Optimal resources for the care of patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary heart disease. Coronary Heart Disease Study Group.
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Heart disease continues to be a major cause of disablement and death in Canada. Elevated serum cholesterol concentrations, hypertension and cigarette smoking are among the standard risk factors associated with ischemic heart disease. Research attention has also been directed at the role of behavioural factors in the development of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Experimental findings support a conceptual approach to the interplay of psychologic stress, the type A "coronary"-prone behaviour pattern and pathophysiologic mechanisms that have been implicated in the development of coronary artery disease. It is concluded that type A behaviour and stress contribute substantially to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, assessment of the manner in which these two variables influence the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease requires further research, with systematic examination of physiologic and biochemical processes. Potential strategies for modifying type A behaviour are reviewed. However, unequivocal support for the preventive efficacy of behavioural approaches must await future research.
Cardiac catheterisation and coronary angiography were performed in 100 patients preceding a planned renal transplantation. Coronary heart disease was revealed in 64 patients: stenoses of 50-70% in 28, 71-90% in 16, over 90% in 20 patients. For stenoses above 50% the sensitivity of clinical symptoms was 0.52, their specificity 0.64. For stenoses over 70% the specificity was 0.58; over 90% it was 0.70. Typical symptoms of angina were less common in dialysis patients with coronary heart disease than is usual in other patients with coronary heart disease. Total duration of dialysis as well as frequency and severity of coronary heart disease did not correlate. In 19 of the 100 patients valvar disease was also present, with a discrepancy between the severity of clinical and of hemodynamic findings. Incidence and severity of valvar disease increased with the duration of dialysis. Transplantation was postponed in 11 patients (bypass operation in 3, balloon dilatation in 2, valve replacement in 6). Transplantation was advised against in four (severe coronary heart disease in 2, cardiomyopathy in 2).
Heart disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in Western society and the incidence is projected to increase significantly over the next few decades as our population ages. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate to commensurate with tissue metabolic requirements and represents the end stage of a variety of pathological conditions. Causes of heart failure include ischemia, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Hypertension and ischemia both cause infarction with loss of function and a consequent contractile deficit that promotes ventricular remodeling. Remodeling results in dramatic alterations in the size, shape, and composition of the walls and chambers of the heart and can have both positive and negative effects on function. In 30-40% of patients with heart failure, left ventricular systolic function is relatively unaffected while diastolic dysfunction predominates. Recent progress in our understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of heart disease has provided new therapeutic targets and led to novel approaches including the delivery of proteins, genes, and cells to replace defective or deficient components and restore function to the diseased heart. This review focuses on three such strategies that are currently under development: (a) gene transfer to modulate contractility, (b) therapeutic angiogenesis for the treatment of ischemia, and (c) embryonic and adult stem cell transfer to replace damaged myocardium.
Improvements in the identification and control of hypertension have helped define populations at risk for hypertension and delineated the role of hypertension as a risk factor in ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Epidemiologic data document the high prevalence of hypertension among the elderly and black populations. Beginning in the 1970s, a new perspective on the identification and treatment of hypertension began to emerge with greater emphasis on blood pressure control, particularly among these high-risk groups. By the early 1990s, most hypertensive individuals were being treated and blood pressure was under control in 55% of hypertensive persons overall. Although the importance of elevated diastolic pressure has traditionally been emphasized, in recent years the clinical implications of isolated systolic hypertension and the benefit of treating elevated systolic pressure have been recognized. Coronary heart disease is associated with definite hypertension (> or =160/95); however, the presence of other risk factors such as elevated plasma levels of cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and diabetes mellitus create a synergy with even mild hypertension (140-159/90-94 mm Hg) to increase coronary risk. A different situation is present for cardiac failure. Data from the Framingham Heart Study demonstrate that hypertension, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular hypertrophy, and valvular heart disease were associated with an increased relative risk for cardiac failure. The relative risk for cardiac failure was greatest for persons with a previous myocardial infarction, and hypertension and previously diagnosed coronary heart disease were important precursors of cardiac failure.
Heart disease exacts a tremendous toll each year in mortality and health care expenditures. Although physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, the population remains inactive. The importance of physical activity in risk and health care cost reduction is discussed.
