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Background Socioeconomic status (SES) factors often result in profound health inequalities among populations, and their impact may differ between sexes. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the effect of socioeconomic status indicators on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related events among males and females with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods A population-based cohort from a southern European region including 24,650 patients with T2D was followed for five years. The sex-specific associations between SES indicators and the first occurring CVD event were modeled using multivariate Fine-Gray competing risk models. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and stroke were considered secondary outcomes. Results Patients without a formal education had a significantly higher risk of CVD than those with a high school or university education, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) equal to 1.24 (95%CI: 1.09–1.41) for males and 1.50 (95%CI: 1.09–2.06) for females. Patients with <18 000€ income had also higher CVD risk than those with ≥18 000€, with HRs equal to 1.44 (95%CI: 1.29–1.59) for males and 1.42 (95%CI: 1.26–1.60) for females. Being immigrant showed a HR equal to 0.81 (95%CI: 0.66–0.99) for males and 1.13 (95%CI: 0.68–1.87) for females. Similar results were observed for stroke, but differed for CHD when income is used, which had higher effect in females. Conclusion Socioeconomic inequalities in CVD outcomes are present among T2D patients, and their magnitude for educational attainment is sex-dependent, being higher in females, suggesting the need to consider them when designing tailored primary prevention and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Physical activity has benefits for the cardiovascular system, however, what levels and types of activity provide optimal cardiovascular health is unclear. We aimed to determine the level of physical activity that has the most benefits against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for prospective cohort studies on leisure-time (LTPA) or occupational physical activity (OPA) as the exposure and major types of CVD (total CVD, coronary heart disease [CHD], stroke, and atrial fibrillation [AF]) incidence as the outcome. Risk of bias of studies was evaluated using the ROBINS-I tool. Summary hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using random-effects pairwise model. Results: A total of 103 studies were included in the analysis. The highest versus the lowest LTPA was associated with a lower risk of overall CVD (HR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.77–0.86), CHD (HR = 0.83; 0.79–0.88), and stroke (HR = 0.83; 0.79–0.88), but not AF (HR = 0.98; 0.92–1.05). Linear dose-response analyses showed a 10%, 12%, 9%, and 8% risk reduction in CVD, CHD, stroke, and AF incidence, respectively, for every 20 MET-hours/week increase in LTPA. In nonlinear dose-response analyses, there were inverse associations up to 20 MET-hours/week with 19% and 20% reduction in CVD and CHD risk, and up to 25 MET-hours/week with 22% reduction in stroke, with no further risk reduction at higher LTPA levels. For AF, there was a U-shaped nonlinear association with the maximum 8% risk reduction at 10 MET-hours/week of LTPA. Higher levels of OPA were not associated with risk of CVD, CHD, stroke, or AF. Conclusions: Overall, results showed an inverse dose-response relationship between LTPA and risk of CVD, CHD, stroke, and AF. Running was the most beneficial LTPA but the risk was similar among various LTPA intensities. OPA showed no benefits in total or any type of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Childhood cancer survivors have increased risk of dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risks of specific lipid abnormalities among childhood cancer survivors. Methods Comprehensive lipid panel measurements were obtained from 4115 5-year survivors, with 3406 (mean age at evaluation = 35.2 years, SD = 10.4 years) not having previous dyslipidemia diagnosis, as well as 624 age, sex, and race and ethnicity matched community controls. Results Previously undiagnosed dyslipidemia with abnormal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (>160 mg/dL), non–high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (>190 mg/dL), HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dL for men, <50 mg/dL for women), and triglycerides (>150 mg/dL) were identified in 4%, 6%, 30%, and 17%, respectively. Survivors without previous dyslipidemia diagnosis had higher LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol than community controls. Cranial radiotherapy (relative risk [RR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6 to 3.0 for non-HDL cholesterol) and total body irradiation for hematopoietic cell transplantation (RR = 6.7, 95% CI = 3.5 to 13.0 for non-HDL cholesterol; RR = 9.9, 95% CI = 6.0 to 16.3 for triglycerides) were associated with greater risk of dyslipidemia. Diagnoses of low HDL cholesterol (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.8 to 4.7) and elevated triglycerides (HR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.9 to 5.1) were associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction, and diagnoses of high LDL cholesterol (HR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.7), high non-HDL cholesterol (HR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.7), low HDL cholesterol (HR = 3.9, 95% CI = 2.8 to 5.4), and elevated triglycerides (HR = 3.8, 95% CI = 2.7 to 5.5) were associated with increased risk for cardiomyopathy. Conclusions Previously undiagnosed dyslipidemia among childhood cancer survivors was associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy. Comprehensive dyslipidemia evaluation and treatment are needed to reduce cardiovascular morbidity in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in women and is the leading cause of pregnancy‐related mortality in Australia. This study aims to discover the extent of teaching regarding women's cardiovascular health in Australian and New Zealand medical schools. All 22 medical schools in Australia and New Zealand were approached for participation in completing this survey. Seven medical schools (32%) completed the survey and demonstrated that within our sample population, findings suggest that while women's cardiovascular health is present in medical curricula, there is a large variability in the rigour and depth as to which it is taught, as well as possible lack of explicit teaching and examination regarding this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Greater cardiovascular burden and peripheral inflammation are associated with dysexecutive neuropsychological profiles and a higher likelihood of conversion to vascular dementia. The digital clock drawing test (dCDT) is useful in identifying neuropsychological dysfunction related to vascular etiology. However, the specific cognitive implications of the combination of cardiovascular risk, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity remain unknown. Objective: We aimed to examine the role of cardiovascular burden, inflammation, and MRI-defined brain integrity on dCDT latency and graphomotor metrics in older adults. Methods: 184 non-demented older adults (age 69±6, 16±3 education years, 46% female, 94% white) completed dCDT, vascular assessment, blood draw, and brain MRI. dCDT variables of interest: total completion time (TCT), pre-first hand latency, digit misplacement, hour hand distance from center, and clock face area. Cardiovascular burden was calculated using the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP-10). Peripheral inflammation markers included interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Brain integrity included bilateral entorhinal cortex volume, lateral ventricular volume, and whole brain leukoaraiosis. Results: FSRP-10, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity explained an additional 14.6% of the variance in command TCT, where FSRP-10 was the main predictor. FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 17.0% in command digit misplacement variance, with findings largely driven by FSRP-10. Conclusion: Subtle graphomotor behavior operationalized using dCDT metrics (i.e., TCT and digit misplacement) is partly explained by cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity and may indicate vulnerability to a disease process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease" provides an update to and consolidates new evidence since the "2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease" and the corresponding "2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Focused Update of the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease." A comprehensive literature search was conducted from September 2021 to May 2022. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. This guideline provides an evidenced-based and patient-centered approach to management of patients with chronic coronary disease, considering social determinants of health and incorporating the principles of shared decision-making and team-based care. Relevant topics include general approaches to treatment decisions, guideline-directed management and therapy to reduce symptoms and future cardiovascular events, decision-making pertaining to revascularization in patients with chronic coronary disease, recommendations for management in special populations, patient follow-up and monitoring, evidence gaps, and areas in need of future research. Where applicable, and based on availability of cost-effectiveness data, cost–value recommendations are also provided for clinicians. Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The "2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease" provides an update to and consolidates new evidence since the "2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease" and the corresponding "2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Focused Update of the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease.". METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from September 2021 to May 2022. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. STRUCTURE: This guideline provides an evidenced-based and patient-centered approach to management of patients with chronic coronary disease, considering social determinants of health and incorporating the principles of shared decision-making and team-based care. Relevant topics include general approaches to treatment decisions, guideline-directed management and therapy to reduce symptoms and future cardiovascular events, decision-making pertaining to revascularization in patients with chronic coronary disease, recommendations for management in special populations, patient follow-up and monitoring, evidence gaps, and areas in need of future research. Where applicable, and based on availability of cost-effectiveness data, cost-value recommendations are also provided for clinicians. Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian American individuals make up the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the United States. Despite the substantial variability that exists in type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk among the different subgroups of Asian Americans, the current literature, when available, often fails to examine these subgroups individually. The purpose of this scientific statement is to summarize the latest disaggregated data, when possible, on Asian American demographics, prevalence, biological mechanisms, genetics, health behaviors, acculturation and lifestyle interventions, pharmacological therapy, complementary alternative interventions, and their impact on type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. On the basis of available evidence to date, we noted that the prevalences of type 2 diabetes and stroke mortality are higher in all Asian American subgroups compared with non-Hispanic White adults. Data also showed that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk is highest among South Asian and Filipino adults but lowest among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean adults. This scientific statement discusses the biological pathway of type 2 diabetes and the possible role of genetics in type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among Asian American adults. Challenges to provide evidence-based recommendations included the limited data on Asian American adults in risk prediction models, national surveillance surveys, and clinical trials, leading to significant research disparities in this population. The large disparity within this population is a call for action to the public health and clinical health care community, for whom opportunities for the inclusion of the Asian American subgroups should be a priority. Future studies of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in Asian American adults need to be adequately powered, to incorporate multiple Asian ancestries, and to include multigenerational cohorts. With advances in epidemiology and data analysis and the availability of larger, representative cohorts, furthering refining the Pooled Cohort Equations, in addition to enhancers, would allow better risk estimation in segments of the population. Last, this scientific statement provides individual- and community-level intervention suggestions for health care professionals who interact with the Asian American population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest that the risk factor profile of patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is changing. The aim is to determine if there has been a shift of cardiovascular risk factors to cardiometabolic causes in the first presentation STEMI population. We analysed data from a STEMI registry from a large tertiary referral percutaneous coronary intervention centre to determine the prevalence and trends of the modifiable risk factors of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and hypercholesterolaemia. Consecutive first presentation STEMI patients between January 2006 to December 2018. Among the 2,366 patients included (mean age 59, SD 12.66, 80% male) the common risk factors were hypertension (47%), hypercholesterolaemia (47%) current smoking (42%) and diabetes (27%). Over the 13 years, patients with diabetes (20% to 26%, OR 1.09 per year, CI 1.06–1.11, p<0.001) and patients with no modifiable risk factors increased (9% to 17%, OR 1.08, CI 1.04–1.11, p<0.001). Concurrently there was a fall in prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia, (47% to 37%, OR 0.94 per year, CI 0.92–0.96, p<0.001) and smoking (44% to 41%, OR 0.94, CI 0.92–0.96, p<0.001) but no significant change in rates of hypertension (53% to 49%, OR 0.99, CI 0.97–1.01, p=0.25). The risk factor profile of first presentation STEMI has changed over time with a reduction in smoking and a concurrent rise in patients with no traditional risk factors. This suggests the mechanism of STEMI may be changing and further investigation of potential causal factors is warranted for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of death worldwide, and several modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors contribute to this burden of disability and mortality. Thus, effective cardiovascular prevention relies on appropriate strategies to control risk factors within the frame of unmodifiable traits. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of treated hypertensive adults aged ≥ 50 years enrolled in Save Your Heart. CVD risk and hypertension control rates based on the 2021 updated European Society of Cardiology guidelines were evaluated. Comparisons with previous standards in terms of risk stratification and hypertension control rates were performed. Results: Among the 512 patients evaluated, with the application of the new parameters for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular risk assessment, the proportion of individuals at high or very high risk rises from 48.7 to 77.1% of cases. A trend towards lower hypertension control rates was observed based on 2021 European guidelines compared with the 2018 edition (likelihood estimate for difference: 1.76%, 95% CI − 4.1 to 7.6%, p = 0.589). Conclusions: In this secondary analysis on the Save Your Heart study, the application of the new parameters reported in the European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention 2021 showed a hypertensive population with a very high probability of encountering a fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular event due to failure to control risk factors. For this reason, a better management of risk factors must be the main goal for the patient and all the involved stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to the impact of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists among female patients with breast cancer remains a controversy. Methods: Information from the Registry for Catastrophic Illness, the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), and the Death Registry Database in Taiwan were analyzed. Female patients with breast cancer were selected from the Registry for Catastrophic Illness from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018. All the breast cancer patients were followed until new‐onset IHD diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2018. A Kaplan–Meier survival curve was drawn to show the difference between patients treated with and without GnRH agonists. The Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the effects of GnRH agonists and the incidence of IHD. Results: A total of 172,850 female patients with breast cancer were recognized with a mean age of 52.6 years. Among them, 6071(3.5%) had received GnRH agonist therapy. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed a significant difference between patients with and without GnRH therapy (log‐rank p < 0.0001). Patients who received GnRH therapy had a significantly decreased risk of developing IHD than those without GnRH therapy (HR = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.14–0.23). After adjusting for age, treatment, and comorbidity, patients who received GnRH therapy still had a significantly lower risk of developing IHD (AHR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.39–0.64). Conclusion: The study showed that the use of GnRH agonists for breast cancer treatment was significantly associated with a reduced risk of IHD. Further research is required to investigate the possible protective effect of GnRH on IHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Familial hipercholesterolemia is monogenetic disorder associated with early onset of cardiovascular disease. The measurement of low density cholesterol is the primary therapeutic goal in familial hypercholesterolemia patients, but despite the lipid-lowering therapy cardiovascular disease still occurs. It became clear that it's necessary to consider residual cardiovascular risk. The aim of study was to evaluate residual cardiovascular risk in familial hipercholesterolemia. Material and Methods. In this cross-sectional study we included 291 familial hipercholesterolemia patients with and without previously diagnosed diabetes. Based on value of the Dutch Lipid Clinical Network score criteria, familial hipercholesterolemia patients without diabetes was further divided into: possible (3-5 points), probable (6-8 points), and definite (>8 points) familial hypercholesterolemia. Triglyceride to high density cholesterol ratio, non-HDL-cholesterol and remnant cholesterol were used as parameters of lipid residual cardiovascular risk. Results. We found statistically significant differences in total cholesterol, low and high density cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B between the groups (p>0.05). The definite and probable group had higher non-HDL-cholesterol values than possible and familial hypercholesterolemia with diabetes (p<0.01) groups. Familial hypercholesterolemia with diabetes group had higher values of triglyceride to high density cholesterol ratio and remnant cholesterol than definite and probable group (p<0.01). Regression analysis showed that triglyceride to high density cholesterol ratio was independent predictor of appearance of coronary artery disease in addition to elevated low density cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol (p<0.01). Conclusion. Triglyceride to high density cholesterol ratio is the most important parameter of the lipid residual cardiovacular risk that strongly linked with cardiovascular disease in familal hypercholesterolemia patients, especially with associated diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to identify the incidence, risk factors and outcomes associated with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). Method: it is a with prospective cohort study data collection from medical records data. Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that went through hemodynamic study in 2017 and 2018 were included. Results: when analyzing 445 medical records, the occurrence of MINOCA was observed in 28 patients (6.3%). Comparing the MINOCA group with the obstructive AMI group, patients in the MINOCA group were younger, with a mean age of 54 years (SD ± 14; p=0.007), had a lower incidence of smoking (2 versus 156, p<0.001), hypertension (10 versus 242; p=0.002), shorter mean length of hospital stay (days) (5.79 ± 3.05 versus 7.49 ± 5.20; p= 0.02) and fewer admissions to intensive care unit (5 versus 212; p=0.002). Conclusion: the estimated incidence of MINOCA among the total number of AMI in southern Santa Catarina was 6.3% [CI 95]. Patients in the MINOCA group had a lower prevalence of comorbidities, better in-hospital evolution and better outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of cardiovascular risk communication strategies to improve understanding and promote risk factor modification. Design: Systematic review with narrative synthesis. Data sources A comprehensive database search for quantitative and qualitative studies was conducted in five databases, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied health Literature (CINAHL), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) and Web of Science. The searches were conducted between 1980 and July 2019. Review methods The systematic review was conducted in accordance with Cochrane review methods. Data were extracted and a narrative synthesis of quantitative and qualitative results was undertaken. Results: The abstracts of 16,613 articles were assessed and 210 underwent in‐depth review, with 31 fulfilling the inclusion criteria. We observed significant heterogeneity across study designs and outcomes. Nine communication strategies were identified including numerical formats, graphical formats, qualitative information, infographics, avatars, game interactions, timeframes, genetic risk scores and cardiovascular imaging. Strategies that used cardiovascular imaging had the biggest impact on health behaviour change and risk factor modification. Improvements were seen in diet, exercise, smoking, risk scores, cholesterol and intentions to take preventive medication. Conclusion: A wide range of cardiovascular risk communication strategies has been evaluated, with those that employ personalized and visual evidence of current cardiovascular health status more likely to promote action to reduce risk. Impact Future risk communication strategies should incorporate methods to provide individuals with evidence of their current cardiovascular health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to compare the prevalence of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in Hispanic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients versus healthy controls. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study included 46 SLE patients who fulfilled the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism and American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria for SLE and with age ≥ 18 years. For comparison, we included a control group with 46 non-SLE subjects matched by age (±5 years) and gender. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed on every participant. The echocardiographic measurements evaluated were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), relative wall thickness (RWT), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Left ventricular-Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) was evaluated, and a value higher than −18% was classified as subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Comparisons between groups were made using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for qualitative variables, and Student's t-test or the Mann–Whitney's U test for quantitative variables. A p-value <.05 was considered significant. Results: We found a significant difference in the presence of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction between SLE-patients and controls (37.0% vs 8.7%, p =.001). We also found that SLE patients had a lower left ventricular GLS (−18.90% vs −20.51%, p =.011), TAPSE (21.63 mm vs 23.60 mm, p =.009), and LVEF (57.17% vs 62.47%, p = <.001) than controls. Systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis was independently associated with the presence of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an OR of 6.068 (CI 95% 1.675−21.987) (p =.006). Subclinical systolic dysfunction was more common in men (29.4% vs 3.4%, p =.020), patients with obesity (17.6% vs 0%, p =.045), or hypertension (47.1% vs 6.9%, p =.001). Conclusion: Systemic lupus erythematosus Hispanic patients had a higher prevalence of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and worse left ventricular GLS, LVEF, and TAPSE values than matched healthy controls. Additionally, we found that male gender, obesity, and hypertension are associated with the presence of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in SLE patients. The inclusion of speckle tracking echocardiography as part of the cardiovascular evaluation of SLE patients may help identify high cardiovascular risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective study was conducted on 51 patients undergoing hip fracture surgery to investigate the factors associated with the formation of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The independent sample t-test and correlation analysis were used to sort out and analyze the data. The findings are as follows. (1) Different gender samples showed significant differences in the Caprini score and thrombus location. Most DVTs in females are located in the posterior tibial vein and intermuscular veins. The Caprini score of females was significantly higher than that of males. (2) Age displays a positive correlation with DVT, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and different surgical types, respectively. (3) There is a correlation between age and operation duration. (4) Hyperlipidemia and cerebrovascular disease show a positive correlation with DVT. (5) There was a significant negative correlation between the Caprini score and the quantification of D-dimer. This indicates that in this sample, the higher the patients' Caprini score is, the lower the quantitation of D-dimer will be. (6) Hyperlipidemia and cardiac insufficiency show a positive correlation with cerebrovascular disease. Patients with hyperlipidemia and cardiac insufficiency may also suffer from cerebrovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH) approaches that of the general population, the burden of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing. Regardless of HIV status, about 50% of CVD deaths worldwide occur in Asia, and Asian PLWH have a high prevalence of conventional CVD risk factors, such as smoking, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and insulin resistance or diabetes. As well as conventional CVD risk factors, PLWH have HIV‐specific risk factors such as chronic inflammation, immune activation and endothelial damage, as well as risk factors related to antiretroviral therapy. This review describes the current knowledge on the epidemiology and risk factors of CVD in Asian PLWH and provides an Asian perspective on the recommendations for managing CVD risk in PLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older patients (≥65 years) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are undertreated for cardiovascular disease (CVD). One reason for this disparity could be that patients with MCI might underestimate the chances of CVD and overestimate dementia.Objective: To compare conceptions of health risk between older patients with MCI and normal cognition (NC) and their care partners.Methods: We conducted a multi-center mixed-methods study of patient-care partner dyads completing written quantitative surveys (73% response rate; 127 dyads: 66 MCI and 61 NC) or semi-structured interviews (20 dyads: 11 MCI, and 9 NC). Surveys assessed two-year patient risks of dementia, heart attack, stroke, and fall. Interviews assessed similar health risks and reasons for risk perceptions.Results: On surveys, a similarly low proportion of MCI and NC patients felt they were at risk of stroke (5% versus 2%; p = 0.62) and heart attack (2% versus 0%; p = 0.99). More MCI than NC patients perceived dementia risk (26% versus 2%; p < 0.001). Care partners' survey findings were similar. Interviews generally confirmed these patterns and also identified reasons for future health concerns. For both MCI and NC dyads, personal experience with cognitive decline or CVD (personal or family history) increased concerns about each disease. Additionally, perceptions of irreversibility and lack of treatment for cognitive decline increased concern about dementia.Conclusion: Less use of CVD treatments in MCI seems unlikely to be driven by differential perceptions of CVD risk. Future work to improve awareness of CVD risks in older patients and dementia risk in patients with MCI are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Multisociety cholesterol guideline states that statin therapy may be withheld or delayed among intermediate-risk individuals in the absence of coronary artery calcium (CAC=0). We evaluated whether traditional cardiovascular risk factors are associated with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events among individuals with CAC=0 over long-term follow-up.Methods: We included participants with CAC=0 at baseline from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), a prospective cohort study of individuals free of clinical ASCVD at baseline. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to study the association between cardiovascular risk factors (cigarette smoking, diabetes, hypertension, preventive medication use [aspirin and statin], family history of premature ASCVD, chronic kidney disease, waist circumference, lipid and inflammatory markers) and adjudicated incident ASCVD outcomes.Results: We studied 3416 individuals (mean [SD] age 58 [9] years; 63% were female, 33% White, 31% Black, 12% Chinese American, and 24% Hispanic). Over a median follow-up of 16 years, there were 189 ASCVD events (composite of coronary heart disease and stroke) of which 91 were coronary heart disease, 88 were stroke, and 10 were both coronary heart disease and stroke events. The unadjusted event rates of ASCVD were ≤5 per 1000 person-years among individuals with CAC=0 for most risk factors with the exception of current cigarette smoking (7.3), diabetes (8.9), hypertension (5.4), and chronic kidney disease (6.8). After multivariable adjustment, risk factors that were significantly associated with ASCVD included current cigarette smoking: hazard ratio, 2.12 (95% CI, 1.32-3.42); diabetes: hazard ratio, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.01-2.80); and hypertension: hazard ratio, 1.57 (95% CI, 1.06-2.33).Conclusions: Current cigarette smoking, diabetes, and hypertension are independently associated with incident ASCVD over a 16-year follow-up among those with CAC=0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate diagnosis, treatment, and control of arterial hypertension (AHT) continues to be a pending issue in the attempt to reduce the incidence of premature mortality and disability due to cardiovascular disease, which is a reality worldwide and in the region of the Americas in particular. Despite having adequate diagnostic algorithms and efficient treatment schemes, the gap between medical knowledge and reality reveals the great difficulty in ensuring that patients follow recommendations. Adherence to treatment is a great challenge and a proper understanding of its dimensions is essential when designing strategies to improve control of AHT. It is clear that part of the solution is having adequate information and disseminating it, but actions that guarantee implementation are no less important. That is why clinical practice guidelines that try to address this problem are welcome. The recent publication of the World Health Organization's guidance on arterial hypertension is a clear example of this type of initiative. Implementation programs are arguably one of the biggest challenges in contemporary medicine. The development of multimodal interventions aimed at improving response capacity at the first level of care and promoting the development of integrated health services networks appears to be the most appropriate way to achieve adequate control of AHT. Scientific societies clearly play an important role in these initiatives by providing support and coordinating interactions among the different actors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HEARTS in the Americas is the regional adaptation of the World Health Organization's Global Hearts Initiative, which will be the model for risk management for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in primary health care in the Region of the Americas by 2025. It has already been implemented in 21 countries and 1045 primary health care centers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It takes a public health and health systems approach to systematically introduce simplified interventions at the primary health care level and focuses on hypertension as a clinical entry point. This paper introduces a new, improved application (app), the main component of which is the calculator for CVD risk and hypertension management. The paper summarizes the risk assessment approach and the methodology used by the World Health Organization to update its cardiovascular risk charts in 2019; describes the app, its use, functionality and validation process; and provides a set of practical recommendations for optimizing CVD risk and hypertension management by using the app in clinical practice. The HEARTS app is a powerful tool to improve the quality of care provided in primary health settings. The creation and dissemination of the HEARTS app is an essential step in the journey towards eliminating preventable CVD in the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We examined the association of Stroke Belt birth state with late-life cognition in The Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR).Methods: STAR enrolled 764 Black Americans ages 50+ who were long-term Kaiser Permanente Northern California members. Participants completed Multiphasic Health Check-ups (MHC; 1964-1985) where early-life overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were measured. At STAR (2018), birth state, self-reported early-life socioeconomic status (SES), and executive function, verbal episodic memory, and semantic memory scores were collected. We used linear regression to examine the association between Stroke Belt birth and late-life cognition adjusting for birth year, gender, and parental education. We evaluated early-life SES and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) as potential mechanisms.Results: Twenty-seven percent of participants were born in the Stroke Belt with a mean age of 69 (standard deviation = 9) at STAR. Stroke Belt birth was associated with worse late-life executive function (β [95% confidence interval]: -0.18 [-0.33, -0.02]) and semantic memory (-0.37 [-0.53, -0.21]), but not verbal episodic memory (-0.04 [-0.20, 0.12]). Adjustment for SES and CVRF attenuated associations of Stroke Belt birth with cognition (executive function [-0.05 {-0.25, 0.14}]; semantic memory [-0.28 {-0.49, -0.07}]).Conclusions: Black Americans born in the Stroke Belt had worse late-life cognition than those born elsewhere, underscoring the importance of early-life exposures on brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The associations of changes in noncombustible nicotine or tobacco product (NNTP) and combustible cigarette (CC) use habits with subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are still unclear. Methods: The study population consisted of 5 159 538 adult men who underwent health screening examinations during both the first (2014-2015) and second (2018) health screening periods from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. All participants were divided into continual CC-only smokers, CC and NNTP users, recent (<5 years) CC quitters without NNTP use, recent CC quitters with NNTP use, long-term (>=5 years) CC quitters without NNTP use, long-term CC quitters with NNTP use, and never smokers. Propensity score matching analysis was conducted to further compare CVD risk among CC quitters according to NNTP use. Starting from the second health screening date, participants were followed up until the date of CVD event, death, or December 31, 2019, whichever came earliest. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs for CVD risk according to changes in NNTP and CC smoking habits. Results: Compared with continual CC-only smokers, CC and NNTP users (aHR, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.79-0.88]) and initial CC smokers who quit CCs and switched to NNTP use only (recent CC quitters with NNTP use, aHR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.78-0.84]) had lower risk for CVD. After propensity score matching, recent CC quitters with NNTP use (aHR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.01-1.70]) had higher risk for CVD than recent CC quitters without NNTP use. Similarly, compared with long-term CC quitters without NNTP use, long-term CC quitters with NNTP use (aHR, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.07-2.72]) had higher CVD risk. Conclusions: Switching to NNTP use among initial CC smokers was associated with lower CVD risk than continued CC smoking. On CC cessation, NNTP use was associated with higher CVD risk than CC quitting without NNTPs. Compared with CC smokers who quit without NNTP use, CC quitters who use NNTPs may be at higher future CVD risk. What Is New? * Among 5 159 538 adult men from a nationwide cohort, the association of transitions in combustible cigarette (CC) and noncombustible nicotine or tobacco product (NNTP) use with subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) development was determined. * Initial CC smokers who subsequently quit CCs and converted to NNTP use was associated with lower incident CVD risk compared with continual CC users. * Compared with CC quitting without NNTPs, CC cessation with NNTP use was associated with higher CVD risk. What Are the Clinical Implications? * Compared with continual CC smoking, those who quit CCs and switch to NNTPs may benefit from lower future CVD risk. * Nonetheless, NNTP use on CC cessation may lead to higher CVD risk compared with quitting CCs without NNTP use. * Although NNTP use may be associated with lower CVD risk compared with CC smoking, CC users who quit without NNTPs may benefit the most in reducing the risk of developing future CVD events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The effectiveness of systemic treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) depends on the selection of patients, management of cirrhosis complications and expertise to treat adverse events. The aims of the