Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection may present as pocket infection or as infective endocarditis (CIED-IE) with vegetation on device leads or heart valves. As aspirin has both anti-inflammatory properties and interferes with platelet aggregation, we hypothesized that ongoing anti-platelet therapy with aspirin may impact clinical and echocardiographic manifestations of CIED infection. We retrospectively reviewed 415 cases of CIED infection admitted to Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1991 to 2008. Information regarding aspirin use was available in 392 (94.5%) cases and 178 (45%) had received aspirin therapy prior to clinical onset of CIED infection. Although there were no significant differences in pathogen distribution between patients who had received prior aspirin therapy as compared with those who did not, patients on aspirin therapy were less likely to report chills (25% vs. 35%, P = 0.04), sweats (9% vs.18%, P = 0.01), or have peripheral leukocytosis on admission (33% vs. 46%, P = 0.005). Overall, 82 (21%) of 392 patients met the clinical criteria for CIED-IE. Patients on prior aspirin therapy were significantly less likely to have vegetations on CIED leads or heart valves than those who had not received it (15% vs. 26%, P = 0.01). However, despite the lower frequency of CIED-IE in the aspirin group, there was no significant difference (P = 0.97) in the overall survival between the two groups. Aspirin therapy prior to onset of CIED infection was associated with a lower likelihood of vegetation formation on CIED leads or heart valves and associated systemic manifestations of infection.
Prior reports regarding the association between physical activity and subclinical cardiovascular disease have not been consistent. The authors assessed physical activity and walking pace via questionnaire among 6,482 US adults aged 45–84 years without prior clinical cardiovascular disease participating in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis from 2000 to 2002. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), coronary artery calcification, and internal and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured. Metabolic equivalent-hours/week of physical activity were calculated. These data were analyzed by using multivariable linear or relative prevalence regression in gender-specific strata. After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, clinic site, education, income, and smoking (model 1), increasing total, moderate + vigorous, and intentional-exercise physical activity were not associated with IMT or coronary artery calcification in either gender. These factors were associated with increased ABI (P < 0.05) in women only. Walking pace was associated favorably with common carotid IMT, ABI, and coronary artery calcification in men and with common carotid IMT and ABI in women (all P < 0.05) after adjustment for model 1 variables. These associations were attenuated and, for common carotid IMT, no longer significant when lipids, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index were added to the model. These data suggest that walking pace is associated with less subclinical atherosclerosis; these associations may be mediated by cardiovascular disease risk factors.
