The American journal of cardiology
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Analysis of the invasive strategy decision in patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation in a real-world setting.
Observational studies have reported a marked discrepancy between the risk estimated by scores and the use of an invasive strategy in patients with acute coronary syndromes. The objective is to describe the criteria used to decide an early invasive strategy and to determine the differences between those criteria and the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk score (TRS). Patients entered to the Epi-Cardio registry with a diagnosis of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome were analyzed. ⋯ In the validation cohort, ROC areas were 0.58 and 0.70, respectively, p <0.0001. In conclusion, invasive strategy was guided by variables not completely included in risk scores. The clinical, evolutionary, and structural variables included in the model can explain, partially, the discordance existing between risk stratification and medical strategies.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions or coronary artery bypass grafting for left main coronary artery disease in octogenarians (from a Drug-Eluting stent for LefT main Artery registry substudy).
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents is an accepted alternative to surgery for the treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease, but the long-term outcome in elderly patients is unclear. Aim of our study was to compare the clinical outcomes of octogenarians with ULMCA disease treated either with PCI with drug-eluting stents or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The primary study end point was the composite of death, cerebrovascular accident, and myocardial infarction at follow-up. ⋯ After adjustment with propensity score, the revascularization strategy was not significantly correlated to the incidence of the primary end point (hazard ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 1.71, p = 0.95). In octogenarians, no difference was observed in the occurrence of the primary end point after PCI or CABG for the treatment of ULMCA disease. However, the rate of target vessel revascularization was higher in the PCI group.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a scoring system integrating clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic measurements can predict left ventricular reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The derivation cohort consisted of 162 patients with heart failure implanted with a CRT device. Baseline clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic characteristics were entered into univariate and multivariate models to predict reverse remodeling as defined by a ≥15% reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume at 6 months (60%). ⋯ Application of the new score to the validation cohort (71% of responders) gave a similar C statistic (0.75). A score >5 had a high positive likelihood ratio (+LR = 5.64), whereas a score <2 had a high negative likelihood ratio (-LR = 0.19). In conclusion, this L2ANDS2 score provides an easy-to-use tool for the clinician to assess the pretest probability of a patient being a CRT responder.
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Comparative Study
Usefulness of tissue Doppler imaging to evaluate pulmonary capillary wedge pressure during exercise in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.
The early diastolic transmitral velocity/tissue Doppler imaging mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/e') ratio is used to estimate left ventricular (LV) filling pressures at rest. However, there are only limited data that validate its use during exercise. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to test the ability of E/e' to estimate pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) during symptom-limited exercise in patients with LV systolic dysfunction. ⋯ During exercise, the correlation between septal E/e' and PCWP was weaker (r = 0.57, p <0.01) and was shifted to the right. This rightward shift was observed in patients with both separated or merged E and A velocities. In conclusion, in patients with severe LV dysfunction, although E/e' allows accurate estimation of PCWP at rest, it appears less reliable for estimating LV filing pressure during exercise.
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Premature antiplatelet therapy discontinuation (ATD) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is known to predict stent thrombosis (ST). However, recent data suggest that a shorter antiplatelet therapy duration is safe with newer generation DESs. The study aimed to compare the impact of early and late clopidogrel ATDs on ST in a real-world registry of first- and second-generation DES use. ⋯ In conclusion, ATD within the first year is associated with increased ST events with first-generation DESs, whereas ATD appears safe with second-generation DESs with regard to ST. However, ATD is associated with greater mortality and major adverse cardiac events in both first- and second-generation DESs. Thus, this study supports ATD if required based on physician discretion with the use of second-generation DESs but cannot rule out potential benefit for longer duration of dual antiplatelet therapy even when second-generation DESs are used.