The Clinical Impact of β-Blocker Therapy on Patients With Chronic Coronary Artery Disease After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background and Objectives@#The outcome benefits of β-blockers in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been fully assessed. We evaluated the prognostic impact of β-blockers on patients with chronic CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). @*Methods@#A total of 3,075 patients with chronic CAD were included from the Grand DrugEluting Stent registry. We analyzed β-blocker prescriptions, including doses and types, in each patient at 3-month intervals from discharge. After propensity score matching, 1,170 pairs of patients (β-blockers vs. no β-blockers) were derived. Primary outcome was defined as a composite endpoint of all-cause death and myocardial infarction (MI). We further analyzed the outcome benefits of different doses (low-, medium-, and high-dose) and types (conventional or vasodilating) of β-blockers. @*Results@#During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 3.1 (3.0–3.1) years, 134 (5.7%) patients experienced primary outcome. Overall, β-blockers demonstrated no significant benefit in primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–1.24), all-cause death (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.60–1.25), and MI (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.49–3.15). In subgroup analysis, β-blockers were associated with a lower risk of all-cause death in patients with previous MI and/ or revascularization (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.14–0.99) (p for interaction=0.045). No significant associations were found for the clinical outcomes with different doses and types of β-blockers. @*Conclusions@#Overall, β-blocker therapy was not associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with chronic CAD undergoing PCI. Limited mortality benefit of β-blockers may exist for patients with previous MI and/or revascularization.

Impact of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants on the Change of Antithrombotic Regimens in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background and Objectives@#Antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has changed in recent years with new data from large randomized trials and updates to clinical guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the trends in periprocedural antithrombotic regimens in Korean patients with AF undergoing PCI with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). @*Methods@#Using the claims database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment during 2013–2018, 27,594 patients with AF undergoing PCI were identified. The annual prevalence of PCI and prescriptions of each antithrombotic agent, including antiplatelet agents and oral anticoagulants, within 30 days after PCI were investigated. @*Results@#During 2013–2018, the number of patients with AF undergoing PCI increased up to 1.3-fold (from 3,913 to 5,075 patients per year). After the introduction of NOACs, the proportion of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) decreased from 71.9% to 49.8% but still occupied the largest proportion among antithrombotic regimens. Triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) use increased from 25.4% to 46.0%, and NOAC has rapidly replaced warfarin as the oral anticoagulant of choice. TAT was preferred to DAPT for patients with CHA2 DS2 -VASc score ≥2. Among various factors, prior intracranial hemorrhage was the most powerful predictor of favoring DAPT use over TAT. @*Conclusion@#Since the introduction of NOACs, the patterns of periprocedural antithrombotic regimens have changed rapidly toward more use of TAT, specifically with NOAC-based regimen. Appropriate stroke prevention with oral anticoagulants is still underutilized in patients with AF undergoing PCI in Korea.

Impact of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants on the Change of Antithrombotic Regimens in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background and Objectives@#Antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has changed in recent years with new data from large randomized trials and updates to clinical guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the trends in periprocedural antithrombotic regimens in Korean patients with AF undergoing PCI with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). @*Methods@#Using the claims database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment during 2013–2018, 27,594 patients with AF undergoing PCI were identified. The annual prevalence of PCI and prescriptions of each antithrombotic agent, including antiplatelet agents and oral anticoagulants, within 30 days after PCI were investigated. @*Results@#During 2013–2018, the number of patients with AF undergoing PCI increased up to 1.3-fold (from 3,913 to 5,075 patients per year). After the introduction of NOACs, the proportion of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) decreased from 71.9% to 49.8% but still occupied the largest proportion among antithrombotic regimens. Triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) use increased from 25.4% to 46.0%, and NOAC has rapidly replaced warfarin as the oral anticoagulant of choice. TAT was preferred to DAPT for patients with CHA2 DS2 -VASc score ≥2. Among various factors, prior intracranial hemorrhage was the most powerful predictor of favoring DAPT use over TAT. @*Conclusion@#Since the introduction of NOACs, the patterns of periprocedural antithrombotic regimens have changed rapidly toward more use of TAT, specifically with NOAC-based regimen. Appropriate stroke prevention with oral anticoagulants is still underutilized in patients with AF undergoing PCI in Korea.

