How frequent and whether outcomes are worse for patients with atypical presentation in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) across the literature is not known. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on patients with ACS or acute myocardial infarction who reported whether their symptoms were atypical or typical. We determined the proportion of patients with atypical or no chest pain and used meta-analysis to evaluate predictors of atypical presentation and mortality associated with atypical presentation. A total of 43 studies were included with 1 691 401 patients (mean age: 65.4 years, 63.8% male). The proportion of patients with atypical presentation ranged from 4.6 to 74.2% while for those with no chest pain it ranged from 1.4 to 35.5%. Atypical presentation occurred in 11.6% of patients (28 studies) and no chest pain occurred in 33.6% of patients (16 studies). The three strongest factors associated with increased odds of atypical presentation or no chest pain presentation were non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [odds ratio (OR): 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55-3.64], greater Killip class (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.84-2.67), and prior heart failure (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.76-1.82). There is a two-fold increase in odds of mortality with atypical or no chest pain presentation in ACS compared with the typical presentation (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.71-2.50, I2  = 99%). Atypical presentation occurs in approximately 1 in 10 patients with ACS but can be as high as 1 in 3 in some populations. Patients who present atypically are at two-fold increased risk of mortality.

Background: Patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are at high risk for morbidity and rehospitalizations. Pharmacists can play a vital role in secondary prevention by providing services such as medication reconciliation and patient education upon discharge. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led transitions of care (TOC) service on readmissions in patients hospitalized with AMI. Methods: This single center, pre-post observational cohort study evaluated adults with AMI who received pharmacist TOC services compared with a historical cohort who did not. Patients were excluded if they underwent cardiac surgery during admission. The primary outcome was the difference in 90-day cardiovascular (CV)-related readmissions. Secondary outcomes included 30- and 90-day all-cause readmissions, 30-day CV-related readmissions, and patients discharged on defect-free guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for AMI. Results: There were 252 patients in each cohort included. No difference was found in 90-day CV readmissions, with a rate of 10.7% in the pre-TOC group versus 9.9% in the post-TOC group (OR 0.937, 95% CI [0.493, 1.769]; P = 0.842). Patients discharged on defect-free GDMT significantly increased from 61.5% pre-TOC to 87.7% post-TOC (OR 5.424, 95% CI [3.204, 9.468]; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences found in other key secondary outcomes. Conclusion and relevance: This study did not find a significant difference in hospital readmissions after implementation of a pharmacist-led TOC service. However, the service was associated with a significant increase in patients discharged on defect-free GDMT. Further studies are needed to confirm the impact of increased GDMT on clinical outcomes.

This study described the clinical and demographic characteristics of hospitalized patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and prescriptions for vitamin-K antagonists (VKA) and direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in Spain.

This was an observational, multicentric, retrospective study of patients treated with DOAC or VKA due to NVAF at cardiology services of hospitals in Spain. A registry (CARISMA) included patients hospitalized for any reason and discharged before July 1st, 2021, with a prescription for DOAC or VKA. Data was collected on demographic and clinical characteristics and anticoagulant treatments prescribed. Analyses were descriptive.

A total of 1,041 patients were included. Mean age (SD) was 77.2 (10.3) years and 57.6 % were men. The most frequent reason for hospital admission was heart failure (43.8 %) and arrhythmias (25.0 %). The mean (SD) CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.0 (1.6). Prior to admission, 75.6 % of patients had been prescribed anticoagulant treatment for NVAF. Of these, 56.0 % had received VKA and 44.0 % DOAC. At discharge, 60 % had a DOAC prescription (of these, apixaban, 37.6 %; edoxaban, 26.4 %; rivaroxaban, 25.1 %; dabigatran, 10.9 %) and 40 % a VKA. DOAC prescriptions were off-label with respect to dosing in 19-34 % of cases. Patients with off-label dosing were older and with a higher proportion of women than those with on-label doses. During hospitalization, 12.1 % of patients changed treatment, usually VKA to DOAC.

Before hospitalization, a quarter of patients with NVAF were not receiving anticoagulation medication. Hospitalization increased the proportion of patients receiving DOAC, but about a quarter of patients had off-label dosing prescriptions.

Recent evidence highlights an increasing incidence of myocardial infarction in young women. Identifying clinical multimorbidity patterns in this population may improve therapeutic strategies and clinical care.

We identified multimorbidity patterns in 9570 young women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (median age, 50 years [range, 47.0-53.0 years]) admitted to the China Chest Pain Center Database between 2016 and 2021. Hierarchical clustering of 15 medical conditions was performed to derive multimorbidity patterns. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital adverse events. Associations between multimorbidity patterns and outcomes were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Among 9570 patients, 50% (n=4789) had multimorbidity. Six multimorbidity patterns were identified, including 4 specific patterns: (1) pattern 1, cerebrovascular cluster (histories of cerebrovascular disease and hypertension); (2) pattern 2, traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors cluster (histories of hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes, and family history of cardiovascular disease and smoking); (3) pattern 3, coronary-heart failure cluster (histories of heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and thyroid dysfunction); and (4) pattern 4, anemia-renal dysfunction cluster (histories of atrial fibrillation, anemia, chronic kidney disease, and peptic ulcer). Compared with patients without multimorbidity, those with pattern 1 (odds ratio [OR], 2.29 [95% CI, 1.49-3.52]), pattern 2 (OR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.24-1.86]), and pattern 4 (OR, 2.25 [95% CI, 1.10-4.61]) exhibited higher risks for composite outcomes.

