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Copyright of Remedia is the property of Medical Tribune CZ, s.r.o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The results of the DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trial were presented at the 2022 European Cardiology Congress. The trial tested the effect of dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. A total of 6263 patients were randomised to placebo or dapagliflozin. Dapagliflozin significantly decreased worsening of heart failure or cardiovascular death rates. The latest data show that the mechanism of action of gliflozins is much broader than expected, especially the metabolic effect. This has been confirmed by the EMPEROR Preserved and DELIVER trials. Professor Braunwald called SGLT2 inhibitors the statins of the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce the risk of hospitalisations for heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, but their effects in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction are uncertain. The EMPEROR-Preserved study tested the effect of empagliflozin in patients with preserved ejection fraction. Methods: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 5,988 patients with NYHA class II-IV heart failure and an ejection fraction > 40% to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or placebo in addition to recommended therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation for heart failure. Results: The median follow-up was 26.2 months, and the primary outcome occurred in 415 of 2,997 patients (13.8%) in the empagliflozin group and in 511 of 2,991 patients (17.1%) in the placebo group (p < 0.001). This effect was mainly related to a 29% decrease in the risk of hospitalisation for heart failure. The effect of empagliflozin on the primary outcome was consistent in patients with an ejection fraction < 50%, 50% to 60%, and ≥ 60%, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. The total number of hospitalisations for heart failure was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (p < 0.001). The mortality rate was not affected. Conclusion: Empagliflozin reduced the hospitalisation rate for heart failure in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Remedia is the property of Medical Tribune CZ, s.r.o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Suspended particulate matter (PM) contributes significantly to airborne pollution, represents a significant risk of disease or premature death as confirmed by epidemiological studies and is also associated with economic losses in society. The review provides a comprehensive view of the physico-chemical characteristics of PM, the mechanism of its effects on the human body and summarises current information from exposure studies, epidemiological studies and experimental studies on animals. The article also summarises current possibilities and approaches available to international and national institutions as regards population health protection from the effects of particulate matter pollution, the expected further reduction of health-justified reference values and subsequent reduction of limits in the national legislation of individual states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination sacubitril/valsartan is the first drug from the angiotenzin receptor blocker and neprilysin inhibitor group (ARNI). The PARAGIM‑HF study is the largest study ever in patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricle ejection fraction. The ARNI was superior to enalapril not only in the primary outcome of the study - cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for heart failure but also in total mortality and other followed parameters. The new treatment is well tolerated and changes the natural course of heart failure. The new knowledge was implemented in guidelines for heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The harmful use of alcohol causes almost 6% of deaths worldwide and is related to more than 200 diseases. The most frequent causes of death in people with alcohol use disorders are diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract and cancer. External causes are particularly common among men. These persons die prematurely in comparison with the general population. AIMS: To analyse the structure of the mortality of persons hospitalised for alcohol use disorders in 1994-2013 and to calculate these persons' potential years of life lost. METHODS: A database-linkage study of data from the National Registry of Hospitalised Patients and from the Deaths Information System was performed. In the National Registry of Hospitalised Patients, 204,807 hospitalisations of 90,376 persons with the primary diagnosis F10 were identified in the period 1994-2013. Of those, 25,815 people died. RESULTS: Almost 83% of those 25,815 patients were economically active. The most frequent causes of death in this group included liver diseases (18%), diseases of the circulatory system (15%), malignant neoplasms (7%), and disorders caused by the use of alcohol (3%). External causes (24%) most often involved random accidents (13%). Suicides were also high in numbers. The potential years of life lost (PYLL) indicator showed that 24.2 years were lost in one economically active person. CONCLUSION: Most persons who died were economically active. Liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases, tumours, and external causes were the most frequent causes of death. More than 24 years were lost in one economically active person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Remedia is the property of Medical Tribune CZ, s.r.o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)