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The characteristics and outcome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) are still poorly known.The PANDEMIC study was an investigator-initiated, collaborative, individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of registry-based studies. MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Web of Sciences, and SCOPUS were searched to identify all registry-based studies describing the characteristics and outcome of SARS-CoV-2-positive STEMI patients undergoing PPCI. The control group consisted of SARS-CoV-2-negative STEMI patients undergoing PPCI in the same time period from the ISACS-STEMI COVID 19 registry. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcome was postprocedural reperfusion assessed by TIMI flow.Of 8 registry-based studies identified, IPD were obtained from 6 studies including 941 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients; the control group included 2005 SARS-CoV-2-negative patients. SARS-CoV-2-positive patients showed a significantly higher in-hospital mortality (p lt; 0.001) and worse postprocedural TIMI flow (lt;3, p lt; 0.001) compared with SARS-CoV-2-negative subjects. The increased risk for SARS-CoV-2-positive patients was significantly higher in males compared to females for both the primary (psubinteraction/sub = 0.001) and secondary outcome (psubinteraction/sub = 0.023). In SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, age ≥ 75 years (OR = 5.72; 95%CI: 1.77-18.5), impaired postprocedural TIMI flow (OR = 11.72; 95%CI: 2.64-52.10), and cardiogenic shock at presentation (OR = 11.02; 95%CI: 2.84-42.80) were independent predictors of mortality.In STEMI patients undergoing PPCI, SARS-CoV-2 positivity is independently associated with impaired reperfusion and with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality, especially among male patients. Age ≥ 75 years, cardiogenic shock, and impaired postprocedural TIMI flow independently predict mortality in this high-risk population.

In the era of potent P2Y12 inhibitors, according to current guidelines, treatment with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) should be limited to bail-out and/or highly thrombotic situations. Similarly, the recommendation for aspiration thrombectomy (AT) is downgraded to very selective use. We examine the prevalence, and predictors of GPI and AT use in STEMI patients referred to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Data on 116,873 consecutive STEMI patients referred to primary PCI in Poland between 2015 and 2020 were analyzed. GPIs were administered in 29.3%, AT was used in 11.6%, and combined treatment with both in 6.1%. There was a mild trend toward a decrease in GPI and AT usage during the analyzed years. On the contrary, there was a rapid growth of the ticagrelor/prasugrel usage rate from 6.5 to 48.1%. Occluded infarct-related artery at baseline and no-reflow during PCI were the strongest predictors of GPI administration (OR 2.3; 95% CI 2.22–2.38 and OR 3.47; 95% CI 3.13–3.84, respectively) and combined usage of GPI and AT (OR 4.4; 95% CI 4.08–4.8 and OR 3.49; 95% CI 3.08–3.95 respectively) in a multivariate logistic regression model. Similarly, the administration of ticagrelor/prasugrel was an independent predictor of both adjunctive treatment strategies. In STEMI patients in Poland, GPIs are selectively used in one in four patients during primary PCI, and the combined usage of GPI and AT is marginal. Despite the rapid growth in potent P2Y12 inhibitors usage in recent years, GPIs are selectively used at a stable rate during PCI in highly thrombotic lesions.

Basic life support (BLS) is one of the most efficient ways to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims’ outcomes. Resuscitation initiated by a random witness of OHCA is essential to increase the chances of survival. To assess the impact of BLS training in cardiac patients on knowledge about first aid for OHCA. The study group consisted of 68 participants who completed a questionnaire prior to BLS training. Forty-three of them then filled out the same questionnaire again after the BLS course. Participants’ knowledge was assessed with a self-designed questionnaire, which comprised 41 questions divided into six domains, namely legal aspects, resuscitation technique, resuscitation algorithm, knowledge about using an automated external defibrillator (AED), “calling for help” knowledge and identifying sudden cardiac arrest. The average score before the BLS course was lower compared with final results (43.8% ± 15.6% vs. 68.6% ± 22.7% [% of max. score], p = 0.001). The best scores, both before and after the BLS course, were gained in the “calling for help” knowledge (79.5% ± 33.5% vs. 80.4% ± 17.4% [% of max. score], p = 0.5) and “knowledge about using AEDs” domains (62.4% ± 35.2% vs. 74.7% ± 29.3% [% of max. score], p = 0.1). Patients who completed first aid courses gained better scores in the “knowledge about using an AED” domain (93.3% ± 14.9% vs. 58.6% ± 35.4% [% of max. score], p = 0.02). No differences between the other domains and overall scores were reported (total score: 48% ± 12% vs. 42% ± 17.5% [% of max. score], p = 0.5). General knowledge about BLS is poor. BLS training in cardiac patients improves knowledge about first aid for OHCA. Education and hands-on training are crucial to improve outcomes.

Introduction: Neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2, CXCL7), a platelet-derived neutrophil chemoattractant, is involved in inflammation. We investigated associations between NAP-2 levels, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation, and fibrin clot properties in atrial fibrillation (AF). Materials and Methods: We recruited 237 consecutive patients with AF (mean age, 68±11 years; median CHA2DS2VASc score of 3 [2-4]) and 30 apparently healthy controls. Plasma NAP-2 concentrations were measured, along with plasma fibrin clot permeability (Ks) and clot lysis time (CLT), thrombin generation, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), as a marker of NETs formation, and 3-nitrotyrosine reflecting oxidative stress. Results: NAP-2 levels were 89% higher in AF patients than in controls (626 [448-796] vs. 331 [226-430] ng/ml; p2DS2-VASc score, or the AF manifestation. Patients with NAP-2 in the top quartile (>796 ng/ml) were characterized by higher neutrophil count (+31.7%), fibrinogen (+20.8%), citH3 (+86%), and 3-nitrotyrosine (+111%) levels, along with 20.2% reduced Ks and 8.4% prolonged CLT as compared to the remaining subjects (all ps. Conclusions: Elevated NAP-2, associated with increased oxidative stress, has been identified as a novel modulator of prothrombotic plasma fibrin clot properties in patients with AF.

