Outcomes and predictive value of the 2MACE score in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban in a prospective, multicenter observational study: The EMIR study

atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with rivaroxaban and to improve the accuracy of 2MACE. Methods: This was a post-authorization and observational study of AF adults treated with rivaroxaban for ≥ 6 months. The primary endpoint was any of the major adverse cardiac events (MACE), namely, cardiovas cular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and myocardial revascularization. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the performance of 2MACE, and a new score, 2MACER to predict MACE. Results: A total of 1433 patients were included (74.2 ± 9.7 years, CHA2DS2-VASc 3.5 ± 1.5, 26.9% 2MACE ≥ 3). The annual event rates (follow-up 2.5 years) were 1.07% for MACE, 0.66% for throm boembolic events and 1.04% for major bleeding. Patients with 2MACE ≥ 3 (vs. < 3) had higher risk of stroke/systemic embolism/transient ischemic attack (odds ratio [OR] 5.270; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.216–12.532), major bleeding (OR 4.624; 95% CI 2.163–9.882), MACE (OR 3.202; 95% CI 1.548–6.626) and cardiovascular death (OR 3.395; 95% CI 1.396–8.259). 2MACE was recalcu lated giving 1 more point to patients with baseline a glomerular filtration rate < 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 (2MACER); (2MACER vs. 2MACE: IDI 0.1%, p = 0.126; NRI 23.9%, p = 0.125; AUC: 0.651 [95% CI 0.547–0.755] vs. 0.638 [95% CI 0.534–0.742], respectively; p = 0.361). Conclusions: In clinical practice, AF patients anticoagulated with rivaroxaban exhibit a low risk of events. 2MACE score acts as a modest predictor of a higher risk of adverse outcomes in this population. 2MACER did not significantly increase the ability of 2MACE to predict MACE. (Cardiol J 2022; 29, 4: 601–609

Impact of heart failure on the clinical profile and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban. Data from the EMIR study

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the presence of heart failure (HF) on the clinical profile and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) anticoagulated with rivaroxaban. Methods: Observational and non-interventional study that included AF adults recruited from 79 Spanish centers, anticoagulated with rivaroxaban ≥ 6 months before inclusion. Data were analyzed according to baseline HF status. Results: Out of 1,433 patients, 326 (22.7%) had HF at baseline. Compared to patients without HF, HF patients were older (75.3 ± 9.9 vs. 73.8 ± 9.6 years; p = 0.01), had more diabetes (36.5% vs. 24.3%; p < 0.01), coronary artery disease (28.2% vs. 12.9%; p < 0.01), renal insufficiency (31.7% vs. 22.6%; p = 0.01), higher CHA2DS2-VASc (4.5 ± 1.6 vs. 3.2 ± 1.4; p < 0.01) and HAS-BLED (1.8 ± 1.1 vs. 1.5 ± 1.0; p < 0.01). After a median follow-up of 2.5 years, among HF patients, annual rates of stroke/ /systemic embolism/transient ischemic attack, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (non-fatal myocardial infarction, revascularization and cardiovascular death), cardiovascular death, and major bleeding were 1.2%, 3.0%, 2.0%, and 1.4%, respectively. Compared to those patients without HF, HF patients had greater annual rates of MACE (3.0% vs. 0.5%; p < 0.01) and cardiovascular death (2.0% vs. 0.2%; p < 0.01), without significant differences regarding other outcomes, including thromboembolic or bleeding events. Previous HF was an independent predictor of MACE (odds ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval 1.6–7.3; p = 0.002) but not for thromboembolic events or major bleeding. Conclusions: Among AF patients anticoagulated with rivaroxaban, HF patients had a worse clinical profile and a higher MACE risk and cardiovascular mortality. HF was independently associated with the development of MACE, but not with thromboembolic events or major bleeding. (Cardiol J 2022; 29, 6: 936–947)

In-hospital outcomes of mechanical complications in acute myocardial infarction: Analysis from a nationwide Spanish database

