Family History Of Cardiovascular Disease Research Articles

Complex Combination of Pulmonary Embolism, Stroke, and ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Young Patient with Recent COVID-19 Infection and Newly Diagnosed Lung Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), and acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are very rarely all present in younger patients without classical risk factors or a family history of dyslipidemia or cardiovascular disease. They represent a medical emergency and necessitate fast diagnosis, treatment, and search for etiology, not explained purely by atherosclerosis. Thrombophilia testing should be considered in younger patients with several major thrombotic episodes, although there is much disagreement concerning the importance of homocysteine level testing in patients with arterial and venous thrombotic events, including PE. COVID-19 infection may trigger several thrombotic complications caused by unique immunothrombotic processes. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old patient complaining of chest pain was admitted at our clinic due to acute anterior STEMI. He has a previous medical history of ischemic stroke, COVID-19 infection, and PE in the past 2 months. Newly, diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma was confirmed by biopsy 10 days before STEMI admission, without surgical or previous hemotherapy. The patient was on regular anticoagulant therapy with rivaroxaban 20 mg OAD and antiplatelet therapy with Aspirin due to previous PE and ischemic stroke. Patient denied standard risk factors, family history for cardiovascular disease or any previous minor or major bleedings, history of anemia, liver, or renal dysfunction. Acute stroke was confirmed by brain computed tomography imaging. Thrombophilia panel testing revealed homozygote mutations for MTHFR 677 gene, heterozygote mutation for integrin subunit alpha 2, and fibrinogen B beta chain) genes. The patient was treated with low molecular weight heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, and heart failure therapy in the acute phase. Clinical consultations were performed with a team of doctors which included a cardiologist, neurologist, and oncologist. Patients have a high bleeding risk, assessed by HAS-BLEED score of 4. CONCLUSION: Our patient is a rare case of serious multi-vascular thrombotic events with underlying thrombophilia, lung cancer, and past COVID-19 infection complicated by pulmonary embolism, ischemic stroke, and STEMI.

Predictors of coronary atherosclerosis in middle-aged and older endurance athletes

Abstract Background Exercise improves cardiovascular health, but emerging evidence indicates that coronary atherosclerosis is more prevalent in middle-aged and older endurance athletes than sedentary peers. It has been shown that greater lifelong exercise volumes and exercise training at a very vigorous intensity are associated with higher coronary artery calcification scores (CACS). Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for accelerated coronary atherosclerosis in veteran athletes are unknown and largely unexplored. Purpose To identify predictors of CACS in middle-aged and older endurance athletes. Methods Cardiac CT scans were performed on 284 middle-aged and older male athletes of the MARC-2 study to assess CACS. Participants were stratified to CACS=0, CACS: 1-100, CACS: 101-400, or CACS >400. Participant characteristics, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, biomarker concentrations, nutrition characteristics, perceived stress scores, and usage of immune-modulating and performance-enhancing drugs were compared across CACS subgroups, whereas linear regression with backward elimination was used to determine associations with ln(CACS + 1). Results Participants were 60.0 [Q1-3 56.3-66.0] years old, had a weekly training load of 25.7 [16.9-35.2] MET-h, BMI of 24.5 [22.9-26.7] kg/m2, systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140±18 mmHg, and reported 0.3 [0.0-8.0] smoking pack years. CACS was 31 [0-132], with 29% of athletes having CACS of 0, 40% 1-100, 18% 101-400, and 13% >400. Participants with CACS >400 were older (p<0.001), had higher SBP (p=0.004), had smoked more pack years (p=0.003), and had more often a family history of cardiovascular disease (p=0.001), compared to lower CACS groups. After backward selection, our final multivariable model (R2=0.12) revealed that alcohol intake (p=0.021), smoking pack years (p=0.027), and SBP (p=0.004) had a positive relationship with CACS, while total fat intake (p=0.005) had an inverse relationship with CACS. We also found a significant interaction effect between weekly training load with alcohol consumption (p=0.017) and SBP (p=0.028), indicating that the association of alcohol and SBP with CACS was stronger for individuals performing higher exercise volumes. Conclusion Alcohol consumption, smoking history, and SBP were the strongest predictors of CACS in our cohort of middle-aged and older male endurance athletes, whereas the effect size of alcohol consumption and SBP on CACS was larger for participants with higher training loads. Our findings indicate that high exercise volumes do not eliminate the cardiovascular risk associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.

