Objective To analyze the status and trend of the development of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Chinese military hospitals from 2003 to 2004. Methods In April 2005, a registry form was dispatched to all army hospitals, and items in regard of PCI during 2003 to 2004 were asked to be filled for analysis. Results From 2003 to 2004, a total of 16842 cases of PCI performed in 61 PLA hospitals (7052 in 2003, 9790 in 2004) were registered and reported. The intervention procedures were performed in a total of 23706 target lesions, of which only 1632 target lesions (6.9%) were dilated by balloon, and 22074 target lesions (93.1%) were implanted with coronary stents, and 8086 stents among all were drug eluted (36.6% of all stents), including 4270 eluted with rapamycin (Cypher and Firebird, 52.8%), 2072 Paclitaxel eluted (25.6%) and 1744 eluted with other kinds of drug (21.6%). Total success rate of PCI was 97.7% (16449/16842), and success rate was 99.8% in patients with stented procedure. The incidence of major complications and major adverse cardiovascular events was 4.2% (708/16842), including acute occlusion of coronary artery (0.3%), subacute occlusion (0.4%), pericardial tamponade (0.1%), falling of stent (0.1%), emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (0.1%), an inhospital mortality of 1.2% (including death resulted in acute myocardial infarction), and slow-flow or no-flow (1.6%). During follow-up period, target vessel revascularization was done in 5.1% of the patients. Emergency PCI for acute myocardial infarction was performed in 2467 cases, PCI for left main coronary artery and grafted vessel was performed in 576 cases and 137 cases, respectively. Trans-radial PCI was done in 3051 cases. 2124 PCI were done for chronic total occlusion lesions, and the number increased tremendously compared with the last registry. In 57.3% of the hospitals enrolled in the registry, the annual PCI number was less than 100 cases, while in 13.2% of the hospitals the annual number of PCI was over 200 cases, and in only 2 hospitals the annual PCI number was over 1000 cases. Conclusions The annual case numbers of PCI in PLA hospitals within the recent two years increased by around 40% every year. The success rates for complicated lesions, the use of new technique, and the complication rate of PCI were comparable with that reported in domestic and foreign literature published in recent years. It is noted that, the development has been quite different among different hospitals, so that technical training and cooperation should be emphasized in the future.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to analyze the epidemiological factors and evaluate the current status of treatment in patients with AF in Mainland China. Methods Retrospective analysis of hospital records were taken from patients with primary diagnosis of AF, discharged from January 1999 to December 2001. A total of 9297 cases (mean age 65.5 years) with AF were enrolled from 40 hospitals in major parts of China. Results The percentage of hospital admissions with AF was gradually increased comparing to those of total cardiovascular admission during three years, with the average of 7.9%. The cases distribution progressively rose with age. The causes and associated conditions of AF: advanced age 58.1%, hypertension 40.3%, coronary heart disease 34.8%, heart failure 33.1%, rheumatic valvular disease 23.9%, idiopathic AF 7.4%, cardiomyopathy 5.4%, diabetes 4.1%. The most common coexistence among these variables was advanced age with hypertension. Permanent AF almost accounted for half of these cases (49.5%), paroxysmal and persistent AF were 33.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Paroxysmal AF was mainly treated with rhythm control (56.4%). However, 82.8% of patients with chronic AF had therapeutic strategy of rate control. In patients with persistent AF, the cardioversion had been attempted in cases more than 50%, with only 31.1% of these patients who could maintain stabilized sinus rhythm. The prevalence of stroke in this group was 17.5%. In nonvalvular AF patients the risk factors that significantly associated with stroke included advanced age, history of hypertension, coronary heart disease and type of AF. Sixty-four point five percent of these patients received antithrombotic therapy with dominated use of antiplatelet agents. The long-term prevention with anticoagulants only accounted for 6.6%. In this investigation patients with antiplatelets as well as patients with anticoagulants showed significant lower stroke rate in comparison with those managed neither. However, the difference between antiplatelets and anticoagulants in terms of stroke rate was not significant. Conclusions Most epidemiological factors of AF from this group showed highly in accordance with those from the reports from other countries, such as age distribution, causes and associated conditions, type of AF, dominantly with approach of rate control. Both antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatments significantly reduced stroke rate. But there was no significant difference between these two kinds of treatments in reducing stroke rate.

Objective: Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination has substantially reduced mortality and hospitalization rates worldwide, with rare adverse events reported in clinical settings. Herein, we present a case of acute pancreatitis complicated by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) following the third COVID-19 vaccination dose.Patient: A 72-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus developed generalized fatigue, mild epigastric pain, nausea, and frequent vomiting after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.Results: Blood analysis revealed elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes, hyperglycemia, and acidemia. Computed tomography revealed evidence of acute pancreatitis, leading to a diagnosis of both DKA and acute pancreatitis. Treatment with a large volume of saline and intravenous insulin improved both DKA and acute pancreatitis. After a thorough examination, no other factors capable of causing acute pancreatitis were identified. Hence, we concluded that acute pancreatitis was induced by COVID-19 vaccination.Conclusion: Acute pancreatitis is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse event associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Delaying the treatment or diagnosis of acute pancreatitis can increase mortality risk in patients with both acute pancreatitis and DKA. Hence, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to consider the potential occurrence of acute pancreatitis and DKA following COVID-19 vaccination.

