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Background: Myocardial inflammation often complicates leptospirosis, a re-emerging global zoonosis. Leptospirosis associated myocardial dysfunction is equivocal and the pattern of cardiac involvement may not differ from that of sepsis associated myocarditis. Methods: We prospectively compared cardiac involvement in 113 intensive care unit patients with severe leptospirosis to 31 patients with sepsis syndrome using a comprehensive assessment comprising of clinical presentation, electrocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography (with global longitudinal strain calculation), and cardiac biomarker evaluation. Binomial logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in leptospirosis. Results: Compared to sepsis syndrome, leptospirosis patients were younger, had higher body mass index measurements and were more likely to be smokers. Electrocardiography abnormalities were common and similar in both groups. Myocardial systolic dysfunction was common in both groups (leptospirosis: 55.86% vs sepsis syndrome: 51.61%, p=0.675) with subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction (characterized by abnormal global longitudinal strain and normal left ventricular ejection fraction) being most frequent followed by isolated right ventricular systolic dysfunction, isolated left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and bi-ventricular systolic dysfunction (leptospirosis: 31.43%, 18.42%, 13.16%, 10.53%, respectively; sepsis syndrome: 22.22%, 12.00%, 12.00%, 8.00%, respectively (p>0.05 for each comparator)). Leptospirosis patients had a trend towards greater troponin-T elevation (61.0% vs 40.0%, p=0.057). ST-segment elevation and elevated troponin were independent predictors of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in leptospirosis. Conclusions: Cardiac involvement in leptospirosis appears to be similar to that of sepsis syndrome, with myocardial systolic dysfunction being common. As such, clinical vigilance pertaining to cardiac status is paramount in these high-risk patients.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes associated with medical management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients presenting to hospitals with and without onsite catheterization facilities. Methods All patients ( n=25,921) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction ( n=10,563) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction ( n=15,358) in Alberta, Canada between April 2010–March 2016 were categorized according to availability of catheterization facilities at the hospital they presented to and their management strategy (medically managed without coronary angiography or medically managed after coronary angiography). Results: Overall, 51% presented to hospitals without catheterization facilities; and 34% were managed medically (18% without coronary angiography, and 16% after coronary angiography). Rates of medical management were higher at hospitals without versus those with catheterization facilities (43% vs. 24%, pConclusion: The availability of catheterization facilities at the hospital at which non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients presented influenced their likelihood of being medically managed, but was not associated with adverse short- or long-term mortality outcomes.

Background Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are often complicated by new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), which is associated with higher short-term mortality. It is unknown whether a prior history of AF affects outcomes beyond in-hospital mortality in a real-world setting. Purpose To assess (i) the prevalence of prior AF in patients with ACS, including unstable angina (UA), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI); (ii) clinical characteristics of ACS patients with and without AF; and (iii) in-hospital mortality and long-term outcomes in the presence of prior AF. Methods We used linked administrative health databases to identify patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of ACS and prior history of non-valvular AF (ICD-9 code 427.3 and ICD-10 code 148), which was defined as 1 hospitalization or 1 emergency department visit or 2 outpatient visits at least 30 days apart in 1 year in any position, between April 2002 and March 2016 in Alberta, Canada. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, long-term mortality and a composite of all-cause mortality, hospitalisation for myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke over 3 years. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed for mortality and the composite outcome according to presence of prior AF and ACS type. Results Of 31,056 presenting with an ACS, 4,173 (13.4%) had a prior history of AF. Compared to patients without prior AF, patients with AF were older (75.7 versus 64.7 years), female (35.5% versus 29.9%), with a higher comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index 1.7 versus 1.1). Patient with AF more often presented with NSTEMI (57.7% versus 48.2%) and UA (17.1% versus 16.4%) compared to STEMI (25.2% versus 35.4%). In-hospital mortality was higher for ACS patients in the presence of prior AF (8.1% versus 3.3%; p Conclusion In this large, population-based study, we found that a history of AF is common in patients presenting with an ACS. In the presence of AF, short- and long-term prognosis is poor particularly for STEMI and NSTEMI patients. Aggressive modification of shared risk factors and use of evidence-based therapies to improve outcomes is needed in this high-risk population. Outcomes by presence of AF and ACS type Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Aims The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term relationship between revascularization technique and health status in diabetics with multivessel disease. Methods and results Using the Alberta Provincial Project for Outcomes Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) registry, we captured 1319 diabetics with multivessel disease requiring revascularization for an acute coronary syndrome (January 2009–December 2012) and reported health status using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at baseline, 1, 3 and 5-years [599 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); 720 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)]. Adjusted analyses were performed using a propensity score-matching technique. After adjustment (including baseline SAQ domain scores), 1-year mean (95% CI) SAQ scores (range 0–100 with higher scores reflecting improved health status) were significantly greater in selected domains for CABG compared to PCI (exertional capacity: 81.7 [79.5–84.0] vs. 78.8 [76.5–81.0], P = 0.07; angina stability: 83.1 [80.4–85.9] vs. 75.0 [72.3–77.8], P Conclusion Improvements in health status with CABG compared with PCI were not sustained long-term. This temporal sequence should be considered when contemplating a revascularization strategy in diabetics with multivessel disease.

