Atrial thrombi in elective patients considered for atrial fibrillation rhythm control: Risk factors and prognostic value.

The prognostic value of atrial thrombi (AT) among elective patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) referred for a rhythm control strategy is unclear. In this study, clinical variables were correlated with the presence of AT and long term survival among 205 patients submitted to transesophageal echocardiography before elective AF cardioversion or ablation. Atrial thrombi were present in 7.8% of cases and were significantly associated with reduced survival. Obesity was the only independent clinical predictor of AT [OR 4.27 (1.15-15.79), p = 0.03]. In patients with AF, AT appear to be associated with adverse outcomes, possibly indicating more advanced atrial cardiomyopathy.

Evolução da mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório e do Produto Interno Bruto per capita nos municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Evolution of mortality from diseases of the circulatory system and of gross domestic product per capita in the Rio de Janeiro state municipalities

Background: Diseases of the circulatory system are the leading cause of death in Brazil and the world, falling progressively during the twentieth century, preceded by an increase in Gross Domestic Product. Objective: To correlate balanced and adjusted mortality rates from circulatory system diseases in the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro state between 1979 and 2010 with the gross domestic product per capita (GDPpc) beginning in 1950. Methods: Population and death data were obtained from the Department of Information and Computer Services at the National Health System/Brazilian Ministry of Health (Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde - Ministério da Saúde - DATASUS-MS). Mortality rates were calculated for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Cerebrovascular Disease (CBVD), and Circulatory System Disease (CSD); adjusted by the direct method; and balanced for ill-defined causes. The GDPpc data were obtained from the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas Aplicadas - IPEA). Mortality rates were correlated with socioeconomic indicators using Pearson's linear correlation coefficient to determine the annual optimized lag time. Regression slope coefficients between the dependent disease and independent socioeconomic indicator were estimated. Results: In recent decades, there has been a reduction in mortality from CSD in all Rio de Janeiro state municipalities, mainly due to a decline in mortality from CBVD. The decline in mortality from CSD was preceded by an increase in the GDPpc, and a strong correlation was observed between this index and mortality rates. Conclusion: The evolution of the variation in GDPpc demonstrated a strong correlation with the reduction in CSD mortality. This relationship demonstrates the importance of improving the living conditions of the population to reduce cardiovascular mortality

Fundamentos: As doenças do aparelho circulatório são a primeira causa de morte no Brasil e no mundo, apresentando progressiva queda durante o século XX, precedida por elevação no Produto Interno Bruto. Objetivo: Correlacionar taxas de mortalidade compensadas e ajustadas por doenças do aparelho circulatório nos Municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (ERJ) entre 1979 e 2010, com o Produto Interno Bruto per capita (PIBpc) a partir de 1950. Métodos: Populações e óbitos obtidos no DATASUS/MS. Calcularam-se taxas de mortalidade por Doenças Isquêmicas do Coração (DIC), Doenças Cerebrovasculares (DCBV), e Doenças do Aparelho Circulatório (DAC), e compensadas por causas mal definidas e ajustadas pelo método direto. Dados de PIBpc foram obtidos no Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas Aplicadas (IPEA). As taxas de mortalidade e o indicador socioeconômico foram correlacionados, pela estimação de coeficientes lineares de Pearson, para determinar a defasagem anual otimizada. Foram estimados os coeficientes de inclinação da regressão entre a dependente doença e a independente indicador socioeconômico. Resultados: Nas últimas décadas houve redução da mortalidade por DAC em todos os municípios do ERJ, esta ocorreu principalmente por queda da mortalidade por DCBV. A queda da mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório foi precedida por elevação do PIBpc, com forte correlação entre o indicador e as taxas de mortalidade. Conclusão: A variação evolutiva do PIBpc demonstrou elevada correlação com a redução da mortalidade por DAC. Essas relações sinalizam a importância na melhoria das condições de vida da população para reduzir a mortalidade cardiovascular