Background: Mechanical complications represent an important cause of mortality in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. This is a nationwide study performed to evaluate possible changes in epidemiology or prognosis of these complications with current available strategies.Methods: Information was obtained from the minimum basis data set of the Spanish National Health System, including all hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from 2010 to 2015. Risk-standardized in-hospital mortality ratio was calculated using multilevel risk adjustment models.Results: A total of 241,760 AMI episodes were analyzed, MI mechanical complications were observed in 842 patients: cardiac tamponade in 587, ventricular septal rupture in 126, and mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle or chordae tendineae rupture in 155 (there was more than one complication in 21 patients). In-hospital mortality was 59.5%. On multivariate adjustment, variables with significant impact on in-hospital mortality were: age (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.04-1.07; p < 0.001), ST-segment elevation AMI (OR 2.91; 95% CI 1.88-4.5; p < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.66-3.32; p < 0.001), cardio-respiratory failure (OR 3.48; 95% CI 2.37-5.09; p < 0.001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.07-3.20; p < 0.001). No significant trends in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality were detected (IRR 0.997; p = 0.109). Cardiac intensive care unit availability and more experience with mechanical complications management were associated with lower adjusted mortality rates (56.7 ± 5.8 vs. 60.1 ± 4.5; and 57 ± 6.1 vs. 59.9 ± 5.6, respectively; p < 0.001).Conclusions: Mechanical complications occur in 3.5 per thousand AMI, with no significant trends to better survival over the past few years. Advanced age, cardiogenic shock and cardio-respiratory failure are the most important risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Higher experience and specialized cardiac intensive care units are associated with better outcomes

In-hospital outcomes of mechanical complications in acute myocardial infarction: Analysis from a nationwide Spanish database

Background: Mechanical complications represent an important cause of mortality in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. This is a nationwide study performed to evaluate possible changes in epidemiology or prognosis of these complications with current available strategies.Methods: Information was obtained from the minimum basis data set of the Spanish National Health System, including all hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from 2010 to 2015. Risk-standardized in-hospital mortality ratio was calculated using multilevel risk adjustment models.Results: A total of 241,760 AMI episodes were analyzed, MI mechanical complications were observed in 842 patients: cardiac tamponade in 587, ventricular septal rupture in 126, and mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle or chordae tendineae rupture in 155 (there was more than one complication in 21 patients). In-hospital mortality was 59.5%. On multivariate adjustment, variables with significant impact on in-hospital mortality were: age (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.04–1.07; p &lt; 0.001), ST-segment elevation AMI (OR 2.91; 95% CI 1.88–4.5; p &lt; 0.001), cardiogenic shock (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.66–3.32; p &lt; 0.001), cardio-respiratory failure (OR 3.48; 95% CI 2.37–5.09; p &lt; 0.001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.07–3.20; p &lt; 0.001). No significant trends in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality were detected (IRR 0.997; p = 0.109). Cardiac intensive care unit availability and more experience with mechanical complications management were associated with lower adjusted mortality rates (56.7 ± 5.8 vs. 60.1 ± 4.5; and 57 ± 6.1 vs. 59.9 ± 5.6, respectively; p &lt; 0.001).Conclusions: Mechanical complications occur in 3.5 per thousand AMI, with no significant trends to better survival over the past few years. Advanced age, cardiogenic shock and cardio-respiratory failure are the most important risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Higher experience and specialized cardiac intensive care units are associated with better outcomes

Optimal surgical timing after post-infarction ventricular septal rupture

Background: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a dan-gerous condition. Surgical VSR closure is the definitive therapy, but there is controversy regarding the surgical timing and the bridging therapy between diagnosis and intervention. The objective of this study is to analyze the ideal time of surgical repair and to establish the contribution of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices on the prognosis. Methods: We designed an observational, retrospective, multicenter study, selecting all consecutive patients with post-AMI VSR between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2018, with non-exclusion criteria. The main objective of this study was to analyze the optimal timing for surgical repair of post-AMI VSR. Second- ary endpoints were to determine which factors could influence mortality in the patients of the surgical group. Results: A total of 141 patients were included. We identified lower mortality rates with an odds ratio of 0.3 (0.1 & ndash;0.9) in patients operated on from day 4 compared with the surgical mortality in the first 24 hours after VSR diagnosis. The use of MCS was more frequent in patients treated with surgery, par- ticularly for intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP; 79.6% vs. 37.8%, p < 0.001), but also for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO; 18.2% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.134). Total mortality was 91.5% for conservative management and 52.3% with surgical repair (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In our study, we observed that the lowest mortality rates in patients with surgical repair of post-AMI VSR were observed in patients operated on from day 4 after diagnosis of VSR, compared to earlier interventions. (Cardiol J 2022; 29, 5: 773 & ndash;781

Impact of heart failure on the clinical profile and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban. Data from the EMIR study

