Background Although ST-segment elevation (STE) has been used synonymously with acute coronary occlusion (ACO), current STE criteria miss nearly one-third of ACO and result in a substantial amount of false catheterization laboratory activations. As many other electrocardiographic (ECG) findings can reliably indicate ACO, we sought whether a new ACO/non-ACO myocardial infarction (MI) paradigm would result in better identification of the patients who need acute reperfusion therapy. Methods A total of 3000 patients were enrolled in STEMI, non-STEMI and control groups. All ECGs were reviewed by two cardiologists, blinded to any outcomes, for the current STEMI criteria and other subtle signs. A combined ACO endpoint was composed of peak troponin level, troponin rise within the first 24 h and angiographic appearance. The dead or alive status was checked from hospital records and from the electronic national database. Results In non-STEMI group, 28.2% of the patients were re-classified by the ECG reviewers as having ACO. This subgroup had a higher frequency of ACO, myocardial damage, and both in-hospital and long-term mortality compared to non-STEMI group. A prospective ACOMI/non-ACOMI approach to the ECG had superior diagnostic accuracy compared to the STE/non-STEMI approach in the prediction of ACO and long-term mortality. In Cox-regression analysis early intervention in patients with non-ACO-predicting ECGs was associated with a higher long-term mortality. Conclusions We believe that it is time for a new paradigm shift from the STEMI/non-STEMI to the ACOMI/non-ACOMI in the acute management of MI. (DIFOCCULT study; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04022668.)

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Several studies have shown that high uric acid (UA) and low serum albumin (SA) values increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We determined whether the uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR) is a predictor of mortality in STEMI patients. All patients who presented at our center with a diagnosis of STEMI and underwent percutaneous intervention from 2015 to 2020 were screened consecutively; 4599 patients were included. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate UAR, and adjusted predictors obtained from laboratory findings and clinical characteristics contributed to mortality. Also, a regression model was presented with a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The median age of the patients was 58 years (IQR [interquartile range]: 50–67); 3581 patients (77.9%) were male. The incidence of mortality in the entire patient group was 11.9%. Median follow-up duration of all groups was 42 months. Multivariate Cox proportional regression (model-1) analysis showed age (increase 50 to 67 years; HR [hazard ratio]: 1.34, 95% CI 1.18–1.52) and UAR (increase 1.15–1.73; HR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.16–1.52) were associated with mortality. UAR may be a prognostic factor for mortality in STEMI patients and an easily accessible parameter to identify high-risk patients.

For the first time in the literature, admission serum levels of MPV, RDW, uric acid, NLR, and MHR were found to be correlated independently with NOAF after primary PCI.

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The generally high age-adjusted overall mortality in Turkey displays significant differences across geographic regions. Age-adjusted CHD incidence is not regressing sufficiently, and is especially high among men of the Mediterranean and women of the Southeast regions.

Introduction and objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum albumin (SA) level with long‐term prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and methods We retrospectively enrolled 269 patients with acute PE. The SA level was obtained within 12‐24 hours following admission. The primary endpoints were the incidence of short‐ and long‐term mortality in acute PE patients. The mean duration of the study follow‐up was 21 ± 19 months. Results During the follow‐up period, short‐ and long‐term mortality rates were higher in patients who had low SA level compared to those who did not have. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the SA level was found to be independently associated with long‐term mortality (HR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.28‐0.78, P = 0.004). In receiver operating characteristics analysis, the SA level of ≤3.17 predicted long‐term mortality with a sensitivity of 77.5% and a specificity of 79.5% (area under the curve 0.82, 95%CI: 0.76‐0.87, P < 0.001). In addition, when the SA plus simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) risk score compared to the sPESI risk score alone, it produced a net reclassification improvement of 0.22 with P < 0.001, that is a 22% improved classification. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the low SA level is a strong and independent predictor for long‐term mortality in patients with acute PE.

BACKGROUND: Bispectral index (BIS) monitoring can positively affect cognitive performance through decreasing the use of sedative agents. We aimed to evaluate the effect of BIS monitoring on early cognitive performance among patients undergoing sedation for colonoscopy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized, controlled trial in a university hospital. METHODS: 100 patients were randomized into two groups. In the monitored group (n = 50), the depth of anesthesia was monitored using the BIS, and BIS scores were maintained between 60 and 80. In the usual care group (n = 50), BIS monitoring was not performed. To determine the patients' baseline cognitive performance levels, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Trieger dot test (TDT) and clock drawing test (CDT) were used. The patients' post-procedure cognitive performance levels were determined when they were classified as ready for discharge. RESULTS: The total volume (mg) of propofol used [median (range) IQR] in the sedation procedure was lower in the monitored group [100 (50-200) 100-140] than in the usual care group [150 (75-200) 100-200] (P < 0.001). The discharge scores [mean (SD)] using MMSE and CDT were higher in the monitored group [26 (3) and 3 (1), respectively] than in the usual care group [23 (3) and 2 (1), respectively] (P = 0.002 and P = 0.002, respectively). The discharge scores using TDT [mean (SD)] were lower in the monitored group [11 (7)] than in the usual care group [15 (11)] (P = 0.033). CONCLUSION: BIS monitoring among sedated patients was associated with lower propofol use and smaller decline in cognitive performance. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617000134325).