Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pathogen responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has resulted in global healthcare crises and strained health resources. As the population of patients recovering from COVID-19 grows, it is paramount to establish an understanding of the healthcare issues surrounding them. COVID-19 is now recognized as a multi-organ disease with a broad spectrum of manifestations. Similarly to post-acute viral syndromes described in survivors of other virulent coronavirus epidemics, there are increasing reports of persistent and prolonged effects after acute COVID-19. Patient advocacy groups, many members of which identify themselves as long haulers, have helped contribute to the recognition of post-acute COVID-19, a syndrome characterized by persistent symptoms and/or delayed or long-term complications beyond 4 weeks from the onset of symptoms. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the current literature on post-acute COVID-19, its pathophysiology and its organ-specific sequelae. Finally, we discuss relevant considerations for the multidisciplinary care of COVID-19 survivors and propose a framework for the identification of those at high risk for post-acute COVID-19 and their coordinated management through dedicated COVID-19 clinics.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent and complexity of residual coronary stenoses following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to evaluate its impact on adverse ischemic outcomes.
Background
Incomplete revascularization (IR) after PCI is common, and most studies have suggested that IR is associated with a worse prognosis compared with complete revascularization (CR). However, formal quantification of the extent and complexity of residual atherosclerosis after PCI has not been performed.
Methods
The baseline Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (bSS) from 2,686 angiograms from patients with moderate- and high-risk acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing PCI enrolled in the prospective ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) trial was determined. The SS after PCI was also assessed, generating the “residual” SS (rSS). Patients with rSS >0 were defined as having IR and were stratified by rSS tertiles, and their outcomes were compared to the CR group.
Results
The bSS was 12.8 ± 6.7, and after PCI the rSS was 5.6 ± 2.2. Following PCI, 1,084 patients (40.4%) had rSS = 0 (CR), 523 (19.5%) had rSS >0 but ≤2, 578 (21.5%) had rSS >2 but ≤8, and 501 patients (18.7%) had rSS >8. Age, insulin-treated diabetes, hypertension, smoking, elevated biomarkers or ST-segment deviation, and lower ejection fraction were more frequent in patients with IR compared with CR. The 30-day and 1-year rates of ischemic events were significantly higher in the IR group compared with the CR group, especially those with high rSS. By multivariable analysis, rSS was a strong independent predictor of all ischemic outcomes at 1 year, including all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.09, p = 0.006).
Conclusions
The rSS is useful to quantify and risk-stratify the degree and complexity of residual stenosis after PCI. Specifically, rSS >8.0 after PCI in patients with moderate- and high-risk ACS is associated with a poor 30-day and 1-year prognosis.
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