BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main (LMCA) coronary artery disease (CAD) was found to be non-inferior and had similar major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In the local setting, the clinical profile and MACE of patients who underwent either revascularization are, however, unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical profile and in-hospital MACE of patients who underwent revascularization (PCI or CABG) for LMCA and left main equivalent CAD. METHODS: This is a prospective descriptive study. Clinical profile and in-hospital, 30-days and 90-days post revascularization MACE were determined. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (37) adults were included. Most were males, diabetics, dyslipidemics, smokers, with previous cardiovascular events and premature CAD. Hypertension was significantly prevalent in the CABG group (PCI=62.50% vs CABG=90.48%, p=0.04). Patients who underwent CABG mostly presented with stable angina (p=0.0453). The majority of the PCI (68.75%) was done as an emergent/urgent procedure, with clear indications for PCI (i.e. STEMI). In-hospital all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the PCI group (PCI=50% vs CABG=0%, p<<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with LMCA and left main equivalent CAD were mostly males and had traditional CAD risk factors. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among the PCI group; however, those who underwent PCI were unstable and unlikely to be good surgical candidates for CABG.
Coronary Artery Disease ' ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Cardiovascular System

<p style="text-align: justify;">Objective. Several studies showed that genetic factors affect responsiveness to statins among different populations. This study investigated the associations of candidate genetic variants with poor response to statins among Filipinos.p><p style="text-align: justify;">Methods. In this unmatched case-control study, dyslipidemic participants were grouped into statin responders and poor responders based on the degree of reduction in LDL-c from baseline. DNA from blood samples were genotyped and analyzed. The association of candidate variants with statin response was determined using chi-square and logistic regression analysis.p><p style="text-align: justify;">Results. We included 162 adults on statins (30 poor responders as cases, 132 good responders as controls). The following variants are nominally associated with poor response to statin among Filipinos at a per-comparison error rate of 0.05: rs173539 near CETP (OR=3.05, p=0.015), rs1800591 in MTTP (OR=3.07, p=0.021), and rs1558861 near the BUD13-ZPR1-APOA5 region (OR=5.08, p=0.004).p><p style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion. Genetic variants near CETP, MTTP and the BUD13-ZPR1-APOA5 region are associated with poor response to statins among Filipinos. Further study is recommended to test the external validity of the study in the general Filipino population.p>
Lipids ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

<p style="text-align: justify;">Background. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) is a well-recognized risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Associated gene variants for low HDL-c have already been demonstrated in various populations. Such associations have yet to be established among Filipinos who reportedly have a much higher prevalence of low HDL-c levels compared to other races.p><p style="text-align: justify;">Objective. To determine the association of selected genetic variants and clinical factors with low HDL-c phenotype in Filipinos.p><p style="text-align: justify;">Methods. An age- and sex-matched case-control study was conducted among adult Filipino participants with serum HDL-c concentration less than 35 mg/dL (n=61) and those with HDL-c levels of more than 40 mg/dL (n=116). Genotyping was done using DNA obtained from blood samples. Candidate variants were correlated with the low HDL-c phenotype using chi-squared test and conditional logistic regression analysis.p><p style="text-align: justify;">Results. Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with low HDL-c phenotype among Filipinos with univariate regression analysis. The variant rs1260326 of glucokinase regulator (GCKR) (CT genotype: adjusted OR=5.17; p-value=0.007; TT genotype: adjusted OR=6.28; p-value=0.027) remained associated with low HDL-c phenotype, together with hypertension and elevated body mass index, after multiple regression analysis.p><p style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion. The variant rs1260326 near GCKR is associated with low HDL-c phenotype among Filipinos. Its role in the expression of low HDL-c phenotype should be further investigated prior to the development of possible clinical applications.p>
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dyslipidemias ; Genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide