Table 1.
Characteristics of the study population: survivors vs. non-survivors.
| Characteristics | Survivors (n = 58) |
Non-Survivors (n = 24) |
p-Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 71.3 ± 7.9 | 73.1 ± 8.6 | 0.36 |
| Female (n/%) | 38 (65.5) | 20 (83.3) | 0.12 |
| Weight (kg) | 78.4 ± 11.9 | 76.6 ± 12.9 | 0.55 |
| Height (cm) | 167.4 ± 7.9 | 166.2 ± 9.0 | 0.53 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 28.0 ± 3.6 | 27.8 ± 4.4 | 0.84 |
| Systolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 130.3 ± 14.4 | 130.6 ± 10.5 | 0.91 |
| Diastolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 76.3 ± 8.0 | 75.8 ± 7.5 | 0.81 |
| Heart rate (bpm) | 63.6 ± 9.2 | 67.8 ± 12.6 | 0.09 |
| Symptomatic (n/%) | 23 (39.6) | 14 (58.3) | 0.12 |
| Diabetes (n/%) | 18 (31.0) | 8 (33.3) | 0.84 |
| Hypertension (n/%) | 53 (91.4) | 22 (91.7) | 0.97 |
| Smokers (n/%) | 8 (13.8) | 6 (25) | 0.22 |
| Ex-smokers (n/%) | 22 (37.9) | 7 (29.2) | 0.46 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 4.2 ± 3.9 | 5.2 ± 3.5 | 0.90 |
| Leucocytes (admission) (×103/mm3) | 7.3 ± 2.0 | 8.4 ± 2.4 | 0.049 |
| Leucocytes (peak) (×103/mm3) | 11.9 ± 4.3 | 11.5 ± 3.3 | 0.74 |
| Total Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 158.6 ± 35.3 | 159.4 ± 51.7 | 0.93 |
| LDL-C (mg/dL) | 85.9 ± 33.1 | 85.8 ± 42.5 | 0.99 |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 51.9 ± 19.7 | 45.5 ± 11.3 | 0.14 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 104.0 ± 45.6 | 140.5 ± 66.4 | 0.005 |
| Troponin I (ng/mL) | 0.023 ± 0.035 | 0.027 ± 0.028 | 0.61 |
| Plaque instability features in asymptomatic pts | |||
| - Stenosis progression > 30% (n/%) | 9 (25.7) | 3 (30) | 0.79 |
| - Large plaque (n/%) | 10 (28.6) | 6 (25) | 0.07 |
| - Necrotic core (n/%) | 7 (20) | 4 (16.7) | 0.20 |
| - Echolucent plaque (n/%) | 7 (20) | 4 (16.7) | 0.20 |
| - Hypoechoic areas (n/%) | 6 (17.1) | 4 (16.7) | 0.13 |
| - Intraplaque hemorrhages (n/%) | 7 (20) | 5 (20.8) | 0.06 |
| - Surface irregularity (n/%) | 17 (48.6) | 8 (33.3) | 0.08 |
| - Silent infarction on CT/MRI (n/%) | 10 (28.6) | 6 (25) | 0.07 |
| sST2 (ng/mL) | 38.0 ± 30.0 | 117.0 ± 103.9 | <0.001 |
| Pharmacological treatments | |||
| ACEi/sartans (n/%) | 51 (87.9) | 20 (83.3) | 0.58 |
| Beta-blockers (n/%) | 42 (72.4) | 17 (70.8) | 0.88 |
| Diuretics (n/%) | 20 (34.5) | 9 (37.5) | 0.80 |
| MRA (n/%) | 11 (19.0) | 5 (20.8) | 0.84 |
| Statins (n/%) | 47 (81.0) | 21 (87.5) | 0.48 |
| Ezetimibe (n/%) | 10 (17.2) | 5 (20.8) | 0.71 |
| PCSK9i (n/%) | 4 (6.9) | 2 (8.3) | 0.82 |
Data are expressed as number ± standard deviation and/or number and percentages. Abbreviations: ACEi: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; BMI: body mass index; CT: computer tomography; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MRA: mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; PCSK9i: proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors; sST2: soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity. BMI: body mass index.