Potential cardioprotective effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Background In patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-I) are commonly employed to improve cognitive function. They increase the amount of acetylcholine (ACh) in the neuronal synapses, but bradycardia, cardiac electrical conduction blocks and hypotension due to muscarinic M2 receptor stimulation are potential side effects. However, whether these "side effects" could play a potential protective effect on cardiovascular (CV) events is not yet well defined. Purpuses To evaluate potential beneficial cardiac effects of AChE-Is in patients with AD, in terms of reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Methods We conducted a retrospective, monocentric, observational cohort study in patients referred to our hospital. Two groups were considered: the interventional group included AD patients treated with AChE-I. The control group enrolled a cohort of subjects matched for age and comorbidities, recruited between caregivers of intervention group subjects that were cognitively unimpaired and not taking AchE-I. The primary endpoint was a composite of hospitalization for heart failure (HF), non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI), myocardial revascularization, hospitalization for cardiovascular (CV) causes, cardiovascular mortality and occurrence of stroke and/or TIA during total 5 year follow-up period (MACEs). Secondary endpoints were each individual component of the primary end point, total deaths, non-cardiovascular death and incidence of pacemaker implant. Results 221 AD patients treated with AChE-I (91 with Donepezil, 130 with Rivastigmine) were included in intervention group and 221 non-AD patients in control group. Groups were homogeneous in terms of age, gender and main cardiovascular risk factors, except for family history of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which was more frequent in control group. During a median follow-up of 3.1 years the primary endpoint occurred in 24 patients in intervention group (2.1 per 100 patient-years) compared to 56 patients in the control group (5.0 per 100 patient-years). Therefore, AChE-I therapy resulted a protective factor from primary endpoint (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.95; p= 0.036). Even not significant, the difference was mainly driven by myocardial revascularization (3.2% in intervention group vs 6.8% in controls) and hospitalization for heart failure (4.5% in intervention group vs 14.5% in controls). Non-CVD mortality was significantly higher in treatment group (13,6% in intervention group vs 2,7% in controls). No significant difference was observed between groups in terms of other secondary outcomes. Conclusions Among patients with AD, use of AChE-I may be protective for CV outcomes, especially reducing HF hospitalisation and myocardial revascularization.Kaplan-Meier of cumulative MACEsNumber of Event/Years

Abstract 12761: Pathogenic Genetic Variants in Patients With Heart Transplant Due to Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Current clinical guidelines recommend offering genetic testing to all patients diagnosed with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), particularly in patients with a strong family history. The utility of genetic testing more broadly in patients with end-stage heart failure requiring heart transplant (HT) is unknown. Hypothesis: Among patients with HT, prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-associated pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants is higher in those with NICM than those with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods: We performed targeted DNA sequencing of 120 mendelian CVD genes in 124 consented patients with a HT, enrolled in the Vanderbilt Cardiac Catheterization Lab Cohort between 2003 and 2021. DNA sequence variation was annotated as P/LP based on ACMG criteria. Results: Out of 124 participants with HT, 70 had NICM and 51 had ICM. 22.8% of the NICM group harbored a P/LP variant in TTN (n=5), LMNA (5), MYH7 (1), RYR2 (1), RBM20 (1), COL1A2 (1), PKP2 (1), and CASQ2 (1). 19.6% of ICM participants harbored a P/LP variant in LDLR (2), RYR2 (1), TTN (1), SDHA (1), MYH7 (1), SGCD (1), MYL3 (1), CASQ2 (1), and COL1A2 (1). In NICM and ICM patients with a P/LP variant, 94% and 100% had a family history of CVD, respectively. By comparison in those without a P/LP variant, 59% and 73% had a family history of CVD. Out of 124 patients, only 13 had genetic testing through their clinical care, all of which occurred post-transplantation. 5/13 of these patients had a P/LP variant. Conclusions: This retrospective study showed a significant yield of genetic testing in HT patients. Notably, the overall prevalence of P/LP variants was nearly identical between NICM and ICM patients, with a higher rate of CM-related variants in the NICM group. We suggest that a genotype-first approach of screening all HT patients for genetic mutations enables earlier identification of actionable variants in HT probands and their family members than the current phenotype-guided approach.

