Cohort Studies – ABC CARDIOL

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Original Article

Atrial Cardiomyopathy Detected by Electrocardiogram: Association with Stroke in a Brazilian Electronic Cohort

Filipe Antunes de Lêu et al. Gabriela Miana de Mattos Paixão Ana Cecilia Oliveira Carla Paula Moreira Soares … Paulo R. Gomes Peter Macfarlane Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro

Abstract

Background

Atrial cardiomyopathy (AC) is a condition detectable by electrocardiogram (ECG) that may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of the etiology of strokes, independently of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives

To evaluate the association between ECG markers of AC (prolonged P-wave duration >120 ms and P-terminal force in V1 (PTFV1) >4,000 µV·ms) as well as the occurrence of mortality and hospitalization due to stroke.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients from Belo Horizonte who underwent ECGs between 2006 and 2018. Patients aged ≥40 years, in sinus rhythm, and without a previous history of stroke at baseline ECG were included. Clinical and ECG data were linked to mortality (SIM) and hospitalization (SIH) public databases. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), and incremental adjustment models for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and left ventricular hypertrophy were employed. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

245,588 patients were included. 26.3% had prolonged P-wave duration >120 ms, and 10.1% had elevated PTFV1 >4,000 µV·ms. Mean follow-up duration was 3.5 years. AC was associated with mortality and hospitalization due to stroke (HR 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12–1.36 for P-wave duration >120 ms; p4,000 µV·ms; p<0.001).

Conclusion

ECG markers of AC are associated with death or hospitalization due to stroke, as well as cardiovascular mortality and incident AF in a large, representative Brazilian cohort, highlighting their prognostic value.

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Original Article

Left and Right Ventricular Strain in an Adult Brazilian Population from ELSA-Brasil Study: Reference Values and their Determinants

Eduardo Gatti Pianca et al. Murilo Foppa Giulia Bevilacqua Schmitz Wilson Cañon-Montañez … Bruce Bartholow Duncan Angela Barreto Santiago Santos

Abstract

Background

Impaired left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular functions are important predictors of cardiovascular risk. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) provides superior sensitivity for assessing systolic function compared to traditional parameters, enhancing diagnostic accuracy in various cardiac conditions. However, GLS reference values in diverse populations are lacking.

Objectives

To establish reference values for LVGLS and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) in a Brazilian multiethnic population without cardiovascular risk factors or disease. We also explore how clinical and echocardiographic factors influence GLS distribution, addressing a gap in global guidelines that often rely on data from homogeneous or geographically distant populations.

Methods

We included 1,048 participants from the ELSA-Brasil cohort who underwent echocardiography with GLS analysis. A healthy subsample (n = 527) was defined by excluding individuals with cardiovascular or renal disease, hypertension, or diabetes to establish GLS reference ranges. The prevalence of abnormal GLS was assessed, and factors associated with reduced LVGLS and RVFWLS were identified. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

Results

In the healthy subsample (mean age 50.2 years, 59% female), mean LVGLS was 19.0% (95% confidence interval: 14.3 to 23.8) and RVFWLS was 28.3% (95% confidence interval: 22.3 to 34.3). Females exhibited higher LVGLS and RVFWLS values than males, with no significant age-related differences. Abnormal LVGLS and RVFWLS were observed in 3.8% and 1.6% of participants, respectively. Lower LVGLS was associated with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes; reduced RVFWLS correlated with higher body mass index and LV mass.

Conclusions

We propose reference values for LVGLS and RVFWLS in a large Brazilian cohort, highlighting associations with cardiovascular comorbidities and ventricular structure.

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Letter to the Editor

Prediction of Rehospitalization in Cardiac Bypass Surgery

Antônio Rafael Alves de Sá et al. Victoria Alves Prado Mateus Augusto Felix de Melo Pâmela Marillac Rodrigues Feijó de Melo … Maria Clara Filgueira Borba Achilles de Souza Andrade Jorge Fernando Pereira Silva Johnnatas Mikael Lopes

Coronary artery disease, a cardiovascular disease in which there is obstruction of blood flow in the myocardial vessels, causes a large number of deaths in Brazil every year. Myocardial revascularization surgery, associated with antiplatelet, lipid-lowering, and RAAS blocker medications, is the best option for treating and preventing new cases of vascular flow obstruction, thus allowing the restoration of ventricular function, reduction of angina and prevention of acute myocardial infarction. Thus, it has clinical and surgical importance, as it allows the treatment of multiple obstructions and improves patient survival.^,

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most frequently used revascularization procedure in patients with coronary disease and is performed both electively and in acute situations. Unplanned rehospitalizations can be considered an adverse outcome for patients and may be related to complications of the PCI procedure or hospital treatment. Therefore, they are often used as an indicator of the quality of care provided. It is estimated that 1 in 7 patients undergoing PCI are readmitted within 30 days.

