Transcranial brain parenchyma sonographic findings in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 2

Introduction

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2) are genetically determined progressive muscular disorders with multisystemic affection, including brain involvement. Transcranial sonography (TCS) is a reliable diagnostic tool for the investigation of deep brain structures. We sought to evaluate TCS findings in genetically confirmed DM1 and DM2 patients, and further correlate these results with patients' clinical features.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 163 patients (102 DM1, 61 DM2). Echogenicity of the brainstem raphe (BR) and substantia nigra (SN) as well as the diameter of the third ventricle (DTV) were assessed by TCS. Patients were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and Daytime Sleepiness Scale.

Results

SN hyperechogenicity was observed in 40% of DM1 and 34% of DM2 patients. SN hypoechogenicity was detected in 17% of DM1 and 7% of DM2 patients. BR hypoechogenicity was found in 36% of DM1 and 47% of DM2 subjects. Enlarged DTV was noted in 19% of DM1 and 15% of DM2 patients. Older, weaker, depressive, and fatigued DM1 patients were more likely to have BR hypoechogenicity (p < 0.05). DTV correlated with age and disease duration in DM1 (p < 0.01). In DM2 patients SN hyperechogenicity correlated with fatigue. Excessive daytime sleepiness was associated with hypoechogenic BR (p < 0.05) and enlarged DVT (p < 0.01) in DM2 patients.

Conclusions

TCS is an easy applicable and sensitive neuroimaging technique that could offer new information regarding several brainstem structures in DM1 and DM2. This may lead to better understanding of the pathogenesis of the brain involvement in DM with possible clinical implications.

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Inflammation (CAA-rI): Three Heterogeneous Case Reports and a Focused Literature Review

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-rI) is a largely reversible, subacute encephalopathy, which is considered as a rare variant of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Although the diagnosis of this inflammatory vasculopathy is generally clinico-pathologic, a probable or possible diagnosis can often be established based on current clinico-radiological diagnostic criteria. This is important since CAA-rI is considered as a treatable disorder, which most commonly occurs in the elderly population. Behavioral changes and cognitive deterioration are highlighted as the most common clinical signs of CAA-rI, followed by a heterogeneous spectrum of typical and atypical clinical presentations. However, despite the well-established clinical and radiological features incorporated in the current diagnostic criteria for this CAA variant, this rare disorder is still insufficiently recognized and treated. Here, we have shown three patients diagnosed with probable CAA-rI, with significant heterogeneity in the clinical and neuroradiological presentations, followed by different disease courses and outcomes after the introduction of immunosuppressive treatment. Moreover, we have also summarized up-to-date literature data about this rare, yet underdiagnosed, immune-mediated vasculopathy.

TREX1 p.A129fs and p.Y305C variants in a large multi-ethnic cohort of CADASIL-like unrelated patients

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S) are the most common forms of rare monogenic early-onset cerebral small vessel disease and share clinical, and, to different extents, neuroradiological and neuropathological features. However, whether CADASIL and RVCL-S overlapping phenotype may be explained by shared genetic risk or causative factors such as TREX1 coding variants remains poorly understood. To investigate this intriguing hypothesis, we used exome sequencing to screen TREX1 protein-coding variability in a large multi-ethnic cohort of 180 early-onset independent familial and apparently sporadic CADASIL-like Caucasian patients from the USA, Portugal, Finland, Serbia and Turkey. We report 2 very rare and likely pathogenic TREX1 mutations: a loss of function mutation (p.Ala129fs) clustering in the catalytic domain, in an apparently sporadic 46-year-old patient from the USA and a missense mutation (p.Tyr305Cys) in the well conserved C-terminal region, in a 57-year-old patient with positive family history from Serbia. In concert with recent findings, our study expands the clinical spectrum of diseases associated with TREX1 mutations.

Is the female sex associated with an increased risk for long-term cognitive decline after the first-ever lacunar stroke? Prospective study on small vessel disease cohort

Background

Sex is a significant determinant of survival and functional outcome after stroke. Long-term cognitive outcome after acute lacunar stroke in the context of sex differences has been rarely reported.

Methods

A cohort of small vessel disease (SVD) patients presenting with first-ever acute lacunar stroke and normal cognitive status has been evaluated 4 years after the qualifying event for the presence of cognitive impairment (CI) with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Differences in baseline clinical and neuroimaging characteristics were compared between sexes in relation to cognitive status.

Results

A total of 124 female and 150 male patients were analyzed. No difference was detected between the groups regarding age (p = 0.932) or frequency of common vascular risk factors (p > 0.1 for all). At the baseline assessment, women had more disabilities compared to men with a mean modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 2.5 (1.5 in men, p < 0.0001). Scores of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) of presumed vascular origin and a total number of lacunes of presumed vascular origin on brain MRI were higher in women compared to men (p < 0.0001 for all). As many as 64.6% of patients had CI of any severity on follow-up, women more frequently (77.4%) than men (54.0%; p < 0.0001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that female sex, higher NIHSS and mRS scores, presence of depression, and increasing WMH severity were associated with an increased risk for CI. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that only depression (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.25-2.44; p = 0.001) and WMH severity (OR 1.10, 95%CI 1.03-1.17; p = 0.004) were independently associated with the CI.

Conclusion

At the long-term follow-up, women lacunar stroke survivors, compared to men, more frequently had CI in the presence of more severe vascular brain lesions, but this association was dependent on the occurrence of depression and severity of WMH, and could not be explained by differences in common vascular risk factors.

P-120 LAPAROSCOPIC REPAIR OF INCISIONAL HERNIA USING A NON-ABSORBABLE TRANSPARENT COMPOSITE PROSTHESIS TOTALLY IN POLYPROPYLENE - OUR EXPERIENCE

Introduction

Incisional ventral hernia is one of the most common surgical complications after laparotomy. The aim of this retrospective observational study is an evaluation of clinical outcomes after laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias with a non-absorbable and transparent composite prosthesis composed of a macro-porous monofilament polypropylene mesh and a transparent polypropylene film.

Materials and Methods

63 patients, from January 2016 to December 2021, were treated for incisional hernia at Center of minimal invasive surgery Nis, Serbia. The mesh was always positioned intraperitoneally after closing the defects and fixed with absorbable tacks and non-absorbable suture.

Results

In the considered cohort (54% female and 46% male) the median age and BMI were 54 years (range: 39–68) and 25,1 kg/m2 (range: 21.5–30.3), respectively. Concerning hernia position, 93.7% of the hernias were medial, 4.8% lumbar and 1.6% medio-lumbar. According to EHS classification, 58.7% of the hernias were W1, 36.5% W2 and 12.7% W3. The average duration of hospitalization was 2 days.

The rate of early post-operative complications was 6.3%, including 1 seroma (1.6%) and 3 patients reporting pain (4.8%). At a median follow up of 48 months (range: 6–60) we registered 2 cases of hernia recurrency (3.2%, both at 36 months follow-up) and 1 case of bowel obstruction (1.6%). All the considered variables did not result statistically significative in relation to post-operative complications.

Conclusion

Our clinical experience showed that intraperitoneal treatment of incisional hernia using a transparent composite prosthesis. The minimally invasive procedure allows a fast postoperative recovery and a consequent low economical cost.

