Long-term mortality after acute coronary syndromes among patients with normal, mildly reduced, or reduced ejection fraction

AIMS

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% is a well-established risk factor for mortality after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, the long-term prognostic impact of mildly reduced ejection fraction (EF) (LVEF 41-49%) after ACS remains less clear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a retrospective study enrolling patients admitted with ACS included in a single-centre databank. LVEF was assessed by echocardiography during index hospitalization. Patients were divided in the following categories according to LVEF: normal (LVEF ≥ 50%), mildly reduced (LVEF 41-49%), and reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%). The endpoint of interest was all-cause death after hospital discharge. A multivariable Cox model was used to adjust for confounders. A total of 3200 patients were included (1952 with normal EF, 375 with mildly reduced EF, and 873 with reduced EF). The estimated cumulative incidence rates of mortality at 10 years for patients with normal, mildly reduced, and reduced EF were 24.8%, 33.5%, and 41.3%, respectively. After adjustments, the presence of reduced EF was associated with higher mortality compared with normal EF [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.64; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-1.96; P < 0.001], as was mildly reduced EF compared with normal EF (adjusted HR 1.33; 95% CI 1.05-1.68; P = 0.019). The presence of reduced EF was not associated with a statistically significantly higher mortality compared with mildly reduced EF (adjusted HR 1.23; 95% CI 0.96-1.57; P = 0.095).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ACS, mildly reduced EF measured in the acute phase was associated with higher long-term mortality compared with patients with normal EF. These data emphasize the importance of anti-remodelling therapies for ACS patients who have LVEF in the mildly reduced range.

Effects of Ticagrelor and Clopidogrel on Coronary Microcirculation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction

Clopidogrel has been demonstrated to be effective in improving coronary microcirculation (CM) among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolytics. Ticagrelor is a more potent adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor blocker proven to be superior to clopidogrel among patients with acute coronary syndromes. The present study aimed to compare the effects of ticagrelor and clopidogrel on CM in patients with STEMI treated with fibrinolytics.

Methods

The present study prospectively included 48 patients participating in the TREAT trial, which randomly assigned patients with STEMI undergoing fibrinolysis to ticagrelor versus clopidogrel. The primary endpoint of this study was the evaluation of the CM using the global myocardial perfusion score index (global MPSI) obtained by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). Platelet aggregation to ADP was evaluated by Multiplate® and expressed as area under the curve (AUC).

Results

The global MPSI demonstrated no differences between the groups [mean 1.4 (1.2–1.5) in the ticagrelor group and 1.2 (1.2–1.5) in the clopidogrel group (p = 0.41)]. Platelet aggregability was lower in the ticagrelor group (18.1 ± 9.7 AUC), compared to the clopidogrel group (26.1 ± 12.5 AUC, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

We found no improvement in coronary microcirculation with ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel among patients with STEMI treated with fibrinolytics, despite the fact that platelet aggregation to ADP was lower with ticagrelor.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT03104062.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02061-0.

Patients with COVID-19 who experience a myocardial infarction have complex coronary morphology and high in-hospital mortality: Primary results of a nationwide angiographic study

Objectives

We aimed to explore angiographic patterns and in‐hospital outcomes of patients with concomitant coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) and myocardial infarction (MI).

Background

Patients with COVID‐19 may experience MI during the course of the viral infection. However, this association is currently poorly understood.

Methods

This is a multicenter prospective study of consecutive patients with concomitant COVID‐19 and MI who underwent coronary angiography. Quantitative and qualitative coronary angiography were analyzed by two observers in an independent core lab.

Results

A total of 152 patients were included, of whom 142 (93.4%) had COVID‐19 diagnosis confirmation. The median time between symptom onset and hospital admission was 5 (1–10) days. A total of 83 (54.6%) patients presented with ST‐elevation MI. The median angiographic Syntax score was 16 (9.0–25.3) and 69.0% had multi‐vessel disease. At least one complex lesion was found in 73.0% of patients, 51.3% had a thrombus containing lesion, and 57.9% had myocardial blush grades 0/1. The overall in‐hospital mortality was 23.7%. ST‐segment elevation MI presentation and baseline myocardial blush grades 0 or 1 were independently associated with a higher risk of death (HR 2.75, 95%CI 1.30–5.80 and HR 3.73, 95%CI 1.61–8.61, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients who have a MI in the context of ongoing COVID‐19 mostly present complex coronary morphologies, implying a background of prior atherosclerotic disease superimposed on a thrombotic milieu. The in‐hospital prognosis is poor with a markedly high mortality, prompting further investigation to better clarify this newly described condition.

