Management Of Coronary Heart Disease Research Articles

Prognostic Usefulness of Clinical and Subclinical Peripheral Arterial Disease in Men With Stable Coronary Heart Disease

The prognostic value of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is well documented, but few reports differentiating between symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of PAD are available. We investigated the respective prognostic effect of clinical and subclinical PAD on long-term all-cause mortality in patients with stable CHD. We analyzed 710 patients with stable CHD referred for hospitalization for CHD evaluation and management. As a part of the study, they completed questionnaires on medical history, underwent a standardized clinical examination, including ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, and provided a fasting blood sample. Three groups of patients were individualized: no PAD (no history of PAD and ABI >0.9 but ≤1.4); subclinical PAD (no history of PAD but abnormal ABI [i.e., ≤0.9 or >1.4); and clinical PAD (history of claudication, peripheral arterial surgery, or amputation due to PAD). Clinical and subclinical PAD was present in 83 (11.7%) and 181 (25.5%) patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 7.2 years, 130 patients died. On multivariate analysis adjusted for age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, left ventricular ejection fraction, CHD duration, heart rate, history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, and coronary revascularization, previous clinical PAD (hazard ratio 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 3.47) and subclinical PAD (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.11 to 2.44) were significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated that the detection of subclinical PAD by ABI in patients with stable CHD provides additional information for long-term mortality risk evaluation.

Abstract 17392: High-Sensitivity Troponin T Predicts Recurrent Cardiovascular Disease Events in Stable Coronary Heart Disease Patients: 8-Year Follow-Up of the KAROLA Study

Purpose: The clinical relevance of only slightly elevated circulating troponin levels in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) several weeks after an acute event has not been fully evaluated. We aimed to assess the predictive value of a new high-sensitivity troponin T assay (hsTnT) for recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in stable CHD patients, simultaneously controlling for a large number of potential confounders. Methods: Plasma concentrations of hsTnT (Roche Elecsys 2010) were measured at baseline in a cohort of 1,050 patients aged 30-70 years with CHD. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the prognostic value of hsTnT on a combined CVD endpoint after adjustment for covariates. Results: The median hsTnT level was 10.9 ng/L (IQR 5.1-18.9). Elevated hsTnT levels were associated with higher age, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, a higher number of affected vessels, initial management of CHD, and left-ventricular dysfunction. In addition as determined by 12-lead routine ECG, rhythm disorders, and anterior wall infarction were associated with higher hsTnT levels. Furthermore, hsTnT was highly correlated with NT-proBNP and cystatin C (R=0.61 and R=0.32, respectively, both p-values <0.0001). During a median follow-up of 8.1 years, 150 patients (21.0%) experienced a fatal- or non-fatal secondary CVD event. In a multivariate model, hsTnT was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) for secondary CVD events of 2.83 (95% CI, 1.68-4.79) when extreme quartiles were compared. Further adjustment for cystatin C, NT-proBNP, and CRP attenuated the association only slightly (2.27; 95% CI, 1.31-3.95), p for trend <0.002). ROC analysis of a clinical model which included hsTnT to a baseline model showed a modest improvement in the AUC (0.69 vs 0.67). Conclusions: Slightly elevated hsTnT levels in stable CHD patients are associated with a number of CVD disorders and predict long-term CVD events in these patients.

Abstract 16978: Midregional Pro-Atrial Natriuretic Peptide and Risk of Recurrent Cardiovascular Disease Events in Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease Followed Over 8 Years

Aim: Natriuretic peptides provide valuble information about cardiac dysfunction. The clinical relevance of elevated circulating midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) several weeks after an acute event has not been fully evaluated. We aimed to assess the predictive value of MR-proANP for recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in stable CHD patients, simultaneously controlling for a large number of potential confounders. Methods: Plasma concentrations of MR-proANP (BRAHMS) were measured at baseline in a cohort of 1,048 patients aged 30-70 years with CHD. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the prognostic value of MR-proANP on a combined CVD endpoint after adjustment for covariates. Results: The median MR-proANP level was 135.2 pmol/L (interquartile range 95.2-185.8). Elevated MR-proANP levels were associated with higher age, obesity, history of hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure, higher number of affected vessels, initial management of CHD, and left-ventricular dysfunction in a statistically significant way. Furthermore, after adjustment for age and gender MR-proANP was correlated with CRP (correlation coefficient (R=0.21), NT-proBNP (R=0.72), creatinine clearance (R= -0.32), cystatin C (R=0.43), hsTnT (R= 0.51) respectively (all p-values <0.0001). During a median follow-up of 8.1 years, 150 patients (21.1%) experienced a fatal- or non-fatal secondary CVD event. In a multivariate model MR-proANP was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of secondary CVD events of 3.00 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.70-5.28) when extreme quartiles were compared. Further adjustment for NT-proBNP attenuated the association only slightly (HR 2.67; 95% CI, 1.48-4.79). Conclusions: Elevated MR-proANP levels in stable CHD patients are associated with several CVD disorders and predict long-term CVD events in these patients.

Proportion of the Decline in Cardiovascular Mortality Disease due to Prevention Versus Treatment: Public Health Versus Clinical Care

Mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD), which had risen during the twentieth century in many countries, started declining in some countries during the 1960s. Once initial skepticism about the validity of the observed trends dissipated, researchers attempted to generate explanations about the events that had transpired using a variety of techniques, including ecological examinations of the trends in risk factors for CHD and changes in management of CHD, multivariate risk equations, and increasingly sophisticated modeling techniques. Improvements in risk factors as well as changes in cardiac treatments have both contributed to the reductions in CHD mortality, although estimates of their contributions have varied among countries. Models suggest that additional large reductions in CHD mortality are feasible by either improving the distribution of risk factors in the population or raising the percentage of patients receiving evidence-based treatments.

Vagal nerve stimulation in prevention and management of coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) that is due to atherosclerosis is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. Congestive cardiac failure and arrhythmias that are responsible for mortality in CHD can be suppressed by appropriate vagal stimulation that is anti-inflammatory in nature. Acetylcholine, the principal vagal neurotransmitter, is a potent anti-inflammatory molecule. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) augment acetylcholine release, while acetylcholine can enhance the formation of prostacyclin, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins from PUFAs, which are anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic molecules. Furthermore, plasma and tissue levels of PUFAs are low in those with CHD and atherosclerosis. Hence, vagal nerve stimulation is beneficial in the prevention of CHD and cardiac arrhythmias. Thus, measurement of catecholamines, acetylcholine, various PUFAs, and their products lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins in the plasma and peripheral leukocytes, and vagal tone by heart rate variation could be useful in the prediction, prevention and management of CHD and cardiac arrhythmias.

Diabetes mellitus in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure: a ‘low ejection fraction’ equivalent?

Diabetes mellitus in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure: a ‘low ejection fraction’ equivalent?

Improving Red Blood Cell K-Uptake and its Impact on O2/CO2 Exchange, and NO-Generation in Microvascular CHD: A Novel Therapeutic Approach

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the entire world. In effect, reversion of angina or improvement of ECG remains an unrealistic therapeutic option for most patients. Unfortunately, most research clinical trials in these patients have focused on coronary atherosclerosis, even decades after the first observation that angina, and myocardial infarction may occur in the presence of normal coronary arteries. Further, there has been little attention from academic and pharmaceutical institutions on comparative therapeutic research as it has been recently addressed by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in USA, and by a similar statement from the World Medical Association in the year 2000. This review, thus, has tried to present the best of our knowledge on the pathophysiology and management of CHD, along with other striking relevant but neglected findings with some recent patents. Four sections were included from the physiological principles of myocardial oxygen delivery, with emphasis on RBC sensing O(2) demand and delivery in myocardial ischemia, up to the recent advances on approaches intended to reverse angina and the ECG alteration in coronary heart disease. Finally, this review presents the principles, design and results of the first New Drug Application to address improvement in RBC K uptake, and consequently the chain of simultaneous tissue H/K and O(2)/CO(2) exchanges, and NO-generation, along with their promising therapeutic effect on reversion of angina, and ST-T alterations in coronary artery disease patients.

Literacy Skills and Calculated 10-Year Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Reducing the disease burden requires an understanding of factors associated with the prevention and management of CHD. Literacy skills may be one such factor. To examine the independent and interactive effects of four literacy skills: reading, numeracy, oral language (speaking) and aural language (listening) on calculated 10-year risk of CHD and to determine whether the relationships between literacy skills and CHD risk were similar for men and women. We used multivariable linear regression to assess the individual, combined, and interactive effects of the four literacy skills on risk of CHD, adjusting for education and race. Four hundred and nine English-speaking adults in Boston, MA and Providence, RI. Ten-year risk of coronary heart disease was calculated using the Framingham algorithm. Reading, oral language and aural language were measured using the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Numeracy was assessed through a modified version of the numeracy scale by Lipkus and colleagues. When examined individually, reading (p = 0.007), numeracy (p = 0.001) and aural language (p = 0.004) skills were significantly associated with CHD risk among women; no literacy skills were associated with CHD risk in men. When examined together, there was some evidence for an interaction between numeracy and aural language among women suggesting that higher skills in one area (e.g., aural language) may compensate for difficulties in another resulting in an equally low risk of CHD. Results of this study not only provide important insight into the independent and interactive effects of literacy skills on risk of CHD, they also highlight the need for the development of easy-to use assessments of the oral exchange in the health care setting and the need to better understand which literacy skills are most important for a given health outcome.

Best Practice Information Sheet: The Joanna Briggs Institute Best Practice Information Sheet: Nurse-led interventions to reduce cardiac risk factors in adults

This Best Practice Information Sheet updates and supersedes an earlier publication of the Joanna Briggs Institute in 2005. The information that is contained in this publication is based upon a systematic review of six randomized clinical trials. Additional information has been derived from a second systematic review; thus, in total, the information is derived from 22 randomized controlled trials. The original references can be sourced from the systematic reviews. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the major cause of illness in Western society and it is becoming increasingly important to establish effective strategies in order to reduce the incidence of CHD. Nurse-led clinics are becoming more prominent in community settings and the importance of nurse interventions in the management of CHD and risk factor reduction is recognized in terms of improved health outcomes for patients. However, the variation in outcome measures and inconsistent findings between some studies make it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

Integrating depression and chronic disease care among patients with diabetes and/or coronary heart disease: The design of the TEAMcare study

Diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) are two of the most prevalent medical illnesses in the US population and comorbid depression occurs in up to 20% of these patients. Guidelines for management of diabetes and CHD overlap for healthy lifestyle and disease-control recommendations. However, the majority of patients with these medical illnesses have been shown to have inadequate control of key risk factors such as blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, or blood sugar. Comorbid depression has been shown to adversely affect self-care of diabetes and CHD, and is associated with an increased risk of complications and mortality. Interventions that have improved quality and outcomes of depression care alone in patients with diabetes and CHD have not demonstrated benefits in self-care, improved disease control or morbidity and mortality. This paper describes the design and development of a new biopsychosocial intervention (TEAMcare) aimed at improving both medical disease control and depression in patients with poor control of diabetes and/or CHD who met the criteria for comorbid depression. A team approach is used with a nurse interventionist who receives weekly psychiatric and primary care physician caseload supervision in order to enhance treatment by the primary care physician. This intervention is being tested in an NIMH-funded randomized controlled trial in a large integrated health plan.

Effect of Tai Chi Training on Baroreflex Sensitivity and Heart Rate Variability in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese conditioning exercise that has been used to integrate slow movements, controlled breathing, and mental concentration. The aim of the study was to determine whether Tai Chi training in addition to cardiac rehabilitation would result in a shift toward increased vagal activity of autonomic markers, such as baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV). Twenty patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) (male/female: 13/7, mean age: 67.8 +/- 4.2 years, mean interval time after a coronary event: 19.8 months) completed this study. The Tai Chi group (n = 10) practiced supervised Tai Chi training once a week and home-based Tai Chi training three times a week together with conventional cardiac rehabilitation for one-year. The control group (n = 10) conducted the conventional cardiac rehabilitation only. BRS and HRV were evaluated at the baseline and after one-year of Tai Chi training. Compared with the controls, patients in the Tai Chi group showed statistically significant improvement in BRS (P = 0.036). These associations persisted after adjustment for age and other covariates. On the other hand, there were no significant trends seen in HRV. Additional Tai Chi training during cardiac rehabilitation may augment reflex vagal regulation, which adds importantly to knowledge of cardiac rehabilitation on autonomic regulation and clinical management of CHD.

Cost effectiveness of a general practice chronic disease management plan for coronary heart disease in Australia

The cost effectiveness of a general practice-based program for managing coronary heart disease (CHD) patients in Australia remains uncertain. We have explored this through an economic model. A secondary prevention program based on initial clinical assessment and 3 monthly review, optimising of pharmacotherapies and lifestyle modification, supported by a disease registry and financial incentives for quality of care and outcomes achieved was assessed in terms of incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER), in Australian dollars per disability adjusted life year (DALY) prevented. Based on 2006 estimates, 263 487 DALYs were attributable to CHD in Australia. The proposed program would add $115 650 000 to the annual national heath expenditure. Using an estimated 15% reduction in death and disability and a 40% estimated program uptake, the program's ICER is $8081 per DALY prevented. With more conservative estimates of effectiveness and uptake, estimates of up to $38 316 per DALY are observed in sensitivity analysis. Although innovation in CHD management promises improved future patient outcomes, many therapies and strategies proven to reduce morbidity and mortality are available today. A general practice-based program for the optimal application of current therapies is likely to be cost-effective and provide substantial and sustainable benefits to the Australian community.

Medical Treatment Predicts Mortality After Hip Fracture

BackgroundThe mortality after hip fracture has remained high and stable the past 50 years despite improved surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to identify medications and medical factors associated with mortality after hip fracture.MethodsThis is a prospective observational study with median observation time of 21 months. Three hundred and sixty-four patients, mean age 83.4 years and 75.8% women, were enrolled. Information on comorbidity, medications, surgery, and clinical findings were collected at the time of fracture. Information on cause and time of death was obtained from the Norwegian Cause of Death Register.ResultsSix risk factors and one protective factor were identified by Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for propensity score: the use of diuretics (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 4.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.13–7.64), history of coronary heart disease (CHD) (HR = 2.61, CI = 1.37–4.98), male sex (HR = 2.32, CI = 1.27–4.24), Barthel Index ≤ 18/20 (HR = 2.48, CI = 1.23–5.01), heart rate > 100 on admission (HR = 2.47, CI = 1.18–5.14), body mass index ≤ 20 (HR = 1.94, CI = 1.13–3.34), and the use of statins (HR = 0.23, CI = 0.08–0.68). Patients using diuretics had increased risk of death from all causes, including death from CHD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and falls or other accidents.ConclusionsThe use of diuretics is the strongest predictor of mortality, followed by CHD at the time of fracture, whereas the use of statins is associated with improved survival. Future research is needed to evaluate whether improved diagnosis and management of CHD and congestive heart failure among hip fracture patients would improve survival.

Guanxin II (冠心II号) for the management of coronary heart disease

This article presents an integrated overview of Guanxin II (II) regarding its quality control, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, clinical studies, adverse events, dosage and administration, and its pharmacoeconomic assessment. It has been demonstrated that Guanxin II has beneficial effects on coronary heart disease (CHD). The underlying mechanism was proved to be its anti-ischemic, anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory effects, and so on. Tanshinol, hydroxysafflor yellow A and ferulic acid might be responsible for the cardioprotective effect of Guanxin II. In terms of acquisition cost, Guanxin II is cheaper than other drugs currently available for CHD. Guanxin II is safe, cheap, and effective in the management of CHD. However, the mechanism of its cardioprotective effects has not been completely understood because of limitations in the research methodologies of Chinese medicine. Further work should be carried out with single components such as tanshinol, hydroxysafflor yellow A and ferulic acid, using modern biochemical and molecular methods.

Telehealth interventions for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: a systematic review

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death globally. Despite proven health benefits and international recommendations, attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programs is poor. Telehealth (phone, Internet, and videoconference communication between patient and health-care provider) has emerged as an innovative way of delivering health interventions. This review aimed to determine telehealth effectiveness in CHD management. Study design includes systematic review with meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials evaluating telehealth interventions in patients with CHD were identified by searching multiple electronic databases, reference lists, relevant conference lists, gray literature, and key-word searching of the Internet. Studies were selected if they evaluated a telephone, videoconference, or web-based intervention, provided objective measurements of mortality, changes in multiple risk factor levels or quality of life. In total, 11 trials were identified (3145 patients). Telehealth interventions were associated with nonsignificant lower all-cause mortality than controls [relative risk=0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.45-1.1; P=0.12]. These interventions showed a significantly lower weighted mean difference (WMD) at medium long-term follow-up than controls for total cholesterol (WMD=0.37 mmol/l, 95% CI=0.19-0.56, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (WMD=4.69 mmHg, 95% CI=2.91-6.47, P<0.001), and fewer smokers (relative risk = 0.84, 95% CI=0.65-0.98, P = 0.04). Significant favorable changes at follow-up were also found in high-density lipoprotien and low-density lipoprotein. In conclusion, telehealth interventions provide effective risk factor reduction and secondary prevention. Provision of telehealth models could help increase uptake of a formal secondary prevention by those who do not access cardiac rehabilitation and narrow the current evidence-practice gap.

Screening Guidelines for Coronary Heart Disease in Diabetes: Current Recommendations

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are so intertwined with one another that the presence of one prompts a search for the other. Diabetes has been considered to be equivalent to coronary heart disease (CHD), and conversely many patients with known CHD have concomitant diabetes or its pre-states. This review has been compiled based on the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association, the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III), the European Society of Cardiology, and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. A systematic approach was developed by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes recently to help detect CHD in patients with diabetes and to detect metabolic diseases in patients with CHD.This article is intended for the clinician in everyday practice focusing on the impact of recent advances in the prevention and management of CHD in diabetic patients and the background behind it.

Review: Prevention of coronary heart disease in women

Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality is higher in women than in men and misdiagnosis of CHD in women is one of the reasons for this, with differences in the presentation of CHD between men and women being a cause for the misdiagnosis. This review discusses the need for evidence-based guidelines to diagnose and treat CHD in women. Reviews, randomized controlled trials, and other studies pertinent to the topic were obtained using electronic search strategies, such as MEDLINE and Cochran Library, as well as manual selection. Sources selected were limited to those that discussed CHD, with specific emphasis placed on sources that focused on CHD in women. Selected studies were then assessed for quality of data and relevance via analysis of the study's methodology, results, and data. Results of selected studies were then stratified using a rating system devised to determine the quality of results using the scientific evidence provided for them. The references of the selected studies were then used to obtain and analyze additional studies in the same manner. Control of lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight are all necessary in women to control CHD, as is the maintenance of healthy lipid levels and blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and antiplatelets can help aid lifestyle changes in CHD management for women while hormone therapy and vitamin E have no proven benefits in CHD management. New gender- and evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of CHD in women need to be developed and adopted by physicians so that prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CHD is made more effective.

Population-level interventions for coronary heart disease prevention: what have we learned since the North Karelia project?

The prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in the population necessitates investment in the design and delivery of effective population-level interventions to prevent and enhance the management of CHD. This review examines the approaches that have been central to the design and delivery of previous, seminal population-level CHD prevention programs; it offers recommendations for the design and evaluation of the next generation of population-level CHD prevention trials. Almost 50% of the decline in the rates of CHD mortality in the developed world can be attributed to population-level declines in CHD risk factors, including cholesterol, hypertension, and smoking. There is evidence that community-based CHD prevention interventions can have a positive impact on these risk factors within a distinct population. More recent community-based CHD trials have focused on discrete populations including the socioeconomically deprived, ethnic minorities, and rural communities. There has been large variability in the success experienced by population-level CHD prevention trials. Best practices have emerged which may be used to inform the design of future trials. These include the need for multisectoral partnerships, coordination of multi-level interventions (programs and policy), and delivering a sufficient intervention dose to targeted populations.

Coronary heart disease in China

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the second leading cause of cardiovascular death in the Chinese population. It accounts for 22% of cardiovascular deaths in urban areas and 13% in rural...

Targeting High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease

The association between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) is well established. The management of CHD has traditionally focused on the reduction of LDL cholesterol or on the total lipid profile. Yet, treatment strategies for reducing risk in CHD also requires a focus on increasing low HDL cholesterol, as LDL cholesterol reduction alone is insufficient in preventing CHD events. This article reviews the strategies for targeting HDL cholesterol to optimize outcomes in CHD.