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Background  Perioperative myocardial infarction/injury (PMI) diagnosed by high-sensitivity troponin (hs-cTn) T is frequent and a prognostically important complication of non-cardiac surgery. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and outcome of PMI diagnosed using hs-cTnI, and compare it to PMI diagnosed using hs-cTnT. Methods We prospectively included 2455 patients at high cardiovascular risk undergoing 3111 non-cardiac surgeries, for whom hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT concentrations were measured before surgery and on postoperative days 1 and 2. PMI was defined as a composite of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMIInfarct) and perioperative myocardial injury (PMIInjury), according to the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction. All-cause mortality was the primary endpoint. Results Using hs-cTnI, the incidence of overall PMI was 9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8–10%), including PMIInfarct 2.6% (95% CI 2.0–3.2) and PMIInjury 6.1% (95% CI 5.3–6.9%), which was lower versus using hs-cTnT: overall PMI 15% (95% CI 14–16%), PMIInfarct 3.7% (95% CI 3.0–4.4) and PMIInjury 11.3% (95% CI 10.2–12.4%). All-cause mortality occurred in 52 (2%) patients within 30 days and 217 (9%) within 1 year. Using hs-cTnI, both PMIInfarct and PMIInjury were independent predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.5 [95% CI 1.1–6.0], and aHR 2.8 [95% CI 1.4–5.5], respectively) and, 1-year all-cause mortality (aHR 2.0 [95% CI 1.2–3.3], and aHR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2–2.7], respectively). Overall, the prognostic impact of PMI diagnosed by hs-cTnI was comparable to the prognostic impact of PMI using hs-cTnT. Conclusions Using hs-cTnI, PMI is less common versus using hs-cTnT. Using hs-cTnI, both PMIInfarct and PMIInjury remain independent predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality. Graphic abstract

The Lee and VSG scores have low accuracy and underestimate the risk of major perioperative cardiac events in unselected patients undergoing vascular surgery. The Lee score's accuracy can be increased by adding preoperative anemia. Underestimation of major cardiac complications may lead to incorrect risk-benefit assessments regarding the planned operation.

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Background Primary acute heart failure (AHF) is an established and common cause of hospitalization. AHF may also develop secondarily, e.g. postoperatively (pAHF). Little is known about pAHF. Purpose To assess the incidence, phenotypes, determinants and outcomes of pAHF following non-cardiac surgery. Methods We prospectively included 9,164 consecutive patients at high cardiovascular risk undergoing 11,262 non-cardiac surgeries. The incidence, phenotypes, determinants and outcome of pAHF, centrally adjudicated by independent cardiologists, was determined. Logistic regression models identified the risk factors for pAHF. Cox regression analysis compared mortality and AHF readmission within 1 year in patients with and without pAHF. External validation was performed using a prospective cohort multicenter study of 1250 patients. Results The incidence of pAHF was 2.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–2.8%). pAHF most often occurred on postoperative day 2 (median day 4). About half of pAHF (51%) occurred in patients without known HF (de novo pAHF), and 49% in patients with chronic HF. Preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was the dominant phenotype among de novo pAHF (72%), while reduced LVEF was dominant among pAHF in chronic HF (43%). Age, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, diabetes, urgent/emergent surgery, chronic HF, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anemia, and chronic myocardial injury were independent predictors of pAHF. Patients with pAHF had significantly higher all-cause mortality (44% vs. 11%, p<0.001) and AHF readmission (15% vs. 2%, p<0.001) within 1 year than patients without pAHF. pAHF was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.7 [95% CI 1.3–2.2]; P<0.001) and AHF readmission (aHR 2.7 [95% CI 1.7–4.2]; P<0.001) within 1 year. Findings were confirmed in an external validation cohort of 1250 patients, e.g. incidence of pAHF 2.4% (95% CI, 1.6–3.3%). Conclusions pAHF frequent developed following non-cardiac surgery, being de novo in about half of cases, and associated with an unacceptable high mortality. Strategies focusing on early detection and treatment of pAHF seem warranted. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science FoundationSwiss Heart Foundation

