High Prevalence Of Cardiovascular Disease Research Articles

Метод автоматического детектирования характерных точек пульсовой волны

The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) requires the development of new methods for their timely preliminary diagnosis. One of the promising approaches in this direction is the analysis of photoplethysmogram (PPG). The article presents an algorithmic method of digital processing of the PPG signal for automatic determination of the position of characteristic points on the pulse wave. This task is relevant, as amplitude and time characteristics of the location of characteristic points allow obtaining information about the state of the cardiovascular system (CVS). The developed method is characterised by low sensitivity to the variability of the signal shape due to the application of differentiation and interpolation procedures. The proposed solution can be used for creation of modern technical means of preliminary diagnostics of CVS.

Трансуретральная резекция предстательной железы по поводу инфравезикальной обструкции у больных с сахарным диабетом 2 типа.

Introduction. Bladder obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common disease among males with diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective. To evaluate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and clinical outcomes among patients with/without DM2T after undergoing transurethral resection prostate (TURP). Materials and methods. Retrospective study based on medical data throughout 1,5 years (2021–2022 гг.) and participation of 48 diabetic and non-diabetic patients with persistent LUTS who also have underwent TURP for BPH. Results. Patients with DM2T show higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (р=0,01). They also show higher need for alpha-blockers during 1-12 months after TURP for urinary dysorders (OR=5,5, 95% CI: 1,42–21,30, р=0,01). Discussion. Wide-population prospective clinical studies are needed for creating of effective personalized strategies. Conclusion. Patients with T2DM more often need alpha-blockers within 1-12 months after TURP. T2DM leads to higher rate of post-surgery urinary retention and worse results compared with non-diabetic patients.

Region-Disentangled Diffusion Model for High-Fidelity PPG-to-ECG Translation

The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) calls for accessible and cost-effective continuous cardiac monitoring tools. Despite Electrocardiography (ECG) being the gold standard, continuous monitoring remains a challenge, leading to the exploration of Photoplethysmography (PPG), a promising but more basic alternative available in consumer wearables. This notion has recently spurred interest in translating PPG to ECG signals. In this work, we introduce Region-Disentangled Diffusion Model (RDDM), a novel diffusion model designed to capture the complex temporal dynamics of ECG. Traditional Diffusion models like Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models (DDPM) face challenges in capturing such nuances due to the indiscriminate noise addition process across the entire signal. Our proposed RDDM overcomes such limitations by incorporating a novel forward process that selectively adds noise to specific regions of interest (ROI) such as QRS complex in ECG signals, and a reverse process that disentangles the denoising of ROI and non-ROI regions. Quantitative experiments demonstrate that RDDM can generate high-fidelity ECG from PPG in as few as 10 diffusion steps, making it highly effective and computationally efficient. Additionally, to rigorously validate the usefulness of the generated ECG signals, we introduce CardioBench, a comprehensive evaluation benchmark for a variety of cardiac-related tasks including heart rate and blood pressure estimation, stress classification, and the detection of atrial fibrillation and diabetes. Our thorough experiments show that RDDM achieves state-of-the-art performance on CardioBench. To the best of our knowledge, RDDM is the first diffusion model for cross-modal signal-to-signal translation in the bio-signal domain.

Heparin-Mediated Extracorporeal Low-Density Lipoprotein Precipitation Apheresis for Treating Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Medical treatment is mainly based on risk factor management, and the surgical approach remains the gold standard treatment in specific conditions. Heparin-mediated extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein precipitation (H.E.L.P.) apheresis is effective in reducing circulating lipoprotein, fibrinogen, inflammatory mediators and procoagulant factors, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. These activities may be effective in reducing symptoms and ischemic vascular lesions even in patients with severe PAD. We reported the application of a treatment protocol with H.E.L.P. apheresis in an ESRD patient with severe PAD without clinical improvement after severe revascularization who was not suitable for further surgical approaches, despite normal LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a). The H.E.L.P. protocol was characterized by an intensive first phase with weekly treatments followed by a single session every 10-15 days for 6 months of treatment. The overall clinical condition, foot lesions and walking distance improved significantly after the first 2 months of treatment, and foot amputation was avoided. Here, we review the main pathogenetic mechanisms through which LDL apheresis improves microcirculation and clinical outcomes. Its wider application may represent an optimal therapeutic option for patients unresponsive to standard treatment.

