Frequent periodic leg movement during sleep is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance caused by obstructive sleep apnea is recognized as a contributing factor to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the effect of restless legs syndrome, another common cause of fragmented sleep, on cardiac structure, function, and long-term outcomes is not known. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of frequent leg movement during sleep on cardiac structure and outcomes in patients with restless legs syndrome. METHODS: In our retrospective study, patients with restless legs syndrome referred for polysomnography were divided into those with frequent (periodic movement index > 35/hour) and infrequent (≤ 35/hour) leg movement during sleep. Long-term outcomes were determined using Kaplan-Meier and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of 584 patients, 47% had a periodic movement index > 35/hour. Despite similarly preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, the group with periodic movement index > 35/hour had significantly higher left ventricular mass and mass index, reflective of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). There were no significant baseline differences in the proportion of patients with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, prior myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure, or the use of antihypertensive medications between the groups. Patients with frequent periodic movement index were older, predominantly male, and had more prevalent coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. However, on multivariate analysis, periodic movement index > 35/hour remained the strongest predictor of LVH (odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.67-3.59; P < .001). Advanced age, female sex, and apnea-hypopnea index were other predictors of LVH. Patients with periodic movement index > 35/hour had significantly higher rates of heart failure and mortality over median 33-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent periodic leg movement during sleep is an independent predictor of severe LVH and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Subintimal angioplasty with a true reentry device for treatment of chronic total occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremity.

OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy and safety of the Outback(®) LTD(®) Re-Entry Catheter in reentering the distal true lumen during percutaneous intentional extraluminal revascularization (PIER). BACKGROUND: Reentry catheters are used to treat chronic, total arterial occlusions of the lower extremities when standard methods of recanalization have failed. Success and complication rates of these catheters in the real world are uncertain and variable. METHODS: A retrospective review of our peripheral catheterization database from January 2004 to September 2009 was undertaken to identify consecutive cases of peripheral chronic total occlusions (CTOs) requiring the use of the Outback reentry catheter. Patient demographics, indication for the procedure, location and extent of occlusion, procedural success, and complications were studied. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were identified. Of the 51, 28 (54.9%) patients presented with nonhealing ulcer and 22 (43.1%) had lifestyle-limiting claudication. One patient presented with acute limb ischemia. There were 6 (11.8%) patients with common iliac artery occlusion, 2 (3.9%) with external iliac artery occlusion, 1 (1.9%) with common femoral artery occlusion, 35 (68.6%) with superficial femoral artery occlusion, 6 (11.8%) with popliteal artery occlusion, and 1 (1.9%) with tibioperoneal artery occlusion. Median lesion length was 230 mm. Procedural success was achieved in 49 patients (96.1%). There was 1 (1.9%) periprocedural complication. CONCLUSION: Use of Outback(®) LTD(®) Re-Entry Catheter is a safe and valuable option for PIER/subintimal angioplasty and recanalization in patients with symptomatic lower-extremity CTOs. However, long-term patency remains unknown.

Left Atrial Anatomy in Patients Undergoing Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial anatomy is highly variable, asymmetric, irregular and three-dimensionally unique. This variability can affect the outcome of atrial ablation. A catalog of anatomic varieties may aid patient selection and ablation approach and provide better tools for left atrial ablation. Methods: We analyzed computed tomography scans from 514 patients undergoing left atrial ablation. Images were processed on Advantage Windows with CardEP™ software (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI). Measurements of pulmonary vein (PV) ostial size along the long and short axes were made using double oblique cuts, and area of the ostia was calculated. Results: Patients with 2 left (LPV) and 2 right PVs (RPV) (62.6%), 2 LPVs and 3 RPVs (17.3%) and 1 LPV and 2 RPVs (14.2%) made up the three most common variants. In the 2-LPV/2-RPV anatomy, the ostial size and area of the RPVs were larger than their corresponding LPVs (p<0.001), and the ostial size and area of the superior PVs were larger than their corresponding inferior PVs (p<0.001). In the 2-LPV/3-RPV anatomy, the total area of the RPVs was larger than the total area of the LPVs (p<0.001). In the 1-LPV/2-RPV anatomy, the ostial size of the left common PV was larger than either right PV (p<0.007). However, the total area of the RPVs was larger than the area of the left common PV (p<0.002). The left common PV was also larger than any of the left veins in any of the other anatomies. The total PV area between the three most common anatomies was not significantly different. Conclusions: More than 37% of patients have a left atrial anatomy other than 2 left and 2 right PVs. This data may help in designing approaches for left atrial ablation, tailoring the procedure to individual patients and improving ablation tools.

