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Background: The contemporary incidence and prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) remains understudied. Epidemiological research on TAAD has been limited by incomplete case identification within administrative data sources. The objectives of this study were to develop a case identification method and determine the incidence and prevalence of TAAD, based on data from Manitoba, Canada., Methods: Hospital records and medical claims housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, and data from the Manitoba Thoracic Aortic Diseases Clinic were used to develop a case definition and identify patients with TAAD in Manitoba, Canada. The age-standardized incidence and prevalence of thoracic aortic disease was determined and stratified by sex from 1998 to 2016., Results: We identified 4264 patients with TAAD, of whom 63% were male. The age standardized incidence was 2 times higher in men, peaking at 42 cases per 100,000 in 2013. Although the overall incidence was lower in female patients, the number of incident cases increased 68% compared with 25% in male patients. In hospitalized patients, the incidence and prevalence of aneurysms increased over time, whereas the incidence of dissection and rupture has remained stable., Conclusions: The use of a novel case identification method provided a more complete description of the epidemiology of TAAD. The incidence and prevalence of TAAD is rising, more so in female patients over time. These data support increased resource allocation to thoracic aortic diseases clinics to ensure appropriate monitoring, treatment, and follow-up for the growing number patients with thoracic aortic disease., (Copyright © 2019 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health issue worldwide. It is acknowledged that CKD is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the pathophysiology of hypertension, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases is well known and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is a major regulator of blood pressure through its effect on body fluids and electrolyte homeostasis. For 2 decades, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have been the mainstay of treatment for CKD. Clinical trials have shown that prescription of monotherapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers reduces albuminuria and slows the progression of nephropathy in patients with diabetes. In clinical practice guidelines, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors are recommended as the antihypertensive drug of choice in patients with CKD with or without diabetes. Moreover, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have been shown to offer cardiovascular protection beyond those resulting after blood pressure control. However, the benefits of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor prescriptions for patients with advanced CKD remain controversial. Patients with advanced CKD or who undergo dialysis are under-represented in clinical trials, and studies in this population are urgently needed., (Copyright © 2019 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 35-year-old Sri Lankan woman (gravida 3, para 3, abortus 0) presented to the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal, Quebec) with shortness of breath and diffuse swelling. She was five months postpartum of her most recent delivery, which was complicated by pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. She described a three-week history of progressive exertional dyspnea, orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. There was no history of recent viral illness, and the patient had no traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease. A physical examination, laboratory results and echocardiography were typical for heart failure. A presumptive diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy was made. To initiate a transplant referral, coronary angiography was performed. Six discrete atherosclerotic lesions were found, notably left main equivalent disease. A diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy was made, and the patient was referred for high-risk coronary artery bypass surgery and transplant. The present case illustrates the excess burden of coronary artery disease borne in south Asian patient populations.