REGISTERS IN CARDIOLOGY: THEIR PRINCIPLES, RULES, AND REAL-WORD POTENTIAL

Clinical characteristics and frequency of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure: results of a retrospective big data analysis

Aim. To evaluate the clinical characteristics and frequency of prescribed anticoagulant therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) in subjects of the Russian Federation based on a retrospective big data analysis using artificial intelligence technologies.

Material and methods. For retrospective analysis, information was obtained from the Webiomed predictive analytics platform, which includes depersonalized data from electronic health records of outand/ or inpatients in 6 subjects of the Russian Federation, extracted using artificial intelligence technologies. From the database of patients with AF (n=144431), a group of individuals (n=20970) with an established diagnosis of HF and information on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was selected.

Results. Patients with AF and HF (men, 43,7%; age 72,1±13,2 years; LVEF, 58,9±11,0%) had a history of smoking in 36,6% of cases, hypertension — in 86,7%, type 2 diabetes — in 26,6%, gout — in 2,7%, stage III and IV-V chronic kidney disease — in 50,9 and 15,6%, lower limb peripheral arterial disease — in 15,8%. The incidence of ischemic stroke, LV myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism was 8,8, 14,7 and 2,4%, respectively. Anticoagulants, including direct oral ones, were administered to patients with AF and HF in 62,5% and 32,0% of cases, respectively. The frequency of their appointment did not significantly differ depending on LVEF.

Conclusion. Patients with AF and HF are characterized by significant comorbidity, a higher incidence of cardiovascular events compared with the group of individuals with AF without HF, and an unsatisfactory percentage of anticoagulant therapy.

Prehospital Period in Patients with COVID-19: Cardiovascular Comorbidity and Pharmacotherapy During the First Epidemic Wave (Hospital Registry Data)

Aim. Based on the data from the register of patients with COVID-19 and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), analyze the duration of the prehospital period, cardiovascular comorbidity and the quality of prehospital pharmacotherapy of concomitant cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Material and methods. Patients were included to the study which admitted to the FSBI "NMHC named after N.I. Pirogov" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and/or CAP. The data for prehospital therapy, information from medical histories and a patients’survey in the hospital or by telephone contact 1-2 weeks after discharge were study. The duration of the prehospital stage was determined from the date of the appearance of clinical symptoms of coronavirus infection to the date of hospitalization.

Results. The average age of the patients (n=1130; 579 [51.2%] men and 551 [48.8%] women) was 57.5±12.8 years. The prehospital stage was 7 (5,0; 10,0) days and did not differ significantly in patients with the presence and absence of CVD, but was significantly less in the deceased than in the surviving patients, as well as in those who required artificial lung ventilation (ALV). 583 (51.6%) patients had at least one CVD. Cardiovascular comorbidity was registered in 222 (42.7%) patients with hypertension, 210 (95.5%) patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 104 (91.2%) patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The inclusion of non-cardiac chronic diseases in the analysis led to an increase in the total proportion of patients with concomitant diseases to 65.8%. Approximately a quarter of hypertensive patients did not receive antihypertensive therapy, a low proportion of patients receiving antiplatelet agents and statins for CHD was revealed – 53% and 31.8%, respectively, anticoagulants for AF – 50.9%.

Conclusion. The period from the onset of symptoms to hospitalization was significantly shorter in the deceased than in the surviving patients, as well as in those who required ALV. The proportion of people with a history of at least one CVD was about half of the entire cohort of patients. In patients with CVD before COVID-19 disease, a low frequencies of prescribing antihypertensive drugs, statins, antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants (in patients with AF) were recorded at the prehospital stage.

Combination of Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Heart Disease in Patients in Clinical Practice: Comorbidities, Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes (Data from the REСVASA Registries)

Aim. Assess the structure of comorbid conditions, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) included in the outpatient and hospital RECVASA registries.

Materials and methods. 3169 patients with AF were enrolled in outpatient RECVASA (Ryazan), RECVASA AF-Yaroslavl registries and hospital RECVASA AF (Moscow, Kursk, Tula). 2497 (78.8%) registries of patients with AF had CAD and 703 (28.2%) of them had a previous myocardial infarction (MI).

