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Despite steady improvements in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, a scarce proportion of patients achieve the recommended LDL-C goals, even under high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy (LLT). Our study aimed to evaluate the attainment rate of LDL-C targets recommended by the 2019 European guidelines, and to characterize potential factors associated with LDL-C goal achievement and change patterns in LLT. We conducted a retrospective, observational study on patients treated with high-intensity atorvastatin or rosuvastatin ± ezetimibe at cardiology and internal medicine clinics across Spain. It included 1570 evaluable patients (median age: 62 years; established CVD: 77.5% [myocardial infarction: 34.3%]; and 85.8% at very high cardiovascular risk). Rosuvastatin ± ezetimibe was the LLT in 52.2% of patients, and atorvastatin ± ezetimibe in 47.8%. LLT had been modified in 36.8% of patients (side effects: 10%), being the most common switch from atorvastatin- to rosuvastatin-based treatment (77.2%). The risk-based LDL-C goal attainment rate was 31.1%, with 78.2% high-risk and 71.7% very high-risk patients not achieving the recommended LDL-C targets. Established CVD and familial hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with the non-achievement of LDL-C goals. Although having limitations, this study shows that the guideline-recommended LDL-C goal attainment rate is still suboptimal despite using high-intensity statin therapy in a real-world setting in Spain.

The reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with lipid lowering therapy has demonstrated to decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular complications during the follow-up in primary and secondary prevention. Unfortunately, a great number of patients do not achieve recommended targets. This is mainly due to an insufficient use of the lipid-lowering therapy currently available. Although healthy life style changes are the basis of the treatment, in many cases this is not enough and it is necessary to add lipid lowering drugs to attain these targets. For these reasons, the current consensus document of the Spanish Society of Cardiology proposes 4 simple and feasible decision-making algorithms according to cardiovascular risk, with the aim of attaining cholesterol goals in the majority of primary prevention patients in a rapid an efficient way.

The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which gives rise to the highly contagious COVID-19 disease, has caused a pandemic that is overwhelming health care systems worldwide. Affected patients have been reported to have a heightened inflammatory state that increases their thrombotic risk. However, there is very scarce information on the management of thrombotic risk, coagulation disorders, and anticoagulant therapy. In addition, the situation has also greatly influenced usual care in patients not infected with COVID-19. This article by the Working Group on Cardiovascular Thrombosis of the Spanish Society of Cardiology aims to summarize the available information and to provide a practical approach to the management of antithrombotic therapy. Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org/en

Resumen La emergencia sanitaria por COVID-19 en Espana fue de tal magnitud que el 14 de marzo de 2020 se declaro un estado de alarma que se mantuvo durante mas de tres meses. Esta pandemia esta afectando a un numero muy elevado de personas. Para reducir su riesgo de contagio, entre las medidas tomadas se han minimizado las visitas a los centros sanitarios y se han incrementado las consultas telematicas. Una vez se supere la situacion de pandemia, cabra plantearse si la practica de la telemedicina queda limitada a situaciones de crisis sanitaria o puede convertirse en una nueva forma de practicar la medicina. La telemedicina carece de regulacion especifica y presenta lagunas que abocan al medico a considerables dosis de inseguridad. El presente articulo analiza los limites, las precauciones y los estandares legales del uso de la telemedicina.

The health emergency in Spain caused by COVID-19 was of such a magnitude that on March 14, 2020, a state of alarm was declared that lasted for more than three months. This ongoing pandemic has affected a vast number of people. Among the measures taken to reduce the risk of contagion, visits to health centers have been reduced and virtual consultations have increased. Once the pandemic ends, it will be necessary to consider whether telemedicine should be limited to periods of health crises or whether it could become a new way of practicing medicine. Telemedicine lacks specific regulations and has loopholes that leave physicians with a considerable degree of insecurity. This article analyzes the limits, precautions, and legal standards of the use of telemedicine.

