Clinical Research in Cardiology最新文献

Coronary revascularization represents a cornerstone in the treatment of infarct-related cardiogenic shock (CS). Early and effective antithrombotic therapy is critical and has been shown to improve mortality in most patients with acute coronary syndrome. Achieving early effective platelet inhibition and anticoagulation, with minimal risk, is particularly important in those high-risk patients with CS as the mortality remains high at approximately 50%. However, patients with CS are at high risk for both early thrombotic as well as bleeding events and striking the right balance remains a challenge due to a multitude of factors related to drug administration, metabolism and mechanical issues related to therapeutic interventions such as increasing use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS). This review therefore aims to provide an overview of the current practice, the underlying challenges and existing evidence on safety, efficacy and outcomes of adjunctive antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by CS and discusses the use of parenteral platelet inhibitors.

Background: Currently, simple clinical parameters indicating disease progression are lacking in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of outpatient diuretic intensification (ODI) in ATTR-CM patients.

Methods: This retrospective study examined ATTR-CM patients at a tertiary care center between August 1, 2020, and June 30, 2023. ODI was defined as any loop diuretic increase within 6 months after baseline visit, and its impact on all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) was analyzed.

Results: Altogether, 182 patients were included (median age 80 [76; 84] years; 88% male), and 25% experienced ODI (median increase 10 [10; 40] mg furosemide equivalent). Independent predictors of ODI were higher baseline New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and polyneuropathy. Both any ODI and the magnitude of furosemide equivalent increase were significantly associated with mortality and HF hospitalization during a median follow-up of 17 months. After adjusting for baseline NYHA class and National Amyloidosis Centre stage, significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-5.53; p = 0.043) and HF hospitalization (HR 3.27, 95% CI 1.41-7.60; p = 0.006) persisted in patients with ODI. Its prognostic value was similar in strata of age, ATTR subtype, previous cardiac decompensation, biomarkers, left ventricular ejection fraction, six-minute walk distance, and tafamidis treatment.

Conclusion: ODI occurred in one in four ATTR-CM patients within 6 months and was associated with more severe baseline amyloid organ manifestations. ODI and the magnitude of diuretic dose increase provide easily assessable clinical markers of disease progression in patient monitoring.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with new-generation drug-eluting stents is increasingly performed in elderly patients, who generally have more comorbidities and more technically challenging target lesions. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of reported data on the long-term safety and efficacy of PCI with contemporary stents in elderly all-comers.

Methods: This prespecified secondary analysis of a large-scale randomized clinical trial (BIONYX; clinicaltrials.gov:NCT02508714) compared in elderly all-comers (≥ 75 years) the 5-year outcome after PCI with the novel, more radiopaque Onyx zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) versus the Orsiro sirolimus-eluting stent (SES). We assessed the main composite endpoint target vessel failure (TVF: cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization) and several secondary endpoints.

Results: Of 2,488 trial participants, 475(19.1%) were elderly (79.5 ± 3.5 years), including 165(34.7%) women. There was a significant between-stent difference in the main endpoint TVF in favor of the Onyx ZES (14.4% vs. 24.2%, HR: 0.60, 95% CI 0.39-0.93, p_log-rank = 0.02). The time-to-event curves displayed between-stent dissimilarities across all components of TVF, yet not statistically significant. Landmark analysis between 1- and 5-year follow-up showed in Onyx ZES-treated patients significantly lower rates of TVF (7.8% vs.8.9%, p = 0.002) and target vessel revascularization (3.0% vs.8.3%, p = 0.029). In addition, the 5-year rates of all-cause mortality and several composite endpoints were lower (p < 0.03) in Onyx ZES-treated patients.

Conclusions: In elderly all-comer patients, those treated with Onyx ZES showed a lower 5-year incidence of the main endpoint of safety and efficacy, as well as several secondary endpoints, than patients treated with Orsiro SES. Further research on this issue is warranted.

Clinical trial registration information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02508714.

Stroke accounts for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accordingly, appropriate prevention is crucial to reduce the global burden of stroke. Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a viable approach for preventing cardioembolic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who have a contraindication to long-term oral anticoagulation due to a non-reversible cause. In the last 2 decades, percutaneous LAAC has become a rapidly evolving field, with multiple devices approved or under clinical development. However, several issues remain, including limited high-quality evidence, late adverse events, and unclear post-procedural antithrombotic therapy. This review offers an up-to-date perspective on percutaneous LAAC, concentrating on current challenges and unmet needs.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, its prognostic role in patients undergoing complex high-risk PCI (CHIP) remains unexplored, prompting our investigation.

Methods: Consecutive CHIP patients treated at a tertiary care center from 2012 to 2022 were included in the current analysis. CHIP was identified by the presence of at least one patient and one procedural criterion from a validated score. Patients were stratified by CKD status, with CKD defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m². The primary endpoint was one-year incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause mortality, spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. A multivariable Cox regression model was computed adjusted for relevant baseline risk factors and comorbidities.

Results: Among 4855 CHIP patients, 39.6% (n = 1925) had CKD at baseline. CKD patients were older, with more comorbidities, and complex CAD. After multivariable adjustment, CKD was associated with increased 1-year risks of MACE (primarily driven by all-cause mortality and MI rates), and bleeding. In-hospital adjusted hazards for ischemic and bleeding events were similar between the two cohorts, while CA-AKI occurred twice as often in CKD patients compared to non-CKD ones.

Conclusions: In CHIP patients, CKD is a strong predictor of ischemic and bleeding events at one-year follow-up and doubles the risk of post-procedural CA-AKI, underscoring the need for tailored risk assessment and management of this vulnerable population.

Background: Little is known about the recently emerging entity, heart failure with supranormal ejection fraction (HFsnEF).

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of HFsnEF, compared to HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF) and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) patients.

Design: A single center retrospective analysis.

Patients: Hospitalized and ambulatory heart failure (HF) patients who underwent echocardiography with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 40%.

Main measures: Clinical and echocardiographic parameters, hospitalization rates and mortality.

Key results: A total of 6,202 patients (mean age 81.4 ± 14.1 years, 52% females) were analyzed: 750 in the HFmrEF group (LVEF 41-49%), 4360 in the HFpEF group (LVEF 50-64%), and 1092 in the HFsnEF group (LVEF ≥ 65%). Patients were followed for a median of 32 (11-65) months. HFsnEF patients were older, predominantly female, exhibited higher hypertension prevalence, more severe LV hypertrophy, smaller LV dimensions, and higher filling pressures compared to the other groups (p < 0.001 for all). These features were consistent in both hospitalized and ambulatory patients. In a univariable model, HFsnEF patients had higher mortality rates compared to HFmrEF and HFpEF patients (HR 1.258, 95% CI 1.117-1.418; p < 0.001 and HR 1.112, 95% CI 1.023-1.208; p = 0.012, respectively). However, in a multivariable model, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and echocardiographic parameters, there was no significant difference in the mortality rates between all groups. The total hospitalization rate was similar between the HFpEF and HFsnEF groups, and lower in the HFmrEF group (p = 0.022). However, the HFsnEF group had the lowest rate of HF-related hospitalizations (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: HFsnEF represents a group of patients with a distinct clinical and echocardiographic profile accompanied by worse outcomes, likely mediated by older age and a higher comorbidity burden, compared to HFmrEF and HFpEF. Therefore, the supranormal EF may serve as a marker rather than an independent prognostic factor.

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of mortality in the world with an increasing incidence. One of the interventions to treat IHD is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and people with diabetes mellitus (DM) account for approximately one quarter of all patients who undergo coronary revascularization. Furthermore, people with DM have a higher risk of mortality due to heart failure (HF).

Objective: We aim to describe the risk of developing HF after CABG in patients with versus without DM.

Methods: Through a large nationwide register-based cohort study, patients who underwent CABG from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2020 were included. In addition to Cox regression, g-formula methods based on multivariable Cox regression were performed to estimate the absolute risk (AR) and risk difference (RD) of the association between DM status and HF outcome, and between DM status and mortality.

Results: A total of 34,855 patients were included in this study, consisting of 6909 (19.8%) DM patients. The AR of HF after CABG in the 10th year was 35.1% versus 26.4% for patients with versus without DM (p < 0.001), respectively. The RD of HF for each exceeding year (3.7 percentage point (pp.) in the 1st year versus 8.6 pp. in the 10th year) was higher for patients with DM compared to those without DM.

Conclusion: The risk of HF was significantly higher up to ten years after CABG in patients with DM compared to those without DM.

Background: Sex-related differences play a pivotal role in disease manifestation and outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease, including aortic valve stenosis (AS). However, data regarding sex-related hormonal differences in AS patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is lacking.

Objectives: We aimed to assess sex-related hormonal variances in patients with severe symptomatic AS and to evaluate the impact of these hormonal differences on the clinical outcomes after TAVR.

