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Background Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) have been proposed as an alternative to drug-eluting stents (DES), offering radial support during the early phases of healing, while potentially reducing the risk of long-term complications. A magnesium-based BRS (MgBRS) has shown promising results after implantation. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the long-term outcomes. Case summary A 62-year-old man with hypertension, dyslipidaemia, family history of ischaemic heart disease, and previous myocardial infarction, presented with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Six years prior, he also had a NSTEMI and a mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion was treated with a 3.0/25 mm MgBRS. Post-implantation optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed proximal edge dissection, and a second MgBRS 3.0/15 mm was implanted. Optical coherence tomography of the scaffold-treated segment was performed after 6 and 12 months with no sign of restenosis. The current angiogram showed a restenosis in the previously MgBRS-treated segment in LAD. Optical coherence tomography showed a plaque rupture in a thin cap fibro-atheroma and scaffold remnants. The lesion was pre-dilated and stented with a 3.0/20 mm DES and post-dilated with a 3.5 mm non-compliant balloon. Discussion Most cases of late scaffold failure showed acquired mal-apposition, which also can be related to the degrading process, or uncovered struts, none of which were seen in our case at 6 or 12 months. This case represents an insight into the vascular healing and potential mechanisms for failure of the MgBRS, with serial OCT recording at implantation, and after 6 months, 12 months, and 6 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe characteristics of patients admitted with refractory cardiac arrest for possible extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) and gain insight into the reasons for refraining from treatment in some.Methods: Nationwide retrospective cohort study involving all tertiary centres providing ECPR in Denmark. Consecutive patients admitted with ongoing chest compression for evaluation for ECPR treatment were enrolled. Presenting characteristics, duration of no-flow and low-flow time, end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), lactate and pH, and recording of reasons for refraining from ECPR documented by the treating team were recorded. Outcomes were survival to intensive care unit admission and survival to hospital discharge.Results: Of 579 patients admitted with refractory cardiac arrest for possible ECPR, 221 patients (38%) proceeded to ECPR and 358 patients (62%) were not considered candidates. Median prehospital low-flow time was 70 min (IQR 56 to 85) in ECPR patients and 62 min (48 to 81) in no-ECPR patients, p<0.001. Intra-arrest transport was more than 50 km in 92 (42%) ECPR patients and 135 in no-ECPR patients (38%), p=0.25. The leading causes for not initiating ECPR stated by the treating team were duration of low-flow time in 39%, severe metabolic derangement in 35%, and in 31% low ETCO2. The prevailing combination of contributing factors were non-shockable rhythm, low ETCO2, and metabolic derangement or prehospital low-flow time combined with low ETCO2. Survival to discharge was only achieved in six patients (1.7%) in the no-ECPR group.Conclusions: In this large nationwide study of patients admitted for possible ECPR, two-thirds of patients were not treated with ECPR. The most frequent reasons to abstain from ECPR were long duration of prehospital low-flow time, metabolic derangement and low ETCO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patients with non-left-main coronary bifurcation lesions are usually best treated with a stepwise provisional approach. However, patients with true left main stem bifurcation lesions have been shown in one dedicated randomized study to benefit from systematic dual stent implantation. Methods and results Four hundred and sixty-seven patients with true left main stem bifurcation lesions requiring intervention were recruited to the EBC MAIN study in 11 European countries. Patients were aged 71 ± 10 years; 77% were male. Patients were randomly allocated to a stepwise layered provisional strategy (n  = 230) or a systematic dual stent approach (n  = 237). The primary endpoint (a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 12 months) occurred in 14.7% of the stepwise provisional group vs. 17.7% of the systematic dual stent group (hazard ratio 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.5–1.3; P  = 0.34). Secondary endpoints were death (3.0% vs. 4.2%, P  = 0.48), myocardial infarction (10.0% vs. 10.1%, P  = 0.91), target lesion revascularization (6.1% vs. 9.3%, P  = 0.16), and stent thrombosis (1.7% vs. 1.3%, P  = 0.90), respectively. Procedure time, X-ray dose and consumables favoured the stepwise provisional approach. Symptomatic improvement was excellent and equal in each group. Conclusions Among patients with true bifurcation left main stem stenosis requiring intervention, fewer major adverse cardiac events occurred with a stepwise layered provisional approach than with planned dual stenting, although the difference was not statistically significant. The stepwise provisional strategy should remain the default for distal left main stem bifurcation intervention. Study registration http://clinicaltrials.gov NCT02497014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-specific and lesion-specific computational simulation of bifurcation stenting is an attractive approach to achieve individualized pre-procedural planning that could improve outcomes. The objectives of this work were to describe and validate a novel platform for fully computational patient-specific coronary bifurcation stenting. Our computational stent simulation platform was trained using n = 4 patient-specific bench bifurcation models (n = 17 simulations), and n = 5 clinical bifurcation cases (training group, n = 23 simulations). The platform was blindly tested in n = 5 clinical bifurcation cases (testing group, n = 29 simulations). A variety of stent platforms and stent techniques with 1- or 2-stents was used. Post-stenting imaging with micro-computed tomography (μCT) for bench group and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for clinical groups were used as reference for the training and testing of computational coronary bifurcation stenting. There was a very high agreement for mean lumen diameter (MLD) between stent simulations and post-stenting μCT in bench cases yielding an overall bias of 0.03 (− 0.28 to 0.34) mm. Similarly, there was a high agreement for MLD between stent simulation and OCT in clinical training group [bias 0.08 (− 0.24 to 0.41) mm], and clinical testing group [bias 0.08 (− 0.29 to 0.46) mm]. Quantitatively and qualitatively stent size and shape in computational stenting was in high agreement with clinical cases, yielding an overall bias of < 0.15 mm. Patient-specific computational stenting of coronary bifurcations is a feasible and accurate approach. Future clinical studies are warranted to investigate the ability of computational stenting simulations to guide decision-making in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and improve clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While several studies have investigated clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) vs. percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), studies investigating self-reported health and the association with adverse outcomes are limited. Thus, the aim was to investigate differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and depression at discharge and the association with a composite endpoint of the first event of acute cardiac readmission, revascularisation or 1-year mortality among patients undergoing CABG vs. PCI. Methods: Data from the national cohort study, DenHeart, were used, including measures of HRQoL; EuroQoL-5D-5L (EQ-5D Index Score and VAS) and HeartQoL (Global, Physical and Emotional), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) and register-based follow-up. A total of 7000 patients were included (CABG n = 652, PCI n = 6348) (median age 65, 75% men). Cox Proportional Hazard models were performed among a propensity-matched population of responders (n = 520). Results: HRQoL was significantly better among patients undergoing PCI vs. CABG, but with no differences in time to readmission or revascularisation. HRQoL, anxiety and depression were significantly associated with the risk of the composite endpoint among the PCI group (Hazard Ratio, HR (95% confidence intervals, CI) [EQ-5D index score 3.07 (1.67–5.67), EQ-5D VAS 0.97 (0.96–0.99), HeartQol Global 0.61 (0.38–0.95), HeartQol Emotional 0.56 (0.39–0.80), HADS-D ≥ 8 3.12 (1.61–6.01), HADS-A ≥ 8 2.08 (1.14–3.80)]. Conclusion: Patients undergoing PCI reported better HRQoL at discharge compared with patients undergoing CABG, whereas readmission rates were similar. Self-reported health was associated with the risk of adverse events among patients undergoing PCI, but not among patients undergoing CABG. Clinical trial registration: NCT01926145. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Morphine adversely impacts the action of oral adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-receptor blockers in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, and is possibly associated with differing patient characteristics. This retrospective analysis investigated whether interaction between morphine use and pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (pre-PCI) ST-segment elevation resolution in STEMI patients in the ATLANTIC study was associated with differences in patient characteristics and management.Methods: ATLANTIC was an international, multicenter, randomized study of treatment in the acute ambulance/hospital setting where STEMI patients received ticagrelor 180 mg ± morphine. Patient characteristics, cardiovascular history, risk factors, management, and outcomes were recorded.Results: Opioids (97.6% morphine) were used in 921 out of 1862 patients (49.5%). There were no significant differences in age, sex or cardiovascular history, but more morphine-treated patients had anterior myocardial infarction and left-main disease. Time from chest pain to electrocardiogram and ticagrelor loading was shorter with morphine (both p = 0.01) but not total ischemic time. Morphine-treated patients more frequently received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (p = 0.002), thromboaspiration and stent implantation (both p < 0.001). No significant difference between the two groups was found regarding pre-PCI ≥ 70% ST-segment elevation resolution, death, myocardial infarction, stroke, urgent revascularization and definitive acute stent thrombosis. More morphine-treated patients had an absence of pre-PCI Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow (85.8% vs. 79.7%; p = 0.001) and more had TIMI major bleeding (1.1% vs. 0.1%; p = 0.02).Conclusions: Morphine-treatment was associated with increased GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor use, less pre-PCI TIMI 3 flow, and more bleeding. Judicious morphine use is advised with non-opioid analgesics preferred for non-severe acute pain.