Association between B-type natriuretic peptide and long-term mortality in patients with acute severe hypertension visiting the emergency department.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a well-established prognostic factor for cardiovascular disorders. However, the association between BNP levels and mortality in patients with acute severe hypertension remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between BNP levels and long-term mortality in patients with acute severe hypertension visiting the emergency department (ED). This retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted to the ED between 2016 and 2019 with acute severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg). Patients were categorized into tertiles according to BNP levels upon admission to the ED. Of the 3099 patients with acute severe hypertension, 6.4% in the first (lowest) tertile, 24.8% in the second tertile, and 44.4% in the third (highest) tertile of BNP died within 3-years. After adjusting for clinically relevant variables, patients in the second tertile of BNP (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96-3.55), and patients in the third tertile of BNP (adjusted HR 4.18; 95% CI, 3.09-5.64) had a significantly higher risk of 3-year all-cause mortality than those in the first tertile of BNP. Therefore, BNP may be valuable for the initial assessment to identify high-risk patients among those with acute severe hypertension.

Impact of the estimated glomerular filtration rate on long-term mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis visiting the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The association between renal function and all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis remains unclear. We aimed to identify the impact of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis visiting the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the ED between 2016 and 2019 for hypertensive crisis (systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mmHg). They were classified into four groups according to the eGFR at admission to the ED: ≥90, 60-89, 30-59, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: Among the 4,821 patients, 46.7% and 5.8% had an eGFR of ≥90 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Patients with lower eGFR were older and more likely to have comorbidities. The 3-year all-cause mortality rates were 7.7% and 41.9% in those with an eGFR ≥90 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, those with an eGFR of 30-59 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-2.54) and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.71-3.24) had significantly higher 3-year all-cause mortality risks than those with an eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Patients with an eGFR of 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m2 had a higher mortality (21.1%) than those with an eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (7.7%); however, the difference was not significant (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.94-1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Renal impairment is common in patients with hypertensive crisis who visit the ED. A strong independent association was observed between decreased eGFR and all-cause mortality in these patients. eGFR provides useful prognostic information and permits the early identification of patients with hypertensive crisis with an increased mortality risk. Intensive treatment and follow-up strategies are needed for patients with a decreased eGFR who visit the ED.

Newly Diagnosed Right Coronary Artery Aneurysm in an Adult with Recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection.

It is well known that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can affect the vascular endothelium; however, coronary artery aneurysm complicated by COVID-19 in adults has not yet been reported. Herein, we report a case of a newly developed right coronary artery aneurysm in an adult with recent COVID-19 infection. A 66-year-old man was referred for surgical intervention of the right coronary artery aneurysm. His previous coronary angiograms performed 17 months prior revealed no evidence of coronary aneurysm. However, he was confirmed as having COVID-19 four months prior and thereafter newly diagnosed with right coronary artery aneurysm. The further evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on the occurrence of coronary artery aneurysm may be necessary, considering the alleged correlation between COVID-19 and vascular complications.

Newly Diagnosed Right Coronary Artery Aneurysm in an Adult with Recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection

It is well known that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can affect the vascular endothelium;however, coronary artery aneurysm complicated by COVID-19 in adults has not yet been reported. Herein, we report a case of a newly developed right coronary artery aneurysm in an adult with recent COVID-19 infection. A 66-year-old man was referred for surgical intervention of the right coronary artery aneurysm. His previous coronary angiograms performed 17 months prior revealed no evidence of coronary aneurysm. However, he was confirmed as having COVID-19 four months prior and thereafter newly diagnosed with right coronary artery aneurysm. The further evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on the occurrence of coronary artery aneurysm may be necessary, considering the alleged correlation between COVID-19 and vascular complications.