[Purpose]: We examined the association between dietary folate intake and a score of MetS (metabolic syndrome) and its components among older adults at higher cardiometabolic risk participating in the PREDIMED-Plus trial. [Methods]: A cross-sectional analysis with 6633 with overweight/obesity participants with MetS was conducted. Folate intake (per 100 mcg/day and in quintiles) was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We calculated a MetS score using the standardized values as shown in the formula: [(body mass index + waist-to-height ratio)/2] + [(systolic blood pressure + diastolic blood pressure)/2] + plasma fasting glucose–HDL cholesterol + plasma triglycerides. The MetS score as continuous variable and its seven components were the outcome variables. Multiple robust linear regression using MM-type estimator was performed to evaluate the association adjusting for potential confounders., [Results]: We observed that an increase in energy-adjusted folate intake was associated with a reduction of MetS score (β for 100 mcg/day = − 0.12; 95% CI: − 0.19 to − 0.05), and plasma fasting glucose (β = − 0.03; 95% CI: − 0.05 to − 0.02) independently of the adherence to Mediterranean diet and other potential confounders. We also found a positive association with HDL-cholesterol (β = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.04–0.10). These associations were also observed when quintiles of energy-adjusted folate intake were used instead., [Conclusion]: This study suggests that a higher folate intake may be associated with a lower MetS score in older adults, a lower plasma fasting glucose, and a greater HDL cholesterol in high-risk cardio-metabolic subjects., The PREDIMED-Plus trial was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, co-financed by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER including the following projects: PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, and PI17/00926; the Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant; the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2013–2018, 340918) to M.Á.M.-G., the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to J.S.-S., the Recercaixa grant to J.S.-S. (2013ACUP00194), grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, and PI0137/2018), a grant from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2017/017), a SEMERGEN grant, and funds from the European Regional Development Fund (CB06/03 and CB12/03), The International Nut & Dried Fruit Council—FESNAD (Long-term effects of an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet on mortality and cardiovascular disease 2014–2015, No. 201302) [M.A.M.-G.]; the AstraZeneca Young Investigators Award in Category of Obesity and T2D 2017 [D.R.], EU-COST Action CA16112, Grant of support to research groups no. 35/2011 from the Balearic Islands Government, Grants from Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IDISBA). This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme.

[Purpose]: We examined the association between dietary folate intake and a score of MetS (metabolic syndrome) and its components among older adults at higher cardiometabolic risk participating in the PREDIMED-Plus trial., [Methods]: A cross-sectional analysis with 6633 with overweight/obesity participants with MetS was conducted. Folate intake (per 100 mcg/day and in quintiles) was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We calculated a MetS score using the standardized values as shown in the formula: [(body mass index + waist-to-height ratio)/2] + [(systolic blood pressure + diastolic blood pressure)/2] + plasma fasting glucose–HDL cholesterol + plasma triglycerides. The MetS score as continuous variable and its seven components were the outcome variables. Multiple robust linear regression using MM-type estimator was performed to evaluate the association adjusting for potential confounders., [Results]: We observed that an increase in energy-adjusted folate intake was associated with a reduction of MetS score (β for 100 mcg/day = − 0.12; 95% CI: − 0.19 to − 0.05), and plasma fasting glucose (β = − 0.03; 95% CI: − 0.05 to − 0.02) independently of the adherence to Mediterranean diet and other potential confounders. We also found a positive association with HDL-cholesterol (β = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.04–0.10). These associations were also observed when quintiles of energy-adjusted folate intake were used instead., [Conclusion]: This study suggests that a higher folate intake may be associated with a lower MetS score in older adults, a lower plasma fasting glucose, and a greater HDL cholesterol in high-risk cardio-metabolic subjects., The PREDIMED-Plus trial was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, co-financed by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER including the following projects: PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, and PI17/00926; the Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant; the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2013–2018, 340918) to M.Á.M.-G., the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to J.S.-S., the Recercaixa grant to J.S.-S. (2013ACUP00194), grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, and PI0137/2018), a grant from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2017/017), a SEMERGEN grant, and funds from the European Regional Development Fund (CB06/03 and CB12/03), The International Nut & Dried Fruit Council—FESNAD (Long-term effects of an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet on mortality and cardiovascular disease 2014–2015, No. 201302) [M.A.M.-G.]; the AstraZeneca Young Investigators Award in Category of Obesity and T2D 2017 [D.R.], EU-COST Action CA16112, Grant of support to research groups no. 35/2011 from the Balearic Islands Government, Grants from Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IDISBA). This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme.