Complications after elective percutaneous coronary interventions: A comparison between public and private hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: Complications after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, although institutional discrepancies can occur when public and private hospitals coexist within the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to compare the in-hospital complication rates and mortality in addition to long-term survival following elective PCI in two reference public and private cardiology hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: From January 1st 2013 to December 31st 2014, a total of 440 procedures were identified in both hospitals (public: 328 vs. private: 112) and retrospectively analyzed by chart review. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two hospitals regarding the total number of procedures with at least one complication (public: 23.8 vs. private: 17.9%, p=0.2) or in-hospital mortality rates (public: 0.6% vs. private: 0%, p=0.5). Post-procedural renal insufficiency was more frequent in the private hospital, whereas coronary-related complications were more prevalent in the public hospital. After a mean follow up of 30.3 months (SD±9.2), the survival rate was also similar. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical complications after elective PCI are common both in public and private hospitals. Meticulous pre-procedural clinical assessment and patient selection as well as adherence to guideline-based practices could minimize the risk of PCI-related adverse events.

Troponin I elevation after elective percutaneous coronary interventions: Prevalence and risk factors.

Troponin elevation after coronary angioplasty is a prognostic marker associated with significant morbidity and mortality, although its prevalence varies according to clinical and procedural characteristics. We analyzed the frequency of post-procedural enzyme elevation among 112 elective interventions between 2013 and 2014 in a private hospital in Brazil. Troponin increase was observed in 62.5% of the procedures, and was related to age, female sex, low pre-procedural hemoglobin, prior angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use and multivessel angioplasty. PCI is not a risk free procedure and these results underscore the importance of a careful clinical assessment before its utilization.

Troponin I elevation and all-cause mortality after elective percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Although troponin I (TnI) elevation and myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are frequent findings, their prognoses remain controversial. We aimed to determine the association between any or ≥5 times TnI elevation after elective PCI and subsequent one year mortality rates and long term survival. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted for elective PCI between January 2013 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed by chart review in two hospitals in Rio de Janeiro. Only patients with post-PCI TnI measurements were included. Clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics were correlated with any or ≥5 times TnI elevation, as well as 1year mortality and long term survival. RESULTS: A total of 407 interventions were included in the analysis. Post-PCI TnI elevation was observed in 74.7% of cases and ≥5 times elevations occurred in 41.3%. Age≥70years, female gender and multistenting were predictors of enzyme elevation. Prior aspirin or hypoglycemic therapy were protective factors. One year mortality was significantly associated with any TnI elevation (6.6% vs 1.05%, p=0.035) and values ≥5 times above the normal limit predicted the highest mortality rates (8.13% vs 3.14%, p=0.031). Survival of patients with single vessel disease was also adversely affected by ≥5 times enzyme elevation (log-rank: p=0.039). CONCLUSION: Troponin I elevation after elective PCI is frequent and associated with progressively higher mortality rates at 1year. A cutoff value ≥5 times the 99th percentile, currently defined as myocardial injury, appears to be an even more significant predictor of this outcome, even in lower risk subgroups.

Cardiovascular mortality among a cohort of hypertensive and normotensives in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - 1991-2009.

BACKGROUND: Although there is strong evidence of the benefits of antihypertensive treatment, the high prevalence of this important cardiovascular risk factor and its complications, as well as the low control rates of hypertension observed in many studies justify the investigation of these relationships in population studies. The objective was to investigate the ratio of cardiovascular disease mortality between hypertensives (non-treated, controlled and uncontrolled) and non-hypertensives in a cohort of a population sample of adults living in Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, who were classified in a survey conducted in 1991 and 1992 and whose death certificates were sought 19 years later. METHODS: A cohort study was performed on probabilistic linkage between data from an epidemiological study of hypertension performed in Ilha do Governador, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1991 to 1992) and data from the Mortality Information System of Rio de Janeiro (1991 to 2009). The survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors in 1,270 adults aged 20 years or older selected through a probabilistic sampling of households at three economic levels (low, middle and high income). We performed a probabilistic record linkage of these databases and estimated the risk of cardiovascular death using Kaplan-Meier method to plot survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models comparing hypertensive subjects all together, and by hypertension subgroups: untreated, controlled, and uncontrolled hypertensives with non-hypertensive ones. RESULTS: A total of 170 deaths occurred, of which 31.2 % attributed to cardiovascular causes. The hazard ratio for cardiovascular death was 6.1 times higher (95 % CI 2.7 - 13.7) in uncontrolled hypertensive patients relative to non-hypertensive patients. The hazard ratios for untreated hypertensive and controlled hypertensive patients were 2.7 times (95 % CI 1.1 - 6.3) and 2.1 times (95 % CI 0.38 - 11.5) higher than for normotensive patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a higher cardiovascular death risk among hypertensive than among non-hypertensive ones that is not associated uniquely to treatment, because uncontrolled hypertensives demonstrated a greater risk than untreated ones. Although the subgroups of hypertensive individuals were susceptible to changes in their classification over the 19 years of the study, the baseline classification was consistent with a worse prognosis in these individuals.

