Clinical Characteristics, Management Strategies, and In-Hospital Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Low Socioeconomic Status Cohort: An Observational Study From Urban India

Smoking and Hypertriglyceridemia Predict ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Kosovo Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction (MI), presented as ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), is influenced by atherosclerosis risk factors.

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of presentation of patients with acute MI in Kosovo.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, which included all patients hospitalized with acute MI over a period of 7 years.

RESULTS

Among the 7353 patients admitted with acute MI (age 63 ± 12 years, 29% female), 59.4% had STEMI and 40.6% had NSTEMI. The patients with NSTEMI patients less (48.3% vs. 54%, p < 0.001), but more of them had diabetes (37.8% vs. 33.6%, p < 0.001), hypertension (69.6% vs. 63%, p < 0.001), frequently had a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (40% vs. 38%, p = 0.009), and had more females compared to the patients with STEMI (32% vs. 27%, p < 0.001). The patients with NSTEMI underwent less primary percutaneous interventions compared with the patients with STEMI (43.6% vs. 55.2%, p < 0.001). Smoking [1.277 (1.117-1.459), p ˂ 0.001] and high triglycerides [0.791 (0.714-0.878), p = 0.02] were independent predictors of STEMI.

CONCLUSIONS

In Kosovo, patients with STEMI are more common than those with NSTEMI, and they were mostly males and more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, and a family history of CAD compared to those with NSTEMI. Smoking and high triglycerides proved to be the strongest predictors of acute STEMI in Kosovo, thus highlighting the urgent need for optimum atherosclerosis risk control and education strategies.

Association of Tenascin-C Gene Polymorphisms with Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome in South Indian Population: A Case-Control Genetic Association Study

Background: The extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein changes are associated with the pathogenesis and complications of atherosclerosis, leading to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Tenascin-C (TNC), an ECM protein, has been implemented in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease. Aim: The study aimed to compare the genetic variants of the TNC gene (rs13321, rs2104772, and rs12347433) between South Indians with ACS and healthy participants. Materials and Methods: This case-control study recruited 150 ACS patients as cases and 150 healthy participants as controls. TNC genotyping was performed using TaqMan 5'-exonuclease allele discrimination assay. Serum TNC levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum TNC levels were significantly higher in cases compared with controls. No significant difference was observed in allele and genotype frequencies of rs13321, rs2104772, and rs12347433 between cases and controls, which was confirmed by dominant, recessive, codominant, and homozygotic genetic models. The patients with heterozygous genotypes of rs13321, rs2104772, and rs12347433 had significantly lower serum TNC levels than patients with respective homozygous genotypes. Haplotype analyses revealed that the C-T-A haplotype in the block of rs13321-rs12347433-rs2104772 was associated with lower ACS risk (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15 - 0.75; p = 0.005). Also, the C-T-T and G-T-A haplotypes of the TNC gene were associated with higher and lower serum TNC levels, respectively. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated no genetic association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TNC gene and ACS risk; however, the C-T-A haplotype of the TNC gene might be associated with reduced ACS risk in South Indians.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated with Acute Myocardial Infarction in Somalia: A Single-Center Experience

Introduction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a clinical emergency condition that encompasses STEMI and NSTEMI that leads to significant morbidity and mortality rate.

Methods

This prospectively cohort study was obtained from adult (≥18 years) patients with definitive diagnosis of AMI based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD; codes I21, I22) those visiting to our hospital from December 2020 to November 2021. Patients with no definite diagnosis of MI and those having with stable or unstable angina were excluded from the study. Descriptive methods including frequency of tables and bar charts for different categories were used for data analysis.

Results

Of 23,147 patients, 3526 were presented with chest pain in our emergency unit over the study period. A total of 97 patients met the inclusion criteria of AMI for this analysis. Of them, 73 (75.3%) had STEMI, and 24 (24.7%) had NSTEMI. Those with STEMI, anterior MI was common occlusion site (n=24, 32.9%) followed by inferior MI (n=15, 20.5%). The mean age of patients was 54.2±12.1 years. Of the total study subjects, 67 (69.1%) were males with no significant difference in subgroups. Most of the participants were married (n=41, 42.3%). More than half of the patients were employed (n=51, 52.6%), while most of the participants were no formal education (n-39, 44.2%). Regarding the ASCVD risk factors, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, previous history of coronary artery disease (CAD), and dyslipidemia were the most common comorbidities in STEMI and NSTEMI cases, 31 (41.2%), 36 (49.3%), 24 (32.9%) and 15 (20.5%) vs 14 (66.7%), 11 (45.8%), 11 (45.8%), and 6 (25%), respectively. On the initial clinical presentations, typical chest pain and palpitation were the most frequent clinical presenting symptoms in both STEMI and NSTEMI patients of our study (STEMI=80.4% vs NSTEMI=68% in each), followed by dyspnea (STEMI=72.6% vs NSTEMI=41.7%) and epigastric pain (STEMI=32.9% vs NSTEMI=29.2%). The use of aspirin, clopidogrel, and LMWH therapy within the first hours after the emergency were high and comparable in both subgroups (91.8%, vs 89.7% vs 89.7%). The majority of the patients developed heart failure (36.1%), arrhythmia (23.7%), and cardiogenic shock (18%).

