Cholesterol remnants distribution in patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome

Background

Cholesterol remnants have been identified as one of leading lipid measurements associated with the incidence of coronary heart diseases. Nonetheless, there is scarce evidence on cholesterol remnants distribution in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

We included all consecutive patients admitted for ACS in two different centers. Cholesterol remnants were calculated by the equation: total cholesterol minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and values ≥30 were considered high. Premature ACS was defined in patients presenting with age <55 for men or <65 for women. Correlation weres assessed by linear regression and predictive models were obtained after logistic binary regression.

Results

We included 7,479 patients, mean age 66.68 (13.02), 2,062 (27.57%) women, mean body mass index (BMI) 28.60 (4.64) kg/m2, 2088 (27,92%) with diabetes and 2,726 (36.45%) admitted for ST-elevation ACS. Median (interquartile range) remnants level was 28 mg/dl (21–39) and 3,429 (45.85%) patients had levels ≥30 mg/dl. Significantly higher levels of remnants were observed in patients with diabetes, current smokers, BMI >30 kg/m2, absence of previous cardiovascular disease or premature ACS. No gender differences were observed in remnants level. Age (r: −0.29) and BMI (r: 0.44) were the variables more strongly correlated. As shown in the figures, at any given age, the risk of having cholesterol remnants ≥30 increased with higher BMI.

In-hospital mortality was 3.75% (280 patients). After adjustment by age, gender, previous cardiovascular disease and GRACE score, cholesterol remnants were not associated to higher mortality risk (OR: 0.89 95% CI 0.64–1.10; p=0.21)

Conclusions

Elevated cholesterol remnants is highly prevalent in patients admitted for ACS and their levels inversely correlate with age and positively with body mass index. We propose a risk matrix for estimating the probability of having cholesterol remnants ≥30. Elevated cholesterol remnants were not associated to higher in-hospital mortality risk.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

A universal electronic consultation programme at the cardiology department after general practitioner referrals to improve healthcare accessibility and outcomes in elderly patients

Background

The on-line healthcare models are an opportunity to improve the accessibility and efficiency in clinical assistance, however, analyses of the effects of outpatient care on healthcare quality, including safety, are limited, particularly in vulnerable populations such as elderly patients 1. The care of elderly patients (generally >80 years) is usually characterized as having more chronic pathologies, particularly more cardiovascular diseases, resulting in having a worse risk profile 2. However, this group is also usually characterized by problems with functionality and dependency that can increase difficulties in moving from their homes to health care centres, particularly in areas of great geographical dispersion such as in our study 3.

The healthcare systems that have integrated electronic clinical records between different assistance levels provide an electronic consultation (e-consultation) as a first step of ambulatory care for all general practitioner (GP) referrals. Healthcare systems that include an e-consultation have already shown favorable health outcomes and reduced displacement of the population served 4,5 and could also improve accessibility to outpatient care, although there are not results to demonstrate its safety in this particular group of high-risk patients.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the accessibility and health outcomes (hospital admissions and mortality) in elderly patients referred to a cardiology department (CD) from primary care after inclusion of an e-consultation in outpatient care.

Methods

We included 9,963 patients >80 years old referred to the CD from January 1st, 2010, to December 31st, 2019. In 2013, we instituted an e-consultation programme (2013–2019) for all primary care referrals to cardiologists that preceded patient in-person consultations when considered. We compared both models (in-person consultation and e-consultation) using I: an interrupted time series regression on delay time, hospital admission, and mortality, II: the accessibility measured as population-adjusted referred rate in both periods, and III: analysing the changes in each municipality in delay time, hospital admission and mortality.

Results

During the e-consult period, the demand of care increased (12.8±4.3% vs 25.5±11.1% per 1,000 inhabitants, p<0.001), delay for care was reduced (−0.094 days; 95% CI [−0.063, −0.140], p<0.001), and age-dependent delay disappeared. After the implementation of e-consults, hospital admission (incidence rate ratio [iRR]: 1.351 [95% CI, 0.787, 2.317], p=0.874), Figure 1, and mortality (iRR: 1.925 [95% CI: 0.889, 4.168], p=0.096) stabilised with a slight downward trend, Figure 2.

Conclusion

Implementation of e-consultations in the outpatient care programme in CD was associated with improved access to cardiology healthcare in elderly patients. After the implementation of the e-consultation, hospital admissions and mortality were stabilised and showed a slight non-significant downward trend.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Age as a prognostic modifier in anemic patients discharged after acute coronary syndrome

Introduction

The presence of anemia on admission is a poor long-term prognostic factor in patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, it is unknown whether age is a factor modifying the effect of anemia on mortality.

Objective

To determine the effect of age on anemia in terms of long-term mortality in patients admitted for ACS.

Methods

This is an observational study in which we included all patients discharged from cardiology for ACS in two centers from 2003 to 2020. Patients with anemia were classified by hemoglobin values <13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in women in the first blood count performed during hospitalization. The interaction between age and anemia was analyzed using the Cox regression model and the chunk test. We analyzed the effect of anemia on mortality using the Cox regression model adjusted for several confounding variables and the interaction with age.