Specific multimorbidity patterns in young women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction were associated with distinct in-hospital outcomes in a nationwide registry, providing proof-of-concept evidence to guide future therapeutic approaches.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in ruling out coronary artery stenosis ≥ 70% across all segments and its role in providing preprocedural guidance for chronic total occlusion (CTO) management in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). This study was a post hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort comprising 347 patients with NSTE-ACS. All patients underwent CCTA immediately after being diagnosed with NSTE-ACS, followed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) within 1 day. The diagnostic performance of CCTA in ruling out obstructive coronary stenosis was assessed using negative predictive value (NPV). Additionally, segments distal to CTO were analyzed to compare the detection capabilities of CCTA and ICA. The NPV of CCTA for ruling out coronary stenosis ≥ 70% was robust, ranging from 94.7 to 100.0% across the 18-segment model at the segment level, and 25.9% of patients had no significant stenosis and could have avoided unnecessary ICA based on CCTA findings. CCTA identified 71.0% of segments distal to CTO, significantly higher than ICA (48.8%, P < 0.001). 25.1% of patients had CTO, where CCTA provided valuable preprocedural guidance for revascularization. CCTA demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy in ruling out significant stenosis and provided critical information for CTO revascularization, highlighting its potential as a triaging and planning tool in NSTE-ACS.

Identifying patients with chest pain that is of cardiac origin is crucial owing to the high mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases. History, electrocardiogram, and cardiac biomarkers are the core elements of the assessment. High sensitivity cardiac troponins (hs-cTn) are the preferred biomarkers for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction, allowing for more accurate detection and exclusion of myocardial injury. However, elevations in hs-cTn can occur in patients who are not experiencing acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to recognize how to integrate hs-cTn levels into their clinical decision making process. Structured risk assessments, using evidence based diagnostic protocols, should be employed to estimate the risk of acute coronary syndrome and adverse events in patients with chest pain. Clinical decision pathways should be used routinely in emergency departments. Patients at intermediate or high risk of obstructive coronary artery disease might benefit from cardiac imaging and further testing. Patients should be involved in decision making, with information provided about risks, radiation exposure, costs, and alternative options to facilitate informed decision making.

Elevated heart rate in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with increased risk of mortality. Beta-blocker therapy is well known to reduce heart rate.

This study was a post hoc analysis of patients with acute ischemic stroke with maximum heart rates ≥100 bpm. Beta-blocker use, assessed on the eighth day after the index stroke, was categorized as persistent or nonpersistent based on usage up to 39 months. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, and mortality within the first year. Long-term mortality, a secondary outcome, was tracked for up to 10 years. Among 5049 patients (women, 38%; mean age, 68.5 years), 32.1% were prescribed beta blockers by the eighth day after stroke, and 99% had prior beta-blocker use. One-year cumulative incidences of the primary outcome, stroke recurrence, and death were 27.8%, 3.5%, and 25.8%, respectively. Persistent beta-blocker use was associated with a significant reduction in the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.81 [95% CI, 0.68-0.97]) and mortality (adjusted HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.69-0.94]) from 2 months to 1 year. Extended analysis of mortality for up to 10 years showed long-term benefits of beta-blocker use. Analyses subdividing patients into persistent users, discontinuers, and never-users suggested higher early mortality risk among discontinuers and potential late survival benefits for persistent users. Subgroup analyses demonstrated greater benefits in patients <75 years, and those with atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, and higher mean heart rates.

Our study shows that continuation of beta-blocker therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke with tachycardia significantly reduces long-term mortality.

The impact of timing of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and management strategies on in-hospital outcomes among unselected all-comers with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) presents an equipoise in clinical practice.

Patients with NSTEMI from the US NIS database during 2016 to 2021 were included in the analysis. In-hospital outcomes were examined according to the timing of ICA - early (<24 h), intermediate (24-72 h), and delayed (>72 h). These outcomes included all-cause death, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), major bleeding, reinfarctions, cardiovascular complications, and stroke.

A total of 4,238,570 admissions with NSTEMI were screened of which 1,811,545 (42.7 %) received ICA. Most of patients (48.9 %) received ICA during 2nd and 3rd day following admission, whereas 32.5 % and 18.6 % received early and delayed ICA, respectively. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in 54.7 %, 47.8 %, and 37.1 % of cases among patients that underwent ICA <24 h, 24-72 h, and > 72 h, respectively. Patients receiving delayed ICA were more likely to be older, women, have more comorbidites and high-risk features. Compared to ICA <24 h, ICA performed at 24-72 h was associated with reduced odds of death (OR 0.80), MACCE (OR 0.85), reinfarction (OR 0.63), and cardiovascular complications (OR 0.89) with no difference concerning major bleeding and stroke.

<50 % of patients with NSTEMI in a contemporary nationwide US cohort receive ICA while 1 in 2 patients out of those receive PCI. ICA timing at 24-72 h appears to provide the optimal safety profile with respect to primary outcomes and complications.

Studies consistently report longer prehospital delays in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A scoping review was conducted to describe terms and methods used to define and identify CALD populations and summarize available evidence on factors related to prehospital delays in ACS studies involving CALD populations.

We searched six electronic databases for published studies and Google Scholar for grey literature to identify studies on prehospital treatment-seeking in CALD immigrants experiencing ACS. We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework for scoping review. Twenty-three studies met our eligibility criteria (quantitative n = 17; qualitative n = 6; mixed n = 1). Terms like ethnicity, migrant, or expatriate defined CALD populations. Most studies used a single indicator (e.g. country of birth) to identify CALD cohorts, and only two studies used a theoretical model related to treatment-seeking delays to guide data collection. Most factors affecting prehospital delays in CALD populations were similar to those reported in general populations. A unique finding was a difference in the language used to describe symptoms, which, when translated, changes their meaning and resulted in misinterpretation by healthcare providers [e.g. asfixiarse (translates as asphyxiate/suffocate) used for dyspnoea/shortness of breath in Hispanics].

Terms and methods used for defining and identifying CALD populations are inconsistent. Studies on factors affecting prehospital treatment-seeking in CALD ACS patients are limited. Future studies should use theoretical models related to treatment-seeking delays to comprehensively explore factors affecting prehospital delays. Additionally, researchers should consider self-reported or multiple indicators to determine CALD status.