Methods: In a total of 361 TAVR patients, we assessed the hormonal status, including cortisol, parathormone (PTH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs), estradiol, progesterone and testosterone prior to TAVR. We compared baseline characteristics and outcome data according to sex and hormonal parameters. The primary endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality according to sex; secondary endpoints included the risk of 1-year all-cause mortality in conjunction with hormone levels, with pre-specified cut-off values.

Results: Rates of 1-year all-cause mortality were comparable between the sexes (p = 0.285). Cox regression analysis revealed significant associations between 1-year mortality and levels of cortisol (HR 2.30; p = 0.007), PTH (HR 2.09; p = 0.019), DHEA-S (HR 0.47; p = 0.016), and IGF-1 (HR 0.42; p = 0.004) in the overall cohort. Elevated cortisol levels (p = 0.011), decreased DHEA-S levels (p = 0.007), and lower IGF-1 levels (p = 0.017) were significantly associated with higher rates of 1-year all-cause mortality in males. Conversely, higher PTH levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality in females (p = 0.012).

Conclusion: Sex-specific hormonal differences significantly impact the prognosis of severe AS patients undergoing TAVR. Elevated cortisol levels and decreased DHEA-S and IGF-1 levels in males, as well as higher levels of PTH in females, were associated with an increased mortality risk.

Background: Advances in pediatric cardiology and congenital heart surgery have increased the adult population with congenital heart disease (CHD), now facing long-term complications like atrial arrhythmias. Given the limited data and safety concerns in this unique and vulnerable patient group, this study analyzes in-hospital outcomes of atrial catheter ablation in CHD patients versus non-CHD patients from a German nationwide real-world registry.

Methods: Using health records, all atrial catheter ablation procedures in Germany from 2008 to 2021 were analyzed. After adjustment for confounders, safety performance endpoints were compared between patients with and without CHD.

Results: From 2008 to 2021, 790,896 patients underwent right or left atrial catheter ablation in Germany. Of these, 1004 patients were classified as simple CHD, 1,054 patients as moderate CHD and 843 patients as complex CHD. Age at time of procedure was lower with increasing complexity of the CHD. Atypical atrial flutter (5.5% vs. 21.8%; p < 0.001) and other atrial tachycardias (21.2% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.001) occurred more often in patients with complex CHD compared to patients without. Combined ablation in both atria was more often performed in complex CHD. Despite higher complexity, in-hospital mortality (< 0.2%) and other investigated complications were rare. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, type of arrhythmia and ablation location, the relative risk for serious adverse events (combination of mortality, stroke, intracerebral bleeding or pericardiocentesis) did not show a significant difference for patients with CHD.

Conclusion: Even in patients with CHD, complications are rare and after adjustment, no differences were identified concerning serious adverse events. Therefore, an ablation should not be generally avoided in patients with CHD due to concerns about complications although an individualized evaluation of the anatomy must be taken into account.

Introduction: Understanding predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is essential for risk stratification and prognosis. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between heart rate (HR) at diagnosis and adverse outcomes in PPCM.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center cohort study to identify patients with PPCM (1993-2017) who met the inclusion criteria: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, development of heart failure within the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery, and no other identifiable cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The primary composite outcome of major adverse events included recurrent heart failure hospitalization, need for extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, left ventricular assist device, orthotopic heart transplant, or all-cause death. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we examined the relationship between categories of HR at diagnosis and adverse outcomes.

Results: A total of 177 women met criteria (81 with HR <100 bpm, 54 with HR 100-119 bpm, 42 with HR ≥120 bpm) with a mean age of 32 ± 7 years and median follow-up 3.6 years (IQR 1.1-8.2); 48 (27%) experienced the composite outcome. In a multivariable model adjusting for age, race, preeclampsia and hypertension, women with HR ≥ 120 bpm were four times more likely to experience major adverse events compared to women with HR < 100 bpm (HR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.4) at the time of diagnosis. In a second multivariable model adjusting for the above covariates plus LVEF < 30%, QTc, and systolic blood pressure, those with HR ≥ 120 bpm were more likely to experience major adverse events compared to those with HR < 100 bpm (HR 3.31 (1.01-10.9), p = 0.049). Patients with HR <100 bpm were significantly more likely to have survival free from adverse events in survival analysis (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Sinus tachycardia at diagnosis was associated with lower LVEF on presentation and higher rates of major adverse events in PPCM. Tachycardia may be an early prognostic indicator of outcomes in PPCM and could help identify high-risk patients for closer follow-up and earlier intervention.