Background: The aim of our study was to assess if patients with AF (atrial fibrillation) and a history of ischemic stroke (IS) excessively receive reduced doses of NOACs (non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants). Methods: The Polish AF (POL-AF) registry is a prospective, observational, multicenter study, including patients with AF from 10 cardiology hospital centers. In this study we focused on patients with IS in their past. Results: Among 3999 patients enrolled in the POL-AF registry, 479 (12%) had a previous history of IS. Compared to patients without IS history, post-stroke subjects had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (median score 7 vs. 4, p < 0.05). Of these subjects, 439 (92%) had anticoagulation therapy, 83 (18.9%) were treated with a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), 135 (30.8%) with rivaroxaban, 112 (25.5%) with dabigatran, and 109 (24.8%) with apixaban. There were a significant number of patients after IS with reduced doses of NOACs (48.9% for rivaroxaban, 45.5% for dabigatran, and 36.7% for apixaban). In many cases, patients were prescribed reduced doses of NOACs without any indication for reduction (28.8% of rivaroxaban use, 56.9% of dabigatran use, and 60.0% of apixaban use—out of reduced dosage groups, p = 0.06). Conclusions: A significant proportion of AF patients received reduced doses of NOAC after ischemic stroke in a sizeable number of cases, without indication for dose reduction.

The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was confirmed by several studies. However, it is unclear whether this effect is still present in large groups of unselected patients undergoing up-to-date treatment. Thus, we sought to assess the impact of DM on periprocedural outcomes of primary PCI in STEMI using data from the Polish National Registry of PCI. Data on 150,782 STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were collected. Of them, 26,360 (17.5%) patients had DM. Patients with DM were higher-risk individuals who experienced longer reperfusion delays and were less likely to have closed infarct-related artery at baseline (TIMI 0 + 1 flow: 73.2% vs. 72.0%; p < 0.0001) and achieve optimal reperfusion after PCI (TIMI 3 flow: 91.8% vs. 88.5%; p < 0.0001). The periprocedural mortality (1.1% vs. 1.9%; p < 0.0001) was higher in patients with DM and DM was identified as an independent predictor of periprocedural death. In conclusion, despite continuous progress in STEMI treatment, DM remains a strong predictor of periprocedural mortality. However, this detrimental effect of DM may be partially explained by the overall higher risk profile of diabetic patients.

Introduction There are conflicting data on the clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) based on time of intervention. Concerns have been postulated regarding equally effective in-hospital outcomes for STEMI patients treated with PCI during normal working hours as compared to group treated off-hours. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess clinical outcomes in “real-world” patients with STEMI treated with PCI during off-hours and regular hours of work. Methods To avoid possible bias related to the non-randomized design, a propensity score was calculated to compare off- and on-hours groups. The study group consisted of 37, 469 matched pairs in STEMI treated with PCI and stent implantation between 2014 and 2018 during regular hours (weekdays 7:00 AM to 16:59 PM) and off-hours (weekdays between 17:00 PM and 06:59AM, weekends, and holidays) in 151 tertiary invasive cardiology centers in Poland (the ORPKI Polish National Registry). Results No differences were reported between both groups in baseline characteristics after the propensity score match (PSM). There were no differences in time from pain to first contact (p=0.2) and door to balloon time between both groups (p=0.7). After PSM higher radiation dose was observed in off-hours group (1055.18 (±1006.52) vs. 1081.59 (±1003.25)[mGy]; p=0.001). However, there was no difference in total amount of contrast (on-hours vs. off-hours: 175.69 (±74.71) vs. 176.48 (±74.41)[ml]; p=0.1, respectively). Similar rate of periprocedural complications was observed between both groups of patients, includind stroke, access-site-related bleeding, allergic reaction and coronary artery perforation. However, procedures performed during off-hours were associated with higher incidence of periprocedural death (1.17% (439) vs. 1.49% (559); p=0.001) and periprocedural cardiac arrest (1.76% (658) vs.1.97% (740); p=0.001) as compared to PCI conducted within normal working hours. Conclusions Percutaneous coronary intervention in STEMI performed durgin off-hours might be associated with higher rate of periprocedural mortality and higher radiation dose as compared to procedures conducted during regular working hours. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Background Although triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) is recommended in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), guidelines allow an option of dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT). This study assesses the everyday practice of 10 cardiology departments in antithrombotic therapy in AF patients undergoing PCI and its agreement with current guidelines. Methods This analysis included medical data of AF patients enrolled in the prospective, observational registry (The POLish Atrial Fibrillation-POL-AF) that underwent PCI [elective or due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS)]. Results Of the 3,999 consecutive subjects included, a final analysis was performed on 359 patients that underwent PCI: 148 with urgent PCI due to ACSand 211 patients with elective PCI. Eighty patients in the ACS-group and 120 patients in the elective-PCI group were treated with TAT, although guidelines also allowed DAT. Of 316 patients treated with oral anticoagulants as a part of combination therapy, 275 were on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC). Reduced doses of NOAC were used in 74 patients treated with rivaroxaban, 60 patients with dabigatran, and 54 patients with apixaban. The proportion of patients treated with reduced NOAC doses adequately to the guidelines was 29%, 100%, and 33% for rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and apixaban, respectively. Inappropriate low doses of NOACs were used in 71% of subjects on rivaroxaban and 67% on apixaban. Conclusions In patients with AF undergoing PCI, NOACs are definitely preferred over vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) in TAT/DAT, and an aggressive antithrombotic strategy with TAT is frequently chosen even if DAT is permissible by the guidelines. Label adherence of using reduced NOAC dose during combination therapy is not satisfactory for apixaban and rivaroxaban and probably results from too cautious an approach to the known indications for reduced therapy. The study is registered in the database Clinical Trials-NCT04419012.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a short hospital stay and fast recovery. However, it might be related to insufficient implementation of lifestyle changes after the procedure. Conversely, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a highly invasive technique that requires a prolonged hospital stay and long rehabilitation with more opportunities for education. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CABG on adherence to lifestyle modifications and knowledge about coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison with PCI. We also evaluated the level of education and tried to define groups of patients that might require targeted education. Methods: Data was collected using a self-designed 56-item questionnaire. Questions assessed the knowledge of CAD risk factors and the level of their control. Results: The study group consisted of 155 consecutive patients admitted to the Cardiology Department. Patients with a history of PCI (68%) (at least 8 weeks before) were included in the prior-PCI group, and patients with previous surgical revascularization (also at least 8 weeks before) were assigned to the prior-CABG group (32%). The knowledge score was higher in the prior-CABG group. The median (IQR) results in the prior-PCI vs. prior-CABG group were, respectively: 20 (12–24) vs. 22 (19–25) [points, per 31 max.]; p = 0.01. Similar results were obtained in the level of risk control (prior-PCI vs. prior-CABG, respectively: 6 (4–7) vs. 7 (6–8) [points, per 15 max.]; p = 0.002). Conclusions: The method of treatment of CAD might impact the implementation of lifestyle modifications after the procedure. More effort is required to improve secondary prevention, especially in PCI patients.

