Browsing by Author "Lasica, Ratko (14631892300)"

Although acute heart failure (AHF) is a common disease associated with significant symptoms, morbidity and mortality, the diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment of patients with hypertensive acute heart failure (H-AHF) still remain a challenge in modern medicine. Despite great progress in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, this disease is still accompanied by a high rate of both in-hospital (from 3.8% to 11%) and one-year (from 20% to 36%) mortality. Considering the high rate of rehospitalization (22% to 30% in the first three months), the treatment of this disease represents a major financial blow to the health system of each country. This disease is characterized by heterogeneity in precipitating factors, clinical presentation, therapeutic modalities and prognosis. Since heart decompensation usually occurs quickly (within a few hours) in patients with H-AHF, establishing a rapid diagnosis is of vital importance. In addition to establishing the diagnosis of heart failure itself, it is necessary to see the underlying cause that led to it, especially if it is de novo heart failure. Given that hypertension is a precipitating factor of AHF and in up to 11% of AHF patients, strict control of arterial blood pressure is necessary until target values are reached in order to prevent the occurrence of H-AHF, which is still accompanied by a high rate of both early and long-term mortality. © 2024 by the authors.

Aims: The objective of the present substudy was to examine whether aspirin poor/high responsiveness (APR/AHR) is associated with increased rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and serious bleeding after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods: We analyzed 961 consecutive ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction patients who underwent PPCI between February 2008 and June 2011. Multiplate analyser (Dynabite, Munich, Germany) was used for the assessment of platelet reactivity. APR/AHR were defined as the upper/lower quintiles of ASPI values, determined 24 h after aspirin loading. APR patients were tailored using 300 mg maintenance dose for 30 days. The co-primary end points at 30 days were: MACE (death, non-fatal infarction, ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization and ischemic stroke) and serious bleeding according to the BARC classification. Results: One hundred and 90 patients were classified as APR, and 193 patients as AHR. At admission, compared with aspirin sensitive patients (ASP), patients with APR had more frequently diabetes, anterior infarction and heart failure, while AHR patients had reduced values of creatine kinase, leukocytes, heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Compared with ASP, the rates of 30-day primary end points did not differ neither in APR group including tailored patients (MACE, adjusted OR 1.02, 95%CI 0.47-2.17; serious bleeding, adjusted OR 1.92, 95%CI 0.79-4.63), nor in patients with AHR (MACE, adjusted OR 1.58, 95%CI 0.71-5.51; serious bleeding, adjusted OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.22-2.12). Conclusions: The majority of APR patients were suitable for tailoring. Neither APR including tailored patients nor AHR were associated with adverse 30-day efficacy or safety clinical outcomes. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Aims: The objective of the present substudy was to examine whether aspirin poor/high responsiveness (APR/AHR) is associated with increased rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and serious bleeding after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods: We analyzed 961 consecutive ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction patients who underwent PPCI between February 2008 and June 2011. Multiplate analyser (Dynabite, Munich, Germany) was used for the assessment of platelet reactivity. APR/AHR were defined as the upper/lower quintiles of ASPI values, determined 24 h after aspirin loading. APR patients were tailored using 300 mg maintenance dose for 30 days. The co-primary end points at 30 days were: MACE (death, non-fatal infarction, ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization and ischemic stroke) and serious bleeding according to the BARC classification. Results: One hundred and 90 patients were classified as APR, and 193 patients as AHR. At admission, compared with aspirin sensitive patients (ASP), patients with APR had more frequently diabetes, anterior infarction and heart failure, while AHR patients had reduced values of creatine kinase, leukocytes, heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Compared with ASP, the rates of 30-day primary end points did not differ neither in APR group including tailored patients (MACE, adjusted OR 1.02, 95%CI 0.47-2.17; serious bleeding, adjusted OR 1.92, 95%CI 0.79-4.63), nor in patients with AHR (MACE, adjusted OR 1.58, 95%CI 0.71-5.51; serious bleeding, adjusted OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.22-2.12). Conclusions: The majority of APR patients were suitable for tailoring. Neither APR including tailored patients nor AHR were associated with adverse 30-day efficacy or safety clinical outcomes. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a clinical entity linked with various risk factors that significantly affect cardiac morbidity and mortality. Hypertension, one of the most important, causes both functional and structural alterations in the microvasculature, promoting the occurrence and progression of microvascular angina. Endothelial dysfunction and capillary rarefaction play the most significant role in the development of CMD among patients with hypertension. CMD is also related to several hypertension-induced morphological and functional changes in the myocardium in the subclinical and early clinical stages, including left ventricular hypertrophy, interstitial myocardial fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. This indicates the fact that CMD, especially if associated with hypertension, is a subclinical marker of end-organ damage and heart failure, particularly that with preserved ejection fraction. This is why it is important to search for microvascular angina in every patient with hypertension and chest pain not associated with obstructive coronary artery disease. Several highly sensitive and specific non-invasive and invasive diagnostic modalities have been developed to evaluate the presence and severity of CMD and also to investigate and guide the treatment of additional complications that can affect further prognosis. This comprehensive review provides insight into the main pathophysiological mechanisms of CMD in hypertensive patients, offering an integrated diagnostic approach as well as an overview of currently available therapeutical modalities. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: No comprehensive primary PCI (pPCI) risk model to predict net adverse cardiovascular events (NACE) has been reported with the use of clopidogrel 600 mg, which is now considered the standard loading dose. The primary hypothesis of the RISK-PCI trial is that an accurate risk prediction may be achieved by using clinical, angiographic, and procedural variables available at the time of intervention. Methods: The present single-center, longitudinal, cohort study will include 1,750 consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), undergoing pPCI after pretreatment with 300 mg aspirin and 600 mg clopidogrel. The primary end-points of the trial (NACE) include major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major bleeding. A logistic regression model will be developed to predict 30-day and 1-year NACE after pPCI. A risk score derived from study set data will be validated using validation set data. Results: Until June 1, 2008, 1,166 patients have been enrolled. Thirty-day follow-up is available in 1,007 patients. Conclusions: The RISK-PCI study is designed to develop an accurate risk scoring system, using variables available at the time of intervention, to predict long-term adverse outcomes after pPCI. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials Register - ISRCTN83474650 - http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN83474650). © 2009, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background: Remote ischaemic conditioning with transient ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We investigated whether remote ischaemic conditioning could reduce the incidence of cardiac death and hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months. Methods: We did an international investigator-initiated, prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial (CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI) at 33 centres across the UK, Denmark, Spain, and Serbia. Patients (age >18 years) with suspected STEMI and who were eligible for PPCI were randomly allocated (1:1, stratified by centre with a permuted block method) to receive standard treatment (including a sham simulated remote ischaemic conditioning intervention at UK sites only) or remote ischaemic conditioning treatment (intermittent ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm through four cycles of 5-min inflation and 5-min deflation of an automated cuff device) before PPCI. Investigators responsible for data collection and outcome assessment were masked to treatment allocation. The primary combined endpoint was cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02342522) and is completed. Findings: Between Nov 6, 2013, and March 31, 2018, 5401 patients were randomly allocated to either the control group (n=2701) or the remote ischaemic conditioning group (n=2700). After exclusion of patients upon hospital arrival or loss to follow-up, 2569 patients in the control group and 2546 in the intervention group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 12 months post-PPCI, the Kaplan-Meier-estimated frequencies of cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure (the primary endpoint) were 220 (8·6%) patients in the control group and 239 (9·4%) in the remote ischaemic conditioning group (hazard ratio 1·10 [95% CI 0·91–1·32], p=0·32 for intervention versus control). No important unexpected adverse events or side effects of remote ischaemic conditioning were observed. Interpretation: Remote ischaemic conditioning does not improve clinical outcomes (cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure) at 12 months in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI. Funding: British Heart Foundation, University College London Hospitals/University College London Biomedical Research Centre, Danish Innovation Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, TrygFonden. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license

