scholarly journals Infections as Novel Risk Factors of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiological Links and Therapeutic Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2539
Author(s):  
Piotr Szwed ◽  
Aleksandra Gąsecka ◽  
Mateusz Zawadka ◽  
Ceren Eyileten ◽  
Marek Postuła ◽  
...  

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are the major cause of mortality worldwide. Despite the continuous progress in ASCVD therapy, the residual risk persists beyond the management of traditional risk factors. Several infections including Helicobacter pylori infection, periodontal disease, and viral infections are associated with the increased risk of ASCVD, both directly by damage to the heart muscle and vasculature, and indirectly by triggering a systemic proinflammatory state. Hence, beyond the optimal management of the traditional ASCVD risk factors, infections should be considered as an important non-classical risk factor to enable early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Here, we summarized the currently available evidence regarding the role of inflammation in ASCVD and the association between the particular infections and pathogens (Helicobacter pylori, periodontal disease, pneumonia, Cytomegalovirus, Human immunodeficiency virus, Herpes simplex virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) on the development and progression of ASCVD. We also speculated about the potential therapeutic implications of the anti-inflammatory and anti-infective drugs on ASCVD outcomes, including drugs routinely administered in patients with ASCVD (statins, P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers) and novel strategies aiming at residual risk reduction (colchicine, anti-cytokine drugs, and methotrexate). Considering the emerging association between infections and ASCVD, it is crucial to determine the possible advantages of infection prevention and treatment in patients with ASCVD.

2019 ◽  
pp. 089719001988417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marci Wood ◽  
Tracey Sweeney ◽  
Molly Trayah ◽  
Maria Civalier ◽  
Wesley McMillian

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent and costly disease state for adult Americans, with 30-day readmissions rates for patients with HF utilized to limit hospital compensation. Objective: To determine the impact of the transitions of care (TOC) service at our institution on 30-day all-cause and HF readmissions and identify predictive risk factors for 30-day all-cause readmission. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients aged 18 years and older admitted with HF and all subsequent readmissions between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. A weighted logistic regression model was developed to determine risk factors for 30-day all-cause readmission. Results: There were no significant differences in all-cause or HF readmission rates analyzed by TOC service involvement. Significant risk predictors for 30-day all-cause readmission included discharge to a rehabilitation facility (odds ratio [OR] = 9.3) or home with home health (OR = 1.6) versus home with self-care. Comorbidities associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause readmission included diabetes, coronary artery disease, and aortic stenosis. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, and spironolactone was associated with decreased risk of 30-day all-cause readmission. Conclusion: Identified predictors in the patient population with HF at our institution may be used to target patients at increased risk of all-cause readmission within 30 days.


Author(s):  
Anuroop Sood ◽  
Jismi Joseph ◽  
Sneha Mathew ◽  
Subramanyam K ◽  
Rajesh Ks ◽  
...  

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the prescribing pattern, most common indication, and adverse effects associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with cardiovascular diseases, and to identify the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out for a period of 6 months from October 2016 to March 2017 in both inpatients and outpatients of the cardiology department. Patients received either ACEIs or ARBs were enrolled in the study. The relevant details of the patients were collected from the patient case note and treatment chart and data analyzed.Results: Of 100 patients, 23.0% were female and 77.0% were male. Among them, majority of patients were in the age group of 41–60 years. Diabetes mellitus (39%), smoking (20%), and alcohol (14%) were the common risk factors. The most common indications of ACEIs were found to be ischemic heart diseases (IHDs) (17%) followed by hypertension (HTN)/IHD (12%), and IHD/heart failure (12%). Main indications of ARBs were found in HTN/ IHD (16%). Utilization of ACEIs (70%) was found to be higher when compared with ARBs (30%). Ramipril (69%) and telmisartan (18%) were the most commonly used ACEIs and ARBs, respectively. While analyzing the adverse effects of ACEIs and ARBs, about 5.71% of patients were identified with ramipril induced dry cough.Conclusions: The complications of cardiovascular diseases can be reduced by knowing the incidence of risk factors and alternative therapy can be initiated by assessing the incidence of adverse drug reactions related to ACEIs and ARBs


