[Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice]

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

How many familial hypercholesterolemia patients are eligible for PCSK9 inhibition?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a high cardiovascular risk condition. Less than 20% of patients achieve the LDL targets. Although PCSK9 inhibitors improve control and reduce cardiovascular events, official recommendations for their use are restrictive. We aim to assess the number of FH patients suitable for PCSK9 inhibition according to the European guidelines.

METHODS

A total of 2685 FH patients, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, included in the Dyslipidemia Registry of the Spanish Arteriosclerosis Society, were sorted according to the intensity of their lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and LDL cholesterol levels achieved. The number of patients who met the recommendations for PCSK9 inhibition treatment according to the European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS), Spanish Arteriosclerosis Society and the European Medicines Agency was calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 1573 patients were on high-intensity LLT; 607 were on moderate-intensity statins; 82 were on low-intensity LLT, and 423 were neither on statins nor on ezetimibe in the last visit registered. The mean LDL reduction among those on high-intensity LLT was 54%. Ninety-one percent of patients on high-intensity LLT had an LDL below 5.2 mmol/L, 53% below 3.4 mmol/L, and 23% below 2.6 mmol/L. Only 12% of FH patients with cardiovascular disease achieved 1.8 mmol/L. Despite this, only 17% of patients qualified for PCSK9 inhibition according to ESC/EAS guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with a condition that exposes them to high cardiovascular risk and who have extreme difficulties in achieving LDL targets, wider access to PCSK9 inhibitor therapy is warranted.

[Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice]

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

Value of the Definition of Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia for Stratification of Heterozygous Patients

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with co-dominant transmission and high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although with high variability among subjects. Currently, CVD stratification tools for heterozygous FH (HeFH) are not available. A definition of severe HeFH has been recently proposed by the International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS), but it has not been validated. Our study aims to see clinical characteristics and prevalence of CVD in subjects defined as severe HeFH by IAS criteria. Probable or definite HeFH introduced in the Dyslipidemia Registry of Spanish Arteriosclerosis Society were analyzed by the IAS criteria. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to assess the association of CVD with the IAS criteria. About 1,732 HeFH cases were analyzed. Severe HeFH had higher prevalence of familial history of CVD, personal history of tendon xanthomas, LDL cholesterol, and CVD than nonsevere HeFH. A total of 656 (77.1%) and 441 (50.1%) of men and women, respectively, fulfilled the IAS criteria of severe HeFH. In the univariate analysis, subjects defined as severe HeFH showed odds ratio 3.016 (95% CI 3.136 to 4.257, p <0.001) for CVD. However, when traditional risk factors were included in the multivariate analysis, only the presence of cholesterol >400 mg/dl had a statistically significant association with CVD odds ratio 8.76 (95% CI 3.90 to 19.69, p <0.001). In conclusion, the IAS definition of severe HeFH is not significantly associated with CVD when adjusted for classic risk factors. Risk stratification in HeFH is an important issue, but the proposed criteria do not seem to solve this problem.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass vs. laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of lipid effects at one year postsurgery

INTRODUCTION

Results of the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are controversial. Moreover, previous meta-analyses focused on global dyslipidemia remission, but did not include the separate remission rates of the different lipid fractions. Hence, the aim of the present meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes (concentration change and remission rates) of GB and SG on diverse lipid disorders one year postbariatric surgery (BS).

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

An exhaustive electronic search carried out on MedLine, Embase and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central) until July 2016 yielded 2621 records, of which 17, totaling 4699 obese patients with one-year follow-up after BS were included in the meta-analysis.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

GB was superior to SG in terms of total cholesterol (mean difference= 19.77 mg/dL, 95% CI: 11.84-27.69) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (mean difference: 19.29 mg/dL, 95% CI: 11.93-26.64) decreases as well as in hypercholesterolemia remission (RR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.27-1.61). No differences were found between GB and SG in terms of HDL cholesterol increase or triglyceride concentration change after surgery, as well as in hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL remission rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of GB on total and LDL cholesterol concentration decreases and remission was greater than that of SG, whereas no differences were observed with respect to HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentration evolution. Conclusions cannot be drawn from hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL remission rates based on this meta-analysis.

Role of First-Trimester HbA1c as a Predictor of Adverse Obstetric Outcomes in a Multiethnic Cohort

CONTEXT

Risk of obstetric complications increases linearly with rising maternal glycemia. Testing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is an effective option to detect hyperglycemia, but its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes remains unclear. Emerging data sustain that an early HbA1c ≥5.9% could act as a pregnancy risk marker.

OBJECTIVE

To determine, in a multiethnic cohort, whether an early ≥5.9% HbA1c could be useful to identify women without diabetes mellitus at increased pregnancy risk.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective study was conducted at Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, between April 2013 and September 2015.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

A total of 1631 pregnant women had an HbA1c measurement added to their first antenatal blood tests and were screened for gestational diabetes mellitus at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome was macrosomia. Secondary outcomes were preeclampsia, preterm birth, and cesarean section rate.

