Temporal trends in treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction among men and women in Switzerland between 1997 and 2011

Quality of care for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention in 2009-2017: population-wide cohort study of antiplatelet therapy use in Scotland

BACKGROUND

Antiplatelet therapy (APT) can substantially reduce the risk of further vascular events in individuals with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, knowledge regarding the extent and determinants of APT use is limited.

OBJECTIVES

Estimate the extent and identify patient groups at risk of suboptimal APT use at different stages of the treatment pathway.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study using linked NHS Scotland administrative data of all adults hospitalised for an acute ASCVD event (n=150 728) from 2009 to 2017. Proportions of patients initiating, adhering to, discontinuing and re-initiating APT were calculated overall and separately for myocardial infarction (MI), ischaemic stroke and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the contribution of patient characteristics in initiating and discontinuing APT.

RESULTS

Of patients hospitalised with ASCVD, 84% initiated APT: 94% following an MI, 83% following an ischaemic stroke and 68% following a PAD event. Characteristics associated with lower odds of initiation included female sex (22% less likely than men), age below 50 years or above 70 years (aged <50 years 26% less likely, and aged 70-79, 80-89 and ≥90 years 21%, 39% and 51% less likely, respectively, than those aged 60-69 years) and history of mental health-related hospitalisation (45% less likely). Of all APT-treated individuals, 22% discontinued treatment. Characteristics associated with discontinuation were similar to those related to non-initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

APT use remains suboptimal for the secondary prevention of ASCVD, particularly among women and older patients, and following ischaemic stroke and PAD hospitalisations.

Sex Disparity in the In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients with Kidney Disease Admitted for Myocardial Infarction: Insights from a Large National Database

INTRODUCTION

There is limited evidence as to the effect of sex on the outcomes of patients admitted for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who have a concomitant diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We aimed to determine if there are differences in the outcomes between males and females in these patient populations.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample database and patients were selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision (ICD-9 and -10) codes. Hospitalizations for patients with CKD who had STEMI from 2012 to 2020 were included. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes evaluated included ischemic stroke, major bleeding complications, pressor requirement, permanent pacemaker implantation, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, surgery, pericardiocentesis, mechanical circulatory support, and mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

A total of 1,283,255 STEMI patients without CKD, 158,715 STEMI patients with CKD, and 22,690 STEMI patients with ESRD were identified and analyzed. Among patients with STEMI and CKD, females demonstrated higher in-hospital mortality compared to male counterparts (16.7% vs. 12.7%, aOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21, p < 0.01). While there was no sex difference in the in-hospital mortality among STEMI patients with ESRD, female patients in this group were less likely to receive coronary artery bypass grafting and mechanical circulatory support.

CONCLUSION

Increased in-hospital mortality rates were shown for females admitted for STEMI with CKD. Among patients with ESRD who had STEMI, females were less likely to receive coronary artery bypass grafting and mechanical circulatory support. Further research needs to be conducted to better explain this said difference in outcomes.

Complications and Outcomes in 39,864 Patients Receiving Standard Care Plus Mechanical Circulatory Support or Standard Care Alone for Infarct-Associated Cardiogenic Shock

BACKGROUND

Temporary mechanical circulatory support devices (tMCS) are increasingly being used in patients with infarct-associated cardiogenic shock (AMICS). Evidence on patient selection, complications and long-term outcomes is lacking. We aim to investigate differences in clinical characteristics, complications and outcomes between patients receiving no tMCS or either intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) or Impella® for AMICS, with a particular focus on long-term outcomes.

METHODS

Using health claim data from AOK-Die Gesundheitskasse (local health care funds), we retrospectively analysed complications and outcomes of all insured patients with AMICS between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2017.

RESULTS

A total of 39,864 patients were included (IABP 5451; Impella 776; V-A ECMO 833; no tMCS 32,804). In-hospital complications, including renal failure requiring dialysis (50.3% V-A ECMO vs. 30.5% Impella vs. 29.2 IABP vs. 12.1% no tMCS), major bleeding (38.1% vs. 20.9% vs. 18.0% vs. 9.3%) and sepsis (22.5% vs. 15.9% vs. 13.9% vs. 9.3%) were more common in V-A ECMO patients. In a multivariate analysis, the use of both V-A ECMO (HR 1.57, p < 0.001) and Impella (HR 1.25, p < 0.001) were independently associated with long-term mortality, whereas use of IABP was not (HR 0.89, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimates showed better survival for patients on IABP compared with Impella, V-A ECMO and no-tMCS. Short- and long-term mortality was high across all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show noticeably more in-hospital complications in patients on tMCS and higher mortality with V-A ECMO and Impella. The use of both devices is an independent risk factor for mortality, whereas the use of IABP is associated with a survival benefit.

Between-Sex Differences in Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among Patients with Myocardial Infarction-A Systematic Review

Between-sex differences in the presentation, risk factors, management, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (MI) are well documented. However, as such differences are highly sensitive to cultural and social changes, there is a need to continuously re-evaluate the evidence. The present contemporary systematic review assesses the baseline characteristics of men and women presenting to secondary, tertiary, and quaternary centres with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Over 1.4 million participants from 18 studies, including primary prospective, cross sectional and retrospective observational studies, as well as secondary analysis of registry data are included in the study. The study showed that women were more likely than men to have a previous diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure. They also had lower odds of presenting with previous ischaemic heart disease and angina, dyslipidaemia, or a smoking history. Further work is necessary to understand the reasons for these differences, and the role that gender-specific risk factors may have in this context. Moreover, how these between-gender differences are implicated in management and outcomes also requires further work.

Helicobacter pylori infection selectively attenuates endothelial function in male mice via exosomes-mediated ROS production

Background

Substantial sex differences exist in atherosclerosis. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation could lead to endothelial dysfunction which is critical to atherosclerosis development and progression. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been shown to attenuate endothelial function via exosomes-mediated ROS formation. We have demonstrated that H. pylori infection selectively increases atherosclerosis risk in males with unknown mechanism(s). The present study was to test the hypothesis that H. pylori infection impaired endothelial function selectively in male mice through exosome-mediated ROS formation.

Methods and results

Age-matched male and female C57BL/6 mice were infected with CagA+ H. pylori to investigate sex differences in H. pylori infection-induced endothelial dysfunction. H. pylori infection attenuated acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent aortic relaxation without changing nitroglycerine-induced endothelium-independent relaxation in male but not female mice, associated with increased ROS formation in aorta compared with controls, which could be reversed by N-acetylcysteine treatment. Treatment of cultured mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells with exosomes from H. pylori infected male, not female, mice significantly increased intracellular ROS production and impaired endothelial function with decreased migration, tube formation, and proliferation, which could be prevented with N-acetylcysteine treatment.