Exercise training is a core component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programming. Exercise and, more broadly, physical activity are critical elements to secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The central components of the exercise prescription are well-defined and include frequency (how many bouts of exercise per week), intensity (how hard to exercise), time (duration of exercise session), type (modality of exercise), and progression (rate of increase in the dose of exercise). Specific targets for the volume (total amount) of exercise, however, are less well-defined. This Position Statement provides a general overview of the specific goals for the volume of aerobic exercise to optimize long-term outcomes for participants in CR. Additionally, examples are provided to illustrate how to integrate the various aspects of the exercise.

Historical data strongly supported the benefits of beta-blocker therapy following a myocardial infarction (MI) for its efficacy in reducing mortality and morbidity. However, in the context of the progressive evolution of treatment strategies for MI patients, the apparent benefit of beta-blocker therapy is becoming less clear. In particular, its effectiveness in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction is currently being challenged. Consequently, contemporary guidelines are now varying in their recommendations regarding the role of beta-blocker therapy in post-MI patients. This review aims to summarize and compare the largest and most influential studies from the prereperfusion era to modern practice regarding different health outcomes while highlighting the need for further research to clarify beta-blocker therapy's place in contemporary post-MI management.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a viable treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis among all risk subsets. As TAVR use becomes more prevalent and patients live longer with their transcatheter valve, an increasing number of these patients can be expected to present with ACS. Overall, there is a paucity of high-quality data detailing incidence, pathophysiology, and management of ACS in this subset. While most ACS cases post-TAVR are Type II myocardial infarctions (MI), the incidence of Type I MI and ST-elevation myocardial infarction is not negligible. Additionally, ACS in TAVR patients is associated with poor outcomes. While medical management is similar in this cohort to non-TAVR patients, procedural issues pose a unique challenge, especially as related to coronary access in the presence of valve prosthesis. Despite the proven benefit of invasive therapies in the management of ACS in non-TAVR patients, administrative databases suggest a lower utilization of invasive therapies in this cohort, which may highlight a disparity in care and potential for improvement. In this review, we summarize available data regarding the incidence, pathophysiology, and management of ACS in TAVR patients as well as strategies for coronary access post-TAVR.

The "2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes" incorporates new evidence since the "2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction" and the corresponding "2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Management of Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes" and the "2015 ACC/AHA/SCAI Focused Update on Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction." The "2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes" and the "2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization" retire and replace, respectively, the "2016 ACC/AHA Guideline Focused Update on Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease."

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from July 2023 to April 2024. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline.

Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) often cause rapid decline in renal and cardiac function. In patients with ACS, combined renal dysfunction is associated with increased overall mortality and cardiovascular events. Physical activity (PA) management may crucially contribute towards protection of renal function in patients with ACS. This article describes the study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing whether online support for PA management using wearable devices and information communication technology for patients with ACS facing difficulties in participating in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation after discharge can protect renal function following disease onset.

We have designed a two-arm RCT with a 3-month follow-up period. The online support intervention incorporates monitoring of PA, pulse rate, and blood pressure using a wearable device with an accelerometer and a web application system, as well as periodic educational feedback and goal setting. The primary study endpoint is the estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum cystatin C (eGFRcys). The intervention effect will be assessed using the eGFRcys at 3 months adjusted for baseline values. The secondary endpoints are the urine albumin/creatinine ratio, brain natriuretic peptide levels, average step count, peak oxygen uptake, quality of life, and incidence of adverse events.

This RCT will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of online support for PA management as a renal protection strategy following ACS onset. This novel strategy not only mitigates barriers impeding participation in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation and protects cardiac and renal function in patients with ACS, but also may contribute towards improving survival and recurrence rates, preventing dialysis, and reducing medical and long-term care costs.

The trial was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials on July 5, 2024. The registration number is jRCT1022240014 (Impact of Online Support of Physical Activity Management Using a Wearable Device on Renal Function in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome).

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate whether admission advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) values have a prognostic role on one-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Our study consisted of 1173 consecutive patients aged 61.9 ± 12.5 years. The study population was divided into two groups according to the occurrence of MACCEs. BMI (body mass index), serum albumin levels and NLR (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio) of patients were collected from hospital records, and ALI was calculated based on the following formula: BMI × serum albumin/NLR. We also calculated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) and uric acid to albumin ratio (UAR) and investigated the association of these inflammation-based biomarkers with one-year MACCEs. Results: During the 12-month follow-up period, 158 (13.5%) patients had MACCEs, 55 (4.7%) of whom had all-cause mortality, 96 (8.2%) had nonfatal MI and 7 (0.6%) had nonfatal stroke. Patients with MACCEs had significantly lower ALI (p < 0.001), and also ALI (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.658, p < 0.001) had better discriminatory power and predictive accuracy in determining one-year MACCEs compared to albumin (AUC = 0.594, p < 0.001), NLR (AUC = 0.631, p < 0.001), CAR (AUC = 0.595, p < 0.001) and UAR (AUC = 0.577, p = 0.001) in the ROC analysis. Individuals with an ALI value lower than 43.9 were at greater risk of developing MACCEs (p < 0.001) due to the Delong test. Conclusions: Determining the level of ALI may have the potential to improve risk prognostication in NSTEMI patients undergoing revascularization therapy.