Association between common cardiovascular risk factors and clinical phenotype in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EurObservational Research Programme (EORP) Cardiomyopathy/Myocarditis registry

AIMS

The interaction between common cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is poorly studied. We sought to explore the relation between CVRF and the clinical characteristics of patients with HCM enrolled in the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Cardiomyopathy registry.

METHODS AND RESULTS

1739 patients with HCM were studied. The relation between hypertension (HT), diabetes (DM), body mass index (BMI), and clinical traits was analysed. Analyses were stratified according to the presence or absence of a pathogenic variant in a sarcomere gene. The prevalence of HT, DM, and obesity (Ob) was 37, 10, and 21%, respectively. HT, DM, and Ob were associated with older age (P<0.001), less family history of HCM (HT and DM P<0.001), higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (P<0.001), atrial fibrillation (HT and DM P<0.001; Ob p = 0.03) and LV (left ventricular) diastolic dysfunction (HT and Ob P<0.001; DM P = 0.003). Stroke was more frequent in HT (P<0.001) and mutation-positive patients with DM (P = 0.02). HT and Ob were associated with higher provocable LV outflow tract gradients (HT P<0.001, Ob P = 0.036). LV hypertrophy was more severe in Ob (P = 0.018). HT and Ob were independently associated with NYHA class (OR 1.419, P = 0.017 and OR 1.584, P = 0.004, respectively). Other associations, including a higher proportion of females in HT and of systolic dysfunction in HT and Ob, were observed only in mutation-positive patients.

CONCLUSION

Common CVRF are associated with a more severe HCM phenotype, suggesting a proactive management of CVRF should be promoted. An interaction between genotype and CVRF was observed for some traits.

The role of the blood-brain barrier in psychiatric disorders

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by continuous, closely connected endothelial cells, enveloped in the basal lamina, pericytes, and foot extensions of astrocytes. BBB has a vital role in brain metabolism and protects the brain parenchyma from harmful agents present in the systemic circulation. Damage to the BBB and an increase in its permeability have an important role in many neurodegenerative diseases. This paper aims to review the literature on the impact of the BBB damage on psychiatric illness, a largely neglected and under researched area. Links between BBB impairment and specific neuropsychiatric disorders are described including schizophrenia, affective disorders, dementias with behavioral disorders, and alcohol use disorder, with comparison to typical hereditary small vessel diseases affecting the BBB such as cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarction and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). The authors critically summarize possible pathogenic mechanisms linking BBB damage and these common disorders.

Relative impact of acute heart failure and acute kidney injury on short- and long-term prognosis of patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI

Background

Although both acute heart failure (AHF) and acute kidney injury (AKI) have been separately recognized as contributors to an increased mortality risk in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), their relative importance has not been extensively studied.

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate the relative impact of AHF and AKI on 30-day and 5-year mortality following primary PCI for STEMI.

Methods

8 054 patients referred to primary PCI during the years 2009–2019, and with the available repeated creatinine measurements, were analyzed. AKI was defined as ≥25% relative or ≥0.5 mg/dl absolute rise in creatinine from baseline, within 72 hours of intervention. Acute heart failure was defined as Killip class ≥2 on admission to hospital. Cox regression model was used to assess the effect of the interaction of AHF and AKI on mortality. Median follow-up was 5 years.

Results

The incidence of AKI was 9.9% (n=805) and of AHF 12.3% (n=1050). Concurrence of AHF and AKI was noted in 1.7% of the included patients (n=315). The combined presence of AHF and AKI significantly increased mortality both at 30 days (30.7%) and at 5 years (73.3%), as compared with AKI alone (8.2% at 30 days and 32.3% at 5 years) and AHF alone (13.0% and 53.0%). When adjusted for other significant predictors, such as age, prior stroke, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, ejection fraction, final TIMI flow in the culprit artery, the use of intra-aortic balloon pump and multivessel disease, both AKI and AHF were independently associated with mortality. The adjusted relative impact of AKI on mortality was stronger than that of AHF at 30 days (adjusted HR 3.5 and 2.2, respectively), whereas it was comparable at 5 years (adjusted HR 1.3 and 1.4, respectively). Furthermore, the combined presence of AHF on admission and the post-primary PCI development of AKI was associated with the highest magnitude of risk at both 30 days (HR 5.0, CI95% 3.0–8.3, p&lt;0.001) and 5 years (HR 2.4, CI95% 1.83–3.16, p&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

Acute kidney injury following primary PCI for STEMI was associated with a higher adjusted risk of short-term mortality when compared with acute heart failure, whereas their relative impact was comparable in the long-term.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Cerebrovascular disease in patients with cognitive impairment: A white paper from the ESO dementia committee - A practical point of view with suggestions for the management of cerebrovascular diseases in memory clinics

PURPOSE

Practical suggestions on clinical decisions about vascular disease management in patients with cognitive impairment are proposed.

METHODS

The document was produced by the Dementia Committee of the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) based on the evidence from the literature where available and on the clinical experience of the Committee members. This paper was endorsed by the ESO.

FINDINGS

Vascular risk factors and cerebrovascular disease are frequent in patients with cognitive impairment. While acute stroke treatment has evolved substantially in last decades, evidence of management of cerebrovascular pathology beyond stroke in patients with cognitive impairment and dementia is quite limited. Additionally, trials to test some daily-life clinical decisions are likely to be complex, difficult to undertake and take many years to provide sufficient evidence to produce recommendations. This document was conceived to provide some suggestions until data from field trials are available. It was conceived for the use of clinicians from memory clinics or involved specifically in cognitive disorders, addressing practical aspects on diagnostic tools, vascular risk management and suggestions on some therapeutic options.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The authors did not aim to do an exhaustive or systematic review or to cover all current evidence. The document approach in a very practical way frequent issues concerning cerebrovascular disease in patients with known cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment in patients with cerebrovascular disease: A white paper from the links between stroke ESO Dementia Committee

PURPOSE

Many daily-life clinical decisions in patients with cerebrovascular disease and cognitive impairment are complex. Evidence-based information sustaining these decisions is frequently lacking. The aim of this paper is to propose a practical clinical approach to cognitive impairments in patients with known cerebrovascular disease.

METHODS

The document was produced by the Dementia Committee of the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), based on evidence from the literature where available and on the clinical experience of the Committee members. This paper was endorsed by the ESO.

FINDINGS

Many patients with stroke or other cerebrovascular disease have cognitive impairment, but this is often not recognized. With improvement in acute stroke care, and with the ageing of populations, it is expected that more stroke survivors and more patients with cerebrovascular disease will need adequate management of cognitive impairment of vascular etiology. This document was conceived for the use of strokologists and for those clinicians involved in cerebrovascular disease, with specific and practical hints concerning diagnostic tools, cognitive impairment management and decision on some therapeutic options.Discussion and conclusions: It is essential to consider a possible cognitive deterioration in every patient who experiences a stroke. Neuropsychological evaluation should be adapted to the clinical status. Brain imaging is the most informative biomarker concerning prognosis. Treatment should always include adequate secondary prevention.

Prognostic impact of elevated baseline CRP levels in primary PCI-treated patients with residual cholesterol risk

Background

Recent large randomized studies have indicated the potential of anti-inflammatory therapies to reduce adverse cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial infarction, with the most pronounced benefit in patients with baseline elevated C-reactive protein (CRP).

