| 1. |
- Szymanowski, Aleksander, 1973-
(författare)
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Detection of apoptosis in patients with coronary artery disease : Assessment of temporal patterns and potential sources
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The atherosclerotic process and its consequences are considered driven by an imbalance between pro- and ant-inflammatory actions. One contributing factor in this scenario is an altered regulation of apoptosis, which affects both immune, vascular and myocardial cells. The general aim of this thesis was to measure soluble markers of apoptosis in peripheral venous blood, in various clinical stages of coronary artery disease (CAD) and to further identify possible sources with specific focus on natural killer (NK) cell apoptosis and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-injury.There was evidence of an increased apoptosis of NK cells, but not T cells, in the circulation of CAD patients. Spontaneous NK cell apoptosis and the cells´ sensitivity to oxidative stress in the form of oxidized lipids ex vivo, were increased. Findings were thus suggestive of an enhanced apoptosis contributing to the reduced NK cell activity seen in CAD. However, we could not verify that oxidative stress in the circulation was a driving force behind this loss.Soluble forms of the cell surface bound receptors of apoptosis include soluble (s) Fas and sFas ligand (L). They are detected in plasma and used as surrogate markers of apoptosis. Here we investigated the relationship between these markers and NK cell apoptosis and NK cell levels, in a 12 month longitudinal study on CAD patients. Plasma levels of sFasL correlated with increased susceptibility to NK cell apoptosis ex vivo but also with the levels of NK cells in the circulation after a coronary event. NK cells undergoing apoptosis ex vivo were also found to be a major source of sFasL themselves, indicating potential usefulness of sFasL in monitoring changes in NK cell levels.Apoptosis is suggested to be a key event in IR-injury, resulting in increased infarct size, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, remodeling and heart failure. We investigated soluble markers of apoptosis in relation to these parameters in a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population. In addition to sFas and sFasL, we also measured tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor (R) I and II in this study. Acute phase levels of sTNFRI and sTNFRII, but not sFas or sFasL, correlated to cardiac MR (CMR) measures of infarct size and LV-dysfunction at 4 months after the ischemic event. Also, the soluble markers of apoptosis were correlated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, a mechanistic trigger for cardiomyocyte apoptosis, further strengthening the role of apoptosis in IR-injury.Finally we explored the temporal patterns of soluble markers of apoptosis after an MI and, furthermore, investigated possible differences between patients presenting with a non(N)-STEMI versus STEMI. The sTNFRI/II and the sFas/sFasL pathways of apoptosis showed different temporal changes indicating diverse roles of these two systems. NSTEMI and STEMI patients however, shared these temporal patterns pointing to apoptosis as equally involved in either infarct type. Furthermore sTNFRs, but not sFas/sFasL correlated to levels of cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 illustrating the overlapping role TNF signaling in inflammation and apoptosis, while again suggesting differences between the TNF and the Fas/FasL systems during myocardial IR--‐injury.
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| 2. |
- Alfredsson, Joakim
(författare)
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Management and Outcome in Non ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes : Similarities and Differences Between Women and Men
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Non ST-elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes are the most frequent manifestations of acute ischemic heart disease. Gender differences in treatment intensity, including differences in level of care, have been reported. Also differences in benefit from certain treatments, especially invasive treatment, have been discussed. Finally, difference in outcome between men and women, have been proposed. Results have been inconsistent, partly depending on if and how adjustment for differences in background characteristics has been made. The aims of the studies in this thesis were to assess differences between the genders in baseline characteristics, level of care, medical treatment and non-invasive and invasive cardiac procedures. The aims were also to determine gender differences in short and long-term mortality, including impact of level of care, and to determine differences between the genders in benefit from an invasive strategy, with special reference to benefit in women.Method: We used prospectively collected data from the RIKS-HIA registry in two studies (Paper I and IV). In one study we merged data from patients admitted to general wards in the south-east region of Sweden (The AKUT registry), with data from patients admitted to CCU´s (RIKS-HIA) at participating hospitals during the same time (Paper II). We also randomly assigned women to a routine invasive or a selective invasive treatment strategy, and performed a meta-analysis, to determine gender differences in benefit from a routine invasive strategy (Paper III).Results: Women were older than men and more likely to have a history of diabetes and hypertension, while men were more likely to have a history of myocardial infarction and revascularisation. Women were also more likely to have normal coronary arteries on the angiogram. After adjustment for baseline differences there were only minor, and directionally inconsistent, differences between women and men in pharmacological treatment. Men were more often referred for coronary angiography, even after adjustment. While CABG-rate was lower in women, after adjustment PCI-rate was similar or even higher compared to men. After adjustment for differences in age, longterm outcome was better in women. In our small but randomised trial there was no benefit from a routine invasive strategy in women. A meta-analysis indicated interaction between gender and treatment strategy, with lack of benefit in women, in contrast to in men. However, our large observational study indicated no gender difference with an invasive strategy. Moreover, benefit was similar in women and men with invasive treatment.Conclusion: There are substantial differences between women and men in baseline characteristics that affect management and outcome more than gender per se. After adjustment women have better long-term outcome than men. There appear to be a difference in benefit from a routine invasive strategy between the genders, with less benefit in women, but in routine clinical management there was no difference between women and men managed with an invasive strategy.
