Disparities in Secondary Prevention between Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease in China: Cross-Sectional Community-Based Study, 2014–2016

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Health care quality and insurance coverage have improved with economic development in China, but the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continues to increase with ongoing gaps in prevention. We aimed to compare the uptake of secondary CVD prevention between stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) patients in China. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a cross-sectional community-based survey of 47,841 adults (age ≥45 years) in 7 regions of China between 2014 and 2016, we identified those with a history of stroke or CHD to quantify disparities in conventional secondary CVD prevention strategies in multivariable logistic regression models. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were 4,105 and 1,022 participants with a history of stroke and CHD, respectively. Compared to participants with CHD, those with a history of stroke were significantly less likely to be taking blood-pressure-lowering (39.7% vs. 53%), lipid-lowering (13.7% vs. 36.8%), and antiplatelet (20.8% vs. 50.6%) agents, at least one (48.9% vs. 70.8%) or all 3 recommended medicines (6.1% vs. 24.0%), and were less likely to achieve a lipid-cholesterol target (30.3% vs. 44.0%). Participants with a history of stroke achieved less optimal secondary prevention goals for medication use, either from any (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44–0.66) or all 3 medications (aOR 0.27, 95% CI 0.20–0.36), as well as better blood pressure (aOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.66–0.98) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.27–0.43) levels of control. There were no significant differences in weight, smoking, or physical activity between the groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Stroke patients had lower use of secondary CVD-preventive medication and achieved lower levels of risk factor control than those of CHD patients in China. Nationwide disease-specific strategies, and better education of participants and health care providers, may narrow these gaps.

Mapping De-Implementation Strategies To Identified Determinants of Low-Value Statin Prescription for Primary CVD Prevention in Primary Care

BackgroundDespite clear recommendations supporting healthy lifestyle promotion interventions for the primary prevention of CVD in low-risk patients, a considerable number of these people continue to receive inappropriate statin prescriptions. The present study reports on the structured process based on theory and evidence carried out for the design of de-implementation strategies to reduce the inappropriate prescription of statins and to increase the promotion of healthy lifestyles, in CVD prevention practice of primary care professionals for patients with low cardiovascular risk.MethodsA phase I formative study following a structured theory-informed process combining the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) was conducted, comprising: semi-structured interviews (n=5) with primary care professionals to delimitate and define the problem in behavioral terms; focus groups (4 groups with 21 physicians; 1 group with 6 patients) to identify the determinants of potentially inappropriate prescribing [PIP] of statins and healthy lifestyle promotion actions; mapping of behavioral change interventions operationalized as de-implementation strategies for addressing identified determinants; and consensus techniques for the prioritization of strategies based on perceived effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability.ResultsNumerous multilevel determinants of both PIP of statins and healthy lifestyle promotion embracing almost all of the TDF dimensions have been identified. Guided by the BCW established procedure, 13 potential de-implementation strategies have been mapped to identified determinants. Those assessed as potentially more feasible, acceptable and potentially effective by the professionals themselves were: 1) Information/knowledge dissemination strategies: a corporate dissemination campaign on “Abandonment of Low-Value Practices”; a Clinical Pathway for the primary prevention of CVD in low-risk patients, accompanied with audiovisual and paper-based training resources; 2) Strategies for presenting relevant information for decision-making: an audit/feedback system regarding CVD prevention practice performance indicators; and 3) Strategies for helping clinical decisions: reminders, alerts, and a decision support tool incorporated into the REGICOR CVD risk calculator in the electronic clinical record.DiscussionThe methodology established by the TDF/BWC for the design of behavior change interventions has been useful for the development of de-implementation strategies targeting the decision-making process of clinicians to favor the uptake of recommended clinical practice for CVD prevention in low-risk patients.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04022850. Registered 17 July 2019, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04022850

High Rates of Undiagnosed and Uncontrolled Hypertension Upon a Screening Campaign in Rural Rwanda: a Cross-sectional Study

Background: Hypertension remains the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide with a prevalence and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) among the highest. The early detection of hypertension risk factors is a crucial pillar for CVD prevention. Design and method: This cross-sectional study included 4284 subjects, mean age 46±16SD, 56.4% females and mean BMI 26.6±3.7 SD. Data were collected through a screening campaign in rural area of Kirehe District, Eastern of Rwanda, with the objective to characterize and examine the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) and other CVD risk factors. An adapted tool from the World Health Organization STEPwise Approach was used for data collection. Elevated BP was defined as ≥140/90 mm/Hg and elevated blood glucose as blood glucose ≥100 mg/dl after a six-hours fast. Results: Of the sampled population, 21.2% (n=910) had an elevated BP at screening; BP was elevated among individuals not previously known to have HTN in 18.7% (n=752). Among individuals with a prior diagnosis of HTN, 62.2% (n=158 of 254) BP was uncontrolled. Age, weight, smoking, alcohol history and waist circumference were associated with BP in both univariate analyses and multivariate analysis. Conclusion: High rates of elevated BP identified through a health screening campaign in this Rwandan district were surprising given the rural characteristics of the district and relatively low population age. These data highlight the need to implement an adequate strategy for the prevention, diagnosis, and control of HTN that includes rural areas of Rwanda as part of a multicomponent strategy for CVD prevention.

