scholarly journals The Influence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Hypogonadism on Cardiac Outcomes in an Aging Population of Beta-Thalassemia Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Umberto Barbero ◽  
Matteo Ajassa ◽  
Carmen Maria Gaglioti ◽  
Antonio Piga ◽  
Giovanni Battista Ferrero ◽  
...  

Beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) is a hereditary genetic disease worsened by many comorbidities due to transfusion-related iron despite chelation therapy. Since there has recently been an increase in life expectancy of patients to up to 50 years old, which influences the prevalence of these diseases and the time span for traditional cardiovascular risk factors to play their role, this study aims to evaluate their distribution and prevalence in a population of thalassemia major patients and their relationship with observed cardiovascular events and potential modifying factors. One hundred and fifty-nine β-TM patients with at least 15 years of follow-up were included in this study. The mean age was 40.9 ± 8.4 years; 28% had diabetes mellitus and 62% had hypogonadism. The cardiovascular risk assessed using algorithms (CUORE and Pooled Cohort Risk Equation—PCRE) was low, but 3.8% of patients had at least one episode of heart failure, 35.9% showed early signs of heart failure, 22% received a diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction, and 21.4% showed supraventricular arrhythmias. Hypogonadism was shown to be related to the occurrence of cardiovascular events. The chronic accumulation of iron in the heart and the specific metabolic profile, mainly observed in patients with hypogonadism, allows us to define β-TM as a condition with a high level of cardiovascular risk from many points of view (iron-related myopathy, atherosclerosis and arrhythmias), which requires better stratification tools and a specific follow-up program.

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Lind ◽  
Erik Ingelsson ◽  
Johan Sundström ◽  
Johan ärnlöv

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how the length of the follow-up period influences the strength of the associations between major cardiovascular risk factors and different cardiovascular outcomes (myocardial infarction [MI], stroke and heart failure). Methods: We examined 1826 men aged 50 regarding cardiovascular risk factors in 1970-74. The follow-up time was 33 years. The hazard ratio (HR) was calculated yearly for each risk factor and outcome. During follow-up, 571 cases of MI, 381 cases of stroke and 384 cases of heart failure occurred. Results: Two major patterns were found regarding influence of the follow-up time on the associations between risk factors and the different cardiovascular outcomes. First, a gradual decline in the HR over time was seen for blood pressure in relation to all three outcomes, with the most rapid decline for heart failure and stroke. This pattern was also seen for BMI in relation to MI and heart failure, and for smoking regarding MI and stroke. Second, we observed a gradual increase in HRs to a maximum at 20-25 years, and thereafter a slight decline. This pattern was seen for the apoB/A1 ratio, HDL, and triglycerides, mainly in relation to MI and heart failure. Conclusion: The length of follow-up influenced the associations between traditional risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes in different ways. The collective influence of the risk factors did however show a substantial decline in discrimination over time for the outcomes stroke and heart failure, but not regarding myocardial infarction.


Hematology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khodayar Ghorban ◽  
Mehrnoosh Shanaki ◽  
Naser Mobarra ◽  
Mehdi Azad ◽  
Jahanbakhsh Asadi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana-Elena Vlad ◽  
Liliana Foia ◽  
Laura Florea ◽  
Irina-Iuliana Costache ◽  
Andreea Covic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) is one of the most frequent and important monogenic cholesterol pathologies. Traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors increase the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in this population. The aims of the study were:(a) to identify FH patients in the North-Eastern part of Romania and to analyze demographic, clinical and paraclinical data (b) to evaluate the risk of new cardiovascular events at follow-up in FH patients stratified by lipid-lowering agents. Methods. This first prospective study in the North-Eastern part of Romania was carried out between October 2017 and October 2019; out of 980 patients with dyslipidemia evaluated with the Dutch Lipid Network(DLCN) and Simon Broome(SM) scores, 61 patients with DLCN score above 3 and possible/probable FH(SM score) were included.Results. 980 patients were examined and 61 (6.2%) were received the clinical diagnosis of FH. The mean age was 48.5±12.5 years, with more female patients than male patients (63.9% versus 36%). Hypertension was the main cardiovascular risk factor for both genders, followed by physical inactivity and obesity for the female group and active smoking for the male group. The measured DLCN score recorded: “possible” FH identified in 39.4%, “probable” FH in 45.9% and “definite” FH in 14.7%. The effective lipid-lowering drugs used were statin alone and statin in association with fenofibrate, which improved both the lipid profile values and the subclinical atherosclerosis markers (ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). New ASCVDs that emerged during the study were most commonly represented by coronary heart disease and stroke. At the same time, the new cardiovascular events were delayed in patients receiving the lipid-lowering drugs, without significant differences between them. Conclusions. In patients with suspected FH, the lipid-lowering agents during the follow-up period delayed the new cardiovascular events, yet failed to reach the goals proposed by the guidelines.


