Mostafa Q. AlShamiri

Prediction of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with or without Interstitial Lung Disease: Reliability of CT Findings

PURPOSE To study the reliability of pulmonary vascular measurements based on computed tomography (CT) in the prediction of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with advanced interstitial lung disease (ILD) compared with those without ILD. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. All patients gave written informed consent. A prospective study of 134 patients who underwent right-sided heart catheterization and chest CT scanning within 72 hours of admission was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups-one with ILD (group A, n = 100) and one without ILD (group B, n = 34). CT measurements of the main pulmonary artery diameter (PAD), the ratio of PAD to the ascending aorta diameter (AAD), right pulmonary artery diameter (RPAD), and left pulmonary artery diameter (LPAD) were obtained. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to assess the predictive ability of vascular measurements obtained by using CT in the identification of PH. RESULTS Main PAD was significantly greater in patients with PH than in those without PH in both groups (group A, P = .008; group B, P = .02). A PAD greater than 25 mm in patients with ILD was predictive of PH, with a sensitivity of 86.4% (32 of 37), a specificity of 41.2% (26 of 63), a positive predictive value of 46.3% (32 of 69), and a negative predictive value of 83.8% (26 of 31). In patients without ILD, a PAD greater than 31.6 mm and an LPAD greater than 21.4 mm were predictive of PH (sensitivity, 47.3% [nine of 19]; specificity, 93.3% [14 of 15]; positive predictive value, 90.0% [nine of 10]; and negative predictive value, 58.3% [14 of 24]). CONCLUSION CT-derived vascular measurements were of limited utility in the prediction of PH in patients with ILD compared with those without ILD.

Absence of obesity paradox in Saudi patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes: insights from SPACE registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To describe the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and its relationship with clinical features, management, and in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). DESIGN AND SETTINGS The Saudi Project for Assessment of Coronary Events is a prospective registry. ACS patients admitted to 17 hospitals from December 2005–2007 were included in this study. METHODS BMI was available for 3469 patients (68.6%) admitted with ACS and categorized into 4 groups: normal weight, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. RESULTS Of patients admitted with ACS, 72% were either overweight or obese. A high prevalence of diabetes (57%), hypertension (56.6%), dyslipidemia (42%), and smoking (32.4%) was reported. Increasing BMI was significantly associated with diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Overweight and obese patients were significantly younger than the normal-weight group (P=.006). However, normal-weight patients were more likely to be smokers and had 3-vessel coronary artery disease, worse left ventricular dysfunction, and ST elevation myocardial infarction. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonists were used significantly more in overweight, obese, and morbidly obese ACS patients than in normal-weight patients (P≤.001). Coronary angiography and percutaneous intervention were reported more in overweight and obese patients than in normal-weight patients (P≤.001). In-hospital outcomes were not significantly different among the BMI categories. CONCLUSION High BMI is prevalent among Saudi patients with ACS. BMI was not an independent factor for in-hospital outcomes. In contrast with previous reports, high BMI was not associated with improved outcomes, indicating the absence of obesity paradox observed in other studies.

Pulmonary hypertension in Saudi Arabia: A single center experience

CONTEXT: Several international studies have described the epidemiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, information about the incidence and prevalence of PH in Saudi Arabia is unknown. AIMS: To report cases of PH and compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of PH due to various causes in a Saudi population. METHODS: Newly diagnosed cases of PH [defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mmHg at right heart cauterization (RHC)] were prospectively collected at a single tertiary care hospital from January 2009 and June 2012. Detailed demographic and clinical data were collected at the time of diagnosis, along with hemodynamic parameters. RESULTS: Of the total 264 patients who underwent RHC, 112 were identified as having PH. The mean age at diagnosis was 55.8 ± 15.8 years, and there was a female preponderance of 72.3%. About 88 (78.6%) of the PH patients were native Saudis and 24 (21.4%) had other origins. Twelve PH patients (10.7%) were classified in group 1 (pulmonary arterial hypertension), 7 (6.2%) in group 2 (PH due to left heart disease), 73 (65.2%) in group 3 (PH due to lung disease), 4 (3.6%) in group 4 (chronic thromboembolic PH), and 16 (14.3%) in group 5 (PH due to multifactorial mechanisms). PH associated with diastolic dysfunction was noted in 28.6% of group 2 patients, 31.5% of group 3 patients, and 25% of group 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results offer the first report of incident cases of PH across five groups in Saudi Arabia.

