Key Points Question What are the differences in care and outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction among 3 vertical levels of hospitals in China? Findings In this cross-sectional study using data from the China Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry, which included 108 hospitals at the province, prefecture, and county levels, compared with patients in province-level hospitals, the rates of reperfusion therapy were lower among those in prefecture-level and county-level hospitals (69.4% vs 54.3% vs 45.8%). In-hospital mortality rates progressively increased among the 3 levels of hospitals, from 3.1% at the province level to 5.3% at the prefecture level to 10.2% at the county level. Meaning These findings suggest that more efforts should be made to address the gaps in care and outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction for national quality improvement in China.

BackgroundLate gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is identified frequently in LVNC. However, the features of this findings are limited. The purpose of the present study was to describe the frequency and distribution of LGE in patients meeting criteria for left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), as assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).MethodsForty-seven patients (37 males and 10 females; mean age, 39 ± 18 years) considered to meet standard CMR criteria for LVNC were studied. The LGE images were obtained 15 ± 5 min after the injection of 0.2 mmol/kg of gadolinium-DTPA using an inversion-recovery sequence, and analyzed using a 17-segment model.ResultsMean number of non-compacted segments per patient was 7.4 ± 2.5 and the NC:C was 3.2 ± 0.7. Non-compaction was most commonly noted in the apical segments in all patients. LGE was present in 19 of the 47 patients (40%), and most often located in the ventricular septum. The distribution of LGE was subendocardial (n = 5; 6%), mid-myocardial (n = 61; 68%), subepicardial (n = 10; 11%), and transmural (n = 14; 15%) in total of 90 LGE (+) segments.ConclusionsIn patients considered to meet criteria for LVNC, LGE distributions visible were strikingly heterogeneous with appearances potentially attributable to three or more distinct cardiomyopathic processes. This may be in keeping with previous suggestions that the criteria may be of low specificity. Further work is needed to determine whether conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, previous myocardidtis or ischaemic heart disease increase the apparent depth of non-compact relative to compact myocardium.

BackgroundThe incidence, clinical outcomes and antithrombotic treatment spectrum of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been well studied in Chinese population.MethodsTwenty-six thousand five hundred ninety-two consecutive patients diagnosed with AMI were enrolled in CAMI registry from January 2013 to September 2014. After excluding 343 patients with uncertain AF status and 1,591 patients transferred out during hospitalization, 24,658 patients were finally included in this study and involved in analysis.ResultsIn the CAMI registry, 740 (3.0%) patients were recorded with AF prevalence during hospitalization. Higher-risk baseline clinical profile was observed in patients with AF. These patients were less likely to receive reperfusion/revascularization than those without AF. The in-hospital mortality (including death and treatment withdrawal) was significantly higher in patients with AF than that of without AF (25.2% vs. 7.2%, respectively; p < 0.01). The case of composite of adverse events was similar, which included death, treatment withdrawal, re-infarction, heart failure or stroke (42.1% vs. 16.0%, p <0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, AF was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval: 1.27–2.78) and the composite of adverse events (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% CI: 1.63–2.72). Only 5.1% of patients with AF were treated with warfarin, and 1.7% were treated with both warfarin and dual antiplatelet therapy.ConclusionsThe analysis was based on the CAMI registry in China. The patients hospitalized for AMI who developed AF were at significantly higher risk for in-hospital mortality and other adverse events. However, the anticoagulants including warfarin have been largely underused post hospital discharge.Trial registrationClinical Trial Registration: Identifier: NCT01874691.