‘They Know What It’s Like’: Exploring Facebook Groups for Digital Coping

Informed by the Digital Coping Model, this article explores the use of social network sites among chronically ill patients and caregivers. In particular, it focuses on the use of Facebook (FB) groups among patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their caregivers in the Philippines. Situated in a country with a high prevalence of CVD, it explores the communication technology affordances and digital coping activities of members belonging to a private FB group for CVD. Using in-depth interviews with members, this article found that digital coping engages with polymedia, that is, patients and caregivers use the private FB group together with other platforms. Members likewise engaged with praying as an emergent digital coping activity. Moreover, they characterised the private FB group as an epistemic community critical for creating, sharing and challenging CVD-related information. Taken together, the results extend the conversations about the ways patients and caregivers continue to repurpose communication and technology for managing their chronic illness in the larger backdrop of polymedia, limited access to healthcare, and the ongoing pandemic. Implications to moderators of health groups, healthcare professionals and health associations are discussed.

Prevalence of CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 Allelic Variants and Clopidogrel Use in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad & Tobago has the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Caribbean and clopidogrel is a ubiquitously used treatment. Yet, the extent of genetically mediated clopidogrel resistance is unknown. To determine this, we investigated whether the association between CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 genetic variants and clopidogrel resistance holds, and calculated the frequencies of these in the Trinidadian CVD population. Demographic data, clinical data, and a saliva sample were collected under informed consent from 22 patients with CVD on dual anti-platelet therapy whose biochemical resistance to clopidogrel is known, and a further 162 patients accessing the main public CVD clinic in Trinidad and who are either currently being treated or are likely to be treated with clopidogrel. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion procedure was used to genotype each patient for the CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 allelic variants. Genotype was compared to known clopidogrel resistance in the 22 patients, and to disease status and clopidogrel usage in the larger cohort. CYP2C19*2 genotype was concordant with clopidogrel resistance. CYP2C19*2 was detected in 61.1% (99/162) of patients and CYP2C19*3 was undetected. Clopidogrel was the most prescribed antiplatelet therapy (42%). A total of 120 people presented with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 52.5% of these (n = 63/120) are currently prescribed clopidogrel. 63.5% (40/63) of patientswith CAD who are prescribed clopidogrel carry the CYP2C19*2 allele; ten homozygous and 30 heterozygous. Indian patients comprised 65% of the cohort and were four times more likely to carry the CYP2C19*2 allele than African patients. A large proportion of Trinidadian patients with CVD who are prescribed or may be prescribed clopidogrel carry genetic variants associated with clopidogrel resistance. These results emphasize the clinical need for further investigation into whether CYP2C19*2 genotype should guide clopidogrel use for the cardiovascular disease population in Trinidad & Tobago. A slide deck is available for this article.

Sleep Attributes Influencing Cardiovascular Morbidity Among Young Adults Pursuing Professional Courses in Dehradun, India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are evolving as a cause of mortality and morbidity among young adults. Young adults, particularly those pursuing professional courses in colleges, face unique challenges that may influence their risk of developing CVD. Despite screening guidelines, CVD risk factors often go undetected in the young population, highlighting the need for increased awareness among adolescents. Sleep is an essential indicator of well-being, and its impact on cardiovascular risk factors is increasingly being recognized. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among young adults aged 18 to 24 years pursuing professional courses in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. A total of 156 participants were recruited through multistage, systematic random sampling, and snowball sampling. Data on sleep patterns and cardiovascular morbidity were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Among the study participants, 46.8% reported having less than four hours of sleep on average, and 25% were suffering from sleep problems. The prevalence of diagnosed CVDs was low, with 6.14% reporting arrhythmias and 3.84% reporting hypertension. An association was found between sleep duration, sleep problems, and the presence of CVDs. Participants with shorter sleep durations and more severe sleep problems had a higher prevalence of CVDs. The findings suggest that sleep duration and sleep problems may be modifiable risk factors for CVDs among young adults. Effective health promotion activities focusing on behavior and lifestyle modifications are essential to preventing CVDs from an early age. The study emphasizes the importance of early intervention and health promotion strategies to reduce CVD risk factors in this population. Community-based research and behavior change communication initiatives are recommended to promote healthy sleep habits and prevent cardiovascular diseases among young adults beyond the college setting.

