Tomek, Aleš

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated cardiovascular (CV) benefits and are recommended for T2DM patients with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD). However, real-world data on their adoption in high-risk populations, particularly myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke survivors, remain limited. Purpose To assess real-world utilization of GLP-1RAs and SGLT2i among T2DM patients with ASCVD focusing on trends, disparities by age, sex, and region from 2015 to 2023. Methods A nationwide cohort study using data from the National Registry of Reimbursed Health Services (2015–2023), covering all reimbursed health services in the Czech Republic. Patients with nonfatal MI (ICD-10: I21, I22) or stroke (I63, I64) and confirmed T2DM were included. Prescriptions were identified at the event or within 12 months post-event. Utilization trends were analyzed, and logistic regression was used to determine predictors of medication use. Results Among 116,218 MI patients (median age:68 years, 33.5% women), 53,128 (46%) had T2DM (median age:71 years, 37% women). Within 12 months post-MI, 2.1% received GLP-1RAs and 10.6% received SGLT2i, with increasing trends from 0.3% (2015) to 4.8% (2023) (GLP-1RAs) and 0.4% (2015) to 34.8% (2023) (SGLT2i). Women were less likely to receive SGLT2i (aOR: 0.70 [95%CI:0.65–0.74]), while no significant difference was observed for GLP-1RAs (aOR:0.98 [95%CI:0.86–1.12]). Older patients (>70 years) had lower odds of receiving GLP-1RAs (aOR:0.31 [95%CI:0.27–0.36]) and SGLT2i (aOR:0.53 [95%CI:0.50–0.56]). Prescription rates were highest in Prague (3.1% GLP-1RAs; 13.5% SGLT2i) and lowest in the Moravian-Silesian Region (1.4% GLP-1RAs; 8.8% SGLT2i). Among 164,729 stroke patients (median age:73 years, 49% women), 78,562 (48%) had T2DM (median age:75 years, 50% women). Within 12 months post-stroke, 1.2% received GLP-1RAs and 3.7% received SGLT2i, with increasing trends from 0.2% (2015) to 2.8% (2023) (GLP-1RAs) and 0.1% (2015) to 10.4% (2023) (SGLT2i). Women were less likely to receive GLP-1RAs (aOR:0.82 [95%CI:0.72–0.95]) and SGLT2i (aOR:0.57 [95%CI:0.52–0.62]). Older patients (>70 years) had lower odds of receiving GLP-1RAs (aOR:0.31 [95%CI:0.27–0.36]) and SGLT2i (aOR:0.40 [95%CI:0.37–0.44]). Regional disparities were notable, with prescription rates varying from 0.8–2.1% (GLP-1RAs) and 2.4–5.2% (SGLT2i). Conclusions Prescribing rates for GLP-1RAs and SGLT2i have increased over the past eight years but remain low, even among MI and stroke survivors. Women, older patients, and those in lower-income regions are significantly less likely to receive these therapies. Targeted interventions are needed to improve secondary prevention in high-risk diabetic populations and to address these disparities.Myocardial infarction patients Stroke patients

Abstract Aims Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and are recommended in guidelines. We evaluated the real-world effectiveness of GLP-1RA therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with T2D after myocardial infarction (MI) or ischaemic stroke and examined trends and disparities. Methods and results Using nationwide Czech registry data (2015–24), we identified patients with incident nonfatal MI or ischaemic stroke and confirmed T2D. GLP-1RA users—initiating therapy within 12 months post-event—were propensity score matched to non-users. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular death); secondary outcomes included individual components and all-cause mortality. GLP-1RA therapy was initiated in only ∼2% of MI and stroke survivors with T2D. Among 126 845 MI survivors, 28 206 had T2D; the matched cohort comprised 2271 patients (401 GLP-1RA; median follow-up 35 months). GLP-1RA use was associated with lower risk of MACE (HR 0.7; 95% CI, 0.52–0.93), all-cause (HR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47–0.80), and cardiovascular death (HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.36–0.80). Among 177 115 stroke survivors, 73 750 had T2D; the matched cohort comprised 2235 patients (385 GLP-1RA; median follow-up 27 months). GLP-1RA use was associated with lower risk of MACE (HR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54–0.94), all-cause (HR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46–0.76), and cardiovascular death (HR 0.55; 95% CI, 0.37–0.81). Conclusion GLP-1RA therapy after MI or stroke in T2D was associated with substantially lower risks of MACE, cardiovascular, and all-cause death in real-world practice. Utilization remained low, particularly among women and older adults, underscoring the need for broader and more equitable implementation in secondary prevention.