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the presence of heart failure (HF) on the clinical profile and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) anticoagulated with rivaroxaban. Methods: Observational and non-interventional study that included AF adults recruited from 79 Spanish centers, anticoagulated with rivaroxaban ≥ 6 months before inclusion. Data were analyzed according to baseline HF status. Results: Out of 1,433 patients, 326 (22.7%) had HF at baseline. Compared to patients without HF, HF patients were older (75.3 ± 9.9 vs. 73.8 ± 9.6 years; p = 0.01), had more diabetes (36.5% vs. 24.3%; p &lt; 0.01), coronary artery disease (28.2% vs. 12.9%; p &lt; 0.01), renal insufficiency (31.7% vs. 22.6%; p = 0.01), higher CHA2DS2-VASc (4.5 ± 1.6 vs. 3.2 ± 1.4; p &lt; 0.01) and HAS-BLED (1.8 ± 1.1 vs. 1.5 ± 1.0; p &lt; 0.01). After a median follow-up of 2.5 years, among HF patients, annual rates of stroke/systemic embolism/transient ischemic attack, MACE-non-fatal myocardial infarction, revascularization and cardiovascular death-, cardiovascular death, and major bleeding were 1.2%, 3.0%, 2.0%, and 1.4%, respectively. Compared to those patients without HF, HF patients had greater annual rates of MACE (3.0% vs. 0.5%; p &lt; 0.01) and cardiovascular death (2.0% vs. 0.2%; p &lt; 0.01), without significant differences regarding other outcomes, including thromboembolic or bleeding events. Previous HF was an independent predictor of MACE (odds ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval 1.6-7.3; p = 0.002) but not for thromboembolic events or major bleeding. Conclusions: Among AF patients anticoagulated with rivaroxaban, HF patients had a worse clinical profile and a higher MACE risk and cardiovascular mortality. HF was independently associated with the development of MACE, but not with thromboembolic events or major bleeding

Optimal surgical timing after post-infarction ventricular septal rupture

Background: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a dangerous condition. Surgical VSR closure is the definitive therapy, but there is controversy regarding the surgical timing and the bridging therapy between diagnosis and intervention. The objective of this study is to analyze the ideal time of surgical repair and to establish the contribution of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices on the prognosis. Methods: We designed an observational, retrospective, multicenter study, selecting all consecutive patients with post-AMI VSR between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2018, with non-exclusion criteria. The main objective of this study was to analyze the optimal timing for surgical repair of post-AMI VSR. Secondary endpoints were to determine which factors could influence mortality in the patients of the surgical group. Results: A total of 141 patients were included. We identified lower mortality rates with an odds ratio of 0.3 (0.1–0.9) in patients operated on from day 4 compared with the surgical mortality in the first 24 hours after VSR diagnosis. The use of MCS was more frequent in patients treated with surgery, particularly for intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP; 79.6% vs. 37.8%, p &lt; 0.001), but also for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO; 18.2% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.134). Total mortality was 91.5% for conservative management and 52.3% with surgical repair (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: In our study, we observed that the lowest mortality rates in patients with surgical repair of post-AMI VSR were observed in patients operated on from day 4 after diagnosis of VSR, compared to earlier interventions

Síndrome Tako-Tsubo simulando infarto agudo de miocardio

El síndrome Tako-Tsubo o de discinesia apical transitoria (SDAT) o ¿apical ballooning¿ se describió por primera vez en la década de los años noventa en Japón. Como entidad clínica existe desde el año 2001 con la publicación de una serie de 88 casos. La etiopatogenia de este síndrome está aun por definir. El diagnóstico diferencial con un infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) se realiza mediante coronariografía urgente y es fundamental para el tratamiento y pronóstico que son muy diferentes del IAM. Presentamos un caso del síndrome Tako-Tsubo en una mujer de 72 años. Clínicamente se manifestó como un síndrome coronario agudo (SCA) con infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) anterior. Se trasladó para angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea (ACTP) mostrando coronarias sin lesiones. El curso clínico posterior fue favorable, resolviéndose todas las alteraciones espontáneamente y sin secuelas

Biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome

Background: Biomarkers play an important role in the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with ischemic heart disease. Currently, troponin continues as the reference biomarker in acute coronary syndromes. However, there are other biomarkers that have shown additional value in improving sensitivity and prognostic information. Several promising molecules are reviewed, some related to cardiomyocyte structure and others working as inflammatory and renal function markers. Conclusions: Although many biomarkers have been shown useful in some studies, further prospective studies are needed to establish their accurate usefulness in routine clinical practice