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Objective: The aim of this work was to study sex differences in major bleeding risk in relation to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods and Results: The Rijnmond Collective Cardiology Research registry was designed to evaluate the application and outcomes of DAPT after ACS/PCI in the Rijnmond region in the Netherlands. Overall, 1,172 women (median age 67.5 years) and 3,087 men (median age 62.2 years) with ACS/PCI were enrolled between August 2011 and June 2013. Based on a tailored regional DAPT guideline aiming at bleeding risk minimization, 52.6% women and 66.9% men received prasugrel as first-choice P2Y12 inhibitor, in addition to aspirin. Women more frequently had contraindications for the use of prasugrel (and therefore received clopidogrel) than men (47.9 vs. 26.9%, p < 0.001). Femoral access was more common in women than in men (47.6 vs. 38.1%, p < 0.001). Women had higher incidence of major bleeding at 1 year than men (2.6 vs. 1.6%, p = 0.018). After adjustment for established bleeding risk factors, female sex was associated with over two-fold higher risk of major bleeding (adjusted hazard ratio 2.33; 95% confidence interval 1.26–4.32). This difference was apparent at discharge and appeared to be caused by access site bleedings (0.9 vs. 0.1%, p < 0.001). No sex differences were found in non-access site-related major bleeding up to 1 year. Conclusion: Women with ACS/PCI receiving DAPT had higher major bleeding risk caused by an excess in access site bleeds, mainly in relation to the femoral approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Both the distressed (Type D) personality (i.e. the combination of negative affectivity and social inhibition traits) and dysfunctional parenting styles are associated with anxiety and depression. As parenting styles have been related to personality development, dysfunctional parenting styles may also be associated with Type D personality. We examined whether remembered parenting was associated with anxiety and depression in cardiac patients and whether Type D personality mediated this relationship. Methods: Our sample comprised 435 patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 123 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Type D Scale (DS14), and Remembered Relationship with Parents (RRP10) scale. Results: Remembered parenting was significantly associated with higher anxiety and depression levels and Type D personality. In multivariable linear regression analyses, Type D personality accounted for 25–29% of the variance in anxiety and 23–46% of the variance in depression, while remembered parenting was no longer significantly associated with these domains. Sobel tests and bootstrapping indicated that Type D personality mediated the relationship between remembered parenting and anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Type D personality mediated the relationship between remembered parenting and anxiety and depression in both PCI and CHF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has become a popular noninvasive test for diagnosing coronary artery disease. Objective: To compare the accuracy and clinical utility of stress testing and CTCA for identifying patients who require invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Design: Observational study. Setting: University medical center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Patients: 517 patients referred by their treating physicians for evaluation of chest symptoms by using stress testing or ICA. Intervention: Stress testing and CTCA in all patients. Measurements: Diagnostic accuracy of stress testing and CTCA compared with ICA; pretest probabilities of disease by Duke clinical score; and clinical utility of noninvasive testing, defined as a pretest or posttest probability that suggests how to proceed with testing (no further testing if ⩾5%, proceed with ICA if between 5% and 90%, and refer directly for ICA if ⩾90%). Results: Stress testing was not as accurate as CTCA; CTCA sensitivity approached 100%. In patients with a low (<20%) pretest probability of disease, negative stress test or CTCA results suggested no need for ICA. In patients with an intermediate (20% to 80%) pretest probability, a positive CTCA result suggested need to proceed with ICA (posttest probability, 93% [95% CI, 92% to 93%]) and a negative result suggested no need for further testing (posttest probability, 1% [CI, 1% to 1%]). Physicians could proceed directly with ICA in patients with a high (>80%) pretest probability (91% [CI, 90% to 92%]). Limitations: Referral and verification bias might have influenced findings. Stress testing provides functional information that may add value to that from anatomical (CTCA or ICA) imaging. Conclusion: Computed tomography coronary angiography seems most valuable in patients with intermediate pretest probability of disease, because the test can distinguish which of these patients need invasive angiography. These findings need to be confirmed before CTCA can be routinely recommended for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the systemic evaluation of cardiac involvement using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) in the Netherlands, where prevalence of PS patients is estimated to be 20 to 30 per 100,000. The study revealed a good prognosis for patients with low cardiac involvement. Based on the findings, it was recommended that regular electrocardiogram evaluation is needed for patients with PS.

Despite the overall neutral results of the GLOBAL-LEADERS trial, results from a prespecified subgroup analysis showed that patients from Western Europe had a significantly lower rate of the primary endpoint when treated with ticagrelor monotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to examine the regional disparities in patients' baseline characteristics and their response to ticagrelor monotherapy. Patients' baseline characteristics and the treatment effects of ticagrelor combined with aspirin for 1 month, followed by ticagrelor monotherapy for 23-months versus 12-months of standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) were compared according to participating countries. The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint of all-cause death or new Q-wave myocardial infarction at two years. Significant variances in patients' baseline characteristics were found between participating countries. The primary endpoint varied significantly according to the country (P interaction = 0.027). Patients from France (1.6% versus 5.2%, HR: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.13–0.73) and The Netherlands (2.4% versus 4.8%, HR, 0.50, 95%CI: 0.26–0.94) had lower rates of the primary endpoint when allocated to ticagrelor monotherapy, compared with the standard DAPT regimen. Of the 26 baseline and post-randomization factors explored, variance in the rate of complex PCI between countries was identified as the top contributor to this regional interaction. Patients' baseline characteristics varied between participating countries in the GLOBAL-LEADERS trial. There is a significant regional variance in the treatment effect of ticagrelor monotherapy, which could partly be explained by the differences in complex PCI being performed. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01813435). • A geographic heterogeneity in the primary outcome of the GLOBAL-LEADERS trial was observed. • Variances in the complexity of PCI between countries might be the leading cause of the geographic heterogeneity. • Stratifying enrollment per country will strengthen the internal validity of the trial results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: An upper-extremity approach for secondary access during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may reduce clinically relevant secondary access site-related bleeding., Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of an upper-extremity approach compared with a lower-extremity approach in patients undergoing TAVI., Design, Setting, and Participants: The TAVI XS trial was a randomized clinical trial performed between November 28, 2022, and November 15, 2023, with a 30-day follow-up, in 4 TAVI centers in the Netherlands. Eligibility was determined first, and only those patients with severe aortic stenosis and no contraindication for upper- or lower-extremity secondary access were informed about the study and asked to participate., Intervention: Participants were randomized 1:1 between the upper-extremity approach (radial artery diagnostic access and upper-arm vein for temporary pacing lead placement) and lower-extremity approach (femoral artery diagnostic access and femoral vein for temporary pacing lead placement) for secondary access during TAVI., Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary end point was clinically relevant bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3, or 5) of the randomized secondary access. Secondary end points included any clinically relevant bleeding, time to mobilization, duration of hospitalization, secondary access failure, and procedural time., Results: Of a total of 324 eligible patients, 238 patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI (mean [SD] age, 79.4 [6.5] years; 150 male [63.0%]; median European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II score, 2.2% [IQR, 1.5%-3.5%]) were included. The primary end point occurred in 5 of 119 patients (4.2%) in the upper-extremity group and 16 of 119 (13.4%) in the lower-extremity group (odds ratio [OR], 0.28 [95% CI, 0.10-0.80]; P = .01). Incidence of any clinically relevant bleeding was decreased in the upper-extremity group (25 of 119 [21.0%] vs 41 of 119 [34.5%] patients; OR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.28-0.91]; P = .02). There was no difference in time to mobilization or duration of hospitalization. Secondary access failure (14 of 119 [11.8%] vs 1 of 119 [0.8%] patients; OR, 15.73 [95% CI, 2.03-121.69]; P = .001) and procedural time (60.0 [IQR, 39.0-88.0; 95% CI, 53.0-70.0] vs 48.0 [IQR, 34.0-64.0; 95% CI, 40.0-55.0] minutes; P = .002) were higher in the upper-extremity cohort., Conclusion and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI, the upper-extremity approach for secondary access was associated with less clinically relevant access site-related bleeding compared with the conventional lower-extremity approach and should be considered to reduce periprocedural bleeding complications., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05672823.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on 10-year all-cause death and the treatment effect of CABG versus PCI on 10-year all-cause death in patients with three-vessel disease (3VD) and/or left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and COPD., Methods: Patients were stratified according to COPD status and compared with regard to clinical outcomes. Ten-year all-cause death was examined according to the presence of COPD and the revascularization strategy., Results: COPD status was available for all randomized 1800 patients, of whom, 154 had COPD (8.6%) at the time of randomization. Regardless of the revascularization strategy, patients with COPD had a higher risk of 10-year all-cause death, compared with those without COPD (43.1% vs. 24.9%; hazard ratio [HR]: 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.56-2.64; p < 0.001). Among patients with COPD, CABG appeared to have a slightly lower risk of 10-year all-cause death compared with PCI (42.3% vs. 43.9%; HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.59-1.56, p = 0.858), whereas among those without COPD, CABG had a significantly lower risk of 10-year all-cause death (22.7% vs. 27.1%; HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67-0.99, p = 0.041). There was no significant differential treatment effect of CABG versus PCI on 10-year all-cause death between patients with and without COPD (p interaction  = 0.544)., Conclusions: COPD was associated with a higher risk of 10-year all-cause death after revascularization for complex coronary artery disease. The presence of COPD did not significantly modify the beneficial effect of CABG versus PCI on 10-year all-cause death., Trial Registration: SYNTAX: ClinicalTrials.gov reference: NCT00114972. SYNTAX Extended Survival: ClinicalTrials.gov reference: NCT03417050.