Sympathetic renal denervation (RDN) has been demonstrated as a potential treatment option for patients with resistant hypertension [1]. Despite discouraging results after the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial several techniques and catheters were introduced to the market and data confirming adequate and effective denervation are growing [1, 2]. In current guidelines invasive methods are not recommended as routine treatment of resistant hypertension [3, 4]. However, a highly selected group of patients not responding to aggressive medical treatment might benefit from this method [1–4].

Background There is a rise in the number of dental patients requiring periodic or lifelong antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents. Aims To determine the knowledge of antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents among Polish dentists. Material and methods The study groups consisted of 352 Polish dentists. A self-designed internet questionnaire was performed to evaluate competence in the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatment in dental clinical practice. Results Cessation of antiplatelet or oral anticoagulation treatment before elective dental extractions was more frequent than guideline-recommended. Patients requiring treatment with vitamin K antagonists were more often referred to cardiologist regardless of experience of dentistry practitioners ( 15 [years of experience in dentistry]: 64.52% vs. 57.29% vs. 58.55%, P = 0.003, respectively). Similar approach for novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) therapy was observed among non-surgical dentists, however, surgical specialists considered extraction without consultation as an equally safe option [surgical vs. nonsurgical, for extraction: 39.66% vs. 27.78%; for consultation with cardiologist: 39.66% vs. 50.4%, P = 0.01, respectively). Despite specialization type, most dentists preferred to obtain cardiologist opinion before invasive procedure on dual antiplatelet therapy treatment (surgical vs. nonsurgical: 56.9% vs. 73.81%, P = 0.03, respectively). However, dental extractions on acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was widely accepted regardless of years of experience and specialization type. Conclusions The knowledge of antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatment in patients requiring dental procedures among Polish dentists is not satisfying. Both therapies were discontinued more frequently than guideline-recommended prior to dental extractions. Dental extractions on ASA was a commonly accepted practice though.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an effective method for the treatment ofcoronary artery disease (CAD) that allows for a short hospital stay and fast recovery. It has been shown that PCI is a predictor of nonattendance at cardiac rehabilitation and correlates with poor adherence to lifestyle changes. Aims: The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of education offered during PCI‑related hospitalization on knowledge, awareness, and prevalence of self‑reported risk factors for CAD. Methods: We collected data using a self‑designed 56‑item questionnaire. Questions assessed the knowledge of CAD risk factors and the level of their control. The maximal knowledge score was 31 points and the maximal control score, 15 points. Results: The study group consisted of 200 consecutive patients undergoing PCI. Patients with a history of PCI performed at least 8 weeks prior to their current hospitalization were included in the prior‑PCI group (64%), whereas the pre‑PCI group comprised patients with no history of revascularization (36%). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) knowledge score was 19 (12.5–23) points in the pre‑PCI and 21 (12.5–24) points in the prior‑PCI group (P = 0.35). The median (IQR) risk control score was 5 (4.5–7) points in the pre‑PCI and 6 (4–8) points in the prior‑PCI group (P = 0.4). There was no correlation between the level of knowledge and the actual prevalence of CAD risk factors. We found that 50% of the prior‑PCI patients did not attend any rehabilitation, which correlated with poor control of CAD risk factors (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Currently used models of postprocedural education do not have an adequate effect on patient knowledge and do not bring recommended lifestyle changes.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivos Existen pocos estudios que comparen los accesos por la radial izquierda (ARI) y por la radial derecha en intervenciones coronarias percutaneas (ICP) en poblacion general y practicadas por cirujanos con diferentes grados de experiencia en intervencionismo. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es comparar la seguridad y el beneficio clinico con cada acceso en pacientes no seleccionados con sindrome coronario agudo (SCA) y angina estable (AE). Metodos Para evitar los posibles sesgos de un estudio no aleatorizado, se uso la puntuacion de propension para comparar ambos accesos radiales. Se recogieron datos de 18.716 pares con AE y 46.241 con SCA sometidos a ICP con implante de stent entre 2014 y 2017, en 151 centros terciarios con cardiologia intervencionista en Polonia (registro nacional de Polonia [ORPKI]). Resultados No se encontraron diferencias en cuanto a mortalidad y complicaciones periprocedimiento en AE. El ARI se asocio con mayores dosis de radiacion independientemente de la presentacion clinica (AE, 1.067,0 ± 947,10 frente a 1.007,4 ± 983,5 mGy; p = 0,001; SCA, 1.212,7 ± 1.005,5 frente a 1.053,5 ± 1.029,7 mGy; p = 0,001). En los pacientes con SCA, el ARI se asocio con mayor cantidad de contraste (174,2 ± 75,4 frente a 167,2 ± 72,1 ml; p = 0,001). Ademas, en los pacientes con SCA y ARI, las complicaciones periprocedimiento como diseccion coronaria (el 0,16 frente al 0,09%; p = 0,008), fenomeno de no reflow (el 0,65 frente al 0,49%; p = 0,005) y hemorragia en el sitio de puncion (el 0,09 frente al 0,05%; p = 0,04) resultaron mas frecuentes. No hubo diferencias en la mortalidad entre los 2 grupos (p = 0,90). Conclusiones Los resultados que se presentan podrian estar en relacion con una menor experiencia en el ARI. Ambos accesos son seguros en los pacientes con AE, pero el ARI se asocio con una mayor frecuencia de complicaciones periprocedimiento de ICP en el SCA.