Results. There were 2,497 patients with a combination of AF and CAD (age was 72.2±9.9 years; 43.1% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.57±1.61 points; HAS-BLED – 1.60±0,75 points), and the group with AF without CAD included 672 patients (age was 66.0±12.3 years; 43.2% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 3.26±1.67 points; HAS-BLED – 1,11±0.74 points). Patients with CAD were on average 6.2 years older and had a higher risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications (p<0.05). 703 patients with a combination of AF and CAD had the previous myocardial infarction (MI; age was 72.3±9.5 years; 55.2% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.57±1.61; HAS-BLED – 1.65±0.76), and 1794 patients didn't have previous MI (age was 72.2±10.0 years; 38.4% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.30±1.50; HAS-BLED – 1.58±0.78). The proportion of men was 1.4 times higher among those with the previous MI. Patients with a combination of AF and CAD significantly more often (p <0.0001) than in the absence of CAD received a diagnosis of hypertension (93.8% and 78.6%), chronic heart failure (90.1% and 51.2%), diabetes mellitus (21.4% and 13.8%), chronic kidney disease (24.8% and 17.7%), as well as anemia (7.0% and 3.0%; p=0.001). Patients with and without the previous MI had the only significant difference in the form of a diabetes mellitus higher incidence having the previous MI (27% versus 19.2%, p=0.0008). The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was insufficient, mainly in the presence of CAD (67.8%) than in its absence (74.5%), especially the prescription of anticoagulants (39.1% and 66.2%; p <0.0001), as well as in the presence of the previous MI (63.3%) than in its absence (74.3%). The presence of CAD and, in particular, the previous MI, was significantly associated with a higher risk of death (risk ratio [RR]=1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] was 1.33-1.88; p <0.001 and RR=1.59; 95% CI was 1.33-1.90; p <0.001), as well as with a higher risk of developing a combined cardiovascular endpoint (RR=1.88; 95% CI was 1.17-3 , 00; p <0.001 and RR=1.75; 95% CI was 1.44-2.12; p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion. 78.8% of patients from AF registries in 5 regions of Russia were diagnosed with CAD, of which 28.2% had previously suffered myocardial infarction. Patients with a combination of AF and CAD more often than in the absence of CAD had hypertension, chronic heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and anemia. Patients with the previous MI had higher incidence of diabetes than those without the previous MI. The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was insufficient, and to a greater extent in the presence of CAD and the previous MI than in their absence. All-cause mortality was recorded in patients with a combination of AF and CAD more often than in the absence of CAD. All-cause mortality and the incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction were higher in patients with AF and the previous MI than in those without the previous MI. The presence of CAD and, in particular, the previous MI, was significantly associated with a higher risk of death, as well as a higher risk of developing a combined cardiovascular endpoint.

Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction. REGION-MI - Russian Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Aim      To study features of diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Russian hospitals, results of the treatment, and early and late outcomes (6 and 12 months after AMI diagnosis); to evaluate the consistence of the treatment with clinical guidelines; and to evaluate patients' compliance with the treatment.Material and methods  The program was designed for 3 years, including 24 months for recruitment of patients to the study. The study will include 10, 000 patients hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis (I21 according to ICD-10) of ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (MI) (STEMI) or non-ST segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) based on criteria of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Forth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (2018). The follow-up period was divided into three stages: observation during the stay in the hospital and at 6 and 12 months following inclusion into the registry. The primary endpoint included cardiac death, nonfatal MI during the hospitalization and after one-year follow-up. Secondary endpoints were 6-months and one-year incidence of repeated MI, heart failure, ischemic stroke, clinically significant hemorrhage, unscheduled revascularization after discharge from the hospital, and the proportion of patients who continue on statins, antiplatelet drugs, and drugs of other groups for 6 months and 1 year.Results The inclusion of patients into the registry started in 2020 and will continue for 24 months. By the time of the article publication (June, 2021), more than 2,000 patients will be included.Conclusion      REGION-MI (Russian rEGIstry Of acute myocardial iNfarction) is a multicenter, retrospective and prospective observational cohort study that excludes any interference with the clinical practice. Results of the registry will help to analyze a real picture of medical care provided to patients with myocardial infarction and to schedule ways to improve the situation.

