Association of Sex with Outcome in Elderly Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Worse outcomes have been reported for women, compared with men, after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Whether this difference persists in elderly patients undergoing similar invasive treatment has not been studied. We investigated sex-related differences in 1-year outcome of elderly acute coronary syndrome patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients 75 years and older successfully treated with PCI were selected among those enrolled in 3 Italian multicenter studies. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the independent predictive value of sex on outcome at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 2035 patients (44% women) were included. Women were older and most likely to present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), diabetes, hypertension, and renal dysfunction; men were more frequently overweight, with multivessel coronary disease, prior myocardial infarction, and revascularizations. Overall, no sex disparity was found about all-cause (8.3% vs 7%, P = .305) and cardiovascular mortality (5.7% vs 4.1%, P = .113). Higher cardiovascular mortality was observed in women after STEMI (8.8%) vs 5%, P = .041), but not after non ST-elevation-ACS (3.5% vs 3.7%, P = .999). A sensitivity analysis excluding patients with prior coronary events (N = 1324, 48% women) showed a significantly higher cardiovascular death in women (5.4% vs 2.9%, P = .025). After adjustment for baseline clinical variables, female sex did not predict adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly men and women with ACS show different clinical presentation and baseline risk profile. After successful PCI, unadjusted 1-year cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in women with STEMI and in those with a first coronary event. However, female sex did not predict cardiovascular mortality after adjustment for the different baseline variables.

Predictors of outcome in patients with de novo diagnosis of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Role of combined myocardial and lung Iodine-123 Meta-Iodobenzylguanidine imaging.

BACKGROUND: The predictors of outcome in patients with de novo diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are poorly known. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive HFrEF patients admitted between October 2012 and November 2017 with their first episode of HF were scheduled for an outpatient follow-up. After 3 months, patients with confirmed HFrEF underwent Iodine-123 Meta-Iodobenzylguanidine imaging. We defined three study endpoints: HF rehospitalization, cardiac death and all-cause death. Eighty-four patients were enrolled. During follow-up (39.9 ± 18.6 months) HF rehospitalization occurred in 33 cases, cardiac death in 18 and all-cause death in 24. At multivariate analysis, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP; HR: 1.047; p = .027) and Late lung to heart ratio (L/H; HR: 1.341; p < .001) independently predict HF rehospitalization; left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV; HR: 1.016; p = .017), sPAP (HR: 1.064; p = .034) and Late L/H (HR: 1.323; p = .009) were predictors of cardiac death; LVESV (HR: 1.013; p = .018) and Late L/H (HR: 1.245; p = .012) were independent predictors of all-cause death. Kaplan-Meier analysis of the individual predictors confirmed their prognostic ability during follow-up; of note, the Late L/H cut-off of 1.1 improved the risk stratification capability of echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Late L/H independently predicts HF rehospitalization, cardiac death and all-cause death in patients with de novo diagnosis of HFrEF and improves the prognostic stratification capability of conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Prevalence and Predictors of Out-of-Target LDL Cholesterol 1 to 3 Years After Myocardial Infarction. A Subanalysis From the EYESHOT Post-MI Registry.

BACKGROUND: There is an incomplete understanding of the prevalence and predictors of attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal after myocardial infarction (MI). AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of achievement of LDL-C goal of 70 mg/dL, to identify the baseline features associated with suboptimal lipid control, and to assess the use of LDL-C-lowering drug therapies (LLT) beyond the first year after MI. METHODS: The EYESHOT Post-MI was a prospective, cross-sectional, Italian registry, which enrolled patients presenting to cardiologist 1 to 3 years after MI. In this retrospective post-hoc analysis, patients were categorized in 2 groups according to the achievement or not of the LDL-C goal of 70 mg/dL. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the baseline features associate with LDL-C≥70 mg/dL. RESULTS: The study population included 903 patients (mean age 65.5 ± 11.5 years). Among them, LDL-C was ≥70 mg/dL in 474 (52.5%). Male sex (P = 0.031), hypertension (P = 0.024), prior percutaneous coronary intervention (P = 0.016) and high education level (P = 0.008) were higher in the LDL-C <70 group. At multivariable analysis, low education level was an independent predictor of LDL-C≥70 mg/dL (OR:1.582; 95%CI, 1.156-2.165; P = 0.004). Conversely, hypertension increased the probability to achieve the LDL-C goal (OR:0.650; 95%CI, 0.443-0.954; P = 0.028). Among off-target patients, LLT was not modified in the majority of cases (67.3%), intensified in 85 (18.6%), and actually reduced in 63 patients (13.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting to cardiologists 1 to 3 years from the last MI event, LDL-C is not under control in a large proportion of patients, particularly in those with a low education level or without hypertension. LLT is underused in this very-high-risk setting.