[…]

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Letter to the Editor

Death by Covid-19 in Individuals with Hypertension and Overweight: Can Diabetes be a Risk Factor?

Nayara Ribeiro Máximo de Almeida et al. Brenda dos Santos Teixeira Breno Rennan de Souza Carvalho Egidio Bezerra da Silva Neto … Maria Alice Leitão Araújo de Melo Júlio Martinez Santos Johnnatas Mikael Lopes

In China, December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rapidly evolved into a pandemic. The S protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2), which is part of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), to serve as a cell-entry receptor. These receptors are widely expressed in the heart, intestines, kidneys, pancreas and respiratory tract.

The RAAS is a signaling pathway that acts as a homeostatic regulator of vascular function, responsible for blood pressure control. ACE 2 is an enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of Angiotensin II into Angiotensin (1-7), Angiotensin I into Angiotensin (1-9) and participates in the hydrolysis of other peptides. Thus, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE) and Angiotensin 2 AT1 Receptor Blockers (ARB) have been extensively studied due to the possibility of increasing ACE expression 2.

[…]

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Original Article

The Impact of Education on All-cause Mortality Following St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI): Results from the Brazilian Heart Study

Joaquim Barreto et al. Jose Carlos Quinaglia e Silva Andrei C. Sposito Luiz Sergio Carvalho

Abstract

Background

Low schooling has been considered an important modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease for a long time. Despite that, whether this factor impacts the outcomes following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is poorly understood.

Objective

To investigate whether schooling stands as an independent risk factor for mortality in STEMI patients.

Methods

STEMI-diagnosed patients were consecutively enrolled from a prospective cohort (Brasilia Heart Study) and categorized according to years of study quartiles (0-3, 4-5, 6-10 and >10 years). Groups were compared by student’s t test for continuous variables and qui-square for categorical. Incidence of all-cause mortality was compared with Kaplan-Meyer with Cox regression adjusted by age, gender, and GRACE score. Values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. SPSS21.0 was used for all analysis.

Results

The mean schooling duration was 6.63±4.94 years. During the follow-up period (mean: 21 months; up to 6.8 years), 83 patients died (cumulative mortality of 15%). Mortality rate was higher among the lowest quartile compared to those in the highest quartile [18.5 vs 6.8%; HR 2.725 (95% CI: 1.27-5.83; p=0.01)]. In multivariate analysis, low schooling has lost statistical significance for all-cause mortality after adjustment for age and gender, with HR of 1.305 (95% CI: 0.538-3.16; p=0.556), and after adjustment by GRACE score with an HR of 1.767 (95% CI: .797-3.91; p=0.161).

Conclusion

Low schooling was not an independent risk factor for mortality in STEMI patients.

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Brief Communication

Thrombocytopenia-Related Problems in Patients with Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation Requiring Antithrombotic Prevention: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Renato De Vecchis et al. Andrea Paccone Silvia Soreca

Abstract

Low-dose edoxaban and enoxaparin sodium have been the subject of a retrospective comparison implemented with the propensity score technique in order to mitigate the effects of the differences in the basal clinical features of two cohorts and minimize the risk of bias.

Subsequently, using a Cox proportional-hazards model, the association of each type of therapy with the risk of the composite of all-cause death, stroke/transient ischemic attack, hospitalizations and major bleeding events was assessed. For this analysis, a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Therapy with enoxaparin and liver cirrhosis as causing thrombocytopenia were associated with increased risk of the composite endpoint (enoxaparin: hazard ratio (HR): 3.31; 95% CI: 1.54 to 7.13; p = 0.0023; liver cirrhosis, HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.002 to 1.089; p = 0.0410). Conversely, edoxaban therapy was significantly associated with decreased risk of the composite endpoint (HR: 0.071; 95% CI: 0.013 to 0.373; p = 0.0019). Based on this retrospective analysis, edoxaban at low doses would appear as an effective and safe pharmacological tool for the prophylaxis of cardioembolic events in patients with AF and thrombocytopenia.

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Original Article

Discrepancy between International Guidelines on the Criteria for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Beatriz Piva e Mattos et al. Fernando Luís Scolari Henrique Iahnke Garbin

Abstract

Background

Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is based on different algorithms proposed by the 2011 ACCF/AHA and 2014 ESC guidelines.

Objective

To analyze the 2014 ESC model for SCD risk stratification and primary prevention ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) in HCM in comparison to the North American guideline.

Methods

An HCM cohort was evaluated and the ESC HCM-Risk SCD score was calculated. Agreement of ICD recommendations criteria between the two guidelines was analyzed with Kappa coefficient. P<0.05 was adopted for the statistical analysis.

