Heart rate distribution and predictors of resting heart rate after initiation of beta-blocker treatment in patients with coronary artery disease: REsults of Sympathetic Evaluation And Research of China (RESEARCH) study.

BACKGROUND: The importance of heart rate as secondary prevention strategies for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is emphasized by multiple guidelines. However, limited information is available on the heart rate distribution and the change patterns of resting heart rate when initiating beta-blocker therapy among Chinese patients with CAD. METHODS: The REsults of Sympathetic Evaluation And Research of China (RESEARCH) study is a multi-centre, prospective, observational study involving 147 centers in 23 cities across China. All eligible beta-blocker naive patients were prescribed with metroprolol succinate. Initial dosage and target heart rate were selected at the discretion of their physicians in charge according to their usual institutional practice. The heart rate distribution and the change patterns of resting heart rate after initiation of beta-blocker therapy were observed. RESULTS: The majority of patients (63.6%) were prescribed with 47.5 mg metroprolol succinate. At baseline, there were only 17.4% of patients whose heart rate was less than 70 beats per minute, and the proportion reached 42.5% and 79.1%, one month and two months after initiation of beta-blockers, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that baseline heart rate (B = 0.900, SE = 0.006, t = 141.787, P < 0.0001) and the dosage (B = -0.007, SE = 0.002, t = -3.242, P = 0.001) were independent predictors of resting heart rate 2 months after beta-blocker therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Resting heart rate is not optimally controlled in a broadly representative cohort of Chinese outpatients with CAD even after initiation of ß-blocker therapy, and baseline heart rate and the dosage of beta-blocker are both independent predictors of resting heart rate after ß-blocker therapy.

[Effects of trimetazidine therapy on left ventricular function after percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of trimetazidine therapy on left ventricular (LV) function after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 106 patients with unstable angina pectoris underwent successful elective PCI were randomly assigned to standard therapy group (control, n = 55) or trimetazidine group (n = 51, 60 mg trimetazidine loading dose prior to PCI followed by 20 mg Tid after PCI on top of standard therapy). cTnI level was measured before and at 16-18 hours after PCI. LV function was evaluated by echocardiography and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, re-infarction and target vessel revascularization) at 12 months after PCI was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Post procedural cTnI level increased from [0.02 (0.01, 0.03)] µg/L at baseline to [0.11 (0.07, 0.13)] µg/L (P < 0.05) at 16-18 hours in the trimetazidine group, while [0.02(0.01, 0.03)] µg/L to [1.31(0.44, 2.31)] µg/L in the control group (P < 0.05). Post procedural cTnI level was significantly reduced in the trimetazidine group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). At 12 months follow-up, left ventricular ejection fraction in the trimetazidine group was significantly higher than in control group [(65.65 ± 3.94)% vs. (62.29 ± 3.06)%, P < 0.01] while incidence of MACE was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Trimetazidine can reduce the post-PCI cTnI release and improve left ventricular function after PCI in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

[Effect of previous statins on prognosis of octogenarian patients with coronary heart disease with percutaneous coronary stenting].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of statin pretreatment on prognosis of octogenarian patients with coronary heart disease with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 90 patients aged at 85 years old and over with coronary heart disease (CAD) undergoing stenting were enrolled. The duration of statin, hospitalization and one-year clinical follow-up outcome including all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac event (MACE), stroke and other major hemorrhages were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Among these patients, 33 (36.7%) received a statin pre-treatment for at least 2 days and 57 (63.3%) did not. Patients on a statin pre-treatment were more likely to have hypertension, hyperlipidemia and a history of myocardial infraction and PCI. The procedure characteristics were similar between two groups. Despite the higher risk profile, the patients on a statin pre-treatment had a lower hospitalization MACE rate (3.0% vs 10.5%, P = 0.05). However, at one year, the patients on a statin pre-treatment had a similar MACE rate (6.1% vs 3.8%, P = 0.07) as the other group. CONCLUSION: The statin pretreatment in octogenarian CAD patients with PCI may be associated with a reduced hospitalization MACE rate.

