Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality has declined substantially in the Czech Republic over the last two decades.
The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of this CHD mortality ...decline could be associated with temporal trends in major CHD risk factors and what proportion with advances in medical and surgical treatments.
The validated IMPACT mortality model was used to combine and analyse data on uptake and effectiveness of CHD management and risk factor trends in the Czech Republic in adults aged 25-74 years between 1985 and 2007. The main sources were official statistics, national quality of care registries, published trials and meta-analyses, and the Czech MONICA and Czech post-MONICA studies.
Between 1985 and 2007, age-adjusted CHD mortality rates in the Czech Republic decreased by 66.2% in men and 65.4% in women in the age group 25-74 years, representing 12,080 fewer CHD deaths in 2007. Changes in CHD risk factors explained approximately 52% of the total mortality decrease, and improvements in medical treatments approximately 43%. Increases in body mass index and in diabetes prevalence had a negative impact, increasing CHD mortality by approximately 1% and 5%, respectively.
More than half of the very substantial fall in CHD mortality in the Czech Republic between 1985 and 2007 was attributable to reduction in major cardiovascular risk factors. Improvement in treatments accounted for approximately 43% of the total mortality decrease. These findings emphasize the value of primary prevention and evidence-based medical treatment.
Limited information is available on office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) control as well as on cardiovascular (CV) risk profile in treated hypertensive patients living in central and eastern ...European countries.
In 2008, a survey on 7860 treated hypertensive patients followed by non-specialist or specialist physicians was carried out in nine central and eastern European countries (Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine). Cardiovascular risk assessment was based on personal history, clinic BP values, as well as target organ damage evaluation. Patients had a mean (±SD) age of 60.1 ± 11 years, and the majority of them (83.5%) were followed by specialists. Average clinic BP was 149.3 ± 17/88.8 ± 11 mmHg. About 70% of patients displayed a very high-risk profile. Electrocardiogram was performed in 99% of patients, echocardiography in 65%, carotid ultrasound in 24%, fundoscopy in 68%, and search for microalbuminuria in 10%. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed in about one-fifth of the recruited patients. Despite the widespread use of combination treatment (87% of the patients), office BP control (<140/90 mmHg) was achieved in 27.1% only, the corresponding control rate for ambulatory BP (<130/80 mmHg) being 35.7%. Blood pressure control was (i) variable among different countries, (ii) worse for systolic than for diastolic BP, (iii) slightly better in patients followed by specialists than by non-specialists, (iv) unrelated to patients' age, and (v) more unsatisfactory in high-risk hypertensives and in patients with coronary heart disease, stroke, or renal failure.
These data provide evidence that in central and eastern European countries office and ambulatory BP control are unsatisfactory, particularly in patients at very high CV risk, and not differ from that seen in Western Europe. They also show that assessment of subclinical organ damage is quite common, except for microalbuminuria, and that combination drug treatment is frequently used.
Abstract Background Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), as a parameter of aortic stiffness, is an established marker of cardiovascular risk. There has been increasing use of arterial stiffness ...parameters combining aortic and muscular stiffness or a parameter derived from PWV – the stiffness index beta (BETA = ln ( systolic / diastolic pressure ) × 2 blood viscosity / pulse pressure × PWV2 ). The aim of this study was to compare different arterial stiffness parameters in a general population random sample. Methods and results In 809 individuals from the Czech post-MONICA study (aged 54 ± 13.5 years, 47% men), we compared the association of carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV), carotid-ankle PWV (caPWV), and BETA with cardiovascular risk factors, parameters of subclinical organ damage, and presence of manifest cardiovascular disease. Both cfPWV and caPWV were similarly associated with blood pressure and glucose level, while cfPWV was more strongly associated with age, cholesterol level and glomerular filtration rate whereas caPWV with Sokolow-Lyon index. BETA derived from cfPWV and caPWV was less dependent on blood pressure, while it showed a closer association with coronary heart disease presence, as compared to cfPWV and caPWV. Conclusions Addition of lower extremity to aortic stiffness has an effect on the association with cardiovascular risk factors while having no effect on the association with manifest cardiovascular disease. Beta transformation of PWV decreases its dependence on blood pressure and may increase its power in cardiovascular risk prediction.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Retinal microcirculation reflects retinal perfusion abnormalities and retinal arterial structural changes at relatively early stages of various cardiovascular diseases. Our objective has been to ...establish reference values for major functional and structural parameters of retinal microcirculation in a randomly selected urban population sample.
A total of 398 randomly selected individuals from an urban population aged 25 to 65 years, resident in Pilsen, Czech Republic, were screened for major cardiovascular risk factors. Retinal microcirculation was assessed using scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (SLDF), with data evaluable in 343 patients. Of this number, complete data were available for 256 individuals free from manifest cardiovascular disease, diabetes and drug treatment for hypertension and/or dyslipidemia, constituting the reference value population.
