper airway infection were present in 53% (n = 77): shortness of breath (n = 40) and coughing (n = 28) were the most frequent. For the 150 patients enrolled, 284 outpatient visits were registered and 33 patients were admitted to the University Medical Center during the follow-up period. After a median of 52 days, n = 110 patients completed FU-1 and n = 72 completed FU-2 after a median of 6.1 months. Only in one patient, an 80-year-old man with stable liver function (CPS A) and advanced HCC, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected at baseline and FU-1, while antibody testing was negative in the remaining patients at baseline, FU-1 and FU-2.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of COVID-19 at our tertiary medical center during the pandemic was low in LC and HCC patients, when simple protective measures were implemented. Therefore, a routine care for patients with chronic liver diseases does not increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and should be maintained with protective measures.

Predictive value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio for contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Pre-procedure liver insufficiency has been demonstrated as a poor prognostic factor after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent research discovered that the aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (De-Ritis ratio) reflects the severity of liver insufficiency and was associated with adverse outcomes. We aim to evaluate the predictive value of the De-Ritis ratio for contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and long-term mortality in patients undergoing elective PCI.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 5780 consenting patients undergoing elective PCI between January 2012 and December 2018. CA-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dl or ≥50% within 48 h after the administration of contrast media.

RESULTS

The incidence of CA-AKI was 6.3% (n = 363). The De-Ritis ratio >1.30 was identified as the best cut-off value for CA-AKI prediction. The De-Ritis ratio showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.636 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.605-0.667] in predicting CA-AKI, which was significantly greater than alanine aminotransferase (p<0.001) and aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.012) alone. Furthermore, compared to currently recognized liver function assessment tools, the predictive value of the De-Ritis ratio on CA-AKI was similar to the MELD score (AUC: 0.636 vs 0.626, p = 0.631) and higher than the MELD-XI score (AUC: 0.636 vs 0.561, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the De-Ritis ratio >1.30 was independently associated with CA-AKI (odds ratio=1.551, 95% CI: 1.185-2.030, p = 0.001). The addition of the De-Ritis ratio to the fully adjusted logistic regression model has significant incremental effects on the risk prediction for CA-AKI with a continuous net reclassification improvement of 0.395 (p<0.001) and an integrated discrimination improvement of 0.005 (p = 0.018). Additionally, the De-Ritis ratio >1.30 was significantly associated with long-term mortality (hazard ratio=1.285, 95% CI: 1.007-1.641, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

The De-Ritis ratio was an independent risk factor for CA-AKI and long-term mortality in patients undergoing elective PCI.

Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Posttransplant Outcomes in Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Older Adult Recipients

The impact of increasing recipient age on morbidity and mortality following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remains controversial. The study aims to analyze the impact of recipient age on outcomes following LDLT. Data on adult LDLTs performed between November 2009 and February 2020 were retrieved from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on recipient age: 18 to 65 years (younger adults) and >65 years (older adults). Propensity score matching (PSM) using nearest-neighbor matching was used to match each older recipient with up to 2 younger adult recipients using multiple preoperative parameters. Outcomes evaluated were duration of ventilation, need for reintubation, tracheostomy, intensive care unit (ICU) readmission, length of ICU and hospital stays, postoperative complications, reoperation within 90 days, and patient survival. A total of 801 adult LDLT recipients were included in the study; 751 (93.7%) were younger adults, and 50 (6.3%) were older adults. Older recipients were more likely to be diabetic (60.0% versus 39.7%) and hypertensive (44.0% versus 20.4%) with preexisting cardiac disease (28.0% versus 11.2%). However, their pretransplant Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was significantly lower (14.5 versus 17.7), and they were more likely to receive a transplant because of hepatocellular carcinoma (38.0% versus 17.7%). Older recipients had longer durations of ventilation after LT both before (3.7 versus 1.9 days) and after PSM (4.0 versus 1.5 days). After PSM, the 30-day (13.0% versus 2.4%), 90-day (15.2% and 2.4%), and overall mortality rates (21.7% versus 7.1%) were significantly higher for older recipients when compared with younger recipients. There was no difference between the younger and older recipients with respect to other postoperative outcomes. This propensity score-matched study shows that the older LDLT recipients have higher 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality rates when compared with matched younger counterparts.