Microvascular Angina : A Diagnosis Hidden in Plain Sight

Author(s):  
Curtis D. Samuels

Background: Patients who are initially suspected of having ischemic heart disease, but in whom normal coronaries are discovered at angiography, are frequently believed to have pain of a non-cardiac aetiology. Micro vascular angina is hardly ever diagnosed save in peri-menopausal women. Physicians traditionally tend to view coronary microvascular disease and obstructive coronary artery disease as two separate entities. Notwithstanding, recent studies have begun to focus on endothelial dysfunction as being a key component in all cardiovascular diseases, with or without obstructive coronary lesions. Hypothesis: Patients suspected of having obstructive coronary disease associated with a significant risk factor burden, but in whom normal coronaries are found at angiography, in reality possess microvascular dysfunction. Objectives: • To determine the prevalence of normal coronaries at elective angiography compared to subjects with significant obstructive lesions. • To examine the influence of risk factor burden in patients who present normal coronaries in comparison with those who demonstrate obstructive lesions at angiography. • To suggest endothelial dysfunction as the common nexus underlying the disparities in cardiovascular morbidity observed among population samples. Methods: A group of 90 patients were randomly selected from clinical files of those who underwent elective coronary angiography between January, 2013 and May, 2017. The study cohort was comprised of 55 males and 35 females between the ages of 43 to 84 years. All subjects presented chest pain suspected of being coronary in origin. Coronary risk factors were recorded for each patient and the results were compared with findings at coronary angiography and then correlated with those encountered in medical literature. Results: Normal coronary angiograms were more prevalent in the African-Caribbean population (54.16%), than within the Mestizo-Mayan population (37.5%) Conversely, the finding of an obstructive lesion was more common in the Mestizo-Mayan population (56.25%), than within the African-Caribbean group (31.25%). The African-Caribbean group generally possessed a greater risk factor burden than their Mestizo-Mayan counterparts. Mayan counterparts. The percentage of women with normal coronaries (52.94%) showed a slight increase over that of men (47.05%). Males possessed a prevalence for obstructive disease of almost 4 times greater (79.48% vs. 20.5%) than females, yet females demonstrated a greater risk factor burden than males in most risk parameters. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor followed by dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus but these factors were more commonly encountered in patients with “normal” coronaries, than in those with obstructive lesions. Conclusion: Our study reported a significant number (56.66%) of “normal” coronaries at angiography. The majority (54.16%) of this figure pertained to the African-Caribbean sub-group, which in other studies also appeared to have a lesser coronary disease morbidity and mortality than their white counterparts despite having a greater risk factor burden. This is particularly true in the female African-Caribbean population. Several research papers have made reference to racial, ethnic and gender disparities in the manifestation of cardiovascular diseases. Paradoxically in some cases risk factor burden may be higher in the non-obstructive group rather than in the obstructive population. Convincing research has led us to believe that the vascular endothelium in its state of dysfunction plays a key role in explaining these disparities. Wherever cardiovascular risk factors exert their damage, endothelial injury and dysfunction ensues. Therefore, having an established risk factor burden portends microvascular dysfunction independently of any angiographic result.

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdzisława Chmiel ◽  
Grażyna Hejda ◽  
Monika Binkowska-Bury

Introduction. A World Health Organization (WHO) conference on a “second wave” epidemic of cardiovascular diseases, directly linked to arterial sclerosis (AS), predicts that in 2020 cardiovascular diseases will most likely be the leading cause of death in the world. The development of AS begins in youth and progresses with age. It’s intensity depends on the risk factors involved, such as: smoking, hypertension, obesity and fat and sugar disorders in the body. Aim. The aim of this study was to establish the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and their existence, among the youth of the upper gymnasium school. Material and methods. The research was conducted using 511 volunteer students from upper and lower gymnasium schools, between 16-19 years of age. Our research methods included: a diagnostic questionnaire, the measurement of blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric measurements. In the statistical study, we used chi-square independence testing, the V-Kramer test and the tau-b Kendall test; the level of changes α = 0.05 – was used. Results. Over a half of the study group (52.5%) was characterised with the lack of recommended physical activity, much more common in girls than boys (p = 0.000), just like smoking (p = 0.009) which was declared by 39.7% of the interviewed youth. In turn, a heightened value of systolic and diastolic pressure occurred more often in boys (19.6%) than in girls (12.1%); (p = 0.000 vs. p = 0.003). Excessive body mass was noted in 15.7% of the respondents, also more often in boys than in girls (p = 0.02), and abdominal obesity occurred in 10.2% of the respondents, with no significant differences between the sexes. 42.3% of the respondents showed one, 29.9% showed two and 18.8% showed three atherosclerosis risk factors. 9.0% of the study group showed 4 and more such risk factors. Accumulation of atherosclerosis risk factors occurred significantly more often in girls than in boys (p = 0.002). Conclusions. In all the respondents at least one atherosclerosis risk factor was found, and in over half of the study group, more frequently in girls than in boys, an accumulation of two or more risk factors was observed. Lack of recommended physical activity was the most frequent atherosclerosis risk factor occurring in the youth.