Association between salt sensitivity and blood pressure variability in patients with essential hypertension and predictive value for cardiovascular events.

We aimed to explore the association between salt sensitivity and blood pressure variability in patients with essential hypertension. A total of 730 patients with essential hypertension treated from 2016 to 2019 were subjected to salt-sensitivity risk stratification according to 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Their clinical data were compared among groups with different grades of salt-sensitivity risk, and the association between salt sensitivity and blood pressure variability was analysed. The influencing factors for cardiovascular events in patients with essential hypertension were analysed through multivariate regression analysis, and their predictive value was detected using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Salt sensitivity was positively correlated with night-time and 24-hour systolic standard deviation and 24-hour systolic blood pressure coefficient of variation. Age ≥ 55 years, family history of cardiovascular diseases, high risk of salt sensitivity, night-time systolic standard deviation ≥ 14 mmHg, 24-hour systolic standard deviation ≥ 20 mmHg and 24-hour systolic blood pressure coefficient of variation ≥ 13.5% were all independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in patients with essential hypertension (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the prediction model was 0.837. There was a positive correlation between salt sensitivity and blood pressure variability, which has predictive value for cardiovascular events in patients with essential hypertension.

Abstract 17569: Changes in Adherence to “Life’s Essential 8” and Subsequent Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: The American Heart Association recently released an updated algorithm for evaluating cardiovascular health (CVH)—Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). However, very few studies have evaluated associations between changes in LE8 score over time and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypothesis: We hypothesized that improving adherence to LE8 score over time was associated with lower CVD risk. Methods: We examined associations between 6-year changes (from 2006 to 2012) in LE8 score (score range, 0-100) and risk of CVD, including heart disease and stroke (from 2012 to 2020). Participants were 53328 Chinese adults from the Kailuan Study who were free from CVD in 2012. Diet, lifestyle and health conditions were repeatedly assessed every 2 years. The LE8 score was calculated based on scores for 8 components: diet quality, physical activity, smoking status, sleep health, BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. We used Cox proportional-hazard models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with adjustment for age, sex, alcohol intake, education, income, and family history of CVD. Results: We documented 4264 incident CVD cases (2159 heart disease and 2311 stroke) (some individuals had both heart disease and stroke) during a median of 7.7 years of follow-up. Compared with participants whose LE8 scores remained stable, those with the largest increase of LE8 score had a 30% lower CVD risk, 30% lower heart disease risk, and 28% lower stroke risk (HR and 95%CI: 0.70 (0.63, 0.78) for CVD, 0.70 (0.61, 0.82) for heart disease, 0.72 (0.63, 0.83) for stroke); while participants with the largest decrease had a 47%, 57%, and 35% higher risk for CVD, heart disease, and stroke, respectively. Each 10 points increase of LE8 score was associated with 27%-29% lower risk for these diseases. Similar results were observed in secondary analyses of 4-year changes (2006 - 2010) and 8-year changes (2006 - 2014) in LE8 score with CVD risk. These associations persisted in subgroup analysis stratified by risk factors of CVD. Conclusions: Improving adherence to LE8 score over a 6-year period was associated with lower risk of CVD, heart disease, and stroke, whereas decreased adherence to LE8 score was associated with higher risk. These findings support greater adherence to LE8 for improving CVH.

Preeclampsia in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome: risk factor analysis based on a retrospective cohort study.

To compare the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and perinatal outcomes with or without preeclampsia (PE) and to factors that are potentially associated with the onset of PE. This was a retrospective study of pregnant women diagnosed with PCOS from January 2017 to December 2021. Eligible patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of preeclampsia: a PE group and a non-PE group. Demographics, clinical characteristics, maternal and perinatal outcomes, and potential factors linked to disease recurrence were analyzed. In total, 616 patients were enrolled and respectively classified into the PE group (n = 51) and the non-PE group (n = 565). The incidence of PE in pregnant women with PCOS was 8.28%; this was significantly higher than that in non-PCOS pregnant women (3.22%, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis of the predictive factors for PE in women with PCOS revealed that the combination of maternal hyperandrogenism, a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 24 kg/m², and a family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and assisted reproductive techniques (ART) exhibited the steepest receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve value at 0.797 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.733-0.862]. Patients with PCOS have a higher incidence of PE. We identified a series of significant and independent factors associated with PE in PCOS: maternal hyperandrogenism, a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 24 kg/m², and a family history of CVD and ART.