Survival and predictive factors of lethality in hemodialysis: D/I polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme and of the angiotensinogen M235T genes.

BACKGROUND: End-stage kidney disease patients continue to have markedly increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Analysis of genetic factors connected with the renin-angiotensin system that influences the survival of the patients with end-stage kidney disease supports the ongoing search for improved outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess survival and its association with the polymorphism of renin-angiotensin system genes: angiotensin I-converting enzyme insertion/deletion and angiotensinogen M235T in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: Our study was designed to examine the role of renin-angiotensin system genes. It was an observational study. We analyzed 473 chronic hemodialysis patients in four dialysis units in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the differences between the curves were evaluated by Tarone-Ware, Peto-Prentice, and log rank tests. We also used logistic regression analysis and the multinomial model. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The local medical ethics committee gave their approval to this study. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 45.8 years old. The overall survival rate was 48% at 11 years. The major causes of death were cardiovascular diseases (34%) and infections (15%). Logistic regression analysis found statistical significance for the following variables: age (p = 0.000038), TT angiotensinogen (p = 0.08261), and family income greater than five times the minimum wage (p = 0.03089), the latter being a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: The survival of hemodialysis patients is likely to be influenced by the TT of the angiotensinogen M235T gene.

Evolution of socioeconomic indicators and cardiovascular mortality in three Brazilian states.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To correlate cardiovascular mortality rates in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, and in their capitals, between 1980 and 2008, with socioeconomic indicators collected from 1949 onwards. METHODS: Population and death data were obtained from the Brazilian Unified Health System databank (Datasus). Mortality rates due to the following were calculated and adjusted by use of the direct method and compensated for poorly defined causes: ischemic heart diseases; cerebrovascular diseases; cardiovascular diseases; poorly defined causes; and all causes. Child mortality data were obtained from state and municipal health secretariats and from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Information on gross domestic product (GDP) and educational level was obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea). The mortality rates and socioeconomic indicators were correlated by using the estimation of Pearson linear coefficients to determine optimized year lag. The inclination coefficients of the regression between the dependent variable "disease" and the independent variable "socioeconomic indicator" were estimated. RESULTS: The three states showed a reduction in mortality, which was especially due to a decrease in cardiovascular mortality, mainly of cerebrovascular diseases. The decrease in cardiovascular mortality was preceded by a reduction in child mortality, an elevation in the per capita GDP, and an increase in the educational level, and a strong correlation between indicators and mortality rates was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The three indicators showed an almost maximum correlation with the reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Such relationship indicates the importance of improving quality of life to reduce cardiovascular mortality.

Free and open-source software application for the evaluation of coronary computed tomography angiography images.

BACKGROUND: The standardization of images used in Medicine in 1993 was performed using the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard. Several tests use this standard and it is increasingly necessary to design software applications capable of handling this type of image; however, these software applications are not usually free and open-source, and this fact hinders their adjustment to most diverse interests. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a free and open-source software application capable of handling DICOM coronary computed tomography angiography images. METHODS: We developed and tested the ImageLab software in the evaluation of 100 tests randomly selected from a database. We carried out 600 tests divided between two observers using ImageLab and another software sold with Philips Brilliance computed tomography appliances in the evaluation of coronary lesions and plaques around the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and the anterior descending artery (ADA). To evaluate intraobserver, interobserver and intersoftware agreements, we used simple and kappa statistics agreements. RESULTS: The agreements observed between software applications were generally classified as substantial or almost perfect in most comparisons. CONCLUSION: The ImageLab software agreed with the Philips software in the evaluation of coronary computed tomography angiography tests, especially in patients without lesions, with lesions < 50% in the LMCA and < 70% in the ADA. The agreement for lesions > 70% in the ADA was lower, but this is also observed when the anatomical reference standard is used.

