Citations

Abstract Aims To assess gender differences in in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmission rates among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the USA. Methods and results Hospitalizations for TAVR were retrospectively identified in the National readmissions database (NRD) from 2012 to 2017. Gender based differences in in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmissions were explored using multivariable logistic regression models. During the study period, an estimated 171 361 hospitalizations for TAVR were identified, including 79 722 (46.5%) procedures in women and 91 639 (53.5%) in men. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality and 90-day all-cause readmissions were significantly higher for women compared with men (2.7% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.002; 25.1% vs. 24.1%, P = 0.012, respectively). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, women had 13% greater adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.26, P = 0.017], and 9% greater adjusted odds of 90-day readmission compared with men (aOR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.14, P < 0.001). During the study period, there was a steady decrease in-hospital mortality (5.3% in 2012 to 1.6% in 2017; Ptrend < 0.001) and 90-day (29.9% in 2012 to 21.7% in 2017; Ptrend < 0.001) readmission rate in both genders. Conclusion In-hospital mortality and readmission rates for TAVR hospitalizations have decreased over time across both genders. Despite these improvements, women undergoing TAVR continue to have a modestly higher in-hospital mortality, and 90-day readmission rates compared with men. Given the expanding indications and use of TAVR, further research is necessary to identify the reasons for this persistent gap and design appropriate interventions.

Background The study compared downstream coronary and conduit disease progression in the left anterior descending coronary artery treated with coronary artery bypass grafting using the left internal mammary artery ( LIMA ) versus percutaneous coronary intervention with bare metal stent ( BMS ) or drug eluting stent ( DES ). Methods and Results A total of 12 301 consecutive patients underwent isolated primary coronary revascularization, of which 2386 met our inclusion criteria (Percutaneous coronary intervention, n=1450; coronary artery bypass grafting, n=936). Propensity score analysis matched 628 patients, of which 468 were treated to the left anterior descending with coronary artery bypass grafting with LIMA (n=314), percutaneous coronary intervention with BMS (n=94), and DES (n=60). Coronary angiograms were analyzed by quantitative coronary angiography ( QCA ; n=433). Cumulative downstream coronary and conduit disease progression were estimated by Kaplan–Meier method and effect of treatment type by Cox proportional hazard models. Patients treated with LIMA had significantly lower risk of downstream coronary disease progression at follow‐up angiogram compared with BMS and DES (hazard ratio [ HR ] [95% CI ], 0.34; [0.20–0.59]; P =0.0002; and HR [95% CI ], 0.39; [0.20–0.79]; P =0.01, respectively). LIMA was associated with a lower risk of conduit disease progression compared to BMS and DES ( HR [95% CI ], 0.18; [0.12–0.28]; P <0.001; and HR [95% CI ], 0.27; [0.16–0.46]; P <0.001, respectively). BMS was associated with higher HR for downstream coronary and conduit disease progression compared with DES , but the difference did not reach statistical significance ( HR [95% CI], 1.13; [0.57–2.36]; P =0.73; and HR [95% CI ], 1.46; [0.88–2.50]; P =0.14, respectively). Conclusions LIMA grafting to left anterior descending is associated with significantly lower risk of downstream coronary and conduit disease progression compared to percutaneous coronary intervention with BMS and DES .

Background The mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) are highly divergent. The prevalence of AF increases significantly with age, and underling mechanisms might vary with age. Endothelial dysfunction may be associated with AF and atrial arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation. We tested the hypothesis that the impact of endothelial dysfunction on arrhythmia recurrence following catheter ablation is age dependent. Methods and Results This study enrolled 92 participants with AF undergoing catheter ablation. Endothelial function was assessed by peripheral arterial tonometry before ablation, and the natural logarithmic transformation of reactive hyperemia index was calculated. Endothelial dysfunction was defined as a natural logarithmic transformation of reactive hyperemia index <0.618 (median). Participants were followed for atrial tachycardia, flutter, and fibrillation recurrence for a median of 14 months. The mean age was 57±10 years. There was significant interaction between age and endothelial dysfunction in association with recurrence of AF ( P =0.029) and any atrial arrhythmia ( P =0.015), and the risk associated with endothelial dysfunction for arrhythmia recurrence was higher in younger versus older participants. Participants were divided into 2 age groups at a threshold of 60 years. Among participants aged ≤60 years, multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed the independent association between endothelial dysfunction and increased risk of arrhythmia recurrence (hazard ratio for AF 4.18 [95% CI 1.33–15.82], P =0.014, and for any atrial arrhythmia 3.62 [95% CI 1.29–11.81], P =0.014). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that participants with endothelial dysfunction had significantly higher rates of recurrence of AF ( P =0.01) and any atrial arrhythmia ( P =0.002). Conclusions The risk associated with endothelial dysfunction for arrhythmia recurrence following catheter ablation was age dependent and was higher in younger participants.

