Joanna Oettinger

Bio: Joanna Oettinger is an academic researcher from University of Franche-Comté. The author has contributed to research in topics: Framingham Risk Score & Population. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 6 publications receiving 138 citations.

Anemia for risk assessment of patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Abstract: In patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes, those with anemia are at higher risk. However, current risk score systems do not take into account the presence of anemia. The impact of anemia on mortality was studied, and its incremental predictive value was evaluated. Demographic, clinical, and biologic characteristics at admission, as well as treatments and mortality, were recorded for 1,410 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes. The incremental value of adding anemia information to risk score evaluation was determined using changes in the appropriateness of Cox models when anemia was added. Anemia was detected in 381 patients (27%). They were older, had more co-morbidities, had higher Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk scores, received fewer guideline-recommended treatments, and, as a result, had 4-fold higher mortality. When included in a prediction model based on the GRACE risk score, anemia remained an independent predictor of mortality. The addition of anemia improved both the discriminatory capacity and calibration of the models. According to the GRACE risk score, the population was divided into 4 groups of different risk levels of

Changes in management of elderly patients with myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Aims Despite being at higher risk for mortality, elderly patients (≥75 years) admitted for acute myocardial infarction (MI) often receive fewer effective therapies, because of contraindications or higher risk of drug-induced adverse events. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the use of effective treatments between 2001 and 2006 in elderly patients, and the relation with 1-month mortality. Methods and results Prospective, multicentre registry, considering two periods: 6 months between October 2000 and March 2001 (cohort 1) and 12 months between October 2005 and October 2006 (cohort 2). Demographic and clinical characteristics at admission, in-hospital treatment (reperfusion or early invasive therapy, oral antiplatelets, anticoagulants, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors, beta-blockers, and statins), and 1-month survival were compared between the two cohorts, after adjustment on a propensity score (for being admitted in 2001). Eight hundred and sixty-eight elderly patients were included, 280 in cohort 1 and 588 in cohort 2. When compared with cohort 1, patients from cohort 2 presented with comparable characteristics, except for the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score and we observed a significant increase in the use of aspirin, clopidogrel, reperfusion therapy, ACE-inhibitors, and statins in cohort 2. One-month mortality was significantly lower in cohort 2 (13.6% in cohort 1 vs. 7.1% in cohort 2, P = 0.001), mainly driven by a decrease in the mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation MI (23.3% in cohort 1 vs. 9.2% in cohort 2, P < 0.001). Adjustment on the propensity score did not alter these results. By multivariable analysis, the three-fold higher mortality in patients from cohort 1 was offset when the rate of use of treatments was considered in the model, suggesting that the treatment intensity was related to lower mortality. Conclusion Between 2001 and 2006, a significant increase in the use of guidelines-recommended treatments (GRTs) was observed, associated with lower 30-day mortality, in elderly patients. These data confirm that high-risk patients, such as the elderly, benefit from an increase in the use of GRTs.

Changes in unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaque composition after balloon angioplasty as determined by analysis of intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency.

Abstract: The effects of balloon angioplasty (BA) on plaque distribution remain incompletely documented. In 20 patients with unstable angina pectoris, intravascular ultrasound gray scale and radiofrequency analyses were performed before and after BA. Composition of the plaque was 61% fibrotic tissue, 15% fibrofatty tissue, 15% necrotic tissue, and 7% dense calcium tissue. After BA, 35% of lumen enlargement was due to an increase in total vessel area and 65% to a significant decrease in plaque area. This resulted from a longitudinal redistribution of the tissue toward the reference segments. Radiofrequency analysis showed that the fibrous and fibrofatty tissues were able to redistribute longitudinally, whereas calcium remained at the same level. A third of necrotic tissue was lost after BA. In conclusion, in unstable plaques, BA resulted in a longitudinal redistribution of fibrotic and fibrofatty tissues and disappearance of 1/3 of necrotic tissue.

Improving quality of care for acute myocardial infarction. The Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) initiative