Observational studies and registers. Their quality and role in modern evidence-based medicine

The article describes the basic rules for conducting observational studies, in particular, registers. The principles of the assessment of its quality and impact on the results are discussed. The potential for evaluating therapeutic effect and side effects in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies is compared. Effects of one drug identified in RCTs and observational studies are compared.

Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in Clinical Practice: Comorbidity, Drug Treatment and Outcomes (Data from RECVASA Registries)

Aim. To study comorbidity, drug therapy and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) included in the outpatient and hospital RECVASA registries.Material and methods. Patients with AF (n=3169; age 70.9±10.7 years; 43.1% of men) in whom comorbidity, drug therapy, short-term and longterm outcomes (follow-up period from 2 to 6 years) were included in hospital registers RECVASA AF (Moscow, Kursk, Tula), as well as outpatient registers RECVASA (Ryazan) and RECVASA AF-Yaroslavl.Results. Outpatient registries (n=934), as compared to hospital registries (n=2235), had a higher average age of patients (73.4±10.9 vs 69.9±10.5; p<0.05), the proportion of women ( 66.2% vs 53.0%; p<0.0001) and patients with combination of 3-4 cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including AF (98.0% vs 81.7%, p<0.0001), and also with chronic noncardiac diseases (81.5% vs 63.5%, p<0.0001), the risk of thromboembolic complications (CHA2DS2-VASc 4.65±1.58 vs 4.15±1.71; p<0.05) and hemorrhagic complications (HAS-BLED 1.69±0.75 vs 1.41±0.77; p<0.05), as well as a lower frequency of prescribing appropriate pharmacotherapy for CVD (55.6% vs 74.6%, p<0.0001). During the observation period, 633 (20.0%) patients died, and in 61.8% of cases - from cardiovascular causes. The mortality rate in one year in Moscow was 3.7%, in Yaroslavl - 9.7%, in Ryazan - 10.7%, in Kursk - 12.5% (on average for four registers - 10.3%). A higher risk of death (1.5-2.7 times) was significantly associated with age, male sex, persistent AF, history of myocardial infarction (MI) and acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVE), diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive disease lungs (COPD), heart rate>80 bpm, systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg, decreased hemoglobin level. A lower risk of death (1.2-2.4 times) was associated with the prescription of anticoagulants, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), betablockers, statins. The number of cases of stroke and MI was, respectively, 5.1 and 9.4 times less than the number of deaths from all causes. The higher risk of stroke in patients with AF during follow-up was significantly associated with female sex (risk ratio [RR]=1.61), permanent AF (RR=1.85), history of MI (RR=1.68) and ACVA (RR=2.69), HR>80 bpm (RR=1.50). Anticoagulant prescription in women was associated with a lower risk of ACVA (if adjusted for age: RR=0.54; p=0.04), in contrast to men (RR=1.11; p=0.79).Conclusion. The majority of patients with AF registries in 5 regions of Russia had a combination of three or more cardiovascular diseases (73.9%), as well as chronic non-cardiac diseases (68.8%). The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was insufficient (68.6%), especially at the outpatient stage (55.6%). Over the observation period (2-6 years), the average mortality per year was 10.3%, but at the same time it differed significantly in the regions (from 3.7% in Moscow to 9.7-12.5% in Yaroslavl, Ryazan and Kursk). Cardiovascular causes of deaths occurred in 62%. A higher risk of death (1.5-2.7 times) was associated with a history of stroke and MI, diabetes mellitus, COPD, heart rate>80 bpm, systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg, decreased hemoglobin level. However, the risk of death decreased by 1.2-2.4 times in cases of prescription of anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors / ARBs, beta-blockers and statins. The risk of ACVA and MI was the highest in the presence of the history of this event (2.7 and 2.6 times, respectively). Anticoagulant prescription was significantly associated with a reduced risk of stroke in women.

Comparative Characteristics of Patients with Cerebral Stroke and Myocardial Infarction in Outpatient Practice: Structure of Comorbidity, Risk Factors, Drug Treatment and Outcomes

Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of clinical and anamnestic characteristics, risk factors, pharmacotherapy and outcomes in patients with previous stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) in outpatient practice based on data from prospective outpatient registries.

