Vascular Mortality Research Articles

Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage among Hypertensive Patients in Saudi Arabia: Study from a Tertiary Center.

Background:Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the second most common cause of stroke, yet there is paucity of evidence regarding the same from Saudi Arabia.Objectives:To describe the clinical characteristics of spontaneous ICH as well as determine the role of gender in ICH and the usefulness of the ICH scoring system for assessing the 30-day mortality risk.Patients and Methods:This retrospective study included all patients diagnosed with spontaneous ICH at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, between April 01, 2014, and April 30, 2019. Data regarding clinical characteristics, risk factors, and radiological features of ICH were extracted. Further, gender-related differences were determined. The 30-day mortality rates were assessed using the ICH score.Results:A total of 148 patients were diagnosed with spontaneous ICH during the study period. Of these, 100 (67.5%) were male and the overall mean age was 60 ± 15 years. About 48% of the male patients were aged ≤50 years compared to 27% of the female patients (P = 0.016). Impaired renal function (35.8%) and diabetes (33.7%) were the most frequent risk factors; hemiparesis (51%) and language impairment (42%) were the most common presenting symptoms; and basal ganglia (40.5%) was the most common location. The 30-day mortality rate was 30%. The mean ICH score at presentation was significantly high in those who died within 30 days of presentation (2.2 ± 1.6; P < 0.0001). Each increase in the ICH score was associated with an increase in mortality rate (P < 0.001 for trend).Conclusion:Patients with spontaneous ICH were found to have a high prevalence of vascular risk factors and mortality rate. The ICH scoring system was shown to be a useful clinical tool for evaluating the 30-day mortality risk.

Association of residual inflammatory risk with stroke recurrence in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack.

The aim was to explore the association of residual inflammatory risk (RIR) with stroke recurrence after an index acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. This study was based on the Third China National Stroke Registry. A total of 5840 patients with two high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements at baseline and at 3 months were included in the analysis. High RIR was defined as an hsCRP ≥3mg/l. Patients were divided into four groups: persistent high RIR (first high then high hsCRP), attenuated RIR (first high then low hsCRP), increased RIR (first low then high hsCRP) and persistent low RIR (first low then low hsCRP). The primary outcome was new stroke onset during the 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included composite vascular events, all-cause mortality and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 3-6). During the 1-year follow-up, 523 (9.0%) patients had stroke recurrence. Patients with persistent high RIR had an increased risk of stroke recurrence (hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval 1.39, 1.08-1.78), compared with those with persistent low RIR. Similar results were found for the outcome of composite vascular events, mortality and poor functional outcome. An increased risk of stroke recurrence was further found in patients with persistent high RIR and intracranial artery stenosis or large-artery atherosclerosis stroke subtype. In patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, persistent high RIR increased the risks of 1-year stroke recurrence, especially in those with intracranial artery stenosis or large-artery atherosclerosis subtype, composite vascular events, mortality and poor functional outcome.

Primary Causes of Death Reported to the FDA Suggest Less Ticagrelor Mortality Benefit than the List Issued to the PLATO Trial Investigators.

The PLATO trial data set reported to the FDA (DRFDA) revealed that some primary deaths causes (PDC) were inaccurately reported favoring ticagrelor. Trial Investigators (DRTI) received different data set with more ticagrelor mortality advantage. We compared these two death lists for the match in PDC. The DRFDA contains 938 deaths, while the DRTI contains 905. We matched "vascular", "non-vascular", "unknown", "missed", and "other" causes of death between DRFDA and DRTI. The DRFDA used 14 vascular, 9 non-vascular, 1 unknown and 1 other PDC codes, while the DRTI used 14 but different vascular, 14 non-vascular but no unknown or other PDC codes. We observed a significant mismatch for the PDC codes between the DRFDA and DRTI data sets. Most DRFDA deaths were vascular (n = 677), fewer non-vascular (n = 159) and unexpectedly many unknown (n = 95) or other (n = 7) PDC. Surprisingly, the shorter DRTI contains more vascular (n = 795), fewer non-vascular (n = 110), but no unknown, other, or missed causes. There were more sudden deaths in DRTI than in DRFDA (161 vs. 138; p 0.03), twice as many post-myocardial infarction deaths (373 vs. 178; p 0.001) but fewer heart failure deaths (73 vs. 109; p = 0.02). The reported non-vascular PDC match better except for 2 extra suicides in the clopidogrel arm of the DRTI. Over 100 "unknown", "missed", or "other" PDC events reported by the trial sponsor to the FDA were omitted from the investigator data set contributing to the inflated differences in vascular mortality benefit of ticagrelor reported in numerous PLATO publications. Synchronization of PDC reporting between regulatory agencies and investigators was lacking in PLATO but remains mandatory to ensure quality for future indication-seeking trials.