Results

In 90 consecutive patients followed for 6±3 years, the mean calculated ESC risk score was 3.2±2.5%. The risk predictors that have mainly contributed to the score calculation in the low (1.88% [1.42–2.67]), intermediate (5.17% [4.89–5.70]) and high-risk (7.82% [7.06–9.19]) categories were: maximal left ventricular wall thickness (1.60% [1.25–2.02]; 3.20% [3.18–3.36]; 4.46% [4.07–5.09]), left atrial diameter (0.97% [0.83–1.21]; 1.86% [1.67-2.40]; 2.48% [2.21–3.51]) and age (-0.91% [0.8–1.13]; -1.90% [1.12–2.03]; -2.34% [1.49–2.73]). The European model decreased the ICD recommendations in 32 (36%) patients. Among the 43 (48%) individuals with class IIa recommendation under the 2011 ACCF/AHA guideline, 8 (18%) were downgraded to class IIb and 24 (56%) to class III. Low agreement was found between the two systems: Kappa=0.355 and p=0.0001. In 8 (9%) patients with SCD or appropriate shock, 4 (50%) met class IIa indication with the 2011 ACCF/AHA guideline, but none achieved this class of recommendation with the 2014 ESC model.

Conclusion

Low agreement was found between the two strategies. The novel ESC model decreased the ICD recommendations, especially in those with class IIa recommendation, but left unprotected all patients with SCD or appropriate shock. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(2):197-204)

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Original Article

Prevalence of Malnutrition and Its Association with Clinical Complications in Hospitalized Cardiac Patients: Retrospective Cohort Study

Natally Gonçalves de Ávila et al. Juliana Umbelino Carneiro Fernanda Donner Alves Izabele Vian da Silveira Corrêa Juliana Paludo Vallandro

Abstract

Background

Malnutrition can affect the clinical course of hospitalized patients, increasing hospital stay, infections, mortality, and hospital costs. Among heart disease patients, the malnutrition prevalence ranges from 25 to 51.9%.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with clinical complications in cardiac patients admitted to a cardiology hospital.

Method

Retrospective cohort study with patients evaluated within 48 hours of admission to the ward of a referral center for cardiology in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Patients were aged 18 years or older. Malnutrition was assessed by Subjective Global Assessment. Length of hospital stay, transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital discharge and in-hospital death were collected from medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 22.0 program. Comparisons between groups with and without malnutrition were made by unpaired Student’s t-test and chi-square test with adjusted residuals, and multivariate Poisson regression used for analysis of outcomes. The significance level considered was 5%.

Results

We evaluated 130 patients aged 63 ± 13 years, 63% were male, and the most frequent cause of hospitalization was angina (25%). The prevalence of malnutrition was 27% and, after statistical adjustment for age, malnutrition was positively associated with ICU transfer and length of hospital stay longer than seven days.

Conclusion

The prevalence of malnutrition found in this sample was 27% and this nutritional diagnosis was positively associated with ICU transfer and length of hospital stay longer than seven days. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

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Letter to the Editor

Longitudinal Data and Correlated Measures Bias: The Alternative of Mixed Models

Johnnatas Mikael Lopes et al. Marcello Barbosa O.G. Guedes Rafael Limeira Cavalcanti Clecio Gabriel de Souza

Longitudinal studies have two important data typologies: single outcomes or repeated measures. Single outcome, such as death or disease onset, should have a different data treatment than those studies with repeated measures outcome. But, they have in common the detection of changes over time and the contributing factors for this change. Cohort differs from cross-sectional studies that desire only variables relationshiP , without causal effect.

Fernandes et al. wrote an article entitled The RelationshiP between Lifestyle and Costs Related to Medicine Use in Adults, published in this journal, volume 112, number 6, 2019, and they used behavioral independent variables to estimate their effects on drug costs outcome, collected as repeated measurements in a prospective cohort design.

[…]

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Original Article

High Level of Lipoprotein(a) as Predictor for Recurrent Heart Failure in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: a Cohort Study

Jianlong Yan et al. Yanbin Pan Junhui Xiao Wenxue Ma … Li Li Mingjiang Zhong Haiquan Long Fanliang Kong Wenming Shao

Abstract

Background:

Elevated plasma levels of Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are recognized as a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease. However, there are limited data regarding association between Lp(a) and recurrent heart failure (HF) in patients with chronic HF caused by coronary heart disease (CHD).

Objective:

Elevated levels of Lp(a) might have a prognostic impact on recurrent HF in patients with chronic HF caused by CHD.

