[Risk factor control, lifestyle intervention, and prescribed medication in a cohort of patients with ischemic heart disease]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the recommended prevention measures in our health area for patients discharged after a myocardial infarction.

METHODS

This was a retrospective descriptive study that selected patients with acute coronary syndrome in our health area in the previous calendar year. Control of the risk factors observed at the time of the coronary event and at 1 year and medication prescribed 1 year after the episode were studied. Variables including age, sex, control of dyslipidemia, hypertension or diabetes mellitus, adherence to treatment and lifestyle habits were analyzed.

RESULTS

Risk factor control was insufficient and sometimes even unassessed at the time of infarction. Although a slight improvement was perceived, control remained insufficient 1 year later. Moreover, patients, particularly women, were undertreated: one fifth (20%) more men were receiving appropriate treatment than women year after the myocardial event.

CONCLUSIONS

An additional effort must be made compared to what is currently being done, both by specialists in Hospital Care and Primary Care, to carry out good control of risk factors, meaning the control of certain diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or dyslipidemia, as well as habits or lifestyles that increase the probability of suffering a cardiovascular event. Furthermore, it is important to avoid these cardiovascular diseases and their relapse to reinforce adherence to the prescribed treatments.

Risk factors for mortality in post-myocardial infarction patients: insights from the improve SCA bridge study

BACKGROUND

Underutilization of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients remains an issue across several geographies. A better understanding of risk factors for SCD in post-MI patients from regions with low ICD adoption rates will help identify those who will benefit from an ICD. This analysis assessed risk factors for all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality in post-MI patients from the Improve Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Bridge Trial.

RESULTS

For the entire cohort, the overall 1-year mortality rate was 5.9% (88/1491) and 3.4% (51/1491) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, with 76.5% of all cardiac deaths being from SCD. A multivariate model determined increased age, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), increased time from myocardial infarction to hospital admission, being female, being from Southeast Asia (SEA), and having coronary artery disease to be significant risk factors for all-cause mortality. The risk factors for cardiovascular-related mortality revealed increased age, reduced LVEF, and being from SEA as significant risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

We show several characteristics as being predictors of cardiovascular-related mortality in post-MI patients from the Improve SCA Bridge study. Patients who experience an MI and present with these characteristics would benefit from a referral to an electrophysiologist for further SCD risk stratification and management and possible subsequent ICD implantation to reduce unnecessary death.

Multi-state analysis of hypertension and mortality: application of semi-Markov model in a longitudinal cohort study

Background

Most previous research has studied the association of hypertension with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality by focusing on the transition from the initial state to a single outcome. We investigated the impact of hypertension, defined according to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) (new) and the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC7) (old), on CVD death and all-cause mortality considering non-fatal CVD as an intermediate event between two CVD-free and mortality states.

Methods

A total of 3002 Iranian population (47.4% men), aged ≥50 years were followed from 1999 to 2014. Two multi-state semi-Markov models with three transitions were defined for CVD death and all-cause mortality as two outcomes. The multivariable Cox model was used to estimate the effect of hypertension on transition hazards. The mean of 15-year life expectancy of participants in each transition was estimated using the restricted mean survival time.

Results

The ACC/AHA guideline increased the prevalence of hypertension from 43.3 to 68.6%. Among CVD-free individuals, hypertension was significantly associated with increased risk of non-fatal CVD [Hazard Ratio, 1.52 (1.28–1.81) and 1.48 (1.21–1.80)], CVD death [2.96 (2.06–4.25) and 1.98 (1.30–3.04)] and all-cause mortality [1.64 (1.32–2.05) and 1.31 (1.01–1.69)] according the old and new guidelines, respectively. However, after incident non-fatal CVD, the association between hypertension and mortality events was not significant according to both definitions. Hypertensive participants experienced a first non-fatal CVD about 0.9 and 0.6 years earlier than normotensive population according to JNC7 and the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, respectively.

Conclusion

Hypertension, according to JNC7 and the ACC/AHA guidelines, significantly increased the risk of mortality events among CVD-free population although the risk was attenuated using ACC/AHA guideline. Hypertension also decreased the number of years lived without CVD and early onset of CVD, and consequently, an increase in the time spent with these diseases. After non-fatal CVD, hypertension had no significant impact on mortality risk according to both guidelines.

Educational level and risk profile and risk control in patients with coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to ascertain way in which conventional risk factors, readiness to modify behaviour and to comply with recommended medication, and the effect of this medication were associated with education in patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

The EUROASPIRE IV (EUROpean Action on Secondary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events) study was a cross-sectional survey undertaken in 24 European countries to ascertain how recommendations on secondary CHD prevention are being followed in clinical practice. Consecutive patients, men and women ≤80 years of age who had been hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome or revascularization procedure, were identified retrospectively. Data were collected through an interview with examinations at least six months and no later than three years after hospitalization.

RESULTS

A total of 7937 patients (1934 (24.37%) women) were evaluated. Patients with primary education were older, with a larger proportion of women. Control of risk factors, as defined by Joint European Societies 4 and 5 guidelines, was significantly better with higher education for current smoking (p = 0.001), overweight and obesity (p = 0.047 and p = 0.029, respectively), low physical activity (p < 0.001) and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (p = 0.011) in men, and for obesity (p = 0.005), high blood pressure (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001), low physical activity (p = 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.001) and low HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.023) in women. Patients with primary and secondary education were more often treated with diuretics and antidiabetic drugs. Better control of hypertension was achieved in patients with higher education.

CONCLUSION

Particular risk communication and control are needed in secondary CHD prevention for patients with lower educational status.

Marital status shows a strong protective effect on long-term mortality among first acute myocardial infarction-survivors with diagnosed hyperlipidemia--findings from the MONICA/KORA myocardial infarction registry

BACKGROUND

Reduction of long term mortality by marital status is well established in general populations. However, effects have been shown to change over time and differ considerably by cause of death. This study examined the effects of marital status on long term mortality after the first acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

Data were retrieved from the population-based MONICA (Monitoring trends and determinants on cardiovascular diseases)/KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg)-myocardial infarction registry which assesses cases from the city of Augsburg and 2 adjacent districts located in southern Bavaria, Germany. A total of 3,766 men and women aged 28 to 74 years who were alive 28 days after their first myocardial infarction were included. Hazard ratios (HR) for the effects of marital status on mortality after one to 10 years of follow-up are presented.

RESULTS

The study population included 2,854 (75.8%) married individuals. During a median follow-up of 5.3 years, with an inter-quartile range of 3.3 to 7.6 years, 533 (14.15%) deaths occurred. Among married and unmarried individuals 388 (13.6%) and 145 (15.9%) deaths occurred, respectively. Overall marital status showed an insignificant protective HR of 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-1.22). Stratified analyses revealed strong protective effects only among men and women younger than 60 who were diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. HRs ranged from 0.27 (95% CI 0.13-0.59) for a two-year survival to 0.43 (95% CI 0.27-0.68) for a 10-year survival. Substitution of marital status with co-habitation status confirmed the strata-specific effect [HR: 0.52 (95% CI 0.31-0.86)].

CONCLUSIONS

Marital status has a strong protective effect among first myocardial infarction survivors with diagnosed hyperlipidemia, which diminishes with increasing age. Treatments, recommended lifestyle changes or other attributes specific to hyperlipidema may be underlying factors, mediated by the social support of spouses. Underlying causes should be examined in further studies.