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01347580. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Reperfusion immediately after reopening of the infarct-related artery in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may cause myocardial damage in addition to the ischaemic insult (reperfusion injury). The gap junction modulating peptide danegaptide has in animal models reduced this injury. We evaluated the effect of danegaptide on myocardial salvage in patients with STEMI.Methods: In addition to primary percutaneous coronary intervention in STEMI patients with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow 0-1, single vessel disease and ischaemia time less than 6 hours, we tested, in a clinical proof-of-concept study, the therapeutic potential of danegaptide at two-dose levels. Primary outcome was myocardial salvage evaluated by cardiac MRI after 3 months.Results: From November 2013 to August 2015, a total of 585 patients were randomly enrolled in the trial. Imaging criteria were fulfilled for 79 (high dose), 80 (low dose) and 84 (placebo) patients eligible for the per-protocol analysis. Danegaptide did not affect the myocardial salvage index (danegaptide high (63.9±14.9), danegaptide low (65.6±15.6) and control (66.7±11.7), P=0.40), final infarct size (danegaptide high (19.6±11.4 g), danegaptide low (18.6±9.6 g) and control (21.4±15.0 g), P=0.88) or left ventricular ejection fraction (danegaptide high (53.9%±9.5%), danegaptide low (52.7%±10.3%) and control (52.1%±10.9%), P=0.64). There was no difference between groups with regard to clinical outcome.Conclusions: Administration of danegaptide to patients with STEMI did not improve myocardial salvage.Trial Registration Number: NCT01977755; Pre-results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is used to treat acute kidney injury as part of multi organ failure. Use and prognostic implications after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is not well known. This study aims to assess incidence and use of RRT and whether RRT post-arrest was associated with 30-day mortality in Denmark in the years 2005-2013.Methods: The Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry holds information on all OHCA patients in Denmark from 2005 to 2013. We identified 3,012 one-day survivors of OHCA ≥18 years, with presumed cardiac aetiology of arrest, admitted to ICU without previous RRT. Change in use of RRT during the study period was assessed using competing risk analysis. Mortality was assessed with Cox regression.Results: On average, RRT was performed in 6% of the patient population with an average annual 1% increase, HR: 1.01, CI: 0.95-1.07, p = .69. Hazard of RRT was lower in patients receiving bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (p < .001), patients with a shockable primary rhythm (p = .009) and elderly patients (p = .03). Socioeconomic factors did not influence hazard of RRT, but patients admitted to tertiary centres had higher hazard of RRT (p = .009). Use of RRT was associated with increased mortality in multivariate Cox regression (HR: 1.28, CI: 1.06-1.55, p = .01).Conclusion: Use of RRT as part of post resuscitation care following OHCA did not increase from 2005 to 2013; use was more common in tertiary centres and in patients with negative prehospital predictors (no bystander CPR, non-shockable rhythm). RRT was associated with increased mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Third Danish Study of Optimal Acute Treatment of Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction - Ischaemic Postconditioning (DANAMI-3-iPOST) did not show improved clinical outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with ischaemic postconditioning. However, the use of thrombectomy was frequent and thrombectomy may in itself diminish the effect of ischaemic postconditioning. We evaluated the effect of ischaemic postconditioning in patients included in DANAMI-3-iPOST stratified by the use of thrombectomy.Methods: Patients with STEMI were randomised to conventional primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or ischaemic postconditioning plus primary PCI. The primary endpoint was a combination of all-cause mortality and hospitalisation for heart failure.Results: From March 2011 until February 2014, 1234 patients were included with a median follow-up period of 35 (interquartile range 28 to 42) months. There was a significant interaction between ischaemic postconditioning and thrombectomy on the primary endpoint (p=0.004). In patients not treated with thrombectomy (n=520), the primary endpoint occurred in 33 patients (10%) who underwent ischaemic postconditioning (n=326) and in 35 patients (18%) who underwent conventional treatment (n=194) (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.55 (95%confidence interval (CI) 0.34 to 0.89), p=0.016). In patients treated with thrombectomy (n=714), there was no significant difference between patients treated with ischaemic postconditioning (n=291) and conventional PCI (n=423) on the primary endpoint (adjusted HR 1.18 (95% CI 0.62 to 2.28), p=0.62).Conclusions: In this post-hoc study of DANAMI-3-iPOST, ischaemic postconditioning, in addition to primary PCI, was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality and hospitalisation for heart failure in patients with STEMI not treated with thrombectomy.Trial Registration Number: NCT01435408. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: For patients surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with a shockable rhythm, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is recommended for non-reversible causes of arrest. We aimed to determine factors associated with implantation of ICD and survival in patients surviving non-AMI OHCA in a nationwide register covering all OHCAs in Denmark.Methods and results: We identified 36 950 OHCAs between 2001 and 2012, 1700 of whom were ICD naïve, ≥18 years, of non-AMI cardiac aetiology and surviving until discharge. Six hundred fifty eight patients had ICD implanted during index admission. Association to ICD implantation during index admission was analysed in logistic regression, survival was assessed using Cox regression. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation increased during the study period [odds ratio (OR) 1-year increase: 1.04, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.00-1.08, P = 0.03]. Non-shockable rhythm and age ≥70 years were associated with lower odds of ICD implantation (ORnon-shockable: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.19-0.37, P < 0.001, OR70-79 years: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52-0.98, P = 0.04, OR≥80 years: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.07-0.22, P < 0.001). Non-AMI ischaemic heart disease, highest income tertile and chronic heart failure were associated with higher odds (ORIHD: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.77-3.60, P < 0.001, ORhighest income tertile: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.06-2.23, P = 0.02, ORHF: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.35-2.32, P < 0.001). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation was associated with a lower risk of mortality (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.92, P = 0.01).Conclusion: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation rates increased over the study period. CHF, previous IHD and high income were associated with ICD implantation, while older age and non-shockable rhythm was associated with lower odds of ICD implantation. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation was associated with higher survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to investigate if lesion-specific ischaemia by invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) can be predicted by an integrated machine learning (ML) ischaemia risk score from quantitative plaque measures from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).Methods: In a multicentre trial of 254 patients, CTA and invasive coronary angiography were performed, with FFR in 484 vessels. CTA data sets were analysed by semi-automated software to quantify stenosis and non-calcified (NCP), low-density NCP (LD-NCP, < 30 HU), calcified and total plaque volumes, contrast density difference (CDD, maximum difference in luminal attenuation per unit area) and plaque length. ML integration included automated feature selection and model building from quantitative CTA with a boosted ensemble algorithm, and tenfold stratified cross-validation.Results: Eighty patients had ischaemia by FFR (FFR ≤ 0.80) in 100 vessels. Information gain for predicting ischaemia was highest for CDD (0.172), followed by LD-NCP (0.125), NCP (0.097), and total plaque volumes (0.092). ML exhibited higher area-under-the-curve (0.84) than individual CTA measures, including stenosis (0.76), LD-NCP volume (0.77), total plaque volume (0.74) and pre-test likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD) (0.63); p < 0.006.Conclusions: Integrated ML ischaemia risk score improved the prediction of lesion-specific ischaemia by invasive FFR, over stenosis, plaque measures and pre-test likelihood of CAD.Key Points: • Integrated ischaemia risk score improved prediction of ischaemia over quantitative plaque measures • Integrated ischaemia risk score showed higher prediction of ischaemia than standard approach • Contrast density difference had the highest information gain to identify lesion-specific ischaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To evaluate whether the distance from the site of event to an invasive heart centre, acute coronary angiography (CAG)/percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and hospital-level of care (invasive heart centre vs. local hospital) is associated with survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. Methods and results Nationwide historical follow-up study of 41 186 unselected OHCA patients, in whom resuscitation was attempted between 2001 and 2013, identified through the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry. We observed an increase in the proportion of patients receiving bystander CPR (18% in 2001, 60% in 2013, P < 0.001), achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (10% in 2001, 29% in 2013, P< 0.001) and being admitted directly