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| 3. |
- Sederholm Lawesson, Sofia
(författare)
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Management and Outcome in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction from a Gender Perspective
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this thesis was to evaluate baseline characteristics, management and outcome in real life ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] cohorts from a gender perspective. We aimed to evaluate the total STEMI population as well as certain subgroups, such as the youngest. Moreover we aimed to analyse gender differences in renal function, and the prognostic impact of reduced renal function in men and women with STEMI.In Paper I all STEMI patients registered in RIKS-HIA between 1st Jan 1995 and 31st Dec 2006 were included, in total 54 146 patients, 35% women. Women were 7 years older than men, with 30 min longer median symptomto-door time. They had higher prevalence of co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and heart failure whereas men were more often smokers, had a previous myocardial infarction [MI] or were previously revascularised. During hospital care, fewer women than men, 63% vs. 72%, p<0.001, received acute reperfusion therapy, odds ratio [OR] 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79 – 0.88) after multivariable adjustment. Inhospital mortality was 13% vs. 7%, women vs. men, p<0.001. After multivariable adjustments women had 22% higher risk of in-hospital death, OR 1.22 (95% CI 1.11 – 1.33). Adding reperfusion therapy to the adjustment model did not change the odds of death, OR 1.21 (1.11 – 1.32). Stratifying the cohort into four age-groups revealed increased mortality with increasing age as well as higher mortality in women than in men in all groups. The multivariable adjusted risk in women relative to men was highest amongst the youngest, OR 1.45 (95% CI 0.98 – 2.14). The long term prognosis was assessed in women vs. men with Cox proportional regression analyses, follow-up time 1 to 13 years. Women had 8% lower risk of long term mortality after multivariable adjustments, and after age-stratifying, women had better long term survival in all age-groups, except the youngest.Previous studies based on mixed MI cohorts had found a gender-age interaction with higher risk of death women relative to men in the youngest group. In Paper II we included all STEMI patients <46 years old registered in RIKS-HIA between 1st Jan 1995 and 31st Dec 2006, 1748 men and 384 women. Cardiovascular risk factors were common, and women had more often clustering of risk factors compared to men. The most prevalent risk factor was smoking, 64% of the women compared to 58% of the men were current smokers. There was no gender difference in delay times or in rate of reperfusion. Almost 60% of both women and men underwent coronary angiography within one week. There was no gender difference in prevalence of non-obstructive disease, (p=0.64), but men had had multi-vessel/left main disease much more often than women (33.6% vs. 19.2%; p<0.001). In-hospital mortality was low, 3% in women vs. 1% in men, crude OR women vs. men 2.83 (95% CI 1.32 – 6.03). Female gender appeared as an independent predictor in the multivariable model of in-hospital mortality, OR 2.85 (95% CI 1.31– 6.19). When the cohort was followed up to 10 years (mean 5.4 years) the risk of mortality was not higher in women (hazard ratio [HR] 0.93, 95% CI 0.60 – 1.45; p=0.75), and men had significantly higher risk of a second new MI during the following 10 years, HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.25 – 2.65; p=0.002).In the beginning of the 21st century there was a shift in reperfusion strategy with a decline in use of fibrinolytic therapy and an increase in use of primary PCI. We hypothesised that the gender differences noticed during the fibrinolytic era with lower chance of receiving reperfusion therapy and higher risk of early mortality in women, would have diminished during the new primary PCI era, as this is a better reperfusion strategy, especially for women. In Paper III we included STEMI patients from two time periods with different dominating reperfusion strategies in order to compare management and outcome between genders in both periods. Patients in the early period (n=15 697, 35% women) were registered in RIKS-HIA between 1st Jan 1998 and 31st Dec 2000 and those in the late period (n=14 380, 35% women) between 1st Jan 2004 and 31st Dec 2006. Among patients treated with reperfusion therapy 9% in the early compared to 68% in the late period were treated with primary PCI. The use of reperfusion therapy increased between the two periods, in men from 70.9% to 75.3%, in women from 63.1% to 63.6%. After multivariable adjustment, women were 14% and 20% less likely than men to receive reperfusion therapy, early and late periods, respectively. Heart failure, cardiogenic chock and major bleedings were more common in women compared to men. Evidence-based secondary