Sex differences in the management of acute coronary syndromes in Italy: data from the MANTRA registry.

AIMS: Several studies have shown sex differences in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), but their understanding is far from complete. Thus, the study aims to evaluate sex differences in management and outcomes of unselected patients with ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 22 April 2009 to 29 December 2010, 6394 consecutive patients with ACS (44.7% ST-elevation myocardial infarction) were prospectively enrolled and followed for 6 months. Women (N = 1894, 29.6%) were older, had more comorbidities, and worse clinical presentation than men. Fewer women underwent reperfusion [68.0% women vs. 84.1% men, P < 0.0001, adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43-0.66] in ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and coronary angiography during hospitalization (72.2% women vs. 81.1% men, P < 0.0001, adjusted OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57-0.85) in no-ST-elevation ACS. Women had worse outcomes than men during hospitalization, and at 6-month follow-up. At multivariable analysis, female sex was significantly associated with a higher risk of in-hospital Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction major bleedings (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.09-2.96, P = 0.02), but not of 6-month death. CONCLUSION: Women with ACS in clinical practice present a clustering of high-risk features that may contribute to their worse outcomes as compared with men, although female sex is not an independent predictor of death at 6-month follow-up.

Combining therapeutic hypothermia and emergent coronary angiography in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors: Optimal post-arrest care for the best patient.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive post-resuscitation care, in particular combining mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) with early coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), may improve prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). OBJECTIVES: The study aims to assess the value of immediate CAG or PCI in comatose survivors after OHCA treated with MTH and their association with outcomes. METHODS: Observational, prospective analysis of all comatose, resuscitated patients treated with MTH at a tertiary centre and undergoing CAG or PCI ≤6 hours after OHCA, or non-invasively managed. Primary outcomes were 30-day and 1-year survival. RESULTS: From March 2004-December 2012, 141 (51%) out of 278 comatose patients after cardiac OHCA were treated with MTH (median age: 64.5 (interquartile range 55-73) years, males: 67%, first shockable rhythm: 70%, witnessed OHCA: 94%, interval OHCA-resuscitation ≤20 min: 81%). Ninety-seven patients (69%) underwent early CAG, and 45 (32%) of them PCI. Patients undergoing CAG or PCI had a more favourable risk profile than subjects non-invasively managed. PCI treated patients had more bleedings, but no stent thrombosis occurred. Thirty-day and one-year unadjusted total mortality rates were 50% and 72% for non-invasively managed patients, 26% and 38.7% for patients submitted only to CAG and 32% and 36.6% for patients treated with PCI (p=0.0435 for early death, and p<0.0001 for one-year mortality, respectively). However, a propensity-matched score analysis did not confirm the survival advantage of invasive management (p=0.093). At multivariable analysis, clinical and OHCA-related variables as well as CAG, but not PCI, were associated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Comatose patients cooled after OHCA and submitted to emergency CAG or PCI are a favourable outcome population that receives optimal post-arrest care.