Search

Background Copeptin, a marker for vasopressin, is related to advanced cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction. Purpose The aim of the present investigation was to assess whether copeptin is associated with the different atherosclerotic plaque stages expressed by coronary artery calcium scores (CAC score). Methods Copeptin and CAC score were studied in 677 participants in the ICELANDIC MI cohort without a history of a myocardial infarction at baseline. The Agatston method was used to measure coronary artery calcification visualized by means of computed tomographic scans. The CAC score was categorized into four classes: 0, 1–99, 100–399, and ≥400. Correlations between the CAC score and copeptin were assessed using Spearman's Rank Correlation while the predictive value of copeptin and CAC score were evaluated with Cox proportional Hazard regression analysis (unadjusted and adjusted for age groups, serum creatinine, gender, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus). The primary outcome was cardiovascular events (CVE) while total mortality served as secondary outcome. Results The median copeptin level was 6.4 pmol/L and the median CAC score 227.0 (IQR: 48.3–692.4) for the total cohort. The highest copeptin level was seen in people with a CAC score ≥400. Copeptin predicted total mortality in the unadjusted analysis and the CAC score predicted both outcomes. Only the CAC score that predicted outcome following adjustments (CVE: HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.23–1.48; p Figure 1 Conclusion In this cohort of elderly individuals without a previous MI a high CAC score was as a significant predictor of future cardiovascular events. People with high a CAC score had elevated copeptin levels but copeptin did not serve as a prognostic indicator. This suggests that copeptin elevation in people with CAD is an expression for the general state of disease rather than an indicator of a pathophysiological role of vasopressin in this context.

Introduction and Aims: Serum p-cresyl sulfate associates with cardiovascular disease in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease. p-Cresyl sulfate concentrations are determined by intestinal uptake of p-cresol, human metabolism to p-cresyl sulfate and renal clearance. Whether intestinal uptake of p-cresol itself is associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with renal disease has not been studied to date. Methods: We performed a prospective study in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 1-5 (clinicaltrials.gov NCT00441623). Intestinal uptake of p-cresol, under steady state conditions, was estimated from 24h urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate. Primary endpoint was time to first cardiovascular event, i.e. cardiac death, myocardial infarction/ischemia, ventricular arythmia, cardiovascular surgery, cerebrovascular accident or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Statistical analysis was done using Kaplan Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard analyses. Results: In a cohort of 200 patients, median 24h urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate was 457.47 µmol (IQR 252.68-697.17). After a median follow-up of 52 months, 25 patients reached the primary endpoint (tertile 1/2/3: 5/6/14 events, log rank P 0.0368, see figure). Higher urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate was related with cardiovascular events (univariate hazard ratio per 100 µmol increase: 1.112, P 0.0015). In multivariate analysis, urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate remained a predictor of cardiovascular events, independent of markers of renal function (Hazard ratio 1.120, P 0.0022) and in different models with other cardiovascular risk factors (Framingham risk factors, cardiovascular history, diabetes mellitus and biochemical parameters). The independent association between urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate and outcome persisted after correction for serum p-cresyl sulfate. Conclusions: Intestinal uptake of p-cresol associates with cardiovascular disease independent of renal function. Insights into mechanisms governing intestinal generation and absorption of p-cresol may lead to identification of novel therapeutic targets to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in patients with chronic kidney disease.

To compare a cardiovascular risk (CVR)-adjusted with the traditional blood pressure (BP) control rate for assessing BP control and consequent target populations for intensified treatment.Model calculation using cross-sectional data retrieved from 89 German general practices; a random sample of 3355 patients with known hypertension was consecutively enrolled by their general practitioners. Cardiovascular history and risk factors were documented. In addition to the traditional control rate (fixed BP target140/90), we calculated CVR-adjusted control rates, stratifying analyses according to three CVR categories and their corresponding BP targets on the basis of the European Cardiovascular Society's SCORE tables: (1) very high CVR, owing to manifest cardiovascular disease (CVD), BP target130/80; (2) high CVR, BP target140/90; and (3) low CVR, BP target160/100 mmHg.Traditional vs. CVR-adjusted BP control rates were 55.1 vs. 14.9% (manifest CVD, kappa 0.27), 36.7 vs. 35.8% (high CVR, kappa 0.98), 52.6 vs. 88.5% (low CVR, kappa 0.25), and 45.8 vs. 46.5% (overall, kappa 0.61). Among the study patients, 19.2% switched from 'controlled' to 'uncontrolled' or vice versa depending on the criterion applied.Compared with the traditional BP control rate, the CVR-adjusted approach identifies a substantially different - although overall similarly large - target group for intensified cardiovascular risk reduction. Using CVR-adjusted BP control rates in surveys describing hypertension management could help to focus attention and resources on reducing CVR in patients who are likely to benefit from additional treatment efforts.