Conclusions

H. pylori infection selectively impairs endothelial function in male mice due to exosome-mediated ROS formation.

Role and relevance of risk stratification models in the modern-day management of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes

We summarise the international guidelines surrounding risk stratification as well as discuss new emerging data for future development of a new risk model in the management of patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). NSTE-ACS accounts for the bulk of acute coronary syndrome presentations in the UK, but management strategies in this group of patients have remained a subject of debate for decades. Patients with NSTE-ACS represent a heterogeneous population with a wide variation in short-term and long-term clinical outcomes, which makes a uniform, standardised treatment approach ineffective and inappropriate. Studies in the modern era have provided some guidance in treating this subset of patients: the provision of early, more potent therapies has been shown to improve outcomes in patients at a particularly elevated risk of adverse outcomes. International guidelines recommend adopting an individualised treatment approach through the use of validated risk prediction models to identify such patients at high risk of adverse outcomes. The present available evidence, however, is based on dated demographics, different diagnostic thresholds and outdated therapies. In particular, the evidence has limited applicability to female patients and older people with frailty. Moreover, the current risk models do not capture key prognostic variables, leading to an inaccurate estimation of patients' baseline risk and subsequent mistreatment. Therefore, the current risk models are no longer fit for purpose and there is a need for risk prediction scores that account for different population demographics, higher sensitivity troponin assays and contemporary treatment options.

Trends in Inequities in the Treatment of and Outcomes for Women and Minorities with Myocardial Infarction

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To test whether the differences across sex and race in the treatment of and outcomes for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have changed over a recent decade.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with a diagnosis of STEMI or NSTEMI in California from 2005 to 2015 using the Office of State Health Planning and Development dataset. Using multivariable linear regression with county-fixed effects, we measured the baseline and change over time in the proportions of patients with STEMI or NSTEMI who underwent appropriately-timed coronary angiography (day of admission and within 3 days of admission, respectively) and survived at 1 year according to sex and race (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White) and adjusting for comorbidities, payor, and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

We analyzed 159,068 STEMI and 294,068 NSTEMI presentations. In 2005, 50.0% of 12,329 men and 35.7% of 6,939 women with STEMI and 45.0% of 14,379 men and 33.1% of 10,674 women with NSTEMI underwent timely angiography. In 2015, 76.7% of 6,257 men and 66.8% of 2,808 women with STEMI underwent timely angiography and 56.3% of 13,889 men and 45.9% of 9,334 women with NSTEMI underwent timely angiography. In 2005, 1-year survival was 82.3% for men and 69.6% for women after STEMI; in 2013, 1-year survival was 88.1% for men and 79.1% for women. In the multivariable model, the baseline difference was 1.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2 to 1.9), and survival increased for women compared with men by 0.3 percentage points per year (95% CI 0.2 to 0.5). In 2005, 46.0% (5,878) of 12,789 White patients and 31.2% (330) of 1,057 Black patients with STEMI underwent timely angiography; in 2015 75.2% of 3,928 White patients and 69.2% of 522 Black patients underwent timely angiography for STEMI. In the multivariable model, this difference was 6.4 percentage points at baseline (95% CI 4.5 to 8.3), and the probability of undergoing timely angiography for Black patients increased by 0.3 percentage points per year (95% CI -0.1 to 0.6).

CONCLUSION

Despite overall improvements in the treatment of and outcomes for STEMI and NSTEMI, disparities persist in the treatment of and outcomes for both the conditions, particularly for women.

Incidence and predictors of sudden cardiac arrest in the immediate post-percutaneous coronary intervention period for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a single-center study

BACKGROUND

Data on the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the immediate post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) period for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are limited.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to investigate the trends and predictors of SCA occurring within 48 h post PCI for STEMI.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed data from the electronic medical records of 403 patients who underwent PCI for STEMI between January 2014 and December 2019. Trends in the incidence of SCA 48 h post PCI for STEMI were assessed using the Cochrane-Armitage test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of SCA within 48 h post PCI for STEMI.

RESULTS

Of the 403 patients who underwent PCI for STEMI, 44 (11%) had SCA within 48 h post PCI. The incidence of SCA within 48 h post PCI decreased from 22% in 2014 to 8% in 2019; P = 0.03. After adjusting for underlying confounding variables in the multivariable logistic regression models, out of hospital cardiac arrest [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 23.9; confidence interval (CI), 10.2-56.1], left main coronary artery disease (aOR, 3.1; CI, 1.1-9.4), left main PCI (aOR, 6.6; CI: 1.4-31.7), new-onset heart failure (aOR, 2.0; CI, 4.3-9.4), and cardiogenic shock (aOR, 5.8; CI, 1.7-20.2) were statistically significant predictors of SCA within 48 h post PCI for STEMI.

CONCLUSION

We identified essential factors associated with SCA within 48 h post PCI for STEMI. Future studies are needed to devise effective strategies to decrease the risk of SCA in the early post-PCI period.

Impact of the Admission Pathway on the Gender-Related Mortality of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

The mortality of women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) exceeds that of men, supposedly the result of older age and co-morbidities. Patients with STEMI can be transported directly to the catherization lab by the emergency medical service (EMS) or to the emergency department (ED) by the EMS, a regular ambulance, or independently. This raises the question whether gender disparity in the transport of patients with STEMI may affect time to therapy and consequently explain the disparate outcome in men and women with STEMI. We analyzed a large nationwide registry of prospectively-recorded patients with acute coronary syndromes in order to determine if there is a survival gap between men and women with STEMI, and to assess the gender-related effect of admission pathway on time intervals and 5-year mortality. Study population included 2,740 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary interventions, comprising 464 women (17%, median-70 years) and 2,276 men (83%, median-58 years). The unadjusted 5-year mortality of women was higher compared with men (26.4% vs 15.6%, p = 0.001) but adjustment abrogated this survival difference. Regardless of adjustment, the 5-year mortality of patients with STEMI admitted directly to the catherization lab or to the ED by EMS was similar for men and women but significantly lower in the directly admitted patients (p <0.028). In contrast, admission to the ED by non-EMS was associated with markedly worse survival among women. These results indicate that women suspected of STEMI benefit from transportation by the EMS and should use this pathway exclusively to reach the hospital.

Sex related inequalities in the management and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome in Switzerland: cross sectional study

Objectives

To assess the differences in the management and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome in men and women who were admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndrome.

Design

Cross sectional study.

Setting

Discharge data from Swiss hospitals linked at the hospital and patient levels.

Participants

224 249 adults (18 years and older) were admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndrome between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2017 in any Swiss hospital, of which 72 947 (32.5%) were women. People who were discharged against medical advice were excluded.

