Coronary Artery Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease: Need for a Heart–Kidney Team-Based Approach

Chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease are co-prevalent conditions with unique epidemiological and pathophysiological features, that culminate in high rates of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including all-cause mortality. This review outlines a summary of the literature, and nuances pertaining to non-invasive risk assessment of this population, medical management options for coronary heart disease and coronary revascularisation. A collaborative heart–kidney team-based approach is imperative for critical management decisions for this patient population, especially coronary revascularisation; this review outlines specific periprocedural considerations pertaining to coronary revascularisation, and provides a proposed algorithm for approaching revascularisation choices in patients with end-stage kidney disease based on available literature.

Functionally Complete Coronary Revascularisation in Patients Presenting with ST-elevation MI and Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease

Up to half of patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention of a culprit stenosis in the context of the ST-elevation MI may present with multivessel disease. The presence of non-culprit stenoses have been shown to affect the outcomes of these patients, and the results of the more recent randomised trials highlight the importance of complete coronary revascularisation. In this paper, the authors review the main trials published on the topic and discuss tools for the assessment of non-culprit stenoses, while considering the right time for carrying out a complete coronary revascularisation.

Coronary revascularisation outcomes in patients with cancer

Cancer and coronary artery disease (CAD) overlap in traditional risk factors as well as molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of these two disease states. Patients with cancer are at increased risk of developing CAD, representing a high-risk population that are increasingly undergoing coronary revascularisation. Over 1 in 10 patients with CAD that require revascularisation with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting have either a history of cancer or active cancer. These patients are typically older, have more comorbidities and have more extensive CAD compared with patients without cancer. Haematological abnormalities with competing risks of thrombosis and bleeding pose further unique challenges during and after revascularisation. Management of patients with concurrent cancer and CAD requiring revascularisation is challenging as these patients carry a higher risk of morbidity and mortality compared with those without cancer, often driven by the underlying cancer and associated comorbidities. However, due to variability by different types and stages of cancer, revascularisation outcomes are specific to cancer characteristics such as the timing of onset, cancer subtype and site, stage, presence of metastases, and cancer-related therapies received. Recent studies have provided insights into defining revascularisation outcomes, procedural considerations and best practices in managing patients with cancer. Nevertheless, many gaps remain that require further studies to inform clinical best practices in this population.

Gender differences in use of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for acute ischaemic heart disease in Chinese adults

ObjectiveTo investigate gender differences in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for acute ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in Chinese adults and assess whether socioeconomic or health system factors contribute to such differences.MethodsIn 2004–2008, the China Kadoorie Biobank recruited 512 726 adults from 10 diverse areas in China. Data for 38 928 first hospitalisations with IHD (2911 acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 9817 angina and 26 200 other IHD) were obtained by electronic linkage to health insurance records until 31 December 2016. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to estimate women-to-men rate ratios (RRs) of having cardiac enzyme tests, coronary angiography and coronary revascularisation.ResultsAmong the 38 928 individuals (61% women) with IHD admissions, women were less likely to have AMI (5% vs 12%), but more likely to have angina (26% vs 24%) or other IHD (69% vs 64%). For admissions with AMI, there were no differences in the use of cardiac enzymes between women and men (RR=1.00; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.03), but women had lower use of coronary angiography (0.80, 0.68 to 0.93) and coronary revascularisation (0.85, 0.74 to 0.99). For angina, the corresponding RRs were: 0.97 (0.94 to 1.00), 0.66 (0.59 to 0.74) and 0.56 (0.47 to 0.67), respectively; while for other IHD, they were 0.97 (0.94 to 1.00), 0.87 (0.76 to 0.99) and 0.61 (0.51 to 0.73), respectively. Adjusting for socioeconomic and health system factors did not significantly alter the women-to-men RRs.ConclusionsAmong Chinese adults hospitalised with acute IHD, women were less likely than men to have coronary angiography and revascularisation, but socioeconomic and health system factors did not contribute to these differences.

