| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Bang, Casper N., et al.
(author)
-
Effect of lipid lowering on new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis : The Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study
- 2012
-
In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 163:4, s. 690-696
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Lipid-lowering drugs, particularly statins, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may prevent atrial fibrillation (AF). This effect has not been investigated on new-onset AF in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Methods Asymptomatic patients with mild-to-moderate AS (n = 1,421) were randomized (1: 1) to double-blind simvastatin 40 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg combination or placebo and followed up for a mean of 4.3 years. The primary end point was the time to new-onset AF adjudicated by 12-lead electrocardiogram at a core laboratory reading center. Secondary outcomes were the correlates of new-onset AF with nonfatal nonhemorrhagic stroke and a combined end point of AS-related events. Results During the course of the study, new-onset AF was detected in 85 (6%) patients (14.2/1,000 person-years of follow-up). At baseline, patients who developed AF were, compared with those remaining in sinus rhythm, older and had a higher left ventricular mass index a smaller aortic valve area index. Treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe was not associated with less new-onset AF (odds ratio 0.89 [95% CI 0.57-1.97], P = .717). In contrast, age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07 [95% CI 1.05-1.10], P < .001) and left ventricular mass index (HR 1.01 [95% CI 1.01-1.02], P < .001) were independent predictors of new-onset AF. The occurrence of new-onset AF was independently associated with 2-fold higher risk of AS-related outcomes (HR 1.65 [95% CI 1.02-2.66], P = .04) and 4-fold higher risk of nonfatal nonhemorrhagic stroke (HR 4.04 [95% CI 1.18-13.82], P = .03). Conclusions Simvastatin and ezetimibe were not associated with less new-onset AF. Older age and greater left ventricular mass index were independent predictors of AF development. New-onset AF was associated with a worsening of prognosis. (Am Heart J 2012;163:690-6.)
|
|
| 4. |
- Bang, Casper N., et al.
(author)
-
Renin-angiotensin system inhibition is not associated with increased sudden cardiac death, cardiovascular mortality or all-cause mortality in patients with aortic stenosis
- 2014
-
In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 175:3, s. 492-498
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Renin-angiotensin system inhibition (RASI) is frequently avoided in aortic stenosis (AS) patients because of fear of hypotension. We evaluated if RASI with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) increased mortality in patients with mild to moderate AS. Methods: All patients (n = 1873) from the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis study: asymptomatic patients with AS and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction were included. Risks of sudden cardiac death (SCD), cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality according to RASI treatment were analyzed by multivariable time-varying Cox models and propensity score matched analyses. Results: 769 (41%) patients received RASI. During a median follow-up of 4.3 +/- 0.9 years, 678 patients were categorized as having severe AS, 545 underwent aortic valve replacement, 40 SCDs, 103 cardiovascular and 205 all-cause deaths occurred. RASI was not associated with SCD (HR: 1.19 [95% CI: 0.50-2.83], p = 0.694), cardiovascular (HR: 1.05 [95% CI: 0.62-1.77], p = 0.854) or all-cause mortality (HR: 0.81 [95% CI: 0.55-1.20], p = 0.281). This was confirmed in propensity matched analysis (all p > 0.05). In separate analyses, RASI was associated with larger reduction in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001) and less progression of LV mass (p = 0.040). Conclusions: RASI was not associated with SCD, cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in asymptomatic AS patients. However, RASI was associated with a potentially beneficial decrease in blood pressure and reduced LV mass progression. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 5. |
- Greve, Anders M., et al.
(author)
-
Prognostic importance of atrial fibrillation in asymptomatic aortic stenosis: The Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis study
- 2013
-
In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 166:1, s. 72-76
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The frequency and prognostic importance of atrial fibrillation (AF) in asymptomatic mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis (AS) has not been well described. Methods: Clinical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography were obtained in asymptomatic patients with mild-to-moderate AS and preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function, randomized to simvastatin/ezetimibe combination vs. placebo in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study. At inclusion, AF was categorized as episodic or longstanding. Rhythm change was assessed on annual in-study electrocardiograms. Impact of AF on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was determined by adjusting for biomarkers, clinical- and echocardiographic covariates. Results: Mean follow-up was 4.3 +/- 0.8 years (6,721 patient-years of follow-up). At baseline, episodic AF was present in 87 patients (5.6%), longstanding AF in 55 (3.5%) and no AF in 1,421 (90.9%). Incidence of new-onset AF was 1.2%/year; highest in those with impaired LV function. In multivariable analysis, longstanding AF was compared to no AF at baseline, associated with a 4.1-fold higher risk of heart failure (CI 1.2 to 13.8, p = 0.02) and a 4.8-fold higher risk of non-hemorrhagic stroke (CI 1.7 to 13.6, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Rate of AF is moderate in asymptomatic AS. Longstanding but not episodic AF was, independently predictive of increased risk of heart failure and non-hemorrhagic stroke. New-onset AF was associated with cardiac decompensation. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 6. |
- Greve, Anders M., et al.
(author)
-
Resting heart rate and risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in asymptomatic aortic stenosis : The SEAS study
- 2015
-
In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 180, s. 122-128
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: An elevated resting heart rate (RHR) may be an early sign of cardiac failure, but its prognostic value during watchful waiting in asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) is largely unknown. Methods: RHR was determined by annual ECGs in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study of asymptomatic mild-to-moderate AS patients. Primary endpoint in this substudy was major cardiovascular events (MCEs) and secondary outcomes its individual components. Multivariable Cox-models using serially-measured RHR were used to examine the prognostic impact of RHR per se. Results: 1563 patients were followed for a mean of 4.3 years (6751 patient-years of follow-up), 553 (35%) MCEs occurred, 10% (n = 151) died, including 75 cardiovascular deaths. In multivariable analysis, baseline RHR was independently associated with MCEs (HR 1.1 per 10 min(-1) faster, 95% CI: 1.0-1.3) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.3 per 10 min(-1) faster, 95% CI: 1.0-1.7, both p <= 0.03). Updating RHR with annual in-study reexaminations, time-varying RHR was highly associated with excess MCEs (HR 1.1 per 10 min(-1) faster, 95% CI: 1.1-1.3) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.4 per 10 min(-1) faster, 95% CI: 1.2-1.7, both p <= 0.006). The association of RHR with MCEs and cardiovascular mortality was not dependent on atrial fibrillation status (both p >= 0.06 for interaction). Conclusions: RHR is independently associated with MCEs and cardiovascular death in asymptomatic AS (Clinicaltrials.gov; unique identifier NCT00092677).
|
|
| 7. |
- Greve, Anders M., et al.
(author)
-
Usefulness of the electrocardiogram in predicting cardiovascular mortality in asymptomatic adults with aortic stenosis (from the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis study)
- 2014
-
In: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 114:5, s. 751-756
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hypertension and coronary heart disease are common in aortic stenosis (AS) and may impair prognosis for similar AS severity. Different changes in the electrocardiogram may be reflective of the separate impacts of AS, hypertension, and coronary heart disease, which could lead to enhanced risk stratification in AS. The aim of this study was therefore to examine if combining prognostically relevant electrocardiographic (ECG) findings improves prediction of cardiovascular mortality in asymptomatic AS. All patients with baseline electrocardiograms in the SEAS study were included. The primary end point was cardiovascular death. Backward elimination (p > 0.01) identified heart rate, Q waves, and Cornell voltage-duration product as independently associated with cardiovascular death. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression models were used to evaluate if these 3 ECG variables improved prediction of cardiovascular death. In 1,473 patients followed for a mean of 4.3 years (6,362 patient-years of follow-up), 70 cardiovascular deaths (5%) occurred. In multivariate analysis, heart rate (hazard ratio [FIR] 1.5 per 11.2 minute(-1) [1 SD], 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 1.8), sum of Q-wave amplitude (HR 1.3 per 2.0 nun [1 SD], 95% CI 1.1 to 1.6), and Cornell voltage-duration product (FIR 1.4 per 763 mm x ms [1 SD], 95% CI 1.2 to 1.7) remained independently associated with cardiovascular death. Combining the prognostic information contained in each of the 3 ECG variables improved integrated discrimination for prediction of cardiovascular death by 2.5%, net reclassification by 14.3%, and area under the curve by 0.06 (all p <= 0.04) beyond other important risk factors. ECG findings add incremental predictive information for cardiovascular mortality in asymptomatic patients with AS.
|
|
| 8. |
- Nielsen, Olav W., et al.
(author)
-
Assessing Optimal Blood Pressure in Patients With Asymptomatic Aortic Valve Stenosis The Simvastatin Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis Study (SEAS)
- 2016
-
In: Circulation. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 134:6, s. 455-468
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Evidence for treating hypertension in patients with asymptomatic aortic valve stenosis is scarce. We used data from the SEAS trial (Simvastatin Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) to assess what blood pressure (BP) would be optimal. METHODS: A total of 1767 patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis and no manifest atherosclerotic disease were analyzed. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and aortic valve replacement. BP was analyzed in Cox models as the cumulative average of serially measured BP and a time-varying covariate. RESULTS: The incidence of all-cause mortality was highest for average follow-up systolic BP >= 160 mm Hg (4.3 per 100 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-6.0) and lowest for average systolic BP of 120 to 139 mm Hg (2.0 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 1.6-2.6). In multivariable analysis, all-cause mortality was associated with average systolic BP < 120 mm Hg (hazard ratio [HR], 3.4; 95% CI, 1.9-6.1), diastolic BP >= 90 mm Hg (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9), and pulse pressure < 50 mm Hg (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9), with systolic BP of 120 to 139 mm Hg, diastolic BP of 70 to 79 mm Hg, and pulse pressure of 60 to 69 mm Hg taken as reference. Low systolic and diastolic BPs increased risk in patients with moderate aortic stenosis. With a time-varying systolic BP from 130 to 139 mm Hg used as reference, mortality was increased for systolic BP >= 160 mm Hg (HR, 1.7; P=0.033) and BP of 120 to 129 mm Hg (HR, 1.6; P= 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Optimal BP seems to be systolic BP of 130 to 139 mm Hg and diastolic BP of 70 to 90 mm Hg in these patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis and no manifest atherosclerotic disease or diabetes mellitus.
|
|