Software livre e de código aberto para avaliação de imagens de angiotomografia de coronárias / Free and open-source software application for the evaluation of coronary computed tomography angiography images

FUNDAMENTO: A estandardização do padrão de imagens utilizada dentro da medicina foi realizada em 1993 por meio do padrão DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine). Diversos exames utilizam esse padrão e cada vez mais são necessários softwares capazes de manipular esse tipo de imagem, porém esses softwares geralmente não têm o formato livre e de código aberto, e isso dificulta o seu ajuste para os mais diferentes interesses. OBJETIVO: Desenvolver e validar um software livre e de código aberto capaz de manipular imagens DICOM de exames de angiotomografia de coronárias. MÉTODOS: Desenvolvemos e testamos o software intitulado ImageLab na avaliação de 100 exames selecionados de forma randômica por meio de um banco de dados. Foram realizadas 600 análises divididas por dois observadores utilizando o ImageLab e um outro software comercializado junto a aparelhos de tomografia computadorizada Philips Brilliance, na avaliação da presença de lesões e placas coronarianas nos territórios do Tronco da Coronária Esquerda (TCE) e na Artéria Descendente Anterior (ADA). Para avaliar as concordâncias intraobservador, interobservadores e intersoftware, utilizamos concordância simples e estatística Kappa. RESULTADOS: As concordâncias observadas entre os softwares foram em geral classificadas como substancial ou quase perfeitas na maioria das comparações. CONCLUSÃO: O software ImageLab concordou com o software Philips na avaliação de exames de angiotomografia de coronárias especialmente em pacientes sem lesões, com lesões inferiores a 50% no TCE e inferiores a 70% na ADA. A concordância para lesão >70% na ADA foi menor, porém isso também é observado quando se utiliza o padrão de referência anatômico.

BACKGROUND: The standardization of images used in Medicine in 1993 was performed using the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard. Several tests use this standard and it is increasingly necessary to design software applications capable of handling this type of image; however, these software applications are not usually free and open-source, and this fact hinders their adjustment to most diverse interests. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a free and open-source software application capable of handling DICOM coronary computed tomography angiography images. METHODS: We developed and tested the ImageLab software in the evaluation of 100 tests randomly selected from a database. We carried out 600 tests divided between two observers using ImageLab and another software sold with Philips Brilliance computed tomography appliances in the evaluation of coronary lesions and plaques around the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and the anterior descending artery (ADA). To evaluate intraobserver, interobserver and intersoftware agreements, we used simple and kappa statistics agreements. RESULTS: The agreements observed between software applications were generally classified as substantial or almost perfect in most comparisons. CONCLUSION: The ImageLab software agreed with the Philips software in the evaluation of coronary computed tomography angiography tests, especially in patients without lesions, with lesions < 50% in the LMCA and < 70% in the ADA. The agreement for lesions > 70% in the ADA was lower, but this is also observed when the anatomical reference standard is used.

Letalidade e complicações da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica no Rio de Janeiro, de 1999 a 2003 / Mortality and complications of coronary artery bypass grafting in Rio de Janeiro, from 1999 to 2003 / Letalidad y complicaciones de la cirugía de revascularización miocárdica en el Rio de Janeiro, de 1999 a 2003