Introduction: Because of the lack of prehospital protocols to rule out a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), patients with chest pain are often transferred to the emergency department (ED) for thorough evaluation. However, in low-risk patients, an ACS is rarely found, resulting in unnecessary healthcare consumption. Using the HEART (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors and Troponin) score, low-risk patients are easily identified. When a point-of-care (POC) troponin measurement is included in the HEART score, an ACS can adequately be ruled out in low-risk patients in the prehospital setting. However, it remains unclear whether a prehospital rule-out strategy using the HEART score and a POC troponin measurement in patients with suspected NSTE-ACS is cost-effective., Methods and Analysis: The ARTICA trial is a randomised trial in which the primary objective is to investigate the cost-effectiveness after 30 days of an early rule-out strategy for low-risk patients suspected of a NSTE-ACS, using a modified HEART score including a POC troponin T measurement. Patients are included by ambulance paramedics and 1:1 randomised for (1) presentation at the ED (control group) or (2) POC troponin T measurement (intervention group) and transfer of the care to the general practitioner in case of a low troponin T value. In total, 866 patients will be included. Follow-up will be performed after 30 days, 6 months and 12 months., Ethics and Dissemination: This trial has been accepted by the Medical Research Ethics Committee region Arnhem-Nijmegen. The results of this trial will be disseminated in one main paper and in additional papers with subgroup analyses., Trial Registration Number: Netherlands Trial Register (NL7148)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: The aim is to assess the experience in the Netherlands using the Xposition S self-apposing stent in complex coronary lesions in clinical practice., Background: Treatment of complex coronary lesions could be accompanied with stent sizing difficulties and complications, particularly due to vessel overdilation or stent underexpansion. The self-apposing feature of the Xposition S stent (STENTYS, Paris, France) supports good strut apposition in complex anatomies and allows for an increase in diameter after implantation., Methods: In this real-world registry, data from patients treated with Xposition S in four Dutch clinical sites were prospectively collected and analyzed. Any patient suitable for implantation with Xposition S according to current recommendations was enrolled. Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year., Results: Between 2015 and 2018, data from 251 patients were collected. Clinical presentation was an acute coronary syndrome in majority of the patients (76.9%). Main angiographic indications were lesions in aneurysmatic or ectatic vessels (32.3%), thrombus containing lesions (13.1%), and bifurcation/left main stenosis (10.4%). Most of the target lesions (TLs) were classified as AHA/ACC Type C (53.6%). Despite lesion complexity, device was successfully implanted at TL in 96.8%. MACE rate, reported on patients having completed 1-year follow-up (n = 203), was 6.6%, with low rate of definite/probable stent thrombosis (1.0%)., Conclusions: In clinical practice of several Dutch sites, STENTYS Xposition S showed good procedural results and low 1-year clinical events rate, despite complex coronary anatomy., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: Layperson cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a key aspect in the chain of survival after cardiac arrest. New, low-cost, easily accessible training methods such as virtual reality (VR) training with a smartphone application may reach broader populations, but data on CPR performance are scarce., Methods and Analysis: The Lowlands Saves Lives trial is a prospective randomised open-blinded end-point evaluation study, comparing two 20 min CPR training protocols: standardised, certified instructor-led face-to-face training complying with current education guidelines (using Laerdal Little Anne manikins), and VR training, using the UK Resuscitation Council endorsed Lifesaver VR app. In the latter, chest compressions are practiced on a pillow.During VR training, participants learn to resuscitate by completing a filmed CPR scenario while wearing VR goggles and headphones. Eligible for inclusion are adult attendees of Lowlands Science, a specific section of the 3-day Lowlands music festival (50 000 attendees), dedicated exclusively to science. Following the training, all participants will perform a CPR test on a Laerdal Resusci Anne QCPR manikin. Primary outcome measures are depth and rate of chest compressions, measured using CPR manikins. The key secondary outcome is overall CPR performance, with real-time examination (blinded for study group) of all items of a European Resuscitation Council endorsed checklist, and evaluation of a sample of videotaped CPR tests by a blinded event committee.Given the unique setting of a festival, the primary additional analysis will address the impact of alcohol levels on CPR quality parameters and overall performance. Follow-up questionnaires will evaluate the attitude towards performing CPR. This unique study may provide important insights into innovative CPR training methods, factors that impact CPR performance and the impact on long-term attitude towards resuscitation., Ethics and Dissemination: This study received approval from the research ethics committee of the Radboudumc. All participants will provide written informed consent. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at (inter)national conferences., Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT04013633)., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: It has been shown that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and radiofrequency (RF-)IVUS can detect high-risk coronary plaque characteristics., Objectives: The authors studied the long-term prognostic value of (RF-)IVUS-derived plaque characteristics in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing coronary angiography., Methods: From 2008 to 2011, (RF-)IVUS was performed in 1 nonstenotic segment of a nonculprit coronary artery in 581 patients undergoing coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stable angina. The pre-defined primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal ACS, or unplanned revascularization. Hazard ratios (HRs) were adjusted for age, sex, and clinical risk factors., Results: During a median follow-up of 4.7 years, 152 patients (26.2%) had MACE. The presence of a lesion with a minimal luminal area ≤4.0 mm 2 was independently associated with MACE (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.08; p = 0.020), whereas the presence of a thin-cap fibroatheroma lesion or a lesion with a plaque burden ≥70% on its own were not. Results were comparable when the composite endpoint included cardiac death instead of all-cause death. The presence of a lesion with a plaque burden of ≥70% was independently associated with the composite endpoint of cardiac death, nonfatal ACS, or unplanned revascularization after exclusion of culprit lesion-related events (HR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.58; p = 0.026). Likewise, each 10-U increase in segmental plaque burden was independently associated with a 26% increase in risk of this composite endpoint (HR: 1.26 per 10-U increase; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.52; p = 0.022)., Conclusions: IVUS-derived small luminal area and large plaque burden, and not RF-IVUS-derived compositional plaque features on their own, predict adverse cardiovascular outcome during long-term follow-up in patients with CAD. (The European Collaborative Project on Inflammation and Vascular Wall Remodeling in Atherosclerosis-Intravascular Ultrasound Study [AtheroRemoIVUS]; NCT01789411)., (Copyright © 2018 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is capable of identifying lipid core-containing plaques, which can subsequently be quantified as a lipid core burden index (LCBI). Currently, no data are available on the long-term prognostic value of NIRS in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)., Objectives: This study sought to determine the long-term prognostic value of intracoronary NIRS as assessed in a nonculprit vessel in patients with CAD., Methods: In this prospective, observational study, NIRS imaging was performed in a nonculprit coronary artery in 203 patients referred for angiography due to stable angina pectoris (SAP) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, nonfatal ACS, stroke, and unplanned coronary revascularization., Results: The 1-year cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint was 10.4%. Cumulative 1-year rates in patients with an LCBI equal to and above the median (43.0) versus those with LCBI values below the median were 16.7% versus 4.0% (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.33 to 12.29; p = 0.01). The relation between LCBI and the primary endpoint was similar in SAP and ACS patients (p value for heterogeneity = 0.14). Similar differences between high and low LCBI were observed in pre-specified secondary endpoints., Conclusion: CAD patients with an LCBI equal to or above the median of 43.0, as assessed by NIRS in a nonculprit coronary artery, had a 4-fold risk of adverse cardiovascular events during 1-year follow-up. This observation warrants confirmation by larger studies with extended follow-up. (The European Collaborative Project on Inflammation and Vascular Wall Remodeling in Atherosclerosis - Intravascular Ultrasound Study [AtheroRemoIVUS]; NCT01789411)., (Copyright © 2014 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although recent observations suggest a favorable initial healing process of the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), little is known regarding long-term healing response., Objectives: This study assessed the in vivo vascular healing response using optical coherence tomography (OCT) 5 years after elective first-in-man BVS implantation., Methods: Of the 14 living patients enrolled in the Thoraxcenter Rotterdam cohort of the ABSORB A study, 8 patients underwent invasive follow-up, including OCT, 5 years after implantation. Advanced OCT image analysis included luminal morphometry, assessment of the adluminal signal-rich layer separating the lumen from other plaque components, visual and quantitative tissue characterization, and assessment of side-branch ostia "jailed" at baseline., Results: In all patients, BVS struts were integrated in the vessel and were not discernible. Both minimum and mean luminal area increased from 2 to 5 years, whereas lumen eccentricity decreased over time. In most patients, plaques were covered by a signal-rich, low-attenuating layer. Minimum cap thickness over necrotic core was 155 ± 90 μm. One patient showed plaque progression and discontinuity of this layer. Side-branch ostia were preserved with tissue bridge thinning that had developed in the place of side-branch struts, creating a neo-carina., Conclusions: At long-term BVS follow-up, we observed a favorable tissue response, with late luminal enlargement, side-branch patency, and development of a signal-rich, low-attenuating tissue layer that covered thrombogenic plaque components. The small size of the study and the observation of a different tissue response in 1 patient warrant judicious interpretation of our results and confirmation in larger studies., (Copyright © 2014 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The clinical outcome of patients treated with the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb BVS) in the ABSORB Cohort A and B studies using mandatory intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging showed encouraging results. The ABSORB EXTEND study aimed to include longer lesions, allow overlap and did not oblige IVUS imaging. We assessed the procedural and short-term clinical outcomes in a cohort including these extended criteria., Methods and Results: Patients included in three study cohorts (ABSORB Cohort A, Cohort B and EXTEND) at two centres in Rotterdam were systematically followed for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Clinical data were obtained for 88 patients (mean age 61.2 years, 73% male) with a total of 92 lesions. Lesion length was significantly longer in the ABSORB EXTEND cohort 11.34±4.01 mm (9.20±2.66 mm; p<0.01) and the reference vessel diameter was smaller 2.53±0.34 mm (2.87±0.38 mm; p<0.001) compared to previous cohorts. Predilatation was performed with a balloon diameter of 2.5±0.3 mm and inflated to a maximum pressure of 12.6±3.2 atm. The scaffold was successfully implanted in 90 of the 92 lesions (97.8%) with a maximum pressure of 14.1±2.8 atm. Post-dilatation was performed in 55% of the patients (53% EXTEND vs. 56% Cohort A and B; p=0.7). The acute gain was 1.21±0.37 mm. Absolute recoil was 0.16±0.20 mm with percentage acute recoil of 5.60±6.60%. At one month, none of the patients had a MACE., Conclusions: This study, which constitutes the largest combined study cohort of patients treated with the Absorb BVS in Rotterdam, shows that treatment of longer lesions and smaller vessels without obligatory IVUS use is safe and efficacious at one month.

Objectives: To evaluate survival and cause of death in a consecutive patient cohort undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve implantation (TAVI)., Background: TAVI is a valid treatment option in patients with severe Aortic Stenosis (AS) who are deemed at (very) high operative risk. Because of (non-)cardiac comorbidities life expectancy in this patient, population is reduced when compared with the general population., Methods: Consecutive patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI between November 2005 and December 2011 were included. (1) Survival status was obtained from the Dutch Civil Registry, (2) cause of death was derived by reviewing hospital charts, and (3) contacting referring physicians and patients' general practitioners., Results: Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive patients were included with an overall all-cause mortality of 31% at a median follow up of 13 months (IQR 2-24 months). Four patients (1.6%) died < 48 hr of the TAVI procedure, and another 16 patients died up to the 30-day interval representing an all-cause 8.4% 30-day mortality. Between 30 days and 1-year another 30 patients died. Twenty-four patients died >1 year post TAVI. The predominant cause of death >48 hr post TAVI was noncardiac. One third of these deaths were due to sepsis/infection, one-fifth to cancer and stroke in 16%., Conclusions: In our series of AS patients undergoing TAVI, the cause of death >48 hr post procedure was predominantly noncardiac at every time interval. Mortality was driven by sepsis/infection, cancer, and stroke. Rigorous patient selection may improve outcome after TAVI., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., a Wiley company.)

