Anticoagulation status and adherence in patients with atrial fibrillation hospitalized for ACS and the impact on 1-year prognosis: a multicenter cohort study / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) complicated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), both anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy should be applied, but the use of anticoagulation therapy is still poor in these patients in China. The purpose of this study was to explore the status and adherence of antithrombotic therapy in AF patients with ACS and the impact on 1 year clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients with AF hospitalized for ACS were retrospectively included from 6 tertiary hospitals in China between July 2015 and December 2020. According to the use of anticoagulant drugs at discharge, patients were divided into two groups: anticoagulant treatment group and non-anticoagulant treatment group. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the main factors influencing the use of anticoagulant drugs in patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with ACS. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were defined as all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 3 bleeding events were also collected at 1 year after discharge. After propensity score matching, Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate the effect of anticoagulant treatment and non-anticoagulant treatment on 1-year prognosis. The patients were divided into different groups according to whether anticoagulation was performed at discharge and follow-up, and the sensitivity of the results was analyzed. Results: A total of 664 patients were enrolled, and 273 (41.1%) were treated with anticoagulant therapy, of whom 84 (30.8%) received triple antithrombotic therapy, 91 (33.3%) received double antithrombotic therapy (single antiplatelet combined with anticoagulant), and 98 (35.9%) received single anticoagulant therapy. Three hundred and ninety-one (58.9%) patients were treated with antiplatelet therapy, including 253 (64.7%) with dual antiplatelet therapy and 138 (35.3%) with single antiplatelet therapy. After 1∶1 propensity score matching between the anticoagulant group and the non-anticoagulant group, a total of 218 pairs were matched. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that history of diabetes, HAS-BLED score≥3, and percutaneous coronary intervention were predictors of the absence of anticoagulant therapy, while history of ischemic stroke and persistent atrial fibrillation were predictors of anticoagulant therapy. At 1-year follow-up, 218 patients (79.9%) in the anticoagulant group continued to receive anticoagulant therapy, and 333 patients (85.2%) in the antiplatelet group continued to receive antiplatelet therapy. At 1-year follow-up, 36 MACEs events (13.2%) occurred in the anticoagulant group, and 81 MACEs events (20.7%) in the non-anticoagulant group. HR values and confidence intervals were calculated by Cox proportional risk model. Patients in the non-anticoagulant group faced a higher risk of MACEs (HR=1.802, 95%CI 1.112-2.921, P=0.017), and the risk of bleeding events was similar between the two group (HR=0.825,95%CI 0.397-1.715, P=0.607). Conclusions: History of diabetes, HAS-BLED score≥3, and percutaneous coronary intervention are independent factors for the absence of anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF complicated with ACS. The incidence of MACEs, death and myocardial infarction is lower in the anticoagulant group, and the incidence of bleeding events is similar between the two groups. The risk of bleeding and ischemia/thrombosis should be dynamically assessed during follow-up and antithrombotic regiments should be adjusted accordingly.

Debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach for the treatment of tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical effects of debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach in treatment of tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 15 patients with tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae who accepted the treatment of one-stage debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation from June 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 6 females, aged from 39 to 72 years with an average of (54.67±10.75) years. The lesion segment was C to C. Pre- and post-operative neurologic functions were evaluated by ASIA grade. All the patients underwent the X-ray films of positive and lateral of cervical spine before and after the operation and accepted the periodic review of CT to evaluate the bone grafting.@*RESULTS@#All the 15 operations were successful, no neurological or vascular injury occurred during the operation, and all patients were followed up for 18 to 52 months. The clinical symptoms improved significantly during the follow-up period and CT showed good bone grafting fusion. One patient suffered a relapse of the illness 3 years later, but was healed during the follow-up visit by strengthening the anti tuberculosis therapy.@*CONCLUSION@#For the patients with vertebral destruction and loss of cervical stability, one-stage debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach has definite curative effects. On the basis of standard anti tuberculosis treatment before operation, the long-term standard anti-tuberculosis treatment after operation is the key to healing the tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae.

