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BACKGROUND: The reperfusion therapy using primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is known to give a better result than fibrinolytic therapy. The fast access to PPCI will improve hospital outcome. We believe that patient access to PPCI facility would have improved due to enhanced public awareness and expanding evidenced-based health provision. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study to analyze and compare data for STEMI patients. Patients were transferred to our hospital during the year 2010. Group l comprised 223 patients. Group 2 comprised 288 patients. Group 2 patients were those treated between August 2014 and August 2015. We compared their demographic and baseline characteristics, patients' access to the hospital, reasons for no access, and hospital mortality for the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 288 patients in Group 2, 247 patients (85%) were males with an average age of 57 years, 49% were diabetics, 48% were hypertensive, 48% were smokers, and 27% were obese. These were not different in Group 1. In Group 2, 164 patients (57%) only had access to PPCI compared to 56% in Group 1 (P = 0.536-NS). In G2, the main reasons for no PPCI were late presentation in 47% versus 53% in Group 1; P = 0.34 NS. In Group 2, 27% were due to thrombolysis versus 17% in Group 1 (P = 0.11 NS). Hospital mortality in Group 2 was 4% in those treated with PPCI compared to 2.3% in Group 1 (P = 0.522-NS). Mortality in patients who did not receive PPCI in Group 2 was 8% compared to 11.3% in Group 1 (P = 0.49-NS). Females in Group 2 have about 3 times higher mortality. Patients treated for STEMI in the last 12 months at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center still have relatively low access to PPCI due mainly to persistent pattern of late presentation and prior thrombolysis, which reflect apparent lack of direct access to hospitals with PPCI facilities. CONCLUSION: Comparing the two periods, there was no change in cardiology practice. The low access to PPCI was mainly due to late presentation and prior thrombolysis. Hospital mortality rate for patients treated with PPCI remained low during the two era. This seemingly relates to both lack of public awareness and health provision factors in PPCI organizations.
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BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that causes impaired insulin secretion or cellular dysfunction. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) indicates the long-term level of glucose. Diabetes can lead to cardiovascular complications such as acute coronary syndrome , which might require coronary intervention. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of glycemic control measured by HbA1c levels on cardiac complications in Saudi diabetic patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). METHODOLOGY: It was a cohort retrospective study conducted at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center with a total sample size of 379 patients. The charts of all those diabetic patients were reviewed and their HbA1c level, type of intervention were compared to determine their effect on cardiac outcomes and complications. Inclusion criteria involved the age group 50-70 years within follow-up period of 3 years. Any patient known to have renal failure, liver dysfunction, type one diabetes, and cancer were excluded. The HbA1c level was divided into two groups (<7.5%, ≥7.5%). RESULTS: Total sample size was 379, and the mean age was (60.33 ± 5.98) with male being (66.5%). HbA1c levels at admission were (mean 9.15 ± 2.03), whereas the mean after 3 years was (8.629 ± 1.518). The uncontrolled group was more likely to have PCI (n = 302), in comparison to the controlled group (n = 77) with a P value of 0.04. However, the controlled group was more likely to undergo medical treatment P value of 0.001. Patients with uncontrolled Hba1c after the intervention had a higher readmission rate with a P value of 0.018. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an elevated level of HbA1c were more likely to be managed with PCI. Furthermore, they are at a higher risk of multiple readmissions. Patients who had CABG were at a lower risk of cardiac complications. Further studies are required in our population to consider different approaches of diabetes control for preventing adverse outcomes.
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BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 Pandemic has put enormous pressure on the healthcare system globally, causing many healthcare organizations to cancel elective admission for coronary angiograms. The purpose of this study is to assess changes in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) practice, including the number of patients, door to balloon time and time from the onset of symptoms until reperfusion therapy in a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a single center retrospective observational study, comparing all STEMI patients in the last five months of 2019 (Pre-COVID-19 period) with the first 5 months of 2020 (COVID -19 period) in regards to the volume of STEMI patients, symptoms onset to ER arrival time, door to balloon timing and the reperfusion therapy strategy. RESULTS: A total number of 173 STEMI patients were analyzed; 81 STEMI patients in the Pre-COVID-19 period and 92 STEMI patients in the COVID-19 period. When compared with pre-COVID period, there was a statistically non-significant increase in STEMI patients (12%), slight delay in the door to balloon timing; 94 vs 87 minutes. As well, there was more delay from onset of symptoms to presentation to the ER (>12 hours from symptoms onset to ER arrival (16% vs, 4% in group 1). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was the main modality between the 2 groups without significant differences (100% Pre-COVID vs. 97% COVID-19 period). CONCLUSION: There was some delay of STEMI patient's presentation to the hospital during Covid-19 timing, without significant changes in the medical practice of care.
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A 70-year-old female patient, known to be diabetic and hypertensive, was diagnosed with coronary artery disease and severe aortic stenosis aortic valve area 0.5 cm, peak gradient of 110 mmHg, mean gradient 55 mmHg). This patient underwent coronary artery bypass graft with two grafts and artery bypass grafting in 2012. She received a sutureless Perceval aortic valve with good postoperative results except for a small jet of paravalvular leak. She did well for 5 years until she began experiencing dyspnea on exertion. The patient was found to have moderate to severe aortic regurgitation and moderate aortic stenosis which progressed over the years with multiple admissions for heart failure and pulmonary edema. The patient was considered high risk for operative treatment. Therefore, she was treated by percutaneous valve-in-valve technique using S3 Edward valve with excellent results.
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BACKGROUND: The increase of serum creatinine by 25% from the baseline readings will lead to contrast-induced nephropathy. Most of the time this acute reduction in kidney function will occur in the first 48 h after angiogram; diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major predisposing factors. OBJECTIVES: Our objective is to study the influence of contrast material administration during angiogram on kidney function, especially in patients with risk factors such as DM in the Saudi community. METHODS: This was an open-label study; we included 1250 patients from July 2010 to June 2011, and we studied all comers during that period; more than 60% of admissions came through the emergency department with acute coronary syndrome, in addition to elective admission with stable computer-aided design. RESULTS: The incidence of nephropathy related to the contrast used during angiogram was 4.8%, and this represents 60 patients of 1250. Of the 60 patients, the number of diabetic patients who developed nephropathy was 37 (62%). 40 (67%) patients were hypertensive. Twenty-five (42%) patients had body weight <70 kg, 37 (62%) had diagnostic cath, 23 (38%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 47 (78%) received Omnipaque contrast media. CONCLUSION: The incidence of nephropathy postcoronary angiogram was 4.8%; the two major risk factors in our Saudi patients were hypertension and diabetes; the diabetic patients should be monitored precisely, and special measures should be taken seriously.