This study explores the predictive value of fragmented QRS (FQRS) wave combined with the HEART score for new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) following emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A regression analysis was conducted on clinical data from AMI patients who underwent emergency PCI at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between March 2019 and October 2023. A total of 509 AMI patients without a history of atrial fibrillation were included. The presence of FQRS was determined by electrocardiogram, dividing patients into an FQRS group (303 cases) and a non-FQRS group (206 cases). HEART scores were calculated at admission, categorizing patients into low-risk (30 cases), medium-risk (220 cases), and high-risk (259 cases) groups. NOAF occurrence was observed during hospitalization and within 6 months post-discharge. The study compared the incidence of various parameters and NOAF across different groups and analyzed the ROC curves for FQRS, HEART score, and their combined predictive value for NOAF. During the 6-month follow-up, 50 out of 509 AMI patients developed NOAF. The FQRS group showed higher rates of NOAF, elevated VLDL levels, more STEMI cases, and a higher history of alcohol consumption compared to the non-FQRS group. The LVEF value was lower in the FQRS group, with these differences being statistically significant (P<0.05). NOAF occurred in 12.58% of the FQRS group, compared to 5.83% in the non-FQRS group, a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). High-risk patients had a higher incidence of NOAF than those in the medium and low-risk groups (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified FQRS and HEART scores as risk factors for short-term NOAF after emergency PCI in AMI patients (OR=2.761, 95% CI: 1.227-6.217, P=0.014; OR=1.618, 95% CI: 1.148-2.281, P=0.06). The area under the ROC curve for FQRS in predicting NOAF was 0.599 (95% CI: 0.522-0.677), for the HEART score 0.657 (95% CI: 0.584-0.730), and for the combined prediction 0.691 (95% CI: 0.617-0.764). The combined prediction model had a larger ROC curve area than either FQRS or HEART score alone. The FQRS wave and HEART score can predict NOAF in AMI patients following emergency PCI. Combining both improves predictive accuracy.

Background: Patients presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are often admitted to medical wards. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the admitting department on long-term outcomes. Methods: Patients admitted to a large tertiary center were categorized according to the admission ward, either the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) or internal medicine department (IMD). We compared major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization, along with the individual components of MACE, between the two groups during a long-term follow-up. Results: A total of 11,779 NSTEMI patients were included, with 4522 admitted to the ICCU and 7257 to the department of internal medicine. Patients admitted to the ICCU had lower systolic blood pressure, higher troponin levels and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) compared to those in the IMD group, indicating greater initial clinical severity. Although patients admitted to the ICCU experienced a significantly higher rate of in-hospital complications, there were no significant differences in the incidence of in-hospital deaths between the two groups. During 5-year follow-up, NSTEMI patients initially admitted to the ICCU had significantly lower rates of mortality and MACEs. The estimated hazard ratio for 5-year MACE and 5-year mortality rates for NSTEMI patients admitted to the IMD vs. those admitted to the ICCU were 2.03 (95% CI, 1.04-3.34) and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.10-4.38), respectively. Conclusions: NSTEMI patients admitted to the ICCU experienced lower long-term mortality and MACE rates. These findings support the management of NSTEMI patients in cardiac wards and warrant further research into the reasons for the improved outcome.

Higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

To elucidate the characteristics of coronary plaques in patients with CAD with high hsCRP levels.

A total of 793 consecutive patients with stable CAD who underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the culprit vessel during percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Patients were classified into the higher hsCRP group (hsCRP ≥0.2 mg/dL, n = 247) or lower hsCRP group (hsCRP <0.2 mg/dL, n = 546). OCT characteristics and clinical outcomes were investigated according to hsCRP levels.

The prevalence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (32.0 % vs. 20.9 %, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the higher hsCRP group than in the lower hsCRP group. The incidence of myocardial infarction was significantly higher in the higher hsCRP group than in the lower hsCRP group (log-rank p = 0.006) during a median follow-up of 938 days, although the incidence of major adverse cardiac events was comparable (log-rank p = 0.282). Among the four groups classified by hsCRP level and the presence of TCFA, the incidence of myocardial infarction was highest in the group with both higher hsCRP levels and TCFA (log-rank p = 0.017).

Higher hsCRP levels were associated with a higher prevalence of vulnerable characteristics of coronary plaques and worse clinical outcomes in patients with stable CAD. The risk of recurrent myocardial infarction in patients with high hsCRP levels was further increased in the presence of TCFA.

The study aimed to assess various characteristics of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients presenting with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Additionally, the research sought to investigate the predictive value of the coronary artery volume to myocardial mass (V/M) derived from CCTA in risk stratification for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to determine the relationship between the V/M ratio and the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score in ACS.

This was a single-center, retrospective study. The magnitude of V/M was investigated in patients with ACS (n = 168), stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n = 160), and healthy controls (n = 122) among 450 patients with suspected CAD who did not require urgent angiography. Patients underwent CCTA for 0.5-6 months (median 3.3 months) before the SAP and ACS event. All patients underwent invasive coronary angiography (ICA) at the time of the SAP and ACS event. The Mantel test was used to assess the factors influencing risk stratification in CAD. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the accuracy of the V/M ratio in predicting ACS. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to analyze the correlation between V/M and GRACE risk score, and independent predictors of high GRACE risk score were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

The Mantel test analysis shows that the key factors of ACS were left ventricle myocardial mass (M), V/M, and coronary CT angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) (p < 0.01). The V/M ratio in ACS and SAP was significantly lower than in controls (21.7 ± 6.96, 31.0 ± 9.90, vs. 43.3 ± 11.50 mm3/g; p < 0.001). Lower V/M ratios were found with the progression of CAD from SAP to unstable angina pectoris (UAP) to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (17.8 ± 5.30, 24.3 ± 6.70, vs. 31.0 ± 9.90 mm3/g; p < 0.001). ROC analysis shows that V/M outperformed FFRCT, % DS in predicting ACS [AUC: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.74-0.83] vs. 0.74 [95% CI: 0.69-0.79], 0.60 [95% CI: 0.53-0.64]], and the combined AUC of the three increased significantly, reaching 0.80 [95%(CI): 0.76-0.85]. Furthermore, in the subgroup of ACS patients, the results of Pearson correlation analysis shows that the GRACE risk score of ACS patients was significantly negatively correlated with the V/M ratio and V/M was found to be an independent predictor of GRACE risk score >140 (p < 0.001).

The V/M ratio is valuable for stratified risk prediction of ACS and is independently associated with the GRACE risk score.

Cardiac troponin is the gold-standard biomarker for the evaluation of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (MI). Improvements in assay technology have led to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays that, when incorporated into accelerated diagnostic pathways, may rapidly diagnose or exclude acute MI more efficiently than conventional troponin assays.

In this narrative review, we provide practical suggestions for implementing high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays, review accelerated diagnostic pathways incorporating these assays, and review the impact of these assays on resource utilization and cost-effectiveness in relation to the evaluation of individuals with possible acute MI.