Material and methods. On the basis of three outpatient clinics in Ryazan, based on the results of treatment in 2012-2013, an outpatient registry of patients who had stroke of any remoteness (REGION-AR) and an outpatient registry of patients who had previous myocardial infarction (REGATA) were created, which included, respectively, 511 patients (212 men, 41.5%) and 481 patients (247 men, 51.4%). Clinical and anamnestic characteristics, risk factors, prescribed pharmacotherapy, and its compliance with clinical guidelines were evaluated.

Results. Most of the patients in the REGION-AR and REGATA registries were diagnosed with arterial hypertension (AH; 97.1% and 98.5%), coronary heart disease (СHD; 75.1% and 100%), chronic heart failure (CHF; 74.0% and 94.8%), and the proportion of atrial fibrillation (AF) cases were 20.9% and 23.3%, respectively. The share of smokers was significantly higher (23.4% vs 8.9%; p<0.0001) in the REGATA registry, and the share of people with high blood pressure at the inclusion visit (82.6% vs 67.6 %; p<0.0001) and hypercholesterolemia (63.8% vs 45.8%; p<0.0001) was higher in the REGION-AR registry. In both registries, there was a generally insufficient frequency of proper medication prescriptions, while patients in the REGION registry were statistically significantly less likely to receive mandatory prescriptions in general (44.4% vs 58.2%, p<0.0001), including antihypertensive therapy for hypertension, as well as angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in CHF, beta-blockers in CHF and MI history, statins in CHD, antiplatelet agents in CHD without AF. Over 3 years of follow-up, the degree of compliance of drug prescriptions with clinical recommendations increased both in the REGION-AR registry (from 44.4% to 58.2%) and in the REGATA registry (from 58.2% to 62.9%). For 36 months of prospective observation in the REGION-AR registry, as compared to the REGATA registry, there was a higher mortality rate (22.1% vs 17.0%; p=0.04), moreover the mortality rate among men was higher (22.2% vs 14.2%; p=0.03), and among women it did not differ significantly (22.1% and 20.0%; p=0.56).

Conclusion. Outpatient registries of patients who survived after acute cerebrovascular accident and myocardial infarction were comparable in terms of the average age of patients, however, women prevailed in the REGION-AR study, and men - in the REGATA registry. In the registry of patients who had myocardial infarction, СHD, CHF, respiratory and digestive system diseases, chronic kidney disease, obesity were more often diagnosed, less often – heart defects and oncological diseases. This category of patients was more often prescribed ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, statins, antiplatelet agents. The proportion of compliance of prescriptions with clinical guidelines was higher in the registry of patients who underwent MI both at the stage of inclusion and during subsequent prospective observation. In both registries, an improvement in the quality of drug therapy was noted after 3 years of follow-up. Mortality from all causes over 3 years of follow-up was significantly higher in the registry of post-stroke patients compared to the registry of those with MI, and this was due to the higher mortality in men (1.6 times), but among women in the compared studies the death rate did not differ significantly.

Post-myocardial infarction patients: a comparison of management by a physician and a cardiologist according to the REGATA register

Aim. To assess the quality of diagnostics and treatment of outpatients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) according to REGATA register.

Material andmethods. In 2012-2013, 481 patients with a MI history who sought help in ambulatory care clinic were included in the study. In 87,5% of cases, the reference visit was to a physician or cardiologist, in 12,5% — to other specialist. The median age was 72 [62; 78] years (men — 51,4% (n=247)). The median time of previous MI was 5 [2; 9] years before the inclusion date.

Results. A total of 23,5% of patients with previous MI had never visited a cardiologist before, 37% of patients visited a cardiologist in the last 12 months before being included in the registry. The use of diagnostic tests was insufficient, regardless of specialty of a doctor managing a patient. In patients managed by a cardiologist, electrocardiography, 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, echocardiography, exercise tolerance test were much more often used. Cardiovascular agents were prescribed at the last visit to a physician and/or cardiologist in 91,9% of cases. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors were used in 49,6% of patients, sartan medicines — 25,6%, beta-blockers — 57,7%, calcium channel antagonists — 21,7%, long-acting nitrates — 20,0%, statins — 45,1 %, antiplatelet agents — 67,3%. In patients who visited/not visited a cardiologist, the frequency of prescribing cardiovascular agents did not significantly differ, except for statins (50,0% vs 23,9%, respectively (p<0,0001)).

Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that quality of managing outpatients after MI is higher by cardiologists than by physicians. However, the use of diagnostic tests and cardiovascular agents is insufficient, regardless of specialty of a doctor managing a patient.

