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Aims: Patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) are at high risk for 30-day readmission. This study sought to examine the timings and causes of readmission within 30 days of an HF hospitalization.Methods and Results: Timing and cause of readmission in the ASCEND-HF (Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide and Decompensated Heart Failure) trial were assessed. Early and late readmissions were defined as admissions occurring within 0-7 days and 8-30 days post-discharge, respectively. Patients who died in hospital or remained hospitalized at day 30 post-randomization were excluded. Patients were compared by timing and cause of readmission. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for early vs. late readmission and associations with 180-day outcomes. Of the 6584 patients (92%) in the ASCEND-HF population included in this analysis, 751 patients (11%) were readmitted within 30 days for any cause. Overall, 54% of readmissions were for non-HF causes. The median time to rehospitalization was 11 days (interquartile range: 6-18 days) and 33% of rehospitalizations occurred by day 7. Rehospitalization within 30 days was independently associated with increased risk for 180-day all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.93-2.94; P < 0.001]. Risk for 180-day all-cause death did not differ according to early vs. late readmission (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.67-1.45; P = 0.94).Conclusions: In this hospitalized HF trial population, a significant majority of 30-day readmissions were for non-HF causes and one-third of readmissions occurred in the first 7 days. Early and late readmissions within the 30-day timeframe were associated with similarly increased risk for death. Continued efforts to optimize multidisciplinary transitional care are warranted to improve rates of early readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Several accelerated diagnostic protocols ( ADPs) have been developed to allow emergency department ( ED) physicians to identify appropriate patients for safe early discharge after presentation with symptom of chest pain. Most ADPs require chest pain to be described and modify the algorithm based on the subjective chest pain characteristics. We investigated the performance of three established major ADPs simplified by eliminating the need for chest pain as a descriptor. Methods We pooled patients from PROACT-3 and -4 trials, in which patients presenting to emergency medical services with chest pain or dyspnea were enrolled. The simplified Vancouver Chest Pain Rule ( sVCPR), the simplified Emergency Department Assessment of Chest Pain Score ( sEDACS) ADP and the Accelerated Diagnostic protocol to Assess Patients with chest pain using contemporary troponins as the only biomarker ( ADAPT- ADP) were compared using the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values ( NPV). The primary outcome of interest was 30-day major adverse cardiac events ( MACE); the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome ( ACS) occurring within 30 days after ED presentation was also explored. Results A total of 1,081 patients were included (median age = 67 years, 53% male, median GRACE score = 113) of which 222 ACS diagnoses and 150 cardiac events occurred within 30 days after index ED presentation. The sVCPR, sEDACS ≥ 3, and ADAPT- ADP, respectively, identified 9.7, 13.3, and 4.1% of patients as low risk with a sensitivity and NPV of 100% for the primary outcome of 30-day MACE. The sEDACS- ADP identified 24.2% of patients as low risk with a cut-point score of 4 (sensitivity of 98.0% and NPV of 98.8%). The sVCPR, sEDACS ≥ 3, and ADAPT- ADP, respectively, had NPVs of 98.1, 95.8, and 93.3% in identifying patients at higher risk of ACS diagnosis within 30 days after index ED visit. Conclusion The diagnostic protocols performed well without their chest pain characteristics component. Further studies are suggested to explore the performance of ADPs when these simplified ADPs are combined with high-sensitive troponin assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) may experience nonspecific prodromal symptoms before their cardiac event. We used population-level data to determine the rate at which such patients seek medical attention for these symptoms, whether sex differences are present, and if an association between prodromes and 1-year mortality exists. Methods: All patients with ACS in Alberta, Canada, between April 1, 1999, and March 31, 2001, were included. Prodromes reported during all physician visits in the 90 days before ACS presentation consisted of (1) pain (chest, arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, throat, or leg); (2) anxiety/fatigue; (3) gastrointestinal disturbances; (4) head-related conditions (dizziness, headache, visual disturbances); and (5) other (sweating, shortness of breath, heart racing, cough, numbness). Results: Of 14,230 patients with ACS, 2,268 (15.9%, 45.6% women) sought medical attention for at least one prodrome, with pain and anxiety/fatigue most common. Prodromes were associated with increased cardiac investigations before ACS in both sexes. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, a significant interaction between sex and prodromes was found (P [interaction] = .011). Prodromes were associated with improved 1-year survival in women (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.95, P = .016, risk-adjusted mortality 8.7% vs 11.1% [without prodromes], P < .001) but not in men (adjusted hazard ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.76-1.12, P = .422, 9.9% [with prodromes] vs 9.1% [without prodromes], P = .358). Conclusions: A small proportion of patients with ACS seek medical attention for prodromal symptoms in the 90 days before ACS. Seeking help for these symptoms is associated with improved survival in women but not in men. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Previous studies examining sex-related differences in the treatment of coronary artery disease have focused on patients in hospital. We sought to examine sexrelated differences at an earlier point in care - presentation to the emergency department. Methods: We collected data on ambulatory care and hospital admissions for 54 134 patients (44% women) who presented to an emergency department in Alberta between July 1998 and March 2001 because of acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stable angina or chest pain. We used logistic regression and Cox regression analyses to determine sexspecific associations between the likelihood of discharge from the emergency department or coronary revascularization within 1 year and 1-year mortality after adjusting for age, comorbidities and socioeconomic factors. Results: Following the emergency department visit, 91.3% of patients with acute myocardial infarction, 87.4% of those with unstable angina, 40.7% of those with stable angina and 19.8% of those with c st pain were admitted to hospital. Women were more likely than men to be discharged from the emergency department: adjusted odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval [CI]) 2.25 (1.75-2.90) for acute myocardial infarction, 1.71 (1.45-2.01) for unstable angina, 1.33 (1.15-1.53) for stable angina and 1.46 (1.36-1.57) for chest pain. Women were less likely than men to undergo coronary revascularization within 1 year: adjusted odds ratio (and 95% CI) 0.65 (0.57-0.73) for myocardial infarction, 0.39 (0.35-0.44) for unstable angina, 0.35 (0.29-0.42) for stable angina and 0.32 (0.27-0.37) for chest pain. Female sex had no impact on 1-year mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction; it was associated with a decreased 1-year mortality among patients with unstable angina, stable angina and chest pain: adjusted hazard ratio (and 95% CI) 0.60 (0.46-0.78), 0.60 (0.46-0.78) and 0.74 (0.63-0.87) respectively. Interpretation: Women presenting to the emergency department with coronary syndromes are less likely than men to be admitted to an acute care hospital and to receive coronary revascularization procedures. These differences do not translate into worse outcomes for women in terms of 1-year mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Little is known about the dosing, tolerability, and impact of β-blockers in nontrial participants. This study was conducted to evaluate the use and outcomes of β-blockers in a tertiary care heart failure clinic. Methods Analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of 1041 patients with heart failure seen at the University of Alberta Heart Function Clinic, Edmonton, from September 1, 1989, through July 1, 2001, with objective measurement of ejection fraction at baseline and prospective collection of data at all subsequent clinic visits. Results Median age at baseline was 69 years; 65% were male; 75% had systolic dysfunction; mean ejection fraction was 33%; and 51% had New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms. Median duration of follow-up was 32 months (interquartile range, 13-62 months). Overall, 46% of patients received β-blockers, but only 18% of these were ultimately prescribed the dosages achieved in the trials (mean maximum dosages achieved, 27 mg/d for carvedilol and 81 mg/d for metoprolol tartrate). Of those patients prescribed β-blockers, 74% continued to receive them during follow-up. Blood pressure, heart rate, and failure symptomatology did not change appreciably before and after β-blockers were prescribed, or during the upward titration of the dosage. Although our patients were prescribed lower dosages than those used in trials, Cox multivariate regression revealed that β-blockers were associated with improved survival, even after adjusting for potential confounders including New York Heart Association class, year of prescription, and concomitant medication use (relative risk, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.81). Conclusions The benefits of β-blockers seen in randomized trials extend to nontrial participants treated in a tertiary care clinic specializing in heart failure. In our cohort of elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, β-blockers were well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term incidence of heart failure (HF) in elderly patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Background: In-hospital HF is common after MI and is associated with poor short-term prognosis. Limited data exist concerning the long-term incidence or prognosis of HF after MI, particularly in the era of coronary revascularization. Methods: A population-based cohort of 7,733 patients ≥65 years of age hospitalized for a first MI (International Classification of Diseases-9th Revision-Clinical Modification code 410.x) and without a prior history of HF was established between 1994 and 2000 in Alberta, Canada, and followed up for 5 years. Results: During the index MI hospitalization, 2,831 (37%) MI patients were diagnosed with new HF and 1,024 (13%) died. Among hospital survivors who did not have HF during their index hospitalization (n = 4,291), an additional 3,040 patients (71%) developed HF by 5 years, 64% of which occurred in the first year. In total, 5,871 (76%) elderly patients who survived their first MI developed HF over 5 years. Among those who