Juxtapapillary retinal capillary blood flow has increased significantly with age whereas vessel and luminal diameters have decreased. No sex differences in retinal microcirculation parameters have been found. Therefore, reference values for retinal microcirculation parameters have been established by age groups. Unattended automated office systolic BP, after adjusting for age, correlated significantly with wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) and wall thickness (WT). Moreover, after adjusting for age and mean BP, a positive relationship has been found between carotid femoral pulse wave velocity and WT, WLR and wall cross-sectional area, indicating the interaction between micro- and macro-vasculature.
In conclusion, our study is the first to provide reference values of retinal microcirculation parameters in a random Caucasian population sample. Our results have shown that, at the population level, the first structural changes in retinal microcirculation are those in lumen diameters. Of note, a close relationship between BP and vascular remodeling of retinal arterioles and between aortic stiffness and WLR of retinal arterioles suggests an interaction between micro- and macro-vasculature.
•Our study provides reference values of retinal microcirculation parameters.•The first structural changes occur in retinal lumen diameters, decreasing with age.•Wall-to-lumen ratio correlates strongly with unattended automated office SBP.•Thus, the earliest form of target organ damage and BP are significantly related.•Interaction between micro- and macro-vasculature seems to be established.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objectives
Bilirubin is a potent endogenous antioxidant and immunomodulating substance, which is also implicated in both cell signalling and various metabolic pathways. Mild elevation of systemic ...bilirubin concentrations provides substantial protection against many diseases of civilization. Rare published reports have suggested that serum bilirubin might also be relevant to sports performance. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate serum bilirubin concentrations and the prevalence of Gilbert syndrome (GS) in elite athletes.
Methods
The study was carried out in 536 consecutive healthy elite athletes and in 2594 individuals of the Czech post-MONICA study representing the general Czech population. Serum bilirubin concentrations, the prevalence of benign hyperbilirubinemia > 17 µmol/L (1 mg/dL, a phenotypic sign of GS), and a variant of the
UGT1A1
gene promoter responsible for GS manifestation in Caucasians (rs81753472) were evaluated in study subjects.
Results
Compared to the general Czech population, significantly higher serum bilirubin concentrations were found in elite athletes (9.6 vs. 11.6 µmol/L,
p
< 0.001), both in men (11.3 vs. 12.6 µmol/L,
p
< 0.001) and women (8.3 vs. 10.5 µmol/L,
p
< 0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of GS was also significantly higher in elite athletes (9.6 vs. 22%,
p
< 0.001) together with the tendency to higher frequencies of the genotypes (TA)
7/7
and (TA)
6/7
UGT1A1
.
Conclusion
Elite athletes have significantly higher concentrations of serum bilirubin, the most potent endogenous antioxidant substance known. Simultaneously, the prevalence of GS syndrome is also much higher in elite athletes, suggesting that a mild elevation of serum bilirubin might predispose to better sports performance.
The EUROASPIRE surveys (EUROpean Action on Secondary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events) demonstrated that most European coronary patients fail to achieve lifestyle, risk factor and ...therapeutic targets. Here we report on the 2-year incidence of hard cardiovascular (CV) endpoints in the EUROASPIRE IV cohort. EUROASPIRE IV (2012–2013) was a large cross-sectional study undertaken at 78 centres from selected geographical areas in 24 European countries. Patients were interviewed and examined at least 6 months following hospitalization for a coronary event or procedure. Fatal and non-fatal CV events occurring at least 1 year after this baseline screening were registered. The primary outcome in our analyses was the incidence of CV death or non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure. Cox regression models, stratified for country, were fitted to relate baseline characteristics to outcome. Our analyses included 7471 predominantly male patients. Overall, 222 deaths were registered of whom 58% were cardiovascular. The incidence of the primary outcome was 42 per 1000 person-years. Comorbidities were strongly and significantly associated with the primary outcome (multivariately adjusted hazard ratio HR, 95% confidence interval): severe chronic kidney disease (HR 2.36, 1.44–3.85), uncontrolled diabetes (HR 1.89, 1.50–2.38), resting heart rate ≥ 75 bpm (HR 1.74, 1.30–2.32), history of stroke (HR 1.70, 1.27–2.29), peripheral artery disease (HR 1.48, 1.09–2.01), history of heart failure (HR 1.47, 1.08–2.01) and history of acute myocardial infarction (HR 1.27, 1.05–1.53). Low education and feelings of depression were significantly associated with increased risk. Lifestyle factors such as persistent smoking, insufficient physical activity and central obesity were not significantly related to adverse outcome. Blood pressure and LDL-C levels appeared to be unrelated to cardiovascular events irrespective of treatment. In patients with stabilized CHD, comorbid conditions that may reflect the ubiquitous nature of atherosclerosis, dominate lifestyle-related and other modifiable risk factors in terms of prognosis, at least over a 2-year follow-up period.