Methods:

A total of 309 patients with chronic HF caused by CHD were consecutively enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether Lp(a) levels were above or below the median level for the entire cohort (20.6 mg/dL): the high Lp(a) group (n = 155) and the low Lp(a) group (n = 154). A 2-sided p < 0.05 was statistically considered significant.

Results:

During the median follow-up period of 186 days, 31 cases out of a total of 309 patients (10.03%) could not be reached during follow-up. A Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with higher Lp(a) levels had a higher incidence of recurrent HF than those with lower Lp(a) levels (log-rank < 0.0001). A multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that Lp(a) levels were independently correlated with the incidence of recurrent HF after adjustment of potential confounders (hazard ratio: 2.720, 95 % confidence interval: 1.730-4.277, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

In Chinese patients with chronic HF caused by CHD, elevated levels of Lp(a) are independently associated with recurrent HF.

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Editorial

Cohort Studies with Mortality Data from the Brazilian Population: a Rising National Requirement

Thiago Veiga Jardim

Cohort studies assessing mortality predictors are extremely important to determine public health priorities and are a central issue in clinical decision making. These studies are particularly relevant in low-to-middle income countries whereas resources addressed to health care are limited and can be better managed. Nevertheless, traditionally epidemiological studies assessing the impact of different risk factors on mortality have historically been conducted in high-income countries.

Results from cohort studies conducted in the developed world have been extrapolated and widely used in developing countries. This can be an issue given population and disease management differences, reinforcing the need to increase publications of long-term follow-up cohort studies with mortality data from low-to-middle income countries.

[…]

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Editorial

Nonfunctioning Adrenal Incidentalomas: The Search for Subclinical Cardiac Alterations

José Luiz Barros Pena

By definition, an adrenal incidentaloma (AI) is an asymptomatic adrenal mass detected incidentally on imaging examination not performed for suspected adrenal diseases. The prevalence of AI has been estimated to be as high as 4.2% upon evaluation of abdomen or thorax by computed tomography (CT) scans. In most cases (85%), AIs are nonfunctioning.

In this issue of Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, Sokmen et al. selected patients (Pts) following the European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors. After confirming the presence of an adrenal adenoma through imaging tests, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging, they excluded Cushing Syndrome through 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST), pheochromocytoma by urinary fractionated metanephrine test, and primary aldosteronism.

[…]

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Original Article

Acute Myocardial Infarction and Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at Night Time

Roberto Ramos Barbosa et al. Felipe Bortot Cesar Denis Moulin dos Reis Bayerl Renato Giestas Serpa … Vinicius Fraga Mauro Walkimar Ururay Gloria Veloso Roberto de Almeida Cesar Pedro Abilio Ribeiro Reseck

Abstract

Background:

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred treatment in ST-elevation myocardial infarction. At night period, the delay until performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention may be determinant to prognosis worsening.

Objective:

To analyze the results of primary percutaneous coronary intervention performed at day and night periods.

Methods:

Cohort study that included patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention from December 2013 until December 2016 in a ST-elevation myocardial infarction reference hospital of a metropolitan region in Brazil, followed from admission to hospital discharge or death, compared according to time of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (night or day). Statistical analysis comprehended the Chi-square test, the Fisher test, the Student’s t-test and the analysis of variance, with significance level of 5%.

Results:

446 patients were submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention, 159 (35.6%) at night time and 287 (64.4%) at day time. No differences were found between the two groups concerning clinical baseline characteristics. Door-to-balloon time (101 ± 81 minutes vs. 99 ± 78 minutes; p = 0,59) and onset-to-ballon time (294 ± 158 minutes vs. 278 ± 174 minutes; p = 0,32) did not differ between the groups. The incidence of combined major adverse cardiac events (15.1% vs. 14.3%; p = 0,58) and in-hospital mortality (9.4% vs. 8.0%; p = 0,61) were similar between the groups, as well as length of hospital stay (6.0 ± 4 days vs. 4.9 ± 4 days; p = 0,91).

Conclusion:

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention at night time showed similar results as the procedure performed at day time, without significant increase of in-hospital adverse events, length of stay or mortality.

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Original Article

Predictors of Total Mortality and Echocardiographic Response for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Cohort Study

Guilherme Ferreira Gazzoni et al. Matheus Bom Fraga Andres Di Leoni Ferrari Pablo da Costa Soliz … Anibal Pires Borges Eduardo Bartholomay Carlos Antonio Abunader Kalil Vanessa Giaretta Luis Eduardo Paim Rohde

Abstract

Background:

Clinical studies demonstrate that up to 40% of patients do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), thus, appropriate patient selection is critical to the success of CRT in heart failure.

