Over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of men who are treated with testosterone. Despite this increase in the use of testosterone, the risks of adverse cardiovascular events are unclear as meta-analyses have reported conflicting findings and no clinical studies have been large enough or long enough to adequately assess for cardiovascular risks. The goal of this paper is to review large prescription database studies of testosterone treatment and adverse cardiovascular events and mortality with the aim of providing some guidance for clinicians and researchers in this controversial area.
Androgens/therapeutic use* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; Databases, Pharmaceutical ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction/epidemiology* ; Testosterone/therapeutic use* ; Thrombosis/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of establishing an integrated regional network for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care in China and evaluate the implementation effect of this network.

METHODSBased on real-time electrocardiogram transmission technology, we established an integrated regional network for STEMI care (IRN-STEMI) with Xiamen Heart Center as the core center, 120 Emergency Systems, PCI-capable hospitals and other community health units as core elements of this network. Reperfusion treatment data of Xiamen Heart Center including the number of patients receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the mean first medical contact to balloon (FMC-to-B) time, the mean door to balloon (D-to-B) time, the mean length of hospital stay, the mean medical cost and in-hospital mortality were compared before (n = 165) and at 1 year after the built-up of IRN-STEMI (n = 343).

RESULTSCompared to pre-IRN-STEMI era, primary PCI ratio (84.5% (290/343) vs. 75.5% (185/245)) were significantly increased post establishment of IRN-STEMI within the network (P = 0.06). STEMI patients admitted in Xiamen Heart Center was significantly increased from 165 to 256, the annual mean FMC-to-B time ((110.3 ± 34.0)min vs. (137.9 ± 58.5) min, P < 0.01) and D-to-B ( (76.5 ± 33.0) min vs. (107.3 ± 38.0) min, P < 0.01) , as well as the mean medical cost were significantly decreased ( (51 398 ± 22 100) RMB vs. (56 970 ± 24 593) RMB, P < 0.05), while the mean length of hospital stay ((9.0 ± 4.3)d vs. (9.7 ± 4.8)d, P > 0.05) and in-hospital mortality (3.1% (8/256) vs. 3.0% (5/165) , P > 0.05) remained unchanged before and after the setting of IRN-STEMI in Xiamen Heart Center.

CONCLUSIONEstablishment of an integrated regional network system for STEMI patients in China is feasible. With collaboration of qualified heart center, EMS and PCI-capable and non-PCI capable local hospitals, establishment of IRN-STEMI effectively increased the ratio of primary PCI for STEMI patients, it also significantly shortened the FMC-to-B and D-to-B time, decreased mean medical cost, thus, the regional IRN-STEMI network might be an effective working system for improving the medical care for STEMI patients.

China ; epidemiology ; Community Networks ; Cost Control ; Electrocardiography ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Myocardial Infarction ; mortality ; therapy ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Time Factors

The Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) was the first nationwide registry data collection designed to track outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). These studies reflect the current therapeutic approaches and management for AMI in Korea. The results of KAMIR could help clinicians to predict the prognosis of their patients and identify better diagnostic and treatment tools to improve the quality of care. The KAMIR score was proposed to be a predictor of the prognosis of AMI patients. Triple antiplatelet therapy, consisting of aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol, was effective at preventing major adverse clinical outcomes. Drug-eluting stents were effective and safe in AMI patients with no increased risk of stent thrombosis. Statin therapy was effective in Korean AMI patients, including those with very low levels of low density cholesterol. The present review summarizes the 10-year scientific achievements of KAMIR from admission to outpatient care during long-term clinical follow-up.
Humans ; *Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Quality Improvement ; Quality of Health Care ; *Registries ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the gender differences on the short-term outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction in the real world.

METHODSA total of 471 consecutive patients [male 368(78.1%) and female 103(21.9%)] with acute myocardial infarction <72 hours in cardiac care unit were included. The clinical data, death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 30 days post hospitalization were analyzed.

