scholarly journals Ceramide Scores Predict Cardiovascular Risk in the Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1558-1569
Author(s):  
Vlad C. Vasile ◽  
Jeffrey W. Meeusen ◽  
Jose R. Medina Inojosa ◽  
Leslie J. Donato ◽  
Christopher G. Scott ◽  
...  

Objective: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Ceramide scores have been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with established coronary artery disease. The prognostic value of ceramide score has not been assessed in the general population. We tested the hypothesis that ceramide scores are associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in a community-based cohort with average coronary artery disease burden at enrollment. Approach and results: In a prospective community-based cohort, we performed passive follow-up using a record linkage system to ascertain the composite outcome of MACE, defined as acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization (bypass grafting or percutaneous intervention), stroke, or death. Ceramides were analyzed as log-transformed continuous variables, ratios or scores, and quartiles with adjustment for confounders. We analyzed 1131 subjects, 52% females, mean age±(SD) 64±9 years. After a median follow-up of 13.3 years (Q1, 12.7; Q3, 14.4), 486 patients experienced a MACE: myocardial infarction (80), coronary artery bypass surgery (34), percutaneous coronary intervention (62), stroke (94), and all-cause death (362). Ceramide ratios were significantly associated with MACE independently of LDL-c (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and conventional coronary artery disease risk factors. Those in the highest quartile of ceramide score had nearly 1.5-fold risk of MACE, hazard ratio, 1.47 (95% CI, 1.12–1.92). There was a dose-response association across quartiles of ceramide ratios and MACE. Conclusions: Elevated ceramide score is a robust predictor of cardiovascular disease and MACE in the community. The risk conferred by the ceramide score has a dose-response behavior and is independent of conventional risk factors.

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140
Author(s):  
NS Neki

Coronary artery disease (CAD) - which includes coronary atherosclerotic disease, myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndrome and angina - is the most prevalent form of cardiovascular disease and is the largest subset of this mortality. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death of women and men  worldwide. CAD’s impact on women traditionally has been underappreciated due to higher rates at younger ages in men. Microvascular coronary disease disproportionately affects women. Women have unique risk factors for CAD, including those related to pregnancy and autoimmune disease.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v15i2.20687 J MEDICINE 2014; 15 : 135-140


Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley ◽  
Paul Poirier ◽  
Lora E. Burke ◽  
Jean-Pierre Després ◽  
Penny Gordon-Larsen ◽  
...  

The global obesity epidemic is well established, with increases in obesity prevalence for most countries since the 1980s. Obesity contributes directly to incident cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep disorders. Obesity also leads to the development of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease mortality independently of other cardiovascular risk factors. More recent data highlight abdominal obesity, as determined by waist circumference, as a cardiovascular disease risk marker that is independent of body mass index. There have also been significant advances in imaging modalities for characterizing body composition, including visceral adiposity. Studies that quantify fat depots, including ectopic fat, support excess visceral adiposity as an independent indicator of poor cardiovascular outcomes. Lifestyle modification and subsequent weight loss improve both metabolic syndrome and associated systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. However, clinical trials of medical weight loss have not demonstrated a reduction in coronary artery disease rates. In contrast, prospective studies comparing patients undergoing bariatric surgery with nonsurgical patients with obesity have shown reduced coronary artery disease risk with surgery. In this statement, we summarize the impact of obesity on the diagnosis, clinical management, and outcomes of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias, especially sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation. In particular, we examine the influence of obesity on noninvasive and invasive diagnostic procedures for coronary artery disease. Moreover, we review the impact of obesity on cardiac function and outcomes related to heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Finally, we describe the effects of lifestyle and surgical weight loss interventions on outcomes related to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S74
Author(s):  
L. J. Mengelkoch ◽  
M. L. Pollock ◽  
M. C. Limacher ◽  
J. E. Graves ◽  
D. T. Lowenthal ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Saluja ◽  
S Anderson ◽  
S Ali ◽  
N Abidin ◽  
N Hussain ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronary artery calcification (CAC) measured using ECG-triggered coronary computed tomography correlates strongly with overt cardiovascular disease risk. Evidence is emerging to suggest CAC measured on non-gated thoracic CT scans may also correlate with cardiovascular disease. Herein, we sought to ascertain the utility of Weston scoring (visual score for CAC) in predicting prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD) and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) for patients undergoing lung cancer screening or follow-up for interstitial lung disease with a non-triggered high-resolution CT (HRCT) thorax. Methods The Computerised Radiology Information Service (CRIS) database was manually searched to determine all HRCT scans performed in a single UK trust from 01/05/2016 to 01/05/2017 for the aforementioned indications. Radiology reports and images of selected studies were reviewed. For patients with evidence of CAC, we calculated the calcium score using the Agatston and Weston methods. Clinical events were determined from the electronic medical record without knowledge of patients' CAC findings. At baseline, significant CAC was defined as Agatston >400 and Weston >7. Results 2152 scans were analysed. Data at follow up was available for 100% of patients, with a median duration of follow up of 3.6 years. A history of CAD was reported by 8% (172) of subjects at baseline, who were subsequently excluded from analysis. Significant CAC was found in 450 (22.5%) and 650 (32.5%) by Weston and Agatston scores respectively, with a significant correlation between the two scores (r-0.71, p<0.01). During follow up 7.4% (160) of patients developed incident CVD. Patients with low Weston scores of ≤7 and Agatston scores of ≤400 had a lower incidence of CVD compared to those with Weston >7 and Agatston >400 (31 [19.3%] vs 129 [80.6%]; P=0.003 for Weston scores; 37 [23.1%] vs 123 [76.9%] for Agatston scores; P<0.001). Conclusion In this retrospective study of patients with respiratory disease attending for HRCT scanning, the Weston visual score for CAC performs well in predicting prevalent CAD and future CVD events. With previous data demonstrating excellent inter- and intra- observer agreement, our study demonstrates Weston scoring is a valid tool in reporting non-gated CT scans, removing the need for dedicated software analysis as required with the Agatston score, and has a high overall positive and negative predictive value for future CVD. Further multi-centre prospective studies of this strategy, should be conducted to clarify the utility of Weston CAC scoring in non-gated CTs as a prediction tool which may be used to modify cardiac risk and reduce the risk of incident cardiovascular events. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1158
Author(s):  
Mahendra Chouhan ◽  
Sohan Singh Mandloi ◽  
Archana Kansal ◽  
O. P. Jatav

