Optimal Pharmacological Treatment Research Articles

N-Terminal of the Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide Predicts Postoperative Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Aims: Heart valve surgery is associated with a risk of serious postoperative complications including postoperative cardiogenic shock (described as postcardiotomy shock (PCS)). The indication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is cardiogenic shock, which is resistant to optimal causal and pharmacological treatment, including the supply of catecholamines and/or an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of the selected preoperative biomarkers in the prediction of postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring ECMO in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on a group of consecutive patients with significant valvular heart disease that underwent elective valve surgery. The primary endpoint at the intra-hospital follow-up was postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring ECMO. Univariate analysis, followed by multivariate regression analysis, were performed. Results: The study included 610 patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 15 patients. At multivariate analysis, the preoperative N-terminal of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level (OR 1.022; 95% CI 1.011–1.034; p = 0.001) remained an independent predictor of the primary endpoint. Conclusions: An elevated NT-proBNP level was associated with a higher risk of postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring the use of ECMO.

Optimal Pharmacologic Treatment of Heart Failure With Preserved and Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the pharmacologic treatment of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but there is still insufficient evidence for drug therapy for HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). To compare the outcomes associated with different drug combinations for the treatment of HFpEF and HFmrEF. A search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases was conducted for studies published from inception to October 9, 2021. Randomized clinical trials on the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), β-blockers, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF. Data extraction and bias assessment were independently performed by 2 reviewers following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline. All data for 3 outcomes were pooled with a fixed-effect model. The main outcomes were first hospitalization for HF, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were evaluated using a bayesian network meta-analysis model. In this analysis, 19 randomized clinical trials, including 20 633 patients with HF and an ejection fraction of 40% or more, without a remarkable risk of bias were included. Compared with placebo, no treatments were associated with a significant reduction in the risk of all-cause death or cardiovascular death. SGLT2 inhibitors, ARNIs, and MRAs were associated with a significant decrease in the risk of HF hospitalization compared with placebo (SGLT2 inhibitors: HR, 0.71 [95% CrI, 0.60-0.83]; ARNIs: HR, 0.76 [95% CrI, 0.61-0.95]; MRAs: HR, 0.83 [95% CrI, 0.69-0.99]), and SGLT2 inhibitors were the optimal drug class in terms of reducing the risk for HF admission. Sensitivity analysis results demonstrated a progressive decrease in the risk of HF admission and an advance in mean rank associated with the increasing use of drug classes. The findings of this study suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors were the optimal drug class for HFpEF and HFmrEF, consistent with the most recent guideline recommendation. The incremental use of combinations of SGLT2 inhibitors, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and β-blockers may be associated with accumulative benefits in HF hospitalization rather than all-cause death among patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF.

Peritoneal Dialysis in Advanced Heart Failure Patients with Chronic Severe Congestion Resistant to Optimal Pharmacological Treatment.

Resistant congestion is a difficult clinical picture in advanced heart failure with poor quality of life, worse functional capacity, and frequent hospitalizations. Optimal medical treatment is the first-line therapy. However, diuretic resistance, comorbid conditions such as chronic kidney disease, and obstacles in drug up-titration make it difficult to control congestion. In some of these cases, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is required for short or long-term ultrafiltration therapy. Peritoneal dialysis is a more comfortable treatment option for this group of patients because of the slower and longer duration of ultrafiltration, better preservation of residual renal function, ability to be performed at home, and mobility of the patient during the procedure. In this review, home peritoneal dialysis/ultrafiltration methods have been addressed as an alternative treatment option in advanced heart failure patients with chronic severe congestion resistant to optimal pharmacological treatment.

Peritoneal Dialysis in Advanced Heart Failure Patients with Chronic Severe Congestion Resistant to Optimal Pharmacological Treatment.

Resistant congestion is a difficult clinical picture in advanced heart failure with poor quality of life, worse functional capacity, and frequent hospitalizations. Optimal medical treatment is the first-line therapy. However, diuretic resistance, comorbid conditions such as chronic kidney disease, and obstacles in drug up-titration make it difficult to control congestion. In some of these cases, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is required for short or long-term ultrafiltration therapy. Peritoneal dialysis is a more comfortable treatment option for this group of patients because of the slower and longer duration of ultrafiltration, better preservation of residual renal function, ability to be performed at home, and mobility of the patient during the procedure. In this review, home peritoneal dialysis/ultrafiltration methods have been addressed as an alternative treatment option in advanced heart failure patients with chronic severe congestion resistant to optimal pharmacological treatment.