Unusual, Radical Treatment of Type A Aortic Dissection: A Case Report.

Type A aortic dissection, according to Stanford classification, is a surgical emergency with high morbidity and carries 56% of in-hospital mortality when surgical intervention is not performed. The surgical mortality at 30 days is 10 to 20%. The therapeutic goals are to replace the diseased ascending aorta and to treat or to monitor the distal aortic patent false lumen. When the dissection involves the aortic root and the architecture of aortic valve is normal, the surgical techniques used could be multiple: reinforce the aortic root and spare the native aortic valve or replace the aortic valve and the aortic root. The Florida sleeve technique has been developed to treat the aortic aneurysm, sparing the aortic valve in patients with connective tissue disease. Some case reports have described the use of this technique to treat an acute aortic dissection. In the following case, we present a single stage repair of the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and proximal intrathoracic aorta in a patient with Type A aortic dissection through the contemporaneous use of two techniques: Florida sleeve and Vascutek "Thoraflex" hybrid prosthesis. The use of these two techniques allows the repair/replacement of the proximal intrathoracic aorta, the sparing of the native aortic valve, the employment of a hybrid prosthesis to replace the supraortic vessels, and the creation of a descending aortic landing zone for later, distal intervention.

Sirt1 Activity in PBMCs as a Biomarker of Different Heart Failure Phenotypes.

Heart Failure (HF) is a syndrome, which implies the existence of different phenotypes. The new categorization includes patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), mid-range EF (HFmrEF), and reduced EF (HFrEF) but the molecular mechanisms involved in these HF phenotypes have not yet been exhaustively investigated. Sirt1 plays a crucial role in biological processes strongly related to HF. This study aimed to evaluate whether Sirt1 activity was correlated with EF and other parameters in HFpEF, HFmrEF, and HFrEF. Seventy patients, HFpEF (n = 23), HFmrEF (n = 23) and HFrEF (n = 24), were enrolled at the Cardiology Unit of the University Hospital of Salerno. Sirt1 activity was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) activity, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) levels were quantified in plasma. HFpEF showed lower Sirt1 and ACE2 activities than both HFmrEF and HFrEF (p < 0.0001), without difference compared to No HF controls. In HFmrEF and HFrEF a very strong correlation was found between Sirt1 activity and EF (r2 = 0.899 and r2 = 0.909, respectively), and between ACE2 activity and Sirt1 (r2 = 0.801 and r2 = 0.802, respectively). HFrEF showed the highest TNF-α levels without reaching statistical significance. Significant differences in BNP were found among the groups, with the highest levels in the HFrEF. Determining Sirt1 activity in PBMCs is useful to distinguish the HF patients' phenotypes from each other, especially HFmrEF/HFrEF from HFpEF.

Loeffler's Endocarditis: An Integrated Multimodality Approach.

Loeffler's endocarditis (LE) is the cardiac manifestation of hypereosinophilic syndrome, a rare systemic disease characterized by the sustained production of eosinophils leading to organ damage. Few data, principally by case reports, are available regarding the diagnostic workup in patients with suspected LE. Thus, we have performed a systematic search of the literature dealing with imaging in LE and propose an integrated multimodality imaging approach in the cardiac diagnostics of LE patients. The aim is to provide an updated state-of-the-art review focused on noninvasive and invasive imaging modalities for this rare and underdiagnosed disease. Standard and advanced echocardiography are typically the first cardiac imaging examinations when LE is suspected and they are also used later in follow-up for prognostic stratification and assessing response to treatment. Cardiac magnetic resonance provides a more detailed anatomical and functional evaluation of cardiac chambers, tissue characterization for the presence and extension of myocardial edema and fibrosis, and ventricular thrombi identification. Computed tomography scan and [18F]-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography may be helpful in selected cases to evaluate the cardiac involvement of LE as well as the other noncardiac manifestations of hypereosinophilic syndrome. Endomyocardial biopsy may be considered in patients with high clinical suspicion of LE if noninvasive imaging findings are confusing or not conclusive. The appropriate use of invasive and noninvasive imaging modalities, combining the available techniques with the patients' clinical features, will hopefully lead to early diagnosis, more accurate staging of disease, and timely treatment of LE that may prevent the irreversible myocardial damage of LE and adverse cardiovascular events.