Objectives Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes frequently fails to restore myocardial perfusion despite establishing epicardial vessel patency. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor, and its expression is increased in atherosclerosis and after PCI. In this study, we aim to define the role of endothelin in regulating coronary microvascular blood flow and myocardial perfusion following PCI in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTACS), by assessing whether adjunctive therapy with a selective endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist acutely improves postprocedural coronary microvascular blood flow. Methods In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 23 NSTACS patients were enrolled to receive an intracoronary infusion of placebo (n=11) or BQ-123 (n=12) immediately before PCI. Post-PCI coronary microvascular blood flow and myocardial perfusion were assessed by measuring Doppler-derived average peak velocity (APV), and cardiac biomarker levels were quantified. Results Compared with the placebo group, APV was significantly higher in the drug group immediately after PCI (30 (20, 37) vs 19 (9, 26) cm/s; p=0.03). Hyperaemic APV, measured post-adenosine administration, was higher in the BQ-123 group, but the difference did not achieve statistical significance (56 (48, 72) vs 46 (34, 64) cm/s; p=0.090). Maximum coronary flow reserve postprocedure was not different between the two groups (2.1 (1.6, 2.3) vs 2.5 (1.8, 3.0)). Per cent change in creatine kinase isoenzyme MB from the time of PCI to 8 and 16 hours post-PCI was significantly lower in the drug group compared with the placebo group (−17 (−26, −10) vs 26 (−15, 134); p=0.02 and −17 (−38, 14) vs 107 (2, 446); p=0.007, respectively). Conclusions Endothelin is a mediator of microvascular dysfunction during PCI in NSTACS, and adjunctive selective ETA antagonist may augment myocardial perfusion during PCI. Trial registration number NCT00586820; Results.

Background— Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized nonatherosclerotic cause of acute coronary syndrome. The angiographic characteristics of SCAD are largely undetermined. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of coronary tortuosity in SCAD and whether it may be implicated in the disease. Methods and Results— Patients with confirmed SCAD (n=246; 45.3±8.9 years; 96% women) and 313 control patients without SCAD or coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography were included in this case–control study. Angiograms were reviewed for coronary tortuosity and assigned a tortuosity score. Tortuosity was common in patients presenting with their first SCAD event (78% versus 17% in controls; P <0.0001; tortuosity score, 4.41±1.73 versus 2.33±1.49 in controls; P <0.0001) despite a low prevalence of hypertension (34%). Recurrent SCAD (n=40) occurred within segments of tortuosity in 80% of cases. Severe tortuosity (≥2 consecutive curvatures ≥180°) was associated with a higher risk of recurrent SCAD (hazard ratio, 3.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.99–8.29; P =0.05). Tortuosity score >5 was associated with a trend toward higher risk of recurrent SCAD ( P =0.16). Prespecified angiographic markers of tortuosity including corkscrew appearance and multivessel symmetrical tortuosity were associated with extracoronary vasculopathy including fibromuscular dysplasia ( P <0.05 for both). Conclusions— Coronary artery tortuosity is highly prevalent in the SCAD population and is associated with recurrent SCAD. Recurrent SCAD most often occurs within segments of tortuosity. Angiographic features of SCAD are associated with extracoronary vasculopathy, including fibromuscular dysplasia. These findings suggest that coronary tortuosity may serve as a marker or potential mechanism for SCAD.

Background Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is the leading cause of graft failure and death in heart transplant ( HT x) recipients; however, the association between the etiology of heart failure (ischemic cardiomyopathy [ ICM ] or non‐ ICM ) that led to HT x and progression of c ardiac allograft vasculopathy , and adverse events after HT x has not been explored. Methods and Results We retrospectively included 165 HT x patients, who were followed‐up with at least 2 virtual histology–intravascular ultrasound examinations after HT x, and grouped them as ICM (n=46) or non‐ ICM (n=119). Coronary artery plaque volume was analyzed using virtual histology–intravascular ultrasound, and cardiovascular event data—a composite of myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure and arrhythmia, revascularization, retransplantation, and death including cardiovascular death—were collected from the medical records of all study subjects. ICM patients had significantly higher plaque volume at both first ( P =0.040) and follow‐up ( P =0.015) intravascular ultrasound examinations. After multivariate adjustment for traditional coronary risk factors, ICM was significantly associated with plaque progression (odds ratio 3.10; CI 1.17 to 9.36; P =0.023). Ten‐year cardiovascular event‐free survival was 50% in ICM patients compared with 84% in non‐ ICM patients (log‐rank test P =0.003). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, ICM was significantly associated with a higher event rate after HT x (hazard ratio 2.02; 95% CI 1.01 to 4.00; P =0.048). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that ischemic etiology of cardiomyopathy prior to HT x may be independently associated with plaque progression and higher event rate after HT x.