Comparison of in Hospital Complications and Mortality between Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients Admitted with Acute Anterior MI

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow stops to a part of the heart causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. Objective: To see the comparison in hospital complications and mortality between diabetic and non-diabetic patients of acute anterior MI. Methodology: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet over a period of two years from July 2015 to June 2017. A total of 100 acute anterior MI patients (50 diabetic and 50 non diabetic) were included in this study. Acute anterior MI patients admitted after 6 hours of symptom onset or who did not receive streptokinase were excluded. Results: Male predominance was obvious in both groups [40 (80%) versus 42 (84%); p&gt;0.05] in diabetic and non-diabetic group respectively. Mean age was 53.34 ± 11.32 and 54.84 ± 14.12 years in diabetic and non-diabetic groups respectively. Dyslipidemia [6 (12%) versus 6 (12%); p &gt;0.05], Smoking [32 (64%) versus 34 (68%); p &gt;0.05] and Family history of cardiovascular disease [6 (12%) versus 4 (8%); p &gt;0.05] were similar among diabetic and non-diabetic respectively. Hypertension was found more among non-diabetic [27 (54%) versus 19 (38%); p&gt;0.05] but difference was not statistically significant. Diabetic group had more acute MR [2 (4%) versus 0 (0%); p&gt;0.05] but was not significant. Death was more in diabetic group than that of non-diabetic group [7 (14%) versus 3 (6%); p&gt;0.05] but it was statistically not significant. Conclusion: Post MI angina was higher in diabetic than non-diabetic patients. Mechanical complications were also more in diabetic patients. However rate of reinfarction was higher among non-diabetic than that in diabetic patients. Mortality rate was higher in diabetic than that in non-diabetic patients. So, it may be concluded from the present study that in-hospital complications and mortality of acute anterior myocardial infarction are comparatively more in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients.

Genetic polymorphisms in ABCB1 are correlated with the increased risk of atorvastatin-induced muscle side effects: a cross-sectional study

Genetic factors are recognized as risk factors for statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS), which are the most common cause of statin intolerance. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between polymorphisms 1236C > T, 2677G > T/A, and 3435C > T in the ABCB1 gene, encoding the efflux transporter of statins, and SAMS, as results on this topic are still controversial. A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with or without SAMS using atorvastatin. The influence of non-genetic variables on SAMS was also evaluated. Our results show that patients with TT genotype in 1236C > T, 2677G > T/A, and 3435C > T polymorphisms had higher risk of developing SAMS, compared to wild type and heterozygous carriers together (OR 4.292 p = 0.0093, OR 5.897 p = 0.0023 and OR 3.547 p = 0.0122, respectively). Furthermore, TTT/TTT diplotype was also associated with a higher risk of SAMS, OR 9.234 (p = 0.0028). Only family history of cardiovascular disease was found to be a risk factor for SAMS, in addition to the known non-genetic variables. We believe that ABCB1 genotyping has great potential to be incorporated into clinical practice to identify high-risk patients in a timely manner.

Risk Assessment Score and Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection Algorithm for Hypertension Among Africans: Models From the SIREN Study.

This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring model for hypertension among Africans. In this study, 4413 stroke-free controls were used to develop the risk-scoring model for hypertension. Logistic regression models were applied to 13 risk factors. We randomly split the dataset into training and testing data at a ratio of 80:20. Constant and standardized weights were assigned to factors significantly associated with hypertension in the regression model to develop a probability risk score on a scale of 0 to 1 using a logistic regression model. The model accuracy was assessed to estimate the cutoff score for discriminating hypertensives. Mean age was 59.9±13.3 years, 56.0% were hypertensives, and 8 factors, including diabetes, age ≥65 years, higher waist circumference, (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, lack of formal education, living in urban residence, family history of cardiovascular diseases, and dyslipidemia use were associated with hypertension. Cohen κ was maximal at ≥0.28, and a total probability risk score of ≥0.60 was adopted for both statistical weighting for risk quantification of hypertension in both datasets. The probability risk score presented a good performance-receiver operating characteristic: 64% (95% CI, 61.0-68.0), a sensitivity of 55.1%, specificity of 71.5%, positive predicted value of 70.9%, and negative predicted value of 55.8%, in the test dataset. Similarly, decision tree had a predictive accuracy of 67.7% (95% CI, 66.1-69.3) for the training set and 64.6% (95% CI, 61.0-68.0) for the testing dataset. The novel risk-scoring model discriminated hypertensives with good accuracy and will be helpful in the early identification of community-based Africans vulnerable to hypertension for its primary prevention.