Impact of renal dysfunction and acute kidney injury on outcome in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is common in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome and its prevalence dramatically increases with age. Understanding the determinants of adverse outcomes in this extremely high-risk population may be useful for the development of specific treatment strategies and planning of secondary prevention modalities. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of baseline renal function and acute kidney injury on one-year outcome of elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Patients aged 75 years and older with acute coronary syndrome undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention were selected among those enrolled in three Italian multicentre studies. Based on the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula ([(140-age) × body weight × 0.85 if female]/(72 × serum creatinine)* 1.73 m2 of body surface area), patients were classified as having none or mild (eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2), moderate (eGFR 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m2) or severe (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2) renal dysfunction. Acute kidney injury was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, rehospitalisation for cardiovascular causes, stroke and type 2, 3 and 5 Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleedings were analysed up to 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 1904 patients were included. Of these, 57% had moderate and 11% severe renal dysfunction. At 12 months, patients with renal dysfunction had higher rates (P < 0.001) of all-cause (4.5%, 7.5% and 17.8% in patients with none or mild, moderate and severe renal dysfunction, respectively) and cardiovascular mortality (2.8%, 5.2% and 10.2%, respectively). After multivariable adjustment, severe renal dysfunction was associated with a higher risk of all-cause (hazard ratio (HR) 2.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-5.37, P = 0.001) and cardiovascular death (HR 3.11, 95% CI 1.41-6.83, P = 0.005), whereas non-fatal events were unaffected. Acute kidney injury incidence was significantly higher in ST-elevation myocardial infarction versus non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients (11.7% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.036) and in those with reduced baseline renal function (P < 0.001), and it was associated with increased mortality independently from baseline renal function and clinical presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline renal dysfunction is highly prevalent and is associated with higher mortality in elderly acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Acute kidney injury occurs more frequently among ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients and those with pre-existing renal dysfunction and is independently associated with one-year mortality.

Impact of renal dysfunction and acute kidney injury on outcome in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is common in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome and its prevalence dramatically increases with age. Understanding the determinants of adverse outcomes in this extremely high-risk population may be useful for the development of specific treatment strategies and planning of secondary prevention modalities. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of baseline renal function and acute kidney injury on one-year outcome of elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Patients aged 75 years and older with acute coronary syndrome undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention were selected among those enrolled in three Italian multicentre studies. Based on the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula ([(140-age) × body weight × 0.85 if female]/(72 × serum creatinine)* 1.73 m2 of body surface area), patients were classified as having none or mild (eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2), moderate (eGFR 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m2) or severe (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2) renal dysfunction. Acute kidney injury was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, rehospitalisation for cardiovascular causes, stroke and type 2, 3 and 5 Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleedings were analysed up to 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 1904 patients were included. Of these, 57% had moderate and 11% severe renal dysfunction. At 12 months, patients with renal dysfunction had higher rates (P < 0.001) of all-cause (4.5%, 7.5% and 17.8% in patients with none or mild, moderate and severe renal dysfunction, respectively) and cardiovascular mortality (2.8%, 5.2% and 10.2%, respectively). After multivariable adjustment, severe renal dysfunction was associated with a higher risk of all-cause (hazard ratio (HR) 2.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-5.37, P = 0.001) and cardiovascular death (HR 3.11, 95% CI 1.41-6.83, P = 0.005), whereas non-fatal events were unaffected. Acute kidney injury incidence was significantly higher in ST-elevation myocardial infarction versus non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients (11.7% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.036) and in those with reduced baseline renal function (P < 0.001), and it was associated with increased mortality independently from baseline renal function and clinical presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline renal dysfunction is highly prevalent and is associated with higher mortality in elderly acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Acute kidney injury occurs more frequently among ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients and those with pre-existing renal dysfunction and is independently associated with one-year mortality.