Purpose

Our aim was to assess the association of CRP levels with 30-day and 1-year mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI and with residual cholesterol risk.

Methods

The study included 1531 patients admitted for primary PCI, with the residual cholesterol risk, i.e. low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of &gt;1.80 mmol/l (70 mg/dl), from a prospectively kept electronic registry of a high-volume tertiary center, for whom in-hospital CRP measurements were available. Elevated CRP was defined as ≥5 mg/l (local laboratory cut off value), measured during index hospitalization. Cox regression models were constructed to assess the impact of elevated CRP on 30-day and 1-year mortality.

Results

72% of the included patients with LDL-C &gt;1.80 mmol/l had elevated in-hospital CRP (n=1107). Compared with patients with CRP levels within reference limit, elevated CRP was associated with older age (62 vs. 60, p&lt;0.001), higher rates of diabetes (25.8% vs. 18.5%, p=0.002), renal failure (6.4% vs. 2.1%, p&lt;0.001) and Killip class &gt;1 at presentation (22.5% vs. 12.3%, p&lt;0.001), as well as lower EF (44% vs. 48%, p&lt;0.001) and lower haemoglobin on admission (13.9 g/dl vs. 14.2 g/dl, p&lt;0.001). Crude mortality rates were increased in patients with CRP ≥5mg/l at both 30 days (6.0% vs. 2.4%, p=0.003) and 1 year (13.2% vs. 6.3%, p&lt;0.001) (Figure). After adjusting for the observed baseline differences, CRP ≥5mg/l remained an independent predictor of mortality at 1 year (HR 1.691, 95% CI: 1.050–2.724, p=0.03), but not at 30 days (HR 1.690, 95% CI: 0.859–3.324, p=0.13).

Conclusion

In primary PCI-treated patients with residual cholesterol risk, elevated in-hospital CRP was independently associated with 1-year mortality. Our findings may thus suggest a potential window of opportunity, for anti-inflammatory therapies to improve outcomes beyond the acute phase.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Characteristics, predictors and outcomes after unprotected left main stem primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Reports about outcomes of patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main (ULM) coronary artery are limited. We aimed to investigate the characteristics, in-hospital and the long-term outcomes of these patients.

Methods

From a high-volume, single-centre, prospective registry, in a period from 2009–2019, we identified 111 pts (0.96%) who undergone primary PCI for ULM culprit lesion. The short- and the long-term outcomes in this subset was evaluated and compared to 9463 (82.5%) patients undergoing pPCI for lesions located in other segments (Non-LM group). Technical success was defined as final TIMI 3 flow in both, left main and distal vessels, anterior descending and circumflex artery, without significant residual stenosis (&gt;20% following balloon angioplasty or stent implantation) and side branch compromise (residual stenosis &gt;75%).

Results

Patients with ULM were older and more likely to present as Non-ST-elevation MI (77% vs. 93%; p&lt;0.000) and in cardiogenic shock (40% vs. 2.2%; p&lt;0.000), having less occlusive disease with TIMI 0–1 flow prior to PCI (44% vs. 78%; p&lt;0.000) compared to Non-LM patients. Also, greater procedure complexity was observed with longer lesions &gt;20mm (50% vs. 29%; p&lt;0.000), more intraluminal thrombus (86% vs. 45%; p&lt;0.000), greater number (1,48±0,9 vs. 1,28±0,7; p&lt;0.01) and longer stents (30,5±15,8 vs. 27,4±14,3; p=0.028), more GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors (32% vs. 23%; p=0.022), intra-aortic counterpulsations (7% vs. 0.6%; p&lt;0.000) and contrast media used (202±96 vs. 172±66; p&lt;0.000) in ULM group. Despite obtaining comparable rates of final TIMI 3 flow in main branch (91.9% vs. 95.4%; p=0.084), patients with LMCA had significantly higher in-hospital (27% vs. 4.7%: p&lt;0.000), and one-year all-cause mortality (41% vs. 11%: p&lt;0.000), but for the remaining duration of clinical follow-up (available for 97.8% pts, median duration 51±37 months) survival rates were comparable between ULM and Non-LM pts (18% vs. 15%: p=0.506) (Figure 1).

Regression analysis showed that final TIMI 3 in main branch at 30 days (HR 0.05 [95% CI 0.005–0.604]; p=0.018), while peri-procedural cardiogenic shock (hazard ratio (HR) 8.3 [95% CI 2.5–28.1]; p=0.001), creatinine clearance &lt;60 ml/min (HR 7.5 [95% CI 2.3–25.1]; p=0.001) and technical success (HR 0.16 [95% CI 0.45–0.57]; p=0.005) at 5 years, independently predicted mortality in ULM patients.

Conclusions

Despite performance of primary PCI, patients with MI due to ULM lesions are associated with worse in-hospital and one-year mortality but following that period mortality was comparable to control group. Suboptimal final coronary flow best predicted the 30 day, while peri-procedural cardiogenic shock, renal dysfunction at admission and suboptimal technical procedure result, predicted long-term mortality in these patients.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Clinical characteristics and long-term mortality of patients with midrange ejection fraction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Previous studies associated midrange ejection fraction (mrEF) with impaired prognosis in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Purpose

Our aim was to assess clinical profile and short- and long-term mortality of patients with mrEF after STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

This analysis included 8148 patients admitted for primary PCI during 2009–2019, from a high-volume tertiary center, for whom echocardiographic parameters obtained during index hospitalization were available. Midrange EF was defined as 40–49%. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to assess 30-day and 5-year mortality hazard of mrEF, with the reference category being preserved EF (&gt;50%).

Results

mrEF was present in 29.8% (n=2 427), whereas low ejection fraction (EF&lt;40%) was documented in 24.7% of patients (n=2 016). mrEF was associated with a higher baseline risk as compared with preserved EF patients, but lower when compared with EF&lt;40%, in terms of prior MI (14.5% in mrEF vs. 9.9% in preserved EF vs. 24.2% in low EF, p&lt;0.001), history of diabetes (26.5% vs. 21.2% vs. 30.0%, p&lt;0.001), presence of Killip 2–4 on admission (15.7% vs. 6.9% vs. 26.5%, p&lt;0.001) and median age (61 vs. 59 vs. 64 years, p&lt;0.001). At 30 days, mortality was comparable in mrEF vs. preserved EF group, while it was significantly higher in the low EF group (2.7% vs. 1.6% vs. 9.4%, respectively, p&lt;0.001). At 5 years, mrEF patients had higher crude mortality rate as compared with preserved EF, but lower in comparison with low EF (25.1% vs. 17.0% vs. 48.7%, p&lt;0.001) (Figure). After adjusting for the observed baseline differences mrEF was independently associated with increased mortality at 5 years (HR 1.283, 95% CI: 1.093–1.505, p=0.002), but not at 30 days (HR 1.444, 95% CI: 0.961–2.171, p&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

Patients with mrEF after primary PCI for STEMI have a distinct baseline clinical risk profile, as compared with patients with reduced (&lt;40%) and preserved (≥50%) EF. Importantly, mrEF did not have a significant impact on short-term mortality following STEMI, but it did independently predict the risk of 5-year mortality.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Prognostic impact of gender and young age in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI

Background

Previous studies showed higher unadjusted mortality rates in female patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, after adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics, including age, female gender was not consistently associated with higher mortality.