Prognostic value of routine blood tests along with clinical risk factors in predicting ischemic stroke in non‑valvular atrial fibrillation:a prospective cohort study

Background@#In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), most biomarkers are still of limited use due to cost-effectiveness and complexity in clinical practice.Hypotheses Biomarkers from routine blood tests improve the current risk stratification in AF patients. @*Methods@#This prospective study enrolled 600 patients diagnosed with non-valvular AF, of whom 537 were analyzed. Platelet count; platelet distribution width (PDW); red cell distribution width (RDW); and creatinine, D-dimer, and troponin I levels were measured at enrollment. @*Results@#During the mean follow-up period (2.2 ± 0.6 years), 1.9% patients developed ischemic stroke. According to the optimal cutoff of each biomarker, the risk of ischemic stroke was higher in patients with RDW ≥ 13.5%, creatinine ≥ 1.11 mg/dL, or PDW ≥ 13.2% (significant biomarkers; P value: < 0.01, 0.04, or 0.07, respectively). These 3 significant biomarkers had higher information gain than clinical risk factors in predicting ischemic stroke. The cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke was 1.2%, 1.1%, 8.4%, and 40.0% in patients with 0, 1, 2, and 3 significant biomarkers, respectively (P-for-trend < 0.001). Patients with  ≥ 2 significant biomarkers had a significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke than those with  < 2 significant biomarkers (adjusted hazard ratio 11.5, 95% confidence interval 3.3–40.2, P < 0.001). The predictability for ischemic stroke was significantly improved when  ≥ 2 significant biomarkers were added to the CHA2DS2–VASc score (area under the curve 0.790 vs. 0.620, P = 0.043). @*Conclusion@#Routine blood tests can provide better risk stratification of AF along with clinical risk factors.

The Effects of Preoperative Aspirin on Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: a Systematic Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aspirin plays an important role in the maintenance of graft patency and the prevention of thrombotic event after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, the use of preoperative aspirin is still under debate due to the risk of bleeding. METHODS: From PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Meta-analysis using random effect model was performed. RESULTS: We performed a systemic meta-analysis of 17 studies (12 randomized controlled studies and 5 non-randomized registries) which compared clinical outcomes of 9,101 patients who underwent CABG with or without preoperative aspirin administration. Preoperative aspirin increased chest tube drainage (weighted mean difference 177.4 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI], 41.3–313.4; p=0.011). However, the risk of re-operation for bleeding was not different between the preoperative aspirin group and the control group (3.2% vs. 2.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% CI, 0.94–1.60; p=0.102). There was no difference in the rates of all-cause mortality (1.6% vs. 1.5%; OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.64–1.49; p=0.920) and myocardial infarction (MI) (8.7% vs. 10.4%; OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.66–1.04; p=0.102) between patients with and without preoperative aspirin administration. CONCLUSIONS: Although aspirin increased the amount of chest tube drainage, it was not associated with increased risk of re-operation for bleeding. In addition, the risks of early postoperative all-cause mortality and MI were not reduced by using preoperative aspirin.

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for the Diagnosis of Vasospastic Angina: Comparison with Invasive Coronary Angiography and Ergonovine Provocation Test

