Predictors of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm

Post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is a complication of myocardial infarction (MI), which is of great clinical importance due to high mortality. Data on its incidence are contradictory. The aim of the review was to highlight the existing and novel predictors of post-infarction LVA, the identification of which will help in identifying high-risk patients in order to optimize their treatment and rehabilitation. Known predictors of post-infarction LVA include pain-to-balloon time, age, female sex, recurrent MI, coronary angiography parameters, echocardiography, and electrocardiography. Increased levels of leukocytes, C-reactive protein, growth differentiation factor, stimulating growth factor, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, matrix metalloproteinases, proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide >400 pg/ml indicate the risk of pathological left ventricular remodeling and LVA. In this connection, there is a need to assess the incidence of post-infarction LVA and a comprehensive assessment of its predictors in patients with MI

Patients with a Combination of Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Heart Failure in Clinical Practice: Comorbidities, Drug Treatment and Outcomes

Aim. To assess in clinical practice the structure of multimorbidity, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and outcomes in patients with a combination of atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic heart failure (CHF) based on prospective registries of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).Materials and Methods. The data of 3795 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) were analyzed within the registries RECVASA (Ryazan), RECVASA FP (Moscow, Kursk, Tula, Yaroslavl), REGION-PO and REGION-LD (Ryazan), REGION-Moscow, REGATA (Ryazan). The comparison groups consisted of 3016 (79.5%) patients with AF in combination with CHF and 779 (29.5%) patients with AF without CHF. The duration of prospective observation is from 2 to 6 years.Results. Patients with a combination of AF and CHF (n=3016, age was 72.0±10.3 years; 41.8% of men) compared with patients with AF without CHF (n=779, age was 70.3±12.0 years; 43.5% of men) had a higher risk of thromboembolic complications (CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.68±1.59 and 3.10±1.50; p<0.001) and hemorrhagic complications (HAS-BLED – 1.59±0.77 and 1.33±0.76; p<0.05). Patients with a combination of AF and CHF significantly more often (p<0.001) than in the absence of CHF were diagnosed with arterial hypertension (93.9% and 83.8%), coronary heart disease (87.9% and 53,5%), myocardial infarction (28.4% and 14.0%), diabetes mellitus (22.4% and 7.7%), chronic kidney disease (24.8% and 16.2%), as well as respiratory diseases (20.1% and 15.3%; p=0.002). Patients with AF in the presence of CHF, compared with patients without CHF, were more often diagnosed with a permanent form of arrhythmia (49.3% and 32.9%; p<0.001) and less often paroxysmal (22.5% and 46.2%; p<0.001) form  of  arrhythmia.  Ejection  fraction  ≤40%  (9.3%  and  1.2%;  p<0.001),  heart  rate  ≥90/min  (23.7% and 19.3%; p=0.008) and blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg (59.9% and 52.2%; p<0.001) were recorded with AF in the presence of CHF more often than in the absence of CHF. The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was higher, albeit insufficient, in the presence of CHF (64.9%) than in the absence of it (56.1%), but anticoagulants were prescribed less frequently when AF and CHF were combined (38.8% and  49, 0%; p<0.001). The frequency of unreasonable prescription of antiplatelet agents instead of anticoagulants was 52.5% and 33.3% (p<0.001) in the combination of AF, CHF and coronary heart disease, as well as in the combination of AF with coronary heart disease but without CHF. Patients with AF and CHF during the observation period compared with those without CHF had higher mortality from all causes (37.6% and 30.3%; p=0.001), the frequency of non-fatal cerebral stroke (8.2% and 5.4%; p=0.032) and myocardial infarction (4.7% and 2.5%; p=0.036), hospitalizations for CVD (22.8% and 15.5%; p<0.001).Conclusion. Patients with a combination of AF and CHF, compared with the group of patients with AF without CHF, were older, had a higher risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, they were more often diagnosed with other concomitant cardiovascular and chronic noncardiac diseases, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, tachysystole, failure to achieve the target blood pressure level in the presence of arterial hypertension. The frequency of prescribing proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was higher, albeit insufficient, in the presence of CHF, while the frequency of prescribing anticoagulants was less. The  incidence of mortality from all causes, the development of non-fatal myocardial infarction   and cerebral stroke, as well as the incidence of hospitalizations for CVDs were higher in AF associated with CHF

