Meng-Hua Chen

Impact of Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 100 Studies.

AbstractModifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome can easily give rise to coronary heart disease (CHD). However, due to the existence of the so-called “obesity paradox” and “smoking paradox,” the impact of these modifiable cardiovascular risk factors on mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still not clear.Therefore, in order to solve this issue, we aim to compare mortality between patients with low and high modifiable cardiovascular risk factors after PCI.Medline and EMBASE were searched for studies related to these modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Reported outcome was all-cause mortality after PCI. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 software.A total of 100 studies consisting of 884,190 patients (330,068 and 514,122 with high and low cardiovascular risk factors respectively) have been included in this meta-analysis. Diabetes mellitus was associated with a significantly higher short and long-term mortality with RR 2.11; 95% CI: (1.91–2.33) and 1.85; 95% CI: (1.66–2.06), respectively, after PCI. A significantly higher long-term mortality in the hypertensive and metabolic syndrome patients with RR 1.45; 95% CI: (1.24–1.69) and RR 1.29; 95% CI: (1.11–1.51), respectively, has also been observed. However, an unexpectedly, significantly lower mortality risk was observed among the smokers and obese patients.Certain modifiable cardiovascular risk subgroups had a significantly higher impact on mortality after PCI. However, mortality among the obese patients and the smokers showed an unexpected paradox after coronary intervention.

Impact of Antiphospholipid Syndrome and/or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on the Long-term Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

AbstractAntiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are 2 rare autoimmune disorders which commonly affect women. Several previous studies showed APS to have been evolved from SLE. Secondary APS often coexists with SLE. One common feature relating these 2 diseases are the antiphospholipid antibodies, which are found in most of the patients with APS and in approximately 30% to 40% of patients with SLE, among which, about 10% develop APS. The leading cause of death in these patients is from cardiovascular disease due to accelerated atherosclerosis, which often progresses more rapidly, compared with the general population. However, the impact of APS and/or SLE on the cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial. Therefore, to solve this issue, we aim to compare the long-term (≥1 year) adverse cardiovascular outcomes after PCI, in patients with APS and/or SLE, and those without these disorders.Medline and EMBASE databases were searched for studies comparing the long-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes between SLE and non-SLE, APS and non-APS, or SLE + APS and non-SLE + non-APS after PCI. We calculated odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these categorical variables, and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3.Seven studies consisting of a total of 253,436 patients (568 patients in the experimental group and 252,868 patients in the control group) were included in this meta-analysis. During a follow-up period of ≥1 year, mortality and myocardial Infarction (MI) were significantly higher in the experimental group (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.63–2.49, Pu200a<u200a0.00001 and OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.23–2.05, Pu200a=u200a0.0004, respectively). Major adverse cardiac events and repeated revascularization were also significantly higher in the SLE/APS group (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.42–4.03, Pu200a=u200a0.001 and OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.26–5.31, Pu200a=u200a0.01, respectively).Antiphospholipid syndrome and SLE are associated with significantly higher long-term (≥1 year) adverse cardiovascular outcomes after PCI. However, because of the limited number of patients and researches done, and due to a larger percentage of heterogeneity observed among several subgroups, this analysis may not generate a powerful result.

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of intracoronary administration of tirofiban for no-reflow phenomenon

BackgroundCurrently, there is still a lack of an optimal treatment for no-reflow phenomenon (NR). The aim of this simple meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intracoronary (IC) administration of tirofiban compared with other conventional drugs during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for NR.MethodsSystematic literature search was done from PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Springer and CNKI databases without language or time limitation. Randomized controlled trials were enrolled for analyzing if they investigated the treatment of IC administration of tirofiban versus other conventional drugs for NR.ResultsTen studies with 702 patients were included. Significantly, the treatment of tirofiban was more effective in improving the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.15-0.37, Pu2009<u20090.00001) and reducing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)u2009(OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.05-0.18, Pu2009<u20090.00001). There was a trend to increase the risk of bleeding, but the data of the result did not reach the statistical significance (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.69-3.00, Pu2009=u20090.32).ConclusionsTirofiban is more effective than conventional drugs for NR during PCI, but the potential risk of bleeding complication induced by tirofiban shouldn’t be ignored during clinical practices.

