Showing papers by "Brian Bridal Løgstrup published in 2020"

Impact of rheumatoid arthritis on major cardiovascular events in patients with and without coronary artery disease

Abstract: Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The clinical consequences of coincident RA and coronary artery disease (CAD) are unknown. Objective We aimed to estimate the impact of RA on the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with and without CAD. Methods A population-based cohort of patients registered in the Western Denmark Heart Registry, who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) between 2003 and 2016, was stratified according to the presence of RA and CAD. Endpoints were myocardial infarction (MI), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; MI, ischaemic stroke and cardiac death) and all-cause mortality. Results A total of 125 331 patients were included (RA: n=1732). Median follow-up was 5.2 years. Using patients with neither RA nor CAD as reference (cumulative MI incidence 2.7%), the 10-year risk of MI was increased for patients with RA alone (3.8%; adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRRadj) 1.63, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.54), for patients with CAD alone (9.9%; IRRadj 3.35, 95% CI 3.10 to 3.62), and highest for patients with both RA and CAD (12.2%; IRRadj 4.53, 95% CI 3.66 to 5.59). Similar associations were observed for MACE an all-cause mortality. Conclusions In patients undergoing CAG, RA is significantly associated with the 10-year risk of MI, MACE and all-cause mortality regardless of the presence of CAD. However, patients with RA and CAD carry the largest risk, while the additive risk of RA in patients without CAD is minor. Among patients with RA, risk stratification by presence or absence of documented CAD may allow for screening and personalised treatment strategies

Heart failure etiology and risk of right heart failure in adult left ventricular assist device support: the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS)

Abstract: Objectives: Development of right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation remains a leading cause of perioperative morbidity, end-organ dysfunction and mor

Platelet aggregation and response to aspirin therapy in cardiac allograft vasculopathy

Abstract: BACKGROUND Long-term survival after heart transplantation (HTx) is compromised by cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) characterized by coronary macro- and microvascular disease. The pathogenesis of CAV is unclear and may involve coronary thrombosis. We investigated whether HTx patients with CAV had higher platelet aggregation and turnover than HTx patients without CAV and healthy controls. Furthermore, we investigated the anti-platelet effect of low-dose aspirin in HTx patients. METHODS We included 57 patients who had undergone HTx (median 8.3 years from HTx) and 57 healthy controls. Platelet aggregation was measured on-aspirin and off-aspirin using impedance aggregometry with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid (AA). We evaluated platelet turnover by flow cytometry, CAV burden by coronary angiography and echocardiography, and microvascular function by echocardiographic coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR). RESULTS Off-aspirin, HTx patients with CAV (n = 21) had higher ADP-induced platelet aggregation than healthy controls (p 0.34). HTx patients with lower CFVR values had higher platelet aggregation than HTx patients with higher CFVR values (p CONCLUSIONS Off-aspirin, platelet aggregation was higher in HTx patients with CAV than in HTx patients without CAV and healthy controls. On-aspirin, platelet aggregation was higher in HTx patients with CAV than in HTx patients without CAV. Aspirin monotherapy may not provide sufficient platelet inhibition in HTx patients with CAV.

Inequalities in heart failure care in a tax-financed universal healthcare system: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Abstract: Aims Data on socioeconomic-related differences in heart failure (HF) care are sparse. Inequality in care may potentially contribute to a poor clinical outcome. We examined socioeconomic-related differences in quality of HF care among patients with incident HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF) (HFrEF). Methods and results We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study among patients with HFrEF (EF ≤40%) registered from January 2008 to October 2015 in the Danish Heart Failure Registry, a nationwide registry of patients with a first-time primary HF diagnosis. Associations between individual-level socioeconomic factors (cohabitation status, education, and family income) and the quality of HF care defined by six guideline-recommended process performance measures [New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, treatment with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, exercise training, and patient education] were assessed using multiple imputation and multivariable logistic regression controlling for potential confounders. Among 17 122 HFrEF patients included, 15 290 patients had data on all six process performance measures. Living alone was associated with lower odds of NYHA classification [adjusted OR (aOR) 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72-0.90], prescription of ACEI/ARB (aOR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.68-0.88) and beta-blockers (aOR 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76-0.93), referral to exercise training (aOR 0.75; 95% CI: 0.69-0.81), and patient education (aOR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.67-0.80). Compared with high-level education, low-level education was associated with lower odds of NYHA classification (aOR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.79-1.11), treatment with ACEI/ARB (aOR 0.99; 95% CI: 0.81-1.20) and beta-blockers (aOR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.79-1.09), referral to exercise training (aOR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.65-0.82), and patient education (aOR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75-0.98). An income in the lowest tertile was associated with lower odds of NYHA classification (aOR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.58-0.79), prescription of ACEI/ARB (aOR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67-0.95) and beta-blockers (aOR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.86-1.01), referral to exercise training (aOR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.53-0.64), and patient education (aOR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.59-0.74) compared with an income in the highest tertile. Overall, no systematic differences were seen when the analyses were stratified by sex and age groups. Conclusions Living alone, low-level education, and income in the lowest tertile were associated with reduced use of recommended processes of HF care among Danish HFrEF patients with a first-time primary HF diagnosis. Efforts are warranted to ensure guideline-recommended HF care to all HFrEF patients, irrespective of socioeconomic background.