RESULTS

A total of 1228 pregnancies were included for outcome analysis. Women with HbA1c ≥5.9% (n = 48) showed a higher rate of macrosomia (16.7% vs 5.9%, P = 0.008) and a tendency toward a higher rate of preeclampsia (9.32% vs 3.9%, P = 0.092). There were no statistically significant differences in other pregnancy outcomes. After adjusting for potential confounders, an HbA1c ≥5.9% was independently associated with a 3-fold increased risk of macrosomia (95% confidence interval, 1.127 to 8.603, P = 0.028) and preeclampsia (95% confidence interval, 1.086 to 11.532, P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

In a multiethnic population, an early HbA1c ≥5.9% measurement identifies women at high risk for poorer pregnancy outcomes independently of gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis later in pregnancy. Further studies are required to establish cutoff points adapted to each ethnic group and to assess whether early detection and treatment are of benefit.

[Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice]

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

[Spanish Adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice]

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than 10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

[Chronic kidney disease and dyslipidaemia]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has to be considered as a high, or even very high risk cardiovascular risk condition, since it leads to an increase in cardiovascular mortality that continues to increase as the disease progresses. An early diagnosis of CKD is required, together with an adequate identification of the risk factors, in order to slow down its progression to more severe states, prevent complications, and to delay, whenever possible, the need for renal replacement therapy. Dyslipidaemia is a factor of the progression of CKD that increases the risk in developing atherosclerosis and its complications. Its proper control contributes to reducing the elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality presented by these patients. In this review, an assessment is made of the lipid-lowering therapeutic measures required to achieve to recommended objectives, by adjusting the treatment to the progression of the disease and to the characteristics of the patient. In CKD, it seems that an early and intensive intervention of the dyslipidaemia is a priority before there is a significant decrease in kidney function. Treatment with statins has been shown to be safe and effective in decreasing LDL-Cholesterol, and in the reduction of cardiovascular events in individuals with CKD, or after renal transplant, although there is less evidence in the case of dialysed patients.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist in type 1 diabetes patients: prevalence and related factors

BACKGROUND

The hypertriglyceridemic waist has been linked to a higher number of cardiovascular risk factors and a greater probability of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Around 50% of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are overweight or obese and triglyceridemia is associated with the onset of micro- and macrovascular complications.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in men with T1D to assess the association between the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic waist and cardiovascular risk factors and hypogonadism. Triglyceride levels + abdominal circumference taken together were stratified into quartiles to identify the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-one male patients were included. An increased prevalence of hypogonadism and hypertension in parallel to increased triglyceride + waist circumference quartile was observed. Patients in the highest quartile had higher insulin resistance measured by estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR 7.8±2.1 mg/kg-1.min-1 in 1st quartile vs. 5.8±1.8 mg/kg-1.min-1 in 4th quartile, P=0.000), insulin requirements, hip circumference, percentage of fat mass, glycosilated hemoglobin and total and LDL cholesterol as well as lower levels of total testosterone (27.24±9.3 nmol/L in 1st quartile vs. 17.4±8 nmol/L in 4th quartile, P=0.000) and HDL cholesterol. An inverse relationship was found between triglycerides + waist circumference and total testosterone levels (R=-0.367, P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The hypertriglyceridemic waist in men with T1D is associated with an atherogenic lipid profile, hypertension, worse metabolic diabetes control, increased insulin resistance and a higher prevalence of hypogonadism.

Efficacy of a multifactorial strategy for bowel preparation in diabetic patients undergoing colonoscopy: a randomized trial

Background and study aims: Previous studies have reported that diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for inadequate bowel preparation. Current guidelines do not recommend a specific preparation for this patient population. The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of an adapted preparation protocol for colon cleansing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients and methods: This randomized, single-blind, parallel group, superiority trial compared a conventional bowel preparation protocol (CBP) with a diabetes-specific preparation protocol (DSP). The CBP included a low-fiber diet for 3 days followed by a clear liquid diet for 24 hours before colonoscopy. The DSP included a multifactorial strategy combining an educational intervention, a low-fiber diet, and adjustment of blood glucose-lowering agents. All patients received 4 L of a polyethylene glycol solution in a split-dose regimen. The endoscopists were blinded to the preparation protocol. The primary outcome measure was inadequate bowel preparation according to the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. Secondary outcome measures included hypoglycemic events, tolerability, and acceptability. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in the study (74 CBP and 76 DSP). Both groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics. Inadequate bowel cleansing was more frequent following CBP than DSP (20 % vs. 7 %, P = 0.014; risk ratio 3.1, 95 % confidence interval 1.2 - 8). Only CBP and performance status were independently associated with inadequate bowel preparation. Both preparations were equally tolerated and accepted by patients, and side-effects were similar between the groups. Conclusions: A multifactorial strategy for bowel preparation in patients with diabetes undergoing colonoscopy showed a threefold reduction in the rate of inadequate bowel preparation, with no differences in safety and tolerability compared with conventional preparation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02300779).

[Map of resources and healthcare needs for patients with dyslipidaemia in Spain: The MADI study]

INTRODUCTION

Dyslipidaemia is a major modifiable determining factor of vascular risk and, despite this, a significant number of patients do not achieve lipid goals. The aim of this study is to describe the resources and current needs in clinical practice in Spain, through an analysis of management, organisation and the patient care circuit of dyslipidaemia patient.

METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study, using a questionnaire, was conducted on physicians, 266 in primary care (PC) and 258 in specialised care (SC), who attended patients with dyslipidaemia in hospitals and centres within the National Health System. Probabilistic analyses were performed, stratifying by care-level, existence of a lipid unit (LU), and geographic area.

RESULTS

Observed differences were mostly due to geographic location, rather than the existence of LU in the referral hospitals. Most system deficiencies were found in the southern provinces of the country. Nearly all primary care physicians declared that they diagnose, manage and control dyslipidaemia patients, but a general agreement was lacking for diagnostic and referral criteria. The scarce use of a shared protocol between PC and SC showed evidence of poor coordination between health care providers. Furthermore, there was a remarkably low proportion of patients receiving health care education for their disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasises the need to identify weaknesses in the dyslipidaemia patient care circuit, and to perform the appropriate remedial actions, in particular, to promote coordination between levels of care and to foster patient education about their disease.

Severity of statin-induced adverse effects on muscle and associated conditions: data from the DAMA study

BACKGROUND

Statins are generally well tolerated, but muscular adverse effects appear to be the most common obstacle limiting their use. Our objective was to describe the severity of muscle injury (myalgia, myositis and rhabdomyolysis) and associated conditions related to statin therapy that may be clinically significant.

METHODS

A cross-sectional one-visit, non-interventional, national multicenter study including patients of both sexes over 18 years of age referred for past or present muscle symptoms associated with statin therapy was conducted. Clinical, biochemical and drug therapy characteristics were obtained at the initial evaluation.

RESULTS

3,845 patients were recruited from a one-day record from 2,001 physicians. Myalgia was present in 78.2% of patients, myositis in 19.3% and rhabdomyolysis in 2.5%. The prevalence of different comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease increased as the severity of myopathy rose. High-intensity statin therapy was used in 33.4% of patients. Concomitant drugs metabolized by the CYP450 3A4 pathway were taken by 9.3% of patients, and statins with this metabolic route by 75%. Independent variables associated with myositis or rhabdomyolysis compared with myalgia alone in the multivariate model were excessive alcohol consumption and pravastatin therapy.

CONCLUSION

Myalgia was the most common muscle adverse effect associated with statin therapy. Excessive alcohol consumption and pravastatin were independently associated with myositis or rhabdomyolysis.

Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors in a Mediterranean diet cohort

BACKGROUND

Erectile dysfunction affects more than 100 million men worldwide, with a wide variability in prevalence. An overall association of cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle and diet in the context of ED in a Mediterranean population is lacking.

AIM

To assess ED prevalence and associated factors in a Mediterranean cohort of non-diabetic patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS

Observational, cross-sectional study of patients aged over 40 treated at cardiovascular risk units in Catalonia. Anthropometric data, risk factors, lifestyle and diet habits were recorded. ED was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function.

RESULTS

Four hundred and forty patients included, 186 (42.3%) with ED (24.8% mild, 6.8% moderate and 10.7% severe). ED presence and severity were associated with age, obesity, waist circumference, hypertension, antihypertensive treatment and ischaemic disease. Patients with ED were more frequently smokers, sedentary and consumed more alcohol. In multivariate analysis, consumption of nuts (> twice a week) (OR 0.41 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.67) and vegetables (≥ once a day) (OR 0.47 (95% CI 0.28-0,77)), were inversely related to ED. Obesity (as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) ) (OR 2.49 (95% CI 1.48-4.17)), ischaemic disease (OR 2.30 (95% CI 1.22 to 4.33), alcohol consumption (alcohol-units a day) (OR 1.14 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.26), and age (year) (OR = 1.07 (95% CI 1.04-1.10) were directly related to ED.

CONCLUSION

Erectile dysfunction is a common disorder in patients treated in lipid units in Catalonia for cardiovascular risk factors. This condition is associated with age, obesity, ischaemic disease and unhealthy lifestyle habits.