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic validity of coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) in vasospastic angina (VA) and factors associated with discrepant results between invasive coronary angiography with the ergonovine provocation test (iCAG-EPT) and cCTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 1397 patients diagnosed with VA from 2006 to 2016, 33 patients (75 lesions) with available cCTA data from within 6 months before iCAG-EPT were included. The severity of spasm (% diameter stenosis [%DS]) on iCAG-EPT and cCTA was assessed, and the difference in %DS (Δ%DS) was calculated. Δ%DS was compared after classifying the lesions according to pre-cCTA-administered sublingual nitroglycerin (SL-NG) or beta-blockers. The lesions were further categorized with %DS ≥ 50% on iCAG-EPT or cCTA defined as a significant spasm, and the diagnostic performance of cCTA on identifying significant spasm relative to iCAG-EPT was assessed. RESULTS: Compared to lesions without SL-NG treatment, those with SL-NG treatment showed a higher Δ%DS (39.2% vs. 22.1%, p = 0.002). However, there was no difference in Δ%DS with or without beta-blocker treatment (35.1% vs. 32.6%, p = 0.643). The significant difference in Δ%DS associated with SL-NG was more prominent in patients who were aged < 60 years, were male, had body mass index < 25 kg/m2, and had no history of hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Based on iCAG-EPT as the reference, the per-lesion-based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of cCTA for VA diagnosis were 7.5%, 94.0%, 60.0%, 47.1%, and 48.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients with clinically suspected VA, confirmation with iCAG-EPT needs to be considered without completely excluding the diagnosis of VA simply based on cCTA results, although further prospective studies are required for confirmation.

The Effects of Preoperative Aspirin on Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: a Systematic Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES@#Aspirin plays an important role in the maintenance of graft patency and the prevention of thrombotic event after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, the use of preoperative aspirin is still under debate due to the risk of bleeding.@*METHODS@#From PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Meta-analysis using random effect model was performed.@*RESULTS@#We performed a systemic meta-analysis of 17 studies (12 randomized controlled studies and 5 non-randomized registries) which compared clinical outcomes of 9,101 patients who underwent CABG with or without preoperative aspirin administration. Preoperative aspirin increased chest tube drainage (weighted mean difference 177.4 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI], 41.3–313.4; p=0.011). However, the risk of re-operation for bleeding was not different between the preoperative aspirin group and the control group (3.2% vs. 2.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% CI, 0.94–1.60; p=0.102). There was no difference in the rates of all-cause mortality (1.6% vs. 1.5%; OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.64–1.49; p=0.920) and myocardial infarction (MI) (8.7% vs. 10.4%; OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.66–1.04; p=0.102) between patients with and without preoperative aspirin administration.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Although aspirin increased the amount of chest tube drainage, it was not associated with increased risk of re-operation for bleeding. In addition, the risks of early postoperative all-cause mortality and MI were not reduced by using preoperative aspirin.

Clinical Factors Associated with Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Data from the Korean Cardiac Arrest Research Consortium (KoCARC) Registry

BACKGROUND: Although coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), there has been no convinced data on the necessity of routine invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in OHCA. We investigated clinical factors associated with obstructive CAD in OHCA. METHODS: Data from 516 OHCA patients (mean age 58 years, 83% men) who underwent ICA after resuscitation was obtained from a nation-wide OHCA registry. Obstructive CAD was defined as the lesions with diameter stenosis ≥ 50% on ICA. Independent clinical predictors for obstructive CAD were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis, and their prediction performance was compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve with 10,000 repeated random permutations. RESULTS: Among study patients, 254 (49%) had obstructive CAD. Those with obstructive CAD were older (61 vs. 55 years, P < 0.001) and had higher prevalence of hypertension (54% vs. 36%, P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (29% vs. 21%, P = 0.032), positive cardiac enzyme (84% vs. 74%, P = 0.010) and initial shockable rhythm (70% vs. 61%, P = 0.033). In multiple logistic regression analysis, old age (≥ 60 years) (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–3.00; P = 0.001), hypertension (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.18–2.57; P = 0.005), positive cardiac enzyme (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.09–2.70; P = 0.019), and initial shockable rhythm (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16–2.54; P = 0.007) were associated with obstructive CAD. Prediction ability for obstructive CAD increased proportionally when these 4 factors were sequentially combined (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with OHCA, those with old age, hypertension, positive cardiac enzyme and initial shockable rhythm were associated with obstructive CAD. Early ICA should be considered in these patients.