Management of High Blood Pressure in Those without Overt Cardiovascular Disease Utilising Absolute Risk Scores

Systolic interarm differences in blood pressure have been associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease. We undertook individual participant data meta-analyses to (1) quantify independent associations of systolic interarm difference with mortality and cardiovascular events; (2) develop and validate prognostic models incorporating interarm difference, and (3) determine whether interarm difference remains associated with risk after adjustment for common cardiovascular risk scores. We searched for studies recording bilateral blood pressure and outcomes, established agreements with collaborating authors, and created a single international dataset: the Inter-arm Blood Pressure Difference - Individual Participant Data (INTERPRESS-IPD) Collaboration. Data were merged from 24 studies (53 827 participants). Systolic interarm difference was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: continuous hazard ratios 1.05 (95% CI, 1.02–1.08) and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.02–1.11), respectively, per 5 mm Hg systolic interarm difference. Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality increased with interarm difference magnitude from a ≥5 mm Hg threshold (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14]). Systolic interarm differences per 5 mm Hg were associated with cardiovascular events in people without preexisting disease, after adjustment for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.00–1.08]), Framingham (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.01–1.08]), or QRISK cardiovascular disease risk algorithm version 2 (QRISK2) (hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.06–1.18]) cardiovascular risk scores. Our findings confirm that systolic interarm difference is associated with increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular events. Blood pressure should be measured in both arms during cardiovascular assessment. A systolic interarm difference of 10 mm Hg is proposed as the upper limit of normal. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42015031227

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961Absolute cardiovascular disease risk scores and medication use in rural India

International Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/ije/dyab168.082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Mulugeta Molla Birhanu ◽

Roger G Evans ◽

Ayse Zengin ◽

Michaela A Riddell ◽

Kartik Kalyanram ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

High Risk ◽

Absolute Risk ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Risk Scores ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Risk Scoring

Abstract Background Low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) have limited resources to tackle the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most screening guidelines recommend the use of absolute risk scoring to determine treatment, but there is uncertainty among policy makers and clinicians about which risk algorithm to choose. We aimed to compare laboratory-based absolute CVD risk algorithms in a LMIC setting. Methods The study was conducted in the Rishi Valley, Andhra Pradesh, India. Over 8,000 participants were surveyed between 2012-2015. The 10-year absolute risk was computed and compared using the Framingham, WHO, and Australian absolute risk CVD algorithms. Results In participants aged 35-74 years, 151 (3%) had prior CVD. In all algorithms, absolute CVD risk increased with age and was greater in men than women. Using the WHO algorithm 4% were characterized as high-risk while >29% were at high-risk using the Australian risk tool. Agreement of risk classification among men ranged from a high of 84% (Spearman’s rho (rs) =0.92) between Australian and Framingham algorithms to 43% (rs=0.6) between the Australian and WHO risk scores. Among the high-risk population, only 15% were on lipid-lowering or antihypertensive therapy. Conclusions The Framingham and Australian risk scores enable some discrimination between high- and low-risk groups. However, the WHO algorithm underestimates these high-risk groups. Even though one third of the participants were at high-risk, most of them were not receiving recommended treatment. Key messages Lab-based CVD risk assessment tools have the potential in identifying high-risk populations in LMICs but the WHO risk scoring tool should be used with caution.

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Comparison of cardiovascular disease risk factors, assessment and management in men and women, including consideration of absolute risk: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038761 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e038761

Author(s):

Emily Banks ◽

Jennifer Welsh ◽

Grace Joshy ◽

Melonie Martin ◽

Ellie Paige ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Absolute Risk ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Recommended Treatment ◽

Nationally Representative

ObjectivesCardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly preventable and optimal treatments based on absolute risk can halve risk of future events. Compared with women, men have higher risks of developing CVD. However, women can experience suboptimal treatment. We aimed to quantify sex differences in CVD risk, assessment and treatment in Australian adults.Design, participants, settingCross-sectional analysis of nationally representative data from interview, physical measures, medication review and blood and urine samples, from 2011 to 2012 Australian Health Survey participants aged 45–74 (n=11 518).Outcome measuresCVD risk factors, absolute 5-year risk of a primary CVD event, blood pressure and cholesterol assessment in the previous 2 and 5 years and use of recommended CVD preventive medications were compared using Poisson regression to estimate age-adjusted male versus female prevalence ratios (PRs).ResultsWomen had a generally more favourable CVD risk factor profile than men, including lower: current smoking prevalence (women=14.5%; men=18.4%, PR=0.78, 95% CI=0.70 to 0.88); body mass index (women (mean)=28.3 kg/m2; men (mean)=28.8 kg/m2, p<0.01); systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic: women (mean)=127.1 mm Hg; men (mean)=130.5 mm Hg, p<0.001); blood glucose (women (mean)=5.2 mmol/L; men (mean)=5.5 mmol/L); diabetes prevalence (women=6.8%; men=12.5%, PR=0.55, 95% CI=0.44 to 0.67); prior CVD (women=7.9%; men=11.3%) and absolute primary CVD risk (absolute 5-year CVD risk >15%: women=6.6%, 95% CI=5.4 to 7.8; men=15.4%, 95% CI=13.9% to 16.9%). Compared with men, women had higher low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol and sedentary behaviour and lower physical activity. Blood pressure and cholesterol assessment were common in both sexes. Among those at high absolute risk, age-adjusted proportions receiving recommended CVD medications were low, without sex differences (women=21.3%; men=23.8%, PR=0.93, 95% CI=0.49 to 1.78). Fewer women than men with prior atherosclerotic CVD were receiving recommended treatment (women=21.8%, men=41.4%, PR=0.55, 95% CI=0.31 to 0.96).ConclusionWomen have a more favourable CVD risk factor profile than men. Preventive treatment is uncommon and women with prior atherosclerotic CVD are around half as likely as men to be receiving recommended treatment.

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Genetic Risk Factors for CVD in Type 1 Diabetes: the DCCT/EDIC Study

10.2337/figshare.14182715 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ionut Bebu ◽

Sareh Keshavarzi ◽

Xiaoyu Gao ◽

Barbara H. Braffett ◽

Angelo J. Canty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Individual Snps

Background The role of genetic factors on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in type 1 diabetes remains unknown. We therefore examined whether previously identified genetic factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) are associated with the risk of CVD above and beyond established demographic and clinical factors in The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. Methods Polygenic risk scores (PRS) and individual genetic variants identified in previous studies were obtained from genome-wide genotyping performed in 1371 DCCT/EDIC participants. Two composite CVD outcomes were considered: major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (CVD death or non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke) and any-CVD (MACE plus confirmed angina, silent MI, revascularization, or congestive heart failure). Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between the genetic factors and the risk of CVD when adjusted for other factors (including age, lipids, blood pressure and glycemia). Results CAD PRS was strongly associated with the subsequent risk of any-CVD (42% and 38% higher risk per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in unadjusted and fully adjusted models, respectively, p<0.0001), and with the risk of MACE (50% and 40% higher risk per 1SD increase in unadjusted and fully adjusted models, respectively, p<0.0001). Several individual SNPs were also nominally associated with the risk of any-CVD and MACE. Conclusions Genetic factors are associated with the risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease in individuals with type 1 diabetes, above and beyond the effect of established risk factors such as age, lipids, blood pressure and glycemia.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Dietary Assessment and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Scores

The Open Hypertension Journal ◽

10.2174/1876526201305010048 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 48-48

Author(s):

Ekavi N. Georgousopoulou ◽

Georgios A. Georgiopoulos ◽

Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Risk Estimation ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Classification Rate ◽