Practice of Management Mode of Long-term Medication Safety Assessment for Chronic Airway Disease Patients Established by Pharmacists Team of Medical Consortium / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for pharmacists to participate in the management of chronic disease. METHODS:A total of 259 patients with chronic airway disease [included asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)] met the inclusion criteria were selected from our hospital and 5 community health care centers of medical consortium. These patients received medication safety assessment management,which was led by clinical pharmacists of our hospital with the participation of community pharmacists,including medication safety comprehensive evaluation and risk classification management, follow-up and medication guidance, integrated prescriptions checking, establishment of shared database. 1 years after the implementation,the effectiveness were evaluated by score the relatived indicators in related groups. RESULTS:After a year of the management mode practice,compared with before intervention,the patients'safety medication cognitive ability score in high-risk and low-risk group increased from(4.49±1.26)and(7.31±1.01)to(5.40±1.56)and(7.44±0.91);medication adherence score increased from(4.96±1.21)and(7.08±1.24)to(6.66±1.08)and(7.38±0.98);ACT score from asthma patients increased from (16.15±2.58)and(21.15±1.03)to(16.80±2.57)and(21.64±1.55);CAT score from COPD patients decreased from(25.51± 4.07) and (14.90 ± 3.95) to (24.20 ± 3.96) and (13.80 ± 4.08);the rate of irrational prescription effective identification and intervention by pharmacists increased from 3.6％ and 1.4％ to 9.4％ and 7.6％,respectively. All the differences above were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The participation of pharmacists in long-term medication safety assessment management for chronic airway disease patients can improve patients'safety medication cognitive ability,medication adherence, disease control and the pharmacists'ability of irrational drug use identification and intervention.

Influence of early rehabilitation therapy on prognosis and quality of life in patients with acute myocar-dial infarction / 心血管康复医学杂志

Objective:To explore effect of early rehabilitation therapy on improving prognosis and quality of life (QOL) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) .Methods :A total of 120 AMI patients treated in our hospital were selected .According to random number table ,they were randomly and equally divided into routine treatment group (n=60 ,received routine treatment) and rehabilitation group (n=60 ,received routine treatment combined rehabilitation therapy ) .Clinical symptoms ,myocardial enzymes ,cardiac function indexes ,complications , QOL ,length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost were statistically analyzed and compared between two groups . Results :Compared with routine treatment group after treatment ,there were significant reductions in incidence rates of dizziness ,low back pain ,leg weakness ,constipation ,palpitations (P<0.05~ <0.01) ,abdominal distension and complications (36.7% vs .5.0% );significant rise in Barthel index [ (61.9 ± 8.7) scores vs .(86.4 ± 6.9) scores] , significant reductions in length of hospital stay [(13.8 ± 3.2) d vs .(5.9 ± 2.6) d] and hospitalization cost [(13600 ± 1450) RMB vs .(8600 ± 1240) RMB] in rehabilitation group ,P<0.05~ <0.01 .Conclusion:Early rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve prognosis and quality of life ,shorten length of hospital stay , lower hospitalization cost in patients with acute myocardial infarction ,which is worth clinical extending .