Effects of upstream tirofiban versus downstream tirofiban on myocardial damage and 180-day clinical outcomes in high-risk acute coronary syndromes patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND: For patients with moderate to high-risk acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who undergo early, invasive treatment strategies, current guidelines recommend the usage of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors as an upstream treatment for a coronary care unit or as an downstream provisional treatment for selected patients who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The relative advantage of either strategy is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of upstream tirofiban versus the effects of downstream tirofiban on myocardial damage and 180-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after PCI in high-risk non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) undergoing PCI. METHODS: From July 2006 to July 2007, 160 high-risk NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI were randomized to receive upstream (within 4 - 6 hours before coronary angiography) tirofiban or downstream (the guidewire crossing the lesion) tirofiban, to evaluate the extent of myocardial damage after PCI by quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the value of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) as well as MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) before and after PCI. The incidences of 24-hour, 3-day, 7-day, 30-day and 180-day MACE after PCI were followed up and the rates of bleeding complications and thrombocytopenia during tirofiban administration were recorded. RESULTS: The peak release and cumulative release of cTnI levels within 48 hours after PCI were significantly lower with upstream tirofiban than downstream tirofiban (0.45 vs 0.63 and 0.32 vs 0.43, respectively; P < 0.05). Post-procedural cTnI elevation within 48 hours was significantly less frequent among patients who received the upstream tirofiban than those who received the downstream tirofiban (66.3% vs 87.5%, P < 0.05). The peak and cumulative release of CK-MB levels as well as post-procedural CK-MB elevation within 48 hours after PCI were not significantly different between the two groups (16 vs 14 , 5 vs 3 and 26.3% vs 36.3%, respectively; P > 0.05). The incidences of 24-hour, 3-day, and 7-day MACE after PCI were the same between the two groups (0 vs 0, 0 vs 0 and 1.25% vs 1.25%, respectively). Although the incidences of 30-day and 180-day MACE after PCI were not statistically different between the two groups, the incidences were consistently lower with upstream tirofiban (3.75% vs 6.25% and 12.99% vs 16.67%; P > 0.05). Aging (OR = 1.164, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 4.165, P = 0.037) and type 2 diabetes (OR = 13.628, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of MACE. The timing of administrating the tirofiban (OR = 2.416, P = 0.153) plays an extensive role in the incidence of MACE. The incidences of major and minor bleeding complications as well as mild thrombocytopenia during the administration of tirofiban were similar between the two groups (2.50% vs 1.25%, 1.25% vs 1.25% and 1.25% vs 1.25%, respectively; P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the pretreatment with aspirin and clopidogrel, upstream tirofiban was associated with attenuated minor myocardial damage and the tendency of reducing incidences of 180-day MACE after PCI among high-risk NSTE-ACS patients undergoing PCI. Aging, hypertension and type 2 diabetes were independent risk factors of MACE in high-risk NSTE-ACS patients undergoing PCI associated with tirofiban.

[Effects of upstream tirofiban versus downstream tirofiban on platelet aggregation and clinical outcomes in patients with high-risk acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of upstream versus downstream application of tirofiban on platelet aggregation and clinical outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular event, MACE) in patients with high-risk non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From July 2006 to July 2007, 160 high-risk NSTE-ACS patients undergoing PCI were randomized to receive upstream (4-6 h prior PCI) tirofiban and downstream (immediately prior to PCI) tirofiban. Platelet aggregation inhibition was determined at admission, before coronary angiography and after PCI. Incidences of MACE at 1, 3, 7, 30 and 180 days after PCI were compared. The incidences of bleeding complications and thrombocytopenia during tirofiban treatments were recorded. RESULTS: The extent of platelet aggregation inhibition post tirofiban was significantly greater in upstream tirofiban than that in downstream tirofiban group (8% vs. 42%, P<0.05). The incidences of MACE at various time points were similar between the two groups (all P>0.05). Aging, hypertension and type-2 diabetes were independent risk factors of MACE. The incidences of major and minor bleeding complications as well as mild thrombocytopenia during tirofiban treatments were similar between the two groups (2.5% vs. 1.3%, 1.3% vs. 1.3% and 1.3% vs. 1.3%, respectively; all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: On top of aspirin and clopidogrel, upstream application of tirofiban is associated with increased platelet aggregation inhibition but the incidences of MACE up to 180 days post tirofiban are similar in the upstream and downstream tirofiban treated patients with high-risk NSTE-ACS after PCI. Aging, hypertension and type-2 diabetes were independent risk factors of MACE in these patients.

Long-term outcome of patients of over 85 years old with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary stenting: a comparison of bare metal stent and drug eluting stent.

BACKGROUND: Patients aged over 85 years have been under-represented in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) trials despite an increase in referrals for PCI. The long-term safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary stenting in patients aged over 85 years with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear. Moreover it is unknown whether there are differences between bare metal stent (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES) in this special population. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with ACS aged over 85 years undergoing stenting (BMS group n = 21 vs DES group n = 59) were retrospectively studied. In-hospital, one year and overall clinical follow-up (12 - 36 months) of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including cardiac deaths, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) as well as stroke and other major bleeding were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, the procedure success rate was 93.8% with TIMI-3 coronary flow post-PCI in 93.8% of the vessels and the procedure related complication was 17.5%. The incidence of in-hospital MACEs in BMS group was higher (14.3% vs 6.8%, P = 0.30). The 1-year incidence of MACEs in DES group was 7.0% while there was no MACE in the BMS group. Clinical follow-up for 12 - 36 months showed that the overall survival free from MACE was 82.9% and the incidence of MACE in the BMS group was lower (5.3% vs 21.1%, P = 0.20). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the creatinine level (OR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.006 - 1.020; P = 0.004) and hypertension (OR: 3.201; 95% CI: 1.000 - 10.663; P = 0.04) are two major factors affecting the long-term MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous coronary stenting in patients aged over 85 years is safe and provides good short and long-term efficacy. Patients with renal dysfunction and hypertension may have a relatively high incidence of MACE.