ABSTRACT
Objectives: In acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients the focus is on major conventional risk factors - CRF [diabetes, hypertension, elevated low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) and smoking] whereas others - specific metabolic risk factors - MRF [high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body-mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and triglycerides, and HbA1c get less attention. Methods: This is a prospective caseecontrol observational study from 15 tertiary care hospitals in India. CRF and MRF in patients presenting with first incidence of ACS (n ¼ 2153) were compared with matched controls (n ¼ 1210). Results: Propensity score matching (PSM) yielded 1193 cases and matched 1210 controls. Risk factor prevalence in cases vs. controls were CRF: hypertension - 39.4% vs 16.4% (p < 0.0001), diabetes - 42.6% vs 12.7% (p < 0.0001), smoking - 28.3% vs 9.3% (p < 0.0001) and elevated LDL-C - 70.2% vs 57.9% (p < 0.0001). MRF: High BMI - 54.7% vs 55.1% (p ¼ 0.84), increased waist: hip ratio 79.5% vs 63.6% (p < 0.0001), high HbA1c - 37.8% vs 14.9% (p < 0.0001), low HDL-C - 56.2% vs 42.8% (p < 0.0001) and elevated triglycerides - 49.7% vs 44.2% (p ¼ 0.007). Adjusted Odds ratios by multivariate analysis were CRF: hypertension - 2.3 (p < 0.001), diabetes - 4.7 (p < 0.001), high LDL-C - 3.3 (p < 0.001) and smoking6.3 (p < 0.001). MRF: High waist: hip ratio - 2.4 (p < 0.001) high HbA1c - 3.2 (p < 0.001), low HDL-C 2.2 (p < 0.001) and elevated triglycerides - 0.878 p ¼ 0.17. Conclusion: In India, the risk of ACS conferred by specific metabolic risk factors (High waist: hip ratio, Low HDL-C and High HbA1c) is comparable to that caused by CRF
ABSTRACT
Objective This is a case series of consecutive patients with past myocardial infarction presenting with Electrical Storm (ES) of unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT) treated by a protocol directed algorithm. Methods Management protocol involved treatment of reversible causes, ventilatory & hemodynamic support, administration of antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) & maximally tolerated doses of beta-blockers, stellate ganglionectomy and Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) guided by Electro Anatomic Mapping (EAM). Patients were followed up periodically with review of device data logs. Results There were 12 patients (mean age = 61.38 ± 6.48 years & mean LVEF = 31.92 ± 4.23%). Presentation was recurrent ICD shocks (n = 5) or VT (n = 7). All were mechanically ventilated. Reversible causes were identified in 4 patients and appropriately addressed. Totally 8 patients underwent endocardial substrate modification by EAM & RFA. Endocardial LV Voltage mapping demonstrated a mean scar area of 70.04 ± 17.63 sq.cm (27.04 ± 6.20% of mapped area). The electrograms targeted for ablation included late potentials, fractionated electrograms, double potentials and channels within the scar. Two patients had stellate ganglionectomy in addition. Ten patients (83.3%) survived to discharge, all of whom are alive at a follow up of 30.12 ± 19 months free of ES. VT free survival at end of follow up was 80%. No patient had hospitalization related to VT. Single episode of VT recurrence was seen in 2 patients at 7 months and 1 year of follow up respectively. Conclusion In post myocardial infarction patients presenting with ES and unstable VT, a protocol driven approach involving substrate modification targeting abnormal electrograms improves outcomes.