Federico Soria

Prevalence and Prognostic Influence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients ≥40 Years Old Admitted into Hospital Following an Acute Coronary Event

OBJECTIVE A significant proportion of patients with ischemic heart disease have associated peripheral arterial disease (PAD), but many are asymptomatic and this condition remains underdiagnosed. We aimed to study the prevalence of PAD in patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to evaluate its influence in hospital clinical outcomes. METHODS The PAMISCA register is a prospective, multicenter study involving patients >or=40 years old with ACS admitted to selected Spanish hospitals. All patients had their ankle-brachial index (ABI) measured between days 3 and 7 after the ischemic event. RESULTS 1410 ACS patients (71.4% male) were included. PAD determined by ABI was documented in 561 patients (39.8%). Factors independently related to PAD were age (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.03-1.06; p<0.001), smoking (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.41-2.49; p<0.0001), diabetes (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.02-1.65; p<0.05), previous cardiac disease (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.22-1.95; p<0.001) and previous cerebrovascular disease (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.28-2.80; p<0.001). Following the ACS, an ABI<or=0.90 was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality (OR: 5.45; 95% CI: 1.16-25.59; p<0.05) and a higher risk of cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSION The prevalence of PAD in patients >or=40 years presenting with ACS is high and it is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Impact of Clinical and Subclinical Peripheral Arterial Disease in Mid-Term Prognosis of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Observational studies report poor prognosis of patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the presence of previous peripheral arterial disease (PAD), but data on subclinical PAD are scarce. This study was designed to assess the predictive value of clinical and subclinical PAD in the follow-up of patients after an ACS. We included 1,054 patients hospitalized for an ACS who survived the acute phase. Patients were divided into 3 groups: clinical PAD (previously diagnosed PAD or intermittent claudication), subclinical PAD (defined as ankle-brachial index <or=0.9 or >1.4), and no PAD. Clinical PAD was present in 150 patients (14.2%) and 298 cases of subclinical PAD were detected (28.3%). Patients with PAD (clinical and subclinical PAD) were significantly older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus than those without PAD. During the 1-year follow-up, 59 patients died (5.6%). Previous PAD (hazard ratio 4.38, 95% confidence interval 1.96 to 9.82, p <0.001) and subclinical PAD (hazard ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 5.23, p <0.05) were associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, patients with clinical PAD had higher rates of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, angina, and heart failure) than patients with subclinical PAD or without PAD. In conclusion, beyond clinical PAD, measurement of ankle-brachial index after ACS provides substantial information on intermediate-term prognosis.

Prognostic value of low ankle–brachial index in patients with hypertension and acute coronary syndromes

Background Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, many patients are asymptomatic, and this condition frequently remains underdiagnosed. An ankle–brachial index (ABI) of less than 0.9 is a noninvasive and simple marker in the diagnosis of PAD and is also predictive of target organ damage in hypertension. The prognostic value of such measurements in hypertensive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unknown. Methods The Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome registry is a multicentre, observational and prospective study that aims to describe the prevalence of and prognosis for PAD, diagnosed by ABI in hypertensive patients with ACS. Results One thousand one hundred and one hypertensive patients with ACS and at least 40 years of age were prospectively studied. Mean age of the population was 67.4 (11.4) years, and 67.7% were men. The prevalence of ABI less than 0.9 was 42.6% (469 patients). This subgroup was significantly older, had a higher prevalence of diabetes, previous coronary heart disease or stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy and more severe coronary lesions. Hospital mortality was higher in hypertensive patients with ABI less than 0.9 (2.3 vs. 0.2%; P < 0.01). An ABI less than 0.9 was associated with an increased risk of heart failure after ACS (odds ratio, 1.4; P = 0.04), higher hospital mortality (odds ratio, 13.0; P = 0.03) and the composite endpoint of mortality, heart failure and angina (odds ratio, 1.4; P = 0.03). Conclusion Asymptomatic PAD is highly prevalent in hypertensive patients with ACS. An ABI less than 0.9 identifies a subset of patients with more extensive target organ damage and higher risk of hospital cardiovascular complications after an ACS.

Hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular ectopy, and sudden death

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common sequela of sustained arterial hypertension, although the correlation between spot blood pressure measurements and LV mass is not a close one. LVH has been shown to be a powerful blood pressure-independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. LVH has been shown to trigger or to accelerate ventricular dysrhythmias, although the connection between ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden death is poorly documented. LVH can be reduced by specific antihypertensive therapy; however, not all drugs are equipotent in this regard. A reduction of LVH has been shown to be associated with a suppression of ventricular dysrythmias. Preliminary studies also indicate that the reduction of LVH may reduce its inherent excessive morbidity and mortality.

Real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of aortic valve stenosis

AIMS To determine the feasibility of real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D-TOE) in the evaluation of aortic valve stenosis, to study its reliability, and to test the concordance of this new method when compared with transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-TTE) as the diagnostic standard. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty-nine consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe aortic valve stenosis were assessed by means of 2D-TTE and 3D-TOE by independent blinded observers. Aortic valve planimetry was possible in 94.9% of patients. Inter-observer intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.892 (CI 95% 0.818-0.936; P < 0.001), and 0.871 (CI 95% 0.780-0.925; P < 0.001) for 2D-TTE and 3D-TOE, respectively. Bland-Altman plot showed a mean difference in aortic valve area (AVA) of 0.040 cm(2), with 2D-TTE yielding larger values than 3D-TOE. ICC of both methods was 0.724 (CI 95% 0.530-0.839; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Assessment of AVA by means of 3D-TOE is feasible in most patients with aortic valve stenosis. Reliability of the measurement is good. However, there is some disagreement with standard 2D-TTE that needs further investigation.