study are to assess the frequency and management of cardiovascular events in HCC patients treated with sorafenib (SOR) and to create a scale to predict the onset of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Method: Observational retrospective study with consecutive HCC patients treated with SOR between 2007 and 2019 in a western centre. In order to classify cardiovascular risk pre‐SOR, we designed the CARDIOSOR scale with age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and peripheral vascular disease. Other adverse events, dosing and outcome data were collected during a homogeneous protocolled follow‐up. Results: Two hundred ninety‐nine patients were included (219 BCLC‐C). The median overall survival was 11.1 months (IQR 5.6‐20.5), and duration of treatment was 7.4 months (IQR 3.3‐14.7). Seventeen patients (6%) stopped SOR due to cardiovascular event. Thirty‐three patients suffered MACE (7 heart failure, 11 acute coronary syndrome, 12 cerebrovascular accident and 8 peripheral vascular ischemia); 99 had a minor cardiovascular event, mainly hypertension (n = 81). Age was the only independent factor associated to MACE (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03‐1.12; P =.002). The CARDIOSOR scale allows to identify the group of patients with higher risk of MACE (sHR 3.4; 95% CI 1.4‐6.7; P =.04). Conclusion: The incidence of cardiovascular events in HCC patients treated with SOR is higher than expected. Multidisciplinary approach and clinical tools like CARDIOSOR scale could be helpful to manage these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These inequities include high incidence of AF risk factors, poor awareness and detection of AF, low access to AF treatment, and high prevalence of AF-related complications among individuals residing in neighborhoods at greater disadvantage. The most notable difference between those residing in low versus high neighborhood deprivation areas was the rate of AF ablation within a year of AF diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.30-0.67]). Editorials, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular diseases, heart disease risk factors, disparities, public health, residence characteristics. [Extracted from the article]

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality in women and men with diabetes. Due to age and worsening of risk factors over the menopausal transition, risk of coronary heart disease events increases in postmenopausal women with diabetes. Randomized studies have conflicted regarding the beneficial impact of estrogen therapy upon intermediate cardiovascular disease markers and events. Therefore, estrogen therapy is not currently recommended for indications other than symptom management. However, for women at low risk of adverse events, estrogen therapy can be used to minimize menopausal symptoms. The risk of adverse events can be estimated using risk engines for the calculation of cardiovascular risk and breast cancer risk in conjunction with screening tools such as mammography. Use of estrogen therapy, statins, and anti-platelet agents can be guided by such calculators particularly for younger women with diabetes. Risk management remains focused upon lifestyle behaviors and achieving optimal levels of cardiovascular risk factors, including lipids, glucose, and blood pressure. Use of pharmacologic therapies to address these risk factors, particularly specific hypoglycemic agents, may provide some additional benefit for risk prevention. The minimal bene- fit for women with limited life expectancy and risk of complications with intensive therapy should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated cardiometabolic burden in women planning assisted reproduction in order to identify subgroups at higher risk of pregnancy complications and cardiovascular disease. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study we investigated 60 infertile women with BMI≥25 kg/m² referred to the Center for Assisted Reproduction. All women underwent metabolic, anthropometric parameters and ultrasound evaluation of ectopic fat depots. Results: All women had waist ≥80 cm. We found that 93.3% of women had pathological subcutaneous, 58.3% visceral and 80% para-perirenal fat; all women had fatty liver. Visceral fat and severity of steatosis were significantly related to the presence of metabolic syndrome (OR =5.7; p=0.03). A significant negative correlation between low HDL-c and para-perirenal fat (p<0.0001), a significant positive correlation with fasting plasma glucose and para-perirenal fat (p=0.001) were found. We observed a significant positive correlation between visceral fat and hs-CRP (p=0.002), HOMA-IR (p=0.04) and triglycerides (p=0.002), a significant negative correlation with HDL-c (p=0.05). Conclusion: This study by highlighting a clinically “dangerous liaison” between ectopic fat depots and metabolic/inflammatory markers, might permit to identify women with a worse metabolic phenotype and encourage lifestyle changes for improving their general and reproductive health together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is the worldwide leading cause of death in women. Biological differences between the sexes, a result of genetic, epigenetic and sex hormone-mediated factors, are complex and incompletely understood. These differences are compounded by socio-cultural factors and together account for the variation in the prevalence, presentation and natural history of cardiovascular disease between men and women. Although there is growing recognition of sex-specific determinants of outcomes, women remain underrepresented in clinical trials, and sex-disaggregated diagnostic and management strategies are not currently recommended in clinical guidelines. Women remain more likely to experience delays in diagnosis, to be treated less aggressively and to have worse outcomes. As a consequence, cardiovascular disease in women remains understudied, underdiagnosed and undertreated. This review will focus on female-specific characteristics of cardiovascular disease and how these may impact on anaesthetic and peri-operative risk assessment and care. We highlight significant differences between the sexes in the natural history of cardiovascular disease, including those disease entities that are more common in women, such as sudden coronary artery dissection or microvascular dysfunction. Given the rapidly rising incidence of maternal cardiovascular disease and associated complications, special consideration is given to the risk assessment and management of these conditions during pregnancy. Increased awareness of these issues has the potential to improve the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary heart team and ultimately improve the care provided to women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To prospectively evaluate the association between periodontitis and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Thai adults. Materials and methods: Medical data from the questionnaires and physical examinations of 1850 participants aged 47‒73 years from EGAT study were gathered. Random half‐mouth periodontal examination of each participant was performed by calibrated periodontists, and periodontal status was defined. The incidence of new CVD events, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, was verified by cardiologists. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Results: The prevalence of no/mild, moderate and severe periodontitis in the study participants was 11.7%, 52.7% and 35.6%, respectively. During the 13‐year follow‐up, CVD events occurred in 110 (5.9%) participants, with 82 (4.4%) from CHD and 28 (1.5%) from stroke. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, a significant association between severe periodontitis and the incidence of CHD was found compared with the no/mild periodontitis group with an HR of 4.53 (95% confidence intervals: 1.08‒19.02). However, no significant association was seen when considering total CVD events and stroke outcome. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that severe periodontitis is associated with an increased incidence of CHD, independent of established cardiovascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expressing the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in relation to peers may complement the estimation of absolute CVD risk. We aimed to determine 10-year CVD risk percentiles by sex and age in the Brazilian population and evaluate their association with estimated long-term atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk. A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the ELSA-Brasil study was conducted in individuals aged 40–74 years without prior ASCVD. Ten-year CVD risk and long-term ASCVD risk were estimated by the WHO risk score and the Multinational Cardiovascular Risk Consortium tool, respectively. Ten-year risk percentiles were determined by ranking the calculated risks within each sex and age group. Ten-year CVD risk versus percentile plots were constructed for each sex and age group using data from 13,364 participants (55% females; median age, 52 [IQR, 46–59] years). Long-term ASCVD risk was calculated in 12,973 (97.1%) participants. Compared to individuals at the <25th risk percentile, those at the ≥75th percentile had a greater risk of being in the highest quartile of long-term risk (ORs [95% CIs] 6.57 [5.18–8.30] in females and 11.59 [8.42–15.96] in males) in regression models adjusted for age, race, education, and 10-year CVD risk. In both sexes, the association between risk percentile and long-term risk weakened after age 50. A tool for calculating 10-year CVD risk and the corresponding percentile is available at https://bit.ly/3CzPUi6. We established percentiles of predicted 10-year CVD risk by sex and age in the Brazilian population, which independently reflect the estimated long-term ASCVD risk in younger individuals. • We determined percentiles of calculated 10-year CVD risk by sex and age in Brazil. • These risk percentiles