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate the impact of gender on short- and long-term mortality in patients aged 18 to 55 years with AMI undergoing primary PCI.

Methods

We included 11 288 patients admitted for primary PCI during 2009–2019, from a prospectively kept, electronic registry of a high-volume tertiary center. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to assess 30-day and 5-year mortality hazard. Median follow up was 1 507 days.

Results

3 505 patients were younger than 55 years (31%). In this age group, 18.9% were female patients (n=661). Baseline characteristics were similar for females vs. males below the age of 55 years, including similar reperfusion times (338 min. vs. 341 min., p=0.8), with only exceptions being a higher rate of previous hypertension (64% vs. 58%, p=0.002) and stroke (3.6% vs. 2.2%, p=0.049), as well as lower ejection fraction (48% vs. 51%, p&lt;0.001), in female patients. MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries) was more frequently present in female vs. male patients aged ≤55 years (10.1% vs. 5.0%, p&lt;0.001). In the overall population, crude mortality was higher in female patients at 30 days (9.8% vs. 6.0%, p&lt;0.001) and 5 years (38.4% vs. 30.2%, p&lt;0.001). In younger patients (≤55 years), mortality rates were low and similar between the sexes at both 30 days (3.6% in females vs. 2.5% in males, p=0.136) and 5 years (14.5% vs. 13.4%, p=0.58). On the contrary, in patients aged &gt;55 years, crude mortality was higher in female patients at both 30 days (11.3% vs. 7.9%, p&lt;0.001) and 5 years (43.9% vs. 39.4%, p=0.02), albeit mainly driven by the differences in baseline characteristics between the sexes in this older age group (adjusted HR for female sex 1.220, CI95% 0.920–0.617, p=0.17, at 30 days; and adjusted HR 1.033, CI95% 0.908–0.175, p=0.62, at 5 years).

Conclusion

Differences in crude mortality rates between sexes in patients with AMI admitted for primary PCI appear to be mainly dependent on age, with similar rates of both short- and long-term mortality in younger patients (≤55 years). The observed excess in mortality in older (&gt;55 years) female vs. male patients could be explained by the differences in baseline clinical characteristics.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing primary PCI with versus without left ventricular function impairment

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and impaired left ventricular (LV) function have both been separately associated with increased risk of mortality following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Purpose

Our aim was to comparatively evaluate the impact of LV dysfunction and AF on the risk of mortality in primary PCI-treated patients.

Methods

This analysis included 8561 patients admitted for primary PCI during 2009–2019, from a prospectively kept, electronic registry of a high-volume tertiary center, from whom echocardiographic parameters were available. LV dysfunction was defined as EF&lt;40%. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to assess 30-day and 1-year mortality hazard.

Results

AF was present in 3.2% (n=273), whereas 37% had LV dysfunction (n=3189). Crude mortality rates were increased in the presence of either AF or LV dysfunction, and were the highest in the group of patients having both AF and impaired LV function, at 30 days (1.8% in no AF and no LV dysfunction vs. 5.4% if AF only vs. 7.0% if EF&lt;40% only vs. 14.9% if AF and LV dysfunction concurrently present, p&lt;0.001) and at 3 years (10.5% if no AF and no LV dysfunction vs. 35.8% if AF only vs. 28.5% if EF&lt;40% only vs. 60.3% if AF and LV dysfunction both present, p&lt;0.001). After multivariable adjustment for other significant mortality predictors, including age, previous stroke, MI, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, anemia and Killip≥2, LV dysfunction alone and in combination with AF was an independent predictor of mortality at both 30 days (HR=2.2 and HR=2.5, respectively, p&lt;0.001 for both) and at 3 years (HR=1.9 and HR=2.9, respectively, p&lt;0.001 for both). However, presence of AF alone, in the absence of an impaired LV function, was not independently associated with mortality at 30 days (HR 1.34, CI 95% 0.58–3.1, p=0.48), but rather at 3 years (HR 1.74, CI 95% 1.91–2.54, p=0.004).

Conclusion

Atrial fibrillation is associated with long-term mortality in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, irrespective of the LV function. Conversely, short-term prognostic relevance of atrial fibrillation in STEMI is dependent on the presence of LV dysfunction.

Kaplan Meier curve_AF_LV dysfunction

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Comparison of contrast induced nephropathy definitions and in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction

Background

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) has been associated with increased mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, different definitions of CIN have so far been used.

Purpose

We aimed to compare predictive accuracy of the 2 contemporary CIN definitions in patients with AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Method

From a high-volume, single-centre, prospective registry, in a period from 2009–2019, we identified 7987 pts who underwent primary PCI for AMI in whom creatinine measurements were available for analysis. CIN incidence was evaluated according to relative creatinine increases of ≥25% (CIN25) and ≥50% (CIN50) from baseline levels within 72 hours after intervention. The primary end point was in-hospital mortality.

Results

Overall, 1116 (13.9%), and 345 (4.3%) patients developed CIN25, CIN50, respectively. Crude in-hospital mortality rate was 3.9% (312 pts) in the overall population. Both definitions were independently associated with in-hospital mortality (CIN25 adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.2, 95% CI 2.7–6.6; p&lt;0.001, and CIN 50 adjusted OR 8.2, 95% CI 4.9–13.9; p&lt;0.001). Comparison of ROC curves showed that only the addition of the CIN50 (and not CIN25) definition to the combined model of clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality, which included pre-intervention TIMI flow 0–1, cardiogenic shock on admission, baseline creatinine clearance, prior stroke, chronic occlusion of non-culprit artery, post-intervention TIMI flow 3, left ventricular ejection fraction and procedure time, improved prognostic accuracy of the model (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Only acute kidney injury according to the CIN50 definition, but not the CIN25 definition, offers additional prognostic information above and beyond the combination of baseline predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Impact of a CTO in a non-infarct-related artery on long-term mortality in patients undergoing primary PCI

Background

Previous studies showed increased mortality rates in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct-related artery, but long-term data are scarce.

Purpose

Our aim was to assess all-cause mortality during 5 years follow-up in patients with a remaining nonculprit CTO after being treated with primary PCI.

Methods

The study included 9504 patients admitted for primary PCI during 2009–2019, with available baseline angiography, from an electronic, prospective registry of a high-volume catheterization laboratory. Kaplan Meier cumulative mortality curves for non-culprit CTO vs. no CTO were compared with the log-rank test, with landmarks set at 30 days and then annually up to 5 years follow-up. Adjusted Cox regression models were constructed to assess 30-day and 5-year mortality risk of a non-culprit CTO. Median follow-up was 1507 days.