FUNDAMENTO: A cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (RVM) é um procedimento consolidado no tratamento das doenças isquêmicas do coração (DIC), requerendo constante avaliação. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade na RVM, através das características clínicas dos pacientes, taxas de letalidade até um ano após a alta hospitalar, causas básicas de morte e complicações pós-operatórias, em quatro hospitais públicos do Município do Rio de Janeiro, de 1999 a 2003. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados aleatoriamente prontuários de pacientes submetidos à RVM. Informações sobre características clínicas, complicações e óbitos foram coletadas retrospectivamente dos prontuários e das declarações de óbitos. As taxas de letalidade foram estimadas nos períodos intra-hospitalar e até um ano pós-alta. RESULTADOS: As prevalências das características pré-operatórias foram: mulher: 31,9 por cento, hipertensão arterial: 90,7 por cento, dislipidemia: 67,4 por cento, diabete: 37,2 por cento, tabagismo: 22,9 por cento, obesidade: 18,3 por cento, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica: 8,2 por cento, acidente vascular encefálico prévio: 5,8 por cento, arteriopatia extracardíaca: 12,7 por cento, elevação da creatinina: 4,1 por cento, estado crítico pré-operatório: 3,7 por cento, infarto agudo do miocárdio recente: 23,5 por cento, angina instável: 40,8 por cento, síndrome coronariana aguda: 50,0 por cento, RVM prévia: 2,4 por cento, disfunção ventricular esquerda: 27,3 por cento, lesão de tronco da coronária esquerda: 3,9 por cento e associada com lesão em outro sistema: 19,8 por cento. As taxas de letalidade nos hospitais variaram de 7,0 por cento a 14,3 por cento no período intra-hospitalar e de 8,5 por cento a 20,2 por cento até um ano pós-alta. As DIC representaram as causas de mais de 80 por cento dos óbitos. O grupo de complicações pós-operatórias mais frequente foi de hemorragia ou baixo débito pós-procedimento. Sessenta por cento dos óbitos apresentaram cinco ou mais complicações enquanto que 40 por cento dos sobreviventes nenhuma. CONCLUSÃO: As taxas de letalidade e de complicações foram elevadas. Mesmo nos sobreviventes as complicações foram mais frequentes do que o esperado.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a consolidated procedure for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), which requires continuous assessment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of CABG surgery by reviewing patients' clinical characteristics, mortality rates up to one year after hospital discharge, primary causes of death and postoperative complications, at four public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro from 1999 to 2003. METHODS: CABG patient charts were randomly selected. A retrospective review was conducted to collect data on clinical characteristics, complications and deaths from patient medical charts and statements of death (SDs). Mortality rates were estimated for the hospitalization period and for up to one year after hospital discharge. RESULTS: The prevalence of preoperative patient characteristics were: women: 31.9 percent; arterial hypertension: 90.7 percent; dyslipidemia: 67.4 percent; diabetes: 37.2 percent; current smoking status: 22.9 percent; obesity: 18.3 percent; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 8.2 percent; prior stroke: 5.8 percent; extracardiac artery disease: 12.7 percent; elevation of creatinine levels: 4.1 percent; critical preoperative status: 3.7 percent; recent acute myocardial infarction: 23.5 percent; unstable angina: 40.8 percent; acute coronary syndrome: 50.0 percent; prior CABG: 2.4 percent; left ventricular dysfunction: 27.3 percent; left main coronary artery lesion: 3.9 percent; and associated with lesion in another system: 19.8 percent. In-hospital mortality rates ranged from 7.0 percent to 14.3 percent, and up to one year after hospital discharge from 8.5 percent to 20.2 percent. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) accounted for more than 80 percent of the deaths, and the most frequent complications after surgery were hemorrhage or post-procedural low cardiac output. Sixty percent of the patients who died had five or more complications, whereas 40 percent of those who survived had none. CONCLUSION: Mortality and complication rates were high. Even among those patients who survived, complications were more frequent than expected.

