Importance of papillary muscle infarction detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in predicting cardiovascular events

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that papillary muscle infarction (PMI) following recent myocardial infarction (MI) correlates with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and prognostic significance of PMI by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in a large cohort of patients.

METHODS

Retrospective study of patients who underwent CMR between January 2007 and December 2009 were evaluated for the presence of PMI in one or both of the left ventricle papillary muscles. The primary outcome was a time to a combined endpoint of all-cause mortality and worsening heart failure. Secondary outcomes were time to individual components of the combined outcome.

RESULTS

419 patients were included in our analysis, 232 patients (55%) had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Patients were followed at six-month intervals for a median follow-up time of 3.7 (interquartile range (IQR): 1.6; 6.3) years after initial imaging. During this period 196 patients (46.8%) had a primary outcome and 92 patients (22%) died. PM infarct was identified in 204 (48.7%) patients with twice as many posteromedial (PRM) (27%) than anterolateral (ARL) lesions (11%) and a similar number with infarct in both (11%). There was no association between studied outcomes and the presence of PMI in either PRM or ARL PM. The presence of infarct in both PM was a predictor of both the primary outcome (HR 1.69, CI[1.01-2.86], p<0.049.) and mortality (HR 1.69, CI[1.01-4.2], p<0.046).

CONCLUSION

The presence of infarct in either papillary muscle was not associated with outcomes. However, infarct involving both papillary muscles was associated with worse outcomes.

Changing health behaviors to improve health outcomes after angioplasty: a randomized trial of net present value versus future value risk communication

Patients who have undergone angioplasty experience difficulty modifying at-risk behaviors for subsequent cardiac events. The purpose of this study was to test whether an innovative approach to framing of risk, based on 'net present value' economic theory, would be more effective in behavioral intervention than the standard 'future value approach' in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality following angioplasty. At baseline, all patients completed a health assessment, received an individualized risk profile and selected risk factors for modification. The intervention randomized patients into two varying methods for illustrating positive effects of behavior change. For the experimental group, each selected risk factor was assigned a numeric biologic age (the net present value) that approximated the relative potential to improve current health status and quality of life when modifying that risk factor. In the control group, risk reduction was framed as the value of preventing future health problems. Ninety-four percent of patients completed 2-year follow-up. There was no difference between the rates of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, Class II-IV angina or severe ischemia (on non-invasive testing) between the net present value group and the future value group. Our results show that a net present risk communication intervention did not result in significant differences in health outcomes.

Psychosocial mediators of the relationship between race/ethnicity and depressive symptoms in Latino and white patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease has been well documented. However, little is known about the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in Latino patients with coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE

Among Latino and white patients who had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), this study examined whether differences in the prevalence of depressive symptoms exist and the degree to which psychosocial factors (years of education, employment status, stressful life events, emotional social support) explained any differences.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, closed-format questionnaires were used to obtain clinical and psychosocial history. The definition of high depressive symptoms was based on a score of > or =16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

RESULTS

Compared to whites (n=492), Latinos (n=59) were younger, and a greater proportion were female, but fewer completed high school and fewer were employed (P<0.05). More Latinos reported experiencing > or =2 recent stressful life events, but fewer reported having emotional social support (P<0.05). There was a significant association between race/ethnicity and depressive symptoms (OR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.3-4.5). In multivariate analyses, the significance of this association diminished when psychosocial variables were added to the model.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, education, employment, stressful life events and emotional social support partially explained the observed racial/ethnic differences in depressive symptoms.