Long-term effects with policosanol on lipid profile according to hypercholesterolemia severity in older patients

Background: End-point based studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between coronary disease and elevated serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol, as well as the benefits of lowering LDL-C with statins on clinical end-points. Policosanol is a mixture of very long chain fatty alcohols purified from sugar cane wax, with dislipidemia controlling effects, proved in numerous clinical assays in which patients with different conditions were included. The efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in the elderly have been also investigated in several clinical trials, being effective, safe and well tolerated. Objectives: To investigate the effects of policosanol treatment during three years on lipid profile with a proportional intensity to the initial dislipidemia severity in older hypercholesterolemic patients. Methods: The present analysis was obtained from the data of all patients treated with policosanol included in a previous prevention study. One thousand, ford hundred seventy old patients of both sexes, between 60 to 85 years old, with type II hypercholesterolemia, and ³ 1 non-lipid coronary risk factors, were randomized in two groups and treated with policosanol or placebo, during three years. Significant changes on lipid profile with a proportional intensity to the initial dislipidemia severity were considered primary efficacy variables. The analysis was done by Intention-to-treat method. Results: An analysis of the response intensity show that after treatment, reductions of LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglycerides were greater, and according to the initial hypercholesterolemia severity, so that, patients with severe hypercholesterolemia showed the better responses, followed by moderate and mild hypercholesterolemia. An opposite pattern, however, was observed for HDL-C serum concentration. Triglycerides did not respond in the same way. The frequency of vascular serious adverse events was lower in the policosanol group (15 events) compared with those on placebo group (49 events). There were 109 patients who experienced serious adverse events: 83 (11.3 %) in placebo and 26 (3.5 %) in policosanol group (p<0.0001). Twenty-three deaths occurred up to study completion: 19 patients belonging to placebo group (2.6 %) and 4 to the policosanol group (0.5 %). Conclusions: The treatment with policosanol produce positive changes on serum lipid profile according to hypercholesterolemia severity and with a significant lower amount of vascular serious adverse events, mortality, and frequency of total adverse events in older patients.

Abstract 11816: Combined Use of VA-ECMO and IMPELLA (ECPELLA) Reduces Myocardial Damage and Mortality in Lethal Cardiogenic Shock Patients Due to Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: Short-term mortality of lethal cardiogenic shock (CS) patients due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains to be improved. The veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been applied as the effective lifesaving modality for CS patients. While VA-ECMO maintains end-organ perfusion, it increases the damaged left ventricular (LV) afterload. Combined treatment of VA-ECMO and a micro-axial Impella pump, ECPELLA, simultaneously provides the systemic circulatory support and LV unloading. However, it remains unknown whether LV unloading effect by ECPELLA can reduce the myocardial damage and the mortality. Purpose: This study was to assess whether ECPELLA reduces myocardial damage and improves the mortality of CS patients due to ACS. Methods: From January 2012 to May 2021, 66 consecutive patients with lethal CS (SCAI stage-E) due to ACS were enrolled. All patients received VA-ECMO support prior to or after the percutaneous coronary intervention. Among them, 34 patients received ECPELLA and 32 patients received VA-ECMO + IABP. We assessed serum CK-MB levels and the cumulative 30-day mortality. Results: There were no significant difference in age, rate of male sex, coronary risk factors, ST elevated ACS, left main trunk (LMT) lesion, and the time from onset to reperfusion between two treatment groups. The ECPELLA group had significantly lower peak CK-MB and lower 30-day all-cause mortality compared to the VA-ECMO + IABP group [Peak CPK level: median (IQR); 295 (92-507) vs.580 (219-1090): p=0.002, the 30-day mortality rate: 50% vs. 76%: p=0.02, respectively]. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis including age, the time form onset to reperfusion, LMT lesion, E-CPR, and ECPELLA revealed that the ECPELLA (HR: 0.30 95% confidence interval:0.13-0.64; p=0.002) was independently associated with the 30-day all-cause mortality. Conclusion: Results suggest that the ECPELLA reduces the myocardial damage shown by peak CK-MB and improves the 30-day mortality.

