http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/12445/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/27629/ 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Background: It is known that the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is highly time dependent with the best efficacy when given within the so-called golden hour. This analysis from the On-TIME 2 trial evaluated the efficacy of triple antiplatelet therapy on initial patency and ST-segment resolution (STR) in relation to time from symptom onset to first medical contact. Methods: The On-TIME 2 trial included 1,398 consecutive STEMI patients referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients were randomized to dual (500 mg aspirin and 600 mg clopidogrel) or triple antiplatelet (500 mg aspirin, 600 mg clopidogrel, and tirofiban 25 μg/kg bolus and 0.15 μg/kg per minute maintenance infusion for 18 hours) pretreatment in the ambulance. Primary outcome of this sub-analysis was initial patency of the infarct-related vessel and STR before PCI according to time from symptom onset to first medical contact in quartiles. In addition, the incidence of aborted myocardial infarction, defined as the absence of a rise in creatinine kinase, was assessed. Results: Initial patency, STR before PCI, and the incidence of aborted myocardial infarction gradually increased with shorter time from symptom onset to first medical contact. Initial Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow was present in 21.2% in the total population and 26.2%, 21.5%, 18.1%, and 18.8% in the time quartiles, respectively (P for trend = .01). The incidence of complete STR pre-angiography was 16.6% in the total population and 23.4%, 18.2%, 14.7%, and 9.9% in the 4 quartiles, respectively (P for trend < .001). This was largely driven by the effect of triple antiplatelet therapy, which further improved initial patency and STR and led to a significantly higher incidence of aborted myocardial infarction (13.2% vs 8.7%, P = .011), especially in the patients with short duration of symptoms. Conclusion: Antiplatelet pretreatment before primary PCI, including a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blocker, seems to be most effective when given shortly after symptom onset. Further studies should be performed to test this hypothesis. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/27861/ 2010-07-01T00:00:00Z Objective: Several guidelines for hypertension and cardiovascular risk management recommend an ECG in hypertensive patients to improve risk prediction. We estimated the prevalence of clinically relevant ECG abnormalities and the number needed to screen (NNS) with a routine ECG to prevent the occurrence of one death in the next 10 years conditional on adequate treatment and follow-up. Methods: The study population consisted of 866 hypertensive participants recruited from the Utrecht Health Project (UHP), a dynamic population study in Utrecht. Baseline measurements included an ECG and the risk factors that enable a Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) risk estimation for each participant. ECGs were interpreted using Modular ECG Analysis System for computerized recognition of ECG abnormalities. NNS to prevent one death was computed by the reciprocal of the prevalence of the ECG abnormalities multiplied by number needed to treat to prevent one death when the ECG abnormality is managed according to the prevailing clinical guidelines. Results: The population consisted of 54.2% men with a mean age of 53.2 years (SD 11.5). The prevalence of ECG abnormalities was 17.6 [n = 95% confidence interval (CI) 15.0-20.1]. Prevalence of atrial fibrillation or prior myocardial infarction was 2.1% (95%CI 1.1-3.0) and of other ECG abnormalities related to increased cardiovascular disease risk 15.4% (95%CI 13.1-17.9). NNS to prevent one death from cardiovascular disease within 10 years was estimated at 260 (95%CI 220-308). Conclusion: Our findings support the existing recommendations to routinely record an ECG in unselected hypertensive patients as the prevalence of relevant abnormalities is considerable and NNS to prevent one death is lower than that in other widely accepted tests. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/28007/ 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z Objectives: The purpose of this trial was to study the effect of a high bolus dose (HBD) of tirofiban on clinical outcome in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: The On-TIME 2 (Ongoing Tirofiban In Myocardial infarction Evaluation 2) placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial showed that early administration of HBD tirofiban in the ambulance improves ST-segment resolution in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The effect of early tirofiban treatment on clinical outcome is unclear. Methods: The On-TIME 2 trial consisted of 2 phases: an open-label phase, followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase. STEMI patients were randomized to either HBD tirofiban or no tirofiban (phase 1) or placebo (phase 2) in addition to aspirin, heparin, and high-dose clopidogrel. The protocol pre-specified a pooled analysis of the 2 study phases to assess the incidence of major adverse cardiac events at the 30-day follow-up and on total mortality at the 1-year follow-up. Results: During a 3-year period, 1,398 patients were randomized, 414 in phase 1 and 984 in phase 2. Major adverse cardiac events at 30 days were significantly reduced (5.8% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.043). There was a strong trend toward a decrease in mortality (2.2% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.051) in patients who were randomized to tirofiban pre-treatment, which was maintained during the 1-year follow-up (3.7% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.08). No clinically relevant difference in bleeding was observed. Conclusions: Early, pre-hospital initiation of HBD tirofiban, in addition to high-dose clopidogrel, improves the clinical outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with STEMI. (Ongoing 2b/3a inhibition In Myocardial infarction Evaluation; ISRCTN06195297). http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/32548/ 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z Background: In spite of the benefits of physical activity, exercise may provoke acute cardiac events in susceptible individuals. Understanding risk factors of exercise-related acute cardiac events may identify opportunities for prevention. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to examine determinants of acute cardiac events in athletes. The cases were athletes who suffered an acute cardiac event during or shortly after vigorous exercise. Athletes who visited a hospital because of a minor sports injury were selected as controls. Information on cardiovascular disease, family history of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular symptoms and other potential risk factors was collected through questionnaires. Results: 57 cases (mean age 41.8 years, range 11-73) and 57 controls (mean age 40.9 years, range 13-68) were included in the study. Athletes with a history of cardiovascular disease were at a markedly increased risk for cardiac events during exercise (OR=32; 95% CI 7.4 to 143). Smoking (OR 5.9; 95% CI 1.9 to 18), fatigue (OR=12; 95% CI 1.2 to 118) and flu-like symptoms (OR 13; 95% CI 1.4 to 131) in the month preceding the event were related to acute cardiac events in athletes. Conclusions: Prior cardiovascular disease, smoking, and a recent episode of fatigue or flu-like symptoms are associated with an increased risk of exercise-related acute cardiac events. Athletes and physicians should pay careful attention when these factors exist or occur. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/12933/ 2001-08-22T00:00:00Z AIMS: To determine the prognosis, cause of death, and its determinants in participants of the population-based Rotterdam Study who were found to have heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 5255 Rotterdam Study participants (aged 68.9+/-8.6 years, 3113 women) the presence of heart failure was determined. Data were analysed with Cox's proportional-hazards models. One hundred and eighty-one participants (age 77.3+/-7.9 years, 109 women) had heart failure. Of these 85 (47%) died during the 4.8-8.5 (mean 6.1) years of follow-up. One, 2 and 5 years' survival was 89%, 79%, and 59%, representing an age-adjusted mortality twice that of persons without heart failure (hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.8-2.7). The hazard ratio for sudden death was even more pronounced: 4.8, (95% CI 2.6-8.7). Diabetes mellitus, impairment of renal function and atrial fibrillation were associated with a poor outcome. A higher blood pressure and body mass index conferred a more favourable prognosis in those with heart failure. CONCLUSION: Heart failure generally afflicts older subjects in the community, carries a poor prognosis, especially in the presence of concomitant diseases, and confers a fivefold increase in the risk of sudden death. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/9085/ 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z AIMS: To determine the prevalence of heart failure and symptomatic as well as asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the general population. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 5540 participants of the Rotterdam Study (age 68.9+/-8.7 years, 2251 men) aged 55-95 years, the presence of heart failure was determined by assessment of symptoms and signs (shortness of breath. ankle oedema and pulmonary crepitations) and use of heart failure medication. In 2267 subjects (age 65.7+/-7.4 years, 1028 men) fractional shortening was measured. The overall prevalence of heart failure was 3.9% (95% CI 3.0+/-4.7) and did not differ between men and women. The prevalence increased with age, with the exception of the highest age group in men. Fractional shortening was higher in women and did not decrease appreciably with age. The prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (fractional shortening <=25%) was approximately 2.5 times higher in men (5.5%, 95% CI 4.1-7.0) than in women (2.2%, 95% CI 1.4-3.2). Sixty percent of persons with left ventricular systolic dysfunction had no symptoms or signs of heart failure at all. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of heart failure is appreciable and does not differ between men and women. The majority of persons with left ventricular systolic dysfunction can be regarded as having asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/18020/ 1997-03-26T00:00:00Z Cardiovascular mortality rates have decline'd significantly in most industrialized countries over the past three decades.2 Nevertheless, cardiovascular disease remains one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in Western society, especially as the average age of the population increases.'" Heart failure is rapidly becoming one of the most prevalent cardiovascular disorders and the incidence of heart failure is expected to continue to increase for some time to come.5,6 Unfortunately, it appears that the declining fatality rate of acute coronary events/ resulting in a larger group of persons at increased risk of developing chronic cardiovascular disease, contributes to the rise of heart failure. The paradox of better care is expanded by the observation that treatment of hypertension may actually postpone rather than prevent the onset of heart failure. 8 The prognosis of heart failure is poor9 and the economic impact of heart failure on health services is considerable because of the long-tenn pharmacological treatment and frequent hospitalizations associated with the syndrome. This burden is set to increase further as the prognosis of patients with heart failure is improved by medical and surgical interventions10- 13 and the proportion of the elderly increases in Western society.