FUNDAMENTO: La cirugía de revascularización del miocardio (RVM) es un procedimiento consolidado en el tratamiento de las enfermedades isquémicas del corazón (EIC), requiriendo constante evaluación. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la calidad en la RVM, a través de las características clínicas de los pacientes, tasas de letalidad hasta un año tras el alta hospitalaria, causas básicas de muerte y complicaciones posoperatorias, en cuatro hospitales públicos del Municipio del Rio de Janeiro, de 1999 a 2003. MÉTODOS: Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente prontuarios de pacientes sometidos a RVM. Informaciones sobre características clínicas, complicaciones y óbitos se recolectaron retrospectivamente de los prontuarios y de las declaraciones de defunción. Las tasas de letalidad se estimaron en los períodos intrahospitalarios y hasta un año posalta. RESULTADOS: Las prevalencias de las características preoperatorias fueron: mujer: Un 31,9 por ciento, hipertensión arterial: un 90,7 por ciento, dislipidemia: un 67,4 por ciento, diabetes: un 37,2 por ciento, aquismo: un 22,9 por ciento, obesidad: un 18,3 por ciento, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica: un 8,2 por ciento, accidente vascular encefálico previo: un 5,8 por ciento, arteriopatía extracardíaca: un 12,7 por ciento, elevación de la creatinina: un 4,1 por ciento, estado crítico preoperatorio: un 3,7 por ciento, infarto agudo de miocardio reciente: un 23,5 por ciento, angina inestable: un 40,8 por ciento, síndrome coronario agudo: el 50 por ciento, RVM previa: un 2,4 por ciento, disfunción ventricular izquierda: un 27,3 por ciento, lesión de tronco da coronaria izquierda: un 3,9 por ciento y asociada con lesión en otro sistema: un 19,8 por ciento. Las tasas de letalidad en los hospitales variaron del 7 por ciento a un 14,3 por ciento en el período intrahospitalario y de un 8,5 por ciento a un 20,2 por ciento hasta un año pos la dada de alta. Las EIC representaron las causas de más del 80 por ciento de los óbitos. El grupo de complicaciones posoperatorias más frecuente fue de hemorragia o bajo débito posprocedimiento. Sesenta por ciento de las muertes presentaron cinco o más complicaciones mientras que el 40 por ciento de los supervivientes presentaron ninguna. CONCLUSIÓN: Las tasas de letalidad y de complicaciones se elevaron. Aun en los supervivientes las complicaciones fueron más frecuentes que lo esperado.

Application of the EuroSCORE in coronary artery bypass surgery in public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification models are used to assess the risk of death in surgery. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a critical analysis of the EuroSCORE logistic model (ES) application in 2,692 patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) in four public hospitals in the Rio de Janeiro Municipality, from 1999 through to December 2003. METHODS: Random samples of 150 medical records for surviving and deceased patients were selected at four public hospitals in the City of Rio de Janeiro. The ES was applied, using the logistical model. The observed lethality rate and that forecast by the model were compared. The measurement of the discriminatory power was estimated by the area under the ROC curve. RESULTS: 546 of the 600 selected medical records were located. A significant difference was noted between the prevalence rates for the risk factors in the Brazilian and European populations. The forecast lethality rate was 3.62% (CI-95%: 3.47-3.78) while the estimated observed rate was 12.22% (CI-95%- 10.99-13.46). In all risk ranges, the predicted lethality rate is under-estimated, with notable differences between the predicted and observed rates. The area under the ROC curve was estimated at 0.62. CONCLUSION: The differences in the prevalence rates for the risk factors constituting the ES, associated with its low power of discrimination, hamper any recommendation of the use of this model in Brazil, without the necessary adjustments.

Mortality and complications of coronary artery bypass grafting in Rio de Janeiro, from 1999 to 2003.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a consolidated procedure for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), which requires continuous assessment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of CABG surgery by reviewing patients' clinical characteristics, mortality rates up to one year after hospital discharge, primary causes of death and postoperative complications, at four public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro from 1999 to 2003. METHODS: CABG patient charts were randomly selected. A retrospective review was conducted to collect data on clinical characteristics, complications and deaths from patient medical charts and statements of death (SDs). Mortality rates were estimated for the hospitalization period and for up to one year after hospital discharge. RESULTS: The prevalence of preoperative patient characteristics were: women: 31.9%; arterial hypertension: 90.7%; dyslipidemia: 67.4%; diabetes: 37.2%; current smoking status: 22.9%; obesity: 18.3%; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 8.2%; prior stroke: 5.8%; extracardiac artery disease: 12.7%; elevation of creatinine levels: 4.1%; critical preoperative status: 3.7%; recent acute myocardial infarction: 23.5%; unstable angina: 40.8%; acute coronary syndrome: 50.0%; prior CABG: 2.4%; left ventricular dysfunction: 27.3%; left main coronary artery lesion: 3.9%; and associated with lesion in another system: 19.8%. In-hospital mortality rates ranged from 7.0% to 14.3%, and up to one year after hospital discharge from 8.5% to 20.2%. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) accounted for more than 80% of the deaths, and the most frequent complications after surgery were hemorrhage or post-procedural low cardiac output. Sixty percent of the patients who died had five or more complications, whereas 40% of those who survived had none. CONCLUSION: Mortality and complication rates were high. Even among those patients who survived, complications were more frequent than expected.