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА МУЛЬТИМОРБИДНОСТИ, МЕДИКАМЕНТОЗНОГО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ И ИСХОДОВ У БОЛЬНЫХ С СОЧЕТАНИЕМ ПЕРЕНЕСЕННОГО ОСТРОГО НАРУШЕНИЯ МОЗГОВОГО КРОВООБРАЩЕНИЯ И ФИБРИЛЛЯЦИИ ПРЕДСЕРДИЙ ПРИ НАЛИЧИИ ИЛИ ОТСУТСТВИИ АНАМНЕЗА ИНФАРКТА МИОКАРДА (ДАННЫЕ РЕГИСТРОВ РЕГИОН)

AIM. Within the framework of outpatient and hospital registers of REGION (REGIster of patients who have undergone acute cerebrovascular accident) to carry out a comparative assessment of demographic and clinical-anamnestical characteristics, medical treatment and outcomes in clinical practice in patients with a combination of undergone acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the presence or absence of myocardial infarction (MI) in the medical history.MATERIAL AND METHODS. Outpatient registers REGION (Ryazan) and hospital register REGION (Moscow) included 1886 patients who have undergone ACVA (age 70.6 ± 12.5 years, 41.9% of men), of them 516 (27.4%) people with AF. Comparison groups included 152 (8.1%) patients with a combination of ACVA, AF and MI in medical history (ACVA + AF + MI group) and 364 (19.3%) patients with ACVA, AF without MI (ACVA + AF without MI group). The presence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), concomitant diseases, drug therapy and outcomes were analyzed.RESULTS. In the group of ACVA + AF + MI patients, compared to the ACVA + AF without MI group, the share of patients with AH (100% and 97.2%), IHD (100% and 87.1%), CHD (68.4% and 57.1%), repeated ACVA (36.9% and 23.9%), diabetes mellitus in women (39.5% and 20.4%) was statistically significantly higher. In the comparison groups, the share of smokers (13.3% and 15.5%), patients with burdened heredity of early development of CVDs (2.1% and 1.1%) and hypercholesterolemia (41.1% and 50.0%) did not differ significantly, however, in the group of ACVA + AF + MI, in comparison with the group of ACVA + AF without MI, there was a higher risk on the CHA2DS2-VASc scale (5.26 ± 1.32 and 4.09 ± 1.44; p < 0.001) and HAS-BLED scale (1.91 ± 0.76 and 1.62 ± 0.79; p < 0.01). Patients with AF of REGION register, both with and without MI, had insufficient frequency of proper medical prescriptions for CVDs (46.6% and 38.9% on average), especially prescription of anticoagulants (19.1% and 21.4%), statins in case of IHD (33.6% and 27.4%) and beta-adrenoblockers in case of CHD (39.4% and 35.6%).  During the four-year period of observation, in comparison with post-stroke patients without a history of MI, the mortality rate for all causes was 1.5 times higher (56.6% and 37.6%, p = 0.0001), the incidence of non-fatal MI was higher (2.0% and 0.3%,p = 0.04). CONCLUSION. Patients with a combination of ACVA, AF and MI history are a very high risk group for adverse outcomes observed on an outpatient stage. For these patients it is very important to improve the quality of drug therapy and the effectiveness of secondary prophylaxis.ЦЕЛЬ. В рамках амбулаторных и госпитального регистров РЕГИОН (РЕГИстр больных, перенесших Острое Нарушение мозгового кровообращения) провести сравнительную оценку демографических и клинико-анамнестических характеристик, медикаментозного лечения и исходов в клинической практике у больных с сочетанием перенесенного острого нарушения мозгового кровообращения (ОНМК) и фибрилляции предсердий (ФП) при наличии или отсутствии инфаркта миокарда (ИМ) в анамнезе.МАТЕРИАЛ И МЕТОДЫ. В амбулаторные регистры РЕГИОН (Рязань) и в госпитальный регистр РЕГИОН (Москва) включено 1886 пациентов, перенесших ОНМК (возраст 70,6 ± 12,5 лет, 41,9% мужчин), из них с ФП 516 (27,4%) человек. Группы сравнения составили 152 (8,1%) пациента с сочетанием перенесенного ОНМК, ФП и ИМ в анамнезе (группа ОНМК + ФП + ИМ) и 364 (19,3%) больных с ОНМК, ФП без анамнеза ИМ (группа ОНМК + ФП без ИМ). Проанализированы наличие сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний (ССЗ), сопутствующих заболеваний, медикаментозная терапия и исходы.РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. В группе пациентов ОНМК + ФП + ИМ, по сравнению с пациентами группы ОНМК + ФП без ИМ, была статистически значимо выше доля лиц с АГ (100% и 97,2%), ИБС (100% и 87,1%), ХСН (68,4% и 57,1%), повторного ОНМК (36,9% и 23,9%), сахарного диабета у женщин (39,5% и 20,4%). В группах сравнения доля курящих (13,3% и 15,5%), пациентов с отягощенной наследственностью раннего развития ССЗ (2,1% и 1,1%) и гиперхолестеринемией (41,1% и 50,0%) существенно не различалась, однако в группе ОНМК + ФП + ИМ, по сравнению с группой ОНМК + ФП без ИМ, был выше риск по шкале СHA 2DS2–VASc (5,26 ± 1,32 и 4,09 ± 1,44; p < 0,001) и шкале HAS-BLED (1,91 ± 0,76 и 1,62 ± 0,79; p < 0,01). У больных с ФП регистра РЕГИОН, как с перенесенным ИМ, так и без ИМ, частота должных медикаментозных назначений по поводу ССЗ была недостаточной (в среднем 46,6% и 38,9%), особенно назначения антикоагулянтов (19,1% и 21,4%), статинов при ИБС (33,6% и 27,4%) и бета-адреноблокаторов при ХСН (39,4% и 35,6%). За четырехлетний период наблюдения у больных группы ОНМК + ФП + ИМ, по сравнению с постинсультными пациентами без анамнеза ИМ, смертность от всех причин была в 1,5 раза выше (56,6% и 37,6%, p = 0,0001), чаще развивался нефатальный ИМ (2,0% и 0,3%, р = 0,04).ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ. Больные с сочетанием перенесенных ОНМК, ФП и анамнеза ИМ являются группой очень высокого риска неблагоприятного исхода при наблюдении на амбулаторном этапе. Для данных пациентов крайне важным является повышение качества медикаментозной терапии и эффективности вторичной профилактики

Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation after Myocardial Infarction: Clinical Guidelines and Actual Practice

Aim. To study the frequency of oral anticoagulants (ОАС) prescription for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after myocardial infarction (MI). Material and methods. The study includes 106 patients (60 men, 55.6%) with a previously established diagnosis of AF, who were on hospital treatment in the period 2016-2017 years in one of the university hospitals of the city and having at the time of discharge from the hospital the final diagnosis of МI. The median age was 70.0 (61.0;78.0) years. Patients with the first and only paroxysm of AF were excluded from the analysis and all further calculations were performed for 104 patients. In 64 (60.2%) of cases, AF was presented by paroxysmal form, while in 2 (1.9%) cases this paroxysm was the first and only, in 20 (18.9%) cases – persistent AF and in 20 (18.9%) – pernanent. Results. While assessing the risk of thromboembolic complications on the CHA2DS2-VASc scale, the median score for all patients was 5.0 (4.0;6.0) points. While assessing the risk of hemorrhagic complications on the HAS-BLED scale, the median score for all patients was 2.0 (2.0;3.0) points. HAS-BLED≤2 value had 71 (68.3%) patients, HAS-BLED≥3 – 33 (31.7%). Only one antiplatelet agent was prescribed to 4 (3.8%) patients. Aspirin was the only antiplatelet agent in 3 cases and clopidogrel – in one case. In 80 (76.9%) cases, patients were prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy, in 17 (16.3%) – ОАС therapy, among which 7 (6.7%) cases – a triple antithrombotic therapy (ATT), 9 (8.7%) cases – a double ATT (ОАС+ antiplatelet agent) and 1 (1.0%) case – a monotherapy. Among all cases of OAC prescription warfarin was prescribed in 11 (64.7%) cases and rivaroxaban – in 6 (35.3%). Conclusion. In real clinical practice, the prescription or refusal of ОАС occurs without taking into account the risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications according to appropriate scales

Changes in prescribing antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction in 2016-2019

Aim. To study the changes in prescribing antithrombotic therapy (ATT) among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and atrial fibrillation (AF), hospitalized in a cardiology hospital in 2016-2017 and 2018-2019.Material and methods. The study included 362 patients with MI and AF in 20162017 — 106 patients, of which 104 were included in the analysis, in 2018-2019 — 256 patients. The median age of patients hospitalized in 2016-2017 was 70,0 (61,0; 78,0) years, in 2018-2019 — 71 (65,0; 79,3) years (p=0,09). There were 60 men (55,6%) in 2016-2017 and 143 (55,8%) in 2018-2019 (p=0,90).Results. In 2016-2017, 80 (76,9%) patients were prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), 17 (16,3%) — therapy with oral anticoagulants (OAC), while 7 (6,7%) of them were as part of triple ATT, 9 (8,7%) — as part of dual ATT (OAC+antiplatelet agent), and 1 (1,0%) — as monotherapy.In 2018-2019, 97 (37, 9%) patients were prescribed DAPT, 140 (54,7%) — OAC therapy, while 115 (44,9%) of them were as part of triple ATT 25 (9,8%) — as a part of dual ATT (OAC+antiplatelet agent). Among all cases of OAC prescription in 2016-2017 and 2018-2019, warfarin was prescribed in 11 (64,7%) and 51 (36,4%) patients,respectively (p=0,02), while rivaroxaban — in 6 (35,3%) and 88 (62,9%) patients, respectively (p=0,03). In 2018-2019, one patient was prescribed dabigatran etexilate.Conclusion. The study revealed that the prescription rate of triple ATT at discharge in 2018-2019 increased 6,7 times compared to 2016-2017 and amounted to 44,9% (n=115) (p<0,001). The prescription rate of OAC in 2018-2019 also increased 3,4 times compared to 2016-2017 and amounted to 54,7% (n=140) (p<0,001)

DISSECTING AORTIC ANEURYSM IN REAL–LIFE CLINICAL PRACTICE: DIAGNOSTICS, TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS

Objective: analysis of clinical features of the dissecting aortic aneurysm (DAA) and factors affecting prognosis in a group of 40 patients, hospitalized in Ryazan Regional Cardiology Dispensary during 2008–2012.Material and methods. We have analyzed clinical data of 40 patients with DAA, assessed their survival and identified factors affecting prognosis.Results. The mean age of the patients was 61.1 ± 15.6 years; 82 % of them were males. 80 % of the patients were hospitalized in the acute period of the disease, 60 % – during the first 24 hours. 4 2 % of the patients had DAA as a referral diagnosis. The main clinical manifestations of DAA included: chest pain and abdominal pain (92 %), weakness (51 %), shortness of breath (28 %), heart disruptions (8 %), dizziness (5 %), and cough (3 %). Pain syndrome was absent in 8 % of the DAA patients. At physical examination 49 % of the patients demonstrated pale skin, 1 patient (3 %) had cyanotic skin. Low blood pressure was observed in 33 % of the cases, tachycardia – in 31 %, and tachypnea – in 13 % of the cases. 26 % of the patients were found to have murmur over the aorta, 10 % – abnormal heart rhythm. 44 % showed tenderness on palpation of the abdomen.Electrocardiography was carried out for 97 % of the study population, chest X-ray for 33 %, transthoracic echocardiography for 4 4 %, and computed tomography (CT) for 42 %, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning for 38 %. 31 % of the patients received antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. 24 % of the patients underwent surgical treatment in Ryazan» Regional Cardiology Dispensary, 36 % were referred to Federal centers of cardiovascular surgery. In-hospital mortality rate was 52 %, 24-hour mortality rate was 30 %. The following factors were found to be statistically significant in terms of the disease prognosis: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, levels of hemoglobin, blood urea and creatinine.Conclusion. In 8 % of the patients with DAA pain syndrome was not observed. Visualizing examinations (echocardiography, CT), aiding in DAA-diagnosis verification, were performed in less than 50 % of the cases. In-hospital mortality rate among DAA-patients was 52 %, 24-hour mortality rate was 30 %. Lower values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, lower hemoglobin level together with increased levels of blood urea and creatinine were significantly associated with death

