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Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is an important complication following the use of iodinated contrast media. Bilirubin has a protective effect but may also aggravate CI-AKI. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess whether bilirubin is a risk factor for CI-AKI. We searched the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Ovid Medline, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), VPCS (Vip Paper Check System), Wanfang, and CBM (Chinese BioMedical Literature Database) from the initial date to May 6, 2023. We summarized the results by directly combining the effect-size odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) and identified sources of heterogeneity through subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression analysis. A total of 10 studies (14 data sets) were included: 7 retrospective studies (10 data sets) and 3 prospective studies (4 data sets), involving 12776 participants. The incidence of CI-AKI of 16% (95% CI: 14-19%). Total bilirubin was positively associated with the occurrence of CI-AKI (OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.36-2.38). Both low and high bilirubin concentrations were risk factors for CI-AKI. The incidence of CI-AKI was higher in the low bilirubin group than in the high bilirubin group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reported the outcomes of different treatments for innominate artery (IA) atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion. We performed a systematic review of the literature (4 database searched; last search February 2022), including articles with ≥5 patients. We performed meta-analyses of proportions for different postoperative outcomes. Fourteen studies were included (656 patients; 396 underwent surgery, 260 endovascular procedures). IA lesions were asymptomatic in 9.6% (95% CI 4.6–14.6). Overall estimated technical success (TS) rate was 91.7% (95% CI 86.9–96.4); weighted TS rate was 86.8% (95% CI 75–98.6) in the surgical group (SG), 97.1% (95% CI 94.6–99.7) in the endovascular group (EG). Postoperative stroke in SG was 2.5% (95% CI 1–4.1) and 2.1% in EG (95% CI.3–3.8). Overall, 30-day occlusion was estimated.9% (95% CI 0–1.8) in SG and.7% (95% CI 0-1.7) in EG. Thirty-day mortality was 3.4% (95% CI.9–5.8) in SG and.7% (95% CI 0–1.7) in EG. Estimated mean follow-up after intervention was 65.5 months (95% CI 45.5–85.5) in SG and 22.4 months (95% CI 14.72–30.16) in EG. During follow-up, restenosis in SG were 2.8% (95% CI.5–5.1) and 16.6% (95% CI 5– 28.1) in EG. In conclusion, the endovascular approach seems to offer good short to mid-term outcomes, but with a higher rate of restenosis during follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing number of studies on the transradial approach (TRA) for carotid artery stenting. We aimed to summarize the published data on TRA vs the transfemoral approach (TFA). We searched Science Direct, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for the relevant literature. Primary outcomes included surgical success and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complication rates; secondary outcomes included the rates of vascular access-related and other complications. We also compared the crossover rate, success rate, and complications between TRA and TFA carotid stenting. This is the first such meta-analysis regarding TRA and TFA. Twenty studies on TRA carotid stenting were included (n = 1300). Among 19 studies, the success rate of TRA carotid stenting was.951 (95% confidence interval [CI]:.926–.975); death rate was.022 (.011–.032); stroke rate was.005 (.001–.008); radial artery occlusion rate was.008 (.003–.013); and forearm hematoma rate was.003 (−.000 to.006). Among 4 studies comparing TRA and TFA, the success rate was lower (odds ratio:.02; 95% CI:.00–.23) and crossover rate was higher (odds ratio: 40.16; 95% CI: 4.41–365.73) with TRA. Thus, transradial neuro-interventional surgery has a lower success rate than TFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saphenopopliteal junction classification has been developing, but still the precise knowledge of junction type is crucial for proper surgical treatment. We examined the saphenopopliteal junction by duplex venous scanning in 244 extremities in healthy volunteers (median age: 23.0 years, 83 females, 39 male) and performed a meta-analysis of 13 studies focusing on structural types of the junction. According to Schweighoffer's classification we distinguished 5 types of the junction and we subdivided type A according to Cavezzi's classification of gastrocnemial veins termination into two. We added type F (small saphenous vein-SSV terminates into popliteal vein-PV), described especially in cadaveric studies. In our study, the most frequent type was A1 (96 cases), followed by C (70), B (48), A2 (20), E (6), D (3) and F (0). The pooled prevalence estimate for types A + B + D + E was 54.7% (95% CI 40.9–69.6%) and for type C 24.4% (95% CI 19.3–29.5%), whereas in 17.1% (95% CI 6.3–27.9%) of cases, the SSV terminated in the PV with no cranial extension present. The knowledge of the saphenopopliteal junction and its variations prevalence can help clinicians to quickly identify the real type of the junction during routine examination. In mid-European population, the main type is A1 and worldwide type A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with high rates of readmission following endovascular interventions and contributes to a significant hospital readmission burden. Quality metrics like hospital readmissions affect hospital performance, but must adjust to local trends. Our primary goal was to evaluate risk factors and readmission rates post-percutaneous peripheral intervention in a US-Mexico border city, at a single tertiary university hospital. We performed a retrospective review of patients with PAD undergoing first time peripheral intervention from July 2015 to June 2020. Among 212 patients, 58% were readmitted with median 235-day follow-up (inter-quartile range (IQR) 42–924); 35.3% of readmissions occurred within 30 days, and 30.2% of those were within 7 days. Median time to readmission was 62 days. Active smokers had 84% higher risk of readmission (hazard ratio (HR) 1.84, 95% CI 1.23–2.74, P <.01). Other significant factors noted were insurance status—Medicaid or uninsured (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.22–3.09), prior amputation (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.13–2.54), heart failure, both preserved (HR 4.35, 95% CI 2.07–9.16) and reduced ejection fraction (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.14–3.10). Below the knee, interventions were less likely to be readmitted (adjusted HR.64, 95% CI 0.42–.96). Readmission rates were unrelated to medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the association between anemia status and the risk of heart failure (HF) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) based on a multi-center, large-sample and retrospective cross-sectional study including 89,207 patients. Heart failure was categorized as HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF). In multi-adjusted models, compared with patients without anemia, mild anemia (odds ratio [OR] 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53–1.91; P <.001), moderate anemia (OR 3.68; 95% CI, 3.25–4.17; P <.001), and severe anemia (OR 8.02; 95% CI, 6.50–9.88; P <.001) were associated with the risk of HF among CHD patients. Men aged <65 years were more likely to develop HF. In subgroup analyses, the multi-adjusted ORs and 95% CI of HFpEF, HFrEF, and HFmrEF related to anemia were 3.24 (95% CI 1.43–7.33), 2.22 (95% CI 1.28–3.84), and 2.55 (95% CI 2.24–2.89), respectively. These findings suggest that anemia might be associated with increased risk of different types of HF, especially HFpEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the predictive power of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Naples prognostic score (NPS) in determining the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The study included 1138 patients who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). The primary outcome was the evaluation of CAD severity, determined by the Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) obtained from the CCTA scans. A basic statistical model including age, gender, chest pain, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking was built, and categorical