The Impact of Initial Vascular Access on Long-term Mortality in Hemodialysis Thai Patients

Background: End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients are significantly at risk of higher mortality than the general population. While cardiovascular disease and infection are the major causes of death in ESKD patients on hemodialysis (HD), the impact of vascular access type on long-term mortality in the Thai population remains unclear. Objective: To find an association between types of vascular access and long-term mortality in HD Thai patients. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort of HD patients with a 55-month follow-up (November 2015 to December 2020) was conducted. Patients’ baseline characteristics, and HD profiles were reviewed. A logistic regression model and survival analysis were used to test the association and survival probability of each type of vascular access and mortality. Results: Of 196 HD patients over 55 months, the proportions of initial vascular access included 46.94% of arteriovenous fistula (AVF), 27.55% of arteriovenous graft (AVG), and 25.51% of tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC). The overall mean all-cause mortality in this cohort was 29.1%. Compared with AVF, TDC was associated with increased mortality (adjusted OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.37 - 7.37; P &lt; .05) while the association between AVG and mortality was borderline significant (adjusted OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 0.96 - 5.46; P &gt; .05). Conclusions: TDC as initial vascular access for incident HD Thai patients was associated with increased all-cause mortality at 55 months compared with functioning AVF.

Vascular access type and mortality in elderly incident hemodialysis patients

IntroductionThe ideal vascular access type for elderly hemodialysis (HD) patients remains debatable. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between patterns of vascular access use within the first year of HD and mortality in elderly patients. MethodsSingle-center retrospective study of 99 incident HD patients aged≥80 years from January 2010 to May 2021. Patients were categorized according to their patterns of vascular access use within the first year of HD: central venous catheter (CVC) only, CVC to arteriovenous fistula (AVF), AVF to CVC, and AVF only. Baseline clinical data were compared among groups. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox's proportional hazards model. ResultsWhen compared with CVC to AVF, mortality risk was significantly higher among CVC only patients and similar to AVF only group [HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.32–2.51)]. Ischemic heart disease [HR 1.74 (95% CI 1.02–2.96)], lower levels of albumin [HR 2.16 (95% CI 1.28–3.64)] and hemoglobin [HR 4.10(95% CI 1.69–9.92)], and higher levels of c-reactive protein [HR 1.87(95% CI 1.11–3.14)] were also associated with increased mortality risk in our cohort, p<0.05. ConclusionOur findings suggested that placement of an AVF during the early stages of dialysis was associated with lower mortality compared to persistent CVC use among elderly patients. AVF placement appears to have a positive impact on survival outcomes, even in those who started dialysis with a CVC.

Applicability of the Vascular Quality Initiative mortality prediction model for infrainguinal revascularization in a tertiary limb preservation center population