[Statin associated myopathy in clinical practice. Results of DAMA study]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Muscle symptoms, with or without elevation of creatin kinase are one of the main adverse effects of statin therapy, a fact that sometimes limits their use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients treated with statins who have complained muscle symptoms and to identify possible predictive factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional one-visit, non-interventional, national multicenter study including patients of both sexes over 18 years of age referred for past or present muscle symptoms associated with statin therapy was conducted. 3,845 patients were recruited from a one-day record from 2,001 physicians.

RESULTS

Myalgia was present in 78.2% of patients included in the study, myositis in 19.3%, and rhabdomyolysis in 2.5%. Patients reported muscle pain in 77.5% of statin-treated individuals, general weakness 42.7%, and cramps 28.1%. Kidney failure, intense physical exercise, alcohol consumption (>30g/d in men and 20g/d in women) and abdominal obesity were the clinical situations associated with statin myopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Myalgia followed by myositis are the most frequent statin-related side effects. It should be recommended control environmental factors such as intense exercise and alcohol intake as well as abdominal obesity and renal function of the patient treated with statins.

Testosterone undecanoate improves lipid profile in patients with type 1 diabetes and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism

Testosterone deficiency (Td) has been associated with the metabolic syndrome. Few studies have evaluated this condition in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of testosterone undecanoate (TU) on insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure and lipid profile in patients with Td and T1D. We performed a randomized placebo-controlled multicenter study.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

a) age ≥ 18 years; b) autoimmune diabetes; c) Td (total testosterone <10 nmol/L or calculated free testosterone <225 pmol/L and low/normal LH; d) ability to sign informed consent; e) comply with the study protocol.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

a) pituitary tumor, empty sella, hyperprolactinemia, panhypopituitarism or secondary hypogonadism; b) contraindications for treatment with testosterone undecanoate (TU); c) patients who did not agree to sign their informed consent. Six patients were randomly assigned to testosterone undecanoate (TU) treatment and 7 to placebo with the following dosing schedule: baseline, 6 weeks and 16 weeks. Blood test, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure and insulin sensitivity were determined at baseline, 6, 16 and 22 weeks. No differences were observed regarding insulin sensitivity, HbA_1c or basal glucose, anthropometric parameters or blood pressure. At 22 weeks, the decrease in total cholesterol was 37.4 ± 27.5 mg/dL in the TU group compared with an increase of 13.2 ± 17.8 mg/dL in the placebo group (P<0.005), and LDL cholesterol concentration decreased 30.2 ± 22.1 mg/dL, compared with an increase of 10.5 ± 13.4 mg/dL in the placebo group (P=0.004). We conclude that treatment with TU in patients with T1D and Td improves lipid profile, with no effects on metabolic control or anthropometric parameters.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, association with cardiovascular disease and treatment. (I). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with cardiovascular disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises a series of histologically lesions similar to those induced by alcohol consumption in people with very little or no liver damage. The importance of NAFLD is its high prevalence in the Western world and, from the point of view of the liver, in its gradual progression from steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. During the last decade it has been observed that NAFLD leads to an increased cardiovascular risk with acceleration of arteriosclerosis and events related to it, being the main cause of its morbidity and mortality. This review, updated to January 2016, consists of two parts, with the first part analysing the association of NAFLD with cardiovascular disease.

Synovial fluid adipokines are associated with clinical severity in knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study in female patients with joint effusion

BACKGROUND

Adipokines are related to knee osteoarthritis, but their exact role is not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between adipokines in synovial fluid and clinical severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis with joint effusion.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with systematic inclusion of female patients with symptomatic primary knee osteoarthritis with ultrasound-confirmed joint effusion. Age, physical exercise, knee osteoarthritis symptoms duration, classical cardiovascular risk factors and different anthropometric measurements were collected. Metabolic syndrome was defined in accordance to National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. Radiographic severity was evaluated according to Kellgren-Lawrence scale and Lequesne index was used to assess clinical severity. Seven adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, osteopontin, omentin and chemerin) and three inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in synovial fluid.

RESULTS

Kellgren-Lawrence grade, physical exercise, all anthropometric measurements (especially waist circumference), tumor necrosis factor α, and high levels of leptin, resistin, and ostepontin were related to knee osteoarthritis severity. After adjustment for clinical confounders (age, symptom duration, and radiology), anthropometric measurements, inflammatory markers, and all evaluated adipokines, there were independent associations with clinical severity for resistin (directly associated) and visfatin (inversely associated). No other adipokines or inflammatory markers were independently associated with Lequesne index. The association of radiological parameters, physical exercise, and waist circumference with Lequesne index remained after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

Resistin was directly associated, and visfatin was inversely associated, with clinical severity in female patients with knee osteoarthritis with joint effusion. These associations were more important after adjustment for confounders, especially when all adipokines were evaluated.