variables, NPS (Naples 3,4 vs 0,1,2) and SII, were added to the basic statistical model. The net benefits of the predictive parameters were determined by a decision curve analysis, and the association between CAD-RADS and NPS, SII was quantified by odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The decision curve analysis showed that adding SII to the statistical model had a better full range of probability of clinical net benefit compared with the baseline model (OR: 5.77, 95% CI 4.15–8.02, P <.001). However, adding the NPS (P =.11) to the model did not outperform the basic statistical model. In conclusion, the SII may have a net predictive effect on top of traditional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-Cov-2 has been suggested to promote thrombotic complications and higher mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 positivity on in-hospital outcome and 30-day mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) enrolled in the International Survey on Acute Coronary Syndromes ST-segment elevation Myocardial Infarction (ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 registry. The 109 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were compared with 2005 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients. Positive patients were older (P =.002), less often active smokers (P =.002), and hypercholesterolemic (P =.006), they presented more often later than 12 h (P =.037), more often to the hub and were more often in cardiogenic shock (P =.02), or requiring rescue percutaneous coronary intervention after failed thrombolysis (P <.0001). Lower postprocedural Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 3 flow (P =.029) and more thrombectomy (P =.046) were observed. SARS-CoV-2 was associated with a significantly higher in-hospital mortality (25.7 vs 7%, adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) [95% Confidence Interval] = 3.2 [1.71-5.99], P <.001) in-hospital definite in-stent thrombosis (6.4 vs 1.1%, adjusted Odds Ratio [95% CI] = 6.26 [2.41-16.25], P <.001) and 30-day mortality (34.4 vs 8.5%, adjusted Hazard Ratio [95% CI] = 2.16 [1.45-3.23], P <.001), confirming that SARS-CoV-2 positivity is associated with impaired reperfusion, with negative prognostic consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with cerebral and coronary artery disease. Symptomatic PAD affects about 5% of people over 55 years; many more have asymptomatic PAD. Early detection enables modification of arterial disease risk factors. Diagnostically, assessment of symptoms or signs can be unreliable; ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) testing is time-consuming and few healthcare professionals are properly trained. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of multi-site photoplethysmography (MPPG), an alternative non-invasive test for PAD, in primary care. PAD patients identified from general practice registers were age- and sex-matched with controls. Participants were assessed using MPPG, ABPI and duplex ultrasound (DUS). Outcome measures were sensitivity and specificity of MPPG and ABPI (relative to DUS) and concordance. MPPG test results were available in 249 of 298 eligible participants from 16 practices between May 2015 and November 2016. DUS detected PAD in 101/249 (40.6%). MPPG sensitivity was 79.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 69.9–87.6%), with specificity 71.9% (95% CI 63.7–79.2%). ABPI sensitivity was 80.2% (95% CI 70.8–87.6%), with specificity 88.6% (95% CI 82–93.5%). With comparable sensitivity to ABPI, MPPG is quick, automated and simpler to do than ABPI; it offers the potential for rapid and accessible PAD assessments in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the causal relationship between long-term outdoor air pollutants and incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) database. We included 292,091 subjects from the general population who had previously not been diagnosed with PAD by the NHIS-NSC between 2008 and 2014. Hourly air pollutant data (particulate and gaseous) and climate data were collected. Correlation analysis of the collected data confirmed the relationship between air pollution and PAD incidence. For 1,836,965.4 person-years, incident cases of PAD were observed in 5243 subjects (285.4/100,000 person-years). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, exposure to long-term average concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) [hazard ratio (HR), 1.686; (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.108–2.565) for.01ppm] and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) [HR, 1.200; (95% CI, 1.077–1.336) for.01 ppm] significantly increased the risk of PAD occurrence after the adjustment for several variables. This study demonstrated that SO2 and NO2 exposure are independent predictors of PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among statin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is still a great residual cardiovascular risk. Previous studies found that the level of remnant cholesterol (RC) could predict the coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. In the present study, we enrolled 4145 patients with T2DM; 2784 (67.2%) were male and their median age was 62 years. After multivariate logistic analyses, plasma RC level was significantly and independently associated with CAD [odds ratio (OR) 13.524, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.058-25.912, P <.001) after adjustment for conventional risk factors, such as age, gender, hypertension, and other lipid levels. Even in the presence of high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, the elevated RC could still predict CAD in T2DM patients (OR 2.064, 95%CI 1.438-2.964, P <.001). Furthermore, RC had relationships with age, hypertension, and smoking status in promoting CAD progression in T2DM patients, with all p for interactive <.001. In conclusion, RC level was independently associated with CAD risk in patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantitatively evaluated the dose-response association of low and normal ankle brachial index (ABI) with the risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched for cohort studies. Random effects or fixed effects models were used to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Generalized least squares regression was used to assess study-specific dose-response associations per 0.1 ABI decrease. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate linear or nonlinear trends. Twelve cohort studies (57 031 participants) were included in this meta-analysis. For low vs normal ABI levels, the pooled RRs were 2.03 (95% CI, 1.72–2.41; I 2 = 52.9%; pheterogeneity=0.030) and 2.29 (95% CI, 1.98–2.64; I 2 = 39.5%; pheterogeneity =0.158) for CVD morbidity and CVD mortality, respectively. For per 0.1 ABI decrease from 1.40 the risk for CVD morbidity and CVD mortality increased by 8% (1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.11) and 11% (1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.15), respectively. Restricted cubic splines showed inverse linear associations for CVD morbidity and CVD mortality. As a non-invasive index, lower ABI was significantly associated with the increased risk of morbidity and mortality from CVDs in an inverse linear manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the utility of the immune-inflammation index (SII) in estimating the no-reflow phenomenon and short-term cardiovascular prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). 723 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in our study. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off value of SII to predict the no-reflow. The multivariate regression analysis analyzed the correlation between no-reflow and SII. The median value of SII was significantly higher in patients with no-reflow in comparison with normal reperfusion [1466 (939–2409) vs 905 (566–1379), p <.001]. The optimal threshold for SII in predicting the no-reflow phenomenon was 1036, with sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 59%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.66–0.75, p <.001). In multivariate analysis, SII ≥ 1036 value showed an independent predictive value for the no-reflow (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29–0.92, p =.02) and the 30-day cardiovascular mortality (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.34–4.19, p =.003). Our results suggest that higher SII levels are independently associated with the no-reflow phenomenon and 30-day mortality in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple renal cysts (SRC) are associated with the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). We hypothesized that patients with AAA and SRC have increased arterial stiffness (AS) compared with patients without SRC. Patients (n=223) with an infrarenal AAA undergoing pulse wave analysis were recruited. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured (automated oscillometric method) as an index of AS. Participants were categorized into those with increased AS and those with normal/borderline AS (threshold: 1800 cm/s); 134 patients (60.1%) had increased AS and 89 (39.9%) patients had normal/borderline AS. Multivariable analyses showed that age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51–5.72; P =.002), systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg (OR, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.35–10.83; P <.001), hypertension (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.08–4.79; P =.030), and presence of SRC (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.03–3.46; P =.040) were independent risk factors for increased AS. The presence of SRC is an independent risk factor for increased AS in patients with an AAA. This association suggests that patients with SRC may have severe aortic wall degeneration and thus the presence of SRC may be pathologically linked to the development of AAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a hematological index that is routinely measured in clinical settings. Although many studies have been conducted to investigate the prognostic significance of MPV in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the findings have been inconsistent. The goal of this study was to systematically review all current evidence on the association between admission MPV and clinical outcomes after ACS. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and other databases were searched. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality. We applied a Knapp and Hartung adjustment, prediction interval calculations and permutation tests during pairwise meta-analyses. A one-stage dose–response meta-analysis was also conducted. The meta-analysis consisted of 41 studies with 33443 participants. Mean platelet volume, as a continuous variable, was associated with the risk of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% CI 1.19–1.48). After conducting permutation tests and calculation of prediction intervals, this association remained significant. The results for MACE were nonsignificant. Linear models were the best fitted models during dose–response meta-analyses, trends for nonlinearity were significant for long-term endpoints. Admission MPV was associated with long-term mortality in ACS patients, with nonlinear associations between MPV levels and long-term clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and subclinical atherosclerosis remains unclear. We performed a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of PCOS on functional and structural markers of subclinical atherosclerosis as measured by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation (NMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and coronary artery calcium (CAC). Standard mean differences (SMDs) or odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Ninety-six articles involving 5550 PCOS patients and 5974 controls were included. Compared with controls, PCOS patients showed significantly thicker cIMT (SMD (95% CI) =.587 (.398,.776), P <.001), lower FMD (SMD (95% CI) = −.649 (−.946, −.353), P <.001) and NMD (SMD (95% CI) = −.502 (−.686, −.317), P <.001), as well as higher PWV (SMD (95% CI) =.382 (.019,.746), P =.039), and increased CAC incidence (OR (95% CI) = 2.204 (1.687, 2.879), P <.001). When analyzing subgroups by age and body mass index (BMI), results were still significant (P <.05) except for PWV in the BMI subgroup. There was no significant result on sensitivity analysis, and Begg' test or Egger's test. PCOS contributes to subclinical atherosclerosis, resulting in functional and structural changes in cIMT, FMD and NMD, PWV, and CAC incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An objective hemodynamic assessment is mandatory to confirm Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). Toe pressure measurement is recommended. We compared toe measurements obtained using the Laser Doppler method (LD) (PERIMED PeriFlux, Sweden) considered as the reference test, with those obtained with a portable device using photoplethysmography (PPG) (Sys Toe Atys Medical, France). A total of 93 (123 legs) patients from 3 French hospitals with a clinical suspicion of CLI were included and had measurements with each device carried out by skilled operators. PPG was unable to provide a measurement in 10 patients. Lin's Coefficient correlation concordance (CCC) and Bland and Altman's scatter plot were analyzed for the 83 remaining patients, CCC was.84 95%CI (.77–.89). For detection of CLI, Cohen's kappa was.67 95%CI (.53–.81). The PPG device is fairly reliable for toe pressure measurement in patients suspected of CLI and could be useful when LD is not available. However, it fails to deliver a measurement in approximately 10% of cases. No conclusion should be made about CLI for these patients when no measurement is obtainable and other methods should be used (LD, transcutaneous oxygen pressure) to assess perfusion of the limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) sacubitril/valsartan and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor dapagliflozin have been shown to reduce rehospitalization and cardiac mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We aimed to compare the long-term cardiac and all-cause mortality of ARNI and dapagliflozin combination therapy against ARNI monotherapy in patients with HFrEF. This retrospective study involved 244 patients with HF with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II–IV symptoms and ejection fraction ≤40%. The patients were divided into 2 groups: ARNI monotherapy and ARNI+dapagliflozin. Median follow-up was 2.5 (.16–3.72) years. One hundred and seventy-five (71.7%) patients were male, and the mean age was 65.9 (SD, 10.2) years. Long-term cardiac mortality rates were significantly lower in the ARNI+dapagliflozin group (7.4%) than in the ARNI monotherapy group (19.5%) (P =.01). Dapagliflozin [Hazard Ratio (HR) [95% Confidence Interval (CI)] =.29 [.10–.77]; P =.014] and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [HR (95% CI) =.89 (.85–.93); P <.001] were found to be independent predictors of cardiac mortality. Our study showed a significant reduction in cardiac mortality with ARNI and dapagliflozin combination therapy compared with ARNI monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cohort study was designed to assess the association between serum endocan levels and the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. A total of 227 patients were recruited consecutively. Study outcome data on death and major disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3) were collected at 3 months after stroke onset. After 3 months of follow-up, death and disability occurred in 48 and 85 patients, respectively, while the primary (death) and secondary (death or disability) outcome incident rate was 21.15% and 37.44%, respectively. The multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, 95% CIs) of the highest endocan quartile for death or major disability was 1.21 (1.10, 4.13) compared with the lowest quartile. After adjusting for confounding factors, the increase in the risk of death was not significant. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that endocan predicted primary and secondary outcomes with C-statistical values (95% CIs) of 0.61 (0.55–0.67, P =.001) and 0.68 (0.59–0.76, P <.001), respectively. Elevated endocan levels were independently related to increased risk of poor outcome at 3 months after ischemic stroke onset. Endocan is a potential prognostic factor for ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the predictors, aetiology and long-term outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) following urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Acute kidney injury occurred in 198 (7.2%) of 2917 patients: 14.1% of AKI cases were attributed to cardiogenic shock and 5.1% were classified as atheroembolic renal disease (AERD). Significant risk factors for AKI included age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% confidence limits [CI] 1.03-1.06), diabetes (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.20-2.47), hypertension (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03-2.00), heart failure (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.58-5.57), femoral access (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.03-2.15), cardiogenic shock (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.19-3.37) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.80-5.47). One-year mortality after AERD was 44.4% and renal replacement therapy (RRT) requirement 22.2% (compared with mortality 33.3% and RRT requirement 7.4%, respectively, in all other AKI patients). Mortality at 1 year was associated with AKI (OR 4.33, 95% CI 2.89-6.43), age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.09), heart failure (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.05-3.44), femoral access (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.41-2.95) and cardiogenic shock (OR 3.63, 95% CI 2.26-5.77). Acute kidney injury after urgent PCI is strongly associated with worse outcomes. Atheroembolic renal disease has a poor outcome and a high likelihood of long-term RRT requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-grade inflammation and arterial stiffness are key factors in the development of vascular aging. However, the interplay between arterial stiffness and inflammation for cardiovascular (CV) disease is unclear. Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and the inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and orosomucoid, were measured in 2710 participants (median age: 72 years). These participants were followed up for a mean of 7.6 years for a composite CV disease end point. Per 1 interquartile range increment of CRP and orosomucoid, respectively, aPWV increased by 0.19 m/s (95% CI: 0.07-0.32) and 0.19 m/s (0.11-0.27), after multifactorial adjustment. Mediation analysis showed that aPWV, after multifactorial adjustment, mediated 8% (−4, 20) of the CV disease risk associated with CRP and 8% (−4, 18) of orosomucoid risk. The associated risk increased with combinations of high aPWV and high CRP or orosomucoid. We found no evidence that arterial PWV acted as an important mediator of the relationship between systemic inflammation and CV disease risk in this elderly population. The results instead indicate an additive effect. Our study supports the view that arterial stiffness and chronic inflammation affects CV risk mainly through separate causal pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong inflammatory indicators such as C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), and hematological indices, including platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hematocrit (HCT), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), may be related with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Our meta-analysis aimed at exploring the relationship between these indicators and CIN incidence among patients undergoing coronary intervention. Clinical studies were retrieved from the electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials, and Science Direct from their inception to June 3, 2020. Meta-analysis was performed on pooled eligible studies. Finally, 26 studies involving 29 454 patients were included. Pooled analysis revealed that patients with higher CRP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12, P =.02), hsCRP (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, P =.004), NLR (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20, P =.02), RDW (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.19-1.53, P <.001), and lower HCT (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.92-0.97, P =.003) all exhibited significantly higher CIN rates, but there was no significant association between PLR and CIN risk (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.99-1.26, P =.07). Pre-angiography CRP/hsCRP and some hematological indices are associated with CIN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is widely used to quantify endothelial function. Historically, FMD was determined at 60 seconds post-cuff deflation. We investigated whether FMD would be more accurate if determined at maximum dilatory peak (MDP) than at 60 seconds in healthy subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We studied 95 healthy and 72 subjects with T2DM and assessed FMD at MDP, 60 and 90 seconds. Twenty-four healthy and 12 subjects with T2DM underwent a repeat FMD after 28 days. In healthy subjects, FMD at MDP was higher than at 60 and 90 seconds, with mean difference MDP versus 60 seconds 1.14% (95% CI: 0.6-1.7); P <.0001 and MDP versus 90 seconds 1.9% (95% CI: 1.3-2.5) with similar results in T2DM, that is, 1.0% (95% CI: 0.1-1.9) and 2.3% (95% CI: 1.3-3.2), respectively. Intraindividual variability was lowest with MDP compared with 60 and 90 seconds, that is, 15.0 versus 23.2% and 40.0%, respectively, resulting in a more than 2-fold reduction in necessary sample size. In healthy subjects and subjects with T2DM, assessment of FMD using MDP results in a more accurate and precise assessment leading to a substantial reduction in sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An association between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been suggested. The cause of AMI is presumed to be atherothrombosis. In the present study, the primary objective was to assess incident AMI cases and the secondary objective was to estimate the proportion of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) in patients with SLE. All Swedish patients with SLE without AMI before 1996 (n = 4192) were followed for 20 years in the national patient registry. For each SLE patient, 10 age- and sex-matched controls without SLE and AMI before 1996 (n = 41 892) were identified. Data from patients and controls with AMI after 1996 were linked with the Swedish coronary angiography and angioplasty register; 549 (13%) and 3352 (8%) first AMIs occurred in patients with SLE and controls, respectively. The incidence of AMI was 9.6 (95% CI: 8.9-10.5) and 4.9 (95% CI: 4.8-5.1) events/1000 person-years in patients with SLE and controls, respectively. The proportion of MINOCA was 10.8% in patients with SLE and 13.8% in controls (P =.261), respectively. In conclusion, the incidence of AMI is increased in a European population of patients with SLE but there is no indication that the proportion of MINOCA is increased in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed data from 4 nationwide prospective registries of consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) admitted to the Italian Intensive Cardiac Care Unit network between 2005 and 2014. Out of 26 315 patients with ACS enrolled, 13 073 (49.7%) presented a diagnosis of non-ST elevation (NSTE)-ACS and had creatinine levels available at hospital admission: 1207 (9.2%) had severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <30), 3803 (29.1%) mild to moderate CKD (eGFR 31-59), and 8063 (61.7%) no CKD (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients with severe CKD had worse clinical characteristics compared with those with mild-moderate or no kidney dysfunction, including all the key predictors of mortality (P <.0001) which became worse over time (all P <.0001). Over the decade of observation, a significant increase in percutaneous coronary intervention rates was observed in patients without CKD (P for trend =.0001), but not in those with any level of CKD. After corrections for significant mortality predictors, severe CKD (odds ratio, OR: 5.49; 95% CI: 3.24-9.29; P <.0001) and mild-moderate CKD (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.52-3.59; P <.0001) remained strongly associated with higher in-hospital mortality. The clinical characteristics of patients with NSTE-ACS and CKD remain challenging and their mortality rate is still higher compared with patients without CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication of angiographic procedures. It is the third most common cause of hospital acquired acute renal injury. As there are currently no approved therapies for CIN, prevention could be the best strategy to address this issue. Acetylcysteine may indirectly play an antioxidant role by inducing the synthesis of glutathione. Acetylcysteine can also reduce renal vasoconstriction induced by contrast medium stimulation by stabilizing nitric