Patients with Combination of Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes in RECVASA and REGION Registries: Multimorbidity, Outcomes and Potential Effect of Dapagliflozin in the Russian Clinical Practice

Aim. To evaluate the structure of multimorbidity, outcomes and the potential effect of dapagliflozin in patients with a combination of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes in Russian clinical practice.

Material and methods. The data of 10 registries with the inclusion of 22957 people, including 4370 with type 2 diabetes in 6 regions of the Russian Federation, were analyzed. Scenarios for reducing mortality from all and cardiovascular causes and hospitalizations for CVD were simulated among groups of patients with diabetes combined with myocardial infarction (MI) and diabetes combined with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) based on data from the Federal Registry of diabetes, the RECVASA and REGION registries, relative risks associated with analyzed adverse events from the DECLARE study.

Results. When analyzing the data of all 22957 patients with CVD included in the registries, it was found that the proportion of patients with comorbid diabetes was on average 19.0%. Of the various diagnoses of CVD, the combination with diabetes was most often recorded in patients that had MI – 2.0%, stroke – 22.5% and heart failure – 24.0%. In the RECVASA registry (Ryazan) for 4 years of follow-up of 699 patients with a combination of CVD and diabetes mortality from all causes was 20.9%, and from cardiovascular causes – 15.6%. The simulated number of potentially prevented cardiovascular deaths with dapagliflozin taking in patients with diabetes combined with MI for 4 years in Russia will be 39124, and 37440 cardiovascular hospitalizations. The number of potentially preventable deaths from all causes among patients with diabetes combined with HFrEF will be 4543, cardiovascular deaths in 1995, and the number of prevented cardiovascular hospitalizations will be 7072.

Conclusion. According to data from the registries of CVD patients in 6 regions of the Russian Federation, it was revealed that in real clinical practice the proportion of people with comorbid diabetes averaged 19% both at the outpatient and hospital stages. These subgroups of multimorbid patients have both the highest risk of developing fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular complications, and the largest number of indications for prescribing drugs that affect the prognosis due to effects on both CVD and diabetes.

Outpatient Registry REGION: Prospective Follow-up Data and Outcomes in Patients After Acute Cerebrovascular Accident

Aim. To estimate outcomes and risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, and non-fatal CV events in patients with a history of acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA) according to data of outpatient prospective registries.

Material and methods. 986 patients with a history of ACVA (aged 70.6Ѓ}10.9 years; 56.8% women) were enrolled into the outpatient registry REGION-Ryazan, including the registry of patients with ACVA of any remoteness (ACVA-AR) – 511 (aged 70.4Ѓ}10.5 years; 58.5% women) and the registry of patients, visited outpatient clinics for the first time after ACVA (ACVA-FT) – 475 (aged 70.8Ѓ}11.3 years; 54.9% women). Outcomes, risk of all-cause and CV mortality, composite CV endpoint (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and ACVA), hospitalizations due to CV diseases (CVD) were evaluated during 37 (17;52) months of follow-up period.

Results. 310 (31.2%) patients died during the follow-up. The most part of fatal outcomes (56.4%) was registered during the first year of follow-up, especially during the first 3 months (33.9%). Mortality among men (35.9%) was higher than among women (28.0%), р=0.008. 147 (28.8%) and 163 (34.3%) patients died in registries ACVA-AR and ACVA-FT, respectively (70.4% and 90.2% of fatal outcomes were from CV causes, respectively; р=0.04). The higher risk of death was associated with the following factors: age – hazard ratio (HR) 1.10 for each next year of age (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.09-1.12); sex (men) – HR 2.01 (95%CI 1.55-2.62); atrial fibrillation (AF) – HR 1.42 (95%CI 1,09-1,86); recurrent ACVA – HR 1.64 (95%CI 1.23-2.19); history of myocardial infarction (MI) – HR 1.45 (95%CI 1.09-1.93); low blood hemoglobin level – HR 2.44 (95%CI 1.59-3.79); heart rate ≥80 beats/min – HR 1.51 (95%CI 1.13-2.03); diabetes – HR 1.56 (95%CI 1.16-2.08); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – HR 1.89 (95%CI 1.34-2.66); no antihypertensive therapy in arterial hypertension – HR 2.03 (95%CI 1.42-2.88). The lower risk of death was associated with the following factors: prescription of ACE inhibitors (ACEI) – HR 0.60 (95%CI 0.42-0.85); angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) – HR 0.26 (95%CI 0.13-0.50), beta-blockers – HR 0.71 (95%CI 0.50-0.99); statins – HR 0.59 (95%CI 0.42-0.82). Factors, listed above, had significant association not only with all-cause mortality but also with CV mortality and composite CV endpoint. The higher rate of hospitalizations due to CVD was associated with younger age (incidence rate ratio [IRR] for 1 year 1.03; 95%CI 1.02-1.05; р<0.001), female sex (IRR 2.40; 95%CI 1.79-3.23; р<0.001), COPD (IRR 2.44; 95%CI 1.63-3.65; р<0.001) and heart rate ≥80 beats/min (IRR 1.51; 95%CI 1.12-2.04; р=0.007).

