Coronary Artery Disease: Kimmel SE

King SB, Aversano T, Ballard WL, Beekman RH, Cowley MJ, Ellis SG, Faxon DP, Hannan EL, Hirshfeld JW, Jacobs AK, Kellett MA, Kimmel SE, Landzberg JS, McKeever LS, Moscucci M, Pomerantz RM, Smith KM, Vetrovec GW, Creager MA, Hirshfeld JW, Holmes DR, Newby LK, Weitz HH, Merli G, Piña I, Rodgers GP, Tracy CM, Anonymous00143, Anonymous00144, Anonymous00145. · No affiliation provided · J Am Coll Cardiol. · Pubmed #17601554 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Anonymous00180, King SB, Aversano T, Ballard WL, Beekman RH, Cowley MJ, Ellis SG, Faxon DP, Hannan EL, Hirshfeld JW, Jacobs AK, Kellett MA, Kimmel SE, Landzberg JS, McKeever LS, Moscucci M, Pomerantz RM, Smith KM, Vetrovec GW, Creager MA, Holmes DR, Newby LK, Weitz HH, Merli G, Piña I, Rodgers GP, Tracy CM. · No affiliation provided · Circulation. · Pubmed #17592076 links to  free full text

This publication has no abstract.

DeBusk R, Drory Y, Goldstein I, Jackson G, Kaul S, Kimmel SE, Kostis JB, Kloner RA, Lakin M, Meston CM, Mittleman M, Muller JE, Padma-Nathan H, Rosen RC, Stein RA, Zusman R. · No affiliation provided · Am J Cardiol. · Pubmed #10913479 No free full text.

Abstract: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in both sexes and adversely affects patients' quality of life and well being. Given the frequent association between sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, in addition to the potential cardiac risk of sexual activity itself, a consensus panel was convened to develop recommendations for clinical management of sexual dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular disease. Based upon a review of the research and presentations by invited experts, a classification system was developed for stratification of patients into high, low, and intermediate categories of cardiac risk. The large majority of patients are in the low-risk category, which includes patients with (1) controlled hypertension; (2) mild, stable angina; (3) successful coronary revascularization; (4) a history of uncomplicated myocardial infarction (MI); (5) mild valvular disease; and (6) no symptoms and <3 cardiovascular risk factors. These patients can be safely encouraged to initiate or resume sexual activity or to receive treatment for sexual dysfunction. An important exception is the use of sildenafil in patients taking nitrates in any form. Patients in the intermediate-risk category include those with (1) moderate angina; (2) a recent MI (<6 weeks); (3) left ventricular dysfunction and/or class II congestive heart failure; (4) nonsustained low-risk arrhythmias; and (5) >/=3 risk factors for coronary artery disease. These patients should receive further cardiologic evaluation before restratification into the low- or high-risk category. Finally, patients in the high-risk category include those with (1) unstable or refractory angina; (2) uncontrolled hypertension; (3) congestive heart failure (class III or IV); (4) very recent MI (<2 weeks); (5) high-risk arrhythmias; (6) obstructive cardiomyopathies; and (7) moderate-to-severe valvular disease. These patients should be stabilized by specific treatment for their cardiac condition before resuming sexual activity or being treated for sexual dysfunction. A simple algorithm is provided for guiding physicians in the management of sexual dysfunction in patients with varying degrees of cardiac risk.

Samaha FF, Kimmel SE, Kizer JR, Goyal A, Wade M, Boden WE. · Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. · Am J Cardiol. · Pubmed #12398955 No free full text.

Abstract: We sought to test the validity and clinical utility of the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score for patients who have non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. A post hoc analysis of the Veterans Affairs Non-Q-Wave Infarction Strategies In-Hospital (VANQWISH) Trial was performed, wherein patients were assigned a TIMI risk score from which both 30-day and 12-month outcomes (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization) were assessed. At 30 days, the TIMI risk score showed a close match between observed and predicted probabilities of events after adjustment for overall event rates. The event rate at 30 days was 6% for a score of 0 to 2, 10% for a score of 3, 13% for a score of 4, and 14% for a score of 5 to 7 (p = 0.003 and c statistic 0.59). Discriminative ability of the score was greater in the conservative group at 30 days (p = 0.0004, c statistic 0.67). The score remained modestly predictive of events at 1 year (c statistic 0.60). Conservative strategy patients had better 30-day outcomes than the invasive strategy patients if their score was 0 to 2 (odds ratio 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.76). No significant difference in outcomes between strategies was detected for a score > or =3. The TIMI risk score provides moderate incremental prognostic information in high-risk patients, during both short- and long-term follow-up.