Background: Despite the well-established potent benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke, access to MT has not been studied globally. We conducted a worldwide survey of countries on 6 continents to define MT access (MTA), the disparities in MTA, and its determinants on a global scale. Methods: Our survey was conducted in 75 countries through the Mission Thrombectomy 2020+ global network between November 22, 2020, and February 28, 2021. The primary end points were the current annual MTA, MT operator availability, and MT center availability. MTA was defined as the estimated proportion of patients with LVO receiving MT in a given region annually. The availability metrics were defined as ([current MT operators×50/current annual number of estimated thrombectomy-eligible LVOs]×100 = MT operator availability) and ([current MT centers×150/current annual number of estimated thrombectomy-eligible LVOs]×100= MT center availability). The metrics used optimal MT volume per operator as 50 and an optimal MT volume per center as 150. Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models were used to evaluate factors associated with MTA. Results: We received 887 responses from 67 countries. The median global MTA was 2.79% (interquartile range, 0.70–11.74). MTA was <1.0% for 18 (27%) countries and 0 for 7 (10%) countries. There was a 460-fold disparity between the highest and lowest nonzero MTA regions and low-income countries had 88% lower MTA compared with high-income countries. The global MT operator availability was 16.5% of optimal and the MT center availability was 20.8% of optimal. On multivariable regression, country income level (low or lower–middle versus high: odds ratio, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.04–0.12]), MT operator availability (odds ratio, 3.35 [95% CI, 2.07–5.42]), MT center availability (odds ratio, 2.86 [95% CI, 1.84–4.48]), and presence of prehospital acute stroke bypass protocol (odds ratio, 4.00 [95% CI, 1.70–9.42]) were significantly associated with increased odds of MTA. Conclusions: Access to MT on a global level is extremely low, with enormous disparities between countries by income level. The significant determinants of MT access are the country’s per capita gross national income, prehospital LVO triage policy, and MT operator and center availability.

AbstractBackground and PurposeDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic many countries reported a decline in stroke volumes. The aim of this study was to analyze if the decline was related to the intensity of the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsThe first pandemic year (1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021) overall and during the three COVID‐19 waves were compared with the preceding year. Volumes of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage and recanalization treatments (intravenous thrombolysis [IVT] and mechanical thrombectomy [MT]) were obtained from the National Register of Reimbursed Health Services. Door‐to‐needle time, onset‐to‐door time and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at admission were obtained from the Registry of Stroke Care Quality.ResultsDuring the pandemic year compared to the preceding year there were 26,453 versus 28,771 stroke admissions, representing an 8.8% decline (p < 0.001). The declines (−10%, −11%, −19%) appeared in COVID‐19 waves (spring 2020, autumn 2020, winter 2021) except for an increase (2%) during summer 2020. Admissions for AIS declined by 10.2% (p < 0.001), whilst hemorrhagic stroke volumes were minimally decreased. The absolute volumes of IVT and MT decreased by 9.4% (p < 0.001) and 5.7% (p = 0.16), respectively. However, the proportions of ischaemic stroke patients receiving IVT (18% vs. 18%; p = 0.72) and MT (6% vs. 6%; p = 0.28) remained unchanged.ConclusionsThere was a decline in stroke admissions, but such decline was not related to COVID‐19 incidence. The frequency of use of recanalization procedures (IVT, MT) and times (onset‐to‐door time, door‐to‐needle time) in AIS were preserved in the Czech Republic during the first year of the pandemic.