survived the index hospitalization, the 5-year mortality rate was 39.1% for those with HF during the index MI hospitalization compared with 26.7% among those without HF (p < 0.0001) during the index MI hospitalization. Over the study period, the 5-year mortality rate after MI decreased by 28%, whereas the 5-year rate of HF increased by 25%. Conclusions: In this large cohort of elderly patients without a history of HF, HF developed in three-quarters in the 5 years after their first MI; this proportion increased over time as peri-MI mortality rates declined. New-onset HF significantly increases the mortality risk among these patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who experience worsening HF (WHF) events are at increased risk of adverse outcomes and experience significant morbidity and mortality. We herein describe the epidemiology of these patients and identify those potentially eligible for vericiguat therapy in this population-based study., Methods and Results: This retrospective cohort study included hospitalized or emergency department patients with a primary diagnosis of HF and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 45% diagnosed between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2019 in Alberta, Canada, with follow-up to March 31, 2020. Inclusion criteria from the VerICiguaT Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection (VICTORIA) trial were applied to explore eligibility for vericiguat. Among 25,629 patients with HF and LVEF data, 9948 (38.8%) had HFrEF, of which 5259 (52.8%) experienced WHF at some point during a median 5.8 years of follow-up, and 38.3% of those met the vericiguat trial eligibility criteria. Compared with patients with HFrEF without WHF, those with WHF were older, with more comorbidities, worse renal function, and similar LVEF status, but greater use of HF medications at baseline. At the time of WHF, 27% of those with HFrEF and WHF were on triple therapy, 50.6% were on dual therapy, and 15.4% were on monotherapy. All-cause mortality and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalization at 1-year of follow-up were higher in the HFrEF with WHF cohort compared with HFrEF without WHF (adjusted hazard ratios of 1.92 and 1.51, respectively, both P < .0001)., Conclusions: Approximately one-half of patients with HFrEF experienced WHF over the long-term follow-up. Most were not on triple therapy, highlighting the underuse of the existing standard-of-care treatments and opportunities for application of newer therapies; more than one-third of patients with HFrEF may be eligible for vericiguat., Lay Summary: Among patients with heart failure (HF), those who experience worsening HF (WHF) are at increased risk of adverse outcomes. A few new therapies, including vericiguat, have emerged recently for patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction. However, the epidemiology, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with WHF in large representative populations is unclear. In the current study, approximately one-half of the patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction experienced WHF and 38.3% were potentially eligible for vericiguat therapy. The guideline-recommended therapies were under-utilized among patients with WHF, which highlights the need for initiatives to address this care gap., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosures J.A.E. and P.W.A. were investigators at the VICTORIA trial. J.A.E. has received research grants from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics; and consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics. P.W.A. has received research grants from Merck, Bayer, Sanofi-aventis Recherche & Dévelopement, Boehringer Ingelheim, and CSL Limited; and consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite guideline recommendations, the majority of patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome do not use emergency medical services to reach the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with EMS utilisation and subsequent patient outcomes., Methods: Using administrative data, all patients who presented to an ED in the metropolitan areas of Edmonton and Calgary in the years of 2007-2013 with main ED diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, stable angina or chest pain were included. The travel distance was estimated using the geographic information system method to approximate the distance between the ED and patient home. The clinical endpoints were the 7-day and 30-day all-cause events (death, re-hospitalisation and repeat ED visit)., Results: Of 50,881 patients, 30.5% presented by emergency medical services. Patients with older age, female sex, ED diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, more comorbidities and lower household income were more likely to use emergency medical services to reach the hospital. Longer travel distance was associated with higher emergency medical services use (odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.10), but it was not a predictor of clinical events. After adjustment for covariates and inverse propensity score weighting, emergency medical services use was associated with a higher risk of 7-day and 30-day clinical events., Conclusion: Several demographic and clinical features were associated with higher emergency medical services use including geographical variation. Although longer travel distance was shown to be linked to higher emergency medical services use, it was not an independent predictor of patient outcome. This has implications for the design of emergency medical services systems, triage and early diagnosis and treatment options.