Results

We included 8872 patients diagnosed with ACS, with a mean age of 66.38 (SD ±12.76) years, 27.1% female and 34.3% diagnosed with ST-segment elevation ACS. The mean hemoglobin value was 13.88 (SD ±1.85) g/dL and 20.5% of patients were anemic on admission.

During follow-up (median 1764 days, IQR 694–2439 days) there was an increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with anemia adjusted for age and other risk factors (sex, renal function, GRACE score, atrial fibrillation, LVEF and previous revascularization), HR 15.5 (CI 5.77–41.75; p>0.005). We found a significant interaction between age and anemia (p<0.01). As represented in the figure, the adjusted risk of mortality decreased at older ages; in patients whose age was >80 anemia was not associated to higher mortality risk. Similar results were observed for cardiovascular mortality, HR 21.36 (CI 6.13–74.43, p>0.005).

Conclusion

Age modifies the risk of mortality in patients discharged after an ACS being the risk of mortality higher in youngest ages and disappearing in octogenearians. There results should be taken under consideration for the treatment and management of ACS patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Impact of a universal electronic consultation program at the cardiology service of a galician health area on hospital admissions and on the accessibility and equity of healthcare services

Background

The implementation of integrated electronic medical record projects between healthcare levels allows all healthcare professionals access to all the clinical information of patients, which is a key factor in optimizing the management of healthcare resources, facilitating the communication between professionals and avoiding medical acts that do not add value, always from the premise of safety and quality for patients [1]. The benefits that telemedicine models can bring in reducing waiting times and the role they can play in organizing the growing demand for care have been described [2,3]. A matter of concern is the lack of accessibility for patients who live further away from their reference hospital centers, not only from a management point of view but also from a clinical point of view, since they are patients who are usually admitted with more complications and therefore could have a worse prognosis.

Purpose

To assess the impact on accessibility to healthcare provision and hospital admissions of an outpatient care management program that includes an e-consultation through an integrated medical record.

Patients and methods

It was registered the epidemiological and clinical data available from the 41,258 patients referred from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019, from Primary Care to the Cardiology Service of a health area, in which all doctors share the same electronic medical record. The municipality where the patients live and the admissions for cardiovascular causes in any hospital service during the first year after consultation in the Cardiology Service was recorded.

Results

After the e-consultation was implemented, the demand for care increased in all municipalities (7.2±2.4 vs 10.1±4.8 rates per 1,000 habitants-year, p<0.001). In general, higher delay times were recorded in the regional hospital area, the furthest patients; the spatial effects also were similar in both periods; however, these differences were lower in the e-consultation period than in the in-person consultation period, Figure 1. Also, during the single act consultation period, we observed a progressive reduction in the delay to cardiology consultation which was markedly reduced after the implementation of the e-consultation. The interrupted time series analysis showed that the number of hospital admissions during the period of the Single Act Consultation has increased at approximately 1.1% per month (RR: 1,011 [IC95%: 1.003–1.018]), and after the implementation of the E-Consultation, this upward trend is stabilized in mean with a constant trend (RR: 1.011*0.989 ∼ 1), Figure 2.

Conclusions

The implementation of an e-consultation in the outpatient management model increases the demand for care and improves accessibility to health care for patients furthest from the referral hospital. After the implementation of the e-consultation, the upward trend of hospital admissions observed during the single act period, was stabilized with a slight downward trend.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Longer-Term Results of a Universal Electronic Consultation Program at the Cardiology Department of a Galician Healthcare Area

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine models play a key role in organizing the growing demand for care and healthcare accessibility, but there are no described longer-term results in health care. Our objective is to assess the longer-term results (delay time in care, accessibility, and hospital admissions) of an electronic consultation (e-consultation) outpatient care program.

METHODS

Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained from the 41 258 patients referred by primary care to the cardiology department from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019. Until 2012, all patients were attended in an in-person consultation (2010-2012). In 2013, we instituted an e-consultation program (2013-2019) for all primary care referrals to cardiologists that preceded patients' in-person consultations when considered. We used an interrupted time series regression approach to investigate the impact of the e-consultation on (1) delay time (days) in care and (2) hospital admissions. We also analyzed (3) total number and referral rate (population-adjusted referred rate) in both periods (in-person consultation and e-consultation), and (4) the accessibility was measured as number of consultations and variation according to distance from municipality and reference hospital.

RESULTS

During the e-consultation, the demand increased (7.2±2.4% versus 10.1±4.8% per 1000 inhabitants, P<0.001), and referrals from different areas were equalized. The reduction in delay to consultation during the in-person consultation (-0.96 [95% CI, -0.951 to -0.966], P<0.001) was maintained with e-consultations (-0.064 [95% CI, 0.043-0.085], P<0.001). After the implementation of e-consultation, we observed that the increasing of hospital admission observed in the in-person consultation (incidence rate ratio, 1.011 [95% CI, 1.003-1.018]), was stabilized (incidence rate ratio, 1.000 [95% CI, 0.985-1.015]; P=0.874).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing e-consultations in the outpatient management model may improve accessibility of care for patients furthest from the referral hospital. After e-consultations were implemented, the upward trend of hospital admissions observed during the in-person consultation period was stabilized with a slight downward trend.