Gender Differences in South Indians with Premature Coronary Artery Disease (< 40 Years)—Insights from the PCAD Registry

Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD) follows a different pattern in women and men, more so in the young (< 40 years). The gender differences in the risk factors, clinical presentation and diagnosis need to be understood, so that appropriate and timely treatment can be given. Objective The study contemplates to analyze the gender differences in the presence of major coronary risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis and immediate outcomes in patients who present with premature CAD (PCAD). Patients and Methods We evaluated 1,062 consecutive registry patients who presented with diagnosis of PCAD between 2018 to 2019 at our institution after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Results The study analyses 82 females and 980 males. The mean age of females was 35.4 ± 4.68 years and males was 34.2 ± 4.25 years. Males smoked more often (55.1%, p < 0.001). Females more often had abnormal BMI (84.1%, p < 0.001), increased waist-hip ratios (97.6%, p < 0.001), diabetes (35.4%, p < 0.001), dyslipidemia (17.1% vs. 11%) and hypertension (15.9% vs. 11.5%). STEMI was the most common presentation among males (80.4% vs. 71.9%). Majority of females (74.6%) presented 6 hours after index pain. NSTEMI was more common among females (20.7% vs. 16%). Single-vessel involvement was common in both sexes (84.1% in males and 85.2% in females). Obstructive CAD was less common in both groups. Conclusions Conventional risk factors play a major role for CAD in Indians. Smoking was common in males and metabolic syndrome in females. Also, females had a higher threshold for seeking treatment and referral. Measures have to be taken for early diagnosis and referral of females. Recanalized and thrombotic coronaries were common, indicating predominant thrombus burden in the young

Role of LA strain assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography in predicting patients who develop POAF after a coronary artery bypass surgery

Objectives To evaluate the correlation between left atrial dysfunction assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography and development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. To determine the role of coronary risk factors in development of POAF. Method Patients undergoing CABG from January 2019 till June 2020 in Apollo institute, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included.Total of 200 patients were followed.They were subjected to LA strain and strain rate analysis by speckle tracking. Results The incidence of POAF in our study was 24% (n=48). The mean age of this study population was 59.13 years. The patients who developed POAF were older (68.5±9.048 vs 58.39±9.74 years, p value=0.05) than those with no POAF. POAF occurred in 2 phases. the highest proportion of POAF occurrence noticed on postoperative day 2. Among the total POAF cases 79.% occurred within the first 48 hours and 20.8% occurred later (p=0.001). Among the 48 patients who developed POAF, 5 of them developed recurrence during their hospital stay. They had reverted to sinus rhythm following anti-arrhythmic medication for a duration of &gt;24 hours, but went on to develop recurrence of AF at a later. 4 among them reverted to sinus rhythm at discharge while 1 continued to remain in AF at discharge.The duration of hospital stay for patients with POAF group was 10.4 days compared with 10.04 days for those without POAF. Similarly the post-operative stay in the hospital was 7.4 days for the POAF group and 7.04 days for the NO POAF.There was no added economic impact secondary to AF.Comparing the values of left atrial volume index of both the groups it was derived that the mean LAVI value of the POAF group was 26.84+3.654 ml/m2 and that for the NO POAF group was 26.6+3.037ml/m2. Though the patients with POAF had larger LA volume, the chi square test analysis did not yield any clinically significant relationship between LAVI and POAF in our study (p=0.3). The mean LA global strain for the patients with POAF was 29.73+3.695%. And for the patients with no POAF was 36.3+4.854%. LA global strain was reduced in patients who developed POAF (P&lt;0.001) which indicated a strong correlation between LA strain and POAF. Conclusion There is significant correlation between Global Left Atrial Strain and POAF in patients undergoing CABG (P&lt;0.001).There is no significant correlation between patient factors like age, BMI, and the conventional coronary risk factors with POAFThere is no significant correlation between the conventional echocardiographic parameters like LA diameter, LAVI, LVDD, LVSD, LVEF and transmitral flow velocities with POAF. To conclude, preoperative speckle tracking assessment of LA has a strong predictive role in determining the occurrence of POAF in patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Focal Geometry and Characteristics of Erosion-Prone Coronary Plaques in vivo Angiography and Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Objective: This study compared focal geometry and characteristics of culprit plaque erosion (PE) vs. non-culprit plaques in ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in whom optical coherence tomography (OCT) identified PE as the cause of the acute event.Background: Culprit PE is a distinct clinical entity with specific coronary risk factors and its own tailored management strategy. However, not all plaques develop erosion resulting in occlusive thrombus formation.Methods: Between January 2017 and July 2019, there were 484 STEMI patients in whom OCT at the time of primary percutaneous intervention identified culprit lesion PE to be the cause of the event; 484 culprit PE were compared to 1,132 non-culprit plaques within 1,196 imaged vessels.Results: Culprit PE were highly populated at “hot spots” within the proximal 40 mm in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and tended to cluster proximal to a nearby bifurcation mainly in the LAD. Minimal lumen area (MLA) &lt;2.51 mm2 and AS (area stenosis) &gt;64.02% discriminated culprit PE from non-culprit plaques. In the multivariable analysis, focal geometry (LAD location, distance from coronary ostium &lt;40 mm, and location proximal to a nearby bifurcation), luminal narrowing (MLA &lt;2.51 mm2, AS &gt; 64.02%), and TCFA phenotype were independent predictors of culprit PE overall. Cholesterol crystals were predictive of culprit PE with underlying LRP morphology while the absence of calcification and microchannels were risk factors for culprit PE with an underlying non-LRP. Similarities and differences in predictors of culprit PE were found between males and females; distance from coronary ostium &lt;40 mm, MLA &lt;2.51 mm2, TCFA, and less spotty calcium were risk factors of culprit PE in males, but not in females while smaller RVD was associated with culprit PE only in females.Conclusions: Irrespective of underlying lesion substrates and patient risk factors, there are lesion-specific and OCT-identifiable predictors of developing culprit PE in erosion-prone vulnerable patients.