Comparative Characteristics of Patients with Cerebral Stroke and Myocardial Infarction in Outpatient Practice: Structure of Comorbidity, Risk Factors, Drug Treatment and Outcomes

Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of clinical and anamnestic characteristics, risk factors, pharmacotherapy and outcomes in patients with previous stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) in outpatient practice based on data from prospective outpatient registries.Material and methods. On the basis of three outpatient clinics in Ryazan, based on the results of treatment in 2012-2013, an outpatient registry of patients who had stroke of any remoteness (REGION-AR) and an outpatient registry of patients who had previous myocardial infarction (REGATA) were created, which included, respectively, 511 patients (212 men, 41.5%) and 481 patients (247 men, 51.4%). Clinical and anamnestic characteristics, risk factors, prescribed pharmacotherapy, and its compliance with clinical guidelines were evaluated.Results. Most of the patients in the REGION-AR and REGATA registries were diagnosed with arterial hypertension (AH; 97.1% and 98.5%), coronary heart disease (СHD; 75.1% and 100%), chronic heart failure (CHF; 74.0% and 94.8%), and the proportion of atrial fibrillation (AF) cases were 20.9% and 23.3%, respectively. The share of smokers was significantly higher (23.4% vs 8.9%; p<0.0001) in the REGATA registry, and the share of people with high blood pressure at the inclusion visit (82.6% vs 67.6 %; p<0.0001) and hypercholesterolemia (63.8% vs 45.8%; p<0.0001) was higher in the REGION-AR registry. In both registries, there was a generally insufficient frequency of proper medication prescriptions, while patients in the REGION registry were statistically significantly less likely to receive mandatory prescriptions in general (44.4% vs 58.2%, p<0.0001), including antihypertensive therapy for hypertension, as well as angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in CHF, beta-blockers in CHF and MI history, statins in CHD, antiplatelet agents in CHD without AF. Over 3 years of follow-up, the degree of compliance of drug prescriptions with clinical recommendations increased both in the REGION-AR registry (from 44.4% to 58.2%) and in the REGATA registry (from 58.2% to 62.9%). For 36 months of prospective observation in the REGION-AR registry, as compared to the REGATA registry, there was a higher mortality rate (22.1% vs 17.0%; p=0.04), moreover the mortality rate among men was higher (22.2% vs 14.2%; p=0.03), and among women it did not differ significantly (22.1% and 20.0%; p=0.56).Conclusion. Outpatient registries of patients who survived after acute cerebrovascular accident and myocardial infarction were comparable in terms of the average age of patients, however, women prevailed in the REGION-AR study, and men - in the REGATA registry. In the registry of patients who had myocardial infarction, СHD, CHF, respiratory and digestive system diseases, chronic kidney disease, obesity were more often diagnosed, less often – heart defects and oncological diseases. This category of patients was more often prescribed ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, statins, antiplatelet agents. The proportion of compliance of prescriptions with clinical guidelines was higher in the registry of patients who underwent MI both at the stage of inclusion and during subsequent prospective observation. In both registries, an improvement in the quality of drug therapy was noted after 3 years of follow-up. Mortality from all causes over 3 years of follow-up was significantly higher in the registry of post-stroke patients compared to the registry of those with MI, and this was due to the higher mortality in men (1.6 times), but among women in the compared studies the death rate did not differ significantly