Suriyathumrongkul, Napat

Background: Revascularization of small vessel coronary artery disease (SvCAD) is still challenging despite the extensive use of drug-eluting stents (DESs), mainly because of an increase in target vessel failure. Drug-coated balloon (DCB) has emerged as an alternative strategy in SvCAD. However, the safety and efficacy of DCB in SvCAD is still controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis comparing the clinical outcomes of DCB and DES in SvCAD patients. Methods: We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to May 2024. Included studies were published randomized control trials (RCTs) that compared major adverse cardiac events (MACE), target-lesion revascularization (TLR), and target-vessel revascularization (TVR) between DCB and DES in SvCAD patients. Data from each study were combined using the random-effects model. Results: Six RCTs were included in this meta-analysis involving 1,534 SvCAD patients (775 underwent revascularization with DCB and 759 with DES). There was no difference in MACE, TLR, and TVR between DCB and DES groups ([OR] 1.14, 95% CI 0.64-2.00, I 2 =58.2%, p=0.657, [OR] 1.34, 95% CI 0.56-3.23, I 2 =48.5%, p=0.516, and [OR] 1.09, 95% CI 0.59-2.01, I 2 =49.6%, p=0.795, respectively) (Figure 1). There was no publication bias observed in Funnel plot as well as no small-study effect observed in Egger’s test. Conclusions: As compared to DES, our study showed that DCB was associated with similar clinical outcomes and could be a potential alternative strategy in SvCAD patients.

Introduction: Chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) management remains a challenge. Several studies have reported the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in CTO. However, the outcomes of PCI vs optimal medical therapy (OMT) are still controversial. We conducted an extensive review and meta-analysis to compare the clinical outcomes between PCI and OMT in CTO. Methods: We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to May 2024. Included studies were published cohort (prospective or retrospective) with propensity score matching analysis and randomized trials that reported all-cause death, cardiac death, and myocardial infarction (MI) with PCI and OMT in CTO patients. Data from each study were combined using the random-effects, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird to calculate odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Sixteen studies, 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 11 observational studies with propensity score with matching (PSMs), were included in this meta-analysis involving 8,316 CTO patients (4,332 underwent PCI and 4,084 received OMT). In the overall analysis, all-cause death, cardiac death, and MI were significantly reduced in PCI compared to OMT group, respectively ([OR] 0.65, 95% CI 0.55-0.76, I 2 =0.0%, p<0.001, [OR] 0.60, 95% CI 0.49-0.74, I 2 =0.0%, p<0.001, and [OR] 0.72, 95% CI 0.52-0.99, I 2 =19.0%, p=0.041). Conclusions: Our study is the most updated meta-analysis to assess the impact of PCI compared to OMT in patients with CTO, analyzing the data being derived from PSMs and RCTs, that demonstrated significant impact of PCI on all-cause death, cardiac mortality, and MI.

Introduction: Menopause is known to be associated with myocardial infarction (MI). However, the association between menopause age and MI onset in a nationally representative population remains unknown. Objective: To examine the correlation between age of menopause and age of MI onset in the general population and the association between early menopause (onset of menopause ≤ 40 years old) and early onset of MI (onset of MI ≤ 40 years old). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a population from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The questionnaire collected self-reported data on the participants' menopause age and their age of first MI. The relationship between these two parameters was analyzed by multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses. Multivariate analysis was adjusted for race, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and dyslipidemia status. Results: Among 2,200 postmenopausal females, 90 (4.1%) have had MI. The study involved 85 postmenopausal females who reported both menopause age and MI onset, with a mean ± SD age of 55 ± 13 years. This study found a significant association between menopause age and MI onset. After adjusting for confounders, it was found that every 1-year increase in the age of menopause will delay the onset of MI by 0.28 years, with a 95% CI of 0.013 to 0.552 (Table 1A, Graph 1A, Graph 1B). Additionally, early menopause carries an almost significantly increased risk of 2.11 times (95% CI: 1.00, 4.45) for early-onset MI. After adjusting for confounders, the magnitude of the association was lower and not statistically significant, but the direction remains (OR (95% CI): 2.08 (0.87, 4.95)). However, after stratification with comorbidities, DM status was identified as an effect modifier, with early MI significantly observed in patients with DM in both univariate and multivariate analyses, with OR (95% CI) of 3.03 (1.10, 8.37) and 4.88 (1.26, 18.96), respectively (Table 2A). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a positive association between menopause age and MI onset in a generally representative population. This suggests that prolonged estrogen exposure due to late menopause may delay the onset of MI. Additionally, early menopause was associated with early MI onset in the DM population. Further longitudinal studies are required to examine the potential mechanisms involved in menopause onset and MI onset.

