Assessment of post-myocardial infarction lipid levels and management:Results from a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

BACKGROUND Lipid treatment practices and levels in post-acute myocardial infarction(AMI)patients,which are crucial for secondary prevention.AIM To evaluate the lipid treatment practices and lipid levels in post-myocardial infarction(MI)patients at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.METHODS In this cross-sectional study,we analyzed patients who had experienced their first AMI event in the past 3 years.We assessed fasting and non-fasting lipid profiles,reviewed statin therapy prescriptions,and examined patient compliance.The recommended dose was defined as rosuvastatin≥20 mg or atorvastatin≥40 mg,with target total cholesterol levels set at<160 mg/dL and target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)at<55 mg/dL.RESULTS Among 195 patients,71.3%were male,and the mean age was 57.1±10.2 years.The median duration since AMI was 36(interquartile range:10-48)months and 60% were diagnosed with ST-segment elevation MI.Only 13.8% of patients were advised to undergo lipid profile testing after AMI,88.7% of patients were on the recommended statin therapy,and 91.8% of patients were compliant with statin therapy.Only 11.5% had LDL-C within the target range and 71.7% had total cholesterol within the target range.Hospital admission in the past 12 months was reported by 14.4%,and the readmission rate was significantly higher among non-compliant patients(37.5%vs 5.6%).Subsequent AMI event rate was also significantly higher among non-compliant patients(43.8%vs 11.7%).CONCLUSION Our study highlights that while most post-AMI patients received the recommended minimum statin therapy dose,the inadequate practice of lipid assessment may compromise therapy optimization and raise the risk of subsequent events.

Effects of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and asymptomatic heart failure

Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors(SGLT2i)have been increa-singly used with proven efficacy in patients with heart failure(HF),regardless of diabetes status.GrubićRotkvićet al recently published an observational study on SGLT2i therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and asymptomatic HF.They found that the use of SGLT2i led to reduced cardiac load and improved cardiovascular performance,reinforcing the evolving paradigm that SGLT2i are not merely glucose-lowering agents but are integral to the broader management of cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The study by GrubićRotkvićet al contributes to the growing body of literature supporting the early use of SGLT2i in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy,offering a potential strategy to mitigate the progression of HF.Future larger studies should be con-ducted to confirm these findings,and explore the long-term cardiovascular bene-fits of SGLT2i,particularly in asymptomatic patients at risk of developing HF.

Immediate in-hospital outcomes after percutaneous revascularization of acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock

BACKGROUND Cardiogenic shock(CS)is a life-threatening complication of acute myocardial infarction with high morbidity and mortality rates.Primary percutaneous coro-nary intervention(PCI)has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with CS.AIM To investigate the immediate mortality rates in patients with CS undergoing primary PCI and identify mortality predictors.METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 305 patients with CS who underwent primary PCI at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases,Karachi,Pak-istan,between January 2018 and December 2022.The primary outcome was immediate mortality,defined as mortality within index hospitalization.Uni-variate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of immediate mortality.RESULTS In a sample of 305 patients with 72.8%male patients and a mean age of 58.1±11.8 years,the immediate mortality rate was found to be 54.8%(167).Multivariable analysis identified Killip class IV at presentation[odds ratio(OR):2.0;95%co-nfidence interval(CI):1.2-3.4;P=0.008],Multivessel disease(OR:3.5;95%CI:1.8-6.9;P<0.001),and high thrombus burden(OR:2.6;95%CI:1.4-4.9;P=0.003)as independent predictors of immediate mortality.CONCLUSION Immediate mortality rate in patients with CS undergoing primary PCI remains high despite advances in treatment strategies.Killip class IV at presentation,multivessel disease,and high thrombus burden(grade≥4)were identified as independent predictors of immediate mortality.These findings underscore the need for aggressive management and close monitoring of patients with CS undergoing primary PCI,particularly in those with these high-risk characteristics.

Comparative assessment of clinical profile and outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in young patients with single vs multivessel disease

BACKGROUND Even though percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)improved the survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction,still multivessel coronary artery disease remains an important factor burdening prognosis and it is being associated with a worse prognosis compared to single-vessel disease(SVD).AIM To compare the clinical profile and outcomes after the primary PCI in young patients with SVD vs multivessel disease(MVD).METHODS The retrospective cohort of patients were divided into two groups:SVD and MVD group.The study population consisted of both male and female young(≤45 years)patients presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease,Karachi,Pakistan and undergone primary PCI from 1 st July 2017 to 31 st March 2018.Pre and postprocedure management of the patients was as per the guidelines and institutional protocols.RESULTS A total of 571 patients with STEMI,≤45 years were stratified into two groups by the number of vessels involved,342(59.9%)with SVD and 229(40.1%)with MVD.The average age of these patients was 39.04±4.86 years.A lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was observed in SVD as compare to MVD group(25.1%vs 38%,P<0.01;11.7%vs 27.5%,P<0.001)respectively.While,smoking was more prevalent among the SVD group as compare to MVD group(36.3%vs 28.4%,P=0.05).The high-C Lesion was observed in a significantly higher number of younger patients with MVD as compared to SVD group(48.8%vs 39.2%,P=0.021).Post-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade was found to be not associated with the number of diseased vessels with a P value of 0.426 and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade III was observed in 98%vs 96.5%of the patients is SVD vs MVD group.CONCLUSION The MVD comprised of around 40%of the young patients presented with STEMI.Also,this study shows that diabetes and hypertension have a certain role in the pathogenesis of multivessel diseases,therefore,preventive measures for diabetes and hypertension can be effective strategies in reducing the burden of premature STEMI.