BACKGROUND: The probability of adverse events estimate is crucial in acute coronary syndrome condition. OBJECTIVES: To develop a risk score for the brazilian population presenting non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: One thousand and twenty seven (1,027) patients were investigated prospectively at a cardiology center in Brazil. A multiple logistic regression model was developed to estimate death or (re)infarction risk within 30 days. Model predictive accuracy was determined by C statistic. RESULTS: Combined event occurred in 54 patients (5.3%). The score was created by the arithmetic sum of independent predictors points. Points were determined by corresponding probabilities of event occurrence. The following variables have been identified: age increase (0 to 9 points); diabetes mellitus history (2 points) or prior stroke (4 points); no previous use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (1 point); creatinine level increase (0 to 10 points); the combination of troponin I level increase and ST-segment depression (0 to 4 points). Four risk groups were defined: very low (up to 5 points); low (6 to 10 points ); intermediate (11 to 15 points ); high risk (16 to 30 points ). The C statistic was 0.78 for event probability, and 0.74 for risk score. CONCLUSION: A risk score of easy application in the emergency service was developed to predict death or (re)infarction within 30 days in a brazilian population with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE:: In POWER 1 and POWER 2, darunavir (TMC114) with low-dose ritonavir (darunavir/r) demonstrated greater efficacy versus control protease inhibitors (PIs). To examine the efficacy and safety of the selected darunavir/r dose further, additional patients were analyzed. METHODS:: Treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients received darunavir/r at a dose of 600/100 mg twice daily plus an optimized background regimen. The primary intent-to-treat analysis was the proportion of patients with an HIV-1 RNA reduction >/=1log10 at week 24. RESULTS:: Three hundred twenty-seven patients were treated; the baseline mean HIV-1 RNA was 4.6 log10 copies/mL, and the medianCD4 count was 115 cells/mm(median primary PI mutations = 3, PI resistance-associated mutations = 9). Two hundred forty-six patients reached week 24 by the cutoff date and were included in the efficacy analysis: 65% and 40% achieved HIV-1 RNA reductions of >/=1log10 and <50 copies/mL, respectively, at week 24. The mean CD4 count increase was 80 cells/mm. The most common adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (14%), nasopharyngitis (11%), and nausea (10%). Nine (3%) patients discontinued treatment because of AEs or HIV-1- related events. Six treatment-unrelated deaths (2%) were reported. CONCLUSIONS:: These results corroborate POWER 1 and POWER 2. In this larger set of treatment-experienced patients, darunavir/r at a dose of 600/100 mg twice daily provided substantial virologic and immunologic responses and was generally safe and well tolerated.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the trends in the risk of death from circulatory diseases (CD) in thirteen states in Brazil between 1980 and 1998. METHODS: Data on mortality from CD, ischemic heart diseases (IHD), and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in thirteen states were obtained from the Ministry of Health data base. Populational estimates from 1980 to 1998 were calculated through interpolation, using the Lagrange method, based on data from the 1970, 1980, 1991 censuses, and 1996 populational count. The trends were analyzed by multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: Mortality due to CD showed a trend towards decrease in most states. In Pernambuco state males presented increase in all age ranges, whereas in Goiás increase was shown from 40 years of age on, and in Bahia and Mato Grosso, from 50 years of age. Females showed increase starting at 30 in Mato Grosso, at 40 in Pernambuco, and in Goiás, in the age ranging from 30 to 49 years of age. In Goiás, increase was discreet in all other age ranges. As for IHD, mortality increase was reported in all age ranges in Mato Grosso and Pernambuco; in Bahia, Goiás and Pará, from 40 on. As for CVD, mortality increase was reported in all age ranges in Mato Grosso and Pernambuco; and from 40 on in Bahia and Goiás. CONCLUSION: Significant increase in the risk of death from circulatory diseases could be observed in less developed states in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Describe clinical characteristics of patients (P) admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), identifying medical treatment and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: Evaluated were 860 patients with ACS from January through December, 2003. We evaluated baseline characteristics, ACS mode of presentation, medication during hospital stay, indication for clinical treatment or myocardial revascularization (MR) and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Five hundred and three (58.3%) were male, mean age 62.6 years (+/- 