Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials and Systematic Review.

Background Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events in patients with prior ASCVD and type 2 diabetes; however, this benefit is uncertain in patients without established ASCVD. Methods and Results Large-scale cardiovascular outcome randomized controlled trials or their prespecified subgroup analyses were selected, evaluating SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo for primary prevention of ASCVD (inception, March 2023). The primary outcome was atherosclerotic major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), which was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The secondary outcomes were individual components of MACEs and all-cause mortality. The outcomes were reported as random-effect relative risk (RR) with a 95% CI. This analysis, comprising 23 987 patients enrolled in 5 randomized controlled trials with a mean follow-up duration of ≈135 weeks, found no significant reduction in atherosclerotic MACEs with SGLT2 inhibitors in comparison to placebo (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.71-1.01]; P=0.07; I2=44). There were no significant differences in cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.77-1.14]; P=0.50; I2=0), myocardial infarction (RR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.69-1.11]; P=0.28; I2=23), and stroke (RR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.62-1.16]; P=0.29; I2=46). SGLT2 inhibitors significantly improved all-cause mortality (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.72-1.0]; P=0.04; I2=23). On subgroup analyses, the use of SGLT2 inhibitors led to significant reductions in MACEs (RR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.61-0.89]; P=0.001), myocardial infarction (RR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.47-0.97]; P=0.03), and stroke (RR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.41-0.91]; P=0.01) primarily in patients with chronic kidney disease along with type 2 diabetes, whereas these benefits were not observed in patients with type 2 diabetes without chronic kidney disease. Conclusions SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced atherosclerotic MACEs in subjects having both chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes without established ASCVD.

Assessment of Repeat Revascularization in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trials as a Surrogate for Mortality: A Meta-Regression Analysis.

The association of repeat revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with mortality is uncertain. To assess the association of repeat revascularization after PCI with mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We identified randomized controlled trials comparing PCI with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or optimal medical therapy (OMT) using electronic databases through January 1, 2022. We performed a random-effects meta-regression between repeat revascularization rates after PCI (absolute risk difference [%] between PCI and CABG or OMT) with the relative risks (RR) of mortality. We assessed surrogacy of repeat revascularization for mortality using the coefficient of determination (R2), with threshold of 0.80. In 33 trials (21,735 patients), at median follow-up of 4 (2-7) years, repeat revascularization was higher after PCI than CABG [RR: 2.45 (95% confidence interval, 1.99-3.03)], but lower vs OMT [RR: 0.64 (0.46-0.88)]. Overall, meta-regression showed that repeat revascularization rates after PCI had no significant association with all-cause mortality [RR: 1.01 (0.99-1.02); R2=0.10) or cardiovascular mortality [RR: 1.01 (CI: 0.99-1.03); R2=0.09]. In PCI vs CABG (R2=0.0) or PCI vs OMT trials (R2=0.28), repeat revascularization did not meet the threshold for surrogacy for all-cause or cardiovascular mortality (R2=0.0). We observed concordant results for subgroup analyses (enrollment time, follow-up, sample size, risk of bias, stent types, and coronary artery disease), and multivariable analysis adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, risk of bias, MI, and follow-up duration. In summary, this meta-regression did not establish repeat revascularization after PCI as a surrogate for all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Trans-EVAR TAVR: Buddy up!

Described is challenging trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure done via tortuous iliofemoral access with prior endovascular aneurysm repair. Detailed pre-procedural planning enabled the operators to overcome the challenges while employing the following 4 strategies: Although trans-EVAR TAVR remains somewhat unpredictable, especially these 4 strategies may simplify and reduce the inherent failure rate of such procedures.

Two-Step V-Stenting and Simultaneous Kissing Stent via 6F Guides: Simple Just Got Simpler.

V-stenting (VS) and simultaneously kissing stents (SKS) upfront 2-stent strategies for treating large diameter bifurcations and especially distal left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. Former teaching suggests that the minimal requirements for VS and SKS requires 8F guiding catheters or 7.5F sheathless guide. Presented is the "2-Step refinement" of SKS and VS that can be executed via conventional 6F guide without any additional equipment. In view of the simplicity and suitability for unstable subjects with acute coronary syndromes; "2 Step SKS and VS" should be in the armamentarium of all advanced interventionalists.

Trends in Premature Mortality From Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States, 1999 to 2019.

Background Evaluating premature (<65 years of age) mortality because of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by demographic and regional characteristics may inform public health interventions. Methods and Results We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's WONDER (Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) death certificate database to examine premature (<65 years of age) age-adjusted AMI mortality rates per 100 000 and average annual percentage change from 1999 to 2019. Overall, the age-adjusted AMI mortality rate was 13.4 (95% CI, 13.3-13.5). Middle-aged adults, men, non-Hispanic Black adults, and rural counties had higher mortality than young adults, women, NH White adults, and urban counties, respectively. Between 1999 and 2019, the age-adjusted AMI mortality rate decreased at an average annual percentage change of -3.4 per year (95% CI, -3.6 to -3.3), with the average annual percentage change showing higher decline in age-adjusted AMI mortality rates among large (-4.2 per year [95% CI, -4.4 to -4.0]), and medium/small metros (-3.3 per year [95% CI, -3.5 to -3.1]) than rural counties (-2.4 per year [95% CI, -2.8 to -1.9]). Age-adjusted AMI mortality rates >90th percentile were distributed in the Southern states, and those with mortality <10th percentile were clustered in the Western and Northeastern states. After an initial decline between 1999 and 2011 (-4.3 per year [95% CI, -4.6 to -4.1]), the average annual percentage change showed deceleration in mortality since 2011 (-2.1 per year [95% CI, -2.4 to -1.8]). These trends were consistent across both sexes, all ethnicities and races, and urban/rural counties. Conclusions During the past 20 years, decline in premature AMI mortality has slowed down in the United States since 2011, with considerable heterogeneity across demographic groups, states, and urbanicity. Systemic efforts are mandated to address cardiovascular health disparities and outcomes among nonelderly adults.

