Publications by authors named "Christine Pacheco"

Myocardial infarction with no obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) represents 6%-15% of all acute coronary syndromes, and women are disproportionately represented. MINOCA is an encompassing preliminary diagnosis, and emerging evidence supports a more expansive comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic clinical approach. The current clinical practice update summarizes the latest evidence regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic evaluation of MINOCA.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death in women, often resulting in overlooked clinical data in trials.
  • Women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) show higher baseline cardiovascular risk factors and complications, along with greater mortality rates compared to men.
  • Analysis indicates that women present significantly higher rates of hypertension and diabetes when treated, while their smoking prevalence is notably lower than that of men.
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Background: In patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and new-onset antero-apical wall motion abnormalities (WMAs), whether the rate of prophylaxis against left ventricular thrombus and outcomes differ between men and women is unknown.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study of patients with STEMI and new-onset antero-apical WMAs treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention was conducted. Patients with an established indication of oral anticoagulation (OAC) were excluded.

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Article Synopsis
  • The final chapter reviews the current state of cardiovascular care for women in Canada, outlining existing challenges and opportunities.
  • It highlights 12 actionable recommendations aimed at closing knowledge gaps and addressing disparities in care.
  • The ultimate goal is to improve heart health outcomes for women across the country.
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Background: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is defined as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with angiographically nonobstructive coronary artery disease. MINOCA represents 6% of all AMI cases and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. However, the wide array of pathophysiological factors and causes associated with MINOCA presents a diagnostic conundrum.

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Background: Clinical practice guidelines for the management and convalescence of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) have yet to be developed. The targeted content, delivery, and outcomes of interventions that benefit this population remain unclear. Patient-informed data are required to substantiate observational research and provide evidence to inform and standardize clinical activities.

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Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women. Both traditional and sex-specific risk modifiers occurring from menarche to pregnancy to menopause modulate the risk of hypertension and adverse cardiovascular events. This review provides a narrative summary of risk and treatment of hypertension in women across the lifespan, from adolescence to the post-menopausal period, where each period represents a potential window for risk assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a serious condition affecting women around childbirth, and its impact on right ventricular (RV) function is not well understood.
  • - A study involving 67 women diagnosed with PPCM found that RV systolic dysfunction increases the likelihood of needing mechanical heart support, although it does not affect recovery of left ventricular function or other severe outcomes like death or heart transplant.
  • - The results suggest that assessing RV function can help better predict complications in PPCM patients, potentially guiding treatment decisions.
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Background: Prehospital electrocardiographic ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) diagnosis and prehospital cardiac catheterization laboratory activation have been shown to significantly reduce average treatment delay, and further standardization of such systems may help reduce sex-related treatment and outcome gaps. However, what types of prehospital STEMI activation systems are in place across Canada, and to what extent sex-based STEMI treatment disparities are tracked, is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a national survey of catheterization laboratory directors between October 11 and December 25, 2021.

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Up to 65% of women and approximately 30% of men have ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD; commonly known as INOCA) on invasive coronary angiography performed for stable angina. INOCA can be due to coronary microvascular dysfunction or coronary vasospasm. Despite the absence of obstructive CAD, those with INOCA have an increased risk of all-cause mortality and adverse outcomes, including recurrent angina and cardiovascular events.

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This chapter summarizes the sex- and gender-specific diagnosis and treatment of acute/unstable presentations and nacute/stable presentations of cardiovascular disease in women. Guidelines, scientific statements, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and primary research studies related to diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), valvular heart disease, and heart failure in women were reviewed. The evidence is summarized as a narrative, and when available, sex- and gender-specific practice and research recommendations are provided.

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This Atlas chapter summarizes sex- and some gender-associated, and unique aspects and manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. CVD is the primary cause of premature death in women in Canada and numerous sex-specific differences related to symptoms and pathophysiology exist. A review of the literature was done to identify sex-specific differences in symptoms, pathophysiology, and unique manifestations of CVD in women.

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Article Synopsis
  • Women face distinct sex- and gender-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that change throughout their lives, including conditions like pregnancy complications and menopause.
  • Autoimmune disorders are more common in women and contribute to their increased risk of CVD, while traditional risk factors like obesity and hypertension affect women more severely than men.
  • The chapter aims to identify these unique risk factors and improve understanding and treatment strategies for CVD in women.
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Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); however, pathophysiology is not well described.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that CMD in women with suspected ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is associated with cardiomyocyte dysfunction reflected by plasma levels of a cardiomyocyte calcium handling protein, cardiac bridge integrator 1 (cBIN1).

Methods: Women with suspected INOCA undergoing coronary function testing were included.

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Background: Women and the elderly with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) experience longer treatment delays despite prehospital STEMI diagnosis and catheterization laboratory activation systems. It is not known what role specific STEMI referral systems might play in mediating this gap in care. We therefore examined sex- and age-based differences in STEMI treatment delay (TD) in different STEMI activation systems.

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Background: ST-elevation myocardial infarction diagnosis at first medical contact (FMC) and prehospital cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activation are associated with reduced total ischemic time and therefore have become the dominant ST-elevation myocardial infarction referral method in primary percutaneous coronary intervention systems. We sought to determine whether physician oversight was associated with improved diagnostic performance in a prehospital CCL activation system and what effect the additional interpretation has on treatment delay.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2015, all patients in 2 greater Montreal catchment areas with a chief symptom of chest paint or dyspnea had an in-the-field electrocardiogram (ECG).

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Background: This Atlas chapter summarizes the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women in Canada, discusses sex and gender disparities, and examines the intersectionality between sex and other factors that play a prominent role in CVD outcomes in women, including gender, indigenous identity, ethnic variation, disability, and socioeconomic status.

Methods: CVD is the leading cause of premature death in Canadian women. Coronary artery disease, including myocardial infarction, and followed by stroke, accounts for the majority of CVD-related deaths in Canadian women.

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Aims: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) predict future cardiovascular events. We aim to investigate relations between HDP history and subsequent hypertension (HTN), myocardial structure and function, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) scar.

Methods And Results: We evaluated a prospective cohort of women with suspected ischaemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) who underwent stress/rest cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) with LGE in the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation-Coronary Vascular Dysfunction study.

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Women with evidence of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA), a condition associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, are becoming increasingly recognized. Underlying mechanisms of MINOCA, such as coronary microvascular spasm, represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to clinicians as there is currently neither a uniform nor comprehensive diagnostic strategy for accurate risk stratification for these patients. Diagnostic tests such as invasive coronary reactivity testing (CRT) can be useful in the diagnosis of MINOCA.

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Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Coronary microvascular dysfunction is observed in women of childbearing age, however, the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) is unknown.

Case Summary: Women previously enrolled in a single centre prospective CMD registry diagnosed using invasive coronary reactivity testing were included.

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