preventive therapies were prescribed more often in the late compared to the early period in both genders, but more seldom to women in both periods. After multivariable adjustments women still had less chance of receiving ACE-inhibitors/ARBs but higher chance of receiving statins in the early period. In the late period women had 14 – 25% less chance of receiving any of the evidence-based secondary preventive therapies.In Paper IV all consecutive patients who fulfilled the criteria for ST-elevation or bundle branch block on admission ECG and who were planned to undergo immediate coronary angiography with the intention to perform primary PCI at the Department of Cardiology in Linköping were included, 98 women and 176 men. Estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] according to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study [MDRD] was calculated for all patients and they were staged into CKD stages 1-5. Estimated GFR was lower in women than in men, mean eGFR 54 vs. 68 mL/min/1.73m2, p<0.001. Ten men but no woman were classified belonging to the best CKD stage 1(eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73m2). In total 67% of women compared to 27% of men were classified as having renal insufficiency [RI] (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2) and female sex was a strong independent factor associated with RI, OR 5.06 (95% CI 2.66 – 9.59). Reduced eGFR per 10 mL/min decline was independently associated to higher risk of death and MACE (death, new MI or stroke) within one year in women whereas we found no such associations in men. There was a borderline significant interaction between gender and eGFR regarding one year mortality (p=0.08) but not regarding MACE (p=0.11).As we found a remarkable gender difference in RI prevalence in Paper IV, we analysed an updated SWEDEHEART database including the years since S-creatinine became a mandatory variable to register. In Paper V all STEMI patients registered between 1st of Jan 2003 and 31st of Dec 2009 were included, in total 37 991 patients (36% women). RI was present in 38% in women vs. 19% in men according to MDRD and in 50% of men vs. 22% of men according to Cockcroft Gault [CG] (p<0.001 for both comparisons). Female gender was independently associated with RI regardless of used formula. In both genders, RI patients were older, had higher co-morbidity, suffered from more complications and had lower chance of receiving reperfusion therapy and evidence-based therapy at discharge compared to non RI patients. Among both RI and non RI patients, men had significantly higher chance than women of getting these therapies. In-hospital mortality was four to five times higher in RI vs. non RI patients. RI compared to non RI patients had approximately doubled risk of inhospital mortality in women and 2.5 times higher risk in men after multivariable adjustment. Regardless of used formula, the risk of dying at hospital increased with approximately 30% and the risk of long term mortality with approximately 10% in both genders per 10 mL/min decline of eGFR. There was no significant interaction between gender and eGFR regarding short- or long term outcome according to any of the formulas. Women had twice as high in-hospital and also higher cumulative long term mortality than men. After multivariable adjustments including all confounders except kidney function women had 7% lower risk of long term mortality but still 11% higher risk of in-hospital mortality. If eGFR according to any of the formulas was also included, there was no longer a gender difference regarding in-hospital mortality and women had lower risk of long term mortality. This was also the case if only adjusting for eGFR according to CG.Conclusion: In the real life STEMI setting, women were older with higher co-morbidity, longer delay, more complications and twice as high in-hospital mortality. They had significantly less chance of receiving acute reperfusion therapy, also after adjusting for possible confounders. During the fibrinolytic era women had higher risk of severe bleedings. We hypothesised that the gap in management would have decreased during the new primary PCI era, with a less time-dependent regime with less risk of fatal complications. Our hypothesis failed, and future studies ought to further scrutinise this gender difference in management. The less chance of reperfusion therapy did anyhow not explain the higher in-hospital mortality in women, which was 10-20% higher after multivariable adjustments, consistent with previous findings. Moderate to severe chronic kidney disease was very common in women with STEMI, 50% according to the Cockcroft Gault formula. Estimated GFR has seldom been taken into account in studies evaluating gender differences in outcome. If adjustment for eGFR was done, alone or added to the all other co-variates, women had no longer higher risk of in-hospital mortality. Adjusted long term outcome was better in women than in men, which was also the case in the youngest cohort when studied separately.