Aim To study the relationship between heart rate and (a) all deaths and (b) cardiovascular deaths in a large cohort of middle-aged Norwegian men and women. Methods and results A prospective study of participants in cardiovascular surveys that were carried out in 1985–1999 and covered men and women aged 40–45 years in all counties except the capital, Oslo. In total, 180 353 men and 199 490 women aged 40–45 years without cardiovascular history or diabetes accrued 4 775 683 years of follow-up. There was a positive and graded association between heart rate and mortality from all causes, as well as between heart rate and deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischaemic heart disease, and stroke. However, these associations were greatly reduced when we adjusted for the main risk factors of disease. The hazard ratios for any death were reduced from 3.14 to 1.82 for men (95% CI, 1.62–2.04) and from 2.14 to 1.37 for women (95% CI, 1.19–1.59), when we compared ≥95 b.p.m. with

A 49-year-old man without cardiovascular risk factors and a negative cardiovascular history was referred to our Hospital for further characterization of a solid, hyperechoic mass in the mid portion of the interventricular septum ( Panel A ), incidentally found on a check-up transthoracic echocardiogram. The cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study showed …

[Abstract] Introduction and objectives. The objective of the OFRECE study was to estimate the prevalence of stable angina in Spain. This prevalence is currently unknown, due to a lack of recent studies and to changes in the epidemiology and treatment of ischemic heart disease. Methods. This cross-sectional study involved a representative sample of the Spanish population aged 40 years or older, obtained via 2-stage random sampling: in the first stage, primary care physicians were randomly selected from each Spanish province, whereas in the second stage 20 people were selected from the population assigned to each physician. The prevalence was weighted by age, sex, and geographical area. Participants were classified as having angina if they met the “definite angina” criteria of the Rose questionnaire and as having confirmed angina if the angina was confirmed by a cardiologist or if they had a history of acute ischemic heart disease or revascularization. Results. Of the 11 831 people invited to participate, 8378 (71%) were analyzed (mean age, 59.2 years). The weighted prevalence of definite angina (Rose) was 2.6% (95% confidence interval, 2.1%-3.1%) and was higher in women (2.9%) than in men (2.2%), whereas that of confirmed angina was 1.4% (95% confidence interval, 1.0%-1.8%), without differences between men (1.5%) and women (1.3%). The prevalence of definite angina (Rose) increased with age (0.7% in patients aged 40 to 49 years and 7.1% in those aged 70 years or older), history of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular risk factors, except smoking. Conclusions. The prevalence of definite angina (Rose) in the Spanish population aged 40 years or older was 2.6%, whereas that of confirmed angina was 1.4%. Both prevalences increased with age, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular history. [Resumen] Introducción y objetivos. El objetivo del estudio OFRECE fue estimar la prevalencia de angina estable en España. Esta es actualmente desconocida por falta de estudios recientes y cambios en la epidemiología y el tratamiento de la cardiopatía isquémica. Métodos. Estudio transversal. Se obtuvo una muestra representativa de la población española de edad mayor o igual a 40 años mediante muestreo aleatorio en dos etapas: la primera fue una selección aleatoria de médicos de atención primaria de cada provincia y la segunda, una selección de 20 individuos de la población asignada a cada médico. La prevalencia se ponderó por edad, sexo y área geográfica. Se clasificó a los participantes como pacientes con angina si cumplían criterios de «angina segura» del cuestionario de Rose y como angina confirmada si además tenían antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica aguda, revascularización o confirmación tras evaluación cardiológica. Resultados. Se analizó a 8.378 personas (media de edad, 59,2 años), el 71% de las 11.831 invitadas a participar. La prevalencia ponderada de angina segura (Rose) fue del 2,6% (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 2,1-3,1%), mayor en mujeres (2,9%) que en varones (2,2%), y la de angina confirmada, del 1,4% (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 1,0-1,8%) sin diferencias entre varones (1,5%) y mujeres (1,3%). La prevalencia se incrementó con la edad (angina segura, el 0,7% en el grupo de 40-49 años y el 7,1% en el de mayor o igual a 70 años), los antecedentes de enfermedad cardiovascular y los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, salvo el tabaquismo. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de angina segura (Rose) en la población española de edad mayor o igual a 40 años es del 2,6% y la de angina confirmada, del 1,4%, y ambas se incrementan con la edad, los factores de riesgo cardiovascular y los antecedentes cardiovasculares.

Purpose and methods : The EUROASPIRE III survey (European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events) was carried out during 2006-2007 in 22 European countries. Within each country, consecutive patients ≥18 years of age and less than 80 years of age at the time of identification, with first or recurrent diagnosis for CHD (CABG, PTCA, AMI, Ischaemia) were identified retrospectively from clinical registers, hospital discharge lists or other sources. Patients were interviewed and examined at least 6 months after their acute coronary event. Quality of life of each patient was measured by use of standardized questionnaires, among other the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire. The main objective of this study was to assess the distribution of EQ-5D scores in CHD patients across countries and to identify factors responsible for the variation between patients. Results : According to the EQ-5D instrument a third of patients perceived no pain or discomfort, 42.6% were not anxious or depressed and about half of the patients reported no problem in walking (47.6%) or performing their usual activities (54.7%). Regarding self-care, 85.8% of patients did not report any problems. EQ-5D scores varied substantially between countries with mean values for men ranging from 0.67 (Slovenia) to 0.86 (Italy), whereas for women the index score ranges from 0.57 (Russian Federation) to 0.79 (Italy). Results showed an inverse relationship with age with a mean score of 0.81 and 0.71 in men and women resp. below 50 years or age and a mean score of 0.74 and 0.66 in men and women resp. aged 70 years or older. Regression analyses identified diabetes, current smoking, lack of regular exercise and cardiovascular history as the most important factors associated with quality of life scores. Concerning the therapeutic control of risk factors and their relation with quality of life, results show a positive association between smoking cessation and quality of life in men, and a positive association between controlled hypertension and quality of life in women. No significant relation was found with controlled hyperlipidaemia or diabetes. Conclusion : Overall, a large heterogeneity was observed in EQ-5D values between countries and patient groups. There seems to be a strong association between quality of life and cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, lack of exercise and cardiovascular history. Additionally, therapeutic control of risk factors such as smoking and hypertension seems more optimal in patients with a higher quality of life.