Validation of the 6-Month GRACE Score in Predicting 1-Year Mortality of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Admitted to the Arabian Gulf Hospitals

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are the most common cardiovascular diseases and are associated with a significant risk of mortality and morbidity. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score postdischarge is a widely used ACS prediction model for risk of mortality (low, intermediate, and high); however, it has not yet been validated in patients from the Arabian Gulf. This prospective multicenter study (second Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events) provides detailed information of the GRACE risk score postdischarge in patients from the Arabian Gulf. Its prognostic utility was validated at 1-year follow-up in over 5000 patients with ACS from 65 hospitals in 6 Arabian Gulf countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). Overall, the goodness of fit (Hosmer and Lemeshow statistic P value = .826), calibration, and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.695; 95% confidence interval: 0.668-0.722) were good. The GRACE risk score postdischarge can be used to stratify 1 year mortality risk in the Arabian Gulf population; it does not require further calibration and has a good discriminatory ability.

Clinical presentation, Quality of care, Risk factors and Outcomes in Women with Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI): An Observational Report from Six Middle Eastern Countries

BACKGROUND Most of the available literature on ST-Elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) in women was conducted in the developed world and data from Middle-East countries was limited. AIMS To examine the clinical presentation, patient management, quality of care, risk factors and inhospital outcomes of women with acute STEMI compared with men using data from a large STEMI registry from the Middle East. METHODS Data were derived from the third Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE-3Ps), a prospective, multinational study of adults with acute STEMI from 36 hospitals in 6 Middle-Eastern countries. The study included 2928 patients; 296 women (10.1%) and 2632 men (89.9%). Clinical presentations, management and in-hospital outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Women were 10 years older and more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia compared with men who were more likely to be smokers (all p<0.001). Women had longer median symptom-onset to emergency department (ED) arrival times (230 vs. 170 min, p<0.001) and ED to diagnostic ECG (8 vs. 6 min., p<0.001). When primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was performed, women had longer door-to-balloon time (DBT) (86 vs. 73 min., p=0.009). When thrombolytic therapy was not administered, women were less likely to receive PPCI (69.7 vs. 76.7%, p=0.036). The mean duration of hospital stay was longer in women (6.03 ± 22.51 vs. 3.41 ± 19.45 days, p=0.032) and the crude in-hospital mortality rate was higher in women (10.4 vs. 5.2%, p<0.001). However, after adjustments, multivariate analysis revealed a statistically non-significant trend of higher inhospital mortality among women than men (6.4 vs. 4.6%), (p=0.145). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that women in our region have almost double the mortality from STEMI compared with men. Although this can partially be explained by older age and higher risk profiles in women, however, correction of identified gaps in quality of care should be attempted to reduce the high morbidity and mortality of STEMI in our women.

Clinical Presentation, Predictors, and Outcomes Among Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist (MRA)-Eligible Acute Heart Failure Patients in the Heart Function Assessment Registry Trial in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS)