Ventricular dysrhythmias, left ventricular hypertrophy, and sudden death.

SummaryLeft ventricular hypertrophy has been documented to be a powerful risk factor for sudden death, acute myocardial infarction, and other cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The major determinant of left ventricular mass is the hemodynamic burden. However, the hypertrophic process is modified by demographic parameters (age, sex, race), nutritional parameters (salt intake, alcohol, obesity), and neuroendocrine factors (angiotensin, catecholamines, growth hormones, etc.). Ventricular ectopy and more serious arrhythmias are commonly seen in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Specific antihypertensive therapy will reduce left ventricular hypertrophy, although not all antihypertensive drugs are equipotent in this regard. A reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy has been shown to diminish left-ventricular-hypertrophy-associated arrhythmias. However, it remains to be shown that patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular ectopy are at a higher risk of sudden death than those without ventricular ectopy and that the reduction of left-ventricular-hypertrophy-associated ventricular ectopy indeed confers a clinical benefit that exceeds the one from the reduction in arterial pressure alone.

Clustering of target organ damage increases mortality after acute coronary syndromes in patients with arterial hypertension.

The impact of target organ damage (TOD) clustering in hypertensive patients with established cardiovascular disease has not been clearly defined. Multicentre, observational and prospective study of 1054 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). The objective was describing the impact of TOD on first-year mortality. Ankle–brachial index (ABI), left ventricular hypertrophy and renal dysfunction were assessed during hospital stay. Hypertensive patients accounted for 80% of the cohort and had slightly higher mean age, higher prevalence of risk factors, previous cardiovascular disease and TOD. During follow-up, mean time 387.9 (7.2) days and median 382 (364.0–430.0) days, mortality rate tended to be higher in hypertensive patients (6.1 versus 3.5%; P=0.16). Cox regression survival analysis identified pathological ABI as the only TOD independently associated with mortality. When assessed globally, the presence of at least one TOD predicted mortality only in patients with hypertension and differences in mortality rate appeared very early in the follow-up. A linear increase in mortality rate was observed with the clustering of TOD: 2.0%, if no TOD was present, 7.6% in one TOD, 11.1% in two TODs and 20.0%, if three TODs were present. An increased risk in the combined end point of ischaemic events was observed in hypertensive patients without TOD (odds ratio (OR): 3.18; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–7.70; P=0.01) and was still higher in patients with hypertension and TOD (OR: 4.61; 95% CI: 1.90–11.80; P<0.01). TOD predicts mortality and ischaemic events of hypertensive patients after ACS.

Prognostic significance of heart rate in hospitalized patients presenting with myocardial infarction

AIM To investigate the prognostic significance of resting heart rate in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), independent of other known factors. METHODS Patients 40 years of age or older who had been admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to one of the 94 hospitals participating in the Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (PAMISCA) study were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on their resting heart rate (HR ≥ or < 70 bpm). Complications were recording during a follow-up period of 1 year. RESULTS There were 1054 ACS patients analyzed (43.5% with ST segment elevation and 56.5% without elevation). Mean age was 66.6 ± 11.7 years, 70.6% were male and 29.4% of subjects were female. During follow-up, more patients in the HR ≥ 70 bpm group were hospitalized for heart failure and they also had a higher mortality rate. In the multivariate analysis, a heart rate of ≥ 70 bpm was independently related to overall mortality during the follow-up period (hazard ratio 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-4.97, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION A resting heart rate ≥ 70 bpm in patients who survive an ACS is an indicator of a high risk of suffering cardiovascular events during follow-up.

Usefulness of an Abnormal Ankle-Brachial Index for Detecting Multivessel Coronary Disease in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The presence of peripheral arterial disease in patients with coronary artery disease is associated with a poor cardiovascular outcome. However, the majority of affected patients are asymptomatic and the condition is underdiagnosed. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) provides a simple method of diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of an abnormal ABI for identifying multivessel coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS We analyzed data on all ACS patients included in the PAMISCA multicenter study (with 94 participating hospitals) who underwent catheterization during admission. Patients were diagnosed with multivessel coronary disease if two or more major epicardial vessels or the left main coronary artery, or both, were affected. An ABI <or=0.9 or >1.4 was considered abnormal. RESULTS The study included 1031 patients with a mean age of 67.7 years. Of these, 542 had multivessel disease (52.6%). Compare with those without multivessel disease, these patients were older (66.6 years vs. 62.6 years; P< .001), had higher prevalences of hypertension (65.9% vs. 56.2%; P< .005), diabetes mellitus (40.6% vs. 26.0%; P< .001) and hypercholesterolemia (89.1% vs. 80.4%; P< .001), and were more likely to have a history of cardiovascular disease (30.1% vs. 13.9%; P< .001) or an abnormal ABI (45.4% vs. 30.3%; P< .001). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of an abnormal ABI was associated with an increased risk of multivessel disease (odds ratio=1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.15; P< .05). CONCLUSIONS In patients with ACS, an abnormal ABI was independently associated with the risk of multivessel coronary artery disease.

Pathological ankle–brachial index is equivalent of advanced age in acute coronary syndromes

Eur J Clin Invest 2011; 41 (12): 1268–1274