Minimally Invasive Coronary Revascularisation Surgery: A Focused Review of the Available Literature

Minimally invasive coronary revascularisation was originally developed in the mid 1990s as minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) grafting is a less invasive approach compared to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to address targets in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Since then, MIDCAB has evolved with the adoption of a robotic platform and the possibility to perform multivessel bypass procedures. Minimally invasive coronary revascularisation surgery also allows for a combination between the benefits of CABG and percutaneous coronary interventions for non-LAD lesions – a hybrid approach. Hybrid coronary revascularisation results in fewer blood transfusions, shorter hospital stay, decreased ventilation times and patients return to work sooner when compared to conventional CABG. This article reviews the available literature, describes standard approaches and considers topics, such as limited access procedures, indications and patient selection, diagnostics and imaging, techniques, anastomotic devices, hybrid coronary revascularisation and outcome analysis.

MO543ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AND MORTALITY IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN THE AURORA STUDY, A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Background and Aims Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which can also lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).1 As anaemia is an independent risk factor for CVD,2 treating anaemia might reduce CV events in this patient population. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of anaemia and other risk factors on long-term CV risk in haemodialysis (HD) patients with CKD. A secondary aim was to establish a CV risk equation for this patient population. Method This retrospective study used data from the Phase 3 AURORA study (NCT04042350) of 2776 ESRD patients aged 50–80 years receiving regular HD/haemofiltration, for a mean 3.2 year follow up.3 The primary endpoint of our analysis was time to first major adverse cardiovascular event (CV MACE; non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and CV mortality; n=804). Secondary endpoints included time to non-fatal stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic; n=98), coronary revascularisation therapy (n=300) and all-cause mortality (n=1296), and development of a CV risk equation. Ferritin and transferrin baseline values were determined for this analysis using the original frozen AURORA study patient samples (>10 years old). Statistical analyses were performed using univariate and multiple Cox regression models. For each outcome a full model was estimated and then simplified by approximation with fewer factors. This was done using linear regression against the linear predictor of the full Cox regression model. In a stepwise manner, the least contributing variable was removed until the subset of variables approximated the full model to 95%. Model performance was measured using the C-statistic, and internally validated using bootstrap. Results Incidence rates for CV MACE, non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularisation, and all-cause mortality were 9.36, 1.11, 3.57, and 13.73 per 100 patient-years, respectively. Certain established risk factors among HD patients, such as age, gender, previous history of CVD, diabetes mellitus, smoking, blood pressure, high phosphate and C-reactive protein levels, and low albumin levels, were also findings for this study, although non-fatal stroke was underpowered to show significance (Table). Elevated haemoglobin levels (≥127 g/L) demonstrated a protective effect on the risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.916, p=0.010 for 127 g/L [upper quartile] versus 107 g/L [lower quartile]), but were also associated with an increased risk of coronary revascularisations (HR 1.164, p=0.011 for 127 g/L versus 107 g/L). Haemoglobin levels ≤107 g/L were associated with an approximately 9% increased annual risk of mortality (HR 1/0.916=1.092). Elevated ferritin and transferrin levels were significant and independent risk factors for CV MACE (HR [95% CI] 1.130 [1.025, 1.246] and 1.202 [0.987, 1.464], respectively), and all-cause mortality (HR [95% CI] 1.088 [1.008, 1.174] and 1.402 [1.198,1.641], respectively), but further analyses of iron metabolism markers, such as hepcidin, are needed to draw meaningful conclusions. The age of the samples may have also impacted the results. Risk prediction models were developed, and the predictive ability was 0.66–0.68 (C-statistic). Conclusion This analysis confirmed that this cohort is representative of a HD population. Moreover, elevated haemoglobin levels were associated with increased survival, concomitantly with coronary revascularisation. Elevated ferritin and transferrin levels were identified as potential risk factors for CV MACE and all-cause mortality, but further studies are required to better understand their value in estimating CV risk. Risk predication models were developed and performed well but require validation against an independent patient cohort.

