Yasir Parviz

Impact of frailty on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective cohort study

Background Average life expectancy is rising, resulting in increasing numbers of elderly, frail individuals presenting with coronary artery disease and requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI can be of value for this population, but little is known about the balance of benefit versus risk, particularly in the frail. Objective To determine the relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. Methods Patients undergoing PCI, for either stable angina or acute coronary syndrome, were prospectively assessed for frailty using the Canadian Study of Health and Ageing Clinical Frailty Scale. Demographics, clinical and angiographic data were extracted from the hospital database. Mortality was obtained from the Office of National Statistics. Results Frailty was assessed in 745 patients undergoing PCI. The mean age of patients was 62±12 years and 70% were males. The median frailty score was 3 (IQR 2–4). A frailty score ≥5, indicating significant frailty, was present in 81 (11%) patients. Frail patients required longer hospitalisation after PCI. Frailty was also associated with increased 30-day (HR 4.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 16.3, p=0.013) and 1 year mortality (HR 5.9, 95% CI 2.5 to 13.8, p<0.001). Frailty was a predictor of length of hospital stay and mortality, independent of age, gender and comorbidities. Conclusions A simple assessment of frailty can help predict mortality and the length of hospital stay, and may therefore guide healthcare providers to plan PCI and appropriate resources for frail patients.

Emerging cardiovascular indications of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism is a well-established treatment modality for patients with hypertension, heart failure, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) post-myocardial infarction (MI). There are emerging data showing potential benefits of MR antagonists in other cardiovascular conditions. Studies have shown association between MR activation and the development of myocardial fibrosis, coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome, and cerebrovascular diseases. This review examines the preclinical and clinical data of MR antagonists for novel indications including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death, valvular heart disease, metabolic syndrome, renal disease, and stroke. MR antagonists are not licensed for these conditions yet; however, emerging data suggest that indication for MR antagonists are likely to broaden; further studies are warranted.

Selection of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist for patients with hypertension or heart failure

Clinical trials have demonstrated morbidity and mortality benefits of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in patients with heart failure. These studies have used either spironolactone or eplerenone as the MRA. It is generally believed that these two agents have the same effects, and the data from studies using one drug could be extrapolated for the other. National and international guidelines do not generally discriminate between spironolactone and eplerenone, but strongly recommend using an MRA for patients with heart failure due to LV systolic dysfunction and post‐infarct LV systolic dysfunction. There are no major clinical trials directly comparing the efficacy of these two drugs. This article aims to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of spironolactone and eplerenone, and to analyse the available data for their cardiovascular indications and adverse effects. We have also addressed the role of special circumstances including co‐morbidities, concomitant drug therapy, cost, and licensing restrictions in choosing an appropriate MRA for a particular patient, thus combining an evidence‐based approach with personalized medicine.

Comparison of P2Y12 inhibitors for mortality and stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes: Single center study of 10 793 consecutive ‘real-world’ patients

Abstract Three oral platelet P2Y12 inhibitors, clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor, are available for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death and stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We sought to compare the efficacy of these antiplatelet drugs in contemporary practice. Data were collected for 10 793 consecutive ACS patients undergoing coronary angiography at Sheffield, UK (2009–2015). Since prasugrel use was mostly restricted to the STEMI subgroup, clopidogrel and ticagrelor were compared for all ACS patients, and all three agents were compared in the STEMI subgroup. Differences in outcomes were evaluated at 12 months by KM curves and log-rank test after adjustment for independent risk factors. Of 10 793 patients with ACS (36% STEMI), 43% (4653) received clopidogrel, 11% (1223) prasugrel and 46% (4917) ticagrelor, with aspirin for all. In the overall group, ticagrelor was associated with lower all-cause mortality compared with clopidogrel (adjusted hazard ratio (adjHR) 0.82, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.71–0.96, p = 0.01). In the STEMI subgroup, both prasugrel and ticagrelor were associated with a lower mortality compared with clopidogrel (prasugrel vs. clopidogrel: adjHR 0.65, CI 0.48–0.89, p = 0.007; ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel: adjHR 0.70, CI 0.61–0.99, p = 0.05). Of the 7595 patients who underwent PCI, 78 (1.0%) had definite stent thrombosis by 12 months. Patients treated with ticagrelor had a lower incidence of definite stent thrombosis compared with clopidogrel (0.6% vs. 1.1%; adjHR 0.51, CI 0.29–0.89, p = 0.03). In the STEMI subgroup, there was no significant difference between the three groups (ticagrelor 1.0%, clopidogrel = 1.5%, prasugrel = 1.6%; p = 0.29). In conclusion, ticagrelor was superior to clopidogrel for reduction in both mortality and stent thrombosis in unselected invasively managed ACS patients. In STEMI patients, both ticagrelor and prasugrel were associated with lower mortality compared with clopidogrel, but there was no significant difference in the incidence of stent thrombosis.

Effect of eplerenone in percutaneous coronary intervention‐treated post‐myocardial infarction patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a subanalysis of the EPHESUS trial

EPHESUS was a multicentre, double‐blind clinical trial in which 6632 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) were randomized to receive eplerenone (n = 3319) or placebo (n = 3313). A total of 1580 EPHESUS patients were treated with PCI, which is now the standard treatment for AMI. This EPHESUS substudy examined the effects of eplerenone upon cardiovascular outcomes in PCI‐treated patients.