11.9). Seventy-eight (9.1%) were discharged with the diagnosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 238 (27.7%) with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI), 516 (60%) with unstable angina (UA), two (0.2%) with atypical manifestations of ACS and 26 (3%) with non-cardiac chest pain. During hospitalization, 87.9% of patients were given a beta-blocker, 95.9% acetylsalicylic acid, 89.9% anti-thrombin therapy, 86.2% intravenous nitroglycerin, 6.4% glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, 35.9% clopidogrel, 77.9% angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and 70,9% statin drugs. Coronary arteriography was performed in 72 patients (92.3%) with STEMI, and in 452 (59.8%) with non-STEMI ACS (p< 0.0001). Myocardial revascularization (MR) surgery was indicated for 12.9% and percutaneous coronary intervention for 26.6%. In-hospital mortality was 4.8%, and no difference was recorded between the proportion of deaths among patients with STEMI and non-STEMI ACS (6.4% versus 4.8%; p = 0.578). CONCLUSION: In this registry, we provide a description of ACS patient, which allows the evaluation of the demographic characteristics, medical treatment prescribed, and in-hospital mortality. A greater awareness of our reality may help the medical community to adhere more strictly to the procedures set by guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate, based on the evolution of new biochemical markers of cardiac damage, if electrical cardioversion (ECV) causes myocardial injury. METHODS: Seventy-six patients (P) submitted to elective ECV for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter were evaluated. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), CK-MB activity, CK-MB mass, myoglobin and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured before, and 6 and 24 hours after ECV. RESULTS: ECV was successful in 58 P (76.3%). Cumulative energy (CE) was up to 350 joules (J) in 36 P, from 500 to 650 J in 20 P and from 900 to 960 J in 20 P; the mean energy delivered being 493 J (+/- 309). The levels of cTnI remained within normal limits in all 76 P. The increase of cumulative energy led to an elevation of CPK levels (> p value = 0.007), CK-MB activity (> p value = 0.002), CK-MB mass (> p value = 0.03), and myoglobin (> p value = 0.015). A positive correlation between the cumulative energy and CPK peaks was observed (r = 0.660; p < 0.001), CK-MB activity (r = 0.429; p < 0.0001), CK-MB mass (r = 0.265; p = 0.02), and myoglobin (r = 0.684; p < 0.0001), as well as between the number of shocks and the CPK peaks (r = 0.770; p < 0.001), CK-MB activity (r = 0.642; p < 0.0001), CK-MB mass (r = 0.430; p < 0.0001), and myoglobin (r = 0.745; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: ECV does not cause myocardial injury detectable by cTnI measurement. Elevations of CPK, CK-MB activity, CK-MB mass and myoglobin result from skeletal muscle injury and are positively correlated with the CE delivered or with the number of shocks.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of renal dysfunction at admission or during hospitalization in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-four patients with AMI were assessed between January 2000 and December 2001. Renal function was monitored by serum creatinine (Cr) measurement at admission and peak level during hospitalization. Creatinine clearance (CrCl) was estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula. In-hospital and one-year morbidity and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age of the population studied was 62.2 +/- 13.5, and 73% of the patients were male. Renal function was more reduced in male patients and in those with systemic arterial hypertension and prior CABG. Multivariate analysis showed higher hospital mortality rates associated with increased peak serum Cr levels (OR: 1.18 95% CI: 1.18-2.77 p = 0.006), decreased baseline CrCl (OR: 0.96 95% CI: 0.93-0.99 p = 0.025) and peak CrCl (OR: 0.96 95% CI: 0.92-0.99 p = 0.023). Percent difference between baseline CrCl and the lowest CrCl obtained during hospitalization also indicated higher mortality rates (OR: 1.04 95% CI: 1.00-1.07 p = 0.033). No change was observed in the one-year morbidity and mortality from worsening of renal function. CONCLUSION: Renal dysfunction at admission and its deterioration during hospitalization have proved to be a major prognostic marker for immediate poor outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who had cardiopulmonary resuscitation and identify short- and long-term survival prognostic factors. METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-two (452) resuscitated patients in general hospitals from Salvador were prospectively assessed through bivariate and stratified analysis in associations between variables and survival curve for a nine-year evolution assessment. RESULTS: Age ranged from 14 to 93 years old, mean of 54.11 years old. Male gender patients prevailed and half of them had at least a base disease. Cardiovascular disease was the responsible etiology in 50% of cases. Cardiac arrest was observed in 77% of cases and only 69% of patients were immediately resuscitated. Initial cardiac rhythm was not diagnosed in 59% of patients. Asystole was the most frequent rhythm (42%), followed by ventricular arrhythmia (35%). Immediate survival was 24% and hospital discharge survival 5%. Cardiac arrest etiology, initial cardiac rhythm diagnosis, ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia as arrest mechanism, pre-resuscitation estimated time lower than or equal to 15 minutes and resuscitation time lower than or equal to 5 minutes were recognized as short-term prognostic factors. Non-administration of epinephrine, being resuscitated in private hospital and resuscitation time lower than or equal to 15 minutes were nine-year evolution survival prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Data may help healthcare professionals decide when start or stop in-hospital resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a stratified risk analysis in Myocardial Revascularization Surgery (MRS). METHODS: 814 patients were prospectively studied by applying two prognostic indexes (PI): Parsonnet and Modified Higgins. The Higgins PI was modified by substituting the variable "cardiac index value" by "low cardiac output syndrome" at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. The discriminatory capacity for morbimortality of both indexes was analyzed by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve. Logistic reaction identified the associated factors, independently from the events. RESULTS: Mortality and morbidity rates were 5.9% and 35.5%, respectively. The Modified Higgins PI, which analyzes pre- and intra-operative and physiological variables at the ICU admission showed areas under the ROC curve of 77% for mortality and 67% for morbidity. The Parsonnet PI, which only analyzes pre-operative variables, showed areas of 62.2% and 62.4%, respectively. Twelve variables were characterized as independent prognostic factors: age, diabetes mellitus, low body surface, creatinine levels (>1.5 mg/dL), hypoalbuminemia, non-elective surgery, prolonged time of extracorporeal circulation (ECC), necessity of post-ECC intra-aortic balloon, low cardiac output syndrome at the ICU admission, elevated cardiac frequency, decrease in serum bicarbonate concentrations and increase of the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient within this period. CONCLUSION:The Modified Higgins PI showed to be superior to the Parsonnet PI at the surgical risk stratification, showing the importance of the analysis of intraoperative events and physiological variables at the patient's ICU admission, when prognostic definition is achieved.

BACKGROUND: The standard of care for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is prompt coronary reperfusion with thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention. Women have higher mortality rates than men following STEMI and fewer women are considered eligible for reperfusion therapy. We analyzed the impact of gender, and other factors, on the outcome and treatment of STEMI in the TETAMI trial and registry. METHODS: This exploratory analysis included 2741 patients from Treatment with Enoxaparin and Tirofiban in Acute Myocardial Infarction (TETAMI) presenting with STEMI within 24 hours of symptom onset. The primary composite end point was the combined incidence of all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and recurrent angina, at 30 days. Three multivariate analyses were performed to determine predictors of not receiving reperfusion therapy, the composite end point, or death. RESULTS: The triple end point occurred in 17.8% of women versus 13.3% of men. Reperfusion therapy was utilized in 38.2% of women versus 47.3% in men. However, age > 75 years, delayed presentation, high systolic blood pressure (> 100) and region (South Africa), were significant, independent predictors of not receiving reperfusion therapy. Significant predictors of the triple end point included not receiving reperfusion therapy, age > 60 years, and higher Killip class. Predictors of death included age > 60 years, low systolic blood pressure, higher Killip class, high heart rate, delayed presentation, and region (South Africa and South America). CONCLUSION: Female gender was not an independent predictor of outcome or underutilization of reperfusion therapy. Factors more common in female STEMI patients (advanced age and delayed presentation) were associated with not receiving reperfusion therapy and adverse outcome. Increased awareness is needed to reduce delayed presentation after symptom onset, especially among women.Abbreviated abstract. In this analysis of 2741 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients in the TETAMI trial and registry, a trend was observed for women being less likely to receive reperfusion therapy and more likely to have an adverse outcome than men. This was related to factors more common in female patients (advanced age and delayed presentation), and showed that an increased awareness is needed to reduce delayed presentation after symptom onset, especially among women.