BACKGROUND The main impact of myocardial infarction (MI) is shifting from acute mortality to adverse remodeling, chronic left ventricle (LV) dysfunction and heart failure. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess relationships between levels of circulating biomarkers and function of LV after MI. PATIENTS AND METHODS Prospective study of 80 patients with MI treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Novel biomarkers including mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), Notch-1, syndecan-4, myeloperoxidase, S-100 protein, soluble ST-2, as well as markers of inflammatory response and tissue injury: galectin-3, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dihydrogenase (LDH) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assessed in the acute phase of MI. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and 6 months. RESULTS Adverse remodeling, defined as >20% increase in LV end-diastolic volume occurred in 26% of patients. Reverse remodeling (>10% reduction in LV end-systolic volume) was observed in 52% of patients. In a univariable analysis higher levels of MR-proADM and LDH were predictors of adverse remodeling and higher levels of MR-proADM, LDH, CRP and Il-6 were negative predictors of reverse remodeling. In a multivariable model LDH remained an independent predictor of adverse remodeling (OR: 3.13; 95%CI: 1.42-8.18; P=0.003) and negative predictor of reverse remodeling (OR: 0.37; 95%CI: 0.17-0.8; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS LDH and MR-proADM seem to be promising biomarkers of adverse remodeling. On the other hand, higher levels of these biomarkers were associated with reduced chance of occurrence of favorable reverse remodeling in MI patients. However, further studies on larger groups of patients are necessary to confirm this data.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected access to health-care system and timeline of treatment. The fear of contamination might potentially forbear from accessing the emergency system.mFurthermore, pandemic-specific protocols require additional time to prepare medical stuff and catheterization laboratory before procedure. Thus, patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) might be exposed to a longer delay for revascularization and higher risk of mortality. Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment delay and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 positive and negative patients with STEMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during on- and off hours. Methods All consecutive patients with STEMI treated with PCI and stent implantation between 1st March 2020 and 31st December 2020 were enrolled into analysis. To overcome potential bias related to the non-randomized design a propensity score match (PSM) was used to compare COVID-19 positive and negative patients for both working frames hours. The study group consisted of 877 matched pairs treated during regular hours (everyday 7:00AM-16:59PM) and 418 matched pairs with PCI performed during off-hours (everyday 17:00PM and 06:59AM) in 151 tertiary invasive cardiology centers in Poland (the ORPKI Polish National Registry). Results After PSM there were no differences between COVID-19 positive and negative patients in baseline characteristics during both on- and off-hours. However, patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were admitted with cardiac arrest more frequently as compared to COVID-19 negative patients during regular working hours (180 (20.5%) vs. 64 (7.30%); p=0.001). There were no differences in radiation doses and total amount of contrast between both groups. Similarly, no differences in rate of periprocedural complications were observed despite of time of intervention, including stroke, access-site-related bleeding, allergic reaction and coronary artery perforation. Furthermore, there were no differences in periprocedural mortality between both groups (on-hours: COVID-19 negative vs. COVID-19 positive: 17 (1.9%) vs. 11 (1.3%),p=0.3; off-hours: COVID-19 negative vs. COVID-19 positive: 4 (1.0%) vs. 7 (1.7%),p=0.5). However, COVID-19 positive patients were exposed to longer time from first medical contact to angiography during both on-hours (133.76 (±137.10) vs. 117.14 (±135.83) [min]; p=0.001) and off-hours (148.08 (±201.56) vs. 112.19 (±138.72) [min]; p=0.003). Time from pain to first medical contact remained similar during both working frame hours (On-hours and off-hours, respectively: p=0.7 and p=0.9). Conclusions Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 might experience a longer time from first medical contact to revascularization. There was no impact of COVID-19 diagnosis on rate of periprocedural mortality or periprocedural complication, irrespective of time of intervention. System-level changes might be crucial to improve health-care during COVID-19 pandemic. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Background: Most atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are at high risk of thromboembolic, and the use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) is advised in such cases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency at which OACs were used in patients with AF and high risk thromboembolic complications, and identify factors that result in OACs not being used in the researched group of patients. Methods: The prospective, multicenter and non-interventional POL-AF registry is a study that includes AF patients from ten Polish cardiology centers. They were consecutively hospitalized between January and December of 2019. All the patients in the study were of high stroke risk. Results: A total of 3614 patients with AF and high stroke risk were included. Among the total study population, 91.5% received OAC therapy, antiplatelet therapy was prescribed for 3.7% of patients, heparin for 2.7%, and 2.1% of patients did not receive any stroke prevention therapy. Independent predictors of no OAC prescription were intracranial bleeding (OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.07–0.35, p &lt, 0.001), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.17–0.37, p &lt, 0.001), cancer (OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.25–0.55, p &lt, 0.001), hospitalization due to acute coronary syndrome (OR 0.48, 95%CI 0.33–0.69, p &lt, 0.001), and anemia (OR 0.62, 95%CI 0.48–0.81, p &lt, 0.001). Conclusions: Most AF patients with a high thromboembolic risk received OACs. The factors predisposing a lack of OAC use in these patients were conditions that significantly increased the risk of bleeding complications.

Patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated during the COVID-19 pandemic might experience prolonged time to reperfusion. The delayed reperfusion may potentially aggravate the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in those patients. Limited access to healthcare, more reluctant health-seeking behaviors, and bystander readiness to render life-saving interventions might additionally contribute to the suggested change in the risk of OHCA in STEMI. Thus, we sought to explore the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on treatment delay and clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI with OHCA. Overall, 5,501 consecutive patients with STEMI complicated by OHCA and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation were enrolled. A propensity score matching was used to obviate the possible impact of non-randomized design. A total of 740 matched pairs of patients with STEMI and OHCA treated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were compared. A similar mortality and prevalence of periprocedural complications were observed in both groups. However, patients treated during the COVID-19 outbreak experienced longer delays from first medical contact to angiography (88.8 (±61.5) vs. 101.4 (±109.8) [minutes]; p = 0.006). There was also a trend toward prolonged time from pain onset to angiography in patients admitted to the hospital in the pandemic era (207.3 (±192.8) vs. 227.9 (±231.4) [minutes]; p = 0.06). In conclusion, the periprocedural outcomes in STEMI complicated by OHCA were comparable before and during the COVID-19 era. However, treatment in the COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a longer time from first medical contact to reperfusion.

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). With a growing number of PCIs in complex lesions, the problem of CAP becomes even more important nowadays. Data on CAP rates in Poland are lacking. Presented study is an analysis of 344,517 consecutive patients treated with PCI between 2014 and 2017. Data were gathered from the Polish National PCI Registry (ORPKI). During 4 years of data collection CAP was observed in 595 (0.17%) cases. Patients diagnosed with CAP were older (69 years Q1:63; Q3:78 vs 66 years Q1:60; Q3:75; p0.001), more often female (44% vs 32%; p0.001), with arterial hypertension (77% vs 71%; p = 0.002), and chronic kidney disease (8.9% vs 5.4%; p0.001). In the CAP group, a higher rate of PCIs within chronic total occlusions (8.7% vs 2.3%; p0.001) and saphenous vein graft lesions (2.7% vs 1.3%; p = 0.002), as well as rotational atherectomy procedures (2.2% vs 0.4%; p0.001) was observed. Patients with CAP had higher rate of no-reflow phenomenon (5.5% vs 0.5%; p0.001) and greater periprocedural mortality (4.2% vs 0.5%; p0.001). In conclusion, our study confirms that CAP is more common during complex PCI procedures in high-risk patients. CAP occurrence is associated with worse immediate outcomes including increased periprocedural mortality.

Background: Conflicting results have been presented regarding the influence of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Aims: To investigate the impact of BMI on clinical outcomes after TAVI. Methods: A total of 148 consecutive patients were categorised using baseline BMI according to the World Health Organization criteria. Baseline patient characteristics, frailty, and procedural and clinical outcomes including 30-day and 12-month all-cause mortality were compared between the BMI categories. Patients were followed up for a median of 460.0 (182.0–1042.0) days. Results: Obesity was diagnosed in 37 (25.2%) patients, 73 (49.7%) patients were overweight, and 37 (25.2%) had normal weight. Prevalence of lower frailty as assessed by five-metre walk test was confirmed in obese patients as compared to other groups. A trend towards a lower rate of in-hospital bleeding complications (18 [48.6%] vs. 21 [28.8%] vs. 9 [24.3%] in normal-weight, overweight, and obese patients, respectively; p = 0.06) and less frequent blood transfusions (18 [48.6%] vs. 17 [23.3%) vs. 8 [21.6%]; p = 0.016) was observed in overweight and obese groups. The rate of grade 3 acute kidney injury was lowest in the overweight group (4 [10.8%] vs. 1 [1.4%] vs. 3 [8.1%]; p = 0.05). There was no difference between the groups in terms of 30-day all-cause mortality (p = 0.15). However, 12-month all-cause mortality was lowest in obese pa­tients (12 [32.4%] vs. 10 [13.7%] vs. 2 [5.4%]; p = 0.004). Increase in BMI was independently associated with lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] per 1 kg/m 2 increase: 0.91 [0.845–0.98]; p = 0.018). Conclusions: Increased BMI was independently associated with survival benefit after TAVI.

Background: Hyperuricemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including atrial fibrillation (AF). The prevalence of hyperuricemia and its clinical significance in patients with already diagnosed AF remain unexplored. Methods: The Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) registry includes consecutive patients with AF hospitalized in 10 Polish cardiology centers from January to December 2019. This analysis included patients in whom serum uric acid (SUA) was measured. Results: From 3999 POL-AF patients, 1613 were included in the analysis. The mean age of the subjects was 72 ± 11.6 years, and the mean SUA was 6.88 ± 1.93 mg/dL. Hyperuricemia was found in 43% of respondents. Eighty-four percent of the respondents were assigned to the high cardiovascular risk group, and 45% of these had SUA &gt, 7 mg/dL. Comparison of the extreme SUA groups (&lt, 5 mg/dL vs. &gt, 7 mg/dL) showed significant differences in renal parameters, total cholesterol concentration, and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Multivariate regression analysis showed that SUA &gt, 7 mg/dL (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.32–2.30) and GFR &lt, 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.46–2.48) are significant markers of EF &lt, 40% in the study population. Female sex was a protective factor (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56–0.97). The cut-off point for SUA with 60% sensitivity and specificity indicative of an EF &lt, 40% was 6.9 mg/dL. Conclusions: Although rarely assessed, hyperuricemia appears to be common in patients with AF. High SUA levels may be a significant biomarker of reduced left ventricular EF in AF patients.

The beneficial outcome of the radial (RA) over femoral approach (FA) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been widely demonstrated. However, most of the studies excluded patients with STEMI and cardiogenic shock (CS).We sought to evaluate periprocedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with RA and FA in patients with STEMI complicated by CS using data from the Polish National PCI Registry (ORPKI).A total of 3,565 consecutive patients with STEMI and CS treated with emergent PCI and stent implantation were included. Data was collected prospectively between 2014 and 2018 from 151 tertiary primary-PCI centers in Poland. To avoid possible selection bias, a propensity score matching (PSM) was used to create 945 matched pairs treated via RA or FA.No differences were reported in baseline characteristics, clinical presentation and delays in treatment between RA and FA after the PSM. Similar radiation doses and the total amount of contrast were used in both groups. A similar rate of periprocedural complications was observed in both RA and FA. However, RA was associated with reduced periprocedural mortality (9.4% (89) vs. 18.6% (176); P=0.001) and lower incidence of cardiac arrest (9.7% (92) vs. 16.1% (152); P=0.001). In multivariable analysis, FA was the strongest independent predictor for increased periprocedural mortality (OR 2.087, 95% CI 1.629-2.674; P=0.001).The radial approach was associated with lower periprocedural mortality compared with FA in patients with STEMI complicated by CS. RA seems to be a valuable option in technically feasible situations.