Objective:

Evaluation of mortality predictors and response to CRT in the Brazilian scenario.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study including patients submitted to CRT in a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil from 2008 to 2014. Survival was assessed through a database of the State Department of Health (RS). Predictors of echocardiographic response were evaluated using Poisson regression. Survival analysis was performed by Cox regression and Kaplan Meyer curves. A two-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 170 patients with an average follow-up of 1011 ± 632 days were included. The total mortality was 30%. The independent predictors of mortality were age (hazard ratio [HR] of 1.05, p = 0.027), previous acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (HR of 2.17, p = 0.049) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (HR of 3.13, p = 0.015). The percentage of biventricular stimulation at 6 months was identified as protective factor of mortality ([HR] 0.97, p = 0.048). The independent predictors associated with the echocardiographic response were absence of mitral insufficiency, presence of left bundle branch block and percentage of biventricular stimulation.

Conclusion:

Mortality in patients submitted to CRT in a tertiary hospital was independently associated with age, presence of COPD and previous AMI. The percentage of biventricular pacing evaluated 6 months after resynchronizer implantation was independently associated with improved survival and echocardiographic response.

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Original Article

Electrocardiographic Findings in Brazilian Adults without Heart Disease: ELSA-Brasil

Marcelo Martins Pinto Filho et al. Luisa C. C. Brant José Luiz Padilha-da-Silva Murilo Foppa … Paulo A. Lotufo José Geraldo Mill Paulo R. Vasconcelo-Silva Maria da Conceição C. Almeida Sandhi Maria Barreto Antônio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro

Abstract

Background:

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is widely used in population-based studies. However, there are few studies on electrocardiographic findings in Latin America and in Brazil. The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) comprised 15,105 participants (35-74 years) from six Brazilian capitals.

Objectives:

To describe electrocardiographic findings in Brazilian adults without heart disease, stratified by sex, age and race/skin color.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study with baseline data of 11,094 adults (44.5% men) without heart disease from ELSA-Brasil. The ECGs were recorded with the Burdick Atria 6100 machine and stored at the Pyramis System. ECG analysis was automatically performed using the Glasgow University software. A descriptive analysis of heart rate (HR), P, QRS and T waves’ duration, PR and QT intervals, and P, R and T axes was performed. After stratification by sex, race/color and age, the groups were compared by the Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis test at a significance level of 5%. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the behavior of electrocardiographic parameters over age. Major electrocardiographic abnormalities defined by the Minnesota code were manually revised.

Results:

Medians values of the electrocardiographic parameters were different between men and women: HR 63 vs. 66 bpm, PR 164 vs.158 ms, QT corrected 410 vs. 421 ms, QRS duration 92 vs. 86 ms, P-wave duration 112 vs. 108 ms, P-wave axis 54 vs. 57 degrees, R-wave axis 35 vs. 39 degrees, T-wave axis 39 vs. 45 degrees (p < 0.001 for all). The 2^nd and the 98^th percentiles of each variable were also obtained, and graphs were constructed to illustrate the behavior of the electrocardiographic findings over age of participants stratified by sex and race/skin color.

Conclusions:

The values for the electrocardiographic measurements herein described can be used as reference for Brazilian adults free of heart disease, stratified by sex. Our results suggest that self-reported race/skin color have no significant influence on electrocardiographic parameters.

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Original Article

Predictors of Mediastinitis Risk after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Applicability of Score in 1.322 Cases

Fabiana dos Santos Oliveira et al. Letícia Delfino Oliveira de Freitas Eneida Rejane Rabelo-Silva Laura Maggi da Costa … Renato Abdala Karam Kalil Maria Antonieta Pereira de Moraes

Abstract

Background:

Mediastinitis is a severe surgical complication of low incidence, but high lethality. Scores used in the preoperative period to stratify the risk of postoperative mediastinitis may contribute to improve the results.

Objective:

To test the applicability of the MagedanzSCORE in predicting the risk factors for mediastinitis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting at a cardiology reference hospital.

Methods:

Historical cohort study with adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. The analyzed variables were contemplated in the MagedanzSCORE: reoperation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, class IV unstable angina, polytransfusion therapy, mediastinitis and death as outcome variables.

Results:

Of the 1.322 patients examined, 56 (4.2%) developed mediastinitis. Of these, 26 (46.4%) were classified as high risk for mediastinitis and 15 (26.8%) at very high risk for mediastinitis. Three of the five variables of the Magendanz Score showed statistically significant differences: reoperation, COPD and obesity. Class IV unstable angina and postoperative polytransfusion were not associated with mediastinitis after coronary artery by-pass grafting. The area under the ROC curve was 0.80 (CI 95% 0.73 – 0.86), indicating the model’s satisfactory ability to predict the occurrence of mediastinitis.