An increasing number of hospitals are transitioning to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays. This narrative review provides an overview of the potential benefits of this transition.

Cardiologists are increasingly moving from independent practice to direct employment by hospitals. Hospital employment has the potential to improve care coordination and delivery, but little is known about its effect on care quality and outcomes.

In this study, we sought to assess the association between hospital employment of cardiologists and patient outcomes, care quality, and utilization among patients hospitalized with incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF).

We used a sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized with incident AMI or HF from 2008 to 2019. We identified the accountable cardiologists that cared for these patients and determined their employment status by means of tax identification numbers. We used difference-in-differences methods to compare clinical outcomes, quality measures, and utilization for patients treated by hospital-employed cardiologists after switching from independent to hospital-employed practice, to outcomes for patients treated by cardiologists who remained independent. Models were adjusted for time trends and patient, hospital, and cardiologist characteristics. Patient outcomes were in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, and 30-day readmission. Quality measures were receipt of: 1) a guideline-recommended test to assess cardiac function; and 2) a 30-day follow-up clinic visit. Utilization measures were length of stay and, for AMI patients, the proportion receiving coronary revascularization.

The proportion of U.S. cardiologists employed by hospitals increased from 26% in 2008 to 63% in 2019. We identified 186,052 AMI and 259,849 HF patients cared for by cardiologists who switched to hospital employment and 168,052 AMI and 245,769 HF patients cared for by independent cardiologists. Patient characteristics were similar (mean age 80.8 years; 47% men). We found no significant differences in outcomes (eg, adjusted difference in 30-day mortality 0.03% [95% CI: -0.39% to 0.45%] for AMI patients and -0.05% [95% CI: -0.37% to 0.27%] for HF patients); no differences in most quality metrics except a small increase in the proportion of HF patients with 30-day follow-up (adjusted difference: 1.04%; 95% CI: 0.46%-1.62%); and no differences in utilization between patients treated by hospital-employed cardiologists (postswitch) vs independent cardiologists.

Among U.S. cardiologists, there has been a large shift from independent practice to direct employment by hospitals. We found minimal evidence that cardiologist employment by hospitals improves care quality or outcomes.

The optimization in the ambulance dispatching process is significant for patients who need early treatments. However, the problem of dynamic ambulance redeployment for destination hospital selection has rarely been investigated. The paper proposes an approach to model and simulate the ambulance dispatching process in multi-agent healthcare environments of large cities. The proposed approach is based on using the coupled game-theoretic (GT) approach to identify hospital strategies (considering hospitals as players within a non-cooperative game) and performing discrete-event simulation (DES) of patient delivery and provision of healthcare services to evaluate ambulance dispatching (selection of target hospital). Assuming the collective nature of decisions on patient delivery, the approach assesses the influence of the diverse behaviors of hospitals on system performance with possible further optimization of this performance. The approach is studied through a series of cases starting with a simplified 1D model and proceeding with a coupled 2D model and real-world application. The study considers the problem of dispatching ambulances to patients with the Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) directed to the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in the target hospital. A real-world case study of data from Saint Petersburg (Russia) is analyzed showing the better conformity of the global characteristics (mortality rate) of the healthcare system with the proposed approach being applied to discovering the agents' diverse behavior.

Although emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), the risk of in-hospital death remains high. In this study, the authors aimed to identify risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in AMI patients who underwent PCI, develop a nomogram prediction model, and evaluate its effectiveness.

The authors retrospectively analyzed data from 1260 patients who underwent emergency PCI at Dongyang People's Hospital between June 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on in-hospital mortality: the death group (n = 61) and the survival group (n = 1199). Clinical data between the two groups were compared. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used to select non-zero coefficients of predictive factors. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in AMI patients after emergency PCI. A nomogram model for predicting the risk of in-hospital mortality in AMI patients after PCI was constructed, and its predictive performance was evaluated using the c-index. Internal validation was performed using the bootstrap method with 1000 resamples. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess the goodness of fit, and a calibration curve was plotted to evaluate the model's calibration.

LASSO regression identified d-dimer, B-type natriuretic peptide, white blood cell count, heart rate, aspartate aminotransferase, systolic blood pressure, and the presence of postoperative respiratory failure as important predictive factors for in-hospital mortality in AMI patients after PCI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that d-dimer, B-type natriuretic peptide, white blood cell count, systolic blood pressure, and the presence of postoperative respiratory failure were independent factors for in-hospital mortality. A nomogram model for predicting the risk of in-hospital mortality in AMI patients after PCI was constructed using these independent predictive factors. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded a Chi-Square value of 9.43 (p = 0.331), indicating a good fit for the model, and the calibration curve closely approximated the ideal model. The c-index for internal validation was 0.700 (0.560‒0.834), further confirming the predictive performance of the model. Clinical decision analysis demonstrated that the nomogram model had good clinical utility, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.944 (95 % CI 0.903‒0.963), indicating excellent discriminative ability.

This study identified B-type natriuretic peptide, white blood cell count, systolic blood pressure, d-dimer, and the presence of respiratory failure as independent factors for in-hospital mortality in AMI patients undergoing emergency PCI. The nomogram model based on these factors showed high predictive accuracy and feasibility.

Adherence to long-term secondary preventive therapies is vital for improving outcomes in patients recovering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aims to quantify the extent of non-adherence to these therapies in Iraq and identify the main factors contributing to this issue, addressing a research gap in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to March 2024 in Cardiology Ward of Azadi Teaching Hospital and the Duhok Heart Center, Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, enrolling 400 patients diagnosed with (ACS). The Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS) was utilized to categorize patients into high, intermediate, or low adherence groups. The study questionnaire comprised three sections including clinicodemographic data, adherence assessment based on the ACDS, and patient-reported reasons for non-adherence.