Percutaneous brachial artery access for coronary artery procedures: Feasible and safe in the current era

BACKGROUND Percutaneous vascular access for coronary intervention is currently achieved predominately via the radial route, the femoral route acting as a backup. Percutaneous trans-brachial access is no longer commonly used due to concerns about vascular complications. This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of percutaneous brachial access when femoral and radial access was not possible. METHODS This is a retrospective data analysis of patients who attended a single tertiary cardiology centre in the UK between 2005 and 2014 and had a coronary intervention (coronary angiogram or PCI) via the brachial route. The primary endpoints were procedural success and the occurrence of vascular complications. RESULTS During the study period 26602 patients had a procedure (15655 underwent PCI and 10947 diagnostic angiography). Of these, 117 (0.44% of total) had their procedure performed via the brachial route. The procedure was successful in 96% (112/117) of cases. 13 (11%) patients experienced post procedural complications, of which 2 (1.7%) were serious. There were no deaths. CONCLUSION Percutaneous trans-brachial arterial access is feasible with a high success rate and without evidence of high complication rate in a rare group of patients in whom femoral or sometimes radial attempts have failed.

Prospective assessment of a palliative care tool to predict one-year mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background: Identifying patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are approaching the end of life and who may not benefit from an aggressive interventional approach is important but clinically challenging. The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) prognostic guide was developed using multidimensional criteria to identify cancer patients who could benefit from end-of-life care. We assessed the utility of the GSF to predict one-year mortality in ACS patients. Methods: ACS patients admitted between May 2012 and July 2013 at the three participating cardiac centres in Europe were enrolled. Patients were assessed during admission using the GSF, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score, the age, creatinine, ejection fraction (ACEF) score and the New York Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (NY-PCI) risk score. The pre-specified primary outcome was all-cause mortality at one year; secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death, non-cardiovascular mortality, re-hospitalisation for ACS and re-hospitalisation for non-ACS causes. Results: Six hundred and twenty-nine ACS patients were enrolled and one-year follow-up data was available for 626 patients. Fifty-two patients (8.3%) met GSF criteria for end-of-life care. These patients were older, predominantly female, had lower body mass index (BMI), and were less likely to receive angiography (75% vs 95%, p<0.001) and angioplasty (60% vs 77%, p=0.005) compared with patients who did not meet GSF criteria. Patients meeting GSF criteria had higher one-year all-cause mortality (42.3% vs 4.5%, p<0.001), cardiovascular mortality (15.4% vs 2.8%, p<0.001) and non-cardiovascular mortality (26.9% vs 1.7%; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that meeting GSF criteria independently predicted all-cause mortality. Conclusion: GSF is a multidimensional tool which may be used to identify ACS patients that are at high risk of death and may benefit from end-of-life care.

Repeat coronary angiography with previously normal arteries: A futile exercise?

Up to 20% of coronary angiograms reveal normal arteries. How long they stay normal is poorly understood. This study investigated the fate of normal coronary arteries and determined the rate of development of coronary artery disease.

77 Impact of Frailty on Length of Hospital Stay After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background Average life expectancy is rising, resulting in a higher proportion of elderly individuals being treated for coronary artery disease with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI has benefits for this population but relatively little is known about the balance of benefit versus risk. Current PCI risk scores, such as the New York risk score, are poor predictors for elderly patients who are often frail and suffer significant comorbidities. Objective To determine the relationship between frailty and length of hospital stay for patients undergoing PCI. Methods Patients undergoing PCI at the South Yorkshire Cardiothoracic Centre, Sheffield, between March 2012 and January 2013, were prospectively assessed for frailty using the Canadian Study of Health and Ageing Clinical Frailty Scale (1–9, where 1 is extremely fit and 9 is pre-terminal). Patient demographics, clinical features and angiographic results were extracted from the hospital database. Mortality was obtained from the Office of National Statistics. Length of stay data were collected from hospital record as the primary outcome. Results Frailty assessment was completed for 602 patients undergoing PCI. The median (with interquartile range) age of patients was 63 years (54–70), the frailty score was 3 (2–4) and 70.3% were males. Of these, 62 (10.3%) were deemed truly frail (frailty score of 5–7). Length of stay data were available for 576 patients. On multivariate analysis the independent risk factors for frailty were older age, female gender, hypertension, extent of coronary artery disease and the Charlson comorbidity index. Total length of stay significantly increased with increasing levels of frailty (Figure 1). The frailty score was a significant risk factor for increased length of stay, independently to age and the New York PCI risk score. Abstract 77 Figure 1 Median length of hospital stay (with interquartile range) for patients who were not frail was 3 days (2–6) and for those who were frail it was 5 days (3–14). This was statistically significant, Mann-Whitney U test p-value <0.001 Conclusions A simple assessment of frailty can help predict the length of hospital stay, and may therefore help clinicians and managers plan PCI and appropriate resources for vulnerable patients.

Utility of intracoronary imaging in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: comprehensive evaluation with intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography

Background Intracoronary imaging is an important tool for guiding decision making in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Sources of data We have reviewed the latest available evidence in the field to highlight the various potential benefits of intravascular imaging. Areas of agreement Coronary angiography has been considered the gold standard test to appropriately diagnose and manage patients with coronary artery disease, but it has the inherent limitation of being a 2-dimensional x-ray lumenogram of a complex 3-dimensional vascular structure. Areas of controversy There is well-established inter- and intra-observer variability in reporting coronary angiograms leading to potential variability in various management strategies. Intracoronary imaging improves the diagnostic accuracy while optimizing the results of an intervention. Utilization of intracoronary imaging modalities in routine practice however remains low worldwide. Increased costs, resources, time and expertise have been cited as explanations for low incorporation of these techniques. Growing points Intracoronary imaging supplements and enhances an operators decision-making ability based on detailed and objective lesion assessment rather than a subjective visual estimation. The benefits of intravascular imaging are becoming more profound as the complexity of cases suitable for revascularization increases. Areas timely for developing research While the clinical benefits of intravascular ultrasound have been well validated, optical coherence tomography in comparison is a newer technology, with robust clinical trials assessing its clinical benefit are underway.