scholarly journals Cost-related Medication Nonadherence among Medicare Beneficiaries with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: The Role of Comprehension of the Medicare Program and its Prescription Drug Benefits

Author(s):  
Chanhyun Park ◽  
Angela Chang ◽  
Boon Ng ◽  
Gary Young

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate how reported comprehension of the Medicare program and its prescription drug benefits affects cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) among Medicare beneficiaries with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the 2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Public Use File data and included Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years who reported having at least one CVD risk factor (i.e., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and obesity) (n=2,821). A survey-weighted logistic model was used to examine associations between lack of difficulty understanding the Medicare program and its prescription drug benefits and CRN, controlling for beneficiaries’ demographic (e.g., age) and clinical characteristics (e.g, comorbidities). This study further analyzed five subgroups based on the type of CVD risk factors involved. RESULTS: Among Medicare beneficiaries with CVD risk factors, 14.4% reported CRN. Medicare beneficiaries with CVD risk factors who reported difficulty understanding the overall Medicare program and its prescription drug benefits were more likely to report CRN, compared to those who reported easy understanding of the overall Medicare program (OR=1.49; 95% CI=1.09, 2.04; p<0.001) and its prescription drug benefits (OR=2.01; 95% CI=1.51, 2.67; p<0.001). Similar results were obtained for the subgroups with obesity, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived lack of difficulty understanding the Medicare Program and its prescription drug benefits has a positive impact on CRN reduction among Medicare beneficiaries with CVD risk factors, especially those with obesity, hypertension or hyperlipidemia. Monitoring and enhancing Medicare beneficiaries’ overall understanding of the Medicare program may reduce CRN.

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karthik Amudhala Hemanthakumar ◽  
Shentong Fang ◽  
Andrey Anisimov ◽  
Mikko I Mäyränpää ◽  
Eero Mervaala ◽  
...  

Aging, obesity, hypertension, and physical inactivity are major risk factors for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We applied fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), RNA sequencing, and bioinformatic methods to investigate the common effects of CVD risk factors in mouse cardiac endothelial cells (ECs). Aging, obesity, and pressure overload all upregulated pathways related to TGF-β signaling and mesenchymal gene expression, inflammation, vascular permeability, oxidative stress, collagen synthesis, and cellular senescence, whereas exercise training attenuated most of the same pathways. We identified collagen chaperone Serpinh1 (also called as Hsp47) to be significantly increased by aging and obesity and repressed by exercise training. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that increased SERPINH1 in human ECs induced mesenchymal properties, while its silencing inhibited collagen deposition. Our data demonstrate that CVD risk factors significantly remodel the transcriptomic landscape of cardiac ECs inducing inflammatory, senescence, and mesenchymal features. SERPINH1 was identified as a potential therapeutic target in ECs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 634-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Ghaedi ◽  
Mohammad Mohammadi ◽  
Hamed Mohammadi ◽  
Nahid Ramezani-Jolfaie ◽  
Janmohamad Malekzadeh ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThere is some evidence supporting the beneficial effects of a Paleolithic diet (PD) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This diet advises consuming lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts and avoiding intake of grains, dairy products, processed foods, and added sugar and salt. This study was performed to assess the effects of a PD on CVD risk factors including anthropometric indexes, lipid profile, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers using data from randomized controlled trials. A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to August 2018. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled effect size. Meta-analysis of 8 eligible studies revealed that a PD significantly reduced body weight [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −1.68 kg; 95% CI: −2.86, −0.49 kg], waist circumference (WMD = −2.72 cm; 95% CI: −4.04, −1.40 cm), BMI (in kg/m2) (WMD = −1.54; 95% CI: −2.22, −0.87), body fat percentage (WMD = −1.31%; 95% CI: −2.06%, −0.57%), systolic (WMD = −4.75 mm Hg; 95% CI: −7.54, −1.96 mm Hg) and diastolic (WMD = −3.23 mm Hg; 95% CI: −4.77, −1.69 mm Hg) blood pressure, and circulating concentrations of total cholesterol (WMD = −0.23 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.42, −0.04 mmol/L), triglycerides (WMD = −0.30 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.55, −0.06 mmol/L), LDL cholesterol (WMD = −0.13 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.26, −0.01 mmol/L), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD = −0.48 mg/L; 95% CI: −0.79, −0.16 mg/L) and also significantly increased HDL cholesterol (WMD = 0.06 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.11 mmol/L). However, sensitivity analysis revealed that the overall effects of a PD on lipid profile, systolic blood pressure, and circulating CRP concentrations were sensitive to removing some studies and to the correlation coefficients, hence the results must be interpreted with caution. Although the present meta-analysis revealed that a PD has favorable effects on CVD risk factors, the evidence is not conclusive and more well-designed trials are still needed.


Author(s):  
Magdalena Mijas ◽  
Karolina Koziara ◽  
Andrzej Galbarczyk ◽  
Grazyna Jasienska

A risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased by multiple factors including psychosocial stress and health behaviors. Sexual minority men who identify as Bears form a subculture distinguished by characteristics associated with increased CVD risk such as elevated stress and high body weight. However, none of the previous studies comprehensively investigated CVD risk in this population. Our study compared Bears (N = 31) with other gay men (N = 105) across a wide range of CVD risk factors. Logistic regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models were performed to compare both groups concerning behavioral (e.g., physical activity), medical (e.g., self-reported hypertension), and psychosocial (e.g., depressiveness) CVD risk factors. Bears were characterized by older age and higher body mass index (BMI) than the control group. We also observed higher resilience, self-esteem, as well as greater prevalence of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia in Bears. None of these differences remained statistically significant after adjusting for age and, in the case of self-reported diagnosis of diabetes, both age and BMI. Our study demonstrates that Bears are characterized by increased CVD risk associated predominantly with older age and higher BMI. Health promotion interventions addressed to this community should be tailored to Bears’ subcultural norms and should encourage a healthier lifestyle instead of weight loss.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272098095
Author(s):  
Marwa S. Said ◽  
Inas T. El Sayed ◽  
Eman E. Ibrahim ◽  
Ghada M. Khafagy

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most leading cause of mortality worldwide. Changes in diet can reduce subclinical cardiac injury and inflammation in parallel with reductions of other CVD risk factors. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of the DASH diet versus usual healthy dietary advice (HDA) on the estimated risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Methods: It was a prospective interventional nonrandomized controlled study, conducted on 92 participants attending Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics, Cairo University. The participants were assigned to 2 dietary groups, the DASH and HDA groups, for 12 weeks. All subjects were subjected to anthropometric measurement, assessment of lipid profile, and the estimated cardiovascular risk pre-and post-intervention. Results: The estimated cardiovascular risk was reduced significantly in both the DASH and HDA groups, with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the risk reduction. By comparing the percent change between pre and post-intervention in both DASH and HDA groups, the following are the results: BMI dropped by 6.5% versus 2.5%, systolic blood pressure decreased by 6.9% and 4.1%, fasting blood sugar dropped by 5.5% and 3.1%, total cholesterol dropped by 5.2% and 3.1%, LDL dropped by 8.2%, and 3.1%, and HDL increased by 8.2% and 2.4%, in DASH and HDA groups, respectively. Conclusion: Both the DASH diet and HDA are associated with improvement in CVD risk factors. Although better risk factors decline with the DASH diet, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e036213
Author(s):  
Tina Bonde Sorensen ◽  
Robin Wilson ◽  
John Gregson ◽  
Bhavani Shankar ◽  
Alan D Dangour ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo explore associations of night-time light intensity (NTLI), a novel proxy for continuous urbanisation levels, with mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), fasting serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), among adults in early-stage urbanisation in Telangana, South India.DesignCross-sectional analysis of the third wave of the Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents Study cohort.Setting28 villages representing a continuum of urbanisation levels, ranging from rural settlement to medium-sized town in Telangana, South India.ParticipantsData were available from 6944 participants, 6236 of whom were eligible after excluding pregnant women, participants younger than 18 years of age and participants missing data for age. Participants were excluded if they did not provide fasting blood samples, had implausible or missing outcome values, were medicated for hypertension or diabetes or had triglyceride levels invalidating derived LDL. The analysis included 5924 participants for BMI, 5752 participants for SBP, 5287 participants for LDL and 5328 participants for FPG.ResultsIncreasing NTLI was positively associated with mean BMI, SBP and LDL but not FPG. Adjusted mean differences across the range of village-level NTLI were 1.0 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.01 to 1.9) for BMI; 4.2 mm Hg (95% CI 1.0 to 7.4) for SBP; 0.3 mmol/L (95% CI −0.01 to 0.7) for LDL; and −0.01 mmol/L (95% CI −0.4 to 0.4) for FPG. Associations of NTLI with BMI and SBP were stronger in older age groups.ConclusionThe association of NTLI with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors identify NTLI as a potentially important tool for exploring urbanisation-related health. Consistent associations of moderate increases in urbanisation levels with important CVD risk factors warrant prevention strategies to curb expected large public health impacts from continued and rapid urbanisation in India.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Kohansieh ◽  
Amgad N. Makaryus

Sleep plays a vital role in an individual’s mental, emotional, and physiological well-being. Not only does sleep deficiency lead to neurological and psychological disorders, but also the literature has explored the adverse effects of sleep deficiency on the cardiovascular system. Decreased quantity and quality of sleep have been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We explore the literature correlating primary sleep deficiency and deprivation as a cause for cardiovascular disease and cite endothelial dysfunction as a common underlying mechanism.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Weinstein ◽  
Preetha Abraham ◽  
Guoqing Diao ◽  
Stacey A. Zeno ◽  
Patricia A. Deuster

Objective. To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a group of African American individuals.Design. A nonrandom sample of 253 (age 43.7 ± 11.6 years; 37% male) African American individuals was recruited by advertisements. Data were obtained by validated questionnaires, anthropometric, blood pressure, and blood sample measurements.Results. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms and CVD risk factors controlling for socioeconomic status indicators. These analyses demonstrated that those with higher levels of depressive symptoms had larger waist-to-hip ratios, higher percent body fat, higher triglycerides, and were more likely to be smokers.Conclusions. It has been well documented that higher levels of depressive symptoms are associated with higher CVD risk. However, this evidence is derived primarily from samples of predominantly Caucasian individuals. The present investigation demonstrates that depressive symptoms are related to CVD risk factors in African American individuals.


Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael R Baiduc ◽  
Brittany Bogle ◽  
Franklyn Gonzalez ◽  
Elizabeth Dinces ◽  
David J Lee ◽  
...  

Introduction: Over 30 million Americans suffer from hearing loss (HL). Studies suggest that established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may contribute to the pathophysiology of the inner ear. However, the aggregate effect of CVD risk factors on hearing is not well understood. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that high CVD risk burden is associated with worse hearing. Methods: We assessed younger (ages 18-34) and older (ages 55-64) Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos participants who underwent audiometry in 2008-11. After excluding those with conductive pathology and asymmetric HL, we randomly chose one ear for analysis. Puretone thresholds were obtained at 0.5-8 kHz; puretone average (PTA) was calculated using thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Low CVD risk burden was defined as having all of: blood pressure (BP) <120/<80 mmHg; total cholesterol <180 mg/dL; not currently smoking; and not having prevalent diabetes. High CVD risk burden was defined as ≥ 2 of: diabetes; currently smoking; BP >160/>100 mmHg (or antihypertensive use); and total cholesterol >240 mg/dL (or statin use). By age group and sex, we estimated hearing thresholds per frequency with linear regression models adjusted for noise exposure. Least squares estimates were calculated using strata-specific means of covariates. Estimates were compared via t-tests. Data were weighted for all analyses and accounted for clustering. Results: Among younger and older individuals in the target population (51.9% female), 28.8% had low and 5.5% had high CVD risk. Younger men with high CVD risk had worse PTA than young men with low risk (7.7 dB HL [7.0-8.4] vs. 10.5 dB HL [8.4-12.5], p =0.02), and had significantly worse thresholds at 1,3,4,6 kHz than those with low risk ( Figure ). There was no difference in PTA or thresholds at any frequency by CVD risk burden in young women, older men, or older women. Conclusions: CVD risk burden is associated with HL among young men, but not young women or older adults. CVD risk burden may be useful for identifying young men at risk for HL.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105477382110464
Author(s):  
Emine Karaman ◽  
Aslı Kalkım ◽  
Banu Pınar Şarer Yürekli

In this study was to determine knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and to explore related factors among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) who have not been diagnosed with CVD. This descriptive study was conducted with 175 adults. Data were collected individual identification form and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL) scale. A negative correlation was found between age and CARRF-KL score. A significant difference was found between educational status and CARRF-KL score. The individuals described their health status as good, managed their condition with diet and exercise, received information from nurses, adults with DM in their family and those with no DM complications had significantly higher scores in CARRF-KL. The knowledge of an individual with DM about CVD risk factors should be assessed, CVD risks should be identified at an early stage, and individuals at risk should be subjected to screening.


Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbey C Sidebottom ◽  
Arthur Sillah ◽  
David M Vock ◽  
Michael M Miedema ◽  
Raquel Pereira ◽  
...  

Background: Despite a highly recognized priority for public health and healthcare to implement population-level strategies to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), limited evidence exists on the most effective strategies. Data collection and evaluation of large scale, community based-prevention programs can be challenging and costly to achieve. The Heart of New Ulm (HONU) Project, begun in 2009, is a population-based initiative with healthcare, community, and workplace interventions addressing multiple levels of the social-ecological model designed to reduce modifiable CVD risk factors in rural New Ulm, MN. The community is served by one health system, enabling the use of electronic health record (EHR) data for surveillance. Objective: To assess trends for CVD risk factors, events, and healthcare utilization for New Ulm residents compared to a matched control population. Methods: We matched New Ulm residents (n = 4,077) with controls (n = 4,077) from a regional community served by the same health system using refined covariate balance techniques to match on baseline demographics, CVD risk factors, and health care utilization. Mixed effects longitudinal models with adjustment for age and gender, and an interaction for time by community, were run. Model based estimates were constructed for the entire cohort at each time period. Results: Over the first 6 years of the HONU Project,blood pressure, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were managed better in New Ulm than the matched comparison community. The proportion of New Ulm residents with controlled blood pressure increased by 6.2 percentage points while the control group increased by 2 points. 10-year ASCVD risk scores showed less decline for New Ulm residents than controls (16 vs. 18.4). The intervention and control groups did not differ with regard to inpatient stays, CVD events, smoking, or glucose. Conclusions: Compared to a matched control population, we found improved control of CVD risk factors in the New Ulm Population exposed to the HONU Project.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document