oxide and acting directly or indirectly on renal cortex and medulla microcirculation. To evaluate the effect of acetylcysteine on the prevention of CIN in patients after angiography, we systematically searched and analyzed the clinical data of patients including the incidence of CIN and change in serum creatinine (SCr) at 48 hours after angiography from selected articles. The result showed that acetylcysteine significantly reduces the incidence of CIN (risk ratios: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.90, I 2 = 37.3%) and the level of SCr (standardized mean difference: −0.53, 95% CI: −0.93 to −0.12, I 2 = 91.5%) after angiography compared with the control group. Overall, the use of acetylcysteine in patients after angiography was associated with a significant reduction of CIN and the level of SCr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smoker's paradox refers to an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes after smoking cessation in patients with coronary artery disease. The mechanisms involved are controversial. The present study evaluated the effect of delay in smoking cessation on clinical outcomes among patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) stratified by diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients included in this study came from an established Fu Wai hospital PCI cohort. Smoking behavior was recorded; clinical end points included all-cause mortality and repeat revascularization. The analyses were based on 8489 smokers who underwent PCI. Patients with and without DM were examined separately. Multivariable model analysis suggested that smoking cessation was associated with significant lower all-cause mortality both for non-DM and DM patients. The smoking paradox was observed for revascularization. However, the increased risk of repeat revascularization correlated with quitting time among non-DM patients only, especially if they stopped smoking late (>90 days) after their index procedure (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.40; 95% CI: 2.45-4.72). In conclusion, smoking cessation is associated with a lower mortality rate for PCI patients. However, the relative benefit on repeated revascularization was only observed among non-DM patients if they quit smoking early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous entity with an inflammatory etiopathogenesis. This study investigated the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with MINOCA. Coronary angiographies performed between June 2015 and August 2018 were analyzed retrospectively and included 72 patients with MINOCA and 248 controls with normal coronary angiograms. The predictors of mortality were determined by univariate Cox regression analysis. The mean age of the subjects was 46 ± 9 years, and 176 (55%) were female. Median follow-up was 21 (max: 42) months. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in the MINOCA group than in the controls (P <.01). During long-term follow-up, the number of deaths was 6 in the MINOCA group and none in the control patients (P <.01). Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the NLR (hazard ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.41, P =.001) was a predictor of mortality in patients with MINOCA. Kaplan–Meier analysis also showed that patients with MINOCA had relatively higher mortality rate (long-rank test; P <.01). In conclusion, the NLR is significantly higher in patients with MINOCA compared with controls, and it is a predictor of long-term mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to research the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis markers and ultrasound parameters of Achilles tendons (AT). The study included 150 patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk (CVR). All patients underwent a carotid ultrasound scanning. We evaluated carotid plaque, carotid plaque score (cPS), carotid total plaque area (cTPA), and the percentage of stenosis. All patients underwent AT ultrasound with an assessment of thickness (Achilles tendon thickness [ATT]), width (Achilles tendon width), and cross-sectional area. An increase in the ATT ≥5.07 mm was associated with a 4.55-fold increase in the relative risk of carotid atherosclerosis (sensitivity 68.3% and specificity 62.5%). Direct correlations between the ATT and carotid stenosis (r = 0.277; P =.004), cPS (r = 0.225; P =.035), and cTPA (r = 0.305; P =.004) were determined. An increase in the mean ATT by 1 mm was associated with an increase in cTPA by 8.09 mm2 (95% CI: 2.26-13.9; P =.007) and carotid stenosis by 4.11% (95% CI: 0.64-7.60; P =.021). Thus, in patients with high and very high CVR, an increase in ATT is an independent predictor of carotid atherosclerosis. The ATT directly correlates with the markers of carotid plaque burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to assess the role and the relationship of adipokines as well as parameters of arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed hypertension. Forty-nine newly diagnosed hypertensive cases (median age 47 ± 6 years) and 48 normotensive patients (median age 47 ± 6 years) were enrolled to this study. Patients underwent echocardiography, noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic parameters using SphygmoCor tonometer (Atcor Med). The levels of the adipokines—leptin, adiponectin, and resistin—were investigated. The augmentation pressure, augmentation index, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were higher in patients with hypertension compared with controls (P s <.05). Patients with hypertension had higher E / E ′ ratio, higher diameter of left atrium, and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion compared with the control group (P s <.05). Patients with hypertension had significant higher levels of leptin (ng/mL) and lower levels of adiponectin (μg/mL) compared with normotensive patients. The multivariate analysis showed that PWV (odds ratio [OR] 1.95, 95% CI, 1.2-2.9; P =.002) and leptin level (OR 1.01, 95% CI, 1.004-1.031; P =.01) were significantly associated with hypertension. Arterial stiffness as determined by PWV and leptin are associated with newly diagnosed hypertension. Elevated serum leptin level may influence the potential mechanism leading to sympathetic activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the trend of palliative care (PC) referrals and its effect on hospitalization cost and length of stay (LOS) in ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA). The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2014 was used to identify admissions with age ≥50 and rAA. A total of 54 134 rAA admissions were identified and 5019 (9.3%) had PC referrals. During the study period, PC referral rate increased from 0.97% to 15.3% (P trend <.0001). Length of stay (1.7 vs 2.8 days, adjusted mean ratio [aMR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58-0.66), and cost (US$7778 vs US$13 575, aMR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.52-0.63) were significantly lower in rAA admissions that did not undergo interventions. In the percutaneous repair group, LOS was similar but the cost was higher (US$61 759 vs US$52 260, aMR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05-1.30), whereas in surgical repair group, LOS was shorter (4.6 vs 5.9 days, aMR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.73-0.82) but the cost was higher (US$59 755 vs US$52 523, aMR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.28). Palliative care could shorten LOS and save hospitalization cost in rAA admissions not a candidate for repair. Further studies are required to investigate the variable effects of PC on rAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), along with a series of hematological indices, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), are regarded to be related to the incidence of no-reflow or slow flow. Clinical studies were retrieved from the electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials, and science direct from their inception to August 24, 2019. A total of 21 studies involving 7403 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis results revealed patients with higher hsCRP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.05, P =.006), hsCRP (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.0-1.08, P =.012), NLR (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.11-1.37, P <.0001), PLR (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.20, P <.0001), and MPV (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.57-2.90, P <.0001) all exhibited significantly higher no-reflow incidence, but there was no significant association between no-reflow risk and RDW or PDW. Patients with higher CRP/hsCRP also performed higher rate of slow flow (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.11, P =.018). Preangiographic CRP/hsCRP could independently predict no-reflow and slow flow. Moreover, some hematological indices are associated with no-flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of previous clinical trials evaluating the effect of pycnogenol supplementation on blood pressure (BP) are controversial. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of pycnogenol on BP through a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of available randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies (randomized clinical trials [RCTs]). Literature search included SCOPUS, PubMed-Medline, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to January 10, 2019 to identify RCTs investigating the impact of pycnogenol on BP. Two investigators independently extracted data on study characteristics, methods, and outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis is registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under number CRD42018112172. Overall, the impact of pycnogenol on BP was reported in 7 trials involving 626 participants. Meta-analysis did not suggest any significant improvement in systolic BP (weighted mean difference [WMD]: −0.028 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.182 to 0.127; P =.726; I 2 = 46%), diastolic BP (WMD: −0.144 mm Hg; 95% CI: −0.299 to 0.010; P =.067; I 2 = 0%), mean arterial pressure (WMD: −0.091 mm Hg; 95% CI: −0.246 to 0.063; P =.246; I 2 = 0%), and pulse pressure (WMD: −0.003 mm Hg; 95% CI: −0.151 to 0.158; P =.966; I 2 = 0%) following pycnogenol treatment. Results persisted in the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Therefore, the present meta-analysis does not suggest any significant effect of pycnogenol on BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with autoimmune disorders are at an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but this association has not been consistently evaluated. We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad Trombo Embólica) database to compare the rates of VTE recurrences, major bleeding, and death during the course of anticoagulation, according to the presence or absence of autoimmune disorders. Of 71 625 patients with VTE recruited in February 2018, 1800 (2.5%) had autoimmune disorders. Median duration of anticoagulant therapy was slightly longer in patients with autoimmune disorders (median, 190 vs 182 days; P =.001). On multivariable analysis, patients with autoimmune disorders had a similar risk of VTE recurrences (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-1.27) or major bleeding (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.82-1.40) and a lower risk to die (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.54-0.81) than those without autoimmune disorders. Patients with giant cell arteritis had the highest rates of major bleeding (8.6 events per 100 patient-years) and the lowest rate of recurrences (zero). In other subgroups, the rates of both events were more balanced. During anticoagulation, patients with or without autoimmune disorders had similar rates of VTE recurrences or major bleeding. However, there were some differences between subgroups of patients with autoimmune disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology and function of the arteries can be directly measured using different established methods. This prospective cohort study aimed to translate 2 of these, aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT), into a combined Vascular Aging Index (VAI) and then evaluate the predictive power of aPWV, cIMT, and VAI. Patients (n = 2718) were included from the cardiovascular arm of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (median age 71.9 years, 62.2% females). Total follow-up time was 16 448 person-years and a composite cardiovascular disease (CVD) end point was used. Cox regressions yielded adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) per 1 standard deviation increment of loge aPWV, loge cIMT, and loge VAI of 1.25 (1.08-1.45, P =.003), 1.27 (1.13-1.44, P <.001), and 1.45 (1.26-1.68, P <.001), respectively. The C-statistics increased from 0.714 to 0.734 when adding aPWV and cIMT to a model of conventional risk factors. Net Reclassification Index also showed a significant (P <.001) improvement for the classification of event-free patients and no change for patients with events. A VAI based on aPWV and cIMT had a good predictive performance. Used together, aPWV and cIMT incrementally and significantly improve the prediction of CVD events by correctly down-adjusting the predicted risk for noncases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the prognostic value of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) as a predictor of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Consecutive patients with CAD (n = 612) who underwent both successful coronary DES implantation and follow-up angiography ranging from 6 to 24 months were enrolled. The independent predictors of ISR were explored by multivariate logistic regression analysis; 95 (15.52%) patients were identified to have ISR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RLP-C concentration (odds ratio [OR]: 4.245, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.493-7.229), age (OR: 1.026, 95% CI: 1.002-1.051), diabetes mellitus (DM; OR: 1.811, 95% CI: 1.134-2.892), and lesion length (OR: 1.013, 95% CI: 1.002-1.024) were associated with ISR. Via subgroup analysis, we found that RLP-C was independently associated with ISR in both CAD with DM (OR: 4.154, 95% CI: 1.895-9.104) and CAD without DM (OR: 4.455, 95% CI: 2.097-9.464) groups. In the analysis of the receiver operating characteristics curve, RLP-C level >0.515 mmol/L exhibited 77.9% sensitivity and 56.5% specificity (area under the curve: 0.705, 95% CI: 0.648-0.762) in predicting ISR. In conclusion, RLP-C is independently associated with the development of ISR in patients with CAD after DES implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GlycA, a composite biomarker of systemic inflammation, is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, but its relationship with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is unknown. We assessed whether plasma GlycA is associated with ankle–brachial index (ABI), carotid plaque (CP), and incident clinical PAD among 6466 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants without CVD at baseline. GlycA, ABI, and CP were measured at baseline. Both ABI and CP were remeasured at 10 years. Incident clinical PAD was ascertained from hospital records. We used logistic, Cox, and linear mixed regression models adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors. Mean (standard deviation, SD) was 62 (10) years for age and 381 (61) µmol/L for GlycA; 53% were women. GlycA was associated with both prevalent low ABI ≤0.8 (prevalence odds ratio [95% confidence interval, CI] per SD increment in GlycA, 1.65 [1.39-1.97]) and CP (1.19 [1.11-1.27]) at baseline. There were no significant associations of GlycA with incident low ABI, incident CP, or 10-year change in ABI or CP score. We identified 110 incident cases of PAD after 79 590 person-years. The hazard ratio (95% CI) of incident PAD per SD increment in GlycA was 1.38 (1.14-1.66). In conclusion, GlycA was associated with prevalent low ABI, prevalent CP, and incident PAD after a median of 14 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of stent design and surgical techniques, the relative benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with diabetes and complex coronary artery disease are highly debated. This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the outcomes of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation and CABG in these cohorts. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to January 4, 2018, was performed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs), subgroup analysis from RCTs, or adjusted observational studies were eligible. Five RCTs and 13 adjusted observational studies involving 17 532 patients were included. Overall, PCI with DES was significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.29), myocardial infarction (MI; HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.43-2.00), and repeat revascularization (HR: 3.77, 95% CI: 2.76-5.16) compared with CABG. Nevertheless, the risk of stroke was significantly lower in the DES group (HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54-0.83). The incidence of the composite end point of death, MI, or stroke was comparable between the 2 groups (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84-1.17). Despite the higher risk of stroke, CABG was better than PCI with DES for diabetic patients with multivessel and/or left main coronary artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is a common genetic disorder predisposing affected individuals to lifelong low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) elevation and coronary heart disease. However, whether HeFH increases the risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and ischemic stroke is undetermined. We examined associations between HeFH and these outcomes in a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed (for ahead-of-print publications) for relevant English-language studies. Maximally adjusted risk estimates were pooled under random- and fixed-effects meta-analysis to derive odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We included 6 studies representing 183 388 participants. Heterozygnous familial hypercholesterolemia was associated with a higher risk of PAD (OR: 3.59 [95% CI: 1.30-9.89]). This trend was nonsignificantly preserved (OR: 2.96 [95% CI: 0.68-12.88]) in sensitivity analyses of genetically defined HeFH. Genetic HeFH was not associated with increased ischemic stroke risk (OR: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.37-1.58]) although possessing an LDL-C > 4.9 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) was (OR: 1.42 [95% CI: 1.06-1.89]). We found clinical and genetic diagnoses of HeFH to be associated with increased PAD risk. Genetically confirmed HeFH may not confer an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Modest associations may exist between LDL-C and ischemic stroke risk in HeFH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimated the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH), and its relationship with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in a Chinese population. A cross-sectional survey of CVD risk factors was conducted among Chinese participants aged 35 to 64 years in 2009 to 2010. In 2017, 8965 participants completed follow-up assessments in which CVD and all-cause mortality were collected; 8754 participants were eligible for analysis. The percentage of meeting all 7 ideal CVH metrics was 0.10%. During a median follow-up of 6.3 years, the incidence of CVD and all-cause mortality were 6.02% and 4.85% per 1000 person-year in participants with 0 to 1 ideal CVH metrics, 3.33% and 3.57% in those with 2 to 5, 0.40% and 0.79% in those with 6 to 7, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the risk of CVD was significantly lower in participants with 2 to 5 (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.98) and 6 to 7 (HR: 0.12, 95%CI: 0.02-0.87) ideal CVH metrics compared to those with 0 to 1 ideal CVH metrics. The risk of all-cause mortality was decreased as ideal CVH metrics increased (HR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.70-0.88). A greater number of ideal CVH metrics was associated with a lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality, but the prevalence of all 7 ideal CVH metrics was low in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was a randomized trial, and 308 patients undergoing revascularization were randomly assigned: 155 to off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and 153 to on-pump coronary artery bypass (ONCAB). End points were freedom from death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and cerebrovascular accidents. The rates for 10-year, event-free survival for ONCAB versus OPCAB were 69.6% and 64%, (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-1.02; P = .41), respectively. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratio was similar (HR: 0.92; 95% CI 0.61-1.38, P = .68). A difference occurred between the duration of OPCAB and ONCAB, respectively (4.9 ± 1.5 vs 6.6 ± 1.1 h, P < .001). Statistical differences occurred between OPCAB and ONCAB in the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (20 ± 2.5 vs 48 ± 10 hours, P < .001), time to extubation (5.5 ± 4.2 vs 10.2 ± 3.5 hours, P < .001), hospital stay (6.7 ± 1.4 vs 9.2 ± 1.3 days, P < .001), higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF; 33 vs 5 patients, P < .001), and blood requirements (46 vs 64 patients, P < .001). Grafts per patient was higher in ONCAB (3.15 vs 2.55 grafts, P < .001). No difference existed between the groups in primary composite end points at 10-year follow-up. Although OPCAB surgery was related to a lower number of grafts and higher incidence of AF, it had no effects related to long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular (CV) risk in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is increased. In this study, we evaluated the differences in major markers of CV risk between patients with T1DM and healthy controls by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Literature from PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library comparing CV risk markers between patients with T1DM and controls was obtained. The overall standard mean differences (SMDs) of carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT), endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD%), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and glyceryl trinitrate-mediated dilatation (GTN%) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) between patients with T1DM and control groups were calculated using fixed-effect or random-effect model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochran Q and I2 statistics. The results showed that patients with T1DM had a significantly greater cIMT (SMD: 0.89; 95% CI, 0.69-1.09; P < .001), significantly lower FMD% (SMD: −1.45%; 95% CI, −1.74 to −1.17; P < .001), significantly increased cf-PWV (SMD: 0.57; 95% CI, 0.03-1.11; P < .001), and significantly decreased GTN% (SMD: −1.11; 95% CI, −1.55 to −0.66; P < .001) than controls. Our results support the current evidence for an elevated CV burden in patients with T1DM and affirm the clinical utility of markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in the management of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the impact of clopidogrel use on 3- and 12-months all-cause mortality in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) stratified by coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients admitted to 47 hospitals in 7 Middle Eastern countries with AHF from February to November 2012. Clopidogrel use was associated with significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-0.87; P = .007) and 12 months (aOR, 0.61; 95% CI: 0.47-0.79; P < .001). When the analysis was stratified by CAD, the clopidogrel group in those with AHF and CAD was also associated with significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality at 3 months (aOR, 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38-0.83; P = .003) and 12 months (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.77; P < .001). However, in AHF patients without CAD, clopidogrel use was not associated with any survival advantages, neither at 3 months (aOR, 0.99; 95% CI: 0.32-3.11; P = .987) nor at 12 months (aOR, 0.80; 95% CI: 0.37-1.72; P = .566). Clopidogrel use was associated with short- and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with AHF and CAD. In AHF patients without CAD, clopidogrel use did not offer any survival advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial stiffness (AS) is a predictor of coronary artery outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) is a commonly used method for assessing AS. This study aimed to assess the relationship between cf-PWV and clinical CVD events. Of the 786 studies identified, 19 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that participants with high cf-PWV by 1 standard deviation (SD), 1 m/s, and cutoff points have a high pooled relative risk for CVD events (1 SD: 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-1.31; 1 m/s: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.07-1.18; and cutoff points: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.45-2.14) and CVD mortality (1 SD: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.15-1.31; 1 m/s: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14; and cutoff points: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.46-2.24). In addition, we found that the predictive value of increased AS was higher in patients with higher disease risk for total CVD events and CVD mortality than in other patients. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is a useful biomarker to improve the prediction of CV risk for patients and identify high-risk populations who may benefit from aggressive CV risk factor management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of raised fibrinogen levels on outcome in stable outpatients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has not been consistently investigated. We used data from the Factores de Riesgo y ENfermedad Arterial (FRENA) registry to compare ischemic events, major bleeding, and mortality in stable outpatients with PAD, according to their baseline plasma fibrinogen levels. Of 1363 outpatients with PAD recruited in FRENA, 558 (41%) had fibrinogen levels >450 mg/100 mL. Over 18 months, 43 patients presented with acute myocardial infarction, 37 had an ischemic stroke, 51 underwent limb amputation, 19 had major bleeding, and 90 died. Compared to patients with normal levels, those with raised fibrinogen levels had an over 2-fold higher rate of ischemic stroke (rate ratio [RR]: 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-4.59), limb amputation (RR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.46-4.67), or death (RR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.49-3.51) and an over 3-fold higher rate of major bleeding (RR: 3.90; 95% CI: 1.45-12.1). On multivariate analysis, patients with raised fibrinogen levels had an increased risk of developing subsequent ischemic events (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.11-2.32) and major bleeding (HR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.22-9.61). Stable outpatients with PAD and raised plasma fibrinogen levels had increased rates of subsequent ischemic events and major bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleeding is a major complication in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Several studies suggested that Asians are more susceptible to bleeding when treated with antiplatelets, anticoagulants, and thrombolytic agents. In our study, we aimed to investigate the association between Asian ethnicity and bleeding events in patients who presented with STEMI. We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2013 and identified patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of STEMI. We compared clinical outcomes between patients of Asian and white ethnicity. Primary outcome was inhospital major bleeding defined as a composite of intracranial hemorrhage and blood transfusions for bleeding events. After exclusions, an estimated 1 695 680 white and 46 563 Asian patients with STEMI were included in the analysis. Asian patients had a higher incidence of inhospital major bleeding (3.6% vs 2.2%, P < .001) without a significant difference in inhospital mortality (9.3% vs 8.7%, P = .06). Asian ethnicity was an independent predictor for major bleeding (estimated odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.51; P < .001). This increased risk of bleeding would warrant further investigation of optimal treatment strategies tailored for patients with STEMI of Asian ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The benefit of implanting patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention has not been demonstrated in any randomized controlled trial. This also holds true for the most recent study on the subject. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the effectiveness of primary prevention using an ICD in the NICMP population. Methods: We searched the literature for randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of ICD in reducing all-cause mortality in patients with NICMP. The primary outcome of our analysis was all-cause mortality. A fixed-effects model was used for the primary analysis. Results: A total of 5 randomized controlled trials focused on primary prevention of sudden cardiac death for patients with NICMP that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. They have individually failed to consistently show a benefit for the use of an ICD in this population. However, the cumulative effect of ICD implantation in patients with NICMP demonstrated a 21% relative risk reduction in mortality (Relative risk [RR]: 0.79; confidence interval: 0.66-0.95). Conclusion: There is a decrease in mortality with the use of ICD for primary prevention in patients with NICMP having left ventricular ejection fraction <35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated safety and long-term outcome of endovascular therapy for steno-occlusive iliac artery disease. All endovascular procedures of iliac artery lesions performed at our institution between 2001 and 2014 (n = 676) were retrospectively analyzed. The overall technical success rate was 99% and yielded 100% for stenoses (n = 596) and 95% for chronic total occlusions (n = 80). Lesion complexity defined by the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II classification had no impact on success rates (TASC A + B vs C + D; 99.5% vs 98.6%, P = .359). During a median follow-up of 11 months, the overall rate of restenosis was 9.4%. After 1 and 3 years, the primary patency rates were 94% and 86% and the secondary patency rate was 100%, respectively. The TASC II classification had no impact on long-term patency rates (TASC A þ B vs C þ D; 86% vs 81%). In a multivariable analysis, stent diameter remained the only significant predictor for restenosis (hazard ratio: 0.58; 95% confidence interval: 0.41%-0.81%; P = .002). In this single-center retrospective study, endovascular therapy for steno-occlusive iliac artery disease was associated with high technical and clinical success rates as well as an excellent long-term patency rate irrespective of lesion complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the association between weekday (WD) or weekend (WE) admission and mortality for patients hospitalized with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Weekend included holidays. We analyzed hospital administrative data of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of PE extracted from the Italian Health Ministry database (January 2001 to December 2014). A total of 265 035 hospitalizations with a diagnosis of PE were retrieved, in which PE was the primary diagnosis in 198 565 (74.9%); 200 166 (75.5%) patients were admitted on WD and 64 869 (24.5%) on WE. Admissions for PE were more frequent on Mondays (41 917 admissions, 15.8% of all events) and less frequent on Saturdays (32 295 admissions, 12.2%) and Sundays (32 574 admissions, 12.3%). Patients admitted on WE were on average 1 year older, presented more frequently with respiratory failure, and had more common comorbidities. After adjustment for age, gender, comorbidities, and presence of respiratory failure, in-hospital mortality for patients admitted on WE was greater (odds ratio: 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.18; P < .001). This study supports that, in Italy, hospitalization for PE on WE is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate than on WD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an emerging cardiovascular risk factor. Patients with mixed plaques (MPs) or noncalcified plaques (NCPs) have a higher risk of poor outcomes. However, there are few published data on the relationship between the NLR and the presence of NCP or MP (NCP/MP). We retrospectively collected the clinical and laboratory data of 598 patients with chest pain. According to whether they had coronary atherosclerotic plaques and the characteristics of the most stenotic plaque, we divided them into no plaque, calcified plaques, NCP, and MP. Those with NCP/MP had significantly elevated neutrophil count and NLR (P < .05). The proportion of NCP/MP was significantly increased from 28.6% in the NLR < 1.55 to 42.7% in the NLR > 2.21 group (P = .013). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent risk factor for the presence of NCP/MP (odds ratio = 1.195; 95% CI: 1.020-1.400; P = .028). The present study demonstrated that the NLR was independently associated with the presence of NCP/MP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]