Infective endocarditis and diabetes mellitus: Results from a single-center study from 1994 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with Infective Endocarditis (IE). METHODS AND RESULTS: 375 patients with diagnosis of IE referred to our Hospital between 1994-2017 were retrospectively included; diabetes was reported in 129 (34.4%). Diabetic patients were older than non-diabetic (66±1 vs. 57±2 years, p<0.001) and showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension (75 vs. 54%, p<0.001), coronary artery disease (30 vs. 12%, p<0.001) and history of heart failure (HF; 24 vs. 13%, p = 0.021). Echocardiography showed a higher incidence of paravalvular complications (82 vs. 64%, p<0.001) and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; 52±11 vs. 55±10%, p = 0.001) in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients. In-hospital mortality was higher in diabetic patients (83 vs. 74%; p = 0.030). At logistic regression, history of HF (OR = 3.1, 95%CI: 1.87-5.29, p<0.001) resulted an independent predictor of in-hospital death. At long-term follow-up [median 24(7-84) months], the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly lower survival free from all-cause death in the group with diabetes (Log-rank<0.001). At the propensity score adjusted Cox multivariable analysis, DM (HR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.18-2.6, p = 0.005), age (HR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.02-1.05, p<0.001), intravenous drug users (HR = 5.42, 95%CI: 2.55-11.51, p<0.001) and low LVEF (HR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96-0.99, p = 0.013) were independently associated to a higher mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients with IE, DM is associated to a higher prevalence of anatomic complications and a more impaired LVEF. Diabetic patients show a significantly lower survival both in hospital and during follow-up compared to the non-diabetic ones.

Analysis of Regional Right Ventricular Function by Tissue Doppler Imaging in Patients with Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is frequently observed in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Nevertheless, assessment of regional RV deformation is yet not performed. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of moderate and severe AS on global and regional RV function by a multisegmental approach using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). METHODS: In 50 patients (Group I - AS [n = 25] and Group II - normal controls [n = 25]), additional echocardiographic views of the RV were prospectively performed. The TDI sample volume was placed in the basal myocardial region of the anterior (RV-anterior), inferior (RV-inferior), and free RV wall (RV-free wall) to assess the following parameters: S'RV, E'RV, and A'RV waves; IVCTRV; IVRTRV; and myocardial performance index (MPIRV). RESULTS: In AS patients, left ventricular (LV) mass index, left atrial (LA) volume index, and LV end-diastolic pressure were significantly increased. Moreover, AS patients had higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and lower values for PV AccT (P < 0.0001), but TAPSE was not different between the two groups (P = 0.062). In AS patients, IVRTRV-anterior, IVRTRV-inferior, and IVRTRV-free wall and MPIRV were statistically increased (P < 0.0001). A significant correlation between IVRTRV (evaluated at all three regions) and the parameters including sPAP, PV AccT, and ELV/e'LV ratio was observed in AS. A strong correlation was observed between IVRTRV-free wall/inferior and AS severity by evaluation of velocities, gradient, and aortic valve area (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study reports a correlation between the severity of AS and the increase of IVRTRV and MPIRV. Thus, a distinct analysis of RV performance is important for echocardiographic evaluation of patients with AS.

How do cardiologists select patients for dual antiplatelet therapy continuation beyond 1 year after a myocardial infarction? Insights from the EYESHOT Post-MI Study.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines suggest to consider dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) continuation for longer than 12 months in selected patients with myocardial infarction (MI). HYPOTHESIS: We sought to assess the criteria used by cardiologists in daily practice to select patients with a history of MI eligible for DAPT continuation beyond 1 year. METHODS: We analyzed data from the EYESHOT Post-MI, a prospective, observational, nationwide study aimed to evaluate the management of patients presenting to cardiologists 1 to 3 years from the last MI event. RESULTS: Out of the 1633 post-MI patients enrolled in the study between March and December 2017, 557 (34.1%) were on DAPT at the time of enrolment, and 450 (27.6%) were prescribed DAPT after cardiologist assessment. At multivariate analyses, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with multiple stents and the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) resulted as independent predictors of DAPT continuation, while atrial fibrillation was the only independent predictor of DAPT interruption for patients both at the second and the third year from MI at enrolment and the time of discharge/end of the visit. CONCLUSIONS: Risk scores recommended by current guidelines for guiding decisions on DAPT duration are underused and misused in clinical practice. A PCI with multiple stents and a history of PAD resulted as the clinical variables more frequently associated with DAPT continuation beyond 1 year from the index MI.