Background: Recent clinical trial data support a pharmacoinvasive strategy as an alternative to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We evaluated whether this is true in a real-world prehospital ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction network using ECG assessment of reperfusion coupled with clinical outcomes within 1 year., Methods: Of the 5583 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients in the Alberta Vital Heart Response Program (Cohort 1 [2006-2011]: n=3593; Cohort 2 [2013-2016]: n=1990), we studied 3287 patients who received a pharmacoinvasive strategy with tenecteplase (April 2013: half-dose tenecteplase was employed in prehospital patients ≥75 years) or pPCI. ECGs were analyzed within a core laboratory; sum ST-segment deviation resolution ≥50% was defined as successful reperfusion. The primary composite was all-cause death, congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and recurrent myocardial infarction within 1 year., Results: The pharmacoinvasive approach was administered in 1805 patients (54.9%), (493 [27.3%] underwent rescue/urgent percutaneous coronary intervention and 1312 [72.7%] had scheduled angiography); pPCI was performed in 1482 patients (45.1%). There was greater ST-segment resolution post-catheterization/percutaneous coronary intervention with a pharmacoinvasive strategy versus pPCI (75.8% versus 64.3%, IP-weighted odds ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.33-1.90; P <0.001). The primary composite was significantly lower with a pharmacoinvasive approach (16.3% versus 23.1%, IP-weighted hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.99; P =0.033). Major bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage were similar between a pharmacoinvasive strategy and pPCI (7.6% versus 7.5%, P =0.867; 0.6% versus 0.6%; P =0.841, respectively). In the 82 patients ≥75 years with a prehospital pharmacoinvasive strategy, similar ST-segment resolution and rescue rates were observed with full-dose versus half-dose tenecteplase (75.8% versus 88.9%, P =0.259; 31.0% versus 29.2%, P =0.867) with no difference in the primary composite (31.0% versus 25.0%, P =0.585)., Conclusions: In this large Canadian ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction registry, a pharmacoinvasive strategy was associated with improved ST-segment resolution and enhanced outcomes within 1 year compared with pPCI. Our findings support the application of a selective pharmacoinvasive reperfusion strategy when delay to pPCI exists.