INTRODUCTION The beneficial outcome of the radial (RA) over femoral approach (FA) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been widely demonstrated. However, most of the studies excluded patients with STEMI and cardiogenic shock (CS). OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate periprocedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with RA and FA in patients with STEMI complicated by CS using data from the Polish National PCI Registry (ORPKI). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 3,565 consecutive patients with STEMI and CS treated with emergent PCI and stent implantation were included. Data was collected prospectively between 2014 and 2018 from 151 tertiary primary-PCI centers in Poland. To avoid possible selection bias, a propensity score matching (PSM) was used to create 945 matched pairs treated via RA or FA. RESULTS No differences were reported in baseline characteristics, clinical presentation and delays in treatment between RA and FA after the PSM. Similar radiation doses and the total amount of contrast were used in both groups. A similar rate of periprocedural complications was observed in both RA and FA. However, RA was associated with reduced periprocedural mortality (9.4% (89) vs. 18.6% (176); P=0.001) and lower incidence of cardiac arrest (9.7% (92) vs. 16.1% (152); P=0.001). In multivariable analysis, FA was the strongest independent predictor for increased periprocedural mortality (OR 2.087, 95% CI 1.629-2.674; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS The radial approach was associated with lower periprocedural mortality compared with FA in patients with STEMI complicated by CS. RA seems to be a valuable option in technically feasible situations.

The radial approach (RA) is the most common in invasive cardiology, but depending on the clinical situation, the femoral approach (FA) and brachial approach (BA) are also used. The BA is associated with the highest odds of complications so it is used mainly if a first-choice approach fails. The aim of the study was to assess clinical outcomes after invasive cardiology procedures stratified by the use of the RA, FA, and BA, with a focus on access site-related complications, quality of life (QoL), and patients’ perspective. A total of 250 procedures (RA: 98, FA: 99, BA: 53) performed between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Puncture site-related complications, vascular events, patient preferences, and QoL were assessed by the analysis of medical records and telephone follow-up using a proprietary questionnaire and the modified EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Patients from the RA group received the smallest volume of contrast during a percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) procedure (RA vs. FA vs. BA: 180 (150–240) ml vs. 200 (180–270) ml vs. 190 (100–200) ml, p = 0.045). The access site was changed most frequently in the procedures initiated from the RA (p &lt, 0.04). Overall puncture site-related complications, especially local hematomas, occurred most commonly in the BA group (7.1, 14.1, and 24.5% for RA, FA, and BA, respectively, p = 0.01). During the index procedure, the access site was changed most frequently in procedures initiated from the RA (19.7, 8.5 and 0%, p = 0.04). The RA was indicated as an approach preferred by the patient for a hypothetical next procedure (87.9, 55.4, and 70.0% for subjects preferring the same approach out of patients who underwent a procedure by the RA, FA, and BA, respectively, p &lt, 0.001). For the RA and FA, the prevalence of moderate or extreme access site-related problems in self-care decreased significantly (RA: p &lt, 0.01, FA: p &lt, 0.05) within 1 month after the index procedure (RA: 18.1, 4.2, and 1.4%, FA: 20.7, 11.1, and 9.6% periprocedurally, after 1 and 6 months, respectively). In contrast, for the BA these percentages were higher and a significant improvement (p &lt, 0.05) was delayed until 6 months (54.6, 36.4, and 18.2% periprocedurally, after 1 and 6 months, respectively). In conclusion, compared to the BA and FA, the RA appears to be not only the safest, mainly due to the lowest risk of puncture site-related complications after coronary procedures but also represents a preferable approach from the patient’s perspective. Although overall post-procedural QoL outcomes did not differ significantly according to the access site, nevertheless, the BA was associated with more frequent self-care problems whose improvement was delayed until more than one month after the index procedure.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can cause severe symptoms, but it is frequently asymptomatic. We aimed to compare the clinical features of patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic AF. Methods: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed (the Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) registry). Consecutive hospitalized AF patients over 18 years of age were enrolled at ten centers. The data were collected for two weeks during each month of 2019. Results: A total of 2785 patients were analyzed, of whom 1360 were asymptomatic (48.8%). Asymptomatic patients were more frequently observed to have coronary artery disease (57.5% vs. 49.1%, p &lt, 0.0001), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (39.8% vs. 26.5%, p &lt, 0.0001), a previous thromboembolic event (18.2% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.0002), and paroxysmal AF (52.3% vs. 45.2%, p = 0.0002). In multivariate analysis, history of electrical cardioversion, paroxysmal AF, heart failure, coronary artery disease, previous thromboembolic event, and higher left ventricular ejection fraction were predictors of a lack of AF symptoms. First-diagnosed AF was a predictor of AF symptoms. Conclusions: In comparison to symptomatic patients, more of those hospitalized with asymptomatic AF had been previously diagnosed with this arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases. However, they presented with better left ventricular function and were more frequently treated with cardiovascular medicines.

IntroductionIn this study, we aimed to distinguish differences in the procedural complication rate in a group of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) between patients with isolated LMCA disease and multi-vessel disease (MVD) with LMCA involvement and to identify their predictors.Material and methodsWe assessed 221,187 patients from the Polish Cardiovascular Intervention Society national registry (ORPKI) regarding all PCI procedures performed in Poland in 2015 and 2016. We extracted data of 1,819 patients with isolated LMCA disease and 3,718 patients with MVD and LMCA involvement. We compared those two groups in terms of procedural complications and their predictors.ResultsThe overall rate of procedural complications was significantly higher in patients treated with LMCA PCI both in the group of patients with isolated LMCA (6.5%) and the group with MVD with LMCA involvement (7.3%) compared to the non-LMCA PCI group (1.9%, p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that MVD with LMCA involvement is an independent predictor of decreased risk of procedural death in the overall group of patients undergoing PCI of the LMCA (odds ratio: 0.583; 95% confidence interval: 0.4–0.848; p = 0.005).ConclusionsThe MVD involvement in patients treated with PCI of the LMCA may play a protective role. Patients with isolated LMCA involvement undergoing PCI should be subjected to special care and protected by various methods, such as devices to support left ventricle function.