1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
AEMM Islam ◽  
M Faruque ◽  
AW Chowdhury ◽  
HIR Khan ◽  
MS Haque ◽  
...  

Background: Coronary artery diseases are one of the major challenges faced by cardiologists. Control of certain risk factors for CAD is associated with decrease in mortality and morbidity from myocardial infarction and unstable angina. So, identification and taking appropriate measures for primary and secondary prevention of such risk factors is, therefore, of great importance. This retrospective study was carried at the newly set up cath lab in Dhaka Medical college. Materials and Methods: Total 228 consecutive case undergone diagnostic coronary angiogram from 10th January 2007 to31st January 2009 out of which 194(80%) were male and 34 (20%) were female. In both sexes most of the patients were between 41 to 60 years of age. Risk factors of the patients were evaluated. Results: In females commonest risk factor was Diabetes (58.8%) followed by dyslipidaemia (35.3%). In males commonest risk factor was hypertension (30.9%) followed by smoking (29.9%) and diabetes (28.3%). In males 44.3% patients presented with acute myocardial infarction followed by stable angina (43.3%); but in females stable angina was the commonest presentation (50.0%) followed by myocardial infarction (38.2%).CAG findings revealed that in males 33.5% had double vessel disease 26.8% followed by single vessel 26.8% and multivessel disease 25.3%. In females normal CAG was found in 35.5% followed by double vessel 23.5%, multivessel 20.6% and single vessel 20.6%. On the basis of CAG findings; in males 41.8% patients were recommended for CABG, followed by PTCA & stenting 26.3% and medical therapy 30.0%; where as in females 55.9% were recommended for medical therapy , followed by CABG 32.4% and PTCA & stenting11.8%. Conclusion: The commonest presentation of CAD was 4th and 5th decades in both sexes. Diabetes and dyslipidaemia were more common in females whereas hypertension and smoking were more common in males. Myocardial infarction and stable angina were most common presentation in both sexes though in males myocardial infarction was more common. In males the angiographic severity of CAD was more and they were more subjected for CABG in comparison to females. Key words: Risk factors; Coronary angiography. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v3i2.9179 Cardiovasc. J. 2011; 3(2): 122-125


Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (16) ◽  
pp. e1479-e1486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew P. Pase ◽  
Kendra Davis-Plourde ◽  
Jayandra J. Himali ◽  
Claudia L. Satizabal ◽  
Hugo Aparicio ◽  
...  

ObjectiveGiven the potential therapeutic effect of vascular disease control timing to reduce dementia risk, we investigated the age-related influences of vascular risk factor burden on brain structure throughout the lifespan.MethodsWe studied participants from the community-based prospective Framingham Heart Study. Overall vascular risk factor burden was calculated according to the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, a validated algorithm that predicts stroke risk. Brain volume was estimated by MRI. We used cross-sectional data to examine how the strength of association between vascular risk factor burden and brain volume changed across each age decade from age 45–54 years through to 85–94 years (N = 2,887). Second, we leveraged up to 40 years of longitudinal data to determine how the strength of association between vascular risk factor burden and brain volume changed when vascular risk factors were examined at progressively earlier ages (N = 7,868).ResultsIn both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, higher vascular risk factor burden was associated with lower brain volume across each age decade. In the cross-sectional analysis, the strength of this association decreased with each decade of advancing age (p for trend < 0.0001). In longitudinal analysis, the strength of association between vascular risk factor burden and brain volume was stronger when vascular risk factors were measured at younger ages. For example, vascular risk factor burden was most strongly associated with lower brain volume in later life when vascular risk factors were measured at age 45 years.ConclusionVascular risk factors at younger ages appear to have detrimental effects on current and future brain volume.


2010 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 2376-2383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdembileg Anuurad ◽  
Zeynep Ozturk ◽  
Byambaa Enkhmaa ◽  
Thomas A. Pearson ◽  
Lars Berglund

Abstract Context: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is bound predominately to low-density lipoprotein and has been implicated as a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Objective: We investigated the association between Lp-PLA2 and CAD in a biethnic African-American and Caucasian population. Design: Lp-PLA2 mass, activity, and index, an integrated measure of mass and activity, and other cardiovascular risk factors were determined in 224 African-Americans and 336 Caucasians undergoing coronary angiography. Main Outcome Measures: We assessed the distribution of Lp-PLA2 levels and determined the predictive role of Lp-PLA2 as a risk factor for CAD. Results: Levels of Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were higher among Caucasians compared with African-Americans (293 ± 75 vs. 232 ± 76 ng/ml, P &lt; 0.001 for mass and 173 ± 41 vs. 141 ± 39 nmol/min/ml, P &lt; 0.001 for activity, respectively). However, Lp-PLA2 index was similar in the two groups (0.61 ± 0.17 vs. 0.64 ± 0.19, P = NS). In both ethnic groups, Lp-PLA2 activity and index was significantly higher among subjects with CAD. African-American subjects with CAD had significantly higher Lp-PLA2 index than corresponding Caucasian subjects (0.69 ± 0.20 vs. 0.63 ± 0.18, P = 0.028). In multivariate regression analyses, after adjusting for other risk factors, Lp-PLA2 index was independently (odds ratio 6.7, P = 0.047) associated with CAD in African-Americans but not Caucasians. Conclusions: Lp-PLA2 activity and index was associated with presence of CAD among African-Americans and Caucasians undergoing coronary angiography. The findings suggest an independent impact of vascular inflammation among African-Americans as contributory to CAD risk and underscore the importance of Lp-PLA2 as a cardiovascular risk factor.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 107602961985942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Sarecka-Hujar ◽  
Izabela Szołtysek-Bołdys ◽  
Ilona Kopyta ◽  
Barbara Dolińska ◽  
Andrzej Sobczak

Epilepsy is a disease arising from morphological and metabolic changes in the brain. Approximately 60% of patients with seizures can be controlled with 1 antiepileptic drug (AED), while in others, polytherapy is required. The AED treatment affects a number of biochemical processes in the body, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It is indicated that the duration of AED therapy with some AEDs significantly accelerates the process of atherosclerosis. Most of AEDs increase levels of homocysteine (HCys) as well as may affect concentrations of new, nonclassical risk factors for atherosclerosis, that is, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homoarginine (hArg). Because of the role of these parameters in the pathogenesis of CVD, knowledge of HCys, ADMA, and hArg concentrations in patients with epilepsia treated with AED, both pediatric and adult, appears to be of significant importance.


2021 ◽  
pp. 146-151
Author(s):  
S. Ozturk ◽  

Stroke is the most common cause of disability and death in the world. Cardiovascular disease rates increase with age (10.9 % for people aged 20–30 years and 85.3 % for people older than 80 years). Coronary heart diseases is the leading cause of deaths attributable to cardiovascular diseases in the United States, followed by stroke, high BP, HF, diseases of the arteries, and other cardiovascular diseases. The report on the global burden of neurological disorders has shown that hemorrhagic stroke accounted for 35.7 % in it, and ischemic stroke, 22.4 %. Seven indicators are important and strategic to prevent cardiovascular disorders; they include healthy diet, sufficient physical activity, smokingstatius, BMI, cholesterol level, blood pressure, and glucose in blood on a fasting stomach. These indicators are associated with healthy behavior (diet quality, PA, smoking, BMI) which are as important as health factors (blood cholesterol, BP, blood glucose). There is a strong protective association between ideal cardiovascular health indicators and many clinical and preclinical conditions including premature all-cause mortality, stroke, CVD mortality, ischemic heart disease mortality, HF, deep venous thromboembolism, and pulmonary embolism. Atrial fibrillation, metabolic syndrome, renal failure, and sleep apnea are important risk factors which are modifiable and treatable. Air pollution has been reported as an increasing and very important risk factor for stroke. COVID-19 has been reported as another new stroke risk factor during the pandemic. Future targets must include each cardiovascular health indicator to decrease stroke risk burden and stroke risk.


