Incidence, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of acute pericarditis and myopericarditis

AIMS

Little is known about the epidemiology, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of acute pericarditis and myopericarditis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The final diagnoses of acute pericarditis, myopericarditis, and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) of patients presenting to seven emergency departments in Switzerland with acute chest pain were centrally adjudicated by two independent cardiologists using all information including serial measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T. The overall incidence of pericarditis and myopericarditis was estimated relative to the established incidence of NSTEMI. Current management and long-term outcome of both conditions were also assessed. Among 2533 chest pain patients, the incidence of pericarditis, myopericarditis, and NSTEMI were 1.9% (n = 48), 1.1% (n = 29), and 21.6% (n = 548), respectively. Accordingly, the estimated incidence of pericarditis and myopericarditis in Switzerland was 10.1 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 9.3-10.9] and 6.1 (95% CI 5.6-6.7) cases per 100 000 population per year, respectively, vs. 115.0 (95% CI 112.3-117.6) cases per 100 000 population per year for NSTEMI. Pericarditis (85% male, median age 46 years) and myopericarditis (62% male, median age 56 years) had male predominance, and commonly (50% and 97%, respectively) resulted in hospitalization. No patient with pericarditis or myopericarditis died or had life-threatening arrhythmias within 30 days [incidence 0% (95% CI 0.0-4.8%)]. Compared with NSTEMI, the 2-year all-cause mortality adjusted hazard ratio of pericarditis and myopericarditis was 0.40 (95% CI 0.05-2.96), being 0.59 (95% CI 0.40-0.88) for non-cardiac causes of chest pain.

CONCLUSION

Pericarditis and myopericarditis are substantially less common than NSTEMI and have an excellent short- and long-term outcome.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov, number NCT00470587, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00470587.

Novel Criteria for the Observe-Zone of the ESC 0/1h-hs-cTnT Algorithm

Background: The non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommend a 3h cardiac troponin determination in patients triaged to the observe-zone of the ESC 0/1h-algorithm; however, no specific cut-off for further triage is endorsed. Recently, a specific cut-off for 0/3h high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) change (7ng/L) was proposed warranting external validation. Methods: Patients presenting with acute chest discomfort to the emergency department were prospectively enrolled into an international multicenter diagnostic study. Final diagnoses were centrally adjudicated by two independent cardiologists applying the 4th universal definition of MI, based on complete cardiac work-up, cardiac imaging and serial hs-cTnT. Hs-cTnT concentrations were measured at presentation, after 1h and 3h. The objective was to externally validate the proposed cut-off, and if necessary, derive and internally as well as externally validate novel 0/3h-criteria for the observe-zone of the ESC 0/1h-hs-cTnT-algorithm in an independent multicenter cohort. Results: Among 2076 eligible patients, application of the ESC 0/1h-hs-cTnT-algorithm triaged 1512 patients (72.8%) to either rule-out or rule-in of NSTEMI, remaining 564 patients (27.2%) in the observe-zone (adjudicated NSTEMI prevalence 120/564 patients, 21.3%). The suggested 0/3h-hs-cTnT-change of <7ng/L triaged 517 patients (91.7%) towards rule-out, resulting in a sensitivity of 33.3% (95%CI 25.5-42.2), missing 80 patients with NSTEMI, and ≥7ng/L triaged 47 patients towards rule-in (8.3%), resulting in a specificity of 98.4% (95%CI 96.8-99.2). Novel derived 0/3h-criteria for the observe-zone patients ruled-out NSTEMI with a 3h hs-cTnT concentration <15 ng/L and a 0/3h-hs-cTnT absolute change <4 ng/L, triaging 138 patients (25%) towards rule-out, resulting in a sensitivity of 99.2% (95%CI 96.0-99.9), missing 1 patient with NSTEMI. A 0/3h-hs-cTnT absolute change ≥6 ng/L triaged 63 patients (11.2%) towards rule-in, resulting in a specificity of 98% (95%CI 96.2-98.9) Thereby, the novel 0/3h-criteria reduced the number of patients in the observe zone by 36%, and the number of T1MI by 50%. Findings were confirmed in both internal and external validation. Conclusions: A combination of a 3h hs-cTnT concentration (<15 ng/L) and a 0/3h absolute change (<4 ng/L) is necessary to safely rule-out NSTEMI in patients remaining in the observe-zone of the ESC 0/1h-hs-cTnT-algorithm. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT00470587.