Conclusion:

The tool was useful in the preoperative assessment demonstrating the risk for mediastinitis in this population of intensive care patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2017; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

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Original Article

Hypertriglyceridemic Waist Phenotype and Changes in the Fasting Glycemia and Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents Over One-Year Follow-Up Period

Priscila Ribas de Farias Costa et al. Ana Marlúcia Oliveira Assis Carla de Magalhães Cunha Emile Miranda Pereira … Gabriela dos Santos de Jesus Lais Eloy Machado da Silva Wilanne Pinheiro de Oliveira Alves

Abstract

Background:

The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTW) phenotype is defined as the simultaneous presence of increased waist circumference (WC) and serum triglycerides (TG) levels and it has been associated with cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents.

Objective:

The objective was to evaluate the influence of HTW phenotype in the fasting glycemia and blood pressure in children and adolescents over one-year follow-up period.

Methods:

It is a cohort study involving 492 children and adolescents from 7 to 15 years old, both genders, who were submitted to anthropometric, biochemical and clinical evaluation at the baseline, and also after 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were calculated to evaluate the longitudinal influence of the HTW phenotype in the glycemia and blood pressure over one-year.

Results:

It was observed a prevalence of 10.6% (n = 52) of HTW phenotype in the students. The GEE models identified that students with HTW phenotype had an increase of 3.87 mg/dl in the fasting glycemia mean (CI: 1.68-6.05) and of 3.67mmHg in the systolic blood pressure (SBP) mean (CI: 1.55-6.08) over one-year follow-up, after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that HTW phenotype is a risk factor for longitudinal changes in glycemia and SBP in children and adolescents over one-year follow-up period.

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Original Article

Ankle-Brachial Index as a Predictor of Mortality in Hemodialysis: A 5-Year Cohort Study

Jair Baptista Miguel et al. Jorge Paulo Strogoff de Matos Jocemir Ronaldo Lugon

Abstract

Background:

Abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) has been found to be a strong predictor of mortality in some hemodialysis populations in studies with relatively short periods of follow-up, lower than 2 years.

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the predictive value of abnormal ABI as a risk factor for death among patients on maintenance hemodialysis after a 5-year follow-up.

Methods:

A total of 478 patients on hemodialysis for at least 12 months were included in the study. ABI measurement was performed using a mercury column sphygmomanometer and portable Doppler. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to ABI (low: 1.3) and followed for a 60-month period.

Results:

The prevalence rates of low, normal and high ABI were 26.8%, 64.6% and 8.6%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was lower in the groups with low ABI (44.1%, P<0.0001) and high ABI (60.8%, P= 0.025) than in the group with normal ABI (71.7%). Cox regression was used to evaluate the association between ABI and mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. Using normal ABI as reference, a low, but not a high ABI was found to be an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR2.57; 95% CI, 1.84-3.57 and HR 1.62; 95% CI, 0.93-2.83, respectively).

Conclusions:

long-term survival rates of patients with either low or high ABI were lower than the one from those with normal ABI. However, after adjustment for potential confounders, only low ABI persisted as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality among hemodialysis patients.

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Original Article

Effectiveness of Medical and Revascularization Procedures as the Initial Strategy in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: A Cohort Study

Mariana Vargas Furtado et al. Gustavo Neves de Araujo Mariana Ferreira Jost Andre Dias Americo … Nicolas Peruzzo Guilherme Nasi Guilherme Heiden Telo Flavia Kessler Borges Carisi Anne Polanczyk

Abstract

Background:

Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are widely-used strategies in the management of stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective:

To evaluate the prognosis of patients with stable CAD initially treated by medical therapy (MT), compared to the patients who were submitted to revascularization procedures.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 560 patients from an outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital, with a mean follow-up of 5 years. Patients were classified into MT (n = 288), PCI (n = 159) and CABG (n=113) groups according to their initial treatment strategy. Primary endpoints were overall mortality and combined events of death, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke.

Results:

During follow-up, death rates were 11.1% in MT, 11.9% in PCI and 15.9% in CABG patients, with no statistical difference (hazard ratio [HR] for PCI, 1.05; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.59 to 1.84; and HR for CABG, 1.20; 95% CI: 0.68 to 2.15). Combined outcomes occurred more often among patients initially submitted to PCI compared to MT (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.14), and did not differ between MT and CABG patients (HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.83). Among patients with diabetes (n=198), PCI was the only therapeutic strategy predictive of combined outcomes (HR 2.14; 95% CI 1.25 to 3.63).

Conclusion:

In this observational study of stable coronary artery disease, there was no difference in overall mortality between initial medical therapy or revascularization surgery strategies. Patients initially treated with PCI had greater chance to develop combined major cardiovascular events.