The study revealed that the mean age of the participants was 65.78 ± 11.8 years. Within the sample, 24% reported low adherence, 39% reported medium adherence, and only 37% exhibited high adherence. Significant associations were observed between low adherence and older age (P = 0.026), lower education levels (P = 0.0051), and the presence of endocrine disorders (P = 0.029). Conversely, higher adherence was found among patients taking 3-5 different medication classes (P = 0.0003) and those who underwent coronary interventions (P = 0.014). The primary reason for non-adherence was forgetfulness (89.5%).

The study concludes that a substantial portion of ACS patients in Iraq show low adherence to secondary preventive therapies. To increase adherence among patients with ACS, strategies should be developed to improve medication adherence and promote healthy behaviors simultaneously, Forgetfulness and lack of follow-up are the primary reasons for non-adherence.

Ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were associated with increased hospital mortality in the early revascularization era.

Examine the predictive value of VPDs and their morphology for hospital and post-discharge mortality in patients admitted for ACS.

We identified patients admitted with ACS across 13 Northwell Health Hospitals from 2015 to 2021 and had VPDs captured on a 12-lead ECG or full disclose telemetry. We characterized and reported descriptively the VPDs based on bundle branch block pattern (right or RBBB vs. left or LBBB), frontal (inferior vs. superior) and horizontal (leftward vs. rightward) axis, QRS width, and coupling interval (CI). Hierarchical generalized linear mixed modeling was used to assess the association between VPDs and hospital mortality, while Cox regression was used for post-discharge mortality.

Of 18 009 patients admitted for ACS, we identified 627 patients with VPDs with complete data (65.7% RBB, 49.9% superior, and 63.4% leftward axis). Mean VPD QRS width and CI were 175 ± 30 and 523 ± 157 ms, respectively. Hospital mortality was higher in the VPD group (7.8% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.001) with most common mode of death being arrhythmic (28.1% vs. 14.5%). After adjusting for clinical covariates, only VPDs with RBBB patterns were associated with hospital mortality (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.06-4.82). Conversely, age-adjusted post-discharge mortality was higher only for patients with superior axis VPDs (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.13-2.24).

Among patients with VPDs during an ACS admission, presence of RBBB pattern predicts hospital mortality, whereas superior axis is associated with post-discharge mortality.

Guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs), such as beta-blockers, antiplatelet drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, and renin-angiotensin system agents, have been associated with reduced risk of mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, this survival benefit conferred by GDMTs in nonagenarians and centenarians (≥ 90 years old) is not well-defined.

We investigated restricted mean survival times of patients ≥ 90 years of age with first-onset AMI treated with GDMTs from 2007 to 2020 in the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry. Primary analyses involved stratification by number of GDMTs prescribed at discharge, with derivation of pairwise restricted mean survival ratios free from all-cause mortality at 1, 3, and 5 years. Secondary analyses evaluated individual GDMTs within combinations of 1-3 GDMTs.

The analysis included 3264 patients: 0 GDMTs (561 patients, 17.2%), 1-2 GDMTs (1294 patients, 39.6%), 3 GDMTs (904 patients, 27.7%), and 4 GDMTs (505 patients, 15.5%), with a median follow-up duration of 5.71 years. Patients who received 4 GDMTs at discharge were younger, had more comorbidities, were more likely to be smokers, and were more likely to have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention than those prescribed fewer GDMTs. A greater number of GDMT classes at discharge was associated with longer survival free from all-cause mortality at 1, 3, and 5 years. Each drug class within combinations of 1-3 GDMTs was associated with significant survival benefit at all time points, except for beta-blockers.

Prescription of any number of GDMTs to nonagenarians and centenarians after first-onset AMI is associated with significant survival benefit.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have demonstrated promising effects in lowering cardiovascular incidents among patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, their influence on early platelet reactivity after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) remains unclear.

This research sought to investigate the effects of entirely human anti-PCSK9 antibodies on platelet function as measured by thrombelastography and 12-month postoperative results in patients receiving PPCI and treated with ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy.

This single-center prospective study was conducted at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China, between January 2021 and June 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving standard statin therapy (statin-only group) and those receiving additional PCSK9 mAbs (either evolocumab 140 mg or alirocumab 75 mg, subcutaneously, every 2 weeks; PCSK9 mAb group). A total of 1250 eligible patients were enrolled. To equalize baseline characteristics, propensity score matching was conducted in a 1:1 ratio, resulting in 310 patients per group. Platelet activity was measured using thrombelastography 5 days after PPCI, presented as adenosine diphosphate-induced maximal amplitude (MAADP). The primary clinical outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events, which included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, and coronary revascularization, measured over a 12-month period.

At 5 days after PPCI, the PCSK9 mAb group exhibited levels of MAADP that were significantly lower than those in the statin-only group (17.10 ± 9.52 mm vs. 20.73 ± 12.07 mm, P < 0.001). The use of PCSK9 mAbs was significantly correlated with reduced MAADP (β - 0.166, P < 0.001). The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events in the PCSK9 mAb group was significantly lower than in the statin-only group. Furthermore, individuals in the top MAADP tertile (MAADP > 21.7 mm) plus statin-only subgroup exhibited the lowest rate of cumulative event-free survival.

Incorporating PCSK9 mAbs into ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy significantly reduced platelet reactivity and correlated with better cardiovascular results over a 12-month period. These findings support the use of PCSK9 mAbs as an effective adjunctive therapy in the management of acute coronary syndrome.

We report a case of spontaneous coronary dissection (SCAD) in a 32-year-old pregnant patient during the seventh month of her second pregnancy. A 32-year-old pregnant woman in the 28th week of gestation was referred to our intensive care unit because of angina as well as elevated troponin levels. The initial electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) were normal. Four hours after admission, the patient experienced angina with ST-segment elevation, and the TTE showed de novo apical hypokinesia. The episode lasted approximately 10 minutes, with subsequent resolution of the ST-segment elevation. An emergency coronary angiogram revealed dissection of the left anterior descending artery. A conservative approach with aspirin monotherapy was chosen. Follow-up TTE at 3 months revealed full recovery of left ventricular function. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial in pregnancy-associated SCAD. Conservative management is generally recommended because of the potential for angiographic healing, with percutaneous coronary intervention reserved for severe cases.

