Prediction of early postoperative major cardiac events after elective orthopedic surgery: the role of B-type natriuretic peptide, the revised cardiac risk index, and ASA class

Background: Starting from early to mid 2000s a growing body of literature has been produced on the potential role of statins in reducing perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. However, evidence remains inconsistent and little is known regarding the use of perioperative statins in clinical practice. Objectives: To examine pattern of statin initiation among patients undergoing non-cardiac elective surgery in the US. Methods: Using data from a large US healthcare insurer, we identified patients ≥18 years who underwent moderate- to high-risk non-cardiac elective surgery and initiated statins within 30-days before surgery. We assessed trends of statin initiation over time and predictors of initiation. To ensure statin initiation was precipitated by non-cardiac surgery vs. alternative indications, we also assessed the effect of temporal proximity to surgery on initiation in a matched analysis. Results: Of 460,154 patients undergoing surgery between 2003-2012, 5,628 (1.2%) initiated a statin before surgery. Initiation rate increased from 0.8% in 2003 to 1.5% in 2012 (p = .0004). The increase was more pronounced among patients with revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) score ≥2 and patients undergoing vascular surgery, with initiation rates equal to 7.2% and 14.9% respectively by the end of 2012. Proximity to surgery was predictive of statin initiation (p < .0001). Significant predictors of initiation were older age, male sex, revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) score ≥1, vascular or orthopedic surgery. At the most recent estimate, patients undergoing vascular surgery and with a RCRI score ≥2 had initiation rates equal to 19.9%. Conclusions: The rate of statin initiation progressively increased from 2003 to 2012, particularly among patients with higher RCRI score and undergoing major vascular surgery. Research is needed to further define the risks and benefits of initiation of statins prior to surgery.

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Cardiac risk assessment with the Revised Cardiac Risk Index index before elective non-cardiac surgery: A retrospective audit from an Australian tertiary hospital

Anaesthesia and Intensive Care ◽

10.1177/0310057x211024661 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0310057X2110246

Author(s):

Yao Yao ◽

Ashok Dharmalingam ◽

Cyril Tang ◽

Harrison Bell ◽

Andrew DJ McKeown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Surgery ◽

Risk Index ◽

Cardiac Risk ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Major Adverse Cardiac Events ◽

Cardiac Complications ◽

Cardiac Events ◽

Prognostic Accuracy ◽

Cardiac Risk Index ◽

Adverse Cardiac Events

Clinicians assessing cardiac risk as part of a comprehensive consultation before surgery can use an expanding set of tools, including predictive risk calculators, cardiac stress tests and measuring serum natriuretic peptides. The optimal assessment strategy is unclear, with conflicting international guidelines. We investigated the prognostic accuracy of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index for risk stratification and cardiac outcomes in patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery in a contemporary Australian cohort. We audited the records for 1465 consecutive patients 45 years and older presenting to the perioperative clinic for elective non-cardiac surgery in our tertiary hospital. We calculated individual Revised Cardiac Risk Index scores and documented any use of preoperative cardiac tests. The primary outcome was any major adverse cardiac events within 30 days of surgery, including myocardial infarction, pulmonary oedema, complete heart block or cardiac death. Myocardial perfusion imaging was the most common preoperative stress test (4.2%, 61/1465). There was no routine investigation of natriuretic peptide levels for cardiac risk assessment before surgery. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 1.3% (18/1366) of patients who had surgery. The Revised Cardiac Risk Index score had modest prognostic accuracy for major cardiac complications, area under receiver operator curve 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.60 to 0.86. Stratifying major adverse cardiac events by the Revised Cardiac Risk Index scores 0, 1, 2 and 3 or greater corresponded to event rates of 0.6% (4/683), 0.8% (4/488), 4.1% (6/145) and 8.0% (4/50), respectively. The Revised Cardiac Risk Index had only modest predictive value in our single-centre experience. Patients with a revised cardiac risk index score of 2 or more had an elevated risk of early cardiac complications after elective non-cardiac surgery.

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