Background Observational studies support a role for oral anticoagulation to reduce the risk of dementia in atrial fibrillation patients, but conclusive data are lacking. Since dabigatran offers a more stable anticoagulation, we hypothesized it would reduce cognitive decline when compared to warfarin in old patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods The GIRAF trial was a 24-month, randomized, parallel-group, controlled, open-label, hypothesis generating trial. The trial was done in six centers including a geriatric care unit, secondary and tertiary care cardiology hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. We included patients aged ≥ 70 years and CHA2DS2-VASc score > 1. The primary endpoint was the absolute difference in cognitive performance at 2 years. Patients were assigned 1:1 to take dabigatran (110 or 150 mg twice daily) or warfarin, controlled by INR and followed for 24 months. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 2 years with a comprehensive and thorough cognitive evaluation protocol of tests for different cognitive domains including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), a composite neuropsychological test battery (NTB), and computer-generated tests (CGNT). Results Between 2014 and 2019, 5523 participants were screened and 200 were assigned to dabigatran (N = 99) or warfarin (N = 101) treatment. After adjustment for age, log of years of education, and raw baseline score, the difference between the mean change from baseline in the dabigatran group minus warfarin group was − 0.12 for MMSE (95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.88 to 0.63; P = 0.75), 0.05 (95% CI − 0.07 to 0.18; P = 0.40) for NTB, − 0.15 (95% CI − 0.30 to 0.01; P = 0.06) for CGNT, and − 0.96 (95% CI − 1.80 to 0.13; P = 0.02) for MoCA, with higher values suggesting less cognitive decline in the warfarin group. Conclusions For elderly patients with atrial fibrillation, and without cognitive compromise at baseline that did not have stroke and were adequately treated with warfarin (TTR of 70%) or dabigatran for 2 years, there was no statistical difference at 5% significance level in any of the cognitive outcomes after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Trial registration Cognitive Impairment Related to Atrial Fibrillation Prevention Trial (GIRAF), NCT01994265.

Aims Perioperative myocardial infarction/injury (PMI) following non-cardiac surgery is a frequent cardiac complication. Better understanding of the underlying aetiologies and outcomes is urgently needed. Methods and results Aetiologies of PMIs detected within an active surveillance and response programme were centrally adjudicated by two independent physicians based on all information obtained during clinically indicated PMI work-up including cardiac imaging among consecutive high-risk patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery in a prospective multicentre study. PMI aetiologies were hierarchically classified into ‘extra-cardiac’ if caused by a primarily extra-cardiac disease such as severe sepsis or pulmonary embolism; and ‘cardiac’, further subtyped into type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI), tachyarrhythmia, acute heart failure (AHF), or likely type 2 myocardial infarction (lT2MI). Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including acute myocardial infarction, AHF (both only from day 3 to avoid inclusion bias), life-threatening arrhythmia, and cardiovascular death as well as all-cause death were assessed during 1-year follow-up. Among 7754 patients (age 45–98 years, 45% women), PMI occurred in 1016 (13.1%). At least one MACE occurred in 684/7754 patients (8.8%) and 818/7754 patients died (10.5%) within 1 year. Outcomes differed starkly according to aetiology: in patients with extra-cardiac PMI, T1MI, tachyarrhythmia, AHF, and lT2MI 51%, 41%, 57%, 64%, and 25% had MACE, and 38%, 27%, 40%, 49%, and 17% patients died within 1 year, respectively, compared to 7% and 9% in patients without PMI. These associations persisted in multivariable analysis. Conclusion At 1 year, most PMI aetiologies have unacceptably high rates of MACE and all-cause death, highlighting the urgent need for more intensive treatments. Study registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02573532.

Background Perioperative myocardial infarction/injury (PMI) occurring in the first 48h following noncardiac surgery is a frequent cardiac complication. Better understanding of the underlying aetiologies is urgently needed. Aim To explore the association of different aetiologies of PMI with long term outcomes. Methods In this prospective multicenter observational study, PMI aetiology was centrally adjudicated and hierarchically classified by two independent physicians based on all information obtained during clinically-indicated PMI work-up including cardiac imaging among consecutive high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. PMI aetiology was classified into “extracardiac” if caused by a primarily extracardiac disease such as severe sepsis or pulmonary embolism; and “cardiac”, further subtyped into type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI), tachyarrhythmia, acute heart failure (AHF), or likely type 2 myocardial infarction (lT2MI). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including T1MI, AHF (both only from day 3 to avoid inclusion bias), life-threatening arrhythmia, and cardiovascular death as well as all-cause death were assessed during 365-days follow-up. Results PMI occurred in 1016/7754 patients (13.1%). At least one MACE occurred in 684/7754 patients (8.8%) and 818/7754 patients died (10.5%) within 365 days. MACE and all-cause death occurred in 51% (95% CI 31–60) and 38% (95% CI 29–47), 41% (95% CI 28–51) and 27% (95% CI 16–34), 57% (95% CI 41–69) and 40% (95% CI 25–53), 64% (95% CI 45–76) and 49% (95% CI 30–62), as well as 25% (95% CI 22–28%) and 17% (95% CI 14–20) of patients with extracardiac PMI, T1MI, tachyarrhythmia, AHF, and lT2MI, respectively. These associations were confirmed in multivariable analysis. Conclusion At 365 days, most PMI aetiologies have unacceptably high rates of MACE and all-cause death, highlighting the urgent need for more intensive treatments. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science FoundationRoche Diagnostics