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| 4. |
- Bergström, Göran, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of Subclinical Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis in the General Population
- 2021
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Ingår i: Circulation. - Philadelphia : American Heart Association. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 144:12, s. 916-929
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Early detection of coronary atherosclerosis using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), in addition to coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring, may help inform prevention strategies. We used CCTA to determine the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis and its association with CAC scores in a general population.Methods: We recruited 30 154 randomly invited individuals age 50 to 64 years to SCAPIS (the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study). The study includes individuals without known coronary heart disease (ie, no previous myocardial infarctions or cardiac procedures) and with high-quality results from CCTA and CAC imaging performed using dedicated dual-source CT scanners. Noncontrast images were scored for CAC. CCTA images were visually read and scored for coronary atherosclerosis per segment (defined as no atherosclerosis, 1% to 49% stenosis, or ≥50% stenosis). External validity of prevalence estimates was evaluated using inverse probability for participation weighting and Swedish register data.Results: In total, 25 182 individuals without known coronary heart disease were included (50.6% women). Any CCTA-detected atherosclerosis was found in 42.1%; any significant stenosis (≥50%) in 5.2%; left main, proximal left anterior descending artery, or 3-vessel disease in 1.9%; and any noncalcified plaques in 8.3% of this population. Onset of atherosclerosis was delayed on average by 10 years in women. Atherosclerosis was more prevalent in older individuals and predominantly found in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Prevalence of CCTA-detected atherosclerosis increased with increasing CAC scores. Among those with a CAC score >400, all had atherosclerosis and 45.7% had significant stenosis. In those with 0 CAC, 5.5% had atherosclerosis and 0.4% had significant stenosis. In participants with 0 CAC and intermediate 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease according to the pooled cohort equation, 9.2% had CCTA-verified atherosclerosis. Prevalence estimates had excellent external validity and changed marginally when adjusted to the age-matched Swedish background population.Conclusions: Using CCTA in a large, random sample of the general population without established disease, we showed that silent coronary atherosclerosis is common in this population. High CAC scores convey a significant probability of substantial stenosis, and 0 CAC does not exclude atherosclerosis, particularly in those at higher baseline risk.
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| 5. |
- Engström, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Pulmonary function and atherosclerosis in the general population : causal associations and clinical implications
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Nature. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 39:1, s. 35-49
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reduced lung function is associated with cardiovascular mortality, but the relationships with atherosclerosis are unclear. The population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage study measured lung function, emphysema, coronary CT angiography, coronary calcium, carotid plaques and ankle-brachial index in 29,593 men and women aged 50–64 years. The results were confirmed using 2-sample Mendelian randomization. Lower lung function and emphysema were associated with more atherosclerosis, but these relationships were attenuated after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Lung function was not associated with coronary atherosclerosis in 14,524 never-smokers. No potentially causal effect of lung function on atherosclerosis, or vice versa, was found in the 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. Here we show that reduced lung function and atherosclerosis are correlated in the population, but probably not causally related. Assessing lung function in addition to conventional cardiovascular risk factors to gauge risk of subclinical atherosclerosis is probably not meaningful, but low lung function found by chance should alert for atherosclerosis.