Cervical cancer screening in the United States, 1993-2010: characteristics of women who are never screened.

BACKGROUND: Regular Pap test screening has contributed to decreasing cervical cancer incidence and mortality over the past decades, yet half of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer have never had a Pap test. Our study aims to examine the cervical cancer screening rate, identify socioeconomic and demographic risk factors associated with adult women who have never had a Pap test, and examine the relationship of screening with use of related health services. METHODS: Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (1993-2010), a multivariable survey logistic regression model was fitted to estimate odds ratios for associations between risk factors and the outcome of never screened. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2010, 81.3% of respondents reported they had a Pap test within 3 years; 6.2% were never screened. For women who had a recent checkup, 5.5% were never screened. Among women who had a hysterectomy, 69.4% had a Pap test within 3 years. The multivariable analysis showed that age, race/ethnicity, education, annual household income, never married, and currently uninsured were significantly (p<0.001) associated with never screened. CONCLUSIONS: Screening programs accompanied by adequate treatment options should target women at high risk for never being screened, which could decrease cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

High mortality of cocaine-related ischemic colitis: a hybrid cohort/case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Isolated case reports describe bowel ischemia in cocaine users, and the optimal management of these patients remains uncertain. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: Patients hospitalized for colonic ischemia related to cocaine compared with noncocaine-related ischemic colitis. Cases were identified by using ICD-9 codes and laboratory urine toxicology tests. Patients were included if they had a confirmed diagnosis of bowel ischemia by CT, colonoscopy, angiography, or, in the case of emergency exploration, a pathology report showing bowel ischemia and a urine toxicology test that was positive for cocaine. Controls were individuals who met the same criteria but had no history of cocaine use and a urine test negative for cocaine. Charts were individually audited for accuracy of coding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Mortality and its risk factors. RESULTS: Patients with cocaine-related ischemia were significantly younger and had a significantly (P < .05) higher mortality rate than patients with ischemic colitis unrelated to cocaine (cocaine: 5/19 [26%] and noncocaine: 6/78 [7.7%]). The cause of death in all cases was septic shock caused by extensive bowel ischemia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cocaine-related ischemic colitis was a significant risk factor for mortality (odds ratio 5.77; 95% CI, 1.37-24.39) as was the need for surgical intervention (odds ratio 4.95; 95% CI, 1.22-20.12). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: Cocaine-related ischemic colitis has a high mortality. In young patients presenting with acute abdominal pain and/or rectal bleeding with evidence of bowel wall thickening or pneumatosis on imaging studies or colonoscopy, cocaine-related ischemia should be considered. Testing for cocaine use may help identify patients at high risk of sepsis and death.

Prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients with stable chronic renal disease undergoing elective percutaneous coronary and peripheral interventions: randomized comparison of two preventive strategies.