Severe mental illness and mortality and coronary revascularisation following a myocardial infarction: a retrospective cohort study

Background Severe mental illness (SMI), comprising schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, is associated with higher myocardial infarction (MI) mortality but lower coronary revascularisation rates. Previous studies have largely focused on schizophrenia, with limited information on bipolar disorder and major depression, long-term mortality or the effects of either sociodemographic factors or year of MI. We investigated the associations between SMI and MI prognosis and how these differed by age at MI, sex and year of MI. Methods We conducted a national retrospective cohort study, including adults with a hospitalised MI in Scotland between 1991 and 2014. We ascertained previous history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression from psychiatric and general hospital admission records. We used logistic regression to obtain odds ratios adjusted for sociodemographic factors for 30-day, 1-year and 5-year mortality, comparing people with each SMI to a comparison group without a prior hospital record for any mental health condition. We used Cox regression to analyse coronary revascularisation within 30 days, risk of further MI and further vascular events (MI or stroke). We investigated associations for interaction with age at MI, sex and year of MI. Results Among 235,310 people with MI, 923 (0.4%) had schizophrenia, 642 (0.3%) had bipolar disorder and 6239 (2.7%) had major depression. SMI was associated with higher 30-day, 1-year and 5-year mortality and risk of further MI and stroke. Thirty-day mortality was higher for schizophrenia (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.64–2.30), bipolar disorder (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.26–1.86) and major depression (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.23–1.40). Odds ratios for 1-year and 5-year mortality were larger for all three conditions. Revascularisation rates were lower in schizophrenia (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.48–0.67), bipolar disorder (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.85) and major depression (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.83). Mortality and revascularisation disparities persisted from 1991 to 2014, with absolute mortality disparities more apparent for MIs that occurred around 70 years of age, the overall mean age of MI. Women with major depression had a greater reduction in revascularisation than men with major depression. Conclusions There are sustained SMI disparities in MI intervention and prognosis. There is an urgent need to understand and tackle the reasons for these disparities.

Changes in demographics, clinical practices and long-term outcomes of patients with ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent coronary revascularisation in the past two decades: cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate changes in demographics, clinical practices and long-term clinical outcomes of patients with ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) before and beyond 2010.DesignMulticentre retrospective cohort study.SettingThe Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) AMI Registries Wave-1 (2005–2007, 26 centres) and Wave-2 (2011–2013, 22 centres).Participants9001 patients with STEMI who underwent coronary revascularisation (Wave-1: 4278 patients, Wave-2: 4723 patients).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was all-cause death at 3 years. The secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death, cardiac death, sudden cardiac death, non-cardiovascular death, non-cardiac death, myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, stroke, hospitalisation for heart failure, major bleeding, target vessel revascularisation, ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularisation, any coronary revascularisation and any ischaemia-driven coronary revascularisation.ResultsPatients in Wave-2 were older, more often had comorbidities and more often presented with cardiogenic shock than those in Wave-1. Patients in Wave-2 had shorter onset-to-balloon time and door-to-balloon time, were more frequently implanted drug-eluting stents, and received guideline-directed medication than those in Wave-1. The cumulative 3-year incidence of all-cause death was not significantly different between Wave-1 and Wave-2 (15.5% and 15.7%, p=0.77). The adjusted risk of all-cause death in Wave-2 relative to Wave-1 was not significant at 3 years (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.03, p=0.14), but lower beyond 30 days (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.98, p=0.03). The adjusted risks of Wave-2 relative to Wave-1 were significantly lower for definite stent thrombosis (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.81, p=0.001) and for any coronary revascularisation (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.81, p<0.001), but higher for major bleeding (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.51, p=0.005).ConclusionsWe could not demonstrate improvement in 3-year mortality risk from Wave-1 to Wave-2, but we found reduction in mortality risk beyond 30 days. We also found risk reduction for definite stent thrombosis and any coronary revascularisation, but an increase in the risk of major bleeding from Wave-1 to Wave-2.