Outcomes of Elderly Patients with ST-Elevation or Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Introduction: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have been classified according to the finding of ST-segment elevation on the presenting electrocardiogram, with different treatment strategies and practice guidelines. However, a comparative description of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention during index admission has not been published so far. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the Elderly ACS-2 multicenter randomized trial. Main outcome measures were crude cumulative incidence and cause-specific hazard ratio (cHR) of cardiovascular death, noncardiovascular death, reinfarction, and stroke. Results: Of 1443 ACS patients aged >75 years (median age 80 years, interquartile range 77-84), 41% were classified as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and 59% had non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTEACS) (48% NSTEMI and 11% unstable angina). As compared with those with NSTEACS, STEMI patients had more favorable baseline risk factors, fewer prior cardiovascular events, and less severe coronary disease, but lower ejection fraction (45% vs 50%, P <.001). At a median follow-up of 12 months, 51 (8.6%) STEMI patients had died, vs 39 (4.6%) NSTEACS patients. After adjusting for sex, age, and previous myocardial infarction, the hazard among the STEMI group was significantly higher for cardiovascular death (cHR 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-3.36), noncardiovascular death (cHR 2.10; 95% CI, 1.01-4.38), and stroke (cHR 4.8; 95% CI, 1.7-13.7). Conclusions: Despite more favorable baseline characteristics, elderly STEMI patients have worse survival and a higher risk of stroke compared with NSTEACS patients after percutaneous coronary intervention

Tevatron constraints on models of the Higgs boson with exotic spin and parity using decays to bottom-antibottom quark pairs.

Combined constraints from the CDF and D0 Collaborations on models of the Higgs boson with exotic spin J and parity P are presented and compared with results obtained assuming the standard model value JP=0+. Both collaborations analyzed approximately 10  fb−1 of proton-antiproton collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected at the Fermilab Tevatron. Two models predicting exotic Higgs bosons with JP=0− and JP=2+ are tested. The kinematic properties of exotic Higgs boson production in association with a vector boson differ from those predicted for the standard model Higgs boson. Upper limits at the 95% credibility level on the production rates of the exotic Higgs bosons, expressed as fractions of the standard model Higgs boson production rate, are set at 0.36 for both the JP=0− hypothesis and the JP=2+ hypothesis. If the production rate times the branching ratio to a bottom-antibottom pair is the same as that predicted for the standard model Higgs boson, then the exotic bosons are excluded with significances of 5.0 standard deviations and 4.9 standard deviations for the JP=0− and JP=2+ hypotheses, respectively

Intimo-intimal intussusception: a rare complication of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection

A 64-year-old woman was hospitalized because of prolonged chest pain. A CT scan and an aortography suggested a Stanford type A acute aortic dissectio

Systemic inflammation is related to coronary microvascular dysfunction in obese patients without obstructive coronary disease.

Background and Aims: Obesity, systemic inflammation and changes in the heart functions are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate coronary microvascular dysfunction as an early marker of atherosclerosis in obese patients without any evidence of cardiovascular disease. Methods and results: 86 obese subjects (aged 44±12 years, body mass index (BMI) 41±8kgm-2), without evidence of heart disease, and 48 lean controls were studied using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography for detecting coronary flow reserve (CFR). A value of CFR≤2.5 was considered abnormal. We measured interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and adiponectin in all patients. Patients with abnormal CFR underwent coronary multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in order to exclude an epicardial stenosis. CFR in obese subjects was lower than in lean subjects (3.2±0.8 vs. 3.7±0.7, p=0.02) and was abnormal in 27 (31%) obese patients and in one (2%) control (p<0.0001). All subjects with abnormal CFR showed no coronary stenosis at MSCT. At multivariable analysis, IL-6 and TNF-α were the only determinants of CFR (p<0.02 and p<0.02, respectively). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, IL-6 and TNF-α were the only determinants of CFR≤2.5 (p<0.03 and p<0.03, respectively). Conclusions: CFR is often reduced in obese subjects without clinical evidence of heart disease, suggesting a coronary microvascular impairment. This microvascular dysfunction seems to be related to a chronic inflammation mediated by adipocytokines. Our findings may explain the increased cardiovascular risk in obesity, independently of BM

Systemic inflammation is related to coronary microvascular dysfunction in obese patients without obstructive coronary disease.

Background and Aims: Obesity, systemic inflammation and changes in the heart functions are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate coronary microvascular dysfunction as an early marker of atherosclerosis in obese patients without any evidence of cardiovascular disease.Methods and results: 86 obese subjects (aged 44 +/- 12 years, body mass index (BMI) 41 +/- 8 kg m(-2)), without evidence of heart disease, and 48 lean controls were studied using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography for detecting coronary flow reserve (CFR). A value of CFR <= 2.5 was considered abnormal. We measured interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and adiponectin in all patients. Patients with abnormal CFR underwent coronary multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in order to exclude an epicardial stenosis. CFR in obese subjects was lower than in lean subjects (3.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.7, p = 0.02) and was abnormal in 27 (31%) obese patients and in one (2%) control (p < 0.0001). All subjects with abnormal CFR showed no coronary stenosis at MSCT. At multivariable analysis, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were the only determinants of CFR (p < 0.02 and p < 0.02, respectively). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were the only determinants of CFR <= 2.5 (p < 0.03 and p < 0.03, respectively).Conclusions: CFR is often reduced in obese subjects without clinical evidence of heart disease, suggesting a coronary microvascular impairment. This microvascular dysfunction seems to be related to a chronic inflammation mediated by adipocytokines. Our findings may explain the increased cardiovascular risk in obesity, independently of BMI. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

Residual SYNTAX Score and One-Year Outcome in Elderly Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: The residual burden of coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with worse ischemic outcome. However, data are conflicting in elderly patients. The aim of our study was to verify the incremental value of the residual Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (rSS) over clinical variables and baseline SYNTAX score (bSS) in predicting 1-year mortality or cardiovascular events. Methods: A post hoc analysis of data collected in the Elderly-ACS 2 multicenter randomized trial was performed. We included 630 patients aged &gt; 75 years with multivessel coronary disease undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The primary outcome was a composite of death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and stroke at 1-year follow up. Change in c-statistic and standardized net benefit were used to evaluate the incremental value of the rSS. Results: Event rates were significantly higher in patients with incomplete revascularization (rSS &gt; 8). When the rSS was included in a core Cox regression model containing age, previous myocardial infarction, and ACS type, the hazard ratio for patients with score values &gt; 8 was 2.47 (95% confidence interval, 1.51-4.06). However, the core model with rSS did not increase the c-statistic compared with the core model with the bSS (from 0.69 to 0.70) and gave little incremental value in the standardized net benefit. Conclusions: In elderly patients with ACS with multivessel disease undergoing PCI, incomplete revascularization was associated with worse outcome at 1-year follow-up. However, there was no clear incremental value of the rSS in the prediction of 1-year adverse outcome compared with a model including clinical variables and bSS

Residual SYNTAX Score and One-Year Outcome in Elderly Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: The residual burden of coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with worse ischemic outcome. However, data are conflicting in elderly patients. The aim of our study was to verify the incremental value of the residual Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (rSS) over clinical variables and baseline SYNTAX score (bSS) in predicting 1-year mortality or cardiovascular events. Methods: A post hoc analysis of data collected in the Elderly-ACS 2 multicenter randomized trial was performed. We included 630 patients aged &gt; 75 years with multivessel coronary disease undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The primary outcome was a composite of death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and stroke at 1-year follow up. Change in c-statistic and standardized net benefit were used to evaluate the incremental value of the rSS. Results: Event rates were significantly higher in patients with incomplete revascularization (rSS &gt; 8). When the rSS was included in a core Cox regression model containing age, previous myocardial infarction, and ACS type, the hazard ratio for patients with score values &gt; 8 was 2.47 (95% confidence interval, 1.51-4.06). However, the core model with rSS did not increase the c-statistic compared with the core model with the bSS (from 0.69 to 0.70) and gave little incremental value in the standardized net benefit. Conclusions: In elderly patients with ACS with multivessel disease undergoing PCI, incomplete revascularization was associated with worse outcome at 1-year follow-up. However, there was no clear incremental value of the rSS in the prediction of 1-year adverse outcome compared with a model including clinical variables and bSS

Impact of diabetes on clinical outcome among elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the ELDERLY ACS 2 trial

BACKGROUND: Despite recent improvements in percutaneous coronary revascularization and antithrombotic therapies for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, the outcome is still unsatisfactory in high-risk patients, such as the elderly and patients with diabetes. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prognostic impact of diabetes on clinical outcome among patients included in the Elderly-ACS 2 trial, a randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint study carried out at 32 centers in Italy. METHODS: Our population is represented by 1443 patients included in the Elderly-ACS 2 trial. Diabetes was defined as known history of diabetes at admission. The primary endpoint of this analysis was cardiovascular mortality, while secondary endpoints were all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2 or 3 bleeding, and rehospitalization for cardiovascular event or stent thrombosis within 12 months after index admission. RESULTS: Diabetes was present in 419 (29%) out of 1443 patients. Diabetic status was significantly associated with major cardiovascular risk factors and history of previous coronary disease, presentation with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (P\u200a=\u200a0.01) more extensive coronary disease (P\u200a=\u200a0.02), more advanced Killip class at presentation (P\u200a=\u200a0.003), use at admission of statins (P\u200a=\u200a0.004) and diuretics at discharge (P\u200a<\u200a0.001). Median follow-up was 367 days (interquartile range: 337-378 days). Diabetic status was associated with an absolute increase in the rate of cardiovascular mortality as compared with patients without diabetes [5.5 vs. 3.3%, hazard ratio (HR) 1.7 (0.99-2.8), P\u200a=\u200a0.054], particularly among those treated with clopidogrel [HR (95% confidence interval (CI))\u200a=\u200a1.89 (0.93-3.87), P\u200a=\u200a0.08]. However, this difference disappeared after correction for baseline differences [Adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.1(0.4-2.9), P\u200a=\u200a0.86]. Similar findings were observed for other secondary endpoints, except for bleeding complications, significantly more frequent in diabetic patients [HR (95% CI) 2.02 (1.14-3.6), P\u200a=\u200a0.02; adjusted HR (95% CI)\u200a=\u200a2.1 (1.01-4.3), P\u200a=\u200a0.05]. No significant interaction was observed between type of dual antiplatelet therapy, diabetic status and outcome. CONCLUSION: Among elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes, diabetic status was associated with higher rates of comorbidities, more severe cardiovascular risk profile and major bleeding complications fully accounting for the absolute increase in mortality. In fact, diabetes mellitus did not emerge as an independent predictor of survival in advanced age

Impact of body mass index on clinical outcome among elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the ELDERLY ACS 2 trial

Background and aim: Elderly patients are at increased risk of hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Frailty, comorbidities and low body weight have emerged as conditioning the prognostic impact of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic impact of body mass index (BMI) on clinical outcome among patients included in the Elderly-ACS 2 trial, a randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint study comparing low-dose (5 mg) prasugrel vs clopidogrel among elderly patients with ACS. Methods and results: Our population is represented by 1408 patients enrolled in the Elderly-ACS 2 trial. BMI was calculated at admission. The primary endpoint of this analysis was cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Secondary endpoints were all-cause death, recurrent MI, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2 or 3 bleeding, and re-hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons or stent thrombosis within 12 months after index admission. Patients were grouped according to median values of BMI