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%, p <0.01). However, both the rate of presentation to hospitals without catheterization facilities (70% non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 24% ST-elevation myocardial infarction, p <0.01) and medical management (45% non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 18% ST-elevation myocardial infarction, p <0.01) differed by myocardial infarction type. The lack of catheterization facilities at the presenting hospital had no association with in-hospital mortality in patients medically managed without coronary angiography, but was associated with a lower risk of mortality among patients medically managed after coronary angiography. However, the latter benefit was restricted to non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients only (adjusted hazard ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval: 0.25-0.76)., Conclusion: 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: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a known clinical conundrum with limited investigation. Using a large population-based cohort, we examined the incidence, demographic profile, use of evidence-based medicines (EBM) and clinical outcomes of MINOCA patients., Methods: Patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of MI who underwent coronary angiography between 01/04/2002 and 31/03/2014 in Alberta, Canada, were included in the study. Comparisons were made between patients with MINOCA versus obstructive coronary disease (OCD). The primary composite endpoint was 1-year all-cause death or re-MI., Results: Of 35,928 patients hospitalized with MI, 2092 (5.8%) had MINOCA. In-hospital mortality rate was 0.8% among MINOCA, and 2.7% among patients with OCD (p < 0.0001). At 6 months, cardiovascular EBM rates were significantly lower among MINOCA patients compared to OCD patients. One-year death/re-MI rate was 5.3% in MINOCA and 8.9% in patients with OCD (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62-0.92, p < 0.0001). Five-year mortality rates were 10.9% in MINOCA and 16.0% in patients with OCD. Upon further stratification, 770 (36.8%) of MINOCA patients had no angiographic evidence of CAD (i.e. normal angiograms). EBM rates were even lower among these patients. One-year death/re-MI rate among these patients was 3.9% as compared to 6.1% among MINOCA patients with stenosis <50% (AHR 0.68, 95% CI 0.44-1.07, p = 0.028)., Conclusions: The population-level incidence of MINOCA is approximately 5%. Despite their apparently benign anatomic findings, efforts must be made to improve secondary prevention strategies to reduce the burden of long-term adverse outcomes in this population., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite initial in-hospital treatment of acute heart failure (HF), some patients experience worsening HF (WHF). There are limited data about the outcomes and characteristics of patients who experience in-hospital WHF., Methods and Results: We assessed the characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without WHF in the ASCEND-HF trial. Worsening HF was defined as at least 1 symptom or sign of new, persistent, or WHF requiring additional intravenous inotropic/vasodilator or mechanical therapy during index hospitalization. We assessed the relationship between WHF and 30-day mortality, 30-day mortality or HF hospitalization, and 180-day mortality. We also assessed whether there was a differential association between early (days 1-3) vs late (day ≥4) WHF and outcomes. Of 7,141 patients with acute HF, 354 (5%) experienced WHF. Patients with WHF were more often male and had a history of atrial fibrillation or diabetes, lower blood pressure, and higher creatinine. After risk adjustment, WHF was associated with increased 30-day mortality (odds ratio 13.37, 95% CI 9.85-18.14), 30-day mortality or HF rehospitalization (odds ratio 6.78, 95% CI 5.25-8.76), and 180-day mortality (hazard ratio 3.90, 95% CI 3.14-4.86) (all P values < .0001). There was no evidence of a difference in outcomes between early and late WHF (all P values for comparison ≥ .2)., Conclusions: Worsening HF during index hospitalization was associated with worse 30- and 180-day outcomes. Worsening HF may represent an important patient-centered outcome in acute HF and a focus of future treatments., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We evaluated inter-reader agreement of the ST-segment between two electrocardiogram (ECG) core laboratories., Background: Accurate measurement of the ST-segment is key to diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Clinical trials also rely on adherence to the pre-specified ECG eligibility criteria., Methods: 150 patients (100 ST-segment elevation (STE)-ACS, 50 non-STE-ACS) were selected. An experienced ECG reader from each laboratory measured ST-segment deviation on the baseline ECGs (nearest 0.1mm)., Results: ∑ST-segment deviation showed excellent inter-reader agreement (R=0.965, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.949, 95% CI (0.930-0.963)). Similar agreement was observed when ∑ST-segment elevation (∑STE) and ∑ST-segment depression (∑STD) were assessed separately. Better agreement was evident in STE-ACS cohort (ICC (95% CI): 0.968 (0.953-0.978, 0.969 (0.954-0.979), 0.931 (0.899-0.953)) compared to NSTE-ACS patients (ICC (95% CI): 0.860 (0.768-0.917), 0.816 (0.699-0.890), 0.753 (0.605-0.851) across measurement of ∑ST-segment deviation, ∑STE, and ∑STD., Conclusions: We demonstrated excellent agreement on ST-segment measurements between two experienced readers from two ECG core laboratories., (© 2013.)

Background: The long-term incidence of heart failure (HF) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or unstable angina (UA) patients is uncertain. We examined the 1-year incidence of HF and its association with mortality among patients surviving their first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) hospitalization., Methods and Results: A retrospective cohort study of patients, aged ≥20 years, with no prior HF, hospitalized for the first time with ACS between April 1, 2002, and December 31, 2008, in Alberta, Canada, and followed up for 1 year. Index HF was defined as HF that developed as a complication during the index ACS hospitalization, and post-discharge HF, as HF developing after discharge from the index ACS hospitalization. Among 9,406 STEMI, 11,008 NSTEMI, and 4,910 UA patients, 13.6%, 14.8%, and 5.2% had index HF, respectively (P < .01). At 1-year, cumulative HF rates were 23.4% in STEMI, 25.4% in NSTEMI, and 16% in UA patients. Among hospital survivors, 1-year mortality rate was 13.9% in patients with index HF, 10.6% in patients with postdischarge HF, and 2.4% in patients with no HF. In multivariable analysis, both index HF (adjusted hazard ratio 3.2, 95% CI 2.7-3.7) and postdischarge HF (adjusted hazard ratio 4.6, 95% CI 3.9-5.4) were associated with 1-year mortality., Conclusions: There are significant differences in the incidence of HF among STEMI, NSTEMI, and UA patients. The increased mortality risk associated with index HF and postdischarge HF suggests a need for vigilant follow-up of all ACS patients for prompt detection and treatment of HF., (Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between lower socioeconomic status (SES), as ascertained by years of education, and outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Background: Previous studies have shown an inverse relationship between SES and coronary heart disease and mortality. Whether a similar association between SES and mortality exists in STEMI patients is unknown., Methods: We evaluated 11,326 patients with STEMI in the GUSTO-III (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries) trial study from countries that enrolled >500 patients. We evaluated clinical outcomes (adjusted using multivariate regression analysis) according to the number of years of education completed., Results: One-year mortality was inversely related to years of education and was 5-fold higher in patients with <8 years compared with those with >16 years of education (17.5% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.0001). The strength of the relationship between education and mortality varied among different countries. Nonetheless, years of education remained an independent correlate of mortality at day 7 (hazard ratio per year of increase in education: 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.83 to 0.88) and also between day 8 and 1 year (hazard ratio per year of increase in education: 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.94 to 0.98), even after adjustment for baseline characteristics and country of enrollment., Conclusions: When the number of years of education was used as a measure of SES, there was an inverse relationship such that significantly higher short-term and 1-year mortality existed beyond that accounted for by baseline clinical variables and country of enrollment. Future studies should account for and investigate the mechanisms underlying this link between SES and cardiovascular disease outcomes., (Copyright © 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Self-care of heart failure (HF) is a process that is important, complex, and challenging. Little is understood of the contextual factors influencing self-care. We aimed to examine the individual and contextual factors perceived by patients and their informal caregivers' to influence their willingness and capacity to undertake effective HF self-care., Methods and Results: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 42 patients with HF (NYHA Class II and III, mean age: 76 years, 64% males) and 30 nominated caregivers (63% spouses). All patients experienced severe and intrusive HF symptoms; a large proportion of patients practiced some of the range of recommended self-care activities. However, links between knowledge of HF and self-care were weak and long delays in seeking professional care were frequent. Factors consistently reported to influence self-care were faith in health professionals, beliefs about the local health system, and values linked to work associated with place, history, and culture., Conclusion: Knowledge of HF and its management is a necessary though not sufficient determinant of HF self-care. Individual and contextual factors influence willingness and capacity to undertake effective HF self-care.