2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 982-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhayana Dallmeier ◽  
Hermann Brenner ◽  
Ute Mons ◽  
Wolfgang Rottbauer ◽  
Wolfgang Koenig ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND This study considered whether baseline concentrations and 12-month changes of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) are associated with subsequent cardiovascular events (CVEs) and total mortality in patients with stable coronary heart disease. METHODS Baseline GDF-15 serum concentrations were measured in 1073 participants in a cardiac rehabilitation program (median follow-up 10 years). GDF-15 associations with subsequent CVE and total mortality were evaluated by Cox-proportional hazards models adjusting for well-established cardiovascular risk factors (Model 2), plus N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity (hs) CRP, and hs cardiac troponin T (Model 3). RESULTS In our study population [84.7% men, mean age 59 years, median baseline GDF-15 1232 ng/L (interquartile range, 916, 1674)] we observed 190 CVE and 162 deaths. Compared to participants with GDF-15 <1200 ng/L, increased risk for death was found in participants with GDF-15 ≥1200 and ≤1800 ng/L [hazard ratio (HR) 1.68 (95% CI, 1.08–2.62)] and with GDF-15 >1800 ng/L [HR 1.73 (1.02–2.94)], even in Model 3. The 12-month relative median change was −16.7%. As compared to participants with 12-month relative changes between −20% and 20%, GDF-15 increments >20% were associated with: a) an HR of 1.84 (1.04–3.26) for CVE in Model 2, but found nonsignificant in Model 3; (b) an HR of 2.26 (1.32–3.86) for death even in Model 3. CONCLUSIONS GDF-15 at baseline is independently associated with subsequent CVE and 10-year total mortality. Twelve-month relative changes remained associated with subsequent CVE when adjusting for well-established cardiovascular risk factors, and with total mortality even after further adjustment for established cardiac biomarkers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana-Elena Vlad ◽  
Liliana Foia ◽  
Laura Florea ◽  
Irina-Iuliana Costache ◽  
Andreea Covic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) is one of the most frequent and important monogenic cholesterol pathologies. Traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors increase the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in this population. The aims of the study were: (a)to identify FH patients in the North-Eastern part of Romania and to analyze demographic, clinical and paraclinical data (b)to evaluate the risk of new cardiovascular events at follow-up in FH patients stratified by lipid-lowering agents.Methods. This first prospective study in the North-Eastern part of Romania was carried out between October 2017 and October 2019; out of 980 patients with dyslipidemia evaluated with the Dutch Lipid Network(DLCN) and Simon Broome(SM) scores, 61 patients with DLCN score above 3 and possible/probable FH (SM score) were included.Results. The 61 subjects with clinical diagnosis of FH (6.2% of all patients examined) recorded a mean age of 48.5±12.5 years, with more female patients than male patients. Hypertension was the main cardiovascular risk factor for both genders, followed by physical inactivity and obesity for the female group and active smoking for the male group. The measured DLCN score recorded: “possible” FH identified in 39.4%, “probable” FH in 45.9% and “definite” FH in 14.7%. As far as treatment was concerned, the effective lipid-lowering drugs were statin alone and statin in association with fenofibrate, which improved both the lipid profile values and the subclinical atherosclerosis markers (ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). New ASCVDs that emerged during the study were most commonly represented by coronary heart disease and stroke. At the same time, the new CV events were delayed in patients receiving the lipid-lowering drugs, without significant differences between them.Conclusions. In patients with suspected FH, the lipid-lowering agents during the follow-up delayed the new cardiovascular events, yet failed to reach the goals proposed by the guidelines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2299
Author(s):  
Camille Roubille ◽  
Soledad Henriquez ◽  
Cédric Mercuzot ◽  
Claire Duflos ◽  
Bertrand Dunogue ◽  
...  