Primary apical periodontitis correlates to elevated levels of interleukin-8 in a Swedish population: A report from the PAROKRANK study.

To explore associations between root filled teeth, primary and secondary apical periodontitis, and levels of inflammatory markers in blood from patients with a first myocardial infarction and matched controls. Between May 2010 and February 2014, 805 patients with a first myocardial infarction and 805 controls, matched for sex, age, and postal code area, were recruited to the multicentre case-control study PAROKRANK (periodontitis and its relation to coronary artery disease). All participants underwent a physical and oral examination, as well as blood sampling. Using panoramic radiography, root filled teeth, primary apical periodontitis, and secondary apical periodontitis were assessed by three independent observers. Blood samples were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for the following inflammatory markers: interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, tumour necrosis factor-α, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Additionally, white blood cell count and plasma-fibrinogen were analysed. Associations between endodontic variables and the levels of inflammatory markers were statistically analysed with Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman correlation, adjusted for confounding effects of baseline factors (sex, age, myocardial infarction, current smoking, diabetes, family history of cardiovascular disease, education, marital status, and periodontal disease). Mean age of the cohort was 62 years, and 81% were males. Root fillings were present in 8.4% of the 39 978 examined teeth and were associated with higher levels of hsCRP, fibrinogen, and leukocyte count, but lower levels of IL-2 and IL-12p70. After adjusting for confounders, root filled teeth remained associated with higher levels of fibrinogen, but lower levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12p70. Primary apical periodontitis was found in 1.2% of non-root filled teeth and associated with higher levels of IL-8 (correlation 0.06, p = .025). Secondary apical periodontitis was found in 29.6% of root filled teeth but did not relate to the levels of any of the inflammatory markers. This study supports the notion that inflammation at the periapex is more than a local process and that systemic influences cannot be disregarded. Whether the observed alterations in plasma levels of inflammatory markers have any dismal effects on systemic health is presently unknown but, considering the present results, in demand of further investigation.

Mediterranean diet trajectories and 20-year incidence of cardiovascular disease: The ATTICA cohort study (2002–2022)

Background and aimsOnly few studies have assessed longitudinal dietary trends in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We aimed to evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, both baseline and longitudinal, and 20-year CVD incidence. Methods and resultsThis was a prospective study among 1988 Greek adults (50% men, age: 45 ± 14years). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated at baseline and 10 years through the MedDietScore, based on which longitudinal Mediterranean diet trajectories were identified. CVD incidence was recorded at 20 years. Each one-unit increase in baseline MedDietScore was associated with an 8% reduction in 20-year CVD incidence. Compared to subjects in the lowest tertile of baseline MedDietScore, those in the highest exhibited a 44% lower 20-year CVD risk (relative risk: 0.56, 95% confidence interval: 0.32, 0.97) adjusted for age, sex, baseline body mass index, smoking, physical activity, presence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and family history of CVD; further adjustment for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, uric acid and estimated glomerular filtration rate attenuated this association. Results were similar in models adjusted for longitudinal changes in body weight, physical activity and smoking, and 10-year medical status. Mediterranean diet trajectory analysis revealed that 24.7%, 8.6%, 45.8% and 20.9% of participants longitudinally sustained a low adherence, moved closer, moved away or sustained a high adherence, respectively; among those, the corresponding CVD incidence was 63.3%, 65.5%, 28.1% and 9.4% (p-value<0.001). ConclusionThe Mediterranean diet offers long-term protection against CVD, part of which is mediated by inflammation, uricemia and renal function.

Night shift work characteristics and risk of incident coronary heart disease among health care workers: national cohort study.

