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ABSTRACT Background Although Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is the cornerstone treatment acute myocardial infarction (AMI), its use in the elderly, specifically nonagenarians patients, is not well studied. This study sought to compare the outcomes and complications of nonagenarian patients who experienced AMI between those who underwent PCI and those who underwent medical treatment only. Methods We evaluated 301,440 nonagenarian (ages 90−99) patients who presented to the hospital with AMI who were listed in the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2021. AMI was defined according to the ICD‐10 Diagnostic Codes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of PCI with primary outcomes of mortality and secondary outcomes. The temporal trend of both the incidence of PCI in nonagenarian patients as well as the mortality rate between 2016 and 2021 were expressed as percentages over time. Results Of the total ( n = 301,440) nonagenarian patients with AMI, 33,035 patients underwent PCI while 268,406 did not undergo PCI and rather, just utilized optimized medical therapy (OMT). Of these, 3290 (9.96%) died in the PCI group, and 43580 (16.24%) died in the OMT group. All of the secondary outcomes were significantly different between the PCI and OMT groups. Comparing the two groups, the PCI group was associated with decreased mortality (OR 0.63 [95% CI, 0.58−0.69]; p < 0.001), acute heart failure (OR 0.88 [95% CI, 0.82−0.95] p < 0.001), and AKI (OR 0.75 [95% CI, 0.70−0.79]; p < 0.001), and increased cardiogenic shock (OR 3.06 [95% CI, 2.77−3.38]. The temporal of PCI in nonagenarian patients showed an increase in frequency from about 8.3 in 2016 to about 13.7% in 2021. Furthermore, comparing the mortality between the PCI and OMT groups showed a significant difference with a decreased mortality in the PCI group. Conclusions Nonagenarian patients experiencing AMI who underwent PCI is associated with a significant mortality decrease compared to those who underwent OMT only. The PCI group was also associated with a significant decrease in multiple secondary complications including acute heart failure, AKI, acute stroke, and an increase in cardiogenic shock. Temporally, we have seen an increase in PCI being used in nonagenarian patients over the interval.

Myocardial Bridging (MB) is typically a benign congenital coronary anomaly. MB can infrequently result in complications such as myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Recent studies suggest an underlying genetic component for MB involving DES, FBN1, SCN2B, or NOTCH1. The role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in managing MB, compared to optimal medical therapy (OMT), remains uncertain. Our study used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database to identify patients aged 18 or older with myocardial bridging who were managed with PCI versus medical therapy. We compared the outcomes between both groups including in-hospital mortality, the trend of management of MB and other in-hospital outcomes or complications. Our results showed no statistically significant difference between both subgroups when comparing in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes of cardiac arrest and the development of an acute kidney injury (AKI). Patients with myocardial bridging treated with PCI had a higher risk of developing cardiogenic shock, requiring LVAD, and requiring the use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) compared to the medical therapy subgroup. Our study suggests the decision to perform PCI in myocardial bridging patients should be individualized such as in patients with refractory symptoms despite medical therapy or those with known high-risk features.