ObjectivePatients undergoing revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) are at elevated risk for both mortality and limb loss. To facilitate therapeutic decision-making, a mortality prediction model derived from the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database has stratified patients into low, medium, and high risk, defined by 30-day mortality estimates of ≤3%, 3%-5%, or >5% and 2-year mortality estimates of ≤30%, 30%-50%, or ≥50%, respectively. The purpose of this study was to compare expected mortality risk derived from this model with observed outcomes in a tertiary center. MethodsConsecutive patients treated at a single center between 2016 and 2019 were analyzed. Baseline demographics, approach, and mortality events were reviewed. Observed mortality was obtained using life-table methods and compared using a log-rank test with the expected mortality risk that was calculated using the VQI model. ResultsThis study cohort consisted of 195 revascularization procedures in 169 unique patients stratified into 128 (66%) low-, 50 (26%) medium-, and 17 (8%) high-risk cases based on the VQI model. Ninety percent of revascularizations were performed for tissue loss. Compared with the VQI population, comorbidities were prevalent and included unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 6 months (6% vs 2.4% in VQI; P < .001), congestive heart failure (30% vs 23%; P < .001), and dialysis dependence (14% vs 0.9%; P < .001). Patients were also older (31% vs 21% ≥80 years old; P < .001) and more likely to be frail (45% vs 64% independent; P < .001). High-risk patients were more prevalent in the endovascular group (11% of 132 endovascular interventions vs 3% of 63 bypasses; P = .056). Thirty-day observed mortality exceeded expected VQI prediction model mortality in all groups, although was not statistically significant. The VQI model adequately stratified the studied population into risk groups (P < .001). Low-risk patients with CLTI (65% of the overall cohort) experienced 2-year mortality of 18.9%. However, observed mortality rates for medium- and high-risk VQI strata were similar. After a median follow-up of 28 months, medium-risk patients incurred a significantly higher mortality than predicted (53.5% ± 2.1% vs 36.8% ± 1.1%; P = .016). ConclusionsThe VQI mortality prediction model discriminates mortality risk after limb revascularization in CLTI, accurately identifying a majority subgroup of patients who are suitable for either open or endovascular intervention. However, it may underestimate mortality in a tertiary referral population with high comorbidity burden and was not well calibrated for the medium-risk group. It may be more appropriate to dichotomize patients with CLTI who are candidates for limb salvage into an average-risk and high-risk group.

The relation between urinary sodium and potassium excretion and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Most evidence on the relationship between sodium and potassium intake and cardiovascular disease originated from general population studies. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between estimated 24-hour sodium and potassium urinary excretion and the risk of recurrent vascular events and mortality in patients with vascular disease. 7561 patients with vascular disease enrolled in the UCC-SMART cohort (1996-2015) were included. Twenty-four hour sodium and potassium urinary excretion were estimated (Kawasaki formulae) from morning urine samples. Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the relation between estimated urinary salt excretion and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; including myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular mortality) and all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 7.4 years (interquartile range: 4.1-11.0), the relations between estimated 24-hour sodium urinary excretion and outcomes were J-shaped with nadirs of 4.59 gram/day for recurrent MACE and 4.97 gram/day for all-cause mortality. The relation between sodium-to-potassium excretion ratio and outcomes were also J-shaped with nadirs of 2.71 for recurrent MACE and 2.60 for all-cause mortality. Higher potassium urinary excretion was related to an increased risk of both recurrent MACE (HR 1.25 per gram potassium excretion per day; 95%CI 1.13-1.39) and all cause-mortality (HR 1.13 per gram potassium excretion per day; 95%CI 1.03-1.25). In patients with established vascular disease, lower and higher sodium intake were associated with higher risk of recurrent MACE and all-cause mortality. Higher estimated 24-hour potassium urinary excretion was associated with a higher risk of recurrent MACE and all-cause mortality.

Cerebral Pulsatility Index and In-Hospital Mortality in Chinese Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

There are limited studies on the relationship between the vascular transcranial Doppler (TCD) pulsatility index (PI) and in-hospital mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). To address this issue, we conducted this study to explore whether, in newly diagnosed Chinese TBI patients, the PI is an independent predictor of the in-hospital mortality rate after adjusting for other covariates. This study is a retrospective cohort study. From 24 March 2019 to 24 January 2020, we recruited 144 Chinese patients with newly diagnosed TBI from a Chinese hospital. The independent variable was the PI, and the dependent variable was in-hospital mortality in TBI patients. The relationship between the PI and in-hospital mortality in TBI patients was nonlinear and had an inflection point of 1.11. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, the effect sizes and confidence intervals per additional 0.1 units on the left and right sides of the inflection point were 4.09 (1.30–12.83) and 1.42 (0.93–2.17). The relationship between the PI and in-hospital mortality was nonlinear. The PI was positively related with in-hospital mortality when the PI was less than 1.11.