2013 ◽  
Vol 06 (06) ◽  
pp. 593-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muluemebet Ketete ◽  
Rabia Cherqaoui ◽  
Abid R. Maqbool ◽  
John Kwagyan ◽  
Shichen Xu ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Grigorian ◽  
E Gutierrez ◽  
J.F Oteo ◽  
O Abdul-Jawad ◽  
I Amat Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ischemia with no obstructive coronary disease (INOCA) is increasingly diagnosed because of wide performance of coronary angiography. Prevalence of INOCA is higher in women than in men, however the exact pathophysiological mechanisms which may explain this phenomenon are still not very well understood. Objective To evaluate differences in clinical and procedural characteristics between men and women with INOCA subjected to intracoronary acetylcholine test (Ach). Methods A total of 210 women and 148 men with INOCA diagnosed with coronary angiography, were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter, observational registry. Ach test was performed according to clinical indications in all included patients. After 1-year patients were re-evaluated for major cardiovascular events, angina symptoms and prescribed medical treatment. Results Mean age of 60.6±13.6 years old was similar in both populations, but differences were observed in the prevalence of risk factors: active smoking was more frequent among men (43% vs. 17%, p&lt;0.001), who had also a higher number of associated risk factors (≥3 risk factors were present in 31.2% of men vs. 20.2% of women, p&lt;0.01) and more frequent history of percutaneous coronary revascularization (14.2% vs. 6.7%, p=0.03). Women were more prone to have dyspnea than men (35.5% vs. 20.8%, p=0.01). Men had more coronary atherosclerosis in angiography (57.9% vs. 43.7%, p=0.01) and more slow flow in the left anterior descending artery (21.6% vs. 9.0%, p=0.001). Ach was positive in 36.5% of patients, similar in both sexes, with no differences in the type of induced coronary spasm. Among those with a positive Ach test, at one-year, 36% of women vs. 43.6% of men were on optimal medical treatment for vasospasm although the difference was not statistically significant. Importantly, 41.5% of women and 38.1% of men experienced severe symptoms of angina during follow-up. Conclusions Although men with INOCA have a higher risk profile than women and more coronary atherosclerosis, one third of patients present endothelial dysfunction, similar in both groups, indicating that probably other pathophysiological mechanisms are responsible for it in females. Treatment in these patients remains suboptimal and associated with highly impaired quality of life. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-234
Author(s):  
Eugène Ndirahisha ◽  
Patrice Barasukana ◽  
Joseph Nyandwi ◽  
Sébastien Manirakiza ◽  
Rhamadhan Nyandwi ◽  
...  

Relevance . Noncommunicable diseases are a serious public health problem due to their high incidence and mortality rate. Globally, noncommunicable diseases cause 41 million deaths every year, accounting for 71% of the total number of deaths. Cardiovascular diseases, accounting for 44% of all noncommunicable diseases, are the leading causes of death. Early identification of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and treatment of associated diseases are a prerequisite for maintaining the health of the population. Objective: To identify the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients living in rural areas of the mountainous region and attending the Mabayi District Hospital in Burundi. Patients and Methods . An open-label retrospective study conducted at the Mabayi District Hospital in Burundi from January 2014 to December 2017. The study included patients whose medical examination revealed at least one risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Kamenge University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Burundi. Data analysis was carried out using Microsoft Word 2007 and Epi-Info TM 7.2.1.0 software. Results and Discussion . Among the 20 297 examined patients, the average age was 50 16.7 years, the extreme values were 14 and 101 years. Male patients accounted for 51.1%. 903 patients (4.5%) had at least one risk factor. The main risk factors were high blood pressure (52.6%), diabetes (42.0%) and alcohol abuse (27.4%). Conclusion . Residents of rural areas of the mountainous region of Burundi have a high frequency of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, which must be taken into account when organizing medical and preventive measures to prevent cardiovascular diseases.


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