Conclusion

As registered, the present study has a higher proportion of STEMI cases among the AMI participants when compared to the NSTEMI. Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and family history of CAD respectively were the highest prevalence risk factors of AMI.

A Comparison Between Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Regional and Global Longitudinal Strain Echocardiography to Evaluate Complex Coronary Lesions in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Introduction

A preliminary assessment of patients who suffer from severe and complex coronary artery lesions, such as three-vessel disease and/or a left main (LM) artery lesion, plays a critical contribution in determining prognosis and treatment plans for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Therefore, a pre-angiography (i.e., before angiography) predictor was required to cost-effectively evaluate severe and complex coronary lesions to efficiently direct our subsequent dealing.

Aim

This study aimed to compare two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) global longitudinal strain (GLS) at the regional level to assess extremely complicated coronary lesions using the SYNTAX score as a standard of reference in 100 patients with NSTE-ACS.

Materials and methods

This research included 100 patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome who presented at the Cardiology Department at Fayoum University from December 2019 to July 2020. All patients underwent a complete history and physical examination, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profile, creatinine assessment, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to detect global and regional longitudinal strain by 2D and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). Coronary angiography was done on all patients within 24 hours of admission after acquiring echo images. Then, the results of 2D and 3D regional and global longitudinal strain (GLS) to predict the severity and coronary lesion complexity in terms of the SYNTAX score were compared.

Results

This study revealed that 2D GLS was −12.10 ± 3.51, which is significantly higher than 3D GLS of −11.64 ± 4.05 (p < 0. 001). The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCX) territories revealed a significantly higher value using 2D regional longitudinal strain (−11.13 ± 4.47 and −12.54 ± 4.11, respectively) than using 3D regional longitudinal strain (−10.84 ± 5.18 and −12.05 ± 4.29, respectively) (p= 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively). There were significantly lower 2D GLS, 3D GLS, global circumferential strain (GCS), area strain, and global radial strain (GRS) in the intermediate and high score group than in the low score group of patients (p < 0.001 for all).

Conclusion

2D and 3D strain echocardiography including GLS, GCS, GRS, and area strain are a noninvasive and rapid tool with clinical utility for evaluating coronary lesions in patients with NSTE-ACS. They can be routinely used to diagnose and stratify high-risk patients with NSTE-ACS, thereby potentially resulting in improved patient assessment. GLS as measured by 2D and 3D STE at minimal effort is a significant risk factor for patients with complex NSTE-ACS. In NSTE-ACS cases, the GLS absolute value is significantly associated with the degree of complexity of coronary artery lesions.

Gender-based in vivo comparison of culprit plaque characteristics and plaque microstructures using optical coherence tomography in acute coronary syndrome

Introduction: Women perform worse after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) than men. The reason for these differences is unclear. The aim was to ascertain gender differences in the culprit plaque characteristics in ACS.

Methods: Patients with ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for the culprit vessel underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Culprit plaque was identified as lipid rich,fibrous, and calcific plaque. Mechanisms underlying ACS are classified as plaque rupture, erosion,or calcified nodule. A lipid rich plaque along with thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was a vulnerable plaque. Plaque microstructures including cholesterol crystals, macrophages, and microvessels were noted.

Results: A total of 52 patients were enrolled (men=29 and women=23). Baseline demographic features were similar in both the groups except men largely were current smokers (P <0.001). Plaque morphology,men vs. women: lipid rich 88.0% vs. 90.5%; fibrous 4% vs 0%; calcific 8.0% vs. 9.5% (P = 0.64). Of the ACS mechanisms in males versus females; plaque rupture (76.9 % vs. 50 %), plaque erosion (15.4 % vs.40 %) and calcified nodule (7.7 % vs. 10 %) was noted (P = 0.139). Fibrous cap thickness was (50.19 ±11.17 vs. 49.00 ± 10.71 mm, P = 0.71) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (96.2% vs. 95.0%, P = 1.0) in men and women respectively. Likewise no significant difference in presence of macrophages (42.3 % vs. 30%, P = 0.76), microvessels (73.1% vs. 60 %, P = 0.52) and cholesterol crystals (92.3% vs. 80%, P = 0.38).

Conclusion: No significant gender-based in-vivo differences could be discerned in ACS patients’ culprit plaques morphology, characteristics, and underlying mechanisms.

Sex differences in acute coronary syndrome: insights from an observation study in low socio-economic cohort from India

Aim: To study sex-related differences in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presentation, management and in-hospital outcomes. Materials & methods: We studied 621 ACS patients (150 women, 471 men) of low socio-economic status from South India from February 2015 to January 2016. Multivariable logistic regression methods were used to assess sex differences in the in-hospital outcomes. Adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included in-hospital cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, heart failure, re-infarction, stroke, major bleeding and mortality. Results & conclusion: Mean age in women was 60.97 ± 11.23 years versus 54.5 ± 10.87 years in men (p < 0.001). Women had higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and presented with more non-ST elevation ACS. There were no differences in the use of antiplatelets, statins and other pharmacotherapy except for the higher use of nitrates in women. There were no differences in MACE rates between women and men (15.3 vs 9.6%; adjusted odds ratio: 1.43; CI: 0.76-2.69).