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Introduction: Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has been standard treatment for patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) but percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be a good alternative. Our aim was to evaluate revascularization of LMCAD-patients in Iceland and treatment changes in recent years. We also assessed the impact of patient background factors on treatment choice and long-term survival. Methods: This retrospective, population-based registry-study analyzed data from the SCAAR-SWEDEHEART database. Patients with significant LMCAD on coronary angiography in Iceland 2010-2020, without previous history of CABG or contraindication for surgery were enrolled. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to study long-term survival and COX-regression analysis to adjust for predictor variables. Findings: Of 702 LMCAD patients, 195 were treated with PCI, 460 with CABG and 47 with medical therapy. The widest age-range was in the PCI group and the mean age was highest in the medical therapy group. Patients with LMCAD and concomitant three vessel disease or heart valve disese were mostly treated with CABG (76.1% and 84.4%). The majority of patients with LMCAD only were treated with PCI, as well as patients presenting with STEMI or in cardiogenic shock (67.1% and 70.0%). The proportion of patients treated with PCI increased from 19.8% in 2010-2015 to 42.7% in 2016-2020. There was no significant difference in survival between the PCI and CABG-groups (p=0.41). Conclusions: In patients with LMCAD the main factors determining treatment choice are age, anatomical complexity and acuteness. There has been a significant increase in LMCAD patients treated with PCI.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diabetes is growing, and diabetics have increased risk of atherosclerosis and diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim was to assess the revascularization treatment of diabetics with CAD in Iceland from 2010-2020, changes in management and long-term survival of patients. METHODS: All patients in Iceland with diabetes and CAD on cardiac catheterization 2010-2020 were included in this retrospective, population-based study. We analyzed data from the SCAAR/SWEDEHEART database: patients‘ background information, findings of cardiac catheterization, planned treatment and results. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate long-term survival and Cox-regression-analysis to adjust for predictor variables. RESULTS: Of 1905 cases (1485 patients), 1230 (65%) underwent PCI, 274 (14%) CABG and 401 (21%) had medical therapy only. The age distribution differed: The PCI group had the widest age bracket, the CABG group the narrowest, and the medical therapy group had the highest mean age. Most patients with STEMI or cardiogenic shock underwent PCI, while most patients with concomitant heart-valve disease underwent CABG. The proportion of patients undergoing CABG increased with more diffuse CAD. 41% of patients with left main- and three-vessel disease underwent CABG while only 2% of those with single-vessel disease. From 2010-2020 the proportion of patients that underwent PCI increased from 49% to 72%. There was no difference in survival between the PCI and CABG groups (p=1.00). CONCLUSION: Three quarters of patients with diabetes and obstructive CAD are now treated with PCI. The PCI and CABG groups had overall equal survival but the groups had different characteristics.

INTRODUCTON: Nonpharmaceutical interventions to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections in Iceland in 2020 were successful, but the effects of these measures on incidence and diagnosis of other diseases is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) and selected infections with different transmission routes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Health records of individuals 18 years or older who were admitted to Landspitali University Hospital (LUH) in 2016-2020 with pneumonia or MI were extracted from the hospital registry. We acquired data from the clinical laboratories regarding diagnostic testing for Chlamydia trachomatis, influenza, HIV and blood cultures positive for Enterobacterales species. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for 2020 was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) and compared to 2016-2019. RESULTS: Discharge diagnoses due to pneumonia decreased by 31% in 2020, excluding COVID-19 pneumonia (SIR 0.69 (95%CI 0.64-0.75)). Discharge diagnoses of MI decreased by 18% (SIR 0.82 (95%CI 0.75-0.90)), and emergency cardiac catheterizations due to acute coronary syndrome by 23% (SIR 0.77 (95%CI 0.71-0.83)), while there was a 15% increase in blood stream infections for Enterobacterales species (SIR 1.15 (95%CI 1.04-1.28)). Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis decreased by 14.8% and positive tests decreased by 16.3%. Tests for HIV were reduced by 10.9%, while samples positive for influenza decreased by 23.6% despite doubling of tests being performed. CONCLUSION: The number of pneumonia cases of other causes than COVID-19 requiring admission dropped by a quarter in 2020. MI, chlamydia and influensa diagnoses decreased notably. These results likely reflect a true decrease, probably due to altered behaviour during the pandemic.