Cystatin C or creatinine for pre-operative assessment of kidney function and risk of post-operative acute kidney injury: a secondary analysis of the METS cohort study.

Post-operative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) is a common surgical complication consistently associated with subsequent morbidity and mortality. Prior kidney dysfunction is a major risk factor for PO-AKI, however it is unclear whether serum creatinine, the conventional kidney function marker, is optimal in this population. Serum cystatin C is a kidney function marker less affected by body composition and might provide better prognostic information in surgical patients. This was a pre-defined, secondary analysis of a multi-centre prospective cohort study of pre-operative functional capacity. Participants were aged ≥40years, undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We assessed the association of pre-operative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using both serum creatinine and serum cystatin C with PO-AKI within 3days after surgery, defined by KDIGO creatinine changes. The adjusted analysis accounted for established AKI risk factors. A total of 1347 participants were included (median age 65years, interquartile range 56-71), of whom 775 (58%) were male. A total of 82/1347 (6%) patients developed PO-AKI. These patients were older, had higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and related medication, were more likely to have intra-abdominal procedures, had more intraoperative transfusion, and were more likely to be dead at 1year after surgery 6/82 (7.3%) vs 33/1265 (2.7%) (P=.038). Pre-operative eGFR was lower in AKI than non-AKI patients using both creatinine and cystatin C. When both measurements were considered in a single age- and sex-adjusted model, eGFR-Cysc was strongly associated with PO-AKI, with increasing risk of AKI as eGFR-Cysc decreased below 90, while eGFR-Cr was no longer significantly associated. Data from over 1000 prospectively recruited surgical patients confirms pre-operative kidney function as major risk factor for PO-AKI. Of the kidney function markers available, compared with creatinine, cystatin C had greater strength of association with PO-AKI and merits further assessment in pre-operative assessment of surgical risk.

Связь между участием в боевых действиях и риском коморбидных кардиометаболических, сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний у ветеранов Афганской войны