Background: Brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (BAFMD), assessed by high resolution ultrasonography, reflects endothelium dependent vasodilator function. BAFMD is diminished in patients with atherosclerosis and with coronary risk factors and improves with risk reduction therapy.Methods: Study was conducted on 50 patients of coronary artery disease from In-patients who were admitted in the Department of Medicine and 25 healthy control without cardiovascular disease risk factors. All patients having established CAD i.e. Acute coronary syndrome and past history of CABG/angioplasty were included in study. Those morbidly ill and patients with evidence of chronic inflammatory or malignant disease were excluded. Doppler ultrasound of brachial artery was performed in all of them to assess baseline lumen diameter and flow mediated dilatation (i.e. percent change in brachial artery diameter after occlusion cuff release). Patients were divided into two groups; first group was classified as those having BAFMD less than 7.5% and the second group consisted patients having BAFMD less than 10%.Results: Flow mediated dilatation in cases was 6.87±5.48% as compared to the control group in which it was 13.08±3.40% and was statistically significant (P value 0.000002). Brachial artery flow mediated dilatation was abnormal in 80% cases at a cut off value <10% significant abnormalities; i.e. BAFMD <7.5% was found in 66% patients.Conclusions: Endothelial function as assessed by FMD is significantly impaired in patient of coronary artery disease. Hence it may be used as an important screening tool in people having cardiovascular disease risk factors and may play as a crucial role in preventive cardiology.  


Author(s):  
Amitava Banerjee ◽  
Kaleab Asrress

The global scale of the cardiovascular disease epidemic is unquestionable, with cardiovascular disease causing a greater burden of mortality and morbidity than any other disease, regardless of country or population. With demographic change and ageing populations, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors is set to increase. The commonest cardiovascular diseases are atherosclerotic, affecting all arterial territories. The ‘burden of disease’ approach has highlighted the fact that cardiovascular disease and non-communicable diseases are not simply diseases of affluence but affect people of all countries, with enormous costs in terms of public health, healthcare, and overall economies. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality in all regions of the world apart from sub-Saharan Africa, followed by cerebrovascular disease. It should be noted, however, that there has been a major decline in cardiovascular disease mortality in Western Europe, the US, and Japan over the past 40 years. There are multiple factors underlying these favourable trends but understanding the epidemiology and characterizing individual risk factors for cardiovascular disease has been central in formulating preventive and treatment strategies. The INTERHEART study showed that 90% of cardiovascular risk can be explained by nine easily identifiable risk factors; an awareness of these, and the discovery of novel factors, will continue to serve in the fight to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. Geoffrey Rose first championed population-wide approaches versus strategies which target only high-risk individuals. Prevention aims to ‘catch the disease’ upstream, therefore delaying, reducing, or eliminating the risk of coronary artery disease. Surrogate markers for coronary artery disease have emerged in efforts to detect disease at earlier stages, and in order to better understand the pathophysiology. For example, coronary artery calcium scoring is emerging as a marker of future risk of coronary artery disease. Risk stratification scores are increasingly used as tools to individualize a person’s future risk of coronary artery disease in order to better target treatment and prevention strategies.


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