Response to letter by Dziewierz et al. on “Influence of access site choice for cardiac catheterization on risk of adverse neurological events: A systematic review and meta- analysis”

Letter to the editor

Review of early hospitalisation after percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most common modality of revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease. Understanding the readmission rates and reasons for readmission after PCI is important because readmissions are a quality of care indicator, in addition to being a burden to patients and healthcare services. Methods: A literature review was performed. Relevant studies are described by narrative synthesis with the use of tables to summarize study results. Results: Data suggests that 30-day readmissions are not uncommon. The rate of readmission after PCI is highly influenced by the cohort and the healthcare system studied, with 30-day readmission rates reported to be between 4.7‐% and 15.6%. Studies consistently report that a majority of readmissions within 30 days are due to a cardiac-related disorders or complication-related disorders. Female sex, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, renal failure and non-elective PCI are predictive of readmission. Studies also suggest that there is greater risk of mortality among patients who are readmitted compared to those who are not readmitted. Conclusion: Readmission after PCI is common and its rate is highly influenced by the type of cohort studied. There is clear evidence that majority of readmissions within 30 days are cardiac related. While there are many predictors of readmission following PCI, it is not known whether targeting patients with modifiable predictors could prevent or reduce the rates of readmission

Benefits and harms of extending the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis

Background. The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. Methods. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating risk of adverse events in participants receiving different durations of DAPT following insertion of drug-eluting stents. Results. Five trials were included, but only four had data suitable for meta-analysis ( participants). No significant increase in the composite endpoint of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction was observed with earlier cessation of DAPT in any instance when compared to longer durations of DAPT (RR 0.64 95% CI 0.25–1.63 for 3 versus 12 months, RR 1.09 95% CI 0.84–1.41 for 6 versus 12 months and, RR 0.64 95% CI 0.35–1.16 for 12 versus 24 months). Pooled results showed a significantly lower risk of major bleeding (RR 0.48 95% CI 0.25–0.93) and total bleeding (RR 0.30 95% CI 0.16–0.54) for shorter compared to longer duration of DAPT. Subgroup analysis based on age, prior diabetes, and prior ACS failed to show any group where longer durations were consistently better than shorter ones. Conclusions. There are no cardiovascular or mortality benefits associated with extended duration of DAPT, but the risk of major bleeding was significantly lower with shorter lengths of therapy

Cancer event rate and mortality with thienopyridines: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Thienopyridines are a class of antiplatelet drugs widely used in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment. A recent concern has come to light regarding the safety of thienopyridines because of the possible risk of malignancy. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between thienopyridine exposure and malignancy. Methods We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases in March 2016 for studies that evaluated incident cancer and cancer mortality with and without exposure to thienopyridines. Relevant studies were identified, and data were extracted and analysed using random-effects meta-analysis. Results A total of nine studies (six randomised controlled trials and three cohort studies) that included 282,084 participants were included. The cancer event rate with clopidogrel and prasugrel was 3.25% and 1.58% respectively. When compared with standard aspirin or placebo, thienopyridines are not significantly associated with cancer mortality and event rate (odds ratio [OR] 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–1.56, n = 3; and OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.52–1.64, n = 2, respectively. Further analyses examining clopidogrel showed no significant association with cancer event rate or malignancy-related death. When comparing prasugrel with clopidogrel, no significant association was noted for cancer event rate (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.89–1.37, n = 2]. Subanalyses according to cancer location showed that thienopyridines are not significantly associated with malignancy mortality and/or incidence. Conclusions Our results suggest that there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that thienopyridine exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer event rate or mortality

Ultrafiltration for acute decompensated cardiac failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Ultrafiltration is a method used to achieve diuresis in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) when there is diuretic resistance, but its efficacy in other settings is unclear. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the use of ultrafiltration in ADHF. Methods We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies that evaluated outcomes following filtration compared to diuretic therapy in ADHF. The outcomes of interest were body weight change, change in renal function, length of stay, frequency of rehospitalization, mortality and dependence on dialysis. We performed random effects meta-analyses to pool studies that evaluated the desired outcomes and assessed statistical heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Results A total of 10 trials with 857 participants (mean age 68 years, 71% male) compared filtration to usual diuretic care in ADHF. Nine studies evaluated weight change following filtration and the pooled results suggest a decline in mean body weight − 1.8; 95% CI, − 4.68 to 0.97 kg. Pooled results showed no difference between the filtration and diuretic group in change in creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate. The pooled results suggest longer hospital stay with filtration (mean difference, 3.70; 95% CI, − 3.39 to 10.80 days) and a reduction in heart failure hospitalization (RR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51–1.00) and all-cause rehospitalization (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.43–1.86) compared to the diuretic group. Filtration was associated with a non-significant greater risk of death compared to diuretic use (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.77–1.52)

Determinants and outcomes of stroke following percutaneous coronary intervention by indication

Background and Purpose—Stroke after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a serious complication, but its determinants and outcomes after PCI in different clinical settings are poorly documented. Methods—The British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) database was used to study 560 439 patients who underwent PCI in England and Wales between 2006 and 2013. We examined procedural-type specific determinants of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and the likelihood of subsequent 30-day mortality and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (a composite of in-hospital mortality, myocardial infarction or reinfarction, and repeat revascularization). Results—A total of 705 stroke cases were recorded (80% ischemic). Stroke after an elective PCI or PCI for acute coronary syndrome indications was associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes compared with those without stroke; 30-day mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events outcomes in fully adjusted model were odds ratios 37.90 (21.43–67.05) and 21.05 (13.25–33.44) for elective and 5.00 (3.96–6.31) and 6.25 (5.03–7.77) for acute coronary syndrome, respectively. Comparison of odds of these outcomes between these 2 settings showed no differences; corresponding odds ratios were 1.24 (0.64–2.43) and 0.63 (0.35–1.15), respectively. Conclusions—Hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke complications are uncommon, but serious complications can occur after PCI and are independently associated with worse mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events outcomes in both the elective and acute coronary syndrome setting irrespective of stroke type. Our study provides a better understanding of the risk factors and prognosis of stroke after PCI by procedure type, allowing physicians to provide more informed advice around stroke risk after PCI and counsel patients and their families around outcomes if such neurological complications occur