Results

Nonculprit CTO was present in 13.2% of patients (n=1253). Presence of a nonculprit CTO was associated with older age (64 vs. 61, p&lt;0.001), more frequent history of cardiovascular disease including prior MI (33% vs. 14%, p&lt;0.001), stroke (10.3% vs. 5.9%, p&lt;0.001) and CABG (10.5% vs. 1.5%, p&lt;0.001), higher rates of renal failure (10.7% vs. 4.8%, p&lt;0.001), as well as more often Killip class 2–4 on admission (29% vs. 16%, p&lt;0.001) and a lower ejection fraction (40% vs. 47%, p&lt;0.001). Crude mortality rates were significantly increased in patients with a nonculprit CTO vs. no CTO, at both 30 days (15.7% vs. 5.6%, p&lt;0.001) and 5 years (54.6% vs. 27.9%, p&lt;0.001). After adjusting for the observed baseline differences, nonculprit CTO was still associated with an elevated mortality risk at both 30-days (HR 1.5, CI95% 1.1–1.9, p=0.007) and 5 years (HR 1.6, CI95% 1.4–1.9, p&lt;0.001). Landmark analyses showed continuously increasing risk of mortality in the presence of a nonculprit CTO, as compared with primary PCI-treated patients with no CTO (30 days to 1 year 11.4% vs. 4.9%, p&lt;0.001; 1st to 2nd year of follow-up 6.3% vs. 3.4%, p&lt;0.001; 2nd to 3rd year 6.2% vs. 2.8%, p&lt;0.001; 3rd to 4th year 7.4% vs. 3.0%, p&lt;0.001; and 4th to 5th year 5.2% vs. 3.6%, p=0.1).

Conclusions

Presence of a nonculprit CTO is independently associated with 5-year mortality after primary PCI. Importantly, the mortality risk increases continuously with an average annual absolute difference of 3%, in patients with a nonculprit CTO vs. those with no CTO.

Nonculprit CTO vs. no CTO

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Comparison of the FASTEST and the ZWOLLE risk scores for identification of very low-risk patients for all-cause mortality and MACE following primary PCI

Background

Prior studies suggest that low-risk ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) can be considered for early discharge in order to reduce healthcare costs and improve resource utilization. Novel, simple, the FASTEST score, demonstrated additional prognostic value over guideline recommended ZWOLLE score in a derivation cohort, but robust data about external validation are lacking.

Purpose

We aimed to compare overall predictive ability and discriminating power in identification of low-risk patients of novel FASTEST score compared to validated ZWOLLE score.

Methods

From a high-volume, single-center, prospective registry, in a period from 2009–2019, we included STEMI patients who underwent successful pPCI in whom both, FASTEST (1 point added for: femoral access, age&gt;65, LVEF &lt;50, TIMI &lt;3, creatinine &gt;1.5 mg/dl; left main disease; and Killip≥2) and ZWOLLE (age, anterior infarct, Killip class, TIMI flow, ischemia time, 3 vessel disease) scores were both calculated. Predictive ability of scores for in-hospital, 30 days and 1 year mortality and hospital MACE was tested using ROC analysis and comparing AUC. Also, event rate was compared between low-risk patients as classified by FASTEST (score=0) or ZWOLLE (score≤3).

Results

We included 5650 patients (age 60.8±11.4, male (71%), anterior STEMI (44%) and femoral approach (81%)). Overall, mortality rates were 2.1%, 3.1% and 8.1% for hospital, 30 days and one-year. As Low-risk subjects, ZWOLLE identified broader proportion of population compared to FASTEST (67% vs. 5.5%) mainly due to high prevalence of femoral approach (FASTEST low-risk 30% in radial approach subset), still, later had numerically lower mortality rates at hospital (0.7% vs. 0.3% (only 1 pt); p=0.62), 30 days (1.3% vs. 0.7%; p=0.39) and at one-year (4% vs. 2%; p=0.14). Both scores showed similar and very good predictive ability for in-hospital (AUC 0.81 vs. 0.81; p=0.66) and 30 days mortality (AUC 0.79 vs. 0.77; p=0.29), while at one-year, discrimination of crude mortality by FASTEST trended, but didn't reach statistical significance compared to ZWOLLE score, respectively (AUC 0.77 vs. 0.75; p=0.07). FASTEST showed better prediction for composite endpoint of in-hospital MACE - death, stroke, reinfarction and bleeding BARC class 3 or higher (AUC 0.71 vs. 0.67; p&lt;0.000) (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Both the FASTEST and the ZWOLLE scores showed very good discriminating power for in-hospital, 30 day mortality and one-year mortality, yet the FASTEST score offered comparative advantage for prediction of in-hospital MACE and could be used to identify selected patients where an early hospital discharge can be considered.

ZWOLLE vs FASTEST ROC analisys

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

SiPP (Stroke in Pregnancy and Postpartum): A prospective, observational, international, multicentre study on pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical profile, management and outcome of cerebrovascular diseases in pregnant and postpartum women

Rationale

Cerebrovascular diseases associated with pregnancy and postpartum period are uncommon; however, they can have an important impact on health of both women and foetus or newborn.

Aims

To evaluate the frequency, characteristics and management of cerebrovascular events in pregnant/postpartum women, to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the occurrence of these events including biomolecular aspects, and to assess the short- and long-term cerebrovascular and global cardiovascular outcome of these patients, their predictors and infant outcome.

Methods and design

This is an observational, prospective, multicentre, international case-control study. The study will include patients with cerebrovascular events during pregnancy and/or within six months after delivery. For each included case, two controls will be prospectively recruited: one pregnant or puerperal subject without any history of cerebrovascular event and one non-pregnant or non-puerperal subject with a recent cerebrovascular event. All controls will be matched by age, ethnicity and type of cerebrovascular event with their assigned cases. The pregnant controls will be matched also by pregnancy weeks/trimester. Follow-up will last 24 months for the mother and 12 months for the infant.

Summary

To better understand causes and outcomes of uncommon conditions like pregnancy/postpartum-related cerebrovascular events, the development of multisite, multidisciplinary registry-based studies, such as the Stroke in Pregnancy and Postpartum study, is needed in order to collect an adequate number of patients, draw reliable conclusions and give definite recommendations on their management.

3269Impact of type 2 diabetes on incidence and phenotype of heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) portends adverse prognosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether T2DM independently increases the risk of incident heart failure (HF) in AF is uncertain. Also, HF phenotype developing in patients with vs. those without T2DM has not been characterised.

Purpose

In AF patients without a history of prior HF, we aimed to assess: 1) the impact of T2DM on the risk of new-onset HF; and 2) the association between T2DM and HF phenotype developing during the prospective follow-up.

Methods

We included diabetic and non-diabetic AF patients, without a history of HF. Baseline T2DM status was inferred from medical history, haemoglobin A1c levels and oral glucose tolerance test. Study outcome was the first hospital admission or emergency department treatment for new-onset HF during the prospective follow-up. The phenotype of new-onset HF was determined by echocardiographic exam performed following clinical stabilisation (at hospital discharge, or within a month after HF diagnosis). HF phenotype was defined as HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <40%), HFmrEF (LVEF 40–49%) or HFpEF (LVEF≥50%). Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, baseline LVEF, comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol intake, AF type (paroxysmal vs. non-paroxysmal) and T2DM treatment was used to analyse the association between T2DM and incident HF.