Conclusions. All-cause mortality in patients with a history of ACVA, enrolled in outpatient registry REGION, was 31.2% during 3-year follow-up. The proportion of CV death among the fatal cases was higher in the ACVA-FT registry than in ACVA-AR registry. The higher mortality rate was associated with the following factors: age, sex (male), recurrent ACVA, history of MI, diagnosis of AF, COPD and diabetes, low blood hemoglobin level, heart rate ≥80 beats/min, no antihypertensive therapy in arterial hypertension. The higher incidence of hospitalizations due to CVD was associated with younger age, sex (female), COPD and heart rate ≥80 beats/min. Prescription of ACEI, ARB, beta-blockers and statins was associated with lower risk of death and composite CV endpoint.

Outpatient Register of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Assessment of the Hypertension Impact on Long-term Prognosis

Aim. To assess the impact of arterial hypertension (AH) on the long-term outcomes in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Material and methods. 160 patients were included: 106 (66.2%) men and 54 (33.8%) women, average age 74.2±11.2 years, discharged from Moscow hospitals with a diagnosis of AMI (from March 01, 2014 till June 30, 2015) and applied to the city polyclinic №9 in Moscow or its branches for outpatient observation. The information was obtained on the basis of medical documentation of the polyclinic and data of patients’ examination/questioning by phone, conducted every 2 months. The follow-up duration was 1 year, the incidence of cardiovascular complications (CVC) was estimated: death, nonfatal AMI, nonfatal cerebral stroke, new cases of atrial fibrillation (AF), hospitalization for unstable angina, hypertensive crisis, heart failure, unplanned surgical interventions on the heart and blood vessels.

Results. AH before the development of reference AMI was observed in 118 (73.4%) patients: 48 women and 70 men; in women, AH was recorded more often than in men: 88.9% and 66.0%, respectively, p<0.05. Patients with AH were older than patients without AH: 63.0 (54.0; 74.0) and 55.5 (49.0; 61.0) years, respectively, p<0.001, among them there were more retirees 76 (64.4%) and patients with disabilities 45 (38.1%), p<0.05. Patients with AH compared with patients without AH were less likely to smoke (18.6% and 38.1%, respectively) and drank alcohol (30.5% and 52.4%, respectively), p<0.05 for both; more likely to visit the outpatient clinic (89.0% and 66.7%, respectively), p<0.05. There were no significant differences between the groups of patients with and without AH in the history of cerebral stroke, AMI, arrhythmia by AF type, diabetes mellitus and obesity, except for angina of tension (18.6% and 2.4%, respectively) and hypercholesterolemia (37.3% and 11.9%, respectively), p<0.05 for both. Despite the fact that patients with AH were significantly more often prescribed antihypertensive, lipid-lowering and antithrombotic drugs before reference AMI, the frequency of their use was low: renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers were prescribed in 70 (59.3%) patients, beta-blockers – in 35 (29.7%), calcium antagonists – in 20 (16.9%), diuretics – in 13(11.0%), antiplatelet agents – in 39 (33.1%), statins – in 9 (7.6%) patients. After one year of follow-up, CVC was registered in 33 (28.0%) patients with AH and 9 (21.4%) patients without AH (p=0.41). There was no statistically significant effect of AH on long-term outcomes of AMI, adjusted risk ratio =1.30 [95% confidence interval 0.68- 2.49], p>0.05. The effect of AH on the development of CVC, estimated using the Kaplan-Mayer curve, was not statistically significant (p=0.120).

