Effect of Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillators in Nonischemic Heart Failure According to Background Medical Therapy: Extended Follow-up of the DANISH Trial.

BACKGROUND: The Heart Failure Collaboratory (HFC) score integrates types and dosages of guideline-directed pharmacotherapies for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We examined the effects of cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation according to the modified HFC (mHFC) score in 1116 patients with nonischemic HFrEF from the Danish Study to Assess the Efficacy of ICDs in Patients with Nonischemic Systolic HF on Mortality (DANISH). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were assigned scores for renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (0, no use; 1, < 50% of maximum dosage; 2, ≥ 50% of maximum dosage). The maximum score was 6, corresponding to ≥ 50% of maximum dosage for all therapies. The median baseline mHFC score was 4, and the median follow-up was 9.5 years. Compared with an mHFC score of 3-4, an mHFC score of 1-2 was associated with a higher rate of all-cause death (mHFC = 1-2: adjusted HR 1.67 [95% CI, 1.23-2.28]; mHFC = 3-4, reference; mHFC = 5-6: adjusted HR 1.07 [95% CI, 0.87-1.31]). ICD implantation did not reduce all-cause death compared with control (reference) (HR 0.89 [95% CI, 0.74-1.08]), regardless of mHFC score (mHFC = 1-2: HR 0.98 [95% CI, 0.56-1.71]; mHFC = 3-4: HR 0.89 [95% CI,0.66-1.20]; mHFC = 5-6: HR 0.85 [95% CI, 0.64-1.12]; Pinteraction, 0.65). Similarly, ICD implantation did not reduce cardiovascular death (HR 0.87 [95% CI, 0.70-1.09]), regardless of mHFC score (Pinteraction, 0.59). The ICD group had a lower rate of sudden cardiovascular death (HR, 0.60 [95% CI,0.40-0.92]); this association was not modified by mHFC score (Pinteraction, 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Lower mHFC scores were associated with higher rates of all-cause death. ICD implantation did not result in an overall survival benefit in patients with nonischemic HFrEF, regardless of mHFC score.

Association Between Vegetation Size and Outcome in the Partial Oral Antibiotic Endocarditis Treatment Trial.

Step-down oral antibiotic therapy is associated with a non-inferior long-term outcome compared with continued intravenous antibiotic therapy in the treatment of left-sided infective endocarditis. We aimed to analyze whether step-down oral therapy compared with continued intravenous antibiotic therapy is also associated with a non-inferior outcome in patients with large vegetations (vegetation length ≥ 10 mm) or among patients who underwent surgery before step-down oral therapy. We included patients without presence of aortic root abscess at diagnosis from the POET (Partial Oral Antibiotic Endocarditis Treatment) study. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to find associations between large vegetation, cardiac surgery, step-down oral therapy, and the primary end point (composite of all-cause mortality, unplanned cardiac surgery, embolic event, or relapse of positive blood cultures during follow-up). A total of 368 patients (age 68 ± 12, 77% men) were included. Patients with large vegetations (n = 124) were more likely to undergo surgery compared with patients with small vegetations (n = 244) (65% vs 20%, p <0.001). During a median 1,406 days of follow-up, 146 patients reached the primary end point. Large vegetations were not associated with the primary end point (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.47 to 1.18, p = 0.21). Step-down oral therapy was non-inferior to continued intravenous antibiotic in all subgroups when stratified by the presence of a large vegetation at baseline and early cardiac surgery. Step-down oral therapy is safe in the presence of a large vegetation at diagnosis and among patients who underwent early cardiac surgery.

Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes in relation to achieved glycemic control. A Danish nationwide study.