Blood Pressure Trajectories and Outcomes for Veterans Presenting at VA Medical Centers with a Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

BackgroundBlood pressure control has been shown to reduce risk of vascular events and mortality after an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Yet, questions remain about effectiveness, timing, and targeted blood pressure reduction. MethodsWe analyzed data from a retrospective cohort of 18,837 veterans cared for 12 months prior and up to 12 months after an emergency department visit or inpatient admission for stroke or TIA. Latent class growth analysis was used to classify patients into systolic blood pressure trajectories. With Cox proportional hazard models, we examined relationships between blood pressure trajectories, intensification of antihypertensive medication, and stroke (fatal or non-fatal) and all-cause mortality in 12 months following the index event. ResultsThe cohort was classified into 4 systolic blood pressure trajectories: 19% with a low systolic blood pressure trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 116 mm Hg); 65% with a medium systolic blood pressure trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 136 mm Hg); 15% with a high systolic blood pressure trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 158 mm Hg), and 1% with a very high trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 183 mm Hg). After the stroke or TIA, individuals in the high and very high systolic blood pressure trajectories experienced a substantial decrease in systolic blood pressure that coincided with intensification of antihypertensive medication. Patients with very low and very high systolic blood pressure trajectories had a significantly greater (P < .05) hazard of mortality, while medication intensification was related significantly (P < .05) to lower hazard of mortality. ConclusionsThese findings point to the importance of monitoring blood pressure over multiple time points and of instituting enhanced hypertension management after stroke or TIA, particularly for individuals with high or very high blood pressure trajectories.

Three Year Prognosis of Patients with Myocardial Infarction Depending on the Body Weight Index: Data of the Kemerovo Acute Coronary Syndrome Registry

Aim. To study the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the 3-year prognosis of patients after myocardial infarction (MI).Material and methods. The study is based on data from a 3-year observation of patients with MI from the Kemerovo registry of acute coronary syndrome (n=1366). The characteristics of patients with MI, distributed by the BMI, were determined, the outcomes were analyzed, the risk factors and predictors for the vascular events and mortality were identified.Results. Obesity was detected in 32.2% people with MI (I degree – 22.3%; II – 7.7%; III – 2.3%), lack of BMI at 0.5%, normal BMI at 20.5%, overweight at 46.9%. Patients with different BMI showed a comparable incidence of recurring MI. In patients with normal BMI, when compared with patients with obesity, unstable angina pectoris (UA), heart failure (HF) and strokes developed often. In patients with normal BMI compared with obese patients, fewer deaths from all causes were recorded within 3 years after MI. A similar pattern with respect to the group with normal BMI in terms of high overall mortality was obtained among patients with overweight who had a lower UA. Patients with obesity was favorable in relation to the development of HF, strokes and overall mortality than patients with overweight. Differences in the 3-year outcomes in the group of patients with MI and underweight were not found when compared with patients with normal and overweight, however, they had a higher of strokes compared with patients with obesity. At patients with I degree obesity within 3 years after MI UA, HF, strokes were less. Patients with III degree obesity, the maximum frequency of total mortality was recorded. The development of death from all causes during the observation period in patients with MI and obesity was associated with: male, smoking, multivessel arterial diseases, non-endovascular reperfusion, acute HF with MI, history of vascular events and angina pectoris; whereas with overweight: multifocal atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension; with a deficit of BMI: non-reperfusion; with normal BMI: heredity for cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia and atrial fibrillation.Conclusion. 3 years after MI patients with obesity of the I degree are less likely than patients with obesity of II-III deaths from all causes are recorded; these patients are less likely than patients with normal weight to develop strokes, HF, UA. Thus, patients with MI and the presence of I degree obesity are characterized by better survival during 3 years of observation.