Analysis of risk factors associated with recurrence of acute pericarditis in patients diagnosed in the emergency room

Background

Around 5% of patients consulting to the emergency room (ER) for non-ischemic thoracic pain are diagnosed of acute pericarditis (AP). The good prognosis of this pathology is well known, with a mortality of 1% and a low incidence of serious complications, which has led the research to focus on recurrences. Female sex, corticoid treatment and treatment adherence are related with higher risk of recurrence. Colchicine has been associated with less recurrences.

Purpose

To analyse the factors associated with recurrence after the diagnosis of AP in the ER of a third-level hospital.

Methods

Retrospective review of ER consultations oriented as AP, prospectively documented during 10 years (2008–2018). In 2019, a follow up was done in order to identify the recurrences and to search for associated factors (univariate and multivariate analysis).

Results

610 patients were diagnosed of AP, 175 (29%) recurrences were documented. Factors associated with an increased risk of recurrence were: previous AP, immunosuppression or history of autoimmune disease, fever or increased acute-phase reactants (CRP; ESR), hospitalization and corticoid treatment. Factors associated with less risk of recurrence were: age, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment and idiopatic/viral etiology. No association with sex or colchicine treatment was identified. Multivariate analysis identified 3 factors that were independently associated with the risk of recurrence in a direct way: previous history of AP, [OR (IC95%): 2.09 (1.11–3.92)]; increased CRP [OR (IC95%): 1.09 (1.03–1.15)]; hospitalization [OR (IC95%): 2.65 (1.07–6.58)]. 2 factors were inversely associated with the risk of recurrence: age [OR (IC95%): 0.98 (0.96–0.99)]; NSAID treatment [OR (IC95%): 0.56 (0.32–0.97)].

Conclusions

29% of the patients were readmitted to the ER for an AP recurrence. Previous AP, increased CRP and the need of hospitalization were associated with a higher risk of recurrence. Age and NSAID treatment, on the other hand, were associated with less risk of recurrence.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Ajuts per la Recerca Josep Font

Specific sex and gender factors of pericarditis in women

Introduction

Pericarditis is relatively common in clinical practice and may present as an isolated disease or as a manifestation of a systemic disease. There is an important sex-gap in the evidence on cardiovascular diseases, whereas it is unclear if there are sex-specific differences in the features of patients with acute pericarditis (AP).

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of specific sex and gender factors of pericarditis in women.

Material and methods

We retrospectively included all consecutive patients admitted with acute pericarditis (AP) in an emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care center between 2008 and 2018. Patients without acute pericarditis diagnosis criteria were excluded. We collected patients' baseline characteristics and management data. Recurrence and complicated related to AP at 30-days and 1-year follow-up were assessed.

Results

A total of 729 patients (mean age 42±17.2 years, 33% females) were analyzed. Women were older than men (47.5 yo vs 40 yo, P&lt;0.001). Univariate analysis showed that women presented more prevalence of obesity (11% vs 5%, P&lt;0.01) and chronic kidney disease (6% vs 3%, P&lt;0.05) with previous autoimmune disease (15% vs 3%, P&lt;0.001), and previous immunosuppressive treatment more frequent (15% vs 7%, P&lt;0.01). Women presented more delayed time between beginnings of symptoms until first medical attendance (70 min vs 41 min, P&lt;0.01). No difference was found either echocardiography findings or blood test values. Autoimmune AP was more prevalent in women than men (9% vs 1%, P&lt;0.001). Hence, corticosteroids treatment was more used in women (12% vs 4,5%, P&lt;0.001). In multivariate analysis, six factors were found as specific gender factors of pericarditis in women: Age (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–13.2, P&lt;0.01), obesity (OR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.15–4.49; P&lt;0,05), smoker (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.25–0.59, P&lt;0.001), previous autoimmune disease (OR: 4,29, 95% CI: 1,77–13,21; P&lt;0,01); electrocardiogram diagnosis criteria (OR: 0,18, 95% CI: 0,6–0,52; P&lt;0,001); Autoimmune etiology (adjusted OR: 11,78, 95% CI: 1,99–69,64; P&lt;0,01). No difference was found in recurrence of AP in 30-days and 1-year follow-up (12% vs 13%, P&gt;0.05; 14% vs 13%. P&gt;0.05; respectively).

Conclusion

In our cohort, women with AP attended ED later than men and were less likely to present with typical AP changes in the electrocardiogram. Moreover, women are more commonly affected by specific forms of pericarditis related to autoimmune disease. However, follow-up did not show differences related to gender.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None