Despite improvement in the prognosis of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAVs), increased mortality, mainly from a cardiovascular origin, persists. We aimed to determine the role of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) on the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (MACEs) in AAVs. Patients with AAVs were successively included in a prospective cohort study, which assessed CVRFs (defined by age >50 years in men and >60 years in women, personal history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle), the use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents at baseline and during follow-up, and the occurrence of MACEs. One hundred and three patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 3.5 years. In the glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide adjusted multivariate analysis, the occurrence of MACEs was associated with older age (p = 0.001, OR = 14.71, 95% CI (confidence interval) = 2.98–72.68), cardiovascular history (p = 0.007, OR (odds ratio) = 6.54, 95% CI = 1.66–25.71), sedentary lifestyle (p = 0.011, OR = 4.50, 95% CI = 1.42–14.29), hypertension (p = 0.017, OR = 5.04, 95% CI = 1.33–19.12), and dyslipidemia (p = 0.03, OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 1.14–13.09). The occurrence of MACEs was associated with the number of CVRFs (p < 0.001), but not with the use of glucocorticoids or cyclophosphamide (p = 0.733 and p = 0.339, respectively). The implementation of a screening and management program for modifiable CVRFs, particularly hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, and dyslipidemia, may be beneficial for AAV patients in order to reduce their cardiovascular risk.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (34) ◽  
pp. 3837-3843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talya Salz ◽  
Emily C. Zabor ◽  
Peter de Nully Brown ◽  
Susanne Oksberg Dalton ◽  
Nirupa J. Raghunathan ◽  
...  

Purpose The use of anthracycline chemotherapy is associated with heart failure (HF) among survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We aimed to understand the contribution of preexisting cardiovascular risk factors to HF risk among NHL survivors. Methods Using Danish registries, we identified adults diagnosed with aggressive NHL from 2000 to 2010 and sex- and age-matched general-population controls. We assessed HF from 9 months after diagnosis through 2012. We used Cox regression analysis to assess differences in risk for HF between survivors and general population controls. Among survivors only, preexisting cardiovascular factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes) and preexisting cardiovascular disease were ascertained. We used multivariable Cox regression to model the association of preexisting cardiovascular conditions on subsequent HF. Results Among 2,508 survivors of NHL and 7,399 controls, there was a 42% increased risk of HF among survivors compared with general population controls (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.88). Among survivors (median age at diagnosis, 62 years; 56% male), 115 were diagnosed with HF during follow-up (median years of follow-up, 2.5). Before NHL diagnosis, 39% had ≥ 1 cardiovascular risk factor; 92% of survivors were treated with anthracycline-containing regimens. In multivariable analysis, intrinsic heart disease diagnosed before lymphoma was associated with increased risk of HF (HR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.15 to 6.36), whereas preexisting vascular disease had no association with HF ( P > .05). Survivors with cardiovascular risk factors had an increased risk of HF compared with those with none (for 1 v 0 cardiovascular risk factors: HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.47; for ≥ 2 v 0 cardiovascular risk factors: HR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.56 to 5.23; joint P < .01). Conclusion In a large, population-based cohort of NHL survivors, preexisting cardiovascular conditions were associated with increased risk of HF. Preventive approaches should take baseline cardiovascular health into account.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana-Elena Vlad ◽  
Liliana Foia ◽  
Laura Florea ◽  
Irina-Iuliana Costache ◽  
Andreea Covic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) is one of the most frequent and important monogenic cholesterol pathologies. Traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors increase the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in this population. The aims of the study were:(a) to identify FH patients in the North-Eastern part of Romania and to analyze demographic, clinical and paraclinical data (b) to evaluate the risk of new cardiovascular events at follow-up in FH patients stratified by lipid-lowering agents.Methods. This first prospective study in the North-Eastern part of Romania was carried out between October 2017 and October 2019; out of 980 patients with dyslipidemia evaluated with the Dutch Lipid Network(DLCN) and Simon Broome(SM) scores, 61 patients with DLCN score above 3 and possible/probable FH(SM score) were included.Results. 980 patients were examined and 61 (6.2%) were received the clinical diagnosis of FH. The mean age was 48.5±12.5 years, with more female patients than male patients (63.9% versus 36%). Hypertension was the main cardiovascular risk factor for both genders, followed by physical inactivity and obesity for the female group and active smoking for the male group. The measured DLCN score recorded: “possible” FH identified in 39.4%, “probable” FH in 45.9% and “definite” FH in 14.7%. The effective lipid-lowering drugs used were statin alone and statin in association with fenofibrate, which improved both the lipid profile values and the subclinical atherosclerosis markers (ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). New ASCVDs that emerged during the study were most commonly represented by coronary heart disease and stroke. At the same time, the new CV events were delayed in patients receiving the lipid-lowering drugs, without significant differences between them.Conclusions. In patients with suspected FH, the lipid-lowering agents during the follow-up period delayed the new cardiovascular events, yet failed to reach the goals proposed by the guidelines.