Night work has been associated with coronary heart disease. The present study examined exposure-response relations between quantitative night work characteristics and coronary heart disease (angina pectoris or myocardial infarction) with the aim to contribute to evidence-based recommendations for low-risk night work schedules. We followed 100 149 night workers (80% women) and 153 882 day workers (78% women), all health care workers in Denmark with day by day payroll information on night shifts from 2007 to 2015. We analysed data with Poisson regression stratified by sex and adjusted for age, calendar year, diabetes, family history of cardiovascular disease, educational level, occupation, indicators for obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, and hypertension. Female and male night workers worked on average 1.7 and 1.8 night shifts per month for an average duration of less than 4 years. During follow-up, 1198 night and 2128 day workers were hospitalized with first-time coronary heart disease. When compared with day workers, the overall incidence rate ratios for female and male night workers were 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97, 1.17] and 1.22 (95% CI 1.07, 1.39). Highest risks were observed in top exposure categories for several night work characteristics. However, no consistent exposure-response relations by number of monthly night shifts, cumulative night shifts, years with rotating night shifts, years with any night shift and consecutive night shifts were observed among the night workers of either sex. This study of a population with low exposure to night work does not indicate that reducing extent of monthly night shifts, cumulative night shifts, years with rotating night shifts, years with any night shift and consecutive night shifts would reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Central and Peripheral Hemodynamics in Young Adults Who Use Water Pipes and the Acute Effects of Water-Pipe Use

Tobacco use via water pipe (commonly referred to as water-pipe smoking [WPS]) is popular among young adults globally and exposes those who smoke to toxicants. Is WPS associated with impaired measures of arterial function and does WPS acutely impair these measures in young adults? We assessed heart rate (HR), brachial and aortic BP, HR-adjusted augmentation index (AI), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) in 62 individuals who use water pipes and 34 individuals who have never used a water pipe recruited from the community (mean age, 22.5 ± 3.0 years; 48%female). Measurements were obtained before and after an outdoor session of WPS among participants who use water pipes and among the control group of participants who have never used a water pipe. Measurements were compared after vsbefore exposure and between those who use and those who do not use water pipes, adjusting for possible confounders using linear regression. Participants who use water pipes and control participants had similar demographic characteristics. BP and HR increased acutely after WPS (brachial systolic BP by 4.13mmHg [95%CI, 1.91-6.36mmHg]; aortic systolic BP by 2.31mmHg [95%CI, 0.28-4.33mmHg]; brachial diastolic BP by 3.69mmHg [95%CI, 1.62-5.77mmHg]; aortic diastolic BP by 3.03mmHg [95%CI, 0.74-5.33mmHg]; and HR by 7.75 beats/min [95%CI, 5.46-10.04 beats/min]), but not in the control group. AI was significantly higher in participants who use water pipes compared with those who do not (9.02%vs3.06%; P= .03), including after adjusting for BMI and family history of cardiovascular disease (β= 6.12; 95%CI, 0.55-11.69; P= .03) and when assessing habitual tobacco use via water-pipe extent (water pipes used/day× water-pipe use duration) in water-pipe-years (β= 2.51/water-pipe-year; 95%CI, 0.10-4.92/water-pipe-year; P= .04). However, CFPWV was similar in those who use water pipes and those who do not, and AI and CFPWV did not change acutely after WPS. In apparently healthy young individuals from the community, habitual WPS was associated with increased AI, a predictor of cardiovascular risk, and one WPS session acutely increased HR and brachial and aortic BP.

Adverse Health Outcomes among Rural and Urban Breast Cancer Survivors: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Limited population-based studies have focused on breast cancer survivors in rural populations. We sought to evaluate the risk of adverse health outcomes among rural and urban breast cancer survivors and to evaluate potential predictors for the highest risk outcomes. A population-based cohort of rural and urban breast cancer survivors diagnosed between 1997 and 2017 was identified in the Utah Cancer Registry (UCR). Rural breast cancer survivors were matched on year (±1 year) and age at cancer diagnosis (±1 year) with up to 5 urban breast cancer survivors (2,359 rural breast cancer survivors; 11,748 urban breast cancer survivors). Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate HRs with 99% confidence intervals (CI) for adverse health outcomes overall, within 5 years, and >5 years after cancer diagnosis. Compared with urban breast cancer survivors, rural breast cancer survivors had a 39% (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02-1.65) higher risk of heart failure (HF) within the 5 years of follow-up. Overall, there was no increase in the risk of other evaluated adverse health outcomes. A higher baseline body mass index and Charlson Comorbidity Index, family history of cardiovascular diseases, family history of breast cancer, and advanced cancer stage were risk factors for HF for rural and urban breast cancer survivors, with similar levels of HF risk. Rural residence was associated with an increased risk of HF among breast cancer survivors. Our study highlights the need for primary preventive strategies for rural cancer survivors at risk of heart failure.