Arterial hypertension is often part of a constellation of anthropometric and metabolic abnormalities that occur simultaneously to a higher degree than would be expected by chance alone, supporting ...the existence of a discrete disorder, the so-called metabolic syndrome. It is the result of interactions among a large number of interconnected mechanisms, which eventually lead to both an increase in cardiovascular and renal risk, and the development of diabetes. Mechanisms involved in the metabolic syndrome are obesity, insulin resistance, and a constellation of independent factors, which include molecules of hepatic, vascular, and immunologic origin with pro-inflammatory properties. At each of these key points are interactions of demographics, lifestyle, genetic factors, and environmental fetal programming. Superimposing upon these are infections or chronic exposure or both to certain drugs that can also make their contribution. Skeletal muscle and the liver, not adipose tissue, are the two key insulin-response tissues involved in maintaining glucose balance, although abnormal insulin action in the adipocytes also plays a role in development of the syndrome. Factors commonly associated with and partly dependent on obesity, insulin resistance, such as overactivity of the sympathetic, stimulation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone systems, abnormal renal sodium handling, endothelial dysfunction, and large vesselsʼ alterations, may play a key role in the blood pressure elevation of the syndrome.
Background: It was suggested that depression and anxiety might be associated with increased cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention. In stable coronary heart disease (CHD) ...patients, we aimed to assess prevalence of depression and anxiety, its relations to conventional risk profile and mortality or morbidity and to quality of life (QoL).
Methods: We examined 969 patients, at least 6 months after myocardial infarction or coronary revascularisation. Depression or anxiety was assessed using a standard HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), while QoL by SF-36 (Short-Form-36 Questions) questionnaires. Follow-up was done to assess mortality in incidence of non-fatal cardiovascular event.
Results: Both mood disorders were rather frequent; borderline depression or anxiety (HADS score 8-10) had 14.8 or 10.9% of patients, respectively; moderate-to-severe depression or anxiety (HADS score ≥11) had another 8.2 or 6.7% of patients. After adjustment for potential covariates impaired QoL (SF-36 score <40) was independently associated with depressive mood odds ratio (OR) 6.08 (95%CI: 2.92-12.7) or anxiety OR 8.66 (95%CI: 3.77-19.89), as well as with combination of both disorders OR 33.58 (95%CI: 15.5-72.6). Conventional risk characteristics remained virtually unrelated to mood disorders (with exception of angina pectoris). We found significantly higher incidence of major cardiovascular events in patients with anxious mood and marginally significant inferior survival in patients with depression, but any cardiovascular risk disappeared if adjusted for potential covariates (conventional risk factors, natriuretic peptides, angina pectoris.)
Conclusions: Mood disorders severely affected QoL of stable CHD patients, but not their global cardiovascular risk.
Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a natural inhibitor of vascular calcification critically dependent on circulating vitamin K status. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a regulatory cytokine ...mainly of the inflammatory and angiogenesis pathways, but potentially also involved in bone mineralization. We sought to determine whether these two circulating biomarkers jointly influenced morbidity and mortality risk in patients with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD).
894 patients ≥6 months after myocardial infarction and/or coronary revascularization at baseline were followed in a prospective study. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, any revascularization), and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) were followed as outcomes. Desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) was used as a biomarker of vitamin K status.
Both, increased concentrations of dp-ucMGP (≥884 pmol/L) and GDF-15 (≥1339 pg/mL) were identified as independent predictors of 5-year all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. However, their coincidence further increased mortality risk. The highest risk was observed in patients with high dp-ucMGP plus high GDF-15, not only when compared with those with “normal” concentrations of both biomarkers HR 5.51 (95% CI 2.91–10.44), p < 0.0001 and 6.79 (95% CI 3.06–15.08), p < 0.0001 for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, but even when compared with patients with only one factor increased. This pattern was less convincing with non-fatal cardiovascular events or hospitalization for HF.
The individual coincidence of low vitamin K status (high dp-ucMGP) and high GDF-15 expression predicts poor survival of stable CHD patients.
•Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is natural calcification inhibitor.•Its maturation strongly depends on vitamin K status.•Low vitamin K status is independently associated with cardiovascular risk.•Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is an important regulatory cytokine.•Coincidence of low vitamin K and high GDF -15 indicate gradually higher mortality.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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