RESULTSFemale patients were older (66.8 ± 10.1 vs. 56.9 ± 12.0, P < 0.001), TIMI score (5.1 ± 2.3 vs. 3.9 ± 2.1, P < 0.001) and GRACE score (162 ± 39 vs. 142 ± 35, P < 0.001) in female patients were higher than in male patients. Female patients had lower proportion of stent implantation (P = 0.038) while higher percentage of complex lesions and contraindications to PCI (P = 0.015) compared to male patients. Proportion of cardiac rupture, mitral regurgitation, malignant arrhythmia, post-infarction angina pectoris, contrast-induced nephropathy and minor gastrointestinal bleeding were also higher in female patients tan in male patients (P < 0.05). Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in female patients than in male patients [5.8% (6/103) vs. 1.9% (7/368), P = 0.032], MACCE [10.7% (11/103) vs. 5.4% (20/368), P = 0.058] also tended to be higher in female patients than in male patients. Multi-logistic regression analysis showed that female gender was not an independent predictor for thirty-day mortality (P = 0.141) or MACCE (P = 0.426) while systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.072, 95%CI:1.016-1.130, P = 0.010) and pericardial effusion after myocardial infarction (OR = 40.518, 95%CI:1.098-1495.702, P = 0.044) were independent predictors for thirty-day mortality while systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.027, 95%CI:1.002-1.052, P = 0.036) and left ventricular ejection fraction (OR = 1.108, 95%CI:1.032-1.190, P = 0.005) were independent predictors for MACCE.

CONCLUSIONSFemale gender itself is not an independent predictor for thirty-day mortality and MACCE despite poorer clinical characteristics, higher incidence of complications, and worse prognosis in female patients.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

The impact of treatment delays to reperfusion on patient mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is controversial. We analyzed 5,069 patients included in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) between November 2005 and January 2007. We selected 1,416 patients who presented within 12 hr of symptom onset and who were treated with primary PCI. The overall mortality at one month was 4.4%. The medians of door-to-balloon time, symptom onset-to-balloon time, and symptom onset-to-door time were 90 (interquartile range, 65-136), 274 (185-442), and 163 min (90-285), respectively. One-month mortality was not increased significantly with any increasing delay in door-to-balloon time (4.3% for < or =90 min, 4.4% for >90 min; p=0.94), symptom onset-to-balloon time (3.9% for < or =240 min, 4.8% for >240 min; p=0.41), and symptom onset-to-door time (3.3% for < or =120 min, 5.0% for >120 min; p=0.13). These time variables had no impact on one-month mortality in any subgroup. Thus, this first nationwide registry data in Korea showed a good result of primary PCI, and the patient prognosis may not depend on the initial treatment delay using the current protocols.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Transluminal, Percutaneous Coronary/*mortality ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meiers Estimate ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction/*mortality/*therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Registries/statistics & numerical data ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: Data comparing the clinical benefits of medical treatment with those of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an elderly population with angina pectoris are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of elective PCI versus optimal medical treatment (OMT) in elderly patients (between 75 and 84 years old) with angina pectoris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-seven patients with significant coronary artery stenosis were randomly assigned to either the PCI group (n=90) or the OMT group (n=87). The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse events in the 1-year follow-up period that included cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and stroke. RESULTS: Major adverse events occurred in 5 patients (5.6%) of the PCI group and in 17 patents (19.5%) of the OMT group (p=0.015). There were no significant differences between the PCI group and the OMT group in cardiac death [hazard ratio (HR) for the PCI group 0.454; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.041-5.019, p=0.520], myocardial infarction (HR 0.399; 95% CI 0.039-4.050, p=0.437), or stroke (HR 0.919; 95% CI 0.057-14.709, p=0.952). However, the PCI group showed a significant preventive effect of the composite of major adverse events (HR 0.288; 95% CI 0.106-0.785, p=0.015) and against the need for coronary revascularization (HR 0.157; 95% CI 0.035-0.703, p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Elective PCI reduced major adverse events and was found to be an effective treatment modality in elderly patients with angina pectoris and significant coronary artery stenosis, compared to OMT.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina Pectoris/mortality/*therapy ; Coronary Stenosis/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/prevention & control/*therapy ; *Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Stroke/epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome

We investigated the effects of weekend admission on adverse cardiac events in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Patients with NSTEACS treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were divided into a "weekend group" and a "weekday group" according to the emergency room arrival time. The primary outcome was 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and urgent PCI. Of 577 patients, 168 patients were allocated to the weekend and 409 patients to the weekday group. The incidence of 30-day MACE was significantly higher in the weekend group (Crude: 15.5% vs. 7.3%, P = 0.005; propensity score matched: 12.8% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.041). After adjustment for all the possible confounding factors, in Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, weekend admission was associated with a 2.1-fold increased hazard for MACE (HR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.26-3.60, P = 0.005). These findings indicate that weekend admission of patients with NSTE-ACS is associated with an increase in 30-day adverse cardiac event.
Acute Coronary Syndrome/*complications/mortality/therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; *Death ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*epidemiology ; Patient Admission ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/*statistics & numerical data ; Propensity Score ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine which drug-eluting stents are more effective in acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: This study included a total of 3,566 acute MI survivors with CKD from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry who were treated with stenting and followed up for 12 months: 1,845 patients who received sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), 1,356 who received paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), and 365 who received zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES). CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 calculated by the modification of diet in renal disease method. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, patients receiving ZES demonstrated a higher incidence (14.8%) of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) compared to those receiving SES (10.1%) and PES (12%, p = 0.019). The ZES patients also had a higher incidence (3.9%) of target lesion revascularization (TLR) compared to those receiving SES (1.5%) and PES (2.4%, p = 0.011). After adjusting for confounding factors, ZES was associated with a higher incidence of MACE and TLR than SES (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.623; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.442 to 0.879; p = 0.007; adjusted HR, 0.350; 95% CI, 0.165 to 0.743; p = 0.006, respectively), and with a higher rate of TLR than PES (adjusted HR, 0.471; 95% CI, 0.223 to 0.997; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ZES is less effective than SES and PES in terms of 12-month TLR, and has a higher incidence of MACE due to a higher TLR rate compared with SES, in acute MI patients with CKD.
Aged ; *Drug-Eluting Stents/adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*etiology/mortality/*therapy ; Paclitaxel/administration & dosage ; Prospective Studies ; Registries ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*complications ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sirolimus/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives

The efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) with low dose unfractionated heparin (UFH) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with or without glycoprotein (Gp) IIb/IIIa inhibitor compared to UFH with or without Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor has not been elucidated. Between October 2005 and July 2007, 2,535 patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing PCI in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) were assigned to either of two groups: a group with Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (n=476) or a group without Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (n=2,059). These groups were further subdivided according to the use of LMWH with low dose UFH (n=219) or UFH alone (n=257). The primary end points were cardiac death or myocardial infarction during the 30 days after the registration. The primary end point occurred in 4.1% (9/219) of patients managed with LMWH during PCI and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor and 10.8% (28/257) of patients managed with UFH and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (odds ratio [OR], 0.290; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.132-0.634; P=0.006). Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) with major bleeding was observed in LMHW and UFH with Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (1/219 [0.5%] vs 1/257 [0.4%], P=1.00). For patients with STEMI managed with a primary PCI and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor, LMWH is more beneficial than UFH.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin/*therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction/epidemiology/mortality/*therapy ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Prognosis ; Registries

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Family history (FHx) of coronary heart disease (CHD) is a well-known risk factor for CHD. However, the prognostic implication of FHx has not been established clearly in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: In total, 11,612 patients (8,132 males [70%], age 63 +/- 13 years) with first-onset AMI between November 2005 and June 2008 in a nationwide, prospective, multicenter, online registry (the Korea AMI Registry) were analyzed. Clinical characteristics and outcomes (cardiac death and major adverse cardiac events [MACEs]) were assessed according to the presence of FHx. RESULTS: The patients with FHx were younger and included more males. Male patients with FHx included more current smokers and individuals with poor lipid profiles. In all patients, after adjustment using the Cox proportional hazard model, FHx was related to the risk of MACEs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; p = 0.009) and cardiac death (HR, 1.56; p = 0.080). The poor prognostic implication of FHx was further augmented in females and a low risk subset of patients. A significant interaction was only found between male and female patients for composite MACEs (p for interaction = 0.057), and between patients with more risk factors (> or = 2 risk factors) and fewer risk factors for cardiac deaths (p for interaction = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: FHx may be an independent prognostic predictor, especially in female patients and patients with low-risk profile.
Adult ; Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Disease/*genetics/mortality/therapy ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Heredity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction/*genetics/mortality/therapy ; Pedigree ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Registries ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors