BackgroundAge‐ and sex‐specific differences exist in the treatment and outcome of ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to describe age‐ and sex‐matched contemporary trends of in‐hospital management and outcome of patients with STEMI.Methods and ResultsWe analyzed data from 5 Italian nationwide prospective registries, conducted between 2001 and 2014, including consecutive patients with STEMI. All the analyses were age‐ and sex‐matched, considering 4 age classes: <55, 55 to 64, 65 to 74, and ≥75 years. A total of 13 235 patients were classified as having STEMI (72.1% men and 27.9% women). A progressive shift from thrombolysis to primary percutaneous coronary intervention occurred over time, with a concomitant increase in overall reperfusion rates (P for trend <0.0001), which was consistent across sex and age classes. The crude rates of in‐hospital death were 3.2% in men and 8.4% in women (P<0.0001), with a significant increase over age classes for both sexes and a significant decrease over time for both sexes (all P for trend <0.01). On multivariable analysis, age (odds ratio 1.09, 95% CI 1.07–1.10, P<0.0001) and female sex (odds ratio 1.44, 95% CI 1.07–1.93, P=0.009) were found to be significantly associated with in‐hospital mortality after adjustment for other risk factors, but no significant interaction between these 2 variables was observed (P for interaction=0.61).ConclusionsDespite a nationwide shift from thrombolytic therapy to primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI affecting both sexes and all ages, women continue to experience higher in‐hospital mortality than men, irrespective of age.

Aldosterone is involved in various deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, including sodium and fluid retention, myocardial fibrosis, vascular stiffening, endothelial dysfunction, catecholamine release and stimulation of cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, aldosterone receptor blockade may have several potential benefits in patients with cardiovascular disease. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been shown to prevent many of the maladaptive effects of aldosterone, in particular among patients with heart failure (HF). Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated efficacy of MRA in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, both in patients with NYHA functional classes III and IV and in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients (NYHA classes I and II). Recent data in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are encouraging. MRA could also have anti-arrhythmic effects on atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and may be helpful in patient ischemic heart disease through prevention of myocardial fibrosis and vascular damage. This article aims to discuss the pathophysiological effects of aldosterone in patients with cardiovascular disease and to review the current data that support the use of MRA in heart failure.

Gal-3 serum levels measured during hospitalisation could be clinically useful in predicting LVR among patients admitted with anterior STEMI treated by pPCI.

Background: Elderly patients are at high risk of mortality when they present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, few data exist about prognostic factors in this sub-group when treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Hypothesis: To assess outcome and predictors of mortality among patients aged >80 years treated with pPCI. Methods: We evaluated 139 consecutive patients (age 85.1 ± 3.9 years, 43.2% males) who underwent pPCI for STEMI. Results: Male patients were younger and were more likely to have a history of coronary artery disease. Overall 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 20.9% and 28.1%, respectively. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow 3 was achieved in 82% of patients. There was a pPCI success rate in male patients. At univariable analysis, older age, diabetes mellitus, Killip class >III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, no use of stent, failure of pPCI, systolic blood pressure (SBP) <100 mm Hg, and infarct-related artery (left anterior descending vs others) were associated with higher 1-year mortality. Multivariate analysis identified LVEF <40% (hazard ratio: [HR] = 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-7.87; P = 0.0001), age (1-year step, HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04-1.23; P = 0.007), failure of pPCI (HR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.44-5.98; P = 0.0001), Killip class ≥III (HR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.03-5.4; P = 0.04) and SBP <100 mm Hg (HR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.22-5.19; P = 0.01) to be independently associated with increased 1-year mortality. Conclusions: Our data show that elderly patients with STEMI have a high risk of mortality, which is particularly high in the first 30 days. Older age, LVEF <40% at admission, hemodynamic instability (higher Killip class or low SBP), and postinterventional TIMI flow <3 were independent predictors of mortality in our population.

Therapy with spironolactone is effective in reducing aortic stiffness in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This effect could improve hemodynamics supporting the use of MRAs in patients with low New York Heart Association class (I-II).

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(Echocardiography 2011;28:E198‐E201)

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