Is There Any Significant Difference in Stent Thrombosis Between Sirolimus and Paclitaxel Eluting Stents?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Abstract Several meta-analyses have shown no significant difference in stent thrombosis (ST) between sirolimus eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel eluting stents (PES). However, other meta-analyses have found SES to be superior to PES. Therefore, to solve this issue, we aim to compare the clinical outcomes between SES and PES during a follow-up period of about 1 or more years. We have searched Medline and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SES with PES. These RCTs have been carefully analyzed and then different types of ST including ST defined by the Academic Research Consortium (ARC), acute ST, late and very late ST have all been considered as the clinical endpoints in this study. A follow-up period of about 1 year, between 1 and 2 years as well as a longer follow-up period between 1 and 5 years have been considered. Data were retrieved and combined by means of a fixed-effect model because of a lower heterogeneity observed among the results. Odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 software. Twenty-nine studies from 19 RCTs comprising of 16,724 patients (8115 patients in the SES group and 8609 patients in the PES group) satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. No significant differences in ST have been observed between SES and PES. Results were as follow: definite ST with OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.64–1.18, Pu200a=u200a0.36; probable ST with OR:0.72; 95% CI: 0.42–1.21, Pu200a=u200a0.21; definite, probable and/or possible ST with OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.75–1.17, Pu200a=u200a0.57; acute ST with OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.38–2.56, Pu200a=u200a0.98; subacute ST with OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.41–1.25, Pu200a=u200a0.25; early ST with OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.53–1.25, Pu200a=u200a0.34; late ST with OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.39–1.34, Pu200a=u200a0.30; very late ST with OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.72–1.44, Pu200a=u200a0.92; and any ST with OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.69–1.07, Pu200a=u200a0.18. Long-term ST between 1 and 5 years with OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.71–1.22, Pu200a=u200a0.60 was also not significantly different. No significant difference in ST has been observed between patients treated with either SES or PES. Hence SES and PES can both be considered almost equally effective.

Comparing the effectiveness and safety between triple antiplatelet therapy and dual antiplatelet therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients after coronary stents implantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundSince antiplatelet therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is very important after intracoronary stenting, and because the most commonly used therapies have been the dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) consisting of aspirin and clopidogrel and the triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) consisting of aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol, we aim to compare the effectiveness and safety between triple antiplatelet therapy and dual antiplatelet therapy in T2DM patients.MethodsSystematic literature search was done from the databases of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WanFang. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness and safety between triple therapy and dual therapy in T2DM patients after coronary stents placement were included. Endpoints included major adverse cardiac effects (MACEs), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), death, stent thrombosis, bleeding and adverse drug reactions during a 9–12 months period, as well as platelet activities.ResultsFour studies including 1005 patients reporting the adverse clinical outcomes and six studies including 519 patients reporting the platelet activities, with a total of 1524 patients have been analyzed in this meta-analysis. The pooling analysis shows that TAPT has significantly decreased the occurrence of MACEs (RR: 0.55; 95xa0% CI: 0.36–0.86, Pu2009=u20090.009), TLR (RR 0.41; 95xa0% CI: 0.21–0.80, Pu2009=u20090.008), TVR (RR 0.55; 95xa0% CI: 0.34–0.88, Pu2009=u20090.01) and the overall incidence of Death/ Myocardial Infarction (MI)/TVR (RR 0.54; 95xa0% CI: 0.31–0.94, Pu2009=u20090.03) during this 9 to 12xa0months follow up period after stents implantation. Stent thrombosis was almost similar in both groups. Bleeding seemed to favor DAPT but the result was not statistically significant. Platelet aggregation, platelet reactivity index (PRI) and platelet reactivity unit (PRU) were also reduced with Weight Mean Difference (WMD) of (−13.80; 95xa0% CI: −17.03 to −10.56, Pu2009<u20090.00001), (−22.87; 95xa0% CI: −23.66 to −22.07, Pu2009<u20090.00001) and (−44.17; 95xa0% CI: −58.56 to −29.77, Pu2009<u20090.00001) respectively.ConclusionSince MACEs have been significantly decreased in the triple group, TAPT appears to be more effective than DAPT in T2DM patients after intracoronary stenting. No significant difference in stent thrombosis and bleeding risks between these 2 groups shows TAPT to be almost as safe as DAPT in these diabetic patients.