Background: There is suspicion that estrogen may protect against atherosclerosis. Women who experience menarche earlier, and thus have earlier estrogen exposure, might develop atherosclerosis later. The relationship between menarche age and the onset of angina pectoris, a symptom of coronary artery disease, remains unknown. Goal: This study aims to find the correlation between menarche age and the onset age of angina pectoris, and the association between early menarche (onset of menarche ≤ 10 y/o) and early onset of angina pectoris (onset of angina pectoris ≤ 40 y/o). Methods: A cross-sectional study using a population from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The question collects self-reported data on onset of menarche and onset of angina pectoris. The relationship between menarche age and age in onset of angina pectoris was analyzed by linear and logistic regression analysis. Multivariate analysis adjusted for race, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking , diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and dyslipidemia status. Results: Among 4,816 females who reported their menarche age, 88(1.8 %) have had an angina pectoris. The study involved 82 females who reported both the age of menarche and the age of onset of angina pectoris. The mean ± SD of the age at menarche and the age at onset of angina pectoris was 12.53 ± 1.79 y/o and 51.66 ± 15.16 y/o, respectively. The study found a significant association between the menarche age and the age at onset of angina pectoris. After adjusting for confounders, we found that every 1-year increase in the age of menarche will delay the onset of angina pectoris by 1.43 years, with a 95% CI of 0.01 to 2.86.(Table 1A,Graph 1A-1B) We also found that early menarche has a significantly increased risk 2.8 times (95%CI: 1.3, 6.2) of early onset of angina pectoris.After adjusting for confounders, the association became even stronger. The odds ratio (OR) increased to 3.3 (95%CI: 1.4, 8.0), indicating that women with early menarche were 3.3 times more likely to experience early angina pectoris compared to those with later menarche.(Table 2A) Conclusion: In contrast to our hypothesis, age at menarche is positively associated with onset of angina pectoris. The earlier onset of menarche is linked to the earlier onset of angina pectoris. We suspected that factors beyond estrogen levels may contribute to this unexpected finding. Additional studies are needed to examine the cause of this correlation.

Background: Although BP is associated with kidney outcomes, its clinical significance in living kidney donors (LKD) is unknown. We aim to examine the association between pre-donation BP and the risk of kidney function decline in LKD. Methods: A retrospective cohort study using OPTN/SRTR including adult LKD, who underwent donation between 6/1972 and 9/2022, was utilized to examine the association of quartile (Q) of pre-donation SBP and DBP with time-to-event of ≥35% decline in post-donation eGFR from pre-donation eGFR by multiple Cox regression. Results: Of 174,311 adult LKD, mean±SD age was 41±12 years and 60% were female. Mean pre-donation SBP and DBP were 122±13 and 74±9 mmHg, respectively. Mean pre-donation SBP in Q 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 106±6, 117±2, 126±3, and 140±9 mmHg, respectively and the corresponding DBP were 62±5, 71±2, 78±2, and 86±5 mmHg, respectively. The median (IQR) of pre-donation eGFR was 91 (75, 111) mL/min/1.73 m2. Median(IQR) eGFR at immediate post-donation, 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-donation were 50 (40, 62), 54 (44, 67), 55 (45, 68), and 57 (47, 70) mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Out of 38,780 LKD with post-donation eGFR data at 6, 12, or 24 months, 31,054 had the event of ≥35% decline in post-donation eGFR from pre-donation eGFR with a median time to follow-up of 6.77 months(IQR 5.93, 12.67). The incidence rate of the event was 0.08 person-months. Compared to patients with SBP in Q 1, those with SBP in Q 2, 3, and 4 had a significantly increased risk for the event(HRSBP Q2,3,4 1.05, 1.08, and 1.15; P <0.001 – 0.003) but only patients with DBP in Q 3 and 4 had a significantly increased risk for the event (HRSBP Q3,4 1.04 and 1.09). After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, U.S. citizenship, education level, history of pre-donation HTN, diabetes, pre-donation BMI, DBP, and urine protein:creatinine ratio, there was a J-shaped association between pre-donation SBP and post-donation eGFR decline and only patients in the Q 2 became significantly associated with lower the risk for the event (HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.76, 0.99; Fig1). The pre-donation DBP – post-donation eGFR association was similar to the SBP – eGFR association but there was no statistically significant in all Q (Fig2). There was no effect-measured modifier for all covariates. Conclusions: Pre-donation SBP in a normal range(113 - 120 mmHg) is associated with the lowest risk for a post-donation eGFR decline. BP control in the normal range should be achieved for potential LKD.