Clinical Cardiology最新文献

Background

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a major cause of death despite progress in prevention and intervention of cardiac diseases. The most common cause of nonischemic SCD in young individuals in Northern Finland is primary myocardial fibrosis (PMF).

Methods

Fingesture study consists of 5869 prospectively collected subjects with SCD from Northern Finland collected from 1998 to 2017. Nonischemic etiology was the cause of SCD in 1477 (25%) subjects out of which primary myocardial fibrosis was the cause of SCD in 184 (12%) subjects (65% men, median age 55 ± 16 years). We examined the ante mortem ECG and medical history of the subjects to discover preceding symptoms and ECG changes.

Results

Prior health care contact in electronic health record system (EHR) was found for 89 (48%) subjects and ECG was available for 52 (28%) subjects. Both medical history and ECG were available for 20 subjects (11%). We observed that transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) was the most common symptom recorded and was reported by 33 (37%) subjects. ECG was abnormal in 38 (73%) subjects. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex was found in 26 (50%) subjects. Vast majority, 87% of subjects had either TLOC or abnormal ECG. Only seven subjects with ECG or EHR history available had normal ECG and did not have TLOC.

Conclusions

Many SCD victims with primary myocardial fibrosis had abnormal ECG or history of TLOC. The results suggest that the combination should generate careful cardiovascular examination to detect underlying myocardial disease and possibly prevent SCD.

Background

High-intensity statins are recommended for patients with chronic coronary artery disease, with reports suggesting improved clinical outcomes. However, recent findings in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients question whether a treat-to-target low density lipoprotein (LDL) approach is non-inferior to high-intensity statin therapy.

Methods

This single-center observational study analyzed all CABG only (n = 1854) procedures performed between 2013 and 2015. Patients were divided into three groups based on statin prescription: high-intensity statin therapy (atorvastatin ≥ 40 mg or rosuvastatin ≥ 20 mg), low/moderate-intensity statin therapy, and a no-statin group. The primary outcome measured was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of post-CABG acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular accident and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

No-Statin group had significantly higher incidence of MACE compared to statin group (14.2% vs 8.9%; odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.055–2.427, p = 0.029). Low/moderate-intensity therapy (n = 1301) was associated with a numerically higher overall rate of MACE compared to high-intensity therapy (n = 397) but was not statistically significant (9.6% vs 6.6%; OR 1.45, CI 0.961–2.172, p = 0.073). Beyond 2 years post-CABG, low/moderate intensity statin use was associated with a significant higher incidence of MACE (9.1% vs 5.3%; OR 1.72, 95% CI 0.993–2.978, p = 0.047) compared to high intensity statins.

Patients who received high-intensity statin therapy had the lowest LDL levels (82.21 ± 41.85 mg/dL), compared to those on low/moderate-intensity statins (90.84 ± 45.89 mg/dL) and no-statin group (104.83 ± 38.93 mg/dL, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

High-intensity statin therapy following CABG is associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes compared to low- or moderate-intensity statin regimens.

Aims

High plasma fibrinogen and systemic inflammation response index (F-SIRI) has been proposed as a novel prognostic factor in resectable gastric cancer. However, available data on the prognostic value of F-SIRI in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients is limited. We aimed to conduct a retrospective cohort study exploring the correlation between F-SIRI and prognosis in CHF individuals.

Methods

We consecutively enrolled 1589 hospitalized patients (aged 66 ± 8 years, 32.9% women) with CHF from January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2022 in this single-center retrospective study. SIRI was calculated with the formula (monocyte count*neutrophil count/lymphocyte count). The primary endpoints encompassed all-cause death, the major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCEs) and cardiovascular death. The association between F-SIRI and the risk of developing adverse outcomes were explored using four multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

During a median follow-up of 687 days, 207 all-cause deaths, 462 MACCEs and 136 cardiovascular deaths were recorded. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, only risk of all-cause death remained significantly associated with higher levels of F-SIRI. The hazard ratios (HRs) for the highest F-SIRI group (F-SIRI = 2) versus the lowest F-SIRI group (F-SIRI = 0) were 2.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46−3.83; p < 0.001) for all-cause death. The addition of F-SIRI could increase the prognostic ability for all-cause death on the basis of traditional risk factors.

Conclusions

F-SIRI is a significant predictor of all-cause death but has limited predictive value for MACCEs and cardiovascular death in CHF patients.

Introduction

The prognosis of acute heart failure (AHF) remains poor. Studies focusing on the time-sensitivity of early AHF management have reported controversial results. Thus, our aim is to review current studies focusing on AHF patients using emergency medical services (EMS), their early management, and patient outcomes.

Methods

We searched the recent literature in PubMed and Scopus for studies comparing AHF patients arriving at the hospital by EMS to those self-presenting (non-EMS) at ED (emergency department) from database inception until November 2022.

