Determinants of In-Hospital Death Among the Very Elderly with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Association between walking speed early after admission and all-cause death and/or re-admission in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

AIMS

Patients with heart failure (HF) frequently experience decreased physical function, including walking speed. Slower walking speed is associated with poorer prognosis. However, most of these reports focused on patients with stable HF, and the relationship between walking speed in acute phase and clinical outcomes is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations between walking speed early after admission and clinical events in patients with acute decompensated HF (ADHF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We reviewed consecutive 1391 patients admitted due to ADHF. We measured walking speed the first time to walk on the ward more than 10 m after admission, and the speed within 4 days after admission was included in this study. The primary outcome was combined events (all-cause death and/or re-admission due to HF). The follow-up period was up to 1 year from the discharge. The study population had a median age of 74 years [interquartile range (IQR): 65-80 years], and 35.9% of patients were females. The median walking speed was 0.70 m/s (IQR: 0.54-0.88 m/s). Combined events occurred in 429 (30.8%) patients. Faster walking speed was independently associated with lower rate of combined events (adjusted hazard ratio per 0.1 m/s increasing: 0.951, 95% confidence interval: 0.912-0.992).

CONCLUSION

Faster walking speed within 4 days after admission was associated with favourable clinical outcomes in patients with ADHF. The results suggest that measuring walking speed in acute phase is useful for earlier risk stratification.

Appetite Predicts Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Recently, the nutritional status of patients has drawn attention in an aging society. Early studies have reported that nutritional status is related to long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it is not necessarily simple to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with AMI. We hypothesized that appetite before discharge can be a predictor for long-term adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AMI. This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether appetite is related to long-term adverse outcomes in patients with AMI.

METHODS

This study included 1006 patients with AMI, and divided them into the good appetite group (n = 860) and the poor appetite group (n = 146) according to the percentage of the dietary intake on the day before discharge. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which were defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal MI, and re-admission for heart failure, were set as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 996 days, and a total of 243 MACE was observed during the study period. MACE was more frequently observed in the poor appetite group than in the good appetite group (42.5% versus 21.0%, p < 0.001). In the multivariate COX hazard model, poor appetite was significantly associated with MACE (Hazard ratio 1.698, 95% confidence interval 1.243-2.319, p < 0.001) after controlling for multiple confounding factors.

CONCLUSION

Appetite at the time of discharge was significantly associated with long-term clinical outcomes in patients with AMI. Patients with poor appetite should be carefully followed up after discharge from AMI.

Comparison of Outcomes of Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention between Complex and High-Risk Intervention in Indicated Patients (CHIP) versus Non-CHIP

AIMS

Complex and high-risk intervention in indicated patients (CHIP) is an emerging concept in the contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CHIP is known to consist three factors, namely, (1) patient factors, (2) complicated heart disease, and (3) complex PCI. However, it remains unclear whether additional CHIP factors further increase the incidence of complications in complex PCI. Thus, in this study, we aim to compare the incidence of complications among definite CHIP, possible CHIP, and non-CHIP in terms of complex PCI and to further investigate the association between CHIP and complications.

METHODS

The primary aim of this study was to determine the major complications in PCI. We included 989 PCI lesions and divided those into definite CHIP (n=140), possible CHIP (n=397), and the non-CHIP groups (n=452).

RESULTS

The incidence of major complications was noted to be the highest in the definite CHIP, followed by the possible CHIP, and lowest in the non-CHIP (p=0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis using a generalized estimating equation revealed definite CHIP (versus non-CHIP: odds ratio (OR) 2.099, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.062-4.150, p=0.033) was significantly associated with major complications after controlling for confounding factors. Another multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed immunosuppressive drugs (OR 3.040, 95% CI 1.251-7.386, p=0.014), unstable hemodynamics (OR 5.753, 95% CI 1.217-27.201, p=0.027), and frailty (OR 2.039, 95% CI 1.108-3.751, p=0.022) were significantly associated with major complications among CHIP factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of major complications in complex PCI was determined to be the highest in the definite CHIP, followed by the possible CHIP and lowest in the non-CHIP. Thus, more attention should be given to the three components of CHIP to prevent major complications in complex PCI.

