Angina frequency after myocardial infarction and quality of life in older versus younger adults: the Prospective Registry Evaluating Myocardial Infarction: Event and Recovery study.

Background: Residual angina is known to be strongly associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease. As the age of myocardial infarction (MI) survivors increases, better insights into the relationship between angina frequency and HRQL in older as compared to younger patients are needed to efficiently target medical resources.

Methods: We evaluated angina frequency and HRQL at 1 and 6 months after MI in 1,795 post-MI survivors using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ).

Clinical referral patterns for carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy: results from the Carotid Artery Revascularization and Endarterectomy Registry.

Background: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are alternative strategies for stroke prevention in patients with atherosclerotic carotid disease. Although randomized clinical trials are the gold standard for assessing the relative benefits of different treatments, observational research is necessary for determining "real-world" effectiveness. Current recommendations limit the application of CAS to high-risk patients, undermining the ability to "balance" the characteristics of patients treated with either approach.

Diagnostic and clinical benefit of combined coronary calcium and perfusion assessment in patients undergoing PET/CT myocardial perfusion stress imaging.

Background: A limitation of stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is the inability to detect non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). One advantage of MPI with a hybrid CT device is the ability to obtain same-setting measurement of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).

Methods And Results: Utilizing our single-center nuclear database, we identified 760 consecutive patients with: (1) no CAD history; (2) a normal clinically indicated Rb-82 PET/CT stress perfusion study; and (3) a same-setting CAC scan.