In-hospital mortality and complications after coronary angioplasty, City of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate in-hospital mortality and prevalence of complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in public hospitals. METHODS: Data for 2,913 PTCA were obtained from the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) Hospital Authorization Database in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil, between 1999 and 2003. After simple random sampling and data weighting, 529 medical records of patients undergoing PTCA, including all deaths, in four public hospitals (federal and state university, and federal and state reference hospitals) were studied. Comparison tests of mortality according to patient characteristics, comorbidities, complications, types of PTCA procedures, and indications for PTCA were performed using Poisson's regression models. RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality was 1.6% (range: 0.9-6.8%). The age distribution of mortality was as follows: 0.2% in patients younger than 50; 1.6% in those 50-69; and 2.7% in those older than 69. High mortality was seen in primary and rescue PTCAs: 17.4% and 13.1%, respectively; and mortality in elective PTCA was 0.8%. The main complications during PTCA were dissection (5%; mortality: 11.5%) and artery occlusion (2.6%; mortality: 21.8%). Bleeding was seen in 5.9% of the patients (mortality: 5.6%) and 3.0% required blood transfusion (mortality: 12.0%). The complication of acute myocardial infarction was seen in 1.1% of patients (mortality: 38%) and stroke was associated with a mortality of 17.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiac in-hospital mortality was high when PTCA was performed for a patient with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Elective PTCA had mortality and complications levels above the expected in four public hospitals in the main city of Rio de Janeiro.

Letalidade e complicações de angioplastias em hospitais públicos no Rio de Janeiro, RJ / In-hospital mortality and complications after coronary angioplasty, City of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência de letalidade e de complicações decorrentes de angioplastia coronariana em hospitais públicos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados dados obtidos no Sistema de Autorização Hospitalar do Sistema Único de Saúde referentes aos 2.913 procedimentos de angioplastia coronariana realizados no município do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, de 1999 a 2003. Após amostragem aleatória simples e ponderação de dados, foram analisados 529 prontuários de pacientes, incluindo todos os óbitos, submetidos à angioplastia coronariana em quatro hospitais públicos: federal de ensino, estadual de ensino, federal de referência e estadual de referência. Os testes de comparação entre as letalidades segundo características dos pacientes, co-morbidades, complicações, tipos e indicações de angioplastia coronariana foram feitas com modelos de regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: A letalidade cardíaca geral foi de 1,6 por cento, variando de 0,9 por cento a 6,8 por cento. De acordo com grupo etário, a letalidade foi: 0,2 por cento em pacientes com idade inferior a 50 anos; 1,6 por cento entre 50 e 69; e 2,7 por cento acima de 69 anos. A letalidade na angioplastia coronariana primária e de resgate foram elevadas, 17,4 por cento e 13,1 por cento, respectivamente; nas angioplastias eletivas foi de 0,8 por cento. As principais complicações foram dissecção (5 por cento dos pacientes, letalidade cardíaca = 11,5 por cento) e oclusão do vaso (2,6 por cento; letalidade cardíaca = 21,8 por cento). Sangramento ocorreu em 5,9 por cento dos pacientes (letalidade = 5,6 por cento) e em 3,0 por cento houve necessidade de transfusão (letalidade = 12,0 por cento). Infarto agudo aconteceu em 1,1 por cento com letalidade de 38 por cento e o acidente vascular encefálico indicou uma letalidade de 17,5 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: A letalidade foi elevada para as angioplastias primárias e de resgate nos quatro hospitais públicos estudados no período de 1999-2003. As angioplastias coronarianas ...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate in-hospital mortality and prevalence of complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in public hospitals. METHODS: Data for 2,913 PTCA were obtained from the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) Hospital Authorization Database in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil, between 1999 and 2003. After simple random sampling and data weighting, 529 medical records of patients undergoing PTCA, including all deaths, in four public hospitals (federal and state university, and federal and state reference hospitals) were studied. Comparison tests of mortality according to patient characteristics, comorbidities, complications, types of PTCA procedures, and indications for PTCA were performed using Poisson's regression models. RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality was 1.6 percent (range: 0.9-6.8 percent). The age distribution of mortality was as follows: 0.2 percent in patients younger than 50; 1.6 percent in those 50-69; and 2.7 percent in those older than 69. High mortality was seen in primary and rescue PTCAs: 17.4 percent and 13.1 percent, respectively; and mortality in elective PTCA was 0.8 percent. The main complications during PTCA were dissection (5 percent; mortality: 11.5 percent) and artery occlusion (2.6 percent; mortality: 21.8 percent). Bleeding was seen in 5.9 percent of the patients (mortality: 5.6 percent) and 3.0 percent required blood transfusion (mortality: 12.0 percent). The complication of acute myocardial infarction was seen in 1.1 percent of patients (mortality: 38 percent) and stroke was associated with a mortality of 17.5 percent. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiac in-hospital mortality was high when PTCA was performed for a patient with ST elevation acute myocardial infaction. Elective PTCA had mortality and complications levels above the expected in four public hospitals in the main city of Rio de Janeiro