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| 6. |
- Holm, Anna, 1973-
(författare)
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Acute coronary syndrome : bleeding, platelets and gender
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- BACKGROUNDBleeding complications increase mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Potential gender difference in bleeding regarding prevalence, location, severity and prognostic impact is still controversial and not well investigated. In regard to this aspect the relevance of triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) is questioned. There is an ongoing debate on the clinical implications of TAT and furthermore assumed that bleeding complications, except impact on outcome, also are associated with great influence on health economy.The main focus of this thesis was to further investigate the incidence and impact of bleeding complications in patients treated for ACS, with special reference to gender disparities, TAT and health economics. The thesis will highlight the importance of improved bleeding prevention strategies for both men and women.METHODPaper I, II and IIIObservational studies from the SWEDEHEART register.In paper I we investigated patients hospitalised with myocardial infarction (MI) during 2006–2008. Outcomes were in-hospital bleedings, in-hospital mortality and one-year mortality in hospital survivors.In paper II, all patients with MI, in the County of Östergötland, Sweden during 2010 were included and followed for one year. The patients' medical records were evaluated, in relation to short and long-term bleeding complications, bleeding location, withdrawal of platelet inhibiting drugs and nonfatal MI and death.Paper III included all patients discharged with (TAT) in the County of Östergötland 2009-2015. Information about bleeds and ischemic complications during one-year follow-up were retrieved from the medical records. Estimation of the health care costs associated with bleeding episodes were added to the evaluation.Paper IVPatients with MI, scheduled for coronary angiography were recruited. All patients received clopidogrel and aspirin. A subgroup of patients received GP IIb/IIIa-inhibitor. Outcomes were platelet aggregation assessed at several time points, using a Multiplate impedance aggregometer, measurement of P-selectin in plasma, evaluation of high residual platelet reactivity (HRPR) and low residual platelet reactivity (LRPR) respectively and incidence of bleeding complications. A comparison between women and men was performed.RESULTSPaper IA total number of 50.399 patients were included, 36.6% women. In-hospital bleedings were more common in women (1.9% vs. 3.1%, p<0.001) even after multivariable adjustment (OR 1.17, 95%, CI 1.01–1.37). The increased risk for women was found in STEMI (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.10–1.94) and in those who underwent PCI (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.45–2.24).In contrast the risk was lower in medically treated women (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62–1.00). After adjustment, in-hospital bleeding was associated with higher risk of oneyear mortality in men (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04–1.74), whereas this was not the case in women (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.72–1.31).Paper IIIn total 850 consecutive patients were included. The total incidence of bleeding events was 24.4% (81 women and 126 men, p=ns). The incidence of all in hospital bleeding events was 13.2%, with no gender difference. Women had significantly more minor nonsurgery related bleeding events than men (5% vs 2.2%, p=0.02). During follow-up, 13.5% had a bleeding, with more non-surgery related bleeding events among women, 14.7% vs 9.7% (p=0.03). The most common bleeding localisation was the gastrointestinal tract, more in women than men (12.1% vs 7.6%, p=0.03). Women also had more access site bleeding complications (4% vs 1.7%, p=0.04), while men had more surgery related bleeding complications (6.4% vs 0.9%, p≤0.001). Increased mortality was found only in men with non-surgery related bleeding events (p=0.008).Paper IIIAmong 272 identified patients, 156 bleeds occurred post-discharge, of which 28.8% were of gastrointestinal origin. In total 54.4% had at least one bleed during or after the index event and 40.1% bled post-discharge of whom 28.7% experienced a TIMI major or minor bleeding. Women discontinued TAT prematurely more often than men (52.9 vs 36.1%, p=0.01) and bled more (48.6 vs. 37.1%, p=0.09). One-year mean health care costs were EUR 575 and EUR 5787 in non-bleeding and bleeding patients, respectively.Paper IVWe recruited 125 patients (37 women and 88 men). We observed significantly more inhospital bleeding events in women as compared to men (18.9% vs 6.8%, p=0.04). There were no differences in platelet aggregation using three different agonists, reflecting treatment of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, clopidogrel and aspirin, at four different time-points nor were there any differences in p-selectin in plasma 3 days after admission.CONCLUSIONThere is a remarkably high bleeding incidence among patients treated with DAPT and even more so if treated with TAT. Female gender is an independent risk factor of inhospital bleeding after myocardial infarction, this higher bleeding risk in women appears to be restricted to invasively treated patients and STEMI patients. Even if women had higher short- and long-term mortality, there was no difference between the genders among those who bled. After multivariable adjustment the prognostic impact of bleeding complications was higher in menWomen seem to experience more minor/minimal bleeding complications than men, predominantly GI bleeding events and access site bleeding events, with no apparent impact on outcome.In contrast men with non-surgery related bleeding complications had higher mortality. There is a lack of differences between the genders concerning platelet aggregation. Our results do not support gender disparities in platelet reactivity and excess dosing as a major explanation for increased bleeding risk in women. Improved bleeding prevention strategies are warranted for both men and women.
