Background
The prospective, multicentre EURECA registry assessed the use of imaging and adoption of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines (GL) in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS).
Methods
Between May 2019 and March 2020, 5156 patients were recruited in 73 centres from 24 ESC member countries. The adoption of GL recommendations was evaluated according to clinical presentation and pre-test probability (PTP) of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).
Results
The mean age of the population was 64 ± 11 years, 60% of patients were males, 42% had PTP >15%, 27% had previous CAD, and ejection fraction was <50% in 5%. Exercise ECG was performed in 32% of patients, stress imaging as the first choice in 40%, and computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in 22%. Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was the first or downstream test in 17% and 11%, respectively. Obstructive CAD was documented in 24% of patients, inducible ischaemia in 19%, and 13% of patients underwent revascularization. In 44% of patients, the overall diagnostic process did not adopt the GL. In these patients, referral to stress imaging (21% vs. 58%; P < 0.001) or CTCA (17% vs. 30%; P < 0.001) was less frequent, while exercise ECG (43% vs. 22%; P < 0.001) and ICA (48% vs. 15%; P < 0.001) were more frequently performed. The adoption of GL was associated with fewer ICA, higher proportion of diagnosis of obstructive CAD (60% vs. 39%, P < 0.001) and revascularization (54% vs. 37%, P < 0.001), higher quality of life, fewer additional testing, and longer times to late revascularization.
Conclusions
In patients with CCS, current clinical practice does not adopt GL recommendations on the use of diagnostic tests in a significant proportion of patients. When the diagnostic approach adopts GL recommendations, invasive procedures are less frequently used and the diagnostic yield and therapeutic utility are superior.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the leading technique for aortic valve replacement in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis with conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) now limited to patients younger than 65–75 years due to a combination of unsuitable anatomies (calcified raphae in bicuspid valves, coexistent aneurysm of the ascending aorta) and concerns on the absence of long-term data on TAVI durability. This incredible rise is linked to technological evolutions combined with increased operator experience, which led to procedural refinements and, accordingly, to better outcomes. The article describes the main and newest technical improvements, allowing an extension of the indications (valve-in-valve procedures, intravascular lithotripsy for severely calcified iliac vessels), and a reduction of complications (stroke, pacemaker implantation, aortic regurgitation).
Background. Recently, NICE guidelines recommend the use of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) as the first line of investigation for new onset chest pain. We sought to evaluate the impact of the integration of CTA in the diagnostic workup, as either a first- or second-line of investigation, in the clinical practice for patients presenting with new onset chest pain, with suspicion that it may be due to coronary artery disease (CAD). Method and Results. From 2014 to 2016, 208 outpatients (mean age 63.8 ± 12.7, 37% female) with an unknown CAD diagnosis were evaluated. About half (n=106, 51%) received usual testing care plus CTA as a second-line investigation (group A), while the other half (n=102, 49%) received CTA as a first-line investigation (group B). Care decisions and test interpretations were made by the attending physician. Obstructive CAD (O-CAD) was defined as >50% stenosis in the principal branch. As determined by CTA, the rates of CAD in group A vs. group B were the following (P=0.001): 31.1% vs. 27.4% for normal/minimal CAD; 42.5% vs. 63.7% for no O-CAD; and 26.4% vs. 8.8% with O-CAD. Based on a diagnostic result of no O-CAD, invasive angiography was cancelled in 42.6% (n=45) of group A patients, and additional functional tests were cancelled for the same reason in 63.7% (n=65) of group B patients, without adverse events at median 3-year. The average diagnostic cost for patients in our study was lower in group B (206 vs. 324.42 euro; P<0.0001). Conclusions. In clinical practice, CTA, as a first- or second-line investigation, most commonly detected no O-CAD in new onset chest pain patients, leading us to safely avoid unnecessary ICA or additional functional tests. The use of CTA as a first-line investigation also appears to be cost saving, but its cost-effectiveness remains to be demonstrated in larger studies.
The appropriate use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is largely debated. Due to the "demographic transition" in western countries, the elderly represent a growing percentage of patients admitted to hospitals for ACS, and among this high risk setting population most of early and late adverse outcomes occur. The presence of several concomitant “comorbidities” complicate the management strategy of both medical or invasive treatment and the clinical decision making process is challenging. Moreover, elderly people are constantly underrepresented in clinical trials and studies. As a result, there is no specific evidence about the optimal antithrombotic therapy in elderly and no specific recommendations are mentioned in the current ACS guidelines. Currently, the best practice for old people is still rudimentary and principally extrapolated from general cardiovascular guidelines. The management of elderly patients should be based on the evaluation of ischemic and hemorrhagic risk, life expectancy, comorbidities and parameters that are not included in the scores recommended by the current guidelines such as frailty and disability. In the era of “precision medicine”, the evaluation of bleeding and ischaemic risk in elderly patients must be a dynamic process because of the risk changing over time. A“tailored therapy by individualized medicine” is the key of management strategy.
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