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) require dual antiplatelet therapy and some require additional anticoagulation. We aimed to investigate the incidence of acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) among PCI patients receiving antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy.A population-based study that included all patients undergoing PCI during 2008-2016 in Iceland. Data from the Icelandic Medicines Registry were obtained on all outpatient prescriptions 1 year after first PCI. Patients receiving single or dual-antiplatelet therapy with or without anticoagulation cotherapy were analyzed. Rehospitalization for AGIB and endoscopic data were obtained within the 12-month follow-up period.A total of 5166 patients (male 75%) underwent PCI during the study period. The incidence of AGIB was 1% (54/5166) per year. The mean age among non-bleeders 65 (±11) years was lower than among bleeders 69 (±9) years (The 1-year incidence of AGIB was low with no mortality. Bleeding risk was found to be higher among patients on single antiplatelet therapy combined with anticoagulant therapy compared to patients on single antiplatelet therapy alone.

INTRODUCTION Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has been the standard of treatment for aortic stenosis but transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is increasingly used as treatment in Iceland and elsewhere. Our objective was to assess the outcome of TAVI in Iceland, focusing on indications, complications and survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study included all TAVI-procedures performed in Iceland between January 2012 and June 2020. Patient characteristics, outcome and complications were registered, and overall estimated survival compared to an age and sex matched Icelandic reference-population. The mean follow-up was 2.4 years. RESULTS Altogether 189 TAVI procedures (mean age 83±6 years, 41.8% females), were performed, all with a self-expanding biological valve. Most patients (81.5%) had symptoms of severe heart failure (NYHA-class III-IV) and median EuroSCORE-II was 4.9 (range: 0.9-32). Echocardiography pre-TAVI showed a mean aortic-valve area of 0.67 cm2 and a max aortic-valve gradient of 78 mmHg. One out of four patients (26.5%) needed permanent pacemaker implantation following TAVI. Other complications were mostly vascular-related (13.8%) but cardiac cardiac temponade and stroke occurred in 3.2 and 2.6% of cases, respectively and severe paravalvular aortic valve regurgitation in 0.5% cases. Thirty-day mortality was 1.6% (n=3) with one-year survival of 93.5% (95% CI: 89.8-97.3). Finally long-term survival survival of TAVI-patients was similar to the matched reference population (p=0.23). CONCLUSIONS The outcome of TAVI-procedures in Iceland is good, especially regarding 30-day mortality and long-term survival that was comparable to a reference population. Incidence of major complications was also low.

Cardiac lipomas are very rare benign tumors of the heart. They are usually asymptomatic and are often an incidental finding on cardiac imaging. This case report involves an 82-year-old female with a history of diabetes admitted because of poor glycemic control. An echocardiogram requested because of arrhythmias and heart failure revealed a tumor in the right atrium. Computed tomographic and ultrasound appearances were consistent with a lipoma and demonstrated a large mass in the right atrium, causing a significant stenosis of the superior vena cava but no clinical symptoms or signs of superior vena cava syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Coronary physiology is a routine diagnostic tool when assessing whether coronary revascularization is indicated. The iFR-SWEDEHEART trial demonstrated similar clinical outcomes when using instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) or fractional flow reserve (FFR) to guide revascularization. The objective of this analysis was to assess a cost-minimization analysis of iFR-guided compared with FFR-guided revascularization.METHODS: In this cost-minimization analysis we used a decision-tree model from a healthcare perspective with a time-horizon of one year to estimate the cost difference between iFR and FFR in a Nordic setting and a United States (US) setting. Treatment pathways and health care utilizations were constructed from the iFR-SWEDEHEART trial. Unit cost for revascularization and myocardial infarction in the Nordic setting and US setting were derived from the Nordic diagnosis-related group versus Medicare cost data. Unit cost of intravenous adenosine administration and cost per stent placed were based on the average costs from the enrolled centers in the iFR-SWEDEHEART trial. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were carried out to test the robustness of the result.RESULTS: The cost-minimization analysis demonstrated a cost saving per patient of $681 (95% CI: $641 - $723) in the Nordic setting and $1024 (95% CI: $934 - $1114) in the US setting, when using iFR-guided compared with FFR-guided revascularization. The results were not sensitive to changes in uncertain parameters or assumptions.CONCLUSIONS: IFR-guided revascularization is associated with significant savings in cost compared with FFR-guided revascularization.