Atypical manifestations of COVID-19 in general practice: a case of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Abstract: During the previous months, we have seen the rapid pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2. Despite being considered a respiratory virus, it has become clear that other clinical presentations are possible and some of these are quite frequent. In this paper, a case of a man in his late 70s showing atypical symptoms in general practice is presented. Apart from fever, the patient complained of diarrhoea, borborygmus, loss of appetite and nausea. He developed no respiratory symptoms during his disease. Due to his symptoms, malignant disease was suspected, and he was referred for further testing which revealed typical COVID-19 findings on a chest CT scan. The occurrence of atypical symptoms is discussed, including the importance of recognising these in an ongoing pandemic.

Risk factors for hospital readmission in adult patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction:: a systematic review

Abstract: Objective The objective of this review was to identify and synthesize evidence on risk factors associated with hospital readmission within the first year after heart failure hospitalization among patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Introduction Heart failure is associated with a high risk of hospital readmission. Readmissions are associated with higher mortality and health care costs. It is a high health care priority to identify vulnerable patients with heart failure who may potentially benefit from targeted personalized care interventions aiming to reduce readmissions. Inclusion criteria This review considered studies including adult patients who had heart failure with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40% who were discharged after a heart failure hospitalization. The authors included studies with experimental and observational designs evaluating risk factors for i) all-cause hospital readmission, ii) heart failure hospital readmission, and iii) composite outcomes within seven, 15, 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days after hospital discharge. Composite outcomes included end points where all-cause readmission and/or heart failure readmission were part of a defined end point (i.e. all-cause readmission or mortality; heart failure readmission or mortality; cardiovascular readmission; cardiovascular readmission or mortality; and readmission, mortality, or cardiac transplant). Studies reporting all-cause readmission and/or heart failure readmission as a primary outcome, secondary outcome, or part of a composite outcome were included. Methods PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO, OpenGrey, MedNar, DART-Europe, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and the Grey Literature Report in Public Health were searched to find both published and unpublished studies in English, Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish from 2000 to June 2018. Study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis followed the JBI approach for systematic reviews. Statistical pooling was not possible due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity of the studies included and the lack of risk factors reported more than once. A narrative summary of the findings was performed. Results Fifty-two studies, including one randomized controlled trial and 51 cohort studies with a total of 128,186 participants, were included. Risk factors for readmission were reported for 30-day outcome in 16 studies, 60-day in three studies, 90-day in 15 studies, 180-day in 12 studies, and 365-day outcome in 15 studies. Based on multivariable analyses from 43 cohort studies and results from one randomized controlled trial, the authors identified several factors associated with higher risk of all-cause readmission, heart failure readmission, and composite outcomes (e.g. readmission or death) within 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days after discharge for a heart failure hospitalization. Conclusions This review provides a comprehensive overview of factors associated with a clinical outcome after a heart failure hospitalization in patients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%. Owing to the heterogeneity of variables investigated and the lack of comparability of findings, the clinical impact of the identified risk factors remains uncertain. This review highlights research gaps and the need for a standardized way to define and measure all-cause readmission, heart failure readmission, and composite end points in clinical research to improve study quality and enable comparison of findings between studies.

Reduced coronary flow velocity reserve in women with previous pre-eclampsia: link to increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES To evaluate differences in coronary microvascular function approximately 12 years after delivery between women who had had early- (EO-PE) or late- (LO-PE) onset pre-eclampsia and those who had had a normotensive pregnancy, and to assess the relationship between microvascular function and myocardial deformation at follow-up in these women. METHODS This was a case-control study of 88 women who had delivered at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark, between 1998 and 2008. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was assessed by Doppler echocardiography approximately 12 years after delivery. Women were grouped according to whether the pregnancy had been complicated by EO-PE (n = 29) or LO-PE (n = 20), or had been normotensive (controls) (n = 39). Study groups were matched for maternal age and time since delivery. CFVR at follow-up was compared between the study groups. Regression analysis was used to assess the association between gestational age at onset of PE and CFVR. The association between left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and CFVR at follow-up was also evaluated. RESULTS Resting coronary flow velocity assessed 12 years after delivery was comparable between the study groups (P = 0.55), whereas peak hyperemic flow velocity was significantly lower in the EO-PE group than in the LO-PE group (P < 0.01) and controls (P < 0.0001). As such, mean CFVR at follow-up was significantly lower in the EO-PE group than in the LO-PE group (P < 0.01) and controls (P < 0.0001). CFVR was < 2.5 in 48% of women in the EO-PE group, 25% of those in the LO-PE group and 8% of controls (P < 0.01). There was a significant positive association between gestational age at diagnosis of PE and CFVR at 12-year follow-up (β1 = 1.8 (95% CI, 0.8-2.9); P < 0.01). This relationship remained significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, namely mean arterial blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin level, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and smoking status (P < 0.05). There was a significant association between LV-GLS and CFVR in women who had had PE (β1 = -1.5 (95% CI, -2.2 to -0.9); R2 = 0.33, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Low gestational age at onset of PE, both as a continuous variable and when categorized as early onset, was associated with decreased CFVR 12 years after delivery. Nearly 50% of women who had had EO-PE had CFVR < 2.5 at follow-up. Reduced CFVR in women who had had PE was associated with subclinical myocardial dysfunction in terms of reduced LV-GLS. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Awake and aware with ongoing ventricular fibrillation during LVAD treatment: is it possible?

Abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are currently used as destination therapy or bridge to heart transplantation in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). It has been proved to reduce mortality and symptoms in these patients. Patients with advanced CHF are known to have increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VF)) despite the presence of LVAD. We report the case of patients with ongoing VF during LVAD treatment while being awake and aware. We discuss the challenges introduced along with the increasing use of LVAD treatment. The decision whether a patient with LVAD automatically should have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is challenging. Randomised trials are warranted to shed light on these challenging decisions.

Response to 'Correspondence on 'Impact of rheumatoid arthritis on major cardiovascular events in patients with and without coronary artery disease" by Jong et al.

Abstract: We appreciate the interest and comments by Jong et al 1 concerning our study: ‘Impact of rheumatoid arthritis on major cardiovascular events in patients with and without coronary artery disease’.2 We would like to clarify and discuss the issues raised by Jong et al .1 The comments by our colleagues highlight many inherent limitations of an epidemiological study that may provide considerations for a future prospective randomised trial. First, Jong et al 1 note that that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was not part of the baseline characteristics. The reason is that biochemical data are currently not available from the national Danish Registries. While we do agree with our colleagues that LDL-C …

Fri0069 effects of adalimumab added to treat-to-target strategy with methotrexate and intra-articular triamcinolone on lipids in early- and treatment naïve rheumatoid patients: secondary analyses from the multicenter double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled opera trial

Abstract: Background: Systemic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with reduced serum lipid levels (LL) and treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs has been associated with increased serum LL [1]. It is unclear whether the changes in serum LL reported in association with adalimumab (ADA) treatment are due to suppressed inflammation or the ADA treatment per se. Objectives: The primary objective was to compare the effect of ADA + methotrexate (MTX) to placebo (PBO) + MTX on changes in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to month 12 in patients with early- and treatment naive RA. Secondary objectives were to compare the treatment groups on changes in total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and non-HDL-C (=TC – HDL-C). Methods: We present secondary analyses from the OPERA trial, which was an investigator-initiated, multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled, treat-to-target trial of 180 early and treatment naive RA patients, who were randomized (1:1) to oral MTX 20 mg once a week in combination with either PBO or ADA 40 mg SC EOW [2]. Any swollen joint was injected with triamcinolone hexacetonide. Lipid profiles of each patient were assessed at baseline and 12 months. All randomized patients with available LDL-C at baseline were included in Intention To Treat (ITT) analysis. Sensitivity analyses were performed on the Per Protocol (PP) and the ITT population with baseline observations carried forward (BOCF). All analyses were based on repeated measurements using mixed linear models. Results: In total, 174 patients (97% of the original OPERA trial population) were included in ITT analysis (ADA n=86; PBO n=88) and 156 patients (ADA n=78; PBO n=78) completed the study with LDL-C measurements at both baseline and 12 months (PP). At baseline mean LDL-C was 2.9 mmol/L (SD 0.9) with 63 (36.2%) patients having an LDL-C above 3.0 mmol/L. There was no significant difference in LDL-C change between ADA+MTX and PBO+MTX groups after 12 months. A nearly statistically significant between-group difference in TC change was found. Other changes in LL were comparable across the two groups. Results in ITT, PP and ITT with BOCF populations were similar. Conclusion: In early RA patients treated to target with methotrexate and intra-articular triamcinolone, 12 months with the addition of adalimumab did not affect lipid levels. References: [1]England BR et al., Bmj 2018;361:k1036 [2]Horslev-Petersen K et al., Ann Rheum Dis 2014;73:654–61 Disclosure of Interests: Dzenan Masic: None declared, Kristian Stengaard-Pedersen: None declared, Brian Bridal Logstrup: None declared, Kim Horslev-Petersen Grant/research support from: Pfizer (Travel expences), Merete L. Hetland Grant/research support from: BMS, MSD, AbbVie, Roche, Novartis, Biogen and Pfizer, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Speakers bureau: Orion Pharma, Biogen, Pfizer, CellTrion, Merck and Samsung Bioepis, Peter Junker: None declared, Mikkel Ǿstergaard Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Merck, and Novartis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, and UCB, Christian Ammitzbol: None declared, Soren Moller: None declared, Robin Christensen: None declared, Torkell Ellingsen: None declared