The value of GRACE risk score for predicting mortality in heart failure patients admitted with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in heart failure (HF) patients has not been well studied yet.

Purpose

The main aims of this study were to compare the characteristics and outcomes of Non-ST elevation ACS (NSTACS) in patients with and without prior HF, and to assess the GRACE risk score performance for risk stratification in both groups.

Methods

All consecutive patients (n=5661) admitted due to a NSTACS from November'2003 to November'2017 in two Spanish hospitals were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided according to prior HF. As GRACE score predicts mortality in 6 months, logistic regression models were used to predict mortality in both groups. The different aspects of model performance were studied, including calibration and discrimination.

Results

Killip class, GRACE and CRUSADE scores were higher in HF-patients compared to patients without prior HF. Also, HF-patients had more complications (major bleeding, worsening HF, acute kidney injury) and higher mortality. Discrimination capacity of GRACE score to predict mortality at 6 months was slightly higher in non-HF patients (AUC 83.9% [81.6–86.2]) than in HF-patients [AUC 77.0% [70.1–83.8]) (Figure 1). The risk score calibration was acceptable for both groups [Brier scores were 0.139 (c-AUC 0,77) for HF-patients, and 0.046 (c-AUC 0.839) for non-HF patients]. Finally, HF-patients with lower GRACE scores had a higher predicted mortality than non-HF patients (Table 1).

Conclusions

We showed the potential utility of GRACE risk score in HF-patients admitted with NSTACS, expanding the indication of GRACE risk score for HF-patients as well. In fact, GRACE risk score not only keeps its accuracy, but it is even more robust in HF-patients than in non-HF patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1Table 1

The outcome of adults born with pulmonary atresia: High morbidity and mortality irrespective of repair

OBJECTIVES

To describe the characteristics and long-term outcome of a large adult cohort with pulmonary atresia.

BACKGROUND

Patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) are a heterogeneous population in terms of anatomy, physiology and surgical history, and their management during adulthood remains challenging.

METHODS

Data on all patients with PA followed in our center between January 2000 and March 2015 were recorded. Patients were classified into the following groups: PA with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD, 1), PA with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS, 2) and other miscellaneous PA (PA-other, 3).

RESULTS

Two-hundred twenty-seven patients with PA were identified, 66.1% female, mean age 25.5 ± 8.7 years. Over a median follow-up of 8.8 years, 49 (21.6%) patients had died: heart failure (n = 21, 42.8%) and sudden cardiac death (n = 8, 16.3%) were the main causes. There was no significant difference in mortality between the 3 Groups (p = 0.12) or between repaired and unrepaired patients in Group 1 (p = 0.16). Systemic ventricular dysfunction and resting oxygen saturations were the strongest predictors of mortality. Additionally, 116 (51%) patients were hospitalized, driven mainly by the need for invasive procedures, heart failure and arrhythmias.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult survivors with pulmonary atresia have a high morbidity and mortality irrespective of underlying cardiac anatomy and previous reparative or palliative surgery. We present herewith predictors of outcome in adult life that may assist with their tertiary adult congenital care.

[Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: Cardiovascular long-term outcomes]

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) induces maternal and fetal damage, but it can also be the beginning of future metabolic and vascular disorders. The relative risk of chronic hypertension after PIH is between 2.3 and 11, and the likelihood of subsequent development of type 2 diabetes is multiplied by 1.8. Women with prior preeclampsia/eclampsia have a twofold risk of stroke and a higher frequency of arrhythmias and hospitalization due to heart failure. Furthermore, a tenfold greater risk for long-term chronic kidney disease is observed as well. The relative risk of cardiovascular death is 2.1 times higher compared to the group without pregnancy-induced hypertension problems, although the risk is between 4 and 7 times higher in preterm birth associated with gestational hypertension or pre-existing hypertension The postpartum period is a great opportunity to intervene on lifestyle, obesity, make an early diagnosis of chronic hypertension and DM and provide the necessary treatments to prevent cardiovascular complications in women.

Prolonged incubation time does not increase sensitivity for the diagnosis of implant-related infection using samples prepared by sonication of the implants

We have designed a prospective study to evaluate the usefulness of prolonged incubation of cultures from sonicated orthopaedic implants. During the study period 124 implants from 113 patients were processed (22 osteosynthetic implants, 46 hip prostheses, 54 knee prostheses, and two shoulder prostheses). Of these, 70 patients had clinical infection; 32 had received antibiotics at least seven days before removal of the implant. A total of 54 patients had sonicated samples that produced positive cultures (including four patients without infection). All of them were positive in the first seven days of incubation. No differences were found regarding previous antibiotic treatment when analysing colony counts or days of incubation in the case of a positive result. In our experience, extending incubation of the samples to 14 days does not add more positive results for sonicated orthopaedic implants (hip and knee prosthesis and osteosynthesis implants) compared with a conventional seven-day incubation period.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1001–6.