Unconventional Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) in the Lebanese Rural Population: The Forgotten Factors.

To evaluate the correlation between unconventional risk factors and the Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE), and estimate the prevalence of conventional and unconventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in the rural Lebanese population in order to assess their CV risk. This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted between November 2017 and June 2019 among the Lebanese rural population. The risk factors were analyzed from the files of the patients who presented for the CV disease screening days organized by a non governmental organization. The CV risk estimation tool is the SCORE. The classification of socio-economic level ranges from zero (low level) to 3 (high level). A total of 433 patients were included. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and metabolic syndrome was 45.1%, 31.2%, 39.2%, 50% and 42.9% respectively. Only 13.6% of hypertensive patients and 6.7% of diabetics were controlled. A total of 0 or 1 point for the classification of socio-economic status was found in 62.6% of cases. A family history of CV diseases was present in 87.3% of participants. The SCORE was correlated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.000), without being correlated to socio-economic status (HR = -0.104; p = 0.059) or to family history (p = 0.834). The socio-economic status and the family history of CV disease must be evaluated in addition to the classical risk calculation of the SCORE to better pinpoint the actual risk of the targeted population. The risk factors are prevalent but poorly controlled, hence the need for a national effort to ensure better care for the rural Lebanese population.

Role of horizontal negative family history among male sibs

Introduction. Coronary heart disease is closely associated with modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, obesity, dyslipidaemia, and diabetes. At the same time, the role of family history of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as an independent and significant risk factor for CHD is still unclear. Or may a family history of cardiovascular diseases be largely explained by a combination of traditional risk factors? Materials and methods of the study. By means of the information retrieval system of the Dimol complex, reliable group of male siblings (86 patients) with a horizontal hereditary burden of CHD (through male siblings) was formed. The study was conducted basing on the analysis of risk factors for CHD in studied patients. The obtained results were compared with published statistical data on the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease among men in the Russian Federation. Results. According to our study, the prevalence of smoking habit among male siblings was 55.8%, arterial hypertension – 74.4%, abdominal obesity – 40.7%, diabetes – 20.9%, hypercholesterolemia – 58.1%. The predicted incidence of CHD according to the CAD Consortium scale was 51% (41–64). At the same time, according to the CAG and CA-MSCT findings, stenosis lesions of coronary arteries were found in 74 (86%) male siblings. Conclusions. According to our analysis, the prevalence of CHD risk factors in male siblings with exertional angina is higher than the average in the male population of the Russian Federation. Horizontal hereditary CVD burden is an independent and significant risk factor for CHD in the group of male siblings. Keywords: CHD risk factors, siblings, hereditary burden

Assessment of health status and cardiovascular risk factors in a Roma population sample from South Bulgaria.

Roma population is one of the major ethnic groups in the Central and Eastern Europe, having high rates of chronic diseases and associated risk factors related to their poor social conditions, unhealthy lifestyle and low educational level. The purpose of our study was to assess the health status of Roma from South Bulgaria by means of blood indicators and determine the prevalence of some cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in the Roma population sample. The study group consisted of 60 Roma (23 men and 37 women), mean age 53.7 ± 15.9 years, and the control group consisted of 68 non-Roma from the majority population (29 men and 38 women), mean age 45.8 ± 12.2 years. The data were collected via questionnaire, anthropometric measures, and venous blood samples analyses after an overnight fasting. The Roma population subjects were slightly but significantly older compared to the non-Roma group and both study groups included more women. The fasting glucose, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were significantly higher, and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower in Roma compared to the control non-Roma group. The values of cardiovascular risk markers such as TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and lipoprotein combine index (LCI) were significantly higher in Roma compared to non-Roma subjects. The prevalence of obesity in Roma was 35%, diabetes mellitus was recorded in 16.7% of the entire Roma sample, and hyperglycaemia in non-diabetics was recorded in 32%. Hypercholesterolaemia was found in 90% and hypertriglyceridaemia was found in 88.3%. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) was high and was encountered in 71.7% of the Roma participants and most of the subjects (96.7%) reported family history of CVD. The studied population showed high smoking rates with 33.3% active smokers. Our study confirmed high prevalence of CV risk factors among Roma population, such as abnormal lipid profile parameters, obesity and heavy smoking and very high cardiovascular morbidity rate. Therefore, adequate measures and healthcare programmes aiming at the early identification, treatment and prevention of CVD risks among Roma are necessary.