Introduction: Data on outcomes between unfractionated heparin and bivalirudin anticoagulation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndromes remain inconclusive. We aimed to systematically analyze PCI outcomes by comparing unfractionated heparin and bivalirudin. Methods: We systematically searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science from database inception in 1966 through January 2024 for studies evaluating PCI outcomes comparing unfractionated heparin and bivalirudin. Two investigators independently reviewed the data. Conflicts were resolved through consensus. Random-effects meta-analyses were used. Results: A total of 10 prospective trials were identified that enrolled 42,253 individuals who presented with an acute coronary syndrome. Our analysis found that heparin when compared to bivalirudin was associated with an increased risk of trial-based definition of major bleeding [relative risk (RR): 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–2.20], nonaccess site complications (RR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.75–12.09), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction major bleeding (RR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.20–2.41), major bleeding risks (RR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.49–2.36), cardiovascular disease death (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.57), and thrombocytopenia (RR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.07–2.62). There were no statistically significant differences between heparin and bivalirudin for all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular event, stroke, reinfarction, target vessel revascularization, and acute or stent thrombosis. Conclusions: The present meta-analysis demonstrates bivalirudin reduces major bleeding when used for anticoagulation during PCI in patients with acute coronary syndromes and is not associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis or major adverse cardiovascular event.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and often underdiagnosed cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), predominantly affecting younger women without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The management of SCAD remains a subject of debate, likely secondary to inconclusive evidence. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of SCAD patients treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT) versus those who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a national population-based cohort. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020. The study included patients identified with SCAD using the ICD-10-CM (the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) code I25.42. We excluded individuals who did not receive PCI or coronary angiography, those who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, and patients with incomplete records. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, while secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, use of temporary mechanical circulatory support, cost of hospitalization, and length of stay. National estimates were obtained using discharge weights, and statistical comparisons were performed using chi-square tests and linear regression. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of mortality and other outcomes. Results: A total of 31,105 SCAD patients were included in the study, with 10,480 receiving OMT and 20,625 undergoing PCI. Patients in the PCI group were older (mean age 64 vs. 54 years) and had higher comorbidities compared to those in the OMT group. The proportion of SCAD patients receiving PCI declined from 72% in 2016 to 60% in 2020. In multivariable analysis, PCI was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–2.90, p = 0.0003), cardiogenic shock (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.71–3.07, p < 0.0001), use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (OR 3.97, 95% CI 2.42–6.53, p < 0.0001), and an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.63–3.09, p < 0.0001). Trends also suggested an association between PCI and cardiac arrest, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and acute kidney injury (AKI). The PCI group had significantly higher hospitalization costs and longer lengths of stay compared to the OMT group (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this large, national cohort study, SCAD patients who underwent PCI had significantly higher risks of adverse in-hospital outcomes, including mortality, compared to those treated with OMT. These findings underscore the importance of careful patient selection and the potential advantages of conservative management in SCAD, particularly in patients without severe or unstable presentations. Further research is needed to develop evidence-based guidelines for the optimal management of SCAD.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have become increasingly utilized in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Despite these purported advantages, prior reports regarding the use of IVUS and OCT have indicated that contemporary use of intravascular imaging remains low with significant regional variation. Here, we present the findings of an updated contemporary analysis regarding the use of IVUS/OCT-guided PCI versus angiography-guided PCI in the United States. We also evaluated in-hospital mortality and clinical outcomes between IVUS/OCT-guided PCI versus angiography-guided PCI-only over million patients in the United States. There has been a significant decrease in the number of PCIs performed, while there has been increasing in the trend of IVUS/OCT-guided PCI over this period. Most importantly, we found that IVUS/OCT-guided PCI was associated with better clinical outcomes in terms of in-hospital mortality, compared with angiography-guided PCI.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a disease entity that often occurs in young, healthy women and can cause life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. However, the characteristics and outcomes of SCAD with cardiac arrest are not well characterized. Methods: This study investigated the baseline characteristics of SCAD patients with cardiac arrest using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2016 and 2020. In addition, we also sought to determine the potential impact that implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy had on morbidity and mortality in SCAD patients presenting with cardiac arrest. Results: Our findings showed that the SCAD with cardiac arrest population had significantly higher comorbidities, including cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, pulmonary circulation disorders, liver diseases, solid tumors, coagulopathy, fluid disorders, chronic kidney disease (CKD), anemia secondary to deficiency, psychosis, neurological disorders, carotid artery disease, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF)), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), compared to the SCAD without cardiac arrest population. Likewise, for SCAD patients who did not have an ICD in place, we found increasing age, fluid and electrolyte disorders, uncomplicated diabetes, neurological disorders, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary circulatory disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure to be associated with greater mortality. Conclusions: SCAD patients with certain comorbidities (e.g., pulmonary diseases, liver diseases, cancers, coagulopathy, and CKD) who presented with AMI or congestive heart failure should be monitored closely for ventricular arrhythmias as they have a higher chance of progressing to cardiac arrest. ICD therapy can be considered for these patients, but data on the success of this treatment option are limited, and more research needs to be performed to determine whether the benefits of this outweigh the risks.