Studies with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors (GPIs) showed conflicting results in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) patients who were pretreated with 600 mg clopidogrel. We sought to investigate the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of the periprocedural administration of tirofiban in a largest Serbian PPCI centre. We analysed 2995 consecutive PPCI patients enrolled in the Clinical Center of Serbia STEMI Register, between February 2007 and March 2012. All patients were pretreated with 600 mg clopidogrel and 300 mg aspirin. Major adverse cardiovascular events, comprising all-cause death, nonfatal infarction, nonfatal stroke, and ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularization, was the primary efficacy end point. TIMI major bleeding was the key safety end point. Analyses drawn from the propensity-matched sample showed improved primary efficacy end point in the tirofiban group at 30-day (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53–0.97) and at 1-year (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57–0.96) follow up. Moreover, tirofiban group had a significantly lower 30-day all-cause mortality (secondary end point; OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40–0.90), compared with patients who were not administered tirofiban. At 1 year, a trend towards a lower all-cause mortality was observed in the tirofiban group (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.53–1.04). No differences were found with respect to the TIMI major bleeding during the follow-up period. Tirofiban administered with PPCI, following 600 mg clopidogrel pretreatment, improved primary efficacy outcome at 30 days and at 1 year follow up without an increase in major bleeding. © 2013, The European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of combined left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and renal dysfunction (RD) on 1-year overall mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (comprising cardiovascular death, nonfatal renfarction, target vessel revascularization, and nonfatal stroke) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Methods: One thousand three hundred ninety eight patients with first myocardial infarction, undergoing pPCI were divided into four groups according to the presence of LVSD (ejection fraction [EF] <40%) and/or baseline RD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per m 2): Group I (no LVSD and no RD); Group II (LVSD, no RD); Group III (RD, no LVSD); Group IV (LVSD + RD). Results: One-year mortality rates in Groups I, II, III, and IV were 2.6%, 15.2%, 10.6%, and 34.2% and 1-year MACE rates were 5.7%, 19.5%, 17.1% and 35.7%, respectively. Patients in Groups II, III, and IV had an increased probability of 1-year overall mortality and MACE as compared to Group I. Overall mortality: Group II HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.1-4.2); Group III HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.1-4.1); Group IV HR 4.8 (95% CI 2.4-9.4); MACE: Group II HR 2.2 (95% CI 1.1-4.2); Group III HR 2.2 (95% CI 1.1-4.3); Group IV HR 5.1 (95% CI 2.6-10.1). The LVSD-RD combination was the strongest independent predictor for 1-year outcomes. Conclusions: The LVSD-RD combination is associated with an approximately five-fold increase in 1-year overall mortality and MACE after pPCI. The evaluation of the renal function in patients with LVSD represents a simple method which enables a more precise stratification of the risks related to the occurrence of adverse events in long-term patient follow-up. © 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background: A significant percentage of younger patients with myocardial infarction have premature coronary artery disease (CAD). The aims of this study were to analyze all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs cardiovascular death, non-fatal reinfarction, stroke, target vessel revascularization) during eight-year follow-up in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and premature CAD. Method: We analyzed 2560 STEMI patients without previous CAD and without cardiogenic shock at admission who were treated with primary PCI. CAD was classified as premature in men aged <50 years and women <55 years. Results: Premature CAD was found in 630 (24.6%) patients. Patients with premature CAD have fewer comorbidities and better initial angiographic findings compared to patients without premature CAD. The incidence of non-fatal adverse ischemic events was similar to the incidence in older patients. Premature CAD was an independent predictor for lower mortality (HR 0.50 95%CI 0.28–0.91) and MACEs (HR 0.27 95%CI 0.15–0.47). In patients with premature CAD, EF < 40% was the only independent predictor of mortality (HR 5.59 95%CI 2.18–8.52) and MACEs (HR 4.18, 95%CI 1.98–8.13). Conclusions: Premature CAD was an independent predictor for lower mortality and MACEs. In patients with premature CAD, EF < 40% was an independent predictor of eight-year mortality and MACEs. © 2024 by the authors.

Background: stress hyperglicemia (SH) is common in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI). The aims of this study were to analyze the impact of SH on the incidence of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-cardiovascular death, nonfatal reinfarction, target vessel revascularization, and stroke) in STEMI patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) who have been treated successfully with primary PCI (pPCI). Method: we analyzed 2362 STEMI patients treated with successful pPCI (post-procedural flow TIMI = 3) and without DM and cardiogenic shock at admission. Stress hyperglycemia was defined as plasma glucose level above 7.8 mmol/L at admission. The follow-up period was 8 years. Results: incidence of SH was 26.9%. Eight-year all-cause mortality and MACE rates were significantly higher in patients with SH, as compared to patients without SH (9.7% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.001, and 15.7% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001). SH was an independent predictor of short- and long-term all-cause mortality (HR 2.19, 95%CI 1.16–4.18, and HR 1.99, 95%CI 1.03–3.85) and MACE (HR 1.49, 95%CI 1.03–2.03, and HR 1.35, 95%CI 1.03–1.89). Conclusion: despite successful revascularization, SH at admission was an independent predictor of short-term and long-term (up to eight years) all-cause mortality and MACE, but its negative prognostic impact was stronger in short-term follow-up. © 2024 by the authors.

Introduction: The present study aimed to establish the role of lipid abnormalities and inflammatory markers for developing cardiovascular risk, as well as to address the importance of obesity as a common comorbidity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective cohort study including 120 patients with newly diagnosed OSA between 2019 and 2020, at University Clinical Hospital Center “Bezanijska kosa”, Belgrade, Serbia. The diagnosis was established by polysomnography. In all patients, sociodemographic data, respiratory, lipid, and inflammatory parameters were collected and complete echocardiographic study and 24-h blood pressure monitoring were performed. Results: The mean patient age was 55.7 ± 13.8 years. Study population was mostly male (70.0%) and obese (56.7%). At least 30 apneas or hypopneas per hour were present in 39.0% of patients. A strong positive correlation was found between OSA severity and BMI (r = 0.562, p < 0.001), both associated with lipid, inflammatory and respiratory parameters, and cardiovascular profile of patients with OSA (p < 0.05 for all). Echocardiographic study and 24-h blood pressure monitoring parameters were in turn correlated with lipid and inflammatory markers (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: The results of this study support the important role of dyslipidemia and inflammation, as well as coexistence of obesity in the pathogenesis of numerous conditions linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with OSA. Copyright © 2022 Zdravkovic, Popadic, Klasnja, Milic, Rajovic, Divac, Manojlovic, Nikolic, Lukic, Rasiti, Mircetic, Marinkovic, Nikolic, Crnokrak, Lisulov, Djurasevic, Stojkovic, Todorovic, Lasica, Parapid, Djuran and Brajkovic.

Introduction: The present study aimed to establish the role of lipid abnormalities and inflammatory markers for developing cardiovascular risk, as well as to address the importance of obesity as a common comorbidity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective cohort study including 120 patients with newly diagnosed OSA between 2019 and 2020, at University Clinical Hospital Center “Bezanijska kosa”, Belgrade, Serbia. The diagnosis was established by polysomnography. In all patients, sociodemographic data, respiratory, lipid, and inflammatory parameters were collected and complete echocardiographic study and 24-h blood pressure monitoring were performed. Results: The mean patient age was 55.7 ± 13.8 years. Study population was mostly male (70.0%) and obese (56.7%). At least 30 apneas or hypopneas per hour were present in 39.0% of patients. A strong positive correlation was found between OSA severity and BMI (r = 0.562, p < 0.001), both associated with lipid, inflammatory and respiratory parameters, and cardiovascular profile of patients with OSA (p < 0.05 for all). Echocardiographic study and 24-h blood pressure monitoring parameters were in turn correlated with lipid and inflammatory markers (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: The results of this study support the important role of dyslipidemia and inflammation, as well as coexistence of obesity in the pathogenesis of numerous conditions linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with OSA. Copyright © 2022 Zdravkovic, Popadic, Klasnja, Milic, Rajovic, Divac, Manojlovic, Nikolic, Lukic, Rasiti, Mircetic, Marinkovic, Nikolic, Crnokrak, Lisulov, Djurasevic, Stojkovic, Todorovic, Lasica, Parapid, Djuran and Brajkovic.