Fabry disease(FD)is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene.It leads to reduced or complete deficiency of the activity of α-galactosidase A(α-Gal A),resulting in an accumu-lation of the metabolic substrate globotriaosylceramide(Gb3)and its derivative,globotriaosylsphingosine(Lyso-Gb3),in a wide range of cells and tissues,which causes multiple organ pathologies.In the cardiovascu-lar system,FD predominantly leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and/or conduction abnormalities known as FD cardiomyopathy.Since FD cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in adult patients with FD,early diagnosis combining cardiac imaging,enzyme and substrate activity,genetic testing,and tissue biopsy,as well as early specific enzyme replacement therapy are important to improve patient prognosis.This consensus comprehen-sively summarizes the published evidence related to the diagnosis and treatment of FD cardiomyopa-thy at home and abroad,and provides a basis for the diagnosis and management of FD cardiomyopathy.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common monogenic disorder. Due to the marked elevation of cardiovascular risk, the early detection, diagnosis, and proper management of this disorder are critical. Herein, the 2022 Korean guidance on this disease is presented. Clinical features include severely elevated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, tendon xanthomas, and premature coronary artery disease. Clinical diagnostic criteria include clinical findings, family history, or pathogenic mutations in the LDLR, APOB, or PCSK9. Proper suspicion of individuals with typical characteristics is essential for screening. Cascade screening is known to be the most efficient diagnostic approach. Early initiation of lipid-lowering therapy and the control of other risk factors are important. The first-line pharmacological treatment is statins, followed by ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors as required. The ideal treatment targets are 50% reduction and <70 mg/dL or <55 mg/dL (in the presence of vascular disease) of LDL-C, although less strict targets are frequently used. Homozygous FH is characterized by untreated LDL-C >500 mg/dL, xanthoma since childhood, and family history. In children, the diagnosis is made with criteria, including items largely similar to those of adults. In women, lipid-lowering agents need to be discontinued before conception.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurring in patients at a young age (40 years or younger) is an uncommon condition and is characterized by multiple cardiovascular risk factors. We analyzed the risk factors of young-aged Korean AMI patients (age of 40 years or younger) and other AMI patients, who were registered in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) for one year. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 2006, 8,565 patients (mean age 64.4+/-12.7 years; 5,591 males) were registered in the KAMIR. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (younger patients < or =40 years; n=261; mean age 35.9+/-4.5 years; 245 males) and Group II (older patients >40 years; n=8,304, mean age 65.4+/-11.8 years; 5,330 males). The clinical and angiographic characteristics and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared for the two groups of patients. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics of gender, age, risk factors (hypertension, smoking, diabetes, familial history) and body weight were different between the two groups (p<0.001). The baseline echocardiographic and laboratory findings of the initial ejection fraction, and the glomerular filtration rate, level of creatine kinase (CK), level of CK-MB isoenzyme, total cholesterol level, triglyceride level, and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level were different between the two groups (p< or =0.001). According to the use of multiple logistic regression analysis, use of thrombolysis [p=0.009, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=9.140, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.727-48.383], a high blood glucose level (p=0.029, aHR=1.008, 95% CI: 1.001-1.016), a low body mass index (<25 kg/m(2), p=0.031, aHR=6.236, 95% CI: 1.183-32.857), and a high CK-MB level and high Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score were independent predictors of MACE at 1 year after an AMI in young age patients. Early clinical outcomes were better in Group I than in Group II patients, but one-, six- and twelve-month MACE were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The independent predictors of MACE at 1 year in young age AMI patients were the use of thrombolysis, a high blood glucose level, a low body mass index, a high CK-MB level and a high TIMI risk score. Patients that have had an acute myocardial infarction at a young age have a better early clinical outcome, but the long-term clinical outcomes were not different compared with older patients, and thus long-term intensive medical therapy will be required, even in young AMI patients.
Age of Onset ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Creatine Kinase ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is thought that patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a poor prognosis after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the effect of diabetes on the outcomes of hypertensive patients with AMIs has not been elucidated in the Korean population. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diabetes on long-term clinical outcomes following AMIs in patients with hypertension. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using data from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (November 2005 to December 2006), 2,233 hypertensive patients with AMIs were grouped as follows based on the presence of DM: group I, diabetic hypertension (n=892, 544 men, mean age=66.2+/-10.9 years); and group II, non-diabetic hypertension (n=1341, 938 men, mean age=63.9+/-12.8 years). The primary study outcomes included in-hospital death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), repeat percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass surgery) at the 1 year follow-up. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients with DM were older and more likely to be women. The diabetic group had lower blood pressure (p<0.001), a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (p<0.001), a more severe degree of heart failure (p<0.001), a longer duration of coronary care unit admission (p<0.001), and a higher incidence of hyperlipidemia (p=0.007). The N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level (4602.5+/-8710.6 pg/mL vs. 2320.8+/-5837.9 pg/mL, p<0.001) was higher and the creatinine clearance (62.4+/-29.9 mL/min vs. 73.0+/-40.8 mL/min, p<0.001) was lower in the diabetic group than the non-diabetic group. Coronary angiographic findings revealed more frequent involvement of the left main stem (p=0.002) and multiple vessels (p<0.001) in the diabetic group. The rate of in-hospital death was higher in the diabetic group (p<0.001). During follow-up, the rates of composite MACE at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months were higher in the diabetic group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with AMI, DM was associated with worse clinical and angiographic features, with a higher risk of development of severe heart failure, and an increased risk of MACE on long-term clinical follow-up.
Blood Pressure ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Care Units ; Creatinine ; Death ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume