Association between UCP2 A55V polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular events in patients with multi-vessel coronary arterial disease

Background\ud UCP2 (uncoupling protein 2) plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases and recent studies have suggested that the A55V polymorphism can cause UCP2 dysfunction. The main aim was to investigate the association of A55V polymorphism with cardiovascular events in a group of 611 patients enrolled in the Medical, Angioplasty or Surgery Study II (MASS II), a randomized trial comparing treatments for patients with coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular function.\ud \ud Methods\ud The participants of the MASS II were genotyped for the A55V polymorphism using allele-specific PCR assay. Survival curves were calculated with the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank statistic. The relationship between baseline variables and the composite end-point of cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), refractory angina requiring revascularization and cerebrovascular accident were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards survival model.\ud \ud Results\ud There were no significant differences for baseline variables according genotypes. After 2 years of follow-up, dysglycemic patients harboring the VV genotype had higher occurrence of AMI (p=0.026), Death+AMI (p=0.033), new revascularization intervention (p=0.009) and combined events (p=0.037) as compared with patients carrying other genotypes. This association was not evident in normoglycemic patients.\ud \ud Conclusions\ud These findings support the hypothesis that A55V polymorphism is associated with UCP2 functional alterations that increase the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with previous coronary artery disease and dysglycemia.Financial support provided in part by a research grant from the Zerbini Foundation, Sao Paulo, Brazil. PCJLS is recipient from fellowship from FAPESP, Proc. 2010-17465-8, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Surgical, Angioplasty, or Medical Therapeutics for Coronary Artery Disease 5-Year Follow-Up of Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS) II Trial

Background-The Second Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS II) included patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and normal systolic ventricular function. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG, n = 203), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, n = 205), or medical treatment alone (MT, n = 203). This investigation compares the economic outcome at 5-year follow-up of the 3 therapeutic strategies. Methods and Results-We analyzed cumulative costs during a 5-year follow-up period. To analyze the cost-effectiveness, adjustment was made on the cumulative costs for average event-free time and angina-free proportion. Respectively, for event-free survival and event plus angina-free survival, MT presented 3.79 quality-adjusted life-years and 2.07 quality-adjusted life-years; PCI presented 3.59 and 2.77 quality-adjusted life-years; and CABG demonstrated 4.4 and 2.81 quality-adjusted life-years. The event-free costs were $9071.00 for MT;$19 967.00 for PCI; and 18 263.00 for CABG. The paired comparison of the event-free costs showed that there was a significant difference favoring MT versus PCI (P<0.01) and versus CABG (P<0.01) and CABG versus PCI (P<0.01). The event-free plus angina-free costs were 16 553.00, $25 831.00, and$24 614.00, respectively. The paired comparison of the event-free plus angina-free costs showed that there was a significant difference favoring MT versus PCI (P=0.04), and versus CABG (P&lt;0.001); there was no difference between CABG and PCI (P&gt;0.05). Conclusions-In the long-term economic analysis, for the prevention of a composite primary end point, MT was more cost effective than CABG, and CABG was more cost-effective than PCI

Qualidade de vida em portadores de doença arterial coronária: comparação entre gêneros Quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease: comparison between genders

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida em portadores de doença arterial coronária (DAC) submetidos a um dos três tratamentos: clínico, cirúrgico ou por angioplastia, comparando possíveis diferenças entre gêneros. MÉTODOS: O estudo incluiu 542 sujeitos com DAC submetidos aos tratamentos, sendo 376 homens (58,5 &plusmn; 8,7 anos) e 166 mulheres (61,8 &plusmn; 9,2 anos). O instrumento de avaliação foi o Questionário Genérico de Avaliação de Qualidade de Vida (SF-36), aplicado no início do tratamento, após 6 e 12 meses. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste Anova. RESULTADOS: Em relação aos componentes físicos, o grupo cirúrgico exibiu escores de 46, 63 e 68, respectivamente, na fase inicial, 6 e 12 meses; o clínico 52, 65 e 62 e a angioplastia 57, 66 e 70. Os escores dos componentes mentais do tratamento cirúrgico foram 58, 71 e 74, do clínico 61, 69 e 69 e da angioplastia 64, 74 e 74. As diferenças foram significantes ao longo do tempo e entre tratamentos (p<0,01). Na comparação entre gêneros, notou-se que os componentes físicos nos homens apresentaram respectivamente escores 56*, 69 e 77* e nas mulheres 41*, 64 e 62*; os componentes mentais nos homens revelaram 61*, 73 e 80* e nas mulheres 51*, 68 e 62* (* p<0,0001). CONCLUSÃO: Os sujeitos submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico mostraram evolução mais favorável. Os homens apresentaram melhor qualidade de vida no início, beneficiando-se progressivamente após 6 e 12 meses dos tratamentos, enquanto nas mulheres a melhora ocorreu aos 6 meses, reduzindo-se aos 12.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze the quality of life of people with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent distinct therapeutic interventions and compare the possible differences between genders. METHODS: This study comprised 542 subjects, 376 men (58.5 &plusmn; 8.7 years) and 166 women (61.8 &plusmn; 9.2 years), with CAD who underwent surgical, medical treatment or angioplasty. Quality of life was assessed with The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) administered at the beginning of treatment and after 6 and 12 months. The applied statistical method was the ANOVA test. RESULTS: Those who underwent surgical treatment had scores of 46, 63, 68, for physical components; 52, 65, 62 for medical treatment, and 57, 66, 70 for angioplasty, respectively, in the initial, six, and twelve months phases. For mental components, results were 58, 71, 74 for the surgical intervention; 61, 69, 69 for the medical treatment, 64, 74, 74 for angioplasty. The differences over time and between treatments reached a statistical significance (p<0.001). In comparing genders, physical component scores in men were 56*, 69, 77*, and 41*, 64, 62* in women, respectively; mental component scores in men were 61*, 73, 80* and 51*, 68, 62* in women (*p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects who underwent surgical treatment had the most favorable evolution. Men when compared to women had a better quality of life in the beginning of treatment with a progressive improvement after six and twelve months, while women, after an improvement at six months, presented a decrease at twelve

Cardiac Troponin I in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous and Surgical Myocardial Revascularization: Comparison of Analytical Methods

The myocardial infarction (MI) types 4a and 5 guidelines recommend cardiac troponin (cTn) diagnostic decision limits of 5 and 10 times the 99th percentile, respectively. Different cTn kits elicit different responses, so the MI diagnosis is still challenging. The study aimed to establish the cutoff values and the accuracy of three different cTnI kits in the diagnosis of post-procedural MI. We analyzed 115 patients with multivessel stable chronic coronary artery disease; 26 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 89 underwent coronary artery bypass graft. Delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and after each intervention for definitive MI diagnoses. Two contemporary and one high-sensitivity cTnI immunoassays were used. ROC curves determined the accuracy of each assay. Low accuracy was observed after applying the current guidelines recommendations. The three cTnI assays accuracies improved when adjusted by the new ROC cutoffs, reaching 82% for MI type 5 for all assays, and 78%, 88%, and 87% for MI type 4 for Siemens, Beckman, and Abbott, respectively. The ultrasensitive and contemporary tests’ accuracy for MI types 4a and 5 diagnoses are equivalent when adjusted for these new cutoffs. The hs-cTnI assays had lower accuracy than contemporary tests for MI types 4a and 5 diagnoses

Estudo comparativo dos resultados da intervenção cirúrgica e da angioplastia na revascularização do miocárdio em portadores de comprometimento multiarterial equivalente

OBJETIVO: Investigar a relativa eficácia de estratégias terapêuticas em pacientes com doença coronariana multiarterial sintomática, com função ventricular preservada. Os objetivos primários foram definidos com a combinação de: morte por origem cardíaca, infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) ou angina refratária que necessitasse de revascularização e, os secundários, estado anginoso e isquemia esforço-induzida. MÉTODOS: De 20.769 pacientes avaliados por cineangiocoronariografia no InCor, 210 foram escolhidos para o estudo e randomizados para revascularização miocárdica (RCM) (n=105) e angioplastia transluminal coronariana (ATC) (n=105). RESULTADOS: Média de 3,2&plusmn;0,8 vasos receberam anastomoses e 2,1&plusmn;0,8 foram dilatados com sucesso nos grupos RCM e ATC, respectivamente. Em cinco anos de seguimento as respectivas taxas de eventos para RCM e ATC foram: 9,52% e 12,38% para mortalidade, 2,85% e 8,57% (p=0,0668) para IAM, 2,85% e 24,76% (p< 0,001) para uma intervenção adicional; a taxa de sobrevivência de 88,39% para RCM e de 84,93% para ATC; os respectivos porcentuais livres de IAM, 84,40 e 77,40%. Os pacientes estavam livres de angina em 62% do RCM e 60% do grupo ATC e os testes de esforço foram considerados não-isquêmicos em 62,5% e 62,1%, nos grupos cirúrgico e angioplastia. CONCLUSÃO: Comparada com a angioplastia para pacientes multivasculares, a revascularização miocárdica foi associada a uma baixa incidência de eventos a longo prazo e reduzida necessidade de novas intervenções (p=0,001)

Coronary heart disease clinical manifestation and risk factors in Japanese immigrants and their descendents in the city of São Paulo

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a difference exists in coronary heart disease clinical manifestations and the prevalence of risk factors between Japanese immigrants and their descendents in the city of São Paulo. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of coronary artery disease clinical manifestations and the prevalence of risk factors, comparing 128 Japanese immigrants (Japanese group) with 304 Japanese descendents (Nisei group). RESULTS: The initial manifestation of the disease was earlier in the Nisei group (mean = 53 years), a difference of 12 years when compared with that in the Japanese group (mean = 65 years) (P<0.001). Myocardial infarction was the first manifestation in both groups (P = 0.83). The following parameters were independently associated with early coronary events: smoking (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.35-3.77; P<0.002); Nisei group (OR = 10.22; 95% CI = 5.64-18.5; P<0.001); and female sex (OR = 5.04; 95% CI = 2.66-9.52; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of coronary heart disease in the Japanese and their descendents in the city of São Paulo was similar, but coronary heart disease onset occurred approximately 12 years earlier in the Nisei group than in the Japanese group

Avaliação prognóstica da doença coronária estável através de um novo escore Evaluación pronóstica de la enfermedad coronaria estable a través de un nuevo score New prognostic score for stable coronary disease evaluation

FUNDAMENTO: A necessidade de melhorar a acurácia do teste de esforço, determinou o desenvolvimento de escores, cuja aplicabilidade já foi amplamente reconhecida. OBJETIVO: Avaliação prognóstica do coronariopata estável através de um novo escore simplificado. MÉTODOS: Um novo escore foi aplicado em 372 coronariopatas multiarteriais e função ventricular preservada, 71,8% homens, idade média 59,5 (± 9,07) anos, randomizados para angioplastia, revascularização cirúrgica e tratamento clínico, acompanhados por 5 anos. Óbito cardiovascular foi o desfecho primário. Infarto do miocárdio não-fatal, óbito e re-intervenção formaram o desfecho combinado secundário. O escore baseou-se numa equação previamente validada resultante da soma de 1 ponto para: sexo masculino, história de infarto, angina, diabete, uso de insulina e ainda 1 ponto para cada década de vida a partir dos 40 anos. Teste positivo adicionou 1 ponto. RESULTADOS: Ocorreram 36 óbitos (10 no grupo angioplastia, 15 no grupo revascularização e 11 no grupo clínico), p = 0,61. Observou-se 93 eventos combinados: 37 no grupo angioplastia, 23 no grupo revascularização e 33 no grupo clínico (p = 0,058). 247 pacientes apresentaram escore clínico > 5 pontos e 216 > 6 pontos. O valor de corte > 5 ou > 6 pontos identificou maior risco, com p = 0,015 e p = 0,012, respectivamente. A curva de sobrevida mostrou uma incidência de óbito após a randomização diferente naqueles com escore > 6 pontos (p = 0,07), e uma incidência de eventos combinados diferente entre pacientes com escore 6 pontos (p = 0,02). CONCLUSÃO: O novo escore demonstrou consistência na avaliação prognóstica do coronariopata estável multiarterial.FUNDAMENTO: La necesidad de mejorar la exactitud de las pruebas de estrés, determinó el desarrollo de los puntajes, cuya aplicación fue ampliamente reconocida. OBJETIVO: La evaluación pronóstica del coronariópata estable a través de un nuevo score simplificado. MÉTODOS: Un nuevo score se aplicó en 372 coronariópatas multiarteriales y función ventricular preservada, el 71,8% varones, edad media de 59,5 (± 9,07) años, randomizados para angioplastia, revascularización quirúrgica y tratamiento clínico, seguidos de cinco años. Muerte cardiovascular fue el resultado primario. El infarto de miocardio no fatal, la muerte y la re-intervención formaron el desenlace combinado secundario. El score se basó en una ecuación previamente validada resultante de la suma de 1 punto a: sexo masculino, antecedentes de infarto, angina, diabetes, uso de insulina y todavía un punto por cada década de vida después de 40 años. Prueba positiva añadida 1 punto. RESULTADOS: Hubo 36 muertes (10 en el grupo de angioplastia, 15 en el grupo de revascularización y 11 en el grupo clínico), p = 0,61. Se observó 93 eventos combinados: 37 en el grupo angioplastia, 23 en el grupo revascularización y 33 en el grupo clínico (p = 0,058). Presentaron score clínico > 5 puntos y 216 > 6 puntos 247 pacientes. El valor de corte > 5 o > 6 puntos identificó un mayor riesgo, con p = 0,015 y p = 0,012, respectivamente. La curva de sobrevida mostró una incidencia de muerte después de la aleatorización que aquellos con score > 6 puntos (p = 0,07), y una incidencia de eventos combinados diferentes entre los pacientes con score 6 puntos (p = 0,02). CONCLUSIÓN: El nuevo score demostró consistencia en la evaluación pronóstica del coronariópata estable multiarterial. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2011;96(5):411-419)BACKGROUND: The need to improve the exercise testing accuracy, pushed the development of scores, whose applicability was already broadly recognized. OBJECTIVE: Prognostic evaluation of stable coronary disease through a new simplified score. METHODS: A new score was applied in 372 multivessel coronary patients with preserved ventricular function, 71.8% male, age: 59.5 (± 9.07) years old, randomized to medical treatment, surgery (CABG) or angioplasty (PTCA), with 5 years of follow-up. Cardiovascular death was considered the primary endpoint. Non-fatal myocardial infarction, death and re-intervention were considered for a combined secondary endpoint. The score was based on an equation previously validated, resulting from a sum of one point for: male gender, infarction history, angina, diabetes, insulin use and one point for each decade of life after 40 years old. Positive exercise testing summed one additional point. RESULTS: Thirty six deaths was observed (10 in group PTCA, 15 in CABG and 11 in the clinical group), p = 0.61. We observed 93 combined events: 37 in PTCA group, 23 in CABG and 33 in the clinical group (p = 0.058). 247 patients presented clinical score > 5 points and 216 > 6 points. The cutoff point > 5 or > 6 points identified higher risk, p = 0.015 and p = 0.012, respectively. The survival curve showed a different death incidence after the randomization when score reached 06 points or more (p = 0.07), and a distinct incidence of combined events between the patients with score 6 points (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The new score was consistent for multiarterial stable coronary disease risk stratification