To determine the number of patients with a primary or secondary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indication who are eligible for subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) implantation according ...to the S-ICD manufacturer's surface electrocardiogram (ECG) screening template.
One hundred and ninety-six ICD patients with a non-paced ventricle were assessed using erect and supine ECG limb lead recordings to simulate the three S-ICD sensing vectors. Each ECG lead was scrutinized by two independent observers. Subcutaneous ICD eligibility required two or more leads to satisfy the S-ICD screening template in both erect and supine positions. Overall, 85.2% of patients 95% confidence interval (CI): 80.2-90.2% fulfilled surface ECG screening criteria. The proportion of patients with 3, 2, 1, and 0 qualifying leads were 37.2% (95% CI: 30.4-44.0%), 48.0% (95% CI: 41.0-55.0%), 11.2% (95% CI: 6.8-15.6%), and 3.6% (95% CI: 1.0-6.2%). The S-ICD screening template was satisfied more often by Lead III (primary vector, 83.7%, 95% CI: 78.5-88.9%) and Lead II (secondary vector, 82.7%, 95% CI: 77.4-88.0%) compared with Lead I (alternate vector, 52.6%, 95% CI: 45.6-59.6%). A prolonged QRS duration was the only baseline characteristic independently associated with ineligibility for S-ICD implantation. There was 92.9% agreement between the two independent observers in assessment of eligibility using the S-ICD screening template.
About 85.2% of patients with an indication for a primary or secondary prevention ICD have a surface ECG that is suitable for S-ICD implantation when assessed with an S-ICD screening template. There is minor inter-observer variation in assessment of eligibility using the S-ICD screening template.
Objectives The study sought to assess the primary preventive effect of neurohumoral therapy in high-risk diabetic patients selected by N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). ...Background Few clinical trials have successfully demonstrated the prevention of cardiac events in patients with diabetes. One reason for this might be an inaccurate selection of patients. NT-proBNP has not been assessed in this context. Methods A total of 300 patients with type 2 diabetes, elevated NT-proBNP (>125 pg/ml) but free of cardiac disease were randomized. The “control” group was cared for at 4 diabetes care units; the “intensified” group was additionally treated at a cardiac outpatient clinic for the up-titration of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) antagonists and beta-blockers. The primary endpoint was hospitalization/death due to cardiac disease after 2 years. Results At baseline, the mean age of the patients was 67.5 ± 9 years, duration of diabetes was 15 ± 12 years, 37% were male, HbA1c was 7 ± 1.1%, blood pressure was 151 ± 22 mm Hg, heart rate was 72 ± 11 beats/min, median NT-proBNP was 265.5 pg/ml (interquartile range: 180.8 to 401.8 pg/ml). After 12 months there was a significant difference between the number of patients treated with a RAS antagonist/beta-blocker and the dosage reached between groups (p < 0.0001). Blood pressure was significantly reduced in both (p < 0.05); heart rate was only reduced in the intensified group (p = 0.004). A significant reduction of the primary endpoint (hazard ratio: 0.351; 95% confidence interval: 0.127 to 0.975, p = 0.044) was visible in the intensified group. The same was true for other endpoints: all-cause hospitalization, unplanned cardiovascular hospitalizations/death (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions Accelerated up-titration of RAS antagonists and beta-blockers to maximum tolerated dosages is an effective and safe intervention for the primary prevention of cardiac events for diabetic patients pre-selected using NT-proBNP. (Nt-proBNP Guided Primary Prevention of CV Events in Diabetic Patients PONTIAC; NCT00562952 )
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Primary prevention strategies to mitigate the burden of heart failure (HF) are urgently needed. However, no validated risk prediction tools are currently in use.
This study sought to derive 10-year ...risk equations of developing incident HF.
Race- and sex-specific 10-year risk equations for HF were derived and validated from individual-level data from 7 community-based cohorts with at least 12 years of follow-up. Participants who were recruited between 1985 and 2000, between 30 to 79 years, and were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline were included to create a pooled cohort (PC) and were randomly split for derivation and internal validation. Model performance was also assessed in 2 additional cohorts.
In the derivation sample of the PC (n = 11,771), 58% were women, 22% were black with a mean age of 52 ± 12 years, and HF occurred in 1,339 participants. Predictors of HF included in the race–sex-specific models were age, blood pressure (treated or untreated), fasting glucose (treated or untreated), body mass index, cholesterol, smoking status, and QRS duration. The PC equations to Prevent HF model had good discrimination and strong calibration in internal and external validation cohorts. A web-based tool was developed to facilitate clinical application of this tool.