Impact of therapy options on in-hospital and three-year outcome of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Beijing / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the clinical characteristics, in-hospital and three-year outcome in ST-elevation myocardial Infraction (STEMI) patients receiving conservative treatment (CT), thrombolytic treatment (TT) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This 12-month prospective, multicenter registry study was conducted in 19 hospitals with 808 patients with STEMI in Beijing between Jan. 2006 and Dec. 2006, 518 (64%) received PCI, 106 (16.1%) received TT and 184 (22.8%) received CT therapy. Patients were followed up for 3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At baseline, the age of patients in CT group [(64.5 ± 13.5) years] was significantly higher than those in TT group p(57.9 ± 11.0) years] and in PCI group [ (60.4 ± 12.3) years, all P<0.01]; and the median time from symptom onset to hospital in CT group (207 min) was significantly longer than those in TT group (130 min) and PCI group (130 min, all P<0.01). Emergency Medical Service (EMS) use was significantly higher in PCI group (184/518, 35.5%) than in CT group (46/184, 27.3%) and TT group (29/107, 25.0%, all P<0.05). Health insurance holder was the highest in PCI group (P<0.01). PCI was performed less frequently than thrombolytic therapy [66.6% (345/518) vs. 80.2% (85/106)m P=0.02] during off-hours and more frequently performed in tertiary hospitals than in secondary hospitals[66.8%(437/651) vs. 52.6% (81/154, P<0.01)]. The in-hospital mortality and the cardiovascular mortality at 3 year after hospital discharge was significantly higher in CT group [9.2% (17/185) and 9.4% (15/159)] than in PCI group [3.5% (18/518), 4.5% (20/446)] and TT group [6.6% (7/106), 2.3% (2/86), all P<0.01]. Patients in PCI group had the highest adherence level of aspirin, β-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers or statins at 3-years follow-up (all P<0.05). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that only PCI was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular death (HR-0.40, 95% CI:0.21-0.73, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Social and clinical setting may affect the physician's decision to provide reperfusion therapy in Beijing for STEMI patients. Better adherence of secondary preventive drugs and lower cardiovascular death are observed in STEMI patients receiving PCI during the 3-year follow-up</p>

Control rate of increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in cardiology outpatients with coronary heart disease in Beijing / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in outpatients with coronary heart disease (CHD) visiting cardiology outpatient clinics of 8 hospitals in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 903 outpatients with CHD were enrolled from 4 three-tier hospitals and 4 two-tier hospitals in Beijing. All patients were asked to finish the questionnaire including demographic data, CHD history, the knowledge on cholesterol, and the use of statins. Blood lipid was examined and the LDL-C control rate and related factors were then analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Questionnaire was obtained from 876 patients [619 male: 70.7%, mean age: (64.9 ± 10.7) years old] and blood lipid data were available in 709 patients. The general LDL-C control rate was 36.9% (262/709) and was 13.5% (27/173) in very high risk CHD patients, and lower in patients treated in two-tier hospitals than patients treated in three-tier hospitals[31.3% (121/386) vs. 43.7% (141/323), P < 0.01], in female patients than in male patients [27.1% (60/261) vs. 41.3% (201/496), P < 0.01] and in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients [13.5% (27/200) vs. 44.7% (197/441), P < 0.01]. The LDL-C control rate was lower in patients less than 60 years old and patients over 80 years old than that in 60-70 years old patients and 70 - 80 years old patients (P < 0.05). LDL-C control rate was not affected by the history of hypertension, percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting, smoking, lipid examination frequency, knowledge on goal level of LDL-C, diet control and regularly physical exercising (all P > 0.05). There were 18.2% (129/709) patients not taking statins or not aware if they were taking statin or not. The main reason for not taking statin [47.9% (23/48)] was statin was no prescribed by doctors, followed by withdrawal by patients due to various reasons [27.1% (13/48)].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LDL-C control rate was low in patients with CHD visiting cardiology outpatient clinics in Beijing. The CHD patients and cardiologists should be encouraged to achieve better LDL-C control by following lipid lowering guidelines and it is also important to improve the drug compliance among CHD patients.</p>

Main etiologies for patients presented to ER with chest pain or chest pain equivalent / 中国综合临床