Physical activity (PA) provides protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, including ischaemic heart disease. However, recommending moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) to patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) raises concerns owing to potential risk of recurrent ACS or fatal arrhythmias. This study investigated the association between longitudinal PA changes following an ACS diagnosis and subsequent cardiovascular outcomes, including non-fatal coronary events, non-fatal stroke and cardiovascular mortality.

This longitudinal cohort study used Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2010 to 2017, comprising 30 840 patients diagnosed with ACS following invasive coronary angiography or bypass surgery. Leisure-time PA was self-reported, with the frequency and intensity measured weekly. The primary endpoint was a composite of nonfatal coronary events, non-fatal stroke and cardiovascular mortality. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models assessed the association between PA changes and cardiovascular outcomes.

Among patients with ACS (mean age: 60±11 years, men: 81.3%), mean PA levels increased from 544±556 metabolic equivalent task (MET)-min/week to 594±567 MET-min/week. Over 6.7 years of median follow-up, 5639 cardiovascular events occurred. Increased PA was associated with lower cardiovascular event risk (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.98). Consistent MVPA pre-ACS and post-ACS reduced cardiovascular event risk (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.96) and MVPA initiation showed a modest risk reduction (HR: 0.91, MET-min/95% CI 0.82 to 1.01).

Longitudinal increases in self-reported PA, maintenance of MVPA and possibly MVPA initiation after ACS reduced the risk of cardiovascular events. Initiating or maintaining MVPA could be an important strategy in improving cardiovascular outcomes following ACS.

The prognostic value of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) has been well described in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) promotes insulin resistance and has also been regarded as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the prognostic value of TyG in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the interaction between TyG and HHcy remain unclear.

A total of 1,734 ACS patients undergoing PCI were continuously enrolled between June 2016 and November 2017 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital. Patients were categorized into four groups based on HHcy status and the optimal cut-off value of TyG. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and unplanned repeat revascularization.

Over a median follow-up of 927 days, 358 patients (20.6%) experienced MACE. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant differences in the cumulative incidence of MACE among prespecified groups (p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that higher TyG was significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE in patients without HHcy (HR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.53-3.64, p < 0.001), but not in patients with HHcy (HR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.60-2.87, p = 0.503). Restricted cubic splines only demonstrated the prognostic value of TyG in patients without HHcy. A significant interaction was observed for MACE between TyG and HHcy (p for interaction = 0.01).

The prognostic value of TyG was modified by HHcy in ACS patients undergoing PCI. Higher TyG was only associated with an increased risk of MACE in ACS patients without HHcy, but not in ACS patients with HHcy.

Patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the emergency department (ED) require rapid and accurate electrocardiographic (ECG) evaluation. This study aims to assess conventional ECG markers for diagnosing non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) in patients with chest discomfort and right bundle branch block (RBBB). A nested case-control design was employed to compare patients with RBBB admitted to the ED for suspected cardiac ischemia, focusing on those who developed NSTE-ACS versus those who did not. The sample consisted of 352 patients with suspected ACS and RBBB identified on ECG. Among them, 88 were diagnosed with NSTE-ACS. In the presence of RBBB, ST-segment elevation on the isoelectric line and/or positive T-waves on the ECG were significantly associated with the diagnosis of NSTE-ACS (p < 0.05). In patients who developed NSTE-ACS, the likelihood of an isoelectric ST-segment was 3.48 (95% CI 2.07-5.82) times higher, the likelihood of positive T-waves was 4.16 (95% CI 2.51-6.91) times higher, and the combination of an isoelectric ST-segment with positive T-waves was 4.81 (95% CI 2.28-8.25) times higher (p < 0.05). In addition, ST-segment depression and non-negative T-waves were significantly more frequent in patients who developed NSTE-ACS, with odds ratios of 5.78 (95% CI 3-11.3), compared to those who did not (p < 0.05). The odds ratios for ST-segment and T-wave changes were 2.81 and 3.47, respectively, with an 80% correct classification rate for predicting NSTE-ACS. Clinicians should closely monitor the presence of an isoelectric ST-segment and positive T-waves in patients with RBBB to assess for potential cardiac ischemia.

Cardiac rehabilitation programmes, while demonstrating benefits, face challenges in universal adoption, particularly in New Zealand. This study evaluates the long-term impact of cardiac rehabilitation participation and attendance on survival and readmission rates in the Auckland Health District.

To examine the impact of patient participation in nurse-led lifestyle rehabilitation and physiotherapy exercise rehabilitation on key outcomes, including all-cause mortality, and all-cause, cardiac-specific, and kidney disease readmission rates.

Retrospective cohort study.

Auckland Health District, New Zealand.

3331 patients registered in the Auckland cardiac rehabilitation programme between 2016 and 2020.

Data analysis included examining associations between attendance at nurse-led lifestyle and physiotherapy-led exercise sessions and outcomes at 12, 24 months, and 2022 year-end, including all-cause mortality, all-cause readmission, and cardiac-specific readmission rates. Analysis methods included survival analysis, Cox proportional regression, and logistic binary regression, controlling for confounders using propensity score weights and baseline factors.

1363 (40.9 %) patients attended at least one lifestyle rehabilitation session (average 5.0 ± 2.9 sessions), 1121 (33.7 %) patients attended at least one exercise rehabilitation session (average 6.8 ± 7.4 sessions), and 649 (19.5 %) patients attended at least one lifestyle and one exercise rehabilitation session. Increased likelihood of participation in rehabilitation was explained by ethnicity, while current and historical tobacco use, history of heart failure, receiving an angiogram, PCI, or other treatment such as medical management or implantable devices were associated with lower odds of participation. Participation in rehabilitation (average 7.9 ± 6.1 sessions) was associated with a higher mean survival estimate (7.6 years vs. 6.4 years, p < 0.001) while Cox proportional hazard regression, controlling for baseline factors and propensity score weights showed that a single session of rehabilitation attended had a 2.1 % decreased risk of mortality (hazard ratio = 0.98, 95 % CI: 0.96 to 0.99, p = 0.29). The cumulative hazard ratio for average attendance (7.9 ± 6.1 sessions) was 0.85 (95 % CI: 0.83 to 0.86, p < 0.001) indicating a 15 % decreased risk of mortality during follow-up. 20 % lower kidney disease readmission rates were observed among participants over the next 24 months (p < 0.05). However, no differences in all-cause or cardiac-specific readmission rates were observed.