Goyal A, Samaha FF, Boden WE, Wade MJ, Kimmel SE. · University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. · J Am Coll Cardiol. · Pubmed #12020486 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether the stringent stress test criteria for crossover to cardiac catheterization in the conservative arm of the Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease (FRISC-II) trial subjected this strategy to a disadvantage by failing to identify patients with surgical coronary artery disease (CAD). BACKGROUND: In FRISC-II, an invasive strategy provided superior outcomes compared with a conservative strategy for patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, compared with the stress test criteria for crossover to catheterization in the Veterans Affairs Non-Q-Wave Infarction Strategies in Hospital (VANQWISH) trial, the FRISC-II criteria were more restrictive and did not use nuclear imaging or pharmacologic stress testing. METHODS: We analyzed the conservative arm of VANQWISH to identify the prevalence of surgical CAD in those patients who met the VANQWISH, but not FRISC-II, criteria for catheterization. RESULTS: Of 385 VANQWISH patients, 90 (23%) met the FRISC-II criteria for catheterization. Another 98 patients (25%) met only VANQWISH stress test criteria (60 patients by exercise and 38 by pharmacologic nuclear stress testing). Among subjects who underwent predischarge angiography, those meeting only VANQWISH stress test criteria had a high prevalence of surgical CAD (51%), comparable to patients who met FRISC-II criteria (54%, p = 0.805). CONCLUSIONS: The overly stringent risk stratification protocol for conservative-arm patients in FRISC-II could have failed to identify almost as many patients with surgical CAD as it identified. A lower threshold for catheterization in the FRISC-II conservative patients might have improved their outcomes and therefore diminished the putative benefit of an invasive strategy.

Bagheri R, Schutta M, Cumaranatunge RG, Wolfe ML, Terembula K, Hoffman B, Schwartz S, Kimmel SE, Farouk S, Iqbal N, Reilly MP. · Cardiovascular Institute, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Medicine, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA. · Am J Cardiol. · Pubmed #17398190 No free full text.

Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, in part due to accelerated subclinical atherosclerosis. Electrocardiographic (ECG) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) abnormalities are used to screen for cardiovascular risk in the clinic. However, their capacity to identify patients with type 2 DM with nonobstructive subclinical atherosclerosis is unknown. Associations of ECG and ABI abnormalities with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, were examined using multivariable ordinal regression modeling in 589 asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were determined. CAC was prevalent (44% CAC>00; 32% CAC>5th percentile score) despite normal electrocardiograms (64%) and ABIs (97%) in most subjects. Neither ECG nor ABI changes predicted CAC after adjusting for age, gender, and race. ECG abnormalities were neither sensitive nor specific for detection of CAC>100, >400, or>75th percentile (sensitivities 0.43, 0.45, and 0.34; specificities 0.69, 0.66, and 0.63, respectively). ABI abnormalities were not sensitive (0.03, 0.04, and 0.03) but had high specificity (0.98, 0.98, and 0.98). In subjects with normal electrocardiograms and ABIs, extensive CAC was remarkably prevalent (CAC>00 in 24%). In conclusion, ECG and ABI abnormalities failed to detect patients with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and therefore may be of limited value in identifying many asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Reilly MP, Iqbal N, Schutta M, Wolfe ML, Scally M, Localio AR, Rader DJ, Kimmel SE. · Cardiovascular Division, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. · J Clin Endocrinol Metab. · Pubmed #15292320 links to  free full text

Abstract: Leptin signaling may promote atherothrombosis and lead to cardiovascular disease. However, whether leptin is associated with human atherosclerosis, distinct from thrombosis, is unknown. We determined the association of plasma leptin levels with coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, in a cross-sectional study of type 2 diabetes. Leptin levels were associated with CAC after adjusting for established risk factors [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for 5 ng/ml leptin increase: 1.31 (1.10-1.55); P = 0.002]. Leptin remained associated with CAC after further controlling for body mass index (BMI) [1.29 (1.07-1.55); P = 0.008], waist circumference [1.30 (1.09-1.57); P = 0.003], C-reactive protein (CRP) levels [1.28 (1.07-1.55); P = 0.008], and subclinical vascular disease [1.30 (1.08-1.57); P = 0.006]. Addition of BMI (P = 0.97), waist (P = 0.55), or CRP (P = 0.39) to a model with leptin failed to improve the model's explanatory power, whereas addition of leptin to a model with BMI (P = 0.029), waist (P = 0.006), or CRP (P = 0.005) improved the model significantly. Plasma leptin levels were associated with CAC in type 2 diabetes after controlling adiposity and CRP. Whether leptin signaling promotes atherosclerosis directly or represents a therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains to be explored.

