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Abstract Because there is a lack of comparative studies assessing drug-coated balloon (DCB) and drug-eluting stent (DES) outcomes with respect to intraluminal (IL) and subintimal (SI) approaches in femoropopliteal (FP) total occlusive lesions, we compared the outcomes between DCB (including bailout stenting) and DES treatments for this lesion. A total of 487 limbs (434 patients) were divided into the IL (n = 344, DCB: n = 268, DES: n = 76) and SI (n = 143, DCB: n = 83, DES: n = 60) approach groups. The primary outcome was a major adverse limb event (MALE), defined as above-ankle amputation or repeat revascularization of the index limb. Secondary outcomes included clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR), loss of clinical patency, and all-cause death. After adjustment, in each IL and SI approach, the 2-year rates of MALE (p = 0.180 and p = 0.236, respectively), TLR, loss of clinical patency, and all-cause death were similar between the DCB and DES groups. In the DCB and DES groups, both primary and secondary outcomes were similar between the IL and SI approaches. DCB and DES strategies for patients presenting with FP total occlusive lesions demonstrated similar outcomes regardless of the IL or SI approach. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02748226.

Abstract Background The impact of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin on new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) among patients treated with high-intensity statin therapy for coronary artery disease (CAD) remains to be clarified. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of NODM in patients with CAD treated with rosuvastatin compared to atorvastatin in the randomized LODESTAR trial. Methods In the LODESTAR trial, patients with CAD were randomly assigned to receive either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin using a 2-by-2 factorial randomization. In this post-hoc analysis, the 3-year incidence of NODM was compared between rosuvastatin and atorvastatin treatment in the as-treated population with high-intensity statin therapy as the principal population of interest. Results Among 2932 patients without diabetes mellitus at baseline, 2377 were included in the as-treated population analysis. In the as-treated population with high-intensity statin therapy, the incidence of NODM was not significantly different between the rosuvastatin and atorvastatin groups (11.4% [106/948] versus 8.8% [73/856], hazard ratio [HR] = 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98 to 1.77, P = 0.071). When the risk of NODM with rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin was assessed according to the achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, the risk of NODM began to increase at a LDL-C level below 70 mg/dL. The incidence of NODM was significantly greater in the rosuvastatin group than it was in the atorvastatin group when the achieved LDL-C level was

Abstract Background The indications, benefits, and outcomes of percutaneous transluminal renal artery intervention (PTRI) remain controversial. The study purpose was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of PTRI in clinical practice. Methods A retrospective review of 217 subjects (254 renal arteries; mean age, 59.8 years) who underwent PTRI based on medical database. Results The most common cause of renal artery stenosis was atherosclerosis in 217 (85.4%), followed by Takayasu arteritis (TA) in 23 (9.1%), fibromuscular dysplasia in five (2.0%) and others in nine (3.5%). Mean follow-up duration was 5.7 ± 3.7 years. The first restenosis rate was 7.5% (n = 19; highest in TA: n = 9, 47.4%) and second restenosis occurred in six arteries (five TAs, one fibromuscular dysplasia). Follow-up blood pressure improved from 142.0/83.5 to 122.8/73.5 mmHg (P

Background After coronary stent implantation, prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) increases bleeding risk, requiring personalization of DAPT duration. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a machine learning model to predict optimal DAPT duration after contemporary drug‐eluting stent implantation in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods and Results The One‐Month DAPT, RESET (Real Safety and Efficacy of 3‐Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Following Endeavor Zotarolimus‐Eluting Stent Implantation), and IVUS‐XPL (Impact of Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance on Outcomes of Xience Prime Stents in Long Lesion) trials provided a derivation cohort (n=6568). Using the X‐learner approach, an individualized DAPT score was developed to determine the therapeutic benefit of abbreviated (1–6 months) versus standard (12‐month) DAPT using various predictors. The primary outcome was major bleeding; the secondary outcomes included 1‐year major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and 1‐year net adverse clinical events. The risk reduction with abbreviated DAPT (3 months) in the individualized DAPT–determined higher predicted benefit group was validated in the TICO (Ticagrelor Monotherapy After 3 Months in the Patients Treated With New Generation Sirolimus‐Eluting Stent for Acute Coronary Syndrome) trial (n=3056), which enrolled patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with ticagrelor. The validation cohort comprised 1527 abbreviated and 1529 standard DAPT cases. Major bleeding occurred in 25 (1.7%) and 45 (3.0%) patients in the abbreviated and standard DAPT groups, respectively. The individualized DAPT score identified 2582 (84.5%) participants who would benefit from abbreviated DAPT, which was significantly associated with a lower major bleeding risk (absolute risk difference [ARD], 1.26 [95% CI, 0.15–2.36]) and net adverse clinical events (ARD, 1.59 [95% CI, 0.07–3.10]) but not major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (ARD, 0.63 [95% CI, −0.34 to 1.61]), compared with standard DAPT in the higher predicted benefit group. Abbreviated DAPT had no significant difference in clinical outcomes of major bleeding (ARD, 1.49 [95% CI, −1.74 to 4.72]), net adverse clinical events (ARD, 2.57 [95% CI, −1.85 to 6.99]), or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (ARD, 1.54 [95% CI, −1.26 to 4.34]), compared with standard DAPT in the individualized DAPT–determined lower predicted benefit group. Conclusions Machine learning using the X‐learner approach identifies patients with acute coronary syndrome who may benefit from abbreviated DAPT after drug‐eluting stent implantation, laying the groundwork for personalized antiplatelet therapy.

Abstract The benefits of intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the clinical context of cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction are lacking. We aimed to investigate the impact of IVUS-guided PCI in patients with AMI and CS. From the pooled data based on a series of Korean AMI registries during 2011–2020, we identified 1418 consecutive patients who underwent PCI with second generation drug-eluting stent (DES) for AMI and CS. The primary endpoint was the 1-year rate of target lesion failure (TLF), defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and ischemic-driven target lesion revascularization. In total, 294 (20.7%) and 1124 (79.3%) underwent IVUS-guided and angiography-guided PCI with second generation DES implantation, respectively. The 1-year TLF was not significantly different between groups after IPTW analysis (hazard ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.65–1.34, p = 0.70). Additionally, the adjusted landmark analysis for TLF at 30 days and between 30 days and 1 year after PCI demonstrated no significant difference between the groups. In conclusion, in patients with AMI and CS who underwent PCI with second-generation DES, IVUS-guided PCI did not improve the 1-year TLF compared with angiography-guided PCI. Registration: URL: http://cris.nih.go.kr . KCT0000863 and KCT0008355.

Background Recombinant human interleukin (rhIL)-7-hyFc (efineptakin alfa; NT-I7) is a potent T-cell amplifier, with two IL-7 molecules fused to IgD/IgG4 elements. rhIL-7-hyFc promotes extensive infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor, concurrently increasing the numbers of intratumoral PD-1+CD8+ T cells. The hIL-2/TCB2 complex (SLC-3010) inhibits tumor growth by preferential activation of CD122 (IL-2Rβ)high CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells, over regulatory T cells (Tregs). We investigated the underlying mechanisms of rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c antitumor activity and the potential synergistic efficacy, specifically focusing on tumor-specific CD8+ cells within the tumor and the tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLN).Methods MC38 and CT26 tumor-bearing mice were administered with 10 mg/kg rhIL-7-hyFc intramuscularly and 0.9 mg/kg hIL-2/TCB2c intravenously. Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody was administered intraperitoneally three times at 3-day intervals at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Tumor volume was measured to assess efficacy. To compare the composition of immune cells between each monotherapy and the combination therapy, we analyzed tumors and tdLNs by flow cytometry.Results Our data demonstrate that the combination of rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c increases efficacy and generates an immune-stimulatory tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is characterized by an increased infiltration of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, and a decreased frequency of CD39highTIM-3+ Treg cells. Most importantly, rhIL-7-hyFc increases infiltration of a CD62L+Ly108+ early progenitor population of exhausted CD8+ T cells (TPEX), which may retain long-term proliferation capacity and replenish functional effector CD8+ T cells. hIL-2/TCB2c induces differentiation of CD62L+Ly108+ TPEX rapidly into CD101+ terminally differentiated subsets (terminally exhausted T cell (TEX term)). Our study also demonstrates that rhIL-7-hyFc significantly enhances the proliferation rate of TPEX in the tdLNs, positively correlating with their abundance within the tumor. Moreover, rhIL-7-hyFc and hIL-2/TCB2c can overcome the limited therapeutic effectiveness of PD-1 blockade, culminating in the complete regression of tumors.Conclusions rhIL-7-hyFc can expand and maintain the progenitor pool of exhausted CD8+ T cells, whereas hIL-2/TCB2c promotes their differentiation into TEX term. Together, this induces an immune-stimulatory TME that improves the efficacy of checkpoint blockade.

Abstract We aimed to evaluate sex differences in the effects of moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy (rosuvastatin 10 mg plus ezetimibe) versus high-intensity statin (rosuvastatin 20 mg) monotherapy in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This was a sex-specific subgroup analysis of the RACING trial that evaluated the interaction between sex and treatment strategies for the primary outcome (composite of cardiovascular death, major cardiovascular events, or nonfatal stroke at 3 years). Of 3780 patients in the RACING trial, 954 (25.2%) were women. Regardless of sex, the effect of moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy on primary outcome compared with high-intensity statin monotherapy was similar (hazard ratio [HR] 0.98 [0.63–1.52] in women; HR 0.90 [0.71–1.14] in men). The rate of discontinuation or dose reduction of study drugs due to intolerance was lower in the ezetimibe combination group than in the high-intensity statin monotherapy group in both women (4.5% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.014) and men (4.8% vs. 8.0%, P

Abstract Regarding stent expansion indices, previous optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies have shown minimal stent area (MSA) to be most predictive of adverse events. We sought to evaluate the impact of various stent expansion and apposition indices by post-stent OCT on clinical outcomes and find OCT-defined optimal stent implantation criteria. A total of 1071 patients with 1123 native coronary artery lesions treated with new-generation drug-eluting stents with OCT guidance and final post-stent OCT analysis were included. Several stent expansion indices (MSA, MSA/average reference lumen area, MSA/distal reference lumen area, mean stent expansion, and stent expansion by linear model [stent volume/adaptive reference lumen volume]) were evaluated for their association with device-oriented clinical endpoints (DoCE) including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI) or stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization. MSA was negatively correlated with the risk of DoCE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80 [0.68‒0.94]). However, stent expansion by linear model representing the overall volumetric stent expansion was associated with greater risk of DoCE (HR 1.02 [1.00‒1.04]). As categorical criteria, MSA

Summary: Background: The impact of titrated versus fixed intensity statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) remains to be elucidated. Methods: This was a pre-specified analysis of patients with and without DM from the LODESTAR trial. Patients with CAD were randomly assigned to receive either a treat-to-target strategy with a target LDL-C level of 50–70 mg/dL or a high-intensity statin treatment. Primary outcome was the 3-year composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization. Secondary outcomes were safety endpoints. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02579499. Findings: Between September 9, 2016 and November 27, 2019, 4400 patients with CAD were enrolled in the LODESTAR trial. The median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 59–73 years), 3172 (72%) were male, and 1468 (33%) had DM at baseline. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of the primary outcome between the treat-to-target group and high-intensity statin group among patients with DM (10.5% versus 11.1%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69–1.29, p = 0.70) and those without DM (6.9% versus 7.5%, HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.71–1.21, p = 0.58). Among patients without DM, there was a trend towards a lower risk of new-onset DM in the treat-to-target group (8.4% versus 10.4% in the high-intensity statin group, HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62–1.01; p = 0.06). Interpretation: In patients with CAD, a treat-to-target LDL-C strategy of 50–70 mg/dL as the goal was comparable to high-intensity statin therapy in terms of 3-year clinical efficacy and safety outcomes regardless of the presence of DM. Funding: Sam Jin Pharmaceutical, Seoul, Korea and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract Background Recent studies have reported improved diastolic function in patients administered sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). We aimed to investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in a diabetic animal model and to determine the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying its function. Methods A total of 30 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into control, diabetes, or diabetes+dapagliflozin groups (n = 10/per each group). Diabetes was induced by intravenous alloxan. Cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography. Myocardial samples were obtained for histologic and molecular evaluation. For cellular evaluation, fibrosis-induced cardiomyoblast (H9C2) cells were obtained, and transfection was performed for mechanism analysis (serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) signaling analysis). Results The diabetes+dapagliflozin group showed attenuation of diastolic dysfunction compared with the diabetes group. Dapagliflozin inhibited myocardial fibrosis via inhibition of SGK1 and epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) protein, which was observed both in myocardial tissue and H9C2 cells. In addition, dapagliflozin showed an anti-inflammatory effect and ameliorated mitochondrial disruption. Inhibition of SGK1 expression by siRNA decreased and ENaC and Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) expression was confirmed as significantly reduced as siSGK1 in the diabetes+dapagliflozin group. Conclusions Dapagliflozin attenuated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis via regulation of SGK1 signaling. Dapagliflozin also reduced macrophages and inflammatory proteins and ameliorated mitochondrial disruption.

Summary: Background: Moderate-intensity statin role with ezetimibe combination therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been thoroughly investigated, particularly compared to high-intensity statin monotherapy. We aimed to investigate the effect of ezetimibe combination with moderate-intensity statin in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease following PCI. Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of a subset of patients who underwent PCI in the RACING trial. At 26 centres in South Korea, patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) were randomly assigned to receive either moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy (rosuvastatin 10 mg with ezetimibe 10 mg) or high-intensity statin monotherapy (rosuvastatin 20 mg). The prespecified endpoints of the RACING trial were used. The primary endpoint was the 3-year composite of cardiovascular death, major cardiovascular events, and nonfatal stroke. Event rates between the two groups were compared using log-rank tests, and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox regression analysis. Consistent with the RACING trial, the primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were evaluated using an intention-to-treatment approach, and the safety endpoints were assessed in the safety population. The RACING trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03044665). Findings: Between Feb 14, 2017, and Dec 18, 2018, 3780 participants were enrolled in the RACING trial. Prior history of PCI was found in 2497 patients (67%, median 64 years, 79% male), and was associated with higher rates of the primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.69; p = 0.014). Among patients with prior PCI, moderate-intensity statin therapy with ezetimibe combination versus high-intensity statin therapy did not increase the risk of the primary endpoint (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.74–1.24; p = 0.781). The proportion of patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

BackgroundAlthough ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) results in a significantly greater net clinical benefit over that with ticagrelor-based 12-month DAPT in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), it remains uncertain whether this effect is dependent on body mass index (BMI). We aimed to evaluate the BMI-dependent effect of these treatment strategies on clinical outcomes.MethodsThis was a pre-specified subgroup analysis from the TICO trial (Ticagrelor Monotherapy After 3 Months in Patients Treated With New Generation Sirolimus-eluting Stent for Acute Coronary Syndrome), evaluating the interaction between BMI and treatment strategies for the primary outcome [composite of major bleeding and adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE): death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, or target-vessel revascularization]. The secondary outcomes were major bleeding and MACCE.ResultsBased on a pre-specified BMI threshold of 25 kg/m2, 3,056 patients were stratified. Patients with BMI

BackgroundThe distal radial approach (DRA) for coronary catheterization is increasingly being used worldwide yet the optimal medication regimen to prevent radial artery spasm (RAS), an important factor for the success of the procedure, remains unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of medication for preventing RAS via the DRA.MethodsThis was a prospective, comparative randomized study including 400 patients who underwent coronary catheterization via DRA in single center by three experienced DRA operators. Patients were randomized to either nitroglycerin (NTG) injection (N = 200) or NTG plus verapamil (N = 200) to compare the effectiveness and safety of these regimens.ResultsThere were no differences between the groups in the changes in radial artery diameter at most spastic area (0.34 ± 0.20 in the NTG group, 0.35 ± 0.20 in the NTG plus verapamil group; P = 0.73). There was no difference between the groups in the ratio of patients without arm pain during the procedure (95.0% in the NTG group, 93.5% in the NTG plus verapamil group; P = 0.67). However, there was a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure in the NTG plus verapamil group (–8.3 ± 7.9 mmHg) than in the NTG group (–6.6 ± 7.6 mmHg) (P = 0.03).ConclusionIntra-arterial injection of NTG as a single agent is effective and safe in the prevention of RAS during coronary catheterization via the DRA compared with a cocktail regimen of NTG plus verapamil.Clinical trial registrationhttps://cris.nih.go.kr, identifier KCT0005177.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of machine learning (ML)- fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) with wire-based FFR irrespective of the coronary territory.BackgroundML techniques for assessing hemodynamics features including FFR in coronary artery disease have been developed based on various imaging modalities. However, there is no study using OCT-based ML models for all coronary artery territories.MethodsOCT and FFR data were obtained for 356 individual coronary lesions in 130 patients. The training and testing groups were divided in a ratio of 4:1. The ML-FFR was derived for the testing group and compared with the wire-based FFR in terms of the diagnosis of ischemia (FFR ≤ 0.80).ResultsThe mean age of the subjects was 62.6 years. The numbers of the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries were 130 (36.5%), 110 (30.9%), and 116 (32.6%), respectively. Using seven major features, the ML-FFR showed strong correlation (r = 0.8782, P < 0.001) with the wire-based FFR. The ML-FFR predicted wire-based FFR ≤ 0.80 in the test set with sensitivity of 98.3%, specificity of 61.5%, and overall accuracy of 91.7% (area under the curve: 0.948). External validation showed good correlation (r = 0.7884, P < 0.001) and accuracy of 83.2% (area under the curve: 0.912).ConclusionOCT-based ML-FFR showed good diagnostic performance in predicting FFR irrespective of the coronary territory. Because the study was a small-size study, the results should be warranted the performance in further large-scale research.

