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European best practice guidelines for renal transplantation. Section IV: Long-term management of the transplant recipient. IV.5.1. Cardiovascular risks. Cardiovascular disease after renal transplantation.

GUIDELINES: A. Post-transplant cardiovascular disease is very common, an important cause of morbidity and the first cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients. Therefore, detection and early treatment of post-transplant cardiovascular disease are mandatory. B. Specific risk factors for developing post-transplant cardiovascular disease include pre-transplant cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension, uraemia (graft dysfunction), hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking and immunosuppressive treatment. These factors should be targeted for intervention. C. Pre-transplant cardiovascular disease is a major risk factor for post-transplant cardiovascular disease. Therefore, prior to transplantation, it is mandatory to detect and treat symptomatic coronary artery disease, heart failure due to valvular failure or cardiomyopathy, and pericardial constriction. This policy should also be followed in asymptomatic diabetic patients.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Cardiovascular risk stratification and cardiovascular risk factors associated with erectile dysfunction: assessing cardiovascular risk in men with erectile dysfunction.

Cardiovascular risk factors are known to be associated with the presence of erectile dysfunction (ED), and ED is more common in men with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Princeton Guidelines provide a strategy for assessing cardiac risk and planning a safe return to sexual activity. Men at low risk, who have fewer than three cardiac risk factors, can resume intercourse with very little concern for an untoward cardiac event. Men at high risk need to have their primary disease controlled, and should be stabilized before planning to resume sexual activity. Prior to resuming intercourse, men in the indeterminate category are candidates for restratification as either low or high risk. Certain cardiovascular risk factors may be predictors of ED: most notably, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Advancing age is also a strong predictor of ED. The close correlation between ED and CVD is a signal to evaluate the sexual histories of all men who present for cardiovascular evaluation and, perhaps, of all men in general. Early detection of ED may allow for early diagnosis and management of CVD and diabetes.

Aging↗

[Association between clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and the risk of cardiovascular disease].

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality in Spain. The aim of this work was to study the association between clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and the risk of suffering major cardiovascular events: ischemic cardiopathy, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral arteriopathy of the lower limbs. METHOD: A descriptive transversal study was carried out in a city health centre, with a total of 2248 patients selected by simple random sampling of the clinical records with a mean age of 15 years. The data were obtained by examining the clinical records and estimating Odds Ratios (OR) for any cardiovascular event (n = 224), ischemic cardiopathy (n = 123), cerebrovascular disease (n = 84) and peripheral arteriopathy (n = 55) in relation to the number of cardiovascular risk factors. The cardiovascular risk factors included in the study were smoking, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes and obesity. The OR was adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4-6 cardiovascular risk factors was 39.1, 32.8, 17.5, 6.9 and 3.7 respectively. The OR for experiencing a cardiovascular event associated to 1, 2, 3 and 4-6 cardiovascular risk factors was 1.6 (CI95%: 0.9-2.7), 2.8 (CI95%: 1.7-4.7), 3.6 (CI95%: 1.9-6.5) and 5.6 (CI95%: 2.9-10.8), respectively. The OR for ischemic cardiopathy associated to the same risk levels were 2.3 (CI95%: 1.1-4.6), 2.5 (CI95%: 1.2-5.2), 5.3 (CI95%: 2.4-11.5) and 6.2 (CI95%: 2.7-14.3), respectively. For cardiovascular disease, the OR were 1.1 (CI95%: 0.5-2.5), 2.3 (CI95%: 1.2-5.3), 2.4 (CI95%: 1.0-5.9) and 5.6 (CI95%: 2.2-14.1), respectively. The OR for peripheral arteriopathy were 2.1 (CI95%: 0.8-5.9), 3.7 (CI95%: 1.3-10.5), 3.3 (CI95%: 1.0-11.1) and 6.1 (CI95%: 1.8-20.3), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of cardiovascular risk factors is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This finding emphasises the need for prevention of cardiovascular risk factors in primary care.

Adolescent↗

Diet and exercise are equally effective in reducing risk for cardiovascular disease. Results of a randomized controlled study in men with slightly to moderately raised cardiovascular risk factors.

