Routine Stress Testing After PCI in Patients With and Without Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Secondary Analysis of the POST-PCI Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The appropriate follow-up surveillance strategy for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unknown.

Objective: To assess clinical outcomes in patients with and without ACS who have undergone high-risk PCI according to a follow-up strategy of routine stress testing at 12 months after PCI vs standard care alone.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The POST-PCI (Pragmatic Trial Comparing Symptom-Oriented vs Routine Stress Testing in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) trial was a randomized clinical trial that compared follow-up strategies of routine functional testing vs standard care alone 12 months after high-risk PCI.

Surveillance Stress Testing After Percutaneous Intervention for Patients With Multivessel or Left Main Coronary Disease.

Background: The optimal surveillance strategy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for high-risk patients with multivessel or left main coronary artery disease (CAD) remains uncertain.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prognostic role of routine functional testing in patients with multivessel or left main CAD who underwent PCI.

Methods: The POST-PCI (Pragmatic Trial Comparing Symptom-Oriented Versus Routine Stress Testing in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) trial randomized high-risk PCI patients to routine functional testing at 1 year or standard care alone during follow-up.

Routine stress testing in diabetic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: the POST-PCI trial.

Background And Aims: The optimal follow-up surveillance strategy for high-risk diabetic patients with had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unknown.

Methods: The POST-PCI (Pragmatic Trial Comparing Symptom-Oriented versus Routine Stress Testing in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) study was a randomized trial comparing a follow-up strategy of routine functional testing at 1 year vs. standard care alone after high-risk PCI.

Randomized, multicenter, parallel, open, phase 4 study to compare the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin/amlodipine polypill versus atorvastatin/amlodipine polypill in hypertension patient with dyslipidemia.

The authors performed this study to investigate the efficacy and safety of a rosuvastatin (RSV)/amlodipine (AML) polypill compared with those of atorvastatin (ATV)/AML polypill. We included 259 patients from 21 institutions in Korea. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: RSV 10 mg/AML 5 mg, RSV 20 mg/AML 5 mg, or ATV 20 mg /AML 5 mg.

Clinical Impact of Lesion Complexity on 2-Year Outcomes After Zotarolimus-Eluting Stents Implantation.

Background: The clinical efficacy and safety of second-generation drug-eluting stents in complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are not well established.

Objectives: The clinical influence of the lesion complexity after PCI with zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) was evaluated.

Methods: From a prospective multicenter observational study, a total of 926 patients that underwent successful PCIs with ZES were included.

Routine Functional Testing or Standard Care in High-Risk Patients after PCI.

Background: There are limited data from randomized trials to guide a specific follow-up surveillance approach after myocardial revascularization. Whether a follow-up strategy that includes routine functional testing improves clinical outcomes among high-risk patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is uncertain.

Methods: We randomly assigned 1706 patients with high-risk anatomical or clinical characteristics who had undergone PCI to a follow-up strategy of routine functional testing (nuclear stress testing, exercise electrocardiography, or stress echocardiography) at 1 year after PCI or to standard care alone.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Atorvastatin 40 mg/ω-3 Fatty Acids 4 g Fixed-dose Combination and Atorvastatin 40 mg Monotherapy in Hypertriglyceridemic Patients who Poorly Respond to Atorvastatin 40 mg Monotherapy: An 8-week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind Phase III Study.

Purpose: Residual cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, despite optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels being achieved with intensive statin treatment, is a global health issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of treatment with a combination of high-dose atorvastatin/Ω-3 fatty acid compared to atorvastatin + placebo in patients with hypertriglyceridemia who did not respond to statin treatment.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients who had residual hypertriglyceridemia after a 4-week run-in period of atorvastatin treatment were randomly assigned to receive UI-018 (fixed-dose combination atorvastatin/Ω-3 fatty acid 40 mg/4 g) or atorvastatin 40 mg + placebo (control).

Comparison of apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio, TC/HDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) for predicting outcomes after PCI.

Background And Aims: The Apo B/A1 ratio is a major factor that predicts future cardiovascular outcomes. However, it is unclear whether the apolipoprotein B (Apo B)/apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) is a better predictor of future outcome than the total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio or lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate the impact of the Apo B/A1 ratio on the patients who achieved LDL-C below 70 mg/dL one year after PCI.

Transition of May Measurement Month to an online hypertension awareness campaign in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims: May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign to enhance hypertension awareness by intensive blood pressure measuring campaign during a month period of May. May Measurement Month 2020 was not officially executed globally, especially in light of COVID-19 pandemic. But in Korea, the MMM committee decided to carry on with self-initiated project to succeed MMM started in 2019 in Korea.

Differential cutoff points and clinical impact of stent parameters of various drug-eluting stents for predicting major adverse clinical events: An individual patient data pooled analysis of seven stent-specific registries and 17,068 patients.

Background: Stent parameters (length and diameter) are well-known risk factors for adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting. This study aimed to investigate the differential cutoff criteria and clinical impact of the length and diameter of various drug-eluting stents (DES) for predicting major cardiovascular events.

Methods: Using patient-level data from seven stent-specific, prospective DES registries, we evaluated 17,068 patients who underwent PCI with either various contemporary DES or first-generation DES between July 2007 and July 2015: 3053 treated with cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EES), 2976 with platinum-chromium EES (PtCr-EES), 2888 with Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (Re-ZES), 782 with Biomatrix biolimus-eluting stents (Bi-BES), 1868 with Nobori BES (No-BES), 1934 with Xience Prime cobalt-chromium EES (Pr-CoCr-EES), and 3567 with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES).

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: comparison of patient characteristics and clinical outcomes within Asia and between Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Aims: Nearly 60% of the world's population lives in Asia but little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of Asian patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) compared to other areas of the world.

Methods And Results: We pooled two, large, global trials, with similar design, in 13 174 patients with HFrEF (patient distribution: China 833, India 1390, Japan 209, Korea 223, Philippines 223, Taiwan 199 and Thailand 95, Western Europe 3521, Eastern Europe 4758, North America 613, and Latin America 1110). Asian patients were younger (55.

Impact of different antihypertensives on carotid arterial wall thickness.

Hypertension has been associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima media thickness is increased in hypertensive patients. But, the correlation between carotid intima media thickness and antihypertensive agents is still uncertain.

Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Korean Expert Panel Report.

Bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BRS) is an innovative device that provides structural support and drug release to prevent early recoil or restenosis, and then degrades into nontoxic compounds to avoid late complications related with metallic drug-eluting stents (DESs). BRS has several putative advantages. However, recent randomized trials and registry studies raised clinical concerns about the safety and efficacy of first generation BRS.

A coronary artery fistula having connection between 2 coronary arteries and the left ventricle: A case report.

Rationale: Cases of coronary artery fistula having a connection with the cardiac cavity are rare. Here, we report a case in which 2 coronary arteries empty into the left ventricular cavity together.

Patient Concerns: A 63-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having hypertension 20 years prior presented with dyspnea.

Comparison of Fixed-dose Combinations of Amlodipine/Losartan Potassium/Chlorthalidone and Amlodipine/Losartan Potassium in Patients With Stage 2 Hypertension Inadequately Controlled With Amlodipine/Losartan Potassium: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Phase III Study.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of fixed-dose combinations of amlodipine/losartan potassium/chlorthalidone (A/L/C) and A/L in Korean patients with stage 2 hypertension inadequately controlled by A/L.

Methods: This study was an 8-week, randomized double-blind, multicenter, phase III clinical trial. Three hundred forty volunteer patients with stage 2 hypertension were randomized to receive A/L/C or A/L.

Evaluation of the impact of statin therapy on the obesity paradox in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A propensity score matching analysis from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

The phenomenon of obesity paradox after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been reported under strong recommendation of statin therapy. However, the impact of statin therapy on this paradox has not been investigated. This study investigated the impact of statin therapy on 1-year mortality according to obesity after AMI.

Epicardial Fat Thickness is Correlated with Vagal Hyperactivity in Patients with Neurally-Mediated Syncope.

Background: Epicardial fat tissue has unique endocrine and paracrine functions that affect the cardiac autonomic system. The head-up tilt test (HUTT) is a simple non-invasive measurement that assesses autonomic nervous system dysfunction. We investigated the association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and autonomic neural tone, such as vagal tone.

Efficacy and safety of pitavastatins in patients with acute myocardial infarction: Livalo in Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (LAMIS) II.

Background/aims: We evaluated the efficacy and safety and influence on glucose tolerance by different doses of pitavastatins in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Methods: Consecutive 1,101 AMI patients who were enrolled in Livalo in Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (LAMIS)-II were randomly assigned to receive either 2 mg of pitavastatin or 4 mg of pitavastatin orally per day. Primary efficacy endpoint was composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, target-lesion revascularization, and hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure or arrhythmic events at 12-month.

Impact of low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level on 2-year clinical outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: It is still unclear whether low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) affects cardiovascular outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), especially in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A total of 984 AMI patients with diabetes mellitus from the DIabetic Acute Myocardial InfarctiON Disease (DIAMOND) Korean multicenter registry were divided into two groups based on HDL-C level on admission: normal HDL-C group (HDL-C ≥ 40 mg/dL, n = 519) and low HDL-C group (HDL-C < 40 mg/dL, n = 465). The primary endpoint was 2-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR).

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol-lowering Efficacy of a Fixed-dose Combination With Irbesartan and Atorvastatin in Patients With Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Factorial, Multicenter Phase III Study.

Purpose: A fixed-dose combination of a stain and an antihypertensive drug may be useful for the treatment of patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. It may also improve patient drug compliance to help control risk factors of cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to evaluate the blood pressure-lowering and cholesterol-lowering effect of a fixed-dose combination of irbesartan-atorvastatin compared with monotherapy by either agent over an 8-week treatment period.

The changes of individual carotid artery wall layer by aging and carotid intima-media thickness value for high risk.

Aim: It is still unclear which layer (intima or media) is mainly involved in increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) by aging and also unclear regarding CIMT value suggesting high cardiovascular risk, although 75th percentile value of CIMT is known as a high risk in asymptomatic adults. We sought to find the changes of carotid intima thickness (CIT) and carotid media thickness (CMT) by aging and the 75th percentile value of CIMT in asymptomatic Korean adults.

Method: This is an observational cohort study.

Geographic variations in the PARADIGM-HF heart failure trial.

Aims: The globalization of clinical trials has highlighted geographic variations in patient characteristics, event rates, and treatment effects. We investigated these further in PARADIGM-HF, the largest and most globally representative trial in heart failure (HF) to date.

Methods And Results: We looked at five regions: North America (NA) 602 (8%), Western Europe (WE) 1680 (20%), Central/Eastern Europe/Russia (CEER) 2762 (33%), Latin America (LA) 1433 (17%), and Asia-Pacific (AP) 1487 (18%).

Comparison of 2-year clinical outcomes between diabetic versus nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction after 1-month stabilization: Analysis of the prospective registry of DIAMOND (DIabetic acute myocardial infarctiON Disease) in Korea: an observational registry study.

This study assessed the 2-year clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a cohort of the DIAMOND (DIabetic Acute Myocardial infarctiON Disease) registry. Clinical outcomes were compared between 1088 diabetic AMI patients in the DIAMOND registry after stabilization of MI and 1088 nondiabetic AMI patients from the KORMI (Korean AMI) registry after 1 : 1 propensity score matching using traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Stabilized patients were defined as patients who did not have any clinical events within 1 month after AMI.

Comparison of 2-year mortality according to obesity in stabilized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after acute myocardial infarction: results from the DIAMOND prospective cohort registry.

Background: After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the replicated phenomenon of obesity paradox, i.e., obesity appearing to be associated with increased survival, has not been evaluated in stabilized (i.