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| 7. |
- Rönning, Helén
(författare)
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Follow-up of adults with congenitally malformed hearts with focus on individualised and computer-based education and psychosocial support : A descriptive and interventional study
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background and aims: Many adults with congenitally malformed hearts are at risk for complications such as decreased function and capacity of the heart due to the heart defect and previously surgery. This advocates self-management behaviours related to medical treatments, physical activity, preventions of endocarditis, some restrictions regarding suitable employment and spare time activities, birth control and pregnancy, but also lifestyle concerns such as refraining from smoking and healthy eating. Sufficient knowledge and support are requirements for successful self-management. The overall aim of this thesis was to describe educational needs, develop a tool for assessing knowledge and to evaluate the effects of a follow-up model providing education and psychosocial support to adults with congenitally malformed hearts.Subjects and methods: Adults (≥18 years of age) with the ten most common heart defects namely ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, coarctation of the aortae, aortic valve stenosis (defined as uncomplicated heart defects) and tetralogy of Fallot, complete transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, Ebstein anomaly and Eisenmenger syndrome (defined as complicated heart defects) were included in the studies. To apprehend the educational needs (I), sixteen adults with heart malformations, ranging from 19-55 years of age, were interviewed and data were analysed qualitatively using phenomenographic method. As a tool to evaluate knowledge, an instrument named Knowledge scale for adults with Congenital Malformed Hearts (KnoCoMH) was developed and psychometrically evaluated (II) in 19 + 114 adults with the ten most common heart defects average age 34 ± 13.5. A model for follow-up was described and initially evaluated (III) by 55 adults with the most common heart defects and finally tested in a randomised controlled trial (IV) with a total of 114 adults with congenitally malformed hearts (56 participants in intervention group and 58 in control group with average age 34 ± 13.5). The intervention group recived a model for follow-up with individualise and computer-based eduction and psychosocial support by a multidisciplinary team.Results: Two-way communication when given information was found to be crucial in order to enhance knowledge (I). Knowledge was seen as a tool for managing important areas in life. The KnoCoMH (II) was found to be a valid and reliable scale and can now be used to estimate knowledge in adults with congenitally malformed hearts. The model for follow-up (III) was effective in improving and maintaining knowledge (IV) about self-management in adults with heart malformation.
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| 8. |
- Tödt, Tim, 1964-
(författare)
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Strategies to improve outcome in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque with overlying thrombosis leads to ischemia and progressively to the death of the myocardial cells supplied by the affected coronary artery. Rapid reperfusion with primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in an experienced centre is the preferred therapy for these patients. The aim of the research program on which this thesis is based was to study the effect of antiplatelet therapy with abciximab on coronary patency when administered early to an unselected cohort of patients with STEMI intended for primary PCI, to study the impact of health care delay time on infarct size measured with contrast enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ceMRI), and to evaluate if time delays could be reduced through reorganisation of logistics and personal feedback to staff involved in the care of STEMI patients. Finally measures of wall motion on cine MRI were evaluated to elucidate if functional measurements of the left ventricular wall could detect scar tissue visualised on ceMRI in a post-acute phase of primary PCI.Material and results: In paper I we report on a study of all consecutive patients who sustained a STEMI in 2005 in the county of Östergötland and who were to be treated with primary PCI. Abciximab given as pretreatment before (n=133) or at the cath-lab after a diagnostic angiography (n=109) was associated with a patent Infarct Related Artery (IRA), i.e. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow 2-3, in 45.9% of patients in the early group versus 20.2% in the cath-lab group, p=0.0001. There were no statistically significant differences in bleeding or mortality rate during the initial hospital stay, nor were there any significant differences between the groups during one-year follow up regarding a Major Adverse Cardiac Event (MACE).Paper II is based on an examination of 30 patients in a stable clinical condition with ceMRI 4-8 weeks after they had been treated with primary PCI because of STEMI. Patients were selected on the presence of extensive myocardial scar in the anteroseptal segments (n=17) or no scar visible at all in this area or in any other part of the myocardium (n=13). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ability of a new feature tracking software to measure functional parameters of the heart. The left ventricular wall was divided into 18 segments and myocardial contraction was measured with velocity, displacement and strain in the longitudinal and radial direction. The software calculated a mean value for the 18 segments for each parameter. Receiver-operatorcharacteristics curves (ROC) were constructed. The best area-under-curve (AUC) was for radial strain where a cut-off value of 38.8% had 80% sensitivity and 86% specificity to detect segments with scar>50%.The impact of health care delay was examined in paper III based on a study in which 89 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI had their infarct size measured with ceMRI in the post-acute phase. Time from First Medical Contact (FMC) to a patent artery correlated weakly with infarct size, r=0.27, p=0.01. However, multivariable analysis showed the LAD as the Infarct Related Artery (IRA), active smoking and occlusion of the IRA at the time of the diagnostic angiogram were correlated with infarct size and that time from FMC to patent artery was not so correlated.Finally, in the study leading to paper IV, extensive measurements on time delays were performed on 67 consecutive patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI. Through collaboration with different stakeholders in the treatment of STEMI in the catchment area the following types of targeted refining of logistics were done; 1. Ambulance staff prioritise ECG recording, 2. Central evaluation of ECG in all patients with suspected STEMI, and 3. PCI team is ready to accept the patient when two out of three members are on site. Moreover, personal feedback on time delays for each STEMI patient was given to all staff involved in the treatment of the patient. Thereafter, all the time delays for a similar group of consecutive STEMI patients (n=89) were analysed and compared with the delays for the former group. Improvements seen in the post-intervention group were a reduction in time from ECG to cath-lab arrival by 11 minutes, p=0.02 and a non-significant decrease of FMC to a patent artery by six minutes. The main part of this improvement could probably be ascribed to the decision to see to it that an attending cardiologist was present 24/7 and to central evaluation of ECG.Conclusion: Abciximab given as pre-treatment to patients with STEMI intended for primary PCI was associated with a patent artery in 46% of patients. Moreover, we demonstrated a relationship between health care delay time and infarct size. This delay time could be reduced by a reorganisation of logistics and personal feedback on time delays. Finally, feature tracking analysis of cine MR images could detect segments with extensive myocardial scar in anterior infarction with 80% sensitivity and 86% specificity.
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| 9. |
- Venetsanos, Dimitrios
(författare)
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Improving management of STEMI patients treated with primary PCI : Pharmacotherapy, renal function estimation and gender perspective
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis focused on the acute management of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in an effort to provide information that may improve outcome. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) in STEMI patients during primary PCI. Furthermore, to provide pharmacodynamic data of novel ways of ticagrelor administration compared to standard tivcagrelor. Additionally, to identify subgroups of patients, such as women who may derive greater benefit from specific antithrombotic strategies due to their risk/benefit profile. Finally, to evaluate current formulas for estimation of renal function in the acute phase of STEMI.In Paper I, all STEMI patients in Sweden between 2008 and 2014, treated with primary PCI and UFH or bivalirudin were included in our analysis. Of the total population of 23 800 patients, 8 783 (36.9%) were included in the UFH group and 15 017 (63.1%) in the bivalirudin group. Concomitant GPI administration was 68.5% in the UFH arm compared to 3.5% in the bivalirudin arm (p<0.01).The adjusted incidence of 30-day mortality was not significant different between the two groups (UFH vs bivalirudin, adjusted HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.82 -1.07). The adjusted risk for 1-year mortality, 30-day and 1-year stent thrombosis and re-infarction did not differ significantly between the two groups. In contrast, patients treated with UFH had a significantly higher incidence of major in-hospital bleeding (adjusted OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.30 -2.03).In Paper II pharmacodynamic data of chewed or crushed ticagrelor compared to standard