Recently, socio-political and economic transformations in the world community have led to an increase in the number of interethnic, religious, territorial and a number of other conflicts. These contradictions and the increase in the number of armed clashes lead to disruption of people’s mental and physical health. In addition, cardiovascular diseases occupy a leading position in Kazakhstan, as well as throughout the world, in the structure of disability and the increase in premature mortality among adults. Thus, as a result of the study, we identified a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in veterans of the Afghan War, where arterial hypertension (AH) was most often diagnosed in 55.9% and coronary heart disease (CHD) in 30.7% of veterans. On the other hand, the number of problems of comorbid conditions is increasing in those studied with IHD and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) (in 100%), in second place is IHD and hypertension (in 82.4%), next in frequency is osteoarthritis (OA) (in 35.8%), neuropsychiatric disorders (in 27.5%), diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 (in 18.3%). Accordingly, the clinical picture of the disease changes, which leads to an increase in the frequency of hospitalizations, the duration of inpatient treatment, and the effectiveness of drug therapy for patients decreases. Thus, despite the length of time that has passed, the traumatic event continues to affect the psycho-emotional and physiological state of war veterans, becoming chronic. Mainly reflected in the form of disorders of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases, complicated by combined pathologies. The need for earlier identification of individuals with cardiac and metabolic diseases and optimization of rehabilitation interventions remains an important area of research to ensure appropriate care and support the overall well-being and quality of life of veterans.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Rate of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Severe Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency COPD.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an autosomal co-dominant condition that predisposes individuals to early-onset emphysema. As with COPD, AATD-COPD is associated with pulmonary exacerbations, which impacts on overall mortality and quality of life. Though there is evidence that COPD is associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), it is unclear if this is true for patients with AATD-COPD. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease was determined in two separate severe AATD cohorts: AlphaNet, USA and the Birmingham AATD registry, UK. All patients had preexisting lung disease. Cardiovascular disease was defined as presence of any of the following: heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and myocardial infarction. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the impact of prior cardiovascular disease and frequent exacerbator phenotype on risk of future MACE. Out of 3493 patients with severe AATD, 14.7% had prior cardiovascular disease, including stroke (2.3%), myocardial infarction (2.2%), and heart failure (2.5%). Frequent exacerbators were more likely to have preexisting cardiovascular disease compared with those with one or no exacerbations in the preceding year (63% vs 44.8%, p = 0.001). There was increased risk of future MACE in frequent exacerbators (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.75), former and current smokers (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.02, p = 0.026, and HR 4.04, 95% CI 1.44 to 11.32, p = 0.008, respectively), and those with prior cardiovascular disease (HR 3.81, 95% CI 2.60 to 5.58, p < 0.001). In severe AATD-COPD, MACE are associated with an increased exacerbation frequency, previous cardiovascular disease, and a history of smoking.

Association of poverty-income ratio with cardiovascular disease and mortality in cancer survivors in the United States.

Lower income is associated with high incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. CVD is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. However, there is limited research on the association between income, CVD, and mortality in this population. This study utilized nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional survey evaluating the health and nutritional status of the US population. Our study included NHANES participants aged ≥20 years from 2003-2014, who self-reported a history of cancer. We evaluated the association between income level, prevalence of CVD, and all-cause mortality. All-cause mortality data was obtained through public use mortality files. Income level was assessed by poverty-income ratio (PIR) that was calculated by dividing family (or individual) income by poverty guideline. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models through a backward elimination method to evaluate associations between PIR, CVD, and all-cause mortality in cancer survivors. This cohort included 2,464 cancer survivors with a mean age of 62 (42% male) years. Compared with individuals with a higher PIR tertiles, those in the lowest PIR tertile had a higher rate of pre-existing CVD and post-acquired CVD. In participants with post-acquired CVD, the lowest PIR tertile had over two-fold increased risk mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.27-3.71) when compared to the highest PIR tertile. Additionally, we found that PIR was as strong a predictor of mortality in cancer survivors as CVD. In patients with no CVD, the lowest PIR tertile continued to have almost a two-fold increased risk of mortality (HR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.69-4.35) when compared to a reference of the highest PIR tertile. In this large national study of cancer survivors, low PIR is associated with a higher prevalence of CVD. Low PIR is also associated with an increased risk of mortality in cancer survivors, showing a comparable impact to that of pre-existing and post-acquired CVD. Urgent public health resources are needed to further study and improve screening and access to care in this high-risk population.

Regular aspirin use among a sample of American Indians/Alaskan Natives in the Upper Midwest region of the United States

Despite high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors among American Indian or Alaska Native adults (AI/AN), there is little information on aspirin use in this population. This survey-based study seeks to understand prevalence of aspirin use in a sample of AI/AN adults in the Upper Midwestern United States. In-person and telephone based surveys were conducted querying self-reported CVD and CVD risk factors, aspirin use, and aspirin related discussion with clinicians. A total of 237 AI/AN participants were included: mean age (SD) was 60.8 (8.4) years; 143 (60 %) were women; 59 (25 %) reported CVD history. CVD risk factors were common particularly smoking (37 %) and diabetes (37 %).Aspirin use was much higher among those with CVD (secondary prevention, 76 %) than those without (primary prevention, 33 %). Primary prevention aspirin use was significantly associated with age and all CVD risk factors in unadjusted analyses. After adjustment for demographics and CVD risk factors, only age (aRR 1.13 per 5 years, 95 % CI 1.02, 1.25) and diabetes (aRR 2.44, 95 % CI 1.52, 3.92) remained significantly associated with aspirin. Regardless of CVD status, a higher proportion of those taking aspirin reported a conversation about aspirin with their doctor compared to those not taking aspirin. Among participants with no CVD, those who had such a conversation were 2.6 times more likely to use aspirin than those who did not have a conversation (aRR 2.64, 95 % CI 1.58, 4.44). The findings of this study emphasize the importance of the patient-provider relationship for preventive therapy.

