The effect of high altitude on endothelial and vascular dysfunction markers in preeclamptic patients

Placental hypoxia, a major component of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, is associated with various maternal vascular and endothelial dysfunctions. The higher incidence of preeclampsia at high altitude remains incompletely explained. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high altitude on some endothelial and vascular dysfunction markers in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Eighty pregnant women (Paras 2–4) were enrolled in this study, which included four groups (each n = 20): normal pregnancies at low altitude (NL), normal pregnancies at high altitude (NH), preeclamptic pregnancies at low altitude (PL), and preeclamptic pregnancies at high altitude (PH). In normal pregnancies at high altitude serum ET-1, plasma TXA2, and serum TNF-α levels increased significantly with a significant reduction in plasma PGI2 (66.81 ± 7.36, 122.86 ± 13.37, 102.23 ± 13.31, 191.57 ± 19.68, respectively) compared with the NL group (48.92 ± 4.58, 89.03 ± 10.67, 69.86 ± 7.97, 238.01 ± 24.55, respectively). In preeclampsia at low altitude serum ET-1, plasma TXA2, and serum TNF-α levels increased significantly with a significant reduction in plasma PGI2 (88.39 ± 9.54, 162.73 ± 15.92, 142.39 ± 15.37, 149.155 ± 15.66, respectively) compared with both NL and NH groups. High altitude significantly augmented these changes in preeclamptic patients (117.75 ± 12.96, 211.01 ± 22.69, 196.86 ± 17.64, 111.92 ± 10.74) compared with PL, NH and NL groups. In conclusion hypoxia at high altitude aggravated the disturbances in the levels of ET-1, TXA2, PGI2 and TNF-α associated with preeclampsia. This may contribute to the higher risk of preeclampsia at high altitude

Comparison of care and outcomes for myocardial infarction by heart failure status between United Kingdom and Japan

Aims: Prognosis for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is worse when heart failure is present on admission. Understanding clinical practice in different health systems can identify areas for quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes. In the absence of international comparison studies, we aimed to compare treatments and in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by heart failure status in two healthcare-wide cohorts. Methods and results: We used two nationwide databases to capture admissions with STEMI in the United Kingdom (Myocardial ischemia National Audit Project, MINAP) and Japan (Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnostic Procedure Combination, JROAD-DPC) between 2012 and 2017. Participants were stratified using the HF Killip classification into three groups; Killip 1: no congestive heart failure, Killip 2–3: congestive heart failure, Killip 4: cardiogenic shock. We calculated crude rate and case mix standardized risk ratios (CSRR) for use of treatments and in-hospital death. Patients were younger in the United Kingdom (65.4 [13.6] vs. 69.1 [13.0] years) and more likely to have co-morbidities in the United Kingdom except for diabetes and hypertension. Japan had a higher percentage of heart failure and cardiogenic shock patients among STEMI during admission than that in the United Kingdom. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) rates were lower in the United Kingdom compared with Japan, especially for patients presenting with Killip 2–3 class heart failure (pPCI use in patients with Killip 1, 2–3, 4: Japan, 86.2%, 81.7%, 78.7%; United Kingdom, 79.6%, 58.2% and 79.9%). In contrast, beta-blocker use was consistently lower in Japan than in the United Kingdom (61.4% vs. 90.2%) across Killip classifications and length of hospital stay longer (17.0 [9.7] vs. 5.0 [7.4] days). The crude rate of in-hospital mortality increased with increasing Killip class group. Both the crude rate and CSRR was higher in the United Kingdom compared with Japan for Killip 2–3 (15.8% vs. 6.4%, CSRR 1.80 95% CI 1.73–1.87, P < 0.001), and similar for Killip 4 (36.9% vs. 36.3%, CSRR 1.11 95% CI 1.08–1.13, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Important differences in the care and outcomes for STEMI with heart failure exist between the United Kingdom and Japan. Specifically, in the United Kingdom, there was a lower rate of pPCI, and in Japan, fewer patients were prescribed beta blockers and hospital length of stay was longer. This international comparison can inform targeted quality improvement programmes to narrow the outcome gap between health systems

Impact of pre-existing vascular disease on clinical outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction: a nationwide cohort study.

AIMS: Little is known about the outcomes and processes of care of patients with non ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who present with 'polyvascular' disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 287,279 NSTEMI patients using the Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP) registry. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were analysed according to history of affected vascular bed; coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD), with comparison to a historically disease-free control group; comprising 167,947 patients (59%). After adjusting for demographics and management, polyvascular disease was associated with increased likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (CAD OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12, P = 0.02) (CeVD OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27, P<0.001) (PVD OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.13-1.33, P<0.001) and in-hospital mortality (CeVD OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.16-1.32, P<0.001) (PVD OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21-1.46, P<0.001). Patients without vascular disease were less frequently discharged on statins (PVD 88%, CeVD 86%, CAD 90% and control 78%), and those with moderate (ejection fraction (EF) 30-49%) or severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) (EF<30%), were less frequently discharged on angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (CAD 82%, CeVD 77%, PVD 77%, control 74%). Patients with polyvascular disease were less likely to be discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (PVD 78%, CeVD 77%, CAD 80%, control 87%). CONCLUSION: Polyvascular disease patients had a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality and MACE. Patients with no history of vascular disease were less likely to receive statins or ACE inhibitors/ARBs, but more likely to receive DAPT

Outcomes of ST elevation myocardial infarction in patients with cancer; a nationwide study.

