Prognostic Value of Resting Distal-to-Aortic Coronary Pressure in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: The resting distal-to-aortic coronary pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) is a universally available, hyperemia-free physiological index of coronary stenosis. We investigated clinical outcomes according to resting Pd/Pa versus hyperemic fractional flow reserve (FFR). METHODS: From the IRIS-FFR (Interventional Cardiology Research Incooperation Society Fractional Flow Reserve) registry, 7014 lesions in 4707 patients with valid resting Pd/Pa and FFR were included in this study. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE; a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and repeat intervention). The MACE rate was compared among resting Pd/Pa ≤0.92 and FFR ≤0.80. A marginal Cox model accounted for correlated data in patients with multiple lesions. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 2.0 years, 223 MACEs occurred. Resting Pd/Pa was an independent predictor for the occurrence of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.89 [95% CI, 1.32-2.71]; P=0.001) over clinical and angiographic variables. When resting Pd/Pa and FFR were added into a multivariable model, MACE was no longer significantly associated with resting Pd/Pa (aHR, 1.35 [95% CI, 0.93-1.97]; P=0.12) but remained to be associated with FFR (aHR, 2.34 [95% CI, 1.56-3.54]; P<0.001). Compared with lesions with normal value of resting Pa/Pa and FFR, lesions with abnormal values of either resting Pd/Pa (aHR, 2.12 [95% CI, 1.17-3.84]; P=0.014) or FFR (aHR, 2.32 [95% CI, 1.52-3.55]; P<0.001) or both (aHR, 2.37 [95% CI, 1.57-3.57]; P<0.001) showed a significantly increased risk of the occurrence of MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Resting Pd/Pa appeared to be a less-robust prognostic index than FFR. Resting Pd/Pa could be used as a prognostic index when hyperemic agents are contraindicated or not easily available. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01366404.

NOAC Adherence of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in the Real World: Dosing Frequency Matters?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) require stricter medication adherence. We investigated the NOACs adherence in real-world practice. METHODS: We screened all patients in our cardiology department the day before their outpatient appointment, over a 5-month period. We enrolled 719 consecutive patients who were taking NOACs for atrial fibrillation. The patients were contacted by phone or text to bring the remnant pills with them without any information why. Adherence was measured by the percentage of prescribed doses taken (PDT) (number of doses taken/number of doses expected to be taken from the last prescription × 100 [%]) and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS)-8. RESULTS: All 4 NOACs (apixaban 47.8%, dabigatran 21.2%, rivaroxaban 18.4%, and edoxaban 12.6%) were prescribed. The mean duration that the patients had been taking NOACs was 7.2 ± 5.7 months. The PDT was 95.4 ± 9.1% in the once-daily dosing group and 93.4 ± 12.7% in the twice-daily group, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.017). The mean MMAS was 2.6 ± 0.8. The proportion of patients with a PDT < 80% was 7.8%. They had a significantly higher MMAS than the PDT ≥ 80% group (3.4 vs. 2.5; p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Most patients who were taking NOACs had excellent adherence regardless of the dosing frequency. An MMAS ≥ 3 could be used as a simple screening tool for a poor NOAC adherence.

Implication of ultrasound contrast-enhancement of carotid plaques in prevalence of acute coronary syndrome and occurrence of cardiovascular outcomes.

PURPOSE: Ultrasonographic contrast enhancement of carotid plaque (CECP) has been used to detect neovascularization of vasa vasorum and plaque. However, it is uncertain whether CECP can provide risk stratification of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between CECP and manifestations of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in established CAD patients and to explore the prognostic implication of CECP for cardiovascular (CV) clinical outcomes. METHODS: A medical record review revealed that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was performed to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis in 209 coronary artery-stented and 105 non-stented patients. The rate of ACS manifestations was compared depending on contrast uptake patterns: grade 0, absent; grade 1, dot; and grade 2, diffuse pattern. CV primary outcomes were assessed during a mean 7.6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Male sex, smoking, history of old myocardial infarction, intensive medications, and a favorable lipid profile were common in the stented versus non-stented group. Patients with grade 2 CECP had a higher rate of ACS, greater plaque thickness, and class I-II of Gray-Weale plaque echogenicity. During follow-up, 10 coronary revascularizations (nine ACSs), six strokes, and four heart failures occurred. Grade 2 CECP was more closely related with CV primary outcomes and showed a tendency toward more acute CV outcomes. CONCLUSION: ACS manifestations were proportionate to CECP grade. Diffuse CECP uptake could be a risk factor for acute CV outcomes.

Differential Rates and Clinical Significance of Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction After Stenting or Bypass Surgery for Multivessel Coronary Disease According to Various Definitions.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to estimate the differential incidence and prognostic significance of periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) according to various definitions. BACKGROUND: In trials comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the primary composite endpoint is very sensitive to the definition of MI. Especially, the definition of periprocedural MI has considerably varied, and uniform criteria are still unsettled. METHODS: We evaluated 7,697 patients with multivessel disease who received PCI (n = 4,514) or underwent CABG (n = 3,183) between 2003 and 2013, and for whom serial measurement of creatine kinase-MB was available. According to various MI definitions (second and third universal definitions and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions definition), we assessed the prevalence and prognostic significance of periprocedural MI after both PCI and CABG. Patients were followed for major cardiovascular events (death from cardiovascular causes and spontaneous MI) and death for a median of 4.7 years. RESULTS: According to various definitions of MI, there was a substantial difference in the rates of periprocedural MI after PCI and CABG (18.7% vs. 2.9% by second universal; 3.2% vs. 1.9% by third universal; and 5.5% vs. 18.3% by Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions definition). The presence of periprocedural MI was associated with increased risks of major cardiovascular events after both PCI and CABG regardless of MI definition. The risk-adjusted 5-year rates of future major cardiovascular events after occurrence of periprocedural MI were similar after PCI and CABG in second and third universal definition. However, using Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions definition, the rates of major cardiovascular events were significantly higher after PCI than after CABG (24.3% vs. 20.4%; hazard ratio: 1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.07 to 2.41; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: There were substantial differences in incidence and clinical relevance of periprocedural MI according to various contemporary, widely used definitions of MI.

Thrombotic Occlusion during Intravascular Ultrasonography-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Stumpless Chronic Total Occlusion.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of stumpless chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions with a side branch stemming from the occlusion have a significantly lower treatment success rate because physicians cannot identify an accurate entry point with only conventional angiographic images. An intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS)-guided wiring technique might be useful for the penetration of stumpless CTO. We recently experienced thrombotic occlusion during an IVUS-guided stumpless CTO procedure. The cause of the thrombosis is not completely understood; the thrombosis may have been associated with the long use of the IVUS catheter. Special precautions should be taken to prevent thrombus in such cases.