Adiponectin and insulin resistance are related to restenosis and overall new PCI in subjects with normal glucose tolerance: the prospective AIRE Study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT) some causes of ischemic heart disease (IHD) were not completely investigated. The role both of metabolic milieu and adipokines in IHD progression was not fully investigated. Our aim was to assess the link between adipokines plasma levels, insulin resistance (IR) and IHD in NGT patients undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). METHODS: AIRE is a single-center prospective longitudinal observational study investigating the IHD outcome of NGT subjects who underwent coronary revascularization by PCI in a third level cardiology center at A.O. dei Colli Hospital, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli". Six hundred seventy-nine subjects hospitalized in 2015 for coronary arteriography not suffering from Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the previous 4 weeks, as well as from all conditions could affect glycemic plasma levels and IR status, were assessed for eligibility. Fifty-four patients with neither history of diabetes nor Altered Fasting Glucose (AFG)/Impaired Fasting Glucose (IGT) after Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) were finally enrolled. Primary endpoint was the assessment of the relationship of adipokines and HOMA-IR with the occurrence of restenosis in NGT subjects. As secondary endpoint we assessed the association of the same adipokines and IR with overall ACS events after PCI in NGT subjects. RESULTS: The 54 NGT patients enrolled were mainly males (85%), with a median age of 60 years [IQR 58-63 years]. Only 4 patients (7.4%) experimented restenosis. Median follow-up was equal to 29.5 months [IQR 14.7-34 months]. Adiponectin levels were independently associated to restenosis (OR 0.206; 95% CI 0.053-0.796; p = 0.000). Instead HOMA-IR and adiponectin appeared independently associated both to de novo IHD (OR 9.6*1013; 95% CI 3.026-3.08*1027; p = 0.042 and OR 0.206; 95% CI 0.053-0.796; p = 0.000, respectively) and overall new PCI (OR 1.5*1011; 95% CI 2.593-8.68*1021; p = 0.042 and OR 0.206; 95% CI 0.053-0.796; p = 0.000, respectively). Moreover, we fixed a potential cut-off for adiponectin for risk of restenosis (≤ 8.5 µg/mL) and overall new PCI (≤ 9.5 µg/mL). CONCLUSION: IR and cytokines play a role in progression of any stage of IHD also in NGT subjects. Our results in this setting of patients, though the relatively small sample size, represent a novelty. Future studies on larger populations are needed to analyze more in depth adipokines and insulin resistance role on IHD progression in non-diabetic people.

Antiplatelet therapy in very elderly and comorbid patients with acute coronary syndromes.

With population ageing and rise of life expectancy, a progressively increasing proportion of patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are older adults, including those at extreme chronological age. Increasing amounts of data, including randomized clinical trials, have shown that the benefits of an early revascularization are maintained also at very old age, resulting in improved outcome after an acute coronary event. On the contrary, the optimal antiplatelet therapy (APT) remains unclear in these patients, because of both safety and efficacy concerns. Indeed, age-related multiple organ dysfunction and high prevalence of comorbidities may on the one hand reduce the therapeutic effects of administered drugs; on the other hand, it leads to increased vulnerability to drug toxicity and side effects. Therefore, management of APT is particularly challenging in elderly patients because of higher risk of both ischemic and bleeding events. The aim of the present paper is to review the current evidence, gaps in knowledge and ongoing research regarding APT in the setting of an ACS in elderly and very elderly patients, and in those with significant comorbidities including chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and frailty.

Long-term outcome in patients with Takotsubo syndrome presenting with severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