Platelets play an important role in hemostasis and other aspects of vascular biology. We conducted a meta-analysis of platelet count GWAS using data on 536,974 Europeans and identified 577 independent associations. To search for mechanisms through which these variants affect platelets, we applied cis-expression quantitative trait locus, DEPICT and IPA analyses and assessed genetic sharing between platelet count and various traits using polygenic risk scoring. We found genetic sharing between platelet count and counts of other blood cells (except red blood cells), in addition to several other quantitative traits, including markers of cardiovascular, liver and kidney functions, height, and weight. Platelet count polygenic risk score was predictive of myeloproliferative neoplasms, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, hypertension, and benign prostate hyperplasia. Taken together, these results advance understanding of diverse aspects of platelet biology and how they affect biological processes in health and disease., Evgenia Mikaelsdottir et al. report a study of variants associated with platelet count among European individuals where they identify 577 associations. They also report a genetic overlap between platelet count and human diseases, including myeloproliferative neoplasms, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension, as well as a genetic overlap between platelet count and various physiological markers.

Background Mortality from coronary artery disease has decreased considerably in recent decades in Western societies, but less in women compared with men. Possible explanations for this difference include delayed medical attention, atypical presenting symptoms and also a higher incidence of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries in women. In addition, recent studies suggest that women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are less likely to receive treatment according to guidelines, which results in worse prognosis for women. Iceland is listed as one of the most gender-equal countries in the world and we hypothesised that this may reduce the gender gap in treatment and survival following AMI. Purpose The aim of this nationwide study was to compare clinical characteristics and treatment of men and women with AMI, identify independent risk factors for long-term mortality and estimate the impact of gender on relative survival. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study on all patients in Iceland with STEMI (2008–2018) and NSTEMI (2013–2018) who had obstructive coronary artery disease on coronary angiography. Information about patients and angiography results and treatment were obtained from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) and electronic health records. Data for all-cause mortality was extracted through linkage with Statistics Iceland and survival was estimated with Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis used to identify significant risk factors for long-term mortality. Excess mortality from the AMI episode was estimated by comparing the survival with age- and gender-matched population in Iceland in 30-day intervals. Results A total of 1345 STEMI patients (24% women) and 1249 NSTEMI patients (24% women) were evaluated. Women with both STEMI (mean age: 71±11. vs. 67±12) and NSTEMI (mean age: 69±13 vs. 62±12) were older and less likely to have a cardiovascular history. There was no gender difference in the extent of coronary artery disease or treatment. Whilst long-term survival for women following STEMI (A) was lower, female gender was not found to be an independent risk factor for mortality after adjusting for age and comorbidities (HR 0.98, 95%-CI: 0.75–1.29). The survival after NSTEMI was similar between genders (B) and female gender was a protective prognostic factor (HR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46–0.97). There was an excess 30-day mortality following STEMI (C) and NSTEMI (D) for both women and men compared to the matched Icelandic population, but thereafter the mortality rate was similar. Conclusion Our findings indicates that women and men in Iceland receive comparable treatment for AMI, including invasive treatment. Prognosis following NSTEMI is better in women. Higher early mortality after STEMI may be caused by delays in presentation and diagnosis as well as older age of women because female gender was not a significant risk factor for mortality. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): University hospital of Iceland, 4 weeks research leave

Objectives The authors sought to compare reclassification of treatment strategy following instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR). Background iFR was noninferior to FFR in 2 large randomized controlled trials in guiding coronary revascularization. Reclassification of treatment strategy by FFR is well-studied, but similar reports on iFR are lacking. Methods The iFR-SWEDEHEART (Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio Versus Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris or Acute Coronary Syndrome Trial) study randomized 2,037 participants with stable angina or acute coronary syndrome to treatment guided by iFR or FFR. Interventionalists entered the preferred treatment (optimal medical therapy [OMT], percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], or coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]) on the basis of coronary angiograms, and the final treatment decision was mandated by the iFR/FFR measurements. Results In the iFR/FFR (n = 1,009/n = 1,004) populations, angiogram-based treatment approaches were similar (p = 0.50) with respect to OMT (38%/35%), PCI of 1 (37%/39%), 2 (15%/16%), and 3 vessels (2%/2%) and CABG (8%/8%). iFR and FFR reclassified 40% and 41% of patients, respectively (p = 0.78). The majority of reclassifications were conversion of PCI to OMT in both the iFR/FFR groups (31.4%/29.0%). Reclassification increased with increasing number of lesions evaluated (odds ratio per evaluated lesion for FFR: 1.46 [95% confidence interval: 1.22 to 1.76] vs. iFR 1.37 [95% confidence interval: 1.18 to 1.59]). Reclassification rates for patients with 1, 2, and 3 assessed vessels were 36%, 52%, and 53% (p Conclusions Reclassification of treatment strategy of intermediate lesions was common and occurred in 40% of patients with iFR or FFR. The most frequent reclassification was conversion from PCI to OMT regardless of physiology modality. Irrespective of the physiological index reclassification of angiogram-based treatment strategy increased with the number of lesions evaluated.

We studied the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) following coronary angiography (CA) and examined short- and long-term outcomes of patients who developed AKI, including progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This was a retrospective study of all patients undergoing CA in Iceland from 2008 to 2015, with or without percutaneous coronary intervention. All procedures were performed with iso-osmolar contrast. AKI was defined according to the SCr component of the KDIGO criteria. Patients without post-procedural SCr were assumed to be free of AKI. Incident CKD was defined as 90-day sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 150 mL in patients with baseline eGFR

IMPORTANCE: The number of patients prescribed long-term opioids and benzodiazepines and complications from their long-term use have increased. Information regarding the perioperative outcomes of patients prescribed these medications before surgery is limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients prescribed opioids and/or benzodiazepines within 6 months preoperatively would have greater short- and long-term mortality and increased opioid consumption postoperatively. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective, single-center, population-based cohort study included all patients 18 years or older, undergoing noncardiac surgical procedures at a national hospital in Iceland from December 12, 2005, to December 31, 2015, with follow-up through May 20, 2016. A propensity score–matched control cohort was generated using individuals from the group that received prescriptions for neither medication class within 6 months preoperatively. Data analysis was performed from April 10, 2018, to March 9, 2019. EXPOSURES: Patients who filled prescriptions for opioids only, benzodiazepines only, both opioids and benzodiazepines, or neither medication within 6 months preoperatively. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Long-term survival compared with propensity score–matched controls. Secondary outcomes were 30-day survival and persistent postoperative opioid consumption, defined as a prescription filled more than 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Among 41 170 noncardiac surgical cases in 27 787 individuals (16 004 women [57.6%]; mean [SD] age, 56.3 [18.8] years), a preoperative prescription for opioids only was filled for 7460 cases (17.7%), benzodiazepines only for 3121 (7.4%), and both for 2633 (6.2%). Patients who filled preoperative prescriptions for either medication class had a greater comorbidity burden compared with patients receiving neither medication class (Elixhauser comorbidity index >0 for 16% of patients filling prescriptions for opioids only, 22% for benzodiazepines only, and 21% for both medications compared with 14% for patients filling neither). There was no difference in 30-day (opioids only: 1.3% vs 1.0%; P = .23; benzodiazepines only: 1.9% vs 1.5%; P = .32) or long-term (opioids only: hazard ratio [HR], 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01-1.24]; P = .03; benzodiazepines only: HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.98-1.26]; P = .11) survival among the patients receiving opioids or benzodiazepines only compared with controls. However, patients prescribed both opioids and benzodiazepines had greater 30-day mortality (3.2% vs 1.8%; P = .004) and a greater hazard of long-term mortality (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.22-1.64; P

Physical examination remains an important part of cardiology practice because it facilitates the further investigation and treatment of those in whom heart disease is confirmed or suspected and helps to reassure those without a heart condition. Clinical signs can provide accurate, valuable diagnostic and prognostic information of great relevance to patients with most cardiac conditions particularly heart failure, coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, and adults with congenital heart disease. This chapter reviews the most useful clinical signs in cardiology and discusses their relevance and accuracy expressed, wherever possible, as likelihood ratios; the reader should, however, be aware of the limitations of this sort of evidence-based approach because clinical signs should never be interpreted in isolation.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients deferred from coronary revascularization on the basis of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) or fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements in stable angina pectoris (SAP) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). BACKGROUND Assessment of coronary stenosis severity with pressure guidewires is recommended to determine the need for myocardial revascularization. METHODS The safety of deferral of coronary revascularization in the pooled per-protocol population (n = 4,486) of the DEFINE-FLAIR (Functional Lesion Assessment of Intermediate Stenosis to Guide Revascularisation) and iFR-SWEDEHEART (Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio Versus Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris or Acute Coronary Syndrome) randomized clinical trials was investigated. Patients were stratified according to revascularization decision making on the basis of iFR or FFR and to clinical presentation (SAP or ACS). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization at 1 year. RESULTS Coronary revascularization was deferred in 2,130 patients. Deferral was performed in 1,117 patients (50%) in the iFR group and 1,013 patients (45%) in the FFR group (p amp;lt; 0.01). At 1 year, the MACE rate in the deferred population was similar between the iFR and FFR groups (4.12% vs. 4.05%; fully adjusted hazard ratio: 1.13; 95% confidence interval: 0.72 to 1.79; p = 0.60). A clinical presentation with ACS was associated with a higher MACE rate compared with SAP in deferred patients (5.91% vs. 3.64% in ACS and SAP, respectively; fully adjusted hazard ratio: 0.61 in favor of SAP; 95% confidence interval: 0.38 to 0.99; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Overall, deferral of revascularization is equally safe with both iFR and FFR, with a low MACE rate of about 4%. Lesions were more frequently deferred when iFR was used to assess physiological significance. In deferred patients presenting with ACS, the event rate was significantly increased compared with SAP at 1 year. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Funding Agencies|Philips; Upsala Clinical Research Centre; Volcano; Imperial College; Philips Volcano; Imperial College London; Medical Research Council

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a new therapeutic option in wound healing and was first described in its present form in 1997. A vacuum source is used to create sub-atmospheric pressure in the local wound environment to promote healing. This is achieved by connecting a vacuum pump to a tube that is threaded into a wound gauze or foam filler dressing covered with a drape. This concept in wound treatment has been shown to be useful in treating different wound infections, including diabetic wounds as well as complex infections of the abdomen and thorax. NPWT has been used in Iceland for over a decade and its use is steadily increasing. This review describes the indications and outcome of NPWT and is aimed at a broad group of doctors and nurses where recent Icelandic studies on the subject are covered.

INTRODUCTION Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a recent therapeutic option in wound healing, where a vacuum source is used to create sub-atmospheric pressure in the wound bed with airtight dressings. The aims were to study the indications for the use of NPWT in a whole country and evaluate the outcome of treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study that included all patients that were treated with NPWT in Iceland between January and December 2008. Information on indication, duration and outcome of treatment was collected from patient charts. Factors that are known to affect wound healing, such as diabetes, smoking and age, were also registered. RESULTS During the 12 month study period a total of 65 NPWT-treatments were given to 56 patients; 35 (63%) males and 21 (37%) females, with an average age of 62 yrs (range; 8 - 93). The indications for treatment were: wound infection (40%), promotion of wound healing (42%) and keeping cavities open (19%). The lower limbs (26%) and chest area (25%) were the most common sites for treatment. Six patients died during the treatment period, none of them due to complications related to NPWT, and these patients were excluded from analysis of wound healing. In the other 59 treatments, 40 wounds (68%) healed successfully, but healing was incomplete in 19. Treatment related complications were recorded in 19 (32%) cases; wound pain (12%) and skin problems (11%) being the most common ones. CONCLUSION NPWT has been used considerably in Iceland, especially for infected surgical wounds and chronic wounds. In two thirds of cases a complete wound healing was achieved, which must be regarded as a favorable outcome.