Results

Among 1,288 AF patients without prior HF (mean age: 62.1±12.7 years; 61% male), T2DM was present in 16.5%. Diabetic patients had higher mean baseline LVEF compared with nondiabetic patients (50.0±6.2% vs. 57.6±9.0%; P<0.001). During the median 5.5-year follow-up, new-onset HF occurred in 12.4% of patients (incidence rate, 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5–3.3 per 100 patient-years). Compared with non-diabetic patients, those with T2DM had a hazard ratio of 2.1 (95% CI, 1.6–2.8; P<0.001) for new-onset HF, independent of baseline LVEF or other factors. In addition, diabetic patients had a significantly greater decline in covariate-adjusted mean LVEF (−10.4%; 95% CI, −9.8% to −10.8%) at follow-up, compared with nondiabetic patients (−4.0%; 95% CI, −3.8% to −4.2%), P<0.001. The distribution of HF phenotypes at follow-up is presented in Figure. Among patients with T2DM, HFrEF (56.9%) was the most common phenotype of HF, whereas in patients without T2DM, HF mostly took the phenotype of HFpEF (75.0%).

Conclusions

T2DM is associated with an independent risk of new-onset HF in patients with AF and confers a greater decline in LVEF compared to individuals without T2DM. HFrEF was the most prevalent presenting phenotype of HF in AF patients with T2DM.

P4619Comparison of the CRUSADE, ACUITY-HORIZONS, and ACTION bleeding risk scores for predicting in-hospital bleeding in acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary PCI

Background

Considering clinical importance of bleeding complications in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), bleeding risk stratification is a key part of the management of these patients. CRUSADE, ACTION and ACUITY-HORIZONS bleeding risk scores are available for predicting in-hospital major bleeding events in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate performance of the three above mentioned risk scores for predicting in-hospital bleeding events defined according to The Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria.

Methods

From a prospective electronic registry of a high-volume catheterization laboratory in a period from January 2009 to December 2017, a total of 6505 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent pPCI were included in analysis. Calibration and discrimination of the three risk models were evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) goodness-of-fit test and C-statistic, respectively.

Results

Overall there were 372 (5.7%) bleeding events out of which 117 (1.8%) fulfilled stage BARC 3 or higher bleeding criteria. All three scores showed good model calibration as assessed by the H-Ls test and very good discriminative power for BARC 3 of higher bleeding events detection as assessed by C-statistics (Table 1 & Figure 1):

Bleeding events stage BARC 3 or higher were statistically highly related with higher in-hospital mortality (13.7% vs. 3.5%; p<0.000).

Table 1 Risk score H-L H-L p AUC 95% CI p CRUSADE 11.46 0.177 0.761 0.750–0.771 vs. ACUITY = ns vs. ACTION <0.000 ACUITY-HORIZONS 10.47 0.236 0735 0.724–0.745 vs. ACTION = ns ACTION 5.74 0.677 0.701 0.698–0.712

Figure 1

Conclusions

All three evaluated scores showed very good discriminative capacity for predicting BARC 3 or higher bleeding events in patients undergoing pPCI for AMI.

P5481Predictors of mortality in patients with non-anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Previous studies have indicated that patients with non-anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have a more favorable prognosis compared with anterior STEMI, especially in the short term.

Purpose

Our aim was to identify predictors of increased 30-day mortality in patients with non-anterior STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Methods

This analysis included 8188 patients referred to primary PCI during 2009–2017, from a prospective electronic registry of a high-volume catheterization laboratory, for whom 30-day follow-up was available. Non-anterior infarction was defined as presence of ST-segment elevation in inferior and/or lateral ECG leads or true posterior MI. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess the mortality risk at 30 days.

Results

59.4% (n=4863) of the included patients presented with a non-anterior STEMI. Mortality rate was significantly lower in patients with non-anterior vs. anterior STEMI (4.2% vs. 8.3%, p<0.001). Older age (> median of 61, HR 2.2, p=0.002), baseline renal failure (eGFR <60, HR 4.0, p<0.001), Killip class ≥2 (HR 3.8, p<0.001), previous stroke (HR 1.8, p=0.004), non-culprit chronic total occlusion (CTO, HR 2.0, p<0.001) and final TIMI flow grade <3 in the infarct-related artery (HR 3.1, p<0.001) were independently associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality in non-anterior STEMI. The presence of at least one of these high-risk factors was noted in 61.2% of patients with non-anterior STEMI and was associated with a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality (HR 18.2, p<0.001), similarly to the overall risk associated with anterior STEMI (HR 22.9, p<0.001), as compared with patients with non-anterior STEMI but without any of the here identified high-risk factors (Figure).

Figure 1

Conclusions

Crude mortality rate was significantly lower in patients with non-anterior vs. anterior STEMI. However, the majority of non-anterior STEMI patients had at least one of the high-risk factors (older age, previous CVI, baseline renal failure, Killip class ≥2, non-culprit CTO or final TIMI flow <3), which predisposed these patients to a similar increase in short-term mortality risk as in patients with anterior STEMI.

P5011Impact of guideline-recommended medical therapy at discharge on long-term mortality in patients with or without left ventricular dysfunction after primary PCI for STEMI

Background

Clinical practice guidelines provide class I recommendation for the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and beta-blockers in patients with prior myocardial infarction and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, whereas their use in patients without LV dysfunction is considered to be a class IIa recommendation.

Purpose

Our aim was to comparatively assess the impact of ACE-I and/or beta-blockers on 3-year mortality in patients with or without impaired left ventricular (LV) function undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods

The analysis included 4425 patients admitted for primary PCI during 2009–2015 from a prospective, electronic registry of a high-volume tertiary center, who survived initial hospitalization, and for whom information on LV function and discharge medication were available. Patients were stratified according to LV systolic dysfunction, defined as LVEF <40%. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models were created to investigate the impact of beta-blocker and/or ACE-I therapy on 3-year mortality.

Results

22.9% (n=1013) had LV dysfunction, 23.0% (n=1017) received either an ACE-I or a beta-blocker and 72.2% received both medications at discharge (n=3197). The concurrent use of both ACE-I and beta-blockers was not different in LVEF≥40% vs. LVEF<40% (72.4% vs. 71.7%, p=0.43). The use of at least one of the guideline-recommended medications was associated with a significantly lower 3-year mortality in both patients with LVEF≥40% (18.7% if neither was used, 11.2% if either a beta-blocker or an ACE-I were used and 9.4% if both were used, p=0.001), and LVEF<40% (55.4% if neither was used, 32.5% if either a beta-blocker or an ACE-I were used and 22.9% if both were used, p<0.001) (Figure). After adjusting for significant mortality predictors including older age, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, previous stroke, Killip class ≥2 and non-culprit chronic total occlusion (CTO), the concurrent use of both a beta-blocker and an ACE-I remained independently associated with lower 3-year mortality in both patients with LVEF<40% (HR 0.30, p<0.001) and LVEF≥40% (HR=0.41, p=0.001). The use of a single agent was independently associated with lower mortality in patients with LVEF<40% (HR 0.45, p=0.002), but not in patients with LVEF≥40% (HR 0.61, p=0.07).

Conclusions

Guideline-recommended use of both a beta-blocker and an ACE-I in post-MI patients was associated with a lower 3-year mortality regardless of the LV function, whereas using only one of the two agents was associated with improved prognosis only in patients with LV dysfunction, but not in patients without LV impairment.

