Primary results of the brazilian registry of atherothrombotic disease (NEAT).

There is limited contemporary prospective real-world evidence of patients with chronic arterial disease in Latin America. The Network to control atherothrombosis (NEAT) registry is a national prospective observational study of patients with known coronary (CAD) and/or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Brazil. A total of 2,005 patients were enrolled among 25 sites from September 2020 to March 2022. Patient characteristics, medications and laboratorial data were collected. Primary objective was to assess the proportion of patients who, at the initial visit, were in accordance with good medical practices (domains) for reducing cardiovascular risk in atherothrombotic disease. From the total of patients enrolled, 2 were excluded since they did not meet eligibility criteria. Among the 2,003 subjects included in the analysis, 55.6% had isolated CAD, 28.7% exclusive PAD and 15.7% had both diagnoses. Overall mean age was 66.3 (± 10.5) years and 65.7% were male patients. Regarding evidence-based therapies (EBTs), 4% were not using any antithrombotic drug and only 1.5% were using vascular dose of rivaroxaban (2.5 mg bid). Only 0.3% of the patients satisfied all the domains of secondary prevention, including prescription of EBTs and targets of body-mass index, blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, and adherence of lifestyle recommendations. The main barrier for prescription of EBTs was medical judgement. Our findings highlight that the contemporary practice does not reflect a comprehensive approach for secondary prevention and had very low incorporation of new therapies in Brazil. Large-scale populational interventions addressing these gaps are warranted to improve the use of evidence-based therapies and reduce the burden of atherothrombotic disease.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04677725.

A randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with bioprosthetic mitral valve and atrial fibrillation or flutter: rationale and design of the RIVER trial

Background The efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with bioprosthetic mitral valves and atrial fibrillation or flutter remain uncertain. Design RIVER was an academic-led, multicenter, open-label, randomized, non-inferiority trial with blinded outcome adjudication that enrolled 1005 patients from 49 sites in Brazil. Patients with a bioprosthetic mitral valve and atrial fibrillation or flutter were randomly assigned (1:1) to rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily (15 mg in those with creatinine clearance <50 mL/min) or dose-adjusted warfarin (target international normalized ratio 2.0-30.); the follow-up period was 12 months. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, transient ischemic attack, major bleeding, valve thrombosis, systemic embolism, or hospitalization for heart failure. Secondary outcomes included individual components of the primary composite outcome, bleeding events, and venous thromboembolism. Summary RIVER represents the largest trial specifically designed to assess the efficacy and safety of a direct oral anticoagulant in patients with bioprosthetic mitral valves and atrial fibrillation or flutter. The results of this trial can inform clinical practice and international guidelines.

Presença de microalbuminúria como fator de risco em pacientes diabéticos portadores de doença arterial coronária estável / Microalbuminuria as a risk factor in diabetic patients with stable coronary artery disease

A microalbuminúria é admitida como o principal marcadorpara o desenvolvimento de nefropatia diabética. Sua presençatambém é preditora independente de morbidade e mortalidadecardiovasculares. A relação da microalbuminúria com fatoresde risco clássicos para a doença multiarterial coronária (DAC)também tem sido mostrada em estudos epidemiológicos. Opresente estudo tem o objetivo de determinar a prevalênciade microalbuminúria em um grupo de pacientes diabéticosportadores de DAC e relacionar a sua presença com os fatoresclássicos de risco cardiovascular. Trata-se de um estudotransversal realizado com pacientes diabéticos portadoresde DAC, que realizam tratamento no Instituto do Coração(InCor-HCFMUSP). Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros:idade, presença ou ausência de HAS, tempo de diabetes,tabagismo, perfil lipídico, hemoglobina glicada e presença demicroalbuminúria/proteinúria, a partir da coleta urinária em24 horas. Os pacientes foram estratificados em três grupos,conforme o valor de albuminúria. Foram feitas análisesestatísticas comparando as diferentes variáveis entre os trêsgrupos. Nesta amostra de pacientes portadores de DM e DACmultiarterial estável, observou-se uma relação crescente entreos valores de albuminúria e o tempo de diabetes mellitus, níveisséricos de LDL-colesterol e triglicérides.

Microalbuminuria is accepted as a surrogate marker for thedevelopment of diabetic nephropathy. Its presence is alsoan independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity andmortality. The relationship of microalbuminuria with classicrisk factors for coronary multivessel disease (CAD) has alsobeen shown in epidemiological studies. The present studyaims to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria ina group of diabetic patients with CAD and correlate theirpresence with the classic cardiovascular risk factors. This isa cross-sectional study with diabetic patients with CAD whoperform treatment at the Heart Institute (Incor-HCFMUSP).We evaluated the following parameters: age, presence orabsence of hypertension, duration of diabetes, smoking, lipidprofile, glycated hemoglobin and microalbuminuria/proteinuriafrom urine collection in 24 hours. Patients were stratified into3 groups according to the value of albuminuria. Statisticalanalyzes were performed comparing the different variablesamong the three groups. In this sample of patients with diabetesand stable multivessel CAD there was a growing relationshipbetween the values of albuminuria and duration of diabetesmellitus, serum LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.

