Persistent transient myocardial ischemia despite beta-adrenergic blockade predicts a higher risk of adverse cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease

AbstractObjectives. We evaluated the prevalence and prognostic significance of transient myocardial ischemia despite beta-adrenergic blockade in patients with coronary artery disease.Background. Persistence of transient ischemia despite therapy may correspond to a subset of high risk patients with coronary disease. The impact of beta-blocker withdrawal in these patients remains unknown.Methods. Patients (n = 313) with documented coronary artery disease and beta-blocker therapy, with (group I, n = 84) or without (group II, n = 229) transient ischemia on ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, were followed up during 21 ± 9 months for cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery and worsening angina). Occurrence of events was compared by log-rank test.Results. The number of coronary stenoses did not differ significantly between groups I and II. Beta-blocker therapy was discontinued more frequently during follow-up in group II (25% vs. 14% in group I, p = 0.04). Cumulative percentage of death or myocardial infarction, or both, tended to be higher in group I at 30 months (17% vs. 5% in group II, p = 0.09). Coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery were significantly more frequent in group I (p = 0.01 and 0.0008, respectively). Transient ischemia was associated with a higher cumulative probability of adverse events (p = 0.004). The number of coronary stenoses, presence of transient ischemia and beta-blocker withdrawal were the only significant prognostic factors of cardiac events in the Cox model. In group I patients, the relative hazard of cardiac events was increased threefold when beta-blocker therapy was interrupted.Conclusions. These data suggest that 1) the occurrence of transient ischemia despite beta-blocker therapy identifies a subset of high risk patients with coronary artery disease, and 2) the interruption of beta-blocker therapy increases the risk of adverse cardiac events

Cross-checking to reduce adverse events resulting from medical errors in the emergency department: study protocol of the CHARMED cluster randomized study

International audienceBackgroundMedical errors and preventable adverse events are a major cause of concern, especially in the emergency department (ED) where its prevalence has been reported to be roughly of 5–10 % of visits. Due to a short length of stay, emergency patients are often managed by a sole physician – in contrast with other specialties where they can benefit from multiples handover, ward rounds and staff meetings. As some studies report that the rate and severity of errors may decrease when there is more than one physician involved in the management in different settings, we sought to assess the impact of regular systematic cross-checkings between physicians in the ED.DesignThe CHARMED (Cross-checking to reduce adverse events resulting from medical errors in the emergency department) study is a multicenter cluster randomized study that aim to evaluate the reduction of the rate of severe medical errors with implementation of systematic cross checkings between emergency physician, compared to a control period with usual care. This study will evaluate the effect of this intervention on the rate of severe medical errors (i.e. preventable adverse events or near miss) using a previously described two-level chart abstraction. We made the hypothesis that implementing frequent and systematic cross checking will reduce the rate of severe medical errors from 10 to 6 % - 1584 patients will be included, 140 for each period in each center.DiscussionThe CHARMED study will be the largest study that analyse unselected ED charts for medical errors. This could provide evidence that frequent systematic cross-checking will reduce the incidence of severe medical errors

Low prevalence of colonoscopic surveillance of inflammatory bowel disease patients with longstanding extensive colitis: a clinical practice survey nested in the CESAME cohort

International audienceBackground: Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with longstanding extensive colitis (LEC). Aims: To assess modalities and results of colonoscopic surveillance in a subset of CESAME cohort patients at high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and followed in university French hospitals. Methods: Among 910 eligible patients with more than a 7-year history of extensive colitis at CESAME enrolment, 685 patients completed a questionnaire on surveillance colonoscopy and 102 were excluded because of prior proctocolectomy. Finally, 583 patients provided information spanning a median period of 41 months (IQR 38-43) between cohort enrolment and the end of follow-up. Details of the colonoscopic procedures and histological findings were obtained for 440 colonoscopies in 270 patients. Results: Only 53.5% (n=312) of the patients with LEC had at least one surveillance colonoscopy during the study period, with marked variations across the 9 participating centres (27.3% to 70.0%, p= < 0.0001). Surveillance rate was significantly lower in Crohn's colitis than in ulcerative colitis (UC) (47.6% vs 68.5%, p=< 0.0001). Independent predictors of colonoscopic surveillance were male sex, UC IBD subtype, longer disease duration, previous history of CRC, and disease management in a centre with large IBD population. Random biopsies, targeted biopsies and chromoendoscopy were performed during respectively 70.7%, 26.6 and 30.0% of surveillance colonoscopies. Two cases of high-grade dysplasia were detected in patients undergoing colonoscopic surveillance. Two advanced-stage CRC were diagnosed in patients who did not have colonosocopic surveillance. Conclusions: Colonoscopic surveillance rate is low in IBD patients with longstanding extensive colitis