P849Comparison of long-term mortality risk assessed with recalculated (maximal) CADILLAC score vs. baseline (admission) CADILLAC score in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI

Background

Since patients with STEMI have high rate of adverse events not only during hospital stay, but also during short and long-term follow–up, appropriate risk stratification is a key part of the management of these patients following hospital discharge. CADILLAC score was derived and subsequently validated as accurate clinical tool for identifying patients with heightened risk following index event.

Purpose

We aimed to compare predictive value of recalculated, maximal, (M-) CADILLAC score vs. baseline (B-) CADILLAC score for long-term mortality in hospital survivors.

Methods

From a prospective electronic registry of a high-volume catheterization laboratory in a period from January 2009 to December 2017, a total of 5387 consecutive patients STEMI who underwent primary PCI were included in analysis. For each patient B-CADILLAC score was calculated, and for survivors, we recalculated M-CADILLAC score, incorporating changes in three variable score individual contributors (worsening of Killip class, anemia development and renal function deterioration). As in original score derivation, patients with cardiogenic shock were excluded from analysis. Discrimination of the two risk models was evaluated by the C-statistic, Net reclassification index (NRI) and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) index.

Results

For 111 (2.1%) patients that died in-hospital, B-CADILLAC very well predicted the event (AUC 0.87, 95% CI 0.86–0.88; p<0.0001) (Figure 1A). For hospital survivors, both evaluated scores showed good discriminative ability for long-term mortality (11.7%) but recalculated M-CADILLAC score was statistically better predictor of long-term mortality, as assessed by C-statistics (Table 1 & Figure 1B):

NRI showed that 38% of patients were reclassified with M-CADILLAC with IDI slope 0.8% higher than in first model.

Table 1 4723 pts (follow-up=90% pts, 41±27 months) AUC 95% CI p B-CADILLAC 0.756 0.744–0.768 p=0.018 M-CADILLAC 0.776 0.754–0.779

Figure 1

Conclusions

Baseline CADILLAC score has very good predictive ability for in-hospital mortality, but recalculated, maximal CADILLAC score offers discriminative advantage in hospital survivors for prediction of long-term mortality in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

P845Comparison of the performance of the five validated risk scores in acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary PCI

Background

Several risk scores have been developed to predict mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), with limited data on the comparative prognostic value of these models.

Purpose

We aimed to compare the prognostic value of five validated risk scores for in-hospital and one-year mortality of patients with AMI undergoing pPCI.

ume catheterization laboratory in a period from January 2009 to December 2017, a total of 3868 consecutive patients who underwent pPCI were available for analysis. For each patient, the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI), Controlled Abciximab and Device Investigation to Lower Late Angioplasty complications (CADILLAC), ACTION Registry-GWTG in-hospital mortality risk score (ACTION), Age, Creatinine, and Ejection Fraction (ACEF), and ZWOLLE risk scores were calculated using required clinical and angiographic characteristics. In-hospital and one-year mortality were assessed (follow-up available for 92% of pts). Calibration and discrimination of the three risk models were evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) goodness-of-fit test and C-statistic, respectively.

Results

Mortality rates for in-hospital and one-year mortality were 1.8% and 6.9% respectively. All five scores showed good model calibration as assessed by the H-L test and very good discriminative power for in-hospital and one-year mortality as assessed by C-statistics (Table 1 & Figure 1):

Table 1 Risk score H-L H-L p AUC in-hospital 95% CI Significant p AUC one-year 95% CI Significant p ZWOLLE 1.3 0.7 0.90 0.89–0.91 vs. CADILLAC <0.05 0.75 0.74–0.77 vs. TIMI <0.005 ACTION 13.1 0.1 0.87 0.86–0.88 vs. TIMI <0.005 0.79 0.77–0.80 CADILLAC 5.5 0.2 0.85 0.84–0.86 vs. TIMI <0.01 0.81 0.80–0.83 vs. ZWOLLE <0.000 vs. TIMI <0.000 ACEF 9.9 0.3 0.814 0.83–0.85 0.80 0.78–0.81 vs. ZWOLLE <0.000 vs. TIMI <0.05 TIMI 7.1 0.3 0.79 0.78–0.80 0.76 0.75–0.78

Figure 1

Conclusion

Risk stratification of patients with AMI undergoing pPCI using the ZWOLLE, ACTION, CADILLAC, ACEF or TIMI risk scores enables accurate identification of high-risk patients for in-hospital and one-year mortality in an all-comers population. Among evaluated scores, ZWOLLE model was better fitted for prediction of in-hospital mortality while CADILLAC and ACEF better predicted late events.

Comparative Study on Minerals in Peel and Pulp of Peach (Prunus persica L.) Fruit

In this study, variations of minerals contents between peel and pulp parts of six different peach varieties originated from Serbia were investigated by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey�s post-hoc test. The content of fifteen elements was determined and content of K was highest among macroelements and Fe among microelements in both parts of the peach fruit. Also, peach peel had higher levels of all minerals with the exception of K. Greater differences between the peel and the pulp and the same parts of different types of peaches are observed in the case of macroelements than the microelements. Hg and Cd are not detected while the contents of Pb and As are below prescribed values.

Defining genotype-phenotype relationships in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE

HCM is the most common inherited cardiomyopathy. Historically, there has been poor correlation between genotype and phenotype. However, CMR has the potential to more accurately assess disease phenotype. We characterized phenotype with CMR in a cohort of patients with confirmed HCM and high prevalence of genetic testing.

METHODS

Patients with a diagnosis of HCM, who had undergone contrast-enhanced CMR were identified. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and volumes were measured from steady-state free precession sequences. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was quantified using the full width, half maximum method. All patients were prospectively followed for the development of septal reduction therapy, arrhythmia or death.

RESULTS

We included 273 patients, mean age 51.2 ± 15.5, 62.9% male. Of those patients 202 (74.0%) underwent genetic testing with 90 pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or rare variants and 13 variants of uncertain significance identified. Median follow-up was 1138 days. Mean LVMI was 82.7 ± 30.6 and 145 patients had late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Patients with beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) mutations had higher LV ejection fraction (68.8 vs 59.1, p<0.001) than those with cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) mutations. Patients with MYBPC3 mutations were more likely to have LVEF < 55% (29.7% vs 4.9%, p = 0.005) or receive a defibrillator than those with MYH7 mutations (54.1% vs 26.8%, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that patients with MYBPC3 mutations were more likely to have impaired ventricular function and may be more prone to arrhythmic events. Larger studies using CMR phenotyping may be capable of identifying additional characteristics associated with less frequent genetic causes of HCM.

Feasibility of Obtaining Measures of Lifestyle From a Smartphone App: The MyHeart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study

Importance

Studies have established the importance of physical activity and fitness, yet limited data exist on the associations between objective, real-world physical activity patterns, fitness, sleep, and cardiovascular health.

Objectives

To assess the feasibility of obtaining measures of physical activity, fitness, and sleep from smartphones and to gain insights into activity patterns associated with life satisfaction and self-reported disease.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The MyHeart Counts smartphone app was made available in March 2015, and prospective participants downloaded the free app between March and October 2015. In this smartphone-based study of cardiovascular health, participants recorded physical activity, filled out health questionnaires, and completed a 6-minute walk test. The app was available to download within the United States.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The feasibility of consent and data collection entirely on a smartphone, the use of machine learning to cluster participants, and the associations between activity patterns, life satisfaction, and self-reported disease.

