Long-Term Prognosis of Different Reperfusion Strategies for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Chinese County-Level Hospitals:Insight from China Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry

Objective To evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)treated with different reperfusion strategies in Chinese county-level hospitals Methods A total of 2,514 patients with STEMI from 32 hospitals participated in the China Acute Myocardial Infarction registry between January 2013 and September 2014.The success of fibrinolysis was assessed according to indirect measures of vascular recanalization.The primary outcome was 2-year mortality.Results Reperfusion therapy was used in 1,080 patients(42.9%):fibrinolysis(n=664,61.5%)and primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)(n=416,38.5%).The most common reason for missing reperfusion therapy was a prehospital delay>12 h(43%).Fibrinolysis[14.5%,hazard ratio(HR):0.59,95%confidence interval(CI)0.44–0.80]and primary PCI(6.8%,HR=0.32,95%CI:0.22–0.48)were associated with lower 2-year mortality than those with no reperfusion(28.5%).Among fibrinolysistreated patients,510(76.8%)achieved successful clinical reperfusion;only 17.0%of those with failed fibrinolysis underwent rescue PCI.There was no difference in 2-year mortality between successful fibrinolysis and primary PCI(8.8%vs.6.8%,HR=1.53,95%CI:0.85–2.73).Failed fibrinolysis predicted a similar mortality(33.1%)to no reperfusion(33.1%vs.28.5%,HR=1.30,95%CI:0.93–1.81).Conclusion In Chinese county-level hospitals,only approximately 2/5 of patients with STEMI underwent reperfusion therapy,largely due to prehospital delay.Approximately 30%of patients with failed fibrinolysis and no reperfusion therapy did not survive at 2 years.Quality improvement initiatives are warranted,especially in public health education and fast referral for mechanical revascularization in cases of failed fibrinolysis.

Prognostic Value of NT-proBNP in Stable Coronary Artery Disease in Chinese Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Drug-eluting Stent Era

Objective The predictive value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in patients with stable coronary artery disease(SCAD) in the drug-eluting stent era is not yet clear. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of NT-proBNP in SCAD patients after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). Methods We examined 4,293 consecutive SCAD patients who underwent PCI between January 2013 and December 2013 in Fuwai Hospital, China. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. NT-proBNP levels were measured before PCI using Elisa kits(Biomedica, Austria). The indication for PCI was based on the degree of coronary stenosis and evidence of ischemia. Results Among 3,187 SCAD patients with NT-proBNP data, after a 2-year follow-up, NT-proBNP levels were predictive for all-cause death in the SCAD population [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.768; 95% confidence interval(CI), 0.687-0.849; P < 0.001]. At the optimum cutoff point of 732 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of death was 75.0% and 72.3%, respectively. In a multivariable Cox regression model, the death hazard ratio was 6.43(95% CI, 2.99-13.82; P < 0.001) for patients with NT-proBNP levels ≥ 732 pg/mL, compared with < 732 pg/mL. Conclusion NT-proBNP is a strong predictor of 2-year death with SCAD after PCI in the drug-eluting stent era.

Risk or Beneficial Factors Associated with Unplanned Revascularization Risk Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Large Single-Center Data

Objective To analyze factors associated with unplanned revascularization(UR) risk in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 10,640 cases with CAD who underwent PCI were analyzed. Multivariate COX regressions and competing risk regressions were applied.Results The patients who underwent UR following PCI in 30 days, 1, and 2 years accounted for 0.3%,6.5%, and 8.7%, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, the number of target lesions [hazard ratio(HR) = 2.320;95% confidence interval(CI): 1.643–3.277;P < 0.001], time of procedure(HR = 1.006;95%CI: 1.001–1.010;P = 0.014), body mass index(HR = 1.104;95% CI: 1.006–1.210;P = 0.036), incomplete revascularization(ICR)(HR = 2.476;95% CI: 1.030–5.952;P = 0.043), and age(HR = 1.037;95% CI:1.000–1.075;P = 0.048) were determined as independent risk factors of 30-day UR. Factors, including low-molecular-weight heparin or fondaparinux(HR = 0.618;95% CI: 0.531–0.719;P < 0.001), secondgeneration durable polymer drug-eluting stent(HR = 0.713;95% CI: 0.624–0.814;P < 0.001), left anterior descending artery involvement(HR = 0.654;95% CI: 0.530–0.807;P < 0.001), and age(HR = 0.992;95%CI: 0.985–0.998;P = 0.014), were independently associated with decreased two-year UR risk. While,Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score(HR =1.024;95% CI: 1.014–1.033;P < 0.001) and ICR(HR = 1.549;95% CI: 1.290–1.860;P < 0.001) were negatively associated with two-year UR risk.Conclusion Specific factors were positively or negatively associated with short-and medium-long-term UR following PCI.

Does Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Off Days have an Effect on Long-term Prognosis in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in China?

As generally known,many hospitals provide routine care on weekdays but only emergency or urgent care on holidays and weekends.Hospital staffing is numerically reduced on holidays and weekends,as well as the available expertise on duty.The onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on off days was reported to be associated with higher short-term mortality[1,2].