Active clinical trials for "Acute Coronary Syndrome"

Clinical decision units (CDUs) improve resource utilization and are a recommended care option by the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association, but are underutilized in non-low risk chest pain patients due to weaknesses of traditional cardiac testing. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is sensitive and specific for ischemia, can simultaneously assess cardiac function and myocardial perfusion, and could revolutionize the diagnostic process for intermediate risk patients with chest pain. The primary objective of this trial is to measure the efficiency and safety of a combined CDU-CMR care pathway compared to inpatient care among patients with non-low risk acute chest pain.

The aim of the present study is to assess if a personal care program of smokers hospitalised for acute coronary syndrome can change the smoking habits as compared with similar patients in conventional care program at 6 months. The program includes a cognitive-behavioural approach associated with a nicotine replacement treatment presented as an obligatory non optional treatment. Patients are men and women of less than 70 years old hospitalised for acute coronary syndrome. Major exclusion criteria is the presence of another dependence. The program includes a cognitive-behavioural approach based on the specific technique of "exposure" and the prescription of nicotine patch considered as other usual cardiologic treatments for at least 6 months. The end point is the smoking habits at 6 months classified as: no smoking confirmed by CO measurement, smoking or doubtful (declaration of no smoking by the patient but a CO level > 10 ppm). 72 patients in each group will be included in 2 majors sites.

Aspirin and clopidogrel +/- heparin or thrombolytic co-therapy is well established and effective treatment for unstable cardiac patients. However, the major complication was gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) due to peptic ulcer. In the prevention of GIB, anti-ulcer drug either H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) were commonly prescribed. There has been no prospective controlled study to compare the efficacy of these two classes of anti-ulcer drugs.

Overtesting for Acute Coronary Syndrome(ACS) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) in low risk Emergency Department(ED) patients can increase exposure of nondiseased patients to radiation, intravenous contrast and anticoagulation. This project addresses question of whether quantitative Pre-Test Probability(PTP) assessed from two validated web-based computer algorithms (the project "webtool"), can improve the diagnostic evaluation of adult patients with charted evidence of chest pain and dyspnea. After a validation phase, the main study will randomize patients to either the Standard care group or the Intervention group, which will receive the output of the ACS and PE webtool that includes the PTP estimates of ACS and PE and one of three recommendations regarding next steps: 1. No further testing, 2. Exclusion with a biomarker protocol, or 3. Immediate imaging +/- empiric anticoagulation.

This present study is specifically designed to examine the efficacy and safety of a high pre-treatment dose of atorvastatin in Asian patients with NSTE-ACS in China and the Republic of Korea, by using a treatment paradigm similar to that employed in the ARMYDA-ACS study.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the combination of aspirin plus clopidogrel is more effective than aspirin alone in preventing another heart attack, chest pain, stroke or death in people who have already had a heart attack that was treated with fibrinolytic therapy.

The purpose of the study was to test a telephone counseling intervention for patients after leaving the hospital for a heart attack to use medication, exercise, healthy eating and smoking cessation to prevent further heart attacks.

The current assessment of patients with acute chest pain in the Emergency Department (ED) remains lengthy with the need for serial troponin. This contributes to overcrowding in the ED and work overload of clinical staff. These are associated with increased costs and adverse patient outcomes. The use of risk scores such at HEART score can be subjective and is not useful in risk stratification for those with higher risk (age and risk factors) to Major Acute Cardiac Event (MACE). Aim of Study: This study is designed to explore whether the use of Automatic Retinal Image Analysis (ARIA) can identify patients presenting with undifferentiated chest pain without the need for serial troponin test results in order to facilitate early and safely discharge and at high-risk MACE to receive early appropriate intervention. Hypothesis: ARIA or the combination with single troponin or HEART score can identify patients with undifferentiated chest pain presenting to the ED at low- and high-risk of adverse cardiac events within 30 days and 3 months after initial presentation. Procedure: The ARIA is a non-invasive and novel technology, it will be used to access the risk of acute coronary syndrome by analyzing of fundus (back of the eye) photo taken by a fundus camera. All subjects will be arranged to take a fundus photography (both eyes) by a conventional fundus camera, and capture the retinal photo. The images will be used to develop a risk stratification method for chest pain patients presenting to ED with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The fundus photography will be taken in the Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital. The process takes about 5-8 minutes. Subject may feel discomfort for a short while at the time of photo taking due to flash exposure similar to ordinary camera flash, but the procedure is neither invasive nor painful. The fundus image will then be analyzed by computer algorithm developed by the research team. Apart from that, subject's medical history, ECG findings, age and sex, risk factors, and serial troponin levels will be recorded during their ED visit in order to work out the HEART score. Their disposal outcome from the ED will also be recorded. After 30 days, subject will be phoned to follow-up whether they have been readmitted into the hospital. If the subject have been readmitted, his/her investigation findings, diagnosis, treatment, disposal outcome, and length-of-stay will be recorded. The same follow-up process will be performed once more at 3 months after the subject has joined the study in his/her inital ED visit.

Rationale: Thoracic complaints, possibly due to a cardiac ischemic cause are a diagnostic challenge in general practice. When an underlying ischemic cardiac condition (AMI (acute myocardial infarction), UAP (unstable angina pectoris)) is considered, referral from general practitioner (GP) to a cardiologist has to take place. However, cardiac analysis in 80% of referred patients is negative. To optimize referral decisions of GPs, new and fast diagnostics are needed. Objective: To assess the incremental diagnostic value for AMI of a novel rapid PoC H-FABP-test in addition to history taking and physical examination in patients presenting in daily general practice with possible AMI. In addition the cost-effectiveness of the test will be evaluated. Study design: Delayed type cross-sectional diagnostic study. Study population: Patients presenting to the GP with any new-onset chest complaint, at time of presentation not lasting for more than 24 hours, that is considered to be of possible cardiac origin by the GP. Intervention: Point of care Heart Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein test (PoC H-FABP-test), added to usual care. PoC H-FABP-testing, by qualitatively measuring H-FABP in one single drop of blood obtained by finger prick, is added to normal procedures of consultation and referral decision by the GP. Main study parameters / endpoints: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of point of care H-FABP-testing for AMI, alone as well as part of a clinical diagnostic algorithm, in patients with thoracic complaints in general practice. All outcome measures, based on using an algorithm and/or point of care H-FABP-testing, will be compared to regular diagnostic assessment by the GP without using an algorithm and/or point of care H-FABP-testing. Therefore, incremental value of H-FABP-testing and/or a diagnostic algorithm is measured. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Individual participants will experience low risk, since study participation comprehends regular care except for an extra finger prick and possibly collection of one extra venous blood sample. For this low amount of disadvantage, the participant will experience no advantage either. However, results of the study will possibly be useful for similar patients in future.

Primary Objective: To compare the effect of alirocumab with placebo on the occurrence of cardiovascular (CV) events (composite endpoint of coronary heart disease (CHD) death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), fatal and non-fatal ischemic stroke, unstable angina (UA) requiring hospitalization) in participants who experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event 4 to 52 weeks prior to randomization and were treated with evidence-based medical and dietary management of dyslipidemia. Secondary Objectives: To evaluate the effect of alirocumab on secondary endpoints (any CHD event , major CHD event, any CV event, composite of all cause mortality/non-fatal MI/non-fatal ischemic stroke, CHD deaths, CV deaths, all cause mortality). To evaluate the safety and tolerability of alirocumab. To evaluate the effect of alirocumab on lipid parameters.