independently reflect the estimated long-term ASCVD risk. • The association between risk percentile and long-term risk weakened after age 50. • A tool for calculating risk and percentile is available at https://bit.ly/3CzPUi6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incarceration has been associated with higher cardiovascular risk, yet data evaluating its association with cardiovascular disease events are limited. The study objective was to evaluate the association between incarceration and incident fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.Methods: Black and white adults from the community-based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adult (CARDIA) study (baseline 1985-86, n = 5105) were followed through August 2017. Self-reported incarceration was measured at baseline (1985-1986) and Year 2 (1987-1988), and fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease events, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure, and all-cause mortality, were captured through 2017. Analyses were completed in September 2019. Cumulative CVD incidence rates and Cox proportional hazards were compared overall by incarceration status. An interaction between incarceration and race was identified, so results were also analyzed by sex-race groups.Results: 351 (6.9%) CARDIA participants reported a history of incarceration. Over 29.0 years mean follow-up, CVD incidence rate was 3.52 per 1000 person-years in participants with a history of incarceration versus 2.12 per 1000 person-years in participants without a history of incarceration (adjusted HR = 1.33 [95% CI, 0.90-1.95]). Among white men, incarceration was associated with higher risk of incident cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR = 3.35 [95% CI, 1.54-7.29) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR = 2.52 [95% CI, 1.32-4.83]), but these associations were not statistically significant among other sex-race groups after adjustment.Conclusions: Incarceration was associated with incident cardiovascular disease rates, but associations were only significant in one sex-race group after multivariable adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Renal hyperfiltration (RHF) and fatty liver are separately associated with adverse health outcomes. In this study, we investigated the mortality hazard of coexisting RHF and fatty liver.Methods: Middle-aged men from the Kuopio Ischaemic Disease Risk Factor Study (n=1,552) were followed up for a median of 29 years. Associations among RHF, fatty liver index (FLI) score, age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and hypertension status were assessed using logistic regression. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality with respect to RHF and fatty liver.Results: Of the men, 5% had RHF (n=73), whereas a majority had fatty liver (n=848). RHF was associated specifically with smoking, and fatty liver was associated specifically with overweight. The all-cause mortality hazard was highest (HR, 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27 to 3.01) among men with RHF and fatty liver (n=33). Among men with RHF but normal FLI (n=40), the HR of all-cause mortality was 1.67 (95% CI, 1.15 to 2.42). Among men with fatty liver but a normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (n=527), the HR of all-cause mortality was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.09 to 1.66). CVD mortality hazard was associated with RHF, but not fatty liver. We detected no interaction effect between RHF and fatty liver for all-cause (synergy index, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.21 to 2.67) or CVD (synergy index, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.34 to 2.60) mortality.Conclusions: RHF and fatty liver are independently associated with all-cause and CVD mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Industrial workers are a captive group and can be considered ideal for increasing awareness, adopting preventive strategies and thus to the control of cardiovascular diseases. However, there are limited numbers of studies which are carried out to estimate the coronary heart disease risk burden in factory settings of India. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors among the workers of a nylon yarn manufacturing factory in South India. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among all employees aged 20 -59 years employing a clinical examination and biochemical estimation. Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, Fasting Blood sugar and Lipid profile were measured. Patients known to have coronary heart disease, those aged less than 20 years and those aged more than 59 years were excluded. Results: 320 workers were evaluated. Their mean age was 32 years. Among the study population, 6.25% were obese and 21.8% were current smokers. 14.7% of them were found to be hypertensives and 61.87% were pre-hypertensives. 5.9% of the workers were diabetic and 14.6% had impaired fasting glucose. 55.93% of them had an increased Total cholesterol / High Density Lipoprotein ratio. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease among a comparatively young population in a South Indian industrial setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is emerging evidence that supports a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the risk and presence of serious cardiovascular conditions. However, few existing literature reviews methodically describe empirical findings regarding this relationship. Objectives: The purpose of this integrative review was to (a) evaluate BDNF (serum/plasma BDNF levels, BDNF Val66Met genotype) among humans at risk for or with serious cardiovascular conditions and (b) investigate the relationship between BDNF and risk/presence of serious cardiovascular conditions in humans. Methods: An integrative review was conducted. Articles in English included human subjects, ameasure of BDNF levels or BDNF gene, serious cardiovascular conditions, and quantitative data analyses. The search resulted in 475 unique titles, with the final sample including 35 articles representing 30 studies. Articles that received "good" or "fair" ratings (n = 31) using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Study Quality Assessment Tools were included for synthesis. Results: The retrieved articles were largely nonexperimental, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 5,510 participants. Overall, BDNF levels were lower in patients with chronic heart failure and stroke, but higher in patients with unstable angina and recent myocardial infarction. Lower BDNF levels were associated with higher incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with a prior history of serious cardiovascular conditions and decreased cardiovascular risk in healthy samples. For BDNF genotype, on average, 36.3% of participants had Met alleles. The frequency of the BDNF Met allele varied across race/ethnicity and cardiovascular conditions and in terms of association with serious cardiovascular condition incidence/risk. Discussion: These findings indicate an emerging area of science. Future investigation is needed on serious cardiovascular condition phenotypes in relationship to BDNF in the same study conditions. Results also suggest for use of standardized BDNF measurement across studies and additional investigation in cardiovascular inflammatory processes that affect BDNF. Moreover, within specific populations, the frequency of Met alleles may be too low to be detected in sample sizes normally found in these types of studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess gender identity differences in CVD risk and CVD conditions among adults in the U.S. Using data from the 2014–2017 BRFSS we compared CVD risk and CVD conditions in gender minorities (transgender men, transgender women and gender nonconforming persons) to both cisgender men and women. The sample consisted of 662,903 participants. Transgender women (AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.05–1.72) and transgender men (AOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.07–2.24) were more likely to be overweight than cisgender women. Compared to cisgender women, transgender women reported higher rates of diabetes (AOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.05–1.99), angina/coronary heart disease (AOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.34–2.68), stroke (AOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.16–3.03), and myocardial infarction (AOR 2.98, 95% CI 2.14–4.17). Gender nonconforming participants (AOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.14–6.30) reported higher odds of myocardial infarction than cisgender women. Transgender women also had higher rates of reporting any CVD than cisgender men (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.01–1.88). There is a need to elucidate the cardiovascular effects of minority stressors and gender affirming therapy in this population. More research focused on CVD prevention and management in gender minorities is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world. With effective intervention and control of cardiovascular risk factors, mortality rates may be reduced. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of modifiable risk factors across five municipalities in Yazd city.Methods: Ten thousand residents of the Yazd greater area aged 20-69 years were selected using cluster random sampling method. Overall, 200 clusters were randomly selected based on the postcodes of residents who lived in the five municipalities of Yazd. Those who lived in Yazd annexed cities and rural areas were excluded. A valid questionnaire was completed and physical examination performed as done (94.9% response rate). Instances of self-reported diabetes mellitus, high blood cholesterol, tobacco smoking, and unhealthy diet were recorded. Blood pressure, height, and weight were measured and physical activity was classified by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A chi-square test was used to analyze the differences in variables across municipalities. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V. 16.Results: We analyzed 8749 participants' data from Yazd city. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension were 14.1, 16.7 and 18.6%, respectively. One in every four people consumed the recommended five servings of vegetables per day. Fish consumption was less than 5% at least once a week among participants. An unhealthy diet (85.7%); low physical activity (52.2%), hypertension (36.7%) and obesity (26.3%) were the most common cardiovascular risk factors. Only 2.1% of adults had no risk factors for CVD, and almost 75% of people had more than one risk factor. The prevalence of risk factors (excluding hypertension) was significantly different across the municipalities. Residents of region three had the highest prevalence of all risk factors aside from inactivity and unhealthy diet.Conclusion: unhealthy dietary habits and inactivity are the most common modifiable risk factors of CVD in Yazd. Spatial variations of cardiovascular risk factors observed. This geographic health inequality requires more attention from policymakers to control CVD risk factors across different municipalities accordingly. Promoting healthy lifestyle is the top priority of health intervention programs. It is recommended to increase access to sport arenas and restrict access to tobacconist in high-risk areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the cardiovascular risk in female professors at the end of their reproductive period. Method: A cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in a private university in southern Brazil in September 2018, including climacteric or post-menopausal women older than 44 years of age who had measured their cholesterol levels in the last year and who knew their systolic blood pressure level. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire; and the cardiovascular risk (CVR) was measured using the Framingham risk score. Results: There was a difference in the CVR between the phases (climacteric and menopause). All the climacteric women had a low CVR, whereas post-menopausal women were classified into low (73%), intermediate (24.7%), and high (2.2%) CVR risk. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between menopause and increased CVR, justifying the fact that this is yet another risk factor for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the U.S. civilian population, sex differences have been identified in cardiovascular health; these differences have been used to inform care. Our objective is to determine if the same sex differences are present in Veterans who use the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System given the additional stressors associated with military service. Materials and Methods: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and conditions among women and men Veterans using VA in fiscal year (FY) 2014 were identified through the presence of International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in VA administrative records. ICD-9-CM codes were grouped into conditions; prevalence was examined by gender overall, by age, and by race/ethnicity. Results: Within the FY 2014 cohort of VA Veteran patients included in this analysis, 7.1% (n = 412,901) were women and 92.9% were men (n = 5,376,749). Compared with men, women in this cohort were younger and more ethnically diverse. Overall, women were less likely to have traditional CVD risk factors, but more likely to have a nontraditional CVD risk factor (depression) compared with men. Women had higher odds of chest pain/angina (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.03, confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02–1.05), palpitations (AOR 2.04; 95% CI 1.98–2.10), and valvular disease (AOR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.08), but lower odds of coronary artery disease (AOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.29–0.30), acute MI (AOR 0.46; 95% CI 0.43–0.49), and heart failure (AOR 0.55; 95% CI 0.53–0.56) compared with men, overall. Conclusions: In age-adjusted comparisons, sex differences in the prevalence of CVD risk factors and conditions among the VA Veteran patient population was similar in that seen in the civilian population with a few exceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the emerging science of infinite vascular insults that cause the three vascular finite responses and the implications for diagnostic testing, prevention, and treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Topics mentioned include limitation in the ability to reduce the incidence of CHD and CVD, cell membranes as the primary barrier between the external milieu and the internal cell organelles, and the concept of translational vascular medicine.

Purpose: We examined if data-driven food-patterns associate with weight change, incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary events (CE) and stroke. Methods: The study included 20,487 individuals (61% women) from the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort, 45–74 years, without diabetes and CVD at baseline (1991–1996) and who did not report dietary changes. Diet was measured with a modified diet history method. During 15 years follow-up, 2206 T2D, 1571 CE and 1332 stroke cases were identified. Data on weight change after 16.7 years were available in 2627 individuals. Results: From principal component analysis, we identified six food-patterns which were similar in women and men. The first pattern, explaining 7% of the variance, was characterized by high intake of fibre-rich bread, breakfast cereals, fruits, vegetables, fish and low-fat yoghurt, and by low intake of low-fibre bread. This health conscious pattern was associated with lower T2D risk (HR comparing highest quintile with lowest: 0.75; 95% CI 0.61–0.92, 0.82; 95% CI 0.68–1.00 in women and men, respectively, P trends = 0.003, 0.01) and CE (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.58–1.02, HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.68–1.01, P trends = 0.05, 0.07), and in men also with lower risk of ischemic stroke (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.54–0.88; P trend = 0.001) and less pronounced weight gain (0.93 kg/10 years, P trend = 0.03). A low-fat product pattern was associated with increased T2D risk in gender combined analyses (P trend = 0.03) and a pattern characterized by dressing and vegetables with lower CE risk in men (P trend = 0.02). Conclusions: Our main finding was that a dietary pattern indicating health conscious food choices was associated with lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases in both genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Excessive meat intake has been researched as a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among healthy adults, but data on this topic in Asian patients with diabetes are sparse. The quantity and variety of available meats vary widely between Asian and Western countries. As part of a nationwide cohort study we investigated the relationship between meat intake and incidence of CVD in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes aged 40-70 years with HbA1c ≥ 6.5%.Methods: Analyzed were 1353 responders to a baseline dietary survey assessed by the Food Frequency Questionnaire based on food groups. Primary outcome was the 8-year risk of a CVD event, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Cox regression analyses estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for dietary intake adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, HbA1c, smoking, energy intake, and other confounders.Results: Mean meat intake in quartiles ranged from 9.9 to 97.7 g/day. After adjusting for confounders, HRs of CHD in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles for meat intake compared with the 1st quartile were 2.84 (95% confidence interval 1.29-6.24, p = 0.01), 3.02 (1.36-6.70, p < 0.01), and 2.99 (1.35-6.65, p = 0.01), respectively. In two groups according to meat intake, patients consuming ≥ 20 g/day of meat had a 2.94-fold higher risk of CHD than those consuming < 20 g/day (p < 0.01). There was no significant association of stroke with meat intake.Conclusions: An elevated incidence of CHD in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes was associated with high meat intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of study: To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors in the population of Gaza strip in Palestine. Methods: A cross-sectional stratified cluster sample design was applied in this study. A sample of 2240 participant (1121 males and 1119 females) aged ≥25 years participated in the study. For each individual, trained staff administered a questionnaire, where all variables of interest followed WHO’s STEP wise approach to surveillance chronic disease risk factors (STEPS) (WHO, 2001). Sociodemographic data, anthropometric measure (body mass index, blood pressure), and biochemical test (blood sugar and lipids profiles) were measured. Short International Physical Activity (IPAQ) questionnaire form was used. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used with SPSS (version 22.0) to analyze the data. Results: The most common condition was coronary artery disease (8.3%), followed by stroke events (3%). The associated risk factors were obesity (47.8%), hypertension (28.4%), current smoking account for (23.2%), diabetes mellitus (19.1%), high cholesterol level (8.8%), and high triglycerides level (40.2%). Additionally, the proportion of being physical active was found to be low (48.3%); particularly with increasing age. More than 30% of the population has less than 4 days of consumption of fruit and vegetables per week and 65.9% has less than 2 servings per day. Conclusion: The burden of CVDs and their associated risk factors is considerable in Gaza and represents a major public health concern. Effective strategies in management, education and healthcare centers are required for an accurate management and implementation of preventive measure in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Objective: this study aimed to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH] D) and cardiometabolic risk factors in Brazilian adolescents. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 220 school adolescents aged 15 to 19 years was performed in the city of João Pessoa-PB, Brazil. The variables studied were: 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25 OH), dietary intake of vitamin D, anthropometric data (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist / height ratio (RCA) and biochemistry, total cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), triglyceride (TG), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha acid glycoprotein (AGPA), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (CAT), blood pressure, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium. Enough and insufficient /deficient adolescents were compared by qui-square test and analysis of multiple lineal regression was accomplished to identify the factors cardiometabólicos associated to the seric concentration of 25 (OH) D (p < 0,05). Results: a total of 57.3% had vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency, which was more prevalent in females (79.35%). The chi-square test revealed an evident relationship between the three indicators involved in overweight assessed in this study BMI (p = 0.01), WC (p = 0.04) and AGR (p = 0.02). There was an association between the independent variable (vitamin D) and calcium and triglyceride levels. Conclusion: a high proportion of adolescents presenting insufficiency/vitamin D deficiency was ssociated with cardiometabolic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients who have had an acute coronary syndrome are at high risk for recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events. We sought to determine whether alirocumab, a human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9), would improve cardiovascular outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome in patients receiving high-intensity statin therapy.Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 18,924 patients who had an acute coronary syndrome 1 to 12 months earlier, had a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level of at least 70 mg per deciliter (1.8 mmol per liter), a non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of at least 100 mg per deciliter (2.6 mmol per liter), or an apolipoprotein B level of at least 80 mg per deciliter, and were receiving statin therapy at a high-intensity dose or at the maximum tolerated dose. Patients were randomly assigned to receive alirocumab subcutaneously at a dose of 75 mg (9462 patients) or matching placebo (9462 patients) every 2 weeks. The dose of alirocumab was adjusted under blinded conditions to target an LDL cholesterol level of 25 to 50 mg per deciliter (0.6 to 1.3 mmol per liter). The primary end point was a composite of death from coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal ischemic stroke, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization.Results: The median duration of follow-up was 2.8 years. A composite primary end-point event occurred in 903 patients (9.5%) in the alirocumab group and in 1052 patients (11.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.93; P<0.001). A total of 334 patients (3.5%) in the alirocumab group and 392 patients (4.1%) in the placebo group died (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98). The absolute benefit of alirocumab with respect to the composite primary end point was greater among patients who had a baseline LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg or more per deciliter than among patients who had a lower baseline level. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups, with the exception of local injection-site reactions (3.8% in the alirocumab group vs. 2.1% in the placebo group).Conclusions: Among patients who had a previous acute coronary syndrome and who were receiving high-intensity statin therapy, the risk of recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events was lower among those who received alirocumab than among those who received placebo. (Funded by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; ODYSSEY OUTCOMES ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01663402 .). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Guidelines recommend lifestyle modification and medications to control risk factors in coronary heart disease (CHD). Using data from the observational DYSIS II study, we sought to evaluate the use of guideline-recommended treatments at discharge for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or in the chronic phase for CHD, and participation in rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs. Methods and results Between 2013 and 2014, 10,661 patients (3867 with ACS, 6794 with stable CHD) were enrolled in 332 primary and secondary care centers in 18 countries (Asia, Europe, Middle East). Patients with incident ACS were younger and more likely to be smokers than patients with recurrent ACS or stable CHD (both p < 0.0001). Sedentary lifestyle was common (44.4% of ACS patients; 44.2% of stable CHD patients); 22.8% of ACS patients and 24.3% of stable CHD patients were obese. Prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (<40 mg/dL in men/50 mg/dL in women) was 46.9% in chronic CHD and 55.0% in ACS. Rates of secondary prevention medications were lower among CHD versus ACS (all p < 0.0001): antiplatelet 94.3% vs 98.0%, beta-blocker 72.0% vs 80.0%, lipid-lowering therapy 94.7 vs 97.5%, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers 69.4% vs 73.7%, respectively. Attendance at cardiac rehabilitation (16.8% of patients with a first ACS, 10.8% with recurrent ACS) or a secondary prevention program (3.7% of ACS and 11.7% of stable CHD patients) was infrequent. Conclusions The high prevalence of risk factors in all CHD patients and reduced rates of secondary prevention medications in stable CHD offer areas for improvement. Translational aspects The findings of DYSIS II may reinforce the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle and prescribing (by clinicians) and adhering (by patients) to evidence-based medications in the management of CHD, not only during the short term but also over the longer term after a cardiac ischemic event. The results may help to increase the proportion of ACS patients who are referred to cardiac rehabilitation centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the relationship between coronary heart disease (CHD) and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women in Taiwan. Patients and methods: The present study identified 14,340 symptomatic menopausal women without a history of CHD from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2013. A total of 14,340 age- and Charlson-comorbidity-index-score-matched asymptomatic women were used as controls. Possible comorbidity-attributable risks of CHD were surveyed to assess whether the symptomatic menopausal cohort had a higher incidence of CHD. Results: The incidence of CHD was higher in the symptomatic menopausal cohort than in the control cohort (17.18 vs. 12.05 per 1000 person-years). After adjustment in multivariate Cox analysis, the risk of CHD was significantly higher in the symptomatic menopausal cohort (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.344, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.262–1.43, P < 0.001) than in the control cohort. In the symptomatic menopausal cohort, the risk of CHD was significantly higher in all subgroups, except for the hormone therapy (HT) subgroup. Patients undergoing HT had a nonsignificantly higher risk of CHD, regardless of the presence or absence of menopausal symptoms. Conclusion: This large-scale longitudinal retrospective cohort study revealed that menopausal symptoms are an independent risk factor for CHD. Moreover, our findings indicate that HT has a nonsignificant effect on the risk of CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Introduction Nutritional studies have indicated a critical role of dietary habits in development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Aim We aimed to compare the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in habitual 'breakfast skippers' with those of 'habitual breakfast eaters' in Western part of India. We also planned to compare the cardiometabolic profiles of both the groups. Design In this prospective, case–control study of 1607 individuals; 980 were patients of CAD (cases) undergoing various cardiac interventions for revascularisation and other 627 were healthy individuals (controls) who were free from CAD. Methods Details of demographics and classical risk factors were collected for all the participants. Subjects were categorized as 'breakfast eater' or 'breakfast skippers' according to their response to the questionnaire. Logistic regression and correlation analysis were performed to assess the independent risk of all the factors and their inter-variable association. Results Significantly (P  < 0.05) high prevalence of classical risk factors and breakfast skipping habit was found in cases when compared with controls. Diabetes showed the highest odds ratio (7.296; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.825–11.030; P  < 0.0001) for CAD, followed by hypertension (3.756; 95% CI 2.891–4.881; P  < 0.0001) and habits of smoking/tobacco/alcohol consumption (1.914; 95% CI 1.528–2.398; P  < 0.0001) and breakfast skipping 1.348 (95% CI 1.076–1.689; P  < 0.0001). Breakfast skipping emerged as stronger risk factor than obesity and sedentary life style in Indians and showed close association with presence of hypertension. Discussion/Conclusion Habitual breakfast skippers are at increased risk for development of CAD and hypertension in Western India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]