Contains fulltext : 171919.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Sequence variants affecting blood lipids and coronary artery disease (CAD) may enhance understanding of the atherogenicity of lipid fractions. Using a large resource of whole-genome sequence data, we examined rare and low-frequency variants for association with non-HDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in up to 119,146 Icelanders. We discovered 13 variants with large effects (within ANGPTL3, APOB, ABCA1, NR1H3, APOA1, LIPC, CETP, LDLR, and APOC1) and replicated 14 variants. Five variants within PCSK9, APOA1, ANGPTL4, and LDLR associate with CAD (33,090 cases and 236,254 controls). We used genetic risk scores for the lipid fractions to examine their causal relationship with CAD. The non-HDL cholesterol genetic risk score associates most strongly with CAD (P = 2.7 x 10(-28)), and no other genetic risk score associates with CAD after accounting for non-HDL cholesterol. The genetic risk score for non-HDL cholesterol confers CAD risk beyond that of LDL cholesterol (P = 5.5 x 10(-8)), suggesting that targeting atherogenic remnant cholesterol may reduce cardiovascular risk.

BACKGROUND: Instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is a new hemodynamic resting index for assessment of coronary artery stenosis severity. iFR uses high frequency sampling to calculate a gradient across a coronary lesion during a period of diastole. The index has been tested against fractional flow reserve (FFR) and found to have an overall classification agreement of 80% to 85%. Whether the level of disagreement is clinically relevant is unknown. Clinical outcome data on iFR are scarce. This study is a registry-based randomized clinical trial, which is a novel strategy using health quality registries as on-line platforms for randomization, case record forms, and follow-up.DESIGN/METHODS: iFR-SWEDEHEART is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical open-label clinical trial. Two thousand patients with stable angina or acute coronary syndrome and an indication for physiology-guided assessment of one or more coronary stenoses will be randomized 1:1 to either iFR- or FFR-guided intervention. The randomization will be conducted online in the Swedish web-based system for enhancement and development of evidence-based care in heart disease evaluated according to recommended therapies (SWEDEHEART) registry. The trial has a non-inferiority design, with a primary combined end point of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization at 12 months. End points will be identified through national registries and undergo central blind adjudication to ensure data quality.DISCUSSION: The iFR-SWEDEHEART trial is an registry-based randomized clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the diagnostic method iFR compared to FFR.

To evaluate the outcome of treatment for deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) in a nationwide patient cohort, before and after the introduction of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT).This was a population-based cohort of all patients treated for DSWI in Iceland out of 2446 open heart operations performed between 2000 and 2010. Length of hospital stay, survival and reoperations were compared in (i) 23 patients treated with open and/or closed irrigation before August 2005 (conventional treatment, CvT group) and in (ii) 20 patients treated after this time with NPWT as a first-line therapy (NPWT group).The DSWI rate was 1.8% and did not change during the study period. Demographics were similar for both groups, except for peripheral arterial disease which was less common in the NPWT group. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were also more common (as the only pathogen identified) in the NPWT group (70% vs 30%, P = 0.01). The median length of hospital stay was 43 days in both groups and the sternum could be closed with delayed primary closure in all except 2 patients, one in each group. Eight patients in the CvT group required surgical revision for re-infections, including debridement and rewiring, when compared with 1 patient in the NPWT group (P = 0.02). Furthermore, 6 patients in the CvT group developed late chronic infections of the sternum requiring surgical revision, compared with one in the NPWT group (P = 0.10). The 30-day mortality was not significantly different between groups (4% vs 0%, P0.1) and the same was true for 1-year mortality (17% vs 0%, P = 0.11).NPWT significantly reduces the risk of early re-infections in patients with DSWI. There was a lower rate of late chronic sternal infections and lower mortality in the NPWT group, but the difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that NPWT should be considered as a first-line treatment for most DSWIs.