Background: Depression has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but little is known about the impact of depression on long-term mortality. We examined whether depression was associated with 7-year mortality in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), after adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, anxiety, and the distressed (Type D) personality., Methods: The sample comprised a cohort of consecutive PCI patients (N=1234; 72.0% men; mean age 62.0 ± 11.1 years, range [26-90] years) from the Rapamycin-Eluting Stent Evaluated At Rotterdam Cardiology Hospital (RESEARCH) registry. At baseline (i.e., 6 months post-PCI), patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depression and the Type D scale (DS14) to assess Type D personality. The endpoint was defined as all-cause mortality., Results: The prevalence of depression (HADS-D ≥ 8) was 26.2% (324/1236). After a median follow-up of 7.0 ± 1.6 years, 187 deaths (15.2%) from any cause were recorded. The incidence of all-cause mortality in depressed patients was 23.5% (76/324) versus 12.2% (111/910) in non-depressed patients. Cumulative hazard functions differed significantly for depressed versus non-depressed patients (log-rank X(2)=25.57, p<.001). In multivariable analysis, depression remained independently associated with all-cause mortality (HR=1.63; 95% CI [1.05-2.71], p=.038), after adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, anxiety, and Type D personality., Conclusions: Depression was independently associated with a 1.6-fold increased risk for 7-year mortality, above and beyond anxiety and Type D personality. Future studies are warranted to further elucidate the potential pathways linking depression to long-term mortality following PCI., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In-hospital infection (IHI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has received little attention, although it may have a significant effect on outcomes and costs because of prolonged hospital stay. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the incidence, type, predictors, and prognostic effects of IHI after TAVI. This study included 298 consecutive patients from 2 centers who underwent TAVI from November 2005 to November 2011. IHI during the hospital stay was defined on the basis of symptoms and signs assessed by the attending physician in the cardiac care unit or medium care unit in combination with all technical examinations performed to confirm infection. IHI after TAVI was observed in 58 patients (19.5%): urinary tract infections in 25 patients (43.1%), pneumonia in 12 patients (20.7%), and access-site infections in 7 patients (12.1%). In 12 patients (20.7%), the site of infection could not be determined, and 2 patients (3.4%) had multiple infection sites. Multivariate analysis revealed that surgical access through the femoral artery was the most important determinant of infection (odds ratio [OR] 4.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 17.19), followed by perioperative major stroke (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.01 to 9.52) and overweight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m²; OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.59). The length of hospital stay in patients with IHIs was 15.0 days (interquartile range 8.0 to 22.0) compared with 7.0 days (interquartile range 4.0 to 10.0) in patients without infections (p <0.0001). Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 1 year were 76.6% and 74.4% (log-rank, p = 0.61), respectively. Unadjusted and adjusted OR analysis revealed that IHI did not predict mortality at 30 days (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.49 to 3.30) or at 1 year (hazard ratio 1.24, 95% CI 0.68 to 2.25). In conclusion, IHI occurred in 19.5% of the patients. Patient-related and, more important, procedure-related variables play a role in the occurrence of infection, indicating that improvements in the execution of TAVI may lead to a reduction of this complication., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This Dutch College of General Practitioners' (NHG) practice guidelines an important component in the care for patients with an acute coronary syndrome. In this commentary, the role of acute pre-hospital triage and percutaneous coronary intervention, high-sensitivity troponins, pharmacological therapy and automatic external defibrillators is reflected upon.