External validation of the 4C Mortality Score for patients with COVID-19 and pre-existing cardiovascular diseases/risk factors

ObjectivesPredictive algorithms to inform risk management decisions are needed for patients with COVID-19, although the traditional risk scores have not been adequately assessed in Asian patients. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a COVID-19-specific prediction model, the 4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium) Mortality Score, along with other conventional critical care risk models in Japanese nationwide registry data.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsHospitalised patients with COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease or coronary risk factors from January to May 2020 in 49 hospitals in Japan.Main outcome measuresTwo different types of outcomes, in-hospital mortality and a composite outcome, defined as the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality.ResultsThe risk scores for 693 patients were tested by predicting in-hospital mortality for all patients and composite endpoint among those not intubated at baseline (n=659). The number of events was 108 (15.6%) for mortality and 178 (27.0%) for composite endpoints. After missing values were multiply imputed, the performance of the 4C Mortality Score was assessed and compared with three prediction models that have shown good discriminatory ability (RISE UP score, A-DROP score and the Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS)). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the 4C Mortality Score was 0.84 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.88) for in-hospital mortality and 0.78 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.81) for the composite endpoint. It showed greater discriminatory ability compared with other scores, except for the RISE UP score, for predicting in-hospital mortality (AUC: 0.82, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.86). Similarly, the 4C Mortality Score showed a positive net reclassification improvement index over the A-DROP and REMS for mortality and over all three scores for the composite endpoint. The 4C Mortality Score model showed good calibration, regardless of outcome.ConclusionsThe 4C Mortality Score performed well in an independent external COVID-19 cohort and may enable appropriate disposition of patients and allocation of medical resources.Trial registration number UMIN000040598.

Nghiên cứu ứng dụng kỹ thuật can thiệp trong điều trị bệnh nhân có tổn thương động mạch vành tại Bệnh viện Trung ương Huế