Abstract Background The comparative clinical outcomes between prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in older adults with AMI in the era of newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are limited. We investigated the 2-year clinical outcomes of these patients. Methods A total of 5492 AMI patients aged ≥65 years were classified into three groups according to their glycemic status: normoglycemia (group A: 1193), prediabetes (group B: 1696), and T2DM (group C: 2603). The primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), and any repeat revascularization. The secondary outcome was stent thrombosis (ST). Results The primary and secondary outcomes cumulative incidences were similar between the prediabetes and T2DM groups. In both the prediabetes and T2DM groups, the cumulative incidences of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.373; p = 0.020 and aHR: 1.479; p = 0.002, respectively) and all-cause death or MI (aHR: 1.436; p = 0.022 and aHR: 1.647; p = 0.001, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the normoglycemia group. Additionally, the cumulative incidence of all-cause death in the T2DM group was significantly higher than that in the normoglycemia group (aHR, 1.666; p = 0.003). Conclusions In this retrospective study, despite the 2-year clinical outcomes of the patients with prediabetes and T2DM in the older adults were worse than those in the normoglycemia group; they were similar between the prediabetes and T2DM groups. Hence, comparable treatment strategies should be strengthened between prediabetes and T2DM in older adults with AMI. Trial registration Retrospectively registered.

Abstract Background Comparative studies regarding the long-term clinical outcomes of statin intensity between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with prediabetes and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), after successful implantation of newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) with statin treatment, are limited. We compared the 2-year clinical outcomes between these patients. Methods A total of 11,612 AMI patients were classified as statin users (n = 9893) and non-users (n = 1719). Thereafter, statin users were further divided into high-intensity (n = 2984) or low-moderate-intensity statin (n = 6909) treatment groups. Those in these two groups were further classified into patients with normoglycemia, prediabetes, and T2DM. The major outcomes were the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), or any repeat coronary revascularization. Results After adjusting for both high-intensity and low-moderate-intensity statin users, the cumulative incidences of MACE (p = 0.737, p = 0.062, respectively), all-cause death, Re-MI, and any repeat revascularization were similar between the prediabetes and T2DM groups. In the total study population, both high-intensity and low-moderate-intensity statin treatments showed comparable results. However, in the patients who enrolled after October 2012, the cumulative incidences of MACE (aHR 1.533; 95% CI 1.144–2.053; p = 0.004) and any repeat revascularization (aHR, 1.587; 95% CI 1.026–2.456; p = 0.038) were significantly lower in high-intensity statin users than in low-moderate intensity statin users. The beneficial effects of high-intensity compared to low-moderate-intensity statin therapy were more apparent in the normoglycemia group than hyperglycemia group, as it reduced the cumulative incidences of MACE (aHR 1.903; 95% CI 1.203–3.010; p = 0.006) and any repeat revascularization (aHR 3.248; 95% CI 1.539–6.854; p = 0.002). Conclusions In this retrospective registry study, prediabetes and T2DM groups showed comparable clinical outcomes, after administering both high-intensity and low-moderate-intensity statin treatments. However, these results are likely to be clearly proved by further studies, especially in patients with AMI who are being treated in contemporary practice. Trial registration Retrospectively registered.

Abstract Recently, coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the distal radial access (DRA), are gaining attention owing to fewer complications. Despite the advantages of the DRA, there is difficulty to initiate this new vascular approach. The data from 1000 patients who underwent CAG and PCI via the DRA by a single experienced radial operator were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the success rate of the DRA per 100 cases. Moreover, the predictors of the failed DRA were analyzed. Overall, 952 (95.2%) of the total 1,000 patients underwent a successful DRA. After experiencing 200 cases, the DRA success rate was well maintained at > 94%, and there was no difference in success rate per 100 cases (P trend = 0.216). The predictors of failure were female sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–3.39, P = 0.049] and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 94%, 200 procedures would be needed. Moreover, this new approach could fail in women and patients with low SBP. Trial registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index/index.do (Unique identifier: KCT0005349).

Abstract We investigated the impact of pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (pre-PCI) thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade (pre-TIMI) on 3-month (3-mo) and 12-mo of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This was a post hoc analysis of the TICO trial. A total of 2083 patients with AMI (pre-TIMI 0/1: n = 1143; pre-TIMI 2/3: n = 940) were evaluated. The primary outcome was the occurrence of net adverse clinical events (NACE), defined as a composite of TIMI major bleeding and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) within 12-mo following PCI. The secondary outcomes were the occurrence of the individual components of TIMI bleedings and MACCE. In the pre-TIMI 0/1 group, the primary and second outcomes were not significantly different between the 3-mo and 12-mo DAPT groups. However, in the pre-TIMI 2/3 group, the occurrences of TIMI minor (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.294; p = 0.016) and major or minor bleeding (aHR: 0.483; p = 0.014) on intention-to-treat analysis were significantly higher in the 12-mo than in the 3-mo DAPT group. The occurrence of MACCE was similar between the two groups. A higher bleeding tendency in 12-mo DAPT compared with 3-mo DAPT was more obvious in the pre-TIMI 2/3 group than in the pre-TIMI 0/1 group. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02494895.

BackgroundOptimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who have undergone drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is not clearly established. This study sought to impact of DAPT duration on real-world clinical outcome in patients with or without DM.MethodsUsing a nationwide cohort database, we investigate the association between DAPT duration and clinical outcome between 1 and 3 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Primary outcome was all-cause death. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and composite bleeding events. After weighting, 90,100 DES-treated patients were included; 29,544 patients with DM and 60,556 without DM; 31,233 patients with standard DAPT (6–12 months) and 58,867 with prolonged DAPT (12–24 months).ResultsThe incidence of all-cause death was significantly lower in patients with prolonged DAPT [8.3% vs. 10.5% in those with standard DAPT, hazard ratio (HR) 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72–0.84] in diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients (4.5% vs. 5.0% in those with standard DAPT, HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83–0.96). The incidence of composite bleeding events was 5.7% vs. 5.4%, respectively, (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.96–1.18) in diabetic patients and 5.6% vs. 5.0%, respectively, in non-diabetic patients (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.05–1.21). There was a significant interaction between the presence of DM and DAPT duration for all-cause death (p for interaction, pint = 0.01) that further favored prolonged DAPT in diabetic patients. However, there was no significant interaction between the presence of DM and DAPT duration for composite bleeding events (pint = 0.38).ConclusionsThis study showed that prolonged rather than standard DAPT might be clinically beneficial in diabetic patients with DES implantation.Trial registrationClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04715594).

Background Despite the clinical benefits to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), most patients with coronary artery disease undergo angiography‐guided PCI alone in the real‐world setting. We sought to investigate the procedural characteristics of IVUS‐guided PCI and their clinical outcomes, as compared with angiography‐guided PCI. Methods and Results This was a cohort study using patient‐level data from the IVUS‐XPL (Impact of Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance on the Outcomes of Xience Prime Stents in Long Lesions) and ULTIMATE (Intravascular Ultrasound Guided Drug Eluting Stents Implantation in All‐Comers Coronary Lesions) clinical trials. A total of 2848 patients with 3872 native coronary lesions were included and procedural characteristics assessed by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) were compared between IVUS and angiography guidance. Stent‐to‐reference vessel diameter ratio (ie, QCA stent sizing) was greater (1.11±0.16 versus 1.07±0.14, P

BackgroundCoronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) provide additional functional information beyond the anatomy by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This study sought to evaluate a novel approach for estimating computational fractional flow reserve (FFR) from coronary CTA-OCT fusion images.MethodsAmong patients who underwent coronary CTA, 148 patients who underwent both pressure wire-based FFR measurement and OCT during angiography to evaluate intermediate stenosis in the left anterior descending artery were included from the prospective registry. Coronary CTA-OCT fusion images were created, and CFD was applied to estimate computational FFR. Based on pressure wire-based FFR as a reference, the diagnostic performance of Fusion-FFR was compared with that of CT-FFR and OCT-FFR.ResultsFusion-FFR was strongly correlated with FFR (r = 0.836, P < 0.001). Correlation between FFR and Fusion-FFR was stronger than that between FFR and CT-FFR (r = 0.682, P < 0.001; z statistic, 5.42, P < 0.001) and between FFR and OCT-FFR (r = 0.705, P < 0.001; z statistic, 4.38, P < 0.001). Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve to assess functionally significant stenosis was higher for Fusion-FFR than for CT-FFR (0.90 vs. 0.83, P = 0.024) and OCT-FFR (0.90 vs. 0.83, P = 0.043). Fusion-FFR exhibited 84.5% accuracy, 84.6% sensitivity, 84.3% specificity, 80.9% positive predictive value, and 87.5% negative predictive value. Especially accuracy, specificity, and positive predictive value were superior for Fusion-FFR than for CT-FFR (73.0%, P = 0.007; 61.4%, P < 0.001; 64.0%, P < 0.001) and OCT-FFR (75.7%, P = 0.021; 73.5%, P = 0.020; 69.9%, P = 0.012).ConclusionCFD-based computational FFR from coronary CTA-OCT fusion images provided more accurate functional information than coronary CTA or OCT alone.Clinical Trial Registration[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT03298282].

Abstract We investigated the effects of stent generation on 2-year clinical outcomes between prediabetes and diabetes patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 13,895 AMI patients were classified into normoglycemia (group A: 3673), prediabetes (group B: 5205), and diabetes (group C: 5017). Thereafter, all three groups were further divided into first-generation (1G)-drug-eluting stent (DES) and second-generation (2G)-DES groups. Patient-oriented composite outcomes (POCOs) defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), and any repeat revascularization were the primary outcome. Stent thrombosis (ST) was the secondary outcome. In both prediabetes and diabetes groups, the cumulative incidences of POCOs, any repeat revascularization, and ST were higher in the 1G-DES than that in the 2G-DES. In the diabetes group, all-cause death and cardiac death rates were higher in the 1G-DES than that in the 2G-DES. In both stent generations, the cumulative incidence of POCOs was similar between the prediabetes and diabetes groups. However, in the 2G-DES group, the cumulative incidences of Re-MI and all-cause death or MI were significantly higher in the diabetes group than that in the prediabetes group. To conclude, 2G-DES was more effective than 1G-DES in reducing the primary and secondary outcomes for both prediabetes and diabetes groups.

BackgroundThe clinical implication of new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains controversial. We investigated the impact of new-onset persistent LBBB on reverse cardiac remodeling and clinical outcomes after TAVR.MethodsAmong 478 patients who had undergone TAVR for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis from 2011 to 2021, we analyzed 364 patients after excluding patients with pre-existing intraventricular conduction disturbance or a pacing rhythm before or during the indexed hospitalization for TAVR. Echocardiographic variables of cardiac remodeling at baseline and 1 year after TAVR were comprehensively analyzed. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure. Secondary outcomes were all-cause death and individual components of the primary outcome.ResultNew-onset persistent LBBB occurred in 41 (11.3%) patients after TAVR. The no LBBB group showed a significant increase in the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and decreases in LV dimensions, the left atrial volume index, and LV mass index 1 year after TAVR (all p < 0.001). However, the new LBBB group showed no significant changes in these parameters. During a median follow-up of 18.1 months, the new LBBB group experienced a higher incidence of primary outcomes [hazard ratio (HR): 5.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.60–9.73; p < 0.001] and all-cause death (HR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.38–5.69; p = 0.003). The data were similar after multivariable regression analysis.ConclusionNew-onset persistent LBBB after TAVR is associated with insufficient reverse cardiac remodeling and increased adverse clinical events.

BackgroundIt is unclear whether beta-blocker treatment is advantageous in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We evaluated the clinical impact of long-term beta-blocker maintenance in patients with stable CAD after PCI with drug-eluting stent (DES).MethodsFrom a nationwide cohort database, we identified the stable CAD patients without current or prior history of myocardial infarction or heart failure who underwent DES implantation. An intention-to-treat principle was used to analyze the impact of beta-blocker treatment on long-term outcomes of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) composed of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and hospitalization with heart failure.ResultsAfter stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting, a total of 78,380 patients with stable CAD was enrolled; 45,746 patients with and 32,634 without beta-blocker treatment. At 5 years after PCI with a 6-month quarantine period, the adjusted incidence of MACE was significantly higher in patients treated with beta-blockers [10.0 vs. 9.1%; hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.16, p < 0.001] in an intention-to-treat analysis. There was no significant difference in all-cause death between patients treated with and without beta-blockers (8.1 vs. 8.2%; HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94–1.04, p = 0.62). Statistical analysis with a time-varying Cox regression and rank-preserving structure failure time model revealed similar results to the intention-to-treat analysis.ConclusionsAmong patients with stable CAD undergoing DES implantation, long-term maintenance with beta-blocker treatment might not be associated with clinical outcome improvement.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04715594).

BackgroundIn patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a high risk of ischemic events, the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stent (DES) are unclear.MethodsBased on the nationwide, multicenter, prospective registry, we selected 1,592 patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with everolimus-(EES) and zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) for STEMI with a high risk of an ischemic event. The occurrence of target lesion failure (TLF) for 3 years, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI), and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR), was evaluated.ResultsThe prevalence of high ischemic risk features was observed in 43.4% (2,744/6,325) of overall patients with STEMI. Among them, a total of 1,078 and 514 patients were treated with EES and ZES, respectively. At 3 years, the risk of TLF was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.93). In addition, the incidence of cardiac death, TV-MI, ID-TLR, and definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST) were also not different between the two groups. Moreover, elderly patients (age > 75 years) and PCI for the left main disease were identified as independent predictors of TLF.ConclusionImplantation of EES or ZES provided comparable clinical outcomes in STEMI patients and high ischemic risks.

BackgroundDespite the theoretical benefits of biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES), clinical benefits of BP-DES over durable polymer DES (DP-DES) have not been clearly demonstrated. Using data from a large-volume nationwide cohort, we compared long-term clinical outcomes between BP-DES- and DP-DES-treated patients.MethodsA retrospective cohort study that enrolled all patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with new-generation DES between 2010 and 2016 in Korea was conducted by using the National Health Insurance Service database. The outcomes of interest were all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and myocardial infarction (MI).ResultsA total of 127,731 patients treated with new-generation DES with thin struts (

Background The role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)‐guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still unclear in patients with acute myocardial infarction acute myocardial infarction. This study aimed to evaluate the long‐term impact of IVUS‐guided PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods and Results Among a total of 13 104 patients with acute myocardial infarction, enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry‐National Institutes of Health, we selected patients who underwent PCI with second‐generation drug‐eluting stent implantation. The primary outcome was the risk of target lesion failure at 3 years. Among the study population, 1887 patients (21.0%) underwent IVUS‐guidance, and 7120 patients (79.0%) underwent angiography‐guidance for second‐generation drug‐eluting stent implantation. IVUS‐guided PCI was associated with a significantly lower risk of target lesion failure at 3 years (4.8% versus 8.0%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.73; P

Abstract Machine learning approaches using intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) to predict fractional flow reserve (FFR) have not been investigated. Both OCT and FFR data were obtained for left anterior descending artery lesions in 125 patients. Training and testing groups were partitioned in the ratio of 5:1. The OCT-based machine learning-FFR was derived for the testing group and compared with wire-based FFR in terms of ischemia diagnosis (FFR ≤ 0.8). The OCT-based machine learning-FFR showed good correlation (r = 0.853, P

Background/Aims Whether the presence of chronic total occlusion (CTO) affects patency after stenting in femoropopliteal lesions is unknown. We determined the effects of plain balloon angioplasty (POBA) in comparison with those of stenting on patency for femoropopliteal CTO and stenosis (non-CTO). Methods We analyzed data from the Korean Vascular Intervention Society Endovascular Therapy in Lower-Limb Artery Diseases Registry, a multicenter cohort of patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Data from 1,329 patients and 1558 limbs treated with endovascular intervention for at least one femoropopliteal lesion were evaluated. Results Among the 1,558 limbs, 345, 432, 275, and 506 were in the non-CTO-POBA, non-CTO-stent, CTO-POBA, and CTO-stent groups, respectively. During follow-up, loss of clinical primary patency, a composite of freedom from restenosis or clinically driven target lesion revascularization, occurred in 65 (18.8%), 68 (15.7%), 62 (22.5%), and 113 limbs (22.3%) in the non-CTO-POBA, non-CTO-stent, CTO-POBA, and CTO-stent groups, respectively. The patients in the non-CTO-stent group showed a significantly better clinical primary patency than those in the no-CTO-POBA group, whereas those in the CTO-stent and CTO-POBA groups showed no significant differences. After inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance the differences among covariates between the non-CTO-stent and non-CTO-POBA groups, the non-CTO-stent group still showed superior clinical primary patency as compared with the non-CTO-POBA group. Conclusions In the patients with femoropopliteal stenosis without CTO, stenting resulted in better clinical outcomes than balloon angioplasty. The presence of CTO in the femoropopliteal lesion should be considered when selecting a suitable device for performing endovascular procedures.

Abstract Background Accurate measurement of the maximum aortic diameter (Dmax) is crucial for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Aortic computed tomography (CT) provides accurate Dmax values by three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction but may cause nephrotoxicity because of contrast use and radiation hazard. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a novel semi-automated 3-D ultrasonography (3-D US) system compared with that of CT as a reference. Methods Patients with AAA (n = 59) or individuals with normal aorta (n = 18) were prospectively recruited in an outpatient setting. Two-dimensional ultrasonography (2-D US) and 3-D US images were acquired with a single-sweep volumetric transducer. The analysis was performed offline with a software. Dmax and the vessel area of the Dmax slice were measured with 2-D US, 3-D US, and CT. The lumen and thrombus areas of the Dmax slice were also measured in 40 patients with intraluminal thrombus. Vessel and thrombus volumes were measured using 3-D US and CT. Results The Dmax values from 3-D US demonstrated better agreement (R 2 = 0.984) with the CT values than with the 2-D US values (R 2 = 0.938). Overall, 2-D US underestimated Dmax compared with 3-D US (32.3 ± 12.1 mm vs. 35.1 ± 12.0 mm). The Bland-Altman analysis of the 3-D US values, revealed better agreement with the CT values (2 standard deviations [SD], 2.9 mm) than with the 2-D US values (2 SD, 5.4 mm). The vessel, lumen, and thrombus areas all demonstrated better agreement with CT than with 2-D US (R 2 = 0.986 vs. 0.960 for the vessel, R 2 = 0.891 vs. 0.837 for the lumen, and R 2 = 0.977 vs. 0.872 for the thrombus). The thrombus volume assessed with 3-D US showed good correlation with the CT value (R 2 = 0.981 and 2 SD in the Bland-Altman analysis: 13.6 cm3). Conclusions Our novel semi-automated 3-D US analysis system provides more accurate Dmax values than 2-D US and provides precise volumetric data, which were not evaluable with 2-D US. The application of the semi-automated 3-D US analysis system in abdominal aorta assessment is easy and accurate.

Abstract Background The influence of intensive glucose control in diabetic patients on the macrovascular outcomes is controversial. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the effect of preprocedural hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) on clinical outcomes after endovascular therapy for lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) in diabetic patients. Methods Diabetic patients were enrolled from the retrospective cohorts of a Korean multicenter endovascular therapy registry and were divided according to the HbA1c level during index admission into the optimal (

Objective: Currently, there are limited comparative data concerning long-term major clinical outcomes following the angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockers (ARBs) therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with dyslipidemia after a successful stent implantation. Therefore, we investigated major clinical outcomes for 2 years following the ACEIs and ARBs therapy in these patients. Methods: A total of 3015 patients with AMI who underwent a successful stent implantation and were prescribed ACEIs (n=2175) or ARBs (n=840) were enrolled into the study from the Korea AMI Registry (KAMIR). The major clinical endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), and any repeat-revascularization-comprised target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and non-TVR. Results: After the adjustment, the cumulative incidence of all-cause death in the ARBs group was significantly higher than in the ACEIs group [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 2.277; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.154–4.495; p=0.018]. The cumulative incidences of MACEs (aHR, 1.305; 95% CI, 0.911–1.869; p=0.146), cardiac death, Re-MI, any repeat revascularization, TLR, TVR, and non-TVR were similar between the two groups. In addition, an advanced age (≥65 years), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (

Background: The impact of ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear.Methods: Data on a total of 1,067 ACS patients with CKD including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation were extracted from a multicenter registry. This study aimed to compare outcomes of patients treated with ticagrelor- (n = 449) and those treated with clopidogrel-based (n = 618) DAPT. Outcomes of interest included major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium grade 3 or 5) at 12 months. Propensity-score matching (346 pairs) analysis was performed.Results: The patients with ESRD showed the highest MACCE and bleeding rates (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the rate of MACCEs between the treatment groups (7.8% vs. 8.4%; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.56–1.61, P = 0.855); however, a trend toward an increased bleeding rate was observed in the ticagrelor-based DAPT group (6.8% vs. 3.8%, HR = 1.84, 95% CI = 0.93–3.63, P = 0.079). Among patients with CKD stage III/IV but without ESRD (277 pairs), the ticagrelor-based DAPT group showed a reduced MACCE rate (3.6% vs. 8.7%, HR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.19–0.86, P = 0.018) and a similar bleeding rate (5.1% vs. 3.2%, HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.70–3.71, P = 0.267), compared with those of the clopidogrel-based DAPT group.Conclusion: The effects of ticagrelor-based DAPT on ischemic and bleeding outcomes of ACS patients with CKD varied according to CKD stage; in ACS patients with CKD without ESRD, ticagrelor-based DAPT reduced MACCE risk without increasing bleeding risks, relative to those observed with clopidogrel-based DAPT.

Background We aimed to evaluate the age‐dependent effect of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month dual‐antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT on major bleeding and cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods and Results From the TICO trial (Ticagrelor Monotherapy After 3 Months in the Patients Treated With New Generation Sirolimus‐eluting Stent for Acute Coronary Syndrome), which randomized 3056 patients (median age, 61 years) to the ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT group or ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT group, this post hoc analysis evaluated the age‐dependent effect of the treatment strategies on the primary end point (a composite of major bleeding, death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, or target‐vessel revascularization) using the subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot. The cutoff age for distinguishing patients with greater benefit from this strategy was also determined. The risk reduction effect of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT versus ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT on the primary end point gradually increased with age and was more marked from the subpopulation of age 64 years with the change point. With this cutoff value of 64 years, the occurrence of the primary end point was significantly lower in the ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT group than in the ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT group (4.4% versus 9.0%; P=0.002) in patients aged ≥64 years (n=1278), but it was not different in those aged