Comparing the adverse clinical outcomes in patients with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes mellitus and patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus following percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundSeveral studies showed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) to be associated with worse adverse clinical outcomes compared to non-T2DM (NDM) following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). In addition, patients with insulin-treated T2DM (ITDM) showed worse clinical outcomes compared to patients with non-insulin treated T2DM (NITDM). Since NITDM and NDM have seldom been systematically analyzed, this study aimed to compare the short and long term adverse clinical outcomes observed in patients with NITDM and patients without T2DM following PCI.MethodsMedline/PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library were searched for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing patients with (including ITDM and NITDM) and without T2DM following PCI. Endpoints included adverse clinical outcomes reported during a short and a long term follow up period. Odd Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) in accordance with either a fixed or a random effects model appropriately, were calculated and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3.ResultsTwelve studies consisting of a total number of 52,451 patients (14,863 NITDM and 37,588 NDM) were included. Patients with NITDM were found to have significantly higher short-term Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACEs) and mortality with OR: 1.63, 95% CI (1.17, 2.27); Pu2009=u20090.004 and OR: 1.71, 95% CI (1.40, 2.10), Pu2009<u20090.00001 respectively and higher long-term MACEs and mortality with OR: 1.25, 95% CI (1.12, 1.40), Pu2009=u20090.0001 and OR: 1.32, 95% CI (1.19, 1.47), Pu2009<u20090.00001 respectively compared to NDM following PCI. In addition, compared to NDM, long-term Target Vessel Revascularization (TVR) and Target Lesion Revascularization (TLR) were significantly higher in the NITDM group with OR: 1.36, 95% CI (1.18, 1.56), Pu2009<u20090.0001 and OR: 1.32, 95% CI (1.10, 1.59), Pu2009=u20090.003 respectively. However, even if an increased long-term stent thrombosis was observed in the NITDM group with OR: 1.13; 95% CI (0.91, 1.40), Pu2009=u20090.28, the result was insignificant.ConclusionShort and long term MACEs and mortality were significantly higher in patients with NITDM compared to patients without diabetes following PCI. Revascularization also significantly favored patients without T2DM. However, stent thrombosis was not significantly different.

Impact of coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention on mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease and on dialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AbstractControversies have been observed among previously published and recently published studies comparing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and patients on chronic dialysis. This study aimed to show the impact of CABG and PCI on mortality in these patients.Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing CABG and PCI in patients with CKD. The primary outcome was all-cause death whereas the secondary endpoints included other adverse cardiovascular outcomes reported. Causes of death were also analyzed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to express the pooled effect on discontinuous variables and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3.Eighteen studies involving a total number of 69,456 patients (29,239 patients in the CABG group and 40,217 patients in the PCI group) were included in this meta-analysis. Short-term mortality insignificantly favored PCI with OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.93–1.65; P = 0.15. Mortality at 1 year was similar in both groups with OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.91–1.08; P = 0.86, whereas the long-term mortality significantly favored CABG in patients with CKD and in patients on chronic dialysis with OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.94; P = 0.007 and OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69–0.96; P = 0.01, respectively.In patients with CKD, the impact of CABG on the short-term mortality was insignificantly higher compared to PCI whereas at 1 year, a similar impact was observed. However, the impact of PCI on mortality was significantly higher during a long-term follow-up period in patients with CKD and in patients on chronic dialysis. Nevertheless, due to a high level of heterogeneity observed among several subgroups analyzed, randomized trials are required to completely solve this issue.