2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfredi Rizzo ◽  
Egle Corrado ◽  
Giuseppe Coppola ◽  
Ida Muratori ◽  
Salvatore Novo

BackgroundSeveral studies have suggested that inflammation and infection may be important for accelerated progression of atherosclerosis, but few data are available on subjects with early stages of atherosclerosis.Methods and ResultsWe included, in a prospective 5-year follow-up study, 150 patients with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, evaluating at baseline all established traditional cardiovascular risk factors (eg, older age, male sex, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, family history of coronary artery disease, and dyslipidemia); 2 markers of inflammation, fibrinogen, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP); and the seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and cytomegalovirus. After follow-up, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were registered in the 19% of patients, and the increment in CRP levels (in quintiles) was significantly associated with ischemic stroke (P = 0.0253), acute myocardial infarction (P = 0.0055), cardiovascular or cerebrovascular death (P = 0.0145), and the presence of any event (P = 0.0064). Most traditional cardiovascular risk factors (eg, older age, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia) were significantly associated with the events but only in the unadjusted analysis; in fact, at logistic regression analysis, among all baseline variables, only elevated CRP levels showed a predictive role (odds ratio, 7.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-18.4; P = 0.0247).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that elevated CRP concentrations may significantly influence the occurrence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events in patients with baseline subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Notably, null findings were obtained by viral and bacteria titers, suggesting a greater role of inflammation (and not of infection) in the progression of atherosclerosis in our cohort. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic implications in this category of patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana-Elena Vlad ◽  
Liliana Foia ◽  
Laura Florea ◽  
Irina-Iuliana Costache ◽  
Andreea Covic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) is one of the most frequent and important monogenic cholesterol pathologies. Traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors increase the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in this population. The aims of the study were: (a) to identify FH patients in the North-Eastern part of Romania and to analyze demographic, clinical and paraclinical data (b) to evaluate the risk of new cardiovascular events at follow-up in FH patients stratified by lipid-lowering agents. Methods This first prospective study in the North-Eastern part of Romania was carried out between October 2017 and October 2019; out of 980 patients with dyslipidemia evaluated with the Dutch Lipid Network(DLCN) and Simon Broome(SM) scores, 61 patients with DLCN score above 3 and possible/probable FH(SM score) were included. Results Nine hundred-eighty patients were examined and 61 (6.2%) were received the clinical diagnosis of FH. The mean age was 48.5±12.5 years, with more female patients than male patients (63.9% versus 36%). Hypertension was the main cardiovascular risk factor for both genders, followed by physical inactivity and obesity for the female group and active smoking for the male group. The measured DLCN score recorded: “possible” FH identified in 39.4%, “probable” FH in 45.9% and “definite” FH in 14.7%. The effective lipid-lowering drugs used were statin alone and statin in association with fenofibrate, which improved both the lipid profile values and the subclinical atherosclerosis markers (ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). New ASCVDs that emerged during the study were most commonly represented by coronary heart disease and stroke. At the same time, the new cardiovascular events were delayed in patients receiving the lipid-lowering drugs, without significant differences between them. Conclusions In patients with suspected FH, the lipid-lowering agents during the follow-up period delayed the new cardiovascular events, yet failed to reach the goals proposed by the guidelines.


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