The American journal of cardiology
-
Comparative Study
Left ventricular hypertrophy patterns and incidence of heart failure with preserved versus reduced ejection fraction.
Higher left ventricular (LV) mass, wall thickness, and internal dimension are associated with increased heart failure (HF) risk. Whether different LV hypertrophy patterns vary with respect to rates and types of HF incidence is unclear. In this study, 4,768 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age 50 years, 56% women) were classified into 4 mutually exclusive LV hypertrophy pattern groups (normal, concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy) using American Society of Echocardiography-recommended thresholds of echocardiographic LV mass indexed to body surface area and relative wall thickness, and these groups were related to HF incidence. ⋯ After adjustment for co-morbidities and incident myocardial infarction, LV hypertrophy patterns were associated with higher HF incidence relative to the normal left ventricle group (p = 0.0002); eccentric hypertrophy carried the greatest risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41 to 2.54), followed by concentric hypertrophy (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.87). Participants with eccentric hypertrophy had a higher propensity for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.37), whereas those with concentric hypertrophy were more prone to HF with preserved ejection fraction (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.51). In conclusion, in this large community-based sample, HF risk varied by LV hypertrophy pattern, with eccentric and concentric hypertrophy predisposing to HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction, respectively.
-
Comparative Study
Usefulness of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation to predict long-term cardiovascular events in subjects without heart disease.
Endothelial dysfunction is considered an important prognostic factor in atherosclerosis. To determine the long-term association of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in healthy subjects, we prospectively assessed brachial FMD in 618 consecutive healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease, 387 men (63%), and mean age 54 ± 11 years. After overnight fasting and discontinuation of all medications for ≥12 hours, FMD was assessed using high-resolution linear array ultrasound. ⋯ Univariate analysis demonstrated that the median FMD significantly predicted CV events (odds ratio 2.78, 95% CI 1.35 to 5.71, p <0.001). Multivariate analysis, controlling for traditional CV risk factors, demonstrated that median FMD was the best independent predictor of long-term CV adverse events (odds ratio 2.93, 95% CI 1.28 to 6.68, p <0.001). In conclusion, brachial artery median FMD independently predicts long-term adverse CV events in healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease in addition to those derived from traditional risk factor assessment.
-
A coordinated system of care for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions that includes prehospital administration of reduced-dose fibrinolytic agents coupled with urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), termed FAST-PCI, has been shown to be at least as effective as primary PCI (PPCI) alone. However, this reduced-dose fibrinolytic strategy could be associated with increased bleeding risk, especially in elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to examine 30-day outcomes in patients aged ≥75 years with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions treated with either strategy. ⋯ Rates of stroke, reinfarction, and major bleeding (4% vs 2%) were similar in the 2 groups. The FAST-PCI cohort had lower rates of cardiogenic shock on hospital arrival (15% vs 26%, p = 0.05) and completely occluded infarct arteries (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] grade 0 flow, 35% vs 61%, p <0.01). In conclusion, for patients aged ≥75 years with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions, a FAST-PCI strategy in a coordinated system of care was associated with reduced 30-day mortality, earlier infarct artery patency, and lower incidence of cardiogenic shock at arrival compared with PPCI, without apparent bleeding, stroke, or reinfarction penalties.
-
The everolimus-eluting stent (EES) performs better than the first generation drug-eluting stent. Prasugrel compared with clopidogrel in acute coronary syndromes treated invasively is associated with improved clinical outcome and decreased risk of stent thrombosis. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical outcome and degree of platelet aggregation inhibition of patients treated with EES for unprotected left main disease (ULMD) and receiving clopidogrel or prasugrel. ⋯ Residual platelet reactivity was less in the prasugrel group compared with clopidogrel group (adenosine diphosphate 10 μmol/L 37 ± 17% and 45 ± 15%, respectively, p <0.001). At multivariate analysis, prasugrel treatment was related to the primary end point (hazard ratio 0.17; 95% confidence interval 0.04 to 0.77, p = 0.022). In conclusion, in patients treated with EES for ULMD, prasugrel compared with clopidogrel is associated with increased platelet aggregation inhibition and a better clinical outcome.
-
Comparative Study Observational Study
Comparison of the reperfusion efficacy of thrombus aspiration with and without distal protection during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
We evaluated a hypothesis that thrombus aspiration with distal protection is superior to simple thrombus aspiration in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 176 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled in this study and assigned to either the thrombus aspiration group (A, n = 104) or the thrombus aspiration with distal protection group using a filter device system (A + DP, n = 72). We compared the angiographic reperfusion grade, left ventricular (LV) function, and clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. ⋯ The rate of achieving a Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade of 3 and a myocardial blush grade of 3 was higher in the A + DP group than in the A group. Among the patients who underwent follow-up catheterization 6 months after PCI (A, n = 62; A + DP, n = 52), there were no significant differences in the LV end-diastolic volume index, LV end-systolic volume index, or LV ejection fraction between the 2 groups at the time of PCI or 6 months after PCI. In conclusion, thrombus aspiration with distal protection may be more effective in initially restoring the coronary blood flow than thrombus aspiration alone, although it may not be superior to thrombus aspiration in preventing LV remodeling or preserving the LV function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.