Results

Women admitted to hospital with acute coronary syndrome were older than their male counterparts (mean age 74.9 years (standard deviation 12.4) v 67.0 years (13.2)). Irrespective of acute coronary syndrome type, women were less likely to undergo diagnostic procedures, such as coronary angiography (adjusted odds ratio 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.77 to 0.82) for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction v 0.87 (0.84 to 0.91) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction)) and ventriculography (0.84 (0.82 to 0.87) v 0.90 (0.87 to 0.91)). Women were also less likely to receive treatments, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (0.67 (0.65 to 0.69) v 0.76 (0.73 to 0.78)) and coronary artery bypass graft (0.57 (0.53 to 0.61) v 0.79 (0.72 to 0.87)). Women had a poorer prognosis than men, with a higher likelihood of healthcare related complications (1.10 (1.06 to 1.15) v 1.14 (1.09 to 1.21)) and of a longer hospital stay (1.24 (1.20 to 1.27) v 1.24 (1.20 to 1.29)). In non-adjusted models, the likelihood of death in hospital was higher among women (odds ratio 1.30 (95% confidence interval 1.24 to 1.37) for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction v 1.75 (1.66 to 1.85) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction), but the association was reversed for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (adjusted odds ratio 0.87 (0.82 to 0.92)) or was non-significant for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (1.00 (0.94 to 1.06)) after adjustment for confounding variables. The main effect modifier was age: younger women were more likely to die than men of the same age and older women were less likely to die than men of the same age. For example, women who were younger than 50 years had a 38% increased likelihood of dying compared with men of the same age range (adjusted odds ratio 1.38 (1.04 to 1.83)).

Conclusions

Sex inequalities were reported in the management of heart disease in this population of patients from a high income country with good healthcare coverage. These differences affect mortality and morbidity, especially in younger women. Efforts are needed to overcome these inequalities, including educational programmes aimed at healthcare professionals.

Outcomes of female and male patients suffering from coronary artery disease: A nation-wide registry of patients admitted as emergency

Presentation and mortality of coronary artery disease (CAD) substantially differs in both sexes. Most of the existing data analyzing sex differences is older than 10 years and mostly was retrieved in clinical trials, which are potentially structured with a bias against the inclusion of women, leading to a potential selection-bias. Meanwhile, with better diagnostic and therapeutic options, actual data analyzing sex differences in emergency CAD patients is rare.Data on all emergency case numbers with CAD diagnosis in Germany 2017 was retrieved from the German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information. DRG, OPS, and ICD codes were used to determine comorbidities, in-hospital course, and outcome. Competing risk regression analysis for in-hospital mortality was performed analyzing age, European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE), severity of CAD, clinical presentation type and sex.264,742 patients were included. Female patients were older and had more comorbidities. Three-vessel CAD was significantly less present in female patients (36.5% vs 47.5%; P < .001). After adjusting for age, EuroSCORE and severity of CAD, female sex was an independent predictor of lower in-hospital mortality (subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR] 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98, P = .002) in the whole cohort and in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients (sHR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.79-0.92, P < .001), whereas in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, female sex was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality (sHR 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.14, P = .029).In all patients admitted as emergency with CAD diagnosis and in all NSTEMI patients, female sex is protective, whereas in STEMI patients, females show a higher in-hospital mortality risk.

Metabolic syndrome and myocardial infarction in women

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of metabolic disorders that arise from insulin resistance (IR) and adipose tissue dysfunction. As a consequence, there is an increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). MetS is associated with a 2-fold increase in cardiovascular outcomes. Earlier population analyses showed a lower prevalence of MetS in women (23.9%) in comparison to men (27.8%), while later analyses suggested significantly reduced difference due to an increase in prevalence in women aged between 20 and 39. However, the prevalence of MetS in specific populations of women, such as in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, ranges from 16% to almost 50% in some geographic regions. Abdominal fat accumulation and IR syndrome are recognized as the most important factors in the pathogenesis of MetS. After menopause, a decline in insulin sensitivity corresponds to an increase in fat mass, circulating fatty acids, low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides. Prevalence of MetS in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is significantly more present in women (55.9%-66.3%) than in men (40.2%-47.3%) in different cohorts. Younger women with ACS had a higher mortality rate than younger men. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a leading cause of death in aging women. Women with AMI have significantly higher rates of prior congestive heart failure, hypertension history, and diabetes. The role of androgens in CVD pathogenesis in women has not yet been clarified. The current review aims to give an insight into the role of MetS components and inflammation for the development of atherosclerosis, CVD, and AMI in women.

Sex and Gender Disparities in the Management and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction-Cardiogenic Shock in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate outcomes by sex in older adults with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort of older (≥75 years) AMI-CS admissions during January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2014, was identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Interhospital transfers were excluded. Use of angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and noncardiac interventions was identified. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality stratified by sex, and secondary outcomes included temporal trends of prevalence, in-hospital mortality, use of cardiac and noncardiac interventions, hospitalization costs, and length of stay.

RESULTS

In this 15-year period, there were 134,501 AMI-CS admissions 75 years or older, of whom 51.5% (n=69,220) were women. Women were on average older, were more often Hispanic or nonwhite race, and had lower comorbidity, acute organ failure, and concomitant cardiac arrest. Compared with older men (n=65,281), older women (n=69,220) had lower use of coronary angiography (55.4% [n=35,905] vs 49.2% [n=33,918]), PCI (36.3% [n=23,501] vs 34.4% [n=23,535]), MCS (34.3% [n=22,391] vs 27.2% [n=18,689]), mechanical ventilation, and hemodialysis (all P<.001). Female sex was an independent predictor of higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; P<.001) and more frequent discharges to a skilled nursing facility. In subgroup analyses of ethnicity, presence of cardiac arrest, and those receiving PCI and MCS, female sex remained an independent predictor of increased mortality.

CONCLUSION

Female sex is an independent predictor of worse in-hospital outcomes in older adults with AMI-CS in the United States.

Temporal trends in in-hospital complications of acute coronary syndromes: Insights from the nationwide AMIS Plus registry

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-related morbidity and mortality remain substantial. Data on temporal trends in in-hospital complications of ACS patients are scarce. This study sought to investigate whether the incidence of in-hospital complications of ACS patients changed over time.

METHODS

Acute coronary syndrome patients prospectively enrolled in the National Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Switzerland (AMIS Plus) between 2003 and 2018 and with available data on in-hospital complications were included in the analysis. Rates of in-hospital complications, including recurrent angina, recurrent myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, acute renal failure, sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)/multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), AV block needing pacing and new-onset atrial fibrillation, were assessed for each 2-year period.

