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Abstract Background Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a circulating biomarker of fibrosis, with higher levels being associated with an increased risk of progression of heart failure and kidney disease. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk of both. Methods DECLARE-TIMI 58 was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dapagliflozin in patients with T2DM with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and creatinine clearance ≥60 mL/min. In a nested biomarker substudy, Gal-3 was measured at baseline and in adjusted analyses associated with the prespecified kidney-specific composite endpoint [Kidney-EP; sustained ≥40% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to <60 mL/min, new end-stage kidney disease or adjudicated kidney-related death]. Results Among 14 530 pts, median Gal-3 was 14.9 ng/mL [interquartile range (IQR), 11.9, 18.4]. Gal-3 was weakly associated with urine albumin creatinine ratio (r = 0.098, P < 0.0001) and eGFR (r = −0.27, P < 0.001) at baseline and independently associated with the Kidney-EP:adj hazard ratio (HR) 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03, 1.28] per 1-SD log (Gal-3), P = 0.013. Dapagliflozin significantly reduced the relative risk of the Kidney-EP across quartiles of baseline Gal-3 [overall HR 0.45 (95% CI 0.23, 0.85), P < 0.0001; P interaction = 0.87]. A greater risk difference was observed with dapagliflozin in patients with higher Gal-3, in whom a higher absolute risk at baseline was observed [absolute risk reduction (ARR) Q4 1.9 (95% CI 0.6, 3.2) vs. Q1 0.6% (−0.1, 1.3), ARR P trend 0.048]. Conclusions Plasma Gal-3 is independently associated with the progression of kidney dysfunction in patients with T2DM and normal kidney function. There was a gradient of greater absolute benefit for reducing kidney disease progression in patients treated with dapagliflozin and with higher Gal-3 concentrations at baseline, in whom a higher absolute risk was observed. Registration: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01730534).

Several data points were collected and analyzed: the number of ED encounters in the last 12 months prior-to and three months after ED CG initiation; the number of primary care provider encounters 12 months prior-to, and 3 months after ED CG initiation; chief complaint at time of CG initiation, and number of previous visits for that same complaint prior to initiation; and finally, demographic information such as age, gender and insurance provider. [...]there are no universal criteria for establishing a CG. [...]there may be many patients who could benefit from a CG who have not been assigned one, and others that may not have had an impactful decline in visit numbers because they were prematurely assigned a CG. CG chief complaint Frequency Percent Visit change Extremity complaint 41 14.2 −0.54 Nausea/vomiting 26 9.0 −0.57 Abdominal complaint 26 9.0 −0.49 Other 25 8.7 1.10 Vaginal complaint 23 8.0 −0.71 Urinary complaint 20 6.9 −0.56 Back/neck pain 16 5.6 −0.26 Respiratory complaint 15 5.2 −0.48 Suicidal/psych 13 4.5 −0.41 Weakness 13 4.5 −0.74 Wound complaint 11 3.8 −0.68 URI/throat/sinus 10 3.5 −0.57 Skin complaint 10 3.5 −0.11 Migraine/headache 10 3.5 −0.37 Post-op complaint 8 2.8 −0.64 Withdrawal 7 2.4 0.03 Seizure 7 2.4 −0.46 Rectal bleed 5 1.7 −0.37 Dental pain 2 0.7 −0.39 Total 288 100 Table 1 Chief complaints leading to CG initiation, and change-per-month after initiation.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, which can be significantly reduced with anticoagulant treatment. Key goals in the clinical management of AF are the identification of patients at high risk for developing AF and accurate stratification of the risk of stroke and systemic embolic events (S/SEE) as well as treatment-related major bleeding. Content In this review, we describe the expanding evidence regarding the use of circulating biomarkers for predicting the risks of both incident AF and its clinically important complications of S/SEE and treatment-related major bleeding. We also review emerging biomarker-based scores for assessing these risks. Summary Patients with AF undergo progressive cardiac structural remodeling, which may precede the onset of the arrhythmia. Abnormal concentrations of circulating biomarkers reflecting the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of hemodynamic stress (i.e., natriuretic peptides), inflammation (i.e., C-reactive protein), and myocardial fibrosis identify patients at higher risk of developing AF. Circulating biomarkers can also be used to identify patients with AF who are at greatest risk for developing S/SEE or major bleeding. In particular, biomarkers of hemodynamic stress, myocardial injury (i.e., cardiac troponin), and coagulation activity (i.e., D-dimer) are key indicators of thromboembolic risk, and cardiac troponin and growth-differentiation factor-15 are strongly associated with risk of anticoagulant-related major bleeding. The biomarker-based age, biomarker, clinical history (ABC)-stroke and ABC-bleeding risk scores improve risk stratification for S/SEE and major bleeding, respectively, when compared with traditional clinical risk scores like the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores.