Prevalence and Prognostic Role of Lymphedema in Patients with Deep Venous Thrombosis and Thrombophlebitis.

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) poses a substantial disease burden. Lymphedema may present with similar symptoms making the diagnosis process more difficult. Data on the epidemiology of lymphedema are lacking. Methods: The German nationwide inpatient sample served to analyze all patients hospitalized owing to DVT and/or thrombophlebitis (referred to as DVT) of the legs in Germany between 2005 and 2020. We stratified these patients for additional lymphedema and analyzed the impact of lymphedema on adverse in-hospital events. Results: Overall, 1,136,574 hospitalizations related to DVT were recorded in Germany during 2005-2020 (53.3% women; 51.3% aged ≥70 years). Lymphedema was coded in 9974 (0.9%) patient-cases (82.0% not elsewhere classified, 17.7% secondary lymphedema). Annual numbers of hospitalizations with lymphedema among DVT patients increased from 450 (2005) to 613 (2016) (β 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.66], p < 0.001) and decreased thereafter. Despite similar age, DVT patients with lymphedema had higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic organ failure, and all types of investigated cancer. Prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) with shock/CPR (4.1% vs. 1.5%), acute renal failure (6.7% vs. 2.5%), and stroke (5.2% vs. 4.2%) was higher in DVT patients with lymphedema than without. Lymphedema was independently associated with PE with shock/CPR (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9-2.3) as well as death (OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.2-1.4). Conclusions: Comorbidity conditions like cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors, and also infectious complications, were more prevalent in DVT patients with lymphedema than in those without. Lymphedema was independently associated with severe in-hospital complications, particularly when its genesis was related to severe comorbidities.

MMP9 Gene Polymorphism (rs3918242) Increases the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) C(-1562)T gene polymorphism has been considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our study aimed to evaluate the association between this polymorphism and CVD in diabetes patients. The genotyping was performed in 740 patients with T2DM and 400 healthy subjects. A significant difference in the polymorphism distribution was revealed between patients and controls. The T allele and TT homozygote were associated with increased risk of diabetes (OR 1.88, p < 0.0001 and OR 3.77, p = 0.0002, respectively). The comparison between CVD+ and CVD- subgroups showed a much higher frequency of the T allele in patients with CVD (OR 2.87, 95% CI 2.14-3.85, p < 0.0001). Patients with the TT genotype had a higher prevalence of CVD (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.55-6.56, p = 0.0015). The carrier genotypes (CT/TT) were correlated with HDL levels in both CVD+ and CVD- subgroups (p < 0.001 for both). In the logistic regression analysis, only C(-1562)T SNP was a significant predictor of CVD in diabetic patients (p < 0.001). In conclusion, our study suggests an association between MMP-9 C(-1562)T polymorphism and an increased risk of CVD in T2DM. If replicated in other studies, it could be considered a genetic marker for predicting risk of T2DM and its cardiovascular comorbidity.

Updating approaches to patient management in the light of new European guidelines on arterial hypertension: analytical review

Data from epidemiological studies show a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including arterial hypertension (AH) and the risk of complications, with changes in AH control and treatment techniques. The review article summarizes the main directions of the new European guidelines on hypertension, which help implement different patient groups in outpatient practice. Secondary risk factors for cardiovascular disease are revised in the new clinical guidelines. The recommendation outlines a diagnostic and therapeutic approach for resistant arterial hypertension, its associated phenotypes, and night-time hypertension. The use and position of renal denervation for antihypertensive treatment have been updated compared with previous recommendations. The new European clinical guidelines reflect a differentiated approach to target indicators of ambulatory blood pressure in different age groups, with functional levels of aging, comorbidity, and AH phenotypes, which is of great clinical importance for a primary care physician and can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease vascular complications.