What is the effect of pharmacological treatment for continuous spike-wave during slow wave sleep syndrome and Landau-Kleffner syndrome? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary.

What is the effect of pharmacological treatment for continuous spike-wave during slow wave sleep syndrome and Landau-Kleffner syndrome? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary.

Treating diabetes in the very old: an intersocietary consensus document

In the oldest old diabetes mellitus (DM) qualifies as a difficult to treat condition due to the impact of multimorbidity, the risk of adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interaction, sensory impairment and other causes of complexity. Thus, a thorough multidomain assessment is mandatory to have a comprehensive view of the patient’s health status and to define a hierarchy of needs as well as to tailor the path of care. Accordingly, the philosophy and the practical implementation of comprehensive geriatric assessment should be shared among general practitioner and different specialists caring for the older diabetic patient, and a multidisciplinary approach is desirable for difficult to manage conditions. Special attention should be paid to frequently overlooked threats such as drug-drug interactions, cognitive deficits potentially limiting the adherence to the therapy, destabilizing events such as major surgery. In this monograph, the main areas of interest for an optimal pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment of the oldest diabetic patient are discussed by a multispecialistic team. While individual sections have individual authors, all of them have been jointly revised by the full panel of authors and a truly shared version has been achieved. This guarantees for the present text representing an integrated multicultural approach to a topic of primary importance in Geriatrics.

Pain type and intensity in long-term spinal cord injury

Background. Pain is one of the most common secondary symptoms seen in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Approximately 65 to 85 % of all SCI patients complaining of pain, with a third having severe/excruciating pain. Despite a large number of studies, some aspects that are fundamental for the choice of pain therapy remain practically unexplored. The purpose of our study was to determine the types, subtypes, and intensity of pain in subaxial cervical spine SCI patients. Materials and methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of the patients’ database admitted in Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine from 2010 to 2020 with subaxial cervical spine traumatic injury. The patients’ state was assessed within 12–18 months after the injury. We determined the functional class of neurological disorders using the ASIA scale. Pain sensation was characterized using International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Classification. The Numeric Rating Scale was the instrument for pain intensity assessment. Results. Persistent pain sensations in 12–18 months after subaxial cervical SCI are recorded in 86.42 % of 81 analyzed victims, whereas one subtype of pain is noted in 38.57 % of all patients with pain, two subtypes — in 40 % and three — in 21.43 % subjects. Elements of nociceptive pain were registered in 54.32 % of all patients, and neuropathic pain was recorded in 71.6 % of cases. When assessing pain subtypes, musculoskeletal pain was observed in 54.32 % (95% CI: 44.44–66.16) of all subjects, neuropathic pain at the trauma level in 51.85 % (95% CI: 41.98–63.77), and neuropathic pain below the trauma level was noted in 43.21 % patients (95% CI: 33.33–54.91). Nociceptive visceral and other neuropa-thic types of pain were reported sporadically — in 4.94 % (95% CI: 1.23–9.09) and 3.7 % (95% CI: 1.23–7.94) patients, respectively. When comparing the nature of pain and the ASIA functional class, we determined that the frequency pattern of the pain distribution statistically significantly correlates with the level of neurological disorders. The greatest intensity of pain was observed in patients with the ASIA functional class C of neurological disorders. Conclusions. The obtained results allowed us to reveal the regularities of the clinical picture in patients with different levels of neurological disorders, which is of practical importance for the development of optimal pharmacological treatment schemes.

Current Trends and Basic Research in the Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a life-threatening complication of cerebral aneurysm rupture, which not only causes severe disability but is associated with a mortality rate of >40% within 30 days after the event. In this article, we discuss the basic knowledge and novel therapeutic approaches to cerebral aneurysms, including endovascular treatment and microsurgical clipping. Moreover, we discuss animal models used in basic research on cerebral aneurysms and the latest research that aims to establish optimal pharmacological treatment for cerebral aneurysms.

Cooperation Between Pharmacists and Physicians - Whether It Was Before and is It Still Ongoing During the Pandemic?

