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Background Seasonal variations in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have been reported, with incidence and mortality peaking in the winter. However, the underlying pathophysiology for these variations remain speculative. Methods and Results Patients with ACS who underwent optical coherence tomography were recruited from 6 countries. The prevalence of the 3 most common pathologies (plaque rupture, plaque erosion, and calcified plaque) were compared between the 4 seasons. In 1113 patients with ACS (885 male; mean age, 65.8±11.6 years), the rates of plaque rupture, plaque erosion, and calcified plaque were 50%, 39%, and 11% in spring; 44%, 43%, and 13% in summer; 49%, 39%, and 12% in autumn; and 57%, 30%, and 13% in winter ( P =0.039). After adjusting for age, sex, and other coronary risk factors, winter was significantly associated with increased risk of plaque rupture (odds ratio [OR], 1.652; 95% CI, 1.157-2.359; P =0.006) and decreased risk of plaque erosion (OR, 0.623; 95% CI, 0.429-0.905; P =0.013), compared with summer as a reference. Among patients with rupture, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in winter ( P =0.010), whereas no significant difference was observed in the other 2 groups. Conclusions Seasonal variations in the incidence of ACS reflect differences in the underlying pathobiology. The proportion of plaque rupture is highest in winter, whereas that of plaque erosion is highest in summer. A different approach may be needed for the prevention and treatment of ACS depending on the season of its occurrence. Registration URL: https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03479723.

The value of multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV-PCI) in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) and multivessel disease (MVD) is still unclear because randomized controlled trials are missing. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the impact of MV-PCI on in-hospital outcomes of patients with MVD presenting with CS: 336 patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by CS and ≥70% stenoses in ≥2 major epicardial vessels were included in this analysis of the Euro Heart Survey PCI registry. Patients undergoing MV-PCI (n = 82, 24%) were compared to those with single-vessel PCI (n = 254, 76%). The rate of 3-vessel disease (60% vs 57%, p = 0.63) was similar in the 2 cohorts. Presentation with resuscitation (48 vs 46%, p = 0.76) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (83 vs 87%, p = 0.31) was frequent in patients with MV-PCI and single-vessel PCI. Patients with ventilation were more likely to receive MV-PCI (30% vs 19%, p = 0.05). There was a tendency toward a higher hospital mortality in patients with MV-PCI (48.8% vs 37.4%, p = 0.07). After adjustment for confounding variables, no significant difference for in-hospital mortality (odd ratio [OR] 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72 to 2.28) could be observed between the 2 groups. Age (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.77), 3-vessel disease (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.03), ventilation (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.59 to 5.68), and previous resuscitation (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.48 to 4.39) were independent predictors of hospital death. In conclusion, MV-PCI is currently used in only 1/4 of patients with CS and MVD. An additional nonculprit PCI was not associated with a survival benefit in these high risk patients., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The percentage of elderly treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been increasing year by year. Little is known about predictors of hospital mortality in elderly undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stable angina., Methods: Between 2005 and 2008 a total of 47,407 consecutive patients undergoing PCI were prospectively enrolled into the PCI-Registry of the EHS Programme. For the present analysis patients were divided into four categories: ACS patients ≥ 75 (n=4,943) and < 75 years (n=19,446), and patients with stable angina ≥ 75 (n=3,393) and < 75 years (n=19,625). A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to detect independent predictors of mortality in patients ≥ 75 years undergoing PCI. In addition, differences in clinical characteristics, procedural details and in-hospital outcomes between the subgroups were evaluated., Results: Patients ≥ 75 years had more co-morbidities, and more severe coronary pathology. The use of guideline-recommended adjunctive therapy and procedural success was high in all groups. The incidence of in-hospital death was highest in ACS patients ≥ 75 years (5.2%) and < 75 years (1.7%), followed by patients with stable angina ≥ 75 (0.5%) and < 75 years (0.2%). Haemodynamic instability and acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were the strongest determinants of hospital mortality among patients ≥ 75 years with ACS, whereas interventional complications were the most meaningful predictors of death in older patients undergoing elective PCI., Conclusions: Patients ≥ 75 years undergoing PCI face a relatively low risk of hospital death. However, complication rates were significantly higher compared to younger patients, strongly influenced by clinical, angiographic and interventional variables., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The guidelines "Akutes Koronarsyndrom" published by the German Society of Cardiology, "Management of acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation", and "Guidelines for percutaneous coronary interventions" published by the European Society of Cardiology evaluate diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for ST segment elevation myocardial infarctions. These guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations and allow a standardized therapeutic approach thereby improving the patient's treatment and reducing the mortality. The optimal care for patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarctions consists of a prehospital phase where an immediate diagnosis should be reached by means of a twelve-channel ECG followed by basic medical treatment with administration of acetylsalicylic acid, heparin, beta-blocker, and nitrates by an emergency physician. The hospital phase can be optimized by integrated myocardial infarction networks with coronary care units offering primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and adjuvant medical treatment including the administration of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. If the onset of symptoms is < 3 h and the transportation time to a coronary care unit > 90 min, the indication of primary fibrinolysis should be given by the emergency physician. If fibrinolysis fails, there is a clear indication for rescue PCI. Even with successful thrombolysis PCI should be performed within 24 h. A dual oral antithrombotic therapy starting immediately after diagnosis with a loading dose of 600 mg clopidogrel should be continued with 75 mg/d clopidogrel for 9-12 months on top of 100 mg/d acetylsalicylic acid.