The authors present a contemporary analysis from 33,010 men and women demonstrating the utility of the sex- and race-specific 10-year PC equations to Prevent HF risk score, which integrates clinical parameters readily available in primary care settings. This tool can be useful in risk-based decision making to determine who may merit intensive screening and/or targeted prevention strategies.
Display omitted
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In randomised controlled trials, fixed-dose combination treatments (or polypills) have been shown to reduce a composite of cardiovascular disease outcomes in primary prevention. However, whether or ...not aspirin should be included, effects on specific outcomes, and effects in key subgroups are unknown.
We did an individual participant data meta-analysis of large randomised controlled trials (each with ≥1000 participants and ≥2 years of follow-up) of a fixed-dose combination treatment strategy versus control in a primary cardiovascular disease prevention population. We included trials that evaluated a fixed-dose combination strategy of at least two blood pressure lowering agents plus a statin (with or without aspirin), compared with a control strategy (either placebo or usual care). The primary outcome was time to first occurrence of a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or arterial revascularisation. Additional outcomes included individual cardiovascular outcomes and death from any cause. Outcomes were also evaluated in groups stratified by the inclusion of aspirin in the fixed-dose treatment strategy, and effect sizes were estimated in prespecified subgroups based on risk factors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to compare strategies.
Three large randomised trials were included in the analysis (TIPS-3, HOPE-3, and PolyIran), with a total of 18 162 participants. Mean age was 63·0 years (SD 7·1), and 9038 (49·8%) participants were female. Estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease risk for the population was 17·7% (8·7). During a median follow-up of 5 years, the primary outcome occurred in 276 (3·0%) participants in the fixed-dose combination strategy group compared with 445 (4·9%) in the control group (hazard ratio 0·62, 95% CI 0·53–0·73, p<0·0001). Reductions were also observed for the separate components of the primary outcome: myocardial infarction (0·52, 0·38–0·70), revascularisation (0·54, 0·36–0·80), stroke (0·59, 0·45–0·78), and cardiovascular death (0·65, 0·52–0·81). Significant reductions in the primary outcome and its components were observed in the analyses of fixed-dose combination strategies with and without aspirin, with greater reductions for strategies including aspirin. Treatment effects were similar at different lipid and blood pressure levels, and in the presence or absence of diabetes, smoking, or obesity. Gastrointestinal bleeding was uncommon but slightly more frequent in the fixed-dose combination strategy with aspirin group versus control (19 0·4% vs 11 0·2%, p=0·15). The frequencies of haemorrhagic stroke (10 0·2% vs 15 0·3%), fatal bleeding (two <0·1% vs four 0·1%), and peptic ulcer disease (32 0·7% vs 34 0·8%) were low and did not differ significantly between groups. Dizziness was more common with fixed-dose combination treatment (1060 11·7% vs 834 9·2%, p<0·0001).
Fixed-dose combination treatment strategies substantially reduce cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularisation, and cardiovascular death in primary cardiovascular disease prevention. These benefits are consistent irrespective of cardiometabolic risk factors.
Population Health Research Institute.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The use of opioids during pregnancy has grown rapidly in the past decade. As opioid use during pregnancy increased, so did complications from their use, including neonatal abstinence syndrome. ...Several state governments responded to this increase by prosecuting and incarcerating pregnant women with substance use disorders; however, this approach has no proven benefits for maternal or infant health and may lead to avoidance of prenatal care and a decreased willingness to engage in substance use disorder treatment programs. A public health response, rather than a punitive approach to the opioid epidemic and substance use during pregnancy, is critical, including the following: a focus on preventing unintended pregnancies and improving access to contraception; universal screening for alcohol and other drug use in women of childbearing age; knowledge and informed consent of maternal drug testing and reporting practices; improved access to comprehensive obstetric care, including opioid-replacement therapy; gender-specific substance use treatment programs; and improved funding for social services and child welfare systems. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports the value of this clinical document as an educational tool (December 2016).
To assess associations between current use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and their combination and risk for major ...adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and heart failure (HF) in people with type 2 diabetes.
In three nested case-control studies involving patients with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales (primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank with linkage to hospital and mortality records), we matched each patient experiencing an event with up to 20 control subjects. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for MACCE and HF among patients receiving SGLT2i or GLP-1RA regimens versus other combinations were estimated using conditional logistic regression and pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.