Comparison of Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Between Complex and High-risk Intervention in Indicated Patients (CHIP) versus Non-CHIP

Recently, there has been a growing interest in complex and high-risk intervention in indicated patients (CHIP) in the contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CHIP is composed of the following 3 factors: (1) patient factors, (2) complicated heart disease, and (3) complex PCI. However, there are few studies that investigated the long-term outcomes of CHIP-PCI. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among the definite CHIP, possible CHIP, and non-CHIP groups in complex PCI. We included 961 patients and divided them into the definite CHIP (n = 129), the possible CHIP (n = 369), and the non-CHIP groups (n = 463). During the median follow-up duration of 573 days (quartile 1:226 days to quartile 3:1,165 days), a total of 189 MACE were observed. The incidence of MACE was highest in the definite CHIP group, followed by the possible CHIP group, and lowest in the non-CHIP group (p = 0.001). Definite CHIP (vs non-CHIP: odds ratio 3.558, 95% confidence interval 2.249 to 5.629, p <0.001) and possible CHIP (vs non-CHIP: odds ratio 2.260, 95% confidence interval 1.563 to 3.266, p <0.001) were significantly associated with MACE after controlling for confounding factors. Among CHIP factors, active malignancy, pulmonary disease, hemodialysis, unstable hemodynamics, left ventricular ejection fraction, and valvular disease were significantly associated with MACE. In conclusion, the incidence of MACE in complex PCI was highest in the definite CHIP group, followed by the possible CHIP group, and lowest in the non-CHIP group. The concept of CHIP should be recognized to predict the long-term MACE in patients who undergo complex PCI.

Age Considerations in the Invasive Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes

The elderly constitute a major proportion of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the US. Due to pre-existing comorbidities, frailty, and increased risk of complications from medical and invasive therapies, management of ACS in the elderly population poses challenges. In patients with ST-elevation MI, urgent revascularization with primary percutaneous coronary intervention remains the standard of care irrespective of age. However, an early invasive approach in elderly patients with non-ST-elevation MI is based on individual evaluation of risks versus benefits. In this review, the authors discuss the unique characteristics of elderly patients presenting with ACS, specific geriatric conditions that need to be considered while making treatment decisions in these situations, and available evidence, current guidelines, and future directions for invasive management of elderly patients with ACS.

Risk Factors for Hospital Readmission and Death After Discharge of Older Adults from Acute Geriatric Units: Taking the Rank of Admission into Account

Objective

To analyze the impact of the number of hospital readmissions on the risks of further hospital readmission and death after adjustment for a range of risk factors.

Methods

We performed a multicentre prospective study of the DAMAGE cohort in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Patients aged 75 and over hospitalized initially in an acute geriatric unit (AGU) were included and followed up for 12 months. The risk of hospital readmission was analyzed using a Cox model, and its extension for recurrent events and the risk of death were analyzed using a Cox model for time-dependent variables.

Results

A total of 3081 patients were included (mean (SD) age: 86.4 (5.5)). In the multivariate analysis, the relative risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) of hospital readmission rose progressively to 2.66 (1.44; 5.14), and the risk of death rose to 2.01 (1.23; 3.32) after five hospital admissions, relative to a patient with no hospital readmissions. The number of hospital readmissions during the follow-up period was the primary risk factor and the best predictor of the risk of hospital readmission and the risk of death.

Conclusion

Hospital readmission is the primary risk factor for further hospital readmissions and for death in older subjects discharged from an AGU.

Frailty Predicts Poor Prognosis of Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Background: Frailty has been related to a higher risk of cardiovascular events, while the association between frailty and outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of cohort studies to evaluate the above association. Methods: Cohort studies aiming to determine the potential independent association between frailty and clinical outcomes after PCI were identified by search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to February 22, 2021. A random-effects model that incorporates the possible heterogeneity among the included studies was used to combine the results. Results: Ten cohort studies with 7,449,001 patients were included. Pooled results showed that frailty was independently associated with higher incidence of all-cause mortality [adjusted risk ratio (RR) = 2.94, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.90-4.56, I ² = 56%, P < 0.001] and major adverse cardiovascular events [(MACEs), adjusted RR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.32-3.66, I ² = 0%, P = 0.002]. Sensitivity analyses limited to studies including elderly patients showed consistent results (mortality: RR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.51-3.41, I ² = 23%, P < 0.001; MACEs: RR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.44-4.31, I ² = 0%, P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that characteristics of study design, follow-up duration, or type of PCI did not seem to significantly affect the associations (P-values for subgroup analyses all >0.05). Conclusions: Frailty may be an independent risk factor of poor prognosis for patients with CAD after PCI.