Conclusion. During 1 year of follow-up after AMI in patients with AH the frequency of CVC – death, nonfatal AMI, nonfatal cerebral stroke, new cases of AF, hospitalization for unstable angina, hypertensive crisis, heart failure – did not exceed the overall frequency of CVC in patients without AH.

Patients with History of Myocardial Infarction and Acute Cerebrovascular Accidentin Clinical Practice: Demographic, Clinical Characteristics, Drug Treatment and Outcomes (Data of Outpatient and Hospital Registry REGION)

Aim. To assess the demographic and clinical characteristics, drug treatment and outcomes in patients with a history of acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA) and with concomitant history of myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical practice based on outpatient and hospital parts of REGION registry.

Material and methods. The total 1886 patients with a history of ACVA (aged of 70.6±12.5 years, 41.9% men) were enrolled into the outpatient registry REGION (Ryazan) and the hospital registry REGION (Moscow). 356 patients had ACVA and a history of MI (group “ACVA+MI” and 1530 patients had ACVA without history of MI (group “ACVA without MI”). The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), non-CVD comorbidities, drug therapy and outcomes were analyzed.

Results. In the group ACVA+MI compared with group ACVA without MI the significantly higher proportions of patients with the following conditions (diagnosis) were revealed: arterial hypertension (AH) – 99.1% and 94.2%; coronary heart disease (CHD) – 100% and 57%; chronic heart failure (CHF) – 61.5% and 41.8%; atrial fibrillation (AF) – 42.7% and 23.8%; repeated ACVA – 32.9% and 18.9%, respectively, p<0.0001 for all. In ACVA+MI and ACVA without MI groups the respective proportions of patients were smokers – 16.2% and 23.7% (p=0.10), had a family history of premature CVD – 3.2% and 1.2% (p=0.01), and had a hypercholesterolemia – 47% and 59.7% (p<0.001). The incidence of drug administration with proved positive prognostic effect was insufficient in both groups, but higher in the ACVA+MI group compared with ACVA without MI group (on average 47.1% and 40%, respectively), including: anticoagulants in AF – 19.1% and 21.4% (p=0.55); antiplatelets in CHD without AF – 69.4% and 42% (p<0.001); statins in CHD – 26.4% and 17.2% (p<0.001); beta-blockers in CHF – 39% and 23.8% (p=0.002), respectively. During 4- year follow-up in the group ACVA+MI compared with group ACVA without MI there were significantly higher all-cause mortality – 44.9% and 26.8% (p<0.001), nonfatal recurrent ACVA – 13.7% and 5.6% (p=0.0001), and nonfatal MI – 6.9% and 1.0% (p<0.0001), respectively.

Conclusion. The proportion of patients with a history of MI was 18.9% among the patients with a history of ACVA. In patients of ACVA+MI group, compared with patients of ACVA without MI group a higher incidence of the following characteristics was revealed: a presence of AH, CHD, CHF, AF, repeated ACVA and a family history of premature CVD. The incidence of taking drug with proved positive effect on prognosis in patients of the compared groups was insufficient, especially of statins and anticoagulants in AF. During the follow-up period ACVA+MI group was characterized by a higher all-cause mortality and higher incidence of nonfatal ACVA and MI. In these patients the improvement of the quality of pharmacotherapy and of the secondary prevention effectiveness are the measures of especial importance. 

The Strategy of Management Patients with non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

The review covers issues of epidemiology, diagnostics, management strategy, and treatment outcomes in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. Numerous factors affecting the choice of an invasive strategy are analyzed as well as its correspondence to existing recommendations of patient’s management. The stratification of risk of development of adverse coronary events, which is a part of the formation of a treatment strategy, is discussed.

THE QUALITY OF TREATMENT EVALUATION IN REGISTRIES FOR ACUTE CEREBRAL CIRCULATION DISORDERS. FOREIGN EXPERIENCE, RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVES

In the review the most prominent foreign registries of stroke are explored, those concern the evaluation of the treatment, and several Russian registries. The importance of treatment evaluation is discussed, and better and worse sides of the evaluating systems are estimated as their possibility to be used it Russia.