AIMS: To assess processes of care and clinical outcomes in cancer patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) according to cancer type. METHODS: This is a national population-based study of patients admitted with STEMI in England and Wales between January 2005 and March 2019. Data was obtained from the National Heart attack MINAP registry and HES registry. RESULTS: We identified 353 448 STEMI indexed admissions between 2005 and 2019. Of those, 8581(2.4%) had active cancer. Prostate cancer (29% of STEMI patients with cancer) was the most common cancer followed by hematologic malignancies (14%) and lung cancer (13%). Cancer patients were less likely to receive invasive coronary revascularization (60.0%, vs. 71.6% p < 0.001) and had higher in-hospital death (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.25-1.54) and bleeding (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03-1.46). Cancer patients had higher mortality at 30 days (HR 2.39, 95% CI 2.19-2.62) and 1 year (HR 3.73, 95% CI 3.58-3.89). lung cancer was the cancer associated with highest risk of death in hospital (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.39-2.22) and at one year (OR 8.08, 95% CI 7.44-8.78). Colon cancer (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.24-3.14) was the main cancer associated with major bleeding. All common cancer types were associated with higher mortality at 1 year. Cardiovascular death (62%) was the main cause of death in the first 30 days while cancer (52%) was the main cause of death within one year. CONCLUSION: STEMI patients with cancer have higher risk of short- and long-term mortality, particularly lung cancer. Colon cancer is the main cancer associated with major bleeding. Cardiovascular disease was the main cause of death in the first month whereas cancer was the main cause of death within one year

Women Are Less Likely to Survive AMI Presenting With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Nationwide Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of patient's sex on outcomes and management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study in AMI patients admitted with OHCA between 2010 and 2017 from the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) registry. We used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the role of sex as a predictor of clinical outcomes and treatment strategy. RESULTS: Of 16,278 patients, women constituted almost one-quarter of the population (n=3710 [22.7%]). Women were older (median age 69 [IQR, 57-79] years vs 63 [IQR, 54-72] years, P<.001), experienced longer call-to-hospital-arrival time (median, 1.2 hours vs 1.1 hours; P=.008), were less likely to present with shockable rhythm (86.8% vs 91.5%, P<.001), and less likely to receive dual antiplatelet therapy (73.8% vs 78.6%, P<.001), beta blockers (64.7% vs 72.3%, P<.001), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (49.0% vs 55.3%, P<.001), coronary angiography (73.7% vs 83.3%, P<.001), and percutaneous coronary intervention (37.5% vs. 40.7%, p 0.004). After adjusting for patient characteristics and management, women had significantly higher odds of in-hospital death compared with men (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.5) and lower odds of receiving coronary angiography (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.75) and coronary artery bypass graft (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.40). CONCLUSION: Women were less likely to survive following OHCA secondary to AMI. Hospital protocols that minimize physician bias and improve women-physician communication are needed to close this gap

Temporal patterns, characteristics, and predictors of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for stent thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following stent thrombosis (ST) and differences exist based on timing. AIMS: Our aim was to study the rates of PCI procedures for an ST indication among all patients admitted for PCI at a national level and to compare their characteristics and procedural outcomes based on ST timing. METHODS: All PCI procedures in England and Wales (2014-2020) were retrospectively analysed and stratified by the presence of ST into four groups: non-ST, early ST (0-30 days), late ST (>30-360 days), very late ST (>360 days). Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the odds ratios (OR) of in-hospital MACCE (major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, a composite of mortality, acute stroke and reinfarction) and mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 7,923 (1.4%) procedures were for ST indication, most commonly for early ST (n=4,171; 52.6%), followed by very late ST (n=2,801; 35.4%) and late ST (n=951; 12.0%). The rate of PCI for ST declined between 2014 and 2020 (1.7 to 1.4%; p<0.001). Early ST was the only subgroup associated with increased odds of MACCE (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.05-1.41), all-cause mortality (OR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07-1.36) and reinfarction (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.48-4.14), compared with non-ST indication. The odds of mortality were significantly reduced in ST patients with the use of intravascular imaging (OR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48-0.92) and newer P2Y12 inhibitors (ticagrelor: OR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.95; prasugrel: OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: PCI for ST has declined in frequency over a 7-year period, with most procedures performed for early ST. Among the different times of ST onset, only early ST is associated with worse clinical outcomes after PCI. Routine use of intravascular imaging and newer P2Y12 inhibitors could further improve outcomes in this high-risk procedural group