Background:Previous studies of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) were mostly based on selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) cases, and risk factors of CI-AKI after emergency PCI are unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors of CI-AKI in a Chinese population undergoing emergency PCI.Methods:A total of 1061 consecutive patients undergoing emergency PCI during January 2013 and June 2015 were enrolled and divided into CI-AKI and non-CI-AKI group. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify the risk factors of CI-AKI in emergency PCI patients. CI-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥25% or ≥0.5 mg/dl (44.2 μmol/L) above baseline within 3 days after exposure to contrast medium.Results:The incidence of CI-AKI in patients undergoing emergency PCI was 22.7% (241/1061). Logistic multivariable analysis showed that body surface area (BSA) (odds ratio [OR] 0.213, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.075–0.607, P = 0.004), history of myocardial infarction (MI) (OR 1.642, 95% CI: 1.079–2.499, P = 0.021), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR 0.969, 95% CI: 0.944–0.994, P = 0.015), hemoglobin (Hb) (OR 0.988, 95% CI: 0.976–1.000, P = 0.045), estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR 1.027, 95% CI: 1.018–1.037, P < 0.001), left anterior descending (LAD) stented (OR 1.464, 95% CI: 1.000–2.145, P = 0.050), aspirin (OR 0.097, 95%CI: 0.009–0.987, P = 0.049), and diuretics use (OR 1.850, 95% CI: 1.233–2.777, P = 0.003) were independent predictors of CI-AKI in patients undergoing emergency PCI.Conclusion:History of MI, low BSA, LVEF and Hb level, LAD stented, and diuretics use are associated with increased risk of CI-AKI in patients undergoing emergency PCI.

The CAMI-NSTEMI score is able to accurately predict the risk of in-hospital mortality in NSTEMI patients.

Risk stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is of clinical significance. Although there are many existing risk scores, periodic update is required to reflect contemporary patient profile and management. The present study aims to develop a risk model to predict in-hospital death among contemporary AMI patients as soon as possible after admission. We included 23417 AMI patients from China Acute Myocardial Infarction (CAMI) registry from January 2013 to September 2014 and extracted relevant data. Patients were divided chronologically into a derivation cohort (n = 17563) to establish the multivariable logistic regression model and a validation cohort (n = 5854) to validate the risk score. Sixteen variables were identified as independent predictors of in-hospital death and were used to establish CAMI risk model and score: age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, creatinine level, white blood cell count, serum potassium, serum sodium, ST-segment elevation on ECG, anterior wall involvement, cardiac arrest, Killip classification, medical history of hypertension, medical history of hyperlipidemia and smoking status. Area under curve value of CAMI risk model was 0.83 within the derivation cohort and 0.84 within the validation cohort. We developed and validated a risk score to predict in-hospital death risk among contemporary AMI patients.

This pilot study demonstrated that resting 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging is an accurate and sensitive technique for the identification of UA.

Background: Young people hold a stable or increasing percentage of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in many countries. However, data on clinical characteristics and outcomes of young AMI patients were insufficient. This study aimed to analyze clinical characteristics, prognosis, and gender disparities in patients aged ≤45 years with AMI.Methods: A total of 24,125 patients from China Acute Myocardial Infarction registry were included in this study. Clinical characteristics, managements, and in-hospital and 2-year outcomes were compared between patients aged ≤45 years and those aged &gt;45 years. Predictors of all-cause death were obtained using multivariate regression models. Gender disparities of AMI were analyzed among young patients.Results: Of 24,125 patients, 2,042 (8.5%, 116 female) were aged ≤45 years. Compared with patients aged &gt;45 years, young patients were more often male, current smokers, and more likely to have medical history of hyperlipidemia. Smoking (72.1%) was the major modifiable risk factor in patients aged ≤45 years. Young patients received more evidence-based medications and had significantly lower risk of both in-hospital and 2-year adverse events than older patients. Education level and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of 2-year mortality in young patients. Moreover, symptom onset to admission time of young women was significantly longer than that of young men. Young women were less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention and suffered higher risk of in-hospital adverse events than young men (adjusted odds ratio for death: 5.767, 95% confidence interval 1.580–21.049, p = 0.0080; adjusted odds ratio for the composite of death, re-infarction, and stroke: 3.981, 95% confidence interval 1.150–13.784, p = 0.0292). Young women who survived at discharge had a higher 2-year cumulative incidence of death (3.8 vs 1.4%, plog−rank = 0.0412).Conclusions: Patients aged ≤45 years constituted a non-negligible proportion of AMI patients, with higher prevalence of smoking and hyperlipidemia but better care and prognosis compared with older patients. There were significant gender disparities of managements and outcomes in young patients. More efforts to improve quality of care in young women are needed.