Clinical Trial | By Gomez-Lara J, Brugaletta S, Ortega-Paz L et al.
OBJECTIVES - The study sought to compare the vasomotor and microcirculatory function of the infarct-related artery (IRA) between bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) and everolimus-eluting stents (EES) at 3 years. BACKGROUND - The ABSORB STEMI TROFI II study showed similar outcomes between BVS and EES in the context of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction at 3 years. ...
Clinical Trial | By KF Kofoed , H Kelbæk , PR Hansen et al.
BACKGROUND - The optimal timing of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and revascularization in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is not well defined. We tested the hypothesis, that a strategy of very early invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and possible revascularization within 12 hours of diagnosis, is superior to an invasive strategy performed within 48-72 hours in term...
Early versus delayed invasive intervention in acute coronary syndromes
Clinical Trial | By Mehta SR, Granger CB, TIMACS Investigators.
BACKGROUND - Earlier trials have shown that a routine invasive strategy improves outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation. However, the optimal timing of such intervention remains uncertain. METHODS - We randomly assigned 3031 patients with acute coronary syndromes to undergo either routine early intervention (coronary angiography < or = 24 hou...
Clinical Trial | By Choi IJ, Koh YS, Kim PJ et al.
Chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct-related artery (IRA) is an independent predictor of clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study evaluated the impact of successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTO of a non-IRA on the long-term clinical outcomes in patients with AMI. A total of 4,748 patients with AMI were consecutively enrolled in the Convergent Registry of Catholic...
Clinical Trial | By Park JY, Choi BG, Rha SW et al.
BACKGROUND - The Korean chronic total occlusion (CTO) registry was collected prospectively from 26 cardiovascular centers since May 2007. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a successful staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of CTO lesions in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients on clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS - Among 2813 patients who underwent a staged ...
2017 ACC/AHA Blood Pressure Treatment Guideline Recommendations and Cardiovascular Risk
Guideline | By LD Colantonio, JN Booth III, AP Bress et al.
BACKGROUND - The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) blood pressure (BP) guideline provides updated recommendations for antihypertensive medication initiation and intensification. OBJECTIVES - Determine the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among adults recommended and not recommended antihypertensive medication initiation or intensification...
Sex differences in discharge destination following acute myocardial infarction
Original Research | By Perl L, Peiffer V, Fuhrer AE et al.
BACKGROUND - Despite advancements in treatment, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Previous research has highlighted long-standing sex disparities in the care of these patients. However, differences in the patterns of discharge are not well described. One key parameter is the destination of discharge, and in p...
Generalizing Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment to Adults With Diabetes Mellitus
Original Research | By SA Berkowitz, JB Sussman, DE Jonas et al.
BACKGROUND - Controversy over blood pressure (BP) treatment targets for individuals with diabetes is in part due to conflicting perspectives about generalizability of available trial data. OBJECTIVES - The authors sought to estimate how results from the largest clinical trial of intensive BP treatment among adults with diabetes would generalize to the U.S. population. METHODS - ...
Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction-Is it Possible to Escape One’s Past?
Expert Opinion | By G Gulat, JE Udelson.
Among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, investigators have repeatedly identified a subgroup whose left ventricular ejection fraction and structural remodeling can improve to normal or nearly normal levels with or without medical therapy. This subgroup of patients with “heart failure with improved ejection fraction” has distinct clinical characteristics and a more favorable prognosis compared with patients who continu...
Review Article | By GA Hernandez, V Blumer, L Arcay et al.
OBJECTIVES - The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in inotrope-dependent patients with heart failure (HF) to ascertain the viability of CRT in these patients. BACKGROUND - During the last decade, significant numbers of trials have demonstrated the beneficial effect of CRT in the treatment of patients with HF and systolic dysfunction, prolonged QRS ...