We performed combined operation for patients who have both ischemic heart disease and valvular heart disease in 21 cases from January 1991 to October 1999. This operation was 3.1% of 682 cases of coronary artery bypass grafting and 5.0% of 416 cases of operation for valvular heart disease during that period. The mean age of these patients was 67.9 +/- 9.1 years. The average number of grafts in the coronary artery bypass grafting was 1.5 +/- 0.6. Aortic valve replacement was performed in 6 cases, mitral valve replacement in 10 cases and mitral valve plasty in 5 cases. Together with this combined operation, ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement was done in 1 case and abdominal aortic replacement in 2 cases. Three patients died due to postoperative aortic rupture, cerebral infarction or excessive surgical intervention in ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement. Combined operation for ischemic heart diseases and valvular heart diseases can safely performed, but it appears necessary to pay attention to arteriosclerotic lesions.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between physical activity and a wide range of risk factors for ischaemic heart disease including fibrinogen concentration and viscosity. DESIGN: Cross sectional evidence from the 2398 men aged 50-64 years in the Caerphilly Prospective Heart Disease Study. METHODS: Validated questionnaires were used to quantify energy expenditure on leisure activities and to grade activities related to occupation. Risk factors for heart disease examined included blood pressure, lipids, fibrinogen, and plasma viscosity. Possible confounding variables included smoking, employment, and prevalent heart disease (angina, previous myocardial infarction, and electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia). RESULTS: Fibrinogen concentration was lower by 0.24 g/l and viscosity by 0.026 cP in the third of men who were most active in leisure activities (about 0.25 x 1 SD). A weak positive relation was found with high density lipoprotein cholesterol, but none with total cholesterol or fasting glucose concentrations or blood pressure. Triglyceride concentrations seem to be substantially lower in the most active men, although the evidence for this is not consistent. Work related activity showed relation with the lipid concentration but not with the haemostatic tests. CONCLUSIONS: Leisure activities of all levels seem to affect haemostatic and lipid factors beneficially. These effects correspond to a difference in the risk of heart disease for an active man and a sedentary man of at least 7% or 8%. Fasting triglyceride concentrations have already been shown to be strongly predictive of heart disease in this cohort of men, and the effect of exercise on this factor is also likely to confer benefit.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of volunteer women with established heart disease who have low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at or below the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel goals and to determine what factors are associated with levels above goal or not receiving lipid-lowering medication when indicated. DESIGN: Cross-sectional measurement of lipids and lipoproteins, blood pressure, height, weight, and other demographic and cardiovascular risk factors in 2763 postmenopausal women with heart disease. SETTING: At 18 centers throughout the United States, participants were recruited by means of lists of women with coronary heart disease from coronary units and catheterization laboratories, direct mail to age-eligible women, and advertisements. PATIENTS: Mean age of the cohort was 66.7 years (range, 44-79 years) and the distribution by race/ethnicity was 88.7% white, 7.9% African American, 2.0% Hispanic/Latina, 0.8% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 0.7% other. INTERVENTION: We report cross-sectional analysis of the cohort at baseline. OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured the frequency of achieving 1988 and 1993 Adult Treatment Panel treatment goals, and of being on a regimen of lipid-lowering medication. RESULTS: Although 47% of participants were taking a lipid-lowering medication, 63% did not meet the 1988 treatment goal of LDL-C level less than 3.4 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) and 91% did not meet the 1993 goal of LDL-C level less than 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL). Factors independently associated with achieving the earlier goal were use of lipid-lowering medication, marital status, education, body mass index, exercise, hypertension, diabetes, gallbladder disease, and first diagnosis of coronary heart disease after 1990. Failure to use lipid-lowering medication was associated with age, being African American, marital status, body mass index, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, current smoking, and first diagnosis of coronary heart disease before 1985. CONCLUSION: The majority of women enrolled in the trial had LDL-C levels that significantly exceeded the treatment goals set by the 1988 and 1993 Adult Treatment Panel guidelines. Better implementation of these guidelines among women with coronary disease would be highly desirable.
This study examined possible selective impairment of endothelial dysfunction in the peripheral vascular bed in patients with chronic heart failure in the absence of confounding factors influencing endothelial function (i.e. hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes mellitus). Several recent studies have suggested that endothelium-dependent peripheral vasodilation is impaired but endothelium-independent vasodilation is preserved in patients with chronic heart failure. However, a classical paper has demonstrated that sodium nitrite-mediated calf blood flow is clearly depressed in patients with valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy. We examined forearm blood flow changes mediated by acetylcholine and nitroprusside in patients with valvular heart disease (n = 55) or congenital heart disease (n = 13), and a comparison was made with healthy volunteers (n = 21). The blood flow changes mediated by acetylcholine and nitroprusside were significantly impaired in both patient groups (P < 0.01). When blood flow responses were collected from all patients, two types of vasodilatory capacity were found to have decreased significantly with increasing clinical severity of heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class; P < 0.01). This suggests that the peripheral vasodilatory responses mediated by endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilators are significantly impaired in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure due to non-ischaemic heart disease.