The study supports the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation in improving long-term survival for Auckland Health District patients. The positive impact of nurse-led interventions and integrated support throughout the cardiac rehabilitation process highlights the need for translating this model to other health districts in New Zealand to optimise patient care and outcomes.

The HALP score, measured based on hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet levels, is regarded as a novel scoring system that indicates the status of systemic inflammation and nutritional health. Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HALP score and prognosis in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.

Between 1 January 2020 and 1 January 2022, 568 consecutive patients diagnosed with NSTEMI from a single center were included in the study retrospectively. The patients were divided into two equal groups according to the median HALP cutoff value of 44.05. Patients were followed for at least 1 year from the date of admission.

The average age of the patients was 62.3 ± 10.6 years and 43.7% were female. In-hospital and 1-year mortality were found to be significantly higher in the group with low HALP scores (6.0 vs. 2.1%, P  = 0.019 and 22.5 vs. 9.9%, P  < 0.001, respectively). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a cutoff level of 34.6 of the HALP score predicted 1-year mortality with 71% sensitivity and 65% specificity (area under the curve: 0.707, 95% confidence interval: 0.651-0.762, P  < 0.001). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, higher mortality rates were observed over time in the group with lower HALP scores (log-rank test=16.767, P  < 0.001). In Cox regression analysis, the HALP score was found to be an independent predictor of 1-year mortality (odds ratio: 0.969, 95% confidence interval: 0.958-0.981, P  < 0.001).

We found that a low HALP score could predict in-hospital and 1-year mortality in patients admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of NSTEMI.

Ceramide, a key molecule in sphingolipid metabolism, is recognized as a standalone predictor of long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We explore if integrating the global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) score with the ceramide risk score (ceramide test 1, CERT1) improves MACE prediction in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

This cohort study included 210 participants with ACS undergoing PCI. MACE was defined as the recurrence of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction, repeat coronary revascularization procedures (PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG), or death excluding the initial event qualifying the patient for the study. The cumulative incidence of MACE was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses identified MACE predictors. The predictive accuracy of combining the GRACE score with the CERT1 score was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification improvement (NRI).

During the 12-month follow-up period, 35 of the 210 participants experienced a MACE. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant variation in MACE incidence stratified by the CERT1 score (χ2 = 21.344, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.002), quantitative flow ratio (p = 0.013), the CERT1 score (p = 0.005), and the GRACE score (p = 0.007) as independent predictors for MACE. Integrating the GRACE score with the CERT1 score improved prediction accuracy, raising the AUC from 0.733 to 0.834. This adjustment provided a more precise risk reclassification and discrimination between patients likely and unlikely to experience MACE (NRI: 0.526, p = 0.004; IDI: 0.120, p < 0.001).

The CERT1 score independently predicts long-term MACE for individuals diagnosed with ACS undergoing PCI. Including the CERT1 score significantly enhances the GRACE score's capacity to risk-stratify these patients.

Registration number: ChiCTR2300068491 (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=180370).

Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is a cytokine that is released to stimulate inflammation and accelerate atherogenesis. Our study sought to assess the predictive significance of serum Angptl2 in individuals diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and determine whether it can enhance prognostic performance beyond the GRACE risk score.

We recruited a total of 1060 patients with ACS in a consecutive manner. The levels of Angptl2 in serum were analyzed at baseline. The subjects were then followed up for 12 months to monitor the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

The level of serum Angptl2 showed a positive correlation with the GRACE score (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed that increased levels of serum Angptl2 were associated with higher occurrence of the composite of MACE (log-rank p < 0.001) and its specific components (log-rank p = 0.011 for all-cause death, p = 0.007 for non-fatal myocardial infarction and p < 0.001 for revascularization respectively). Throughout the follow-up period, 163 instances (15.4%) of endpoint events were documented. In terms of MACE, both serum Angptl2 levels (HR: 1.178, 95% CI: 1.058-1.313, p = 0.003) and the GRACE risk score (HR: 1.181, 95% CI: 1.007-1.385, p = 0.041) emerged as significant predictors following Cox multivariate adjustment. Additionally, the addition of serum Angptl2 to the GRACE score improved the predictive capacity for prognosis [increase in area under the receiveroperating characteristic curve (AUC) from 0.740 to 0.794, p = 0.020; net reclassification improvement (NRI) = 0.401, p = 0.001; integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) = 0.022, p = 0.008].

Serum Angptl2 might be a useful prognostic biomarker and combining serum Angptl2 with the GRACE score increased the efficacy of prognosis prediction in ACS patients.

Not applicable.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major global health concern, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the co-occurrence patterns of diagnoses and comorbidities in CAD patients using a network-based approach. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 195 hospitalized CAD patients from a single hospital in Guangxi, China, with data collected on age, sex, and comorbidities. Network analysis, supported by sensitivity analysis, revealed key diagnostic clusters and comorbidity hubs, with hypertension emerging as the central node in the co-occurrence network. Unstable angina and myocardial infarction were identified as central diagnoses, frequently co-occurring with metabolic conditions such as diabetes. The results also highlighted significant age- and sex-specific differences in CAD diagnoses and comorbidities. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the network structure and identified clusters, despite the limitations of sample size and data source. Modularity analysis uncovered distinct clusters, illustrating the complex interplay between cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. These findings provide valuable insights into the relationships between CAD and its comorbidities, emphasizing the importance of integrated, personalized management strategies. Future studies with larger, multi-center datasets and longitudinal designs are needed to validate these results and explore the temporal dynamics of CAD progression.