Pandemic-specific protocols require additional time to prepare medical staff and catheterization laboratories. Thus, we sought to investigate treatment delay and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 positive and negative patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during on- and off-hours. All consecutive patients with STEMI treated with PCI between 1 March and 31 December 2020 were enrolled in the analysis. A propensity score match was used to compare COVID-19 positive and negative patients for on- and off-hours. The study group was comprised of 877 paired patients treated during regular hours (every day 7:00 a.m. to 16:59 p.m.) and 418 matched pairs with PCI performed during off-hours (every day 17:00 p.m. to 06:59 a.m.) (ORPKI Polish National Registry). No difference in periprocedural mortality was observed between the two groups (on-hours: COVID-19 negative vs. COVID-19 positive: 17 (1.9%) vs. 11 (1.3%), p = 0.3, off-hours: COVID-19 negative vs. COVID-19 positive: 4 (1.0%) vs. 7 (1.7%), p = 0.5). Additionally, a similar rate of periprocedural complications was reported. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were exposed to longer time from first medical contact to angiography (on-hours: 133.8 (±137.1) vs. 117.1 (±135.8) (min), p = 0.001) (off-hours: 148.1 (±201.6) vs. 112.2 (±138.7) (min), p = 0.003). However, there was no influence of COVID-19 diagnosis on mortality and the prevalence of other periprocedural complications irrespective of time of intervention.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is now a well-established treatment for severe aortic stenosis. As the number of procedures and indications increase, the age of patients decreases. However, their durability and factors accelerating the process of degeneration are not well-known. The aim of the study was to verify the possibility of using [18F]F-sodium fluoride ([18F]F-NaF) and [18F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing the intensity of TAVI valve degenerative processes. In 73 TAVI patients, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at initial (before TAVI), baseline (after TAVI), and during follow-up, as well as transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and PET/CT, were performed using [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG at the six-month follow-up (FU) visit as a part of a two-year FU period. The morphology of TAVI valve leaflets were assessed in TEE, transvalvular gradients and effective orifice area (EOA) in TTE. Calcium scores and PET tracer activity were counted. We assessed the relationship between [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT uptake at the 6 = month FU with selected indices e.g.,: transvalvular gradient, valve type, EOA and insufficiency grade at following time points after the TAVI procedure. We present the preliminary PET/CT ([18F]F-NaF, [18F]F-FDG) results at the six-month follow-up period as are part of an ongoing study, which will last two years FU. We enrolled 73 TAVI patients with the mean age of 82.49 &plusmn, 7.11 years. A significant decrease in transvalvular gradient and increase of effective orifice area and left ventricle ejection fraction were observed. At six months, FU valve thrombosis was diagnosed in four patients, while 7.6% of patients refused planned controls due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We noticed significant correlations between valve types, EOA and transaortic valve gradients, as well as [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG uptake in PET/CT. PET/CT imaging with the use of [18F]F-FDG and [18F]F-NaF is intended to be feasible, and it practically allows the standardized uptake value (SUV) to differentiate the area containing the TAVI leaflets from the SUV directly adjacent to the ring calcifications and the calcified native leaflets. This could become the seed for future detection and evaluation capabilities regarding the progression of even early degenerative lesions to the TAVI valve, expressed as local leaflet inflammation and microcalcifications.

Background: We aimed to assess characteristics and treatment of AF patients with and without heart failure (HF). Methods: The prospective, observational Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) Registry included consecutive patients with AF hospitalized in 10 Polish cardiology centers in 2019–2020. Results: Among 3999 AF patients, 2822 (71%) had HF (AF/HF group). Half of AF/HF patients had preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Compared to patients without HF (AF/non–HF), AF/HF patients were older, more often male, more often had permanent AF, and had more comorbidities. Of AF/HF patients, 98% had class I indications to oral anticoagulation (OAC). Still, 16% of patients were not treated with OAC at hospital admission, and 9%—at discharge (regardless of the presence of HF and its subtypes). Of patients not receiving OAC upon admission, 61% were prescribed OAC (most often apixaban) at discharge. AF/non–HF patients more often converted from AF at admission to sinus rhythm at discharge compared to AF/HF patients (55% vs. 30%), despite cardioversion performed as often in both groups. Class I antiarrhythmics were more often prescribed in AF/non–HF than in AF/HF group (13% vs. 8%), but still as many as 15% of HFpEF patients received them. Conclusions: Over 70% of hospitalized AF patients have coexisting HF. A significant number of AF patients does not receive the recommended OAC.

Background: Based on the clinical outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), this study intended to assess mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) rates according to duration of pain-to-balloon (PTB) time and type of MI. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study based on the prospectively collected ORPKI registry which covers PCIs performed in Poland chosen between January 2014 and December 2017. Under assessment were 1,994 STEMI and 923 NSTEMI patients. Study endpoints included mortality and MACCE rates (in-hospital, 30-day, 12- and 36-month). Predictors of all-cause mortality in the overall group, STEMI and NSTEMI were assessed by multivariable analysis. Results: Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis did not reveal significant differences between the STEMI and NSTEMI group for all-cause mortality or MACCE at the 36-month follow-up. While in the long PTB time group, MACCE rate was significantly greater in STEMI patients when compared to NSTEMI (p = 0.004). Among STEMI patients, the short, medium and long PTB time groups differed significantly in the rate of all-cause mortality (p = 0.006) and MACCE (p = 0.04) at 1,095 days of follow-up, which were the greatest in the long PTB time group. Conclusions: Before considering the length of PTB time, there were no statistically significant differences in mortality or MACCE frequency between the STEMI and NSTEMI group at 36-month follow-up. Longer PTB times are related to significantly greater mortality at the 36-month follow-up in the STEMI, but not in the NSTEMI group.