BACKGROUND: Risk factors for coronary heart disease events have most commonly been evaluated in healthy men. OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors, event rates, and use of secondary prevention treatments in women with preexisting coronary disease. DESIGN: A prospective cohort of clinical trial participants. SETTING: 20 U.S. clinical centers. PARTICIPANTS: 2763 postmenopausal women with known coronary disease in the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS). MEASUREMENTS: Myocardial infarction or death from coronary heart disease. RESULTS: On multivariable analysis, the researchers found 11 risk factors: 6 noted by history (nonwhite ethnicity, lack of exercise, treated diabetes, angina, congestive heart failure, and more than one previous myocardial infarction) and 5 that were measured (blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, lipoprotein(a) level, and creatinine clearance). The annual rate of coronary events was 1.3% (95% CI, 0.7% to 2.5%) in women with no risk factors and 8.7% (CI, 7.1% to 10.8%) in women with five or more risk factors (a sixfold increase). At entry into HERS, 83% of participants were receiving aspirin or other antiplatelet agents, 33% were receiving beta-blockers, 18% were receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and 53% were receiving lipid-lowering drugs. Women with more risk factors were less likely to be taking aspirin (P < 0.001) and lipid-lowering drugs (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Women with coronary disease are at high risk for myocardial infarction or death from coronary heart disease even in the absence of other risk factors, and their risk increases up to sixfold when many risk factors are present. Established drugs for secondary prevention, including aspirin, beta-blockers, and lipid-lowering agents, are underused in these women, especially those at highest risk.
Heart disease can affect anyone at any time, and pregnant women are not exceptions. Some type of cardiac pathologic disease can be seen in 1% to 2% of all pregnant women. Because of the high fetal mortality rate and the high relative rate of maternal mortality in surgery, medical management is the first line of treatment. Nevertheless, when medical treatment fails, cardiac surgery may be necessary. Here we present such a case of cardiac valvular disease complicated by pregnancy. Current decision-making, treatment, and trends are reviewed.
Heart disease is encountered in nearly 1% of pregnancies, and the incidence is increasing. This is likely due to advances in cardiac management over the past 25 years, particularly advances in cardiac surgery and drugs, which have allowed more women with congenital and other abnormalities not only to survive to reach the age of child-bearing but also to carry a pregnancy to term successfully. Cardiac diseases of particular importance include stenotic valvular lesions, cyanotic disorders, and lesions accompanied by pulmonary hypertension. These abnormalities are associated with increased fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality, and therefore require very close monitoring during pregnancy. The physician also should be familiar with the more common cardiac disorders seen in pregnancy, be familiar with cardiovascular drugs and their potential effects on the pregnant patient and fetus, and be aware of cardiac disorders which are relative and absolute contraindications to pregnancy due to high rates of maternal mortality.
Records of 326 patients were analysed to determine the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) and to identify the group in whom coronary arteriography is essential. Significant CHD (60% or more luminal narrowing) was found in 7 per cent of cases, and its prevalence was 3 per cent in mitral, 10 per cent in aortic, and 6 per cent in combined mitral and aortic valve disease. Angina was present in 14 per cent of patients with mitral, 39 per cent with aortic, and 21 per cent with combined mitral and aortic valve disease. Seventy-three per cent of patients with CHD had angina whereas only 19 per cent with angina had CHD. The prevalence of CHD was higher in patients above 50 years (13%) and in males (98%) as compared to those below 50 years (3%) and females (none). We conclude that the prevalence of CHD is low in our patients with VHD. Routine coronary arteriography is recommended only in males over the age of 50 years.
Heart involvement is usually the cause of death in patients with carcinoid syndrome, who may survive a long time even after the disease has entered an advanced stage. For this reason, carcinoid heart disease patients have undergone surgical replacement of affected valves. Two of our patients were not good candidates for surgery, due to the extent of hepatic metastasis. Alternatively, we performed percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty on both the tricuspid and pulmonary valves in both patients. To our knowledge, there has been only 1 previous report of successful tricuspid valvuloplasty in a case of carcinoid heart disease, and this did not involve concomitant pulmonary valvuloplasty. Before the procedure, both of our patients had low cardiac output with restriction in the right ventricle, pulmonary and tricuspid stenosis, and moderate tricuspid regurgitation. In the 1st patient, valvuloplasty reduced tricuspid and pulmonary gradients without change in cardiac output. This patient experienced initial clinical improvement but died 8 months after the procedure, of portal hypertension and extensive hepatic metastasis. The 2nd patient showed notably diminished gradients and a very significant increase in cardiac output. She advanced from New York Heart Association functional class IV to class I, and is now maintained with diuretic therapy. In our judgment, balloon valvuloplasty is a sound alternative to surgery for patients with carcinoid heart disease, especially when stenosis is the dominant symptom. Valvuloplasty is contraindicated in cases of severe tricuspid regurgitation.