AIM: To compare the cardiovascular preventive effect associated with glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) according to the achieved target level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). METHODS: We used retrospective Danish registries to include type 2 diabetes patients already in metformin treatment initiating GLP-1 RA or DPP-4i between 2007 and 2021. Patients were included 6 months after GLP-1 RA or DPP-4i initiation. The last available HbA1c measurement before inclusion was collected. The achieved HbA1c level was categorized according to a target level below or above 53 mmol/mol (7%). The primary outcome was a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and all-cause death. We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model to estimate the effect of HbA1c levels on the outcome among GLP-1 RA users compared to DPP-4i users. RESULTS: The study included 13 634 GLP-1 RA users (median age 56.9, interquartile range [IQR]: 48.5-65.5; 53% males) and 39 839 DPP-4i users (median age 63.4, IQR: 54.6-71.8; 61% males). The number of GLP-1 RA and DPP-4i users according to achieved HbA1c levels were as follows: HbA1c ≤ 53 mmol/mol (≤7.0%): 3026 (22%) versus 4824 (12%); HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol (>7.0%): 6577 (48%) versus 17 508 (44%); missing HbA1c: 4031 (30%) versus 17 507 (44%). During a median follow-up of 5 years (IQR: 2.6-5.0), 954 GLP-1 RA users experienced the primary outcome compared to 7093 DPP-4i users. The 5-year risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) of the outcome associated with GLP1-RA versus DPP-4i according to HbA1c categories was as follows: HbA1c ≤ 53 mmol/mol: 10.3% (8.2-12.3) versus 24.3% (22.7-25.8); HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol: 16.0% (14.3-17.6) versus 21.1% (20.3-21.9); missing HbA1c: 17.1% (15.7-18.5) versus 25.6% (24.9-26.3). The preventive effect associated with GLP-1 RA versus DPP-4i was significantly enhanced when achieving lower HbA1c levels: HbA1c ≤ 53 mmol/mol: 0.65 (0.52-0.80); HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol: 0.92 (0.83-1.03); missing HbA1c: 0.92 (0.84-1.02) (p value for interaction <.001). CONCLUSION: GLP-1 RA use was associated with a lower rate of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The association was stronger in patients achieving the target glycemic level and weaker in patients not achieving the target glycemic level, suggestive of an interaction between achieved HbA1c level and GLP-1 RA.

Risk of pharmacological treatment of anxiety and depression after admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are very common in patients with COPD and may lead to lower quality of life and higher risk of exacerbations and mortality. This study aimed to examine the incidence of anxiety and depression within one year after admission with acute exacerbation in COPD (AECOPD). The secondary aim was to examine the characteristics of the patients who develop anxiety and depression. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Danish National Patient Registry. Patients aged 40-90 years admitted for COPD between 01.01.99 and 31.12.18 were included. Patients with mental disorders within 10 years before admission were excluded. Age, sex, educational level, inhaled medication, and comorbidities were evaluated. Anxiety or depression were defined by redemption of anxiolytics or antidepressants within one year after admission. RESULTS: We included 97,929 patients. Anxiolytics and antidepressants were redeemed by 4 and 5% of patients respectively. Higher age, male sex, treatment with short acting ß2-agonists and short acting muscarinic antagonists, cancer and heart failure were positively associated to risk of anxiety or depression, while diabetes and treatment with triple inhalation therapy showed an inverse association. CONCLUSION: Respectively four and five per cent of patients redeemed anxiolytics and antidepressants within the first year after their first severe AECOPD. Several patient characteristics were significantly associated to risk of anxiety or depression. The results from this study support that there is a risk of anxiety and depression after AECOPD in addition to the known risk of preexisting anxiety and depression.

Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Incrementing numbers of patients treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) call for scrutiny concerning long-term drug-safety. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate associations between long-term use of ADHD treatment and cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: Using nationwide registers, adult patients first-time initiated on ADHD treatment between 1998 and 2020 were identified. Exposure groups were prior users, <1 defined daily dose (DDD) per day, ≥1 DDD per day determined at start of follow-up, and 1 year after patients' first claimed prescription. Outcomes were acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, and a composite of the above. RESULTS: At start of follow-up, 26,357, 31,211, and 15,696 individuals were correspondingly categorized as prior users (42% female, median age: 30 years [Q1-Q3: 23-41 years]), <1 DDD per day (47% female, median age: 31 years [Q1-Q3: 24-41 years]), and ≥1 DDD per day (47% female, median age: 33 years [Q1-Q3: 25-41 years]), respectively. Comparing ≥1 DDD per day with prior users, elevated standardized 10-year absolute risk of stroke (2.1% [95% CI: 1.8%-2.4%] vs 1.7% [95% CI: 1.5%-1.9%]), heart failure (1.2% [95% CI: 0.9%-1.4%] vs 0.7% [95% CI: 0.6%-0.8%]), and the composite outcome (3.9% [95% CI: 3.4%-4.3%] vs 3.0% [95% CI: 2.8 %-3.2%]) was found-with corresponding risk ratios of 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0-1.5), 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3-2.2), and 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1-1.5). No apparent associations were found for acute coronary syndrome (1.0% [95% CI: 0.8%-1.2%] vs 0.9% [95% CI: 0.8%-1.0%]). CONCLUSIONS: Possible associations between elevated long-term cardiovascular risk and increasing dosage of ADHD treatment use in a young patient group should warrant further investigation.