Objective To identify the main etiologies of emergency room (ER) patients with chest pain or equivalent syndrome.Methods This was a prospective and cross-sectinal survey of ER patinets with chest pain or equivalent syndrome in 17 medical centre in Beijing,China from July to August 2009.Data was collected by structured interviews and medical record reviews.The mean follow up period was 30 days.Results A total of 5666 patients were enrolled in the study (2663 males and 3303 females) and the mean age was 58.1 ± 18.4years.Their final diagnoses were:coronary heart disease 1506 ( 27.4％ ),acute heart failure 149 ( 2.6％ ),pericarditis 4 ( 0.1％ ),pulmonary embolism 11 ( 0.2％ ),aortic dissection 8 ( 0.1％ ),acute cerebrovascular disease 431 ( 7.6％ ) and non-cardic chest pain 2538 ( 44.9％ ).Thirty-seven cased died and 275 cases hospitalized again 30 days later,4.9％ patients with cornary heart disease had symptoms at their presentation.Conclusion Special vigilance and thorough coronary artery evaluation are needed for all patients with chest discomfort or respiratory distress in the ER,even for patients without chest pain.

Compliance of secondary prevention in patients with coronary artery disease post coronary revascularization / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To investigate the compliance status of secondary prevention in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) following revascularization.MethodsA total of 512 patients with CAD who received procedures for coronary revascularization were enrolled in the study from January 2009 to October 2010,including 472 cases of percutaneous coronary intervention stenting,25 cases of coronary artery bypass grafting and 15 cases of stenting plus bypass.The demographic information,prophylactic drug therapies, lifestylechangesandmodifiableriskfactorsweresurveyedwithquestionnaires,anthroposomatologicalmeasurementsandlaboratorytestsinpatients3monthsaftercoronary revascularization.ResultsThe proportion of patients on statins,aspirin,β-blockers,angiotensin-converting enzymeinhibitors/angiotensinreceptorblockers(ACEIs/ARBs)andinfluenzavaccinationwere 81.4％ (417/512),93.9％ ( 481/512 ),82.0％ ( 420/512 ),76.2％ ( 390/512 ) and 3.7％ ( 19/512 ) respectively.Based on the criteria recommended by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC)Guidelines for Secondary Prevention for Patients with Coronary and Other Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: 2006 Update, the percentages of achieving therapeutic targets of modifiable risk factor management were as follows:glycosylated hemoglobin (90.2％,462/512 ),total cholesterol ( 68.6％,351/512 ),triglycerides ( 58.8％,301/512 ),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( 91.6％,469/512 ),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( 44.5 ％,228/512 ),systolic pressure ( 75.2 ％,385/512 ) and diastolic pressure (90.4％,463/512 ) respectively.And the proportions of improved lifestyle were as follows:smoking cessation/non-smoking 81.4％ (417/512),diet control 78.5％ ( 402/512 ),achieving weight targets 61.7％ (316/512)and regular exercise 58.2％ (298/512).ConclusionsThere is a relatively high percentage of standardized antiplatelet therapy and continuous statins medication in patients with coronary artery disease following revascularization. However,many significant modifiable risk factors have not been controlled optimally and lifestyle of patients needs further improvement. There is still a considerable scope for further improvement of secondary prevention in this group of patients.

Predictive value of serum uric acid on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in urban Chinese patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The association between increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular risk has been debated for decades. Several large studies have provided conflicting results regarding the clinical significance of elevated SUA levels in cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SUA and CVD and all-cause mortality and their potential diagnostic value.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 3570 in-patients ranging in age from 56 to 95 years (mean (67.36 +/- 11.36) years) were selected from 20 hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai. A carefully designed questionnaire was used to gather baseline data of each patient. All patients were divided into two main groups according to their SUA levels: high SUA and normal SUA groups. Serum indices and other important parameters were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with normal SUA group, high SUA group had significant difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI), and age (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). High SUA prevailed in female and patients with history of essential hypertension, while history of smoking and diabetes showed no significant difference between two groups. All-cause and CVD mortality occurred more frequently in high SUA group than in normal SUA group. In the accumulative survival analysis, high SUA group had lower survival rate than normal SUA group both in CVD and all-cause mortality. COX regression analysis indicated that the history of smoking, age and high SUA were independent risk factors for the development of CVD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These preliminary observations suggest that patients with high SUA levels would face higher risk of mortality. SUA measurement may be applied as a routine predictor for clinical assessment.</p>