Results

The literature search found five studies fulfilling our inclusion criteria. The percentage of AHF patients using EMS varied in these studies: 11.5% (100/873) in Finnish FINN-AKVA II, 22.1% (236/1068) in Canadian ASCEND-HF, 35.5% (5129/14454) in a Pakistan Heart Failure-registry study, 52.8% (3224/6106) in Spanish SEMICA, and 61.8% (309/500) in the European EURODEM study. The pre-hospital management differed across the reviewed studies. The use of NIV was rare, ranging from zero to four percent. Vasodilators and diuretics were more commonly used. Although, the differences in the use were obvious (range from 7.1% to 22.0%, and 0.0% to 29.0% accordingly). Three of the studies reported significantly higher 30-day mortality among EMS patients compared to non-EMS patients: ranging from 5.6% versus 3.5%, p < 0.001% to 15.0% versus 6.9%, p < 0.001.

Conclusion

The use of EMS, as well as pre-hospital management, varies between the international cohorts and registries. The pre-hospital AHF management is generally limited. Moreover, EMS patients tend to have worse outcomes compared to non-EMS patients.

Background

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are widely used to diagnose heart failure (HF), but their role in guiding treatment remains uncertain. We performed a randomized trial meta-analysis comparing NP-guided therapy to usual care in acute decompensated HF.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for RCTs comparing NP-guided therapy to usual care in acute decompensated HF. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and a composite of mortality and HF hospitalizations (reported as RR and 95% CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using I², and a random-effects model was applied when appropriate. Analyses were performed in R Studio 4.3.2.

Results

We included 9 RCTs with 3992 patients, of whom 2007 (50.3%) underwent NP-guided treatment. The median follow-up was 12 months. All-cause mortality (RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.69–1.01; p = 0.069; I² = 41%), cardiovascular death (RR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.78–1.08; p = 0.287; I² = 0%), and the composite outcome of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death (RR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.77–1.09; p = 0.308; I² = 56%) were not significantly different between groups. The time to event analysis of all-cause mortality had a slightly significant advantage in favor of NP-guided therapy (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.69–0.95; p = 0.01; I² = 0%).

Conclusion

Although NP-guided therapy showed a statistically significant benefit in time to all-cause mortality, this was not consistently reflected across other endpoints, and its overall clinical impact remains uncertain.

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly increase the risk after acute coronary syndrome. This study evaluated adherence to guideline-directed secondary prevention strategies and demonstrated their substantial impact on reducing rehospitalization and mortality in this population.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 987 CAD and DM patients admitted for ACS between 2015 and 2018. Adherence to seven evidence-based secondary prevention strategies was assessed: smoking cessation, physical activity, antiplatelet therapy, statins, blood pressure control, ACEi/ARB therapy, and SGLT-2i therapy. Patients were categorized into groups based on the number of recommendations followed (0–2, 3–4, and 5+). Primary outcomes included rehospitalization and all-cause mortality over a 3-year follow-up period.

Results

At baseline, only 12.4% of patients adhered to five or more recommendations, which dramatically increased to 71.9% by the 3-year follow-up. Individual adherence to each of blood pressure control (HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.94), ACEi/ARB therapy (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67–0.89), and SGLT-2i therapy (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68–0.92) significantly reduced rehospitalization risk. Similarly, adherence to these therapies individually reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67–0.91; HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63–0.87; and HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61–0.85, respectively). Importantly, a stepwise increase in adherence was associated with a dose-dependent reduction in mortality (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.52–0.81, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study highlights the critical role of comprehensive, multifactorial secondary prevention in its association with improved long-term outcomes in patients with CAD and DM following ACS.

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a recognized risk factor for coronary artery calcification (CAC), a subclinical marker of atherosclerosis associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. However, the prevalence and determinants of CAC in individuals with MetS have not been comprehensively synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of CAC and identify associated factors among adults with MetS.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, AJOL, and gray literature through December 2024, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included adults (≥ 18 years) with MetS, defined by established criteria, and reported CAC scores via validated CT imaging techniques. Observational studies and RCTs were included. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Pooled estimates were derived using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic.

Results

In total, 17 studies comprising 20 745 individuals were included. The pooled prevalence of CAC in adults with MetS was 39.8% (95% CI: 28.4%–52.5%), with wide variation across study design, geography, and imaging modality. Males had a higher CAC prevalence (RR: 2.00), and MetS was linked to increased CAC scores (SMD: 0.10) and odds of calcification (OR: 1.34–1.50). Subgroup analyses showed variability by region and CT modality. High CAC scores were associated with elevated cardiovascular event rates.

Conclusion

CAC affects ~40% of adults with MetS and is associated with higher cardiovascular risk. These findings support the integration of CAC screening in MetS management strategies.