To study the impact of diet and exercise and the combination thereof on cardiovascular risk factors, 157 healthy men aged 35-60 years (mean +/- S.D.; 46.2 +/- 5.0) with slightly to moderately raised cardiovascular risk factors, were randomized to 4 groups, diet (D, n = 40), exercise (E, n = 39), diet plus exercise (DE, n = 39), and no active intervention (controls (C, n = 39)), and investigated at baseline and after 6 months. BMI was significantly reduced in Groups E and DE (mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CI), -0.3 (-0.5, -0.01) and -0.6 (-0.9, -0.3) kg/m2, respectively). Waist circumference was reduced in all 3 intervention groups (D, E, and DE), -1.3 (-2.5, -0.1), -2.2 (-3.2, -1.3) and -3.0 (-3.9, -2.0) cm, but not in the control group. Blood pressure (BP) was reduced in all 3 intervention groups, systolic BP 4-7 mmHg and diastolic BP 2-6 mmHg. Serum cholesterol was reduced in Group DE, -0.45 (-0.77, -0.13) mmol/l. VLDL-cholesterol was reduced in Groups E and DE, -0.14 (-0.26, -0.03) and -0.09 (-0.18, -0.01) mmol/l, whereas LDL-cholesterol was reduced in Groups D and DE -0.30 (-0.54, -0.06) and -0.35 (-0.64, -0.05) mmol/l. In contrast, neither HDL-cholesterol nor serum triglycerides were influenced by the interventions. According to the coronary risk profile derived from the Framingham study, all 3 intervention groups (D, E, and DE) significantly reduced their estimated 10-year risk (-13, -12, and -14%, respectively). We conclude that even with rather moderate changes in diet and exercise, several important cardiovascular risk factors can be affected and that diet and exercise were about equally effective in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Adult↗

C-reactive protein: a nontraditional serum marker of cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is multifactorial in etiology. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as increased cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure, are used to assess CVD risk. Recently, better understanding of the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis has prompted many to propose the measurement of various inflammatory markers to better identify those who are at increased risk. C-reactive protein (CRP) is found in endothelial atherosclerotic lesions, and evidence suggests that it may play a role in atherogenesis. Of candidate serum markers that might add information to clinical risk assessment, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurement has the most potential for clinical use for multiple reasons: (a) high hsCRP is associated with a twofold to a threefold increase in the prevalence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, and it predicts incident cardiovascular events in those with and without preexisting CVD; (b) the increased risk associated with high hsCRP is independent of other established risk factors; (c) hsCRP augments the predictive capacity of the Framingham Risk Score; (d) hsCRP assays are standardized, and this analyte is biologically stable over time; (e) various risk-reducing interventions also reduce hsCRP, and research is underway to assess whether specifically targeting hsCRP reduces CVD risk. National guidelines regarding the clinical utility of hsCRP in primary and secondary prevention settings have been recently issued.

Biomarkers↗

Erectile dysfunction, sildenafil and cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular risk factors are commonly associated with erectile dysfunction and should be identified and treated. Patients with cardiovascular diseases should be assessed and counselled regarding their fitness for sexual activity. The danger of concurrent use of sildenafil and nitrates under any circumstances, regardless of age and sex, must be highlighted at all levels of the community. Sildenafil is absolutely contraindicated in patients receiving treatment with long-acting nitrates for ischaemic heart disease. Patients who need sublingual short-acting nitrates infrequently should not be precluded from taking sildenafil, provided they are aware that sildenafil is not to be taken within 24 h of taking the nitrate.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Serotonergic mechanisms: a potential link between affective disorders and cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular disease and major depression are highly prevalent disorders in our society. Evidence has been found that confirms a reciprocal relationship between mechanisms of depression and those of cardiovascular pathology. This possible feedback between both pathologies is a subject of great concern. In recent years some studies suggest that platelets and serotonergic mechanisms could be involved in both conditions. The present review seeks a better understanding of the mechanisms that could link depression with an enhanced cardiovascular risk.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Serotonergic mechanisms: a potential link between affective disorders and cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular disease and major depression are highly prevalent disorders in our society. Evidence has been found that confirms a reciprocal relationship between mechanisms of depression and those of cardiovascular pathology. This possible feedback between both pathologies is a subject of great concern. In recent years some studies suggest that platelets and serotonergic mechanisms could be involved in both conditions. The present review seeks a better understanding of the mechanisms that could link depression with an enhanced cardiovascular risk.

Journal Article↗

[Comparison of the SCORE and REGICOR models for calculating cardiovascular risk in cardiovascular disease-free individuals at a healthcare center in Barcelona, Spain].

BACKGROUND: No studies have been published to date comparing SCORE, REGICOR and Framingham models. This study is aimed at analyzing how the REGICOR and SCORE functions classify cardiovascular risk, their correlation and concordance with Framingham (1998) and whether any differences exist among them with regard to the cardiovascular risk factors in high-risk groups. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in primary care. A total of 851 individuals within the 35-74 age range, free of cardiovascular diseases and selected by simple random sampling were included. A study was made of the percentage of high-risk patients with Framingham (> or = 20% ten-year risk), SCORE (> or = 5% ten-year risk) and REGICOR with cutoff points > or = 20%, > or = 15%, > or = 10% and > or = 5% at 10 years, given that with REGICOR > or = 20% there are hardly any high-risk cases. A comparison was drawn between the correlation (Pearson's r) and concordance (Kappa index) of the REGICOR and SCORE high-risk individuals as compared to Framingham. RESULTS: The high-risk percentages respectively found were: 23.3% with Framingham; 15.2%; with SCORE; and 1.4%, 5.8%, 17.6% and 57.0% with REGICOR with the cutoff points described. REGICOR has a 0.99 correlation, SCORE a 0.78 correlation. REGICOR > or = 10% showed a better concordance (Kappa 0.83) than SCORE (Kappa 0.61). On comparing the cardiovascular risk factors of the high-risk cases (> or = 20% Framingham, > or = 5% SCORE and > or = 10% REGICOR), SCORE showed higher prevalence of diabetes and a lower prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: REGICOR showed a good correlation with Framingham. With the > or = 10% cutoff point, it classifies a number of individuals as high-risk similar to SCORE and fewer than Framingham. The SCORE model would treat a number of patients similar to the REGICOR > or =10% model with hypolipemiant drugs, however showing lesser evidence of effectiveness of the treatment.

Adult↗

Clinicians can help their patients control postprandial hyperglycemia as a means of reducing cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes. Having diabetes is now recognized as conferring the same risk for cardiovascular disease as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and smoking. HbA1c levels are the primary indicator of diabetes control and overall glycemic exposure. And recent research has pointed to postprandial hyperglycemia as conferring a greater risk of cardiovascular disease than elevated fasting plasma glucose levels. Unfortunately, clinicians sometimes forget that elevated HbA1c levels can arise from both fasting hyperglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia. This is particularly important to remember when treating patients whose HbA1c levels may be higher than the desired target while fasting plasma glucose test results are within reference range. This article reviews the evidence supporting the view that postprandial hyperglycemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and therefore should be controlled. Case studies are presented to aid clinicians in helping patients learn how to measure and control their postprandial glucose levels.

Aged↗

Low ankle-brachial pressure index predicts increased risk of cardiovascular disease independent of the metabolic syndrome and conventional cardiovascular risk factors in the Edinburgh Artery Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a low ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) predicts increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of the metabolic syndrome and conventional cardiovascular risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Edinburgh Artery Study is a population-based cohort study in which subjects were followed up until their death or for approximately 15 years. Low ABI at baseline was defined as <0.9; subjects with ABI >1.4 (n = 13) were excluded from the analyses. We used a modified version of the definition of the metabolic syndrome published in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults, replacing waist circumference criteria with BMI criteria. Data on relevant parameters were available for 1,467 men and women ages 55-74 years at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were used to study cardiovascular morbidity and mortality before and after adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: We determined that 25% of the study population had the metabolic syndrome and that a low ABI was more prevalent among people with than without the metabolic syndrome (24 vs. 15%; P < 0.001). During the follow-up period, there were 226 deaths from CVD and 462 nonfatal cardiovascular events. The hazard ratio (95% CI) for low ABI after adjusting for age, sex, baseline CVD, diabetes, smoking status, LDL cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome was 1.5 (1.1-2.1) for CVD mortality and 1.5 (1.2-1.8) for all CVD outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Low ABI is associated with increased risk of CVD independent of the metabolic syndrome and other major CVD risk factors.

Aged↗

Hyperglycaemia and cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular diseases represent, today, the principal cause of mortality in the general population, especially in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In these patients the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases is equal to that of non-diabetic subjects with a previous episode of myocardial infarction. Many factors concur to determine such high risk. Hyperglycaemia contributes to the increase in morbidity and cardiovascular mortality associated with diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycaemia acts as a multiplier of cardiovascular risk due to frequent association of multiple risk factors in diabetic patients. Therefore, effective treatment requires a more complete assessment of quantitative and qualitative aspects of glycemic control as well as all components of the diabetic syndrome or, more commonly, metabolic syndrome.

Biomarkers↗

Favorable cardiovascular risk profile in young women and long-term risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

CONTEXT: For women, impact of cardiovascular risk factors measured in young adulthood, particularly favorable (low-risk) profile, on mortality has been difficult to assess due to low short-term death rates. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of baseline coronary risk factor status to mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and all causes in young women. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 7302 women aged 18 to 39 years without prior CHD or major electrocardiographic abnormalities screened between 1967 and 1973 for the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry. Risk groups were defined using national guidelines for values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol level, body mass index, presence of diabetes, and smoking status. Participants were divided into 4 groups: low risk, 0 risk factors high but 1 or more unfavorable, 1 only risk factor high, and 2 or more risk factors high. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause mortality, CHD mortality, and CVD mortality; hazard ratio of outcome measures comparing low-risk group with other groups. RESULTS: Only 20% met low-risk criteria; 59% had high levels of 1 or more risk factors. During an average follow-up of 31 years, there were 47 CHD deaths, 94 CVD deaths, and 469 deaths from all causes. The age-adjusted CVD death rate per 10,000 person-years was lowest for low-risk women and increased with the number of risk factors, ie, 1.5, 1.7, 5.0, and 9.1 for low-risk; 0, 1, and 2 or more risk factors high, respectively. Multivariate-adjusted CVD mortality hazard ratio for low-risk women was 0.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.45) compared with women with 2 or more risk factors high. Similar patterns were observed for CHD and all-cause mortality and for both blacks and whites. CONCLUSION: For women with favorable levels for all 5 major risk factors at younger ages, CHD and CVD are rare; long-term and all-cause mortality are much lower compared with others.

Adult↗

Longitudinal changes in diet from childhood into adulthood with respect to risk of cardiovascular diseases: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess nutrient intakes relevant in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among young adults in Finland and to find past and present determinants of quality of diet. DESIGN: Prospective study, 21 years of follow-up. SETTING: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, Finland. SUBJECTS: At baseline in 1980: 3569 children aged 3-18 y participated (83% of those invited), and every second of them (1780) were selected to the dietary study. At follow-ups in 1986 and 2001: 1200 and 1037 of the original sample, respectively, participated. METHODS: Food consumption was assessed using 48-h dietary recall. Intakes in 2001 were compared with those obtained in 1980 and 1986. Nutrients selected for further examination were those implicated in the risk of CVD: saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and n-3 fatty acids, fibre and salt. An index describing the quality of adulthood diet was constructed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent childhood and adulthood determinants of the quality index. RESULTS: The average intakes showed substantial changes since 1980. Intakes of fat and saturated fat had decreased, while the consumption of vegetables and fruit had increased. However, a great disparity was present between the recommended levels and actual intakes for many of the nutrients, particularly salt, saturated fat and fibre. Intake of fat and consumption of vegetables in childhood and physical activity in adulthood were important health behavioural determinants of the cardiovascular quality of the adult diet. Socio-demographic factors, including education of the subject and their parents, had no significant associations with diet. CONCLUSIONS: While intakes of energy and nutrients have changed favourably in Finnish young adults between 1980 and 2001 with regard to the risk of CVD, they are still far from recommended levels. Childhood diet is a significant determinant of adult diet even after 21 y. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by the Academy of Finland (grant 77841) and Juho Vainio Foundation.

Adolescent↗

Long-term impact of a community pharmacist intervention on cholesterol levels in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events: extended follow-up of the second study of cardiovascular risk intervention by pharmacists (SCRIP-plus).

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a community pharmacist intervention in patients at high risk for coronary heart disease on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels 1 year after completion of the Second Study of Cardiovascular Risk Intervention by Pharmacists (SCRIP- plus ). METHODS: Patients who completed the original study were invited to make a single return visit to their community pharmacy so that the pharmacist could measure their fasting LDL level using a point-of-care device. The primary outcome was change in LDL level from the 6-month (final) visit to the extended follow-up evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 359 patients who completed the original 6-month visit, data were collected for 162 (45%) patients. The mean +/- SD LDL level at completion of the original study was 107.9 +/- 33.6 mg/dl (2.79 +/- 0.96 mmol/L) (an increase of 2.7 mg/dl [0.07 mmol/L], 95% confidence interval -19.3-7.3 [-0.5-0.19]). Sixty-one (38%) patients were at the target LDL level (< 96.7 mg/dl [< 2.50 mmol/L]). CONCLUSION: The LDL reduction was maintained 1 year after completion of the extended follow-up. Since most patients were still not at the target LDL level, this finding suggests that continuing intervention is necessary to help patients reach this target.

Aged↗

Individuals' cardiovascular risk profile projected by family doctors and individuals' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors: a challenge for primary prevention. The cardiovascular risk prevention project "Help Your Heart Stay Young".

BACKGROUND: Whether the practice of family doctors of assessing individuals' cardiovascular risk profile improves individuals' knowledge of risk factors in primary prevention has not been established. Accordingly, we evaluated patients' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle in healthy subjects whose family doctors provided individual cardiovascular risk score. METHODS: Subjects who visited their family doctor in a time frame of 3 months, who accepted to fill-in a simple questionnaire measuring their knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and of non-pharmacological interventions able to reduce cardiovascular risk were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-one family doctors were involved. The study sample comprised 4239 subjects (mean age 56 +/- 9 years, 62% women) in primary prevention. They were classified by their family doctors, based on the Framingham algorithm, as being at low (< 10%; 45.7% of subjects), medium (10-20%; 38.7% of subjects) or moderate-to-high (> 20%; 15.6% of subjects) cardiovascular risk. The prevalence of obese subjects (40, 48, and 49%, respectively) and of heavy smokers (> or = 20 cigarettes/day; 26, 30, and 34%) increased from the low to the moderate-to-high risk group (both p < 0.05). The proportion of subjects unaware of personal history of arterial hypertension (5, 6, and 9%) and that of subjects who were unaware of history of elevated cholesterol levels (10, 11, and 12%, both p < 0.01) increased with higher cardiovascular risk score. The proportion of subjects self-reporting blood pressure > 135/85 mmHg, but self-reporting being normotensive (30, 50, and 52%), and the proportion of subjects who referred cholesterol levels > 200 mg/dl among those who self-referred not to have elevated cholesterol levels (13, 25, and 31%) increased both with cardiovascular risk category (p < 0.001). The proportion of subjects who were unaware of their personal history of diabetes was similar in the cardiovascular risk groups. The prevalence of low educational level was higher (56, 58, and 62%, p < 0.01) and the level of knowledge of non-pharmacological remedies to cardiovascular risk factors (63, 61, and 59%, p < 0.01) was lower in higher cardiovascular risk score group. Subjects aged < 55 years showed similar lack of knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors and the proportion of heavy smoking was as high as in the group of older participants. CONCLUSIONS: In cardiovascular primary prevention, the projection of higher individuals' risk profile by family doctors was not paralleled by an increase in individual's knowledge of major cardiovascular risk factors and of lifestyle interventions able to reduce the cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