Prediction model for future OHCAs based on geospatial and demographic data: An observational study.

This study used demographic data in a novel prediction model to identify areas with high risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in order to target prehospital preparedness. We combined data from the nationwide Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry with geographical- and demographic data on a hectare level. Hectares were classified in a hierarchy according to characteristics and pooled to square kilometers (km2). Historical OHCA incidence of each hectare group was supplemented with a predicted annual risk of at least 1 OHCA to ensure future applicability. We recorded 19,090 valid OHCAs during 2016 to 2019. The mean annual OHCA rate was highest in residential areas with no point of public interest and 100 to 1000 residents per hectare (9.7/year/km2) followed by pedestrian streets with multiple shops (5.8/year/km2), areas with no point of public interest and 50 to 100 residents (5.5/year/km2), and malls with a mean annual incidence per km2 of 4.6. Other high incidence areas were public transport stations, schools and areas without a point of public interest and 10 to 50 residents. These areas combined constitute 1496 km2 annually corresponding to 3.4% of the total area of Denmark and account for 65% of the OHCA incidence. Our prediction model confirms these areas to be of high risk and outperforms simple previous incidence in identifying future risk-sites. Two thirds of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests were identified in only 3.4% of the area of Denmark. This area was easily identified as having multiple residents or having airports, malls, pedestrian shopping streets or schools. This result has important implications for targeted intervention such as automatic defibrillators available to the public. Further, demographic information should be considered when implementing such interventions.

Proarrhythmic drugs, drug levels, and polypharmacy in victims of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome: An autopsy-based study from Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), characterized by an unknown or inconclusive cause of death at autopsy, together with a negative or non-lethal toxicology screening, is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in victims under the age of 35. The complete causality of SADS remains unclear, with drugs being a potential risk factor. OBJECTIVE: To describe the toxicological profiles of SADS victims, focusing on proarrhythmic drugs, drug levels, and polypharmacy. METHODS: All deaths in Denmark from 2000-2019 aged 1-35 years and 2007-2019 aged 36-49 years were examined through death certificates, national registries, and autopsy reports with toxicology screenings. We investigated all sudden unexpected death victims with an autopsy performed, and where cause of death was unknown or inconclusive, including negative or non-lethal drug findings (SADS). RESULTS: We identified 477 SADS victims; 313 (66%) had a positive toxicology screening (adjudicated non-lethal), with an average of 2.8 drugs/case. More than half of the SADS victims with a positive toxicology screening had QT-prolonging or brugadogenic drugs present. Polypharmacy was present in 66%, psychotropic polypharmacy in 37%, and QT-prolonging polypharmacy in 22%, with the most frequent overall and QT-prolonging drug combination being an antipsychotic and a psychoanaleptic drug. QT-prolonging drugs were more often present at suprapharmacological levels than non-QT-prolonging drugs. CONCLUSION: A majority of the SADS population had a positive toxicology, with a notably large proportion having proarrhythmic drugs and polypharmacy. This highlights the need for future focus on drugs as a risk factor for SADS.

Incidence and Survival of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Public Housing Areas in 3 European Capitals.

BACKGROUND: Strategies to reach out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (called cardiac arrest) in residential areas and reduce disparities in care and outcomes are warranted. This study investigated incidences of cardiac arrests in public housing areas. METHODS: This register-based cohort study included cardiac arrest patients from Amsterdam (the Netherlands) from 2016 to 2021, Copenhagen (Denmark) from 2016 to 2021, and Vienna (Austria) from 2018 to 2021. Using Poisson regression adjusted for spatial correlation and city, we compared cardiac arrest incidence rates (number per square kilometer per year and number per 100 000 inhabitants per year) in public housing and other residential areas and examined the proportion of cardiac arrests within public housing and adjacent areas (100-m radius). RESULTS: Overall, 9152 patients were included of which 3038 (33.2%) cardiac arrests occurred in public housing areas and 2685 (29.3%) in adjacent areas. In Amsterdam, 635/1801 (35.3%) cardiac arrests occurred in public housing areas; in Copenhagen, 1036/3077 (33.7%); and in Vienna, 1367/4274 (32.0%). Public housing areas covered 42.4 (12.6%) of 336.7 km2 and 1 024 470 (24.6%) of 4 164 700 inhabitants. Across the capitals, we observed a lower probability of 30-day survival in public housing versus other residential areas (244/2803 [8.7%] versus 783/5532 [14.2%]). The incidence rates and rate ratio of cardiac arrest in public housing versus other residential areas were incidence rate, 16.5 versus 4.1 n/km2 per year; rate ratio, 3.46 (95% CI, 3.31-3.62) and incidence rate, 56.1 versus 36.8 n/100 000 inhabitants per year; rate ratio, 1.48 (95% CI, 1.42-1.55). The incidence rates and rate ratios in public housing versus other residential areas were consistent across the 3 capitals. CONCLUSIONS: Across 3 European capitals, one-third of cardiac arrests occurred in public housing areas, with an additional third in adjacent areas. Public housing areas exhibited consistently higher cardiac arrest incidences per square kilometer and 100 000 inhabitants and lower survival than other residential areas. Public housing areas could be a key target to improve cardiac arrest survival in countries with a public housing sector.

Is General Anesthesia for Peripheral Vascular Surgery Correlated with Impaired Outcome in Patients with Cardiac Comorbidity? A Closer Look into the Nationwide Danish Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: General anesthesia (GA) may impair outcome after vascular surgery. The use of anticoagulant medication is often used in patients with cardiac comorbidity. Regional anesthesia (RA) requires planning of discontinuation before neuraxial blockade(s) in this subgroup. This study aimed to describe the effect of anesthesia choice on outcome after vascular surgery in patients with known cardiac comorbidity. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Danish hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: 6302 patients with known cardiac comorbidity, defined as ischemic heart disease, valve disease, pulmonary vascular disease, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias, undergoing lower extremity vascular surgery between 2005 and 2017. INTERVENTIONS: GA versus RA. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data were extracted from national registries. GA was defined as anesthesia with mechanical ventilation. Multivariable regression models were used to describe the incidence of postoperative complications as well as 30-day mortality, hypothesizing that better outcomes would be seen after RA. The rate of RA decreased from 48% in 2005 to 20% in 2017. The number of patients with 1 or more complications was 9.7% vs 6.2% (p < 0.001), and 30-day mortality was 6.0% vs 3.4% (p < 0.001) after GA. After adjusting for baseline differences, the odds ratio (OR) was significantly lower for medical complications (cardiac, pulmonary, renal, new dialysis, intensive care unit and other medical complications; OR, 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-0.98) and 30-day mortality (OR 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99) after RA. CONCLUSIONS: RA may be associated with a better outcome than GA after lower extremity vascular surgery in patients with a cardiac comorbidity. Prioritizing RA, despite the inconvenience of discontinuing anticoagulants, may be recommended.

Cardiomyopathy in First-Degree Relatives of Patients Presenting With Acute Myocarditis: Prevalence and Prognostic Significance.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocarditis has been genetically linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but the clinical significance remains uncertain. We investigated the prevalence and long-term prognosis of DCM and heart failure (HF) among unselected patients hospitalized with acute myocarditis and their first-degree relatives compared with an age- and sex-matched cohort. METHODS: This was an observational study utilizing the Danish nationwide registries, where all patients with a first-time myocarditis diagnosis from 1995 to 2018 were identified and matched (on birth year and sex) with 10 controls from the general population. RESULTS: Totally 3176 patients with acute myocarditis and 31 760 controls were included (median age, 49.8 [Q1-Q3, 32.5-70.2] years; 35.6% female). At baseline, patients with myocarditis had a higher prevalence of DCM (7 [0.2%] versus 8 [0.0%]) and HF (336 [10.6%] versus 695 [2.2%]) than controls; P<0.0001 for both. Patients with myocarditis more often had siblings with DCM (12 [0.4%] versus 17 [0.05%]) or HF (36 [1.1%] versus 89 [0.3%]); P<0.0001, odds ratios 7.09 (3.38-14.85) and 2.92 (1.25-6.80), respectively, whereas parental DCM and HF did not differ among patients with myocarditis and controls. Patients with myocarditis had greater 20-year incidence of DCM, HF, and all-cause mortality (0.5% [0.3%-0.9%], 15% [13%-17%], and 47% [44%-50%]) compared with controls (0.06% [0.03%-0.11%], 6.8% [6.4%-7.3%], and 34% [33%-35%]; P<0.0001). Having a first-degree relative with DCM or HF was associated with increased long-term mortality among the patients with myocarditis (hazard ratio, 1.40 [1.11-1.77]) but not among the controls (hazard ratio, 0.90 [0.81-1.01]; Pdifference=0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: Acute myocarditis aggregates with DCM within families, where it carries a worsened prognosis. A differential association between parents and siblings (with sibling preponderance) could suggest that additional environmental factors are important for myocarditis development even in predisposed individuals.

Lithium versus anticonvulsants and the risk of physical disorders - Results from a comprehensive long-term nation-wide population-based study emulating a target trial.

Bipolar disorder is associated with increased rates of many physical disorders, but the effects of medication are unclear. We systematically investigated the associations between sustained use of first line maintenance agents, lithium versus lamotrigine and valproate, and the risk of physical disorders using a nation-wide population-based target trial emulation covering the entire 5.9 million inhabitants in Denmark. We identified two cohorts. Cohort 1: patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder prior to first purchase (N = 12.607). Cohort 2: all 156.678 adult patients who had their first ever purchase (since 1995) of either lithium, lamotrigine or valproate between 1997 and 2021 regardless of diagnosis. Main analyses investigated the effect of sustained exposure defined as exposure for all consecutive 6-months periods during a 10-year follow-up. Outcomes included a diagnosis of incident stroke, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, myxedema, osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer (including subtypes). In both Cohorts 1 and 2, there were no systematic statistically significant differences in associations between sustained use of lithium versus lamotrigine and valproate, respectively, and any physical disorder, including subtypes of disorders, except myxedema, for which exposure to lithium increased the absolute risk of myxedema with 7-10 % compared with lamotrigine or valproate. In conclusion, these analyses emulating a target trial of "real world" observational register-based data show that lithium does not increase the risk of developing any kind of physical disorders, except myxedema, which may be a result of detection bias.

Atrial fibrillation: age at diagnosis, incident cardiovascular events, and mortality.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased risks of cardiovascular diseases and mortality, but risks according to age at diagnosis have not been reported. This study investigated age-specific risks of outcomes among patients with AF and the background population. METHODS: This nationwide population-based cohort study included patients with AF and controls without outcomes by the application of exposure density matching on the basis of sex, year of birth, and index date. The absolute risks and hazard rates were stratified by age groups and assessed using competing risk survival analyses and Cox regression models, respectively. The expected differences in residual life years among participants were estimated. RESULTS: The study included 216 579 AF patients from year 2000 to 2020 and 866 316 controls. The mean follow-up time was 7.9 years. Comparing AF patients with matched controls, the hazard ratios among individuals ≤50 years was 8.90 [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.17-11.0] for cardiomyopathy, 8.64 (95% CI, 7.74-9.64) for heart failure, 2.18 (95% CI, 1.89-2.52) for ischaemic stroke, and 2.74 (95% CI, 2.53-2.96) for mortality. The expected average loss of life years among individuals ≤50 years was 9.2 years (95% CI, 9.0-9.3) years. The estimates decreased with older age. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that earlier diagnosis of AF is associated with a higher hazard ratio of subsequent myocardial disease and shorter life expectancy. Further studies are needed to determine causality and whether AF could be used as a risk marker among particularly younger patients.