Results

From the launch to the time of the data freeze for this study (March to October 2015), the number of individuals (self-selected) who consented to participate was 48 968, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their median age was 36 years (interquartile range, 27-50 years), and 82.2% (30 338 male, 6556 female, 10 other, and 3115 unknown) were male. In total, 40 017 (81.7% of those who consented) uploaded data. Among those who consented, 20 345 individuals (41.5%) completed 4 of the 7 days of motion data collection, and 4552 individuals (9.3%) completed all 7 days. Among those who consented, 40 017 (81.7%) filled out some portion of the questionnaires, and 4990 (10.2%) completed the 6-minute walk test, made available only at the end of 7 days. The Heart Age Questionnaire, also available after 7 days, required entering lipid values and age 40 to 79 years (among 17 245 individuals, 43.1% of participants). Consequently, 1334 (2.7%) of those who consented completed all fields needed to compute heart age and a 10-year risk score. Physical activity was detected for a mean (SD) of 14.5% (8.0%) of individuals' total recorded time. Physical activity patterns were identified by cluster analysis. A pattern of lower overall activity but more frequent transitions between active and inactive states was associated with equivalent self-reported cardiovascular disease as a pattern of higher overall activity with fewer transitions. Individuals' perception of their activity and risk bore little relation to sensor-estimated activity or calculated cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions and Relevance

A smartphone-based study of cardiovascular health is feasible, and improvements in participant diversity and engagement will maximize yield from consented participants. Large-scale, real-world assessment of physical activity, fitness, and sleep using mobile devices may be a useful addition to future population health studies.

Physical activity, sleep and cardiovascular health data for 50,000 individuals from the MyHeart Counts Study

Studies have established the importance of physical activity and fitness for long-term cardiovascular health, yet limited data exist on the association between objective, real-world large-scale physical activity patterns, fitness, sleep, and cardiovascular health primarily due to difficulties in collecting such datasets. We present data from the MyHeart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study, wherein participants contributed data via an iPhone application built using Apple's ResearchKit framework and consented to make this data available freely for further research applications. In this smartphone-based study of cardiovascular health, participants recorded daily physical activity, completed health questionnaires, and performed a 6-minute walk fitness test. Data from English-speaking participants aged 18 years or older with a US-registered iPhone who agreed to share their data broadly and who enrolled between the study's launch and the time of the data freeze for this data release (March 10 2015-October 28 2015) are now available for further research. It is anticipated that releasing this large-scale collection of real-world physical activity, fitness, sleep, and cardiovascular health data will enable the research community to work collaboratively towards improving our understanding of the relationship between cardiovascular indicators, lifestyle, and overall health, as well as inform mobile health research best practices.

Women in the European Stroke Organisation: One, two, many… - A Top Down and Bottom Up approach

Background

An increasing proportion of physicians are women, yet they still face challenges with career advancement. In 2014, the European Stroke Organisation established the goal of increasing the number and participation of women within the society using a Top Down and Bottom Up approach. The 'Women's Initiative for Stroke in Europe' was created the same year by a group of women active within the organisation. We aimed to assess the current status of women in European Stroke Organisation, and to explore the change in sex differences after the introduction of focused approaches to address disparities in 2014.

Methods

Using organisational records, we collected data on sex differences in core activities from 2008 up to 2017 including membership, participation in conferences, courses and in the official journal of the society, and positions of seniority and leadership. We estimated sex distribution differences in each of the activities from 2014 to date.

Results

In 2017, the proportion of female members was 40%, while 24% of fellows, 22% of the executive board and 19% of the editorial board in the official journal of the society were women. From 2014 to 2017, there was a significant increase in the proportion of female members (p = 0.0002) and in women participating in the annual conference as faculty (p = 0.001). There was no significant change in the sex distribution among the faculty members in junior educational activities (≤27%) or fellows.

Interpretation

In 2017, the proportion of women holding positions of seniority and leadership is still significantly lower to the proportion of women attending educational activities. Transparent data on sex distribution will assist implementing tailored programmes to achieve progress against sex-based barriers.

Impact of a Genetic Risk Score for Coronary Artery Disease on Reducing Cardiovascular Risk: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Purpose

We tested whether providing a genetic risk score (GRS) for coronary artery disease (CAD) would serve as a motivator to improve adherence to risk-reducing strategies.

Methods

We randomized 94 participants with at least moderate risk of CAD to receive standard-of-care with (N = 49) or without (N = 45) their GRS at a subsequent 3-month follow-up visit. Our primary outcome was change in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits (ΔLDL-C). Secondary outcomes included other CAD risk factors, weight loss, diet, physical activity, risk perceptions, and psychological outcomes. In pre-specified analyses, we examined whether there was a greater motivational effect in participants with a higher GRS.

Results

Sixty-five participants completed the protocol including 30 participants in the GRS arm. We found no change in the primary outcome between participants receiving their GRS and standard-of-care participants (ΔLDL-C: −13 vs. −9 mg/dl). Among participants with a higher GRS, we observed modest effects on weight loss and physical activity. All other secondary outcomes were not significantly different, including anxiety and worry.

Conclusion

Adding GRS to standard-of-care did not change lipids, adherence, or psychological outcomes. Potential modest benefits in weight loss and physical activity for participants with high GRS need to be validated in larger trials.

Ultrasound and dynamic functional imaging in vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

The vascular contributions to neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation may be assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US). This review summarises the methodology for these widely available, safe and relatively low cost tools and analyses recent work highlighting their potential utility as biomarkers for differentiating subtypes of cognitive impairment and dementia, tracking disease progression and evaluating response to treatment in various neurocognitive disorders.

METHODS

At the 9th International Congress on Vascular Dementia (Ljubljana, Slovenia, October 2015) a writing group of experts was formed to review the evidence on the utility of US and arterial spin labelling (ASL) as neurophysiological markers of normal ageing, vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Original articles, systematic literature reviews, guidelines and expert opinions published until September 2016 were critically analysed to summarise existing evidence, indicate gaps in current knowledge and, when appropriate, suggest standards of use for the most widely used US and ASL applications.

RESULTS

Cerebral hypoperfusion has been linked to cognitive decline either as a risk or an aggravating factor. Hypoperfusion as a consequence of microangiopathy, macroangiopathy or cardiac dysfunction can promote or accelerate neurodegeneration, blood-brain barrier disruption and neuroinflammation. US can evaluate the cerebrovascular tree for pathological structure and functional changes contributing to cerebral hypoperfusion. Microvascular pathology and hypoperfusion at the level of capillaries and small arterioles can also be assessed by ASL, an MRI signal. Despite increasing evidence supporting the utility of these methods in detection of microvascular pathology, cerebral hypoperfusion, neurovascular unit dysfunction and, most importantly, disease progression, incomplete standardisation and missing validated cut-off values limit their use in daily routine.

CONCLUSIONS

US and ASL are promising tools with excellent temporal resolution, which will have a significant impact on our understanding of the vascular contributions to VCI and AD and may also be relevant for assessing future prevention and therapeutic strategies for these conditions. Our work provides recommendations regarding the use of non-invasive imaging techniques to investigate the functional consequences of vascular burden in dementia.