Platelet Reactivity in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Awaiting Surgical Revascularization

BACKGROUND

Dual antiplatelet therapy is recommended for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Approximately 10% to 15% of these patients will undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for index events, and current guidelines recommend stopping clopidogrel at least 5 days before CABG. This waiting time has clinical and economic implications.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate if a platelet reactivity-based strategy is noninferior to standard of care for 24-h post-CABG bleeding.

METHODS

In this randomized, open label noninferiority trial, 190 patients admitted with ACS with indications for CABG and on aspirin and P2Y₁₂ receptor inhibitors, were assigned to either control group, P2Y₁₂ receptor inhibitor withdrawn 5 to 7 days before CABG, or intervention group, daily measurements of platelet reactivity by Multiplate analyzer (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria) with CABG planned the next working day after platelet reactivity normalization (pre-defined as ≥46 aggregation units).

RESULTS

Within the first 24 h of CABG, the median chest tube drainage was 350 ml (interquartile range [IQR]: 250 to 475 ml) and 350 ml (IQR: 255 to 500 ml) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (p for noninferiority <0.001). The median waiting period between the decision to undergo CABG and the procedure was 112 h (IQR: 66 to 142 h) and 136 h (IQR: 112 to 161 h) (p < 0.001), respectively. In the intention-to-treat analysis, a 6.4% decrease in the median in-hospital expenses was observed in the intervention group (p = 0.014), with 11.2% decrease in the analysis per protocol (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

A strategy based on platelet reactivity-guided is noninferior to the standard of care in patients with ACS awaiting CABG regarding peri-operative bleeding, significantly shortens the waiting time to CABG, and decreases hospital expenses. (Evaluation of Platelet Aggregability in the Release of CABG in Patients With ACS With DAPT; NCT02516267).

Factors associated with actively working in the very long-term following acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Returning to work after an episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is challenging for many patients, and has both personal and social impacts. There are limited data regarding the working status in the very long-term after ACS.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 1,632 patients who were working prior to hospitalization for ACS in a quaternary hospital and were followed-up for up to 17 years. Adjusted models were developed to analyze the variables independently associated with actively working at the last contact, and a prognostic predictive index for not working at follow-up was developed.

RESULTS

The following variables were significantly and independently associated with actively working at the last contact: age>median (hazard-ratio [HR], 0.76, p<0.001); male sex (HR, 1.52, p<0.001); government health insurance (HR, 1.36, p<0.001); history of angina (HR, 0.69, p<0.001) or myocardial infarction (MI) (HR, 0.76, p=0.005); smoking (HR, 0.81, p=0.015); ST-elevation MI (HR, 0.81, p=0.021); anterior-wall MI (HR, 0.75, p=0.001); non-primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (HR, 0.77, p=0.002); fibrinolysis (HR, 0.61, p<0.001); cardiogenic shock (HR, 0.60, p=0.023); statin (HR, 3.01, p<0.001), beta-blocker (HR, 1.26, p=0.020), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) (HR, 1.37, p=0.001) at hospital discharge; and MI at follow-up (HR, 0.72, p=0.001). The probability of not working at the last contact ranged from 24.2% for patients with no variables, up to 80% for patients with six or more variables.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients discharged after ACS, prior and in-hospital clinical variables, as well as the quality of care at discharge, have a great impact on the long-term probability of actively working.

Endoscopic, ultrasonographic, and US-Doppler parameters as indicators of variceal bleeding in patients with schistosomiasis

Bleeding from esophagogastric varices is a potentially deadly complication in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. The aim of this study is to establish indicators of variceal bleeding. We studied 40 patients with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and varices, analyzing four endoscopic (variceal size, red color signs, fundic varices, and congestive gastropathy), nine ultrasonographic (right and left hepatic lobe size, periportal and gallbladder wall thickness, portal and splenic veins diameter, spleen longitudinal axis and volume, and presence of collateral circulation), and five US-Doppler parameters (portal and splenic veins velocity and flow and portal vein congestion index). Patients were divided in two groups according to previous history of variceal bleeding. The group with bleeding episodes was again divided in two groups: with and without treatment, namely endoscopic sclerotherapy. All endoscopic parameters and two ultrasonographic (periportal thickness and portal vein diameter) were statistically different between the groups with and without previous bleeding. The likelihood index, adopted to determine the best parameters related to previous bleeding showed that the most important combinations are: gastropathy and red signs followed by portal vein diameter and variceal size. In conclusion, although aware of the limits of the statistical analysis due to the small number of patients, our results demonstrated that endoscopic and US parameters (isolated or combined) can identify patients with a high risk of variceal bleeding, allowing physicians to optimize prophylactic therapy.