RESULTS

Among 47,845 ACS patients, in-hospital complications significantly decreased from 22.0% in 2003/2004 to 18.9% in 2017/2018 (p for trend <0.001). An initial decline in rates of in-hospital complications to 15.7% in 2009/2010 (p for trend <0.001) was followed by a constant increase thereafter (p for trend = 0.002). While rates of recurrent angina, recurrent myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock decreased over time, rates of bleeding events, acute renal failure, sepsis/SIRS/MODS, and new-onset atrial fibrillation increased. Rates of in-hospital complications were higher in women, mainly due to a constantly increased risk of bleeding and AV block needing pacing.

CONCLUSIONS

The decrease in ischemic complications was paralleled by a concomitant increase in non-ischemic events. These findings emphasize that advanced strategies targeting non-ischemic complications are warranted to further improve quality of care of ACS patients.

Evaluation of sex differences in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction: an observational cohort study in Amsterdam and surrounding region

Introduction

Women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) present with different symptoms compared to men. This can result in delays in diagnosis and in the timely treatment of women. The aim of this study is to examine these differences, including the short- and long-term mortality in women and men.

Methods

This quality registry study included all patients with STEMI who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention in 2015 or 2016 in Amsterdam and the surrounding region.

Results

Three PCI centres and the Emergency Medical Service in Amsterdam participated. In total, 558 men (71%) and 229 women (29%) were included. Women were on average 7 years older than men (68 vs 61 years, p < 0.001), and suffered more often from hypertension (46% vs 34%, p = 0.002) and monovascular disease (69% vs 57%, p = 0.002). A higher percentage of men were current smokers (41% vs 49%, p = 0.043). Patient delay, system delay and overall ischaemic times were similar in both women and men (medians: 51, 94 and 157 min, respectively). Initiation of treatment was achieved within 90 min after STEMI diagnosis in 85% of patients (87% in women, 85% in men). Thirty-day and 1‑year mortality adjusted hazard ratio for women versus men was 1.60 (95% CI 0.9–3.0) and 1.24 (95% CI 0.8–2.0), respectively.

Discussion

Recognition of cardiac complaints remains challenging for patients. In the Amsterdam region, time delays and mortality were not significantly different between men and women presenting with STEMI. These results are in contrast to findings in similar registries. This suggests that implementation of current knowledge and national campaigns are effective in increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms suggestive of myocardial infarction.

Sex Disparities in the Use and Outcomes of Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support for Acute Myocardial Infarction-Cardiogenic Shock

Background

There are limited sex-specific data on patients receiving temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for acute myocardial infarction-cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS).

Methods

All admissions with AMI-CS with MCS use were identified using the National Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2016. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, use of palliative care and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status, and receipt of durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and cardiac transplantation.

Results

In AMI-CS admissions during this 12-year period, MCS was used more frequently in men-50.4% vs 39.5%; P < 0.001. Of the 173,473 who received MCS (32% women), intra-aortic balloon pumps, percutaneous LVAD, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and ≥ 2 MCS devices were used in 92%, 4%, 1%, and 3%, respectively. Women were on average older (69 ± 12 vs 64 ± 13 years), of black race (10% vs 6%), and had more comorbidity (mean Charlson comorbidity index 5.0 ± 2.0 vs 4.5 ± 2.1). Women had higher in-hospital mortality than men (34% vs 29%, adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.23; P < 0.001) overall, in intra-aortic balloon pumps users (OR: 1.20 [95% CI: 1.16-1.23]; P < 0.001), and percutaneous LVAD users (OR: 1.75 [95% CI: 1.49-2.06]; P < 0.001), but not in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ≥ 2 MCS device users (P > 0.05). Women had higher use of palliative care, DNR status, and discharges to skilled nursing facilities.

Conclusions

There are persistent sex disparities in the outcomes of AMI-CS admissions receiving MCS support. Women have higher in-hospital mortality, palliative care consultation, and use of DNR status.

Associations of changes in patient characteristics and management with decrease in mortality rates of men and women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction - a propensity score-matched analysis

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to estimate how much of the recent decrease in mortality among patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) can be attributed to improved treatment strategies, and how much it is related to changes in baseline clinical characteristics, and to compare these findings for men and women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of 32,790 patients with STEMI from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes PL-ACS hospitalised in 2005 and 2011. Changes in treatment strategies including pharmacotherapy were analysed. Observed in-hospital and 12-month mortality rates were compared with the outcomes in the groups matched on the propensity scores.

RESULTS

There was a substantial improvement in STEMI patient management between 2005 and 2011 in Poland. It included greater use of percutaneous coronary interventions and other guideline-based adjunctive therapies, and it was associated with a significant decline in in-hospital mortality. Relative 12-month mortality reduction rates were less pronounced and more related to changes in patients' clinical characteristics. Higher mortality risk reductions were observed in women and were driven by relatively more positive changes in their baseline risk profiles when compared to men.

CONCLUSIONS

The progress in the treatment strategies has helped to achieve better survival rates in STEMI patients. However, the ongoing changes in clinical characteristics of patients also played an important role, especially in women. Clinicians should focus on modifiable risk factors and post-discharge management to possibly prolong the positive aspects of in-hospital efforts.

Helicobacter pylori infection selectively increases the risk for carotid atherosclerosis in young males

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Atherosclerosis is an important contributing factor to cardiovascular mortality. The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in atherosclerosis is inconsistent and sometimes controversial. The present study aimed to determine if H. pylori infection is associated with carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS

17,613 males and females with both carotid ultrasonic examination and ¹³C-urea breath test for H. pylori infection were screened by a major Chinese university hospital from March 2012 to March 2017 for the study. Baseline demographics, cardiac risk factors, and laboratory studies were obtained. After exclusion for pre-specified conditions, 12,836 individuals were included in the analysis, including 8157 men (63.5%) and 4679 women (36.5%). Analysis was also made for 5-year follow-up data of 1216 subjects (869 males and 347 females) with and without H. pylori infection for development and progression of carotid atherosclerosis.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, lipid profile, hypertension, renal function, diabetes mellitus, and smoking, H. pylori infection was found as an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in males under 50 years, but not in older males or females (odds ratio 1.229, 95% CI 1.054-1.434, p = 0.009). Follow-up data analysis showed that the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis from no atherosclerosis to detectable lesions was significantly higher in young males with persistent H. pylori infection than those without H. pylori infection (p = 0.028) after 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that H. pylori infection might be an important risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in young Chinese males under 50.

Cardiogenic Shock Following Acute Myocardial Infarction: What's New?

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a state of critical end-organ hypoperfusion primarily due to cardiac dysfunction. This condition is the most common cause of death in patients affected by acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Despite early revascularization, prompt optimal medical therapy, and up-to-date mechanical circulatory supports, mortality of patients with CS remains high.The objective of this review is to summarize epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options of CS in light of the new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommendations. The latest European guidelines on myocardial revascularization have reviewed the previous guidelines with respect to early multivessel revascularization and routine use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in patients with AMI-related CS.Most of the current evidences come partly from randomized trials, but mostly from observational registries because of the difficulty to test different treatments in this life-threatening clinical setting.Some of the latest studies highlight the potential crucial benefit of newly introduced mechanical circulatory support devices, although evidences are not sufficient to definitely assess the benefit/risk ratio of the different systems.Many questions remain unanswered in this field, and further trials are advocated to better elucidate the best medical, reperfusion, and circulatory support approaches aimed to improve the poor prognosis of patients with CS after AMI.

Sex differences in the treatment and outcomes of patients hospitalized with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

To compare mortality for women and men hospitalized with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by age and revascularization status.

BACKGROUND

There is little information on the mortality of men and women not undergoing revascularization, and the impact of age on relative male-female mortality needs to be revisited.

METHODS AND RESULTS

An observational database of 23,809 patients with STEMI presenting at nonfederal New York State hospitals between 2013 and 2015 was used to compare risk-adjusted inhospital/30-day mortality for women and men and to explore the impact of age on those differences. Women had significantly higher mortality than men overall (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.15, 95% CI [1.04, 1.28]), and among patients aged 65 and older. Women had lower revascularization rates in general (AOR = 0.64 [0.59, 0.69]) and for all age groups. Among revascularized STEMI patients, women overall (AOR = 1.30 [1.10, 1.53]) and over 65 had higher mortality than men. Among patients not revascularized, women between the ages of 45 and 64 had lower mortality (AOR = 0.68 [0.48, 0.97]).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with STEMI, and especially older women, had higher inhospital/30-day mortality rates than their male counterparts. Women had higher mortality among revascularized patients, but not among patients who were not revascularized.

Poor long-term outcome in acute coronary syndrome in a real-life setting: Ten-year outcome of the TACOS study

BACKGROUND

Long-term outcome of the three categories of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in real-life patient cohorts is not well known. The objective of this study was to survey the 10-year outcome of an ACS patient cohort admitted to a university hospital and to explore factors affecting the outcome.

METHODS

A total of 1188 consecutive patients (median age 73 years) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina pectoris (UA) in 2002-2003 were included and followed up for ≥ 10 years.

RESULTS

Mortality for STEMI, NSTEMI and UA patients during the follow-up period was 52.5%, 69.9% and 41.0% (p < 0.001), respectively. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, only age and creatinine level at admission were independently associated with patient outcome in all the three ACS categories when analyzed separately.

CONCLUSIONS

All the three ACS categories proved to have high mortality rates during long-term followup in a real-life patient cohort. NSTEMI patients had worse outcome than STEMI and UA patients during the whole follow-up period. Our study results indicate clear differences in the prognostic significance of various demographic and therapeutic parameters within the three ACS categories.

Gender differences in the clinical features and outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease

INTRODUCTION

Women have been at a higher risk for adverse cardiac events following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), compared with men. Areas covered: In this review, authors discuss the gender differences that can affect the clinical outcomes after PCI and the important points that can be improved on. Expert commentary: Various factors, such as old age and higher prevalence of comorbidities, have been considered to account for the worse clinical outcomes of PCI in women than in men. In addition, men and women have different presentations of angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS); atypical symptoms are more frequent in women. This variation of the clinical presentation in women likely contributes to the misdiagnosis or delayed recognition of ischemia, which may explain the worse clinical outcomes. In addition, compared with men, women are less likely to be referred for revascularization for coronary artery disease (CAD) and receive less of these guideline-recommended therapies. Recently, sex differences in cardiovascular events have decreased, especially among stable CAD patients, but sex differences in the clinical outcomes of ACS remain. Further evolution of treatment is expected to narrow these sex differences among patients with CAD and improve the clinical outcomes of both men and women.

Improved outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction during the last 20 years are related to implementation of evidence-based treatments: experiences from the SWEDEHEART registry 1995-2014

Aims

Impact of changes of treatments on outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in real-life health care has not been documented.

Methods and results

All STEMI cases (n = 105.674) registered in the nation-wide SWEDEHEART registry between 1995 and 2014 were included and followed for fatal and non-fatal outcomes for up to 20 years. Most changes in treatment and outcomes occurred from 1994 to 2008. Evidence-based treatments increased: reperfusion from 66.2 to 81.7%; primary percutaneous coronary intervention: 4.5 to 78.0%; dual antiplatelet therapy from 0 to 89.6%; statin: 14.1 to 93.6%; beta-blocker: 78.2 to 91.0%, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme/angiotensin-2-receptor inhibitors: 40.8 to 85.2% (P-value for-trend <0.001 for all). One-year mortality decreased from 22.1 to 14.1%. Standardized incidence ratio compared with the general population decreased from 5.54 to 3.74 (P < 0.001). Cardiovascular (CV) death decreased from 20.1 to 11.1%, myocardial infarction (MI) from 11.5 to 5.8%; stroke from 2.9 to 2.1%; heart failure from 7.1 to 6.2%. After standardization for differences in demography and baseline characteristics, the change of 1-year CV-death or MI corresponded to a linear trend of 0.915 (95% confidence interval: 0.906–0.923) per 2-year period which no longer was significant, 0.997 (0.984–1.009), after adjustment for changes in treatment. The changes in treatment and outcomes were most pronounced from 1994 to 2008.

Conclusion

Gradual implementation of new and established evidence-based treatments in STEMI patients during the last 20 years has been associated with prolonged survival and lower risk of recurrent ischaemic events, although a plateauing is seen since around 2008.

Survival benefit from recent changes in management of men and women with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary interventions

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, the majority of patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) are treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In recent years, there have been ongoing improvements in PCI techniques, devices and concomitant pharmacotherapy. However, reports on further mortality reduction among PCI-treated STEMI patients remain inconclusive. The aim of this study was to compare changes in management and mortality in PCI-treated STEMI patients between 2005 and 2011 in a real-life setting.

METHODS

Data on 79,522 PCI-treated patients with STEMI from Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) admitted to Polish hospitals between 2005 and 2011 were analyzed. First, temporal trends of in-hospital management in men and women were presented. In the next step, patients from 2005 and 2011 were nearest neighbor matched on their propensity scores to compare in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality rates and in-hospital management strategies and complications.

RESULTS

Some significant changes were noted in hospital management including shortening of median times from admission to PCI, increased use of drug-eluting stents, potent antiplatelet agents but also less frequent use of statin, beta-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers. There was a strong tendency toward preforming additional PCI of non-infarct related arteries, especially in women. After propensity score adjustment there were significant changes in inhospital but not in 30-day or 1-year mortality rates between 2005 and 2011. The results were similar in men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

There were apparent changes in management and significant in-hospital mortality reductions in PCI-treated STEMI patients between 2005 and 2011. However, it did not result in 30-day or 1-year survival benefit at a population level. There may be room for improvement in the use of guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy.

Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Risk to Young Women

BACKGROUND

Although acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mainly occurs in patients >50 years, younger patients can be affected as well. We used an age cutoff of 45 years to investigate clinical characteristics and outcomes of "young" patients with ACS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between October 2010 and April 2016, 14 931 patients with ACS were enrolled in the ISACS-TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries) registry. Of these patients, 1182 (8%) were aged ≤45 years (mean age, 40.3 years; 15.8% were women). The primary end point was 30-day all-cause mortality. Percentage diameter stenosis of ≤50% was defined as insignificant coronary disease. ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction was the most common clinical manifestation of ACS in the young cases (68% versus 59.6%). Young patients had a higher incidence of insignificant coronary artery disease (11.4% versus 10.1%) and lesser extent of significant disease (single vessel, 62.7% versus 46.6%). The incidence of 30-day death was 1.3% versus 6.9% for the young and older patients, respectively. After correction for baseline and clinical differences, age ≤45 years was a predictor of survival in men (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.58), but not in women (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-3.62). This pattern of reversed risk among sexes held true after multivariable correction for in-hospital medications and reperfusion therapy. Moreover, younger women had worse outcomes than men of a similar age (odds ratio, 6.03; 95% confidence interval, 2.07-17.53).

CONCLUSION

ACS at a young age is characterized by less severe coronary disease and high prevalence of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Women have higher mortality than men. Young age is an independent predictor of lower 30-day mortality in men, but not in women.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT01218776.

Gender differences in the decrease of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction during the last 20 years in Switzerland

Objective

To assess temporal trends of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) enrolled in the Swiss nationwide registry (AMIS Plus) over the last 20 years with regard to gender, age and in-hospital treatment.

Methods

All patients with AMI from 1997 to 2016 were stratified according to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI (NSTEMI), and gender using logistic regression analyses.

Results

Among 51 725 patients, 30 398 (59%) had STEMI and 21 327 (41%) had NSTEMI; 73% were men (63.9±12.8 years) and 27% were women (71.7±12.5 years). Over 20 years, crude in-hospital STEMI mortality decreased from 9.8% to 5.5% in men and from 18.3% to 6.9% in women. In patients with NSTEMI, it decreased from 7.1% to 2.1% in men and from 11.0% to 3.6% in women. After adjustment for age, mortality decreased per additional admission year by 3% in men with STEMI (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.98, P<0.001), by 5% in women with STEMI (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.96, P<0.001), by 6% in men with NSTEMI (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.96, P<0.001) and by 5% in women with NSTEMI (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.97, P<0.001). In patients <60 years, a decrease in mortality was seen in women with STEMI (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99, P=0.025) and NSTEMI (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.94, P<0.001) but not in men with STEMI (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.04, P=0.46) and NSTEMI (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.03, P=0.41). The mortality decrease in patients with AMI was closely associated with the increase in reperfusion therapy.

Conclusion

From 1997 to 2016, in-hospital mortality of patients with AMI in Switzerland has halved and was more pronounced in women, particularly in the age category <60 years.

Trial registration number

NCT01305785; Results.

Treatment of patients with myocardial infarction depends on history of cancer

Background:

Although cancer treatment considerably affects cardiovascular health, little is known about how cancer patients are treated for an acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate whether acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer received the same guideline recommended treatment as those acute myocardial infarction patients without and whether they differ with respect to inhospital outcome.

Methods:

All patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, enrolled between 2002 and mid-2015 in the acute myocardial infarction in Switzerland (AMIS Plus) registry with comorbidity data based on the Charlson comorbidity index were analysed. Patients were classified as having cancer if one of the cancer diseases of the Charlson comorbidity index was indicated. Immediate treatment strategies and inhospital outcomes were compared between groups using propensity score matching.

Results:

Of 35,249 patients, 1981 (5.6%) had a history of cancer. After propensity score matching for age, gender, Killip class >2, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and renal disease (1981 patients per group), significant differences were no longer found for a history of acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and cerebrovascular disease between cancer and non-cancer patients. However, cancer patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention less frequently (odds ratio (OR) 0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67–0.88) and received P2Y12 blockers (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.94) and statins (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76–0.99) less frequently. Inhospital mortality was significantly higher in cancer patients (10.7% vs. 7.6%, OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.17–1.81). However, the main cause of death was cardiac in both groups ( P=0.06).

Conclusion:

Acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer were less likely to receive guideline recommended treatment and had worse inhospital outcomes than non-cancer patients.

Sex-based differences in quality of care and outcomes in a health system using a standardized STEMI protocol

BACKGROUND

Recent data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry indicate that women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) continue to have higher mortality and reported delays in treatment compared with men. We aimed to determine whether the sex difference in mortality exists when treatment disparities are reduced.

METHODS

Using a prospective regional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-based STEMI system database with a standardized STEMI protocol, we evaluated baseline characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes of STEMI patients stratified by sex.

RESULTS

From March 2003 to January 2016, 4,918 consecutive STEMI patients presented to the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital regional STEMI system including 1,416 (28.8%) women. Compared with men, women were older (68.4 vs 60.9 years) with higher rates of hypertension (66.7% vs 55.7%), diabetes (21.7% vs 17.4%), and cardiogenic shock (11.5% vs 8.0%) (all P < .001). Pre-revascularization medications and PCI were performed with same frequencies, but women were less likely to receive statin or antiplatelet therapy at discharge. After age adjustment, women had similar in-hospital mortality to men (5.1% vs 4.8%, P = .60) despite slightly longer door-to-balloon time (95 vs 92 minutes, P = .004). Five-year follow-up confirmed absence of a sex disparity in age-adjusted survival post-STEMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Previously reported treatment disparities between men and women are diminished in a regional PCI-based STEMI system using a standardized STEMI protocol. No sex differences in short-term or long-term age-adjusted mortality are present in this registry despite some treatment disparities. These results suggest that STEMI health care disparities and mortality in women can be improved using STEMI protocols and systems.

Left bundle-branch block in patients with acute myocardial infarction: Presentation, treatment, and trends in outcome from 1997 to 2016 in routine clinical practice

BACKGROUND

Whether patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting with new or presumed new left bundle-branch block (LBBB) should be treated in the same way as those presenting with ST-elevation (STE) is still a matter of debate.

METHODS

Data from 28,358 patients enrolled in AMIS Plus from 1997 to 2016 were analyzed to evaluate differences in treatment and outcome of patients presenting with LBBB (n=2295) or STE (n=26,090) on their initial electrocardiogram using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

LBBB patients were older (75.0 vs 64.3 years, P<.001) with a greater burden of risk factors and comorbidities. They were admitted 80 minutes later and more frequently in Killip III/IV (20% vs 7%, P<.001). Even after adjustment for age and gender, LBBB patients were less likely to receive aspirin (odds ratio [OR] 0.40, 95% CI 0.34-0.47), P2Y12 inhibitors (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.45-0.54), β-blockers (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.76-0.89), and statins (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.63-0.76) or undergo percutaneous coronary interventions (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.35-0.42). Crude in-hospital mortality of patients with LBBB was 16.2% versus 6.5% for patients with STE, but adjusted OR was 1.07 (95% CI 0.93-1.24). Mortality of LBBB patients decreased from 22.6% in 1997-2001 to 11.9% in 2012-2016.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute myocardial infarction patients with new or presumed new LBBB presence are at high risk of morbidity and mortality. They were treated less aggressively, and although mortality has halved during the last 20 years, there may be room for further improvement. Additional studies are needed to better identify those patients with LBBB who may maximally benefit from an early invasive treatment strategy.

Impact of Sex and Contact-to-Device Time on Clinical Outcomes in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction-Findings From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry

Background

Emergent myocardial reperfusion via primary percutaneous coronary intervention is optimal care for patients presenting with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Delays in such interventions are associated with increases in mortality. With the shift in focus to contact‐to‐device (C2D) time as a new perfusion metric, this study was designed to examine how sex affects C2D time and mortality in STEMI patients.

Methods and Results

Clinical data on male and female STEMI patients were extracted and analyzed from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014. A total of 102 515 patients were included in the final analytic cohort. The median C2D time in female patients with STEMI was delayed when compared to male patients (80 [65–97] versus 75 [61–90] minutes; P<0.001). The unadjusted mortality was higher in female patients when compared to male patients with STEMI (4.1% versus 2.0%; P<0.001). For every 5‐minute increase in C2D time, the adjusted odds ratio for mortality was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.03–1.06) for female patients with STEMI and 1.07 (95% CI, 1.06–1.09) for male patients (P for sex by C2D interaction=0.003).

Conclusions

To date, this is the largest analysis of STEMI patients that measures the impact of the new recommended C2D reperfusion metric on in‐hospital mortality. Female STEMI patients have longer C2D times and increased mortality. The disparity can be improved and survival can increase in this high‐risk patient cohort by decreasing systems issues that cause increased reperfusion times in female STEMI patients.

Is female gender associated with worse outcome after ST elevation myocardial infarction?

Objectives

To investigate the impact of gender in outcomes of patients with ST segment myocardial infarction in a setting with limited access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Methods

In 1017 consecutive patients hospitalized with ST segment myocardial infarction during years 2008–2013, distribution of risk factors, therapeutic methods, heart failure and in-hospital mortality were compared between males and females. Association of gender and primary outcomes was determined after adjustment for confounding factors.

Results

Females were significantly older (66 ± 12.1 years vs. 59.5 ± 12.7 years, p < 0.001). Prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes was significantly higher in females (72.2% vs. 39%, p < 0.001, 36.1% vs. 20.3%, p < 0.001, 46.5% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001, respectively). Presentation delay was similar in males and females. Females received reperfusion therapy more than males (63.2%vs. 55.8%, p = 0.032). Development of heart failure and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in females (36.5% vs. 27.2%, p = 0.003 and 19.4% vs. 12.1%, p = 0.002, respectively).

However in multivariate analysis, female gender was not independently associated with increased rate of heart failure and in-hospital mortality

Conclusion

In a center with low rate of primary percutaneous coronary intervention, crude rates of heart failure and in-hospital mortality are higher in females; however, the association is lost after adjustment for baseline characteristics

Gender difference in oxidative stress: a new look at the mechanisms for cardiovascular diseases

Gender differences are present in many diseases and are especially prevalent in cardiovascular disease. Males tend to suffer from myocardial infarctions earlier than females, and a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease increases after menopause, suggesting a cardio-protective role of estrogen. However, hormone replacement therapy did not decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women; thus, other mechanisms may be involved besides estrogen. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease. Gender is also associated with differences in oxidative stress. Under physiological conditions, females appear to be less susceptible to oxidative stress. This may be due to the antioxidant properties of estrogen, gender differences in NADPH-oxidase activity or other mechanism(s) yet to be defined. This review strives to discuss gender differences in general terms followed by a more detailed examination of gender differences with oxidative stress and various associated diseases and the possible mechanisms underlying these differences.

Gender differences in outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the current era: A review

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. In the United Kingdom in 2010, over 80,000 deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease, and one in 10 female deaths were due to coronary heart disease. Acute coronary syndrome, a subset of coronary heart disease, was responsible for 175,000 inpatient admissions in the United Kingdom in 2012. While men have traditionally been considered to be at higher risk of acute coronary syndrome, various studies have demonstrated that women often suffer from poorer outcomes following an adverse cardiovascular event. This gap is gradually narrowing with the introduction of advanced interventional strategies and pharmacotherapy. However, a better understanding of these differences is of crucial importance for the improvement of the pharmacological and interventional management of acute coronary syndrome and for the development of possible new gender-specific diagnostic and therapeutic options. The goals of this review are to evaluate gender differences in outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the current era and identify potential mechanisms behind these differences in outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Simultaneous Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Isolated Septal Myocardial Infarction in a Young Patient

We report the case of a young patient with a simultaneous isolated septal myocardial infarction (MI) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

The aim was to describe a rare clinical entity and to explain why these two pathologies were present at the same time in a young patient. A review of literature was performed. An interventional cardiologist, an interventional radiologist and a lung specialist were consulted.

The diagnostic workup revealed only heterozygous Factor Leiden V mutation. This presentation was probably fortuitous, but worth reporting in our opinion.

Reducing bed rest time from five to three hours does not increase complications after cardiac catheterization: the THREE CATH Trial

Objective:

to compare the incidence of vascular complications in patients undergoing transfemoral cardiac catheterization with a 6F introducer sheath followed by 3-hour versus 5-hour rest.

Methods:

randomized clinical trial. Subjects in the intervention group (IG) ambulated 3 hours after sheath removal, versus 5 hours in the control group (CG). All patients remained in the catheterization laboratory for 5 hours and were assessed hourly, and were contacted 24, 48, and 72 h after hospital discharge.

Results:

the sample comprised 367 patients in the IG and 363 in the GC. During cath lab stay, hematoma was the most common complication in both groups, occurring in 12 (3%) IG and 13 (4%) CG subjects (P=0.87). Bleeding occurred in 4 (1%) IG and 6 (2%) CG subjects (P=0.51), and vasovagal reaction in 5 (1.4%) IG and 4 (1.1%) CG subjects (P=0.75). At 24-h, 48-h, and 72-h bruising was the most commonly reported complication in both groups. None of the comparisons revealed any significant between-group differences.

Conclusion:

the results of this trial show that reducing bed rest time to 3 hours after elective cardiac catheterization is safe and does not increase complications as compared with a 5-hour rest. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT-01740856

Revascularization Treatment of Emergency Patients with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Switzerland: Results from a Nationwide, Cross-Sectional Study in Switzerland for 2010-2011

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and in Switzerland. When applied, treatment guidelines for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improve the clinical outcome and should eliminate treatment differences by sex and age for patients whose clinical situations are identical. In Switzerland, the rate at which STEMI patients receive revascularization may vary by patient and hospital characteristics.

AIMS

To examine all hospitalizations in Switzerland from 2010-2011 to determine if patient or hospital characteristics affected the rate of revascularization (receiving either a percutaneous coronary intervention or a coronary artery bypass grafting) in acute STEMI patients.

DATA AND METHODS

We used national data sets on hospital stays, and on hospital infrastructure and operating characteristics, for the years 2010 and 2011, to identify all emergency patients admitted with the main diagnosis of acute STEMI. We then calculated the proportion of patients who were treated with revascularization. We used multivariable multilevel Poisson regression to determine if receipt of revascularization varied by patient and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

Of the 9,696 cases we identified, 71.6% received revascularization. Patients were less likely to receive revascularization if they were female, and 80 years or older. In the multivariable multilevel Poisson regression analysis, there was a trend for small-volume hospitals performing fewer revascularizations but this was not statistically significant while being female (Relative Proportion = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.97) and being older than 80 years was still associated with less frequent revascularization.

CONCLUSION

Female and older patients were less likely to receive revascularization. Further research needs to clarify whether this reflects differential application of treatment guidelines or limitations in this kind of routine data.

Morbidity and mortality risk among patients with screening-detected severe hypertension in the Malmö Preventive Project

OBJECTIVE

Screening of hypertension has been advocated for early detection and treatment. Severe hypertension (grade 3 hypertension) is a strong predictor for cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate not only the risk factors for developing severe hypertension, but also the prospective morbidity and mortality risk associated with severe hypertension in a population-based screening and intervention programme.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In all, 18,200 individuals from a population-based cohort underwent a baseline examination in 1972-1992 and were re-examined in 2002-2006 in Malmö, Sweden. In total, 300 (1.6%) patients with severe hypertension were identified at re-examination, and predictive risk factors from baseline were calculated. Total and cause-specific morbidity and mortality were followed in national registers in all severe hypertension patients, as well as in age and sex-matched normotensive controls. Cox analyses for hazard ratios were used.

RESULTS

Men developing severe hypertension differed from matched controls in baseline variables associated with the metabolic syndrome, as well as paternal history of hypertension (P < 0.001). Women with later severe hypertension were characterized by elevated BMI and a positive maternal history for hypertension at baseline. The risk of mortality, coronary events, stroke and diabetes during follow-up was higher among severe hypertension patients compared to controls. For coronary events, the risk remained elevated adjusted for other risk factors [hazard ratio 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-4.40, P = 0.011].

CONCLUSION

Family history and variables associated with metabolic syndrome are predictors for severe hypertension after a long-term follow-up. Severe hypertension is associated with increased mortality, cardiovascular morbidity and incident diabetes in spite of treatment. This calls for improved risk factor control in patients with severe hypertension.

Sex Differences in Clinical Profiles and Quality of Care Among Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction From 2001 to 2011: Insights From the China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events (PEACE)-Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

China is experiencing a marked increase in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction hospitalizations, with 30% occurring among women and higher risk of in-hospital death in relatively younger age groups (<70). Yet, little is known about sex differences in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction presentation and management.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a nationally representative sample of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction admitted to 162 Chinese hospitals in 2001, 2006, and 2011, we examined sex differences in hospitalization rates, clinical profiles, and quality of care. Among 11 986 patients, the proportion of women was unchanged between 2001 and 2011. The estimated national rates of hospital admission per 100 000 people increased from 4.6 in 2001 to 18.0 in 2011 among men (3.9-fold increase) and from 1.9 to 8.0 among women (4.2-fold increase) (Ptrend<0.0001). The median age of women increased from 68 years in 2001 to 72 years in 2011 (Ptrend<0.001); however, there was no age change in men (63 years in 2011) (Ptrend=0.48). After accounting for age, women had a higher frequency of comorbidities. Although there were significant sex differences in the time interval of >12 hours between symptom onset and admission time in 2001, since 2006 delays in presentation were comparable between women and men. Fewer women without contraindications received evidence-based therapies than men, including reperfusion (57.5% versus 44.2%), early aspirin (88.8% versus 85.9%), and clopidogrel (56.9% versus 52.5%, P<0.001 for all) and the differences were largely unchanged over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Women experienced a higher increase in hospitalization rates for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in China between 2001 and 2011 and were less likely to receive evidence-based therapies, especially reperfusion. In addition to efforts to improve quality of care generally, understanding the reasons for this sex disparity and addressing these differences in care should be a priority.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01624883.

The temporal trends of incidence, treatment, and in-hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction over 15years in a Taiwanese population

BACKGROUND

The study was conducted to examine the nationwide temporal trends of incidence, treatment, and short-term outcomes for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) over a 15-year period in Taiwan.

METHODS

We identified patients who were hospitalized for incident AMI between 1997 and 2011 from the inpatient medical claim dataset of the National Health Insurance Research Database. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence and in-hospital mortality rates were calculated for AMI, and separately for ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI).

RESULTS

A total of 144,634 patients were identified. The incidence rates (per 100,000 population) of AMI increased from 30 in 1997 to 42 in 2011, which was mainly driven by the increase of NSTEMI. The in-hospital mortality rate after AMI decreased from 9.1% in 1997 to 6.5% in 2011, which was also driven by the case mortality rate for NSTEMI. Although the in-hospital mortality rates significantly decreased from 7.3% to 5.1% between 1997 and 2003 for STEMI, it did not change significantly from 2004 to 2011. Moreover, AMI patients undergoing revascularization treatment, particularly PCI, was the most important independent predictor for improved in-hospital survival.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrated a recent dramatic increase in the incidence rates and a decrease in short-term mortality in patients with NSTEMI; while the incidence and in-hospital morality of STEMI only modestly changed over time in Taiwan. Further quality improvement approaches for AMI prevention and treatment to favorably affect the incidence and outcomes from both major types of AMI are highly recommended.