Introduction: Data on predictors and prognosis of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) in patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF) to intensive care units (ICU) are scarce. Better knowledge of these factors may inform management strategies. This study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of HAP and its impact on management and outcomes in patients hospitalised for AHF in the ICU. Methods: this was a retrospective single-centre observational study. Patient-level and outcome data were collected from an anonymized registry-based dataset. Primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), requirement for inotropic/ventilatory support, and prescription patterns of heart failure (HF) drug classes at discharge. Results: Of 638 patients with AHF (mean age, 71.6 ± 12.7 years, 61.9% male), HAP occurred in 137 (21.5%). In multivariable analysis, HAP was predicted by de novo AHF, higher NT proB-type natriuretic peptide levels, pleural effusion on chest x-ray, mitral regurgitation, and a history of stroke, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Patients with HAP had a longer LOS, and a greater likelihood of requiring inotropes (adjusted odds ratio, OR, 2.31, 95% confidence interval, CI, 2.16–2.81; p < 0.001) or ventilatory support (adjusted OR 2.11, 95%CI, 1.76–2.79, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex and clinical covariates, all-cause in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with HAP (hazard ratio, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.71–2.84; p < 0.001). Patients recovering from HAP were less likely to receive HF medications at discharge. Discussion: HAP is frequent in AHF patients in the ICU setting and more prevalent in individuals with de novo AHF, mitral regurgitation, higher burden of comorbidities, and more severe congestion. HAP confers a greater risk of complications and in-hospital mortality, and a lower likelihood of receiving evidence-based HF medications at discharge. 2023 Polovina, Tomić, Viduljević, Zlatić, Stojićević, Civrić, Milošević, Krljanac, Lasica and Ašanin.

Background: Insulin- and non–insulin treated diabetes (ITDM and NITDM) have different prognostic impact in patients with myocardial infarction and/or heart failure. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic impact of ITDM and NTIDM on the incidence of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE— cardiovascular death, nonfatal infarction, nonfatal stroke, and target vessel revascularization) in the 8-year follow-up of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a reduced ejection fraction (EF). Methods: We analyzed 2230 consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and with EF < 50%. Echocardiographic examination was performed after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were divided into 3three groups: those with ITDM, those with NITDM, and those with no DM. Patients presenting with cardiogenic shock were excluded. Results: The incidence of DM was 20.7%; among the patients with DM, 103 (22.3%) had ITDM. Patients with ITDM and NITDM had a higher incidence of mortality and MACE, compared with patients without DM. Also, at 8-year follow-up, the incidences of all-cause mortality and MACE were significantly higher in patients with ITDM vs patients with NITDM (37.8% vs 13.1%, P < 0.001 and 40.8% vs 18.9%, P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariable analysis showed ITDM to be an independent predictor for long-term mortality (hazard ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.69), and MACE (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.62). Conclusions: ITDM was an independent predictor of the occurrence of long-term mortality and MACE in patients with STEMI and reduced EF. NITDM was not an independent predictor for the occurrence of adverse events in analyzed patients. © 2024 The Authors

Background: We aimed to analyze the prevalence and long-term prognostic impact of non-cardiac comorbidities in patients with reduced and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction (EF) following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Method: A total of 3033 STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were divided in two groups: reduced EF < 50% and preserved EF ≥ 50%. The follow-up period was 8 years. Results: Preserved EF was present in 1726 (55.4%) patients and reduced EF was present in 1389 (44.5%) patients. Non-cardiac comorbidities were more frequent in patients with reduced EF compared with patients with preserved EF (38.9% vs. 27.4%, respectively, p < 0.001). Lethal outcome was registered in 240 (17.2%) patients with reduced EF and in 40 (2.3%) patients with preserved EF, p < 0.001. Diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were independent predictors for 8-year mortality in patients with preserved EF. In patients with reduced EF, CKD was independently associated with 8-year mortality. Conclusion: In patients who had reduced EF, the prevalence of non-cardiac comorbidities was higher than in patients who had preserved EF after STEMI. Only diabetes mellitus and CKD were independently associated with 8-year mortality in analyzed patients. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) has an adverse impact on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aims of the present study were to determine independent predictors for the occurrence of AHF during hospitalization and to assess the impact of AHF on 30-day and 1-year outcomes in patients with STEMI who were successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Methods and Results: The study included 1,074 consecutive patients with STEMI who had no signs of heart failure (HF) at admission (Killip class I) and were treated with successful pPCI. Successful PPCI was defined as postprocedural TIMI 3 grade flow. Acute HF developed in 11.1 patients during hospitalization, which was predominantly mild to moderate (Killip classes II and III). Independent predictors for the occurrence of AHF were: anterior infarction, peak creatinine-kinase (CK) > 2,000 U/L and 3-vessel coronary disease. 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with AHF compared to patients without AHF. AHF during hospitalization was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 10.5) and 1-year mortality (HR 4.4). CONCLUSION: Even after successful pPCI, the occurrence of AHF during hospitalization remains an independent predictor of 30-day and 1-year mortality.

BACKGROUND: Empiric antimicrobial therapy with azithromycin is highly used in patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, despite prior research suggesting that azithromycin may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was conducted using data from the ISACS-COVID- 19 (International Survey of Acute Coronavirus Syndromes-COVID- 19) registry. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV- 2 infection were eligible for inclusion. The study included 793 patients exposed to azithromycin within 24 hours from hospital admission and 2141 patients who received only standard care. The primary exposure was cardiovascular disease (CVD). Main outcome measures were 30-day mortality and acute heart failure (AHF). Among 2934 patients, 1066 (36.4%) had preexisting CVD. A total of 617 (21.0%) died, and 253 (8.6%) had AHF. Azithromycin therapy was consistently associated with an increased risk of AHF in patients with preexisting CVD (risk ratio [RR], 1.48 [95% CI, 1.06–2.06]). Receiving azithromycin versus standard care was not significantly associated with death (RR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.69–1.28]). By contrast, we found significantly reduced odds of death (RR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.42–0.79]) and no significant increase in AHF (RR, 1.23 [95% CI, 0.75–2.04]) in patients without prior CVD. The relative risks of death from the 2 subgroups were significantly different from each other (Pinteraction=0.01). Statistically significant association was observed between AHF and death (odds ratio, 2.28 [95% CI, 1.34–3.90]). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that azithromycin use in patients with COVID-19 and prior history of CVD is significantly associated with an increased risk of AHF and all-cause 30-day mortality. REGISTRATION: URL: Https://www.clini caltr ials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05188612. © 2023 The Authors.

Background There is conflicting information about sex differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the era of reperfusion therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to examine presentation, acute therapy, and outcomes of men and women with ACS with special emphasis on their relationship with younger age (≤ 65 years). Methods From January 2010 to June 2015, we enrolled 5140 patients from 3 primary PCI capable hospitals. Patients were registered according to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry protocol (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01218776). The primary outcome was the incidence of in-hospital mortality. Results The study population was constituted by 2876 patients younger than 65 years and 2294 patients older. Women were older than men in both the young (56.2 ± 6.6 vs. 54.1 ± 7.4) and old (74.9 ± 6.4 vs. 73.6 ± 6.0) age groups. There were 3421 (66.2%) patients with ST elevation ACS (STE-ACS) and 1719 (33.8%) patients without ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). In STE-ACS, the percentage of patients who failed to receive reperfusion was higher in women than in men either in the young (21.7% vs. 15.8%) than in the elderly (35.2% vs. 29.6%). There was a significant higher mortality in women in the younger age group (age-adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01–2.29), but there was no sex difference in the older group (age-adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.87–1.41). Significantly sex differences in mortality were not seen in NSTE-ACS patients. Conclusions In-hospital mortality from ACS is not different between older men and women. A higher short-term mortality can be seen only in women with STEMI and age of 65 or less. © 2016

Aims Previous analyses on sex differences in case fatality rates at population-level data had limited adjustment for key patient clinical characteristics thought to be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. We aimed to estimate the risk of specific organ dysfunctions and mortality in women and men. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included 17 hospitals within 5 European countries participating in the International Survey and results of Acute Coronavirus Syndromes COVID-19 (NCT05188612). Participants were individuals hospitalized with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from March 2020 to February 2022. Risk-adjusted ratios (RRs) of in-hospital mortality, acute respiratory failure (ARF), acute heart failure (AHF), and acute kidney injury (AKI) were calculated for women vs. men. Estimates were evaluated by inverse probability weighting and logistic regression models. The overall care cohort included 4499 patients with COVID-19-associated hospitalizations. Of these, 1524 (33.9%) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), and 1117 (24.8%) died during hospitalization. Compared with men, women were less likely to be admitted to ICU [RR: 0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71–0.91]. In general wards (GWs) and ICU cohorts, the adjusted women-to-men RRs for in-hospital mortality were of 1.13 (95% CI: 0.90–1.42) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.70–1.05; pinteraction = 0.04). Development of AHF, AKI, and ARF was associated with increased mortality risk (odds ratios: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.73–2.98; 3.85, 95% CI: 3.21–4.63; and 3.95, 95% CI: 3.04–5.14, respectively). The adjusted RRs for AKI and ARF were comparable among women and men regardless of intensity of care. In contrast, female sex was associated with higher odds for AHF in GW, but not in ICU (RRs: 1.25; 95% CI: 0.94–1.67 vs. 0.83; 95% CI: 0.59–1.16, pinteraction = 0.04). Conclusions Women in GW were at increased risk of AHF and in-hospital mortality for COVID-19 compared with men. For patients receiving ICU care, fatal complications including AHF and mortality appeared to be independent of sex. Equitable access to COVID-19 ICU care is needed to minimize the unfavourable outcome of women presenting with COVID-19-related complications. © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.

Objective. Most studies analyzing predictors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) after acute myocardial infarction included only high-risk patients or index reperfusion had not been performed in all patients. The aim of our study was to analyze the incidence of SCD and determine the predictors of SCD occurrence during 6-year follow-up of unselected patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Method. we analysed 3114 STEMI patients included included in the University Clinical Center of Serbia STEMI Register. Patients presenting with cardiogenic schock were excluded. Echocardiographic examination was performed before hospital discharge. Results. During 6-year follow-up, lethal outcome was registered in 297 (9.5%) patients, of whom 95 (31.9%) had SCD. The highest incidence of SCD was recorded in the first year of follow-up, when SCD was registered in 25 patients, which is 26.3% of the total number of patients who had had SCD, i.e. 0.8% of the patients analyzed. The independent predictors for the occurrence of SCD during 6-year follow-up were EF < 45% (HR 3.07, 95% 1.87–5.02), post-procedural TIMI flow <3 (HR 2.59, 95%CI 1.37–5.14), reduced baseline kidney function (HR 1.87, 95%CI 1.12–2.93) and Killip class >1 at admission (HR 1.69, 95%CI 1.23–2.97). Conclusion. There is a low incidence of SCD in unselected STEMI patients treated with primary PCI. Predictors of SCD occurence during long-term follow-up in analyzed patients are clinical variables that are easily recorded during index hospitalization and include: EF ≤45%, post-procedural flow TIMI < 3, Killip class >1, and reduced baseline kidney function. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.