Nowadays, it is very important to put an emphasis on widely understood teamwork. This is of great importance for achieving and maintaining success in all areas, especially in medicine. This kind of unity has many advantages, including unique ideas that are very helpful in a competitive environment, improve performance and knowledge, and create stronger supportive work relationships. Patient’s health can be improved by using comprehensive treatment. This provides an urgent need for multidisciplinary partnership in the medical community. Optimal pharmacological treatment is crucial to achieving treatment goals. To ensure excellent quality of medical care, interprofessional cooperation between physicians and pharmacists and/or other medical professionals is necessary. Their complementary knowledge and experience can lead to improved health outcomes and can also reduce treatment costs. There are also many barriers and difficulties in legal systems that would allow for more effective inter-professional cooperation. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to emphasizing the role of the pharmacist, increasing powers, and at the same time to teamwork, sometimes forced by the situation. The purpose of this publication is to view the literature on the cooperation of physicians and pharmacists in the provision of medical services for patients. Professional cooperation has been well known in many countries for years, as it is a key medium supporting optimized patient care. Analyzing the challenges and approaches can lead to better and improved health care.

Anti-inflammatory Pharmacotherapy for the Prevention of Cystoid Macular Edema After Cataract Surgery

To elucidate strategies for and controversies surrounding the use of anti-inflammatory medications after uneventful cataract surgery, with a focus on the prevention of irreversible vision loss due to cystoid macular edema (CME). Perspective. Expert commentary on the management of inflammation after cataract surgery. Discussion includes combination therapy with corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), dosing strategies, and emerging therapies. While prescribing both NSAIDs and corticosteroids for cataract surgery is common, these classes have overlapping mechanisms. Combination therapy may speed visual recovery, but there remains little evidence for improved long-term visual outcomes from NSAIDs. The last 2 decades have seen increasing data on potential benefits of pretreatment with NSAIDs 1-3 days prior to cataract surgery. Simultaneously, newly approved "dropless" delivery systems hold promise, and clinical trials are ongoing to assess outcomes of such formulations. Optimal pharmacologic treatment for inflammation after cataract surgery remains controversial. A consensus definition for clinically significant CME may facilitate the comparison of anti-inflammatory drugs. And there remains a need for well-designed trials examining both topical and extended-release drug-delivery systems to refine the treatment paradigm.

Treatment Strategies for GLILD in Common Variable Immunodeficiency: A Systematic Review.

IntroductionBesides recurrent infections, a proportion of patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorders (CVID) may suffer from immune dysregulation such as granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD). The optimal treatment of this complication is currently unknown. Experienced-based expert opinions have been produced, but a systematic review of published treatment studies is lacking.GoalsTo summarize and synthesize the published literature on the efficacy of treatments for GLILD in CVID.MethodsWe performed a systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. Papers describing treatment and outcomes in CVID patients with radiographic and/or histologic evidence of GLILD were included. Treatment regimens and outcomes of treatment were summarized.Results6124 papers were identified and 42, reporting information about 233 patients in total, were included for review. These papers described case series or small, uncontrolled studies of monotherapy with glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressants, rituximab monotherapy or rituximab plus azathioprine, abatacept, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Treatment response rates varied widely. Cross-study comparisons were complicated because different treatment regimens, follow-up periods, and outcome measures were used. There was a trend towards more frequent GLILD relapses in patients treated with corticosteroid monotherapy when compared to rituximab-containing treatment regimens based on qualitative endpoints. HSCT is a promising alternative to pharmacological treatment of GLILD, because it has the potential to not only contain symptoms, but also to resolve the underlying pathology. However, mortality, especially among immunocompromised patients, is high.ConclusionsWe could not draw definitive conclusions regarding optimal pharmacological treatment for GLILD in CVID from the current literature since quantitative, well-controlled evidence was lacking. While HSCT might be considered a treatment option for GLILD in CVID, the risks related to the procedure are high. Our findings highlight the need for further research with uniform, objective and quantifiable endpoints. This should include international registries with standardized data collection including regular pulmonary function tests (with carbon monoxide-diffusion), uniform high-resolution chest CT radiographic scoring, and uniform treatment regimens, to facilitate comparison of treatment outcomes and ultimately randomized clinical trials.

Design and rationale of the randomized trial of comprehensive lifestyle modification, optimal pharmacological treatment and utilizing PET imaging for quantifying and managing stable coronary artery disease (the CENTURY study)

The literature reports no randomized trial in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) of a comprehensive management strategy integrating intense lifestyle management, maximal medical treatment to specific goals and high precision quantitative cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) for identifying high mortality risk patients needing essential invasive procedures. We hypothesize that this comprehensive strategy achieves greater risk factor reduction, lower major adverse cardiovascular events and fewer invasive procedures than standard practice. The CENTURY Study (NCT00756379) is a randomized-controlled-trial study in patients with stable or at high risk for CAD. Patients are randomized to standard of care (Standard group) or intense comprehensive lifestyle-medical treatment to targets and PET guided interventions (Comprehensive group). Comprehensive Group patients are regularly consulted by the CENTURY team implementing diet/lifestyle/exercise program and medical treatment to target risk modification. Cardiac PET at baseline, 24-, and 60-months quantify the physiologic severity of CAD and guide interventions in the Comprehensive group while patients and referring physicians of the Standard group are blinded to PET results. The primary end-point is the CENTURY risk score reduction during 5 years follow-up. The secondary endpoint is a composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary revascularization. The CENTURY Study is the first study in stable CAD to test the incremental benefit of a comprehensive strategy integrating intense lifestyle modification, medical treatment to specific goals, and high-precision quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging to guide revascularization. A total of 1028 patients have been randomized, and the 5 years follow-up will conclude in 2022.

A randomised controlled trial of the sirolimus-eluting biodegradable polymer ultra-thin Supraflex stent versus the everolimus-eluting biodegradable polymer SYNERGY stent for three-vessel coronary artery disease: rationale and design of the Multivessel TALENT trial.

The purpose of the Multivessel TALENT trial is to compare clinical outcomes of the novel Supraflex Cruz stent with those of the SYNERGY stent in patients with three-vessel disease (3VD) undergoing state-of-the-art percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this prospective, randomised, 1:1 balanced, multicentre, open-label trial, 1,550 patients with de novo 3VD without left main disease will be assigned to the Supraflex Cruz or SYNERGY arm. The following treatment principles of "best practice" PCI will be applied: Heart Team consensus based on SYNTAX score II treatment recommendation, functional lesion evaluation by quantitative flow ratio (QFR), stent optimisation by intravascular imaging, optimal pharmacological treatment and prasugrel monotherapy. The primary endpoint is a non-inferiority comparison of the patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE) of all-cause death, any stroke, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularisation, at 12 months post procedure. The powered secondary endpoint is a superiority comparison of the vessel-oriented composite endpoint (VOCE), defined as vessel-related cardiovascular death, vessel-related myocardial infarction, or clinically and physiologically indicated target vessel revascularisation, at 24 months. The Multivessel TALENT trial will be evaluating a novel treatment strategy for complex coronary artery disease with state-of-the-art PCI based on angiography-derived QFR with novel ultra-thin Supraflex Cruz stents, compared with SYNERGY stents. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04390672. Unique Identifier: NCT04390672

The interest of rehabilitation of respiratory disorders in athletes: Myth or reality?

Healthy trained athletes generally have an "overbuilt" respiratory system in order to face the huge ventilation and gas-exchange demand imposed by strenuous exercise. Athletes frequently complain of respiratory symptoms regardless of whether they have a diagnosed respiratory disease, therefore evoking a kind of respiratory limitation during exercise. Some respiratory pathologies athletes present are closely linked to exercise and include asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) or exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction. Management of asthma and EIB are mainly based on pharmacological treatments. However, many athletes still complain of respiratory symptoms despite optimal pharmacological treatments, which highlights the need for non-pharmacological approaches including breathing retraining, inspiratory muscle training and/or laryngeal exercise performed under the guidance of a physiotherapist in this specific population. With this literature overview, we aimed to report evidence supporting the interest of rehabilitation for athletes with respiratory disorders and discuss whether inspiratory muscle training programs can improve performance in healthy athletes. We searched MEDLINE and Cochrane databases for trials, reviews and meta-analyses assessing respiratory rehabilitation and muscle training programs in athletes by using the MesH terms "athletes", "asthma", "dyspnea", "rehabilitation" and "education" published from January 2010 to March 2020. The selection of articles was based on the author's expertise to elaborate this review of the literature. Major findings suggest that breathing retraining may help asthmatic athletes better control their respiratory symptoms and that inspiratory muscle training may improve respiratory symptoms of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction in athletes. Improvement of performance by respiratory muscle training still remains controversial. Respiratory rehabilitation could be of interest in the specific population of athletes but should be further evaluated to improve the level of evidence of such strategies.

Favorable effects of peritoneal dialysis in patients with refractory heart failure and overhydration.

Patients with refractory to optimal pharmacological treatment heart failure (HF) require frequent hospitalization. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been part of the management of such patients mainly for promoting ultrafiltration and management of overhydration independently of kidney function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PD, especially the use of icodextrin solutions and intermittent PD, in the hospitalization rate and cardiac functional status of patients with HF. We conducted a retrospective study involving patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV HF and preserved renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 25 ml/min), who were refractory to conservative treatment. Clinical data on weight loss, hospitalization rate before and after PD initiation, cardiac functional status, and technique complications during a 6-month observational period were analyzed. PD treatment was performed in 32 patients with a mean age of 63.8 ± 11.9 years and a follow-up of 20.78 ± 14.24 months. Hospitalizations were significantly reduced from 20.7 ± 13.7 to 7.7 ± 8.9 days/patients at 6 months. All patients showed improvement in NYHA class as well as in left ventricular ejection fraction. Overall, eGFR showed a significant decrease but only six patients reached end-stage renal disease. Complications included 18 cases of peritonitis. PD was well tolerated and no patient dropped out of the method. Survival rate reached 72% at 12 months but mortality rate was high with 23 patients dying at 16.65 ± 12.3 months after the initiation of treatment. Patients survival was not influenced by the type of PD modality or weight reduction achieved. PD showed to be a viable option for the treatment of patients with refractory HF leading to a better cardiac functional status and diminishing the number of hospital admissions.

Niewydolność serca — niekorzystne rokowanie u pacjenta ze współistnieniem wielu chorób

Due to its incidence (approx. 750,000 patients in Poland) and simultaneous short survival time (only approx. 50% of patients survive 4 years after the diagnosis), heart failure (HF) poses a serious problem in contemporary cardiology. The clinical case presented below concerns a HF patient with multiple comorbidities which make prognosis significantly more difficult. Clinical assessment is of key importance with regard to the determination of treatment and the decision to implement palliative care. Despite the administration of optimal pharmacological treatment of HF, the condition of the patient in question deteriorated significantly within two months — to such extent that treatment characteristic of the end-of-life period had to be implemented. Such procedure is supported by the current scientific reports suggesting the implementation of palliative treatment already at earlier stages of HF advancement, particularly in patients with severe comorbidities.

Physical fitness and quality of life in adolescents with asthma and fixed airflow obstruction.

To compare adolescents with asthma and FAO and adolescents with asthma without FAO in terms of aerobic fitness, PAL, muscle strength, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This cross-sectional study included adolescents with asthma, both sexes, and aged 12-18 years. They were divided into two groups: FAO and non-FAO groups. The adolescents were diagnosed with asthma according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines and underwent optimal pharmacological treatment for at least 12 months. FAO was diagnosed when the forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity ratio was below the lower limit of the normal range after optimal treatment. Aerobic fitness, PAL, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, and HRQoL were evaluated. No significant differences were observed between FAO and non-FAO groups regarding the peak oxygen uptake (34.6 ± 8.5 vs. 36.0 ± 8.4 mLO2 /min/kg), sedentary time (578 ± 126 vs. 563 ± 90 min/day), upper limb muscle strength (29.1 ± 5.9 vs. 28.1 ± 5.7 kilograms of force [kgf]), lower limb muscle strength (42.8 ± 8.6 vs. 47.6 ± 9.6 kgf), or HRQoL (5.1 ± 1.3 vs. 4.7 ± 1.4 score; p > .05). However, the FAO group exhibited a higher maximal expiratory pressure than the non-FAO group (111.5 ± 15.5 vs. 101.5 ± 15.0 cmH2 O, respectively). Our results suggest that FAO does not impair aerobic fitness, PAL, peripheral muscle strength, or HRQoL in adolescents with asthma. Furthermore, adolescents with asthma were physically deconditioned.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Initiating Statin Therapy After Index Revascularization In Patients With Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease.

BackgroundAn increasing number of patients with a peripheral arterial occlusive disease were put on statins during the past years. This study assessed whether statin therapy was effective and safe for these new users.Methods and ResultsUsing health insurance claims data from Germany’s second‐largest insurance fund, BARMER, we identified patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease who had index revascularization between 2008 and 2018 without prior statin therapy. We compared patients with and without statin therapy in addition to antithrombotics during the first quarter after discharge (new users versus nonusers). Outcomes were all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and incident major amputation for effectiveness and incident diabetes mellitus and incident myopathy for safety. Propensity score matching was used to balance the study groups. All analyses were stratified into patients with chronic limb‐threatening ischemia and intermittent claudication. A total of 22 208 patients (mean age 71.1 years and 50.3% women) were included in the study. In 10 922 matched patients, statin initiation was associated with lower all‐cause mortality (chronic limb‐threatening ischemia: hazard ratio [HR], 0.75 [95% CI, 0.68–0.84]; intermittent claudication: HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.70–0.92]), lower risk of major amputation in patients with chronic limb‐threatening ischemia (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58–0.93) and lower risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70–0.92) in patients with intermittent claudication during 5 years of follow‐up. Safety outcomes did not differ among the study groups.ConclusionsInitiating statin therapy in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease after index revascularization is efficient and safe with an effect size comparable to earlier studies. Awareness campaigns for evidence‐based optimal pharmacological treatment among patients are recommended.

Nowoczesna protekcja w nadciśnieniu tętniczym i przewlekłym zespole wieńcowym

Clinical pattern of hypertension is the result of the interaction of two mechanisms: pressure (the consequences of increasing transmural pressure) and atherosclerosis (accelerated development of atherosclerotic plaques). The first mechanism leads to hemorrhagic brain stroke, myocardial hypertrophy with development of heart failure or aortic dissection aneurysm, the second to ischaemic brain stroke, acute (ACS) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), peripheral atherosclerotic lesions. New genetic studies confirm the involvement of both mechanisms in the development of cardiovascular events. Individuals with genetic variant enabling lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and lower blood pressure values are significantly less likely to develop cardiovascular complications. Numerous randomized trials prove that in patients with hypertension the combined use of hypotensive and hypolipidemic drugs (polypill) brings greater clinical benefits than hypotensive monotherapy. Epidemiological observations confirm the validity of the current therapeutic paradigm. The preventive goal of optimal pharmacological treatment (OMT) of CCS is to prevent the first and subsequent episodes of ACS. The essence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is the development of atherosclerotic plaque (lipid accumulation) with accumulation of platelets on its eroded surface (atherothrombosis). Pharmacotherapy should be based primarily on the “principle of anti-atherosclerotic treatment” (containing statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACE-I]). Both groups of drugs in a different way positively influence the atherosclerotic plaque. Statins reduce its volume and suppress the inflammatory process, however, it is necessary to lower LDL-C below 55 mg/dL (70 mg/dL). Inhibitors of the converting enzyme inhibiting the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system activity (anti-inflammatory effect) lead to its fibrosis and stabilization of the plaque. New combinations of drugs lowering LDL-C with ACE-I such as atorvastatin and perindopril enable effective treatment with one tablet. The second indispensable element of optimal pharmacological treatment is the “principle of anticoagulant treatment” containing acetylsalicylic acid and one of the drugs from the group of P2Y 12 inhibitors or rivaroxaban. Other drugs such as beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, prolonged action nitrates, ivabradine, cytoprotective drugs are used depending on the individual indications.

Optimal Pharmacological Treatment of Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease and Evidence of Female Patient Disadvantage: An Analysis of Health Insurance Claims Data

Optimal pharmacological treatment (OPT) for peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) includes prescription of lipid lowering drugs, antithrombotics, and antihypertensives to symptomatic patients affected by intermittent claudication or chronic limb threatening ischaemia. This study sought to determine sex disparities and time trends in prescription of OPT in this population (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03909022). Using data from the second largest insurance fund in Germany, BARMER, data on patients with an index admission for symptomatic PAOD between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2018 with follow up until the end of 2018 were analysed. Sex disparities in post-discharge prescription status six months after index admission were tested and adjusted for patient and healthcare variables using bivariable tests and logistic regression analysis. Time trends in the prescription prevalence of OPT were analysed and tested. There were 83 867 patients (mean age 71.9 years and 45.8% women) eligible for inclusion in the study. When compared with men, women had lower rates of prior outpatient care for PAOD (39.8% vs. 47.0%), were admitted more often with ischaemic rest pain (13.9% vs. 10.4%) and were older (74 vs. 70 y). After discharge, women had a lower rate of prescriptions for lipid lowering drugs (52.4% vs. 59.9%), while they received antihypertensive drugs more often (86.7% vs. 84.1%). We found evidence for a lower prescription prevalence of OPT in females (37.0% vs. 42.7%). Differences in patient and healthcare variables (e.g. demographics, comorbidities, prior treatment) between women and men explained 56% of this gap. The sex prescription gap did not narrow over time despite an overall upward trend in prescription prevalence for both women and men. Although presenting older and with more severe symptoms at the index admission for PAOD, women have a lower prescription prevalence of OPT compared with men, particularly with respect to lipid lowering drugs.