Serum glypican-4 is a marker of future vascular risk and mortality in coronary angiography patients

Background and aimsGlypican-4 (GPC4) is a cell surface protein, but can be released into circulation under various clinical conditions. The association of circulating GPC4 with the risk of future cardiovascular events or death is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between serum GPC4 and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), vascular mortality, and all-cause mortality in a prospective cohort study. MethodsOur study included 760 patients undergoing coronary angiography. During a mean follow up period of 6.3 years, the incidence of MACE, vascular mortality, and all-cause mortality was recorded. Serum GPC4 levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsSerum GPC4 was highly significantly associated with increased age, body mass index, brain natriuretic peptide, and oxidized low density lipoprotein, as well as with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate. During the follow-up period, 145 patients died, including 67 vascular deaths. MACE occurred in 137 patients. Serum GPC4 was significantly associated with MACE, vascular mortality, and all-cause mortality independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, with adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for one standard deviation change of serum GPC4 of 1.32 [1.10–1.58], 1.38 [1.06–1.78], and 1.53 [1.29–1.82], respectively. The best cut-off value for serum GPC4 for predicting MACE, vascular mortality, and all-cause mortality was 7.24 ng/ml for all three endpoints. Respective adjusted HRs were 1.61 [1.07–2.43], 2.85 [1.62–5.01], and 2.92 [2.00–4.27]. ConclusionsOur study indicates that elevated serum GPC4 levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE, vascular mortality, and all-cause mortality.

Additional Use of Prostacyclin Analogs in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Combination therapy has become an attractive option in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether additional use of prostacyclin analogs could exert any additional benefits over background targeted therapies in PAH patients. Methods: Searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 1 October 2021. Randomized controlled trials were included if patients had been treated with prostacyclin analog-containing combination therapy and compared with the use of other PAH-specific background therapies. The bias risk and statistical analysis of the enrolled studies were performed with RevMan 5.1. Sensitivity analysis and funnel plot were used to evaluate the stability and publication bias, respectively. PROSPERO registered number CRD42021284196. Results: Ten trials involving 1828 patients were included. Prostacyclin analog treatment was associated with greater improvement in clinical worsening (risk ratio [RR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.86), 6-min walk distance (mean difference [MD], 37.17 m; 95% CI, 3.01–71.33 m), NYHA/WHO functional class (RR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.21–2.05), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MD, −9.23 mmHg; 95% CI, −17.44 to −1.03 mmHg), and cardiac index (MD, 0.41 L/min/m2; 95% CI, 0.26–0.55 L/min/m2) than the control group. No significant differences in pulmonary vascular resistance (MD, −137.22 dyn·s/cm5; 95% CI, −272.61 to −1.84 dyn·s/cm5) and all-cause mortality (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.57–1.61) were found between the prostacyclin analog group and control group. Of note, more adverse events (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02–1.13) occurred in the prostacyclin analog group but no significant increase in serious adverse events (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.75–2.11). Conclusion: Additional prostacyclin analog treatment exerted benefits on clinical worsening, exercise capacity, functional class, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac index in PAH patients, but it was associated with overall risk of adverse events. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021284196, identifier CRD42021284196.

Adiposity and risks of vascular and non-vascular mortality among Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes: a 10-year prospective study

IntroductionAmong individuals with diabetes, high adiposity has been associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (the so-called ‘obesity paradox’ phenomenon) in Western populations, for reasons that are still not fully...

Bayesian parameter estimation for phosphate dynamics during hemodialysis.

Hyperphosphatemia in patients with renal failure is associated with increased vascular calcification and mortality. Hemodialysis is a conventional treatment for patients with hyperphosphatemia. Phosphate kinetics during hemodialysis may be described by a diffusion process and modeled by ordinary differential equations. We propose a Bayesian model approach for estimating patient-specific parameters for phosphate kinetics during hemodialysis. The Bayesian approach allows us to both analyze the full parameter space using uncertainty quantification and to compare two types of hemodialysis treatments, the conventional single-pass and the novel multiple-pass treatment. We validate and test our models on synthetic and real data. The results show limited identifiability of the model parameters when only single-pass data are available, and that the Bayesian model greatly reduces the relative standard deviation compared to existing estimates. Moreover, the analysis of the Bayesian models reveal improved estimates with reduced uncertainty when considering consecutive sessions and multiple-pass treatment compared to single-pass treatment.