Improvement of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) after 6-months of GLP-1 RAs treatment in diabetes mellitus type 2

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Glucagone Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) are incretine-based glucose-lowering drugs widely used in the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM2). Several cardiovascular outcomes trials demonstrated that GLP-1RAs are capable to induce a reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in DM2 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) or with high/very high cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, the direct effect of GLP1-RAs on cardiac function needs to be further explored. Purpose The aim of this study was the investigation of the effects of GLP-1RAs semaglutide or dulaglutide on cardiac systolic function in patients with DM2 and ASCVD or high/very high CV risk. Methods We conducted a proof-of-concept, observational, perspective, monocentric study by the enrollment of 22 patients treated with semaglutide or dulaglutide from December 2019 to March 2020 coming from the outpatient diabetology clinic in our hospital. Each patient underwent a transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation before the drug initiation, and then reassessed after a mean follow-up of 6 months by two cardiologists with experience in echocardiography. The examination was focused on the detection of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) with speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) (figure 1). Results Mean age of the sample was 65 ± 10 years, with a small prevalence of male sex (64% of cases). A huge number of patients had arterial hypertension (100%), dyslipidaemia (95%), family history of CV disease (91%), obesity (86%), smoking habit (68%) and two patients had a previous myocardial infarction (MI). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was the most frequent comorbidity (32% of cases). A mild LV concentric hypertrophy was highly represented [median interventricular septum 12 (IQR 1) mm]. No one had valvular diseases, except for minimum/mild tricuspid and mitral regurgitation. No relevant alterations were seen in the right cardiac sections. The LVEF was normal in the majority of patients, with a median value of 59% (IQR 7%). The mean LV GLS was slightly under the normal range (−18,0% ± 1,8%). After 6-months of treatment with semaglutide or dulaglutide, was documented a clinical and statistically significant improvement of LV GLS (mean difference −1,4% ± 1,1%; p&amp;lt;0,001), with a mean value tending towards the normal range (19,5% ± 2,1%) (figure 2). No relevant changes were seen on the other echocardiographic parameters evaluated. Conclusions In this setting of patients, a subclinical LV dysfunction defined by a mild reduction of LV GLS is common and may evolve towards diabetic cardiomyopathy. Semaglutide or dulaglutide should be considered as antidiabetic drugs in order to improve the systolic function. Further studies with a larger sample size and longer follow-up are ongoing to confirm these preliminary results.

Analysis and recognition of post-exercise cardiac state based on heart sound features and cardiac troponin I.

Excessive intensity exercises can bring irreversible damage to the heart. We explore whether heart sounds can evaluate cardiac function after high-intensity exercise and hope to prevent overtraining through the changes of heart sound in future training. The study population consisted of 25 male athletes and 24 female athletes. All subjects were healthy and had no history of cardiovascular disease or family history of cardiovascular disease. The subjects were required to do high-intensity exercise for 3days, with their blood sample and heart sound (HS) signals being collected and analysed before and after exercise. We then developed a Kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) model that can distinguish the state of heart by using the pre- and post-exercise data. There was no significant change in serum cardiac troponin I after 3days of load cross-country running, which indicates that there was no myocardial injury after the race. The statistical analysis of time-domain characteristics and multi-fractal characteristic parameters of HS showed that the cardiac reserve capacity of the subjects was enhanced after the cross-country running, and the KELM is an effective classifier to recognize HS and the state of the heart after exercise. Through the results, we can draw the conclusion that this intensity of exercise will not cause profound damage to the athlete's heart. The findings of this study are of great significance for evaluating the condition of the heart with the proposed index of heart sound and prevention of excessive training that causes damage to the heart.