The American journal of cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Treatment and outcomes of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes in relation to initial diagnostic impressions (insights from the Canadian Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events [GRACE] and Canadian Registry of Acute Coronary Events [CANRACE]).
The early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains challenging, and a considerable proportion of patients are diagnosed with "possible" ACS on admission. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE/GRACE(2)) and Canadian Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CANRACE) enrolled 16,618 Canadian patients with suspected ACS in 1999 to 2008. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics, use of cardiac procedures, prognostic accuracy of the GRACE risk score, and in-hospital outcomes between patients given an admission diagnosis of "definite" versus "possible" ACS by the treating physician. ⋯ The GRACE risk score demonstrated excellent discrimination for in-hospital mortality in both groups and for the entire study population. In conclusion, compared to patients with "definite" ACS on presentation, those with "possible" ACS had higher baseline GRACE risk scores but less frequently received evidence-based medical therapies within 24 hours of admission or underwent cardiac procedures during hospitalization. The GRACE risk score provided accurate risk assessment, regardless of the initial diagnostic impression.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of four single-drug regimens on ventricular rate and arrhythmia-related symptoms in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.
Rate control of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a main treatment modality. However, data are scarce on the relative efficacy of calcium channel blockers and β blockers or between drugs within each class. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of 4 rate-reducing, once-daily drug regimens on the ventricular heart rate and arrhythmia-related symptoms in patients with permanent AF. ⋯ In contrast, verapamil reduced symptom frequency only (p = 0.012). In conclusion, diltiazem 360 mg/day was the most effective drug regimen for reducing the heart rate in patients with permanent AF. Arrhythmia-related symptoms were reduced by treatment with the calcium channel blockers diltiazem and verapamil, but not by the β blockers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Moderate pulmonary embolism treated with thrombolysis (from the "MOPETT" Trial).
The role of low-dose thrombolysis in the reduction of pulmonary artery pressure in moderate pulmonary embolism (PE) has not been investigated. Because the lungs are very sensitive to thrombolysis, we postulated that effective and safe thrombolysis might be achieved by a lower dose of tissue plasminogen activator. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of this "safe dose" thrombolysis in the reduction of pulmonary artery pressure in moderate PE. ⋯ The combination of death plus recurrent PE was 1 (1.6%) in TG and 6 (10%) in the CG (p = 0.0489). No bleeding occurred in any group, and despite a positive trend in favor of a "safe dose" thrombolysis, no significant difference was noted in the rate of individual outcomes of death and recurrent PE when assessed independently. In conclusion, the results from the present prospective randomized trial suggests that "safe dose" thrombolysis is safe and effective in the treatment of moderate PE, with a significant immediate reduction in the pulmonary artery pressure that was maintained at 28 months.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Incidence and effect of acute kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement using the new valve academic research consortium criteria.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with a poor prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). A paucity of data exists regarding the incidence and effect of AKI after TAVR using the new recommended Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria. At Columbia University Medical Center, 218 TAVR procedures (64.2% transfemoral, 35.8% transapical) were performed from 2008 to July 2011. ⋯ The 30-day and 1-year rates of death were significantly greater in the AKI group than in the no-AKI group (44.4% vs 3.0%, hazard ratio 18.1, 95% confidence interval 6.25 to 52.20, p <0.0001; and 55.6% vs 16.0%, hazard ratio 6.32, 95% confidence interval 3.06 to 13.10, p <0.0001, respectively). Periprocedural life-threatening bleeding was the strongest predictor of AKI after TAVR. In conclusion, the occurrence of AKI, as defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria, is associated with periprocedural complications and a poor prognosis after TAVR.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of Three-year outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40% versus ≥ 40% (from the HORIZONS-AMI trial).
Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and multivessel disease (MVD) have been associated with greater mortality after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of LV dysfunction and MVD in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients from the Harmonizing Outcomes With Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial treated with primary PCI in whom baseline LV function was assessed using left ventriculography were included in this study. ⋯ MVD was associated with greater mortality in patients with preserved but not reduced LVEFs. By multivariate analysis, LV dysfunction was the strongest predictor of 30-day and 3-year mortality. In conclusion, the presence of LV dysfunction as assessed on baseline left ventriculography in patients who undergo primary PCI in the contemporary era is a powerful predictor of early and late mortality, regardless of the extent of coronary artery disease.