[Hospital case fatality associated with coronary angioplasty in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, 1999-2003]. / Letalidade hospitalar nas angioplastias coronárias no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 1999-2003.

This study analyzes hospital case fatality associated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCA) covered by the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and performed in hospitals in the State of Rio de Janeiro from 1999 to 2003. PTCA data were obtained from the State Health Department's database on Authorizations for Hospital Admissions. Case fatality rates were estimated according to age, gender, diagnosis, and hospital. Overall case fatality was 1.9% in 8,735 PTCAs. The lowest rate was associated with angina (0.8%) and the highest rates with acute myocardial infarction (6%) and other diagnoses (7%). In the 50-69-year bracket, case fatality was higher in women. In the over-70 group, it was almost three times that of the youngest group (4% versus 1.4%). There was great variability among PTCA case fatality rates in different hospitals (from 0 to 6.5%). Ongoing monitoring of PTCAs is thus necessary in clinical practice. In conclusion, PTCA performance was still unsatisfactory under the Unified National Health System.

Letalidade hospitalar nas angioplastias coronárias no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 1999-2003 / Hospital case fatality associated with coronary angioplasty in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, 1999-2003

O estudo analisa a letalidade hospitalar nas angioplastias coronárias, pagas pelo Sistema Unico de Saúde (SUS), realizadas nos hospitais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, de 1999 até 2003. As informações sobre as angioplastias coronárias provieram do banco de Autorizações de Internações Hospitalares da Secretaria de Estado de Saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As taxas de letalidade foram estimadas segundo faixas etárias, sexo, diagnósticos e hospitais. A letalidade geral foi de 1,9 por cento em 8.735 angioplastias coronárias. A taxa mais baixa ocorreu nas anginas (0,8 por cento), as mais elevadas nos infartos agudos do miocárdio (6 por cento) e em outros diagnósticos (7 por cento). A letalidade foi menor nas mulheres na faixa etária entre 50 e 69 anos, e a partir dos setenta anos foi quase três vezes maior que a dos mais jovens (de 1,4 a 4 por cento), em ambos os sexos. Ocorreu grande variabilidade entre as taxas de letalidade nas angioplastias coronárias nos diferentes hospitais (entre 0 e 6,5 por cento). Portanto, é necessário acompanhar de modo contínuo a adequação da utilização da angioplastia coronária. Em conclusão, a performance deste procedimento no âmbito da modalidade de atenção pelo SUS nos hospitais, dentro do período estudado, não foi satisfatória.

This study analyzes hospital case fatality associated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCA) covered by the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and performed in hospitals in the State of Rio de Janeiro from 1999 to 2003. PTCA data were obtained from the State Health Department's database on Authorizations for Hospital Admissions. Case fatality rates were estimated according to age, gender, diagnosis, and hospital. Overall case fatality was 1.9 percent in 8,735 PTCAs. The lowest rate was associated with angina (0.8 percent) and the highest rates with acute myocardial infarction (6 percent) and other diagnoses (7 percent). In the 50-69-year bracket, case fatality was higher in women. In the over-70 group, it was almost three times that of the youngest group (4 percent versus 1.4 percent). There was great variability among PTCA case fatality rates in different hospitals (from 0 to 6.5 percent). Ongoing monitoring of PTCAs is thus necessary in clinical practice. In conclusion, PTCA performance was still unsatisfactory under the Unified National Health System.