Familial clustering of unexplained heart failure - A Danish nationwide cohort study.

AIMS: To determine whether a family history of unexplained heart failure (HF) in first-degree relatives (children or sibling) increases the rate of unexplained HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Danish nationwide registry data (1978-2017), we identified patients (probands) diagnosed with first unexplained HF (HF without any known comorbidities) in Denmark, and their first-degree relatives. All first-degree relatives were followed from the HF date of the proband and until an event of unexplained HF, exclusion diagnosis, death, emigration, or study end, whichever occurred first. Using the general population as a reference, we calculated adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIR) of unexplained HF in the three groups of relatives using Poisson regression models. We identified 55,110 first-degree relatives to individuals previously diagnosed with unexplained HF. Having a family history was associated with a significantly increased unexplained HF rate of 2.59 (95%CI 2.29-2.93). The estimate was higher among siblings (SIR 6.67 [95%CI 4.69-9.48]). Noteworthy, the rate of HF increased for all first-degree relatives when the proband was diagnosed with HF in a young age (≤50 years, SIR of 7.23 [95%CI 5.40-9.68]) and having >1 proband (SIR of 5.28 [95%CI 2.75-10.14]). The highest estimate of HF was observed if the proband was ≤40 years at diagnosis (13.17 [95%CI 8.90-19.49]. CONCLUSION: A family history of unexplained HF was associated with a two-fold increased rate of unexplained HF among first-degree relatives. The relative rate was increased when the proband was diagnosed at a young age. These data suggest that screening families of unexplained HF with onset below 50 years is indicated.

Prognosis and antithrombotic practice patterns in patients with recurrent and transient atrial fibrillation following acute coronary syndrome: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: First-time detected atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with aggravated prognosis in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Yet, among patients surviving beyond one year after ACS, it remains unclear how the recurrence of AF within the initial year after ACS affects the risk of stroke. METHODS: With Danish nationwide data from 2000 to 2021, we identified all patients with first-time ACS who were alive one year after discharge (index date). Patients were categorized into: i) no AF; ii) first-time detected AF during ACS admission without a recurrent hospital contact with AF (transient AF); and iii) first-time detected AF during ACS admission with a subsequent recurrent hospital contact with AF (recurrent AF). From index date, two-year rates of ischemic stroke were compared using multivariable adjusted Cox regression analysis. Treatment with antithrombotic therapy was assessed as filled prescriptions between 12 and 15 months following ACS discharge. RESULTS: We included 139,137 patients surviving one year post ACS discharge: 132,944 (95.6%) without AF, 3920 (2.8%) with transient AF, and 2273 (1.6%) with recurrent AF. Compared to those without AF, the adjusted two-year hazard ratios of ischemic stroke were 1.45 (95% CI, 1.22-1.71) for patients with transient AF and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.17-1.85) for patients with recurrent AF. Prescription rates of oral anticoagulation increased over calendar time, reaching 68.3% and 78.7% for transient and recurrent AF, respectively, from 2019 to 2021. CONCLUSION: In patients surviving one year after ACS with first-time detected AF, recurrent and transient AF were associated with a similarly increased long-term rate of ischemic stroke.

DANSPOT: A Multicenter Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Trial of the Reclassification of Acute Myocardial Infarction: Rationale and Study Design.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponins are the preferred biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Although sex-specific 99th percentile thresholds of troponins are recommended in international guidelines, the clinical effect of their use is poorly investigated. The DANSPOT Study (The Danish Study of Sex- and Population-Specific 99th percentile upper reference limits of Troponin) aims to evaluate the clinical effect of a prospective implementation of population- and sex-specific diagnostic thresholds of troponins into clinical practice. METHODS: This study is a nationwide, multicenter, stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial of the implementation of population- and sex-specific thresholds of troponins in 22 of 23 clinical centers in Denmark. We established sex-specific thresholds for 5 different troponin assays based on troponin levels in a healthy Danish reference population. Centers will sequentially cross over from current uniform manufacturer-derived thresholds to the new population- and sex-specific thresholds. The primary cohort is defined as patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome having at least 1 troponin measurement performed within 24 hours of arrival with a peak troponin value between the current uniform threshold and the new sex-specific female and male thresholds. The study will compare the occurrence of the primary outcome, defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, and all-cause mortality within 1 year, separately for men and women before and after the implementation of the new sex-specific thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: The DANSPOT Study is expected to show the clinical effects on diagnostics, treatment, and clinical outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction of implementing sex-specific diagnostic thresholds for troponin based on a national Danish reference population. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05336435.

Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage to RNA and DNA and Mortality in Individuals with Psychiatric Illness.

Importance: All-cause mortality and the risk for age-related medical disease is increased in individuals with psychiatric illness, but the underlying biological mechanisms are not known. Oxidative stress on nucleic acids (DNA and RNA; NA-OXS) is a molecular driver of aging and a potential pathophysiological mechanism in a range of age-related disorders. Objective: To study the levels of markers of NA-OXS in a large cohort of community-dwelling individuals with and without psychiatric illness and to evaluate their association with prospective all-cause mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used a combined cohort of participants from 2 population-based health studies: the Danish General Suburban Population Study (January 2010 to October 2013) and nondiabetic control participants from the Vejle Diabetes Biobank study (March 2007 to May 2010). Individual history of psychiatric illness was characterized using register data on psychiatric diagnoses and use of psychotropic drugs before baseline examination. Urinary markers of systemic RNA (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine [8-oxoGuo]) and DNA (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-oxodG]) damage from oxidation were measured by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Cox proportional hazard regression models were applied for survival analyses, using register-based all-cause mortality updated to May 2023. The follow-up time was up to 16.0 years. Exposures: History of psychiatric illness. Main Outcomes and Measures: Mortality risk according to psychiatric illness status and 8-oxoGuo or 8-oxodG excretion level. Results: A total of 7728 individuals were included (3983 [51.5%] female; mean [SD] age, 58.6 [11.9] years), 3095 of whom (40.0%) had a history of psychiatric illness. Mean (SD) baseline 8-oxoGuo was statistically significantly higher in individuals with psychiatric illness than in those without (2.4 [1.2] nmol/mmol vs 2.2 [0.9] nmol/mmol; P < .001), whereas 8-oxodG was not. All-cause mortality was higher in the psychiatric illness group vs the no psychiatric illness group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.27-1.64; P < .001) and increased sequentially with each increasing tertile of 8-oxoGuo excretion in both groups to an almost doubled risk in the psychiatric illness/high 8-oxoGuo group compared to the no psychiatric illness/low 8-oxoGuo reference group (HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.58-2.52; P < .001). These results persisted after adjustment for a range of potential confounders and in a sensitivity analysis stratified for sex. Conclusions and Relevance: This study establishes systemic oxidative stress-induced damage to RNA as a potential mechanism in the accelerated aging observed in psychiatric disorders and urinary 8-oxoGuo as a potentially useful marker of mortality risk in individuals with psychiatric illness.

Return to Work After Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Patients Managed With or Without Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Nationwide Register-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly used for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, survivors managed with ECPR are at risk of poor functional status. The purpose of this study was to investigate return to work (RTW) after refractory OHCA. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 44 360 patients with OHCA in the period of 2011 to 2020, this nationwide registry-based study included 805 patients with refractory OHCA in the working age (18-65 years) who were employed before OHCA (2% of the total OHCA cohort). Demographics, prehospital characteristics, status at hospital arrival, employment status, and survival were retrieved through the Danish national registries. Sustainable RTW was defined as RTW for ≥6 months without any long sick leave relapses. Median follow-up time was 4.1 years. ECPR and standard advanced cardiovascular life support were applied in 136 and 669 patients, respectively. RTW 1 year after OHCA was similar (39% versus 54%; P=0.2) and sustainable RTW was high in both survivors managed with ECPR and survivors managed with standard advanced cardiovascular life support (83% versus 85%; P>0.9). Younger age and shorter length of hospitalization were associated with RTW in multivariable Cox analysis, whereas ECPR was not. CONCLUSIONS: In refractory OHCA-patients employed prior to OHCA, approximately 1 out of 2 patients were employed after 1 year with no difference between patients treated with ECPR or standard advanced cardiovascular life support. Younger age and shorter length of hospitalization were associated with RTW while ECPR was not.