Comorbid Conditions in Persons Exposed to Ionizing Radiation and Veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War: A Cohort Study in Kazakhstan.

This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of comorbid conditions in patients exposed to ionizing radiation and those who were involved in the Soviet-Afghan war. This study analyzed the frequency and spectrum of morbidity and comorbidity in patients over a long-term period (30-35 years) following exposure to ionizing radiation at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site or the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, and among participants of the Soviet-Afghan war. A cohort study, both prospective and retrospective, was conducted on 675 patients who underwent comprehensive examinations. Numerical data were analyzed using the Statistica 6 program. The results are presented as the mean±standard deviation, median, and interquartile range (25-75th percentiles). The statistical significance of between-group differences was assessed using the Student t-test and Pearson chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (55.0%) and cardiac ischemia (32.9%); these rates exceeded the average for this age group in the general population. The cumulative impact of causal occupational, environmental, and ultra-high stress factors in the combat zone in participants of the Soviet-Afghan war, along with common conventional factors, contributed to the formation of a specific comorbidity structure. This necessitates a rational approach to identifying early predictors of cardiovascular events and central nervous system disorders, as well as pathognomonic clinical symptoms in this patient cohort. It also underscores the importance of selecting suitable methods and strategies for implementing treatment and prevention measures.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Abu Dhabi: A Retrospective Investigation of Program Delivery, Participants, and Factors Associated with Program Completion Utilizing a Hospital Registry.

Investigations into the provision of cardiac rehabilitation from the Arabian Gulf countries are rare, despite suffering from an unusually high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. This study reports patient and program characteristics from an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program in Abu Dhabi, and factors associated with program completion. Data was drawn from the institution's cardiac rehabilitation registry, populated from the electronic medical record of patients enrolled in the hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program, from 2015 to 2022. The program was administered by physical therapist and nurse specialists and guided by individualized exercise parameters. Completion of the program was defined as attendance of ten or more sessions. Relationships between program completion and demographic characteristics, quality of life, depression, and physical function were explored statistically. A total of 1774 patients attended at least one session, with a total of 15,563 sessions. The number of patients and sessions trended upward since program inception. The most common referral diagnoses of participants who completed the program were coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Among all 1774 attendees, median age was 56, comprised of 61.6% male, and 77.1% residents of Abu Dhabi, and 73.5% Emirati nationals. 527 (29.7%) patients completed the program, and this group was significantly lower in BMI (29.4 vs 30.4 kg/m2), had lower prevalence of moderate to severe depression (9.0 vs 13.0%), were more often Abu Dhabi residents or Emirati nationals (88.2 vs 72.2%, and 76.9 and 72.0%, respectively), and more likely to have completed the 6-min walk test at the first visit (80.5 vs 72.5%). There were no differences between those who did and did not complete cardiac rehabilitation with respect to age, gender, quality of life, or first 6-min walk test distance. There is a growing demand for cardiac rehabilitation in Abu Dhabi, particularly among Emirati nationals and residents of Abu Dhabi. Potential risk factors for non-completion such as higher body-mass index, depression, lower physical function, non-residence in Abu Dhabi, and non-Emirati nationality warrant further exploration.

