Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted many aspects of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care, including timely access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Objectives The goal of the NACMI (North American COVID-19 and STEMI) registry is to describe demographic characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with STEMI. Methods A prospective, ongoing observational registry was created under the guidance of 3 cardiology societies. STEMI patients with confirmed COVID+ (group 1) or suspected (person under investigation [PUI]) (group 2) COVID-19 infection were included. A group of age- and sex-matched STEMI patients (matched to COVID+ patients in a 2:1 ratio) treated in the pre-COVID era (2015 to 2019) serves as the control group for comparison of treatment strategies and outcomes (group 3). The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital death, stroke, recurrent myocardial infarction, or repeat unplanned revascularization. Results As of December 6, 2020, 1,185 patients were included in the NACMI registry (230 COVID+ patients, 495 PUIs, and 460 control patients). COVID+ patients were more likely to have minority ethnicity (Hispanic 23%, Black 24%) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (46%) (all p < 0.001 relative to PUIs). COVID+ patients were more likely to present with cardiogenic shock (18%) but were less likely to receive invasive angiography (78%) (all p < 0.001 relative to control patients). Among COVID+ patients who received angiography, 71% received PPCI and 20% received medical therapy (both p < 0.001 relative to control patients). The primary outcome occurred in 36% of COVID+ patients, 13% of PUIs, and 5% of control patients (p < 0.001 relative to control patients). Conclusions COVID+ patients with STEMI represent a high-risk group of patients with unique demographic and clinical characteristics. PPCI is feasible and remains the predominant reperfusion strategy, supporting current recommendations.

AimsThe two components of disability‐adjusted life year (DALY), years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD), are underutilized in evaluating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and in assessing the global burden of disease. We aim to describe both the direct (medical) and the indirect (morbidity and mortality) inpatient cost of congestive heart failure in a high‐income non‐Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Middle Eastern country in relation to YLL and YLD.Methods and resultsWe used the World Health Organization's global burden of disease methodology to calculate DALY, YLL, and YLD in 174 consecutive prospectively enrolled New York Heart Association Classes II–IV patients in a single‐centre heart failure registry using a 0.4 disability weight and a 3% future age discount. We reported the cost of hospitalization, re‐hospitalization, and non‐invasive and invasive procedures per 1000 HFrEF patients in US dollars (USD). Expressing results as per 1000 HFrEF capita revealed a DALY of 1480 ± 1909 vs. 2177 ± 2547 in women and men, respectively. The costs per HFrEF capita in USD were $909.00 ± 676.1 for a single‐day hospital stay, $7999 per single hospitalization, $12 311 ± 13 840 for annual hospitalizations, $20 486 ± 22 068 for all‐cause hospitalizations, and $37 355 ± 49 336 from the time of diagnosis until death or recovery.ConclusionsIn this study, HFrEF imposed a substantial economic and disability burden on one non‐Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Middle Eastern country. However, men represented a higher economic burden than women.

Background: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a well-recognized complication of myocardial infarction that affects patient outcomes and warrants screening. Methods: This retrospective study included 308 consecutive patients who presented with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Results: Early screening for LVT by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance revealed the following: LVT (þ) group (36 patients [11.7%]) and LVT (À) group (272 patients [88.3%]). The 2 powerful independent variables associated with LVT formation were left anterior descendingerelated infarct (odds ratio, 10.17; P < 0.0001) and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (odds ratio, 8.3; P ¼ 0.0001).

The most independent predictors for proximal RCA lesion is MPI.

Introduction:Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The association of socioeconomic status with CAD is supported by numerous epidemiological studies. Whether such factors also impact the number of diseased coronary vessels and its severity is not well established.Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre, multi-ethnic, cross sectional observational study of consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) at 5 hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Baseline demographics, socioeconomic, and clinical variables were collected for all patients. Significant CAD was defined as ≥70% luminal stenosis in a major epicardial vessel. Left main disease (LMD) was defined as ≥50% stenosis in the left main coronary artery. Multi-vessel disease (MVD) was defined as having >1 significant CAD.Results: Of 1,068 patients (age 59 ± 13, female 28%, diabetes 56%, hypertension 60%, history of CAD 43%), 792 (74%) were from urban and remainder (26%) from rural communities. Patients from rural centres were older (61 ± 12 vs 58 ± 13), and more likely to have a history of diabetes (63 vs 54%), hypertension (74 vs 55%), dyslipidaemia (78 vs 59%), CAD (50 vs 41%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (27 vs 21%). The two groups differed significantly in terms of income level, employment status and indication for angiography. After adjusting for baseline differences, patients living in a rural area were more likely to have significant CAD (adjusted OR 2.40 [1.47, 3.97]), MVD (adjusted OR 1.76 [1.18, 2.63]) and LMD (adjusted OR 1.71 [1.04, 2.82]). Higher income was also associated with a higher risk for significant CAD (adjusted OR 6.97 [2.30, 21.09]) and MVD (adjusted OR 2.49 [1.11, 5.56]), while unemployment was associated with a higher risk of significant CAD (adjusted OR 2.21, [1.27, 3.85]).Conclusion:Communal and socioeconomic factors are associated with higher odds of significant CAD and MVD in the group of patients referred for CAG. The underpinnings of these associations (e.g. pathophysiologic factors, access to care, and system-wide determinants of quality) require further study.