La retina, una ventana de la enfermedad cerebrovascular en la diabetes

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the complications of long-term diabetes mellitus. While the structure and function of the great cerebral vessels may be more easily studied, the cerebral microcirculation is difficult to assess. However, a simple eye fundus examination with an ophthalmoscope enables to visualize the microvascular abnormalities that characterize diabetic retinopathy, which isth e most common microvascular complication of diabetes. The anatomical and functional similarity between retinal and cerebral microcirculation supports the hypothesis that alterations in retinal vascular reactivity could be considered as an early marker of cerebral microvascular dysfunction in diabetes. The initiating factor of diabetic angiopathies is endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction results in a reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), as a consequence of decreased NO synthesis and/or increased production of free oxygen radicals that are NO scavengers. Diabetes also stimulates the production of endothelial-derived contractile factors such as superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, endothelin and certain cyclooxygenase (COX) derivatives. COX activation is related to a high level of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress participates in the inflammatory response involved in the diabetic vascular dysfunction. These pathogenic mechanisms have been shown in both cerebral and retinal arteries, mainly through in vitro vascular reactivity studies, suggesting that diabetes induces a profound change in microvascular regulatory mechanisms. The association between the degree of retinal perfusion, brain injuries and altered cognitive function indicates a certain parallelism in the degree of impairment of both retinal and brain circulations. In addition, prospective studies conclude that diabetic retinopathy predicts ischemic cerebrovascular disease independently of other risk factors, supporting the importance of cerebral microvascular disease in diabetics. Further research on the vascular abnormalities is needed to understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying retinopathies and cerebrovascular disease in diabetes. In the near future, the use of fully automated methods to detect signs of retinopathy will not only facilitate the efficient evaluation of vascular changes in the retina but will also help to reduce cerebral vascular morbidity and mortality.

The Impact of Frailty on the Outcomes of Hemodialysis Vascular Access.

Frailty has been associated with mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hemodialysis (HD), however the relevance of frailty on the outcomes of HD vascular access remains unclear. We enrolled a cohort of patients with prevalent HD between August 2018 and November 2018. The presence of 5 frailty phenotypes was determined at enrollment, using the modified Fried's criteria. Data regarding vascular access events or mortality were linked to prospectively collected data up to 24 months after enrollment. Of the 382 patients screened, 313 were recruited in the final analysis. The participants' mean age was 66 years, and 42.5% were female. Among all participants, 40.3% were determined to be frail and 29.4% pre-frail. The frail phenotype was associated with age, female gender, lower body mass index, unemployment, lower education level, and higher dialysis clearance. During the follow-up period (median, 24 months), 112 patients had vascular access events (non-frail, 27.4%; pre-frail, 35.9%; frail, 46.1%; p = 0.003) and 45 patients experienced thrombosis of the vascular access (non-frail, 4.2%; pre-frail, 9.8%; frail, 18.3%; p = 0.002). Cox regression analysis showed that frail patients had a 2.2-fold higher risk of experiencing vascular access events than non-frail patients [hazard ratio (HR): 2.205, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.377-3.532, p = 0.001], but the association was not significant (HR: 1.634, 95% CI: 0.938-2.848, p = 0.082) after multivariate adjustment. The frail phenotype is common in Taiwanese patients who undergo maintenance HD and is associated with adverse outcomes of dialysis vascular access.

Abdominal aortic calcification, cardiac troponin I and atherosclerotic vascular disease mortality in older women

ObjectiveExamine if two inexpensive measures of atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVD), abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) provide complementary information for 10-year ASVD mortality and all-cause mortality...

Efficacy and safety of clopidogrel and/or aspirin for ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Objective:Patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack are commonly treated with clopidogrel and/or aspirin (mono- and dual-antiplatelet therapy) to minimize the risk for recurrent stroke. Updated data from systematic studies can be used to guide practice. The present study aimed to compare findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses addressing the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel or aspirin – alone or in combination – in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.Methods:The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, EBSCO, and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant studies published from inception to 2020. Data from each study were extracted independently using a predefined data abstraction form. The Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews tool and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 were used to evaluate risk of bias and the quality of the included studies.Results:Seven studies, published between 2010 and 2020, were eligible for analysis. The included studies evaluated a wide range of outcomes, including recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, recurrent ischemic stroke, vascular mortality and vascular events, bleeding events, all-cause mortality, functional disability, and quality of life. The risk of bias and methodological validity of the included studies ranged from low to high according to ROBIS and AMSTAR 2 parameters. Results revealed that clopidogrel plus aspirin was more effective than aspirin alone in reducing the risk for recurrent stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), with high-quality evidence. However, compared with aspirin, dual treatment increased major bleeding events (intracranial bleeding and extracranial bleeding), supported by high-quality evidence.Conclusions:High-quality evidence suggested that clopidogrel plus aspirin was more efficient than monotherapy, although the risk for hemorrhagic stroke was relatively higher in combined therapy regimens lasting >1 month.

Insulin resistance and risk of vascular events, interventions and mortality in type 1 diabetes.

To identify determinants associated with insulin resistance and to assess the association between insulin resistance and cardiovascular events, vascular interventions and mortality in people with type 1 diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Prospective cohort study. One hundred and ninety-five people with type 1 diabetes from the Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort were included. Insulin resistance was quantified by the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) with higher eGDR levels indicating higher insulin sensitivity (i.e. lower eGDR levels indicating higher insulin resistance). Linear regression models were used to evaluate determinants associated with eGDR. The effect of eGDR on cardiovascular events, cardiovascular events or vascular interventions (combined endpoint) and on all-cause mortality was analysed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for confounders. In 195 individuals (median follow-up 12.9 years, IQR 6.7-17.0), a total of 25 cardiovascular events, 26 vascular interventions and 27 deaths were observed. High eGDR as a marker for preserved insulin sensitivity was independently associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.91), a lower risk of cardiovascular events and vascular interventions (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.63-0.87) and a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67-0.98). Insulin resistance as measured by eGDR is an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Modification of insulin resistance by lifestyle interventions or pharmacological treatment could be a viable therapeutic target to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Long-term effects with policosanol on lipid profile according to hypercholesterolemia severity in older patients

Background: End-point based studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between coronary disease and elevated serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol, as well as the benefits of lowering LDL-C with statins on clinical end-points. Policosanol is a mixture of very long chain fatty alcohols purified from sugar cane wax, with dislipidemia controlling effects, proved in numerous clinical assays in which patients with different conditions were included. The efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in the elderly have been also investigated in several clinical trials, being effective, safe and well tolerated. Objectives: To investigate the effects of policosanol treatment during three years on lipid profile with a proportional intensity to the initial dislipidemia severity in older hypercholesterolemic patients. Methods: The present analysis was obtained from the data of all patients treated with policosanol included in a previous prevention study. One thousand, ford hundred seventy old patients of both sexes, between 60 to 85 years old, with type II hypercholesterolemia, and ³ 1 non-lipid coronary risk factors, were randomized in two groups and treated with policosanol or placebo, during three years. Significant changes on lipid profile with a proportional intensity to the initial dislipidemia severity were considered primary efficacy variables. The analysis was done by Intention-to-treat method. Results: An analysis of the response intensity show that after treatment, reductions of LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglycerides were greater, and according to the initial hypercholesterolemia severity, so that, patients with severe hypercholesterolemia showed the better responses, followed by moderate and mild hypercholesterolemia. An opposite pattern, however, was observed for HDL-C serum concentration. Triglycerides did not respond in the same way. The frequency of vascular serious adverse events was lower in the policosanol group (15 events) compared with those on placebo group (49 events). There were 109 patients who experienced serious adverse events: 83 (11.3 %) in placebo and 26 (3.5 %) in policosanol group (p&lt;0.0001). Twenty-three deaths occurred up to study completion: 19 patients belonging to placebo group (2.6 %) and 4 to the policosanol group (0.5 %). Conclusions: The treatment with policosanol produce positive changes on serum lipid profile according to hypercholesterolemia severity and with a significant lower amount of vascular serious adverse events, mortality, and frequency of total adverse events in older patients.