Background:
High blood pressure (BP) is a leading risk factor for coronary artery disease and other major cardiovascular events.
Objective:
Blood pressure variability (BPV), ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI)
have been proposed as indices that can improve risk stratification for an adverse cardiac outcome. However, their utility in
the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is unclear.
Methods:
The ACS-BP study is a single-centre observational cohort study designed to investigate the prognostic role of
haemodynamic load and arterial stiffness indices for cardio-renal outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction
(AMI). All consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute AMI with or without ST segment elevation will be
screened for inclusion in the study. The management of AMI will follow current guidelines.
Results and Discussion:
Data from baseline clinical and laboratory parameters during their hospitalization will be collected.
The haemodynamic load of each patient will be determined by clinical BP values as well as 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring.
The AASI will be calculated from the raw 24-h BP data and ABI will be measured after the third day of hospitalization using a certified device. Patients will be followed-up for 12 months in order to collect data for hard cardiovascular and renal
endpoints.
Conclusion:
The study results should clarify the role of these non-invasive tools in secondary risk stratification of such patients.
The Role of Risk Stratification in the Decision to Provide Upstream Versus Selective Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors for Acute Coronary Syndromes
