The Difficult Evolution of Intensive Cardiac Care Units: An Overview of the BLITZ-3 Registry and Other Italian Surveys

Coronary care units, initially developed to treat acute myocardial infarction, have moved to the care of a broader population of acute cardiac patients and are currently defined as Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ICCUs). However, very limited data are available on such evolution. Since 2008, in Italy, several surveys have been designed to assess ICCUs’ activities. The largest and most comprehensive of these, the BLITZ-3 Registry, observed that patients admitted are mainly elderly males and suffer from several comorbidities. Direct admission to ICCUs through the Emergency Medical System was rather rare. Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) account for more than half of the discharge diagnoses. However, numbers of acute heart failure (AHF) admissions are substantial. Interestingly, age, resources availability, and networking have a strong influence on ICCUs’ epidemiology and activities. In fact, while patients with ACS concentrate in ICCUs with interventional capabilities, older patients with AHF or non-ACS, non-AHF cardiac diseases prevail in peripheral ICCUs. In conclusion, although ACS is still the core business of ICCUs, aging, comorbidities, increasing numbers of non-ACS, technological improvements, and resources availability have had substantial effects on epidemiology and activities of ICCUs. The Italian surveys confirm these changes and call for a substantial update of ICCUs’ organization and competences

Multicenter prospective observational study on acute and chronic heart failure: one-year follow-up results of IN-HF (Italian Network on Heart Failure) outcome registry

Clinical observational studies on heart failure (HF) deal mostly with hospitalized patients, few with chronic outpatients, all with no or limited longitudinal observation

Clinical features, and in-hospital and 1-year mortalities of patients with acute heart failure and severe renal dysfunction. Data from the Italian Registry IN-HF Outcome

Chronic renal dysfunction (RD) frequently coexists with heart failure (HF) and influences outcome. Patients with acute HF (AHF) and severe RD are frequently excluded in the trials. We characterized these subjects and assessed incidence and predictors of in-hospital and one-year mortalities

Epidemiology and patterns of care of patients admitted to Italian Intensive Cardiac Care units: The BLITZ-3 registry

Background: Intensive cardiac care units (ICCUs) have shifted from the observation of patients with myocardial infarction to the care of different acute cardiac diseases. However, few data on such an evolution are available. Methods and results: From 7 to 20 April 2008, 6986 consecutive patients admitted to 81% of Italian ICCUs were prospectively enrolled. Patients observed were mainly elderly men (median age 72 years) with several co-morbidities. Most of them were triaged to ICCU from the emergency room, but 15% of admissions were transfer-in from other hospitals. Several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were applied (78% had echocardiography and 35% coronary angiography) during the ICCU stay [median length 4 days, interquartile range (IQR) 2-5]. The discharge diagnosis was ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in 21%, non-ST-elevation ACS in 31%, acute heart failure (AHF) in 14% and other acute non-ACS, non-AHF cardiac diseases in 34%. Of those with ST-elevation ACS, 60% received reperfusion (15% fibrinolysis and 45% primary percutaneous coronary intervention). The overall in-ICCU crude mortality was 3.3%. CONCLUSION: The BLITZ-3 survey provides a unique snapshot of current epidemiology and patterns of care of patients admitted to ICCUs. Although ACS still remains the most frequent admission diagnosis, the number of non-ACS patients is substantial. However, the correct standard of care for these non-ACS patients has to be defined. © 2010 Italian Federation of Cardiology

Short term outcome following acute phase switch among P2Y12 inhibitors in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome treated with PCI: A systematic review and meta-analysis including 22,500 patients from 14 studies

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of switching P2Y12 receptor antagonists in patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear. We assessed the short-term clinical outcomes (in-hospital and within 30 days) of switching P2Y12 inhibitor (P2Y12I) drugs versus maintaining the same regimen by performing a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of available data. Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed/SCOPUS/Cochrane databases were screened for studies regarding switching of P2Y12I in patients with ACS that reported 30 days follow-up. Major cardiac events (MACE) and bleeding were compared between patients who were switched/not switched. Results: 22,500 patients from 14 studies were included. Unstable angina/non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (62.0%, interquartile range, 52.8%–68.0%) was the most common clinical presentation. The total number switched was 4294 (19.1%); escalation in 3416 (79.5%) patients (from clopidogrel to prasugrel, 62.9%) and de-escalation in 18.5%. Pooled analysis revealed no significant differences in MACE for any comparison; risk of bleeding was significantly increased among switched patients overall (odds ratio [OR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–2.10) and increased in the escalation group (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.06–2.16). Conclusions: Among patients presenting with ACS, switching from one P2Y12I agent to another in the acute phase seems associated with a short-term increased risk of bleeding. Accurate upfront selection and prescription of a P2Y12I based on ischemic and bleeding risks is paramount to avoid adverse events switching-related during hospitalization and in the first 30 days. Keywords: Novel P2Y12 inhibitors, Switching, Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor, Prasugrel, Acute coronary syndrom

ANMCO position paper: guide to the appropriate use of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator in clinical practice for patients at high transient risk of sudden cardiac death

Extended risk stratification and optimal management of patients with a permanently increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) are becoming increasingly important. There are several clinical conditions where the risk of arrhythmic death is present albeit only transient. As an example, patients with depressed left ventricular function have a high risk of SCD that may be only transient if there will be a significant recovery of function. It is important to protect the patients while receiving and titrating to the optimal dose the recommended drugs that may lead to an improved left ventricular function. In several other conditions, a transient risk of SCD can be observed even if the left ventricular function is not compromised. Examples are patients with acute myocarditis, during the diagnostic work-up of some arrhythmic conditions or after extraction of infected catheters while eradicating the associated infection. In all these conditions, it is important to offer a protection to these patients. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is of particular importance as a temporary non-invasive technology for both arrhythmia monitoring and therapy in patients with increased risk of SCD. Previous studies have shown the WCD to be an effective and safe therapy for the prevention of SCD caused by ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. The aim of this ANMCO position paper is to provide a recommendation for clinical utilization of the WCD in Italy, based upon current data and international guidelines. In this document, we will review the WCD functionality, indications, clinical evidence, and guideline recommendations. Finally, a recommendation for the utilization of the WCD in routine clinical practice will be presented, in order to provide physicians with a practical guidance for SCD risk stratification in patients who may benefit from this device

Good prognosis for pericarditis with and without myocardial involvement: Results from a multicenter, prospective cohort study

Background\u2014The natural history of myopericarditis/perimyocarditis is poorly known and recently published data have presented contrasting data on their outcomes. The aim of the present article is to assess their prognosis in a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Methods and Results\u2014A total of 486 patients (median age 39 years, range 18-83, 300 men) with acute pericarditis or a myopericardial inflammatory syndrome (myopericarditis/perimyocarditis) (85% idiopathic, 11% connective tissue disease or inflammatory bowel disease, 5% infective) were prospectively evaluated from January 2007 to December 2011. The diagnosis of acute pericarditis was based on the presence of 2 of 4 clinical criteria (chest pain, pericardial rubs, widespread ST-segment elevation or PR depression, and new or worsening pericardial effusion). Myopericardial inflammatory involvement was suspected with atipycal ECG changes for pericarditis, arrhythmias, cardiac troponin elevation and/or new or worsening ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography, and confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance. After a median follow-up of 36 months normalization of LV function was achieved in >90% of patients with myopericarditis/perimyocarditis. No deaths were recorded, as well as evolution to heart failure or symptomatic LV dysfunction. Recurrences (mainly as recurrent pericarditis) were the most common complication during follow-up and were more frequently recorded in patients with acute pericarditis (32%) than myopericarditis (11%) or perimyocarditis (12%; p<0.001). Troponin elevation was not associated with an increase of complications. Conclusions\u2014The outcome of myopericardial inflammatory syndromes is good. Unlike acute coronary syndromes, troponin elevation is not a negative prognostic marker in this setting

Response to letter regarding article, good prognosis for pericarditis with and without myocardial involvement: Results from a multicenter, prospective cohort study

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Interventional Versus Conservative Strategy in Patients With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissections: Insights From DISCO Registry

BACKGROUND: The optimal management of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection remains debated.METHODS: Patients enrolled in the DISCO (Dissezioni Spontanee Coronariche) Registry up to December 2020 were included. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular events, a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and repeat percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Independent predictors of PCI and medical management were investigated.RESULTS: Among 369 patients, 129 (35%) underwent PCI, whereas 240 (65%) were medically managed. ST-segmentelevation myocardial infarction (68% versus 35%, P<0.001), resuscitated cardiac arrest (9% versus 3%, P<0.001), proximal coronary segment involvement (32% versus 7%, P<0.001), and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow 0 to 1 (54% versus 20%, P<0.001) were more frequent in the PCI arm. In-hospital event rates were similar. Between patients treated with PCI and medical therapy, there were no differences in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events at 2 years (13.9% versus 11.7%, P=0.467), all-cause death (0.7% versus 0.4%, P=0.652), myocardial infarction (9.3% versus 8.3%, P=0.921) and repeat PCI (12.4% versus 8.7%, P=0.229). ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction at presentation (odds ratio [OR], 3.30 [95% CI, 1.56-7.12]; P=0.002), proximal coronary segment involvement (OR, 5.43 [95% CI, 1.98-16.45]; P=0.002), Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 0 to 1 and 2 (respectively, OR, 3.22 [95% CI, 1.08-9.96]; P=0.038; and OR, 3.98 [95% CI, 1.38-11.80]; P=0.009) and luminal narrowing (OR per 5% increase, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.01-1.28]; P=0.037) were predictors of PCI, whereas the 2B-angiographic subtype predicted medical management (OR, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.070.83]; P=0.026).CONCLUSIONS: Clinical presentation and procedural variables drive the choice of the initial therapeutic approach in spontaneous coronary artery dissection. If PCI is needed, it seems to be associated with a similar risk of short-to-mid-term adverse events compared to medical treatment.