Kizer JR, Zisman DA, Blumenthal NP, Kotloff RM, Kimmel SE, Strieter RM, Arcasoy SM, Ferrari VA, Hansen-Flaschen J. · Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA. · Arch Intern Med. · Pubmed #15006833 links to  free full text

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis and atherosclerosis have many similarities at the histopathologic level. Moreover, fibrotic lung diseases exhibit systemic effects and have the potential to affect the vasculature beyond the lung. The existence of a relationship between the two, however, has not been studied. METHODS: To investigate whether fibrotic lung disorders may predispose to atherosclerosis, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 630 patients referred for lung transplantation evaluation at a university hospital. We compared the prevalence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with fibrotic vs nonfibrotic lung diseases. RESULTS: Fibrotic lung diseases were associated with an increased prevalence of CAD compared with nonfibrotic diseases after adjustment for traditional risk factors (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-4.06). The magnitude and significance of this association were maintained when only nongranulomatous fibrotic disease or its subset, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, was examined. The strength of the relationship between fibrotic disorders and CAD increased when multivessel disease was analyzed (odds ratio, 4.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-11.9). No significant association was detected for granulomatous fibrotic disorders (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-5.16; P =.47), although this subgroup had fewer cases of CAD for analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support an association between fibrotic lung disorders and CAD. Further research is necessary to confirm this relationship and to explore the pathologic processes underlying, and potentially linking, these 2 conditions.

Kelley MP, Klugherz BD, Hashemi SM, Meneveau NF, Johnston JM, Matthai WH, Banka VS, Herrmann HC, Hirshfeld JW, Kimmel SE, Kolansky DM, Horwitz PA, Schiele F, Bassand JP, Wilensky RL. · Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University Health System, 9 Gates, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. · Eur Heart J. · Pubmed #12927190 links to  free full text

Abstract: AIMS: To evaluate outcomes for left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenting and compare results between protected (left coronary grafted) and unprotected LMCA stenting in the current bare-metal stent era. METHODS: We reviewed outcomes among 142 consecutive patients who underwent protected or unprotected LMCA stenting since 1997. All-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target-lesion revascularization (TLR), and the combined major adverse clinical event (MACE) rates at one year were computed. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients (70%) underwent protected and 43 patients (30%) underwent unprotected LMCA stenting. In the unprotected group, 86% were considered poor surgical candidates. Survival at one year was 88% for all patients, TLR 20%, and MACE 32%. At one year, survival was reduced in the unprotected group (72% vs. 95%, P<0.001) and MACE was increased in the unprotected patients (49% vs. 25%, P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In the current era, stenting for both protected and unprotected LMCA disease is still associated with high long-term mortality and MACE rates. Stenting for unprotected LMCA disease in a high-risk population should only be considered in the absence of other revascularization options. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of stenting for unprotected LMCA disease.

Berlin JA, Kimmel SE, Ten Have TR, Sammel MD. · Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6021, USA. · Biometrics. · Pubmed #11318202 No free full text.

Abstract: In the analysis of binary response data from many types of large studies, the data are likely to have arisen from multiple centers, resulting in a within-center correlation for the response. Such correlation, or clustering, occurs when outcomes within centers tend to be more similar to each other than to outcomes in other centers. In studies where there is also variability among centers with respect to the exposure of interest, analysis of the exposure-outcome association may be confounded, even after accounting for within-center correlations. We apply several analytic methods to compare the risk of major complications associated with two strategies, staged and combined procedures, for performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), a mechanical means of relieving blockage of blood vessels due to atherosclerosis. Combined procedures are used in some centers as a cost-cutting strategy. We performed a number of population-averaged and cluster-specific (conditional) analyses, which (a) make no adjustments for center effects of any kind; (b) make adjustments for the effect of center on only the response; or (c) make adjustments for both the effect of center on the response and the relationship between center and exposure. The method used for this third approach decomposes the procedure type variable into within-center and among-center components, resulting in two odds ratio estimates. The naive analysis, ignoring clusters, gave a highly significant effect of procedure type (OR = 1.6). Population average models gave marginally to very nonsignificant estimates of the OR for treatment type ranging from 1.6 to 1.2 with adjustment only for the effect of centers on response. These results depended on the assumed correlation structure. Conditional (cluster-specific) models and other methods that decomposed the treatment type variable into among- and within-center components all found no within-center effect of procedure type (OR = 1.02, consistently) and a considerable among-center effect. This among-center variability in outcomes was related to the proportion of patients who receive combined procedures and was found even when conditioned on procedure type (within-center) and other patient- and center-level covariates. This example illustrates the importance of addressing the potential for center effects to confound an outcome-exposure association when average exposure varies across clusters. While conditional approaches provide estimates of the within-cluster effect, they do not provide information about among-center effects. We recommend using the decomposition approach, as it provides both types of estimates.