Vorapaxar is a first-in-class protease-activated receptor-1 antagonist indicated for secondary prevention in stable patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) or peripheral artery disease and no cerebrovascular disease. Vorapaxar is not recommended for initiation in the acute phase of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) because of an unfavorable balance between bleeding and efficacy when started in that setting. The aim of this analysis was to investigate outcomes in patients who experienced a new ACS while receiving vorapaxar for long-term secondary prevention. Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic ischemic Events–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 50 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vorapaxar (n = 26,449). We evaluated bleeding and ischemic events during the acute care of patients with a new ACS during the trial. During a median follow-up of 30 months, 799 patients (8.9%) randomized to vorapaxar and 913 (10.0%) to placebo had a new ACS event (p = 0.003); 87% and 86%, respectively, were on study therapy at the time of the event. In a landmark analysis through 7 days after ACS, the rates of Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) severe bleeding were 0.8% versus 0.8% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.99, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.94) and GUSTO moderate/severe bleeding were 2.5% versus 1.6% (HR 1.59, 95% CI 0.78 to 3.24) with vorapaxar versus placebo. The effect of vorapaxar on cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke (2.4% vs 4.4%; HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.93; p = 0.027) was consistent with the overall trial result. In conclusion, in patients who experience a new ACS event while receiving vorapaxar for secondary prevention, continuing therapy was associated with favorable efficacy without excess severe bleeding during the period of acute ACS management.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with substantial geographical, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in outcome. Successful resuscitation efforts depend on the ‘chain of survival’, which includes immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system, early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an emphasis on chest compressions, rapid defibrillation, basic and advanced emergency medical services and integrated post-cardiac arrest care. Well-orchestrated telecommunicator CPR programmes can improve rates of bystander CPR — a critical link in the chain of survival. High-performance CPR by emergency medical service providers includes minimizing interruptions in chest compressions and ensuring adequate depth of compressions. Developing local, regional and statewide systems with dedicated high-performing cardiac resuscitation centres for post-resuscitation care can substantially improve survival after OHCA. Innovative digital tools for recognizing cardiac arrest where and when it occurs, notifying potential citizen rescuers and providing automated external defibrillators at the scene hold the promise of improving survival after OHCA. Improved implementation of the chain of survival can save thousands of lives each year.In this Review, Berg and colleagues discuss how to maximize the likelihood of successful resuscitation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The ‘chain of survival’ includes immediate recognition of cardiac arrest, early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, rapid defibrillation, advanced emergency medical services and integrated post-cardiac arrest care.

This interactive case features a 26-year-old woman with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who is receiving chemotherapy and presents with progressive dyspnea. Test your diagnostic and therapeutic skills at NEJM.org.

Risk stratification has potential to guide triage and decision-making in cardiogenic shock (CS). We assessed the prognostic performance of the IABP-SHOCK II score, derived in Europe for acute myocardial infarct-related CS (AMI-CS), in a contemporary North American cohort, including different CS phenotypes. The critical care cardiology trials network (CCCTN) coordinated by the TIMI study group is a multicenter network of cardiac intensive care units (CICU). Participating centers annually contribute ≥2 months of consecutive medical CICU admissions. The IABP-SHOCK II risk score includes age > 73 years, prior stroke, admission glucose > 191 mg/dl, creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl, lactate > 5 mmol/l, and post-PCI TIMI flow grade < 3. We assessed the risk score across various CS etiologies. Of 17,852 medical CICU admissions 5,340 patients across 35 sites were admitted with CS. In patients with AMI-CS (n = 912), the IABP-SHOCK II score predicted a >3-fold gradient in in-hospital mortality (low risk = 26.5%, intermediate risk = 52.2%, high risk = 77.5%, P < .0001; c-statistic = 0.67; Hosmer-Lemeshow P = .79). The score showed a similar gradient of in-hospital mortality in patients with non-AMI-related CS (n = 2,517, P < .0001) and mixed shock (n = 923, P < .001), as well as in left ventricular (<0.0001), right ventricular (P = .0163) or biventricular (<0.0001) CS. The correlation between the IABP-SHOCK II score and SOFA was moderate (r2 = 0.17) and the IABP-SHOCK II score revealed a significant risk gradient within each SCAI stage. In an unselected international multicenter registry of patients admitted with CS, the IABP- SHOCK II score only moderately predicted in-hospital mortality in a broad population of CS regardless of etiology or irrespective of right, left, or bi-ventricular involvement.

Background Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health problem and ischemic heart disease is an important risk factor. Understanding the epidemiology of HF in patients with atherosclerosis may help identify subgroups at greater risk who have the potential to derive greater benefit from preventive strategies. Methods and Results The TRA 2°P‐TIMI 50 trial randomized 26,449 patients with stable atherosclerosis to the antiplatelet agent vorapaxar versus placebo. Hospitalization for HF (HHF) endpoints were adjudicated from serious adverse events by blinded structured review using established definitions. HHF incidence was estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Independent predictors of HHF risk were identified using multivariable logistic regression. The effect of vorapaxar on HHF risk was explored using Cox regression. The estimated incidence of HHF at 3 years was 1.6%. Independent predictors of HHF included prior HF (adjusted odds ratio [adj‐OR]: 8.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.56–10.54), age (adj‐OR [per 10 years]: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.47–1.89), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM; adj‐OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 2.01–3.24), polyvascular disease (two‐territory disease, adj‐OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.46–2.44; three‐territory disease, adj‐OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.94–3.70), chronic kidney disease (CKD; adj‐OR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.30–2.11), body mass index (BMI; adj‐OR [per 5 kg/m2]: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.03–1.27), prior myocardial infarction (MI) (adj‐OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.03–1.78), and hypertension (adj‐OR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.02–2.04). Patients who experienced HHF during follow‐up had higher rates of subsequent rehospitalization and death. Vorapaxar did not modify the risk of HHF. Conclusions In patients with stable atherosclerosis, prior HF, age, T2DM, polyvascular disease, CKD, BMI, prior MI, and hypertension are important predictors of HHF risk.

A 26-year-old woman with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and an indwelling port catheter presented with progressive dyspnea. She had received a diagnosis of pulmonary emboli 3 weeks earlier.