Long-term analysis of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with stable multivessel coronary disease undergoing medicine, angioplasty or surgery: 10-year follow-up of the MASS II trial.

BACKGROUND: Assuming that coronary interventions, both coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), are directed to preserve left ventricular function, it is not known whether medical therapy alone (MT) can achieve this protection. Thus, we evaluated the evolution of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) treated by CABG, PCI, or MT as a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial with a follow-up of 10 years. METHODS: Left ventricle ejection fraction was assessed with transthoracic echocardiography in patients with multivessel CAD, participants of the MASS II trial before randomization to CABG, PCI, or MT, and re-evaluated after 10 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 611 patients, 422 were alive after 10.32 ± 1.43 years. Three hundred and fifty had LVEF reassessed: 108 patients from MT, 111 from CABG, and 131 from PCI. There was no difference in LVEF at the beginning (0.61 ± 0.07, 0.61 ± 0.08, 0.61 ± 0.09, respectively, for PCI, CABG, and MT, P = 0.675) or at the end of follow-up (0.56 ± 0.11, 0.55 ± 0.11, 0.55 ± 0.12, P = 0.675), or in the decline of LVEF (reduction delta of -7.2 ± 17.13, -9.08 ± 18.77, and -7.54 ± 22.74). Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the follow-up was associated with greater reduction in LVEF. The presence of previous AMI (OR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.40-4.45; P = 0.0007) and during the follow-up (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.25-5.92; P = 0.005) was associated with development of LVEF <45%. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the therapeutic option applied, LVEF remains preserved in the absence of a major adverse cardiac event after 10 years of follow-up. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Registration number ISRCTN66068876.

Cost-effectiveness analysis for surgical, angioplasty, or medical therapeutics for coronary artery disease: 5-year follow-up of medicine, angioplasty, or surgery study (MASS) II trial.

BACKGROUND: The Second Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS II) included patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and normal systolic ventricular function. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG, n=203), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, n=205), or medical treatment alone (MT, n=203). This investigation compares the economic outcome at 5-year follow-up of the 3 therapeutic strategies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed cumulative costs during a 5-year follow-up period. To analyze the cost-effectiveness, adjustment was made on the cumulative costs for average event-free time and angina-free proportion. Respectively, for event-free survival and event plus angina-free survival, MT presented 3.79 quality-adjusted life-years and 2.07 quality-adjusted life-years; PCI presented 3.59 and 2.77 quality-adjusted life-years; and CABG demonstrated 4.4 and 2.81 quality-adjusted life-years. The event-free costs were $9071.00 for MT; $19,967.00 for PCI; and $18,263.00 for CABG. The paired comparison of the event-free costs showed that there was a significant difference favoring MT versus PCI (P<0.01) and versus CABG (P<0.01) and CABG versus PCI (P=0.01). The event-free plus angina-free costs were $16,553.00, $25,831.00, and $24,614.00, respectively. The paired comparison of the event-free plus angina-free costs showed that there was a significant difference favoring MT versus PCI (P=0.04), and versus CABG (P<0.001); there was no difference between CABG and PCI (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the long-term economic analysis, for the prevention of a composite primary end point, MT was more cost effective than CABG, and CABG was more cost-effective than PCI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: www.controlled-trials.com. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN66068876.

Effect of complete revascularization on 10-year survival of patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease: MASS II trial.

BACKGROUND: The importance of complete revascularization remains unclear and contradictory. This current investigation compares the effect of complete revascularization on 10-year survival of patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) who were randomly assigned to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a post hoc analysis of the Second Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS II), which is a randomized trial comparing treatments in patients with stable multivessel CAD, and preserved systolic ventricular function. We analyzed patients who underwent surgery (CABG) or stent angioplasty (PCI). The survival free of overall mortality of patients who underwent complete (CR) or incomplete revascularization (IR) was compared. Of the 408 patients randomly assigned to mechanical revascularization, 390 patients (95.6%) underwent the assigned treatment; complete revascularization was achieved in 224 patients (57.4%), 63.8% of those in the CABG group and 36.2% in the PCI group (P=0.001). The IR group had more prior myocardial infarction than the CR group (56.2% × 39.2%, P=0.01). During a 10-year follow-up, the survival free of cardiovascular mortality was significantly different among patients in the 2 groups (CR, 90.6% versus IR, 84.4%; P=0.04). This was mainly driven by an increased cardiovascular specific mortality in individuals with incomplete revascularization submitted to PCI (P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that in 10-year follow-up, CR compared with IR was associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality, especially due to a higher increase in cardiovascular-specific mortality in individuals submitted to PCI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN66068876.

Hypotheses, rationale, design, and methods for prognostic evaluation of cardiac biomarker elevation after percutaneous and surgical revascularization in the absence of manifest myocardial infarction. A comparative analysis of biomarkers and cardiac magnetic resonance. The MASS-V Trial.