DeBusk R, Drory Y, Goldstein I, Jackson G, Kaul S, Kimmel SE, Kostis JB, Kloner RA, Lakin M, Meston CM, Mittleman M, Muller JE, Padma-Nathan H, Rosen RC, Stein RA, Zusman R. · Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA. · Am J Cardiol. · Pubmed #10899282 No free full text.

Abstract: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in both sexes and adversely affects patients' quality of life and well being. Given the frequent association between sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, in addition to the potential cardiac risk of sexual activity itself, a consensus panel was convened to develop recommendations for clinical management of sexual dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular disease. Based upon a review of the research and presentations by invited experts, a classification system was developed for stratification of patients into high, low, and intermediate categories of cardiac risk. The large majority of patients are in the low-risk category, which includes patients with (1) controlled hypertension; (2) mild, stable angina; (3) successful coronary revascularization; (4) a history of uncomplicated myocardial infarction (MI); (5) mild valvular disease; and (6) no symptoms and <3 cardiovascular risk factors. These patients can be safely encouraged to initiate or resume sexual activity or to receive treatment for sexual dysfunction. An important exception is the use of sildenafil in patients taking nitrates in any form. Patients in the intermediate-risk category include those with (1) moderate angina; (2) a recent MI (<6 weeks); (3) left ventricular dysfunction and/or class II congestive heart failure; (4) nonsustained low-risk arrhythmias; and (5) >/=3 risk factors for coronary artery disease. These patients should receive further cardiologic evaluation before restratification into the low- or high-risk category. Finally, patients in the high-risk category include those with (1) unstable or refractory angina; (2) uncontrolled hypertension; (3) congestive heart failure (class III or IV); (4) very recent MI (<2 weeks); (5) high-risk arrhythmias; (6) obstructive cardiomyopathies; and (7) moderate-to-severe valvular disease. These patients should be stabilized by specific treatment for their cardiac condition before resuming sexual activity or being treated for sexual dysfunction. A simple algorithm is provided for guiding physicians in the management of sexual dysfunction in patients with varying degrees of cardiac risk.

Krone RJ, Laskey WK, Johnson C, Kimmel SE, Klein LW, Weiner BH, Cosentino JJ, Johnson SA, Babb JD. · Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1093, USA. · Am J Cardiol. · Pubmed #10801997 No free full text.

Abstract: In 1988, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Task Force on Assessment of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cardiovascular Procedures presented a classification of coronary lesions utilizing 26 lesion features to predict the success and complications of balloon angioplasty. Using data from the Registry of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) we evaluated the ability of this classification to predict success and complications. Lesion success, death in hospital, emergency cardiac bypass surgery, and major adverse events were evaluated in 41,071 patients who underwent single-vessel angioplasty from January 1993 to June 1996. Logistic models using the ACC/AHA lesion classification, vessel patency, or both, were compared. A new classification based on the interaction of the ACC/AHA classification plus lesion patency was compared with the existing ACC/AHA classification. Vessel patency, added to the ACC/AHA classification, improved prediction of lesion success (p </=0.0001). Class A and patent B lesions had similar success and complication rates, so a simplified classification (SCAI) using only 7 lesion characteristics could be created. This system (I: non-C patent, II: C patent, III: non-C occluded, and IV: C occluded) improved prediction of lesion success compared with the ACC/AHA classification (Bayesian Information Criterion statistic: ACC/AHA 16539, SCAI 15956; and area under the receiver- operating characteristics curve 0.659, 0.693, respectively). The SCAI classification was preferred for predicting major complications and in-hospital death and was similar to the ACC/AHA classification for predicting emergency bypass surgery.