The association of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study from the physical activity at work (PAW) trial

IntroductionPhysical inactivity and sedentary behaviour independently increase morbidity and negatively affect quality of life. This study evaluates the associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviour with health-related quality of life, including the five dimensions of quality of life (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression).MethodsThis cross-sectional study analysed baseline data from Thailand's Physical Activity at Work (PAW) trial. Physical activity data were collected using the ActiGraph™ accelerometer, worn on the right hip for a minimum of three ten-hour workdays. Accelerometer data were then used to categorise participants into: (i) not-sedentary and physically active (the Reference Group), (ii) not-sedentary but inactive, (iii) sedentary but active, and (iv) sedentary and inactive. We employed the EuroQol-5 dimensions questionnaire with five scoring levels (EQ-5D-5L) to measure health-related quality of life. The Thai EQ-5D-5D valuation was utilised to convert the EQ-5D profile into utility index scores (EQ-5D values). Tobit regression models were used to analyse EQ-5D value differences. Moreover, the odds of having problems in each EQ-5D dimension were compared between categories.Results277 valid participant data were included. Older age (P = 0.007), higher education (P < 0.001), and higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (P = 0.032) were observed in participants who were sedentary and physically inactive compared to other groups. We found − 0.0503 (95% CI: − 0.0946–− 0.00597) lower EQ-5D value and 1.39 (95% CI: 1.07–1.79) higher odds of reporting pain or discomfort problems in the sedentary and physically inactive group compared to the Reference Group. We also found 2.12 (95%CI: 1.14–5.40) higher odds of reporting usual activity problems in the not-sedentary but physically inactive group than in the Reference Group.DiscussionWe found further evidence of the potential benefit of higher physical activity levels and lower sedentary time for higher quality of life among healthy office workers in Thailand. Further research with larger cohorts and longitudinal data is needed to establish a stronger foundation for interventions and economic evaluations targeting physical activity promotion to improve quality of life.

Gender Differences in COVID-19 Among Liver Transplant Recipients - Results from a Multicenter Brazilian Cohort

Introduction: Existing literature presents varying perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on liver transplant recipients. However, no research has specifically investigated the role of gender differences in the manifestation of COVID-19 among liver transplant recipients. This study aims to examine the effects of COVID-19 on liver transplant recipients, with a focus on gender differences in disease presentation and progression. Methods: Conducted as a multicenter historical cohort study, this research collected patient records through an online questionnaire. Assessing COVID-related mortality was the main objective. Additionally, demographic, clinical, and laboratory data pertaining to disease presentation and progression were collected. Results:The study included a total of 283 patients, of whom 76 were female and 206 were male. The median follow-up period for males was 99 days (IQR 38-283), while for females, it was 126 days (IQR 44-291). A higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease was observed in males (p=0.002). Females frequently experienced a loss of smell (p=0.021), whereas males commonly exhibited fever (p=0.031). Levels of ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase were significantly elevated in males (p=0.008 and 0.004, respectively). Although there was a trend towards increased mortality in males, it did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion: This study is the first attempt to investigate gender differences in COVID-19 among liver transplant recipients. Our findings highlight the need for a comprehensive and personalised approach to treating this patient population and underscore the importance of further elucidating the disease presentation in these individuals

HIV and an Ageing Population-What Are the Medical, Psychosocial, and Palliative Care Challenges in Healthcare Provisions.

The continuing increase in patient numbers and improvement in healthcare provisions of HIV services in the UK, alongside the effectiveness of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), has resulted in increasing numbers of the ageing population among people living with HIV (PLWH). It is expected that geriatricians will need to deal with many older people living with HIV (OPLWH) as life expectancy increases. Therefore, geriatric syndromes in OPLWH will be similar to the normal population, such as falls, cognitive decline, frailty, dementia, hypertension, diabetes and polypharmacy. The increase in the long-term use of cART, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension may lead to high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The treatment of such conditions may lead to polypharmacy and may increase the risk of cART drug-drug interactions. In addition, the risk of developing infection and cancer is high. OPLWH may develop an early onset of low bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis and fractures. In this review, we have also provided potential psychosocial aspects of an ageing population with HIV, addressing issues such as depression, stigma, isolation and the need for comprehensive medical and psychosocial care through an interdisciplinary team in a hospital or community setting. OPLWH have a relatively high burden of physical, psychological, and spiritual needs and social difficulties, which require palliative care. The holistic type of palliative care that will improve physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing is discussed in this review.