Background: The presence of psoriasis is currently considered by the European Society of Cardiology cardiovascular prevention guidelines of 2016 as one possible cardiovascular risk factor. Patients with psoriasis and concomitant coronary artery disease treated by means of percutaneous coronary interven­tion (PCI) are a fairly large subgroup of patients that have been usually omitted in mainstream research. The aim herein, was to identify the incidence of psoriasis, baseline characteristics and periprocedural outcome with a special focus on procedural complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures. Methods: All consecutive patients who had either coronary angiography or coronary angiography with immediate PCI in Poland in 2014 and 2015 were included. Patients were assigned to two groups based on previous diagnosis: with psoriasis and without psoriasis. Clinical outcome was defined as any periprocedural death. Results: There were 405,078 patients included in this analysis. Psoriasis (moderate or severe) was di­agnosed in 1507 (0.4%) of them. Psoriasis was an independent predictor of allergic reaction occurrence (odds ratio [OR] 6.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–25.22; p = 0.014). After propensity score adjustment, psoriasis remained a significant predictor of allergic reaction (OR 5, 95% CI 1.2–20.7; p = 0.0245). There were no differences in rates of periprocedural deaths in patients with or without psoriasis (death: 0.95% vs. 0.62%, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Severe or moderate psoriasis is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of allergic reaction during percutaneous coronary procedures. There were no differences in periprocedural mortal­ity and complications in patients with versus those without psoriasis.

Introduction and objectives There is a paucity of data comparing the left radial approach (LRA) and right radial approach (RRA) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in all-comers populations and performed by operators with different experience levels. Thus, we sought to compare the safety and clinical outcomes of the RRA and LRA during PCI in “real-world” patients with either stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods To overcome the possible impact of the nonrandomized design, a propensity score was calculated to compare the 2 radial approaches. The study group comprised 18 716 matched pairs with stable angina and 46 241 with ACS treated with PCI and stent implantation between 2014 and 2017 in 151 tertiary invasive cardiology centers in Poland (the ORPKI Polish National Registry). Results The rates of death and periprocedural complications were similar for the RRA and LRA in stable angina patients. A higher radiation dose was observed with PCI via the LRA in both clinical presentations (stable angina: 1067.0 ± 947.1 mGy vs 1007.4 ± 983.5 mGy, P = .001; ACS: 1212.7 ± 1005.5 mGy vs 1053.5 ± 1029.7 mGy, P = .001). More contrast was used in LRA procedures but only in ACS patients (174.2 ± 75.4 mL vs 167.2 ± 72.1 mL, P = .001). Furthermore, periprocedural complications such as coronary artery dissection (0.16% vs 0.09%, P = .008), no-reflow phenomenon (0.65% vs 0.49%, P = .005), and puncture site bleeding (0.09% vs 0.05%, P = .04) were more frequently observed with the LRA in ACS patients. There was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups (P = .90). Conclusions Our finding of poorer outcomes with the LRA may be related to lower operator experience with this approach. While both the LRA and RRA are safe in the setting of stable angina, the LRA was associated with a higher rate of periprocedural complications during PCI in ACS patients.

The aim of study was to compare patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy divided according to septal configuration assessed in a 4-chamber apical window. The study group consisted of 56 consecutive patients. Reversed septal curvature (RSC) and non-RSC were diagnosed in 17 (30.4%) and 39 (69.6%) patients, respectively. Both RSC and non-RSC groups were compared in terms of the level of high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI), NT-proBNP (absolute value), NT-proBNP/ULN (value normalized for sex and age), and echocardiographic parameters, including left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG). A higher level of hs-TnI was observed in RSC patients as compared to the non-RSC group (102 (29.2-214.7) vs. 8.7 (5.3-18) (ng/l), p = 0.001 ). A trend toward increased NT-proBNP value was reported in RSC patients (1279 (367.3-1186) vs. 551.7 (273-969) (pg/ml), p = 0.056 ). However, no difference in the NT-proBNP/ULN level between both groups was observed. Provocable LVOTG was higher in RSC as compared to non-RSC patients (51 (9.5-105) vs. 13.6 (7.5-31) (mmHg), p = 0.04 ). Furthermore, more patients with RSC had prognostically unfavourable increased septal thickness to left LV diameter at the end diastole ratio. Patients with RSC were associated with an increased level of hs-TnI, and the only trend observed in this group was for the higher NT-proBNP levels. RSC seems to be an alerting factor for the risk of ischemic events. Not resting but only provocable LVOTG was higher in RSC as compared to non-RSC patients.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that low operator and institutional volume may be associated with an increased risk of adverse events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between operator volume and procedure­ ­related mortality in the emergent and elective settings. Methods: Data were obtained from a national registry of PCIs, maintained in cooperation with the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society. Registry data for the period from January 2014 to December 2017 were collected. During the study, there were 162 active catheterization laboratories, in which a total of 456 732 PCIs were performed. Results: The median number of PCIs performed in a single laboratory was 2643.5 (interquartile range [IQR], 1875–3598.5) over 4 years. The median number of PCIs performed by a single operator was 557 (IQR, 276.25–860.5) per year. We did not confirm a significant relationship between the operator volume and mortality in the overall group of patients treated with emergency and elective PCI. However, we noted a lower mortality rate for high­‑volume operators (odds ratio [OR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63–0.99; P = 0.04). When the operator volume was assessed as a continuous variable, there was a trend toward significance (OR, 0.94; 95% CI; 0.88–1.0007; P = 0.052) in patients treated with emergency PCI. Conclusions: High operator volume was associated with a lower periprocedural mortality rate than low operator volume in patients undergoing PCI due to acute coronary syndromes.

To the Editor Recently Cramer et al 1 demonstrated very important observation on troponin level increase after exercise in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Several concerns regarding to methodology of their study should be explained. Authors decided to perform only one measurement of troponin level at 6 hours after end of exercise. In our opinion, …