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy is indicated after myocardial infarction in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) with an ejection fraction ≤40% and lacking contraindications. We analyzed clinical presentations, predictors, and outcomes of MRA-eligible patients within a prospective registry of patients with AHF from 18 hospitals in Saudi Arabia, from 2009 to 2010. For this subgroup, mortality rates were followed until 2013, and the clinical characteristics, management, predictors, and outcomes were compared between MRA-treated and non-MRA-treated patients. Of 2609 patients with AHF, 387 (14.8%) were MRA eligible, of which 146 (37.7%) were prescribed MRAs. Compared with non-MRA-treated patients, those prescribed MRAs more commonly exhibited non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, acute on chronic heart failure, past history of ischemic heart disease, and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction; were more commonly administered oral furosemide and digoxin; and had higher in-hospital recurrent congestive HF rates. Mortality did not significantly differ (P > .05) between groups. In Saudi Arabia, 37.7% of eligible patients received MRA treatment, which is higher than that in developed countries. The lack of long-term survival benefit raises concerns about systematic problems, for example, proper follow-up and management after hospital discharge, warranting further investigation.

Circadian Rhythm and ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the Third Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE-3Ps)

Circadian rhythms have been identified in multiple physiological processes that may affect cardiovascular diseases, yet little is known about the impact of circadian rhythm on acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) onset and outcomes in the Middle East. The relationship between time of symptom onset during the 24-hour circadian cycle and prehospital delays and in-hospital death was assessed in 2909 patients with STEMI presenting in 6 Arabian Gulf countries. A sinusoidal smoothing function was used to show the average circadian trends. There was a significant association between time of symptom onset and the circadian cycle. The STEMIs were more frequent during the late morning and early afternoon hours (P < .001). Patients with pain onset from 0.00 to 5:59 had median prehospital delays of 150 minutes versus 90 minutes from 6:00 to 11:59 and 12:00 to 17:59, respectively (P < .001). Although there was no significant difference in mortality between the 4 groups (P = .230), there was a significant association between time of symptom onset as sinusoidal function and in-hospital mortality (P = .032). Patients with STEMI in the Middle East have significant circadian patterns in symptoms onset, prehospital delay, and timeliness of reperfusion. A circadian rhythm of in-hospital mortality was found over the 24-hour clock of symptom onset time.

β‐Blocker Therapy Prior to Admission for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients Without Heart Failure or Left Ventricular Dysfunction Improves In‐Hospital and 12‐Month Outcome: Results From the GULF‐RACE 2 (Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events‐2)

Background The prognostic impact of β‐blockers (BB) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients without heart failure (HF) or left ventricular dysfunction is controversial, especially in the postreperfusion era. We sought to determine whether a BB therapy before admission for ACS has a favorable in‐hospital outcome in patients without HF, and whether they also reduce 12‐month mortality if still prescribed on discharge. Methods and Results The GULF‐RACE 2 (Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events‐2) is a prospective multicenter study of ACS in 6 Middle Eastern countries. We studied in‐hospital cardiovascular events in patients hospitalized for ACS without HF in relation to BB on admission, and 1‐year mortality in relation to BB on discharge. Among the 7903 participants, 7407 did not have HF, of whom 5937 (80.15%) patients were on BB. Patients on BB tended to be older and have more comorbidities. However, they had a lower risk of in‐hospital mortality, mitral regurgitation, HF, cardiogenic shock, and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation. Furthermore, 4208 patients were discharged alive and had an ejection fraction ≥40%. Among those, 84.1% had a BB prescription. At 12 months, they also had a reduced risk of mortality as compared with the non‐BB group. Even after correcting for confounding factors in 2 different models, in‐hospital and 12‐month mortality risk was still lower in the BB group. Conclusions In this cohort of ACS, BB therapy before admission for ACS is associated with decreased in‐hospital mortality and major cardiovascular events, and 1‐year mortality in patients without HF or left ventricular dysfunction if still prescribed on discharge.

Bentall Procedure for an Adult Patient with Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis and Coronary Aneurysms

We describe the surgical management of a 35‐year‐old male with multiple coronary aneurysms and a diffuse form of supravalvular aortic stenosis who presented with acute myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction. The patient underwent a Bentall procedure with left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery bypass grafting with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass utilizing the right axillary artery for arterial cannulation. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12119 (J Card Surg 2013;28:394–396)