Hypertension in Women: Should There be a Sex-specific Threshold?

Conventionally, hypertension is defined by the same blood pressure (BP) threshold (systolic BP ≥140 and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg) in both women and men. Several studies have documented that women with hypertension are more prone to develop BP-associated organ damage and that high BP is a stronger risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women than men. While healthy young women have lower BP than men, a steeper increase in BP is found in women from the third decade of life. Studies have documented that the BP-attributable risk for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), heart failure and AF increases at a lower level of BP in women than in men. Even high normal BP (130–139/80–89 mmHg) is associated with an up to twofold higher risk of ACS during midlife in women, but not in men. Whether sex-specific thresholds for definition of hypertension would improve CVD risk detection should be considered in future guidelines for hypertension management and CVD prevention.

Life-long prevention of cardiovascular disease. Part II: childhood and adolescence

In recent years, researchers have increasingly noted that the development and health of cardiovascular system is influenced by both traditional risk factors (RF) and other determinants of human exposome — a combination of factors of the external and internal environment that affect genetics and epigenetics, as a result of which, one or another (more or less healthy) phenotype is formed. Exposome components have a continuous effect throughout all periods of life. Many RFs have a cumulative effect, and therefore it is important to start prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as early as possible. The aim of this review was to consider various aspects of CVD prevention in childhood and adolescence. These periods are critical for the development of most behavioral habits, which maintain throughout life. Leading by personal example by parents and the immediate environment plays a paramount role in healthy lifestyle inclusion of children and adolescents. Targeted programs in kindergartens and schools aim at improving health literacy, early detection and timely changing traditional and non-traditional CVD RFs, diagnosis of genetic diseases involving the heart and blood vessels, prevention of sudden cardiac death are also important methods of CVD prevention in childhood and adolescence. Measures of population-based prevention are of great importance, including monitoring of advertising and media content, statutory ban of alcohol and tobacco sale, and the formation of healthy lifestyle.

The impact of health literacy-sensitive design and heart age in a cardiovascular disease prevention decision aid: randomised controlled trial and end user testing (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Shared decision making is as an essential principle for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, where asymptomatic people are considering lifelong medication and lifestyle changes. OBJECTIVE This project aimed to develop and evaluate the first literacy-sensitive CVD prevention decision aid (DA) developed for people with low health literacy, and investigate the impact of literacy-sensitive design and heart age. METHODS We developed the standard DA based on international standards. The standard DA was based on our existing GP decision aid; the literacy-sensitive DA included simple language, supporting images, white space and a lifestyle action plan; the control DA used Heart Foundation materials. A randomised trial included 859 people aged 45-74 using a 3 (DA: standard, literacy-sensitive, control) x 2 (heart age: heart age + percentage risk, percentage risk only) factorial design, with outcomes including prevention intentions/behaviours, gist/verbatim knowledge of risk, credibility, emotional response and decisional conflict. We iteratively improved the literacy-sensitive version based on end user testing interviews with 20 people with varying health literacy levels. RESULTS Immediately post-intervention (n=859), there were no differences between the DA groups on any outcome. The heart age group was less likely to have a positive emotional response, perceived the message as less credible, and had higher gist/verbatim knowledge of heart age risk but not percentage risk. After 4 weeks (n=596), the DA groups had better gist knowledge of percentage risk than control. The literacy-sensitive decision aid group had higher fruit consumption, and the standard decision aid group had better verbatim knowledge of percentage risk. Verbatim knowledge was higher for heart age than percentage risk amongst those who received both. CONCLUSIONS The literacy-sensitive DA resulted in increased knowledge and lifestyle change for participants with varying health literacy levels and CVD risk results. Adding heart age did not increase lifestyle change intentions or behaviour but did affect psychological outcomes, consistent with previous findings. CLINICALTRIAL The trial protocol was pre-registered at ANZCTR (Trial number ACTRN12620000806965).

Initial Outcomes of CardioClick, a Telehealth Program for Preventive Cardiac Care: Observational Study

Background Telehealth use has increased in specialty clinics, but there is limited evidence on the outcomes of telehealth in primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial outcomes of CardioClick, a telehealth primary CVD prevention program. Methods In 2017, the Stanford South Asian Translational Heart Initiative (a preventive cardiology clinic focused on high-risk South Asian patients) introduced CardioClick, which is a clinical pathway replacing in-person follow-up visits with video visits. We assessed patient engagement and changes in CVD risk factors in CardioClick patients and in a historical in-person cohort from the same clinic. Results In this study, 118 CardioClick patients and 441 patients who received in-person care were included. CardioClick patients were more likely to complete the clinic’s CVD prevention program (76/118, 64.4% vs 173/441, 39.2%, respectively; P<.001) and they did so in lesser time (mean, 250 days vs 307 days, respectively; P<.001) than the patients in the historical in-person cohort. Patients who completed the CardioClick program achieved reductions in CVD risk factors, including blood pressure, lipid concentrations, and BMI, which matched or exceeded those observed in the historical in-person cohort. Conclusions Telehealth can be used to deliver care effectively in a preventive cardiology clinic setting and may result in increased patient engagement. Further studies on telehealth outcomes are needed to determine the optimal role of virtual care models across diverse preventive medicine clinics.