OBJECTIVE: We compared use of intravenous (IV) normal saline (NS) to sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) with or without oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). BACKGROUND: CI-AKI is associated with significant adverse clinical events. Use of NAC has produced variable results. Recently, intravenous hydration with NaHCO(3) for CI-AKI prophylaxis has been adopted as standard treatment for patients with stable chronic renal disease undergoing catheterization procedures. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 320 patients with baseline renal insufficiency scheduled to undergo catheterization. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either IV NS ± NAC (n = 161) or IV dextrose 5% in water containing 154 mEq/l of NaHCO(3) ± NAC (n = 159). IV NS was administered at 1 ml/kg body weight for 12 hr preprocedure and 12 more hr postprocedure. IV NaHCO(3) was administered at 3 ml/kg body weight for 1 hr preprocedure followed by 1 ml/kg body weight postprocedure. A 1,200 mg oral dose of NAC was given 2-12 hr preprocedure and 6-12 hr postprocedure in 50% of patients in each study arm. CI-AKI was defined as an increase of >0.5 mg/dl or >25% above baseline creatinine. RESULTS: Overall incidence of CI-AKI was 10.3%. There was no significant difference in incidence among the two groups (NS ± NAC 11.8% vs. NaHCO(3) ± NAC 8.8%, p = ns). Incidence of CI-AKI increased with increasing age (p = 0.001), contrast agent use >3 ml/kg body weight (p = 0.038) and diuretic use (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Incidence of CI-AKI was no different in the NaHCO(3) group compared to NS group, and NAC did not reduce CI-AKI in the two study arms.

Global left atrial strain correlates with CHADS2 risk score in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association between echocardiographic parameters and CHADS2 score in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Seventy-seven subjects (36 patients with AF, 41 control subjects) underwent standard two-dimensional, Doppler, and speckle-tracking echocardiography to compute regional and global left atrial (LA) strain. RESULTS: Global longitudinal LA strain was reduced in patients with AF compared with controls (P < .001) and was a predictor of high risk for thromboembolism (CHADS2 score ≥ 2; odds ratio, 0.86; P = .02). LA strain indexes showed good interobserver and intraobserver variability. In sequential Cox models, the prediction of hospitalization and/or death was improved by addition of global LA strain and indexed LA volume to CHADS2 score (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: LA strain is a reproducible marker of dynamic LA function and a predictor of stroke risk and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with AF.

Contemporary clinical outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly versus younger patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the choice reperfusion strategy for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, data on PPCI in elderly patients are sparse. This study determined clinical outcome post-PPCI in elderly versus younger patients with STEMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cohort of 790 consecutive STEMI patients was studied for survival and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after PPCI using a precise cardiac catheterization protocol. Patients were divided into two groups: those ≥75 years (elderly) and those <75 years. Median door-to-balloon time (DBT) was 82 minutes in the elderly versus 66 minutes in the younger group (P = 0.002). In-hospital all-cause mortality was higher in the elderly group (15.5% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.001). In elderly patients, MACE were found to be higher (32.3% vs. 16.1%, P < 0.001). Using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR]= 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.02-1.05, P < 0.001), diabetes (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.33-3.53, P = 0.002), renal failure (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.30-10.79, P = 0.014) and coronary artery disease (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.00-2.59, P = 0.050) were associated with higher in-hospital MACE, while age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02-1.08, P = 0.001), diabetes (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.06-4.47, P = 0.034) and renal failure (OR = 6.65, 95% CI = 2.01-22.09, P = 0.002) were associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Kaplan-Meier 1-year survival rate was lower in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary population of STEMI patients treated with PPCI, overall in-hospital MACE and mortality remain higher in elderly compared to younger patients. Although partly due to higher burden of preexisting comorbidities, a higher DBT may also be responsible. (J Interven Cardiol 2011;24:357-365).

Left atrial reservoir function predicts atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation: a two-dimensional speckle strain study.