Arterial Blood ◽

Estimation Models

According to a recently published editorial article in the Open Hypertension Journal written by Anagnostis et al., [1] adherence to a Mediterranean type diet was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, by modulating arterial blood pressure levels. Hypertension consist, both a traditional risk factor with increasing prevalence among older subjects [2] and specific subpopulations (i.e., metabolic syndrome) as well as a high-yield target in means of primary and secondary prevention. The common CVD risk scores (e.g., Framingham score sheet, ESC SCORE) [3,4] that are implicated in individual CVD risk assessment through easily measured characteristics constantly incorporate arterial blood pressure indices in underlying estimation models [3,4]. Accumulating evidence [5] suggests that adherence to healthier dietary patterns is associated with favorable CVD profile; i.e., in 2008 the INTERHEART study with approximately 16,500 participants concluded that 30% of CVD deaths in Europe could have been prevented through adoption of healthier dietary habits [6]. Despite emerging associations between dietary patterns and CVD risk, diet’s assessment has never been, directly, incorporated into existing CVD risk scores [5]. Researchers who added diet’s assessment into CVD risk estimation models, reported incremental value of the dietary component over traditional risk factors in terms of overall model performance and improved reclassification of the true events [7,8]. In addition, updating CVD risk estimation scores with dietary information could improve the correct classification rate of people at high risk. This suggestion is further reinforced by the aforementioned editorial, which identifies unhealthy dietary patterns as a risk factor for adverse CVD events, independently of blood pressure status and lipid profile. The individual CVD risk estimation is highly recommended by the European guidelines for the majority of middle- aged people, even without known CVD history [9]. Under this context, classification rate improvement of the existing CVD risk estimation scores should be addressed as a cardinal issue in terms of public health policies. Dietary patterns assessment should be examined as the most promising candidate parameter for incorporation into the existing CVD risk estimation scores in order to upgrade current prevention strategies.

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Integration of absolute cardiovascular disease risk assessment into routine blood cholesterol testing at pathology services

Family Practice ◽

10.1093/fampra/cmaa034 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (5) ◽

pp. 675-681 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Niamh Chapman ◽

Ricardo Fonseca ◽

Leigh Murfett ◽

Kevin Beazley ◽

Rebekah E McWhirter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

General Practice ◽

Medical Practitioner ◽

Blood Cholesterol ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Usual Practice ◽

Computer Based

Abstract Background Absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment is recommended for primary prevention of CVD, yet uptake in general practice is limited. Cholesterol requests at pathology services provide an opportunity to improve uptake by integrating absolute CVD risk assessment with this service. Objective This study aimed to assess the feasibility of such an additional service. Methods Two-hundred and ninety-nine patients (45–74 years) referred to pathology services for blood cholesterol had measurement of all variables required to determine absolute CVD risk according to Framingham calculator (blood pressure, age, sex, smoking and diabetes status via self-report). Data were recorded via computer-based application. The absolute risk score was communicated via the report sent to the referring medical practitioner as per usual practice. Evaluation questionnaires were completed immediately post visit and at 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-up via telephone (n = 262). Results Absolute CVD risk reports were issued for 90% of patients. Most patients (95%) reported that the length of time for the pathology service assessment was acceptable, and 91% that the self-directed computer-based application was easy to use. Seventy-eight per cent reported a preference for pathology services to conduct absolute CVD risk assessment. Only 2% preferred a medical practitioner. Of follow-up patients, 202 (75%) had a consultation with a medical practitioner, during which, aspects of CVD risk prevention were discussed (cholesterol and blood pressure 74% and 69% of the time, respectively). Conclusions Measurement of absolute CVD risk in pathology services is feasible, highly acceptable among middle-to-older adults and may increase uptake of guideline-directed care in general practice.

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Genetic Risk Factors for CVD in Type 1 Diabetes: the DCCT/EDIC Study

10.2337/figshare.14182715.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ionut Bebu ◽

Sareh Keshavarzi ◽

Xiaoyu Gao ◽

Barbara H. Braffett ◽

Angelo J. Canty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Individual Snps

Background The role of genetic factors on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in type 1 diabetes remains unknown. We therefore examined whether previously identified genetic factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) are associated with the risk of CVD above and beyond established demographic and clinical factors in The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. Methods Polygenic risk scores (PRS) and individual genetic variants identified in previous studies were obtained from genome-wide genotyping performed in 1371 DCCT/EDIC participants. Two composite CVD outcomes were considered: major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (CVD death or non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke) and any-CVD (MACE plus confirmed angina, silent MI, revascularization, or congestive heart failure). Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between the genetic factors and the risk of CVD when adjusted for other factors (including age, lipids, blood pressure and glycemia). Results CAD PRS was strongly associated with the subsequent risk of any-CVD (42% and 38% higher risk per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in unadjusted and fully adjusted models, respectively, p<0.0001), and with the risk of MACE (50% and 40% higher risk per 1SD increase in unadjusted and fully adjusted models, respectively, p<0.0001). Several individual SNPs were also nominally associated with the risk of any-CVD and MACE. Conclusions Genetic factors are associated with the risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease in individuals with type 1 diabetes, above and beyond the effect of established risk factors such as age, lipids, blood pressure and glycemia.