It is well known that individuals with liver cirrhosis are considered at high risk for cardiac surgery, with an increased risk for morbidity and mortality as the liver disease progresses. In the last decade, there have been considerable advances in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in individuals deemed to be at high risk for surgery. However, research surrounding TAVI in the setting of liver cirrhosis has not been as widely studied. In this national population-based cohort study, we evaluated the trends of mortality, complications, and healthcare utilization in liver cirrhotic patients undergoing TAVI, as well as analyzed the basic demographics of these individuals. We found that from 2011 to 2020, the amount of TAVI procedures conducted in cirrhotic patients was increasing annually, while mortality, procedural complications, and healthcare utilization trends in these cirrhotic patients undergoing TAVI decreased. Overall, TAVI does seem to be reasonable management for aortic stenosis patients with liver cirrhosis who need aortic valve replacement.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can be treated conservatively. However, some SCAD patients can develop cardiogenic shock (CS). We evaluated the outcomes of SCAD-related CS using data from a national population-based cohort study from January 1, 2016, to December 30, 2019. In our study of 32,640 patients with SCAD, about 10.6% of patients presented with CS. We found that SCAD patients with CS had higher mortality and greater complications including use of mechanical circulatory devices, arrhythmias, respiratory support, and acute heart failure compared to those without CS. When comparing CS due to SCAD with that due to coronary artery disease, we found that although mortality rates were similar, those with CS due to SCAD were associated with higher risk of use of mechanical circulatory support, major bleeding, blood transfusion, and respiratory failure.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as a non-traumatic separation of the epicardial coronary artery walls that creates a false lumen. SCAD poses a difficult challenge in management, as decisions regarding revascularization and medical management seem to be tailored to the individual patient. We evaluated and compared outcomes based on cardiogenic shock in patients with SCAD utilizing Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) between January 1, 2016, to December 30, 2020. Methods: We utilized the NRD 2016–2019 to carry out this study. We evaluated demographics (e.g., age, gender), conventional risk factors, comorbidities present on the index admission, and in-hospital outcomes using their specific ICD-10-CM codes. The primary outcomes were In-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission, and the secondary outcome was to compare the complications in SCAD patient with cardiogenic shock (CS) compared to those without CS. Results: We analyzed 2473 individuals with SCAD, 2199 of these individuals did not have cardiogenic shock whereas 274 of these individuals did have cardiogenic shock. When comparing SCAD with cardiogenic shock to SCAD without cardiogenic shock, there was a statistically significant increased odds ratio (OR) for death (propensity matched OR 24.93 (7.49–83.05), use of mechanical circulatory support (propensity matched OR 15.30 (6.87–34.04), ventricular tachycardia (propensity matched OR 4.45 (1.92–10.34), utilization of blood transfusions (propensity matched OR 3.82 (1.86–7.87), acute kidney injury (propensity matched OR 4.02 (1.45–11.13), need for mechanical ventilation (propensity matched OR 8.87 (3.53–22.31), and respiratory failure (propensity matched OR 4.95 (1.83–13.41)))))))). There was no statistically significant difference in 30-day readmission rates between the two groups. Conclusions: SCAD is a unique condition that can lead to many complications. In our analysis, we showed that SCAD associated with cardiogenic shock compared to SCAD not associated with cardiogenic shock results in greater odds of complications including death, use of mechanical circulatory support, need for blood transfusions, ventricular tachycardia, acute kidney injury, use of mechanical ventilation, and respiratory failure. SCAD with cardiogenic shock represents a significantly critical clinical scenario that requires a multi-disciplinary approach to prevent the many potential complications associated with this disease process.

A growing body of research has begun to link exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, with a variety of negative health outcomes. In this paper, we sought to review the current research describing the impact of certain common contaminant metals on cardiovascular (CV) health. We reviewed ten metals: lead, barium, nickel, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, selenium, zinc, and copper. After a literature review, we briefly summarized the routes of environmental exposure, pathophysiological mechanisms, CV health impacts, and exposure prevention and/or mitigation strategies for each metal. The resulting article discloses a broad spectrum of pathological significance, from relatively benign substances with little to no described effects on CV health, such as chromium and selenium, to substances with a wide-ranging and relatively severe spectrum of CV pathologies, such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. It is our hope that this article will provide clinicians with a practical overview of the impact of these common environmental contaminants on CV health as well as highlight areas that require further investigation to better understand how these metals impact the incidence and progression of CV diseases.