BACKGROUND: Predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) are not fully defined. We hypothesized that 2D left atrial (LA) regional strain maps would help identify abnormal atrial substrate that increases susceptibility to AF recurrence post-CA. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (63 ± 10 years, 60% male) underwent CA for symptomatic paroxysmal (75%) or persistent (25%) AF. Baseline LA mechanical function determined using speckle tracking echocardiography was compared between those with AF recurrence (AFR) and no recurrence post-CA. Bi-dimensional global and regional maps of LA wall velocity, strain, and strain rate (SR) were obtained during end ejection and early diastole. After 18 ± 12 months of follow-up, 34 patients were free of AFR post-CA. There were no differences in clinical characteristics, LA and LV volumes, and Doppler estimates of LV diastolic function and filling pressures at baseline between patients with recurrent AF and those that maintained sinus rhythm. However, the LA emptying fraction (55 ± 17% vs. 64 ± 14%, p = 0.04), global and regional systolic and diastolic strains, SR, and velocities were reduced in patients with recurrent AF. There was marked attenuation of peak LA lateral wall longitudinal strain (LS; 11 ± 7% vs. 20 ± 14%, p = 0.007) and SR (0.9 ± 0.4 vs.1.3 ± 0.6 s(-1), p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed lateral wall LS (odds ratio = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.02-1.28, p = 0.01) as an independent predictor of AFR. CONCLUSIONS: Regional LA lateral wall LS is a pre-procedural determinant of AFR in patients undergoing CA, independent of LA enlargement. Characterization of atrial myocardial tissue properties by speckle tracking echo may aid the appropriate selection of adjunctive strategies and prognostication of patients undergoing CA.

Aberrant fetal growth and early, late, and postneonatal mortality: an analysis of Milwaukee births, 1996-2007.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to ascertain the association between fetal growth (small- [SGA], appropriate- [AGA], and large-for-gestational-age [LGA]) and early, late, and postneonatal mortality. STUDY DESIGN: Birth certificate data for nonanomalous singletons, delivered from 1996 to 2007, were obtained for Milwaukee residents. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusted for 19 covariates, determined the association between fetal growth and mortality. RESULTS: Among the 123,383 live births, SGA was 57% higher than LGA (11% vs 7%). The infant mortality rate for SGA was 11.0, AGA, 5.3, and LGA, 2.7/1000 live births. SGA was a significant risk factor for early (adjusted odds ratio, 2.66) and late (2.06) but not postneonatal mortality. The adjusted risk of mortality for LGA was not significantly different from AGA. Over 12 years, 3 types of mortality for aberrant fetal growth did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: In the city of Milwaukee, aberrant fetal growth was variably associated with early, late, and postneonatal mortality.

Influence of socioeconomic factors and race on birth outcomes in urban Milwaukee.

PURPOSE: A national study found that infants born in low socioeconomic areas had the worst infant mortality rates (IMRs) and the highest racial disparity. Racial disparities in birth outcomes are also evident in the city of Milwaukee, with African American infants at 3 times greater the risk than white infants. This study was conducted to examine the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and race on birth outcomes in the city of Milwaukee. METHODS: Milwaukee ZIP codes were stratified into lower, middle, and upper SES groups. IMR, low birth weight, and preterm birth rates by race were analyzed by SES group for the years 2003 to 2007. RESULTS: The overall IMR for the lower, middle, and upper SES groups were 12.4, 10.7, and 7.7, respectively. The largest racial disparity in IMR (3.1) was in the middle SES group, versus lower (1.6) and upper (1.8) SES groups. The overall percent of low birth weight infants for the lower, middle, and upper SES groups was 10.9%, 9.5%, and 7.5%, respectively. Racial disparity ratios in low birth weight were 2.0, 1.9, and 1.9 for lower, middle and upper SES groups. The overall percent of preterm birth was 15.4%, 13.2%, and 10.6% of births within the lower, middle, and upper SES groups, respectively, with a disparity ratio of 1.6 across all SES groups. CONCLUSIONS: For all outcomes, African American infants born in the upper SES group fared the same or worse than white infants born in the lower SES group. Although higher SES appeared to have a protective effect for whites in Milwaukee, it did not have the same protective effect for African Americans.