BACKGROUND: Although the release of cardiac biomarkers after percutaneous (PCI) or surgical revascularization (CABG) is common, its prognostic significance is not known. Questions remain about the mechanisms and degree of correlation between the release, the volume of myocardial tissue loss, and the long-term significance. Delayed-enhancement of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) consistently quantifies areas of irreversible myocardial injury. To investigate the quantitative relationship between irreversible injury and cardiac biomarkers, we will evaluate the extent of irreversible injury in patients undergoing PCI and CABG and relate it to postprocedural modifications in cardiac biomarkers and long-term prognosis. METHODS/DESIGN: The study will include 150 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and a formal indication for CABG; 50 patients will undergo CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); 50 patients with the same arterial and ventricular condition indicated for myocardial revascularization will undergo CABG without CPB; and another 50 patients with CAD and preserved ventricular function will undergo PCI using stents. All patients will undergo CMR before and after surgery or PCI. We will also evaluate the release of cardiac markers of necrosis immediately before and after each procedure. Primary outcome considered is overall death in a 5-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes are levels of CK-MB isoenzyme and I-Troponin in association with presence of myocardial fibrosis and systolic left ventricle dysfunction assessed by CMR. DISCUSSION: The MASS-V Trial aims to establish reliable values for parameters of enzyme markers of myocardial necrosis in the absence of manifest myocardial infarction after mechanical interventions. The establishments of these indices have diagnostic value and clinical prognosis and therefore require relevant and different therapeutic measures. In daily practice, the inappropriate use of these necrosis markers has led to misdiagnosis and therefore wrong treatment. The appearance of a more sensitive tool such as CMR provides an unprecedented diagnostic accuracy of myocardial damage when correlated with necrosis enzyme markers. We aim to correlate laboratory data with imaging, thereby establishing more refined data on the presence or absence of irreversible myocardial injury after the procedure, either percutaneous or surgical, and this, with or without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Hypotheses, rationale, design, and methods for prognostic evaluation in type 2 diabetic patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries. The MASS IV-DM Trial.

BACKGROUND: The MASS IV-DM Trial is a large project from a single institution, the Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil to study ventricular function and coronary arteries in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS/DESIGN: The study will enroll 600 patients with type 2 diabetes who have angiographically normal ventricular function and coronary arteries. The goal of the MASS IV-DM Trial is to achieve a long-term evaluation of the development of coronary atherosclerosis by using angiograms and coronary-artery calcium scan by electron-beam computed tomography at baseline and after 5 years of follow-up. In addition, the incidence of major cardiovascular events, the dysfunction of various organs involved in this disease, particularly microalbuminuria and renal function, will be analyzed through clinical evaluation. In addition, an effort will be made to investigate in depth the presence of major cardiovascular risk factors, especially the biochemical profile, metabolic syndrome inflammatory activity, oxidative stress, endothelial function, prothrombotic factors, and profibrinolytic and platelet activity. An evaluation will be made of the polymorphism as a determinant of disease and its possible role in the genesis of micro- and macrovascular damage. DISCUSSION: The MASS IV-DM trial is designed to include diabetic patients with clinically suspected myocardial ischemia in whom conventional angiography shows angiographically normal coronary arteries. The result of extensive investigation including angiographic follow-up by several methods, vascular reactivity, pro-thrombotic mechanisms, genetic and biochemical studies may facilitate the understanding of so-called micro- and macrovascular disease of DM.

Five-year follow-up of a randomized comparison between off-pump and on-pump stable multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting. The MASS III Trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is a safe, routine procedure. Nevertheless, significant morbidity remains, mostly because of the body's response to the nonphysiological nature of cardiopulmonary bypass. Few data are available on the effects of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) on cardiac events and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a single-center randomized trial, 308 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly assigned: 155 to OPCAB and 153 to on-pump CAB (ONCAB). Primary composite end points were death, myocardial infarction, further revascularization (surgery or angioplasty), or stroke. After 5-year follow-up, the primary composite end point was not different between groups (hazard ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.22; P=0.21). A statistical difference was found between OPCAB and ONCAB groups in the duration of surgery (240±65 versus 300±87.5 minutes; P<0.001), in the length of ICU stay (19.5±17.8 versus 43±17.0 hours; P<0.001), time to extubation (4.6±6.8 versus 9.3±5.7 hours; P<0.001), hospital stay (6±2 versus 9±2 days; P<0.001), higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (35 versus 4% of patients; P<0.001), and blood requirements (31 versus 61% of patients; P<0.001), respectively. The number of grafts per patient was higher in the ONCAB than the OPCAB group (2.97 versus 2.49 grafts/patient; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found between groups in the primary composite end point at 5-years follow-up. Although OPCAB surgery was related to a lower number of grafts and higher episodes of atrial fibrillation, it had no significant implications related to long-term outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN66068876.