Among 336,334 people with type 2 diabetes and without cardiovascular disease, 18,531 (5.5%) experienced a MACCE. In a cohort of 411,206 with type 2 diabetes and without HF, 17,451 (4.2%) experienced an HF event. Compared with other combination regimens, the adjusted pooled OR and 95% CI for MACCE associated with SGLT2i regimens was 0.82 (0.73, 0.92), with GLP-1RA regimens 0.93 (0.81, 1.06), and with the SGLT2i/GLP-1RA combination 0.70 (0.50, 0.98). Corresponding data for HF were SGLT2i 0.49 (0.42, 0.58), GLP-1RA 0.82 (0.71, 0.95), and SGLT2i/GLP-1RA combination 0.43 (0.28, 0.64).
SGLT2i and SGLT2i/GLP-1RA combination regimens may be beneficial in primary prevention of MACCE and HF and GLP-1RA for HF. These data call for primary prevention trials using these agents and their combination.
•Statins reduce cardiovascular risk in primary prevention.•There is scarce evidence for statins use in primary care in Brazil.•Digital health may be a useful tool to evaluate statin use in primary ...care.•Only 2.6% of individuals self-reported the use of statins.•Only 0.1% reported use of high-dose statins/high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy.
Statins are the main strategy to reduce dyslipidemia-related cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, there is scarce evidence on the real-world statins use in primary care settings in low-middle-income countries.
We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study using anonymized data routinely collected by community health workers in Brazil aimed to evaluate statin use and associated factors in a primary prevention population with cardiovascular risk enhancers.
Study population consisted of adults with hypertension, diabetes, and/or dyslipidemia. The primary and secondary outcomes were the proportion of individuals self-reporting statins use on any dose and high-dose statins/high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), respectively.
Of the 2,133,900 adult individuals in the database, 415,766 (19.5%) were included in the study cohort. From this cohort, 89.1% had hypertension, 28.9% diabetes, and 5.5% dyslipidemia. The mean age was 61.5 (standard deviation 14.5) years, 63.4% were female, and 61.0% were of mixed-race. Only 2.6% and 0.1% of individuals self-reported the use of statins and high-dose statins/high-intensity LLT, respectively. Older age (odds ratio OR 1.96; 95% confidence interval CI 1.88, 2.05, p < 0.001), living in the South region of Brazil (OR 4.39; 95% CI 3.97, 4.85, p < 0.001), heart failure (OR 2.60; 95% CI 2.33, 2.89, p < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.35, 1.64, p < 0.001), and anti-hypertensive medications use (OR 4.38; 95% CI 4.07, 4.71, p < 0.001) were independently associated with statin use.
In a real-world evidence study analyzing data routinely collected in a digitized primary care setting, we observed a very low use of statins in a primary prevention population with cardiovascular risk enhancers in Brazil. Socio-demographic factors and co-morbidities were associated with higher statins use rates.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This scientific statement summarizes the available preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical trial evidence that supports the contributions of prepregnancy (and interpregnancy) cardiovascular health ...to risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular disease in birthing individuals and offspring. Unfavorable cardiovascular health, as originally defined by the American Heart Association in 2010 and revised in 2022, is prevalent in reproductive-aged individuals. Significant disparities exist in ideal cardiovascular health by race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography. Because the biological processes leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes begin before conception, interventions focused only during pregnancy may have limited impact on both the pregnant individual and offspring. Therefore, focused attention on the prepregnancy period as a critical life period for optimization of cardiovascular health is needed. This scientific statement applies a life course and intergenerational framework to measure, modify, and monitor prepregnancy cardiovascular health. All clinicians who interact with pregnancy-capable individuals can emphasize optimization of cardiovascular health beginning early in childhood. Clinical trials are needed to investigate prepregnancy interventions to comprehensively target cardiovascular health. Beyond individual-level interventions, community-level interventions must include and engage key stakeholders (eg, community leaders, birthing individuals, families) and target a broad range of antecedent psychosocial and social determinants. In addition, policy-level changes are needed to dismantle structural racism and to improve equitable and high-quality health care delivery because many reproductive-aged individuals have inadequate, fragmented health care before and after pregnancy and between pregnancies (interpregnancy). Leveraging these opportunities to target cardiovascular health has the potential to improve health across the life course and for subsequent generations.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen for the COVID-19, first emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and by March 2020, it was declared a pandemic. ...COVID-19 pandemic has overburdened healthcare systems in most countries and has led to massive economic losses. SARS-CoV-2 transmission typically occurs by respiratory droplets. The average incubation period is 6.4 days and presenting symptoms typically include fever, cough, dyspnea, myalgia or fatigue. While the majority of patients tend to have a mild illness, a minority of patients develop severe hypoxia requiring hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. Management is mostly supportive. However, several direct anti-viral agents, and immunomodulatory therapy with steroids and various cytokine blockers seem promising in early results. However, an effective vaccine has been established, which will help curb the pandemic.
PDF