Stent thrombosis and adverse cardiovascular outcomes observed between six months and five years with sirolimus-eluting stents and other drug-eluting stents in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AbstractThis study aimed to compare 6 months to 5 years stent thrombosis (ST) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and other drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing SES with other DES in patients with T2DM. Total ST, definite ST, probable ST, and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes reported between 6 months and 5 years were considered as the clinical end points in this study. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for categorical variables and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 software.Twenty-nine studies involving a total number of 25,729 patients with diabetes were included in this meta-analysis. SES were not associated with significantly higher total, definite, and probable STs with OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.77–1.17, P = 0.62; OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.65–1.37, P = 0.76; and OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.77–1.45, P = 0.74, respectively. SES were also noninferior to the other non-sirolimus eluting drug eluting stents (non-SE DES) in terms of all-cause mortality, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stroke with OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.82–1.03, P = 0.16; OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.88–1.35, P = 0.44; OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.80–1.06, P = 0.26; and OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.49–1.28, P = 0.43, respectively. Target vessel revascularization, target lesion revascularization, and major adverse cardiac events were also similarly reported between SES and non-SE DES with OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.83–1.31, P = 0.72; OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.95–1.64, P = 0.11; and OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.90–1.25, P = 0.49, respectively.During this particular follow-up period, SES were not associated with any increase in ST among these patients with T2DM. Mortality and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes were also not significantly different between these 2 groups. Hence, SES should be considered neither superior nor inferior to other DES. They are expected to be equally effective and safe to use in patients with T2DM.

Bleeding events associated with fibrinolytic therapy and primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with STEMI: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AbstractFrom the year 1986 onwards, several studies have been published focusing on the comparison between fibrinolysis and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, because antiplatelet and anticoagulating medications are used in approximation, before and during these procedures, bleeding events have been reported to be associated with both reperfusion therapies. This study aimed to compare the bleeding events associated with fibrinolytic therapy and primary angioplasty in patients with STEMI. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing fibrinolysis and primary angioplasty in patients with STEMI were searched from Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases. Bleeding complications following 30 days from hospitalization were considered as the primary clinical endpoints in this study. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality, re-infarction, stroke, and shock. Antiplatelet and anticoagulating drugs used during these 2 different procedures were compared. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 software. Twelve studies involving 10 RCTs consisting of a total number of 5561 patients (2784 patients from the fibrinolysis group and 2777 patients from the PPCI group) were included in this meta-analysis. Our results showed no significant difference in the overall bleeding complications during a 30-day period between these 2 reperfusion therapies with OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.17, P = 0.78. Nonintracranial bleeding was also not statistically significant with OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.70 to 1.04, P = 0.12. However, fibrinolytic therapy was associated with a significantly higher rate of intracranial bleeding with OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.50, P = 0.001 than PPCI. In addition, death, re-infarction, and stroke significantly favored primary angioplasty. According to the results of this study, even if the rate of nonintracranial bleeding was not statistically significant between these 2 reperfusion therapies, fibrinolytic therapy was associated with a significantly higher rate of intracranial bleeding than PPCI. In addition, PPCI was associated with a significantly lower rate of death, reinfarction, and stroke. Therefore, PPCI should be recommended in patients with STEMI, especially in PCI-capable hospitals.

Elevated Serum Potassium Concentration Alleviates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Mitochondrial Preservation

Background/Aims: The anti-apoptotic effect of an increase in the extracellular concentration of potassium ([K+]) has been confirmed in vitro. However, it is not yet known whether elevated serum [K+] exerts a cerebroprotective effect in vivo. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of elevated serum [K+] in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R). Methods: Rats subjected to 90-min MCAO received 2.5% KCL, 1.25% KCL, or a normal saline solution at a dose of 3.2 mL/kg at the onset of reperfusion. Rats that were subjected to vascular exposure and ligation without MCAO were defined as the Sham group. Serum [K+] was determined using a blood gas analyzer at 1 min after medicine administration. At 24 h post-reperfusion, rat brains were harvested and processed for 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2′-deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling staining, detection of caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-3 by western blotting, detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by dihydroethidium staining, and observation of mitochondrial structure by electron microscopy. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), cytochrome C oxidase (COX) activity, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening were measured using detection kits. Results: The results showed that elevated serum [K+] decreased cerebral injury and apoptosis, reduced ROS and MDA levels and MPTP opening, increased ATP levels and cytochrome C oxidase activity, and improved mitochondrial ultrastructural changes, although there was no significant difference in T-SOD activity. Conclusion: These findings suggested that elevated serum [K+] could alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the mechanism may be associated with the preservation of mitochondrial function.