The American journal of cardiology
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Q waves can develop early in infarction and indicate infarct progression better than symptom duration. ST resolution (STR) is a predictor of reperfusion success. Our aim was to assess the prognostic impact of Q waves on presentation and STR after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. ⋯ Q waves on presentation and inadequate STR (<70%), but not symptom duration, were independent predictors of MACE by multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratios of 2.7 and 2.4 for Q waves and STR, respectively). Compared to group A (no Q waves on presentation with STR), patients in group B (no Q waves with inadequate STR), group C (Q waves with STR), and group D (Q waves with inadequate STR) had hazard ratios of 3.0, 3.6, and 7.7, respectively (p <0.05) for the occurrence of MACE. In conclusion, assessment of Q-wave status on presentation and STR immediately after PPCI provides a simple and early clinical predictor of outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
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Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a widely available biomarker, independently predicts adverse outcomes in left-sided heart failure. The relation between RDW and death in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is unknown. In a prospective study of 162 consecutive patients with PH, RDW was recorded during initial diagnostic right-sided cardiac catheterization, and patients were followed for 2.1 +/- 0.8 years to determine vital status. ⋯ When RDW, BUN, and NT-pro-BNP were entered into a multivariate model, only RDW was still associated with death (p = 0.037 for RDW, p = 0.18 for BUN, and p = 0.39 for NT-pro-BNP). Adding NT-pro-BNP to RDW did not improve the prediction of mortality. In conclusion, RDW is independently associated with death in patients with PH and performs better as a prognostic indicator than NT-pro-BNP.
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Comparative Study
Cardiovascular risk factors and coronary atherosclerosis in retired National Football League players.
A high prevalence of obesity exists in National Football League (NFL) players as determined by body mass index (BMI). It is not established whether increased BMI is associated with a greater prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors or coronary atherosclerosis in former NFL players than in nonathletes. This study compared CV risk factors and coronary atherosclerosis in retired NFL players to 2 groups of community controls, the population-based Dallas Heart Study and the preventive medicine cohort, the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. ⋯ Comparing retired NFL players to the physically active preventive medicine controls, there was no difference in the amount of CAC. In retired NFL players, age and hyperlipidemia, not body size, were the most significant predictors of CAC. In conclusion, despite their large body size, retired NFL players do not have a greater prevalence of CV risk factors or amount of CAC than community controls.
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Advances in antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapies have led to a reduction in ischemic event rates in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) but have generally resulted in an increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. In these settings, both baseline anemia and acute hemorrhage occur with relative frequency and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although commonly treated with blood transfusion, this intervention may accentuate rather than attenuate both short-term and long-term risk. This review discusses the pathophysiology of anemia and the impact of anemia and transfusion on morbidity and mortality in PCI, ACS, and STEMI.
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Letter Biography Historical Article
René Laennec (1781-1826) and the invention of the stethoscope.