Background: There is few information on the long-term efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) compared to bare metal stents (BMS) in all-comer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-patients complicated by renal insufficiency (RI)., Objective: Our aim was to assess the 6-year clinical outcome of PCI-patients with RI treated exclusively with BMS, SES, or PES in our academic hospital., Methods: A total of 1382 patients, included in three cohorts of consecutive PCI-patients (BMS = 392; SES = 498; PES = 492), were categorized by creatinine clearance calculated by the Cockroft-Gault formula (normal kidney function ≥ 90; mild RI = 60-89; moderate RI < 60) and systematically followed for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE)., Results: Mortality rates were significantly higher for patients with moderate RI compared to mild RI and normal kidney function at 6 years (Kaplan-Meier estimate: moderate RI (34%) vs. mild RI (12%), P < 0.001; moderate RI (34%) vs. normal kidney function (8%), P < 0.001). After multivariate Cox-regression analysis, SES and PES decreased the occurrence of target-vessel revascularization (TVR) and MACE at 6 years in patients with a normal creatinine clearance compared to BMS [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28-0.84; aHR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.97, respectively] with no significant effect on mortality. Safety- and efficacy end points were comparable for the three stent types in patients with mild- and moderate renal function., Conclusion: Patients with a normal creatinine clearance had significant improvement in TVR and MACE rates after SES- or PES implantation compared to BMS at 6 years. However, there was no superiority of both drug-eluting stents over BMS in safety and efficacy end points for patients with impaired renal function., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic function and its impact on the in-hospital and long-term outcome in patients who underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)., Background: Although impaired LV function may be considered a contra-indication for aortic valve replacement, the hemodynamic characteristics of transcatheter valves may offer procedural and long-term clinical benefit in such patients., Methods: 230 consecutive patients underwent TAVI with the Medtronic-CoreValve System. Impaired LV function was defined by a Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% (European Multicenter Study on Operative Risk Stratification and Long-term Outcome in patients with Low-Flow/Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis). Study endpoints were selected and defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium recommendations., Results: Compared with patients with a LVEF > 35% (n = 197), those with LVEF ≤ 35% (n = 33) were more often male (78.8 % vs. 46.7%, P < 0.001), more symptomatic (NYHA class III or IV, 97.0% vs. 77.2%, P = 0.008) and had a higher prevalence of prior coronary artery disease (63.6% vs. 43.1%, P = 0.029). The Logistic EuroSCORE was 14.8% and 22.8, respectively (P = 0.012). No difference was observed between the two groups in in-hospital or 30-day mortality (3.0% vs. 9.6%, P = 0.21), the Combined Safety Endpoint at 30 days (24.2% and 24.4%, P = 0.99) and survival free from readmission at one year (69.2% and 69.7%, P = 0.85). After adjustment, LVEF ≤ 35% was not associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality, in-hospital complications and survival free from readmission at follow-up., Conclusion: The immediate and long-term outcome after TAVI did not differ between patients with an impaired and preserved LVEF. LVEF ≤ 35% did not predict adverse immediate and long-term outcome. These findings suggest that TAVI should not be withheld in selected patients with impaired LV function., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: To determine the occurrence of in-hospital complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC) criteria in addition to the length of stay (LOS)., Background: The absence of uniformity in endpoint definitions challenges the comparison between previously reported major adverse cerebro- and cardiovascular event rates after TAVI. To address this, in 2009, the VARC was established aiming to provide standardized endpoint definitions for TAVI clinical trials., Methods: Between November 2005 and September 2010, we prospectively enrolled 150 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve System in our institution. Complications, prosthetic valve associated endpoints, and therapy-specific endpoints were defined according to the definitions provided by the VARC., Results: The mean age (±SD) was 81 (±7) years and 55% were female. Thirty-day or in-hospital mortality was 11%, and the 30-day combined safety endpoint was 22%. Seventy-six patients (51%) had ≥1 cardiovascular and/or noncardiovascular complication of whom 16 also underwent a new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). In the 74 patients with uneventful TAVI, 12 patients (8%) underwent PPI. TAVI was truly uneventful in 62 patients (41%). Bleeding complications were observed most frequently (31%), followed by acute kidney injury (18%), vascular complications (16%), and stroke/TIA (11%). The median LOS in patients with a complicated and a truly uncomplicated TAVI was 14.0 (8.0-20.5) and 8.0 (7.0-10.8) days, respectively (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: TAVI was associated with ≥1 cardiovascular and/or noncardiovascular event in 51% of the patients; new PPI was needed in another 8%, and TAVI was truly uncomplicated in 41%. Complications and need for new PPI significantly prolonged LOS., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: Short- and long-term data showed that drug-eluting stents (DES) significantly decreased target vessel revascularization (TVR) and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rates compared to bare-metal stents (BMS). However, conflicting long-term data remain for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Objective: Our aim was to assess the 6-year clinical outcome of all patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for a de novo lesion with exclusive use of BMS, sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES)., Methods: Three PPCI cohorts (BMS = 80; SES = 92; PES = 162) were systematically followed for the occurrence of MACE., Results: Very late stent thrombosis was more common after the implantation of SES as compared to PES or BMS (7.6%, 0.6%, and 0.0%, respectively; p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimates indicate no statistically significant difference for mortality between the three stent types at 6 years (BMS = 25%; SES = 15%; PES = 21%; Log-rank p = 0.2). After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, mortality, mortality/myocardial infarction (MI), and MACE rates were significantly lower for SES compared to BMS, but not for PES (aHR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.17-0.98; aHR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21-0.96; aHR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17-0.72, respectively). No differences were observed between the three stent types for TVR rates., Conclusion: Neither SES nor PES improved safety or efficacy as compared to BMS in a STEMI population at 6 years. After adjusting, the usage of SES resulted in a significant decrease in mortality, mortality/MI and MACE rates as compared to BMS, in contrast to the usage of PES. SES and PES have a similar effectiveness and safety profile, although very late stent thrombosis was more common with SES.