AIM: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 35%) at presentation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population included 326 patients (mean age 69.5 ± 10.7 years, 28 male) with TTS enrolled in the Takotsubo Italian Network, divided into two groups according to LVEF (≤ 35%, n = 131; > 35%, n = 195), as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at hospital admission. In-hospital events were recorded in both groups. At long-term follow-up (median 26.5 months, interquartile range 18-33), composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE: cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and TTS recurrence) and rehospitalization were investigated. Compared to patients with LVEF > 35%, patients with LVEF ≤ 35% were older (71.2 ± 10.8 vs. 68.4 ± 10.6 years; P = 0.026) and experienced more frequently cardiogenic shock (16% vs. 4.6%; P < 0.001), acute heart failure (28.2% vs. 12.8%; P = 0.001), and intra-aortic balloon pump support (11.5% vs. 2.6%; P = 0.001) in the acute phase. At long-term follow-up, higher rates of composite MACE (25.2% vs. 10.8%; P = 0.001) and rehospitalization for cardiac causes (26% vs. 13.3%; P = 0.004) were observed in these patients. LVEF ≤ 35% at admission [hazard ratio (HR) 2.184, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.231-3.872; P = 0.008] and age (HR 1.041, 95% CI 1.011-1.073; P = 0.006) were independent predictors of MACE. Patients with LVEF ≤ 35% also had a significant lower freedom from composite MACE during long-term follow-up (χ2 = 11.551, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% at presentation is a key parameter to identify TTS patients at higher risk not only in the acute phase but also at long-term follow-up.

Time Course of Ischemic and Bleeding Burden in Elderly Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Randomized to Low-Dose Prasugrel or Clopidogrel.

Background Elderly patients have high ischemic and bleeding rates after acute coronary syndrome; however, the occurrence of these complications over time has never been studied. This study sought to characterize average daily ischemic rates ( ADIRs ) and average daily bleeding rates ( ADBRs ) over 1 year in patients aged >74 years with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention who were randomized in the Elderly ACS 2 trial, comparing low-dose prasugrel (5 mg daily) with clopidogrel (75 mg daily). Methods and Results ADIRs and ADBRs were calculated as the total number of events, including recurrent events, divided by the number of patient-days of follow-up and assessed within different clinical phases: acute (0-3 days), subacute (4-30 days), and late (31-365 days). Generalized estimating equations were used to test the least squares mean differences for the pairwise comparisons of ADIRs and ADBRs and the pairwise comparison of clopidogrel versus prasugrel effects. Globally, ADIRs were 2.6 times (95% CI, 2.4-2.9) higher than ADBRs . ADIRs were significantly higher in the clopidogrel arm than in the low-dose prasugrel arm in the subacute phase ( Padj<0.001) without a difference in ADBRs ( Padj=0.35). In the late phase, ADIRs remained significantly higher with clopidogrel ( Padj<0.001), whereas ADBRs were significantly higher with low-dose prasugrel ( Padj<0.001). Conclusions Ischemic burden was greater than bleeding burden in all clinical phases of 1-year follow-up of elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. Low-dose prasugrel reduced ischemic events in the subacute and chronic phases compared with clopidogrel, whereas bleeding burden was lower with clopidogrel in the late phase. Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 01777503.

Assessment of acute myocarditis by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: Comparison of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods.

BACKGROUND: To compare cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for the noninvasive assessment of myocardial inflammation in patients with suspected acute myocarditis (AM). METHODS: A total of 61 patients with suspected AM underwent coronary angiography and CMR. Qualitative analysis was performed applying Lake-Louise Criteria (LLC), followed by quantitative analysis based on the evaluation of edema ratio (ER) and global relative enhancement (RE). Diagnostic performance was assessed for each method by measuring the area under the curves (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic analyses. The final diagnosis of AM was based on symptoms and signs suggestive of cardiac disease, evidence of myocardial injury as defined by electrocardiogram changes, elevated troponin I, exclusion of coronary artery disease by coronary angiography, and clinical and echocardiographic follow-up at 3 months after admission to the chest pain unit. RESULTS: In all patients, coronary angiography did not show significant coronary artery stenosis. Troponin I levels and creatine kinase were higher in patients with AM compared to those without (both P < .001). There were no significant differences among LLC, T2-weighted short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) sequences, early (EGE), and late (LGE) gadolinium-enhancement sequences for diagnosis of AM. The AUC for qualitative (T2-weighted STIR 0.92, EGE 0.87 and LGE 0.88) and quantitative (ER 0.89 and global RE 0.80) analyses were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative and quantitative CMR analysis methods show similar diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of AM. These findings suggest that a simplified approach using a shortened CMR protocol including only T2-weighted STIR sequences might be useful to rule out AM in patients with acute coronary syndrome and normal coronary angiography.