Background: There is ongoing debate regarding the optimal antiplatelet strategy beyond 12 months in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who undergo successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study therefore aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of single (SAPT) vs. dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond 12 months in patients with stable AMI and second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.Methods: Of 13,104 patients from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health database, we selected 4,604 patients who underwent PCI with second-generation DES and exhibited no adverse clinical events within 12 months; they were classified into SAPT (aspirin or clopidogrel) or DAPT (aspirin and clopidogrel) groups. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke between 12 and 36 months.Results: The SAPT group (n = 1,862) was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACCE between 12 and 36 months [4.2 vs. 8.5%, hazard ratio (HR): 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37–0.61; p < 0.001] than the DAPT group (n = 2,742). The results were consistent after adjusting for confounders through multivariable and propensity score matching analysis. Moreover, in patients with complex features (defined as an unprotected left main PCI, implanted stent length of ≥38 mm, multivessel PCI, or ≥3 stents per patients), the SAPT group (n = 678) also demonstrated a significantly lower risk of MACCE between 12 and 36 months (4.9 vs. 9.9%, HR: 0.46, CI: 0.31–0.68, p < 0.001) than the DAPT group (n = 1,167).Conclusions: In patients with AMI who underwent successful PCI with second-generation DES and exhibited no adverse clinical events within 12 months, the use of SAPT was associated with a significantly lower MACCE between 12 and 36 months compared with the use of DAPT.

Background: Triple therapy is the combination of dual antiplatelet therapy plus oral anticoagulant after stent implantation. Current guidelines recommend triple therapy for acute coronary syndrome with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to identify temporal trends of antithrombotic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and AF.Methods: Among 13,104 consecutive patients from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health (KAMIR-NIH) registry, we identified 453 patients with AF after stent implantation for AMI; these patients were then divided into those who did and did not use oral anticoagulant (OAC) [OAC group (n = 71) vs. non-OAC group (n = 382), respectively].Results: The results showed that the prevalence of AF in AMI patients was 5.4% (712/13,104). Among 453 patients, only 15.7% (71/453) were treated with OAC while dual or single antiplatelet therapy was provided for 84.7% (382/453) of patients. In patients with high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 2), OACs were used only in 17% (69/406). Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex [odds ratio (OR) 2.11; 95% CI: 1.17–3.79], diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.35–4.17), prior cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (OR 4.19; 95% CI: 2–8.75), and congestive heart failure (CHF) (OR 1.89; 95% CI: 1.09–3.3) as the significant determinants of OAC use.Conclusion: The study concluded that OAC was underused. Approximately, 15%, of AMI patients with AF undergoing PCI with stent and female gender, DM, prior CVA history, and a history of CHF or the presence of moderate to severe left ventricle systolic impairment were significant determinants of OAC use.

Background Although antiplatelet therapy (APT) has been recommended to balance ischemic‐bleeding risks, it has been left to an individualized decision‐making based on physicians' perspectives before non‐cardiac surgery. The study aimed to assess the advantages of a consensus among physicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists on continuation and regimen of preoperative APT in patients with coronary drug‐eluting stents. Methods and Results A total of 3582 adult patients undergoing non‐cardiac surgery after percutaneous coronary intervention with second‐generation stents was retrospectively included from a multicenter cohort. Physicians determined whether APT should be continued or discontinued for a recommended period before non‐cardiac surgery. There were 3103 patients who complied with a consensus decision. Arbitrary APT, not based on a consensus decision, was associated with urgent surgery, high bleeding risk of surgery, female sex, and dual APT at the time of preoperative evaluation. Arbitrary APT independently increased the net clinical adverse event (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj], 1.98; 95% CI, 1.98–3.11), major adverse cardiac event (ORadj, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.31–7.34), and major bleeding (ORadj, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.45–3.76) risks. The association was consistently noted, irrespective of the surgical risks, recommendations, and practice on discontinuation of APT. Conclusions Most patients were treated in agreement with a consensus decision about preoperative APT based on a referral system among physicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. The risk of perioperative adverse events increased if complying with a consensus decision was failed. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03908463.

Background There is a lack of data on factors that are related to clinically relevant bleeding after ticagrelor treatment. We investigated the clinical and procedural factors related to major bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with ticagrelor after coronary stent implantation. Methods and Results From the TICO (Ticagrelor Monotherapy After 3 Months in Patients Treated With New Generation Sirolimus‐Eluting Stent for Acute Coronary Syndrome) randomized trial, a total of 2660 patients were included for the present study. Patients with major bleeding, defined by TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) major or Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5, were compared with those without major bleeding. On the basis of multivariable and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, weight ≤65 kg, hemoglobin ≤12 g/dL, and estimated glomerular filtration rate

Background and aimsThe prognosis of stented lesions differs according to in-stent neointimal characteristics on optical coherence tomography (OCT). In particular, patients who show in-stent heterogeneous neointima are associated with a higher incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) compared with those who show in-stent non-heterogeneous neointima. However, the relationship between in-stent neointimal characteristics and native coronary atherosclerosis progression has not been clearly elucidated. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between in-stent neointimal characteristics and progression of native atherosclerosis.MethodsThe neointimal characteristics of 377 patients with 377 drug-eluting stents (DESs) were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed using OCT. The OCT-based neointima was categorized as homogeneous (n = 207), heterogeneous (n = 93), and layered (n = 77). The relationship of non-target lesion revascularization (non-TLR) with neointimal characteristics was evaluated after OCT examination of the stents.ResultsAfter a median follow-up duration of 40.0 months, patients with heterogeneous neointima showed significantly higher non-TLR rates than those with homogeneous neointima and tended to have higher non-TLR rates than those with layered neointima (heterogeneous vs. homogeneous:14.0% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.046; heterogeneous vs. layered neointima:14.0% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.152). Multivariate analysis showed that the independent determinants for non-TLR were heterogeneous neointima (HR: 2.237, 95% CI: 1.023-4.890, p = 0.044) and chronic kidney disease (hazard ratio [HR]: 8.730, 95% CI: 2.175-35.036, p = 0.002).ConclusionsThe heterogeneous neointima in DES-treated lesions was associated with a higher incidence of non-TLR and target lesion failure. This finding suggests that the neointimal pattern may reflect the progression of the native lesion.