Background: There are physiological reasons for the effects of positioning on hemodynamic variables and cardiac dimensions related to altered intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressures. This problem is especially evident in pregnant women due to the additional aorto-caval compression by the enlarged uterus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of postural changes on cardiac dimensions and function during mid and late pregnancy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)., Methods: Healthy non-pregnant women, pregnant women at 20th week of gestation and at 32nd week of gestation without history of cardiac disease were recruited to the study and underwent CMR in supine and left lateral positions. Cardiac hemodynamic parameters and dimensions were measured and compared between both positions., Results: Five non-pregnant women, 6 healthy pregnant women at mid pregnancy and 8 healthy pregnant women at late pregnancy were enrolled in the study. In the group of non-pregnant women left ventricular (LV) cardiac output (CO) significantly decreased by 9% (p=0.043) and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume (EDV) significantly increased by 5% (p=0.043) from the supine to the left lateral position. During mid pregnancy LV ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), left atrium lateral diameter and left atrial supero-inferior diameter increased significantly from the supine position to the left lateral position: 8%, 27%, 5% and 11%, respectively (p<0.05). RV EDV, SV and right atrium supero-inferior diameter significantly increased from the supine to the left lateral position: 25%, 31% and 13% (p<0.05), respectively. During late pregnancy a significant increment of LV EF, EDV, SV and CO was observed in the left lateral position: 11%, 21%, 35% and 24% (p<0.05), respectively. Left atrial diameters were significantly larger in the left lateral position compared to the supine position (p<0.05). RV CO was significantly increased in the left lateral position compared to the supine position (p<0.05)., Conclusions: During pregnancy positional changes affect significantly cardiac hemodynamic parameters and dimensions. Pregnant women who need serial studies by CMR should be imaged in a consistent position. From as early as 20 weeks the left lateral position should be preferred on the supine position because it positively affects venous return, SV and CO.

Objectives: This study sought to quantify contractile reserve of chronic dysfunctional myocardium, in particular in segments with intermediate transmural extent of infarction (TEI), using low-dose dobutamine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with a chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO)., Background: Recovery of dysfunctional segments with intermediate TEI after percutaneous coronary intervention is variable and difficult to predict, and may be related to contractility of the unenhanced rim., Methods: Fifty-one patients (mean age 60 +/- 9 years, 76% male) with a CTO underwent CMR at baseline and 35 patients underwent CMR at follow-up to quantify segmental wall thickening (SWT) at rest during 5 and 10 microg/kg/min dobutamine, and at follow-up. Delayed-enhancement CMR was performed to quantify TEI. Dysfunctional segments were stratified according to TEI, end-diastolic wall thickness (EDWT), or unenhanced rim thickness, and SWT was quantified. Segments with an intermediate TEI (25% to 75%) were further stratified according to baseline SWT of the unenhanced rim (SWT(UR)) (<45% and >45%), and SWT was quantified. For each parameter, odds ratio (OR) and diagnostic performance for the prediction of contractile reserve were calculated., Results: Significant contractile reserve was present in dysfunctional segments with EDWT >6 mm, unenhanced rim thickness >3 mm, or TEI of <25%; only TEI had significant relation with contractile reserve (OR: 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.96 to 0.99; p = 0.02). In segments with intermediate TEI (n = 58), mean SWT did not improve significantly. However, segments with SWT(UR) <45% showed contractile reserve and improved at follow-up, whereas segments with SWT(UR) >45% were unchanged. SWT(UR) had a significant relation with contractile reserve (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97 to 0.99; p = 0.02)., Conclusions: CMR quantification of transmurality of infarcted myocardium allows the assessment of the potential of dysfunctional segments to improve in function during dobutamine of most segments. However, in segments with intermediate TEI, measurement of baseline contractility of the epicardial rim better identifies which segments maintain contractile reserve., (Copyright 2010 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)