Predictors of outcome in heart failure patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation undergoing MitraClip treatment.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic predictors of outcome in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) undergoing MitraClip implantation (MCi) are still poorly known. The aim of our study is to identify the baseline predictors of outcome in FMR patients candidate to MCi. METHODS: All patients with symptomatic moderate-to-severe or severe FMR undergoing MCi at our institution were consecutively and prospectively enrolled. Baseline clinical and instrumental data were collected. Primary endpoint was the occurrence of cardiac death; secondary endpoints were all-cause death and the composite of cardiac death or rehospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS: 74 patients (mean 71.6 ±â€¯8.3 years) were enrolled. During follow-up (median 416.0 days), the primary endpoint occurred in 15 (20.3%), all-cause death in 26 (35.1%) and the composite endpoint in 25 (33.8%). At multivariate analysis, the left atrial volume index (LAVi; HR:1.02; P = 0.048) and the low peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2; HR:0.73; P = 0.018) increased the risk of cardiac death at follow-up; atrial fibrillation (AF; HR:2.69; P = 0.027) was independently associated to all-cause death and the low level of peak VO2 was an independent predictor of overall mortality (HR:0.70; P < 0.001) as well as of the composite endpoint (HR:0.73; P < 0.001). The ROC analysis identified a peak VO2 cut-off of 10.0 mL/kg/min as the best predictor for the three study endpoints; the best LAVi cut-off for cardiac death was 67 mL/m2. Kaplan-Meier analysis for the individual and combined outcome predictors confirmed their significant stratification ability during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Peak VO2, along with LAVi and AF, identify FMR patients with the worst prognosis after MCi.

Outcomes of Elderly Patients with ST-Elevation or Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have been classified according to the finding of ST-segment elevation on the presenting electrocardiogram, with different treatment strategies and practice guidelines. However, a comparative description of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention during index admission has not been published so far. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the Elderly ACS-2 multicenter randomized trial. Main outcome measures were crude cumulative incidence and cause-specific hazard ratio (cHR) of cardiovascular death, noncardiovascular death, reinfarction, and stroke. RESULTS: Of 1443 ACS patients aged >75 years (median age 80 years, interquartile range 77-84), 41% were classified as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and 59% had non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTEACS) (48% NSTEMI and 11% unstable angina). As compared with those with NSTEACS, STEMI patients had more favorable baseline risk factors, fewer prior cardiovascular events, and less severe coronary disease, but lower ejection fraction (45% vs 50%, P < .001). At a median follow-up of 12 months, 51 (8.6%) STEMI patients had died, vs 39 (4.6%) NSTEACS patients. After adjusting for sex, age, and previous myocardial infarction, the hazard among the STEMI group was significantly higher for cardiovascular death (cHR 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-3.36), noncardiovascular death (cHR 2.10; 95% CI, 1.01-4.38), and stroke (cHR 4.8; 95% CI, 1.7-13.7). CONCLUSIONS: Despite more favorable baseline characteristics, elderly STEMI patients have worse survival and a higher risk of stroke compared with NSTEACS patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Contemporary management of patients referring to cardiologists one to three years from a myocardial infarction: The EYESHOT Post-MI study.

AIMS: To describe the contemporary management by cardiologists of patients after an episode of myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: The EYESHOT Post-MI was a prospective, observational, nationwide study aimed to evaluate the management of patients referring to cardiologists 1 to 3 years from the last MI event. RESULTS: Over a 3-month period, 1633 consecutive patients [median 22 (IQR 15-28) months from MI] were enrolled: 1028 (63.0%) at the second and 605 (37.0%) at the third year from MI. During the 12 months prior to enrolment, the majority of patients received a transthoracic echocardiogram (60% and 54%), followed by coronary angiography (24% and 16%, in the second and third year from MI groups, respectively). At the time of enrolment, the majority of patients were prescribed on statins (93%) and beta-blockers (82%), without significant differences between the 2 groups. A dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was used more frequently among patients presenting during the second compared to the third year from MI (40% vs 24%; p < 0.0001). At multivariable analysis, the time interval from last MI (2 vs 3 years: OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.79-2.88; p < 0.0001) and a previous percutaneous coronary intervention with multiple stents (OR 3.46; 95% CI 2.19-5.47; p < 0.0001) resulted as the major independent predictors of DAPT persistence at the time of enrolment. CONCLUSIONS: This contemporary registry provides unique insights into the current management of post-MI patients and represents an opportunity to further improve the long-term treatment of this high-risk population.