Ipsilateral Protection and Bailout for Large-Bore Access.

This manuscript describes the refinements of ipsilateral wire protection and bailout strategy for large-bore femoral access and especially transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This ipsilateral wire protection requires no additional expenses and can provide effective arteriotomy site protection without the need for contralateral femoral access, especially in cases when contralateral wiring and crossover are not feasible. Ipsilateral wiring can be done both as prophylactic protection and as bailout strategy. The exact steps required for ipsilateral protection and bailout are described. A comparison between ipsilateral wiring with conventional contralateral femoral and transradial wire protection is delineated.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair in patients with chronic liver disease: Insights from the national inpatient sample.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate contemporary national trends of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and co-existing chronic liver disease (CLD) undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR). METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to assess trends in patients undergoing TMVR between January 2012 and December 2017. Propensity match analysis was done to compare it to subjects without underlying CLD. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of 15,270 patients undergoing TMVR, 569 (3.7%) had coexisting CLD. Patients with CLD had a higher proportion of males (61.3 vs 52.6%; p < .01), congestive heart failure (6.9 vs 1.0%; p < .01), renal failure (42.2 vs 36.7%; p < .01), and peripheral vascular disease (19.3 vs 12.5%; p < .01). After propensity matching subjects with CLD had significantly higher hospital mortality (19.8 vs 4.6%; p < .01), acute kidney injury (46.1 vs 37.8%; p < .01), cardiogenic shock (25.4 vs 12.1%; p < .01), mechanical ventilation (26.3 vs 14.0; p < .01), pneumothorax (6.6 vs <2%.; p < .01), length of stay (5 vs 9 days), and average cost of hospitalization (209,573 vs 250,587 $; p < .01). Over the years, in-hospital mortality in patients receiving TMVR has improved in both patients with (from 33.3 in 2013 to 22.2% in 2017) and without CLD (from 2.7 in 2011 to 1.6% in 2017). CONCLUSION: Patients with MR undergoing TMVR, with coexisting CLD bear substantially higher comorbidities, complication rates, and inpatient mortality compared with those without CLD. A favorable temporal trend of in-hospital mortality among these subjects is noteworthy.

De-escalation of antiplatelets after percutaneous coronary intervention: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of various de-escalation strategies.

AIMS: To compare early de-escalation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (1-3 months) to monotherapy with either P2Y12 inhibitor or aspirin vs. 12 months DAPT after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES). METHODS AND RESULTS: Electronic databases of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched through February 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted with random effects model. The main endpoints of interest were cardiovascular mortality and total bleeding events. Among seven trials (35 821 patients), 52.6% patients were presented with acute coronary syndrome. A total of 3359 patients and 14 530 patients were de-escalated to aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy, respectively. At a median follow-up of 12 months, compared with 12 months of DAPT, there was no significant difference in cardiovascular mortality between 1-month DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.84 (95% credible interval 0.29-2.43)], 3 months of DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy [HR 0.74 (0.39-1.46)], or 3 months of DAPT [HR 1.00 (0.54-1.86)] followed by aspirin monotherapy. Except for de-escalation of DAPT to aspirin monotherapy after 3 months [HR 0.75 (0.43-1.20)], de-escalation to P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after 1 month [HR 0.28 (0.10-0.83)], or 3 months [HR 0.57 (0.33-0.98)] were associated with significant decrease in total bleeding events. There were no significant differences in terms of ischaemic endpoints among different DAPT strategies. CONCLUSION: Early de-escalation of DAPT (1-3 months) to monotherapy with a P2Y12 inhibitor instead of aspirin might be a safer and equally effective approach compared with 12 months of DAPT in patients with PCI and DES.

Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with end stage renal disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess contemporary national trends of comorbidities, outcomes, and health care resource utilization in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR and SAVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: The National-Inpatient-Sample was used to study trends in patients with AS and ESRD undergoing TAVR and SAVR between January 2012 and December 2017. Of 12,550 patients, 5,735 underwent TAVR and 6,815 underwent SAVR. Over the years, the utilization of SAVR declined (from 82.0 to 37.7%); and increased for TAVR (from 18.0 to 62.3%; p < .001). Patients receiving TAVR were older (74.6 [9.1] vs. 66.8 years [9.1]), had a higher proportion of females (37.1 vs. 32.5%), Caucasians (68.7 vs. 60.9%) and Asian /Pacific Islanders (3.1 vs. 2.7%; p < .001 for all). The TAVR patients, despite having higher comorbidity burden (anemia, coronary artery disease, chronic pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease) had lower inpatient mortality and complications (ST-elevation myocardial infarction, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and need for mechanical ventilators and vasopressors). The median length of stay (13.9-6.5 days; p < .001) and cost of stay ($311,538.16 to $255,693.40; p < .001) reduced with TAVR; but remained unchanged with SAVR. Higher proportion of patients was discharged home after TAVR vs. SAVR. CONCLUSION: Among patients with AS and ESRD, despite providing therapy to subjects with higher comorbidity burden, TAVR was associated with lower inpatient mortality, complications, length of stay, cost of care, and higher home disposition rates when compared with SAVR.