Resumen La pandemia producida por la infeccion por el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) ha cambiado la forma de entender nuestras consultas. Para reducir el riesgo de contagio de los pacientes mas vulnerables (aquellos con cardiopatias) y del personal sanitario, se han suspendido la mayoria de las consultas presenciales y se han puesto en marcha las consultas telematicas. Este cambio se ha implementado en muy poco tiempo, pero parece que ha venido para quedarse. No obstante, hay grandes dudas sobre aspectos organizativos, legales, posibilidades de mejora, etc. En este documento de consenso de la Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia, tratamos de dar las claves para mejorar la calidad asistencial en nuestras nuevas consultas telematicas, revisando las afecciones que el cardiologo clinico atiende con mas frecuencia en su consulta ambulatoria y proponiendo unos minimos en ese proceso asistencial. Estas enfermedades son la cardiopatia isquemica, la insuficiencia cardiaca y las arritmias. En los 3 escenarios tratamos de clarificar los aspectos fundamentales que hay que revisar en la entrevista telefonica, a que pacientes habra que atender en una consulta presencial y cuales seran los criterios para su seguimiento en atencion primaria. El documento tambien recoge distintas mejoras que pueden introducirse en la consulta telematica para mejorar la asistencia de nuestros pacientes.

The name of author M. Alejandra Restrepo-Cordoba was parsed incorrectly (in such a way as to suggest that her surname is "Alejandra Restrepo-Cordoba") in this article as published.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivos Las mutaciones en el gen de la troponina T (TNNT2) se han asociado en pequenos estudios al desarrollo de miocardiopatia hipertrofica caracterizada por alto riesgo de muerte subita e hipertrofia leve. Se describe el curso clinico de los pacientes portadores de mutaciones en este gen. Metodos Se analizaron las caracteristicas clinicas y el pronostico de los sujetos con mutaciones en el gen TNNT2 atendidos en una unidad de cardiopatias familiares. Resultados A partir de 180 familias con miocardiopatias estudiadas geneticamente, se identifico a 21 (11,7%) con mutaciones en TNNT2: 10 familias Arg92Gln, 5 Arg286His, 3 Arg278Cys, 1 Arg92Trp, 1 Arg94His y 1 Ile221Thr. A traves de la evaluacion familiar se identifico a 33 portadores geneticos adicionales. El estudio incluyo a 54 portadores geneticos: el 56% varones con una media de edad de 41 ± 17 anos; 33 miocardiopatias hipertroficas, 9 dilatadas y 1 no compactada, con grosor maximo de 18,5 ± 6 mm; con disfuncion ventricular el 30% y antecedentes de muerte subita el 62%. En el seguimiento 4 fallecieron y 14 (33%) recibieron un desfibrilador (8 probandos, 6 familiares). La supervivencia media fue de 54 anos. Los portadores de Arg92Gln tuvieron desarrollo precoz, alta penetrancia, alto riesgo de muerte subita, alta tasa de implante de desfibrilador y alta frecuencia de fenotipo mixto. Conclusiones Las mutaciones en el gen TNNT2 fueron mas frecuentes en esta serie. Su perfil clinico y pronostico depende de la mutacion hallada. Los portadores de la mutacion Arg92Gln desarrollaron miocardiopatia hipertrofica o dilatada y tuvieron un pronostico significativamente peor que con otras mutaciones en TNNT2 u otros genes sarcomericos.

Aims: This study sought to determine the usefulness of genetic testing to predict evolution in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to assess the role of genetic testing in clinical practice. Methods and Results: Genetic results of 100 HCM patients tested for mutations in ≥10 HCM-causing genes were evaluated. Patients were classified as with poor (Group A) or favourable(Group B) clinical course. Forty-five pathogenic mutations (PM) were identified in 28 patients (56%) from Group A and in 23 (46%) from Group B (p=0.317). Only 40 patients (40%) exhibited PM that had been previously reported and only 15 (15%) had PM reported in ≥10 individuals. PM associated with poor prognosis were identified in just 5 patients from Group A (10%). Conclusion: Genetic findings are not useful to predict prognosis in most HCM patients. By contrast, real-world data reinforce the usefulness of genetic testing to provide genetic counselling and to enable cascade genetic screening. pre-print 298 KB