Aims: Previous epidemiologic studies of acute heart failure (AHF) have involved patients admitted to hospital and fail to account for that unknown proportion discharged directly from the emergency department (ED). We examined discharge rates, and whether outcomes, including mortality, differed based on admission status in AHF., Methods and Results: This population-based cohort included all patients > or =65 years presenting to an Alberta ED with HF (ICD9-CM 428.x; 1998 to 2001). Patients were either not admitted (Not-ADM) or directly admitted to hospital (ADM) and followed for one-year. Of 10,415 AHF patients evaluated in the ED, 35% were Not-ADM whereas 65% were ADM. Thirty days after ED presentation the rates of death, re-ED or initial/re-hospitalisation were 3.3%, 44% and 19% for Not-ADM, and 10.9%, 33% and 21% for the ADM patients, respectively (all p<0.0001). At one-year, the rates of death, re-ED or initial/re-hospitalisation were 20%, 82% and 58% for Not-ADM, and 34%, 72% and 60% for ADM, respectively (all p<0.0001)., Conclusions: One third of AHF patients were not immediately admitted after an ED visit but most present again to the ED, two-thirds were hospitalised and 20% died within the first year. Our findings provide new impetus to undertake risk assessment and treatment strategies in the ED for AHF.

Purpose: To assess the effects of socioeconomic status on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction., Material and Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 5622 patients who presented to a hospital emergency department with an initial episode of acute myocardial infarction between April 1998 and March 2002 in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Our main outcome measure was 1-year all-cause mortality following the index emergency department visit; we used socioeconomic status (measured by neighborhood median household income) as our main predictor after controlling for patient and hospital characteristics and revascularization., Results: Socioeconomic status profoundly affected the rate of emergency department presentation and the process and outcome of acute myocardial infarction care. In patients belonging to the lowest versus the highest socioeconomic status quartile, the risk of presenting to the emergency department was 72% higher (P <.001); at 1 year, revascularization was lower (36% vs 48%, P <.001), and mortality higher (19.1% vs 9.1%, P <.001). Socioeconomic status was independently associated with 1-year mortality after adjustment for baseline characteristics and 1-year revascularization, and socioeconomic status was especially influential in non-revascularized patients., Conclusions: Given the influence of socioeconomic status on mortality after acute myocardial infarction and the key role of revascularization in modulating this relationship, our study has important implications for access to and process of cardiac care.

Several case series published after the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES) have focused on the adverse effects of spironolactone when prescribed to participants not in a trial and the appropriateness of these prescribing practices; however, there is a paucity of data on potential benefits in patients not in a trial. Therefore, we examined data from a prospective cohort study of 1,037 patients with heart failure seen at the University of Alberta Heart Function Clinic. Median age was 69 years, 66% were men, 75% had systolic dysfunction, and mean ejection fraction was 33%. Only 40% of the 136 patients prescribed spironolactone had New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms, and <25% fulfilled all of the RALES eligibility criteria. Mean daily dose of spironolactone was 23.9 mg; 25% of patients had spironolactone withdrawn after initiation, mostly due to increases in potassium and/or creatinine (9%), gynecomastia (5%), or dehydration/hyponatremia (6%). Only 1 of our spironolactone-treated patients developed serum potassium >6 mmol/L. Cox's proportional hazards analysis confirmed the association between use of spironolactone and increased survival rate (relative risk 0.09, 95% confidence interval 0.02 to 0.39), even though 78% of our patients did not fulfill the RALES eligibility criteria. Thus, although the complication rate was higher, the benefits of spironolactone seen in RALES extended to participants not in a trial who were treated with similar doses and followed closely in a clinic specializing in heart failure.