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii2-iii11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W Hunter ◽  
Matthew A Bailey

Abstract There have been significant recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that maintain potassium homoeostasis and the clinical consequences of hyperkalemia. In this article we discuss these advances within a concise review of the pathophysiology, risk factors and consequences of hyperkalemia. We highlight aspects that are of particular relevance for clinical practice. Hyperkalemia occurs when renal potassium excretion is limited by reductions in glomerular filtration rate, tubular flow, distal sodium delivery or the expression of aldosterone-sensitive ion transporters in the distal nephron. Accordingly, the major risk factors for hyperkalemia are renal failure, diabetes mellitus, adrenal disease and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers or potassium-sparing diuretics. Hyperkalemia is associated with an increased risk of death, and this is only in part explicable by hyperkalemia-induced cardiac arrhythmia. In addition to its well-established effects on cardiac excitability, hyperkalemia could also contribute to peripheral neuropathy and cause renal tubular acidosis. Hyperkalemia—or the fear of hyperkalemia—contributes to the underprescription of potentially beneficial medications, particularly in heart failure. The newer potassium binders could play a role in attempts to minimize reduced prescribing of renin–angiotensin inhibitors and mineraolocorticoid antagonists in this context.


2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 447-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Kelishadi ◽  
Gholamhossein Sadri ◽  
Ali Akbar Tavasoli ◽  
Manijeh Kahbazi ◽  
Hamid Reza Roohafza ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 771
Author(s):  
In-Jeong Cho ◽  
Jeong-Hun Shin ◽  
Mi-Hyang Jung ◽  
Chae Young Kang ◽  
Jinseub Hwang ◽  
...  

We sought to assess the association between common antihypertensive drugs and the risk of incident cancer in treated hypertensive patients. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, the risk of cancer incidence was analyzed in patients with hypertension who were initially free of cancer and used the following antihypertensive drug classes: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs); angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs); beta blockers (BBs); calcium channel blockers (CCBs); and diuretics. During a median follow-up of 8.6 years, there were 4513 (6.4%) overall cancer incidences from an initial 70,549 individuals taking antihypertensive drugs. ARB use was associated with a decreased risk for overall cancer in a crude model (hazard ratio (HR): 0.744, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.696–0.794) and a fully adjusted model (HR: 0.833, 95% CI: 0.775–0.896) compared with individuals not taking ARBs. Other antihypertensive drugs, including ACEIs, CCBs, BBs, and diuretics, did not show significant associations with incident cancer overall. The long-term use of ARBs was significantly associated with a reduced risk of incident cancer over time. The users of common antihypertensive medications were not associated with an increased risk of cancer overall compared to users of other classes of antihypertensive drugs. ARB use was independently associated with a decreased risk of cancer overall compared to other antihypertensive drugs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manyun Tang ◽  
Yidan Wang ◽  
Mengjie Wang ◽  
Rui Tong ◽  
Tao Shi

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) overlap syndrome (OS) are thought to be at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases.Objective: To evaluate the burden of cardiovascular diseases and long-term outcomes in patients with OS.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and 1-year mortality were compared among patients diagnosed with OS (OS group), COPD alone (COPD group) and OSAS alone (OSAS group), and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess independent risk factors for all-cause mortality.Results: Overall, patients with OS were at higher risk for pulmonary hypertension (PH), heart failure and all-cause mortality than patients with COPD or OSAS (all p < 0.05). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.273 (1.050–1.543); p = 0.014], hypertension [aHR: 2.006 (1.005–4.004); p = 0.048], pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) [aHR: 4.774 (1.335–17.079); p = 0.016] and heart failure [aHR: 3.067 (1.521–6.185); p = 0.002] were found to be independent risk factors for 1-year all-cause mortality.Conclusion: Patients with OS had an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and 1-year mortality. More efforts are needed to identify the causal relationship between OS and cardiovascular diseases, promoting risk stratification and the management of these patients.


