Influence of typical angina versus inducible myocardial ischemia in the contemporary management of stable coronary artery disease

Prevalence of Cardioprotective Medication Use in Coronary Heart Disease Patients in South America: Systematic review and Meta-Analysis

Background:

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death globally, and clinical guidelines recommend cardioprotective medications for patients with established CHD. Suboptimal use of these medications has been reported, but information from South America is scarce.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review on prevalence of secondary prevention medication in South America. We pooled prevalence estimates, analysed time-trends and guideline compliance, and identified factors associated with medication use with meta-regression models.

Results:

73 publications were included. Medication prevalence varied by class: beta-blockers 73.4%(95%CI 66.8%–79.1%), ACEI/ARBs 55.8%(95%CI 49.7%–61.8), antiplatelets 84.6%(95%CI 79.6%–88.5%), aspirin 85.1%(95%CI 79.7%–89.3%) and statins 78.9%(95%CI 71.2%–84.9%). The use of beta-blockers, ACEI/ARBs and statins increased since 1993. Ten publications reported low medication use and nine reported adequate use. Medication use was lower in community, public and rehabilitation settings compared to tertiary centres.

Conclusion:

Cardioprotective medication use has increased, but could be further improved particularly in community settings.

Correlation of Angina Pectoris and Perfusion Decrease by Collateral Circulation in Single-Vessel Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion Using Myocardial Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the perfusion decrease in donor myocardium by collateral circulation and its correlation with angina pectoris in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) using myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six patients with single-vessel CTO without any other stenosis were included. All patients underwent MPS and coronary angiography (CAG) within 2 months. Total 72 donor arteries were evaluated for the grades of collaterals to the CTO artery using the Rentrop grading system on CAG. Perfusion defects and perfusion scores in donor and CTO territories were analyzed on MPS. Myocardial perfusion of donor and CTO territories were evaluated according to the presence of angina pectoris and the grades of collateral circulation.

RESULTS

When the CTO territory was ischemic, symptomatic patients showed higher summed difference scores in the CTO territory compared to asymptomatic patients (3.5 ± 2.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.8 for symptomatic and asymptomatic groups respectively; p = 0.034). However, when the CTO territory was nonischemic, symptomatic patients showed higher summed stress scores (SSS, 4.3 ± 2.9 vs. 1.6 ± 1.2; p = 0.032) and summed rest scores (SRS, 4.2 ± 2.5 vs. 1.5 ± 1.1; p = 0.003) in the donor territories. On the per-vessel analysis, perfusion defects in donor territories were more frequent (0 % vs. 53 % vs. 86 % for Rentrop 0, Rentrop 1-2 and Rentrop 3, respectively; p < 0.001) and showed higher SSS (0.0 ± 0.0, 1.3 ± 1.6 and 2.1 ± 1.1 for Rentrop 0, Rentrop 1-2 and Rentrop 3, respectively; p = 0.001) and SRS (0.0 ± 0.0, 1.0 ± 1.4 and 1.7 ± 1.2; p = 0.003) at higher Rentrop grades, but their patterns were variable.

CONCLUSION

Angina pectoris was related to either ischemia of the myocardium beyond CTO or a perfusion decrease in the donor myocardium. The perfusion decrease in donor myocardium positively correlated with the collateral grades.