ticagrelor loading dose (LD) was assessed in 99 patients with stable angina. Platelet reactivity (PR) was assessed with VerifyNow before, 20 and 60 minutes after LD. High Residual platelet reactivity (HRPR) was defined as > 208 P2Y12 reaction units (PRU). Chewed ticagrelor tablets resulted in significantly lower PRU values compared to crushed or integral tablets at 20 and 60 minutes. Crushed ticagrelor LD resulted in significantly lower PRU values compared to integral tablets at 20 minutes whereas no difference was observed at 60 minutes. At 20 minutes, no patients had HRPR with chewed ticagrelor compared to 68% with integral and 30% with crushed ticagrelor LD (p<0.01).In Paper III we presented a pre-specified gender analysis of the ATLANTIC trial including 1 862 STEMI patients that were randomly assigned to pre-hospital versus in-hospital administration of 180mg ticagrelor. Women were older and had higher TIMI risk score. Women had a 3-fold higher risk for all-cause mortality compared to men (5.7% vs 1.9%, HR 3.13, 95% CI 1.78 – 5.51). However, after adjustment for baseline characteristics, the difference was lesser and no longer significant (HR 1.98, 95% CI 0.97 – 4.04). Female gender was not an independent predictor of risk for bleeding after multivariable adjustments (BARC type 3-5 HR 1.52, 95% CI 0.74-3.09). There was no interaction between gender and efficacy or safety of randomised treatment.In Paper IV, forty patients with PCI- treated STEMI were included between November 2011 and February 2013. We validated the performance of the Cockcroft-Gault (CG), the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD-IDMS), the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) and the Grubb relative cystatin C (rGCystC) equations for estimation of GFR against measured GFR (mGFR) during the index hospitalisation for STEMI.MDRD-IDMS and CKD-EPI demonstrated a good performance to estimate GFR with accuracy within 30% (P30) 82.5% vs 82.5%, respectively. CKD was best classified by CKD-EPI (Kappa 0.83). CG showed the worst performance with the lowest P30. The rG-CystC equation had a marked bias of -17.8% and significantly underestimated mGFR (p=0.03).Conclusions – In STEMI patients treated with primary PCI, bivalirudin should be preferred in patient at high risk for bleeding. With crushed or chewed ticagrelor tablets a more rapid platelet inhibition may be achieved, compared with standard integral tablets. In STEMI patients, fast and potent platelet inhibition with chewed ticagrelor may reduce the risk of early stent thrombosis and patients treated with a less aggressive antithrombotic strategy, such as UFH or bivalirudin monotherapy, may derive a greater benefit. Although gender differences in adverse outcomes could mainly be explained by older age and clustering of comorbidities in women, a bleedreduction strategy in women with high risk characteristics is warranted in order to improve their outcome. Regardless the choice of antithrombotic strategy, dose adjustment of drugs cleared by kidneys based on GFR estimation is of crucial importance. MDRD and CKD-EPI should be the formulas used for estimation of GFR in STEMI patients
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- Bergström, Göran, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Body weight at age 20 and in midlife is more important than weight gain for coronary atherosclerosis: Results from SCAPIS.
- 2023
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 373, s. 46-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elevated body weight in adolescence is associated with early cardiovascular disease, but whether this association is traceable to weight in early adulthood, weight in midlife or to weight gain is not known. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of midlife coronary atherosclerosis being associated with body weight at age 20, body weight in midlife and body weight change.We used data from 25,181 participants with no previous myocardial infarction or cardiac procedure in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS, mean age 57 years, 51% women). Data on coronary atherosclerosis, self-reported body weight at age 20 and measured midlife weight were recorded together with potential confounders and mediators. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and expressed as segment involvement score (SIS).The probability of having coronary atherosclerosis was markedly higher with increasing weight at age 20 and with mid-life weight (p<0.001 for both sexes). However, weight increase from age 20 until mid-life was only modestly associated with coronary atherosclerosis. The association between weight gain and coronary atherosclerosis was mainly seen in men. However, no significant sex difference could be detected when adjusting for the 10-year delay in disease development in women.Similar in men and women, weight at age 20 and weight in midlife are strongly related to coronary atherosclerosis while weight increase from age 20 until midlife is only modestly related to coronary atherosclerosis.
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