Abstract: CONTEXT Quality of care of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has received intense attention. However, it is unknown if a structured initiative for improving care of patients with AMI can be effectively implemented at a wide variety of hospitals. OBJECTIVE To measure the effects of a quality improvement project on adherence to evidence-based therapies for patients with AMI. DESIGN AND SETTING The Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) quality improvement project, which consisted of baseline measurement, implementation of improvement strategies, and remeasurement, in 10 acute-care hospitals in southeast Michigan. PATIENTS A random sample of Medicare and non-Medicare patients at baseline (July 1998--June 1999; n = 735) and following intervention (September 1--December 15, 2000; n = 914) admitted at the 10 study centers for treatment of confirmed AMI. A random sample of Medicare patients at baseline (January--December 1998; n = 513) and at remeasurement (March--August 2001; n = 388) admitted to 11 hospitals that volunteered, but were not selected, served as a control group. INTERVENTION The GAP project consisted of a kickoff presentation; creation of customized, guideline-oriented tools designed to facilitate adherence to key quality indicators; identification and assignment of local physician and nurse opinion leaders; grand rounds site visits; and premeasurement and postmeasurement of quality indicators. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Differences in adherence to quality indicators (use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors at discharge; time to reperfusion; smoking cessation and diet counseling; and cholesterol assessment and treatment) in ideal patients, compared between baseline and postintervention samples and among Medicare patients in GAP hospitals and the control group. RESULTS Increases in adherence to key treatments were seen in the administration of aspirin (81% vs 87%; P =.02) and beta-blockers (65% vs 74%; P =.04) on admission and use of aspirin (84% vs 92%; P =.002) and smoking cessation counseling (53% vs 65%; P =.02) at discharge. For most of the other indicators, nonsignificant but favorable trends toward improvement in adherence to treatment goals were observed. Compared with the control group, Medicare patients in GAP hospitals showed a significant increase in the use of aspirin at discharge (5% vs 10%; P<.001). Use of aspirin on admission, ACE inhibitors at discharge, and documentation of smoking cessation also showed a trend for greater improvement among GAP hospitals compared with control hospitals, although none of these were statistically significant. Evidence of tool use noted during chart review was associated with a very high level of adherence to most quality indicators. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of guideline-based tools for AMI may facilitate quality improvement among a variety of institutions, patients, and caregivers. This initial project provides a foundation for future initiatives aimed at quality improvement.

C-reactive protein: clinical and epidemiological perspectives.

Abstract: An important etiopathogenic component of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, with inflammation being an essential event in the pathophysiology of all clinical pictures it comprises. In recent years, several molecules implicated in this process have been studied in order to assess cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention. C-reactive protein is a plasmatic protein of the pentraxin family and an acute phase reactant, very useful as a general inflammation marker. Currently, it is one of the most profoundly researched molecules in the cardiovascular field, yet its clinical applicability regarding cardiovascular risk remains an object of discussion, considered by some as a simple marker and by others as a true risk factor. In this sense, numerous studies propose its utilization as a predictor of cardiovascular risk through the use of high-sensitivity quantification methods for the detection of values <1 mg/L, following strict international guidelines. Increasing interest in these clinical findings has led to the creation of modified score systems including C-reactive protein concentrations, in order to enhance risk scores commonly used in clinical practice and offer improved care to patients with cardiovascular disease, which remains the first cause of mortality at the worldwide, national, and regional scenarios.

Advances in Intravascular Imaging

Abstract: Received March 25, 2009; accepted August 4, 2009. This review updates the role of various intravascular imaging techniques (1) in the detection of vulnerable plaque and (2) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), especially drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation and follow-up—including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), virtual histology (VH-IVUS) and integrated backscatter (IB-IVUS), optical coherent tomography (OCT), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, angioscopy, and MRI. ### IVUS, IB-IVUS, and VH-IVUS The current intracoronary ultrasound imaging frequency range of 20 to 45 MHz provides 70 to 200 μm axial resolution with >5 mm penetration.1,2 Grayscale IVUS allows robust quantitative measurements including lumen, vessel, and plaque area; qualitative assessment of lesions preintervention; and quantitative assessment and complications of lesions postintervention; however, it has poor sensitivity for detecting lipid-rich plaque (67%).3 High-frequency IVUS transducers can produce better resolution that should also improve plaque characterization but at the trade off of greater ultrasound reflection from blood. Blood speckle with >40 MHz ultrasound can cause confusion when identifying the lumen-tissue border, detecting in-stent neointimal tissue, etc; but it is easily solved by saline (negative contrast) injection through the guiding catheter.4 Standard grayscale IVUS is limited, in part, because it uses only reflected ultrasound amplitude to formulate the image and requires significant postprocessing. In an effort to improve on the qualitative assessment of the reflected ultrasound signal, Kawasaki et al developed a plaque characterization algorithm called IB-IVUS using time domain information directly from the radiofrequency signal. This process has resulted in improved plaque characterization with a reported in vitro sensitivity of 90% and specificity or 92% for lipid-rich plaque.5,6 In a similar effort to improve plaque characterization, spectral analysis (VH-IVUS) combined frequency and amplitude analysis and used an algorithm developed from known tissue types to detect fibrous plaque, fibrofatty plaque, necrotic core (NC), and dense calcium (Figure 1A′, 1B′). Reported sensitivity and …