Introduction Myocardial Infarction (MI) with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) is now a recognised MI subtype. A 2013 systematic review of MINOCA literature indicated that MINOCA prognosis is favourable compared to those with MI and obstructive coronary artery disease (MICAD), but healthy controls were not included. With the growth of recent literature and evaluation of MINOCA prognosis, we performed an in-depth analysis of MINOCA prognosis, in relation to 1-year all-cause mortality and 1-year re-infarction compared with MICAD patients and a healthy cohort. Methods An unrestricted literature search was conducted on the terms “MI”, “non-obstructive”, “angiography” and “prognosis” using PubMed and Embase. Publications with non-consecutive recruitment, less than 100 MINOCA patients or selection bias (i.e. restricted age group) were excluded. MINOCA & MICAD were defined as the presence of an MI (as per the universal criteria) in the absence & presence of CAD (i.e. epicardial vessel with a stenosis ≥50% on angiography), respectively. The healthy cohort was defined as those with no history of cardiovascular diseases. Unpublished data were accumulated via the MINOCA Global Collaboration. Data from the included studies were pooled and analysed using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Odds ratios (ORs), mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for proportion and continuous data respectively. Results The search identified 2889 unique publications, of which 27 included prognosis data. Of the 563660 consecutive MI patients, the overall pooled prevalence of MINOCA wasat 8.7% (95% CI: 7.5%-9.9%). The 1-year mortality and 1-year re-infarction data by diagnosis are presented in the table. Prognosis comparison by diagnosis MINOCA (n=41658) MINOCA vs MICAD MINOCA vs Healthy % (95% CI) MINOCA (n=16642) MICAD (n=174461) Mean difference or OR 95% CI MINOCA (n=8465) Healthy (n=33074) Mean difference or OR 95% CI Years or % (95% CI) Years or % (95% CI) Years or % (95% CI) Years or % (95% CI) Age 61 (60–62) 61 (59–63) 64 (63–66) 3.2 (2.2–4.2) 62 (57–66) 60 (58–63) 1.6 (−5–8.6) Female 51 (48–53) 51 (48–55) 28 (26–30) 2.8 (2.5–3.1) 56 (48–64) 38 (24–52) 2.2 (1.3–3.7) 1 year mortality 3.4 (2.9–4) 3.4 (2.9–3.9) 5.5 (4.7–6.2) 0.6 (0.5–0.7) 2.6 (1.2–4) 0.7 (0.5–1) 3.7 (1.7–8.2) 1 year Re-MI 2.7 (2.1–3.3) 2.8 (1.8–3.7) 5.7 (3.9–7.5) 0.5 (0.4–0.7) 3.5 (0–7) 0.3 (0–0.6) 14.1 (9.5–21.2) Conclusions This pooled analysis shows that MINOCA accounts for almost one in ten MI presentations. The risks of re-infarction and death among MINOCA patients are much higher than in healthy controls, but lower than for MICAD patients. Efforts are needed to improve understanding of the optimal management and secondary prevention strategies in this unique and heterogeneous population.

This editorial refers to ‘Inhibition of delta-protein kinase C by delcasertib as an adjunct to primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results of the PROTECTION AMI Randomized Controlled Trial’[†][1], by A.M. Lincoff et al. , on page 2516 Reperfusion therapy reduces infarct size and improves left ventricular function in ST-segement elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Despite restoration of epicardial perfusion and commensurate reductions in morbidity and mortality, residual hazard persists. Restoration of coronary blood flow after prolonged ischaemia may exhibit a ‘double edge’ characterized as reperfusion injury with resulting cell death that can account for up to half of the final infarct size.1 The pathophysiology of reperfusion injury is probably multifactorial and includes distal embolization/platelet plugging of the microvasculature, release of toxic inflammatory mediators, production of oxygen free radicals, and accumulation of intracellular calcium. Whereas various cytoprotective agents have shown promise in animal models, to date translation of this benefit has been disappointing at best.2 Hence, combating reperfusion injury remains one of the final therapeutic frontiers in STEMI management. Because protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes modulate myocardial protection, their potential for therapeutic intervention has been of interest.3,4 However, counter-regulatory cardioprotective activity has been reported with specific PKC isoenzymes. This ‘ying–yang’ counterpoint is represented by activation of ePKC which provides cardioprotection whereas activation of δPKC induces myocardial cell damage following ischaemia.5 Application of this pathway to myocardial protection led to the development of the selective δPKC antagonist, delcasertib, which reduced infarct size and improved microvascular function following reperfusion in animal models.6,7 Given the experimental promise of delcasertib, a phase II dose-escalation study of 154 patients … [1]: #fn-2