Background: Little is known about the dosing, tolerability, and impact of beta-blockers in nontrial participants. This study was conducted to evaluate the use and outcomes of beta-blockers in a tertiary care heart failure clinic., Methods: Analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of 1041 patients with heart failure seen at the University of Alberta Heart Function Clinic, Edmonton, from September 1, 1989, through July 1, 2001, with objective measurement of ejection fraction at baseline and prospective collection of data at all subsequent clinic visits., Results: Median age at baseline was 69 years; 65% were male; 75% had systolic dysfunction; mean ejection fraction was 33%; and 51% had New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms. Median duration of follow-up was 32 months (interquartile range, 13-62 months). Overall, 46% of patients received beta-blockers, but only 18% of these were ultimately prescribed the dosages achieved in the trials (mean maximum dosages achieved, 27 mg/d for carvedilol and 81 mg/d for metoprolol tartrate). Of those patients prescribed beta-blockers, 74% continued to receive them during follow-up. Blood pressure, heart rate, and failure symptomatology did not change appreciably before and after beta-blockers were prescribed, or during the upward titration of the dosage. Although our patients were prescribed lower dosages than those used in trials, Cox multivariate regression revealed that beta-blockers were associated with improved survival, even after adjusting for potential confounders including New York Heart Association class, year of prescription, and concomitant medication use (relative risk, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.81)., Conclusions: The benefits of beta-blockers seen in randomized trials extend to nontrial participants treated in a tertiary care clinic specializing in heart failure. In our cohort of elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, beta-blockers were well tolerated.

Background: The diagnosis of myocardial necrosis in patients with chronic renal failure is often difficult because biochemical markers of cardiac damage such as creatine kinase MB (CKMB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) may be spuriously elevated. Recent small studies also report unexplained elevations in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis. The relative incidence of elevated cardiac troponins in this population and their relationship to clinical events remain unknown., Objective: To determine the incidence and prognostic significance of asymptomatic elevations of cTnT and cTnI in patients undergoing hemodialysis for chronic renal failure., Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: University tertiary care teaching hospital., Patients: One hundred thirteen patients over 21 years of age undergoing onsite hemodialysis were enrolled between December 1997 and February 1998., Measurements: All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina or congestive heart failure, new onset sustained arrhythmia or need for unscheduled emergency hemodialysis due to volume overload at 30 days and six months., Results: The incidence of abnormal results for cTnT, cTnI and CKMB were 42%, 15% and 4%, respectively. Independent predictors of mortality at six months were median age greater than 63 years (odds ratio 14.3, 95% CI 1.5 to 130.3, P=0.019) and positive cTnT (odds ratio 13.6, 95% CI 2.5 to 73.2, P=0.002). Diabetics were more likely to have positive cTnI and cTnT results than nondiabetics (P<0.001 and P=0.023, respectively)., Conclusions: cTnT is commonly elevated in patients with chronic renal failure even in the absence of acute coronary syndromes. cTnT may be an important independent prognostic marker in patients on hemodialysis for chronic renal failure. While less common, elevations of cTnI are more frequent than CKMB elevations. The basis of these cardiac troponin elevations is unclear. These findings may represent, in part, a subclinical myocardial injury, an inflammatory response to chronic renal failure or a chronically volume overloaded state.

Background: Although previous work has suggested that anemia is associated with an increased mortality in selected patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), little is known about the prevalence and predictors of anemia, or whether anemia is an independent prognostic factor in unselected, community-based patients with CHF., Methods and Results: We analyzed a population-based cohort of patients with new-onset CHF from a database of patients discharged from 138 acute-care hospitals in Alberta, Canada, between April 1993 and March 2001. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, and Cox proportional hazards model were used. Among the 12 065 patients with CHF (median age 78 years), 17% had anemia, 58% of whom had anemia of chronic disease. After adjustment for clinical and demographic variables, patients with anemia were more likely to be older (odds ratio [OR] 1.01 per year) and female (OR 1.2 [95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.3]) and to have a history of chronic renal insufficiency (OR=3.2 [95% confidence interval 2.8 to 3.6]), or hypertension (OR 1.3 [95% confidence interval 1.2 to 1.5]). Hazard ratios for mortality, adjusting for covariates, were 1.34 (1.24 to 1.46) in anemic patients, and 1.36 (1.23 to 1.50) in those patients with anemia of chronic disease., Conclusions: In this large cohort of community-dwelling patients with CHF, anemia is common and an independent prognostic factor for mortality. Further research into the mechanisms of anemia in CHF and randomized controlled trials to test whether correction of anemia improves prognosis in CHF are needed.