TÓM TẮT Mục đích: Can thiệp động mạch vành là một phương pháp có hiệu quả cao trong điều trị bệnh động mạch vành trên thế giới. Tại Huế, kỹ thuật này đã được triển khai từ năm 1998 và được thực hiện một cách thường quy. Chúng tôi tiến hành đề tài này nhằm đánh giá lại hiệu quả của phương pháp can thiệp động mạch vành trên thực tế lâm sàng tại Bệnh viện Trung ương Huế. Phương pháp nghiên cứu: Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang trên đối tượng bệnh nhân được chẩn đoán xác định bệnh động mạch vành và được can thiệp động mạch vành từ tháng 9 - 2010 tới tháng 6 - 2013. Kết quả: Bệnh động mạch vành: tăng huyết áp là yếu tố nguy cơ hàng đầu (56.36%), tiếp theo là rối loạn lipid máu (48.16%) và hút thuốc lá (33.9%). Các bệnh nhân có số yếu tố nguy cơ từ 2 - 4 chiếm đa số: 78.22%. Phần lớn bệnh nhân có tổn tương 1 - 2 mạch máu: chiếm 89.66 %. Tổn thương ĐM Liên thất trước nhiều nhất (67.63%), tiếp theo là ĐMV phải (45.18%) và ĐM Mũ (35.52%). Thấp nhất là tổn thương thân chung (0.86%). Chiều dài trung bình tổn thương ĐM liên thất trước và ĐM vành phải tương đương nhau: 16.98±9.4 mm & 16.05±8.7 mm (p> 0.05) và dài hơn so với ĐM Mũ 13.27±7.01 mm (p<0.05) và ĐM thân chung 9.73±2.77 mm (p< 0.05). Động mạch Liên thất trước được can thiệp nhiều nhất (51.75%), sau đó đến ĐM vành phải (32.53%) và động mạch Mũ (15.02%). Tổng số biến chứng của can thiệp động mạch vành là 2.9%, trong đó tử vong là 0.17%; NMCT là 0.34% và TBMMN là 0.085%. Kết luận: Can thiệp động mạch vành là một phương pháp điều trị có hiệu quả cao đối với bệnh nhân bệnh động mạch vành tại Bệnh viện Trung ương Huế, với tỷ lệ thành công rất cao và biến chứng thấp. Từ khoá: Động mạch vành, can thiệp, biến chứng ABSTRACT THE APPLICATION OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTIONS (PCIs) TO TREAT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN HUE CENTRAL HOSPITAL Overview: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is a hightly effective method to treat coronary artery disease all over the world. At Hue, the proceduces have been undertaken since 1998 and now turn to be routine. This study is done to review the effectiveness of PCIs in Hue Central Hospital. Method: Cross-sectional description in patients with coronary artery diseases, who were undertaken percutaneous coronary interventions from September 2010 to June 2013. Results: Coronary risk factors include: Hypertension comes first (56.36%), then hyperlipidemia (48.16%) and smoking (33.9%). Most of patients have 2 to 4 risk factors (78.22%). Lesions on LAD are highest (67.63%), then on RCA (45.18%) and LCx (35.52%). Left main lesions are lowest (0.86%). The mean length leasions of LAD and RCA are equal: 16.98±9.4 mm & 16.05±8.7 mm (p> 0.05) and longer than the mean length leasions of LCx: 13.27±7.01 mm (p<0.05) and LM 9.73±2.77 mm (p< 0.05). PCIs have been undertaken on LAD lesions 51.75%, then RCA lesions 32.53% and LCx lesions15.02%. Total PCIs’complications are of 2.9%, including 0.17% of death, 0.34% of MI and 0.085% of CVA. Conclusion: Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs) have been undertaken effectively to treat coronary artery disease in Hue Central Hospital, with very high rate of success and very low rate of complication. Key words: Coronary artery disease, Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs), complication

Increased Pericardial Adipose Tissue in Smokers

Background: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a visceral fat depot directly located to the heart, is associated with atherosclerotic and inflammatory processes. The extent of PAT is related to the prevalence of coronary heart disease and might be used for cardiovascular risk prediction. This study aimed to determine the effect of smoking on the extent of PAT. Methods: We retrospectively examined 1217 asymptomatic patients (490 females, age 58.3 ± 8.3 years, smoker n = 573, non-smoker n = 644) with a multislice CT scanner and determined the PAT volume. Coronary risk factors were determined at inclusion, and a multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of smoking on PAT independent from accompanying risk factors. Results: The mean PAT volume was 215 ± 107 mL in all patients. The PAT volume in smokers was significantly higher compared to PAT volume in non-smokers (231 ± 104 mL vs. 201 ± 99 mL, p = 0.03). Patients without cardiovascular risk factors showed a significantly lower PAT volume (153 ± 155 mL, p < 0.05) compared to patients with more than 1 risk factor. Odds ratio was 2.92 [2.31, 3.61; p < 0.001] for elevated PAT in smokers. Conclusion: PAT as an individual marker of atherosclerotic activity and inflammatory burden was elevated in smokers. The finding was independent from metabolic risk factors and might therefore illustrate the increased inflammatory activity in smokers in comparison to non-smokers.