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Original Article

Multiprofessional Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Very Elderly Patients

Luciana Muniz Sanches Siqueira Veiga Jardim et al. Thiago Veiga Jardim Weimar Kunz Sebba Barroso de Souza Camila Dutra Pimenta … Ana Luiza Lima Sousa Paulo César Brandão Veiga Jardim

Abstract

Background:

As the world population ages, patients older than 80 years, known as very elderly, are more frequently found. There are no studies in this age group aimed at analyzing the multidisciplinary intervention in the treatment of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and some comorbidities.

Objectives:

To assess the effect of a multidisciplinary approach in very elderly hypertensives cared for at a specialized service.

Methods:

Longitudinal retrospective cohort study in a multidisciplinary service specialized in the SAH treatment in the Brazilian West-Central region. Patients aged 80 years and older by June 2015 were included. Data from the first (V1) and last visit (Vf) were assessed. Anthropometric variables, blood pressure (BP), renal function, pharmacological treatment, lifestyle, comorbidities and cardiovascular events were studied, comparing data from V1 and Vf. Controlled BP was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) lower than 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) lower than 90 mm Hg. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSSR software, version 21.0. Values of p<0,05 were considered significant.

Results:

Data of 71 patients were assessed with a mean follow-up time of 15,22 years. Their mean age at V1 was 69.2 years, and, at Vf, 84.53 years, and 26.8% of them were males. There was a significant reduction in mean SBP (157.3 x 142.1 mm Hg; p<0.001) and DBP (95.1 x 77.8 mm Hg; p<0.001), with an increase in BP control rates from V1 to Vf (36.6 x 83.1%; p<0.001). The number of antihypertensive drugs used increased (1.49 x 2.85; p<0.001), with an increase in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (22.5 x 46.5%; p=0.004), angiotensin II receptor blockers (4.2 x 35.2%; p<0.001) and calcium-channel blockers (18.3 x 67.6%; p<0.001). There was a reduction in total cholesterol (217.9 x 191 mg/dL; p<0.001) and LDL-cholesterol (139.6 x 119.0 mg/dL; p<0.001), but worsening of the glomerular filtration rate (62.5 x 45.4 mL/min; p<0.001).

Conclusion:

The multidisciplinary intervention in very elderly hypertensives increased BP control rate, with optimization of the pharmacological treatment.

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Original Article

Time-To-Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome and Unit of First Contact in the ERICO Study

Rafael Caire de Oliveira dos Santos et al. Alessandra Carvalho Goulart Alan Loureiro Xavier Kisukuri Rodrigo Martins Brandão … Debora Sitnik Henrique Lane Staniak Marcio Sommer Bittencourt Paulo Andrade Lotufo Isabela Martins Bensenor Itamar de Souza Santos

Abstract

Background:

To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the influence of the unit of the first contact on the frequency and time of pharmacological treatment during an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event.

Objectives:

The main objective was to investigate if the unit of first contact influenced the frequency and time of aspirin treatment in the Strategy of Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ERICO) study.

Methods:

We analyzed the pharmacological treatment time in 830 ERICO participants – 700 individuals for whom the hospital was the unit of first contact and 130 who initially sought primary care units. We built logistic regression models to study whether the unit of first contact was associated with a treatment time of less than three hours.

Results:

Individuals who went to primary care units received the first aspirin dose in those units in 75.6% of the cases. The remaining 24.4% received aspirin at the hospital. Despite this finding, individuals from primary care still had aspirin administered within three hours more frequently than those who went to the hospital (76.8% vs 52.6%; p<0.001 and 100% vs. 70.7%; p=0.001 for non ST-elevation ACS and ST-elevation myocardial infarction, respectively). In adjusted models, individuals coming from primary care were more likely to receive aspirin more quickly (odds ratio: 3.66; 95% confidence interval: 2.06-6.51).

Conclusions:

In our setting, individuals from primary care were more likely to receive aspirin earlier. Enhancing the ability of primary care units to provide early treatment and safe transportation may be beneficial in similar settings.

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Original Article

Syntax Score and Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease: Results from a Cohort Study in a University-Affiliated Hospital in Southern Brazil

Felipe C. Fuchs et al. Jorge P. Ribeiro Flávio D. Fuchs Marco V. Wainstein … Luis C. Bergoli Rodrigo V. Wainstein Vanessa Zen Alessandra C. Kerkhoff Leila B. Moreira Sandra C. Fuchs

Abstract

Background:

The importance of coronary anatomy in predicting cardiovascular events is well known. The use of traditional anatomical scores in routine angiography, however, has not been incorporated to clinical practice. SYNTAX score (SXscore) is a scoring system that estimates the anatomical extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). Its ability to predict outcomes based on a baseline diagnostic angiography has not been tested to date.

Objective:

To evaluate the performance of the SXscore in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients referred for diagnostic angiography.

