Search

Statin therapy is considered one of the main therapies indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Maximal risk reduction is linked to the degree of reduction of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; therefore, high-intensity dosing is required with coronary artery disease. Musculoskeletal side effects are reported with the use of statin, especially at high doses. Although myopathy is a common side effect, autoimmune-mediated necrotizing myositis is a rare side effect usually related to the development of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase antibodies which attack the muscles leading to swelling manifesting as muscle weakness and pain, as presented in our case report., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Almadhoun et al.)

Introduction: 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients frequently develop QT interval prolongation that predisposes them to Torsades de Pointes and sudden cardiac death. Continuous cardiac monitoring has been recommended for any COVID-19 patient with a Tisdale Score of seven or more. This recommendation, however, has not been validated., Methods: We included 178 COVID-19 patients admitted to a non-intensive care unit setting of a tertiary academic medical center. A receiver operating characteristics curve was plotted to determine the accuracy of the Tisdale Score to predict QT interval prolongation. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify additional predictors., Results: The area under the curve of the Tisdale Score was 0.60 (CI 95%, 0.46-0.75). Using the cutoff of seven to stratify COVID-19, patients had a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 7.6%. Risk factors independently associated with QT interval prolongation included a history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (OR, 6.42; CI 95%, 1.28-32.13), QTc ≥450 ms on admission (OR, 5.90; CI 95%, 1.62-21.50), and serum potassium ≤3.5 mmol/L during hospitalization (OR, 4.97; CI 95%, 1.51-16.36)., Conclusion: The Tisdale Score is not a useful tool to stratify hospitalized non-critical COVID-19 patients based on their risks of developing QT interval prolongation. Clinicians should initiate continuous cardiac monitoring for patients who present with a history of ESRD, QTc ≥450 ms on admission or serum potassium ≤3.5 mmol/L., (© 2021 The Authors. Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between carotid artery disease by ultrasound and coronary artery disease by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and to identify carotid ultrasound parameters predictive of coronary artery disease., Background: Carotid ultrasound and CTA are noninvasive modalities used to image atherosclerosis. Studies examining the relationship between the 2 tests, however, are lacking., Methods: We performed carotid ultrasound on predominantly nondiabetic subjects referred for CTA. Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and plaque were assessed and compared with coronary artery calcification and the number of coronary arteries with any evidence of atherosclerosis on CTA., Results: A total of 150 subjects underwent both CTA and carotid ultrasound on the same day. Carotid plaque was present in 71.3% (n = 107), whereas the presence of at least 1 coronary artery with disease on CTA was present in 57.1% (n = 84). Carotid plaque was present in 47.6% (30 of 63) of subjects with a calcium score of 0 and 88.5% (77 of 87) of subjects with a calcium score >0 (p = 0.0001). Similarly carotid plaque was present in 52.4% (33 of 63) of subjects with no CTA evidence of atherosclerosis versus 85.7% (72 of 84) of subjects with any CTA evidence of atherosclerosis (p < 0.0001). Carotid plaque, IMT ≥ 1.5 mm, or averaged mean IMT >0.75 mm were associated with a calcium score >0 (odds ratio: 5.4, p < 0.0001, 2.7, p < 0.001; 2.9, p = 0.011, respectively) and disease in at least 1 vessel on CTA (odds ratio: 2.8, p = 0.03, 2.19, p = 0.073; 2.22, p = 0.058, respectively) independent of age and sex., Conclusions: Carotid plaque and increased carotid IMT are associated with the presence and severity of coronary calcification and disease on CTA in ambulatory subjects., (Copyright © 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)