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Introduction: Moving toward evidence-based care protocols is key to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that a multifaceted intervention could improve the adherence to evidence-based therapies for coronary artery disease patients. Methods: The BRIDGE Cardiovascular Prevention study was a cluster randomized trial including 1,619 patients with ischemic stroke, coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease from 40 outpatient clinics in Brazil. Clusters were randomized to receive a multifaceted quality improvement intervention or to routine practice. The intervention included reminders, care algorithms, training of a case manager, audit and feedback reports, and distribution of educational materials to health care providers. The primary endpoint was the adherence to combined use of statins, antiplatelets and ACEi or ARBs, using an “all or none” approach at 12 months in patients without contra-indications. Results: Among the 1619 patients enrolled in the original sample, 1327 (81.9%) were coronary artery disease patients. The mean age was 65.7 (SD=10.4) and 880 (66.3 %) were men. There was a significant difference in the combined prescription of evidence-based therapies between the intervention and the control groups (75.4% versus 61.8 % respectively, Odds Ratio, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.29 - 4.21], p Conclusions: Among coronary artery disease patients treated in Brazil, a quality improvement intervention resulted in improved prescription of evidence-based therapies for cardiovascular prevention.

Background: Recent research efforts on bariatric surgery have focused on metabolic and diabetes mellitus resolution. Randomized trials designed to assess the impact of bariatric surgery in patients with obesity and hypertension are needed. Methods: In this randomized, single-center, nonblinded trial, we included patients with hypertension (using ≥2 medications at maximum doses or >2 at moderate doses) and a body mass index between 30.0 and 39.9 kg/m 2 . Patients were randomized to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass plus medical therapy or medical therapy alone. The primary end point was reduction of ≥30% of the total number of antihypertensive medications while maintaining systolic and diastolic blood pressure Results: We included 100 patients (76% female, mean age 43.8±9.2 years, mean body mass index 36.9±2.7 kg/m2), and 96% completed follow-up. Reduction of ≥30% of the total number of antihypertensive medications while maintaining controlled blood pressure occurred in 41 of 49 patients from the gastric bypass group (83.7%) compared with 6 of 47 patients (12.8%) from the control group with a rate ratio of 6.6 (95% confidence interval, 3.1–14.0; P P =0.005). Eleven patients (22.4%) from the gastric bypass group and none in the control group were able to achieve SPRINT levels without antihypertensives. Waist circumference, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, glycohemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and 10-year Framingham risk score were lower in the gastric bypass than in the control group. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery represents an effective strategy for blood pressure control in a broad population of patients with obesity and hypertension. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01784848.

Background: Despite the marked efficacy demonstrated by drug-eluting stents (DES) in reducing neointimal proliferation, and therefore, the need for target lesion revascularization (TLR), persistent concerns regarding long-term safety and efficacy, especially in more complex subset, are still. Methods: The DESIRE Registry is a large, prospective, non-randomized, single center study assessing the late outcomes of unselected pts treated with DES. Overall, 5,541 pts were consecutively enrolled from May/02-Jun/14. Clinical follow-up (FU) (97%) was performed yearly up to 12 yrs (median 4.9 yrs). Stent thrombosis (ST) was defined according to the ARC. Results: Mean age was 65 yrs, 31% had diabetes, 29% current smokers, 42% presented with ACS (17% recent myocardial infarction, MI), and the majority of lesions were highly complex (67% type B2/C). Overall, there were 8,919 lesions treated with 9,537 DES, and angiographic success was 99%. During the FU period, cumulative event rates were major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or TLR) 32%, myocardial infarction 8%, TLR 21%, and cardiac death 6%. As for stent thrombosis, overal rate was 2.4%, given that 95% of patients were free from this event up to 12 years. In the multivariate model, independent predictors of major adverse cardiac events were: prior revascularization by percutaneous intervention (HR 1.21, p=0.03) or surgery (HR 1.53, p Conclusions: At very long-term follow-up (up to 12 years) in a large cohort of patients from the real world practice, cumulative event rates included TLR in 21% and stent thrombosis in 2.4%. Overall, there were no safety concers, given that 95% of patients were free from stent thrombosis up to 12 years.