Methods:

Prospective cohort of 895 patients with suspected CAD referred for elective diagnostic coronary angiography from 2008 to 2011, at a university-affiliated hospital in Brazil. They had their SXscores calculated and were stratified in three categories: no significant CAD (n = 495), SXscore_{LOW-INTERMEDIATE}: < 23 (n = 346), and SXscore_HIGH: ≥ 23 (n = 54). Primary outcome was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and late revascularization. Secondary endpoints were the components of MACE and death from any cause.

Results:

On average, patients were followed up for 1.8 ± 1.4 years. The primary outcome occurred in 2.2%, 15.3%, and 20.4% in groups with no significant CAD, SXscore_{LOW-INTERMEDIATE}, and SXscore_HIGH, respectively (p < 0.001). All-cause death was significantly higher in the SXscore_HIGH compared with the ‘no significant CAD’ group, 16.7% and 3.8% (p < 0.001), respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, all outcomes remained associated with the SXscore.

Conclusions:

SXscore independently predicts MACE in patients submitted to diagnostic coronary angiography. Its routine use in this setting could identify patients with worse prognosis.

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Original Article

A Prospective Cohort Study on Cardiotoxicity of Adjuvant Trastuzumab Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Erika Matos et al. Borut Jug Rok Blagus Branko Zakotnik

Abstract

Background:

Cardiotoxicity is an important side effect of trastuzumab therapy and cardiac surveillance is recommended.

Objectives:

The aim of our study was to prospectively assess baseline patients’ characteristics, level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic parameters as possible predictors of trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction.

Methods:

In a prospective cohort study, clinical, echocardiographic and neurohumoral assessment was performed at baseline, after 4, 8 and 12 months in breast cancer patients undergoing post-anthracycline (3-4 cycles) adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab. Trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction was defined as a decline of ≥ 10% in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Results:

92 patients (mean age, 53.6 ± 9.0 years) were included. Patients who developed trastuzumab-related LVEF decline ≥ 10% (20.6%) during treatment had significantly higher baseline LVEF (70.7 ± 4.4%) than those without (64.8 ± 5.5%) (p = 0.0035). All other measured baseline parameters (age, body mass index, arterial hypertension, level of NT-proBNP and other echocardiographic parameters) were not identified as significant.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that baseline patient’ characteristics, level of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters, as long as they are within normal range, are not a reliable tool to predict early trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction in patients undergoing post-low dose anthracycline adjuvant trastuzumab therapy. A LVEF decline in patients with high-normal baseline level although statistically significant is not clinically relevant.

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Original Article

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Morbidity and Mortality-Related Factors: a 5-Year Experience in Brazil

André Luiz Silveira Souza et al. Constantino González Salgado Ricardo Mourilhe-Rocha Evandro Tinoco Mesquita … Luciana Cristina Lima Correia Lima Nelson Durval Ferreira Gomes de Mattos Arnaldo Rabischoffsky Francisco Eduardo Sampaio Fagundes Alexandre Siciliano Colafranceschi Luiz Antonio Ferreira Carvalho

Abstract

Background:

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has become an option for high-surgical-risk patients with aortic valve disease.

Objective:

To evaluate the in-hospital and one-year follow-up outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods:

Prospective cohort study of transcatheter aortic valve implantation cases from July 2009 to February 2015. Analysis of clinical and procedural variables, correlating them with in-hospital and one-year mortality.

Results:

A total of 136 patients with a mean age of 83 years (80-87) underwent heart valve implantation; of these, 49% were women, 131 (96.3%) had aortic stenosis, one (0.7%) had aortic regurgitation and four (2.9%) had prosthetic valve dysfunction. NYHA functional class was III or IV in 129 cases (94.8%). The baseline orifice area was 0.67 ± 0.17 cm² and the mean left ventricular-aortic pressure gradient was 47.3±18.2 mmHg, with an STS score of 9.3% (4.8%-22.3%). The prostheses implanted were self-expanding in 97% of cases. Perioperative mortality was 1.5%; 30-day mortality, 5.9%; in-hospital mortality, 8.1%; and one-year mortality, 15.5%. Blood transfusion (relative risk of 54; p = 0.0003) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (relative risk of 5.3; p = 0.036) were predictive of in-hospital mortality. Peak C-reactive protein (relative risk of 1.8; p = 0.013) and blood transfusion (relative risk of 8.3; p = 0.0009) were predictive of 1-year mortality. At 30 days, 97% of patients were in NYHA functional class I/II; at one year, this figure reached 96%.

Conclusion:

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was performed with a high success rate and low mortality. Blood transfusion was associated with higher in-hospital and one-year mortality. Peak C-reactive protein was associated with one-year mortality.

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