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Effects of a Paleolithic Diet on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmz007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 634-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ehsan Ghaedi ◽

Mohammad Mohammadi ◽

Hamed Mohammadi ◽

Nahid Ramezani-Jolfaie ◽

Janmohamad Malekzadeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Paleolithic Diet ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Randomized Controlled

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.

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Added value of cardiovascular calcifications for prediction of recurrent cardiovascular events and cardiovascular interventions in patients with established cardiovascular disease

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1007/s10554-021-02164-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cilie C. van ’t Klooster ◽

◽

Yolanda van der Graaf ◽

Hendrik M. Nathoe ◽

Michiel L. Bots ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Heart Valve ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Added Value ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Major Cardiovascular Events ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Models ◽

Cardiovascular Interventions

AbstractThe purpose is to investigate the added prognostic value of coronary artery calcium (CAC), thoracic aortic calcium (TAC), and heart valve calcium scores for prediction of a combined endpoint of recurrent major cardiovascular events and cardiovascular interventions (MACE +) in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD). In total, 567 patients with established CVD enrolled in a substudy of the UCC-SMART cohort, entailing cardiovascular CT imaging and calcium scoring, were studied. Five Cox proportional hazards models for prediction of 4-year risk of MACE + were developed; traditional CVD risk predictors only (model I), with addition of CAC (model II), TAC (model III), heart valve calcium (model IV), and all calcium scores (model V). Bootstrapping was performed to account for optimism. During a median follow-up of 3.43 years (IQR 2.28–4.74) 77 events occurred (MACE+). Calibration of predicted versus observed 4-year risk for model I without calcium scores was good, and the c-statistic was 0.65 (95%CI 0.59–0.72). Calibration for models II–V was similar to model I, and c-statistics were 0.67, 0.65, 0.65, and 0.68 for model II, III, IV, and V, respectively. NRIs showed improvement in risk classification by model II (NRI 15.24% (95%CI 0.59–29.39)) and model V (NRI 20.00% (95%CI 5.59–34.92)), but no improvement for models III and IV. In patients with established CVD, addition of the CAC score improved performance of a risk prediction model with classical risk factors for the prediction of the combined endpoint MACE+ . Addition of the TAC or heart valve score did not improve risk predictions.

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Ten-year Cardiovascular Disease Risk Amongst Workers in a Tertiary Healthcare Institution in Kuala Lumpur

Borneo Epidemiology Journal ◽

10.51200/bej.v1i1.2435 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 35-45

Author(s):

Norfazilah Ahmad ◽

Santhna Letchmi Panduragan ◽

Chong Hong Soon ◽

Kalaiarasan Gemini ◽

Yee San Khor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

High Risk ◽

Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Risk Group ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Kuala Lumpur ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Tertiary Healthcare

Strategising, which is an effective workplace intervention to curb cardiovascular disease (CVD), requires understanding of the CVD risk related to a specific working population. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) is widely used in predicting the ten-year CVD risk of various working populations. This study aimed to use FRS to determine the ten-year CVD risk amongst workers in a tertiary healthcare setting and its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on workers who participated in the special health check programme at the staff clinic of a tertiary healthcare institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A set of data sheets was used to retrieve the workers’ sociodemographic and CVD risk information. The prevalence of high, moderate and low ten-year CVD risk was 12.8%, 20.0% and 67.2%, respectively. Workers in the high-risk group were older [mean age: 54.81 (standard deviation, 5.72) years], male (44%), smokers (72.7%) and having hyperglycaemia (46.7%) and hypertriglyceridemia [median triglycerides: 1.75 (interquartile range, 1.45) mmol/L]. Diastolic blood pressure (aOR 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01,1.14), hyperglycaemia (aOR 8.80, 95% CI: 1.92,40.36) and hypertriglyceridemia (aOR 4.45, 95% CI: 1.78,11.09) were significantly associated with high ten-year CVD risk. Diastolic blood pressure (aOR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03,1.13) and hypertriglyceridemia (aOR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.12-5.61) were significantly associated with moderate ten-year CVD risk. The prevalence of high and moderate ten-year CVD risk was relatively high. Amongst the workers in the high-risk group, they were older, male, smokers and with high fasting blood sugar and triglyceride. Understanding the ten-year CVD risk and its associated factors could be used to plan periodic workplace health assessment and monitor to prevent CVD.

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