Impact of 24-hr in-hospital interventional cardiology team on timeliness of reperfusion for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effect of 24 hr a day, 7 days a week interventional cardiology staff on door-to-balloon (D2B) time and mortality in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Any delay in PPCI in acute STEMI is associated with higher mortality and, therefore, time to treatment should be as short as possible. Despite the use of several strategies, goal D2B time of <90 min remains elusive. METHODS: The study examined 790 consecutive STEMI patients treated with PPCI as the reperfusion therapy of choice. Patients were grouped into a pre-24 x 7 and post-24 x 7 cohort to study the impact of the new protocol on D2B time and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality. RESULTS: Median D2B time decreased from 99 min in the pre-24 x 7 group to 55 min in the post-24 x 7 group (P = 0.001) and was not influenced by time of day or day of week. Adjusted for patient and clinical characteristics, the pre-24 x 7 group had increased in-hospital cardiovascular mortality (odds ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 0.95-3.94; P = 0.048) and MACE (odds ratio 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.10-2.49; P = 0.009) compared with the post-24 x 7 group. Prolonged D2B time was also associated with higher 1-year overall mortality in the pre-24 x 7 group compared with the post-24 x 7 group (12.8% vs. 8.1%; hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.66; P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Round-the-clock, in-hospital interventional cardiology team consistently and significantly reduces D2B time, in-hospital cardiovascular mortality, MACE, and 1-year mortality in patients with STEMI.

Setting a goal to reduce teen births in Milwaukee by 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Although teen birth rates have declined significantly since 1991, teen pregnancy remains a significant public health problem in Milwaukee, Wis. Using historical teen birth data trends, this study sets a birth rate reduction goal by the year 2015 for Milwaukee teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17. METHODS: Birth counts and birth rates for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 were obtained from the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH). Trend analyses were performed on teen birth rate data gathered between 1991 and 2006 in an effort to forecast and set a birth rate goal for the year 2015. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Trend analyses yielded a predicted birth rate projection of 35.9 (Adjusted R2 = .95, P < .001) births per 1000 females. Using the exponential function estimate as well as national and state goals, Milwaukee community leaders set a feasible goal of 30 births per 1000 teens aged 15-17 years for the year 2015, which represents a 46% reduction of the 2006 rate of 55/1000.

Comparison of safety and efficacy of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in percutaneous peripheral intervention: a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of bivalirudin versus low-dose unfractionated heparin (UFH) in percutaneous peripheral intervention (PPI). BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation strategies used in PPI are based primarily on studies of percutaneous coronary intervention where higher doses of heparin are used usually in combination with a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. There are no studies comparing bivalirudin alone versus low-dose heparin in PPI. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent PPI at our institution were treated with either bivalirudin or low-dose UFH. Patients were assessed prospectively during index hospital stay for procedural success and bleeding complications. Of 236 patients, 111 were dosed with UFH at 50 U/kg (goal activated clotting time of 180 to 240 s), and 125 were dosed with bivalirudin at 0.75-mg/kg/h bolus followed by a 1.75-mg/kg infusion. Procedural success was defined as <20% post-procedure residual stenosis with no flow-limiting dissections or intravascular thrombus formation and major bleeding as intracranial or retroperitoneal hemorrhage or a fall in hemoglobin >or=5 g/dl. Anticoagulation cost analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Procedural success and major bleeding rates were similar with bivalirudin versus heparin (98% vs. 99% and 2.4% vs. 0.9%, respectively). There were no differences in minor bleeding, time to ambulation, and length of hospital stay. The hospital cost for bivalirudin was $547 and <$1.22 for heparin (10,000 U). Two activated clotting time levels cost $4.00. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose UFH is as effective and safe as bivalirudin when used as an anticoagulation strategy in patients undergoing PPI, and low-dose UFH is less costly than bivalirudin. Larger randomized studies are required to further evaluate these findings.