Aims
The aim of this study was to report the prevalence, clinical features and outcomes of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) hospitalized during the Corona-Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak compared with those admitted in a previous equivalent period.
Methods and results
Eighty-five patients admitted for STEMI at a high-volume Italian centre were included. Patients hospitalized during the COVID-19 outbreak (21 February–10 April 2020) (40%) were compared with those admitted in pre-COVID-19 period (3 January–20 February 2020) (60%). A 43% reduction in STEMI admissions was observed during the COVID-19 outbreak compared with the previous period. Time from symptom onset to first medical contact (FMC) and time from FMC to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were longer in patients admitted during the COVID-19 period compared with before [148 (79–781) versus 130 (30–185) min; P = 0.018, and 75 (59–148)] versus 45 (30–70) min; P < 0.001]. High-sensitive troponin T levels on admission were also higher. In-hospital mortality was 12% in the COVID-19 phase versus 6% in the pre-COVID-19 period. Incidence of the composite end-point, including free-wall rupture, severe left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular aneurysm, severe mitral regurgitation and pericardial effusion, was higher during the COVID-19 than the pre-COVID-19 period (19.6 versus 41.2%; P = 0.030; odds ratio = 2.87; 95% confidence interval 1.09–7.58).
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the STEMI care system reducing hospital admissions and prolonging revascularization time. This translated into a worse patient prognosis due to more STEMI complications.
Aims
To explore whether left ventricular reverse remodelling (LVRR) is a predictor of outcomes in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) undergoing MitraClip procedure.
Methods and results
We analysed 184 consecutive patients with FMR who underwent successful MitraClip procedure. LVRR was defined as a reduction in left ventricular end‐systolic volume ≥ 10% from baseline to 6 months. LVRR was observed in 79 (42.9%) patients. Compared with non‐LVRR, LVRR patients were more likely to be females, less likely to have an ischaemic aetiology of mitral regurgitation or a prior (<6 months) heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and had smaller left ventricular dimensions. New York Heart Association class improved from baseline up to 1‐year follow‐up in both groups. Higher rates of overall survival (87.3% vs. 75.2%, P = 0.039), freedom from HF hospitalization (77.2% vs. 60%, P = 0.020), and freedom from the composite endpoint (cardiovascular mortality or HF hospitalization) (74.7% vs. 55.2%; P = 0.012) were observed in LVRR vs. non‐LVRR patients at 2‐year follow‐up. LVRR was associated with a significant reduction of the adjusted relative risk of mortality, HF hospitalization and composite endpoint [hazard ratio (HR) 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.96, P = 0.040; HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.32–0.97, P = 0.038; and HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.32–0.92, P = 0.023, respectively]. Female gender, absence of diabetes, freedom from prior HF hospitalization, non‐ischaemic aetiology of mitral regurgitation, and left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter < 75 mm were found to be independent predictors of LVRR.
Conclusions
Left ventricular reverse remodelling is associated with better long‐term outcomes in patients with FMR successfully treated with MitraClip. A careful patient selection may be useful as specific baseline features predict favourable left ventricular remodelling. [Correction added on 17 January 2019, after online publication: the preceding sentence has been changed.]
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