Longer-term oral antiplatelet use in stable post-myocardial infarction patients: Insights from the long Term rIsk, clinical manaGement and healthcare Resource utilization of stable coronary artery dISease (TIGRIS) observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe contemporary patient characteristics and treatment patterns, including antithrombotic management, of post-myocardial infarction (MI) stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients at high atherothrombotic risk from different geographical regions. METHODS: Patients ≥50years with prior MI 1-3years ago and ≥1 risk factor (age ≥65years, diabetes, 2nd prior MI >1yr ago, multivessel CAD, creatinine clearance 15-1year was highest (39%) in Asia-Pacific and lowest (12%) in Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Despite guideline recommendations, 1 in 4 post-MI patients did not receive DAPT for ~1year. In contrast to guideline recommendations supporting newer ADPris, clopidogrel was mainly prescribed. Prior to recent RCT data supporting DAPT >1year post-MI/PCI, >1 in 4 patients have continued on DAPT, though with substantial international variability

Predicting risk of cardiovascular events 1 to 3 years post-myocardial infarction using a global registry.

BACKGROUND: Risk prediction tools are lacking for patients with stable disease some years after myocardial infarction (MI). HYPOTHESIS: A practical long-term cardiovascular risk index can be developed. METHODS: The long-Term rIsk, Clinical manaGement and healthcare Resource utilization of stable coronary artery dISease in post-myocardial infarction patients prospective global registry enrolled patients 1 to 3 years post-MI (369 centers; 25 countries), all with ≥1 risk factor (age ≥65 years, diabetes mellitus requiring medication, second prior MI, multivessel coronary artery disease, or chronic non-end-stage kidney disease [CKD]). Self-reported health was assessed with EuroQoL-5 dimensions. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to determine key predictors of the primary composite outcome (MI, unstable angina with urgent revascularization [UA], stroke, or all-cause death) over 2 years. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in 621 (6.9%) of 9027 eligible patients: death 295 (3.3%), MI 195 (2.2%), UA 103 (1.1%), and stroke 58 (0.6%). All events accrued linearly. In a multivariable model, 11 significant predictors of primary outcome (age ≥65 years, diabetes, second prior MI, CKD, history of major bleed, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure, cardiovascular hospitalization (prior 6 months), medical management (index MI), on diuretic, and poor self-reported health) were identified and combined into a user-friendly risk index. Compared with lowest-risk patients, those in the top 16% had a rate ratio of 6.9 for the primary composite, and 18.7 for all-cause death (overall c-statistic; 0.686, and 0.768, respectively). External validation was performed using the Australian Cooperative National Registry of Acute Coronary Care, Guideline Adherence and Clinical Events registry (c-statistic; 0.748, and 0.849, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients >1-year post-MI, recurrent cardiovascular events and deaths accrue linearly. A simple risk index can stratify patients, potentially helping to guide management

Cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease: a European economic evaluation of the THEMIS trial.