2020 ◽  
pp. 32-44
Author(s):  
D. I. Trukhan ◽  
D. S. Ivanova ◽  
K. D. Belus

Rheumatoid arthritis is a frequent and one of the most severe immuno-inflammatory diseases in humans, which determines the great medical and socio-economic importance of this pathology. One of the priority problems of modern cardiac rheumatology is an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in rheumatoid arthritis. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, traditional cardiovascular risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (metabolic syndrome, obesity, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, smoking and hypodynamia) and a genetic predisposition are expressed. Their specific features also have a certain effect: the “lipid paradox” and the “obesity paradox”. However, chronic inflammation as a key factor in the development of progression of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction plays a leading role in morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in rheumatoid arthritis. This review discusses the effect of chronic inflammation and its mediators on traditional cardiovascular risk factors and its independent significance in the development of CVD. Drug therapy (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, basic anti-inflammatory drugs, genetically engineered biological drugs) of the underlying disease also has a definite effect on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A review of studies on this problem suggests a positive effect of pharmacological intervention in rheumatoid arthritis on cardiovascular risk factors, their reduction to a level comparable to the populations of patients not suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The interaction of rheumatologists, cardiologists and first-contact doctors (therapist and general practitioner) in studying the mechanisms of the development of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis will allow in real clinical practice to develop adequate methods for the timely diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


Author(s):  
M. Angele Theard ◽  
Alexandra Bastien

Patients with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease are at risk for chronic kidney disease and therefore require close monitoring of potassium (K+) levels in order to avoid some of the more concerning consequences of hyperkalemia. Medical therapy in these patients, which often includes angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, renin inhibitors, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, while helpful in managing some of the aforementioned comorbidities and ameliorating chronic kidney disease in these patients, places them at increased risk for unwanted K+ elevations. Symptoms of hyperkalemia maybe nonspecific (fatigue, weakness, and gastrointestinal upset), requiring attention therefore to preoperative laboratory analysis to avert the potentially lethal intraoperative consequences of hyperkalemia like asystole and ventricular fibrillation. Emergency surgery in these patients after trauma complicated by crush injury is particularly challenging requiring that the anesthesiologist be well-versed in recognizing the signs of and managing intraoperative hyperkalemia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai-Fang Hu ◽  
Pei-Shan Ho ◽  
Yu-Hsiang Chou ◽  
Jui-Hsiu Tsai ◽  
Chung-Hung Richard Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Aim Compared with the general population, individuals with schizophrenia have a higher risk of periodontal disease, which can potentially reduce their life expectancy. However, evidence for the early development of periodontal disease in schizophrenia is scant. The current study investigated risk factors for periodontal disease in patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods We identified a population-based cohort of patients in Taiwan with newly diagnosed schizophrenia who developed periodontal disease within 1 year of their schizophrenia diagnosis. Treatment with antipsychotics and other medications was categorised according to medication type and duration, and the association between medication use and the treated periodontal disease was assessed through logistic regression. Results Among 3610 patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia, 2373 (65.7%) had an incidence of treated periodontal disease during the 1-year follow-up. Female sex (adjusted odds ratios [OR] 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20–1.63); young age (adjusted OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98–0.99); a 2-year history of periodontal disease (adjusted OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.84–3.26); high income level (adjusted OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.64–3.06) and exposure to first-generation (adjusted OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.54–2.32) and secondary-generation (adjusted OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.11–1.58) antipsychotics, anticholinergics (adjusted OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.03–1.50) and antihypertensives (adjusted OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.64–2.23) were independent risk factors for periodontal disease. Hyposalivation – an adverse effect of first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) (adjusted OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.63–2.45), anticholinergics (adjusted OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.05–1.53) and antihypertensives (adjusted OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.63–2.22) – was associated with increased risk of periodontal disease. Therefore, hypersalivation due to FGA use (adjusted OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.59–0.88) was considered a protective factor. Conclusions The current study highlights that early prevention of periodontal disease in individuals with schizophrenia is crucial. Along with paying more attention to the development of periodontal disease, assessing oral health regularly, helping with oral hygiene, and lowering consumption of sugary drinks and tobacco, emphasis should also be given by physicians to reduce the prescription of antipsychotics to the extent possible under efficacious pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia.


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