The Role of Index of Microcirculatory Resistance in Left Anterior Descending Artery ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

: Our aim was to assess the relationship of the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) in left anterior descending (LAD) artery involved STEMI patients. : Data of 316 STEMI patients who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were collected from three cardiovascular centers from 2005 to 2015. In total, 246 patients with LAD STEMI were enrolled for IMR evaluation.

Comparison of Antiplatelet Monotherapies After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention According to Clinical, Ischemic, and Bleeding Risks.

Background: Clopidogrel was superior to aspirin monotherapy in secondary prevention after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of clopidogrel across high-risk subgroups METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the HOST-EXAM (Harmonizing Optimal Strategy for Treatment of coronary artery diseases-EXtended Antiplatelet Monotherapy) trial that randomly assigned patients who were event free for 6 to 18 months post-PCI on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to clopidogrel or aspirin monotherapy. Two clinical risk scores were used for risk stratification: the DAPT score and the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Secondary Prevention (TRS 2°P) (the sum of age ≥75 years, diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, peripheral artery disease, stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting, heart failure, and renal dysfunction).

A prospective double-blinded randomized study on drug-eluting stent implantation into nitrate-induced maximally dilated vessels in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been developed using drug-eluting stents (DES); however, stent implantation is associated with concerns of stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularization (TVR). The stent diameter is a critical factor in TVR and clinical events. The nitrate administration in coronary angiography can dilate the reference vessel diameter, enabling accurate vessel size measurement and optimal stent implantation support.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled, Factorial Design, Phase III Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy of Pitavastatin and Ezetimibe Versus Monotherapy of Pitavastatin in Patients With Primary Hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose: Pitavastatin is a unique lipophilic statin with moderate efficacy in lowering LDL-C levels by 30% to 50% with a tolerable safety profile. However, the efficacy of adding ezetimibe to pitavastatin in patients with dyslipidemia has not been well investigated. Therefore, the objective of this double-blind, multicenter, randomized, Phase III study was to compare the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin and ezetimibe combination therapy with those of pitavastatin monotherapy in Korean patients with primary hypercholesterolemia.

Impact of right atrial enlargement on clinical outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) remodeling is associated with adverse cardiovascular events, including heart failure (HF) and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there are limited data on the value of right atrial (RA) remodeling in this population. We investigated the prognostic role of RA enlargement in patients with non-valvular AF.

Impact of treatment adherence on the effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: a retrospective cohort study.

Aims: The impact of adherence to oral anticoagulation has not been reported in terms of absolute risk, which would enhance patients' understanding and treatment adherence.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study analysed data from the National Health Insurance Database of Korea, from January 2010 to December 2018, on 84 227 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The participants were analysed according to their overall adherence to oral anticoagulants (OACs) and further divided into four groups: non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) adherent, vitamin K antagonist (VKA) adherent, NOAC non-adherent, and VKA non-adherent.

Comparisons of Prehospital Delay and Related Factors Between Acute Ischemic Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background Prehospital delay is an important contributor to poor outcomes in both acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to compare the prehospital delay and related factors between AIS and AMI. Methods and Results We identified patients with AIS and AMI who were admitted to the 11 Korean Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers via the emergency room between July 2016 and December 2018.

The Clinical Impact of β-Blocker Therapy on Patients With Chronic Coronary Artery Disease After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background And Objectives: The outcome benefits of β-blockers in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been fully assessed. We evaluated the prognostic impact of β-blockers on patients with chronic CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: A total of 3,075 patients with chronic CAD were included from the Grand Drug-Eluting Stent registry.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Delayed Hospitalization for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Recently, the number of patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has reduced, whereas increased mortality was reported. A plausible explanation for increased mortality was prehospital delay because of patients' reticence of their symptoms.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between prehospital delay and clinical outcomes in patients with NSTEMI METHODS: Among 13,104 patients from the Korea-Acute-Myocardial-Infarction-Registry-National Institutes of Health, the authors evaluated 6,544 patients with NSTEMI.

Correlation of heart rate recovery and heart rate variability with atrial fibrillation progression.

Objective: To examine the combination of heart rate recovery (HRR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) progression.

Methods: Data from patients with a first detected episode of AF who underwent treadmill exercise testing and 24-h Holter electrocardiography were retrospectively analysed. Autonomic dysfunction was verified using HRR values.

The Index of Microcirculatory Resistance after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Predicts Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) is a simple method that can measure microvascular function after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). This study is to find out whether IMR predicts clinical long-term outcomes in STEMI patients. A total of 316 patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI from 2005 to 2015 were enrolled.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio at Emergency Room Predicts Mechanical Complications of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proven to be a reliable inflammatory marker. A recent study reported that elevated NLR is associated with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated whether NLR at emergency room (ER) is associated with mechanical complications of STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Sex-related impact on clinical outcomes of patients treated with drug-eluting stents according to clinical presentation: Patient-level pooled analysis from the GRAND-DES registry.

Background: The contribution of sex and initial clinical presentation to the long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still debated.

Methods: Individual patient data from 5 Korean-multicenter drug-eluting stent (DES) registries (The GRAND-DES) were pooled. A total of 17,286 patients completed 3-year follow-up (5216 women and 12,070 men).

Optimal Dose and Type of β-blockers in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The clinical benefit of β-blockers in modern reperfusion era is not well determined. We investigated the impact of β-blockers in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention. From the Grand-DES registry, a patient-level pooled registry consisting of 5 Korean multicenter prospective drug-eluting stent registries, a total of 6,690 ACS patients were included.

Ivabradine-Induced Torsade de Pointes in Patients with Heart Failure Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Ivabradine is a selective inhibitor of the sinoatrial node "funny" current, prolonging the slow diastolic depolarization. As it has the ability to block the heart rate selectively, it is more effective at a faster heart rate. It is recommended for the treatment of heart failure reduced ejection fraction in the presence of beta-blocker therapy for the further reduction of the heart rate.

Mechanical and Pharmacological Revascularization Strategies for Prevention of Microvascular Dysfunction in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Analysis from Index of Microcirculatory Resistance Registry Data.

Objectives: We aimed to identify mechanical and pharmacological revascularization strategies correlated with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Background: Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) after STEMI is correlated with infarct size and poor long-term prognosis, and the IMR is a useful analytical method for the quantitative assessment of MVD. However, therapeutic strategies that can reliably reduce MVD remain uncertain.

An analysis of vascular properties using pulse wave analysis in patients with vasovagal syncope.

Background: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common cause of recurrent syncope. Nevertheless, the exact hemodynamic mechanism has not been elucidated. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) is widely used to evaluate vascular properties, as it reflects the condition of the entire arterial system.

Effect of Pre-Procedural Beta-Blocker on Clinical Outcome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

The efficacy of pre-procedural beta-blocker use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is not well established in the current percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era. We investigate the effect of pre-procedural beta-blocker use on clinical outcomes in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. Among 44,967 consecutive cases of PCI enrolled in the nationwide, retrospective, multicenter registry (K-PCI registry), 31,040 patients with ACS were selected and analyzed.

Impact of gender on heart failure presentation in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disease that represents a broad spectrum of morphologic features and clinical presentations. However, little is known about the impact of gender differences in heart failure (HF) development in non-obstructive HCM. We assessed clinical and echocardiographic parameters according to gender in patients with non-obstructive HCM and evaluated the impact of gender on HF presentation and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in this population.

Relation of blood pressure variability to left ventricular function and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: Variability of blood pressure (BP) has been reported to be related to worse cardiovascular outcomes. We examined the impact of daytime systolic BP variability on left ventricular (LV) function and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiography were performed in 116 hypertensive patients.

Prognostic Impact of Left Atrial Minimal Volume on Clinical Outcome in Patients with Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Maximal left atrial volume (LAVmax) has been suggested to be an important indicator of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and a prognosticator in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, LAVmax can be influenced by LV longitudinal systolic function, which causes systolic descent of the mitral plane. We investigated the prognostic role of LAVmin in patients with HCM and tested if LAVmin is better than LAVmax in predicting clinical outcome in these patients.

Prognostic Implications of Newly Developed T-Wave Inversion After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

We investigated the prognostic value of newly developed T-wave inversion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. New T-wave inversion was defined as new onset of T-wave inversion after the primary PCI, without negative T waves on the presenting electrocardiogram. The primary end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which consisted of cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and rehospitalization for heart failure.

Relation Between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Index of Microcirculatory Resistance in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proved as a reliable inflammatory marker for the atherosclerotic process and as a predictor for clinical outcomes in patients with various cardiovascular diseases. A recent study reported that elevated NLR is associated with impaired myocardial perfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated whether NLR is associated with coronary microcirculation as assessed by the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in patients with STEMI who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).