Factors associated with aorto-ostial stent coverage during intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous coronary intervention to severely narrowed non-ostial right coronary artery lesions

Introduction

In percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to atherosclerotic lesions in the right coronary artery (RCA), coronary artery dissection in the ostium of the RCA is a rare but fatal complication. Stent implantation to the ostium of RCA may be selected for the prevention of aorto-ostial dissection.

Aim

To find factors associated with aorto-ostial stent coverage to mild to moderate ostial stenosis during the treatment of severely narrowed non-ostial RCA lesions.

Material and methods

The primary interest was to find factors associated with ostial stent coverage using multivariate regression analysis. We included 236 patients who underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI to severely narrowed RCA lesions with mild to moderate ostial stenosis, and divided those into the ostial-coverage group (n = 52) and the non-coverage group (n = 184).

Results

The prevalence of continuous ostial plaque detected by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was significantly greater in the ostial-coverage group (84.6%) than in the non-coverage group (52.9%) (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that continuous ostial plaque detected by IVUS (OR = 5.398, 95% CI: 2.322–12.553, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with ostial stent coverage after controlling confounding factors. Ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularization was less frequently observed in the ostial-coverage group than in the non-coverage group, without reaching statistical significance (p = 0.069).

Conclusions

Continuous ostial plaque detected by IVUS was significantly associated with ostial stent coverage to the mild to moderate stenosis when PCI to non-ostial, severely narrowed RCA lesions was performed. The use of IVUS may enhance the safety but may increase the total stent length in PCI to RCA.

Factors Associated with In-Hospital Death in Patients with Killip Class 3 Acute Myocardial Infarction

The clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with Killip class 3 are often inconsistent with those in the literature, and the factors associated with poor outcomes have not been sufficiently investigated. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with in-hospital death in AMI patients with Killip class 3. We included 205 AMI patients with Killip class 3, and divided them into a survived group (n = 189) and in-hospital death group (n = 16). The primary objective was to identify factors associated with in-hospital death using multivariate analysis. Age was significantly younger in the survived group than in the in-hospital death group (73.1 ± 11.2 versus 83.2 ± 6.2 years, P < 0.001). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in the survived group than in the in-hospital death group (150.0 ± 31.2 versus 124.8 ± 25.3 mmHg, P = 0.002). The prevalence of TIMI thrombus grade ≥ 2 was significantly greater in the in-hospital death group than in the survived group (56.3 versus 22.2%, P = 0.005). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, in-hospital death was significantly associated with age [odds ratio (OR) 1.168, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.061-1.287, P = 0.002] and TIMI thrombus grade ≥ 2 (versus ≤ 1: OR 5.743, 95% CI 1.717-19.214, P = 0.005), and inversely associated with SBP on admission (per 10 mmHg increase: OR 0.764, 95% CI 0.613-0.953, P = 0.017). In conclusion, in-hospital death was associated with age and coronary thrombus burden, and was inversely associated with SBP on admission in patients with Killip class 3. It may be important to recognize these high risk features to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with Killip class 3.

Factors associated with temporary pacing insertion in patients with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background

High-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB) is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, there is little information about factors associated with temporary pacing (TP). The aim of this study was to find factors associated with TP in patients with inferior STEMI.

Methods

We included 232 inferior STEMI patients, and divided those into the TP group (n = 46) and the non-TP group (n = 186). Factors associated with TP were retrospectively investigated using multivariate logistic regression model.

Results

The incidence of right ventricular (RV) infarction was significantly higher in the TP group (19.6%) than in the non-TP group (7.5%) (p = 0.024), but the incidence of in-hospital death was similar between the 2 groups (4.3% vs. 4.8%, p = 1.000). Long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which were defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR) and readmission for heart failure, were not different between the 2 groups (p = 0.100). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, statin at admission [odds ratio (OR) 0.230, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.062–0.860, p = 0.029], HAVB at admission (OR 9.950, 95% CI 4.099–24.152, p<0.001), and TIMI-thrombus grade ≥3 (OR 10.762, 95% CI 1.385–83.635, p = 0.023) were significantly associated with TP.

Conclusion

Statin at admission, HAVB at admission, and TIMI-thrombus grade ≥3 were associated with TP in patients with inferior STEMI. Although the patients with TP had the higher incidence of RV infarction, the incidence of in-hospital death and long-term MACE was not different between patients with TP and those without.