To conduct a health economic evaluation of ticagrelor in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) from a multinational payer perspective. Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of ticagrelor were evaluated in the overall effect of Ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in Diabetes Mellitus Patients Intervention Study (THEMIS) trial population and in the predefined patient group with prior percutaneous coronary intervention. A Markov model was developed to extrapolate patient outcomes over a lifetime horizon. The primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), which were compared with conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds [€47 000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) in Sweden and €30 000/QALY in other countries].Treatment with ticagrelor resulted in QALY gains of up to 0.045 in the overall population and 0.099 in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Increased costs and benefits translated to ICERs ranged between €27 894 and €42 252/QALY across Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the overall population. In patients with prior PCI, estimated ICERs improved to €18 449, €20 632, €20 233, and €13 228/QALY in Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Spain, respectively, driven by higher event rates and treatment benefit. Based on THEMIS results, ticagrelor plus aspirin compared with aspirin alone may be cost-effective in some European countries in patients with T2DM and CAD and no prior myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke. Additionally, ticagrelor is likely to be cost-effective across European countries in patients with a history of PCI.This work was supported by AstraZeneca.S

External applicability of the Effect of ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in diabEtes Mellitus patients Intervention Study (THEMIS) trial: An analysis of patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease in the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry.

THEMIS is a double-blind, randomized trial of 19,220 patients with diabetes mellitus and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) comparing ticagrelor to placebo, in addition to aspirin. The present study aimed to describe the proportion of patients eligible and reasons for ineligibility for THEMIS within a population of patients with diabetes and CAD included in the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry. The THEMIS eligibility criteria were applied to REACH patients. THEMIS included patients ≥50 years with type 2 diabetes and stable CAD as determined by either a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, or documentation of angiographic stenosis of ≥50% of at least one coronary artery. Patients with prior myocardial infarction or stroke were excluded. In REACH, 10,156 patients had stable CAD and diabetes. Of these, 6515 (64.1%) patients had at least one exclusion criteria. From the remaining population, 784 patients did not meet inclusion criteria (7.7%) mainly due to absence of aspirin treatment (7.2%), yielding a 'THEMIS-eligible population' of 2857 patients (28.1% of patients with diabetes and stable CAD). The main reasons for exclusion were a history of myocardial infarction (53.1%), use of oral anticoagulation (14.5%), or history of stroke (12.9%). Among the 4208 patients with diabetes and a previous PCI, 1196 patients (28.4%) were eligible for inclusion in the THEMIS-PCI substudy. In a population of patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease, a sizeable proportion appear to be 'THEMIS eligible.' http://www. gov identifier: NCT01991795.The THEMIS trial was funded by AstraZeneca. The REACH registry was sponsored by Sanofi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the Waksman Foundation (Tokyo, Japan) and is endorsed by the World Heart Federation.S

Acute dual antiplatelet therapy for minor ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack

International audienc

Health-related quality of life 1–3 years post-myocardial infarction: its impact on prognosis

ObjectiveTo assess associations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with patient profile, resource use, cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in stable patients post-myocardial infarction (MI).MethodsThe global, prospective, observational TIGRIS Study enrolled 9126 patients 1–3 years post-MI. HRQoL was assessed at enrolment and 6-month intervals using the patient-reported EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, with scores anchored at 0 (worst possible) and 1 (perfect health). Resource use, CV events and mortality were recorded during 2-years’ follow-up. Regression models estimated the associations of index score at enrolment with patient characteristics, resource use, CV events and mortality over 2-years’ follow-up.ResultsAmong 8978 patients who completed the EQ-5D questionnaire, 52% reported ‘some’ or ‘severe’ problems on one or more health dimensions. Factors associated with a lower index score were: female sex, older age, obesity, smoking, higher heart rate, less formal education, presence of comorbidity (eg, angina, stroke), emergency room visit in the previous 6 months and non-ST-elevation MI as the index event. Compared with an index score of 1 at enrolment, a lower index score was associated with higher risk of all-cause death, with an adjusted rate ratio of 3.09 (95% CI 2.20 to 4.31), and of a CV event, with a rate ratio of 2.31 (95% CI 1.76 to 3.03). Patients with lower index score at enrolment had almost two times as many hospitalisations over 2-years’ follow-up.ConclusionsClinicians managing patients post-acute coronary syndrome should recognise that a poorer HRQoL is clearly linked to risk of hospitalisations, major CV events and death.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT01866904) (https://clinicaltrials.gov).</jats:sec