to an invasive centre (26% in 2001, 45% in 2013, P < 0.001). Simultaneously, 30-day survival rose from 5% in 2001 to 12% in 2013, P < 0.001. Among patients achieving ROSC, a larger proportion underwent acute CAG/PCI (5% in 2001, 27% in 2013, P< 0.001). The proportion of patients undergoing acute CAG/PCI annually in each region was defined as the CAG/PCI index. The following variables were associated with lower mortality in multivariable analyses: direct admission to invasive heart centre (HR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89-0.93), CAG/PCI index (HR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.25-0.45), population density above 2000 per square kilometre (HR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.98), bystander CPR (HR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99) and witnessed OHCA (HR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.85-0.89), whereas distance to the nearest invasive centre was not associated with survival. Conclusion Admission to an invasive heart centre and regional performance of acute CAG/PCI were associated with improved survival in OHCA patients, whereas distance to the invasive centre was not. These results support a centralized strategy for immediate post-resuscitation care in OHCA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Coronary plaque characteristics are associated with ischaemia. Differences in plaque volumes and composition may explain the discordance between coronary stenosis severity and ischaemia.We evaluated the association between coronary stenosis severity, plaque characteristics, coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT), and lesion-specific ischaemia identified by FFR in a substudy of the NXT trial (Analysis of Coronary Blood Flow Using CT Angiography: Next Steps). Methods and results Coronary CTA stenosis, plaque volumes, FFRCT, and FFR were assessed in 484 vessels from 254 patients. Stenosis >50% was considered obstructive. Plaque volumes (non-calcified plaque [NCP], low-density NCP [LD-NCP], and calcified plaque [CP]) were quantified using semi-automated software. Optimal thresholds of quantitative plaque variables were defined by area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC) analysis. Ischaemia was defined by FFR or FFRCT ≤0.80. Plaque volumes were inversely related to FFR irrespective of stenosis severity. Relative risk (95% confidence interval) for prediction of ischaemia for stenosis >50%, NCP ≥185 mm3, LD-NCP ≥30 mm3, CP ≥9 mm3, and FFRCT ≤0.80 were 5.0 (3.0-8.3), 3.7 (2.4-5.6), 4.6 (2.9-7.4), 1.4 (1.0-2.0), and 13.6 (8.4-21.9), respectively. Lowdensity NCP predicted ischaemia independent of other plaque characteristics. Low-density NCP and FFRCT yielded diagnostic improvement over stenosis assessment with AUCs increasing from 0.71 by stenosis >50% to 0.79 and 0.90 when adding LD-NCP ≥30 mm3 and LD-NCP ≥30 mm3 + FFRCT ≤0.80, respectively. Conclusion Stenosis severity, plaque characteristics, and FFRCT predict lesion-specific ischaemia. Plaque assessment and FFRCT provide improved discrimination of ischaemia compared with stenosis assessment alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of adherence to the recommended duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after first generation drug-eluting stent implantation is difficult to assess in real-world settings and limited data are available. Methods: We followed 4,154 patients treated with coronary drug-eluting stents in Western Denmark for 1 year and obtained data on redeemed clopidogrel prescriptions and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, i.e., cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis) from medical databases. Results: Discontinuation of clopidogrel within the first 3 months after stent implantation was associated with a significantly increased rate of MACE at 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio (HR) 2.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-3.93). Discontinuation 3-6 months (HR 1.29; 95% CI: 0.70-2.41) and 6-12 months (HR 1.29; 95% CI: 0.54-3.07) after stent implantation were associated with smaller, not statistically significant, increases in MACE rates. Among patients who discontinued clopidogrel, MACE rates were highest within the first 2 months after discontinuation. Conclusions: Discontinuation of clopidogrel was associated with an increased rate of MACE among patients treated with drug-eluting stents. The increase was statistically significant within the first 3 months after drug-eluting stent implantation but not after 3 to 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Millions of patients were treated with the sirolimus-eluting Cypher™ and the paclitaxel-eluting Taxus™ coronary stents with potential late-occurring increase in event rates. Therefore, the long-term outcome follow-up is of major clinical interest. Design. In total, 2.098 unselected patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-STEMI, stable or unstable angina pectoris were randomized to receive Cypher™ ( n = 1.065) or Taxus™ ( n = 1.033) stents and were followed for 5 years. Results. The primary end-point; the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization (major adverse cardiac event, MACE), occurred in 467 patients (22.3%); Cypher™ n = 222 (20.8%), Taxus™ n = 245 (23.7%), ns. Definite and probable stent thrombosis occurred in 107 patients (5.1%); Cypher™ n = 51 (4.8%), Taxus™ n = 56 (5.4%), ns. No statistically significant differences were found in the elements of the primary end-point or in other secondary end-points between the two stent groups. After one year, the annual rates of stent thrombosis and MACE remained constant. Conclusions. During 5-year follow-up, the Cypher™ and the Taxus™ coronary stents had similar clinical outcome with no signs of increasing rates of adverse events over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Obesity is paradoxically associated with enhanced survival in patients with established cardiovascular disease. We explored this paradox further by examining the influence of obesity on survival in patients with verified atherosclerotic heart disease. Design and patients This retrospective registry based cohort study included all patients from the Western Denmark Heart Registry with coronary atherosclerosis confirmed by coronary angiography from January 2000 to December 2010. Patients were divided into eight groups according to body mass index (BMI) based on WHO BMI classification. Setting Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark. Results The study included 37 573 patients (70.7% men) with a mean age of (66.3±11.1) years. During the 11 years of follow-up, 5866 (15.6%) patients died. Multivariable analysis confirmed that the risk of death was the lowest among the preobese patients (27.5⩽BMI<30 kg/m2) with adjusted HR of 0.82 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.95; p=0.008) and increased with both low (BMI<18.50 kg/m2) and very high (BMI⩾40 kg/m2) BMI, HR 2.04 (95% CI 1.63 to 2.57; p<0.001) and HR 1.35 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.72; p<0.01), respectively. Also the normal weight class I (18.5⩽BMI<23 kg/m2) had a significant risk of mortality HR 1.28 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.45; p<0.001). Obese classes I and II did not differ from the reference group (23⩽BMI<25 kg/m2). Conclusions Overweight atherosclerotic heart disease patients have improved survival compared with normal weight patients. Underweight and severely obese patients have increased mortality. Our results lean more towards an overweight paradox than an obesity paradox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a zotarolimus-eluting (ZES) versus a sirolimus-eluting (SES) coronary stent in a large cohort of patients treated with one of these stents in Western Denmark. Methods: A total of 6,122 patients treated with ZES (n=2,282) or SES (n=3,840) were followed for up to 27 months. We ascertained clinical outcomes based on national medical databases. Results: Incidence of target lesion revascularization (no. per 100 person-years) was 5.3 in the ZES group compared to 1.9 in the SES group (adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=2.19, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.39-3.47; p=0.001). All-cause mortality was also higher in the ZES group (ZES: 6.3; SES: 3.3; adjusted HR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.05-1.72; p=0.02), while stent thrombosis (ZES: 1.2; SES: 0.5; adjusted HR=1.98, 95% CI: 0.75-5.23; p=0.14) did not differ significantly. Conclusions: In agreement with previously published randomised data, this observational study indicated that the ZES was associated with an increased risk of death and TLR in a large cohort of consecutive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), delay between contact with the health care system and initiation of reperfusion therapy (system delay) is associated with mortality, but data on the associated risk for congestive heart failure (CHF) among survivors are limited. Objective: To evaluate the association between system delay and the risk for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with STEMI. Design: Historical follow-up study using population-based medical registries. Setting: Western Denmark. Patients: Patients with STEMI who were transported by emergency medical service from 1 January 1999 to 7 February 2010 and treated with PPCI within 12 hours of symptom onset and who had a system delay of 6 hours or less (n = 7952). The median duration of follow-up was 3.1 years. Measurements: Cumulative incidence of readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF was determined by using competing-risk regression analysis, with death as the competing risk. Crude and adjusted cause-specific hazard ratios for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF were determined for system delay and other covariates. Results: System delays of 60 minutes or less (n = 451), 61 to 120 minutes (n = 3457), 121 to 180 minutes (n = 2655), and 181 to 360 minutes (n = 1389) corresponded with long-term risks for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF of 10.1%, 10.6%, 12.3%, and 14.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, system delay was an independent predictor of readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF (adjusted hazard ratio per hour increase in delay, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.17]). Limitation: In any nonrandomized study, there are risks for selection bias and residual confounding. Conclusion: In patients with STEMI, shorter delay to PPCI is associated with lower risk for readmissions or outpatient contacts due to CHF during follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The distance to primary PCI centres and the inherent time delay in delivering primary PCI, however, limit widespread use of this treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pre-hospital diagnosis on time from emergency medical services contact to balloon inflation (system delay) in an unselected cohort of patients with STEMI recruited from a large geographical area comprising both urban and rural districts. Methods and results From February 2004 until January 2007, data on pre-hospital timing and transport distance were prospectively recorded. Patients were divided into groups depending on achievement of pre-hospital diagnosis and/or direct referral to a primary PCI centre. Seven hundred and fifty-nine consecutive STEMI patients were included. In patients with a pre-hospital diagnosis and direct referral, the system delay was 92 vs. 153 min in patients without pre-hospital diagnosis (P< 0.001). Patients from rural areas were transported a median of 30 km longer than patients from urban areas; however, this prolonged the system delay by only 9 min. Conclusion Pre-hospital electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnosis and direct referral for primary PCI enables STEMI patients living far from a PCI centre to achieve a system delay comparable with patients living in close vicinity of a PCI centre. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses a study which evaluated the associations between system, treatment, patient, and door-to-balloon delays and mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The basis for the study was population-based Danish medical registries of patients suffering from STEMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2008 in Western Denmark. The authors found an association between system delay and mortality in patients with STEMI with primary PCI.

Background: The sirolimus-eluting stent has demonstrated the least amount of late lumen loss among previously released drug-eluting stents, but its safety and efficacy has not been compared head-to-head with the everolimus-eluting stent. Method: The Scandinavian Organization for Randomized Trials with Clinical Outcome (SORT OUT) IV trial was designed as a prospective, multi-center, open-label, all-comer, two-arm, randomized, non-inferiority study comparing the everolimus-eluting stent with the sirolimus-eluting stent in the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery lesions. Based on a non-inferiority design, power calculations estimated a needed enrolment of 2,678 patients. The primary endpoint is a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis or target vessel revascularization after 9 months. Data on clinical events and mortality for all randomized patients will be obtained from national databases at 9 months. No clinical follow-up examination is scheduled. Conclusion: The SORT OUT IV trial will directly compare clinically relevant differences in efficacy and safety in two drug-eluting stents: a first-generation sirolimus-eluting stent versus a second-generation everolimus-eluting stent. The study makes use of clinical endpoints routinely collected in computerized healthcare registries, allowing complete follow-up of a large, well-defined population without scheduled angiographic examinations. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify risk factors for clinical-driven target lesion revascularisation (TLR) in patients treated with sirolimus-eluting (Cypher) or paclitaxel-eluting (Taxus) stents in a real-world scenario. Design: From 1 January 2003 to 18 May 2005, all patients treated with a Cypher or Taxus stent were consecutively registered and followed for 9 months. Re-intervention was driven by clinical symptoms. Setting: Western Denmark Heart Registry. Patients: 4432 patients with 6102 lesions treated with a Cypher (n = 3791 lesions) or Taxus (n = 2311 lesions) stent. Interventions: Percutaneous coronary intervention. Main outcome measures: TLR, defined as either new percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft operation of the target lesion, within 9 months from the index procedure. Results: TLR within 9 months was performed in 2.5% of lesions treated with the Cypher stent and in 3.3% of lesions treated with the Taxus stent (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.84). After adjustment by multivariate logistic regression, Taxus stent implantation was an independent predictor of TLR (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1 .05 to 1 .95). Implantation of >1 stent per lesion (OR 1.62, 95% Cl 1.13 to 2.33) and reference diameter <2.8 mm (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.02) were also identified as independent predictors of TLR. Conclusions: These data from the registry reflect a real-world clinical scenario with operator-driven use of drug-eluting stents and symptom-driven re-intervention. In this setting, use of the Taxus stent, implantation of multiple stents per lesion and stent implantation in small vessels were independent predictors of TLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) scheduled for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI), acute risk-assessment may be valuable for tailoring of adjunctive therapy at the time of coronary intervention. The present study was designed to quantify pre-, per-, and post-interventional ST-changes, to evaluate whether a pre-specified continuous ST-monitoring classification provides potential prognostic information in the pre- and per-interventional phase, and to compare post-interventional ST-resolution parameters derived from continuous ST-monitoring and snapshot ECGs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims The majority of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are admitted to local hospitals without primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI) facilities. Acute transferral to an interventional centre is necessary to treat these patients with primary PCI. The present study assessed the reduction in treatment delay achieved by pre-hospital diagnosis and referral directly to an interventional centre. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is categorized, according to the presenting electrocardiogram, into non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or bundle branch block myocardial infarction (BBBMI). Data on the prognostic significance of these categories mainly originate from voluntary based registries or large-scale clinical trials and may be hampered by selection and information bias. The aim of this historical cohort study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of different categories of AMI in an unselected cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives - To evaluate changes in plasma cholesterol following health screening and health discussions in general practice. Design - Randomised prospective population-based study conducted over a period of 5 years. Setting - Primary care, all general practitioners (GPs) in a welldefined area. Subjects - A random sample of inhabitants aged 30-49 years in January 1991, registered with a local GP was invited to participate. The participants (1507 persons, or 75.4% of the 2000 invited) were randomly allocated to two intervention groups and a control group. Main outcome measures - Plasma cholesterol, percentage of subjects with plasma cholesterol higher than 7 mmol/l. Results - After 5 years of intervention, plasma cholesterol in the whole population was significantly lower in the intervention groups compared to the control group. The decrease was most pronounced (0.5 mmol/l) in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. The percentage of high-risk individuals with a cholesterol level higher than 7 mmol/l was significantly lower in the intervention groups compared to the control group (9.8% vs 6.2%, p =0.04), corresponding to a 37% reduction. Conclusions - The study shows that the health checks had a measurable impact on plasma cholesterol levels, the most pronounced effect is seen among individuals at high cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on recent advances in the understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of HIV-associated cardiovascular diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. It mentions that the study presented clinically relevant advances in diagnosis and treatment of HIV-associated cardiovascular diseases. The study found that pericardial disease is the most common presentation of HIV-related cardiovascular disease.

In this article, the authors focus on the misrepresentation of the 2012 European Society of Cardiology ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) guidelines. They say that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-related delay is equated with time from first medical contact (FMC) to primary PCI (PPCI) delay as data addressing PCI-related delay have been used to give recommendations concerning FMC to PPCI delay. They say that the STEMI systems of care are developing throughout Europe.

The authors reflect on treatment delays in ST elevation myocardial infarction. They suggest that the delays can be reduced by prehospital diagnosis and the direct transfer to high volume catheterisation laboratories. They argue that setting up large volume treatment and intervention centers may be the best option for preventing delays because treatment at those types of centers has been associated with better medical outcome.

Background: The impact of adherence to the recommended duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after first generation drug-eluting stent implantation is difficult to assess in real-world settings and limited data are available.Methods: We followed 4,154 patients treated with coronary drug-eluting stents in Western Denmark for 1 year and obtained data on redeemed clopidogrel prescriptions and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, i.e., cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis) from medical databases.Results: Discontinuation of clopidogrel within the first 3 months after stent implantation was associated with a significantly increased rate of MACE at 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio (HR) 2.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-3.93). Discontinuation 3-6 months (HR 1.29; 95% CI: 0.70-2.41) and 6-12 months (HR 1.29; 95% CI: 0.54-3.07) after stent implantation were associated with smaller, not statistically significant, increases in MACE rates. Among patients who discontinued clopidogrel, MACE rates were highest within the first 2 months after discontinuation.Conclusions: Discontinuation of clopidogrel was associated with an increased rate of MACE among patients treated with drug-eluting stents. The increase was statistically significant within the first 3 months after drug-eluting stent implantation but not after 3 to 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]